This fall semester, CR carpentry students, along with industry partners, are repairing the home of beloved community member and highly respected locksmith, Bob Beland, who was tragically killed inside his Humboldt Hill house by a drunk driver in 2019. This is the first project of the new CT-15 Carpentry Techniques for Existing Buildings course, taught by instructor Jennifer Taylor.

In June 2019, College of the Redwoods Construction Technology instructor Derek Glavich reached out to the family about fixing the extensive damage to the house after he read about the incident in the local papers.

“It was heartbreaking, unjust, and I saw it as a perfect opportunity for the college to be active in our community,” says Glavich. “President Flamer and Dean Mayer were very supportive, and I was able to get in contact with the family through a student who was a coworker/friend of the son Dylan Beland.”

Glavich also reached out to local vendors about collaborating on the project and received an overwhelming response. Pierson’s, Hensell Materials, Schmidbauer Building Supply, Campton Electric Supply, Wayne Maples Plumbing and Heating, and Air Tight Furnace all agreed to donate materials and/or labor, making it a true community effort.

Glavich says that the positive response was really uplifting. “In these times that can seem so divisive and polarized, it’s great to know that our community will still come together to help each other.”

Dale Maples, of Wayne Maples Plumbing and Heating had no reservations about pitching in. “Bob was simply a kind man,” he says. “And he was a legend at figuring out locks.  Our home was built in 1908, and some of the locks are original.  It seemed there was never a lock or knob he hadn’t seen before. His kindness and knowledge were a delight.” 

The class has completed demolition, and is preparing to add a bathroom and frame the walls. When the construction is nearly complete, students from the CR Electrical Program will come in to finish the wiring.

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Photos: Dylan Beland in front of house. CR students working inside house.