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On June 3, 1965, NASA astronaut Ed White stepped out of his Gemini capsule and into space for the first American space walk. He was not, however, the first person to walk in space. That honor went to Aleksey Leonov, who won out by just two and a half months.
We have come a long way since then, with an international space station hosting people living in orbit for months at a time and private companies sending rockets with people on adventures out of this world.
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If you would rather keep your feet on the ground, Peninsula Community Library (PCL) offers much to do this summer:
Declutter and Organize Your Home. Do you work better when you know you’re not alone and have accountability to get it done? Meet up with organization expert Alison LeJeune of Simply Ali. Share frustrations and accomplishments to see your way in your journey through STUFF! Ali will be at the library on Monday, July 8, and Monday, August 12, at 6 p.m. RSVP not needed!
Local Lore! Old Mission Peninsula native Tim Carroll answers history questions on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays through August, 2-3 p.m. in the Local History Room. Sessions can be up to 20 minutes. RSVP by calling the library at (231) 223-7700.
Adventures at Your Library! Summer Reading Club kicks off for all ages! Register at PCL beginning June 12. Get a gift for registering! Children’s programs run Tuesdays at 11 a.m., July 9 through July 30. Earn a free Buchan’s ice cream cone and another surprise when you complete your adventure! Summer Reading Club is for kids, teens AND grownups!
The Gift of Life. PCL partners with VERSITI for a blood drive June 19, noon to 5 p.m. All blood collected stays in Michigan. You may register here.
Sound of Music. The Friends of PCL kick off our concert season June 21 at 5 p.m. with free ice cream and locals Mary Sue and Mark, who play a variety of folk, country and Americana music. On July 11 at 7 p.m., Doc Probes is “All About Jimmy Buffet” with Rick Kiehl playing bass. August’s program will be announced. Pack a picnic and chairs or a blanket. Rain venue is the Community Room, no picnic!
On September 7 at 6 p.m., come celebrate PCL’s 5th anniversary in our new building with the music of local performers Barbara Faith Jordan and The Commoners. An old-fashioned hot dog picnic (complimentary) and cake wil be served! Rumor is that Barbara is composing a song just for us! End the concert season with our friends Gary Brandt and Jackie Davidson on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m., when they return with their popular program, “Singing the Good Old Songs Again!” Jackie sang with the New Christy Minstrels! “Where words fail, music speaks.” – Hans Christian Anderson
Summer DIY. On June 24, adults and teens craft a sand dollar ornament to hang now or save for holiday gift giving! Let us know you are coming! Pop in anytime from 3-6:15 p.m.
BFFs! We LOVE the Friends of PCL! A Beach Reads sale happens in the lobby June 1-31. Don’t forget their annual Summer Solstice concert June 21 at 5 p.m. with Mary Sue and Mark, and free ice cream treats! Their annual Big Book Sale happens August 7-16th. Book donations are accepted on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month from 4-6 p.m. through July 15.
The Regulars
- Peninsula Insights meets on the 3rd Wednesdays at 7 p.m. (not August) with speakers of interest, including: MSU on Cultivating Local Farm Economies on June 19; and OMP Deputy Sheriff Tony Martinez on July 17.
- Story Stew for Preschoolers is offered the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 11 a.m. (not July).
- Reading Dogs are in Tuesdays from 3:30-5 p.m.
- Threads meets Mondays 10-noon – bring a project, work among friends!
- Pageturners Book Club meets the 3rd Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Books available on a first come basis.
- Practice Spanish at our Spanish Meetup, on the 3rd Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
- Wing Watchers, our birding group, meets on the first Monday of the month, April – September at 6:30 p.m. Speakers, films and discussions are featured.
- Takeout Craft Bags are available for kids the 1st full week of the month. Adult craft bags seasonally. While supplies last!
At Your Service. PCL offers a Library of Things, a Seed Library, books, movies, puzzles, games, explorer bags, large print books, a Children’s Garden with a play village and more. Little Free Libraries have books for the taking. Stay Sharp Kits are available for adult patrons in memory care. Printing, faxing, copying and laptops available onsite. Check out STEM kits for kids! Wireless service accessible in the parking lot 24/7. Limited notary service available by appointment.
Seeking Volunteers
I am still looking for a few volunteers to help in the gardens. Adopt a section and keep it beautiful all year on your own schedule. This is a great family project. Email me if you can help – [email protected].
The Friends of PCL are looking for volunteers to transport boxes of books to the township basement on an occasional basis. Call the library or email me to help!
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio holds the single spaceflight record at 371 days, followed closely by Mark Vande Hei and Scott Kelly. NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson holds the cumulative days in space record at 655 days.
Last fall, a toaster-sized NASA device called Moxie made enough oxygen on Mars to allow an astronaut to breathe for three hours. A future in space is no longer science fiction. Perhaps science fiction inspires the future.
Enjoy this beautiful day here on Earth!
-Vicki Shurly, Library Director, Peninsula Community Library
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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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