MORE GREAT THINGS FOR THE LOCALS, NOW THAT TOURIST SEASON IS OVER....LOL.

[AQUAMAN]

Yes, it's that time of year again, the beauty of fall is here, changing temperatures accompanying fall colors and more ease in traffic around our local area, now that the tourists are leaving daily in big numbers. So, now, finally, we can go enjoy some things we were not able to this summer because of all the crowds and traffic, right? NO, not entirely. One of the biggest gripes I have is the Stearns Beach area, exactly 8 days after Labor Day the COL started erecting the "snow fence", thus blocking the view of Lake Michigan with orange crud attached to steel posts in the sand. Many locals also like to look at the petunias down Ludington Avenue, but alas, they too have been yanked out, just as they come into full bloom and beauty, but alas, this is for our visitors, not us, right? You might also want to rent a boat on Hamlin or elsewhere to go fishing or pleasure boating. These too will shortly be in drydock for the winter, usually by October 1st or so. Some of the local parks will also close their bathrooms and picnic areas early too, afterall, it's not intended for us local taxpayers that pay for it all either. Well, while I love the fall, it is hard to have the full enjoyment of it with all these quicky activities by officials that think they need to be closed up right away, and while we're at it, just roll up the sidewalks too till next May 2013.

[XLFD]

You're absolutely right.  If nothing happens you just have the usual people belly-aching about the loss of aesthetics, but if a windstorm happens you can broadcast the sagacity of the City leaders in bypassing real damage. 

Similar to closing the beach when you have some waves which they have adopted since that year of 2010.  The City can point to no one dying with pride and think themselves wise when they shut it down, but meanwhile, the people who are getting thrown off the beach go to other beaches that don't close proactively.  Then continue to go there, because nobody likes getting thrown out of public facilities, LOL. 

[AQUAMAN]

Many thanks for the graphic pics. Willy, although we don't necessarily agree to agree on the fences, I think your pics. tell a thousand words, you cannot and will not defy Nature in her anger, and that's a fact several times of year, irregardless of the month one happens. The "tail wagging the dog" isn't so much a silly saying as it sounds in this case, and as history tells us, time after time, some would have us look at this eyesore for 8-1/2 months a year, gross and sadly stupid, imho. I say we can do better, as this is our #1 asset for the community, has been for a long, long time, and to close it up basically, with eyesores like the fence, is just folly for those that show continuous contempt and no respect for the "locals" that live and pay for this very special spot in Ludville. It was donated for the "locals" public pleasure afterall to start with, so why push the closing? Old man winter is quite a ways off, this is not winter yet by any means. Just saying........it's high time "locals" went to city hall and spoke out for changes, and this ain't the only thing that needs a changin either. But sure would be a step in the right direction to start with, jmo.