Lake Superior Day activities planned for July 18 near Marquette

Lake Superior near Marquette. (Photo courtesy Stand for the Land)

BIG BAY, MICH. -- Several activities are planned for Sunday, July 18, Lake Superior Day, to honor the big lake in Big Bay and on the Yellow Dog Plains near Marquette.

Residents of the Yellow Dog Watershed, whose tranquil life in nature has already been degraded by preliminary mining activities in the area, are inviting everyone to join Native Americans and leaders of various faiths for a day of prayer and fasting, this Sunday near Eagle Rock to honor Lake Superior.

The Lake Superior Day (Sunday, July 18) event near Big Bay in north Marquette County is named "Under the Shadow of Eagle Rock: A Day of Prayer and Fasting."

Residents of the Yellow Dog Watershed hope the public will join in prayers for the protection of the environment where Kennecott Eagle Minerals is building a nickel and copper mine.

New garden planted recently at Eagle Rock, outside Kennecott's fence. (Photo courtesy Stand for the Land)

The event will run from sunrise to sunset with rituals, prayers, meditations and ceremonies every two hours on the hour.

Jan Zender and Rochelle Dale spent 21 quiet years living on the pristine Yellow Dog Watershed, but the married couple's peaceful existence has been shattered by roaring trucks and other mining construction activities.

"Kennecott has really stepped up the pace on the plains, and they are not in one place -- they are all over the place," said Rochelle Dale, a member of the St. Mary Catholic Church in Bay Bay. "They have test sites now on the Pinnacle Falls Road, two miles from Eagle Rock."

Dale said she raised her two children -- Ian, 25, and Kalil, 18, to respect the Yellow Dog Plains. Now, if you ride a bike in the area, you can hear the mine trucks and machines everywhere.

"It's devastating and degrading," Dale said. "This is a part of the land that we love and the reason we live here, and the construction is turning it into something else -- it will never be the same."

Zender and Dale live along the Yellow Dog River about six miles downstream from the mine.

Yellow Dog River near Big Bay, Mich. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

"My husband and I and some of the other residents have invited members of the different faith communities to fast and pray with us (for the protection of Lake Superior and its tributaries)," she said. "There will be prayers for the earth and prayers for all people who are affected by these kinds of things across the world."

Representatives from the interfaith community will hold prayers including Lutheran, Buddhist, Roman Catholic, Unitarian, United Methodist and Jewish traditions.

Members of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community will pray to stop the desecration of Eagle Rock, which has been the site of Ojibwa religious ceremonies for centuries, and for the protection of Lake Superior from possible mine-related pollution like sulfuric acid, a byproduct of sulfide mining.

The public can also participate in a sweat lodge, a Lakota tradition, and in yoga and meditation, according to Rev. Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, head priest of Lake Superior Zendo, a Zen Buddhist temple in Marquette.

"This event will acknowledge and celebrate values other than those represented by the bottom line on an accountant’s ledger," Rev. Lehmberg noted. "We will acknowledge and celebrate the long view, the one that sees past the next fiscal quarter down to the seventh generation of our heirs and beyond."

Those present “will acknowledge and celebrate the inestimable spiritual worth of the Yellow Dog watershed and its people, and the pure, ancient waters of Lake Superior, which lie downstream and which bless us all," Lehmberg added.

Rev. Jon Magnuson, Lutheran pastor and event co-organizer, said the public debate about the proposed sulfide mine includes more than an economic equation.

"The quality of water, the forests, and the claims of one of the Upper Peninsula's major Indian tribes that this is a sacred place beg to be heeded by people of conscience," Magnuson said. "Sunday's day of prayer and fasting will be a time to lift up prayers for Kennecott employees and the region's people whose lifestyle is threatened by this wealthy international mining company Rio Tinto, which continues to hold one of the worst records of environmental pollution and human rights violations in the world."

"Spiritual dimensions to current controversies around the environment too often go unrecognized," Magnuson said. "There are bulldozers -- but there are also prayers and songs and we intend that they will echo out over the forests of the Yellow Dog on Lake Superior Day 2010, under the shadow of Eagle Rock."

The event will be held adjacent to the Kennecott leased property line off the Triple A Road. Markers will be posted from the corner of County Road 550 and County Road 510.

Eagle Rock is a 45-minute drive from Marquette. Directions are posted on the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve website.

For more information contact Rev. Magnuson at 906-228-5494 or Rev. Lehmberg at 906-226-6407.

Save the Wild U.P. to hold fundraising breakfast in Big Bay

For supporters who are not fasting, Save the Wild U.P. will be holding a Lake Superior Day fundraising waffle breakfast from 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 18, at the Powell Township School in Big Bay. The breakfast will include eggs, sausage and fruit served with fresh-roasted Dead River Coffee.

Tickets for the breakfast on sale at the SWUP office or Big Bay Outfitters for $8. Kids' tickets are $5, and under 5 years old are free. Proceeds will support Freshwater Future, YMCA Youth Kayaking and Save the Wild U.P.

Other suggested activities for the day include blueberry picking on the Yellow Dog Plains -- they’re ripening every day -- then later, a dip in the Big Lake or the Yellow Dog River to cool off!

If you’re too full to hike, join the Group "Paddle Independence" at 1 p.m. (connected to Lake Superior and safer). If you need a boat, reserve one for a reduced rate from the Outfitters by calling Bill at 345-9399.

Two Michigan Tech faculty to sign new books July 15, 22

HANCOCK -- Finlandia University’s North Wind Books will host book signings with two Michigan Tech faculty members -- Alison (Kim) Hoagland, professor of history and historic preservation, and Larry Lankton, professor of history. Both books are related to the copper mining history of the Upper Peninsula.

Authors Larry Lankton and Alison (Kim) Hoagland have participated in several community celebrations of Copper Country history. Here they welcome visitors at the 2007 Key Ingredients and Michigan Foodways exhibits in the Keweenaw Heritage Center, Calumet. Hoagland and Lankton also participated in the Quincy Anniversary Special Events in 2008. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

Hoagland will sign her new book, Mine Towns: Buildings for Workers in Michigan's Copper Country, recently published by University of Minnesota Press, at 5 p.m. today, Thursday, July 15. Lankton will sign his most recent book, Hollowed Ground: Copper Mining and Community Building on Lake Superior, 1840s-1990s, published by Wayne State University Press, at 5 p.m. next Thursday, July 22, at North Wind Books in Hancock.

Mine Towns: domestic life in company towns

Hoagland's Mine Towns is a working-class history of domestic life in Copper Country company towns during the boom years of 1890 to 1918.

During the nineteenth century, the Keweenaw Peninsula of Northern Michigan was the site of America’s first mineral land rush as companies hastened to profit from the region’s vast copper deposits.

In order to lure workers to such a remote location -- and work long hours in dangerous conditions -- companies offered not just competitive wages but also helped provide the very infrastructure of town life in the form of affordable housing, schools, health-care facilities and churches.

Hoagland’s book investigates how the architecture of company towns reveals the paternal relationship that existed between company managers and workers -- a relationship that both parties turned to their own advantage.

Alison (Kim) Hoagland is also the author of Buildings of Alaska and Army Architecture in the West: Forts Laramie, Bridger, and D. A. Russell, 1849–1912.

Hollowed Ground: copper and sulfide mining companies, communities

In Hollowed Ground, Lankton tells the story of two copper industries on Lake Superior -- native copper mining, which produced about 11 billion pounds of the metal from the 1840s until the late 1960s, and copper sulfide mining, which began in the 1950s and produced another 4.4 billion pounds of copper through the 1990s.

In addition to documenting companies and their mines, mills and smelters, Hollowed Ground is also a community study. It examines the region’s population and ethnic mix, which was a direct result of the mining industry, and the companies’ paternalistic involvement in community building.

While this book covers the history of the entire Lake Superior mining industry, it particularly focuses on the three largest and longest-lived companies: Calumet and Hecla, Copper Range and Quincy .

Hollowed Ground presents a wealth of images from Upper Michigan’s mining towns, reflecting a century and a half of unique community and industrial history. Local historians, industrial historians and anyone interested in the history of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula will appreciate this informative volume.

Lankton is also the author of Cradle to Grave: Life, Work and Death at the Lake Superior Copper Mines and Beyond the Boundaries: Life and Landscape at the Lake Superior Copper Mines, 1840-1875.

For additional information, please contact North Wind Books at 906-487-7217.

MTEC SmartZone celebrates grand opening of Michigan Tech Lakeshore Center

By William Frantz*

HOUGHTON -- After receiving a $3 million grant in the fall of 2008, which resulted in a whirlwind of construction activity, the Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation (MTEC) unveiled the grand opening of the newly remodeled Michigan Tech Lakeshore Center on Tuesday, July 13, 2010.

MTEC, a private nonprofit corporation, manages SmartZone, which is an economic development and high-tech business incubator serving Houghton and Hancock. In association with Michigan Tech University, MTEC and SmartZone celebrated the completion of the renovations with several guest speakers, including Glenn Mroz, president of Michigan Tech.

Glenn Mroz, Michigan Tech University president, addresses the audience at the July 13, 2010, grand opening of the newly remodeled Michigan Tech Lakeshore Center. (Photo © William Frantz)

"Clearly lots of people had to come together in order to make this happen," said Mroz. He added that having collaboration between SmartZone and Michigan Tech was vital in order to make the new facility become a reality.

Some of the other speakers included Carlton Crothers, CEO of SmartZone, and Scott MacInnes, Houghton city manager.

"We would not have been able to do this without support of Michigan Tech," MacInnes noted, adding that the entire downtown community would benefit from the new facelift of the building, which formerly housed the Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO).

This display of photos of the Lakeshore Center, including (far right) historic photos from the Michigan Tech Archives, shows the changes in the building over the years. (Photo © William Frantz)

Entering the newly remodeled Lakeshore Center, guests will notice higher ceilings and a more modern architectural design scheme. SmartZone has also added a new conference room, fully equipped with the latest technologies. Employees can also use the new shower facilities.

Sue Haralson, Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District administrator, is pleased to have a whole new office, with large windows, rather than her former tiny cubicle.

In her new office in the Lakeshore Center, Sue Haralson, Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District administrator, stands next to a former cubicle wall, now used to display a map of the Bete Grise South Preserve, which the District helped purchase for public access and environmental protection, and brochures about their other conservation efforts. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

The enhanced Lakeshore Center has potential to create at least 50 new jobs in downtown Houghton. One such company that is already taking advantage of the new facility is Ford Motor Company.

"The building's lighting and overall appeal is much nicer," said Russ Louks, manager of the Ford office. Ford is one of the main anchor tenants of the Lakeshore Center.

MTEC also secured a $500,000 grant, which will support a 20-year lease on the building.

For more information about the grant obtained by MTEC and its associates please check out the Oct. 18, 2008, article, "MTEC SmartZone receives funds for former UPPCO building," on Keweenaw Now.

*Editor's Note: Guest reporter William Frantz is a student in David Clanaugh's journalism class at Michigan Tech this summer. Students in the class are writing articles about the local community for Keweenaw Now.

From Headwaters News: Diverse crowd attends Marquette biomass discussion

By Gabriel Caplett

MARQUETTE -- About thirty people packed a small room at the Peter White Library, in Marquette [on July 8] to listen to filmmaker/composer Jeff Gibbs discuss economic, health and environmental problems associated with "biomass" energy plans.

Gibbs, who used to live in the Upper Peninsula, said he first became involved in biomass issues when he realized "it doesn’t look like the forests I remember when I was a kid. . . nowhere in Michigan have our forests returned" to what they once were.

Gibbs explained to the question-eager audience that while biomass burning produces less mercury and sulfur dioxide than coal, it actually pumps more particulants (harmful to the respiratory system) and nitrogen oxide (a major greenhouse gas) into the air than any other major fuel ... Read the rest of this July 9, 2010, article on Headwaters News.

Pine Mountain Music Festival to present two chamber music ensembles July 17

HOUGHTON -- Pine Mountain Music Festival will present a special evening of chamber music at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 17, at Portage Lake United Church in Houghton. The Festival is hosting two chamber music ensembles: the Belden Piano Quartet, and the violin-cello Duo Piacevole. Tickets are $12, or $10 for students and children and are available at the Rozsa Center Box Office (487-3200) and at the door.

The two ensembles will share the stage for this concert, giving audiences a rare treat of a varied program of chamber music in all its purity, clarity and passion. The program will be announced at the performance, with selections from composers such as Brahms, Kadaly, Mahler, Gliere, Turina, Handel and Faure.

The Belden Piano Quartet. (Photo courtesy Pine Mountain Music Festival)

The Belden Piano Quartet is composed of Matthew Detrick, violin; Clifton Antoine, viola; Maria Crosby, cello; and Hannah Sue Yi, piano. The group is now based in Los Angeles, but got its start in Chicago when three of its members were studying at De Paul University School of Music on Belden Avenue, from which the quartet derives its name. Their aim is to provide high-quality musical experiences in a freer and more spontaneous setting than is usually available to the classical musician of today.

Duo Piacevole. (Photo courtesy Pine Mountain Music Festival)

Duo Piacevole consists of Fangye Sun on the violin and Daniel Tressel on the cello. They formed their duo in 2008 when they met at Michigan State University, where they are currently Doctoral candidates. Fangye Sun is a teacher and a prizewinner at numerous competitions and has performed in China, Japan, Canada and the USA. Daniel Tressel performs in numerous orchestras and is also a composer.

The Resident Chamber Musicians concert is sponsored by Upper Peninsula Power Company.

Visit the Pine Mountain Music Festival Web site for more information.

Pine Mountain Music Festival to host "Operatunitea" July 16; "La Traviata" at Rozsa July 18

HOUGHTON -- You are invited to an "Operatunitea" to be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, July 16, at the Four Seasons Tea Room in Houghton. There will be teas including hot Vienna Opera Ball tea, boysenberry iced tea, or lemonade along with the famous Tea Room favorite sweets, and a chance to meet singers who will appear in the opera La Traviata on Sunday, July 18, at the Rozsa Center.

Admission to the July 16 "Operatunitea" is $20. Call the Pine Mountain Music Festival office at 906-482-1542 or toll-free 888-309-7861. Prior registration is required, since seating is limited.

The event is sponsored by Pine Mountain Music Festival, whose artistic director, Joshua Major, will be on hand, along with Lucy Thrasher, director of the Resident Opera Artist program. They will present a brief preview of the opera, and will introduce the singers. This will be an unusual and personal peek behind the scenes of an opera production while enjoying the delights of a royalty-worthy ambiance.

The opera La Traviata, one of the most popular operas of all time, will be presented July 13 at Kaufman Auditorium in Marquette, July 15 at Norway-Vulcan Fine Arts Center in Norway, Mich., and July 18 at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts in Houghton. The Houghton performance is at 3 p.m. and the others at 7:30 p.m. The opera will be sung in Italian, with English surtitles above the stage, so audience members can easily follow the story. A pre-opera talk, free to ticket-holders, will be given one hour prior to each performance. La Traviata, a story of love gained, lost, and then re-gained too late, is a good opera for first-time opera-goers.

Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Pine Mountain Music Festival presents a season of opera, classical and popular music each June-July in the Dickinson County area, the Marquette area, the Keweenaw Peninsula, and in some smaller communities in the Upper Peninsula. Headquartered in Hancock, Michigan, it is supported by donations, ticket sales and grants. Visit the web at pmmf.org, or call 1-877-746-3999 for tickets or 888-309-7861 for more information.

25th Annual Summer Arts Camp registration open

Kids enjoy a variety of creative activities at the Copper Country Community Arts Center's Summer Arts Camp. (Photo courtesy Community Arts Center)

HANCOCK -- Registration is open for Summer Arts Camp 2010, a fun-filled week of art activities and creative learning held at the Copper Country Community Arts Center for youth entering grades 3 to 6. This year’s theme is "Merry Monster Making."

Students will use their imagination to create fantastic creatures with the help of talented instructors. Week-long sessions run August 2-6 and August 9-13. Both sessions are packed with exciting lessons including drawing, painting, drama, creative writing, tie dye, sculpture, gallery visits and more. This year’s Summer Arts Camp will be led by Amanda Cruickshank. Amanda, a Lake Linden native and former Upward Bound work-study for the CCCAC, is currently a student at Alma College, pursuing her BFA in graphic design and illustration.

The Arts Center is also offering the second annual Advanced Summer Arts Camp for students entering grades 7 to 9. Advanced Summer Camp will take place August 16-20. This camp will focus on "What is Art?" by increasing arts skills with lessons including color theory, composition and design, introduction to different painting mediums, creative writing, drawing, batik and portfolio making. Advanced Camp will be Co-Coordinated by J.R. DeMers, a dual major in Fashion and Illustration at Finlandia University and Pam Kotila, a recent graduate from Finlandia’s Fashion Design program.

Summer Arts Camp, a Copper Country Community Arts Council program, provides youth with the opportunity to experience the joy of creative expression in a safe, supportive environment. Help make a difference in a local child’s life by providing a scholarship to attend Summer Arts Camp.

Camp fees are as follows: 25th annual Summer Arts Camp: $90; Advanced Summer Arts Camp: $120.

Register early! Summer Arts Camp spaces fill up quickly. To obtain more information about the camp or to register your child, please call 482-2333 or email ccarts@coppercountryarts.com. The Copper Country Community Arts Center is dedicated to Fostering an Environment where the Arts and People Grow Together and is located at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock.

Cindy Drake wins 2010 Heart and Hands of the Keweenaw award

By Kate Flynn*

HANCOCK -- The 2010 Heart and Hands of the Keweenaw Award was granted to Cindy Drake of Houghton on Sunday, July 4, during the Horsetail Scramble at Churning Rapids. Drake graciously accepted the award and elected to have the $1000 prize donated to the Keweenaw Land Trust (KLT), which she was instrumental in founding.

Terry Kinzel, second from left, presents the Heart and Hands award to Cindy Drake, 2010 recipient of the award recognizing Copper Country residents who have given of their heart and hands in the service of peace, justice or the environment. Pictured at left is Suzanne Van Dam, Heart and Hands of the Keweenaw Society vice-president, who read tributes to the candidates for the award during the July 4 presentation at Churning Rapids. In the background, at right, are Keren Tischler and Alex Mayer (Suzanne Van Dam's husband). (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

Drake, who currently holds the title of Marsin Program Developer for the Land Trust’s Marsin Nature Retreat Center, was described as a "behind-the-scenes environmental, human rights, and animal activist" by Terry Kinzel, KLT member, who presented the award.

"I believe in the mission of the Land Trust," Drake said of her motivation to donate the prize money to the organization. "We need to preserve this unique area for future generations. It’s a very important cause."

2010 Heart and Hands of the Keweenaw Award winner Cindy Drake is pictured here with her husband, Jeff Flam. They are the parents of three daughters.

The mother of three daughters, Drake also finds time to volunteer for various community organizations, including Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, Tea with Tots and the Keweenaw Co-op Board.

The Heart and Hands Award was founded in 1998 with a small endowment from the estate of Martha and Floyd Kinzel. Its goal is to acknowledge individuals who have given of their heart and hands in the service of peace, justice or the environment in the Copper Country.

"About 15 years ago I saw a front page article about the Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year award," Kinzel explained at the informal award ceremony. "I thought it was neat, and I thought it would be great if there was an award for the things that are important to me -- the environment and peace and justice."

It is a requirement that the prize money must be donated to a local not-for-profit organization.

Other nominees for this year’s award included Kristine Bradof for her work with the Keweenaw GEM Center, the Michigan Tech recycling center, Michigan Tech’s Environmental Sustainability Committee, the League of Women Voters, the City of Houghton Planning Commission and the Copper Country Humane Society; and Nancy and Bill Leonard for their work in Chassell Township infrastructure and beach improvements, recycling and environmental activities sponsored by their Einerlei business in Chassell, work with the Friends of Fashion and involvement in KLT and the Copper Country Humane Society.

Four board members select the winner each year.

"The award itself was absolutely an honor that I was totally surprised by," Drake said. "I’m still kind of reeling about it."

* Guest reporter Kate Flynn is a student at Beloit College. She is doing an internship in journalistic writing for both Keweenaw Now and the L'Anse Sentinel this summer.

Stephanie Trevino to offer Pinhole Camera class July 17

HANCOCK -- Make your own pocket-sized pinhole camera using common household materials and ordinary 35mm film that can be developed at any one-hour lab! Learn the special properties and techniques particular to pinhole cameras from instructor / photographer Stephanie Trevino and be inspired to see the world in a brand new way.

"Windows," a photograph made with a pinhole camera by photographer Stephanie Trevino, who will offer a Pinhole Camera class Saturday, July 17, at the Community Arts Center in Hancock. (Photo courtesy Community Arts Center)

Pinhole photography creates unique, dream-like imagery and is fun and accessible to everyone, regardless of previous experience.

The Pinhole Camera class will be held from Noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 17, at the Copper Country Community Arts Center in Hancock. The class fee of $36 includes materials. Please register for the class by Wednesday, July 14.

Call the Arts Center at 482-2333 to register or to obtain more information. The Copper Country Community Arts Center is located at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock.

Portage Library to feature travelogues July 13, 14

HOUGHTON -- On Tuesday, July 13, and Wednesday, July 14, the Portage Lake District Library will host travelogues featuring two of earth’s hottest and coldest climates. Both presentations will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. They are free and open to the public.

On Tuesday, July 13, Rekha Ambardar will show slides of her recent trip to India. Included will be her visit to Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai and the vast diversity of India’s culture and languages. She will also explore India’s phenomenal economic growth in recent years and its role in the global arena. Artifacts from the country will be displayed and recipes will be shared.

Ambardar is the author of two novels and over ninety stories, articles and essays in print and electronic magazines. She is an assistant professor of business at Finlandia’s International School of Business. Among the courses she teaches are international marketing and global economy.

On Wednesday, July 14, the public is invited to come aboard a Norwegian polar expedition ship with Tom and Mimi Merz for their "Antarctica Voyage November 2009" presentation.

The Merzes boarded the vessel and departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. It took 44 hours to cross the Drake Passage before arriving in Antarctica, where they made six landings. This was not a cruise but a scientific expedition. Scientists aboard the ship explained what they were going to see and experience. The Merzes were in Antarctica during the penguin breeding season and saw thousands of penguins up close.

Everyone is invited to hear about their remarkable experiences and learn more about this place on earth that is full of mystery and awe.

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

Michigamme Gallery exhibits new work by Jens T. Carstensen

MICHIGAMME -- The exhibit "Summer Serenade: New Paintings by Jens T. Carstensen" continues through July 31 at the Michigamme Moonshine Art Gallery, 136 E. Main, Michigamme, Mich. A reception will be held from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 11. Refreshments will be served.

"Glacier Lake," by Jens Carstensen. (Photo courtesy Friederike Roach)

For painter Jens Carstensen, dedication and desire go hand in hand, so it is no surprise that he paints every day. According to Carstensen, the craving to paint is there all the time.

"It’s under my skin," says Carstensen. "Knowing that people really love [my] work provides me a great deal of satisfaction," he adds. "Over the years I have been fortunate enough to meet people who truly respond to my paintings."

Carstensen’s distinctive approach to painting has been featured in many shows around the Midwest, most recently as the inaugural exhibit at the new Mary Anne Beckwith Gallery at Central Michigan University. He will also be the subject of an upcoming article in the Wisconsin State Journal.

For more than a decade, Carstensen has come to regard the Upper Peninsula as an ideal place to paint. For some time, his "second home" in Michigamme has served as a studio where the artist is able to devote a great deal of time to his art. His newest work embraces his focus on scenes around Lake Superior.

Gallery Hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday and Tuesdays by appointment. Call 906-323-6546 for more information.

Chassell Strawberry Festival offers food, music, family activities July 9, 10

By Josh Norsen*

CHASSELL -- The 62nd annual Copper Country Strawberry Festival is underway today, Friday, July 9, in Chassell and offers activities that appeal to all ages: food, parades, live music, wagon rides, arts and crafts -- and, of course, plenty of strawberry shortcake. The festival runs through Saturday afternoon, July 10.

Events kick off Friday morning at Centennial Park with strawberry shortcake, brats, ice cream and other delicious treats all day until 9 p.m. Arts and crafts are being exhibited and sold in Centennial Park, while Holy Trinity Lutheran Church is hosting a quilt show (all day until 6 p.m.) that benefits the Copper Country Humane Society. Other events today, Friday, include the following:

Noon - 6 p.m. -- Chassell Heritage Center open house.

2 p.m. - 5 p.m. -- Horse-drawn wagon rides.

4 p.m. -- Enjoy the fish boil. (It is strongly recommended to purchase $9 tickets in advance).

5 p.m. -- Strawberry judging.

6 p.m. -- Children's Parade begins.

7 p.m. -- Adult and Youth Citizens of the Year are recognized, with the sounds of the strawberry auction in the background.

8 p.m. -- The Strawberry Festival Queen will be selected from a field of 13 candidates and crowned.

9 p.m. -- Dance at the Chassell VFW.**

"One of the more popular events is the queen crowning," said William Leonard, Chassell Lions Club member.

Leonard said the judges base the contest on personality, talent and community service. Queen candidates serve the community during the festival by preparing berries for shortcake and have been doing so since 1949.

Saturday, July 10, will also feature a variety of activities:

6:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. -- Pancake and sausage breakfast in the firehall.

9 a.m. - 4 p.m. --Arts and crafts exhibit and another full complement of food available in the park.

11 a.m. -- Strawberry Parade with cash prizes awarded to the most creative entries. BBQ chicken will be served after the parade by the fire department and first responders.

11 a.m. - 4 p.m. -- Quilt Show at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

Noon - 3 p.m. -- More horse-drawn wagon rides along with live music by The Country Drifters.

Noon - 4 p.m. -- Chassell Heritage Center open house.

1 p.m. - 4 p.m. -- Free 45-minute excursions for children age seven and older on the scientific research vessel Agassiz.

2 p.m. -- Friends of Fashion vintage fashion show; children's games.

3 p.m. -- Open mic at the pavilion.

The Strawberry Festival draws participants from far and near with its activities and entertainment; yet, according to organizers, it accomplishes much more.

"It raises money to do projects and puts money back into the community," said Leonard, who, with his wife, Nancy Leonard, has helped organize the festival for several years. "I think it creates a general good feeling from everyone working together."

*Editor's Note: Guest reporter Josh Norsen is a student in David Clanaugh's summer journalism class at Michigan Tech University. This is the first of several articles students will be contributing to Keweenaw Now during July and August.

** Setting it straight. Keweenaw Now's editor, not the above author, mentioned in this schedule that the band playing Friday night would be Cheap Therapy. This was an error we copied from another Web site. We apologize to Mr. Norsen and to our readers for this error, now removed from the article.

Portage Library to host wellness class on essential oils July 8

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library will host the second monthly program in the natural health and wellness series from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. TONIGHT, Thursday, July 8.

Professional Massage Therapist Angel Janssen will present "Everyday Use of Essential Oils." She will teach participants how to use oil of lavender, oregano, lemon, peppermint, frankincense and tea tree oil to treat many conditions including burns, insect bites, headaches, motion sickness, eczema, fever, rashes, indigestion, sinus problems, acne, stress, stretch marks, scars and more.

Janssen will also show how these essential oils can be used as a sleep aid and mood elevator, how they can work to enhance memory, improve mature skin, strengthen the immune system, assist in cell waste elimination, and be successful as an anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal and antiseptic remedy. Participants will receive handouts that include detailed instructions for using these oils for each remedy as well as specific recipes that treat certain conditions.

Janssen is a licensed and nationally certified massage therapist with practices in Toivola and Hancock. She is also a certified instructor for LaStone Therapy and volunteers her time at Portage Hospital doing massage for people living with cancer.

This natural health and wellness series is held on the second Thursday of each month. Janssen will also teach Strategies for Relaxation and Pain Relief on August 12 and Self-Reflexology to Boost Your Immune System on September 9. All programs begin at 6:30 p.m. They are free, and everyone is welcome. No pre-registration is required. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.

Group to hold discussion of biomass power plants July 8 in Marquette

MARQUETTE -- A meeting to discuss the impending biomass-burning power plants in the Upper Peninsula will be held at 7 p.m. TONIGHT, Thursday, July 8, in the Lion's Room at the Peter White Library in Marquette.

The meeting will include a brief presentation and informal discussion on why biomass is the opposite of green energy, how it's being driven forward by billions in government subsidies and how citizens can stop these plants before they get started.

The meeting is being organized by Save the Wild UP and Jeff Gibbs, who organized a group who put a stop to up to five of these plants being built in Traverse City.

Copper Island Beach Club to offer waltz music July 6, 8

HANCOCK -- The Copper Island Beach Club in Hancock will offer two evenings of waltz music Tuesday, July 6, and Thursday, July 8, featuring Pasi Lautala on accordion Tuesday and the Duo Tupelot (Pasi Lautala and Ana Gawboy on accordion and concertina, respectively) on Thursday.

Ana Gawboy and Pasi Lautala play a duet of Finnish tunes at the July 2009 Aura Jamboree. Click on photo for larger version. (File photo © and courtesy Gowtham. Reprinted with permission.)

Music will be played from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on both nights and, according to Pasi, "hopefully continue the music with guests way after that."

The Copper Island Beach Club is located at 101 Navy St, Hancock, between Tezcuco St. and US-41, near the waterfront and Porvoo Park.

Keweenaw Krayons to offer Altered Box Workshop July 7

MOHAWK -- Keweenaw Krayons continues its Ripple Effect Summer Recycled Art Classes and Open Studio time with an Altered Box Workshop from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. this Wednesday, July 7, at Keweenaw Krayons in Mohawk.*

Artist Rachel Sommer will assist participants in creating personalized boxes in which to keep favorite treasures such as stones, shells, photos, recipes and more.

Cost for the workshop is $5 which includes all supplies including boxes. Participants are also invited to bring their own special box and items to use in decorating it. The class is open to all ages. Youth under six years of age are asked to bring an adult or teen with them. Family discounts, bartering and scholarships are available.

Open Studio time will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 8, so participants can continue working on their boxes or another art project. It is hoped that participants will learn the art medium and be able to teach it to others, including family members and friends, thus continuing the "ripple effect."

To register or to obtain more information on the workshop call 337-4706 or email staff@keweenawkrayons.com.

To see what other great classes and workshops are offered this summer, including Yupo Watercolor, Writing for Youth, and Garden Art visit keweenawkrayons.com.

The Ripple Effect Art Workshops and Open Studio time are funded in part through the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Copper Country Community Arts Council and the Denise Marth Memorial Grant through the Superior Child Abuse Prevention Council.

* Keweenaw Krayons is at 110 Stanton Ave., Mohawk (corner of Stanton and 2nd Street). Click here for a map.

Dance, sing at French-Canadian Soirée July 7 in Chassell

CHASSELL -- Dance, sing and celebrate the opening of the Copper Country Strawberry Festival at a French-Canadian Soirée, or traditional evening dance party, at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, at the Chassell Centennial Park pavilion (3rd Street).

Dance to live music by the Thimbleberry Band -- Libby Meyer on fiddle; Anna Gawboy on concertina; Oren Tikkanen on guitar, banjo and vocals; Coleman Segal on mandolin; Matt Durocher on bass; and David Bezotte on piano, accordion and vocals.

Come early to attend a free workshop at 7 p.m. in the park pavilion. Learn French-Canadian folk dances to add to your enjoyment of the evening (taught by Hester Butler), or learn "response" songs in French to sing along with the band (taught by David Bezotte assisted by Maple Sugar Folk).

Admission is free (donations appreciated). Refreshments by Baxter’s Heavenly Hotdogs will be available for purchase.

The event is sponsored by the Chassell Lions Club and the Chassell Historical Organization. For more information, contact David Bezotte at dbezotte@yahoo.com or 482-4956.

Eagle Rock distress flag hung in observance of Independence Day

MARQUETTE --Stand For the Land reported they received word today, July 3, that an American flag was hung upside-down from a jack pine on Eagle Rock in observance of the Fourth of July and in response to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s recent decision to let Rio Tinto-Kennecott, a foreign corporation, decide for itself that it doesn’t need required permits to take over public land. Read more on Standfortheland.com.
Photo: An American flag is hung upside-down on Eagle Rock, an Ojibwa sacred site, to symbolize distress. Eagle Rock, located on leased public land, is now fenced off by Kennecott Eagle Minerals for mining operations. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo courtesy Stand For the Land)

Editor's Note: See "A hot day at Eagle Rock -- before arrests of campers" for more on the distress flag.

EPA: Federal permit not required for Kennecott wastewater infiltration system

"Ore body 150 feet down" is the title of this photo of the Salmon Trout River, which flows above the site of Kennecott Minerals' proposed sulfide mine near Marquette. The River contains a rare population of Coaster Brook Trout. (File photo © 2007 Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and courtesy www.savethewildup.org. Reprinted with permission.)

By Michele Bourdieu

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A letter from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -- dated July 1, 2010, and addressed to Jonathan Cherry of Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company (a subsidiary of Rio Tinto) -- states that the EPA agrees with Kennecott that a federal Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit is not required under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act for a Treated Wastewater Infiltration System (TWIS) to be constructed at the Kennecott Eagle Mine, a sulfide mine for nickel and copper in Marquette County, Michigan, located only 10 miles from Lake Superior.

The letter states, in part, as follows: "We have reviewed the revised plans for construction of the TWIS and agree that a permit is not required under the federal UIC program for the infiltration system as currently designed. Based upon our review of the modified TWIS design, the lateral perforated piping that constitutes the fluid distribution system is above ground and is thus not a subsurface system. If there are further changes to the design of this unit, we will have to reconsider whether federal UIC requirements apply. ..."

Keepers of the Water, a local group opposed to Kennecott's sulfide mine, issued a press release today, July 2, noting the decision comes three months after Rio Tinto unilaterally announced that it did not need to obtain the federal permit, after making minor adjustments to its plan to dispose of roughly 180 million gallons of treated wastewater every year on the Yellow Dog Plains, an area that houses some of the most sensitive drinking water aquifers in the continental United States.

"Regardless of the EPA’s recent decision, for over two months Rio Tinto engaged in illegal activity that violated the terms of their land lease with the State of Michigan and state law regulating sulfide mining," said Teresa Bertossi, an organizer with Keepers of the Water. "Without legal authority to begin construction work, Rio Tinto bulldozed the entire mine site around Eagle Rock, fenced off public land and squandered taxpayer resources to get three people arrested for being on that public land; Rio Tinto’s lease with the state should have been revoked in April, when they first started bulldozing."

Eagle Rock, a sacred site to the Ojibwa people, located on State land leased by Kennecott for its sulfide mine, was fenced off in mid-June 2010, after mining opponents camping and praying here were arrested for trespassing. (File photo courtesy Stand for the Land)

In response to the EPA letter, Kennecott issued a July 1 statement on its Web site, saying, "Today’s determination by EPA that a federal permit -- separate from a comparable state permit issued previously to Kennecott -- is not required of Kennecott for its system to return clean, safe water from mine operations back to the environment provides clarification important for the community as mine facility construction proceeds."

In its letter to Kennecott, the EPA affirms its authority to address possible contamination from the TWIS that may endanger underground drinking water sources, regardless of design or permits.

"We understand that discharges from the TWIS are subject to a State permit that includes monitoring and response requirements," the EPA letter says. "We will continue to coordinate with the State to determine whether any federal response action with respect to the TWIS is necessary."

The EPA letter adds an acknowledgement of "significant community and tribal interests involved in the Kennecott Eagle Minerals Project," and encourages Kennecott to continue dialogue with the local community and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC).

The author of the letter, Peter S. Silva, EPA assistant administrator for Water, concludes, "It is EPA's expectation that Kennecott will follow through on efforts to consider all viewpoints, and consider any appropriate environmentally beneficial changes to the Project."*

Kennecott's statement adds, "Kennecott takes seriously our obligation to comply with all laws and regulations pertaining to our activities, and we understand that the community must have confidence that they are being properly applied and strictly followed."*

Opponents of the mine insist, however, that Kennecott has already broken the law and that the Eagle Project threatens the environment.

"Michigan regulators apparently felt comfortable with letting Rio Tinto decide, on its own, what laws it needs to follow," said Bertossi. "Rio Tinto and Michigan regulators need to be held accountable in federal court for willfully breaking the law."

In addition, a lawsuit against Kennecott continues, according to National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Attorney Michelle Halley.

Joining NWF in the suit are the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and the Huron Mountain Club -- all of whom claim the project does not meet legal requirements for protecting the environment.

Opponents of the mine also fear the mine's ceiling could collapse beneath the Salmon Trout River, a Lake Superior tributary home to the rare coaster brook trout. Serious pollution of this and other waterways in the region could occur from Acid Mine Drainage (AMD).

When excavated, if sulfide ore or the tailings piles are exposed to water and air a chemical reaction can create sulfuric acid. Precipitation can cause sulfuric acid to drain from the mine site as AMD, which can enter water resources and thereby harm people, plants, animals and metal and concrete structures. AMD also dissolves heavy metals (lead, zinc, copper, and mercury), allowing them to enter groundwater and surface water.

There has never been a metallic sulfide mine that has not polluted water resources where water was present.*

*Editor's Notes:
The full text of the EPA letter can be found on Stand for the Land.

More information on Acid Mine Drainage can be found on Savethewildup.org.

Kennecott's statement in response to the EPA letter can be found on their Web site.

Ed Gray Gallery to host exhibit by two artists July 2 - Aug. 4; Calumet Art Center to offer First Friday tours

CALUMET -- The Ed Gray Gallery will present a two-person exhibit for July 2 - Aug. 4, 2010: Watermedia / Collage by Fredi Taddeucci and Wood Sculpture by Mark Mitchell.

An Opening Reception will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. TONIGHT, Friday, July 2. Refreshments will be served. The Gallery is at 109 Fifth Street, Calumet.

Also on this First Friday, the Calumet Art Center will offer refreshments, self guided tours and demonstrations. The Calumet Art Center is at 57055 Fifth Street, Calumet.

Historic Christ Episcopal Church open First Fridays

Christ Episcopal Church, built in 1893, is a historic church in Calumet Michigan. It will be open for tours on First Fridays from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The church is located at 57031 Fifth Street. Take US 41 to Red Jacket Road, turn west and go approximately 2 1/2 blocks. Turn left at the Heritage Art Center and Christ Church is the brown Church next door to the Calumet Art Center. Refreshments will be available.

Visit the Calumet Art Center Web site for information on upcoming art classes and on the Art Immersion Camp -- Youth Camp. Youth camp workshops will be held at the Center from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. beginning Tuesday, July 5, and will continue every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for six weeks.

Stupak statement on EPA's Kennecott decision

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision Thursday that a federal underground injection control (UIC) permit is not required for Kennecott Minerals Company to move forward with a proposed sulfide mine in Marquette County, U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) issued the following statement:

"I appreciate the prompt action by the EPA in determining whether a federal permit is needed for the Kennecott project, as well as the agency’s timely decision on this matter.

Although EPA has determined a federal permit is not necessary, I encourage Kennecott to continue working to address the concerns of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and other organizations on this project.

With it now clear that the federal government does not have jurisdiction in permitting the mine, it is imperative that the state of Michigan re-evaluate its sulfide mining law to ensure every precaution is being taken to ensure sulfide mining is done safely in Michigan.

We are seeing today in the Gulf of Mexico why it is so important that we have effective enforcement of environmental and safety regulations and adequate financial protections in place to ensure taxpayers are not responsible for cleaning up any pollution that does occur. As plans for this sulfide mine move forward it is my hope that Kennecott and the state of Michigan will heed these lessons and take every precaution possible to keep our workers safe and protect our precious natural resources."

Bergonzi Quartet, Suzuki members to present children's concert July 2 in Portage Library

HOUGHTON -- The Bergonzi String Quartet of the Pine Mountain Music Festival will perform Pamela McConnell's version of Peter and the Wolf in a children's concert at 1 p.m. TODAY, Friday, July 2, at the Portage Lake District Library.

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

Eva Nemiroff of Houghton, a Suzuki violin student, practices in the Portage Lake District Library during the June 12 opening of the library's summer reading program. Suzuki students and instructors will perform in the library following a children's concert by the Bergonzi String Quartet July 2. Behind Eva is a poster display of Copper Country Suzuki Association activities. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Following the performance, students and instructors from the Copper Country Suzuki Association will present a short performance in conjunction with the Bergonzi Quartet's children's concert. Afterwards, children will be able to take part in an instrument "petting zoo" and learn about the stringed instruments and try them out.

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

For more information, please call the library at 482-4570.

The Bergonzi String Quartet will also perform at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Friday, July 2, at the Rozsa Center. Visit pmmf.org for more information on the Pine Mountain Music Festival.

Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival attracts large biking community

By Kate Flynn

HANCOCK --The annual Portage Health Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival was held on Saturday, June 19, under partly cloudy skies. About 300 bikers started off at the Franklin Square Inn in Houghton around 10 a.m., crossed the Portage Lift Bridge and completed either a 16- or 32-mile cross-country race on the the Maasto Hiihto/ Churning Rapids trail system in Hancock.

Participants in the 2010 Portage Health Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival whiz past spectators after crossing the Portage Lift Bridge from Houghton to Hancock. The Chain Drive Festival is held annually in conjunction with Bridge Fest -- this year celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Lift Bridge. (Photos © 2010 Kate Flynn)

Terry Kinzel, a local biker and member of the Red Jacket Racing team, participated in the race and also helped with some of the cleanup afterwards. He openly admits that he is not very competitive, but still enjoys taking advantage of what the event has to offer.

"It was a wonderful day," he said. "It’s a very neat event."

Kinzel also explained that the event relies heavily on human power to make it a success. While the event’s organizers, Christine Young and Lori Hausworth, did the majority of the preparation work, Kinzel’s cycling team also contributed volunteers.

"It requires scores of volunteers," he added. "Red Jacket always helps out. We go over all the trails, flags and markings and help with the cleanup."

The overall first-place winner of the 32-mile race was 32-year-old Brian Matter of Sheboygan, Wis. Pete Karinen, 14, of Painesdale, Mich., received first place in the 16-mile race. Sara Kylander-Johnson, 38, of Duluth, Minn.,won first place in the 32-mile Women’s Expert division, while Kate McCloud won first in the 32-mile Women’s Age Group division. Parker McColl, age 15, and his father, Doug McColl, 55, of Oconomowoc, Wis., won first place in the 16 and Under Father-and-Youth Team 16-mile division, while Adam Tripp, 28, of Hudson, Wis. and his father, Russ Tripp, 57, of Spooner, Wis., won first place in the 17 and Over Father-and-Youth Team 16-mile division.*

The Junior Chain Drive was held Saturday afternoon, June 19, at the Portage Health campus, using a single-track trail in a wooded area east of the hospital. This event includes timed races for youth ages 8-13 and non-timed races for those age 7 and under.

The 7-and-under age group lines up for the Junior Chain Drive. They completed a 0.5 mile race.

The Chain Drive Festival is held traditionally on Father's Day weekend, in conjunction with Bridge Fest activities.

"It’s a pretty big deal," Kinzel said of the festival. "There’s a pretty active biking community in the area, and almost everybody that can rides it."

*For complete results of the Chain Drive races, visit Keweenawtrails.com.

Editor's Note: Guest reporter Kate Flynn is a student at Beloit College. She is doing an internship in journalistic writing for Keweenaw Now and for the L'Anse Sentinel this summer.

Create recycled art at Keweenaw Krayons June 30, July 1

MOHAWK -- Kids.... (and parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles) grab your empty gallon water jugs if you have some and come to Keweenaw Krayons in Mohawk from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 30, and Thursday, July 1, and learn how to make a GARDEN SCARECROW. (Some water jugs will be available at Keweenaw Krayons for those who need them.)

Also try your hand at other recycled art projects with Margaret Gerhard, Wisconsin's Queen of Recycled Art. Gerhard, a teacher and lifetime recycler, received the 2007 Helfenstein (Helping Stone) Soup Council Environmental Hero Award.*

FREE demos ... and a chance to work on Keweenaw Krayons' Garden Scarecrow. Bring $5 if you want to make a scarecrow for your own garden.

Bartering, Scholarships and Family Discounts available. Pre-registration appreciated! Call 337-4706 or email staff@keweenawkrayons.com.

Check out the summer schedule at www.keweenawkrayons.com.

This program is funded in part through the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Copper Country Community Arts Council and the Denise Marth Memorial Grant through the Superior Child Abuse Prevention Council.

* Click here to read about Margaret Gerhard's award and her accomplishments for saving the planet.

HANCOCK---State Senate Candidate Mike Lahti announced on Tuesday, June 29, that the Michigan AFL-CIO has endorsed him for the 38th State Senate seat. The Michigan State AFL-CIO represents over 600,000 members of 59 different worker groups across Michigan.

"My mother was a school teacher and my father was a mechanic and heavy equipment sales person, so I understand how hard middle class families work to make ends meet and provide a good life for their children," said Lahti. "I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Michigan AFL-CIO, and I will continue to work hard to protect our workers and jobs while also fighting to create new jobs and help growing industries expand in the Upper Peninsula."

The AFL-CIO was formed in 1955 and now represents over 11 million members across the country. The organization works to improve the lives of working families and bring economic and social justice to our communities. Through the Michigan AFL-CIO, workers have a voice in their workplace, in their government and in the larger global economy.

"Mike Lahti has a strong record of service to Michigan citizens in the Upper Peninsula and is our choice to be the next State Senator for the 38th District," said Michigan AFL-CIO President Mark Gaffney. "All unions agree, Mike understands what it means to work hard, and he is the best person to continue the fight for working families. He knows how to make sure they have good jobs, fair wages, affordable health care, and a secure retirement."

Mike Lahti is a lifelong resident of Hancock and currently serves in the Michigan House of Representatives representing the 110th House District, which covers the Western Upper Peninsula. As a leader, a business owner and a jobs-provider, he works daily on issues that affect workers and their families. Mike Lahti has been a small business owner and job creator for more than 40 years and continues to invest in our community. Mike has rehabilitated properties and opened businesses in Hancock, and he still owns and operates the State Farm Insurance Agency that he first started in 1968.

For more information on Mike Lahti’s State Senate Campaign visit his Web site at http://www.lahtiforsenate.com.

Sen. Levin to discuss Afghanistan on Face the Nation June 27

WASHINGTON, D. C. -- Tomorrow, Sunday, June 27, 2010, Michigan Senator Carl Levin will appear on CBS's Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

Face the Nation airs at different times on different stations, so check your local listings for the time and channel in your area.

You can click here after the broadcast to watch clips and full episodes on the Face the Nation Web site.

Editorial from Rep. Stupak: Gulf spill holds lessons for protecting Michigan waters, Great Lakes from drilling, sulfide mining

By U. S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee)

WASHINGTON, D. C. -- It is difficult to think of northern Michigan without also thinking about the Great Lakes. These waters are vital to our economy and are relied upon by 45 million people for drinking water, fishing, recreation, agriculture, industry and shipping.

That is why, in 2005, I fought to pass a federal ban on oil and gas drilling in and under our Great Lakes. As we are witnessing right now in the Gulf of Mexico, oil spills know no boundaries. Without a federal policy, all of the Great Lakes states could have different laws on drilling in our shared waters, putting us all at risk. As the tragedy in the Gulf unfolds, the importance of this ban on drilling in the Great Lakes takes on a greater significance.

In my investigations as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, we have uncovered thousands of pages of documents showing BP was willing to cut corners on safety in order to save time and money -- this despite the fact that BP’s own engineers described the well as a "nightmare well."

This mismanagement has continued in BP’s response to contain the leak and clean up the spilled oil. The latest report estimates 35,000 to 65,000 barrels of oil are leaking into the Gulf daily -- up to 12 times more than BP’s original estimate of 5,000 barrels a day. Even BP admits the earliest the spill will be stopped is August when drilling of relief wells is completed. In the meantime oil continues to flow, contaminating marshlands and beaches and killing the fish and seafood that much of the Gulf’s economy depends on.

While drilling for oil and gas is banned in the Great Lakes, other actions still threaten our waters. Mining has been done safely to the benefit of the Upper Peninsula economy for generations, but the sulfide mine proposed in Marquette County by the Kennecott Minerals Company raises concerns that have yet to be adequately addressed.

Both BP and Kennecott’s parent company, London-based Rio Tinto, have earned reputations for their willingness to cut corners on safety and environmental safeguards to improve their bottom lines.

BP reached an agreement with the President to set up an independent escrow fund to ensure the residents of the Gulf receive the claims they deserve in a timely manner. I remain concerned that Kennecott’s $17 million assurance bond does not provide nearly enough funding to address potential contamination that may continue years after Kennecott leaves the U.P. Like BP, Kennecott -- not the taxpayers -- should be responsible for the cost of cleaning up any pollution they create.

Unfortunately Michigan’s mining laws fall short of holding Kennecott accountable. State permits were approved without requiring an Environmental Impact Statement and without independent baseline hydrological and geological studies. Because there is no evidence of the environment’s condition before Kennecott starts mining, there is no way to prove what damage they cause.

We should heed the lessons we have learned from the Gulf spill. Weak state regulations in place for sulfide mining are worthless without proper enforcement. Given Michigan’s continuing budget problems, it seems unlikely the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment will have adequate resources to ensure Kennecott is complying with safety and environmental standards. Kennecott should be responsible for providing the state with the funding needed for these inspectors.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will announce by the end of the month whether federal permits are necessary for the mine to move forward. Kennecott deserves a timely answer from the EPA just as the people of Michigan deserve stronger safeguards and greater financial assurances from Kennecott.

Oil companies have been engaged in deepwater drilling for 30 years, yet they have been completely unprepared to handle a worst-case scenario. Sulfide mining has never been done -- much less done safely -- in our region. I have little confidence that the proper precautions and contingency plans are in place to prevent contamination of our streams, rivers and the Great Lakes. The financial protections put in place for taxpayers are symbolic at best. As we have seen in the Gulf spill, if we wait until a problem occurs to find a solution it is already too late.

Keweenaw Krayons to sponsor Recycled Art workshop June 23-24

MOHAWK -- The second of several summer workshops in the Keweenaw Krayons Ripple Effect Recycled Art Program will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, and Thursday, June 24, at Keweenaw Krayons Art Center in Mohawk.

On Wednesday Artist Rachel Sommer will lead participants in the making of a mosaic art piece. On Thursday participants can attend Open Studio time to continue working on their projects with Rachel’s assistance. It is hoped that participants will learn the art medium and then teach it to others, thus creating a Ripple Effect.

Cost for the class, which includes supplies to make one mosaic art piece is $5. Participants can create a mosaic using one of Keweenaw Krayons' flower pots or recycled wood frames and/or garden stepping stones, or they are welcome to bring something small from home to use as a base. Ceramic, glass or wood are acceptable materials as long as the piece is not flexible. (No metal or plastic). Wood should be water-proofed prior to class (commercial sealer or 4 parts water to 1 part white glue, 4 coats).

Some possible ideas of items to bring are: candle holders, picture frame, vase, stepping stone, mirror frame, light fixture, wood box, soap dish, tissue box, cup, etc.

All ages are welcome, but youth younger than six are asked to bring an adult or older teen along. Participants are invited to bring special pieces to such as shells, stones, beach glass, etc., to add to their art piece. As always family discounts, bartering and scholarships are available.

In order to have enough supplies pre-registration is required. Call 337-4706 or email staff@keweenawkrayons.com.

The summer workshops are sponsored in part by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Copper Country Community Arts Council and the Denise Marth Memorial Grant through the Superior Child Abuse Prevention Council. For more information and a complete list of summer classes, check out www.keweenawkrayons.com.

Finlandia / Suomi to host All-School Reunion June 25-27

HANCOCK -- Finlandia University invites all Finlandia and Suomi College alumni to an all-class reunion this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 25 to 27.

Hosted by the university’s International Alumni Board and the Office of Alumni Relations, the three-day reunion includes a packed schedule of social gatherings, meals, presentations and many other activities.

Visit www.finlandia.edu, or contact Cheryl Ries, Finlandia director of alumni relations, at 906-487-7317, to obtain a complete schedule of events and to register.

Water ceremony in Marquette honors Lake Superior, Eagle Rock, all water, Mother Earth

From Stand for the Land

MARQUETTE -- A water ceremony was held on June 19 in observance of National Sacred Places Prayer Day and in honor of Eagle Rock and Lake Superior. The ceremony was held at sunrise (6 a.m.) at Little Presque Isle Point, Marquette, on the shores of Lake Superior to pray for threatened sacred places and to honor Lake Superior and all water and Mother Earth. The ceremony was open to the public and over 40 people were in attendance.

Participants in the June 19 National Sacred Places Prayer Day at Little Presque Isle Point, Marquette, prepare for the water ceremony. (Photo courtesy Stand for the Land)

According to ceremony leader Cheryl Boyd, "The water is very important to us. We can’t live without it. It’s the women’s responsibility to pray for the water, to ask the creator to heal the water. We continue to say prayers for the Gulf waters too and for the animals and life there as well."

Nearly three weeks ago, May 27, heavily armed state and local police officers raided an Eagle Rock encampment arresting two KBIC (Keweenaw Bay Indian Community) members.

"Eagle Rock, a sacred place to Anishinaabe people, is currently threatened as the proposed mine portal for the Rio Tinto/Kennecott Eagle Mine on the Yellow Dog Plains. Our fresh groundwater, waterways and Lake Superior are threatened by the Eagle Mine and increasing sulfide and uranium mining interests throughout the Great Lakes region," said KBIC member Jessica Koski.

Koski is also the co-founder of the new group Oshkinawe-Ogichidaag Akiing, "New Warriors for the Earth," who, along with Stand for the Land, helped to organize the ceremony.

Observances and ceremonies are being held across the country from June 18 through June 23 to mark the 2010 National Days of Prayer to Protect Native American Sacred Places.... Read more on Stand for the Land.

Celebrate Summer Solstice June 21 with music, merriment at Copper Island Beach Club

From Oren Tikkanen*

HANCOCK -- Professor Doctor Libby Meyer -- fiddler, farmer and bon vivant -- has expressed a wish that summer solstice celebrants should gather at the Copper Island Beach Club on the waterfront in Hancock TONIGHT, Monday, June 21, for communal merriment, music-making and gentle mayhem.

The Thimbleberry Band will be there, and the hope is that you will show up with your acoustic instruments, voices, dancing feet and good attitudes. Plan on being there about 7:30 p.m.

Who knows how it may develop? Perhaps as a song-circle with each taking a turn at presenting or leading a tune or song. Perhaps some unruly elements will break away and start one or more jams outside. Maybe we'll spill over into Porvoo Park for exuberant celebration!

The Beach Club staff will, of course, stand ready to dish up your favorite snacks and beverages.

It's the longest day of the year. It's the first day of SUMMER!

Now you know as much as I do. Come on over and see how it turns out...

*This announcement courtesy Local Music.

Eagle Rock community garden survives

Eagle Rock is now gated by Kennecott Eagle Minerals Co. (Photos courtesy Stand for the Land)

From Stand for the Land, by Rich and Catherine

EAGLE ROCK -- A friend and I traveled to Eagle Rock Sunday. I felt disheartened, approaching the road we would normally take to enter the encampment.

Turning onto the access off the Triple A, we saw a pile of wood dumped in the center of the road. "Hey, it’s our firewood!" I said. Stopping and exiting the car, we noticed two security guards in their vehicle on the opposite side of the fence. I greeted them politely. I have no quarrel with them.

Kennecott left this wood from Eagle Rock campers' woodpile in the middle of the access road that is now gated. Two Native Americans were arrested for "trespassing" on May 27 and others ordered to leave.

Passing the wood pile, a few of the pieces looked familiar. Wood that was cut for the cook stove, large chunks of ash and spruce and the poles that were cut for the Long House lay in a messy heap. This pile was the remains of the wood donated by supporters of the cause.

I approached the fence and saw a flower in full bloom at the base. Looking from side to side I noticed several others. A slight smile formed. Petunias ...

Replanted community garden, now outside Kennecott's fence.

Even with all the heavy equipment and man power moving back and forth erecting the final portion of fence, the garden survives just like the movement. With a little tender loving care, it will flourish and we will reap a harvest come autumn ...

Read more of this article by Rich and Catherine and see more photos on Stand for the Land ...

UPDATED: Citizen rallies to be held June 15 in Ishpeming, Marquette

MARQUETTE -- Concerned citizens will hold two rallies on Tuesday, June 15 -- one in Ishpeming and one in Marquette -- in support of sulfide mine opponents arrested for alleged "trespassing" near and on Eagle Rock.

IMPORTANT UPDATE -- TIME CHANGE:

Ishpeming -- A rally will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for Charlotte Loonsfoot and Chris Chosa’s pre-trial conference on the Ishpeming Courthouse steps. CARPOOLING from Marquette will depart at 8 a.m. from the Save the Wild UP (SWUP) office, 413 N. Third St. Please park in the rear parking lot or on Michigan or Arch side streets. The corrected times for their court meeting(s) are 9 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.

Marquette -- After the Ishpeming rally, participants will return to Marquette (SWUP office) and will walk down Third St. to the courthouse. The rally will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the Marquette County Courthouse steps in support of Cynthia Pryor.

Pryor’s jury trial is set for 8 a.m. in District Court Room 215 with Judge Roger Kangas presiding if anyone is interested in attending.

Second UPDATE: Jury selection for Pryor's trial is at 8:30. The small courtroom may be crowded with 35 plus possible jurors; however after selection of the jurors the room should clear out for general public seating and the hearing to follow. Time frame is unknown. The public will not be allowed in for jury selection. The court does not want people coming and going at random points during the trial; people will be allowed to enter and exit courtroom during recesses.