Facilities undertakes Jake Nevin restoration

Phase one of a $1.2 million plan to restore the Jake Nevin Field House began Monday. The internal renovations planned for this year include reinforcing the structure with steel decking and painting certain areas.

Phase two, which will involve replacing the building’s external roofing membrane, will begin in summer of 2004.

Excessive moisture deterioration and the building’s age are two reasons for the renovations.

Both the inside court area and the Ithan Avenue parking area will be not be accessible during this year’s renovation period, which is scheduled to continue through Sept. 30.

“Unfortunately, projects of this size will require some inconveniences,” project manager Nick Grosso said.

With the help of temporary partitions and floor protection, which have been installed this week, staff offices will remain open over the course of the project, said Grosso.

“This project will not interfere with using Nevin as a staging area for graduation or for guests at graduation in the event of inclement weather,” executive director of Facilities Management Robert Morro said.

In case of rain on May 18, the field house will host a live television simulcast of the commencement ceremony, which would be held in the Pavilion. A simulcast of the Baccalaureate Mass will also be held in the field house on May 17 in case of rain.

-Andrea Ford

Holy Grounds at CEER celebrates grand opening

Dining Services celebrated the official grand opening of Holy Grounds at CEER with giveaways and reduced prices from Monday to Wednesday, although the new coffee shop location has already been open for over a month.

On Monday, Holy Grounds patrons were treated to live Irish music by the duo Chico and Gebby, as well as free soda bread and Irish potatoes at the CEER location. Free mock Irish coffee was also distributed at all Holy Grounds locations.

Money stretched a little further on Tuesday, when all Holy Grounds locations sold large coffee drinks for the price of smalls and offered free biscotti with the purchase of any bakery product. Students and faculty were also treated to complimentary candy.

On Wednesday, raffle tickets were drawn every half hour for the chance to win gift baskets, upscale coffee mugs and espresso makers. Students were able to enter at all Holy Grounds locations.

Dining Services extended the celebration by offering 25¢ Fair Trade coffee all week.

Recently appointed engineering dean Barry Johnson “took the leadership to offer Villanova Dining Services exceptional retail space for a food venue in the CEER building, which is conveniently located and readily accessible,” Tim Dietzler, director of Dining Services, said.

The Holy Grounds at CEER serves the dining needs of students and faculty in the Tolentine Hall vicinity.

“All my classes are in Tolentine or CEER,” junior Charles Ziegler said. “It is nice to be able to grab something between classes.”

The Holy Grounds at CEER is open from Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dining Services expects to expand these hours in the future. The venue will remain open throughout the summer.

-Carmen Ruiz-Castaneda