See our right-hand column for announcements and news briefs. Scroll down the right-hand column to access the Archives -- links to articles posted in the main column since 2007. See details about our site, including a way to comment, in the yellow text above the Archives.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Yellow Dog Summer to hold Feb. 15 event supporting Rio Tinto Borax mine workers

MARQUETTE -- Yellow Dog Summer will hold an event at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 15, in the Chapel of Messiah Lutheran Church, located at 305 W. Magnetic St., Marquette, Mich., in support of the roughly 560 workers in the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 30 who were locked out of their jobs at Rio Tinto’s Borax mine in southern California on Jan. 31.

The event will feature informal speakers, a film showing and refreshments.

"With Rio Tinto trying to slip through the backdoor in our community, we must stand in solidarity with the Borax workers and demand that Rio Tinto finally make good on their claims to respect worker rights and labor laws wherever the company operates," said Yellow Dog Summer organizer Teresa Bertossi.

Read more on the Yellow Dog Summer Web site.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Ski for Heart to benefit Omega House, Swedetown Trails Feb. 13

The Swedetown Chalet will be the scene of Ski for Heart on Saturday, Feb. 13, to benefit Omega House Hospice and Swedetown Trails. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

CALUMET --Celebrate Valentine's Day this Saturday at Swedetown Trails in Calumet, by participating in Ski or Snowshoe for the Heart of our Community!

You can do something good for your heart and have fun at the same time on one of the best trail systems in the Midwest! It isn't a race; you challenge yourself to see how far you can go within five consecutive hours. The event benefits Omega House Hospice and Swedetown Trails.

The minimum donation is only $10, which includes the daily trail pass ($8) and food. Registration is from 8:30 a.m. to noon and you can ski or snowshoe until 2 p.m. If you can't make it Saturday, you can ski another day this week providing you turn in your donation by Saturday. With a donation of $50 or more you will receive a stainless-steel-lined mug.

Click here for more details.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

NOSOTROS student group collects $4,379.40 for Haiti

HOUGHTON -- NOSOTROS, Michigan Tech's Hispanic students' organization, would like to thank everybody involved in making their Haiti fund-raising campaign such a success. Between the Wells Fargo donations, money collection at the MUB and the two pasta dinners held at Canterbury House, they were able to collect US$4,379.40 between Jan. 15 and Jan. 26. The funds were sent to the Red Cross last week.

Their fund-raising efforts were a response to the terrible earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010.

For a detailed report of all donations and transactions, visit the NOSOTROS Web page: http://nosotros.students.mtu.edu/ and click on "Haiti Earthquake Relief."

Rozsa Center to host musical comedy set in 80s Feb. 17

HOUGHTON -- The Wedding Singer is bringing back the 80s when it dances into the Rozsa Center at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17. This musical comedy will take audiences back to a time when pastel was in, hair was big and the wedding singer was the coolest guy in the room!

Scene from The Wedding Singer. (Photo courtesy Rozsa Center)

Based on the hit film starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, The Wedding Singer is crammed with 80s pop-culture and songs that have a familiar sound to Bon Jovi and Heart. Wannabe rock star Robbie Hart makes his living as New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer until he is left at the altar. Broken-hearted, Robbie takes out his bitterness on stage at everyone’s weddings. Every wedding he plays is a disaster until a charming waitress named Julia captures his affections. The only trouble is, Julia is engaged to a successful Wall Street broker and, unless Robbie can pull off the performance of his lifetime, the girl of his dreams will be gone forever. Can he win her heart before she says "I Do" or will it be too late?

Starring in the lead roles of Robbie Hart and Julia are real life husband and wife J. Michael Zygo and Jillian Zygo. J. Michael Zygo has performed on previous national tours as Rooster in Annie and as Will Parker on the first national tour of Oklahoma! Other roles that he has performed include Jamie in The Last Five Years, Jerry and Malcolm in The Full Monty, Chad in All Shook Up, Emcee in Cabaret and Monty in Violet. Michael is also a singer/songwriter and has two full studio albums of country music with his band Zygo and The Deuce.

Jillian Zygo has performed with PEG on the national tour of Beehive the 60s Musical, Fanny Brice (Funny Girl AriZoni Award Best Actress), Georgie in The Full Monty and Nancy (Oliver). Her tour/regional credits include Ado Annie (Oklahoma! First National), Annie Oakley (Annie Get Your Gun), Kathy (The Last Five Years),Violet (Violet) and Ginger ( I Love A Piano national tour).

The Wedding Singer is produced by Prather Entertainment Group, owned and managed by Will Prather with show direction by M. Seth Reines, choreography by Amy Marie McCleary, Musical Directing by JR McAlexander and lighting design by Russell Thompson.

Don’t miss this chance to see the musical Newsday called "One Big Party! A good natured, high-energy musical." Put on your legwarmers and head over to the Rozsa Center to see The Wedding Singer on Wednesday, Feb. 17.

Sponsored by the Student Entertainment Board (SEB) and the James and Margaret Black Endowment.

Ticket prices for the general public are $25 and $20; Michigan Tech student prices are $20 and $15 (MTU student ID required). To purchase tickets contact the Rozsa Box Office at 487-3200, The Central Ticket Office (SDC) at 487-2073, Tech Express (MUB) at 487-3308 or go online at tickets.mtu.edu. No refunds, exchanges or late seating, please.

Nordic Film Series to feature Finnish film by Kaurismäki Feb. 11

HANCOCK -- As part of its Nordic Film Series, the Finlandia University Finnish American Heritage Center, Hancock, will show the Finnish film Juha at 2 p.m. and at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11.

Juha is a 1999 Finnish film written and directed by well-known Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki. It is based on a famous 1911 novel by the Finnish author Juhani Aho.

Although the original story takes place in the 18th century, Kaurismäki’s remake is set in the 1970s. It tells the story of a simple peasant woman, Marja, who leaves her husband after falling in love with a modern city slicker who lures her to the big city.

However, Marja’s dream quickly becomes a nightmare when she is enslaved.

The film is in the Finnish language with English language sub-titles.

There is no charge to attend the film, but donations are accepted.

For additional information, call 906-487-7549. The Finnish American Heritage Center is located at 435 Quincy St., Hancock.

Monday, February 08, 2010

Black History Month continues with exhibit, presentation this week at Michigan Tech

HOUGHTON -- Black History Month celebrations continue this week, Feb. 8-12, at Michigan Tech with a Black Inventors and Entrepreneurs Exhibit at the J.R. Van Pelt and Opie Library. See the various inventions and businesses of legendary minorities throughout history.

A Food for the Soul Brown Bag Lunch at Noon on Wednesday, Feb. 10, will feature a presentation, "Beyond Color: Cultural Identity and Shared Experiences," by Thy Yang, director of Michigan Tech's International Programs and Services. The presentation will be in the Memorial Union Building (MUB) Alumni Lounge. These presentations are free and open to the public.

Public Hearing on Kennecott's Woodland Road to be Feb. 10

MARQUETTE -- The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) will hold a Public Hearing for Kennecott’s Woodland Road, the proposed 22-mile haul "highway," at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Westwood High School. The proposed project area covers over 184,000 acres of land.

Visit Save the Wild UP to read more. Click here for the MDEQ Public Hearing posting.