West End News

 
There is great news from the Section 7 High School Alpine ski meet that ran on Tuesday at Giant’s Ridge.  West Ender Will Lamb, who has deep roots in Schroeder, placed seventh overall in a field of 120 skiers.  This earns Will, a 15-year-old freshman, his second consecutive trip to the state meet at Giants Ridge on Feb. 12.  Last year, he went to state when the team placed highly enough to go as a group. 
 
This year, neither the boys’ nor girls’ team placed high enough to qualify for state.  However both teams are very young and did extremely well in a competitive field.  The girls were sixth out of 18 teams and the boys were fifth out of 20.
 
Seventh-grader Riley Wahlers, from Grand Marais, also qualified for state, finishing an incredible 11^th overall out of 114 of the region’s best skiers.
 
Coach Charles Lamb reports that he has many young skiers who are improving fast, which bodes well for the future.  There can be no doubt that the Junior Ski Team program sponsored by Lutsen Mountains Ski Area is working well to develop top-notch high school skiers.  It’s wonderful to have such a world class facility here in the West End and even better that they offer such generous support to local kids.
 
Speaking of local kids, I urge everyone to attend the community conversation get-together at the Birch Grove Community Center Wednesday, Feb. 19. This is a fun brainstorming session to identify the opportunities and challenges for the future of the whole West End community. Anyone with an interest, or ideas about the community center and how it can enhance our quality of life, should attend.
 
The event kicks off with a community meal at 5:45 p.m., followed by a structured discussion.  The goal is to identify and prioritize the three- to five-year goals of the Birch Grove Community Center.  RSVPs are encouraged.  Call 663-7977 or email [email protected].
 
As of Feb. 5, the Canadian Ice Service has declared that Lake Superior is officially frozen over.  This is a relatively rare phenomenon, happening only about once every 20 years on average.  The last official freeze over was in 1997, although 2003 came very close.
 
I well remember the ice-box year of 1982, when the big lake not only froze over, but developed a swath of smooth ice, safe for skating, from Two Harbors to Grand Marais. On the night of the February full moon that year, nearly every resident of the West End was out skating. It was a peak moment in West End history. Sadly, it doesn’t look like it will be smooth on such a large scale this year.
 
I am particularly happy to be able to report the West End News this week, because by all rights I should be either be in an intensive care ward or attending my own funeral. 
 
Last Wednesday, I fell off the peak of my roof, plunging 22 feet straight down on to rock-hard frozen ground. 
 
I was up there to clear a frozen sewer vent, which is something that a lot of West End residents have been doing lately.  To access my roof, I climb the latticed radio tower that is bolted to the high peak of my two-story home. At the peak, there is a steep eave about 18” wide that I have to step over to reach the much flatter main roof area.  When I committed my weight in that first step, the snow on the eve broke loose and avalanched down and off.  I wasn’t too worried because I still was holding the tower with both hands and my other foot.  Unfortunately, the physics of the avalanche took a large chunk of dense snow off the flat part of the roof with it, including my foot that was buried within it. The huge mass of the moving snow plucked my hands off the tower like you would pluck a mosquito off your arm.  Meanwhile, the foot that was still on the tower became momentarily wedged in the latticework and in the blink of an eye, I was spun around and launched into mid air 22 feet above the unforgiving earth.
 
I’m here to tell you that good old gravity accelerates a falling object frighteningly quickly.  It’s one thing to observe an object dropping from the heights – and quite another thing to be the object.
 
I’ve often wondered what would pass through my mind if I were facing sure death with only a few seconds to ponder my fate. Would my life flash before my eyes? Would I think of my children, spouse, family or beloved friends? Would I feel regret or fear? Well, now I know. I had one thought and one thought only as the ground rushed toward me. Calmly and without fear, I thought to myself, “This is really going to hurt.” – and it did.
 
As it turned out, I was incredibly lucky to land a perfect belly flop on absolutely flat ground that was covered by 25 inches of soft snow.  Thanks to the cold weather, I was wearing multiple layers of thick clothing. That combination saved my life. I had the wind thoroughly knocked out of me, but once I recovered from that, I had only a moderately sore shoulder and foot to show for my adventure.
 
The experience definitely did change my outlook on life. I was stupid, then lucky, and that’s a combo that you don’t get to repeat too many times in one life.  After the fall, you can be sure that I’ve thought often about my children, spouse, family and beloved friends. And I am so grateful to say…for WTIP, this Bill Hansen with the West End News.
 
 
 
 

 
Cook County Higher Education in Grand Marais has two offerings this week that may appeal to West End residents.
 
The first is called “Taking the High Road,” which is a six week study skills course that teaches you how to develop the proper mindset for studying. 
 
The instructor is Bob Pratt, a Cook County native who was the first in his family to go to college.  Bob, who is now retired and living in Grand Marais, holds a Phd and is one of the world’s leading authorities on adult and non-traditional learners.  Bob’s passion and mission in life is empowering people to improve their lives through education, so matter what their circumstances.  Not only is he a skilled and encouraging teacher, but he is one of the nicest and most pleasant people I know.
 
If you have any inclination toward returning to school, Bob’s class is for you.  It starts on Wednesday, February 5^th, from 4 until 5:30 pm and continues for six Wednesdays, ending on March 12^th.  There is a small charge for the course, but scholarships are available through Cook County Higher Education.
 
For more information, or to register, call Higher Ed at 387-3411.  You can find Higher Ed online by searching Higher Education, Cook County, Minnesota.  As always, you can contact WTIP at any time to get the contact information.
 
The other event being organized by Higher Ed, is the Emerging Leaders Group Coffee from 7:30 am until 9 am, at the North Shore Campus in Grand Marais on Tuesday, February 4^th.  This is an informal gathering for anyone who wants to make a positive impact on the future of Cook County.
 
This is intended to be an ongoing opportunity and will be directed by the participants.  The plan is to have time for networking, as well as discussing issues that are important to Cook County.  The first session will be lead by Tim and Beth Kennedy.  Tim is a participant in the Blandin Leadership Program.
 
It would be great if some of our emerging leaders in the West End could represent us.  The same goes for every part of the county, of course.  Again, it is 7:30 to 9 am at the North Shore Campus of Cook County Higher Education, 300 West 3^rd Street in Grand Marais.  It is free and everyone is welcome.
 
Also on February 4^th are the precinct caucuses for the major political parties in Minnesota.  The precinct caucus system is the ground floor of democracy, where regular people can influence the issues championed by each political party that will eventually influence what kind of society we choose to construct for ourselves.
 
The Independence Party conducts their caucuses online, so consult their website for how to participate.  The caucuses the Republican and Democratic-Farmer-Labor Parties are all held in Grand Marais.  This year the Republicans will caucus at the 4-H Building and the DFLers will gather at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. 
 
The caucus process is easy and fun.  All you have to do is show up at 7 pm on Tuesday, February 4^th.  Each precinct can endorse candidates, propose changes to the party platform and, if you would like, get yourself elected to party positions that can lead to the party’s statewide convention in June.
 
You can get full information on the caucus system in Minnesota by going to the website of the Minnesota Secretary of State.
 
The entire West End is reeling from the tragic and untimely passing of Mark Buckman.  Mark is a life-long West End resident with deep roots throughout the Cook County.  Mark’s quiet and steady demeanor earned him many friends, especially among his co-workers at the Lutsen Mountains Ski Area where he was loved and respected by all.  I join everyone in the community in extending condolences to Mark’s family and many, many friends.
 
Congratulations to the organizers, racers and fans of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.  For a while last year it looked like the Beargrease would disappear from the scene, but a dedicated group of volunteers rallied around the race and made it one to remember.  Hopefully, it will continue for many years to come.
 
And finally, don’t forget the crazy fun annual boot hockey tournament at Birch Grove Community Center, Friday, February 7^th starting at 5:30 pm.  Serious bragging rights are on the line and the competition will be semi-serious.
 
For WTIP, this is Bill Hansen with the West End News.

{photo courtesy of the Birch Grove Foundations}

 
The permanent Tofte Post Office job has finally been posted.  The postmaster in Tofte has been temporary since Priscilla Revier retired a number of years ago.  The job is now part time, consisting of a split shift which totals six and a half hours per day with a two-hour break around lunchtime.  The pay is $12.94 per hour with limited benefits including paid vacation days and access to health care after the first year of employment.
 
The Lutsen and Schroeder post offices also have positions open for postmaster relief and replacement clerks. This means being the substitute postmaster on Saturdays and whenever the postmaster is gone for vacation or sick days. The sub position pays $11.76 per hour.
 
Applications can only be made online.  Just go to usps.com and click on the “Careers” link at the bottom of the page.  From there you can just type Tofte, Lutsen or Schroeder into the search field and get the job description and application form.
 
It’s a shame that these jobs don’t pay a higher wage.  In Cook County, even a full-time job that pays less than $13 per hour without benefits is not a living wage.  It used to be that post office jobs were considered good paying jobs.  However, the modern reality is that many locals work several part-time jobs to make ends meet.  Hopefully, these jobs will fit into someone’s schedule and provide a good chunk of the income they need to prosper.
 
I’m a big fan of free enterprise and allowing market forces to work, but over the last 20 years, the inequality between very richest people and the rest of us has gotten out of hand. The richest 85 individuals in the world now have the same amount of money as do the 3.5 billion people in the lower earning half of the world’s population.  This is not the result of free markets, but the result of the very rich buying the political clout they need to ensure that they continue to pile up unimaginable wealth.  This is not a good way to organize the world, to put it mildly.
 
I was pleased to read that the beautiful visitor center at Tettegouche State Park is finally nearing completion. Construction began back in July 2012 and was supposed to be completed last fall.  Apparently, bad weather and some other complications delayed the construction, but the 11,000-square-foot building is expected to open sometime in March.
 
By all accounts it will be a beautiful and welcoming facility with the latest energy-saving and green construction features.  The park management is excited about having many more interpretive displays and opportunities for visitors to enhance their visit to the magnificent Tettegouche State Park.
 
I won’t lie, though. I’m most looking forward to having the bathroom facilities available again.  Tettegouche seems to be in a very strategic location between Duluth and Cook County for bathroom convenience – at least for this coffee drinker.
 
The Birch Grove Foundation and the Town of Tofte are holding a community conversation concerning the future of the Birch Grove Community Center on Wednesday, Feb. 19.  As with most Birch Grove events, it will begin with wood fired pizza from 5:15 until 6 p.m and then structured conversation from 6:15 until 8 p.m.  The goal is to get input from all West End residents on how the Community Center should prioritize their goals and objectives.  They ask that you RSVP if you plan to attend by emailing [email protected] or calling 663-7977.
 
I highly recommend that everyone attend this important meeting to help make Birch Grove all that it can be for the West End.
 
Last week, I mentioned my memories of cold Januarys in the past.  The latest cold snap led me to page through my dad’s old weather diaries, and I found that in January of 1982 every single night was below zero.  Thirteen nights were 30 below or colder. Five nights were minus 40 or colder.  On the night of Jan. 10, 1982, the low temperature was 44 below, 2 inches of snow fell and the peak wind gust was 48 mph.  My dad made a note next to that entry commenting that the wind chill was minus 120 degrees.  Jan. 16, 1982, the high for the day was minus 30 and the low was 53 degrees below zero.  Mercifully, the winds were recorded as calm.
 
I don’t want to sound callous, but our recent weather is just a normal chilly January in the West End.
 
For WTIP, this is Bill Hansen with the West End News.
 

The 30^th running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is coming up January 24^th through January 30^th.  Tofte is a great place to be a spectator for this unique race that celebrates the history and culture of the North Shore.
 
The racers participating in the full 384 mile marathon race are required to rest of at least four hours at the Sawbill checkpoint, which is located on the Sawbill Trail six miles north of downtown Tofte.  The first teams should arrive there on Monday, January 27^th at around 7 am. There should be teams at the checkpoint until about 2 that afternoon.
 
The Sawbill checkpoint has a fabulous atmosphere.  It’s right on the Temperance River and is doesn’t have any buildings, electricity or even cell service, so it’s a true wilderness experience.  It’s entirely possible to visit directly with the racers and their support teams around the bonfire there. 
 
Many years ago, when my daughter Clare was about five years old, she shyly approached the late Iditarod legend, Susan Butcher, at the checkpoint.  Susan was kind enough to really engage with Clare. She took her by the hand and introduced her to the dogs, one by one, telling Clare about each dog’s personality and racing history.  It was a highlight of Clare’s young life and we still have the picture posted that she drew when she got home that day, with each dog’s name laboriously labeled in her childish printing.
 
 The 112 mile mid-distance race has its exciting finish right in Tofte.  The winner should break the tape at about 8:30 on Monday morning, January 27^th.  The last place finisher should cross the line around 1:30 that afternoon.
 
The awards banquet for the mid-distance race is being held at the Birch Grove Community Center, Monday evening starting at 6 pm and the community is welcome to attend.
 
Our wonderful local internet service, Boreal Access, has recently added a very fun feature to their website that allows West Enders to get real time information on the ships that are passing on Lake Superior.  The website displays a map, with the passing vessels showing up in their current location.  If you click on the ship icon, it brings up its name, a detailed description, photos, current speed, destination, with estimated time of arrival, what cargo it carries and where it came from most recently.  There are several other features, for the truly shipping obsessed.
 
It’s fun to track the ships as they pass, but in light of the recent reporting by WTIP’s Program Director Kelly Shoenfelder concerning human trafficking on great lakes vessels, I’ve started looking at the ships with a different eye.  I sincerely hope that her excellent reporting, along with the efforts by police and victim advocates, will lead to the permanent end of this sordid practice.
 
Speaking of Lake Superior, the water level in the big lake is back to nearly its average height, thanks to a relatively wet year.  According to the Lake Superior Board of Control, the lake level declined less this year than it normally does in the month of December.  It is now just one inch lower than the long-term average for the beginning of January and a full foot higher than it was at this time last year.  The lake level will continue to drop until spring runoff, which is normal. 
 
As predicted, snowmobile, cross-country ski, downhill ski and snowshoe trails are all in perfect trim at the moment, so now is the time to enjoy outdoor fun in the beautiful West End.
 
For WTIP, this is Bill Hansen with the West End News.

{photo courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard}
 
 

West End News 1/9/2014
 
Longtime Schroeder and Tofte resident, Dave Carlson, moved to Silver Bay a few years ago to take advantage of senior housing there.  Dave is the father of Diane Norman and the grandfather of Tyler Norman, who both live in Tofte.
 
Before he moved, Dave was the most dedicated user of the Sugarbush cross-country ski trails in Tofte.  For decades, Dave would grind out 15 to 20 kilometers a day, no matter what the weather or trail conditions were.  He was never much for speed, but he made up for it with endurance and tenacity.
 
Over the recent holiday season, Dave stayed a few days with the Normans in Tofte and used that opportunity to return to his old ski trail haunts at Sugarbush.  While on the trail, Dave, who is in his 80s, ran into Charlie Nelson of Lutsen.  Charlie is the other West-ender with the most Sugarbush miles under his belt.  I honestly can’t say which man has skied the farthest, but it sure was fun that they are still out there logging the miles together.
 
The ski trails haven’t been getting much use for the last week, due to the slightly chillier than normal weather. That should change now that warmer temperatures have returned. Certainly, there is enough snow for all the trails and downhill slopes to be in perfect condition.
 
Speaking of the cold snap, I looked back at my weather records and in the last 30 days all but two nights have been below zero.  One of those warm nights was 2 degrees and the other was a sweltering 12 degrees.  The coldest night was 31 below, with four nights at 30 below or colder.  Last year, the same 30 days only had seven nights below zero and the coldest of those nights was a wimpy 14 below.
 
That said, I have personally witnessed 58 below zero here at Sawbill, on the night when the state record was set at 62 below in Tower.  I also have childhood memories of two occasions when our propane stopped flowing over the Christmas holidays, which I believe happens at around 45 below.  Of course, I also used to walk to school uphill both ways through 6-foot snowdrifts back in those days.
 
As usual, there is a lot going on at the Birch Grove Community Center in Tofte:
 
The “Second Sunday Fun Day” series continues to provide some indoor winter recreation for West End families.  It starts at 3:30 p.m. every second Sunday with activities, games, Zumba and open gym.  In January, there will also be a hands-on activity called ‘planning through play” sponsored by Cook County Moving Matters, starting at 4:30 p.m. The first 25 participants in this fun planning process will get free pizza from the outdoor pizza oven. At 6:30 on the same evening the Birch Grove greenhouse committee will meet with Jake Davis, who is a recent horticulture graduate, and Diane Booth from the County Extension Service.  Everyone is welcome to attend the greenhouse meeting too.
 
On Jan. 27, the community is invited to the mid-distance Beargrease sled-dog race banquet. You can meet the mushers and their dogs.  There is a charge for the banquet, but the menu includes the famous Cross River Café chili, along with other delicious dishes. 
 
As always, you can get more information about all Birch Grove activities by emailing [email protected] or calling 663-7977. Otherwise, feel free to contact WTIP for complete contact information.
 
On a recent cold early morning trip down the Sawbill Trail, I observed a weather phenomenon that I’ve never seen before. Although the sky was clear, it seems that tiny ice crystals were condensing directly out of the air.  As the sun broke over the Sawtooth Mountains, it created a full rainbow, completely contained in the valley in front of the hills.  Not only was it incredibly beautiful, but I can’t remember ever seeing a rainbow in January.
 
It’s just another perk of living in the beautiful West End.
 
For WTIP, this is Bill Hansen with the West End News.
 

{photo by Bill Hansen}

 
I was sorry to hear that the Birch Grove skating rink has not opened yet, in spite of this being one of the earliest and coldest winters in decades. At least one skating party has been cancelled already. It also would have been good to have the rink ready for the many visitors that were here over the holidays. Skating is also a good sub-zero outdoor activity, because you can skate until the frost starts to nip and then step into the warming house for a quick toe thaw.
 
Last year, the fire department was complaining that water was running out of the rink, rather than freezing in place. Apparently, similar problems are being encountered this year.  The solution, although counterintuitive, may be to apply less water to the rink.
 
When I was in high school, I lived only a block away from my school. The school had an outdoor skating rink that was used for phy ed classes and by the B-squad hockey team, of which I was a member.  My coach was Jerry Peterson, an Iron Range native who became a pretty famous prep-school hockey coach in later years.  Coach Peterson recruited me to flood the rink, because I lived conveniently close by.
 
Coach was a precise and exacting leader. He was also much more interested in my rink flooding abilities than in my hockey skills. I vividly remember him admonishing me not to put too much water down in any single flooding session. He had me set the hose to a wide spray and just cover the ground, not even attempting to have the water pool up anywhere. He taught me that you get much better ice by frequent light flooding than a few heavier floods.
 
Of course, being a teenager, I ignored his advice and tried to add more water to speed up the process.  When Coach made his inspection the next day, I learned two things: It’s better to use less water with more frequent applications; and it’s a really bad idea to second guess Coach Peterson’s instructions.
 
You may have noticed some news stories this week about the U. S. Forest Service plan to restore the forest along the North Shore. The effort is just one part of a more ambitious restoration plan known as the North Shore Forest Collaborative, which includes private landowners, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, county and tribal forestry agencies.
 
The most obvious and visible problem with the forest along the shore is all the dead and dying birch trees.  No one knows for sure, but the birches are thought to be dying from a combination of age, drought stress, disease, climate change and pollution. The birches are only a part of what some ecologists call “the accidental forest,” meaning that the forest we have today is the result of historic large scale logging, fires, invasive species, and all the change agents already mentioned.
 
The ambitious goal of the collaborative is to bring the forest back to some approximation of what it would have been today without all the human disruption.  This is, of course, an impossible task, but in my opinion an important step toward protecting the ecosystem for the long-term benefit of all.  Although commercial interests are important, it is a good thing that foresters are beginning to plan for long-term sustainability.
 
The recent cold snaps have made me grateful for my trusty Sorel pac boots. I’m just old enough to remember the days before pac boots were available. I was reminded of those days recently when I went for a run in the sub-zero temperatures and thoroughly frostbit my big toe. The agony of the thawing brought me right back to childhood when my feet froze almost every time I played outside in the winter.
 
I clearly remember the day that I was complaining about frozen feet to our neighbors, Ken and Vi Osman. The Osmans were Cook County residents for many years, living on Brule Lake during the summer and going south to Sawbill Lake in the winter.  That morning in the early 1960s, Vi offered me a trial loan of her brand new Sorel pac boots with felt linings.  My life changed forever in that moment.
 
For WTIP, this is Bill Hansen with the West End News.

This is not the West End News from Cook County this week, but the West End News from the western United States, where I am visiting family for the holidays.  George Burns said, “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.”  I agree with George, but probably for different reasons.
 
It is a genuine culture shock to travel directly from the end of the Sawbill Trail to San Francisco, California.  It is truly a case of a woods bunny lost and adrift on the mean streets of one of the world’s great cities.  It is fun though, to draw some comparisons between San Francisco and good old Cook County.
 
There are many more young people per capita in San Francisco than in Cook County.  Hosting the headquarters of Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and thousands of other tech companies, combined with ridiculous housing prices, has made San Francisco the Mecca of well paid, smart, young people from all over the world.
 
Even the casual conversations overheard in public ranged from improving driverless cars, new ways of distributing music, how recent legal precedents are affecting the marketplace, to what will be the next big thing and who will get rich inventing it.  It is exciting, intimidating and a little frightening, all at the same time.  It is a given that if you have an amazing idea, you can apply the appropriate brainpower and change the world.  Big things are coming - the only question is, what are they and who will get rich inventing them?
 
San Francisco has fully embraced smart phone culture.  Almost every routine, daily activity involves the help of a smart phone.  It has changed the rhythm of life by making planning and organizing quick and easy. 
 
Two parts of the smart phone culture were very handy to this Cook County visitor on the big city.
 
The first was the mapping app that also provides exact directions to any destinations.  You can even ask it to tailor the directions for walking and public transportation.  This relieves the old anxiety of feeling lost half the time in the heart of the urban jungle.  Now, a pleasant voice gently and reassuringly guides you to your destination.  As a side benefit, you can instantly locate food, drink, public bathrooms and look up answers to any questions that may occur to you.
 
Another big difference of the San Francisco smart phone culture is that it is now considered bad manners to use your phone while in a social situation.  When people gather face-to-face, the phones are put away with their ringers silenced.  The only time a phone is taken out is to do something that serves the group – looking up disputed facts, making reservations, getting directions and so on. 
 
If you do take a call or text in a social setting, you are expected to apologize, explain why the call is necessary and leave the group to complete the conversation.  I’m told that this is a relatively new social convention and we can only hope that it spreads to the rest of the country quickly.
 
Another amazing development that began in San Francisco is the way that taxis and ridesharing work. 
 
Uber is smart phone app that allows you to just push a button on your phone when you want a taxi.  It automatically summons the nearest taxi, tells you where it is relative to you, how soon it will arrive, the driver’s name and his or her average rating from all previous clients.  The taxi pulls up, usually in a couple of minutes, and the driver greets you by name.  You climb in and tell the driver where you want to go.  You can watch your progress on your phone and it tells you when you will arrive based on your average speed.  When you get there, you just get out and walk away.  The app takes care of paying the fare including the tip.  Both the driver and customer provide ratings.  If the driver has a bad rating, he will soon be out of business.  If a rider gets a bad rating, he will soon find it difficult to summon a taxi.
 
Lyft is a similar service that does the same thing using private cars and drivers rather than licensed taxis.
 
Not only is this system incredibly efficient, easy and cost effective, it also develops a sense of trust and community, even in the heart of world class metropolis.
 
On the less positive side, San Francisco has many, many more homeless people than Cook County.  It seems that almost every block you see a person with their life’s possessions in a shopping cart.  Many are obviously mentally ill.
 
In the parks, which are beautiful, there are what appear to be semi-permanent encampments of people who sleep out in sleeping bags with scraps of plastic keeping off the rain.
 
It’s not clear to me if the relative lack of homeless people in Cook County is a function of our brutal winter weather or enlightened social policies.  It was shocking to see busy, purposeful, well dressed people passing the homeless routinely without a glance in their direction.  Even with California’s warm climate, it seems that as a society we could provide opportunities for people with mental illness to live a more dignified and comfortable life.
 
It is easy to feel dazzled and envious of the fast paced life in San Francisco, but our clean air, abundant wildlife, pristine watersheds and small town friendliness would surely dazzle an urban visitor to our lovely corner of the world.
 
In other words, there is no place like home.
 
For WTIP, this is Bill Hansen with the West End News.

In the middle of this busy holiday season, it’s a good idea to stop a moment and think about the many hard working people who are struggling to make ends meet in this difficult economy.
 
In northeastern Minnesota, there are many food shelves and non-profit groups that provide healthy, nutritious food to families. The Silver Bay Area Food Shelf is located at 99 Edison Boulevard #26, and is open form 8 am to 4 pm every weekday, except on holidays.  In Cook County, the Grand Marais Food Shelf is located in the lower level of the
First Congregational Church, located at 2nd Street and 3rd Avenue West.  It’s open on Mondays, 3 - 5pm and the first Wednesday of each month from 5 – 7 pm.
 
Both of the local food shelves are affiliated with the Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank in Duluth.  Second Harvest rescues food - that would otherwise go to waste - then redistributes it to hungry people.  They are responsible for providing more than 4 million meals a year in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.
 
In our region, 15% of the population lives in poverty. 12% of our population is “food insecure” or at risk for going hungry.  16% of our children are food insecure.  30% of those receiving food from a food shelf are children. Since the great recession of 2008, food shelf use has increased by 70%.  The number of seniors using a food shelf has quadrupled since 2008. 
 
Although, all the traditional indicators say economic recovery is well under way, food shelf use is not declining.  I doubt that this is news to most Americans, who have seen their wages stagnate or decline over the last ten years, as the recovery’s benefits have gone almost exclusively to the very wealthy.
 
Both local food shelves accept donations of food and cash.  Second Harvest also accepts cash donations.  $1 donated to Second Harvest buys $5 worth of food.  Such is the power of volunteers and careful program management. You can find the contact info for the food shelves or Second Harvest online or in the phone book.  As always, you can contact WTIP for full information.
 
We’ve certainly had our share of natural disasters in the last 20 years, including windstorms, forest fires and floods.  There is no doubt that we will face similar challenges in the future.  When a large-scale disaster strikes, police, fire fighters and rescues squads quickly become overwhelmed.  Typically, the first response to a disaster comes from neighbors helping each other.
 
Community Emergency Response Team training, known as CERT training, is designed to prepare regular community members to react effectively in a crisis.  CERT training is not fire fighter or first aid training.  It includes topics like disaster preparedness, disaster psychology, basic fire suppression, hazardous materials safety, simple search and rescue, and basic medical triage.
 
CERT training will be offered in both Silver Bay and Grand Marais this January. The classes start on January 11^th and include six sessions ending early in February.  If you are interested, call BJ Kohlstedt at 218-226-4444.  Or contact WTIP to get full contact information.
 
For the first time in many years, there is more snow on the North Shore than there is back here in the woods.  Although we “only” have about 20 inches of snow on the ground here at Sawbill, it is plenty to put us in the holiday spirit.  The trees are heavily loaded with snow and the creeks are just narrow meanderings of dark water through great pillows of fluffy snow.  This makes a hike or ski in the woods a magical experience.
 
For WTIP, this is Bill Hansen, wishing you Happy Holidays from the West End News.

 
Birch Grove Community School in Tofte wants you to know that they have beautiful Wolf Ridge Calendars available just in time for the Christmas gift season.  The calendars are available at the annual Birch Grove Holiday Book Sale that is open during the school day from now through Dec.17.  Proceeds from the calendar sales go to support the biannual trip for Birch Grove students to the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland.
 
Speaking of Wolf Ridge, I notice that they are looking for a new finance director.  The position is a full-time professional job with salary and benefits.  They are looking for someone with an accounting degree and three years of experience running a similar sized organization, preferably a non-profit.  Wolf Ridge has a roughly $3 million annual budget and employs 23 full-time and 13 part-time employees, as well as about 40 seasonal staff.  If you are interested, just search the web for Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center and click on the “Jobs” link at the bottom of the home page.  You can always call WTIP for complete contact information.
 
In the local jobs department, it seems like the permanent postmaster position at the Tofte Post Office will not be offered until next summer.  We’ve had a series of friendly and competent temporary postmasters since Priscilla Revere retired a number of years ago.  The U. S. Postal Service has been conducting a national review of their rural offices, which apparently held up the appointment at Tofte.  As a result of the review, the hours have been reduced at Tofte to six and a half hours per day, but it also cleared the way to hire a permanent postmaster.  The ways of the Post Office can seem a little mysterious sometimes, but the latest word is no job posting until summer.
 
The Cook County Visitor’s Bureau is offering customer service training Dec. 18 and 19.  Linda Kratt, the new executive director of the Visitor’s Bureau, will teach the training. 
 
Linda is a Cook County native with extensive customer service experience.  Most recently, she was director of member retention for the Duluth Chamber of Commerce. She also owns a restaurant and bar in the Duluth area. 
 
Maggie Barnard, who is the events manager at the Visitor’s Bureau, will show off the new VisitCookCounty.com website and run through a tour of the many upcoming winter events. 
 
The training runs from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18 at the Cook County Higher Education Campus in Grand Marais, and from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 19 in the Nelson Suite at Lutsen Resort in Lutsen.  Make your reservations with Anna at the Visitor’s Bureau by calling 387-2788 or by emailing [email protected].
 
It was big news this week when the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed NorthMet Mine near Babbitt was released for public comment.  The public has 90 days to submit comments on the document, which is over 2,000 pages long.
 
The NorthMet mine is a project of the PolyMet Mining Company and proposes to mine copper, nickel and other precious metals.  This type of mining is new to Minnesota and is much riskier than the iron mining that we are used to.  The risk of disastrous and long-term pollution is very high in this type of mining. 
 
In my opinion, the new mining, as proposed by PolyMet, is a bad deal for Minnesotans.  Even if you set aside the almost certain environmental destruction and the need to treat the mine’s wastewater for 500 year or more, this is still just a bad deal on its face value.  These rich mineral deposits are owned by us - the people of Minnesota.  The current mining proposals allow very wealthy foreign investors to get the lion’s share of profit from selling our minerals to China.  I don’t think we should sell our treasure so cheaply.
 
It’s easy to be tempted by the offer of jobs, but we really have to ask ourselves if we are doing this in the smartest way possible.  You can find the Draft EIS on the Minnesota DNR website.  You can find PolyMet’s company website with the obvious web search.  Arguments opposed to the mining can be found at MiningTruth.org.
 
I urge everyone to educate themselves on this important subject and submit your comments to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  This complicated issue has the potential to profoundly change our community and way of life - forever. 
 
Everyone on the West End is very sad to receive the news that Carol Gervais has died.  Carol was born in Hovland, but moved to Tofte when she married her high school sweetheart, Ron Gervais.
 
Carol was a fixture in the West End, raising three sons, working at several area businesses and watching more curling matches than anyone else in the world.  She was an expert curler herself, with a mixed national championship to her credit. 
 
Her friends and family will sorely miss her constant presence and dry sense of humor here in the West End.
 
For WTIP, this is Bill Hansen with the West End News.
 

The new Cook County Community YMCA in Grand Marais will open next month, with many programs and opportunities for all county residents.  Of course, the distance from the West End communities to the new Y makes is a little less attractive for us, but nonetheless, it is there and we should all use it as much as is practical.
 
One of the Y’s programs may be helpful for the home schooling families in the West End.  Apparently, YMCAs across the country have a niche offering physical education programs to home-schooled children.  Emily Marshall, the director of the Cook County Y, would like to offer that service here.
 
Emily is asking for input from home schoolers, so the program can be designed to best fit their needs. You can find Emily’s contact information by searching for the Cook County YMCA on the web, or contact WTIP for full information.
 
Back when my daughter Ruthie was home schooling here at Sawbill, we tried to schedule several town activities on the same day each week to cut down on the driving.  She volunteered at Birch Grove School as a teacher’s aide, which we tried to combine with dance and piano lessons.  These opportunities not only gave her valuable education, it also provided important social contact.
 
The Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center in Schroeder is once again offering a Master Naturalist class this winter.  I can’t imagine a better place to become a skilled naturalist than on the shores of Lake Superior at Sugarloaf.
 
The course will give you deep knowledge of the natural systems of Lake Superior, the North Shore and the inland forest.  The timing of the course includes the fascinating northland transition from winter to spring.  Classes are scheduled for all day on alternating Saturdays beginning Feb. 22 through May 10.
 
There is a charge for the course, but scholarships are available. Class size is limited and does tend to sell out, so if you’re interested contact Molly at 218-525-0001 or through the www.sugarloafnorthshore.org.
 
Speaking of Sugarloaf, the West End community was saddened by the death of Don Ingram last week.  Don was a prominent and well-respected member of the West End community when he managed the pulpwood rafting operation at Sugarloaf Cove for the Consolidated Paper Company.   He moved back to Cook County after retiring from Consolidated, although he spent his winters in Arizona.  I’m sure the entire West End joins me in offering condolences to Don’s family and many friends for their loss.
 
I noticed an article in the Ely Timberjay newspaper this week about a proposal to convert an old community center there into a fresh food production center.  Although the article didn’t mention it, I’m sure they are inspired by the successful Victus Farm project in Silver Bay.
 
This got me to thinking about how a similar project would make sense here in the West End.  With the number of restaurants around here, locally grown food and fish would find a large and steady market.  In fact, several local entrepreneurs have already started down this path.  I’m wondering if the old Moffat Industrial building in Lutsen could be converted to a closed loop food production facility?  I know that it is a large and solidly built building that has been underutilized ever since Moffat Products moved away.  It’s food for thought – pun intended.
 
The huge and wonderful West End winter recreation trail system is now up and running, thanks to the timely snowstorm.  If you aren’t already a regular trail user, I highly recommend that you try out the local snowmobile and cross-country ski trails.  They really are among the best in the world and a great resource to have here in our backyards.
 
For WTIP, this is Bill Hansen with the West End News.

{photo of the former Sugarloaf pulpwood rafting operation in Schoreder, courtesy of the North Shore Stewardship Association}