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Thursday, May 07, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICES: Hancock 2015 Spring Cleanup

HANCOCK -- For City of Hancock Residents ONLY: Two Public Notices by the City of Hancock announce upcoming Spring Cleanup events:

General Debris

General Debris, such as old furniture, lumber, small metal items, etc. can be brought to the Public Works Garage (DPW), 1601 Tomasi Dr., Hancock between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9. Proof of residency, such as a driver's license, will be required at the DPW Facility.

General Debris Terms and Conditions: The DPW storage site will have restricted access and the site will be closed for debris drop off except for the above published times. Any debris left at the gate area will be treated as a littering offense by the City. The City is limiting the amount of material to four cubic yards per household or facility. Only two box springs or mattresses will be accepted per household or facility. Debris is limited to debris generated in the City.

WHITE GOODS WILL BE ACCEPTED BY THE CITY including refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers and microwaves.
Scrap Metal -- Steel, iron, copper, brass and aluminum will be accepted -- including bicycles, lawn mowers, and snow blowers.
PAINTS, OILS, TIRES AND BATTERIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!

Curbside Leaf and Branch Pickup

The City of Hancock will be picking up curbside leaves, grass clippings and small branches on Monday, May 11, and Monday May 18. Leaves and branches should be placed at curbside prior to 7 a.m. The City will only pickup leaves and grass clippings if they are placed in the clear (green) biodegradable bags purchased from the City of Hancock. The city will not pickup leaves along city curbs or streets.

The City sells the bags at City Hall, 10 bags for $5 or 25 bags for $12. Biodegradable bags with leaves or grass can be brought to the City DPW (1601 Tomasi Dr) during regular business hours throughout the summer or fall.

Small branches less than 4" in diameter, can be put on the curb for the City to pickup during the above listed dates. Small branches should be bundled with string for easy handling by City workers.
Residency is required for participation 


Click here for the City of Hancock Event Calendar for May 2015.

"Portraits" exhibition opens at Community Arts Center May 7

HANCOCK -- "Portraits," the new exhibition in the Copper Country Community Arts Center’s Kerredge Gallery, includes portraits of people and animals in photography, color pencil, watercolor, pen and ink, marker, charcoal, acrylic, oil, watermedia, fabric collage, and pastel.

An opening reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. TONIGHT, Thursday, May 7, in the Community Arts Center. The exhibition continues through May 30.

Artists participating in the exhibition are Madhura Mehendale, Kanak Nanavati, Abigail Tembreull, Clyde Mikkola, Sandra Norris Palmore, Miriam Pickens, Bob Dawson, Marianne Brokaw, Ray Sharp, Cynthia Coté, Paula  Jacobs, Kris Raisanan Schourek, and Joyce Koskenmaki.

The Copper Country Community Arts Center is located at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Exhibitions are supported in part by a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affiars with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information call 482-2333 or visit the website: coppercountryarts.com.

Conservation District to hold annual Tree Sale May 9

Sue Haralson, former Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District administrator and now volunteer, prepares plants and trees for sale at HKCD's ONE-DAYTREE SALE to be held Saturday, May 9. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District (HKCD) will hold a ONE-DAY TREE SALE: First Come, First Served from 8:30 a.m. to Noon on Saturday, May 9, at the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District Office, 711 W. Lakeshore Drive, Houghton.

New varieties have been added this year. Also, you can help Monarch butterflies by purchasing and planting milkweed ($3 per plant, 4 for $10). See Meral Jackson's article, "The Mighty Monarch: How can we help them survive?" and check out the trees and plants for sale in the HKCD 2015 Tree Sale catalogue on their Web site.

A wide variety of trees, plants, berries and more will be available at the May 9 Tree Sale. First Come, First Served.

If you wish to help with the tree sale, HKCD will appreciate any time you can spare from now through Saturday, May 9. For more information on work session times and dates call HKCD at (906) 482-0214 or (906) 370-7248.

Tuesday, May 05, 2015

Michigan Tech News: Listening Under the Ice

By Allison Mills, Michigan Tech Science and Technology Writer
Posted April 28 and updated Apr. 30, 2015, on Michigan Tech News
Reprinted in part with permission.

Andrew Barnard, assistant professor in mechanical engineering studying acoustics at Michigan Tech, helped install this passive hydrophone system off the dock at the Great Lakes Research Center. "Passive acoustics is just listening to whatever is out there," he said. (Photo © Andrew Barnard and courtesy Michigan Tech University)

HOUGHTON -- Spring is finally here in Michigan's Upper Peninsula -- and the thaw marks the first season of under-ice acoustics studies completed at the Great Lakes Research Center by Michigan Technological University researchers.

The watery world under winter’s ice is a mystery. It’s also a world full of sound. Now, as the days lengthen and the ice is retreating, researchers at Michigan Technological University are wrapping up their first winter season of underwater acoustic studies.

Learning more about acoustic properties underwater -- and specifically under the ice -- is important for designing acoustic communication networks and quiet underwater vehicles. These networks and vehicles have a range of applications. Environment monitoring is an example, encompassing everything from ice movement to the habits of aquatic critters to keeping tabs on chemical conditions.

Michigan Tech researchers work with a hydrophone network on L'Anse Bay. Zhaohui Wang, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Michigan Tech, studies underwater wireless communication networks. (Photo © Zhaohui Wang and courtesy Michigan Tech University)

Although the applications are broad, studying acoustics all comes back to sound: Beeps and chirps for network signals, the glassy crinkle of floating ice and even the underwater reverb of a snowmobile passing by. Each sound tells a story; each narrative helps researchers understand the icy-cold depths we can’t normally see. ...

Click here to read the rest of this article and to LISTEN to sounds under the ice recorded by Michigan Tech Professors Andrew Barnard and Zhaohui Wang.

Monday, May 04, 2015

Portage Library to host program on Michigan Bats and Invasive Insect Species May 6

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library will host a two-part discussion and slide show about the effects of White-Nose Syndrome on Michigan bats and about invasive insect species that affect trees at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6. Jennifer Kimball will give this presentation as part of her Capstone Research Project with the University of Wisconsin.

The first part of her presentation will focus on Michigan bats and how they are faring in the fight against White Nose Syndrome. Her discussion will include the history, spread, and prognosis for the disease. White Nose Syndrome has been decimating hibernating bats since 2006 with local mortality near 100 percent in two years for some species. She will also share findings on possible treatments for the disease, including creating artificial bat caves.

The second part of her presentation will take a look at the Asian Longhorned Beetle, Emerald Ash Borer, and Oak Wilt. Kimball will give a history of the invasive insects, discuss the kinds of trees they affect and describe preventative measures that are being tried to prevent the spread of disease among trees.

This program is geared towards high school students and adults, but children who are interested in learning about bats and invasive insects are encouraged to attend.

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