2nd Sandbar Productions has been working in the Keweenaw since 2018. Daena, lead editor, has been a professional video editor for over 12/13 years. “We are in the business of visual storytelling,” said Amanda Makela, intrepid founder of 2nd Sandbar Productions. “That has really evolved over the years. Daena edits television/film remotely for clients outside Michigan, all while we actively produce media ranging from social media features for Visit Keweenaw and From the Ground Farmer’s Market to videos disseminating research from Michigan Tech. We’ve created small business profiles, product shoots, event coverage, music videos, live streams, fundraiser media, news B-roll, and hopefully more documentary storytelling – all manner of visual media.”
Makela says 2nd Sandbar takes on many social media management roles as businesses and organizations begin to understand its value. Social media connects users with the right products, services and businesses to meet their needs and fuel their wants. 2nd Sandbar’s goal is to help organizations get off the ground, by setting things up in a way to be taken over at the end. Getting involved with Pasty Fest was a natural step for Makela. “In 2019, we made a community interest piece with Leah Polzien describing Pasty Fest as a way to build our portfolio,” said Makela. “My best friend, Rebekka Mikkola had already been a longtime volunteer at Pasty Fest. She had adopted the Eating Competition as her personal project, and in the ensuing years I joined Rebekka’s cause in a supportive role. Leah was honestly just relieved to have one less thing to manage, and let Rebekka and I go nuts.” Makela and Mikkola felt the eating competition embodied the spirit of rock and roll. This spawned a t-shirt sale idea that turned into a $1,000 fundraiser for Main Street Calumet. Now, a yearly design is released, building hype around the eating competition and driving pasty lovers to the annual celebration. “I am particularly touched by the spirit of the Keweenaw,” said Makela. “A sense of community, of support grows off the year. There’s an obvious kitsch value to Pasty Fest that appeal to me – those who know me, know I’m pretty odd myself. I see Leah at Main Street working her butt off for Calumet, and I can’t help but be drawn to the underdog story. A small town, a niche fest… let’s show the world how awesome it can be!” If you’re looking to get in touch with 2nd Sandbar Productions, visit their website.
0 Comments
From the farm to your home freezer – Frozen Farms Co. is bringing ethical, fresh meats to the table. Looking for home grown beef, lamb or pork in the Copper Country? Look no further than Frozen Farms! You can get local, pasture raised beef you can trust. Owned by Jean and Nathan McParlan, they aim to bring high quality meats and farm products from their family to yours.
Whether you are just trying to get dinner on the table or preparing for a special occasion, Frozen Farms has you covered! They offer a plethora of spices and sauces to compliment the wide range of cuts they stock. In addition, you'll find artisan kitchen tools, local honey, and even fresh produce. Frozen Farms is a great spot to shop for those special gifts for birthdays and holidays too, with a selection of high-quality gift ware and kid friendly items! With every purchase at Frozen Farms, you’re supporting a movement supporting ethical sourcing, community connections and the joy of shared meals. If you’re looking for the perfect cut for a celebratory feast or looking to surprise your loved ones with thoughtful gifts, Frozen Farms Co. is ready to welcome you into its world of culinary delights. The McParlan family recently opened The Copper Scoop, an artisan ice cream parlor, with ice cream made on-site, highlighting local flavors. Located just two doors down from Frozen Farms, shoppers can now enjoy a range of high-quality products from both locations! You can find Frozen Farms Co. at 320 5th St, Calumet, MI 49913. Visit Keweenaw promotes Michigan’s Houghton and Keweenaw Counties as a destination for tourism. Tourism, and the broader visitor economy, generate social, cultural and financial benefits for our community members and is a pillar of the region’s economy. Formed in 1986 as the Keweenaw Tourism Council, later the Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau and now Visit Keweenaw – we’ve been the region’s leading destination marketing organization for more than 35 years.
Visit Keweenaw is a leader in knowledge of outdoor recreation. Thousands of people each year come through the welcome center asking questions about the area, and talking about everything they want to see. Being at the forefront of travelers, tourism trends and outdoor recreation, Visit Keweenaw invests in its communities through Destination Development Awards. Helping coordinate and execute high-energy events is something Visit Keweenaw has been assisting with. Calumet’s Pasty Fest, Houghton’s Jibba Jabba and From the Ground Festival were all instances of Visit Keweenaw helping promote and market events to the public and broader visitor area. Bringing in locals and visitors to events are important to diversify your crowds and spenders in your economy. Visit Keweenaw encourages visitors to Leave No Trace in the Keweenaw, recreate responsibly and find new favorites when you adventure north. Visit Keweenaw supports Pasty Fest because it’s an incredible event that fills Calumet’s historic 5th Street and brings smiles to the whole village. Events like Pasty Fest speak to the cultural and historical significance of an area and its people. Bringing visitors to an area familiarizes them with a new destination and allows them to support locally owned businesses and cultural icons – like the pasty! Stop in to learn more about the Keweenaw at 56638 Calumet Ave #1965, Calumet, MI 49913 Calumet Electronics is a power leader in the engineering industry. Providing bright minds with relevant jobs in the Keweenaw – Calumet Electronics brings “a culture of honest hard work that helps set the standard for American PCB manufacturing.” Calumet Electronics rewards “skill and potential with competitive salaries, high quality training and career advancement opportunities. The result is a stable, long-tenured workforce that brings the high standards needed to prove excellence in American manufacturing.”
As a Pasty Fest sponsor, Calumet Electronics supports Main Street Calumet, and the greater community. “We live and work in an area with a tradition of hard work and dedication. When local copper mines closed in our northernmost tract of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Calumet Electronics was founded to provide career opportunities and great, family-sustaining manufacturing jobs. Today, as we continue to thrive, Calumet Electronics remains as tough as the people who work here, and as strong as the town that inspired our name.” Committed to “high-velocity, high-performance printed circuit board (PCB) engineering and fabrication solutions in North America,” Calumet Electronics is an industry leader in the Copper Country. The company intends to “provide our customers with the highest quality and most reliable PCBs that will stand up to their most rigorous applications.” Calumet Electronics strives to improve its manufacturing capabilities over time. It gives the community long-term employment opportunities to remain in the area and do meaningful, relevant work. You can find roles in Quality Control, Human Resources, Safety, Sales and much more at Calumet Electronics. Its “need for brilliant early-career and experienced engineers to help advance the company’s engineering and manufacturing capabilities” could drive the next step in your career. Calumet Electronics reports “a majority of experienced American electronics manufacturing engineers are nearing retirement age. Our industry is in great need of an infusion of talented young engineers with the drive and passion to rebuild this great industry.” If you’re looking to advance your career and fuel a bright American future, look at current job offerings at Calumet Electronics. IncredibleBank in Calumet is a big piece of the community. Incredible Bank contributes to the history and growth of Calumet by supporting local businesses, families and individuals reaching their financial goals. Incredible Bank celebrated its 150th anniversary in the Copper Country on July 16, 2003. The bank was established in 1873. Historically called “Merchants and Miners Bank” in Calumet, Incredible Bank continues to serve the community of Calumet. “We offer Calumet a trusted partner for their financial needs,” said Jamie Thyrion, Incredible Bank market manager. “From personal banking services to business solutions, we strive to empower the community by providing accessible, reliable and innovative financial resources.”
As a Pasty Fest 2023 sponsor, Incredible Bank is proud to be a part of the celebration. “Pasty Fest brings an energy of culture, tradition and history with a bit of fun and quirkiness,” said Thyrion. “It’s an opportunity for locals and visitors to bond over delicious food, lively entertainment and shared experiences, enhancing our sense of spirit and drawing attention to the area’s charm.” Incredible Bank recently announced IncredibleWealth, a new financial planning and investment service in collaboration with Ameriprise Financial Services, LL. It also launched an online appointment scheduler you can use on its website or on your mobile banking. Another new service, AutoBooks, is an easy-to-use solution for businesses interested in digital payment acceptance and invoicing directly inside your mobile and online banking with Incredible Bank. “We are privately owned by the Nicklaus family,” said Thyrion. “Ron Nicklaus originally began his career in farming and after years of working closely with the banking industry they bought controlling interest in River Valley State Bank in 1983. What’s truly special to IncredibleBank and the Nicklaus family is the people we serve. Our customers are more than just clients – they are part of the IncredibleBank family. Throughout the fall and summer months the Nicklaus family deliver fresh produce from the farm to each location to be given away to employees and customers. This personalized approach, coupled with out commitment to providing exceptional financial solutions, sets us apart and makes our business deeply meaningful.” Stop in IncredibleBank in Calumet for all your financial needs, located at 56500 US Hwy 41, in Calumet. |