Quad Cities Journal

A Circle of Muses

2012-02-12T06:58:00.001-08:00

Circle of Muses
A Gathering of Creative Women
How about an evening shared with other creative women to inspire your art?
Whether it's painting, writing, fiber art, or any other creative art media you deserve to take time for inspiration.
Come to The First Stage Gallery
Sunday February 26, 2012
5:30pm—8pm

Bring a project you are working on, if you wish.
You can spend time on it, ask for input, or share your creative process with someone else.

Enjoy:
· Poetry
· Music
· Chair massage
· Wine and chocolate (bring an hors d'oeuvre to share)
· Tea
· Inspiration
· Collaboration
· A shared creative project

Please register in advance by
e-mailing
lyriccenterforthearts@yahoo.com.

Cost: $15.00 (you may also want to bring a monetary tip for the masseuse)

Lyric Center for the Arts
The First Stage gallery and performance venue
510 - 514 Chestnut St.
P.O. Box 416
Virginia, MN 55792
218-741-5577
http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com
Add us to your Facebook favorites! Click HERE

Love Your Library

2012-02-12T06:54:00.000-08:00

Mark Your Calendar!
Thursday, February 16 at Noon — We love our library Book Lover’s Tea!
Thursday, March 8 at Noon — Local history with Pam Brunfelt.
April 12 at Noon — Local musician Paul Metsa.

Announcing the "Love Your Library" fundraising campaign!
This year the FRIENDS are celebrating Valentine's Day by participating in the Love Your Library campaign. Simply pick up a red envelope at the main desk, pop in a donation, and leave it with staff. If you're wondering what we do with the contributions, it's short and sweet! We support the library! Join the FRIENDS for a whopping $5.00 and get all our news. Envelopes will be available the full month of February.

Reminders
Have you picked up your book log for the “Hot Reads for Cold Nights" program yet? If not, the time is now!
Register at the library or online and participate in lifelong reading.

One Book, One Community
We will be reading "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot.
Our community book discussion will be held as a Brown Bag (at noon) on TUESDAY, April 10.

For more information, please visit the event calendar at www.virginia.lib.mn.us or call the library at 748-7525.

—Jennifer Armstrong, president
FRIENDS of the Virginia Public Library
218-865-0112

Libraries & literacy are essential!

Look What Ely Has to Do to Have Its Winter Festival!

2012-01-18T16:33:00.000-08:00

BRING SNOW
By the Pickup Truck!
By the Bag or Box!
Fill Your Coolers with CLEAN
SNOW
Dump it near the wood forms
BRING
SNOW
to ELY’s
PARK!
WHITESIDE
...........
2011-2012 winter has a shortage of snow!

Friends of the Library Events Set

2012-01-15T12:52:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

The FRIENDS of the Virginia Public Library wish you the best for 2012!

Mark Your Calendar!

First meeting for 2012 was Tuesday, January 10, at 4:00 p.m. in the library auditorium. The group planned the January 24 Annual Dinner with special guest Jim Weikum, Arrowhead Library System Executive Director (Join the FRIENDS to attend!), who recruited volunteer hosts for the Friendly Fridays, planning our annual Love Your Libary Book Lover's Tea, and more!

“Hot Reads for Cold Nights" is bigger than ever at Virginia Public Library, January - February 2012
When the weather is cold, it’s time to find a hot read and join Virginia Public Library’s annual “Hot Reads for Cold Nights” reading program–sponsored by the FRIENDS of the Virginia Public Library for the past 14 years! Register at the library or online and participate in lifelong reading.

We will be reading "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot.
Our community book discussion will be held as a Brown Bag (at noon) on TUESDAY, April 10.
AND, on Wednesday, April 18 MPR's Kerri Miller will interview author Rebecca Skloot at the DECC in Duluth. We're looking into a bus — detail to be released! Learn more about the book here and here, then grab your library card and use the library's online catalog to order your copy of the book today!

New this year:

Hot Reads Friendly Fridays - January 6, 13, 20, 27 and February 3, 10, 17 and 24
Join the FRIENDS at Noon on Fridays to enjoy coffee, treats and good conversations about great books! (Flyer attached.)
Members of the FRIENDS will be present each Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 to encourage everyone to talk about books.

Hot Reads Online - Record the books you read and write your reviews online! Then read the reviews submitted by others to find a new book to read! (You will still need to visit the library to pick up your books and submit your entries for prizes.)

Upcoming Events – Check out the new Brown Bag event calendar at the library!
Wednesday, January 11 at Noon — Did you get an E-Reader for Christmas? Come to the library to learn how to download free library books to your new eBook reader with Linda Wadman from the North Country Library Cooperative. Get your E-Reader questions answered and problems solved @ your Library! (Flyer attached.)
Thursday, January 12 at Noon — Speaking for the....Owls with Laura Erickson! Ms. Erickson will be talking about local owls and will even bring Archimedes, her Eastern Screech Owl! Copies of her most recent book, Twelve Owls, as well as The Bird Watching Answer Book, will be available for purchase and signing. (Flyer attached.)
Thursday, February 9 at Noon — John Latimer, host of KAXE’s “The Phenology Show,” will present on "phenology, the rhythmic biological nature of events as they relate to climate.”
Thursday February 9 at 4:00 p.m. — Enjoy the music of the Okee Dokee brothers in the library lobby. Check them out at www.okeedokee.org or on YouTube here and here. This is an after-school event, so round up those grandkids to come enjoy the program!
Thursday, February 16 at Noon — We love our library Book Lover’s Tea!
Thursday, March 8 at Noon — Local history with Pam Brunfelt.
April 12 at Noon — Local musician Paul Metsa.

For more information, please visit the event calendar at www.virginia.lib.mn.us or call the library at 748-7525.

FRIENDS and FRIENDS Ambassadors! Please post and distribute the flyers in the community!

—Jennifer Armstrong, president
FRIENDS of the Virginia Public Library
218-865-0112

Libraries & literacy are essential!

Friends of the Virginia Public Library

2010-10-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

Gathering all FRIENDS – Thursday evening!
Come share your ideas for FRIENDS activities and events! 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, October 28th at the Columbia Apartments meeting room. (flyer attached)
Please RSVP – we're picking up sub sandwiches from Poor Gary's and would like to know how many to plan for!

Mark your calendars! Fall Brown Bag Seminars: (Held in the library auditorium at noon.)
Nov. 4th — Healthy Holiday Eating with Holly Holmes (flyer attached)
Nov. 18th — Understanding Memory Loss
Dec. 2nd — Holiday Baking Tips & Cookie Exchange (hosts needed)
AMBASSADORS: Please forward, print and post the flyers as appropriate!
CORE group members: Flyers are available at the Staff Picks table for pick up and posting.

The next regular meeting of the FRIENDS will be Tuesday, November 16 at 4:00 p.m.

Thank you Carol Gunderson and Donna Semeja for preparing the library window boxes and plaza container for winter!

–Jennifer Armstrong
FRIENDS of the Virginia Public Library
865-0112

Libraries and literacy are essential!

Tickets Are Still Available

2010-10-26T05:47:00.000-07:00

Murder at the Monster Bash
mystery dinner theater
October 29th and October 30th.
Halloween? Spooky!!
Being in costume is no excuse for the way you behave the other 364 days of the year. And some families can be the worst, even to the point of...well, you know.
The IRRRP's holiday party will be at the Coates Hotel, Viking Room.
Doors and cash bar open at 6pm.
Curtain time is 6:30pm.

Guests in costume (by our definition) will be eligible for a special prize. All decisions are final! (But not 'final' as in murder 'cause we want you to come back again!)
Don't miss out. Reserve your ticket and meal NOW. Call Pete at 780-1264, then click on the order form below, print, complete and mail with your payment to LCA at PO Box 416, Virginia, MN.

Lyric Center for the Arts
The First Stage gallery and performance venue
P.O. Box 416
Virginia, MN 55792
218-741-5577
http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com
Add us to your Facebook favorites! Click HERE

2010-10-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

Murder at the Monster Bash!
A Mystery Dinner Theater production by the
IRRRP
Halloween!! Spooky!! Being in costume is no
excuse for the way we behave the other 364 days
of the year, and families can be the absolute
worst, even to the point of, well, you know. Our
holiday party will be at the Coates Hotel, Viking
Room, which will open at 6:00PM on both Friday
the 29th and Saturday the 30th. The curtain will
be at 6:30PM. Guests in costume (by our
definition) will be eligible for a special prize. All
decisions are final.
Dinner choices will be either Champagne Chicken, or a 6 ounce steak with 3 shrimp, please note
that all steaks will be prepared MEDIUM. Salad and desert complete the offering for each
night. Please fill out the order form information below, and call Pete at 741-5577 to reserve your
order, and then mail completed form and check, to LCA, P.O Box 416, Virginia, MN 55792. We
also accept Visa and Master Charge. Tickets must be ordered and paid for by Monday October
25. and will be held at the door. These events sell out early so DON’T DELAY!!
________________________________________________________________________
My name is________________________________________
Orders placed after October 25 will be $40.00 each.
I/we will be attending on:______Friday October 29 $35.00
______Saturday October 30 $35.00
There will be_____ in our party.
___ will have the steak
___ choose the Champagne Chicken.
Enclosed, please find check or cash totaling $_________. Checks should be made to the IRRRP.
Please charge $__________ to my credit card.
The card is a __________(Visa/MC) card. The number is_________________________.
Expiration date is__________. My phone number is___________________.
Order#________(Office use only)
Thanks for supporting the Iron Range Regional Repertory Players

Recent Interview at Laurentian Environmental Center

2010-10-05T14:31:00.000-07:00

Jim DeVries, director of the Laurentian Environmental Center, 8950 Peppard Road, Britt recently sat down for an interview. He reported that there will be a renovation of the main lodge this year. It is through the legislative commission of Minnesota Resources. The Laurentian lodge building was built in 1938 and now energy efficient windows and installation will be installed improving the overall efficiency of the building. There will also be some work done in the office area. Next year, there is a plan for solar heat and possible wind energy utilization. All will most likely also enhance the curriculum of the center's attendees.
The school year season has begun. The first students of the season are the New Brighton Sunnyside Elementary 5th graders who will spend 4 days. The camp has catalog selections and the district chooses which courses to offer the students. The camp is mostly booked but there is always room for consideration. Call 888-749-1288. Ask for Kristian for further details or a catalog.
Summer 2010 was one of the busiest. The warmer weather sped up the grass growth. The forest appears healthy and awaits children, students and adults for a full fall, winter, and spring visit from those who want to spend quality time in a beautiful northeastern environment.

Thank You for 2010 Sand Lake Shuffle

2010-10-05T14:10:00.000-07:00

$47,700 raised. 215 team members. 104 survivors. 64 volunteers. 1,600 luminaries sold. $41,000 given to Care Partners to assist local individuals living with cancer.
$2,000 given to St. Luke's Whiteside Institute for Clinical Research. $2,000 given to St. Mary Duluth Clinic Breast Program. $2,000 maintained for special event or donation for 2011 Sand Lake Shuffle. 2011 is the 20th year for the SLS and the committee welcomes and encourages teams, participation, donations, assistance, and committee involvement on behalf of our local cancer patients. Hope to see all of you at the Voyageurs Resort, Sand Lake, Old Highway 53 ByPass, Britt August 11/12 2011. We thank ALL volunteers, donations, purchases and businesses who give freely to help this non profit raise funds for local cancer patients. It is the "perfect storm" of everyone coming together to help others.

Another Successful Sand Lake Shuffle

2010-10-05T14:03:00.001-07:00

Next year marks our 20th anniversary.

The Eagle Will Soon Be Landing

2010-10-05T13:45:00.000-07:00

The Eagle Will Soon Be Landing as the Iron Range Veteran Memorial Nears Completion

NOTE: There are 11 members of the Iron Range Veterans Memorial Project. We are “all” senior citizens and dedicated volunteers. The project has been underway for eleven years and the grass roots efforts of this group has never wavered. Below please find a short interview with each member as we reflect on our involvement and progress on this wonderful public tribute:

The nine ton IRVM bronze, “Shoulder to Shoulder” is nearing completion and plans are underway for its transportation and installation. All 160 pieces of the 25’ by 16’ sculpture have been cast at the Crucible Foundry, Norman, Oklahoma (www.cruciblellc.com) and renown artist/sculptor Gareth Andrews (www.oxbowart.com) made one of his last trips to do finishing work through the generous offer of Happy Trails Tours, Forbes. The tour bus headed to Texas last March for a winter getaway and Gareth caught a ride to the foundry in time to give a tour and talk about the sculpture to local travelers.
On Thurs., Feb. 25, 2010 on the 6:30 Duluth Channel 3 News, yet another coverage about the IRVM project was aired. Since that airing, the Virginia Foundation gave the IRVM a figure spot on the military mural wall for a fund raiser in silent auction form. It brought a bid of $5,000 from an anonymous donor followed by yet another donation of $50,000 from the same person allowing the remaining money owed to the foundry to be paid off.
*The IRVM committee was interviewed earlier the week of Feb. 2010 and we share with your readers information about our members. Excitement is building as we near the arrival of the masterpiece. While the t.v. interview was underway, the IRVM committee members took some time to reflect and give brief comments about their involvement and dedication to the project. The IRVM committee shared some “golden” memories about the Iron Range’s “bronze” arrival.
*Jim Wilson (far back left in photo) just informed us that the Ely television station has shown an interest in the building and assemblage of the sculpture. They plan on making arrangements with the committee very soon. We thank them for their interest. (Since that news, we traveled to the Veterans on the Lake north of Ely, Mn where we were interviewed for an entire hour by a Duluth radio station.) Jim was in the Navy from 1963-67 and served on the U.S.S. Midway CVA 41 and the Hornet CVA 12. Since he also served in Vietnam, he knew people who were missing or killed and thinks of them often Because he was the past Commander for Disabled Vets for the state of Minnesota, he was asked to serve on the IRVM committee. He says, that, “The project has been a long time coming and I have been personally involved since the beginning because I think it’s a very important sculpture for the entire area.” Jim heard about the project initially by belonging to the many veterans organizations. He feels that area residents will really come to appreciate the sacrifices that all veterans have made once the park is completed. “It’s art that is needed in the area.”
*Jim Pernu, (2nd from front left row) our newest member of the committee, thinks the memorial is a great tribute to ALL veterans not only the Minnesota ones but also those throughout the state and beyond. “It is an honor and I am proud to be a member of this committee.” He wants to thank all who have shown support towards the memorial fund. Jim works along side Chuck Pottsmith on the paver purchase/installation area and he said, “I can’t say enough good about the fantastic job Chuck has done and I have learned a lot from him.”
*Larry Cuffee (far right back row) has been with the project since the beginning. Larry says, “it has been an honor and a privilege to be involved in this beautiful memorial that will soon be erected. There have been a lot of ups and downs because of finances.” Because of many generous donations, especially by two particular individuals who gave the initial money, we were able to move forward with the project. He feels, “it was a gift from Heaven and without that generous donation, we probably might not be at this point right now.” The entire committee agrees with that comment.
*Chuck Pottsmith (2nd from right front row) says this project started out about ten years ago and he was, at that time, asked to make a drawing or concept. He did and the committee (during Dick Edstrom’s years) looked it over. In the meantime, however, an architectural firm was contacted and a more elaborate design emerged. “Initially, there were plans for fiberglass figures and a museum but various complications such as staffing for tourists changed the plans. The concept evolved and the bronze idea was accepted.” Chuck served in WWII in a milder capacity from 1943-46 and he joined the committee because he said, “ I wanted to honor those who served and sacrificed. This is my gesture at paying them back.” Chuck wants it said that this is his service to “all veterans” and he has been glad to do it.
*Don Tekautz (3rd from left back row)has belonged to the committee since its inception many years ago (at least a dozen years). He called Joe Begich and Mr. Begich said, “come to the IRRRB meeting tonight and you might be able to get $250,000.” As it turned out, the money had to be a grant match. The committee was determined to continue and eventually, was able to obtain the necessary match. “We arranged a meeting with the new commissioner and an agreement was made.” Don says, “I have always been interested in helping veterans.” Part of his feelings involve the fact that his brother, Robert, was a POW for nine months. He was captured in Italy and they walked from Italy to Mooseburg, Germany. Five Tekautz brothers served between WWII and the Korean War. In 1992, Don had the opportunity to visit the prisoner of war camp where his brother and others had been imprisoned.
*Louise Grams, (far left right front row)secretary, served in the Navy Hospital Corps. “In those days, if one couldn’t afford college, they looked for other opportunities.” She was too young to go on the MSTS (military ship transport). Louise chose to join the IRVM committee because “I wanted to be a part of it. I can’t wait for it to get here!” She invites everyone who listened to Louise on “Open Mike”, WHLB for 23 years, whether it was in the kitchen, on a tractor, in the garage or car, to now pick up a pen or go online (www.razoo.com or www.goodsearch.com) and make a donation to the IRVM project. “Now,” she says, “We need everyone who listened or called to contact us for our project.”
*Richard Obidowski (2nd far left back row) joined the IRVM because he was approached by another committee member after a newspaper article ran about his uncle, Pete, serving as a medic in Korea. Richard’s father and three uncles all served in WWII. Richard was visibly moved as he expressed that, “The project is something that needs to be done to honor all the fallen veterans and surviving veterans of all the wars we have been in.” The title of the sculpture is “Shoulder to Shoulder Even the Fallen Stand Tall” and that reflects Richard’s feelings.
*Jim Lustig, (far right front row) treasurer, has been affiliated since the beginning and the reason he became involved because “Many of my relatives served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.” Jim was born and raised around Cook. Both Jim and his brother served in the Korean War. He feels, “By recognizing those who served in the military and honoring them, it is what makes it possible for all of us to be here. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be able to be here doing this now. This is a way of honoring all of them.”
*Jake Varoga (absent in photo) is the chaplain of all the veterans organizations in Virginia except for 40/8. He says, “It is an honor and privilege to serve on the committee and I will never forget the experience and work done by many.” As we near the closure and completion of the monument, he suggests that if anyone wants a way to honor all of our veterans, they might consider a donation.
*Tom Berrigan, (2nd from right back row) chairman, says that the concept of a veterans memorial has been in his thoughts for a long time. He was a Marine in Vietnam 1967-74 where he saw many 18/19 year olds get killed. “Forty some years later, sometimes it seems like they have been forgotten by the general public.” He did two tours in Vietnam in 67, 68, 69. He said, “I thought it important that we have something large, tangible and beautiful to look at to honor their memories.” He says, “I am looking forward to the completion of the project and to get the huge bronze statue for the Iron Range. It has been such a long project that sometimes we wondered if it would ever happen. Now that the date is approaching, it will be a weight off of the entire committee.” The pressure, however, is still on until the final money is raised.
*Charlene Luoma, (middle back row) vice chair, chose to join the committee because she hoped to assist through grant writing and fund raising. She has been a “cheerleader” for the group while capturing the history of the project through photos, scrapbooks, articles and the media. She was excited by the thought of being helpful in bringing a high caliber bronze to the Iron Range art community.The arts belong to everyone.She had members of her family serve and in honor of all who served, she wanted to pay a respectful tribute through the beautiful monument. She knew Gareth Andrews from other projects, was aware of his tremendous talent and hard work and proud to be on the committee. As a former public school teacher, she often told her students “Try to be a peacemaker but always respect the peacekeepers.” She is also proud that the eight figures represent both sexes and man ethnic groups besides all branches and the five major conflicts of the last century. It is an inclusive project in man ways. Following her retirement, the project became an extension of showing honor to those who served.
*Gareth Andrews, sculptor, reminisced about when he and Byron Kesanen were finishing the “Sawyer” sculpture in the Rotary Park. Dick Edstrom and Floyd Jaros approached them about a veterans memorial. They set out what they hoped to incorporate and it was extensive and non discriminatory. They wanted everyone to be honored. Gareth’s father was a WWII Navy sailor with a college education. Consequently, he was given a desk job and Gareth thinks that might have influenced his interpretation. People have served in a wide variety of ways including the families and All Americans who have shown support for those who had to see actual “action”. “There are lines of supplies and bookwork needed to also ‘run a war’”. “ As many walls that we have breached, it was a total effort across the century to keep the peace. Everyone has a story to tell. The sculpture aimed for the common ground and the common man” in the part he/she has played. “With all the metal on the floor (of the foundry), things will come together quickly. I feel good about it.” Those are the encouraging words directly from the artist in keeping the faith that all will go as planned in the last stages of the sculpture. We wish him safe travels and the best of luck as he oversees the assemblage.
The New Mexico National Guard has volunteered transportation of the bronze from Norman, Oklahoma to Virginia City Central Park around May 17. Four foundry workers will be assembling, grinding, polishing, heating, straightening, working on the patina through 10-12 hour week days over three days. The IRVM committee is aiming for May 29 as a public welcome and acknowledgement for the extraordinary work by the artist, foundry, committee, donors, volunteers and anyone else who has shown support for the 11 year project. The hearts of the Iron Range people are in this monument and Memorial Park in addition to their money. It is a tribute to a grassroots effort by volunteer citizens in planning, constructing, handling finances responsibly and delivering a tangible monument honoring “All Who Served” and the accomplishments through collaboration and cooperation. It will stand forever as a reminder of these efforts.
We are, for the first time in over ten years, at a financial shortfall. Since the ownership of this beautiful bronze belongs to EVERYONE we seek every one’s help. If you would like to purchase a brick Memorial Paver, please contact Chuck Pottsmith (741-8775) or Tom Berrigan (749-5362). If you would like to make a direct donation, please send it to IRVM Committee, Box 35, Virginia, Mn. 55792. Another new way to make an online donation is through (www.razoo.com Iron Range Veterans Memorial) or through (www.goodsearch.com Iron Range Veterans Memorial) also known as GiveMn.org. These are websites for non profits (your donations are all tax deductible). If you put the goodsearch logo in your tool bar and use it to search on the internet, we automatically receive $ as an organization. If you make any online purchases from an extensive list of businesses (Best Buy, JC Penneys, Target, Office Max, Barnes and Noble to name just a few and many well known catalog businesses) we will be given a % of the purchase price from the business but you must be sure you list or tell them it is for the IRVM organization. A large amount of funds have been received for various non profits through this new method of giving. Please check on these to see if this is the method you would want to use and above all else, pass the phone numbers, box number and websites in this article along to your friends and relatives.
We are available for addressing clubs, service organizations, businesses etc. with recent updates on the project. The sparks are flying in the foundry and a fire is lit under the IRVM project. For all of us who have patiently waited, the wait will soon be over and we invite you all to enjoy “your park and monument” honoring THOSE WHO SERVED” and the miners who drew many tons of ore that as turned into the steel used for ships, vehicles, surgical instruments, ammunition, arms in the keeping of America and the freedoms we all enjoy. The phase one is complete and debt free, phase two is nearing completion and the foundry is paid in full, the transportation, installation and necessary crane is covered. Remaining is the last $50,000 on the artist’s fee. Please consider helping us with the remaining shortfall as this public project belongs to everyone!

Sincerely submitted
Charlene Luoma co chair IRVM committee (all volunteer senior citizens!)

Sand lake Shuffle Needs Everyone's Help On Behalf Of Our Local Cancer Patients!

2010-04-17T08:43:00.000-07:00

Sand Lake Shuffle 19th Season Begins!

It's time to begin planning for another successful local cancer fund raising event! This year's Sand Lake Shuffle (Sand Lake, Voyageur's Resort) Old Highay 53, Britt By Pass is scheduled for August 13/14. Last year, despite the economic problems, the Shuffle raised $48,400 that was disbursed to the CarePartners committee(provides money locally to those stricken with cancer and their families, The Liz Prebich Breast Cancer Center, Virginia, Mn., St. Mary's Breast Center, Duluth and St. Luke's Whiteside Research, Duluth for cancer research and treatment. The SLS committee tries to be fair and to provide for our local people's needs. Planning has begun and we ask that readers consider a team to walk around the beautiful Sand Lake track or to purchase our delicious $6 spaghetti dinner. Donations are always welcome and family and business fund raisers are becoming more popular. It is not too early to start planning and some of our members began last night. Questions? Ideas? Suggestions? lundgren65@yahoo.com ask for Holly and come for a fun evening of music, pizza, spaghetti, and laughter on Aug. 13/14.
We are trying to put the "fun" into our local fund raising with an emphasis on the teams.

Library Fun!

2010-04-11T13:14:00.001-07:00

And what a week it will be!
Last week's Brown Bag Lunch on Planning Your Year-Round Garden was a great success with over 30 attendees! Thanks for your help in spreading the word!

NEXT WEEK: NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK
Monday, April 12 – One Book, One Community Book Discussion, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver, starting at noon
Tuesday, April 13 – Celebrate National Library Week & Meet the Friends with cookies & juice at the library!, noon to 2:00
Thursday, April 15 – Garden Series #2 Brown Bag: Minimum Maintenance Container Gardening!, starting at noon

Flyers are attached for each of these events. Ambassadors: Please forward, print and post, as appropriate!
Technical note: The flyers are "downsized" to accommodate our FRIENDS with dial-up Internet service. Email me if you're having trouble printing full-size poster quality, and I will send you a larger pdf file.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
The next meeting of the FRIENDS will be Tuesday, April 20, 4:00 p.m. in the Library Auditorium
Come join us as we talk about what the FRIENDS can do to help the library keep our kids reading all summer long!

Tuesday, April 20, 6:00 p.m., One Book, One Community Book Discussion, Natural Harvest Food Coop, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver
Thursday, April 22, 12:00–1:00 p.m., Garden Series #3 Brown Bag: Fragrant Language of Herbs!

Visit the Library Calendar for a complete list of upcoming events at the library!

Also in the community:
Woodcut Artist and Children's Book Author Betsy Bowen to Exhibit April 12-28
Special Events, Thursday, April 15 (Exhibit flyer)

--Jennifer Armstrong
FRIENDS of the Virginia Public Library
218-865-0112

Libraries and literacy are essential!

Sand Lake Shuffle 2010 Local Cancer Fundraiser

2010-04-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

Iron Range Veterans Memorial Announces Goodsearch Online Fundraiser

2010-04-02T16:23:00.000-07:00

Newsletter, Blog, & Email:
$5,000 GoodSearch Giveaway - Three Days Only
We have something new and exciting we'd like to share with you! It's the new IRVM - Iron Range Veterans Memorial toolbar - once added to IE or Firefox, each time you shop at more than 1,300 stores (from Amazon to Zazzle!) a percentage of your purchase will automatically be donated to IRVM - Iron Range Veterans Memorial - at no cost to you (and you may even save money as the toolbar provides coupons and deals as well!). The toolbar also has a search box and each time you search the Internet, about a penny is donated to IRVM - Iron Range Veterans Memorial. http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/irvm-iron-range-veterans-memorial
The two minutes it takes to add this toolbar to your browser can make a lifetime of difference!

Get the toolbar NOW! http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/irvm-iron-range-veterans-memorial

New Announcement:

GoodSearch will donate a $1 for every toolbar that is downloaded between April 6th at 9am EST and April 9th at 9am EST up to $5,000!! Please download the toolbar right now.

Our new (Iron Range Veterans Memorial) toolbar is free to download and allows you to raise money for our cause every time you search or shop online! Once added to IE or Firefox, each time you shop at more than 1,300 stores (from Amazon to Zazzle!) a percentage of your purchase will automatically be donated to (Iron Range Veterans Memorial)- at no cost to you (and you may even save money as the toolbar provides coupons and deals as well!). The toolbar also has a search box and each time you search the Internet, about a penny is donated to (Iron Range Veterans Memorial) (URL)

Please hurry and do this now so that we can earn the $1 bonus per toolbar!

And, please pass this along to all of your friends. The two minutes it takes to add this toolbar to your browser can make a lifetime of difference for our cause!

Get the toolbar NOW! (URL)

Put on your facebook page:Facebook
GoodSearch will donate $1 for every toolbar that is downloaded today up to $5,000! Download it here and every time you shop at one of more than 1,300 participating stores, a percentage of your purchase will automatically go to our cause! (URL).

Put on your Twitter page: Twitter
GoodSearch will donate $1 for every toolbar that is downloaded today, up to $5,000! Download it here to support us! - (URL)

Open Water Exhibit at First Stage Gallery

2010-03-17T11:09:00.000-07:00

Calling visual artists!

We celebrate the opening of fishing season with our annual Open Water exhibit at the First Stage Gallery which will begin May 6, 2010. We're looking for artwork that depicts our northern Minnesota lakes, rivers and the recreational activities that we enjoy there. Submit digital images of artwork by April 15th via e-mail to lyriccenterforthearts@yahoo.com. Include your name and a phone number. Please pass this on to other artists you know!

Thanks
Mary McReynolds
Lyric Center for the Arts
The First Stage gallery and performance venue
P.O. Box 416
Virginia, MN 55792
218-741-5577
http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com

Fiber Display and Reception

2010-03-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

Structure: An Exhibit of fiber and collage
> Mary Gross Erickson
> Library Fine Arts Gallery
> Mesabi Range Community and Technical College
> March 17 - April 6, 2010
> Opening Reception: March 18, 3:00 - 6:00 pm
> Gallery Hours: M-F, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Call for evening hours, 749-7712

We're Counting on our Journalism Readers to Help Out!

2010-03-12T15:38:00.000-08:00

March Goodness Fundraiser for Iron Range Veterans Memorial

Public announcement. During March (starting on March 15-March 29, the local Iron Range Veterans Memorial has been selected to participate in an opportunity for online donations. The website for non profits is:

http://www.razoo.com/story/Mg2010-Razoo-Nit-Iron-Range-Veterans-Memorial

You can type razoo.com and then select Iron Range Veterans Memorial as your charity (March 15 or later) or just copy/paste the above URL address into your computer browser. It is easy and fast to hit the donation button! The IRVM will receive %100 of the money and, if it ranks in the top of the 32 non profits selected for this special honor, it will also receive a further donation from razoo.
Since the IRVM has found itself with its first shortfall and the bronze is due to arrive in mid May, we need everyone's help! Please use this efficient and fast way to send a donation so you can also become part of the grassroots success story! Thank you for your help! See you in May at the IRVM park plaza site! Uplifting and exciting times are ahead for the entire Iron Range

Iron Range Veterans Memorial Selected for March 15 March Goodness Online Fund Raiser!

2010-03-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

blog readers:
We need everyone's help to get the word out on this fund raiser for our local non profit Iron Range Veterans Memorial public bronze. Please help through whatever means you have blogs/emails/flyers/facebook/bulletin boards/websites/other? Thanks Charlene (co chair IRVM)
Here is the email that arrived this week. I will post further instructions as I receive them on how to participate in this online fund raiser n behalf of our local IRVM 100% of donated (tax deductible) mone goes directly to the IRVM. Please consider participating! We need everyone's help to complete the 9 ton bronze project.

Dear Charlene,

Greetings from Razoo Central in Washington DC and Congratulations!

IRON RANGE VETERANS MEMORIAL is one of the 32 organizations selected to compete in Razoo's 2010 March Goodness RazooNIT contest.

Leading up to the competition kick off on March 15, 2010 (12AM EST) you will be receiving important information regarding the contest including an updated contest calendar, instructions for setting up a March Goodness Project page where donations will be made, a March Goodness Tool Kit, and information regarding the rules of the contest. We hope to provide you with the resources and tools necessary to ensure a successful shot at the RazooNIT title while also attracting new donors and supporters of your mission.

Below is the current contest calendar. We will inform you of any updates and/or changes as they occur:
March 15 30: Big Dance Regional Tournaments and RazooNIT Tournament
March 18: March Goodness Happy Hour in Washington DC
March 31: Announce Champion of the RazooNIT Contest
Please check www.marchgoodness.com for the latest information. We will post the RazooNIT leader board, and you'll be able to check out the other competing organizations.

Reminder: There is a $10.00 minimum donation and the contest does not begin until March 15, 2010 12AM EST. Donors who make donations before this time, and those who do not use your official March Goodness Project Page, will not be counted toward the final total. Again, there will be further instructions on setting up a March Goodness Project Page, but we wanted to remind you before eager donors flooded your page!

Please make sure we have your correct contact information as all information sent to you will be vital to your success. Also, check to see that your Razoo organization page is up to date.

Please be on the look out for upcoming emails that include updates and materials and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at anytime at marchgoodness@razoo.com.

Thank you for participating in March Goodness 2010. We look forward to a great competition.

Good Luck!

The March Goodness Team at Razoo
marchgoodness@razoo.com

A few more IRVM Sculpture Photos!

2010-03-03T10:51:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more close up photos for the Quad City Journal readers to study details.

Iron Range Veterans Memorial Construction

2010-03-03T10:31:00.001-08:00

The Iron Range Veterans Memorial continues to move toward completion. The photos were taken by an Iron Range resident who privately traveled last week to the Crucible Foundry in Norman,Oklahoma. Upon arrival, she was able to join the Happy Trails (Forbes, Mn.) tour group who were brought through the foundry and given a talk by the IRVM sculptor, Gareth Andrews, Zim, Mn. The "Shoulder to Shoulder" bronze is being assembled at the foundry to check how the 160 pieces fit together. It will then be in three segments that will be picked up in May by the New Mexico National Guard and transported to Virginia, Mn. for permanent assemblage. A foundry staff will accompany the bronze and spend three or four days straightening, grinding, polishing and heating for correct patina. The IRVM committee is planning a dedication ceremony for May 29, 2010 that is open to the public.

Book Lover's Tea Announced

2010-03-03T10:07:00.000-08:00

Hello Quad City Journal Readers from contributor Jennifer:

We've seen great progress with the FRIENDS of the Virginia Public Library!
Last week's Brown Bag Lunch on Maintain Your Brain was a great success with 27 attendees! Thanks for your help spreading the announcement!

NEXT WEEK
Thursday, March 11, Book Lover's Tea, Library Auditorium
Spend an enjoyable hour talking about everyone's favorite subject--reading! We will talk about new ways to find great reads and you can:
-Share your favorite reads,
-Learn about new online resources,
-Sign up to receive a list of suggested reads,
-Enjoy tea with a few goodies on the side, and
-Win a book lover's door prize.
* Bring your lunch and enjoy tea time treats provided by the Friends of the Virginia Public Library.
* Call (218)748-7525 for more information.

Ambassadors: Please forward, print and post the flyer, as appropriate!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
The FRIENDS help set up for the Brown Bag events and help host/hostess by welcoming attendees and keeping an eye on the refreshments table. If you're planning to attend and would be willing to be a host, please let us know!
Other volunteer opportunities: Volunteer Coordinator, Membership Coordinator, Website creator (Wordpress), Summer Reading Program Craft Coordinators, and more!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
The next meeting of the FRIENDS will be Tuesday, March 23 at 4:00 p.m. in the Library Auditorium.
Come join us as we finalize the FRIENDS strategic plan and make plans for National Library Week in April and the Summer Reading Program! (Let us know if you'd like to receive a copy of the plan.)

March 25: Introduction to Fly Fishing and Tying, Library Auditorium
Come learn about the sport of fly fishing! Local author Doug Nelson will discuss the basic equipment used in fly fishing and fly tying. There will be a fly tying demonstration and a film, "Fly Fishing for Brook Trout." Doug will answer your questions on the topics discussed as well as on outdoor writing. Learn a new way to catch your lunch!
Brown Bag Gardening Series, April 8th, 15th & 22nd
National Library Week, April 10 – April 17
April 12th, One Book, One Community Book Discussion: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver

Visit the Library Calendar for a complete list of upcoming events at the library!

--Jennifer Armstrong
FRIENDS of the Virginia Public Library
865-0112

Libraries and literacy are essential!

Range of the Arts 7th Annual Event

2010-02-27T05:44:00.000-08:00

It's time for the Seventh Annual
Range of the Arts
Buy your passport today to get into all the events free!
2010 Events include:
Saturday February 27th
* Arts International Market10am - 2pm
Kaleva Hall Art, music, demonstrations and
hands-on projects, door prizes and more!
* Guitar Workshop with Greg Herriges 2:30pm at The First Stage
* Telluric Currents trio 7:00pm at Kaleva Hall
concert of world fusion music
Sunday February 28th
* Chamber Ensemble of
Minnesota 2:20pm at Messiah Lutheran Church
Monday March 1st
* Words and Lyrics featuring Ray Nargis 6:30pm at
The First Stage
Monday March 1st - Friday March 5th
* Arts-101 introduction to 5 different art projects noon - 1:30 at The First Stage
Thursday March 4th - Saturday March 6th
* Brownbag Art Exhibit at The First Stage featuring
Chris Koivisto 11am - 3pm at The First Stage
Artist reception on Thursday at 6:30pm
Friday March 5th at 7pm and Sunday March 7th at 2:30pm
* Small Parts Players Children's Theatre Company
presentation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
at The Upper Room 516-1/2 Chestnut Street.

Sponsored by the Lyric Center for the Arts
with help through a grant from Iron Range Resources

Lyric Center for the Arts
The First Stage gallery and performance venue
P.O. Box 416
Virginia, MN 55792
218-741-5577
http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com
Add us to your Facebook favorites! Click HERE

Sand Lake Shuffle 19th Year Begins

2010-02-26T13:39:00.000-08:00

It's time to begin planning for another successful local cancer fund raising event! This year's Sand Lake Shuffle (Sand Lake, Voyageur's Resort) Old Highay 53, Britt By Pass is scheduled for August 13/14. Last year, despite the economic problems, the Shuffle raised $48,400 that was disbursed to the CarePartners committee(provides money locally to those stricken with cancer and their families, The Liz Prebich Breast Cancer Center, Virginia, Mn., St. Mary's Breast Center, Duluth and St. Luke's Whiteside Research, Duluth for cancer research and treatment. The SLS committee tries to be fair and to provide for our local people's needs. Planning has begun and we ask that readers consider a team to walk around the beautiful Sand Lake track or to purchase our delicious $6 spaghetti dinner. Donations are always welcome and family and business fund raisers are becoming more popular. It is not too early to start planning and some of our members began last night. Questions? Ideas? Suggestions? lundgren65@yahoo.com ask for Holly and come for a fun evening of music, pizza, spaghetti, and laughter on Aug. 13/14.

The Eagle Will Be Landing! IRVM Sculpture To Arrive May, 2010

2010-02-19T14:08:00.000-08:00

The nine ton IRVM bronze, “Shoulder to Shoulder” is nearing completion and plans are underway for its transportation and installation. All 160 pieces of the 25’ by 16’ sculpture have been cast at the Crucible Foundry, Norman, Oklahoma (www.cruciblellc.com) and renown artist/sculptor Gareth Andrews (www.oxbowart.com) will make one of his last trips to do finishing work through the generous offer of Happy Trails Tours, Forbes. The tour bus is heading to Texas next week for a winter getaway and Gareth will catch a ride to the foundry in time to give a tour and talk about the sculpture to local travelers. We are looking forward to reports and photos from the group.
Next Thurs., Feb. 25, on the 6:30 Duluth Channel 3 News, everyone can hear some of the latest about the project. The IRVM committee was interviewed earlier this week. Excitement is building as we near the arrival of the masterpiece. While the t.v. interview was underway, the IRVM committee members took some time to reflect and give brief comments about their involvement and dedication to the project. As the 2010 Olympic countries seek precious medals, the IRVM committee shares some “golden” memories about the Iron Range’s “bronze” arrival.
Jim Wilson just informed us that the Ely television station has shown an interest in the building and assemblage of the sculpture. They plan on making arrangements with the committee very soon. We thank them for their interest. Jim was in the Navy from 1963-67 and served on the U.S.S. Midway CVA 41 and the Hornet CVA 12. Since he also served in Vietnam, he knew people who were missing or killed and thinks of them often Because he was the past Commander for Disabled Vets for the state of Minnesota, he was asked to serve on the IRVM committee. He says, that, “The project has been a long time coming and I have been personally involved since the beginning because I think it’s a very important sculpture for the entire area.” Jim heard about the project initially by belonging to the many veterans organizations. He feels that area residents will really come to appreciate the sacrifices that all veterans have made once the park is completed. “It’s art that is needed in the area.”
Jim Pernu, our newest member of the committee, thinks the memorial is a great tribute to ALL veterans not only the Minnesota ones but also those throughout the state and beyond. “It is an honor and I am proud to be a member of this committee.” He wants to thank all who have shown support towards the memorial fund. Jim works along side Chuck Pottsmith on the paver purchase/installation area and he said, “I can’t say enough good about the fantastic job Chuck has done and I have learned a lot from him.”
Larry Cuffee has been with the project since the beginning. Larry says, “it has been an honor and a privilege to be involved in this beautiful memorial that will soon be erected. There have been a lot of ups and downs because of finances.” Because of many generous donations, especially by two particular individuals who gave the initial money, we were able to move forward with the project. He feels, “it was a gift from Heaven and without that generous donation, we probably might not be at this point right now.” The entire committee agrees with that comment.
Chuck Pottsmith says this project started out about ten years ago and he was, at that time, asked to make a drawing or concept. He did and the committee (during Dick Edstrom’s years) looked it over. In the meantime, however, an architectural firm was contacted and a more elaborate design emerged. “Initially, there were plans for fiberglass figures and a museum but various complications such as staffing for tourists changed the plans. The concept evolved and the bronze idea was accepted.” Chuck served in WWII in a milder capacity from 1943-46 and he joined the committee because he said, “ I wanted to honor those who served and sacrificed. This is my gesture at paying them back.” Chuck wants it said that this is his service to “all veterans” and he has been glad to do it.
Don Tekautz has belonged to the committee since its inception many years ago (at least a dozen years). He called Joe Begich and Mr. Begich said, “come to the IRRRB meeting tonight and you might be able to get $250,000.” As it turned out, the money had to be a grant match. The committee was determined to continue and eventually, was able to obtain the necessary match. “We arranged a meeting with the new commissioner and an agreement was made.” Don says, “I have always been interested in helping veterans.” Part of his feelings involve the fact that his brother, Robert, was a POW for nine months. He was captured in Italy and they walked from Italy to Mooseburg, Germany. Five Tekautz brothers served between WWII and the Korean War. In 1992, Don had the opportunity to visit the prisoner of war camp where his brother and others had been imprisoned.
Louise Grams, secretary, served in the Navy Hospital Corps. “In those days, if one couldn’t afford college, they looked for other opportunities.” She was too young to go on the MSTS (military ship transport). Louise chose to join the IRVM committee because “I wanted to be a part of it. I can’t wait for it to get here!” She invites everyone who listened to Louise on “Open Mike”, WHLB for 23 years, whether it was in the kitchen, on a tractor, in the garage or car, to now pick up a pen or go online (www.razoo.com or www.goodsearch.com) and make a donation to the IRVM project. “Now,” she says, “We need everyone who listened or called to contact us for our project.”
Richard Obidowski joined the IRVM because he was approached by another committee member after a newspaper article ran about his uncle, Pete, serving as a medic in Korea. Richard’s father and three uncles all served in WWII. Richard was visibly moved as he expressed that, “The project is something that needs to be done to honor all the fallen veterans and surviving veterans of all the wars we have been in.” The title of the sculpture is “Shoulder to Shoulder Even the Fallen Stand Tall” and that reflects Richard’s feelings.
Jim Lustig, treasurer, has been affiliated since the beginning and the reason he became involved because “Many of my relatives served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.” Jim was born and raised around Cook. Both Jim and his brother served in the Korean War. He feels, “By recognizing those who served in the military and honoring them, it is what makes it possible for all of us to be here. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be able to be here doing this now. This is a way of honoring all of them.”
Jake Varoga is the chaplain of all the veterans organizations in Virginia except for 40/8. He says, “It is an honor and privilege to serve on the committee and I will never forget the experience and work done by many.” As we near the closure and completion of the monument, he suggests that if anyone wants a way to honor all of our veterans, they might consider a donation.
Tom Berrigan, chairman, says that the concept of a veterans memorial has been in his thoughts for a long time. He was a Marine in Vietnam 1967-74 where he saw many 18/19 year olds get killed. “Forty some years later, sometimes it seems like they have been forgotten by the general public.” He did two tours in Vietnam in 67, 68, 69. He said, “I thought it important that we have something large, tangible and beautiful to look at to honor their memories.” He says, “I am looking forward to the completion of the project and to get the huge bronze statue for the Iron Range. It has been such a long project that sometimes we wondered if it would ever happen. Now that the date is approaching, it will be a weight off of the entire committee.” The pressure, however, is still on until the final money is raised.
Charlene Luoma, vice chair, chose to join the committee because she hoped to assist through grant writing and fund raising. She has been a “cheerleader” for the group while capturing the history of the project through photos, scrapbooks, articles and the media. She was excited by the thought of being helpful in bringing a high caliber bronze to the Iron Range art community.The arts belong to everyone.She had members of her family serve and in honor of all who served, she wanted to pay a respectful tribute through the beautiful monument. She knew Gareth Andrews from other projects, was aware of his tremendous talent and hard work and proud to be on the committee. As a former public school teacher, she often told her students “Try to be a peacemaker but always respect the peacekeepers.” She is also proud that the eight figures represent both sexes and man ethnic groups besides all branches and the five major conflicts of the last century. It is an inclusive project in man ways. Following her retirement, the project became an extension of showing honor to those who served.
Gareth Andrews, sculptor, reminisced about when he and Byron Kesanen were finishing the “Sawyer” sculpture in the Rotary Park. Dick Edstrom and Floyd Jaros approached them about a veterans memorial. They set out what they hoped to incorporate and it was extensive and non discriminatory. They wanted everyone to be honored. Gareth’s father was a WWII Navy sailor with a college education. Consequently, he was given a desk job and Gareth thinks that might have influenced his interpretation. People have served in a wide variety of ways including the families and All Americans who have shown support for those who had to see actual “action”. “There are lines of supplies and bookwork needed to also ‘run a war’”. “ As many walls that we have breached, it was a total effort across the century to keep the peace. Everyone has a story to tell. The sculpture aimed for the common ground and the common man” in the part he/she has played. “With all the metal on the floor (of the foundry), things will come together quickly. I feel good about it.” Those are the encouraging words directly from the artist in keeping the faith that all will go as planned in the last stages of the sculpture. We wish him safe travels and the best of luck as he oversees the assemblage.
The New Mexico National Guard has volunteered transportation of the bronze from Norman, Oklahoma to Virginia City Central Park around May 17. Four foundry workers will be assembling, grinding, polishing, heating, straightening, working on the patina through 10-12 hour week days over three days. The IRVM committee is aiming for May 29 as a public welcome and acknowledgement for the extraordinary work by the artist, foundry, committee, donors, volunteers and anyone else who has shown support for the 11 year project. The hearts of the Iron Range people are in this monument and Memorial Park in addition to their money. It is a tribute to a grassroots effort by volunteer citizens in planning, constructing, handling finances responsibly and delivering a tangible monument honoring “All Who Served” and the accomplishments through collaboration and cooperation. It will stand forever as a reminder of these efforts.
We are, for the first time in over ten years, at a financial shortfall. Since the ownership of this beautiful bronze belongs to EVERYONE we seek your help. If you would like to purchase a brick Memorial Paver, please contact Chuck Pottsmith (741-8775) or Tom Berrigan (749-5362). If you would like to make a direct donation, please send it to IRVM Committee, Box 35, Virginia, Mn. 55792. Another new way to make an online donation is through (www.razoo.com Iron Range Veterans Memorial) or through (www.goodsearch.com Iron Range Veterans Memorial) also known as GiveMn.org. These are websites for non profits (your donations are all tax deductible). If you put the goodsearch logo in your tool bar and use it to search on the internet, we automatically receive $ as an organization. If you make any purchases from an extensive list of businesses (Best Buy, JC Penneys, Target, Office Max, Barnes and Noble to name just a few and many well known catalog businesses) we will be given a % of the purchase price from the business but you must be sure you list or tell them it is for the IRVM organization. A large amount of funds have been received for various non profits through this new method of giving. Please check on these to see if this is the method you would want to use and above all else, pass the phone numbers, box number and websites in this article along to your friends and relatives.
We are available for addressing clubs, service organizations, businesses etc. with recent updates on the project. The sparks are flying in the foundry and a fire is lit under the IRVM project. For all of us who have patiently waited, the wait will soon be over and we invite you all to enjoy “your park and monument” honoring THOSE WHO SERVED” and the miners who drew many tons of ore that as turned into the steel used for ships, vehicles, surgical instruments, ammunition, arms in the keeping of America and the freedoms we all enjoy. Please help us with the shortfall through donations, fund raisers, penny wars, collections, ideas, suggestions in each community as this public project belongs to everyone! (Photos courtesy of the Crucible Foundry, Norman, Oklahoma Feb. 19, 2010.)

Veterans on the Lake Need Assistance

2010-02-02T08:02:00.000-08:00

Veterans on the Lake (non profit benefiting our veterans) could use our help in one of their many fund raisers. Veterans are housed, fed and taken on fishing expeditions on Lake Vermilion. Here's some of the upcoming events: February 6, 11-6 Fish Fry at the resort. It is part of the Ely Winter Festival celebration. $9 or you can eat for $8 with a festival pin. Children in the under 12 are less and under 4 are free.
A rib dinner was held at the Osseo/Maple Grove Legion Club from 5-8 n Jan. 30 as a fund raiser and the next one will be at New Richland Am. Legion on Friday Feb. 20, 5-8. Delicious ribs will be the featured part of the meal and they are good! On Feb. 27, 5-8, the rib dinner will again be on the menu at the Redwood Falls Am. Legion. from 5-8. On July 18, a scramble golf tournament will occur at the Black Bear Casino and more information will be given closer to the event. Look for more announcements about the Veterans on the Lake as plans are made.
Further questions about any of these upcoming events or how you might be of help to the organization? Call Dan at 1-800-777-7538.

Iron Range Veterans Memorial Committee lays 102 memorial pavers

2009-11-04T13:48:00.000-08:00

In anticipation of Veterans Day, 2009 and the impending ground freeze up plus snow, the IRVM Committee with Sjoberg Masonry installed another 102 memorial pavers at the IRVM park site in Virginia, Mn. near Bailey's lake. Pavers may be ordered by contacting the IRVM at Box 35, Virginia, Mn. 55792 and donations or inquiries are always welcome. The anticipated delivery of the 9 ton bronze sculpture "Shoulder to Shoulder" is spring 2010. Progress can be viewed at: http://www.oxbowart.com. The bronze table top version of the sculpture is currently part of a local display in the Lindbergh Terminal at the Mpls./St. Paul Airport in concourse C.

Fiber Arts Forest Display

2009-11-04T13:45:00.000-08:00

Northland Women’s Policy Forum

2009-10-23T10:26:00.000-07:00

Saturday, November 7, 2009
12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mesabi Range College, Eveleth Campus

The Northland Women's Policy Forum is a gathering designed to bring together policy makers, community leaders, advocates, and all those interested learning more about the intersection of women and public policy.

Guests include: Amy Brenengen, Office on the Economic Status of Women; Deb Fitzpatrick, Center on Women and Public Policy, Humphrey institute; Deborah Schlick, Affirmative Options Coalition; Suzanne Koepplinger, Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center; Kathleen Murphy, Constitutional Amendment For Equality (CAFE)

AGENDA

12:00 Registration and Lunch

12:30 The Status of Women in Minnesota: The 10,000 foot perspective

1:30 The Status of Women in Minnesota: The “on the ground” perspective (Panel Discussion)

2:30 Facilitated Roundtable Discussions – Three 30‐minute discussions centered around: Economic Justice/Disparities for Women; “What exactly is Policy?”; Around the Kitchen Table – What women’s issues are we talking about around the table that didn’t get mentioned here?

4:00 Women in Public Office

4:30 Interactive Discussion with Elected Officials including State Representative Tom Rukavina; St. Louis County Commissioner Peg Sweeney; City Councilors Nevada Littlewolf and Liz Kuoppala

5:00 Dessert Networking Reception

For more information, email womensforum09@gmail.com or call 1-800-662-5711 ext 423

Sponsored by: Office on the Economic Status of Women; Rural Women’s Leadership Project; The White House Project; Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Mesabi Range College; Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency; Blandin Foundation; the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota

Please RSVP online!

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund: Chisholm Listening Session & Online Survey

2009-10-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota Historical Society, the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Minnesota Humanities Center are hosting a series of listening sessions to obtain public input for a 10-year plan and 25-year framework for the use of funds made available through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Representatives from the three organizations and 10 other history, arts and cultural organizations and libraries will work together to develop a plan for how proceeds of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund will be spent. The results of this collaborative planning process will be reported to the legislature by Jan. 15, 2010.

They will be at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm on Tuesday, October 27 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund was established through constitutional amendment, approved by voters in November 2008, which added a provision to Minnesota’s constitution that provides for an increase in the sales tax to support outdoor heritage, clean water, parks and trails, as well as arts, history and cultural heritage.

If you are unable to attend, please take the online survey!

If you are interested in the connections between the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund and K-12 education, visit Parents United!

Webinar Series: Realizing Our Broadband Future

2009-10-03T07:55:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in rural community and economic development trends? Yes.

Don't miss these upcoming Webinars about trends and the steps communities must take to increase their investment attractiveness. Learn about the role that technology plays in increasing economic vitality and present successful regional economic development strategies

Date(s): Tuesday, October 6, Tuesday, October 20, and Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Time(s): 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Location: ReadyTalk web conferencing
Access code: 4772080
Toll-free dial-in: (866) 740-1260
Learn More & Register!

October 6, 2009
A Futurist's View of Rural Minnesota
Presenter: Delore Zimmerman of Praxis Strategy Group, Grand Forks, ND
If you are interested in rural community and economic development trends, this webinar is for you. Delore Zimmerman will provide guidance for rural community leaders about development trends and the steps communities must take to increase their investment attractiveness.
The role that technology plays in increasing economic vitality will be presented both in theory and practice, and Delore will include information about successful regional economic development strategies.

Delore is a strategy consultant with twenty-five years of domestic and international experience working with local and regional economic development groups, companies and universities. He co-developed the High-Performance Community Initiative while a Senior Fellow at the Denver-based Center for the New West and has spearheaded its development and deployment for 10 years.

October 20, 2009
Broadband Best Practices in Greater Minnesota
Presenter: Bill Coleman of Community Technology Advisors, Mahtomedi, MN
Broadband is an essential asset for community and economic development. Greater Minnesota faces many challenges in keeping up with larger metro areas in Minnesota, across the country and around the world.

Community leaders are faced with navigating a whirlwind of dynamic technologies, policy discussions at the federal and state level, and funding through the ARRA stimulus programs as they wrestle with the the challenge of ensuring world-class broadband infrastructure and services and motivating the adoption of new technologies by businesses, institutions and citizens. This session will provide an overview of community best practices for network deployment and broadband-based economic development.

Bill Coleman has been helping communities make the connection between broadband and economic development. He specializes in helping communities accurately assess their situation, devise improvement strategies and implement projects. He brings equal attention to infrastructure and end-user technology adoption that leads to economic vitality.

November 3
Telling a Story with Social Media
Presenter: Ann Treacy, Treacy Information Services
Everyone has a story to tell, whether you’re recruiting people or businesses to your region, selling a product or preparing a presentation on future of broadband in rural areas. Social media tools such as YouTube and podcasts can help you establish your story, social networks such as Facebook or LinkedIn help you spread the word and ongoing blogs or Twitter can help maintain the story. We’ll talk about how to tell your story with social media.

Ann Treacy is a former librarian with 13 years of experience working with businesses and other organizations to get their message to prospective clients on the Internet. She works with resorts, realtors, manufacturers, nonprofits and others throughout Minnesota to develop Internet and socialmedia strategies to meet business goals.

USDA Study Finds Rural Communities Benefit From Greater Broadband Internet Access

2009-08-30T06:21:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, August 18, 2009 - A new USDA economic analysis has found that rural communities with greater broadband Internet access had greater economic growth than areas with less access. The study, 'Broadband Internet's Value for Rural America' by economists at USDA's Economic Research Service, compared counties that had broadband access relatively early - by 2000 - with similarly situated counties that had little or no broadband access. Employment growth was higher and non-farm private earnings greater in counties with a longer history of broadband availability.

» Read the release

» Read the full report

Britt Community Historical Society Holds Annual Meeting

2009-06-27T08:11:00.000-07:00

BCHS annual meeting will be held at the
Laurentian Environmental Center (LEC) on
Sunday, July 12, 2009 from 4-6 p.m.

A brief business meeting will be held at 4 followed by another deilcious meal by “Marko”. Pam Brunfelt from Britt will be our guest speaker. Following this, we will have drawings for doorprizes. To conclude our evening, a special poem will be read by Darrel Swenson. All members and interested guests are urged to attend. Join us on Sunday, July 12, 2009 at the main lodge of the LEC located 14 miles morth of Virginia on Peppard Road. Please RSVP for the meal no later than July 10. Call 749-3860 and leave your name and number of people attending. See you there!

Minnesota Grant Opportunities for Artists

2009-06-12T16:48:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota State Arts Board has two upcoming grant opportunities for artists .

Artist Initiative grants support career building and creative development opportunities for artists. The Arts Board alternates disciplines eligible to apply each year. Music, photography, media arts/new media, poetry, and prose grants will be offered during the fiscal year 2010 grant round.
Application materials are available at http://www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/artist_initiative.htm
Applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on July 30, 2009.

Cultural Community Partnership grants are designed to enhance the careers of individual artists of color through partnership projects. An applicant can collaborate with another Minnesota artist of color or a Minnesota nonprofit organization.
Application materials are available at http://www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/cultural_community_partnership.htm
Applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on July 31, 2009.

Artist who would like to learn more about these opportunities are invited to attend a grant information session and, if interested, to schedule a one-on-one meeting with a program officer. Schedule and more details information available at http://www.arts.state.mn.us/calendar/info_sessions.htm

IRVM Artist gives Update

2009-06-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

Iron Range Veterans Memorial Sculpture Update
Gareth Andrews, Zim artist who designed and is constructing the Iron Range Veterans Memorial bronze sculpture, returned from the Crucible Foundry in Norman, Oklahoma. He reported to the IRVM committee about the status of the ”Shoulder to Shoulder” sculpture. Upon arriving at the foundry, with new digital equipment, he stated that, “it threw him for a loss in where and how to begin”. It turned into a larger project than he had anticipated. He said it was almost like making it all over again and he was amazed by the complexity of the project.
In the enlargement phase, the project came in the alloted time and it is ahead in the actual process but the time line for the end of September, 2009 does not seem probable at this time The foundry projects that with a completion date set as early as September, more manpower would have to be added at an additional expense. The hours of the workers have already been reduced, so consequently, a completion date has been set from New Years to spring of 2010. They hope it to be around Memorial Day 2010.
All of the eagle’s wing sections, around to the wrist, both sides and
the flag are in a metal state. The molds are done and the casting in resin sand. The quality of bronze construction has greatly increased since Gareth last worked. The WASP and on the other end the Coast Guardsman Merchant Marine are in mold or partially in metal. Those three figures are well along. The parachute is in a secure outside area and awaits other adjoining pieces. The helmet and feet are cast. The other five figures are in the mold stage or awaiting to be cut up for the mold stage. The items borrowed from the various museums have been returned with thanks. The museums want to be in attendance and should be recognized at the unveiling ceremony. A lot of details have been added to the figures including such items as a spoon in a knapsack for quick meals and other unique items that will be of great interest to the viewers.
Gareth explained some of the actual problems regarding installation and transportation. The foundry will attach footings to stabilize and level the statue.
Patina will be needed to match the head to the body if they are assembled at the destination spot. The varying temperatures affect patina and they will be matched accordingly. The head attaches like a tea pot or jack-o-lantern lid. It will be tack-welded and will have attachments of flanges. No grinding will be necessary.
If the construction is made so that head is separate from the body, the overall size of the sculpture will be reduced and help facilitate the transportation but even with the head off, some road or highway places might not allow it to pass through. It is the committee’s hope that only one truck is necessary for the transportation or perhaps railroad transport will be the better choice. If we can come up with the transportation from this end, it will reflect a savings. The price for shipment is estimated at $12,500 if it is handled from the foundry end. Installation is quoted at $5,000. The IRVM has had a promise of the usage of a crane for moving and erection of the sculpture but what is needed is the help of a railroad or trucking company to help with the transportation thus reducing the foundry shipping cost. The sculpture will pass through five states on the way here.
Further discussion followed at the IRVM meeting regarding connections in the art piece, assemblage, and future cleaning of the sculpture. Gareth’s design has taken into consideration various problems that might arise such as water accumulation, freezing and run off. Overall estimation of necessary funds is given at $150,000 including the foundry transportation cost, remaining foundry costs, artist fees, installation and upkeep. Questions, donations, and paver purchases may be sent to IRVM Box 35, Virginia, Mn. 55792.

Application of Arts and Cultural Heritage Funds

2009-06-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

In November 2008, Minnesotans overwhelmingly voted for a constitutional amendment that will create a new dedicated sales tax to fund activities related to clean water, land and habitat, parks and trails, and arts and cultural heritage. The Minnesota State Arts Board, the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, and Minnesota's other ten regional arts councils will receive a significant funding increase because of this new tax.

Please plan to attend a public forum in Duluth on Thursday, June 18, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., at the Duluth Depot,506 West Michigan Street, and let us know how you think the new funds should be invested.

This is one of a series of forums that will be held throughout the state. The complete schedule is available on the Arts Board Web site http://www.arts.state.mn.us/calendar/public-forums.htm
Forums are free and open to anyone who would like to attend. You are welcome to attend any session--just pick the date and location that is most convenient for you. To help us plan accordingly, please call or e-mail to let us know which session you plan to attend.
Phone (651) 215-1600
Toll-free (800) 866-2787
E-mail msab@arts.state.mn.us

FROM THE WOODS ART SHOW

2009-06-07T15:49:00.000-07:00

FROM THE WOODS Water colors and Field drawings
By Bonnie DuFresne

June 11th thru August 29th
At The First Stage Gallery 514 Chestnut St. Virginia, Mn.
Thurs.—Sat. 11am—3pm
Join us for an Artist Reception: Thursday, June 11th 7:00pm
Lyric Center for the Arts
P.O. Box 416
Virginia, MN 55792
218-741-5577
http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com

Iron Range Veterans Memorial Soon To Be Completed

2009-05-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

"Honoring Those Who Served"
IRVM Mission Statement

As read at his 2007 funeral by his son Scott, some of Richard Edstrom's parting words were: "Always keep veterans and members of the armed services in mind". Dick served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the 1950's. Brother Russell was a sailor and brother Oscar Jr. was a paratrooper. Their father, Oscar Sr., was a member of Yoki-Bergman American Legion Post 220. The Iron Range Veterans Memorial dream (11 years ago) was very important to many including Dick as the first vice-chair of the IRVM committee. The non-profit was formed in 1998 for the sole purpose of collecting funding for a memorial for those who served.
Alongside Dick were others such as Don Tekautz , Bunny Isaacson, Larry Cuffe, and Floyd Jaros. Other now inactive initial supporters over the years have been: Bob Givens, Phil Carlson, Evelyn Raida, Larry Asbach, Dario Cuoco, Shawn Carr, and Barb Sanderson. Larry Lapatka, Ralph Harvey, Marge Pearsall and Dick Edstrom have passed away but the mission to build and complete this tribute still lives and moves forward. Current IRVM committee members are: Tom Berrigan (chair), Jim Lustig (treasurer), Louise Grams (secretary), Chuck Pottsmith (pavers), Jim Wilson, Jake Varoga, Don Tekautz, Larry Cuffe, Richard Obidowski and Charlene Luoma (vice chair).
The committee members have either been in active service themselves or have had relatives and loved ones who served. Thousands of Iron Rangers have served our country and deserve to be honored. During World War II, St. Louis County casualties were the highest in Minnesota. Ely had more men and women serving per capita than any other U.S. city. An unusually large number geographically of Vietnam war deaths were from the Iron Range. The sacrifices, injuries and deaths in addition to the iron and steel provided for war efforts places this area in a significant light for a monumental tribute to be erected.
Phase I in Virginia City Center Park near Bailey's Lake was completed in 2006 and is debt free. It includes memorial granite markers representing losses from five conflicts, lighting, circular handicapped accessible sidewalks, flags, statue underlay preparations, sod, landscaping and most importantly individual pavers. They bear items such as: names, branches of service, units, and deceased veteran's date of death. There are hundreds installed with room for hundreds more and purchases are steady. Pavers can be purchased or donations made through IRVM, Box 35, Virginia, 55792, Servicemen's Club (229 Chestnut St., Virginia Mn. 55792), or by calling Tom Berrigan 749-5362 or Chuck Pottsmith 741-8775.
Phase II is nearing completion and it's "when" not "if" that motivates everyone. Estimated completion date has been moved up to September 2009. It is a 26 x 13' bronze eagle sculpture that shields eight life size statues representing all military branches, five conflicts, both sexes and many ethnic groups. The artist, Gareth Andrews (Zim) is finalizing his work at the Crucible Foundry in Norman, Oklahoma. The estimated completion costs including freight transportation of $ 12, 500 and installation costs of $ 5,000 amounts to approximately $ 150,000.
We need everyone's help to complete this dream that has lived for over a decade and will honor those who served and those who are presently serving as well as being a beautiful tourism tribute to this entire area. A brief Memorial Day tribute will be held at the IRVM Bailey's Lake site on Monday following the Greenwood Cemetery program that is scheduled for 10. Everyone is welcome. Our mission statement is "Honoring Those Who Serve". Please join us in this honor.
(Photos courtesy of The Crucible Foundry, Norman Oklahoma showing local artist Gareth Andrews (Zim) working on the clay portion of the sculpture prior to the metal pour displayed in another one of the photos).

Interested Potters and Sculptors:

2009-05-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

A small group of potters has solicited a custom open studio
class at Vermilion Community College for the summer. This
class would be best for persons already familiar with clay
work, but there will be some instruction available.

The proposed schedule would be a start date of June 2 for 10
weeks with open studio time on Tuesdays and Thursdays from
4:30pm to 8:00pm. Price will be dependent on numbers
enrolled. There are still a few openings for this class.
Please call Wade Pharr at 365-2200 as soon as possible if
you are interested in this summer opportunity.

Salon de Garage Art Classes to be Held in Soudan

2009-05-15T16:03:00.000-07:00

Salon de Garage Art Classes
Artist Jeanni Burgwald will be teaching the 2009 Salon de Garage Project, to be held at her studio in Soudan. Classes are open to all skill levels and are focused on basic drawing and traditional painting methods, using oils & acrylics. Three classes will be held each week to provide basic and intermediate instruction as well as an open painting & critique session; 9:00am-12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday June 2 thru September. Class fee is $25/class, and space is limited. Artists are to provide supplies. All participants are invited to celebrate and share their works of art during the ‘Salon de Garage Exhibition and Sale’ to be held July 31 and August 1, 2009. For further information, contact Jeanni Burgwald at 218.753.4215 or Email www.jmburgwald@prodigy.net.

Turning Your Art Avocation into a Vocation

2009-05-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

Turn your art into an income

Are you an artist with a desire to transform your avocation into a business? Do you want to be able to successfully market your artistic product/service? Are you wondering where and how to start down the path of artist-as-entrepreneur?

The Northeast Entrepreneur Fund introduces a new business learning program developed especially or artists who reside in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.

C.RE.A.T.E. (Community Resources for Artists-to-Entrepreneurs) is designed to help artists turn their work into viable, income-producing businesses. Eligible participants include but are not limited to visual artists, sculptors, potters, filmmakers, photographers, musicians, and writers.

The next class series begins May 12. For program details, visitwww.entrepreneurfund.org/GNBcreate.htm, call 218-623-5747, or emailinfo@entrepreneurfund.org.

Britt Community Historical Society Seeks Board Members

2009-04-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

Needed: Two Britt residents to serve on the Britt Historical Society Board! 749-7162 (ask for Jessica or Jody). BCHSMail@gmail.com (website under construction) Next 2009 meetings are: July 22, and Oct. 21 at the Britt Forestry Guard Station (old highway 53). The annual meeting to be held this summer at the Learning Environmental Center in Britt.Election of officers and board realignment scheduled for first week in May. Interested board parties feel free to contact at the above phone number or email address or if you are interested in membership. We are also seeking photos, memories, artifacts, newspaper clippings etc. to help fill out Britt's history.

Britt Community Historical Society

2009-04-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

BRITT COMMUNITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BCHS BOX 477,
BRITT, MN. 55710
THE BRITT COMMUNITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY WAS FOUNDED IN MAY 2007 BY 52 FAMILY ENTITIES TOTALING 84 INDIVIDUALS. IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REMIT A CHECK TO BCHS P.O. BOX 477, BRITT, MN. 55710. $15 INDIVIDUAL, $25 FAMILY, $100 LIFETIME INDIV., $175 LIFETIME FAMILY. BCHS YEAR IS JULY 1-JUNE 30. ELECTED OFFICERS/BOARD MEMBERS MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD AT THE BRITT RANGER GUARD STATION ON HIGHWAY 53. GENERAL PUBLIC/MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD AT THE LAURENTIAN ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER ON PEPPARD ROAD WHERE WE RECENTLY HELPED THE CENTER CELEBRATE THEIR 30TH ANNIVERSARY. OTHER BRITT LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN UTILIZED FOR COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND WE ARE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS.

THE SOCIETY’S MISSION STATEMENT IS TO RESEARCH, DEVELOP, AND PRESERVE THE HISTORICAL PAST OF THE BRITT COMMUNITY AND EXTEND THE COMMUNITY’S UNIQUE VALUE INTO THE FUTURE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THE SOCIETY’S FUNCTIONS WILL ENCOMPASS BOTH HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.

DO YOU HAVE ANY LOCAL NEWS OR HISTORY TO SHARE WITH THE MEMBERSHIP? SEND YOUR TEXT, PHOTOS, OR INTERVIEWS BY POSTAL MAIL TO BCHS P.O. BOX 477, BRITT, MN. 55710

THE UNTOLD STORY OF BRITT REVEALS A RICH AND IMPORTANT HISTORY OF A WIDE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, VARIOUS IMMIGRANT PEOPLES AND A MELTING POT OF CULTURE, WE ENCOURAGE ALL PRESENT/PAST PERMANENT AND CABIN/SUMMER RESIDENTS TO HELP TELL BRITT’S UNIQUE STORY.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
*Needed: Two Britt residents to serve on the Britt Historical Society Board! 749-7162
1st 2009 Meeting: Jan. 21 6:00 Guard Station
2nd 2009 meeting: April 2 “ “ “
3rd 2009 meeting: July 22 “ “ “
4th 2009 meeting: Oct. 21 “ “ “
Annual mtg. held at LEC Center in summer
BCHS NEWSLETTERS PRINTED AND MAILED QUARTERLY
Contact:BCHS@gmail.com also website under construction

"Open Water" Exhibit at State Theater

2009-04-26T10:23:00.000-07:00

Open Water fishing and water enthusiasts' exhibit opened on Thurs. April 23. Look at what you missed if you didn't get a chance to attend the reception! The crowd was very complimentary and interested in the old motor display and the variety of art including utilitarian weavings, oils, watercolors, woven willow structures, photography, fish wood carvings, decorative weavings, pottery, trout stamp paintings, poetry etc. Plan to set aside some time on a Thurs., Fri., or Sat., 11-3 until May 30, to view the "Open Water" exhibit at the State Theater Gallery 514 Chestnut St. Virginia and be prepared to have some fun! Questions: 218-741-5577

"Open Water" Art Show

2009-04-20T14:06:00.000-07:00

Open Water
An exhibit to celebrate our local holiday: The Fishing Opener!
Opening Reception:
Thursday April 23, 6:00pm
The First Stage Gallery
514 Chestnut Street, Downtown Virginia

Exhibiting artists include:

Brenda Suihkonen, Casey Newberg, Cathryn Peters, Charlene Luoma, Cheryl Gillis,
Chris Koivisto, Daryn Lowman, Debra Gunderson, Ellen Pickering,
Gayle Streier, Heidi Niska, Karen Lamppa, Kate Whittaker,,Larry Rasen, Larry Rude, Ruth Koski, Steven Pellinen, Wanda Parks, Members of the SoHo Arts Center
The exhibit will also include antique outboard motors and more!
Exhibit runs April 23rd through May 30th.
Gallery Hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 11am - 3pm.
Bring your favorite fishing or water sport enthusiast!

Lyric Center for the Arts
The First Stage gallery and performance venue
P.O. Box 416
Virginia, MN 55792
218-741-5577
http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com

Share Your Woodland Stewardship Photos

2009-04-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota Forest Stewardship Program is in the process of revising its 5-year strategic plan. As the plan is finalized, the committee is looking for images that illustrate the stewardship commitment and management activities of Minnesota’s family forest owners.

If you have pictures of your land that you are willing to share with the committee, please send high quality electronic files to info@dovetailinc.orgwith “Stewardship Plan Photo” in the subject line.

Please include a line identifying how you would like the photo credited if it is used (e.g., Courtesy of John Doe). The committee can not guarantee that any specific photo will be used, and photos will not be returned.

If you have any questions, please call Katie Fernholz at 612-333-0430. Photos must be submitted by May 29th for consideration. Thanks for your help!

Open Call for Springboard's Group Visual Art Exhibition (applications due May 8, 2009)

2009-04-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

Springboard for the Arts seeks five visual artists to display and sell artwork at our first-ever group art show at Springboard's second annual "Osgood Do-Good" fundraising event. Artwork sales will be split 50/50 between the artist and Springboard for the Arts. We're looking to feature a range of artistic disciplines including, but not limited to, drawings, paintings, sculpture, jewelry, pottery and glass.

Each artist must provide five artworks to be sold at face value during the event. Artwork prices cannot exceed $500. The suggested price of artwork is $100 to $400 each. Sales from the artwork will be split 50/50 with the artist and Springboard for the Arts (the artist retains all other rights as provided through the Copyright Act of 1976).

In addition to the five pieces shown at the group exhibition, the five exhibiting artists may have the opportunity to display and sell lower-priced artwork (less than $100) at a separate table space.

For more info and application requirements, please visitwww.springboardforthearts.org

Vikings Have Landed!

2009-04-14T07:28:00.000-07:00

Norse-Celtic Connection
with Mary Erickson
Thursday, April 16th at 6:30pm
The First Stage
514 Chestnut Street
Virginia

This is an overview of a tour taken through Vesterheim Museum, of Decorah, Iowa. which focused on Viking life in Scandinavia and Ireland.
Norwegian, Danish and Irish history will be viewed during the time of the Viking Era with a special emphasis on ships and textiles.

Ms Erickson is a fiber artist who has studied her ethnic heritage through their history of weaving.

Free-will donations accepted.

"Putting the Face of Business on the Soul of Art"

2009-04-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

ANNOUNCING A WORKSHOP
Greetings,

I am pleased to announce and invite you to a
"Putting the Face of Business
on the Soul of Art". A one day workshop to be hosted by Hibbing Community
College and the Entrepreneur Team Committee. Workshop will be conducted by Cindy
Kittredge, (see bio.), on Monday, April 27 from 9am
- 4pm.
The workshop will be free and open to the public with snacks and lunch
provided.

Enrollment will be limited, please let me know if you are interested in coming,
and I will send registration information.

Thanks,

Daryn Lowman

darynlowman@hibbing.com

Daryn Lowman
Hibbing Community College
Art Department

Brief Bio of Dr. Edrienne Kittredge

Dr. Edrienne Kittredge shares her knowledge of the connections between entrepreneurship, sustainability, cultural resources, folk life, and the arts through workshops, private consulting, and individual coaching.
She has presented workshops and lectures across the U.S., drawing connections to help people recognize and reach their potential by launching successful businesses in the world of art. She created and directed the groundbreaking TRACE (Transforming Rural Artisans into Creative Entrepreneurs) and Creative Arts Enterprise programs at Montana State University-Great Falls. Graduates of those programs have increased their income in art by 152%. Kittredge currently serves as the Folk Arts and Market Development Specialist for the Montana Arts Council, where she is involved in developing programs to brand the state’s arts and crafts while developing markets both within and outside of the state.
With thirty years experience in education, Kittredge has taught in high school and college, in addition to creating educational programs in the nonprofit sector. She has worked in cross-cultural communications at Marquette University’s foreign student office, has counseled and tested soldiers in the U.S. Army’s Project 100,000, and has worked in marketing in Arizona.
She served for a number of years as the Executive Director of a regional history museum, directing its move into a new home in a 47,000 square foot facility.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Montana, received an MA from Arizona State University, and a doctorate from Montana State University. She has attended the College of William and Mary, has done post graduate work in anthropology and museology, and received entrepreneurship training from the Sirolli Institute.
Writing and art are her passions. Besides helping artists learn more about the business of art, she is especially interested in issues affecting rural agrarian communities and was a founder of Hands of Harvest, a grass roots effort promoting cultural tourism and economic development. She continues to research and write about topics related to the land and its connections to the people on it.
Kittredge was born and raised on a ranch that lies along the banks of Montana’s Missouri River. Her rural roots shaped and continue to center her. She believes that foundation gave her skills and traits to survive and thrive in all kinds of environments, whether it be a one-room schoolhouse or a crush of people in a highly urban area. Still on the family ranch, her family raises purebred Highland cattle and Icelandic sheep, selling grassfed meat and naturally colored yarns direct to customers across the U.S. She is a fiber artist; her husband designs jewelry, and their son is at Oxford University where he is completing a three-year research position.

Iron Range Earth Fest - April 17 & 18, 2009

2009-04-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

Activities will be held throughout the weekend at:
» Mt Iron Community Center
» Messiah Lutheran Church
» Mesabi Family YMCA
» Mt Iron Merritt Elementary School

The Iron Range Earth Fest will feature Iron Range food, skills, interests, and traditions – local food, local skills, local connection with wilderness, local music, and children’s activities, as well as offerings from local businesses, state, environmental, and public interest groups. People in our area still practice inherited traditions of hunting, fishing, trapping, gardening, quilting, weaving, canning, composting, furniture making and many other skills which make life sustainable. At the same time, cities, power companies and businesses in our area are developing new energy-saving and job-creating technology. All of these, along with agencies and programs for protecting our land and air and water, have a place and a voice at the first Iron Range Earth Fest.

More Information

Arbor Month 2009: My Favorite Tree

2009-04-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

Friday, April 24 marks the beginning of an entire month of celebrating trees। For Arbor Month 2009, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking you to share a photo, drawing, or story about your favorite tree.

Get involved: share your favorite tree! Go outside to take a picture, make a drawing, or tell the story of your favorite tree, then post it here.

State champions needed for Minnesota’s big tree registry! While you’re at it, the DNR is also looking for state champion trees of the following species। Learn more or submit your champion trees at the DNR’s Big Tree Registry.

» Red Pine, Pinus resinosa
» Northern Mountain Ash, Sorbus decora
» American Hornbeam (also called blue beech), Carpinus caroliniana
» Mountain Maple, Acer spicatum
» Chinkapin Oak (also called yellow chestnut oak), Quercus muehlenbergii

From MyMinnesotaWoods.org

Mesabi Range College TECH FEST 2009

2009-04-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, April 14th from 11am to 2pm – Eveleth Campus Commons
Wednesday, April 15th from 11am – 2pm – Virginia Campus Commons

Mesabi Range's 1st Annual Tech Fest is where they will show off the latest technology!!!
· Guitar Hero
· Wii Fit
· Clicker Demo
· Touch Demo (tv/computer)
· Flip Demo
· Atomic Learning & more…..
· Prizes & refreshments

This event is FREE & open to the public and all high school students!

For more information, please contact Brenda K. Kochevar at 749-0314 or b.kochevar@mr.mnscu.edu

From Eveleth Horizons

North Shore Community-Based Wind Energy Forums

2009-04-09T08:36:00.000-07:00

There will be two upcoming Community-Based Wind Energy Forums scheduled for the North Shore and Iron Range areas on April 14th and 15th. These meetings are part of the REDI (Rural Energy Development Initiative), and hosted by the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission as REDI’s northeast MN regional organizer. The focus of the forums is on community-scale wind projects.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
North House Folk School
500 W Highway 61
Grand Marais, MN 55604

April 14 Agenda

Wednesday, April 15, 2009
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Grand Rapids Public Library
140 NE 2nd St Grand Rapids, MN 55744

April 15 Agenda

Northeast Clean Energy Resource Team (NE CERT) - Furthering energy efficiency, wind, solar, and education-related projects across the Northeast region of Minnesota.

Museum Collections Preservation

2009-04-02T14:47:00.000-07:00

Announcing Professional Development Workshop on Collections Care by Midwest Art Conservation Center to be held at Ironworld on Saturday, April 25, 2009 (9-1). There is a registration fee of $30 ($25 for Ironworld members) and deadline of April 18, 2009 for anyone that is interested in participating.

This is a rare opportunity for museums, historical societies, library professionals, volunteers, board members and anyone with artifacts and other items they which to preserve on a shoestring budget or less!!!

Send payment and registration to Conservation Workshop by April 18. 801 SW HWY 169, Chisholm, Mn., 55719 1-800-372-6437. Questions? Jennifer Rian, Educ. Coordinator 1-800-372-6437 ext. 294 or jennifer.rian@ironworld.com

Digital Photo Capture Club

2009-04-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

Check out the website and read the fllowing invitation below:
http://www.geocities.com/digitalcaptureclub
It's free and it's fun! I'm referring to the Digital Capture Club. Each month, a theme is selected and we have a month to get our digital photo entry emailed. Many states participate and the photos are shown on the website. Professional judges make selections and give constructive commentary for improvement in our photography. This month's theme is "April Showers"
Here is this month's notification:

"How about 'April Showers'. It could be spring showers with flowers or buds. Or for those in the frozen north, your husband standing in the bathroom shower. (Edit your capture as much as you wish)
Submitted by Dave Linde
You will have until April 30th to make your submission. Send it to me at rognola@frontiernet.net."

Also from our last email is this message:

"If you know anyone who would like to be a member of the club, send me their name and e-mail address and they will be added.

Roger Sorenson, Secretary
rognola@frontiernet.net"
Hope to see new names and photos on the website! It is fun and definitely helped the rest of us pass another long winter in the northland!

Ely Greenstone Public Art Contest Announced

2009-04-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

Art contest announced by Ely Greenstone, Ely Chamber of Commerce
The contest “Wildlife of the Land and Lakes - Creatures of the Wilderness World” challenges area artists to compete for $500 in prizes and draw attention to the arts in Ely.
With $1,500 in prize monies from the Ely Chamber of Commerce, the Ely Greenstone Public Art contest provides a unique opportunity with an enlarged focus. Artwork submitted may include two and/or three dimensional in any media. Entry applications are available at the Ely Echo or by email: thepub@elyecho.comand should be submitted by May 18 or brought to entry day on Saturday, May23 at Semers Park..
Judged on Best Use of Materials, Most Unusual and the Mayor’s Award, the winners each receive $500.
The size should be no larger than six feet and will be displayed throughout the Ely area, in or adjacent to public buildings and businesses. All of the items submitted will be auctioned off at the Juried Art Show with proceeds going to Ely Greenstone Public Art.
The donor artists will receive 20 percent of the auction sale price to offset their expenditure for materials.
Artwork will be received by Greenstone board members at Semers Park on Shagawa Lake in Ely from 9 a.m. to noon on May 23. Judging will take place at a later date.
Funds raised from the auction are used for furthering the arts in the Ely area.
For more information and to be placed on Greenstone’s artist list, send complete name, address, phone and email to: Ely Greenstone Public Art, 2647 Van Vac Road, Ely MN 55731 or email: thepub@elyecho.com.
Many Iron Range artists displayed in the Greenstone shows last summer.

Artist Career Development Grant program

2009-04-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

McKnight/ARAC Individual Artist Career Development Grant program provides developing and established regional artists with funds of up to $1,000 to take advantage of an impending or artist generated, concrete opportunity. The project must represent a unique, short-term opportunity that will have a significant impact the applicant's career. These grants are not meant to support the completion of ongoing work or to develop commercial venues for an artist's art. Artists working in the visual, literary, or performing arts are eligible to apply to this program. Application deadline is April 30, 2009. For more information call or write 218.722.0952. ARACouncil@aol.com

Call for Artwork for April/May Exhibit

2009-04-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

You are invited to participate in our April - May exhibit.
The First Stage Gallery is planning an exhibit beginning April 23rd to celebrate the opening of fishing season and associated activities. The title will be 'Open Water'. We hope to highlight all of our area natural resources, especially lakes, rivers, and fish, through the visual art created here in northern Minnesota. Please reply by March 30th if you have work that you would like us to consider for this exhibit.(Call Mary to see if there is yet time to enter). We hope to hear from you soon.
Mary McReynolds

PS: We will also be featuring our member artists work during the months of July and August.

Lyric Center for the Arts
The First Stage gallery and performance venue
P.O. Box 416
Virginia, MN 55792
218-741-5577
http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com

Healthcare Available for Local Artists

2009-04-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

The Artist Relief Fund and the Lake Superior Community Health Center Announce Partnership

March 25, 2009 (Duluth, MN)..... The Artist Relief Fund and the Lake Superior Community Health Center are thrilled to announce their new program, Artists' Access to Healthcare - North.

This partnership between the two community based nonprofits will help provide free or low-cost healthcare to individual artists in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota and Douglas and Bayfield Counties of Wisconsin. Beginning March 25, 2009, individual artists may apply to the Artist Relief Fund for a voucher to be used at the Lake Superior Community Health Clinics located at 4325 Grand Avenue in Duluth or 3600 Tower Avenue in Superior.

"Health care is a major concern for the artists we serve. Many are self-employed and have little or no insurance," says Erika Mock, President of the Artist Relief Fund. "We are very excited to be partnering with the Lake Superior Community Health Center to provide artists with a new option for affordable healthcare. Helping artists connect to options for healthcare, especially preventative care is an important goal of the Artist Relief Fund. This program is a perfect start towards that goal, and we hope that the partnership will be able to grow to provide even more healthcare for area artists."

Wende Nelson, Executive Director of the Lake Superior Community Health Center (LSCHC) adds, "At the LSCHC, we also believe that our country should provide affordable health care for its artists. For years our clinic has provided medical care on a sliding fee scale basis for working artists (full and part-time) who do not have health insurance, so we are very excited about this partnership with The Artist Relief Fund."

We hope that Artists" Access to Healthcare - North (AAH-North) will encourage more artists to access care and raise awareness about all the employed and hardworking, yet uninsured people in Duluth, Superior and the surrounding communities. We want to thank Wende Nelson for her support in putting together this partnership and for making access to healthcare for uninsured artists a reality.

More information and applications to the program can be found on the Artist Relief Fund's website awww.artistrelieffund.org; the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council's website at www.aracouncil.org; or by calling 218-722-0952 or 1-800-569-8134.

The Lake Superior Community Health Center provides quality, affordable medical services to the community's low-income, uninsured and underinsured persons on a sliding fee scale basis.

The Artist Relief Fund's mission is to assist artists with emergency financial support and serve as a resource for information or other means of assistance available to them.

"Dark Days, Hope, and the New Deal at the Grass Roots" at the First Stage

2009-04-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

A set of two presentations by Pam Brunfelt.
April 2nd and April 9th
6:30p.m.
The First Stage
514 Chestnut St.
Virginia

The program: "Dark Days, Hope, and the New Deal at the Grass Roots" will highlight the impact of New Deal Programs at the grass roots level in Minnesota. Emphasis will be placed on the unemployment situation on the Iron Ranges, the purpose of the New Deal programs, and the ultimate economic transformation wrought by the New Deal especially on the Iron Range.

Pam Brunfelt is a historian who teaches at Vermilion Community College in Ely. She previously worked as the archivist/historian at the Otter Tail Historical Society in Fergus Falls and as the Executive Director of the Crow Wing County Historical Society in Brainerd. Her research focus has been the 1930s, the history of radicalism on the Cuyuna Iron Range, and the history of Minnesota's Iron Ranges with a special emphasis on political history. Among her publications is "Minnesota's Communist Mayor: Karl Emil Nygard", Minnesota History, Fall 2002 and "Political Culture in Microcosm: Minnesota's Iron Range" in Perspectives on Minnesota Government and Politics, 6th edition, 2007.

There is no charge for admission. The First Stage is located at 514 Chestnut St., Virginia. For more information go to http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com or call 741-5577.

Lyric Center for the Arts

Lyric Center for the Arts
The First Stage gallery and performance venue
P.O. Box 416
Virginia, MN 55792
218-741-5577
http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com

Attention Iron Range Artists

2009-04-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

> Minnesota State Arts Board to Offer FREE Artists Workshop in Duluth
>
> Duluth -- Do you create or perform music or theater? Are you a
> storyteller, dancer, weaver, painter, drawer, photographer or
> practicing any other art form? Are you interested in learning more
> about grant seeking, marketing, and using the Internet to showcase
> your work? The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, Minnesota State Arts
> Board, mnartists.org and Springboard for
the Arts have a workshop to
> answer those questions. Participants will learn about opportunities
> and effective strategies for receiving artistic support, promotion,
> and the new online market place. Artists from diverse ethnic
> backgrounds or communities are encouraged to attend.
>
> The workshop will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2009, from 10:00 a.m.
> to 4:00 p.m. at Lake Superior College, 2101 Trinity Road in Duluth.
> The workshop is free, but individuals are encouraged to register in
> advance by contacting the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council by phone at
> 218-722-0952,
> 800-569-8134 or email: jean@aracouncil.org; or Minnesota State Arts
> Board by phone at 651-215-1600; 800-866-2787; Minnesota Relay Service
> 711 or 800-627-3529; by email at msab@arts.state.mn.us; or via the web
> at http://www.arts.state.mn.us.
>
> The Arrowhead
Regional Arts Council's mission is to facilitate and
> encourage local arts development. This mission statement grows from a
> conviction that the arts improve the quality of life in the region.
>
> mnartists.org is an online resource for artists and arts organizations
> from all disciplines. It offers Minnesota based artists a central
> gathering place on the web. mnartists.org is a joint project of The
> McKnight Foundation and the Walker Art Center.
>
> Springboard for the Arts work is about artists - nurturing them,
> supporting them and helping them make connections. It is a lifelong
> resource for artists - a place to come for advice, training, and
> renewal. Its programs provide arts focused management and career
> services to artists and arts managers of all disciplines and at all
> stages of career development. Its mission is to cultivate a
vibrant
> arts community by connecting artists with the skills, contacts,
> information and services they need to make a living and a life as an
> artist. Springboard for the Arts is economic development for artists -
> by artists.
>
> The Minnesota State Arts Board is a state agency dedicated to
> enriching the cultural lives of all Minnesotans. Funds for Minnesota
> State Arts Board programs are provided through an appropriation from
> the Minnesota State Legislature, with additional funding from the
> National Endowment for the Arts.
>

Ion Range Earth Fest is for Everyone!

2009-04-02T09:38:00.000-07:00

Some of you may already know that my latest project is the 1st annual Iron Range Earth Fest on April 18th in Mt Iron. It's a celebration of local traditions and practical resources for sustainable living on the Iron Range. We are featuring demonstrations, exhibits, local foods, speakers, and vendors. Go to www.ironrangeearthfest.org for more information.

Hope you all can make it! I am also hoping you will help us with this grassroots event with a little grassroots advertising.I have paper posters I would be happy to send to you.

Thanks for your help! Hope to see you on the 18th.

Ardy
Ardy Nurmi-Wilberg Consulting
1322 12th St So
Virginia, MN 55792
218-749-4331 (home office)
ardynw@msn.com

Ely's a contender for the 2016 Summer Olympics!

2009-04-02T05:35:00.000-07:00

Fresh from Minnesota Brown!

The Minnesota "Must See" on this April Fools Day is the launching of the Ely 2016 Summer Olympics Bid.

The "press conference" is an especially worthwhile click.

Superior National Forest Seeks Resource Advisory Committee Members

2009-03-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

March 26, 2009

The Superior National Forest is seeking nominees for a Resource Advisory Committee (RAC), as authorized under Title II of the Secure Rural Schools Act and Community Self-Determination Act of 2008, (Public Law 110-343). The purpose of the Resource Advisory Committee is to enhance community collaboration with federal land managers in the process of proposing, reviewing, and recommending projects that will benefit resources on National Forest System lands in Lake, Cook, and St. Louis Counties, Minnesota.

“We are looking for representatives from a diverse array of stakeholders who have demonstrated an interest in management on the Superior as well as a commitment to working together toward the long-term benefit of our national forests” says Jim Sanders, Forest Supervisor for the Superior National Forest.

Fifteen members and three alternates are needed in order to establish the Superior National Forest Resource Advisory Committee. Resource Advisory Committee members will be selected from a list wide range of interests specified in the Act and will be appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to serve four-year terms. Members serve without pay; however, they will be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses.

As a result of the three county boards’ decision to allocate funds under Title II of the Act, it is anticipated that approximately $200,000 will be available each year for the next four years as part of this federal revenue-sharing program for counties containing federal lands.

Application forms, and links to additional information are posted on the Superior National Forest website [look on the lower right side of the page]. You may also stop by any Forest office or call 218-626-4300 to request a paper copy of the application and background information.

Printed, signed applications are due by April 17, 2009.

From MyMinnnesotaWoods.org

Rural Go Run: Women’s Leadership Training

2009-03-18T12:12:00.000-07:00

Friday, May 1, 2009 at 5:00pm to Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 3:00pm
Fortune Bay Resort and Casino
Tower, MN

Rural Go Run is a weekend-long training to inspire, equip, and inform women from all walks of life to lead more effectively in your work, community, and politics. The training will focus on communications, fundraising, organizing and other leadership skills.

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to build your skills and network with other women leaders from rural communities!

This is a national training program that engages local experts, public officials, current and former elected officials, and speakers to help train and share their experiences and stories of success.

We make this training affordable for women from all income levels. Scholarships are available.

Hosted by the White House Project Midwest.

Sign up NOW! (Registration Required)

Visit Rural Go Run on Facebook - And help spread the word!

Questions?
E-mail nlittlewolf at thewhitehouseproject.org

Rural Voices Unconference - April 3-4 in Duluth

2009-03-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

Registration is now open for the Minnesota Voices Online Unconference!

As part of its Rural Voices Initiative, the Blandin Foundation is working with E-Democracy.Org and other partners to host the Minnesota Voices Online Unconference, Friday, April 3rd and Saturday, April 4th, 2009 at the family-and-eco-friendly Inn on Lake Superior in Duluth.

The theme of the unconference is:

Minnesota Voices Online: Connecting rural Minnesotans with new media so every place can share its voice in the Internet age

Register now - Only $35 including Friday dinner

Registration is now open! - See registration site for details on discounted hotel rates while supplies last. After you register, add your name and links to this public list of Unconference people to introduce yourself.

What the heck is an unconference?

According to Wikipedia, an unconference is a “facilitated, participant-driven conference centered around a theme or purpose.”

Agenda
The conference will start late afternoon on Friday, April 3rd with a reception then dinner (family friendly), and a fun evening opening session. Our exchange will continue through the day on Saturday with lots of opportunities for participant developed discussions and break-outs until the late afternoon when we conclude. While supplies last, rooms at the discount rate are available Saturday night if you want to make a weekend of it (see registration site for details).

Pre-Conference Online Networking
A new Minnesota Voices Online community of practice is now open for Minnesotans (and beyond) interested in using new media to tell the story of their community, their community of interest or of Minnesota (some examples we’ve found).

Pre-conference discussions:

» Multiple modes of communication
» Challenges getting people engaged
» New Media/Old Media

Please join the Minnesota Voices Online community for developing “un” context.

'Overburden' tour in Virginia tonight

2009-03-03T04:37:00.000-08:00

Aaron Brown will be at the Lyric Center for the Arts tonight!

He plans to spend the rest of the spring focusing on the Twin Ports and Twin Cities, so this is your chance!

The evening reading of "Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range" begins at 6 p.m. and will be followed by a discussion and book signing. The event is part of the week-long series "Range of Arts।" A $5 donation to the Lyric Center for the Arts is requested.

- More Information -

Cure for the Winter Blahs

2009-02-21T16:58:00.001-08:00

George Chley on left jams with fellow musician, Jim Swartz on Bonsai Tea open stage this afternoon.
Today, as I sat in Bonsai Tea (411 Grant Ave., Eveleth)Mark McCarty (welcomebackanytime.com) was showing us the Eveleth dvd he has made complete with musical background by his son, John McCarty. Meanwhile, on the open stage, Jim Swartz, Eveleth, was entertaining all of us with his beautiful electric guitar playing. Later, Twain Woodruff took to the stage and read some of his original poetry. This was followed by George Chley joining Jim in a guitar jamming session. By the time I had to leave, Jim Boyd arrived with guitar in hand to also sit in on the musical collaboration. Needless to say, I am going to return to Bonsai in the future for more live music.
If you also love to listen to live, local music, on Sat. March 14, Bonsai open stage will feature blues music from 12-4 by Blew Reed and Lil Dicky Window (Ely Blues Fest). The Bonsai open stage is open to performances on the 1st and 3rd Sat. every month so what's the excuse for sitting at home? If you have talent to share, stop in and introduce yourself to Les and Barb the owners of this unique, local tea/coffee house.
I suspect many of you, much like myself, have been suffering from cabin fever in this much too long winter! Are you looking for more homegrown community fun like the Laskiainen? Well, you're in luck because March 13/14, Eveleth will enliven the doldrums of winter with fun for the entire family through "PUCK DAYS". Beth Peterson and Eveleth Horizons heads the event and a complete schedule is posted at:http://eveleth.blogspot.com/2009/02/eveleth-puck-days-2009.html
What sort of fun awaits? Well, there will be sliding, hot chocolate,a chili cook off, hotdogs, a bonfire, live music, a snowmobile parade, demonstrations, booths,and children's events to name a few. Recreation, arts, culture, history, and education will all be represented. The Heritage Committee will be on hand and one reading event to look forward to is Harry Lamppa (Virginia Historical Society) reading "How Finland Was Saved From The Grasshopper by St. Urho".
Many community members, businesses, and organizations have come together to create a fun, educational time for all. No excuses now, as even the Arrowhead Transit will be on hand to offer free rides to the various events. Well, you can hole up inside and succumb to looking at four walls and mind numbing boredom or venture out to Eveleth for family fun and friendship to brighten up your winter days before spring arrives.

Previous Range of the Arts Events

2009-02-21T09:07:00.000-08:00

$10,000 Matching Art Grant awarded to Virginia Foundation

2009-02-21T08:31:00.000-08:00

Photo: Jon Anderson (on right) explains the matching art grant at the Virginia Foundation office on Wed. Feb. 18, 2009.
Joy Global Foundation, philanthropic arm of the parent company P&H Mining Equipment, gave a challenge (matching) grant of $10,000 for arts funding. The announcement was made at the Virgina Community Foundation office by Jon Anderson, P & H Mining Equipment general manager, and Linda Niskanen, Virginia Foundation Executive Director, to representatives of various local art groups and other interested parties.The grant was one of only two made in the United States. P & H will match up to $10,000 in donations to the Fund for the Arts in care of Virginia Community Foundation, P.O. Box 559 in Virginia, Mn. 55792 or money can be delivered to the office at 519 Chestnut St.. Further questions can be addressed to 749-8329 or director@virginiafoundation.com. The plan is for the combined $20,000 to be an endowment and that local art grants can be awarded with the interest money. It is hoped that grants can be awarded within a year in a competitive process for various art organizations.Donna Leese, Virginia Foundation Board Chair, praised P & H for their community involvement as did the others in attendance.

Range of the Arts

2009-02-21T08:11:00.000-08:00

Range of the Arts - 2009
The 6th annual celebration of the arts and culture of the Iron Range.
February 28th - March 8th

Events include:
• Benefit Pasty Dinner
• Ameriikan Poijat (Finnish Dance Hall band)
• Arts International Market
• Gichigami Trio
• IRRRP melodrama - The Last Train to Winnipeg
• Small Parts Players Children's TheatreCompany presentation of Hansel and Gretel
• Jim Johnson, poetry reading
• Author reading and book signing with Aaron Brown
• Arts exhibits and more!
• Clearwater Hot Club (Jazz band)
See details on all Range of the Arts (ROTA) events on our calendar by clicking here!

Buy a Passport Scarf and get in to all the events* free all week long!
Individual: $50 (a $15 savings)
Couples: $75 (a $55 savings)
Family: $100
(*Passport scarf does not include Coffee an' or pasty dinner.)
Passport scarves available at The First Stage Gallery and The Card and Party Shop in Virginia, and Fine Edge Custom Framing in Eveleth, begining February 24th.

Lyric Center for the Arts
The First Stage gallery and performance venue
P.O. Box 416
Virginia, MN 55792
218-741-5577
http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com

Exhibitors Wanted For First Annual Iron Range Earth Fest

2009-02-18T13:25:00.000-08:00

Exhibitors Wanted for First Annual Iron Range Earth Fest

The first annual Iron Range Earth Fest will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2009: 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. at the Mt. Iron Community Center and the Messiah Lutheran Church. This exciting event is presented by the Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability (IRPS): Club Mesabi, Inc., Hope Presbyterian Church Green Team, Messiah Lutheran Church Creation Care Team, Natural Harvest Food Co-op, Laurentian Environmental Center, North St Louis Soil & Water Conservation District, and the Virginia Sustainability Task Force
The mission of the IRPS is to stimulate a practical, multi-sector environmental movement on the Iron Range working towards creating a sustainable future for our children and our communities. The Earth Fest Goal is to hold a broad based, high energy, well-coordinated and publicized community event to stimulate conversation and share traditional and technological approaches for a sustainable future in Minnesota and the Iron Range.

Part of the Earth Fest Goal is also to:
1. Share traditional skills for sustainable living (e.g. gardening, composting, hunting, trapping, fishing, canning, quilting, weaving, wine and beer making).
2. Feature a broad spectrum of community groups, businesses, municipalities, power companies, churches, and environmental organizations and agencies around concern for a sustainable future in Minnesota and the Iron Range.
3. Involve a diversity of adults and children from our area, not limited to people who already see themselves as environmentalists.
4. Create the foundation for an annual event which continues to builds a broad-based, practical Iron Range movement for sustainability.

The event components will include:
. A Taste of the Range featuring foods traditional to the Iron Range along with foods made from locally grown and raised sources.
. How-to booths and informative displays on practical skills for sustainable living
. Informative and interactive displays about environmental impact and care.
. A series of demonstrations and talks on a wide range of topics in a separate area.
. Activities appealing to all ages.
. Live music.
. A well-known keynote speaker to begin or conclude the event.

A warm thank you is extended to the following Sponsors / Participating Groups:
. Northeast Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnership
. Media Sponsors:
Home Town Focus Newspaper
KAXE Radio
. Mt Iron Community Education – April 17th concert with Pat Surface and the Boundary Water Boys
. Mesabi Family YMCA – coordinating with Healthy Kids Day on April 18th
. Civic, Government, Non-Profit Organizations
. Local businesses offering sustainable products or services
. Individuals with skills to share or knowledge of local sustainability

For more information contact:
Ardy Nurmi-Wilberg, Event Coordinator
1322 12th St So
Virginia, MN 55792
218-749-4331 (home office)
ardynw@msn.com

Town Hall Meetings on Governor Pawlenty's budget proposals

2009-02-06T10:35:00.000-08:00

Lawmakers will be visiting communities around the state to get input on the governor’s budget recommendations and listen to the public’s ideas to address the state’s $4.8 billion budget deficit. The Greater Minnesota meetings will take place on Thursday, Feb 19 and Friday, Feb 20.

In our area on the 20th:
Little Falls: 9:30 a.m. at the Morrison County Government Center, Garden Level Meeting Room, 213 1st Ave. S.E., Little Falls.
Duluth: 9:30 a.m. at the Duluth City Hall Council Chambers, 411 W. 1st St., Duluth
Virginia: 1:30 p.m. at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College, Small Auditorium,1001 Chestnut St. W., Virginia.
Read the release

New map shows speeds of the information superhigway

2009-01-27T09:18:00.000-08:00

January 26, 2009 - Act now to make sure the Iron Range has a presence!
From MPR: There's a new map of Minnesota being prepared and you're invited to participate. It isn't a roadmap. It's a map of the state's broadband or high-speed Internet service. The new map will show where Internet service is poor or speeds are slow. You can help with data collection by testing your Internet connection at http://speedtest.connectedmn.org/. The map makers will cross reference the speed tests to what the providers are reporting. Read the full article or listen to the audio at Minnesota Public Radio.

Dylan Days calls for 2009 writing contest entries

2009-01-16T08:45:00.000-08:00

Press Release, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009

HIBBING, Minn. (Jan. 15, 2009) – Dylan Days announces its annual call for poetry, short fiction and one act plays for the Dylan Days Creative Writing Contest. The deadline is March 15, 2009.

For more information, read Aaron Brown's post on "Iron Range arts event calls for writers, poets and playwrights for annual contest"

Community Housing Action Plan Workshops

2009-01-12T08:37:00.001-08:00

The Range Readiness Initiative Housing Work Team invites you to attend one of the sub-regional Community Housing Action Plan Workshops scheduled for the last week of January.

The workshops will all be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with lunch provided.

Three Workshop Locations

Grand Rapids- Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Grand Rapids Public Library 140 NE 2^nd St

Hibbing – Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Hibbing Public Library 2020 5^th Ave East

Virginia- Thursday, January 29, 2009

Mesabi Range Community College room C156

1001 W Chestnut St

The Team is excited to share financial and technical assistance resource information with you and provide an opportunity for your community to develop a vision for housing and establish local housing priorities.

The workshops will highlight:

Assistance with matching innovative and existing financial resources with new housing development and rehabilitation projects locally.

Sub-regional housing five-year goals

Examples of small community housing development implementation

Group activities to identify local housing priorities and action steps

After the workshop an informal technical assistance session will be available for communities and developers…bring along your project ideas!

Professionals representing the Housing Expeditors, Lenders, Developers, and Planners will be present to discuss you projects and answer questions.

Please invite other community leaders to join you and attend a workshop at one of the listed locations.

If you have not responded already, please RSVP by Tuesday, January 20^th so an accurate lunch count and meeting space set-up can be determined. Provide us with:

1. Your Name

2. Organization or entity affiliation

3. The workshop location you'll be attending

4. Email address

5. The information of anyone joining you

Phone: #218-529-7535 or #1-800-232-0707 ext. 535 or email: lsarabia@ardc.org

Hope to see you at one of the workshops,

Minnesota Voices Online

2009-01-07T13:50:00.000-08:00

The Blandin Foundation and E-Democracy.Org have partnered to offer "Minnesota Voices Online," an online forum for Minnesotans using new media technologies to build community – particularly across Greater Minnesota.

Learn more and join from http://e-democracy.org/mnvoices

Are you telling local stories through new medias or using e-tools to engage your local community? If so, this is our space to share advice, tips, tools and compare notes.

"Whether it be through a blog, online forum, or a wiki, using audio, text, photos, video or mapping, more rural Minnesotans are using the Internet to tell the stories of their communities, their communities of interest or of Minnesota itself," said Bernadine Joselyn, director of public policy at the Blandin Foundation. "Minnesota Voices Online is a space for these Internet age communicators to connect to each other, share lessons, ask questions and talk about the topics that most interest them".

The issues raised and topics discussed on Minnesota Voices Online will inform the planning of a Minnesota Rural Voices Unconference, scheduled for April 2009. An "Unconference" is a facilitated, participant-driven conference centered around a theme or purpose. The theme of the April 2009 unconference is Minnesota Voices Online Unconference: Connecting rural Minnesotans with new media so every place can share its voice in the Internet age.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Armstrong at outreach@e-democracy.org or 218-290-8020.

Northfield: A small town with big ideas on citizen journalism

2009-01-07T07:21:00.000-08:00

December 02, 2008
Twin Cities Daily Planet
On any given day at the Goodbye Blue Monday coffee shop in downtown Northfield, you will see several people scanning their computers instead of perusing a newspaper, as they nurse their morning coffees. The reason is that Northfield has two citizen journalism blogs, LocallyGrownNorthfield.org and Northfield.org, that are highly popular morning reads in town. With a total population of only 17,150, Northfield has two citizen journalism web sites covering local news, events and activities — Locally Grown, which attracts nearly 7,000 visitors a month, and Northfield.org, with a monthly readership of about 9,400. - Read the Full Article -

Northern Community Internet Holiday Event

2008-12-11T03:54:00.000-08:00

Join us to celebrate the holidays! The Northern Community Internet Quad Cities Community Journalism Club has been meeting monthly since July. We're a group of like-minded people interested in using technology to build community. Sure we can Google and get results in China, but how do we find each other, learn about local projects? Come learn about the project and meet the people who want to use e-tools to build community at the local level.

Date: Wednesday, December 17
Time: 6:00 pm
Place: La Cocina and Cantina, 407 Chestnut Street, Virginia
Cost: Entrees from $9 to $20

Bring a spouse, s/o, friend! Questions or RSVP to Barb or Les at 218-744-2000 or e-mail barb@bonsaitea.com.

Nine Lessons and Carols at Gethsemane Lutheran Church Dec. 14

2008-12-11T02:34:00.000-08:00

Nine Lessons and Carols will be celebrated on Sunday, Dec. 14, 6:00 pm, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 901 S 4th St., Virginia. After the service, all are invited to join in for fellowship with coffee and cookies. A freewill offering will be accepted that will go to support North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity.

Come and listen to special music from Gethsemane Senior Choir, Joyful Noise Choir, Our Savior’s Choir, Messiah Choir, Holy Spirit Choir, Hope Presbyterian Choir, The Divas, The Three Gusties, Sue by Two, The Choralaires, and The Psalm 100 Trio.

This service of Lessons and Carols comes from the King’s College in Cambridge, England, and its origin dates back to the 1880’s. The birth of Christ evoked and still evokes song, and everyone is invited to join in the Christmas carols, so sing with thanksgiving and joy for the coming of the Savior.

Calling All Artists (Ely outreach)

2008-11-18T07:09:00.000-08:00

Ely Greenstone is looking for Artists interested in teaching students during art camp.

This summer’s camp will be held Mon - Wed. June 15-17 (or 22-24th?) Hours 9 - 12

We’d like projects to be geared toward 2 different age groups, grades 1 - 3 and grades 4 - 6.

Please email or mail project proposals by February 28, 2009 to:

Judy Fredrickson, 1581 Grant McMahan Blvd, Ely, MN 55731

218-365-4020

Age Group Served________________________________________

Project Name/Description and goal________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Equipment/Materials needed______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Time frame (how much time will the project take you to teach and kids to make?)

______________________________________________________________________________

You may submit as many proposals as you like. We pay $20.00 per hour teaching time. Greenstone provides all materials and equipment. Greenstone also enlists volunteers to help so you can usually figure on at least one helper with your project. We will be looking at all proposals and making a schedule depending on projects submitted.

Your project(s) may or may not be chosen depending on scheduling and variety of projects.

Please also provide information about your schedule:

I am available anytime during camp hours_____________________________________

I am only available one day during camp and that day is__________________________

Other scheduling concerns__________________________________________________

Bonsai Tea Hosts Eveleth Community Page Working Session

2008-11-14T05:51:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, November 19, 3:30 – 5:30 pm
411 Grant Avenue, Eveleth

Northern Community Internet (www.northerncommunityinternet.org) now offers individual community pages for the Range communities of Chisholm, Eveleth, Gilbert, Hibbing, Mountain Iron and Virginia.

Eveleth-based Bonsai Tea will host an open working session to search the Internet to add local websites and Internet resources to the Eveleth community page. Bonsai offers a wireless Internet connection and a comfortable work space to support this community effort. Bring your laptop if you have one. Come anyway if you don't!

Are you using the Internet and e-tools to build your business or the community? Do you want to know about how the Internet can be used to build community? If so, come be part of making Eveleth a place where the Net Clicks!

For more information, contact Les Crawford or Barb White at barb@bonsaitea.com or 744-2000.

Comedy Program/Fundraiser for Iron Range Veterans Memorial

2008-11-02T11:25:00.000-08:00

We need a good turnout! Yes, it is the night before the opening of Mn. deer hunting. We can't help that! Ken Davis (former Zim resident) and now a professional entertainer has donated the entire ticket sales from the November 7, 2008 comedy concert, "Ken Davis Unplugged" to our IRVM! It is a very generous gift to aid us in the completion of the 26' x 15' bronze sculpture "Shoulder to Shoulder Even the Fallen Stand Tall".
The concert date was open in his busy speaking schedule and also was selected because of Veterans' Day Nov. 11. Ken's father was in the Bataan Death March. Mr. Davis promises a clean family night of comedy and also a very serious and heartfelt tribute to those who have served from Northeastern Mn. Please be a part of something important and something that will stretch into the future as a beautiful honor to the many from your Iron Range area who have served their country.
Tickets are sold at the Silver Lake Floral Chestnut St., Virginia or 97.3 KDNW Radio East Central, Duluth, Mn. 1-800-425-0873 for ticket info. Program is 7 p.m. Friday Nov. 7 at the Goodman Auditorium, Virginia H.S. $18 (general) in advance, $20 at the door, $25 gold seating, $15 for groups of ten. (www.kendavistickets.com). Hope to see you there!
The IRVM (artist; Gareth Andrews) is underway at the Crucible Foundry, Norman Oklahoma and scheduled for completion and delivery around Dec. 2009 or early spring 2010. Imagine how proud you all will be to have a world class tourist destination and local tribute to every branch of the service, both sexes, many ethnic groups and all conflicts of the last century! Imagine further how proud you all will be if you have purchased a memorial paver (IRVM Bx. 35 Virginia, Mn. 55792), made a donation, or played a part in any way (including the Nov. 7 ticket purchase) toward the costs of the Iron Range Veterans Memorial Park and bronze sculpture! Let's fill the house at the Goodman Auditorium for this very worthwhile fund raiser! Thank you to Mr. Davis, organizing committee, donors and "you" for buying tickets and attending.

Creative Power of Aging

2008-10-08T05:35:00.001-07:00

Creativity Matters
You are invited to the showing of a half-hour film… "The Creative Power of Aging"
Followed by a presentation on the statewide campaign of the Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network (MnCAAN - www.mncaan.net)

Monday, October 27, 11:30-1:30
Virginia Senior Citizens Center / 511 Chestnut Street
Area artists' exhibits & demonstrations - 11:00 to 11:30

Lunch included

All community members and professionals interested in the arts and aging are invited to attend. The event will conclude with a community conversation to spark ideas and connections that will help expand arts activities for older adults on the Range.

Register by email: lyriccenterforthearts@yahoo.com
US mail: Lyric Center for the Arts /PO Box416, Virginia, MN 55792
Phone: 218-741-5577or218-263-6785

* Must register by Wednesday, October 22nd / Seating is limited *

Please provide your phone number, email address and the names of people you wish to register

Area co-sponsors: Range Artists Association Inc., Mesaba Concert Association, SoHo Gallery, Northern Lakes Arts Association, Lyric Center for the Arts, The Creative Shop, Range Fiberarts Guild, Fine Edge Custom Framing, Virginia Foundation, First National Bank of Gilbert, US Bank, Queen City Federal Savings Bank, Northern State Bank of Virginia, American Bank, Virginia Senior Citizens Center, Edgewood Vista Senior Living, Quad Cities Optimal Fitness, Thrifty White Drug, Falkowski Super Market, Natural Harvest Food Coop, The Range Center, Peterson Well Drilling, Copy Magic, Ben Franklin Crafts, Fine Arts North

Community Journalism Club to Meet

2008-10-08T05:34:00.001-07:00

Community Journalism Club Meeting
Monday, October 27, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Room C156
Mesabi Range Community & Technical College
1001 W. Chestnut Street, Virginia

October focus: Bring a project or story idea to run by the group for feedback, ideas and suggestions.

The Community Journalism Club is designed for anyone interested in using the Internet to communicate!

Free and open to anyone on the Range. No previous experience required.
RSVP\'s requested. Contact Jennifer Armstrong at jen3344@gmail.com or 290-8020.

Community Journalism Club Update

2008-10-07T09:29:00.000-07:00

The Community Journalism Club has been meeting in Virginia since July! It's about time we posted a progress report!

At our first meeting we talked about forming a club to informally support local people interested in using the Internet to communicate. We decided to alternate short presentations about technology topics of interest to group members with working session where we bring in our project or story ideas to vet get feedback and solicit ideas and suggestions from the group.

Our first technology presentation was about Tips and Technologies for Conducting Interviews. We picked that topic because the Britt Historical Society is working on a project to interview elderly residents and Char wanted to know more about how to post interviews to the Internet. In August, Shelly Ceglar, Mountain Iron-Buhl technology and media specialist, provided information on interviewing technologies and uploading interview files (audio/video) to the Web. Scott Hall of 91.7 KAXE community radio provided tips about how to conduct good interviews. Google them both for fascinating results.

In September we were going to talk about Hometown Focus, a local community journalism site and weekly paper, but everybody at the meeting already knew about them, so we talked about important issues on the Range like restoring historic buildings, climate change, the spiraling national economy and people having to choose between food and heat this winter. Did that come up at the meeting or was that another conversation?

And then Ross issued our assignment: Bring a story idea or draft to the October 27th meeting to run by the group for tips, ideas and suggestions!

Next Meeting:
Monday, October 27, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Mesabi Range Community & Technical College Room C156
1001 W. Chestnut Street, Virginia, MN

Related Links (Places I ran into while writing this post!)

Saturday, October 18, 2008 Ironworld
Out of the Dark: Shedding Light on Your Family History - A full day series of workshops designed to help you research and tell the stories of your family history. Keynote Presentation “How to Be Your Family’s Storyteller” by author and storyteller Kevin Strauss.

July 2008 - Moving community radio to the Internet - A BusinessNorth article about the Northern Community Internet Project.

Griff Wigley's March 2007 Post on the Northern Community Internet Project and Leadership Blogging Guide - How to use weblogs as an effective local leadership tool.

and
KAXE's Morning Show Blog

Practice Makes Perfect

2008-05-25T14:55:00.000-07:00

Just practicing..it can be done..perseverance is what it takes..now it's everyone else's turn..blog away!

Report on Wednesday, May 21 Citizen Journalism Workshop

2008-05-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

Blognet
Sergeant Friday on Wednesday

(dramatic Dragnet/Blognet music) The synopsis you are about to read is true. Only the wording was changed to protect the innocent. (cue more music)
......
* This is the Iron Range.
* My name is Charlene Luoma (alias Sergeant Friday).
* I am a community journalism student who was recently shown and obviously influenced by everyblock.com/crime.
* I absolutely came to believe that a local murder had been committed “based on pure speculation and hearsay” sending me out on a fact finding mission. It was my opportunity at good investigative reporting and I was up for the job.
LOG:
* Wednesday May 21, 2008, 8: 50 a.m.: a winded Doug McGill arrived at the Mesabi Community College after suspicious activity surrounding the loss of his briefcase.
* I was taking notes on Ross Williams’ (Blandin Foundation) presentation on a recent axe murder (correction: that would be kAXE.....note to self to “Listen Carefully”) when an assignment came in from the news bureau chief: “Wade into a murky bog” (oh, wait, or was that a quirky blog?) My attention had drifted causing my listening skills to waver.
.......
* A former high school classmate had sat down beside me and we began riffing jokes off of each other. My professional investigative questions kicked in. Why had she taken the class? Her answer peaked my interest. She had been leading what she called “a shallow life” and wanted to return to her serious side. She added that she had once been serious. “Mam, when was that?”, I asked. Kathy replied, “In my thirties. For about six months.” (As students in another time and place, we would have been given detention for being inattentive in class. )
* Unfortunately, we had returned to the “shallow” end of the journalism pool.
.........
* Back to the assignment. Mr. Williams wrote on the cleanest blackboard that Mr. McGill had ever seen: “Quad Cities Community Journal Blog”.
BLOG:
* 9:10 a.m.: Kathy and I were again off task. She asked, “Who has time for that?” I replied, “It must be like a hobby for some people.” 1.) Collaboration began: “You and I could make our own blog: ‘I’drathercarveaduck.com’ “. 2.) Design: click on ‘no comments’ box.
3.) Concept: Kathy and I are the only two allowed to post on the blog. We express our opinions and do not solicit commentary from anyone else. 4.) Clever hitch: There isn’t anything ever on the blog. It’s totally blank because we are off “carving a wooden duck”, raking the yard, baking chocolate chip cookies or just about anything else except blogging! (We definitely decided it was a hobby that ‘some’ choose to participate in while others “carve wooden ducks”). Little did we know that soon we too would be expected to become bloggers! As a captive audience, our hands had been tied and our mere presence in this journalism workshop had implicated us, moved us out of our comfort zone and we found ourselves wading into the murky blog!
..........
LOG:
* I was again back on task to the scene of the crime and proceeded to gather the facts.
* Situation: Technology
* My job: blog. (cue blognet music.)
* I WONDERED. “You assigned something?”
* “Yes, a Quad City Journal Blog”, Ross announced.
* “You got a lead?”, Doug asked.
* There was not much to go on.
* There were only small matters..something about Freedom of the Press, Free Speech, Thomas Jefferson, Founding Fathers, Declaration of Independence, First Amendment. etc. How could I get the story with only small details like that to follow up on? Where’s the story? Why would people care?
* Mr. McGill: “Did you write down the two forms of stories?”
* “Yes, I chose the nut graf!”, I replied. (cue the extra dramatic loud music)
..........
LOG:
* 10:22 a.m.: Scott Hall had not yet arrived so I needed to find the next closest source for questioning:
* “Pardon me, sir. Can I talk to you, sir? “
* “Sure. I don’t mind. Who are you?”
* “I am a community journalism student. Just for the record would you state your name and address?”
* “Thomas Jefferson.... Monticello”
* “I want to ask you a few questions. Just the facts.” Mr. McGill said, “nothing but good can come from the facts.”
* “I understand you have said some fairly profound things about freedom of speech. Is that fair to say?”
* Thomas loudly reacted, “It was terrible! We had to declare our independence!”
* “How can I be sure of that, sir?”
* Mr. McGill interjected, “cross reference and recheck your facts!”
* “Yes, sir”, I replied. “I want to get this straight from Mr. Jefferson’s mouth. May I quote you, Thomas? Please help me understand.”
* “Mr. Jefferson, have you ever been picked up on a 903 for instilling unrest in the civic population and empowering the citizens over the government? Just answer yes or no please.”
* “Yes, I proudly plead guilty”, Thomas emphatically responded.
* I proceed carefully with my next line of questioning.
* “We hear there has been a New York Times reporter operating in this vicinity. Can you describe him? We just want to get the facts, sir. Thomas, did you notice anything unusual about him?”
* No”, he said in a rather matter of fact tone. “He was just the run of the mill staff reporter who worked for the New York Times from 1979-1989 and the Bloomberg News Bureau Chief in London and Hong Kong in the 1990’s.”
* Note to self: (McGill, oh yes, I’d seen his kind before: intelligent and experienced, capable of asking and answering all the right questions.) He was a difficult “nut graf” to crack!
.........
LOG:
* 3:05 p.m.: I needed to make the deadline and get my report into Mr. Ross Williams.
* Note: I seemed to have broken the Top 10 Writing Tips of Journalism Rules in addition to Thomas Jefferson’s famous 10 Rules to Live By. Actually, I probably broke every rule in the Communications Act of 1906 because I forgot to Listen Carefully!
* My corrections(far out numbering Mr. MCGill’s career of only 2 corrections in 1,070 N.Y.T. news articles ) were as follows: 1.)The location of the “supposed” murder crime was not in the “Amazon Jungle” and was not to be confused with the frequently mentioned “Amazon.com”! 2.) My assignment was not in a “murky bog” but it was in an “online blog”! 3.) No one had met a “watery death” in a soggy crime site, however, Ross Williams had shown us an aquatic blog site. 4.) There hadn’t been the viewing of an axe murder site, just a kAXE web site viewing. 5.) The supposed murderer had not been “strung up” but we were exposed to a Minnesota stringer! 6.)No victim had been brutally beaten with a brick but I definitely remembered Mr. McGill mentioning something about bricks! 7.) No victim had been smothered with a pillow in his sleep but again, Mr. McGill reminded us about pillows! 8.) No one had attacked anyone else and kicked him to death yet, Mt. McGill repeatedly emphasized kickers! How could I have been so wrong in my reporting? I was so close to the TRUTH!
* My factual errors confused me into “assuming” a crime had been committed. It seemed innocent enough at the moment. (cue the very ominous music at this point)
.......
FINAL LOG REPORT:
* 5:20 p.m.: community journalism class was dismissed.
* On May 22, 2008: Mr. McGill departed for places unknown (actually I think it was Carlton
College).
* Ok, so my facts were a bit off! So, sue me! There really was a crime committed that day. Unfortunately, as it turned out, I was the guilty perpetrator of none other than false journalistic reporting.
......
VERDICT:
* I stand guilty as charged. I committed the unmentionable crimes of A.) deluding myself into thinking that I am a writer and B.) I have been practicing journalism without a degree.
* Unfortunately and ironically, these crimes are punishable by me having to actually write!
* My journalism license was revoked ( oh yeah, that’s right, I never had one and besides, Mr. McGill isn’t certain that journalism degrees are all they’re cracked up to be). :)
* I confess I have now dabbled in risky legal business and produced only entertainment and fluff! This is obviously not the stuff of pure journalism!
* What information did I leave the “j school” class with you might ask? Well, I am older and wiser and I see clearly that I probably at some point will need legal counsel. I am not talking until I first consult my journalism lawyer, Geanne Rosenberg!
.......
LOG OUT:
* 5:30 p.m., I depart for home to recline in a Campeahy chair (research conducted on T. Jefferson’s Monticello home ) to curl up with a couple of good books: Elements of Journalism, 2nd ed. and The Largemouth Journalism Handbook (Doug McGill) “because I can not live without books” (Thomas Jefferson 1815).
* (cue the cheesy music one more time)
* Over and out...I’m off to carve a wooden duck.

Welcome

2008-05-21T09:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome!