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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt"><b><u><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></u></b></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial">CONTACT: Keegan Sulecki, Head of Adult Services<br></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt">PHONE: 734-475-8732 x 218<br></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt">E-MAIL: <a href="mailto:ksulecki@chelseadistrictlibrary.org">ksulecki@chelseadistrictlibrary.org</a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt"><b style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial">April 5, 2016 | Chelsea, MI | </span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial">Chelsea District Library (CDL) is pleased to
announce the receipt of an additional grant for the World War I Commemorative
Centennial Project <i>Strong Foundations New
Possibilities. </i>This project, which commemorates the WWI centennial through
Chelsea residents’ photographs, letters, stories, and artifacts, will culminate
with an installation of banners on buildings throughout downtown Chelsea. These
banners will display historic World War I era photos; chosen from those currently
being collected from Chelsea-area residents.</span><br></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial">Deborah Greer,
co-Director of Chelsea River Gallery, originally conceptualized this project. “</span><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial">I was moved by an exhibit by
artist Marian Marzynski titled ‘Before I Was Anybody, I Was a Child Survivor of
the Holocaust’. It displayed large-scale outdoor banners with images of child
Holocaust survivors from Warsaw. The inspiration to do something similar in
Chelsea for our WWI veterans took hold and would not let go,” says Deborah. </span><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial">She and her co-Director, Patti Schwarz then
approached the Chelsea District Library to help make it a reality. This
partnership continues a long-term relationship between the two organizations;
one that has created and produced several community events focused on art and
culture. Both organizations will be instrumental in the planning and
implementation of this commemorative display, which will kick-off on Saturday,
July 30th. </span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial">CDL received an initial
grant from Michigan Humanities Council (MHC) in November that allowed this commemorative
project to get off the ground. In March, the World War I project was
incorporated into the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce’s grant application for the
Community Tourism Action Plan Program (CTAP) through Washtenaw County
Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This project is one of the most intriguing
collaborations yet for our community. It speaks to the heritage of our
community, our country, and the world in ways that are very distant to most of
our citizens,” says Bob Pierce, Executive Director of the Chelsea Chamber of
Commerce. On March 24<sup>th</sup> the CTAP grant application was approved, allowing
the World War I project to expand from the downtown area into the south end of
Chelsea. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial">CDL has launched the
World War I Commemorative Centennial Project on the <i>Stories of Chelsea</i> website, available at </span><a href="http://www.storiesofchelsea.chelseadistrictlibrary.org"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial">www.storiesofchelsea.chelseadistrictlibrary.org</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial"> where you can browse the first photographs
and stories collected. CDL continues to look for Word War I era photographs,
stories, and artifacts from the community. While photographs will continue to
be accepted, in order for them to be considered for the banners they must be received
by April 25<sup>th</sup>. Community members with items to contribute can
contact Keegan Sulecki, Head of Adult Services at 734.475.8732 x218 or at
<a href="mailto:ksulecki@chelseadistrictlibrary.org">ksulecki@chelseadistrictlibrary.org</a>.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial">About Us: Chelsea
District Library is nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide equal
access to quality resources that serve the lifelong cultural, educational and
informational needs and interests of all people. The Library currently serves 14,000 residents
in the Chelsea district – City of Chelsea plus Dexter, Lima, Lyndon and Sylvan
townships and more than 20,000 individuals visit the Library each month. For more information visit <a href="http://chelsea.lib.mi.us">chelsea.lib.mi.us</a></span></p>
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<div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Patty Roberts | Marketing Coordinator<br><div><div>Chelsea District Library | 221 S. Main St. Chelsea, MI 48118</div><div><a value="+17344758732" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">734.475.8732 ext. 216</a> | <a href="mailto:proberts@chelseadistrictlibrary.org" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">proberts@chelseadistrictlibrary.org</a></div></div></div><div></div></div></div></div>
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