Residents brainstorm ideas on Hancock's future for Master Plan update

By Michele Bourdieu

During a public meeting at the Orpheum Theater on April 12, 2023, Hancock residents discuss and report on ideas for updating the City of Hancock Master Plan. Facilitating the discussions is Suzanne Schulz, standing at left, Urban Planning Practice leader from Progressive AE in Grand Rapids, Mich. A second meeting was held on April 13 at the Hancock Arena (see below). (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- Can Hancock walkability and bikability be improved despite the hilly topography of the City? Should the Hancock waterfront be improved for the public with boardwalks and a walking trail or developed for additional housing? Now that Finlandia University is closing its programs, how can the university properties such as the Jutila Center, Hirvonen Hall, the Quincy Green and more be best utilized to benefit City residents? 

These are just some of the questions discussed by Hancock residents during two recent public meetings intended to collect input for updating Hancock's 2018 Master Plan.* Residents could choose to attend one or both of the meetings -- one held at the Orpheum Theater on April 12 and the other at the Hancock (formerly Houghton County) Arena on April 13. The combined turnout was estimated at more than 100 residents for the two events. A team of three planning consultants from Progressive AE in Grand Rapids facilitated the two meetings to assist the City of Hancock with ideas for the Master Plan update.

April 12 Meeting at Orpheum Theater

At the beginning of the April 12 meeting in the Orpheum, Suzanne Schulz, Progressive AE Urban Planning Practice leader, introduces her Progressive AE assistants -- Joy Sportel, right, architect and planner, and James Kilborn, associate planner. Schulz also explains the series of activities for the meeting, including discussions of Hancock's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Challenges (SWOC) and a map study to brainstorm ideas for the future.

Following a short ice-breaker for residents to meet the people at their tables and write down what they like about Hancock, the small groups discussed Hancock's Strengths. They answered these questions: What is good about living in Hancock? What assets does Hancock have that other communities lack? Here they report to the larger group and facilitators:

During the April 12, 2023, meeting at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock, for gathering public input to update the City of Hancock Master Plan, residents speak about what they found in their discussion to be some of Hancock's strengths. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

Denise Hansen, retail manager for the Keweenaw Co-op, takes notes during the SWOC discussions to report to the larger group. Residents in the small groups took turns offering reports on their discussions.

The next step was to identify Hancock's Weaknesses, in answer to these questions: What are aspects of life in Hancock that need improving? What in Hancock is currently missing? Here are some of the weaknesses discussed and reported by the April 12 meeting attendants:

• poor sidewalks and need for sidewalk snow removal
• lack of retail employment
• noise from motorized trails
• poultry not allowed
• lack of access to waterfront
• lack of scheduled public transit
• downtown parking limited
• need for diverse housing
• blight in vacant housing
• downtown not walkable because of traffic speed
• too many offices and not enough restaurants or coffee shops downtown
• street lights should point down
• need to stop comparing to Houghton.
  

Miriam Pickens, who attended the Apr. 12 meeting, commented to Keweenaw Now on how some of those weaknesses could turn into opportunities for the City of Hancock.

"I found that there was a general sense that Hancock has a lot of potential," Pickens said of the discussions. "We have here a vibrant community with an Art Center, a larger Keweenaw Co-op downtown, and a college campus, though sadly closed, offering opportunity like never before. We don’t have to be a little sister to Houghton. We can choose a direction which is unique to us."

For the discussion on Opportunities, residents were to answer this question: "What actions can Hancock take to become an even better place to visit or call home? Here are some opportunities the groups reported at the April 12 meeting:

• more docks for water craft
• more non-motorized trails
• a YMCA/YWCA
• public library (possibly Finlandia's)
• work with Michigan Tech on developing electric recreational vehicles (less noisy)
• less light pollution (for dark sky)
• more public green space
• Co-op at new location downtown.
  

Cynthia Coté, Copper Country Community Arts Center executive director, while she wasn't able to stay for the whole meeting, said she was glad to see so many people come out for it. She added her group discussed some opportunities related to art. 

"Our group discussed creative ways to liven up some of the empty storefronts with pop ups and displays," Coté noted. "We also recognized the work of the Hancock Beautification Committee. The flowers and planters are fabulous."

Cynthia Coté, seated left, Copper Country Community Arts Center executive director, participates in a small-group discussion with Frank Fiala, standing, co-owner with son Boone Fiala of the Orpheum; Emily Fiala, Frank's wife; Troy Haaland; and Gena Daman.

Frank Fiala, co-owner of the Orpheum, circulated among the groups at the meeting.

"We were delighted to host the City of Hancock's initial meeting for the Master Plan revision and thoroughly impressed by the creativity, thought and passions expressed by those attending," he told Keweenaw Now.

For the fourth category, Challenges, participants discussed answers to this question: What factors pose a threat to Hancock's future success?

After brainstorming in their small groups, Hancock residents report on their discussion of current challenges to the City, including the topography, dependency on the Portage Lift Bridge, Bridge closures, the Adams Township water supply, poverty, lack of child care and more.

The final activity was a study of the map of Hancock to locate points of interest for future planning.

During the map study Zack Osborn (standing) and Ginger Alberti point out the location of the new Hancock Business Park, discussing how it might influence growth around the Maasto Hiihto preserve of skiing/biking trails and the general housing prices in the region. Also studying the map here are Mike Sabo, Ginger's husband, second from right, and Susan Burack, second from left.

Following the map study, participants reported on areas of change discussed in their small groups:

Areas of change noted here include the challenges of walkability, downtown needs for amenities, waterfront issues and more.

Participants here offer suggestions for re-use of Finlandia properties, including a potential public library and an art community in the Jutila Center. They also point out the need for more green space, a boardwalk along the canal, slower traffic through downtown and more.

Housing needs, including student housing quality, are discussed here as important for Hancock's future.

Mary Babcock, Hancock City Manager and Zoning Administrator, attended both the April 12 and April 13 Master Plan kickoff meetings and told Keweenaw Now she was very pleased at the turnout for both.

"We had 40 to 60 people at each event, which far exceeded our expectations," Babcock said. "The facilitators of the event were very happy in regards to both the number of attendees and the interaction during the meetings."

Mary Babcock, right, is pictured here with facilitator Suzanne Schulz during th April 12 meeting at the Orpheum in Hancock.

Todd Gast, Hancock Downtown Development Authority (DDA) coordinator, also attended both the April 12 and 13 meetings and commented on the turnout.

"The City of Hancock is so excited that so many of our residents came out on a beautiful day to be a part of this launch party for our Master Plan," he said.

April 13 Meeting at Hancock Arena

Attendees at the Hancock Arena on April 13 followed the same procedure of discussion activities as those who attended the meeting at the Orpheum on April 12. A few residents attended both meetings. One of those was Zack Osborn (pictured above in map study photo) who noted a division in the town.

"The master planning meetings demonstrated a careful balance that the citizens of Hancock want for their town, one that encourages economic growth and opportunity for its residents while simultaneously retaining its rural small town atmosphere and affordability," Osborn told Keweenaw Now.

Hancock residents filled the Sisu Room at the Hancock Arena (formerly Houghton County Arena) on April 13, 2023, to discuss their ideas for updating the City of Hancock Master Plan. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

Following the ice breaker at the beginning of the meeting, individuals spoke about their ideas for public transit between Houghton and Hancock, snow plow improvement and solar energy:

Participants at the April 13 meeting on updating Hancock's Master Plan discuss the need to have public transit between Houghton and Hancock, modeled on a shuttle van already available to Michigan Tech students. Others comment on snow plow technology and solar energy. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

The small groups then discussed Hancock's Strengths and reported on these for the general discussion:

Hancock's strengths mentioned at this meeting include a few more specific examples than those noted at the April 12 meeting, such as new leadership, fairgrounds, technology businesses, etc. At both meetings "the people" were mentioned as strengths.

As for Weaknesses, the April 13 group echoed many of those mentioned the previous day, such as limited downtown parking, lack of public transit, limited housing, lack of waterfront access, public restrooms, need for a non-motorized trail, etc.

In an email reply to Keweenaw Now, Allyson Jabusch, a member of the Hancock Beautification Group, commented on the need for a non-motorized walking trail along the waterfront.

"My intent for being there was to ensure mention of the creation of a waterfront walking trail," Jabusch writes. "Was glad to hear this brought up by others too. Not surprising as waterfront improvements have been listed as 'planned actions' for a long time. The City of Hancock’s Strategic Plan Update for 2012-2016 lists 'extend Navy Street one-way east to west, from the condos to Forest Street, after securing the necessary easements…continue installing boardwalk segments and fishing piers along the waterfront where appropriate.' Would really like to be able to walk along the waterfront under a tunnel of trees with the birds calling in the shrubbery or on the shoreline -- waterfowl present until boating activity fires up."

Hancock resident Allyson Jabusch, at right in foreground, is pictured here with her small discussion group at the April 13 meeting at the Arena.

Jabusch, who often attends Hancock City Council meetings, added she was encouraged by the turnout at this meeting.

"All ages, earnest folk too, who really seemed to care about the community. The event seemed to elicit lots of good ideas, like the one about expanding bus service," Jabush noted. "Really like this community and our City’s governing peeps."

During the April 13 meeting, several of those good ideas came up in the discussion of Opportunities for making Hancock a better place to live or visit -- including these not mentioned on the previous day:

• making Quincy Street more pedestrian friendly in two ways and re-routing US 41 to Hancock Street
• free public transportation
• preserving historic buildings through zoning ordinances
• more winter family events
• affordable housing
• 4-season biking
• improving the intersection near Gino's restaurant
• renewable energy from timber.

In the Challenges category, the April 13 group expressed concerns about how the sale/re-use of Finlandia's buildings is under a receivership with little communication or transparency on how it is being handled:

Residents point out here that the opportunities Finlandia's closing offers to the City, such as potential needed housing, are challenged by the receivership arrangement.

Jim Kurtti, Honorary Consul of Finland in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and recently retired director of the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock, attended the April 13 meeting and commented on it in an email to Keweenaw Now.

"I'm heartened by all the concern and in particular, constructive ideas regarding the soon to be empty buildings on Finlandia's campus," Kurtti writes. "The community, especially in Hancock, is rallying well to make the change positive. Much of the efforts are relative to the Finnish brand on the City, which is also very positive. I'm very encouraged."

Kurtti said most of the people at his table were new residents of Hancock.

"Our table was mostly populated by new residents, who really value the small town strengths and want Hancock to be prepared for the future when people discover all the great things the UP has, in particular, communities like Hancock," he noted.

Jim Kurtti, third from right, shared this table with some new Hancock residents. James Kilborn, second from right, Progressive AE associate planner, circulated among the small groups during discussions.

Additional challenges mentioned during the April 13 meeting included follow-through on blight, lack of space for development, housing affordability, lack of willingness to change and more.

Diane Eshbach, Hancock business owner, notes items discussed under the four categories (SWOC) at her small group's table.

Following the map study, residents at the April 13 meeting spoke about their ideas for change that they would like to see included in the updated Master Plan.

Residents express differing ideas on development in Hancock vs. keeping its small-town quality of life.

Participants continue their report on the discussion of potential changes, including ways to improve the aesthetics of the City to make it attractive to tourists and pedestrian crossings at difficult intersections on US 41, such as the corner near Pat's IGA at the top of White Street.

Both Progressive AE facilitators for these meetings -- Joy Sportel, architect and planner, and James Kilborn, associate planner -- had very positive reactions to Hancock residents' participation.

Joy Sportel and James Kilborn, Progressive AE facilitators, are pictured here following the April 13 meeting at the Hancock City / County Arena.

"This is probably the most well attended and engaging community event I've ever facilitated," Sportel told Keweenaw Now. "We hold these types of events pretty often, and this was great. We got so much information!"

Kilborn also noted he was very happy with the turnout at both meetings.

"I think the number of people that came to express their ideas for the future really demonstrates their excitement and their care for what they'd like to see for the future of Hancock," Kilborn said.

Suzanne Schulz, Progressive AE Urban Planning Practice leader, expressed her enthusiasm and appreciation for the public input gathered at the two meetings for updating the City of Hancock Master Plan.

In an interview with Keweenaw Now following the April 13 meeting at the Arena, Suzanne Schulz summarizes several of residents' suggestions for Hancock's future that will assist in the Master Plan update. She mentions also the survey that all Hancock residents are invited to complete to aid in the planning process.

The survey for the City of Hancock Master Plan Update is now online. Hancock residents are invited to answer just 6 questions on what they view as opportunities for change and what they want to see for Hancock's future. The survey takes only an estimated four minutes to complete, with an optional text box for additional comments.

* Editor's Note: To learn more about the City of Hancock -- its history, government, news and events, recreational opportunities and more -- visit the City of Hancock Web site. The 2018 Hancock Master Plan is available on the City's Web site here.

MTU Board of Trustees Approves Plans for New Residence Hall, Nursing Program

A rendering of the new residence hall from above US 41 looking east. It will be located at the east side of campus on Highway 41, just east of the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, and is slated to offer suites with both single- and double-occupancy bedrooms and semiprivate baths. (Image courtesy Michigan Technological University)

HOUGHTON --On Friday Apr. 28, the Board of Trustees for Michigan Technological University voted to approve a number of new initiatives on campus, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and plans to build a new residence hall for undergraduate students.

The new residence hall will house more than 500 second-year and upper-division students, tentatively beginning in fall 2025. 

"With enrollment expanding at the University, access to contemporary, affordable housing is a high priority for Michigan Tech," said Michigan Tech President Rick Koubek. "This vote by the Board of Trustees supports an exciting era of growth for the University and enables us to meet the needs of future Tech students through our campus master planning efforts."

Pending approval from Michigan Tech’s institutional accreditor and the Michigan Board of Nursing, the University will begin admitting students to the nursing program this fall.

"Support for adding the nursing program at Michigan Tech has been universal," said Andrew Storer, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. "Everyone involved understood the importance of a four-year nursing program remaining in the local area, and also that Michigan Tech is the perfect university to offer such a program."

For more information read the full story by Rick White on Michigan Tech News

Line 5 ACTION ALERT: Tell Canadian Ministers to Stop Misusing the 1977 Transit Pipelines Treaty

From: Cross Border Organizing Working Group of the Line 5 Coalition
Posted on Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative
Shared here with permission

During the COP 15 Biodiversity Conference in Montreal last December, Indigenous communities protest against Enbridge, the company owning Line 5. (File photo © and courtesy Rebecca Kemble of the Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative)

The Cross Border Organizing Working Group of the Line 5 Coalition is an international group of activists and Indigenous leaders working to shut down Enbridge’s Line 5. We have drafted a letter to key Canadian Ministers asking them to stop misusing a 1977 treaty in order to keep a decrepit pipeline in service.

Canada has formally invoked Article Six of the 1977 Transit Pipelines Treaty twice to keep the 70-year-old Line 5 operating. First on October 4, 2021, in response to Michigan Governor Whitmer’s order to shut the pipeline down after a ship’s anchor strike causing significant risk to the Straits of Mackinac. They did so a second time on August 29, 2022, when the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa discovered serious erosion beneath the pipeline leaving it unsupported, and at significant risk of failure with the next severe weather event.

We intend to deliver the letter on April 24, the day after Line 5 turns 70 years old, 20 years past its planned life expectancy.

Please join us in asking the Canadian government to stop impeding the efforts to uphold the inherent rights of the Indigenous Nations of the Great Lakes while honoring all of the treaties with Indigenous Nations north and south of the border that predate and supersede the 1977 pipeline treaty. You can sign on to the letter as an organization or as an individual HERE or CLICK HERE to read a copy of the letter and sign it on the Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative Web site.

Houghton County Commission passes 2nd Amendment resolution

By Jennifer Donovan
Posted on Copper Beacon April 14, 2023
Reprinted in part here with permission

The Houghton County Circuit Courtroom, filled to standing-room only on April 11, 2023. (Photo by Juxta Sprague and courtesy Copper Beacon. Reprinted with permission.)

Three years ago, the Houghton County Board of Commissioners debated and ultimately voted 3 to 2 against a Second Amendment Sanctuary County resolution. At its meeting on April 11, the board considered a new, revised resolution and passed it 4 to 1.

The new resolution does not mention the words "sanctuary county."

The new resolution affirms support of "all constitutional rights, including, but not limited to, the right of the people to keep and bear arms." It also calls for adequate funding of mental health services.... CLICK HERE to read the rest of this April 14, 2023, article in the News section of Copper Beacon.

Western UP Health Department warns of potential health hazards from contact with contaminated floodwaters

BARAGA, GOGEBIC, HOUGHTON, KEWEENAW, and ONTONAGON counties -- The Western UP Health Department (WUPHD) encourages all district residents to avoid contact with any floodwaters. Floodwaters may contain sewage or other contaminants that may be harmful to public health.

"Warm weather and fast snow melt have resulted in municipal combined sewer systems discharging to surface water in many of our communities," said Kate Beer, Health Officer at WUPHD. "Where floodwater contains sewage, the potential for infectious disease is of concern."

Combined sewer systems are common across the area and are designed to collect rainwater runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial waste water in the same network of pipes. Heavy rainfall and a fast spring snowmelt frequently result in an overflow to the surface.

WUPHD is advising the public to avoid all contact with floodwater and surface water during the spring snowmelt period. Children should be discouraged from playing in floodwater. Always wash hands with soap and water after contact with floodwater or after cleanup of flood-affected material.

The WUPHD urges all homeowners with flooded basements to use caution during clean up. Use rubber gloves and boots. Throw out food that may have been in contact with floodwater.

Homeowners that live on a property that has a well should inspect the well for evidence of having been under floodwater. If it has been under floodwater, it should be tested for contamination or disinfected before use. Testing and disinfection instructions are available on the health department website at www.wupdhd.org/water-supply-program/.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the WUPHD at (906) 482-7382 or visit their website at www.wuphd.org.

Editor's Note: See also the April 14, 2023, Copper Beacon article, "Flooding causes local state of emergency," by Joshua Vissers, with photos from Emergency Management Coordinator Chris Van Arsdale.

CHESS, the musical, is at Rozsa April 12-15

Chess, the musical, is at the Rozsa Wednesday through Saturday, April 12-15. (Poster courtesy Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts)

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Tech Theatre is proud to present the musical Chess at 7:30 p.m. from Wednesday, April 12, through Saturday, April 15, 2023, at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts. A beloved musical that has captivated audiences since its debut in 1986, Chess will captivate audiences with its unique blend of drama, music, and dance. Tickets, general admission seating, are available online or at the Rozsa Box Office: $20 for adults, $5 for youth under 18, and free for Michigan Tech Students with a valid student ID.

In this groundbreaking rock musical, the ancient game becomes a metaphor for romantic rivalries, competitive gamesmanship, super-power politics, and international intrigue.

"Set in the final stages of the Cold War...[the] international competition provides a window of opportunity for players to escape the oppressive regime of the U.S.S.R.," says Director
Trish Helsel. "The musical is an allegory where the players are 'pawns' in a political war between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R." Inset photo: Patricia Helsel (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech University)

The production features a book by Richard Nelson and lyrics by Tim Rice, and an incredible score by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, members of ABBA, and includes the hit songs, "One Night in Bangkok" and "Heaven Help My Heart."

Both entertaining and provocative, the show’s language and content are intended for mature audiences.

The cast and crew -- nearly 100 people from Michigan Tech and the Keweenaw community -- have been hard at work preparing for this production, and audiences can expect to be blown away by the set, costumes, and lighting designed to enhance the show's stunning visuals, driving music, and compelling story.

"The show is more relevant now when we can see the parallels between the Hungarian uprising of 1956 against the U.S.S.R. and the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia," reflects Helsel.

Director Patricia Helsel is an Associate Professor of Theatre and head of Theatre and Electronic Media Performance at Michigan Tech. Patricia has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting and Directing from Minnesota State University - Mankato, and a B.A. degree in Theatre and Music, from Elmira College. Her professional work includes directing and performance (stage, radio, T.V.).

Tickets for the public are available now at mtu.edu/rozsa, 906-487-1906, or at the Rozsa Box Office from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday through Friday or for 1 hour before shows. Michigan
Tech Students can reserve free Experience Tech tickets online, and Student Rush will be available at the door.

Tribal and First Nations rebuke Canada’s support of Line 5 Pipeline to U.N. Human Rights Council

From: Sierra Club*
Posted by Michigan Anishinaabek Caucus on April 5, 2023

This map shows a North American pipeline system including Line 5 (bright red line) -- which carries oil from Superior, Wis., to refineries at Sarnia, Ontario. Line 5 uses the Straits of Mackinac as a short cut, jeopardizing Great Lakes waters and nearby lands, including the Bad River reservation in northwestern Wisconsin. Click on map for larger version. (Map courtesy Oil and Water Don't Mix)

Pipeline poses direct threats to the human rights of frontline Indigenous communities and the environment.

GENEVA, Switzerland -- Representatives of 51 Tribal and First Nations located in what is now the United States and Canada submitted an April 4, 2023, report to the United Nations Human Rights Council calling on the Government of Canada to stop violating the human rights of Indigenous peoples through its support for Enbridge’s Line 5 crude oil pipeline. First constructed in 1953, Line 5 runs between Wisconsin and Ontario, traversing major waterways and posing direct threats to Tribal Nations, communities, and ecosystems along its path.

The groups submitted the report for consideration under Canada’s upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR). As a U.N. member state, Canada’s human rights record is periodically scrutinized by U.N. member States through the UPR at the Human Rights Council. The 2023 UPR session will take place from Nov. 6-17 this year, and it will be Canada’s fourth review.

Line 5, which trespasses on traditional Anishinaabe territories in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ontario, faces lawsuits from Tribal Nations and the State of Michigan. Rather than respect and defend the rights of Indigenous peoples, Canada’s government has shielded Enbridge from being shut down, invoking the 1977 Transit Pipeline Treaty with the U.S. and making legal submissions in U.S. courts to keep the pipeline operating.

The communities and their council offered the following statements:

• "The rights of Indigenous people, of my people, are rights that should be respected by all sovereigns both domestic and abroad," said President Whitney Gravelle of the Bay Mills Indian Community. "Canada’s support of Line 5 is a disaster in the making for the entire Great Lakes region because an oil spill will poison our fish, harm our sacred sites, contaminate our drinking water -- and ultimately destroy our Indigenous way of life."
  
  
• "The Straits of Mackinac are central to the Anishinaabe creation story, which makes this location sacred from both a cultural and historical perspective in the formation of the Anishinaabe people," said Chairperson Austin Lowes of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. "Protecting the Straits is also a matter of the utmost environmental and economic importance -- both to our people and the state of Michigan."
  
  
• "The Bad River Band is saddened by the fact that Canada’s actions have required us to raise our complaints with the United Nations, but Canada has left the Tribes with no choice," said Chairman Michael Wiggins Jr. of the Bad River Band. "Canada has deliberately interfered in our efforts to protect our homeland. It has sought to block us from evicting a company that has trespassed on our lands for a decade and whose actions pose an existential threat to the Bad River watershed and our very way of life. It has likewise interfered with the efforts of Bay Mills and our other sister tribes in Michigan to protect their sacred waterways and fisheries. Canada’s prioritization of the profits of its oil and gas companies over the rights of indigenous peoples on both sides of the border demands the attention of all people of good faith."
  
  
• "Canada's international human rights obligations are clear," said EarthRights General Counsel Marco Simons. "The State must respect and actively protect Indigenous peoples' lands and way of life, including by regulating the activities of the corporations under its jurisdiction that pose threats to Indigenous rights. Not only has Canada failed in this obligation by refusing to decommission the degrading Line 5 or even consult with the affected Indigenous populations, but it is actively intervening legally and diplomatically to ensure that Enbridge can operate Line 5 for decades to come. Indigenous communities deserve better."
  
  
• "Line 5 poses an unacceptable risk to the treaty-protected natural and cultural resources of Indigenous Peoples around the Great Lakes," added Elizabeth Goldstein, Emma Schwartz, and Jack Schnettler, student attorneys in the Georgetown Environmental Law and Justice Clinic. "By supporting fossil fuel projects like Line 5, Canada is exacerbating climate change and perpetuating environmental injustices. The Clinic was thrilled to work with the Bay Mills Indian Community to expose these injustices and support frontline communities that experience devastating impacts of climate change while being excluded from decision-making affecting their lands and very way of life."
  
  
• "Canada's proactive actions to support Line 5 in the face of the climate crisis, its environmental and human rights risks, and the clear opposition of affected Indigenous communities stands in direct contrast to its climate and human rights obligations," said Tamara Morgenthau, senior attorney, Center for International Environmental Law. "Amidst the climate crisis and an urgent need to phase out fossil fuels, Canada is locking us into further dependency on fossil fuels."
  

The communities urge the Government of Canada to:

* Withdraw its invocation of the Pipeline Treaty and its positions in U.S. litigation opposing decommissioning Line 5.

* Ensure that affected Indigenous Nations, who are sovereigns and human rights holders, are invited to participate in discussions regarding Line 5’s future, including any negotiations under the Pipeline Treaty, so long as they continue.

* Interpret all international treaties, including the Pipeline Treaty, consistently with Canada’s human rights obligations.

* Ensure affected Indigenous Peoples’ FPIC (Free, Prior and Informed Consent) before providing support for extractive sector projects and withdraw support from projects that do not have affected Indigenous Peoples’ FPIC.

* Ensure that corporations under Canadian jurisdiction do not cause or contribute to foreseeable threats to human rights.

The report was submitted by the Anishinabek Nation, Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Bay Mills Indian Community, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Hannahville Indian Community, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, together with the Center for International Environmental Law, EarthRights International, Environmental Defence Canada, and the Georgetown University Law Center Environmental Law and Justice Clinic.

* Editor's Note: Thanks to David Holtz of the Sierra Club for this press release and to the Michigan Anishinaabek Caucus for sharing it.

Inclined to Innovate: Old Mines Inspire a New Energy Landscape

By Cyndi Perkins*
Posted in 2023 Tech Magazine
Reprinted here in part with permission.

Michigan Tech professors Roman Sidortsov, left, and Tim Scarlett on Quincy Hill. The two colleagues in the Department of Social Sciences are leading a research team in an initiative called PUSH -- pumped underground storage hydropower, or using hydropower to store energy in old hard-metal mines. Michigan Tech's PUSH research was presented at the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference. (Photo © Alok Shelar / Michigan Technological University)

Upper Peninsula mining established Michigan Tech -- and the boom days' remains, from mine tailings to abandoned shafts, are sparking world-changing energy-transition breakthroughs at the University. One idea that's attracting national headlines and international collaboration? Using hydropower to store energy in old hard-metal mines.

Some people get their best ideas in the shower. Or while they're driving. Or working out. Energy policy expert Roman Sidortsov got one of his on an uphill run through an iconic Keweenaw copper mine site. His aha! moment came on Quincy Hill, home to Old Reliable, the mine nicknamed for the steady dividends it paid to investors from 1864 to 1920, and led to an initiative called PUSH: pumped underground storage hydropower.

"The idea popped into my head when I was running with my dog," Sidortsov said. "I was huffing and puffing on that steep, steep trail, and looking at the hoist and the railway track thinking, 'There's quite a bit of elevation there.' This idea came: How would you utilize this elevation, and how would you do that inside a mine? What would it look like?" 

Roman Sidortsov with his "inspiration dog" Archie on Quincy Hill. The Quincy Mine Hoist is in the background. (Photo © Alok Shelar / Michigan Technological University)

"This is a rare moment in time where communities can choose to leverage their liabilities as assets."

--Timothy Scarlett, PUSH team member and industrial archaeology expert

Sidortsov shared the idea with Michigan Tech colleagues, including fellow Department of Social Sciences faculty member Timothy Scarlett. He asked Scarlett, an expert in industrial heritage and archaeology who has studied the Keweenaw mining region for years, "Why doesn't anyone in the UP use hydropower?"

View of the Portage Lift Bridge connecting Hancock and Houghton from the railway track at the Quincy Mine site. (Photo © Alok Shelar / Michigan Technological University)

To put a twist on the adage, the rest isn't history. It's the story of how our past can power the future. Sidortsov assembled a research team of scientists and engineers who proved it's feasible to store energy in old hard-metal mines, transforming them into cost-effective, income-generating community resources. The initiative, developed by Michigan Tech's Keweenaw Energy Transition Lab (KETL), is a novel closed-loop underground system that provides an elegant solution to address the global energy crisis on several fronts, from affordability and environmental cleanup to cultural respect and energy justice for post-mining communities. ...

CLICK HERE to read the rest of this article and learn more about this PUSH research project at Michigan Tech, its team members and funding source, and to watch YouTube videos on the PUSH research and its potential to help local communities.

* Cyndi Perkins, author of this article, is a Senior Content Specialist for Michigan Tech University Marketing and Communications.

Letter: Proposed rocket launch at Granot Loma on Lake Superior would inflict overwhelming damage on water, land, community

By Mary Holohan*
Reprinted from North Wind newspaper with permission of author.

A sign near the site of the proposed rocket launch project on Lake Superior near Marquette indicates opposition. (Photo courtesy Citizens for a Safe and Clean Lake Superior)

Living in Marquette, it is easy to become accustomed to the untouched beauty surrounding us, but we can’t forget that this place needs protection. With climate change on our doorstep, we must be wary of industrializing Lake Superior. An eminent issue that we must not become passive about is the proposed rocket launch site on the Granot Loma property.

More than just a stunning natural phenomenon, Lake Superior contains 10 percent of the world’s available freshwater ("Lake Superior Overview"). Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association’s move to develop waterfront space on Lake Superior into a rocket launch site was sneaky and maneuvered.

Luckily, our community took issue with the exploitative efforts which resulted in a positive movement to prevent this. However, we must not give up the fight too early, for this issue affects us and our neighbors, humans and others.

Development is often put on a pedestal of growth and movement in the "right" direction for humankind, but in 2023 we can look at the degradation around us and question if this is really true. The launch site would require 13 homes near Granot Loma to evacuate for each launch. Nearby beloved natural landscapes such as Echo Lake, the North Country Trail, the Hiawatha Water Trail, the Little Garlic River, the Elliott Donnelley Wilderness Tract and the Noquemanon Trail will face negative impacts.

Digging deeper into the true influence of this launch site has yielded disturbing results. On the Granot Loma property, there are eight different documented ecological community types, some of which are imperiled or critically imperiled at the state level. This is an urgent reminder that the earth and especially the land of the proposed launch site needs protection, not development!

Pollution in many forms results from launch sites such as the one proposed. Material pollution could fall into Lake Superior from failed rocket launches and sound pollution will negatively impact wildlife and humans. The development will also result in clear cutting and the destruction of nearby wetlands.

The overwhelming amount of damage that the proposed launch site will inflict on the land and community will yield unpredictable consequences. We have the chance to make sure that these horrifying facts don’t come to fruition in this place we call home.

There are still steps until the launch proposal is solidified, particularly rezoning and licensing. We must put our foot down at every stage. Evil invades when the people get distracted, so we must keep pushing. 

I urge everyone who reads this to take a moment to think about how the actions of today define the trajectory of the future. Show gratitude for the natural beauty that we are so lucky to experience by weaving its protection into your lives and awareness. This can look like a signature on a petition, reading more at Citizens for a Safe and Clean Lake Superior.org and Powell Township.org or simply making sure the conversation and awareness do not fizzle out.

Don’t let Lake Superior’s beauty and abundance be a temporary gift. Together we shall overcome.

* Mary Holohan, author of this letter, is a student at Northern Michigan University and an intern at Citizens for a Safe and Clean Lake Superior.

Letter: State of the Menominee River Address

Scenic view of the Menominee River. (File photo © and courtesy Tina Lesperance)

By Dale Burie, Founder of the Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River, Inc.

I feel it necessary to inform people who reside in this watershed of the most recent information from Gold Resource Corporation, hereinafter referred to as GORO, that owns the Back Forty project in Lake Township. Also included is an update from the Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River, Inc.

Last week, Allen Palmiere, CEO of GORO, disclosed its 2022 Net Sales of $138 million dollars with a $6.3 million-dollar loss leaving its balance sheet, after 2022 business expenses, at $23.7 million dollars.*

Recently GORO announced its decision to cancel all dividend payments to shareholders after a lackluster performance of its holdings. GORO stock fell to 84 cents per share this past week. GORO’s financial holdings fell to 10 percent of the predicted cost of moving forward with the Back Forty project.

GORO stated it is continuing to address the issues involved in preparing its feasibility study for submission to EGLE, the Michigan permitting agency. When the feasibility study is completed, GORO’s definitive plans will be revealed, and the Coalition staff of attorneys will address them accordingly. Our legal staff stands ready and able.

The Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River, Inc. has recently elected an eleven-member Board of Directors to lead the organization of volunteers into the future.  The Board of Directors possesses strong leadership skills and will stand firm in protecting the Menominee River water quality.

Since time waits for no one, the Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River, Inc. will establish a Youth Advisory Council that will consist of young environmentalists who have a desire to ensure clean water for the next generations. 

* Editor's Note: This letter was received as a press release from the Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River on March 6, 2023.

Celebrate the U.P.! with the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition March 10-11; kickoff event March 4 with Michael Waite

The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) will hold their annual Celebrate the U.P.! event Friday and Saturday, March 10 and 11, in Marquette and Ishpeming and on Facebook Live. All events are free and open to all.

A kickoff event will be held from Noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, at Fancy Free, a curated resale store nourishing the creative spirit in Marquette at 131 E. Michigan St.

Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Michael Waite will be making a special appearance at the Fancy Free event. A melding of earthy grace and campfire poeticism, Michael Waite weaves together a combination of folk, jazz, Americana, blues, and classic singer/songwriter elements. His songs explore the geography and nuances of everyday life while keeping a keen eye on the pursuit of happiness and wholeness.

Inset photo: Michael Waite. (Photo courtesy UPEC)

If you can attend in person, take 20 percent off everything during the event, which will also feature a popup flower shop and bakery! If you can't get to Marquette you can tune in to the livestream at facebook.com/upenvironment/live 

Michael Waite will also perform at the Celebrate the UP! afterparty, which starts at the Landmark Sky Room at 5 p.m. ET March 11. He’ll be playing music from his new album, "We’ve Always Been at Home."

Next weekend promises both in-person and livestream events, including music, comedy, tours of a community farm, a snow biking demonstration -- and many presentations on environmental topics from climate change and climate action to Native American issues, fisheries, mining challenges, community forest, wilderness, community investment and more.

Jenn Hill, 109th District State Representative, will deliver the Keynote Address, "Under New Management: What Can We Expect from Lansing," from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, in the Peter White Library, 217 N. Front Street, Marquette. This and other presentations in the library will be livestreamed at facebook.com/upenvironment/live. All other events will be recorded and posted. UPDATE: You should be able to tune in to Facebook without signing in.

UPDATED: For the full schedule of events on March 10 and 11, UPDATES, and locations visit https://www.upenvironment.org/2023-celebrate-the-up.

UPEC to host livestream March 3: What are COPs for? An inside view of the global UN Climate Conference

This poster announces COP 28, the next United Nations Climate Conference, to be held next November in Dubai. (Image courtesy Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition)

Everyone has an opinion (or several) on what happens at the annual United Nations Climate Conference -- known as the COP, or Conference of the Parties. (The "parties" in question are countries that have signed the UN Climate Change treaty.) COPs are the world’s biggest stage for climate change action -- or, all too often, inaction.

The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) will host Sarah Green, Michigan Tech University professor of chemistry, for a presentation titled "What are COPs for? An inside view of the global UN Climate Conference" at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT on Friday, March 3, via Zoom and Facebook Live.

Inset photo: Michigan Tech Professor Sarah Green. (File photo courtesy Michigan Tech University)

Michigan Tech Professor Sarah Green has participated in three recent COPs and led a Michigan Tech delegation to these meetings. She’ll bring perspectives from that experience and offer insights into the UN system. She’ll also tackle these questions: What are the criticisms of COPs and how can they be addressed? What can a COP accomplish and what are its limits? How do COP decisions get translated to actions? And how do national and local actions influence COPs?

Professor Sarah Green is interested in all aspects of environmental chemistry from molecular analytical methods to global climate change, including the science policy interface. Dr. Green has been a member of the Chemistry Department at Michigan Tech since 1994 and served as Department Chair from 2004 to 2013. She was awarded a Jefferson Science Fellowship to serve in the Bureau of East Asia-Pacific Affairs in the U.S. Department of State (2013-14). Dr. Green served as co-vice chair for the Scientific Advisory Panel on the Sixth Global Environmental Outlook, United Nations Environment Program. 

Join Livestream via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upenvironment/live

Join Livestream via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86075269466?pwd=OFZCTk1ERHdJSEJOUlNWbW5UaTA3QT09#success

Meeting ID: 860 7526 9466 | Passcode: 2023 

The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition’s Livestream Series keeps the public up-to-date with environmental issues facing the UP. The livestreams are co-hosted by Board President Horst Schmidt and Vice President Evan Zimmermann. This livestream and all archived past events are available at https://facebook.com/upenvironment/live. For more about UPEC, visit https://upenvironment.org.

Local residents march to celebrate Reproductive Freedom in Michigan, call for reproductive rights across US

By Michele Bourdieu

Participants in the January 22, 2023, March Celebrating Reproductive Freedom cross the Portage Lift Bridge from Hancock to Houghton. Pictured here are, from left, Susan Burack, Joan Chadde and Vicky Bergvall. Burack and Bergvall were co-organizers of the march. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- Joining commemorations of the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade in towns and cities across the country on January 22, 2023, local residents held a Walk for Reproductive Freedom from Houghton to Hancock and back across the Portage Lift Bridge.

Supporters of Women's Reproductive Freedom sent a loud and clear message across the U.S. and in the local community that though the women’s wave delivered a blow to anti-freedom politicians in the 2022 midterms in some states, including Michigan, the work is not done.

"I feel very strongly that it is important to march in my community," said Susan Burack, co-organizer of the local march. "Puts us on the map. 'Do what you can where you are.'"

After gathering in Bridgeview Park for some words of inspiration, supporters of Reproductive Freedom head up to Shelden Avenue in Houghton to cross the Portage Lift Bridge. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

Pausing on the bridge during the Jan. 22 Walk for Reproductive Freedom, Becky Darling of Chassell explains why she is there. Her sign indicates several women's walks in which she has participated in recent years.

Participant Valorie Troesch commented on recent laws against reproductive freedom that have followed the Supreme Court's attack on Roe v. Wade.

"Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization adds to the tragic legacy of the Roberts Supreme Court," Troesch told Keweenaw Now. "That decision was issued without regard to the impact that it would have on women's lives. The fact that we now have 50 different sets of laws regulating reproductive health and freedom -- laws that are all too often confusing and subject to arbitrary interpretation and enforcement -- is something that Roe v. Wade had ended 50 years ago.*

"But the Dobbs decision also had an effect not anticipated by the Supreme Court -- it activated, reactivated, and motivated tens of millions of women and men to take all kinds of actions (political, financial, electoral, legal) to stand up for and protect reproductive rights. We know our work will not end soon and that it will not be easy. But it is necessary. It was good to see so many committed people out here today."

Displaying their signs to passing traffic, supporters of reproductive freedom cross the Portage Lift Bridge during the January 23, 2023 March for Reproductive Freedom. About 30 participated -- both women and men. (Photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

Co-organizer Vicky Bergvall, representing the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country, explained why the local march, while celebrating Michigan's constitutional amendment for reproductive freedom secured by the 2022 ballot initiative, is intended to send the message that reproductive rights should be assured across the whole U.S., not just in some states.**

Vicky Bergvall of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country explains the purpose of the Jan. 22, 2023, March for Reproductive Rights in Houghton.

Will Ligon, organizer for We the People MI, who also participated in the Jan. 22 March, agreed on the need to celebrate progress as well as to continue working for reproductive freedom across the US.

"It's important for folks across the state of Michigan to be able to come together and celebrate like this, remembering all of the hard work that paved the way for this moment," Ligon said. "While we make steps towards the future we want to see, where bodily autonomy is respected and people have the right to choose, we still have a ways to go to ensure that all of our folks across the country have those same freedoms." 

Participants in the Jan. 22 March for Reproductive Freedom return from Hancock back to Houghton on the Portage Lift Bridge.

Notes:

* Click here to read about the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Court decision.

** Learn about Michigan's Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom here.

Sew Cranky's "Snowflake Challenge" for all ages continues through Feb. 14

By Michele Bourdieu

Mike Sabo of Sew Cranky offers Jethro Loosemore, 8, advice on using a hand-crank sewing machine to create a snowflake for the "Snowflake Challenge," a drop-in project for all ages at the Hancock shop, which has welcomed contestants since Dec. 1, 2022, to enter an original snowflake design. The event contines through Tuesday, Feb. 14. Also pictured, from right, are Maureen Loosemore, assisting son Jacob, and Kaitlyn Loosemore. Prizes will be announced on Monday, Feb. 20th. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- Ginger Alberti and her husband, Mike Sabo, of Hancock have been busy this winter helping visitors to their Hancock craft shop, Sew Cranky, with creative projects using their antique hand-crank sewing machines. Keweenaw Now visited the shop on Feb. 4 to capture these photos of the Loosemore family of Hancock participating in the current "Snowflake Challenge" -- their first experience using "cranky" sewing machines -- and Julie Beck  of Chassell, a regular customer at the shop, who was working on her own project.

Ginger Alberti helps the Loosemore family of Hancock get started on their snowflakes. Maureen Loosemore is a seamstress herself, accustomed to electric machines, but she welcomed the opportunity to try the hand-crank machines with her children.

Kaitlyn Loosemore, 10, works on her snowflake using one of the hand-crank sewing machines in the Sew Cranky shop.

Kaitlyn Loosemore worked steadily on her snowflake and made a second one with two different colors when not completely satisfied with her first effort.

"It was hard, but it was fun to do," Kaitlyn said. "An electric sewing machine does it for you, but with these antique ones you have control over where it's going. And I really liked cranking it!"

Kaitlyn Loosemore proudly displays her final snowflake creation. In the background, her Dad, John Loosemore, with Maureen, inspects some of the machines on display in the shop.

Maureen Loosemore helps five-year-old Jacob with his snowflake.

Maureen Loosemore, who uses an electric sewing machine at home, noted the hand-crank machines, although they are rather expensive antiques, would save on electricity. 

"I want one!" she said.

Jacob and Jethro display their completed snowflakes for the contest. Ginger irons each entry and puts the name of its creator on the back.

The "Snowflake Challenge" entries are displayed on a wall of the shop. Judging will be Monday, Feb. 20. Prizes will be awarded for most "intricate and realistic" and most "creative and original." All entries have a chance at two random prizes as well.

Today and tomorrow, Feb. 13 and 14, are the last days to work on a snowflake for the "Snowflake Challenge" -- between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

"We have 66 snowflakes so far," Ginger said. "No experience necessary!"

Ginger explained the word "Challenge" is used rather than "competition" because the project is a personal challenge to try something new.

At another table in the shop, Julie Beck of Chassell tests one of the machines with a piece of fabric, welcoming comments from Ginger.

Julie Beck of Chassell told Keweenaw Now she has been coming to the Sew Cranky shop for several years and has worked on several different projects.

"Shortly after Ginger opened, I came here to sew," Julie said. "I sew at home but I like learning here and Ginger is such an excellent teacher. She's very tolerant when you make mistakes. Her patience doesn't get any less."

Julie Beck pointed out some "fussy cut" placemats she made in the shop, displayed in the middle row on this wall.

Julie Beck is proud of her grandson, Logan, who recently finished making the colorful hobby horse he is displaying here.

Mike Sabo noted the Sew Cranky shop offers opportunities to create a variety of craft objects.

"We have other projects going on," Mike noted. "People can make fish, pin cushions, shopping bags and even a Victorian pocket."

Mike Sabo displays a Victorian pocket, a vintage item from the days when clothing did not include pockets and women attached one of these under their skirts.

Visitors who prefer not to sew can explore a wealth of interesting items in the shop, many that are handmade by Ginger for sale. The antique hand-crank sewing machines are also for sale.

Sew Cranky is at 322 Quincy Street in Hancock. Hours are 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday. Visit Sew Cranky on Facebook for more info, photos and videos.