Under The Radar Michigan: Episode 210 “I’m All Thumbs”

Bay City, looking East from Veterans Memorial Park. Bay City, Michigan at dusk. Bay City, Michigan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Episode 210

Ok, my adopted hometown of Bay City is highlighted on this recent episode of Under The Radar.  Check it out.  Pretty interesting stuff, especially if you don’t know a whole lot about Michigan.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times.  Bay City has so much damn potential.  It all comes down to one thing:  JOBS.  Anyway, I’ll get off my soapbox now.  Enjoy the episode!  Oh, and this is pretty sweet too.

Book Hunting At Its Best

Cover via Amazon

Every August the friends of the Bay County Library System holds a huge library sale that is normally spread out over at least three days.  It is one of the largest library book sales in the state of Michigan.  Until this past year it was held in an old mall.  With the sale of the mall to a local developer, the sale held this past August moved to an unused elementary school.

While I don’t attend every year, I attend more often than not.  What could be better for someone who loves to read as much as I do?  There is nothing like rummaging through hundreds of used books looking for gems.  Admittedly, I currently have too many books and not nearly enough shelf space.  In years past, I went a bit overboard at the sale and still have books I have yet to read.  As a result, I tried to show a little restraint last summer.  Below are the books I plucked this past August.  I ended up with all of them for less than $10.

That said, I tend to be picky.  I rarely select paperbacks unless they are in pristine condition and the content compelling.  Hardcovers have to be close to like new condition or I will pass it up.  I use the books from the sales as a means to read books I otherwise would never pick up as well as a way to discover new authors.  I never go into a sale with a plan.  I just wander endlessly until something catches my eye.

As an avid fan of American Pickers, I tend to think of it as a form of picking and an adventure in its own right.  I just might have to attend again this coming August, even if I only select a handful of books.  It may be time to pass some books along.  I love the thrill of the hunt and the fact that I’m helping out the library system as well.

The Loot:

American Mania:  When More Is Not Enough – Peter C. Whybrow, M.D.

Blood Diamonds – Greg Campbell – DONE

The Cult Of The Amateur – Andrew Keen

Hurricane – James S. Hirsch

Mañana Mañana – Peter Kerr

Passport Diaries – Tamara T. Gregory

The Weed That Strings The Hangman’s Bag – Alan Bradley

*  It was sad to note as I compiled this post that I’ve only read one of the books thus far.  On a positive note, as I researched the links, I noticed a few of the authors listed above have new books coming out this year.  I can’t wait to dive in!

Related articles

• Selling Used Books Online: The Complete Guide to Bookselling at Amazon’s Marketplace and Other Online Sites (Harvard Perspectives in Entrepreneurship) (chicipad.com)

Bay City Past and Present: Mill End

 

Image via Wikipedia

Five-story building to replace Mill End in Bay City’s downtown | MLive.com

There are a couple of things that caught my attention in a local news story.  As a resident of Bay City, I am glad that some decisions are finally being made concerning the vacant Mill End building.  Yet, I’m not sold on the idea of yet more condos downtown.  The ones that are already downtown Bay City haven’t sold.  I’m conflicted.  Despite my pessimism regarding additional condos downtown, I am relieved to realize I’m not the only one that sees the potential in Bay City.

That is precisely the problem though.  Bay City has everything going for it, and yet, local political corruption, poor choices by local politicians, and general pessimism concerning the economy stifles any progress.  It has to turn around sometime, right?  That is exactly what I keep telling myself.  The recent story of the Mill End building symbolizes what is currently wrong with the city of Bay City.  A local business is forced out in the name of development, only to have the building sit vacant for the next six years, to the point where it is not longer possible to renovate the building.  What exactly was accomplished here?

As a child, I shopped at Mill End downtown Bay City with my Dad.  Mill End specialized in all kinds of outdoor clothing and supplies.  As a hunter and all-around outdoorsman, it is easy to see why my Dad shopped there.  The article above describes how the 150 year-old building is now beyond repair.  Sadly, that does not surprise me.  Even as a small child in the early to mid-1980s, the building seemed ancient.  It creaked, moaned, and definitely seemed to belong to another era.  That is probably why I remember shopping there with my Dad.  The experience left an impression.  I just wish that the building could’ve been saved a decade or so ago.

My hope echoes that of a commenter on the article.  I would love to see a new restaurant or new retail space that would cater to those utilizing the river.  The building is right off the Saginaw River.  It is also near the gateway to Wenonah Park.  Throughout the entire summer, downtown Bay City is known for its festivals.  Each summer weekend brings something new, from the Bay City River Roar in June to the Hell’s Half Mile Film and Music Festival at the end of September/early October; there is literally something nearly every single weekend.  It would be nice to see the city revitalize and utilize the waterfront to its full potential.

I just don’t see the attraction for young professionals.  It might be nice to live right downtown, but the big question is this:  will it be affordable?  There just aren’t the jobs here for young professionals.  I live and breathe that reality every single day.  Until there are good paying professional jobs that allow young professionals to use their education, you do not have a market for additional downtown condos.

Small Town Innovation

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Our Voice: Tattoo this, Bay City: Come together and innovate, or die | MLive.com

I can’t believe that for once in my life I agree wholeheartedly with an editorial in my local newspaper.  It comes down to this.  Mid-Michigan is dying, literally.  I’ve discussed this topic many, many times over the years.

What would it take to rebuild this region?  There are three things I can think of off the top of my head:

1.  Jobs, jobs, and more jobs.  Without good paying jobs, why should any child growing up in mid-Michigan decide to struggle and make a life here?  In my case only family is keeping me here.

2.  A greater appreciation for education at all levels.  Once again this goes back to jobs.  The education level obtained by local high school graduates simply doesn’t matter if there is nothing for those students to come home to after pursuing higher education goals.  The local schools simply end up educating the workforce for other states.  Maybe if local employers valued higher education and actively worked to keep those local kids in the economy there would be a better outcome.  It becomes a vicious cycle.

3.  Reinvestment in all areas.  It doesn’t necessarily need to be all about money.  We can do so much better with the funds already available, if only politicians had some vague idea of what is really going on economically.  What it comes down to is innovation, as so eloquently put in article.  What isn’t said explicitly is that no one in a significant position of power is even listening to the true innovators in this area.  They are simply ignored.  Why would any serious company want to locate in such a stagnant area that doesn’t seem to value education or its future?

The entire topic is depressing.  Things are even worse in my hometown (see article below).  Why hasn’t anyone planned for the future of my generation?

Officials say closing of Standish Prison detrimental to Census 2010 city, county populations | MLive.com

Another Interesting Blog: Davert Family Blogs

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Davert Family Blog

I came across this intriguing local family blog a few days ago thanks to an article on mLive (see article below).

The blog is refreshing and entertaining.  I love the stories that Missy shares, as well as her positive attitude.  If more people had a similar outlook, we might get somewhere.  I love that I finally came across another blogger in Bay City!

Meet Your Neighbor: Blogger Missy Davert of Bay City | MLive.com

Building A Creative Community – Part II

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Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival

The film festival mentioned above started in 2005 and is growing every year.  It is nice to see something happening in Bay City.  There is just so much more to do.  At least it is a start.

Bay City actually always had the beginnings of a vibrant art community.  There are the Bay City Players, a decent local community theater; Studio 23, which specializes in the visual arts; as well as private dance schools, galleries, and theaters that all make up downtown Bay City.  When you also factor in the crazy summer festival schedule, the relatively new library downtown, as well as the Delta College planetarium (ugly as it may be), it takes a minute to step back and see what is missing.

The infrastructure appears to be in place.  What is lacking is full use of resources and better communication between different groups.  There are also gaps.  While there is a well-established community theater, art galleries, and a very active historical society, there is no writing group in Bay City.  Hopefully that will change soon.

See Part 1 below.  I also included a link to a new online resource for art and entertainment in Bay City, Saginaw, and Midland.  It’s a start.

Building A Creative Community | Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde
360 Main Street – Mid-Michigan’s Premier Online Arts and Entertainment Magazine

It Is All About J.O.B.S

Image by MI SHPO via Flickr

It’s all talk until new jobs are created | MLive.com

This is all too true, and yet again, I wish I had written it.  This actually inspired my last post on supply chain management and manufacturing.  I’m tired of watching the hopelessness and decay.  I hope that things change for the better after the election, but we’ll see.

Enjoy!

Lindsey

PS – Those who live in Bay City and/or know anything about politics and recent events in this city will enjoy the irony of my inclusion of a picture of Bay City’s City Hall.  Of course, this picture predates the new roof and the fire.

It Finally Feels Like Fall!

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One thing that I did miss while living in Texas was the change of seasons.  The weather here in Michigan is great at the moment!  I like the cool air, the changing colors, and the wind.  What I love most are some great local events.

One of my favorite events in September is the River of Time.  Set along the Saginaw River in Bay City, Michigan, it is much more than a war reenactment.  People come from all over the country to help make history come alive at the weekend encampment.

It includes a Wild West show, reenactments of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, a General Store, demonstrations of 18th and 19th century crafts and food, and much more.  It is easy to spend a weekend afternoon wandering around the park finding something new or an event you missed from the year before.

In October, the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus organizes a Road Rally.  Teams of four compete to see who can get to all the locations first.  In reality it is a scavenger hunt throughout not only Bay City, but sometimes Midland, Saginaw, and small surrounding communities as well.  It is a challenge, but it is also a lot of fun.

Brian and I, along with his brother Todd and Todd’s girlfriend Rachel, competed in 2006 and in 2009.  We won both times.  Unfortunately, the winners organize the event the following year.  We put things together for the 2007 event and are in the midst of getting ready for the event this year.  This year, it will be held October 15, 2010.  I can’t wait!  It is just a lot of fun.  We just hope that when we compete in 2011, we come in 2nd place.

Lindsey