Pat O'Donnell Civic Center Celebrates 25th Anniversary
IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - Monday, August 04, 2008 - In two days the Patrick O'Donnell Civic Center will celebrate its 25th anniversary. In just 1 day Ironwood voters will determine if there will another 25 years ahead for the "Pat". Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 5th, the current one mil tax comes up for renewal. The tax is not an additional tax its a renewal millage. The average Ironwood taxpayer pays approximately "$10 PER YEAR" to support the center. That's 19 cents per week or 3 cents per day. A small contribution to what may be Ironwood's most important asset.
The civic center is located on the campus of Gogebic Community College, another most important asset. It is very fitting that the campus was chosen to be the home of the Civic Center.
Bear with me while tell a short story about a recent trip I made with IronwoodInfo reporter Arvo Toolanen. We were headed to the Town Hall in Bergland. We stopped at Nordines and Arvo went inside to ask where the Town Hall was located and mistakenly asked "where's your civic center?" The person in the store replied "Our Civic Center is located in Ironwood!" We believe that says it all. It clearly demonstrates the importance of the "Pat" not only to Ironwood, but to our entire region.
Every rural area has a center. In the western U.P. That center is clearly Ironwood. The College and the Civic Center undoubtedly is what makes Ironwood that center. They are the cornerstones of our community. Life without either of these important assets diminishes our community's importance and stature. Every town has a Post Office and every village has a library and a school district. But only Ironwood has a College and a Civic Center.
The Patrick O'Donnell Civic Center has served our Community well. Our community is proud of the roll the Civic Center plays in the lives of our youth. Approximately 300 skaters, ages 3 through 19 years in age in the Polar Bear Hockey and Ice Crystal Figure Skating Clubs use the center. Each year the Ice Crystals put on three shows that draw more than 1,000 skating fans. The Polar Bears have hosted dozens of tournaments including state championships. These events not only filled the center but also filled local motels and restaurants during long weekends. In addition to the Bears and Crystals.
On the average more than 150 additional children use the ice facilities during open skating each weekend. This is exactly where my grand kids learned to skate. They also learned to ski and skate when the Norrie School kids went to Mt. Zion on their school bus once a week. Each Wednesday afternoon home schooled children skate at the civic center.
The civic center is not just for kids. Many adult activities also take place at the civic center. Each spring The Home and Sport Show attracts between 4,000 and 5,000 attendees. The Range Master Gardeners contribute both money and volunteer time to the M.S.U. Extension's booth at the Home Show The Range Master Gardeners provide gardening information and answer questions asked by local gardening enthusiast attending the show. This service to our community doesn't cost the public anything. It's simply another benefit to having the Patrick O'Donnell Civic Center in our community.
The Cabin Fever Show another adult function at the center draws 2000 or more attendees. Finally, as respect to events, what child of any age hasn't been excited watching the Circus at the "Pat". The Shrine circus had more than 1600 spectators during two performances. As for tax revenues, the "Pat" depends on the generosity of the taxpayers when they enter the voting booth. Even more so, the success of the center depends on the intellectual understanding of just how important the center is not only the city but to communities distantly removed from Ironwood.
Lou Bonagura
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The article above was originally posted to IronwoodInfo.com. Lou Bonagura is the webmaster and principle reporter for that web site.)