December 2022 Marquette Monthly

CirCulation Dick Armstrong

Chief PhotograPher Tom Buchkoe www.marquettemonthly.com (906)360-2180

sportiNg liFe Brad GiSChia PiCkleball Craze reaChes Marquette County

Marquette Monthly, published by Mod el Town Publishing, LLC, located at PO Box 109 Gwinn, MI, 49841, is locally and independently owned. Entire contents Copyright 2022 by Model Town Publish ing. All rights reserved. Permission or use of editorial material in any manner must be obtained in writing from the publish ers. Marquette Monthly is published 12 times a year. Subscriptions are $65 per year. Freelance material can be submitted for consideration to editor@marquette monthly.com. Events can be submitted to calendar@marquettemonthly.com. Ad inqui ries can be sent to jane@marquettemonthly. com or james@marquettemonthly.com

About the Cover Artist

This month’s cover artist is Carol Papaleo, a full-time artist who works in watercolors, acrylics and mixed media. She is the owner of the Art U.P. Style Gallery in downtown Marquette. See more of her artwork at her shop and on Facebook and Etsy.

sportiNg liFe MiChael Murray iT’s official: more refs are needed

lookout poiNt Kathy ihde CoMMunity Minded ChristMas traditions

lonGtine a TiTan in ishpeming’s civic landscape

iN the outdoors MiChael Murray u.P. ski hills PrePare for season

taylor angels, where are you?

superior reads ViCtor r. VolKMan forgotten history of the u.P.

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city notes

Cody Mayer elected mayor of Marquette

The Marquette City Commission during its annual organizational meeting in mid-November elected Cody Mayer as the city’s mayor and Sally Davis as mayor pro-tem. Mayer succeeds Jenna Smith, who remains on the commission but decided to step down as mayor.

The commissioners also accepted the resignation of their colleague Jenn Hill, who has been elected to serve as the state representative for the 109th House district.

In Marquette’s form of govern ment, voters elect city commissioners, who then elect the mayor and mayor pro-tem from among their group.

Indoor farmers market becomes holiday market

The Downtown Marquette Farmers Market, which was held indoors at the Marquette Commons through the month of November, gives way this month to the first-ever Holiday Mar ket.

Customers will be able to continue shopping locally and support the mar ket’s vendors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Commons every Saturday until the season finale on December 17.

Updated information, including announcements about holiday exclu sives and preorders from vendors, can be found on various social-media platforms by searching for Downtown Marquette Farmers Market.

The market is organized by the Marquette Downtown Development Authority, which was established in 1976 to “halt property value deterio ration and increase property tax val uation … and to eliminate the causes of that deterioration, and to promote economic growth” throughout Down town Marquette.

The Downtown Marquette Farm ers Market is the largest market in the U.P., now in its 23rd season. It wel comes farmers, growers, producers and artisans.

Parade, tree lighting set for December 8

Local residents and visitors alike can experience the magic of the holiday season by taking in the 11th annual Downtown Marquette Winter Snow Fun Holiday Parade.

The parade is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 8. Il luminated floats, tinsel-strewn trucks and colorful carolers will transform Third Street into an enchanted scene

from the North Pole. The parade will begin at the corner of North Third Street and Fair Avenue and proceed south on Third Street to its conclusion at the Marquette Commons.

After the parade, spectators are invited to the Marquette Commons, where Santa Claus and friends will light up downtown at the 47th annual City of Marquette tree lighting.

Recreation authority’s draft plan is available for review

The draft of the Iron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority’s five-year recreation plan is available for public review and comment until December 16.

In the summer of 2022 and at a public hearing in October, the board of directors of the IOHRA took input through surveys, on-site conversa tions and a public hearing. The plan is now available for review at www. ironoreheritage.com/news.

Printed copies are also available at the libraries in Ishpeming, Negaunee and Marquette. For more information, call Carol Fulsher, administrator, at (906)235-2923.

Afundraising

event scheduled for December 4 will help local ani mal shelters and concerned citizens raise money to purchase live traps for large animals—often the best way to secure medium- to large-sized dogs that have run away from home.

The event, “Bring Them Home,” seeks to address the fact that such large-animal live traps are in short supply in the local area. Smaller live traps, on the other hand, are readily available.

Organizers are partnering with the Alger County Animal Shelter, the Delta Animal Shelter and Upper Pen insula Animal Welfare Shelter in Mar quette County.

One goal of the event is to raise enough money to purchase two large traps for each of these shelters. Any additional funds will be used to ex pand into other counties in the Upper Peninsula, with the hopes that even tually each animal shelter in the U.P. will have access to these large-animal live traps.

“Bring Them Home” is scheduled for 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 4, at the Up North Lodge in Gwinn. The Wallens will provide live music. Bucket raffles will be available.

Those who are unable to attend can

Group raises funds for large live traps

Wakefield Post feeds families

When First Lieutenant Donald Horn, left, assumed command of the Michigan State Police’s Wakefield Post in 2013, he inherited a Michigan Harvest Gathering program that distributed about 6,000 pounds of food to local families. It was a quaint operation: Community members dropped off canned goods at the post, and MSP personnel gave those goods to shelters. “I decided to do more,” Horn said. He started knocking on doors and calling on local leaders, urging them to donate goods and money that would more than double the haul to 16,000 pounds in 2014. “I figured boots on the ground would get more results than standing around.” Nearly a decade later, the program at the Wakefield Post is a model for Michigan’s Harvest Gathering, which has worked for the past 30 years to raise awareness and funds to end food insecurity in Michigan. Horn and his colleagues now collect more than 30,000 pounds of food every year, enough to feed more than 1,000 families in Gogebic and Ontonagon counties. Horn’s ambitious fundraising strategy operates through two revenue streams: monetary donations and nonper ishable food bags gathered in partnership with a local grocery store, Super One Foods in Ironwood. (Photo courtesy of the Michigan State Police)

still participate by making a donation at any branch of Honor Credit Union. Refer to “Bring Them Home,” ac count 166930.

Organizers are also seeking dona tion items for the bucket raffles. Call Tammy at (906)361-4843 or Beth at (906)204-9179 to arrange pickup.

History center open house features local composer

The Marquette Regional Histo ry Center invites the community

to its Burt Carols Open House, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Decem ber 7.

The history center’s annual winter open house will be a musical cele bration featuring the carols of Alfred Burt, a mid-century composer from Marquette. The program will include live music, a sing-along and a festive time. Light refreshments will be pro vided. This is a free event, but dona tions are always appreciated.

Other upcoming events at the

MRHC are a tuba Christmas, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on December 4, and a brass choir, 4 to 5 p.m. on December 11. Doors open 30 minutes before those events.

Call (906)226-3571 or visit mar quettehistory.org for more informa tion.

Finnish independence is topic of discussion

Finnish Independence Day (De cember 6) and Little Christmas (“Pikkujoulu”) are the topics for the December 4 celebration of the Lake Superior Chapter of the Finlandia Foundation National. The event will take place in Magnuson Hall of Mes siah Lutheran Church, 305 W. Mag netic St. in Marquette, from 2 to 4 p.m.

This celebration is open to all, both members and chapter friends, as well as folks interested in learning more about Finnish history and culture and meeting some area Finns and Finn ish-Americans.

Everyone attending is asked to bring a nonperishable food item for the food bank.

Tanja Stanaway will present a brief story of the founding of modern-day Finland, now celebrating 105 years of independence. She will add music to

the story, sometimes singing on her own and sometimes inviting the audi ence to participate.

“Pikkujoulu” can be celebrated in many ways and at different times. After hearing about a typical Little Christmas, the audience will be invit ed to share their memories of this very Finnish holiday.

Other entertainment is expected to be part of the day’s events. Coffee and refreshments will be served and available throughout the afternoon. A basket for donations to defray these expenses will be on the coffee table.

For more information on this after noon of music, good memories and lots of conversation, call (906)2267085 or search for LFAS-UP on Face book.

Application process open for U.P. Poet Laureate

The official application for the role of U.P. Poet Laureate is now open. The application form and information are available on the U.P. Poet Laure ate Foundation website: uppoetlaure ate.org. The submission deadline is January 15.

The Upper Peninsula Poet Laure ate will promote poetry and the spo ken word. The laureate will encour age appreciation of the art form and

Bradford Veley is a freelance cartoonist, illustrator and farmer in the U.P. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram and at www.bradveley.com

Negaunee Senior Center hosts mini-con

The Negaunee Senior Center is having a Christmas Mini-Con on Saturday, December 10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature a pop culture sale and will include original art, upcycled art, comic books, antique and vintage toys and sci-fi book collections for sale. A large Star Trek collection and a James Bond collection will be for sale—or just for window shopping. Proceeds from the sale will fund senior services in Negaunee, Negaunee Township and Richmond Township. The event kicks off the annual Tinsel town festivities in downtown Negaunee. Soup, sandwiches and homemade pasties will be available for purchase for lunch. Admission is free. The Negaunee Senior Center is located at 410 Jackson St.; for details, see its Facebook page or call (906)475-6266. (Photos courtesy of the Negaunee Senior Center)

creative expression by a wide range of residents of the region through public readings, workshops, virtual events and digital platforms. The laureate will celebrate the U.P. and its cultural heritage through poems in online or print publications and champion past and present U.P. poets. The Upper Peninsula Poet Laureate serves a twoyear term, which may be renewed one time.

The Upper Peninsula Poet Laureate Foundation embraces the diversity of human experience and identity. All applications are welcome, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual ori entation, cultural heritage, socioeco nomic background or physical ability.

A review panel has been estab lished of librarians, poets and aca

demics from across the U.P. to eval uate the applications and choose the U.P. Poet Laureate based on the can didate’s qualifications, sample work and references.

New group addresses dysfunctional families

Anew

group has formed in Mar quette to support adults who grew up in dysfunctional families. Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dys functional Families meets at 7 p.m. every Sunday in the downstairs li brary of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 201 E. Ridge St. in Marquette. This is an open meeting, and first-timers are welcome.

According to its website, adultchil dren.org, ACA is a 12-step program

Nature Conservancy purchases 31,000 acres in Keweenaw Peninsula

The Nature Conservancy—a global conservation organiza tion—announced in late Oc tober it has secured the protection of more than 31,000 acres in the Ke weenaw Peninsula.

The conservancy closed on the ac quisition of 22,700 acres from The Rohatyn Group and has entered into a purchase agreement for an additional 8,900 acres scheduled to close by the end of the year.

This purchase of an area known as the Keweenaw Heartlands ensures ev eryone can enjoy and appreciate these lands and waters and that sustainable management of its forests continues.

“The Keweenaw Peninsula is at the heart of one of the most beautiful and culturally significant landscapes in Michigan, rich with forests, wildlife, cascading rivers, lakes and wetlands,” said Helen Taylor, state director for The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. “It is an honor to partner with the lo cal community, the State of Michigan and generous supporters to purchase these acres, protecting the land so it can be enjoyed by people for genera tions to come. We thank [The Rohatyn Group] for providing the opportunity to protect these lands.”

Formed from one-billion-year-old lava flows and shaped by glacial ice and the waves of the largest freshwa ter lake in the world, Lake Superior, the Keweenaw Peninsula is one of the most unfragmented, climate-re silient forested and freshwater areas of the central United States. It is an area recognized by The Nature Con servancy as a global priority for both biodiversity and climate resiliency— and an opportunity to protect an ex traordinary region for both nature and people.

“I want to thank The Nature Con servancy for engaging with communi ty members early in this process,” said Don Piche, chairman of the Keween aw County Board of Commissioners. “We have a long tradition in Keween aw County of enjoying the outdoors, and losing access to these lands would have really hurt. By listening to our needs and concerns, TNC has helped us achieve a major milestone—se curing the lands. I believe I speak for most of our residents when I say we look forward to continuing to work together to develop the plan to man age and care for these lands in a sus tainable way going forward.”

In addition to the purchase of the Keweenaw Heartlands, TNC has se cured funding to support a commu nity visioning process, led by Rural Economic Success Associates’ John Molinaro.

To date RES has held almost 60 one-on-one interviews with local leaders and conducted public meet ings engaging more than 300 resi dents. Nearly 2,000 people completed surveys to share what they value most about this land.

“Outdoor recreation and the forest products industry are major economic drivers for the State of Michigan, in cluding the Keweenaw Peninsula, and TNC’s purchase of this land assures it will remain open and accessible to the public to support nature-based out door recreation and sustainable for estry,” Michigan Department of Natu ral Resources Director Dan Eichinger said. “Much of the Keweenaw Heart lands property adjoins lands current ly owned and managed by the DNR, and we look forward to working with TNC and the community to be part ners in the management and use of

that focuses on emotional sobriety. The only requirement for membership is a desire to recover from the effects of growing up in an alcoholic or oth erwise dysfunctional family.

Forsyth Township receives grant for trees Be on the lookout next spring for some new trees along streets and parks in 31 Michigan communities. They will share $105,000 in grants

awarded this year to complete 33 tree-planting projects around the state.

The trees, to be planted along streets and in parks and other public spaces, come courtesy of a program sponsored by the DTE Foundation and administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and nonprofit tree organization ReLeaf Michigan.

Individual grants range in size from $600 for a tree-planting project

public lands in the Keweenaw.”

Protecting the forests and water resources of the Keweenaw Peninsu la also means protecting the wildlife that depend on it to survive, including gray wolf, bobcat, black bear, pine marten and migratory songbirds. The area is also a vital rest stop for migrat ing raptors.

“The Keweenaw Peninsula is part of the historic lands of the Keween aw Bay Indian Community, which our families have used for hunting, fish ing, gathering and ceremonial pur poses for generations,” said Brigette LaPointe-Dunham, CEO of the Ke weenaw Bay Indian Community. “I want to thank TNC for leading a cul turally appropriate plan that protects this sacred land so it can be enjoyed and appreciated for the next seven generations.”

MM

in St. Clair County’s Lynn Township to $4,000 awards in multiple com munities from the Detroit area and in Grand Traverse and Marquette coun ties.

“The DTE Foundation looks for ward to seeing how our grants and support come to fruition in our com munities through these newly planted trees,” said Lynette Dowler, presi dent of the DTE Energy Foundation. “We’re dedicated to protecting, pre

serving and expanding our state’s nat ural resources, and our partners like the DNR and ReLeaf Michigan are integral in this mission.”

Forsyth Township in Marquette County received one of the $4,000 grants.

Winter parking ban in effect in

until April 1. Vehicles may not be parked on city streets between 1 and 6 a.m. Violation of the ban carries a fine of $75, and a vehicle could be towed if it impedes snow-removal efforts by plow crews.

The lower level of the Bluff Street ramp is available for parkers who find themselves unable to drive home for the night. Payment is via the pay station or Passport App Zone 2424. This is the only public pay-by-hour

The Nature Conservancy has secured the protection of more than 31,000 acres of land and water in the Keween aw Peninsula. (Photo and map courtesy of The Nature Conservancy)

Marquette

The on-street winter parking ban is in effect in the City of Marquette

overnight parking in downtown Mar quette. All other public lots require overnight permits.

League of Women Voters meets on December 7

The League of Women Voters of Marquette County will hold its next membership meeting on Wednesday, December 7, from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. Social time begins at 6:30. The meeting will be held in Studio 1 on the lower level of the Pe ter White Public Library.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, and works to increase understanding of major policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

All are welcome to attend. For more information, send an email to lwvmqtco@gmail.com.

Facilitators needed for family support groups

The Marquette chapter of Families Against Narcotics is looking for individuals to facilitate their Stron ger Together family support groups. The groups support family members affected by a loved one’s addiction to

drugs or alcohol. “Addiction affects the entire family,” said Jacalyn Sand ers, program coordinator for Stronger Together. “Joining a support group helps family members realize they are not alone in their struggle.”

Sanders said Stronger Togeth er groups are somewhat different from traditional 12-step recovery programs such as Al-Anon. “The Stronger Together recovery program is specifically designed to meet the needs of impacted family members, rather than the needs of the individ ual in addiction. Family members need their own recovery program. They need help healing from the trauma of their loved one’s addiction and learning to respond in a healthy way moving forward.”

Sanders points out a second differ ence: “The Stronger Together meet ing format is different from tradition al groups. In traditional groups, each person is provided an opportunity to speak but other participants are not permitted to comment on what has been shared. Stronger Together is dif ferent. There is a natural flow of con versation as participants share expe riences, knowledge and resources.”

The Marquette chapter plans to start groups in several locations to meet the needs of families across the

county. Each group requires two vol unteer facilitators. Facilitators should have lived experience as the family member of a loved one in addiction. Groups meet twice a month, typical ly in a community center, municipal building or local church. Training and materials are provided.

An initial training session will be held virtually from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6. Individuals interested in learning more about fa cilitating a group in their community or registering for the training session should send an email to marquette@ familiesagainstnarcotics.org.

Library again offers Food for Fines program

circulation desk in exchange for $1 in overdue fines.

There is no limit to the dollar amount of fines that can be waived through Food for Fines. The program applies only to overdue fines. It can not be used to resolve fees for lost or damaged materials.

The TV6 Canathon began in 1982 with about 700 pounds of food being donated to help the local food pan tries that first year. Since that time, the annual donations have increased dramatically with more than 116,000 pounds of food being donated in 10 Upper Peninsula counties in 2018.

Peter

White Public Library in Marquette is once again partner ing with the WLUC-TV6 Canathon to help feed our hungry neighbors. Through December 5, the library will serve as a collection point for food items to help stock our local food pan tries.

As an added incentive to donate, the library is offering Food for Fines, a program that allows library users to resolve overdue fines with the dona tion of nonperishable food items to the TV6 Canathon. Bring in one non perishable food item to the library’s

The staff of the Peter White Public Library looks forward to its contin ued participation in this event to let no one go hungry in our community. Questions about the Food for Fines program can be directed to Melissa Alan at (906)226-4310.

Choral Society returns with holiday concerts

Marquette

Choral Society returns to the stage of Kaufman Au ditorium this month to present two works for the holiday season.

The first is “A Ceremony of Car ols” by Benjamin Britten. Written in 1942, this set of carols is based on medieval poetry and plainsong and is

a perennial favorite for the Christmas season.

This will be followed by “Car ols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest” by Conrad Susa. This set of pieces was commissioned in 1992 as a companion piece to “A Ceremony of Carols” and includes some famil iar holiday tunes with Spanish lyrics. Both sets of carols will include harp accompaniment.

The concerts will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 17, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 18, in Kaufman Auditorium, 611 N. Front St., Marquette. Admission is $10 for the general public and $5 for seniors, students and children. Tickets are available through the NMU ticket of fice and at the door.

This activity is supported by the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, administered by Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance.

NMU exhibit examines identity, power, social justice

The results of a collaboration be tween Northern Michigan Univer sity’s art and design department and French program will be on display this month at The Atrium, located on the ground floor of the university’s li brary.

A visual and literary exhibit titled “Identity, Power, Social Justice” will display advanced students’ original and unique works of art and analyti cal translations into English of French literary and critical works of the 20th

century.

The semester-long project and its resulting displays encourage discus sion about the themes of identity, power and social justice that drive, in fluence and shape our close commu nity, our nation and, on a wider scale, the world.

An opening reception is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. on December 8 in The Atrium. The exhibit will run through December 15.

Wreath event will honor veterans on December 17

Local Wreaths Across America vol unteers are working hard to ensure that all veterans laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Marquette are honored as part of National Wreaths Across America Day—December 17. The event is planned for 10 a.m.

“Every $15 wreath sponsorship made is a meaningful gift from a grateful American who knows what it means to serve and sacrifice for the freedoms we all enjoy,” said Kar en Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America. “We are so grateful to the good people of this wonderful community for participat ing in our mission to remember, honor and teach.”

Last year, ceremonies were held across the country at more than 3,100 participating locations, placing 2.4 million wreaths for interred veterans.

The goal is to place a live balsam fir veteran’s wreath at the headstone of every American veteran to remem

Renovations at Seney refuge

Thanks to funding from the Great American Outdoors Act, the Seney National Wildlife Refuge is in the process of a major renovation. Improvements include construction of a new visitor center and administrative space (artist’s render ing above), new exhibits, improved trails and drives, spill dam renovations and a revitalized show pool shelter. An organization that supports the mission of the refuge, Friends of the Seney National Wildlife Refuge, recently donated $75,000 to fund educational exhibits in the new visitor center, which will be built on the site of the current visitor center. Visit www.fws.gov/refuge/seney for more information. (Illustration courtesy of Friends of the Seney National Wildlife Refuge)

ber their sacrifice, honor their service and teach the next generation about the value of freedom.

For more information, to donate wreaths to this location or to sign up to volunteer, visit wreathsacrossamer ica.org.

VA hospital earns award for excellence

The Oscar G. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iron Mountain is the recipient of the 2021 Best Experience Award for a Level III Hospital. This is the fourth consecu tive year the hospital has earned a na tional award. In 2020, it won the Best Overall Experience award among 169 facilities nationwide.

The Johnson VA Center covers the entire Upper Peninsula and 10 coun ties in northern Wisconsin, caring for about 24,000 registered veterans.

Finalists for the Best Experience Award are judged based on a number of factors, from culture and patient communications to employee engage ment and environment.

Despite a territory covering a large portion of the Upper Midwest, and many veterans to care for, the cen ter continuously ranks among the top 10 percent of VA facilities in the Unit ed States.

Laser display on ore dock

Weekend ski jumping returns in January

The 136th annual Ishpeming Ski Club Ski Jumping Tournament is scheduled for Friday, January 20, and Saturday, January 21, at the U.P. Nor dic Ski Complex. This is the first time in several years that the tournament will be held on a weekend.

The event kicks off at 7 p.m. on January 20 with the USA Nordic U.S. Cup event on Suicide Hill. Spectators can watch elite U.S. ski jumpers while standing near the traditional bonfire and visiting the beer tent, food trucks and concessions.

At 7 p.m. on January 21, big-hill ski jumping continues with the ISC

Paul Bietala Memorial Ski Jumping Tournament. The skiers will be excit ed to have a second chance to show the crowd how far they can fly. A fire works display will wrap up the com petition on Saturday night.

ISC booster buttons will be re quired for admission. They are $15 if purchased in advance, $20 at the gate.

Travel Marquette is once again lighting up the Lower Harbor ore dock for the holidays. Every Thursday through Sunday from Thanksgiving until December 31, a laser light display will be projected onto the iconic ore dock. The show will run from 6 to 9 p.m. on each of those nights. (Photo courtesy of Travel Marquette)

Children 12 and under will be admit ted free of charge.

For updated information, visit www.ishskiclub.com or search for Ishpeming Ski Club on Facebook.

New scholarship program will provide thousands in aid Anew scholarship program will help lower the cost of college by thousands of dollars each year for students across Michigan. In October, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Public Act 212 to establish the Michi gan Achievement Scholarship.

The program will enable eligible students to save up to $8,250 over three years as they earn their associ ate degree at a community college, up to $20,000 over five years at a private college or up to $27,500 over five years at a public university.

“For too long, high costs have been a barrier to higher education,” Whit mer said. “I am so excited that we worked across the aisle to establish the Michigan Achievement Scholar ship, lowering the cost of college by thousands of dollars a year for the vast majority of graduating seniors, starting with the class of 2023. All students need to do to get their Mich igan Achievement Scholarship is fill out their [Free Application for Fed eral Student Aid]. I encourage every student going to community college, private college or a public university in Michigan to speak with their par ents or guardian, get their documents together, and fill out their FAFSA to save thousands of dollars.”

Sarah Szurpicki, director of the Of fice of Sixty by 30, said: “The Mich igan Achievement Scholarship will make additional education possible for the majority of Michigan’s new college students after they earn their high school diploma or equivalency. This scholarship is game-changing for Michigan families.”

This legislation builds on Whit mer’s promise in 2019 to pass Mich

DiD

igan Reconnect and Michigan Op portunity Scholarships to reach the state’s Sixty by 30 goal of 60 percent of adults with a skill certificate or col lege degree by 2030.

Starting with the class of 2023, graduates are eligible for annual scholarships up to $2,750 at a com munity college, $4,000 at a private college or university or $5,500 at a public university.

The scholarships are renewable for up to three years at a community col lege and up to five years at a private college or public university, totaling up to $8,250 at community college, $20,000 at a private college or univer sity or $27,500 at a public university.

Students will be eligible if their family demonstrates financial need when they complete the FAFSA. The Michigan Achievement Scholarship will cover 94 percent of students at tending community colleges, 79 per cent of students attending a private college or university and 76 percent of students attending a public university.

For more information on how to get your Michigan Achievement Scholarship, visit michigan.gov/mis tudentaid.

New grant program in state assists child-care centers

Applications for the Caring for MI Future: Child Care Facilities Im provement Fund are now open. Childcare entrepreneurs in Michigan who are interested in starting or expanding a child-care facility can apply for a grant to reduce the cost of converting space that meets child-care facility guidelines.

The $50 million to open and grow new child-care facilities is part of the state’s Caring for MI Future ini tiative. Caring for MI Future is a $100 million investment to help Michigan families find quality, affordable child care in their community by open ing 1,000 new or expanded childcare programs by the end of 2024.

The Carp River Trail was first developed by the Indigenous peoples in ancient times and further developed in the early 1850s linking Mar quette with Escanaba through the “Forks”—modern Gwinn. It followed the Escanaba River southward with people traveling on snowshoes or sleighs. It was used until the Chicago & North Western Railway was built in the late 1860s.

Submitted by Dr. Russell M. Magnaghi, history professor emeritus at NMU and author, including of the recently released Classic Food and Restaurants of the Upper Peninsula.

You Know ... it was possible to leave the Marquette area during the heart of the winter before the railways?

Nutcracker returns to Kaufman

Second Skin Shop and Kaufman Auditorium are presenting The Nutcracker ballet for the first time in three years. Performances are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, at Kaufman. Advance tickets are $9 for youth (18 and under) and $15 for adults. They cost an additional $2 at the door. Tickets are available through the NMU ticket office at nmu.universitytickets. com or (906)227-1032. The Nutcracker is the story of a girl named Clara who falls in love with a nutcracker doll that she received from her beloved Godfa ther Drosselmeyer. Clara dreams of the Nutcracker coming to life, being wel comed with him by the Sugar Plum Fairy and traveling to the Land of Sweets. (Photo courtesy of Second Skin Shop)

Grants are being administered in partnership with IFF, a lender, devel oper and real-estate consultant, and the Michigan Departments of Edu cation and Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Through the Caring for MI Fu ture: Child Care Facilities Improve ment Fund, new and expanding childcare entrepreneurs in Michigan can apply for grants. The grants, which range in size from $50,000 for homebased child care and $150,000 for center-based programs, help provid ers to complete minor renovations and improvements to meet licensing and quality standards.

The Child Care Facilities Improve ment Fund will address facility qual ity related to heating and cooling, ventilation, noise, lighting, classroom furnishings and outdoor play areas, which are proven to contribute to quality learning environments and positively impact children’s learning, development and well-being. Eligi ble applicants include licensed childcare providers located in Michigan who are newly licensed providers or existing providers expanding their li censed capacity.

Visit michigan.gov/caringformifu ture for details.

Upper Peninsula students will get on their soapbox

Students from Houghton High School, Negaunee Public Schools and Marquette Senior High School will come together to see what it’s like to engage in the political process.

The fifth annual Tom Baldini Soapbox Challenge will take place at Kaufman Auditorium in Marquette, at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, November 21. The event is open to the public. The youth-driven civic engagement event calls on students to speak out on issues that affect them and their communities. The Tom Baldini Soap box Challenge will honor the legacy of Tom Baldini, a former educator at Marquette Area Public Schools and a longtime area politician and public servant who made an impact at the lo cal, state and national level.

Students will address the question: “What is the most pressing issue fac ing young people today, why is it im portant, and what should be done to address it?” In order to qualify for the Tom Baldini Soapbox Showcase, 10 finalists were selected from over 500 competitors who researched, com posed, and delivered original speech es.

For more information contact email braikko@mapsnet.org to reach Bly

the Raikko, Marquette Senior High School teacher.

Blues Society nominations open until December 21

The Marquette Area Blues Society announces upcoming elections for its Board of Directors. For those in terested, nominations must be submit ted by the December 21 board meet ing. The elections will be held at the January 18, 2023 meeting. Nomina tions are open to any current MABS members. For more information, visit marquetteareabluessociety.com or call Mark Hamari at (906)235-9690.

DNR seeks to fill upcoming vacancies on UP Citizens’ Advisory councils

The Michigan Department of Natu ral Resources is soliciting applica tions for open volunteer positions on the Eastern and Western Upper Penin sula Citizens’ Advisory Councils.

The councils are designed to ad vise the DNR on regional programs and policies, identify areas in which the department can be more effective and responsive, and offer insight and guidance from members’ own experi

ences and from the public.

The councils currently meet every other month, with meeting agenda items set by council members.

Council members are required to have their primary residence located in the U.P.’s five eastern or 10 western counties.

Applications must be submitted by December 15. Forms and more infor mation about the councils are avail able online at Michigan.gov/UPCAC or by calling the DNR’s Marquette Customer Service Center at (906)2261331.

Iron Industry Museum under DNR co-management

In a move that will provide import ant funding opportunities for facil ity improvements and grounds main tenance, the Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee has become a sub-unit of Van Riper State Park in Champion.

The decision to link the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Michigan History Center museum with the Parks and Recreation Di vision was made by DNR Director Dan Eichinger under a land use order

GLRC, Cedar Tree Institute partner on conference and concert

Great Lakes Recovery Centers and Cedar Tree Institute are partnering to bring the Journey of Hope conference to Big Bay on December 7 and 8. The conference aims to educate those working with individuals diagnosed with substance-use disorder. The partnership also includes the Songs for the Journey concert from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on December 8 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Marquette. Grammy-nominated musician Mary Gauthier, above, will perform with Jaimee Harris. This concert is open to the public. For more information about the conference, visit greatlakesrecovery.org/journey-ofhope. (Photo courtesy of Great Lakes Recovery Centers)

St. Michael students give to veterans

signed at the Natural Resources Com mission meeting in Lansing on No vember 10.

This change will provide additional funding to the DNR Parks and Recre ation Division for building repairs and regular maintenance, such as snow re moval. The Michigan History Center will continue to manage the muse um’s exhibits, historical interpretation and programming.

Few changes will be evident to the public with this internal DNR organi zational transition. However, a Recre ation Passport will now be required to visit the museum.

For an annual cost of $12 (or $6 for motorcycles), the Recreation Pass port gives Michigan-registered vehi cles year-round access to all 103 state parks, historic sites within state parks, 1,300 state-managed boating access sites, state forest campgrounds and parking at trailheads.

The Michigan Iron Industry Muse um is the ninth museum co-managed by the DNR’s Michigan History Cen ter and Parks and Recreation Division.

The museum, located eight miles west of Marquette off U.S. Highway 41 in Negaunee Township, overlooks the Carp River and the site of the first iron forge in the Lake Superior region.

The Jackson Iron Company and

In conjunction with Veterans Day, the teen group from St. Michael Catholic Church in Marquette gave gifts to some of the residents of the Jacobetti Home for Veterans. The gifts were handmade flag crosses, socks, can dy and tissues. The group is made up of students in grades five through 12 from several local schools. They are, from left, Bella Nurkala, Luke Applekamp, Lucas Belkowski, Julia Applekamp, Maija Parkkonen and Caydence Ranta. Dominic Camilli and Stella Huddle also participated in the project. (Photos courtesy of Marcia Parkkonen)

others manufactured wrought iron from local ore at the site from 1848 to 1855. In that pioneer enterprise was the seed of the Michigan iron industry that flourished for 125 years and still produces about 20 percent of the iron ore mined in the United States.

Hike leaders sought for group hike events

The Marquette Area Chapter of the North Country Trail is looking for hikers who are willing to lead a hike by taking a group out on the trail. The group tries to offer at least one hike per month, usually on the first Sunday.

The board will provide public no tification of the hike, along with pre registration so hike leaders will know who is joining. The chapter will also make sure there is another experi enced hiker to serve as a “sweep” (a hiker at the rear of the group to make sure everyone is accounted for).

Anyone interested can email mac@ northcountrytrail.org for more infor mation. MM

The deadline for event and press re lease submissions for City Notes is the 10th day of the month prior to pub lication. Email your press release to editor@marquettemonthly.com.

on campus

Finnish artist visits Finlandia

Paintings in exhibition inspired by Supermatists

Finlandia University is presenting “Self-Revolving Line,” an exhibit by Finnish artist Tuomas Korka lo. The show is scheduled to run until December 14 at the Finlandia University Gallery, located in the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock.

Born and raised in Rovaniemi in Lapland, Korkalo vis ited the United States for the first time, presenting an ex hibit of paintings executed in watercolor, acrylic and ink on canvas and color prints on aluminum composite.

“The basic elements of my paintings are color, surface, line and form,” Korkalo said. “I like to create an illusion of space and movement on a two-dimensional surface by ex ploiting the relationship between the parts of the painting. The vanishing points and juxtapositions of colors create an illusion of dimensional space.”

Korkalo’s abstract work is influenced by early 20th century Supermatist painters who focused on the funda mentals of geometry as the subject of their artwork. The Supermatist movement began around 1915 and was in fluenced by the Bauhaus and De Stijl art movements. Rejecting realism in favor of geometric circles, squares and triangles, the Supermatist artists sought pure abstraction.

Korkalo’s work takes exception to the pure pedantry of geometric art by introducing both play, problem solving and contextual meaning into his abstractions.

“In my work,” he said, “I also allow for randomness and absurd logic. For example, by changing the vanish ing point from a familiar place to a new one, the sense of movement and space can be given a surrealistic quality. For me, abstract painting is a game wherein the objective is to reveal the all-encompassing dynamic energy of the cosmos.”

Visit finlandia.edu/universitygallery for more informa tion about the Finlandia University Gallery.

MM

The paintings of Finnish artist Tuomas Korkalo are being exhibited at the Finlandia University Gallery in Hancock. (Pho tos courtesy of Finlandia University)

NMU football coach resigns

Kyle Nystrom resigned as Northern Michigan Univer sity’s head football coach on November 14 after five seasons.

Nystrom’s squad completed the season with a 33-11 victory at Lake Erie College to improve to 4-7. The Wildcats finished 1-5 in conference play. Nystrom posted a 13-40 winloss mark overall.

“I want to thank Northern Michi gan University for giving me my first head-coaching position,” Nystrom said. “It was an honor to lead this pro gram. While I and the other Wildcat coaches wish there had been more wins than losses, there have been a lot of accomplishments during our time here that we can take pride in. I wish the current and incoming players and coaches, as well as the university

overall, great success in the future.”

NMU athletic director Rick Com ley appointed the team’s offensive co ordinator, Dylan Chmura, as interim head coach and said a national search for Nystrom’s replacement would be gin immediately with the formation of a search advisory committee. He said current and incoming players, football alumni and Wildcat football fans would have ample opportunity to meet and give input on the finalists during the interviewing period.

“While we won’t rush the hiring process,” Comley said, “we will be intent on selecting a new coach in an expedient manner, knowing that our current and incoming players need that information in order to make decisions about their own football futures.”

MM

MTU sends delegation to climate summit

Adozen students and faculty mem bers from Michigan Technologi cal University were among the 35,000 participants in attendance at the 2022 United Nations climate summit in Egypt in November.

The 27th annual gathering is known officially as the Conference of the Par ties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It’s the largest climate-change-focused event in the world.

Entry to the Blue Zone offers Mich igan Tech University students the opportunity of a lifetime to observe negotiations and connect with global policymakers, said Tech delegation member Shardul Tiwari. “It’s difficult

to get access,” he said. “We’ve been fortunate to get this opportunity.”

MTU chemistry professor Sarah Green, who spearheaded the effort for admittance, said observer badges are allocated based on venue capacity and previous participation. “Because of robust participation in 2019 and 2021, our quota increased,” she said. “I give priority to students in my Climate Sci ence and Policy class, class alumni or students who have shown a serious commitment to climate action on cam pus. I like to have a few experienced attendees as well. They must be ma ture and independent, because we are unable to guide them at every step.” MM

Kyle Nystrom, left, resigned in mid-November from his position as head football coach at Northern Michigan University. Running backs coach Chenzo Funari is at right. NMU athletic director Rick Comley said he wants a new head coach in place by February. (Photo by Tom Buchkoe)

then & now

The

Photos provided by Superior View Studios, located in Art of Framing, 149 W. Washington Street Marquette www.viewsofthepast.com

Gwinn United Methodist Church was founded in 1909. This photograph was taken shortly after the congregation was established.

church stands at 251 W. Jasper St. in Gwinn, at the intersection of West Jasper and North Pine/M-35.

Remove from Zillow, say

Show submission, in a way

Still competing

Tour de France stage

Envelops

Pound who wrote ‘‘In a Station of the Metro’’

C sharp equivalent

Slowly move (in)

Sends unwanted texts to, maybe

Utterances of agreement

What’s so flippin’ easy to cook with?

Dinner at which ‘‘Dayenu’’ is sung

Fried pastries popular in New Orleans

Baby that rarely sleeps at night

Kind of high-fat, low-carb diet

Unlike π

Business magnate who is a Stanford University dropout

Actor Omar

Electronic toy with a blue ‘‘pull’’ handle

‘‘On Juneteenth’’ author

Gordon-Reed

Some beachwear

Show-off

Mournful peals

Play opener

Rhimes with an eponymous production company

Pummel

Infuse (with)

Joy of TV

Sole connector?

Potato peeler targets

Patella neighbor, in brief

One may get in the way of a collaboration

(of)

a

by

Uncovering the past

Local team completes a dig that documents earliest contact between Indigenous peoples and Europeans in area

This is the first installment in a twopart series about a significant archae ological site that has helped rewrite the history of the Upper Peninsula.

By Erin Elliott Bryan

For the past 26 years, a small patch of land in central Mar quette County has been known as the most important archaeological site in Michigan.

In Richmond Township, on the northeast end of a large pond that is part of the Goose Lake outlet stream, the location has been identified as an Anishinaabe winter campsite dating from the fur trade era of the mid- to

late 1600s.

Known officially as Goose Lake Outlet #3, or GLO3, the protohistor ic site represents the earliest contact between Indigenous peoples living in this region and French explorers and traders.

The site, located south of the in tersection of County Road 480 and M-35, has been excavated on three separate occasions since artifacts were first found in 1996. The most recent excavation, led by Jim Paquette of Negaunee, wrapped up in September and serves as an end point to decades of work at the site.

The artifacts that were found are in the process of being cataloged, and a

Avocational archaeologist Jim Paquette of Negaunee works at the Goose Lake Outlet #3 dig in Richmond Township. (Photo courtesy of Jim Paquette)

comprehensive final report on the site is forthcoming. Paquette will present the findings at the Marquette Regional History Center in early 2023.

“We gather the information so we can pass it on,” Paquette said. “I have to take on that responsibility. We learn it, we study it—so we can understand it.”

Paquette has worked with archae ologists and experts from Northern Michigan University, Michigan State University, Lawrence University, the Illinois State Museum and others who have contributed to putting together a picture of what the site was used for and how it can inform our understand ing of the history of the area.

Passion for the past Paquette is an avocational archae ologist, which is described as someone with a passion for the past as experienced through archaeology but is not a professional in the field. Though he has no formal training, Paquette had previously discovered Native American copper tools on the north shore of Negaunee’s Teal Lake in 1984.

Paquette, who described himself as a “clueless Negaunee guy,” reached out to Marla Buckmaster, then a pro fessor of anthropology at NMU, and showed her what he had found. Buck master put together a team, which in cluded one of her students at the time, the late John Anderton, and completed a five-week excavation at Teal Lake in the summer of 1985. The tools were dated to between 3,000 and 5,000 years old.

“That started our relationship,” Paquette said of Buckmaster. “Marla took me under her wing.”

On March 21, 1987, Paquette and his friend John Gorto discovered sev eral spearpoints on the north shore of Deer Lake in Ishpeming.

Paquette called Buckmaster again to show her what he and Gorto had found. It was later determined that the Gorto site is the earliest archaeolog ical evidence of human occupation in the Upper Peninsula, proving that Paleo-Indians lived in the area more than 10,000 years ago.

“From then on, I was always [Buckmaster’s] right-hand person,” he said. “She taught me to be an ar chaeologist with hands-on training.”

‘Feel it in my bones’

AtBuckmaster’s invitation, Paquette served as a research assistant at a site on Goose Lake in the late 1980s. The team had already excavated numerous historical foun dations, and Paquette was tasked with determining what might have been there.

As part of his research, Paquette looked at a Trygg map, which was created in the 1960s at the request of Ojibwe tribes in the Upper Peninsu la, Wisconsin and Minnesota to show what the areas would have looked like before the Europeans arrived.

Trygg historical maps are based on the original land surveyors’ plat maps and field notes. For the Goose Lake area, the map relied on the original survey maps of Douglass Houghton and William Burt from the 1840s. The map noted Native American trails and villages, as well as burial grounds, but Paquette was particularly interest ed in a trail that ran from the “Choc olate” River (now Chocolay) to the “Esconawby” River (now Escanaba).

Northern Michigan University professors Marla Buckmaster, left, and John Ander ton screen soil at the Goose Lake Outlet site. (Photo courtesy of Jim Paquette)

That trail led directly to the Goose Lake Outlet site, about a half-mile south of where Buckmaster’s team was working at the time in what is known as the Sands Plains.

“It was a beautiful spot, totally undisturbed,” Paquette recalled. He described it as a “beautiful terrace” adjacent to a former glacial melt-wa ter channel that had dried up after the

railroads dammed it off in the 1860s.

He asked Buckmaster to conduct shovel testing at the spot, but the group never went to the site. Paquette took note of it and vowed to come

back one day.

“I could just feel it in my bones,” Paquette said. “That area was a hotspot.”

The area was logged in 1990, and heavy equipment disturbed the ter rain, exposing “cultural material” that had been hidden in layers of soil be neath the surface. The material that was found provided evidence of food preparation, including stone tools, projectile points and copper awls, remarkably well-preserved animal bones and large quantities of firecracked rock that are indicative of hearths and outdoor cooking spaces.

The site, which is owned by Cleve land-Cliffs, Inc. (CCI), was reported on January 17, 1986, to John Halsey, state archaeologist at the Michigan Historical Center in Lansing. It was formally designated “20MQ140,” the Paquette site, named for Paquette’s fa ther, Bob, and grandfather, Medolph. It was described as a campsite from the Woodland Period, an era running roughly from 2,000 years ago until the arrival of Europeans in the 1600s.

Paquette, who was a CCI employee at the time, was recognized within the Cliffs Michigan operation as its “inhouse archaeologist.”

Throughout 1991 and 1992, Paquette and his friend Randy Cham pion, a fellow CCI employee and am ateur archaeologist, visited the site and would find new artifacts each time it rained.

“Walking a site, you see thousands of rocks and then you see one that doesn’t look like it belongs,” Cham pion said. “It could be a quartzite

The Marquette Regional History Center installed an exhibit in January 2021 featuring the Goose Lake Outlet excavation in Richmond Township. (Photo courtesy of Jim Paquette)

knife or a quartzite spearpoint. You just think it’s part of the road, but it’s where someone lived and worked, where they worked making tools.”

Jackpot

On May 23, 1996, Paquette re turned with his metal detector to conduct a subsurface scan—and he hit the jackpot. In a “spot where you’d never expect to find anything,” Paquette discovered four small brass rings each emblazoned with “IHS,” iconography indicative of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits.

“I was jumping up with joy,” Paquette said. “You could hear me scream all the way to Negaunee.”

Scholars associate the historic ar tifacts with the 17th-century French Jesuit missionaries of New France and their attempts to Christianize the Native populations.

The Jesuits themselves wrote about their use of “brass finger rings” among Native peoples in The Jesuit Relations, a French publication that contained the reports, diaries and cor respondence from Jesuit missionaries who lived among Native peoples in America during the 1600s.

“We are, therefore, obliged to car ry with us a few little knives, awls, rings, needles, earrings, and such like things, to pay our hosts,” Father Jo seph Marie Chaumonot, of the Huron Mission, wrote in 1640.

Similar rings were also used as gifts and for exchange by the early French explorers and fur traders. The rings from the Goose Lake Outlet site date to between 1620 and 1660, providing evidence of the early contact between Native peoples and the earliest Chris tian missionaries in the Upper Great Lakes.

Paquette’s discovery initiated Phase I of the project: identifying the

historical site. He reported his findings to the State of Michigan, to archaeol ogist Pat Martin at Michigan Techno logical University and to Buckmaster.

“Marla understood the importance and the potential of the site,” Paquette said.

In 1999 and 2000, Buckmaster, Paquette and Champion conducted limited Phase II field investigations using one-by-two-meter test units at the site. Just below the surface of the soil, the team found animal bone, a pair of iron scissors, an iron butcher knife and other French trade items.

Paquette noted that the logging road that had been created in the ear ly 1990s, which had first disturbed the landscape and brought some of the artifacts to the surface, had been pushed right through what was most likely the original Indigenous trail. It brought into context the two distinct areas of the site: one for dwelling and one for working.

“This site wasn’t on the Great Lakes,” Paquette said. “Nobody had excavated an inland campsite. It’s one in a million.”

Though the find was interesting, Paquette was frustrated that no one was able to take on a full-scale exca vation. No further work was done on the site for 12 years.

‘I’m

Paquette continued to visit the site periodically to make sure it wasn’t disturbed, but in 2012, he noticed that others were coming in with metal de tectors. He was also aware of plans to create dirt-bike trails in the area that would go right through the site.

He contacted Buckmaster, who was now retired, as well as her former student, John Anderton, who was now a geoarchaeologist and professor at NMU in the earth, environmental and

going to excavate’

Twenty-one glass beads were discovered at the Goose Lake Outlet site. All of them predated 1650. (Photo courtesy of Jim Paquette)

geographic department.

“I told them, ‘I’m going to exca vate. It’s too important. I could really use the help, but I’m going in regard less,’” Paquette said.

Anderton secured a faculty research grant that provided the equipment as well as student volunteers from NMU and the U.S. Forest Service on Grand Island. Paquette’s family members— wife Karen Paquette, brother Dave Paquette and granddaughter Josephine Thomson—as well as Champion, Sue Belanger, Susy Camilli, Robert Legg and others also joined the excavation.

Anderton conducted a survey using ground penetrating radar, or GPR, that sends pulses of energy into the earth. The energy interacts with soil, sedi ment, potential artifacts and features, and the density differences compose an image that is sent back to the re ceiver.

The site location was scanned at one-meter intervals. Three 10-centi meter-deep levels were created from the data.

Between 2012 and 2013, Paquette said the team “excavated a lot,” and on most days were installing two ex cavation units per day. All of the soil was screened through a quarter-inch mesh and also fine screened.

“We happened to excavate right in the middle of the site,” Paquette said. “We kept expanding our units.”

Thomson was just 9 or 10 years old at the time and was part of a team that searched the soil as it was passed through the screens.

“All of the people there, the ar chaeologists, they were so nice to me,” recalled Thomson, who is now a freshman biology major at Michi gan Tech. “I had always gone out with my grandpa looking for artifacts and fossils, and I took a liking to it. He thought I was old enough, so he took me to the site.”

Thomson said her grandfather had always described how important the Native Americans were to their fami ly. “It was just a story, but now it was here and I was seeing it,” she said.

Among the artifacts found were two stone arrowheads, 21 glass beads, all of which predated 1650, two irontrade knife blades (with a French clasp), an iron sewing needle and scis sors, copper kettle fragments, a leath er belt with a copper rivet and burned birch bark, as well as a fifth Jesuit ring and the broken band fragment of a sixth ring.

For her part, Thomson was the first to spot a tiny navy-blue seed bead. She also found a triangular spearpoint and many pieces of animal bones.

More than 8,700 pieces of animal bones and teeth were identified— mostly moose bone that was burned, unburned and boiled, but also beaver,

porcupine, otter, skunk and muskrat.

At the time, Anderton explained to Paquette that it was incredibly rare to find such well-preserved animal bone due to the area’s acidic soil.

“The site is situated on an old outwash channel that was in the per fect spot that prevented acids there,” Paquette said.

But it was the collection of vari ous types of beads that was also quite extraordinary. The small and delicate beads could be traced to particular re gions of France where they were man ufactured, and some were dated to be from as far back as the late 1500s.

Paquette explained that these beads could have come from down-the-line trading with other tribes and repre sented many different time periods.

The beads found at the site consti tute the largest bead assemblage in Michigan and are among the oldest ever found in the Midwest.

Everything recovered from the site has been meticulously photographed, mapped and documented. Soil sam ples were taken for flotation analysis, a technique used by archaeologists to investigate ancient plant remains, by paleoethnobotanist Kathryn Parker. In addition, carbon material was recov ered for radiocarbon dating.

After the 2012-13 excavations, Paquette began studying Native trade beads as well as the history of Jesuit

Jim Paquette noticed in 2012 that the Goose Lake Outlet site was being visited by people with metal detectors, and he heard about plans for dirt-bike trails in the area. He knew it was time to act. (Photo courtesy of Jim Paquette)

rings and collaborated with experts, including anthropological archaeol ogist Heather Walder and Carol Ma son, adjunct professor of archaeology at Lawrence University, to publish academic papers on the site. He also made local presentations about what had been found so far and the site’s historical significance.

In 2014, however, Anderton died unexpectedly while cross-country ski ing; he was just 49 years old. Though Buckmaster had retired from NMU in 2007, she had continued working with the site, but later health concerns caused her to retire completely from field work.

Paquette was the only one left, and the site wasn’t excavated again until 2021 when he made the decision to go back and finish Phase III of the proj ect.

Finishing the excavation Paquette was joined again by his family members, including Thom son, Champion and bone expert Ter rance Martin, a Michigan native and the emeritus curator of anthropolo gy at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield, Illinois. Other interested volunteers were also welcome, and the team used equipment from NMU with assistance from Scott Demel, as sistant professor of anthropology.

The team worked for several weeks in August 2021 and August 2022 to recover any remaining artifacts and to continue mapping the site.

Thomson said she was eager to re

turn to the site nearly a decade later.

“I had such fond memories—I missed it,” she said. “It’s really a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity. I couldn’t not go back.”

Thomson said that to her, the most interesting part of the story of this site is simply how unassuming it is. It’s situated in the middle of the woods surrounded by poison ivy.

“No one would suspect to find any thing there, but my grandpa found it,” she said. “It’s mapped, and now it’s a big part of the Upper Peninsula’s timeline.”

She said the experience has also taught her about respect for the Indig enous peoples who lived there, and she was particularly inspired by those working at the site and their passion for our shared past.

“It was such a good group of peo ple,” Thomson said. “They were so accepting of new volunteers, and they just wanted to give people the expe rience. They were passionate about spreading their excitement to others.”

Thomson added that it also helped her to see the world from a different perspective.

“My grandpa always told me that you can find artifacts if you look, but people don’t look,” she said. “I’ve translated that into my life, too. If you look for stuff, it will be there.”

Champion, who has himself locat ed more than 20 historical sites, some with Paquette’s help, was struck by the realization of how life must have been for the people who lived there.

Scholars associate the rings discovered at the Goose Lake Outlet site with 17th-century French Jesuit missionaries. (Photo courtesy of Jim Paquette)

“You realize how tough it was for [the Native peoples],” he said. “It shows how strong people are, that they could survive the winters and ac tually flourish.”

‘It belongs to all of us’

In Michigan, historic artifacts that are found belong to the landown er—in this case, Cleveland-Cliffs. Paquette worked with the company for permission to conduct excavations on its local nonactive mining proper ties, including the entire Goose Lake area. CCI has permanently curated the artifacts to the Marquette Regional History Center.

The MRHC installed an exhib it featuring the site in January 2021. It includes what was recovered in the earlier excavations as well as a three-dimensional display of what the site most likely looked like, including a wigwam and an outdoor cooking and working area. The Jesuit rings are displayed, as well as some of the beads, stone tools and animal bones.

“What I find … it doesn’t belong to me,” Paquette told WLUC-TV6 at the time. “It ultimately belongs to all of us. And those things are gifts from the people that once lived here.”

For Paquette, who is Métis (mixed European and Indigenous ancestry),

working on this site has always been a “very personal, spiritual thing.”

His own ancestry can be traced to the roots of this area when the first French-Canadian voyageurs married Native women.

In October, Paquette received the 2022 Alumni Achievement Award

from NMU. During the ceremony, host Cynthia Thompson said Paquette is “widely recognized as one of the pre eminent authorities on Upper Great Lakes archaeology, conducting a per sonal spirit quest, which is an ongo ing archaeological field survey, since 1984, to locate, document, preserve

and, most importantly, to learn from early First Nation cultural sites right here in the central Upper Peninsula.”

Thompson noted that Paquette is a certified Native paraprofessional archaeologist and “serves his Native ancestors as an ardent protector of the ancient sites and caregiver of the cul tural artifacts.”

The Goose Lake Outlet #3 site has now been fully mapped, and all of the features there have been documented.

Paquette continues to catalog the re maining artifacts that were found, par ticularly seven additional European glass trade beads—55 in total—that can be used to establish a timeline and trade network of Indigenous and French activity in the area.

“I still beat the drum; I have to,” Paquette said. “You let the artifacts speak to you and spread that message from the people who lived there. … I realize that I will never know their names, but through archaeology and listening to their whispers, I truly get to know them. We all will get to know them, if we listen.” MM

Erin Elliott Bryan grew up in Ishpem ing and was the MM calendar editor from 2001 to 2005. She is now a free lance writer.

Jim Paquette received an Alumni Achievement Award from Northern Michigan University in October. His wife, Karen, right, often worked beside him at the Goose Lake Outlet site. (Photo courtesy of Jim Paquette)

at the table

A first-century Galilean feast

By Katherine Larson

Many Americans celebrate Christmas in December, some as a religious holiday and some as a secular one. Almost all Christmas celebrations in the United States today, whether religious or sec ular, have this in common: They don’t much resemble the type of meal that Mary and Joseph might have eaten to

How might Miryam and Yusuf have celebrated the birth of their son? What might have been on the menu?

Lora Loope takes her turn kneading the recalcitrant dough. (Photo by Katherine Larson)

mark the birth of their new baby, Je sus.

Or, properly written, that Miryam and Yusuf might have eaten to mark the birth of their new baby, Yeshua. The young family were, after all, Jew ish Galileans; their names weren’t any more Anglicized than was their food. So what would they have eaten? And how?

With Yusuf being a carpenter, it wouldn’t have been a lavish feast; carpenters were respectable people in first-century Palestine, of higher rank than, say, shepherds, but far from upper class and far from wealthy. So we can cross off all the fancier items that come down to us in lists from rich folks’ wedding banquets and the like. (We can also cross off the scrapingthe-bottom-of-the-barrel items that the poorest peasants might have had to make do with.)

What we’re left with is a solid mid dle-class meal from the first century. This meal would have taken place at sundown, typically. Breakfasts were nonexistent, and lunches were, for or dinary folk, not much more than a bit of bread and perhaps a few olives or a bit of cheese.

Dinner, by contrast, was a time to sit down and relax. Middle-class peo ple like these would have sat around a wooden table, on wooden benches or chairs, not just to eat but also to talk and unwind. And the meal would not have been limited to Miryam and Yu suf.

In today’s world we think of nucle ar families as the rule and extended families as the exception, limited to at most an occasional feast like a wed ding or a funeral. Back then, the op posite was true, and the family table would include multiple generations of those related by ties of blood or mar riage, along with whatever servants or slaves or connected foreigners might feel bound to that particular house hold.

What’s on the menu?

What was served? First and fore most, bread. When Yeshua (Je sus) is said to have called himself the “Bread of Life,” he might as well have been saying that he was the source and staple of life. When the prayer at tributed to him asks, “Give us this day our daily bread,” it doesn’t mean just a slice on the side spread with butter; it means the essence of the day’s nour ishment.

Jews of that era ate a variety of breads, leavened and unleavened, but outside cities it was mostly home made. (Bakeries existed in the big cit ies, but would be unlikely in a relative hamlet like Bethlehem or Nazareth.)

By the first century they had access to a range of grains, but wheat bread would be fare for the upper classes; Miryam would likely bake her bread with barley or a mix of barley and wheat flour instead.

Yes, Miryam. Baking the family’s bread was women’s work, done daily except on the Sabbath (and so a dou ble batch would be cooked on Friday). Cities might offer communal bread ovens, but families like this one likely had a bread oven of their own.

Such ovens remain in use in the Middle East today. Called a tannur, it is a beehive-shaped clay oven, maybe two or three feet high, and typically

featuring two openings: one at the bottom and one at the top.

Using kindling and animal dung, the cook would build a fire on the floor of the tannur to heat up the oven and then to die down. After she raked the ashes out of the bottom opening, the cook would use the top opening to slap the dough onto the interior walls to bake. Earthenware platters and cooking pots could also be placed on top of the upper opening for cooking. A woman of the house would have saved a bit of uncooked bread dough from the previous day’s batch; as mod ern sourdough aficionados know, that would provide leavening for the next

day’s loaves. Then, the next morning, it was her job to light the fire in the tannur, grind the wheat or barley for flour and make the dough, shaping it into round, flat loaves for a quick bake when the dough had risen and the tan nur was ready.

Other women’s tasks included tending the garden and preparing the rest of the food for the evening meal. What might that involve?

Archaeologists tell us that well over half the family’s caloric intake would come from grains and legumes: grains typically in the form of all that bread, and legumes from stews featuring such treats as chickpeas, fava beans and lentils. There would be plenty of vegetables in those stews, too, nota bly onions and garlic. Cucumbers and leafy greens would be served in sea son, along with fresh herbs like pars ley.

How about protein? Nuts provided an excellent source, with the added advantage of storing well. Cheese and yogurt, made from sheep’s or goat’s milk, were popular. People with ready access to bodies of water like the Sea of Galilee could enjoy fish, freshly grilled or salted, and people who kept chickens could enjoy their eggs— boiled, fried or scrambled, just like today. Meat, though, was an extreme ly expensive luxury. Yeshua’s parents would be most unlikely to serve it.

Here, then, is a possible but credi ble birth-of-Yeshua feast:

Start with bread, to be dipped in ol

Bruce Larson, left, Walt Loope and Lora Loope sit down to enjoy a feast inspired by first-century Galilee. The salad, below, features cucumber, olive, garlic, goat cheese and parsley. (Photos by Katherine Larson)

ive oil with fresh herbs or dried spic es, maybe a mixture like za’atar

Move on to a lentil and chickpea stew, seasoned with onions, garlic, parsley and a variety of spices typical of that time and place. This stew would be served in an earthenware pot—like ly having been cooked on top of the tannur—and people would scoop out bites to eat using their fingers or more bread as their serving utensil.

Also on the menu: a refreshing sal ad of cucumber, olives, garlic, goat cheese and olive oil; a tasty dish of hummus, made with more chickpeas, olive oil and garlic and garnished with a sprinkle of dried sumac; a flavorful array of pickled onions. All of these, too, would be scooped up and enjoyed with yet more bread.

Would dessert be served? Probably not as a separate course, though a dish of yogurt and “honey”—sometimes actual honey from bees, often a con coction made from local fruit—was popular as part of the meal. Cooks might also add a bit of honey to a stew or pickled dish for flavor.

Fruit on its own was popular, in season and out. We know that figs and dates were enjoyed, apricots maybe even more so. Melons were strictly seasonal, but figs, dates and apricots, like grapes, could be dried for storage and so eaten year-round.

And when the meal was over? All the dishes would be sopped out with bread and the juicy flavors enjoyed. Then, in the absence of napkins, peo

ple wiped their mouths and fingers with yet more bread, and then tossed that bread to the waiting animals.

As for beverages, despite biblical references to the “land of milk and honey,” milk was not a popular drink, being more likely to find its way to the table in the form of cheese or yogurt. Instead, people drank water and peo ple drank wine. Or, maybe most com monly, people drank water and wine mixed—according to the Talmud, I’m told, in a ratio of 2:1 or 3:1.

A feast recreated

When I first tried to create this feast at home, the bread intim idated me so much that I used com mercially prepared whole wheat naan instead.

The rest of the meal posed no prob lems at all and in fact was, to my 21st-century palate, utterly delicious. That cucumber-olive-garlic-goat cheese salad was superb, but the reci pe I’ll leave you with is for the chick pea-lentil stew. I don’t know whether

it was comfort food back in Bethle hem and Nazareth, but in the middle of a U.P. winter it’s a comforting dish indeed.

Start with a cup of dried chickpeas and soak them overnight. (Or, yes, use two cans of cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed. The flavor and texture won’t be as good, but it does simplify matters.) Drain off the soaking water, then in a large pot cover the chickpeas with about two inches of water, add ing a couple of bay leaves along with the skin from a red onion and some parsley stems tied into a bundle for easy removal later. Put the pot on the stove to simmer, covered, for about an hour and a half.

What about the rest of the red on ion? Slice it up and cover it with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and red wine vinegar, turning it into a quick refrigerator pickle to enjoy with the meal. What about the rest of the pars ley? Wrap it in a lightly moistened cloth and tuck it into the fridge, again to enjoy with the meal.

When I make stews like this I pre fer to try to restrict myself to one pot. Here, though, using a second pan pays big dividends in flavor. So while the chickpeas are cooking, I take out a big frying pan and sauté two onions, chopped, in olive oil till they take on a bit of brown. Then I add more olive oil and sauté spices with the onions for a minute or two, until the flavors bloom: perhaps a teaspoon each of ground cumin, coriander, mustard seed, fennel seed and cinnamon, plus a tad of ground cardamom and plenty of black pepper. That, plus about three

The celebration meal includes pickled onions. (Photo by Katherine Larson)

cloves of garlic, minced, will really perk up this stew.

After the chickpeas have had their 90 minutes relatively alone, it’s time to add ingredients. Scoop out a cup ful of cooking water from the pot and slosh it into the onion-and-spice pan, scrape up any lingering goodness on the bottom of that pan, then pour the whole thing into the chickpea pot. Add a cup of lentils, green or brown. Bring it all to a boil then return it to a simmer and let everything cook, un covered, for another hour or so.

When it’s done, remove the bay leaf and parsley stems, then salt and pepper the stew to taste. If you like, it will sit quite happily on the back of the stove or in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat it.

And when you do go to eat it, be sure to sprinkle each bowlful with some crisp fresh parsley leaves, and to accompany each bite or two with a bracing morsel of pickled onion. That’s what Miryam and Yusuf would have done, and it’s mighty delicious eaten that way.

A bread-making party

So delectable was all this that I de cided that I had to try it again, this time with better bread. Here I ran into problems. Barley has so little glu

ten that modern bread recipes which mention barley flour typically include much more wheat than barley; the few barley-only recipes I found online were filled with such luxuries as eggs and butter and buttermilk, which did not seem suitable for a first-century meal.

A solution emerged from the wellstocked bookshelves of Marquette’s Ann and Dan Arnold, where they found a Yemeni recipe for malvj, a yeasted flatbread made with a mixture of barley and wheat flour and no eggs at all—only yogurt, which I knew would have been readily available to Miryam and Yusuf.

Alas, barley flour was not readily available to me at all. If I didn’t want to invest online in a 25-pound bag, it looked like I was out of luck. That is, until I shared my woes with Lora Loope of Munising.

Loope has been making her own flours for decades, using a splendid electrically powered stone-grinding mill that she inherited from a beloved relative, Mary Snow. She asked: Why not use that? Why not indeed? We planned a bread-making party to cul minate in the chickpea-lentil feast.

At which point it transpired that the years had not been kind to Loope’s mill, but she was undaunted and

A variety of spices flavor the stew: ground cumin, coriander, mustard seed, fennel seed, cinnamon, cardamom and black pepper. (Photo by Katherine Larson)

pressed the family coffee grinder into service. Triumphant, she displayed the results: more than a cup of fine barley flour, fresh-ground from a cup of pearled barley grains.

So we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. For those inspired by Loope’s gumption, here’s the recipe: Unless you happen to have a good sourdough starter already going, dis solve one teaspoon of active dry yeast in a quarter-cup of warm water. In a medium bowl, combine a cup each of barley flour and whole wheat flour along with half a teaspoon of salt.

In a separate bowl, stir half a tea spoon of baking soda into half a cup of plain room-temperature yogurt— this is a dramatic step, as the soda-yo gurt combination froths remarkably. Stir both the yeast liquid and the frothy yogurt into the mixed flours, then knead for 10 minutes.

Here discouragement set in. The resulting dough is very thick indeed, with so little gluten it completely fails to develop that smooth, stretchy qual ity we moderns have come to expect from our bread doughs.

Kneading took quite a bit of effort, requiring Loopes and Larsons all to take turns, and the result looked most unsatisfactory. Nevertheless, we per sisted, covering the bowl and letting

it rest for a couple of hours during which, the malvj recipe suggested, the dough would double in bulk.

It didn’t. Indeed, if it grew at all it was by a barely discernible amount, easily ascribed to wishful thinking. We pushed aside thoughts of a quick run to the supermarket for bread; it was far too late to back out now. So Lora cut the sturdy mass into eight pieces and we hammered them into balls which we flattened and left to sit another 20 minutes.

Now for our modern equivalent of the tannur: a cast-iron griddle over

medium heat, lightly brushed with olive oil. One by one, the pieces of malvj took their brief turn on the grid dle (a minute and a half on one side, one minute on the other); one by one, looking barely cooked, they were placed on a cloth-covered plate and wrapped to keep warm.

And then we all sat. The stew smelled superb. The onions glistened, pink and fragrant. The salad winked invitingly. Bowls of za’atar-infused olive oil and of chopped parsley sat at the ready.

The wine was poured: an astonish

ing find from Marquette’s Everyday Wines, produced with a flourish by owner Dan Rutz when I asked him about first-century-style wines. Tada! Orgo’s Dila-o, a wine made from saperavi—a red wine grape from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia— which is stored and fermented per an 8,000-year-old tradition in huge clay vats called qvevri and buried under ground. The result is extraordinary: bold, complex, perfect for this meal. (Also perfect for cutting with water per the Talmud, if your preference is for a less robust flavor.)

But what about the malvj? What about those sad brown lumps of dis couragement?

A miracle! They were delicious! They were indeed cooked through, with a pleasantly chewy but resilient texture. The barley contributed its nutty goodness, and we all ate with gusto.

Dried figs and fresh fruit from the Loopes’ garden rounded out the feast. Miryam and Yusuf would have been delighted.

Katherine Larson is a writer, teacher and former lawyer who is fascinat ed by history and always eager for a good food adventure.

In the absence of a traditional bread oven, a cast-iron griddle can do the job. (Photo by Katherine Larson)

the arts

Doubling up on holiday fun

NMU places Charlie Brown and Nutcracker on center stage

By Alex Lehto-Clark

Walk into any department store, and it’s clear: The season of Santa Claus and stacks of presents is fast approaching. With all of the holiday stress comes the heartfelt stuff, and it is that heart warming tradition of storytelling that Northern Michigan University wants to bring to families and community members of all ages with not one, but two traditional holiday-time plays.

“In terms of high-quality work, it’s where you go to see theatre in the re gion,” said Jimmy Ludwig, head of the bachelor of fine arts in acting program at NMU and director of A Charlie Brown Christmas. The department is presenting Charlie Brown and Selec tions from the Nutcracker this month in a holiday double feature.

Ludwig, in his first year as a profes sor at the university, has a passion for holiday plays. In fact, prior to starting his job at NMU, he worked on a pro duction of It’s a Wonderful Life for 11

years at a flagship theatre in Prince ton, New Jersey.

“I’m a sucker for Christmas shows,” he said. “Such a great time for family and community to get together. The holidays mean such different things for different people. Whether you are interested in the religion of the holi days or not, you’re definitely interest ed in the community of holidays.”

These two shows offer a substan tial difference in tone. “There’s some thing for everybody in these shows,” Ludwig said. “One is serious, and one is funny. There is a good fit for every one between these two shows.”

Charlie Brown is based on the 1965 animated TV special that has become a favorite for kids and kids at heart. The story features Peanuts com ic-strip favorite Charlie Brown, who is feeling sad despite all the joy ev eryone else seems to be experiencing during the holiday season. He chooses the smallest, most meager Christmas tree, and, in transforming the tree into something beautiful, he finds the joy

of the holiday spirit.

Ludwig said the backstory sur rounding the animated special— which featured a jazz-infused soundtrack and children voice actors, a rarity at the time—adds a layer of beauty to the show. “The producers, the network, paid [Peanuts creator] Charles Schulz to put it together. And he came back with this sort of plain jazz-score-driven Christmas message in a half-hour package. The studio re belled and thought it was terrible.”

The program, however, went on to be a big hit, still finding and re sounding with an audience more than 50 years later. “It’s really an iconic part of the holiday season,” Ludwig said. “Being able to take the Charles Schulz style of animation and trans late it to the stage, it’s a fun technical challenge for our designers. We want people to walk in the door and see the world of the television special.”

Students do almost all of the work on NMU productions, and this will be the case for these two holiday shows. “The feeling at NMU,” Ludwig said, “is that we would much rather have students design than the professors. The ethic there is whether a student is up to that level or not. We want them to put their best foot forward. In this case, all of our crew and all of the cast are students.”

These two productions have a com bined crew of around 50, and Ludwig said many students are involved in multiple shows each year.

Beck Piepszak is a musical theatre major who is portraying Peppermint Patty in A Charlie Brown Christmas. She’s also an understudy for Lucy. “I think that people, from ages one to 92, are going to love it,” she said.

Piepszak has been keeping busy. Besides her role in Charlie Brown, she is also involved in Selections from

the Nutcracker. She said, “I’ve also been working as an understudy for the dance ‘Snow,’ along with observing the other solos and duets as they grow into a performance of pure grace and beauty.”

Ludwig said the theatre department prides itself on supporting a strong work ethic, and the constant line of shows is proof of that hard work. “We

put on 12 stage shows a year,” he said. “Work ethic is the only secret that we know. The things you can count on are outworking people. At a certain level, everyone is talented. If you’re known as someone who works hard and is easy to be in the room—that’s what will get you jobs.”

Piepszak said she is learning a lot from her professors in both produc

Every December, the Northern Mich igan University theatre department presents a holiday-themed show. Pre vious years have featured Elf, above, and a holiday cabaret dance, left. This month, the department is staging a double feature with A Charlie Brown Christmas and Selections from the Nut cracker. (Photos courtesy of NMU)

tions, but especially in Selections from the Nutcracker. “The choreographer, Karina Johnson, who is also a dance professor, is working diligently to en sure what we bring to the audience is something truly spectacular,” she said. “Her and the dancers’ attention to detail and the dedication they’ve had to the rehearsal process, along with the childlike joys and heart that the cast of Charlie Brown Christmas are creating—it’s sure to be a wonder ful experience for the whole family.”

Preparation for A Charlie Brown Christmas started at the end of Oc tober, while Selections from the Nut cracker started in the beginning of October. The student cast members are majors or minors in NMU’s school of dance and part of Co-Lab, a stu dent organization that puts on shows throughout the year.

“It’s a huge learning curve,” Lud wig said about the choreography of one of the most famous ballets in his tory. Selections from the Nutcracker tells the familiar tale of toys coming to life for a magical Christmas Eve.

The Selections program offers highlights and exciting elements from the original world-renowned ballet, but with a focus on all-ages entertain ment. “It’s that traditional Nutcrack er spirit,” Ludwig said, “but it’s not three hours long like the original.”

Though Selections does not involve the traditional ballet associated with the larger, longer show, Ludwig said

the choreography presents an exciting challenge to the students.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, Ludwig said the theatre department is aware that being able to get together for performances is something to be thankful for—and it’s not something that either performers or audienc es will take for granted. “The whole

night is a celebration,” he said. “Pro viding that celebratory atmosphere, we’re sort of pitching it to ourselves.”

Ludwig said he wants theatrego ers to feel like they are walking into a holiday-themed world. “The whole evening is our gift to Marquette County,” he said. “This is our Christ mas present. The minute you walk in,

it’s Christmas.”

The lobby and other areas will be decorated, giving the students yet an other opportunity to hone and show off their design skills. In addition, community members are invited to at tend an exclusive opening night party on December 9. The ticket that eve ning will include food and beverages as well as a meet-and-greet with the casts and creative teams behind both productions.

NMU’s holiday double feature will be presented from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on December 9, 10, 14, 15, 16 and 17. In addition, a sensory-friendly show is planned for 1 p.m. on December 10.

Tickets are $17 for the gener al public; $12 for NMU faculty and staff and members of the military; $5 for NMU students; and $10 for oth

er students. Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.nmu.edu; by phone at (906)227-1032; or in person at any NMU ticket outlet.

Ludwig said there’s one message he wants audiences to hear loud and clear: “I want a real, simple, hon est moment that really means some thing.”

Piepszak added: “I hope everyone keeps up their tradition of coming to NMU to see our Christmas show. This is one you don’t wanna miss.” MM

Alex Lehto-Clark is a poet and es sayist who lives in Ishpeming. He has called the Upper Peninsula home for 12 years and graduated from North ern Michigan University with bache lor’s and master’s degrees in English.

Northern Michigan University theatre and dance presented a holiday cabaret in 2019. (Photo courtesy of NMU)

THE WHOLE EVENING IS OUR GIFT TO MARQUETTE COUNTY.

Seven fateful days back then

By Larry Chabot

In the first week of December 1941, our country transitioned from the mundane to chaos. After the Unit ed States was drawn into a broadening world conflict on the seventh day of that month, an estimated 80 percent of the American people were eventu ally on war duty at home or abroad. Before that terrible day, on which the Japanese attacked American forces in Hawaii and the Philippines, life was almost business as usual. Germany was conquering European countries for its grim collection while Japan warred with China and threatened other Asian nations.

The U.S. had been gearing up its defense plants and drafting young men into uniform in anticipation of American involvement. With the ravages of World War I still fresh in mind, most Amer icans polled were strongly antiwar.

The clouds of war, however, moved President Franklin Roosevelt to declare a state of emer gency in May 1941. Three U.P. men were thus classified as war casualties because they died after that declara tion and before the Japanese attack. They were John Juknis of Ontonagon, Joseph Fitzpatrick of McMillan and Erick Aho of Bessemer.

colleagues who heard a speaker fore cast what Americanism would be like in 1942. County residents learned that the average drinker there consumed $10.18 worth of liquor during the pre vious year (equal to $205 today), but Marquette County was even higher at $260 in today’s money.

Bob Dobson’s massive digests of Ishpeming and Negaunee newspa pers cite several weddings, citywide Christmas decorations to be lit until New Year’s Eve and news that State Senator William Birk was hospital ized with an eye injury suffered while deer hunting near Trout Creek. After shooting a buck at Casey Lake south of Republic, Ted Hughes was charged by a very large wolf; he fired two shots before the wolf went down.

How one week in 1941 changed course of history

On Saturday night, while dozens of Navy ships lay in anchor at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, radio listeners were laughing at the Duffy’s Tav ern program. The Colonial nightspot presented Urbo Saari and his or chestra, while folks at the Whirl-I-Gig were dancing to Rip Anderson and his band.

Countless other U.P. men were in service around the world, in camps and at sea. Marquette Branch Pris on had already lost staff members to the service. Keith Wandell of L’Anse was a sailor on the destroyer Hughes, which became a battle-hardened ship. Another L’Anse boy, Dale Snyder, one of 26 Yoopers who died in captiv ity, was murdered in a prison camp in the Philippines.

Back home, life went on somehow, as Americans shopped and decorated for Christmas, wrote to boys in ser vice, went to work, prayed in church es, got married, studied in college— all with an uneasy eye on world news.

The local news was about everyday events, but then who knew life would soon be overshadowed? In Baraga County, farmers in the Covington area bought a cheese factory for the Watton Co-op. L’Anse’s American Legion post hosted Copper Country

Early afternoon the next day, December 7, 1941, President Roo sevelt was working on his huge postage-stamp collection, which eventually totaled over a million piec es. Earlier, he had met with the Chi nese ambassador and had lunch with adviser Harry Hopkins, who was still at the White House. At 2:25 p.m., as the president wielded his tweezers and magnifying glass, came a knock on the door.

Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox (who once owned the Sault Ste. Marie newspaper) burst in with the startling news that Pearl Harbor was being bombed by the Japanese.

Within seconds, news tickers were flashing the message around the country. At 2:26 p.m., one radio net work broke into a New York football game broadcast with the news. Soon the network was fielding angry calls from fans who wanted the game back. Someone in Denver was furious over the cutoff of a religious program, in sisting that the gospel was more im portant than the war report.

In Washington’s Griffith Stadi

um, where the NFL’s Redskins were hosting the Philadelphia Eagles, fans wondered why the public-address an nouncer started paging government and military officials and advised any reporters present to call their offices. There was no mention of an attack.

As other news media flashed the word, a gathering mood of fear and fury swept across America. Fami lies with draft-eligible sons were ex changing worried looks. The Leon ard Carley family of Cooks had eight sons, as did the Elmer Kangas fami ly of Gwinn (son Onnie was to lose his life in the war), the Libermans of Manistique and the Matt Maki family of Marquette. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor, were the parents of four boys, all of whom were already in military service.

Communication was poor between Hawaii and the mainland, with all media channels tied up with offi cial business. Just before Christmas, missing-in-action telegrams began arriving at hometowns of Pearl Har bor servicemen. One family suspected the worst when a Christmas package sent to their sailor son was returned marked “unknown.”

By late February, death telegrams

were being delivered to families of the fallen: two in Hancock and Iron Mountain, and one each in Channing, Bessemer, Ontonagon, Wallace, New berry, Menominee, Dollar Bay and Ironwood. To Wallace in Menominee County, where John and Minnie Mc Guire fretted about their five boys in uniform, came a telegram confirm ing the death of son Francis, a sailor serving on the ill-fated battleship USS Arizona.

By war’s end in 1945, the death toll of U.P. men and women reached 1,509 among the estimated 46,000 Yoopers who had served. One of ev ery seven U.P. residents was in uni form in World War II, more than the national average of one in eight.

Like all wars and other calami ties, great literature came out of that conflict. Especially worthwhile are the memoirs of soldiers such as E.B. Sledge, Robert Leckie and William Manchester, and books by popular historian Stephen Ambrose. British historian Martin Gilbert, in his book The Day the War Ended, offered this quotation from a British commentator about the Americans who’d crossed the ocean to help defeat Nazi Germa ny:

“From the lands of Europe their fathers came to America, seeking freedom, and to Europe their sons re turned, still seeking it. Now that they have helped secure it, now that the ‘ceasefire’ has sounded, let us post sentries and never again dismiss the guards that watch over our indivisible freedom.”

Note: When sailor Lowell Valley of Ontonagon was reported missing and then dead after the Pearl Harbor at tack, the village mourned one of their own. His remains were finally iden tified and returned home in 2018 for burial with full military honors, laid to rest next to his parents in Holy Family Cemetery. Eight years earlier, the re mains of his shipmate Gerald Lehman of Hancock were returned for burial.

Larry Chabot, an Ontonagon native, worked his way through Georgetown University and was then employed at White Pine Copper Company for 32 years, before moving to Marquette with his wife, Betty. He is a freelance writer who has written for several publications, including more than 180 articles for Marquette Monthly.

Illustration by Mike McKinney

in the outdoors

The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ other rodents

“The great disadvantage of being in a rat race is that it is humiliating. The competitors in a rat race are by definition rodents.”

—Margaret Halsey

You dirty rat. … I’m gonna rat you out. … Even if you are qui et as a mouse, you are pretty squirrelly. … Sometimes you are busy as a beaver, but when the cat’s away, the mice will play.

Human culture has had a long histo ry of connections with rodents. Some have been legendary. Rats helped the bubonic plague spread wildly across Asia and Europe numerous times, tak ing nearly a quarter of the population there.

On the other hand, humans have embraced a whole group of inter esting characters of rodent descent: Mighty Mouse, Chip and Dale, Rocky the Flying Squirrel, Mickey and Min nie Mouse, Jerry from “Tom and Jer ry,” Speedy Gonzales, a groundhog in Groundhog Day, Master Splinter

Story and photos by Scot Stewart

The red squirrel is common in the Upper Peninsula.

The muskrat, above, is a cousin of the North American beaver, right, and builds lodges made of cattails. The meadow jumping mouse, bottom, is found mostly in forays in the woods.

(sage rat mentor to the Ninja Turtles) and Remy (in Ratatouille).

(Recognizing all of them may in dicate a poorly monitored childhood, and maybe adulthood, too.)

Rodents are extremely intelligent animals, capable of being great pets and providing a role as strong, clean laboratory animals used for a whole spectrum of studies, from intelligence, dietary, drug and hereditary tests.

They have now become trainees for bomb and land-mine detection. Their sensory abilities make them good at detecting explosives, and their lighter weight makes them bet ter suited for land-mine detection than dogs. It is true that their handlers are less attached to them than to dogs, but they do offer a better, less-expensive choice for seeking out deadly devices.

Squirrels have frustrated and as tounded birders forever with their abilities to find ways to solve tricky bird feeders and manage to eat their way through hundreds of sunflow er seeds, and occasionally solve in volved obstacle courses with as many as two dozen individual challenges to reach a food source.

Most every family has its over achievers, its hard workers, its stay-athomes and even a few that occasion ally lose their way. Families are full of all types of work ethics, intelligences and character. Some family members have a spectrum of true standouts, with accomplishments that loom over almost everyone else’s. Consider bea vers and their dams and now rats with their explosive and land-mine detec tion at one end of the spectrum, to the chipmunks with their darn holes in the lawn at the other.

There

Central America, from the other con tinents around 140 million years ago.

During the Cenozoic Era, the ro dent diversity really began to expand as mammals became the dominant species, at least in the food webs. (In the United States, surprisingly, there are only around 70 species of rodents.)

Rodents are one of the most adapt able families of mammals, occupying nearly all habitats on the planet, ex cept for Antarctica, and being quite successful surviving close to humans.

One of the most observable val ues of rodents is as food. Rodents, especially the smaller ones, like lem mings, voles and mice, find their way onto the dinner table of most birds of prey like hawks and owls, but also for a surprising number of other animals.

Canada geese have been observed snatching them up while grazing in fields. Fish, like pike, and snapping turtles will grab them if they wander

are around 1,500 species of rodents in the world, with the largest number found in South America. That continent was separated, except for

Beavers usually build their lodges, shown above, near a food source. Dams, like the one at right, also aid bea vers in securing sustenance. Flooding helps them reach food by swimming rather than walking inland.

into water. For some snakes they are at the top of each day’s menu, and even large frogs will eat them too.

“Canada is the only country found ed on the relentless pursuit of a ro dent.”

—Preston Manning

The American beaver has one of the most positive reputations of the rodents and can make a claim to fame in two parts. It is the largest rodent in North America. And for about 300 years, beaver fur was one of the most desirable on the planet—not for coats or stoles, but for hats.

The pliable fur was felted into men’s hats, those familiar black ones seen so often on men throughout much of history in Europe from the 16th to 19th centuries. Much of the exploration of North America during the early years of British and French colonization here revolved around ex ploration and the search for beavers to trap for their furs.

Because of the design of their inci sor teeth, beavers are experts in cut ting through wood. The orange enam eled incisors have hard front surfaces and softer backsides. This helps for a sharp, hard edge to the teeth, allow ing them to cut fairly easily in wood, especially their favorites, willow and poplar, two varieties of softer woods.

In places where wolves and other

large predators are absent, like the Slate Islands in Ontario, on the north shore of Lake Superior, beaver have been known to travel up to a third of a mile for a quaking aspen fix.

Much of what they cut is for food.

They will devour the inner bark of most deciduous trees like those poplars, willows and alder, in part because the outer bark is soft and thin. They will occasionally sample maple and a few others, but usual

ly cut conifers only for construction purposes.

Beaver and all rodents must con tinue to chew on surfaces throughout their lives to trim their teeth, which never stop growing.

The quills of the North American porcu pine have played an important part in Ojibwe culture. Quills were long used to decorate moccasins, baskets and other belongings.

“A beaver does not, as legend would have it, know which direction the tree will fall when he cuts it, but counts on alacrity to make up for the lack of engineering expertise.”

—Ann Zwinger

Beaver have been known to bite through a twig slightly less than an inch in diameter and snap it in two with their incisors. Large trees are cut down to provide access to smaller branches the beaver will trim off for food as they consume the bark, and some of those smaller branches may be cut for use in building dams and lodges.

The beavers won’t usually eat the bark of conifers, but occasionally they do cut young pines down when build ing materials are in short supply for dams.

In fall, the beaver cut long, thin branches of poplar and other food trees and imbed the ends of them in the mud near their lodges. After ice covers the water around their lodge, the beaver will stay close to home

Gray squirrels are familiar as the city park squirrel and one most likely to pilfer the birdseed at the house. Their large nests, called drays, are easy to spot once the leaves fall, and many people are surprised to see so many living so close.

leaving their lodges by the under water exits, cut off short sections of these stored branches and return to the lodge with them to eat the bark in the lodge. The stripped sticks are returned to the pond when they are done.

Finding these short, bare sticks around a pond in spring is a good sign the beavers were feeding nearby during the winter months. Finding saplings cut six feet above ground in spring is a sign the beaver ran out of food and were forced to cut new food from atop tall snow drifts during the winter.

“The beaver told the rabbit as they stared at the Hoover Dam: No, I didn’t build it myself, but it’s based on an idea of mine.”

—Charles Hard Townes

The beaver ponds themselves are formed by the dams, creating new ponds along a stream or raising the water of a lake. Beavers dammed up Harlow Creek this summer at the out let to Harlow Lake, raising the lake level more than a foot and flooding some of the shoreline. Some dams are impressive—up to a half-mile long— and large enough to be seen by satel lites from outer space.

Ponds and flooding help beavers reach food by swimming instead of walking inland. It is also easier for the beaver to float food out to their lodge.

On wider streams more than 30 feet across, the beaver may turn to bank lodges or burrows into riverbanks. Beavers have a bank lodge on the Dead River near the hydro plant off Wright Street.

They may also create canals to swim inland. At Presque Isle the bea ver did create some small dams in the bog-walk area several years ago and many canals to improve navigation.

Unfortunately, the water in the ponds there rarely is deep enough for winter cold, even if the beaver excavate the area around their lodge. The water may completely freeze up, locking the beaver in their lodge and starving them to death. There are at least three remnants of old lodges in the bog-walk ponds.

Beaver ponds improve aquatic habitats for many wildlife species and improve water quality by slowing the river currents and helping sediments settle, purifying the stream water.

They create new habitat for trout and other fishes and new feeding ar eas for a wide variety of animals from herons eating fish and amphibians, to moose eating aquatic vegetation.

Muskrats are the junior cousins of beaver, and while they are not at the same engineering level, they do build lodges, usually of cattails in the wet lands where they live.

These smaller aquatic rodents are a prime source of food for animals like mink, who swim and run through the ponds and marshes looking for food. The tops of the muskrat lodges serve as nesting sites for Canada geese, mallards and other waterfowl.

“Barry L. Jacobs and colleagues from the neuroscience program at Princeton University showed that when mice ran every day on an exer cise wheel, they developed more brain

cells, and they learned faster than sedentary controls. I believe in mice.”

—Bernd Heinrich

and voles lead very active lives, mostly at night. Their whiskers help them navigate around rocks and buildings in the dark, a time where there are fewer predatory eyes on them. At night it’s mostly owls and foxes out there hunting them, but in the southern U.P., fox snakes, known also as pine snakes, are also after them.

Mice

Some rodents—especially mice, meadow voles, southern bog lem mings, chipmunks, ground squirrels and squirrels—play an important role in soil and tree ecology in many areas.

Besides aerating the soil, these rodents frequently collect and store fungi. They are important distributors of fungi and their spores, relocating them to new underground areas. Af ter eating pats of them, they distribute spores through their scat.

Some of these fungi have no oth er way to establish themselves in new underground sites, and many are critical for the germination of seeds, like some orchids that need a fungal attachment to germinate. These roles are extremely important in maintain ing a healthy forest as the fungi help return the nutrients to the soil by breaking down organic material.

Anyone with a well-kept lawn is al ways on the lookout for new holes cre ated by the chipmunks that just moved into the neighborhood or a young one

just kicked out of the house.

Unfortunately, that single hole in the lawn leads to an underground system including a comfortable un derground dwelling and a network of pathways that could include up to four additional exit points. Trying to flush them out with even 100 gallons of wa ter simply will not work.

The red squirrel, above, is not afraid to challenge its larger cousins. Flying squirrels, right, are nocturnal. The melanistic gray squirrel, opposite page, is also common in the Upper Peninsula.

“The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men Gang aft agley, An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, For promis’d joy!”

—Robert Burns

The eastern deer mouse is one of the more common mice in the Up per Peninsula and has some amazing powers lacking in other mice.

It is an important food for many oth er animals in the northern forest, from short-tailed weasels to barred owls, but it has the ability to go places where other mice don’t go—up in the trees.

They also find their way into home attics and can go into a slowed meta bolic state called torpor when it gets really cold. White-footed mice look so similar to deer mice but may tip the scales with white feet. They are a bit more common.

Meadow jumping mouse is a darn cute cousin in the mouse family and found mostly during forays in the woods. They may turn up as occasion al visitors in buildings in places like the Pictured Rocks.

House mice and the black and brown rats are all introduced to the United States. They are among the best adapted to cohabitation with hu mans. They are comfortable in build ings, eating food of humans and navi gating the ecosystem of town life.

Five different species of squirrels are found in Michigan, with three rel atively common in the Upper Peninsu la. All have enough variables in their food choices and activity patterns to not compete too severely or get in each other’s way—but they still do.

Gray squirrels are probably most familiar as the city park squirrel and one most likely to pilfer the birdseed at the house. Their large nests, called

drays, are easy to spot once the leaves fall, and many people are surprised to see so many living so close.

The red squirrel is smaller, more of a country cousin, but one not deterred by its larger cousin. Red squirrels are more carnivorous and not afraid to challenge larger squirrels.

The fox squirrel, as a southern cousin, is not found in most of the U.P. but is a strikingly handsome large squirrel found nearer the Wisconsin border and southward.

The northern flying squirrel is per haps the most winsome member of the squirrel family with their big eyes for navigating at night and their flaps of skin connecting their front and hind legs, allowing them to glide at an amazing quick pace.

Because they are nocturnal, they are not known well, and many people never see them until they show up in their house. If they are live trapped and set loose, they will amaze with their ability to shoot up a tree at the speed of light.

North American porcupine is an other of the larger rodents in the north woods. Tree trimmers, they are adept at eating the tender tree-tip branches and also the bark of some larger trees, occasionally girdling and killing them.

They also get into trouble when their penchant to chew and their love of salt lead them to chomping on ev erything that has been touched by salty hands—ax handles, outhouse doors and even street signs made of wood and sealed with salty glues.

Their quills have also played an important role in Ojibwe culture. Quills were long used to decorate moccasins, baskets and other belong ings giving an amazingly beautiful appearance.

Eastern woodchuck, also known as the groundhog, is another larger ro dent. It seems to be declining in some parts of the Upper Peninsula. A bur rowing animal, they often find a com fortable life close to people, digging homes under outbuildings and other structures. They have found a good life with all the older buildings around parts of Big Bay.

In Marquette some of their burrow ing exposed some valuable old dump ing sites in the city where 100-yearold bottles were revealed.

Two different chipmunks live in the U.P., eastern and least. Very similar in appearance, they can be told apart by their sizes, with the least about an inch smaller.

One of the most familiar of the U.P.’s rodents, eastern chipmunks of fer one of the first signs in spring of winter’s end. They too have learned to live in close proximity to humans and can be a problem with excavations for new dens in lawns and the pilfering of garden vegetables, fruits and bird seed. Even more impressive, in recent years, more and more of them have mastered tree climbing.

Their impact is compounded by their reproductive potential. They are capable of six broods in a summer with six young possible in each litter.

Because they are preyed upon by many animals, their life span averages around 18 months. They do provide a great deal of aeration to the soil with their tunneling and can provide signif icant drainage in some areas to reduce the effects of heavy rains and flooding of residential areas.

The thirteen-lined ground squirrel is a relative newcomer to the northern side of the Upper Peninsula. In Mar quette, they appeared to develop one of the first substantial populations on the north end of the university prac

tice fields off Wright Street.

Since then, they have established themselves near the Dead River and Lakeshore Boulevard, near the Low er Harbor lighthouse and possibly in south Marquette athletic fields. They live a life similar to chipmunks but live in more open, grassier areas.

One final benefit rodents provide for woodland in the Upper Peninsula is their ability to relocate plant seeds. Acorns, maple seeds and even sunflow er seeds are all examples of seeds ro dents like mice and chipmunks collect and store in underground sites. Often they are forgotten, or the owners pass before the seeds can be eaten, leaving them to sprout and colonize new sites.

“When the mouse laughs at the cat, there’s a hole nearby.”

—Nigerian proverb

Often referred to as vermin, ro dents have had their places at many different sites in American and U.P. culture. Like puppies, many noc turnal varieties like mice and flying squirrels have that cute quality going for them. Some, like squirrels, have provided food for humans and nearly all are important parts of the U.P. food chain. Many with their chasing and acrobatic antics are most entertaining to watch on quiet days.

Despite the diminutive size of most, and the invisibility of the night stalkers, they are a significant part of our natural history and our lives and even can cre ate a giggle or two along the way.

MM

Scot Stewart has lived in Marquette long enough to be considered a true Yooper even though he was born in Il linois. He is a teacher and loves to be outdoors photographing and enjoying nature.

Marmota monax is known by two common names: woodchuck and groundhog.

sporting life

What’s the big dill with one of the fastest-growing sports?

Pickleball craze reaches county

By Brad Gischia

An unfamiliar noise has begun creeping up around public tennis courts, even here in the Marquette area. It’s the pock-pockpock of a pickleball, and it’s a sound that is going to be ever more present as the years go by.

Pickleball is one of the fast est-growing sports in the country. Ac cording to usapickleball.org, the sport

was invented by U.S. Representative Joel Pritchard in the mid-’60s using ping-pong paddles, a badminton net and a Wiffle ball.

The game has grown to the point that USA Pickleball’s online map now shows 8,000 locations to play the sport. Six of these sites are in the Mar quette area: the Silver Creek, Sands Township and NMU tennis courts, plus Baraga Gymnasium, the YMCA and Lakeview Arena.

“Sands Township has been spectac ular in supporting pickleball players in the county,” said Barbara Maszlewski, who has been playing pickleball for eight years. “They allowed us to put down lines and had the courts resur faced. I think they’re happy to have their facility being used.”

Those courts, and the rest in the area, are being used constantly, ac cording to Superiorland Pickleball, of which Maszlewski is a member.

“You’ll find pickleball being played every day of the week somewhere,” she said.

Pickleball is often played on a ten nis court with pickleball lines drawn in. The pickleball court size is small er; a standard tennis court is 120 feet by 60 feet, whereas a pickleball court is 44 by 20. The smaller size means there is less running, and the game can get a little more frantic than tennis.

Each game, either singles or dou

The City of Marquette’s Baraga Gymnasium is often filled with the pock-pock-pock of pickleball. (Photo by Tom Buchkoe)

bles, takes about 15 to 20 minutes. It is similar to tennis. The ball must stay inbounds; there can be one bounce per side; serves cannot land in the no-volley zone; and the game ends at 11 points, though the winner must win by at least two.

The cost can vary, as is the case with any sporting equipment, but pad dles can be purchased from around $40 to $250. The ball is similar to a Wiffle ball, but slightly heavier. The paddles are similar to ping-pong pad dles, although slightly larger, and can vary in weight depending on a play er’s skill level.

“It’s a very physical sport if you want it to be,” said Greg McAuliffe, vice president of Superiorland Pick leball. “I retired from Pepsi. It was a very physical job, and I was a little worried about being able to keep in shape and stay busy. Pickleball solved both of those problems for me.”

The health benefits of playing pickleball can be substantial. “Pick leball is considered low impact. Like any sport, it depends on what level you’re playing at,” said Maureen McFadden, senior services manager for the City of Marquette. “It’s very helpful with both arthritis and Par kinson’s disease. With Parkinson’s specifically, it helps with mind-body coordination.”

Before joining the city’s staff, Mc Fadden worked for Superior Alliance for Independent Living as the recre ation specialist for people with dis abilities.

“With Parkinson’s, there are mes sages that your brain is trying to send and that are getting interrupted before they get to where they’re going,” she said. “Pickleball draws your focus to a specific place. It teaches the path ways in your brain to be able to adapt and focus on something different. It teaches your brain to create adaptable pathways.”

Maszlewski added that it’s a sport anyone can play and enjoy. “I picked

it up after I retired,” she said. “There was a guy doing an Intro to Pickle ball clinic in the middle of winter, and then I joined the Superiorland group. … It’s a very social sport. A lot of people play in their driveway, and

it’s easy to get four people together to play a game.”

Maszlewski said people of all ages play, from teens to individuals in their 80s. “It’s not something that’s specific to any one age group,” she said.

The sport is growing quickly, both nationally and locally. McAuliffe has seen that happen over the five years he’s been active in the Superiorland Pickleball group.

“When I started coming to play, I knew one person out of the 35 that were there,” he said. “Now I know those 35 and many more. It’s growing every year. It’s crazy. I’ve been going to Baraga Gym; there are more and more people that I haven’t met.”

Superiorland Pickleball current ly has 163 members. The $20 annu al membership fee gives participants access to equipment on hand at the Sands courts.

“It used to be that pickleball was played by older folks,” Maszlewski said. “It’s a sport that is easy on the joints, easier than tennis, but there’s a lot of crossover between tennis, rac quetball and ping-pong, and now it’s being taught in schools.”

That popularity has not gone unno ticed by people who can afford such things. Professional athletes Tom Brady, Drew Brees and LeBron James have all recently bought into pickle ball teams, but it hasn’t quite trans ferred to the point where there are enough places to play.

“The Baraga Gym is very tight ly scheduled,” Maszlewski said. “They’ve been great to work with.”

One of the challenges facing pick leballers in the Marquette area is a lack of playing surfaces.

“I would like to emphasize great ly that there is a need in the area for more courts,” McAuliffe said. “Pick leball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. We need more

Mary Cassidy, left, enjoys pickleball in the autumn sunshine at the Sands Township courts. Opposite page: Two of the more popular pickleball venues in Marquette County are the Sands courts, top, and the City of Marquette’s Baraga Gymnasium. (Photos by Tom Buchkoe)

outdoor and indoor courts and greater access to those courts. Money is a fac tor, of course, but there are so many communities that are on board. With the amount of people playing, there are always people waiting to play.”

McFadden added: “There are mul tiple outdoor courts in the Marquette area for pickleball players. There are not really very many indoor courts. I often have people ask to play at the Baraga Gym, and unfortunately since this is a senior-center-sponsored pro gram, we can only allow seniors to play here” during designated times.

McFadden said citizens may pri vately rent the Baraga Gym through the Marquette parks and recreation department, but there are not a lot of other indoor options.

No matter the location, it seems there are always people ready to play. “We’ll often have the courts full at Sands and 20 people waiting to play,” Maszlewski said.

McAuliffe echoed those senti ments. “It’s not unusual for there to be 40 or 50 people at Baraga Gym,” he said. “It’s great, but that makes for a lot of people standing around and having to wait.”

He added: “We have open-play dates almost every day of the week out at Sands. We sometimes sched ule times and days to play at differ ent courts around Marquette, and the Baraga Gym is always there when the weather is bad.”

Local enthusiasts play all year, with open-play times usually lasting about three hours. All skill levels are represented in the group, so anyone should feel comfortable getting onto the court. In addition, Superiorland Pickleball holds several tournaments each summer.

“It’s a lot better to play people that are at your skill level,” McAuliffe said. “But often we have the better players stay during the beginner-level

play times so that they can help out if needed.”

The best way to contact the local group is through its Facebook page, Superiorland Pickleball.

MM

Brad Gischia is a writer and artist na tive to Upper Michigan. He has pub lished two children’s books and done illustrations for both comic books and novels.

Displays shine the Christmas spirit on cold, dark nights

locals

Lighting up the holidays

By Brad Gischia

Radio stations and retail stores began proclaiming the start of the Christmas season right around Halloween. For three Mar quette County residents, however, Christmas is on their mind all year long.

Dale Weingartner of Gwinn, Jake Hakala of Negaunee and John Carter of Marquette all have Christmas on the brain year-round, but they hold

off showing their red and green colors until late fall.

They are among the dozens of county residents who set up giant hol iday-light displays in their respective yards to be viewed and enjoyed by anyone who wants to get in the spirit.

Light show in Gwinn

it as a kid in Rock, and my dad did it before that,” he said. “I got all of his decorations, which have since deteri orated and broken down.”

“It turns on when you drive in,” he said. “Each show lasts about five or six minutes and will keep repeating.”

Weingartner

has been putting up decorations at his house since 1978. He thinks his love of decorating comes from his father. “I used to do

Weingartner has upgraded his dis play to a light show in his yard. “You pull into the drive and can park to the right and walk around, or just sit in your car and watch the show,” he said. The LED light display is synced to music, which visitors can hear out side or tune in to on their vehicles’ radio.

Weingartner used to wait until later in the year to put up his decorations but found that when he started earlier everything went more smoothly. “It takes about 70 to 80 hours to set up,” he said. “It was so hard working in the cold; the wires wouldn’t bend right or broke. My fingers froze, or I had to work in the snow. It’s just easier to start earlier.”

Each year Weingartner spends the downtime on repairs or adding to his collection, which he stores at his house. “I had a storage shed,” he said, “but that’s gotten full. So now I’ve started putting things along the walls in the garage.”

The show at 950 E. Girl Scout Lane in Gwinn is officially open around Thanksgiving through Christmas. “One mile from the M-35/County Road 553 intersection, towards Little Lake, there’s a big sign with candy canes on it when the show is ready,” Weingartner said.

The best place to find information is on his Facebook page, Dale’s Light Show. He will sometimes close if the weather is too rainy, but it’s normally activated from about 5:30 to 11 p.m. “The darker it is, the better it is,” he said.

Donations are accepted, and there is a giant candy cane for that purpose. Any donations go toward the repair of items and purchase of new material for the following year.

There’s a secret to Weingartner’s show as well. “Each year is differ ent, but every year I hide a Christmas dragon somewhere in the display,” he said. “So keep an eye out for the drag on.”

Main Street in Negaunee Hakala, of Negaunee, usually be gins his setup around November 1. “I have a big Halloween display that I put up,” he said, “so Christmas has to wait until that’s down.”

He said he had about 250 kids come through at Halloween but expects far more for the Christmas display: “I

can’t even guess how many go by. I see hundreds all month.”

Hakala has been decorating his house and yard at 105 E. Main St. in Negaunee for 10 years. “I’m not sure how I got into it,” he said. “My grand pa decorates and collects things like I do, so that might be where it came from. But we’re not sure yet.”

Wherever the urge originated, Hakala said his Christmas decora tions alone are worth between $5,000 and $10,000. “We used to have a basement,” he said. “Now it’s just a Christmas stockpile down there.”

As for setup, “I work on it every day for a couple of hours,” he said. “It usually takes me a couple of weeks to get it all up.”

No matter how long it takes, Hakala tries to have it finished by Thanksgiv ing. “We usually have it on from 6 to 10 p.m.,” he said. “If it’s really windy, I don’t turn on the big display pieces because they can get damaged.”

Visitors are welcome to drive by or walk up the sidewalk to get a bet ter view of the display. “It’s open to everyone; all are welcome,” Hakala said. “We look forward to getting big ger and better every year.”

To confirm hours of operation, visit his Facebook page, Hakala’s Holiday Decorations.

The Carters’ Christmas-light display, opposite page, is at 1313 N. Vanden boom Ave. in Marquette. (Photo courte sy of John Carter) Jake Hakala’s home, above, is located at 105 E. Main St. in Negaunee. (Photo courtesy of Jake Hakala)

Destination: Vandenboom

Carter, of Marquette, leaves some of his decorations up all year. “Some of the big stuff—Santa’s house, for in stance—are just too big to take down every year,” he said. For the rest of it, he likes to begin setup on October 1.

Carter and his wife, Stacey, do most of the decorating but get some help from friends. “I’ll turn lights on when I’m putting stuff up,” he said, “but it isn’t open until December 1.”

The Carters’ Christmas-light dis play at 1313 N. Vandenboom Ave. in Marquette draws between 5,000 and 6,000 visitors each year, he said. They have been decorating at their Trow bridge Park home since 2009.

“It was a lot smaller in the begin ning,” Carter said. “We just decorat ed the driveway, and it wasn’t really open to the public. In 2010 we made a small circle and opened it up, then added a figure-eight path. A few years after that, we added the bridge that goes over the creek.”

Carter has an outbuilding full of decorations, and the rest has migrated around his property. “I have a family room that’s not really a family room anymore,” he said. “There’s stuff in the rafters, in the playhouse; I probably don’t have enough room. We make a lot of what we put up, but we get do nations as well.” He estimates he owns about 450 plastic display pieces, but they don’t all go out every year.

The Carters’ Christmas spirit is in fectious. Donations of lights show up on their porch throughout the year. One patron has donated candy canes. Last year, NorthIron Church donat ed a bunch of display pieces they’d built and hand-painted—characters from the Island of Misfit Toys in the Rankin/Bass TV special, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Carter was inspired. “We’re making a Misfit Is land this year,” he said.

The yard has its own power sup ply, but it’s the Carters who supply the spirit. “You’re doing this, and it becomes everyone else’s tradition,” he said. “We had one family come through and a little boy asked me if I remembered him from the year be fore. I didn’t, but I asked him to write his name down so I would remember him for the next year.” The boy didn’t return, as far as Carter knew, for sev eral years after that. “Then one year I happened to hear a dad call for the family to get together for a picture, and I remembered the kid. He was huge. It’s crazy.”

Carter’s love of Christmas displays came from a contest he entered when he was first in the service. “I was in the Air Force, and my wife and I were waiting for base housing out in North

Dakota,” he said. “There was a con test where we were living, to get mon ey off of your rent for the best display. I think we put up 10 strings of lights and a deer in the yard and got third place and $75 off of our rent. After we moved on base, the electricity was free and we were only limited by the number of outlets we had.”

Each year after that, the displays got a little bigger. “When I’m putting it out I’m just worried that I won’t get it all done now; it’s just so massive,” he said. “You get different ideas and want to go in other directions, but we just want to be ready by the first [of December].”

The Carters’ lights go on when it gets dark and stay on until around 9:30 or 10 p.m. “I’ll turn the music down as it gets later,” he said, “but as long as people are there I keep the lights on.”

Facebook is the best way to get updated information. Search for The Carters’ Christmas Lights Marquette. Donations are accepted but not neces sary. “It’s not about the money,” Car ter said. “I don’t expect anything.”

Each of these men echoed that sen timent. They’re looking to bring some light into the darkest part of the year, one bulb at a time. MM

Brad Gischia is a writer and artist na tive to Upper Michigan. He has pub lished two children’s books and done illustrations for both comic books and novels.

I HAVE A FAMILY ROOM THAT’S NOT REALLY A FAMILY ROOM ANYMORE. THERE’S STUFF IN THE RAFTERS, IN THE PLAYHOUSE. I PROBABLY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM.

Schools and other groups work to address shortage sporting life

It’s official: More refs are needed

By Michael Murray

The week of December 12 is the kind of moment local bas ketball fans dream about. All 30 high-school teams in Marquette County—girls, boys, varsity, JV and freshmen—will see action in ear ly-season matchups.

Across the county that week, the six high schools will combine to host 23 basketball games, giving coaches, players, parents and other supporters a taste of the year to come.

It’s a schedule that sports fans look forward to—and a scenario that could keep athletic directors up at night. While most observers focus on the action on the court, ADs and other school administrators have another question in mind:

Who is going to officiate all of these games?

In addition to basketball, the scho lastic sports season in winter features bowling, competitive cheer, gym nastics, hockey, skiing, swimming and diving and wrestling. For every sporting event on a school’s calendar, ADs must secure the services of cer tified game officials along with other volunteers, such as public-address an nouncers, clock and scoreboard oper ators and official scorers.

Schools and other sports organiza tions across Michigan have been try ing for years to address the shortage of referees, umpires and other officials.

“It is a struggle,” said Brandon Bruce, the superintendent of the Gwinn Area Community Schools who is a certified referee and former

athletic director and coach. “In many places, there just aren’t enough bodies to cover the games. And if you look at today’s officials, it’s the older gen eration of folks who are doing it. So that’s a concern. We’re trying hard to recruit kids who might be interested. But it’s a tough environment, and you have to really enjoy it.”

Both recruitment and retention of officials are priorities of the Michigan High School Athletic Association and individual school districts.

Bruce said the MHSAA has sur veyed former officials to learn why they have decided not to renew their registration and walked away from the job. The number one reason is likely not surprising to people who have attended games in recent years: verbal abuse by fans.

Referee Brian Maki works a middle-school game between Aspen Ridge and Father Marquette. (Photo by Tom Buchkoe)

“Some fans think that if they pay the $5 admission, it gives them the right to be nasty,” Bruce said. “That’s hard. My experience as an official has been very positive. For the most part, crowds, coaches and teams have been phenomenal. But all it takes is one game, one coach, one fan interaction to sour that.”

Alex Tiseo, athletic director at Marquette Senior High School, add ed: “Unfortunately, some people seem to think it’s a part of the game to be rate and harass officials.”

An aging workforce

Tiseo acknowledged the general shortage of game officials but said Marquette County schools are in bet ter shape than other parts of the state.

“We are fortunate here,” he said.

“The issue is widespread, but we have a pretty concentrated pool of regis tered officials here in the Marquette area. But either end of the U.P., re gardless of sport, there’s some dif ficulty [in finding enough qualified officials].”

Despite the relatively healthy size of the pool of officials who live in Marquette County, Tiseo said it’s imperative for local schools to keep recruiting younger workers—a senti ment echoed by veteran official Char lie Morrison of Marquette.

Morrison is in his 29th year as an MHSAA-registered official. He is certified in basketball, football, soft ball and volleyball and also works at the collegiate level.

“The MHSAA tells us that the average age of registered officials is

Middle-school basketball, like this contest between Aspen Ridge and Father Marquette, is played in the fall. But when the winter sports season arrives, the six high schools in Marquette County will sponsor 30 teams—girls, boys, varsity, JV and freshmen. (Photo by Tom Buchkoe)

52,” he said. “We have some veterans in our area who are in their 50th year. What happens if several guys decide to retire at the same time—or if guys get hurt?”

Morrison faced this situation a few years ago, when two members of his five-man football crew were forced out with injuries. He had to scramble to find replacements.

Ideally, Morrison said, there would be a group of registered officials in each area not attached to a particular crew who could serve as fill-ins when needed—the situation Kurt Corcoran now finds himself in.

For 10 years, Corcoran was a suc cessful girls varsity basketball coach at his alma mater, Westwood High School. As his own children got old er and became involved in sports, he stepped down from coaching.

At the same time, however, he recognized that the school where he teaches, Aspen Ridge Middle School, needed game officials. So he regis tered as a basketball referee. He has

worked games up to the varsity level.

“I’m not part of a crew, and I don’t want to be on a crew,” he said. “The whole reason I quit coaching was to watch my kids play. I’m not going to miss that now. I’m not planning on reffing three nights a week, but I’m willing to fill in for guys when an AD is scrambling.”

Solving the problem

Local schools have been forced to think creatively about the refer ee shortage. One solution involves scheduling.

For years, varsity football games in the area were reserved for Friday nights. But, Morrison asked, what if there’s a perfect storm and four of the county schools have a home game on the same Friday? Are there are enough crews to provide coverage?

In those cases, one or two of the schools could move their games, one to Thursday night and another to Sat urday afternoon.

Morrison also said local ADs need

In high-school football, officiating crews typically have five members: referee, umpire, head linesman, line judge and back judge. (Photo by Tom Buchkoe)

MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE. ... BUT ALL IT TAKES IS ONE INTERACTION TO SOUR THAT.

to work together to avoid scheduling home tournaments on the same week end.

But all of the involved parties re alize the most sustainable answer is to recruit and keep younger officials.

The MHSAA created the Legacy Program, which encourages highschool students to get involved and puts them to work in controlled en vironments partnered with veteran officials.

Bruce, the Gwinn superintendent, was approached by Matt Tuccini of Marquette County Youth Football to help train current high-school stu dents and recent graduates to serve as officials.

“We get together and go over me

chanics, fundamentals, talk about game situations,” Bruce said. “Even if two or three of these kids come out of it and decide to get registered with the MHSAA and give it a shot, it’s worth it.”

Morrison said he is encouraged by the fact that Northern Michigan Uni versity is offering a course in athletic officiating, PE 330, taught by a veter an official in the area, Mark Dellan gelo.

Morrison also suggests that anyone interested in officiating should find a mentor, which was invaluable in his own development as a referee.

Bruce said the MHSAA is doing its part as well by waiving the $70 regis tration fee for first-year officials.

“These kids deserve the opportu nity to play the sports they love,” he said. “Officiating is a great way to stay involved in sports.”

Tiseo said he is willing to talk with anyone who is considering becoming a registered official.

“For new officials, it can seem daunting,” he said. “But we work hard to make sure they’re comfort able and help bring them along at the right pace. We might have them watch a few games first and won’t put them out there until they’re ready.”

MM

Michael Murray, a writer and editor in Marquette, has covered Upper Pen insula sports for more than 25 years.

Marquette’s Hamari works MLB playoffs

The vast majority of game of ficials are content working at the scholastic and recre ational levels, but sometimes that exposure gives them a desire to move up the ladder.

That was the story for Mar quette native Adam Hamari, who began umping local Little League Baseball games when he was still a student at Marquette Senior High School.

After graduating from Northern Michigan University with a degree in mathematics education, he de cided to pursue a career as a pro fessional baseball umpire.

Hamari, 39, worked his way up through the minor leagues and became a full-time Major League Baseball ump in 2017 after split ting time for several years between the majors and minors.

In late October this year, Hamari was on the umpiring crew for the National League Championship Series between the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies. He was the home-plate umpire in Game 4 of the NLCS, which the Phillies won 10-6.

Earlier in the postseason, Hamari worked a Wild Card Se ries between Cleveland and Tam pa Bay. He was behind the plate in Game 2 of that series, which Cleveland won in 15 innings.

His first postseason exposure came in 2019, when he was as signed to the AL Wild Card game. He worked the same game the fol lowing season.

MM

A crew officiates a high-school football playoff game between Menominee and Negaunee. (Photo by Tom Buchkoe)

lookout point

Keweenaw programs serve all ages

Community-minded Christmas traditions

By Kathy Ihde

The holidays can be difficult for families, especially those without the resources to buy Christmas gifts for their children. For such families affected by poverty in Keweenaw County, a local superhero and his merry band of elves give back to area kids each Christmas.

“No Kid Without a Christmas is a unique program specific to our area,” Keweenaw County Sheriff Curt Pen nala said. “This is our 24th year mak ing Christmas happen for underprivi leged kids.”

No Kid Without a Christmas start ed in 1998 under Ron Lahti, Keween

aw County sheriff at the time. Lahti served in that role for 24 years, at a time when community-oriented polic ing bridged the gap between law en forcement and local communities.

Lahti retired in 2016, passing the torch to Sheriff Bill Luokkanen, who then passed the reins to Pennala. Ke weenaw County sheriff since 2020, the Wolverine native carries on La hti’s holiday legacy.

“Keweenaw County is different,” Pennala said. “We’re more communi ty-minded up here.”

Once December arrives, Pennala and his deputies become Christmas elves, fanning out across the county with festive holiday packages.

Keweenaw County Sheriff Curt Pennala has continued his office’s tradition of helping to provide underprivileged children in the county with Christmas gifts. (Photo courtesy of the Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office)

“We get so much joy out of that day,” Pennala said. “When Ron start ed this, five to 10 kids were part of the program. He got donations and shopped for the kids, wrapped the gifts and delivered them just before Christmas.”

The Sheriff’s Office receives dona tions throughout the year and serves between 100 and 110 children in Ke weenaw County. These days, refer rals come through the Department of Health and Human Services. People on aid qualify for the program, and referrals from the community are wel comed.

“Once we hit November, we’re kicking it in,” Pennala said. “We’re doing publicity and fundraising. We run through Christmas right to the end of the year.

“As the program evolved, we dis cussed expanding beyond Keweenaw County and decided to keep it person al to our county. Unfortunately, we had to set boundaries, but this gives kids in our area a better experience.”

He continued: “We take donations of toys and clothing, but one of our biggest needs is monetary donations. In the early part of December, we get our list of families. Parents have their children write down what they want for Christmas, and we shop for the items the children ask for. We fulfill their wishes.”

Fundraising is ongoing, and Pen nala said regular donors come back every year. The program typically raises between $20,000 and $30,000 annually.

One consistent fundraiser is Cop per Harbor’s Christmas in July bake sale. Pennala said events like this are the match that lights everything.

New toys can be donated at Aspirus Keweenaw’s drop box and other loca tions around the county.

“It’s such a special program for us,” Pennala said. “It works great for younger kids, but older kids can be tough to shop for. They’re more spe cific on their want lists. That’s where monetary donations come in. If a 14or 15-year-old wants something spe cial, we’re able to give it to them. We couldn’t do that without our donors.

“There are times when people ask, ‘Do you really have to go all out on this kid?’ I let them know it may be the only time that child gets a gift for Christmas.”

Shortly before Christmas break, Pennala and his elves head out into the county, delivering gifts.

“We break down each family by boy/girl/age and shop specifically for them,” he said. “Everything comes back to the Sheriff’s Department. The CLK Rotary Club helps us out.

We pull off tags and put the toys in black plastic bags; their parents wrap the gifts.”

The kids don’t have any idea that their gifts are coming from the pro gram. “My entire staff loves doing this,” Pennala said. “My own kids are blessed; these kids don’t have what my kids do. If we can give them that unique experience, let’s do it.”

Families in need can call the Sher iff’s Office or apply through the local Department of Health and Human Services office. If you would like to donate to the program, call the Sher iff’s Office at (906)337-0528.

Cookies for the cause B

onnie Harrer was intimately in volved with No Kid Without a Christmas early on. In 1991, she moved with her husband and son to the Keweenaw and bought the bakery in Copper Harbor.

“Sheriff Ron Lahti and I were good friends,” Harrer said. “He would come to the bakery to check on us, and he told me about No Kid Without a Christmas. Immediately, I wanted to help. He said, ‘There’s nothing you can do; we’re a well-oiled machine. What I really need is money!’ I said, ‘I can do money,’ and I started bak

ing. Every year, we made about 3,000 cookies, and the proceeds went to No Kid Without a Christmas.”

Harrer has fond memories of her participation in the program.

“One year, I was asked to orga nize a bake sale in the Community Center for Winter Wonder Fest,” she said. “We ‘sold’ tables to our artisans and crafters, decorated for Christmas and had a ‘Luncheon with Santa.’ All the proceeds went to No Kid Without a Christmas We did that for several years.”

One year, Harrer said, there were issues at the Community Center. Peggy Kauppi offered the use of The Mariner for Winter Wonder Fest. “It was so brightly lit that we decided to keep the event there,” Harrer said.

“Another year, a benefactor ap proached me and said, ‘I want you to sell out. I want to buy everything that’s left, and I want you to get rid of it.’ We did that for several years. We’d sell out, and we’d get a big check for No Kid Without a Christmas.”

The 2022 Winter Wonder Fest re turns to The Mariner in Copper Har bor on Saturday, December 17, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It includes a bake sale, ornament making, local artists and craftspeople and a special visit

Some Keweenaw County residents support their sheriff’s No Kid Without a Christmas program by organizing their own fundraisers. For years, Bonnie Harrer baked and sold cookies to benefit the cause. (Photo courtesy of Kathy Ihde)

More giving and volunteering opportunities in the Keweenaw

Copper Country Angel Mission

433 Fifth St., Calumet

Copper Country Angel Mission knows their strength lies not only in the words they stand by but through the actions of their initiatives.

More than 20 years ago, a small group of likeminded individuals re alized that by working together they could efficiently and effectively help to overcome the local effects of pov erty.

CCAM promotes community welfare by serving those in need with compassion and dignity.

They offer:

A free store (open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday): CCAM welcomes donations of clothing and household goods that are in good condition for reuse.

They do not accept large electronics. Shoppers of all income levels select free goods and leave a monetary do nation (if they’re able). The Angel Mission depends on the generosity of donors and sponsors, each con tributing what they can to keep the store open.

A food pantry: CCAM helps to feed people in the area through a food pantry. They purchase food to stock the pantry and receive gifts of food from local restaurants, individ uals and businesses.

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program Chassell

Contact: Jim Mattson, (906)3375068 chassell.mi@toysfortots.org

The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program is to collect new, unwrapped toys in October, November and December each year and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less-fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

Copper Country Humane Society

501 Nara Park Rd., Houghton (906)487-9560

The Copper Country Humane So ciety was founded in 1974 to provide foster homes for lost and abused an imals. In 1992, the Keweenaw Ani mal Alliance was opened as the first animal shelter in the area. In 1994, the CCHS and the KAA combined resources, forming one organization to better serve the community and

animals.

In the beginning, less than 100 animals were cared for at the shel ter annually, but CCHS has quickly grown and now cares for about 900 cats and dogs each year.

The CCHS is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization that is dedicated to the welfare and humane treatment of animals.

CCHS provides services for Ke weenaw, Baraga and Houghton Counties, plus the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.

One hundred percent of the mon ey needed for vet care, spaying/neu tering and medical needs for the 900 animals CCHS cares for annually is raised through monthly fundraising events and private donations.

—By Kathy Ihde

from Santa Claus.

All proceeds go to No Kid Without a Christmas. Fireworks follow in the Donny Kilpela Memorial Park. A hot cocoa bar will be available in the park before and after the fireworks.

Friends of the elderly

For seniors, isolation comes with growing older. The Hancock chap ter of Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, or LBFE, extends a helping hand to those who experience loneli ness.

Serving five counties in the Up per Peninsula—Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, Marquette and Ontona gon—LBFE supplies programs and services to keep seniors engaged in their community, prevent loneliness and offer opportunities to keep their independence.

According to development director Carol Korpela, LBFE, based in Han cock, is celebrating its 40th anniver sary. An international organization, LBFE began its mission in France in 1946 following World War II.

“We’re in 10 countries with five lo cations in the United States,” Korpela said. “We have locations in Boston, Cincinnati, Chicago, San Francisco and Hancock. We’re the only rural chapter.”

LBFE serves people aged 60 and older who have a small or no social network.

“Our main purpose is to offer friendship and visits to lonely, isolated elders,” Korpela said. “We visit them in their homes twice a month, wheth

er they’re living in their own home, a nursing home or an apartment com plex. Just because they’re surrounded by people doesn’t mean they’re not lonely ”

The organization’s signature pro gram is Friendly Visiting.

“Once they become what we re fer to as our Elderly Forever Friends, they’re added to that program,” Kor pela said. “We make a commitment to be with them through their lifetimes.”

Other core programs include holi day dinners, social activities and par ties, food assistance, medical trans

portation, medical aid equipment and firewood.

“We celebrate special milestones, like birthdays and traditional hol idays, and provide sit-down cele brations serving traditional holiday meals,” Korpela said. “For Thanks giving and Christmas, we have turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and traditional sides.”

During the coronavirus pandemic, LBFE had to transition to meal deliv eries only. The group is just now re suming in-person parties in Hancock.

Because they worked with the most

Bags full of Christmas gifts await de livery throughout Keweenaw Coun ty. (Photo courtesy of the Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office)

vulnerable population during the pan demic, Korpela and the staff took spe cial precautions to make sure their El derly Forever Friends were safe. Staff were encouraged to wear masks and practice physical distancing. Some staff members used clear masks so those who were hard of hearing could read their lips.

Throughout December, staff and volunteers pack and deliver 200 boxes of food, including 18 traditional, non perishable food items to their Elderly Forever Friends. A holiday greeting card is tucked into every box.

“We have a Christmas Giving Tree program for our Elderly Forev er Friends,” Korpela said. “They give us gift suggestions, and we work with our local churches who provide those gifts. Our dedicated volunteers deliv er those gifts throughout December.”

There are volunteer opportunities available at LBFE, located at 527 Hancock St. in Hancock. Call them at (906)482-6944 or check out their website at houghton.littlebrothers.org. MM

Copper Harbor writer Kathy Ihde co ordinates Performances in the Park with her husband, Jeff, on Thursday summer evenings. Next season, each Thursday in July, the Ihdes will be collecting donations for No Kid With out a Christmas.

back then Boyum was a driving force in keeping U.S. Ski Hall in area

A titan in Ishpeming’s civic landscape

By Sonny Longtine

Never, never, never give up!” Winston Churchill, two-time prime minister of the United Kingdom, is well remembered for this famous quotation. Even though the exact phrase is disputed, the belea guered English people found inspira tion in their leader’s fortitude during the dark days of World War II.

Churchill’s sentiment also resonat ed across the Atlantic, where it became a mantra for Ishpeming resident Bur ton H. “Burt” Boyum. A geologist for Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company and a civic dynamo, Boyum never gave up. His tenacity helped forge a string of community successes that benefited not only Ishpeming but the entire Up per Peninsula—perhaps most notably the preservation of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.

Boyum was born in Minneapolis in 1919 of Norwegian, English, Scottish, Irish and German descent. At John Marshall High School he was a schol ar who graduated as the class vale dictorian. He continued his success ful academic career at the Minnesota School of Mines, where he graduated with distinction.

While going to school, Boyum was smitten by a vivacious Minneapolis resident named Joanne Montgomery. They courted for several years and were married in 1942.

Joanne had a twin sister, and they delighted in playing twin pranks on friends. But as far as it is known, Boyum never embarrassed himself by approaching the wrong sibling with romantic utterances. Their marriage produced three children: Judy, Janet and Bruce.

Boyum was a lifelong employee of the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company. He began his career with CCI in 1941 and retired in 1982. Trained as a ge ologist, he spent his first years at CCI mapping iron locations in the Upper Peninsula and elsewhere in the Mid west.

CCI quickly recognized Boyum’s geologic skill and sent him on iron ex plorations in the late 1940s and 1950s to Venezuela, Australia, Brazil and Canada. Boyum loved visiting for eign countries, but at times he did find

hardship. On one occasion, he said, “there was a three-month period when we slept in hammocks strung between trees with mosquito nets around us.”

In spite of the occasional adversity, Boyum found worldwide travel to be exciting.

In 1965, he was promoted to manager of CCI’s Sherman Mine in Temagami, Ontario, and in 1970 he

became general manager of construc tion and operations for CCI’s Robe River project in Western Australia.

In 1973, after years of international travel, Boyum returned to the United States and settled in Ishpeming, where he became director of administrative affairs for CCI. Although he was an enthusiastic traveler, he was delight ed to return to his native soil. “I loved

traveling,” he said, “but I began to miss the United States.”

Boyum’s civic accomplishments in the U.P. were many. He was a member of the board that secured an Olympic training site at Northern Michigan University; chairman of the National Ski Hall of Fame and Museum (now known as the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame); vice president of the Carp River Forge project; cofounder of the Quincy Mine Association; and member of Save the Historic Mather Inn Committee.

In addition, he was on the board of the Michigan Mining Museum and was active in the Boy Scouts of Amer ica.

Of all Boyum’s civic accomplish ments, perhaps the most defining mo ment was the construction of the cur rent Ski Hall of Fame and Museum in Ishpeming, a town that prides itself on being the birthplace of organized ski ing in the United States.

The National Ski Association was formed in Ishpeming in 1905, and a hall of fame opened in 1954. But as the years passed, some voices in the U.S. ski community wanted to move the hall to a less-remote location. Boyum stepped in and saved the day.

“If it were not for [Boyum’s] deter mination and fortitude, the Ski Hall of Fame would not be located in Ishpem ing,” said Ray Leverton, a friend and civic colleague.

Boyum, Leverton said, eloquently argued in favor of keeping the hall in Ishpeming. The U.S. Ski Association (USSA) eventually agreed, and the current hall opened on U.S. 41 in Ish peming in 1992.

Leverton recalled with fondness the occasions when Boyum was a speaker at USSA meetings and how he frequently prefaced his remarks with Eino and Toivo jokes. Associa tion members delighted in Boyum’s whimsical sense of humor and his thoughtful comments on the direction of the group. The organization hon ored Boyum with the Julius Blegen Award in 1955 as its outstanding member of the year.

Boyum never wasted a minute; time was of the essence to him. He was constantly writing on a notepad that he carried, either jotting down the

Burt Boyum was a geologist who traveled the globe for Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Com pany. He acquired his horseback-riding skills in South America. (Photo courtesy of Judy Parlato)

minutes of the last meeting he had at tended or penning a solution to a com mittee problem. Leverton said, “One of Burt’s greatest strengths was that he was an idea man.”

Boyum was also a popular choice to serve as master of ceremonies for local events. He charmed audiences with his affable manner and sense of humor, but he could also deliver a vi tal message.

Among his many publications, Boyum was most proud of The Mighty Mather, a 90-page volume from 1980 that details the history of the last un derground mine in Marquette County. The book is extensively illustrated and was designed both as a memorial to the Mather Mine and a declaration of the end of underground mining in the Lake Superior region.

Inquisitive about nearly any sub ject, Boyum was constantly absorb ing new and exciting information, including languages. He was fluent in German, Spanish, French and English while also achieving some mastery of Norwegian, Italian and Portuguese.

Boyum’s daughter Judy Parlato,

who resides in Gwinn with her hus band, Terry, recalled with delight her 16th birthday party. “Dad entered the party room dressed as a maitre d’ for the affair,” she said. “He then served us dinner while speaking in French.”

Judy’s girlfriends, having just com pleted a high school French course, were enthralled by her dad’s cre ative entertainment. This was typical Boyum. He never walked into a room; he exploded into it with unbridled flamboyance.

On one occasion, after Boyum had received yet another local award, Jo anne Boyum said to her husband: “You’re getting a little puffed up, Burt. I miss your humbleness.” Jo anne had a way of grounding the ef fervescent Boyum whenever she felt he had become too much for himself. She never had any misgivings about his talent and drive, however, and frequently told him, “Someday, Burt, you will be president.” Her devotion to him was lifelong and unwavering.

In spite of his consummate skill in organizing and funding civic projects, he never paid close attention to his

Two of Burt Boyum’s favored civic causes in Ishpeming were the preservation of the Mather Inn, above, and the construction of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. (Photos courtesy of Sonny Longtine)

own finances. He was always handing out personal checks to needy individ uals or organizations, and when doing so, he gave little consideration to his own solvency.

Boyum suffered a paralyzing stroke in 1999. The disability bound him to a wheelchair, and his speech deteriorated. Yet he retained the abili ty to understand what was said to him by friends and children who made fre quent visits to his living facility. His expressive eyes still lighted up when visitors came and regaled him with heartwarming stories.

On occasion, his daughter Judy took him to her home for a Sunday afternoon outing. He thoroughly en joyed the visits; however, when the clatter of too much talk became tire some, Boyum would signal to Judy that it was time for his Manhattan. He

was allowed one.

Joanne Boyum died in 2001 at the age of 83. Burt died at the age of 86 in March 2005 while a resident of the Eastwood Nursing Home in Negaunee.

Humanitarian, community leader, gracious and smart—all are words that describe Burt Boyum, an Ishpem ing resident who left a legacy of civic activism. His verve not only enriched his adopted hometown but also in spired others to participate in building a better community.

MM

Sonny Longtine is a Marquette res ident who has published eight books about the Upper Peninsula. He taught American history and government in Michigan schools for more than three decades.

The gregarious Burt Boyum, right, was at ease with everyone—including Michigan Governor George Romney here at Suicide Hill. (Photo courtesy of Judy Par lato)

in the outdoors

Ski hills across U.P. prepare for season

ski hills and resorts in the central and western Upper Peninsula:

Marquette Mountain Resort

By Michael Murray

With the calendar flipping to December and snow on the ground, downhill skiers are posing their annual question: How long until we can get on the slopes?

As is the case every year, the an swer depends on the weather. Among the factors ski-area managers have to consider: How much snow has fallen? And have we reached the right formu la involving temperature and humidi ty to start making snow?

Here’s a roundup of news from

Marquette Mountain is in the final stages of a multi-million-dollar investment that features, among other things, a state-of-the-art snowmaking infrastructure. The upgrades include installation of 4,800 feet of water pipe, 5,000 feet of power cables, hy drants and nine permanent fan gun towers that can be operated and moni tored remotely.

“With the right weather condi tions,” general manager Kaet John son said, “the new snowmaking in frastructure allows us to supply great coverage with premium skiing snow to several of our popular premier slopes—Cliff’s Ridge and Rocket runs—that are open to the public and also used for competition racing and training.”

The upgrades will allow the resort

A downhill skier at Mont Ripley in Hancock takes advantage of one of the Upper Peninsula’s natural assets—snow. (Photo courtesy of Mont Ripley Ski Area)

Some resorts already open; others welcome visitors soon

to open its ski runs earlier with im proved powder quality and coverage.

Marquette Mountain is projecting to open on December 3, according to its Facebook page. Visit marquettemoun tain.com for updated information.

Gladstone ski hill

TheCity of Gladstone operates a ski hill off M-35 and North Bluff Drive. Jason Davis, Gladstone’s di rector of parks and recreation, said the hill offers beginner and intermediate skiing, three tube runs and a snow board terrain park with a halfpipe.

Davis said the target for opening is December 23. The season will wrap up around mid-March.

One of the popular features at the hill is an after-school program. With the purchase of a daily lift ticket, school-age children have free use of equipment for two weeks.

“Most parents don’t want to spend money on equipment up front,” he said. “This gives kids time to learn to ski or snowboard and decide if they like it before they have to buy any thing.”

The hill is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 4 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Visit gladstonemi.org for updat ed information, including fee sched ules and details on booking the hill for private events.

Hiawatha Slopes

New owner for Big Snow

Rock

River Township in Alg er County operates Hiawatha Slopes, a small hill on Samuelson Road in Chatham. This is another great option for beginners who are in terested in trying out the sport without a large initial investment.

Hiawatha’s season is dependent on snowfall, but once the hill is ready it will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednes day, 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. More information is available at rockrivertownship.org.

Mont Ripley Ski Area

MontRipley in Hancock is owned and operated by Michigan Tech nological University.

General manager Nick Sirdenis said his best guess for an opening is the weekend of December 10 and 11. They would shut down midweek for snowmaking and then open daily on December 17.

“Opening is up to Mother Nature,” Sirdenis said. “It usually takes nine million gallons to open our first trail top to bottom, side to side.”

He said they began snowmaking on November 12, their earliest-ever start date.

He added, “Mont Ripley is in the snowiest city in the Midwest, accord ing to the Weather Channel, and thus the conditions can’t be beat.”

Over the summer, Big Snow Re sort in Gogebic County was pur chased by Charles Skinner, owner of Granite Peak, the largest ski area in Wisconsin, and Lutsen Mountains, the largest ski resort in Minnesota.

Big Snow—with its two separate ski areas, Blackjack Mountain and Indianhead Mountain—has been rebranded as Snowriver Mountain Resort. Blackjack is now known as Black River Basin, and Indianhead is now Jackson Creek Summit.

Holiday and weekend hours were set to begin around Thanksgiving, and daily operations are scheduled to open on December 16.

Other hills and resorts

Ski Brule in Iron River opened on November 19. Porcupine Moun tains Winter Sports Complex in Ontonagon, operated by the State of Michigan, is targeted to open in mid-December.

Big Powderhorn in Bessemer start ed snowmaking in November. They have not set an opening date, nor have Mount Bohemia in Lac La Belle or Pine Mountain in Iron Mountain. MM

Michael Murray, a writer and editor in Marquette, has covered Upper Pen insula sports for more than 25 years.

Mont Ripley, the oldest ski area in Michigan, offers dramatic views overlooking the Keweenaw Waterway. (Photo courtesy of Mont Ripley Ski Area)

back then

Laurium native gave away millions

time he gave away modest amounts, hoping that his money would last until he expired. He was aware that hearses have no luggage racks.

By Sonny Longtine

Many people struggle through life trying to make ends meet. It’s often a constant battle making mortgage payments, car payments, alimony payments and hoping, just hoping, to have enough left over to go out for a fish fry on Fri day night.

This was not the case for Laurium native Percy Ross. He was born into poverty, but by the time he died in 2001 he had made millions, lost mil lions and given away millions.

Ross was born in 1916 to immi grant parents in the thriving U.P. community of Laurium. Copper min ing was booming in the Keweenaw Peninsula at the time, but his family missed out on the boom.

His father was an immigrant from Latvia, and his mother was from Rus sia. The senior Ross was always try ing to find a job that would allow him to decently support his family; almost all attempts failed.

Finally, he had some success as a peddler of scrap metal. Percy Ross said of his youth during the Depres sion years, “My father was a junk dealer, and we were on the wrong side of the tracks.”

While attending high school in Calumet during the 1930s, Ross was resourceful. His entrepreneurial skills blossomed when he started his own part-time business, rebuilding junk batteries.

After graduating from high school in 1938, Ross moved to Duluth, Min nesota, where he met his future wife, Laurian. The union would produce two children, Steven and Larry.

In Duluth, at the age of 23, the en terprising Ross entered into his first business venture: the United Hide and Fur Company. Ross was highly suc cessful in the muskrat pelt business and eventually made millions. To en hance his lucrative business he relo cated it to New York City, the trade

capital of the world. The move proved to be his undoing, and he lost his for tune.

Never a quitter, Ross then launched a career in auctioning construction equipment and surplus war materials. As in his previous business venture, he made millions only to go bust in 1958.

Undaunted by another business failure, he borrowed $30,000 and bought a small plastic bag company in Wisconsin called Poly-Tech Corpora tion. The company pioneered the use of recycled plastic and produced the Tuffy garbage bag line.

Although the company had some financial ups and downs, in 1969 Ross sold it for $8 million. He split the profits four ways among himself, his wife and their two sons.

Ross invested his share in 100 dif ferent companies. Most of his invest ments ended up being disasters, but several paid off handsomely. Ross would not divulge which investments made money, but he parlayed the $2 million into $20 million.

Ross, now sitting on millions, em barked on a 30-year crusade of playing year-round Santa Claus, dispensing his wealth to those in need. Most of the

Prior to 1983, Ross gave away money and gifts randomly. In 1977 he held a party for 1,050 underpriv ileged children in Minneapolis. At the gala event, he surprised everyone when he opened the stage curtains and revealed 1,050 glittering new bikes— one for each child at the event.

In 1978 he tossed out 16,500 silver dollars to throngs of cheering chil dren during a parade in Minneapolis. Dispensing silver dollars became his trademark, and he continued to do it at many events. He was a showman extraordinaire.

Of all the charitable acts Ross per formed, the Christmas bash received the most attention. The ailing former Vice President Hubert Humphrey, near death, called and congratulated Ross on his philanthropy.

Their conversation spawned the idea that syndicating his generosity in newspapers might be a better way to expose Ross’s desire to share his wealth.

Ross became syndicated in 1983, and his column eventually was pub lished in about 800 newspapers across the nation. Many dailies were skepti cal and refused to publish his “Thanks a Million” column, including his hometown paper, the Star Tribune They thought he would tire of the project and his money would run out.

Disposing of his wealth was no small task after his column was syn dicated. A staff of 18 reviewed 8,000 weekly requests for money. Their job was to sort out the legitimate requests from those that were either foolish or scams.

Of the 8,000 requests, 200 would receive money, usually less than $1,000, but only four to six requests would be printed in his column.

Typical examples of the requests that earned Ross’s money:

A woman fighting cancer requested money for a prosthesis.

A women’s sewing circle requested fabric to make lap robes for their local nursing home.

A cook at a soup kitchen in Seat tle received a supermarket gift certif icate, enough to feed the hungry for three months.

From humble beginnings, Ross achieved great success

Illustration by Judith (Suvanto) Greene

Among the requests he turned down: a gambler who asked for $2,300 to pay off his bookie so he wouldn’t need a wheelchair.

Ross was not without his critics. He received scathing editorial comments from a number of them, many from the Star Tribune. Detractors cited his flamboyant self-promotion as nothing more than grandstanding.

In Minneapolis he is more known for his bankruptcies than for his gen erosity. One of his harshest critics was Robert T. Smith, a columnist for the Star Tribune. Smith said: “Take the stunt when he threw the silver dol lars out of the car during a parade. Not since Marie Antoinette said, ‘Let them eat cake’ has anyone been so in sensitive.”

Ross never let the critics bother him. He took pride in a warehouse full of thank-you notes that he kept and had neatly filed. To Ross it was a paper shrine that embodied his legacy.

Ross never forgot his Upper Pen insula roots. He regularly attended his high school reunions in Calumet. At one gathering he gave a Calumet woman a Cadillac as a door prize. Former neighbor Jack Foster said, “His diligence and desire to rise out of poverty motivated him to work hard.”

Ross’s Midas touch reached the Upper Peninsula in 1998 when he got wind of a Marquette volunteer board attempting to solicit money to build a new $3.5 million YMCA. When fund raising slowed down, Ross went to his reading audience and asked them to

send $1 each to help build the facility.

His loyal readers magnanimously responded; the result was a $50,000 infusion. In addition, Ross wrote a per sonal check to the “Y” that brought the amount to $75,000. Mary Dowling, a committee member at the time, said of Ross’s effort to help the Marquette YMCA, “It was just incredible.”

Ross closed up his philanthropy shop at age 82. Just prior to his death two years later in 2001, Ross said, “I fully expected my health to go long be fore my wealth.” According to his obit uary in the New York Times, he claimed to have given away $30 million.

Many philanthropists prefer ano nymity and quietly donate with little fanfare. They view their charitable giving as something private and con sider a public announcement of their donations to be in poor taste.

Anonymity was not in Ross’s vo cabulary. He loved the spotlight and the glowing accolades that accompa nied his many charitable gestures.

His penchant for the cameras and press that publicized his handouts made him unattractive to many. Ross was, however, a knight in shining ar mor to thousands who benefited from one of his charitable acts. MM

Sonny Longtine is a Marquette res ident who has published eight books about the Upper Peninsula. He taught American history and government in Michigan schools for more than three decades.

Percy Ross invited the readers of his syndicated column to donate to the Marquette YMCA. They gave $50,000, and he sent a check for $25,000. (Photo courte sy of Sonny Longtine)

Angels, Where are You?

By Miriam Taylor

I arose early one morning Angels all around me

Glowing peace, shining love Guarding me with their shields While soaring through the golden sky! Patiently waiting for a cry Angels high, angels low Observing my every move

When danger is nearAngels where are you now? Are you near, are you far? Where are you?

I feel all alone in the dark Stormy night

Soon everything was calm They are by my side

Taking charge over me giving me shelter from the storm peace is here in this heart of mine And love abides there, too It shines like a star in the sky shines boldly from my heart with radiance and joy May angels take charge over you

Giving you peace, granting you love May they guard you, shield you Keep you safe I pray But will you open up your heart? Will you give Him charge over you? Angels there when you call To guard, to love, to give you shelter To help you all the year through

Miriam Taylor (Black) was born to American parents in Weston-Super Mare, Somerset, England, in 1985. She attended St. John’s Academy and resided in En gland until 2004. A lifelong humanitarian, Miriam has done volunteer work for organizations such as Superior Alliance for Independent Living, Clubhouse International and National Alliance on Mental Ill ness. She is the author of A Declaration of Love, pub lished in England in 2003, and her poems and essays have appeared in various independent publications and newsletters in both the U.S. and U.K.

The Marquette Poets Circle is very thankful for the support of Marquette Monthly with respect to its fiveyear anthology Maiden Voyage

The 10-year anthology, Superior Voyage, is available for purchase.

superior reads

Forgotten history

Review by Victor R. Volkman

Mikel Classen’s latest histor ical book, True Tales: The Forgotten History of Michi gan’s Upper Peninsula, blazes a new trail across a very old territory. Spe cifically, Classen eschews the typical approach seen in contemporary times of rehashing summaries of events an thologized by other authors.

Instead, Classen goes to original sources to pull riveting firsthand ac counts of events as they happened. He does this primarily by pulling from historical newspapers and memoirs whenever possible. You won’t find any secondhand scholarship here. The effect is to make the reader feel like

events of more than a hundred years ago are unfolding in real time.

For example, in the retelling of the founding of Marquette, he goes direct ly to the earliest published accounts of city father Peter White in his own words. The text is also made more ac cessible to the modern reader by the painstaking inclusion of more than 50 historical photographs and woodcuts.

Classen recognizes the pattern whereby history can be whitewashed as it recedes from the memory of the generation that experienced it. Histor ical societies and civic leaders begin to disassociate an area from its shameful past, minimize it or outright deny it. This is evidenced in the cornerstone chapter of True Tales, “Stockades of

Terror,” which recalls the grim history of white slavery, kidnapping and sex trafficking across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. By returning to impeccable sources such as Governor Chase Os born’s memoirs, the awful reality of women trapped in brothels embedded in wooden forts can be relived.

This type of organized crime and lawlessness you might expect of the Wild West states but never suspect there were trafficking rings to bring in fresh women from Ohio and other states on a one-way trip to the U.P.

Classen’s research points not to one or two isolated instances but literally a network that included Seney, Sac Bay, Ewen, Trout Creek, Ontonagon and Bruce Crossing. All have been confirmed. The trade for this prosti tution came mostly from itinerant la borers in the timber industry and other resource-extraction businesses.

However, lest you think this book highlights only the negative, it also celebrates the true heroes of the U.P., such as lifeboat crews and even lighthouse keepers who risked their lives every day so others might escape certain death. There are also stories of survival, such as the stun ning first-person account of Angeli que Mott, who was stranded on Isle Royale for nearly nine months with little more than a barrel of flour and a few pounds of butter.

Classen also lends a clearer view to many stories that have become ob fuscated over time and reported incor rectly, such as that of the famous On tonagon Boulder, a slab of float copper first reported by Father Charlevoix in 1721 and later by Alexander Henry’s expedition to map the U.P. in 1771. This much-prized mineral specimen was virtually lost in the Smithsonian until its rediscovery in 1921.

True Tales also looks at the small er U.P. towns of Grand Marais and Christmas with a detailed examina tion of the historical importance of their founding and how they got to where they are today.

Many previous books about U.P. history were limited to settlement sto

ries about the white man’s incursion into the area and coming to terms with it. Classen moves beyond this trap by including stories of Native American lives and includes chapters on Mother Ontonagon and the legends and art work of the Agawa Cave petroglyphs as well as the aforementioned chapter on Angelique Mott, an Ojibwe woman.

In addition to Peter White, the book details the achievements of George Shiras III, another important scion of Marquette whose contributions to wilderness photography cannot be overstated. Indeed, the National Geo graphic magazine as we know it today was forged with Shiras’ revolutionary techniques for night game photogra phy, of which he held several patents. Shiras’ work further inspired Ameri cans to see animals as more than just game to be harvested. By showing their beauty and majesty, he helped forge a spirit of conservation and ap preciation for the everyman—not just elite naturalists.

But, you say, isn’t there much more U.P. history to be revealed? My recent conversations with the author indicate he is well under way on collecting material for an additional volume of True Tales whereby he plans to make the U.P.’s diverse history accessible to future generations of Yoopers.

I believe the strong first-person narratives and the painstakingly re produced historical photos will in spire a new generation to take an in terest in the land of their birth beyond the current economic and social woes it may suffer.

Classen’s True Tales is chock-full of vividly portrayed characters that demonstrate that the heroes and vil lains of yesteryear were just plain folks like us.

MM

Victor R. Volkman is a graduate of Michigan Technological University (Class of ’86) and president of the U.P. Publishers and Authors Associ ation. He is senior editor at Modern History Press and publisher of the U.P. Reader.

... VIVIDLY PORTRAYED CHARACTERS THAT DEMONSTRATE THAT THE HEROES AND VILLAINS OF YESTERYEAR WERE JUST PLAIN FOLKS LIKE US.

home cinema

Netflix adapts King, Bollywood takes on British rule, Marvel universe expands

Reviews by Leonard G. Heldreth

The films this month include a Stephen King adaptation, a Hindi epic that looks at India in the 1920s and a new addition to the Marvel Comics universe.

Mr. Harrigan’s Phone (This review contains a spoiler.)

Adaptations of Stephen King nov els and short stories have been hit and miss. For every Carrie, ’Salem’s Lot, Christine or Stand by Me, there have been flat or uninteresting adapta tions, such as the initial versions of IT or The Stand, which suffered from be ing confined to the expected time al lotments when they were first filmed.

King fans have their favorites and love to argue the rankings. Based on the novella of the same name from the collection If It Bleeds, Mr. Harrigan’s Phone (a Netflix original production) is fairly typical of King’s best work: It combines horror with the trials of coming of age (often a horrible ex perience in itself). Those expecting a film with gushing blood and scream ing skulls will be disappointed; those interested in how a little supernatural help can sometimes come back to bite you in the butt (another common King theme) will find it interesting. In King’s world, there is no free lunch.

The plot is straightforward. Af ter his mother’s death, Craig (Jaeden Martell), at his father’s suggestion, becomes friends with a local eccentric miser, John Harrigan (Donald Suther land). Mr. Harrigan hires Craig to read to him for an hour or so after school, three times a week, and the two grad ually become friends, despite some of Mr. Harrigan’s more unsociable traits.

Craig starts high school and is bul lied by Kenny Yankovich (Cyrus Ar nold), who forces Craig to give him money until one of the teachers, Ms. Hart (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) finds out and rescues the boy. On his birth day and at Christmas, Mr. Harrigan gives Craig a lottery ticket, and one birthday Craig’s father (Joe Tippett) yields to Craig’s repeated requests and buys him an iPhone. Then, when the young man wins $3,000 on a lot tery ticket, he buys an iPhone for Mr. Harrigan, who at first refuses it until he sees that he can get stock market quotations much faster on the new de

vice than he can on his daily New York Times

Craig and Mr. Harrigan are friends for five years until one day the young man finds his friend slumped in his chair, apparently dead of a heart at tack. At the funeral Craig, slips the old man’s iPhone into his suit pocket in the coffin so that it is buried with him. Craig is then informed that Harrigan has left him $800,000, the amount that Harrigan’s lawyer estimated the boy would need for college.

Craig attempts to move on with his life and takes his girlfriend to a school dance, but Kenny waits for them and beats up on Craig, who, he thinks, had him dismissed from school. Furious but unable to do anything, Craig calls Mr. Harrigan’s old phone because he

has to talk to someone about his prob lem, even if the person is no longer there. The next morning, Craig finds that Kenny is dead, having fallen out of a tree and broken his neck. When he picks up his phone, he finds a text from Harrigan’s number.

Other supernatural events occur that convince Craig he is still in touch with Mr. Harrigan, for better or worse, and the film concludes with his buy ing a new phone and disposing of the old phone in a nearby stone quarry. The film closes with Craig thinking to himself that when he dies, he wants to be buried with empty pockets.

The film is set in Maine, like most of King’s writings, and the visuals, particu larly of Harrigan’s house, are excellent. Curious is the scene after Harrigan’s death, when Craig enters a closed-off portion of the house and finds it to be a shrine to his mother, who had died be fore the film opens. King may also have been having fun with the books that Craig reads to his listener.

The acting is fine throughout. Don ald Sutherland projects the qualities of a very focused man who has made his millions the hard way but who finds his shell somewhat dented by his re lationship with Craig. The supporting roles are nicely done, and while the plot might have been stronger or more frightening, I enjoyed the film.

RRR

The title of this Indian action thrill er stands for “Rise Roar Revolt,” and it packs enough of these three qualities into its three hours and five minutes to justify the title.

Written and directed by S.S. Ra jamouli, the film is an anticolonial account of two freedom fighters who work together to help free India from British rule. Unfortunately, for those who like their historical dramas to be really historical, the director has ad mitted that the two men never met in real life, and that his epic is simply a speculation on what might have hap pened if they had met. This buddy drama, however, more than makes up—in nonstop action, special effects and anticolonial set pieces—what it lacks in historical authenticity.

The plot, set in and around Delhi in 1920, is too complicated to sum marize, but it doesn’t matter; the plot is just an excuse for over-the-top ac

N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan star in RRR, an Indian thriller featuring nonstop action, special effects and antico lonial set pieces. (Photo courtesy of DVV Entertainment)

tion. It starts with Malli (Twinkle Sharma), a girl of the Gondian tribe, who is kidnapped by the evil gover nor (Ray Stevenson) and his sadistic wife, Cathy (Alison Doody). Bheem, the guardian “shepherd” of the Adiva sian Gond tribe, goes to Delhi to track down Malli. There he meets Raju, a Colonial police officer, and helps him save a child from a runaway train in a scene that illustrates the influence of Cecil B. DeMille and especially BenHur. The two men do not realize for some time that each is the person they have been warned about.

Bollywood movies frequently in corporate dancing and singing inter ludes that imitate Busby Berkeley routines, a practice that may or may not endear them to the Western audi ence, but the “Naatu Naatu” musical number in RRR apparently has gone viral. Whether it triggers admiration or laughter depends on the viewer’s reaction to hairy, muscular men sud denly breaking into synchronized dancing and singing.

The film has several other set pieces, including a man wrestling a tiger and a wolf, a truckload of wild animals turned loose in a courtyard, a man being whipped and the stop ping of a runaway train. Needless to say, the action never stops, and that’s good, for action is what RRR is all about, that and how the British cruelly suppressed the India of the 1920s.

All the characters are two dimen sional, and the action, except for the song-and-dance numbers, is pre dictable. Nevertheless, anyone who enjoys a solid action film with little concern about how all the parts fit together will enjoy RRR, despite its three-hour length. I did.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the latest addition to the Marvel universe, and it has some positive and some negative variations on the standard Marvel template.

It opens in San Francisco, where Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), a.k.a. Shaun, boards a bus to his job as a parking lot valet at a nearby hotel. With him on the bus is his best friend, Katy (Awkwafina). As they chat, they no tice other, more sinister, characters on the bus, who are closing in on them.

Shaun suddenly switches to defensive mode, drawing from various martial arts combat trainings, and takes out most of the bad guys while the bus goes careening down the hills of San Francisco. (The driver is one of the earliest victims.) This scene is prob ably the best action sequence in the film.

Katy is surprised not only by the attack but by Shaun’s phenomenal re action. He has never told her that his father (Tony Leung) is an immortal villain who trained him in self-de fense and his mother (Fala Chen), who died when he was a child, was a master martial artist from an al ternate universe. His sister, Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), we find out later, has her own kung-fu organization, but she hasn’t been around for a while. By the time Shaun gets the bus stopped, Katy calmed down, and a cryptic note deciphered, he realizes that his father is just trying to get his attention and force him to come home to the alter nate world where his mother may or may not be alive.

Realizing that he must intercept his father, Shang-Chi, Katy and their ac complices set off to traverse the maze, break into the cavern where ShangChi’s mother may be confined and re lease the dragons which will aid him in his fight against his father and the 10 rings. Like most Marvel films, it generally builds to a violent but satis fying conclusion that leaves room for a sequel or two or three.

With the exception of Shaun, who is essentially a stock hero, the other characters are generally more interest ing than the typical Marvel assembly. Awkwafina plays her usual humorous sidekick role (here she learns to shoot a bow), but in this case she’s also pre sented as a love interest, and it just doesn’t work; there’s no chemistry

between her and Shaun, and no time to develop any.

On the other hand, Tony Leung as Xu Wenwu, Shaun’s father, is a more complex character than the usual vil lain. Like the father who loves his son but wants him to excel and to take over the family business, Wenwu can’t seem to grasp that killing off people just to rule an empire is not Shaun’s goal in life. He’s the son who wants to be an artist but whose father is deter mined to turn him into a lawyer.

Michelle Yeoh, as always, is excel lent, whether sharing a tender moment with Shaun or taking out bad guys with marvelous precision. She and Tony Leung are the complex pillars that support the action that everyone expects from a Marvel film.

The special effects are well done with dragons and other exotic animals showing up for the final confronta tion. Overall, Shang-Chi and the Leg end of the Ten Rings manages to be a solid, emotional addition to the Mar vel universe while avoiding most of the genre’s cliches.

Leonard Heldreth became interested in films in high school and worked as a movie projectionist in undergrad uate and graduate school. His short “Cinema Comment” aired for some years on WNMU-FM. In 1987, he started writing reviews for Marquette Monthly. He taught English and film studies at NMU for over 30 years.

MM

Answers for the New York Times crossword puzzle, located on Page 21.

on the town

Gwinn

• Hideaway Bar.

Mondays: The Hideaway AllStars. 7 p.m.

741 M-35. (906) 346-3178.

Marquette

• Barrel + Beam.

- Friday, December 2: Todd Wan gerin Project. 6 p.m. 260 Northwoods Rd. (906) 273-2559 or barrelandbeam. com

• Blackrocks Brewery.

- Mondays: Open Mic. 6 to 9 p.m.

- Tuesdays: Trivia. 7 to 9 p.m.

- Wednesdays: Open mic. 6 to 9 p.m.

Music begins at 6 p.m. 424 N. Third St. (906) 273-1333 or blackrocksbrewery.com

• Drifa Brewing Company.

- Mondays: Musicians’ Open Mic. 6 to 8 p.m.

- Thursdays: Trivia. 7 to 9 p.m. 501 S. Lake St. 273-1300.

• Flanigan’s.

- Tuesday through Thursday: Kara oke. 9:30 p.m.

Cover charge on weekends only. 429 W. Washington St. (906) 2288865.

• Ore Dock Brewing Company.

- Mondays: Board game night. 7 p.m.

- Friday, the 9th and Saturday, the 10th: Charlie Millard Band. 8 p.m. - Friday, the 16th and Saturday, the 17th: Stonefolk.

- Sunday, the 18th: The Brothers Quinn. 5 p.m.

- Friday, the 30th: Surf and Turf. 8 p.m.

- Saturday, the 31st:Blanco Suave’s NYE Ball. $5. Age 21 and older.

All shows are free and begin at 9 p.m. unless noted.

in or Curbside Pickup. Meals avail able to those age 60 and older. Call to reserve a meal. $3.50 suggested donation. Noon to 1 p.m. Marquette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. (906) 228-0456.

• Teens Cook. Teens in grades 6 to 12 are invited to learn how to make sushi. Advanced registration required. 4:30 p.m. Marquette Food Co-op, 502 W. Washington St. (906) 226-4321.

• Judaism: Religion, Culture and Practices. Dan Arnold will discuss the history of Judasim, the High Holidays, celebrations and customs. NCLL members, $5; nonmembers, $10. 6 p.m. Shiras Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 361-5370.

• An Evening with Jennette Mc Curdy. Actress and author Jennette McCurdy will answer audience ques tions during this moderated event. A brief book signing will follow. NMU

114 W. Spring St. 228-8888.

• Rippling River Resort.

- Thursdays through Sundays: Fire side music by various musicians. 6 to 9 p.m. 4321 M-553. (906) 273-2259 or ripplingriverresort.com

• Superior Culture. - Wednesday, December 7: Electric Words and Music. 7 p.m. 717 Third Street. 273-0927 or supe riorculturemqt.com

Munising

• Falling Rock Café and Book store.

- Wednesdays and Thursdays: Open Jam. 104 E. Munising Ave. (906) 3873008.

students, free; nonstudents, $5. 7 p.m. Grand Ballrooms, Northern Center, NMU. nmu.universitytickets.com

Negaunee

• Knitting Group. Those interested in crocheting, knitting and other fiber arts are welcome to bring their projects and share with others. Coffee provided. 1:30 p.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700, ext. 18.

• Wings of Fire Interest Group. Youth age eight and older are invited to discuss the series, write fanfiction, make crafts and other activities. 3 p.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700, ext. 18.

• Kid-Friendly Come Write In. As part of National Novel Writing Month, those looking for a quiet place to write and meet other writers are welcome. 4 p.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700, ext. 18.

Republic

• Pine Grove Bar.

- Friday, December 2: The Wallens. 7 to 10 p.m.

- Saturday, the 3rd: Stetson. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

- Friday, the 9th: Toni Saari. 7 to 10 p.m.

- Saturday, the 10th: DayDreamers. 8 p.m. to midnight.

- Friday, the 16th: Troy Graham. 7 to 10 p.m.

- Saturday, the 17th: Spun. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

- Friday, the 30th: Ethan Bott and Alex Teller. 8 to 11 p.m.

- Saturday, the 31st: Diverson. 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

286 Front St. (906) 376-2234. MM

december events

01 THURSDAY

sunrise 8:12 a.m.; sunset 5:04 p.m.

Caspian

• Christmas Tree Galleria: Snow Day. This fundraiser will feature more than 30 decorated trees, a gift basket raffle and more. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Iron County Museum, 100 Brady Ave. (906) 265-2617.

Escanaba

• Theatre: A Charlie Brown Christ mas and It’s a Wonderful Neverland. Members of Players de Noc will perform two one-act plays with the classic Charlie Brown Christmas and

Charlie Millard Band | December 9 & 10 | Ore Dock Brewing Company, Marquette

a mix of Peter Pan with It’s a Won derful Life $16. 7:30 p.m. Bonifas Arts Center, 700 First Ave. S. (906) 553-9778.

Gwinn

• Dale’s Christmas Light Show. This drive-thru light show will feature more than 100 separate circuits of lights with corresponding music through your ve hicle radio. Daily through December 25. 5:30 to 11 p.m. 950 E. Girl Scout Ln.

Houghton

• MTU Theatre: A Christmas Carol. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Pres ent and Future as they lead Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Youth, $5; adults, $20. 7:30 p.m. Rozsa Center, MTU. events. mtu.edu

Ishpeming

• Used Book Sale. The sale will in clude hardcover and paperback books, the 2023 historic calendar, t-shirts, tote bags, recipe books and more. 5 to 7 p.m. Leverton Community Room, Ish peming Carnegie Public Library , 317 N. Main St. (906) 486-4381.

Marquette

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. 12:30 p.m. Mar quette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• Country Dance at Dance Zone. Learn Western style line dances in cluding Wagon Wheel, Red-Hot Salsa and potentially more. Covid vaccines are required per Dance Zone policy. NCLL members, $5; nonmembers, $10. 1 to 2:30 p.m. Dance Zone, 113 Lincoln Ave. (906) 458-5408.

• Wings of Fire. Youth in grades 4 to 6 are invited to discuss the series. 4:30 p.m. Great Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 2264323.

• Celebrity Art Auction. Original works of art by some of the com munity’s unexpected artists will be auctioned. Sample appetizers, wine and beer. Proceeds benefit the Upper Michigan Children’s Museum. View ing, 5:30 p.m.; Auction, 7 p.m. U.P. Children’s Museum, 123 W. Baraga Ave. (906) 226-3911.

• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock. Lasers will project references to the holidays and the season, abstract ma terials, themes and overall appreciation of the natural Marquette surroundings. 6 to 9 p.m. Ore Dock. travelmarquette. org

• NMU Orchestra Concert. 7:30 p.m. Reynolds Recital Hall, NMU.

Negaunee

• Music, Movement and More. This parent-led story time is for all ages. 10:30 a.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700, ext. 18.

02 FRIDAY

sunrise 8:14 a.m.; sunset 5:04 p.m.

Caspian

• Christmas Tree Galleria: Snow Day. This fundraiser will feature more than 30 decorated trees, a gift basket raffle and more. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Iron County Museum, 100 Brady Ave. (906) 265-2617.

Escanaba

• Christmas in the Village. Enjoy the old-fashioned holiday atmosphere with carols, bonfires, snacks, wagon rides, raffles and more. Shop for handcrafted items from local artisans and crafts men. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Antique Village, U.P. State Fairgrounds, 2401 12th Ave. N. deltami.org

• Christmas Parade. The annual pa rade will travel down Ludington Street. 7 p.m. Ludington St.

Houghton

• MTU Theatre: A Christmas Carol. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Pres ent and Future as they lead Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Youth, $5; adults, $20. 7:30 p.m. Rozsa Center, MTU. events. mtu.edu

Ishpeming

• Used Book Sale. The sale will in clude hardcover and paperback books, the 2023 historic calendar, t-shirts, tote bags, recipe books and more. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Leverton Community Room, Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library , 317 N. Main St. (906) 486-4381.

Marquette

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. 12:30 p.m. Mar quette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• LEGO Club. Meet other LEGO en thusiasts and build LEGO projects us ing the library’s LEGO blocks. Youth age 7 and younger must be accompa nied by an adult. 4 p.m. Great Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4323.

• TV6 Christmas Craft Show. Ages 12 and younger, free; Ages 13 and older, $3. 5 to 9 p.m. Superior Dome, NMU. uppermichiganssource.com

• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock. Lasers will project references to the holidays and the season, abstract ma terials, themes and overall appreciation of the natural Marquette surroundings. 6 to 9 p.m. Ore Dock. travelmarquette. org

03 SATURDAY

sunrise 8:15 a.m.; sunset 5:04 p.m.

Calumet

• 46th Annual Poor Artists Sale. This annual juried art fair will feature fine

art and craft works from local and re gional artists. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. CLK Gym, 57070 Mine St. (906) 4822333.

• Winter Markets. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Calumet Art Center, 57055 Fifth St. (906) 934-2228.

Caspian

• Christmas Tree Galleria: Snow Day. This fundraiser will feature more than 30 decorated trees, a gift basket raffle and more. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Iron County Museum, 100 Brady Ave. (906) 265-2617.

Escanaba

• Christmas in the Village. Enjoy the old-fashioned holiday atmosphere with carols, bonfires, snacks, wagon rides, raffles and more. Shop for handcrafted items from local artisans and crafts men. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Antique Village, U.P. State Fairgrounds, 2401 12th Ave. N. deltami.org

• Multicultural Story Hour. Youth ages 5 and older with an adult are in vited for stories and activities. 1 p.m. Escanaba Public Library, 400 Luding ton St. (906) 789-7323.

• GFWC Escanaba Women’s Clubs 72nd Annual Charity Ball. This an nual, semi-formal event will include a social hour, dinner, games, dancing and Dueling Pianos. $75. 5:30 p.m. High land Golf Course, 3011 US-2.

• Theatre: A Charlie Brown Christ mas and It’s a Wonderful Neverland. Members of Players de Noc will perform two one-act plays with the classic Charlie Brown Christmas and a mix of Peter Pan with It’s a Won derful Life $16. 7:30 p.m. Bonifas Arts Center, 700 First Ave. S. (906) 553-9778 or playersdenoc.org

Houghton

• MTU Theatre: A Christmas Carol. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Pres ent and Future as they lead Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Youth, $5; adults, $20. 7:30 p.m. Rozsa Center, MTU. events. mtu.edu

Ishpeming

• Used Book Sale. The sale will in clude hardcover and paperback books, the 2023 historic calendar, t-shirts, tote bags, recipe books and more. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Leverton Community Room, Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library , 317 N. Main St. (906) 486-4381.

• Negaunee Male Chorus Christmas Concert. 7 p.m. Peterson Auditorium, Ishpeming High School, 319 E. Divi sion St.

L’Anse

• Meet the Authors. Visit with sever al U.P. authors and have your books signed. Books available for purchase. 1 to 3 p.m. L’Anse Public Library, 201 N. Fourth St. (906) 524-5213.

Marquette

• Christmas Bazaar. Shop for crafts,

baked goods, other food items, white elephant gifts and more. Proceeds benefit the Women’s Ministry and Preschool programs. 10 a.m. to noon. Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1700 Fair Ave. (906) 228-9883.

• Holiday Market. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Marquette Commons, 112 S. Third St. mqtfarmersmarket.com

• TV6 Christmas Craft Show. Ages 12 and younger, free; Ages 13 and older, $3. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Superior Dome, NMU. uppermichiganssou rce.com

• Winter Wonderland Walk Celebra tion. View the decorated trees and lis ten to holiday recital concerts from area piano teachers and students every hour in the Community Room and Christ mas carols by musicians Shay and Linda in the Huron Mountain Gallery. Hot chocolate and homemade cookies provided. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. Lessons, 10 a.m. Games, 11:30 a.m. Citizens Fo rum, Lakeview Arena, 401 E. Pine St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• The Nutcracker Ballet. Local youth and adults will perform the holiday classic. Youth ages 17 and younger, $9; age 18 and older, $15. 1 and 7 p.m. Kaufman Auditorium, 611 N. Front St. (906) 228-227-1032 or nmu.universi tytickets.com

• Yooptone Music Celebration. This celebration will include music, pulled pork sandwiches, prizes, mystery bags and more. 1 to 4 p.m. Yooptone Music, 1015 N. Third St. (906) 273-0568.

• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock. Lasers will project references to the holidays and the season, abstract ma terials, themes and overall appreciation of the natural Marquette surroundings. 6 to 9 p.m. Ore Dock. travelmarquette. org

• 04 SUNDAY sunrise 8:16 a.m.; sunset 5:03 p.m.

Caspian

• Christmas Tree Galleria: Snow Day. This fundraiser will feature more than 30 decorated trees, a gift basket raffle and more. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Iron County Museum, 100 Brady Ave. (906) 265-2617.

Escanaba

• Theatre: A Charlie Brown Christ mas and It’s a Wonderful Neverland. Members of Players de Noc will perform two one-act plays with the classic Charlie Brown Christmas and a mix of Peter Pan with It’s a Won derful Life $16. 1:30 p.m. Bonifas Arts Center, 700 First Ave. S. (906) 553-9778 or playersdenoc.org

Gwinn

• Bring Them Home: A Large Ani

art galleries

Calumet

• Calumet Art Center. Works by local and regional artists. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 57055 Fifth St. (906) 934-2228.

• Copper Country Associated Artist. Works by members and workshop participants in watercol or and oil, drawings, photography, sculpture, quilting, wood, textile, clay, glass and other media. Thurs day through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 205 Fifth St. (906) 337-1252 or ccaartists.org

• Gallery on 5th. Works by local and regional artists. Days and hours vary. 109 Fifth St. (906) 369-0094.

Copper Harbor

• EarthWorks Gallery. Featuring Lake Superior-inspired photography by Steve Brimm. Daily, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 216 First St. (910) 319-1650.

Escanaba

• Besse Gallery. Featuring works by local, regional and national artists. Days and hours vary. Bay College, 2001 N. Lincoln Rd. baycollege.edu

• East Ludington Art Gallery. Works by local artists. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 1007 Ludington St. (906) 786-0300 or eastludingtongallery.com

• Hartwig Gallery.

- Small Sketches: A Midwestern Woman, featuring found object sculptures by Mary Sundstrom, will be on display through December 31, with a public reception at 2 p.m. on the 6th.

Featuring works by local, regional and national artists. Days and hours vary. 2001 N. Lincoln Rd. baycol lege.edu

• The Bonifas Arts Center.

- New Works, featuring oil paintings by John Hubbard, will be on display through December 29.

- Northern Exposure XXIX, a juried competition show, featuring works by U.P. artists, will be on display through December 29.

Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3p.m. 700 First Avenue South. (906) 7863833 or bonifasarts.org

Hancock

• Finlandia University Gallery.

- Self-Revolving Line, an exhibit by Finnish artist Tuomas Korkalo, will be on display through December 14. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. 435 Quincy St. (906) 487-7500.

• Kerredge Gallery.

- 6 x 6, a fundraising exhibition, will be on display December 1 through

31. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Community Arts Center, 126 Quincy St. (906) 482-2333 or coppercoun tryarts.com

• Youth Gallery. Featuring works by local students.

Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Community Arts Center, 126 Quincy St. (906) 482-2333 or coppercoun tryarts.com

Houghton

• The Rozsa Galleries.

- Thick as Thieves, featuring works by MTU students from the sculpture and design classes, will be on display through December 6. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 to 8 p.m. Rozsa Center, 1400 Townsend Dr. mtu.edu/ rozsa

Marquette

• Art—U.P. Style. Art by Carol Pa paleo, works by local artists, gifts, classes and more. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. 130 W. Washington St. (906) 225-1993.

• DeVos Art Museum.

- Fall 2022 School of Art & Design Senior Exhibition, featuring works by NMU students, will be on display De cember 1 through 16, with a closing reception at 7 p.m. on the 16th. Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Corner of Seventh and Tracy streets. NMU. (906) 227-1481 or nmu.edu/devos Graci Gallery. Works by regional and national artists. Featuring fine craft, contemporary art, and jewelry. Thursday and Friday, noon to 5 p.m.

Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, by appoint ment or chance. 555 E. Michigan Street. gracigallery.com

• Huron Mountain Club Gallery.

- Winter Wonderland Walk, featuring trees decorated by community mem bers, will be on display through De cember 30. Monday through Thurs day, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 228-0472.

• Lake Superior Photo and Gallery. The studio features landscape photo graphic art by Shawn Malone, includ ing naturescapes of the Lake Superior region. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 211 S. Front St. (906) 228-3686 or lakesuperiorphoto.com

• Marquette Arts and Culture Cen ter Deo Gallery.

- Painting the Seasons of the Wild U.P., featuring works by Julie High len, will be on display December 1 through January 31, with a public reception at 6 p.m. on December 8. Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 228-0472.

• Peter White Public Library Re ception Gallery.

- Winter Wonderland Walk,, featuring trees decorated by community mem bers, will be on display through De cember 30. Monday through Thurs day, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 228-0472.

• Presque Isle Station. This working pottery studio features pottery by Mi chael Horton and Terry Gilfoy, along

(continued on page 81)

John Hubbard | Winter Layoff | Bonifas Art Center, Escanaba

art galleries

with works by local artists. Days and times vary. 2901 Lakeshore Blvd. (906) 225-1695.

• The Gallery: A Marquette Artist Collective Project. Works by local and regional artists. Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thurs day, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. Suite U7, 130 W. Washington St. mqtartistcol lective.com

• The Studio Gallery at Presque Isle. Works by local and internation ally acclaimed artists. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. 2905 Lakeshore Blvd. (906) 360-4453.

• Wintergreen Hill Gallery and Gifts. Featuring works by local and regional artists. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 810 N. Third St. (906) 273-1374.

• Zero Degrees Gallery.

- A public reception for student artist Leo Barch will be from 1 to 4 p.m. on December 3.

- Works by Shantina Hatfield will be on display December 1 through 31, with a public reception from 3 to 5 p.m. on the 10th. The gallery features works in oils,

watercolors, mixed media, jewelry, photography, metals, woods, recy cled and fiber arts and much more. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 525 N, Third St. (906) 228-3058 or zerodegreesgallery.org

Munising

• UP~Scale Art. Featuring works by local and regional artists. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment. 109 W. Superior Ave. (906) 387-3300 or upscaleart. org

Rapid River

• The adhocWORKshop. Owner Ritch Branstrom creates sculptures with found objects inspired by the land in which the objects were found. By appointment or chance. 10495 South Main Street. (906) 3991572 or adhocworkshop.com

Sand River

• Aurelia Studio Pottery. Featur ing high fire stoneware, along with functional and sculptural pieces in spired by nature, created by potter and owner Paula Neville. Open by appointment or chance. 3050 E. M-28. (906) 343-6592.

MM

John Hubbard | Mystic Woman | Bonifas Art Center, Escanaba

mal Live Trap Fundraiser. Enjoy music from The Wallens and bucket raffles. Proceeds from this fundrais er will help purchase two live traps for Alger County Animal Shelter, Delta Animal Shelter and UPAWS. 3 to 5 p.m. Up North Lodge, 215 CR-557. (906) 361-4843 or (906) 204-9179.

Houghton

• MTU Theatre: A Christmas Carol. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Pres ent and Future as they lead Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Youth, $5; adults, $20. 2 p.m. Rozsa Center, MTU. events.mtu. edu

Ishpeming

• Bingo. Snacks and beverages avail able for purchase. Noon. Ishpeming VFW, 310 Bank St. (906) 486-8080.

Marquette

• TV6 Christmas Craft Show. Ages 12 and younger, free; Ages 13 and older, $3. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Superior Dome, NMU. uppermichiganssou rce.com

• TubaChristmas. This annual event will feature tuba and euphonium play ers playing familiar Christmas carols. 1:30 p.m. Marquette Regional History Center, 145 W. Spring St. (906) 2263571.

05 MONDAY

sunrise 8:17 a.m.; sunset 5:03 p.m.

Ishpeming

• Joy of Sound Meditation. Enjoy a relaxing meditation with sounds pro duced by Tibetan singing bowls and metallic gongs. 7 p.m. Joy Center, 1492 Southwood Dr. (906) 362-9934.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Holiday Storytime. Families with babies, toddlers and preschool age children are invited for holiday/ winter themed stories. PJ’s and hol iday-themed apparel welcome. 9:45 and 10:45 a.m. Great Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4323.

• Marquette Playgroup. This weekly playgroup is led by an early childhood educator and geared toward newborns to age 5. Activities include free play, story time, a snack and other activities to promote social-emotional develop ment. 10 to 11:30 a.m. Lake Superior Village Youth and Family Center, 1901 Longyear Ave. sjhobalia@greatstart ma.org

• School’s Out, Library’s In. Students are invited for fort building, bell orna ment making and to watch the film The Polar Express. Forts and ornaments,

noon to 5 p.m.; Film, 12:45 p.m. Youth Services Room, Peter White Public Li brary, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4323.

• Senior Theatre Experience: Month ly Workshop and Discussion. This workshop is for those age 55 and old er. Register in advance. Marquette city and surrounding township residents, free; nonresidents, $5 donation. 4 p.m. Marquette Arts and Culture Center, lower level, Peter White Public Li brary, 217 N. Front St. (906) 225-8655.

• Craft Magic Series: Felt Magic. Join felt artist Jody Trost for a beginner needle felt workshop. Learn basic nee dle felting to create a handmade felted Santa. Starter kits and felt provided. Bring your own scissors. Space is lim ited. 6:30 p.m. Heritage Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

Negaunee

• All-Ages Online Storytime. Enjoy stories, songs and rhymes from the comfort of your own home. 11a.m. via Facebook Live. facebook.com/ NegauneePublicLibrary

06 TUESDAY

sunrise 8:18 a.m.; sunset 5:03 p.m.

Escanaba

• Sweet Seasonal Songs. Listen to mu sic performed by the Escanaba High School Chorale. 4:30 p.m. Escanaba Public Library, 400 Ludington St. (906) 789-7323.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Tasty Reads Book Group. The group will discuss The Official Downton Ab bey Afternoon Tea Cookbook: Teatime Drinks, Scones, Savories and Sweets Noon. Shiras Room, Peter White Pub lic Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 2264303.

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. 12:30 p.m. Mar quette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• Oil Painting, Pastels and Drawing Classes with Marlene Wood. Bring your own supplies. $20. 1 to 3 p.m. Mar quette Arts and Culture Center, lower level, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 225-8655.

• Dumbledore’s Army. Students in grades 4 to 6 are invited for Harry Potter-related crafts. 4:30 p.m. Great Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4323.

• What’s Up? Astronomy Series. Scott Stobbelaar of the Marquette As tronomical Society will discuss what can be seen in the U.P. skies. 7 p.m. via Zoom. Visit pwpl.info for Zoom link.

Negaunee

• National Weather Service Pre sentation. Matt Zika will discuss the National Weather Service, how tech nology has changed throughout the years, U.P. forecasting challenges and answer questions. NCLL members, $5; nonmembers, $10. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. National Weather Service, 112 Airport Dr. S. (906) 360-2859.

07 WEDNESDAY

sunrise 8:19 a.m.; sunset 5:02 p.m.

Escanaba

• Theatre: A Charlie Brown Christ mas and It’s a Wonderful Neverland. Members of Players de Noc will perform two one-act plays with the classic Charlie Brown Christmas and a mix of Peter Pan with It’s a Won derful Life $16. 7:30 p.m. Bonifas Arts Center, 700 First Ave. S. (906) 553-9778 or playersdenoc.org

Ishpeming

• Open Crafts Night. 6:30 p.m. Mak ers Marketplace, 113 Cleveland Ave. (906) 458-0626.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Congregate Meals for Seniors–Dine in or Curbside Pickup. Meals avail able to those age 60 and older. Call to reserve a meal. $3.50 suggested donation. Noon to 1 p.m. Marquette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. (906) 228-0456.

• Visual Art Class: Hand-Painted Holiday Cards with Gene Bertram. This class is for those age 55 and old er. Register in advance. Marquette city and surrounding township residents, free; nonresidents, $5 donation. 1 p.m. Marquette Arts and Culture Center, lower level, Peter White Public Li brary, 217 N. Front St. (906) 2258655.

• Marquette Harbor Underwater Cleanup. Divers Don Fassbender and Erik Johnson will discuss cleanup ef forts in Marquette’s Lower Harbor. NCLL members, $5; nonmembers, $10. 2 to 4 p.m. Heritage Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 360-2859.

• Teens Game On. Youth in grades 6 to 12 are invited to play video games, board games and other games. 4 p.m. Teen Zone, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4321.

• Junior Graphic Novel Geeks. Youth in grades 1 to 3 will look at graphic novels that feature animals as char acters, and time to draw characters as well. 4:30 p.m. Great Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4323.

• Holiday Masquerade Ball. This ball will include music, food, prizes and more. NMU students, free; nonstu

dents, $10. 6:30 to 10 p.m. Northern Center, NMU. (520) 403-5697.

• League of Women Voters of Mar quette County Membership Meet ing. Social, 6:30 p.m. Meeting, 6:45 p.m. Lower level, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. lwvmqt.org

•The Burt Carols Open House.This musical celebration will feature the Alfred Burt carols, a sign-along and refreshments. 6:30 p.m. Marquette Re gional History Center, 145 W. Spring St. (906) 226-3571.

• O. Henry Holidays–—O. Henry: A Life in Stories. This documentary will examine the life of William Syd ney Porter (O. Henry), author The Gift of the Magi. 7 p.m. Community Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

Negaunee

• Knitting Group. Those interested in crocheting, knitting and other fiber arts are welcome to bring their projects and share with others. Coffee provided. 1:30 p.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700, ext. 18.

• Wings of Fire Interest Group. Youth age eight and older are invited to discuss the series, write fanfiction, make crafts and other activities. 3 p.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700, ext. 18.

08 THURSDAY

sunrise 8:20 a.m.; sunset 5:02 p.m.

Crystal Falls

• Virtual Q&A with U.P. Author Carole Hare. Carole Hare will dis cuss her book The Legend of Kitchiti-kipi, an Ojibwe Story. 7 p.m. Call or email to register and receive the Zoom link. egathu@uproc.lib.mi.us

or (906) 875-3344.

Escanaba

• Basic Food Preservation Series. Learn tips on creating and giving food gifts. 4:30 p.m. Escanaba Public Li brary, 400 Ludington St. (906) 7897323.

• Theatre: A Charlie Brown Christ mas and It’s a Wonderful Neverland. Members of Players de Noc will perform two one-act plays with the classic Charlie Brown Christmas and a mix of Peter Pan with It’s a Won derful Life . $16. 7:30 p.m. Bonifas Arts Center, 700 First Ave. S. (906) 553-9778 or playersdenoc.org

Houghton

• MTU Trombone Choir. 7 p.m. Rozsa Center Lobby, MTU. events.mtu.edu

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. 12:30 p.m. Mar quette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• The Honorable Distillery Tour and Tasting. Lily Van Der Bosch will lead the tour and discuss the process of making distilled spirits. NCLL mem bers, $5; nonmembers, $10. 2 to 3 p.m. The Honorable Distillery, 136 W. Washington St. (906) 361-5370.

• Graphic Novel Geeks. Youth in grades 4 to 6 will look at graphic novels that feature science-fiction and manga themes. 4:15 p.m. Great Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4323.

• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock. Lasers will project references to the

holidays and the season, abstract ma terials, themes and overall appreciation of the natural Marquette surroundings. 6 to 9 p.m. Ore Dock. travelmarquette. org

• Holiday Parade and Tree Light ing. The parade will travel down Third Street and end at the Marquette Com mons. The tree lighting will follow. Pa rade, 6 p.m. Third Street; Tree lighting, following the parade, Marquette Com mons, 112 S. Third St. downtownmar quette.com

• Concert: Songs for the Journey. Grammy-nominated musician Mary Gauthier will peform with Jaimee Harris. Donations appricated. 7 p.m. Messiah Lutheran Church, 305 W. Magnetic St.

Negaunee

• Music, Movement and More. This parent-led story time is for all ages. 10:30 a.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700, ext. 18.

09 FRIDAY

sunrise 8:21 a.m.; sunset 5:02 p.m.

Escanaba

• Theatre: A Charlie Brown Christ mas and It’s a Wonderful Neverland. Members of Players de Noc will perform two one-act plays with the classic Charlie Brown Christmas and a mix of Peter Pan with It’s a Won derful Life $16. 7:30 p.m. Bonifas Arts Center, 700 First Ave. S. (906) 553-9778 or playersdenoc.org

• Registration Deadline: Family Fun Night: A Charlie Brown Christmas. See Saturday the 17th.

Houghton

• MTU Choirs: Songs for the Moon. The concert will include performances by the MTU Concert Choir and con science: Michigan Tech Chamber Sing ers. Youth, $5; adults, $15. 7:30 p.m. Rozsa Center, MTU. events.mtu.edu

Ishpeming

• Afternoon Movie. The film The San ta Clause will be shown. 1 p.m. Ish peming Carnegie Public Library, 317 N. Main St. (906) 486-4381.

Little Lake

• Living Nativity. 6:30 and 7:15 p.m. Little Lake Chapel, M-35.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Docu Cinema Matinee. The docu mentary film Road Trip for Ralphie: A Christmas Story will be shown. Noon. Shiras Room, Peter White Public Li brary, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested

Gingerbread House Making and Workshop | December 10 | Calumet and Escanaba

Ian Gao on unsplash

museums

Calumet

• International Frisbee Hall of Fame and Museum. Learn about the history of Guts Frisbee. Days and hours vary. Open when events are held. Second floor ballroom, Calumet Coliseum, Red Jacket Rd. (906) 2817625.

Escanaba

• Upper Peninsula Honor Flight Legacy Museum. The museum chronicles the history of the U.P. Honor Flights with the history of the trips. Donations appreciated. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by request. Inside the Delta County Chamber of Commerce, 1001 N. Lincoln Rd.

• Upper Peninsula Military Muse um. The museum honors Upper Pen insula Veterans, and features exhibits and dioramas portraying the Upper Peninsula’s contribution to U.S. war efforts from the Civil War through the Afghanistan wars. Donations appreciated. Monday through Fri day, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by request. Inside the Delta County Chamber of Commerce, 1001 N. Lincoln Rd.

Hancock

• Quincy Mine Hoist and Underground Mine. There are two options for touring the site. On both the sur face tour and the full tour, visitors will see the museum, inside the No. 2 Shaft House and the Nordberg Steam Hoist and ride the cog rail tram car to the mine entrance. On the full tour, visitors will take a tractor-pulled wagon into the mine, seven levels underground. Prices, days and hours vary. (906) 482-3101.

Houghton

• A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum. View the largest collection of min

players. $5 for games. 12:30 p.m. Mar quette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• LEGO Club. Meet other LEGO en thusiasts and build LEGO projects us ing the library’s LEGO blocks. Youth age 7 and younger must be accompa nied by an adult. 4 p.m. Great Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4323.

• A Holiday Double Feature: A Char lie Brown Christmas and The Nut cracker. Members of NMU Theatre will perform a one-act musical based on the TV special of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Members of NMU Dance will perform excerpts of The Nutcrack er ballet. Prices vary. 7:30 p.m. Forest Roberts Theatre, NMU. nmu.universi tytickets.com

• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock. Lasers will project references to the

erals from the Great Lakes region and the world’s finest collection of Michigan minerals. Exhibits educate visitors on how minerals are formed, fluorescent minerals and minerals from around the world. Prices vary. Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1404 E. Sharon Ave. museum. mtu.edu or (906) 487-2572.

• Carnegie Museum. Features ro tating displays of local history, nat ural science and culture. The Science Center is dedicated to interactive ex hibits about science for kids. Tues day and Thursday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. 105 Huron St. (906) 482-7140 or carnegieke weenaw.org

• MTU Archives and Copper Coun try Historical Collections. Features a variety of historical memorabilia, highlighting life in the Copper Coun try. Open by appointment. Lower level of the J.R. Van Pelt Library, MTU. (906) 487-3209.

Iron Mountain

• World War II Glider and Military Museum. During World War II, the Ford Motor Company’s Kingsford plant built the CG-4A Gliders for the U.S. Army. View one of seven ful ly restored CG-4A G World War II gliders, military uniforms from the Civil War through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, memorabilia, restored military vehicles and more. Prices vary. Days and times vary. 302 Kent St. (906) 774-1086.

Ishpeming

• Ishpeming Area Historical Society Museum. New exhibits include a military exhibit and artifacts from the Elson Estate. Donations appreciated. Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gossard Building, Suite 303, 308 Cleveland Ave. ishpeminghistory.org

holidays and the season, abstract ma terials, themes and overall appreciation of the natural Marquette surroundings. 6 to 9 p.m. Ore Dock. travelmarquette. org

10 SATURDAY

sunrise 8:22 a.m.; sunset 5:02 p.m.

Calumet

• Gingerbread House Making. Kids and kids at heart are invited to create a gingerbread house. $15. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Calumet Art Center, 57055 Fifth St. (906) 934-2228.

Escanaba

• Gingerbread House Workshop. Create your own gingerbread house. Register by November 26. $12. 11

• U.S. National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame & Museum. The mu seum features more than 300 Hall of Fame inductees, presented in pho tographs and biographies, and dis plays and exhibits of skiing history and equipment, an extensive library, video show, gift shop, special events and more. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. US-41 and Third St. (906) 485-6323 skihall.com

K.I. Sawyer

• K.I. Sawyer Heritage Air Muse um. The museum promotes and pre serves the aviation history the air base brought to the area. Air Force-related materials are on display, including photographs, flags, medals and more. Donations appreciated. Wednesday through Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. 402 Third St. (906) 236-3502.

Marquette

• Baraga Educational Center and Museum. View artifacts and tools used by Venerable Bishop Baraga. Donations appreciated. Thursday and Friday, noon to 5 p.m. and by appointment. 615 S. Fourth St. (906) 227-9117.

• Beaumier Upper Peninsula Heri tage Center.

- Above/Under the Surface: The Fish eries of the Upper Great Lakes, an exhibition examining the changes to fish populations and the impact of humans on native fish species, will be on display through December. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. NMU, corner of Seventh Street and Tracy Avenue. (906) 227-3212 or nmu.edu/ beaumier

• Marquette Regional History Cen ter.

- Railroads of Marquette County: Yesterday and Today, featuring select

a.m. Bonifas Arts Center, 700 First Ave. S. (906) 786-3833 or boni fasarts.org

• Santa’s LEGO Workshop. Bring your own LEGOs. Prizes and treats will be available. 1 p.m. Escanaba Public Library, 400 Ludington St. (906) 789-7323.

• Theatre: A Charlie Brown Christ mas and It’s a Wonderful Neverland. Members of Players de Noc will perform two one-act plays with the classic Charlie Brown Christmas and a mix of Peter Pan with It’s a Won derful Life $16. 7:30 p.m. Bonifas Arts Center, 700 First Ave. S. (906) 553-9778 or playersdenoc.org

Houghton

• Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2. Pay as you are able. 7:30 p.m. Rozsa

hands-on elements, as well as maps, artifacts and photographs, will be on display through February 2023. The museum includes interactive displays as well as regional history exhibits. Youth 12 and younger, $2; students, $3; seniors, $6; adults, $7. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 145 W. Spring St. (906) 2263571 or marquettehistory.org

• Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum. A variety of interactive exhibits offer learning through in vestigation and creativity. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prices vary. 123 W. Baraga Ave. (906) 226-3911.

Munising

• Alger County Historical Society Heritage Center. Exhibits include the Grand Island Recreation Area, Munising Woodenware Company, barn building, homemaking, sauna and more. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. 1496 Washington St. (906) 387-4308.

Negaunee

• Michigan Iron Industry Museum. In the forested ravines of the Marquette Iron Range, the muse um overlooks the Carp River and the site of the first iron forge in the Lake Superior region. Museum ex hibits, audio-visual programs and outdoor interpretive paths depict the large-scale capital and human investment that made Michigan an industrial leader. The museum is one of 10 museums and historic sites administered by the Michigan Historical Center. Michigan Recre ation Passort required for parking, $12. Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4p.m. 73 Forge Rd. (906) 475-7857. MM

Ishpeming

• 9th Annual Cookie Walk. Homemade Christmas cookies will be available for $7 per pound. Holiday breads and candy will also be sold. Refreshments provided. 9:30 a.m. to noon. Bethel Lu theran Church, 333 E. Ridge St.

Little Lake

• Living Nativity. 6:30 and 7:15 p.m. Little Lake Chapel, M-35.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Christmas Market. Shop for items from local vendors. Visit with Santa

Center, MTU. events.mtu.edu

with story time every hour. Market, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Santa, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Westwood Mall, 3020 US-41.

• Holiday Market. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Marquette Commons, 112 S. Third St. mqtfarmersmarket.com

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. Lessons, 10 a.m. Games, 11:30 a.m. Citizens Fo rum, Lakeview Arena, 401 E. Pine St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• Theatre for All—A Holiday Double Feature: A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Nutcracker. This performance will be a sensory-friendly showing, and include a free ticket option. Members of NMU Theatre will perform a one-act musical based on the TV special of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Members of NMU Dance will perform excerpts of The Nutcracker ballet. Prices vary. 1 p.m. Forest Roberts Theatre, NMU. nmu.universitytickets.com

• A Holiday Double Feature: A Char lie Brown Christmas and The Nut cracker Members of NMU Theatre will perform a one-act musical based on the TV special of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Members of NMU Dance will perform excerpts of The Nutcrack er ballet. Prices vary. 7:30 p.m. Forest Roberts Theatre, NMU. nmu.universi tytickets.com

• Marquette Symphony Orchestra: Sounds of the Holidays. Prices vary. 7:30 p.m. Kaufman Auditorium, 611 N. Front St. nmu.universitytickets.com

• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock. Lasers will project references to the holidays and the season, abstract materials, themes and overall ap preciation of the natural Marquette surroundings. 6 to 9 p.m. Ore Dock. travelmarquette.org

Negaunee

• Christmas Mini-Con This event will feature a pop culture sale, orignal art, upcycled art, comic books, vintage toys, sci-fi book collections and more. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Negaunee Senior Cen ter, 410 Jackson St. (906) 475-6266.

• Tinseltown Activities include hay rides, cookie decorating, wine tasting, parade, tree lighting and more. 4 to 8 p.m. Parade and tree lighting, 6 p.m. Downtown.

11 SUNDAY

sunrise 8:23 a.m.; sunset 5:02 p.m.

Houghton

• TubaChristmas. Listen to local tuba players perform songs of the season. 7:30 p.m. Rozsa Center, MTU. events. mtu.edu

Ishpeming

• Bingo. Snacks and beverages avail able for purchase. Noon. Ishpeming VFW, 310 Bank St. (906) 486-8080.

Little Lake

• Living Nativity. 6:30 and 7:15 p.m. Little Lake Chapel, M-35.

Marquette

• Holiday Brass Choir Concert. Brass players will perform tunes of the sea son during this annual concert. 4 p.m. Marquette Regional History Center, 145 W. Spring St. (906) 226-3571.

12 MONDAY

sunrise 8:24 a.m.; sunset 5:02 p.m.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Marquette Playgroup. This weekly playgroup is led by an early childhood educator and geared toward newborns to age 5. Activities include free play, story time, a snack and other activities to promote social-emotional develop ment. 10 to 11:30 a.m. Lake Superior Village Youth and Family Center, 1901 Longyear Ave. sjhobalia@greatstart ma.org

• Project Publish. Youth in grades 3 and older are invited to write, illustrate and publish their own books. 4:30 p.m. Great Room, Peter White Public Li brary, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4323.

• Ramble Tamble Christmas Con cert. The local surf rock band Ramble Tamble will perform Christmas jams. 7 p.m. Community Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

Negaunee

• All-Ages Online Storytime. Enjoy stories, songs and rhymes from the

comfort of your own home. 11a.m. via Facebook Live. facebook.com/ NegauneePublicLibrary

13 TUESDAY

sunrise 8:25 a.m.; sunset 5:02 p.m.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. 12:30 p.m. Mar quette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• Oil Painting, Pastels and Drawing Classes with Marlene Wood. Bring your own supplies. $20. 1 to 3 p.m. Mar quette Arts and Culture Center, lower level, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 225-8655.

• Grief, Loss and Loneliness During the Holidays. Clinical Psychologist Dr. Greg Jones will discuss grief, loss and loneliness during the holiday season and ways to find peace and happiness during this time. NCLL members, $5; nonmembers, $10. 3 to 5 p.m. Shiras Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 360-2859.

• Muggles for Potter. Students in grades 2 and 3 are invited for an end of the year party. 4:30 p.m. Great Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4323.

• O. Henry Holidays: Northwords and Music and The Gift of the Magi. B.G. Bradley, Marty Achatz, Stephen Hooper and Ronnie Ferguson will per form holiday music, poetry, stories and more. 7 p.m. Community Room, Peter

White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

14 WEDNESDAY

sunrise 8:26 a.m.; sunset 5:02 p.m.

Ishpeming

• Open Crafts Night. 6:30 p.m. Mak ers Marketplace, 113 Cleveland Ave. (906) 458-0626.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• All Booked UP Book Club. The group will discuss This Time Tomor row by Emma Straub. 11 a.m. The Courtyards, 1110 Champion St. (906) 226-4318..

• Congregate Meals for Seniors–Dine in or Curbside Pickup. Meals avail able to those age 60 and older. Call to reserve a meal. $3.50 suggested donation. Noon to 1 p.m. Marquette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. (906) 228-0456.

• Visual Art Class: Hand-Painted Holiday Cards with Gene Bertram. This class is for those age 55 and older. Register in advance. Marquette city and surrounding township residents, free; nonresidents, $5 donation. 1 p.m. Mar quette Arts and Culture Center, lower level, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 225-8655.

• Santa, Snacks, Singing and Crafts. Take your picture with Santa, make crafts, sip on hot chocolate and enjoy carols from local actors. 4 to 8 p.m. MATI Shops and Innovations, 130 W. Washington St.

• Junior Teen Advisory Board. Stu dents in grades 5 to 8 are invited to meet new people, plan events and gain volunteer experience. 4:15 p.m. Great Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4321.

• Income Taxes for Artists. Certified Public Accountant Mary Luttinen will discuss tax responsibilities for artists. The class is sponsored by Zero De grees Gallery. 6:30 p.m. Marquette Arts and Culture Center, lower level, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St.

• Why and How to Unclutter. Pro fessional organizer Dar Shepherd will discuss how clutter causes stress and how to put our home in order. 6:30 p.m. Lions Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 3603000.

• A Holiday Double Feature: A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Nut cracker. Members of NMU Theatre will perform a one-act musical based on the TV special of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Members of NMU Dance will perform excerpts of The Nut cracker ballet. Prices vary. 7:30 p.m. Forest Roberts Theatre, NMU. nmu.

Tinseltown | December 10 | Negaunee

Sanne Knoops on unsplah

Negaunee

• Knitting Group. Those interested in crocheting, knitting and other fiber arts are welcome to bring their projects and share with others. Coffee provided. 1:30 p.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700, ext. 18.

• Wings of Fire Interest Group. Youth age eight and older are invited to discuss the series, write fanfiction, make crafts and other activities. 3 p.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700, ext. 18.

15 THURSDAY

sunrise 8:26 a.m.; sunset 5:02 p.m.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. 12:30 p.m. Mar quette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• Family Holiday Storytime. Fami lies with children of all ages are invited for holiday/winter themed stories. PJ’s and holiday-themed apparel welcome. 6 p.m Great Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 2264323.

• Christmas Light Bus Tour. This tour will visit local Christmas light displays. NCLL members, $5; nonmembers, $10. Plus $1 for MarqTran. 6:30 p.m. East parking lot, Berry Events Center, NMU. (906) 458-9994.

• A Holiday Double Feature: A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Nut cracker. Members of NMU Theatre will perform a one-act musical based on the TV special of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Members of NMU Dance will perform excerpts of The Nutcrack er ballet. Prices vary. 7:30 p.m. Forest Roberts Theatre, NMU. nmu.universi tytickets.com

• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock. Lasers will project references to the holidays and the season, abstract materials, themes and overall ap preciation of the natural Marquette surroundings. 6 to 9 p.m. Ore Dock. travelmarquette.org

Negaunee

• Music, Movement and More. This parent-led story time is for all ages. 10:30 a.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700.

16 FRIDAY

sunrise 8:27 a.m.; sunset 5:03 p.m.

the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Global Cinema. The 2019 Oscar winner for Best Picture Parasite will be shown. Noon. Shiras Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. 12:30 p.m. Mar quette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• LEGO Club. Meet other LEGO en thusiasts and build LEGO projects us ing the library’s LEGO blocks. Youth age 7 and younger must be accompa nied by an adult. 4 p.m. Great Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4323.

• A Holiday Double Feature: A Char lie Brown Christmas and The Nut cracker Members of NMU Theatre will perform a one-act musical based on the TV special of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Members of NMU Dance will perform excerpts of The Nutcrack er ballet. Prices vary. 7:30 p.m. Forest Roberts Theatre, NMU. nmu.universi tytickets.com

• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock. Lasers will project references to the holidays and the season, abstract materials, themes and overall ap preciation of the natural Marquette surroundings. 6 to 9 p.m. Ore Dock. travelmarquette.org

• Yule Ball. Students in grades 6 to 8 are invited for a semi-formal dance.

Registration required. $2. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Community Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4321.

17 SATURDAY

sunrise 8:28 a.m.; sunset 5:03 p.m.

Calumet

• Winter Markets. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Calumet Art Center, 57055 Fifth St. (906) 934-2228.

Escanaba

• Santa Story Hour. Youth with an adult are invited for Christmas-themed stories. 1 p.m. City Council Room, Es canaba Public Library, 400 Ludington St. (906) 789-7323.

• Family Fun Night: A Charlie Brown Christmas. Create Christmas crafts and watch A Charlie Brown Christmas. Register by the 9th. 6:30 p.m. Bonifas Arts Center, 700 First Ave. S. (906) 786-3833 or bonifasarts. org

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Holiday Market. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Marquette Commons, 112 S. Third St. mqtfarmersmarket.com

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested

players. $5 for games. Lessons, 10 a.m. Games, 11:30 a.m. Citizens Fo rum, Lakeview Arena, 401 E. Pine St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• A Holiday Double Feature: A Char lie Brown Christmas and The Nut cracker. Members of NMU Theatre will perform a one-act musical based on the TV special of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Members of NMU Dance will perform excerpts of The Nutcrack er ballet. Prices vary. 7:30 p.m. Forest Roberts Theatre, NMU. nmu.universi tytickets.com

• Marquette Choral Society Holiday Concerts. The group will perform A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Brit ten and Carols and Lullabies: Christ mas in the Southwest by Conrad Susa. This activity is supported by the Michi gan Arts and Culture Council, adminis tered by Upper Peninsula Arts and Cul ture Alliance. Seniors, students and children, $5; general public, $10. 7:30 p.m. Kaufman Auditorium, 611 N. Front St. nmu.universitytickets. com

• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock. Lasers will project references to the holidays and the season, abstract materials, themes and overall ap preciation of the natural Marquette surroundings. 6 to 9 p.m. Ore Dock. travelmarquette.org

18 SUNDAY

sunrise 8:29 a.m.; sunset 5:03 p.m.

Escanaba

• Santa’s Holiday Market. Warm up with free hot chocolate, a visit with Santa and finish your Christmas shopping. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Catherine Bonifas Civic Center, 225 21st St. N. deltami.org

Ishpeming

• Bingo. Snacks and beverages avail able for purchase. Noon. Ishpeming VFW, 310 Bank St. (906) 486-8080.

Marquette

• Marquette Choral Society Holiday Concerts. The group will perform A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Brit ten and Carols and Lullabies: Christ mas in the Southwest by Conrad Susa. This activity is supported by the Michi gan Arts and Culture Council, adminis tered by Upper Peninsula Arts and Cul ture Alliance. Seniors, students and children, $5; general public, $10. 3 p.m. Kaufman Auditorium, 611 N. Front St. nmu.universitytickets.com

19 MONDAY

sunrise 8:29 a.m.; sunset 5:04 p.m.

Marquette

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View

Hanukkah

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday

Holiday Double Feature: The Nutracker | December 9 to 11 and 14 - 17 | Marquette

cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Marquette Playgroup. This weekly playgroup is led by an early childhood educator and geared toward newborns to age 5. Activities include free play, story time, a snack and other activities to promote social-emotional develop ment. 10 to 11:30 a.m. Lake Superior Village Youth and Family Center, 1901 Longyear Ave. • Get Crafty. Students in grade 6 to 12 are invited to make snow globes, luminary jars and oth er items. 4 to 7 p.m. Teen Zone, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Senior Theatre Experience: Month ly Workshop and Discussion. This workshop is for those age 55 and old er. Register in advance. Marquette city and surrounding township residents, free; nonresidents, $5 donation. 4 p.m. Marquette Arts and Culture Center, lower level, Peter White Public Li brary, 217 N. Front St. (906) 225-8655.

• Global Geeks Book Club. The group will discuss The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. 6 p.m. Dandelion Cottage Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4312.

• Joy of Sound Meditation. Enjoy a relaxing meditation with sounds pro duced by Tibetan singing bowls and metallic gongs. 7 p.m. St. Paul’s Epis copal Church, 201 E. Ridge St. (906) 362-9934.

Negaunee

• All-Ages Online Storytime. Enjoy stories, songs and rhymes from the comfort of your own home. 11a.m. via Facebook Live. facebook.com/ NegauneePublicLibrary

20 TUESDAY

sunrise 8:30 a.m.; sunset 5:04 p.m.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. 12:30 p.m. Mar quette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• Oil Painting, Pastels and Drawing Classes with Marlene Wood. Bring your own supplies. $20. 1 to 3 p.m. Mar quette Arts and Culture Center, lower level, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 225-8655.

• Outword. LGBTQIA youth and al lied students in grades 7 to 12 are in vited. 4 p.m. Great Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4321.

• Artists and Their Art: The New York School. Learn about the New York School art movement. 7 p.m. via Zoom. Visit pwpl.info for Zoom link.

21 WEDNESDAY

sunrise 8:30 a.m.; sunset 5:04 p.m.

Ishpeming

• Open Crafts Night. 6:30 p.m. Mak ers Marketplace, 113 Cleveland Ave. (906) 458-0626.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Congregate Meals for Seniors–Dine in or Curbside Pickup. Meals avail able to those age 60 and older. Call to reserve a meal. $3.50 suggested donation. Noon to 1 p.m. Marquette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. (906) 228-0456.

• PWPL Non-Fiction Book Club. The group will discuss The Zhivago Affair by Peter Finn and Petra Couvee. 1 p.m. Conference Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 2264311.

• Teen Advisory Board. Students in grade 9 to 12 are invited to meet new people, plan activities and gain volun teer experience. 4 p.m. Great Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4321.

Negaunee

• Knitting Group. Those interested in crocheting, knitting and other fiber arts are welcome to bring their projects and share with others. Coffee provided. 1:30 p.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700, ext. 18.

• Wings of Fire Interest Group. Youth age eight and older are invited to discuss the series, write fanfiction, make crafts and other activities. 3 p.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700, ext. 18.

22 THURSDAY

sunrise 8:31 a.m.; sunset 5:05 p.m.

parent-led story time is for all ages. 10:30 a.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700..

23 FRIDAY

sunrise 8:31 a.m.; sunset 5:05 p.m.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Blockbusting Cinema. The film Where the Crawdads Sing will be shown. Noon. Community Room, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4321.

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. 12:30 p.m. Mar quette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock. Lasers will project references to the holidays and the season, abstract materials, themes and overall ap preciation of the natural Marquette surroundings. 6 to 9 p.m. Ore Dock. travelmarquette.org

24 SATURDAY

sunrise 8:32 a.m.; sunset 5:06 p.m.

Christmas Eve Marquette

• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock. Lasers will project references to the holidays and the season, abstract materials, themes and overall ap preciation of the natural Marquette surroundings. 6 to 9 p.m. Ore Dock. travelmarquette.org

25 SUNDAY

sunrise 8:32 a.m.; sunset 5:07 p.m.

Christmas

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. 12:30 p.m. Mar quette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock. Lasers will project references to the holidays and the season, abstract materials, themes and overall ap preciation of the natural Marquette surroundings. 6 to 9 p.m. Ore Dock. travelmarquette.org

Negaunee

• Music, Movement and More. This

Gwinn

• Dale’s Christmas Light Show. This drive-thru light show will feature more than 100 separate circuits of lights with corresponding music through your ve hicle radio. Daily through December 25. 5:30 to 11 p.m. 950 E. Girl Scout Ln.

26 MONDAY

sunrise 8:33 a.m.; sunset 5:07 p.m.

Negaunee

• Natural Track Luge Public Slid ing. Learn to luge on the beginner luge track. Instruction, helmets and footwear provided. Youth ages 15 and younger, $15; ages 16 and older, $25. Times to be determined based

on weather. Lucy Hill, 230 E. County Rd. upluge.org

27 TUESDAY

sunrise 8:33 a.m.; sunset 5:08 p.m.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. 12:30 p.m. Mar quette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• Oil Painting, Pastels and Drawing Classes with Marlene Wood. Bring your own supplies. $20. 1 to 3 p.m. Mar quette Arts and Culture Center, lower level, Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 225-8655.

Negaunee

• Natural Track Luge Public Slid ing. Learn to luge on the beginner luge track. Instruction, helmets and footwear provided. Youth ages 15 and younger, $15; ages 16 and older, $25. Times to be determined based on weather. Lucy Hill, 230 E. County Rd. upluge.org

28 WEDNESDAY

sunrise 8:33 a.m.; sunset 5:09p.m.

Ishpeming

• Open Crafts Night. 6:30 p.m. Mak ers Marketplace, 113 Cleveland Ave. (906) 458-0626.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Congregate Meals for Seniors–Dine in or Curbside Pickup. Meals avail able to those age 60 and older. Call to reserve a meal. $3.50 suggested donation. Noon to 1 p.m. Marquette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. (906) 228-0456.

Negaunee

• Natural Track Luge Public Slid ing. Learn to luge on the beginner luge track. Instruction, helmets and footwear provided. Youth ages 15 and younger, $15; ages 16 and older, $25. Times to be determined based on weather. Lucy Hill, 230 E. County Rd. upluge.org

• Knitting Group. Those interested in crocheting, knitting and other fiber arts are welcome to bring their projects and share with others. Coffee provided. 1:30 p.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700, ext. 18.

• Wings of Fire Interest Group.

Youth age eight and older are invited to discuss the series, write fanfiction, make crafts and other activities. 3 p.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700, ext. 18.

29 THURSDAY

sunrise 8:33 a.m.; sunset 5:09 p.m.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. 12:30 p.m. Mar quette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock. Lasers will project references to the holidays and the season, abstract ma terials, themes and overall appreciation of the natural Marquette surroundings.

support groups

6 to 9 p.m. Ore Dock.

Negaunee

• Natural Track Luge Public Slid ing. Learn to luge on the beginner luge track. Instruction, helmets and footwear provided. Youth ages 15 and younger, $15; ages 16 and older, $25. Times to be determined based on weather. Lucy Hill, 230 E. County Rd. upluge.org

• Music, Movement and More. This parent-led story time is for all ages. 10:30 a.m. Negaunee Public Library, 319 W. Case St. (906) 475-7700.

30 FRIDAY

sunrise 8:33 a.m.; sunset 5:10 p.m.

Marquette

• Winter Wonderland Walk. View the decorated trees, lights and holiday cheer. 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front St. (906) 226-4322.

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge

Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. 12:30 p.m. Mar quette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock. Lasers will project references to the holidays and the season, abstract ma terials, themes and overall appreciation of the natural Marquette surroundings. 6 to 9 p.m. Ore Dock. travelmarquette. org

Negaunee

• Natural Track Luge Public Sliding. Learn to luge on the beginner luge track. Instruction, helmets and footwear provided. Youth ages 15 and younger, $15; ages 16 and older, $25. Times to be determined based on weather. Lucy Hill, 230 E. County Rd. upluge.org

31 SATURDAY

sunrise 8:34 a.m.; sunset 5:11 p.m.

New Year’s Eve

Marquette

• Superiorland Duplicate Bridge Club. Games open to all interested players. $5 for games. Lessons, 10 a.m. Games, 11:30 a.m. Citizens Fo rum, Lakeview Arena, 401 E. Pine St. superiorland_bridge.tripod.com

• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock. Lasers will project references to the hol idays and the season, abstract materials, themes and overall appreciation of the natural Marquette surroundings. 6 to 9 p.m. Ore Dock. travelmarquette.org

• New Year’s Eve Ball Drop. Join oth ers and ring in the New Year during the annual ball drop. 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Washington St. travelmarquette.com

Negaunee

• Natural Track Luge Public Sliding. Learn to luge on the beginner luge track. Instruction, helmets and footwear provided. Youth ages 15 and younger, $15; ages 16 and older, $25. Times to be determined based on weather. Lucy Hill, 230 E. County Rd. upluge.org

• Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families—Mar quette. Sundays, 7 p.m., use the park ing lot entrance. Downstairs meeting room, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 201 E. Ridge St. adultchildren.org/ meeting

• Alano Club—Marquette. Twelvestep recovery meetings daily. Monday through Saturday, noon and 8 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. 3020 US41, Marquette.

• Al-Anon Family Groups. A fellow ship offering strength and hope for friends and families of problem drink ers. al-alon.org or (888) 425-2666.

• Alcoholics Anonymous. Meetings throughout Marquette County, open daily, at many locations and times. Twenty-four-hour answering service, aa-marquettecounty.org or (800) 6055043.

• ALZConnected. This is a free, on line community for everyone affect ed by Alzheimer’s disease and other memory loss diseases. alzconnected. org

• American Legacy Foundation. Smoking quit line for expectant mothers and cessation information for women. (800) 668-8278.

• Amputee Social Group—Mar quette. This peer support group is for amputees, friends and families to share resources, life experiences and create relationships. December 13. 6 p.m. SAIL Office, 1200 Wright St. (906) 273-2444.

• Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar and Cholesterol Checks. Cho lesterol checks are $5. Call for Marquette County schedule. (906)

225-4545.

• Divorce Care—Ishpeming. This non-denominational group is for peo ple who are separated or divorced. New members are welcome. Tues days, 6 p.m. Northiron Church, 910 Palms Ave. northiron.church or (906) 475-6032.

• Grief Share—Ishpeming. This non-denominational group is for peo ple dealing with grief and loss. Mon days, 2:30 p.m. Northiron Church, 910 Palms Ave. northiron.church or (906) 475-6032.

• iCanQuit. Smokers are invited to learn more about quitting with the help of a quitting coach. (800) 4807848.

• Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous. Tuesdays, 12:05 p.m. Upstairs, The Crib Coffee House, 401 N. Third St. ITAAMQT@zohomail. com

• Lake Superior Life Care and Hos pice Grief Support Group—Gwinn. People dealing with grief and loss are encouraged to attend. Individual grief counseling is available. December 14. 2 p.m. Forsyth Senior Center, 165 Ma ple St. (906) 225-7760 or lakesuperi orhospice.org

• Lake Superior Life Care and Hos pice Grief Support Group—Mar quette. People dealing with grief and loss are encouraged to attend. Individ ual grief counseling is available. De cember 21. 5:30 p.m. Lake Superior Life Care & Hospice, 914 W. Baraga Ave. (906) 225-7760 or lakesuperior hospice.org

• Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice Grief Support Group—

Negaunee. People dealing with grief and loss are encouraged to attend. In dividual grief counseling is available. December 15. 3 p.m. Negaunee Senior Center, 410 Jackson St. lakesuperior hospice.org or (906) 475-6266.

• Michigan Tobacco Quit Line. This free quit smoking coaching hotline provides callers with a personal health coach. (800) 784-8669.

• Motherhood Support Group— Marquette. This free group meets the second Thursday of each month. December 9. 6 p.m. Suunta Integra tive Health, 1209 N. Third St. (906) 273-0964.

• National Alliance on Mental Ill ness—Support Group. Individuals living with mental illness and friends or families living with an individu al with mental illness are welcome. Second Monday and Third Thursday of each month via Zoom. Email ck bertucci58@charter.net for the Zoom invitation.

• Nar-Anon Meetings—Ishpeming Family and friends who have addict ed loved ones are invited. Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. Mission Covenant Church, 1001 N. Second St. (906) 361-9524.

• Nicotine Anonymous. (415) 7500328 or www.nicotine-anonymous.org

• Parkinson’s Support Group— Marquette . December 21. 2 p.m. Marquette Senior Center, 300 W. Spring St. (906) 228-0456.

• Senior Support Group—Mar quette. A one-hour long presenta tion will discuss aging and health, a normal aging brain, threats to brain health, along with healthy aging for your body and brain. December 15.

2 p.m. Mill Creek Clubhouse, 1728 Windstone Dr. (906) 225-7760 or lakesuperiorhospice.org

• Sexual Health and Addiction Therapy Group. Call Great Lakes Recovery Centers for more details. Dates, times and locations vary. (906) 228-9696.

• SMART Recovery—Calumet. A self-help group for alcohol and substance abuse and other addictive behaviors. Mondays, 7 p.m. Copper Country Mental Health, 56938 Calu met Avenue. smartrecovery.org

• SMART Recovery—Hancock. Thursdays, 7 p.m. Basement Confer ence Room, Old Main Building, Fin landia University, 601 Quincy St.

• SMART Recovery—Marquette. Mondays, Noon. Zoom meeting. Visit smartrecovery.com for Zoom link.

• Take Off Pounds Sensibly. This is a non-commercial weight-control sup port group. Various places and times throughout the U.P. (800) 932-8677 or TOPS.org

• Virtual Caregiver Support Group. U.P. family caregivers are welcome to join. A device with an internet con nection, webcam, microphone and an email address are required. Advanced registration required. 2 p.m. Second Tuesday of the month. (906) 217-3019 or caregivers@upcap.org

• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Food Pro gram. Clinics include nutritional counseling and coupon pick-up. Ap pointments required. Call for Mar quette County schedule. mqthealth. org or (906) 475-7846.