SORG Purges the Past with Clean-out Effort

"Removal Leads to Renewal" is the theme this Saturday at the Sorg Opera House in Middletown as community volunteers gather for a vigorous day of disposal of old items, trash, waste, and anything that won't have a future in the revitalized commercial section of the building.  Anyone who wants to participate in the effort is encouraged to take part in a day of community clean-up that promises to be invigorating, fun, and extremely helpful.
Follow the link to read the full story on SORG Plans to Purge the Past with Big Clean-out Effort This Weekend.

Will the gravy ever stop being ladled on the old potatoes? Today's Journal story.......

Sorg work more than just a roof repair

MIDDLETOWN — While replacing the Sorg Opera House’s roof is necessary, the group that purchased the 19th century building says the project means so much more.

The Sorg could be “a major door-opener for downtown development,” said Patrick Kay, executive director of Downtown Middletown Inc.

“Having the Sorg revitalized and done and open for the public for shows will do more for the downtown than any other project down there,” he said.

NOW WAIT A MINUTE PATRICK. WHAT ABOUT ALL YOUR LITTLE ARTZY BUSINESSES DOWN THERE? HOW ABOUT THE PAC THAT WAS SO HIGHLY TOUTED WHEN IT WAS OPENED? THEY WERE NOT AS IMPORTANT AS OPENING THE OPERA HOUSE?

The 1,200-seat theater has the potential to draw upwards of 3,000 people over a weekend, and those people will need places to eat, shop and stay, Kay said

DOUBT IF THERE WILL BE 3000 PEOPLE DOWNTOWN ON ANY GIVEN WEEKEND, EVEN WHEN THE SORG IS RESTORED AND OPERATIONAL. ALSO DOUBT THAT THE SORG CROWD WILL HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON WHAT FEW RESTAURANTS, ROOMS FOR RENT NOR BARREN DOWNTOWN SHOPPING WILL KEEP THEM DOWNTOWN EITHER. JUST A TAD BIT OF WISHFUL THINKING, RIGHT?

NOW HERE COMES THE EMBELLISHMENT PROGRAM SPEAKERS......

FROM THE MAYOR....

It’s encouraging to see the private sector demonstrate its commitment to bring this building back to what it was in its heyday, Mayor Larry Mulligan said.
“I think they have the passion and the interest and they have a good vision of what it could be and they’re going in with their eyes wide open of what they’re getting into,” he said.

AND FROM DANNY P.......YOUR VICE-MAYOR

The Sorg Opera House embodies Middletown’s history and “is one of the cornerstones of downtown,” said Vice Mayor Dan Picard. “It’s what the city was all about.”

NO DANNY, THE CITY WAS "ALL ABOUT" MANUFACTURING, PRIMARILY PAPER AND STEEL. (BUT THAT'S ALL BEEN REPLACED BY CASHIERS JOBS AT DOLLAR GENERAL AND THE LOCAL UDF AT SIX BUCKS AN HOUR).

The opera house was built by former paper magnate and U.S. Rep. Paul J. Sorg in 1891.
Picard said he is proud the SORG organization “has saved this building.”

"PROUD" ??? HOW ABOUT HAPPY OR EXCITED?

“If you go back a few years, that building was just falling apart, it was going through foreclosure,” he said. “With the work that they’re doing, they’re contributing to the revitalization of downtown.”

WONDER HOW MUCH MONEY THESE INVESTORS ARE PLANNING TO SPEND BEFORE THEY REALIZE THEY HAVE SPENT TOO MUCH IN RELATION TO THE ROI? ALSO WONDER IF THEY HAVE CONSIDERED HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE BEFORE THEY BREAK EVEN, MUCH LESS TURN A PROFIT. IT IS NICE THAT THEY WANT TO RESTORE THIS HISTORICAL BUILDING WITH PRIVATE FUNDS AND NOT OUR TAXPAYER MONEY AS THE CITY ALWAYS DOES.....BUT IS IT A WISE BUSINESS MOVE?

ANOTHER DOWNTOWN RAH-RAH,SELF-PROMOTION STORY FROM THE JOURNAL. KINDA GETTIN' OLD PEOPLE.

They should have just bull dozed the whole downtown area years ago when it died and used space for new section 8 apartments or parking lots

"For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name,
He writes - not that you won or lost - but how you played the Game."  Grantland Rice