PROGRESS 2011
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PROGRESS 2011
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Bessemer Area Schools district administrator Mark Johnson, left, stands with A.D. Johnston high school student council members before they hold games and activities in the school gym Feb. 11. Johnson predicted a good school year and bright future for Bessemer students, even with the state of Michigan’s multi-billion dollar deficit and its possible impact on state aid to schools.
Bessemer Area Schools provide a solid foundation for our community By MARK JOHNSON Bessemer school district administrator
An African proverb states, “It takes a village to raise a child.” That proverb certainly rings true with educating our students as well. It takes a collaborative effort between the community, the student, and the school to educate our students and prepare them for the
world that awaits them. However, as federal, state, and local budgets continue to shrink, we all are forced to evaluate what our top priorities are in educating our students and what is relevant in our own lives. The tightening of budgets also makes us assess how we are educating our students and how we best use our resources
in doing so. I feel very fortunate to be able to say that in the Bessemer Area Schools it is not about what programs we offer, or what textbooks we use, or how many computer labs we have in our district. Many schools have comparable, or in some cases, more resources than the Bessemer
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PROGRESS 2011 3
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SCHOOL (Continued from Page 2)
Area Schools, but many of those schools cannot match the success that Bessemer Area
Schools have achieved over the years in terms of student population growth as well as state of Michigan rankings/grades and
independent school rating websites. As an example of the success of our district, the Washington
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School and A.D. Johnston Junior/Senior High School received the grade of an “A” on the “Michigan School Report Card.” This makes us very proud as few districts can boast that all their buildings received the state of Michigan’s highest grade. In the Bessemer Area Schools, our success is not based on what material items our schools have within them or what programs we offer, but it more about the teachers and support staff that come to work in our schools every day. Our success is based on providing a caring environment for our students, where teachers and support staff interact with students continually through the day. It’s their personal attention to students and their needs that help make the students successful in the classroom and beyond. Our staff goes above and beyond expectations, but even
with their dedication and the individual attention they provide our students, we still could not be successful without the support of our parents and community. The support we receive from the community and parents is unparalleled. Their dedication in ensuring that our students have the necessary tools to be successful is nothing short of amazing. The future of the state of Michigan and its financial outlook remains unclear and we continually hear about reductions in both state and federal aid for schools. I am reassured by the fact that our greatest asset is not necessarily related to being able to fund a particular program or purchase the latest trend in educational tools but rather our true strength is the people that we have working for our students in our schools and in our community.
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PROGRESS 2011
Park and rec committee sets goals By JON HAWLEY jhawley@yourdailyglobe.com
BESSEMER — The city of Bessemer’s new parks and recreation commission is still getting started, but its members already have some goals in mind. The Bessemer City Council established the commission Dec. 20 as an advisory board to develop and review recreational programs throughout Bessemer. On Jan. 17, the council appointed Paul Kolesar, Sam Kolesar, Susan Mitchem and James Rouse to the commission, with city council member Marlene Zaleski serving as a council representative. Their first meeting is Feb. 16 at 7 a.m. at Bessemer city hall, according to Zaleski. At that meeting, the commission will choose officers and set a meeting schedule. Then the real work begins. Rouse said in a phone interview that converting the old Soo rail line into a hiking trail would be one goal for the commission. “It has a lot of good features,” Rouse said, explaining that the line, inactive since the 1990s, runs from Montreal, Wis., to the city of Wakefield, and that Bessemer would like to see the entire stretch used for recreation. How Bessemer or other municipalities would develop the line still hinges upon action the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment will take in its development. Rouse did not know when or what action would be taken. Beyond that, Rouse said the commission would work on improving existing recreational areas in Bessemer, and would likely play a role in some of the Spartan Project initiatives aimed at downtown enhancement. Athough many plans still have to be made, Paul Kolesar offered one confident prediction. “It’ll be a blast and we’ll have fun doing it,” he said.
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St. Vincent De Paul expands to help serve By ANNETTE MANWELL amanwell@yourdailyglobe.com
BESSEMER — The expansion of the St. Vincent De Paul store in Bessemer opened on Dec. 7 with a full dedication. Since then, the store, jokingly referred to as the “Macy’s of Bessemer,” has been all about service with style. “We’ve heard nothing but positive responses,” store manager Mary Mussatti said at a customer appreciation day held Feb. 5. “We had people waiting in the (parking) lot for the sale,” Mussatti said. Customer appreciation day consisted of a $3 bag sale, snacks and beverages and a free raffle for $5 gift certificates to the store. She said the store tries to have a $3 bag sale once a month. Since the expansion, the store has only added two clothing racks. “It was so crowded,” Mussatti said of sales floor prior to the expansion. The shelves were spread out to widen the rows for customers. The furniture is still kept in the back of the older section. The addition to the building holds mostly clothing. The check-out counter was designed by the volunteers based on their needs, Mussatti said, a vast change from the free-standing counter no bigger
than a display case. “We’ve been very fortunate,” she said. “We’re very happy with our store.” Mussatti has been volunteering at the store for about a year and a half, she said. She’s been store manager since July. There are 25 volunteers. Richard Guzzo is the store chairman. “He’s done a wonderful job,” she said. The store supports the St. Vincent De Paul food pantry, housed in the same building. The addition allows those in need of the food pantry’s service privacy, Mussatti said, explaining that now those recipients have a private entrance and do not need to walk through the store. “It’s completely separate,” she said. Mussatti said donations have not decreased since the opening of another resale shop in the area. Sales have stayed steady. “Hasn’t made a difference here at all,” she said. St. Vincent De Paul’s mission remains the same: To help those struggling with hardships and who have a need. The Bessemer St. Vincent De Paul is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the first Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Annette Manwell/Daily Globe
Bessemer St. Vincent De Paul volunteer Bev Ahonen, left, assists Janet Balyeat with a jewelry purchase on Feb. 5 during the store’s customer appreciation day, which consisted of snacks, beverages, a $3 bag sale and a free raffle for $5 gift certificates to the store.
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PROGRESS 2011 5
THE DAILY GLOBE
City faces budget challenges By JON HAWLEY jhawley@yourdailyglobe.com
BESSEMER — The city of Bessemer, like many municipalities across the nation, is approaching a new budget year rife with challenges. Bessemer city officials and volunteers, however, are banking on a wealth of community engagement to outshine any potential dearth of state and federal support. Prominent among progress Bessemer residents can look forward to in the coming months is the Spartan Project, which contains 13 projects of various sizes aimed at enhancing Bessemer’s U.S. 2 corridor and downtown. Divided into short-, medium- and long-term
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Bessemer’s main street — Sophie Street — includes restaurants, taverns, stores, the post office, a bank and other professional offices. projects, the Spartan Project originated with the Small Town Design Initiative, which the city began several years ago with the help of Michigan State University. Last year, Denise Stephens and about 20 volunteers solicited community ideas for individual projects, receiving roughly 60 suggestions, often just a sentence or two, which the volun-
teers reviewed and began developing into implementable proposals. Once the proposals had sufficient detail, Bessemer’s Downtown Development Authority authorized up to $60,000 to pay for nine of the projects. For the remaining projects, which are large and long-term, the Spartan Project volunteers and city officials will pursue various
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state and federal grants. Shortly after the DDA authorized funds, Stephens presented the news to the Bessemer City Council during its Jan. 17 meeting, and, in a phone interview, expressed enthusiasm for rolling up her sleeves this spring. “There’s a good chance to have small and medium projects visible this summer,” Stephens said. In her presentation to the council, the following projects had a completion date of May 20: banners for U.S. 2 and Sophie Street, planting 35-40 trees along U.S. 2, benches for Sophie Street, flower pots for Sophie Street, trash receptacles for Sophie Street, downtown crosswalks, signage and landscaping for city hall, and downtown wayfinding signs. The remaining projects, including arches for Sophie Street, a mining sculpture, decorative stop lights and ethnic commons are still in planning phases and have either unknown or late 2011 or 2012 completion dates. Stephens said the Spartan Project volunteers are exploring having the ethnic commons on Mary Street; that location could change, Stephens said, explaining that the commons are intended to have good U.S. 2 visibility. It might include features such as a pedestrian corridor, green spaces and historical displays recognizing Bessemer’s mining heritage. Bessemer Mayor John Frel(See CITY — Page 10)
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PROGRESS 2011
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Bob Sampson from Bread of Life bakery and cafe in Bessemer takes a batch of Italian bread from the oven. The Italian bread, along with other white breads and rolls, are both fat- and sugar-free.
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Bread of Life offers bakery, pizza, pasties, sandwiches By MARGARET LEVRA mlevra@yourdailyglobe.com
BESSEMER — Bob and Paulette Sampson have been baking the “Bread of Life” for the past 25 years. Although Bob Sampson is retired, he still helps his son, Mark, with baking. Paulette Sampson is the bookkeeper. Other employees include Bonnie Lamaide, Renee Acton, Ray Speck and Sampson’s granddaughter, Rachel Winkler. Located on Sophie Street in Bessemer, Bread of Life is not only a bakery, but the cafe specializes in pizza, pasties and sub sandwiches. There’s a variety of sub sandwiches, served on an Italian bun that’s fresh from the bakery — ham, bologna, turkey,
salami, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and the condiment of choice. Bread of Life serves pasties made on location, the regular meat and potatoes pasties, and Cornish pasties (rutabaga and carrots.) Sampson said the Cornish pasties are generally special orders. The crusts for the pizzas are home-made, with a choice of toppings, Sampson said. Bread of Life is unique in that all white breads are fatfree and sugar-free. “Bread is our specialty,” Sampson said. Both Italian and homestyle breads are fat-free, sugar-free, along with hard rolls, kaiser rolls, brat and sub buns, hamburger and hot dog buns, and potato rolls, Sampson said. The wheat, rye, pumpernick-
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el, seven-grain, Swedish, limpa, and Finn Pie breads do have shortening, honey, molasses and some sugar, Sampson said. Bread of Life’s fine selection of bakery doesn’t stop with its breads. The bakery offers a wide selection of coffee cakes, Danish sweet rolls, donuts, bismarcks, long johns, caramel nut rolls, muffins, cakes and cupcakes.
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PROGRESS 2011 7
THE DAILY GLOBE
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Marty’s Goldenaires play at halftime of a Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field Dec. 5.
Marty’s Goldenaires put the gold in Green & Gold By JON HAWLEY jhawley@yourdailyglobe.com
IRONWOOD — “Retro uniforms? Retro game? Marty’s Goldenaires? (Green Bay Packers) Super Bowl win? “Coincidence?” asks Marty’s Goldenaires director Dan Pitrone with a smile. “I hope they see the connection.” During an interview at his Ironwood office, Pitrone said the drum and bugle corps, known regionally for its patriotic and energetic musical performances, would love to offer the Packers an encore of its half-time show performed last year. The Goldenaires played at Lambeau Field on Dec. 5, during the Packers’ retro game against the San Francisco 49ers. Though not strangers to high-pressure venues, it was the first time the Goldenaires had played for an NFL team. Beyond their six-minute half-time show, the Goldenaires impressed the Packers and their fans by marching and performing all over the stadium. The Packers’ game and fan development manager, Kandi Goltz, who helped organize the Goldenaires’ visit, said she was impressed with their performance and open to having them perform again.
With the next NFL season not yet established, Pitrone said it was too early to say if and when the Goldenaires might return to Lambeau.
PLANNING,
PRACTICING
Pitrone said the Goldenaires are now planning for their upcoming local performance season, which he said normally begins around June in a performance for a local Relay for Life event. With practices to get started next month, Pitrone is already brainstorming for the summer performances. “I kid the Corps — the show is there but it’s swimming in my head,” he said. Beyond getting new music
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nailed down, he said the Goldenaires will also begin planning choreography as well, which he described as a group effort. As a long-time Goldenaire, Pitrone said the Goldenaires keep their performances fresh and fired-up thanks to steady membership that spans generations. “I get a big thrill from the younger guys getting so charged up for it,” he said, adding the Goldenaires steadily recruit kids right out of high schools. Whether marching on the Fourth of July or storming a stadium, the Goldenaires’ upcoming performances should be music to everyone’s ears.
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PROGRESS 2011
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LaPaneteria brings style to eating experience By DAVID SIM dsim@yourdailyglobe.com
BESSEMER — If bakery were fashion, then LaPaneteria in Bessemer might be Giorgio Armani. With big, bold, hand crafted items, it’s worthy of a addition on the breakfast list of options. It’s no surprise either, as the owner, Jesse Jackson, has had
plenty of experience since he took over LaPaneteria in December 2009. Before that, he spent 17 years at Rigoni’s Bakery. “I wanted to stay in the area and a good way to do that would be to do what I know and do it for myself,” he said. “I bought it and have just been plugging away ever since.”
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Jackson’s La Panateria in Bessemer has become a popular lunch setting for many, like it was on Monday afternoon.The lunch menu features salads, sandwiches and soups. Since taking over, Jackson has kept many items on the menu the same, although they’ve started doing a fish fry on Friday nights, along with testing out different bakery
items. “We’re trying different bakeries and pastries, like apple pasties, sourdough, and artisan breads,” he said. All of the breads, buns, dan-
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ishes and doughnuts are made from scratch. They also offer lunch- and dinner-type menu items such as salads, sandwiches and soups. Five employees make up the staff of the bakery. Jackson said the biggest challenge of owning the bakery is the time. “The hours are rough,” he said. “I put in about 70 to 80 hours a week, six days a week.” Jackson starts working on the next day’s products at 11 the night before. Jackson’s not sure what may come over the next year. “Trying to make a go of it is what we’re trying to do.”
BREAD (Continued from Page 6) son said. “We supply bakery products to supper clubs, restaurants and grocery stores.” Sampson said Mark not only does a lot of the baking, but also delivers the baked goods. You’ll find Mark in the kitchen at 3 every morning. Bob Sampson said he joins Mark in the kitchen at about 4:30 a.m. every day to help Mark do the baking. Bob Sampson works on the specialty items — cake decorating and special orders. He said, at times, he also helps with deliveries. Bread of Life Bakery and Cafe is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays.
PROGRESS 2011 9
THE DAILY GLOBE
Bessemer Township master plan up for review By RALPH ANSAMI ransami@yourdailyglobe.com
RAMSAY — After about three years of input, the massive Bessemer Township master plan has been written and released, with a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, April 12, at 5 p.m. at the township hall in Ramsay. “It will be used as a platform for many things,” township supervisor Jeff Randall said last week.
The 500-plus-page document will be used to guide decisions about zoning, education, recreation, transportation and economic development, among other areas. The public review period for the master plan is just beginning. Randall said the most controversial section of the plan probably pertains to land use. The changes included in the document will increase the
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number of zoning options for the town board from four to 12, he said. While the plan will allow for growth, it also seeks to protect existing homes and structures, Randall emphasized. For example, some properties in the area of the Big Powderhorn Mountain ski complex that are within the township’s boundaries and are now being used for recreational purposes are zoned R-2, which also covers commercial and agriculture uses. The new zoning for parcels in the area of the ski hill will be more specific, Randall said. Likewise, he said the new zoning will protect lake homes from having businesses located too close, defining where commercial operations may be located. Randall said once the master plan is approved, it will be up for review every five years and changes can be made, if
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Bessemer Township officials include, seated from left — Beverly Ikola, trustee; Debbie Janczak, clerk; Hope Tarnaski, trustee; standing — Jerry Grenfell, treasurer, and Jeff Randall, supervisor. necessary. He called it a living document that looks to the future of the town. Hard copies of the document are available at the township hall in Ramsay and the master plan may also be accessed at the township website at bessemertownship.org. The plan that sets goals and objectives in many different categories for the town was developed through U.P. Engineers. Randall said other governmental entities, the school district, Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency and the Western Upper Peninsula
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PROGRESS 2011
THE DAILY GLOBE
CITY
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(Continued from Page 5) lo, also a Spartan Project volunteer focused on large projects, said this year would represent important initial success for the initiative. “There are skeptics out there,” Frello said, referring to people who think the projects won’t materialize. “The groups we have are dedicated and they will see it to success.” He added, “tangible results will generate additional enthusiasm.” Both Frello and Stephens agree that the Spartan Project is meant to achieve more than implementing its individual projects, explaining they hope it continues to bring the community together for improving Bessemer. City manager Thomas Chatel, in echoing these sentiments, said the Spartan Project should be seen as a beginning. He is also active in the Spartan Project, describing himself as
an “enabler.” “It’s a process that could take decades,” Chatel said, adding that other communities with successful revitalization projects have relied on continuous citizen support. Frello also described the Spartan Project, funded by the city through the DDA, as being largely insulated from any cuts in state revenue sharing the city might absorb as Michigan lawmakers tackle a multi-billion dollar budget deficit. Frello said the DDA’s funding relies on property taxes, which is a stable revenue source.
THE
ROADS AHEAD
Aside from the Spartan Project, Chatel said city officials, working with the Gogebic County Road Commission, are making plans to address Bessemer’s roads, many of which are in poor condition. During a Dec. 20 city council
BUYING! ! ! ! PRE-1964 SILVER COINS paying 18.20 x face value 1935 & OLDER SILVER DOLLARS paying $19.00 & up
meeting, Darren Pionk, Gogebic County Road Commission engineer, reported the findings of a Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating, or PASER, study undertaken by the city and the road commission. It found that more than 60 percent of Bessemer’s roads need major work or replacement. “The intent is to provide the city council with a complete analysis and cost estimate for a city-wide enhancement project,” Chatel said, adding he
intended to present a road repair plan to the council next month. Chatel also said this repair plan could benefit from a Gogebic Range Water Authority project, currently in planning phases, to build a water line connecting the city of Wakefield’s Chicago Mine water supply to Ironwood Township. This line could run through Bessemer, and thereby replace roads which are dug up to lay pipes.
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PROGRESS 2011 11
THE DAILY GLOBE
Floor Plans offers many options By MARGARET LEVRA mlevra@yourdailyglobe.com
BESSEMER — Floor Plans of Bessemer is entering its fifth year of business, and the company continues to grow. Owned and operated by Dave Osier, Floor Plans specializes in floor coverings, carpets, laminates, ceramics, hardwood and sheet vinyl. It also carries high-efficiency pellet stoves, fireplace inserts, grills and accessories. A pellet stove is a heating unit that burns compressed sawdust, Osier explained. “It is a way to use alternate energy for heating homes, garages or shops. It is very green.” Osier began his business venture at Floor Plans in 2007. The business still offers the same products, but over the years, the showroom has been expanded, and, along with ordering specialty items for some customers, Floor Plans has become a cash-and-carry type of business. “We now carry many in-stock items,” Osier said. Osier said Floor Plans is “very competitive in pricing,” and, “We install everything we sell.” Osier noted the business more than doubled its sales in 2010. “It was our best year ever.”
INTERIOR DESIGNER ON-BOARD Miguel Kauppi was hired as a fulltime certified interior designer in June. Prior to that, she worked part-time at Floor Plans, during the summer months as she went to school, Osier said. When Kauppi works with a customer,
Margaret Levra/Daily Globe
Margaret Levra/Daily Globe
Dave Osier, from Floor Plans in Bessemer, demonstrates the high efficiency of a pellet stove. It is a heating unit that burns compressed sawdust. It is a “green” way to use alternate energy for heating homes, garages or shops.
Miguel Kauppi, certified interior designer at Floor Plans in Bessemer, looks at samples of hardwood floor coverings as she picks out the product that is best suited to the customer’s wants and needs. Kauppi was hired as full-time in June.
she said she first investigates the needs of that customer — “the lifestyle in which you live, what your expectations
are. “I will show you what will work best for you, and give you ideas that are out
of the ordinary and tell you about new products. I will try to educate people on new ‘green’ products,” Kauppi said.
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12
PROGRESS 2011
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THE DAILY GLOBE
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