Home    Happenings October 2005

September 2005 Happenings -- November 2005 Happenings

October 2005 Happenings

MTU to host Native American Speakers' Forum, Spirit of the Harvest Powwow Oct. 28-29

Posted 10/27/2005 

HOUGHTON -- The 10th annual Native American Speakers’ Forum will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, in Michigan Tech's Memorial Union Ballroom. The 10th Annual Spirit of the Harvest Powwow is set for Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Gates Tennis Center. At Friday's Forum, Earl Otchingwanigan will discuss wigwam making at 10:10 a.m., followed by Red Feather Woman, a singer and storyteller with the Sioux/Assiniboine tribe, from 11:20 a.m. to noon. World champion Navajo hoop dancer Lowery Begay will perform at 1 p.m. Friday and at 3 p.m. Saturday. The Spirit of the Harvest Powwow on Saturday also features grand entries at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., a ceremony and special Pink Shawl dance to honor all women and create awareness of breast cancer at 2 p.m. and Native foods and crafts. The forum and the powwow are open and free to the public. The event is sponsored by MTU AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society) and MTU Educational Opportunity. Read more details on Tech Today. Photo: Native Americans in colorful regalia participate in Sept. 2005 Parade of Nations. Click on photo or click here for larger version. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

Band Concert to raise funds for Engineers Without Borders Bolivia project

Posted 10/20/2005 

HOUGHTON -- Engineers Without Borders (EWB), a Michigan Tech group of students planning to build a septic system for a school in Bolivia, will hold a Band Benefit Concert at 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Uphill 41 in Hancock. Bands performing include Joe Ridgeway, Revolution, The Zen Lunatics and Variance. Entrance requires age 18 and older, 21+ to drink alcohol. Proceeds from the $3 cover charge will go to the November Bolivia trip. Small raffles will be held between bands for patrons. Those wishing to donate directly can make a tax-deductible contribution by visiting http://www.mtf.mtu.edu. Be sure to specify that your donation is for EWB. For more information contact Brandon Braithwaite, fundraising chair, at bmbraith@mtu.edu or Adam Ward, EWB president, at asward@mtu.edu.

Northwoods Wilderness Recovery to hold "Coffee Talk" on sulfide mining Oct. 19

Posted 10/18/2005 

MARQUETTE -- Northwoods Wilderness Recovery (NWR) will host a morning "Coffee Talk," an informative discussion on the metallic sulfide mining issue at 8:30 a. m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Motherlode Coffee House, 52 Huron St., Houghton. Discussion will focus on the most up-to-date information concerning new legislation and actions that can be taken by concerned citizens. This is a free event open to the public. Please call 1-906-226-6649 with any questions. For more information visit the NWR Web site.

Volunteers needed for Swedetown Trails fall work day Oct. 15

By Ed Kraai  Posted and updated 10/14/2005 

CALUMET -- Volunteers are needed for the Swedetown Trails fall work day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. Lunch at the chalet will follow the fun. Even if you can only spare a portion of the morning, any amount of time and effort is appreciated. Ed Kraai, Copper Island Cross-Country Ski Club president, says work will include brushing and lopping spots that can't be done with the brush mower, installing snow fence, picking rocks, re-arranging signs at the trailhead and hopefully preparing the swamps. Ed and Jeff Parker offer photos of trail work done this summer, and Michele Anderson adds a second page with photos of last May's tree planting at Swedetown. more
Photo: During the May 2005 tree planting at Swedetown Trails, Anna Meese holds the tree straight as her dad, Jim Meese, uses the tree bar to make the hole. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge funding to be discussed at Oct. 14 meeting

Posted 10/13/2005 

EAGLE RIVER -- The Keweenaw County Road Commission encourages the public to attend their regular meeting at 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge near Copper Harbor. Road Commissioner Joel Tuoriniemi will summarize the presentation delivered recently to the Economic Development Administration (EDA) in Chicago concerning Keweenaw County's application for an EDA grant of $1,754,000 for expanding and winterizing the Mountain Lodge. The Keweenaw County Board of Commissioners passed a motion on Oct. 12 that authorized (1) filing the full application with EDA (2) contacting Rural Development to take the necessary steps to close the loan and (3) contacting the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to determine what grant monies, if any, would also be available for the project. The county has 30 days to respond to EDA with a full application for the project, which also includes a $1,273,000 loan and a $10,000 grant from U.S. Rural Development.

Guatemalan to speak of economic, human rights struggles Oct. 16-18

Posted 10/12/2005  Updated 10/16/2005

HANCOCK -- Guatemalan Macaria (Miriam) Jocop Guamuch is at the forefront of her country's struggle for economic and human rights. Representing the Alliance for Life and Peace of the Petén, a coalition of social and popular organizations seeking respect for peace and life, Ms. Jocop Guamuch will give a public presentation on Sunday, October 16, 2005, following a 5:30 p. m. potluck dinner at the First United Methodist Church in Hancock. On Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 17-18, she will speak with various classes at Finlandia University and Michigan Tech and with several other community groups. Her visit is sponsored by the Copper Country Guatemalan Accompaniment Project (CCGAP) and Finlandia University. more

Finlandia's Nordic Film Series to present Pelicanman Oct. 13

Posted 10/12/2005 

HANCOCK -- The Finlandia University Nordic Film Series will present the Finnish family film Pelicanman (Pelikaanimies) at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, 2005, at the Finnish American Heritage Center, 435 Quincy St., Hancock. Released in 2004, Pelicanman tells the story of a pelican who decides to become human, but doesn't fool 10-year-old Emil. The film is in Finnish with English subtitles. It won top awards for set design and sound design at the 2004 Jussi Awards (the Finnish equivalent of the Academy Awards). The Nordic Film Series will continue the second Thursday of each month through April 2006. There is no charge, but donations are accepted. For additional information, please contact Heritage Center Director James Kurtti at 906-487-7302.

Citizens for Progressive Change to hold Town Hall Meeting Oct. 11

Posted 10/10/2005 

HOUGHTON -- The Copper Country Citizens for Progressive Change (CPC) will host the first of a series of Town Hall Meetings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11, in the Community Room of the BHK Child Development Center in Houghton. The topic is "The 'War on Terror' Hits Home." Participants will have the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings, their personal stories and opinions, on the topic. As in the New England Town Hall Meeting tradition, people can listen and learn from others with differing points of view and then seek common understandings and solutions. Topics for future meetings will involve local issues and concerns, such as the impact of rising energy costs (gasoline and heating fuels) on Copper Country families and adequate access to health care for everyone. For information, contact Vern Simula at 288-3181.

Candlelight Ceremony Oct. 10 to show support for victims of domestic violence

Posted 10/07/2005 

HANCOCK -- The public is welcome to attend a Candlelight Ceremony for Survivors of Domestic Violence, sponsored by the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter, at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, at the First United Methodist Church, 401 Quincy Street, Hancock. The ceremony will include music, speakers and poetry. Afterwards participants will walk with candles or flashlights (please bring one) to show support in mourning victims, celebrating survivors and reaffirming the struggle for a non-violent future. October is domestic violence awareness month. For more information visit the Shelter's Web site.

Tai Chi classes to begin Oct. 8

Posted 10/07/2005 

HOUGHTON -- Tai Chi classes with Mr. Yinfei Fu will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 205 E. Montezuma Ave., Houghton. The cost is $80 for an eight-week session of one-hour classes. Tai Chi is moving meditation which helps to foster a calm, tranquil and focused mind. The practice of Tai Chi helps balance, alignment, fine-scale motor control, rhythm of movement and the genesis of movement from the body’s center. Many practitioners notice benefits in terms of correcting poor postural alignment or movement patterns. Open to all body types and levels of conditioning. Mr. Yinfei Fu began studying Tai chi with the elders in the parks of Chengdu (near the habitat of the great panda) and has continued to study the art for many years. For information contact: 1maya@charter.net.

Keweenaw Land Trust to hold meeting, dinner, musical event Oct. 7

Posted 10/06/2005 

LAKE LINDEN -- The Keweenaw Land Trust (KLT) invites the public to their annual meeting, potluck, music and dance event on Friday, Oct. 7, at the E-Center, 700 Calumet St. (Hwy-26) in Lake Linden. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the dining hall, followed by a Potluck Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Bring tableware, a dish to share and your own beverages (beer and wine permitted). Music, dancing and fun will follow from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in the Little Gem Theatre with Mike Irish, Fiddlehead, and the Keweenaw's newest band -- the Relics. No cover charge, but donations to support KLT are appreciated. The gym and the dining hall will be available for games and art activities. The KLT office (Suite 305) will be open part of the evening for visitors. Bring or invite friends to learn more about KLT's work. Call KLT at 906-296-9720 for more information. Photo: One of KLT's recent successes is the conservation easement protecting the Joseph and Mary Lizzadro Lakeshore Preserve, near Copper Harbor, for conservation and public access to Lake Superior. The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District acquired the parcel in 2004 with the help of a Michigan Coastal Management Program grant. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson. Click on photo for larger version.)

Schumann Festival to benefit hurricane victims Oct. 8-9

Posted 10/05/2005 

HANCOCK -- The Copper Country's First Schumann Festival will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, at Portage Lake United Church, Houghton. The two-concert series will be a benefit for the recent Gulf Coast hurricane victims. The Saturday concert will feature various works of Robert Schumann performed by several area musicians: pianists Susan Byykkonen and Neil Paynter, violinist Andrew McInnes and mezzo-soprano Mary Richards-Kallman. Barry Pegg will read a selection of Robert Schumann's little-known prose. Singer Ann Campbell will join the group for Sunday's concert, which will feature works by both Robert and Clara Schumann. more

"Affirming Diversity" Conference to feature distinguished speakers

Posted 10/05/2005 

HOUGHTON -- The Department of Humanities at Michigan Technological University is hosting the fifth Biennial Feminism(s) and Rhetoric(s) Conference, "Affirming Diversity," from Wednesday through Saturday, Oct. 5-8. The three keynote speakers' addresses are free and open to the public. These visiting authors are Min-Zhan Lu, professor of English at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; Helena Viramontes, community organizer and former coordinator of the Latino Writers Association; and Jacqueline Jones Royster, senior vice provost and executive dean of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and a professor of English at Ohio State University. more

September 2005 Happenings -- November 2005 Happenings