Creston Community Center, a history
Additional Information
CATCH FUND, P.O. Box 14, Creston, CA 93432
In 1992, Creston Activities Town Center Helping Hands (C. A. T. C. H. ) Fund was developed by several residents who came together to discuss the fact that Creston still does not have a Community Center Building. This group formed the organization each having one vote: Creston Community Church, Creston Women's Club, Creston Garden Club, Creston PTA, Creston Community Association, and Creston Volunteer Fire Department. In the late 1990s, the Men's Club became a member organization. Each organization was to pay $100 per year in dues, to help build up the fund. A large billboard, know as "the Thermometer," was hand painted and erected during the mid-'90s, to help the community watch the progress. The top of this "thermometer" registered $350,000 and was posted near to the corner of Swayze and Hwy 229.
By August of 2007, CATCH had amassed $90,000. Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed time, energy, money, and prayers to this endeavor. There is more information on this effort at the Creston Advisory Body website.
UPDATE July 2009: The Catch Fund now has over $100,000 thanks to recent donations from the Creston Classic Rodeo Board.
UPDATE 2010: The Thermometer has been removed from near the corner of Swayze and Hwy 229.
UPDATE May 2010: The new CAL Fire station is to begin construction in Sept. or October of this year and be complete in early summer of 2011, according to RRM Design, the architects. This may set the ball in motion to create the long-awaited Community Center at the location of the existing, pole-barn building on Swayze Street, which must be re-designed and rebuilt to accommodate a large assembly space, and be brought up to 2011 building codes.
UPDATE July 2011: The Cal Fire station now has the concrete footings built and the grading appears complete. Rarig Construction of San Luis Obispo is the lead contractor. Today, July 12th, I noticed that the rodeo announcer booth (those two green, stacked, sea trains) has a brand new wooden staircase. The rodeo board and their committees work all year round to make wonderful improvements to the rodeo grounds. Last year ( 2010) they added decomposed granite walkways and the VIP Corral was improved with lots more tables and chairs, plus shade covers. Remember that the community supports this effort and hopes to someday take over the soon-to-be-abandoned volunteer fire station at the end of Swayze Street, and that pole barn will probably be retro-fitted/renovated to create our Community Center. Watch us grow!
UPDATED Jan. 8, 2013: The brand new CAL FIRE station opened officially in July 2012, and it is a really good looking building. The landscaping was done by groups of residents under the direction of 5th District Supervisor Jim Patterson. Debbie Arnold is the new 5th District supervisor as of this month. The new CAL FIRE station contains a "community" meeting room, big enough for 25 folks. The Garden Club met there in November 2012, and, may continue whenever it is needed. UPDATE January 2013: The building permits to renovate the OLD Volunteer Fire Station, located on Swayze Road, were filed with the County of SLO planning department in September, 2012, according to CATCH Fund Board Member Rosie Hebron. Fund raising is in full swing. The renovation will take place in 4 phases. It is hoped that each of the participating member community organizations will host a fund raiser each year and have the profits/proceeds donated to the CATCH building fund. In 2012, the Creston Friends of the Library became the newest member organization to the CATCH Board, meaning that a representative has voting privileges and helps in the decision making process. Mike Barrett has done an outstanding job in 2011 and 2012 in being the lead coordinator of the massive project.
UPDATE Dec. 2014: The old Thermometer has not been updated since 2010, and is leaning against the wall inside the OLD fire station, which is now called "The Creston Community Center “! For more info on the CATCH FUND, please visit their web page.
UPDATE Fall 2018: Creston Women's Club member Jennifer Best's San Luis Obispo County Community Grant application resulted in a $13,000 award to CATCH Fund for landscaping and hardscaping around the center. There is now a fabulous sculpture and greenery and concrete benches, plus the new walkways (ADA compliant) and handicapped parking, among other improvements. The annual CATCH Fund Benefit Dinner will be held on Saturday, Dec. 15th at the Center.
UPDATE January 2019: Thanks to the hard work of all those affiliated with the Creston Classic Rodeo, a donation of $5000 was presented to the CATCH FUND during the annual Creston CATCH Christmas Dinner Party ! Additionally, Sheila Lyons worked very hard to create an application for a grant from the SLO County Community Foundation raising money for the outside, covered patio adjacent to the Community Center. The grant was approved for $16,250! This money will cover the costs of pouring the concrete patio. She continues to apply for grants, in addition to her other leadership skills with the Creston Advisory Body and the Garden Club! If you see Sheila, please give her a huge "THANK YOU " for donating enormous amounts of time and energy. The new kitchen sink funded by Creston Women’s Club is gorgeous. The bathrooms are now complete.
Thank you to everyone involved with this enormous project. It is truly a community asset for Creston.