Pink and white petunias and some hanging plants are being grown for downtown Calumet even as we speak. Tony Sleeman of Sleeman's in Houghton will hardened off the plants (conditioned to our climate) and transition them to their new home in baskets that will hang from the light poles in Calumet.

Plants will be located at intersections of 5th and 6th streets, and Scott, Portland, Oak, Elm, and Pine streets for a total of 34 baskets. 14" baskets will be used on 5th Street and 18" on 6th street to accommodate the taller poles and larger, wider streetscape of 6th Street. 

Dave Sladek of Universal Metal will be fabricating basket brackets to cradle the plants. It was Dave who created all the brackets for the City of Houghton.

This project is a combined effort of many volunteers at all stages. The Main Street Calumet Design Committee researched options, took pictures, made drawings, and interviewed Houghton to find out about what was successful with their program.. The Village of Calumet Downtown Development Authority has agreed to support the effort financially because they feel it will provide a highly visible improvement to the downtown. A different set up for watering will be in place this summer as well.

Further plans are in the hopper to use these planters for other seasons...stay tuned.

Everyone involved hopes the baskets will speak to the cheer and vitality of the village we love!

Are you on the front lines of Copper Country tourism?

Believe it or not, you are the “local expert” to the  visitor who asks you for advice. What you tell them matters! It can make a memorable family vacation or bring a customer back to do business, or encourage someone to resettle or bring opportunities to the community. The Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau created a fun on-line program to prepare you for the question “So, what's to do around here?”

A new website called Copper Country Certified offers three simple open-book, multiple-choice quizzes about what to do and see in our community. There's no need to study and all the answers are found at Keweenaw.info.

Residents who complete the quiz are then 'certified'. Individuals receive a certificate, and businesses receive a vinyl cling sticker to put on the window of their store if 80% of their employees get certified.

Feeling confident about the area's amenities projects a feeling of pride and warmth, builds customer relationships, and goodwill between local businesses. Visitors remember the local places that were enthusiastic about their hometown and helpful in matching a their interests. It's free and can be done from your home at any time of day.

Next time someone asks “where can I get some sandals and find a beach” don't be caught flat footed. Log on to coppercountrycertified.com or stop by the Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau for more information.