Nobody likes to be told what to do.

Most 50-year-old stories tend to be viewed through rose-colored glasses.

Last week’s news showed our inner conflict.

Farmers are tough — especially, it seems, cherry farmers. Every year they face a season of uncertainties. Year after year, they roll with the punches and come out swinging.

Every so often you’d hear it: bleep.

To those who recently gave to the Bay Community Theatre, which received $25,070 in donations in July, surpassing its goal. Actor and comedian Tim Allen, who often summers in Leelanau County, plans to match up to $15,000 of the donations.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer will visit our neck of the northwoods today. We’ve prepared for a gubernatorial visit by assembling our questions about various topics.

Shouting about 2020 elections doesn’t stop the wheels turning on the summer’s township elections set to affect local services and your tax bill in the much shorter — and in some cases, longer term.

To Traverse City Central High School (No. 1,150) and Traverse City West Senior High School (No. 1,649), which recently ranked in the top 8 percent of high schools in the nation on the Jay Mathews Challenge Index. The index takes the number of Advanced Placement, international baccalaureate or Cambridge tests given at a school each year divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year.

Money talks, and unfortunately many young workers struggle to be heard in the Grand Traverse region’s bustling housing market.

The fairgrounds today will be a parade of flatbeds. Its music will be the heavy lifting soundtrack of moving and construction, the calming tones used to soothe nervous creatures, the snap of putting kids to work when they want to run off and see their fair friends.

‘We love recycling,” we brag to our out-of-state compatriots. “We’re the state with the 10-cent refund.” We drop the mic, pop the top, play some euchre.

Today kicks off the 15th annual Traverse City Film Festival. Though not as long in the tooth as the National Cherry Festival (which is almost 100 years old), Film Fest has woven itself into the fabric of summer events we plan for, and count on.

To Grand Traverse Industries for its 16th annual Field Day. The event last Thursday hosted over 250 people for karaoke, a picnic, games and music at the Aero Park Drive location in Traverse City. The nonprofit company offers jobs and training opportunities for people with disabilities or other barriers to employment at four Grand Traverse area locations.

The term “loophole” is well used in our modern vernacular.

To PeopleForBikes, which recently announced a $7,500 community grant for the Grand Traverse Traffic Garden + Pump Track. Youth can learn bicycle handling and riding skills on the traffic garden with a miniature street at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center. Additionally, Norte Youth Cycli…

Most Michiganders probably couldn’t find Ogemaw County on a map.

Please dare to wonder.

The Mining Journal (Marquette)’s take on the recent creation of a committee to look at the state’s mining.

The Detroit News’ take on police use of facial recognition technology without a policy.

Horror movies are set in the woods for so many reasons. They are dark. It’s hard to know exactly where you are. A branch cracks, and you’re not sure if it’s a squirrel or a bear that’s closing in.

One musical concept that most people learn — even if your formal music training ended with kazoo — is crescendo.

To the interns, volunteers and local residents who helped pick up trash and clean up after the National Cherry Festival last week.

We’re not going to stop raising a stink about Michigan’s lax septic rules until we see some meaningful movement.

Dear readers,

Traverse City’s new baseball team is on a roll. The Pit Spitters, the newest team in the for-profit summer collegiate Northwoods League, on Monday set a league-record win streak of 17 games.

A hush descended over town Sunday night after the southbound exodus of hours prior.

To all those who went to the National Cherry Festival, whether it was to volunteer, work or just have fun — we hope to see you again next year.

Sometimes better late than never is the best we can do.

The Fourth of July explodes with symbolism.

Fireworks put smiles on the faces of kids and adults alike. But some residents don’t like excess noise. We all should obey laws and regulations that limit when and where fireworks, noisy or not, can be enjoyed. It’s the neighborly thing to do.

We may wilt over the commute, lament the lack of parking and cringe at the inconsideration of crowds, but we civilians won’t have to chase a naked runner in 84 degree heat.

— To Butch Hauser, who was named the 2019 Lifetime Leadership Award winner by the Grand Traverse Pavilions and the National Cherry Festival. The award recognizes “individuals for decades of leadership, volunteerism, and service to their community,” according to a release from the Pavilions.

Michiganders likely will stomach at least one more election where they are selected by their politicians long before arriving at the ballot box.

Tourists are rolling into Traverse City to take part in the region’s busiest summer event: The National Cherry Festival. They’ll spin at the midway, chomp treats at the food court, watch airplanes do somersaults, admire classic cars, perhaps participate in an athletic event, and — of course …

In the race of life, one doesn’t necessarily want to cross the finish line first.

Time is not on our side.

None of us escape the ravages of time.

There’s a fine line between being a town with a craft, artisanal, winery-laden and brewery-brimming culture — and one with a drinking problem.

From the Visibility March to bike rides, film shorts and brunches, Traverse City celebrates its Up North Pride this week.

- To Michele Howard, who is poised to become Traverse Area District Library’s next director. TADL board members unanimously picked Howard, of Traverse City, said Caroline Gersch, board president. Howard is currently head of adult educational programming for TADL.

Father’s Day celebrates dads — those mythical beings who reliably bring home a paycheck, fix a leaky roof, provide an endless and sometimes-appreciated stream of parental advice, and instinctively know when a simple game of catch can help a son or daughter through an emotional moment.