Amador County – The Italian Benevolent Society holds its first sold out event of the year as a self fund-raiser that also marks the first calendar date for the society since the finish of a nearly half a million dollar remodel. Italian Benevolent Society board trustee John Kirkpartrick said the newly repainted, rebuilt and refurbish hall will host the sold out shrimp feed to start paying back the IBS’s 2 year project to remodel the main dining hall. That includes repaying a $330,000 loan from 11 members, each loaning $30,000 to the cause. Other members donated $10,000 toward the remodel costing nearly $500,000. Members also helped with the project, which began in 2008 with demolishing some of the walls and old roof, and putting down a slab. They resumed work last July and finalized work in mid-December 2009. They raised the walls and roof by 2 feet, and replaced hanging joists with higher ones for vaulted ceilings. They added six heating and air conditioning systems, all remotely operated, ceiling fans, new paint and a 3,000 square foot bar. There is a new sound system, and the building is wired for televisions, with a wish list topped with 4 new TVs, and a big bar refrigerator. They also added ADA handicapped accessibility, with paved parking spaces in the main lot. And with hand sinks and overhead sprinkler systems throughout, Kirkpatrick said the Italian Benevolent Society hall is now Health Department compliant. Kirkpatrick and other members helped with the remodel. He cut and hung trim, built the bar and helped hang washable fiberglass wallboards in the newly expanded kitchen. It also has new tile floors, a large donated walk-in refrigerator, and new stainless steel rolling tables, replacing wooden tables. They kept the old fry hood, and supplemented it with a stainless steel hood above. The kitchen is 6 feet longer than it was originally, and the new bar adds a higher capacity. Kirkpatrick said they can seat up to 470 people in the main hall, and another 100 in the bar. Saturday’s sold out shrimp feed Grand Opening will help “start paying stuff back” for the remodel, which landscaped the back side of the outside of the building, raising it 6 feet from the original ground level. Kirkpatrick said they plan to build a large deck there. The hall’s events calendar is already filling, including the Italian Picnic, June 4th, 5th and 6th, and a crab feed February 13th. They also rent the hall for weddings and other events. Trustees of the Italian Benevolent Society, established in 1881, are John Kirkpatrick, Steve Pinotti, Bill Boro, Craig Battaglia, Craig Bonnell and President Pepper Conzatti. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.