West End News: October 16

If you have even a passing interest in music, there is an event coming up at Lutsen Resort that you should know about.
 
Historic Lutsen Resort will host the 24th Annual Bluegrass Masters Weekend the weekend of Oct. 31 through Nov. 2.  This long-running event, sponsored by the North Shore Music Association, passes under the radar of many local people.
 
Bluegrass is a uniquely American music that features fiddle, banjo, mandolin, acoustic guitar and standup bass fiddle.  Many of the songs are rooted in traditional music from the Appalachian Mountains.  Similar to jazz, the song is sung or played through once in a straightforward manner.  After that, each instrument takes a turn through the melody, improvising as they go.  It is also common for the group to sing in three-part harmony.  The shared musical vocabulary of bluegrass makes it very accessible to amateur musicians, both to learn and to play together.
 
The Masters of Bluegrass Weekend brings together avid bluegrass musicians from all over the Midwestern U.S. and northwestern Ontario. From the moment they start arriving on Friday afternoon until they depart on Sunday morning, every nook and cranny of the resort is filled with groups of people playing music.  Anyone can drop in to experience this amazing musical smorgasbord by just wandering around the main lodge building.  Even if you aren’t a Bluegrass fan, I recommend a visit just to witness the phenomenon. I guarantee that you will be entertained.
 
Many of the participants are very serious amateur or professional musicians with incredible talent and skill. On the other hand, they warmly welcome beginners and encourage them to learn and practice by joining the jam sessions, so if you’re a closet or wannabe player, don’t be shy about joining in.
 
By the way, there are organized workshops and a formal concert on Saturday night that features some of the best bluegrass musicians in the world.  This year, mandolin virtuoso Emory Lester will be the featured performer.  There is a modest cost for the workshops and concert. You can get more information online at the North Shore Music Association website or by contacting Lutsen Resort. 
 
The bloodmobile will be returning to the Zoar Lutheran Church parking lot in Tofte Tuesday, Nov. 11 from 2:30 until 6 p.m.  You can search online for Memorial Blood Centers to find out if you are qualified to give blood.  Or call Julie at 663-7111 for information or to schedule an appointment.
 
I completely missed it, but Oct. 9 was officially Louise Trachta Day in Tofte.  I’m not too upset about missing it though, because in my book every day is Louise Trachta Day. 
 
Louise has headed up the Tofte Rescue Squad for 15 years and is a true hero in our community.  She not only has come to our aid in our hours of greatest need, but she’s built the rescue squad into a professional and well-staffed unit.  She’s kept up with the latest trends in emergency care, trained the squad to state standards and done a ton of paperwork.
 
All of this was done strictly as a volunteer, so the next time you see Louise, give her a hug and a big thank you. She is the best of the best.

(Photo courtesy of Tofte Township)