Gratiot Lake Conservancy to sponsor kayak tour Aug. 3

Kayaking on Gratiot Lake. (Photo courtesy Gratiot Lake Conservancy)

GRATIOT LAKE -- Gratiot Lake Conservancy (GLC) will sponsor a kayak tour of Gratiot Lake, led by nature educator Brian Rajdl, TOMORROW, Sunday, Aug. 3.

This event is totally weather dependent. High winds or stormy weather will cause cancellation.

Here is the schedule:

9:30 a.m. -- Meet at the public boat access at Gratiot Lake to review kayaking technique with certified kayak instructor Brian Rajdl.

9:50 a.m. -- All kayakers meet at public boat access for launch. Tour includes stops at the Noblet Field Station and GLC Preserve land.

3:30 p.m. -- Arrive back at public access.

Come prepared for a day on the water. Bring hiking shoes to walk on GLC trail. Bring water and bag lunch for picnic at Noblet Field Station.

Need equipment? Kayak rental: Keweenaw Adventure Co. 289-4303. Ask for Sam. Indicate that it is for the Gratiot Lake Kayak Tour (Gratiot Lake Conservancy).

For more information or if unsure about weather conditions call Bonnie at 337-5476.

Save the Wild U.P. to sponsor Iron Ore Heritage Trail bike ride Aug. 2

Bike ride poster courtesy Save the Wild U.P.

MARQUETTE -- Save the Wild U.P. will sponsor a bike ride TOMORROW, Saturday, Aug. 2, along the Iron Ore Heritage Trail -- for cyclists of all abilities. Meet at 1 p.m. at the Cliffs Shaft Museum in Ishpeming and enjoying the 18-20 mile gently sloping trail down to Marquette, ending at the Commons/Ore Dock area in downtown Marquette. Snacks, a water bottle, and a camera are all highly recommended.

Riders arrange their own drop-off in Ishpeming, pick-up in Marquette. Click here for a map.

Michigan Nature Association to sponsor Bare Bluff Geology Field Trip with Erika Vye Aug. 2

CHASSELL -- Michigan Nature Association (MNA) will sponsor a Bare Bluff Geology Field Trip and Hike at Grinnell Memorial Nature Sanctuary at 11 a.m. TOMORROW, Saturday, Aug. 2.

Join Erika Vye, Michigan Tech Geology PhD student, for a hike leading up to the high bluffs for a spectacular view of Lake Superior. Along the way, participants will learn about the soaring rhyolite outcrop and the fascinating Keweenaw Fault. Pack a lunch and water, bring bug repellent and sunscreen, and wear sturdy hiking boots.

To get there, drive north on US 41 to eleven miles south of Copper Harbor. Turn right at the sign for Lac La Belle and Mt. Bohemia. Drive about 5 miles to Lac La Belle, turn left on the Bete Gris Road and drive about 2 miles to the Smith Fisheries Road and turn left. Bear right and travel another 2.5 miles to the parking area on the right, marked with an MNA sign.

Visit new art exhibits on First Friday, Aug. 1, in Calumet

Currently on display upstairs in the Performance Hall at the Calumet Art Center are 40 quilts from the collection of the late Geraldine Pennington. The display continues through the month of August. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

CALUMET -- First Friday in Calumet, Aug. 1, offers a variety of new art exhibits and activities -- free and open to the public. Some exhibits reflect Calumet's theme for the month of August: the buildings and architecture of the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Paige Wiard Gallery: Art in Architecture

Late September, by Georgi Tsenov. (Photo courtesy Paige Wiard Gallery)

During the month of August the Paige Wiard Gallery will be celebrating art in architecture. The Keweenaw Peninsula is known for all its natural beauty, but sometimes the man-made beauty is overlooked. Luckily this area has a lot of amazing artists that see the beauty of the local buildings. Artists have captured the ornate designs in the old buildings, the simple structures of every day homes, and ruins from old weathered structures -- and have turned them in to amazing artwork.

Houghton Overlook, by Mark Gregg. (Photo courtesy Paige Wiard Gallery)

The public is invited to an opening reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at the Paige Wiard Gallery, 109 5th Street, Calumet.

"While you are out enjoying Calumet’s August First Friday take a minute to peek in the windows of the store fronts on 5th Street," says owner Paige Wiard. "The Main Street Calumet Design Committee has done a wonderful job with the Art in Architecture displays!"

If you have questions please call 906-33-5970 or email paigewiardgallery@gmail.com.

Galerie Bohème: New Works from Patty Ouellette Watson

Galerie Bohème, at 423 5th Street, will present "New Works from Patty Ouellette Watson" during August.

Patty Watson. Oil on canvas. (Photo courtesy Galerie Bohème)

A reception with the artist will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1.

A native of the Keweenaw, lifelong artist Patty Ouellette Watson now spends her time painting at her homes on Lake Superior near Gay and in the mountains of Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico. Working with oil on canvas, she produces vibrant abstract expressionistic representations complementing both environments.

This show runs from August 1 through September 4. Gallery hours are 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday .

For more information, please contact galerieboheme@gmail.com or Tom Rudd at 906-369-4086.

Copper Country Associated Artists: Jewelry Making

Copper Country Associated Artists Gallery and Studio (CCAA) will be open from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on First Friday, Aug. 1, for a special jewelry making workshop. Come learn the simple basic method of creating your own jewelry. Pamela Hecht will share with you the technique to make a simple bead drop pendant and a pair of pierced earrings.

For more information you can call Pamela at 906-337-2274. Leave a message if necessary. 

Or just stop in to view the gallery filled with art work done by the local artists of the Copper County. You’ll find that unique piece of art that you have been looking for -- at the CCAA Gallery!

The CCAA Gallery is at 205 Fifth Street in Calumet.

Calumet Art Center: Quilt Show, Iversen paintings, more ...

One of 40 quilts from the collection of the late Geraldine Pennington, on display in the Calumet Art Center through August. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

The Calumet Art Center will hold an Open House on First Friday evening, Aug. 1. Be sure to see the display of 40 quilts from the collection of the late Geraldine Pennington upstairs in the Center's Performance Hall. These quilts were inherited by her daughter Harriett White, and granddaughter-in-law, Kirsten White, who wished to share them with the public this summer.

Some of the quilts were made by family members, and many of the quilts were purchased from auctions in the northern Indiana area from the 1970s through the 1990s. Many patterns and sizes are represented. These quilts will be on display throughout the month of August. Come in to learn about the history of this collection, and to appreciate all the hard work and creativity that went into making these beautiful quilts!

Also on exhibit at the Calumet Art Center are 45 oil paintings by Eric Iversen -- a generous donation by Mr. and Mrs. Eric Iversen.

Oil painting by Eric Iversen. (Photo courtesy Calumet Art Center)

Find your inspiration while touring the Center and open studios featuring looms of all types, lamp work bead station, library and writing studio and the clay studio where there are several works in progress. Learn about recent classes -- including Summer Youth Art Immersion -- as well as projects and upcoming events.

Tie-dye class at Calumet Art Center. (Photo © Mark Gregg and courtesy Calumet Art Center)

The Calumet Art Center is at 57055 Fifth Street. For more information visit their Web site, calumetartcenter.com.

Hahn Hammered Copper: Architectural elements salvaged

For August, Hahn Hammered Copper will host "Salvagion" -- Beautiful architectural elements salvaged from our throwaway society and saved from sure destruction. They will also feature "What is it?" -- Guess the mystery object and win a hand-hammered copper zipper pull.

Café Rosetta: Art by Jacquelyn Williams

Café Rosetta's featured artist for August is Jacquelyn Williams from Waterford, Michigan. Jackie displays talent in a wide variety of artistic genres and pulls inspiration from whatever surroundings she may find herself in. Examples of her original artwork include detailed oil pastel sketches, woodburnings done on Lake Superior driftwood, and acrylic paintings that incorporate beautiful textures as well as Lake Superior beach glass, agates, and thomsonite. She also does custom artwork upon request.

Jackie’s original pieces will be on display at Café Rosetta for the month of August, and she would be honored if you would come and share her life’s joy!

Café Rosetta is at 104 Fifth St. in Calumet.

UPDATE: Cross Country Sports: Photography by Adam Griffis

For the month of August, Cross Country Sports, 507 Oak St., will display photography by Adam Griffis, featuring scenes from the Great Deer Chase Mountain Bike Race. Adam's photographs capture the action, excitement and competitive spirit of Calumet's premier mountain bike race, set against the backdrop of historic downtown Calumet and the beautiful Swedetown Trails.

Cross Country Sports will host an open house and refreshments from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, August 1.

Folias Flute and Guitar Duo to perform Aug. 1 at Orpheum Theater in Hancock

Folias Flute and Guitar Duo, of Grand Rapids, will perform TOMORROW, Friday, Aug. 1, at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock. (Keweenaw Now file poster courtesy Pat Valencia)

HANCOCK -- Folias Flute and Guitar Duo from Grand Rapids will present a concert at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock.

The duo -- Carmen Maret on flute and Andrew Bergeron on guitar -- play jazz, chamber music and tango. These talented musicians combine their classical music training, their experience as tango bandleaders, their love of Astor Piazzolla and their knowledge of the jazz idiom. They have performed in concert halls and clubs and for tango events across the U.S., Europe and Argentina. In June 2012 they performed at the Jutila Center in Hancock to an appreciative audience. They're back -- this time to perform at the Orpheum!

Music starts about 8:30 p.m., and $10 gets you in (or $8 if you're a student or senior citizen).

The Orpheum Theater (Studio Pizza) is at 426 Quincy St. in Hancock.

Youth Traveling Cooperative Institute, with Save the Wild U.P., to offer free co-op business training

MARQUETTE -- The Youth Traveling Cooperative Institute (TCI) is sponsoring a FREE peer-to-peer cooperative business development and entrepreneurship training for folks in their late teens to early thirties. Through this training, you will get a better idea of what a cooperative is, how it could be relevant to your life, work, and community, as well as a glimpse at how to start one. Free workshops are being offered in the local area from July 31 through Aug. 8.

In the Upper Peninsula the Institute is cooperating with Save the Wild U.P. (SWUP) as their local host. SWUP's work to protect the natural and cultural resources of the Upper Peninsula align with the community asset building work being done through the Youth TCI.

Midwestern cooperative developers and educators who identify as youth (late teens to early 30s) will be traveling throughout the region to provide free workshops for their peers to train one another in cooperative business development. The workshops offer an opportunity to learn how cooperative entrepreneurship can play a role in helping youth  realize a dream job or help their community. In the Winter of 2014 and 2015, people who have attended the workshops and have an idea they want to develop can get a scholarship to attend a full day training in their region to incubate their project.

Here is a schedule of the free workshops:

Escanaba -- 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. TONIGHT, Wednesday, July 31, at 230 Ludington St.

Marquette -- 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3. Baraga Community Room.

Sault Ste Marie -- 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4. Chamber Meeting Room, 2581 I-75 Business Spur.

Hancock/Houghton -- 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Portage Lake District Library, 58 Huron Street, Houghton.

Ironwood -- 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, at Northwind Natural Food Co-op 116 S. Suffolk St.

For blog, full calendar, and more info visit northcountryfoundation.org/youthtci. See also their Facebook page.

Road work on County Road AAA polluting wetland

From: Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve
Posted July 29, 2014, on yellowdogwatershed.org
Reprinted in part with permission

Tons of sediment pollution entering the Salmon Trout Watershed due to a ruptured spring. (Photo courtesy Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve. Reprinted with permission.)

BIG BAY, Mich. -- Over the past two weeks, Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve has been investigating and documenting a serious water quality concern caused by the road construction on the County Road AAA. A spring that feeds the East Branch of the Salmon Trout River had been ruptured during construction activities and it is releasing spring water into construction areas. The eruption of water caused significant and severe runoff of sediment into the stream. From there, the sediment was transported into a wetland downstream. After the wetland reached its capacity, the sediment continued downstream into the East branch of the Salmon Trout River.

Massive releases of sediment can cause damage to local streams and wetlands. Suspended sediment can clog the gills of native trout, increase mortality of aquatic insects that the trout feed on, and fill in the deep holes and undercut banks where trout seek refuge. In addition, wetlands that have experienced this level of sedimentation can no longer function as a "filter" that keeps streams healthy. ...

Click here to read the rest of this article and comments on the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve Web site.

Portage Library to host Bergonzi String Quartet children's concert Aug. 2; more Bergonzi performances this week

HOUGHTON -- The Bergonzi String Quartet, celebrating their 20th year with the Pine Mountain Music Festival, will perform Pamela McConnell’s version of Peter and the Wolf in a children’s concert at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, in the community room of the Portage Lake District Library.

Children in attendance are invited to come dressed as characters in the performance: Peter, Grandfather, Bird, Miss Duck, Cat, Forest Rangers (no guns, please) and Wolf.

The Bergonzi String Quartet, with Glenn Basham on 1st violin, Scott Flavin on 2nd violin, Pamela McConnell on viola, and Ross Harbaugh on cello, has been Quartet-in-Residence at the Pine Mountain Music Festival since 1995. The Bergonzi Quartet was formed in 1992 and is Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, where they are all faculty members. The members have extensive collective experience, performing in virtually every major center in the world -- with concerts throughout Europe, North and South America, New Zealand, and Asia. The quartet has generated enormous excitement around the world for their superb blend of seasoned and sensitive virtuosity and is an important cultural asset for the Pine Mountain Music Festival and the Upper Peninsula.

Adults are welcome to attend this concert if they bring at least one child. There is no admission for this concert and all are welcome to attend.

For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.

More Bergonzi concerts ...

With a repertoire including Mozart, Janáček, and Schubert for the adult concerts, the Bergonzi String Quartet will also perform at the following concerts this week:

At 7:30 p.m. TONIGHT, Wednesday, July 30, the Bergonzi will perform at Immaculate Conception Church, 500 East Blaine St., Iron Mountain, Mich. General Cost: $30. Student/Child Cost: $10.

The Bergonzi will perform another children's concert at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1, at Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St., Marquette. The concert is free.

At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1, the Bergonzi String Quartet will perform at Reynolds Recital Hall, Lee Hall Drive and 7th Street, Marquette. General Cost: $30. Student/Child Cost: $10.

Finally, the Bergonzi will perform at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3, at the Calumet Theatre, 340 6th St., Calumet. General Cost: $30. Student/Child Cost: $10.

For more information about the Pine Mountain Music Festival, click here.

Wisconsin Public Radio: Documentary on Gogebic Taconite's proposed Penokee mine touring Wisconsin

View of the Penokee Hills in northern Wisconsin, where Gogebic Taconite (GTAC) plans to put a huge open pit iron mine.  (File photo © Pete Rasmussen, Moving Water Photography, and courtesy Penokee Hills Education Project. Reprinted with permission.)

NORTHERN WISCONSIN -- On Monday, July 28, John Munson of Wisconsin Public Radio (filling in for Joy Cardin) interviewed two filmmakers from Milwaukee-based 371 Productions concerning their Al Jazeera America Fault Lines documentary Wisconsin's Mining Standoff -- about Gogebic Taconite's (GTAC’s) controversial proposal to dig an open-pit iron mine in northern Wisconsin.

Brad Lichtenstein, writer and director of the film, and Devon Cupery, producer, told Munson they wanted to present the facts they researched for the film in order to inform the public -- not only local residents affected directly by the proposed project but people all over Wisconsin.

According to Cupery, they were aware of "passionate feelings on both sides of the issue" and they wanted the documentary to include both sides.

The film takes viewers to Wisconsin's Ashland and Iron Counties, where GTAC (a subsidiary of "Cline Resource and Development" of Florida) has set off a battle over the state’s natural resources by proposing to dig -- in Wisconsin's Penokee Hills -- what could be one North America’s largest open pit mines. The film explores the potential impacts of the mine and how legislation changed the state’s mining laws.

Lichtenstein said the filmmakers did research into GTAC's claims about their record and found them not to be true. In fact, the filmmakers confirmed serious violations of laws by the company's owner, Chris Cline, (in West Virginia and Illinois) and by GTAC President Bill Williams, who has been charged with environmental crimes in Spain.

Munson, noting he was from northern Wisconsin himself, said he was aware of the high unemployment rate in the area -- the need for jobs -- as well as the concerns about the potential environmental impacts and "boom and bust" economic impacts of the proposed mine.

This interview is still available on the Wisconsin Public Radio Web site.

About the film: "Fault Lines" correspondent Josh Rushing travels to Ashland and Iron Counties to report the story.

Viewers meet the players at the heart of the standoff, visiting a century-old, family-owned dairy farm that could be impacted by the mine. We hike deep in the woods in the harshest of winters to spend time with the Chippewa tribes who have set up an education and resistance camp to oppose the mine. The Bad River Chippewa tribe, who have lived in the region for generations, raise concerns that acid mine drainage would contaminate the water, fish and wild rice on which they depend. And we meet Leslie Kolesar, Chairwoman of the Iron County Mining Impact Committee, who tells "Fault Lines" the mine would bring 700 desperately needed jobs to a region with high unemployment.

"Fault Lines" talks to Wisconsin State Senator Bob Jauch, who opposes this mining project and tells the audience how GTAC ignored its critics. "Fault Lines" also interviews Bob Seitz, Director of External Affairs for GTAC, who denies allegations that the company had a hand in writing mining legislation and defends the company’s record of environmental and safety violations.

It’s an unfolding battle in a pristine wilderness where even the tiny Iron County board election attracts money from outsiders like the Koch brothers-funded Americans for Prosperity. This is a story about money and power versus environmental concerns and a way of life for thousands of local residents. It’s a story ultimately about the state of our democracy.

The 25-minute film is touring the state of Wisconsin this summer in a series of film screenings followed by community discussions and panels. The documentary premiered June 14, 2014, on Al Jazeera America’s award-winning investigative documentary program, "Fault Lines." It addresses a crucial issue for Wisconsinites heading to the polls in November for gubernatorial elections.

Screenings of the film began July 24. Several upcoming screenings in Wisconsin are planned or in the process of being planned. Others will be added as they are finalized. All are open to the public.

The following screenings are scheduled for August:

Wednesday, Aug. 13 -- Madeline Island -- Tom’s Burned Down Café, 9 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 14 -- Mellen -- Mellen Library, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 17 -- Montello -- MORE Healthy Foods Café, 4 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 28 -- Milwaukee -- St. John’s on the Lake, 3:30 p.m.

To obtain more details on screenings or to learn how you can arrange a screening of this film for your community click here.

UPDATE: Bad River Watershed Association recently hosted a showing of 371 Production's Wisconsin Mining Standoff run on Al Jazeera America. After the showing, there was a panel discussion with Tracy Hames, Wisconsin Wetlands Association; Pete Russo, Chair, Ashland County Board; Devon Cupery, producer; Charles Ortman, Ashland County Board; Mike Wiggins Jr, Chairman, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and Sen. Bob Jauch (D-25). Allie Raven, member of Bad River Watershed Association and Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, facilitated the discussion. See 8 videoclips of the discussion, posted on YouTube. Click here for Part 1.

Finlandia Gallery hosts exhibit by Finnish artist Anna Alapuro through Sept. 12

HANCOCK -- "Anna Alapuro: Fragments from Mänttä" is on display through Sept. 12, 2014, at the Finlandia University Gallery, located in the Finnish American Heritage Center, Hancock.

Alapuro will travel from Finland to attend a closing reception at the gallery from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4. The reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Mänttä, by Anna Alapuro. Carborundum print, 2013. (Photos courtesy Finlandia Gallery)

Alapuro's exhibit includes a series of 35 carborundum prints representing different views and fragments from Mänttä, a small forest/industrial town located in the Pirkanmaa region in central Finland. Seen together, these prints create a kind of memory map of Mänttä, delivering a colorful and impressionistic vision of the Finnish town.

Mänttä is home to a paper factory with declining employment and the town has become quiet.

"In my work I focus on the details of the small community, logos, structures of the factory buildings, designs of the products of the factory," said Alapuro. "Some of these are part of the common memory to all Finns, some are more difficult to identify."

Artist Anna Alapuro in her studio. 

Alapuro’s prints range from abstract to realistic; this contrast leaves the work open to different interpretations and fosters a sense of universality.

"Even if my work deals with a small Finnish community, it reflects the common experience of place and everyday life with its signs and decorations," notes Alapuro. "Hancock has many similarities to Mänttä; it is a small town with a great history of mining industry. In both towns, industry was blooming already over 100 years ago, and there were many Finnish workers in Hancock. This makes it interesting to bring these prints to Hancock."

Alapuro has her Bachelor of Art from the Lahti Institute of Fine Arts, and also completed studies at the Academy of Fine Arts, Budapest, Hungary, and the Art School of Lahti. She is currently teaching at the Saimaa University of Applied Sciences, Programme of Visual Arts, Imatra. Her work has been exhibited widely in Finland and internationally -- including exhibits in Denmark, Estonia, Vietnam, China and Spain.

Her work is included in many art collections including Finlandia University, the State of Finland, the City of Helsinki, the Finnish Parliament Art Collection, the City of Tampere, the Oulu Art Museum and the Lahti Art Museum.

The Finlandia University Gallery is in the Finnish American Heritage Center, 435 Quincy Street, Hancock. Gallery hours are Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or by appointment.

For more information, call 906-487-7500.

World War I began 100 years ago ...

World War I uniforms on display in the Musée de l'Armée (Army Museum) in Paris, France. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

For many Europeans, today marks the centennial of the beginning of World War I. On June 28, 1914, a Serbian assassin killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife, while they were on a state visit to the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo. One month later, on July 28, 1914, Austria Hungary declared war on Serbia, starting a war that would lead to the horrific tragedy of World War I, in which millions of soldiers and civilians died -- from both combat and disease.

World War I cannon on display in the Musée de l'Armée in Paris.

By Aug. 3, 1914, Germany had declared war on France, and by Aug. 4, as Germany was invading Belgium, Britain declared war on Germany.

A French tank used in World War I, displayed in the Musée de l' Armée.*

The BBC Web site has an interesting page telling "How the world went to war" 100 years ago. Click here to see their video clips.

The war lasted four years, until the Armistice of Nov. 11, 1918. What should have been a "war to end all wars" has been followed by longer conflicts around the world.

Pens used in signing the armistice agreement that ended World War I on Nov. 11, 1918, on display at the Musée de l'Armée.

For more stories about World War I, including lesser known facts about the war and its influence, click here.

Teachers, note this article posted today in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Why World War I gets short shrift in U.S. schools."

* According to a Wikipedia article, "The French fielded their first tanks in April, 1917, and went on to produce more tanks than all the other combatants combined."

Pine Mountain Music Festival to feature local musicians in Upstart! concerts, talented singers in Opera concerts this week

MARQUETTE, HOUGHTON -- Pine Mountain Music Festival will present an Upstarts! concert at 7:30 p.m. TONIGHT, Monday, July 28, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church Chapel, 201 E. Ridge St., Marquette.

For Pine Mountain Music Festival's third UPstarts! season, soprano Tory Wood from Escanaba and violinist Carrie Dlutkowski from Atlantic Mine join pianist Susan Byykkonen from Calumet. This is the first time the festival introduces strings to the UPstarts! ensemble.

The UPstarts! concert series exemplifies the Festival’s philosophy to support emerging professional musicians. These concerts are designed to give young musicians from the Upper Peninsula a professional context in which to perform 7 to 10 concerts in a variety of venues and communities. Musicians in the recent years have included students from Juilliard, University of Michigan, Ithaca, and Michigan State.

Two more Upstarts! concerts are scheduled during the festival this week:

7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30: Falling Rock Café and Bookstore, Munising

7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 31: Portage Lake United Church, Houghton

Tickets for the Upstarts! concerts are $15, General, and $10, Student/Child.

Handel and Hoiby Opera Concert

Pine Mountain Music Festival will host two upcoming performances of the season's Handel and Hoiby Opera Concert: at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, at Crystal Theatre, 304 Superior Ave., Crystal Falls, Mich., and at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, at Reynolds Recital Hall, Lee Hall Drive and 7th Street, Marquette.

Joshua Major will direct Cindy Sadler in Lee Hoiby's brilliant one woman show, The Italian  Lesson, based on Ruth Draper's monologue. Joseph Mechavich will provide the accompaniment for this captivating and charming opera.

The evening will also feature Lucy Thrasher, Anne Jennifer Nash, Holly Janz, Miles Mykkanen, and accompanist Joseph Mechavich in a special presentation of Handel arias directed by Joshua Major.

Tickets for these opera performances are $25, General, and $10, Student/Child.

Pine Mountain Music Festival is a classical music festival producing quality opera, symphony, chamber, and recital music in the Central and Western Upper Peninsula. The festival continues through Sunday, Aug.3. Click here for the calendar. Visit pmmf.org for more information.