ARE SERVICE CLUBS on the decline in this country? Is their membership getting older every day? Will some of them go out of business for lack of interest and members? Yes, yes, and yes. But here's why service clubs--which have struggled to attract younger members--matter. Immensely. They Get Stuff Done. Example: ... Continue Reading
Mayor Stonehouse: Marquette’s Lakefront Is Not for Sale
'THE CITY OF Marquette has absolutely no intention of selling any of its lakefront property. In fact, it is buying lakefront property." The words of Mayor Fred Stonehouse, who seems vaguely annoyed by accusations that Marquette is selling off its most valuable property on its way to becoming another Traverse City or ... Continue Reading
YMCA’s Day in Bankruptcy Court, Veridea’s Plans for a Downtown Development, the Storm Damage at the Picnic Rocks Parking Lot, Marquette Mountain’s Changes (Cheaper Passes!), and the Art for Babies Project at the Hospital
A GIANT STEP forward for the Marquette County YMCA last week as it tries to put its bankruptcy nightmare behind it. It's now one step closer to solvency. A federal bankruptcy judge officially accepted the Y's disclosure statement detailing how it got into its financial predicament, and then also received the Y's plan ... Continue Reading
YMCA’s Astonishing Comeback, Barrel and Beam’s Opening, Meijer’s Outreach, Ampersand’s Plans, Heidi Johnson’s Dismay, Temple Beth Sholom’s New Day, and the Bible of Bike Tests
PHOENIX RISING. The mythical bird re-arising from its own ashes is an appropriate metaphor for the Marquette County YMCA. A year ago, it was more than $7 million in debt, its very future, with 5000 members, was in doubt. It sold off some assets but it was still $5.5 million in the red. A staggering sum for a small ... Continue Reading
The Homeless in Marquette: They’re Becoming Everybody’s Problem
"IT'S THE ELEPHANT in the room that nobody wants to talk about." Those are the words of Marquette Police Chief Blake Rieboldt. He's talking about the homeless people in town, and more specifically about the problems some of them are creating for his police force. In 2015 and 2016 combined, his officers responded to ... Continue Reading