Vicki Hartlen - Delhi News-Record
Wednesday February 22, 2006

This summer will see a new patio come to Delhi.
Members of the Delhi Belgian Hall have been given the green light to go ahead with plans for an outdoor patio.
“We’re so excited this is going to be something new for us and we can’t wait,” said Mary Kowanetz, secretary treasurer.
Kowanetz said the club gained official licensing for a 220 person capacity patio, which is going to be built on the south side of the building.
“We’re going to try to do a lot of the construction ourselves,” said Kowantez.
The proposed patio - with dimensions of about 22’ by 106’ by 30’ by 100’ - will feature three openings and will be open regular bar hours.

“We’re hoping to have the patio built by May 24 weekend depending on the weather,” she added.
Once the patio opens Kowanetz said it would remain open until the Labour Day weekend.
For Kowanetz the patio has been a project she, and fellow club members, have been working on for more than a year.
“This is really an idea we’ve wanted to try for some time,” she said.
What gave them the push to get it started was the provincewide smoking ban which takes effect May 31.
“The government is still unclear about patios in the ban, but we’re hoping our customers will be able to smoke on the patio,” she added. “The government is going to come out with clearer explanations of this as the time comes near.”
With the addition of the patio, Kowanetz said many opportunities will be opened for the hall, which currently has most of its business in the renting capacity.
“Once the patio is up we’re going to look into other possibilities, such as serving lunches,” said Kowanetz. “We’ve made no plans yet, but the possibility will be there.”
Construction is expected to start no later than April.
“We’re the first hall in Delhi to do this, so we’re excited to see the response from the community,” Kowanetz said. “We’re right off Highway 3 and we think this is just what Delhi needs.”