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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula June 9, 2005 Text and photos © 2005 Michele Anderson

Page 2: More Art and Music Festival photos

Items for sale at the Art and Music Festival artists' booths ranged from homemade soaps and hot sauce to hand-made jewelry, drums and artistic apparel. Organizations such as the Keweenaw Land Trust and the Community Women's Group of Covington (Watton) also provided information about their groups' activities.

Sue Ellen Kingsley, center, of Finn Street accepts a check for the group's performance from Cynthia Coté, right, Community Arts Center director and Art and Music Festival coordinator, in front of a booth displaying soap and candles made by Viki Weglarz, left, and Barb Hardy (not pictured). Viki was also selling her husband Ray's special homemade hot sauce.

Cynthia Coté, Community Arts Center director and Art and Music Festival coordinator, said the booth fees help pay for the musicians. In addition, the Festival receives financial support from the City of Houghton.

"We've been very fortunate," Coté said. "We've had great weather all four years."

While admitting the choice of Memorial Day weekend for the festival implies competition from graduations, Coté said she still plans to hold it on this same weekend next year.

"Hopefully it will draw people to the Copper Country earlier in the season," she explained.

On Mattila Square, Andrea Baldridge, right, displays her Distant Drum artistic apparel and enjoys the sunshine with George Dewey, center, and Charles Young, who was selling his handmade jewelry at a neighboring booth.

And here are more photos ...

In front of the UPPCO building, Beth Flynn of Hancock Township, right, consults with Joan Roberts, center, of Watton, president of the Community Women's Group of Covington, and Joan's daughter Elsa Roberts (a former student of Prof. Flynn in Humanities at Michigan Tech) on organic gardening.*

Drumweaver Len Novak of Mohawk's Ramblin' Rose Gallery, shows one of his rain hoops to C. J. Tsai, left, and Scott Harding, both MTU faculty members in forest biotechnology.

Striding for Strings races benefit Copper Country Suzuki Association

Starting in the cool of the morning, runners and walkers helped raise money for the Copper Country Suzuki Association with their Striding for Strings competitive running races for all ages and a fun walk/run, open even to baby carriages and strollers.

Ray Sharp, coordinator of the Striding for Strings races, gives instructions to runners ages 6 and under for the  500 meter (0.31 mile) run. They were to follow Shawn Oppliger, right, who had just taken a second place in the competitive 8 kilometer (4.96- mile) run.

Sal Sharp, following his Dad's instructions to the letter, sprints toward the finish line for first place in the 500 meter race. At left, Blair Orr, foreground, and other adult runners and supporters cheer the kids on.

Last but not least, Olivia Witting, 3, completes the 500 meter race with a helping hand from Mom, Lori Witting of Chassell.

Editor's Note: The Covington Community Women's Group invites those interested in organic gardening and food preparation to a visit with Carla Emery, author of The Encyclopedia of Country Living, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, June 20, at the Covington Multi-Purpose Building, Hwy M-28, Covington (approximately one mile west of Hwy 141 North). Booth space is also available. For information call Joan Roberts at 906-355-2182.  

Go to page 3 of this article for more photos of the Striding for Strings races.

Return to page 1 of this article.

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