Nostalgia

November 14, 2023

EDITOR: My sister called me and said “It’s down.” Not being the brightest bulb in the pack, I responded with, “What’s down?” She said “The Westwood.” Around 1934, August Boden (my grandfather) bought the restaurant on the west end of Delta Avenue. Due to the end of Prohibition a year earlier, August was able to secure a beer and wine license. The nearness to the Soo Line depot made the bar a popular place for railroaders. The first major change happened in the late 1950s. The four lane highway demanded that the building be moved one block east. Biden’s Bar ...

Domestic violence article was appreciated

November 2, 2023

EDITOR: I want to thank the Daily Press for the wonderful article written in last weekend’s edition spotlighting the domestic violence program put on by Tri-County Safe Harbor and held at Bay College on Oct. 25. Domestic Violence/Abuse is rampant and insidious and a very difficult topic to understand. I attended that event and found the speakers to be courageous and authentic; and thank you for the Q&A and the candlelight vigil. Unfortunately the tragic statistics are also applicable among most church populations and Grace Church in Gladstone, Mich. is serious about reaching ...

Response to Moyle

October 27, 2023

EDITOR: In response to Delta County Commission Chair David Moyle’s editorial dated October 18, 2023. Chairman Moyle: I read the letter you sent to the Daily Press pertaining to a discussion at a recent board meeting regarding legal representation. I appreciate you taking the time to inform the public on behalf of all the commissioners. That is incorrect however, all commissioners did not agree. I understand you want to protect the county when civil issues arise. I believe our county legal department and the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority “MMRMA” serves us well ...

Gladstone school bond ballot proposal

October 26, 2023

EDITOR: Gladstone schools are pursuing a bond that claims no increase in taxes. What needs to be understood, but is not being said, is that the school has a bond that will be paid off in the very near future resulting in a reduction of taxes of 5.9 mils. If the new bond proposal passes it will create a new tax millage of approximately 5.75 mils for the next 30 years. This millage rate is an only estimate. The bond proposal is for general unlimited tax bonds which means that the millage will be as high as it has to be to pay off the bonds. This millage rate is driven by the cost of the ...

Candidate forum

October 24, 2023

EDITOR: So I read the candidate forum in Friday, Oct. 20th Daily Press. I feel the need to comment on a couple of things. First, the “church-run” homeless shelter project. My company has participated in Hope at the Inn for many, many years. My church was one of the shelters for several years. There are a lot of places that have flyers up, “advertising” the homeless shelter. I do not believe that the city of Gladstone is opposed to this program. I would think that it would be the cost that limits advertising. Hope At The Inn is purely a volunteer effort. There are volunteers ...

The problem with chickens

October 19, 2023

EDITOR: I have been following your reporting on the proposed zoning amendment that would allow citizens of Escanaba — any resident — to keep chickens and ducks within the city limits. I believe you did a pretty good job of trying to present both sides of any kind of controversy that may be viewed. However, there was one thing that was not brought up by anyone. That is, the type of vermin this kind of “farming” would attract to local neighborhoods. Some of these vermin are in fact on the dangerous side, especially for small children. Further, how would you control this type ...