City
Notes
Edited
by Greg Casperson
Dear editor,
Traveling back home to Duluth from Traverse City, we stopped at the Michigan Welcome Center near Marquette for a dog and human break. Eager to make it back home before dark we were stunned when the reliable van suddenly refused to start. This incident triggered the following series of events that have left Katy and I behind schedule but thankful for Marquette being Marquette.
The twenty-three year veteran of the Welcome Center stayed open Sunday night to keep us warm and entertained till the tow truck arrived. Mickey’s Marquette Detailing tow truck driver had the local knowledge to drop the van off at a reliable repair shop then drove us up the hill to the Holiday Inn. Being delivered to a hotel in a tow truck is a bit daunting, but the staff took us in with a warm gracious manner, found us a discount, and even provided a handful of dog treats to keep our retriever happy as we had left dog food in the van. Quality Auto Care Center answered their phone at 8:02 a.m. the next morning and pushed us to the front of the line for service. We had the problem diagnosed (fuel pump) and repaired before noon, and they even came up to the Holiday Inn to retrieve us.
Thanks to all for making our unfortunate incident much easier to endure. Keep up the good work as a welcoming community, and we expect Marquette will experience the rewards.
Tom Karas, Duluth, Minnesota
Dear editor,
On March 26 President Obama signed into law H.R. 933 which is “An Act making consolidated appropriations and further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes.” One of those “other purposes” is laid out in Section 735 aka “The Monsanto Protection Act” allowing genetically engineered plant cultivation even if a federal rule or environmental impact statement has yet to be completed. The Secretary of Agriculture is required to issue a permit if a GE grower makes a request. This authority expires on September 30, 2013.
We, as consumers at the very least, want to know what is in our food. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) both have laws requiring that all the ingredients in a food product be listed on the food label. We must demand labeling whether the food we purchase contains gmo products o r not. However, Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Madeira, New Zealand, Peru, South Australia, Russia, France and Switzerland have banned Monsanto and its products all together.
On Saturday, May 25 at 2:00 p.m. the March Against Monsanto will start at the Downtown Marquette Commons in solidarity with global efforts to stop Monsanto, demand labeling of food containing GMOs and promote healthy, whole, organic, locally grown food and support for our local farmers.
Laura Nagle, Marquette
Dear editor,
The Women’s Center and Harbor House staff and board would like to thank the many individuals and organizations who have made significant donations to us in recent months. It seems cliché to say, “too numerous to mention,” but that’s truly the case here.
Those generous donors include area foundations, many businesses in Marquette and Alger County, religious congregations in all our communities, social and fraternal organizations, student groups from Northern Michigan University, our state and federal granting organizations and national corporations operating in our area. Special thanks to organizations and individuals who have organized fundraisers and hosted programs on our behalf.
Our deep gratitude goes to all the individuals who have made donations of all sizes and types to help support the Women’s Center and its mission. All of these gifts help provide vital services to women and children in Marquette and Alger counties.
The Women’s Center is celebrating its fortieth year of operation and now provides safe emergency shelter, counseling and support services to thousands of individuals each year. The Harbor House domestic violence shelter is the only emergency shelter in Marquette and Alger counties for women and children fleeing abusive homes.
Women’s Center programs help locate affordable housing and adequate employment, and put safety precautions in place for women and children fleeing domestic and sexual violence. During the last fiscal year, the Harbor House and Women’s Center staff and volunteers helped 2,904 people escape violence, provided 4,715 shelter nights and processed 5,667 crisis calls.
As we thank you for your recent gifts, we ask you to remember that, sadly, the need for our services is ongoing. In addition to our federal and state grants, we must raise a significant amount of money each year from other sources. We hope you will continue to help us keep these services available for all who need them.
Women’s Center and Harbor House clients, staff and board
Dear editor,
To most people, “human trafficking” means shadowy gangs operating in the back alleys of overcrowded Third World cities. However, this scourge exists in all parts of the world––even the Upper Peninsula––and two staff members of the Women’s Center in Marquette are working to end the problem by increasing awareness.
Amy Kordus, Women’s Center/Harbor House youth advocate, and Kelly Laakso, WC/HH sexual assault response advocate, recently attended a human trafficking program at Michigan State Police headquarters in Lansing. They were selected for the training program from among ninety applicants statewide and were two of four attendees from the U.P.
At the Lansing session, they received training in human trafficking issues from director Jane White of the Michigan Trafficking Task Force and assistant U.S. Attorney General Kelly Carter of the Criminal Division. White also is the founder of the MTTF.
Human trafficking is the world’s fastest-growing criminal enterprise. It ranks with the illegal arms trade as the second-largest criminal industry in the world, surpassed only by the illegal drug trade.
Authorities estimate between 800,000 and 900,000 people each year are victims of human trafficking, with between 18,000 and 20,000 victims in the United States. Captives may be forced to work in restaurants, farms, construction crews, household domestic settings, brothels, strip clubs and the drug trade. Traffickers are not always strangers. Young people forced into criminal activity by family members can also fit the trafficking profile.
In spite of those numbers, fewer than twenty percent of Michigan law-enforcement personnel are trained to recognize victims of human trafficking, although sessions like the recent program in Lansing are starting to remedy that issue, Laakso said.
According to the Federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the crime has three aspects: force, fraud and coercion ending in exploitation. Many victims do not speak English and fear law enforcement. They are often carefully watched by their captors and coached in what to say if questioned by authorities.
Signs of trafficking victims include:
• The victim is accompanied by someone who controls the person’s words and actions.
• The victim shows signs of physical abuse.
• The victim seems submissive or fearful.
• The victim is not in control of his or her identification documents.
• There is a language barrier between the victim and potential helpers.
People who deal with victims of domestic and sexual violence are already trained to recognize many of these trouble signs. In addition, the Women’s Center and Harbor House are revising their assessment procedures to include more trafficking-related questions.
On May 17, Laakso and Kordus will present a human trafficking program at the Upper Peninsula Children’s Coalition Conference. The conference theme is “Fostering Resilience: Helping Upper Peninsula’s Vulnerable Children.” For more information contact Heather Johnston at johnstonh@michigan.gov.
Also in May, Laakso and Kordus will make a hum an trafficking presentation to the Marquette Police Academy and hope to offer similar programs to other law-enforcement groups, churches and service organizations in the central U.P.
For more information, please contact the Women’s Center in Marquette at 906-226-6611.
Amy Kordus
Empty Bowls fundraiser to be held
North Star Academy will be inviting the community to participate in the seventh annual Empty Bowls fundraiser. The event will take place in North Star Academy’s multi-purpose room on May 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The goal of Empty Bowls is to raise awareness and funds for people who experience poverty and are facing hunger.
This year, North Star Academy teachers and students are participating in the event by learning about hunger and poverty and crafting handmade bowls. Participation in the event costs $10.00, and tickets will be sold at the high school and elementary offices, Serendipity Salon and at the door. The meal will include soup, bread and dessert, with homemade bowls for participants to take home as a reminder of the people without enough food in the world.
The event has raised more than $6000.00 for local organizations like The Salvation Army, Room at the Inn, Voices for Youth and Operation Aoy. 2013’s Empty Bowls’ donations will go to Room at the Inn and Operation Aoy. For more information, contact NSA high school student, Savannah Berthiaume, at small blackroses2@yahoo.com or Empty Bowls advisor Sarah Johnson at sjohn son@nsacd.com or 226-0156 x14.
Thank you to MM judges
The staff at Marquette Monthly would like to thank our 2013 Short Story Contest judges for their excellent service this spring.
They were Leonard Heldreth, Matthew Williams, Sue Waite, Gerald Waite and Mac MacDevitt, all of Marquette, and the 2012 contest winner, Don Kilpela, of Atlantic Mine.
The winning short story for 2013 can be found in the April issue of M arquette Monthly and online at www.marquette monthly.com Previous winning stories can be found in the Archives section of the MM website, each year in April.
MRHC plans May events
The Marquette Regional History Center has several upcoming events in May.
Through June 1, the special exhibit will be “Celebrating 80 Years at Bay Cliff Health Camp,” which describes how Bay Cliff has developed from a dairy farm to its current service to the physically disabled. The purse auction and Kentucky Derby celebration fundraisers will return this year. On May 4 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., bid on gently used purses and accessories to spruce up your spring wardrobe, and wear a hat worthy of the Kentucky Derby for a chance to win prizes. Hors d’oeuvres and mint julep punch are planned. Tickets are $15.00 and are available at marquettehistory.org.
“Saturday at the Center” is planned for May 18 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Visit the MRHC Facebook page for more details.
Finally, a Holy Cross Cemetery walking tour is scheduled for May 30 at 6:30 p.m. For a $5.00 suggested donation, tour the cemetery, which is the burial site for many of Marquette’s first French-Canadian, Irish, German, Italian and native American residents, as well as Catholic clergy and nuns. Many of the 1860s Catholic cemetery tombstones moved from their original locations are placed there also. The tour includes interesting stories of well-known citizens buried there and the history of the cemetery itself. Meet at the Wright Street entrance to the cemetery.
For more information, visit the history center at 145 West Spring Street in Marquette, call 226-3571 or visit marquettehistory.org
Club Indigo features a trip to the Southwest
The theater will host the film A Trip To Bountiful (with Geraldine Page) on May 10, with a Southwestern buffet from Carmelita’s in Calumet to start the evening off.
The buffet will be held in the theatre’s ballroom at 6:00 p.m., followed by the movie on the big screen in the theatre at 7:15 p.m. The movie is introduced with a 10-minute live introduction, a brief lecture on the film and its specific value as lasting entertainment by a fil m authority from Michigan Tech.
Anyone interested in attending should call the theatre, 337-2610, at least a day in advance to assure seating at the buffet. Current admission is $19.00 for meal and film, $5.00 for film alone and children receive a discounted price.
Speakers discuss ancient copper and ancestors
The Ancient Artifact Preservation Society’s Speaker Series will conclude May 16 at the PWPL community room from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The speakers will be Duane Kinnart and Bruce Hardwick, local Ojibway cousins who will share their wisdom and traditions in relation to ancient copper and ancestors. The AAPS speaker series is a collaboration with the Copper Country Ancient Sites Conservancy. All presentations are free to the public. Visit www.aaapf.org for more information and to learn about the fall International Conference on Ancient America being held during October in Marquette.
Motorcycle event to support Red Cross
The Superior Upper Peninsula Chapter of the American Red Cross announced the fifth annual “Da U.P. Ride for the Red.” A pre-ride registration fish fry will be held Friday evening, May 17 from 5:00 to 8 p.m. at the Bungalow restaurant in Gladstone. Register on Friday and receive $3.00 off a fish fry for the evening. You may also pre-register at UPcruising.com prior to May 4 for a free event T-shirt. On Saturday, May 18, registration begins at 8:00 a.m. at the Bungalow with a $5.00 for purchase breakfast, with the ride officially starting right at 10:30 a.m.
For $35.00, participants will receive an event pin, lunch, dinner and ride prizes. Bikers will head to the UP North Lodge for lunch and back to the Bungalow for dinner and music. The general public is invited to dinner for a $15.00 donation with all proceeds going to the Superior U.P. Chapter of the American Red Cross.
This year’s major sponsors include DTE Energy Foundation, Baybank, Bald Eagle Harley-Davidson, CN, OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group, U.P. State Credit Union, Daily Press, KIX Country and WLUC TV6/FoxUP. For more details and to preregister visit www.upcruising.com or call event chair Geri Nelson at 786- 3270 or Jeff Selesky in the Red Cross office at 228-3659.
Marquette annual arts awards announced
The City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center will host the seventeenth annual arts awards on May 17 at 7:00 p.m. There will be a celebratory reception before the awards in the lower level gallery of the Peter White Public Library from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Outstanding arts educator is presented to Mark Flaherty, an Associate Professor of Music at NMU. Outstanding writer is presented to Dr. James McCommons, a Professor of English at NMU.
Outstanding performing artist is presented to jazz vocalist Kirsten Gustafson. Arts volunteer is presented to Cindy Engle for long-time efforts on behalf of the arts in Marquette.
Community arts activist is presented to Stan Wright, Operations Manager, Program and Music Director for Public Radio 90. Special recognition organization is presented to Ore Dock Brewing Company for opening their doors to all varieties of fine art and music.
Outstanding visual artist is presented to photographer Tom Buchkoe for his iconic images recognizable by anyone familiar with the Marquette area.
Special recognition individual is presented to Carl Mayer for his continued excitement and teachings in the arts community.
The outstanding community impact award is presented to The Doug Garrison Show for the promotion and recognition of arts in the area.
Outstanding youth award is presented to bassist Gretchen McKenzie for her inspiring talent and success in music.
Race tradition continues in Marquette County
The Big Bay Relay is set for May 18. In its thirty-seventh year, the relay has been both a tradition and a challenge. This year’s relay race (five person teams) will start at 8:00 a.m. and run from Marquette to Big Bay. In the past the race has brought in over fifty teams, comprised of elite runners to a team of friends that just like to get out and have an adventure together. Divisions include all female, all male and mixed team divisions, as well as a seven person junior division.
The Noquemanon Trail Network is hosting this unique road running race and looking for volunteers as well as participants. This year the funds raised will go toward Noquemanon Skijor Club and Animoosh Skijor Race promotion.
Johnsons Sports will be donating the top awards to each division winning team members in a form of gift certificates toward a purchase of new running shoes in its sport shop. Jimmy Johns will be donating silver and bronze awards for each division.
Visit www.noquetrails.org for information and entry forms. For questions, contact noquenetwork@gmail.com or 235-6861.
Special musical tribute held to raise funds
A concert, Kickin’ The Blues, will be held in celebration of the lives of Daniel Olson, Ishpeming native, and Sean Costello, blues prodigy who performed several times in Marquette. The program will be held from 3:00 to 11:00 p.m. at The Ore Dock Brewing Company in Marquette on May 25. Performers include Felix Reyes, Travis Swanson and The Midnight Movers, Flat Broke Blues Band and Jackpine. Admission is free but a donation of $5.00 to 10.00 is suggested to benefit the Daniel Olson Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research. There will also be a silent auction and food provided by Dia de los Tacos.
Portable passport system to be at FinnFest
The portable Finnish passport system, made available by the Consulate General of Finland in New York, will be available at FinnFest USA at the Finnish American Heritage Center on the Finlandia University campus in Hancock from June 19 through June 22.
All applicants must make an appointment for a passport application. Appointments will be about a half-hour in length and can be scheduled for any time between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. each day.
For further information, contact James Kurtti, Honorary Consul of Finland for Upper Michigan, at james.kurtti@finlandia.edu or 487-7302, or the Consulate General of Finland at consulate.nyc@formin.fi or (212) 750-4400.
Crystal Theatre announces summer event series
The historic Crystal Theatre is proud to announce the eight summer events that comprise its “Gem of a Season.”
Renowned theater organist Jim Riggs opens the season June 1 with a special tribute to area military veterans and current service personnel.
Westerly Winds Big Band returns to the Crystal Theatre June 16. This talented group of eighteen instrumentalists and vocalists from the Marquette area celebrate swing with sounds of the ’30s and ’40s and more recent big band numbers.
Four Guyz in Dinner Jackets will perform June 30. Hailing from Milwaukee, this popular, energetic quartet revives the musical memories of doo-wop and early rock ’n’ roll.
On July 14, the genre shifts to bluegrass as Detour takes the stage. Touted as a “bluegrass powerhouse,” this celebrated five-piece ensemble features heartfelt originals, focused harmonies, and lively instrumentals.
Bill and Kate Isles team up with fiddler Loy Larson on July 28. Their program blends folk, jazz, old-time favorites and new originals.
On August 11, Tony Rocker, Elvis tribute artist, and the five-member Comeback Special Band present a soulful portrayal of the famous King of Rock ’n’ Roll and his memorable hits.
On August 25, Glenn Leonard, former lead singer of The Temptations, heads an all-star cast of musicians in reviewing the sights as well as the sounds of the Motown period in American history.
The season concludes September 1 with “Red White & Blue Ragtime Review.” Dick Kroeckel on the theatre’s Steinway concert grand piano and Dave Wickerham on the mighty Moller pipe organ meld their talents in a popular ragtime repertoire.
Ticket packages may be purchased online at thecrystaltheatre.org or by calling 367-4072. Tickets for individual performances will be sold for $15.00 two weeks prior to each event. Admission at the door is $18.00 for adults and $5.00 for youths under 18.
Nominations sought for U.P. Service Awards
In recognition of the tremendous contributions of volunteers across the Upper Peninsula, the U.P. Volunteer Network announces the launch of the fifth annual U.P. Service Awards.
The Great Lakes Center for Youth Development and partner in the U.P. Volunteer Network asks the public to make nominations for volunteers who deserve an award.
Categories include youth, adult, senior, business community leader and volunteer program. Award recipients will be announced in July and honored at a luncheon during the U.P. Nonprofit Conference at NMU in Marquette on October 18.
Visit www.UPvolunteer.org to submit a nomination online or to download a nomination form. Nomination forms are also available at the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development, 1175 Erie St., Marquette. Nominations will be accepted through June 1. For questions, contact upvolunteernetwork@glcyd.org or 877-339-6884.
Crafters sought for Ishpeming festival
The Ishpeming Business Association is looking for crafters and other vendors to be a part of its Festival of Treasures. The celebration will be held on July 3 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be music, hot air balloon rides, children’s games and many other activities during the day. Placement will be on the street or under the tents.
If interested, email Kathy at kdmagnuson@netscape.net or call Judy at 486-8621. Placement will be on a first come-first served basis.
Blueberry Festival plans underway
The Marquette Downtown Development Authority recently announced that plans are underway for the annual Downtown Marquette Blueberry Festival, slated for July 26. Food vendors, artists and crafters and non-profit organizations are invited to register for a booth space during the festival, which will run from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. There is a $50.00 registration fee to participate as a vendor. Registration forms are available at www.downtownmarquette.org or the Downtown Development Authority office, 203 South Front Street, Suite 1-B, Marquette. Deadline for registration is June 20.
Gone Fishin’ Exhibit opens at Erickson Center
The Erickson Center for the Arts in Curtis is pleased to announce that the exhibit Gone Fishin’ is now open. With the opening of the Waterfront Gallery & Gifts at the Center last June, new exhibits will be installed every spring and fall and will run for approximately six months each.
The exhibit includes artwork in a variety of mediums including stained glass, clay, acrylic, photography, metal, wood, stone, watercolor paint, ink and pastels. Artists are both local and regional and include works by Esko Alasimi, Jan Barrett, Tina Doorn, Cam Hadley, Chris Harman, Bill Kolasinski, Lucy Kolasinski, Julie Mowen, Penny Nantell, Kim Nixon, Susan Roubal, Earl Senchuk, Garry Smith, Cindy Wedig, Dale Wedig, Chris Wetton and Margie and Jim Wicks.
Gone Fishin’ will be available for viewing during office hours and designated events, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. If traveling any distance to view the exhibit, it is recommended to call the office at 586-9974 to ensure it is open.
Fundraising begins for Marquette trailhead
The Noquemanon Trail Network has started fundraising for the Heartwood Forest Trailhead off M-553 near Marquette Mountain.
The trailhead is a central access point, connecting forty miles of singletrack through the Heartwood forest, part of the NTN’s South Trails. It will include a new open-air pavilion, expanded parking for up to one hundred cars and portable bathrooms.
The project is a collaboration between the City of Marquette and the NTN, which plans to donate the structure back to the city when it’s completed. The current trailhead sits on city owned property. The expanded trailhead will offer more parking, which helps with biking events and safety for local riders and visitors who choose Marquette as a riding destination each summer.
The 24’ x 32’ structure will be similar to others in the city. The NTN hopes to break ground in June and finish the project this summer, after it presents the trailhead layout to the planning commission and gets approval from the city council. Donations and questions can be directed to the NTN director at noque trails@gmail.com
Agreement reached between nurses and Marquette General
The Michigan Nurses Association and Marquette General Hospital recently finalized an agreement that provides stability for both the 457 registered nurses and the hospital over the next four years and will help MGH retain high-quality nurses. The package includes annual wage increases, controlled health insurance costs, improved scheduling language and new language to address fatigue among nurses, benefitting not only nurses but MGH patient care as well.
Transformation begins at historic U.P. school
Developer Tim Hovey recently announced that the rehabilitation of the old Central School in the City of Iron River, Michigan is approved for construction.
Originally constructed in 1902 as a high school, Central School also served as an elementary and middle school, and closed down in 1980. Realizing the building’s potential and importance in revitalizing the community’s core, the property was purchased by the Iron River Downtown Development Authority in 2004. The city and the DDA have been great supporters of the development both economically and in spirit.
General contractor Wolverine Building Group and architect Barry J. Polzin will soon begin work on the $6.6 million adaptive reuse project to transform the century-old school into Apple Blossom Apartments. Comprised of twenty-two one-, two- and three-bedroom units, this historic preservation development will provide needed housing for the citizens of Iron River.
For more information about the development, visit www.gryphon-llc.com
Sixth graders release baby salmon
The Fred Waara Chapter of Trout Unlimited, headquartered in Marquette, initiated the Salmon in the Classroom program more than a decade ago. Through the SIC program, FWCTU provides funding and support for the set-up of five aquariums in schools throughout the central U.P. Each year the aquariums are supplied with 200 salmon eggs in late November, provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and they hatch in January. Teachers and students raise the salmon until early May when they take a field trip to a local salmon habitat and release the fish into the stream. During the winter period, the teachers incorporate the salmon into many of their lesson plans such as environment, fish habitat, conservation, and water quality.
FWCTU volunteers recently assisted the teachers and students of Gladstone Middle and Escanaba Middle Schools as they released their salmon into the Escanaba River on April 26 at Pioneer Park near the mouth of the river. After the fish release, the FWCTU chapter members assisted the students in macro-invertebrate (bug) collection and identification.
Other schools participating in the Salmon in the Classroom program include Superior Central Schools, Negaunee Middle School, Gwinn Middle School and Powell Township Schools.
Partnership to improve healthcare in the U.P.
Superior Health Partners, an alliance of eight independent health systems located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, announced an agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to improve the accessibility, quality, and affordability of care provided in the Upper Peninsula.
Under the terms of this three-year agreement, which was developed with the assistance of the Premier healthcare alliance, BCBSM will provide upfront incentive payments and shared savings to improve access to high quality care in the Upper Peninsula. Funds provided through the agreement will be used to enhance clinical integration and improve SHP health system participants’ ability to manage population health effectively. SHP participants include: Baraga County Memorial Hospital, Bell Hospital, Dickinson County Healthcare System, Helen Newberry Joy Hospital, Marquette General Healthcare System, Munising Memorial Hospital and Health Services, Portage Health, and Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital.
Scholarship awarded to GINCC director
Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Chamber of Commerce Director Elizabeth Peterson will be attending her third year at the Institute for Organizational Management through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce this June. For the second year in a row, Peterson has received a Regent Scholarship to help with the cost of tuition. The weeklong program is held at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. At the completion of the four-year curriculum, Peterson will receive the IOM graduate recognition, signifying completion of ninety-six hours of course instruction in nonprofit management and her commitment to the industry.
MHC welcomes Nordberg as director
The Michigan Humanities Council recently welcomed former board member Erik Nordberg as the new executive director. Nordberg joins the council from Michigan Technological University, where he most recently served as the University Archivist and Head of Archives.
Ground broken for new chapel
A project has been initiated to build a new chapel in Marquette to house the remains of Venerable Frederic Baraga, the first bishop of the Diocese of Marquette, for more fitting veneration.
Refinements to the new design are ongoing to make sure it echoes the architecture of St. Peter Cathedral and provides a place for prayer and devotion. Completion is anticipated in October of this year. Several new initiatives are currently underway to help raise additional funds for the project.
For more information or to make a donation to the chapel, contact Terri Gadzinski at tgadzinski@dioceseofma rquette.org or at 227-9108.
Lake Linden priest elected administrator of Marquette
The College of Consultors of the Catholic Diocese of Marquette has elected Father Francis Dobrzenski of Lake Linden to serve as diocesan administrator until Pope Francis appoints a new bishop or apostolic administrator to the diocese.
A diocesan administrator has most obligations and power of a diocesan bishop, except for those that are excluded by their nature or by the law itself, although some of the administrator’s acts require the consent of the College of Consultors.
Concert series presents Gretchen McKenzie
The City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center’s Concert Series welcomes Gretchen McKenzie on Thursday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m. in the Peter White Public Library’s Community Room. McKenzie will perform original songs on ukulele and bass and will be releasing her first album, Common Sense. McKenzie is a locally known bassist who plays folk, jazz and blues-rock in several area bands: she is a graduating senior who was awarded the prestigious North American Tour Scholarship at Berklee College of Music in Boston where she will begin her education this fall. A donation of $5.00 is requested at the door to defray the artist’s cost. For more information email arts-culture@mqtcty.org or call 228-0472.
Keweenaw area starts roller derby
The Keweenaw Roller Girls is recruiting new skaters to come join the first Fresh Meat Training beginning on May 5 at Finlandia University’s Paavo Nurmi Gym. The training program will run fourteen weeks, teaching the skating skills needed to become a derby player.
Equipment needed includes helmet, mouth guard, wrist guards, elbow pads, kneepads and quad roller skates. The group is looking for referees, non-skate officials, and volunteers. For more information and to join, visit www.keweenawrollergirls.com
U.P. Publishers & Authors Association holds annual conference
In its constant commitment to informing regional authors and publishers of the latest changes in the publishing world and offering effective marketing and writing strategies, the Upper Peninsula Publishers & Authors Association will hold its fifteenth annual conference on May 18 in Marquette’s Peter White Public Library from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
This year’s conference will cover a variety of topics, by experts in the field, relevant to writing, publishing and marketing. The program will be of interest to beginning writers as well as seasoned, published authors.
The general public may attend the meeting for a $10.00 registration fee. UPPAA members attend free of charge. Space is limited, so advanced registration is recommended. A catered deli lunch is available for $8.00 per person with advance reservations required.
Conference details and registration are available online at www.uppaa.org or for registration by mail, contact membership secretary Cheryl Corey at 9001 N. Pheasant Ridge Dr., Saline, MI 48176 (734) 429-8757. Registration must be received by May 13.
Salmon-Trout monitoring program begins season two
Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve begins the second season of the Salmon-Trout River volunteer monitoring program. A volunteer training day will provide those interested with the tools and knowledge for participation.
The training will begin on May 18 with a presentation at 10:00 a.m. in the Powell Township School gym in Big Bay. Volunteers will learn habitat evaluation, stream ecology, and how to identify macro-invertebrates that live in our local waterways.
The presentation will be followed by a bag lunch provided by The Yellow Dog Watershed for those who R.S.V.P. in advance. After lunch volunteers will spend time with hands-on bug collecting and identification. Once individuals are trained, they will be offered the opportunity to go out and collect stream quality information at established sites during the month of May.
No previous experience is necessary and interested people of all ages are encouraged to attend. To participate in collecting at the river, please bring waders or knee-high rubber boots, drinking water, an extra set of warm clothes and rain gear if you have it.
Email Christy@yellowdogwatershed.org for more information or call YDWP’s office at 345-9223.
Artwork sale to benefit monitoring of Salmon-Trout River
American author, photographer, illustrator, painter, poet and conservationist Wayne Snyder created a painting last year entitled “Isle Royale Coasters Qwest” of a Michigan Coaster Brook Trout.
He will be offering prints of this painting for $75.00. For each print sold, he will donate $20.00 to support the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and its stream monitoring activity on the Salmon-Trout River.
The print image is 16” X 20” with a one inch white border on quality acid-free textured paper. Email ydwp@yellowdogwatershed.org for information to order a print and support monitoring of the Salmon-Trout River.
FinnFest to hold Free for All festival
The Baraga County FinnFest Committee announced it is sponsoring a Free for All festival on June 21 from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. in conjunction with a day full of events at the L’Anse Waterfront.
Vending/fund raising spaces at the waterfront are available at no charge but vendors and groups must supply own tables and chairs.
Original artwork, crafters, baked goods, produce, flea market items and fundraisers are welcome. Setup will begin at noon on Friday. The band shell and a dance floor will also be available for performances of any kind: tell a family story, share jokes, perform a skit, sing a song or play an instrument. Since this is during FinnFest, individuals or groups might consider Finnish-related performances.
Vendors, community and youth groups, performers and volunteers can contact the Baraga County Chamber of Commerce at 353-8808 for more information or email baragacountycham ber@gmail.com for a registration form, due June 1.
AAUW offers scholarship
The American Association of University Women, Marquette branch, is accepting scholarship applications for the 2013-14 academic year.
The scholarships are awarded to NMU undergraduate women who demonstrate financial need, have clear scholastic and career goals, and plan on taking at least six credits during each semester.
Applications and a detailed list of guidelines are available from the NMU Office of Financial Aid. Applications must be submitted to AAUW by June 1. Call Carolyn Myers at 249-1137 for more information.
ABC 10 and CW 5 receive awards
WBUP ABC 10 and WBKP CW 5 recently garnered five Broadcast Excellence Awards at the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Great Lakes Conference in Lansing. The station won four first place awards and one merit award.
First place for “Breaking News” went to Keweenaw Bureau reporter Rick Allen for coverage of a house fire in Lake Linden. First place in “Investigative Story” went to ABC 10 News Now senior reporter Mike Hoey’s story on the Michigan Helmet Law that took effect in April 2012 allowing motorcyclists to ride without helmets.
Hoey’s story on the state of Michigan warning men in bars about drunk driving by placing audio “Urinal Cakes” in restrooms won first place in the “News Feature” category.
Sports reporter and anchor “JT” Jerry Taylor won a first place award in “Sports Feature” for his first-person report of taking part in the Greater Ishpeming Negaunee Chamber of Commerce Mud Plunge. In addition, Kenn Baynard’s submission of marketing and promotional materials won a merit award.
Shore Run teams with XTERRA
The Shore Run Committee and the Superiorland Ski Club recently formed a partnership with an international trail running organization, XTERRA, for this year’s XTERRA Lake Superior Shore Trail Run, set for September 21.
XTERRA will help promote this 19th annual event, which includes a half-marathon, 5k and 1k kid’s race, on a national level.
The XTERRA Trail Running Series includes more than sixty races across the United States with the XTERRA Trail Running National Championship in Ogden, Utah and the World Championships in Oahu, Hawaii.
The Shore Run is the largest fundraiser for the Superiorland Ski Club, which helps kids ages three to eighteen learn to Nordic ski. Contact Kilpela at xterralakesuperiorshore@gmail.com if interested in volunteering and visit www.superiorlandskiclub.com for more information or to register.
Art preview for September fundraising auction
Liberty Children’s Art Project will present a show in the Huron Mountain Gallery in the Peter White Library for the month of May.
The show will preview an example of art works available at a fundraising auction, September 8 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Landmark Inn. Featured work includes art by Paul Grant, Nita Engle and other beloved Upper Peninsula artists.
Tickets are $20.00 and will include two beverages and an assortment of hors d’oeuvres.
For more information concerning the show, auction or ticket sales, contact Carol Phillips at carolannphillips@hotmail.com or call 228-3956.
Marquette DDA announces May events
The thirty-third annual Michigan Historic Preservation Network Statewide Conference, Ingredients of Place, will take place at the Don H. Bottom University Center at NMU from May 8 to 11. Over 400 individuals will be drawn together by their interest in historic properties. For more information, visit www.mhpn.org
Bike to Work Week will be from May 13-17, offering an opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and just one of the many reasons to ride in Marquette.
On Saturday, May 25 the Farmers Market will host its grand opening from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Marquette Commons.
Visit www.downtownmarquette.org for more information on these events.
Ishpeming library hosts events
Meet Randy Park, football coach, teacher and logger. His life was filled with football, girls, parties, his dog “Hoss” and work at the family sawmill, until at age twenty-one, a car collided with his motorcycle. From that moment on, the challenges of his life multiplied.
Hear his inspirational story with author Gordon Galloway on May 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Carnegie Public Library.
On May 11, see nationally recognized storyteller and puppeteer Road Judd use mime, puppetry, Irish drumming, improvisational acting and dialects to weave exciting tales based on both oral tradition and the written word. The program, “Dragons, Dreams and Daring Deeds,” begins at 1:00 p.m.
Visit www.uproc.lib.mi.us/ish/ for more information on these and other programs, including an upcoming book sale.
First home derby match slated in Marquette
Dead River Derby will host its first official home match of the season on May 18 at 7:00 p.m. in Marquette’s Lakeview Arena. DRD will face off against the Escanaba Rollin’ Hellcats.
Tickets are $8.00 in advance and $10.00 at the door. Visit www.deadriverderby.org for more information.
GINCC organizing rummage sale
The Greater Ishpeming Negaunee Chamber of Commerce is organizing a town wide rummage sale on June 15. Residents of Ishpeming, Champion, Republic, Michigamme, Negaunee and surrounding townships are welcome to participate.
A list of registered sale locations will be made to inform the community where the rummage sales will take place. The list will include the address and the top three items for purchase. Participants can set their own hours for sales.
These lists will be available at www.gincc.org and the GINCC office. The registration fee is $10.00 with a June 1 deadline.
The GINCC will also have a designated parking lot in Ishpeming for residents who may live too far from town but still want to participate in the sale. Participants are responsible for providing their own tables on the day of the event. For information or questions, visit www.gincc.org or contact the GINCC at 486-1111.
Effort made to record Copper Country Finn stories
Finnlinda Productions will be recording stories, artifacts and pictures that help tell the history and character of local Finnish families who have settled in the area.
To schedule a recording session or for more information, contact Finnlinda Productions at Lkinnunen@aol.com or 524-7859.
Longest running bake sale to be held during FinnFest
The Baraga County FinnFest Committee is joining with area bakers to produce the longest running bake sale during FinnFest week, June 17 to 21. Area visitors—and residents—will be invited to “Nisu Ahead” starting at the Covington Junction.
Watch for the Wall Drug-type signs saying, “Tervetuloa! Nisu Ahead Free Coffee Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.” The signs will culminate at the Baraga County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. Area bakers and bake sale groups will display their fresh, home-baked wares under the canopy out front.
Area Nisu bakers are featuring not only the much-loved Nisu, a Finnish cardamom bread often shaped in a braid and called Pulla in Finland, but also the popular quick bread, Rieska, which is made from a variety of flours—rye, graham, or whole wheat—and Limppu, a sweet rye bread frequently reserved for the Christmas holidays.
Other varieties of coffee bread will be available to purchase during the entire week as well.
Spots are available to sell coffee bread still. There is no charge for table space, although bakers must bring their own table and chairs.
Contact the Baraga County Chamber of Commerce at baragacountycham ber@gmail.com or 353-8808 to reserve a spot or for more information.
Boy Scouts honor volunteers
On March 16, the Hiawathaland District of the Boy Scouts of America held its annual meeting and recognition dinner at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Harvey.
The dinner program recognized all those Boy Scouts across the U.P. who attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 2012. Also recognized was Greg Gostomski who was awarded the St. George Medal for his contributions to the spiritual development of Catholic youth.
Receiving the District Award of Merit, the highest award a Boy Scout District can bestow upon a volunteer, were Betty Williams of Troop 411 in Escanaba, Darryl Mattson of Pack 321 in Ishpeming and Jamie Siedlecki of Troop 466 in Gladstone.
NMU breaks ground for new academic building
Northern Michigan University will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new John X. Jamrich Hall, which is being built between C.B. Hedgcock and the Learning Resources Center. The facility will meet LEED certification standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council and replace the existing Jamrich, where more than forty percent of university classes are held.
The new building, scheduled to open Fall 2014, will house classrooms and four academic offices. Visit www.nmu.edu/newjamrich for more information on the project.
UPLC receives grants
The Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy is pleased to announce that it has received two separate grants totaling $4,500.00 to further its land protection mission.
One grant, totaling $2,500.00 from the Michigan Advancing Conservancy Excellence Program, enabled UPLC to purchase a firesafe filing cabinet to store critical records, moving the organization another step closer toward preparing for accreditation with the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.
The second grant, $2,000.00 from the Shannon Family Foundation, was awarded as part of the Foundation’s annual recognition of regionally focused non-profit organizations. Both grants will further UPLC’s mission of “preserving the U.P. quality of life by protecting U.P. lands forever.”
Visit www.uplandconservancy.org for more information about the UPLC.
mBank honored for restructuring deal
mBank has been recognized with the 2013 Restructuring Community Impact Award by The M&A Advisor, for helping Manistique’s second largest employer evade permanent closure.
The award was the result of a ten month effort to lead Manistique Papers Inc. through troubled financial times. Visit www.bankmbank.com for more information.
Political Briefs
• U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin recently announced grant support for the Ishpeming and Ironwood Fire Departments to help improve their operations and safety. The Ishpeming Volunteer Fire Department will receive a grant of $57,958 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, and the Ironwood Public Safety Department will receive a grant of $40,375.
These competitive grants help fund professional training programs, update equipment and facilities and provide new supplies to help first-responders handle hazards efficiently and effectively. Visit www.fema.gov/welcome-assistance-fire fighters-grant-program for more information.
• Senator Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, recently announced a $2,997,000 Rural Development loan for the YMCA of Marquette. The YMCA will use the loan to double the size of its wellness center, which will include a new health innovation suite with a classroom and fitness room to help individuals manage chronic diseases like diabetes. The YMCA will also use the loan to build two new gymnasiums. The loan is made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
News briefs
• The Federal Aviation Administration announced it will delay the closures of all 149 federal contract air traffic control towers until June 15. Last month, the FAA announced it would eliminate funding for these towers as part of the agency’s required $637 million budget cuts under sequestration.
This additional time will allow the agency to attempt to resolve multiple legal challenges to the closure decisions. As part of the tower closure implementation process, the agency continues to consult with airports and operators and review appropriate risk mitigations. Extending the transition deadline will give the FAA and airports more time to execute the changes to the National Airspace System.
Approximately fifty airport authorities and other stakeholders have indicated they may join the FAA’s non-Federal Contract Tower program and fund the tower operations themselves. This additional time will allow the FAA to help facilitate that transition.
• The Marquette Downtown Development Authority is pleased to introduce Briana Larson as market manager for the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market. With a diversified background in the food service industry and experience in farming, Larson brings broad knowledge and understanding of local food systems paired with a valuable focus on hospitality and community.
The Downtown Marquette Farmers Market will be open Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Marquette Commons beginning May 25 and running through October 26. For more information visit www.mqt farmersmarket.com or call the Downtown Development Authority office at 228-9475.
• Negaunee-Ishpeming native Robert Cope, now living in Australia, has been invited to introduce the film Anatomy of a Murder when it is shown at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image on May 8.
After his comments emphasizing the authenticity of the portrayal, two hundred or so members of a society of worldwide film enthusiasts will view the Otto Preminger film, seeing Marquette’s courthouse, and locations in Big Bay, Ishpeming and Michigamme. Before moving to Australia, Cope donated the 1930s, college-going trunk of John Voelker to the Voelker Collection at NMU, having purchased it at auction.
Local Authors’ Corner
• A historical novel, Copper Empire, written by first time author Donna Searight Simons, centers on events that took place in 1913’s northwestern Upper Peninsula.At this time, mining employees throughout Michigan’s Upper Peninsula went out on strike to protest dangerous working conditions, long hours and low pay. The miners spent months desperately trying to negotiate with companies who refused to recognize their union, the Western Federation of Miners. They endured daily picketing, protesting, clashing with workers who wanted to return to work along with scab workers. Five months after the strike began, the strikers held a Christmas party at the Italian Hall in Calumet where a tragedy occurred that killed almost 80 people and forever changed the Copper Country.
For more information, visit https://sites.google.com/site/copperem pire or order the book online at Amazon.
• “The Way North Book Release Party” will take place May 20 at 7:00 p.m. in Peter White Library’s Community Room. This is a new anthology celebrating Upper Peninsula authors, recently released by WSU Press. The anthology, edited by Ron Riekki, contains the works of forty-two writers whose works capture the geography, climate and culture of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Confirmed authors who will be reading are John Smolens, L.E. Kimball, April Lindala, Ron Riekki, Marty Achatz and Janeen Rastall. Visit the Made in Michigan section of wsupress.wayne.edu for more and reviews on the book.
MM
Marquette by the Numbers
Retired Senior Volunteer Program
March volunteers 168
March hours of service 3,637
Nonprofit agencies benefiting 42
Fiscal Year-to-Date RSVP totals
Volunteers 243
Hours of service 22,977
Nonprofit agencies benefiting 64
Peter White Public Library
Total March Attendance 26,602
Items checked out in March.......25,556
Registered Cardholders 24,329
Fiscal Year-to-Date PWPL totals
Attendance 229,723
Average Daily Attendance 908
Items checked out 237,988
Sawyer Intl Airport Boardings, March
Delta .2,583
American Airlines 697
March Climate Stats for Mqt NWS
Average temperature 21.2
Average high temperature 29.4
Average low temperature 13
Total snowfall 48.8
Highest temperature 47 on 3/29
Lowest temperature -4 on 3/14
Greatest 24-hr snow .....16.4 on 3/10-11
Star Date May 2013
Moon & Planets —In early May, Jupiter is up in the west in the early evening sky. Venus climbs into the twilight sky and is located well below Jupiter. As the month progresses, Jupiter loses altitude and meets up with still low Venus. In the later part of May, they are joined by Mercury and form a distinct trio very low in the northwest. Saturn is visible all night long, and is high in the south around midnight. A very thin crescent moon is by Venus on the 10th, below Jupiter on the 11th and above it on the 12th.
Constellations —In the April issue of MM, Gerald Waite quoted Geoffrey Chaucer from his prologue to The Canterbury Tales; “the young sun hath in the Ram his half course run.” Chaucer was not only a poet, but also an accomplished astronomer. This quote refers to the position of the sun when Chaucer observed it in mid-April of 1391. It was located halfway along its course through the constellation of Aries the Ram. The sun’s apparent motion through the constellations of the Zodiac each year is, of course, actually due to the movement of the earth in its orbit. However, there is another motion involved that effects our perception of the sun’s path. The earth wobbles on its axis at a rate of one cycle once every 25,700 years. This creates the phenomenon known as the precession of the equinoxes. This wobble causes the sun’s position to drift slowly compared with the background stars. The astronomical and astrological affinity Aries has with spring dates from an earlier time. 2,500 years ago, the sun entered Aries on March 21, the first day of spring. By Chaucer’s time, the sun was in Pisces on March 21 and not in the Ram until April. Today, due to another 600+ years of precession, the sun does not reach mid-Aries until the first week of May. In the 21st century, we see in early May what Chaucer saw on his way to Canterbury in mid-April of the 14th century; the Ram rising with the sun.
––Craig Linde
Courtesy of the Marquette Astronomical Society
|
