Grant Sweet Memorial Essay Contest Winners

The winning essays will be printed in the 2014 Memorial Day parade booklet.

By Ceci Marlow Last night, prizes were awarded to three area students for their Grant Sweet Memorial Day essays entered in this contest. We are grateful to our sponsors--the Friends of Cromaine, the American Legion Post 1415-Hartland, Nancy Purtzenski, Sue Strouse, and an anonymous generous donor. They provide the funds for the three prizes of $300, $200, and $100. The contest was open to 7th through 12th grade students in Livingston County; we had 15 essays submitted from Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy, Hartland, and Howell. All three winners attend Howell schools. The winners are: Tears flowed freely after the reading of the three essays. Nancy Purtzenski Sweet, Grant's wife, was in attendance along with her sister, JoEllen, and …

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Cromaine Gets Much Needed Update

The village location of the Cromaine District Library will be installing a new elevator, replacing the old one from the 1980's.

A much-needed and "long overdue" update at the Cromaine District Library- Village location, began this week with the installation of a new elevator. Despite regular maintenance, library staff members still had become stuck in the old elevator twice this year already, according to Cromaine Director Ceci Marlow. "It is, simply, an old model with out-of-date and hard-to-find circuit boards," Marlow said in an email to Hartland Patch. The 33-year-old, elevator was installed during the building of the 1980 addition, according the Cromaine Facebook page. Marlow estimated the project will take approximately three weeks to complete, but allowed for five weeks before planning any third-floor events or activites. "Fortunately, the Library's trustees…

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Grant Sweet Essay Contest in Honor of Memorial Day

Student essays must be submitted by May 6 to the Cromaine District Library.

Submissions for the Grant Sweet Essay Contest are now being accepted at the Cromaine District Library. Students from any Livingston County middle school or high school in grades 7 through 12 are eligible to interview a soldier or veteran and enter a 250-word essay about what their service meant to them. The contest is in memory of the library's former building manager Grant Sweet. Essays must be submitted no later than 8 p.m. on May 6 and are judged by a panel with cash prizes of $300, $200, and $100 awarded. Winning essays are also published in the Hartland Area Community Council’s annual Memorial Day Parade booklet the next year.  The announcment of the contest winner and readings will take place on May 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting …

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Upcoming Events at Cromaine District Library

Cromaine District Library's Big Read 2013 Kick-off starts March 23.

Cromaine District Library's Big Read 2013 – Edgar Allan Poe – Kick-off is Saturday, March 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the Cromaine's website. During the event, there wll be free copies of “Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe” while supplies last, courtesy of the Friends of Cromaine. Cromaine’s first anthology of community art and writing premieres at this event with copies available for sale and writers in the anthology will read their works. Cromine District Library will be hosting a full lineup of events during Spring Break, April 1 – 5, for families that will be in town. For more information about the Big Read events check out the library's newsletter and program calendar for March-April events. Information provided by…

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Book Sale at Cromaine District Library Starts Thursday

All book are 10 cents per item or a full bag for $4 all day.

The Cromaine District Library will be hosting their Friends of Cromaine Library book sale starting Thursday through Saturday. 10 cents per item or a bag full for $4.00 ALL the time Membership prices include: Bake Sale on Saturday morning Cromaine in the Village Community Room. Buy your Raven and support Big Read 2013 Ravens to support the Big Read 2013 for a $1.00 donation - sign your name, and you will be on the Raven Wall at the Crossroads Branch during Big Read 2013. Support the Friends and their Big Read gift of $4,500.

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History of Working Exhibit Comes to Hartland

The Cromaine District Library will host the Smithsonian Institutions traveling exhibition through February 9.

History of Working Exhibit Comes to Hartland

The Cromaine District Library will host the Smithsonian Institutions traveling exhibition through February 9.

Photographs taken from our country’s history in an interactive exhibit are now on display at the Cromaine District Library, village location. The Way We Worked tells the story of how, why and where we worked over the past 150 years and according to Marketing Manager Carol Taggart, the free exhibit is an interesting piece of our nation’s history that involves people of all ages. “There’s a whole section on small children and how kids were in the labor force,” Taggart said. Families touring the exhibit will be able to see images of 9 and 10-year-old kids working in factories, farms or selling newspapers on the corner and shows a history, according to Taggart, that children today could never imagine.  Coordinated by the Michigan Humanities …

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Cromaine District Library Board of Trustees Candidate Brief Biographies

Four candidates will be on the November ballot for board positions for the Cromaine District Library.

By Ceci Marlow Paul Black More than 14 year resident of Brighton Township, Mr. Black returned to the Cromaine Board of Trustees by appointment in August 2011. (He filled the term of Christina Maunder when she resigned due to leaving the district.) Paul’s public service experience, in addition to previously serving on Cromaine’s board from July 2002 to October 2007, was the City of Novi Public Library Board, the City of Novi Stormwater Management Committee. He is retired from his profession of property management. He is an active election worker. His children are grown and on their own. On the current board, Mr. Black is a member of the Community Relations Committee and the Planning and Evaluaton Committee. Mary Cafmeyer Ms Cafmeyer is a 12…

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Candidate Q&A: Douglas P. Sargent for Cromaine Library Trustee

Douglas P. Sargent for running for library trustee for the Cromaine District Library.

Family  Education Employment Patch: Why are you running for a library board position and what relevant qualities/skills would you bring to the position?    I'm running for Trustee because I want to remain relevant to and within our community. To serve is to be involved and have a an impact during the time we are here. I bring to the position a strong history of management (business Operations, Human Resources, Labor Negotiations  and leadership. I possess conservative values both fiscally and politically as well as the ability to compromise. Patch: What are the issues facing the library today?  As one would expect in today's economy, declining revenue, however given the the outstanding job done by the previous and current Board of Trustees…

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