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September 2004 Happenings  -- November 2004 Happenings

October 2004 Happenings

Sara Softich to perform at Mariner North costume party Oct. 30

Posted 10/30/2004

COPPER HARBOR -- Music lovers, food fans and creative types who like to dress up like Tiny Tim or Mata Hari, Giesha girls or yodeling cowboys are invited to a party Saturday evening, Oct. 30, at the Mariner North in Copper Harbor. The best costume will win $100, and hearty and delectable hors-d'oeuvres will be available all night. Dance or just tap your toes for only a $5.00 cover. As a special surprise, Minnesota's Sara Softich, with a fellow musician, will play popular covers plus original songs from her CD, "Rusted and Bent." On her tour from the Twin Cities to the Iron Range, Sara plays piano, violin and guitar. Mariner rooms are only $40 for Saturday night. Call 906-289-4637 for more info.

Momix brings fantasy, illusion to Rozsa Nov. 1

Posted 10/29/2004

HOUGHTON -- Momix, a contemporary dance company, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 1, at Michigan Tech's Rozsa Center. Internationally acclaimed for presenting work that is uniquely inventive and beautiful, the company will perform Opus Cactus, a full-length, multi-media work inspired by the plant and animal life of the desert southwest. Brilliant choreography and simple props enable these dancer-illusionists to use their bodies as if they were flowing instruments. The music accompanying the dance is an upbeat mix, flowing from Brian Eno to Australian bush music to the Swingle Singers performing Bach. See Tech Topics for details.

Finlandia begins Finnish/Scandinavian film series

Posted 10/28/2004

HANCOCK -- Finlandia University's Finnish-American Heritage Center (FAHC) is offering a series of contemporary Finnish and Scandinavian films beginning on Thursday, Oct. 28, with The Man Without a Past (Mies vailla mennesyyttä), rated PG-13 and written, directed and produced by internationally renowned filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki, Finland's best-known director. The films begin at 6:30 p.m. and are followed by discussion according to audience interest. Subsequent films will be shown the second Thursday of each month. These include Ambush (1999), which follows a bicycle-mounted platoon of Finnish soldiers on the Karelian front; Pathfinder (1987), inspired by a mystical legend from Lapland; and The Cuckoo (2002), set in isolated northern Finland during the final days of World War II. All are welcome to attend the film series free of charge, but donations to benefit the FAHC are accepted. For additional information, please contact Jim Kurtti, FAHC director, at 906-487-7302.

Congressman Stupak to speak in Hancock, Houghton Oct. 28

Posted 10/27/2004

HOUGHTON -- Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) will speak at three local events on Thursday, Oct. 28. State Representative Rich Brown may also attend the events. Andre Heinz, stepson of presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, and Kerry's leading spokesperson on the environment, was scheduled to appear at these events, but his visit was cancelled as of Wednesday afternoon. Stupak will speak at 8:30 a.m. at the Ramada Inn in Hancock, at 11:30 a.m. for seniors at Lakeview Manor in Hancock and at 12:30 p.m. in the lobby of Michigan Tech's Rozsa Center, where the Michigan Tech College Democrats will host a Get Out the Vote Rally. This event will also include other local elected officials and candidates. Please consider car pooling with friends and neighbors to allow parking for everyone. For more information contact Janet Metsa, Chair, Houghton County Democrats. 482-5665.

Public Forum to offer discussion of Proposal 2 Oct. 25; Vigil to be held Oct. 26 

Posted 10/24/2004

HOUGHTON --  A Public Forum on "Freedom to Marry," sponsored by the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (KUUF) will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 25, at the BHK Child Care Center just off M-26 (near Econo-Foods) in Houghton. The Forum concerns Proposal 2 on the Nov. 2 ballot -- a proposal to amend the state constitution to specify what can be recognized as a "marriage or similar union" for any purpose. In coordination with the Religious Coalition for a Fair Michigan, KUUF will also sponsor a Candlelight Vigil to express concern about Proposal 2 and its effect on Civil Rights at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, at the Houghton Waterfront Park pavillion.

MDNR to hold public meetings on resource management

Posted 10/18/2004

HOUGHTON --  The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) will hold five public meetings this week to provide information about a resource planning strategy planned for the western Upper Peninsula. The first meeting, open to the public for comments and questions, will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, in Room G-002 of the Michigan Tech University Forestry Building. MDNR specialists are working to create a resource management process that recognizes broad-based resource needs but also examines local values, interests and issues. The other four meetings, all from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., are scheduled as follows:
Oct. 19: Ironwood, Gogebic Community College, Solin Center, Room B-21; Oct. 20: Iron Mountain, Pine Mountain Resort, Sitzmark Room; Oct. 21: Escanaba, Bay College, Heirman Center, Building 9, Room 952/958; Oct. 25: Negaunee, Negaunee Township Hall, 43 M-35, Negaunee. For further information, call Mike Koss or Gail Voldarski at 906-353-6651.

Russian Dance Company, Lezginka, to perform at Rozsa Center Oct. 17

Posted 10/14/2004

HOUGHTON --  Direct from the mountains of the Caucasus, Lezginka, the State Dance Company of Daghestan in southeastern Russia, will offer entertainment for the whole family at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17, at the Rozsa Center on the Michigan Tech campus. Brilliantly-colored and embroidered costumes, folk dances, heart-stopping acrobatics, tightrope walking, drumming, sword fighting and knife throwing are among the incredibly varied skills of this dynamic 40-member company. Tickets are on sale at the Rozsa Center Box Office (487-3200, Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.) or online at tickets.mtu.edu. more

Play to commemorate Hiroshima 50th Anniversary at MTU Oct. 8, 9, 15, 16

Posted 10/08/2004

HOUGHTON --  Michigan Tech's University Theatre presents "Radiance of a Thousand Suns: The Hiroshima Project," directed by Sue Stephens, at 7:30  p.m. on Friday and Saturday, October 8-9 and 15-16, in McArdle Theatre, Walker Arts and Humanities Center second floor, on the MTU campus. This compelling play, written to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, uses words, music and images to tell the intertwining stories of decision-makers, scientists, survivors, rescuers. In conjunction with the performance, the public is invited to view without charge, "Pictures from Hiroshima and Nagasaki: An exhibit from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum," open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, Oct. 7-15, and one hour before the play performances. These historic photos are displayed in McArdle Theatre and Lobby. For details visit the Fine Arts Department Web site.

Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District to hold annual meeting Oct. 9

Posted 10/07/2004

HOUGHTON --  The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District will hold its 53rd Annual Meeting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Allouez Township Community Center in Allouez.* A Pizza Buffet will follow the meeting, with a presentation by Guest Speaker Walt Summers, retired Iron County district conservationist, who will talk about Bats in Michigan. The meeting will include the Annual Election of Board Directors. Up for election are Marsha Klein, Gina Nicholas and Sandra Palmore. The meeting is open to the public.
*Turn left on Bumbletown Rd., just before BP Gas Station along US 41 in Allouez.

North Woods Conservancy to hold annual meeting Oct. 2

Posted 10/01/2004

CALUMET --  The North Woods Conservancy (NWC) will hold its annual meeting Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Allouez Township Community Center, located just behind the Allouez BP gas station. A social hour with free pizza and refreshments begins at noon, followed by the meeting at 1 p.m. and a guided walk to the Taylor Creek Gorge at the NWC's Dore Woods Preserve. Walkers can choose a half-mile, one-mile or three-mile hike. The public is invited to all of the events. For more information, call Jane Griffith at 337-0782, or visit the NWC website.
Photo: Beach at NWC's Gratiot River North. (File photo © 2002 and courtesy John Griffith)

6th Annual Keweenaw Solar House Tour will be Oct. 2

Posted 10/01/2004

HANCOCK -- The 6th Annual Keweenaw Solar House Tour will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, starting in Hancock at 1016 Crestwood Drive (Sylvan Estates, north of the Keweenaw Co-op) where you can pick up a map and descriptions of the houses. The tour features seven buildings demonstrating passive solar/super-insulated construction, photovoltaics, hydroelectric systems, wind power, energy efficient additions and renovations, and in-progress energy conservation construction. After the tour, from 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. at the Motherlode meeting room, David Stark of the University of Minnesota, Duluth, will give a seminar on his timber-frame home with a self-contained water treatment system. For more information, contact Merle Kindred at 482-7803 or mkindred@pasty.com.
Photo: Terry Kinzel of Hancock points out features of his solar panel during the 2003 Solar House Tour. Kinzel and his wife, Sue Ellen Kingsley, produce some of their own electricity with both solar and water power and benefit from energy efficient construction. Their home will again be featured in the 2004 Solar Tour Sat., Oct. 2.

Walkin' Jim Stoltz returns to perform at Calumet Theatre Oct. 1, Ishpeming Oct. 2

Posted 09/30/2004

CALUMET -- One of America's most unique folksingers and backcountry travelers, Walkin' Jim Stoltz, will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1, at the Calumet Theatre. In his his multimedia show, "Forever Wild," Jim projects fantastic photos, taken while hiking through miles of North American wildlands -- a backdrop for his songs and stories about wild places. This show is a fundraiser for the Keweenaw Land Trust's newest preserve -- the Manitou Island Light Station -- 93 acres of unique island habitat and a mile of Lake Superior shoreline. Every dollar Walkin’ Jim helps raise for this concert will allow KLT to request $2 from the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program. Walkin' Jim will also present his "Forever Wild" show at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2004, in the Peterson Auditorium in Ishpeming, to benefit Northwoods Wilderness Recovery, Eagle Alliance and Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve projects. more

Turquoise Gallery begins fall season Sept. 17 with abstract art exhibit

Posted 09/16/2004

HANCOCK -- "Marks of Esteem" by local artist Constance Johnson will open with a reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17, at Hancock's Turquoise Art Gallery. Originally from Minneapolis, Johnson graduated from the University of Minnesota and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and moved to the Copper Country in 1996. Winner of many awards, Johnson has had solo and group exhibitions in this area and in Minnesota, Utah and Wisconsin. This collection of her latest and newest abstract art works will be exhibited from September 17 to October 30 in the Gallery, which is located in the E.L. Wright Building, just south of Pat's Foods, on US 41 in Hancock. Gallery hours are Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.

September 2004 Happenings  -- November 2004 Happenings