January 2025

Rhonda Lassila: Trailblazer

When Munising’s trails call, Rhonda Lassila answers — not just with her footsteps, but with a wheels-on-the-ground purpose rooted in her love for this community. As president of the Munising Bay Trail Network, Lassila has been instrumental in transforming the area into a hub for outdoor recreation, a mission that blends her personal connection to Munising with a vision for its future.
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Bringing history to life

Munising author Chloe Platias has swiftly carved a niche for herself in the world of children’s and young adult literature with her creative approach to history. At just 23 years old, Platias is the author, illustrator and self-publisher of four children’s books and one young adult book, blending her passion for history with engaging storytelling.
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U.P.’s post-pandemic performance

Several nationwide studies have identified counties that are dependent on recreation-related employment as outperforming other rural counties in job creation. This employment growth is particularly notable as the 2020 COVID pandemic severely curtailed travel and led to widespread layoffs in the hospitality industry.
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