Northern Wilds October 2025

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Celebrating the Harvest

As I write this, brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow fill the landscape outside my window. Autumn is a beautiful time of year. While temperatures can fluctuate, it’s a great time to get outdoors before the snow flies. With fall colors at their peak, we turn our attention to the harvest season—and this month’s theme.

Let’s start in Along the Shore, where Chris Pascone chats with Jodi and Kevin Belluz, third-generation owners of Belluz Farms, located about a 20-minute drive west of Thunder Bay. Despite being closer to Hudson Bay than the Corn Belt, Belluz Farms makes a living growing strawberries and other fruits and vegetables in the Canadian Shield.

Back in Minnesota, Pascone also talks with Cindy Hale and Jeff Hall, owners of Clover Valley Farms, located between Two Harbors and Duluth. After many years of farming, the pair are beginning to wind down their long agricultural careers.

As the weather cools, it’s time to start thinking about putting your garden to bed. Naomi Yaeger shares tips on what to do now to make spring gardening easier. And while you’re harvesting your plants, did you know the Cook County Community Center has a food equipment library? Anne Graybeal fills us in.

Visiting our feature stories, Kalli Hawkins profiles three suppliers behind the farm-to-table Duluth restaurant At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Café: Bay Produce, Y-Ker Acres, and Larry Schultz Organic Farm. And in honor of spooky season, Dana Johnson writes about the history and haunting of Glensheen Mansion in Duluth. Erin Altemus returns this month with her Sawtooth Racing Dog Blog, sharing what her dogs were up to all

summer—attending a summer camp in Alaska. It was quite the adventure for everyone. Meanwhile, Northern Trails columnist Gord Ellis revisits a different kind of adventure, offering five great reasons to take a fly-in fishing trip in northern Ontario.

New art exhibitions are popping up all along the North Shore this month, from Duluth to Grand Marais to Thunder Bay. Check out my Spotlight section for a sneak peek at what’s showing. Don’t miss this month’s Creative Space story by Shelby Lonne-Rogentine, featuring Jamie Rex of North Road Knits, known for creating colorful outdoor clothing.

As always, the events section is packed with fun for the whole family, including spooky happenings to celebrate Halloween. Moose Madness also takes place this month, Oct. 16-18, in downtown Grand Marais.

Speaking of moose, I’d be remiss not to mention our cover photo by David Johnson. What an incredible shot! And while we’re talking photos, don’t forget to vote for your favorites in our annual photo contest, happening Oct. 6-20. See our ad below for details.

Fall is fleeting and before we know it, the ground will soon be covered with snow. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Breana Johnson Editor editor@northernwilds.com

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Growing delicious sweetcorn in Northwestern Ontario is no easy feat, yet Belluz Farms makes it look easy. | SUBMITTED

Belluz Farms

Far-Out Farming

SLATE RIVER—Jodi Belluz—co-owner with her husband Kevin of Belluz Farms in northwest Ontario—has a routine answer to many questions about farming where they do, in the Slate River Valley: “It’s tricky.” And with good reason—the couple make a living growing strawberries and other fruits and vegetables in the Canadian Shield, at 48 degrees north latitude. They’re four hours north of Duluth by car. But these miracle makers take harsh winters, cool summers, and occasional early September frosts in stride, working 10- to 14-hour days, seven days a week, for six months straight to make their farm a haven for hungry customers. Thunder Bay residents (and many customers from Minnesota) know all about this local gem, and count on the farout farmers for the best fresh produce for hundreds of kilometers.

Here’s how three generations of the Belluz family have made hay in northwestern Ontario, despite being closer to Hudson Bay than the Corn Belt.

Jodi and Kevin are multi-skilled farmers. They have to be, and that’s the way they like it. Take their immaculate website, for example, which is updated daily with detailed information on what’s available for purchase fresh out of the fields, or for pickyour-own. Jodi also leaves detailed daily phone recordings for call-in customers to know exactly when to come out. This customer service is the “front of house” of their business—Jodi’s “arena.”

“Kevin’s with all our crew out in the fields. That’s his arena. My arena is direct contact with customers, and marketing, and advertising,” Jodi explains. “We bleed into each

[LEFT] October is the height of pumpkin season at Belluz Farms. Check out their Fall Wonderland Activity Pass on October weekends for pumpkin bowling, wagon rides, and pumpkin-flavored café items. | SUBMITTED

[BELOW] The Belluz family has been making a living as far-out farmers since 1946. | SUBMITTED

other’s arenas all the time, but that’s how we divide and conquer.”

The couple also has to be ready to hire 30 to 50 part-time staff each summer to help run their pick-your-own strawberry operation—the farm’s largest revenue source. They’ve used recruiting websites in the past, but this summer they were pleased to have many returning high school and college students come work for them again from Thunder Bay. Belluz Farms has been a first job for hundreds of students—something the family is very proud of.

Another skill that Jodi and Kevin have mastered is turning their farm into a “destination.” Belluz Farms is located about a 20-minute drive west of Thunder Bay. “Our farm is not located on any thoroughfare,” notes Jodi, “so we’re a super destination farm. It’s a drive to get here. We have lots of friends come from Grand Marais, and even from as far as Duluth, to the farm. I always say that food doesn’t have any borders. You want to eat in your area. Our closest neighbors are in Grand Marais.”

To make this destination trip worthwhile, Belluz Farms puts on rich cultural experiences, especially on October weekends, when hungry visitors can purchase the Fall Wonderland Activity Pass for a full day of adventure on the farm. The pass includes access to a 2-acre corn maze, farm wagon tours to the mystical “Straw Henge” (a re-creation of Stonehenge made out of straw bales), pumpkin bowling (a bowling alley set up with straw bales and pins at the end, using mini pumpkins to knock them down), a hidden pumpkin hunt, petting zoo, and a full-on café. And this isn’t even high season for the Belluzes.

The peak season lasts all summer long at Belluz Farms (although Jodi says strawberry season has the highest number of employees, highest density of visitors to the farm, and highest revenue from one crop). “For Kevin and me, once we get off the ground in the spring, we’re just on a plateau that stays at a certain level all season. Right now (mid-September) there’s such a diversity of produce that needs to be harvested, washed, and packaged, that our cylinders are still running at the same level as in strawberry season. Every season has its own challenges.”

But the Belluzes are certainly not afraid of challenges. “It’s a really rewarding job in that you’re never bored. You’re solving problems at all times, and every day is a bit different,” Jodi explains.

Farming is more than a business for the Belluzes. They take pride in the delicious food they offer their customers from far and wide: “Food is at the center of any culture and civilization, and it should be treated with reverence. We’re here to shout it, and fight for it. That’s what keeps us going, really,” Jodi says.

“We think that farming is a very undervalued, underrated profession,” she continues. “We think it should be easier and more rewarding for young people who want to get into this profession. We think we need our best and brightest figuring out how to grow food in a very unstable-looking world. For Kevin and me, we love this farm and the land that we’re on and the history

behind it. We just need to keep going. We think this is really important.”

Kevin and Jodi are the third generation of Belluzes to operate the farm, which was started in 1946 by Kevin’s grandparents. The Belluz family has always had a drive, passion, and pride in feeding their community. As a direct-to-market farm, the Belluzes have an intimate relationship with their customers, and according to Jodi, that relationship is key to sustaining the farm. “For the most part, our customers are in it with us. They cheer us on when it’s a great year, and support us when it isn’t,” Jodi explains.

Finally, Jodi and Kevin have benefitted from the wisdom passed down to them by Kevin’s parents, Don and Clare. “You do have to weather the years. It’s a long haul. And you’re not going to get rich. If you’re farming, it’s not for that,” says Jodi.

With pumpkin season currently in full swing, an October weekend is an ideal time to go see Belluz Farms for yourself and visit the Farm Store and Harvest Café with lots of gorgeous local pumpkins, winter squash, and other local foods. And when you’re there, buying even fresh watermelons grown on the farm, pinch yourself, and ask yourself, “Is this even real?”

Yes, farming in northwest Ontario isn’t easy, but Belluz Farms proves that grit and stubbornness—plus a Herculean work ethic—can get you far, even this far from the Corn Belt. To learn more about Belluz Farms, visit: belluzfarms.on.ca.— Chris Pascone

Preserving Together Inside Cook County’s First Food Equipment Library

GRAND MARAIS—Launched this summer by the Northwoods Food Project, Grand Marais’ new Food Equipment Library is starting a quiet revolution as a first-of-its-kind resource sharing initiative aimed at making local food preservation more accessible.

“It’s been a long time in the making,” said Kate Cowie-Haskell, project director for Northwoods Food Project. The concept, they explained, grew out of a community-led working group focused on food processing and preservation to support Cook County’s food system. “The idea was simple: How can we remove barriers and make it easier for people to process and preserve local food? How can we get people access to quality tools that they didn’t have to purchase or store?”

Modeled on tool libraries—and, to Cowie-Haskell’s knowledge, the only dedicated food equipment library of its kind in the country—the program offers members access to a collection of food harvesting and processing tools without the need to buy or store them. From apple presses to dehydrators to canning supplies, the library contains an array of equipment for food production and preservation.

The Northwoods Food Project contracted with volunteer Jennifer Victor Larsen to help design the program. A community survey gathered over 30 responses about what tools would be most useful and how a lending system should work. From there, a thoughtfully curated inventory began to take shape, with funding support from the Regional Sustainable Development Partnership.

“We started with the most-requested items,” said Cowie-Haskell. “People wanted fruit processing tools, dehydrators, sealers— practical things for food they were already growing or buying at the market.”

Access is intentionally flexible. Anyone in Cook County (or beyond) can join the library with one of three membership tiers. Those who plan to borrow just once or twice might opt for the entry-level membership and pay a small fee per item rented. More frequent users can choose mid- or

high-tier memberships that reduce or eliminate rental fees. And Northwoods Food Project is fundraising in order to offer subsidized memberships.

The library’s rental income supports ongoing maintenance and insurance. “We’ve budgeted about 10 percent of each item’s purchase cost annually for upkeep,” Cowie-Haskell explained.

So far, community interest has been strong, even if actual checkouts are still picking up. “We’re seeing a lot of buzz,” said Extension Educator and Northwoods Food Project board member Sarah Waddle. “I think it’ll really kick off as more people see it in action.”

That may already be starting. With the arrival of apple season, the fruit pickers and apple corer are seeing their first reservations. But as Cowie-Haskell pointed out, the library is more than just a collection of tools. “Another part of our efficacy will be not just having the tools, but also creating education spaces where people can actually learn how to use them or learn from some trusted people in the community, like food entrepreneurs, about how to preserve or process things.”

To that end, Northwoods Food Project is partnering with the University of Minnesota Extension to offer hands-on workshops this fall: one was in September on food dehydra-

tion, and another on October 8 for those considering launching a cottage food business. Cowie-Haskell hopes that the library will be a key component of those events.

Also in October, the organization will host a Fall Harvest Celebration, an open-invitation potluck on October 3 from 5-7 p.m. at the Community Center. The gathering will highlight the Food Equipment Library, honor the Farm Family of the Year, and give guests the chance to press fresh cider on-site using the library’s apple press.

It’s all part of a broader vision for what food resilience can look like in Cook County.

Since its founding, the Northwoods Food Project has worked to connect producers and consumers, from farmers to families. Among other projects, the organization co-sponsors the seasonal Cook County Farmers Market, ensures that community members can leverage nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC at the market, and creates educational and community spaces for local growers.

For now, Cowie-Haskell is focused on expanding the library and on planning future workshops. Winter, they hope, will bring time to assess, improve, and deepen relationships, especially with local foragers, fishers, hunters, and homesteaders.

“Farming isn’t the only way people have produced food here,” they said. “I want to make sure that other ways of being in relationship with the land and feeding ourselves from it are also part of the way we plan for the future of the organization.”

In a community like Cook County, where growing, preserving, and sharing food are acts of both tradition and practicality, the Food Equipment Library feels like a natural next step.

As Cowie-Haskell puts it: “In a larger community, you might have to really bang on doors for years to try to get the time, attention, and resources to create something like this. People in Cook County are really willing to think about how to create things here. Things just feel more possible here.”

Anne Graybeal

The Food Equipment Library at the Cook County Community Center in Grand Marais is now open. | SUBMITTED

Glide on Frosty Trails this Winter

Tucking In the Garden Fall Prep for Northern Minnesota

and Ontario

NORTH SHORE—For Minnesota and Ontario gardeners, fall isn’t just a season of beauty—it’s a critical window.

The work done now can mean the difference between a garden that bursts forth in spring and one that limps along, battered by snow, pests, or neglect. As winter creeps in, it’s time to tuck the garden in for its long rest—and do so with care.

WHY FALL PREP MATTERS

St. Louis County Extension Educator Bob Olen was out in his field digging fall vegetables for display on his PBS North show Great Gardening when he paused to take a call about preparing gardens for winter.

“You want to control all your perennial weeds—those that come back every year,” Olen said. “It’s much easier to pull them in the fall than to fight them in the spring.”

He also urged gardeners to get a soil test before the ground freezes. “Get that done now so you’ll know what amendments your garden needs,” he said. “And when you add those amendments in the fall, they can work their magic over the winter months.”

Finally, Olen encouraged gardeners to take stock of the season. “This is the time to review your successes and your failures,” he said, “so you can plan ahead for ordering seeds and other supplies.”

The University of Minnesota Extension also reminds gardeners that fall is the perfect time to plant cover crops such as oats and peas. Planted in early fall, they grow quickly, then die back over the winter. “They add or retain nutrients in your soil… leaving you with a nice seedbed in the spring for your next round of vegetables.”

In Thunder Bay, Vanderwees Garden Gallery website notes that perennials can be

planted either in their dormant stage in fall or their active stage in spring. Fall plantings allow root systems to settle in quietly beneath the snow, ready to awaken early when the thaw comes.

HARVEST, CLEAN UP, AND DISEASE PREVENTION

Before the snow flies, gather every last tomato, pepper, bean or herb that can’t take frost. Root crops like carrots and beets can linger a little longer, but don’t forget them. Remove diseased plants—and don’t compost them unless you know your pile will get hot enough to kill pathogens.

Gardening experts advise cutting back perennials with dead or diseased foliage,

The University of Minnesota Extension advises mowing to about 2 inches before snowfall to reduce the risk of snow mold. | SUBMITTED

snow flies.

but leaving some plants, like coneflowers and sedums, for “winter interest and food for birds.”

Quick Checklist:

• Harvest remaining fruits, vegetables, and herbs before frost.

• Pull spent annuals and compost healthy plant material.

• Remove and discard diseased plants.

• Rake leaves; compost or use as mulch.

SOIL AND MULCH: YOUR WINTER ARMOR

Where freeze-thaw cycles are intense, soil protection is essential. Adding compost or manure in fall allows organic matter to begin breaking down. Cover bare ground with mulch—2 to 4 inches of leaves, straw, or shredded bark—to insulate roots and protect soil structure.

The University of Minnesota Extension’s “Final Fall To-Do List” reminds gardeners that there’s still time to plant spring bulbs such as tulips and daffodils, as long as the ground hasn’t frozen.

PERENNIALS, BULBS AND PLANTING DECISIONS

Fall is prime time for dividing and transplanting hostas, daylilies, and irises. Newly separated plants settle in more easily with cool soil and fewer pests.

Bulbs for spring bloom must go in before the ground hardens. That extra step helps plants handle the long winter ahead.

LAWN, TREES, AND SHRUBS: BIG PICTURE PROTECTION

Lawn care often gets forgotten in the rush of fall, but it matters. The University of Min-

nesota Extension advises mowing to about 2 inches before snowfall to reduce the risk of snow mold. Aerating heavy soils or reseeding bare patches also gives grass a stronger start in spring.

Trees and shrubs benefit from protection. Wrap thin-barked trees to prevent sunscald. Use burlap or tree guards against rabbit and deer damage. Add mulch around, but not against, the trunk. Evergreens need a deep watering before the ground freezes to prevent winter burn.

TOOLS,

GEAR, AND REFLECTION

Gardeners who invest a little time now save frustration later. Clean and oil pruners and shovels to prevent disease carryover. Drain hoses and irrigation lines before hard frost. Empty and store pots and rain barrels.

Not every gardener wants to fuss over every detail. Many embrace what they jokingly call a “lazy gardener’s” approach: leaving ornamental grasses and seed heads standing for winter beauty and bird food, letting fallen leaves serve as mulch, or covering raised beds with cardboard to keep them weedfree until spring.

In the fall, tidy the shed. You’ll be happy you did in the spring.

WINTER’S REST, SPRING’S PROMISE

Northern winters are long and demanding, but fall gardeners have the privilege of doing much of the heavy lifting early. If plants are tucked in strong—fed, mulched, and protected—they’ll greet spring with energy.

Naomi Yaeger

Bulbs for spring bloom must go in before the ground hardens. | SUBMITTED

Spruce Budworm and the Future

GRAND MARAIS—This fall, the University of Minnesota Extension will host a day-long symposium focused on one of the most visible and pressing ecological events in the North Shore woods: the spruce budworm outbreak. The event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at ISD 166 in Grand Marais. Designed for woodland stewards, private landowners, and anyone curious about local forest health, the symposium offers classroom sessions, networking opportunities, and an optional afternoon field tour.

Sarah Waddle, a Cook County-based Extension Educator, has been working with

colleague Anna Stockstad, Extension Educator in Forest Ecosystem Health, to create spruce budworm education programs since the early stages of the current outbreak. “We’ve done one-hour presentations in the past, but this felt like a good time to expand it,” said Waddle. “There’s so much interest in the topic, and so many natural resource professionals with different perspectives. We wanted to create a space where people could really dig into what’s happening in our forests and what they can do in response.”

The symposium came together over the past year as Waddle and Stockstad collaborated on a printed resource guide for

landowners. While gathering content, they connected with a researcher who recently completed her Ph.D. on spruce budworm ecology, complete with striking photographs of parasitoid insects that prey on the larvae. That conversation sparked the idea to bring her to Cook County and invite other agencies to join in for a full-day event.

Spruce budworm is a native insect that plays a natural role in forest cycles, with outbreaks typically occurring every 30 to 40 years. Cook County is currently about five years into one of these cycles, which can last six to 10 years.

The insect’s primary food source is the new growth at the tips of balsam fir and white spruce branches. Repeated defoliation over several years can weaken and eventually kill trees, especially those already stressed by drought or disease. Dead balsam, in particular, poses a heightened wildfire risk.

“This isn’t the first time Cook County has dealt with spruce budworm,” Waddle explained. “But this time, it feels more visible, partly because the outbreak moved north from St. Louis and Lake Counties, where we’ve already seen some major wildfires in post-outbreak forests. That gets people’s attention.”

Historically, wildfires played a key role in managing spruce and balsam populations. In the absence of regular fire, those species now dominate the landscape, creating a feast for hungry budworms.

“We’re not talking about an invasive species,” said Waddle. “Spruce budworm is

Spruce budworm outbreaks typically occur every 30 to 40 years. Cook County is currently about five years into one of these cycles, which can last six to 10 years. | ELI SAGOR

tive, and its population goes through boomand-bust cycles. In the long run, it helps diversify the forest. But for landowners, especially those with wooded acres around their homes, it raises real questions about what to do now and what comes next.”

The morning portion of the symposium will include a series of classroom sessions, with two options offered concurrently so participants can choose what’s most relevant to them. Topics include wildfire mitigation, climate resilience, parasitoid dynamics in spruce budworm control, strategies for promoting healthy forests, and financial assistance for landowners.

Lunch will be provided, along with time to connect with local natural resource professionals. Partners include the Minnesota DNR, Cloquet Forestry Center, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District.

In the afternoon, attendees can hop on a school bus for a field tour of local sites impacted by budworm, where forest managers and fellow landowners will discuss practical responses.

“This is really meant for people with wooded property who are thinking about next steps,” said Waddle. “We’ll be looking at different sites, asking questions like, what’s working here? What could I try on my land? It’s about learning from each other and seeing land management in action.”

While some homeowners might ask how to “get rid” of spruce budworm, Waddle emphasized that large-scale control isn’t realistic—or even desirable. “You can spray a single yard tree with something like BTK, which is a relatively safe bacterial treatment,

but that won’t affect the overall population,” she said. “And large-scale spraying just isn’t financially or logistically viable in a place like Cook County.”

Instead, the focus is on helping landowners respond to the outbreak and plan for the future. “We’ll be talking about tree replacement options, especially in light of climate change,” said Waddle. “The best thing people can do is plant a variety of tree species so that no single insect or disease can wipe everything out. Whether you want to stick with native species like white pine or try some that might do better as our climate shifts, there are paths forward.”

Awareness of the outbreak is already high. Waddle noted that earlier workshops drew large crowds in Grand Marais in person and online. “People are keyed in,” she said. “Even if you don’t own forested land, you’re seeing the impact, whether it’s that rust-colored hillside on the drive up the shore or concerns about wildfire risk near town.”

Though Waddle hopes the symposium will be a useful model for future community education, she said this one is still a bit of an experiment. “We’ll see how it goes,” she said. “This is the first time I’ve organized something on this scale. But I think there’s something for everyone—whether you want to get hands-on with your land, understand the ecology better, or just love learning about insects. Really, it’s just going to be a full-day nerd-out party for people who love forests.”

The cost to attend is $15, and registration is required. For more information or to register, visit the University of Minnesota Extension website.— Anne Graybeal

On Nov. 1, the University of Minnesota Extension will host a day-long symposium focused on the spruce budworm outbreak. | ELI SAGOR

Clover Valley Farms: Cultivating Quality of Life

DULUTH—Cindy Hale and Jeff Hall, owners of Clover Valley Farms, first started planting apple trees on their property 25 years ago. Together with their daughter May, they’ve tended the land and watched their various orchards grow and flourish over the years. This fall their apple trees are at peak production.

Likewise, Hale and Hall are at the peak of their own wisdom and reflection on farming’s meaning to them; they’re currently starting the transition to winding down their lengthy agricultural careers. Together we sat down in their backyard tiki bar this harvest season to talk about how they got off the “hamster wheel” five years ago and have gradually pivoted to the arts, as well as how their ecological farming practices have created their high quality of life.

You’ve likely already met Hale and Hall if you appreciate locally-grown foods: the two tabled for years at the Duluth Farmers

Market, Two Harbors Farmers Market, Lincoln Park Farmers Market, Duluth Harvest Fest, and countless other community events, selling their trademark homemade vinegars and value-added products, like herb-infused salts. In their heyday, they had 40 wholesale clients for their vinegars, including the Co-Ops in Duluth and Grand Marais. There was enough revenue for Hale and Hall to hire one part-time support staff, but that did little to alleviate their own workload. Going to all the markets, and maintaining all the relationships with wholesale vendors, was still an uphill battle.

“Cindy and I would sit on the sofa every single morning and talk about our colossal task list. And then COVID came, and shut everything down. All our wholesale accounts dried up overnight,” Hall recalls. “At first blush, it was devastating.” Just as Clover Valley Farms had firmly established their products on consumer shelves throughout

the Northland—the result of 20 years of slow but steady development of their family business—COVID took it all away.

That’s when Hale and Hall had a revelation: “We found out we could get off our little hamster wheel,” explains Hale. “We realized, ‘Oh, we don’t have to do this. We can if we want to, but we don’t have to.’” The fab farmers gradually started scaling down on time-consuming markets and shows, and likewise cut off their website sales, to the point where they now sell their vinegars only at their home farm stand in the Clover Valley Farm Trail—a Sunday-afternoon “come to the producer” shopping opportunity for buyers who want fresh and local. “I convinced Jeff to stop doing farmers markets, and he’s happy,” Hale smiles. They do make one exception—tabling at Clover Valley Farm Fest each August.

Hale also started working off-farm three years ago, and now works for the Minne-

sota Department of Agriculture as a grant specialist in their local food purchasing assistance program.

But even in the tough times, Hale and Hall never stopped generating; they just pivoted. Both have increasingly followed their artistic inclinations, while continuing to raise Shetland sheep and rabbits on their beautiful farm nestled on Homestead Road, halfway between Duluth and Two Harbors. For Hall, this pivot to the arts has meant woodturning. Hale sums it up: “Jeff’s essence is an artist and a farmer. There’s always been some artistic endeavor he’s pursued. But when he hit wood, he knew ‘this is what sings.’” Woodturning is one piece of what Hale and Hall call their “trifecta:” wood, food, and fiber. Hale’s piece is fiber arts. She originally got into making art out of wool accidentally: “We bought sheep because we wanted to use grazing under the orchards rather than mowing. We chose Shetlands

Jeff Hall and Cindy Hale host their beautiful farm stand as part of the Clover Valley Farm Trail. | SUBMITTED

Pressing cider by hand is a low-tech harvest tradition at Clover Valley Farms. | CHRIS PASCONE

because they’re small compared to other breeds, and we thought they’d work well under the trees. Only then did we realize they have this remarkable wool. I got bit by the fiber bug, particularly by natural dying, using buckthorn, goldenrod, tansy, and all this stuff that we have to control.” Hale joined the Duluth Fiber Guild, and now produces her own dyed wool products.

Pursuing wool dying and woodturning as creative outlets has given Hale and Hall a way to replace some of their lost farm income due to COVID, while also giving themselves spiritual satisfaction. Their art is profitable, but more importantly it sustains their high-quality lifestyle.

The last piece of their “trifecta” is food. For Hale and Hall, eating their own farmraised food is a major input to quality of life. “One of the things that I really value is having my own freezer full of food that I grew,” says Hall. “Between our sheep and rabbit meat, we rarely have to get outside food.” The couple also presses copious amounts of cider each fall from their thousands of pounds of apples (available now at their Clover Valley Farm Trail stand). They make countless other homemade delicacies too, like the elderberry wine that I got to taste (but isn’t for sale). This emphasis on homegrown nutrition is a key to their quality of life, even as they scale back their commercial farming.

A final piece of Hale and Hall’s focus on quality over quantity are the couple’s ecological farming practices. Their tiki bar, for instance is a refuge to happy hummingbirds that feed on the flowers of the trellised scarlet runner beans that adorn the patio.

For Hale, “An ecological focus to farming is really key to our love of nature. We spend

as much time making sure we have good bird habitat as we do good production. That’s important.” Hall concurs: “When I move the sheep, if there’s a bird nest or some kind of cool plant, I won’t put the sheep in that spot. I can move the fence however I want. The sheep could devastate a bird’s nest. The birds provide pest management in our fields and orchards. We have bluebird nests, and

swallow nests, and they eat insects all day long.” Indeed, when they planted the original orchard 25 years ago, Hale and Hall fenced it with spruce poles, harvested from the property, as fence posts. A bluebird couple has been using one of the old spruce posts as their nesting hole for years. Today, Hale and Hall are consciously thinking about retirement. They’re taking

[ABOVE] Cindy Hale uses natural dyes she makes from local plants to color the wool from the farm's Shetland sheep herd. | SUBMITTED

[LEFT] Woodturning is both a creative pursuit and a business for Jeff Hall. Hale and Hall's farm motto today is, "Where food and art meet." | SUBMITTED

gradual steps to downsize to homestead— rather than farm—size. Their legacy of adapting their farm again and again, while emphasizing quality of life over quantity of accounts, and simultaneously pursuing artistic creativity that ties in with their farm work, has given them a sweet spot in the clover. — Chris Pascone

Thursday, Oct 9th

3-5pm Taste apples & enter pie baking contest @ The Hub

Friday, Oct 10th

1-4pm Apple Questions with expert, Daniel Busey @ Johnson Heritage Post

6-7:30pm Daniel Busey, orchard curator at Silverwood Park, talks about apples @ Cook County Higher Ed

Saturday, Oct 11th

10am-Noon Apple

Questions with expert, Daniel Busey @ Johnson Heritage Post

10am-4pm Pick Apples @ Ray Block’s or Stan Bautch’s Orchards

1-4:30pm Tour to mystery apples trees

Start @ Johnson Heritage Post, signup prior 6-8pm Learn secrets on all things apples with Daniel Busey @ Rec Park- Rec Hall

Sunday, Oct 12th 9am-Noon Attempt to graft and prune @ Rec Park- Rec Hall

Hear Ye, Hear Ye: Thunder Bay Steps Back in Time with Renaissance Faire

OPEN DAILY

THROUGH OCTOBER 19TH

10am - 5pm

Gift Shops • Wildlife Viewing

Picnic Areas • Hiking Trails

Family Fun for Everyone!

FALL SEASON

GIFT SHOP SALE!

Saturday Oct. 11th

Storytelling of the Backroads 2:00-4:00pm

Presented by the Historical Alliance of Cook County at: Arrowhead Center for the Arts 51 West 5th St., Grand Marais

museum and nature center Thanks to the many volunteers whose time and energy made this season possible.

28 Moose Pond Drive 55 miles up the Gunflint Trail (Hwy 12)

THUNDER BAY—Prepare thyself for merriment at the Thunder Bay Renaissance Faire, held Oct. 11-12 at the Murillo Fairgrounds in Murillo (the rural village outside Thunder Bay). This new cultural event invites attendees to dress in their best medieval or fantasy apparel, enjoy live entertainment, browse artisan booths, and sample from unique food vendors—all in an immersive environment with a medieval twist.

A feast for the imagination, a Renaissance Faire is a worthy distraction for anyone looking to get away from the stresses of modern life. Where else can you don a cloak, wander through a medieval marketplace, and watch valiant knights compete to unhorse one another? Or brush shoulders with a fairy, a wizard, a pirate, or a plague rat—all in the same crowd? The Thunder Bay Renaissance Faire is a family-friendly gathering for the general celebration of medieval life, while also embracing many levels of magic and fantasy, providing a welcoming, inclusive space for a wide audience of people to find their favourite themes within the faire.

This inaugural event is planned by a small—but mighty—group of passionate dreamers, schemers, and artists based in Thunder Bay. The vision of the Thunder Bay Renaissance Faire arose from a desire to highlight the magic and adventure that Northwestern Ontario has to offer. The planning committee found the perfect backdrop and hosts for the event in the Oliver Agricultural Society (OAS), the not-for-profit organization best known for hosting the Murillo Fall Fair each year at the Murillo Fairgrounds. It was through this partnership that the Thunder Bay Renaissance Faire has taken shape over the last few months, and this lineup of medieval mayhem will please even the most discerning of nobles.

Attendees can look forward to a display of equestrian splendour, live music and theatrical performances, and interactive demonstrations. A jousting tournament will headline as the main ring entertainment: the Knights of Valour (the largest extreme full-contact jousting company in the world) will entertain the crowd with mounted medieval games and full-contact jousting. There will be multiple showings throughout the weekend, giving everyone a chance to cheer on their favourite riders during the chivalrous competition. The knights will offer war-horse rides between showings,

and young squires can test their might with various medieval weapon games, including archery and spear throwing. Try your hand in combat with workshops and demonstrations by Superior HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) or opt for the foam-padded swords in the LARPing ring. Follow your imagination in the children’s area with mermaid storytime, blow some bubbles with fairies, and participate in crafts and festival games such as sack races, cornhole, and ring toss. Live music, dance performances, and improv theatrics will take over Ye Old Stage and wandering minstrels and buskers will be found amongst the crowds. Learn more about medieval life and craft with a stroll through the educational exhibits, including

COME AND JOIN THE FUN!

Cook County Curling Club beginning of season events

Oct 20: KicK-Off Party 5:30pm @ Up Yonder in Grand Marais

Meet new people, win fabulous prizes, get on a team, or just come and see what it’s about.

Oct 26: OPen HOuse 1–5pm @ the Curling Club (Community Center)

Opportunity to try out curling for the first time, or for the more experienced, time to practice.

NOv 1: fall BacK intO curling Starts at 9:00 am

A mini bonspiel for everyone and all skill levels. $20 a person, includes lunch.

For more information, visit: www.cookcountycurlingclub.com or check out our Facebook page: Cook County (MN) Curling Club

Prepare thyself for merriment with the first annual Thunder Bay Renaissance Faire, held Oct. 11-12 in Murillo at the fairgrounds. | SUBMITTED

bookbindings, live oil paintings, a static falconry display, and Elizabethan madrigal singing demonstrations by a polyphonic choir. There will be a charming merchant marketplace where one can find whimsical wares from local vendors, artisans, and artists. Categories of wares will range from jewelry, clothing, leatherwork, herbals, and ceramics, to weaponry, blacksmithing, stained glass, woodworking, and more. And of course, pick up some tavern grub from any one of the unique food vendors.

The true magic of a Renaissance Faire comes alive in the costumes. Attendees are encouraged to dress in their finest garbs of whimsy and fantasy. Renaissance Faire attendees are known to wear a myriad of outfits inspired by the history and mythology of the Middle Ages or Renaissance. Prepare to meet people dressed in robes of King Arthur’s court at Camelot, Nordic Viking attire, Shakespearean couture, pirate slops, or even fairy garbs. There is plenty of room for imagination.

Whether ye be a noble lord, a wandering bard, or a curious peasant, all are welcome to feast, frolic, and forge unforgettable memories at this bustling fantasy faire. Day passes are available for Saturday and Sunday, purchased in advance or at the gates. General admission is $20 CAD, with seniors (age 55+) and children (ages 6-10) admitted for $10 CAD each. Children under 5 years of age are free. More details, including a preferred rate code with faire partners at the Delta Hotel in Thunder Bay, can be found online: oliveragriculturalsociety.com/tbrf.

Huzzah!—Stephanie Simko

Johnson

Post Art Gallery

The true magic of a Renaissance Faire comes alive in the costumes, and attendees are encouraged to dress in their best medieval or fantasy apparel. | SUBMITTED

Saturday, Nov. 1st

9 am-4 pm

Register:

Learn

Black Beach Inn

Two Harbors Moose Lodge Embracing Community

TWO HARBORS—A community can be defined and expanded beyond a small geographic area, and here in the Northland, the International Organization of the Moose Fraternity supports and impacts communities from Thunder Bay to Two Harbors. Established in 1888, its mission is simple yet powerful: The organization of men and women is dedicated to caring for young and old, bringing communities closer together, and celebrating life.

The Two Harbors Moose Lodge 1463, Chapter 109, embraces this mission tenfold. Located in the seat of Lake County, this lodge is an active cornerstone of the North Shore, engaging in all aspects of the community. They provide special events for all ages, offers a kitchen open throughout the week, holds a gaming license, hosts meetings for local organizations, and supports fundraisers—all to raise money to give back to the community.

Board of Directors President Sue Bott highlights some of her favorite events: “We host fun events for our members and registered guests that include an adult prom, New Year’s Eve dinners, kids’ Halloween parties, and our annual summer picnic.” Bott also explains that there is always a need for volunteers to help plan new events and assist in making them a success. Contact the lodge for more information and to sign up to volunteer.

The lodge is run by a dedicated, elected board of directors who are all volunteers, along with a small staff. As part of the international organization,

| SUBMITTED

each lodge must follow guidelines and is overseen by a territorial manager. Bott describes the Two Harbors Lodge as more than a bar: “We are a family that embraces new members and cherishes our current ones.”

The Moose organization is membership-based and is open to anyone interested in applying. Once an application is approved, membership can mean different things to different people, allowing individuals to determine what they want to get out of the organization— and what they want to give back.

The belief that “A burden heavy to one is borne lightly by many” is at the core of the Moose organization. Living by this value is what makes the Moose unique in the more than 1,500 communities it serves across all 50 states and several Canadian provinces. Membership benefits at the Two Harbors Lodge include the ability to rent the community space, participate in gaming activities, attend special events, and sign up for dart leagues, bingo, and cribbage.

Bott describes membership as “being bigger than your personal membership. You are supporting what the Moose stands for. Once you are a Moose member, you are welcome at all lodges in any city. This organization is truly a community.”

The Two Harbors Moose Lodge spreads its mission throughout Lake County, partnering with several lodges on a variety of projects and events. They support schools through grants and scholarships—donating to Two Harbors and Silver Bay athletic programs, trap teams, DECA, International Travel Club, Robotics, and hosting annual banquets for coaches and athletes. Recently, 12 high school students were awarded $1,000 individual scholarships. Two Harbors seniors are cele-

Two Harbors Moose Lodge hosts fun events for members and registered guests, including a community Easter party.

Two Harbors Moose Lodge supports the community with donations and provides stuffed animals to children going through tough times. | MOOSE LODGE

brated each year with banners purchased by the lodge and displayed throughout downtown.

Nonprofits also benefit from the lodge’s generosity, receiving funding for Special Olympics, food shelves, shelters, and fire victims. Their mascot, Tommy Moose, assists local law enforcement and first responders by providing moose stuffed animals to children going through tough times.

In addition to supporting local initiatives, the Two Harbors Lodge supports the national orga nization’s two premier programs, Mooseheart and Moosehaven, benefiting both young and old. Mooseheart, founded in 1913 by the Moose Fraternity Organization, is a residential childcare community located about 38 miles west of Chi cago. It is committed to providing exceptional care for youth whose families, due to various circumstances, apply for admission. Its mission is to offer young individuals a safe, loving, and stable environment where they can grow, learn, and succeed.

Moosehaven is a private, membership-based retirement community located in Florida. With a full range of programs and services, it has provided seniors 65 and older a comfortable and secure retirement option since 1922.

The Two Harbors Lodge will celebrate its 110th anniversary in early October and is currently raising funds for improvements to the bar and lodge, including a walk-in freezer, kitchen equipment, and bathroom updates. A weeklong celebration is planned, with special events for all ages, and a large party is scheduled for Oct. 11. A full schedule of events can be found on their Facebook page.

The lodge is open Monday through Saturday at noon, with the kitchen available Tuesday through Friday from 5-8 p.m., and Sunday breakfast served from 9 a.m. to noon. It is located at 709 First Ave. in Two Harbors. To contact the lodge, call: 218-834-3234.— Michelle Miller

Hansen Home and Hardware in Lutsen has been selling major brand and budget-friendly flooring for

Whether its for your new cabin or updating existing home, right this minute or if you’re planning for the future, we are set to deliver and install.

W Hwy 61 Lutsen, MN 55612

The public is invited to enjoy Halloween fun. | SUBMITTED

At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Café

How Local Farms and Producers Shape a Duluth Favorite

The restaurant, At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Café, has become a Duluth staple, known for its welcoming neighborhood atmosphere, inventive menu, and role as a gathering spot for both locals and visitors.

Over two decades, the restaurant has built relationships with local and regional farms, specialty producers, and small businesses whose ingredients and products help shape the character of each dish.

Started in 2002, the restaurant’s farmto-table concept was one of the first of its kind in the Duluth area. The restaurant began with soups, salads, and baked goods. It gradually expanded to include dynamic menu items such as the hippie farm breakfast, bison and wild rice polenta, and Lake Superior fish tacos.

“The idea of sustainability and supporting the local economy and community is where it started,” said Pete Ravinski, the operations manager for At Sara’s Table.

The restaurant’s menu items transition with the seasons, calling on nearby and regional growers for produce, heritage meats, and baked goods. The restaurant features products, ingredients, and meat from over a dozen suppliers, many of whom supply organic goods and help define the kitchen’s personality.

Here’s a look at three of the suppliers who help shape At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Café’s menu throughout the seasons.

Bay Produce

Bay Produce has become a familiar name in the Twin Ports for its greenhouse-grown vegetables and herbs, which are found in restaurants and grocery stores throughout the region. In operation since 1986, Bay Produce specializes in cultivating a range of garden goods, including tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, and basil.

With an expansive acre-sized greenhouse, Bay Produce provides reliability for the At Sara’s Table restaurant in a region where long winters limit the availability of fresh produce. It’s a steady partnership that gives diners in Duluth a taste of summer even when the snow may still be on the ground.

Similar to the At Sara’s Table restaurant, Bay Produce models its business after sustainability, both in locally grown goods and in supporting the local economy and job force. Based in Superior, Wisc., the company operates in partnership with the Challenge Center, a nonprofit organization. The Challenge Center provides vocational training

Started in 2002, the farm-to-table concept at At Sara’s Table was one of the first of its kind in the Duluth area. | AT SARA’S TABLE

and support services to individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment.

“They have a good philosophy with the Challenge Center, helping to employ people. It’s a good fit for us,” Ravinski said.

Through this connection, Bay Produce offers prevocational opportunities that give participants hands-on experience to cultivate and harvest garden vegetables and herbs, while helping to build practical

Larry Schultz Organic Farm and Y-Ker Acres are among the many key suppliers for menu items at At Sara’s Table. | SUBMITTED

skills. With the partnership, individuals involved in the program develop a strong work ethic, task management, communication skills, and gain confidence in educational and workplace settings.

Y-ker Acres

The family-run farm south of Duluth in Carlton raises pastured, heritage-breed pigs that bring a pronounced flavor to the At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Café menu.

The Stamper family took over the Y-ker Acres farm in 2021 from Matt and Sara Weik. Since then, they have carried forward the farm’s focus on raising pigs and cattle with care, giving the animals time to grow naturally and produce meat with richer flavor and texture.

With pig breeds such as Large Blacks, Tamworths, and Mangalitsa, Y-Ker Acres offers the At Sara’s Table restaurant diverse and complex flavors to incorporate into their dishes. The restaurant’s chef and staff treat those products with a light but intentional hand, letting the animal’s character shine. The approach ties the restaurant to the nearby local Cloquet landscape, allowing what’s on the plate to be an expression of how the animals are raised and the rhythms of a nearby farm.

While the farm provides products for At Sara’s Table, Y-Ker Acres also sells its products for individuals and families, available for pre-order on its website. The farm has a ‘Butcher Box’ option that consists of various pork cuts and products that highlight the uniqueness of the farm’s pigs. The ‘Butcher Box’ is available in a small or large size and is customizable.

Larry Schultz Organic Farm

Another key supplier of the At Sara’s Table menu items is Larry Schultz Organic Farm. The Owatonna, Minn., based operation is a free-range certified and USDA organic operation known statewide for its eggs. The chickens and poul-

try on Larry Schultz’s farm are raised organically and fed certified organic feed.

Raised in natural outdoor conditions, the birds yield wholesome eggs and meat for chefs and home cooks alike. At Sara’s Table relies on these eggs for many of its most pop-

ular breakfast dishes, including the hippie farm breakfast, vegetable omelet, smoked salmon omelet, and more.

Using Schultz’s eggs also aligns with the restaurant’s philosophy of sourcing products with integrity. By choosing organic, pasture-raised eggs, the café signals its commitment to animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and flavor—all qualities Schultz has built his reputation on.

“We’ve been using him for a good 16 or 17 years,” said Ravinski.

Across northern Minnesota and the state, Larry Schultz’s eggs are a familiar presence in local grocery stores and restaurant menus.

The farm-to-table concept for the At Sara’s Table restaurant is simple. Small local farms and producers reduce the distance from the field to the fork. Furthermore, each dish on the menu reflects the restaurant’s choice to work with suppliers who prioritize responsible animal care and sustainable garden produce production.

“A lot of our employees feel proud to do what they’re doing,” Ravinski said. “They’re also invested in the concept and stand behind the products and feel proud to be serving them.”

The At Sara’s Table restaurant takes a practical approach to food by working with trusted local partners, choosing quality ingredients, and letting those ingredients guide the menu. For diners in Duluth, the result is a meal that reflects the community and the people who help produce it—proof that strong relationships with suppliers can be just as important as what happens in the kitchen.

While Bay Produce, Y-ker Acres, and Larry Schultz Organic Farm products help craft the flavor and personality of the restaurant’s menu, numerous other suppliers do just the same. At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Café also incorporates products into their dishes from Love Creamery, Organic Valley, B+W, Food Farm CSA, Duluth’s Best Bread, Positively 3rd Street Bakery, Johnson’s Bakery, Peterson Craftsman Meats, Mino Mashkiki, Simple Gifts, and many more.

At Sara’s Table also grows its own seasonal produce in Chester Gardens, located just across the street from the restaurant. | AT SARA’S TABLE

A pulled pork burrito made with Y-ker Acres pork. | AT SARA’S TABLE

Gold to Ghosts

The History and Haunting of Glensheen Mansion

By Dana Johnson

Magnificent structures, masterful craftsmanship, and murder—the Glensheen Mansion has a rich and impressive history. Touring this iconic estate is an immersive experience that transports you back in time and surrounds you with early 20 th century opulence incomparable to other museums. Also, it may be haunted.

Glensheen is well known for the highly publicized murders that occurred there in 1977, but there are many more things to appreciate about this unique place (and the Congdon family who called it home) that don’t receive as much recognition.

History

“The thing that surprises people the most is the authenticity of the mansion,” says Lead Interpreter Blake Romenesko. “Since Glensheen belonged to one family, all of our furniture, art, books, and fixtures are original to the house,” he explains. “It is truly a time capsule.”

Glensheen Mansion’s story begins in 1890 when the Mesabi Iron Range was discovered—the largest iron ore deposit in all of North America. Chester Congdon, a lawyer in St. Paul at the time, decided to shift his focus from residential and farm properties to representing men buying into the iron ore industry. Soon Congdon was rubbing shoulders with Pittsburgh steelmaker Henry Oliver, and eventually Andrew Carnegie—the richest man in the world. After the steel industry was consolidated in 1901, Congdon began investing in iron ore properties himself, and he quickly became a millionaire. He used his wealth to build a legacy on the shore of Lake Superior in Duluth, with his wife Clara, and kids.

“Glensheen began construction in 1905, and the family moved in at the end of 1908,” Romenesko mentions. “The finished product was an English-inspired country estate on 22 acres with gardens, a boathouse, carriage house, gardener’s cottage, and a 39-room, 20,000 square foot mansion.”

Autumn splendor adds to the grandeur of Glensheen Mansion. The Jacobean-style exterior was designed by Minnesota architect Clarence H. Johnston, with interiors by William A. French. | GLENSHEEN MANSION

“The Congdon family lived at Glensheen for about 70 years before giving the property to the University of Minnesota,” he explains. The museum has been operating since 1979.

Buildings and Grounds

The Carriage House is often the first building visitors notice, and occasionally newcomers mistake it for the mansion. It contains stables for horses and livestock (adorned with Tiffany tiles), a tack room, milking parlor, storage, employee quarters, and maintenance space for carriages and automobiles. Vehicles were stored upstairs using a lift.

North of the Carriage House, situated next to a beautifully tended garden space, is the Gardener’s Cottage (used as office space today). A large variety of produce and flowers are still grown on the grounds with a commitment to historical accuracy, and the food is donated to Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank.

On the lake shore sits the pier and Boathouse, possibly the only structural boathouse left on Lake Superior. It once housed the Congdon’s 53-foot yacht, called Hesperia. Concerts on the Pier draw big crowds here during the summer.

Situated between two creeks and overlooking the lake, Glensheen Mansion looms majestically behind a beautiful fountain and gardens. Congdon named the mansion by combining the words ‘glen,’ inspired by the landscape of the area, and ‘sheen,’ referring to the village of Sheen in Surrey, England, where his family originated. Glensheen means ‘shining glen.’

Inside the mansion are five floors, including the basement and attic. Expensive adornments, furnishings, and collections are found throughout the home, set up and displayed as they would have been when it was occupied. There are surprises to be found around every corner, like envelopes addressed to Mrs. Congdon near a hallway, Chester Congdon’s top hat resting on a chair in his room, and a ‘sitz’ bath in the master bedroom—a small tub used for soaking below the waist.

Romenesko mentioned his favorite feature is the abundance of stained glass, produced by the Linden Glass Company, that adorns

windows and entrances to rooms around the mansion. Much of it is done in the Prairie School style, a progressive design movement that took inspiration from the Midwest prairie landscapes to “create an innovative style unique to America.”

“The stained glass works very well to both blend and contrast this new American style with the older European and Colonial styles that Glensheen is primarily based on,” he explains. The famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright was known for his use of Linden Glass as well.

Maintaining a historic mansion and grounds is not an easy task, and the work is never-ending. Slowing deterioration and preserving integrity is a priority, both inside and out. Currently, the lake side of the mansion is being tuckpointed to fix problems with moisture.

“All buildings have issues, many of those issues come with age, but Glensheen challenges also come with its size,” Romenesko says. “We have a grounds crew of about half-dozen gardeners, and a number of historic housekeepers keeping the house clean.”

Murders and Hauntings

On the morning of June 27, 1977, elderly Elisabeth Congdon and her night nurse, Velma Pietila, were found murdered in the mansion. Elisabeth was smothered under a satin pillow in her bedroom, and Pietila was beaten with a candlestick on the main staircase.

Roger Caldwell, Elisabeth’s son-in-law, was arrested and later convicted of the crimes. Marjorie Caldwell, Elisabeth’s adopted daughter, was also arrested, but later acquitted. Inheritance was thought to be the motivation. The multifaceted story has fascinated people for nearly 50 years.

“The murders are a draw to the mansion, and we recognize it is a part of the history of the estate, however we do not dwell on the event too much,” says Romenesko. “There have been four books written on the topic and there is plenty of information, and speculation, online.”

Also found online are first-hand accounts of spooky experiences, including cold

spots where the murders took place, faces in windows, sudden feelings of sadness or joy, flickering lights, objects changing places, and shadowy or wispy figures moving through hallways and rooms.

Others remain skeptical.

“It’s kind of funny in that working at Glensheen made me stop believing in ghosts,” Romenesko shares, mentioning a strong interest in the paranormal growing up. “Working at Glensheen for the time I have, I see how rumors start, stories evolve, and simple things become mysteries,” he explains.

“While I will say I do not believe in ghosts, those rare moments when I am alone in the dark mansion at night, my mind might think otherwise.”

Glensheen Mansion

Today

A well-preserved, maintained and unique historical place, Glensheen Mansion has many stories to tell.

Tours are available daily, with self-guided tours being the most popular option. Visitors may also choose to book a ‘Lock and Key’ guided tour that shows areas not otherwise available to the public and provides insights about the lives of those who worked and lived at Glensheen.

Autumn is an excellent time of year to explore the estate, especially if you’re seeking a spookier experience. Special Lantern Tours are available on Friday and Saturday throughout the month of October. These guided, family-friendly evening tours offer a more intimate journey through the estate, lit only by lantern glow. “The tour highlights things you may have missed on daytime tours, or things that really shine at night,” Romenesko mentions.

A Glensheen Speakeasy event takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Tickets to this History Happy Hour include a complimentary drink, light hors d’oeuvres, and an engaging talk about prohibition by historian Tony Dierckins. Must be 21 years or older to attend.

If you’re limited on time and budget, a self-guided tour of the grounds is only $5, which includes the Carriage House, gardens, lake shore, wooded area, and courtyard. For all ticket options and more information, visit glensheen.org.

A majestic, burnt-orange fireplace made of rare Numidian marble makes a bold statement in the mansion's impressive living room. | DANA JOHNSON

Displayed in the library are portraits of Clara and Chester Congdon, painted by Swedish immigrant David Ericson between 1904-1907. | DANA JOHNSON

With landscaping by Charles Leavitt, the formal garden includes a large fountain carved from solid marble made by George Thrana of Duluth. It was delivered by a horse-drawn carriage in 1913. | GLENSHEEN MANSION

By Breana Johnson

October Artwork

October brings new exhibits along the shore to Split Rock Lighthouse, Tettegouche State Park, the Johnson Heritage Post in Grand Marais, and galleries in Duluth and Thunder Bay. Check out our events calendar for more information.

Jess Lindell of Aquila Watercolor will showcase her work at Tettegouche State Park this month, with an opening reception held Oct. 3 from 7-8:30 p.m. This piece is titled “Deer.” | JESS LINDELL

oil painting, titled “Breaking

is open from Oct. 10-Nov.

The exhibit Agawaatebiigisin(itisreflectedinthewater), featuring Justine Gustafson, will be on display at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery from Oct. 3 to Jan. 11. The exhibit is named after this beaded, double-sided hide bag, with each side reflecting the other.

| CHONDON PHOTOGRAPHY & JUSTINE GUSTAFSON

|

Shelley Getten is the artist of the month at Split Rock Lighthouse. This mixed media piece is titled “Eye of the Beeholder.”

| SHELLEY GETTEN

Thunder Bay glass artist Gayle Church will hold a solo exhibition titled Fragile at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery from Oct. 3 to Jan. 4. This glass piece is titled “Find Your Space.”

| GAYLE CHURCH

|

This

Light on Jon’s Bog,” by Neila Harper French, is part of the Days to Remember exhibit, which also features artwork by Kurt Schulzetenberg. The exhibit

2 at the Johnson Heritage Post.

NEILA HARPER FRENCH

This acrylic piece by Mandel Cameron, titled “The River,” is part of the Duluth Art Institute’s 65th Arrowhead Regional Biennial Juried Group Show, held from Oct. 6 to Dec. 19.

MANDEL CAMERON

Jamie Rex

The Colorful Outdoor Clothing Creator

Creative Space: By Shelby Lonne-Rogentine

Fall is officially here! With it comes the layers that Northlanders need to survive the dropping temperatures. Oftentimes, these clothing pieces can be neutral in color and unremarkable. Northerners tend to prioritize utility in their fall and winter accessories. A rainbow amidst the swirling gray of winter, Jamie Rex of Hovland brings color and patterns to the mix—as well as winter usability—with her company, North Road Knits.

“I remember having a pivotal moment where I was at the mall, and I saw this beautiful scarf. It was kind of scrappy; it had lots of different yarns in it. I thought to myself, ‘I really want to make something like that, but those aren’t really my colors,’” said Rex, regarding the spark that began her knitting career.

That was the moment she decided to start creating pieces that inspired her. Rex began making what she describes as “funky” little hats and scarves for her kids and herself.

“The thing that kind of turned it into a business was a day when my sons were in preschool and going on a field trip to an orchard. I was wearing a scarf I had made, and a woman asked me to make her one in her colors. That was the first thing I sold, and I’ve been doing it ever since. It’s been about 17 years now,” said Rex.

As her business grew, Rex decided to go

full time as a maker once her kids were older. Her website now sells knitting patterns, a variety of yarns, hats, headbands, sets, neckwear, and goods from other makers. Her products can also be found in Lutsen and Grand Marais area businesses, including Clearview General Store, the Mountain Shop at Lutsen Mountains, Dappled Fern Fibers, Sisu and Löyly Sauna, and Joy and Co. Not only that, but she also has a setup in downtown Grand Marais at the Art Sheds beside the Beaver House (across from Superior Creamery). She writes on her website, “I rarely make the same thing twice, so many of the knits are one of a kind.”

North Road Knits has a very active Instagram page, with the latest creations displayed for those who might not be in the area. Rex’s husband, Theo, was previously in the military, so her family moved a bit because of this. She has always had a pull toward being what she calls a “historian” when it comes to photography. “Social media was just a natural place for me,” she said. While the items are beautiful, their creation is not easy. Dexterity, strength, and stamina are crucial to being able to knit often. Rex said she sees a physical therapist to keep up those important muscles. “If I don’t pay attention, the stress of things going on in the world and everything can affect my

knitting. It can get tighter, and my arms start to hurt. It’s a lot of actually training my body,” said Rex. Rex is one of the vendors participating in the Art Along the Lake event happening throughout Cook County. The event takes

place Sept. 26 through Oct. 5. The event website describes it as “the unique opportunity to meet local artists in their home studios and gain insights into their creative processes.” Rex is incredibly excited for the event. “It’s magical to get to go into people’s studios and see how they set up their creative space. It’s really special to see an artist in their element,” she said.

One of the expected North Road Knits bestsellers for the event—as well as in her other selling spots? “I am currently making a ton of headbands. Headbands are able to breathe a little bit better, so if I am out snowshoeing [or doing another outdoor winter activity], I prefer a headband, so I don’t overheat. Fingerless mittens are also big right now. I don’t know what it is, but people love those right now. I can’t quite keep them in stock,” said Rex.

Rex’s advice for those hoping to turn their craft into a small business? “Try to be vulnerable and just put yourself out there. Surround yourself with people who are already doing it.”

To view Jamie Rex’s creations, visit: northroadknits.com. To learn more about Art Along the Lake, including a map of other vendors and makers participating, visit: artalongthelake.com.

Hovland artist Jamie Rex has been knitting colorful hats, scarves, headbands, and more, for about 17 years. Her products can be found online and at various businesses in Cook County. | SUBMITTED

Jamie Rex holds one of her colorful creations. | SUBMITTED

ART ALONG THE LAKE

Sept. 26-Oct. 5 Fall in Cook County is a time of tumultuous beauty, so take some time to explore the colors and meet artists during the self-led Art Along the Lake tour. Stops include home studios, as well as galleries, with guest artists. All locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. This year includes 25 locations participating, such as Betsy Bowen Studio & Gallery, Hannah Palma Ceramics, Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery, Jo Wood Bead Art, Joy & Company, Linda Ricklefs Baudry, Neil Sherman Studio, North House Folk School, Grand Marais Art Colony, Vahle Fine Art, and more. A full list of participants and locations can be found online. artalongthelake.com

PUMPKIN JUNCTION

Sept. 26-Nov. 2 Experience the magic of fall with a full lineup of fun, family-friendly outdoor activities at Burlington Station in Two Harbors. Pumpkin Junction will feature a corn pit to jump and play in, a burlap maze

full of twists and turns, great photo opportunities, a mining adventure sluice where you can uncover treasures like a genuine prospector, seasonal surprises, and more. facebook.com/burlingtonstationtwoharbors

HECK OF THE NORTH

Oct. 4, Saturday The 17th Annual Heck of the North gravel bike races will start and finish on the East Alger Grade, North Shore State Trail parking lots (north of Two Har-

bors on Hwy 61). There will be three course options: a 105-mile course, a 56 milecourse, and a 19-mile course (perfect for those new to gravel cycling). The races will take place in waves, starting at 8 a.m. with the 105-mile race. The 56-mile race will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 19-mile race at 9 a.m. Race registration is required (riders 18 and younger ride free with an adult). heckofthenorth.com

HARVEST BOOYA FESTIVAL

Oct. 4, Saturday The annual Harvest Booya Festival has been a 31-year tradition in Finland, celebrating community and serving a traditional booya stew. Held at the Clair Nelson Center, this year’s celebration features live Finnish music all day, delicious food, local vendors and crafters, apple cider pressing, activities for kids, and more. Harvest Booya Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. facebook.com/finlandbooya

BOREALIS

Oct. 11, Saturday Borealis, the dynamic tenor-bass chamber ensemble of the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus, will perform at 7 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais on Oct. 11. Borealis is dedicated to creating powerful musical experiences that inspire and uplift. With artistry and a commitment to inclusivity at the heart of their work, the 20-voice ensemble performs a diverse repertoire that spans historic, contemporary, and cultural choral music. From Bach to Bologna, Borealis brings audiences heartfelt—and sometimes comical—performances that embody their mission to promote equality, belonging, and the power of music to connect and heal. Tickets are offered on a sliding scale of $10 to $30, with children 12 and under free. northshoremusicassociation.com

NORTH SHORE OKTOBERFEST

Oct. 11, Saturday The North Shore Oktoberfest at Bluefin Bay Family of Resorts is back for its second year. Held from noon

The 18th annual Hunger Halloween festival, held Oct. 31 in downtown Thunder Bay, features 56 performance acts taking place at nine venues. | SUBMITTED

| LINDA BAUDRY

North Shore Oktoberfest will feature games for all ages. | SUBMITTED

Where can I find Northern Wilds in Thunder Bay?

to 6 p.m. in Tofte, this fun, family-friendly event will feature authentic German fare, local Oktoberfest beer, live polka, fun games and contests like steinholding, hammerschlagen, and bingo, plus an extensive local craft fair and kids’ activities. This is a free event, open to everyone. bluefinbay.com

BOO AT THE ZOO

Advanced Auto

Bay Village Coffee House

Calico Coffee House

Comfort Inn

Dawson Diner

D&R Sporting Goods

Entershine Bookshop

European Meats & Store

Fireweed Store

Fort William Historical Park

1

George’s Market Goods and Co.

K&A Variety / Gas Station

Lulu’s Variety Store

Prince Arthur Hotel

Seattle Coffee House

Thunder Bay Museum

The Superior Inn

Victoria’s Cupboard and many more!

Oct. 11, 18, & 25 Your family’s annual fall tradition is back on Oct. 11, Oct. 18, and Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring the whole family and explore the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth with endless trick-or-treating stations, a fall Boo-tique craft show, magic shows, face painting, a mini pumpkin hunt, special Halloween-themed animal treats, food trucks, a bubble train, a pumpkin patch, games and activities, and more. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Day-of non-member tickets are $20, or $15 if purchased in advance; ages 2 and under are free. lszoo.org

THUNDER BAY

RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Oct. 11-12 Hear ye, hear ye! The inaugural Thunder Bay Renaissance Faire will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Murillo Fairgrounds. This new, cultural event invites attendees to dress in their best medieval or fantasy apparel, enjoy live entertainment, and browse artisan booths and food vendors. Watch full-contact jousting, try your hand in combat with workshops and demonstrations, bring the kids to mermaid storytime, and blow bubbles with fairies. There will also be educational exhibits, live music, dance performances, improv theatrics, festival games, a merchant marketplace, a children’s area, and more. Admission info can be found online. oliveragriculturalsociety.com/tbrf

SENIOR GO SHOW

Oct. 14, Tuesday Today’s seniors and soonto-be-seniors are active; they are still work-

ing, helping raise their grandkids, vacationing, crafting, building—they are still going. Located at the Duluth Decc, the Go Show will help you find all the information you need as you get older. Visit with over 100 exhibitors featuring information on traveling, remodeling, finding new hobbies, estate planning, healthcare, and more. Held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be live music, guest speakers, prizes, free samples and services, and more. Free tickets are available online and free event parking is provided courtesy of Medica. goshowexpo.com

TERROR IN THE BAY FILM FESTIVAL

Oct. 15-18 Northwestern Ontario’s top horror-themed film festival is back for its ninth year in Thunder Bay, held from 7-11:45 p.m. nightly at Paramount Theatre. Each night, different horror films from around the world will be screened—from slasher films and slow-burn suspense, to supernatural thrillers, creature features, and comedy horror. Other features include

the “Blood Red Carpet” photo shoot, a food concession stand, local vendor tables, prizes, and more. Guests are encouraged to dress up in costumes. Tickets can be purchased online. terrorinthebay.com

FAMILY WEEKEND

Oct. 16-18

Coinciding with MEA weekend in Minnesota, North House Folk School in Grand Marais hosts a long weekend of family activities. There will be over a dozen classes offered, some for kids only, others for adults and kids to take together. The weekend includes both formal classes (registration required) and drop-in activities, such as a lantern making drop-in class that will be used for a lantern walk in the evening. There will also be games, s’mores, a contra dance, and more. A full schedule can be found online. northhouse.org

MOOSE MADNESS FESTIVAL

Oct. 16-18

A Moose is loose in Grand Marais during the Moose Madness Festival, hosted by Visit Cook County. This annual event is the ultimate family-focused celebration of all things moose. Enjoy the outdoors and learn a few facts about the area’s celebrated mascot along the way with fun activities throughout downtown. There will be scavenger hunts, quizzes, donut bingo, face painting, free art stations, a rock skipping contest, a lantern parade, a nature hike, and more. And don’t miss the Moose Mad-

Kids will enjoy endless trick-or-treating stations during Lake Superior Zoo's Boo at the Zoo event. | SUBMITTED

ness Mountain Bike Race on Oct. 18, held on the Pincushion Mountain bike trails. A full schedule of events can be found online. visitcookcounty.com/moosemadness

LAKE SUPERIOR PARANORMAL CONVENTION

Oct. 16-19 Step into the unknown at the Lake Superior Paranormal Convention in Thunder Bay. This event brings together ghost hunters, psychic mediums, sasquatch and UFO experts, authors, and paranormal researchers for an unforgettable weekend of discovery. Explore over 50 unique vendors, attend fascinating speaker sessions, informative workshops, and take part in spooky experiences like a sasquatch expedition, ghost stories by the fire, and an after-hours paranormal investigation. Whether you’re a believer, skeptic, or just curious, the Lake Superior Paracon has something for everyone. lakesuperiorparacon.com

WILD DULUTH RACES

Oct. 18-19 The Wild Duluth Races comprise of four trail races, a 100k, 50k, half marathon, and 10k, with various start and end points (Bayfront Park, Jay Cooke State Park, Munger Trail, Spirit Mountain, etc.) and all traverse the outskirts and even through Duluth neighborhoods. The fall colors should be in full peak and the weather could be brisk, which is great for running. Runners who complete various combinations of races can be dubbed a Wildwoman or Wildman. Registration, volunteer, and spectator information can be found online. wildduluthraces.com

EMPTY BOWLS FUNDRAISER

Oct. 19, Sunday The 26th annual Thunder Bay Empty Bowls fundraiser will again be held at the Ryan Hall Cafeteria in the Shuniah Building at Confederation College. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the sit-down dinner will take place from 5:30-8 p.m. Tickets are $40 each, which includes soup, a roll, and dessert, along with your choice of a hand-crafted pottery bowl. There will also be raffles, a 50/50 draw, and other items available for purchase. Or purchase a take-out meal, available from 1:303 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online. emptybowlsthunderbay.com

SUPERIOR NIGHTMARE 5K

Oct. 25, Saturday Grab your family and friends for this fun and spooky 3.1-mile race, held at 11 a.m. at Wessman Arena in Superior. Held in coordination with the city’s annual Superior Spooktacular, this race offers participants a mix of scary surprises and haunted hijinks to go along with a family-friendly costume race, with costume prizes. There will also be free Spider Dash races for the kids, starting at 11:45 p.m., which will lead directly into the Superior Spooktacular Halloween parade, held at 12:30 p.m. And there will be plenty of trick-or-treating options before and after you run. Race registration info and fees can be found online. grandmasmarathon.com

SPOOKTACULAR CARNIVAL

Oct. 31, Friday Visit the Green Door in Beaver Bay for a Spooktacular Carnival, held from noon to 7 p.m. There will be Halloween-themed carnival games for all ages, candy prizes, a mini walk-through haunted house, a bouncy house for children aged 1 to 10, a pumpkin decorating station, a hot cocoa and s’mores building station, and more. Baptism River Barbecue will also be in attendance. More info can be found on Facebook under Green Door – Beaver Bay.

THE HUNGER 18

Oct. 31, Friday If it’s Halloween, then it must be The Hunger. Held downtown Thunder Bay as a fundraiser for Definitely Superior Art Gallery, the 18th annual Hunger Halloween festival features 56 performance acts—including 38 live bands and DJs—taking place at nine venues, including The Foundry, Black Pirates Pub, Nortenos Cantina, Red Lion Smokehouse, and more. There will be thousands in costume contest prizes at each location, so be sure to dress up. The party goes from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and a cover charge of $20 gets you into all venues. definitelysuperior.com

The 26th annual Thunder Bay Empty Bowls fundraiser will feature a simple meal of soup, a roll, and dessert, along with your choice of a hand-crafted pottery bowl. | SUBMITTED

OCTOBER

NORTHERN WILDS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Thru Oct. 5

Plein Air 2025 Exhibition Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Thru Oct. 9

Weaving Ancestry Exhibition: Martha Bird Nordic Center, Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org

Thru Oct. 12

Culture Days Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca/culturedays

Thru Oct. 19

Monica Ihrke: Invasive Plants in My Backyard Hartley Nature Center, Duluth, monicaihrke.com

Thru Oct. 25

Fall Exhibition: Hazel Belvo: Walking the Croftville Road Studio 21, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

Thru Oct. 26

The Haunted Lakehead: Port Arthur Ghosts & Gore Thunder Bay, facebook.com/hauntedlakehead

Thru Nov. 3

Resident Personalities: Sarah Gatlin Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth, glaquarium.org

Thru Nov. 22

Liminal: Juried Exhibition Definitely Superior Thunder Bay, definitelysuperior.com

Thru Dec. 31

Can-Car & The Rosies Thunder Bay Museum, thunderbaymuseum.com

Sept. 25-Oct. 11

Bigfoot Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, magnustheatre.com

Sept. 26-Oct. 5

Art Along the Lake 10 a.m. Cook County, artalongthelake.com

Sept. 26-Oct. 18

Muse 12x12 Exhibition Studio 21, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

Sept. 26-Nov. 2

Pumpkin Junction Burlington Station, Two Harbors, facebook.com/burlingtonstationtwoharbors

Sept. 27-Oct. 31

Pumpkin Palooza Duluth Studio Market, Duluth, facebook.com/duluthmarket

Oct. 1, Wednesday

Arrowhead Cooperative Member Appreciation Lunch 11:30 p.m. Schaap Community Center, Gunflint Trail, 218-663-7239

Oct. 1-31

Photography & Art at the Rock: Shelley Getten Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, mnhs.org/splitrock

Oct. 2, Thursday

Chasing Waterfalls Tour 10 a.m.

Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberryfalls

Coffee & Concert 1 p.m.

Two Harbors Community Center, facebook.com/communitypartnersth

Grand Marais Farmers Market 4:30 p.m.

Community Center Parking Lot, Grand Marais, facebook.com/grandmaraisfarmersmarket

Finland Farmers Market 5 p.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland, finlandfarmersmarket.com

Oct. 3, Friday

Harvest Celebration & Local Foods Potluck

5 p.m. Cook County Community Center, Grand Marais, northwoodsfoodproject.org

Weaving Ancestry: Artist Presentation 6 p.m. Nordic Center, Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org

An Evening of Slovenian Cinema 6 p.m. Ely’s Historic State Theater, northernlakesarts.org

CCHE Fundraiser & Royal Tea Talk 6:15 p.m.

Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, mycche.org

CWE Rumble to Remember Tour 6:30 p.m. Moose Hall, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/cwecanada

Ikons of Rock 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Oct. 3-5

Gourd Days 10 a.m. Decc: Harbor Drive, Duluth, facebook.com/duluthloveslocal

Oct. 3-31

Artist of the Month: Jess Lindell: Aquila Watercolor (Reception Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.)

Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche

Duluth Haunted Ship (Thurs.-Sat.) William A. Irvin, Duluth, duluthhauntedship.com

Oct. 3-Jan. 4

Gayle Church: Fragile Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Oct. 3-Jan. 11

Justine Gustafson: Agawaatebiigisin (it is reflected in the water) Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Oct. 4, Saturday

Beargrease Fur-K Festival Duluth, beargrease.com

UpRiver Running Fall Races 7 a.m. Kinsmen Park, Thunder Bay, upriverrunning.com Heck of the North 8 a.m. Two Harbors, heckofthenorth.com

Spook-Tacular Vendor Market 8 a.m. CLE Heritage, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/aemarketsco

Slovenian History, Culture & Cuisine Festival 10 a.m. The Depot, Duluth, thehistorypeople.org

Ely TreeFest 10 a.m. Whiteside Park, Ely, facebook.com/bwcaw

Harvest Booya Festival 11 a.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland, facebook.com/finlandbooya Market at the Moose 11 a.m. Moose Hall, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

YA Author Meet & Greet: CS Yelle: Northern Lights: Coded to Kill 11 a.m. Zenith Bookstore, Duluth, zenithbookstore.com

Up Yonder Car Show Noon, Up Yonder, Grand Marais, upyonderon61.com

Rainbow Revival 1 p.m. CLE Coliseum, Thunder Bay, thunderpride.ca

Fall Color Hike 2 p.m. Lutsen SNA, visitcookcounty.com/events

Thunder Bay Witches Walk 3 p.m. Belluz Farms, Slate River, thundercon.ca

NLAA’s 40th Anniversary Gala 6 p.m. The Boathouse, Ely, northernlakesarts.org

Colter Wall & Friends Tour 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Oct. 4-5

Artisan Workshop Weekend Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, fwhp.ca

Local Artisan Fall Market 10 a.m. Creekside Nursery & Garden Centre, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/creeksidenurserygardencentre

Oct. 5, Sunday

CIBC Run for the Cure 8:30 a.m. Royal Legion Stadium, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/runforthecurethunderbay

Clover Valley Farm Trail Noon, Two Harbors & Duluth, clovervalleyfarmtrail.com

Family Art Day 1 p.m. Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Weekend Wine Down 3:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Oct. 6-Dec. 19

65th Arrowhead Regional Biennial: Juried Group Show (Reception Oct. 23 at 5:30 p.m.) Duluth Art Institute, duluthart.org

Oct. 7, Tuesday

Arrowhead Cooperative Member Appreciation Lunch 11:30 p.m. Grand Portage Community Center, 218-663-7239

Community Candlelight Vigil for Remembrance & Hope 5:30 p.m. Studio 21, Grand Marais, violencepreventioncenter.org

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

Wheel of Fortune Live! 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Oct. 9, Thursday

Grand Marais Farmers Market 4:30 p.m. Community Center Parking Lot, Grand Marais, facebook.com/grandmaraisfarmersmarket

Kevin Craft: Stand Up Comedy 6 p.m. Larsmont Trading Post, Two Harbors, lovinlakecounty.com

Celebrity Dance Challenge 7 p.m. Depot Theater, Duluth, minnesotaballet.org

Oct. 9-12

Annual Apple Festival Grand Marais, visitcookcounty.com/events

Oct. 10, Friday

Out to Lunch 11:30 a.m. Judy’s Café, Two Harbors, facebook.com/communitypartnersth Arrowhead Cooperative Member Appreciation Lunch 11:30 p.m. Arrowhead Cooperative Office, Lutsen, 218-663-7239

Witches Walk 6 p.m. Goods & Co. Market, Thunder Bay, shop-co-101555.square.site

Free Film: Moby Dick 6 p.m. Cook County Community Center, Grand Marais, visitcookcounty.com/events

TBSO: True Delights 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Oct. 10-12

The Legend of Sleepy Hallow Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

Oct. 10-Nov. 2

Days to Remember Art Exhibit: Neila Harper & Kurt Shulzentenburg (Reception Oct. 10 at 5 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Oct. 11, Saturday

Haunted Harbour Family Days Alexander Henry, Thunder Bay, ourkidscount.ca

Walk to End Alzheimer’s 9:30 a.m. The Hub, Grand Marais, carepartnersofcookcounty.org Boo at the Zoo 10 a.m. Lake Superior Zoo, Duluth, lszoo.org

Nice Girls of the North Marketplace 10 a.m. Spirit of the Lake Community Arts, Duluth, nicegirlsofthenorth.com

Herring Fry & Octoberfest 11 a.m.

The Green Door, Beaver Bay, facebook.com/baptismriverbbq

Chasing Waterfalls Tour 11 a.m. Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberryfalls

North Shore Oktoberfest Noon, Bluefin Bay Family of Resorts, Tofte, bluefinbay.com

Art Supply Swap 1 p.m. Studio 21, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

Author Meet & Greet: Linda LeGarde Grover: A Song Over Miskwaa Rapids 1 p.m. Zenith Bookstore, Duluth, zenithbookstore.com

Storytelling: From the Back Roads of Cook County 2 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Diwali Night: Festival of Lights 6:30 p.m. Moose Hall, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

Green Room Series: Freud’s Last Session 7 p.m. Cambrian Players, Thunder Bay, facebook. com/cambrianplayers

Borealis: Chamber Ensemble of the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus 7 p.m. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, northshoremusicassociation.com

Oct. 11-12

Thunder Bay Renaissance Faire 10 a.m. Murillo Fairgrounds, Murillo, oliveragriculturalsociety.com/tbrf North Shorror Exhibition (Reception Oct. 11 at 6 p.m.) The Depot, Duluth, facebook.com/ stlouiscountydepot

Oct. 12, Sunday

Reed Tetzloff on Piano 3 p.m. College of St. Scholastica: Mitchell Auditorium, Duluth, matineemusicale.org

Weekend Wine Down 3:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Oct. 13, Monday

Canadian Thanksgiving Day

Indigenous People’s Day

Chasing Waterfalls Tour 10 a.m.

Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberryfalls

Haunted History Talk 5:30 p.m. Fairlawn Mansion, Superior, superiorhistoricproperties.org

Grief Group 6:30 p.m. Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, carepartnersofcookcounty.org

Oct. 14, Tuesday

Senior Go Show 9 a.m. Decc, Duluth, goshowexpo.com

Call of the Wild Poetry 4:30 p.m. Vermilion Fine Arts Theater, Ely, northernlakesarts.org

Nazareth: Canadian Farewell Tour 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Oct. 15, Wednesday

Antique Appraisal Noon, The Depot Rotunda, Duluth, thehistorypeople.org

Oct. 15-18

Aanikoobijiganag Beading Symposium Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Terror in the Bay Film Festival 6:30 p.m. Paramount Theatre, Thunder Bay, terrorinthebay.com

Oct. 16, Thursday

DyAnne Korda: Nighthawk Storyteller Book Release Party & Open Mic 6 p.m. The Boathouse, Ely, ely.org/events

Mania: The ABBA Tribute 7:30 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Oct. 16-17

David Hahn Days 10 a.m. Studio 21, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

Oct. 16-18

Family Weekend North House Folk School, Grand Marais, northhouse.org

Moose Madness Festival Grand Marais, visitcookcounty.com/moosemadness

Oct. 16-19

Lake Superior Paranormal Convention Thunder Bay, lakesuperiorparacon.com

Oct. 16-Nov. 2

The Shark is Broken 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

Oct. 17, Friday

David Larochelle & Colleen Muske Meet & Greet: How to Draw a Tree 11 a.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com

Walker Hayes & Harper Grace: Unplugged 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Ely’s Got Talent 7 p.m. Ely’s Historic State Theater, northernlakesarts.org

Oct. 17-19

Rock N’ Gem Show 10 a.m. CLE Coliseum, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/canadagemshows

Oct. 18, Saturday

Moose Madness Mountain Bike Race 9 a.m.

Pincushion Mountain Bike Trails, Grand Marais, visitcookcounty.com

Boo at the Zoo 10 a.m. Lake Superior Zoo, Duluth, lszoo.org

Meet & Greet with Illustrator Betsy Bowen: Leaf Town Forever 11 a.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com

Co-op Mural Celebration 1 p.m. Cook County

Whole Foods Co-op, Grand Marais

Octoberfest Fundraiser 5 p.m.

Two Harbors American Legion, facebook.com/communitypartnersth

Potluck & Popcorn Bingo 5:30 p.m.

Colvill Town Hall, 218-387-2487

Prairie Moon ANYE: A Neil Young Experience 6:30 p.m. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 5, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

TBSO: The Look of Love 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Oct. 18-19

Wild Duluth Races Duluth, wildduluthraces.com

Halloween Hoot Noon, Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, fwhp.ca

Oct. 19, Sunday

Empty Bowls Fundraiser 1:30 p.m.

Confederation College: Shuniah Building, Thunder Bay, emptybowlsthunderbay.com

World Ballet Company: The Great Gatsby Ballet 6 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

An Evening with David Sedaris 8 p.m. NorShor Theatre, Duluth, norshortheatre.com

Jess Moskaluke: Life For Me Tour 8 p.m.

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Oct. 20, Monday

They Brought Their Songs: Caleigh 1 p.m.

Duluth Public Library, alslib.info

Cook County Curling Club Kick Off Party

5:30 p.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, cookcountycurlingclub.com

Oct. 21, Tuesday

Portage Land Storytelling Events 4:30 p.m.

Vermilion Fine Arts Theater, Ely, northernlakesarts.org

Author Talk with Janis Fairbanks: Sugar Bush Babies 7 p.m. Zenith Bookstore, Duluth, zenithbookstore.com

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

Oct. 22, Wednesday

Evening Bingo 4 p.m. Two Harbors Community Center, facebook.com/communitypartnersth

Oct. 23, Thursday

They Brought Their Songs: Caleigh 1 p.m. Two Harbors Public Library, alslib.info

Night at the Museum 6 p.m. Two Harbors Depot Museum, facebook.com/lakecountyhs

They Brought Their Songs: Caleigh 6 p.m.

Silver Bay Public Library, alslib.info

Thunder Bay in Concert: Canadian Folk 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Oct. 23-25

Phantoms of the Galleries 5 p.m. Thunder Bay Museum, thunderbaymuseum.com

Oct. 24, Friday

Frankenstein & The Creature from the Black Lagoon! 3:15 p.m. Ely Public Library, elylibrary.org

They Brought Their Songs: Caleigh 5 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, alslib.info

Free Film: The Man With the Golden Arm 6 p.m. Cook County Community Center, Grand Marais, visitcookcounty.com/events

TBSO: Pilgrimage 7:30 p.m. St. Paul’s United Church, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca

Oct. 24-26

Giselle UMD’s Marshall Performing Arts Center, Duluth, minnesotaballet.org

Oct. 25, Saturday

Superior Spooktacular

(Parade at 12:30 p.m.) Superior, WI, facebook.com/superiorspooktacular

Trick or Treat in the BIA 10 a.m. Red River Road, Thunder Bay, waterfrontdistrict.ca

Boo at the Zoo 10 a.m. Lake Superior Zoo, Duluth, lszoo.org

Superior Nightmare 5K 11 a.m. Wessman Arena, Superior, grandmasmarathon.com

Eek! The Depot 11 a.m. The Depot, Duluth, facebook.com/stlouiscountydepot

Author Meet & Greet: Luke Moravec: Ghost Town Run 11 a.m. Zenith Bookstore, Duluth, zenithbookstore.com

Sweat 4 Vets Noon, Lakewalk in Canal Park: Endion Inn, Duluth, bit.ly/sweat4vetsduluth

Author Talk with Janis Fairbanks: Sugar Bush Babies 6 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com

Blues Shakedown 6 p.m. DaVinci Centre, Thunder Bay, thunderbaybluessociety.ca

Oct. 25-26

Halloween Hoot Noon, Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, fwhp.ca

Oct. 26, Sunday

Off-Road Half Marathon 10 a.m. Kamview Nordic Centre, Thunder Bay, tbnordictrails.com

Harvest Craft Market 10 a.m. Thunder Bay 55 Plus Centre, facebook.com/tbay55pluscentre Cook County Curling Club Open House 1 p.m. Cook County Community Center, Grand Marais, cookcountycurlingclub.com

Birch Grove Halloween Carnival 2 p.m. Birch Grove Community School, Tofte, birchgroveschool.com

Oct. 27, Monday

Needle Art Guild Luncheon 11 a.m. Kenwood Lutheran Church, Duluth Grief Group 6:30 p.m. Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, carepartnersofcookcounty.org

Oct. 28, Tuesday

Naomi Yaeger Book Launch: Blooming Hollyhocks 6:30 p.m. Wussow’s Concert Café, Duluth, naomiwriteswords.com

Public Lecture: United Church of Canada: Dr. Ernie Epp 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Museum, thunderbaymuseum.com

Oct. 28-29

The Book of Mormon 7:30 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Oct. 28-30

Scarium at the Aquarium 4 p.m. Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth, glaquarium.org

Oct. 29, Wednesday

They Brought Their Songs: Caleigh 1 p.m. Ely Public Library, alslib.info

Free Writing Workshop with Brian Malloy: Personal Essay 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, grandmaraislibrary.org

Oct. 30, Thursday

They Brought Their Songs: Caleigh 6 p.m. West Duluth Branch Library, alslib.info

Oct. 30-Nov. 15

Chase the Ace Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, magnustheatre.com

Oct. 31, Friday

Halloween

Dagwood’s Slightly Batty Halloween 2 p.m. Dagwoods Bakery & Deli, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/dagwoodsbakery

Spooktacular Carnival Noon, The Green Door, Beaver Bay, Facebook:Green Door–Beaver Bay

DJ Unity Halloween Costume Party 9 p.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, upyonderon61.com

The Hunger 18 9 p.m. Downtown Thunder Bay, definitelysuperior.com

Halloween Party 9 a.m. Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, grandportage.com

WEEKLY EVENTS

Tuesdays

Locals Night with Live Music 5 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Wednesdays

Game Day for Adults 1 p.m.

Two Harbors Public Library, facebook.com/communitypartnersth Duluth Farmers Market 2 p.m. Duluth Farmers Market, duluthfarmersmarket.com

Thunder Bay Country Market 3:30 p.m. CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca

Thursdays

Thursday Night Art 3:30 p.m. Joy & Company, Grand Marais, joy-and-company.com

Drop-In Modern Dance Classes 6 p.m. Colvill Town Hall, dropinpractice@gmail.com

Date Night with Live Music 6:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Silent Disco Dance Party (Thru Oct. 16) 7 p.m. Caribou Highlands Courtyard, Lutsen, visitcookcounty.com/events

Fridays

Victory Chorus 10 a.m. Community Partners, Two Harbors, facebook.com/communitypartnersth Barbara Jean & Mike Lewis 4:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Saturdays

Thunder Bay Country Market 8 a.m.

CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca Duluth Farmers Market 8 a.m. Duluth Farmers Market, duluthfarmersmarket.com

Cook County Market (Thru Oct. 18) 10 a.m. The Hub Parking Lot, Grand Marais, facebook.com/ccfarmandcraft

Two Harbors Farmers Market (Thru Oct. 18) 10 a.m. Seagren’s Home Hardware Outdoors, Two Harbors, facebook.com/twoharborsfarmersmarket What’s for Dinner? 7 p.m. International Wolf Center, Ely, wolf.org

Lakeside Dining Full Bar Sun-Wed 11am-8pm, Thurs-Sat 11am-9pm Until Oct 19. Re-open Dec 26 for the winter season

Lakeside Cabins | Campground

5th-wheel Tents Water & Electric Hook-up Watercraft Rental Kayak Fishing Boat Canoe Pontoon

Eight Months of Winter Live Band Performing Sat Oct 18, Starts at 8pm

Locally

Operated

The North Shore Dish

Brewed with Personality: Local Coffee Shops

By Virginia George

One thing I love about coffee shops is each one has its own personality. I was at work last week, and a coworker said he was going to a coffee shop to work off-campus, but he said he was going to one that is clear across town—nowhere near either our office or his house. Logically, there were at least five coffee shops that were closer, but this particular one has big windows that let the sunlight stream in. We hadn’t had much sun in a while, and he wanted to work in the sunshine.

Some coffee shops double as a wine bar or an art gallery, and others simply serve coffee. Sometimes trying a new place can be intimidating, but it is often worth it as you discover new and interesting places and people. Maybe one of these coffee shops will be just the place to adventure the next time you’re looking for a beverage, or a place to hang out. This month, I’m excited to share about White Pine Market in Two Harbors, Northern Grounds in Ely, and Dolce Coffee Shop in Thunder Bay.

White Pine Market, Two Harbors

White Pine Market is located right on Highway 61. It has a dark blue gable with striking pine trim and a small porch, which is often decorated for the season. White Pine Market is truly a market, and there are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore. The market is full of women’s and baby clothing, personal care items, kitchen accessories, and more.

White Pine Market offers a variety of coffee and non-coffee drinks from house brew to cold brew to blended drinks and iced shaken delights. Their drinks have a bit of travel theme, with the Toronto as a blended turtle mocha, and the Seattle, a double shot of espresso with white chocolate and half and half over ice. They also have dairy-free options like oat milk, and you might want to try the Havana, which is a brown sugar and cinnamon oat milk latte. If you don’t want coffee, White Pine Market has shaken lemonade, smoothies, and Italian soda. If you find yourself a little peckish while in the area, White Pine Market has a little something to take the edge off. You might try a caramel roll, a cinnamon swirl loaf, or maybe one of their breakfast sandwiches.

In addition to being a coffee shop and market, White Pine Market roasts coffee beans onsite. Gold Eagle Coffee Co. shares space with White Pine Market and strives to provide the freshest roasts to the North Shore. Gold Eagle Coffee Co. has six different roasts: Light, House, Eagle, Dark, Bold, and

White Pine Market in Two Harbors is both a coffee shop and a market, offering a variety of coffee and non-coffee drinks alongside kitchen accessories, women’s and baby clothing, and more. | WHITE PINE MARKET

Decaf. Come check out their newly expanded patio before the snow flies, and maybe walk away with a new favorite beverage.

Northern Grounds, Ely

Perched on the corner of Sheridan Street and Central Avenue in the heart of Ely, you can’t miss the bank of windows and offset door that invite you into Northern Grounds. One of the oldest buildings in Ely, the brick building once served as a bodega, a saloon, the Jugoslav National Home, and finally VFW Post #2717 before it became Northern Grounds in 2016. The exposed brick walls and north-facing windows provide an ambiance that is unmatched.

Known for having the largest fine wine selection north of the Twin Cities, Northern Grounds is home of the Ely Wine Society and hosts wine tastings every Wednesday evening, guided by both in-house and guest experts.

Northern Grounds has a robust menu that includes simple breakfast sandwiches, like the sausage, egg, and cheddar breakfast sandwich, served on a warm English muffin, and the spinach, mushroom, Swiss, and pepper-jack sandwich, served on a freshbaked biscuit. They also have a variety of sandwiches and wraps, as well as a host of bakery items: muffins, turnovers, donuts, cinnamon rolls, and more.

Coffee at Northern Grounds is sourced from The Roasting Room by Northern Grounds. This is their satellite storefront that offers their six regular roasts, as well as three varieties of coffee to sample that are exclusive to The Roasting Room. The Roasting Room coffee is used in Northern Grounds’ signature coffee drinks. Northern Grounds offers a standard list of coffee drinks like the latte, cappuccino, chai, and drip coffee, and they also have non-coffee options like chai, smoothies, lemonade, and Arnold Palmer, and a variety of hot and cold teas.

Dolce Coffee House, Thunder Bay

Dolce Coffee House is located at the corner of Arthur Street and Kingsway Avenue in Thunder Bay. Tucked back beside the Kingsway Inn, Dolce Coffee House has an expansive outdoor seating area, and private, intimate seating indoors.

Dolce Coffee House serves Lavazza coffee along with a variety of hot teas and tea lattes: roasted almond lavender, sencha green, Earl Grey, and Dolce chai, to name a few. Their lattes and mochas come hot or cold, and they also offer caffeine-free Refreshers—fruit juice shaken over ice and topped with coconut milk. In addition to their wide array of beverages, Dolce Coffee House serves an assortment of pastries: cannoli, cheesecake, croissant, macarons, and more. Their pastry case is a little different every day, but you may be lucky enough to stumble across a pistachio cream zeppole with salted caramel drizzle, chocolate-enrobed cheesecake, shortbread or vegan chocolate chip cookies, or some fresh macarons. And that’s all before you get to the lunch menu. Or the gelato.

I love how each coffee shop has its “flavor,” its vibe. And that vibe can be widely different from one coffee shop to the next. White Pine Market is a bustling little shop with many other items to peruse. Northern Grounds is a coffee shop and wine bar with a full lunch menu and a wide-open concept, while Dolce Coffee House has a more intimate atmosphere, serving some uniquely delicious desserts. If you haven’t yet, I hope you’ll give one of these places a try.

tmccarvel@midconetwork.com

the gelato at Dolce Coffee House in Thunder Bay. |

Every coffee house has its own fun vibe. | SABUZAK KIM

Winter Squash Wonders

By Hartley Newell-Acero

Pumpkins may get most of the attention this time of year, but all winter squash are worth celebrating. The English name for these autumn treats is derived from the Algonquian word askutasquash. Because squash have seeds and grow from a flower, they are botanically classified as fruit, although winter squash are hardier and thicker-skinned than their summer squash siblings. All squash are high in fiber, nutrient-dense, and, in my opinion, delicious!

When shopping for winter squash, keep these tips in mind:

A 2-3-pound squash will feed approximately four people.

Winter squash should be cooked before eating. Let your imagination run wild—try them in soups, stews, curries, cakes, cookies, pies, etc.

If the skin of your squash is shiny and somewhat pliable, then it’s not fully ripe. Place it in a warm, sunny spot until it’s “cured.” Another sign of ripeness is a firm, cork-like stem.

Once ripe, store it in a cool, dry place with good air circulation.

Avoid squash with mushy spots or cracks.

Roasted and salted, squash seeds are a treat, and even the leaves are edible. Steamed, stir-fried, blanched, fried, or sauteed—young, tender leaves and stems are used in dishes all over the world.

Skip

the Peeling

While most winter squash have thick skins, there are a few whose skins are thin and can be eaten after cooking—no peeling necessary. This is an easy and delicious way to add more fiber to your meal (check out this past article for a reminder about why fiber is such an important part of our diet: bit.ly/ ahealthynewyear).

Acorn

Like all winter squash, these bowl-sized beauties can go either the sweet or savory route. Before roasting, they can be cut in half and stuffed or sliced along the ridges.

Delicata

As you might guess from their name, these squash have delicate, edible skin. Small and quick-cooking, these are a great choice for beginning your squash experimentation.

Honeynut

The result of a collaboration between a professor and a chef, this cousin of the butternut is smaller, more flavorful, and has double the vitamin A. Another fun quality—they change color when ripe. They turn orange when ready to be eaten, so when shopping, if you want to use them right away, choose the squash with the least amount of green.

The Story of Spaghetti Squash

Like the long and winding strands that make up the flesh of this squash, its history is just as convoluted. Like many squash, it’s native to the Americas. With European conquest in the 16th century, squash seeds were carried around the world. Over time, diverse varieties were selectively bred. In Manchuria, the northeastern region of China, they developed a “shark-fin gourd,” whose flesh resembled the finely shredded shark fin cooked in soup. In the 1930s, Japan invaded Manchuria. The unusual squash was taken back to Japan and renamed “gold thread melon.” The seeds slowly found their way into international catalogs, but the squash didn’t become popular in the U.S. until the 1980-90s. As Americans grew enamored with all things low-calorie, low-carb, and low-fat, spaghetti squash suddenly became more interesting.

Worth The Work

Spaghetti squash, and most other winter squash, have thick, tough skins. While it’s difficult to cut and peel, this does serve an important purpose—it allows them to be stored over the long winter months. Unfortunately, this protective layer can also be a deterrent to enjoying them. Fear not— there are work-arounds that don’t involve peeling. Both of these methods will work for any winter squash, whether the skin is tough or tender.

Microwave: Rinse the squash and poke all over with a fork. For small squash, microwave at full power for 5 minutes. For larger squash, go for 10 minutes. When done, you should be able to easily pierce both the skin and the flesh with a fork. If not, continue microwaving at 1-minute intervals. Let the squash cool until you can handle it. Cut in half lengthwise, scoop out strings and seeds. Scoop or cut out the squash flesh.

Roasting: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Rinse, cut off any stem, and slice squash lengthwise. Scoop out strings and seeds. Lightly oil a baking pan or line with parchment paper. Place squash cut side down and bake until it’s tender when you pierce it with a fork. This can take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the type and size. Because of the caramelization that occurs during roasting, this method can be the more flavorful of the two.

October is national Physical Therapy month and we want to celebrate the hard work that goes into keeping you healthy. Physical Therapists are trained to evaluate and treat orthopedic, neurological, vestibular, pelvic floor, pediatrics, sports, geriatrics, and cardio pulmonary issues. North Shore Health has 7 physical therapists that serve the hospital, care center and community. Give a thank you to your physical therapists the next time you see them in October!

For more information, call at 218 -387-3040, or for emergencies call 911. NSH EMS services are available 24/7.

515 5th Ave West, Grand Marais, MN 55604 218-387-3040 / NorthShoreHealthgm.org Community Access to Compassionate Care

Northern Trails

Why Do a Fly-in Fishing Trip?

By Gord Ellis

There is a lot of amazing wilderness to explore in northern Ontario. Much of it you can drive to, but a lot of it you can’t. A fly-in trip is truly one of the most unique adventures an angler can have. It’s a chance to see the Canadian wilderness in a way that few other people do, and have a blast catching fish. If you have never done a fly-in fishing trip, here are five great reasons to consider one in 2026.

1. Unspoiled Wilderness

I took my first fly-in fishing trip more than three decades ago. One of the things I will never forget was taking off from the seaplane base and watching the plane leave civilization behind. The cars, trucks, and buildings got smaller, and then disappeared. After that, it was miles of trees, rocks, and water. When we finally did see a sign of humans, it was as we turned to land on Miminiska Lake, on the Albany River. Miminiska was my first fly-in destination, and spotting that classic structure nestled in the trees was an exciting sight. All around us was the untouched Canadian wilderness, in all its forested, rugged beauty.

If you live a life full of modern distractions, there is nothing like the smell of fresh air and the silence of the northwoods. It’s amazing how healing the wilderness can be.

2. Family Adventure

Although many fly-in trips are made up of groups of adults going fishing together, it can be more than that. Some of my very favourite family memories were made on flyin trips. From the moment our young boys saw the floatplane, they were hooked. The experience of flying into the bush and landing on a remote lake was a huge adventure.

The time spent on a lake with no one else around created lasting memories and helped our young family bond. Every morning and evening we went fishing, having fun catching walleye and pike one after another. To this day, both my boys mention our family fly-ins as highlights of their childhood. That tells me a lot about the impact those trips had.

3. Wildlife Viewing

One of the best things about a fly-in trip is the wildlife viewing opportunities. On any fly-in adventure, there are a multitude of animals and birds you might see. One of the most iconic animals is the moose—the largest member of the deer family and a frequent visitor along remote waterways of the north. There are few sights quite as enthralling as a bull moose feeding in the water, those huge antlers dripping and glistening in the sun.

[ABOVE] Looking down at a spectacular view from the window of a floatplane. | GORD ELLIS

[LEFT] The adventure begins with a floatplane flight into Northern Ontario’s remote fishing lakes. | GORD ELLIS

Other mammals commonly seen include beaver, snowshoe hare, mink, and otter. You might also see a number of different birds, including the blue heron, sandhill crane, kingfisher, ruffed grouse, mallard duck, and bald eagle. The loon is found on nearly every lake in northern Canada, and its haunting call announces morning and evening in the most pleasant way possible.

4. The Night Sky

When you get far away from city lights, and the haze that goes along with them, the sky appears. In northern Ontario, the night sky is clear as crystal. Some of the most amazing

on fly-in trips. The beauty of the aurora borealis is one of nature’s great marvels.

On a clear summer night, you can sit out by the fire, watch stars fall, count the planets, and see the Milky Way. Even the moon looks extra clear and bright. It is truly a gift.

5. Great Fishing

If you like to fish in places where you won’t be racing to a spot, a fly-in trip is for you. That’s not to say you’ll catch fish on every cast—although you might. The reality of a fly-in trip is that you are on a lake far from roads, access, and people. The fish are hungry and generally less fickle. You can

BY JOE SHEAD

WHY GO: Christine Lake has a pretty well-rounded fishery. You’ve got your typical pike, walleyes, and perch, but this lake also has good numbers of bluegills and pumpkinseeds, which is kind of unusual for the area. The lake is small, secluded, and given its shallowness, should be pretty easy to figure out.

ACCESS: Christine Lake probably gets overlooked, with larger lakes in the area (nearby White Pine and Clara lakes have small campgrounds and, thus, attract more visitors). From Lutsen, head up Cook County Highway 4 (Caribou Trail) for 6.7 miles. Turn left onto Honeymoon Trail (Forest Road 164) and proceed 2 miles. Turn right onto the short road to the lake. The road is rough and best suited for small boats. There’s parking for about six vehicles.

VITALS: Christine Lake spans 183 acres with a maximum depth of 7 feet. It’s shallow and weedy. The last published DNR survey was from 2001, however, the DNR surveyed it again this summer and updated figures should be posted this winter.

GAME SPECIES PRESENT: northern pike, yellow perch, bluegill, and pumpkinseed.

WALLEYE: “Walleye catch rates were some what lower but similar to past surveys with walleyes being small to medium-sized,” said Grand Marais Area Fisheries Supervisor E.J. Isaac, regarding the DNR’s recently con cluded 2025 lake survey.

“Only a few large walleye were found around 22 to 25 inches.” Christine’s walleye population is much lower than some of the other lakes in the area, but overall, the average size is pretty decent.

NORTHERN PIKE: “Northern pike are still in good numbers, with many in the 20- to 25-inch range. Some large fish close to 30 inches were found,” Isaac said. It has been over 20 years, but fish from the previous survey topped 35 inches. Given the lake’s shallow, weedy nature, and the abundance of perch to feed on, this should be a pike paradise.

At a fly-in outpost camp, you’ll likely be the only people on the lake. It’s all yours. At a lodge on a larger lake, there might be a couple of other boats on the best-known hotspots, but there will be miles of untouched water to explore. Walleye, pike, and brook trout are the primary focus of attention in many northern lakes, and they are all generally willing to bite.

It’s a beautiful thing to roll out of bed late, have a leisurely breakfast, and still hook a bunch of walleye while the sun beams down. That’s the main reason fly-in fishing is so popular and appealing. The fishing is an amazing bonus.

CHRISTINE LAKE

YELLOW PERCH: Speaking of perch, this can be a pretty good lake. The last survey in 2001 found a good range of sizes, with some jumbos surpassing the 12-inch mark. Historically, Christine has always produced enough perch to satisfy both northern pike and human anglers.

BLUEGILLS AND PUMPKINSEEDS: Bluegills were first stocked in Christine in 1978 and have managed to hold on in this far-northern lake. The weeds provide ideal habit. “Bluegill populations are still holding at average numbers,” Isaac said. “There is inconsistent or missing year classes, but some fish were in the 6- to 8-inch size range. A couple did reach 9 inches, so the potential exists to find a dandy one.”

Big fish in wild places are the main—but not the only—draw of fly-in fishing. Spotting wildlife, like moose, is part of the experience too. | GORD ELLIS

SAWTOOTH RACING DOG BLOG Summer Camp for Sled Dogs

BY ERIN ALTEMUS

“What do the dogs do in the summer?” Friends ask us this frequently, and until this year, our reply has been, “rest.” This year, most of our dogs were able to do something a little different, thanks to our friend and handler Kendra, who worked for Alaska Icefield Expeditions last summer and spoke highly of the company and her experience there. At the end of April, Matt, Josh, and Kendra loaded 24 of our dogs and drove five days to Juneau, where the dogs helicoptered up to the Herbert Glacier for four months of glacier tours, mainly for cruise ship guests.

The benefits of this arrangement are many: the dogs get exercise all summer, plus loads of attention from tourists, and the company staff. A few received special privileges in the musher tent—Tom and Bruce had spots on the bed (well, until Tom lost that privilege by soiling it). There are almost zero bugs on the glacier and much cooler temperatures than a Minnesota summer affords. We had a break from dog chores for the summer, plus the company paid for our gas money to drive the dogs up there and home, as well as the dog food, and a little bonus money. As long as we didn’t have any major breakdowns, this seemed like a win.

Long story short: 24 dogs made it to the Herbert Glacier and ran many tours consisting of a short, flat loop on snow. The camp on the glacier is a temporary one where the musher housing and dog housing are set up for four months and then removed. Even the dog poop is hauled off the glacier. Helicopters are a mainstay of the business, hauling dogs, people, or supplies up or down on a daily basis.

At the end of the summer, it was my turn to do the big drive and bring the dogs home. The dog truck had remained in Juneau for the summer, so my friend Danielle and I flew up on Sunday morning and connected with the truck and trailer right away. We would be bringing home 33 dogs, considerably more than had come north, and needed to make a few mechanical repairs, as well. We had some work to do before the next day, when the dogs flew down from the glacier. We headed to Home Depot. It wasn’t long before we had enough snacks for the road, and hardware and parts for necessary trailer upgrades, so we hiked around the Mendenhall Visitor Center, and checked out downtown Juneau (full of cruise ships) before bed. The next morning, we were told, we should be ready to caravan with the other dog trucks to the airport at 7 a.m.

There aren’t many federal airports where you can find dog trucks lined up on the tarmac. We were each given a neon safety vest and ear protection, and for the next several hours the helicopters just kept coming and going, each one depositing a load of dogs, a musher, and some gear. Six of us would run up to the chopper at the pilot’s OK signal. One person opened the hatch, and one by one, a special wood dog kennel was opened, a dog carefully fingered under the collar, the door opened more, and the dog was unloaded to the ground. In most

Each dog drop involved finding a spot for all 33 dogs along the outside of the truck or trailer. | ERIN ALTEMUS

cases, this was pretty seamless. In a few instances, a rather big or terrified dog took a human to the ground, but we were under strict instruction to “not let go,” no matter what. A loose dog at a commercial airport is a very bad thing.

We helped at least 100 dogs unload before mine came down, but what a delight to see familiar dog faces after these months away: Itsy, Bruce, Tom, Oreo. A few had gotten so much sun that their hair was bleached blonde. But we quickly reacquainted ourselves.

That afternoon, Kendra, Danielle, and I spent our time reinstalling a trailer wiring plug-in after visiting three different auto parts stores to try and find the right parts. Finally, finding not the perfect thing, we simply figured it out, watched some YouTube, and practiced our electrician skills. With working trailer lights, we were ready to hit the road home.

First, though, it was a four-hour ferry ride. Juneau is actually water-locked. We ferried with all the other dog trucks and dogs to Haines. First, the ferry workers made me practice my backing-up skills. I had to pull all the way to the front of the ferry and then, for no reason that I could understand, I had to back up to the very back of the ferry, with one guy giving me directions on which way to turn the wheel, and I’m fairly certain we had a different understanding of right and left.

After that stressful endeavor was over, we moved to the passenger deck for hours of mountain viewing. I listened to a conversation between two wildlife photographers traveling to Haines to photograph grizzlies

that hang out on the river estuaries there, and wished I could spend more time in this part of the world.

We started our drive that afternoon, the colors of autumn already finding their way to this part of the world in early September. Every four to six hours, we stopped and unloaded all 33 dogs for a bathroom, and water, or food break. Sometime between midnight and 2 a.m., we’d pull off on the side of the road and, after unloading the dogs one last time, we’d crawl into sleeping bags ourselves for a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. Itsy, our cab canine companion, would join us in the human compartment of the trailer each night.

The second day on the road, traveling through the Yukon and British Columbia, I found the beauty to be more than anything Matt had ever described—and he has done the trip several times. Each river drew me in, like something I wanted to throw my canoe onto and follow. The mountains were taller than I imagined, the colors more vivid. We saw a herd of elk, two caribou, a moose, a herd of bison, two bighorn sheep, and 10 black bears. The stop at Liard Hot Springs was a highlight, even in the heat of the day. I discovered that this summer traveling with sled dogs is a very dirty endeavor. In winter, we can don our winter clothes to drop dogs, but in summer, we each became

encrusted in layers of dust and grime. I had no more clean clothes, and even hand washing was hard to come by. At least leaving the hot springs, we were clean for a few hours. The last two days of the trip through Alberta and Saskatchewan were not quite as scenic. We had two run-ins with police. In Edmonton, two police interrupted my dinner to check out my truck license and registration, simply because they had never seen 16 dogs in a truck before. Everything “checked out,” they said. I didn’t tell them about the other 16 dogs in the trailer. Later that evening, we were pulled over for no apparent reason by another officer, claiming we had failed to pull over in the last town. None of us had seen anyone trying to pull us over. He ended up letting us go. Things get a little weird late at night in Canada on the road.

We were happy to get home. Even though September started off unseasonably cold, we weren’t quite ready to run when it was cool, and since then, it’s been too warm. Hopefully, things cool down soon, and we can get these dogs running again. We have a few new dogs in the kennel that joined us from Alaska, and we are looking forward to the season ahead.

Liard hot springs are a must stop along the way to or from Alaska.

| ERIN ALTEMUS

NORTHERN SKY

OCTOBER 2025

By Deane Morrison, MN STARWATCH

This year, the moon and planets dominate October’s skies.

The month opens with Venus outshining everything else in the predawn sky. Look for it low in the east, just before dawn starts to break. Don’t wait too long, as our sister planet will soon be lost in the rising sun’s glare. To Venus’s upper right, three bright objects form a diagonal line. Highest is Jupiter; in the middle is Procyon, in Canis Minor, the little dog; and holding the anchor position is brilliant Sirius, in Canis Major, the big dog.

At nightfall, a waxing moon opens the month in the south, below the big Summer Triangle of stars. The moon glides steadily eastward to keep a rendezvous with Saturn on the 5th. The moon’s glare will probably wash out the Circlet of Pisces, a dim ring of stars above Saturn and below the Great Square of Pegasus. The Circlet

represents one of two fish that join to form the constellation Pisces.

The next evening—the 6th—the moon reaches fullness. As the closest full moon to the fall equinox, this is the harvest moon. This year, though, it’s essentially a tie with September’s full moon, which was almost as close to the equinox. But unlike September’s, October’s full moon will be a supermoon. It falls less than two days before perigee, the point in its orbit when the moon is closest to Earth. Moon fans will notice its large size, which is best appreciated when the moon is close to the horizon.

But the moon doesn’t rest on its laurels. The evening of the 9th, it will be close to the lovely Pleiades star cluster. During that night, the moon will glide right across the Pleiades. And don’t miss it in the predawn sky on the 19th, when a thin old crescent moon visits Venus.

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.

Her Place in the Woods

The Life of Helen Hoover

By David Hakensen

University of Minnesota Press, 2025, $24.95

Her Place in the Woods chronicles the remarkable journey of Helen Hoover, a self-taught scientist and writer who, with her husband, left corporate Chicago for an off-the-grid life on Minnesota’s Gunflint Lake. Through hardship and inspiration, she became a celebrated nature author. This is a great read for anyone who enjoys stories of resilience, wilderness living, and pioneering women in literature.— Breana Johnson

Poachers Caught!

True Adventures of a Northwoods Game Warden

By Tom Chapin

Adventure Publications, 2025, $19

Poachers Caught! by Tom Chapin delivers 36 gripping true stories from his 29 years as a Minnesota game warden. With vivid detail and sharp storytelling, Chapin recounts dangerous chases, high-stakes investigations, and shocking poaching busts. Packed with action and insight, it offers a compelling look at the challenges and importance of protecting wildlife for anyone drawn to outdoor adventure and conservation.— Breana Johnson

Nettles County

By Jerry Caple, and Shelly & Jack Anderson

Dorrance Publishing Co., 2025, $27

Nettles County centers on Margo Drummer, a medical student caught in a legal battle after a positive pregnancy test later sparks accusations of an illegal abortion. With a harsh law and a secret report from her motherin-law, Margo must prove her innocence— while questioning if she was pregnant at all. The novel mixes courtroom tension and unexpected twists in a compelling story.

Breana Johnson

The Palindrome Way

11th Street and 11th Avenue in Duluth

By Aaron Lundstrom

It all starts with a palindrome. A palindrome is a sequence of letters or numbers that reads the same forward or backward, and the palindrome way is a form of travel that lets an area’s palindromic place names and roadways point the way forward.

My first major palindromic trip was driving west on Highway 212 to Belle Fourche, South Dakota—a trip on which my wife, Hadley, and I came across a figurine-filled gnome park on the main drag through Dawson, Minn. But more recently I turned my attention to the Arrowhead of Minnesota, and this time to 11th Street and 11th Avenue in Duluth.

Hadley and I started our walk down 11th Street from where it overlooks Brewery Creek near Central Entrance, and by total coincidence it was 11 a.m. when we got there. Clouds were still dripping bits of rain in the aftermath of a morning storm, and a soughing gustiness in the trees set the soundtrack. Before we started, Hadley sat on a makeshift bench resembling a sawhorse, where she took in the sounds and sights of Brewery Creek—a place clearly chosen by others for a pleasant time with the creekside.

Meanwhile, I took stock of the nearby signage, which seemed to set a theme for what was to come: flowers and poop. Someone had affixed a painting to a post adjacent to a yellow-and-black road sign, and the painting was a still life of variegated flowers and a monochrome pile of brown poo. It’s the cycle of life, after all, and I was happy to pose next to the painting—although I did hope our upcoming walk would be more flowers and less poo, and that hope was fulfilled.

We walked down 11th Street from the Brewery Creek overlook, past homes weathered by lakeshore cycles of life showing not so much erosion as a kind of settled effusion, like a well-aged face fitting its environment. When we reached Myers-Wilkins Elementary School we found a sign reminding everyone to ‘do their doo-ty’ and to pick up after their pets. Most seemed

HADLEY LUNDSTROM

to be doing such duty, and the students of Myers-Wilkins Elementary also seemed to be working hard at the student-grown vegetable garden onsite. We found basil, squash, and more in the garden—and no, we didn’t take anything. Elsewhere onsite was a fenced-off nature playscape reserved for children 5 years old and under, a playground, and a peace pole reminding everyone that peace begins at home (where peace ends, though, was left unspecified).

Passing Grants Park we eventually reached 11th Avenue and hiked uphill to find a Little Free Library—one of several along our walk—with a painted message on the outside of it expressing a desire for positive change in the world, framed by hearts and backed by a watchful Statue of Liberty whose own symbolic power is both elusive and illusory.

Back on 11th Street we continued meeting the plant life. Some of the wildflowers we saw along the way we identified, with the help of a mobile app, as prairie blazing star, purple coneflower, oxeye sunflower, common tansy, blue wood aster, orange daylily, and goldenrod. We also came across a Siberian crabapple tree and what was possibly a tree growing Honeycrisps.

Once we hit 13th Avenue the road changed from asphalt to gravel, and at times we walked down narrow, rugged sidewalks that were like urban foot trails flanked by foliage. From 13th Avenue, 11th Street became Belmont Road—Belmont being an English surname and place name derived from the French language, meaning “beautiful mountain.” A view of Lake Superior from Belmont Road fit that definition, and from up there we saw parked in someone’s drive-

way a short travel trailer painted in the style of Dutch artist Piet Mondrian, and elsewhere a treehouse with its trunk painted white. Later, at another Little Free Library, we found an advertisement for Luna, a community and grassroots online magazine published by longtime Duluth residents Josh and Sarah Carlson. Each Luna cover features a skeleton placed somewhere in the flesh of the northland’s place and culture—and that’s ultimately where we were headed, into more of that flesh. We went up Chester Parkway, crossed Skyline Parkway to the sight of a contorted outbuilding resembling something from Dr. Seuss, and came to a gated, unmarked trailhead for the Chester Park Trail, where we saw a doe and her fawn foraging in the woods. We walked some of that trail and then turned back. Not bad for a couple hours’ walk in Duluth. Somehow, no matter where we travel in the spirit of palindromic pathways, the math just seems to work out that way.

During our walk we saw a contorted outbuilding, a prairie blazing star plant (according to Google AI), and a doe and fawn in the woods near Chester Park Trail. | AARON & HADLEY LUNDSTROM

A “Do Your Doo-ty” sign from Duluth’s Regional Stormwater and Protection Team. | AARON LUNDSTROM

Aaron Lundstrom posing next to a painting of flowers and dung. |

Strange Tales

The Quirky History of Halloween

By Elle AndraWarner

Did you know that a city in Minnesota and an Ontario city on northeast Lake Superior both hold world titles in the history of Halloween?

Back in 1920, the city of Anoka, Minn., (located about 21 miles northwest of downtown Minneapolis) is believed to be the first in the USA to establish formal Halloween festivities to help dissuade its youngsters from carrying out destructive Halloween pranks like window soaping or egging, vandalism, opening cattle gates to let them roam loose, and tipping over outhouses. In 1937, Anoka was officially declared “World Capital of Halloween” by an act of U.S. Congress. Celebrating its 105th year in 2025, the month-long Halloween festivities are organized by the volunteer-run nonprofit Anoka Halloween, Inc. Tens of thousands of visitors come to Anoka (U.S. Census population 17,068) to see and participate in these special events, which include the Annual Anoka Gray Ghost 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk, historical ghost tours, costume contests, gift shops, a Giant Pumpkin Expo, Light Up the Night Parade, Paint Night, Big Parade for Little Folks, the Grande Parade, and more (check out their website for details: anokahalloween.com). As the World Capital of Halloween, the month-long festivities are the oldest continuing Halloween celebrations in the U.S. (missing only the war years of 1943-44).

Who hasn’t heard the loud chanting of Halloween’s most famous “trick or treat please” by children dressed up in costumes and going door-to-door on Oct. 31? While the concept of modern costumed trickor-treating goes back to the old Scottish custom of ‘guising’ in the 16th century, the world’s oldest known printed reference for the phrase “trick or treat” was in an article published in The Sault Daily Star newspaper on Nov. 1, 1917, in Sault Ste. Marie (aka “Soo”), Ontario. The reference was found by U.S. etymologist Barry Popik (a person who studies the origin and history of words) while searching through an online database of newspapers. The short article was about youngsters in the Soo celebrating Halloween and included: “'Trick or treats’ you could hear the gangs call out, and if the householder passed out the ‘coin’ for the ‘treats’ his establishment would be immune from attack…”

In the Sootoday article, “Origin of Phrase Trick or Treat in Print Traced to the Sault” (Nov. 1, 2022), journalist Alex Flood quotes Popik, who tried to get media attention for the find. “It’s never been told in Canada or the United States, it’s really bizarre. I didn’t even get a response from the Ontario Historical Society. It should be a story and it should be in newspapers. People need to

know about this.” The first print appearance in the U.S. was in 1932, and not until 1939 in U.S. national publications.

According to folklorists and historians, Halloween is one of the world’s oldest celebrations, having evolved from the ancient Celtic harvest festival Samhain (Sow-in meaning “summer’s end”), which was held thousands of years ago from sunset on Oct. 31 (the end of the Celtic year) to sunset on Nov. 1 (the start of a new Celtic year) on lands we now call Ireland, Scotland, Wales, northern France, and Brittany. The old Samhain customs included masquerades with masks and costumes (so that unfriendly spirits could not identify them), parades, huge bonfires, dancing by the fire, and respect for the dead.

Over thousands of years, rather than obliterate ancient customs, other festivals and feasts merged and adapted them into their own remembrances. For example, Nov. 1 became All Saints Day honoring all saints—later renamed All Hallows—and Nov. 2 was All Souls’ Day, a day of prayer to honour the dead. Interestingly, the evening of Oct. 31—which had been the start of the ancient Samhain—became All Hallows Eve (E’en), which sometime in the 18th century morphed into the name Hallowe’en and then finally, by 18th century, became Halloween.

In the 2001 lecture, “Halloween Customs in the Celtic World,” Bettina Arnold, professor of anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, wrote: “The association between Halloween and ghosts and

[ABOVE] In Costa Rica, Oct. 30 is the National Day of the Masquerades (a national cultural holiday) where people recreate masks painted in bright colours. | RODTICO21

[LEFT] All Saints Day in 2010 at Skogskyrkogarden Cemetery in Stockholm, Sweden. It was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. | HOLGER MOTZKAU 2010

spirits today comes from the Celtic belief that it was at this time of transition between the old year and the new that the barrier between this world and the Otherworld, where the dead and supernatural beings lived, became permeable.”

By the early 1900s, Halloween and “guising” had come to North America with the arrival of large numbers of Irish, Scottish, and English immigrants and was celebrated across Canada and the U.S. The earliest reference to “guising” was in 1911, when a Canadian newspaper reported small children “guising” on Halloween, which six years later was replaced by the phrase “trick or treat.”

Although Halloween celebrations have now spread globally, there are countries

that have other commemorations instead of Halloween. For example, in Costa Rica, Oct. 31 is the National Day of the Masquerades, a national cultural holiday where people recreate paper-mache masks painted with bright colours. In Finland and Sweden, the first Saturday after Oct. 30 is celebrated as All Saints Day, when families go to cemeteries to light candles and honor their relatives. Similarly, in nearby Estonia, All Souls’ Day is on Nov. 2—candles are lit at night on graves in memory of loved ones. It’s pretty cool knowing that when we hand out goodies to costumed children at our door on Oct. 31, we are carrying on a historic celebration that has evolved over thousands of years.

Red Pine Realty

Locally owned and operated since 1996 14 S. Broadway, Grand Marais, MN | 218-387-9599 VISIT OUR OFFICE TO SPEAK WITH A REALTOR. HOURS: M-F 9AM-5PM, SAT 10AM-4PM

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

NEW! LIMA GRADE CABIN GETAWAY

Seasonal getaway with a cabin and bunkhouse on 40.25 acres, with creek frontage and trails running through the property. Nighthawk Lake is within walking distance and has been known for good walleye fishing. Poplar Creek Ski trail system runs through the property. This quiet, deep-woods retreat is calling your name.

MLS#6121791 $299,000

NEW! MAGNETIC LAKE LOT

Welcome to a breathtaking slice of the Gunflint Trail wilderness -- 5.7 acres on Magnetic Lake. With 2 build sites, you can choose your setting for your cabin, family retreat, or off-grid haven. One site offers a sweeping view overlooking Magnetic Lake. The 2nd build site gives direct access to 300ft of lakeshore. Magnetic Lake is known for its fishing and connection to the BWCAW.

MLS#6121565 $285,000

NEW! LUTSEN COMMERCIAL SITE

Wooded 3.3 acres with 389 ft of Highway 61 frontage in Lutsen’s downtown area. Features excellent visibility, a meandering creek, and occasional lake views. Ideal for retail, restaurant, or gallery. Zoned LTGC with flexible commercial use. Minutes from Lutsen Mountains, golf, and year-round recreation.

MLS#6121839 $179,000

LAKE SUPERIOR LOT

Imagine waking each morning to the sound of Lake Superior waves rolling onto your rugged shoreline, with 224ft of boulder beach and ledge rock. Set on 4.92 acres in a quiet neighborhood, property is ready for your vision. Gravel driveway leads to a partial build pad. Electricity in place with standard 30-amp & 50amp service. Septic system installed. Internet available nearby.

MLS#6121329 $450,000

LAKE SUPERIOR HOME & GUESTHOUSE

Lake Superior paradise on 1.5 acre property that balances privacy with convenience. Thoughtfully designed home offers one-level living with 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. Primary bedroom features a patio door out to the deck and wall of windows overlooking the lake. Charming seasonal guesthouse with 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom. Two stall garage provides convenient storage. MLS#6120875 $1,130,000

LAKE

INLAND LAKE PROPERTIES

HAND-HEWN LOG HOME ON MAYHEW LAKE

A special home treasured by 3 generations, on 200ft of Mayhew Lake shoreline. On the edge of the BWCA, with access to the Border Route Trail and Topper Lake. This hand-hewn log retreat was built by Emerson Morris and designed with flexibility to entertain, accommodate overnight guests or provide places to relax with views of the lake.

MLS# 6121378 $949,000

TOM LAKE LOT

Buildable lot nicely prepped for your future plans. Driveway, parking area and a private building site all ready to go. Arrowhead electric and fiber optic are available at the roadside. From the building site there is a gentle slope to the waters edge that leads to a small bay with southern exposure. Sellers are removing the decks. The dock is negotiable.

MLS#6119721 $150,000

LOON LAKE HOME

A magnificent home nestled on land full of towering trees, trickling streams, a peaceful shoreline and groomed trails. There is a feel here that you are at a comfortable lodge in a state park. This home has all the comforts: in-floor heat, energy efficient windows, three fire places, high end appliances and mechanicals.

MLS#6119716 $1,200,000

SEA GULL LAKE SERENITY

Charming Cape Cod-inspired lake home, outstanding views of the lake and surrounding BWCAW wilderness. Rock outcroppings and pines on 252 ft of accessible shoreline and 3.5 acres. Two bedroom, 2 level home shows exceptional quality. Expansive windows and screen porch, plus upper-level deck.

MLS#6120462 $629,000

LOG HOMEPORTAGE LAKE

Pristine 10 acres, 1700+ feet of Portage Lake shore, unique Mid-Gunflint Trail location. Surrounded by Superior National Forest and BWCA. Beautiful full-log home, 2 bedroom, 1 bath, porch, 2-car garage and gardens. Peninsula, privacy and views. Pristine location on quiet wilderness lake.

MLS#6118688 $649,000

GULL LAKE LOG HOME

Tucked away in a serene setting, this 3 bed, 3 bath log home offers a peaceful escape. The centerpiece of the home is a spacious lofted great room with stunning views, high wood-beamed ceilings, natural light, and a cozy fireplace. Enjoy 224ft of water frontage and direct access into the B.W.C.A. Apartment above the garage offers additional space for visitors.

MLS#6119879 $825,000

SECLUDED GREENWOOD LAKE LOT

Greenwood Lake lot tucked into a quiet southern bay. Electric and broadband are scheduled to be installed this summer. There are 2 flat areas the seller cleared a few years ago. A day of brush clearing and you will have a camping area ready to go while you make plans to build.

MLS#6119255 $250,000

TOM LAKE CABIN

About as close as you can get to the lake without getting your feet wet! The cabin has been completely rebuilt in the last few years. It's all been done. You get to come and relax! The home is insulated and heated for winter use. Tom Lake has many fans, who enjoy all four seasons in this special area.

MLS#6120138 $349,900

HOMES AND CABINS

OFF GRID A-FRAME CABIN

Peaceful getaway on almost 9 acres of heavily wooded forest adjoining federal land. A-frame cabin powered by the sun and everything you need to step away from it all, with 3 murphy beds to help utilize the smaller space. Power and broadband are at the bottom of the driveway.

MLS#6119488 $149,000

GRAND MARAIS HOME

FEATURED LISTING

OFF-GRID HOVLAND CABIN

This property is an awesome retreat for all kinds of groups. Turn-key, 5 acre off-grid property, has been set up by the sellers to function conveniently and comfortably, and is a great base camp for all seasons of sports and activities. Sellers are motivated.

MLS#6120291 $249,000

SPECTACULAR LAKE SUPERIOR VIEWS

Impressive views of Lake Superior from 40 acres situated 300 feet above the lake. Contact us regarding new zoning allowance for a variety of housing options. Some infrastructure from a home that was removed: garage, sauna, driveway, building pad and electric. Visitors required to be accompanied by licensed real estate agent.

MLS#6120561 $600,000

Carefree living in the heart of Grand Marais. Home has been totally updated in recent years. The only thing to decide is which of the beautiful spaces to relax in! A perfect home for entertaining and relaxing inside or in the beautifully landscaped yard. Lots of storage in the lower level and attached garage. Walk anywhere in Grand Marais and come home to enjoy views of the lake.

MLS#6120399 $499,900

HOVLAND LOG CABIN

Escape to your own private sanctuary with this 1 bedroom log cabin on 22 acres, featuring a wood stove that keeps things toasty for year-round adventures. Property includes a freshwater spring, a creek and old growth aspen trees. Power and broadband at end of the driveway. Cabin operates without electric or water hookups, but groundwork has been laid for modern conveniences.

MLS#6120776 $159,000

FEATURED LISTING

ONE LEVEL LIVING

Updated affordable home in an ideal location. One level living. Move right in and enjoy the classy kitchen, relaxing living room with a cozy wood stove, lots of windows throughout, beautiful tile work, and a full basement. Nestled on a private yard near many beloved North Shore sites.

MLS#6120677 $254,900

COZY LOG CABIN ON 83 ACRES

Come see this one bedroom, one bathroom, kit log cabin perched atop 83 acres, bordered by MN State land. Interior is accented by beautiful diamond willow railings and custom ironwork. Propane lights, refrigerator and cooking range reduce utility expenses.

MLS#6119194 $289,000

GRAND MARAIS HOME END OF THE ROAD PRIVACY

A 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in the heart of Grand Marais with a very private and wooded feel. Bonus room has natural light from windows on three sides and a gas fireplace. Add’l features: gas fireplace in the living room, geothermal in-floor heat, AC, maintenance free siding, fenced in back yard and adjoining wooded lot. Easy trail access connecting to Pincushion Mountain trails.

MLS#6119977 $575,00

LISTING

UNIQUE VACATION RENTAL

The “Little Lost Containers” has been crafted with skill to create a unique vacation rental. Situated on a ridge above Lake Superior, it captures magnificent views. It is all about the view with each room, 3 levels of decks, and the fire circle providing a place to soak in the beauty. Living room includes custom-made furniture that converts to a 2nd bed and the efficient kitchen provides everything for a relaxing stay.

MLS#6118409 $279,000

A Cornerstone of Lutsen Real Estate Group RESPECT: RESPECT:

MINK RANCH, LUTSEN CRAMER ROAD, SCHROEDER GUNFLINT TRAIL PARCEL

A 40-acre mixed-use resort commercial/ residential parcel with county road access for lower development costs. Just off Highway 61, it offers seclusion with convenience—an exceptional opportunity.

A charming two bedroom, one bath cottage located on the hillside of the Cramer Rd overlooking Taconite Harbor and Bear and Gull island.

Rare opportunity to own a private parcel near Seagull Lake on the historic Gunflint Trail—offering 3.5 wooded acres and 400+ feet of shoreline on scenic Onagon Lake.

Devil Track Lake Cabins! Own a piece of Cook County history. Small resort w/ 200 feet of Devil Track Lake shoreline. Property has been hosting summer vacationers for decades. 4 guest cabins w/ vintage charm and loads of original details. Site-wide WiFi, too! The resort has additional buildings for storage or expansion.

MLS 6120575

3 beautiful cabins, 2.39 acres, 132 feet of unreal Lake Superior shoreline! Outstanding opportunity.

MLS 6119223

$850,000

Blue Moose! Multi-Use and Multi-Zoned. Opportunity awaits w/ this investment property. Retail space and five rental cabins. Bring your ideas!

1301 W. Hwy. 61, Grand Marais $875,000

MLS 6118655 $1,875,000

Northern Wilds Real Estate

Covering the communities in the North Shore area from Duluth, MN past Thunder Bay, Ont.

Check in with any of our advertising Real Estate Agents for information on how to buy or sell your property.

Subscribe to our free online magazine with listings: northernwilds.com

18 Romans Road, Grand Marais

18 Sugar Beach Drive, Tofte

LINDA GARRITY Broker & Owner

Rollins Ridge, Tofte

LAKE HOMES & CABINS

It’s all

Exceptional retreat on pristine Gull Lake with 467’ of shoreline and direct BWCAW access. Set on 5A, this 4BR/3BA home features elegant interiors, guest cabins, and unmatched tranquility.

Tranquil 2BR cabin on 3+ Acres and 150’ of McFarland Lake. Expansive deck with views, great screen porch, & located at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

Charming 2BR/1BA cabin on Clearwater Lake with 3+ acres & 207 ft of lakeshore! Great mid-trail location with access to many restaurants and BWCA.

Private 64-acre lakeside retreat on secluded Pancore Lake. Handhewn log cabin, bunkhouse, bathhouse, fully furnished, off-grid comfort, 2,000’ shoreline, stunning views, and total privacy.

12157 Gunflint Trail

543’ of truly amazing easy access Sea Gull Lake shoreline! This 8.5-acre lot is home to a newer modern open design 2BR1BA cabin sitting on a rocky knoll, affording amazing views.

6119986 • $699,900

HOMES & CABINS

Escape to your own slice of paradise with this stunning 2BR/2BA log home, perfectly situated on 40 acres of natural beauty.

Custom 3BR/2BA home on 8+Acres with creek frontage. Vaulted ceilings, loft suite, 3-season porch, workshop, garage, and walkout basement.

Beautiful 4-bed, 3-bath home on 5+ private acres with open layout, woodstove, finished lower level, studio outbuilding with bath—ideal for income or workspace.

Charming bunkhouse with cozy sleeping loft, nestled on 6.9A with the Little Devil Track River as the northern boundary line. Electric & broadband available.

Affordable Lake Superior lot with a beautiful view! 300’+ shared lakeshore and 7A shared land.

Private 2.3A lot with 585’ shoreline, creek frontage, driveway in place, power and broadband coming.

6120286

15 big cedar trail MLS 6119998 • $1,099,900

Stunning mountain home with Lake Superior, Lutsen Ski Hill, and golf course views. Three levels, guest suite with private entrance, sauna bunkhouse, and covered deck. Strong rental potential.

Rare Grand Marais investment: three rental homes on 1.3+ acres with expansion potential. Zoned Commercial Industrial—ideal for residential, vacation rentals, or commercial use.

6120592

Nicely wooded and surveyed Grand Marais city lot. Road and utilities not brought in yet.

6118743 • $59,900

Serene Tom Lake lot with over 150’ of easily accessible shoreline, year-round access and completed driveway. Rare 40-acre Northwoods retreat near BWCAW, surrounded by public land—private, remote, and wild.

This 1.2A lot features 165’ of shoreline and direct access to the BWCA. Breathtaking views overlooking protected wilderness.

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

snowshoe, ski. Life here flows like the river, effortlessly and pristine. Visit now and enjoy life on the river. MLS#6121629 $750,000

LAKE RETREAT IN LUTSEN! Nestled inland from Lutsen in an expanse of pure Northwoods is Clara Lake, and on it a classic 1 bedroom cabin resides in the middle of 400’ of pristine shoreline. From the 3 season porch which is perfect for cribbage games to the living room with lake views and a woodstove to take away the spring and fall chills, you will feel the stress melt away every time you visit. Summers will be enjoyed on the deck or in the water itself, while listening to the sounds of the loons. Lutsen Mts and Superior National Golf Course about 20 minutes away, Brule Lake and the BWCA 20 minutes the other waydeeper North. Current owners have it all dialed in, just show up, unpack, and relax. Or, if you like to putter there’s always wood to split and whatever else you dream up: stones to arrange just so, lures to sort, build a shed if you like.

NEW! HEART OF LUTSEN LIVING! Looking for a project to make your own on the North Shore? Look no more, this 2 bedroom home sitting on 1.5 acres in downtown Lutsen is it! Move in right away and start the projects or updates you want! Original Hardwood floors upstairs are just waiting for you! The property is zoned both General Commercial and Residential which gives the out of the box thinkers many choices, maybe you could create that business you always dreamed of! Close to everything Lutsen has to offer: Lutsen Mountains, Superior National Golf Course, Hiking/ Biking/ snowmobiling/ Cross Country Skiing trails, not to mention all the Inland lakes just minutes away! Time to make your plans of North Shore living a reality! MLS#6121586 $285,000

CARIBOU LAKE LOOKOUT IN LUTSEN! This Sweet Log Cabin has everything needed to relax on the North Shore. From the woodstove adding ambiance to the kitchen and living room, to the 4 season porch overlooking Caribou Lake, this cabin has all the extras! The two bedrooms gives everyone their own place to unwind after a long day. This property offers close access to all your favorite outdoor activities no matter the season! Many Inland lakes are close by and only 15 minutes to Lutsen Mountains Ski Resort. This is a Must see gem in the midst of Lutsen! Property is currently operated as a short-term rental, sold turn-key and fully furnished! MLS# 6121010 $459,000

Terrific Lutsen

on 8+ acres with deeded

to Tait Lake. Even abuts public land on two sides! This is a quality, 2 bedroom, year-round home with all the creature comforts! Heck, reinvent yourself, move up north and put down some homestead roots! Inside the large windows provide a ton of natural light, and plenty of space for everyone to relax. Outside there are clearings for gardens, covered screen porch to keep you cool in the summer, along with an open deck which has commanding views over the woods and leads directly into the hot tub! Starry Northern Light Nights in a wood fired hot tub!? Doesn’t get much better! Until you head over to the sauna which has room for the whole crew. Visit today and have the getaway you have always wanted! MLS#6121387 $379,900

TIMBERFRAME HOME NESTLED IN THE MAPLES!

Welcome to your dream Northwoods Getaway in Schroeder, located on 17 acres with a babbling creek and mature maples, gorgeous Fall colors! The handcrafted Timbers in this 3 bedroom home will amaze you. Spacious kitchen, gorgeous cabinetry. Enjoy harvesting your own land, apples, choke-cherries or raspberries abound. Enjoy winter evenings with the woodstove crackling in the background! Nice southern exposure for lots of natural light throughout the home, this is a must see TimberFrame!! Enjoy the many inland lake the Superior Hiking Trail and State snowmobile trails that are all close by. Wander the old logging roads during hunting season and enjoy your time outdoors! All that is missing is you!

CAMPN’, HUNTN’, FUN GETAWAY LAND,

INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE!

SCHROEDER AREA

11 PLUS ACRES JUST 8 MILES FROM THE CROSS RIVER IN SCHROEDER! You’ve driven by this nice parcel during a Fall leaf color tour on the Cramer Rd, a beautiful area for your getaway cabin! Year round County Rd access, electric and fiber at the road. Level build site, boreal forest for great wildlife viewing! Lots of recreational opportunities just minutes away including fishing, hiking and biking the old railroad grade, or toe dipping in Lake Superior! MLS#6118380 $74,000 PRICE REDUCED!

PLENTY OF ROOM TO EXPLORE IN SCHROEDER! Just south of Sugarloaf Cove in Schroeder, and overlooking Lake Superior, are 40 acres of elbow room awaiting a new lover of the North Shore! Hard to find a large acreage parcel, easily accessible, and pitched just so to provide evocative, energizing views of the The Big Lake. Current owners have provided a good start: put the driveway in, cleared a building-site, set up the firepit, heck they even planted a few apple trees. Now it’s your turn to start creating YOUR DREAM! Begin with a little getaway place, put your own touches on the land. Or make it the homestead. Come have a look, stand in the middle of your own 40, deep and away from the cares and worries of modern life. MLS# 6119000 $349,000 PRICE REDUCED!

TOFTE AREA

NEW! WELCOME TO YOUR FUTURE GETAWAY ON THE NORTH SHORE IN TOFTE! You have plenty of space to build your dream cabin or year-round home on this 2+ acre lot. Views of Lake Superior. Located right in the middle of Tofte, you have access to bike trails and snowmobile trails and tons of inland lakes! Visit today and start your next adventure!

MLS# 6121512 $139,900

LUTSEN AREA

BOREAL FOREST IN LUTSEN WITH ACCESS TO TAIT LAKE! Gorgeous trees and high ground are just a couple features this land offers! Fiber and Electric at Road, this land is build ready. As part of the Tait Lake Assoc. enjoy folks that are environmentally aware and at peace with the Great Northwoods! Shared canoe launch is just a few minutes’ walk from the land for when you want to paddle around the lake, or enjoy the hiking trails meandering through the Tait Lake area. Perfect Retreat Spot to build your getaway cabin!

MLS#6120556 $55,000

ACREAGE IN LUTSEN! Rare opportunity to have 34 acres in Lutsen on the Caribou Trail! Plenty of space for you to explore and create your own getaway with wildlife as neighbors! Create a development or keep it all for yourself, why not? MLS#6120814 $300,000 NEW PRICE!

ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PARCELS OF LAND IN THE LUTSEN AREA! Located on the corner of the Caribou and South Caribou, this land is high ground and magnificent in the Fall with the mature maple forest. A Syruper’s DREAM property, make this your own homestead or develop it utilizing the new County zoning ordinance for denser development surrounded by Green Space! Year round access via County roads, and electric and fiber at road. MLS#6120783 $499,000

40 ACRES A STONE’S THROW TO THE BRULE LAKE ENTRANCE ROAD IN LUTSEN! Sweet views of surrounding lakes from the highest point of this 40 in an excellent location along the Grade Rd. Year round access, and electric and fiber are along one side of the Grade Road. Great location for a Fishing Camp and eventual home or development! Minute’s to the Caribou Trail in Lutsen, or keep on going to the Ball Club Road to Devil Track Rd to Grand Marais! Mature forest, great spot. 40 acres too much? Seller’s will sell the East 20 for $169,000! MLS#6120782 $299,900

GRAND MARAIS AREA

SECLUSION ON 40 ACRES, JUST MINUTE’S TO GRAND MARAIS ABOVE COUNTY RD 7! Excellent location, this 40 acres has nice Lake Superior views, and awesome views of the Sawtooth Mountain Ridgeline above Cut Face Creek, just west of Grand Marais. Rough road in place, there’s an easement for access, you just need to improve the road to your future homestead! Flat land at top for barns, home, whatever you envision. Great sunlight, perfect Solar Off Grid property, or bring in fiber and power from the Bally Creek Rd! MLS#6120419 $400,000

40 ACRES SECLUDED IN THE NORTHWOODS OF GRAND MARAIS! Three sides of the land are surrounded by federal land, perfect for the ultimate getaway from EVERYTHING! While the property has no easement access, there are still plenty of things you do with it! Enjoy the mixed Boreal Forest with wildlife as your neighbors. Prospective buyers are encouraged to contact the US forest service regarding a possible special use permit for a path once they own the property. There is plenty of potential for this property, are you ready? MLS#6119938 $65,000

HOLY SMOKES! HAVE YOU SEEN THE PRICES OF GRAND MARAIS HOMES?! Buy this 2+ ac parcel and build your own home on well and septic! Excellent location for in town living with easy walking access to the Y, to the Harbor and to the hospital! Total feeling of seclusion in the City, very, very rare! Get out of the car and give this land a walk, it’s quite nice!! MLS#6114386 $89,000 PRICE REDUCED!

CATCHLIGHT CATCHLIGHT

otters

Every year, a family of otters call the Grand Marais Harbor home. They are fun to watch. I was photographing the sunrise when they showed up on the rocks in front of me. The red, early morning sun lit up their fur. Shortly after, they headed to the dock. I made a hasty trip over there to meet them. They played on the dock for about an hour, with the young even resting on the adults.— Paul Sundberg