DIA to Host ‘New Baltimore Day’ for City Residents

The Detroit Institute of Arts has designated July 31 as New Baltimore day at the museum in response to the city’s participation in the institute’s Inside|Out program.

New Baltimore residents will be able to receive two free admissions to the DIA and will have the opportunity to participate in other activities offered by the institute, a DIA official said during Monday night’s city council meeting.

“To reciprocate the city of New Baltimore’s generosity, we have decided to offer a New Baltimore day at the DIA and it will be free admission for all residents in the city of New Baltimore with simply showing a driver’s license,” DIA Director of Public Programs Larry Baranski told the council.

The DIA, located at 5200 Woodward Ave. in Detroit, selected New Baltimore as one of many locations to become home to life-size, digital art replicas through the institute’s Inside|Out program. The high-quality reproductions are be framed, accompanied by an informational plaque and displayed through November, according to the DIA’s website.

“This program, which the city of New Baltimore has so graciously invited into your community – Inside|Out – are reproductions of some of the master works in our collection,” Baranski noted.

“In addition to the installations around your town, we have a number of programs that we are in the process of coordinating, including walking tours in July and August, and these will be guided tours.”

Baranski added that New Baltimore residents who come to the museum July 31 also have the opportunity to participate in the institute’s Family Fitting Room program, which allows DIA staff to customize a tour based on a person or family’s interests.

“If you have a special interest in history or any other subject, since we are one of the premiere art collections in the U.S., we can custom fit a tour for you to your interests,” Baranski said.

“We hope this will be just a small way of recognizing the generosity of welcoming us and our collection into your community.”

Michigan Municipal League Election, Free Picnic

Council members agreed to vote for five unopposed incumbents in the Michigan Municipal League Workers’ Compensation Fund trustee election. The five incumbents are: Lathrup Village Mayor Frank Brock Jr.; Paw Paw Manager Larry Nielsen; Elk Rapids President Daniel Reszka; Durand Manager Amy Roddy, and Gladwin Mayor Thomas Winarski. The Workers’ Compensation Fund provides compensation and risk management services for municipal workers.

Council also approved a request from Chesterfield Woods Church of the Nazarene Pastor Lerrin Wentworth, permitting him to display a banner advertising a free picnic to take place at Walter and Mary Burke Park on Wednesday, June 29 from 6:30-8 p.m. The event is open to the public and includes free food, popcorn, cotton candy and inflatables.

Council Members Applaud Bay-Rama

Council members took time during Monday night’s meeting to voice their appreciation toward the Bay-Rama organization’s efforts in successfully putting together the Bay-Rama Fishfly Festival, which ran in the city from June 22-26.

“Congratulations to the entire Bay-Rama committee,” council member Susan Burkhardt said. “It was an excellent festival this weekend, excellent parade, and we are very fortunate to have an organization like that in our community.”

John Dupray, council member and Bay-Rama organization president, thanked the city and its various departments that help with the festival each year for their cooperation during this year’s festival.