Opinion

To the Munising Beacon Editor, In the December 1, 2023 edition of the Munising Beacon, you ran an opinion piece about short-term housing. It has at least three problems. Firstly, the writer doesn’t identify her/ himself. Secondly, fewer short-term rentals and less tourism is positive for places like Alger County because of, for example, more affordable housing and food, less environmental and health degradation, and a calmer, safer, and more stable community. Otherwise, you must endure thousands of beer cans in your yards and a crowded, trampled, and costly national lakeshore. Thirdly, the writer doesn’t say how to create a more beneficial balance between short-term rentals and a stable community.

Cities across Michigan are banning short-term rentals. The inevitable results of this regulatory crackdown will include more expensive vacations, less tourism and, in all likelihood, an emerging black market for rentals.

As the world seems to be changing right before our very eyes, may we never forget the Godgiven pillars that hold us secure. “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

Why do we still need classified ads? In a world dominated by screens, the enduring relevance of classified ads in our community newspaper cannot be overstated. Here’s why they continue to matter: 1.

I miss former State Representative Sara Cambensy. Sara would frequently cross the aisle and broker a nonpartisan agreement to get the best deal she could for her constituents and her district. She once told me that the Democratic Party had labeled her as a traitor because she would not vote to shut line 5 down. Sara understood how important that pipeline is to the U.P. and her actions reflected that stance.

Michigan has more miles of freshwater shoreline than any state in the nation, is the second- most agriculturally diverse state in the nation, is home to more than 115 lighthouses, and five million newspaper readers. Really?

Eden Lutheran worships on Saturdays at 5 p.m., and on Sundays at 10:30 a.m., followed by coffee fellowship. Eden offers “open communion” at the Lord’s table, where all are welcome.

Q: My 26-year-old son recently had to go to the Emergency Department because of severe pain in his side that came on quite abruptly; he was told he had a kidney stone that should pass within 10-12 hours, and was sent home with only a prescription for naproxen for pain.

Dear Editor. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Women have a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. If you haven’t been diagnosed with it, you likely know someone that has. Look around. It doesn’t care if you are young or old, Black or White, rich or poor, single or married. Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate.

As we come into October, Munising Library will once again take the time to highlight the fight against censorship and join with other libraries, schools, bookstores, and groups around the world to call attention to the very real attack on our freedom to read. October 1 – 7, 2023 is Banned Books Week and the American Library Association and Unite Against Book Bans will mark this year’s event with a call to action on Let Freedom Read Day.