Great Bear Chase photos: some winners

Skiers set off for the start of the 2008 Great Bear Chase races on Sunday, March 9, in Calumet. The classic and freestyle races combined attracted 472 skiers. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo © 2008 Adam Johnson of Brockit.com. Reprinted with permission.)

CALUMET -- Skiing conditions were excellent and the turnout was great for the 28th Annual River Valley State Bank Great Bear Chase cross-country skiing races Sunday, Mar. 9, 2008, at Swedetown Trails in Calumet. The 26-km Classic and 26- and 50-km Freestyle races combined attracted 472 skiers -- mostly from Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois.

Brittany Drengler, 17, of Wausau, Wis., is all smiles after her first-place win in the women's 26-km Classic race. Her time was 01:29:14.6. The finish of the race was again on Fifth Street in downtown Calumet. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

"Conditions were fantastic," said race coordinator Dave Mayo-Keily. "Swedetown groomers: Dave T-11, Steve R and Pat S did a wonderful job of creating a perfect course. Nothing but rave reviews from skiers."

Mayo-Keily also expressed appreciation for the many volunteers who made the race a success.

"Overall the event was a huge success," he said. "Volunteers are a big reason for that. We utilized probably over 100 volunteers to put on the race, and without them it simply wouldn’t happen."

Anders Osthus, 25, of Duluth, Minn., heads for a number-one finish in the men's classic 26-km Classic race. His time was 01:11:07.4. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Jared Cregg, 19, of Houghton, finishes second in the men's 26-km Classic. His time was 01:14:00.2. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Justin Young, 20, right, of Green Bay, Wis., takes third place in the men's 26-km Classic, followed very closely by Scott Nesvold, 40, of Washburn, Wis., who was fourth in the race. The time recorded for both was 01:16:09.8. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Another Copper Country native son, Ryan Tervo, 20, of Chassell, glides in for a fifth-place finish in the men's 26-km Classic. His time was 01:18:15.8. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Daniel Putman, 17, of Green Bay, one of the youngest winners, heads for a sixth place in the 26-km men's Classic race. Putman's time was 01:19:43.0. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Answea Lundberg, 18, of Roseville, Minn., takes seventh place in the 26-km men's Classic with a time of 01:20:05.6. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Jim Mullen, 51, right, of Hazelhurst, Wis., heads for ninth place in the 26-km men's Classic, with a time of 01:21:3.6. Behind him, but a few seconds faster is Jukka Lyly-yrjanainen, 42, of Elk Grove Village, Il, who finished eighth with a time of 01:20:56.8. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

At the Finish on Calumet's historic Fifth Street, the atmosphere is festive. Roberta Kozloski, left, celebrates the finish with Christine Demerath. Both from Green Bay, they skied in the 26-km Freestyle race. Demerath placed fourth in her age group, and Kozloski fifth. Both had a recorded time of 01:46:30.2. In the background is the Keweenaw Heritage Center (former St. Anne's Church) where skiers were served refreshments. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Frank Fiala, owner of the newly opened Fifth and Elm Coffee House, welcomed skiers and spectators needing good, hot coffee, espresso drinks or a snack during and after the race. Later that day, Fiala volunteered to help with the traditional skiers' spaghetti dinner. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)


The Fifth and Elm Coffee House (at the corner of Fifth and Elm streets, of course) is located just around the corner from the Calumet Theatre. Owner Frank Fiala recently restored a former gas station building to create the new café. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

For complete results of the Bear Chase race visit the Bear Chase Web site.

Katie Alvord accepts journalism award for climate change articles on Keweenaw Now

HOUGHTON -- Freelance journalist Katie Alvord of Houghton recently accepted her $3000 Award for Excellence in Online Reporting for her series of articles on climate change in the Lake Superior basin, which appeared on Keweenaw Now last summer.

Katie Alvord accepts her Award for Excellence in Online Reporting at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts during the Annual Conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Alvord received the $3000 cash award from AAAS for a series of articles on climate change in the Lake Superior Basin, published on Keweenaw Now. Also pictured is Peter Spotts of the Christian Science Monitor, MC for the awards ceremony. (Photo © Michael J. Colella. Colellaphoto.com for AAAS.)

The awards were presented at this year's American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Journalism Awards ceremony held on Feb. 15, 2008, at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The Museum is a few blocks from the convention center where the AAAS Annual Conference was headquartered. Nine to ten thousand writers and scientists attended the conference.

"It's a real boost to get this kind of recognition," Alvord said. "I'm very grateful to AAAS and to the many researchers who generously shared their time and information as I was writing this series."

Against a backdrop of Renaissance art at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Katie Alvord gives an acceptance speech to a crowd of writers and scientists at this year's American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Journalism Awards ceremony on Feb. 15, 2008. (Photo © Michael J. Colella. Colellaphoto.com for AAAS.)

The awards were first announced last November. As the Keweenaw Now blog reported at that time, the press release for the awards mentioned Keweenaw Now as the publisher of Alvord's three articles, stating, "In a solid example of localized science reporting for a community-based Web site, freelance writer Alvord described the potential local impacts of global warming on a local Michigan community."*

The three articles, illustrated by photos, can still be found on the archived Keweenaw Now site.

In the first article, "Lake Superior warming fast: Researchers surprised by strong trends," published on May 7, 2007, and updated on July 10 and July 15, 2007, Alvord quoted researchers from the University of Minnesota at Duluth on the rapid rise in Lake Superior's average summer surface temperature. Their data showed not only that the lake has become warmer, windier and less icy since 1980, but also that its surface waters have warmed twice as fast as the region’s air. The article also discusses the effects of the lake's declining ice on the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose study, the lower lake levels reported at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and studies of Lake Superior's CO2 emissions by scientists at Michigan Tech University.

In the second article, "Lake Superior Basin feeling heat: Part 2," published June 3, 2007, and Updated July 15, 2007, Alvord reports scientific findings concerning the effects of warming temperatures on the wolf and moose of Isle Royale, various small mammals found in the Upper Peninsula, migrating birds and even microscopic plankton.

Finally, in "Businesses feel the heat: Lake Superior warms up, part 3," published on June 30, 2007, and updated July 15, 2007, Alvord cites the effects of warmer winters on Keweenaw tourism and sports -- from snowmobiling to skiing to mountain biking. She interviewed some local bikers who, because of warm temperatures and lack of snow, chose mountain biking as an alternative to snowshoeing in Copper Harbor on New Year's Day, 2007. Alvord also mentions some efforts of local residents to invest in alternative energies such as wind, solar and fuel cells for home and business.

*Editor's Note: Click on the above links to read each of Katie Alvord's prize-winning articles on Keweenaw Now. See also our Nov. 15, 2007, article, "Local Writer wins journalism award."

Woodbeck reports news of Junior Olympics on new blog

Dean Woodbeck shares this photo of the Portage Glacier, about an hour south of Anchorage, Alaska, where he is attending the Junior Olympics cross-country ski competition. (Photo © Dean Woodbeck. Reprinted with permission from his blog, Keweenaw Tales.)

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA -- Dean Woodbeck of Keweenawtrails.com has a new blog, Keweenaw Tales, with day-by-day reports from the Junior Olympics cross-country ski competition taking place this week at Kincaid Park in Anchorage, Alaska.

Woodbeck, his wife Jan Woodbeck and Teresa Shoup are the parental contingency accompanying five skiers from the Copper Country Ski Tigers race team who have qualified -- Kai Sharp, Jay Woodbeck, Olivia Orr, Madelaine Shoup and Ruth Oppliger -- as well as Ski Tigers alumnus Mariah Featherly.

Dean reports on his blog that the races are expected to go as scheduled despite rather warm temperatures. Sunday's high was in the 40s and the next few days may be in the mid-30s. Monday was sprint day, the first day of the competition, held in spite temperatures as high as 40 in the afternoon.

Referring to Monday's competition, Dean notes, "Among our locals, Christina Mishica came closest to moving to the next round. She placed 27th in qualifying among the OJs and 24 moved on to the quarterfinals."

Since Tuesday was a training day, the three parents took advantage of free time to ski at the Portage Glacier. Read the account of this and see more of Dean's photos on his blog, http://keweenawtrails.blogspot.com/

See also Dean Woodbeck's reports of the race on crosscountryskier.com.

Finlandia to present "Two By Two" Mar. 14, 15, 16

HANCOCK -- Finlandia University will present a production of the hit Broadway musical Two By Two Mar. 14, 15 and 16 at the Finnish American Heritage Center, Hancock.

Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. A Sunday matinee performance begins at 3 p.m.

Co-directed by Dan Maki and Mike Aubin, the light-hearted musical tells the story of Noah’s preparation for the Great Flood and its aftermath.

"Two By Two is a lively, humorous musical that everyone will enjoy," Maki says. "But while the show is generally lighthearted, it has somber moments, too. Noah’s family has its dysfunctional aspects, and there is a good bit of generational conflict."

The story of Noah, his family, and the ark full of animals is well known. In the musical, Maki says, the characters are very human and God is presented as an entity whose existence is both a comfort and a mystery to those He created.

Maki, local thespian and Finlandia professor, plays Noah. Aubin, a local school teacher and longtime Calumet Players actor and director, plays Noah's son Japheth.

Finlandia students Samantha Horst, Emily Pierce, Amanda Moyer, and Lauren Logue play, respectively, the parts of Noah’s wife, Esther, Noah’s daughters-in-law Leah and Rachel and Goldie the priestess.

Finlandia student David Petretti-Watring plays Shem, Noah’s eldest son, and Calumet Player Pete Manderfield plays Noah’s son, Ham. Local musician and Finlandia associate music professor Melvin Kangas is the music director.

The liner notes from the play’s soundtrack introduce the story line as follows: "Start by imagining Noah as your average 600-year-old, working-class guy from the Bronx, somehow transported back to the days of Genesis. He has a loving wife, three sons, two daughters-in-law, and a chicken farm. One day, God plays a visit, informs him that the world is going to be destroyed and gives him the job of saving two of every living species, along with his own family. Noah reacts as many of us would with the song, 'Why Me?'"

Two By Two is based on a book by Peter Stone, with lyrics by Martin Charnin and music by Richard Rogers. It is a musical version of a 1954 play, The Flowering Peach, by Clifford Odets.

Tickets are $8 per person. They will be available at the door prior to each performance, or they can be reserved in advance. To obtain additional information and to reserve tickets, contact Lynne Sweeney at 906-487-7204.

Editor's Note: This press release courtesy Karen Johnson, Finlandia University.

International Women's Day, March 8, marked by demonstrations

PARIS -- From Paris to Afghanistan, International Women's Day, March 8, 2008, is being marked by demonstrations demanding women's rights and equality and protesting violence against women worldwide, according to an article in Yahoo News.

In France a demonstration called attention to Ingrid Betancourt, the French-Colombian hostage of the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), who was captured in February 2002 as she campaigned for the Colombian presidency. Her cause is in the news lately because of the recent summit (the Rio Group) which brought together the Presidents of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela to discuss Colombia's recent attack on the FARC within Ecuador.

In the summer of 2004, in the Champs de Mars near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Keweenaw Now witnessed and photographed this demonstration calling attention to the capture of Franco-Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and demanding negotiations to end the violence in Colombia. Today, six years after her capture, Betancourt is still being held as a hostage by the FARC. (Keweenaw Now file photo © 2004 Michele Bourdieu)

Women in Baghdad rallied against violence and asked for equal social status with men, while in Italy women protested in favor of abortion rights.

The Yahoo article also mentions that President Hamid Karzai, president of Afghanistan, spoke against forced marriages -- which, according to the United Nations, affect up to 80 percent of Afghan women -- and against the Taliban threat to girls' education.

Read details in the article "International Women's Day protests highlight violence, inequality" on Yahoo News.

Community Arts Center celebrates March as Youth Arts Month

HANCOCK -- The Copper Country Community Arts Center in Hancock is featuring artwork from area elementary, middle and high school students through March 29. The Youth Gallery and the Kerredge Gallery are filled floor to ceiling with amazing youth art.

This handmade postcard by M. Wilson is one of many made by students in local schools to raise awareness of the March Youth Arts Exhibit. Art teachers participated by having students create designs on blank postcards provided by Jack Eberhard fo the Book Concern. (Image courtesy Community Arts Center)

March is a time not only to celebrate youth art, but to appreciate the art teachers who work throughout the school year encouraging and inspiring their students. Their guidance and support helps to enrich the lives of area youth.

A reception for Celebrate Youth Arts Month will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, at the Community Arts Center, 126 Quincy Street, Hancock. Phone 482-2333 for information.

For a slide show of youth art, visit the Community Arts Center Web site.

Omphale Gallery to exhibit art by Cynthia Coté March 7-29

CALUMET -- "Levity vs. Gravity" by local artist Cynthia Coté will be on exhibit at the Omphale Gallery March 7-29. An opening reception will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 7, in the Gallery, located at 431 Fifth Street, Calumet.

Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Call (906) 337-2036 for more information.

Greg Green's paintings on exhibit at Reflection Gallery through March 21

Artist Greg Green is exhibiting large, colorful paintings like this one at Finlandia's Reflection Gallery through March 21. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

HANCOCK -– The student-run Reflection Gallery at Finlandia University’s Portage Campus is hosting an exhibit of work by local artist Greg Green through March 21. An opening reception and gallery talk will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, in the Gallery.

Included in the show are several of Green’s large, colorful paintings. Green says the paintings are about a natural process of painting and the finding of one's true nature.

"I work from scratch with no concrete plan and follow a series of problem solving moves," Green explains. "I throw myself in the middle of the lake and am forced to swim out. The result is a trail of creative processes, letting the corrections show. Hopefully keeping contrived ego moves at bay, I am showing my true nature or the rhythm of nature."

This painting by Greg Green, titled "Rabbit meet Bunnies," is mixed media on canvas. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

Artist Joyce Koskenmaki says Green is a master abstract painter.

"His work is full of soul," Koskenmaki notes. "The way he approaches his paint process, keeping the spontaneity of the moment, totally present to the work, is very Zenlike. I admire him greatly for being able to do that. He is in touch with mystery. Each work celebrates it, in its own way. Viewers who are unfamiliar with this way of working find that the work 'grows on you' and continues to release its energy. This work bears revisiting, more than once."

Green says his most recent work is about "living out of your heart and not your head."

Several of the paintings are mixed media on canvas. Green said these can include fabric, charcoal, oils or house paint. He shops at the St. Vincent de Paul second-hand store for fabric that he selects for color, pattern and sometimes a "vintage" look.

This mixed media painting has a three-dimensional look. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Green is a resident of Keweenaw County and works as Assistant Manager of the Keweenaw Co-op in Hancock. He has a Master in Fine Arts (MFA) degree from the University of Minnesota.

The Reflection Gallery is located in the Finlandia School of Art and Design, on the second floor of the old hospital, 200 Michigan Street, Hancock.

For additional information, please contact Finlandia studio arts associate professor Yueh-mei Cheng at 906-487-7375.

Updated: Great Bear Chase ski races to connect with downtown Calumet March 9

Skiers climb a challenging hill during a previous Great Bear Chase race on the Swedetown Trails. (File photo © Keweenaw Now)

CALUMET --The 28th annual River Valley State Bank Great Bear Chase cross country ski competition will be held on Sunday, March 9. The 26 km classic race begins at 8:40 a.m., and both the 26 km and 51 km freestyle races begin at 9 a.m. This year both the start and the finish of the race will be in or near downtown Calumet.

This year’s race will feature a newly relocated start line. Skiers will line up and begin the race behind the Christ Episcopal Church on Red Jacket Road. Bear Chase participants and spectators may recall that last year marked a similar change: the relocation of the finish line to downtown Fifth Street, which will be repeated this year.

According to the Bear Chase race planning committee, holding the competition’s start near Calumet’s downtown is a great way for the community to get a better view of the skiers. Spectators will have the opportunity to witness the competitors -- approximately 500 in total -- as they take off from the start line.

Dave Mayo-Kiely, a coordinator with the race planning committee, said the locations of the start and finish lines will add to the atmosphere of the event -- for skiers and spectators alike.

"Holding elements of the race in Calumet’s downtown really adds to the overall event," said Mayo-Kiely. "The atmosphere of the historic buildings and churches makes everything that much more exciting. Plus, it’s great that the spectators can head into the downtown shops and businesses."

The race planning committee has also once again assured participants that they are hard at work to provide good skiing conditions -- well groomed trails with plenty of clean snow, even in the downtown areas and away from the regular trails.

The remainder of the race will mimic last year’s competition, with participants in the three events -- 26 km classic, 26 km freestyle, and 51 km freestyle -- skiing the Swedetown trail system before heading down for their big finish on Fifth Street.

The race planning committee notes another key benefit: participants will end the race within close walking distance to the Keweenaw Heritage Center, which serves as the staging and refreshment area. Skiers will be able to refuel and head right back out to cheer on their fellow racers.

Thanks to owners Frank and Emily Fiala, skiers can also take advantage of coupons to visit the new Fifth and Elm Coffee House, near the Calumet Theatre, which will be open all day Sunday for racers and visitors.

Online registration will not be available on the day of the race; to pre-register or to obtain more information, visit www.bearchase.org.

Volunteers needed

Volunteers are still needed to help with the race. On Saturday for registration volunteers are needed from 12 noon to 4 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On Sunday several road crossings from downtown to the snowmobile trail need to be staffed throughout the whole day; back-up timing people are also needed. For both road crossing and timing functions the duties will be split between shifts running from 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. and then from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

If you can help out, please send Dave Mayo-Kiely an email at mayokiely@msn.com and indicate your preferred task and time.

Junior Bear Chase

The Junior Bear Chase, a youth Nordic ski race for skiers up to 16-years-old, will take place on Saturday, March 8, at the Michigan Tech Trails. All finishers receive a participation award. Awards will be presented for first, second and third place in each age/gender division in each race.

The race is sponsored by the Copper Country Ski Tigers, a youth nordic ski organization.

Fees are $5 if received by March 6, 2008; $7 day-of-race. Mail registration forms, with check payable to Ski Tigers, to Ski Tigers, PO Box 512, Hancock MI 49930. NOTE: Registration must be RECEIVED BY March 6 to qualify as pre-registered.

For more information visit the Ski Tigers Web site.

Conservation District's Annual Tree Sale now underway

HOUGHTON -- The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District (HKCD) is hosting its annual tree sale. The deadline for ordering trees is Monday, March 31, with pickup on May 2 and 3 at the Houghton County Arena in Hancock. Extra stock will be sold at that time.

Mother’s Day is on May 11th. Here’s your opportunity to purchase something unique for her such as a native tree, shrub, fruit tree, berry bush, bat house, bluebird house or numerous other merchandise HKCD has for sale.

The tree sale is the district’s biggest fundraiser. Last year’s tree sale funds helped fill the gap left by the 50% state budget cut. For 2008 the State of Michigan slashed the Operations Grant to $11,605 and failed to fund the Forestry Assistance Program, forcing HKCD to eliminate the two forester positions that served landowners in the counties of Houghton, Keweenaw, Gogebic and Ontonagon.

"We truly appreciate all of the help and support from our volunteers and customers over the years," said HKCD Administrator Sue Haralson. "We are looking forward to your continued support again this year."

Order forms are available at the HKCD office at 600 E. Lakeshore Drive, #2 , Houghton, online at www.hkconserve.com, at the MSU Extension Service and the Keweenaw Co-op Natural Foods and Groceries.

Visit the HKCD Web site for the tree sale catalog and ordering information.

For more information about HKCD or the tree sale, call HKCD Administrator Sue Haralson at 482-0214 or email sue.haralson@mi.nacdnet.net.

Vaclav Havel's "The Memorandum" continues at MTU's McArdle Theatre through March 5

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Tech's Department of Visual and Performing Arts is presenting Vaclav Havel's satiric comedy The Memorandum at 7:30 p.m. in the McArdle Theatre (Walker 207 on the MTU campus). The performances began on Feb. 27 and continue daily (except Sunday) through Wednesday, March 5.

Director Christopher Plummer says he's looked forward to staging one of Havel's plays for years, fascinated by his brilliance and insight into how people attempt to control others, especially through misuse of language.

Havel, a political activist as well as a philosopher and writer, put it this way: "Alongside words that electrify society with their freedom and truthfulness, we have words that mesmerize, deceive, inflame, madden, beguile, words that are harmful -- lethal, even. The word as arrow."

Havel's fame as a writer contributed to his emergence, during the 1970s and '80s, as a leader of the pro-democracy movement in Czechoslovakia. To his own amazement, the quietly charismatic professor became the first president of the democratic Czech Republic.

More information on The Memorandum and Havel can be found on Tech Today and on the visual and performing arts website, http://www.vpa.mtu.edu/. Tickets to the play are available from the Rozsa Box Office (487-3200 and http://www.tickets.mtu.edu/) and at the door an hour before performances: $10 general, $5 students.

"Hung Up on "Color" exhibit continues through Feb. 29 at Reflection Gallery

On exhibit in Finlandia's Reflection Gallery, "The Thinker" is one of Andrea Puzakulich's photos of a colorful window display of London fashion. Click on the photo for a larger version and look for reflections. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

HANCOCK -- "Hung Up on Color," fashion photography and fiber works by artist and designer Andrea Puzakulich (formerly Baldridge) is still on exhibit through Feb. 29 at Finlandia University's Reflection Gallery, located on the second level of Finlandia's Portage Campus.

The photos and fiber creations were inspired by Puzakulich's observations of the London fashion scene. Puzakulich notes the images of boldly colored window displays give the viewer the gift of color in the heart of winter.

This colorful fiber creation by Andrea Puzakulich is titled "May I have this dance." (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

"George (Dewey) and I were on our honeymoon in London," Puzakulich said, "and while we were there I photographed these display windows on Sloan Street."

Andrea Puzakulich (formerly Baldridge) and her husband George Dewey pose in front of one of the "reflection" photos taken on their honeymoon in London last summer. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

Puzakulich said she took the photos with a Canon 8-megapixel digital camera and didn't notice their full artistic quality until she printed the photos.

"At first my interest was to capture the colorful window display, but after looking at the enlarged prints I noticed the subtle reflections in the photos," Puzakulich explained.

Click on the larger version of this photo by Andrea Puzakulich and look for reflections of the opposite side of Sloan Street in London, where it was taken. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

Whether or not you can make it for one of the last few days of the exhibit, visit Andrea Puzakulich's studio, Distant Drum, where she makes and sells fiber art to wear or display. The studio is located on the first level of Finlandia University's Portage Campus (the old hospital). The address is 200 Michigan Street, Suite 210, Hancock, MI 49930.

Andrea Puzakulich in her studio, Distant Drum, located on the first level of Finlandia University's Portage Campus building (the old hospital) in Hancock.

Distant Drum Studio hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, or by appointment. Visit the Distant Drum Web site or call (906) 487-7460 for more information.

Updated: "Wilderness is ..." community art project continues at Omphale Gallery through Feb. 29

By Michele Bourdieu

CALUMET -- "Wilderness is ...," a community art project of photos and anonymous drawings, is still on exhibit through Friday, Feb. 29, at the Omphale Gallery in Calumet. It also continues on a Web site that is updated weekly with post card art.

These post card responses to artist George Desort's "Wilderness is ..." project are on exhibit at the Omphale Gallery in Calumet through Feb. 29. The exhibit continues on a Web site that is updated weekly. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

The exhibit drew a large crowd at the Jan. 11 opening, which also included a free showing of the "Wilderness is ..." DVD by local artist George Desort, who, as artist-in-residence in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park last August, asked park visitors to finish the thought, "Wilderness is ..." with one word, which they wrote on poster board. Photos of their responses are exhibited at the Omphale, along with post card drawings also expressing personal ideas about Wilderness.

Anonymous post cards responding to George Desort's "Wilderness is ..." community art project are still on exhibit in the Omphale Gallery in Calumet through Feb. 29. (Photo © 2008 and courtesy George Desort)

John Vucetich, Michigan Tech University professor and co-leader of Isle Royale wolf-moose research, introduced the exhibit at the Jan. 11 opening. He explained the purpose of keeping the post card artists anonymous.

"Because the artist is anonymous, we don't know if the person who made (the post card) was very ignorant or very wise," Vucetich said. "The only thing we know for sure is that our own view of wilderness is incomplete, so we have to wrestle with this ourselves."

John Vucetich, left, MTU professor and co-leader of Isle Royale wolf-moose research, introduces the showing of the DVD, "Wilderness is ...," by artist George Desort, right, as local artist Joyce Koskenmaki looks on, during the Jan. 11 opening of the exhibit at the Omphale Gallery in Calumet. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

Desort hiked with a video camera on his shoulder and took shots of a variety of natural scenes in the Porkies. A voice-over by Joe Kaplan juxtaposes the visitors' one-word answers to "Wilderness is ..." with the visual beauties of the park. The DVD is the result. Desort said nothing about the film was preconceived. *

At the Jan. 11 reception for the exhibit, Desort explained how the project began with his two-week stay in the Porkies.

"I was there just filming and getting people to write words on posters," he explained. "The words are from people who were in the Porcupine Mountains Park during those two weeks."

Photos of visitors to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park with their posters and one-word responses to "Wilderness is ..." are on display in the Omphale Gallery in Calumet through Feb. 29. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

Those who wanted to express more than one word could make a 4" x 6" post card. The post card art is also displayed on the Web site, Wilderness is ... at http://desort.pixyblog.com/

The Jan. 11 reception drew a large crowd, including Canadian Kjerstin Maki, a museum conservator from Victoria, British Columbia.

"Wilderness is evolving; and, if you're there looking at it, it's not wilderness anymore," Maki noted. "I think we should protect it from the outside."

Sarah Green of Calumet said she liked the idea of exhibiting participatory art.

"I like the combination of the photos and post card art," Green said.

These anonymous post card responses to "Wilderness is ..." are on display in the Omphale Gallery. More of them can be found on the Wilderness is ... Web site, which is being updated with more contributions to the project from the public.

"The Wilderness is... project is growing. The website is updated with a new collection of post card art every Tuesday," Desort reported recently in an email message. "I am still looking for more post card art expressing the different interpretations of wilderness. And thank you to all who have already participated. The collection is displayed at the Omphale Gallery in Calumet, MI, until the end of the month."

This post card is displayed on the Wilderness is ... Web site, which is updated with a new collection of post card art every Tuesday. (Photo © 2008 and courtesy George Desort)

The Omphale exhibit by George Desort also includes over 200 of his color photographs of birds killed as a result of the recent botulism e outbreak in the northern waters of Lake Michigan. A two-minute video of a long-tailed duck stricken with the bacterium is part of this exhibit.

This photo by George Desort depicts the destruction of birds as a result of the recent botulism e outbreak in the northern waters of Lake Michigan. Over 200 of these photos are part of the "Wilderness is ..." exhibit at the Omphale Gallery in Calumet through Feb. 29. (Photo © 2008 and courtesy George Desort)

The Omphale Gallery is at 431 Fifth Street in Calumet. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Call (906) 337-2036 for more information.

* Visit the Wilderness is ... Web site in order to learn how you can order the DVD, "Wilderness is ..." or contribute to this ongoing community art project with your own post card art.

Kids ski with parents in first Barnelopet at Maasto Hiihto

Steve Foix of Calumet, left, was one of several parents who skied with their children at the First Annual Barnelopet on Feb. 16 at Maasto Hiihto in Hancock. Steve's sons, Alexander James Foix, 13, and Daniel Foix, 11, skied in the 2 Km event. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

HANCOCK -- Undaunted by single-digit temperatures, young skiers, aged three to 13, and their parents showed up at Maasto Hiihto Ski Trails for the Copper Country's First Annual Barnelopet family ski event, sponsored by the Sons of Norway, the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club (KNSC) and Portage Health on Feb. 16.

Brandy Kinnunen, 11, of Tapiola, heads for the finish line in the Barnelopet 4 Km event at Maasto Hiihto on Feb. 16, 2008. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

Several parents skied with their children in this non-competitive cross-country event. Participants skied 1 Km, 2 Km or 4 Km on the trails, both skating and striding.

Brandy Kinnunen, 11, and her brother, Jack Kinnunen, 9, came all the way from Tapiola for the event. Their dad, Russ Kinnunen, skied with them.

Nancy Imm, right, of Portage Township, language instructor for the Sons of Norway and a member of KNSC and the National Ski Patrol, poses for a photo with Brandy, center, and Jack Kinnunen of Tapiola after their 4 Km Barnelopet event. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

"It was O.K. but very tiring," Brandy said. "It's the first time we skied in a race."

Three-year-old Naomi Hohnholt of Hancock and her dad, Chris Hohnholt, skied the Barnelopet 1 Km event together. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

Volunteer and KNSC member Ray Sharp showed up to help with starting the races.

"It was very well organized for a first-year event," Sharp said. "I hope the participation grows exponentially."

Wayne Stordahl, left, of Hancock, a member of the Sons of Norway, organized the Barnelopet, assisted by KNSC member Jay Green of Houghton, who also made the chili. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

Barnelopet is a Norwegian word meaning "kids' ski tour," Sharp explained.

"The Sons of Norway have traditionally promoted youth skiing, so generations of American kids can learn to ski as kids do in Norway," he added.

Grant Haataja and Hendrick Haataja of Calumet pause for a photo after finishing the 4 Km race. At right is (their?) Mom who skied along. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Sharp noted a similar event -- attended by more than 1,000 young skiers -- is the Barnebirkie, which precedes the annual Birkebeiner races held in Hayward, Wis.* These races are also of Norwegian origin. Birkebeiner means the leggings made of birch bark worn by Norwegian soldiers in the Middle Ages, he explained.

During the Barnelopet, KNSC volunteers, from left, Eileen Stordahl, Sandy Aronson and Bill Marlor offered hours of their time to prepare and serve a variety of refreshments in the Maasto Chalet, including soup, chili and the yummy lemon bars at right. Free coffee, hot chocolate and cookies were also available. Not pictured is Arlyn Aronson, who was grooming the Maasto trails. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Skiers, parents and volunteers enjoyed free hot chocolate, coffee and cookies while warming up in the Maasto Hiihto Chalet. Soup, chili and other refreshments were also available for lunch.

"Portage Health provided the coffee, hot chocolate and cookies," said volunteer Eileen Stordahl.

She noted the group may consider raising the age above 13 next year to attract more skiers.

Although the Barnelopet is non-competitive, volunteer timers Mary Gardner, left, and Christine Young recorded skiers' times. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

While the Maasto Hiihto Trails are now for striding, groomer Arlyn Aronson put in skating lanes just for this event.

Each skier participating in the Barnelopet received a medal like this one from the Sons of Norway. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Editor's Note: The Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club (KNSC) will hold their monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25, at the Maasto Chalet in Hancock. One of the topics under discussion will be an exciting opportunity to purchase 140 acres of property that are part of the trail system.

* To read about the Barnebirkie, held on Feb. 21 in Hayward, Wis., visit their Web site.

Ski Tigers win third State High School Title

HOUGHTON -- The Copper Country Ski Tigers cross country ski team won their third overall state championship in a row this past weekend in Walloon Lake, Michigan. Olivia Orr of Hancock won both the pursuit and sprint individual girls' state titles. Ski Tigers head coach, Mike Young, was named Great Lakes Coach of the Year, as well.

State Champion Olivia Orr at the Michigan State High School Championships in Walloon Lake. (Photo © 2008 Dean Woodbeck)

The Ski Tigers scored 375.5 points on the weekend, with Marquette's Superiorland club placing second with 338.5 points.

Traverse City Central placed a distant third with 200 points. In addition to the overall title, the Ski Tigers won the girls' state title and the boys were runners-up.

Kai Sharp and Jay Woodbeck led the Ski Tigers boys' team with top-ten finishes in both the pursuit and sprint. Sharp was fourth in the pursuit and seventh in the sprint. Woodbeck placed fifth in the pursuit and was sixth in the sprint.

Elias Featherly also broke into the top ten, with an ninth place in the pursuit and tenth in the sprint. Al Toczydlowski rounded out the scoring for the boys, finishing 18th in the pursuit.

The pursuit competition consists of two races the same day. Skiers competed in the freestyle race in the morning. For the afternoon classic race, starting times were determined by the morning finish. The leader went out first. Then, if the skier in second was five seconds off the morning pace, she started five seconds behind the leader in the afternoon.

The Ski Tigers won the girls' championship with five skiers in the top ten for every race. In the pursuit, in addition to Orr's victory, Louise and Ruth Oppliger finished fifth and sixth, respectively; Madelyn Shoup was eighth, and Emily Humes was ninth.

Rounding out the scoring for the Ski Tiger girls were seventh-grader Evelyn Delong (12th), Jane Gregg (13th), Kara Donahue (18th) and Rachel Toczydlowski (19th).

In the sprint, the four-person final included three Ski Tigers – Orr, second place Louise Oppliger and third place Ruth Oppliger. Shoup placed seventh, and Humes was eighth.

Ski Tigers head coach Mike Young said, "We have a lot of depth on the girls team and had some very gutsy performances by our boys. We would not have won this year's title without everyone skiing their best. That doesn't always happen on any given weekend, but this weekend it did for us."

Five to compete in Junior Olympics in Anchorage

As a result of this race, and other qualifying races throughout the season, five Ski Tigers have qualified for the Junior Olympics, the national championships for skiers ages 19 and under. Competing in the week-long series of races, March 9-15 in Anchorage, Alaska, will be Olivia Orr, Jay Woodbeck, Kai Sharp, Madelyn Shoup and Ruth Oppliger.

The Ski Tigers race team is open to middle and high school students from throughout the Copper Country.

For complete results and photos see keweenawtrails.com.

Editor's Note: This press release, dated Feb. 18, 2008, is courtesy Dean Woodbeck of Keweenaw Trails.

Hancock residents invited to express views at Feb. 26 Citizens' Forum

HANCOCK -- Hancock residents are encouraged to attend a Citizens' Forum from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at the Lakeview Manor Community Room to discuss their major concerns about the city.

At previous community and ward meetings residents have expressed their desire for such things as better access to the waterfront, better-maintained parks and beach, a safer and more easily walkable and bikeable city, less street lighting and less sprawling development. Falling revenues to the city, and rising costs, have made it increasingly difficult to meet citizens’ needs.

The goal of this meeting is to develop recommendations to the City Council, which will begin its budget-planning in March. Residents are invited to this Forum to discuss how the 2009 budget can successfully meet citizens’ needs and priorities. For more information call 482-5413.

"Miniature Show" to open at Miskwabik Ed Gray Gallery in Calumet Feb. 15.

CALUMET -- An opening for the "Miniature Show" art exhibit will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15, at the new Miskwabik Ed Gray Gallery, 109 Fifth Street, Calumet. This juried exhibit includes entries from about 50 local Upper Peninsula artists. It will run through March 16, 2008.

A few of the miniature art works in the Miskwabik Ed Gray Gallery "Miniature Show" are pictured here. All entries are smaller than 5" x 5" x 5". (Photo © 2008 Ed Gray. Reprinted with permission.)

"We have 149 entries," said gallery owner Ed Gray. "It's a great show."

Refreshments will be served during the opening on Friday. The Conglomerate Café is catering the show with "miniature" delectables.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Visit the Ed Gray Gallery Web site for a listing of future exhibits.

Candlelight Vigil Feb. 14 to honor Yellow Dog Plains, oppose DNR decision

MARQUETTE -- Local groups opposing the recent decision by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to lease 120 acres of public land to Kennecott Minerals are planning a candlelight vigil in honor of the Yellow Dog Plains, where Kennecott plans to put a nickel and copper sulfide mine.

The Salmon Trout River flows through an area proposed for Kennecott Minerals' Eagle Project sulfide mine. The river contains a rare population of Coaster Brook Trout. (Photo © 2007 and courtesy lexup at Save the Wild UP)

The vigil will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Valentine's Day -- Thursday, Feb. 14 -- at Harlow Park, off Washington St. in Marquette.

Please remember to dress for the cold. If you do not have a candle, one will be provided.

The event is sponsored by Yellow Dog Summer, Northwoods Wilderness Recovery, Keepers of the Water, and Save the Wild UP.

On Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008, at a Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting in Lansing, DNR Director Rebecca Humphries granted final approval of the Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company's (KEMC) Mining and Reclamation Plan and Land Use Lease, but with stipulations that Kennecott cannot break ground until all contested cases have concluded.

KEMC was seeking to construct surface facilities for their projected sulfide mining operation on 120 acres of state-owned property on the Yellow Dog Plains in northwestern Marquette County. The Director's decision came one month after a refusal to grant Kennecott's lease because of a failure to provide information on a number of critical questions.

Sufficient information is still lacking. Kennecott has failed to address subsidence concerns and leak prevention. These failures, aided by the State's inadequate monitoring fees (only $4,000 a year), leave the State of Michigan vulnerable to pollution and economic burdens.

According to Michelle Halley, attorney for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), the amount set aside for monitoring will not cover costs of the most basic of water quality testing, collecting samples and on-site inspections.

"Experts tell us that this project is still fatally flawed, making the DNR land-lease approval even more appalling," Halley said. "The lease will leave the DNR and Michigan taxpayers vulnerable to bearing clean-up costs from pollution, and it would put the DNR in the inappropriate role of facilitating a mining district in the U.P."

Cynthia Pryor, executive director of the Yellowdog Watershed Preserve, also expressed her disappointment with the DNR decision.

"It is unfortunate that the DNR has forgotten the premise for which it was formed -- to protect and conserve our natural resources for use by the public. This decision turns state forest lands into an industrial outlet and our region into a paradise lost," she said.

Kennecott still has to obtain an underground injection permit from the Environmental Protection Agency.* Meanwhile lawsuits and contested cases are on-going in regards to Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) permits related to the Eagle Project. In addition, NWF and other concerned citizen groups plan to mount a legal challenge to the DNR lease approval.**

* Read more about how the public can express views on the EPA federal permit requirements.

** Read the entire NWF press release.

Editor's Note: This information is from Save the Wild UP. Learn more about sulfide mining on their Web site.

Sons of Norway, ski club to co-sponsor "Barnelopet" family ski event Feb. 16

HANCOCK -- Members of the Sons of Norway Lodge 5-620 will sponsor a Barnelopet children’s cross country ski event from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Maasto Hiihto cross country ski trails, Hancock.

The event is open to youth through age 13. Registration begins at 10 a.m. Saturday. The entry fee is $5.00 for one skier and $10.00 for a family of two or more. Parents are encouraged to ski with their children.

The Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club (KNSC), co-sponsor of this new children’s ski event, will lay 1 km, 2 km, and 4 km ski tracks especially for the day. Skiers can "skate" or "stride" any one of the three courses.

Volunteers are needed to help. Volunteers will meet at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday, Feb. 14, at the Chalet at the Fair Grounds (Driving Park). Call Wayne Stordahl for details on volunteering or racing at 482-0292.

The first fifty children who finish their event will receive a Sons of Norway Olympic-style enameled medallion. The kids will also be treated to cookies and hot chocolate. The KNSC will be selling lunch at the Maasto Hiihto ski chalet, and hot drinks and soup will be available.

A registration form and more information can be found at www.keweenawtrails.com.

Winter Carnival 2008: more photos ...

HOUGHTON -- Keweenaw Now captured these photos of Winter Carnival's "Frightful Creatures with Chilling Features" on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 7 and 8. Click on the photos for larger versions.

Phi Kappa Tau's "Van Helsing Calms the Hysteria in Transylvania," located in Hancock, took first prize in the fraternity division of the snow statue competition. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

The finely crafted details of Phi Kappa Tau's scene from tales of Dracula included several icy bats like this one. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Another fine detail in ice was this candelabra in the center of the scene. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)*

Frankenstein works at his lab table as his monster creation awakens in the background of this winning scene by Alpha Gamma Delta, "Frankenstein's Creature From Long Ago Comes Alive Again in Snow," which took first place in the women's group division. It is in front of the Walker Arts and Humanities Center on the MTU campus. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Next to the Walker building a slippery broomball game draws spectators. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

"Under the Sea, Out of the Snow, Evil Ursula Reigns in the Ocean Below," created by students of West Wadsworth Residence Hall, took a fourth place in that category. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Delta Sigma Phi took second place in the fraternity division for their grand-scale "Nightmares Consume a Child's Room." (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Especially notable among the details of the "Nightmares" sculpture are the chains of ice, pictured here in the foreground and also on the creature with icy horns. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

A rocking horse of ice in the "Nightmares" sculpture steals the show. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

The Mu Beta Psi music fraternity won first place in the on-campus one-nighter competition with this snowy musical group in front of the library. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

The Keweenaw's mysterious Paulding Light inspired this creation by Fair Warning / Incognito (men's residences in East Wadsworth Hall). It took 6th place among the university residence one-nighters. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

The Bastille (men's residence in East McNair Hall) took second place in the university one-nighter competition with their scene of Old English lore, "Beowulf's slice slays a Sea Beast of ice." (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

Carnival visitors enjoy a dog sled ride on campus Friday afternoon. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

* Editor's Note: See more photos of Phi Kappa Tau's winning snow scene in Hancock in our Feb. 8 article.