LOOKS LIKE THE Beacon House will soon have a new home.
The UP Celebrity Golf Classic gets underway today (Wednesday), and Beacon House CEO Mary Tavernini promises a “special announcement” at tonight’s dinner. She won’t disclose anything more than that.
However, it’s been well documented that the Beacon House, over the last year, has been searching for a new home on or near the campus of the new hospital. Beacon House provides much needed housing for families of patients at the hospital.
Duke LifePoint broke ground on its new facility last month.
Until now, Tavernini’s gotten no commitments on a location from the hospital bigwigs.
Sure seems like the “special announcement” could put an end to that. Especially since Jim Bogan, the executive in charge of Duke LifePoint’s three U.P. hospitals, will be at the dinner.
The golf tournament, now in its sixth year, has been nothing short of phenomenal. It netted a record $150,000 last year. That’s a very big deal for the U.P.
A huge chunk of the credit has to go to Steve Mariucci–a Yooper and a celebrity–who’s devoted his time, energy, and heart to the project over the years.
THE SORELY NEEDED facelift for the Father Marquette park on Front Street will likely start later this summer but don’t expect it to be finished until next year.
Final plans for the city-owned park still haven’t been fully approved and funded.
It’s gonna happen, though. Two hundred thousand dollars worth of improvements.
That’ll include new walkways, picnic tables, plantings, handicapped accessibility, lighting, a tie-in to the Iron Ore Heritage Trail, even an events area.
All this at a park that most of us barely notice next door to the Lake Superior Community Partnership. Right now, it seems like little more than a statue obscured by trees and bushy lilacs, huge rocks, wild grass, weeds….and that’s about it.
With its facelift, it’ll be an attractive, welcoming addition to the southern entrance of downtown.
Who’s responsible for the project? None other than the Marquette Beautification and Restoration Committee, the folks responsible for all the flower plantings in south Marquette.
Volunteers. Concerned citizens. The kind of people who make this town special.
A LOCAL ARCHITECTURAL firm is getting some national recognition.
A house on Lakewood Lane designed by RG Design is now in the top ten in the Showdown for the Marvin Architect’s Challenge. It’s a worldwide competition that started with 168 contestants.
Professionals have already handed out other awards in the contest, but the Showdown will be determined by online voting. You can vote for the local boys.
The ultra contemporary, lakeside home was custom-built for a local family and completed late last year. It features an indoor lap pool and a beachside gazebo attached to the house by a footbridge.
Cost of the home? No one’s saying, but you can start at a million dollars and then head north.
Way north.
HOW MUCH PUBLIC art do we have in Marquette?
Not much, unfortunately.
The folks at Trimedia want to change that. They’ve been building and remodeling their offices on West Washington, and now they want to erect a large piece of public art at the location.
Something exciting. Something that’ll make you wanna stop and take your picture next to it.
They’ve got nothing specific in mind yet except that it has to complement the other buildings. They’ve enlisted NMU professor Dale Wedig as a consultant.
You got an idea? You got skills? They’ll listen to you.
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THE EFFORT TO get “dark stores” legislation passed this year is by no means a slam dunk.
Yes, the bill recently passed the House by a surprising 97-11 margin, but it could still face staunch opposition in the Senate where it’ll likely to come up for a vote this fall.
Obstacles remain. Namely the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Restailers Association, and the Michigan Manufacturers Association. They oppose any change in how Michigan businesses have been assessed in recent years.
The businesses–especially the big ones–have gotten huge tax breaks in recent years which in turn has led to decreased revenues for municipalities, and a cut in services.
The legislation, if passed, would reverse all that. State Senator Tom Casperson will be leading the way to get it passed.
IT’S BEEN QUITE a year, good and bad, for State Representative John Kivela.
First he had to deal with the huge embarrassment of a DUI downstate, complete with video of the arrest posted on social media by someone who clearly wasn’t a fan of his.
But he also helped engineer some meth bills through the legislature, and he’s been a prime mover in getting the House to pass the dark store legislation.
And now he’s been named “Legislator of the Year” by the Michigan United Conservation Clubs. Those are the folks interested in hunting, fishing and conservation issues. A pretty big honor.
Not big enough, though, to deter, potential opponents in this year’s election. City Commissioner Sara Cambensy is challenging him for the Democratic nomination. Two Republicans are entered in the Republican primary.
ABC 10 SPORTSCASTER Sam Ali is making a name for himself.
More important, he’s helping us better understand Islam.
Ali, from downstate Dearborn, is a practicing Muslim, and he and interactive media editor Andrew Lorinser, recently aired two live segments on Islam on Facebook.
One dealt with Ramadan, the other with reaction to the Orlando massacre. That’s a tough task for an American Muslim these days but Ali didn’t hesitate. He says reaction was generally very positive. He suffered no personal attacks on social media.
ABC 10 will be airing a piece Thursday at 5:30 on Islam, and another next week. It’s good to see local TV tackling controversial issues.
As for Ali, he’s an engaging personality who’s recently taken on a couple of other challenges–competitive eating at local restaurants, and athletic competitions where he’s under-qualified (e.g. playing goalie even though he can barely skate).
He’s having fun doing a job he clearly enjoys. And he’s taught us a thing or two along the way.
You got news? Email briancabell@gmail.com