In Case You Haven’t Heard

New Businesses

plants in the area. We have also seen success with intensive trapping on the Burntside River preventing rusty crayfish from scooting upstream to Burntside Lake. Credit the youth and staff at Ely Community Resource for that. They have been trapping nearly weekly in the summers since 2016. What to do with the crayfish you may catch? I’ll leave that for another article to address, but in my personal opinion they are quite the delicacy! Did you know you can take 25 pounds of crayfish per day for personal consumption with your Minnesota fishing license? I would just refer you to Minnesota regulations on taking and possessing crayfish. One highlight: you may take and possess rusty crayfish (a regulated invasive species in Minnesota), but you may not release them into waters of the state. And as always we thank you for cleaning, draining, and drying your gear between waterbodies, and for disposing of any unwanted bait in the trash or compost!

Sustainability is the basic theme for two new Ely businesses. Back on the Rack at 1307 E. Sheridan provides Ely (finally!!) with a clean, well-organized store for pre-owned goods. They accept donations on Wednesdays and Saturdays, limiting it to two boxes or bags per household. Whether you need a low-cost addition to your wardrobe or more room in your closet, this store is here to help. Committed to the Ely community, Back on the Rack also raises money for worthy causes with their monthly round-up donations.

Mayhem Mending is a gear repair, arts, and sewing business at 438 E. Sheridan St. Does your favorite 10year-old Patagonia jacket still have lots of wear left but a ripped out pocket and funky zipper? Mend your frustration at Mayhem. Tents, packs, and other less-than-fully-functional outdoor gear can come out of the back of your closet and have new adventures. Owner Madden Reed is an experienced repair guru, having learned to repair and care for gear at Widjiwagan, the Repair Lair in Minneapolis, the Great Lakes Gear Exchange in Duluth, and Wintergreen in Ely. They also make useful gear such as fanny packs from scraps too small for other manufacturers to use, and they plan to have local artists’ wares as retail items. Contemplating what else Mayhem could become, Madden is full of ideas–stay tuned.

Looking for a special Ely-themed gift to take home for the good friends watching your cat? Blue Loon is full of unique to Ely gifts and clothing as well as art by the owner, Ali, and her son. The softest warm fuzzy wraps are here and many humorous stickers.

The 200 block of Sheridan Street is the new home to some great shops with potential gifts as well as practical items hand-crafted by local artisans. The Ely Folk School mercantile is filled with made-in-Ely items on consignment from the instructors. In the Northern Toboggan Company you’ll find the Ely Mercantile, offering custom-designed sweatshirts and other items that can display your lake name and icons of your favorite activities. Across the street next to the Steakhouse is Three Jewels Pottery, a combined shop and ceramics studio with functional pottery made right there. Why buy cheap stuff from China when you can find affordable artisan crafts that support the local economy? Are you looking to start a business in Ely? We really need a taxi service. Uber and Lyft are not authorized to operate here, and at the moment there is no one but friends and family to provide a safe ride after imbibing too much at the bars, and they may not be sober either.

The Arts

Ely has always had music and theater activities during the summer, but this year seems about to outdo all others. The City Band is making a come-back after a Covid-induced break. All are welcome regardless of how long ago they played regularly. Led by Ely shools’ new band teacher, the group will again hold Tuesday concerts in Whiteside Park during July. Musicals and concerts will grace the stage at the college in July and August with the Broadway in the Boundary Waters series from Northern Lakes Arts. “Pay what you can” tickets ensure that no one will need to miss performances due to budget constraints. The annual Reflections Dance Company show has a new twist this year–a complete story line interpreted with the company’s usual excellence and variety of styles. September will feature a new revision of Root Beer Lady, the musical rendition of Dorothy Molter’s life on

Knife Lake. Find dates and times for all these and much more in the Calendar starting on page 70, and at NorthernLakesArts.org.

Ely schools music director Mike Rouse was working late in his home studio last August. About 1 am he noticed an email from Disney. Curious to see the results of a contest to award one school in each state the rights to produce Disney’s Frozen, the Broadway Musical, he opened it.

The contest was sponsored by Disney; the Educational Theater Association, which promotes learning opportunities in theater arts; and Musical Theater International, which holds the rights to the show. Expecting to see which of Minnesota’s prestigious big-city high schools had won the contest, Mike was totally surprised by the winner. It was Ely!!

A month earlier Mike had entered the contest, which involved writing several essays regarding how the production could ensure inclusivity for students with various skills, talents, and abilities as well as the larger, community. He also wrote about how the theme “Love is an Open Door” would be portrayed, and what unique situations in the town would be reflected in the production.

Mike started his application saying, “Ely is literally Frozen for 6 months a year.” He described businesses like Steger Mukluks, Wintergreen, and White Wilderness that focus on winter. He told how Ely has practical winterdependent activities like cutting ice for summer refrigeration and hauling materials across frozen lakes by dogsled, as well as a 10-day midwinter festival with snow sculptures.

With a remarkable musical theater program in the Ely schools that starts in 4th grade, we can expect a topnotch show January 19-21, 2024. Community members are already providing volunteer support such as figuring out special effects that will create snow, northern lights, and perhaps even a chill that wafts over the audience momentarily. Fundraisers will be needed to help pay for costuming, set building, and promotion. If you want to get involved, contact Mike by email at mrouse@ely.k12.mn.us.

New Purpose for a Vacant Building

Once upon a time (in the 1980s) a community-minded Ely-loving benefactor thought Ely needed a community pool. A great idea that is at last coming closer to reality through the efforts of the Ely Area Community Foundation (EACF), an organization devoted to improving Ely’s quality of life (as great as it is, there’s room for growth). The original donor offered enough funding to build the pool, but the original organization that would have managed the fiscal responsibilities couldn’t be certain they would find the money for maintenance, and the project was put on hold. Recently another benefactor, teaming up with EACF, has made it possible to purchase the former MN Dep’t of Revenue building. Adding a pool to the building is still a work in progress that will require a major fundraising effort, but many other great things are about to happen there, with collaboration between occupants being one of the main features. Remodeling is underway to give a new and improved home to several existing Ely organizations and address some of Ely’s most pressing needs. important to continued success for those working on recovery and healthy living. Such a place allows recovery to deepen while people make community connections and find what they need to sustain their well-being whether that’s jobs, friends, time in nature, creative outlets, or recreation.

Happy Days Preschool is one Ely non-profit that will find a home at the EACF building. Their new space will allow for expanded programs serving a major community need—child care.

Founded in 1969, Happy Days provided preschool to generations of Ely kids before temporarily closing the doors in the 2021-22 school year due to Covid and a sharp decline in enrollment. Now their board–four Ely moms who have full time jobs–has enlarged the vision to help meet the needs of other working families in Ely.

Once the construction dust settles, the renamed Happy Days Learning Center will include an infant room that can care for up to 12 babies, a toddler area for up to 14, a preschool space for up to 20, an industrial kitchen for meal preparation, and an outdoor playground. At least seven full-time staff will be hired (several have already committed) plus a part-time cook.

Until construction is completed, Happy Days offers preschool and day care for 3 to 5-year-olds, but can only accommodate 12 children. Changing to a 7:30am to 5:30pm day will make more workers available to help meet the job demands of Ely employers.

The primary focus of all Happy Days programs is providing what Ely needs most for children and parents. The next priority is providing childhood education using a playbased curriculum. “We want to do this right and have fun with an outdoor focus,” says board member Allie. “We want children to explore and appreciate the unique area where we live and develop a strong sense of community” Collaboration with senior activities in the building may add an important intergenerational experience.

Programming for older adults will be part of what Northwoods Partners brings when they move into EACF. Now providing exercise classes, wellness activities, caregiver support, and social groups in a variety of places, they will be relieved to have everything under one roof. And the seniors they serve will be able to access all Northwoods Partners’ programs without having to go from the rec center to the hospital to the Lutheran Church basement to...you get the idea.

Lisa, the director, is excited to share a space where her clients have access to a larger gym and the Trezona Trail for more physical activity, as well as opportunities to interact with children and enjoy the outdoors. Both care givers and those cared for will be able to engage in a Although extremely grateful for the office the hospital has provided for years, Lisa looks forward to fewer interruptions (and germs) in the new space.

Heavy Metal Sports, now Functional Fitness, is changing more than their name as they prepare to move into much more spacious digs. The 2300 square foot gym means more room to spin, more equipment to share, and more classes to keep Elyites healthy and strong. HMS has always been about getting in shape in a community that supports people as they are and encourages progress toward where they want to be. Owner Michelle is enthusiastic about offering more classes at the hours that work best for members. The EACF building has better access to outside activities for the youth program. And a smoothie bar! Hang out, chat, and rehydrate.

Another space in the building will be administrative offices for Well Being Development plus a meeting room where their seven staff members, most of whom work virtually, can gather with leaders of the many other community organizations focused on mental and behavioral health. Well Being Development has to move out of their current space in the Bowling Alley basement by the end of July. The Clubhouse and some of their other programs will return to their St. Mary’s Episcopal Church location temporarily until another home can be found. Well Being Development is also planning for a Recovery House elsewhere in town. The support such a housing space offers is

Look for an article in the upcoming Ely Winter Times about the many resources for mental health and general well-being available in Ely.

Providing high quality space and chances for collaboration to existing organizations and businesses that improve life in Ely is quite an accomplishment.Thanks EACF!!