Sometimes, you can get so wrapped up in doing what you’ve always done that you’re blind to ideas that might make things better.

That’s why it’s important for any operation to have a mix of veteran experience and youthful idealism.

The young minds can bring in new ideas, and the more experienced thinkers can guide the youth through the lessons already learned about what works and what doesn’t.

Alpena is developing such a mix, as News staff writer Steve Schulwitz recently reported.

In key positions around the city — at the helm of the Alpena Downtown Development Authority and the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, in the city planning office, at the Alpena Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and elsewhere — younger Alpenans are taking the charge, Schulwitz reported.

“We always need new people down here,” said Rita Hess, who has — along with her husband, Al — owned the Traveling Ladders store in Alpena since 1986. “They bring different ideas, which is always something important.”

We couldn’t agree more.

So, cheers to the young guns in town. Here’s hoping for many years of success for yourselves and our community.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)