| City
Notes
Edited
by Kristy
Basolo
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Dear editor
The Marquette Symphony Orchestra is embarking upon its thirteenth
season with a “Pops” Concert on September 19, featuring
Marquette’s own Broadway star, Paul Truckey. This season
features four full-orchestra concerts at Kaufman Auditorium, chamber
music concerts in Escanaba in cooperation with the Besse Center,
sponsorship of a youth concerto competition, numerous public school
outreach performances and a guaranteed-to-be-thrilling world premiere
of a Duo Percussion Concerto.
During an economic time that has caused many symphony orchestras
and classical music venues to struggle financially or significantly
reduce their offerings, the Marquette Symphony Orchestra is strong
and thriving as it embarks towards this thirteenth season. The
economy has, however, created a serious challenge for our orchestra.
It faces a serious decline in both corporate contributions and
grant monies from local, state and national agencies, as well
as a possible decline in individual giving. We expect donations
may decline further before they get better and are taking sound
fiscal steps to ensure MSO will not have to compromise on its
vision for the future and mission to provide the highest caliber
of classical music to the Marquette area.
Season tickets are available at NMU EZ tickets at the Superior
Dome, by calling 227-1032 or visit www.nmu.edu/tickets
Season ticket price is $80; individual concert ticket price is
$25 for adults, $10 for students and children thirteen to eighteen,
and $7 for ages twelve and younger. All concerts are performed
at Kaufman Auditorium with a start time of 7:30 p.m.
Romanticists No. 2, the November 21 concert, will feature an exciting
new young pianist on the international scene, Hye-Jin Kim, performing
Rachmaninov’s Piano Concert No. 2. The concert also includes
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2, a nationalistic masterpiece
coined “The Little Russian” because of its use of three
Ukrainian folk songs.
Symphonic Invitation on February 27, will highlight one of the
most br illiant
pieces of dance music written, Weber’s Invitation to the
Dance with orchestration by Berlioz. The music continues with
one of Paul Hindemith’s most popular works, Symphonic Metamorphosis
on Themes by Carl Maria von Weber. Concert soloist on the program
will be the winner of the first MSO Young Artist Concerto Competition
with piece to be announced.
The final concert of the season, Innovators, on March 27 features
the return of the percussion section to the front of the stage.
Carrie Biolo and James A. Strain will premiere a duo concerto
for percussion, timpani and orchestra in a work composed specifically
for the performers. This concert features the Marquette Symphony’s
first performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica.”
For details, call 228-4233 or visit www.marquettesymphony.org
Carrie Biolo,
MSO business manager
Dear editor
Thank you for helping us to remain an institution that so many
listeners trust and turn to for quality, inspiration, entertainment
and reliable news and information.
Thank you for your high expectations, and for your feedback that
helps us determine the best blend of local and national public
radio programming unique our Upper Great Lakes listening audience.
You do good work.
Thanks for sticking with us through our challenging transition
from analog TV to digital broadcast, which required Public Radio
90 to be off the air for several days in order to keep the tower
climbers safe. While the primary work was to complete the transition
to digital TV, it will also give Public Radio 90 the capability
for multi-casting and the addition of our all news/talk and all
classical channels.
Your membership dollars make it possible for us to bring you in-depth
news and analysis from National Public Radio, the BBC and our
own Public Radio 90 newsroom. You make our eclectic mix of music
programming possible—including our own local talent on Superiorland
Concerts featuring classical music recorded across our listening
area, In The Pines featuring traditional music recorded at the
annual Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival and Highlights from
the Marquette Area Blues Festival. In addition we’re able
to bring you internationally renowned orchestral and operatic
performances, jazz, blues, folk, international and traditional
music, storytelling with Dick Estell “the Radio Reader,”
giggles with the Car Talk guys and Garrison Keillor on A Prairie
Home Companion, along with a variety of programming unique to
our area like 8-18 Media, April Poetry, Media Meet and Holiday
Readings and Remembrances, as well as special programs throughout
the year to celebrate special days and to remember those who made
a difference.
Your tremendous support, both emotional and financial gives us
the confidence to face challenges head-on. Even during one of
the toughest economies that Michigan has seen in years, our Public
Radio 90 listeners have maintained a steady level of financial
support.
We are wrapping up our Summerfest fundraising campaign w hen
the July Marquette Monthly goes to press but we’re getting
close to the $500,000 needed to keep Public Radio 90 running strong
for another year. As of June 18 we have received pledges and contributions
from 2,481 Public Radio 90 listeners and 103 regional businesses
and organizations totaling $404,355.
Two steps forward…one step back…Your unwavering commitment
to Public Radio 90 and local public radio here in our Upper Great
Lakes region, gave us the confidence to invest nearly $20,000
in engineering and legal fees to apply for three new FM frequencies
across the Upper Peninsula, 89.3 FM in Marquette, 88.9 FM in Houghton,
and 89.5 FM in Iron Mountain. These are full-power protected frequencies
and if successful will provide listeners with a dramatically improved
listening experience. This is a lesson in patience as it could
take up to three years before we know if we will be awarded the
licenses.
Then, this past October, WNMU found out that our booster translators
at 107.1 in Escanaba, 91.3 in Menominee and 107.3 in Stephenson
were causing interference with a new full-power station, The Point
at 107.2. By law Public Radio 90 is required to take those translators
off the air if they are causing interference with a full power
statio n,
even if we were there first. We have been working with the folks
at The Point and FCC officials and think we have found an alternative
frequency that will work for the Escanaba area at 96.3 FM. We
still need confirmation from the FCC before we can proceed with
the switch. We are trying to find workable solutions to restore
our Public Radio 90 signals for our Menominee and Stephenson listeners.
All in all, we’ve had a pretty good year here at Public Radio
90, (our university year ends June 30) but our work isn’t
done yet. We know that the more listeners we have providing financial
support for Public Radio 90 the more self-sufficient the station
can become, thus reducing our reliance on state and federal funding,
which is so vulnerable. The bottom line is the less we have to
worry about state and federal money to operate, the more we can
focus on better serving you. So every dollar, every member really
does make a big difference.
With your help we have made significant progress towards self-sufficiency
and continue to improve and expand our Public Radio 90 services
for you and all our listeners. But more than money is needed to
help Public Radio 90 remain a valuable community asset. We also
rely on your feedback about the programs you value as well as
suggestions for future improvements and changes.
You can make a difference by continuing to renew your membership
each year, by increasing your annual gift or committing to a Sustaining
Membership, by including Public Radio 90 in your estate planning,
and by encouraging friends and neighbors who listen to contribute.
With the continued strong support of listeners like you, I have
confidence that Public Radio 90 will be here for many years to
come.
All of us here at Public Radio 90 look forward to serving you
long into the future with even more of the best of what public
radio has to offer.
Evelyn Massaro
Public Radio 90 Station Manager
Dear editor
I am writing concerning the speed limit change on M-35 located
in Little Lake Michigan.
Little Lake is a busy, active little town with a large Bible camp
bringing hundreds of people to our town which soon will be open
all year round, a campground which brings many tourist and summer
vacationers and the many lake homes that people use all summer
long. We also have a very active church that hosts many programs
for the children of Little Lake located right on M-35, a store,
post office with constant traffic, pub/restaurant, service garage
and semi-truck business which all are located in the heart of
our town on M-35 and on a dangerous curve. The whole stretch of
this road has residential homes on each side with some of the
homes only a few feet off the road.
So I write this letter to voice my concern regarding the imminent
increase of the speed limit through the Little Lake portion of
M-35. MDOT has decided to increase the 35 mph zone to a 55 mph
zone, with nothing more than a yellow delineation chevron signs
around the curve. I feel MDOT’s reasons for this increase
are inherently flawed and will result in a dangerous stretch of
highway through Little Lake.
The current 35 mph zone is disregarded often and vehicles frequently
trave l
at speeds above the posted limit. My concern is how much they
will violate the 55 mph zone. I find that fully loaded semitrucks
pose the biggest danger due to this increase. Michigan Vehicle
Code (Section 257.627) from the Michigan State Police Web site
states motorists must always drive at a speed that allows them
to stop safely. As we all know, these trucks have a hard time
slowing down when loaded.
M-35 will become even more dangerous because the road was not
designed for vehicles to drive fifty-five miles per hour.
Sharon Bodenus
Dear editor
Music education is flourishing at Bothwell Middle School in Marquette,
thanks to the extraordinary effort and talent of band director
Lantz Whitfield. On June 2, Whitfield conducted the third band
concert of the school year, featuring sixth, seventh and eighth-grade
students. The concert featured a well-rounded mix of Native American
and Celtic pieces, traditional movements, and student-friendly
favorites like “Cool Cat Shuffle.” Each band played
with a skill and maturity beyond its members years, a tribute
to Whitfield’s dedication.
Whitfield directs a record eighty students in the sixth-grade
band, fifty-four students in seventh-grade, and forty-one students
in eighth grade. With a teaching load of 175 students, he still
takes the time to get to know each of his students. His engaging
teaching style and sense of humor inspire a love of music in students.
The delightful concerts Whitfield conducts help parents understand
the importance of music education.
Juggling schedules so the sixth-grade band, which practices at
school as three separate sections, can have a few practices as
a whole group before a concert, an d
getting equipment over to Kaufman Auditorium for concerts are
two of the obstacles Whitfield faces with aplomb. Thank you to
Whitfield for creating an extraordinary band program.
Suzan Travis-Robyns
Dear editor
On May 27, about 1,600 Marquette Area Public Schools students,
teachers, and administrators gathered in Kaufman Auditorium to
watch two free performances of the Duquesne University Tamburitzans.
This was possible due to a very generous financial gift from the
Louis Graveraet Kaufman Endowment Fund that has been supporting
student and community Lyceum Performing Arts Programs in Kaufman
Auditorium since 1928.
Since its establishment, the L.G. Kaufman Endowment has brought
such famous lecturers and artists as Amelia Earhart (twice), photographer
Margaret Bourke-White, pianist Alec Templeton, Percy Grainger
and his Orchestra, author Bill Sanders, astronaut Mike Mullane,
and now the multicultural dance and musical ensemble, the Tamburitzans.
With the original intent of bringing to the students and community,
“...some of the finer things in the world of education, travel,
and art,” many students would not have had the chance to
attend such a grand performance without the support of the Endowment.
The multitude of thank you letters and cards students have written
to the L.G. Kaufman Endowment Board are only a fraction of the
excitement and gratitude they have expressed for being able to
watch such an outstanding multicultural dance and musical performance.
For many students, the performance will stay with them as they
progress through school and help open their minds to the possibilities
in the world outside of Marquette. Simply put, the impact of bringing
high-quality art performances to our students reaches far beyond
what many of us can imagine.
I would like to thank the L.G. Kaufman Endowment Board for its
continuous financial support for the L.G. Kaufman Lyceum Performing
Arts programming and recognizing the importance of providing additional
exposure to the Arts outside of the traditional school curriculum.
I would also like to thank Bob Railey and the Marquette Folk Dancers
organization, as well as the NMU International Fold Dancers, who
helped put on a phenomenal supper for the Tamburitzans after its
evening performance.
Without their collective efforts, our students and community as
a whole would have missed the opportunity to be part of yet another
historical performance in Kaufman Auditorium.
Sara Cambensy
Kaufman Auditorium Director
Negaunee farmers market scheduled for Wednesdays
The Jackson Mine Farmers’ Market will run through September
30 at the Jackson Mine Park located on Tobin Street in Downtown
Negaunee. The market will run every Wednesday between 5:00 and
7:00 p.m.
The market will feature locally grown fresh produce, crafted items
and food available for purchase. The market also will feature
demonstrations on fitness and healthy living for the public. Local
producers will feature a full line of seasonal locally grown produce
available all season long.
A flea market will be held from 9:00 a.m. to noon each Saturday,
also in Jackson Mine Park. For details, call Bill at 869-4859.
Help stop the spread of invasive plant species
Members of the Central Upper Peninsula Cooperative Weed Management
Area will hold several volunteer workdays this summer to pull
invasive weeds and restore native vegetation.
In July, several volunteer workdays are planned on Grand Island.
For details call Deb at 387-2512, ext. 19 or e-mail dleblanc01@fs.fed.us
The Marquette County Conservation District will meet from 9:00
to 2:00 p.m. every other Friday at the native plant demonstration
area at Trestle Corridor in Marquette. For details, call Sarah
at 226-2461, ext. 102 or e-mail sarah.janda@mi.nacdnet.net
Volunteers are needed to help remove nonnative invasive plants
around the U.P. with The Nature Conservancy on preserves and National
Forest lands. Volunteer work will be done at Pt. Aux Chenes in
Mackinac County on July 24, Indian Point in the Hiawatha National
Forest Delta County on July 28 and 30, Mt. Baldy on July 31 and
Grand Marais on August 3. For details, call Chris at 225-0399
ext. 4015 or e-mail ccantway@tnc.org
For information on invasive species, visit www.upicweeds.org or
e-mail ecoyne@tnc.org
Club Indigo plans Chaplin flick for July offering
On July 10, Club Indigo presents Charlie Chaplin’s Modern
Times at the Calumet Theatre. This 1936 satire finds Chaplin’s
Little Tramp as a factory worker who goes crazy from his repetitious
job on an assembly line, is forced to experience an experiment
in automated eating, is sent to prison for supposedly aiding a
Communist group, finally finds love and affection with a Gamin
(Paulette Goddard, his true love interest off screen as well)
on the lam, and they to wander soulfully into the sunset together.
It is the Little Tramp’s swan song; Chaplin abandoned him
for greater challenges facing him and his ambitious grasp of the
world at large, but he did invent a new kind of sound for Modern
Times with a highly imaginative sound track including some dialog
and his own compositions - and “Smile,” the tune that
became a sensation for years to follo w.
Modern Times will be shown at 7:15 p.m., preceded at 6:00 pm by
an all-California buffet created by chefs from the Calumet Miscowaubic
Club. Cost for both food and film is $18; cost for the film alone
is $5. Children attend for half fare. To assure service from the
buffet, or for details, call 337-2610.
Swede’s Gift Shop and Keweenaw Minerals in Copper Harbor
will sponsor the program.
Outdoor Writers Association honors SWP for clean waters
The Michigan Outdoor Writers Association has chosen the Superior
Watershed Partnership as the 2009 recipient of its Clean Waters
Award, recognizing the organization’s commitment to preserving,
protecting and enhancing the watersheds of the Lake Superior,
Lake Michigan and Lake Huron basins.
Based in Marquette, the Superior Watershed Partnership is considered
the regional leader in Great Lakes protection for Michigan’s
Upper Peninsula. Over the past fifteen years, SWP has grown from
a single citizen-based watershed council to a network of more
than twenty watershed groups. The group’s mission is to promote
responsible individual and community actions that ensure a sustainable
environment, encourage a sustainable economy, and help improve
quality of life.
GLCYD welcomes VISTA member to promote network
The Great Lakes Center for Youth Development welcomes Laura Michaletz,
an AmeriCorps VISTA member.
Michaletz is one of several VISTA members placed throughout Michigan
in conjunction with the Volunteer Centers of Michigan. Michaletz’s
role at the center is to assist with expansion of the U.P. Volunteer
Network, a collaborative initiative led by the center, which connects
nonprofit organizations throughout the U.P. with volunteers. Michaletz
will promote volunteerism across the U.P. and provide support
to organizations and volunteers that use 1-800-Volunteer.org to
post and sign up for volunteer opportunities. Other projects include
launching the inaugural U.P. Service Awards as well as a U.P.-wide
day of service.
For details, call 228-8919 or visit www.glcyd.org
Blueberry Festival staff seeks vendors for annual event
The Marquette Downtown Development Authority is accepting registrations
for the Blueberry Festival, set for July 24. The event will run
from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Downtown Marquette. There is a
$35 registration fee to participate. For details or to register,
call 228-9475 or e-mail becky@downtownmarquette.org
Pathways budget deficit forces lay-offs, reductions
Due to budget constraints, the Pathways Community Mental Health
board of directors voted at a June 9 special meeting to lay off
twenty-seven Pathways staff and to discontinue services for about
ninety-one individuals who have services paid for by general fund
dollars.
In addition, the plan included implementing six furlough days,
which will reduce Pathways hours of operation in order to cut
expenses affecting each pay period through September 30. There
will be no change for individuals served by Pathways who have
Medicaid benefits.
Pathways began addressing its general fund deficit by discontinuing
services to seventy individuals in December 2008. In addition,
vacated positions were analyzed and many were not filled.
Superiorland Ski Club honors skiers, coach for excellence
The Superiorland Cross Country Ski Club (SCC) recently held its
season-end social and awards banquet.
SSC race team coaches Andrew Moore and Matt Weier presented recent
Marquette Senior High School graduate Zach Wagner with the team’s
“Skier of the Year” award. Wagner finished at or near
the top of the many races the team competed in around the Midwest,
including Men’s Overall State High School champion.
The SSC board also recognized long-time Northern Michigan University
cross-country skiing and running coach Sten Fjeldheim with its
“Lifetime Achievement Award.” Fjeldheim is one of the
founding members of the Superiorland Ski Club.
For details, visit www.superiorland skiclub.com
Forest staff celebrate motorcycle trail grand opening
Hiawatha National Forest officials had a grand opening celebration
for the new Moss Lake Off-Road Motorcycle Trail, located about
three miles north of Nahma Junction. The twenty-seven-mile trail,
intended for single-track motorcycle use, was developed in partnership
with U.P. Sandstormers and the Michigan DNR.
In addition to its work planning and obtaining the funds and labor
necessary to build the trail, the U.P. Sandstormers will be responsible
for the future maintenance of the trail.
The new motorcycle trail will fit nicely into the State’s
network of Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) riding opportunities and
will add a single-track option to the list of public trails in
the Central UP.
For details, call 474-6442.
Free computer class offered in Marquette, Ishpeming
Thanks to a grant through Michigan Works!, Peter White Public
Library and Carnegie Public Library will be offering free computer
classes this summer aimed toward teaching individuals who would
like to learn basic computer skills.
Class times and courses will be based on the needs of the public.
The program will offer beginner-level courses from basic computer
skills and using the Internet to more advanced courses such as
developing your own social network, instant messaging and downloading
digital library audio books.
For details, call 228-7697, ext. 114.
NMU permit for coal plant voided, wood considered
Northern Michigan University’s request to void the State
of Michigan permit for its proposed cogeneration heating and steam
plant has been granted by the Department of Environmental Quality.
The permit, which was issued May 12, 2008, would have enabled
NMU to burn coal as a backup fuel source in the proposed multi-fuel
steam and heating plant, although the primary fuel source was
to be wood and wood byproducts. Construction on the cogeneration
plant had not started, in part, due to a stay on the DEQ permit
by the Sierra Club, which opposes the burning of coal.
Leach said NMU is working on a permit application that would allow
wood to be the sole fuel source, and is seeking state and federal
agencies to secure funding for the project.
The proposed plant would provide heat and steam to the NMU campus,
and steam to neighboring Marquette General Hospital. Plans for
the facility include a research wing where NMU students can study
future biomass fuels.
YMCA holds annual Teal Lake Triathlon on July 18
The YMCA of Marquette County will have its second annual Teal
Lake Triathlon. This event is sponsored by Marquette General Health
System, 100.3 The Point Radio and the City of Negaunee and will
be held July 18 at the Teal Lake beach in Negaunee.
Adults ages fifteen and older will begin at 9:00 a.m. Participants
will swim a quarter mile, bike 20 kilometers and finish with a
5K run. Also offered on this date, beginning at 11:30 a.m., is
the same event for kids ages 7-12. Youth will swim 200 yards,
bike 2 miles and run a half mile. Preregistration for the event
is underway. Participants will save if they register prior to
July 16. All proceeds will benefit the YMCA Strong Kids Scholarship
Campaign. For more information, to register or volunteer, visit
www.ymcamqt.org or contact the YMCA at 227-9622 or 475-9666. Online
registration is available at www. active.com. The YMCA of Marquette
County is a United Way agency.
Magazine honors Marquette for outdoor opportunities
Marquette has been honored by a national outdoor magazine.
The new edition of Outdoor Life magazine named Marquette the second
best town in the nation for sportsmen, just behind Lewiston (Idaho).
The article praises Marquette’s abundant year-round activities,
awesome steelhead and salmon runs, phenomenal smallmouth, walleye
and muskie fishing, and a whitetail hunting culture second to
none.
Protect the Earth 2009 set for August 1 and 2 at NMU
This August, citizens from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and
Ontario will meet in Marquette County for Protect the Earth, 2009.
The event is held annually in an effort to unite citizens throughout
the Great Lakes working to protect their land, water and way of
life. A major theme this year is the threat of metallic sulfide
and uranium mining to the Great Lakes basin. Protect the Earth
organizers believe valuable freshwater and continued access to
public lands can only be protected through the efforts of an involved
citizenry. This year’s gathering is also in honor of legendary
historian and community activist Fred Rydholm.
On August 1, the event will start off with workshops at Northern
Michigan University. Among the many speakers are Professor Al
Gedicks, who will present on successful grassroots strategies
for protecting public land and clean water from dangerous metallic
sulfide and uranium mining projects; Laura Furtman, who will discuss
current issues with contamination at Kennecott’s Flambeau
Mine, in Rusk County, Wisconsin; and Professor Stuart Kirsch,
who will present on community struggles in West Papua where Rio
Tinto owns and operates the massive Grasberg Mine with Freeport
McMoRan. Other presentations and poster displays will include
topics such as energy issues, treaty rights, the power of community,
and other topics related to humans and nature.
On August 1, music and entertainment will be followed by a showing
of a feature film U.P. premiere highlighting the grassroots struggles
to protect the land and water in the U.P. directed by the Oscar
Award-winning Jeff Gibbs.
On August 2, there will be a walk on the Yellow Dog Plains to
Eagle Rock, the site of Rio Tinto-Kennecott’s proposed Eagle
Project metallic sulfide mine. Sunday events include a picnic
lunch followed by a memorial ceremony for Fred Rydholm, which
will also take place at Eagle Rock.
For details, visit yellowdogsummer.wordpress.com, call 942-7325
or e-mail yellowdogsummer@gmail.com
Hiawatha Music Festival set for July 17 through 19
During challenging economic times, families often find themselves
looking for creative ways to entertain the kids, and local and
regional entertainment options look pretty attractive.
One such good deal is the annual Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival
to be held at Tourist Park in Marquette from July 17 through 19.
This year’s festival includes special events for everyone
in the family.
There are local, regional and national performers for the main
stage; workshops under the big tent; teen events; children’s
music and crafts; and food. The festivities begin on Friday night
with a Get-Acquainted Dance, and this year, the first night’s
entertainment will include Feufollet, a Cajun band from Louisiana;
Café Accordion from Minneapolis; and White Water, a family
band from Amasa.
For details, call 226-8575 or visit www.hiawathamusic.org
Progress made on Fortune Lake adult retreat center
Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp outdoor ministry center is in the process
of renovating an older cabin-style building into an adult retreat
center. Fortune Lake has made commitments to retreat groups to
have the building completely ready for usage by the middle of
August.
Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp is a 147-acre outdoor ministry center
located near Crystal Falls, MI. Founded in 1930, the camp is owned
by the member congregations of the Northern Great Lakes Synod
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The camp provides
summer programming and year-round retreat facilities and programming
for groups of all backgrounds.
More hunters harvest more deer in 2008
Michigan hunters harvested an estimated 489,922 deer in 2008,
a one-percent increase from 2007, the Department of Natural Resources
announced.
Hunters killed 248,350 antlered bucks and 241,573 antlerless deer,
a seven-percent decrease in the buck harvest, but a twelve-percent
increase in the number of antlerless animals taken the previous
year.
The estimates are based on the DNR’s annual mail survey,
which was sent to 49,947 individuals who bought at least one deer
license.
The decrease was most noted in the Upper Peninsula, where success
rates dropped five percent.
To read the complete report, visit www.michigan.gov/dnrhunting,
and click on Wildlife Surveys and Reports.
WNMU-TV completes switch to digital broadcasting
WNMU-TV at Northern Michigan University has completed the conversion
to digital broadcasting ahead of the June 12 deadline required
of all U.S. television stations.
WNMU now offers three channels instead of one: 13.1, which features
the same PBS and locally produced programming as the previous
analog Public TV 13 channel; 13.2, which has high-definition (HD)
material; and 13.3, or WNMU Plus, with expanded PBS content such
as delayed feeds from the West Coast, so viewers who may miss
programs because of the time difference have an opportunity to
catch them on alternate schedules.
Because WNMU-FM, or Public Radio 90, shares the same tower as
its television counterpart, the radio station was shut off frequently
while TV transmitter work was completed. Public Radio 90 now is
back on the air.
For details, call 227-9668.
State legislators supporting literacy in new TV ads
Encouraging a child to read during the summer could potentially
lead to $1,500 toward his or her college savings. State Treasurer
Robert J. Kleine announced today the Get Creative @ Saving For
College Sweepstakes sponsored by the Michigan Education Savings
Program (MESP), the Michigan Education Trust (MET) and the Library
of Michigan Foundation as part of the 2009 Library Summer Reading
Program.
The sweepstakes, which launched on June 1 and runs through August
21, will award six $1,500 prizes that can be used toward a child’s
future college education. Plus, the libraries of the winners will
receive $1,000 toward their future reading programs. Parents can
enter to win by filling out an entry form at local libraries when
signing up children for the summer reading program.
Comprehensive conservation plan set for Seney Refuge
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved and released to
the public the Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the Seney National
Wildlife Refuge. Goals and objectives in the plan describe how
the agency intends to manage the Refuge during the next fifteen
years.
Management of the Refuge will focus on: improving the long-term
sustainability of wildlife habitats; increasing opportunities
for wildlife dependent recreation; and strengthening and expanding
partnerships with government agencies, organizations, and communities.
July reserved for books, authors, learning and fun
Thursdays during July, Finlandia University’s North
Wind Books will host a series of children’s activities and
author book signings. The community events are free and open to
the public.
For adults, four “Campus, Community, and Authors” (CCA)
events will take place. Book authors will give a presentation
about their work with time for discussion and questions, after
which they will sign copies of their books.
For children, four “Children’s Unique Books” (CUB)
events will be held. Geared to children grades kindergarten through
second, most CUB events will feature children’s book authors
who will read their books to children and engage them in an activity
related to the books.
North Wind Books is located at 437 Quincy Street in downtown
Hancock. For a listing of specific events, call 487-7217.
Raffle prize offers a ride on Agawa Canyon rails
In recognition of the ninetieth anniversary of Child and Family
Services of the Upper Peninsula, the organization has launched
an awareness campaign to highlight its services and origins, including
its participation in the original foster care program, “The
Orphan Trains.” The anniversary fundraising efforts include
a raffle for four tickets on the Agawa Canyon Tour Train.
The train tour through the unspoiled Canadian wilderness includes
a 500 foot coast down to the floor of the Agawa Canyon, where
travelers will have two hours to enjoy scenic walks on graveled
trails, four waterfalls or an invigorating climb up over 300 stairs
to a breathtaking view.
Tickets are $10 each, and are available at many locations across
the Upper Peninsula, including the Child and Family Services of
the U.P. office, Heritage Motors and Jeffrey’s Restaurant
of Marquette. For details, visit www.cfsup.org
Annual Trappers Convention scheduled for July 17
The U.P. Trappers Association convention is being held July 17
and 18 in the Ruth Butler Building at the fairgrounds in Escanaba.
There will be bargains on needed trapping supplies from about
twenty nationally-known dealers and “how to” demos by
top trappers and fur handlers.
Free fishing and prizes will be given to kids at the DNR Pocket
Park; a craft demo will be held for the ladies, quilt-making by
a local quilting club; special raffles of fur hats, knives, artwork,
a skinning machine; mini raffles; a wood carver; and two special
shows featuring live owls by Gayle and Randy Bruntjens from Raptor
Rehab.
Admission is $2 per day for adults, with youth sixteen and younger
admitted free. This event is open to the public and runs from
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days. For details, call Rick at 498-2261
or visit www.uptrappers.com
2009-10 off-road vehicle grant applications available
The DNR announced that the 2009-10 Off Road Vehicle (ORV) trail
grant applications are available to public agencies, nonprofit
and incorporated clubs and organizations.
Applications are available for grants to maintain existing designated
state ORV trails, routes and use areas; repair public lands damaged
by inappropriate ORV use; and develop new ORV trails, routes and
use areas. Grant funds also are available to pay for liability
insurance, leases or easements.
Applications must be submitted by August 1, 2009. Any public agency
or nonprofit incorporated club or organization seeking an application
should contact: DNR-FMFM, P.O. Box 30452, Lansing, MI 48909. The
forms are available on the DNR’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr-grants
or by calling (517)373-1275.
Local Catholic Clergy appointments announced
One priest will be retiring and several other priests will be
changing pastoral assignments in the Catholic Diocese of Marquette
on July 1.
Monsignor John “Jed” Patrick, 67, longtime pastor of
St. Michael Parish in Marquette, will attain senior priest status
and retire from active ministry. Monsignor Patrick also will be
relieved of his diocesan position as vicar general and his responsibility
for NMU Catholic campus ministry.
A native of Ironwood, Msgr. Patrick was ordained a priest on December
21, 1967 by Bishop Francis Reh at St. Peter’s Basilica at
the Vatican. He has served parishes in Marquette, Menominee, Escanaba,
Trenary, Palmer, Gladstone and Big Bay. He has been the pastor
of St. Michael Parish since 1995. Among the diocesan posts he
held were director of vocations and vicar general. Pope John Paul
II conferred the title of Prelate of Honor to His Holiness on
Father Patrick in 1999, allowing him to be addressed as “Monsignor.”
Assigned as the new pastor of St. Michael Parish in Marquette
is Father Larry Van Damme, 48, a native of Watson. Ordained a
priest on June 11, 1993 by Bishop James Garland at St. Peter Cathedral
in Marquette, Father Van Damme has served parishes in Iron Mountain,
Goetzville, Hessel, DeTour, Drummond Island, Hancock and Dollar
Bay. He has been the pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish in
Houghton since 1997 and of St. Anne Parish in Chassell since 2001.
Father Van Damme will continue to serve as the diocesan director
for Catholic campus ministry. He will be joined at St. Michael
Parish by Father Benjamin Hasse, 30, as associate pastor. This
will be Fr. Hasse’s first priestly assignment since being
ordained on June 5.
Taking over as pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish in Houghton
and St. Anne Parish in Chassell will be Father Allen Mott, 34.
A native of Escanaba, Father Mott was ordained a priest on June
6, 2003 by Bishop Garland at St. Peter Cathedral. He has served
parishes and missions in Marquette, Big Bay, Brimley, Bay Mills,
Sault Ste. Marie and Sugar Island. He is the pastor of St. Ignatius
Loyola Parish in St. Ignace and Immaculate Conception Parish in
Moran, a position he has held for two years.
The new pastor of the St. Ignace and Moran parishes will be Father
Pawel Mecwel, 49. A native of Poland, Father Mecwel was ordained
to the priesthood on June 1, 1990 at St. Peter Cathedral by Bishop
Mark Schmitt. He has served parishes in Marquette, Ironwood, Grand
Marais, Germfask and Curtis. He has been the pastor of St. Joseph
Parish in Sault Ste. Marie for twelve years and was also responsible
for Catholic campus ministry at Lake Superior State University.
Father Peter Zaczynski, 36, has come from the Diocese of Buffalo,
NY to serve as parochial administrator of St. Joseph Parish, with
responsibility for Catholic campus ministry at LSSU. A native
of Poland, Father Zaczynski attended two seminaries in Michigan
and did a year of service from 1998-99 at American Martyrs Parish
in Kingsford and St. Mary and St. Joseph Parish in Iron Mountain.
He was ordained a priest on May 22, 2004 at St. Joseph Cathedral
in Buffalo by Auxiliary Bishop Edward Grosz.
Father Jeffrey Kurtz, 51, will become the pastor of St. Rose Parish
in Channing, while continuing to serve as pastor of Guardian Angels
Parish in Crystal Falls, a post he assumed on May 1. Born in Menominee,
Father Kurtz was ordained a priest on June 1, 1990 by Bishop Schmitt
at St. Peter Cathedral. He has served parishes and missions in
Ironwood, Marquette, Grand Marais, Germfask, Engadine, Curtis,
Naubinway, Bark River, Perronville and Schaffer.
Father Kurtz will take over the pastorate of St. Rose Parish from
Father Richard Mroz, who will exercise his future priestly ministry
outside the Diocese of Marquette. Father Mroz will also be relieved
of his position as pastor of St. Joseph Mission in Foster City
on July 1.
At that time, Father Mark McQuesten, 60, will assume the pastorate
of the Foster City mission, while retaining his position as pastor
of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Bark River. A native of Detroit,
Fr. McQuesten was an insurance office manager before he entered
the seminary. Bishop Schmitt ordained him to the priesthood on
May 1, 1987 at St. Peter Cathedral. Fr. McQuesten has served parishes
in Marquette, Ironwood, Rudyard, Trout Lake, Barbeau, Norway and
Vulcan. He has been the pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton for
the past two years.
Father Chacko Kakaniyil will be relieved as pastor of Sacred Heart
Parish in Ewen, St. Ann Mission in Bergland and Immaculate Conception
Parish in Watersmeet to return to his home diocese in India.
Replacing Father Kakaniyil as pastor at those churches will be
Father Sebastian Ettolil, MCBS. A native of India, Father Ettolil,
69, was ordained to the priesthood on December 17, 1968 for the
Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. He served as
a priest in India and North Dakota before coming to the Diocese
of Marquette in 1998.
In the Upper Peninsula, Father Ettolil has served parishes in
Iron Mountain, Sault Ste. Marie, Chassell, South Range, Calumet,
Ahmeek, Copper Harbor and Eagle Harbor. He has held his current
position, that of pastor of Resurrection Parish in Hancock and
St. Francis of Assisi Mission in Dollar Bay, for the last three
years.
Assisting Father Ettolil as associate pastor at Sacred Heart Parish
in Ewen, St. Ann Mission in Bergland and Immaculate Conception
Parish in Watersmeet will be Father George Maki, 59, who will
reside in the rectory in Watersmeet. An Iron River native, Father
Maki was ordained a priest on December 2, 1988 by Bishop Schmitt
at St. Peter Cathedral. Prior to entering the seminary, he spent
four years in the Air Force and worked as a substance abuse counselor
for teenagers in Chippewa County.
Father Maki has served parishes in Kingsford, Iron Mountain, Ishpeming,
Garden, Nahma, Cooks, Marquette, Newberry, Paradise and Escanaba.
He is currently the associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in
L’Anse, St. Ann Parish in Baraga and The Most Holy Name of
Jesus/Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Assinins.
The current pastor of the parishes in L’Anse, Baraga and
Assinins for the last four years, Father Augustin George, 41,
will take Father Ettolil’s place as pastor of Resurrection
Parish in Hancock and St. Francis of Assisi Mission in Dollar
Bay. A native of India, Father George was ordained a priest there
on December 29, 1993. In addition to serving as a priest in his
home country for nearly 10 years, he came to the Diocese of Marquette
in 2004 and served parishes in Ontonagon and Menominee, before
being assigned to the three faith communities in Baraga County.
Father John Longbucco, 49, is returning to the diocese to serve
as the new pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in L’Anse, St. Ann
Parish in Baraga and The Most Holy Name of Jesus/Blessed Kateri
Tekakwitha Parish in Assinins. Father Longbucco has been a full-time
chaplain in the U.S. Army since November 2002. In 2006 Chaplain/Captain
Longbucco received the Army’s Distinguished Service Award
from the Military Chaplains Association.
Born in Jackson, Mich., Father Longbucco was ordained a priest
on June 1, 1990 by Bishop Schmitt at St. Peter Cathedral. He has
served parishes in Iron Mountain, White Pine, Bergland, Brimley,
Bay Mills, Barbeau, Ontonagon and Rockland.
Father Janusz Romanek, 33, will leave his position as associate
pastor of St. Anne Parish in Escanaba to join Father Longbucco
at the parishes in L’Anse, Baraga and Assinins as associate
pastor.
A native of Poland, Father Romanek was ordained to the priesthood
by Bishop Alexander Sample on June 8, 2007 at St. Peter Cathedral.
He has served at St. Anne Parish for two years.
Father Michael Chenier, 27, who was just ordained a priest on
June 5, will begin serving as associate pastor of Resurrection
Parish in Menominee on July 1.
Michigan citizens respond to Flambeau Mine lawsuit
The Wisconsin Resources Protection Council (WRPC) announced at
a press conference in the State Capitol Building that it intends
to file a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources (WDNR) and Kennecott’s Flambeau Mining Company
(FMC).
The lawsuit would be in response to ongoing water pollution that
violates Wisconsin law and the Federal Clean Water Act at the
Flambeau Mine, in Rusk County, unless the pollution and related
issues are fully addressed within thirty days.
Kennecott, a wholly owned subsidiary of London-based Rio Tinto,
is attempting to open a metallic sulfide mine, called the Eagle
Project, in northern Marquette County.
But according to WRPC attorney Glenn M. Stoddard, the potential
lawsuit is based on the mining company’s own monitoring data.
Citizens opposing other metallic sulfide mining activities in
Minnesota and elsewhere in Michigan are concerned that Kennecott’s
failure to protect water at the Flambeau Mine is indicative of
any company’s ability to successfully operate a metallic
sulfide mine in a water-rich area.
For details, e-mail gcaplett@gmail.com or call 942-7325.
Free movies and bike give-aways planned in Calumet
Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital will be sponsoring the Movie Magic Club
at the Calumet Theatre every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. beginning July
7 and running through August 18. Family-friendly films, piano
walk in music by Dick Hazzard will be presented as well as a bike
giveaway following every movie. Admission is free to all. Children
ten years and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Children fourteen and younger who receive a movie club card will
be eligible to win a bike. Every time they come to a movie, their
card is punched. Every punch entitles them to an additional chance
to win a bike. You must be present to win. Movie Club cards are
available at the Calumet Theatre Box Office or any Aspirus Keweenaw
locations. Movie Club cards also will be distributed during parades
and area festivals.
Movies include E.T. on July 7; Madagascar on July 14; Comedy Classics
Film Fest on July 21; Ghostbusters on July 28; Antz on August
4; The Muppet Movie on August 11; and Shrek on August 18.
For details, call 337-2610 or visit www.calumettheatre.com
Local Authors Corner
• Photographer and now pictorial author and publisher
Harvey Desnick debuted his new wildflower pictorial Keweenaw Wildflowers
Blooming Seasons, a composite photographic work meant to stun
readers with the incredible variety and beauty of the Keweenaw’s
wildflowers encouraging outdoor lovers to come and explore. Blooming
Seasons has been several years in the making. More than 300 images
depict 278 varieties of wildflowers that bloom on the Keweenaw
Peninsula north of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. For details,
e-mail hdesnick@aol.com or call 296-2171.
Stabenow launches ‘Health Care People’s Lobby’
In a web video, available on her Web site, U.S. Senator Debbie
Stabenow (D-Michigan) announced the launch of the Health Care
People’s Lobby.
By visiting www.stabenow. senate.gov and clicking on “Health
Care People’s Lobby,” families across Michigan can share
their stories and voice their support for change in the current
health care system. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee,
Stabenow serves an important role in the development of health
care reform legislation.
By signing up at the Web site, people can share their stories,
which Stabenow will then share with her colleagues, as this important
debate moves forward. Those who sign up to join the People’s
Lobby will also receive updates on health care reform and what
they can do to have their voices heard.
News & Notes from the desk of U.S. Senator Carl Levin
• Citing his longtime and strong support for the Army,
the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) has selected
Senator Carl Levin, D-Mich., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services
Committee, to receive its Outstanding Legislator of the Year Award
in a ceremony on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, June 10. Senator Jeff
Sessions, R-Ala., will also receive the Outstanding Legislator
of the Year Award from AUSA.
• Levin and Stabenow announced that Michigan has been awarded
more than $7,386,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act (ARRA) funding through the U.S. Forest Service. The funding
will be used to improve water quality and fish habitats, maintain
Forest Service roads and for other enhancements. Visit www.fs.fed.us/arra/arra-releasedfsprojects-2009-6-2pm.pdf for
the full listing, including U.P. recipients.
Notes from the desk of U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow
• Levin and Stabenow announced the U.S. Department of Transportation
has awarded $1,425,000 to Sawyer International Airport in Marquette
County. The funding will be used for lighting and insulation
in hangars #400, 423 and 425.
• Levin and Stabenow announced the U.S. Department of
Transportation has awarded $821,073 to Sawyer International Airport
in Marquette County. The funding will be used to rehabilitate
runway 01/19, repair three taxiways and replace 1700’ of
perimeter fencing.
• Levin and Stabenow announced that Pendills Creek National
Fish Hatchery (NFH) in Brimley has been awarded $45,500 in
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding through
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The funding will be used for
the replacement of the hatchery’s freezer and the installation
of energy-efficient T-8 lighting.
• Stabenow made the following statement regarding House
passage of the Cash for Clunkers legislation: “I am pleased
that my colleagues in the House have passed legislation that authorizes
funding for the cash for clunkers program. This bill, which mirrors
legislation that I have introduced in the Senate, will save jobs
and help provide a much-needed boost to our auto industry during
these tough economic times. I will continue to work with
my colleagues in both the House and Senate to enact this new program
as soon as possible.”
• Stabenow announced Senate passage of the Family Smoking
Prevention and Control Act of 2009. This legislation would give
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) increased authority to
regulate the tobacco industry in order to help reduce youth smoking,
by preventing the marketing of tobacco to minors.
• Stabenow made the following statement regarding General
Motors bankruptcy filing: “Like families and workers across
Michigan, I am disheartened by today’s news. Although bankruptcy
proved unavoidable, it is important that all of the work done
by management, the UAW, bondholders and the auto task force will
make a quick, efficient bankruptcy possible. I am confident that
GM will emerge a stronger and viable company. If we have learned
one thing from the global economic crisis, it is that in order
for our economy to thrive we must build things in this country. Now
is the time for America to recommit to a strong manufacturing
strategy that will rebuild our middle class.”
• Stabenow and Levin announced that Michigan has been awarded
$69,427,524 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding
through the Department of Labor (DOL) to provide unemployment
benefits and administer unemployment assistance programs. The
funding provides for an increase in benefits to reflect the recent
earnings of workers, as well as an expansion of unemployment eligibility
to individuals working part-time in the absence of full-time employment
opportunities.
• Stabenow and Levin announced that Michigan has been
awarded $340,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
funds to assist in the closure of abandoned mine lands in the
Upper Peninsula’s Ottawa National Forest, located in Ontonagon
County. The funds are a part of a $19.9 million project to address
hazards associated with abandoned mines in National Forest areas.
The Upper Peninsula project includes two separate phases, with
each phase creating jobs, visitor trails, and potential habitats
for forest animals.
• Stabenow made the following statement praising President
Obama for signing the “Cash for Clunkers” program into
law. This law mirrors Senator Stabenow’s Drive America Forward
legislation, which she introduced in the Senate last month: “Today
is a great victory for families across Michigan and across our
country. After many months of hard work, we have a program in
place that will save jobs and help small businesses affected by
the economic downturn. This is a jobs program first, but it will
also reduce pollution in our environment, decrease the amount
of foreign oil that we consume and help families who are trying
to buy or lease a new vehicle. This is a win-win-win for America.
In Michigan, we know that when auto sales are down, our local
dealerships, their employees and their families are negatively
impacted by the economic ripple effect. That’s why I am pleased
that President Obama supports this important program to bring
people back into dealer showrooms and stimulate sales. Working
together, I know we’ll be able to turn our economy around
and get Michigan back on track.”
• Stabenow made the following statement regarding the announcement
by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu that Ford will receive $5.9
billion in low-interest loans to retool older plants for the production
of advanced technology vehicles: “Today’s announcement
by Secretary Chu is welcome news and a credit to Ford’s commitment
to advanced manufacturing here in Michigan. These low-interest
loans will provide Ford with much-needed capital to retool older
auto plants in order to produce more advanced technology vehicles
such as the Ford Fusion hybrid. I am confident that these loans
will help revitalize plants and communities, save jobs, and protect
our U.S. manufacturing base here at home.”
Local business news...in brief
• Hal Rudnianin, Institute of Natural Therapies instructor,
has been appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm to the Michigan
Board of Massage Therapist Licensing & Regulation, which will
regulate massage therapist licensing and the new Michigan laws.
• Jerry Hammes, member of the Copper Country Associated
Artists located in Calumet, will be the featured artist at the
Fine Arts Fair and Exhibit to be held at Eagle Harbor on August
8 and 9.
• Dr. Stewart Goldman, medical director in neuro-oncology
at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, is the recipient
of the 2009 Adam Brish Neuroscience Lecture Award. MGHS neurosurgeon,
Dr. Richard Rovin introduced Dr. Goldman during the annual Marquette
General Neuroscience Conference held on May 29.
• The Elder Law Firm of Anderson Associates and LexisNexis
Martindale-Hubbell announced that Robert C. Anderson has been
awarded an AV Peer Review Rating; the rating identifies a lawyer
with high to preeminent legal ability and is a reflection of expertise,
experience, integrity and overall professional excellence.
• Marquette General physician Dr. John Lehtinen is among
the first physicians in the United States to be certified in addiction
medicine by the American Board of Addiction Medicine, a new independent
medical specialty board. Although one in five Americans entering
the health care system has a substance abuse problem, there has
never before been a medical specialty, drawn from all areas of
medicine, dedicated to treating addiction.
• Carl F. Hammerstrom, Jr., MD, a Marquette internist
and pulmonary disease specialist, was re-elected as a Michigan
delegate to the American Medical Association; Hammerstrom will
serve another two-year term to sets policies on issues such as
public health, health care delivery and medical ethics.
• The Marquette Fourth of July Committee recently accepted
a check from Gary Muller, CEO of Marquette General Health Systems,
for the Rotary Club of Marquette’s Firework Fundraising effort;
MGHS purchased 1,000 of the Rotary Club’s glow-in-the-dark
fireworks fundraiser wristbands for hospital employees to wear
and show support.
• Northern Pleasures celebrated its grand opening at
1010 West Washington Street Suite 2 in Marquette as a lingerie,
gifts and novelties store.
• McCabe’s Quality Flooring commemorated the business
making efforts to “Go Green” and offer a new service
to customers; McCabe’s now is an Anso Premier Dealer.
• The U.P. Football All-Star Game announced that two
U.P. high school football teams will receive donations from the
game this year. Norway and Ewen-Trout Creek will each have money
donated directly to their football programs.
• Dr. Kristi King, family medicine physician and Escanaba
native, has joined the Marquette Medical Clinic-Gladstone.
Star Date: July 2009
Moon & Planets—Saturn is low in the west after sunset,
and by mid-month, sets before midnight. Jupiter is becoming the
most prominent planet to view as it rises around midnight and
rides high in the south by first light. It also is increasing
slightly in brightness as it moves toward opposition next month.
Mars and Venus remain the main attraction in the morning sky.
Venus rises three hours before sunrise and hangs due east in the
bright twilight all month long. Much dimmer Mars starts out the
month still fairly close and to the upper right of Venus, but
moves well above this brilliant beacon by month’s end. The
moon is just past full on the 9th and 10th as it passes by Jupiter.
On July 18, the thin crescent moon is to the upper left of Mars
and the next morning an even thinner crescent is to the left of
Venus.
Constellations—The short-but-warm summer nights offer the
best view of our home galaxy, the Milky Way. The bright central
region of the Milky Way is located low in the south amid the distinctive
constellations of Scorpius and Sagittarius. Starting from this
area you can trace the path of the galaxy easily as it arcs northward.
Located along this path just above the Scorpion and Archer are
the sprawling constellations of Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer
and Serpens, the Serpent. Ophiuchus was the son of Apollo and
the first physician. He is portrayed as a mythical figure carrying
a massive serpent that symbolizes his healing powers. Serpens
is unique in that it is the only constellation with two separate
segments, each of which extend outward from either side of Ophiuchus
in sinuous patterns.
—Craig Linde
Courtesy of the Marquette Astronomical Society. The fall meeting
will be held at 7:00 p.m. on September 18 at Shiras Planetarium.
Visit www.geocities.com/sstobbelaar/mqtastro.html for details
or download a free star chart at www.skymaps.com
A word to the wise
Verbum satis sapientibus: A word to the wise is sufficient
Passing through Bruce Crossing recently out west in Ontonagan
County, I recalled a native of the town often referring to it
as “Bruce’s.” Shorthand of course, but was an apostrophe
once part of the name, as the gods of grammar intended?
And who was Bruce? Perhaps this was a settlement of Scots and
named after their national hero, Robert Bruce. (He is immortalized
in Robert Burns’ tender ditty: “Scots, wha hae wi’
Wallace bled,/ Scots wham Bruce has often led,/ Welcome to your
gory bed,/ Or to victorie.”)
To the verbally curious, place names often are intriguing, and
I figured my readers, the curious and the curiouser, also have
puzzled over the origin of names. Our namesake Bruce, it turns
out, was not a hero but a plebeian shopkeeper, Donald M. Bruce,
who had a store at the mill town and who became its first postmaster
in 1888. The crossing refers to the junction of the old Military
Road, now Highway 45, and the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic
Railroad.
It indeed was written with an apostrophe originally, but not for
long. A new postmaster in 1891 removed the punctuation, which
seems an old habit of the postal service.
Some strange place names are found in the Upper Peninsula. Many
may know that the name Germfask, just south of Seney, was formed
from the initials of the surnames of eight founding settlers.
The most peculiar name I came across was a crossing called See
Why, an old sawmill town and rail stop in Chippewa County north
of Trout Lake. The general store owner and first postmaster was
“C.Y.” Bennett.
The Dead River north of Marquette is a translation of the French
Riviere de Mort, itself a rendering of the Indian name, Djibis-manitou-sibi,
or River of the Spirits. The mists from the falls were thought
to transport spirits of the dead heavenward. And the hamlet Gay
in the Copper Country may be a jolly place, but the name’s
origin is prosaic: Joseph Gay was involved in copper mining in
the area, and Gay was the site of a stamping mill.
Many other towns took the names of their first postmasters, but
quite a few honor the famous, Marquette being an obvious example,
named for the Jesuit missionary-explorer Father Jacques Marquette.
St. Ignace also shows the Jesuit influence, since Ignatius Loyola
was the founder of this religious order. Houghton is named after
geologist Douglass Houghton, and Baraga after the snowshoe priest
Frederic Baraga. The town first was named Bristol back in 1869,
but changed to Baraga the next year. The doughty missioner had
founded a nearby mission.
I’d always imagined that Kipling, near Gladstone, and Rudyard,
to the east in Chippewa County, might be named after the English
Victorian poet, Rudyard Kipling, but why? The answer has to do
with the same reason Gladstone is named after British Prime Minister
William Gladstone. It turns out that British financiers were behind
the construction of the Soo Line, and Fred Underwood, manager
of the line, made use of the name of the very popular poet for
these two stations along the line eastward from Gladstone.
As for Ralph, hidden away in the woods about thirty miles south
of Ishpeming, it is indeed from a first name, that of Ralph Wells,
son of J.W. Wells, prosperous Menominee lumberman.
Names of places often come from landmarks or geographic features,
including many with Indian or French names. Other locations are
namesakes of places in this country and Europe.
Many places changed their names, especially in the first few years
after settlement. Marquette, as we know, was first officially
named Worcester in 1849, after the Massachusetts home of the major
financial backer of the Iron Bay Mining Company, precursor of
Cliffs Mining. And before that, the site was known simply as Iron
Bay. In 1850, the young town took its present name.
I’m indebted for most of this information to Michigan Place
Names, a book by Walter Romig. We’ll look at other names
next month. Let us know what names you find interesting.
Word for the month
Doughty (DOUBT-ee), an old Anglo-Saxon adjective meaning able
or valiant, stouthearted. What better word to describe Bishop
Baraga. Or the hardy pansy. If you plant pansy seeds this month,
and then transplant seedlings to the open garden in the fall,
the doughty young blooms will smile at you in spring through the
last of the snows. The word is not be confused with dowdy, meaning
old fashioned.
—Gerald Waite
Editor’s Note: Questions or comments are welcome by writing
MM or at marquettemonthly@chartermi.net
MM
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