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July 2007 News

Photo contest deadline extended to Aug. 31

Posted 07/31/2007  

HANCOCK -- Keweenaw Now is extending the deadline and broadening categories for our Lake Superior Photo Contest through Aug. 31, 2007. Send us your favorite photo of Lake Superior or a related body of water, beach, etc., in the Lake Superior basin. Categories include landscape (the beauty of the lake), wildlife (if you can catch them) or responsible action / education (e.g., doing something to leave the beach cleaner than you found it, learning /teaching about lake ecology, etc.) We will accept photos of or near the lake taken any time this summer -- between May 1 and Aug. 31, 2007. Winners will be posted on our new blog, www.keweenawnow.blogspot.com.See blog for contest rules. P.S.: If you have a short community announcement, post it as a comment on the blog!
Photo: Limnologist Judith Budd tests the lake level at a point near Copper Harbor for participants in the Reading the Landscape Shorelands program on June 30, 2007, aboard the Isle Royale Queen IV. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Thanks, Absolute Michigan!

Posted 07/28/2007  

HANCOCK -- Keweenaw Now wishes to thank Andy McFarlane of absolutemichigan.com for featuring Keweenaw Now and our new Keweenaw Now blog, as well as our photo contest, on Absolute Michigan. Be sure to check this out and see also his article on the Mackinac Bridge 50th Anniversary celebration, with an excellent photo of the big bridge by michiganartisan. Absolute Michigan says it "is designed to be a rich resource that promotes the state of Michigan as a place to visit, for business that doesn't mess up the natural beauty Michigan is blessed with, and most importantly as a place to live your life with the people you love."

Hancock Council hears public opposition to proposed land sale

By Michele Anderson  Posted and updated 07/23/2007  

HANCOCK -- Hancock City Council members recently listened to several local residents express opposition to a proposed land sale of City-owned waterfront property on Swedetown Creek and Portage Lake. At a public hearing on July 18, citizens' comments were unanimous in asking the Council to reconsider plans to sell Government Lot #5, immediately east of Swedetown Creek along Highway 203. The parcels proposed for sale are near a recreational spot used as a boat launch at the place where the creek empties into the Portage. One parcel has frontage on the creek, and two have frontage on the Portage. Former Councilwoman Mary Tuisku was among those who spoke in favor of sending the proposal back to the Hancock Planning Commissioners, who have added it to their agenda for the Planning Commission meeting at 6 p.m. tonight, Monday, July 23, in the Hancock City Hall Council Chambers. more 
Photo: During the July 18 public hearing, preceding the Hancock City Council meeting, Allyson Jabusch, standing at the podium, requests that the Council table the vote on Government Lot #5 near Swedetown Creek and instruct the Planning Commission to hold another public hearing.  (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson)

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge to celebrate Grand Opening of Community / Conference Center July 21

By Lauren Wiza  Posted 07/20/2007  

COPPER HARBOR -- Tucked away in the green forests just outside Copper Harbor, the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge has been receiving a facelift during the past year. The Lodge will celebrate the Grand Opening of its new Community / Conference Center this Saturday, July 21, in conjunction with the Thimbleberry Jam Fest. Keweenaw County owns the 167-acre facility, which includes a golf course, a lodge with dining area, cabins, a motel -- and now a new 7,000-square-foot Community / Conference facility and newly renovated water and sewer infrastructure for winterizing. In the past, this  "Jewel of the Keweenaw," has been open only during the summer season. The new infrastructure will allow it to be open year-round. more
Photo: This photo shows one of the entrances to the new Community / Conference Center and its large dining area, which can accommodate up to 280 guests. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Finnish city officials attend Hancock City Council meeting

Posted 07/19/2007  

HANCOCK -- Two official Finnish visitors from Hancock's sister city, Porvoo, Finland, attended the public hearing and meeting of the Hancock City Council on July 18, 2007. The visitors, Marcus Henricson, Porvoo city manager, and Mikaela Nylander, Porvoo mayor (fifth and sixth from left in photo) presented the Hancock City Council with a symbolic gift, an attractive glass vase designed by Alvar Aalto, a famous Finnish designer and architect. (Click on photo for larger version: Hancock Mayor Barry Givens, fourth from left, is holding the gift.) "With this small, symbolic gift," Henricson said, "we want to express our appreciation for the hospitality that we've experienced during our visit here." Both Henricson and Nylander expressed interest in seeing Hancock's city government in action, with public participation during the hearing and the meeting. Learn more about the sister cities on the Hancock and Porvoo Web sites. Watch for an article on the hearing, coming soon.  
Photo: Finnish visitors from Hancock's sister city, Porvoo, Finland, pose for a photo with Hancock City Council members during the July 18 Council meeting in Hancock City Hall Council Chambers. Pictured are, from left, James Hainault, councilman at large; Ted Belej, councilman at large; William Laitila, mayor pro-tem; Barry Givens, mayor; Marcus Henricson, Porvoo city manager; Mikaela Nylander, Porvoo mayor; Lisa McKenzie, councilwoman at large; Sarah Baratono, Ward II councilwoman; and Karen Haischer (seated), clerk. Not pictured is Glenn Anderson, Hancock city manager, who also welcomed the visitors.  (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson)

Keweenaw Now launches new BLOG with photo contest

Posted 07/17/2007  

HANCOCK -- Keweenaw Now is launching a new, interactive BLOG for readers with a photo contest. On July 13 we invited 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). We will also accept photos of or near the lake taken any time this summer -- between May 1 and July 31, 2007. The Lake Superior Binational Forum promotes 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! Even if you don't have a photo, check our our new BLOG and send us your comments on any of our articles -- or Keweenaw issues important to you. The blog is user-friendly and has no connection to our former Discussion boards.
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)

Stupak votes for bills on redeployment from Iraq, student aid 

Posted 07/15/2007


WASHINGTON, D. C. -- U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee), recently announced his votes on two bills passed this week in the U.S. House of Representatives: the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act and the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007. On July 12 the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would begin to redeploy U.S. troops from Iraq within 120 days and to complete redeployment by April 1st of 2008. Congressman Stupak voted for the legislation. He also voted for the legislation that would invest $18 billion in college financial aid, the single largest investment in college financial aid since the 1944 GI Bill, saying the bill would help millions of Americans afford college and higher education. more

Kiersten Birondo reigns as Strawberry Festival Queen

Posted 07/10/2007


CHASSELL -- Copper Country Strawberry Festival Queen Kiersten Birondo, a recent graduate of Houghton High School, made the rounds of the festival held in Chassell July 6-7 and greeted her subjects with poise and graciousness. Kiersten said she found it exciting "just to be up there" on stage with the other queen candidates. "I used to be one of the little girls watching the queen competition in awe, and I'm so thrilled that I got to be one of the girls this time," she said. "Actually, being selected was surreal. It was surprising, and it felt a little bizarre." Kiersten, who is already on her way to a career as an opera singer, is no stranger to public appearances. Besides being chosen as Miss Houghton County last year, she has performed in the Pine Mountain Music Festival with singing roles in both The Magic Flute (2006) and An Evening with Gilbert and Sullivan this year. She will also have a role in The Sound of Music at the Calumet Theatre this fall. Kiersten plans to attend Michigan Tech to study materials engineering and vocal performance -- and to continue her study of French.
Photo: Copper Country Strawberry Festival Queen Kiersten Birondo at the Chassell Pavilion on Saturday, July 7, 2007. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson)

Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale DVD explains research

By Julie Nordstrom  Posted 07/08/2007


HOUGHTON -- "Collaboration" is a word that Michigan Tech Forestry Professor John Vucetich uses to describe Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale, a DVD released recently by Solex Media, a division of Monte Consulting Company, a local company. The DVD is a collaboration of research and production about wolves and moose, intended to educate the public about the most significant predator-prey relationship on Lake Superior’s largest island. Dr. Rolf Peterson -- Vucetich’s mentor at Michigan Tech -- has been researching the relationships between Isle Royale’s wolf and moose populations for 30 years. For the past 17 of those years Peterson and Vucetich have collaborated on this research. more
Photo: This photo of the Middle Pack on Lake Desor, Isle Royale, was taken in February 2006 by John Vucetich, co-leader of Isle Royale wolf-moose research. It is one of the 135 photos one can find in the Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale DVD. (Photo © 2006 John Vucetich. Reprinted with permission.)

Save the Wild UP Video Challenge winners announced

Posted 07/04/2007


MARQUETTE -- Winners of the Save The Wild UP Video Challenge have been announced and can be viewed on You Tube. The Grand Prize Winner with 1907 votes is Josh Leo for his Video titled "Sulfide Mining Will Damage Michigan." Prizes for the Grand Prize Winner include $2500 and a holiday package in the Huron Mountains of the Upper Peninsula. The First Runner-Up with 1406 votes is Peter Schriemer for his video titled "Michigan's Water and Wildlife." Scott Lynch wins Second Runner-Up for his video titled "Kennecott Eagle Mine." See Save The Wild UP for details on the sulfide mining issue.
Photo: A fall 2006 view of the Salmon Trout River, which flows through an area proposed for Kennecott Minerals' Eagle Project sulfide mine. The river contains a rare population of Coaster Brook Trout. Click on photo for larger version.  (Photo © 2007 and courtesy lexup at Save the Wild UP. Reprinted with permission.)

Businesses feel the heat: Lake Superior warms up, part 3

By Katie Alvord  Posted 06/30/2007


HOUGHTON -- On June 21, the Senate passed an energy bill that would increase average vehicle fuel efficiency, a measure meant at least in part to combat global warming. Meanwhile, in the Copper Country, some businesses -- particularly those based on winter tourism -- might already have been feeling global warming's effects. In this final segment of a three-part series on climate change in the Lake Superior Basin, Katie Alvord looks at ways local businesses have already been affected by warming temperatures, how some have responded with potential solutions and what some scientists say about the future of winter in our area. more
Photo: Making snow at Mont Ripley Ski Hill near Hancock. In warmer winters, ski areas rely more on artificial snow. The tall, slanted pipe in left foreground is newer, more energy-efficient snowmaking equipment. (Photo © 2007 and courtesy Mont Ripley.)

Photos of 2007 Keweenaw Chain Drive bike races posted

Posted 06/26/2007


HANCOCK -- Photos of the 2007 Portage Health Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival bike races are now available on Brockit.com. These quality photos, taken by Brockit's professional photographers Adam Johnson and Tess Steube, include a variety of individual and group photos of the race. They are available for viewing or purchase. Results of the races, held June 16, 2007, on the Maasto Hiihto and Churning Rapids trails in Hancock, are posted on the Chain Drive Web site. Races included 32- and 16-mile races, the Junior Chain Drive and (for Father's Day) father and offspring teams. The Chain Drive race will help support a purchase of 280 acres for the Swedetown Recreation Area in Calumet. Visit Keweenaw Trails for more information on local trails and upcoming running and biking races.
Photo: Terry Kinzel of Hancock rides in the 16-mile race during the 2007 Keweenaw Chain Drive. Kinzel and his wife, Sue Ellen Kingsley, who maintain their Churning Rapids trails for community biking and cross-country skiing, both participated in the race. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo © 2007 Brockit.com. Reprinted with permission.)

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