Community

Affordable Housing

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On Saturday, I sat in on another focus group meeting on the Culver Comprehensive Plan.  This one was specific to the Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Council and Fund.  It was a fairly good discussion and several achievable goals were added to the consultant’s list for the plan.  I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more discussion about why goals from the previous plan weren’t met and how to achieve that, but overall I thought it was positive.

The Dream of “Affordable Housing”

As with every single Culver meeting on the Comprehensive Plan that I’ve attended, the subject of affordable housing came up.  This is such a nebulous term that is thrown around with people at the table talking about houses currently available in town for $70,000, others talking about the $125,000 to $250,000 range and also the eco-friendly housing project that has been floated around which is looking at the $250,000 range.  To help me get a handle on it, I asked a banker friend to break it down.  (This is all in big fat round numbers, so don’t get too picky on my math, please!)

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Culver Fall Fest

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With Lakefest almost upon us, the Culver Chamber of Commerce is already looking ahead to the Culver Fall Fest.  One of the events they would really like to push is the Scarecrow Contest.  The scarecrow contest has withered, so to speak, over the last few years.  The Chamber believes if they can get a good turn out for this, they can draw in media for a news spot on the scarecrows and thus the rest of the events.  They think critical mass on this will be a minimum of 50 scarecrows.  Put your creative thinking caps on and see what you can come up with!

The entry fee for the contest is $10 and there is a $200 prize for the best scarecrow.  To help support this, I am offering to reimburse the entry fee for any Easterday Construction Co., Inc. employee or employee family member.  (I will ask that they credit Easterday Construction on their entry so we can keep track.)  I will also offer a $100 prize to match the Chamber $200 prize if an ECC entry win!  Kathy and Julie have already accepted the challenge.  Any ECC entries will be highlighted and credit here.

Ronald Liechty’s Birthday

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Ron Liechty
Ronald Liechty

I was fortunate to be invited to attend Ron Liechty’s 80th Birthday Party at the Conservation Club on Saturday.  It was a surprise party put on by his family and it was nice to see the community come out to celebrate with him.

I’ve known Ron for over a decade and I am pleased to call him a friend.  My initial introduction was through Easterday Construction’s work on Garden Court projects.  Up until this year Ron has been the President of Garden Court.  This is a case of a client becoming a friend… A goal I have with all of our clients.

If I hadn’t met Ron through work, I’m sure I would have known him through other associations.  It seems like he has been an ubiquitous fixture in Plymouth and Marshall County over the last several decades, serving on various boards and in many cases taking on the leadership and spearheading projects.  He is an example of someone giving back to the community.  This is an example I try to follow and try to encourage others to pursue.

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VTAC Silent Auction

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VTAC LogoThis is a reminder that VTAC, Veterans Therapeutic Arts Center will be having an open house and silent auction next Saturday.  VTAC was started earlier this year by a great group of veterans to provide a center for therapy to all those who have served in the U.S. military and their families through instruction and participation in the arts, crafts, mechanics and similar activities and endeavors  I had the opportunity to meet with them as a representative of the Marshall County Community Foundation grants committee.  After meeting them and hearing about the good work they are doing, I was pleased to be able to champion their cause and help them secure a grant.

If you’re interested in reading about my meeting with them, you can find it on the Easterday Construction Co., Inc. blog here.

If you’re looking for something to do on October 20th, go out to MoonTree Studios and support these guys.  They’re a wonderful group and they have found a fantastic way to help our community.