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Children’s Corner: Niagara museum gets grant for new area

NIAGARA AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY Museum Director Karen Klenke speaks to fifth-grade students in Katie Swanson’s class at Niagara Elementary School about her plans for a Children’s Corner at the museum. (Theresa Proudfit/Daily News photo)

NIAGARA — The Niagara Area Historical Museum is building a Children’s Corner and buying a dinosaur, thanks to a $2,400 grant from the M&M Area Community Foundation Marinette and Menominee counties.

The approximately 5-foot-long metal pterodactyl being made by Fabricating Machining and Repair of Vulcan will hang from the ceiling in the Children’s Corner, serving as mascot for the new area.

Construction of the space will begin immediately and hopefully be done by Memorial Day weekend, Museum Director Karen Klenke said.

As part of the planning process, Klenke on Wednesday visited the combined fifth-grade classes of Katie Swanson and Maryellen Wagener at Niagara School.

“I came to you guys because you are my friends and you helped us with our museum. You helped make it alive when we decided to develop the Native American Day that we had together. You were totally part of it, and you were totally there for us. Now we can extend ourselves to a special place for just kids,” she told the students.

BRAYDEN BARTELS SHOWS a photo of Paula the Pterodactyl that will hang from the Niagara Area Historical Society Museum Children’s Corner coming this spring. (Theresa Proudfit/Daily News photo)

Then Klenke asked the fifth-graders to decide the gender of the pterodactyl and give it a name. Ruled a female, several students suggested she be called Tina, Teri, Tara, Shadow and Paula. A vote by the 24 students made it official — the new museum mascot will be known as Paula.

Brayden Bartels suggested the name as a nod to Paula Gruszynski, executive director of the M&M Area Community Foundation.“I thought it would be smart because she gave us the money,” Bartels said.

Gruszynski said having the children name the pterodactyl was a fantastic idea.

“The part I love about having a pterodactyl named after me is that the kids understand where the money came from — that I happen to be the lady that gives out money to be able to start something like this, but that the money didn’t come from me. That this is instilled in the young people and that they will do the same someday. It represents community,” she said.

The $2,400 will come from the foundation’s Philanthropy Fund, created to support projects in Marinette and Menominee counties that advance community well-being and stability, including a “Pay It Forward” component to inspire charitable leadership. Thirteen of 36 applications were funded.

“The grant committee looks at how much money we have available and what kind of community impact the money will have and this is a great one,” Gruszynski said.

The M&M Area Community Foundation awards grants three times a year to local nonprofits, schools, churches and government entities in the two counties. The foundation’s mission is to inspire people to provide lasting legacies that enrich communities.

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