What are your hopes for Superior in the New Year?
After doing some searching through old UW-Superior student newspapers I found not a lot has changed over the years as to our perception of New Year’s. An unnamed reporter wrote in 1940 about the meaning of Christmas and another student was quoted in saying:
“My greatest objection is that of receiving Christmas cards saying, ‘Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.’ How in the heck can anyone have a merry Christmas with all that grief and work getting ready for it. And how, how, I beseech you, can anyone say, ‘Happy New Year,’ on New Year’s day when a person has a splitting headache that’s driving him insane?”
Is New Year’s all about celebrating in the forms of drinking? Is all that is derived from the holiday a splitting headache? New Year’s is certainly about these things but it’s also important to use this time to reflect on what can be improved in our lives and community.
I moved to Superior in 2012 and have been observing quite a bit of change since then. At first that change derived from repairs after the flood. Now they are by choice to improve the community as best as leaders think they can. Regular citizens are bystanders to this ongoing process. I went around town and asked people about the new year and what their hopes are for Superior.
“A healthy community—physically and emotionally. It would be nice if this community could prosper and we saw more businesses,” said Sandy Steffan, a bartender at TJ Champions.
A group of men also sat at the bar most commonly known as “champs.” Between them they said they wanted to see more jobs in this town and not just any jobs but good paying jobs and industry. One man was vocal that taxes are too high and should be lowered “but that ain’t gonna happen,” he said. “Taxes always go up.”
Later I asked Julie Olaf what her hopes for Superior were for 2018.
“Growth and vibrancy. Like, creating more energy and attracting new energy and sustaining that for healthy growth,” said Olaf, who is from Superior originally and now lives in Salt Lake City. “A lot of people think Superior is a dead town, but recent additions like 7 west and Earth Rider are bringing life to this town and attracting new energy. It’s a great place and has always been kind of behind but now it’s catching up and I think that is promising,”
“I’d like to see more community activities,” said Stephanie Warden, who has lived in Superior for two years. “The dog park is a good start—I’d like to see more things like that.”
At the Cedar Lounge I asked the two bartenders the same question: what do you hope for in Superior in the new year?
“I work at CASDA so I am hoping that we see a decrease in child abuse, domestic abuse and sexual violence in Superior,” said Amanda Reese. “I would like to see other new businesses as well, and more community events. There are a lot of issues between groups because there isn’t a lot of interaction between people and I think we need to have more community interaction. Basically peace on Earth good will toward men,” she said.
The other bartender, Sean Colin, said “there are a ton of positive things and Superior is moving in the right direction; they should keep on that. I think breweries and restaurants help that like Thirsty Pagan, Anchor and now Cedar Lounge.”
I’m not going to tell what how or why to celebrate the new year but I will tell you it should be celebrated. It is the first day of a brand-new year and time to reflect on oneself and ones community. So, what do you think, what are your hopes for Superior in 2018?
