Year in Review: Looking Back at 2022

Before we totally close the chapter of another year, I’m going to keep that book open for a moment longer to reflect on multiple high points from over the last 12 months.

Mostly recently, Rekindle the Spirit – Munising’s winter holiday event that takes place early December – was back in person for the first time since 2019. Although it was a chilly evening, hundreds of people gathered to take part in festivities such as wagon rides, pictures with Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch and other characters, a tree lighting and parade.

Many businesses kept their doors open later than normal, offering discounts, hot cocoa and snacks. Gallery Coffee Company also hosted a singing contest in conjunction to Rekindle the Spirit, the second time they’d held it and first post-pandemic.

The Alger County Chamber of Commerce also brought back the Rekindle Grand Giveaway, where prizes sponsored by area businesses were awarded to 78 people after entering the drawing at the office in December. Each $50 spent at any business within the county gave shoppers one entry slip. Since the campaign’s inception in 2011, $2.3 million worth of receipts have been counted at the chamber’s office.

Although we ran into some rain, the 8th annual Pictured Rocks Days - the chamber’s summer kick-off event - was held on June 11-12 at Munising’s Binsfeld Bayshore Park for the first time in two years. Around 1,000 U.P. residents took advantage of free boat rides offered by Pictured Rocks Cruises over the weekend for their Yoopers Ride Free event as well.

Several other notable achievements include:

Grand Marais Music and Arts Festival celebrated its 40th anniversary and the Munising Bay Cruisers’ Classic Car Show marked 10 years this year.

Curbs and ramps of all sidewalks on Superior Street from Spruce Street east to M-28 in Munising were replaced, with the mill and overlay of Superior Street occurring after Labor Day. The road project was funded by the Munising Downtown Development Authority and a Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) grant.

In spring 2022, 18 businesses were awarded a flower and beautification grant from the Munising DDA. The DDA matched grant recipients up to $250 to be used for flowers, plants and supplies for decorating the outside of their buildings. This was the second year grants were offered; 11 business were awarded in 2021.

Munising-native Marissa Immel was the recipient of the chamber’s $500 Scholarship. Marissa is finishing her first year as a master's student at Michigan State University where she’s pursuing a degree in communicative sciences and disorders to become a speech-language pathologist.

The Munising’s DDA and chamber’s latest placemaking project “Honoring our Veterans” was installed next to the All Veterans Memorial at Binsfeld Bayshore Park early summer. Along with the DDA and chamber, the project was also made possible by the Munising Visitors Bureau and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #237.

Munising Memorial Hospital was awarded as the 2021 Business of the Year at the chamber’s annual dinner in May 2022. Upper Peninsula Michigan Works presented the award to hospital staff during the event, which was held at the Bear Trap Inn in Van Meer. Hospital staff were recognized for their dedication and hard work every day, but especially during the pandemic.