The Lakeshore Rotary Club is planning a fundraising event for next month as it seeks to help establish a new public gathering space in downtown Stevensville.
The Rotary’s Katie White tells us the Stevensville Community Gathering Place will include amenities to support a variety of events.
“There’s a parking lot right in downtown Stevensville that we are looking to develop into a location that people can spend time with,” White said. “So if anyone’s interested, you can go to the Village of Stevensville website and you can see some of the work that we’ve done together. And so the intention is that when there’s farmers markets or different events downtown, it’ll be a place that people can go and gather and spend time together.”
So, what is the Rotary hoping to add to the space?
“What we’re hoping to do is to have some sort of park-like area where there’s seating. We’d love to have some fireplaces. We would love to have an overhang so we’re able to block it out for weather -related things. And so ideally, it’d be great if we could do things like farmer’s markets and other events downtown in that spot.”
White says the Rotary started working with the village on this project about a year ago, but this is the first fundraiser being held to support it. The “Sip & Service Wine & Cheese Fundraiser” will take place on February 26 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Weko Beach House in Bridgman.
“We will be bringing in local wineries. We have Dablon on board so far and intend to have at least one other winery. So you can come in, taste. We’ll also have all kinds of cheese and light appetizers from The Cheese Lady, who has been very kind in donating that for us.”
They’ll also have a silent auction, and White says the evening will be a great chance for everyone to socialize. She’s excited to see the gathering place project coming together. She hopes people come out to support it.
“There’s been so much going on in downtown Stevensville the last few years that it’d be really fantastic if downtown had additional spaces for people to spend time down there when they’re already down there enjoying Watermark or some of the other locations.”
Tickets to the “Sip & Service Wine & Cheese Fundraiser” are $50 and can be purchased online now.
White says there isn’t yet a specific fundraising goal for the new Community Gathering Space, but this event ought to be a good way to get started.
