CR may shelve preservation program

For the last 17 years, Bill Hole has coordinated the Historic Preservation and Restoration Technology program at College of the Redwoods. Although Hole says the college has never really been able to afford the program, he's scraped by through the years by providing his own tools and equipment, and by working with the community to get donations of materials and work sites for students to practice their skills.

Recently, however, Hole said CR administrators have told him the college may not be able to afford to offer classes in the program next year.

I don't feel that there is a fair process going on when they decide to close a program that has grown to be nationally and regionally recognized, said Hole.

The type of training we do -- how we integrate construction and rebuilding, the revitalization of neighborhoods, the whole aspect of historical preservation -- is very significant to Humboldt County. We're the redwood capital of the world, and we know that our old-growth redwood is invested in our old buildings. Teaching people how to maintain and rehabilitate what we have is very important, especially today with the need for energy conservation and resource management.

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