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May 2005 Happenings -- July 2005 Happenings

June 2005 Happenings

Thimbleberry Jam Fest to be July 23 in Mohawk

Posted 06/29/2005 

MOHAWK -- The Thimbleberry Jam Fest -- entertainment for the whole family -- will be from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, at the Mohawk Park. Music groups to perform include Finn Street, Hannah and Wynter Bethel, The Augustine Family Band, The Bayou Mountain Band, The Polka Kings, The Fiddleheads and The Keweenaw Jazz Band. Besides the variety of live music, the festival offers food, art (to do and to purchase) and kids' activities. For details visit the Keweenaw Krayons Web site.
Photo: Gary Aho and Kelly Suvanto, members of the new Bayou Mountain Band, rehearse Cajun music for the July 23 Thimbleberry Jam Fest in Mohawk. Other members of the band, not pictured, are Craig Kurtz, Oren Tikkanen and Audrey Viola. Click here or on photo for larger version. (Photo © 2005 and courtesy Gary Aho)  

Heim Duo to present classical concert at Finlandia July 6

Posted 06/28/2005 

HANCOCK -- The Heim Duo of Mobile, Alabama, will present a concert of (mostly) Vintage Viennese Music for Classical Guitar and Flute at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 6, in Finlandia University's Chapel of St. Matthew. Annette Heim, flute, and Bret Heim, classical guitar, will play music of Anton Diabelli; toe-tapping waltzes and ländler by Franz Schubert and Johann Strauss, Jr.; and music based on Mozart’s infamous rascal, Don Giovanni. The Heim Duo will also showcase a fiery work by Bulgarian composer Atanas Ourkouzounov -- Sonatine, inspired by Bulgarian village festivals and the stillness of ancient Byzantine chant. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information: (906) 483-3754 or sacheney@chartermi.net. See also the Heim Duo's Web site.

Celebrate Lake Superior Day, July 17

Posted 06/27/2005 

ASHLAND, WIS. -- The largest freshwater lake in the world has its own day of recognition held annually on the third Sunday in July (July 17 this year). Communities, businesses, industries, civic and community groups and clubs, churches, schools and individuals or families are invited to hold activities or events that celebrate Lake Superior. Any one can organize an event or activity that symbolizes a connection to the Lake Superior basin. The Lake Superior Binational Forum is promoting this basin-wide event to highlight the personal, environmental, economic and spiritual connections people have to this unique world treasure. more
Photo: Lake Superior shoreline at Bete Grise South on the Keweenaw Peninsula. The "singing" sand at Bete Grise, as well as unique wetlands, will now be protected for future generations, thanks to a partnership organized by the Michigan Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. 

Grandmothers for peace gather at Veterans' Park on Saturdays

Posted 06/26/2005 

HOUGHTON -- Inspired by Sharon Mehdi's book, The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering, local grandmothers and others interested in change, peace and new directions are gathering from noon to 1 p. m. on Saturdays at Veterans' Park in Houghton. Written as a gift for her grandchild, Mehdi's book has traveled across the country and around the world. Grandmothers and others are invited to join the Saturday gathering. For more information call 482-3270. The book is available locally at B. Dalton and Book World.

Reading the Landscape Keweenaw field trips to focus on Fresh Water Studies
Posted 06/21/2005 

EAGLE HARBOR -- The July 2 - Aug. 13, 2005, Reading the Landscape art and natural history field trips will focus on Fresh Water Studies, bringing together Upper Peninsula scientists and artists who will share a Saturday with program participants in various Keweenaw County locations. Beginning with satellite remote sensing and a short hike on Brockway Mountain to create a large-scale perspective of Lake Superior, the program moves to the ecology and geology of wet and sandy Lake Superior shoreline areas and goes on to examine fish and water bugs in Keweenaw streams. Michigan artists will help participants capture their ideas in graph paper journals. Visit the Gratiot Lake Conservancy Web site to read the brochure and register or call 906-289-4514. $15 per session. 
Photo: Participants in "Water Reflections," a 2004 Reading the Landscape session held at Gratiot Lake, experienced both watercolor painting and aquatic testing. Click here or on photo for larger version. (Photo © 2004 and courtesy Gratiot Lake Conservancy. Reprinted with permission.)

Isle Royale Queen IV to make benefit Sunset Tour June 22

Posted 06/20/2005 

COPPER HARBOR -- The annual benefit Sunset Tour from Copper Harbor will occur at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, on board the the new Isle Royale Queen IV. Tickets for the cruise are $10 a person. All proceeds go towards the purchase of the fireworks for the Copper Harbor 4th of July Celebration. The cruise will include beer, wine and snacks in addition to on-going raffles with prizes -- all of which benefit the fireworks as well. For information on the Isle Royale Queen IV visit their Web site.

Calumet Players to hold auditions for Pajama Game July 5, 6, 7

Posted 06/20/2005 

CALUMET -- The Calumet Players will hold auditions for the stage musical The Pajama Game at 7 p.m. Tues., Wed. and Thurs., July 5, 6 and 7, in the Calumet Players' building (across the street from the Calumet Theatre. These are open auditions for all roles including chorus parts (no speaking roles for young children). If you are interested in playing in the orchestra, please contact the Music Director, Tom, at 337-2250 or stop in at auditions. You may also stop in at auditions if you are interested in support positions: stage manager, running crew, lighting and sound design and/or operators, building sets, costuming, props crew or fly crew. For more information contact Deb at 337-0872 or email daubin3@excite.com. Performances are scheduled for Sept. 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17. 

Bete Grise Preserve to be dedicated at July 9 Celebration
Posted 06/20/2005 

HOUGHTON -- The Dedication of the Bete Grise Preserve, open to the public, will be held at 2 p.m on Saturday, July 9, 2005, on the Gay Lac La Belle Road between Point Isabelle and Lac La Belle. The Preserve includes 1,104 acres of pristine dune-swale wetlands and 7,500 feet of Lake Superior shoreline, which will be permanently preserved and open to the public for noninvasive recreation, research and education. The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District and their Partners -- The Nature Conservancy, Keweenaw Land Trust, South Shore Association, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and many concerned individuals -- made possible the purchase of this area from International Paper/Lake Superior Land Co. more
Photo: This aerial photo shows the wetlands and beach at Bete Grise South in relation to the Gay-Lac La Belle Road. Lac La Belle and some Lac La Belle sloughs are in the background. (Photo © 2003 Michael Jordan. Reprinted with permission.)

Omega House seeks landscaping donations
Posted 06/17/2005 

HANCOCK -- With the opening of the Omega House Community Hospice Project just weeks away, donations of money are being sought to cover the cost of plants and shrubs for landscaping. "An anonymous donor has offered a match up to $1,000 to all monies donated to pay for our landscaping costs," explained Linda Gagnon, volunteer Landscaping Committee chairperson. "With additional donations from the community we will be able to cover all the financial needs of this project." The money must be raised by early July. A planting event will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, at the house site (2211 Maureen Lane, Houghton, off West Sharon Avenue). If you wish to help, please call the office at 482-4438 and bring shovels, rakes and wheelbarrows.

Chain Drive bike race volunteers to meet June 16
Posted 06/15/2005 

HANCOCK -- The Volunteer list is full for the Keweenaw Chain Drive races on Saturday, June 18. "A BIG THANK YOU to all!!" says Dan Dalquist, volunteer coordinator. He reports a record registration 180+ for the 16 + 32 mile races as of last week. More registrations are coming in with more expected by Saturday morning. Volunteers are asked to meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, the the Portage Health System Conference Room on the main floor. Enter through the front door and turn left. Look for the Wheel to mark the spot. Maps, vests, signs, etc., will be distributed; and volunteers will be able to coordinate activities with partners. Saturday's races begin at 10 a.m. at the Best Western Franklin Square Inn in Houghton and head across the bridge to the Maasto Hiihto Trails in Hancock. Sunday's Technical Time Trials begin at 10 a.m., and the Junior Chain Drive at 1:30 p.m., both at the Michigan Tech Trails. For more info visit Keweenaw Trails. Register at www.chaindrive.org.  
Photo: Participants in the June 2004 Keweenaw Chain Drive cross the Portage Lift Bridge to 16- and 32-mile races at the Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids trail system in Hancock. (Keweenaw Now file photo © 2004 Michele Anderson) See more photos of the 2004 Chain Drive races.

Trust Fund Board to consider proposed Gratiot River Park Addition June 15

Posted 06/12/2005 

CALUMET -- The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board meets at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 15, at the Commission Chambers, City of Big Rapids, 226 N. Michigan Avenue, Big Rapids. Anyone may attend and speak for two minutes in favor of Keweenaw County's application for funds for a proposed Addition to the Gratiot River County Park near Ahmeek/Mohawk. If funded, the project would double the size of the park from 100 to 200 acres and double the Lake Superior Shoreline from 4,000 feet to 8,000 feet. For information contact the Dept. of Natural Resources at 517-373-9125. Citizens unable to attend the meeting may write a letter of support to: Mr. Jim Wood, Chief, Grants, Contracts, and Customer Systems, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 30425, Lansing, MI 48909.
Photo: The Gratiot River near Lake Superior, now a Keweenaw County Park open to hunting and fishing. (Photo © 2005 and courtesy www.northwoodsconservancy.org.) 

Habitat500 riders to hold Old Timey Music and BBQ June 11

Posted 06/08/2005 

HANCOCK -- The Habitat500 riders will be riding 500 miles this July to raise money for Copper Country Habitat for Humanity. To help raise money for this year's ride (Each rider needs to raise $750) the group is having an Old Timey Music and BBQ from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, at the Mont Ripley Ski Hill Chalet. Musicians will include Bogan Level-- Craig Kurtz, banjo; Linda Luster, fiddle; Ray Gerhart, guitar; and Crissy Gerhart on bass, who will make a return for the night after 25 years. Lori Honrath will play some of her originals, and the Celtic band Fiddlehead will also be playing. Dinner will be a BBQ pulled pork dinner with the Michigan House's special secret recipe. The public is invited and donations will be taken at the door. more
Photo: Emily and Frank Fiala of Hancock prepare their bikes for the Habitat 500 in July 2005. They will ride 500 miles this July to raise money for Copper Country Habitat for Humanity. (Photo © 2005 Crissy Gerhart. Reprinted with permission.)

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)

Volunteers still needed for Chain Drive bike races
Posted 05/13/2005  Updated 05/25/05, 05/30/05 and 06/08/05

HANCOCK -- Volunteers are still needed for the 10th Annual Portage Health System Chain Drive mountain bike races Saturday and Sunday, June 18-19. "We are still in desperate need of four volunteers for the Aid station on Churning Rapids -- drive in access off of Lake Annie Road. Also still need seven more folks for Traffic control," said Dan Dalquist, volunteer coordinator. "If you have a family member racing, please consider helping us!!" On Sunday the Technical Time Trial and the Kids' Cup Race will be held at the MTU trails. Please contact dand@chartermi.net or call 482-8198 (leave a message) if you can help. For more info, visit Keweenaw Trails. The races include events for the whole family. Register at www.chaindrive.org.  
Photo: Participants in the June 2004 Keweenaw Chain Drive cross the Portage Lift Bridge to 16- and 32-mile races at the Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids trail system in Hancock. (Keweenaw Now file photo © 2004 Michele Anderson) See more photos of the 2004 Chain Drive races.

Keweenaw Krayons' Traditions Alive offers sewing classes 

Posted 05/24/2005 Updated 05/30/2005

MOHAWK -- Keweenaw Krayons' Traditions Alive is sponsoring, each Wednesday in June, a sewing class where participants can learn to make a 1900s era petticoat or men’s shirt. Instructors Becky Weeks and Dayna Carlson will teach basic sewing skills needed to complete one of these projects. The class meets from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Mohawk School. Register now since class size is limited and pre-registration is required. Preceding the class, at 5 p.m. on June 8 and June 22, a Traditions Alive membership meeting will be held. The public is invited to attend and learn more about this interactive group of youth and adults who meet to learn and celebrate the history of the local area. New members are always welcome. For more information visit the Keweenaw Krayons Web site, call 337- 4706 or email staff@keweenawkrayons.com.
See some of Becky Weeks' creations at her new Web site, Olde Fashioned.

Oriental dance workshops available in June, July 

Posted 05/24/2005

HOUGHTON -- Instruction in Oriental dance, or Near-Eastern dance, is now available in the Copper Country for both adults and youth, through upcoming workshops. Anyone is welcome to learn “the ancient and enduring art” of Oriental dance at a workshop with Barbara McLean from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, at Trinity Episcopal Church, Montezuma Ave., Houghton. Cost: $25. McLean has been a performing member of the Near East Dance Theatre of Boston. Michigan Tech's 2005 Summer Youth Program (SYP) offers students entering grades 7-12 an opportunity to attend an Oriental Dance Workshop with Elena Lentini, New York City performing artist, choreographer and dance company director. The SYP workshop, to be held the week of July 17-23, 2005, has a registration deadline of June 3, 2005. more
Photo: Barbara McLean demonstrates Near-Eastern dance, also known as Oriental or "Belly Dance." (Photo © 2005 Joe Kirkish. Reprinted with permission.)

Nominations for Heart and Hands Award due June 17, 2005
Posted 05/08/2005 

HANCOCK -- Nominations for the annual Heart and Hands Award are being accepted through June 17, 2005. The award is presented each July 4 at Churning Rapids, following the Horsetail Scramble Walk/Run. Anyone may nominate a local resident who has given of himself/herself in a caring, committed way in the areas of peace, justice, human needs or the environment. A new youth category this year will recognize outstanding students age 18 and under. Both adult and youth winners will receive public recognition, a certificate and a monetary donation to be given to the charity of their choice. Mail nominations to President of the Board, Heart and Hands Award, 53044 Hwy M203, Hancock, MI 49930. Call 482-6827 or email tkinzel@pasty.com for more information. Click here for a Nomination Form.

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

May 2005 Happenings -- July 2005 Happenings