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VOLUME 23 ISSUE 11

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BRING ON THE SNOW

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Thanks and Giving

Share Your Thoughts

Do you have a question for one of our writers? Or an interesting photo, recipe, or story you’d like to share with Northern Wilds? Please send it to storyideas@ northernwilds.com.

While it may not be true for everyone, I think most folks think of November as a month of giving. Between Thanksgiving in the U.S., Give to the Max Day, Small Business Saturday and Veterans Day or Remembrance Day, there’s a lot to be grateful for and plenty of ways to give back. This month, we’re highlighting some of the people and organizations doing just that, along with the everyday acts of kindness that help make the Northland a better place to call home. Starting in Along the Shore, Naomi Yaeger introduces us to Well Being Development, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the well-being of the Ely community and its members. Its programs include Northern Lights Clubhouse, a supportive housing residence and a care facilitator service. Moving to Duluth, Dana Johnson talks with Melissa LeTour, president of the Junior League of Duluth, about the organization and its upcoming Festival of Trees event. In our lead feature, Kalli Hawkins talks with Steve Deschene, a volunteer at the Grand Marais/Cook County Food Shelf, about the growing need for food assistance in Cook County and throughout the North Shore, how the food shelf is adapting to meet that need, and the volunteers and community support that help keep its mission going. Of course, November wouldn’t be complete without Thanksgiving stories. Our second feature showcases five writers’ favorite memories, from eating Cornish hens to skiing in Montana. Be sure to read Flambé Thanksgiving. While I won’t give anything away, I will

say things get heated—it’s a story that’s sure to spark some laughs. For many folks, November is also synonymous with deer hunting opener. Northern Trails columnist Gord Ellis gives us a hunter’s guide to successfully stalking deer. And speaking of the outdoors, Chris Pascone updates us on the new rules for remote border crossings into Canada, as the days of using a remote area border crossing permit come to an end after Nov. 30. While Christmas is still a month away, November is prime time for holiday shopping. Just check our events calendar—it’s filled with holiday art shows and sales throughout the North Shore. You can also check out my art spotlight for a sneak peek at some of the artwork featured in two Thunder Bay art shows. This month is all about giving back, and here at Northern Wilds, we’re reminded how much we have to be grateful for. We’re thankful for our wonderful contributors, our advertisers and, most of all, you, dear reader. Your support keeps these stories coming and this magazine going. From all of us at Northern Wilds, thank you—and enjoy the issue!

Breana Johnson Editor editor@northernwilds.com

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VOLUME 23, ISSUE 11 w w w. n o r t h e r nw i l d s .co m SERVING THE NORTH SHORE A N D T H E W I L D E R N E S S B E YO N D PUBLISHER/CEO Barb Krause bak@ntmediagroup.com FOUNDING PUBLISHERS Shawn Perich and Amber Graham (Pratt) EDITOR Breana Johnson editor@northernwilds.com

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FEATURES

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18 North Shore Food Shelves Help Neighbors Make Ends Meet

Erin Altemus, Elle Andra-Warner, Eric Chandler, Laura Durenberger-Grunow, Gord Ellis, Virginia George, Anne Graybeal, Kalli Hawkins, Dana Johnson, Michelle Johnson, Victoria Lynn Smith, Michelle Miller, Joe Shead, Deane Morrison, Hartley Newell-Acero, Brittany North, Chris Pascone, Alec Peterson, Naomi Yaeger, Sam Zimmerman

20 Thanksgiving Memories

DEPARTMENTS 6 Along the Shore 22 Spotlight 25 Events 31 Dining 32 Health 33 Northern Trails 35 Fishing Hole

35 Northern Sky 36 Following the Ancestor’s Steps 37 Dog Blog 38 Reviews 39 Strange Tales 51 Catchlight

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The Jesme House and the Northern Lights are one and the same. Jesme is the last name of the family that most recently lived in the house, and Peggy Jesme, a local nurse practitioner who is now retired, was one of the founders of Well Being Development. | SUBMITTED

At Ely’s Northern Lights Clubhouse, Belonging Begins at the Table ELY—On Wednesdays at Northern Lights Clubhouse in Ely, lunch might be homemade chili with cornbread, a taco bar or potato soup. Members help choose the menu, prepare food and set up tables in the living room. Then they sit down to eat together. The meal is one way Well Being Development, an Ely nonprofit, helps people build friendships and a sense of belonging. Executive Director Amy Saxton said the organization serves people experiencing isolation, poverty and behavioral health challenges. Some are in recovery from addiction, but the Clubhouse welcomes people with a broader range of experiences. “A lot of the people who come to us are experiencing isolation or loneliness,” Saxton said. Some, she added, lack the family connections others depend on. Well Being Development has served the Ely area for about 15 years. Its programs include Northern Lights Clubhouse, a supportive housing residence and a care facilitator service. A community health worker helps people navigate practical problems, such as understanding a letter about bene-

NOVEMBER 2026

fits or arranging transportation. Upstairs, Northern Lights House offers three spaces for income-based supportive housing. Residents are responsible for maintaining their own sobriety; staff do not monitor it. Living in the same building as the Clubhouse gives residents access to its activities and friendships, along with individual support from the community health worker. There is no time limit on residency, but the community health worker helps residents plan their next steps. Since the housing program opened in early 2025, two residents have “graduated,” moving on from the residence. One of the three spaces is currently occupied. The setting has a history of its own. Northern Lights House, at 248 N. Third Ave. E., was built in 1890 for the superintendent of the Oliver Mining Company. Located a block north of the Methodist Church, the spacious home features expensive finishes that distinguished it from miners’ homes. Known as the Oliver Mine Superintendent’s House, it became privately owned in the mid-1900s. Two Ely families each lived

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Dining tables are placed in the living room or great room to accommodate more people at mealtime. | SUBMITTED there for decades. The most recent owners were the Jesmes, whose name also became associated with the house. Peggy Jesme, a retired local nurse practitioner, was one of Well Being Development’s founders. When the Jesmes downsized, the nonprofit purchased the home. Today, its welcoming rooms provide space for members to

share meals, join a book club or meditation group and build friendships. Saxton said gathering in a beautiful, comfortable home helps members feel welcome and valued. The Wednesday lunch typically draws 12 to 20 people. Members are asked to contribute $3, and the food is prepared under the guidance of Program Director Robyn

Participants run in the Glow Run, a 5K that combines the excitement of a color run with the energy of a nighttime glow event, creating a fun and memorable experience for all ages. It is sponsored by Northern Lights Clubhouse. | SUBMITTED

Amy Saxton stepped in as executive director in October 2025. She brings 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience and has deep roots in Ely. | SUBMITTED

Bertelsen, whom Saxton described as a talented chef. On Tuesdays, members may help make dessert or prepare ingredients for the next day’s meal. The work is shared by staff and members. They decide on menus together, and members help carry out the activities they choose. Saxton sees value in those decisions as well as in the friendships that form around them. Having a chance to offer an opinion, listen to others and help make something happen can build confidence. For one longtime member, the change was simple but profound. Saxton recalled her saying that since coming to the Clubhouse, she knows she has someone to call if she needs help. That connection can be especially important in Ely, where distance and limited transportation make it harder

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for some people to reach services. Well Being Development relies largely on private grants, along with some St. Louis County funding, and staffing limits how often the Clubhouse can open. Saxton’s background is in outdoor education. She spent 22 years with Outward Bound, working in Ely and Colorado. At Well Being Development, she sees the work of strengthening individuals and strengthening the community as closely connected. The Clubhouse’s Wednesday lunch offers an easy introduction for someone curious about joining. Visitors can come for a homemade meal, meet the people around the table and see what it feels like to be part of the group. To learn more, call 218-235-6104 or visit wellbeingdevelopment.org.—Naomi Yaeger

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Cook County Dark Sky Festival Returns, Celebrating Space Science and Night Sky Preservation GRAND MARAIS —Visit Cook County will host its annual Dark Sky Festival Dec. 11-13, featuring presentations by notable speakers, outdoor night sky viewings and community activities celebrating night sky conservation and space science. DarkSky International, an organization that champions the night sky and combats light pollution worldwide, reports that 80% of the world’s population, including people in North America, lives under light-polluted skies that prevent them from viewing the Milky Way. The organization also reports that global light pollution is increasing by nearly 9.6% each year. As a result, protected natural areas with dark skies, known as Dark Sky Sanctuaries, have become destinations for a growing sector of the travel industry known as astro-tourism. One such sanctuary includes the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. According to Visit Cook County Event Coordinator Audrey Mays-Trimble, the rise in astro-tourism reflects a change in what people want when they travel. “We live in a world where we are constantly exposed to experiences and travel promoted across social media, television and even ads. Travelers are driven to seek new experiences,” Mays-Trimble said. “Astro-tourism offers just that. It’s a new way of traveling and seeing the world through a lens that isn’t available everywhere. These pockets of designated Dark Sky Sanctuaries have become something worth traveling for and seeking out as a new experience.” The Dark Sky Festival was established in 2018. According to Visit Cook County Marketing and PR Director Kjersti Vick, the idea emerged from conversations with local photographers about the area’s “pure” night sky and the importance of preserving and celebrating it. “We selected December because there is an abundance of night sky at that time of year,” Vick said. She added that the very first event coincided with the 50th anniversary of NASA’s Apollo 8 flight, which captured the “Earthrise” photograph. Asked why she believes travelers visit remote regions such as Cook County for stargazing, Vick pointed to the historical and cultural significance of the night sky. “While we have learned much about what is occurring in space, there is so much yet to be discovered. It is something intangible, but we can all see various parts of it from

The Dark Sky Festival will feature the University of Minnesota Duluth's portable Planetarium Dome for indoor sky presentations, as well as night sky viewings. | SUBMITTED

any point on Earth,” Vick said. “The night sky has mostly remained the same for thousands of years, allowing generations of stories to be passed along, connecting us with our own ancestors and roots.”

The 2026 festival schedule includes several educational and community events across the county. On Dec. 11, an opening celebration will take place at Sivertson Gallery in downtown Grand Marais, featuring presentations and awards from Starry Skies North—a local DarkSky International chapter—and Friends of the Boundary Waters. In 2025, Starry Skies North introduced a new award honoring local businesses that use dark-sky-compliant lighting. The inaugural recipients in Cook County were North House Folk School, Cook County Higher Education and Lake Superior Trading Post. Vick said Visit Cook County was “thrilled when Starry Skies North launched this initiative,” noting that it raises awareness of thoughtful development options. This year’s festival also features a roster of guest speakers, including: • Emily Carney: American space historian, U.S. Navy veteran, author, pod-

caster and founder of the global online community Space Hipsters. • Dr. Kris Lehnhardt: Emergency physician, physician-scientist, space medicine expert and director of the Space Medicine Program at UTHealth Houston. • Emma Hinds Lehnhardt: Aerospace executive and space policy expert who previously served as program planning and control manager for NASA’s Lunar Gateway program. In past years, NASA representatives have participated in the festival, a partnership Vick said began in 2022. Vick confirmed that scheduling conflicts will prevent NASA from participating this year, though Visit Cook County hopes to work with the agency again in the future. Other festival activities include story hours, an author talk and book signing, and an interactive space postcard activity in partnership with local organization Letteracy Deck. The University of Minnesota Duluth will also bring its portable Planetarium Dome for indoor sky presentations. Astronomy writer and educator “Astro Bob” King will return to lead talks and guided telescope viewings, including a community bonfire and star party. On Dec. 12, King will lead a viewing of the Geminid meteor shower at the Pincushion Mountain parking lot. Mays-Trimble said the addition of the viewing was something she particularly looked forward to. “The addition of the Pincushion Mountain sky viewing that Saturday was an offer I couldn’t turn down. This is certainly a can’tmiss part of the event, if you can handle the late-night chill.” Vick also shared one of her favorite aspects of the festival. “My favorite part about the Dark Sky Festival is seeing who shows up for this event. It is a mix of people who are really into photography, space science, mythology and general night sky wonder,” she said. Mays-Trimble added, “I think the gathering of space enthusiasts has become something truly special about this event. We are so lucky to have such an exceptional environment right in our backyard.” To see the full schedule and learn more about the 2026 Dark Sky Festival, visit visitcookcounty.com/dark-sky-festival. —Laura Durenberger-Grunow

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Decking the Halls and Making a Difference at Junior League of Duluth’s Festival of Trees DULUTH —Shorter days and frosty mornings mean winter is on its way to the Northland, and holiday plans and traditions are filling our calendars. One event not to be missed is the Junior League of Duluth’s 38th annual Festival of Trees—a merry celebration that strengthens and supports the local community. “Festival of Trees is Junior League of Duluth’s signature annual fundraiser and one of Duluth’s largest holiday pop-up shopping experiences,” says Melissa LaTour, president of Junior League of Duluth. What began decades ago as a community fundraiser based around elegantly decorated holiday trees has expanded to include two days of family activities, raffles and a marketplace showcasing more than 170 vendors from around the region. The festival takes place on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday the 15th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). Attendees can browse two floors of vendors offering a wide variety of goods, including gourmet treats, clothing and accessories, artwork and home décor, seasonal gifts and more. Returning this year are the festive mini-holiday-tree display and decorated-tree auction, prize raffles and free photos with Santa. DECC concessions will also have food, coffee, soft drinks and adult beverages available. Planning an event this size takes time and collaboration. “Festival of Trees is a yearround team effort,” LaTour says. “Junior League members recruit and communicate with vendors, secure sponsors and raffle donations, coordinate the tree display and auction, promote the event, manage admissions, schedule volunteers and work closely with the DECC and community partners.” “As the weekend approaches, members shift into setup and event operations—everything from wayfinding and vendor support to Santa photos, raffles, guest questions and cleanup,” LaTour explains. “It takes careful planning, flexibility and many volunteer hours, and it is also a wonderful example of the teamwork and leadership development at the center of our mission.” The Junior League of Duluth is an organization of women who are focused on advancing women’s leadership and creating meaningful contributions to the local community through collaboration, volunteer action and training. “Festival of Trees is our most visible fundraiser,” LaTour says, “but the heart of the organization is leadership development and sustained community service.” “We bring women together to develop their leadership skills, build strong community partnerships and turn volunteer service into lasting local change,” LaTour explains. “Our work is both charitable and educational, with a strong focus on supporting the well-being of women and children in the Greater Twin Ports area.” Members of the Junior League of Duluth have been making a positive difference for more than a century by helping to identify community needs, recruit and train volunteers, and support other organizations doing valuable work in our region. “We help wom-

The Junior League of Duluth’s annual Festival of Trees fundraiser will take place Nov. 14-15 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. | SUBMITTED en become trained, confident community leaders who continue serving our region in many different ways,” LaTour says. “Our legacy includes helping launch or strengthen efforts connected with the Brightwater Health, Polinsky Rehabilitation Center, North Country RIDE, First Witness Child Advocacy Center and Safe Haven,” she says. “More recently, we partnered with the City of Duluth and area nonprofits and funders to develop the deep winter greenhouse in West Duluth.” The organization has also provided financial support to nonprofit projects in the area addressing education, parenting, health and wellness, and food insecurity. In 2026, Junior League provided more than $45,000 in grants to local nonprofits. Investments are made in member training and leadership development as well, ensuring volunteers are prepared to serve on committees, nonprofit boards and civic initiatives. “Our specific projects evolve as community needs change,” LaTour says, “but the goal remains consistent: partner thoughtfully, strengthen local organizations and create meaningful impact.” The Festival of Trees raises money through admission, sponsorships, vendor participation, raffles and the decorated mini-tree auction. “Festival proceeds support the Junior League of Duluth’s mission, including community grants and initiatives that strengthen the well-being of women and children, as well as the training that equips members to lead and serve effectively,” LaTour explains. Admission is $7 on Saturday, reduced to $5 on Sunday, and children 12 and younger are admitted free. Guests who bring a nonperishable food item will receive $1 off admission, and the food is donated to a local food bank. Last year, more than 2,700 pounds of food were collected and provid-

ed to community members in need through Chum’s food distribution services. Women who want to make a difference and have an interest in connecting with others through community service and leadership development are encouraged to learn more. “Members come with different backgrounds, experiences, schedules and strengths, and there are many ways to contribute,” LaTour says. As a member, you’ll “gain practical experience in project management, fundraising, collaboration, governance and community leadership while building genuine connections with other women who care deeply about the community,” she says. “You do not need to arrive with a particular résumé or prior volunteer experience—there is room to learn, contribute and grow.” “Community members can also support the League by attending Festival of Trees, volunteering when opportunities are available, sponsoring an event, donating or helping spread the word about our work,” LaTour says. “We are grateful to the vendors, sponsors, volunteers, community partners and guests who make Festival of Trees possible,” she says. “When people attend, they are not only kicking off the holiday season and shopping local—they are investing in women’s leadership and in programs that strengthen our community.” “We invite everyone to join us at the DECC on Nov. 14 and 15, celebrate a beloved Duluth tradition and see what can happen when people come together to give back.” For more information on Junior League of Duluth and the Festival of Trees, visit juniorleagueduluth.org. Women interested in membership are encouraged to email newmember @junior leaguedulut h.org. —Dana Johnson

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NOVEMBER 2026

Where Community Comes to Market: The Nipigon Market Collective

Spotting reindeer isn’t your only superpower.

Join in. Shine on. Save the holiday for our North Shore neighbors in need. Sign up today or make an additional one-time contribution. We’ll match up to $3000 of pledges and donations to local food shelves. northshorefcu.org/hungerheroes

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NIPIGON —On a Sunday morning in Nipigon, Ontario, the Nipigon Community Centre fills with the sounds of conversation, live music and people catching up with neighbors. Vendors arrange handmade goods and baked treats on their tables, visitors browse for something new, and the delicious smells from Crabby’s Pizza’s canteen give people another reason to stay awhile. The Nipigon Market Collective brings together local makers, bakers, artists, small businesses and community organizations for a monthly market that offers more than an opportunity to shop. It also provides a place for people to connect with each other, discover local talent and enjoy an afternoon together. For Brianna Bell, economic development officer for Nipigon, seeing that atmosphere take shape has been one of the highlights of the market’s first year. “What stands out the most about the market is seeing people enjoy being there. The vendors put so much work into their tables and products, and then you add the music, food and conversations,” Bell said. “Watching people dance and sing along has been a highlight for me. Those are the moments that make all the planning worthwhile.” The idea for the market began with a community survey. Residents were asked what kinds of events they wanted to see in Nipigon, and a farmers market emerged as the clear favorite, receiving a total of 241 votes. Music events followed with 163 votes, while family and sports events received 99 votes, comedy shows received 67 votes and family movie nights received 41 votes. The mayor of Nipigon and council approved the initiative in fall 2025, and planning began soon afterward. The first market took place in January 2026. Nipigon already had established vendor markets through events such as the Blueberry Blast in August, the Fall Fishing Festival in September and the Christmas market during the winter. The Nipigon Market Collective was designed to fill the gaps between those larger events, giving vendors more regular opportunities to sell their products, connect with customers and grow their businesses. “We wanted to fill the gaps between those events and give vendors and small businesses more regular opportunities to sell, meet customers and grow,” Bell said. That monthly schedule is an important part of the collective’s purpose. Rather than waiting for a seasonal festival, vendors have a recurring place to introduce new products, develop relationships with shoppers and build recognition for their businesses. Visitors can return to find familiar vendors and enjoy consistent human connection. The collective also extends beyond Nipigon itself. Although the market is rooted in the community, vendors from across the North Shore are welcome. Bell said several participants travel

The next Nipigon Market Collective will take place Sunday, Nov. 29 at the Nipigon Community Centre. | SUBMITTED from Thunder Bay, Terrace Bay and Schreiber to take part. “The North Shore wins when all of our communities can benefit and grow,” she said. “Giving businesses opportunities beyond their own community is part of that.” Live music adds another dimension to the market. Music events ranked second in the community survey, and organizers have incorporated performances into the market experience. Musicians including the Dog Head Mountain Boys and Gord Ahl have provided entertainment, bringing energy to the community centre. For Bell, the sight of visitors dancing and singing along has become a memorable part of the experience. “You can organize the tables and plan the day, but those moments happen on their own, and they’re lovely to see,” she said. Food also encourages visitors to make an afternoon of it. Crabby’s Pizza has opened the canteen during the market, serving meals to vendors and visitors. With food, music and tables of local products to explore, the market offers plenty of reasons to stick around for a while. Beyond shopping and entertainment, the collective provides regular opportunities for people in a small community to spend time together. Visitors can browse the vendors, stop for something to eat, listen to music and catch up with friends and neighbors. Bell said the market’s success depends on the many people who con-

tribute to making it happen. She expressed appreciation for the vendors, visitors, musicians and Crabby’s Pizza, as well as the staff at the Nipigon Community Centre, whose assistance with setup, takedown and other needs helps keep the events running. As the collective approaches the end of its first year, its future beyond 2026 remains undecided. Bell said organizers will review the information and feedback gathered over the year, consider what worked and what could be improved, and use those findings to determine whether and how the market might continue in 2027. The support from vendors and the community has been encouraging, and Bell hopes the opportunity can continue. For those who have yet to attend, her invitation is simple: “Come have a look, meet the vendors, listen to some music and grab something to eat. You don’t have to come looking for anything in particular to enjoy being there.” Whether visitors leave with fresh baked goods, a handmade item or simply the memory of a good afternoon spent in the community, the market offers a reminder that a gathering can be valuable for reasons that extend well beyond what is for sale. If you’re interested in attending the Nipigon Market Collective this year, there are two more opportunities: Nov. 29 and Dec. 20. To learn more, visit nipigonmarketcollective.ca. —Brittany North

Gunflint Pines Reserve Your Winter Stay! Enjoy Fun in the Snow and Relaxing by the Fire Born and raised in the Duluth area, Tommy Wotruba started taking formal guitar lessons at age 11. He has several shows lined up for November, including performances at the Tipsy Mosquito and Harbor Rail in Two Harbors and Belknap Lounge in Superior. | SUBMITTED

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Tommy Wotruba: Duluth Musician Shares His Lifelong Love of Music DULUTH —Doing what one loves and being able to make a living doing it may be one of the greatest joys in life. Musician Tommy Wotruba, born and raised in the Duluth area, is doing just that. Wotruba has had a lifelong connection to music. His father introduced him to the guitar at age 8 after finding a damaged instrument in a dumpster. Wotruba picked away at the old four-string guitar and was hooked. He began formal guitar lessons at age 11 and made his public debut in his midteens, performing with a punk rock band. He was also a member of a garage band on and off for more than 30 years, “playing just for fun.” His musical genres have shifted over the years, but with influences such as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Johnny Winter, his interests tended toward the blues while playing with two long-term bands. He now simply considers himself a singer-songwriter. Wotruba played local gigs around downtown Duluth as a solo artist and, through those opportunities, made connections with other local musicians. He eventually put together a band called the Tom Cats and found consistent work playing bars and festivals. In the 1990s, the band played both the main stage and acoustic tent at Duluth’s Bayfront Blues Festival. “Growing up here, I attended the first annual Blues Fest at Bayfront, and being on those stages was a meaningful benchmark in my career,” says Wotruba. Wotruba’s focus was playing guitar with the Tom Cats, although he also assisted with vocals and songwriting. Along with bandmate Mark Howley, he wrote and arranged many of the original tunes. Wotruba recalls meeting Howley as a teen, when he worked the lights for the band Wotruba was in at

After getting his start playing in bands, Tommy Wotruba now tours as a solo singer-songwriter and regularly performs along the North Shore. | SUBMITTED the time. Howley moved to Chicago and pursued a successful blues career. The two eventually crossed paths again years later in Duluth and began creating songs together. Wotruba says, “I didn’t consider myself a writer at that time but did get inspired when people enjoyed and danced to our original tunes.” In the beginning of their partnership, Howley would write the lyrics, and Wotruba would work them out on the guitar. He says, “Then I advanced and was able to do all the parts, giving me the freedom to start writing on my own.” To date, Wotruba says he is most proud of his song titled All Points in Between. He says it “just came to me when I was on the road

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doing a tour in the southeastern states.” His current project involves turning a poem written by a friend who recently passed away into a song. The tribute chronicles the famous Winter Dance Party of 1959 at the Duluth Armory, where his friend was in the audience alongside of Bob Dylan. Wotruba singles can be found on Spotify and most streaming platforms. Howley and Wotruba eventually formed the band Virgil Caine, performing together for nearly 20 years and producing a couple of albums. The COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on their work. “We had been working hard in the studio with over a dozen songs ready to go, and that put a stop to that.” Those tunes can be found on the Virgil Caine website at virgilcaineband.com. Although the band is still active with new members, Wotruba is touring as a solo singer-songwriter and regularly performs along the North Shore. He has recently reached out to local hospitals and nursing homes to play for residents and also supports fundraising events for nonprofits. He loves playing for older generations, explaining, “They grew up in an era when music was a much bigger thing and much more appreciated then. It is great to play when an audience is so engaged, and it’s different from the bar scene.” He has several shows lined up for November, and the public can see him perform at Tipsy Mosquito and Harbor Rail in Two Harbors and Belknap Lounge in Superior. Wotruba heads to Florida for the winter months, joining a group of musical friends for his fourth season and picking up gigs in several states along the way. Follow him on social media at Tommy Wotruba Music. —Michelle Miller

NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

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NORTH SHORE —Back in June 2023, Eric Kaira wrote a story for Northern Wilds about Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permits. The story explained how RABC permits gave foreign citizens the opportunity to enter Canada directly across the remote wilderness that northwestern Ontario shares with northeastern Minnesota, without checking in at a border crossing. Think backcountry skiing or canoe tripping across remote border areas without controls, questions or passport checks. Just you, a map, an RABC permit in your pocket and endless lakes to ski or paddle. Kaira’s article got me psyched to try getting a permit myself, and that December, I applied for my own RABC permit. In February 2024, I took a winter camping trip up the Arrowhead Trail in Cook County and crossed the Pigeon River, the border between the U.S. and Canada, with ski poles—not a passport—in hand. It was a beautiful trip, and I felt a sense of satisfaction at navigating border bureaucracy to earn the freedom to ski.

The nostalgia is real, but the RABC is no more. Starting Dec. 1, RABC permits will cease to exist. Remote travel across the Canadian-American border is about to change significantly. Rebecca Purdy, senior spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), explains what the RABC system did before: “The Remote Area Border Crossing program was originally established with the goal of facilitating necessary travel in remote areas of Northern Ontario. To pre-approve travellers, the Canada Border Services Agency conducted rigorous risk assessments, including criminal record checks and admissibility verifications. Historically, there have been approximately 11,000 RABC members per year, and roughly 90% are American.” Then, in 2024, the CBSA carried out an in-depth review of the RABC program. At that time, the CBSA suspended application processing to consider alternative reporting solutions for the RABC region. As part of that review, it was determined that reporting at the time of entry ensures a higher level of

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security, accountability and consistency in border management. “This is a measure that will enhance the strength and integrity of Canada’s border,” Purdy explains. On Dec. 19, 2025, the CBSA announced its plan to replace the RABC program with telephone reporting starting in September 2026. The deadline was then extended to December 2026 to align with the boating season. This decision ensures that current permit holders who rely on remote border crossings for seasonal maritime activities can close out the season in a consistent manner. Existing RABC permits remain valid until 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2026. After that date, the RABC program will no longer be available, and permits will not be valid for entry to Canada. So what’s coming in place of the RABC? “Starting Dec. 1,” Purdy says, “all travellers entering Canada through remote areas of northern Ontario or from the Northwest Angle into southern Manitoba will be required to report their entry using standard border reporting methods, such as telephone reporting at a designated telephone reporting site, or reporting in person at a port of entry.” “Designated telephone reporting sites are available for travellers to connect with a border services officer,” Purdy continues. “Through the telephone reporting process, individuals provide their travel details and identification and respond to questions. In some cases, travellers may be directed to meet an officer in person. This approach ensures that all travellers are processed securely and consistently, even in locations where the CBSA does not maintain a permanent on-site presence.” This means there will be no more skiing from the American side—say, from a Boundary Waters entry point—across the border wherever you like into Ontario’s Quetico Provincial Park with an RABC in hand. While the population of ski campers who would make the snowy trek from Boundary Waters entry points directly into the Canadian wilderness may have been small, these hearty adventurers will now have to report by telephone at a designated border reporting site before they can access Quetico. Another key change is that the RABC application and associated fee are also being eliminated. “Following the closure of the RABC permit program, travellers will not be required to submit paperwork in advance or pay a fee. Instead, travellers report their entry in real time, each time they enter Canada,” Purdy notes. Purdy points out that telephone reporting was already used this past summer for ca-

Ski trip selfie on the Canadian side of the Pigeon River in February 2024, with a Remote Area Border Crossing permit in hand. Starting Dec. 1, 2026, remote border crossings will only be allowed after calling in from a telephone reporting site. | CHRIS PASCONE noeists entering Quetico through Canada’s Prairie Portage Ranger Station on Basswood Lake and Cache Bay Ranger Station on Lake Saganaga. “These sites were designated to support traveller telephone reporting in areas previously covered by the RABC permit program. These were the first of several new telephone reporting sites that will be announced in the coming weeks.” Purdy also notes that “telephone reporting provides a fast, flexible way to enter Canada in remote regions where full-time border staff are not present. Travellers should take note that failing to report or leaving their boat before getting clearance may result in fines starting at $1,000, potential seizure of their boat or denial of future entry.” That said, “flexibility” definitely takes a hit under the new reporting system. The Pigeon River crossing, due south of Thunder Bay, is 180 miles (290 kilometers) from the next closest vehicle crossing at Fort Frances, Ontario, and International Falls, Minnesota. The only options currently available between them are the two Quetico ranger station telephone reporting sites. Of course, other than Highway 61 at Pigeon River and U.S. Route 53/Ontario Highway 11 at Fort Frances, there are no other roads crossing the international border anywhere from Lake Superior to the Rainy Riv-

er. Previously, having an RABC permit meant that every lake, river or beaver trail along the border could be a crossing point of your choice. Now, your wilderness trek must be funneled through a telephone reporting site. Purdy suggests that more telephone reporting sites are in the pipeline: “To enter Canada in remote areas, travellers must report to the CBSA at a port of entry or, where available, at a designated telephone reporting site by calling 1-888-226-7277. The CBSA has identified over 15 new telephone reporting sites and is currently in the process of formally designating them. Sites will be announced once they are designated.” Purdy provides more details: “Designated telephone reporting sites allow travellers to connect live with a border services officer. It works similarly to crossing at a regular port of entry, except without an officer on-site. The telephone report centre is available 24/7; however, the hours of operation for telephone reporting sites may vary.” This real-time conversation could come with some caveats, Purdy explains: “Through this process, individuals provide their travel details, identification and respond to questions. In some cases, travellers may be directed to meet an officer in person. This approach ensures that all travellers are processed securely and consistently, even in

locations where the CBSA does not maintain a permanent on-site presence.” Telephone reporting is available at designated sites for travellers from any country. So, let’s imagine some potential scenarios for wilderness travellers. Say you’re a snowmobiler who wants to cross into Canada this winter. There’s some good news: Several sites are being considered for designation, which would allow snowmobilers to cross. These sites are being designated at various bodies of water that freeze during the winter months, providing an ice road for the season. “Travellers must enter Canada in a conveyance [by motorized transportation] in order to utilise a telephone reporting site,” Purdy explains. “The CBSA is designating various TRS/L (Telephone Reporting Site— Land) telephone reporting locations in the former RABC area which will offer local snowmobilers a mechanism to report entry, as a snowmobile is considered a conveyance. These TRS/L sites are being designated along with TRS/M (Telephone Reporting Site—Marine) sites, meaning they will be available in marine locations where the river or lake has frozen, allowing the use of ice roads in the winter season.” Check the Directory of CBSA Offices and Services for potential new telephone reporting sites as they are designated. Now let’s say you’re a sailor looking to sail from Grand Marais to Thunder Bay next summer. “A sailboat is a water-borne craft,” Purdy notes, “qualifying it as a legal conveyance. The operators must call in from a designated Marine Telephone Reporting Site when entering Canada.” Similarly, canoeists will be able to cross the border at TRS/M sites, as a canoe is considered a legal conveyance as a watercraft, Purdy says. Again, check the CBSA directory to plan your canoe camping trip through a TRS/M site next summer. Altogether, significant changes are on the horizon for wilderness travellers to Canada. These changes trigger RABC nostalgia: Those with RABC permits had it good. But for those intrepid voyagers still looking to explore the Canadian wilds from an American entry point, the choice is clear: Do your homework to locate telephone reporting sites as they are designated in the coming weeks, and incorporate them into your wilderness travel itinerary. Don’t give up, lovers of the Canadian wilderness. Keep up with upcoming changes, adapt as you go, and let’s keep exploring this beautiful country.—Chris Pascone

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Siskokset: Twin Paths, One Creative Thread THUNDER BAY—Siblings often get sorted into tidy categories: ”the artistic one” or “the sporty one.” But the story of twin sisters Jessy Woods Kantola and Danielle Kantola resists that simplicity. Growing up in Thunder Bay, they were steeped in creativity from the start, even if it took different forms. And while being twins is a big part of their story, so is sisu, a Finnish word that speaks to determination, grit and the inner strength to persevere through hardship. Both of their grandmothers were artists. Their paternal grandmother, Laila Kantola, earned a full scholarship to the Ontario College of Art and Design, Canada’s oldest and largest art and design university. It was a prestigious achievement, especially for her time, but she wasn’t able to finish her studies because she returned home to help care for her sister. Even so, she continued drawing and painting throughout her life. Danielle remembers sitting beside her grandmother with old field guides open between them. “We used them to draw the birds nearby,” she says. Those early sessions shaped Danielle’s artistic instincts and, as a self-described “shy kid,” cemented her connection to the natural world, which she carried into adulthood. The twins grew up with two brothers in a family where everyone learned to pitch in, both at home and at Sandstone Lake, where their late father’s family operates a seasonal campground and resort. Summers spent helping with maintenance and day-to-day operations fostered the practical skills and strong work ethic that would later shape both sisters’ careers. In 2010, Danielle moved to North Vancouver, British Columbia, to study computer animation. She later worked as a modeling and texture artist in the film industry before moving home to shift her focus to traditional art while continuing to create digital sculptures. Around the time their father was diagnosed with cancer, Danielle met Biljana Baker, a well-known local watercolour artist who became a mentor. Baker included Danielle in her exhibitions, and over several years, Danielle regularly participated in Baker’s Celebrating Artists Past and Present Show and Sale. Danielle also exhibited her work across Canada and participated in an artist residency in Japan in early 2020. Jessy’s childhood followed a different rhythm. She was “deep in competitive gymnastics and soccer,” training up to 40 hours a week. But creativity was present, too—just in a more tactile way. Summers at

Danielle brings a moose to life with watercolor in “Beauty of the Moose.” | SUBMITTED

Jessy Woods Kantola (right) with her sister, Danielle Kantola, at her wedding in 2022. | DAN GARRITY MEDIA Sandstone, where she gained hands-on experience, planted the seeds of her interest in carpentry, design and building.

Her path zigzagged through several creative and technical fields, including fashion design and marketing, interior design, civil

engineering technology and carpentry—inspired in part by her father’s passing and a desire to learn how to build things herself and better understand the process. Today, she applies her unique skills and training as a registered building technician for a national architecture and design firm. Her woodworking business, 45° of Woods, grew out of the time she spent working alongside her father. “Every time I get to do something, I get lost in my own woodworking… feeling a sense of closeness to him again,” she says. In the spring of 2020, a serious accident caused the twins’ lives to converge in an unexpected way. While tree planting in British Columbia—a job she had done for seven seasons to help fund her art practice and travel—Danielle fell off a cliff. She injured her neck and back and sustained a brain injury that affected her vision, speech, balance and proprioception. For months, she believed she would return to work. When she realized she couldn’t, Jessy flew to Victoria and drove her home. Jessy then drove her sister to and from appointments, staying with her and supporting her through the long, exhausting process of recovery. Art became part of that recovery. Danielle began with tiny drawings—petals, then flowers—because her central vision could handle

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After her accident, Danielle began creating deeply personal artwork inspired by recovery and the natural world. She and Jessy will showcase their work at the Celebrating Artists Past and Present Show and Sale at the Thunder Bay Conservatory Nov. 28-29. | SUBMITTED [ABOVE] Danielle (left) and Jessy pose in front of a waterfall on their drive back to Thunder Bay after Danielle’s accident. | SUBMITTED [RIGHT] Jessy founded her woodworking business, 45° of Woods, inspired by the time she spent working with her father. | SUBMITTED only small areas before everything seemed to move. Colours were difficult; certain wavelengths were intolerable. She ripped up medical and insurance documents and collaged them into new works, turning years of paperwork into something she could reshape and reclaim. She experimented with sculpture, shadow boxes and printmaking. Since 2023, she has lived near Montreal while studying fine arts part time at Concordia University.

One can only imagine how isolating this experience must have been, especially during the pandemic, but Jessy supported her sister through every step. “Her identity was her art,” Jessy says. “Seeing her relearn how to mix watercolour… that was very hard to watch.” But she also saw Danielle become “a completely new artist,” exploring mediums she might not have pursued otherwise. Now, the sisters bounce artistic

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ideas off each other and offer the kind of honest critique only a sibling can give. After years of Danielle exhibiting with Baker, the sisters showed their work together for the first time at the November 2025 Celebrating Artists Past and Present event. Their work complemented each other naturally: Danielle’s deeply personal pieces about recovery and nature alongside Jessy’s custom wood installations and hand-milled panels.

Two artists. Two distinct paths. One enduring connection: siskokset (Finnish for sisters), united by creativity, resilience and sisu. Learn more about Danielle Kantola’s art at dkantolastudio.com and Jessy Woods Kantola’s work through 45 Degrees of Woods on Instagram. Meet both artists at the Celebrating Artists Past and Present Show and Sale at the Thunder Bay Conservatory Nov. 28-29.—Michelle Johnson

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Give Thanks SUPPORT LOCAL NONPROFITS Give Thanks Give Thanks Give Thanks Thanks GiveGive Thanks

Give back to North ShoreGive nonprofit organizations that dedicate time and resources to back to North Shore nonprofit organizations that dedicate time and resources to ensuring thatback NorthtoShore communities areShore housed, fed, supported, and thriving in every way. to Give North Shorethat nonprofit organizations that dedicate time and resources ensuring North communities are housed, fed, supported, and thriving in every way. The work that they do is only made possible with your support. The work that they do is only made possible with your support. ensuring that North Shore communities are housed, fed, supported, and thriving in every way. Nov. 28, 2023 Give back to North Shore nonprofit organizations that dedicate time and resources to Nov. 28, 2023 The work they doway.isto only made possible with your support. ensuring thatback NorthtoShore are housed, fed, supported, and thriving in every Give Northcommunities Shore nonprofit organizations thatthat dedicate time and resources Nov. 28, 2023

Give back to North Shore nonprofit organizations that dedicate time and resources to ensuring that North Shore communities are housed, fed, supported, and thriving in every way. The workShore that they do isThe only made possible with your possible support. work that they do is only made your support. ensuring that North communities are housed, fed, supported, andwith thriving in every way.

The work that they do is only made possible with your support.

Duluth Area Family YMCA Area Family YMCA Duluthymca.org/Give

Each year, the YMCA provides scholarships and community support to families and individuals in our region. Your gift ensures that everyone in the community has access to vital programs and resources that support youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

Birch Grove Community School North House Folk School

North House Folk School Northhouse.org

North House Folk School enriches lives and builds community by teaching traditional crafts on the harbor in Grand Marais. Donor support fuels unique events, local school programs, scholarships, and so much more! Become a member and get involved.

CA.org/Give Grand Marais Playhouse

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Empty Bowls

Birch Grove Community School

Emptybowlscookcounty.org

Birch Grove Community School will promote academic excellence utilizing our unique natural setting allowing students to reach their potential, preparing them to become socially and environmentally responsible, self-directed, lifelong learners.

Empty Bowls is a community soup lunch and dinner event that is held in collaboration with the Grand Marais Art Colony to raise awareness of hunger and food insecurity in Cook County. All funds generated by this event are distributed among community organizations that offer hunger programs, including the Cook County and Grand Portage Food Shelves, local schools, Snack and Packs, Cook County Public Health and Human Services, and others.

of art.

our community. With an emphasis on trades training this year, CCHE could use your support! Please visit our website to donate.

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he YMCA provides North House Folk Birch Grove Community School will promote Grandmaraisplayhouse.com Northshoreartistsleague.org Community Radio s and community School enriches academic excellence utilizing our unique natural The Grand Marais The League is WTIP.orgstudents amilies Playhouse and lives and builds‘by artists for setting allowing has been Cook County Care Partners n our region. community by Carepartnersofcookcounty.org to reachWTIP theiris potential, a dynamic, local building community artists’—to North Shore Grand Marais Playhouse Care Partners supports sures that teaching traditional crafts on preparing them to become media resource that connects, through provide a social and Healthcaretheater Foundation Grandmaraisplayhouse.com residents on the journey of aging and end-of-life, artist Northshorehealthcarefoundation.org reflects, and builds community since 1971.has It provides collaboration The Grand Marais the community the harbor in Grand Marais. socially and environmentally and fosters a community Cook County Higher Education Playhouse has been Our Vision: is fully supported on the North Shore of Lake high theater network, to be a source building community Donor support that A Healthyquality Mycche.org tal programs and fuels unique responsible, self-directed, to navigate that journey through theater Community together. Our services Superior. Your donation CCHE makes it productions and educational of inspiration, to bring since 1971. It provides for All in Cook hat support youth lifelong learners. include care programs, coordination, possible for local quality theater events, local school County. We are caregiver volunteer supports local journalism opportunities with and for high art tosupport, communities, to residents to earn a productions and educational an independent nonprofit benefiting health visits, senior rides, chore certificate, diploma, nt, healthy living, and soopportunities much opportunities with andscholarships, for Cook care and emergency services in Cook and helps WTIP focus on assistance, and community Cook County residents and seek for or degree that County residents and visitors. County. We proactively identify opportunities leads to livingWe value artistic challenge esponsibility. more! Becomeeducation/advocacy. a member and and to expand equitable health care and real people, telling their own visitors. We value artistic artist engagement, wage employment while and growth, diversity, equity, healthy living and champion solutions continuing to live, work, community, and collaboration. get involved. through funding, education, and advocacy. stories, in their own voices. challenge and growth, to enhance the business and raise families in Arrowhead Animal Rescue Supporting us means supporting a variety of programs whichequity, assist children, families diversity, community, Historic Cook County and seniors, local health care agencies, EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement, and Search & and collaboration. Cookcountyhistory.org

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Finland Community of agingCookcountyhistory.org and end-of-life, Friendsoffinland.org Carepartnersofcookcounty.org Historic Cook County and fosters a community Hamilton Habitat builds Our mission is to Playhouse has been affordable housing for the help make Finland manages five historic sites North Shore Artist League Mycche.org Grand Marais Art Colony Cook County workforce. and the surrounding that is fully supported Care Partners supports building community Six homes have been built area an inviting Northshoreartistsleague.org dedicated to sharing our Grandmaraisartcolony.org and sold at or near cost and vibrant place. to navigate that journey residents on the journey CCHE empowers League is ‘by HAMILTON HOUSING The Grand Marais Art through Colony, with two more homes We provide space theaterThe local history and culture. artists for artists’ – to established in 1947, fosters completed by the end of for youth, elders, of aging and end-of-life, residents to earn a together. Our services provide a social and the exploratory growth and 2023. We have accomplished so much solely community groups, since 1971. It provides Visit our website to learn collaboration artist ok experimental power of artists because of the generous donations from folks events, rentals, small business support and and fosters a community certificate, diploma, include care coordination, network, to be a source through classes for all ages who care to help combat the local housing incubation, a farmers’ market, community about our blacksmith shop, high quality theater of inspiration, to bring art to communities, to and skill levels, studio access in crisis. Shout out to for Cook County Home Center education, community recreation, free that is fully supported are or degree livingseek opportunities for artist engagement, and caregiver support, volunteer its five studios, and community who sells all building materials to us at cost internet, public computers, and trail maps history museum, Chippewa to the business of art. journey productions and educational toenhance navigate that which we are forever grateful. and information, all in one location! wage jobs while dent nonprofit benefiting health events. visits, senior rides, chore City Church, fish house, and together. services opportunities with and Our for Cook continuing live, mergency servicestoin Cook historical art gallery. Become assistance, and community include care coordination, work,identify and raise families County residents and visitors. proactively opportunities a supporting member today! education/advocacy. caregiver support, volunteer in our community. We We value artistic challenge quitableoffer health care and visits, senior rides, chore FREE tutoring and growth, diversity, equity, ng and champion assistance, and community for K-12 andsolutions postcommunity, andeducation/advocacy. collaboration. ding, education, advocacy. secondaryand students. Support CCHE bya variety us means supporting North Shore Music Association through our s which donating assist children, families tinyurl.com/arrowheadar website.care agencies, Northshoremusicassociation.com , local health aw Enforcement, and Search & Arrowhead Rescue NorthAnimal Shore Music Community Partners Cookcountyhistory.org schools and CCMN Restorative is a nonprofit animal rescue Association strengthens Communitypartnersth.org Historic Cook County community through ke your dollar go farthest and serving Cook County, MN. bringing manages five historic sites Gitchi-Gami Trail itive impact on thousands of Association Community We carelive formusic, abandoned, remarkable artists, dedicated to sharing our Partners of ngle donation by giving to the neglected, and stray animals Ggta.org school residencies, Two Harbors local history and culture. Foundation. in fosterand homes. Our welcoming most concerts Help support the Gitchiprovides Visit our website to learn vital need is fundraising to Cook County. Yourfor an Gami State Trail, linking support/shop, history museum, about our blacksmith animal shelter – help us help donation keeps K–12 North Shore communities services for caregivers and their loved Chippewa City Church, fish house, and admission free, sustains local animals in need!. along spectacular Lake ones aged 55+. We strive to maintain historical art gallery. Become aofsupporting sliding-scale tickets, and Superior. This Give to the the independence those we serve ensures everyone can Max Day, your gift will be member today!through a host of home-based services, habitat.wordpress.com

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abitat builds enhancing your impact for engagement activities. Thank you for your housing future for the generations of trail generosity! users! Please give today! y workforce. have been built Grandmaraisartcolony.org or near cost HAMILTON HOUSING ore homes The Grand Marais Art Colony, by the end of established in 1947, fosters ve accomplished so much solely theWILDS exploratory growth and 16 NOVEMBER 2026 NORTHERN the generous donations from folks experimental power of artists

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experience, learn from, and participate in music.

North Shore Artist League Northshoreartistsleague.org The League is ‘by artists for artists’ – to provide a social and collaboration artist

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Birch Grove Community School

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Sawtooth Mountain Clinic

Our Giving Tree program helps ensure access to high-quality healthcare by providing patients with grocery and gas cards. Your donation goes directly towards helping patients keep food on the table and travel the long distances required to see medical specialists.

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Vital North Foundation Vitalnorth.org

Vital North Foundation builds solutions to critical health issues affecting Cook County. We identify gaps, working upstream to improve equitable health outcomes and community wellbeing. We accomplish this by advancing knowledge on local issues, building coalitions, funding innovators, and incubating needed programs. We work to build healthy solutions so everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

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Gunflint Trail Historical Society Gunflinthistory.org

The GTHS serves to preserve the cultural history of the Gunflint Trail, to acknowledge the significance of the natural environment and its influence on Indigenous people to recent inhabitants, and to provide opportunities for exploration and education at Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center. A membership to the GTHS is a key part of the success of Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center.

Save the Boundary Waters

Savetheboundarywaters.org/give Once the Boundary Waters watershed is polluted, we can’t undo it. Join Save the Boundary Waters in permanently protecting Canoe Country from toxic sulfide-ore copper mining.

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Hamilton Habitat

Hamiltonhabitat.wordpress.com Hamilton Habitat builds affordable housing for the Cook County workforce. Homes have been built and sold at or HAMILTON HOUSING near cost. Currently working on our 12th home. To do this work we rely on funding from people who care to help combat the local housing crisis.

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Empty Bowls

Emptybowlscookcounty.org Join us in helping people with food needs throughout Cook County! Your donation goes directly to people through 40 local nonprofits, making impacts to all corners of the county. Please donate today with the QR code or Send to Empty Bowls/ Vital North PO Box 454 Grand Marais, MN 55604

Since 1999, Cooperation Station Nature Playschool, a licensed family childcare program, nonprofit organization, and 4 Star Parent Aware Rated program, has provided affordable, highquality childcare to families in Cook County. Help us continue to support the families of Cook County and invest in our youth. Checks can be mailed to 404 5th Ave West Grand Marais, MN 55604

NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

NORTH SHORE FOOD SHELVES

Help Neighbors Make Ends Meet

By Kalli Hawkins

or nearly 40 years, Steve Deschene has volunteered with the Grand Marais/ Cook County Food Shelf, watching a small community effort grow into an increasingly important resource for local families. What began in the mid-1980s as a small, volunteer-led effort to help Cook County residents put food on the table gradually grew into a more established community resource. In 2004, the Cook County Food Shelf partnered with the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency and formed an advisory board to help guide its operations. Around the same time, it moved its distribution site to the First Congregational Church in Grand Marais, where households could receive roughly three days’ worth of food each month to help bridge the gap between their income and the cost of feeding their families. The need has gradually increased over the decades, Deschene said. Today, the food shelf serves about 100 to 135 households each month, up from about 40 to 60 in 2004, when it began keeping records. While several factors have driven the increase, Deschene said it largely reflects households across the North Shore contending with rising grocery prices and the high cost of living in a rural region. “Our usage right now is the highest it’s ever been, which I think reflects the tough economic times people are dealing with,” Deschene said. “As heating costs, health care, gas and groceries all rise in price, people find that help with food costs frees up money for other essential items.” To better meet the evolving needs of individuals and families, the food shelf recently adopted the SuperShelf model, allowing visitors to select their own groceries from stocked shelves rather than receive prepacked boxes. Deschene said clients have responded positively to the change, which gives them more choice in the food they take home. “Clients seem to like this experience more than the former system,” he said. The food shelf has also recently purchased a display refrigerator and freezer to expand its selection of fresh produce, dairy products and frozen foods. Much of the food the Cook County Food Shelf distributes comes from Second Harvest Northland, a Duluth-based food bank that supplies food shelves and other community partners across 15 counties in

The Two Harbors Area Food Shelf, which has served the community and surrounding areas since 1982, provides groceries and other resources at no cost. | TWO HARBORS FOOD SHELF northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Its network reaches communities along the North Shore, including Silver Bay and Two Harbors, as well as Duluth, Ely and communities across the Iron Range. Second Harvest Northland sources much of its food from donations by regional and national wholesalers, retailers and manufacturers. Across the 15 counties it serves, the organization states it supports more than 70,000 people through food shelves and other food assistance programs. While Second Harvest Northland provides much of the food stocked at the Cook County Food Shelf, some items may not

always be readily available. Deschene said volunteers fill those gaps by purchasing additional supplies from local Grand Marais grocery stores and accepting donations from local businesses. “Our donations in Cook County have always been generous from individuals, churches, community organizations and foundations,” Deschene said. Community support and regional food suppliers continue to sustain the Cook County Food Shelf, while changes to other food assistance programs have altered the resources available to households along the North Shore.

The closure of Ruby’s Pantry, a food distribution program that served Grand Marais and other northern Minnesota communities, has reduced one option for families seeking affordable groceries. Before ending operations in April 2026, the program provided lower-cost food shares in 87 Minnesota communities. The organization cited financial unsustainability as the reason for the closure. Federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, have also introduced new eligibility and work requirements for some recipients, along with changes to how administrative costs are

The closure of Ruby’s Pantry, a food distribution program that served Grand Marais and other northern Minnesota communities, has reduced options for families seeking affordable groceries. | COOK COUNTY RUBY’S PANTRY shared between the federal government and states. As of July 2026, roughly 215 Cook County residents received SNAP benefits, according to Cook County officials. Deschene said the Cook County Food Shelf does not track which clients receive SNAP, making it difficult to determine how those changes might affect local demand. However, he said the changes are one of several factors affecting households. “It’s certainly in the mix with inflation and the high cost of living,” he said. Across the Northland region, food shelves provide a reliable source of support for

people experiencing food insecurity. Although eligibility requirements and services vary, many organizations base eligibility on household income and size. The Two Harbors Area Food Shelf, which has served the community and surrounding areas since 1982, provides groceries and other resources at no cost. Its in-person shopping model, held every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., lets clients choose food for their households. Farther inland, the Ely Area Food Shelf serves about 200 households and distributes more than 12,000 pounds of food each month, according to the organization.

Behind every food shelf is a network of volunteers who help keep food moving from delivery trucks to shelves and into the hands of people who need it. Whether sorting donations, stocking groceries or helping clients choose items for their families, volunteers are a steady presence, helping ensure neighbors have access to food when money is tight. For Julie Schulberg, volunteering with the Cook County Food Shelf stems from growing up in a household where she watched her mother struggle to put food on the table for her seven children. “Being a volunteer brings satisfaction in knowing I am helping my neighbors and, in

a small way, being a positive influence for good in the world,” Schulberg said. The Cook County Food Shelf is open every Monday from 3-5 p.m. and the first Wednesday of each month from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Deschene said the organization is always looking for more volunteers to support its mission, and people can learn more by calling 218-387-9860. Find a list of food shelves and other food assistance resources on the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency website at aeoa.org.

Across the Northland region, food shelves provide a reliable source of support for people experiencing food insecurity. | UNSPLASH

Thanksgiving Memories

A Place at the Table By Naomi Yaeger

When I was growing up, we lived far away from relatives, so we never spent Thanksgiving with grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins. We did, however, share a meal with friends. Whether my parents or one of our friends hosted, the good china came out. Even as a child, I appreciated the love and care that went into setting a pretty table as well as preparing the meal. I had to have pumpkin pie for dessert. I love pumpkin pie. We usually ate dessert after playing board or card games for a couple of hours. Sometimes the children were relegated to a kids’ table, with everyday plates and silverware. It was usually a card table off to the side or in a different room. I missed hearing the adults talk as well as having a chance to use the good dishes. When I was a child, we usually served the turkey in midafternoon. My father wanted it to be ready at noon, but my mother didn’t

I still have—and enjoy—my mom’s wedding china. The pattern, Heritage by Narumi, has since been discontinued. | NAOMI YAEGER want to get up so early in the morning to give it time to bake. When she asked him

if he wanted to get up early, say, 6 a.m., to prepare the turkey, he said no. We usually had cranberry sauce, squash, green beans and baked potatoes, not necessarily mashed unless a friend made them. There was also a variety of pickles laid out on fancy glass dishes, along with jams and jellies in fancy glass bowls for the homemade buns. Mom had several glass bowls and plates made especially for pickles, relishes, jams and jellies. My mom gave me her wedding china set in the early 2000s. My husband didn’t like the china set because he thought it looked too much like something out of the 1960s. I suppose it did look space-age, with black and gold squiggles. But hey, my parents got married in 1957, so if the china looked like something out of the 1960s, then they were right up to date. I think you could call it midcentury modern. My parents married in November 1957, just a month after Sputnik’s launch.

About 15 years ago, my daughter and I began eating a plant-based diet, but we still wanted the familiar flavors of Thanksgiving. In case you’re wondering, my husband sometimes decides to roast a turkey for himself and a friend, but our plant-based food is so good that he doesn’t always. We’ve made Foragers’ pie, which includes wild mushrooms, herb gravy and sweet potato mash in a flaky spelt crust. It was pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. We also had cranberry sauce, wild rice and a specialty pie from Love Creamery. Since my husband didn’t care for Mom’s china, I kept it packed away. Eventually, I moved it to my daughter’s house, where she had more storage space. Two Thanksgivings ago, we unpacked it, washed the dishes and set her table. I told my daughter how much we had enjoyed the china when I was a child. Still, something seemed to be missing. Maybe it was my parents’ silver flatware or the folded cloth napkins. Or Mom herself.

Thirteen Cornish Hens By Victoria Lynn Smith

When I was a child, my mother always cooked a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner. Rising early, she spent the day in the kitchen preparing a feast to feed 13 people and provide plenty of scrumptious leftovers. She stuffed a turkey weighing more than 20 pounds with the best stuffing I’ve ever tasted. The bird cooked for six hours, filling the house with the aroma of sage, rosemary, parsley and thyme. As the turkey roasted to a perfect golden brown on the outside while remaining moist on the inside, Mom prepared the rest of the dinner: homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, whipped sweet potatoes topped with toasted marshmallows, and green bean casserole sprinkled with French-fried onion strings. Mom’s Thanksgiving menu never varied, except for the year she roasted 13 Cornish hens instead of a big turkey. I was 12, and to me, Cornish hens seemed exotic because of their small size and their name. I pictured them being imported from England. At the time, I didn’t know Cornish hens were simply young chickens weighing less than 2 pounds and were also raised in the U.S. While Mom created culinary magic in the kitchen, my siblings and I watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV and played board games. Occasionally, Mom called one of us by name and asked for a hand. A couple of hours before our grandparents, aunt, uncle and three cousins arrived, my sisters and I set the ornate walnut dining room table for 13. We laid fine white china, triple-plated silverware 20

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and crystal glasses on a lace tablecloth—all treasures Mom had found in secondhand shops or through the classified ads in the Milwaukee Journal. Mom took pride in serving a delicious meal in an elegant atmosphere. Recently, I asked Mom what had inspired her to make Cornish hens instead of turkey for Thanksgiving. “In the 1970s, some of the best restaurants in Milwaukee served Cornish hens,” she said. This made sense because my mother worked for the Marcus family in Milwaukee. They owned Big Boy restaurants, movie theaters and the Pfister Hotel. She would have known that the English Room at the Pfister served Cornish hens because she’d eaten there. “It was an excellent meal,” I said, “but I missed the turkey leftovers that year.” “It was a lot of work,” she said. “I never did it again.” Mom’s Thanksgiving meal featuring 13 little hens was a huge success. Everyone raved about the dinner. I picked the carcass clean and ate every bit of stuffing. As always, the stuffing was my favorite. Because we each had our own stuffed bird, I was guaranteed to get all the crunchy outer crust that formed on the stuffing while it baked. When Mom made a turkey, there was never enough crunchy stuffing to go around. I secretly resented the adults who hogged the best part of the stuffing. I felt like a sophisticated grown-up when the miniature hen with the fancy name was presented on my plate, partly

Clockwise from the left: Aunt Pat, me, Steven, Nana Kitty, Mom, Uncle Fred, Kimberly, Denise, Suzanne, Grandpa Howard, Brian and Lisa. Dad took the photo. | FRANK YOUNGQUIST because I knew Mom wanted the dinner to feel cool and classy, even though she never said so at the time. The following year, Mom returned to roasting a turkey, but the year of the Cornish hens remains one of my favorite holiday memories.

Thankful for Montana By Eric Chandler

If you ask me what we do for Thanksgiving, I don’t have an answer anymore. Nothing sticks out. There used to be a time when I knew exactly what my family would be doing: We’d be eating turkey in West Yellowstone, Montana. This was not a family vacation. Around 100 kids and 30 adults piled onto buses in Duluth to drive 22 straight hours to the Yellowstone Ski Festival during Thanksgiving week. All of us were cross-country skiers looking for early-season snow. Most of the kids were from Duluth East High School, but there were several athletes from other local Arrowhead ski teams. I still remember the shock of our first trip in 2014: the long overnight bus ride, the way we all attacked the Perkins in Billings for breakfast, the Walmart stop in Bozeman to buy a dozen grocery carts of food for everyone, and finally, our arrival in West

Grace Chandler skiing in West Yellowstone, Montana, in 2015. | ERIC CHANDLER

Yellowstone, where we took over an entire hotel building. Then, exhausted, I flopped onto the bed, only to hear all the kids getting their gear on to ski before sunset. That first trip felt like jumping onto a moving train—a highly organized one, since they’d already been making the trip for nearly 20 years by the time my kids joined the team. Two-a-day ski sessions, with high-volume training in the morning and technique work in the afternoon, made for lots of tired skiers and adults. All those kilometers also made people hungry. This was another finely tuned system. The parents on the trip cooked the evening meal every single night for the whole week. We used a bunch of electric roasters to cook frozen food brought from Duluth along with groceries from Bozeman. One of those meals just happened to be Thanksgiving. It was all hands on deck that day. I dislike yams, so, of course, my fellow parent-cooks put me on yam duty. After a full day of kids skiing and parents cooking, we ate our big feast from paper plates in the crowded Montana hotel lobby. Sometimes, my family all wore flannel shirts as we shared Thanksgiving with our extended ski family. Each year, all of us cross-country skied from the edge of town into Yellowstone National Park. We gathered next to the Madison River for a bunch of pictures. We skied, laughed and ate together in the cold, high-altitude air of West Yellowstone. My family only did that for six years, but it seems like more. I am grateful for those Thanksgiving trips. The team still goes out there each year without us, and I’m envious. Now, at this time of year, I don’t know what to do with myself when I’m not sitting on that bus for so long that I can’t feel my feet.

Flambé Thanksgiving By Alec Peterson

Once upon a time—for all good stories start that way—it was Thanksgiving dinner. Family and friends had gathered with care, and the young ones, myself included, were relegated to the much-dreaded kids’ table, where nothing fun ever happened. There had been much gossip about video games and who hated school the most, for whatever dreadful reason. Typical social issues among children. Meanwhile, the adults’ table was a study in elegance: a white silk tablecloth and a large candelabra with candles burning merrily. Norman Rockwell would have been proud. Little did we know that a pyrotechnic cataclysm was about to shatter our idyllic holiday. My mother set the turkey on the table. My cats—being cats—took an interest and hopped onto the table. My father—being my father—shouted at them to get off. In doing so, he knocked over his brandy glass, which was kept festively full at all times.

Right into the lit candelabra. What happened next can only be described through the eyes of a child: The table seemed to transform into a fire-breathing dragon belching up a fireball. Adults scattered like autumn leaves, while those of us at the kids’ table agreed that this was truly the coolest thing any of us had ever seen. Panicked dinner guests threw their drinks onto the fire. Unfortunately, half the drinks contained alcohol, which only added to the bedlam, much to their dismay and our entertainment. Calls were made to the fire department as my mother, thinking quickly, attempted to douse the flaming tablecloth with a pitcher of lemonade she’d made specifically for the occasion. The cats, apparently thinking quickly and craving lemonade, proceeded to trip her. Rather than landing on the burning table, the lemonade soaked the drapes. My father promptly tore them down and began beating the flames with them.

An Unconventional Thanksgiving By Brittany North

Living deep in the boreal woods with not too many folks around, and with family and friends far away, it’s not uncommon for some to leave conventional Thanksgiving traditions behind in order to create their own. My husband and I prefer to call Thanksgiving Friendsgiving or Harvest Day. Nowadays, we celebrate by getting together with a small group of friends, and others are always welcome to join. The last two years have been the same time, same place: our friend Linda’s. When fall comes around, I immediately start getting excited at the thought of Friendsgiving at Linda’s. Part of me can’t wait because her house is always cozy and warm, which means we don’t have to worry about constantly feeding the wood stove to keep the yurt warm at home. Moreover, I cannot wait for the tradition of homemade food, conversation, games, stories and laughing—lots and lots of laughing. Part of our tradition when it comes to food is that it’s different every year, with everything homemade using local ingredients. Whether it’s vegetables that came from our own gardens, maple syrup from Linda’s sugar bush, soft and airy sourdough from Katie, a sweet treat from Nat or my Poor Irish Girl’s Soup (it’s potato leek and amazing), there’s always something delicious to enjoy. By the time we’re stuffed and ready for a cat nap, that means it’s time to play cribbage. Some may say you’re not Midwestern if you don’t play cribbage, but gosh darn, that game isn’t for me. I prefer to sit back with my knitting project and watch everyone else play. I usually have no idea what’s going on as they all play cribbage, but I do know there’s a ton of laughing going on, which makes me laugh even more. Several times throughout the cribbage games, we all end up telling stories and laughing, and the

Naturally, we young ones were enraptured by this latest development. You couldn’t pay for this kind of quality entertainment. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade didn’t even measure up. Eventually, the lemonade-soaked curtains successfully beat down the flames as the alcohol burned itself out. The cats, showing an uncharacteristic amount of foresight, ran for the hills to avoid any reprisals for their contribution to the evening’s entertainment. The firefighters managed to keep straight faces throughout the whole thing, which is more than my family and I were able to accomplish. The firefighters had the solemn task of pronouncing our Thanksgiving dinner dead at the scene. A holiday tradition incinerated and one Chinese dinner later, I distinctly remember what my youngest cousin said to me. It’s a sentiment I think embodied the entire experience: “Dude, can we come next year?”

Twig is ready to learn how to play cribbage or perhaps gnaw on the board. | SUBMITTED others forget where they are in the game or whose turn it is. They don’t keep track of the score or who won last time, but I think they all secretly keep tabs on the games. Our core group happens to consist entirely of sled dog mushers, so there’s always conversation and stories about dogs. Nevertheless, while we’re eating, dog poop inevitably comes up. Perhaps talking about dog poop at the dinner table is a tradition, too, now that I think of it. When we’re not talking about dogs, we’re usually talking about what animal footprints we’ve seen recently in the mud or snow or which animals we’ve spotted on our trail cameras. I usually talk about the red squirrels at some point, which would love to call our porch home rather than the forest. I suppose that’s what Friendsgiving has become for us: good food, questionable cribbage skills, stories that get told over and over, friends you can’t live without and more talk about dog poop than any dinner table probably needs. Living in the woods means doing some things a little differently. It might not be a traditional Thanksgiving, but it’s ours.

A young Alec Peterson with his partner in crime, Bebop, who was partly responsible for the Great Thanksgiving Conflagration of 1991. | SUBMITTED

NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

By Breana Johnson

Holiday Shopping in Thunder Bay As the holiday season approaches, art shows return, offering opportunities to find unique gifts. Check the Events section for details on the shows mentioned here, as well as others.

Watercolor artist Biljana Baker will attend the Celebrating Artists Past and Present Show and Sale in Thunder Bay. This piece is titled “City Jungle.” | BILJANA BAKER

Erika Niva, owner of Keramiikka Maan (“Pottery of Earth”), creates handmade functional and sculptural ceramic pieces. Niva will be exhibiting at the Artisans Northwest Art and Fine Craft Show in Thunder Bay. | ERIKA NIVA Gioia Seerveld is a flamework glass artist in Thunder Bay who creates jewelry, mobiles and Christmas ornaments. See more of her work at the Artisans Northwest Art and Fine Craft Show on Nov. 14-15. | GIOIA SEERVELD

This felted piece was created by Melanie Mathieson. See more of Mathieson’s work at the Celebrating Artists Past and Present show on Nov. 28-29. | MELANIE MATHIESON

This acrylic painting on canvas was created by Crystal Nielsen. Nielsen will also be exhibiting at the Celebrating Artists Past and Present show at the Centennial Conservatory. | CRYSTAL NIELSEN

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Founded by Canadian artisans Joan Loveday and Carmen Wheeler, Jewel-Re-Art breathes new life into costume jewelry, picture frames and trinket boxes, transforming them into one-of-a-kind creations. JewelRe-Art will be at the Artisans Northwest show at the Superior Inn Hotel. | JEWEL-RE-ART

Nan Onkka: The Art of Noticing Creative Space:

By Anne Graybeal “I think what I’ve learned about being an artist is that you just have to keep showing up,” says Nan Onkka, a Grand Marais printmaker whose woodcut prints capture the North Shore’s lakes, woods and changing seasons. “Whatever you’re doing, the more time you spend doing it, the better you get. The easiest way for me to show up is to look outside and to try my best to record what I see.” Her subject matter derives from the landscape around her. She is particularly interested in the micro-seasons of Minnesota, the small changes that make each month distinct: the first fiddleheads of spring, the earliest blooms, the subtle changes that signal one time of year giving way to another. “We all think of lupines, which are actually mid-June,” she says. “But the marigolds, the fiddleheads, all first signs of the seasons that might otherwise go unnoticed? Those are really interesting to me.” Onkka grew up in rural Wisconsin, the daughter of a career potter and a career elementary art teacher. Her childhood unfolded outdoors, in a family that made things and surrounded itself with the results. Her father collected old farm buildings for their property, creating a landscape shaped by his imagination and resourcefulness. After earning her art education license at St. Olaf College, Onkka completed her student teaching at Woodstock School, a boarding school in the mountains of northern India. She stayed for about five years before returning to Minnesota to teach in the Twin Cities. In 2019, she and her husband, Will, moved to Grand Marais. Both had connections to the area through their years at Wilderness Canoe Base, where they had worked during different summers. With a young child and a desire to build a different kind of family life, the couple expected they might continue teaching. Then the pandemic changed those plans. Onkka had already been making prints as a hobby, selling her work while teaching. With schools disrupted and a young child at home, she decided to give printmaking more of her attention. The side project grew into a business that now occupies most of her working life, with Will handling much of the wholesale and gallery-consignment work. The transition from teacher to self-employed artist has brought both freedom and the formidable learning curve of operating a growing business, from professional photography to website maintenance to packaging and shipping. She has learned the business side largely through experience, drawing on her father’s example and the generosity of other small-business owners in Grand Marais. She also meets regularly with a group of local artists who work alongside one another, tackling the administrative tasks that can be difficult to prioritize. The camaraderie helps. So does the knowledge that others are navigating the same challenges.

This piece by Nan Onkka is titled “A Path Forward.” | SUBMITTED

Nan Onkka, based in Grand Marais, creates original woodcut prints by hand. | SUBMITTED

Onkka is particularly interested in Minnesota’s micro-seasons, the subtle changes that make each month distinct. This piece is titled “A Lively Bunch.” | SUBMITTED

Onkka’s woodcut prints capture the North Shore’s lakes, woods and changing seasons. | SUBMITTED In her studio, Onkka makes original woodcut prints by hand, carving an image into a wooden block and printing limited editions. She then photographs or scans the finished pieces to create greeting cards, stickers, calendars and other products, most of which are produced by small makers, many of them in Minnesota. As the business has grown, Will has taken on more of the logistics, giving her additional time to make new work. Yet Onkka’s work is not limited to recording the natural world. During Operation Metro Surge, she was thinking deeply about community, immigration and how people show up for one another. In that period of emotional and creative intensity, she created an image that brought together two familiar symbols: a loon and a monarch butterfly. She called the image Butterfly Effect. Onkka turned it into a sticker and a print

to raise $5,000 for mutual-aid organizations in Minnesota. In her mind, the image belongs to what she calls the Good Neighbors series, a collection of work inspired by the question of how people can show up for one another. A new, larger printing press is opening up other possibilities for Onkka’s art. “I’m very drawn to abstract art, and I would love to kind of push that direction a little bit more,” she says. She is also interested in a more experimental approach to printmaking. Her woodcuts are carefully planned, with each step leading toward a particular finished image. Monoprinting, by contrast, offers the opportunity to experiment with color and texture without knowing exactly what the result will be. “I hope that in five years you’ll be seeing a little bit more of that side of who I am as a maker,” she says.

That willingness to experiment is something she hopes to pursue with Will, who has begun taking printmaking classes. They have been making things together privately, without yet deciding whether the work will become part of the business. In the meantime, Onkka is looking forward to an exhibition that brings her work back to its roots. In December 2027, she and her father will share a two-person show at the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, Wisconsin, near where she grew up. The exhibition will pair her current work with a retrospective of her father’s more than 50 years as a potter, including both functional stoneware and more abstract sculptural pieces. She is also preparing for the Julmarknad Handcraft Market & Festival at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis from Dec. 4-6. You can see more of her work at nanonkka.com.

NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

Santa’s Sleigh d aT GrandsTay

Thursday ecember 3, 2026

3 pm - 8 pm

Black Beach Inn S I L V E R B A Y, M N Do your Christmas shopping locally and conveniently this year! Local businesses will be setting up mini-stores at the Black Beach Inn of Silver Bay. Come to one location and get all of your shopping done with a variety of businesses, crafters and artists.

Rooms available for $60.00 plus tax for shoppers who want to spend the night. Jewelry, Paparazzi Creating My Journey, Wood Signs Lake Superior Rock Art Wood and Metal Decor, Fire Pits Soy and Gel Candles, Air Fresheners, Wax Melts, Hand Turned Wooden Bowls Buffy Butz Peaceful Dotting Tina Buus Northshore Décor, Wreaths and All Season Decor Mariah Columbus Homemade Jewelry, Knomes, Stuffed Animals, Kids’ Toys, Birdhouses & Micellaneous Novelties Jackie Disch Author, Book Sales Christi Doxon & Robert Calvalry Rock, Wood, & Glass Artwork Sheila Fetters Wood signs, Glassware with Decals Robert Flagler Crafted Benches, Copper Hooks, and Cutting Boards Amber Fulton Baked Goods, Cookies, Jams, Salsa, Custom Tshirt Printing and Design Cindy Gustafson Tie-One-On - Aprons and Kitchen Sewing Shirley Horsman Horsman Creations- Native American Jewelry, All Natural Soaps Lorie Ingram Tailgatespices.com - Tailgate Spices and Other Spices Patricia Johnson 3D Prints, Knitted Hats & Gloves, Jewelry, Sculptures Joshua Lenz Lenz Crafters LLC - Canned Salsas, Pickled Vegetables, Jellies, Soups April Knutson Fuzzly’s Gifts/Karmas Cookies & Assorted Baked Goods Donna McCurdy Color Street Nails & Avon Bev Mell Mittens Out of Sweaters Brian Miller Hand Blown Glass Audrey Nelson Scentsy Cindy Rowlee Pampered Chef, Cooking Tools and Utensils, Cookware, Kitchenware Lyn Singleton Baked goods and candy Gloria Sterns Jordan Essentials, Topical Magnesium Jackie Stevens Pens, Keychains, Crochet Items Benjamin and Tamber Weller Agates, miscellaneous stones, Paintings

Live Music in the Lobby by Robin Sunquiet 5 PM to 8 PM Rainy Rose and Twin Ports BBQ Food Truck Vendors in Lobby Area 3 PM to 8 PM Due to the temporary nature of the stores, many businesses will be unable to accept credit cards. Please plan ahead and bring cash and/or checks. Thank you.

Questions or if you would like to set up a store, call 218-226-4300 Visit the Black Beach Inn of Silver Bay on Facebook!

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A very Craft Revival Holiday

HOLIDAY 2026 ART WORK BY TIDAL AND TIMBER

Deb Ahlbeck Jessie Anderson Lucinda Avery Steve Barry Lisa Bucklew

NOV 22 DOWNTOWN NORTHCORE THUNDER BAY, ON

10:00AM – 4:00PM EST

200+ LOCAL VENDORS / LIVE MUSIC / PERFORMANCES FIND OUT MORE AT

CRAFTREVIVAL.CA

Visit Split Rock Lighthouse on Nov. 10 for a ceremony honoring the Edmund Fitzgerald. | JILL BEIM

EDMUND FITZGERALD: A GREAT LAKES MEMORIAL

ative research team from Ghost Stories Ink. Whether you’re a fan of the paranormal or simply curious about North Woods folklore, this weekend offers a unique blend of art, storytelling and spooky exploration. visitcookcounty.com

Nov. 10, Tuesday Held at Split Rock Lighthouse near Two Harbors, this annual event honors the 29 crew members of the Edmund Fitzgerald who were lost on Lake Superior and remembers all those lost on the Great Lakes. This year marks the 51st anniversary of the ship’s sinking and the 41st anniversary of the memorial beacon lighting. Guests can explore the lighthouse, fog signal building and visitor center, take a guided tour about the ship’s final voyage, and watch a film about the vessel. At 4 p.m., the lighthouse will temporarily close while the names of the crew are read to the tolling of a ship’s bell, with a rendition of the Naval Hymn. After the ceremony, the beacon will be lit, and the tower will reopen until 6 p.m. Tickets are available online. mnhs.org/splitrock

NIIZH

Nov. 12-28 Niizh, on stage at Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay, is a refreshing coming-of-age romcom about two young lovebirds leaving the nest. It’s summertime on the rez, and Lenna, the youngest of the Little family, is preparing to leave home for her first year of college, with little enthusiasm or help from her stubborn father and reckless brother. Amid doubts about leaving her family, Lenna has a meet-cute with the charming, awkward Sam Thomas, who is returning to the reserve after many years away. As romance blossoms,

The annual Winterers’ Gathering and Arctic Film Festival will take place Nov. 20-22 at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais. | SUBMITTED Lenna wonders if she’s ready to bid farewell just as she’s about to take flight. Tickets to the show are available online. magnustheatre.com

DARK SHORES: A NORTHERN LORE WEEKEND

Nov. 13-15 Explore the eerie side of the North Shore during Dark Shores: A Northern Lore Weekend in Grand Marais. The

event features a live-audience podcast and radio recording with special guest creators discussing the unexplainable mysteries of the Great Lakes, a Friday the 13th dark art gallery opening, and author talks and panels exploring regional cold cases, maritime tragedies and dark North Woods lore. There will also be a hands-on paranormal investigation at the historic Maple Hill Church and Cemetery led by the cre-

| DEBORAH BOUSSAAD

ARTISANS NORTHWEST ART & FINE CRAFT SHOW

Nov. 14-15 The not-for-profit Artisans Northwest group in Thunder Bay will cel-

NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

Glide on Frosty Trails this Winter! Over 70 km of Ski Trails

ebrate its 51st annual Art and Fine Craft Show on Nov. 14-15 at the Superior Inn Hotel and Conference Centre. This year’s juried show will feature a variety of media from more than 50 artists, from paintings and ceramics to fiber arts and woodworking. The show, which will also feature high school art exhibits and a sip-and-shop experience, will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. artisansnorthwest.ca

JUNIOR LEAGUE FESTIVAL OF TREES 218-388-2203 www.Golden-Eagle.com

Find us on Facebook and Instagram!

Nov. 14-15 Mark your calendars for the 38th annual Junior League of Duluth’s Festival of Trees, featuring more than 170 unique vendors showcasing an array of fun, festive, educational and flavorful items— there’s something for everyone. Held at the Duluth Decc, other highlights include free photos with Santa, a festive mini holiday tree display and auction, raffles with lots of great prizes, food and drinks, and more. The show will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7 on Saturday and $5 on Sunday; kids 12 and under are free. Shoppers who bring a nonperishable food donation will receive $1 off admission. juniorleagueduluth.org

WINTERERS’ GATHERING & ARCTIC FILM FESTIVAL

Nov. 20-22 Celebrate the crafts, customs, history and stories that have been inspired by winter. Featuring winter-centric coursework, a winter tent camp, gear sale, film festival, guest speakers and presentations, a community contra dance, a chili freeze,

Light Up a Life Celebrate the life of loved ones during the holiday season and help Care Partners support end of life care

Murray the Moose will be available for photos in downtown Grand Marais following the parade and fireworks Friday, Nov. 27. | SUBMITTED a poetry reading, and more, this is a classic event to welcome the start of the chilliest season. Held at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, this year’s featured speaker is Kayleen Ward-Peter of Venetie, Alaska, a small village located above the Arctic Circle. Ward-Peter’s free public talk, “Gardening Above the Arctic Circle and Other Adventures,” will take place Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. northhouse.org

BENTLEYVILLE “TOUR OF LIGHTS”

Nov. 21-Dec. 26 Located in Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, Bentleyville “Tour of Lights” invites guests to stroll under the glow of over 5 million lights, while enjoying complimentary hot cocoa, coffee, cookies, popcorn and marshmallows for roasting. Kids can also visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Bentleyville is free, though dona-

Annual Store-wide Customer Appreciation Sale

Tree Lighting Ceremony Johnson Heritage Post Thursday, December 10, 5:30 pm All are welcome! For more information www.carepartnersofcookcounty.org or call Care Partners at 218-387-3788

Lake Superior Trading Post Mon-Th 9-5, Fri & Sat 9-5:30, Sun 10-5

10 S. 1st Ave. W., Grand Marais • www.LSTP.com

Each donation will help light up the Memory Tree located by Johnson Heritage Post!

20% OFF Sale runs Monday, Nov. 23 thru Friday, Dec. 4 Closed Thanksgiving Day

Hovland Arts Festival

Enclosed find my donation of $ ___________ for ___________ light(s). In memory of: ___________________ _______________________________________________________ Donated by: ___________________ _________________________________________________________ Address: _____________ __________________________________________________________________ Your tax deductable donations support those on the journey of aging and end of life.

• Make check payable to Care Partners of Cook County and mail form to: PO Box 282, Grand Marais, MN, 55604 or • Use the QR code at right or • Visit our website www.carepartnersofcookcounty.org

NOVEMBER 2026

NORTHERN WILDS

Saturday, Nov. 28 • 10 am - 4 pm hovlandartsfestival

Hovland Town Hall Arts & Crafts, Food and Plenty of Parking

tions are appreciated, and opens at 5 p.m. daily. On-site parking is $12 per vehicle, or save $2 when you pay with cash. Guests are also encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item or new, unwrapped toy to donate to the Salvation Army for those in need. Remember to dress warmly, as Bentleyville is an outdoor event. bentleyvilleusa.org

Marais. Explore the Cook County History Museum as it glows with candlelight and festive decor during this special evening celebrating the season. The event takes place from 5-7 p.m. Community members can also help decorate the museum on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The historical society is also accepting donations of garland, string lights and natural decor to help make the event shine for years to come. All donations should be clean, in working order and in excellent condition. Learn more online. cookcountyhistory.org

GUNFLINT TRAIL GRAND MARAIS, MN

Find Your Winter Stillness

HOLIDAY CRAFT REVIVAL

Nov. 22, Sunday The magic of the holidays returns to Thunder Bay with the 12th annual Holiday Craft Revival, held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wander through the Waterfront District and Prince Arthur’s Landing as streets, shops and historic buildings transform into a festive marketplace filled with handmade treasures, local makers, holiday treats and joyful music. With more than 200 local vendors, live entertainment and cozy holiday vibes around every corner, this is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. facebook.com/craftrevivaltbay

Escape the noise. Embrace the quiet.

Discover the beauty of solitude and relaxation in your own cozy winter retreat.

CELEBRATING ARTISTS PAST & PRESENT: SHOW & SALE

218-388-2232 | visitloonlake.com

Nov. 28-29 Curated by local artist Biljana Baker, the Centennial Conservatory in Thunder Bay will be transformed into a magical art gallery featuring live music and 27 exceptional artists from the Thunder Bay region, with a special dedication to artists who have passed away. You’ll find everything from watercolor paintings, stained glass and fiber arts to photography, jewelry and woodwork for sale. The show and sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. biljanabakerartist.ca

OH OLE NIGHT PARADE & FIREWORKS

Nov. 27, Friday It’s a festive Scandinavian time of year! Head to downtown Grand Marais for the annual community holiday parade, tree-lighting ceremony, storefront decorating contest and fireworks. The parade starts at 5:30 p.m. from the Senior Center parking lot on South Broadway and will make two loops along Broadway, up Wisconsin Street, turning at First Avenue and back around to Broadway, with Santa himself leading the festivities. The second loop will end at Harbor Park for the tree-lighting ceremony, followed by fireworks over the harbor. After the fireworks, Murray the Moose will take photos with attendees at the holiday tree. visitcookcounty.com

HOVLAND WINTER ARTS FESTIVAL

Nov. 28, Saturday The Hovland Town Hall will be packed with various local artists on Saturday, Nov. 28 for the annual Hovland Winter Arts Festival. Held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., you’ll find works of all kinds, from ceramics and fiber arts to jewelry and paintings. facebook.com/hovlandartsfestival

MUSEUM BY CANDLELIGHT

Nov. 28, Saturday Celebrate the warmth of the holiday season at the inaugural Museum by Candlelight, hosted by the Cook County Historical Society at the historic former lighthouse keeper’s residence, built in 1896, in Grand

| MARCEL TARDIF

FOR TICKETS: MAGNUSTHEATRE.CA / 807.345.5552 NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

November

9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

NORTHERN WILDS CALENDAR OF EVENTS Thru Nov. 1

Bentleyville Red Kettle Karnival

Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org Pumpkin Junction Burlington Station, Two Harbors, facebook.com/burlingtonstationtwoharbors

An Evening with Author Jill D. Swenson: The Land of Everlasting Sky

Plein Air 2026 Exhibition Johnson Heritage

Thru Nov. 8

Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom

7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

Thru Nov. 10

Photography & Art at the Rock: Molly Siebenaler (Meet & Greet Nov. 10 at 10 a.m.) Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, mnhs.org/splitrock

Thru Dec. 21

Exhibits: Robb Quisling: Applied Pressure; Lauren Faherty: Rooted; Andrew Webster: Material Driven Duluth Art Institute, duluthart.org

5 p.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, bentleyvilleusa.org 5:30 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, grandmaraislibrary.org

Nov. 5, Thursday

Out to Lunch 11:30 a.m. McQuade’s

Pub & Grill, Two Harbors, facebook.com/communitypartnersth

Author Talk & Lunch with Jill D. Swenson & Naomi Yaeger Noon, The Bookstore at

Fitger’s, Duluth, fitgersbookstore.com Night Sky Photography 6 p.m. LRCA Administrative Office, Thunder Bay, lakeheadca.com 38 Special 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Jennifer de Mooy & Clinton DexterNienhaus: Water, Carbon, Time

7 p.m. Zenith Bookstore, Duluth, zenithbookstore.com

Thru Dec. 31

Sweet Release: A Body of Work by Jane Dandron-Holtz Ely Area Community Hub, northernlakesarts.org

Nov. 6, Friday

Soldiers of the American Revolution 10 a.m.

Thru Jan. 3

Two Harbors Public Library, alslib.info Built It! Felt Fun 2 p.m. Two Harbors Public Library, twoharborspubliclibrary.com

Gallery, theag.ca

Light Up the Night CLLS Fundraising Dinner 5:30 p.m. Current River Recreation

Morrisseau Masterwork Thunder Bay Art Holding Up Our Sky: Virginia McCoy, A Retrospective and Homecoming Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru Jan. 31

The Great Lakes Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru Feb. 7

Art Books 1983-2026 Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru March 2027

The Thunder Bay Art Society: The Heritage Art Project Exhibition Thunder Bay Museum, thunderbaymuseum.com

Oct. 30-Nov. 1

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Marshall Performing Arts Center, Duluth, minnesotaballet.org

Nov. 1, Sunday

Daylight Saving Time Ends Family Art Days 1 p.m. Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Centre, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/ canadianlighthousesoflakesuperior Bingo 6 p.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, upyonderon61.com Juke Box Dance Party 7 p.m. Slovak Legion: East End, Thunder Bay, chippewapark.ca

NOVEMBER 2026

Nov. 12, Thursday

Nov. 7, Saturday Minnesota Deer Opener

Library, grandmaraislibrary.org

Get Great Stuff: Local Art & Gift Fair 10 a.m.

Peace Church, Duluth, wendyupnorth.com Holiday Boutique 10 a.m. Ely Community Center, ely.org/events

Soldiers of the American Revolution

10:15 a.m. Duluth Public Library, alslib.info Poet Ryan Vine 12:30 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, grandmaraislibrary.org Stone Dragon Stew 2 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, grandmaraisplayhouse.com

Into the Cook County Historical Society Archives 2 p.m. Cook County

History Museum, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org Warren Miller’s Days Off 7 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com Cass Furman: Funny For a Girl 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. Campfire Comedy Club, Thunder Bay, campfirecomedy.ca

Storytime 10:30 a.m. Grand Marais Public Soldiers of the American Revolution

1:30 p.m. Mount Royal Branch Library, Duluth, alslib.info Open Studio with Artist in Residence Annmarie Geniusz 5 p.m. Two Harbors Public Library,

twoharborspubliclibrary.com Trivia with WTIP 6 p.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, upyonderon61.com

Nov. 12-28

Niizh Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, magnustheatre.com

Nov. 13, Friday

Soldiers of the American Revolution 10 a.m. Silver Bay Public Library, alslib.info

Fused Glass Art with Jeri Person

1 p.m. Joy & Co., Grand Marais, facebook.com/joyandcompanymn

Soldiers of the American Revolution 5 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, alslib.info

Bump Blomberg & Gordon Thorne

Nov. 8, Sunday

7 p.m. Silver Bay Municipal Liquor & Lounge, facebook.com/silver.bay.munidipal The Oak Ridge Boys 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Darrin Rose 8 p.m. (7 p.m. Sat.)

#IMOMSOHARD: The Crashing Out Tour 8 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Seasonal Artisan Market 10 a.m. Thunder

Nov. 13-14

Gary Owen: No Hard Feelings Tour

Campfire Comedy Club, Thunder Bay, campfirecomedy.ca

7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Nov. 6-7

7:30 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Cook County, visitcookcounty.com Too Many Ghosts 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, grandmaraisplayhouse.com

Duluth Junk Hunt Decc, Duluth,

duluthjunkhunt.com Gales of November Duluth, lsmma.com Food & Wine Lovers Weekend Bluefin Bay, Tofte, bluefinbay.com

Nov. 6-8

Magickal Discoveries: Thee Witchy Con of the North Clyde Iron Works, Duluth, witchycon.com

Nov. 4, Wednesday

Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

1 p.m. Two Harbors Community Center, facebook.com/communitypartnersth

Canada’s Largest Indigenous Christmas Market 9 a.m. CLE Colosseum Building,

Community Center, ely.org/events

Clue 7:30 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Nov. 13-15

Community Sing 6 p.m. Ely Folk School, Community Potluck 11:30 a.m. Ely

Remembrance Day

Nov. 9, Monday

Gunflint Lodge & Outfitters, Gunflint Trail, visitcookcounty.com

elyfolkschool.org

Spirit of the Wilderness Art Show: The Art of Sabbath (Reception Nov. 6 at 5 p.m.)

7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com TBSO: Reflections (Voices) 7:30 p.m. St. Paul’s United Church, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca

Movie Night: Mad Max: Fury Road

Murder Mystery on the Gunflint Trail

Nov. 3, Tuesday

Nov. 6-29

Thunder Bay, 807-633-6232 Too Many Ghosts 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, grandmaraisplayhouse.com

NORTHERN WILDS

Coffee & Concert: Lighthouse Lyrics

An Evening with Neil deGrasse Tyson

Dark Shores: A Northern Lore Weekend

Nov. 10, Tuesday

Nov. 14, Saturday

Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, mnhs.org/splitrock

Into the Cook County Historical Society Archives 4 p.m. Cook County

First United Methodist Church, Duluth, duluthfiberguild.org Fall Craft Fair 9 a.m. Evergreen Community Center, Duluth, Facebook: Morgan Park Community Club

Soldiers of the American Revolution 4 p.m.

wendyupnorth.com

Edmund Fitzgerald: A Great Lakes Memorial 10 a.m. (Ceremony at 4 p.m.)

History Museum, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org Ely Public Library, alslib.info

BWCF: Making Waves Celebration

6:30 p.m. Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth, borealwaters.org Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Nov. 11, Wednesday

Veterans Day

Annual Fiber Fair & Sale 9 a.m.

Neighbor-Made: Local Art & Gift Fair 10 a.m. Peace Church, Duluth, Holiday Makers Christmas Market for Charity 10 a.m. Moose Hall, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

Nice Girls of the North Marketplace 10 a.m. Spirit of the Lake Community Arts, Duluth, nicegirlsofthenorth.com Stone Dragon Stew 2 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, grandmaraisplayhouse.com

Holiday High Tea 3 p.m. Northland Country

Holiday Market at the Moose 11 a.m.

Club, Duluth, minnesotaballet.org

Moose Hall, Thunder Bay, Facebook: Jennie’s Events Museum by Candlelight 5 p.m. Cook County History Museum, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org Wizards of Winter 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com Comedy at Creekside 8 p.m. Creekside Nursery, Thunder Bay, creekside.ca

Deb Digiovanni Comedy Night

7 p.m. Da Vinci Centre, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

TBSO: Star Wars: The Complete

Saga (Pops #1) 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbso.ca

Nov. 14-15

Junior League Festival of Trees

Nov. 28-29

9 a.m. (10 a.m. Sun.) Decc, Duluth, juniorleagueduluth.org

Celebrating Artists Past & Present Art Show & Sale 10 a.m. Centennial Conservatory,

Artisans Northwest Art & Fine Craft Show

10 a.m. Superior Inn Hotel & Conference Centre, Thunder Bay, artisansnorthwest.ca

Thunder Bay, biljanabakerartist.ca

Nov. 29, Sunday

Nov. 15, Sunday

The Market 9 a.m. MacGregor Recreation

Wizarding Market: Fairytale & Fantasy

Center, Shuniah, visitthunderbay.com

10 a.m. Centennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Facebook: ThunderCon

Nipigon Market Collective

10 a.m. Nipigon Community Centre, nipigonmarketcollective.ca

Sip N’ Shop Local Artisan Holiday Market 11 a.m. Delta Hotel, Thunder Bay, instagram.com/sipandshoptbay

Amanda Marshall: The Dirty 30 Tour

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

A ruffed grouse in the Superior National Forest. | BOB BERLUTE

7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Scholastica: Mitchell Auditorium, Duluth, matineemusicale.org

Nov. 20-21

Nov. 24, Tuesday

Pokemon Club 4 p.m. Two Harbors Public

Park Church, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/allthedaze Abbas Wahab Campfire Comedy Club, Thunder Bay, campfirecomedy.ca

Library, twoharborspubliclibrary.com Full Moon Poetry 6 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com

Brass Quintet 3 p.m. College of St.

A Live Conversation with Chevy Chase Following a Screening of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Nov. 16, Monday

Surviving the Holiday Season: Understanding Grief with St. Croix Hospice 10 a.m. Two Harbors Public Library, twoharborspubliclibrary.com ALS Bookmobile 4:30 p.m. Clearwater Event Center, Duluth, alslib.info Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Nov. 17, Tuesday

Aging Well Series: Fall Prevention

6 p.m. Aspirus Lake View Conference Center, Two Harbors, facebook.com/communitypartnersth

Dean Brody & The Reklaws with Nate

Haller 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Nov. 18, Wednesday

Lunch & Learn Noon, Cook County

Higher Education, Grand Marais, carepartnersofcookcounty.org Antique Appraisal Noon, St. Louis County Depot, Duluth, thehistorypeople.org History Happy Hour 5 p.m. Boathouse Brewpub, Ely, rootbeerlady.com

Nov. 19, Thursday

Give to the Max Day Minnesota,

givemn.org Storytime 10:30 a.m. Grand Marais Public Library, grandmaraislibrary.org

Afternoon Bingo

1 p.m. Two Harbors Community Center, facebook.com/communitypartnersth Decc 60th Anniversary Gala 5 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

The Little Mermaid Jr. Redwood

Nov. 20-22

Winterers’ Gathering & Arctic Film Festival North House Folk School, Grand Marais, northhouse.org

Cook County Curling Club Harvest Mixed Bonspiel Cook County Community Center, Grand Marais, cookcountycurlingclub.com

Nov. 21, Saturday

A Murder Mystery Event Lake Superior Zoo, Duluth, facebook.com/lakesuperiorzoo Rotary Santa Claus Parade 10 a.m. Thunder Bay, rotaryparade.ca Fairy Merry Christmas Market 10 a.m. CLE Heritage Building, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

Up On the Yonder Holiday Market

11 a.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, facebook.com/thebiglakelife

Fused Glass Art with Jeri Person

1 p.m. Joy & Co., Grand Marais, facebook.com/joyandcompanymn

DSSO: Masterworks 3: Under Open Skies 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, dsso.com

Aerosmith Tribute by Aeroforce 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com CAB: Elegant French Baroque 7:30 p.m. St. Paul’s United Church, Thunder Bay, consortiumab.org

Nov. 21-Dec. 26

Bentleyville “Tour of Lights”

5 p.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, bentleyvilleusa.org

Nov. 22, Sunday

Holiday Craft Revival 10 a.m. Waterfront

Nov. 20, Friday

District & Prince Arthur’s Landing, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/craftrevivaltbay

upyonderon61.com

Nov. 22-Dec. 6

Bingo 5 p.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, Christmas City of the North Parade 6:30 p.m. Downtown Duluth, visitduluth.com/events

Rodney Brown: The Music of Cohen, Dylan & Young 7 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

TBSO: Night and Day (Classical Plus) 7:30 p.m. Hilldale Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca

Northwoods Partners Festival of Trees Grand Ely Lodge, Ely, northwoodspartners.org

Nov. 30, Monday

Mark Langenfeld Author Visit: Wisdom From the Woods 5 p.m. Two Harbors Public

Nov. 25, Wednesday

Christopher David Hanson 7 p.m.

Silver Bay Municipal Liquor & Lounge, facebook.com/silver.bay.municipal

Gentle Yoga for Deeper Breathing with Ellen Callender 6 p.m. Two Birds Healing Arts

Center, Grand Marais, twobirdart.com

Dec. 2-5

The Novena Sisters 7:30 p.m. Cambrian

Players, Thunder Bay, cambrianplayers.com

Thanksgiving Day

WEEKLY EVENTS

Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Tuesdays

Nov. 26, Thursday

Gobble Gallop 8:30 a.m. Rose Garden, Duluth, gobblegallop.com

1 p.m. First Congregational Church, Grand Marais, visitcookcounty.com

Mondays

Community Coffee 10 a.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland, friendsoffinland.org

Locals Night with Live Music

Raine Maida & Chantal Kreviazuk:

5 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Wednesdays

Break Your Heart Tour 8 p.m. Thunder Bay

Game Day 1 p.m.

Nov. 26-29

The Novena Sisters 7:30 p.m. Cambrian

Players, Thunder Bay, cambrianplayers.com

Nov. 27, Friday

Free Parks Day Minnesota State Parks,

mndnr.gov/freeparkdays Holiday Market 12:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Two Harbors Public Library, facebook.com/communitypartnersth Thunder Bay Country Market 3:30 p.m. CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca

Thursdays

Date Night with Live Music 6 p.m. North

Oh Ole Night Parade & Fireworks

Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us Open Mic Comedy 7:30 p.m. Campfire Comedy Club, Thunder Bay, campfirecomedy.ca

Pints for a Cause: Community Partners 6 p.m.

Fridays

Trivia Night in Support of Our Kids Count

Bear Tree Park, Downtown Grand Marais, sawtoothmountainclinic.org/event

Nov. 27-Dec. 31

4:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us Community Gaming Night 7 p.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland, friendsoffinland.org Renegade Late Night Improv 10 p.m. Zeitgeist Arts, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com

Studio, Grand Marais, woodcut.com

Saturdays

5:30 p.m. Downtown Grand Marais, visitcookcounty.com Castle Danger Brewery, Two Harbors, facebook.com/communitypartnersth

6 p.m. Italian Cultural Centre, Thunder Bay, ourkidscount.ca Zakk Grandahl 7 p.m. Silver Bay Municipal Liquor & Lounge, facebook.com/silver.bay.munidipal

Holiday Art Underground Betsy Bowen

Nov. 28, Saturday

Small Business Saturday

Nov. 23, Monday

Hovland Winter Arts Festival

11 a.m. Kenwood Lutheran Church, Duluth Pokemon Club 4 p.m. Two Harbors Public Library, twoharborspubliclibrary.com

Twin Ports Community Harvest & Holiday Markets 10 a.m. Barker’s Island Inn,

Needle Art Guild Meeting & Mini Workshop

Library, twoharborspubliclibrary.com

10 a.m. Hovland Town Hall, facebook.com/hovlandartsfestival

Parent-Nurse Walk & Talk 10 a.m.

Live Music: Barbara Jean & Mike Lewis

Thunder Bay Country Market 8 a.m.

CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca What’s for Dinner? 7 p.m. International Wolf Center, Ely, wolf.org

Sundays

Weekend Wine Down 3:30 p.m. North

Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Superior, Facebook: Twin Ports Community Market

NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

Give Yourself the Gift of Health UNDERSTANDING PREDIABETES North Shore Health is here to support you with trusted, local laboratory services during American Diabetes Month.

Catching prediabetes early can help people prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Knowing your blood glucose and A1C levels can help you understand your risk and take steps to protect your health.

Our laboratory team provides accurate, timely testing for blood glucose, A1C, and other important health indicators. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether diabetes screening is right for you. We accept Laboratory orders from all providers. 515 5th Ave West, Grand Marais, MN 55604 218-387-3040 / NorthShoreHealthgm.org COMMUNITY ACCESS TO COMPASSIONATE CARE

Northern Wilds

Readers Favorites

2026

Find the complete list of 2026 winners at northernwilds.com/restaurant-awards or scan QR code In February, voting opened for the 2026 Northern Wilds Readers’ Choice Restaurant Awards, marking the return of the competition after a several-year hiatus. Readers cast their votes across 32 categories, from Best Pizza to Fine Dining, with the winners announced in June. Here are two of the winning restaurants proudly displaying their awards. Keep an eye out for more winner spotlights in the months ahead!

UP YONDER

BLUEFIN GRILLE

PHởHOLIC

WINNER FOR FAVORITE:

Happy Hour, Music Venue

Fine Dining

Ethnic Fare

NOVEMBER 2026

NORTHERN WILDS

The North Shore Dish

Texas Roadhouse: More Than a Meal By Virginia George

A small round table is set. Upon it hangs a crisp, white tablecloth. Arranged on the table are a black folded napkin, a single red rose, a yellow candle, an upside-down wine glass, and an empty chair—the Missing Man Table. There is a lot of symbolism in the Missing Man Table, which is often set in sight of the door. The round table symbolizes our everlasting concern for the missing. Salt on the plate represents the tears of the family, a lemon reminds us of the bitter fate of the missing, and a single red rose symbolizes the blood and sacrifice of our military and the hope of family and friends who await the return of the missing. The overturned wine glass is a reminder that there are some who cannot partake, a candle represents the light of hope in our hearts to light the way home, and the empty chair is there to remind us of all who cannot be here with us. I have come across these displays from time to time over the years, and they are often set up for Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in both the United States and Canada. It’s a powerful visual reminder of those who have lost their lives, as well as the pain of those who survived and the difficult journey of their families. Happy Veterans Day, Armistice Day and Remembrance Day. November 11 marks the armistice, or agreement to cease fighting, of World War I. It was agreed that at 11 a.m. (Paris time) on the 11th day of the 11th month, the war at the Western Front would end. In the 108 years since, we have come to recognize this as Armistice Day. The U.S. recognizes Veterans Day on November 11, and Canada recognizes Remembrance Day.

Texas Roadhouse Duluth is committed to its community. Each year, a variety of restaurants, VFWs and American Legions hold dinners or offer free meals to veterans on November 11. Lists of restaurants offering free meals to vets can be found online or on a business’s social media, but there are a few tried-andtrue places in the Northland that offer this from year to year. Applebee’s in Thunder Bay, the American Legion at Birch Terrace in Grand Marais, Zup’s in Ely and Texas Roadhouse in Duluth are all places that

Located in Duluth, Texas Roadhouse gives back to its community through fundraisers, giveaways and other local initiatives. | TEXAS ROADHOUSE have historically given back to the veterans in their communities on this day. In addition to Veterans Day, Texas Roadhouse in Duluth has made a point to give back and get involved in its community in a variety of ways through fundraising and community involvement.

Texas Roadhouse, Duluth

Duluth’s Texas Roadhouse inhabits the signature TXRH wood-paneled building perched atop a hill near Duluth’s Miller Hill Mall. Inside, you are greeted by the hosts and a peek at their hand-cut steaks chilling in the case. Each Texas Roadhouse employs its own meat cutter, so steaks are freshly cut by hand, and the meat is fresh and never frozen. (I did a quick investigation to learn why some restaurants boast this “fresh, never frozen” status, and it is because the slow freezing of meat forms ice crystals that can rupture cell walls. Once those cell walls are broken, the meat can lose moisture and become drier.) Everything from the bacon bits to the croutons and salad dressings is made from scratch at Texas Roadhouse. Their famous fresh-baked rolls are baked every five minutes, ensuring your table is met with warm, fresh bread every time. The accompanying whipped cinnamon honey butter is leg-

endary. While you’re downing the complimentary rolls, you might try their signature Cactus Blossom, a giant, breaded and golden-fried onion with Cajun dipping sauce. Texas Roadhouse is known for its handcut steaks and fall-off-the-bone ribs. They also serve Norwegian salmon, grilled to perfection and topped with a lemon pepper butter sauce, and their smothered chicken is a grilled, marinated chicken breast topped with sautéed onions, mushrooms and your choice of melted jack cheese or gravy. All their entrees are served with two sides, like their mashed potatoes with gravy, Caesar salad, mac and cheese, Texas red chili, applesauce or steamed vegetables. If that doesn’t fill you up or you have a little sweet tooth, they also have some pretty delicious cheesecake. Texas Roadhouse Duluth is committed to its community. I reached out to their local store marketer, Christy Standfield, for specifics on how Texas Roadhouse loves its community. She said, “At Texas Roadhouse, being part of our community means so much more than serving great food. It means showing up, giving back, supporting our local schools, celebrating our teachers, partnering with local businesses, supporting first responders, and creating fun events for families and kids. From community fund-

raisers to school visits and special events, we are proud to be part of what makes Duluth such a special place to call home. “We believe a strong community starts with people who care, and we are honored to serve, support, and grow alongside the people who make our community amazing. Thank you for welcoming us, supporting us, and allowing us to give back. We aren’t just a restaurant in Duluth—we’re part of the family.” They have recently raised money for ALS and the Special Olympics and offered free back-to-school meals to teachers in August. Texas Roadhouse offers gift card fundraisers for local nonprofits, as well as Dine to Donate nights, when a portion of sales is donated to a nonprofit. Giving back to their community is simply part of who they are. If you are a veteran, I hope you’ll stop in to Texas Roadhouse on November 11. While many stores offer a free meal that day, Texas Roadhouse hands out vouchers that are redeemable another day, so you can come back and enjoy your veterans’ meal when it is convenient for you. And if you’re not, when you dine at Texas Roadhouse, you can rest assured that you are supporting a business that is invested in its community and in making darn good food.

NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

Strategies for Hard Holidays By Hartley Newell-Acero

The holiday season has officially arrived, bringing all its joys and struggles. One of the best (or sometimes the worst) parts of the holidays is gathering with loved ones. If we’re lucky, these times together are full of love, laughter and connection. If we’re not so lucky, holiday gatherings can be difficult, leaving us enduring them out of obligation and hoping for as little conflict as possible. If this sounds familiar, perhaps the following suggestions from sociologist and life coach Dr. Martha Beck will help.

Strategy #1: Give Up Hope

Part of what can make time together difficult is desperately waiting for something to happen that isn’t going to, hoping something that’s almost certain to happen won’t, or wishing people would behave in ways they simply won’t. This year, how would it feel to go into a gathering acknowledging the reality of it? That doesn’t mean choosing or wanting the situation, but it does mean not pretending this is the year things will suddenly change. Letting go of futile hope can also help you put down the burden of trying to manage people and circumstances.

Strategy #2: Lose Control

Martha Beck reminds us that “Any attempt you make to control other people actually puts you under their control.” The only things we can truly control are our own thoughts and behaviors. Tying our happiness to someone else’s choices gives that person power over us that we can reclaim. It’s possible to let go of the need to supervise others’ behavior while holding firmly to your right to determine what’s best for you. This is done by setting (and holding) healthy boundaries.

Strategy #3: Set and Hold Healthy Boundaries

Before the gatherings take place, think about the people you’ll encounter and the circumstances you might face. Ask yourself: What’s the best possible outcome? What’s the worst? And, most importantly, what’s most likely to happen? Prepare for that probable outcome. In part, this means

deciding what you will and won’t do before you’re in that situation. Therapist Nedra Tawwab, author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace, reminds us that: • You can accept people as they are without tolerating unhealthy relationships. • You have a choice in how much and how long you interact with people. • You can decide which topics are off-limits. People don’t need—and aren’t entitled to—an all-access pass to the details of your life. • You can shut down comments about off-limit topics. • You don’t have to engage in heated dialogue, arguments or gossip.

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Tawwab says, “We can set boundaries in our conversations and respect when others set boundaries with us. This isn’t about withholding information—it’s about being intentional with what we’re willing to engage in.” Other boundaries to consider include whether you need to bring your own car so you can leave when you’ve decided it’s time, whether staying at a hotel would be more comfortable than staying at someone’s home and what gift-giving expectations work for you and your budget. Healthy boundaries can keep you from getting pulled into unnecessary conflict and help you become a participant observer.

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You’re there, so you’re a participant. But you can also step back from the drama by slipping into observer mode. Imagine you’re an anthropologist witnessing, but not engaging with, a fascinating group of people. One of Beck’s suggestions for detaching from group tension is to secretly play “Dysfunctional Family Bingo.” Before the holidays, each player creates a personalized bingo card with squares labeled with dysfunctional phrases or actions that commonly crop up at family gatherings. Whenever you see or hear one of them, simply take note and discreetly mark it off. The winner is crowned at a post-holiday get-together, where everyone can unwind and debrief.

Strategy #5: Debrief

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Strategy #4: Become a Participant Observer

When the holiday chaos has subsided, it can help to connect with someone you trust and discuss how things unfolded. Whether you talk to a relative, friend or therapist, taking time to intentionally “metabolize” events can help you spot patterns, understand family dynamics and plan for next time. It can also help you recognize, appreciate and build on moments of connection and caring. Not every holiday gathering will be joyful from start to finish. But with planning, strength and support, it’s possible to reduce the chaos and stress of the season.

Northern Trails

Stalking Deer: A Hunter’s Guide By Gord Ellis

While there are many ways to hunt whitetail deer, including hunting from a stand or blind, stalking is the most satisfying. This technique works best along cutover areas or in forested lots located between agricultural land. Stalking requires a hunter to move slowly and stealthily through the woods. In areas with large, complex cutovers or rolling hills, it is the best way to encounter deer. It is also a great way to find deer hidden back in areas few hunters dare to tread. Here are a few tips for stalking bucks.

The Basics

Unlike sitting in a blind or tree stand, stalking requires a hunter to move. This immediately puts you at a disadvantage in the deer world. Whitetail deer are in tune with where they live and what is happening around them. Every small sound and smell is carefully considered by a whitetail buck as a potential sign of danger. However, there are times when deer make mistakes. They can be fooled into feeling safe. This is what allows the stalking hunter to be successful. A hunter who stalks needs to wear quiet clothing. No nylon jackets or materials that make loud noises. Backpacks should also be made of a material that is soft and quiet. Pick footwear that has enough give in the sole to avoid snapping every branch you step on. Some keen hunters wear moccasin-style boots with soft soles when they stalk. However, walking over rocks and logs in soft-soled boots can beat up feet that are not prepared for it. My semi-flat feet cannot handle long distances in moccasin boots. Walk carefully and slowly, and mind your footfalls. An occasional crack is a natural occurrence in the woods. A lot of cracks and snaps will alert every ungulate within a mile of your whereabouts. Control your footfalls and pick your path carefully. The woods can be an unpredictable place, and finding a clear path forward is not always easy. Trips and falls are possible if you hurry and don’t watch where you are going. That is a subject for a whole other column. Being careful with wind direction is crucial when you are on a stalk. Human scent is the biggest warning sign of all to deer. A mature buck may not run off when it smells human scent, but you can be 100% sure it will become extra cautious. There are occasional times when a buck will seem unbothered by human scent. One of my biggest bucks came to a rattle and call right into my wind and only alerted me to its presence when I heard a small grunt. I turned around, and it was slinking off.

A hunter prepares to work their way into the woods. | GORD ELLIS I quickly raised the gun, found its shoulder and squeezed. I’d like to believe scentproof clothing and a cover-scent spray were the reasons that buck came my way. It is not a bad thing to minimize scent if you can. However, that kind of obliviousness in bucks is very much the exception. It is a rare day indeed when a buck won’t go crashing off through the bush, snorting loudly when it catches a hunter’s scent. Sometimes the buck will come back, and you should never assume the hunt is over. However, you will have your work cut out to turn things around.

The Stalk

When undertaking a stalk, slow your pace down to a crawl. My personal experience has been that hunters want to move quickly into the bush, then slow down once there. The reality is that bucks are often very close to the edge of cover and can be easily spooked by the overanxious hunter. Go slow to start and keep the pace relaxed. You should spend more time watching, glassing with binoculars and listening for sounds than walking. The stalk requires patience

Tom Armstrong with a deer he snuck up on in the snow. | GORD ELLIS NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

A buck track in the snow. | GORD ELLIS

and self-awareness, since most of us want to move around too fast. You can cover a surprising amount of ground even when moving slowly. Look carefully for signs of deer activity when you are stalking. Kicked-over leaves may be a clue that deer have been walking or running close by. A scrape on the ground is a great sign of buck activity and may be worth sitting near for a while. Watching a fresh scrape has accounted for some nice bucks over the years. There are no rules when you stalk deer. If you decide you want to sit on a stump for a bit, just do it. The more you become tuned in to the woods and its rhythms, the more effective a hunter you will be. Listen to the sounds in the woods, such as the sound of a squirrel running through dead leaves. It is distinctive. When you hear leaf litter moving in a different way, that could be a deer walking. If there is snow on the ground, you may be able to track a buck. Walk beside the buck’s tracks and be mindful of your path ahead. Staring at the tracks as you walk may cost you a buck that is straight ahead, looking at you. Keep

Gord Ellis on the hunt for a deer. | KAIJA KOLEHMAINEN in mind that bucks expect danger from behind them and will be extra cautious if they sense they are being tracked. With that in mind, hunters should watch their backs, as mature bucks have been known to sneak up behind them. Deer, for all their ingrained instincts, are sometimes overwhelmed by sheer curiosity. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve kicked up a buck, only to have it return and quietly approach my position. This is why I always stop and wait for as long as I can if I’ve spooked a buck. Bucks don’t always come back, but when they do, it is very satisfying. Try a deer stalk this fall and expect the unexpected.

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Sneaking up on bucks is a satisfying way to hunt. | GORD ELLIS

TWO LUCKY entrants will each receive admission for 4 people to the Arrowhead Ice Fishing and Winter Show at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center!

Giveaway Runs Oct. 26-Nov. 15

NORTHERN SKY NOVEMBER 2026 By Deane Morrison, MN STARWATCH

Venus slips into the morning sky in the first week of November. Look near the east-southeastern horizon for the brilliant planet just before the sky starts to lighten. Try to get out on the 7th, when a scrawny old crescent moon appears to Venus’s lower right. Next to Venus you’ll see Spica, the only bright star in the constellation Virgo, the maiden. Both Venus and Spica climb during the month, but start to go their separate ways by month’s end. Also in the predawn sky, Mars and Jupiter stage a spectacular flyby high in the south. Jupiter shines near the bright star Regulus, the “point” in the backward question mark of stars outlining the head of Leo, the lion. Reddish Mars approaches Jupiter from the upper right and comes within 1.2 degrees of the giant planet the morning of the 16th. Mars keeps going, and forms a line with Regulus and a waning moon on the 30th.

In the evening sky, Saturn shines as the lone bright object in the east to southeast at nightfall. Most of the fall constellations are dim, but notice the bright star very low in the southeast to south. This is Fomalhaut, a young star surrounded by an extensive ring of dust and debris and only 25 lightyears from Earth. If the sky is good and dark, look above Saturn for the Great Square of Pegasus, which marks the torso of the winged horse of Greek and Roman mythology. Then look to the upper right of Saturn and below the Great Square for the Circlet of Pisces, a faint ring of six or seven stars, depending on how many you can see. November’s full moon arrives on the 24th. Catch it hanging low in the west around sunrise, or watch it rise in the east, opposite the setting sun, that afternoon.

The University of Minnesota offers public viewings of the night sky at its Duluth and Twin Cities campuses. For more information on Duluth, visit: d.umn.edu/planet.

LAX LAKE BY JOE SHEAD WHY GO: Lax Lake is a good all-around fishing lake located just a short drive from Silver Bay and Finland. It has a variety of fish species but, notably, is one of the few lakes in the area that has a good population of largemouth bass. ACCESS: From Silver Bay, head west out of town on Penn Boulevard/Forest Highway 11. After proceeding about 3.8 miles, turn left off Forest Highway 11 onto Lax Lake Road. Travel about 3 miles along the north shore of the lake, and you’ll reach the boat landing. Lax has a nice concrete boat ramp with parking for 10 trailers. There’s also a restroom, a picnic area and an accessible fishing pier on-site. VITALS: Lax Lake is 295 acres, with a maximum depth of 35 feet. Average water clarity is 9 feet. The lake is developed on the north side along Lax Lake Road. The south shore is completely undeveloped, and the eastern and much of the southern shore border Tettegouche State Park. GAME SPECIES PRESENT: Walleye, largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, northern pike and yellow perch.

WALLEYE: Walleyes are the primary management species in Lax Lake, and they are the only fish species being stocked. Thus, the population is well-maintained, and you’ll find walleyes in a variety of sizes, from eaters up to quality fish topping 25 inches. There are plenty of other lakes in the area that have higher walleye populations, but Lax has a nice, stable walleye fishery. LARGEMOUTH BASS: There aren’t many largemouth bass lakes in the area, but you’ll find bass in good numbers here, at home in Lax’s weeds. Bass up to 19 inches routinely show up in surveys, and on any given day, you have a good shot at some quality bass measuring 15 inches or more. You’ll find both quality and quantity in Lax, making it a solid bass destination.

BLUEGILL: Bass and bluegills go hand in hand, or rather, fin and fin. You’ll find a really solid bluegill population in Lax, with fish sometimes topping 9 inches and good opportunities for keeper-si z ed ‘gills

in the 7- to 8-inch range. The only downside of the fishery is that many fish are infected with neascus. This parasite appears as tiny black spots all over the fish, but if cooked thoroughly, infected bluegills are safe to eat.

BLACK CRAPPIE: Lax Lake has a fair crappie population. Fish tend to be slow-growing, and your keepers will be in the 9- to 10-inch range. Don’t expect any footlong slabs. But if you put in your time, you can take home some crappies. NORTHERN PIKE: Lax’s weeds support more than bass and bluegills. You’ll find a good northern pike population here as well. Steady natural reproduction produces a wide distribution of pike. In addition to the standard hammer-handles, you may luck into a quality pike measuring 35 inches or more. YELLOW PERCH: Of all the fish species mentioned here, yellow perch have perhaps the most modest fishery. Perch numbers are on the low side, and sizes are generally small, although you might find a few keepers.

View all our Fishing Hole Maps at: northernwilds.com/fishingholemaps

NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

Gidaanikeshkaagonaanig Gidaanikoobijiganinaan Following the Ancestor’s Steps

Makwa Gaagaagi Anamikodaadiwag Bear and Raven, They Greet Each Other By Zhaawanoogiizhik / Sam Zimmerman I had friends reach out to me this past niibin (summer) to ask if I would be interested in completing a new painting for them celebrating their move to Nagaajiwanaang (Fond du Lac Reservation). It has been some time since I have had time to sit down and complete a commission piece. They shared that they often have makwag (bears) and gaagaagiwag (ravens) visit their new home. They asked if I could include Orion’s Belt in the piece. Orion’s Belt is part of the Biboonkeonini (Wintermaker) constellation. This piece celebrates two relatives, the makwa (bear) and gaagaagi (raven), that visit their home at sunset near the Gitchigami-Ziibing (St. Louis River).

Follow my studio on Facebook and Instagram @CraneSuperior or if you have ideas for a North Shore painting, you can email me at: cranesuperiorstudio@gmail.com.

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NOVEMBER 2026

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Our dog truck and our friends Anna and Emily's trailer on the way home from Juneau this fall. | ERIN ALTEMUS

The inside of the Dodge Sprinter. | ERIN ALTEMUS

SAWTOOTH RACING DOG BLOG

Trailer Trauma:

Finding the Perfect Dog Hauler BY ERIN ALTEMUS Our first six sled dogs came home in the back of a Chevy S-10 with a topper, all loose in the back together. Not long after, we bought a dog box for the S-10 that gave each dog its own space to ride. We could carry eight dogs. It wasn’t long before we had more than eight dogs and needed more room. We bought a Dodge Sprinter van, one of those high-top cube vans. We built dog boxes inside and had a sleeping space above the boxes. The boxes inside the van were open, just a piece of 2-by-4 instead of a door. It was great for our ability to socialize with the dogs, but once, while we were staying at a motel for a race, we left the back door of the van cracked for ventilation. In the morning, I discovered two of the dogs had escaped, and we spent the day tracking down leads in Ely until we were able to catch them. The Sprinter had its issues. It was a diesel, for one, and when we moved to our wilderness cabin off the Gunflint Trail in 2013, we had to park several miles away from our home on an unplowed road. In the deep winter, the diesel would often gel, and we had no way to plug in the van or warm it up. That vehicle was traded out for a small pull-behind trailer with some dog boxes on the inside and a Tundra to pull it. Eventually, that trailer became too small and too rusty for our needs. We sold it and bought a larger truck with a 16-dog box on the back. In 2023-24, when I first raced the Iditarod, we needed yet another trailer and bought an even larger enclosed trailer that broke on the way through British Columbia after a double tire blowout and subsequent axle damage. It was fixed for six grand.

The inside of Anna and Emily's new trailer that we towed to Juneau this past summer. The metal on these dog doors didn't hold up to some ambitious huskies. | ERIN ALTEMUS There was much to love about the trailer: We had a little living/sleeping space up front and space for dogs in the back. But then, last winter, not long before Beargrease, we found the axle had broken enough to render it unusable, and we made do without a trailer for the winter. We still have our 16-dog truck box. When we went to Maine last year, we managed to

fit 22 dogs in the truck. Four of the boxes are large enough for the dogs to double up, and two rode in the truck cab with Matt and me. But “dropping” dogs, as we call it, from the top row of the truck box repeatedly is getting to be too much for my body. Usually, the dogs come out of the boxes fine; gravity gets them to the ground, with me controlling their fall so they don’t get hurt. But lifting them up to the box can be arduous, especially for a short gal like myself. If the dog reaches out and pulls itself up, great. But sometimes they actually put their paws out and push away from the box, making it impossible to box them. Other dogs launch themselves from the top boxes, seemingly oblivious to how far they are from the ground, and we catch them midair so they don’t break any bones upon landing. I have, on occasion, gone to the ground with the dog in my lap. After lifting some big boys to the top row over and over for a week, I demanded we get another trailer. This fall, we scoured the classifieds, looking for the perfect fit. We have tried to learn from our mistakes. The trailer needed to be aluminum (tired of rust), fairly new (no more broken axles, please), between 16 and 20 feet long, of a reputable brand and at a price that we could maybe afford. We found a Legend all-aluminum trailer, just a few years old, for a good deal. We began designing the inside immediately. I have seen, on multiple occasions, dogs chew through their doors. On one occasion, at a race in Maine, my friend Elissa and I were caring for a friend’s truck while she raced, and her newly acquired dog destroyed the dog box he was in and escaped.

It took us hours to catch him. On another trip, as we crossed the border from Canada into the U.S., border patrol asked to look inside our dog trailer. We opened the trailer to find two dogs loose within, wagging their tails with pride, as if to say, “Look, Mom, we escaped!” One of these dogs later on the trip back home managed to pull a down sleeping bag from a shelf and promptly dispose of it, letting the feathers fly everywhere. The dogs came out looking as if they’d just gone to war with a flock of geese. Hence, the doors need to be mostly metal and of a type to deter an ambitious husky with a plan. These days, we are using our trailer for both winter and summer travel. There needs to be adequate ventilation for traveling with dogs on warmer days when we go back and forth to Juneau in the spring and fall. We don’t want to go the open-box route like we had in the past. Because this new trailer comes with a “bat-wing” side door, we will be able to load from the inside or the outside. We will sleep above the dog boxes. There is no perfect system, and the various designs that mushers have come up with are numerous. Ours is still in progress, but we are hoping this one might, at least, last a while. Thus far this fall, temps have been cool enough for us to run the dogs most days. More news about the coming “super El Niño” keeps us looking at our options for winter races cautiously. But after a super morning run recently on one of the last days of fall color, the dogs look great and spirits are high. Ahead!

NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

IT’S EASY TO BE INSPIRED HERE

The Prohibited A Novel By Matt Goldman University of Minnesota Press, 2026, $28.95 Set in 1920s St. Paul, The Prohibited follows the Kaner family as they navigate life after Prohibition shuts down their liquor store. With family secrets, mob entanglements and shifting loyalties, the story brings together a colorful cast of characters trying to find their way through a changing world. Blending historical detail with humor and heart, this engaging novel explores family, ambition and the unintended consequences of banning alcohol. Fans of historical fiction and family dramas will enjoy this book.—Breana Johnson

Arctic Circle Dreams My Time Flying in Alaska By John T. McMillion Lulu.com, 2026, $20 In Arctic Circle Dreams, John T. McMillion recounts his journey from working for Bruce Kerfoot at Gunflint Lodge on the Gunflint Trail to pursuing his dream of becoming an Alaskan bush pilot. Arriving in Alaska in 1979 with no money or plans, he discovers his purpose in the remote wilderness. Filled with personal stories, color photographs and maps, this engaging memoir captures the adventure of following a dream and finding a place to call home. It’s a great read for aviation and wilderness enthusiasts.—Breana Johnson

Curious & Fascinating Facts Minnesota By Brett Ortler Adventure Publications, 2026, $14.95 Think you know Minnesota? This book might surprise you! Filled with fun facts, entertaining short stories and color photographs, Curious & Fascinating Facts: Minnesota explores everything from Lake Superior shipwrecks and quirky Minnesota traditions to crime, wildlife, sports, geology and the state’s 10,000 lakes. Along the way, readers will discover unusual bits of history, strange local legends and little-known details about the North Star State. Whether enjoyed on a road trip or picked up for a quick dose of trivia, this book offers plenty of unexpected discoveries.—Breana Johnson

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NOVEMBER 2026

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Strange Tales Travel Mishaps & the Kindness of Strangers By Elle AndraWarner

Travelling to new places can be both an exciting and stressful adventure, especially when it comes to getting around. It can also reaffirm that there are good, caring people in the world who will step up when unexpected travel foibles could create major disruptions, even danger. Like years ago, when I visited Paris, France, for the first time. Worldwide media were cautioning tourists to be extra careful of pickpockets and thieves in major European cities. My eldest daughter (then a teenager) and her friend were accompanying me on this trip, and before leaving, we had talked about how to keep our packsacks, money and passports safe. We were prepared, or so we thought. A taxi took us from Charles de Gualle Airport to the small, 34-room Hotel Haussmann in the middle of Paris, booked by our travel agent. The hotel was close to the shopping and restaurants on Boulevard Haussmann and the large public square, Place de la Concorde, dating back to 1722. It was also within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the famous Palais Garnier (Opéra Bastille).

We were prepared, or so we thought. After checking in at the hotel, we rode the tiny elevator to our room and were getting settled in when my daughter announced she had lost her $250 spending cash sometime after leaving the airport. The money was gone, and there was nothing we could do about it. Shocked but hungry, we went for something to eat. When we got back, the hotel clerk called me over and said, “While you were away, your taxi driver came here looking for you to return $250 cash he found in his taxi. But he would not give it to me; he wanted to give it to you in person. He said he’d come back later.” Long story short, the taxi driver did come back, handed over the $250 and, with a big smile, wished us well, refusing to accept any reward for its return. It’s one of my standout travel memories about the good, honest people in the world. About a week later on the same trip, we arrived in London, England, and were booked into a downtown hotel. With confirmation in hand, we tried to check in, but the hotel clerk refused to honor the booking, saying that the booked room was way too small for the three of us and no bigger rooms were available because the hotel was

Our hotel in Paris was within walking distance of the world-famous Notre-Dame Cathedral. | ALI SABBAGH: WIKIMEDIA booked solid. So, here we were in the evening after a long day, tired and with luggage, in the middle of London with no accommodations. Again, good people come through. The hotel clerk took the time to phone around to find us nearby, last-minute accommodations, which, thankfully, she succeeded in finding after a half-hour search. For those learning French in French immersion classes in Canada, it’s been a longtime debate as to whether that French is as good as the “real” French in France. Well, yes. Our youngest daughter, Cindi, was a French immersion student when we toured Europe in the late 1990s. After visiting Disneyland Paris for a few days, we headed to the Gare de Lyon train station to take the train from Paris to Barcelona, where our middle daughter was competing for Canada as a swimmer in the Paralympics. The ticket agent I was dealing with became exasperated with me because I didn’t speak French and said in a loud, grumpy voice, “No speak English, no speak English,” and waved me away. That’s when I brought my daughter Cindi (12 at the time) over to speak French to the guy. And wow, what a difference in his attitude. For the next couple of minutes, she and the agent were talking, smiling and laughing. We got the train tickets, and then came a surprise. The ticket agent specifically asked Cindi to thank us as parents for having a daughter who, besides English, spoke excellent French. Big smiles all the way around.

The 1,083-foot (330-meter) Eiffel Tower in Paris was built for the 1889 World's Fair and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. | PUBLIC DOMAIN

One of the biggest travel bloopers took place on another trip to Europe. We were flying back to Canada from London, England, on Air Canada. I thought we were

flying out of Gatwick International Airport and got there about an hour and a half before flight time. I looked for Air Canada’s departure check-in and couldn’t find it. I asked another airline where Air Canada was and then went into a quiet panic when told I was at the wrong airport. Air Canada flew out of Heathrow Airport, which was about 38 miles away, and they doubted we’d get there in time for our flight. That’s when a lady loudly shouted from the airport crowd, “I can get them there on time!” And amazingly, she did. We squeezed into her small car and set off on a high-speed drive to Heathrow. Thanks to the British lady stranger, we arrived at Heathrow within an hour, ran into the airport and—although our plane had already boarded—Air Canada kindly held the plane for us as we made a super-fast marathon dash through the airport to the departure gate. Sometimes, when it feels like the world is somewhat chaotic, it brings a smile to remember the good people in the world who have suddenly, briefly appeared in our lives when we most needed them.

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NOVEMBER 2026

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MLS 6125851 • $1,189,000

MLS 6127809 • $834,900

MLS 6127990 • $939,900

CONDOS

pending

reduced

new 425 s shore dr

38 Christine Pt Rd

10 Gust Lake

Quality Devil Track Lake home with spectacular views on nearly 2 acres with 200’ of accessible shoreline and a unique boat slip with an island and Heated two-stall garage.

Cozy Christine Lake cabin on 2.1 acres with 319 ft shoreline, deck, loft, dock, boat lift, sauna, outhouse, storage shed, future build site, great fishing, and privacy.

Cozy one bedroom cabin with spacious screened porch perched steps from beautiful Gust Lake. Tucked just off The Grade with convenient YR access.

MLS 6128458 • $669,900

MLS 6125800 • $299,900

MLS 6127240 • $299,900

greenwood lk

Tom Lake

Private 1.53-acres with 240’ of shoreline, existing driveway, cleared building site and flagged boundaries.

Serene Tom Lake lot with over 150’ of easily accessible shoreline, year-round access and completed driveway.

mls 6127057 • $245,000

MLS 6123264 • $159,900

pending

NEW 526 Moose Mountain Drive Enjoy year-round Lutsen living in this updated 3-bedroom, 2-bath Moose Mountain townhome featuring ski-in/ski-out access, mountain views, cozy fireplace, and spacious loft. MLS 6128089 • $429,000

BLUEFIN BAY - UNIT 31 devil track lake

Deeryard Lake

poplar lake

Create your dream lakefront getaway on Devil Track Lake, featuring 128 feet of shoreline and privacy.

Peaceful 1.25-acre private property with 200’ of shoreline, abundant recreation, utilities available, and easy access.

Rare 188-foot Poplar Lake frontage on 1.43 private acres near BWCAW, trails and resorts.

MLS 6128306 • $389,900

MLS 6125798 • $159,900

MLS 6125140 • $249,900

Embrace North Shore living with this lakeside retreat where Lake Superior views, lakeside relaxation, resort amenities, and strong rental income create an appealing opportunity. MLS 6128236 • $425,000

w w w. c b n o rt h s h o r e . c o m ©2022 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

NOVEMBER 2026

NORTHERN WILDS

218-387-2131 800-732-2131 101 West highway 61 grand marais, mn 55604

HOMES & CABINS

reduced

pending

NEW 40 Maple Hill Drive

NEW 3131 E HWY 61

535 Humphrey Circle

5273 Hwy 61 W

3BR/2BA peaceful country home with apartment on five wooded acres near Grand Marais, with mature maples, a pond, attached and detached garages.

Cozy, affordable year-round 1BR/1BA cabin with Lake Superior public access directly across Highway 61 and downtown Grand Marais 10 minutes away.

Inviting Grand Marais 3BR/ 2BA home with fenced yard, detached garage, spacious deck, open living, and fantastic entertaining space.

Charming 3BR/2BA home nestled in the heart of Lutsen. Recent renovations showcase quality craftmanship Includes 2.3-acres and an insulated and heated garage.

MLS 6128437 • $594,000

MLS 6128399 • $209,900

MLS 6127944 • $529,900

mls 6126970 • $440,000

1521 E Hwy 61

871 Gunflint trl

1804/1810 E Hwy 61

361 Moose Valley Rd

Beautiful 3BR/3BA home on 8 acres just a minute from town while offering exceptional privacy! Paved driveway and a 3-car heated garage.

Peaceful North Shore living on nearly 10 acres with Lake Superior views, gardens, adjacent public land, and quick access to Grand Marais.

Exceptional Lake Superior investment near Grand Marais, featuring 1+ acres, three versatile living spaces, breathtaking views, and rental potential.

9-acre off-grid retreat bordering federal forest with cabin, solar and generator power, screened porch, decks, balcony, sleeps four, fire ring, lakes, and trails.

MLS 6126834 • $649,900

MLS 6126198 • $415,000

mls 6124556 • $834,500

MLS 6125724 • $139,900

LAND 112X Co Rd 60

XXX Springdale rd

new xx w 5th street

Beautiful 80 acre wooded parcel adjoining federal land on County Road 60 to build your home or cabin.

Stunning 80-acre retreat with Lake Superior views, maple forest, wildlife trails and exceptional privacy.

Discover a rare 2.28-acre in-town Grand Marais property, blending privacy with convenience.

MLS 6127781 • $299,900

MLS 6124939 • $279,900

MLS 6128303 • $97,500

Gauthier Rd

7xx County Road 6

78 Troll’s Trail

Rare opportunity of a large tract of 40 acres directly abutting Judge C.R. Magney State Park.

107 acres near Grand Marais with creek frontage, federal land access, and endless potential for building.

Build your North Shore retreat with 300+ feet shared Lake Superior shoreline and 7+ acres shared land.

Discover 6.34 private wooded acres near Grand Marais, featuring attractive building sites, nearby recreation, and convenient access to power and broadband.

MLS 6127633 • $79,900

MLS 6122995 • $349,900

MLS 6124369 • $69,900

MLS 6128285 • $109,900

pen

g din

new XB Brandon Ln

NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

Red Pine Realty

Locally owned and operated since 1996 14 S. Broadway, Grand Marais, MN | 218-387-9599 | info@redpinerealty.com V I S I T O U R O F F I C E T O S P E A K W I T H A R E A LT O R . O F F I C E H O U R S : M - F 9 A M - 5 P M , S AT 1 0 A M - 4 P M

REALTORS®: Sue Nichols, Broker • Jake Patten, Assoc. Broker • Jess Smith • Melissa Gregg • Mike Raymond Rebecca McAllister • Casey O’Brien • Alice McFarlane, Office Administrator

FEATURED LISTING

NEW! FIVE BEDROOM HOME

NEW! PARCEL WITH ACCES S TO WILSON LAKE

This ranch-style home offers affordable acreage and functional living just off County Road 7 near Grand Marais. Situated on 2 acres, this 5-bedroom, 2-bathroom property features a single-level layout and a covered deck perfect for enjoying the peaceful surroundings. Property is equipped for outdoor storage with a wood shed, storage shed, and a shipping container.

Elevated 16 acre parcel in the Solitude on Wilson Lake association. Private, plowed road and an improved driveway allows easy access to the build site, with electric service onsite. Newly cleared areas open views toward Wilson Lake. Shared access to Wilson Lake available. A 10-by-14-foot shed provides storage. Back acreage borders public land.

MLS#6128387 $299,000

MLS#6128099 $125,000

FEATURED LISTING

NEW! 43 ACRE HOVLAND PARCEL

NEW! POWERS LAKE RD PARCEL

Discover the possibilities on this 43-acre parcel. Enjoy year-round access. Power is available at the road, and the property adjoins state land, providing an added sense of privacy and access to even more natural surroundings. The location also offers convenient access to area lakes and trails. Seasonal spring runoff often creates a small stream.

Nearly 40 acres of wooded land in Hovland, offering privacy, seclusion, and convenient year-round access to recreation. Utilities are available at the road. Enjoy easy access to area lakes, trails, and abundant outdoor recreation, all while having a place of your own.

MLS#6128423 $83,000

MLS#6127989 $68,000

Search All Listings On Our Website! - www.RedPineRealty.com 42

NOVEMBER 2026

NORTHERN WILDS

V I S I T O U R O F F I C E T O S P E A K W I T H A R E A LT O R . B U S I N E S S H O U R S : M - F 9 A M - 5 P M , S AT 1 0 A M - 4 P M

FEATURED LISTING

SKI HILL ROAD PARCEL

ACREAGE READY TO BUILD

Discover 30 acres on Ski Hill Road, zoned Resort Commercial/Residential. A mix of cedar, birch, and pine creates an inviting Northwoods setting for cabins, vacation rentals, residential or commercial development, or a private retreat. Bring your vision to this versatile property.

Beautiful 2-acre parcel with 700ft of Flute River frontage, mature trees, a prepared building site, established driveway, power, broadband, and 2 storage containers. Scenic trails reveal stunning river and hilltop views, creating an exceptional setting for your future home, cabin, or year-round recreational retreat.

MLS#6125909 $295,000

MLS#6123454 $260,000

HOMES AND CABINS

BIRCH DRIVE HOME Large five bedroom, two bath home on a county maintained road close to town, yet surrounded by forest. Two car garage, timber frame barn and sauna on 10 acres. Enjoy cooking in the big kitchen and hanging out in the big living-dining room space.

NORTHWOODS RETREAT HOME Escape to your own Northwoods retreat! This well thought out 3 bedroom, 3 bath, custom built home sits on 10 acres. Property features A/C, dual fuel heat system, attached heated garage, detached heated garage, and an apartment.

MLS#6128073 $625,000

MLS#6125472 $659,000

HOVLAND CABIN Turn-key and off-grid, this comfortable retreat is ready for your next adventure. Designed for convenience, it’s an ideal base camp for hunting, snowmobiling, ATV riding, hiking, or simply escaping to the outdoors. Perfect for families, friends, or larger groups seeking year-round recreations. Motivated sellers invite you to make it yours. MLS#6126016

SINGLE-LEVEL LIVING Stop paying your landlord's mortgage and step into this movein-ready 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom ranch- style home that is cheaper than paying rent. There's new flooring throughout the living room, dining room, and bedrooms and the exterior is freshly painted. Enjoy effortless single-level living paired with views of Lake Superior right from your property. MLS#6127736 $300,000

FINLAND ACRES & CABIN 6.74 acres just a couple miles from Hwy 61, an opportunity to create your own retreat. Property features a partially completed 13' x 12' cabin and a shed, giving you a head start to finish the space and expand over time. Power and a drilled well are in place. A driveway is established with private gated entry. Property sits off a maintained road for year-round use.

$199,000

MID-CENTURY RANCH IN THE HEART OF GRAND MARAIS This well-built and well-cared-for home is move-in ready. It features four bedrooms and two baths. It has many updates but still holds its original charm, including wood floors and maple cabinets in the kitchen. Within walking distance to restaurants, shops and the shores of Lake Superior. MLS#6127985 $399,000

MLS# 6127806 $149,900

www.RedPineRealty.com • info@RedPineRealty.com NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

V I S I T O U R O F F I C E T O S P E A K W I T H A R E A LT O R . B U S I N E S S H O U R S : M - F 9 A M - 5 P M , S AT 1 0 A M - 4 P M

HOMES AND CABINS

CUSTOM LOG HOME ON 5 ACRES This 4-bedroom, 3-bath custom log home offers a blend of rustic craftsmanship and modern finishes across 5 beautiful acres. The home features vaulted ceilings flooded with natural light, a wood burning stove and the recently finished basement significantly expands the living space. A must-see home.

COZY LOG CABIN ON 83 ACRES Well-loved kit log cabin on 83 secluded acres bordering Minnesota State land. Catch glimpses of Lake Superior, hunt grouse, and unwind beside the fire in this cozy off-grid retreat. Diamond willow railings, custom ironwork, and propane amenities create a comfortable, one-of-akind Northwoods getaway surrounded by nature.

MLS#6127986

MLS#6125451 $249,000

$825,000

I N L A N D W AT E R P R O P E R T I E S

GUNFLINT LAKE CABIN Custom-built 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom cabin on Gunflint Lake carries a long history. Part of the original 1920s cabin still exists in the bedroom walls, and the antique fireplace remains. Updated kitchen has granite counters. More than 300ft of shoreline provides easy access to the lake. Direct access to the BWCAW through Magnetic and North Lake. MLS#6126835

DEVIL TRACK LAKE RETREAT Northwoods retreat on 4.99 acres with 150’ of Devil Track Lake shoreline. The 1-bedroom cabin has electric, internet, openconcept floor plan, a screened-in porch, and a wood burning stove. Drilled well with electric pump, plumbing stubbed in and ready for hook up. Composting toilet in the bathroom. Easy access to State snowmobile trails and hunter walking trails.

TOM LAKE CABIN About as close as you can get to the lake without getting your feet wet! Cabin has been completely rebuilt in the last few years including a new family room addition. Other major improvements include rebuilding the foundation, adding a lake draw water system, new septic service, new roof, kitchen, windows and flooring throughout the home. Enjoy year-round relaxation and views from the 4-season porch.

$650,000

MLS#6125530 $349,900

MLS#6127098 $475,000

POPLAR LAKE HOME More than 300 feet of Poplar Lake shoreline, an additional lot, and single-family ownership make this a rare Gunflint Trail property. The 4-bedroom, 2-bath home offers 1,610 square feet, lake views, a fireplace, and a spacious patio. The extra lot may provide a future garage or building opportunity, while Voyageurs Point puts fishing, paddling, hiking, and local favorites nearby. MLS#6127983 $788,000

SEAGULL RIVER HOME AND SHOP Luxurious home on the Seagull River with a classic Northwoods guest cabin, riverside bunkhouse plus a massive workshop. A home designed for cooking, entertaining, welcoming guests, creating and restoration. Main floor living space features 10 foot ceilings with windows that welcome in a mile wide view between Gull Lake and the Seagull River. Attached heated garage, in floor heat, fiber optic broadband.

LAKE SAGANAGA – RARE OPPORTUNITY Property sits high on a prominent point looking up the entire length of Sag Narrows. A new unfinished home ready for interior finishes. The 2 bedroom, 2 bath home has lots of windows, a huge wrap-around deck and a fireplace. Original 1-bdr, 1 bath guest cottage, with screen porch and extra space in a lower level walk-out. New 2-car heated garage with workshop space. Floating dock system. New septic system and all mechanical systems are in place.

MLS#6127278 $1,349,900

MLS#6126983 $1,499,000

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NOVEMBER 2026

NORTHERN WILDS

DEVIL TRACK LAKE CABIN Devil Track Lake retreat on 4.7 acres surrounded by USFS and MN DNR land for privacy. Thoughtfully designed cabin features vaulted pine ceilings, warm wood finishes, open-concept living spaces, wood stove, 2 bedrooms plus loft bedroom, and expansive lake-facing windows. Screened porch overlooking the lake, perfect for morning coffee and relaxing bug-free nights. MLS#6125101

$499,000

V I S I T O U R O F F I C E T O S P E A K W I T H A R E A LT O R . B U S I N E S S H O U R S : M - F 9 A M - 5 P M , S AT 1 0 A M - 4 P M

LAKE SUPERIOR PROPERTIES

FEATURED LISTING

LAKE SUPERIOR SERENITY HOME Experience North Shore living with this spectacular 3 bedroom, 4 bath home. Tucked away on 13.59 acres, this property offers breathtaking views and 400ft of Lake Superior frontage. Main home is designed for comfort with a stone fireplace, open concept floorplan bathed in natural light, and perfect for entertaining. Fully equipped apt above detached garage.

LAKE SUPERIOR RETREAT Nestled in a cove, 8.41 acres with 497ft of Lake Superior shoreline. Open-concept main living area features vaulted ceilings and a spacious living room. Kitchen includes Alder cabinetry, a breakfast bar, built-in ovens, and barnwood. Expansive windows showcase lake views. Main-level primary suite has a deck and private ensuite.

MLS#6125026 $2,300,000

MLS#6127399 $1,749,000

LAND/BUILDING SITES MLS#

ADDRESS

CITY

6123050 6125127 6126758 6126230 6126931 6126688 6126546 6126253 6126716 6127282 6126538 6126472 6124300 6126574 6127817

LOT 3 BLOCK 6 PINE PEAK RD LUTSEN 7AA COUNTY RD 6 GRAND MARAIS LOT 2 BLOCK 6 PINE PEAK RD LUTSEN XXX CASCADE BLUFFS GRAND MARAIS 4X HOAGLUND DR TOFTE TBD ONAGON LAKE RD GRAND MARAIS 9326 MAPLE RIDGE RD LOT 5 FINLAND 27 WILDERNESS TR HOVLAND 760 CASPER S HILL RD GRAND MARAIS 12010 GUNFLINT TR GRAND MARAIS 9326 MAPLE RIDGE RD LOTS 3 & 4 FINLAND 2XX S GUNFLINT LAKE GRAND MARAIS 728 CASPER S HILL ROAD GRAND MARAIS 120 BRULE VALLEY TR HOVLAND XX BALLY CREEK RD GRAND MARAIS

PRICE

ACRES

DESCRIPTION

$52,000 $65,000 $48,000 $199,000 $75,000 $150,000 $99,000 $109,900 $300,000 $447,000 $225,000 $690,000 $95,000 $95,000 $289,900

2.37 19.87 2.15 40.00 2.26 3.40 3.70 1.10 117.73 46.22 11.50 14.69 19.62 22.50 19.33

DEEDED ACCESS TO TAIT LAKE MONKER CREEK THROUGH PROPERTY DEEDED ACCESS TO TAIT LAKE CASCADE RIVER RUNS THROUGH PROPERTY BUILDABLE LOT ONAGON LAKE LOT HARE LAKE LOT TOM LAKE LOT RUSTIC CABIN COMMERCIALLY ZONED HARE LAKE LOT GUNFLINT LAKE LOT RUSTIC CABIN WITH ACREAGE CAMPING CABIN BUILDABLE LOT

R E C E N T LY S O L D ADDRESS

CITY

SOLD PRICE

PROPERTY TYPE

ACRES

DESCRIPTION

820 W 5TH AVE 192 W DEERYARD LAKE RD XX BLACK GRANITE TR LOT 7 SNOWSHOE TR 502 E 2ND AVE

GRAND MARAIS LUTSEN HOVLAND TOFTE GRAND MARAIS

$155,000 $349,000 $160,000 $39,000 $475,000

BUILDABLE LOT INLAND LAKE HOME LOT LOT HOME

.24 2.11 80.00 .90 .51

LAKE SUPERIOR VIEW DEERYARD LAKE HOME BUILDABLE LOT BUILDABLE LOT HOME WITH BIG YARD

2457 E HWY 61

GRAND MARAIS

$637,500

HOME

17.16

LAKE SUPERIOR VIEW

Red Pine Realty is proud to collaborate with the North Shore Artists League to bring professional regional work into the heart of Grand Marais. Throughout the year, on a rotating basis, the work of a local artist will be on display in our offices. The display is meant to be self guided. Visit us Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM to view the artwork and enjoy a tea, coffee or water. This month’s featured artist is Melissa Lord Illsley.

www.RedPineRealty.com • info@RedPineRealty.com NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

P.O. Box 397 Grand Marais, MN 55604 1008 2nd St. N. Stillwater, MN 55082

LINDA GARRITY Broker & Owner

5740 Illgen Bluff Rd., Silver Bay $990,000

5752 Illgen Bluff Rd., Silver Bay $650,000

songbirdrealtymn@gmail.com songbirdrealtymn.com 218-370-8313

9501 Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais $399,500 TIN CON

Breathtaking 180° views of Lake Superior and the Sawtooth Mountains! Incredible & amazing old-growth pines surround the property. Handcrafted by Lake Country Log of Sicamous, BC, this awe-inspiring home offers views of the Apostle Islands from the copper claw-foot tub! A Tulikivi soapstone fireplace from Finland keeps things warm and cozy. Enjoy the huge screen porch and decks, too!

Perched up high on a dramatic rhyolite bluff, you’ll be wowed by the spectacular 180° views of Lake Superior and Palisade Head. Built by the owner at the Great Lakes School of Log Building & the dovetail sauna was handcrafted by the owner at North House Folk School. Large screened porch and decks, woodstove, in-floor heat and a turn-key set-up ready for personal or rental use.

MLS 6128060

MLS 6128046

1339 Tom Lake Rd., Hovland $750,000 T GE N N I T CON

MLS 6125998 NOVEMBER 2026

Impeccable log home tucked into a forest that only the North Shore of MN can provide. One main floor bedroom, a 3/4 bath and a huge sleeping loft are complemented by a fantastic working kitchen and a warm & inviting living room/dining room, complete with a wood burning stove. The sun porch/entryway has all windows. Lower level offers room to create more finished living space. Explore the trail and enjoy the peace and solitude you’re seeking.

MLS 6128019

71 Benedict Lane, Lutsen $995,000

16 Osprey Trail, Lutsen $965,900

Beyond unique, completely incomparable, this one-of-a-kind log home was skillfully crafted using 200+ year old giant MN native white cedar logs. With 7.11 acres & over 500’ of shoreline, you’ll enjoy total privacy, a true woodland setting and a monumental waterfront experience on the shores of Pike Lake. Extraordinary features inside, too, as one would expect with a property this remarkable.

More than just a lake home in this park-like setting! Perch yourself up high, looking out over Tait Lake w/ views of Eagle Mountain & more. 5.02 acres, 455’ of shoreline, permanent dock, 3 bdrms., 3 ba., Sunroom/4-Season Porch, gorgeous wood burning fireplace, open layout, primary bdrm. w/ its own full bath. 1+ tuck-under finished garage w/ laundry. Updated mechanicals, appliances...the list goes on!

MLS 6126693

MLS 6127277

SALE

So much more than a Northwoods lake home! 12.27 wooded acres, 400’ of lakefront on quiet and secluded Tom Lake. 3 bedroom, 2-bath home + guest cabin. Large deck, plus a sitting room/sunroom. It’s got some of the best lake views on the property, too! You’ll certainly appreciate the 36x52 insulated, in-floor heated garage powered by a wood boiler. Additionally, the 40x48 pole barn that fits the pontoon, boats, kayaks/canoes, ATVs...you name it!

T SA GE N

NORTHERN WILDS

SOLD L U T S E N L I V I N G O N N E A R LY 5 P R I VAT E A C R E S This beautiful Lutsen home is tucked on a private, nearly five-acre estate with seasonal Lake Superior views, while still being convenient to “all things Lutsen and Cook County.” Featuring four bedrooms, three baths, an attached two-car heated garage with a work area, it’s move-in ready!

21 Turnagain Tr, Lutsen, MN | MLS #6124727 4

3,436

$850,000

PENDING

..MLS 6126653 // $797,500

T H E U LT I M AT E L U T S E N R E T R E AT

38 Sawmill Ln, Lutsen, MN 55612 | MLS #6124910 4

2,380

$875,000

Lake Superior Waterfront

Fairway views on River 5 of Superior National Golf Course! This pristine 3-bed, 3-bath estate blends soaring vaulted ceilings, expansive decks, luxurious finishes, spacious suites, and effortless entertaining. Grand yet cozy, timeless yet modern—an exceptional North Shore retreat. MLS 6127672 // $1,475,000

41 W Rosebush Ln, Grand Marais, MN | MLS #6128202 4

3.5

3,254

MEET OUR AWESOME TEAM

$2,300,000

Jewel Location in Lutsen FOR SALE

5362 Hwy 61 W Lutsen, MN

Great For Short Term Rental

MOLLY O’NEILL | Agent

MIKE LARSON | Associate Broker

(218) 370-2079 molly@lutsenrealestategroup.com

(218) 370-1536 mike@staycvr.com

67 Snowshoe Trl, Tofte, MN

Inger Andress REALTOR 218-216-7141 IngerAndress@edinarealty.com edinarealty.com/inger-andress-realtor Edina Realty - Lutsen 5321 W. Highway 61 #6 Lutsen, MN 55612

SARENA CROWLEY Agent and Co-owner

CLAIR STODDARD Co-owner

STEVE SURBAUGH Broker and Co-owner

NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

The Gales of November are HERE!

Call TimberWolff for Your Personal Tour of Homes & Land!!! Local (218) 663-8777 Toll free (877) 664-8777

Time to watch the Big Lake put on a SHOW!

DREAMING OF LAKE SUPERIOR?

NEW! UNMATCHED LAKE SUPERIOR LIVING IN BEAVER BAY! This inviting North Shore retreat places you moments from scenic state parks and directly alongside the

Gitchi-Gami State Trail, with endless hiking, ATV, and snowmobile adventures close at hand. The thoughtfully designed home gives you everything you need plus an attached 2 car garage, and 169ft of Lake Superior Shoreline! Whether you’re searching for a year-round residence or a memorable vacation getaway, this special property offers the space, setting, and North Shore lifestyle to make it your own. MLS#6128332 $749,000

SUPERIOR GEM, 220F T OF SUPERIOR SHORELINE IN LUTSEN! 4 bedroom, 3 bath. 5+ acres, 220+ feet of frontage. Home is perched above Gitche Gummi just so: perfect views and wonderful path down to ledge-rock, beach and pure, cool water! Four car garage with additional workshop space and separate one car garage. Open air car-port/storage area, too! All sits well below the road for lovely solitude. Short term rental history. Close to Ski Hill, Golf Course, Winery, and Grand Marais just 20 minutes north. Thoughtfully landscaped and well loved. MLS#6127462

QUIRKY STYLE, FUN LOVING LAKE SUPERIOR HOME! Stunning

Scandinavian-design North Shore home with expansive Lake Superior water views. Renowned builder Clarence Kemp designed and built the modern addition to the home which combines a modern Scandinavian design with a classic Northwoods cabin and includes two bedrooms, three baths, and a couple kitchens creating ample space for friends and family. Most importantly the home has beautiful panoramic views of Lake Superior with 212ft of shoreline and 7+ acres to wander on! Enjoy the sauna to soothe those sore muscles after spending the day outdoors, or sit in the 4-season porch with a good book. Outside is a simple garage with a bunkroom awaiting your vision. The forest all around is classic Northwoods with wildlife and much to see and explore. Visit today and start enjoying your own adventures along the Big Lake!

MLS#6125015 $999,000

LAKE SUPERIOR CONDO AT BLUEFIN BAY IN TOF TE! This is a rare

$1,399,000

chance to own one of Bluefin Bay’s beautiful 3-bedroom condos in Tofte, closer to Lake Superior than any other lodging on the North Shore! The unit sits conveniently near the resort restaurant and right across from the indoor pool, making it a perfect spot for a relaxing getaway. Enjoy your time on the North Shore in your own condo curled up next to the gas fireplace with a book while listening to the waves hit the shore, and while you are gone let it offset ownership costs with its strong rental history managed by an onsite professional company. Whether you’re playing tennis in the summer, skating on the rink in winter, exploring Tofte Park, or simply strolling the shoreline with no plans at all, this condo puts the very best of the North Shore right at your doorstep.

MLS#6124171 $525,000

E L A S ING D N E P

LAKE SUPERIOR GEM DESIGNED BY DALE MULFINGER/ SALA ARCHITECTS! MLS#6127483 $1,800,000

D L SO

E L A S ING D N E P

ON THE NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR MLS#6126382 $3,800,000

CHATEAU LEVEAUX CONDO ON LAKE SUPERIOR! MLS#6126849 $372,000

FIND THOSE NEW LISTINGS FIRST!! EMAIL INFO@TIMBERWOLFFREALTY.COM TO SIGN UP FOR AUTO EMAIL! 48

NOVEMBER 2026

NORTHERN WILDS

The Gales of November are HERE!

Call TimberWolff for Your Personal Tour of Homes & Land!!! Local (218) 663-8777 Toll free (877) 664-8777

Time to watch the Big Lake put on a SHOW!

THE INLAND WATERS ARE CALLING!

SPR AWLING LIT TLE IRON LAKE HOME ON 1300 F T OF SHORELINE! Over 5.5 acres, about 15 minutes to Trail Center on the

PEACE AND QUIET ON CLAR A LAKE JUST A BIT NORTH OF LUTSEN. Custom 5 bedroom, 5 bath

Gunflint. And the home is nothing short of Spectacular! 3 bedrms, 3 baths, 3 stall garage! Sprawling deck, and perhaps the Best Ever spacious screen porch with stone fireplace and lake views! Primary main level en suite, and upstairs living for your guests. Vaulted ceilings, lovely kitchen and dining areas for entertaining! Enjoy Fine Living Up the Trail on wild and scenic Little Iron Lake with easy access to Tucker Lake. MLS#6125852 $1,299,000

4300+ sq ft home with dramatic floor to ceiling stone fireplace. Gorgeous deck overlooks lake and woods and is gracefully shaded under a grove of cedars. Terrific sauna, oversized garage for all the toys. Inside is class act: chef’s kitchen, tiled primary bath to die for, living room fronts lake with an amazing wall of glass. Neat log built stairways. Classy paver driveway and parking. Current owner does short term rental with a loyal following. Clara is quiet, pure boreal forest with a majority of publicly owned shoreline. This is the Dream Come True! MLS#6128034

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH ITWOWSER OF A CABIN! A few miles outside of

Finland Minnesota, 1225 ft of frontage on the West Baptism River flows happily and peacefully through 13+ acres of iconic Northwoods Real Estate with two classic cabins. The main cabin is a log home expertly built and lovingly maintained. The guest cabin is a charming hybrid of log and stick frame building spacious enough to hold a whole crew. Best part is each is year round with two bedrooms and full baths. Lots of room here, paths to walk on your own land, snowshoe, ski. Life flows like the river, effortlessly and pristine. Visit now and enjoy life on the river.

MLS#6124974 $599,000

$1,100,000

E L A S ING D N E P REVEL IN THE SOUNDS OF THE BAPTISM RIVER IN FINLAND! MLS#6126297 $290,000

ON THE QUIET SIDE OF TOM LAKE! Situated on

LOON LAKE LOOKOUT IN GR AND MAR AIS!

185ft of Tom Lake shoreline, this log home is all warmth and solidity that walls of cedar logs exude. Woodstove crackling and glowing keeps you warm even in January! Get back to childlike wonder and backstroke under azure skies, an eagle soaring over! Two bedrooms, spacious living room and sprawling deck. The bunkhouse/sauna is located across the deck to accommodate guests or kids. A modern, tidy outhouse. Solar system & generator shed, or wait for the power/fiber schedule for install late this year! MLS#6125581 $329,000

Enjoy this getaway with its amazing views of Loon Lake! Tucked away in the woods just off the Gunflint Trail, you will love the simplicity of this one-bedroom cabin. With its 140ft of shoreline, you can enjoy fishing early in the morning or sit and listen to the loons call.

MLS#6126948 $449,900

VACANT LAKESHORE PARCELS! NEARLY 1500F T OF LAKESHORE ON DEVILFISH LAKE AND WILDERNESS POND! With these 67 acres of land comes a sweet pond and

THE ROAD LESS TR AVELED ON DEVILFISH LAKE! 69 acres and 2360 feet of shoreline!

3800+ FEET OF PRIME LAKESHORE ON DEVILFISH LAKE, INCLUDING ISLANDS!

MLS#6122626 $450,000

MLS#6122624 $500,000

MLS#6122627 $800,000

wetland area for fantastic wildlife viewing!. Go out and enjoy this boreal forest and lakeshore wilderness!

Enjoy two islands on as part of this lakeshore parcel! Large enough to build on if you are so inclined, or just paddle the short distance from the mainland build sites to enjoy an island picnic! Come experience the Wilderness on Devilfish Lake!!

A Rare Opportunity to own MOST of the private land on Devilfish Lake, located up the Arrowhead Trail. This is a fabulous opportunity to own 135+ acres with of prime shoreline on Devilfish Lake! What more could you ask for in your Wilderness Lakeshore Retreat!

VISIT US AT TIMBERWOLFFREALTY.COM CHECK OUT OUR WEEKLY BLOG AND FACEBOOK POSTS OF FUN TIMES ON THE NORTH SHORE! NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

The Gales of November are HERE!

Call TimberWolff for Your Personal Tour of Homes & Land!!! Local (218) 663-8777 Toll free (877) 664-8777

Time to watch the Big Lake put on a SHOW!

HOMES, HOMES, AND HOMES!

AT THE FOOTHILLS OF EAGLE MOUNTAIN-MINUTES TO LUTSEN MOUNTAIN SKI RESORT! Discover the ultimate Lutsen escape

LUTSEN TIMBER FR AME IN THE MAPLES! Beautiful 2200+ sqft Home is nestled in 25 Acres of Solitude and Peace, abutting public land! Enjoy the wilderness right outside your door while overlooking the gardens from your deck. Detached 2 car garage, separate workshop and heated artist studio give you plenty of space for all your favorite activities! MLS# 6127404 $775,000 TONS OF VALUE IN THIS SWEET LIT TLE MAR AIS HOME! Big Lake Views! Lovingly

in this charming home! Whether you are looking for a peaceful vacation getaway to unwind or a comfortable fulltime residence to embrace year-round nature, this property delivers effortless living in an exceptional location. Make your dream of living on the North Shore a reality.

crafted in the heart of the Northshore! 3+ acres, this 3 Bedroom home has plenty of space for all your needs and is surrounded by tasteful landscaping: beautiful retaining wall, gardens, patio all of which are backed by the Boreal woods. All that is missing is you!

MLS#6127909 $350,000

E L A S ING D N E P GRAND MARAIS RETREAT WITH WOODLAND VIEWS! MLS#6127979 $669,000

MLS#6125753 $549,900 FABULOUS LOCATION AT THE BASE OF LUTSEN MOUNTAINS SKI AND SUMMER RESORT- SKI HILL ROAD IN LUTSEN! Newly built in

2023, this exciting four bedroom three bath vacation rental home offers tons of entertainment space both indoors and out! The Superior National Golf Course is a minute away, the Gitchi Gami bike and walking trail is literally within sight from this home. Proven vacation rental history with solid income that’s experiencing repeat renters! MLS#6127082 $775,000

LUTSEN LIVING ON THE CARIBOU TR AIL! Located in

the heart of Lutsen, this 4 bedroom home places you close to Lake Superior, shopping, hiking, biking, skiing, and countless other recreational opportunities. Whether you’re seeking a full-time residence, vacation getaway, or investment property, this unique North Shore retreat is all set for you!

MLS#6125948 $475,000

E L A S ING D N E P CLASSIC LUTSEN LOG HOME, CUTE AS CAN BE! MLS#6127362 $269,000

CAMPN’, HUNTN’, FUN GETAWAY LAND, INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE! TOFTE AREA

LUTSEN AREA

READY TO BUILD LOT IN TOFTE! 2.28 acre property with nice and level building site started, and year-round access with the Association plowing the main road. Fiber and Electric are located just across the road! MLS#6125078 $89,000

SUPERIOR NATIONAL GOLF COURSE BUILD SITE! At dusk and the offseason, the golf course

SCHROEDER AREA CREATE YOUR OWN BASECAMP FOR ALL YOUR ADVENTURES! 2+ acres with room

for you to build your dream getaway or just home base for your fishing and hiking trips. Great location close to many inland lakes, hiking trails and snowmobile trails! MLS#6125444 $84,500 PRICE REDUCED!

is a hiker’s paradise or tune up the XC skis & snowshoes! Coast downhill to the Gitchi Gami bike trail and up the road is the Superior Hiking Trail! Oh yes, and it’s ON the golf course! Perfect Lutsen spot to build your dream home! MLS#6125494 $189,900

GRAND MARAIS AREA

120 ACRES OF MANICURED FOREST LANDS AND EXPANSIVE LAKE SUPERIOR VIEWS! Just ten minutes west of

downtown Grand Marais! Views from the TOP of Murphy Mountain are astounding, not only overlooking Lake Superior, but looking toward the North as well! Gate on property, shown by appointment only. MLS#6122477 $1,200,000

VISIT US AT TIMBERWOLFFREALTY.COM CHECK OUT OUR WEEKLY BLOG AND FACEBOOK POSTS OF FUN TIMES ON THE NORTH SHORE! 50

NOVEMBER 2026

NORTHERN WILDS

CATCHLIGHT

PINE MARTEN I got a tip from a photo buddy of mine that a pine marten had been spotted in this area. I went there for the first time, and it showed up in about a half hour. As I watched, it started giving me some great photo opportunities, but this was my favorite for its composition and expression.—John Heino

NORTHERN WILDS

NOVEMBER 2026

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