West End News: October 23

The West End resorts are all reporting that the fall color season was gangbusters this year.  This makes the annual tourism slow-down of late October and November a welcome respite before the busy winter season kicks into gear.
 
Although many of our visitors have temporarily deserted us, there is still a lot going on in the West End. 
 
Don’t forget about the two events I mentioned last week: The bluegrass music gathering at Lutsen Resort from October 31st through November 2nd; and the bloodmobile at Zoar Lutheran Church on the afternoon of November 11th…but those are just the tip of the iceberg.
 
The umteenth annual Birch Grove Halloween party is happening again this year from 6 to 9 pm on Friday, October 31st, at the Birch Grove Community Center in Tofte.  I don’t have many details, but it’s always a good time for kids of all ages.
 
The Lutsen Lutheran Church is reaching out to engage the West End in helping with the Ebola epidemic West Africa.  The church is generously offering to match any community donations, dollar for dollar, up to $5000.  The gifts will go to Lutheran Disaster Response where 100% will be directed to Ebola relief. 
 
Donations can be sent to the Lutsen Lutheran Church at Box 145 in Lutsen, 55612.  Make your checks payable to the church with Ebola Relief written in the memo line.  If the community is as generous as it usually is, this will mean $10,000 in much-needed aid to the hard hit communities in West Africa.
 
The University of Minnesota Press has just published the second book in a murder mystery trilogy that is set here in the West End.  Norwegian mystery writer, Vidar Sundstol, lived in Lutsen at one time and wrote much of the series while living here.  They were published several years ago in Norway, but are just now being released in English translation. 
 
The main character in the series is a fictional Forest Service law enforcement officer named Lance Hansen.  The tense, psychological novels revolve around a bloody murder discovered at Father Baraga’s cross in Schroeder.
 
Many of the characters in the novels are clearly based on real people from Cook County.  All have fictional names that are similar to their real names, except for Sid Backlund, from Grand Marais, who randomly has a small part using his real name and occupation.
 
I have a bone to pick with the author because he based a character on me, who the protagonist suspects of having an inappropriate love affair with a young female employee.  The suspicion is based on rather flimsy grounds, in my opinion. The worst part is that he never resolves whether or not there actually is an affair and that branch of the story line is never mentioned again in the rest of the series.  I would at least like to know definitively if my character is a scumbag or just a guy who is unusually friendly with his employees.  Sheesh!
 
That aside, the books are great fun for West Enders to read.  The first book is titled “Land of Dreams” and the second, available now, is called “Only the Dead.”  The third and final book of the series, titled “The Raven,” has been published in Norwegian for some time, but will be available in English this April.
 
I’m happy to report that Logan and Jolene Fischer have purchased the “Silver Bowl” bowling alley in Silver Bay. The Fischers are young entrepreneurs with deep roots in Silver Bay.  They’ve made a bunch of improvements already to the facility that was built, along with the rest of the town, in the late 1950s.
 
In addition to remodeling and equipment upgrades, they’re offering deep discounts on Tuesdays and Sundays in an effort to reacquaint people to this area landmark.
 
We took the Sawbill crew bowling this week and found the Fischers and their two young children to be friendly and competent hosts.  I urge everyone to support local business by stopping in to enjoy some great bowling, pizza, pop and beer. 
 
I don’t know if it was the new ownership, but I actually bowled a score that broke triple digits, a rare experience for me.