Joan Farnam: NorthShore ArtScene
March
The shortest month of the year ends with a bang as far as the arts are concerned, with all kinds of fun events scheduled that weekend.
Shawn Perich: On the Shore
Trout Stocking Cuts Symptom of Deeper Fiscal Woes
The Minnesota DNR recently announced cutbacks to trout stocking in lakes and streams and the partial shuttering of the French River Hatchery as the Kamloops rainbows formerly raised there are moved to another facility. To learn how stocking cutbacks may affect the average angler, I called Steve Persons, the DNR fisheries manager in Grand Marais. Within his work area are dozens of lakes stocked with stream trout. I wondered if the stocking reductions would reduce fishing opportunities.
Healthy Eating is Good for Conservation
Michael Pollan is a novice hunter, but his writing on the topics of hunting and animal rights are among the best to appear in the past decade. His 2006 book, The Omnivore's Dilemma, contains a thorough discourse about the animal rights philosophy and the use of animals, including hunting, as he explores American food and its production. Although his topic is food, Pollan offers profound insight for conservation.
Conversations
Conversations with Qwest and CenturyLink
The two telephone companies servicing Cook County provide high speed Internet service to many, if not all of their customers.
Qwest, which services western Cook County and Grand Marais, provides DSL high speed service to customers within three miles of its Grand Marais office and is presently adding expanded six-band service to its business customers in the Tofte-Lutsen area. The expansion doesn’t include residential customers, but company spokesperson Joanna Hjelmeland says there is future potential for residential DSL in the West End, but with no time frame.
Welcome to our Table
EATS: Serving Up an Educational Experience
The annual EATS (Enriching Academics Through Sustenance) fundraiser is set for Thursday, March 11 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Cook County High School. Presented by the Cook County School District 166 Education Foundation (CCSDEF), a $25 donation is your ticket to a night of live music, community and food from numerous local restaurants and businesses (and don’t worry, you’ll leave with a full stomach).
Health and Wellness
Words of Experience, Community Support Help Ease Breast Cancer Fears
Vicki Biggs-Anderson used to dread doing monthly self-breast exams. She’d had several breast cancer scares with non-cancerous cysts, but in October 2006 she found a lump that felt different.
Area Arts
North House Goes Green
Irish Music Comes to Grand Marais
It will be all-things Irish March 19-21 in Cook County when North House Folk School and the North Shore Music Association bring us the “Traditional Music Weekend – Celtic Connections.”
Life Long Learning
District Considers Four-Day School Week
Grand Marais--The Cook County school district (ISD 166) is considering the option of a four-day week and the effects of such a scheduling change on student education.
Presently, four Minnesota districts, MCCRAY, Blackduck, Warroad, and Ogilvie, have four-day week schedules. Minnesota schools implementing the four-day week report positive experiences from parents, students and staff. All four districts plan to continue with the four-day week calendars.
Home and Property
It’s Time To Spruce Up Your Home
With spring just around the corner and the doldrums of winter nearing an end, this is the perfect time to make some changes around the house. Here are some ways you can spruce up your home from floor to ceiling.
Other Features
Religion and Art:The 2010 Stations of the Cross Art project
This Lenten season, Mary Ellen Ashcroft of the Spirit of the Wilderness Episcopal Church, in partnership with the Grand Marais Art Colony, has called upon 27 local artists to help create an artistic rendering of the Stations of the Cross.
Looking Forward to Strong Finish for Winter Season
After a quiet early season, Lutsen Mountains Ski Area is hoping to ride the wave of winter sports enthusiasm generated by February’s Vancouver Olympic Winter Games to a strong season finish this April.
Love is in the Air
February is the mating season for wild canines. Hovland photographer Sandy Updyke had the good fortune to witness the courtship behavior of two red fox on a recent sunny morning for about 45 minutes.
Ridge Riders Raise Funds for Trails
Fundraising is especially important for the Cook County Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club this year. With state Grant In Aid funding cut nearly in half, new sources of money are necessary to help the club groom 125 miles of snowmobile trails. One of the organization’s favorite fundraisers is the annual Trout Derby, scheduled for Feb. 28 at Gunflint Lake. Coinciding with the Trail’s Winter Tracks, the Derby is a great way to have fun with friends and neighbors, enjoy a barbeque and perhaps win a prize for catching a fish.
BWCAW Permit Lottery Ends Jan. 15
The lottery for Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) permits opened December 1, 2009 and will continue through January 15. Applicants must set up an account on www.recreation.gov to enter the lottery. Faxed or mailed applications, and payments made by check and money order are not accepted.
New Winter Lake Trout Season Dates For 2010
Winter season for lake trout on all lakes located entirely within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), will open Friday, Jan. 1 and close Wednesday, March 31, 2010, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
