HOUGHTON -- Local organizers for the Committee to Recall Rick Snyder will be hosting recall petition signing events from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on three Wednesdays -- Aug. 24, Aug. 31, and Sept. 7 at the UAW Office, 509 Shelden Ave. in Downtown Houghton.
All registered voters in Michigan are invited to sign the petition to recall Governor Rick Snyder at these events. For more information about signing events in the Upper Peninsula, please visit the Facebook group "Yoopers Against Snyder." You may sign up to volunteer or find signing events around the state at www.firericksnyder.org.
Please note that the Recall State Sen. Tom Casperson petitions will also be available to sign at these events.
Email: bhkfiresnyder@gmail.com if you have questions.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Climate activists arrested in Tar Sands Action sit-in
From Peaceful Uprising:
Josh Fox, creator of the award-winning film Gasland, has created a moving and informative new video about the Tar Sands Action in Washington, DC. He joins a growing list of concerned scientists, authors, and celebrities who have voiced their support of the 2000+ people who have signed up to take action.*
As of today, August 20, the Tar Sands Action is underway in Washington DC. Two weeks of peaceful daily sit-ins began today with more than 70 arrests at the White House fence.
Arrestees included Bill McKibben, Dan Choi, Gus Speth, and dozens of committed climate activists from across the country.
Protesters are calling on President Obama to reject a permit for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, which will send 900,000 barrels a day of the world’s dirtiest oil to US refineries, allowing further development of the Alberta tar sands -- development which could mean "game over" for the climate in the word’s of NASA scientist Dr. James Hansen.
Tar Sands Action participants intend to continue the sit-ins day after day until Sept. 3, gathering in front of the White House in the time-honored tactic of peaceful civil disobedience.**
*Click here to see the Josh Fox video about the tar sands.
** Click here to read about the action in Washington and sign a petition.
Josh Fox, creator of the award-winning film Gasland, has created a moving and informative new video about the Tar Sands Action in Washington, DC. He joins a growing list of concerned scientists, authors, and celebrities who have voiced their support of the 2000+ people who have signed up to take action.*
As of today, August 20, the Tar Sands Action is underway in Washington DC. Two weeks of peaceful daily sit-ins began today with more than 70 arrests at the White House fence.
Arrestees included Bill McKibben, Dan Choi, Gus Speth, and dozens of committed climate activists from across the country.
Protesters are calling on President Obama to reject a permit for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, which will send 900,000 barrels a day of the world’s dirtiest oil to US refineries, allowing further development of the Alberta tar sands -- development which could mean "game over" for the climate in the word’s of NASA scientist Dr. James Hansen.
Tar Sands Action participants intend to continue the sit-ins day after day until Sept. 3, gathering in front of the White House in the time-honored tactic of peaceful civil disobedience.**
*Click here to see the Josh Fox video about the tar sands.
** Click here to read about the action in Washington and sign a petition.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Gov. Rick Snyder speaks to invited audience in Houghton
By Michele Bourdieu
with photos and video by Allan Baker
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, right, listens to a question from the audience read by Michigan Tech University President Glenn Mroz during the question-answer session following the Governor's presentation to an invited audience at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton on Aug. 16, 2011. (Photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)
HOUGHTON -- Michigan Governor Rick Snyder spoke at what was called a "Town Hall" meeting at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton on Tuesday, Aug. 16. We learned about this meeting on very short notice from an announcement in the Daily Mining Gazette. Assuming that "Town Hall" meant a "public" meeting, i.e., a meeting open to the public, Keweenaw Now skipped many other obligations to attend the event and videotape the Governor's presentation.
We were met at the door by the "security forces" of what appeared to be Tea Party / Republican Party organizers. Apparently this "Town Hall" did not fit our definition of a Town Hall meeting.* (See Editor's Notes below.)
It was a meeting by invitation. Members of the local media were also invited and given name tags at the door if their names were "on the list." We had not received the invitation sent to the media and were thus not on the list. We were told we could wait in line and if there was extra room available after the "registered" visitors were accommodated we would be allowed to ascend to the third-floor room reserved for the event.
We found the third floor on our own and set up our video camera, although these same security forces again appeared and asked us to return to the first floor and "wait our turn." They tried to be polite in their failed efforts to evict us, and we were glad to read in the Aug. 18 Daily Mining Gazette some comments by organizer Mary Sears, explaining their difficulties in finding enough space to make the event open to the public. We are certain they believe in freedom of the press, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.**
Michigan Technological University President Glenn Mroz introduced Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (R-Ann Arbor) with a summary of his academic and business background and accomplishments -- one being his initiation of legislative efforts in establishing Smart Zones (Michigan Tech's own Smart Zone -- an alliance between university and business intended to create high-tech jobs and contribute to local economic development -- is well known).
"He's (Snyder is) really versed in economic development," Mroz said. "The thing that's most impressed me about the Governor is his willingness to listen, his willingness to meet with people, his forthright response to very difficult questions about the challenges facing the people of the state of Michigan."
Snyder has also dealt with these challenges by making sweeping changes in his budget, Mroz added.
Snyder began by saying his goal is not to "fix" Michigan but to "reinvent" it. He mentioned two main issues: the need for more and better jobs and the need to keep young people in the state.
He noted his visit was a good opportunity to have interaction and feedback from his "customers."
Snyder then spoke about balancing the budget. He noted the importance of eliminating the Michigan Business Tax to help create jobs. He also mentioned Michigan students' lack of adequate preparation for college and the need to reform the educational system.
During his recent tour of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder addresses an audience of invited community leaders on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton. Seated behind the Governor is 110th District State Representative Matt Huuki (R-Atlantic Mine). (Video by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)
Gov. Snyder claimed he had signed a significant number of bills from the legislature in his first six months in office but gave few details about them. He said plans for this fall would include efforts to call attention to health and wellness, followed by work on infrastructure improvement including water and sewer.
Although Snyder didn't mention the Emergency Financial Manager law, he explained his objective to have communities and school systems balance their budgets and keep better accounts. ***
After Snyder's speech, written questions from the audience included several on education. Michigan Tech President Mroz selected some of these to read to the Governor for his comments.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder answers a question on education, including his plans for rewarding good teachers. Michigan Tech President Glenn Mroz reads questions from the audience after the main part of Snyder's speech.
When it comes to economic development, Michigan now is doing "less hunting and more gardening," according to Snyder.
"We spent too much time over the last few years hunting -- which is going to get a few big out-of-state companies with huge incentive packages and trying to bring them to Michigan and essentially buying them into our state. That's not good business," Snyder explained.
"Gardening" means focusing on Michiganders creating and growing Michigan businesses through Smart Zones and other means that are already here.
Charlie Hopper of Eagle River, Mich., Pasty.NET general manager, who attended the event at the Bluffs, said that "gardening" idea -- taking the existing businesses and trying to help them develop -- was one thing he found interesting in the Governor's talk and an improvement over the last Republican governor.
"You've got to attract some out-of-state business," Hopper said. "But if you're doing that and neglecting the existing businesses that's not good."
Hopper noted that was the case under former Michigan Governor John Engler. He said he remembered hearing Engler speak with a focus on "bringing in the money" from outside the state and not really thinking about what could be done for businesses in the state.
Hopper has built his own local Internet service provider business, Pasty.NET from a basic dial-up to both DSL and wireless services in the Keweenaw and all over the U.P.
Besides adding 500 members in Marquette County, Pasty recently added Internet coverage in Sedar Bay.
"Cell phone companies are coming in, too, which is great," he said. "We've been in Copper Harbor since 2004, and they still don't have cell phone (access)."
Hopper said that may be because big corporations (such as cell phone companies) often neglect more remote areas, while a local Internet business such as his is able to provide services as soon as the technology is available.
In contrast to his stated priority for "gardening" -- cultivating home businesses -- Snyder expressed strong support in this speech for bringing mining back to the U.P.; and so far the companies showing interest by exploring, purchasing mineral rights and actually beginning construction for mining projects are not only from outside the state but from outside the U.S.
Rio Tinto, based in London, England, with its Eagle Project on the Yellow Dog Plains near Big Bay, hopes, with its subsidiary Kennecott Minerals, to begin mining for nickel and copper there as early as this September. Closer to Houghton, Highland Resources, Inc., based in Vancouver, Canada, recently announced a partnership with BRP LLC that will allow them to do exploratory drilling soon for a potential copper mining venture in Houghton and Keweenaw counties.****
Gov. Rick Snyder replies to a question on mining with "Let's go mine!"
Phil Musser, executive director of KEDA (Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance) expressed appreciation for Snyder's visit but noted the speech lacked certain details.
"We appreciate his coming here and meeting with community leaders," Musser said. "He mentioned the potential of the U.P. for tourism, mining and timber harvesting; and, in addition, we hope that he also recognizes the growing manufacturing and technology sectors in the U.P. and their potential for job creation."
In line with the "gardening" approach to local business, KEDA designs and implements proactive, sustainable programs that are focused on retaining and expanding existing firms, starting up new businesses, attracting entrepreneurs and companies to the Keweenaw and initiating projects that create the conditions for future economic growth.
Snyder did answer one question on green energy by noting its cost to power companies appeared to be going down. He called for greater energy efficiency but didn't mention concrete efforts to promote alternative forms of energy in Michigan.
To a question on delisting the Torch Lake Superfund site, Snyder admitted he wasn't familiar with it.
While Snyder made a reference to the "Pure Michigan" ads, noting he would like them to show people fishing or hunting, he did not really explain how mining could be compatible with the Upper Peninsula's existing tourism industry. He made no mention of protecting the Great Lakes or the Upper Peninsula's streams and wetlands except to express confidence that the Michigan mining laws would assure the mining is done correctly and doesn't harm the environment.
After the Governor's speech and question-answer session, State Senator Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) concluded the event with comments about his plans to work closely with the Governor to facilitate development of the mining industry in the Upper Peninsula. He compared himself to Moses in his wish to shout, "Let my people go" -- to free them from what Casperson terms "the biggest problem" -- federal regulation.
After Gov. Snyder's speech, Michigan State Senator Tom Casperson speaks to the invited audience at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton, Mich., on Aug. 16, 2011. Casperson speaks about mining in the Upper Peninsula.
Keweenaw Now also had an opportunity to chat with Houghton County Sheriff Brian McLean and Houghton Chief of Police John Donnelly after the speech.
"We're always excited when the Governor comes to town, and it was very nice to see a nice crowd come out and listen," Sheriff McLean said, "and hopefully some messages resound with everybody. Government being open -- that's what it's all about."
Houghton County Sheriff Brian Mc Lean gives his impression of Gov. Snyder's visit to the Bluffs in a brief conversation with Keweenaw Now. (Photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)
Asked if he was disappointed there was no protest rally, the Sheriff said laughingly, "Oh no, we're very happy. I hate wrestling!"
Chief of Police John Donnelly said he was glad everybody was well behaved and the event went smoothly.
"I enjoyed the setting," Chief Donnelly said. "It's the first time I've seen any governor speak in Houghton."
To a question on whether Snyder's budget cuts affect the local police, Donnelly replied affirmatively, but explained how law enforcement in neighboring communities share resources.
"Everything affects us," he said. "One of the things we're doing with the local law enforcement is making sure that we work together to be efficient."
One example is the partnering they do, especially with Hancock and Michigan Tech police, when certain serious calls, such as domestic violence, require the presence of two officers. Also, if the Houghton police have to go for weapons training, Hancock police cover the City of Houghton in their absence.
"You've got to work together, especially with shrinking budgets," Donnelly added.
Editor's Notes:
*After this experience, I searched for a definition of a "town hall meeting" and found this on Wikipedia (not always a reliable source, of course, but this seemed to be my own understanding of town hall meetings Keweenaw Now has covered in the past -- the most recent being one hosted by Tom Casperson and Matt Huuki at Michigan Tech, which was open to the public.) This is from Wikipedia's definition:
"A town hall meeting is a name given to an informal public meeting. Everybody in a town community is invited to attend, not always to voice their opinions, but to hear the responses from public figures and (if applicable) elected officials about shared subjects of interest."
For a second opinion, I searched again and found this definition on wisegeek.com:
"A town hall meeting is an informal public meeting which gives the members of a community an opportunity to get together to discuss emerging issues and to voice concerns and preferences for their community. A typical town hall meeting is attended by both citizens and officials, giving everyone a chance to talk personally in a relaxed environment about the things which matter to them."
Both of these definitions include the word "public"; therefore, one could assume a town hall meeting is open to the public.
A further search uncovered the one-word version: Townhall, which led me to townhall.com and Townhall Magazine, which, I discovered, are politically conservative publications.
An interesting spelling distinction (or error?) appears in two articles about the Governor's visit to Escanaba on Aug. 17, 2011. The advance story calls the event a town hall (two words), while the follow-up story calls it a townhall. (Emphasis ours.)
**Finally, on Aug. 18, an article in the Daily Mining Gazette quotes Mary Sears of the Houghton County Republicans' Office as to why Gov. Snyder's visit to the Bluffs was by invitation. Click here to read the article "Admission Denied." The media release she mentions was not received by Keweenaw Now.
See also a 2010 Escanaba Daily Press article about Tea Party support of the U.S. Constitution. The article also identifies Mary Sears as "one of the Tea Partiers" and "co-founder of Concerned Citizens of the U.P."
*** Click here for an update on the campaign to repeal the Emergency Financial Manager law in a Michigan Messenger article posted Aug. 17, 2011.
**** See the Aug. 11, 2011, article in the Daily Mining Gazette: "Partnership buys mineral rights for exploratory action."
with photos and video by Allan Baker
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, right, listens to a question from the audience read by Michigan Tech University President Glenn Mroz during the question-answer session following the Governor's presentation to an invited audience at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton on Aug. 16, 2011. (Photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)
HOUGHTON -- Michigan Governor Rick Snyder spoke at what was called a "Town Hall" meeting at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton on Tuesday, Aug. 16. We learned about this meeting on very short notice from an announcement in the Daily Mining Gazette. Assuming that "Town Hall" meant a "public" meeting, i.e., a meeting open to the public, Keweenaw Now skipped many other obligations to attend the event and videotape the Governor's presentation.
We were met at the door by the "security forces" of what appeared to be Tea Party / Republican Party organizers. Apparently this "Town Hall" did not fit our definition of a Town Hall meeting.* (See Editor's Notes below.)
It was a meeting by invitation. Members of the local media were also invited and given name tags at the door if their names were "on the list." We had not received the invitation sent to the media and were thus not on the list. We were told we could wait in line and if there was extra room available after the "registered" visitors were accommodated we would be allowed to ascend to the third-floor room reserved for the event.
We found the third floor on our own and set up our video camera, although these same security forces again appeared and asked us to return to the first floor and "wait our turn." They tried to be polite in their failed efforts to evict us, and we were glad to read in the Aug. 18 Daily Mining Gazette some comments by organizer Mary Sears, explaining their difficulties in finding enough space to make the event open to the public. We are certain they believe in freedom of the press, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.**
Michigan Technological University President Glenn Mroz introduced Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (R-Ann Arbor) with a summary of his academic and business background and accomplishments -- one being his initiation of legislative efforts in establishing Smart Zones (Michigan Tech's own Smart Zone -- an alliance between university and business intended to create high-tech jobs and contribute to local economic development -- is well known).
"He's (Snyder is) really versed in economic development," Mroz said. "The thing that's most impressed me about the Governor is his willingness to listen, his willingness to meet with people, his forthright response to very difficult questions about the challenges facing the people of the state of Michigan."
Snyder has also dealt with these challenges by making sweeping changes in his budget, Mroz added.
Snyder began by saying his goal is not to "fix" Michigan but to "reinvent" it. He mentioned two main issues: the need for more and better jobs and the need to keep young people in the state.
He noted his visit was a good opportunity to have interaction and feedback from his "customers."
Snyder then spoke about balancing the budget. He noted the importance of eliminating the Michigan Business Tax to help create jobs. He also mentioned Michigan students' lack of adequate preparation for college and the need to reform the educational system.
During his recent tour of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder addresses an audience of invited community leaders on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton. Seated behind the Governor is 110th District State Representative Matt Huuki (R-Atlantic Mine). (Video by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)
Gov. Snyder claimed he had signed a significant number of bills from the legislature in his first six months in office but gave few details about them. He said plans for this fall would include efforts to call attention to health and wellness, followed by work on infrastructure improvement including water and sewer.
Although Snyder didn't mention the Emergency Financial Manager law, he explained his objective to have communities and school systems balance their budgets and keep better accounts. ***
After Snyder's speech, written questions from the audience included several on education. Michigan Tech President Mroz selected some of these to read to the Governor for his comments.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder answers a question on education, including his plans for rewarding good teachers. Michigan Tech President Glenn Mroz reads questions from the audience after the main part of Snyder's speech.
When it comes to economic development, Michigan now is doing "less hunting and more gardening," according to Snyder.
"We spent too much time over the last few years hunting -- which is going to get a few big out-of-state companies with huge incentive packages and trying to bring them to Michigan and essentially buying them into our state. That's not good business," Snyder explained.
"Gardening" means focusing on Michiganders creating and growing Michigan businesses through Smart Zones and other means that are already here.
Charlie Hopper of Eagle River, Mich., Pasty.NET general manager, who attended the event at the Bluffs, said that "gardening" idea -- taking the existing businesses and trying to help them develop -- was one thing he found interesting in the Governor's talk and an improvement over the last Republican governor.
"You've got to attract some out-of-state business," Hopper said. "But if you're doing that and neglecting the existing businesses that's not good."
Hopper noted that was the case under former Michigan Governor John Engler. He said he remembered hearing Engler speak with a focus on "bringing in the money" from outside the state and not really thinking about what could be done for businesses in the state.
Hopper has built his own local Internet service provider business, Pasty.NET from a basic dial-up to both DSL and wireless services in the Keweenaw and all over the U.P.
Besides adding 500 members in Marquette County, Pasty recently added Internet coverage in Sedar Bay.
"Cell phone companies are coming in, too, which is great," he said. "We've been in Copper Harbor since 2004, and they still don't have cell phone (access)."
Hopper said that may be because big corporations (such as cell phone companies) often neglect more remote areas, while a local Internet business such as his is able to provide services as soon as the technology is available.
In contrast to his stated priority for "gardening" -- cultivating home businesses -- Snyder expressed strong support in this speech for bringing mining back to the U.P.; and so far the companies showing interest by exploring, purchasing mineral rights and actually beginning construction for mining projects are not only from outside the state but from outside the U.S.
Rio Tinto, based in London, England, with its Eagle Project on the Yellow Dog Plains near Big Bay, hopes, with its subsidiary Kennecott Minerals, to begin mining for nickel and copper there as early as this September. Closer to Houghton, Highland Resources, Inc., based in Vancouver, Canada, recently announced a partnership with BRP LLC that will allow them to do exploratory drilling soon for a potential copper mining venture in Houghton and Keweenaw counties.****
Gov. Rick Snyder replies to a question on mining with "Let's go mine!"
Phil Musser, executive director of KEDA (Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance) expressed appreciation for Snyder's visit but noted the speech lacked certain details.
"We appreciate his coming here and meeting with community leaders," Musser said. "He mentioned the potential of the U.P. for tourism, mining and timber harvesting; and, in addition, we hope that he also recognizes the growing manufacturing and technology sectors in the U.P. and their potential for job creation."
In line with the "gardening" approach to local business, KEDA designs and implements proactive, sustainable programs that are focused on retaining and expanding existing firms, starting up new businesses, attracting entrepreneurs and companies to the Keweenaw and initiating projects that create the conditions for future economic growth.
Snyder did answer one question on green energy by noting its cost to power companies appeared to be going down. He called for greater energy efficiency but didn't mention concrete efforts to promote alternative forms of energy in Michigan.
To a question on delisting the Torch Lake Superfund site, Snyder admitted he wasn't familiar with it.
While Snyder made a reference to the "Pure Michigan" ads, noting he would like them to show people fishing or hunting, he did not really explain how mining could be compatible with the Upper Peninsula's existing tourism industry. He made no mention of protecting the Great Lakes or the Upper Peninsula's streams and wetlands except to express confidence that the Michigan mining laws would assure the mining is done correctly and doesn't harm the environment.
After the Governor's speech and question-answer session, State Senator Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) concluded the event with comments about his plans to work closely with the Governor to facilitate development of the mining industry in the Upper Peninsula. He compared himself to Moses in his wish to shout, "Let my people go" -- to free them from what Casperson terms "the biggest problem" -- federal regulation.
After Gov. Snyder's speech, Michigan State Senator Tom Casperson speaks to the invited audience at the Bluffs Senior Community in Houghton, Mich., on Aug. 16, 2011. Casperson speaks about mining in the Upper Peninsula.
Keweenaw Now also had an opportunity to chat with Houghton County Sheriff Brian McLean and Houghton Chief of Police John Donnelly after the speech.
"We're always excited when the Governor comes to town, and it was very nice to see a nice crowd come out and listen," Sheriff McLean said, "and hopefully some messages resound with everybody. Government being open -- that's what it's all about."
Houghton County Sheriff Brian Mc Lean gives his impression of Gov. Snyder's visit to the Bluffs in a brief conversation with Keweenaw Now. (Photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)
Asked if he was disappointed there was no protest rally, the Sheriff said laughingly, "Oh no, we're very happy. I hate wrestling!"
Chief of Police John Donnelly said he was glad everybody was well behaved and the event went smoothly.
"I enjoyed the setting," Chief Donnelly said. "It's the first time I've seen any governor speak in Houghton."
To a question on whether Snyder's budget cuts affect the local police, Donnelly replied affirmatively, but explained how law enforcement in neighboring communities share resources.
"Everything affects us," he said. "One of the things we're doing with the local law enforcement is making sure that we work together to be efficient."
One example is the partnering they do, especially with Hancock and Michigan Tech police, when certain serious calls, such as domestic violence, require the presence of two officers. Also, if the Houghton police have to go for weapons training, Hancock police cover the City of Houghton in their absence.
"You've got to work together, especially with shrinking budgets," Donnelly added.
Editor's Notes:
*After this experience, I searched for a definition of a "town hall meeting" and found this on Wikipedia (not always a reliable source, of course, but this seemed to be my own understanding of town hall meetings Keweenaw Now has covered in the past -- the most recent being one hosted by Tom Casperson and Matt Huuki at Michigan Tech, which was open to the public.) This is from Wikipedia's definition:
"A town hall meeting is a name given to an informal public meeting. Everybody in a town community is invited to attend, not always to voice their opinions, but to hear the responses from public figures and (if applicable) elected officials about shared subjects of interest."
For a second opinion, I searched again and found this definition on wisegeek.com:
"A town hall meeting is an informal public meeting which gives the members of a community an opportunity to get together to discuss emerging issues and to voice concerns and preferences for their community. A typical town hall meeting is attended by both citizens and officials, giving everyone a chance to talk personally in a relaxed environment about the things which matter to them."
Both of these definitions include the word "public"; therefore, one could assume a town hall meeting is open to the public.
A further search uncovered the one-word version: Townhall, which led me to townhall.com and Townhall Magazine, which, I discovered, are politically conservative publications.
An interesting spelling distinction (or error?) appears in two articles about the Governor's visit to Escanaba on Aug. 17, 2011. The advance story calls the event a town hall (two words), while the follow-up story calls it a townhall. (Emphasis ours.)
**Finally, on Aug. 18, an article in the Daily Mining Gazette quotes Mary Sears of the Houghton County Republicans' Office as to why Gov. Snyder's visit to the Bluffs was by invitation. Click here to read the article "Admission Denied." The media release she mentions was not received by Keweenaw Now.
See also a 2010 Escanaba Daily Press article about Tea Party support of the U.S. Constitution. The article also identifies Mary Sears as "one of the Tea Partiers" and "co-founder of Concerned Citizens of the U.P."
*** Click here for an update on the campaign to repeal the Emergency Financial Manager law in a Michigan Messenger article posted Aug. 17, 2011.
**** See the Aug. 11, 2011, article in the Daily Mining Gazette: "Partnership buys mineral rights for exploratory action."
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Photographer George Desort seeks support for new project on Isle Royale
Night Sky, Isle Royale, by George Desort. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo © and courtesy George Desort. Reprinted with permission.)
ISLE ROYALE -- Photographer George Desort is seeking support for his new project, Fifty Lakes One Island, an exploration -- through photography and words -- of the inland lakes on Isle Royale.
Fifty Lakes One Island differs from the predictable flora and fauna nature documentary in its attempt to discover the power of time alone in the wild. Blending words with images, the film brings the viewer on a transcendental journey through the woods and waters of Isle Royale.
The project will only be funded if at least $10,000 is pledged by 3:04 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 14.
Kessler Crane has generously agreed to match each donation, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000, to ensure that Fifty Lakes One Island is successfully produced.
Isle Royale has become a second home for Desort since he joined the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Study in 2005 as a filmmaker and photographer. His film Fortunate Wilderness, the Wolf and Moose Study of Isle Royale was a finalist at the 2009 International Wildlife Film Festival.
Photographer George Desort, left, chats with Bill Fink after Desort's presentation on wildlife filmmaking and photography and demonstration of his camera equipment during the UPEC (Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition) "Celebrate the UP!" event last March in the Jutila Center in Hancock. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
Click here to see a video clip and learn how you can help support the project.
For more info about Fortunate Wilderness visit www.fortunatewilderness.com.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Poem: "No One at the Shore"
By Cecelia LaPointe*
No One at the Shore
Could erase,
Time,
Barriers,
The lake knows,
Time,
Barriers,
The lake knows,
Before the land was divided up,
The worth of it,
Less,
The ancestors,
Knew no different,
The worth of it,
Less,
The ancestors,
Knew no different,
Why commerce,
Concentrated trade,
Instilled an incision,
In the heart,
The soul,
Of the land,
What's more real,
Is unheard,
We draw a line,
In the sand,
Before murder,
Before genocide,
And all we can hear is silence,
Regal pines,
Listening,
There was no wounding,
Souls not tarnished,
We remember this time,
Before our souls were disjointed,
When no one was on the shore.
Concentrated trade,
Instilled an incision,
In the heart,
The soul,
Of the land,
Value added,
Value taken,
What's more real,
Is unheard,
We draw a line,
In the sand,
Before murder,
Before genocide,
And all we can hear is silence,
Regal pines,
Listening,
There was no wounding,
Souls not tarnished,
We remember this time,
Before our souls were disjointed,
When no one was on the shore.
*Poet Cecelia LaPointe is a proud Anishinaabekwe of mixed heritage, and she strongly identifies with her Anishinaabe/Ojibway roots. She is an author, writer, poet and healer. Read more of her writing and see photos at Anishinaabekwe.com.
Grandpa's Barn to host Book Signings Aug. 20, 21 in Copper Harbor
COPPER HARBOR -- Book Signings will take place on the porch at Grandpa's Barn during Copper Harbor's Art in the Park this Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 20, 21.
Come and chat with these local authors and illustrators about their new books:
For more information call (906) 289-4377.
Come and chat with these local authors and illustrators about their new books:
- 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 -- Stars in the Water with author Lesley DuTemple and illustrator Jack Oyler;
- noon - 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21 -- Three Queens: 1971 and the Kilpela years at the Gateway to Isle Royale with author Ben Kilpela;
- 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21 -- Gelsomina’s Story of Caesar Lucchesi: A True Tale of Italian Immigrants with authors Lou Ellyn Helman and Maria Matson.
For more information call (906) 289-4377.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Portage Library to host last in Isle Royale Series for Kids Aug. 16
HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library will host Isle Royale National Park Rangers Katie Donovan and Lori Honrath for their final program in their series of naturalist programs for children from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. TODAY, Tues., Aug. 16.
Kids will learn what they can do to keep wilderness wild. In this program Donovan, Honrath, and the kids will talk trash and learn how to Leave No Trace in the big outdoors. Kids will learn six simple rules to become a responsible camper and use their new-found skills to investigate the "Leave No Trace" crime scene.
The Isle Royale Summer Series for Kids is suitable for children of all ages, and groups are welcome to attend.
Library programs are free and open to all. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.
Kids will learn what they can do to keep wilderness wild. In this program Donovan, Honrath, and the kids will talk trash and learn how to Leave No Trace in the big outdoors. Kids will learn six simple rules to become a responsible camper and use their new-found skills to investigate the "Leave No Trace" crime scene.
The Isle Royale Summer Series for Kids is suitable for children of all ages, and groups are welcome to attend.
Library programs are free and open to all. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.
Monday, August 15, 2011
New TV ad calls on U.S. Rep. Upton to protect Clean Air Act for children, families
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The American Lung Association in Michigan is kicking off a TV ad blitz and grassroots campaign aimed at Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) that urges him to end attempts to weaken the Clean Air Act and let the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) do its job of protecting public health. The ad focuses on the harmful effects of toxic air pollution and its impact on children’s health. The red carriage with sound effects, featured in the ad, will be visiting events in Upton’s district to demonstrate vividly how air pollution can affect children with asthma.
"We hope Representative Upton won’t ignore the science and facts behind harmful pollution, thus putting our children and our most vulnerable residents in danger," said Shelly Kiser, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association in Michigan. "For more than four decades, the EPA has established safeguards to protect public health, and it must be allowed to continue to do its job."
The ads, which will begin running this week throughout Upton’s congressional district in Southwest Michigan, come at a critical time. As chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Upton has made repeated attempts to strip the EPA of its ability to regulate harmful air pollutants. Upton this week was appointed to the 12-person congressional debt "super committee," and many fear that he will use his position on the super committee to block key provisions of the Clean Air Act.
The local ads are part of a national campaign by the American Lung Association that aims to shed light on the devastating effects of toxic air pollution on children’s health. Almost 1 million Michigan residents, including more than 225,000 children, suffer from asthma and are at risk for worsened symptoms, frequent attacks and hospitalization due to unhealthy levels of pollution.
The ads feature a red baby carriage with sounds of a child suffering respiratory distress while the red carriage stands alone in front of iconic D.C. landmarks including the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol.
Click here for a version of the ad on YouTube.
"We hope Representative Upton won’t ignore the science and facts behind harmful pollution, thus putting our children and our most vulnerable residents in danger," said Shelly Kiser, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association in Michigan. "For more than four decades, the EPA has established safeguards to protect public health, and it must be allowed to continue to do its job."
The ads, which will begin running this week throughout Upton’s congressional district in Southwest Michigan, come at a critical time. As chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Upton has made repeated attempts to strip the EPA of its ability to regulate harmful air pollutants. Upton this week was appointed to the 12-person congressional debt "super committee," and many fear that he will use his position on the super committee to block key provisions of the Clean Air Act.
The local ads are part of a national campaign by the American Lung Association that aims to shed light on the devastating effects of toxic air pollution on children’s health. Almost 1 million Michigan residents, including more than 225,000 children, suffer from asthma and are at risk for worsened symptoms, frequent attacks and hospitalization due to unhealthy levels of pollution.
The ads feature a red baby carriage with sounds of a child suffering respiratory distress while the red carriage stands alone in front of iconic D.C. landmarks including the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol.
Click here for a version of the ad on YouTube.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Red Metal Radio Show to return to Calumet Theatre, Eagle Radio Aug. 18
CALUMET -- The Red Metal Radio Show (RMRS) will return to the stage of the Calumet Theatre and to Eagle Country Radio, WCUP-FM, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18, for a live broadcast of entertaining Copper Country history. This will be the third annual broadcast of the show. Once again it is one of several events in Main Street Calumet’s Heritage Days.*
Cast members of the 2010 Red Metal Radio Show are pictured here. At far left is Oren Tikkanen, producer and co-host, and at far right is announcer Dick Storm of Eagle Radio. (Keweenaw Now file photo)
Oren Tikkanen, producer and co-host of the RMRS, says that the 2011 show is called "The Keweenaw according to Mac" and is based on the book, Keweenaw Character, by the late local historian, storyteller, and park designer, David "Mac" Frimodig.
"We looked at Mac’s book, and fell in love with the way he brought out the human experience of living here in the Keweenaw in the old days," Tikkanen explains. "The Frimodig family kindly gave us permission to base the show on Mac’s book, and we have adapted parts of it for radio."
Kris Kyro Johnson -- co-writer of the show’s script, co-host of the program, and featured singer -- adds, "Mac covers many of the communities in the Copper Country and a lot of interesting people, and we had to narrow our choices down. We let Mac guide us to Centennial Heights, Ahmeek, and Gay -- and we learn about Johan Salmela’s accordion, Tootsie the Bear, the Ten-Dollar Baby, silent movies in Ahmeek, and Banjo Jim. We also find out about Francis Jacker, the lighthouse keeper and writer, (and) his Ojibwa wife, Ikwesins; and we hear how Nanabozho, the Ojibwa hero of many legends, gave the porcupine his quills. And much, much more."
Music for this edition of the RMRS will be performed live onstage by Bob Norden’s Parade Band, with Benjie Brotherton on trumpet, clarinetist Debra Zei, drummer Sherrie Pellegrini, Roger Laub on tuba, and Bob Norden on trombone. Dave Bezotte, the stage pianist, will sing a song based on Keweenaw history. Also, RMRS regulars Melissa Lewis and Doug Bacon will perform some songs from the days of old-time radio.
Those attending the live performance at the Calumet Theatre are asked to plan on arriving around 6:30 p.m., and no one will be admitted after 6:50 p.m.
"We go live on the air at 7 p.m.," says Tikkanen, "so we must have everyone in their seats. The musicians will performing starting at 6:30, so there is a bonus for those who come early."
Ticket information can be obtained by calling the Calumet Theatre at 337-2610.
The broadcast show can be heard simultaneously on WCUP-FM, 105.7.
* Click here to read about the 2011 Heritage Days celebration this week, Aug. 15-20.
Cast members of the 2010 Red Metal Radio Show are pictured here. At far left is Oren Tikkanen, producer and co-host, and at far right is announcer Dick Storm of Eagle Radio. (Keweenaw Now file photo)
Oren Tikkanen, producer and co-host of the RMRS, says that the 2011 show is called "The Keweenaw according to Mac" and is based on the book, Keweenaw Character, by the late local historian, storyteller, and park designer, David "Mac" Frimodig.
"We looked at Mac’s book, and fell in love with the way he brought out the human experience of living here in the Keweenaw in the old days," Tikkanen explains. "The Frimodig family kindly gave us permission to base the show on Mac’s book, and we have adapted parts of it for radio."
Kris Kyro Johnson -- co-writer of the show’s script, co-host of the program, and featured singer -- adds, "Mac covers many of the communities in the Copper Country and a lot of interesting people, and we had to narrow our choices down. We let Mac guide us to Centennial Heights, Ahmeek, and Gay -- and we learn about Johan Salmela’s accordion, Tootsie the Bear, the Ten-Dollar Baby, silent movies in Ahmeek, and Banjo Jim. We also find out about Francis Jacker, the lighthouse keeper and writer, (and) his Ojibwa wife, Ikwesins; and we hear how Nanabozho, the Ojibwa hero of many legends, gave the porcupine his quills. And much, much more."
Music for this edition of the RMRS will be performed live onstage by Bob Norden’s Parade Band, with Benjie Brotherton on trumpet, clarinetist Debra Zei, drummer Sherrie Pellegrini, Roger Laub on tuba, and Bob Norden on trombone. Dave Bezotte, the stage pianist, will sing a song based on Keweenaw history. Also, RMRS regulars Melissa Lewis and Doug Bacon will perform some songs from the days of old-time radio.
Those attending the live performance at the Calumet Theatre are asked to plan on arriving around 6:30 p.m., and no one will be admitted after 6:50 p.m.
"We go live on the air at 7 p.m.," says Tikkanen, "so we must have everyone in their seats. The musicians will performing starting at 6:30, so there is a bonus for those who come early."
Ticket information can be obtained by calling the Calumet Theatre at 337-2610.
The broadcast show can be heard simultaneously on WCUP-FM, 105.7.
* Click here to read about the 2011 Heritage Days celebration this week, Aug. 15-20.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Main Street Calumet to host Heritage Celebration featuring KBIC Ojibwa culture Aug. 15-20
CALUMET -- This year Main Street Calumet’s annual Heritage Celebration honors the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s Ojibwa heritage with events during the week beginning Monday, Aug. 15, 2011, and culminating in the annual parade followed by activities at Agassiz Park in downtown Calumet on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011.*
Highlights of the week also include two performances by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) Dance Troupe and "Summer Cloud" Drum Group, KBIC tribal history, storytelling, an Ojibwa Fry Bread Demonstration, the Red Metal Radio Show and the Great Deer Chase mountain bike race.
The Copper Country Heritage Parade on Saturday, Aug. 20, will feature the KBIC Tribal Council, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Veterans Color Guard, the Dance Troupe, and Miss Keweenaw Bay.
Saturday's activities will also include a breakfast featuring ethnic food preceding the parade, a Coppertown USA Museum open house, a horseshoe tournament, live music, guided trolley and horse-drawn wagon tours, old-fashioned children's games, and traditional artists/crafters and food vendors.
* Click here for the Schedule of Events.
For information about the 2011 Heritage Celebration please visit the Main Street Calumet website at www.mainstreetcalumet.com. If you have questions about the event please call 906-337-6246 or email ereese@mainstreetcalumet.com.
For information about the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community please visit the KBIC Web site.
Dave Morehouse to perform at "Music on the Menu" Aug. 12
HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library invites everyone to bring a lunch and enjoy music by Dave Morehouse at "Music on the Menu," from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, August 12, on the dock outside the library.
Musician Dave Morehouse entertains with several instruments. Here he is pictured at the Ed Gray Gallery in Calumet. He will be featured at "Music on the Menu" at noon this Friday, Aug. 12, outside the Portage Lake District Library. (Keweenaw Now file photo)
Morehouse will carry his eclectic vision of music out to the audience. He will be opening with a few fiddle and mandolin tunes and continue by performing some solo guitar and vocal work featuring both original tunes and classic covers. Sometime during the performance he will briefly wield an accordion or a concertina; but, rest assured, he has filled out and submitted the required permits and alerts with proper authorities. The music will be good, but -- more than anything -- he promises to have fun.
Everyone is invited to eat, relax, and enjoy the lunch hour while listening to some great music. In the event of bad weather, the program will be held in the community room.
This event is part of the library’s Summer Reading Program and is free and open to all. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.
Musician Dave Morehouse entertains with several instruments. Here he is pictured at the Ed Gray Gallery in Calumet. He will be featured at "Music on the Menu" at noon this Friday, Aug. 12, outside the Portage Lake District Library. (Keweenaw Now file photo)
Morehouse will carry his eclectic vision of music out to the audience. He will be opening with a few fiddle and mandolin tunes and continue by performing some solo guitar and vocal work featuring both original tunes and classic covers. Sometime during the performance he will briefly wield an accordion or a concertina; but, rest assured, he has filled out and submitted the required permits and alerts with proper authorities. The music will be good, but -- more than anything -- he promises to have fun.
Everyone is invited to eat, relax, and enjoy the lunch hour while listening to some great music. In the event of bad weather, the program will be held in the community room.
This event is part of the library’s Summer Reading Program and is free and open to all. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.
Orpheum Theater to host Huffing Pink, Boone Fiala Aug. 12
HANCOCK -- Melissa Davis will be fronting her band Huffing Pink (complete with a new upright-bass player!) and Boone Fiala from Electric Park will be playing solo starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 12, at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock.
The show costs $5 at the door. Feel free to bring your favorite frosty beverage!
The Orpheum Theater is behind Studio Pizza in the former Pic Theater building on Quincy Street in Hancock. For more information call 482-5100.
The show costs $5 at the door. Feel free to bring your favorite frosty beverage!
The Orpheum Theater is behind Studio Pizza in the former Pic Theater building on Quincy Street in Hancock. For more information call 482-5100.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Club Indigo to feature "METROPOLIS" Aug. 12
CALUMET -- Friday's Club Indigo is a German event: Fritz Lang's silent film masterpiece METROPOLIS, newly restored, with all missing parts added, along with the original fully orchestrated score, will be shown at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, at the Calumet Theatre, preceded at 6 p.m. by a German buffet from Cormac of the Laurium Irish Times and the Houghton Shelden Street Grill. BYO if you please.
METROPOLIS is the first memorable science fiction movie ever made. It reveals in stunning details the difference between the "haves" living in an earthly paradise among futuristic buildings and transportation vehicles, and the "have nots" who must live underground and slave to make the lives above so rosy and carefree. Until, that is, the son of the ruler discovers the horrors below and with the aid of a sweet "have not" starts a revolution.
Made in the famed UFA studios in Germany, so huge that even a great flood is created, the movie was seven years in the making, with a cast of 3,600 (real people, no CGI at the time) and a phenomenal cost -- but acclaimed as the most memorable film of its kind. Sci fi movies today still use some of Lang's special effects.
Cost for movie and buffet, still $18 for adults, with a special discount for kids (they will enjoy it almost as much as adults for its fantastic visuals). Call the box office ASAP: 337-2610.
METROPOLIS is the first memorable science fiction movie ever made. It reveals in stunning details the difference between the "haves" living in an earthly paradise among futuristic buildings and transportation vehicles, and the "have nots" who must live underground and slave to make the lives above so rosy and carefree. Until, that is, the son of the ruler discovers the horrors below and with the aid of a sweet "have not" starts a revolution.
Made in the famed UFA studios in Germany, so huge that even a great flood is created, the movie was seven years in the making, with a cast of 3,600 (real people, no CGI at the time) and a phenomenal cost -- but acclaimed as the most memorable film of its kind. Sci fi movies today still use some of Lang's special effects.
Cost for movie and buffet, still $18 for adults, with a special discount for kids (they will enjoy it almost as much as adults for its fantastic visuals). Call the box office ASAP: 337-2610.
Stop Eagle Mine CALL-IN campaign to Gov. Snyder is Aug. 11, 12
From Save the Wild UP and Water Action Vital Earth (WAVE):
MARQUETTE -- Thursday, Aug. 11, and Friday, Aug. 12, are the CALL-IN days for contacting Gov. Rick Snyder to request that Kennecott/Rio Tinto halt work on the Eagle Project until a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement be conducted.
Rio Tinto/Kennecott has never had a non-polluting sulfide mine. Their new technology is untested. Our water, our health and our children’s health -- for generations to come -- is at risk.
Call Gov. Snyder's office at (517) 373-3400.
If you prefer to write, the WRITE-IN campaign continues through Aug. 21, 2011. Contact the Governor's office by Fax at (517) 335-7858; Email:rick.snyder@mich.gov; or write to Governor Rick Snyder, P.O. Box 30013, Lansing MI 48909.
MARQUETTE -- Thursday, Aug. 11, and Friday, Aug. 12, are the CALL-IN days for contacting Gov. Rick Snyder to request that Kennecott/Rio Tinto halt work on the Eagle Project until a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement be conducted.
Rio Tinto/Kennecott has never had a non-polluting sulfide mine. Their new technology is untested. Our water, our health and our children’s health -- for generations to come -- is at risk.
Call Gov. Snyder's office at (517) 373-3400.
If you prefer to write, the WRITE-IN campaign continues through Aug. 21, 2011. Contact the Governor's office by Fax at (517) 335-7858; Email:rick.snyder@mich.gov; or write to Governor Rick Snyder, P.O. Box 30013, Lansing MI 48909.
Jacqueline Lehto to share inspiring story Aug. 11 in Hancock
HANCOCK -- In an undertaking she calls "Hope After Hurt," between August 1 and August 18, 2011, Jacqueline Lehto is bicycling 800 miles around Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to raise awareness for the fight against sexual assault and domestic violence.
At two presentations in Hancock this Thursday, August 11, Lehto will share her own story of overcoming devastating abuse as both a child and as an adult. The first presentation is at the Finlandia University Finnish American Heritage Center from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. The second is at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Listeners of all ages will be inspired by Jacqueline’s story of courage, determination, and resilience in the face of great obstacles.
The presentations are free and open to the public and attendees are invited to wear the colors of purple, teal, and/or turquoise. Donations will be accepted to benefit the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home for Abused Women of Calumet, Mich.
Jacqueline Lehto has a master’s degree in education and has been a teacher of family and consumer science since 1996. During 2004-2005, she completed one year of congregational care and leadership studies at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., which included a one-month mission trip to China.
Lehto is also a wife, mother, and grandmother of five. She enjoys quilting, piano, downhill and cross-country skiing, motorcycling, and exploring Upper Peninsula waterfalls. During the summer of 2004, she pedaled her bicycle 2,000 miles across Mid-America to share her story.
Lehto frequently speaks to women’s and men’s groups and social service groups and agencies, and at conferences, domestic abuse shelters, junior and senior high schools.
On this summer’s bicycle tour, Lehto has already visited Florence, Wis., and Escanaba, Manistique, Naubinway, St. Ignace, Sault Ste. Marie, Newberry, Munising, Marquette, and L’Anse, Mich. Following her appearance in Hancock, she will continue her bicycle tour, speaking in Ontonagon, Bessemer, Watersmeet, Bruce Crossing, Iron River, Crystal Falls, and Iron Mountain, Mich.
For additional information, visit Lehto’s website at www.hopeafterhurt.com.
At two presentations in Hancock this Thursday, August 11, Lehto will share her own story of overcoming devastating abuse as both a child and as an adult. The first presentation is at the Finlandia University Finnish American Heritage Center from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. The second is at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Listeners of all ages will be inspired by Jacqueline’s story of courage, determination, and resilience in the face of great obstacles.
The presentations are free and open to the public and attendees are invited to wear the colors of purple, teal, and/or turquoise. Donations will be accepted to benefit the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home for Abused Women of Calumet, Mich.
Jacqueline Lehto has a master’s degree in education and has been a teacher of family and consumer science since 1996. During 2004-2005, she completed one year of congregational care and leadership studies at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., which included a one-month mission trip to China.
Lehto is also a wife, mother, and grandmother of five. She enjoys quilting, piano, downhill and cross-country skiing, motorcycling, and exploring Upper Peninsula waterfalls. During the summer of 2004, she pedaled her bicycle 2,000 miles across Mid-America to share her story.
Lehto frequently speaks to women’s and men’s groups and social service groups and agencies, and at conferences, domestic abuse shelters, junior and senior high schools.
On this summer’s bicycle tour, Lehto has already visited Florence, Wis., and Escanaba, Manistique, Naubinway, St. Ignace, Sault Ste. Marie, Newberry, Munising, Marquette, and L’Anse, Mich. Following her appearance in Hancock, she will continue her bicycle tour, speaking in Ontonagon, Bessemer, Watersmeet, Bruce Crossing, Iron River, Crystal Falls, and Iron Mountain, Mich.
For additional information, visit Lehto’s website at www.hopeafterhurt.com.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Updated: Calumet Art Center to present New Chamber Music Concert Aug. 11
CALUMET -- The Calumet Art Center will present New Chamber Music at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 11, 2011. This is a program of very recent new compositions. Admission is $5.
Composer and musician Paul Seitz says the concert program will be preceded by a Workshop (open rehearsal) at 10 a.m. Thursday, also at the Calumet Art Center:
Paul Seitz, violist, is a composer of opera and music for instrumental and vocal ensembles large and small. He has performed in many United States venues, including The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage and the Pine Mountain Music Festival. He has also played in performance venues in Slovenia, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Spain and Brazil. He currently teaches at the University of Missouri. (Photos courtesy Paul Seitz)
"In a concert program like ours, most of the music has never been performed before, and much of it is being rehearsed for the first time. So, although we have been preparing for weeks, we've always expected to be rehearsing right up to the day of the concert," Seitz explains. "All six of the composers who have written for this program will be at the evening concert and several will be present at the 'open rehearsal' as well. This is also a chance to observe the interaction of the performers with each other and with the composers and to get some extra insight into the music, as well as an opportunity to visit this lovely performing space."
Here is the tentative Program:
John Donne Songs, for voice and French horn (1972)** Paul Seitz
poems from The Litanie, by John Donne (1572-1631)
The Virgins
The Martyrs
Christine Seitz, soprano and John Peiffer, horn
"Who is this man?/Why did you have to dance with me" (2010)*
(from the musical, Trust Me) words and music by John Peiffer
Christine Seitz, soprano; John Peiffer, baritone; Jon Ensminger, piano
John Peiffer, horn and voice, has been Assistant Principal Horn of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra in Washington, DC since 1999. He has been coming to the U.P. to play Principal Horn with the Pine Mountain Music Festival since 2001. Enjoying the unique environment and the superb opportunities for skiing, kayaking and music making, he now divides his time between his residence in Maryland and his home in the Copper Country.
Three by May Sarton (1989)** Paul Seitz
poems by May Sarton (1912-1995)
I. Definition
II. Lullaby
III. Canticle
Christine Seitz, soprano, and Jon Ensminger, piano
Christine Seitz, former Opera Director for the Pine Mountain Music Festival, has been offering Voice Workshops in the Upper Peninsula since 1991 and recently offered one at the Calumet Art Center. Currently the Director of Opera at the University of Missouri and on the directing staff with the Des Moines Metro Opera, she is an accomplished opera singer and voice teacher.
Two Songs, for soprano, violin and viola (2011)* Nathan R Barber
poems by K Carlton Johnson, Lake Linden, MI
Imperia
Visiting Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland
Christine Seitz, soprano; Sylvia Ensminger, violin; Paul Seitz, viola
Nathan R. Barber is a native Michigander now living in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he currently teaches at Mercyhurst College and is Director of Operations and Music Librarian for the Erie Philharmonic. He has performed in various ensembles ranging from the Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Keweenaw Symphony Orchestras to Lansing Civic Theater and Calumet Players productions. Additionally, he has conducted the Byron Center Festival Band and Keweenaw Youth Symphony Orchestra.
More than All Roses, for string quartet (2011)* Robert Suits
Sylvia Ensminger, Elizabeth Meyer, violins; Paul Seitz, viola; Patrick Quimby, cello
Robert Suits, an Upper Peninsula native, is a longtime musician and composer, writing his first song in elementary school, and participating in community and school choruses from a very early age. He is currently pursuing a BA in History and in Music Composition at Amherst College in western Massachusetts. Despite much involvement in the world of music, he never planned to pursue music beyond a casual level of interest until his sophomore year at Amherst. At this point, he began to take composition seriously and has subsequently written multiple choral and instrumental works.
Concertino for Marimba and Strings (2008) Nathan R Barber
Thomas Bjoraker, marimba; Sylvia Ensminger, Elizabeth Meyer, violins; Paul Seitz, viola; Patrick Quimby, cello
Tom Bjoraker is currently working towards his degree in percussion performance at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (UWSP). During the last three years he has been studying under Robert Rosen and Ryan Korb. While at UWSP Tom has performed in the symphony orchestra, the wind ensemble, and the jazz combos.
Waltzing with Amadeus (2011)* Elizabeth Meyer
Bryan Suits, flute; Robyn Johnson, clarinet; Sylvia Ensminger, violin; Nathan Barber, percussion
Elizabeth (Libby) Meyer is currently Instructor Music in Theory/Composition and Film Music Studies at Michigan Technological University, Executive Director of the Copper Country Suzuki Association and founder of the Keweenaw Youth Symphony Orchestra. She has written music for orchestra, chamber groups, dance and children’s ensembles. As a violinist/violist she has performed with the Marquette Symphony, Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Civic Orchestra and the Pine Mountain Music Festival Orchestra.
*Indicates world premiere performance.
Composer and musician Paul Seitz says the concert program will be preceded by a Workshop (open rehearsal) at 10 a.m. Thursday, also at the Calumet Art Center:
Paul Seitz, violist, is a composer of opera and music for instrumental and vocal ensembles large and small. He has performed in many United States venues, including The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage and the Pine Mountain Music Festival. He has also played in performance venues in Slovenia, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Spain and Brazil. He currently teaches at the University of Missouri. (Photos courtesy Paul Seitz)
"In a concert program like ours, most of the music has never been performed before, and much of it is being rehearsed for the first time. So, although we have been preparing for weeks, we've always expected to be rehearsing right up to the day of the concert," Seitz explains. "All six of the composers who have written for this program will be at the evening concert and several will be present at the 'open rehearsal' as well. This is also a chance to observe the interaction of the performers with each other and with the composers and to get some extra insight into the music, as well as an opportunity to visit this lovely performing space."
Here is the tentative Program:
John Donne Songs, for voice and French horn (1972)** Paul Seitz
poems from The Litanie, by John Donne (1572-1631)
The Virgins
The Martyrs
Christine Seitz, soprano and John Peiffer, horn
"Who is this man?/Why did you have to dance with me" (2010)*
(from the musical, Trust Me) words and music by John Peiffer
Christine Seitz, soprano; John Peiffer, baritone; Jon Ensminger, piano
John Peiffer, horn and voice, has been Assistant Principal Horn of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra in Washington, DC since 1999. He has been coming to the U.P. to play Principal Horn with the Pine Mountain Music Festival since 2001. Enjoying the unique environment and the superb opportunities for skiing, kayaking and music making, he now divides his time between his residence in Maryland and his home in the Copper Country.
Three by May Sarton (1989)** Paul Seitz
poems by May Sarton (1912-1995)
I. Definition
II. Lullaby
III. Canticle
Christine Seitz, soprano, and Jon Ensminger, piano
Christine Seitz, former Opera Director for the Pine Mountain Music Festival, has been offering Voice Workshops in the Upper Peninsula since 1991 and recently offered one at the Calumet Art Center. Currently the Director of Opera at the University of Missouri and on the directing staff with the Des Moines Metro Opera, she is an accomplished opera singer and voice teacher.
Two Songs, for soprano, violin and viola (2011)* Nathan R Barber
poems by K Carlton Johnson, Lake Linden, MI
Imperia
Visiting Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland
Christine Seitz, soprano; Sylvia Ensminger, violin; Paul Seitz, viola
Nathan R. Barber is a native Michigander now living in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he currently teaches at Mercyhurst College and is Director of Operations and Music Librarian for the Erie Philharmonic. He has performed in various ensembles ranging from the Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Keweenaw Symphony Orchestras to Lansing Civic Theater and Calumet Players productions. Additionally, he has conducted the Byron Center Festival Band and Keweenaw Youth Symphony Orchestra.
More than All Roses, for string quartet (2011)* Robert Suits
Sylvia Ensminger, Elizabeth Meyer, violins; Paul Seitz, viola; Patrick Quimby, cello
Robert Suits, an Upper Peninsula native, is a longtime musician and composer, writing his first song in elementary school, and participating in community and school choruses from a very early age. He is currently pursuing a BA in History and in Music Composition at Amherst College in western Massachusetts. Despite much involvement in the world of music, he never planned to pursue music beyond a casual level of interest until his sophomore year at Amherst. At this point, he began to take composition seriously and has subsequently written multiple choral and instrumental works.
Concertino for Marimba and Strings (2008) Nathan R Barber
Thomas Bjoraker, marimba; Sylvia Ensminger, Elizabeth Meyer, violins; Paul Seitz, viola; Patrick Quimby, cello
Brief Intermission
Nine Heads Rolling, for solo percussion (2011)* by Thomas Bjoraker
Thomas Bjoraker, percussion
Waltzing with Amadeus (2011)* Elizabeth Meyer
Bryan Suits, flute; Robyn Johnson, clarinet; Sylvia Ensminger, violin; Nathan Barber, percussion
Elizabeth (Libby) Meyer is currently Instructor Music in Theory/Composition and Film Music Studies at Michigan Technological University, Executive Director of the Copper Country Suzuki Association and founder of the Keweenaw Youth Symphony Orchestra. She has written music for orchestra, chamber groups, dance and children’s ensembles. As a violinist/violist she has performed with the Marquette Symphony, Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Civic Orchestra and the Pine Mountain Music Festival Orchestra.
** Indicates Michigan premiere performance
The Calumet Art Center is at 57055 Fifth Street in Calumet. For information call (906) 281-3494.
The Calumet Art Center is at 57055 Fifth Street in Calumet. For information call (906) 281-3494.
Friday, August 05, 2011
Updated: KBIC welcomes 2011 Mother Earth Water Walk participants
By Michele Bourdieu
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) member Terri Denomie, left, joins Josephine Mandamin of Thunder Bay, Ont., during the 2011 Mother Earth Water Walk, on the way to the final destination, Bad River, Wis. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photo © 2011 and courtesy Roxanne Ornelas)
BARAGA -- The 2011 Mother Earth Water Walk reached its final destination -- Bad River, Wisconsin, in June. Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) members welcomed a group of Water Walkers with a reception and warm hospitality as the group stopped for an overnight rest near Baraga on June 8, a few days before the completion of the walk. Some KBIC members joined the water walkers for several hours before or after their arrival in Baraga.
"It was awesome," said KBIC member Cory Fountaine. "I met them somewhere out of Marquette, and I walked with them," he said.
Fountaine also carried the eagle staff, which symbolizes the unity of people.
The Mother Earth Water Walk is a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the importance of clean water and the sacred nature of water. The first walk in 2003 was inspired by the question, "What will you do for the water?"
Started by two Anishinaabe grandmothers, joined by a group of Anishinaabe women and men, the water walks began with walks around the Great Lakes: a walk around Lake Superior in 2003, Lake Michigan in 2004, Lake Huron in 2005, Lake Ontario in 2006, Lake Erie in 2007, Lake Michigan in 2008, and the St. Lawrence River in 2009.
The 2011 Water Walk united water from the four cardinal directions. Water from the vast Pacific Ocean, from the Gulf of Mexico, from the Atlantic Ocean and from Hudson Bay was gathered in copper pails and carried by hand to the shores of Lake Superior. Women from across the continent answered the call to journey over 10,400,000 steps carrying copper pails of sacred salt water, uniting in Bad River, Wis., on June 12, 2011.
The lead walkers are elder women from four Indigenous Nations. Walkers from the West began on April 9th in Olympia, Washington. The south started on April 20th from Gulfport, Mississippi. The East departed from Machais, Maine, on May 7th and the North set out May 21st from Winnipeg in Canada.
Among the leaders were two sisters from Thunder Bay, Ontario -- Josephine Mandamin and Melvina Flamand -- who spoke to Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) members during the June 8 reception at Ojibwa Community College in Baraga.
Josephine Mandamin of Thunder Bay, Ont., speaks to walkers and visitors during the reception held by Keweenaw Bay Indian Community members on June 8 at Ojibwa Community College in Baraga, Michigan. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
"I started April 9 from Olympia, Washington, picked up and carried the Pacific water," Mandamin said. "We're waiting for salt water of the East to be mingled with the fresh water of Lake Superior. We all know how healing the salt water is."
Water doesn't stop. It has to flow like the river. It has to keep moving, Mandamin added.
"It is a baby. It is a child that we carry from its home territory," she explained.
Josephine Mandamin reflects near water during the walk to Bad River, Wis. (Photo © 2011 and courtesy Roxanne Ornelas)
Mandamin said it was important to allow non-native people to walk with the group and help carry the water, since part of the purpose of the walk is to create a collective consciousness.
She noted Mother Earth is being abused by the big money-motivated corporations.
Money isn't that important to participants in the walk, Mandamin said, since they rely not on money but on the friendship of people.
Mandamin's sister, Melvina Flamand, spoke about the trials and tribulations endured by the water walkers; but her sense of humor was evident.
Melvina Flamand of Thunder Bay, sister of Josephine Mendamin, speaks during the reception for the walkers at Ojibwa Community College in Baraga. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
"I've been with my sister for the last nine years, and when she asks me to do something I don't ask questions," Flamand said. "If she asks me to go to the moon I will."
Panoka Walker of Monroe, Mich., a gardener who teaches culture classes like drum making and women's skills, said she's been walking with the group for a long time. She came up to the U.P. to meet them and finish this walk with them.
Participants in the 2011 Mother Earth Water Walk, pictured here in front of Ojibwa Community College last June, are, from left, Josephine Mandamin of Thunder Bay, Ont.; Panoka Walker of Monroe, Mich.; Cory La Fountaine of KBIC; and Josephine's sister Melvina Flamand of Thunder Bay, Ont. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
"I've known Josephine for a really long time," Walker said. "I first met her when they were doing the walk around Lake Michigan. She's a wonderful woman -- both she and her sister Mel (Melvina)."
KBIC members Charlotte Loonsfoot, left, and Jessica Koski helped host the reception for the walkers. They were among the KBIC members who joined the visitors the next day for part of the walk. See Charlotte's Facebook page for more photos of the walk. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
Joshua Metansinine of Thunder Bay, Josephine Mandamin's grandson, said he started this walk on May 7, a month before.
"I'm going right to the end," Metansinine said. "This is my third water walk."
Metansinine said he had also participated in walks around Lake Michigan and along the St. Lawrence River.
Another one of the younger walkers was Sylvie Forest of Sudbury, Ont., a nursing student at Cambrian College of Laurentian University.
Joshua Metansinine of Thunder Bay, Josephine Mandamin's grandson, speaks about his experience on the walk. Seated, second from left (wearing hat), is Sylvie Forest of Sudbury, Ontario. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
"This is the tenth day," she said of her participation in the walk.
She said she had been walking 12 to 15 hours a day and was planning to go all the way to Bad River.
"It just kind of fell in my lap," she said of her decision to join the walk.
Forest said she had met Josephine Mandamin at an elders day at the university in March.
"(Her) words about the water resonated in me," Forest said.
She noted also hearing a friend sing the song "Bring me little water, Sylvie" and she had a sort of déjà vu as if she had had a dream.
"A little spark went off in me," Forest said. "As a younger person I feel it's really important for the youth to step up and care for the water and learn from our elders."
Some KBIC members joined the walkers the morning after the reception to participate in part of the walk. Pictured here, stopping for lunch, from left, are Josh Metansinine, Sylvie Forest, Georgenia Earring Gizhiayaanimaad, Sue Chiblow, Gabriel Peltier, Hilda Atkinson, and E Naawakwogiizis Halverson. (Photo courtesy Charlotte Loonsfoot. See more photos on her Facebook page.)
Pauline Knapp-Spruce -- KBIC personnel director and co-organizer, with Terri Denomie, of the reception -- welcomed the walkers and distributed water bottles (not plastic) and other gifts to them.
Spruce said she was reminded of a challenging walk across the Mackinac Bridge and the women walkers' gratitude to men from Sault Ste. Marie who helped them carry the heavy eagle staff.
Pauline-Knapp Spruce, KBIC personnel director, welcomes the walk participants during the reception for them at Ojibwa Community College in Baraga, a few days before the conclusion of the walk at Bad River, Wis. Spruce and Terri Denomie, KBIC Head Start and Early Head Start director, organized the reception. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
"A friend of mine mentioned how blue the water was," Spruce said. "I don't see that. I see grey. I see brown. I see black."
She noted it's human beings who have made the water sick.
"Each one of us has a responsibility to this water because each one of us has a relationship to this earth," Spruce said.
Terry Denomie, KBIC Head Start and Early Head Start director and co-organizer of the reception, participated in part of the walk with the visitors and stayed with them at Van Riper State Park in Champion.
"It was fun. It was really fun!" she said. "We were on the road by 4 in the morning and put the eagle staff down at 4:30 p.m."
Roxanne Ornelas of Oxford, Ohio, said the group had walked about 38 miles that day.
"You just have to make sure you have good shoes (and bandaids)," she said.
Ornelas is a professor of geography and women's studies at Miami University of Ohio and teaches in the Institute of Environmental Science and Sustainability there.
In this photo of the last few yards of the walk at Bad River, Wis., Roxanne Ornelas is the walker in the turqoise jacket and blue skirt carrying the pail of water. (Photo © 2011 and courtesy Roxanne Ornelas)
"It's my life's work," Ornelas said of the experience of the walk.
Ornelas continued to the end of the walk and the closing ceremonies at Bad River, Wisconsin, and sent Keweenaw Now some photos.
Boats return to shore at Lake Superior after the convergence water ceremony. Photos were not allowed during the actual ceremony. The arrival of the boats was the official end of the 2011 Mother Earth Water Walk at Bad River, Wis. (Photo © 2011 and courtesy Roxanne Ornelas)
"The Water Walk made me even more committed to continue to do the work I am doing to raise awareness about the condition of our waters on this continent, as well as around the world," Ornelas writes. "It is the most important issue for the well-being of humanity as far as I am concerned. It is up to each and every one of us to do our part to protect our fresh water resources. The moment is now. We cannot expect to wait for others to change things for us. We have the responsibility to create change now. To me, this is what the Water Walk is all about."
For more about the Water Walks visit their Web site.
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) member Terri Denomie, left, joins Josephine Mandamin of Thunder Bay, Ont., during the 2011 Mother Earth Water Walk, on the way to the final destination, Bad River, Wis. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photo © 2011 and courtesy Roxanne Ornelas)
BARAGA -- The 2011 Mother Earth Water Walk reached its final destination -- Bad River, Wisconsin, in June. Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) members welcomed a group of Water Walkers with a reception and warm hospitality as the group stopped for an overnight rest near Baraga on June 8, a few days before the completion of the walk. Some KBIC members joined the water walkers for several hours before or after their arrival in Baraga.
"It was awesome," said KBIC member Cory Fountaine. "I met them somewhere out of Marquette, and I walked with them," he said.
Fountaine also carried the eagle staff, which symbolizes the unity of people.
The Mother Earth Water Walk is a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the importance of clean water and the sacred nature of water. The first walk in 2003 was inspired by the question, "What will you do for the water?"
Started by two Anishinaabe grandmothers, joined by a group of Anishinaabe women and men, the water walks began with walks around the Great Lakes: a walk around Lake Superior in 2003, Lake Michigan in 2004, Lake Huron in 2005, Lake Ontario in 2006, Lake Erie in 2007, Lake Michigan in 2008, and the St. Lawrence River in 2009.
The 2011 Water Walk united water from the four cardinal directions. Water from the vast Pacific Ocean, from the Gulf of Mexico, from the Atlantic Ocean and from Hudson Bay was gathered in copper pails and carried by hand to the shores of Lake Superior. Women from across the continent answered the call to journey over 10,400,000 steps carrying copper pails of sacred salt water, uniting in Bad River, Wis., on June 12, 2011.
The lead walkers are elder women from four Indigenous Nations. Walkers from the West began on April 9th in Olympia, Washington. The south started on April 20th from Gulfport, Mississippi. The East departed from Machais, Maine, on May 7th and the North set out May 21st from Winnipeg in Canada.
Among the leaders were two sisters from Thunder Bay, Ontario -- Josephine Mandamin and Melvina Flamand -- who spoke to Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) members during the June 8 reception at Ojibwa Community College in Baraga.
Josephine Mandamin of Thunder Bay, Ont., speaks to walkers and visitors during the reception held by Keweenaw Bay Indian Community members on June 8 at Ojibwa Community College in Baraga, Michigan. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
"I started April 9 from Olympia, Washington, picked up and carried the Pacific water," Mandamin said. "We're waiting for salt water of the East to be mingled with the fresh water of Lake Superior. We all know how healing the salt water is."
Water doesn't stop. It has to flow like the river. It has to keep moving, Mandamin added.
"It is a baby. It is a child that we carry from its home territory," she explained.
Josephine Mandamin reflects near water during the walk to Bad River, Wis. (Photo © 2011 and courtesy Roxanne Ornelas)
Mandamin said it was important to allow non-native people to walk with the group and help carry the water, since part of the purpose of the walk is to create a collective consciousness.
She noted Mother Earth is being abused by the big money-motivated corporations.
Money isn't that important to participants in the walk, Mandamin said, since they rely not on money but on the friendship of people.
Mandamin's sister, Melvina Flamand, spoke about the trials and tribulations endured by the water walkers; but her sense of humor was evident.
Melvina Flamand of Thunder Bay, sister of Josephine Mendamin, speaks during the reception for the walkers at Ojibwa Community College in Baraga. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
"I've been with my sister for the last nine years, and when she asks me to do something I don't ask questions," Flamand said. "If she asks me to go to the moon I will."
Panoka Walker of Monroe, Mich., a gardener who teaches culture classes like drum making and women's skills, said she's been walking with the group for a long time. She came up to the U.P. to meet them and finish this walk with them.
Participants in the 2011 Mother Earth Water Walk, pictured here in front of Ojibwa Community College last June, are, from left, Josephine Mandamin of Thunder Bay, Ont.; Panoka Walker of Monroe, Mich.; Cory La Fountaine of KBIC; and Josephine's sister Melvina Flamand of Thunder Bay, Ont. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
"I've known Josephine for a really long time," Walker said. "I first met her when they were doing the walk around Lake Michigan. She's a wonderful woman -- both she and her sister Mel (Melvina)."
KBIC members Charlotte Loonsfoot, left, and Jessica Koski helped host the reception for the walkers. They were among the KBIC members who joined the visitors the next day for part of the walk. See Charlotte's Facebook page for more photos of the walk. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
Joshua Metansinine of Thunder Bay, Josephine Mandamin's grandson, said he started this walk on May 7, a month before.
"I'm going right to the end," Metansinine said. "This is my third water walk."
Metansinine said he had also participated in walks around Lake Michigan and along the St. Lawrence River.
Another one of the younger walkers was Sylvie Forest of Sudbury, Ont., a nursing student at Cambrian College of Laurentian University.
Joshua Metansinine of Thunder Bay, Josephine Mandamin's grandson, speaks about his experience on the walk. Seated, second from left (wearing hat), is Sylvie Forest of Sudbury, Ontario. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
"This is the tenth day," she said of her participation in the walk.
She said she had been walking 12 to 15 hours a day and was planning to go all the way to Bad River.
"It just kind of fell in my lap," she said of her decision to join the walk.
Forest said she had met Josephine Mandamin at an elders day at the university in March.
"(Her) words about the water resonated in me," Forest said.
She noted also hearing a friend sing the song "Bring me little water, Sylvie" and she had a sort of déjà vu as if she had had a dream.
"A little spark went off in me," Forest said. "As a younger person I feel it's really important for the youth to step up and care for the water and learn from our elders."
Some KBIC members joined the walkers the morning after the reception to participate in part of the walk. Pictured here, stopping for lunch, from left, are Josh Metansinine, Sylvie Forest, Georgenia Earring Gizhiayaanimaad, Sue Chiblow, Gabriel Peltier, Hilda Atkinson, and E Naawakwogiizis Halverson. (Photo courtesy Charlotte Loonsfoot. See more photos on her Facebook page.)
Pauline Knapp-Spruce -- KBIC personnel director and co-organizer, with Terri Denomie, of the reception -- welcomed the walkers and distributed water bottles (not plastic) and other gifts to them.
Spruce said she was reminded of a challenging walk across the Mackinac Bridge and the women walkers' gratitude to men from Sault Ste. Marie who helped them carry the heavy eagle staff.
Pauline-Knapp Spruce, KBIC personnel director, welcomes the walk participants during the reception for them at Ojibwa Community College in Baraga, a few days before the conclusion of the walk at Bad River, Wis. Spruce and Terri Denomie, KBIC Head Start and Early Head Start director, organized the reception. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
"A friend of mine mentioned how blue the water was," Spruce said. "I don't see that. I see grey. I see brown. I see black."
She noted it's human beings who have made the water sick.
"Each one of us has a responsibility to this water because each one of us has a relationship to this earth," Spruce said.
Terry Denomie, KBIC Head Start and Early Head Start director and co-organizer of the reception, participated in part of the walk with the visitors and stayed with them at Van Riper State Park in Champion.
"It was fun. It was really fun!" she said. "We were on the road by 4 in the morning and put the eagle staff down at 4:30 p.m."
Roxanne Ornelas of Oxford, Ohio, said the group had walked about 38 miles that day.
"You just have to make sure you have good shoes (and bandaids)," she said.
Ornelas is a professor of geography and women's studies at Miami University of Ohio and teaches in the Institute of Environmental Science and Sustainability there.
In this photo of the last few yards of the walk at Bad River, Wis., Roxanne Ornelas is the walker in the turqoise jacket and blue skirt carrying the pail of water. (Photo © 2011 and courtesy Roxanne Ornelas)
"It's my life's work," Ornelas said of the experience of the walk.
Ornelas continued to the end of the walk and the closing ceremonies at Bad River, Wisconsin, and sent Keweenaw Now some photos.
Boats return to shore at Lake Superior after the convergence water ceremony. Photos were not allowed during the actual ceremony. The arrival of the boats was the official end of the 2011 Mother Earth Water Walk at Bad River, Wis. (Photo © 2011 and courtesy Roxanne Ornelas)
"The Water Walk made me even more committed to continue to do the work I am doing to raise awareness about the condition of our waters on this continent, as well as around the world," Ornelas writes. "It is the most important issue for the well-being of humanity as far as I am concerned. It is up to each and every one of us to do our part to protect our fresh water resources. The moment is now. We cannot expect to wait for others to change things for us. We have the responsibility to create change now. To me, this is what the Water Walk is all about."
For more about the Water Walks visit their Web site.
Environmental group asks Michigan Attorney General to investigate allegations of fraud at DEQ
From Stand for the Land:
Posted on Aug. 1, 2011
WAVE (Water Action Vital Earth), based in Marquette Mich., has joined mining expert Jack Parker and Laura Gauger in requesting an investigation into alleged fraud involving the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the permitting of Kennecott/Rio Tinto’s Eagle Mine Project.
Taking Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette at his word, "To uncover and prosecute crimes at all levels of state and local government," Parker and Gauger sent a report by Parker and a letter stating that the application to mine should have been rejected by the MDEQ.
Parker pointed out the following in a July 3 press release: "MDEQ ignored the conclusions and recommendations of their own expert and those of other experts and accepted the application. They went on to issue all permits demanded by Kennecott, regardless of protests by public and by experts. Kennecott has been conducting construction activities ever since, illegally but with the consent of MDEQ."
They are asking for support in the form of letters to the Attorney General and letters to the media.
Read more, including WAVE's letter to the A.G. and a citizen letter from Margaret Comfort ...
Posted on Aug. 1, 2011
WAVE (Water Action Vital Earth), based in Marquette Mich., has joined mining expert Jack Parker and Laura Gauger in requesting an investigation into alleged fraud involving the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the permitting of Kennecott/Rio Tinto’s Eagle Mine Project.
Taking Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette at his word, "To uncover and prosecute crimes at all levels of state and local government," Parker and Gauger sent a report by Parker and a letter stating that the application to mine should have been rejected by the MDEQ.
Parker pointed out the following in a July 3 press release: "MDEQ ignored the conclusions and recommendations of their own expert and those of other experts and accepted the application. They went on to issue all permits demanded by Kennecott, regardless of protests by public and by experts. Kennecott has been conducting construction activities ever since, illegally but with the consent of MDEQ."
They are asking for support in the form of letters to the Attorney General and letters to the media.
Read more, including WAVE's letter to the A.G. and a citizen letter from Margaret Comfort ...
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Christine Seitz Voice Workshop soloists to perform Aug. 7 at Calumet Art Center
CALUMET -- Christine Seitz, Master Teacher, is offering a Voice Workshop for solo singers today, Thursday, Aug. 4, and Friday, Aug. 5, at the Calumet Art Center. Workshop participants will perform for an audience at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, at the Calumet Art Center. The Sunday performance is free and open to the public.
The Workshop Sessions are from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
Seitz will coach each singer on ways to improve performance, including better breathing and tone production, expression of text, and confidence in performing.
Seitz, former Opera Director for the Pine Mountain Music Festival, has been offering Voice Workshops in the Upper Peninsula since 1991. Currently the Director of Opera at the University of Missouri and on the directing staff with the Des Moines Metro Opera, she is an accomplished opera singer and voice teacher.
For more information call (906) 281-3494.
The Workshop Sessions are from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
Seitz will coach each singer on ways to improve performance, including better breathing and tone production, expression of text, and confidence in performing.
Seitz, former Opera Director for the Pine Mountain Music Festival, has been offering Voice Workshops in the Upper Peninsula since 1991. Currently the Director of Opera at the University of Missouri and on the directing staff with the Des Moines Metro Opera, she is an accomplished opera singer and voice teacher.
For more information call (906) 281-3494.
Community Arts Center to exhibit paintings by Nicole Yarroch
HANCOCK -- "Lost in the Garden," an exhibition of paintings by Nicole Yarroch, is the new exhibit in the Kerredge Gallery at the Copper Country Community Arts Center through Sept. 3. A reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4.
Penguin, by Nicole Yarroch. (Image courtesy Community Arts Center)
Nicole Yarroch received her Bachelors of Fine Art from Kendall College of and Art and Design in 2009. Working primarily with gouache and oil paints, Yarroch's work examines the often tense relationships between humans and the natural world. Her works are two-dimensional dioramas, filled with unexpected combinations of flora and fauna.
"My diorama paintings seek to address the ways we humans have altered the natural world," Yarroch says. "By seeking to control and box in the wild, we have become more distant and ignorant of the complex workings of nature. I hope these paintings will encourage the viewer to foster a real connection with the physical world, one that extends beyond the artificial environments found in dioramas."
Her paintings have been influenced by the exotic jungle landscapes of Henri Rousseau and the colorful gardens of Pierre Bonnard.
This exhibit is supported in part by a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Community Arts Center is located at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock. Hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. For more information call 482-2333 or visit www.coppercountryarts.com.
Penguin, by Nicole Yarroch. (Image courtesy Community Arts Center)Nicole Yarroch received her Bachelors of Fine Art from Kendall College of and Art and Design in 2009. Working primarily with gouache and oil paints, Yarroch's work examines the often tense relationships between humans and the natural world. Her works are two-dimensional dioramas, filled with unexpected combinations of flora and fauna.
"My diorama paintings seek to address the ways we humans have altered the natural world," Yarroch says. "By seeking to control and box in the wild, we have become more distant and ignorant of the complex workings of nature. I hope these paintings will encourage the viewer to foster a real connection with the physical world, one that extends beyond the artificial environments found in dioramas."
Her paintings have been influenced by the exotic jungle landscapes of Henri Rousseau and the colorful gardens of Pierre Bonnard.
This exhibit is supported in part by a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Community Arts Center is located at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock. Hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. For more information call 482-2333 or visit www.coppercountryarts.com.
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