Celebrate our Country/Community
Posted by Amy Clickner on June 29, 2012
It’s a time to be thankful. Though politically, Americans seem to be becoming more polarized. Through this slow recovery from recession, the right and left point fingers at each other, shifting blame for what caused the economic slump of 2008 and how to accelerate our recovery. As this election year progresses, that divide will seem to grow more prevalent. Whatever side of the political fence you sit on, this is a time to unite in celebration and be thankful for what still makes this country great: freedom.
It’s a time to be thankful that we can have opinions, a voice and a right to choose our country’s leadership. We have rights of equality, the right to be educated and choose our profession, to live where we want, look like we want and to pray or not pray how we want. Independence Day, or “The 4th of July” is certainly a time to celebrate how privileged we are to live in America.
We should also be thankful that we live in one of the greatest places in America, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Our peaceful way of life, low crime, small risk of natural disasters, rich heritage, natural beauty and friendly people are just a portion of what makes our piece of America extra special, and should be celebrated as well. Although, our area doesn’t have a problem celebrating! It seems as though there is a celebration nearly every day for the next few months. Another reason our community is so awesome!
For example, the Marquette County Exchange Club will bring the 27th annual International Food Festival to Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette this Tuesday through Thursday. As always, there will be plenty of food and refreshments, live entertainment and a fireworks display at dusk on Wednesday, July 4. Also on the fourth, the Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Chamber of Commerce brings back the Ishpeming Community Picnic at Al Quaal Recreation Area at noon after the parade, with food, games, live music, a flyover by two F-16s and fireworks at dusk.
The following Sunday, July 8, Pioneer Days in Negaunee kicks off with the Old Towne Festival in Jackson Park. Brought to you by the Negaunee Irontown Association, Pioneer Days is a 33 year tradition full of class reunions, parades, parties, alumni softball, fireworks and many community social events that keep Irontown buzzing all week long.
Throughout the rest of the summer, there will be events galore all over Marquette County, brought to you by dedicated organizations such as the Hiawatha Music Co-op (Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival), Lake Superior Art Association (Art on the Rocks), Marquette DDA (Blueberry Festival), Marquette West Rotary (Seafood Festival), Marquette Area Blues Society (Blues Fest) just to name a few.
As I stated in a column earlier this month, throughout the years these business associations, service clubs and development authorities have become the driving forces behind most of our community events, and have taken them to new levels. Because of all of us defining our roles in the big picture, it has led to the Lake Superior Community Partnership recognizing our niche as an economic development organization. The LSCP will always support these events and the folks who put them on. They are important to our economy and are part of what makes the Upper Peninsula and Marquette County someplace special in America!
To learn more about these and other spectacular events, visit the master community calendar we share with the Marquette County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Greater Ishpeming Negaunee Chamber of Commerce. You can get access the calendar on the homepage on our website at www.marquette.org.
