DEDICATION — Surrounded by board members and volunteers, Kim Weaver, executive director of the Weirton Christian Center, thanks all those who have contributed toward the construction of the center’s new building. A dedication of the building on Ivy Street was held Sunday. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — The ribbon is cut and a new chapter is ready to begin in the history of the Weirton Christian Center.

Staff, volunteers, supporters and friends gathered Sunday to celebrate the dedication of the new building for the Christian Center, located at 117 Ivy St. in Weirton.

“So many of you have memories of the Christian Center,” Executive Director Kim Weaver said. “There’s 100 years of history here of changing lives.”

The doors of the new building will open officially Sept. 4, for the center’s pre-school and after-school programs. An open house for pre-school students will be held 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.

John Simmons, of the West Virginia Baptist Convention noted the amount of work put into the last eight years of developing plans for the building, fundraising efforts and more, thanking Weaver and all those involved.

“I don’t know how many miles and PowerPoint slides you put together,” he said.

Referring to a former, long-time director of the center, Simmons recognized Weaver’s passion and drive in completing the building project, providing a safe place for Weirton’s youth to learn and grow.

“Kim, Betty Killian would be ecstatic,” Simmons said.

Original plans were to construct the new center next to its current building on Elm Street. When that couldn’t be done, Weaver noted, Steve Psaros, a long-time supporter, contacted Tom Banketas for assistance.

Banketas, along with architect Lou Bernardi, civil engineer Geoff Phillips and project manager Tom Dulin worked to design and construct the building. Memorial Baptist Church sold the Christian Center an adjacent piece of property to serve as its new home.

More than 250 individuals, businesses, civic groups and others contributed financially toward the construction costs.

“It’s absolutely amazing how many people have thought of us and poured into this building,” Weaver said.

Weaver, in particular, thanked Banketas for his contributions.

“His heart and soul have been in this building,” she said.

Banketas, however, said the accolades should go to those who have worked throughout the years to provide the services for the community through the center.

Ward 1 Councilman Tim Connell and Ward 3 Councilman Fred Marsh offered congratulations from the city, with Connell reviewing the Weirton Christian Center’s beginnings on Avenue A and then Avenue D before moving to Elm Street.

“For 101 years, they progressed every time they moved,” Connell said.

Marsh said it was good to see the mission of the Christian Center be able to continue.

“Anytime we see progress in this town, we appreciate it,” Marsh said.

State Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Wellsburg, also was on hand, noting he grew up in downtown Weirton, spending a portion of his childhood at the Weirton Christian Center.

“I was fortunate enough to be a part of that,” Weld said.

In addition to several classrooms, to be divided by age group, the new Weirton Christian Center building will feature computer labs, a media room, a state-of-the-art kitchen and cafeteria.