The annual 40Under40 edition of the Traverse City Business News is one of my favorite publications. I love to learn about the impressive young people who are making things happen in the Grand Traverse region – what they are doing, how they got here, and...
by Warren Call I recently flew back from Chicago to Cherry Capital Airport, arriving in a plane with many people who had clearly never been to Traverse City before. There were comments about the beautiful airport, the aerial view of the bay and the quick drive...
by Warren Call July means Cherry Festival and a welcome return to normal zaniness after the not-normal zaniness of the pandemic. July could also mark another important milestone: the end of standing meetings for the Grand Traverse County Joint Operations Center (JOC). This collaborative group of public and...
June marks the return of visitors and seasonal residents ready to enjoy our weather and water. Our lakes, bays, and rivers will once again be the highlight of every Pure Michigan moment. But of course, no visitor can truly appreciate warm weather and getting on the...
In mid-March, my family gathered on our farm for a late-winter reunion as the big task of vine pruning begins. We followed COVID safety precautions and kept the group small, but we also did something that seemed a bit remarkable after the past year: We...
Last April, Michigan’s unemployment rate hit nearly 23% as the full force of the shutdown hit our economy. Northwest Michigan fared even worse, with regional unemployment exceeding 25% and well above 30% in several counties. Spring 2020 was bleak. Today, the situation looks a bit different,...
Gregg Popovich, the legendary head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, is the longest-serving head coach in the NBA. Over his 22-year career, Coach Popovich holds the record for the most wins of any NBA coach and is one of only a few coaches to...
January welcomes the reopening of high schools and, while pandemic precautions remain very important, we can applaud the return of in-person instruction. Parents, teachers and administrators recognize the significant social, emotional and educational benefits kids get from actually being in the classroom. Though the return of...
Mark Duplass, a successful filmmaker and actor, was the keynote speaker for the South by Southwest conference and festival in 2015. His speech focused on his self-realization about personal responsibility, exemplified by the mantra, "The cavalry is not coming." The phrase refers to the danger of...
In mid-October, our family and close friends gathered for the annual grape harvest at our vineyard. It is a physically demanding, all-day effort, but we delivered a full load of fruit to the talented team at Left Foot Charley by late in the day. Due to...
