Read ahead to learn what's bringing hundreds of area 4th Graders to Calumet!
Next week, Keweenaw National Historical Park will be hosting the 3rd annual Copper TRACES event for area 4th grade students. Over the course of three days, from 9am to 2pm on May 15-17, students, educators, and chaperones from six U.P. counties will be spending the day in the park. They will be attending activity stations throughout the industrial core, downtown Calumet, and in the Calumet Visitor Center. Each day, there will be approximately 250 people visiting the park, some of them for the first time. This yearly event is part of the national Every Kid in a Park program that introduces 4th-grade students to public lands. Copper TRACES is the park's way of introducing students to local and national history through the TRACES acronym which stands for Technology, Research, Art and Music, Community, Environment, and Service. The event includes a series of engaging, hands-on activities and visits to historic buildings and landscapes. Each of the 30-minute activity stations are hosted by a local community organization, park staff, or a park partner known as a Keweenaw Heritage Site. In total, there are over 50 volunteers working with the park to make this a fun and successful event. Please be careful as you go through Calumet during these days as hundreds of students spend time walking throughout the community and the park. If you'd like to learn more or visit the event, please call Kathleen Harter at 483-3024. We'd love to have you join us and see the enthusiasm young people have for this area. You can also learn more about Copper TRACES by visiting the park website at this link https://www.nps.gov/kewe/learn/education/classrooms/copper-traces.htm
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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. "living & working" in the Keweenaw
If you agree that more good nature & community loving people would be welcome here, please re-post the "Living & Working" page: www.mainstreetcalumet.com/living--working.html
Tucked away in Calumet’s backyard are the Swedetown trails. The 30K of nordic ski trails, 8K of snow shoe trails and 3K of multi-purpose trails are a draw for both local and regional visitors. Making the most of the abundant of snow in the area, the trail system provides enthusiasts of all skill levels a way to challenge their abilities and enjoy the beauty of the woods in winter. Main Street Calumet recently spoke with Barb Flanagin, Board Member of the Swedetown Trails Club, the organization that develops and maintains the trails. Swedetown Trails Club is a non-profit with many volunteers, and Barb wanted to highlight the importance of the Swedetown Trails to our community. Our Groomers are Important: There is more than just riding on a fancy piece of equipment to keeping the trails in the condition skiers like to have them. Running the new Prinoth Husky, quarter of a million dollar machine, safely and well is the job of a skilled operator. Various snow conditions impact how they groom and it takes awhile for a new groomer to learn the “tricks of the trade” and they go through rigorous training. Finally, it takes the right sort of individual, with the right attitude, to get out there every day throughout our long winter months. Despite early season preparation, wind and snow can cause downed trees, and unexpected maintenance issues sometimes arise, which can add to the average five hours of daily grooming time. Trail Pass Fees Pay for Winter Trail Grooming Operating Costs: It is a fairly common misconception, and an understandable one, that taxes pay for all of the work that goes into providing the high quality Nordic ski experience that users enjoy. This may create the belief that a resident shouldn't have to pay for a pass since it is township land. While initially some tax money went toward paying for the purchase of the land, no tax money goes towards operational costs. These costs, and related ones such as plowing parking areas, and lighting and heating of the chalet, are covered by the budget built with the fees paid for the trail passes. We Are Supported by Volunteers: A lot of things are done by volunteers: They prepare the trails before snow comes, work on long term improvements such as correcting the flow of tight turns, leveling the terrain, putting in culverts in low, wet spots, brushing and cutting back overhanging limbs, checking the lights to find which are in need of repairs, making sure signs are visible so people don't get lost. Club members also use their skills to make upgrades and repairs to the chalet and other buildings whenever possible. Friendly hosts greet visitors at the chalet. So much of the work can be attributed to volunteers that it is safe to say that Swedetown Trails wouldn’t exist without their efforts. Swedetown is a great community asset. People come from far and wide to use the trails; our snow is very reliable and the trails are great. Many groups use the trail system for training, even for the Birkie. Being out in the woods and breathing clean pine air is good for one's health and even if you don't ski, the multi-purpose trails are packed so that you can walk in the woods in the winter. It’s time to get excited about curling! Every four years, during the Winter Olympics there is an increased level of interest in the sport - ranging from mere curiosity to ambitious plans on making the next US Olympic Curling team. If either of those descriptions fit somewhere in your wheelhouse you have the opportunity to learn more about the sport with the Copper Country Curling Club (CCCC) right here in Calumet. Gary Lassila (President of the CCCC) met with Main Street Calumet crew to show us the facility and talk a little bit about this upcoming season. Gary explained that there is a noticeable “Olympic Bump” every four years, and this year should prove no different. For those interested in taking up the sport, you should know that everything you will need will be provided, but those more experienced curlers will eventually end up purchasing their own equipment. The curling facility itself is outstanding. Aside from the incredible work done to install the curling lanes, or “sheets” into the old C & H Drill House, there is a fantastic warming room that even includes video monitors of the far end sheets, so observers can follow the action comfortably from within the warming facility. According to Gary, the "natural ice" housed in a permanent facility, such as it is in the old C & H Drill House, is the only one of its kind in the U.S. What follows here is excerpted from the Copper Country Curling Club - and do not hesitate to contact Gary Lassila should you have any questions (gplassila@gmail.com). The Open Houses are coming fast, and if you want to learn the sport, or join a league as a skilled player, it is time to move into action. And with the Olympics coming, Gary does expect to hold an additional “learners” open house at some point during Olympics. “December is here and the Copper Country Curling Club is preparing for another great season. We hope that everyone who curled last year will return and of course, we are always looking for new curlers. Feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested. Please e-mail me if you do not plan to curl this year. Good news everyone...we have reduced membership dues! 1st year players and students = $60 (last year $70) 2nd year players = $80 (last year $120) 3 or more years = $120 (last year $160) These memberships allow you to play in either Tuesday or Thursday league if you wish to. An additional $20 is required if you want to play both nights. If you plan to curl this upcoming season, please submit a membership form or e-mail me that you plan to play. Link to membership form: https://sites.google.com/site/coppercountrycurlingclub/membership (scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the 2nd blue arrow) Dues will not be required until late January. League play is tentatively set to begin on Tuesday January 2nd and Thursday January 4th. Learn to Curl will begin on Wednesday, January 10th. The weekly schedule remains the same: Monday – college curling night (MTU & Finlandia students) Tuesday – League curling, games at 7pm and 9pm Wednesday – Learn to Curl from 7pm-9pm Thursday – League curling, games at 7pm and 9pm The Learn to Curl program is for people with very little or no prior curling experience. It will take place on Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm and will run throughout the curling season (about 10 weeks) beginning January 10th. We now have a “Social membership” for people who would like to join the Copper Country Curling Club, but do not want to curl. The social membership is aimed at people who will be visiting the club to watch family/friends curl. The cost is $30. (a social membership is NOT required to visit the club to watch curling) We are planning two Open Houses – Wednesday evening Jan. 3rd, 6-9pm and Saturday afternoon January 6th, noon-3pm. The open houses are a good opportunity for people to visit the club and throw a few rocks. We may have additional Open Houses during the 2018 Olympics in February. Feel free to visit our website and/or contact me or if you have any questions. https://sites.google.com/site/coppercountrycurlingclub/ Good Curling! Gary Lassila - Copper Country Curling Club gplassila@gmail.com Becky Koivu started collecting clothing for those in need in her basement closet 15 years ago. Her daughter, Ann Roberts, took over when Becky passed away. "The New Beginnings Free Store" has evolved into a real store located at 119 5th Street, Calumet. Anyone can shop there and no money is ever required. Donations are accepted. Those donations can be used at Christmas for the Angel Tree Mission, to help people with utility shut off notices, or even helping people with medical appointments outside of the local area. Throughout the year the volunteers regularly reserve the best items and then present them in a display for children who want to select (at no cost) presents for their parents on Mothers Day, Fathers Day, and Christmas. New Beginnings accepts donations of all working and clean items (with the exception of out-dated electronics). Their greatest ongoing need is for strong volunteers who help keep the store and basement storage organized. The yearly Angel Tree campaign matches childrens' gift requests to local residents who would like to purchase and drop off an unwrapped gift at the store. As of today there are still 100 remaining children requests to be matched. However, no child is ever turned away. If necessary the store will take funds from the operating capital to provide the gifts matching that child's request. If you would like to fill a Calumet child's wish list there is still time. Drop by the store today, message the store on Facebook, or call Terry at (906) 370-9240 or Lynn at (906) 934-3602. Open for business since late September, Off Shore Fish & Chips is delivering on their name - producing some of the finest fish and chips this side of the Atlantic. Howard Blake, along with his daughter Emily, have worked hard to continuously refine the menu and have hit upon several items that are sure to satisfy your cravings. Howard says he wants to keep the menu simple to allow them to "bring fresh, affordable food to everybody." Howard has several years of experience in the kitchen, having honed his craft in Florida, the Carolinas, as well as a run at The Hut. He and his partner Rod Chapman bring over 80 years of cooking knowledge to the table. Rod and Howard had the idea to open a new location after finding success in Lake Linden (which also does some catering and events), Howard and Emily pitched the former gallery Omphale in Calumet, at 431 Fifth Street. Howard and Emily both feel there are good things happening in Calumet, with good people, and they are excited to be part of it. Off Shore Fish & Chips has appetizers, family size offerings, and dinner baskets for your options. Emily recommends trying the Buckets, as you'll get an order for 4 people for the price of three. They get lots of pick up orders for the buckets, for people and families getting out of hockey practice, or after a long day of school or work. Come in, give them a try, and I assure you that you'll be happy. And don't forget, they are open through the Copper Dog - they're just at the other end of the street! Text by Leah Polzien, Executive Director, Main Street Calumet. Any event, no matter the size, takes a lot of effort to put together. What many see as a single day of fun is the result of months of preparation. I am beginning to see community events not just as fundraisers for a cause or a good time but as community team building exercises. Each time you put an event together you find yourself working together with a variety of people and building relationships with them. Pasty Fest 2017 was the result of many hours of communication, outreach, networking and sometimes compromise. What follows is a list of those who contributed and deserve a pat on the back! Let the length of this list be a testament to the hours invested and connections made.
THANK YOU: To the Pasty Fest Committee; Krissy Delesha, Valerie Newmann, Lynette Webber, Josh Mortti, Jim Newman, and David Crowley. Thank you for donating your time and brain power, you are gems. To the Keweenaw National Historical Park for providing a space for Kid's Activities, bodies to help with set-up and tear down, and last minute signage creation. A special thank you to Park Superintendent Wendy Davis for taking on the Rock Painting Class at the last minute when not one, but two instructors suffered medical issues! To the folks at Universal Metals, Copper Island Printing and A1 Toilets for quick work and being flexible with last minute changes. To Café Rosetta for providing toilet paper when we ran out in the ladies room. To Copper World for providing electrical access and displaying the Pasty Fest awards. To the gents at Peninsula Auto for generously allowing us access to their electrical panel, to power the entire event if it hadn't rained! To Ken Olkkonen for electrical wizardry. To CLK Schools Food Service for lending us warmer ovens so we could conduct the Bake-Off. To Tim Gasperich and Calumet Township for their help locating and delivering straw for seating. To Columbia Linen for rugs to cover power cords and prevent tripping hazards. Fred Reese for subsidizing our need for the cool awards he produces! To the Village of Calumet for help with street closures, parade guidance, and police presence. Trish Golus and Phyllis Locatelli for letting us access the Heritage Center repeatedly after hours. To Todd VanDyk and everyone at Houghton Community Broadcasting for their excellent evert coverage, sponsorship and support. Keweenaw Coffee Works for providing burlap bags for costume construction. The CHS Band and ROTC for coming out to perform during their summer break! To our parade route security helpers thanks for helping to keep everyone safe! Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with everything from costume creation, to selling pasties, to cleaning bathrooms; Ed and Dori Hallquist, Kathie Dianda, the Beiring Families of Calumet and Cedar Bay, Deb and Lew Lambert, Sue Dana, Mike Delesha, James Dahl, Lee Peterson, Candy Pham, Patty Webber, Katie Keller, Brandi Golden, and Caitlin Woodie. Thank you to our event sponsors Pasty Central and Vollwerth's for providing support to make this event happen. To our Baker's Basket sponsors; ShopKo Calumet, Copper World, Isle Royale and Keweenaw Parks Association and Karl Larson. To our vendors for showing up again this year, we know it's a LOT of work; Denali Restaurant, Connie's Kitchen, Suomi Restaurant, Lindell's, Pasty Central, Copper Harbor Pasty, Vollwerth's, Poshak's Projects, MSU Extension, Keweenaw Time Traveler, Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center, Girl Scouts of America, Lady A's Crafts, BHK Child Development, Deb Strieter, Lois Woodworth, Juneberry Gifts, Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, Keweenaw National Historical Park, Delightful Designs, Helping Hands for Vets, Project Hope, Calumet Women's Club, Little Laurium Luxuries, Mucked Up, Copper Country Humane Society, J&J Fish Pond, North Harvest CSA, Boersma Family Farm, the Veterans Center, Annika's Cupcakes, and Circle Back Farm, To all the musicians and performers; Bob Hiltunen, Tom Katalin, Bob Norden and Friends, Last Minute Mile, Kerry Paul, Kevin Blackstone, 47 North Fusion, Keweenaw Jui Jitsu, SuperNova Yoga, Hooping with Cecelia, Keweenaw Youth Symphony Orchestra, Calumet High School Drama Club and the Cardio Drummers, Last but not least thanks to the members of Main Street Calumet for supporting our organization so we can continue to hold great events and make positive changes in Calumet. If I've failed to mention anyone who helped out with Pasty Fest 2017 please don't hesitate to mention it so I can include your name on this list! We're excited to feature a post from the Keweenaw Roller Girls Blog and hope to see you at Saturday's bout! Keweenaw Roller Girls 2017 season started off with a bang as our first WFTDA sanctioned game is now in the books. It was a tough battle against Chippewa Valley Roller Girls of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. They’ve been on the track several season longer than KRG and really have some superb leadership that has carried their strategies and game play over the years. Ending their season against KRG, they left with a powerful 261 to 65. Though the score visually was a huge blow out, the gameplay itself was exciting. If you never looked at the scoreboard you might not have known who had won the game. Some great skating skill was displayed by both teams, and the 1 on 1 battles in the front of the pack, usually against CVRG’s #25 Stunt Double, were so thrilling it really didn’t seem to matter to the home crowd that KRG was having their butts handed to them. With more than 500 in attendance at the Calumet Colosseum, the house “Ooohhs” and “Ahhhs” could be heard clearly on the track amongst the chaos of shouting skaters, whistles, and the house PA. Keweenaw showcased some new talent at the first game in Calumet this season. Glam Bam #18, Amelia HitsHart #724, and AfroDisiac #88 played in their first game as rookies against a seasoned WFTDA All Star team. We are so proud of their fearlessness (okay, maybe they were a little scared, but they didn’t show it), and their great sportsmanship. Talk about a trial by fire. These new skaters are ones to keep your eyes on. As any team should know, every loss is a win if you learn something from it, and we certainly took some pointers, made adjustments, and are ready for the games ahead of us. Next up on the schedule for June 10th, a new team on the scene, Shipwreck Alley Roller’s(SAR) of Alpena, Michigan. They will be making their way up the peninsula this weekend, and what a great time to hit the road! This team has a lot of soul and we look forward to strengthening our connections with them. First recognized at the 2016 Mitten Kitten Tournament in Mackinaw City, SAR was in full force co-hosting and lending support to River City Renegades and the entire organizing crew. They were growing their league and supporting the growth of roller derby, and we are all about that! They have quite a presence and are hard to not notice with their iconic pirate-skull logo with pretty eyelashes. Get ready and make some evening plans for this Saturday as KRG prepares for their opponent from below the bridge. School is out for the kids and we’re all in the mind-set for having some fun. Bring your kiddos to the game, or bring that gal who you know would just be great at roller derby (we want to recruit her). Tickets are $5.00 for adults, and the kids 10 and under are FREE! Bevies, grub, and rolling thunder. What better way to spend a Saturday night in Calumet!? Check out the Keweenaw Roller Girls' Facebook page for updates! |