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March 2005 Happenings -- May 2005 Happenings

April 2005 Happenings

Finnish Ambassador to speak at Finlandia University graduation May 1

Posted 04/30/2005

HANCOCK -- His Excellency Jukka Valtasaari, Ambassador of Finland in Washington, D.C., will deliver the commencement address at the Finlandia University 2005 Spring Commencement exercises, beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 1, in the Paavo Nurmi Athletic Center gymnasium. Finlandia University will confer an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree on Ambassador Valtasaari, who has held several posts in the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, the ministry's highest non-elected office. He writes and speaks frequently on topics related to foreign policy and trade. more

Calumet's Vertin Gallery to hold reception, Open House for Finlandia art installation Apr. 29 - May 1

Posted 04/28/2005

HANCOCK -- Throughout the month of April, local artist Phyllis Fredendall, instructor for the Finlandia University International School of Art and Design, and her students have been creating an art installation titled "Stories and Place, a Celebration" in the Vertin Gallery of the historic Vertin Building in Calumet. A reception will be held at the culmination of the installation from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 29. The Vertin Building will also celebrate its 120th birthday with an Open House from Friday through Sunday. Everyone is invited to attend. more

Conservancy to hold second Keweenaw Botany Workshop June 4-5

Posted 04/28/2005

GRATIOT LAKE -- Gay-wings, pitcher plants, nodding trilliums, Rubus parviflorus, Sanguinaria canadensis, Iris versicolor... These are just a few of the 100+ plants observed by twelve participants in the Gratiot Lake Conservancy's Botany Workshop, taught by botanist Janet Marr last year in a variety of  Keweenaw wetland and upland habitats. The Gratiot Lake Conservancy is sponsoring their second Botany Workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5, 2005. The workshop is open to anyone interested in learning to identify local native plants. more
Photo: At Eagle Harbor’s Eliza Lake, botanist Janet Marr (right, foreground) points out a patch of fushia gay-wings, or Polygala paucifolia, to participants in the 2004 Botany Workshop, sponsored by the Gratiot Lake Conservancy. (Photo © 2004 and courtesy Bonnie Hay, Gratiot Lake Conservancy)

Memorial service for Jim Rooks to be held June 13 in Copper Harbor

Posted 04/27/2005

COPPER HARBOR -- A memorial service for Jim Rooks will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 13, 2005, at Our Lady of the Pines Chapel in Copper Harbor. Following the service, Jim's friends will gather at the Community Center for his favorite Turkey Potluck and share their special memories of "ROOKS." Jim Rooks -- naturalist, nature guide and educator -- passed away March 10, 2005, at Zablocki Veterans Memorial Hospital in Milwaukee. Read our Keweenaw Now tribute, Keweenaw loss: Jim Rooks of Copper Harbor, 1935 - 2005.
Photo: Jim Rooks and one of the tall Estivant Pines he helped preserve. (Photo © 2004 and courtesy Jim Junttila)

FAHC to present documentaries on Karelia Apr. 27

Posted 04/26/2005

HANCOCK -- On Wednesday, Apr. 27, the Finnish-American Heritage Center (FAHC) invites the public to view two documentary films on the emigration of thousands of North American Finns to Soviet Karelia in the 1920s and 1930s. Letters from Karelia will be shown at 1 p.m. This documentary follows Alfred Pitkanen as he retraces through Karelia the footsteps of a father he never knew. The film will be followed at 2:45 p.m. by The Survivors -- the stories of 20 North American Finns who survived Stalin's "Great Terror." Anita Hokkanen, producer of this film, will be on hand to discuss this tragic period of Finnish-American history. No charge, but donations to benefit FAHC accepted. Refreshments served. Contact 906-487-7302. FAHC is at 435 Quincy St., Hancock.

Volunteers needed to help ESC, MTU Aquanauts clean up Princess Point Apr. 23

Posted 04/22/2005 Updated 04/26/2005

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Tech University's Environmental Sustainability Committee, with the MTU Aquanauts, will sponsor their final 2005 Earth Week activity -- a Community Clean-up at Princess Point from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Apr. 23. Volunteers are asked to meet at 11 a.m. behind the Rozsa Center, in the parking lot. It is a short walk down to Princess Point on the Houghton Canal. The group will work together to improve a section of the waterfront walking trail. Snacks and equipment are provided.
Photo: MTU Aquanauts and ESC members worked together last fall to clean up Hancock Beach. Pictured here with the "loot" from their dive, from left, are Steve Snare, Drew Snauffer, Jim Johnson and Greg Murphy. Click here or on photo for larger version. (Keweenaw Now file photo ©  2004 Michele Anderson)

Jim Brandenburg, wilderness photographer, to visit MTU April 21

By Jeff Dambrun  Posted 04/13/2005

HOUGHTON -- Jim Brandenburg, Minnesota's noted wilderness photographer and activist, will join the Michigan Tech community for Earth Week 2005 on Thursday, April 21. Sponsored by MTU's Students for Environmental Sustainability, Mr. Brandenburg will give a presentation on his work and judge an amateur environmental photo contest. The photographs will be displayed throughout Earth Week, April 18-22, in the Memorial Union on the MTU campus. The contest is open to everyone, and winners will receive prizes as well as have the chance to attend dinner with Mr. Brandenburg. Known for his famous wolf photography, Jim Brandenburg has been a National Geographic photographer for over 25 years. His work has appeared in many publications. more

Trout Unlimited to meet Thursday, Apr. 14

Posted 04/13/2005 

HANCOCK -- The Copper Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at the Ramada Inn Waterfront, Hancock. Featured guest speaker will be Dr. Casey Huckins, Michigan Tech associate professor of Biological Sciences, who will provide an update on the latest Coaster Brook Trout research. Fishing and conservation enthusiasts, both men and women, are invited to attend. For membership information, contact Bill Leder, 482-0158.
Photo: Garth Soderberg, Iron Mountain, gets lucky during the steelhead run at Big Eric's Bridge on the Huron River, Baraga County, Saturday, Apr. 9. (Photo © 2005 Jim Junttila). (Click on photo for larger version.)

Finlandia's Nordic Film Series to present Invisible Elina Apr. 14

Posted 04/13/2005 

HANCOCK -- Finlandia University's Nordic Film Series will present Invisible Elina (Näkymätön Elina) (2003) at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 14, in the Finnish-American Heritage Center (FAHC). Directed by Klaus Härö, the film tells the story of a Finnish family living in Northern Sweden in the 1950s. The fatherless family belongs to the poor Finnish-speaking minority, which is looked down upon by the Swedish population, including nine-year-old Elina's insensitive teacher, who takes her anger out on Elina, starting a battle in her little school. No charge, donations to benefit FAHC accepted. Contact 906-487-7302.

MTU students to hold public meeting on wind power April 14

Posted and updated 04/12/2005  

HOUGHTON -- A public meeting on "The Future of Wind Power in the Western U.P." will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 14, in Room U113 of the Minerals and Materials (M&M) building on the Michigan Tech campus. Students from Prof. Hugh Gorman's Environmental Decision Making course will present information and lead discussions on the potential for wind power development in the local area. The students also invite the public to visit their Web site, "Wind Power in the Western Upper Peninsula," and to take their survey on attitudes regarding various aspects of wind power. more

Finlandia Community Theatre to present The Andersonville Trial Apr. 7-10

Posted 04/04/2005  Updated 04/06/05

HANCOCK -- The Finlandia University Community Theatre will present The Andersonville Trial at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Apr. 7, 8 and 9, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Apr. 10, at the Finnish-American Heritage Center Theatre in Hancock. The two-act drama follows the 1865 trial of Henry Wirz, the Confederate officer in charge of the notorious Andersonville Civil War prison camp in Georgia. The trial set a new precedent for future war crimes trials. Dan Maki, Finlandia history professor, is directing the play, which includes a cast of 20 student and community actors. Musician Melvin Kangas, Finlandia music and drama professor, will play Civil War-era music on piano prior to each of the performances. more

Artist booths needed for Spring Art and Music Festival May 28

Posted 04/04/2005 

HOUGHTON -- Plans are under way for the fourth Annual Houghton Spring Art and Music Festival to be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 28, on the Houghton waterfront. The event will feature a full slate of homegrown music along with artist booths, a bike parade and family art activities. Applications for artist booths are now available at the Community Arts Center, 126 Quincy Street in Hancock. This event is sponsored by the City of Houghton and the Copper Country Community Arts Council. Call the Community Arts Center at 482-2333 for more information.

Geno Delafose, French Rockin' Boogie bring zydeco to Rozsa Apr. 2

Posted 03/31/2005 

HOUGHTON -- Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie bring real hot stuff zydeco straight from Southwest Louisiana's bayou country at 2 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 2, at MTU's Rozsa Center. These masters of traditional zydeco -- the popular music of the Creoles, or black Francophones, who have lived alongside the Cajuns for centuries -- blend this energetic, rhythmic music with R and B, Cajun, country and blues. Tickets are available from the Rozsa Center Box Office (487-3200, Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) or online at tickets.mtu.edu. more

MTU to host "Affirming diversity" Conference Oct. 5-8, 2005

Posted 03/28/2005  Updated 03/29/2005

HOUGHTON -- The Department of Humanities at Michigan Technological University will host the fifth Biennial Feminism(s) and Rhetoric(s) Conference, Oct. 5-8, 2005, sponsored by the Coalition of Women Scholars and Rhetoricians. This interdisciplinary conference affirms various aspects of diversity -- from language use to communication practices of women from different races, classes, cultures and historical eras. Proposals for papers, presentations or performances are due by April 1, 2005. more

Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District to hold 2005 Tree Sale, Songbird Habitat Workshop

Posted 03/07/2005
HOUGHTON -- The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District (HKCD) announces two important events for March 2005. HKCD is now holding its annual Tree Sale -- with an order deadline of April 1, 2005 -- offering a variety of native and non-native plants, seeds and merchandise. The sale is scheduled for 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, May 6, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 7, at the Houghton County Arena, 1500 Birch Street, Hancock. Jim Rivard, forester for HKCD and for the Ontonagon and Gogebic Conservation districts, will offer a free workshop, "Managing Northern Forests for Songbirds," from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, in the UPPCO Building, 600 E. Lakeshore Drive, Houghton. more

March 2005 Happenings -- May 2005 Happenings