Published: May 14, 2008 05:45 pm         

LOCAL VIDEO: It's open, it's beautiful, and it's yours

New Community and Conference Center set to serve the community well

Ushered in on a warm wind and a cloudless sky, Monday morning brought a momentous event at Fairfield Glade. The Community Club (FGCC) cut the ribbon on their latest new amenity, the $6.7 million Community and Conference Center on Stonehenge Dr. An appropriate sense of accomplishment and pride was in the air as the huge, 36,000 square foot, building finished on time and on budget, which had been predicted all along by the board of directors and General Manager Harvey Hoffman.

FGCC Board President David Prigg welcomed a crowd of hundreds, who were seated and standing at the building's front portico. Honored guests included U.S. Congressman Lincoln Davis, state Representative Eric Swafford, Crossville Mayor J.H. Graham III, new city manager Ted Meadows, Beth Alexander from the Chamber of Commerce, architects Michael Brady and Chuck Grant of Michael Brady, Inc., of Knoxville; timeshare presidents for Wyndham Resorts, including George Cheponis of Sterling Forest, James Theobald of Kensington Woods and Laurel Ridge, R. Curtis Fischbach of Oak Knoll, Bruce Turley of Stonecastle, Charles Betts of Stonecastle Place, David Schortinghuis of Wellington Place, and Jim Reed of Nottingham Villas), and of course, his own board of directors. Board members present included Charlie Woll, Glenn Harper, Bob Spencer, Bob Jackson, as well as developer representative Jeff Welch of Wyndham Vacation Resorts, Inc. Bruce Turley is also the timeshare representative on the bo ard.

Prigg pointed out all the accomplishments for better services and growth in the Fairfield Glade area this year. The community has a new Food City grocery store on Peavine Rd., which is set to open Memorial Day weekend; the Art Guild recently opened their Plateau Creative Arts Center, which sits on land donated by FGCC by member vote; there's the upcoming ground breaking for Good Samaritans Society's assisted living center, a potentially projected $22 million addition to the community which will have an untold effect on the economy of Cumberland County, as well as providing a much-needed alternative for its aging population; and the purchase of Stonehenge Golf Course, that also by member vote. The president summed up saying, "2008 has been a very good year for Fairfield Glade."

Hoffman continued the opening remarks by recognizing the dependable efforts of Project Manager David Taylor and Mike Driver of W&O Construction, along with FGCC staff members Sue Blevins, Tommy Lee, Mike Rupe, Regina Rector, Jeff Warren, and Pat Davis. He was especially pleased to thank his wife, Jeanne, and introduced his daughter, Jamie, director of adaptive recreation at UCLA in California, who had flown in as a surprise for her father on this occasion.

Among the many offerings of the new center is a conference hall capable of seating approximately 600 people theatre-style and approximately 400 people dining style. A catering kitchen assists staff in serving large dinner meetings and events. The center boasts a full complement of audio and visual equipment. In addition to serving the needs of Fairfield Glade's many groups, the conference center can be rented-out by the public for special events by calling 484-3722.

Some favorite features for Glade residents are the junior Olympic-size swimming pool with an outdoor area for sunbathing, a hot tub, men's and women's dressing rooms with saunas and massage rooms, and a gymnasium.

And, from the depths of the basement over at the Multi Purpose Building, the arts and crafts department will move into an airy, window-lined room near the rear of the facility.

"Today is the culmination of a number of events, including the board of directors approving the project almost two years ago, choosing the design and construction firms, then following the project through from groundbreaking to today, when the facility has opened its doors for the whole community to enjoy," said Hoffman.