HOUGHTON -- Local organizers for the Committee to Recall Rick Snyder will be hosting recall petition signing events from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on three Wednesdays -- Aug. 24, Aug. 31, and Sept. 7 at the UAW Office, 509 Shelden Ave. in Downtown Houghton.
All registered voters in Michigan are invited to sign the petition to recall Governor Rick Snyder at these events. For more information about signing events in the Upper Peninsula, please visit the Facebook group "Yoopers Against Snyder." You may sign up to volunteer or find signing events around the state at www.firericksnyder.org.
Please note that the Recall State Sen. Tom Casperson petitions will also be available to sign at these events.
Email: bhkfiresnyder@gmail.com if you have questions.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Climate activists arrested in Tar Sands Action sit-in
From Peaceful Uprising:
Josh Fox, creator of the award-winning film Gasland, has created a moving and informative new video about the Tar Sands Action in Washington, DC. He joins a growing list of concerned scientists, authors, and celebrities who have voiced their support of the 2000+ people who have signed up to take action.*
As of today, August 20, the Tar Sands Action is underway in Washington DC. Two weeks of peaceful daily sit-ins began today with more than 70 arrests at the White House fence.
Arrestees included Bill McKibben, Dan Choi, Gus Speth, and dozens of committed climate activists from across the country.
Protesters are calling on President Obama to reject a permit for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, which will send 900,000 barrels a day of the world’s dirtiest oil to US refineries, allowing further development of the Alberta tar sands -- development which could mean "game over" for the climate in the word’s of NASA scientist Dr. James Hansen.
Tar Sands Action participants intend to continue the sit-ins day after day until Sept. 3, gathering in front of the White House in the time-honored tactic of peaceful civil disobedience.**
*Click here to see the Josh Fox video about the tar sands.
** Click here to read about the action in Washington and sign a petition.
Josh Fox, creator of the award-winning film Gasland, has created a moving and informative new video about the Tar Sands Action in Washington, DC. He joins a growing list of concerned scientists, authors, and celebrities who have voiced their support of the 2000+ people who have signed up to take action.*
As of today, August 20, the Tar Sands Action is underway in Washington DC. Two weeks of peaceful daily sit-ins began today with more than 70 arrests at the White House fence.
Arrestees included Bill McKibben, Dan Choi, Gus Speth, and dozens of committed climate activists from across the country.
Protesters are calling on President Obama to reject a permit for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, which will send 900,000 barrels a day of the world’s dirtiest oil to US refineries, allowing further development of the Alberta tar sands -- development which could mean "game over" for the climate in the word’s of NASA scientist Dr. James Hansen.
Tar Sands Action participants intend to continue the sit-ins day after day until Sept. 3, gathering in front of the White House in the time-honored tactic of peaceful civil disobedience.**
*Click here to see the Josh Fox video about the tar sands.
** Click here to read about the action in Washington and sign a petition.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Gov. Rick Snyder speaks to invited audience in Houghton
By Michele Bourdieu
with photos and video by Allan Baker
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, right, listens to a question from the audience read by Michigan Tech University President Glenn Mroz during the question-answer session following the Governor's presentation to an invited audience at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton on Aug. 16, 2011. (Photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)
HOUGHTON -- Michigan Governor Rick Snyder spoke at what was called a "Town Hall" meeting at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton on Tuesday, Aug. 16. We learned about this meeting on very short notice from an announcement in the Daily Mining Gazette. Assuming that "Town Hall" meant a "public" meeting, i.e., a meeting open to the public, Keweenaw Now skipped many other obligations to attend the event and videotape the Governor's presentation.
We were met at the door by the "security forces" of what appeared to be Tea Party / Republican Party organizers. Apparently this "Town Hall" did not fit our definition of a Town Hall meeting.* (See Editor's Notes below.)
It was a meeting by invitation. Members of the local media were also invited and given name tags at the door if their names were "on the list." We had not received the invitation sent to the media and were thus not on the list. We were told we could wait in line and if there was extra room available after the "registered" visitors were accommodated we would be allowed to ascend to the third-floor room reserved for the event.
We found the third floor on our own and set up our video camera, although these same security forces again appeared and asked us to return to the first floor and "wait our turn." They tried to be polite in their failed efforts to evict us, and we were glad to read in the Aug. 18 Daily Mining Gazette some comments by organizer Mary Sears, explaining their difficulties in finding enough space to make the event open to the public. We are certain they believe in freedom of the press, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.**
Michigan Technological University President Glenn Mroz introduced Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (R-Ann Arbor) with a summary of his academic and business background and accomplishments -- one being his initiation of legislative efforts in establishing Smart Zones (Michigan Tech's own Smart Zone -- an alliance between university and business intended to create high-tech jobs and contribute to local economic development -- is well known).
"He's (Snyder is) really versed in economic development," Mroz said. "The thing that's most impressed me about the Governor is his willingness to listen, his willingness to meet with people, his forthright response to very difficult questions about the challenges facing the people of the state of Michigan."
Snyder has also dealt with these challenges by making sweeping changes in his budget, Mroz added.
Snyder began by saying his goal is not to "fix" Michigan but to "reinvent" it. He mentioned two main issues: the need for more and better jobs and the need to keep young people in the state.
He noted his visit was a good opportunity to have interaction and feedback from his "customers."
Snyder then spoke about balancing the budget. He noted the importance of eliminating the Michigan Business Tax to help create jobs. He also mentioned Michigan students' lack of adequate preparation for college and the need to reform the educational system.
During his recent tour of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder addresses an audience of invited community leaders on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton. Seated behind the Governor is 110th District State Representative Matt Huuki (R-Atlantic Mine). (Video by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)
Gov. Snyder claimed he had signed a significant number of bills from the legislature in his first six months in office but gave few details about them. He said plans for this fall would include efforts to call attention to health and wellness, followed by work on infrastructure improvement including water and sewer.
Although Snyder didn't mention the Emergency Financial Manager law, he explained his objective to have communities and school systems balance their budgets and keep better accounts. ***
After Snyder's speech, written questions from the audience included several on education. Michigan Tech President Mroz selected some of these to read to the Governor for his comments.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder answers a question on education, including his plans for rewarding good teachers. Michigan Tech President Glenn Mroz reads questions from the audience after the main part of Snyder's speech.
When it comes to economic development, Michigan now is doing "less hunting and more gardening," according to Snyder.
"We spent too much time over the last few years hunting -- which is going to get a few big out-of-state companies with huge incentive packages and trying to bring them to Michigan and essentially buying them into our state. That's not good business," Snyder explained.
"Gardening" means focusing on Michiganders creating and growing Michigan businesses through Smart Zones and other means that are already here.
Charlie Hopper of Eagle River, Mich., Pasty.NET general manager, who attended the event at the Bluffs, said that "gardening" idea -- taking the existing businesses and trying to help them develop -- was one thing he found interesting in the Governor's talk and an improvement over the last Republican governor.
"You've got to attract some out-of-state business," Hopper said. "But if you're doing that and neglecting the existing businesses that's not good."
Hopper noted that was the case under former Michigan Governor John Engler. He said he remembered hearing Engler speak with a focus on "bringing in the money" from outside the state and not really thinking about what could be done for businesses in the state.
Hopper has built his own local Internet service provider business, Pasty.NET from a basic dial-up to both DSL and wireless services in the Keweenaw and all over the U.P.
Besides adding 500 members in Marquette County, Pasty recently added Internet coverage in Sedar Bay.
"Cell phone companies are coming in, too, which is great," he said. "We've been in Copper Harbor since 2004, and they still don't have cell phone (access)."
Hopper said that may be because big corporations (such as cell phone companies) often neglect more remote areas, while a local Internet business such as his is able to provide services as soon as the technology is available.
In contrast to his stated priority for "gardening" -- cultivating home businesses -- Snyder expressed strong support in this speech for bringing mining back to the U.P.; and so far the companies showing interest by exploring, purchasing mineral rights and actually beginning construction for mining projects are not only from outside the state but from outside the U.S.
Rio Tinto, based in London, England, with its Eagle Project on the Yellow Dog Plains near Big Bay, hopes, with its subsidiary Kennecott Minerals, to begin mining for nickel and copper there as early as this September. Closer to Houghton, Highland Resources, Inc., based in Vancouver, Canada, recently announced a partnership with BRP LLC that will allow them to do exploratory drilling soon for a potential copper mining venture in Houghton and Keweenaw counties.****
Gov. Rick Snyder replies to a question on mining with "Let's go mine!"
Phil Musser, executive director of KEDA (Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance) expressed appreciation for Snyder's visit but noted the speech lacked certain details.
"We appreciate his coming here and meeting with community leaders," Musser said. "He mentioned the potential of the U.P. for tourism, mining and timber harvesting; and, in addition, we hope that he also recognizes the growing manufacturing and technology sectors in the U.P. and their potential for job creation."
In line with the "gardening" approach to local business, KEDA designs and implements proactive, sustainable programs that are focused on retaining and expanding existing firms, starting up new businesses, attracting entrepreneurs and companies to the Keweenaw and initiating projects that create the conditions for future economic growth.
Snyder did answer one question on green energy by noting its cost to power companies appeared to be going down. He called for greater energy efficiency but didn't mention concrete efforts to promote alternative forms of energy in Michigan.
To a question on delisting the Torch Lake Superfund site, Snyder admitted he wasn't familiar with it.
While Snyder made a reference to the "Pure Michigan" ads, noting he would like them to show people fishing or hunting, he did not really explain how mining could be compatible with the Upper Peninsula's existing tourism industry. He made no mention of protecting the Great Lakes or the Upper Peninsula's streams and wetlands except to express confidence that the Michigan mining laws would assure the mining is done correctly and doesn't harm the environment.
After the Governor's speech and question-answer session, State Senator Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) concluded the event with comments about his plans to work closely with the Governor to facilitate development of the mining industry in the Upper Peninsula. He compared himself to Moses in his wish to shout, "Let my people go" -- to free them from what Casperson terms "the biggest problem" -- federal regulation.
After Gov. Snyder's speech, Michigan State Senator Tom Casperson speaks to the invited audience at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton, Mich., on Aug. 16, 2011. Casperson speaks about mining in the Upper Peninsula.
Keweenaw Now also had an opportunity to chat with Houghton County Sheriff Brian McLean and Houghton Chief of Police John Donnelly after the speech.
"We're always excited when the Governor comes to town, and it was very nice to see a nice crowd come out and listen," Sheriff McLean said, "and hopefully some messages resound with everybody. Government being open -- that's what it's all about."
Houghton County Sheriff Brian Mc Lean gives his impression of Gov. Snyder's visit to the Bluffs in a brief conversation with Keweenaw Now. (Photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)
Asked if he was disappointed there was no protest rally, the Sheriff said laughingly, "Oh no, we're very happy. I hate wrestling!"
Chief of Police John Donnelly said he was glad everybody was well behaved and the event went smoothly.
"I enjoyed the setting," Chief Donnelly said. "It's the first time I've seen any governor speak in Houghton."
To a question on whether Snyder's budget cuts affect the local police, Donnelly replied affirmatively, but explained how law enforcement in neighboring communities share resources.
"Everything affects us," he said. "One of the things we're doing with the local law enforcement is making sure that we work together to be efficient."
One example is the partnering they do, especially with Hancock and Michigan Tech police, when certain serious calls, such as domestic violence, require the presence of two officers. Also, if the Houghton police have to go for weapons training, Hancock police cover the City of Houghton in their absence.
"You've got to work together, especially with shrinking budgets," Donnelly added.
Editor's Notes:
*After this experience, I searched for a definition of a "town hall meeting" and found this on Wikipedia (not always a reliable source, of course, but this seemed to be my own understanding of town hall meetings Keweenaw Now has covered in the past -- the most recent being one hosted by Tom Casperson and Matt Huuki at Michigan Tech, which was open to the public.) This is from Wikipedia's definition:
"A town hall meeting is a name given to an informal public meeting. Everybody in a town community is invited to attend, not always to voice their opinions, but to hear the responses from public figures and (if applicable) elected officials about shared subjects of interest."
For a second opinion, I searched again and found this definition on wisegeek.com:
"A town hall meeting is an informal public meeting which gives the members of a community an opportunity to get together to discuss emerging issues and to voice concerns and preferences for their community. A typical town hall meeting is attended by both citizens and officials, giving everyone a chance to talk personally in a relaxed environment about the things which matter to them."
Both of these definitions include the word "public"; therefore, one could assume a town hall meeting is open to the public.
A further search uncovered the one-word version: Townhall, which led me to townhall.com and Townhall Magazine, which, I discovered, are politically conservative publications.
An interesting spelling distinction (or error?) appears in two articles about the Governor's visit to Escanaba on Aug. 17, 2011. The advance story calls the event a town hall (two words), while the follow-up story calls it a townhall. (Emphasis ours.)
**Finally, on Aug. 18, an article in the Daily Mining Gazette quotes Mary Sears of the Houghton County Republicans' Office as to why Gov. Snyder's visit to the Bluffs was by invitation. Click here to read the article "Admission Denied." The media release she mentions was not received by Keweenaw Now.
See also a 2010 Escanaba Daily Press article about Tea Party support of the U.S. Constitution. The article also identifies Mary Sears as "one of the Tea Partiers" and "co-founder of Concerned Citizens of the U.P."
*** Click here for an update on the campaign to repeal the Emergency Financial Manager law in a Michigan Messenger article posted Aug. 17, 2011.
**** See the Aug. 11, 2011, article in the Daily Mining Gazette: "Partnership buys mineral rights for exploratory action."
with photos and video by Allan Baker
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, right, listens to a question from the audience read by Michigan Tech University President Glenn Mroz during the question-answer session following the Governor's presentation to an invited audience at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton on Aug. 16, 2011. (Photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)
HOUGHTON -- Michigan Governor Rick Snyder spoke at what was called a "Town Hall" meeting at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton on Tuesday, Aug. 16. We learned about this meeting on very short notice from an announcement in the Daily Mining Gazette. Assuming that "Town Hall" meant a "public" meeting, i.e., a meeting open to the public, Keweenaw Now skipped many other obligations to attend the event and videotape the Governor's presentation.
We were met at the door by the "security forces" of what appeared to be Tea Party / Republican Party organizers. Apparently this "Town Hall" did not fit our definition of a Town Hall meeting.* (See Editor's Notes below.)
It was a meeting by invitation. Members of the local media were also invited and given name tags at the door if their names were "on the list." We had not received the invitation sent to the media and were thus not on the list. We were told we could wait in line and if there was extra room available after the "registered" visitors were accommodated we would be allowed to ascend to the third-floor room reserved for the event.
We found the third floor on our own and set up our video camera, although these same security forces again appeared and asked us to return to the first floor and "wait our turn." They tried to be polite in their failed efforts to evict us, and we were glad to read in the Aug. 18 Daily Mining Gazette some comments by organizer Mary Sears, explaining their difficulties in finding enough space to make the event open to the public. We are certain they believe in freedom of the press, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.**
Michigan Technological University President Glenn Mroz introduced Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (R-Ann Arbor) with a summary of his academic and business background and accomplishments -- one being his initiation of legislative efforts in establishing Smart Zones (Michigan Tech's own Smart Zone -- an alliance between university and business intended to create high-tech jobs and contribute to local economic development -- is well known).
"He's (Snyder is) really versed in economic development," Mroz said. "The thing that's most impressed me about the Governor is his willingness to listen, his willingness to meet with people, his forthright response to very difficult questions about the challenges facing the people of the state of Michigan."
Snyder has also dealt with these challenges by making sweeping changes in his budget, Mroz added.
Snyder began by saying his goal is not to "fix" Michigan but to "reinvent" it. He mentioned two main issues: the need for more and better jobs and the need to keep young people in the state.
He noted his visit was a good opportunity to have interaction and feedback from his "customers."
Snyder then spoke about balancing the budget. He noted the importance of eliminating the Michigan Business Tax to help create jobs. He also mentioned Michigan students' lack of adequate preparation for college and the need to reform the educational system.
During his recent tour of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder addresses an audience of invited community leaders on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton. Seated behind the Governor is 110th District State Representative Matt Huuki (R-Atlantic Mine). (Video by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)
Gov. Snyder claimed he had signed a significant number of bills from the legislature in his first six months in office but gave few details about them. He said plans for this fall would include efforts to call attention to health and wellness, followed by work on infrastructure improvement including water and sewer.
Although Snyder didn't mention the Emergency Financial Manager law, he explained his objective to have communities and school systems balance their budgets and keep better accounts. ***
After Snyder's speech, written questions from the audience included several on education. Michigan Tech President Mroz selected some of these to read to the Governor for his comments.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder answers a question on education, including his plans for rewarding good teachers. Michigan Tech President Glenn Mroz reads questions from the audience after the main part of Snyder's speech.
When it comes to economic development, Michigan now is doing "less hunting and more gardening," according to Snyder.
"We spent too much time over the last few years hunting -- which is going to get a few big out-of-state companies with huge incentive packages and trying to bring them to Michigan and essentially buying them into our state. That's not good business," Snyder explained.
"Gardening" means focusing on Michiganders creating and growing Michigan businesses through Smart Zones and other means that are already here.
Charlie Hopper of Eagle River, Mich., Pasty.NET general manager, who attended the event at the Bluffs, said that "gardening" idea -- taking the existing businesses and trying to help them develop -- was one thing he found interesting in the Governor's talk and an improvement over the last Republican governor.
"You've got to attract some out-of-state business," Hopper said. "But if you're doing that and neglecting the existing businesses that's not good."
Hopper noted that was the case under former Michigan Governor John Engler. He said he remembered hearing Engler speak with a focus on "bringing in the money" from outside the state and not really thinking about what could be done for businesses in the state.
Hopper has built his own local Internet service provider business, Pasty.NET from a basic dial-up to both DSL and wireless services in the Keweenaw and all over the U.P.
Besides adding 500 members in Marquette County, Pasty recently added Internet coverage in Sedar Bay.
"Cell phone companies are coming in, too, which is great," he said. "We've been in Copper Harbor since 2004, and they still don't have cell phone (access)."
Hopper said that may be because big corporations (such as cell phone companies) often neglect more remote areas, while a local Internet business such as his is able to provide services as soon as the technology is available.
In contrast to his stated priority for "gardening" -- cultivating home businesses -- Snyder expressed strong support in this speech for bringing mining back to the U.P.; and so far the companies showing interest by exploring, purchasing mineral rights and actually beginning construction for mining projects are not only from outside the state but from outside the U.S.
Rio Tinto, based in London, England, with its Eagle Project on the Yellow Dog Plains near Big Bay, hopes, with its subsidiary Kennecott Minerals, to begin mining for nickel and copper there as early as this September. Closer to Houghton, Highland Resources, Inc., based in Vancouver, Canada, recently announced a partnership with BRP LLC that will allow them to do exploratory drilling soon for a potential copper mining venture in Houghton and Keweenaw counties.****
Gov. Rick Snyder replies to a question on mining with "Let's go mine!"
Phil Musser, executive director of KEDA (Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance) expressed appreciation for Snyder's visit but noted the speech lacked certain details.
"We appreciate his coming here and meeting with community leaders," Musser said. "He mentioned the potential of the U.P. for tourism, mining and timber harvesting; and, in addition, we hope that he also recognizes the growing manufacturing and technology sectors in the U.P. and their potential for job creation."
In line with the "gardening" approach to local business, KEDA designs and implements proactive, sustainable programs that are focused on retaining and expanding existing firms, starting up new businesses, attracting entrepreneurs and companies to the Keweenaw and initiating projects that create the conditions for future economic growth.
Snyder did answer one question on green energy by noting its cost to power companies appeared to be going down. He called for greater energy efficiency but didn't mention concrete efforts to promote alternative forms of energy in Michigan.
To a question on delisting the Torch Lake Superfund site, Snyder admitted he wasn't familiar with it.
While Snyder made a reference to the "Pure Michigan" ads, noting he would like them to show people fishing or hunting, he did not really explain how mining could be compatible with the Upper Peninsula's existing tourism industry. He made no mention of protecting the Great Lakes or the Upper Peninsula's streams and wetlands except to express confidence that the Michigan mining laws would assure the mining is done correctly and doesn't harm the environment.
After the Governor's speech and question-answer session, State Senator Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) concluded the event with comments about his plans to work closely with the Governor to facilitate development of the mining industry in the Upper Peninsula. He compared himself to Moses in his wish to shout, "Let my people go" -- to free them from what Casperson terms "the biggest problem" -- federal regulation.
After Gov. Snyder's speech, Michigan State Senator Tom Casperson speaks to the invited audience at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton, Mich., on Aug. 16, 2011. Casperson speaks about mining in the Upper Peninsula.
Keweenaw Now also had an opportunity to chat with Houghton County Sheriff Brian McLean and Houghton Chief of Police John Donnelly after the speech.
"We're always excited when the Governor comes to town, and it was very nice to see a nice crowd come out and listen," Sheriff McLean said, "and hopefully some messages resound with everybody. Government being open -- that's what it's all about."
Houghton County Sheriff Brian Mc Lean gives his impression of Gov. Snyder's visit to the Bluffs in a brief conversation with Keweenaw Now. (Photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)
Asked if he was disappointed there was no protest rally, the Sheriff said laughingly, "Oh no, we're very happy. I hate wrestling!"
Chief of Police John Donnelly said he was glad everybody was well behaved and the event went smoothly.
"I enjoyed the setting," Chief Donnelly said. "It's the first time I've seen any governor speak in Houghton."
To a question on whether Snyder's budget cuts affect the local police, Donnelly replied affirmatively, but explained how law enforcement in neighboring communities share resources.
"Everything affects us," he said. "One of the things we're doing with the local law enforcement is making sure that we work together to be efficient."
One example is the partnering they do, especially with Hancock and Michigan Tech police, when certain serious calls, such as domestic violence, require the presence of two officers. Also, if the Houghton police have to go for weapons training, Hancock police cover the City of Houghton in their absence.
"You've got to work together, especially with shrinking budgets," Donnelly added.
Editor's Notes:
*After this experience, I searched for a definition of a "town hall meeting" and found this on Wikipedia (not always a reliable source, of course, but this seemed to be my own understanding of town hall meetings Keweenaw Now has covered in the past -- the most recent being one hosted by Tom Casperson and Matt Huuki at Michigan Tech, which was open to the public.) This is from Wikipedia's definition:
"A town hall meeting is a name given to an informal public meeting. Everybody in a town community is invited to attend, not always to voice their opinions, but to hear the responses from public figures and (if applicable) elected officials about shared subjects of interest."
For a second opinion, I searched again and found this definition on wisegeek.com:
"A town hall meeting is an informal public meeting which gives the members of a community an opportunity to get together to discuss emerging issues and to voice concerns and preferences for their community. A typical town hall meeting is attended by both citizens and officials, giving everyone a chance to talk personally in a relaxed environment about the things which matter to them."
Both of these definitions include the word "public"; therefore, one could assume a town hall meeting is open to the public.
A further search uncovered the one-word version: Townhall, which led me to townhall.com and Townhall Magazine, which, I discovered, are politically conservative publications.
An interesting spelling distinction (or error?) appears in two articles about the Governor's visit to Escanaba on Aug. 17, 2011. The advance story calls the event a town hall (two words), while the follow-up story calls it a townhall. (Emphasis ours.)
**Finally, on Aug. 18, an article in the Daily Mining Gazette quotes Mary Sears of the Houghton County Republicans' Office as to why Gov. Snyder's visit to the Bluffs was by invitation. Click here to read the article "Admission Denied." The media release she mentions was not received by Keweenaw Now.
See also a 2010 Escanaba Daily Press article about Tea Party support of the U.S. Constitution. The article also identifies Mary Sears as "one of the Tea Partiers" and "co-founder of Concerned Citizens of the U.P."
*** Click here for an update on the campaign to repeal the Emergency Financial Manager law in a Michigan Messenger article posted Aug. 17, 2011.
**** See the Aug. 11, 2011, article in the Daily Mining Gazette: "Partnership buys mineral rights for exploratory action."
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Photographer George Desort seeks support for new project on Isle Royale
Night Sky, Isle Royale, by George Desort. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo © and courtesy George Desort. Reprinted with permission.)
ISLE ROYALE -- Photographer George Desort is seeking support for his new project, Fifty Lakes One Island, an exploration -- through photography and words -- of the inland lakes on Isle Royale.
Fifty Lakes One Island differs from the predictable flora and fauna nature documentary in its attempt to discover the power of time alone in the wild. Blending words with images, the film brings the viewer on a transcendental journey through the woods and waters of Isle Royale.
The project will only be funded if at least $10,000 is pledged by 3:04 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 14.
Kessler Crane has generously agreed to match each donation, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000, to ensure that Fifty Lakes One Island is successfully produced.
Isle Royale has become a second home for Desort since he joined the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Study in 2005 as a filmmaker and photographer. His film Fortunate Wilderness, the Wolf and Moose Study of Isle Royale was a finalist at the 2009 International Wildlife Film Festival.
Photographer George Desort, left, chats with Bill Fink after Desort's presentation on wildlife filmmaking and photography and demonstration of his camera equipment during the UPEC (Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition) "Celebrate the UP!" event last March in the Jutila Center in Hancock. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
Click here to see a video clip and learn how you can help support the project.
For more info about Fortunate Wilderness visit www.fortunatewilderness.com.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Poem: "No One at the Shore"
By Cecelia LaPointe*
No One at the Shore
Could erase,
Time,
Barriers,
The lake knows,
Time,
Barriers,
The lake knows,
Before the land was divided up,
The worth of it,
Less,
The ancestors,
Knew no different,
The worth of it,
Less,
The ancestors,
Knew no different,
Why commerce,
Concentrated trade,
Instilled an incision,
In the heart,
The soul,
Of the land,
What's more real,
Is unheard,
We draw a line,
In the sand,
Before murder,
Before genocide,
And all we can hear is silence,
Regal pines,
Listening,
There was no wounding,
Souls not tarnished,
We remember this time,
Before our souls were disjointed,
When no one was on the shore.
Concentrated trade,
Instilled an incision,
In the heart,
The soul,
Of the land,
Value added,
Value taken,
What's more real,
Is unheard,
We draw a line,
In the sand,
Before murder,
Before genocide,
And all we can hear is silence,
Regal pines,
Listening,
There was no wounding,
Souls not tarnished,
We remember this time,
Before our souls were disjointed,
When no one was on the shore.
*Poet Cecelia LaPointe is a proud Anishinaabekwe of mixed heritage, and she strongly identifies with her Anishinaabe/Ojibway roots. She is an author, writer, poet and healer. Read more of her writing and see photos at Anishinaabekwe.com.
Grandpa's Barn to host Book Signings Aug. 20, 21 in Copper Harbor
COPPER HARBOR -- Book Signings will take place on the porch at Grandpa's Barn during Copper Harbor's Art in the Park this Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 20, 21.
Come and chat with these local authors and illustrators about their new books:
For more information call (906) 289-4377.
Come and chat with these local authors and illustrators about their new books:
- 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 -- Stars in the Water with author Lesley DuTemple and illustrator Jack Oyler;
- noon - 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21 -- Three Queens: 1971 and the Kilpela years at the Gateway to Isle Royale with author Ben Kilpela;
- 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21 -- Gelsomina’s Story of Caesar Lucchesi: A True Tale of Italian Immigrants with authors Lou Ellyn Helman and Maria Matson.
For more information call (906) 289-4377.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Portage Library to host last in Isle Royale Series for Kids Aug. 16
HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library will host Isle Royale National Park Rangers Katie Donovan and Lori Honrath for their final program in their series of naturalist programs for children from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. TODAY, Tues., Aug. 16.
Kids will learn what they can do to keep wilderness wild. In this program Donovan, Honrath, and the kids will talk trash and learn how to Leave No Trace in the big outdoors. Kids will learn six simple rules to become a responsible camper and use their new-found skills to investigate the "Leave No Trace" crime scene.
The Isle Royale Summer Series for Kids is suitable for children of all ages, and groups are welcome to attend.
Library programs are free and open to all. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.
Kids will learn what they can do to keep wilderness wild. In this program Donovan, Honrath, and the kids will talk trash and learn how to Leave No Trace in the big outdoors. Kids will learn six simple rules to become a responsible camper and use their new-found skills to investigate the "Leave No Trace" crime scene.
The Isle Royale Summer Series for Kids is suitable for children of all ages, and groups are welcome to attend.
Library programs are free and open to all. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.
Monday, August 15, 2011
New TV ad calls on U.S. Rep. Upton to protect Clean Air Act for children, families
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The American Lung Association in Michigan is kicking off a TV ad blitz and grassroots campaign aimed at Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) that urges him to end attempts to weaken the Clean Air Act and let the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) do its job of protecting public health. The ad focuses on the harmful effects of toxic air pollution and its impact on children’s health. The red carriage with sound effects, featured in the ad, will be visiting events in Upton’s district to demonstrate vividly how air pollution can affect children with asthma.
"We hope Representative Upton won’t ignore the science and facts behind harmful pollution, thus putting our children and our most vulnerable residents in danger," said Shelly Kiser, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association in Michigan. "For more than four decades, the EPA has established safeguards to protect public health, and it must be allowed to continue to do its job."
The ads, which will begin running this week throughout Upton’s congressional district in Southwest Michigan, come at a critical time. As chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Upton has made repeated attempts to strip the EPA of its ability to regulate harmful air pollutants. Upton this week was appointed to the 12-person congressional debt "super committee," and many fear that he will use his position on the super committee to block key provisions of the Clean Air Act.
The local ads are part of a national campaign by the American Lung Association that aims to shed light on the devastating effects of toxic air pollution on children’s health. Almost 1 million Michigan residents, including more than 225,000 children, suffer from asthma and are at risk for worsened symptoms, frequent attacks and hospitalization due to unhealthy levels of pollution.
The ads feature a red baby carriage with sounds of a child suffering respiratory distress while the red carriage stands alone in front of iconic D.C. landmarks including the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol.
Click here for a version of the ad on YouTube.
"We hope Representative Upton won’t ignore the science and facts behind harmful pollution, thus putting our children and our most vulnerable residents in danger," said Shelly Kiser, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association in Michigan. "For more than four decades, the EPA has established safeguards to protect public health, and it must be allowed to continue to do its job."
The ads, which will begin running this week throughout Upton’s congressional district in Southwest Michigan, come at a critical time. As chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Upton has made repeated attempts to strip the EPA of its ability to regulate harmful air pollutants. Upton this week was appointed to the 12-person congressional debt "super committee," and many fear that he will use his position on the super committee to block key provisions of the Clean Air Act.
The local ads are part of a national campaign by the American Lung Association that aims to shed light on the devastating effects of toxic air pollution on children’s health. Almost 1 million Michigan residents, including more than 225,000 children, suffer from asthma and are at risk for worsened symptoms, frequent attacks and hospitalization due to unhealthy levels of pollution.
The ads feature a red baby carriage with sounds of a child suffering respiratory distress while the red carriage stands alone in front of iconic D.C. landmarks including the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol.
Click here for a version of the ad on YouTube.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Red Metal Radio Show to return to Calumet Theatre, Eagle Radio Aug. 18
CALUMET -- The Red Metal Radio Show (RMRS) will return to the stage of the Calumet Theatre and to Eagle Country Radio, WCUP-FM, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18, for a live broadcast of entertaining Copper Country history. This will be the third annual broadcast of the show. Once again it is one of several events in Main Street Calumet’s Heritage Days.*
Cast members of the 2010 Red Metal Radio Show are pictured here. At far left is Oren Tikkanen, producer and co-host, and at far right is announcer Dick Storm of Eagle Radio. (Keweenaw Now file photo)
Oren Tikkanen, producer and co-host of the RMRS, says that the 2011 show is called "The Keweenaw according to Mac" and is based on the book, Keweenaw Character, by the late local historian, storyteller, and park designer, David "Mac" Frimodig.
"We looked at Mac’s book, and fell in love with the way he brought out the human experience of living here in the Keweenaw in the old days," Tikkanen explains. "The Frimodig family kindly gave us permission to base the show on Mac’s book, and we have adapted parts of it for radio."
Kris Kyro Johnson -- co-writer of the show’s script, co-host of the program, and featured singer -- adds, "Mac covers many of the communities in the Copper Country and a lot of interesting people, and we had to narrow our choices down. We let Mac guide us to Centennial Heights, Ahmeek, and Gay -- and we learn about Johan Salmela’s accordion, Tootsie the Bear, the Ten-Dollar Baby, silent movies in Ahmeek, and Banjo Jim. We also find out about Francis Jacker, the lighthouse keeper and writer, (and) his Ojibwa wife, Ikwesins; and we hear how Nanabozho, the Ojibwa hero of many legends, gave the porcupine his quills. And much, much more."
Music for this edition of the RMRS will be performed live onstage by Bob Norden’s Parade Band, with Benjie Brotherton on trumpet, clarinetist Debra Zei, drummer Sherrie Pellegrini, Roger Laub on tuba, and Bob Norden on trombone. Dave Bezotte, the stage pianist, will sing a song based on Keweenaw history. Also, RMRS regulars Melissa Lewis and Doug Bacon will perform some songs from the days of old-time radio.
Those attending the live performance at the Calumet Theatre are asked to plan on arriving around 6:30 p.m., and no one will be admitted after 6:50 p.m.
"We go live on the air at 7 p.m.," says Tikkanen, "so we must have everyone in their seats. The musicians will performing starting at 6:30, so there is a bonus for those who come early."
Ticket information can be obtained by calling the Calumet Theatre at 337-2610.
The broadcast show can be heard simultaneously on WCUP-FM, 105.7.
* Click here to read about the 2011 Heritage Days celebration this week, Aug. 15-20.
Cast members of the 2010 Red Metal Radio Show are pictured here. At far left is Oren Tikkanen, producer and co-host, and at far right is announcer Dick Storm of Eagle Radio. (Keweenaw Now file photo)
Oren Tikkanen, producer and co-host of the RMRS, says that the 2011 show is called "The Keweenaw according to Mac" and is based on the book, Keweenaw Character, by the late local historian, storyteller, and park designer, David "Mac" Frimodig.
"We looked at Mac’s book, and fell in love with the way he brought out the human experience of living here in the Keweenaw in the old days," Tikkanen explains. "The Frimodig family kindly gave us permission to base the show on Mac’s book, and we have adapted parts of it for radio."
Kris Kyro Johnson -- co-writer of the show’s script, co-host of the program, and featured singer -- adds, "Mac covers many of the communities in the Copper Country and a lot of interesting people, and we had to narrow our choices down. We let Mac guide us to Centennial Heights, Ahmeek, and Gay -- and we learn about Johan Salmela’s accordion, Tootsie the Bear, the Ten-Dollar Baby, silent movies in Ahmeek, and Banjo Jim. We also find out about Francis Jacker, the lighthouse keeper and writer, (and) his Ojibwa wife, Ikwesins; and we hear how Nanabozho, the Ojibwa hero of many legends, gave the porcupine his quills. And much, much more."
Music for this edition of the RMRS will be performed live onstage by Bob Norden’s Parade Band, with Benjie Brotherton on trumpet, clarinetist Debra Zei, drummer Sherrie Pellegrini, Roger Laub on tuba, and Bob Norden on trombone. Dave Bezotte, the stage pianist, will sing a song based on Keweenaw history. Also, RMRS regulars Melissa Lewis and Doug Bacon will perform some songs from the days of old-time radio.
Those attending the live performance at the Calumet Theatre are asked to plan on arriving around 6:30 p.m., and no one will be admitted after 6:50 p.m.
"We go live on the air at 7 p.m.," says Tikkanen, "so we must have everyone in their seats. The musicians will performing starting at 6:30, so there is a bonus for those who come early."
Ticket information can be obtained by calling the Calumet Theatre at 337-2610.
The broadcast show can be heard simultaneously on WCUP-FM, 105.7.
* Click here to read about the 2011 Heritage Days celebration this week, Aug. 15-20.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
