By Staff
There continues to be a lot of negativity in the air.
Michigan gets a bad rap. With the closing of many businesses and large manufacturers, it is easy to see why the attitude becomes depressing.
In order to balance the budget, it looks as though we will be paying more income tax and also prices on some services will be raised.
For sale signs dot our streets and the joke continues, "the last one out turn off the lights."
Still, maybe because I have volunteered to be the new president of the Cassopolis Optimist Club, I can't help but seeing all the positives.
So many of our towns have new businesses, or new owners. Sometimes we can't even keep up with all the new business stories.
Instead of a restaurant becoming another empty building on the main street in Cassopolis, a 20-year-old has decided to invest in her own community and run the Broadway Cafe.
Two new coffee shops have opened, one in Cassopolis and one in Edwardsburg.
From the cars I have seen going through the drive through in Cass in the morning, I think turning the old Arby's into the Java Shop was a good idea.
Niles and Dowagiac both have had many new stores coming to their renovated historical downtown areas.
Cassopolis too just had its first business to go into its industrial park.
This isn't depressing, this is encouraging.
These people are investing in their community. They have made southwestern Michigan their home and will work hard to make their businesses a success.
This weekend I attended a dedication at the Milo Barnes Park in Vandalia.
An $165,000 project has just been completed, giving the community new playground equipment, a wonderful covered pavilion and a basketball court which I am sure is going to be in use constantly.
The Village Council of Vandalia made this happen, yes with a grant, but also the village's money for the youth of their community.
Saturday they dedicated the basketball court to a young man who lost his life in a car accident, John Young III.
Young and another young man, Neal Bullocks, who was also remembered, were the cream of the crop, according to their coach, other parents and their school superintendent, who spoke.
The village hopes the youth people using the park will be inspired by the polite and likable young men.
Also, those who recalled Young and Bullocks, hoped the park would be respected, not trashed.
Not everyone is running out of Michigan, There are many of us who either grew up here, or like myself, have chosen this as their home.
We need to continue to speak up for the good points and encourage growth.
There are many people who give to there community, like Beverly Young, president of the Vandalia Village Council.
Without her efforts, and the help of many others, that dedication Saturday would never have taken place. The children of Vandalia wouldn't have a nice park to play in.
You have heard the line "love it or leave it." Well if you don't want to help Michigan, go ahead and leave, you really won't be missed.