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Thursday, October 08, 2009

Gov. Granholm creates new Dept. of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) to replace DNR, DEQ

LANSING -- Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today, Oct. 8, issued Executive Order 2009-45, creating a new Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) to protect and conserve Michigan's air, water and other natural resources. The new department will assume the powers and functions of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), which are abolished by the executive order. The order takes effect Jan. 17, 2010.

"The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is a new department for the 21st century," Granholm said. "Experience has shown us that conserving natural resources and protecting the environment go hand-in-hand. These efforts now will be coordinated under one department."

The new department's mission will be to conserve, manage, protect and promote Michigan's environmental, natural resource, and related economic interests for current and future generations. This includes implementing an ecosystem-based strategy for resource management, effectively using natural resources in a sustainable manner and providing for continuous improvements in Michigan's air, water and soils while facilitating and encouraging economic growth.

Read the rest of this article on Michigan.gov.

"Mind Waves" opens at Kerredge Gallery Oct. 8

HANCOCK -- A reception and gallery talk for "Mind Waves," the new exhibit in the Community Arts Center’s Kerredge Gallery, will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight, Oct. 8, at the Arts Center in Hancock. The exhibit will run through October 31. "Mind Waves" is an exhibit of acrylic paintings by Bethany Stevens. They are inspired by the artist’s meditation practice.

"Mind waves are metaphors for thoughts that distract us from being in the present moment," states the artist. "Mind Waves" is considered Action Painting under the Abstract Expressionist movement. Her work is influenced by French Canadian artists, Jean Paul Riopelle and Marcelle Ferron, who were working in the 1940s in Montreal, Quebec, and by Mark Tobey, American abstract expressionist. She is also influenced by French Tachisme, (spontaneous brushwork, drips and blobs of paint straight from the tube), and Color Field Theory.

Bethany earned her Bachelor of Applied Arts degree from Central Michigan University in photography and sculpture. She is a studio artist, experiential art educator and gardener.

Club Indigo to feature Saroyan classic Oct. 9

CALUMET --The Mu Beta Psi music fraternity's Club Indigo Friday, Oct. 9, at the Calumet Theatre features a golden oldie MGM classic from the works of William Saroyan: The Human Comedy. The film stars Mickey Rooney, Fay Bainter, Robert Mitchum, Donna Reed, Van Johnson and other members of the MGM team in a "little" loss of innocence story about growing up Armenian in a small California town during WWII. Entertaining for kids, too.

A Southwestern buffet from Irish Times begins at 6 p.m., followed by the movie at 7:15 p.m. The cost for both is $18; the movie alone is $5. Call ahead for seating at the buffet: 337-2610.

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Concert to raise funds for Turn on the Heat Campaign Oct. 8 at Rozsa

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Tech's Visual and Performing Arts department is sponsoring a benefit concert for the Turn on the Heat campaign of Little Brothers-Friends of the Eldery and St. Vincent DePaul at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Rozsa.

Music and entertainment will be provided by Cheap Therapy, Greenstone, the Outlaws and Misbehavin’ with Gail English and her Swing Cats. All proceeds will go towards Little Brothers to provide firewood to elderly people to keep warm this winter. The concert will also help St. Vincent De Paul provide financial help to people who need assistance with their fuel bills.

Admission is $10. Tickets are available at the Rozsa Box Office, the Visual and Performing Arts office at Walker 209 and at rozsa@mtu.edu.

Nordic Film Series to present "The New Mankind" Oct. 8

HANCOCK -- The Finlandia University Finnish American Heritage Center begins its 2009-10 Nordic Film Series at 2 p.m. and 6p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, with the Finnish film, Uusi Ihminen or, literally translated, The New Mankind.

The film is directed by Klaus Häro, who also directed popular Nordic Film Series selections, Mother of Mine and Invisible Elina.

Uusi Ihminen is set in Sweden in 1951 as a new society develops -- a society where there is no room for the socially and mentally weak. The main character, Gertrud, is a 17-year-old girl from a very poor family who, against her will, is committed to a work home for young women.

There is no charge to attend the film, but donations are accepted. For information, call 487-7549.

"Mindfulness and Stress" class to be offered Oct. 7 at Jutila Center

HANCOCK -- Kim Menzel will offer the class "Mindfulness and Stress" at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, in Room 324 of the Jutila Center in Hancock.

This class is part of an Optimal Wellness series. Menzel specializes in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Her class will focus on the importance of being in the present and on how noticing your thoughts and feelings without reacting to them allows calm and contentment instead of stress.

The Jutila Center is at 200 Michigan Street in Hancock. Cost is $10 at the door.

Community Arts Center to hold presentations, public forum on green building design

Front entrance of the Copper Country Community Arts Center on Quincy Street in Hancock. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- The Community Arts Center will host a series of three informative and inspiring educational presentations about sustainability and green building. The first of the series will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7, in the Community Training Room (Room 323) at the Jutila Center for Global Design and Business at Finlandia University, Portage Campus, Hancock.

At this first meeting, Linda Frey, executive director of the West Michigan Chapter of U.S. Green Building Council, will introduce what it means to be LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and how it applies to the Copper Country Community Arts Center project. Immediately following Frey’s presentation, a public forum will be held to collect input and ideas regarding future development of the Community Arts Center building in downtown Hancock.

Early in 2008 the Copper Country Community Arts Center (CCCAC) in Hancock formed a small committee of people who were concerned with the state of the building. In one of the first conversations the group asked, "Shouldn’t we do something to make our building more sustainable?" and "Why wouldn’t we do something to take our south face of the building and turn it into an asset?" These were just a few of the questions that led the CCCAC to consider a green building renovation. Suddenly their vision had grown very large and very exciting. The CCCAC met with Allison Slavick who is a highly experienced consultant with a love for the area. She felt the Community Arts Center was a perfect fit for the Kresge Foundation's Green Building Initiative Grant. The CCCAC contracted with her to develop the grant proposal and was awarded $60,000 to execute the planning process. The grant will fund the professional consultation services necessary to develop and evaluate a green building plan for the Arts Center. This includes pre-design planning services, energy and material analysis and ecological site planning.

The CCCAC is a non-profit organization that serves Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga and Ontonagon counties. The Community Arts Center features three galleries, classes and workshops for people of all ages, and hosts numerous community events including the Poor Artists Sale, the Houghton Spring Art and Music Festival, Art in the Garden, and OctoberFest in South Range.

The public is welcome to attend all of the presentations. The next two presentations will also be held at 7 p.m. in Room 323 at the Jutila Center on the following dates:
  • Monday, Oct. 12, with Cortland Overmyer, Community Sustainability Manager, United Water Contract Services, Suez Environnement North America, and Norman Christopher, Sustainability Director of Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 28, with Heather McElwee, Assistant Director and Chris Clarke, Facilities Director from the Pittsburgh Glass Center.
For more information contact Cynthia Coté at (906)482-2333 or visit www.coppercountryarts.com.

Monday, October 05, 2009

Gundlach Shelter to hold Candlelight Ceremony, walk against violence Oct. 5

CALUMET -- The Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter will hold a Candlelight Ceremony for Survivors of Domestic Violence at 7 p.m. tonight, Monday, Oct. 5, at Grace United Methodist Church, 201 Isle Royale St., Houghton.

Michigan Tech University students join community members and pets in a Walk Against Violence last August in Houghton. The walk was sponsored by both the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter and the Copper Country Humane Society. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The public is invited to show support in mourning victims, celebrating survivors and reaffirming the struggle for a non-violent future. The Ceremony will include music, speakers and poetry. Bring a flashlight or a candle and join the walk after the ceremony.

For more information call the Shelter at 337-5632.