Boreal Access

This year’s annual Mush for a Cure Sled Dog Fundraiser, March 12-13, raised more than $30,000.  Of that amount, organizers say that a minimum of $28,000 will go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  Warm weather and melting snow prevented any dog mushing, but the fundraising and festivities went on as planned.  

Event organizer Mary Black said, “We were a little conservative in our goal for this year with the state of the economy, but our mushers came through once again.”  Coming through in a big way was thirteen year old Jessica Berg-Collman of Grand Marais, MN, who raised $10,000 in pledges in honor of her friend and log-rolling mentor, Jenny Atkinson.  Atkinson, 36, was diagnosed with breast cancer in December and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

During “The Bald, The Brave and The Beautiful” competition, during Friday night’s kick-off party at Trail Center, Sheriff Mark Falk, Deputy Leif Lunde, Gunflint Trail Fire Chief Mike Prom, and Assistant Fire Chief Bob Baker all went head to head, with their hair on the line.  In the end, all four men had their heads shaved, raising nearly $5,000 in the process.
 
The money hasn’t even been deposited for this year’s event yet organizers are already planning for the 5th Annual Mush for a Cure, March 11th & 12th, 2011.

Learn more about Mush for a Cure. 

Check out this video about "The Bald, The Brave, and The Beautiful"  competition:
 

The Gunflint Trail Historical Society announced the hiring of a site manager for the Chik-Wauk Museum, scheduled to open July 4.

“The search committee has completed their process and has extended a contract which has been accepted by Ada Igoe, a Grand Marais resident currently living on the Gunflint Trail,” said Gunflint Trail Historical Society Vice President Fred Smith.

The stated purpose of the museum is to tell the story of the people of the Gunflint Trail. The grounds surrounding the museum will contain interpretive trails, wildflower displays and bird watching opportunities. Chik-Wauk means “Jack of the Pines” in Ojibwe.
 

We can’t feel it, but trees give off energy that melts the snow from their bases, creating tree wells. Early spring is also time for wolf mating. WTIP's Jay Andersen talks with local phenologist Chel Anderson about tree wells and courting wolves.

 At the November 2009 school board meeting, the Cook County Tennis Association presented a proposal to provide coaching, scheduling, and whatever a school tennis program would need. Mark Summers of the tennis association said the school would merely provide Minnesota State High School League sanction.  Cook County would be in a Class A division, competing with schools on the Iron Range and in the Duluth/Superior area. 

A girls’ team would compete in the fall and a boys’ team in the spring.  Five girls and seven boys are currently participating in U.S. Tennis Association competitions.  Some girls would need to join the sport to reach the seven-member-team requirement, but CCTA member Tim Scannell said he believes they could generate enough interest to get a girls’ team going. 

School staff members at the meeting asked whether girls’ tennis would compete with volleyball or cross-country.  We shouldn’t worry about that, school board member Leonard Sobanja answered.

The board approved a motion to consider the request and pass it on to a committee that will make a recommendation at the March 2010 school board meeting.  The March meeting will be Wednesday, March 17 at 5:30 p.m. 

 Citizens interested in learning about or commenting on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) strategies for managing Finland area lakes and streams have until Monday, March 22 to ask questions or submit comments.

“Management plans describe the past, present and desired future conditions of the waters,” said Alan Anderson, Finland Area Fisheries Supervisor. “The plans identify specific management activities planned for that lake or stream in the next five to 20 years.”

Every year DNR fisheries staff prepares or revises individual lake and stream management plans for several waters in each management area. In the Finland area, plans for the following lakes will be reviewed: Little Snow Lake and Wonder Lake in Cook County; and Lupus, Silver Island, Perent, Micmac, Crosscut, Delay, Shoofly, Grouse, Shamrock, Sullivan and Nipisiquit lakes in Lake County. Streams included are Kit, Big Thirty-nine and Little Thirty-nine, all in Lake County. 

People can review current plans for lakes and streams in the area as well as recent fish population assessment information at the DNR’s Finland area fisheries office, 6686 Highway 1, Finland. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Individuals also may call (218) 353-7591 or e-mail alan.anderson@state.mn.us.

 Grand Marais Playhouse is the place to be on Tuesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. Come out and catch “Theater Sports” at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts.  This is improvisational theater with a competitive sports angle.  Audience participation is very important.  The public is invited to come cheer on the high school students as they perform in this show.  This event is fun for all.