George Community Hall reopening concert Saturday

GEORGE — The George Community Hall will hold a grand reopening this weekend as its roof replacement project is almost complete.

The George Community Hall, located at 403 W. Montmorency Blvd. in George, will celebrate at 3 p.m. Saturday with a performance of the Marlin Handbell Ringers.

The Marlin Handbell Ringers’ Facebook page states the group consists of 12 ringers and 108 bells. The group was formed in 1979 in Leavenworth.

It is interesting to note the name of the group, Marlin, is in honor of the man, Archie Marlin, who sold caramel apples to pay off the loan, for more than $13,000, that was used to buy the group’s original 91 bells.

Tickets to the grand reopening concert are $5 per person at the door and kids 12 and younger attend for free. Refreshments will be provided, courtesy of the Georgettes.

George Community Hall event director Debby Kooy said the roof is on and all that is left of the roof project are a few cosmetic things.

Kooy also said the new roof is a long time in the making. In 2018, the roof was found to be failing. Several years of bids by contractors and supplies delays followed.

With the roof on, the hall’s board members are excited to restart coffeehouse concerts. The next coffeehouse concert is scheduled for Jan. 15; the performer(s) will be announced at a later time, Kooy said.