A truly grand opening! | Oxford Leader

There was definitely no shortage of compliments Saturday as members of the public toured, utilized and enjoyed the new Addison Township Public Library during the facility’s grand opening.
Here’s what folks were saying;
‘It looks like a wonderful improvement,? said Leonard resident Eric Wright, who attended the opening with his son Eli, 2, and daughter Norah, 6. ‘There’s so many things here for the kids that were stored away in corners (at the old library) and now, they’re out in the open. They love it already.?
‘I think it’s going to become the community center that this township has sorely lacked,? said Joel King, of Addison. ‘It’s going to do more to pull the township together as a community than anything we’ve seen since we moved here.?
‘It’s pretty cool. It’s a lot bigger than the old one,? said Addison resident Kevin Kindermann, who attended the opening with his 3-year-old son, Matt. ‘It looks like they’ve got a little room to grow now and that’s always nice.?
‘I love it,? said Addison resident Catherine Compton. ‘It’s so big and roomy. I used to sit on the floor at the other library, looking at the books. Everything was so crammed together . . . I’m so glad that they finally expanded the library.?
‘I think it’s beautiful,? said Leonard resident Carol Balint, who attended the opening with her daughters Danyelle, 9, and Alexis, 12. ‘There’s more books. Everything’s organized a lot better. There’s a better area for the kids.?
‘It seems like it has a lot more for the kids,? said Leonard resident Julie Carr, who attended the opening with her son, Liam, 4. ‘My son loves to read. This is going to be his favorite spot now. He’ll take this over a playground any time.?
‘I’m kind of impressed,? Addison resident Georgene Thomas, who worked at the library for 6? years. ‘The old space was a little bit crowded. Here, you can actually put the books away. You don’t have to pile them or try to crowd them in. We’ve been waiting for this for a long time.?
‘It’s a 1,000 percent improvement over what they had as far as space and visibility,? said Addison resident Gene Louwaert, the local contractor who oversaw the library project. ‘I think they’ll have a great future in this building.?
‘We’ve been waiting a long time for it to open,? said Leonard resident Heather Creps, who attended the opening with her son Ethan, 2 and daughter Kaitlyn, 5. ‘It’s beautiful. Lots of great books for kids . . . There’s a lot more space here, it’s easy to find things and it’s really bright.?
‘I can finally see all the books we have. They were so piled in before,? said Carol Beens, of Addison. ‘I love seeing the new kids? reading area. I’m a retired teacher, so to see kids reading is just wonderful.?

A truly grand opening! added by on October 19, 2011
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When it comes to the fast food game, there are more choices now than there’s ever been.
But judging by the reception Oxford gave it, McDonald’s is still the undisputed king of the hamburger business.
On Dec. 17, Oxford’s new McDonald’s restaurant officially opened for business with so much fanfare one would have thought a new battleship was being christened.
‘Both the interior and the outside of the store look very nice,? said owner Jack McMahon. ‘I just hope we live up to our press notices.?
The new restaurant, which features dual drive-through lanes, is located on the west side of M-24, south of Ray Rd. and north of Market St.
‘I have waited for this day for a long time and I’m just thrilled to have it,? said Oxford store manager Joan Halsted, who’s been with McDonald’s since 1976 and won two Ray Kroc awards.
The old McDonald’s at 280 N. Washington St. was demolished last week after approximately 30 years of service to Oxford.
‘It’s the same crew; we just moved to a new location,? Halsted noted.
Members of the Oxford Wildcats varsity football team were on hand to help raise a massive American flag in front of the new restaurant. They were joined by veterans from American Legion Post 108.
OHS choir students performed the National Anthem followed by a few holiday tunes.
‘This was more than I could have ever anticipated or hoped for,? said Halsted, referring to the ceremony. ‘It’s so neat to have the community here. I’m speechless.?
McMahon cut the ceremonial ribbon with members of his management team and the one and only Ronald McDonald.
McMahon expects to see increased business at the new location, especially from morning commuters headed south on M-24.
‘This is the breakfast side of the road,? he said.
‘I think with the double drive-through system, we’ll be able to wait on people twice as fast,? Halsted added.
McDonald’s and McMahon have enjoyed a long relationship. It all started with McMahon’s mother working as Ray Kroc’s secretary. Kroc built the McDonald’s empire.
The McMahon family opened their first McDonald’s on Perry St. in Pontiac in 1960.
‘My dad, my mother and myself ran the business together,? he said.
Today, McMahon owns McDonald’s restaurants in Oxford, Lake Orion and Auburn Hills by Great Lakes Crossing.

A truly grand opening added by CJ Carnacchio on December 22, 2010
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