August 2006

Music of Community
The Irish may be the masters at creating community through music, but we Americans do it, too. Judith Lindenau, Realtor and penny whistle player, describes how local musicians have used Celtic music to create their own community in Traverse City.

A Place to Play
Despite busier schedules and more organized activities, it's still good to be a kid in northern Michigan, writes business leader (and former kid) Doug Luciani. Snow days, tree forts, and cul-de-sacs give our children the imaginative and physical space in which to play and thrive.

Please Don't Feed the Buffalo: Reflecting On Our Roadside Cultural Landscape
When the buffalo roam next to the Bed Bath & Beyond parking lot, it's a sure sign of a disconnect between new development and the traditional landscape. Historic preservationist Dana A. Goodwin argues that while transportation corridors such as US-31 are inherently dynamic, the community can and should guide the change.

Codesign: Beyond Drawing Lines in the Sand

Land use disputes are increasingly being "settled" in the courts or at the ballot box, a costly and wasteful process that often settles nothing. But there is a better way, writes landscape architect Klaus D. Heinert, who advocates the inclusive planning process of Codesign. 

Farmer's Lament
Preserving farmland is not a simple proposition, especially from the farmer's perspective. Musician and historian Daniel Truckey explores the cherries vs. condos dilemma of a farmer friend in song and text. 

Rubbing Shoulders with Ghosts
Novelist Stephen Lewis muses on the "ghosts" he encounters in the historic houses and farmsteads of Old Mission. These old places provide a mooring to the past that informs and enriches the present.

Meditating on the Porcupine
In his dying, an ancient porcupine teaches lessons about living in harmony with nature. Marla Kay Houghteling writes about how she is learning not to struggle against the wild things but to develop a more creative way to coexist.

From a Lofty Perspective to a Deep Connection

Floating above the scenery in a plane is literally as disconnected from the land as one can be. Yet, writes museum director John Noonan, there is a strange depth in the connection that one can feel to our region from that lofty perspective.

 

Another Parking Deck in Traverse City?
 

On Aug. 8, voters in Traverse City rejected a proposed bond issue to help Federated Properties fund construction at 145 West Front Street. The proposed 100-foot-tall development, designed to include condominiums, retail, and a city-owned public parking deck, ignited a debate over the necessity of a downtown parking deck in general and this city-backed project in particular. Here, a supporter and an opponent explain the reasoning underlying their positions. Peter Schmitz says the Project Revitalizes West Front Street, Requires No New Taxes, while opponent Jim Carruthers calls the project Too Big, Too Expensive, Too Risky.

 

What makes the Grand Traverse Region special to you?
We put the question to local leaders from government, education and business. Their opinions were diverse and their answers might surprise you. Listen to audio clips of our interviews. 

YourPlace: A Civil Discussion with Founder Joe VanderMeulen

It's all too easy to spout off but harder than ever to find time to go to a planning and zoning meeting. Joe VanderMeulen explains why he believes that YourPlace can foster a civil discussion between planning officials and concerned citizens. Listen to excerpts of Joe's recent interview by Peter Payette on Interlochen Public Radio.