The Record-Breaking Winter, the Disappointing NMU-UP 200 Contract, Burger Bus Opens a Restaurant, Forsberg Flowers and Second Skin Move, MAPS Vs Brumm, and Our Friendly Airport

The Latest from Marquette, MI by Brian Cabell

“IT’S BEEN HIGHLY unusual, to say the least.” The words of NWS meteorologist Greg Sova, describing this year’s winter in Marquette County…The numbers tell the story: From December 1st to January 31st (meteorological winter), the average temperature at the National Weather Service in Negaunee was the highest since records were first kept in 1961…And snowpack? There’s currently 10 inches on the ground at the NWS—that’s the second lowest total since 1961…The lowest ever was 3 inches, back in 1991…

And if you come to Marquette, and you’ll see more dirt, asphalt, and concrete than snow.

SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED…That pretty well summarizes the mood of the NMU administration regarding the warm weather and the second straight cancellation of the UP 200 sled dog race…Two years ago, NMU signed a three-year agreement with the race to be the title sponsor. Seemed like a great move at the time, because it got NMU students involved in the winter classic, and it forged a greater tie between the town and the university. Alas….

The title sponsor agreement ends after next year’s UP200. “We plan to evaluate that agreement sometime in the next year,” says NMU spokesman Derek Hall.

Still, as they did last winter, they’re throwing a big party downtown next Friday, 6-10 pm—the “UP 200 Festival of the Dog.” Lotsa dogs, lotsa sleds, dogsled rides for kids, face-painting, hot chocolate, an auction, and live music…Not a bad consolation prize.

THE BURGER BUS folks have settled into a new bricks-and-mortar home…It’s called Laker’s, in the former Queen City Burger building on US 41…“Our Burger Bus regulars are thrilled because they’ll now be able to get our burgers year-round,” says Alayna Prahl. She and her husband, Michael, own the business. And yes, the Burger Bus, itself, will still be out and about on the streets of Marquette during the warmer months…Something else: Lakers is serving not only its burgers, but also pizza, and sandwiches, including falafels.

QUICK AND EASY…Forsberg Flowers just reopened at 201 North Front Street after closing down their previous location two blocks south where it was known as Forsberg’s A New Leaf. Same ownership, same management…“We just outgrew the space. We needed more room,” store manager and florist Bobby Glenn Brown explains. The new location, which had been vacant for the last couple of years, also gives them much more parking (free!), and will allow them to have a green house and an outdoor flower market in the summer.

FINALLY, A NEW tenant…Second Skin Shop, which has been described as the largest dance wear shop in the UP, is moving into the Third Street Marketplace, alongside a pizza restaurant, a fish restaurant, and a brewery. Second Skin is leaving its location at the Masonic Square Mall, which recently came under new ownership. “Our new shop will be much more convenient for our customers with free parking and no stairs,” says Second Skin owner Camilla Mingay….Opening date: March 1st.

Joe Constance, the developer of the Third Street Marketplace, is relieved to finally have his development fully occupied, but concedes he would have preferred a food-and-beverage business to take the spot. But repeated attempts to get such businesses to sign a contract all fell through, mostly because of inadequate funding…Second Skin is a solid, well-respected, and locally owned business.

IT’S TAKING LONGER than they expected…The three partners opening up Sando’s Eatery on Third Street, across from the Commons, had hoped to be serving sandwiches by the end of January, but a few issues with the Health Department have delayed the opening…“Marquette’s not super busy right now so we’re not all that upset,” says one of the partners, Ross Mulder. “We just want to make sure that when we do open, everything is just right.”…He anticipates the opening of the late night sandwich shop to occur within the next few weeks.

IT STILL SEEMS like a strange, ill-advised move. Attorney and longtime resident Margaret Brumm recently announced that she was filing a trademark application to claim ownership of the Marquette Sentinels name—that’s the recently chosen new nickname for Marquette Senior High School. She then insisted on “negotiating” with the school board about the name. Huh? This falls under the categories of “Beating a Dead Horse” and “Delusional.”

Reaction from Marquette Area Public Schools: “MAPS has spoken with multiple attorneys with expertise in trademark law regarding this matter. There is consensus that Ms. Brumm’s attempt to interfere with MAPS’ use of the Marquette Sentinels name has no merit…” Further, one of the law firms has offered to represent MAPS at no cost to the district…Brumm, who’s dealing with a family issue, has no comment at this point. One can only hope that the issue silently fades away.

AFTER A LESS-than-stellar football season—as in an 0-11 record with a horrific 62-0 loss to Michigan Tech—and a disappointing hockey season—9 wins, 13 losses, and 4 ties so far—NMU fans do have something to cheer about again in men’s basketball…Last season, they finished 25-8. This year they’re 17-6, which included a record-tying 13 straight wins…“If we keep winning all the way through,” says Zach Nicholas, NMU’s Director of Sports Information, “we would be playing and hosting the regional championship game for a chance to play in the Elite Eight.” That’d be a pretty big deal. Now, about the football team…

NONE OF US are happy with the bare-bones schedule the airlines have imposed on Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport, but we can say this: The folks who run the airport—the ticket agents, the TSA officers et al—are about the friendliest and most accommodating airport employees you’ll find anywhere…They actually smile and talk to you, unlike the brusque and impersonal workers at many other airports…So now, let’s talk about the skimpy schedule of flights. Can we please do something about that?

POEM OF THE WEEK

FEAR

It is said that before entering the sea

a river trembles with fear.

She looks back at the path she has traveled,

from the peaks of the mountains,

the long winding road crossing forests and villages.

And in front of her,

she sees an ocean so vast,

that to enter

there seems nothing more than to disappear forever.

But there is no other way.

The river can not go back.

Nobody can go back.

To go back is impossible in existence.

The river needs to take the risk

of entering the ocean

because only then will fear disappear,

because that's where the river will know

it's not about disappearing into the ocean,

but of becoming the ocean.

—KHALIL GIBRAN

Support Local Independent Journalism in Marquette

Dear reader, through our efforts with this publication we strive to keep Marquette engaged and informed. Your contribution, whether it's big or small, allows us to keep doing this work. Consider this less a donation, and more an investment in our vibrant community. Click here to help support Man About Town. Your generosity fuels our work and helps sustain local independent journalism in our community