FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 6, 2003

Contact: Jessica Pitelka Opfer
248-601-0606
jessica@crwc.org

The Clinton River Watershed Council, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2002, has relocated its offices to an exciting new space in downtown Rochester, just a stone’s throw from the Clinton River and the new Clinton River Trail.

The council’s new offices are located on the ground floor at 101 Main Street, a new four-story office building designed by local architecture firm Gerald J. Yurk Associates. The building is an adapative reuse of an old auto repair facility, and the council’s suite is constructed within the original building’s foundation.

The move was made possible through the contributions of a number of local businesses and individuals, who generously donated more than $29,000 in labor and materials to complete the build-out of the office suite, including:

· Gerald J. Yurk Associates – floor plan and specifications

· GSY Properties, LLC – wall framing, drywall, painting, and coordination of other work

· Ackerman Electric –lighting and electrical wiring

· Bruce Walter Plumbing – kitchen plumbing

· Richard Watson & David Dulock – heating and cooling duct work

· Home Depot – carpeting and installation

· Forbo Linoleum – kitchen and equipment room flooring

· Eric Grossenbacher & CCI Technologies – installation of phone system, DSL, and network

· North Shack Restaurant – donated half of January’s rent at CRWC’s old office

“We are thankful to all of the volunteers and donors who assisted us with our move,” said Jessica Pitelka Opfer, CRWC Executive Director. “We’re looking forward to working with the greater Rochester community to expand water resources protection and recreation opportunities along the Clinton River corridor and promote the continued revitalization of Main Street.”

The council will showcase its new offices at its 2002 Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner, which will be held at 227 Bistro restaurant in Rochester on Thursday, April 3rd, 2003. Tickets are $35. Advance registration is required (248-601-0606 or contact@crwc.org). The dinner and awards presentation will take place from 6 – 8 pm, followed by an open house at 101 Main Street.

The Clinton River watershed covers 760 square miles through four counties (Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, and St. Clair). Over 1.4 million people live in the 60 communities through which the Clinton River flows before reaching Lake St. Clair. CRWC is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, enhancing, and celebrating the Clinton River, its watershed, and Lake St. Clair.