Community

Photos by Kevin Dunham .

Now and again, I am asked for my opinion about “radical environmentalists,” which is a legitimate question to put to any forester. However, it is often a loaded question with an air of conflict already built in, presented almost as a challenge.

Like cherries, which we discussed in an earlier article, Michigan ranks among the top states in the U.S. for blueberry production, and its blueberries are known for their exceptional quality and flavor.

The Peter Jonas Community Band performed their first concert back in 2001. Since that time they’ve continually blessed Munising and the surrounding areas with their concert band style performances.

For the last 19 years, on the last Friday of July, the Vietnam Veterans of Alger County Chapter 237, along with the American Legion and the Munising City Band, have served up a fish fry lunch for the veterans of Michigan Veterans Home D.J. Jacobetti in Marquette. Each year, an anonymous donor purchases fish from Vanlandschoot and Sons Fishery. Altran donates a bus to transport some of the volunteers each year, and the driver, Don Wyatt, also donates his time to drive the bus. Next year will mark the Fish Fry’s 20th year! The event is a summer favorite for Jacobetti veterans, loved ones, and staff that the volunteers and sponsors also look forward to each year.

Tourism and the service industry have emerged as significant economic drivers in Munising, leading to substantial growth, especially in the downtown area, according to Katherine Reynolds, the CEO of Greater Munising Bay Partnership/ Alger Co. Chamber of Commerce & Executive Director of Munising Downtown Development Authority (DDA). “Tourism has been what has led to most of the growth, if not the majority of the growth, in the downtown as far as businesses opening,” said Reynolds. “This growth has created numerous job opportunities, benefiting both young residents and newcomers who have relocated to the area.” She emphasized the community’s fortune in having natural resources that support tourism and economic activities. However, she acknowledged the challenge of balancing the needs of local residents with the demands of the tourism economy. “There’s always a balance that you want to have between living here and the tourism economy,” states Reynolds. She expressed the desire for businesses to remain open year-round, recognizing the difficulties posed by factors such as online shopping and big-box stores impacting traffic.