Groundbreaking Ceremony at Suffield's Kent Memorial Library

What a great way to cap off the year. Patrons, staff, donors and friends marked the beginning of construction at the Kent Memorial Library in Suffield with a Dec. 18 groundbreaking ceremony.

And work will soon begin on a new handicapped accessible entrance. Since its construction in 1972, the library has not been accessible to many of Suffield’s elderly or disabled citizens because of the steep slope at its entrance.

Michael J. Zak, who grew up in Suffield, contributed $850,000 to the new entrance to honor his mother, Mary Anne Zak, still a Suffield resident. The library with the new Mary Anne Zak entrance is expected to open in November 2015.

Other donations for the entrance came from library endowments from the Suffield Library Commission, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and the Suffield Public Library Foundation. The Town of Suffield also contributed to the entrance, and are also funding a concurrent renovation project which will replace the glass windows, the HVAC system, update the electrical system, fix the outside brick walks, and add sprinklers to the library building and other small updates.

Tecton Architects designed the entrance. Silver Petrucelli & Associates planned the renovations. The contractor for both projects is Enterprise Builders.

Contributed photos via http://www.heatherconleyphotography.com:

Photo 1 caption: Some of the participants of the groundbreaking, still holding shovels are from left to right: Edward McAnaney, First Selectman; Brian Fitzgerald, Selectman; Mary Anne Zak; Michael J. Zak, John A. Kissel, Connecticut State Senator.

Photo 2 caption: Participants left to right: Robert Brooks, Chairperson of the Library Commission; Ted Cutler, CEO, Tecton Architects: Tami Zawistowski, Connecticut State Representative; Julie Oaks, Facilities Manager; Edward McAnaney, First Selectman; John Cloonan, Director of Public worsk, Brian Fitzgerald, Selectman, Michael J. Zak, Mary Anne Zak, Steven Smith, Silver Petrucelli Architects; infront - Johan A. Kissel, Connecticut State REpresentative; in back - Patrick McMahon - Director of Economic Development; Joseph Sangiovanni, Chairperson of the Permanent building Committee; Jackie Hemond, Director, Kent Memorial Library; John Nicholas.

Photo 3: Mary Anne Zak and Michael J. Zak.

Photo 4: Everyone gathered on the library hill.