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January 2007 Happenings

National Parks to sponsor Children's Ethnic Recipe Contest for traveling exhibit 

Posted 01/27/2007 

CALUMET -- A Children's Ethnic Recipe Contest has kicked off as part of an upcoming Smithsonian traveling exhibit called "Key Ingredients - America By Food" to be featured at the Keweenaw Heritage Center (formerly St. Anne's Church) in Calumet this summer. The Isle Royale Natural History Association and Keweenaw National Historical Park, sponsors of the project, are encouraging all area youth to research their family history and submit a food recipe from their ethnic background. Anita Campbell, of Calumet, a board member of the Isle Royale Natural History Association, is coordinating the project. The deadline for submitting recipes is Feb. 1, 2007. more
Photo: Anita Campbell, right, coordinator of the Children's Ethnic Recipe Contest, marches with young recipe contestants in the Heikinpäivä Parade on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007, in Hancock. (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson)

Online Houghton Bike Commuting Survey to assist planning for city bike routes

Posted 01/26/2007 

HOUGHTON -- Do you commute on a bike from, through, or to Houghton -- or would you like to? Do you want to add your voice to the Houghton bike commuter planning process? Take the Houghton Bike Commuting Survey by Feb. 16, online at: http://tinyurl.com/y5ycu3. The Houghton Bike Commuting Task Force was formed after the Oct. 25, 2006, City Council meeting in response to community interest in supporting and encouraging biking in the City of Houghton and making it a more bike-friendly community. The task force is studying current bike routes and would like to understand how the community uses or wants to use bikes as utilitarian (not recreational) transportation. They are now seeking your input about how you bike commute and, if you don’t, what would help you start. The task force is comprised of representatives of city government, members of the biking community and members of the student bike club. For more information, contact citymanager@cityofhoughton.com.

Mexican Dinner, Family Fiesta to benefit Dial Help Jan. 27 

Posted 01/23/2007 

HOUGHTON -- Dial Help and the Keweenaw Co-op will sponsor a Mexican Dinner and Family Fiesta Fundraiser from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Hancock Elementary School. The evening will include an all-you-can eat buffet, a live band, chair massages, a silent auction and a children’s corner with piñatas, face painting and games. Tickets prices are $16 for adults, $6 for children 12 and under (Free entry for children 4 and under). All proceeds will benefit Dial Help. Dinner tickets are available in advance at the Dial Help office, located at 609 Shelden Ave., and at the Keweenaw Co-op. Tickets will also be available at the door. For additional information, call 482-9077.

Public reception for retiring Keweenaw National Historical Park Superintendent 

Posted 01/22/2007 

CALUMET -- A public reception for Frank Fiala, past superintendent of Keweenaw National Historical Park (KNHP) will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 22, at the Calumet Theatre Ballroom. The open house reception is being hosted by the KNHP Advisory Commission to celebrate Fiala’s 32 years of service in the federal government. Fiala, who has been at the helm of KNHP since 1997, was the park’s second manager and provided much foundational work for the developing national park. Representatives from the park’s Congressional delegation plan on attending to pay tribute to Fiala’s tireless enthusiasm for the park and the historical resources of the Copper Country. All are welcome to join the delegation, the park staff and the Advisory Commission for cake and refreshments during the celebratory send-off. For more information, contact Advisory Commission Chair Kim Hoagland at 487-2113 or Commissioner Sue Dana at 337-1713.

TalviTohinat Ski Race To Feature Skijoring Jan. 20

Posted 01/19/2007 

HOUGHTON -- The Keweenaw Land Trust’s (KLT) second annual TalviTohinat Nordic ski race, TalviTohinat, Finnish for a "Winter Scramble," will be held Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Michigan Tech Nordic Ski Trails. TalviTohinat is a community fitness event open to all: 10 and 5 km cross-country ski races, a 2.5 km youth race and -- new this year -- the only organized skijoring race in the Keweenaw. Skijoring is a unique event in which one or more dogs pull each skier. This event, part of the Heikinpäivä Mid-Winter Festival, is a fundraiser for the Keweenaw Land Trust, a non-profit organization founded by local citizens to protect our natural heritage and quality of life through land conservation, stewardship and education. more
Photo: Afton Sather-Knutsen and his dog, Lua, train at the MTU Nordic Ski Trails for the TalviTohinat skijoring race to be held Saturday, Jan. 20, on the MTU Trails. (Photo © 2007 Erik Lilleskov. Reprinted with permission.)

Finlandia to exhibit art of Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Finland’s National Artist (1865-1931)

Posted 01/19/2007 

HANCOCK -- In coordination with the City of Hancock’s annual Heikinpäivä Celebration, the Finlandia University Gallery in the Finnish American Heritage Center will host an exhibit of prints and paintings by Finland ’s national artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931) Jan. 19 through Feb. 16, 2007. An opening reception for the exhibit will take place at the gallery Friday, Jan. 19, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Akseli Gallen-Kallela, widely known as the most prominent figure in turn of the 20th century pictorial art of Finland, lived in the United States from October 1924 until May 1926. In 1924, he visited Suomi College to work with students and hold a public exhibit and sale of his artwork. During that exhibition, Gallen-Kallela displayed, among other work, a print of the front-page illustration for his planned, but unfinished, book, Great Kalevala, which would have illustrated the complete Kalevala (Finnish epic). At the conclusion of the 1924 exhibit, Gallen-Kallela presented the illustration, along with 38 additional heliogravure prints, to Suomi College. These 39 prints, and two oil paintings from the collections of Finlandia University and Michigan Technological University, comprise the current exhibit.
Photo: Self Portrait by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Finland's National Artist. Click on image for larger version. (Photo courtesy Finlandia University. Reprinted with permission.)

Finnish designer to speak at Finlandia Jan. 16

Posted 01/16/2007 

HANCOCK -- On Tuesday, Jan. 16, internationally-known Finnish designer, sculptor and film director Stefan Lindfors will present two free public lectures at the Finlandia University Portage Campus, Hancock. At the first public presentation from noon to 1:30 p.m., Lindfors will talk about his successful career as a product designer. Following, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., he will discuss his work as an artist and film director. Lindfors is visiting the Copper Country to mentor Finlandia International School of Art and Design (ISAD) faculty and students. His visit is made possible by a gift to the ISAD from Elsa and David Brule of Iron Mountain, Mich. These presentations are free. For more information, call Bonnie Holland at 487-7344 or email her at bonnie.holland@finlandia.edu.

Keweenaw County Planning Commission to hear zoning change requests and public input Jan. 16

Posted 01/15/2007 

EAGLE RIVER -- Requests for zoning changes will be the subject of a public hearing to be held by the Keweenaw County Planning Commission at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, in the Mohawk School Gym in Mohawk. The purpose of the hearing, according to Jon Soper, Planning Commission chairman, is to take public comment on some proposed changes to the County Zoning Map. One parcel on the list of zoning change requests may evoke some discussion, since it involves potential expansion of the Mt. Bohemia Ski Resort, possibly to include yurts, which would be used for lodging accommodations. Discussion of yurts at the Dec. 14, 2006, Planning Commission meeting led to a final definition of yurts in the new proposed ordinance. Also at that meeting the Planning Commission officially recommended that the Keweenaw County Board of Commissioners repeal the existing 1975 County Zoning Ordinance and adopt the proposed ordinance. more
Photo: Lonie Glieberman, right, president of Black Bear, Inc., presents documents including drawings of potential yurt construction with buffers for the Mt. Bohemia Ski Resort to Keweenaw County Planning Commissioners at their Dec. 14, 2006, meeting in the Courthouse in Eagle River. (Photo © 2006 Michele Anderson)

MTU holds march, banquet, student events to honor Martin Luther King

Posted 01/14/2007 

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Technological University will honor Martin Luther King Jr. with a weeklong series of events capped with a banquet featuring soul food, gospel music and jazz. No classes will be held on Monday, Jan. 15, Martin Luther King Day. The Black Student Association and the Society for African American Men will present King's "I Have a Dream" speech at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 16, in front of the Memorial Union Building, followed by a march to the Rozsa Center with a candlelight vigil. At 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Betty Chavis, director of Outreach and Multi-Ethnic Programs, will recall her experiences meeting King during the civil rights movement; and others will discuss his legacy and the effect he has had on their lives. This and other events will be held in MTU's Memorial Union Ballroom B. The banquet will be at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20, in the Memorial Union Ballroom. For more information, contact Chavis at 487-2920 or ythbetty@mtu.edu. See details on the Educational Opportunity (sponsor's) Web site.
Photo: Betty Chavis, director of MTU's Outreach and Multi-Ethnic Programs, directs traffic at the beginning of the 2006 Parade of Nations from Hancock to Houghton last September. On Tuesday, Jan. 16, Chavis will speak at MTU about her own experiences meeting Martin Luther King, Jr. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo ©  2006 Keweenaw Now)

Nordic Film Series to feature children’s film Jan. 11, 27

Posted 01/10/2007 

HANCOCK -- The Finlandia University Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) continues its Nordic Film Series with Valo at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11. Please note the new start time. A repeat showing of the film will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27. Directed by Kaija Juurikkala, Valo is a true story about children for children. The film interprets the childhood diaries of artist and philosopher Aleksanteri Ahola-Valo (1900–1997), a Finn from the Russian region of Ingria who lived a colorful life in Russia, Finland and Sweden. Valo is a family film suitable for children aged 7-12 years. It is in Finnish with English subtitles. There is no admission charge, but donations are gratefully accepted. The FAHC is located at 435 Quincy Street, Hancock. For additional information, please contact 906-487-7505.

Northwoods Wilderness Recovery to hold Fundraising Concert Jan. 14 in Marquette 

Posted 01/08/2007 

MARQUETTE -- Northwoods Wilderness Recovery (NWR) will host its 3rd Annual Winter Fundraising Concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, at the Ramada Inn in Marquette. The event will feature performers the Mighty Gill Tones, Drew Laird and Gabe Caplett. Suggested donations of $3 to $15 will be accepted at the door. NWR will give a short presentation on their conservation work, with an update on the current status of the Kennecott Mineral’s proposed Eagle Project for sulfide mining on the Yellow Dog Plains. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is expected to announce its proposed decision on Kennecott's Eagle Project application on Tuesday, Jan. 9. Funds raised at the concert will be used to carry out NWR's conservation efforts in the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin. For more information phone (906)-226-6649 or see www.northwoodswild.org.
Photo: Yellow Dog Falls. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo © 2006 Doug Cornett of Northwoods Wilderness Recovery. Reprinted with permission.)

Finlandia University to hold Spring Play Auditions Jan. 9-10

Posted 01/07/2007 

HANCOCK -- Open auditions for the Finlandia University spring theatre production, "An Evening with Gilbert and Sullivan," featuring the operetta "Trial by Jury," will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 9-10, in the first level of Nikander Hall, Room N12. As the production is entirely musical, those auditioning should be able to sing. The play is directed by Dan Maki, Finlandia associate professor of social science. For further information, please contact Dan Maki at 487-7257.

Keweenaw County Planning Commission to hold Public Hearing on zoning Tuesday, Jan. 16

Posted 01/05/2007 

EAGLE RIVER -- The Keweenaw County Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing concerning requests for zoning changes at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007, in the Mohawk Elementary School Gym. The Planning Commission will take public comment on several requests for change in Zoning District, including property located on Mt. Bohemia. The Commission may or may not make a decision on the requests at this meeting. The regular monthly meeting of the Planning Commission will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Read the Public Notice. 

Near-Eastern Dance class to begin Jan. 14 at MTU

Posted 01/04/2007 

HOUGHTON -- A six-week class in The Art of Near-Eastern Dance ("Belly Dance") will be held from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sundays, beginning Jan. 14, at the Michigan Tech SDC (Student Development Complex). Increase your flexibility, grace and strength while learning the "ancient and enduring art" of danse orientale. Music used in the class will include Arabic, Turkish, Persian and Armenian. Everyone welcome, no prior dance experience necessary. Open to men and women, age 16 and up. Register in person at Michigan Tech SDC Central Ticket Office beginning Tuesday, Jan. 9. The cost is $65 for the six-week session. For more information, contact MTU Community Programs, 487-2975, or email Ahlam: 1maya@charter.net.

Finlandia Gallery hosts "Salmela Architect" exhibit through Jan. 11, 2007

Posted 11/29/2006 

HANCOCK -- The Finlandia University Gallery is hosting the 16th Annual Contemporary Finnish-American Artist Series, “Salmela Architect,” through January 11, 2007, in the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock. Large-scale photos and scale models of architect David Salmela’s work are on display. Salmela’s projects range from a small stand-alone sauna to commercial spaces visited by thousands of people. His buildings, mostly located in the upper Midwest, have become nationally and internationally known. His work is rooted in the principles of modernism and influenced by the vernacular of Minnesota’s immigrants.
Photo: Architect David Salmela built this sauna in 2002 for Peter and Cindy Emerson. It received the 2005 American Institute of Architects Honor Award, the profession’s highest recognition of works that exemplify excellence in architecture, interior design and urban design. The two-story building locates the sauna space and chimney on the ground floor and a sleeping room on the second floor above an outdoor shower. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo courtesy Finlandia University)

December 2006 Happenings -- February 2007 Happenings