A LITTLE BIT of deja vu these days at Community Action Alger-Marquette. The nonprofit agency (formerly known as AMCAB) helps low income residents with housing (eg Grandview Marquette), nutrition, early childhood education, and utility subsidies, but for the second time in a year, it's been hit with trouble near the top. Specifically this: Rod Desjardins, who was the housing services director for the agency for four years, has been terminated or resigned from his position. It's not entirely clear what happened. Desjardins says he filed a grievance against executive director Michelle Lajoie in September, charging her with creating a … [Read more...]
Changes Everywhere! Community Action, History Center, the Chamber, Travel Marquette….Plus Anderson Building Progress, TEDx Coming to Town, NMU Students Embracing the Real World, and Phil Niemisto Ailing but Surrounded by Friends
AS EXPECTED, A change at the top of Community Action Alger Marquette. Amy Lerlie has stepped down as executive director of the agency, following an investigation into charges by employees of harassment by Lerlie. No further details of the investigation have been released. Whether there is still legal action pending is uncertain. The interim executive director is Corey Holcomb. She's the early childcare education director at Community Action. The search for a new permanent executive director is starting. As for Lerlie, she's starting a new company involved in developing affordable housing in Michigan. She'll be based in Ishpeming … [Read more...]
Soccer Foes Looking for a Solution, Community Action Investigating Charges, Audience Sides with Bohnak, and Fat-Bikers Prepping for a Masochistic Race
CAN THE TWO competing youth soccer organizations in Marquette finally figure out how to work together? We may find out this Sunday. Four pm. The Power Soccer Academy and Superiorland Soccer Association will be meeting at the YMCA to see if they can work out a partnership. Leaders, coaches, parents, and kids will all be there. It's long overdue. The rift between the two has hurt the development of soccer in the community. It's hurt the kids. Soccer could be as big and competitive in this county as hockey--maybe bigger--but it's been blocked by the failure of PSA and SSA to get along. Both organizations currently have travel teams--SSA … [Read more...]
Sign Dispute Downtown, Lakeshore Building Demolition, Grandview Vacancies, Duke LifePoint’s Profitability, Dr. Tim’s Expansion, and a Hyperlocal Weather Forecast
A CONTROVERSY BREWING over signs in downtown Marquette. The planning and zoning department has been telling some building owners that their tenants--the merchants--have too many signs. Too much square footage on the outside of the buildings and too much in the windows. (An artistic design in a window is considered a sign.) The businesses are in violation of a city ordinance that frequently has been ignored, but now they've been ordered to eliminate some of the signs. "We didn't write the ordinance," says Dave Stensaas, city planner and zoning administrator. "We just enforce it." He says some businesses have regularly failed to get … [Read more...]
Country Village Prospects Brighten, Cognition Dispute Unresolved, Mountain Bikers Concerned, the Compound Prospers and Grows, New Hope for Seniors, and Shakespeare Dances the Hula While Drinking a Beer
FINALLY A TURNAROUND at Ishpeming's troubled Country Village development? Active Physical Therapy-Ishpeming has just bought their building in Country Village from Northern Michigan Bank. They'd previously been renting their space. Good news because it shows they have faith in the future of Country Village where a number of the businesses have been foreclosed on and shut down in the last couple of years. Maybe this purchase will give confidence to other merchants considering buying their buildings back from the banks (plural) who now own a good part of Country Village. In fact, there's a report that another business is on the verge … [Read more...]
Nordic Bay Property, Shiras Condos, Old Customs House, Orphanage Tours, Medical Center’s Future, State Police Demotion (of sorts), and a Celebrity Golf Challenge
THAT OLD NORDIC Bay Lodge site up on Shiras Hills? The one that was cleared last year? Still no plans for it. The property owner, Veridea Group, is waiting for a developer to come in with an idea and some cash, or Veridea, itself, may eventually develop it. When the market's right. The company, meantime, isn't standing pat. It's now looking beyond the borders of the U.P. It's bought a Residence Inn in Helena, Montana, of all places, and will shortly start building a Courtyard by Marriott downstate in Albion. Big ambitions for Veridea founder and owner Bob Mahaney who got started in the business abut 20 years ago. Veridea now owns … [Read more...]
YMCA Lawsuit, Cliffs’ Big Contract, NeuroTrainer Investment Campaign, Baseball Umpire Controversy, and Marquette’s Film Festival
THIS ISN'T EXACTLY what the Marquette County YMCA needs at this time. A lawsuit. The Y is being sued by G.A. Haan, the downstate development company that remodeled the old Phelps School in Ishpeming, and converted it into Phelps Square, a combination housing complex and community center. Here's what happened. Haan worked closely with the YMCA on the $5 million project with the understanding that once the renovation was completed, the YMCA, signing a long term lease, would open up an early child care development program in the building. Haan claims it spent $500,000 customizing the building for the Y. Everyone--the YMCA, Haan, and … [Read more...]
The Yellow Wall, Duck Pond, Orphanage Sale, Chamber Celebration, German Restaurant, and a Beer Party
THAT "YELLOW WALL" dispute on Front Street refuses to die down. The two parties are going to court again and it looks like the matter may not be resolved for a couple of months, maybe longer. Too bad for everybody involved, including the city. Quick background: The three White sisters grew up in Marquette but then moved away before buying a blighted structure at 215 Front a couple of years ago. They planned to turn it into a handsome, restored building with three apartments and a commercial space at the street level. And, we subsequently learned, the commercial space would become a wine bar. Yippee!! Well, just hold your … [Read more...]