This week, National Public Radio published an article about the benefits of social interactions with people outside of our tight circles of family and close friends. Living in Alpena, where you always say hi to someone walking by, the title, “Why a stranger’s hello can do more than just ...
A good portion of the money that funds the Alpena Downtown Development Authority’s great and important work comes through what’s known as tax increment financing, also called TIF. Through TIF, a small portion of property taxes collected by local governments on properties within the DDA ...
It is the same Old Swami in character, but the surroundings are different. Instead of watching deer run into the orchard, he sits high above Long Lake watching Jet Ski’s, pontoons and occasionally a small fishing boat in addition to waves rolling on the shore. Yes, it has been two long ...
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, but your government when they deserve it. I may have written this before, but it is still true. I love my country. I love even more this place called Northern Michigan. But I am embarrassed about how other countries see us now. Are we an ...
Michigan legislators approved a budget that spends $47 billion in revenue from the state’s taxes and fees. State taxes and fees are not going to generate that much in revenue. Legislators think that the state income tax is going to increase starting in January, and they authorized spending ...
Alpena City Manager Rachel Smolinski this week presented the Alpena Municipal Council with a plan to tackle the city’s goose problem without hunting the birds next year. The council, in a split decision, did not accept that proposal, opting instead for three days of hunts this year without ...