Orpheum to present two Gypsy Jazz bands TONIGHT, Oct. 13

HANCOCK -- Tonight, Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Orpheum, a super double headliner show: The Appleseed Collective AND Steve Jones and The Garden City Hot Club will perform two fantastic Gypsy Jazz styles in one great show.

"But wait, there's more!" says Mike Shupe, Orpheum owner. "We just confirmed that Glenn Basham from the Bergonzi String Quartet will be joining Steve and the Hot Club boys for the show! Glenn played with The Hot Club before and they were AMAZING! If you have never seen any of these great musicians, you owe it to yourself to come see their show tonight -- and if you've seen a any of these bands before, I know you're already coming because you know how great this show will be!!"

The Appleseed Collective will play beautiful Gypsy Jazz, with touches of Dixieland, Bluegrass and Jugband that will get your feet moving while blowing your mind. Violin, double bass, and washboard bring really bring a snap, sizzle and pop! Two unbelievably talented bands for only $10.

The Orpheum Theater is at 426 Quincy St. in downtown Hancock. Call 906-482-5100 for more information.

Dance Zone Marquette to feature music by Black Pearl for anniversary dance Oct. 13

MARQUETTE -- Dancers, help celebrate the Dance Zone's second anniversary and dance to the music of Black Pearl from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13.

"Those who know Black Pearl agree that they are just about the best all-around dance band in the UP," says Marge Sklar, Dance Zone co-owner.

The dance is $8 per person; $2 if you are a full-time student. The party will include door prizes, wonderful music and dancing (on a great wood floor!) and refreshments. What more could you ask for on an autumn Saturday evening?

The Dance Zone is located at 1113 Lincoln Avenue in Marquette, Corner of Lincoln and College Avenues. For more information call 906-236-1457, email marge@dancezonemqt.com or visit their Web site.

Please bring clean shoes to protect this great dance floor.

Swedetown Trails to hold annual trails day Oct. 13

CALUMET -- Swedetown Trails will hold their annual trails day from 10 a.m. to noon this Saturday, Oct. 13. Rain or shine, meet at the Chalet to form into crews for trail work such as cutting back and removing brush.

Copper Island Cross Country Ski Club members will have the wood stove going to warm you up as well as hot food, coffee and tea in the Chalet.

Please bring sturdy and warm clothing, including boots and gloves. All tools will be provided.

Keweenaw National Historical Park to hold 20th Anniversary celebration Oct. 13

CALUMET -- The National Park Service (NPS) and the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission invite the entire Copper Country community to participate in celebrating the park’s 20th Anniversary in a day of family fun and celebration this Saturday, Oct. 13.

The NPS and the Commission will be hosting celebratory events from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Agassiz Park in Calumet and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Quincy Mine and Hoist in Hancock. They will be gathering under a 40' x 60' tent at each site for a few hours of sharing local heritage through music and dance and a host of activities for the whole family.

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Dance Troupe will kick off both events by sharing their rich cultural traditions, reflecting the thousands of years of copper mining heritage along the Keweenaw. There will also be games for kids (all participants win prizes!), free cookies and cider, door prizes all day long, craft vendors, and music. Senator Carl Levin is expected to be on hand as well as NPS Midwest Deputy Regional Director
Patricia Trap. Awards for the winners of the Heritage Scavenger Hunt and the Historical Quiz will also be announced.

For more information call the Calumet Visitor Center at 906-483-3176 or 337-3168.

Portage Library to host Wellness Series massage program Oct. 11

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library will host its monthly program in the Natural Health and Wellness series from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. TONIGHT, Thursday, Oct. 11.

Professional Massage Therapist Angel Janssen will present "Self Care for Pain Free Movement: Low Back." Participants will learn simple techniques that can be used to reduce pain, speed healing, and increase flexibility due to low back pain. These techniques can be done on the floor or on a bed. Participants are asked to bring a yoga mat or a blanket so they can learn and practice these moves on the floor. Those who are unable to work on the floor may watch the exercises and learn what to do at home.

Janssen is a licensed and nationally certified massage therapist in practice for over 20 years in Wisconsin, Arizona, and Michigan. She is a master level LaStone Therapist, a Reflexologist, and a 2nd Degree Reiki Practitioner. The focus of her massage practice is health maintenance, stress reduction, and pain relief with advanced training in aromatherapy, massage for people living with cancer, as well as massage for the medically frail. Janssen is the proprietor of Synergy Massage and Wellness.

The Natural Health and Wellness series is held on the second Thursday of each month. All library programs are free, and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.

Algomah Acres Honey House to host Harvest Festival in Greenland Oct. 13

GREENLAND, Mich. -- The Second Annual Harvest Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Algomah Acres Honey House in Greenland, Mich. An artist market will feature local art and fine crafts, including honey and hive products.

Lunch will be served and kids' activities will take place throughout the day! Peg Carrothers and Gratiot Lake Road will be playing live music at the festival. Algomah Meadery will have tastings throughout the day, and honey wines will be available for purchase.

Free admission and everyone welcome!  611 Plank Rd, Greenland, MI 49929

For more information call 906-883-3894, e-mail algomahacres@live.com or visit their Web site.

Khana Khazana to offer Asian "fusion" cuisine Oct. 12

HOUGHTON -- This Friday, Oct. 12, Michigan Tech will be treated to Asian fusion cuisine, courtesy of Khana Khazana. Featuring a combination of Chinese, Thai and Korean dishes, Friday's lunch will be a truly diverse dining experience, including larb ped (a Thai duck and herb dish), dak kang jung (Korean sweet and spicy fried chicken), and braised pork ribs with potato (a mildly spicy Szechwan Chinese dish). A vegetarian alternative is available on request.

Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Food Court. A full meal including a fountain drink costs $6.95. Individual items are $2.50 each.

Khana Khazana is a weekly international lunch, a collaborative effort of international students and Michigan Tech Dining Services.

Michigan Natural Resource Commission to hold annual UP meeting Oct. 11

LANSING -- The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) will hold its annual Upper Peninsula meeting on Thursday, Oct. 11, in Ontonagon at the Theater of Performing Arts, located at 311 South Steel St.

The meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. with a meeting of the NRC’s Policy Committee on Wildlife and Fisheries. Committee members will receive reports from the Wildlife
Division and Fisheries Division chiefs on proposed policy and regulation changes, along with a presentation on the Little Bay de Noc Walleye Management Plan.

The NRC committee of the whole will then meet at 3 p.m. to receive a report from Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh, including updates on the metallic minerals lease and development process, regional state forest management plans, and the encroachment resolution initiative summary.

Some local residents, including Keweenaw Bay Indian Community members, are concerned about metallic mineral leases requested by Kennecott Minerals in the area shown on the map below.

This map shows the area where Kennecott wants to lease mineral rights from the State of Michigan. Although Kennecott is seeking 15,000 acres of leases from the State, the map indicates the affected area of the 15,000 acres, which could amount to 45,000 acres affected or possibly consolidated in Kennecott possession -- thereby impacting the watersheds of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. The State's metallic minerals lease and development process will be discussed at the Natural Resources Commission meeting in Ontonagon on Oct. 11, 2012. (Map courtesy Richard Sloat)

A number of fisheries orders are eligible for action by Director Creagh at the meeting, including a decision on proposed regulation changes for muskellunge and northern
pike statewide.

At 4 p.m., the Bay de Noc Great Lakes Sport Fishermen, Inc., of Delta County, will receive the DNR’s Partner in Conservation Award. The award presentation will be
immediately followed by public appearances before the NRC. Those wishing to make public comments to the NRC should contact Deb Whipple, executive assistant to the NRC, at 517-373-2352 or whippled1@michigan.gov to register.

Individuals registered by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, will be allowed five minutes to address the commission on agenda topics, and three minutes for topics not on the meeting agenda. Registration for public comment is still possible after Oct. 5, with a time limit of three minutes to address the commission. Registration cards will be available at the meeting.

For more information about the NRC, including the full meeting agenda, informational memos and past meeting minutes, visit www.michigan.gov/nrc.

Click here for the agenda for this Oct. 11 meeting.

Indian Consul General promotes bilateral education initiatives

By Jenn Donovan, Michigan Tech Director of Public Relations
Posted on Tech Today Oct. 10, 2012. Reprinted with permission.

HOUGHTON -- Mukta D. Tomar, consul general at India's consulate in Chicago, addressed a public forum at Michigan Tech on Tuesday, Oct. 9. She talked about the need for more collaboration between US and Indian research centers and institutions of higher education.

Mukta Tomar, consul-general of India's consulate in Chicago. (Photos © and courtesy Jenn Donovan)

"We share many values," she said, "particularly the spirit of inquiry."

Some steps have already been taken. Tomar spoke of the first bilateral higher education conference, held in Washington, DC, last year. An Indian Support for Teacher Education initiative and an exchange program for junior faculty from India and the US are also under way. India study centers have been established at several leading US universities, and India is in the process of designating 14 of its universities as "innovation and research universities," each focusing on research and advanced education in a different field.

"Our focus is on making the entire higher education/innovation/research enterprise grow," Tomar stated.

There is also a need for more cooperation between industry and research institutions in India, she said.

"India is positioned to be the country with the third largest GDP (gross domestic product) in the world," she noted. "But we face many techno-economic challenges." However, she said, "there is an interesting new phenomenon, and that is the rise of investment by Indian companies in the US. Indian companies created 280,000 jobs in the US last year."

Mukta Tomar talks with Alex Mayer, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Michigan Tech.

"Entrepreneurship and vision have made this possible," said Tomar. "Investment occurs when there is mutual benefit."

Tomar praised Michigan Tech for its own focus on research and on "keeping education relevant," pointing to Tech's revival of mining engineering and its multidisciplinary biofuels research as examples.

Tomar was scheduled to meet with President Glenn Mroz and other campus representatives today. Tonight she will help judge the Homecoming Court.

Call for Entries by Oct. 27: 19th Annual Shaft and Junior Shaft Exhibition

HANCOCK -- The Copper Country Community Arts Center announces its 19th annual "Shaft" and "Junior Shaft" community exhibits on mining. Artists are invited to submit work inspired by mining in the Copper Country -- the physical signs of its presence or the effect it has had on the area and its people. This is a non-juried community exhibit.

Deadline for entry is 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27. Entry forms are available at the Copper Country Community Arts Center. The reception for the Shaft and Junior Shaft will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1. The exhibit will be in the Kerredge Gallery and the Youth Art Gallery. Cash prizes will be awarded by public choice and will be announced the first week in December. Voting will take place throughout the month of November.

The Copper Country Community Arts Center is located at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock. Call 482-2333 for more information and entry fee details.

Books with Dimension Class

Join book artist Debra Charlesworth at the Copper Country Community Arts Center in Hancock from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27, for a bookbinding class. Debra will teach students how to make a bound book with a dimensional element that will appear to float in the cover.

Register by Saturday, Oct. 13, for a discounted rate. Class fee: $50 if registered by Oct. 13; after Oct. 13, $60. Four hours of instruction time and all materials are included. The deadline to register is Oct. 20. Call the CCCAC at 482-2333 for more information.

Portage Library to host stamp collecting workshop TONIGHT, Oct. 9

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library will host the stamp collecting group, the Portage Lake Philatelists, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. TONIGHT, Tuesday, Oct. 9.

Ed and Liz Sheridan will present "Need a New Hobby? Try Stamp Collecting!" This workshop on stamp collecting for beginners will help people get started with what has been hailed as the most popular collecting hobby in the world. Topics include why people collect stamps, the categories of domestic, foreign and topical stamps, ways to get stamps, types of stamp albums that are available, and supplies and tools used by collectors. Handouts and resource materials will be available. The workshop will be held at the large table at the west end of the library.

Library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.

Michigan Tech's Center for Diversity and Inclusion to host Social Justice Lecture Series by Waziyatawin Oct. 9

From Tech Today
Posted Oct. 5, 2012
Reprinted with permission.

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Tech's Center for Diversity and Inclusion will host a Social Justice Lecture Series with guest speaker Dr. Waziyatawin, who will provide two presentations on Tuesday, Oct. 9, in Memorial Union Ballroom B1 on campus. Waziyatawin is a Dakota writer, teacher, and activist committed to the pursuit of Indigenous liberation and reclamation of homelands.

From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Waziyatawin will present "Activism with People of Color."

Waziyatawin explains, "This presentation will explore one more 'ism' with which people of color must contend -- the anthropocentrism that has set this society on a course toward self-destruction that might only be mitigated through drastic action today. In the 21st century we will experience unimaginable turmoil due to shortages of resources, such as oil, water, topsoil, and food, as well as economic collapse, increased violence, and life-threatening global climate change. As in most societal problems, poor people of color will initially bear the brunt of these burdens. The magnitude of these problems means that as activists committed to social justice we must prepare ourselves for another kind of struggle that will challenge many of our beliefs about American society, the meaning of equality, and our notions of success."

From 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Waziyatawin will present "What Does Justice Look Like? The Struggle for Liberation in Dakota Homeland."

"From the perspective of people faced with genocide, land theft, ethnic cleansing and colonization, this presentation will present one vision of how justice might be achieved in the shadow of these crimes against humanity," says Waziyatawin, whose talk is based on her book by the same title, published by Living Justice Press in 2008.

In this volume, which was the winner of the 2009 Independent Publishers' Silver Book Award for Best Regional Nonfiction in the Midwest, she explores a four-pronged approach to justice in her homeland that includes truth-telling, taking down the fort, reparations, and decolonization.

Waziyatawin received her Ph.D. in American history from Cornell University in 2000. She later earned tenure and an associate professorship in the history department at Arizona State University, where she taught for seven years. Waziyatawin currently holds the Indigenous Peoples Research Chair in the Indigenous Governance Program at the University of Victoria in British Columbia.

For more information about upcoming diversity-related events, email Renee Wells, Center for Diversity and Inclusion assistant director, at rrwells@mtu.edu.