[Southsider2k12]

Today is a special day for me. 10 years ago today, I turned on the message board that is Citybythelake.org.
As only a very few people know, there used to be a small group of us that posted on the comments section of the News Dispatch website, before that was essentially disabled. For the most part it was a wasteland of lowest common denominator posting, that lacked any real insight into Michigan City. At that time (remember pre-facebook and twitter) there was no real place to go to talk about Michigan City in a mass setting. I had the domain left over from a failed election run, and having been involved in message boards for a decade previously, I decided to have a go at making a true Michigan City message board.

Today I sit and look back and think of the 3 or 4 of us in the beginning, and then look at this facebook page along where there are over 7500 members, plus hundreds of members on twitter, and almost 800 on the message board itself. Members literally range all over the country and world, and include life long natives like me, City refugees in other places, and even people from other places who follow for information or even the pictures of our amazing beauty.

I can't help but be proud that this has made it this long, and is still going strong. I love the fact that this has stayed an intelligent page in an era where it is hard to find a quality discussion on the internet that doesn't descend into basic name calling. The people who participate here are a sharp, hopeful, and positive bunch, though not at the expense of reality. The page has changed and adapted over the years and changes in technology, but the message has always been the same. Let's work today to make a better Michigan City tomorrow, and to give a voice to everyone.

Most importantly, I want to thank everyone who is a part of this. Thank you for reading, posting, commenting, and everything else. Thank you for being a part of this incredible community. I am looking forward to the next decade and beyond.

[Tim]

Today is a special day for me. 10 years ago today, I turned on the message board that is Citybythelake.org.
As only a very few people know, there used to be a small group of us that posted on the comments section of the News Dispatch website, before that was essentially disabled. For the most part it was a wasteland of lowest common denominator posting, that lacked any real insight into Michigan City. At that time (remember pre-facebook and twitter) there was no real place to go to talk about Michigan City in a mass setting. I had the domain left over from a failed election run, and having been involved in message boards for a decade previously, I decided to have a go at making a true Michigan City message board.

Today I sit and look back and think of the 3 or 4 of us in the beginning, and then look at this facebook page along where there are over 7500 members, plus hundreds of members on twitter, and almost 800 on the message board itself. Members literally range all over the country and world, and include life long natives like me, City refugees in other places, and even people from other places who follow for information or even the pictures of our amazing beauty.

I can't help but be proud that this has made it this long, and is still going strong. I love the fact that this has stayed an intelligent page in an era where it is hard to find a quality discussion on the internet that doesn't descend into basic name calling. The people who participate here are a sharp, hopeful, and positive bunch, though not at the expense of reality. The page has changed and adapted over the years and changes in technology, but the message has always been the same. Let's work today to make a better Michigan City tomorrow, and to give a voice to everyone.

Most importantly, I want to thank everyone who is a part of this. Thank you for reading, posting, commenting, and everything else. Thank you for being a part of this incredible community. I am looking forward to the next decade and beyond.

Thank you! Anyone who knows me knows I love my hometown, and I enjoy interacting here. Here's to another 10 years, Mike!

[Groucho]

Thank you! Anyone who knows me knows I love my hometown, and I enjoy interacting here. Here's to another 10 years, Mike!

thanks for setting this up. I am writing this from Memphis but I live in Pittsburgh and travel for a living. I was back for a visit in early September. A great town and finally after a long time it appears to be getting better.

[Tim]

thanks for setting this up. I am writing this from Memphis but I live in Pittsburgh and travel for a living. I was back for a visit in early September. A great town and finally after a long time it appears to be getting better.

Um - I didn't set this up. Mike did. Happy Holidays!