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July 2007 Happenings

Two new book signings at Finlandia's North Wind Shops July 30, 31

Posted 07/29/2007

HANCOCK -- Finlandia's North Wind Shops, formerly North Wind Books, will host two authors for book signings this week. Loraine Campbell will sign copies of her new book, A Pocketful of Passage, at 3 p.m. Monday, July 30. For young readers, A Pocketful of Passage is based on the memories of Annie Bowen Hoge, whose father for many years tended a lighthouse that guided ships through an important shipping lane between Passage Island and Isle Royale in Lake Superior. Every summer until she was nine, Annie and her family lived on Passage Island. At 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 31, Lauri Anderson will sign copies of his just-published collection of short stories, Back to Misery Bay. The stories are set all over America and beyond: in Misery Bay itself or nearby communities, in a north shore suburb of Chicago, in California, in Colorado, England and Florida. All are welcome to both events, and refreshments will be served. North Wind Shops is in downtown Hancock. For more information, contact the bookstore at 906-487-7217.

Concert to benefit Omega House hospice July 27

Posted 07/27/2007

HOUGHTON -- Local artists will present a concert titled "The Livin’ Is Easy" at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 27, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1000 W. Quincy, Hancock, as a benefit for Omega House, the Upper Peninsula’s only hospice home, located in Houghton. The public is invited to attend. The event is free, but a suggested $5 donation is appreciated. The concert will include a mix of smooth jazz, Broadway hits, barbershop, folk tunes and Gilbert and Sullivan. Artists who will contribute their time and voices for the event include Ann and Gregory Campbell, Mary Richard, Ruth Robertson, Maggie Kieckhafer, Kiersten Bergdahl-Birondo, Erin Kauppila, Jeff Massey, Christine Seitz, Barry Pegg and Shannon Wong Lerner. For more information, call Omega House at 482-4438. 

Finlandia Gallery to exhibit "In/of Nature," by Cherie Sampson, July 26-Sept. 5

Posted 07/26/2007

HANCOCK -- The Finlandia University Gallery, Hancock, continues a summer exhibition schedule of Finnish-American artists with "In/of Nature" by Cherie Sampson July 26 through Sept. 5, 2007. An opening reception for the artist will take place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 26, 2007, in the gallery, located in the Finnish American Heritage Center. At the reception, the artist will present a brief talk about her work. The reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Sampson has received numerous grants to work in Finland. In both Finland and the United States, she has created environmental, performance and video art pieces, as well as sculpture and photography. more
Photo: Artist Cherie Sampson often works outdoors -- in wild, public and rural locations. (Photo courtesy Finlandia University)

Author, illustrator to sign new children's book, R is for Raccoon, July 28

Posted 07/25/2007

HANCOCK -- Finlandia University’s North Wind Books will host a book signing event with local children’s author Lesley A. DuTemple and local artist Susan Robinson at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 28. All are invited and refreshments will be served. DuTemple and Robinson will sign copies of the newly published R is for Raccoon, their second collaboration. Their first book, One Little Balsam Fir, A Northwoods Counting Book, is also featured. Both books are pre-school picture books written by DuTemple and illustrated by Robinson. A resident of Eagle River, Mich., Lesley A. DuTemple has written and published more than 20 children’s books, many of them award-winning. Susan Robinson of Hancock is a self-taught artist with a lifelong interest in art and the natural world. North Wind Books is located on Quincy Street in downtown Hancock. For additional information, please contact the bookstore at 906-487-7217.
Photo: Cover of R is for Raccoon, by  local children’s author Lesley A. DuTemple and local artist Susan Robinson. (Photo courtesy Finlandia University. Reprinted with permission.)

Wildlife biologist to speak on wolf ecology July 24 

Posted 07/24/2007

GRATIOT LAKE -- Wildlife Biologist Greg Wright will present "Wolf Ecology: Fact and Fiction" at 8 p.m. tonight, Tuesday, July 24, at the Eagle Harbor Community Building. The presentation is free and open to the public. It will follow the Annual Membership Business Meeting of the Gratiot Lake Conservancy, beginning at 7 p.m. in the same location. Visit the Gratiot Lake Conservancy Web site for more information.

City of Hancock to hold public hearing July 18 on real property sale 

Posted 07/18/2007

HANCOCK -- The City of Hancock will hold a Public Hearing at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, July 18, 2007, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 399 Quincy Street, Hancock, to consider public comments on the proposed sale of several parcels of  real property owned by the City. The parcels are located near Swedetown Creek and Portage Lake, including waterfront. Read the Public Notice.

Sibelius Academy musicians to perform July 18, 19, 20 at Calumet Theatre

Posted 07/17/2007

HANCOCK -- Each year Finlandia University and the Sibelius Academy of Helsinki, Finland, collaborate to bring a sample of Finnish musical excellence to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The only concert series of its kind in North America, this year’s festival takes place Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, July 18-20, at the historic Calumet Theatre in Calumet, Mich. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. The Kegel Trio will perform Wednesday, July 18: Paavo Maijala, piano, Lauri Sallinen, clarinet, and Vuokko Lempiäinen, viola, are all post-graduate students at the Sibelius Academy. Thursday's concert will feature soprano Jenni Lättilä, accompanied by pianist Mikko Haapaniemi. Both are pursuing their second master’s degrees at the Sibelius Academy. On Friday, prize-winning solo pianist and Sibelius graduate student Tuomas Kyyhkynen will perform compositions by Bach, Mozart, Sibelius, Scriabin, Brahms, Chopin and Liszt. more
Photo: Prize-winning solo pianist Tuomas Kyyhkynen will perform compositions by Bach, Mozart, Sibelius, Scriabin, Brahms, Chopin and Liszt on Friday, July 20, at the Calumet Theatre. Kyyhkynen, who began playing piano at age four, is enrolled in a master's program at Sibelius Academy.  (Photo courtesy Finlandia University)

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge to celebrate Grand Opening with Thimbleberry Jam Fest July 21

Posted 07/16/2007  Updated 07/17/07

COPPER HARBOR -- The eighth annual Thimbleberry Jam Festival will be held in conjunction with the Grand Opening of the newly remodeled Keweenaw Mountain Lodge in Copper Harbor. The art and music festival will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday July 21, at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge. In addition to music, art and refreshments, guided trail hike/bike tours will leave at the top of each hour, courtesy of the Copper Harbor Trail Club. Explore the NEW hike/bike trails from the Lodge to Copper Harbor. A limited number of mountain bikes will be made available by Keweenaw Adventure Company. Food and beverages will be available for purchase throughout the day. more
Photo: Crawfish Moiakka, a local Cajun band, will be among the musical groups performing at Keweenaw Krayons' Thimbleberry Jam Fest July 21 at the Grand Opening of the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge in Copper Harbor. Pictured here during their performance at Keweenaw Krayons' 2007 Mardi Gras party, from left, are Oren Tikkanen, guitar, mandolin; Randy Seppala, percussion; Audrey Viola, bass and vocal; Kelly Suvanto, fiddle; Gary Aho, fiddle, guitar, vocal. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Walk Against Violence to include pets July 18

Posted 07/14/2007  

HOUGHTON -- Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home and the Copper Country Humane Society invite you to join them in a Walk Against Violence at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18. The walk will begin at the new East Houghton Waterfront Park located west of the Super 8 Hotel and behind the Isle Royale Apartments. Parking is available at the Franklin Square Inn overflow lot across from the Citgo Gas Station in downtown Houghton. Friendly pets under owner control are welcome. Research has shown a high correlation between domestic violence and animal abuse. The Walk Against Violence seeks to educate the public not only about the abuse link, but also about ways to support victims of abuse and to bring about awareness. Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home provides immediate emergency shelter and support services to victims of domestic violence; the Copper Country Humane Society dedicates itself to helping abused, stray or abandoned animals. Free commemorative water bottles while they last. For more information please contact Becki at 281-4773 or becki76@charter.net. Read about last year's walk.
Photo: Keweenaw Now's official mascot, Gordito, invites pet owners, their pets and those who want to end domestic violence to join the Walk Against Violence at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, beginning at the East Houghton Waterfront Park. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Celebrate Lake Superior Day and enter our "blog" photo contest!

Posted 07/13/2007  Updated 07/14/2007

ASHLAND, WIS.; HANCOCK, MI -- What’s better than a July picnic on a sandy beach next to the world’s largest freshwater lake? How about leaving the beach cleaner than you found it? Keweenaw Now is launching a new, interactive blog for readers with a photo contest. We invite you to celebrate Lake Superior Day (officially July 15) sometime during the week of July 14-22, record it with your camera and email us your best photo in one of three categories: landscape (the beauty of the lake), wildlife (if you can catch them) or responsible action (e.g., doing something to leave the beach cleaner than you found it). The Lake Superior Binational Forum is promoting the basin-wide Lake Superior Day to highlight the personal, environmental, economic and spiritual connections people have to this unique world treasure. Tell us about your connection with a photo! more
Photo: Keweenaw Now photographer Gustavo Bourdieu photographed this sunset with freighter near the Keweenaw Tip during the Reading the Landscape boat tour from Copper Harbor on the Isle Royale Queen IV June 30, 2007. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Traveling exhibits to celebrate Copper Country food, culture July 14 - Aug. 26

Posted 07/12/2007  

CALUMET -- Food is the theme in the Copper Country this summer as a series of exhibits, festivals and presentations explore the region’s rich food culture. The events are anchored by two traveling exhibits that will remain open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from July 14 through August 26 at the Keweenaw Heritage Center -- the former St. Anne’s church, Calumet. Key Ingredients: America By Food is a Smithsonian exhibit depicting the history of food production in the United States, the ethnic traditions that flavor the foods we eat and the many food-related traditions that are part of our culture. The second exhibit, Michigan Foodways, is a Michigan State University Museum exhibit exploring Michigan’s rich agriculture, its diverse ethnic cuisines and its special culinary traditions. more
Photo: During Heikinpäivä tori (market) on Jan. 20, 2007, Anita Campbell, board member of the Keweenaw Heritage Center and chair of the Children's Ethnic Recipe Contest held last February as part of Key Ingredients, displays information on the contest in the First United Methodist Church in Hancock. Also pictured is young helper Emma Tervo, right, of Calumet. (Keweenaw Now file photo © Michele Anderson)

Conservation District to sponsor Knapweed Pulling July 12 and 18 at preserves on Lake Superior

Posted 07/11/2007  Updated 07/14/2007

BETE GRISE -- The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District (HKCD) will sponsor two Knapweed Pulling and picnic days to help eliminate two preserves of this non-native, noxious weed. Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) is an aggressive weed that is crowding out native plants at the Bete Grise and Lizzadro preserves. Those wishing to help at Bete Grise should meet at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 12, at the Bete Grise Preserve Parking Lot on the Gay/Lac La Belle Road. Bring a bag lunch, gloves and a shovel. HKCD will provide snacks and refreshments for the picnic at noon. On Wednesday, July 18, (note change of date) the same event will be held at the Joseph and Mary Lizzadro Preserve. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Lizzadro Preserve on M-26 between Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor. Bring the same items mentioned above. For more information phone: 482-0214 or E-mail: sue.haralson@mi.nacdnet.net. 

Free Agassiz boat rides during Strawberry Fest July 7

Posted 07/05/2007  

HOUGHTON -- The public will able to board Michigan Tech's research vessel, the Agassiz, for three free 45-minute scientific excursions on Saturday, July 7. The rides will depart from the Chassell Marina in conjunction with the Chassell Strawberry Festival. The cruises begin at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. You can sign up at the Chassell public boat launch during the festival. If the demand is sufficient, a fourth excursion will depart at 4 p.m. Up to 17 persons, seven years of age or older, may participate on each excursion. Displays and educational materials will be available for public viewing onshore. "The public will be able to learn how the Great Lakes are studied and what they can contribute to having a healthy lake,"  said Joan Chadde, program coordinator. This event is coordinated by the Western U.P. Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education* with funding from the Michigan Space Grant Consortium, the Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, the Remote Sensing Institute and the Wege Foundation. For more information, email jchadde@mtu.edu or call 487-3341. *Visit the Center's Web site for photos and videos of the Agassiz.

Quilt Show to benefit Humane Society during Chassell Strawberry Festival

Posted 07/05/2007  

HOUGHTON -– For the third year in a row, The Portage Quilters and the owners of The Portage Quilt House have organized a quilt show to benefit the animals cared for by the Copper Country Humane Society. The show will be open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 6, and noon-4 p.m. on Saturday, July 7, at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chassell. Over 100 items are expected to be on display, including exhibits of hand and machine quilting, embroidery and other fabric creations. The church is air conditioned, and refreshments will be available. A $4 donation is requested for admission to the show. For an additional $1 you can purchase a ticket for a prize drawing for a beautiful quilt made by Linda LaRoy. The 2005 and 2006 shows resulted in donations of nearly $5500 to benefit the animals. For information on the Strawberry Festival visit their Web site.
Photo: "Amish Steps" quilt. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo © 2007 and courtesy Judy Stallings. Reprinted with permission.) 

Reading the Landscape 2007 field trips to explore Keweenaw "Shorelands"

Posted 06/28/2007  

GRATIOT LAKE -- The Gratiot Lake Conservancy will offer "Shorelands" as the theme of this summer's Reading the Landscape of the Keweenaw art and natural history field trips for adults. The trips will take place on seven Saturdays: June 30 through August 11. Beginning with an evening boat tour along the easternmost coast of the Keweenaw with limnologist Judith Budd on June 30, the series will include two other sessions for adults and families: Sand and Pebbles on July 28, near 7-Mile Point, and Lake's Edge, August 11, on Lake Superior and Gratiot Lake shores. Adult trips (16 and older) are Coastal Geology, July 7 at Horseshoe Harbor; Lake Effect, July 14 at Great Sand Bay; Bete Grise Beaches, July 21 at Bete Grise; and Harbor Shores, Aug. 4 at Eagle Harbor. Visit the Gratiot Lake Conservancy Web site for details and the 2007 Reading the Landscape Brochure. Registration is required. Call 906-289-4514 for information.
Photo: Lake Superior shoreline at Bete Grise South -- part of the Bete Grise Preserve. The July 21 Reading the Landscape session will offer an Ojibwe perspective on historical and current uses of this shoreline's natural resources. Click on photo for larger version. (Keweenaw Now file photo © Michele Anderson)

MTU Archives to host historical photograph exhibit May 17

Posted 05/17/2007 

HOUGHTON -- The Michigan Tech University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections will exhibit historical photographs from its collections at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, in the Archives reading room on the Garden Level of the J. R. Van Pelt Library. The exhibit, "Images of the Keweenaw: Selections from the Archives' Staff," includes prints of some glass plate negatives which have never been seen before. The event is free and open to the public; refreshments will be served. The exhibit will remain in the reading room through July 6 and can be viewed during the department's normal hours of business. A short presentation will also highlight the new Keweenaw Digital Archives at MTU. For further information, contact the archives at 487-2505 or copper@mtu.edu. See details on Tech Today. Photo: Quincy Mining Co. miners sit on the last piece of a 300-ton mass of copper 4,000 feet down No. 2 Shaft Quincy. Mr. William Rule is in white coat. Date: 1912? Photographer unknown. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech Archives. Reprinted with permission.)

June 2007 Happenings  -- August 2007 Happenings