Dear Friend,
I do hope your new year is off to a good start. It has been a challenging time with all the rain and flooding. Hopefully you have a good book to read!
As many of you know, I became President of The Commons Foundation on January 1, a role I look forward to in this new phase of the library project. We have some exciting work ahead and I look forward to communicating with you about this soon.
In the meantime, I thought it would be helpful for you to meet The Commons Foundation board members. The board is working hard on your behalf to ensure Larkspur gets the best modern library possible at The Commons. To this end, we are working closely with the city team, and will be involved in some capacity in many of the steps moving forward.
I look forward to meeting many of you this year. Feel free to reach out to me if you have questions and concerns.
The Commons Foundation Board
Ann Morrison is the President of the TCF and a native of Marin County. Ann (with help of husband Chris) raised four children in the Larkspur/Corte Madera School District. Ann was elected in 2011 to the Larkspur City Council and served eight years, two times as Mayor. Importantly, on the Council, Ms. Morrison helped kick-off plans and fundraising for a new Larkspur library. She describes our libraries as safe havens for kids, families, and adults providing support groups, book clubs, access to computers – a learning center for all. TCF looks forward to working with the City to build a modern library to fit the community needs.
Jon Ellenzweig has served as Treasurer for the Commons Foundation since 2020, leveraging his professional experience in finance and passion for community building. In addition to the Commons Foundation, Jon is on the board of the Lark Theater and is the current president of Twin Cities Softball. Jon and Kristi, as well as their children Heidi and Leo, have been Larkspur residents since 2016 and are passionate about the outdoors, sports, and creating a new light filled and accessible library and community hub.
Kathy Green is a founding member and the acting secretary of The Commons Foundation. She wears many hats in this role, including research, fundraising, public outreach and administration. A local resident since 1994, Kathy is deeply invested in the quality of life in Marin and Larkspur. Raising a family, working, and volunteering locally have strengthened her bonds to this community, and she is excited to help bring the Larkspur Library and gathering space to life for the benefit of all.
Cindy Winship has served on the Commons Foundation board since 2020. Since moving to Larkspur in 2008, she has been an active volunteer in her children’s schools and the greater community. A founding member and current board member of Corte Madera FC, Cindy has been a youth soccer coach for years. She currently teaches adult ESL classes through Tamalpais Adult School and coaches soccer at Marin Academy. Cindy and her husband, Chris, along with their three teenaged children, look forward to promoting and strengthening the Larkspur community with the construction of the new library.
Jeanne Friedel has been a Board Member of the Commons Foundation since its inception in 2019 and is currently serving her third term on the Park and Rec Commission, having served twice as Chair. In 2015 she started the non-profit group, the Rec’ing Crew to support Park and Rec specific needs and budget shortfalls. Born in Brooklyn NY, she has lived in Larkspur for over 15 years. Partnering with the City to build a new modern library to not only meet Larkspur’s needs but to truly create a welcoming community center is great passion.
Brock Wagstaff is a lifetime resident of Marin County, having grown up in Corte Madera and lived in Larkspur since 1980 where he and his wife Mary raised two children, Jesse and Laurel. He is a third-generation architect, following in the footsteps of his father and his grandfather who emigrated to the US in 1906. He retired from architecture in 2020 but continues to be involved in the community, serving on the Larkspur Planning Commission and now the Commons Foundation. He previously served on the boards of the Marin Builders Association and the American Alpine Club. He has a profound respect for his local history and hopes to be able to provide assistance as the Library project moves forward.
The Commons Foundation Board
TCF Sponsored Holiday Lights at Piper Park was a big hit!
TCF sponsored the Holiday Lights at Piper Park in December 2022, to say thank you to our community for supporting the campaign to build the new Larkspur Library at The Commons.
City staff received lots of compliments on the festive holiday lights. If you enjoyed them too, please let the city know you want to see them again this year.
City is looking for donations/sponsors to help with the expense. If you want to help, you can donate though The Larkspur Rec’ing Crew, the city’s fundraising partner in this endeavor.
In closing, I feel like Larkspur hit the Jackpot with your support and our Commons Board. We will keep you updated with our interactions and timeline with the City of Larkspur to build our modern library. We hope you are as excited as we are.
Best wishes,
Ann Morrison
President
The Commons Foundation