See our right-hand column for announcements and news briefs. Scroll down the right-hand column to access the Archives -- links to articles posted in the main column since 2007. See details about our site, including a way to comment, in the yellow text above the Archives.

Friday, January 15, 2010

NOSOTROS to hold fund-raising dinner, donation drive at Michigan Tech for aid to Haiti

HOUGHTON -- To help victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, NOSOTROS, Michigan Tech's Latin American students' organization, will hold a fund-raising pasta dinner from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. tonight, Friday, Jan. 15, at the Canterbury House (yellow house across from the Michigan Tech Administration Building).

A suggested $5 contribution/donation will be collected per plate of food (to go or to eat there).

NOSOTROS is also organizing another fund raiser on campus starting Friday, Jan. 15, and continuing until Wednesday, Jan. 20, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Memorial Union Building. Online donations can also be made at the Wells Fargo account named "NOSOTROS Haitian Earthquake Victims Fund," Account number: 7706479081. Make sure that you key in "NOSOTROS" as the first name and leave the last-name part blank.

All donations will be forwarded to the Red Cross.

Editor's Note: You can also click on the logo at the top of our right-hand column to learn other ways you can help the earthquake victims in Haiti.

Michigan Tech to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., Jan. 18-23

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Tech is honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., with a week of observances beginning on Monday, Jan. 18.

Nicole White, 2009 treasurer of Michigan Tech's Black Student Association (BSA), recites Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech in front of the Memorial Union Building, opening last year's week of activities in honor of King's birthday. Again this year, Michigan Tech will sponsor a week of activities honoring King, beginning with the famous speech at noon on Monday, Jan. 18, 2010. (Keweenaw Now file photo © 2009 Joshua Jensen, Michigan Tech civil engineering student)

At noon on Monday, mechanical engineering undergraduate Gregory D. Hardy will deliver King’s famous "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Memorial Union. His address will be followed by a candlelight vigil and march to the Rozsa Center, where a reception will be held at 1 p.m.

Everyone is invited. Students from L’Anse High School and Asian students from Finlandia University will also be participating in the activities.

At 7 p.m. on Monday, Michigan Tech's Black Student Association is hosting a viewing of CNN’s "Black in America, Part 2" in Walker 134.

A blood drive will be held
at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at the Van Pelt and Opie Library. This Martin Luther King, Jr., Service Project is being organized by Student Activities, Health Options for a Wellness Lifestyle (HOWL) and the Black Student Association.

Buy your ticket for Saturday's MLK Banquet by Wednesday, Jan. 20. See below.*

A DiversiTEA, "Class and Privilege Among Students," will be held
at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Memorial Union Alumni Lounge A. William Kennedy, director of the Center for Teaching, Learning and Faculty Development, will be the guest speaker.

The student chapters of the National Society of Black Engineers and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers will give a talk
at noon on Thursday, Jan. 21, in the Memorial Union Peninsula Room: "The Lives of Dr. Martin Luther King and Cesar Estrada Chavez." They will discuss parallels between the lives and work of the great civil rights and labor leaders.

At 6 p.m. Thursday, Chet DeFonso, a faculty member from Northern Michigan University, will present "Civil Rights, Then and Now," in Fisher 325. DeFonso’s visit is sponsored by Keweenaw Pride.

On Saturday, Student Activities is inviting volunteers to bake bread for the elderly from 9 a.m. to noon in the Wadsworth Hall dining area. For more information, email communityservice@mtu.edu .

*The week concludes with the annual MLK Banquet, set for
6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, in the Memorial Union Ballroom. The guest speaker is Joe Rogers, former lieutenant governor of Colorado and founder of The Dream Alive Program. Rogers, who came to Tech for the 2005 MLK banquet, is an inspirational speaker who focuses on the heritage of King and other leaders of the civil rights movement. Tickets are $20 and are available from Multicultural Affairs through Wednesday, Jan. 20, by calling 487-2920.

For more information, contact Kevin J. Walker, interim coordinator of African-American student support, at kjwalker@mtu.edu.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Finnish family movie to be shown Jan. 14

HANCOCK -- As part of its Nordic Film Series, the Finlandia University Finnish American Heritage Center will show the Finnish film Myrsky on Thursday, Jan. 14, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Released in 2008, Myrsky is a family movie that tells a tale of unconditional friendship. It is directed by Kaisa Rastimo.

During autumn 1989 in East Berlin, the father of a Finnish family visiting the crumbling Berlin Wall rescues a puppy, which he names Stormheart, taking the dog back to Finland as a pet for his daughters. Seven-year-old Pearl takes the puppy under her wing; and, in the care of the tender-hearted family and trained only by little Pearl, Stormheart grows up with no rules or boundaries.

In six months, the dog has grown to the size of a bear, instinctively taking on the task of removing all dangers and obstacles in Pearl’s path. Pearl, in return, loves Stormheart unconditionally. Eventually the father learns that Stormheart is a Caucasian Shepherd dog, an often feared ancient Russian breed known for their fearlessness in protecting shepherds against thieves, wild dogs, wolves and even bears.

There is no charge to attend the film, but donations are accepted. For additional information, call 906-487-7549. The Finnish American Heritage Center is located at 435 Quincy St., Hancock.

Portage Library to offer programs for all ages

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library continues to offer programs for all ages.

At 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14, Lynn Watson, who is an Advanced Master Gardener and the head gardener at Michigan Technological University, will offer a continuation of her Houseplant Happiness series. Watson will have a variety of
houseplants to demonstrate and will explain dormancy, repotting, lighting, location, watering requirements and design. She will also explain why plants get sick and show what can be done to make them feel better. There will be hand-outs, and all plant enthusiasts are invited.

Kids! Can you do the Penguin Egg Walk? Find out at the very special Playful Penguin Storytime presented by singer/songwriter Ariel Lake at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16. Lake wrote and illustrated a story especially for this event. She will also perform on her guitar a song that she wrote for penguin lovers everywhere. Lake will share fascinating facts about penguins and lead the kids through special penguin games. The award winning film Happy Feet will also be shown. Kids are invited to bring their lunch, and popcorn will be served.

The library is the site of the 4-H Entrepreneurial Fun! program that will be offered in a series of four workshops for youth ages 12 - 19. Students will learn what it is like to turn an idea into a small business. Field work will include investigating local
businesses to learn how they started, and then students will set up a small business of their own. Workshops at the library will be held on Mondays -- Jan. 18 and 25 and Feb. 1 and 8 -- from 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. To register, call Carol Kreher at the 4-H office at 482-5830.

Area youth are invited to join the YA Book Club that meets at the library on the first Monday of each month from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. to discuss the book-of-the-month they have read. Students are currently reading the Newberry Honor Award book The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner, and will meet on Feb. 1 to discuss it. Students may purchase books for the Club through the library at a discount. Facilitators for this program are Lois Berg and Christine Heppermann, who both hold MFA degrees in writing for children and young adults from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn.

Everyone is invited to attend these events, and library presentations are free. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Copper Island Ski Club to meet Jan. 12 at Swedetown Chalet

CALUMET -- The regular monthly meeting of the Copper Island Cross Country Ski Club will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the Swedetown Chalet in Calumet. All are welcome.

Ski for Heart to raise funds for Omega House, ski club Feb. 13 at Swedetown Trails

CALUMET -- Plans are underway for the annual Ski for the Heart of our Community event to be held between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13, at Swedetown Trails in Calumet. This fundraiser for people of all athletic abilities helps Omega House and the Copper Island Ski Club.

The Ski For the Heart of Our Community planning committee is pictured here, from left, front row: Tammy LaBelle, Colleen Rowe and Sandy Lewin; from left, back row: Barbara Flanagin, Mark Jindrich and Lois Berg. (Photo courtesy Lois Berg)

Omega House is a hospice home offering compassionate care for people who are terminally ill and lack the support and resources to live out their final days on their own. All in need are welcomed at Omega House, regardless of ability to pay. Trained staff and hospice volunteers provide loving care to residents and their families.

Copper Island Ski Club operates Swedetown Recreational Area, owned by Calumet Township. Summer recreation includes hiking and biking trails. Winter recreation includes 30k of cross-country ski trails groomed for skate and classic skiing (8k are lit for night skiing), 5k back country and 8k snowshoe trails, as well as hills for sledding and snowboarding. New this winter will be dog trails! The Chalet offers a warming room and a food concession.

Last year 144 participants skied or snowshoed and raised $9,587. This is a great event for those who want to support two noteworthy local causes and enjoy the outdoors in good company. Athletes can join a team or participate as an individual. Refreshments, a daily trail pass and a chance at door prizes and are included in the minimum $10 donation. A $25 donation includes free ski rental for the day from Cross Country Sports, Calumet; and a $50 donation includes all of the above plus a Ski For Heart gift.

Ski or snowshoe for any part or all of the five hours! Collect donations in advance from friends, family, neighbors and community members. Pledge envelopes are available at the following:
  • Aspirus Keweenaw Home Health and Hospice, Calumet
  • Swedetown Chalet, Calumet
  • Omega House, Houghton
Donate to Omega House or Copper Island Cross Country Ski Club or both. All donations are tax-deductible.

Earn points: 1 point for each kilometer skied; 3 points for each kilometer snowshoed: 2 points for every dollar raised! The team with the most total points will be awarded a plaque to be displayed at their worksite for the year with the team name engraved on it. Individual prizes will also be awarded.

If you cannot be present on the day of the event, you may choose one day during the week of Feb. 7-12 to ski or snowshoe at the Swedetown trails. You may ski for up to five consecutive hours on a single day during this week. Record the date, time and distance on the collection envelope and turn your information in to any of the locations listed above.

Questions? Call Colleen at 337-5700 or Sandy at 482-4438 or, for more information, call Swedetown Trails 906-337-1170 or the Omega House at 906-482-4438.