Friends and supporters of Peninsula Community Library (PCL) gathered at the Boathouse on Feb. 11, 2018 for an update on the capital campaign to build a new library on 5.25 acres on the corner of Center Road and Island View Road on the Old Mission Peninsula.
As of Feb. 8, 2018, the building fund, including local contributions, grants, pledged donations, fundraising events and more, has surpassed $1.8 million, edging closer to the $2.5 million goal by July 1, 2018.
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Also unveiled at the gathering was the new “Brick Project,” whereby bricks may be purchased and used in the landscaping of the new PCL grounds. Learn more about this opportunity here.
At the gathering, Fred Zwemer reported that the special use permit (SUP) for the new library construction is moving through the Peninsula Township process. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on Jan. 22, authorizing the Township Planner to draft a “Findings of Fact,” which will be reviewed and possibly adopted at the upcoming Feb. 26 Planning Commission meeting. From there, the SUP will go to the Township Board level for another public hearing, and may be approved by April.
PCL Board President Heatherlyn Johnson Reamer noted that the Planning Commission has been “an absolute joy” to work with. “We’ve had such wonderful support, and we’re at that point now where it’s real,” said Reamer. “We’re going to see that building on the corner, and that’s exciting.”
The annual “Books at the Boathouse” event will be held on April 9, 2018, and include a live auction. Watch more info about this event on the Gazette, and read about last year’s event here.
The PCL staff and board embarked on the capital campaign to build a new library in the winter of 2016. Donations thus far have included a generous lead gift from Bill and Nancy Davy, as well as gifts from Tom’s Food Markets, AcenTek Communications and The Grand Traverse Regional Foundation.
For more on how you can help support the new library, click here or visit the PCL website and Facebook page.
You’re also welcome to contact PCL Director Vicki Shurly, (231) 223-7700, [email protected]; or PCL Board President Heatherlyn Johnson Reamer, (231) 360-7081, [email protected].
Here are a few photos from the Boathouse gathering.
A NOTE FROM JANE: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers like the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, and magazines like Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So of course, I started my own newspaper. Because the Gazette is mainly reader-supported, I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks my way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the Old Mission Peninsula. Check out the donation page here. Thank you so much for your support. -jb
Wouldn’t it be a better idea if that money was going towards keeping our OM elementary school open and successful and protecting the amazing parcel of prime farmland that is about to be destroyed. Peninsula Township sure has conflicting priorities! Wish I was still on the Planning Commission so I could talk some sense into some people.
There’s definitely a lot happening out here. Regarding the school, a group called the Old Mission Peninsula Education Foundation was formed and is in the process of launching a charter school, opening in the Fall of 2018. More through the link below. And the 81-acre parcel is still a development in progress. I’m writing an update on that today, but there are still a few lawsuits happening that might prohibit it from moving forward. We’ll see what happens there. I’ll post a link below that maps out all the conditions the Township put on it when it was approved. One issue there is that a prior Township Board had already approved part of that development, and the new Township Board had to abide by that decision. Otherwise, the outcome would likely have been very different. https://www.oldmission.net/2018/02/school-news-carnival-cherry-festival-more/
https://www.oldmission.net/2017/12/township-board-approves-81/
Hi Jane – you have Paula Kelley incorrectly identified as me in the first photo. Thanks for all your great reporting! Mary Morgan
Ack – thank you, Mary. I knew that was Paula – thanks for the correction.