GRAND OPENING
COLONIE, N.Y. » The Northeastern Woodworkers Association celebrated the grand opening of its new Herm Finkbeiner Learning Center on Tuesday as the organization focuses on future growth.
Members and supporters gathered on Tuesday morning at the new center, which is located at 97 Railroad Ave in the Town of Colonie. The association is leasing this space from the adjacent building materials distributor Erie Materials.
“Redevelopment of this site is a real asset to the Town of Colonie,” said Colonie Town Supervisor Paula Mahan during Tuesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony with the Colonie Chamber of Commerce. “This is a great purpose for this particular building. You’ve got lots of space, it’s easy to get to and obviously you have lots of members, and you have lots of good things going on here and do great things for the community.”
Northeastern Woodworkers Association, founded in 1991, is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to the advancement of all aspects of the craft of fine woodworking through education, programs and activities, benefiting both men and women of all skill levels.
Each spring the organization hosts the annual Northeastern Woodworkers Association Woodworkers Showcase, a large event that features woodworking exhibits, educational classes and vendors, attracting thousands to Saratoga Springs.
The purpose of the new Learning Center, named after co-founder Herm Finkbeiner, is to provide a facility equipped with all the necessary modern woodworking equipment where classes are taught by nationally known master craftsmen, and well as talented local and member instructors.
“We were founded in 1991 and for most of our history we didn’t have a central shop location like this,” explained David Mobley, a charter member of the group. In recent years the association did expand to have a shop, but it’s had to move a few times.
The most recent search for a new space brought the group far and wide. “We ended up scouting out over 100 locations around the Capital District,” Mobley said, glad to debut the organization’s new home after several months of renovations.
The center is expected to serve members from all throughout the Capital Region.
“It’s a place for our membership to come together and share knowledge and learn things and get to know each other and develop great friendships,” Mobley said.
Within the Northeastern Woodworkers Association are special interest