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The new Peninsula Community Library is changing daily as it takes shape on the corner of Center Road and Island View Road on the Old Mission Peninsula. I’ve lost track of the number of times I went by there this winter, snapped pictures, didn’t get them posted to the Gazette, took more pictures the next time I went by, lather, rinse, repeat.
But I had the opportunity to tour the new library and carriage house a few days ago. It’s absolutely fabulous (and has changed yet again in the few days since I was there!).
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Things are moving along, and the Library Board expects to move into the new building sometime in the next few months. I have a general idea of when, but I’ll keep you posted as we get closer to a grand opening date. I guarantee it’ll be worth the wait.
I was part of a group of friends, staff, volunteers and donors, some of whom checked out the space they sponsored for the first time.
The new library’s coffee bar will be named in honor of Jon and Sue Kinne, whose $10,000 contribution secured the naming rights to a part of the building that is sure to attract book lovers and caffeine fans alike.
Many other areas of the new library have been named via generous donations, including the building itself (a $750,000 anchor donation by Nancy and Bill Davy), the Friends Room (Friends of Neahtawanta Group), the Children’s and Teens’ Areas (Tom’s Food Markets), the Local History Room (Tim Carroll), and the Children’s Garden (the Beers Family).
The Fireplace will be dedicated to my mom, Mary Johnson, who was a member of the library board that wisely decided 20 years ago to purchase the 5.25 acres on which the new library is located. The fireplace mantel is constructed of wood from my family’s historic barn just north of Mapleton.
Thanks to Library Board member Nikki Sobkowski for snapping a pic of me and my niece, Library Board President Heatherlyn Johnson Reamer.
Jim and Fran Krupka gifted the library with funds for the naming of the back porch, because they envision sitting on it with a great book some summer’s day.
Take a look at a few more photos from the sneak peek tour…
SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: 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 and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, 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 I started my own newspaper.
Because Old Mission Gazette is a "Reader Supported Newspaper" -- meaning it exists because of your financial support -- I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks our 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 OMP. In a time when local news is becoming a thing of the past, supporting an independent community newspaper is more important now than ever. Thank you so much for your support! -Jane Boursaw, Editor/Publisher, Old Mission Gazette
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