Can we continue the trend?
THE NUMBERS HERE in Michigan look encouraging. Specifically these:
New COVID cases in Michigan
April 3….1953
April 29….1137
May 18….773
June 10….171
The trend, despite some daily and weekly ups and downs, is unmistakable. We can criticize Governor Whitmer for her occasional missteps–maybe not opening up the UP soon enough, certainly for making a foolish remark about Googling how to cut your own hair–but overall, Michigan’s strategy for combatting the pandemic seems to have worked so far.
“It is good to see that the number of new cases and the number of new deaths continue to decrease in the state of Michigan,” says Dr. Kevin Piggott, Marquette County’s chief medical officer. “But there are still areas of concern in Michigan such as Pontiac, Royal Oak, St Joseph, and Flint which all have fairly high numbers of news cases….”
Dr. Piggott’s also encouraged by the relatively slow rise in cases in the UP and Marquette County–still only 128 total in the UP, 59 in Marquette County. “We have had a slight increase in cases the past two weeks compared to earlier in May although the numbers are small and may not be significant. Nevertheless, this is the time in which an increase may start as our community is ‘opening’ up.”
That’s the concern. We’re going out more, we’re visiting stores, restaurants, coffee shops, hair salons, and gyms. We’re meeting with larger groups of families and friends. Tourists are starting to return.
“People are creatures of habit,” says Dr. Piggott, “and so I am concerned we may get too casual in our desire to return to normal…I wish the use of masks was not such a controversial issue but I have to ask that people still wear them in public places. Uncertainty remains regarding the degree of safety a face mask provides, but if laundered and handled correctly, it is likely to at least be better than not wearing one at all.”
He’ll be the first to admit that scientists and doctors are still searching for answers in the pandemic. But they’re making progress. And so are we. The numbers are down, way down–a tribute to our perseverance and patience over the last three months. Now it’s up to us to maintain our vigilance so that we can all start to enjoy the summer.
Stepping out on his own
IT SEEMS AN unlikely time to start a new business…
But trainer Travis Alexander is taking the leap. The popular former director of personal training and fitness for the YMCA has just opened up his own fitness center in Marquette Township.
“It’s been a dream of mine for the last five years to own and operate my own gym,” Alexander says. “The YMCA is a great organization and I really appreciate all they’ve done for me. They’ve allowed me to grow as a trainer and a leader.”
But after 12 years in the business and two at the YMCA, he and his wife Melodie felt it was time to move on. They co-own TM Fitness and will be offering training for individuals and small groups. Alexander says most, if not all, of his clients will be keeping their membership at the Y.
As for his Fitness Friday segments on TV6, those too will continue.
A new business…and a new baby
ANOTHER YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR taking the plunge.
Veterinarian Tracy Nyberg has left Bayshore Veterinary Hospital in Harvey after nine years, and is having a brand new clinic built on Lakeshore Boulevard just north of Coco’s. They broke ground on the property about a week ago.
“Working at Bayshore was a great experience for me,” Nyberg says, “but I wanted to do something different. I have trouble sitting still. And when you can build your own business from scratch, you can make it exactly the way you want it to be.”
Some have questioned, Why a veterinarian clinic on Lakeshore? Well, because the land was available. And, Nyberg says, since it’s right across from the bike path where so many dogs are walked every day, what better way to advertise?
She hopes to open the doors to her new clinic in October.
By the way, she’s got more than a new business to keep her occupied in the months ahead. She’s the mother of a six-year-old and a four-year-old, and…oh yeah…she’s due to have another baby later this month.
You can be sure she won’t be sitting still.
A jewelry store vacates
ON THE OTHER hand, the business climate has not been all that pleasant for everybody.
Kay Jewelers in the Township has cleared out its store and taken down its sign in the last month.
No indication of why. No sign on the door. Attempts to contact Kay headquarters have failed.
Suffice to say, these will be challenging months ahead for many local businesses, big and small, chains and independents.