ANOTHER FOOD TRUCK is about to enter the fray in Marquette County.
“DaH Twisted Truck” (No, that’s not a photo of it on top) hopes to be rolling into action by the end of May. It’s a partnership between Davin Makela, who’s made a name for himself crafting chocolates for the last four years, and Hans Andel, who works at NMU.
They’ve also been making and selling pretzels for the last year. Hence, the name “Twisted”.
They’ll be offering up pretzel sandwiches and fries, as well as weekly specials, and come next winter, they’ll be concocting soups to keep us warm.
They’re now outfitting and decorating their truck, and it’s absolutely guaranteed to be more eye-catching than that crappy generic picture at the top.
A CHANGING OF the guard at two crucial institutions in Marquette. A time to say goodbye and thanks to two women who’ve devoted their time, energy, and skills to making Marquette and Marquette County a better place to live.
First, Mona Lang, the executive director of the Downtown Development Authority for the last 21 years.
Do you remember what Marquette’s downtown looked like back in the Nineties? Compared to what we have now, it’s like night and day.
“I think one of our biggest accomplishments was getting the railroad trestle removed from downtown,” she says. “It was controversial at the time but when we did it, it opened up the town, it brought the town together.”
Then there was the building of the Commons–referred to by skeptics at the time as “Mona’s White Elephant.” Not many skeptics now. The Commons has become the vibrant center of activity downtown.
And then there’s been development along the lakeshore. Again controversy. Everybody wants green space, but a growing city needs tax revenue, and it sure seems–despite all the criticism and controversy–that Marquette has handled development at or near the lakeshore just about right.
Mona was a vital part of that. She’s been a vital part of Marquette for the last two decades.
“I’m probably most proud of the fact that people in Marquette are now proud of their downtown,” she says. “I don’t think they were when we got here 21 years ago.”
Amen.
And how about Barb Meyer? Fifteen years as director of operations at the Marquette County United Way, 27 years altogether working for the organization.
“I never had a day when I didn’t enjoy coming to work,” she says. “I’ve loved working with the Board, with the volunteers, and with all of our member agencies.”
They did some good work together: More than a million dollars raised in the last decade, 255 programs helped, 73,000 residents benefitting from the United Way’s work and fundraising.
You can judge a community’s value by its pretty waterfront, but probably more important is the generosity of its residents. Sharing, nurturing, stepping in to help out when that help is most needed.
Barb helped spearhead those efforts with United Way.
Mona Lang and Barb Meyer will both be sticking around in their jobs for the next few months, and then we’ll find out whether their successors can fill some mighty big shoes.