Michigan's long recession and double-digit unemployment throughout the state cast a dark shadow. It is a tough, depression- and anxiety-ridden time. Many people have lost not just jobs but homes.
The situation isn't rosy in the Grand Traverse region, either. We've had our layoffs, our hiring freezes, our payless vacations as their sometimes called. The jobless rate for the 10-county northwest Lower Michigan region in September was 12.5 percent. Grand Traverse's County's was 12 percent. The state's was 14.7 percent.
The Father Fred Foundation's decision last week to cancel its annual Thanksgiving Dinner, which had traditionally been held the night before the holiday, spoke volumes. Utility payment requests are up 25 percent from a year ago. The foundation will use the $2,000 spent on the dinner to help pay emergency utility transportation and medical bills.
It's important in tough times, though, to keep one's balance to avoid free-falls into panic, fear and worry that can sap the energy to move forward. It helps clear the mind, see possible solutions and how to build on what we have. The best way to do that is to stay in the present and look for bright spots in our lives and communities, while still acknowledging realities.
The following is a partial list of things we think are bright, good and working in our region, things that are helping build a diversified economy in an environmentally beautiful and fragile part of the state; things to be thankful for.
-- Traverse City appears to have a strong future and already has a vibrant and growing downtown, thanks to long-range planning and vision, Rotary Charities grants, the State Theatre and business groups. It's walkable, fun, entertaining, a nice place to shop and eat. It's a real downtown in an era when many have disappeared.
-- Construction of a $17 million, five-story mixed-use building with underground parking at the "hole in the ground" at Park and East Front, which is to continue through the winter.
-- Construction of a new city parking deck in Old Town, which has already begun.
-- Rotary Charities and other local foundations that regularly provide funds to important groups
-- Regional land conservancies that help preserve "a sense of place."
-- Northwestern Michigan College and all that goes with it -- the University Center, the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, the Hagerty Center, Dennos Museum and Milliken Auditorium.
-- The Eyaawing Museum in Peshawbestown.
-- The Interlochen Center for the Arts and the National Music Camp,
-- The Traverse Area District Library and other libraries throughout the region.
-- Munson Medical Center.
-- The Grand Traverse Pavilions.
-- Grand Traverse Commons.
-- TART, Leelanau and other recreational trails throughout northwest Michigan.
-- A well-organized social safety network of helping organizations that meets regularly; the Father Fred Foundation; a strong alcoholism and addiction network; a network of strong, committed churches and groups that work to help the homeless and run community meals; the Salvation Army; Goodwill; the free community health clinic; the Women's Resource Center; and numerous similar programs throughout the region.
-- The Open Space, Clinch Park and Marina ...
To name just a few.
We still need more clean industry, less joblessness, liveable wages and quality affordable housing. We need our Legislature to find way to appropriately fund public schools and do the state's business. We need affordable, quality health care.
These things build communities and "a sense of place," too.
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