Bingham residents urged to vote for library millage

I am writing today to strongly urge all Bingham Township residents to vote for the library millage renewal on August 5^th. I can not stress enough how important a good public library is to a community; and our library is one of the best! As a teacher, parent, and library user, I see every day the positive effects the Briggs Public Library has on our community. The library provides a wonderful variety of FREE books, videos, DVD’s, and audio books. It also provides fun, educational, family friendly and FREE programs for adults and children. The staff at Briggs puts forth a great effort to see that using the library is convenient, easy, and that everyone’s needs are met. As a resident of Bingham Township, I would be heartbroken to lose the wonderful services that Briggs Library provides. Remember, this is just a renewal. The library is not asking for any more money than we already give. In a time of economic hardship such as this, we can not afford to let our wonderful public library slip away. Please vote yes to the library millage RENEWAL on August 5^th.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Daman
Bingham Township Resident and Library Patron

Dembinski updates us on Petoskey mission

When I started working on the history of this old church, I had no idea it would turn out this well. I made the pilgrimage to Petoskey yesterday and arrived just a half hour before the scheduled time.

Art Dembinski

[Parts of the Petoskey News-Review article are included below:]

St. Francis Solanus Indian Mission Church rededicated

By Christina Rohn News-Review Staff Writer

For most, the day signified unity. On Monday, after more than three years of restoration efforts, the 149-year-old St. Francis Solanus Indian Mission Church and burial ground was rededicated.

The day began at 1 p.m. with a flag raising by Boy Scout Troop No. 7, and was followed at 2 p.m. by the mass of dedication, which was presided over by Bishop Patrick Cooney. Around 4 p.m. a jiimaan (large wooden canoe used by Odawa and northern tribes for hundreds of years) arrived at the church’s waterfront, and subsequently the church opened to the public for tours as members of the Little Traverse Bay Bands (LTBB) of Odawa Indians drummed in the background.

Several Native American speakers imparted their wisdom and spoke of their history during the event . . . .

For Art Dembinski of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the rededication of the church was more personal. His great-great-grandfather, Jean Baptiste donated part of his land to the church in 1859 and helped to build it.