To the Editor:

As an annual visitor to St. Ignace since childhood, I am impressed by the many recent efforts made to revitalize the town. As always, the people of St. Ignace are welcoming and friendly (i.e. the librarian at the lovely new library who graciously assisted my father in his genealogical search). Further, amenities like the marina, boardwalk, and new casino provide valid reasons for travelers to stop and spend their valuable time and money. St. Ignace can be proud.

However, first impressions matter, especially when, despite best efforts, tourism is lagging. Looking through the critical lens

of a first-time visitor instead of one who knows and loves the town, one sees that a boater's first view toward the street as he leaves the marina is an abandoned, blighted building, one of a number. The first businesses one encounters upon entering the town reflect squalor and neglect. These are far from accurate portrayals of St. Ignace and what the city stands for. It would be a benefit to the town, especially the yeararounders who have few convenient options, for these stores to be maintained to the higher level of their counterparts in other similar areas. St. Ignace deserves the best.

Linda Bertges Charlotte, North Carolina