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Articles by Grant Parsons
Opinion: Stay Cool About the '5 Acre Plan' Blob
Feel free to share this post... To view or leave comments on this story, click HERE. Editor’s Note: Grant Parsons responds to Todd Anson’s recent opinion pieces and delves further into the “5 Acre Plan” — a winery on every 5 acres of land — that he says WOMP is championing. Read on for his thoughts. -jb In Mr. Anson’s Oct. 2 essay published in Old Mission Gazette, he blamed Peninsula residents for criticizing the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula (WOMP).
Feel free to share this post... To view or leave comments on this story, click HERE. Editor’s Note: Grant Parsons responds to a recent opinion piece by Todd Anson, and says that Township trustees should be applauded for defending residents’ quality of life. Read on for Grant’s thoughts. -jb In a recent opinion piece on Old Mission Gazette, a letter-writer blames Peninsula Township Trustees for not “aligning” with the wineries to end the WOMP lawsuit.
Republicans on the environment - missing something? Original
I opened the newspaper this morning and read about two Republican politicians’ anguish over the possible loss of trees if DNR installs 420 acres of solar panels.
Opinion: Republicans Show False Concern Over DNR's Proposed 420-Acre Solar Farm
Feel free to share this post... To view or leave comments on this story, click HERE. (Editor’s Note: With more solar panels cropping up on homes, buildings and vineyards on the Old Mission Peninsula, could we eventually see entire orchards or woodlands replaced with solar farms? It’s good to keep an eye on what’s happening with the greater solar news around Michigan.
PROP 1 AND 2: A citizen referendum that put the power back in the hands of voters
By Grant Parsons After years of watching the Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA’s) wasteful spending and closed-door decisions, a strong majority of voters approved Proposal 1 and 2, which amended the City Charter to give residents the right to vote on any new TIF (Tax Increment Financing) plan. In response to that referendum vote, Planning Commissioner Shea O’Brien wrote a tough forum for the Dec. 22 Record-Eagle.
Opinion: OMP Residents Express Concern Over DNR Boat Launch Proposal
Feel free to share this post... To view or leave comments on this story, click HERE. (Editor’s Note: At a special Township Board meeting on Dec. 16, the Michigan DNR presented a proposal for improvements to the boat launch located at the corner of East Shore Road and Center Road. The plan includes a “right-turn-only” exit onto East Shore Road, and some OMP residents have expressed concerns over safety, traffic and other issues. Read on for Grant Parson’s thoughts.
Opinion: Grant Parsons Responds to Marty Lagina - We Are Still Neighbors
Feel free to share this post... To view or leave comments on this story, click HERE. (Editor’s Note: Grant Parsons responds to an opinion piece by Marty Lagina, published on Nov. 3, 2024, noting that they will still be neighbors when the dust settles. Read on for Grant’s thoughts. -jb) It’s been pretty tough on all of us, these last three years. You can hardly blame a person for being fed up with a lot, a whole lot. Old Mission Gazette is Reader Supported. Click Here to Keep the Gazette Going.
3 Reasons Young Professionals Need a Mentor
Grant Parsons · Follow 3 min read · -- The world that we live in has become so advanced, so many decisions need to be made in what seems like a split-second. Where should I go to college? What should I major in? What field of work should I start my career in? Should I make a mid-career change? Everyone has had someone at a certain point in time to look to for major life advice or career advice.
What the Blog???
What the blog is right! I despise the thought of me writing a blog of any kind. I don’t even know if this is considered a blog. What I do know is that writing has privately been a part of my life for about 10 years now and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I started writing when I first started taking my faith seriously as a way to write down my thoughts and help process what I was reading.
Opinion: Here Are the Damages WOMP is Seeking; Response to Kate Jerman's Q&A
Feel free to share this post... (Editor’s Note: Grant Parsons responds to Kate Jerman’s Candidate Questionnaire and says that WOMP – the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula – are indeed seeking damages. Read on for his thoughts. -jb) Thank you for Old Mission Gazette’s questions to the township candidates. The OMG(!) questions are specific, but some answers are misleading. Some candidates seem to be misinformed: Old Mission Gazette is Reader Supported. Click Here to Keep the Gazette Going.
Opinion: Septic System Inspection is a Matter of Public Health
Feel free to share this post... (Editor’s Note: At the May 14 meeting of the Peninsula Township Board, discussion took place regarding on-site sewage disposal system inspection requirements in connection with the sale of existing homes and businesses not hooked up to public waste utilities. On the NextDoor platform, OMP resident Lou Santucci posted a note with his thoughts about the potential septic requirement, which I’ve included below, followed by a response from OMP resident Grant Parsons.
Opinion: A Tale of Two Judges, a Cork Board and the Old Mission Peninsula
Feel free to share this post... (Editor’s Note: Grant Parsons reflects on the contents of an old cork board in his office and two judges who helped to preserve the rural quality of the Old Mission Peninsula. -jb) Last week I started cleaning out my law office, but I was waylaid by an old cork bulletin board behind my door. It was covered with layers of age-yellowed papers, photos, memorabilia.
Opinion: Wineries Threaten Township Board With Personal Lawsuits
(Editor’s Note: Written by Grant Parsons, this letter was also sent to the Peninsula Township Board and read into the minutes of their July 12 meeting. -jb) To the Peninsula Township Board: The Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula (WOMP) sent what appears to be a threat to the Peninsula Township Board.
Opinion: Nothing is harder than preserving the city
Parsons Picture the land where the farmers market stands in downtown Traverse City, across from West Grand Traverse Bay. The market sits on parkland. In 1986, on that parkland, a developer wanted to build a mall with a seven-story parking deck. For the grand total of $1, the Traverse City Commission gave the developer all that parkland on Grandview Parkway between Union Street and Cass Street. My clients filed a lawsuit to stop the parkland giveaway.
Cancel This
Spectator By Stephen Tuttle | March 6, 2021 It seems we are either part of what's being called “cancel culture” or we're claiming we must cancel cancel culture while merrily doing our own canceling. To be sure, we are quicker than ever to demand someone be fired, recalled, or impeached, or some company be boycotted for some offense, real or imagined, usually involving accusations of racism, sexism or, lately, political disloyalty.
FishPass: A Foul-Hooked Project
Guest Opinion By Grant Parsons | March 6, 2021 There’s proper fishing, and then there’s illegal “snagging,” or “foul-hooking.” The latter’s a good metaphor for the way the FishPass project was landed by Traverse City. Union Street Dam Park is a gem of a park. From the Union Street bridge on any given day, you can look down at the park, its historic willows, a fisherman or two, and the sky reflecting off the surface of the Boardman River.
Nittolo’s Napoli
Tastemaker By Lynda Wheatley | March 6, 2021 You want a medium round with extra mozz, pepperoni, and canned olives? Go somewhere else for your pizza. “This ain’t Build-a-Bear workshop,” says Chef Eric Nittolo.
Fascinating People
Meet the 20 Northerners of 2021 By Northern Express Staff & Contributors | March 6, 2021 Abra Berens The Bestseller Abra Berens grew up on a farm south of Holland and began cooking at Zingerman’s Deli while attending the University of Michigan. Then it was off to cooking school in Ireland; back in the states, she spent eight years at Bare Knuckle Farm in Northport. She credits those two stops with helping her focus on cooking from the land.
Folgarelli’s Piccini Memoro d’Italia
Bottoms Up By Lynda Wheatley | March 6, 2021 Because Nittolo’s pizza reminded us just how outstanding Italian food can be, we capped off the afternoon with a run to Folgarelli’s for a bottle of Italian wine, of which the Traverse City gourmet grocer has many, many bottles — often so many, they’ll stack a few boxes near the register up front and offer a sizeable discount on them.
He’s Gone, Now What?
Guest Opinion By Grant Parsons | Jan. 23, 2021 Wounded and fearful, America watched the 45th President leave the nation’s capital. On a hastily arranged stage at an enclosed Air Force base, the disgraced president gave an off-the-cuff goodbye to a few hundred family and friends.
Opinion: Time for change at the GT County Road Commission
It is time to petition Grand Traverse County to change the Road Commission from an appointed body to an elected body that is responsible, responsive and accountable. The Road Commission’s recent mistakes on Old Mission Peninsula illustrate the appointed Road Commission’s unsuitability. On one side of Old Mission Peninsula, there’s a stretch of Bluff Road that is closed. The roadbed is collapsing into high water, where the Road Commission slashed trees off the bank.
Samosa & Aloo Gobi
Tastemaker By Alex Tank | March 7, 2020 An inviting aroma drifts from an unassuming kiosk in the Grand Traverse Mall food court. Behind the counter, Golam Rabbani and his staff urge passersby to sample a Taste of India. They’ll happily describe the colorful dishes on offer: dal, chana masala, basmati rice, naan, biryani — all the classic staples. “This is the traditional food of the common people,” Rabbani said, but the flavors at Taste of India are uncommonly bold.
Long Road Grand Absinthe
Bottoms Up By Ross Boissoneau | March 7, 2020 Said to cause hallucinations and possibly violent behavior, absinthe was banned in the U.S. and abroad for nearly 100 years. Kyle VanStrien, co-founder of Long Road Distillers, never gave credence to the tales, and when the anise-flavored liquor was legalized in 2007, one of his distillers came to him with a recipe. He gave it the go-ahead, and the result is available at its Boyne City location, as well Grand Rapids and Grand Haven.
Strange Brew
John Niedermaier, craft beer madman and magician By Craig Manning | March 7, 2020 He’s not running the biggest or the oldest brewery, but you can call Brewery Terra Firma’s John Niedermaier the godfather of northern Michigan craft beer. Before he opened his own place in 2013, Niedermaier was playing an important role in shaping Traverse City into the beloved beer town it is today. Humble Origins Niedermaier’s beer story reaches back decades.
Anti Viral
Snapshots of prevention in northern Michigan as COVID-19 looms By Patrick Sullivan | March 7, 2020 Health officials in northern Michigan are gearing up for the arrival of COVID-19, a.k.a. coronavirus. We circled the region to find out what's happening, where — and what's next. ‘Prepared, not Panicked’ Many people never have to worry about what a local health department does – until a pandemic is declared.
Get Your Green On
St. Patrick's Day Celebrations Around the North By Ross Boissoneau | March 7, 2020 Saint Patrick was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop. Legend credits him with teaching the Irish about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity by using a shamrock. He’s also credited with banishing snakes from the island. Saint Patrick is now the primary patron saint of Ireland. He’s celebrated March 17, the supposed date of his death, with the Feast of Saint Patrick, a.k.a. St. Patrick’s Day.
Eilish. Billie Eilish.
Modern Rock By Kristi Kates | March 7, 2020 Grammy-winner Billie Eilish (along with her writer-producer brother Finneas, who’s a solo artist in his own right) will be the featured artist for the theme song to the next James Bond movie, No Time to Die. The movie and song will hit theatres and outlets on April 10 in the U.S. (it’ll arrive in the U.K. on April 2); the song was co-written by Eilish and her brother.
It Takes Two to Brew
The couples of the northern Michigan craft beer scene By Alex Tank | March 7, 2020 The only thing better than drinking a cold beer is brewing one with your favorite person. In northern Michigan, four couples are not only committed to one another, they are committed to making quality craft beer together, with all the accompanying challenges and triumphs brewed into every pint. So, how can you get to know these brewing duos? It’s easy: Go taste their beer. Enjoy the spaces they’ve curated.
Pretty Good Odds
Spectator By Stephen Tuttle | March 7, 2020 We are quick to assume the worst and equally quick to panic. The latest example is the novel coronavirus now circling the globe. It requires caution and some preparedness – but not the frenzied response we're now seeing. Ably abetted by attention-seeking politicians and overly dramatic headlines, we've decided the end times are nigh. The stock market, now driven more by crises and fear than anything resembling value, was especially panicky.
The Spirea Question
Guest Opinion By Grant Parsons | March 7, 2020 Someday – hopefully – my spirit will be lounging under a spirea hedge in Sunset Park and a dog will sense it and (as dogs do) lift a leg and water it. Before then, of course, there are two metaphysical predicates (me dying, me having a spirit) and a physical predicate (a spirea hedge in Sunset Park.) Alas … the spirea hedge I would lounge beneath eternal is missing.
International Good
Northern Michigan’s charitable folk often extend their reach well beyond our own borders. Here’s how some of our local people are making a major difference in far-flung parts of the world. Mancelona Vet Dale Ackler Helping Animals in India & Borneo “There’s a need to help animals everywhere you go,” said veterinarian Dale Ackler of the Mancelona Veterinary Hospital. That’s why Ackler stepped up to fulfill part of that need when he traveled to India recently.
One Good Deed a Day for December
Want to get in good with the man in red? (And help your community while you’re at it?) Here’s 25 ways you can make this holiday season a little better for someone in need. Dec. 1. Make sure a foster child, homeless teen, or kid in a struggling family gets some Christmas gifts too: Team up with friends, family, or officemates to “adopt” him or her through Child and Family Services’ Paper Angel campaign.
Rockin’ Eats at the Torch Lake Cafe
The building that houses the Torch Lake Cafe has a long history. According to owner Leanna Collins, it was a church back in the 1800s. When she and her husband, Jim Hettinger, bought the building, they decided to restore it to its former glory. “We put a porch on it and put the steeple and a bell back on,” Collins said. “When I first saw it, it was just a funky old bar. And it’s always been a roadhouse bar of some kind or other.” Collins has an intriguing history of her own.
Carruthers’ Election: What it Means
The recent city election may look like a split decision to some, but the objective result is clear as a bell. The reelection of Mayor Jim Carruthers will likely define the city’s future character. This city has been mired in a long-running debate over the city’s future. The election gave voters the opportunity to decide the issue: Do we want tall buildings or do we want to preserve our small-town character?
Pentatonix - A Pentatonix Christmas Deluxe - RCA
You can’t really go wrong with Pentatonix for vocal harmonies, and with nearly every Christmas carol featuring harmonies en masse, the pop ensemble is a great pick for a holiday album. On this set they spend half the tracks sticking to the classics: “Away in a Manger,” “Deck the Halls,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” — and the other half putting their own twist on more modern faves like “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “Let It Snow.” *** Various Artists – Holidays Rule Vol.
Gwen Stefani is Ready for Christmas
No Doubt singer-turned-solo artist Gwen Stefani has just released her first holiday album, You Make It Feel Like Christmas, a set that includes a blend of covers of holiday standard tunes and original festive songs of Stefani’s own. Of course boyfriend and fellow The Voice coach Blake Shelton appears on the set, most notably on the title track, on which the pair duet.
People in Need are Everywhere. Finding Them is the Hard Part.
If you or someone you know struggles with poverty, there are coaches available to help develop long-term plans to find a way out, people who are willing to stay committed for years.Karen Fulkerson, executive director of Family Partnership in Traverse City, said one of her organization’s biggest challenges is finding people in need who want to be paired with mentors. “Some of the stories, you just can’t believe the situations that people have found themselves in,” Fulkerson said.
Forum: The Chamber of Commerce's character issue
Based on the Oct.18 column by Doug Luciani, it is clear the Traverse Area Chamber of Commerce doesn’t like “small town character,” dismissing it as “small town politics.”Many of us have been involved in small town character and small town politics since 1986, when a seven-story downtown mall was proposed. We got organized and stopped it. That’s now the site of the farmer’s market.Since then, on four occasions, we have held a public election or filed suit to stop a development.
The Man Who Invented Trees
A while ago, Clarence Kroupa cut and stacked his last cord of wood — a stack so clean and smooth you could run your hand down the face, like over your own cheek, without a splinter — and then he put his saw away and moved across town to a tidy place where he and Esther now sit on the sunporch, looking at the calm surface of Boardman Lake. There are lumber-era tree trunks resting in the silent silt on the bottom of the lake, somewhat eternal, like him.
The New Normal | Opinion | Northern Express
For those who lost loved ones, the pain will likely never end. For the thousands whose homes or businesses were damaged or destroyed, the pain is just beginning. Hurricane Harvey was an equal opportunity destroyer. Neither skin color nor language nor bank accounts mattered. When the waters came calling, they called for anyone and everything in their path, almost 11,000 square miles of flooding.
Remember this Titan: Traverse City West tight end Ryan Hayes
Traverse City West tight end Ryan Hayes has committed to the University of Michigan, and he’s aiming for the pros. Before he goes, local football fans are anxiously awaiting what promises to be the senior's unforgettable final season. Watching videos of Traverse City West High School football player Ryan Hayes gets a little monotonous. There’s the brawny tight end obliterating a defender with a massive block, shoving the would-be tackler downfield some 10 yards.
Stories from the Street
The brutal assault of several homeless people sleeping behind a church in downtown Traverse City last July proved to Peggy Byland that perhaps the people who live on the street need better P.R. That summer, Speak Up, the small magazine, or ’zine, focused on and written by homeless individuals, that launched in Traverse City in 2014, had just stopped publication in northern Michigan. Byland, a retired elementary school English teacher, recognized that something needed to take its place.
Look What You Made Taylor Swift Do
Taylor Swift debuted her new single, “Look What You Made Me Do,” at last weekend’s MTV Video Music Awards, to gasps and laughs from the audience both present and online. We’re talking Taylor Swift, who resurfaced with very little pre-promotion after nearly a year spent primarily out of the spotlight. Swift’s new album, Reputation, will arrive in outlets on Nov.
Vietnam: A View From the Front Lines
The fighting stopped five decades ago, but the legacy of Vietnam War remains unclear. Perhaps Richard Nixon got one thing right: “No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now.” Gradually, though, veterans are beginning to open up about their experiences. The question is, will anyone pay attention?
Grieves - Running Wild - Rhymesayers
From Seattle hails Grieves, the double-threat rapper and producer who evolves in unique ways on each album. This time around, he’s working with Swedish producer Chords to add a more sleek, modern feel to his tracks, which are permeated with glossy synths and expressive horn sections. Lead singles “RX” and “Postcards” alternate Grieves’ soulful beats with more solemn commentary on mental health issues; guest apperances from Davey Jones and Paris Alexa add balance.
Traverse City Athletes Tackle One of Fall’s Fiercest Sports
The Traverse City sky alternates between sunshine and a steady light rain as a dozen or so young women gather on a field along Franke Road. The liquid sunshine does nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the Traverse City Girls Rugby Team as the players work on an intricate 8-player passing drill. “I made it confusing because in a game it will be confusing,” coach Therese Panian tells her players, who seem invigorated by both the light rain and their energetic coach.
Tastemaker: Alpine Chocolat Haus Seafoam
Yes, it’s September — but never fear, you’ve got a few more chances to chase after a few last summery pursuits. One of your sweetest options is the seafoam candy from the Alpine Chocolat Haus in Gaylord. Very much its own kind of light, sugary sweet, the Chocolat Haus’ seafoam — made from a secret recipe that includes sugar, gelatin, and baking soda — offers an unusual texture and experience, as well as a distinctive brown-sugar flavor.
Paddle Antrim Invites Kayakers to Take Over the Chain of Lakes Water Trail Sept 15-16
Hikers in northern Michigan have an abundance of trails to choose from. But did you know that kayakers do too? If not, Paddle Antrim is looking to get you on its home-water trail, the Chain of Lakes, which routes paddlers along a variety of lakes and rivers from Ellsworth to Elk Rapids — with its upcoming 2017 Paddle Antrim Festival. WATER CELEBRATION Deana Jerdee is the executive director of Paddle Antrim. The organization, based in Bellaire, has been around for nearly four years.
Arias and Afterglow at Traverse City's City Opera House
Fun fact: Longtime friends and self-proclaimed opera fans Mario Tabone, of Traverse City’s Tabone Orchards and Vineyards, and Silvio “Tony” Ciccone, of Suttons Bay’s Ciccone Vineyard and Winery, have more than “just” opera and wine in common. “Tony is Madonna’s father, and my third cousin is Britney Spears,” Tabone said.
There’s a Constitutional Sheriff in Town
There’s a debate across the country about how much local officials should cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. It’s come into sharp focus in Benzie County, where Sheriff Ted Schendel has proclaimed he’ll do whatever he can to assist. In some ways, Schendel is no different than other sheriffs in Michigan who comply when requested to hold suspected noncitizens for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for up to 48 hours.
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