c to b e r
6th – 9th
13th – 16th
20th – 23rd
27th – 30th
• $15.00 per person
• Tours star t at 7pm nightly
• Reser vation required
• Recommended ages 12 and up
• Visit ww w.fwhp.ca for more details
4 festivals...46 musicians...51 painters... infinite inspiration.
Radio Waves Music Festival September 9-11
Plein Air Grand Marais September 8-15 Unplugged XV September 15-18 Moose Madness Family Festival October 21-23
VisitCookCounty.com/calendar
At Northern Wilds, we’ve been eating well. Our home gardens have been producing their bounty. By this time, those of us who enjoy fishing have eaten so much of our catch we are beginning to grow gills. Soon enough, we’ll be harvesting fall crops like squash and apples. The hunting season for grouse opens this month, too. When it comes to eating fresh foods, September is one of the best months to be in the Northern Wilds.
While eating fresh, locally produced food is a current cultural phenomenon, in the Northern Wilds it’s a way of life. Many folks have gardens and chicken coops, not to mention freezers well-stocked with venison and fish. Millennials who are deciding to make the Northern Wilds their home are doing so in part because they can enjoy a back-to-the-land lifestyle. Some people procure locally grown products from CSAs and farmer’s markets. Many restaurants feature local ingredients on their menus.
For many residents of the Northern Wilds, living with the land is simply a way of life. A substantial portion of the economy is derived from the natural resources that surround us. Our major industries, tourism, logging and mining, are resource-based. Another fact of life here is that many folks are either part of a family business or self-employed. If you want to live in the Northern Wilds, you have to be willing to make your own way.
In this issue, we feature a man who has done just that for 65 years. Hovland logger Duane Johnson walks his own path in the forest, eschewing expensive, hightech harvesting equipment to cut down trees with a chainsaw. Doing so, he raised a family and has lived a
productive, good life. Dining columnist Maren Webb profiles three families who are making a go of it by creating good things to eat: candy-makers, maple syrup producers and cheese producers. Rhonda Silence gives us a story about community gardening projects underway at Grand Portage.
September is also a month when you can attend harvest festivals in several communities, which you will find listed in our Events section. You’ll find artistic and musical events as well, including the Radio Waves festival in Grand Marais that features local musicians. In Spotlight, Breana Roy shows us some of the local artwork on display during the Crossing Borders and 20/20 studio tours. Elle Andra-Warner gives us the back story on a form of art frequently seen along our roadsides: the inuksuk.
Outdoor lovers will enjoy Gord Ellis’ ode to camo clothing, which has become a fashion statement on both sides of the border. Julia Prinselaar talks to an avid archer about his preparations for his annual deer hunt. Casey Fitchett takes us on a hunt of a different kind: a Pokémon Go adventure in Grand Marais.
September also marks the final month of our Northern Wilds Photo Contest. This year, we are producing a 2017 calendar featuring our winning entries. The contest has four categories: People, Landscape, Wildlife and Pets. All you need to do is email your photo entries to contest@northernwilds.com.—Shawn Perich and Amber Pratt
VOLUME 13, ISSUE 9 www.northernwilds.com
PUBLISHERS
Shawn Perich & Amber Pratt
EDITORIAL
Shawn Perich, Editor editor@northernwilds.com
Breana Roy, Assistant Editor breana@northernwilds.com
ADVERTISING
Sue O’Quinn, Sales Representative sue@northernwilds.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Katie Viren • katie@northernwilds.com
Drew Johnson • drew@northernwilds.com
OFFICE
Roseanne Cooley billing@northernwilds.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Elle Andra-Warner, Eric Chandler, Staci Droulliard, Gord Ellis, Kim Falter, Casey Fitchett, Joe Friedrichs, Deane Morrison, Julia Prinselaar, Kelsey Roseth, Amy Schmidt, Javier Serna, Rhonda Silence, Wayne Steffens, Kathy Toivonen, Maren Webb
Copyright 2016 by Northern Wilds Media, Inc.
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GRAND PORTAGE—Getting fresh vegetables to the table is a community affair in Grand Portage, with the health clinic, school and community members all working—and enjoying the harvest—together.
Andy Schmidt, tribal State Health Improvement Program (SHIP) agriculture coordinator, oversees two community gardening initiatives—three large hoop houses and garden plots on Mineral Center Road. Schmidt cultivates the myriad vegetables in the hoop houses. The fruits of his labor go to the Elder Nutrition Program, the Community Center lunch program in the summer and the Head Start food program in the fall.
Schmidt also provides materials for the 15 families who have garden plots, but he said they do all the work. Families start their own plants inside or purchase them, sometimes from the Grand Marais Great Expectations School greenhouse sale in the spring, and carefully plant and tend them in 10x12-foot garden plots.
Unable to have a garden because she lives in an apartment, participant Billi Carlson signed up as soon as she learned of the opportunity. She said gardeners are provided with a watering system, black dirt, and even use of a tiller.
Carlson has been enjoying the harvest, which so far has included peppers, carrots, different kinds of lettuce, peas, cucumbers, radishes, tomatoes (for Fried Green Tomatoes), and more. She is growing a new vegetable—kalettes, a cross between brussels sprouts and kale.
“It’s easy as can be,” Carlson said. “We’re having an awesome time up there.”
Schmidt said everyone seems to feel that way. “It’s a fun spot. There is a steady stream of people coming and going. People linger and visit and have a good time.”
Community members currently working a garden plot get to keep it in subsequent years if they wish. Keeping the same plot encourages a family to care for the soils, said Schmidt. There are two more plots available, so anyone wishing to sign up for a spot next year can contact (218) 4753014 or aschmidt@grandportage.com
In addition to the garden plots used by community members, the Mineral Center Road site also has a 90x90-foot school garden, supervised by SNAP Nutrition educator Tess Bailey. Oshki Ogimaag students start planning their garden in March with discussion about the types of vegetables and strains that grow in this area, followed by the planting of seeds. Students tend the seeds in grow stands until they are ready for planting at the school garden or in the large planters that line the school/community center parking area. This year, each student has his or her own three-foot section to care for.
In addition to learning about planting, teachers asked for instruction on what to do with the harvest and Bailey said the
school added meal preparation lessons. For example, students learn to shuck peas, blanch and freeze them for use throughout the school year. They also prepare a vegetable dish.
It is nice to see youths try something new, said Bailey. “Because they grew it, they are willing to try it. If they try it, they normally like it. And they are learning to enjoy fresh foods.”
In addition to the space and materials for gardening, there is also an educational component of the community garden program. Once a month there is a get-togeth -
er at the Old Log Building with dinner and a presentation. The dinner, usually the third Wednesday of the month, features healthy local food.
The presentations are timely and open to the public. They started off with tips for getting seeds growing, and tips on using fresh produce. This month, the presentation will be on canning and pickling.
The gardens and the presentations are conducted with support of the Grand Portage Health Clinic, said Schmidt, “Because good food is key to good health.”
And getting that good food is sometimes difficult, noted Bailey. “We’re at the end of the road here. It’s hard to get fresh produce. The programs offered by the clinic and the school help people gain the skills to grow, pick and prepare their own food,” she said.
ENP director Patty Winchell Dahl said everyone benefits. “We have a terrific community organization of interested people that are volunteering their time and talents to promote locally grown food and sustainability in Grand Portage,” she said.—Rhonda Silence
DULUTH—Plenty of people love last-minute trips to the North Shore.
If you’re one of them, perhaps you have an unexpected weekend free, or are in desperate need of a mid-week getaway, so you decide to contact local hotels and resorts to find an available room.
Attempt this, and you’ll quickly realize that locating a last-minute room on the North Shore can be extremely challenging.
“That spontaneity holds an allure for some people,” said Linda Jurek-Kratt, executive director of Visit Cook County. “There is an allure to not having a plan, waiting until the last minute, and saying, ‘let’s see what beholds us as we travel up the North Shore.’”
For more than five years, Visit Cook County has had an informal program in place through the local information centers to help spontaneous travelers locate lodging. Properties know to notify the information centers if they have last-minute availability, and the centers keep a running list.
She said that’s why the program is in place—to support people’s unexpected trips so that they may take in the beauty of the North Shore. Year round, during peak travel times, people will call the information centers daily and ask if anyone knows of room availability.
Visit Duluth offers a similar service, only electronic. Their website is set up to showcase current room availability. Each week, the organization has two travel information managers call more than 80 nearby properties and ask about room openings during the upcoming weekend, or inquire about availability surrounding special events.
Bob Gustafson, media communications manager for Visit Duluth, said they have provided this service for more than 10 years, “to make it easier on the visitor, regardless of what type of Duluth experience they are looking for,” he said. During the travel information managers’ weekly calls, staff members also inquire about local charter fishing and campground availability.
To increase your chances of finding an open room, Gustafson suggests turning to social media. “Being able to be in communication with the different properties, or even us, on social media, is a big component,” he said.
Information center staff members are also prepared with their own call list and are prepared to contact properties before busy weekends. The list is massive; it contains more than 300 properties from hotels to lodges to vacation rentals. Visit Cook County said the “pillow count,” or the places where guests can rest their head, totals more than 6,000.
Kjersti Vick has been Visit Cook County’s marketing manager for about three years. “Sometimes, when you are planning a trip,” said Vick, “you can miss some of the organic opportunities that arise when you’re traveling.”
Properties often offer last-minute specials on Facebook, Twitter or other platforms, or they may post about unique events that week that could be of interest to spontaneous travelers.—Kelsey Roseth
Check out the current room availability here: VISIT DULUTH: www.visitduluth.com/lodging/current-availability
VISIT COOK COUNTY
Grand Marais Information Center: (218) 387-2524
Lutsen-Tofte Information Center: (218) 663-7804
ST. PAUL—Firearms and muzzleloader hunters who want to harvest antlerless deer in a deer permit area designated as lottery this hunting season are reminded they must purchase their license and apply for an antlerless permit by Thursday, Sept. 8. This season, antlerless deer permits are issued by lottery in 67 of Minnesota’s 128 deer permit areas. Antlerless deer are without an antler at least 3 inches long. No application is needed to take antlerless deer in permit areas designated as
hunters choice, managed or intensive harvest areas.
Hunters who want to participate in special firearm deer hunts also need to apply for permits that are issued by lottery, and the application deadline is Sept. 8.
More information on deer permit areas and special hunts is available in the 2016 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook, found online at www. mndnr.gov/hunting/deer
LAPPE—If you can dream it, Willow Springs Creative Centre can make it happen. From its setting in Lappe, about 15 km northwest of Thunder Bay, you can tour the world, have Christmas in July, or transform a tree house into a space ship.
Willow Springs Creative Centre is a notfor-profit organization located on the corner of Mapleward Road and Kam Current Road in a historic 1930s co-op store. Inside, the store’s original wooden cubbies and hardwood counter-top displays local art work and products for sale, including fresh baked goods. On the wall is written their mission statement: To promote growth through creative expression and community development. The building itself was built to serve the community and today, every inch of the grounds provides and connects with the community and the region through art programs, life skills development, mentors, and partnerships. For example, a children’s art camp took the participants on a trip around the world, where they ate food and created art from a different country each day. And one office’s Christmas party made rustic birdfeeders on a sunny July day.
Workshops and programs almost always include food, which is made on-site either in the outdoor clay oven or in the kitchen. Locally sourced foods are used as much as possible, as well as produce right from the gardens at the centre. The vegetable gardens have been developed with raised beds and specially designed A-frame garden beds that are wheelchair accessible. The centre partners with organizations such as Roots to Harvest and horticultural societies to share skills, knowledge, and manpower.
As a social purpose enterprise, an important part of Willow Springs Creative Centre is to be supportive and inclusive. Students in post-secondary programs, such as recreational therapy and so -
cial work, gain experience at the centre through placements. Often, they mentor participants, such as young adults from the Community Integration through Cooperative Education (CICE) program at Confederation College. Joanna Luczak was one of the young adults in the CICE program who attended Willow Springs to expand her life skills. At the end of the program, Joanna was hired as an employee and joyfully helps at the centre.
The Thunder Bay & District Chapter of Autism Ontario is another group that accesses the creative spaces at Willow Springs. Autism Ontario funded a covered outdoor area, with the support of the Rotary Club of Thunder Bay (Fort William), to offer more space to create and gather. And a second project is in the works—a tree house. The families of the Autism Ontario group were asked what their wish list would be for a tree house; and the list included wheelchair accessibility, to be suspended off the ground, to transform from a tree house to a space ship; and to
museum and nature center
have a mermaid pond underneath. With list in hand, the staff and builders developed a plan to construct the tree house. The location is off a slope, which would allow wheelchairs to enter from a ramp on one side. From the other side, it will be suspended off the ground. Inside, the tree house will have buttons and levers to operate as if on a space ship. As for the mermaid pond—some creative imagining will bring it to life.
The tree house is scheduled to be completed by the end of this summer; and it, as well as everything else on the land, is set up for the public to explore. There is a sand pile for children to play in, a forest trail, a play house, and a flower garden that features an antique car with a fairy garden on the back dash. The centre is a bustle of vendors and customers who congregate at the Willow Springs Market, held every Friday from 3-7 p.m. until Sept. 30. To learn more, go to www.willowsprings.ca.—Kathy Toivonen
For the well-designed life.
Butch and Amy Kuronen’s updated kitchen sets the stage for new memories in their 100-year-old home. Thanks to our certified award-winning designers, creating a space that draws the family together is as easy as pie. Discover the stories, products and process giving families across the region a better sense of place.
Saturday, Sept. 24th: 2-3 pm. Late summer flowers on ancient rocks - Geology and Natural History of the upper Gunflint Trail by John Green. At the Chik-Wauk Nature Center.
Monday, Sept. 12th: 1:30-3 pm. Nancy Waver from Trout Lake Resort will be our speaker. They are celebrating their 70th anniversary this year. Nancy loves history and is grateful for this chance to share their story.
At the A. Paul and Carol Schaap Community Center.
Special discounts in the gift shop.
Thru October 23, 10 am - 5 pm
Nature Center 11 am - 4 pm
Admission: Adults $4.00, ages 5-18 $2.00, ages 0-4 Free 28 Moose Pond Drive,Grand Marais 55 miles up the Gunflint Trail. 218-388-9915
info@chikwauk.com www.chikwauk.com
GRAND MARAIS—Moose, fox, coyotes and wolves aren’t the only wild creatures wandering around the North Shore these days. With the right equipment, a little patience and maybe some bait, you might just have the chance to encounter and trap a few “mythical animals” through the latest craze with gamers worldwide.
Immensely popular with players of all ages, Pokémon Go is the newest game from the developer Niantic Labs. The game, which was initially released in selected countries at the beginning of July, is similar in many ways to the card and video game versions from the early 90’s.
After downloading the game on a smart phone, players become official Pokémon trainers. Unlike the former stationary forms of the Pokémon game, however, players must physically walk around to toss Pokéballs at the unsuspecting creatures superimposed onto the real-life scenery captured by the phone’s camera lens. A proper release of the Pokéball—essentially a well-timed press and release of a finger on the phone’s screen—will ensure a captured Pokémon.
Once captured, players can battle their Pokémon at “gyms,” which are located at landmarks and businesses around towns. Popular gyms in Duluth, for instance, are on the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus and at Chester Bowl Park.
A child of the 90’s myself, I downloaded the game a few days after it came out, primarily to pay nostalgic homage to the hundreds of Pokémon cards I had collected as a kid (sorry Mom). While my first attempt playing ended shortly after it started, I enlisted the help of experienced Grand Marais player Victoria Margitova to help me be more focused on “catching them all” during my second try.
“I’ve been playing the game for about a month. My husband Patrick thought this was a great opportunity to get outside together,” said Margitova. “We usually play together twice a week and have fun looking for creatures. They are not that common in Grand Marais, so I’m always very excited when I catch a Pokémon that I haven’t seen before.”
Victoria had strategically chosen to meet me for my tutorial at a Poké Stop—a place where trainers can collect more Pokéballs—just outside of Java Moose in Grand Marais. After we grabbed our reserve creature trappers, we started our trek around the harbor loop. Poké Stops don’t produce an unlimited number of advantages at one time; the game has a timer for usage to ensure players keep moving. Word on the street is that Canal Park and government service buildings in Duluth are home to many Poké Stops.
There are three teams to choose from, red, yellow or blue. While Victoria chose the yellow team after becoming eligible to choose at Level 5, the gyms at both the Beaver House and at the Grand Marais Public Library were both currently run by the blue team.
Even though she had a sneaking suspicion she was going to lose—the Pokémon at this gym were stronger than her fleet—she still threw her hat in the ring to demonstrate how a duel works in this augmented reality. I watched her tap her phone repeatedly to deliver blows, but she was outmatched, and the gym remained in control of the blue team.
“I don’t do gyms much, but I should because it makes your Pokémon stronger. Even though I lost, if someone from the yellow team keeps fighting and wins, we can both put our Pokémon there.”
The aptly named “lures” in the game result in more Pokémon at a particular location, and inevitably more potential customers and visitors for the businesses or locations that purchase them. The First Presbyterian Church in Thunder Bay has set up lures to attract Pokémon on certain days of the week, to encourage players to rest, charge their phones and use the wi-fi. Individual players can also purchase lures that benefit themselves and the other players in the surrounding area.
While no one knows for sure if the game is a passing fad or here to stay, players certainly are getting their summertime exercise trying to “catch ‘em all” along the North Shore.—Casey Fitchett
TWO HARBORS—Recently, several native bees, as well as other insects, are in decline, including several native ladybugs.
Ladybugs are actually beetles in the family Coccinellidae. They are also known as lady beetles or ladybird beetles. There are roughly 500 species in North America and between 50-100 are found in Minnesota. Although we tend to picture ladybugs as red or orange with black spots, they can also be yellowish, black with red or yellow spots, or just plain black.
Adult ladybugs and larvae are beneficial insects that prey on aphids and scale insects which can be pests in gardens, crops and ornamentals. They spend much of their time roaming vegetation in search of prey and pollinate plants in the process. Some species are arboreal, living in trees. Eggs are laid on vegetation and the sculptured, segmented and sometimes colorful larvae that hatch out a few days later look somewhat like tiny alligators.
The two-spotted ladybug was once very common, occurring across much of North America. But along with the nine-spotted ladybug and the transverse ladybug, it has almost disappeared from eastern North America. These three now-rare species are known as the “lost ladybugs.”
The lost ladybugs once occurred across most of Minnesota and Ontario, but only the two- spotted ladybug has been recently seen in the north; found in Thunder Bay several years ago. And at least one small population persists near Gilbert in northern Minnesota. These are the only places where we know they still occur in our area. A few nine-spotted ladybugs persist in east-central Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin, but the transverse ladybug has not been reported from anywhere in the region in several decades.
As these three native ladybugs have declined, three introduced species of ladybugs have proliferated. As many homeowners know, the multicolored Asian ladybug is much too easy to find in fall when large numbers migrate and invade homes, looking for mild places to overwinter. In addition to the annoyance caused by their sheer numbers, their bite can be mildly painful. Ladybugs can emit a foul-smelling chemical for self-defense, and this is especially evident when multicolored Asian
ladybugs get into houses, fly into light bulbs, or are handled. This chemical can even ruin food crops. Originally native to Asia, they can be found throughout most of the U.S. and Canada.
In the 1970s, there were large migrations of the native convergent ladybug. Although not nearly as rare as the lost ladybugs, this species has also declined significantly. Fall migrations are now mostly made up of multicolored Asian ladybugs. In the late summer and fall, hundreds or thousands can be found along the Lake Superior shore, where they wash up after falling into the lake during migratory flights. After they dry off, they resume their migration.
Two ladybugs native to Europe have become established in our area. The seven-spotted ladybug has been introduced as a biological control many times and is now very common. The recently arrived variable ladybug was first seen in Quebec
30 years ago but has now spread over much of northeastern North America.
Nobody knows why native ladybugs are declining, but some scientists believe these introduced species play a role through competition or predation. The spread of the introduced species has generally coincided with the decline of native species.
Some ladybugs can be quite variable in appearance, including the two-spotted, nine-spotted and multicolored Asian ladybugs. These can be more challenging to identify, but other ladybugs are fairly consistent in their appearance. A poster that illustrates 40 of Minnesota’s most common and rarest ladybugs can be found on the Minnesota DNR website at http:// files.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nongame/ ladybugs-of-minnesota.pdf
Anyone with a camera can help make an impact by submitting photographs to www.lostladybug.org, where ladybug
convergent ladybug that washed up on the shore of Lake Superior. |
photographs are identified by Cornell University scientists studying ladybug decline. Although rare ladybugs are not protected, knowing where they occur is a prerequisite to understanding their decline and to help future conservation efforts. Armed with the Ladybugs of Minnesota poster, the Lost Ladybug website, curiosity and a camera, you can discover a new population of one of our rarest ladybugs.—Wayne Steffens
DULUTH—It was a beautiful Friday night at Park Point in Duluth. Members of the Duluth Rowing Club (DRC) and their supporters met on July 15 to dedicate the brand new Joseph M. Krmpotich Boathouse. Joseph Krmpotich joined the DRC in 1967. He passed away in 2011. A generous gift from his estate to the DRC is what made the new boathouse possible.
The ceremony began with a ribbon cutting by members of the Krmpotich family. Bill Hodapp, DRC member, was the master of ceremonies. He noted that it was almost exactly 130 years earlier that the DRC was founded on July 10, 1886. The old boathouse entered its 111th season of service after originally starting as a dance hall. The shiny interior of the new boathouse, festooned with flags and banners, welcomed the crowd and several guest speakers.
Duluth City Council President Zack Filipovich read a proclamation on behalf of Mayor Emily Larson declaring July 15 “Duluth Rowing Club Day” in Duluth.
Next, Dave Krmpotich (Joe’s brother and a 1988 Olympic Silver Medalist in rowing) spoke. “Joe was a catalyst,” he said. “He always wanted to do extra work to get a little faster.”
Mark Krmpotich (Joe’s oldest brother) said, “I hope this building will last 100 years.”
Michael Cochran spoke next. He is the author of Invincible: History of the Duluth Boat Club which includes the story of
the Duluth-based “Invincible Four” who went undefeated in 22 national and international races. Cochran rowed with Joe Krmpotich. The crowd laughed as he told the story of how they used to play poker until enough guys showed up to fill a boat so they could row.
“I owe Joe an apology,” he said. “He said he wanted to build a boathouse and I was skeptical. He’d be damn proud.”
Last, Bonnie Fuller-Kask, DRC head coach, spoke proudly of the traditions and the future of the club. She noted there were 125 juniors in their rowing program,
enough to fill nine “eights” in the 58th annual Duluth Rowing Club Regatta the following day. She spoke of the teamwork, integrity, and spirit of helpfulness in her young rowers. “Because of this boathouse, the Duluth Rowing Club is on a solid footing for another 130 years,” she said.
The new boathouse is Phase I of a larger project. Phase II involves the demolition
of the old boathouse in the fall. Phase III is the construction of a new clubhouse, which will house bathrooms, locker rooms, storage for some of the smaller boats, and an area for boat repairs. Fundraising efforts continue to bring the whole DRC project to completion. For details on how to contribute, visit the DRC website at www.duluthrowing.org or check out their Facebook page.—Eric Chandler
GRAND MARAIS—We all know them: the yellow-tinged fluorescent lights embedded into school, church and office ceilings since the 1970s. Until recently, this was the lighting of choice for most public buildings, but a new lighting option is gaining popularity. It looks a lot like the fluorescents of the past, but when it comes to quality, energy efficiency and cost savings, the difference couldn’t be more clear.
Jeremy Ridlbauer, owner of Sundew Technical Services in Grand Marais has two nearly identical lighting fixtures lined up side by side against the wall of his workshop. One is an old-fashioned fluorescent, the other an LED. Characteristically enthusiastic about the inner workings of electrical appliances, Ridlbauer talked about the process of retrofitting all of the lights upstairs at the Grand Marais Pharmacy.
“Basically, I’m just setting up the fixture for the new harness, removing the very hot ballast and then putting the lights in,” he said.
They’ll reuse the rest of the fixture, which is right in step with the conservationist philosophy of the business owners.
Bob Sample, owner of the pharmacy, said that he noticed a difference right away. “It’s cleaner, clearer light. Not as yellowish.”
There is also a difference in temperature between the old bulbs and the new. The LEDs produce an equal amount of light with less energy, so they emit less heat. This keeps the ceiling cooler all year-round, and adds less unwanted heat to the building in the summer, which means less air conditioning. “Less heat, better lighting. A bit of a win-win,” said Sample Ridlbauer explained that the bulbs come in both glass or polycarbonate versions, and ballasted or non-ballasted versions. The Grand Marais Pharmacy chose the latter for both. Each bulb has a lifetime of 4-5 years depending on usage, with a substantial warranty. In total, each fixture installed will conserve 65 watts, for a total of 2,000 watts saved. Over the course of a year, this will save approximately $900 in electrical usage.
“Ultimately, electric rates keep going up. So why NOT do this,” said Sample.
The pair estimates that the entire switch will cost about $1,500.00. However, this initial cost will be off-set by
a rebate from the Grand Marais PUC, which will cover approximately half the cost. And once the lighting system begins to generate savings, the dollars and energy conserved will be 50 percent of their old electric bill. Based on previous electric use, this means that the new lights will pay for themselves in six months to one year.
“It’s all around good to be saving or conserving all of our resources, and this is one facet we can do relatively easily and cost effectively,” said Ridlbauer.
The lighting upgrades at the Grand Marais Pharmacy are just one example of local business owners choosing to incorporate energy efficiency into their business models. To help make the leap from old technologies into new, the Cook County Board recently approved access to the Property Assessed Clean Energy Program (PACE); a loan program made specifically for energy improvements, such as adding new lighting, solar and solar thermal infrastructure to their business or non-profit.
For more information on PACE, visit the Saint Paul Port Authority at www.sppa.com.—Staci Droulliard
MANITOBA—On August 2, the four canoers of Journey 4 Renewal (Steph Branchaud, Chelsea Froemke, Tessa Larson and Whitney Vogel) reached their end destination of York Factory in northern Manitoba, just 66 days after leaving Seagull Lake. Since their last update, after finishing Lake Winnipeg, the women enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the lakes and rivers leading to the God’s River route that feeds into the Hudson Bay. They also encountered a variety of challenges including wading through reeds and beaver dams, paddling through and portaging
around treacherous rapids, and bushwhacking campsites along the discontinuous permafrost marshland.
The canoe trip was not only an exciting test of the personal strength and skills of the four women, but is also raising funds for the Wilderness Canoe Base (WCB) at the end of the Gunflint Trail. Upon their return, the women were thrilled to see that the donations to the Renewal Campaign through Journey 4 Renewal reached $40,000. They are close to the $50,000, that will be generously matched.
Steph Branchaud (one of the paddlers) said, “We are humbled and excited by the impact that our adventure has had. It has been an honor to be able to give back to WCB, a place that has empowered each of us in life changing ways.”
Learn more about their journey and make a donation online at www.journey4renewal.org
By Joe Freidrichs
For many visitors to Cook County, the “Four Corners” intersection of Devil Track Road and the Gunflint Trail is of mild significance. It’s simply the turning point for a golf course or perhaps a vacation rental on the shores of Devil Track Lake. Others pay no attention at all, focused on reaching the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. But for longtime local resident Charlene Anderson, the Four Corners represent a junction of important history.
“My grandfather would come and pick us up there on Christmas and Thanksgiving in a sleigh pulled by horses,” Anderson said. “He would have hot bricks and blankets in the sleigh to keep us warm until we got back to their home to celebrate and have dinner.”
If one were to ever consider the notion of Grand Marais supporting a suburb throughout its history, such a location would mostly likely be the Maple Hill Township. Located on what is now the paved Gunflint Trail (County Road 12), the Maple Hill Township was founded on a plot of extensive sugar maple woods. The land is situated on the hills above Grand Marais, about five to ten miles back from Lake Superior. And though the area is now mostly recognized for its historic church and cemetery, it once harbored a collec-
tion of families seeking their fortunes or a place to live off the land.
The early white settlers arrived at Maple Hill to set up homesteads in the late 1800s. Family names of prominence who settled there include Eliason, Rindahl, Anderson, Hedstrom and Mayhew. Many of the first settlers to the region did not enter a life of luxury. Life was centered on strenuous labor. Building homes and other structures was often the first challenge. After that, finding water proved a challenge for those not situated close to lakes, the Devil Track River or other streams. Furthermore, those who arrived often had ambitions to work the land and raise crops. These optimistic plans were often greeted with rocky soils that proved a challenge for even oxen to plow. Wolves were a problem on the hill too, killing livestock and presenting harm to people. In 1907, the bounty on a wolf was $15 on Maple Hill.
In his book about the early days of Cook County, titled Pioneers in the Wilderness, Willis H. Raff writes that at least three Native American families lived on Maple Hill in the 1890s as well. Among them was a man named David Caribou. The white settlers benefited tremendously from the early work of Caribou and other natives, primarily due to the trails and paths they established to Grand Marais.
Maple Hill was divided geographically in two sections, recognized as East Maple Hill and West Maple Hill. After roughly 25 or more families settled in the area, amenities became essential. Near the top of the list was a learning center for the local children; thus a school was built in the mid-1890s. According to Raff, the initial expenditures allotted to build the school and get it up and running was $161.48. Used textbooks and desks were provided to Maple Hill children from the larger school in Grand Marais. Prior to opening on the Hill, the local school board selected 16-year-old Alma Berglund as the school’s first teacher. In time, there were actually two schools, one in East Maple Hill and the other in West Maple Hill.
A cemetery was built in 1897. The first person on record to be buried was Albert Varner Anderson, a month-old child who died of sickness.
Following the cemetery and school, a town hall was built in 1901. The wooden structure was used for board meetings, elections, Fourth of July picnics, dances and other types of social gatherings.
Among the most notable buildings in the history of Maple Hill was the town church. There was a divide amongst cultures and faiths as to how the church would operate and who would attend.
According to a story from the Duluth Herald published in the summer of 1902, the first ever services were conducted at the church on June 1, 1902, in Swedish. August J. Johnson is largely credited with building the church, though others played key roles as well.
Grand Marais resident Laurie Spry, the daughter of Charlene Anderson, was married in the Maple Hill Church more than three-quarters of a century after it was built. Yet at the time of her marriage there was no electricity in the church. Kerosene lamps lit the building and a pump organ was played after the vows were exchanged, Spry said.
“It had the most beautiful acoustic sounds in that church,” she added.
During an act of arson, the Maple Hill Church was burned to the ground on Christmas Eve in 1986. However, it has since been rebuilt in the same footprint of the original structure. In fact, Charlene Anderson’s husband, Fred, rebuilt the church with donated materials from Hedstrom Lumber.
The history of Maple Hill remains alive in family members who are descendants of the first settlers to the area. The rebuilt church and the cemetery remain as the centerpieces for an area rich in the history of Cook County and the Gunflint Trail.
“No
By Shawn Perich
Duane Johnson of Hovland didn’t intend to become a logger. Living on the shore of Lake Superior, he wanted to be a commercial fisherman, because the fishermen he knew led independent lives. During his first winter after high school, Johnson built a boat so he could take anglers out on fishing charters for lake trout. He began charter fishing the following summer, as well as commercially netting herring during the fall and early winter. Two years out of high school, he married his wife, Virginia.
If the invasive sea lamprey hadn’t decimated lake trout during the 1950s, perhaps he would still be a fisherman. But it was too hard to make a living by just netting herring. So Johnson began spending winters in the woods. Now, 65 years later, he’s still out there, chainsaw in hand.
At age 85 and still married to Virginia, Johnson isn’t sure if he’s the oldest logger in Minnesota—he’s heard of a fellow near Ely who is in his 90s—but he’s certainly in rare company. And he has stayed true to his roots. While most loggers became increasingly mechanized over the years, with today’s harvesting machines costing well into six figures, he continues to cuttrees with a chainsaw and haul them to the landing with a skidder he purchased new in 1973. He does harder work on a daily basis than most men a third his age.
“I eat just as well as the guys with the big equipment,” he says of his logging method. “But when I have a breakdown it doesn’t cost me nearly as much for repairs.”
When he first went into the woods, Johnson carried a four-foot hand saw for felling trees and an axe to cut off the limbs. The hand saw did double duty as a measuring stick when he bucked the logs into 100inch lengths. Early in his career, Johnson primarily logged in the winter, mostly cutting spruce and balsam for the Consolidat-
blade, from Goldfine’s by the Bridge, Duluth’s first discount box store.
“I paid $900 for it,” he says. “That was a lot of money back then.”
To haul wood, he built a small sleigh called a dray. The runners were crafted from the crooked trunk of a birch tree. At that time, the early 1950s, only a few loggers were still using horses, but hand tools and homemade equipment were common.
Johnson logged with a hand saw for at least two years before he purchased his first chainsaw, a McCulloch 325, which, he said “was about how much it cost.” The saw was gear-driven, so the chain turned more slowly than a modern chainsaw. The early saws were good for sawing logs, but not for limbing the trees. Johnson continued using an axe to limb trees for quite a few years.
It didn’t take long to adjust to the ease and efficiency of a chainsaw. One day, while logging spruce near Irish Creek north of Hovland, his chain saw quit. He went back to the small shack with a stove that he had on the logging site to eat lunch. He had a four-foot hand saw there and de -
cided to finish out the day using it. But back in the woods after lunch, he quickly changed his mind.
“I cut one tree and then headed straight for Hedstrom’s mill,” he said. “They were the McCulloch distributor and repair shop at the time.”
A few years later, he bought his second tractor from Goldfine’s. This one had a front end loader so he could use it to load logs. Prior to that, he loaded eight-foot logs by hand. As he recalls, this second tractor cost $3,500. It was years before he purchased his first skidder, a John Deere 440, in Thunder Bay. He purchased the skidder he currently uses back in 1973 for about $25,000 new. A few years ago, he bought a similar model used from the widow of a deceased logger. He still uses that one as well.
“It doesn’t have the power of the one I took care of myself,” he says.
Johnson does most of his own equipment repair work. For big jobs, he relies upon his son Rusty, a mechanic in Hovland. Another son, Rocky, hauls his wood to the mills. Years ago, Johnson tried his hand at long-distance log hauling and quickly decided the work wasn’t for him. However, he used to do his own hauling. His first truck was a new 1957 160 International that he bought from the Shold and Lovass dealership in Grand Marais. It had a 12-foot flat bed and could haul up to four cords; albeit somewhat overloaded.
“Nobody worried about truck weights in those days,” he said. “When you hauled four cords, you had to put in a new spring once in a while.”
Consolidated ceased its North Shore operations about the time new markets developed for aspen. Johnson began selling aspen, spruce and balsam to Canadian mills. One winter, he sold eight-foot balsam logs to a sawmill in Thunder Bay. They purchased his wood most of the winter and then suddenly announced they
ed Paper Company. He cut 35 to 40 cords of pulpwood between January and March his first winter. Then, with the help of his father, he used a neighbor’s small tractor to skid the wood to Horseshoe Bay, where it was rafted and towed across Lake Superior to mills in Wisconsin. In later years, the rafting operation moved to the Grand Marais harbor.
During his second winter in the woods, Johnson logged where Judge C.R. Magney State Park is now located. That year, he went to Duluth to purchase his first crawler tractor, an Oliver Cleat Track without a
2016
Sept.10 Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Trish Hunter Watercolor class Materials provided, Limit of 6 , $45 Call 218-663-7706 to sign up.
Sept.10 Saturday, 11 a.m.
Dr. Roger MacDonald Book signing for his book, “Babe” Sept. 24 Saturday, 11 am
Charlotte Drurie-Print Demonstration and Family History.
Sept. 29 Thursday 5:30 pm Mathison Law Firm, Talk with Ruthanne Vos: A Snowbird’s Guide to Residency, and Keeping the Cabin in the Family Please sign up by calling Cross River Heritage Center @ 218-663-7706. There will be a free will donation lite supper in between each half-hour session.
Sept. 1 - Oct. 22
Charlotte Drurie
Sandi PillsburyGredzens
Rose Vastila
Tim Ostroot
Kathleen Gray- Anderson
Trish Hunter
Mary Jane Huggins
wouldn’t take any more because loggers weren’t removing all of the limbs from the logs.
“I called them up and said I would give them $5 for every limb they found on my wood,” he said.
It was a bold statement. The mill told him to send a load and they would check it out. They soon called back and said they would accept all of the wood he sent to them.
“I’ve always been neat with my logging. That’s my priority,” he said.
As an example, he always cuts his stumps close to the ground. One reason is so he can drive over them without damaging his equipment. In the winter, he kicks the snow away from trees he is about to cut so he can saw close to the ground. When the snow becomes deep, he carries a shovel to clear it away.
“It’s more work to shovel out a tree than it is to cut it down,” he says. “I’ve shoveled an awful lot of snow in my life.”
This attention to detail has paid off with a sterling reputation for quality work. He hasn’t purchased a state or federal timber sale for at least 25 years. He works with private landowners who ask him to log their property, all within 20 miles of his home.
“I still haven’t run out of customers,” he says.
In the winter, deer are attracted to logging sites to browse on the freshly fallen treetops. Johnson was working when over a dozen deer bounded
right past him, some close enough to touch. He wondered what was going on when suddenly a large wolf appeared. The animal came toward him and stopped about 75 feet away.
“I told him, ‘Come on, I’ve got my saw and I’m ready for you,’” Johnson says. “He stood there for a moment, then he turned and left.”
In all of his years in the woods, that was his most unusual wildlife encounter. However, he’s noticed one big change in local wildlife: today’s comparative lack of biting insects.
“Thirty or forty years ago, the black flies and mosquitoes were terrible. The hardest part of summer was fighting the bugs,” he says. “When I’m out there now, there are no bugs.”
Although logging is dangerous work, Johnson has avoided serious injury, although he has had a couple of mishaps.
He began wearing a hard hat about 20 years ago after he woke up sitting in the snow and spitting blood, after being struck by an errant limb. Years later, while wearing a hard hat, he was struck so hard by a falling limb that it split his top plate in half.
“The dentist put in a piece of steel so it wouldn’t happen again,” he quips.
Then, there was the time he nearly cut off his big toe and kept working until he finished what he was doing. Since he only saw a little blood in the snow and his foot didn’t hurt all that much, he wasn’t aware of what he’d done until he took off his boot at home. His big toe was hanging by a flap of skin. He asked Virginia to get him a clean sock and take him to the hospital in Grand Marais.
“I thought they would cut it off and be done with it, but they sent me to Duluth,” he said.
The doctor in Duluth reattached the toe with two pins, “like 8 penny finishing nails.” Johnson cut a hole in an old boot to accommodate the injured toe and capped it with a plastic container so he could return to work.
“I asked the doctor why it didn’t hurt,” he says. “He told me I was in shock and to just wait, because it would … I’m still waiting.”
Johnson says carpentry comes naturally to him. He began building cabins as a boy. While in high school, he built a cabin for his mother to rent out during his Easter vacation. Many of his cabins still exist in the Hovland area, including one he built while he was a sophomore in high school. All of the lumber for his early cabins was sawed by hand.
His straightforward approach to logging has served him well.
“I do everything the way I’ve done it for the last 30 or 40 years,” he says. “I don’t have any push-button machines.”
What he does have is a loving wife and large family of children and grandchildren. Hard work allowed Virginia and him to raise “six hungry kids.” While other men his age have long been enjoying their retirement, it is hard to envision Johnson whiling away his days. Out in the woods is where he wants to be.
Have you ever encountered a patch of Canada thistles along a hiking trail? It’s discouraging to see these and other harmful invasive plants in our wild place. But Canada thistles are only one of the more common invasive plants that can spread along our trails. Many others can hitch a ride on our boots, animals and gear.
Once you realize that you could be accidently moving harmful invasive species, the first step to avoid doing so is adopting simple action steps to stop unwanted hitchhikers. Invasive plants are most commonly spread by their seed. Picking the weed seeds off your dog and shoe laces can slow their spread. If mowing or grooming a trail, pay attention to the places on your equipment where weed seeds and other plant debris tend to collect. Blow or brush out these areas before moving to a new site. If you bike or use ATVs, they, too, can collect plant debris and inadvertently spread harmful plants. Small boot brushes used to clean the soles of your hiking boots, also work well on bike tire treads and ATVs. The motto to remember is Come Clean, Leave Clean
Insect and disease pests that attack our forest trees are most commonly spread in firewood or other untreated wood with the bark attached. Immature insects can hide under the bark or deep in the wood and if the wood is not burned right away, these larvae can complete their lifecycle and emerge as adults to mate and attack more trees. Disease agents infect tree bark or vascular tissue where they come into contact with various kinds of insects. Whether the insects are boring into the tree or feeding on the sap, they can carry fungal spores from one tree to another. The best prevention measures are 1) buy only local or certified firewood unlikely to introduce a new tree pest and 2) remove and destroy any infested trees found before the infestation can spread. The motto to remember for tree pests is Buy Local or Certified Firewood
The next step is to recognize the invasive species that occur in your area. A good
place to start is the “dirty dozen” invasive plants listed here:
Spotted knapweed Centaurea stoebe
Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa
Garlic mustard Alliaris petiolate
Common tansy Tanacetum vulgare
Canada thistle Cirsium arvense
Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula
Common buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica
Glossy buckthorn Flangula alnus
Japanese knotweed Polygonum japonica
Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii
Exotic honeysuckle Lonicera spp
Oriental bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus
The first six listed above can easily hitch a ride on your gear. They all reproduce primarily by seed and their seeds attach themselves to fur, socks, shoelaces, pant cuffs, mowers, trail grooming equipment, etc. and are thus spread long distances with the help of people. These are the ones we can most easily address by cleaning our gear before moving to a new site.
Woody invasive plants can harm our forests and woodlands, and were introduced as ornamental plants for home landscapes. All but knotweed are spread by birds feeding on berries commonly found in town. Knotweed can also be found in town. But rather than producing berries, it produces stem and root fragments that can resprout if dumped off site or moved downstream in flood waters. These are the plants that should be replaced with native species when found in town and reported when found in our woodlands. The motto here is If Your See It, Report It
Fortunately, checking and reporting the occurrence of invasive species has gotten a lot easier. Www.eddmaps.org, sponsored by a large coalition of state and federal organizations, provides an interactive map where you can look up those species that occur in your area. Once you select your state or county, you can continue to click on the point of interest and the map will zoom in until you can see individual records. Once you sign-up for a free account, you can report your own sightings online and attach photos. It also provides a mobile application that you can use on your smart phone. The application is free and
[TOP LEFT] Spotted
| SUBMITTED
[BOTTOM LEFT] Common buckthorn.
| JAN SAMANEK
[ABOVE] Canada thistle.
| NORMAN E. REES
easy to use. You can customize the application by downloading a list of those species you are concerned about, and it will give you a library of species including photos and handy tips to identify each one.
For more information on these invasive species and the steps needed to prevent their spread, visit www.playcleango.org.
Photos provided by www.forestryimages.org.
By Breana Roy
September; the official start of autumn. The leaves have begun their transition. Beautiful hues of red, yellow and orange create breathtaking scenery; an art display in itself. To celebrate, why not take a scenic tour along the lake, while participating in the Crossing Borders Studio Tour and the Lake Superior 20/20 Studio Tour. Also this month is the Ely Harvest Moon Festival, Sept. 9-11, and the Grand Marais Art Colony Plein Air festival, Sept. 9-16.
Marvel in the artistic talent showcased during the free, self-guided Lake Superior 20/20 tour, taking place between Gooseberry Falls and Duluth, Sept. 23-25. Glass, woodwork, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, jewelry and ceramics will be shown, demonstrated and offered for sale. Artists include Gail Rosenquist, Rose Kadera Vastila, Doug Jackson, Lily Winter, Sandi Pillsbury Gredzens, and more. www.lakesuperior2020.com
Visit six art studios along Lake Superior, from Two Harbors to Grand Portage, with the Crossing Borders free selfguided studio tour. Celebrating its 20th year, this year’s tour will include Blue Skies Glassworks, and Cooter Pottery and Hand Weaving in Two Harbors; Last Chance Fabricating in Lutsen; Betsy Bowen Studio in Grand Marais; Lee and Dan Ross in Hovland; and Ningii-Ohitoomin Ojibwe Art Gallery in Grand Portage. Studios are open daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m, Sept. 23-Oct. 2. www.crossingbordersstudiotour.com
Elephants symbolize many things, such as patience, strength, wisdom and loyalty. In some cultures, elephants with their trunks up are considered good luck. As an elephant lover, I’m excited to showcase these beautiful emerald and silver elephant earrings by Christine Burnes, available at Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery in Lutsen. Visit www.kahneetah.com for more info.
Sept. 1-Oct. 22
Collection from Various Artists Cross River Heritage Center, Schroeder www.crossriverheritage.org
Sept. 3-Oct. 9
Fine Art Display Baggage Building Arts Centre, Thunder Bay www.thunderbay.ca
Through Sept. 9
Paint du Nord Duluth Art Institute Galleries www.duluthartinstitute.org
Sept. 9-16
Plein Air Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org
Sept. 9-Nov. 6
Thunder Bay Potters’ Guild 40th Anniversary Juried Exhibition (reception Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m.)
Thunder Bay Art Gallery www.theag.ca
Through Sept. 11
Jean Ritchie Monahan Retrospective Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais www.johnsonheritagepost.org
Sept. 17-Nov. 13
Plein Air Exhibition (reception Sept. 16 at 5 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais www.grandmaraisartcolony.org
Through Sept. 18
Sue Coe and Warrington Colescott: All This Is True Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth www.d.umn.edu/tma
Jeffrey T. Larson: Domestic Space Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth www.d.umn.edu/tma
Sept. 22-Nov. 6
Brent Kusterman: From the Basement Duluth Art Institute www.duluthartinstitute.org
Sept. 22-Nov. 16
David Everett: Rust & Flow Duluth Art Institute www.duluthartinstitute.org
Adam McCauley: Fragments/Memory Duluth Art Institute www.duluthartinstitute.org
Sept. 24, Saturday Fall Gallery Hop 11 a.m. Duluth www.duluthgalleryhop.com
Through Sept. 25
Arthur Shilling: The Final Works Thunder Bay Art Gallery www.theag.ca The Art of Adornment: Selections from the Permanent Collection Thunder Bay Art Gallery www.theag.ca
Sept. 30, Friday
Friday, Sept. 9. | SUBMITTED
BY CASEY FITCHETT
With a name and sound that make most people do a double take, Plucked Up String Band is one of the newer beloved groups in the Grand Marais area. An original “alternative bluegrass” vibe and combination of talents draw crowds both locally and at gigs as far away as Montana.
Dobroist Bill Hansen individually recruited most of the members over a span of about nine months. After getting the consent of each musician to be added to the roster, the group began figuring out how to weave their respective styles and contributions together. The end result was not quite was Hansen had originally intended.
“He wanted it to be really old-school and traditional, almost spiritual-type stuff,” said bassist and vocalist Will Moore. “Elliot Noyce came in and said ‘I have five original songs’ and it all changed.”
Despite the different direction, Hansen has been nothing but pleased with the group he formed just over a year ago.
“There’s good chemistry and it’s really fun. Noyce brings this harmonic sense; he’s got a really sophisticated sense of harmony. Will’s an amazing wordsmith. Amanda’s got a beautiful sense of melody,” touts Bill. “When you put those three together, it’s really special. It’s a unique combination of skills that really works.”
The group of six includes the aforementioned Bill Hansen and Will Moore along with Elliot Noyce on mandolin and vocals, Matt Nesheim on banjo and vocals, Kieran Scannell on drums, and Amanda Hand as a vocalist.
Plucked Up String Band welcomes the opportunity to travel and share their sound outside of the North Shore. A recent trip to Montana involved eight gigs in nine days at breweries, coffee shops and pubs. It was capped off by a successful stop at the Ashland Folk Festival at Northland College.
“It was really fun. The total smartphone culture was obvious. There were like five people there when we started playing. They got on
“It’s a unique combination of skills that really works.”
their phones and soon there were about 200 kids that came out of their dorms dancing their tails off and screaming at us,” mused Hansen.
The evolution of the group’s sound has also meant a shift in their ratio of originals and covers. Original songs were the most common at the first gigs, then there was a shift to an equal number of originals and covers. Now, the group has settled on somewhere close to two originals to every cover song. Even when they play covers, uniqueness is a key theme.
“My goal is to never play a cover song that’s been covered in [Grand Marais],” explains Noyce. “We keep originality in mind all the time and try to make it different, even the songs we cover. Even the songs we are writing together are getting more intricate and more detailed.”
So what’s next for Plucked Up? Short term upcoming gigs include afternoon sessions at Voyageur Brewing Company in Grand Marais on September 2nd and 8th, an evening playing in the Lutsen Resort Lobby on the 3rd, as well as a Friday afternoon slot during the annual Radio Waves Music Festival at the Grand Marais Recreation Area and Campground on the 9th. If you can’t make the local shows, keep an eye out for them on a festival circuit next year.
“Our goal for next year is to keep playing locally, which we love, and play some festival dates. We crushed it at Ashland and got invited back everywhere in Montana. If any festival promoters are reading, they can call us up,” said Hansen.
Have you ever wanted to ride a hot air balloon? Now is your chance.
The annual Duluth Hot Air Balloon Festival will be in Bayfront Festival Park and offer numerous family-friendly attractions, including hot air balloon rides, a craft beer tent, food, live music, vendors, kids activities, and a family kite fly. With more than 20,000 attendees, this event has something for everyone. And the best part? Free admission!
Gates will open at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, and begin with a balloon launch at 5 p.m. (weather contingent) and an opening ceremony event at 7 p.m., featuring a Moon Glow. A Moon Glow is the process by which the balloons inflate and the burners fire and fill up the balloons, making the balloons glow like jack-o-lanterns. If the wind is above 9 mph, then the balloonists will remove the envelopes (the actual balloon itself) and do a basket burn, shooting flames as high as 20 feet into the air.
Students from local middle and high schools will be launching “weather balloons” at roughly noon each day, and the Kiwanis Club of Friendly Duluth will host a free Family Kite Fly on Saturday, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free kites for the kids will be provided.
The Craft Brew Village will be returning to this year’s festival, showcasing microbreweries and brew pubs from around the region. The village will be open on
Friday from 4-9 p.m., and Saturday from noon-9 p.m.
Also runnung in conjunction with the festival is the 5k Tropicolor Color Run; known as “the happiest 5k on the planet.” It will take place at Bayfront Festival Park on Sunday, Sept. 18. Registration is required. Don’t miss your chance to witness balloons ascending over the Lake Superior shoreline. For more info on the festival, visit www.kernz.com/balloon.
Balloons will be launched between either 7-7:45 a.m. or 5-5:45 p.m. each day (weather dependent). If unable to launch due to weather, tethered hot air balloon rides will be given.
| DANNY O’HARA
Hymers Fair features live entertainment of all kinds. | RANDY CREIGHTON
Sept. 2-4 The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC)–Thunder Bay Centre is inviting people to join them for a weekend of sky gazing at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. It will be held over Labor Day weekend and free presentations will be offered each evening. On Friday, Sept. 2, there will be an informative talk about the basics of astronomy and more information about the wonders of the sky will be held on Saturday. On Sunday, hands-on instruction will be available for people wanting to learn about night photography. Viewing equipment will be provided. To learn more about the RASC, contact Brendan Roy at novationheart@hotmail.com.
Sept. 4-5 The village of Hymers, near Thunder Bay, will host their annual classic country fair. There will be huge locally grown pumpkins, cattle and horse shows, games, live entertainment, and more. This year’s theme is Blue Jeans N’ Country Dreams. www.hymersfair.com
Sept. 9-10 This challenging race offers multiple distances including; 100, 50, and 26.2 miles. And if the distance isn’t challenging enough, the terrain is. It is a rocky, rooty, and rugged single-track trail. The race is located on the Superior Hiking Trail in the Sawtooth Mountains. Each race will finish at Caribou Highlands in Lutsen. www.superiorfalltrailrace.com
Sept. 9-11
WTIP’s 9th annual Radio Waves Music Festival in Grand Marais will present three days of live music, held at the Rec Park. There will be a diverse mix of local and regional artists and bands, such as SkyBlue Trio, the Fish Heads, Plucked Up String Band, Jim and Michele Miller, and more. Admission is available at the gate and tickets are $10 per day or $20 for the weekend. Children 12 and under are free. www.wtip.org
Sept. 9-11 Enjoy the fall weather and beauty in Ely for the Harvest Moon Festival. There will be 125 local and regional artists and craftsmen showcasing original arts and crafts. This is a three-day festival filled with art, food, entertainment and activities for the whole family. www.ely.org
Give your creative side a vacation! Bring the tools of your craft. You will be able to set up for the entire weekend and work non-stop if you desire. Demonstrators will be on-site featuring different techniques and tools, and they will be available for help. Call for package information, or emailinfo@naniboujou.com
Sept. 9-11 This free ride will take 75 co-conspirators on a three-day journey through gravel and dirt roads. This year’s race will begin near Silver Bay and loop around Ely, with mandatory stops along the way. The event is meant to be challenging, but also give the riders a chance to hangout after a day full of riding. www. gravelconspiracy.blogspot.com
Sept. 9-16 Venture outside and you may see local artists hard at work, drawing or painting their surroundings for the Plein Air competition. Artists can be spotted anywhere from the Canadian Border to Schroeder. There will also be opportunities to take classes with Dan Wiemer or Bonnie Paruch at the Grand Marais Art Colony. The Plein Air exhibit will be held at the Johnson Heritage Post and Grand Marais Art Colony from Sept. 17-Nov. 13. www.grandmaraisartcolony.org
Sept. 10, Saturday Enjoy a celebration of food, music and art with the Fort William Fall Street Festival from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. This free family-friendly event will offer live entertainment, a culinary market featuring an array of foods for every palate, a children’s area with pony rides, Shriner’s train rides, clowns, face painters and in -
flatables. Guests will also have the opportunity to purchase items from local artists and crafter pavilions, such as jewelry, soaps, clothing, postcards, art, and more. www.fortwilliambusinessdistrict.com /events
Sept. 10, Saturday Head over to the Community Auditorium in Thunder Bay to hear country singer-songwriter Billy Currington on his Summer Forever tour. Some of his hits include, “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right,” “People Are Crazy,” and “We Are Tonight.” Concert begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are available online. www.tbca.com
Sept. 10, Saturday The Violence Prevention Center in Grand Marais is hosting “Dance ‘Til There Is No More” during the Radio Waves Music Festival, from 11 a.m.5 p.m. Dancers will be collecting pledges to support the VPC’s work to eliminate domestic and sexual violence. www.violencepreventioncenter.org
Sept. 10, Saturday The Duluth Harvest Festival is celebrating 23 years of connecting producers and consumers. There will be music, food, and crafting. There will also be information about beekeeping, composting, and backyard chicken-raising. The event will be held at Bayfront Festival Park from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. www.sfa-mn. org/harvest-festival
Sept. 11, Sunday The 7th annual Caribou Charity Ride was created for people to challenge themselves while contributing
to the Northern Cancer Fund. There are three different races to choose from; a 50k, 75k, or 100k. All you need to participate is a bike, certified helmet, and determination. All rides start at the Best Western Nor’Wester Resort Hotel on Highway 61 and travel through Oliver Paipoonge Township near Thunder Bay. www.cariboucharityride.com
UNPLUGGED XV
Sept. 15-18 The North House Folk School in Grand Marais presents the annual Unplugged Festival, featuring eight singer-songwriters performing live music under the big top. There will also be crafts available, with more than 10 courses to choose from. www.northhouse.org
NORTHSHORE
INLINE MARATHON
Sept. 17, Saturday Be a part of the largest inline marathon in North America this summer by joining the 2.2 mile Inline Marathon in Duluth. This North Shore course follows the same scenic course used for Grandma’s marathon. Races with shorter distances will also be held, including a kids sprint. www.northshoreinline.com
Sept. 17, Saturday The fourth annual Booya Fest in Finland will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17 and feature crafts, vendors, live music, the famous bowl of Booya and Bread, and more. There will also be a car show, sponsored by Don’s Auto & Towing. The festival will be held at the Clair Nelson Community Center
from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. www.facebook.com/ booyaharvestfest
THE COLOR RUN
Sept. 18, Sunday The “Happiest 5k on the Planet” is returning again to Duluth during the Hot Air Balloon Festival. The run takes place at 9 a.m. and will include a post-celebration at noon. The Color Run promotes a healthy life style, happiness, and giving back. Color runners of all skill levels are encouraged to join the event. www.thecolorrun.com
Plucked Up String Band
in the backyard
Bear, Canoe exclusive prints Visit woodcut.com for party details
Sept. 18-20 This annual festival held by Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth celebrates the fall bird migration. There will be field trips, workshops, presentations, social gatherings and more, to showcase why Duluth is one of North America’s best places to experience the fall bird migration. Registration is required for this event. www.hawkridge.org
Sept. 20-Oct. 2 Photographers of all skill levels may attend this fall weekend workshop. Barry Wojciechowski will be leading the workshop, which covers various topics, including techniques for sunrise and sunset photography, mastering histogram, and camera setting and controls. Activities include walks to scenic shoot locations and trails around Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, and personal feedback. www.superiorvisits.com
Sept. 23-24 Sign up for one of three Ely runs. The Northern Lights 5k Glow Run will be held on Friday, Sept. 23; runners, walkers, wheel chairs, and families with strollers are all welcome. The Natures Full Marathon (26.2 miles) and Boundary Waters Bank Half Marathon will take place on Saturday, Sept. 24. www.elymarathon.com
Sept. 23-25 Take the road less traveled and see a variety of artistic
talent, while enjoying the autumn colors. Various forms of art will be shown, demonstrated, and offered for sale. The tour will be well marked along Highway 61, and will take place at various art studios between Gooseberry Falls and Duluth. Studios will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. www.lakesuperior2020.com
Sept. 23-Oct.2 The Crossing Borders Studio Tour offers a unique experience, allowing the public to participate in a free self-guided tour through a select group of professional artist studios, located along the North Shore of Lake Superior. This year’s show will feature stone sculptures, Ojibway art work, pottery, jewelry and much more. Studios will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. www.crossingbordersstudiotour.com
Ann Reed will be performing in Grand Marais at the ACA. | SUBMITTED
Sept. 24, Saturday The North Shore Music Association in Grand Marais is excited to host Minnesota singer-songwriter Ann Reed. Many things make her unique, such as she primarily plays a 12 string guitar. Reed also donates up to 25 percent of her tour bookings to organizations that address women and children. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. Tickets are available at the door or online at www.tix.com. www.northshoremusicassociation.com
THE PRICE IS RIGHT
Sept. 27, Tuesday Come on down to Thunder Bay on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. for a chance to win at The Price is Right. Classic games from this popular show will be played, such as Plinko, Cliffhangers, the Big Wheel, and even the Showcase. Must be 18 years or older to participate. www.tbca.com
The Ely Marathon will take place Sept. 23-24 and consist of three different races. | SUBMITTED
Head for Thunder Bay’s Waterfront District and the nearby Algoma & Bay Neighborhood. You’ll find it all: live music, great food, funky galleries, unique shops, the OLG Casino, Marina Park and more. This ain’t your daddy’s Thunder Bay! www.thewaterfrontdistrict.ca
(Remember, Thunder Bay is on Eastern Time —1 hour ahead of MN time.)
We begin the month with the continuation of Family Series Movie Nights on the Waterfront, continued through Sept. 16 on Friday evenings. Movies include Annie on Sept. 2, Hugo on Sept. 9, and The Pineville Heist on Sept. 16. Movies start at 9 p.m. and admission is free. www.thunderbay.ca
The Lakehead Visual Arts will be exhibiting their artwork at the Baggage Building Arts Centre from Sept. 3-Oct. 9. www.facebook.com/ baggagebuildingarts
The Thunder Bay Art Gallery will be displaying the Thunder Bay Potters’ Guild 40th Anniversary Juried Exhibition from Sept. 9Nov. 6, with an opening reception at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15. www.theag.ca
The 12th annual Bay Street Film Festival —a not-for-profit media arts festival that presents Canadian and International films—will be held Sept. 15-18 at the Finnish Labour Temple. The Festival focuses on showcasing the latest films of emerging and professional independent filmmakers, working in remote communities around the world. Enjoy diverse stories, workshops, discussions and more. The festival’s annual “People’s Choice Awards” are given to the ten top favorite films as voted by festival audiences. www.baystreetfilmfestival.ca
The Savour Superior Food and Drink Festival will be held Sept. 16-17 at the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition Coliseum. Enjoy one of the region’s most fun and delicious culinary, wine, spirit and beer expos.
This year features a variety of Ontario VQA wines, international wines and spirits, craft beers, and more. There will also be food and desserts. www.savoursuperior.com
The Red Lion Smokehouse will be hosting Nerd Nite, presented by Science North Thunder Bay, on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Nerd Night is where like-minded individuals get together to give 20 minute presentations on subjects that are of great interest; basically like the Discovery Channel, but with beer. Past topics have included camel spiders, WWII Code-breaking, the secrets of competitive Scrabble players, the enduring legacy of Tetris, and the intelligence of the octopus. To become a part of Nerd Nite or learn more, visit www.sciencenorth.ca
Other Smokehouse events include Beers & Queers on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 9:30 p.m., the LU Fundraiser at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, and Quiz Night at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28. And don’t miss Celtic Night at 8 p.m. every Thursday (except Sept. 22), and live music every Friday, starting
at 10 p.m. www. redlionsmokehouse.ca
Share your love of French culture with three days of music, arts, food and activities for the whole family with the Franco Festival, Sept. 2325, held at the new Francophone Centre. There will be writing and art workshops, a performance by Christian Djohossou, and Marco and Torvis, and the lifting of the Franco-Ontarian flag, followed by a speech. Kid’s activities include face painting, giant bowling, coloring, a science table, inflatable games, and more. www.francofestival.com
Lastly, head to the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition grounds on Saturday, Sept. 24, for Octoberfest , presented by the Port Arthur Rotary Club and Sleeping Giant Brewing Company. The festival will begin with the Fresh Air 5k Fun Run (no pre-registration required) and the Blacksheep Mountain Bike Club Race at 11 a.m., followed by the Cross-fit Challenge at 1 p.m. Evening entertainment includes live music by the Polka Pirates, an in-house DJ, food from local vendors, and Sleeping Giant beer. Feeling ambitious? Enter the Stein-holding Struggle at 9 p.m. www.tbayoktoberfest.ca
And don’t forget to mark your calendars for Friday, October 7— Paul Shaffer will be performing with the NYC Orchestra at the Thunder Bay Auditorium. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. www.tbca.com
April 25-Oct. 9
Mentor Residency Workshops Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org
Sept. 1, Thursday
Monroe Crossing
7:30 p.m. Arrowhead Center For the Arts, Grand Marais www.grandmaraisplayhouse.com
Bird Banding Demo
7 a.m. Sugarloaf Cove, Schroeder www.sugarloafnorthshore.org
Sept. 1-4
Duluth Superior Pride Festival Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth www.dspride.com
Sept. 1-5
Ashland County Fair Fairgrounds, Marengo, Wisc. www.ashlandcofair.org
Sept. 2, Friday
Blood Drive 8:30 a.m. Jaycee Club, Ely www.mbc.org
Drum Superior—Community Rhythm Band 7 p.m. Thomas Owens Park, Two Harbors
Sept. 2-3
Agate Bay Homemade Crafters Sale Little Red Schoolhouse, Larsmont www.larsmont.org
Bug House 9 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com
Sept. 3, Saturday
Muffin Man: Stories for Young Children 11 a.m. Drury Lane, Grand Marais www.drurylanebooks.com
Free: Clay with Maggie Anderson
1 p.m. Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org
Harbor History Walking Tour
1 p.m. Cook County Historical Society Museum, Grand Marais www.cookcountyhistory.org
Music on the Deck: J Squared & The Makers 6 p.m. Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen www.lutsen.com
Sept. 3-4
Fest du Nord YMCA Camp du Nord, Ely www.dunord.org
Sept. 4, Sunday
Sidewalk Sale 10 a.m. Old-Fashioned Pie & Ice Cream Social Noon, Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail www.chikwauk.com
In Denial 2 p.m. Chippewa Park, Thunder Bay www.chippewapark.ca
Sept. 4-5
Hymers Fair Hymers, Ontario www.hymersfair.com
Sept. 5, Monday
Labor Day
AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth www.afscmemn.org
Sept. 6, Tuesday
David Crosby 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium www.tbca.com
Sept. 7, Wednesday
Free: Adult Mental Health First Aid
8 a.m. Ely Folk School www.elyfolkschool.org
Sutter Brothers 3:30 Ely Public Library www.elylibrary.org
Tea with Dr. Karen I. Halbersleben: English Royal History Naniboujou Lodge, Grand Marais www.northshorecampus.org
Sept. 8, Thursday
Celebrating 25 Years 1:30 p.m. 55 Plus Centre, Thunder Bay www.thunderbay.ca
Plucked Up String Band 4 p.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais www.voyageurbrewing.com
Sutter Brothers 6:30 p.m. Two Harbors Public Library www.twoharborspubliclibrary.com
The Fellow Travelers
8 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com
Sept. 8-15
Plein Air Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org
Sept. 9, Friday
Customer Appreciation Night
5 p.m. The Blue Moose, Grand Marais www.thebluemoosemn.com
Sutter Brothers 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library www.grandmaraislibrary.org
Tret Fure 7 p.m.
Thomas Owens Park, Two Harbors
Joe Paulik 7 p.m.
Castle Danger Brewery, Two Harbors www.castledangerbrewery.com
Sept. 9-10
Floydian Slip 9 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com
Sept. 9-11
Radio Waves Music Festival
Sweethearts Bluff at Rec Park, Grand Marais www.wtip.org
Harvest Moon Festival 10 a.m. Whiteside Park, Ely www.ely.org
Sept. 10, Saturday
Trunk & Tailgate Sale 9 a.m.
55 Plus Centre Parking Lot, Thunder Bay www.thunderbay.ca
Mural Fest & Car Show 9 a.m.
Historic Main Street, Ashland, Wisc. www.visitashland.com
Outdoors Flea Market 9 a.m. CLE Coliseum, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca
Watercolor Class with Trish Hunter 9 a.m. Cross River Heritage Center, Schroeder www.crossriverheritage.org
Guest Speaker 10 a.m. Sugarloaf Cove, Schroeder www.sugarloafnorthshore.org
Lake Superior Harvest Festival
10 a.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth www.sfa-mn.org
Nice Girls of the North Marketplace
10 a.m. Lakeside Lester Park Community Center, Duluth www.nicegirlsofthenorth.com
Doors Open Tour 10 a.m. Venues throughout Thunder Bay www.doorsopenontario.on.ca
Dr. Roger MacDonald Book Signing: Babe 11 a.m. Cross River Heritage Center, Schroeder www.crossriverheritage.org
Dance ‘Til There Is No More
11 a.m. Grand Marais, Rec Park www.violencepreventioncenter.org
Fort William Fall Street Festival 11 a.m. Fort William, Thunder Bay www.fortwilliambusinessdistrict.com
Plein Air Paint 1 p.m. Lutsen Mountains www.grandmaraisartcolony.org
Writer’s Salon with Lucie Amundsen: LocallyLaid:HowWeBuiltaPlucky, Industry-changingEggFarm—from Scratch 5 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais www.drurylanebooks.com
Billy Currington: Summer Forever Tour 8 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium www.tbca.com
Sept. 10-11
Drag Race & Car Show Duluth www.kernz.com
Sept. 11, Sunday
Kidney Walk & Awareness Fundraiser
10 a.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay www.thunderbay.ca
Silver Anniversary Afternoon Tea
2 p.m. 55 Plus Centre, Thunder Bay (807) 684-3066
Joe Paulik 7 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com
Sept. 12, Monday
Membership Meeting with Speaker Nancy Waver 1:30 p.m. A. Paul & Carol Schaap Community Center, Gunflint Trail www.chikwauk.com
Two Harbors Area Chamber Bean Bag
Tournament 4 p.m. Two Harbors Depot rachel@twoharborschamber.com
Green Dot Stakeholders Overview
6:30 p.m. Beaver Bay Community Center (218) 834-5924
Sept. 13, Tuesday
Ruby’s Pantry 5 p.m. Cook County High School, Grand Marais www.facebook.com/rubyspantrycc
Sept. 14, Wednesday
Blood Drive 1:30 p.m. Silver Bay High School www.mbc.org
Free Tree Care Workshop 6 p.m.
Grand Lake Community Center, Saginaw www.southstlouisswcd.org/forestry.html
Sept. 15, Thursday
Blood Drive 9:30 a.m. Cornerstone Community Church, Grand Marais www.mbc.org
Plein Air Quick Paint
4 p.m. Artists Point, Grand Marais www.grandmaraisartcolony.org
United Way Chili by the Lake Cook-Off 5 p.m. Duluth DECC www.unitedwayduluth.org
Webinar: Fall is in the Air 6 p.m. International Wolf Center, Ely www.wolf.org
Gordon Thorne 7 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com
Sept. 15-18
Unplugged Festival
North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org
Light Duluth Teal Dinner Duluth DECC www.charleneslight.org
Bay Street Film Festival
Finnish Labour Temple, Thunder Bay www.baystreetfilmfestival.ca
Sept. 16, Friday
Artist Talks: Paint with Intention with Dan Wiemer 11 a.m. Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org
Full Moon Reading with Erin Watson 5 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais www.drurylanebooks.com
Open Mic & Art Show 7 p.m. Oliver Road Community Centre, Thunder Bay, info@lccctbay.org
Tree Party 8:30 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com
Sept. 16-17
Craft Brew Village Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth www.kernz.com
Savour Superior Food & Drink Festival CLE Coliseum, Thunder Bay www.savoursuperior.com
Sept. 16-18
Hot Air Balloon Festival Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth www.kernz.com/balloon
Hawk Weekend Festival Hawk Ridge, Duluth www.hawkridge.org
Sept. 17, Saturday
Fray in the Bay: Superior Bay Race Barkers Island, Superior www.duluthkeelclub.com
NorthShore Inline Marathon 9:15 a.m. Duluth www.northshoreinline.com
Booya Festival 10 a.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland www.facebook.com/booyaharvestfest
Artist Talk: The Art of Seeing: Developing a Visual Literacy with Hazel Belvo 11 a.m. Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org
Writer’s Salon with Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux: TheMarvelousImagination of Katie Addams 5 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais www.drurylanebooks.com
Fireside Chat with Dan Wiemer
6 p.m. Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais www.sivertson.com
DSSO: The Dream of America 7 p.m. Duluth DECC www.dsso.com
Sept. 17-Nov. 13
Plein Air Exhibition (reception Sept. 16 at 5 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais www.grandmaraisartcolony.org
Sept. 18, Sunday
The 5k Color Run Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth www.thecolorrun.com/locations/Duluth
Exploring Our Routes Noon, County Park, Thunder Bay www.thunderbay.ca
Peter Arnstein: Classical Pianist 2 p.m. William Kelley Auditorium, Silver Bay www.northernlakecountyartsboard.com
Timmy Haus 7:30 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com
Sept. 20, Tuesday
Wintering by Peter Geye 6:30 p.m. Two Harbors Public Library www.twoharborspubliclibrary.com
Sept. 21, Wednesday
Prosperity Northwest Business Forum & Tradeshow 11 a.m. Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay www.tbchamber.ca/events Fall Feast & Festival of Services
1 p.m. Canadian Lakehead Exhibition, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca
Kevin Sherwin: Classical Guitar 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library www.grandmaraislibrary.org
Sept. 21-23
TreeSpeak 9 a.m. Blue Sky Community Healing Centre, Thunder Bay www.thunderbay.ca
Sept. 22, Thursday
Science North presents Nerd Nite!
7:30 p.m. Red Lion Smokehouse, Thunder Bay www.redlionsmokehouse.ca
Dallas Smith 8 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium www.tbca.com
Sept. 23, Friday
Wintering by Peter Geye
6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library www.grandmaraislibrary.org
Northern Lights Clubhouse 5k Glow Run 6:45 p.m. Ely www.ely.org
Sept. 23-24
Ely Marathon: 8390 Rod Portage www.elymarathon.com
Barbara Jean & Chastity Brown
9 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com
Sept. 23-25
Lake Superior 20/20 Studio Art Tour
10 a.m. North Shore www.lakesuperior2020.com
Sept. 23-Oct. 2
Crossing Borders Studio Tour
10 a.m. North Shore www.crossingbordersstudiotour.com
Sept. 24, Saturday
Ely Marathon Activities Ely www.ely.org
Chocoholic Frolic Ely www.ely.org
Behold the Mug! Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais www.sivertson.com
Craft Show 8 a.m. CLE Heritage, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca
Walk for ALS 8:30 a.m. Masonic Temple, Thunder Bay www.thunderbay.ca
National Public Lands Volunteer Day 9 a.m. Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center, www.d.umn.edu/boulder
Octoberfest 9:30 a.m. CLE Coliseum, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca
Fall Gallery Hop 11 a.m. Duluth www.duluthgalleryhop.com
McDougall’s Dream Fundraiser 1 p.m. SS Meteor on Barker’s Island, Superior www.superiorpublicmuseums.org
John Green: Late Summer Flowers on Ancient Rocks 2 p.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail www.chikwauk.com
Grammy Nominee Cory Chisel 8:30 p.m. Amici’s Event Center, Ely www.ely.org
Ann Reed 7:30 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais www.northshoremusicassociation.com
Sept. 25, Sunday
Franco Festival 11:30 a.m. Centre Francophone, Thunder Bay www.thunderbay.ca
Gene LaFond & Amy Grillo
8 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com
Sept. 27, Tuesday
Celtic Thunder 7:30 p.m. Duluth DECC www.decc.org
The Price Is Right Live! 8 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium www.tbca.com
Sept. 28, Wednesday
Blood Drive 9 a.m. Two Harbors High School www.mbc.org
Artist Talk: Merging Glass and Clay with Helen Otterson Noon, Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais www.grandmaraisartcolony.org
Learn Sign Language with Carole Flack 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library www.grandmaraislibrary.org
Kalari Martial Arts Performance 6:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Art Gallery www.theag.ca
Sept. 29, Thursday
Discussion with Mathison Law Firm’s
Ruthanne Vos 5:30 p.m. Cross River Heritage Center, Schroeder www.crossriverheritage.org
Billy Johnson 7 p.m.
Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com
Keynote Lecture with Carmela Langanse: 1000 Miles Apart 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Art Gallery www.theag.ca
Sept. 30, Friday
Annual Art Auction 8 p.m. Thunder Bay Art Gallery www.theag.ca
Sept. 30-Oct. 1
Agate Bay Homemade Crafters Sale Little Red Schoolhouse, Larsmont www.larsmont.org
Gypsy Lumberjacks 9 p.m.
Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com
Sept. 30-Oct. 2
Giant Digital Photography Workshop: Fall Colours Weekend Workshop
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Ontario www.superiorvisits.com
Oct. 1, Saturday
Tour d’Art Home Tour Fundraiser Noon, Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org
Daily Events
Scavenger Hunt
North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org
Mondays
Nature Nook 10 a.m. Hartley Nature Center, Duluth www.hartleynature.org
Songwriter Series 8:30 p.m. Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen www.lutsen.com
Live Music 9 p.m. Bluefin Grille, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com
Tuesdays
UMD Market Day Noon, UMD Campus www.umdmarketday.com
Farmers Market & Artists Market
5 p.m. Whiteside Park, Ely www.ely.org
Live Music 6 p.m. Poplar River Pub, Lutsen www.lutsenresort.com
Wednesdays
Country Market 3:30 p.m. Moose Hall on Fort William Road, Thunder Bay www.thunderbaycountrymarket.com
Open Mic 5 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com
Timmy Haus 5 p.m. Moguls at Caribou Highlands, Lutsen www.caribouhighlands.com
Howling Safari 8 p.m. International Wolf Center, Ely www.wolf.org
Spotlight North: Live Music 8 p.m. Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen www.lutsen.com
Live Music 9 p.m. Bluefin Grille, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com
Thursdays
Live Craft Demos 10 a.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org
Local Food Market 4 p.m. Grand Marais Community Center
Finland Farmer’s Market 5 p.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland www. facebook.com/finlandfarmersmarket
Live Music 6 p.m. Poplar River Pub, Lutsen www.lutsenresort.com
Music by the Fire 6:30 p.m. Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com
Live Music 9 p.m. Bluefin Grille, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com
Fridays
Live Craft Demos 10 a.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org
Timber Raising: A Crash Course in the Craft 10 a.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org
Live Music 4 p.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais www.voyageurbrewing.com
Live Music 9 p.m. Bluefin Grille, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com
Live Music 9:30 p.m. Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen www.lutsen.com
Saturdays
Country Market 8 a.m. Moose Hall on Fort William Road, Thunder Bay www.thunderbaycountrymarket.com
Cook County Farm & Craft Market 9 a.m. Senior Center Parking Lot, Grand Marais www.facebook.com/ccfarmandcraft
Two Harbors Farmers Market 9 a.m.
Thomas Owens Park, Two Harbors
Live Craft Demos 10 a.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org
Kakabeka Farmers Market 10 a.m. Kakabeka Falls Legion www.kakabekafarmersmarket.ca
Tour the North House Campus 2 p.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org
Live Music 4 p.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais www.voyageurbrewing.com
Bronze Pour Demo 4 p.m. Last Chance Gallery, Lutsen www.lastchancefab.com
Live Music 7 p.m. Cascade Lodge & Pub, Lutsen www.cascademn.com
Music in the Lobby 7 p.m. Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com
What’s for Dinner? 7 p.m. International Wolf Center, Ely www.wolf.org
Michael Monroe 7 p.m. Community Center Log Cabin, Grand Marais www.michaelmonroemusic.com
Live Music 9:30 p.m. Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen www.lutsen.com
Sundays
Live Craft Demos 10 a.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org
Live Music 5 p.m. Moguls at Caribou Highlands, Lutsen www.caribouhighlands.com CATEGORIES:
Submit all entries to contest@northernwilds.com
Find contest rules at www.northernwilds.com/contests/photography-contest
Deadline Sept. 30
All winners will receive a calendar with their winning photo, plus other prizes.
• REMOVE plants, animals & mud from boots, gear, pets & vehicle.
• CLEAN your gear before entering & leaving the recreation site.
• STAY on designated roads & trails.
• USE CERTIFIED or local rewood & hay.
Support for PolyMet Mining’s proposed copper-nickel mine isn’t just about creating jobs to the leaders of Northeastern Minnesota’s four largest chambers of commerce. They know the people behind the company and believe in the science, the technology and the safeguards that they’ve put into place to protect the water, the woods and the wildlife that they all love.
PolyMetMining.com
By Maren Webb
Mom-and-Pop and family businesses have been a mainstay on the North Shore for generations. These homegrown operations take different forms, but families rallying together to provide excellent service and products is a common thread. Many of these family operations produce unique edible items, from pure maple syrup to handmade chocolates and candy, to smoked Gouda cheese.
Just a few miles off Highway 61 in Lutsen you will find Caribou Cream, a maple syrup operation and shop run by Herb Wills. After growing up on a farm family, Herb made his way to the North Shore and has been producing award-winning maple syrup for over 30 years. Much like any farming family, Herb’s business has not only been a labor of love but also a family endeavor with help each spring as the sap runs and the syrup boils.
“It’s kind of fun and bonds us together,” said Wills. For the past 25 years, one of his nephews has been a steady presence, as the timing of the season works well with his own farming operation. As farming relies on the soil and climate, so too does maple syruping. The weather and soil are important to achieving delicious syrup, much like wine and other agricultural products. And as Herb reminds us, “we are blessed with the climate up here, with the big lake.”
Caribou Cream started in the early 1980s with 50 to 100 tapped trees. Today, it has grown to over 3,500 trees tapped each year. While the amount of syrup made has risen over the years, the fuel source for cooking has remained the same: wood. Many syrup operations switch to oil as a fuel as they grow in capacity, yet some argue they lose a certain something in their final product. Sourced locally in the area, the mix of maple and birch provide Herb with his fuel source for cooking down the sap into flavorful maple syrup. During cooking, a wheelbarrow of wood is needed every seven minutes. The stacks of firewood outside the shop are a reminder of not only the reliance on the maple trees for their flowing sap but also for the fuel they provide after their lifespan is reached. While Herb hasn’t embraced a switch to oil, he does use a technology called reverse osmosis to achieve a high quality syrup while reducing the wood consumption by half through removing extra water from the sap before cooking.
The shop is open to the public all day
every day, with maple syrup products, hand-harvested wild rice, and handmade items. Caribou Cream maple candy and maple sugar are great finds, in addition to the traditional syrup options. Another popular product is Grade B maple syrup, which is often preferred for cooking and other kitchen uses for its stronger flavor. A new product to look out for soon is Herb’s new Maple BBQ Rub, for those barbecue fans.
The Caribou Cream store, located at 558 Caribou Trail, Lutsen, is run on the honor system, so Herb may or may not be there to greet you. Several local stores also carry the maple syrup. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/cariboucream
Knife River is home to Great!Lakes Candy Kitchen. These third and fourth generation candy makers learned the trade from their father/grandfather John Canelake, whose father Gust founded a candy store
over 30 years.
called Canelake’s Candies in 1905 in Virginia, Minnesota, which is still in operation. Great!Lakes Candy Kitchen uses the same recipes and traditional techniques and methods that the family has used for generations.
“Our family candy history is the key to our success and we always use the same fine ingredients,” said Pamela Canelake Matson, one of the family members that founded the shop.
For those interested in the history of the shop and trade, Great!Lakes has a display in the store with some Canelake’s Candies memorabilia, as well as some of the antique candy machines still used to make hard candies.
The shop, open May through December, has a wide variety of handmade chocolates and popular candies. The chocolate-dipped sea salt caramels and pecan turtles are customer favorites, made on-site. Another favorite is their caramel and chocolate dipped pretzels, the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and crunchy. The family also makes caramel apples and uses local honey-crisp apples each fall when available. In the winter, Great!Lakes gears up for the holiday season and makes candy canes and ribbon candy on antique candy machines from the early 1900s. If you visit Knife River for the Julebyen festival in early December, pop on in to see a demonstration. It’s another great time to stop in “as the whole store smells like peppermint,” said fourth generation candy maker, Andy Matson. They also make many other candies and chocolates, including fudge, brittles, Air Crunch, candy bars, lollipops, truffles, and more. In other words, something for everyone.
Now in their 10th year of operation, the Canelake/Matson family invites all to stop by Great!Lakes Candy Kitchen, open daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. seasonally (223 Scenic Drive, Knife River). Visitors are welcome to take a peek in the candy kitchen to see what’s cooking. They also offer online ordering from November 1 through December 20 at www.greatlakescandy.com
North of the border is a family business that all cheese lovers should know: Thunder Oak Cheese Farm. Started by Jacob and Margaret Schep, who come from cheese-making families in Holland, Thunder Oak has been a family operation from the start. In 1981, the family emigrated from Holland and began a dairy farm outside of Thunder Bay. In 1995, they started the cheese business after successfully making cheese in a small vat in the milk house,
Margaret’s mother was a world champion cheese maker and her brother and his wife still make cheese on the family farm in Holland. In 2007, son Walter and his wife Joanne took over the cheese making operation and their other son Martin and his wife Charmaine continued to operate the dairy farm. Both parents still help with the operations, John on the dairy farm and Margaret with the cheese operation.
This partnership of family and farm has been an ideal match, resulting in award-winning cheese made with their own milk. While Thunder Oak has a variety of cheeses and products to choose from, their aged cheeses are most popular during the cooler months. In the summer, their smoked Gouda and cheese curds are visitor favorites. They have many flavored cheese options, including jalapeno, dill, and sundried tomato. When asked which product he took the most pride in, owner Walter said, “I am most proud of our aged cheese because it is a more difficult cheese to get right and you don’t know if it worked out until you open it.”
Thunder Oak Cheese Farm is located about 30 minutes from the U.S./Canada border and 20 minutes from Thunder Bay (611 Boundary Drive). It is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit www.cheesefarm.ca U.S. visitors are able to bring the cheese across the border. Other family farms and operations nearby include Belluz Farms, Chocolate Cow, Gammondale Farm, and Slate River Dairy, which sell a variety of products, from fresh produce, including pick-your-own, to yogurt.
Whether you are in the mood for some handmade chocolates or some smoked Gouda, Mom and Pop operations are supplying our area with delicious options to try. These family businesses are the lifeblood of our area, so I hope you swing in and enjoy these beloved treats.
Last February, voting for the 2016 Reader’s Choice Restaurant Awards began, featuring 26 different categories, from Best Coffee to Best View. The winners were picked by our readers and the results were announced in June. Here are a few of the winning restaurants, proudly displaying their awards. We’ll feature the other winners in upcoming issues.
Located downtown near Lake Superior, the Grand Marais Dairy Queen received the award for Best Kid-Friendly Menu. The kid’s menu entrée choices include chicken strips, a hotdog, or a cheeseburger, and side selections of fries, a banana or applesauce; not to mention the free kid’s meal ice cream treat. Call (218) 387-9809 for more info.
Located in Two Harbors, the Vanilla Bean restaurant is the winner of the Best Breakfast award. Menu options include oven-baked omelets, Grandma Bergman’s Swedish pancakes, Norwegian crepes, French toast, pesto eggs benedict, wild rice porridge, sweet rolls, and more. They also carry gluten-free bread. Breakfast is served from 7-11:30 a.m. The Vanilla Bean also serves lunch and dinner and is open daily until 9 p.m. Visit www.thevanillabean.com for more info.
Located roughly 30 miles up the Gunflint Trail on Poplar Lake, Trail Center earned the award for Best Northwoods Character and Worth the Drive. Established in 1938 as a logging camp, Trail Center is now a restaurant, lodge, gas station and gift shop, but it has never lost the north woods feel. With a full menu, gorgeous location and fun atmosphere, Trail Center is the perfect place to grab lunch before heading out into the wilderness. For more info, visit www.trailcenterlodge.com.
Sportsman’s & Off-Roading Paradise on the Yukon & Tomahawk Trails
Knotted Pine Inn & Tavern Open Year Round
Please call for reservations: 218-323-7681
The Knotted Pine Inn is located on Highway 1, only 5-1/2 miles NW of Isabella, 28 miles from U.S. Hwy 61, 35 miles Southeast of Ely.
Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery On the Harbor, Grand Marais, MN
August 26 - September 11 Gene Ritchie Monahan Retrospective
September 16-November 13
Grand Marais Art Colony Plein Air Exhibit
www.johnsonheritagepost.org
by Eric Chandler
Last year, I took my wife out on a date during Minnesota’s Give to the Max Day. The Bent Paddle Brewing Company hosted the Great Outdoors Party, which shut down the whole brewery. Outdoorsy people gathered to celebrate Duluth’s recreational blessings. Many groups set up booths, including the Duluth Cross Country Ski Club and Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS).
The brewers were generous to let active people hang out in their place, but there was more on the agenda. The owners of Bent Paddle handed a check for $9,147.92 to COGGS to help build the Duluth Traverse. When the 100mile mountain bike trail system is complete, the overall cost will be near $4 million.
The money came from an idea that’s unique in my experience. Bent Paddle partnered with Loll Designs (a Duluth manufacturer that’s also been very generous to outdoor projects) on a great idea: Lollygagger Pale Ale. This straightforward, balanced west-coast style drink comes in cans or on tap. The can features maps of Duluth bike trails, the COGGS logo, and a Loll Designs chair from their Lollygagger line. All cool. Even cooler is the text that says 5 percent of the sales are donated to COGGS for the Traverse. Their check came directly from their specialty seasonal beer.
This American pale ale is back on the shelves again this summer. So, go mountain biking. Come back, take a load off in a Loll chair, and crack open a Lollygagger Pale Ale. You’re not just a beer drinker. You’re a dang philanthropist.
By Kim Falter
The history of the simple orange carrot is extensive and colorful. Fossil pollen has revealed its existence as far back as the Eocene period, around 55 million years ago. All carrots we see today are descendants of the wild carrot, which studies have shown probably originated on the Iranian plateau (present day Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran). Northeast of the city of Tehran in Iran, exists the Dasht-e Haveej, or the Carrot Field, where it is believed carrots first made the shift from wild to cultivated status.
The wild carrot still exists and is a member of the Umbelliferae family, which also includes parsley, dill, cumin and parsnips. Exemplified by their common umbrella-like flower, the wild carrot looks very similar to its relative, the parsnip. White, thin, divided or “forked,” the wild carrot is bitter. It is believed that this common “weed” was not eaten as we do today, but rather the seeds were gathered and used medicinally as a diuretic, or as a spice.
In the beginning, it became apparent that under favorable conditions, the root of this plant grew larger and was edible. Under cultivation, the colors of this root vegetable began to transform as well. Back in Iran, humans began to manipulate the carrot. As a consequence, purple and yellow varieties began to emerge, as did a larger, more cylindrical root.
As it moved throughout the world, the carrot split into eastern and western varieties. Around the 10th century, the eastern purple and yellow carrots began to emerge in Asia. The progeny of these carrots then moved through the Mediterranean and made their way to Europe around the 16th century, where they parted ways and the western orange variety was born. It is in the Netherlands that the orange carrot is believed to have sprung. However, it was the French that created the long, sweet carrot we know and love today, as they altered the Dutch orange carrot into the varieties we buy in our grocery stores: the Chantenays, Nantes and Danvers.
Carrots are simple to grow in Minnesota. Quality soil, pH balance and proper spacing are important, yet it is primarily the depth of soil we have to contend with here in northern Minnesota, as we have a propensity for clay soil. Raised beds can provide the depth necessary for proper growth. Sow your seeds directly in the garden three weeks before the last frost, and remember to thin. According to Rodale’s Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, “Thin 1 inch apart when the tops are 2 inches high, and be thorough, because crowded carrots will produce crooked roots. Thin again 2 weeks later to 3-4 inches apart.” There are many varieties to choose from. Purple and yellow varieties are readily available now and fantastic for some variety in your diet. Short season varieties are ideal for our northern temperatures. Keep in mind that some carrots are ideal for storage, while others are best eaten soon after harvest.
Carrots are very rich in nutrients. One cup of carrots gives you more than the daily value of vitamin A and is a great source of biotin, vitamin K, fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. Carrots really shine when it comes to their antioxidant properties. Loaded with phytonutrient antioxidants such as the carotenoids (beta-carotene and lutein) in your orange carrots, and anthocyanindins found primarily in purple carrots, these antioxidants are known for their potential to prevent cancer, as well as their ability to possibly improve vision and problems associated with cardiovascular disease.
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ¼ cups sugar
1 ½ cup pecans, chopped
1 cup grated carrot
1 cup grated zucchini
1 apple, cored and chopped
¾ cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup olive or coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease 2 muffin pans. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, pecans, carrots, zucchini, apple, coconut, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
In another bowl, beat eggs, oil and vanilla until well blended. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Spoon into muffin tins and bake for roughly 25 minutes. Yields 24 muffins.
Carrot-Beet Pancakes with Yogurt-Dill Sauce
Sauce:
12 ounces plain nonfat yogurt
4 tablespoons fresh dill
4 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, chopped Salt & pepper, to taste
Pancakes:
6 beets, trimmed
4 carrots
4 teaspoons garlic, minced ½ teaspoon salt
6 eggs
Sauce: Mix yogurt, dill, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
Pancakes: Grate carrots and beets into a large bowl. Add garlic and salt and toss lightly. Mix in eggs.
Spray a skillet with cooking oil, or coat with olive oil, and heat to medium-high. Drop ¼ cup of mixture into skillet and flatten slightly. Repeat with other pancakes and cook 4 minutes on each side. Re-coat pan and repeat with remaining batter. Drizzle with yogurt-dill sauce.
2 teaspoons olive oil
3-4 large carrots, cut into 2-inch matchsticks
1 orange, juiced and zested
1 pound ground beef
1 egg
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon ground coriander
½ tablespoon fresh mint
1 teaspoon ground cumin
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
Salt & pepper, to taste
In a skillet over medium heat, add carrots and sauté for 5 minutes. Stir in orange juice and 1 teaspoon of zest. Cover and simmer for 8 minutes, or until carrots are slightly softened. Remove from heat, but keep covered.
In a large bowl, combine beef, egg, garlic, herbs and spices. Mix well and shape into 12-15 meatballs.
Heat a skillet to medium and working in batches, add meatballs and cook 8 minutes. Make sure you brown evenly. Serve meatballs over glazed carrots.
By Amy Schmidt
Workplace wellness is a movement people in the work force may hear about. For many years, large and successful businesses have known that the health and wellbeing of their employees contributes to overall business success; when employees are healthier, businesses have less turnover, employees are more productive, and businesses thrive. While not a new concept in the business world, what is new about workplace wellness is that more resources are becoming available to assist medium and small businesses in communities throughout the state, including Cook County.
Workplace wellness is a concept that seeks to support employee health and create workplace environments that encourage positive lifestyle behaviors, such as increased physical activity, healthy eating, reduced tobacco exposure and reduced stress. While it remains important to focus on these healthy behaviors in areas such as clinics, schools, and communities, bringing wellness concepts into the workplace is an important and effective strategy for making health accessible to all people. According to a recent study, working adults spend at least half of their waking hours in their workplace, making it a convenient environment for promoting health and preventing disease.
Sponsored by businesses, nonprofits, and state and national agencies, worksite wellness programs are popping up all over the state. In Minnesota, nearly 55 percent of employers with 100 or more employees now offer some form of health promotion program. With everything from tobacco-free worksite policies, to walking meetings and increased breastfeeding support for working moms, businesses are working hard to bring wellness to their employees. By using strategies that change the policies, systems and environments in the workplace, long-term health benefits can be achieved.
And it’s paying off in more ways than one. Not only are employees and their families healthier overall, they report higher workplace morale and greater job satisfaction. This, in turn, means good things for the employers, including higher job retention rates, decreased sick days, reduced overall healthcare costs and claims, increased productivity and competitive recruiting status. In short, when wellness is at the front of worksite focus, everybody wins.
Proclaiming the Good News of Life through Jesus Christ 2017 W Hwy. 61, Grand Marais
Fortunately, the process doesn’t need to be as daunting as it might seem, nor does it necessitate a complete overhaul of the daily flow of a workplace. The Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, with support from the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP), will be starting a workplace wellness collaborative for local businesses and organizations interested in creating a healthier workplace this winter. Members of the group will receive support in creating healthier workplaces through assessment, development of a plan and sharing of experiences with other businesses during the roughly year-long process. For more information about the workplace collaborative, or if you are interested in joining the collaborative, please contact Hartley Newell-Acero at hartley@sawtoothmountainclinic.org or call 218-387-2330.
Emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time. It is important to understand potential risks where you live.
What you can do: Bookmark weather.gov to stay informed on severe weather. Learn about CodeRed messages (www.co.cook.mn.us/index. php/cr), that will be sent to your phone during an emergency
Make sure that you and your family are prepared for an emergency. What you can do: Clear brush, grass & tree limbs so your blue emergency number is visible to emergency responders. Prepare a disaster supply kit with supplies to ensure you can go for at least three days without electricity, water service, access to a supermarket, or other local services. Create a Family Emergency Plan, so that your family knows how to communicate during an emergency. Obtain a NOAA Weather Radio.
What you can do: Get involved with your local American Red Cross Chapter or train with a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
You don’t know when an emergency might occur. These simple steps will help you be prepared for the worst. To learn more about how your family, your business and your community can prepare for emergencies and get involved, please visit www.bt.cdc.gov/ preparedness or www.ready.gov.
Cook County Emergency
By Amy Schmidt
HPV is a short acronym for a really big deal. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus that causes many of the preventable cancer deaths in our country. But, there’s hope. The HPV virus has an effective vaccine that is available to all youth, ages 11 to 26.
HPV is a virus spread through sexual contact or intercourse. HPV is incredibly common; most people will come into contact with the virus at some point in their lives. However, many will never know they have it because, in most cases, the body naturally fights it off before health problems arise. But in the cases where the body’s immune system doesn’t kick in, HPV can cause health problems ranging from genital warts to abnormal pap smears to cancer.
While genital warts and abnormal pap smears are nothing to balk at, HPV-related cancers are another concern altogether. Last year, HPV-related cancers affected 17,500 women and 9,300 men. Life-altering at best and deadly at worst, these cancers are not to be taken lightly.
Because HPV is often “silent” until problems arise, an infected person can be unknowingly spreading the virus to others, quickly widening the circle of potential risk. But just as diseases like Tetanus and Hepatitis can be prevented with an immunization, the HPV vaccine is extremely effective in preventing infection. Available to all individuals, both male and female, ages 11 to 22, the HPV vaccine helps to prevent four of the strains most likely to lead to cancer.
“Many parents wonder why the vaccine is recommended for preteens,” said Jenny Delf, doctor at Sawtooth Mountain Clinic.
The reasoning for early vaccination is two-fold. First off, it’s best to protect kids from the virus before they’re ever infected. “Ideally, kids will have received the whole series of shots and the full spectrum of immunity before exposure,” Delfs said.
Secondly, the HPV vaccine produces a higher immune response in preteens than in older adolescents. “The sooner the vaccine is given, the better the protection will be,” Delfs added.
The HPV vaccine is given in three doses at zero, one and six month intervals. Caregivers, teens and young adults should talk to their medical provider about receiving the vaccine. Research indicates the vaccine is extremely effective and long lasting. Side effects are rare, with the most common being mild and including pain and redness at the injection site, fever, dizziness and nausea.
Protecting your child, yourself, or a loved one from HPV and its potentially life-threatening complications is simple. A three series shot is all it takes. Sawtooth Mountain Clinic has the HPV vaccine available. Call (218) 387-2330 today to schedule an appointment. More information on the HPV vaccine can be found at www.health.state.mn.us/ immunize.
Prevent
When you leave a body of water:
• Remove any visible mud, plants, fish or animals before transporting equipment.
• Eliminate water from equipment before transporting.
• Clean and dry anything that comes into contact with water (boats, trailers, equipment, clothing, dogs, etc).
• Never release plants, fish or animals into a body of water unless they came out of that body of water.
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By Gord Ellis
Growing up a young man in northwestern Ontario, fashion wasn’t something that was always on the top of my radar screen. My mother, however, had a natural sense of style and grace. She dressed well and always looked fantastic. She also made sure her oldest son was not dressed like a Raggedy Andy doll for school. In Grade 7, she was the only mother who sewed corduroy inserts into my bell bottoms. She also applied cool patches on my blue jean jacket and made sure shirts had flowers and other ornate designs. So it’s possible my interest in fashion came from her, at least in part.
Yet as a youth, camouflage clothing— for hunting or otherwise—was not on the radar screen or in the wardrobe. In fact, there was very little, if any, camouflage available, period. If you did see it, it was usually being worn by an American hunter or angler. They stuck out like sore thumbs. And, to be honest, I don’t remember hearing many positive comments about camouflage clothing back then. One remark, made to me in the early 1980s by a hunter training instructor, was camouflage made people look like “Venezuelan terrorists.”
So how did camouflage become a “thing” in fashion? I can only speak from my experience, and that’s very much a Canadian point of view. In the mid to late 1980s, the media boom in both fishing and hunting was well underway; television, magazine and videos were everywhere. The people in the shows and on the pages were often wearing camouflage. It started to feel ok to want it. In 1986, I bought my very first reversible camouflage hunting jacket. It had old style green “jungle camo” on the outside and blaze orange on the inside. This became my fishing and hunting jacket, and even made a few magazine covers. Over the next decade, the camouflage fabric and clothing market exploded and soon adorned all types of outdoor wear. At the same time, camo began to make a subtle creep into the regular fashion industry.
For the most part, the camouflage clothing fashion rage started with things like shorts and t-shirts. Musicians and especially rappers embraced camouflage clothing early, and kids began wearing it. I’ll never forget in the early 1990s, driving down Red River Road in Thunder Bay, and seeing a lovely young woman bundled up in a snow camo jacket and red mini skirt. It was something to see. Then, about a decade ago, my fashionable colleague at CBC radio in Thunder Bay, Lisa Laco, showed
up at the station with a very trendy camo skirt on. Camo was in fashion.
These days, seeing camouflage clothing on the street, or even when out for dinner, does not merit a head turn. The stuff is literally everywhere. This past summer, at the Thunder Bay Blues Fest, I’d guess that 1 out of 4 people in the crowd had some manner of camo on, whether it was shorts, a t-shirt, ball cap or bandana. A recent cursory glance through the racks at Intercity Mall in Thunder Bay revealed a mind boggling array of designer camouflage clothes. Some of the stuff was pretty cool. The digital camo designs are especially unique and are found in every colour under the rainbow. Even Sears has joined the party. While doing some research for this piece, I found a beautiful pair of chinos in a very
nice late fall camo pattern there. Yes, I bought them.
There are many company’s now that make camo-styled clothing that really is not meant for anything wearing out on the town. Or the bedroom. A quick Google search of “camo lingerie” will open even the most jaded eyes to the unique possibilities camouflage can offer. A couple of years ago, at a lodge near Red Rock, I stumbled upon a group of young women dressed to the nines in wedding and bridesmaid apparel. They were taking part in a photo shoot for the Thunder Bay based company “Canadian Camo Divas.” The wedding clothing was cut traditionally enough, except for the liberal use of pink, black and green camouflage. The women looked smashing.
Not long after that, I co-hosted an event in Thunder Bay called the camo formal. It was a fund raiser for the Canadian Mental Health Association. People were invited to wear camouflage clothing to the dinner and there was also a fashion show. The fashions on display all included camouflage accents. The lovely co-host Mary Jean Cormier wore a sleeveless dress accented with a camouflage sash. My formal look was set off with a shimmering camo vest.
These days, slipping on a waterfowl jacket with bullrushes on it feels like getting dressed for work. The exotica of camouflage is no more, it is now just another part of modern culture.
The times have truly changed.
By Maryann Weidt & Illustrations
by Rachael Balsaitis
Minnesota Historical Society, $16.95
Life on Daisy Dell Farm can be worrying and baby Eli always manages to find mischief, which has turned Mama into a world-class worrywart. To cope, Mama channels her nervous energy into sewing, knitting, cooking, and keeping the family and livestock warm and well fed. But after Mama saves Eli from yet another predicament, she realizes that at some point, you need to start living and stop worrying; everything will turn out fine. This creative and fun kid’s book teaches youngsters that the best lesson is to share what you have and enjoy the folks you’re with.—Breana Roy
By Michael D. Goldsmith and Marilyn Bibza Childress
Tate Publishing, $14.99
This inspirational novel by a Duluth author tells the near-future story of young baseball pitcher Eli McBrien and his secret ambition. Following the story are lists of comprehension and essay questions.—Shawn Perich
Produced by Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply
$14.95
Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply has produced a comprehensive map of Cook County’s hiking trails and bike routes, printed on a durable, waterproof sheet. The map shows long routes, such as the Superior Hiking Trail and Border Route Trail, and has small inset maps showing short routes, such as hiking trails in state parks. The county’s network of numbered forest roads are also shown. It’s a valuable resource for the North Shore’s growing legions of trail users.
—Shawn
Perich
Is a lake breeze putting a chill on your picnic? The Block by Wind Warrior is easy to set up and can withstand sustained winds of 35 mph. The Block covers 10 feet. Units can be combined to cover a larger area. Note, it must be placed on an unpaved surface so the supports can be pushed into the ground. When not in use, it can be stowed in a carrying case. www.windwarrior.com —Shawn Perich
WHY GO: It provides consistent walleye action during the open-water season, and there are camping opportunities as well.
ACCESS: There is a concrete boat ramp and small dock at a public access on the south end of the lake, at the end of Forest
Service Road 355, which is accessed from F.S. Road 170 (Wilson Grade).
VITALS: This clear, 650-acre Lake County lake sits inside the Superior National Forest, about 11 miles northwest of Schroeder. Wilson has a maximum depth of 53
structure to fish,” said Paron, noting that a favorite spot is around the big island out in the main basin and along the lake’s shoreline, which has a lot of rocky substrate.
While walleyes have a lot of different options on their dinner menu, yellow perch are probably the main food source
for them. With all the food available to walleyes, it’s not unheard of for fish in the upper 20-inch range to be caught, either by biologists sampling the lake or by anglers. “We hear of people catching them every now and then,” Paron said.
A FEW BIG PERCH: Wilson is one of those lakes in the area that not only provide yellow perch for predators such as walleyes, but also for anglers. The most recent DNR survey, done in 2011, turned up a number of fish longer than 8 inches; even one in the 12- to 14-inch category. Paron said lately, anglers have reported doing well catching perch in the evenings.
PIKE: Because the habitat favors perch and walleye reproduction more than it does northern pike—there’s not much of the early weeds pike need to spawn—the lake’s northern population is not great. But there are a few of the toothy critters in the lake, even a few over 30 inches. “It would not be a species I would target,” Paron said.
CAMPING: The U.S. Forest Service has a four-site rustic campground, with no fees charged, near the public access. There is a fire grate, picnic table and outhouse there, too. There is also one more campsite that is remote in the southwest corner of the lake’s main basin. That site, which is accessible by boat, has a fire grate, picnic table and latrine.—Javier Serna
Story and photos by Elle Andra-Warner
previous lighthouses,
Drive the Cabot Trail scenic highway and it is easy to see why Cape Breton Island has been ranked No. 1 on the list of Top Island Destinations by Travel & Leisure, and the Cabot Trail as one of the world’s most beautiful roads. The island is 10,311 square kilometres (3,981 square miles) in size, and connected to the mainland Nova Scotia by the rock-filled “S”-shaped Canso Causeway over the Straits of Canso. The Gulf of St. Lawrence is on its western and northern coasts, and the Atlantic Ocean on the eastern and southern coasts. While the population is only 135,000 (2011 census), it has a rich cultural history and diversity, beginning with the Mi’kmaq who have been here for thousands
of years and the Europeans that arrived after 1497 (particularly the Acadian and Scottish).
I’ve driven the Cabot Trail and it is truly the ultimate Canadian road trip.
After crossing the Canso Causeway, which links Cape Breton to the Nova Scotia mainland, and driving 140 km on the west Cabot Trail, we stopped at the small Acadian town of Cheticamp, to see the work of ‘hookers.’ This is considered the world’s capital of rug-hooking. First stop was at the world-famous Les Trois Pignons Cultural Centre, a ‘wow’ kind of place. The centre included wall-size, hand-hooked tapestries, including one titled “Centennial,”
of these
created with 7 miles of yarn, 416 colours, 1.75 million stitches and covering 68 square feet. It also includes the wall-size U.S. Presidential History that displays 34 presidents and their seals.
Later, we had lunch at the Co-operative Artisanale Restaurant that serves true Acadian meals—cod fish cakes, fish chowder, chiard, and meat pie of shredded beef and pork between two tea biscuit crusts, served with cranberry sauce (my favourite). The servers wore traditional Acadian costume.
Continuing on the Cabot Trail, we stopped at the beautiful Inverness Beach, one of the best places to beachcomb
WILL YOU GET IN BEFORE WINTER ARRIVES? PADDLES? HIKES? FISHING TRIPS?
Stone Harbor is here to make sure it’s as many as possible before the snow flies! Visit us Online or Call us to book a tour!
[RIGHT] At Baddeck, statues honouring Mabel (Hubbard) Bell and Alexander Graham Bell are on the waterfront; a nearby plaque reads “Citizens of the World, Residents of our Community.” [FAR RIGHT] Along the Cabot Trail a “For Sale” sign entices drivers to a roadside stop with hand-crafted lighthouses, lobster traps and whirligigs.
for colourful sea glass (also called mermaid’s tears) originating from an ocean town dump that closed 50 years ago. Did you know that red and yellow are the rarest of sea glass? The gorgeous beach stretches for about a mile with pretty sand dunes and a boardwalk.
At Glace Bay, we visited the Cape Breton Miners Museum, where Abbie, a retired 70-year-old coal miner, in great storytelling style, told about his
48 years in mining. Sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, he told it as it is—the working reality of a miner’s life. He talked about the strong camaraderie among the miners working miles out under the Atlantic Ocean, the horror of methane gas explosions and his buddies who had died. And the big fire of 1984, where he was lucky to escape, but 15 men didn’t.
“Why did I go back down again?” he asked the group. “I had no educa -
tion, what else would I do?” Abbie then invited our group to step back in history with him on an experiential quarter-mile underground tour of Ocean Deep Colliery, located beneath the museum building. The museum also houses an exhibit area, including a fascinating display about Fraser, the pit pony who worked underground for 20 years.
One of the highlights on the eastern side of Cabot Trail is the sprawl -
ing Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada. This is the largest reconstructed historical site of its kind in North America and a great place to spend a day. Founded by the French in 1713, the fortified walled town during its heyday had more than 4,100 residents and was the capital of the French colony known as Isle Royale; in 1758, 27,000 British troops captured it from the French The reconstructed site is massive in size, covering 12 acres with 60 buildings (25 percent of the original Fortress site). Costumed interpreters walk the streets, talking to visitors, just like they would have done in 1744.
Almost everywhere you go on Cape Breton Island, there are Ceilidhs (social gatherings) with traditional Gaelic folk music, singing, and even dancing, such as Glenora Distillery in Glenville (Canada’s first single malt whisky distillery), where each afternoon and evening there is a Ceilidh with fiddle and piano. The Barn at Normandy Inn in Margaree Valley is also famous for its fiddler concerts and Ceilidh dance.
There’s so much more to see and experience on Cape Breton Island. From sail -
ing on beautiful Bras d’ Or Lake, visiting Baddeck where Alexander Graham Bell lived most of his last 37 years (the great 10-acre Bell museum is here); kayaking on the North River, and photographing fishing boats at Neil’s Harbour, to
visiting the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts at St. Anns (only one of its kind in North America), or MacIsaac Kiltmakers in St. Peter’s (did you know there are over 4,000 tartans registered, but only 500 have been woven?)
By Julia Prinselaar
Up here in Northwestern Ontario, bow hunting season for white-tailed deer officially opens in most areas on September 1. For many, open season is also the end of summer vacation, a return to school or work, and generally getting back into the fold of a daily routine.
But long before the daylight hours wane and the leaves change colour under crisp, autumn nights, avid hunters are out on the land, taking weeks—sometimes months— to prepare for the long, quiet waiting game in the woods.
In John Kaplanis’ case, hunting and harvesting is a year-round, seasonal affair. The executive director of the Northwestern Ontario Sportsmen’s Alliance (NOSA) bow hunts a variety of wild game, including bear and turkey in the spring, and moose and white-tailed deer in the fall. He’s also an occasional hunting guide, angler and fur trapper, finding time for it all between his day job as a fire fighter and officer of Thunder Bay Fire/Rescue, and as a husband and father of two teenaged children.
Like him, most modern-day hunters have adapted to advanced tools and technology. They use trail cams, tree stands and flashy, lethal gear. Lamentingly so, gone are the days of traditional longbows, left only for those with the dedicated time and diligence to hone the precision and skill for this style of hunting.
But in a lot of ways, what’s being done here has inherently remained the same. Bow hunters today or a thousand years ago are ideally no more than 20 yards away from their white-tailed targets when they shoot. And in order to accomplish that, there are some pretty unbendable rules.
“Staying silent, scent-free and invisible in the woods is the name of the game,” advises Kaplanis, who washes and stores his camouflage clothes in scent-free containers, and takes time to clean and fix his tree stands in the off-season, including any squeaky equipment. “Details matter.”
“I spend a considerable amount of time at my hunting destinations, scouting and preparing trails, clearing shooting lanes, putting out game cameras...just learning as much as I can about my hunting surroundings. The activity that goes on there when you’re not hunting is just as important as when you’re there to hunt,” he tells me.
Kaplanis owns private land that he uses
for hunting, and cultivates it to become more hospitable to big and small game. While food plot construction is relatively new to the north, he’s learned to grow plants that attract and benefit deer and grouse. Using equipment, he creates openings and edges that wildlife prefer, offering greater food availability and minerals for nourishment.
“I believe good habitat leads to great
body condition in wild game, providing them with greater ability to fend off parasites and predators,” he cites.
It’s undeniable that hunting and harvesting can involve a heck of a lot of time and physical preparation. But the process tugs at something deeper within us if we pay attention: a sense of acute awareness, compassion, triumph and belonging when a kill is successful—the hunter suddenly becomes a direct and engaged participant in the food chain. Frequent fruitless hunting also beckons humility in that we are indeed interdependent, and not uncommonly slighted by the hand of nature.
For Kaplanis, the hunting lifestyle has shaped him into a mentor for young people who are just starting out on this path.
“My connection to the land, the animals and the forest is holistic and the more I can do to be a part of its dynamic, the more complete I feel as a human being. But passing this along to younger people, specifically my own children, has been the most rewarding element of the entire experience. Passing this lifestyle and heritage on to future generations is so important and it’s a big part of what NOSA’s objectives are all about. Finding ways to interest youth in the outdoors, hunting, fishing and trapping, has been the greatest reward of my work with the organization.”
Whether it’s a celebratory feast or casual
consumption, food has brought people together since time immemorial. As for hunting, what’s all the preparation for if not to gather, share and eat?
“When we sit down for family meals of wild game, we insist on doing it as an entire family. All four of us spend time in the kitchen together and there is something to be said for this. It’s a special, almost sacred moment each time we can do this. We hunt, fish and eat together. I can think of no better way to offer reverence to the wild animals we harvest,” said Kaplanis. Amen to that.
By Deane Morrison— MINNESOTA STARWATCH
September opens with a new moon and a wandering Mars. The red planet is on the verge of leaving Scorpius en route to Sagittarius, the archer, and its well-named Teapot.
For much of the year, we’ve watched Mars, Saturn, and Antares, the red heart of Scorpius, perform a ballet low in the south. Now Mars, having traveled eastward through Scorpius, leaves the scorpion and enters Ophiuchus, the snake handler, a large but little-known constellation. Mars sojourns through the southeastern section of Ophiuchus for the first three weeks of September before crossing into Sagittarius above the spout of the Teapot.
These days, Mars really shows off its speed. As September goes by, watch Scorpius, along with Saturn (the bright light above Antares), wheel toward the southwestern horizon as Earth’s orbital motion leaves them behind. We’re also leaving Mars behind, but the red planet’s own motion eastward allows it to hold its own as the stars stream by behind it. Mars will hang around in the evening sky well into
next year—long after its companions in Scorpius have dropped out.
The Summer Triangle of bright stars rides high in the south after nightfall. Altair, the lowest, is the brightest star in Aquila, the eagle. Above and slightly west of Altair, brilliant Vega and a parallelogram of stars form Lyra, the lyre of Orpheus. East of Vega, Deneb twinkles in Cygnus, the swan, and its most famous feature: the Northern Cross. Look for the pointed form of Sagitta, the arrow, sailing above Altair, and also little Delphinus, the leaping dolphin, northeast of the star.
September’s full harvest moon shines the night of Friday, the 16th. Not quite six days later, at 9:21 a.m. on Thursday the 22nd, the autumnal equinox ushers in fall. At that moment, the sun crosses the equator into the southern sky and lights Earth from pole to pole.
The University of Minnesota offers public viewings of the night sky at its Duluth campus. For more information and viewing schedules, see the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium at www.d.umn.edu/planet.
By Elle AndraWarner
Travellers along the highways and byways in our Northern Wilds are sometimes baffled by the piles of rocks balanced on top of rock croppings, perched on boulders or placed at the edge of the boreal forest. They have asked if these mysterious stone markers have any special meaning. So, what is the story behind these hand-built stone works that are now found throughout the U.S., Canada, and beyond?
Called Inuksuk (also spelled Inukshuk; plural form is Inuksuit), the history of these human-made stone landmarks goes back more than 9,000 years to when they were built and used by the northern peoples of the Arctic. Inuksuk means “something which acts for or performs the function of a person” in Inuktitut, one of the languages of the Inuit. The Inuksuit were constructed by stacking piles of rock slabs and stones into various shapes and sizes above the treeline across the Arctic landscape from Alaska to Greenland. On Foxe Peninsula, in the High Arctic on Canada’s Baffin Island, approximately 100 Inuksuit built as far back as 2,000 years ago are still standing. The site is now a designated National Historic Site in Canada.
Traditionally, Inuksuit were built as communication, navigation and survival aids, the stone arrangement indicating the purpose. In his article The Ancestral Inuksuk, Inuit cultural teacher and politician Peter Irniq likes the definition written in the early 1950s by two Hudson Bay Company employees in the Arctic, who defined Inuksuk as, “traditional stone beacons usually made of piled stones on some prominent point or hill as a guide to travelers and hunters or to give other information about game or directions.” The Inuksuk is a cultural symbol of the Inuit and an emblem of the North.
In today’s world, the name Inuksuk is also given to the piled stone monuments that have a head, body, legs and arms. The correct Inuit name for this type of Inuksuk is actually inunnguaq, meaning “in the likeness of a human,” but most people, even the Canadian government, use the word Inuksuk.
These humanoid-like stone statues have moved far beyond the Arctic. For example, an Inuit-created Inuksuk sits in the lobby of the Canadian embassy in Washington, D.C. Three big Inuksuit greet people at the entrance to Terminal 1 at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. On the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto stands a nine-metre Inuksuk, and in Chicago at the Field
Museum, an Inuit-created Inuksuk is part of the museum’s permanent exhibition, “The Ancient Americans.” And the world’s largest stone Inuksuk, built in 2007 in Schomberg, Ontario, is 37.33 feet (11.377 metres) tall and weighs 90 tons.
Some say credit for the worldwide popularity of the stone people as cross-cultural symbols for friendship and hospitality goes
to Ilanaaq the Inuksuk, the mascot logo of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, B.C. His statue now sits at the top of Whistler Mountain.
In our Northern Wilds, landmark Inuksuit include Vermilion Bay’s gas station Inuksuk named “Path Finder” along the Trans-Canada Highway, west of Dryden. In northern Minnesota along Highway
61, just south of the U.S.-Canada border, a large Inuksuk marks the entrance to a scenic Lake Superior lookout. In Kellogg, Minn., the two-foot tall “Icabod Inukshuk” welcomes visitors to the Lark Toy Museum and Store.
Builders of the modern-day roadside Inuksuit add another meaning to the legacy of the Inuit ancient stone markers—it is about marking our presence and saying “I was here.” There’s plenty of those markers, everywhere from hiking trails and lake shores, to roadsides. Six years ago, a journalist from Sudbury, Ontario, counted 93 Inuksuit along the 108-mile (173 km) stretch of highway between Sudbury and Parry Sound. And a few weeks ago in the village of Nakina (216 miles northeast of Thunder Bay) while driving down a back road, I spotted an eclectic mix of small Inuksuit tucked at the edge of the forest. How does one build an inuksuk? Gather rocks, preferably with flat spots or edges, pick a building spot, and then stack the stones atop one another (not as easy as it sounds).
According to Inuit tradition, once built, an Inuksuk must never be destroyed.
The state’s wolf population is stable to increasing, according to the most recent DNR survey. | STOCK
Results from the latest wolf population survey show no significant change in Minnesota’s wolf population during the past four winters, according to the DNR.
The latest survey results estimate that within Minnesota’s wolf range there were 439 wolf packs and 2,278 wolves last winter, compared to 374 packs and 2,221 wolves the year before. There has been no biologically or statistically significant change in the size of the statewide mid-winter wolf population over the past four years.
“The consistent wolf population surveys over the last several years are further evidence of the health and stability of Minnesota’s wolf population,” said Dan Stark, large carnivore specialist for the DNR.
The population survey is conducted in mid-winter near the low point of the annual population cycle. Immediately following birth of pups each spring, the wolf population typically doubles, though many pups do not survive to the following winter.
Minnesota’s wolf population remains above the state’s minimum goal of at least 1,600 wolves and is above the federal recovery goal of 1,251 to 1,400.
Although the population estimate was not significantly different from last year, survey results suggest wolf packs used less area on average than the previous year (62 versus 73 square miles), resulting in an increase in the estimated number of packs. This pattern is consistent with the increase in deer numbers observed in many parts of wolf range.
According to John Erb, DNR wolf research scientist, when prey numbers change, wolves must eventually re-adjust to the new conditions.
“In recent years we’ve observed a decline in prey that translated into larger wolf pack territories, and the reverse is now to be expected if deer numbers continue to increase,” Erb said.
The survey estimated an average of 4.4 wolves per pack, down from an average
as correlated with prey density as is territory size. The late start and early end to winter snow cover reduced the amount of time available for wolf pack counts, which could contribute to a lower estimate.
“Regardless of the explanation, over the past 30 years, average mid-winter pack size has not shown much variability, ranging from 5.6 to 4.3,” Erb said. “Counts are assumed to represent minimum estimates given the challenges with detecting all members of a pack together at the same time.”
The DNR’s goal for wolf management, as outlined in the state’s wolf management plan, is to ensure the long-term survival of wolves in Minnesota while addressing wolf-human conflicts. Wolves in Minnesota returned to the federal list of threatened species as a result of a Washington, D.C. federal district court ruling in December 2014.
Learn more at www.mndnr.gov/wolves.
pack size of 5.1 wolves per pack in last year’s survey. The slight drop in average pack size from last winter could be a result of many factors, although pack size is not
MALCOLM CLARK, Broker
Your own private island located in the south of Rossport Harbour. Sheltered by the main land, Whiskey Island, and Nicol Island. Approx. 1/2 mile from the town of Rossport. 764 ft of Lake Superior shoreline. Really neat 1 1/2 story cabin with water, shower, cooking facilities with woodstove. Gravity water feed from tank on roof. $199,000 CDN
BLACK BAY SUBDIVISION
Over 2200 feet of Lake Superior frontage, over 15 acres. Sandy beach. Deluxe boathouse with power, kitchenette, bathroom, sauna and loft. Private hiking trails with bridges. Private boat launch. Price is $227,000CDN
NICOL ISLAND ROSSPORT
Tremendous Lake Superior building sites. Lakefront and interior lots for sale with docking facilities. Causeway opened year round. Power and phone. Starting at $55,000CDN
LAKE SUPERIOR LOTS
Little Trout Bay, 20 minutes north of the Minnesota/Ontario border, 3 large estate-sized lots, very sheltered with southern exposure. Tremendous views. Power and telephone available. Priced beginning at $199,000 CDN
640 Beverly Street, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 0B5 Canada
Phone (807) 344-3232
FAX: (807) 344-5400
Toll Free 1-888-837-6926
Cell: 807-473-7105
mclark@avistarealty.ca www.avistarealty.ca
Very unique waterfront property on the outside of Black Bay Peninsula. Flanked by Helen Island, Lasher Island and Coutlee Island makes Blacks Wharf one of the best protected harbours you could find. This is a rare opportunity to own a very beautiful piece of Lake Superior. $200,000 CDN
2 to 95 acres. Starting at $90,000 USD
OLIVER LAKE
North shore. 215.5 acre parcel with 3900 feet of lake frontage. Rugged property-water access. Southern exposure, ultimate privacy. $169,000 CDN
ft. lake frontages. Driveways installed. Power, phone and cell available. Beautiful southern hillside exposure and gorgeous view. A fabulous, quiet location for your dream cottage with year round access and fishing right out front.
and northern fishing year round! Call Wil Salo 627-1267 Pine Bay Lake $460,Superior 000 CDN Lake Superior Log Home. 3 large bedrooms, 2 baths, triple glaze windows, solid wood floors, hot tub room, sauna. 2 car+ attached garage. Super sized
NEW! WOWSER! LAKE SUPERIOR VILLA!
NEW! HEY HANDYMAN! Come take a Look at this Tofte home with acreage! Lots to offer, the home is solid and has a nice flow. The kitchen has been upgraded! Large windows allow for lots of light, and accessory buildings are perfect for a workshop and garage! Curious? Give us a call to see this gem! MLS#6022904 $189,000 NEW ROOF!
NEW! FIVE BEDROOM 4 BATH TOWNHOME WITH RENTAL INCOME IN LUTSEN! Lovely home overlooking the Mountainous terrain, Ski In Ski Out, and an easy walk to the Alpine Slide, the new Gondola, and miles of trails. The Perfect North Shore Getaway! MLS#6022881 $299,000
THE WATER’S EDGE ON DEERYARD LAKE! Nestled in to the shoreland many years ago, this lakeshome captures the Vibe of days gone by. Enjoy some cards at the kitchen table overlooking the Wilderness Lakeshore. Good quality family time at the cabin. And it’s affordable at $164,900. CALL TODAY! MLS#6023865 $164,900
SANDY BEACH SHORELINE ON LAKE SUPERIOR, AND A HECK OF A NICE HOME! Super value, completely renovated, the interior of this home should be in Architectural Digest! You will love it once you see it in person! MLS# 6022246 $399,000
$599,900 HUGE VALUE!!!
SUPERIOR SENSE OF PLACE! Meander the tree lined driveway along Lutsen’s Rollins Creek Road, stumble upon the connecting ponds with Fountain and Sculpture celebrating the Sounds of Springtime! Over 8 acres of rolling terrain, experience the manicured path to the ponds, or stroll down the rock steps to
DREAMY LAKE SUPERIOR CABIN, ACCESSIBLE SHORELINE! Accessible ledgerock shoreline in the heart of Tofte! Walk to BlueFin for dinner, Enjoy seclusion amongst the Mature Spruce, Year Round living at it’s best. Perfect home to update and make it your own! MLS#2270954 $429,000
THE SECLUDED SIDE OF GRAND MARAIS ON LAKE SUPERIOR! Just east of the East Bay, you’ll love running your toes through the sandy shoreline on Lake Superior! Lovely Year Round 2+ bedrm home within walking distance to Grand Marais features main level living and room for expansion in the nice but unfinished basement. 2 car garage. MLS#2313342 $369,900
SIMPLE LIVING ON THE BIG LAKE! Great vibes resonate from this home, comfortable in its design, it’s about the nice views from the entire main level, including main level bedroom! Nearby Taconite Harbor, watch the big boats pull in to the harbor!! MLS#2300030 $349,000
Ahhh the Sweet Colors of September, Enjoy those Crisp Lake Breezes!
JAW DROPPING LAKE SUPERIOR Ready to build with long winding driveway to build site, surveyed. Defined build site with Huge Views!! Rare opportunity close to Grand Marais and within walking distance from the Croftville Road, very nice for walks. MLS#6022564 $325,000
END OF THE ROAD SPECTACULAR 280 ft of cliff shoreline with unobstructed Views across Lake Superior! Little Marais area, Build ready, driveway already in place!
MLS#2313255 $265,000
PLENTY OF ELBOW ROOM ON LAKE SUPERIOR! Nearly 800 ft of shoreline and 11 ac. of rolling terrain, with signs of the past logging roads and Spruce planted forests providing a sweet buffer from all of those pesky worries of the Real World! Driveway installed in to the mid-section of the land to allow you to explore which building site best fits your desires! MLS#2309271 $799,000
SHUFFLEBOARD ANYONE?
Drift back to days gone by when you visit this lovely Greenwood Lake cabin! Incredible peninsula, Sweet cabin completely renovated and in tip top shape. Deep shoreline, huge ledgerock surrounds the home, you need to EXPERIENCE this property!
MLS#6023066 $429,000
CRAFTSMANSHIP ON GREENWOOD! Big Waters, views that seem to sprawl for miles! Quality newer construction home, Everything about this cabin is Awesome. Easy lake access, huge views, Mint Condition. Borders State land, End of the Road privacy. MLS#6023062
$499,000
SECLUSION ON GREENWOOD LAKE’S EAST BAY! Charming newer construction log sided cabin with great Lake Views tucked in to the shoreline of a quiet bay…imagine fishing your days away on Greenwood! MLS#6019922 $249,000
LUTSEN LAKE SUPERIOR CASCADE BEACH RD LAND! Very accessible, build site close to the water, listen to the waves of Lake Superior lapping the rocky shoreline! Gorgeous morning sunrises over the Big Lake, a must see! MLS#2308906 $299,000
400 FT OF STUNNING LAKE SUPERIOR SHORELINE minute’s to the Cross River in Schroeder! Rolling terrain, nice Evergreen stand giving nice buffer from ANY highway noise. Worth the walk through the wilderness to see the AMAZING 400 ft of sprawling ledge rock shoreline!! MLS#2313305 $529,000
ISLAND VIEW, HARBOR VIEW, SPECTACULAR VIEW!Accessible and Incredible shoreline, One of a KIND Lake Superior Parcel, Must Meander to See how much you will LOVE this Shoreline! MLS#2308826 $429,000 REDUCED!
JUST IMAGINE LOON
LAKE! Let the kids romp and swim down on the shoreline while you enjoy relax on the large deck! It’s a small footprint which means more affordable to maintain and heat! Open concept main level with upstairs sleep space. Year round living on Loon Lake, fish for those Trout all day long! MLS#6022840
$211,000
GUST LAKE CABIN IN LUTSEN! Tons of value on a spectacular piece of shoreline! Super fishing cabin on a peninsula point overlooking peaceful Gust Lake and the Boundary Waters a hop skip and jump away. MLS#6020330 $239,000
CRAZY CUTE LOG CABIN ON CHRISTINE LAKE!
Located just off a designated Mountain Bike Trail system, enjoy year round access, electric at street and a TOTAL SENSE OF SECLUSION! Canoe on Christine, Fly Fish in the Poplar or just go for a hike in the Superior National Forest! MLS#2308836 $150,000 REDUCED!
LUTSEN LAKE SUPERIOR VACATION TOWNHOME AT LUTSEN RESORT! Enjoy all that the historic Lutsen Lodge offers…a sandy beach, a cool River, Swimming pool, spa, FABULOUS dining…but enjoy it in STYLE at the Cliffhouse overlooking the historic lodge. Newer construction, Big views, Contemporary Design. Total Comfort. Nice rental income to offset expenses MLS#6021422 $429,000
SWEET CABIN ON TONS OF PIKE LAKE SHORELINE!
End of the road, year round living in this Grand Cabin bordering the Superior National Forest! MLS#6022181
$349,000
AT THE WATERS EDGE! Rustic cabin on Gust Lake, a Real Charmer! MLS#6022642 $110,000
guests to enjoy! Main Level Owner’s Suite will make you want to keep it all to yourselves! A Must See! MLS#2313246 REDUCED! $465,000 BIG VALUE! POPLAR LAKE CABIN ON 440’ OF SHORELINE AT THE TIP OF A PENINSULA! Ensconced in quiet Boreal environment, Cabin sits proudly above the lake for long views over Poplar’s numerous islands! Home needs a little TLC, priced to sell! MLS#2308952 $259,000 REDUCED!
FUN ON
SILVER BAY TO LITTLE MARAIS TO FINLAND & ISABELLA!
Hwy 1 area Hunting Cabin on 10 ac MLS#2309318 $64,900
30 acres Wilderness, Borders lands next to Little Manitou River! MLS#2309327 $129,000 Rocky Wall Overlooking Lake Superior just outside Silver Bay. MLS#2244646 $99,000
80 acres for $79,000 Blesner Lake Rd!. MLS#2234328
Rock Road in Silver Bay area! Great build site with creek frontage! MLS#2308638 $45,000
Sonju Lake Road in Finland! 39 ac Rolling terrain with some maples MLS#2313331 $45,000 SOLD!
160 acre parcel of upland maples and boreal forest. Total seclusion. Owned by the same family since 1904! MLS#2194145 $129,000
Lakeshore on Ninemile Lake at the Village, common water and septic, build ready, borders common land! MLS#2309096 $39,000 REDUCED!
SCHROEDER AREA NEAR THE CROSS RIVER!
Caribou River Frontage, Simply Gorgeous 38 ac! MLS#2313027 $65,000 SOLD!
Maple forest with meandering creek , nice sized pond. Electric/broadband Yr Round access. 15 min from Hwy 61 in Schroeder. 20 ac $49,900 MLS#2308954; 40+ ac $109,900 MLS#2308953
10 Ac Parcels of Maples! Rolling Terrain of Mature Maples to a Sweet Building site Perched Over a Mixed Boreal Forest. Year Round Access and Electric at Road! MLS#2024250 $56,900
DRAMATIC Mountain Top Views, Rolling Hills, Maple Forests fading in to Spruce and Pine and year round access. Tons of acreage available, or just pick up a 40 for $70,000! MUST SEE, call Emily today! MLS#6001560, multiple#’s call for full map and prices! FROM $70,000 MLS#2090628
Sugarloaf Retreats on High Ridge Drive, located up the Surgaloaf Road from Sugarloaf Cove Naturalist Area, Enjoy large acreage parcels at rock bottom prices! Each $39,000 MLS#1598640 REDUCED!
Ahhh the Sweet Colors of September, Enjoy those Crisp Lake Breezes!
TOFTE AREA NEAR BLUEFIN BAY RESORT!
LeVeaux Mountain, Super Views and Wildlife Ponds! FROM $49,900 MLS#2216091, MLS#2220050 $69,000
Just Up the Sawbill Trail Grab your little piece of the Northwoods, rolling terrain and small community feel with year round access, great build sites! MLS#2070510 Prices from $24,900!!
Tofte vaag on the Sawbill, Nice Lake Views! Walk to the Coho, great location! FROM $49,900 MLS#1615956
Wowser Lake Superior views on Overlook Tr! MLS#2296509 $79,900
Mature Spruce and BIG Lake Views! Walk to Blue Fin Bay, drilled well in place!
MLS#2272174 $49,900
Gorgeous 19 acres with creek running through the middle, high ground! MLS#2309247
$65,000 SALE PENDING!
LUTSEN LAKE VIEWS & WILDERNESS LANDS!
NEW! Nice parcel bordering USFS land, driveway roughed in, access to Tait Lk!
MLS#6023412 $35,000
Onion River Rd land, Hiker’s Heaven!
MLS#2309316 $45,000 SALE PENDING!
High Ground End of Cul de Sac borders Superior National Forest! MLS#6021436 $49,900
Woodland Foothills Build Ready lots, Shared Water & Community Septic from $19,000 MLS#2309328+
Heartland of Lutsen, 80 ac at the Foothills of Ski Hill ridge, near downtown Lutsen!
MLS#2312987 $119,000
Over 15 ac of Wilderness on Turnagain Trail in Lutsen! MLS#2216560 $69,500
Prime Build Site(s) just off theCaribou at Jonvick Creek!
MLS#2240533 $49,000
Gorgeous 5 acre parcels in the Heart of Lutsen paved Caribou Trail locale bordering USFS lands! MLS#2174799 From $54,900-$77,500
LUTSEN LAKE VIEWS & WILDERNESS LANDS!
Creek Build Site just off the Caribou Trail at Jonvick Creek! Rare and Unique Build site!
MLS#2289515 $57,500
30 acres of Prime Wilderness Land with year round access and electric at street with Views of Lutsen’s famed Clara Lake! MLS#2080599 $137,500
80 Ac with Poplar River Frontage on the Honeymoon Tr! MLS#2307399 $95,000
Gorgeous Views of Williams & Wills Lake in Lutsen!
Year Round Access, electric, Mountain Top site bordering USFS land. A Wonderful place to build your home! MLS#2107927 $70,000
GRAND MARAIS LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION!
NEW! Hammer Road East of town! Expansive Lake Superior Views! Great Build Site at $49,900 MLS#6023586
A Hop, Skip & Jump West of Grand Marais this lot is the perfect location to build. With an apron and culvert installed off County Rd 7, and the survey done you are ready to build! MLS#2313311 $68,900
A River Runs Through It! 160 Acres of Upland and River Frontage on the Cascade River near Eagle Mountain. Whether Hunting land or Wilderness Retreat, this is a Great Opportunity! MLS#1940786 $99,500 REDUCED! SALE PENDING!
Corner Build Site in Town Walk to Harbor! MLS#2309203 $39,000
Cty Rd 7 Murphy Mountain Lake View lands! Bargain Buys in young Poplar Forest, easy clearing for Sweet Lake Superior Views for as little as $39,900! Or Enjoy Hilltop Build Site with driveway in place. MLS#1599157 $79,900 REDUCED!
Lovely parcel just Up the Gunflint Trail, ready to build, mature pines great location! MLS#6022429 $49,900
LAKESHORE BUILD SITES!
SWEET PARCEL ON SWALLOW LAKE IN ISABELLA AREA! 220 ft of shoreline, 2.5 ac! MLS#2300576 $64,900
150 FT ON CARIBOU LAKE, driveway roughed in, electric at street, dock in place with outhouse, Log bunkhouse! Great Summer Camp! MLS#2301994 $179,500 SALE PENDING!
SWEET CLARA LAKE SHORELINE! Level Access from Build Site to Rocky Shores. Superior National Forest Lands! Electric, yr round access, Old Cabin in place to use now and build later! MLS#1600179 $199,000
VOYAGEUR POINT ON POPLAR LAKE! New boat dock allows you to get out over the water and look down the bay. Nice path from dock to boat house and to elevated home site MLS#2184576 $159,000
LAKESHORE 10+ ACRES BORDERING SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST! in Lutsen, year round access with over 10 acres and 200 feet of shoreline! Hilltop building site with cleared path thru cedar forest to Christine Lake, a super wilderness lake great for paddling your days away! MLS#6023288 $99,900
DREAMY LAKE SUPERIOR . land and lakeshore! Several acres of privacy and way more than 200 ft of Level Access Lake Superior shoreline in Schroeder, near Sugarloaf Cove Naturalist Area! MLS#2090420 $275,000
PIKE LAKE SHORELINE, SOUTHERN EXPOSURE! Nice big lake lot: 5+ acres, 225’ of frontage! Maples, cedars, fir, ash: a diverse mix of thriving Northwoods. The fall color is dreamy, try collecting maple sap in the spring! Shallow lake access, but it’s there, along with yr round access! MLS#2313068 $167,700 HEY HEY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SUPER NICE CARIBOU LAKE BUILD SITE! The original cabin was recently removed, allowing for a nice “established feel” to this lot. Driveway in place, clearing done and electricity available! MLS#2309132 $150,000 REDUCED!
STUNNING CONTEMPORARY HOME. Abso
SPECTACULAR LAKE SUPERIOR LOT. Framed by palisades, the nicely wooded property has two or more perfect sites on which to build your special lake home. Views are classic old North Shore looking over Chicago Bay. Shared septic system is in place. MLS# 2308784 $365,000 CONTEMPORARY
LOG CABIN SECLUSION - LOON LAKE. This beautiful log cabin sits on the secluded north shore of Loon Lake and adjoins forest service land on two sides. The quality log work is impeccable. 2 bdrms, 2 baths, huge loft, wonderful 4-season porch, deck and full walk-out basement. The full stone fireplace is magnificent. The views are pure wilderness and the shoreline is classic Boundary Waters. MLS# 6023186 $449,000 GORGEOUS HOME ON DEVIL
TRACK LAKE. Impeccably maintained 2 story, 3 bdrm lake home with 3 season porch. Windows all around, vaulted ceilings, numerous upgrades, loads of finished living space. Workshop, landscaped yard and gardens. Easy walk to access the 100+ ft of lake shore and dock. MLS# 6023129 $399,900
PARADISE ON TOM LAKE. This 2 bedroom log sided cabin is the definition of superb craftsmanship! Charm in every room. 2
A-FRAME
bath A-Frame cabin in a beautiful setting overlooking Poplar Lake. End of the road privacy with year-round access. Very nice, gentle path to the 156’ of lake shore. Nice mix of trees. MLS# 6024438 $187,500
NEW! BEAUTIFUL GUNFLINT LAKE HOME. This turn key 3 bdrm, 2 bath home is situated on a quiet bay with 116’ shoreline. Impeccably maintained with new windows, open living/ dining area, wrap-around deck, and professionally landscaped yard. MLS# 6024465 $369,000
and power are in place with a nice shed to store your gear. MLS# 6021603 $339,900 GUNFLINT LAKE HOME & GUEST CABIN. Spectacular views across the lake to Canada! 2 bdrms + lrg loft, 2 baths, guest cottage with ½ bath & laundry facility. The 200’ of lakeshore is easy to access. MLS# 6021137 $375,000 PRICE REDUCED!
WILDERNESS
LARGE
$197,500
AFFORDABLE CABIN ON CLEARWATER LAKE. Cute 2 bdrm cabin on very special Clearwater Lake with 180’ frontage. Very affordable for up north cabin life. MLS# 6023119 $169,000
SUPREME LAND, SUPREME WATER.
Over 20 acres of amazing forest teamed with 300’ of aweinspiring shoreline that rests at the southeast end of Tom Lake. MLS# 6023688 $130,000
QUALITY DEVIL TRACK LAKE LOT. Wooded south shore lot with easy shoreline and great views from excellent building sites. 150 ft frontage. Power/phone. More lakeshore land available. MLS# 6020623 $149,900
NINEMILE LAKE RETREAT. Nice 3.40 acre property with 200’ shoreline near Finland. Driveway, electricity, well, build site, and huge garage are in place, plus dock and lakeside fire pit. The 26’ Keystone Springdale is a negotiable item! MLS# 6023329 $124,900
CARIBOU LAKE - HOME SITE. New price is well below tax assessed value. Magnificent old-growth cedar and maple trees. Great, high build site on Sawmill Bay. 5.34 acres and 185’ lake frontage. MLS# 2203572 $95,000 SWEET SPOT ON TOM LAKE. Just a great opportunity, only four lots behind the gate. The driveway is in and the owner is looking at all offers. 1.60 acres and 189’ shoreline. Quiet and very private. MLS# 6021808 $70,000 LOTS ON NINEMILE LAKE. Three beautiful, large lots on Ninemile Lake in Finland. Lots adjoin Superior National Forest and Cabin Creek Unit Roadless Area with excellent shoreline and views. Power and year round access! MLS #6019489 $89,300, MLS #6019492 $97,900 MLS #6021813 $69,000
SNOWSHOE RUN LOTS. Set along a high ridge overlooking Hare Lake in a mature northern hardwood forest. Year-round plowed and maintained county roads, power at each property and a clear water trout lake. MLS# 6019490 - 6019496, 6019498 Lake lot prices start at $48,800
END OF THE ROAD PRIVACY ON TOM LAKE. This beautiful wooded lot has its own bay/cove. There is a long curved driveway to a nice cleared build site. MLS# 6021553 $47,500
FARM HOUSE AND 20 ACRES. Simply charm-
country
for
with outbuildings and
horse!
3 bdrm, 2
has
MAPLE HILL HOME IN ENCHANTED FOREST. This 3 bdrm, 2 bath split entry sits in a mature pine forest with tons of seclusion and northwoods appeal on 20 acres. Lrg stone fireplace, vaulted ceilings, open plan living-dining-kitchen with patio door to the deck. 1.5-car garage with finished space above plus 30 x 40 shop building. MLS# 6020988 $298,500 PRICE REDUCED!
room,
den with built-in bookshelves, & 3 season porch. The land is special with lrg wildlife pond & planted pines. More land is available. MLS# 2309191 $298,900 HOVLAND OPPORTUNITY. Large home or commercial opportunity on Hwy 61 between Hovland and Grand Portage. This 7 bdrm, 3 bath home has resort/commercial zoning allowing for many options. Large deck, stone fireplace, Lake Superior views. A great home for a large family, or your business dream. MLS# 2313085, 2313088 $289,900
HOBBY FARM OR LOTS OF IDEAS. This large property features open meadows, gardens, orchards, and a beautiful river. The living quarters with 4 bdrms, 2 baths and open living space is located above a 6-stall horse barn. A large pole barn, huge gathering hall, garage and various storage sheds provide lots of sheltered space. Two wells and septic systems. Easy county road access. What's your idea? MLS# 6018972 $269,900
RENTAL COTTAGES - GOOD HISTORYGREAT LAKE. Devil Track Cabins is a long standing seasonal resort on the beautiful north shore of Devil Track Lake. The 5 charming, cozy cabins and owner's cabin each have a private setting and lake view. A wonderful family retreat! MLS# 6019988, 6024447 $387,900
MARKET, DELI, LIQUOR STORE –HOVLAND. A bustling business in a beautiful rural community on the North Shore. Bakery, deli, pizza, convenience store, and liquor store under one roof. Large seating area & outdoor patio. Expansion/home site possible! MLS# 6023742 $349,900
BIG OPPORTUNITY, MANY POSSIBILITIES. Prime commercial location in Hovland, 1000 feet of Highway 61 frontage. Large commercial space with a small 2 bedroom home and 1 functioning rental cottage. Many new improvements and upgrades. Two more small cabins could be rented, and there's room for many more...or other possibilities. Large 2-car garage plus two sheds. MLS# 2308736 $297,500
GRAND MARAIS PROFESSIONAL BUILDING. The options here are endless and the opportunity is great. Ample parking and a nice sized storage building. Own/occupy the entire building, rent out one side & offset your ownership costs, or create “condo offices” & offer space to a variety of entities. MLS# 6020220 $269,900
GRAND MARAIS CABINS. Good income property with long-term tenants. All 5 cabins have had ongoing upgrades - roofs, baths, plumbing, heating. Cabin 1 has fireplace. Charming touches. MLS# 2312978 $210,000
COMMERCIAL LOTS IN LUTSEN. Two commercial-zoned lots fronting Hwy 61 in Lutsen across from Lockport Store. Great visibility, nice forest, lake view. Third lot is zoned residential. Bring your business idea! MLS# 6020464 $179,000
NEW! SUGARBUSH, BEAVER, TROUT. Remote 80 acres near the Gunflint Trail, 10 miles from Grand Marais with easy access. Surrounded by public land. 700’ of Durfee Creek frontage with beaver dams. Good road, building sites. Northern third has sugar maples! MLS# 6024638 $149,000
DRAMATIC CASCADE RIVER PROPERTY. River splits the 20 acre property – never look at a neighbor across the river. The dozen large private parcels in this “island” of private land are surrounded by federal and state forest lands. MLS# 6020527 $74,900
WOODS, WATER & SECLUSION.Three 40 acre lots with 600 to 1000 ft frontage on Mons Creek. Also includes deeded access to Lost Lake. Private and secluded. MLS# 6021356 $59,900 or MLS# 6021357 $69,900 or MLS# 6021358 $74,900.
GRAND MARAIS - CITY LOT ON CREEK. Wooded lot with City services: water, sewer and electric at site. Nice south exposure and frontage on scenic Cedar Creek. Quiet street. MLS# 2125228 $59,900 LAND ON THE FLUTE REED RIVER. Enjoy privacy and seclusion in a deep 13 acre parcel with over 300 feet of trout stream in Hovland. Easy access with power, phone and broadband. Nice build sites. MLS# 2313215 $49,900
500’ ON MOHNS CREEK. Mixed topography of beautiful rolling land with many great build sites on 25 acres. Old growth cedar, spruce, pine and birch. Abuts state land. MLS# 6021088 $39,900
TOP OF BIRCH CLIFF. See 50 miles across Lake Superior! Only a few spectacular view sites like this exist on the North Shore. You can see 180 degrees from Isle Royale to the east, the Apostle Islands to the south, and all the way down the Sawtooth Mountains to the west. There is a private drive and buried power already in place. Public lands border the 15+ acre property, and more land is available. MLS# 6022768 $350,000 LOCATION, VIEWS, PRIVACY, 80 ACRES. Sweeping views of Lake Superior and Pincushion Mt from expansive open meadows. This former homesteaders property has it all: rolling topography, ravines, grassy meadows, mature timber, flowing creek and expansive views. Great property for horses or crop production. Minutes from Grand Marais. MLS# 6021017 $289,000
LARGE WILDERNESS ACREAGE - LAKE ACCESS. This 80+ acre parcel includes 400 feet of shoreline on McFarland Lake. Building sites are located across the road on the hillside with potential lake views. Rugged property with high topography and old growth cedar and pine. Easy access to the BWCAW and Border Route Hiking Trail. MLS# 6024602 $203,000 OUTSTANDING LAKE SUPERIOR VIEWS Gorgeous 14.69 acre parcel located within the boundaries of Cascade State park. Rolling hills, a variety of trees, and only 10 minutes from either Grand Marais or Lutsen. Many opportunities, potential for subdivision. MLS# 6023971 $175,000
MOUNTAIN TOP - WILDERNESS VIEWS. Fantastic vistas into the BWCA and surrounding rugged topography near McFarland Lake. Located at the end of the Arrowhead Trail with easy year-round access. The 122 acres has a high ridge and a “mountain top” for you to name. MLS# 6024599 $167,000
BIG LAND, BIG CREEK, BIG TREES. This nearly 100 acre Hovland area parcel is on the "front range" of the Farquhar Hills with a dramatic backdrop of rock cliffs and escarpments. There is a large creek running through the entire property with many fantastic building sites. MLS# 6024136 $159,900 INCREASINGLY RARE, LARGE RECREATIONAL PARCEL. 190 arces fully surveyed. The perfect retreat. Has a rich variety of trees, ponds, high and low lands, some meadow land and wetlands. MLS# 6023211 $150,000
BEAUTIFUL ACREAGE WITH LAKE VIEWS. Four 80 acre parcels located just south of Schroeder and a stone’s throw from Lake Superior! Each parcel features shared access off State Highway 61. The land features a gradual elevation, tiered building sites, beautiful lake views, and the Caribou River is within walking distance. MLS #6020335, #6021914, #6021916, and #6021918 $149,900 each.
LARGE ACREAGE WITH WATER FEATURES. The headwaters of Irish Creek! Quality 160+ acres, 5 parcels sold grouped or separately. Many great features incl. old growth white pine, ponds, camping and building areas. MLS# 6023457 $149,500
INTRIGUING PROSPECT. High-quality items already in place include an insulated/heated slab for house/porch, insulated garage slab, electricity, driveway, the well, a time-dosed/heated septic system. Over 18 acres of privacy. MLS# 6021384 $114,900
READY TO BUILD – 20 ACRES IN SCHRODER. Driveway and building pad already in place. A red pine forest climbs up to the highest point with stunning views. MLS# 2308723 $79,900
HUGE POND-HUGE PRIVACY. Large 45+ acre wooded parcel located across from Tom Lake. Huge pond/lake in the very center of the acreage. MLS# 6022858 $99,000
MAPLES, VIEWS, PRIVACY. 85+ acres near Hovland. Good end of road access, adjoining tons of federal land, great view of pond. MLS# 2313198 $98,900
BUILDING SITE, CREEK, MAPLE RIDGE. This 47 acre parcel has a lot to offer. There’s a nice south facing building site just off a county road, a trout stream with beaver pond, and a maple ridge adjoining federal land. Great location close to Grand Marais. MLS# 6022087 $69,900
RUSTICATE, RECREATE, RELAX. Reclusive Hovland hideaway –43 acres with new driveway to “base camp” with a nice camper trailer and shed. Trails have been cut throughout the property which adjoins State land. MLS# 2313223 $64,900
GREAT LOCATION, QUALITY FOREST, BUILD HERE. These 10-acre parcels have a mature and mixed forest, southerly exposure, easy county road frontage and just minutes from Grand Marais. MLS# 6023274 $64,900, MLS# 6023275 $62,900, MLS# 6023276 $64,900
PINES & LAKE SUPERIOR VIEW. Large 13+ acre pine filled lot on the hillside above Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center in Schroeder. Great lake views! Power, phone and broadband at the lot. MLS# 2313242 $64,900
HOME SITE NEAR DEVIL TRACK LAKE. Deep wooded home site steps from Devil Track Lake. 5 acres of secluded privacy. Enjoy the lake without the high taxes. MLS# 6022472 $64,900 SALE PENDING!
MAPLE HILL - HOME SITE. Heavily wooded 6.45 acre parcel with great privacy, county rd frontage, power and phone. MLS# 6023465 $64,500
30 ACRES - PANORAMIC VIEWS. Rare mountain top property with a 180 degree view of distant Lake Superior and the ridge to the north. Many trails in place with food plots for wildlife, plus an elevated viewing blind. MLS# 6020274 $55,000 RIDGES, PINES & VIEWS - ARROWHEAD TRAIL. Nice 20 acre parcel with high building sites and huge pines. The surrounding federal land leads directly into the BWCAW. McFarland lake is just a half-mile away. MLS# 6024600 $63,000
NICE LOT NEAR GRAND MARAIS. Beautiful gardens currently inhabit this lovely lot. Though it rests on Hwy 61 there are nice private niches to rest your home on. Walk to downtown Grand Marais! MLS# 6022810 $55,000
BUILDING LOT - GRAND MARAIS. A rare find! This lot is located on 8th Ave W in the heart of town with easy walking distance to the harbor and business district. All city services are at the street. MLS# 6019287 $54,900
PERFECT 5 ACRE HOME SITE. This private and secluded build site is just waiting for your custom plans! Only five miles from town with five acres of great woods bordering public land on two sides. MLS# 6021986 $51,500 GREAT PRIVACY CLOSE TO TOWN. This 5 acre property just outside of Grand Marais sits at the end of a private drive. Potential Lake Superior views, small creek and nice elevation make for a great ready-to-build home site. New driveway this summer. MLS# 6023747 $49,800
OWN A PIECE OF THE NORTHWOODS. 39+ acres of gently sloping, wooded land with easy access on Camp 20 Road. Less than one half mile east of Judge CR Magney State Park, and steps away from the Superior Hiking Trail. MLS# 6022163 $48,900
NEW! WOODED 10 ACRES IN HOVLAND. North woods seclusion plus electricity and broadband! Great forested parcel. The driveway is in leading to a secluded build site with nice trees. Cute shower house and outhouse. MLS# 6024396 $47,900
BUILDING SITE OVERLOOKING MCFARLAND LAKE. This pine studded 7 acre property has easy walking access to the county beach on McFarland Lake. Nice elevated build site with easy county road access. Just minutes from the BWCA by canoe or hiking shoe. MLS# 6024601 $47,000 POWERS LAKE ROAD ACREAGE. This is the beautiful ‘40’ that you have been waiting for. Easy access off Powers Lake Road. Electricity and broadband – a real bonus! MLS# 6022202 $42,000
5 ACRES NEAR CARIBOU LAKE. Gorgeous corner lot with colorful maples and majestic cedars. Plenty of privacy. Close to hiking trails and the Caribou Lake boat landing. Year round access with power! MLS# 2279179 $40,000
NEW! THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. Nice 6 acre parcel of mixed forest land only 6 miles from Grand Marais! Great site for nature lovers, birders and wildlife watchers. Shared driveway is in, transformer on the property. MLS# 6024077 $39,900
QUIET AND PRIVATE. Choice 2.31 acre lot at the end of the road in Lutsen, ready to build. Priced to sell! MLS# 2309202 $39,500
WOODED 2.4 ACRES. Tait Lake back-lot with driveway in and cleared building site ready for your cabin. Electric is on site. MLS# 2297619 $39,000
WOODED ACREAGE – GRAND MARAIS. Two private 20 acre lots with hiking and ski trails, and abundant wildlife. A high building site offers seasonal views of Lake Superior. MLS# 2313172 $46,000 & MLS# 2313173 $35,000
FIVE SECLUDED ACRES. One of eight secluded wooded 5-acre parcels bordering Govt. land. MLS# 2308827 $28,000
PRIVATE HOME SITE CLOSE TO SUPERIOR. Very nice parcel with driveway, power and cleared building site. Rock outcroppings, huge spruce and privacy on dead end road near Silver Bay. Very affordable home site or recreational lot. MLS# 6023748 $19,900
57XX East Hwy 61 - $99,900
4.1A, 280’ shore. Driveway, septic mound and electric in place.
2888
2297434
14
A
Two
2BR,
3BA,
6024147
Bloomquist Mtn. Rd 5.8A - $44,900
10 miles east of Grand Marais with power at theproperty, driveway, and several building sites partiall cleared!
MLS 2313330 E Hwy 61 - $84,900
10+A, beautiful tree cover, rock out-croppings and great views. Driveway to a great building site and a septic holding tank is already installed.
MLS 6022629
Co Rd 7- $69,900
Beautifully wooded 7.7A. Septic sites id’d, building site has been identified. MLS 6019917
W Hwy 61 7.1A Great location and development opportunities right off Hwy 61! 7.1A Commercial lot (Zoned Commercial and R-1). Additional acreage of R-1 behind. Agent Owned. MLS 2170380 $149,900
Schoolhouse Road 10A close to town. This parcel will be surveyed and have septic sites confirmed MLS 60191333 $44,900 PENDING
4018 County Rd 14 20A nicely wooded year round lot. Electricity and phone, abuts Federal land providing access to incredible amount of land. MLS 2308865 $59,900
North Rd 20A, very private, year round access. Power, phone and broadband available at the road!! MLS 6024552 $39,900
Coyote Ridge Three 5A, private, beautifully wooded parcels close to town. Babbling, gurgling creek for your boundary.
MLS 6021224 $45,000 - $65,000
Pike Lake Rd Wooded 4+A near Pike Lake! Nicely elevated build sites, survey in place and septic sites identified MLS 6019339 $29,900
78 Squint Lake Rd 5A surrounded on 2 sides by government land. Convenient mid-trail location. MLS 6020283 $62,900
Railroad Drive 1.7A in the heart of Lutsen. Gently rolling topography, mature trees. Convenient location. MLS 6023743 $49,900
Tom Lake Year round, 1.10A, 171’ shore, nicely wooded, driveway and cleared building site. MLS 6020381 $54,900
Heavily wooded with year-round access. 112’ shore on county maintained road.
MLS 2313184 $114,900 PENDING
Private 34+A, 600’ of shore, surveyed and septic sites are id’d. Will consider owner financing to a qualified buyer.
MLS 6020848 $149,900
Incredible Palisades views! Over 200’ shore, year-round access and healthy mix of trees.
MLS 6023502 $79,900
245’ of shore on 1.2A. Shoreline has its own natural boat slip!!
MLS 6024080 $45,000
Birch Lake
Heavily wooded 1.54A, 150’ of frontage on great trout lake. Direct, year round access off the Gunflint Trail.
MLS 2183859 $99,900
Squint Lake
2.13A with lovely old white pine trees!
Mid trail location, 221’ shore, abuts USFS.
MLS 2308814 $79,900
Poplar Lake Convenient mid-trail location with deeded lakeshore access. Building site cleared, driveway in, utilities available.
MLS 2158160 $52,500
Two Island
5+ A of wooded land with 500+’ of shorelineand state land on two sides!
Year round access; great recreational area. MLS 6023533 $89,900
Kemo Lake
One of only 4 lots on south shore. Private 2.34A with 200’ frontage on excellent trout lake!
MLS 6021433 $139,900
Loon Lake
Very private, year round 4.4A with 298’ shore. Dramatic building sites overlooking the federal land across the water. MLS 6023845 $139,900
Greenwood Lake
Lots of privacy with 4.2A and 300’ shore including a slight peninsula which will provide multiple views! MLS 6023267 $179,900
Gunflint Trail Cross country skiers, hikers; this property is connected to the Pincushion Cross Country Ski Trail system with the Little Devil Track River flowing through it
MLS 2313364 $69,000
Co Rd 67 2.24A, year round access, directly abuts State Land to the east. Fully surveyed and well-built private driveway.
MLS 6024406 $39,900 New
Casper Hill Rd
19.6A just a few miles from town. Simple lean-to cabin to give you a head start on your get away. MLS 6023494 $45,000
Rosebush Hill Lane Nicely wooded 5.40A with shared driveway only minutes from town. Identified septic sites and fully surveyed! Approx. 430’ of creek frontage. OWNER will consider a Contract for Deed! MLS 6024624 $49,900
Solberg Lane
20A close to town but is definitely off-the-grid for a real North Woods getaway. Nicely elevated with the possibility of solar and wind power. Rustic outhouse and bunkhouse cabin on the site. MLS 2239163 $72,500
Stonegate Rd 2A on public portion of desirable Stone Gate Road with lots of potential uses. Power, phone, and broadband are a stone’s throw away. MLS 6022528 $19,900
Devil Track Lake
Beautiful lake lot on 2A and over 150’ of shore. Nicely wooded, close to town. Tons of recreational activities nearby.
MLS 2306066 $199,900
Heavily wooded with 112’ shore. Property is on a county maintained road for use all year long.
MLS 2313184 $104,900 PENDING
Chester Lake
The only private parcel on Chester Lake. One of a kind opportunity! 40A, 300’ frontage! Rough cabin sold “as is”. MLS 6022402 $149,900
Wilson Lake 4+A, over 335’ shore on premier Lake County lake. Driveway
County Rd 7
Oversize lot on Co Rd 7 but inside the city.
Nicely
We were sitting on our porch and I noticed some ripples in Dunning Lake. I couldn’t see what made the ripples, so I took my camera and walked closer. I discovered this river otter and realized it was holding a bullhead in its mouth. I didn’t even realize we had bullheads in our lake, but the otter is welcome to eat as many of them as it wants.—Earl Orf
