West End News: January 8

The Friends of the Finland Community are starting a process to improve the economic vitality of the greater Finland area.  The group is gathering ideas from the community on what is working now, what more could be done, and what would you do if money were no object?
 
On Friday, January 9th, a facilitated community conversation is taking place at the Clair Nelson Community Center in Finland.  If you miss the event, you can submit your ideas and concerns about the future of Finland to Honor Schauland at 353-0300 or email [email protected].
 
Storytelling and business are not usually mentioned in the same breath.  We think of stories as being told around the campfire, and business as involving banks and boardrooms. 
 
Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux is a professional storyteller and businessperson from Grand Marais and she will be presenting the case for using storytelling as a business tool at the January business-networking luncheon hosted by Cook County Higher Education.
 
Rose argues that successful business is built on effective communication with customers and employees.  The same skills required to tell a good story are useful in sales, social media, customer service and innovation.
 
Rose’s presentation, which I guarantee will be useful and entertaining, will be at Higher Ed’s North Shore Campus in Grand Marais on Thursday, January 22nd, from 11:30 to 1 pm.  Lunch is provided and there is a modest fee.  RSVPs are required at 387-3411 or email [email protected].
 
If live or own land in the West End within three miles of Lake Superior, the North Shore Forest Collaborative wants your opinion on restoring the forest along the shore. 
 
The North Shore Forest Collaborative is a partnership of federal and state agencies, private land owners and nonprofits that has embarked on an ambitious, long-range project to restore the forest of the North Shore, from Duluth to the Canadian border, to its natural condition, or at least as close as they can get.  Of course, this is easier said than done, but the first step is determining what the residents and landowners think the restored forest should look like.  For more information, go to: www.northshoreforest.org.
 
I’m delighted with Governor Mark Dayton’s choice of Mark Phillips to be the new commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board.  I know Mark to be a walking encyclopedia of the history, people and potential of northeastern Minnesota.  He also has a good heart and has a long history of working to make our communities better for everyone.  The IRRRB has done a lot for the West End over the years, including quite a few significant projects quite recently.  It’s always heartening to see an appointed position filled by the most qualified candidate, rather than the most politically expedient.
 
The entire West End community was saddened this week by the news that Maybelle Skou of Schroeder had passed away at the remarkable age of 103.  Maybelle was born in Wisconsin, but moved to Schroeder with her husband, Ed, in 1946.  The Skous made their home in the big red house near the Cross River until Maybelle moved to Carefree Assisted Living in Silver Bay last September.
 
Maybelle has always been one of the most popular people in the West End.  She may have been small in stature, but she made up for it with a big personality.  She was sharp, plain spoken, funny and down to earth right up until the end.  I had lunch with her a few weeks ago and she said, “I don’t want to live forever, but I feel great, so I’m just going to go for it.” 
 
She died in her sleep at the North Shore Hospital in Grand Marais after a very short illness.  She led a long, full and meaningful life and will be missed by many, many people.  I’m sure the whole West End joins me in offering condolences to her family and friends.