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It's time for locals to band together and celebrate the loveliness of this town.
Chetek residents are lucky. We have the lakes around us, abundant trees and wildlife and the kind of peace city dwellers crave. It's common to stop and chat with a retiree who, after years of working at a frantic urban pace, settled here to take advantage of the restfulness.
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Now that spring is in full bloom, fishermen, summer neighbors and weekend visitors are coming back into town, many of whom will travel here repeatedly throughout the summer.
Let's make them feel welcome.
Over the past year, Chamber of Commerce members have tossed around a lot of ideas for beautifying the city, some as simple as hanging flower baskets or painting murals downtown. The economic development committee is encouraging business owners to take out loans for storefront facelifts, while the city council considers the addition of new park benches on Knapp Street.
We have good ideas, but often diversions-funding concerns, disagreements among community members, lack of volunteerism and a pervasively negative economic vibe-prevent us from moving forward. For lack of community support, we almost lost our museum last year.
Now, with tourist season fast approaching, we should ask ourselves: How can we all work together to make Chetek a better city?
Last week, high school students did their share. During Give Back Day, teens cleaned up trash, helped out around town and brought cookies to The Alert (thanks!) and other local businesses. We heard their efforts complimented by townspeople; one woman said the community spirit gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling.
Their contributions are nothing unusual. Every year, civic groups and community-based organizations-the Chetek Lakes Protection Association, Chetek Resort Owners Association, churches, veterans, Hydroflites and so many others-work in tandem to meet the needs of residents and bring in commerce.
Despite their work and the observation that tourism-generated business helps sustain Chetek's restaurants, stores and resorts throughout the winter, too often residents complain about the annual surge in traffic, garbage, noise and population. The next time you're frustrated by a Second Street traffic jam, remember: without the influx of summer visitors, locals would have few or no places to sip a cup of coffee, pick up a fishing rod or buy groceries.
If the spike in fishing license sales is any indication, this could be a good year for business owners, few of whom had a profitable off-season. Check out Hayward Chamber of Commerce's Web site, www.haywardareachamber.com, and you'll see there's stiff competition for summer visitors. Our streets, too, should be lined with baskets heaped with flowers.
The harder we work to make this town beautiful, the more we all benefit.
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©The Chetek Alert 2009
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Rev. Earl Kammerud |
May, 15 2009 |
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Your editoial on making the city more beautiful and the need for every citizen to do their part was right on. In my 11 yrs in Chetek, I was always proud to say where I was from. One of those drawing cards is the volunteer ambulance and fire department. These dedicated individuals help make those who visit feel safe. Give a basket of flowers in memory of someone is a good way to start. Everyone have a good summer. Will be in the community Labor Day Weekend..
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