How does Marquette stack up compared to other counties in the UP? As many of you know, Radon is a gas that can enter and accumulate in homes (actually the decaying by products do). As you also know, high levels of Radon are known to be the second leading cause of lung cancer.As a whole, upper Michigan has lower to moderate levels of Radon based on EPA and laboratory maps of the continental US.  In some parts of the country, Radon levels are scarily high in some residences. Comparing UP counties that have had homes tested for radon in the past, Air Chek has graphs by county showing Marquette to have average tested levels slightly above the mitigation 4 pCi per liter level. Counties such as Houghton and Keweenaw had rather low levels.It's true that no one can predict which area or which ... 03/15/2017

St Peters Cathedral, in Marquette MichiganRecently, Nick and I had the opportunity to attend Mass in St Peters Cathedral in Marquette.This Cathedral is not just a special place to worship God but holds significant historical value to this region of the country.This is the Cathedral that the snowshoe priest, Father Baraga established as he ministered to the native people in the area walking and canoeing from lower Michigan and then back and forth across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and along Wisconsins Northern shores.Bishop Baraga, had great love for these native people and they for him as he ministered to their needs, started schools, developed an alphabet for their native Ojibwa language and introduced them to Jesus.It was great to meet some of the great people of Marquette here an... 10/15/2016

  Over the years I have bought 6 homes and sold 4. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a realtor to work with to help you buy your first, or next home. 1. Lay out your expectations, and see if you and the realtor are well matched. If not, find another one. It is important to have realistic expectations. Don't expect them to show you 50 houses. 2. Exclusive buyer agent contracts are fine, a good idea actually, but do your homework before signing one. How available is the realtor? Will she/he show me homes that just come on the market, or only those that fit a specific price range or home style or location? If you know exactly what your looking for, a narrow search may be warrented, but if your just looking for a home big enough for your family at a good price, you should hav... 11/28/2014

"I find that a great part of the information I have was acquired by looking up something and finding something else on the way."  Franklin P. Jones quotes (American Businessman, 1887-1929)     I grew up in a family that was told to look it up when we didn't know the answer to something. In my house a question is invariably met with the answer "Google It." But I do have several go-to web sites for answers to many questions and I am pleased to share my top 8 links today.   •1)  For information on any property in the City of Marquette I use the website Marquette City  for property information you click on Resident services and then property information look up. From there you can find out who is in a neighborhood you may be looking at, how long a home has been owned by the homeowner or wh... 11/07/2008

"Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress."  Nicholas Murray Butler   If you know me, you know my glass is always half full. But I will admit that the continual media bombardment of doom and gloom has started to empty my glass. But after spending a few days in Detroit (no I will never like or be positive about the city of Detroit) at the Michigan Association of REALTORS® annual convention, I was pleased to be among so many positive people. Instead of a gloom and doom attitude, most of the attendees and speakers were excited about the positive attributes that Michigan has. This week in Marquette, I have seen several purchase agreements written on commercial properties. Along with the hint (or some days scream) of fall in the air, th... 09/25/2008

Top Ten Back to School Quotes Live as if you were to die tomorrow; learn as if you were to live forever." — Mohandas Gandhi "Sixty years ago I knew everything; now I know nothing; education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." — Will Durant "The important thing is never to stop questioning." — Albert Einstein "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." — Mark Twain "When the student is ready the teacher will appear." — Lao Tzu "Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one." — Malcolm Forbes "Learning is not compulsory...neither is survival." — W. Edwards Deming "You can lead a boy to college, but you cannot make him think." — Elbert Hubbard "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who ca... 08/21/2008

"Fish & Visitors stink in 3 days."  Benjamin Franklin   Why I hate Febreze  And Love the New York Times   Ok I will start with the New York Times; on August 11th they profiled our little old Marquette County Fair in a recent article This Land - Where the Competition Is Stiff but Sweet - NYTimes.com. I will admit to not reading the New York Times but NMU's awesome Alumni Association published this in their newsletter and now I am sharing it with you. It is such a treat to see your friend's name (Andi Goriesky) in print in the New York Times!   I hate Febreze! I am sorry to pick on one product, but I must say it is completely overused in homes that are for sale. I understand the umm distinctive smells that some homes might have, but when a home owner thinks they are covering it up with F... 08/14/2008

This is the first in a series of articles about Upper Michigan that I am writing on behalf of those considering relocating or returning to this area.  I have traveled or lived in much of the world (23 countries) and also spent a fair portion of my growing up years in the UP.  Having returned for the last time after 14 years of living in Green Bay, Wisconsin, my perspective is fresh and I am constantly on the lookout for points of interest and things to do, as well as evaluating quality of life issues and finding cultural pursuits.As a licensed Home Inspector and owner of Bay Area Home Inspection, LLC, I travel constantly throughout the Upper Peninsula.  On Tuesday, I was in Marquette doing two inspections for clients moving to this city and thought to myself; why do people move here?  I... 05/25/2007