Photos courtesy Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.
HOUGHTON -- The Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts and Michigan Tech's Department of Visual and Performing Arts will host music, art and storytelling events this weekend for your holiday enjoyment.
Superior Wind Symphony presents "Wintry Mix" Dec. 6
The Superior Wind Symphony (SWS) will present a concert titled "Wintry Mix," a celebration of the music of the holiday season, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. This music will warm hearts and uplift spirits as we settle into the dark and magic of the winter solstice, family celebrations, and Christmas. Small ensembles will play Christmas music in the Rozsa Lobby prior to the show, from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., to add to the holiday cheer of the evening.
The program includes contemporary band and jazz arrangements of traditional, classical, and folk holiday music, including Welsh, English, and Hebrew folk songs, a jazz band rendition of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," and three pieces of music in original arrangements/adaptations by Michigan Tech’s Director of Bands and SWS Band Leader Mike Christianson, including his premier arrangement of Ralph Vaughn Williams' Winter’s Willow.
Tickets for "Wintry Mix" are on sale now, $13 for adults, $5 for youth, and no charge for Michigan Tech students with the Experience Tech fee, available by phone at (906) 487-2073, online at mtu.edu/rozsa, in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the Student Development Complex, or at the Rozsa Box Office the evening of the performance. Please note the Rozsa Box Office only opens two hours prior to performances.
Hopscotch, Project Learning Lab’s End-of-Semester Student Art Exhibit, Dec. 6-10
The Rozsa Center and the Department of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) are excited to announce "Hopscotch," their semi-annual student showcase, featuring works of art created by Michigan Tech students who are participating in Project Learning Lab. The exhibition runs Friday-Tuesday, Dec. 6 - 10, 2019. A reception will be held from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. The reception is free and all are welcome. Project Learning Lab is an innovative arts classroom based inside of Rozsa gallery b. Work on display was created by students in Lisa Gordillo’s Contemporary Sculpture and art and design classes.
According to Gordillo, "Students from many campus disciplines are represented, including Business, Math, Engineering, Theatre, Kinesiology, and Sound Design. Students were encouraged to work with the gallery’s architecture, to explore alternative materials, and to create large-scale installations in the space. Students studied work by contemporary artists such as Diana Al-Hadid, Ai Wei Wei, Do Ho Suh, Ann Hamilton, and Richard Serra, then spent the semester creating their own works of art."
Gallery hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Famed radio show "Selected Shorts" comes to Rozsa Stage Dec. 7
The Rozsa Center will present an evening of warmth, holiday cheer, and storytelling by the tour of Public Radio International’s hit radio show "Selected Shorts" at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec.7. "Selected Shorts," a weekly public radio broadcast, has a simple approach: Great actors read great fiction in front of a live audience. The acclaimed national radio program airs on 150 public radio stations in 29 states, attracting over 300,000 listeners each week through the live show and podcast. Featured actors include Mike Doyle, Boyd Gaines, and Kirsten Vangsness. Part of this special evening of storytelling will include a showcase reading on stage by one of the featured actors of a local writer’s "UP Winter Story." The author is the winner of the "Selected Shorts Story Contest." To enhance the holiday mood of the evening, a handbell choir will play in the Rozsa lobby prior to the show. Click here for details about the actors.
This event is made possible with funding from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Crane Group. Tickets to Selected Shorts are on sale now, Adult: $22, Youth: $10, and Michigan Tech Students at no charge with Experience Tech Fee, and are available by phone, (906) 487-2073, online at mtu.edu/rozsa, in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the Student Development Complex, or at the Rozsa Box office the night of the show. Please note the Rozsa Box Office is only open two hours before performances.
TUBACHRISTMAS is Sunday, Dec. 8, in Rozsa Lobby
TUBACHRISTMAS will fill the Rozsa Lobby with holiday music in a free concert from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8. TUBACHRISTMAS is an annual December event that occurs in honor of the first truly great tuba virtuoso, William "Bill" Bell who was born on Christmas Day. Tubists gather yearly in mass numbers around the globe to play songs of the season in performances free to the public.
TUBACHRISTMAS concerts are presented with permission from the Harvey Phillips Foundation, Inc.
Finnish author and renowned women's rights advocate Minna Canth (1844-1897), is pictured here in her youth (age 13-16). (Photo courtesy wikimedia.org, published under Creative Commons)
HANCOCK -- It’s been nearly 100 years since women in the U.S. earned the right to vote, exactly 100 years since the U.S. began official diplomatic relations with Finland, and 175 years since Minna Canth, Finland’s most famed champion for women’s rights, was born. Finlandia University’s Finnish American Heritage Center invites everyone to a program on Friday, Dec. 6, celebrating all of these milestones and Finland’s Independence Day.
Beginning at 6 p.m. at the Finnish American Heritage Center, the program honoring Finland’s Independence Day will feature some high-caliber music and drama, with a series of vignettes honoring six notable women from Finnish-American and Finnish religious and political circles who left an indelible mark on Finnish history on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. These portrayals will be interspersed with Finnish songs and hymns performed by a cadre of local musicians, including rising young vocalist Matt Riutta and acclaimed pianist Kathy Alatalo-Arten.
The program will also include a performance by the Kivajat Youth Folk Dancers, as well as the announcement of the Hankooki Heikki honoree for 2020 by the City of Hancock’s Finnish Theme Committee. In true Copper Country and Finnish-American style, this program is a collaboration of numerous volunteers who enjoy sharing their talents with the greater community.
The program is open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to wear their national costumes -- Finnish or otherwise -- to the event. For further details about the program, call (906) 487-7549 or (906) 487-7347.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. (Photo courtesy michigan.gov)
LANSING -- In conjunction with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filing a response in her lawsuit against Enbridge, the Attorneys General of Minnesota, Wisconsin and California filed an amicus brief supporting her argument that the state has the obligation and authority to protect the public’s rights in public trust waters.
"It is rare to have the amicus support of other state attorneys general in a state case but the attorneys general for two of our fellow Great Lakes states and the state with one of the longest coastlines in the country clearly recognize the severity and the magnitude of this issue and the important role states play in protecting the public trust," said Nessel. "We are grateful that the Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California Attorneys General have joined forces with us to put the protection of our freshwater lakes over corporate profit."
Attorney General Nessel filed her response to Enbridge’s motion for summary disposition in the case she filed against Enbridge in Ingham County Circuit Court. In that case, Nessel seeks an order decommissioning Line 5, arguing that the continued operation of Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac, under the 1953 easement, violates the public trust doctrine, is a common law public nuisance, and violates the Michigan Environmental Protection Act because it is likely to cause pollution impairment and destruction of water and other natural resources.
The Enbridge Line 5 Pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac. (File photo courtesy National Wildlife Federation)
Under a schedule entered by the court, the Attorney General and Enbridge filed motions for summary disposition in late September and both parties filed their responses to those motions on Nov. 12, 2019. In her response, the Attorney General again focused on the role of the Attorney General and the courts in protecting the environment, and on the continuing vitality of the common law -- through legal principles like the public trust and public nuisance -- as tools to protect the public’s interest in navigable waters and a healthy environment.
Minnesota, Wisconsin and California helped drive home those points, highlighting the importance of the public trust doctrine from their perspective. The amicus brief focused specifically on Enbridge’s argument that federal law preempted the states’ from protecting their bottomlands and navigable waters.
Finally, the court recently ordered both parties to address the relevance of the recent Court of Claims’ decision in Enbridge’s lawsuit against the State concerning the constitutionality of 2018 PA 359. The Attorney General’s response laid out why that decision has no bearing on her lawsuit against Enbridge.*
The Attorney General and Enbridge will have opportunity to file reply briefs on Dec. 10, 2019. After those briefs are filed, Circuit Court Judge James Jamo will determine whether he hears oral argument before he issues a decision.
It's one thing to know something in our heads. Science and technology fill our minds with facts and discoveries. It's good to learn, to have a growth mindset, and an open mind. But we also need heart. We need that spiritual knowledge for growth that is humane. It's easier to be a thinker in our modern world because opening up the heart risks vulnerability. This recent Water Walk (October 19-21, 2019) called for "people of the heart." Participation doesn't ask anyone to change their minds or beliefs. It doesn't compare traditions or cultures. It simply asks that you show up with a loving heart for the Water we all share.
No matter our differences or political leanings, no matter if we are scientists or ministers, none of us can deny the simple truth that Water is life.
As a literary artist and storyteller, I felt drawn to the movement. I wanted to experience the story of a Water Walk. I helped where needed. I used what skills I could share. Everybody did. We learned to trust Kathy Chosa when she said everything would all fall into place. And it did. People showed up with bologna sandwiches, others brought ones made with nut butters and homemade jams. No one made judgements and everyone tasted satisfaction.
I walked the first day before dawn with the group out of Copper Harbor in the inky dark. We knew each other by voice. Alone, I peeled off to return to my support car and get ahead four miles to my friend Bonnie Harrer who had fixed omelet muffins and air-pots of coffee. We passed them out to the Walkers, and she lent me the air-pots to use throughout all three days. Exactly as Kathy said. What we need when we need it.
Hospitality became my role, making sure Walkers had nutrition, hydration, caffeination, and an encouraging smile.
On the second day, when we crossed the bridge into Houghton, I wanted to walk in support. Everyone wanted to walk across the Lift Bridge! That meant someone had to drive a support vehicle ahead of the Walkers. I stepped in to do that. After parking, I found a spot to pan the scene and catch the moment Kathy Chosa emerged with Nibi (Water) in the copper pot. Her son Jacob walked the Eagle Staff and on her other side her mother, Florine, walked. Three generations, walking for the future of Water.
The third day, I followed my friend’s recipe and made omelets-on-the-go and coffee. Another friend brought bananas for the hospitality car. Everything has been a communal effort, not the work of one person but of many hands and hearts. Two churches -- Bethany Lutheran and Good Shepherd Lutheran -- opened their doors to us. People told me they were praying.
One of the Walkers, Erika Vye, asked if I wanted to carry Nibi. I told her I didn't think I could. The Water has to keep moving and I’ve had three back surgeries, which stunts my stride. I felt like the most unlikely woman to carry the Water. Gently, like waves on Lake Superior when it's a sunny summer day, Erika encouraged me. Another woman offered to drive my support car. And Erika agreed to walk behind me with the Eagle Staff.
When I stood along the road to relay the Water, I faced the power coming directly at me the way I have faced gales on Superior for photographs. Here, I could not keep a safe distance. I had to leap, to carry Nibi. Though afraid, I was willing. The whole walk, I stayed prayerful, grateful, focusing on what Water gives us. At one point I could feel all the Kwe, all the women who had walked or will walk the Water, surrounding me and flowing with Nibi. It was transformative.
No longer was I support; I was a Water Walker. I am still me -- my core values have not changed. But I have a new sensitivity to Water. Now, when I cross the Lift Bridge, I get tears in my eyes. I stood over a grated water drainage in my neighborhood last week just to be with the water. I'm taking walks in the rain and snow, less conscious of my stride. I love each and every woman I walked with and fed. When Kathy called me Mama Bear at our last feast, I accepted it. We did the work of the Water and will continue. I am Kwe. Water is life.
* Note: Charli Mills is a storyteller and lead buckaroo at CarrotRanch.com, an online literary community. World headquarters is located at Hancock within ceded territories of the Anishinaabe. Her literary art is 99-word stories. The following are from a collection inspired by and dedicated to the People of the Heart Water Walkers:
SONGS OF KWE (A Collection of 99-word Stories)
Roadside Education
You lower your car window along M26 where it curls around Cat Harbor, following a small pageant of people walking down the road. The truck in front of you has a magnetic sign that reads, WATER WALK. What is a Water Walk, you ask? Good question. It’s a relay of water scooped from Copper Harbor, making its way to Keweenaw Bay. Women pass the vessel between them, walking without stopping. The Anishinaabekwe teach us that this is the work of the water. We pray for water’s future, contemplate water’s gifts. You nod, accept the explanation and say, "Thank you."
Elvera Lantz of L'Anse (left) and Diane Charron of Baraga, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community elders, ride in Diane's golf cart the 90 miles from Copper Harbor to Sand Point (Baraga) during the People of the Heart Water Walk. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
Don’t underestimate Grandmothers in a golf cart. From their perspective,
they see all -- the younger ones trudging forth, the husks of
four-leggeds on the pavement, the silent soaring of eagles overhead.
They notice the tilt of the Eagle Staff, the sway of Nibi’s copper
kettle. As Kwe relay the water, the Grandmothers speed up or slow
down. Like Nibi they are always flowing, always in motion, moving
forward. For three days and 90 miles, the Grandmothers keep pace. It
would be a mistake to think them insubstantial. They lead the future
from behind. Fierce in a golf cart. Proud.
She rounds the bend, walking the shoulder of the highway, her gaze intense. She has grown from child to the woman-she-will-be in a span of three days. The women, Kwe, follow. In her hand she grips the handle, carrying the life-force of us all -- Water.
He saunters a step behind, proudly holding aloft the Eagle Staff of his people, bringing balance. He will grow into the enormity of his spirit, guarding the procession, the women, and the Water.
Children, Aunties, Grandmothers. Uniting to do the work of Water to keep it clean and alive for the next seven generations.
In my dream, women dance around me, skirts against skirts, shawl tips held to shawl tips like outstretched wings of ravens. The safety of the circle lulls me to sleep, a song of Kwe, a women’s lullaby. I would have forgotten this dream had I not walked the water. Work is not meant to be easy. Each of us push our limitations, open up to willingness, triumph over fear. In that moment when the work hard-pressed me, the water lifted me up and I glimpsed the shadows of the dream, felt the flow of my skirt touching other skirts.
Honor Guard
From the darkest hours before dawn until the sun set, the Water Walker truck drove honor guard behind the Grandmothers who watched over the Kwe and the copper kettle. It was not about the walk; it was about the water. Traversing the Portage Canal Lift Bridge, Hancock and Houghton City Police protected the procession. From there, Water Walkers continued their relay along the Waterfront Trail to Nara Park, Grandmothers in pursuit. A man mowing his lawn paused and placed his hand over his heart with the reverence of eleven eagles that later welcomed home the People of the Heart.
People of the Heart arrive at the Sand Point Lighthouse in Baraga, on Keweenaw Bay (Lake Superior) on Oct. 21, 2019. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
By Michele Bourdieu With additional photos and videos by water protectors
Water Walkers gather at the Sand Point Lighthouse at the end of their 90-mile walk from Copper Harbor to Baraga Oct. 19, 20 and 21. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
BARAGA, Mich. -- Completing a three-day, 90-mile Water Walk near Lake Superior from Copper Harbor, People of the Heart Water Walkers -- Native and non-Native -- arrived at their destination, Sand Point Lighthouse in the Ojibwa Campground, Baraga, on Oct. 21, 2019.
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) member Kathy Smith, one of the organizers of the Walk, was happy to report that three generations of her family were represented in the Walk since her mother, Florine Chosa, and Kathy's son Jacob, participated with her.
Kathy said her mother found it very moving to walk for the water and she had tears in her eyes from the realization that she, her daughter and her grandson were walking together.
"We must lead by example," Kathy said. "Our youth is our future. To see my son walk with his grandmother was a beautiful sight. I brought my son to bring that balance of the masculine and the feminine. He was the only male for the last two days on the walk so we could have that balance. As Anishinaabe we must plant the seeds in our youth because they are our future. We must teach our youth to be good stewards for our sacred water and the environment. That's where it is going to continue for the next 7 generations."
Donica Hope Dravillas of Copper Harbor was happy her daughter, Madeline, was able to participate as well. She noted Madeline was at first a little unsure of carrying Nibi when she saw so many strong women carrying it.
"After day one, I asked an Auntie to suggest to Madeline that she carry the Eagle Staff," Donica wrote on Facebook. "Madeline accepted. After that she started to carry Nibi. And after that she became a part. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to these women for encouraging my daughter."
Donica told Keweenaw Now her interest in the water walks is related to her experience at Standing Rock a few years ago.
"When I came back from there I made contact with Terri Denomie (of KBIC) about a water ceremony at
Hunters' Point (in Copper Harbor) and then went to a Water Walk at
Keweenaw Bay," she said.
The Walk began in Copper Harbor early Saturday morning, Oct. 19.
On hand for the start of the Walk was Erika Vye of Copper Harbor, who participated in all three days of the Water Walk.
"Kathy put it best when she said, 'It isn’t about the walk, it’s about the water,'" Erika noted. "This walk was not a protest or a display of strength or endurance; it was pure and from the heart. Ego is set aside. We walked together to do this important work -- carry the water forward, inspire and raise awareness."
Keweenaw Now joined the Walkers in Eagle Harbor. Some were riding part of the way in a van provided by the Keweenaw Adventure Company of Copper Harbor.
Walkers pass through Eagle Harbor on Lake Superior. The Water Walk is led by Anishinaabekwe -- women from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community -- who are joined by other water protectors, Native and non-Native. Click on YouTube icon for larger screen. (Video by Keweenaw Now)
Shelby Coleman of Copper Harbor, who was riding in the Keweenaw Adventure Company van driven by her friend Nick Wiersgalla, said the Walkers had left Copper Harbor at 7 a.m. after doing a tobacco offering.
"That (tobacco) promotes goodness in the travels and good interaction between the participants and the water," she said.
The van carried snacks and first aid supplies. Other volunteers followed or preceded the Walk in support vehicles and provided additional snacks and water or coffee. One of those was Charli Mills, who moved to the Keweenaw from New Mexico, where she had become interested in Native American cultures. Before driving her vehicle ahead of the Walkers she left it to walk with them at the start of the Walk and then walked back to get her car.
"I walked this morning from Astor Shipwreck Park (across from Fort Wilkins) to the edge of Copper Harbor. It was pitch black," Charli said. "Walking back to get ahead reminded me of the role of the sacred clown -- someone who goes backwards to move the story forward."*
Charli's friend Bonnie Harrer of Copper Harbor lent her support by fixing a breakfast of omelette muffins and providing lots of coffee for the Walkers. In her vehicle Charli carried pots of Bonnie's coffee, snacks and a 10-gallon water jug MacDonald's of Houghton lent the walkers for the weekend.
From Eagle Harbor the Walkers continued to Cat Harbor, where some offered asema, sacred tobacco, to the water from the beach. Julie Belew of Houghton was one who made such an offering.
The leaders of the Walk, carrying the copper pail of Nibi, protected by the Eagle Staff, keep up a steady pace. Some participants pause to make a tobacco offering. (Video by Keweenaw Now)
"Those are prayers in the tobacco (asema) -- an offering of thanksgiving for the water," Julie said.
A young family from Copper Harbor -- Jon and Natalie Schubbe and their young son, Eli -- also paused near the beach at Cat Harbor.
Jon and Natalie Schubbe of Copper Harbor combined walking and riding with son Eli. Here they pause for a photo at Cat Harbor. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
Further along, heading for Eagle River, some made a pit stop at the Great Sand Bay facilities. There Keweenaw Now had an opportunity to meet the two hardy elders riding in the golf cart bearing the American flag and the flag of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.
KBIC elders Elvera Lantz of L'Anse and Diane Charron of Baraga ride in Diane's golf cart during the 90-mile Water Walk -- about 30 miles each day -- with just jackets and blankets for warmth. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
"We're both elders of the Tribe, and we're all friends," Diane said. "We're supporting the Water Walk (planned months ago). We do one from Pequaming to Sand Point in Baraga every summer. It's a 17-mile walk. This is a first. People from the Keweenaw asked if we would do it."
And do it they did, with Walkers taking turns carrying the copper pail of Nibi, that must keep moving all day until the group stops for the night.
According to Kathy Smith, the water must keep moving in one direction, since that is the way water flows. When the group has an overnight stop, they may do a water ceremony at the end of that day and then resume carrying it the next day. The bearer of the Eagle Staff, as a protector, accompanies the person carrying Nibi.
After stopping briefly at Great Sand Bay, some participants hurried to catch up with the leaders, heading for Eagle River (MI). Walkers spent the night in the homes of volunteers along the route, following a feast at Bethany Lutheran Church in Mohawk Saturday evening.
People of the Heart Water Walkers make a pit stop at Great Sand Bay and then hurry to catch up with the leaders. (Video by Keweenaw Now)
On Sunday, Oct. 20, the Water Walkers passed through Ripley and crossed the Portage Lift Bridge to Houghton.
In Houghton the Walkers enjoyed a gathering and feast at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
On Monday, Oct. 21, they set out early again and reached their final destination, the Sand Point Lighthouse in the Ojibwa Campground in Baraga.
As they approach their final destination in Baraga, People of the Heart Water Walkers pick up more participants for the walk to the Sand Point Lighthouse. (Video by Keweenaw Now)
When they came to the boundary of the KBIC Reservation, the Walkers were greeted by the sight of 11 eagles.
Assisted for safety by escorts, Water Walkers enter the Ojibwa Campground on their way to their final destination, the Sand Point Lighthouse on Keweenaw Bay. (Video by Keweenaw Now)
Welcomed with bashkodejiibik nookwezigan (burning of medicine sage) by Lisa Denomie of the KBIC Cultural Committee, Water Walkers continue through the Ojibwa Campground to the Sand Point Lighthouse. (Video by Keweenaw Now)
At the completion of the Walk, near the Sand Point Lighthouse, KBIC elder Diane Charron offers asema (sacred tobacco) to the Lake. Kathy Smith offers thanks to the water. (Video by Keweenaw Now)
At their final destination near the Sand Point Lighthouse, Water Walkers describe the welcome home they received from their brother and sister eagles as they crossed into the KBIC Reservation. (Video by Keweenaw Now)
Terri Denomie, second from right in the video above, whose Anishinaabe name is Gichigamikwe (Great Lakes Woman), called the eagles her sisters and brothers because she is of the Eagle Clan.
"I was gifted the Eagle Staff in 2016 to take care of when my sister, Pauline Knapp Spruce, walked on," Terri said. "I'm doing her work, and she's guiding me along the way."**
Cynthia May Drake of Ripley participated in the Walk all three days.
"We are a community formed by water," Cynthia said. "We may have thought that we walked the Water, but She was gathering us together in community and walking us, showing us along the way those three days, how to build community and gather in together. All of us had roles to play from organizing the event to cooking food or cleaning up at a feast, to hosting someone in a home overnight, to being a driver of the 'respite mobile' to feeding coffee and water or muffins from the back of the trunk of the car. It was a collective effort. We did not measure miles we walked; we measured the depth of Spirit we gained as we walked with our Sisters or held them up in the journey."
Anne Newcombe, who drove one of the support vehicles during the Water Walk, attributed the success of the Walk to a whole community of participants, including the following:
Officer Darren of the Houghton City Police and his unnamed officer from the Hancock City Police for helping the Walkers cross traffic safely across the bridge Sunday afternoon; both Bethany Lutheran (Mohawk) and Good Shepherd Lutheran (Houghton) for feast space, as well as the KBIC Cultural Committee for the final night’s wonderful feast; Ronnie Mae Krueger; Shelby Laubhan’s and Sam Raymond’s Keweenaw Adventure business, Tressa and Vince Alvarado; KBIC for the use of support vans; and all of the overnight home hosts for the Walkers and Grandmothers -- Bucky Beach, Lake Fanny Hooe Resort, Ray and Viki Weglarz, Jenny Lester, Charli and Todd Mills, Anne Newcombe and Will Cantrell, and Cynthia May Drake.
Notes:
* Watch for a guest article on the People of the Heart Water Walk by Charli Mills, coming soon.
** The Keweenaw Bay 6th Annual Pauline Knapp-Spruce Memorial Water Walk was held on July 24, 2019 -- a 17-mile walk from First Sand Beach at Pequaming Point to Sand Point. Pauline Knapp-Spruce participated in the KBIC welcoming of the 2011 Mother Earth Water Walkers, led by the late Josephine Mandamin of Thunder Bay, Ont. See our August 5, 2011, article, "KBIC welcomes 2011 Mother Earth Water Walk participants."
LANSING -- Today, Nov. 5, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced she has filed an appeal of the Court of Claims' decision in the lawsuit brought by Enbridge against the Governor and the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.
The lawsuit concerns the lame duck statute 2018 PA 359 -- that would allow Enbridge to move forward with a multi-year project to build a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac to continue shipping petroleum products, more than 85 percent of which are destined for Canada. In the interim, Line 5 will remain in its current, exposed state on the bottomlands in the Straits.
"We always expected this matter would be resolved in the appellate courts," Nessel said. "While I disagree with Judge Kelly’s decision, I appreciate how promptly he addressed this case and issued his opinion. This is just the first step in the court process, and I am more resolved than ever to continue this fight on behalf of the people of Michigan."
The Claim of Appeal was filed today in the Court of Appeals. Under the court’s rules the state’s brief would be filed within 56 days, Enbridge’s response is due 35 days after the state’s brief, and the state’s reply is due 21 days after that. The court would then set a date for oral argument.
The ruling in this case has no impact on Attorney General Nessel’s separate lawsuit to decommission Line 5 based on the public trust doctrine and other common law and statutory claims. That case is currently before Ingham County Circuit Court Judge James Jamo. Remaining briefs in that case are due November 12 and December 10.
Inset photo: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. (Photo courtesy Michigan.gov)
A scene from ANGELIQUE'S ISLE, the 41 North Film Festival featured film, by filmmaker/producer Michelle Derosier, who will be a special guest at the festival on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Rozsa Center. (Photos courtesy Erin Smith, director, 41 North Film Festival)
HOUGHTON -- The annual 41 North Film Festival will be held from Thursday, Oct. 31 to Sunday, Nov. 3, at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts. This year’s program features over 20 films from around the world, along with music, events, and special guests Anishinaabe filmmaker/producer Michelle Derosier and Michigan Tech alumnus actor/writer/producer Curtis Fortier.
A scene from HUMAN NATURE -- a provocative exploration of CRISPR’s far-reaching implications, through the eyes of the scientists who discovered it, the families it’s affecting, and the bioengineers who are testing its limits.
Delving into the complexities of editing the human genome is the new film HUMAN NATURE, to be shown at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. It will be followed by a Q and A with Dr. Caryn Heldt, Dr. Paul Goetsch, and Dr. Alexandra Morrison.
In PICTURE CHARACTER, Directors Martha Shane and Ian Cheney lead viewers on a deep dive into the ever evolving world of emojis, from their humble beginnings in Japan to mobile keyboards the world over.
The festival will present PICTURE CHARACTER (an Emoji
Documentary) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1. This informative and entertaining film covers everything from how emojis came into existence to how new emojis are added to the unicode system. To add to the fun, those who come in an emoji-inspired costume will be entered in a drawing for a prize. After the film, the Rozsa lobby will be the scene of music and emoji cookie decorating.
HONEYLAND is an intimate film that tells the story of Hatidze Muratova, the last in a long line of Macedonian wild beekeepers. The film will be followed by a panel discussion with Victor Busov and Kathy Halvorsen, Michigan Tech professors; and Melissa Hronkin, teacher of art at the Houghton Portage Public Schools, Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College and Finlandia University.
Saturday, Nov. 2, will feature a full day of programming about our relationship to the environment. Films include ANTHROPOCENE: THE HUMAN EPOCH at noon, THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARMat 2 p.m., HONEYLAND at4 p.m. (followed by a panel discussion)and the featured presentation of special guest Michelle Derosier and her film ANGELIQUE’S ISLE at 7:30 p.m. -- inspired by the true story of Angelique Mott, an Anishinaabe woman who, with her husband, was abandoned by unscrupulous copper miners and left to die during the winter of 1845 on an island off of Isle Royale (today known as Mott Island).
Angelique and Charlie, in ANGELIQUE’S ISLE.
On Sunday, Nov. 3, Michigan Tech alumnus Curtis Fortier will be on hand at 1:45 p.m. to present and discuss some of his work as an actor/writer/producer. Fortier will be followed by a new docudrama about the life of information theorist Claude Shannon (THE BIT PLAYER) at 3:30 p.m.
The festival will close Sunday evening with MAIDENat 7 p.m. -- the thrilling and emotional story of the first all-female crew to compete in the Whitbread Round-the-World Yacht Race.
See the full line-up of films and events at 41northfilmfest.org. The festival is free and open to the public. Tickets can be reserved at tickets.mtu.edu or by calling 906-487-2073 and will also be available in the Rozsa lobby prior to each film.
Click here for the complete Schedule of films and events.
Click here for links to descriptions of the films.
HOUGHTON -- The Rozsa Center is proud to host a very special performance of Stars of American Ballet, bringing the nation's top ballet dancers from the New York City Ballet to the Rozsa stage at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Stars of American Ballet travels to cities nationwide and offers top-notch choreography with principal and soloist-level dancers from major American companies. Founded and directed by New York City Ballet principal dancer Daniel Ulbricht, who works alongside Executive Director Andrew Robertson, Stars also sponsors dance education programs, consisting of master classes, pre-performance lectures and community outreach projects, to build a better awareness and overall experience with the art form.
With performances billed as "An unapologetic showcase of virtuosity." -- The Boston Globe, and "An intoxicating evening even for the non-dancers" -- The Pittsburgh Star-Tribune, the event promises sheer athleticism and beautiful artistry by principal dancers, soloists, and members of the corps de ballet from the New York City Ballet: Daniel Ulbricht, Brittany Pollack, Teresa Reichlen, Ask la Cour, Unity Phelan, Adrian Danchig-Waring, Alec Knight, and Baily Jones, and features works by Balanchine, la Cour and Knight
A master class for local dancers will be held at the Superior School of Dance, when local dancers will have the opportunity to work with Stars of American Ballet dancers on Saturday afternoon. For more details about the master class, please contact the Rozsa Center administrative offices at (906) 487-2856.
This event is made possible with funding from the Arts Midwest Touring fund, a Program of Arts Midwest, generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional contributions from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Crane Group.
Tickets to Stars of American Ballet are Adult: $25, Youth: $12, and Michigan Tech Students at no charge with Experience Tech Fee, and are available by phone, (906) 487-2073, online at mtu.edu/rozsa, in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the Student Development Complex, or at the Rozsa Box office the night of the show. Please note the Rozsa Box Office is only open two hours before performances.
Also, in celebration of World Ballet Day on Wednesday, Oct. 23, the Rozsa Center will offer a special limited-time "Buy One Get One Free" (BOGO) ticket promotion, for one day only: From Oct 22 at 11:59 p.m. to Oct. 23 at 11:59 p.m. please use "BalletDay" promo code and select at least two tickets to receive one free. This applies to both adult and youth tickets, and there is no limit on the number of BOGO tickets purchased.
Students Lily Thompson, left, and Irene Hillman experience the first Rabbit Island School in July 2019. (Photo courtesy Portage Lake District Library)
HOUGHTON -- In July 2019, the Portage Lake District Library and the Rabbit Island Foundation gave five local high school students the experience of a lifetime. These students were awarded full scholarships to attend the library’s first Rabbit Island School, a seven-day arts and ecology expedition to a remote island in Lake Superior.
The students will host an art exhibit and presentation on their experience from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Portage Lake District Library in Houghton. The event is free and open to the public.
Rabbit Island is a 91-acre forested island in Lake Superior, located four miles east of Rabbit Bay in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The island has never been developed or subdivided, and a conservation easement granted in 2010 assures the island will remain healthy forever.
During their seven-day expedition, students spent time reading, writing, painting, sketching, carving spoons, creating natural dyes from plants, cooking, fishing, identifying local flora and fauna, building an island community and more. They were joined by two artist mentors and one program administrator from the library.
Students meet with their mentors during the first Rabbit Island School experience in July 2019. (Photo courtesy Portage Lake District Library)
"I am thrilled for the Rabbit Island School students to share their experience and art with the greater community," said Library Director Dillon Geshel. "Witnessing the students' engagement with their art, the landscape, and each other is something I’ll never forget. I can’t wait for the public to relive their expedition through the exhibit."
Library events are free and open to all. Please contact the library at 906-482-4570 for more information.
Here are details for those interested in participating in the 2019 People of The Heart Water Walk along Lake Superior Saturday through Monday, Oct. 19-21.
Route information
This is a general route with anticipated stopping points; weather and other factors may influence where the walk begins and ends each day. Also note, a support shuttle will accompany Walkers. You can hop in at any time and shuttle any baggage you may have with you.
Saturday, Oct. 19: Copper Harbor to Mohawk along Highway 26, taking the second cut off to US 41; alternative route -- first cut-off to 41 in case of weather or traffic.
Sunday, Oct. 20: Mohawk to Houghton via US 41. Take first right under Portage Bridge and follow Shelden Avenue to Good Shepherd Church.
Monday, Oct. 21: Good Shepherd Church, Houghton, to Sandpoint Lighthouse, Keweenaw Bay.
Schedule:
Friday, Oct. 18:
• Lodging available at Fanny Hooe Resort in Copper Harbor for 10 people (double occupancy), with Copper Harbor Walkers, and in Houghton/Hancock at Cynthia Drake's, Anne Newcombe's or Charli Mills' homes.
• Lodgers who plan to stay the night at Lake Fannie Hooe Resort need to check-in at 5 p.m. to get room, linens, and instructions on how to clean room in the morning (room is free in exchange for cleaning it before departure).
• A pre-walk gathering and feast is planned early evening in Copper Harbor (please message organizers on the Facebook page for directions).
Saturday, Oct. 19
• Begin at 6 a.m. from Astor Shipwreck Park (Copper Harbor Lighthouse Overlook)
• Walk along the Lake as much as possible (safety and weather dependent)
• End walk at 5 p.m.
• Feast at Bethany Lutheran Church in Mohawk
• Lodging at church (bring your own sleeping bags), at Farm Block (6 beds, plus camping spots), and at Cynthia Drake's, Anne Newcombe's or Charli Mills'.
Sunday, Oct. 20
• Begin where the previous walk left off at 6 a.m.
• Walk to Houghton (cross bridge by 5 p.m.)
• Feast at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 6 p.m.
• Lodging at church (bring your own sleeping bags), at Cynthia Drake's, Anne Newcombe's or Charli Mills'.
Note: If anyone certified to drive a Michigan Tech van would like to support Walkers on this day your help would be greatly appreciated!
Monday, Oct. 21
• Begin 6 a.m. from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
• Walk to Sandpoint Lighthouse in Keweenaw Bay
• Feast at Senior Center in Baraga
Things to consider bringing:
Women are kindly asked to wear long skirts during this ceremonial Walk (if you do not have one others are bringing extras along)
Wear layers
Hooded parka or hoodie
Raincoat
Waterproof footwear/comfortable walking shoes
Extra socks
Bandages, ibuprofen, neosporin
Bright colored clothing - think safety
Good gloves with grips
Camel backs/water bottles (please avoid non reusable plastics)
Toiletries and prepped disposal bag
Sunblock/wind protection
Headlamps for early morning Walkers
UPDATE: This walk is Anishinaabe-led, and they have protocols based on their traditional teachings. Please consult the list HERE to be sure you are respectful of these if you wish to join the Water Walk. or request a copy from Charli Mills at wordsforpeople@gmail.com.
All are welcome to participate in any part of this journey! Miigwech!
[BREAKING NEWS: According to a Facebook post by the Anishinaabek Caucus of the Democratic Party on Friday, Oct.11, 2019, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed Oct. 14, 2019, Indigenous Peoples' Day!
Click here to read the full proclamation on Michigan.gov.
Governor Whitmer's Proclamation follows recently proposed legislation by State Sen. Jeff Irwin (SB 568), State Sen. Mallory McMorrow (SB 569) and State Rep. Yousef Rabhi (HB 5112) to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day in Michigan, as well as an executive order earlier this week by Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers declaring the second Monday in October Indigenous Peoples' Day in Wisconsin.]*
HOUGHTON -- This year Indigenous Peoples' Day is commemorated beginning on Monday, Oct. 14, with a series of events at Michigan Tech -- including lectures, films and discussions on Native American culture from Monday through Wednesday and library exhibits of Indigenous Learning Resources at both the Van Pelt and Opie Library on campus and the Portage Lake District Library in Houghton through Oct. 28.
While not directly part of the Indigenous Peoples' Day program, the People of the Heart Water Walk will be led by Anishinaabekwe from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Oct. 19-21, along the shores of Lake Superior. People of all colors, faiths, and philosophies are invited to join the Water Walk in unity to bring awareness to life’s most precious resource, Nibi (water). The Water Walk is conducted through Anishinaabe ceremonial protocol and ways of understanding the natural environment.
People of the Heart Water Walk poster. Click on poster for larger image. (Poster courtesy People of the Heart Water Walk Facebook page)
Water Walkers will begin at 6 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, at Astor Shipwreck Park (where Fannie Hoe Creek flows into Lake Superior across from Fort Wilkins Park) and will proceed to Mohawk this first day. On Sunday, day two, water walkers will cross Portage Canal into Houghton. Water walkers will end their journey the third day, Monday, Oct. 21, at Keweenaw Bay's Sandpoint Lighthouse.
"In this work for the water, the women lead the ceremony, carrying a copper vessel filled with Nibi from Copper Harbor Lighthouse to Sandpoint Lighthouse located in Baraga, MI.," writes Kathleen Smith, habitat specialist in the KBIC Natural Resources Department. "The water continually moves through the 1842 Ceded Territory throughout the day starting at sunrise and into the afternoon. The men support the women by carrying an eagle staff beside them as their protectors," Smith explains.
Walkers will lodge in personal homes and community centers each night. Food and drinking water will be provided to eliminate the use of plastic water bottles. All are welcomed to participate in bringing awareness to Nibi. You can join in and walk at any point on the journey for as long as you can and feel called to do so.
Michigan Tech Indigenous Peoples' Day events
Monday, Oct. 14: 12 - 12:30 p.m. -- Michigan Tech Husky Statue. The Woodland Singers: Honoring Land, Place, and People
6 p.m. - 8 p.m. -- Fisher Hall 138. Documentary and Dialogue: American Indian identity in contemporary media
Tuesday, Oct. 15: 12 - 1 p.m. -- Noblet 144, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science. Brown Bag Lecture with Kalvin Hartwig (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa)
4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. -- Hamar House. Reception for Kalvin Hartwig and Katy Bresette (Red Cliff Band of Ojibwe)
6 p.m. - 8 p.m. -- Fisher Hall 138. Short Films: Waadookodaading and This Is Who I Am, with special guests Katy Bresette and Kalvin Hartwig
Wednesday, Oct. 16: UPDATED TIME: 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (EDT) -- Noblet, Forestry Building 144. Anishinaabemowin Distance Learning Session with Dr. Margaret Noodin. The first 40 participants will receive a free copy of Bizhiw Miinawaa Miinan- Lynx and the Blueberries by Cecelia LaPointe (Waub Ajijaak Press) [Note: This was originally posted as 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Central Time.]
6 p.m. - 8 p.m. -- Fisher Hall 138. Feature film: Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2001)
Indigenous Peoples' Day Campaign
The Indigenous Peoples' Day Campaign at Michigan Tech began with a group of faculty, students and concerned community members meeting several times a semester and inviting / sponsoring guest speakers of indigenous origins -- including Native Americans, a Peruvian filmmaker, and an Israeli writer concerned about rights of Palestinians -- as well as films, activities and discussions on topics related to indigenous peoples' rights around the world.
At the same time, the group interested Michigan Tech students in the effort to have the university officially adopt Indigenous Peoples' Day, especially since Michigan Tech is located within Ojibwa (Chippewa) homelands and treaty-territory established by the Treaty of 1842 -- the territory of Native American nations in Gakiiwe’onaning (Keweenaw Bay), Gete-gitgaaning (Lac Vieux Desert), Mashkii-ziibing (Bad River), Odaawaa-zaaga’iganing (Lac Courte Oreilles), Waaswaaganing (Lac Du Flambeau), Miskwaabikong (Red Cliff), Wezaawaagami-ziibiing (St. Croix), and Zaka’aaganing (Sokaogon Mole Lake).
Treaty map showing dates of treaties and tribal groups located in ceded territories. Click on map for larger version. (Map courtesy Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission [GLIFWC])
Michigan Tech's Undergraduate Student Government (USG) presented a Resolution to Commemorate and Actively Support Indigenous Peoples at Michigan Technological University on Feb. 15, 2017. It was adopted on March 1, 2017, and revised on March 15, 2017. The Resolution reads in part as follows:
"BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Michigan Tech Undergraduate Student Government (USG) urges Michigan Technological University to commemorate Indigenous Peoples every year from this year, 2017,
"BE IT ALSO RESOLVED THAT, the Michigan Tech USG urges Michigan Technological University to actively support the recognition of Indigenous Peoples worldwide, including education and dialogue on diversity and solidarity, social justice, and indigenous decolonization.
"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Michigan Tech USG urges Michigan Technological University to actively support the recognition of and education about the Ojibwe People's’ presence and contributions to Michigan Tech and the larger community in the region and forward."
Michigan Tech's Graduate Student Government (GSG) voted in favor of a similar Resolution on Feb. 13, 2017.
According to Kellie Raffaelli, assistant dean and director of Michigan Tech's Center for Diversity and Inclusion, "President Mroz approved the proposal for the University to recognize the second Monday of October as Indigneous Peoples' Day on January 24, 2017."
Editor's Update: * Contact your State Senator and State Representative in your own district and ask them to support these bills to establish Indigenous Peoples' Day in Michigan, since the Governor's Proclamation is only for this Monday, Oct.14, 2019. To find your State Representative, click here. To find your State Senator, click here.
What You Do Not Know You Know, by Jess Portfleet, is part of the new visual art faculty show, "Proof of Concept," in Michigan Tech's Rozsa Center A-Space professional gallery. (Photo courtesy Rozsa Center)
HOUGHTON -- Michigan Tech's Department of Visual and Performing Arts and the Rozsa Center are excited to announce the fall gallery exhibition, "Proof of Concept," a visual art faculty show, which runs from Thursday, Oct. 10, through Saturday, Nov. 9, in A-Space, the Rozsa professional gallery. An opening reception will be held from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11. Gallery hours are M-F 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 8 p.m. on Saturdays. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
"Proof of Concept" showcases recent works of art by five faculty members from Michigan Tech’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts: Anne Beffel, Susanne Q. Kilpela, Terri Jo Frew, Lisa Gordillo, and Jess Portfleet. It includes painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, and social practice art. A companion exhibit of Susanne Q. Kilpela’s drawings will take place in Michigan Tech’s Van Pelt and Opie Library, on the first floor. Visitors are encouraged to visit both the library and the Rozsa gallery to view the show.
Persistent Dilemma, by Susanne Q. Kilpela. (Photo courtesy Rozsa Center)
The five artists are working in diverse media, and for many different reasons. Susanne Q. Kilpela -- who teaches a variety of courses at Michigan Tech in ceramics, drawing, and art history -- works in clay for "its delicacy and its strength." She likes to discover beauty in unusual places and her work is inspired by nature’s forms. Jess Portfleet’s sculptures include ceramic forms, yet she focuses on reinterpreting objects and their use by staging objects in unusual ways. She says her work "explores complex human moments"; and to do that she makes use of scaffolding, props, and alternative methods of support.
Artist Anne Beffel teaches courses that focus on developing creativity, and she runs a public art space in Wadsworth Hall known as The Studio Here Now. Beffel finds that her work "underscores the role art can play in creating attentiveness, which is the foundation for empathy, inclusion, and fair access to resources." Her research emphasizes her vision for a "peaceful society in which individuals have equal access to resources and opportunities."
Terri Jo Frew’s favorite materials are drawing and embroidery. She is interested in breaking down the boundaries people create between "art" and "craft." She frequently combines these more traditional forms with conceptual ideas and says that she hopes to challenge those "antiquated ideas about arts hierarchies" with her work.
Painter and sculptor Lisa Gordillo is focusing her current work on landscapes and borders. Gordillo is also the Rozsa Gallery Director, and is excited that the gallery has a chance to present works of art from the arts faculty.
"It will be wonderful for us to have a chance to share our work and our inspirations with students and the community and to showcase the diverse kinds of art we make," Gordillo says.
Gordillo adds that the faculty artists are often inspired by their students.
Susie Kilpela also expresses this idea: "People often ask me if my students have become inspiration for my work. What inspires me is their energy and their enthusiasm for life ahead."
This Friday, Dec. 6, Keweenaw Youth for Climate Action are joining the rest of the country in a nation-wide climate protest!They are gathering under the Portage Lift Bridge on the Houghton side at 3:30 p.m. and invite people who care about climate justice and responsible energy sources to join them. Participants will march up and down Shelden Avenue until 5 p.m. The weather forecast is looking good for Friday, and participants will march to stay warm. Bring protest signs and please only cross the street using the the traffic lights! Join the group for a sign making party from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, in Fisher Hall, Room 230 at Michigan Tech. The group will supply some cardboard and paints, but please bring your own cardboard as well.
Finlandia Gallery's 29th Annual Contemporary Finnish American Artist Series exhibit opens Dec. 5
Artist Lisa Autio with some of her work from the exhibit "A Walk Along the Shore." (Photo courtesy Finlandia University)
Finlandia University Gallery will present the 29th Annual Contemporary Finnish American Artist Series Exhibition, featuring the artwork of Lisa Autio. "A Walk Along the Shore," an exhibit of mixed media sculptural wall pieces, will be on display at the Finlandia University Gallery, located in the Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC), Hancock, from Dec. 5, 2019, to Jan. 11, 2020. An opening reception for the artist will take place at the gallery from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, with an artist talk beginning at 7:20 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Autio is a native of Montana, with Finnish grandparents immigrating through Ellis Island to work in the mines and boarding houses in Butte in the 1920s. Click here to read more ...
Poor Artists Sale is Dec. 7 at CLK, Calumet
The Copper Country Community Arts Center will host its 43rd annual Poor Artists Sale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the CLK Gymnasium in Calumet. The Poor Artists Sale is an annual juried holiday art fair hosted by the Copper Country Community Arts Council as a benefit for the Community Arts Center in Hancock. Shoppers will find handmade jewelry and pottery, holiday wreaths, ornaments, baskets, wood art, glass, rugs, fiber arts, photography and many other special items made by local artists. Shop and visit with friends in a relaxing, social atmosphere, renew your Arts Council membership (or join for the first time) and enjoy homemade treats at the hospitality table.
Public Notice: City of Hancock positions open
To City of Hancock Residents: The City of Hancock is accepting applications from interested persons to fill one vacancy on the Planning Commission and one vacancy on the Downtown Development Authority. The Planning Commission term expires Feb. 15, 2021. The Downtown Development Authority term expires Jan. 31, 2021. Letters of interest will be accepted for this opening until 5 p.m. local time, Friday, Dec. 13, 2019. Submit letter of interest to: City of Hancock, City Clerk, 399 Quincy Street, Hancock, MI 49930.
Sew Cranky's Snowflake Challenge!
Snowflake created on one of Sew Cranky's antique hand-crank sewing machines. (Photo courtesy Ginger Alberti)
Sew Cranky, 322 Quincy St. in Hancock, invites you to enter their Snowflake Challenge drop-in project by designing a snowflake on one of their hand-crank sewing machines at Sew Cranky anytime between Nov. 29 and Feb. 24. All ages welcome to enter! Sew Cranky owners Ginger and Mike will supply the fabric and the machines -- and will help you, too! Prizes -- cash or gift certificate -- will be awarded for most "intricate and realistic" and for most "creative and original." Also, two random drawing prizes will be awarded for all entries. Beginners have an equal chance at prizes. Cost is $3 to enter a snowflake you create at Sew Cranky. You can enter more than one, but they must be made at Sew Cranky on their antique machines. Snowflakes entered will be on display throughout the winter holidays and can be picked up after the judging on Feb. 25, when winners will be announced at the Contra Dance in the Finnish American Heritage Center. You do not have to be present to win. Your snowflake can also be returned to you by mail. This creative, fun project is in honor of UP legend Heikki Lunta!
Grieving during the Holidays: Community Grief Support at Omega House
Photo courtesy Cynthia Drake.
The ongoing Third Thursday Community Grief support group will take place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, and Thursday, Dec. 19, at Omega House in Houghton. Participants will be supporting one another through this coming holiday season since the holidays can magnify grief. This support group is open to anyone who wants to come and process grief together. Come as you are and settle into a relaxed, safe environment of support and communication. We grieve because we love and we do not have to be alone in our grief. This group is facilitated by Omega House Grief Counselor, Cynthia Drake. Omega House is at 2211 Maureen Lane, Houghton.
UPDATED: News Briefs / Announcements
THANKSGIVING BREAK HOURS at the Calumet Public Library are the following: Monday, Nov. 25: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 26: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 27: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 28: CLOSED; Friday, Nov. 29: CLOSED. Monday, Dec. 2: Regular hours resume. ......
A Scholastic Book Fair fundraiser will be held from Dec. 2 - Dec. 6 at the Calumet Public Library during regular library hours. Open to the public. The Scholastic Book Fair serves up an excellent selection of titles for middle and high school students to be read right now or saved for upcoming holiday and birthday gifts. It is also a great fundraiser for the library. The book fair is open for business during regular library hours. Sponsored by the Friends of the Calumet Public Library. For more information, visit the library or call 337-0311 ext. 1107. (In case of bad weather, when school is cancelled, all library programs are cancelled.)
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The Portage Lake District Library will host a Superior Fab Lab: Custom Shirt Workshop from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2. Learn to cut out a logo, phrase, or image using the Cricut machine and place it onto a shirt or mug. This is a great opportunity to make a customized Christmas present! Bring your own shirt or mug.
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Michigan Tech students will give IGNITE talks about natural resource issues in the Great Lakes Region from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at Portage Lake District Library.
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Interchange Studio: Spanish Conversation will meet from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, in the Portage Lake District Library. Meet other learners of Spanish who want to improve their spoken Spanish. The group meets every 2 weeks on Thursday, until Dec, 20, 2019. Open to all ages, but some previous experience with Spanish (at any level) is necessary, as this is not a class but a platform to apply what you know. Topics and smiles will be provided.
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The Portage Lake District Library will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28 and 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday. The library will reopen at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30.
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Click here for the Portage Lake District Library Calendar of Events.
UP Energy Task Force to meet Nov. 13 in Escanaba
Will Lytle, right, Mayor Pro-tem of the City of Hancock, addresses the U.P. Energy Task Force during the listening session of their Sept. 20, 2019, meeting at the Jutila Center in Hancock. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
The U.P. Energy Task Force will meet from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, in Escanaba and will include discussions about propane pricing and customer protections. The meeting, which is open to the public, will be in the 952 Conference Room of the Joseph Heirman University Center at Bay de Noc Community College, 2001 N. Lincoln Road, Escanaba. The meeting will include a listening session in the afternoon to gather comments from audience members on energy issues in the Upper Peninsula. All public comments, which can also be submitted via email to EGLE-UPEnergy@Michigan.gov, will aid the U.P. Energy Task Force in completing its responsibilities as outlined in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Order to assess the U.P.’s overall energy needs and how they are being met, formulate alternative solutions for meeting those needs, and identify and evaluate potential changes that could occur to energy supply and distribution in the U.P. Following this meeting, also in Room 952, a Community Education Event on solar energy will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., including refreshments. Both meetings are free and open to the public.
The Shaft exhibit opens with reception Nov. 8 at Community Arts Center
"Mine Shaft" by Clyde Mikkola. (Image courtesy Copper Country Community Arts Center)
The Shaft, a community exhibition, will take place from Nov. 8 to Dec. 6 in the Kerredge Gallery and Youth Gallery of the Copper Country Community Arts Center, Hancock. Artists were invited to submit work inspired by mining history 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. Vote for your favorite pieces throughout the month or during the reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, and enjoy live music with Bob Hiltunen and Tim Havens. Refreshments will be served. Community Choice Awards will be announced in December.
Finlandia Gallery new exhibit by Kristiina Uusitalo opens Oct. 24
Small Heart(of the Matter) IV, 2017, by Kristiina Uusitalo. Oil, dry pigment, wax and artificial resin on wood.
Finlandia University Gallery presents the exhibition "A Song for Time" by Finnish artist Kristiina Uusitalo in the Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC), Hancock, from Oct. 24 to Nov. 26, 2019. Climate change and plastic waste are the underlying subjects in this exhibit. An opening reception for the artist will take place at the gallery from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, with an artist talk beginning at 7:20 p.m. Following the artist talk, Finnish architect Olli Pekka Jokela will present a slide lecture about his recent collaboration with Uusitalo on the 2019 Vietnam Finland International School in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and his other designs of Finnish public buildings. The reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Saving Copper Country birds at Portage Library
New films on Portage Lake District Library windows save birds. (Photo courtesy Portage Library)
Birds hitting windows is one of the leading causes of their death. Birds see a reflection of the outdoors in a window so they try to fly right through. The Portage Lake District Library has had many bird strikes, especially on the bridge side near trees. A Copper Country Audubon member who worked at the library requested help to prevent these bird strikes. Stencils of hawks and other things can be put on windows to help prevent bird strikes, but none are as effective as a new product that birds see but humans can't: Bird’s Eye View® window films -- six-inch plastic films that look like frosted glass. They are clean, easy to install and non-adhesive -- so they remove easily. The films work by reflecting ultraviolet light that birds can see as a bright blue glow across the window surface. Having the films on large windows reduces window strikes by up to 80 percent. Copper Country Audubon members donated 30 films to the Portage Lake District Library to help prevent bird strikes. They have a decorative design so they do not obstruct the beautiful views from the library windows. Window films were also put on some of the worst windows at Michigan Tech. For more information about Copper Country Audubon contact Dana Richter, 482-3361 or dlrichte@mtu.edu.
Finnish language classes begin Oct. 9 at Finnish American Heritage Center
The Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) in Hancock is offering two Finnish language classes -- both beginning Wednesday, Oct. 9, and meeting for 10 weeks at the FAHC’s Martha Wiljanen Community Hall. Beginning Finnish will meet on Wednesdays at 5:15 p.m. for about one hour each week. This class is designed as an introduction to the language for people of any age. No materials are required -- just an eagerness to learn a language in a casual setting. The second class, Finnish II, is designed to pick up where Beginning Finnish leaves off. This class is ideal for those who’ve completed the beginning class and are looking to build from that foundation, or for folks who have some understanding of the basics of the language. Even "veteran" Finnish speakers can gain from this course as well. Finnish II will also meet on Wednesdays, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and meeting for about one hour. Both classes are led by Tiina Sakari of Atlantic Mine, who has instructed Finnish language at the FAHC for the past several years. Registration for either class is $50 per student for the 10-week session. Advance registration is strongly encouraged, though registrations can be taken on the first day of class. For more information about the Finnish language enrichment programming at the Finnish American Heritage Center, call (906) 487-7549.
The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) announces its annual Photo Contest -- now open and continuing through Nov. 1, 2019. UPEC invites photographers to share their best shots representing the beautiful UP, including photos from any season of the year. The four categories this year are 1) Nature panoramas, wildlife, and landscapes 2) Humans engaged with the natural world 3) Close-ups of hidden or overlooked beauty 4) Wonderful fluid water. Photographers can be from anywhere, but the photos must be from the Upper Peninsula -- with one submission per category per person. They also may be part of an on-line photo gallery and on display at the next Celebrate the UP! -- scheduled for March 2020 in Houghton. For complete contest rules and instructions on how to submit, write to UPEC at upec@upenvironment.org.
The Buffalo Reef Task Force will hold a public meeting to discuss three alternatives tentatively selected for further analysis in the fight to save Buffalo Reef -- an important natural reef near Gay, Mich., where historic copper mine tailings (stamp sands) are threatening to destroy spawning habitat and recruitment areas important to Lake Superior whitefish and lake trout. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. (EDT) TONIGHT, Wednesday, July 31, at the Lake Linden-Hubbell High School, 601 Calumet Avenue, Lake Linden. In February, the task force issued an alternatives analysis which briefly described 13 strategies for managing historic copper mine tailings threatening to destroy spawning habitat and recruitment areas important to Lake Superior whitefish and lake trout in and around Buffalo Reef. Maintenance dredging has been ongoing this summer in the harbor and the trough area to buy time to develop a long-term solution to the stamp sands issue. Click here for details.
As many of you know, my husband, Mark, was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2017 and underwent a successful double lung transplant in April 2018. Although the transplant went well, he has had many complications including deterioration of his kidney function. He had only one functioning kidney prior to the transplant and, along with the anti rejection drugs, was on a number of other drugs right after the transplant that apparently damaged the functioning kidney. We don’t know how soon he will need a transplant, but have begun looking for a donor. We have been overwhelmed and deeply touched by the response to my brother-in-law’s recent post.* Thank you all for your support and prayers. We are working with the University of Minnesota. The process starts by completing a confidential survey at www.umnhealthlivingdonor.org or by calling 612-625-7010. More information is available at MHealth.org or feel free to call us at 906-482-9691 or send me a message. Again, we can’t express how much all the love and prayers and support we have received through this entire process has meant to us. Amy Wisti
* Mark Wisti's brother, Daniel J. Wisti, posted that he and other family members and friends have volunteered but are not sure if they have a match yet or if they will need help from someone else. If you are interested in volunteering please call Amy Wisti at 906-482-9691.
Houghton County Democratic Party
Jack Parker: 1930-2019
Keweenaw Now file photo courtesy Jack Parker.
Keweenaw Now wishes to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jack Parker of Twin Lakes and Baltic, who passed away on April 20, 2019, at the age of 88. Born in England, Jack was a miner of great expertise, who loved the outdoors and cared about the environment. Click here to read our Dec. 6, 2010, article about Jack.Keweenaw Now also published several letters to the editor from him. Click here to read his Obituary.
Dance Zone Marquette
Click on logo above for info on dances and schedules of events.
Art by rosa at blackbird, Marquette
This new shirt for Earth Day, designed by rosa musket, is lightweight and roomy. It's made of a blend of fibers, giving it a soft feel. Available in small, medium and large, this shirt looks good with all skin and hair colors. (Photo courtesy blackbird)
rosa musket of Marquette, Mich., is an artist with concerns for the environment. Her hoodies celebrating "Water is Life" are for sale at blackbird, a bohemian boutique located at 110 N. Front St., Marquette. Other works by rosa include water drop necklaces, small packages of 3 water drop ornaments, and a small retrospective selection of signed cards that can be framed. Click on photo above for blackbird's Facebook page.
Bipartisan climate legislation has been introduced in Congress -- H.R. 7173, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, a revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend approach that -- if passed -- would help us make significant progress toward our big goal: keeping warming to 2ºC. The bill will put a price on carbon, a key step to quickly reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. It also will protect about 2/3 of our UP households, including most lower income households, from rising energy costs. CCL will be sharing more about how to support this bill, will be contacting Rep. Bergman urging him to sign on as co-sponsor, and will be writing letters to the editor. Bergman needs to hear from as many of his constituents as possible, so he knows how much this issues matters to us. You can read about the bill at energyinnovationact.org and then call Congressman Bergman and ask him to co-sponsor H.R. 7173.
Gustavo Bourdieu , 74, a resident of Hancock, passed away suddenly on Monday, September 17, 2018. Gustavo was born in Buenos Aires, Arge...
From Michele Bourdieu, Editor:
Many thanks to all who attended our Memorial for Gustavo on Sunday, Oct. 21. Thanks also to all who have sent lovely cards, email and Facebook messages of condolence and more. In addition to taking photos for Keweenaw Now, Gustavo kept computers running and technology up-to-date for Keweenaw Now's postings. We miss him very much for so many reasons.
Copper Country Recycling
Click on logo above for info on Copper Country Recycling. (Logo courtesy Copper Country Recycling Initiative)
The Copper Country Recycling Initiative (CCRI), a group of local citizens working together to promote recycling in the Copper Country, urges residents of the Keweenaw to save natural resources and energy and to help extend the life of the landfill by integrating the three "Rs" into their daily life: Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling. CCRI has worked to implement cardboard recycling at the Houghton County Transfer Station and Chassell and curbside recycling in Hancock and Houghton, as well as E(lectronic) Waste collection; and, in the near future, there are plans for household hazardous waste and tire recycling. The CCRI brochure, (available on the CCRI website here) lists what is recyclable along with what to do with batteries, bedding, books, cellphones, clothing, construction material, Electronic waste, glasses, medication, motor oil, packing material, printer cartridges, and more. There is also a sign-up for their mailing list.
Copper Country GoFundMe campaigns continue
The Foss home and garage next to Ripley Falls. (Photo courtesy Houghton County Commissioner Tom Tikkanen. Reprinted with permission.)
Fundraiser to help Ripley family: home damaged by flood, waterfall
Click on photo above to learn how you can help.
Brockit.com
See photos of volunteers working to help families impacted by the June 17 flood on the Facebook page for brockit inc. Thanks to Adam Johnson of brockit for sharing photos and his aerial video.
Slide Show: Keweenaw March for Our Lives
In solidarity with the March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C., on March 24, 2018, more than 200 participants marched across the Portage Lift Bridge from Houghton to Hancock, Michigan, and back. Click on photo and follow arrows for the slide show.
See KNSC updates on trail conditions and photos on the Maasto Hiihto blog.
Kids, parents enjoy 2018 Barneløpet ski race at Maasto Hiihto
Skiers of all ages take off for the 11th annual non-competitive Barneløpet ski race on Feb. 11. (Photo courtesy Arlyn Aronson)
Kids and parents braved a chilly, windy Sunday, Feb.11, for the 11th annual Barneløpet children's ski race at Maasto Hiihto -- hosted by the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club, Sons of Norway, and the City of Hancock and sponsored by Portage Health Auxiliary. Click on photo above for more photos of the event taken by Maasto groomer Arlyn Aronson.
Slide Show: Sister March: Jan. 21, 2018
Click on above photo to access our new slide show of the Sister March. Click on this lead bridge photo in the slide show. Click info icons for captions. Follow arrows to the right to follow the march.
Slide Show: Art, Culture, Oct.-Nov. 2017
From arts and crafts to film and dance, Keweenaw Now's SLIDE SHOW: Art, Culture Oct. - Nov. 2017 presents photo highlights of art and cultural events we attended in the Copper Country during the fall of 2017. Click on the above photo of Ginger and Mike at the opening of their SewCranky shop in Hancock and follow the right arrows to see all the photos. Info icon gives you the captions.
New book by Nancy Langston
Click on book cover above to learn about Nancy Langston's latest book. (Book cover image courtesy Nancy Langston)
New book by Cyndi Perkins
Book cover courtesy Cyndi Perkins and Beating Windward Press.
New Novel by Kristin Neva
"Copper Country" is the second novel in Kristin Neva's Copper Island Series. Click on book cover to go to the Amazon.com page for the book. (Book cover courtesy Kristin Neva)
Copper Country, by Keweenaw author Kristin Neva, is the second novel in her Copper Island Series, following Snow Country (see ad below). Two main characters, Aimee and Russ, appear in both novels. Neva continues to describe life in the Keweenaw, including the influence of Finnish names and culture. Click on book cover image above to learn more or purchase the book on Amazon.com.
"Snow Country" -- A Copper Island Novel
Set on the Keweenaw Peninsula, this inspirational novel features contemporary Finnish-American and Yooper culture while exploring themes of love, loss and faith.
Calumet Art Center
Click on logo above to learn about the Calumet Art Center's many activities and classes.
Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve
Chauncey Moran, Yellow Dog RIVERKEEPER, recently conducted an aerial survey of the Salmon Trout and Yellow Dog River watersheds, scanning the landscape and waterways for mining activity and other land use issues. Both watersheds were surveyed via airplane and Moran reports that there are 7 total exploratory drilling operations that are currently active. All 7 of those are occurring directly east of Eagle Mine within a relatively short distance of the portal. This location has been called Eagle East and represents a plausible location for additional mineral deposits. No other active drilling elsewhere in the watersheds was noted during the flight. YDWP will continue to fly and conduct monitoring of this activity in order to inform concerned community members. Click on logo above for more news.
Midnight in the Pawn Shop
Deborah Frontiera, author of "Living on Sisu," has recently published this short novel for mature readers. Click on book cover above for more info. (Photo courtesy Deborah Frontiera)
Offer from Houghton Keweenaw County Genealogical Society
Book cover designed by Avis L. West of Houghton Keweenaw County Genealogical Society. Photograph courtesy Michigan Technological University Archives.
This publication by the Houghton Keweenaw County Genealogical Society (HKCGS) can be yours for free with a minimum $50 donation to the Italian Hall Memorial Fund. The book tells about the families of Italian Hall victims and includes historic photos. If you wish to donate and receive a copy of the book, please click on book cover above for the HKCGS order form, complete the form, print it and mail it to the address on the form. See story about the memorial and other ways to donate here.
Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District announcements
UPDATED: Attention Hancock Residents: Waste Management Garbage and Recycling
Waste Management Garbage and Recycling new schedule for Hancockstarted on Sept. 12, 2016. - All items need to be out by 7 a.m. -Weekly same day pick up for garbage and recycling (using a new dual garbage truck) -Pick Up Day Change affects some neighborhoods: -East of Elevation Street will be on Monday. -West of Elevation Street will be on Wednesday. *Pick up for residents living on Elevation, S. Elevation and N. Elevation Streets will be on WEDNESDAY. -Any container will work for recycling. Some people are painting or taping (recycling) on the bins they now use or you can purchase a new recycling bin from McGann’s or Risto’s. -Single stream will continue for all items including glass and clean pizza boxes! -Service is also available to small commercial. -The City still has a recycling drop off at the DPW Garage (1601 Tomasi Drive) QUESTIONS: Call Bill Marlor, DPW, 482-1480 or Glenn Anderson, City Manager, 482-1121. Click here for Waste Management's new list of acceptable and unacceptable items for recycling. Thank you for your participation.
Copyright Policy
For our copyright policy, please click here or email us if you wish to use any of the photos or video clips by Keweenaw Now. Photos by guest photographers are copyrighted and you must seek their permission for re-use. This policy applies to the photos in our slide shows as well. Please do not share photos taken by guest photographers without their permission.
Slide Show: Christmas in Calumet 2016
Click on the photo above to see our slide show of Calumet on Dec. 3: the Poor Artists Sale, Santa, and art gallery exhibits. Click on any photo and follow the arrows. To read captions, click on the info icon.
Slide Shows: Family fun with science, more ...
Our recent slide shows highlight the Keweenaw Science and Engineering Festival (KSEF) and Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) community events held Aug. 4 - 6, 2016; the 2016 Keweenaw Science Fair winners honored by Carnegie Museum; and the Lake Superior Celebration at GLRC in April 2016.
The new slide shows can be accessed as follows: Click here or on the photo above for the slide show of the Aug. 5, 2016, Keweenaw Water Festival at Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC). Click here for the Aug. 4 and Aug. 6 Keweenaw Science and Engineering (KSEF) family events held in Houghton's Kestner Waterfront Park, and click here for photos of some 2016 Science Fair winners and highlights of the April 26, 2016, Lake Superior Celebration sponsored by the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, Michigan STEM Partnership, the Copper Country Recycling Initiative and more. For each slide show, click on the first photo in the album and click the info icon in the top right corner for the caption. Then click on forward arrows to view the photos as a slide show.
Eagle Rock, 2010: Slide show
In May 2010, concerned Native and non-Native citizens camped, prayed and planted a garden at Eagle Rock, an Ojibwa sacred site, which was blasted for the portal to the Rio-Tinto-Kennecott Eagle Mine. The mine, now in operation, was sold to Lundin Mining Corporation of Toronto. Click on photo above to access a photo album on Eagle Rock protests in May 2010. Click on the first photo in the album and then on the info icon to view captions if they are not visible on the right. To view the photos as a slide show, click on the forward arrows.
Click here for the latest news on Save the Water's Edge.
A Rascal's Craft
The poetic musings of Eelu Kiviranta, a Finnish immigrant and self-proclaimed rascal. Side-by-side Finnish with English translation by Lillian Lehto. Introduction by Steve Lehto. Includes "The Copper Country Strike of 1913." Available from Amazon or the translator, 1419 Yosemite, Birmingham, MI 48009, $19.95. Click on cover to see Youtube video.
Distant Drum
Original clothing and wall pieces custom designed and sewn by Andrea Puzakulich in the Keweenaw for 25 years. Distant Drum is located in Hancock's Historic E.L.Wright Bldg. Open most weekday afternoons. Call ahead.
New edition of book by Steve Lehto
Click on book cover to access Steve's Facebook page on the Italian Hall disaster.
Click here to see Steve Lehto's YouTube video about Italian Hall.
Keweenaw Adventure Company
Red Circle Consulting
Mike Lahti at State Farm
Copper Country Community Arts Center
Click here to visit the Community Arts Center on Facebook.
Keweenaw BEST!
Michigan League of Conservation Voters
What Is Sustainable
Author Richard Adrian Reese recounts how his life took a new direction after 9 years of simple living in the Keweenaw -- and offers a new worldview for a sustainable future.
Sustainable Keweenaw Resource Center
Welcome to Keweenaw Now!
Welcome to our Keweenaw Now blog. This site, the sequel to the Web site www.keweenawnow.com, officially began on September 1, 2007. The Blogger format allows you, our readers, to comment on any post. Read our articles here and send us your comments and suggestions! Your comment will come to us on email (without showing your email address) and as long as it's not objectionable we will post it on the article page. Please note: Right now the comments do not appear on the home page; but, if you click on the headline of an article, it will go to the article's own (archive) page, where comments do appear and where you can reply to them. Click on the comment link below the article to send us a comment. Sometimes the number of comments is indicated on that link on the home page. It may take some time for it to appear.
In addition, Keweenaw Now offers editing -- including editing of scholarly papers in various fields -- and some translation services. We can also help you write or edit the text on your Web site.
Email Keweenaw Now Editor Michele Bourdieu, Ph.D., at andersm@pasty.com with your suggestions and requests.
Author of "The Women of the Copper Country to speak at Portage Lake, Michigan Tech libraries
Mary Doria Russell is the award-winning author of six bestselling novels. Her latest novel, The Women of the Copper Country, centers on the life of American labor activist, Annie ("Big Annie") Clements and paints a broader historical portrait of the lives of local people in Calumet in the midst of a turbulent labor movement and social landscape. An informal book talk and book signing will take place at the Portage Lake District Library from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Refreshments will be served and all are welcome to attend! A formal lecture will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, in the East Reading Room of Michigan Tech's Van Pelt and Opie Library. A social hour and book signing will follow the presentation.
Blog Archive: Click on arrows for links to articles published that week.