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New Community Center Opens

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-906790.mp3

Carthage, IL – Carl Sandburg College has completed renovations to the new community center in Carthage, although the fund raising for it still has a way to go.

The auditorium is located on the former Carthage College campus. Gena Alcorn, Carl Sandburg College Foundation Director, said the building has been painted, new seats have been installed, and other improvements were completed.

"It was in a pretty bad state. Everything, top to bottom, has been redone," Alcorn said.

The renovations cost $400,000. So far, CSC has about $100,000 in confirmed donations and pledges in hand.

Alcorn is confident the rest of the money can be raised in the next six to twelve months.

"We're continuing with our 'Seat for Life' campaign targeting local individuals from Carthage and Hancock County," said Alcorn.

She also hopes to collect donations from some of the class reunions scheduled to be held in the auditorium this summer, and she said Kiwanis will be targeted for donations.

"Circle K International held its very first meeting in the auditorium some 50 years ago. So we are working with Kiwanis groups and have sent out some mailing pieces to that organization and their membership, asking if they might be interested in participating in this fund raising campaign."

Donations can be made by calling Alcorn at (309) 341-5327 or by visiting the CSC Foundation website.

CSC's main campus is in Galesburg. It has a branch campus in Carthage and an extension center in Bushnell. Alcorn said the Carthage campus does not have an auditorium, so the newly renovated building will allow the college to bring some performing arts programming to Hancock County.

The auditorium was recently named. It will be known as the Thomas A. Schmidt Charger Community Center. Schmidt retires as CSC's president at the end of the month.