In a town as unique as Harbor Springs, where lake breezes carry stories of generations past and where scenic overlooks, trains, plaques, and fountains stand not just as ornaments but as living memorials—privilege takes on a special meaning. It is not merely a matter of wealth or property lines. Here, privilege can be found in the shared experience of place, in the monuments that honor those who have served, donated, built, taught, driven, and cared.
This is a town where the staircase ‘Jakobs Ladder’ or the skate park isn’t just concrete—it’s a testament to what happens when a community steps up, literally and figuratively. Where a perpetual spring water fountain refreshes not just our bodies but our sense of belonging. Where the names etched into a pavilion or engraved at The Lyric Theater remind us that generosity comes in many forms: time, money, vision.
But not all privileges are equal, nor are they all visible.
Consider the divide: 3 mills in school funding from homesteaded properties versus 17 mills from non-homesteaded ones. On paper, it’s a stark difference. But in spirit? It’s a profound opportunity for unity. Rarely, if ever, have we heard a second-home owner regret their contribution to our schools or community programs. Because what binds us is deeper than tax classifications—it is a shared commitment to the future of Harbor Springs.
Michael Behrmann, who has served this community as a Superintendent, as a City Council member, and even as a bus driver, captured it perfectly in his final remarks to council: “It has been a privilege to serve the community.” His service, like many others’, wasn’t about recognition. It was about reciprocity—the quiet, enduring exchange between neighbor and neighbor, whether year-round or seasonal.
So how do we honor this kind of privilege?
Not through entitlement, but through engagement. Whether you’re an elected official, an appointed board member, or a quiet donor who gives when they can—there is honor in participation. Maybe it’s planting flowers in your yard. Maybe it’s driving more slowly through our neighborhoods. Maybe it’s sponsoring a student robotics program or simply attending a city meeting. All acts, no matter how small, are ways of saying: “This place matters to me.”
We are all privileged to be part of Harbor Springs. Not because of what we own, but because of how we choose to contribute.
So let us seek out how we can help. Let us teach our children that to live here is not just to enjoy, but to invest. Let us remind ourselves and each other: we are not just beneficiaries of this town—we are its caretakers.
Let that be the legacy we build, one flower, one donation, one vote, one kind gesture at a time.