Race for new library/museum like a Mt. Marathon climb
Filed under: Alaska, City of Seward, Economics, Education, Health, KPB, Moose Pass News, Seahawks, Seward History, Sports
Important part of the trail coming up at Tuesday’s meeting…
By Mary Tougas, Co-Vice Chair of the Seward Community Library Museum (SCLM) Building Committee
Next weekend thousands of people will pour into Seward looking for a July 4 experience that they cannot find anywhere else in Alaska. In the 83 years people have been running and climbing up our high mountain on this highest of American holidays, Seward has never failed to delight residents and visitors by its natural beauty and welcoming hospitality.
Just like a Mt. Marathon experience, the SCLM Building Committee has been working on funding for the new Library Museum project. We were delighted that the Seward Community Library Museum (SCLM) Building was able to join the Legislative “Grant to Libraries” initiative this spring and was awarded a $4.7 million state grant for our project, with Seward’s needs placed on the state priority list. This is the kind of core funding that will make our project successful, and we need to maintain our project development timeline.
Since 2002, when the Spirit of Seward (SOS) initiative started, we have shown an overwhelming community support for this new facility. When a pollster polled us on a new library museum, an astounding 9 out of 10 residents indicated they were in favor of the project. At the beginning, the new facility was dedicated for completion by 2012, the 100th year of Seward’s incorporation as a city, a fitting dedication to our future and celebration of our past.
If natural beauty and friendly locals were the only requirements for a successful community, then Seward would be the most important town in the state. But it takes a lot more to ensure a successful, working community.
Libraries, in carrying out their mission, provide users with direct benefits. Our community benefits indirectly when users get the help they need, like the information to start a business, help in learning to read, or the material for an important speech to a community organization. These two kinds of benefits – direct and indirect – that come from public library services have been recognized since the first public library opened in 1833.
Today’s smart communities are looking for ways to differentiate themselves from one another, (just like businesses do) as we all struggle to attract and retain employees, teachers, doctors and nurses and visitors. A new library says to potential residents, “Seward is a place in favor of free access to books, ideas, resources, and information—because education, employment, enjoyment and informed self-government are important principles to us.”
So keep in mind, as we approach our July 4th weekend, that a public library is the cornerstone of the American experience and has been a great equalizer in our society. A library provides free access to information for all citizens, and enables our community to better embrace literacy, education, economic development and knowledgeable, informed citizens while enhancing the quality of life for all living and working in Seward today.
A work session with the City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, June 29th at 6pm, City Chambers. SCLMBC will be updating the council, please show support by attending this meeting.
Longtime resident contributes to library museum project
Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Business, City of Seward, Economics, Event
The donation of a Seward resident combined with a proactive gift from the Seward Community Foundation has added $1,000 toward Seward’s library/museum project.
Wishing to make a meaningful donation to the benefit of Seward, longtime resident Emma “Dolly” Dieter contacted the Alaska Community Foundation, who referred the matter to their local affiliate, the Seward Community Foundation. The SCF board of directors suggested the Seward Community Library/Museum project as a worthwhile cause and voted to provide a proactive gift from the foundation’s Unrestricted Endowment Fund to go along with Dieter’s $500.
According to SCF President Paul Rupple, the proactive gift comes from fund earnings, which continues to grow through investments and donations.
Locally governed, the SCF is solely focused on the needs of the Seward/Moose Pass area through a permanent endowment that makes grants to nonprofit groups.
Photo courtesy Seward Community Foundation
Seward Community Foundation board members Chellie Skoog and Paul Rupple present a check for $1,000 to Resurrection Bay Historical Director Lee Poleske and SCLMBC Chair Keith Campbell.
Jackson, Morgan, & Hunt contribute to Seward’s library/museum project
By Nancy Erickson
Jim Jackson presents donation check to Mary Tougas, December 2009
The Seward Community Library Museum Project closed out its growing list of corporate donors in 2009 with a generous donation from Seattle-based accounting firm Jackson, Morgan & Hunt, PLLC.
According to a recent SCLM newsletter, cost of the new co-located facility is estimated to be $10 million, which covers expenses ranging from planning to furniture and fixtures. Funding for the project is anticipated to include up to $5 million public funding through the City of Seward, Alaska, up to $3 million in state grants, $3 million in foundation funding and public/private grants, and $1 million capital campaign gifts.
Although Jackson, Morgan & Hunt have roots in Seattle dating back more than 25 years, the independently-owned business entity is no stranger to Alaska.
Participants in the commercial fishing industry in Seward, Homer and Kodiak have come to rely on the expertise of the firm’s three principals: Jim Jackson, Chuck Morgan and Scott Hunt.
It was through the longtime business and personal relationship with Tom Tougas of Four Seasons Marine in Seward that the three certified public accountants became aware of the library/museum project and chose to support it with their $2,000 donation.
Jackson, Morgan & Hunt specialize in providing confidential accounting, tax and financial planning services to owners of closely held businesses and their families in the Puget Sound area, Portland, and Alaska. The firm also assists clients with accumulating assets and planning for business succession, retirement, estate disposition and elder care.
For more information, go to the Jackson, Morgan & Hunt Web site: www.jmhseattle.com.
Information on the progress of the Seward Community Library Museum Project and how to donate can be obtained at www.SomethingForUs.org.
Nancy Erickson is a freelance writer living in Seward, Alaska
Photo: Jim Jackson presents donation check to Mary Tougas, Co-Vice Chair of the Seward Community Library Museum Building Committee (SCLMBC). SCLMBC meets monthly second Thursday in the basement of the Seward Community Library, open to the public and volunteers needed.
Successful Donations for Pick.Click.Give
Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Business, City of Seward, Economics, Education, KPB, Politics, Sports
In an update from the PFD Charitable Contributions Program, www.PickClickGive.org, they report the following:
“The number of people who have successfully filed a charitable donation to eligible Alaska nonprofits through the PFD Charitable Contributions Program, also known as Pick Click Give., has shot up in the hours since the State reported that the technical problems had been resolved.
Today’s participation rate among people who filed for their 2010 Permanent Fund Dividend is 667 percent higher than during the first four days of the New Year. We have received a number of personal reports of success in completing the donation process when filing online.”
Several Seward non-profits have been successfully listed for giving through Pick.Click.Give program. As you consider your giving for 2010, please consider giving back to our community through a non-profit of your choice. Giving to the Resurrection Bay Historical Society or the Seward Community Library Association will go to the building project.
View the project schematic design process at the following blog site: http://www.sewardlm.blogspot.com/
Happy New Year and Thank You for your Support in 2009!
SCLMBC
Seward Community Library Museum Building Committee
Last Days For Quilt Raffle
Get your tickets today or tomorrow for the beautiful quilt being raffled to benefit the Library Museum project. Drawing will be Tuesday, December 15th, at 5pm in the Seward Community Public Library downtown. Need not be present to win this quilt, tickets are only $1 each.
See the quilt in person at the library, it is on display across from the circulation desk, you can’t miss it. Would make a great holiday gift!
SCLMBC would like to thank all those that attended our public meetings to give input, view progress and meet the design team. The schematic design phase is a very exciting time for us all. By February 2010, this phase will be completed.
Tickets are on sale for the quilt raffle at: Sew-n-Bee Cozy and the Seward Community Library today!
Library Museum Facility Update
On Thursday, December 10th, from 5:30-7pm the design team for the Library Museum project will be presenting the updated and refined 35% schematic design drawings composed from their week long community review. Presentation will be in the meeting area at the Seward Community Public Library basement.
The architects are developing their proposal for the new Community Library and Museum and would like to share their progress with the community for further comments. Public input is wanted as we move forward, this is an important point for you to hear and see what the project is doing at this time. The design team is excited to present current progress and we all hope turn out will be strong.
Coffee and desert will be served. Please come and see how this exciting project is taking shape. The architects continue to solicit for comments at their blog: www.sewardlm.blogspot.com. Questions or Comments can also be directed locally to Library Director Patricia Linville at 224-4008 or Community Development Director Christy Terry at 224-4020
Library Museum Design Process
The design team is busy working and will be back into the community to give us another peek at design progress December 10th with an evening meeting in the basement of the Seward community library. More details to come, meanwhile, our quilt raffle is stilling going on. Tickets will be available at the holiday craft fair this coming weekend!
RBHS (Resurrection Bay Historical Society) and the SCLMBC (Seward Library Museum Building Committee) will be sharing a booth this year. Stop by to see what’s new and pick up your quilt raffle tickets and shop the museum items for holiday gift giving. See you there…
About the photo below:
Brian Meissner (ECI-Hyer) summarizing the week. Through meeting with community user groups and individuals, the design team felt they produced conceptual building plans and ideas that really reflected community desires, good library/museum design, and sustainable building practices.
A blog site can be accessed to see more and participate in a survey at:
Libraries Are Information Repositories
This piece, written by Greg Hill is Fairbanks North Star Borough Library Director, ran in the Sunday edition of the FDNM. (Fairbanks Daily New Minor)
OPINION ARTICLE
By Greg Hill, FNSB Library Services Director, 459-1027
Last Sunday’s Anchorage Daily News ran a front page article, the online version is titled “Are Local Libraries In Process of Checking out?”, about the severe budget cuts threatening their public library system’s existence. The article stated that “The budget cuts come at a time when libraries around the country are rethinking their role in the 21st century” and goes on to say that, besides being print repositories, “libraries also are digital centers where information is exchanged and Internet is available to those who don’t have it at home.”
This is true as far as it goes. Modern public libraries do provide a lot of digital information and connectivity, but that’s just a reflection of one of the fundamental duties of libraries throughout history.
Design Workshop Tonight 5pm – 7pm
The design team will be presenting tonight at the Seward Community Library basement. The ECI/Heyer design team have met with user groups and individuals all week, plus visiting both current locations and the new site,they will be presenting to the public their results from this input. While still early in their process, it will be a first look into the ideas they have to continue their work on the new Library Museum facility project.
Coffee and desert will be served. Come on by and take a look.
Friday November 20, 2009 5-7pm
Library Museum Design Workshop
ECI/Heyer Architects kicked-off schematic design of the new library museum this morning with their first design discovery session with the building committee and the City. A community meeting, “Exploring Possibility” is scheduled for this evening, Nov. 16th, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. basement of the library. Additional opportunities for the community to engage in the design process include Tuesday Nov. 17th , 1:00-2:30 p.m., and Wednesday Nov. 18th, and Thursday Nov. 19th, 1:00 2:00 p.m. at Soo’s Bed and Breakfast, 810 Second Avenue. Any “User “ groups interested in meeting with the design team this week please contact Patty Linville at 224-4082 and/or stop by the library during open hours.
Design Discovery Workshops
Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Business, City of Seward, Economics, Education, Event, Harbor News, Health, KPB, Sports, Technology
Design Discovery Workshops
ECI/Hyer Architects will be hosting a series of workshops during the week of Nov 16-20 as we kick off the 35% schematic design phase for the new Seward Community Library Museum.
Join us; we need your feedback as we:
- Evaluate design work to date
- Create community connections
- Share site development opportunities
- Examine building form
- Measure sustainability
Monday, November 16th
6:00 – 8: 00 p.m.
Seward Community Library
Friday, November 20th
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Seward Community Library
For more information contact the City of Seward Community Development Department or Patty Linville, Library Director
Raffle Quilt On The Move
Tickets are on sale for the Christmas Quilt raffle and the quilt is on the move in our community. This week the beautiful quilt has moved to Cover to Cover book store, located at 215 4th Ave, downtown. The quilt is hanging up front in the book store. Cover to Cover is open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The quilt was made and donated by Pam Ventgen, a quilter and teacher of quilting from Anchorage. Pam comes to Seward to visit friends attend quilting retreats and instructs quilting technique classes. This is the third quilt to be donated by Pam to benefit the Seward community Library Museum project.
Tickets are on sale until December 15th, the drawing will be held in the Seward Community Library at 5 p.m., you need not be present to win. Tickets sell for $1 each and are available from Karla Oates at Sew-n-Bee Cozy, Vanta Shafer at Cover to Cover Books, Teresa Roy at First National Bank, Mary Tougas at Hertz of Seward, the Seward Community Library and the Museum.
Coming the week of Nov 16-20:
ECI/Hyer, architects for the new Seward Library/Museum, will be hosting a series of workshops during the week of Nov.16th through the 20th as we kick off the 35%- schematic design phase of the new Seward Community Library Museum.
Seward Library/Museum Design Workshop
ECI/Hyer, architects for the new Seward Library/Museum, will be hosting a series of workshops during the week of Nov.16th through the 20th as we kick off the 35%- schematic design phase of the new Seward Community Library Museum. Thomas Hacker, library/museum planner from Portland Oregon, will be joining us as we solicit ideas, questions and answers from City, library/museum staff, patrons, stakeholders and all interested residents. A schedule of opportunities to participate in design workshops will be available next week though the City Community Development Office. We look forward to you joining us as we explore design possibilities.
Christmas Quilt Raffle
Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Arts, City of Seward, Economics, Education, Event, KPB, Seahawks, Sports, Technology
The Library Museum project has a Christmas Quilt Raffle running through December 15, 2009. Tickets are just 1$ each, need not be present to win.
Tickets are available from Karla Oates at Sew-n-Bee Cozy, Vanta Shafer at Cover to Cover Books, Teresa Roy at First National Bank, Mary Tougas at Hertz of Seward, the Seward Community Library and at the Museum.
This beautiful quilt is on display this week at Sew-n-Bee Cozy downtown. Stop by to view the quilt and check out the sale Sew-n-Bee Cozy has on regular and clearance items, 15% off through October. The quilt was made and donated by Pam Ventgen. Measuring 62” x 84” it is twin size or could be a top for a queen size bed. It is machine quilted with exquisite designs that are hard to describe. This one must be seen! Sew-n-Bee Cozy is open Tue-Sat, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Drawing will be held December 15 at 5 p.m. in the Seward Community Library. Special thanks to the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 5.
You can call for tickets if you cannot make it to one of our locations, 907-362-1225, talk to Mary T.
Seward Community Library Museum Committee (SCLMBC)
Thank You Voters!
Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Business, City of Seward, Economics, Education, Harbor News, KPB, Politics, Seahawks, Sports, Technology
The Seward Community Library Museum Committee (SCLMBC) members thank you, the community, for your strong support for the new library museum.
With a very successful Yes vote on proposition 3, the project is now well positioned to seek state and federal funding as well as funding support from private and public foundation grantors. Local commitment to funding is a prerequisite for the majority of private and government funding sources. Your Yes vote was vital at this time to allow us to move forward. Here are some answers to questions we have had.
Will the project need the general obligation bonds immediately?
Local commitment to funding is a prerequisite for the majority of private and government funding sources and with your Yes vote, we can now start our next steps in seeking all avenues for funding. The communities binding commitment for up to 5M in general obligation bonds allows us to continue our grant writing and visits with our legislators in seeking funding opportunities. We have some time before all of our funding will be in place to partner with the general obligation bonds for construction (one to one and a half years). We will keep you informed as we move along.
What are the next steps?
The project has successfully completed the pre-development program administered by the Foraker Group. This activity resulted in a solid business plan that confirms the project has appropriate facility and site plans, a realistic budget and is financially sustainable.
As next steps, SCLMBC is funding, through donations to the project at this time, continued design development and refinement with the goal to reach thirty-five percent design by February 2010. This process will include a week long immersion of the design team in the community in November, and multiple opportunities for the community to participate in the evolution of new library museum design. All the previous information gathered from the community to date will be shared with the design team. It is a very exciting time for us all as we bring these steps to life that have been listed on paper for many months!
Thirty five percent design is another step required to position the Library Museum for possible funding opportunities.
Thank you again Seward, your support is appreciated!
Seward Community Library Museum Committee
Holiday Quilt Raffle
Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Arts, Business, City of Seward, Economics, Education, Event, KPB, Seahawks, Sports
The Library Museum project has a Holiday Quilt Raffle running now until December 15, 2009. With the help of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 5, tickets are available for just 1$ each, need not be present to win.
Tickets are on sale from Karla Oates at Sew-n-Bee Cozy, Teresa Roy at First National Bank, Vanta Shafer at Cover to Cover Books, Mary Tougas at Hertz of Seward car rental, the Seward Community Library and the Seward Museum.
The beautiful quilt is on display at Sew-n-Bee Cozy downtown, stop by to view the quilt and check out their 15% sale. Regular and clearance items are on sale through October! The quilt was made and donated by Pam Vengten. It is machine quilted with exquisite designs, hard to describe, this one must be seen! Measuring 62″ x 84″, it is twin size or could fit the top of a queen bed. Thank you Sew-n-Bee Cozy for having the quilt on display!
It will be at Cover to Cover books next and at the Holiday Craft Fair at the Library Museum booth on display with tickets available. Call for tickets also if you can not make it to those locations, Mary at 907-362-1225. Drawing will be held at 5 p.m. in the Library December 15, 2009.
Seward Community Library Museum Building Committee
October 6 municipal election results
Last Updated: Tues Oct 6 20:38:45 2009
Council–Vanta Shafer 310, Tom Smith 285, Bob Valdatta 311 with 56 write ins
Mayor–Willard Dunham 264, write ins 113
Prop 1 Fluoride 229 yes, 206 no
Prop 2 Sales tax increase for Library/Museum 185 yes, 251 no
Prop 3 GO bonds for Library/Museum 253 yes, 176 no
Borough Assembly for Seward McClure 220, Blatchford 174
Results…
…will be posted tomorrow on the Borough website and there are still at least 93 absentee and questioned ballots to count Thursday afternoon.
Christmas Quilt Raffle
Check this one off your Christmas list!
Tickets go on sale Monday, Nov. 10, for the Seward Community Library Museum building committee’s quilt raffle fundraiser. Help support this worthwhile project and enter to win one of two beautiful quilts made and donated by Pam Ventgen. The quilts will be on display in the First National Bank Alaska lobby beginning Monday. Check them out! The two lucky winners will be revealed at a drawing Dec. 15, noon, at the Seward Community Library. And you don’t even have to be present to win.
Tickets are ONLY $1 and can be purchased from: Seward Community Library, Seward Museum, Teresa Roy at First National Bank Alaska, Mary Tougas at Hertz, Karla Oates at Sew’n Bee Cozy, Vanta Shafer at Cover to Cover Books, and Jackie Wilde at the Breeze Inn lobby.
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