At The Bridge

This is the US 41 Interstate Bridge that joins Menominee, Michigan and Marinette, Wisconsin. It was dedicated in 1930 and spurred the development of the commercial area around 13th Street and 10th Avenue in Menominee. It also led to the development of the M&M Plaza.

Courtesy of  The Menominee Historical Society

We live at the border of Michigan and Wisconsin, at the push-pin point where the Menominee River ends its waterway journey, and at the edge of that river's blue-green boundary. Thus, our geography creates a unique place with the bridge at the heart of one community uniting two cities, two separate counties, and two different states. So, for us, crossing bridges is routine.

As the bridge is at the heart of our territory, competitive behavior is at the center of the way we think. We operate in the land of Vince Lombardi, the M&M Game, and the University of Michigan Vs. Michigan State. We grew up in an age where progress was made by fighting wars, winning campaigns, and building big chains. Likewise, you and I participated by competing for top test scores, being the fastest, and gaining status over others.  For us, like crossing bridges, competing is second nature.

Competing is in our history, and, understandably, we default to this way of solving a problem; but, how is the constant clash of opposing sides working for you, your community, and our nation these days? 

Consider that playing games has its place for personal development, entertainment, and fun.  We are motivated by the challenge of a starting point, boundaries, and a score at the end. However, community development does not seem to be a game like that to me. Contrast competitive gaming with the fact that we strive to live long and eternal lives. As well, the pursuit of happiness is subjectively personal. In society, there are no starting blocks or a finish line. Building a better community is a different model than our regular competition.  Can we acknowledge that we are not better off when our games create more losers than winners for our young people, family, friends, and neighbors?

Each time you are at a bridge, let it remind you about the heart of our community. If you care, you would not be striving to win a game of you vs. me, us vs. them. What if we discarded the win-lose thinking and instead worked shoulder to shoulder with empathy and without fear? Replace the energy spent on skirmishes and avoidance with actions of gratitude, building on strengths, and cooperating as allies. Then, without permission from anyone but yourself, you can be constructive at little to no extra cost. Cross your mental bridge to making things happen through participation, acts of kindness, mutual trust, and respect.

 

NERR Shines A National Spotlight On The Beauty of This Region

 

Emily Tyner, Director of Freshwater Strategy at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, recently explained a few of the many facets surrounding the selection process for a Bay of Green Bay-National Estuarine Research Reserve. Possible locations for the future site of the visitor/education center part of the reserve include Marinette, Green Bay, and Door County. The reserve will also include natural areas (land and water) located throughout the Green Bay estuary system.

 Tyner, who will mark her one-year anniversary at the job on Sept. 1, holds an MA from UW-Milwaukee (Freshwater Ecology) where she is a doctoral candidate in the School of Freshwater Sciences.

 “The Freshwater Collaboration, within the UW’s 13 campuses, is an effort to build partnerships on campuses and to further water research and education within those communities,” Tyner said.

 How is a site selected?

“Site choice will be neutral, it’s a process. There are seven categories stipulated by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), our federal partner, modified to fit local conditions. We are currently in step two, the evaluation of potential sites. We look at ecological conditions and diversity; whether the site is a good fit for long-term research; site accessibility for education, roads, school buses, public access, etc.; site resilience to climate change and changing water levels. How conducive the site is to build partnerships with local organizations, state agencies, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)? Is the site on public land or land held by a nature conservancy (no purchase of private land will be involved). And, finally, will access be impeded by possible future development of surrounding areas? Site selection will be made by the end of 2022 and designed by the end of 2024.”

 How will the future site function?

“The university will run the day-to-day operations. Funding is at 70% federal and 30% state match. Every reserve has three to four staff members and a director. It’s a four-pronged focus: REST—Research, Education, Stewardship and Training—with a coordinator for each area and one overall director.” Tyner added that the site would also involve students and summer fellows, one or two educators, and may include a person to do mapping work. Dependent on funding, it could reach six to eight employees. We will tap into system-wide programs. Every reserve collects similar water samples, biological samples, weather parameters, etc. to be fed into a national database.”

 What does a National Estuarine Research Reserve site look like?

“It’s not a single location. There’s a diversity of areas, and very likely it will be a multi-component site with a variety of areas included, but that has not yet been confirmed by the relevant committees. The visitor center and educational center form the hub with land and water areas being non-contiguous parts of the reserve.”

 How does a NERR Center affect the local economy?

The NERR Association “found that Reserves, directly and indirectly, support jobs in many industries—including tourism, construction, restaurant, real estate, fishing, retail—in the counties where they are located,” she said. “It can become a hub for the recreational opportunity.”She added that people tour the reserves, spread throughout the country, similar to tours of our national parks.

Tyner emphasized that a National Estuarine Research Reserve is not a regulatory agency. “The site won’t change at all fishing, hunting, public boating, kayaking, etc.” The Reserve’s goal is to foster water research and education.”

 “NERR shines a national spotlight on the beauty of this region,” she emphasized.

 

Discover NERR - August 4

Invitation from Cindy Bailey

 Area residents are invited to attend an open meeting to discuss the future site of The World’s Largest Freshwater Estuary. The meeting is set for Wednesday, Aug. 4, at 6 p.m. at Peshtigo Elementary School, 341 N. Emery Ave., Peshtigo. 

            The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) plans to build a multi-million-dollar National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR). Marinette, located on the Bay of Green Bay, is one of three sites being considered. Other potential sites would be located in either Green Bay or Door County.

            The Bay of Green Bay, the world’s largest freshwater estuary, carries contributions of biologicals, sediment, and characteristics of the Menominee and Fox Rivers and other inlets directly to Lake Michigan and all the Great Lakes. NERR described our regional area as having “significant cultural, economic, commercial and recreational benefits” gained from its water and coastal features. Because the Great Lakes currently provide drinking water to 30 million people, this source of freshwater’s importance and value will only increase in the future. Yet, according to a NERR fact sheet, both the Bay of Green Bay and Lake Michigan “face many challenges: changing water levels, flooding, coastal erosion, and harmful algal blooms.”

            The proposed site will help coordinate the management, restoration, and protection of the Bay of Green Bay ecosystem. NERR’s national network of 29 sites across the coastal United States is dedicated to protect and study estuaries and their coastal wetlands.

             “Although the research will be in the waters of Green Bay, the focus will be quite broad—opportunities for training, for participating in programs will have a larger footprint and reach,” according to Emily Tyner, director of freshwater strategy at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. It is hoped to involve elementary, high school, and college students and to establish internships working with industry, nonprofits, policymakers and governmental organizations. The goal is to have industry and researchers working side-by-side in watersheds and with wetland restoration.

            Tyner adds that although the Bay of Green Bay has faced many challenges, there has been improvement in the last few years that NERR hopes to build on. She cited the delisting of the Menominee River as an Area of Concern by the EPA in August 2020 as one win for freshwater.

             “There’s this tremendous cleanup that’s already happened but there’s certainly challenges into the future, so hopefully NERR can help coordinate, think about and design what the future around water looks like.”

            This is an exciting opportunity for our area and one deserving of community support.

Attend the open meeting on Aug. 4 at the Elementary School in Peshtigo to learn and explore more about the possibility of creating of a NERR site here.

             

The World’s Largest Freshwater Estuary

 

Emily Tyner, Director of Freshwater Strategy at The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, addressed members of the Marinette City Council recently about current ongoing site exploration for a new National Estuarine Research Center (NERR). The Center is to be established at either Marinette, Green Bay, or Door County.

            Marinette, with its prime location on the Bay, would be a natural choice for the Center with its goal of helping to coordinate the management, restoration, and protection of the Green Bay ecosystem. Tyner explained that the delisting of the Menominee River as an Area of Concern by the Environmental Protection Agency (August 2020) was a win for freshwater.

            If Marinette is selected, the Center will help to attract visitors and provide outreach to area schools as well as serving as a valuable research center in efforts to protect freshwater. The Bay of Green Bay, as the world’s largest freshwater estuary carries contributions of biologicals and sediment and characteristics of the Menominee River, Fox River, and many other inlets directly to Lake Michigan and the whole of all the Great Lakes.

Currently, the Great Lakes provides drinking water to 30 million people and its importance as a source of fresh water will only increase in the future.

Click on the link above to learn more. (An interview with Tyner and Marissa Jablonski of the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin)

https://www.wuwm.com/2021-06-08/uw-green-bay-is-working-to-becomenational-estuarine-research-reserve

 

If You Missed Out

"learn about a developing opportunity for our community.”

            The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) has plans to create a multi-million-dollar research center somewhere along the shoreline between Marinette and Sturgeon Bay. We’d like to see this new National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) built here!

Some of you might have missed the online sessions held on April 12 and April 15 discussing a fantastic opportunity for the Menominee-Marinette area. The session is now online and available for streaming. Click here to access: NERR Kick-Off Event recording

            

            NERR describes Green Bay as the largest freshwater estuary with “significant cultural, economic, commercial and recreational benefits” derived from its water and coastal features. But both the Bay of Green Bay and Lake Michigan “face many challenges: changing water levels, flooding, coastal erosion, and harmful algal blooms.” Establishing a NERR here will provide science, monitoring, education, and research resources to help address these challenges. The advantages of a locally based NERR center will help coordinate the management, restoration, and protection of the Green Bay ecosystem. NERR is a national network of 29 sites across the coastal U.S., including the Great Lakes, whose purpose is to protect and study estuaries and their coastal wetlands.

            The possibility of a NERR site here is a remarkable opportunity for our area. This multi-million-dollar investment will attract visitors, provide outreach to our area schools, and will help to protect our freshwater. Please watch the video for more detailed information and continue that great spirit of cooperation demonstrated during the #mymarinettemenominee small-town competition. 

The Spirit of Cooperation

 

Our region is about to be the beneficiary of an amazing gift. The National Oceanic And Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) is going to build a research center (NERR) somewhere on the Bay of Green Bay. This multi-million dollar investment will attract visitors, and provide outreach to our area schools. At a location along the shoreline between Marinette and Sturgeon Bay, the folks at Green Bay NERR are looking for a place to call home. Can our welcoming enthusiasm attract this new community partner whose purpose is at the heart of what is essential to our family, friends, neighbors - freshwater? It was not that long ago when Menominee and Marinette residents worked together during the #mymarinettemenominee small-town competition.

Residents now have this unique opportunity to show that spirit of cooperation by attending a free virtual event, the National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) Kickoff Event. The programs are scheduled for Monday, April 12, from 4 to 5 p.m. and Thursday, April 15, from 7 to 8 p.m. Both events will have live captioning. Click here for More Information & Registration

The NERR is a national network of 29 sites across the coastal US, including the Great Lakes, designed to protect and study estuaries and their coastal wetlands. It represents the various biographic regions and estuarine types in this country. This initiative should be of interest to residents. Our location meets the definition of an estuary—it is where the tide meets the stream, the tidal mouth of a large river.

The virtual event offers a look into the importance of NERR. A fact sheet from NERR states: “Green Bay is the world’s largest freshwater estuary with significant cultural, economic, commercial, and recreational benefits derived from the water and coastal features of the Bay. However, the Bay of Green Bay and Lake Michigan face many challenges: changing water levels, flooding, coastal erosion, and harmful algal blooms. Establishing a National Estuarine Research Reserve  will provide resources to help Wisconsin address these challenges with targeted science, monitoring, education, and outreach.”

A Green Bay designated  NERR facility will offer “a coordinating force to manage, restore, and protect the Green Bay ecosystem.”

Please register for this exciting event and spread the news. Encourage your friends and neighbors to do so as well.

https://uwgreenbay.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9zacp0tJcWfBO50

            Additional information is available by clicking on the registration link.     

USS Marinette

USS Freedom, the first in its class – courtesy of Skip Heckel

"From Humble Beginnings" Building fishing boats and barges - 
to building "Freedom Class" Littoral Combat Ships for the United States Navy.

The 1942 shipyard picture is from Marinette Marine archives

Courtesy of Menominee County Historical Society

Growing better is not about what you have but what you do with what you have. That concept has stuck with me since I was 15. Each morning mom had the aquamarine-colored transistor radio tuned to WGEM-1440 AM on the dial. Through the snap, crackle, and pop of breakfast, Radio host Earl Nightingale's message came in crystal clear to me that morning. He said, "Success is not about what you have but what you do with what you have. If you hear this, you have a heart, a brain, likely two hands, and two feet. With those universal features, no matter your lot in life today, living in this free country, you are equal to kings, queens, and those with entitled inheritance. It is not about what you have but what you do with what you have." From my modest surroundings that morning, this message stuck.

With the celebration of Fincantieri Marinette Marine's proud production of the namesake ship, the USS Marinette, this event reminds me of what I learned. The idea about what to do with what you have translates to our community. Our #MyMarinetteMenominee region has many assets--water, woodlands, and wildlife, to name a few. We have the advantage of an abundance of skilled jobs highlighted by Marinette Marine's growth story. Our concentration of industry jobs per-capita is a feature envied by other regions.

We have all we need to build a vibrant community. A vibrant place that keeps businesses healthy by attracting talent. We draw this talent by being a place people want to visit, stay, and make their homes. We have the freedom to be a vibrant small town with an open-air lifestyle. A region where our children and grandchildren would choose to stay, belong, develop, and contribute their talents. This betterment is how we enrich the lives of households in our community. What will we do with what we have? Our businesses and industries bring people here to provide services, consult, and work. The story they tell their companies, families, and friends back home can attract them to become our resident talent.

What is the voice in your head telling you about visitors? Do you welcome them? Is it your nature to invite and include new people? What do you tell them about living here? Without anyone else's permission and at little to no additional cost, you can choose to love living here. Please welcome visitors with the story of why you love living here. Decide to do all you can with all we have to create a better future for our children, grandchildren, family, friends, and neighbors.