Northern Wilds December 2023 by Northern Wilds Magazine

SN OW S H O E A R T— JU L E B Y E N — SHOP WITH A HE R O— HOL ID AY TRA DI TI ONS —LI GHT UP A LI FE

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‘Tis the Season I don’t know about you, but I can’t believe it’s already December. Where did the rest of the year go? I can’t complain though, as this is my favorite time of year. Not only do I enjoy all the sights and sounds of Christmas, but I especially love spending time with loved ones. Now, I’m sure it comes as a surprise, but we do have a few holiday stories in this issue. ‘Tis the season, right?

Share Your Thoughts Do you have a question for one of our writers? Or an interesting photo, recipe, or story you’d like to share with Northern Wilds? Please send it to storyideas@ northernwilds.com.

the life of a loved one during the holiday season. Chris Pascone tells us all about Silver Bay’s Shop with a Hero event. Marking its eighth year, the local police and fire departments, along with hundreds of individuals and business donors, have taken the initiative to turn Christmas into the miracle it should be for deserving families. Tired of holiday stories? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Hawkins brings us a feature story on Kim Asmussen, known to many folks as the ‘Snowshoe Art Guy’—just wait until you see the photos. Strange Tales columnist Andra-Warner introduces us to the Indigenous Group of Seven, featuring the famous artist Norval Morrisseau. Gord Ellis takes us on a journey with his son Devin, who shot his first moose in October. Dog Blog columnist Erin Altemus fills us in on her latest thoughts, involving feet, meat, and beats.

Venture to the feature section and you’ll find five short stories on fun holiday traditions. Hartley Newell-Acero teaches us how to play the Sentence Game (a mashup of Telephone and Pictionary), a favorite among her family that always has them laughing. Jon Remus’ family enjoys a day of wilderness ice skating every year. Elle Andra-Warner tells us why she makes it a habit to always send out Christmas cards. Michelle Miller reflects on her family’s traditions, which have evolved over time. Last but not least, Naomi Yaeger writes about lutefisk, oyster stew, a candlelight service, and an updo. However, the traditions don’t stop there. North Shore Dish columnist Virginia George also provides us with a few food-related traditions everyone will enjoy, such as having Christmas Tea on the Edna G in Two Harbors, or visiting Dagwood’s Bakery and Deli in Thunder Bay, which serves up chocolate yule log cakes—yum!

Looking for something fun to do with the whole family? Pascone suggests going to the Julebyen festival in Knife River, featuring live entertainment, train rides, indoor and outdoor markets, krumkake and lefse demonstrations, craft workshops, and more. Dana Johnson recommends going on a night hike and stargazing with Rory Island, owner of Low Light Experiences LLC in Grand Marais. And Naomi Yaeger brings back some nostalgic indoor fun with World of Wheels in Superior.

Unfortunately, this time of year can also be difficult for many folks. In our Along the Shore section, Kalli Hawkins writes about the Care Partner’s Light Up a Life ceremony in Grand Marais. This annual event offers community members the opportunity to celebrate

As the old saying goes, Christmas comes but once a year. From all of us at Northern Wilds, we wish you a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year. —Breana Johnson

M E R R Y christmas J e

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Here’s to a beautiful holiday season filled with warmth and happiness. Thank you to all our readers, writers, and advertisers. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

-The Staff at Northern Wilds

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VOLUME 20, I SSUE 1 2 w w w . n o r t h e r nw i l d s .c o m

SERVING THE NORTH SHORE A N D TH E WI LDE R N E SS B E Y ON D PUBLISHER Amber Graham EDITORIAL Breana Johnson, Editor breana@northernwilds.com

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19 16 Family Holiday Traditions Christmas Cards, Ice Skating, Lutefisk, and More

18 The ‘Snowshoe Art Guy’ How Kim Asmussen Brings Winter to Life

Cover

DEPARTMENTS

“Evening Fire” by Hannah Wren of Three Sisters Studio

34 Fishing Hole 35 Dog Blog 36 Following the Ancestor’s Steps 37 Northern Sky 38 Reviews 39 Strange Tales

Take the North Shore home with you! From Duluth to Thunder Bay, Ont. and beyond, we cover the stories from the area featuring the people and places that make this place unique.

REAL ESTATE 40 43 46 48

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This year’s Light Up a Life ceremony will take place Dec. 7 at the Johnson Heritage Post in Grand Marais. | SUBMITTED

Gathering in remembrance

Annual Light Up a Life ceremony honors loved ones GRAND MARAIS— Gathering with our community to remember and pay tribute to friends or family who have passed away holds a profound significance in our lives. In coming together, we find solace in knowing that we are not alone in our grief, that others share our pain, and that together, we can provide each other with the support and comfort needed to heal. For nearly 30 years, the Light Up a Life ceremony has served as an opportunity for individuals worldwide to come together during the holiday season to share their stories of loss and remembrance. The annual event took form in Grand Marais in 2009 with the help of the North Shore Health Care Foundation and a core group of dedicated individuals who would later form Care Partners of Cook County. “I think it’s just a safe space to speak and share together,” Julie Wilson, the executive director of Care Partners of Cook County, said. “It’s a beautiful and meaningful and a deeply moving and healing event.” The annual community event will be held at the Johnson Heritage Post in downtown Grand Marais on Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m. It includes a short ceremony of reflection and connection, an opportunity for individuals to light a candle in remembrance, followed by the lighting of a Memory Tree. Wilson said on average, between 20 and 30 people attend the event. For those unable to attend in person, Wilson said the ceremony will be available via Zoom.

“I think, at the core, the visuals are an important part of grieving and the healing process,” Wilson said. “It’s that important piece of gathering together in a space where people have a shared journey and want to come together to remember.”

• Senior rides for medical or personal appointments, errands, or social activities.

A longtime attendee of the Light Up a Life ceremony is Jack McHugh, who serves on the Care Partners board as secretary. He has attended the Light Up a Life event for 10 years, and it holds a special place in his heart:

• End-of-life doulas.

“Light Up a Life is a peaceful gathering that provides an opportunity for members of our community to pay their respects to family members or friends who have passed away recently. They often share their emotions and memories of the ones they have lost. On occasion, the person remembered is someone who passed long ago and has always been important in their lives. “I’ve participated in Light Up a Life for 10 years now. Here’s something I’ve come to appreciate about the evening. Some people show up to share their grief and memories. Others come to show their friends and neighbors that they aren’t grieving alone. Others grieve with them and for them. “Light Up a Life is a combination of being able to release some of our own grief while being able to show compassion and caring for each other. Of course, there are tears, but there is also the joy of remembering lives appreciated and well lived. It’s beautiful.”

• Senior chore program. • Caregiver coaching and respite. “Little things make a big impact,” Wilson said. “I think that’s the magic of Care Partners.”

Julie Wilson (right) lighting a candle. | SUBMITTED The Light up a Life ceremony is a single aspect of the extensive array of valuable services that the 50 volunteers and staff at Care Partners of Cook County offer to the community. The nonprofit organization, officially established in 2015, supports those needing help navigating aging, serious illness, or endof-life. The organization also provides support to caregivers. The long list of beneficial services includes: • Volunteer visits for companionship or check-ins.

Each year, the organization implements a new program or expands on existing services. Most recently, Care Partners partnered with The Hub in Grand Marais to offer a monthly ‘Death Cafe’ seminar and workshop where doulas help people develop a more conscious relationship with mortality. In addition, Wilson said Care Partners has “really hit it hard this year with a lot of education.” The expanded educational efforts have blossomed into numerous collaboration opportunities with local organizations while helping people in need identify readily available resources in the region. Wilson said she feels incredibly grateful to be a part of Care Partners. “I can’t say enough about the board, the volunteers, and the staff. It’s just an extraordinary organization, and I feel honored to be a part of it.” For more information about the Light up a Life ceremony or to receive the Zoom link, contact the Care Partners director at 218387-3788 or by email at: info@carepartnersofcookcounty.org.—Kalli Hawkins

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Does Shop with a Hero have a budget? “Not really,” Meeks says. “It’s hard to say ‘no’ when you’re giving back to the community. It’s been a lot of fun. It’s very well appreciated, and very well supported.” So how do kids get chosen for the program? Meeks and his team tap into the William Kelley School, a grades K-12 regional school that serves Isabella, Finland, Little Marais, Beaver Bay, and Silver Bay. There, teachers and administrators are resources for referring families to the program. “We don’t care if we have to drive all the way to Isabella to get a kid to bring him or her to Shop with a Hero. We’re going to do it if we see the need for it,” explains Meeks. The school provides a list of families that have applied for the program. “We’ll just look at this list, and if there are eight of them on there that we think are a good fit for the program, we’ll try to take all eight. Some years we’ve had up to seven or eight families, sometimes we’ve had four families. We really don’t have a limit,” Meeks says. Well, except for the number of squad cars available. “Obviously, we wouldn’t be able to do 20 kids—we wouldn’t have enough cop cars and firetrucks to pick them all up.”

In Silver Bay, the police and fire departments, along with hundreds of individuals and business donors, have taken the initiative to turn Christmas into the miracle it should be for deserving families. | SUBMITTED

Once families are selected, one child from each is chosen to shop for all the siblings and parents. “Usually, we try to get the oldest kid,” says Meeks, “who knows what’s going on—what the family’s needs are.” The program encourages the selected kids to come in with their parents, or whoever’s involved, to pre-shop and find items which are the best fit.

A community of giving

On the day of, the children get a ride in the squad car and a free breakfast, and then “a pretty big chunk of money” to use at Julie’s True Value. “Sometimes it will be $50 to $100 per person in the family,” says Meeks.

Silver Bay’s Shop with a Hero SILVER BAY—The holidays are an emotional rollercoaster for all families. There’s pressure on parents to outdo themselves every year, and there’s pressure on children to find the love and attention they’re craving. The holidays can be the best of times, and for some families—the worst. Christmas trees, presents, and cheery decorations don’t make their way into every home. One community that’s been doing its utmost to balance that out for eight years running is Silver Bay, smack dab in the middle of the North Shore. There, the police and fire departments, along with hundreds of individuals and busi-

ness donors, have taken the initiative to turn Christmas into the miracle it should be for families. They’ve developed the Shop with a Hero program—a charity event with a big heart. One Saturday morning in December, police cars and fire trucks come to pick children up at their homes, take them out to a hearty breakfast compliments of Northwoods Family Grille (Northwoods steak and eggs, anybody?), and then treat them to a mini shopping spree at Julie’s True Value. The children get to buy gifts for their whole family, and the cops and firemen wrap the gifts and deliver them to the kids’ homes. Here’s how this tight-knit North

Shore community comes together to make Shop with a Hero work. Faron Meeks, co-owner of Julie’s True Value hardware store together with his wife Angela, has been part of Shop with a Hero from day one. Meeks, who grew up in Finland, and has been a volunteer firefighter in Silver Bay for 23 years running, calls the program “well-funded” by generous community members. Meeks supports the program through his own business, putting out a fireman’s boot at the cash register all year round. “We probably raise $600 dollars just in that boot,” recounts Meeks.

Thanks to these heroes, the Christmas rollercoaster is more about ups than downs But he’s not the only one. “The community has really taken off with it. We have businesses who call us and say, ‘Hey, I haven’t gotten my letter yet,’” laughs Meeks, referring to the donation requests that he and his team of volunteers send out to raise money for the kids. These donations go a long way to make kids’ Christmas dreams a reality.

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So how do you wrap so many gifts? A lot of people come in to help. “After the kids finish shopping, we bring them back to Northwoods Grille, and we have a big table set up there. Between the firefighters and their families, and people who just show up to help, we wrap all their gifts together with the kids.” Then the police and firemen drive the kids home with their Christmas bounty, and help carry all the boxes inside. Word of mouth has spread through the close-knit first responder family, according to Meeks. “This started with the Silver Bay Fire Department and the Silver Bay Police Department, but we have Lake County Sheriff’s Department deputies who come, and we’ve had state troopers.” That’s a lot of heroes. Besides the individual gifts that the children select, families also get a tote of household items compliments of Julie’s True Value. It’s “everyday essential needs stuff, like toilet paper, paper towels, envelopes, and notebooks, pens and pencils for the kids,” says Meeks, who’s “in a pickle” as the Assistant Fire Chief, but also owner of the business that provides the shopping. “My wife and I didn’t want to make any profit. We wanted to give back. So, what we did was donate the profit that we make off of Shop with a Hero back to the families, through the essentials totes.” This spirit of giving that permeates the Silver Bay community is a way of showing love to families that deserve it. Thanks to these heroes, the Christmas rollercoaster is more about ups than downs.—Chris Pascone

Seeing in the dark

Night vision adventures with Rory Island GRAND MARAIS—The darkness of night is shrouded in mystery. Fear of the dark is a common phobia, causing our imaginations to run wild, always wondering what could be hiding in the shadows. We envy animals that can see things at night in ways we cannot—at least not without a little help. Enter Rory Island, owner of Low Light Experiences LLC. Island is your guide to the night, offering hiking and stargazing trips using highly sensitive night vision technology in the Grand Marais area. “One of my greatest joys is hearing people gasp when they finally get their first look,” Island says of the experience. “Calling (night vision) a superpower is not an overstatement.” Northeastern Minnesota boasts some of the darkest skies in the world, making it the perfect place to enjoy this unique activity. Originally from the western side of Minnesota, Island moved to the North Shore as a paramedic in 2021. “When I hear people say that Grand Marais is full of ‘lost souls’ who just kind of ended up there, I really relate to that.” Soon Island developed an interest in night vision. At first, they experimented with DIY equipment using a 3D printer. “I was successful, and they were awful!” Island laughs. Then they decided to take the plunge, and purchased an expensive high-quality unit. “Using it for the first time is something I’ll never forget,” they said, likening it to magic. When an injury kept them out of their usual work, they took their passion to the next level and started their own business. “The stresses of healthcare vs

self-employment are very different,” they said, noting it has been an adjustment, and adds, “It’s very rewarding to be able to work for yourself.” Night vision hiking makes the forest come alive in a new way. Animals are revealed, often snowshoe hares and occasionally deer. In the summertime Island says fireflies look “super cool,” and moths are common. So far, they have yet to see anything more dangerous than a deer. Safety is a priority—a ham radio and first aid kit are brought along every excursion, and Island requires adventurers wear good hiking shoes. Stargazing with night vision is awe inspiring, as the equipment reveals millions more stars that are otherwise hidden to the naked eye. Island brings a laser on stargazing outings to point out constellations and celestial bodies. Throughout the year, meteor showers and other astronomical events provide unique viewing opportunities, including the northern lights. “They’re so awesome!” Island exclaims. The view is monochromatic so you don’t see a variety of colors, but you can see the dancing display. “Night vision especially shines when the aurora isn’t visible, or is barely visible,” Island says. “There’s been multiple times I could see waves shooting across the sky with night vision but not my eyes, or even my cellphone camera.” A night vision unit is essentially a “light magnifying device,” Island explains. An image intensifier tube takes photons we can see and converts them to electrons with a photogathode, then that energy

Rory Island offers hiking and stargazing trips using highly sensitive night vision technology. | SUBMITTED is multiplied with a microchannel plate, before eventually being converted back to light via a phosphor screen we can view. Night vision allows us to see all visible light frequencies, including infrared. The technology is so powerful, Island says, “you could see a person illuminated by only their glowing cigarette from hundreds of yards away.” Whether the image is white or green depends on the kind of phosphor used, and each has benefits and drawbacks. You can try both on an excursion with Island and decide which you prefer.

Due to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Low Light Experiences are only available to U.S. citizens at this time. Generation 3 night vision technology was developed by the U.S. military and subject to certain rules, though all U.S. citizens can purchase and own night vision equipment. Island can take a group of up to three people (age 16+) stargazing, while hiking is currently limited to one person at a time. Experiences are two hours long and tailored to what you’d like to see and do,

including any combination of stargazing, hiking, visiting the beach, or even walking through town. Snowshoeing will likely be an option this winter. There’s still time to join Island for a special stargazing party event during the Dark Sky Festival Dec. 8-9. Visit lowlightex.com for booking and more information, see more photos at lowlightexperiences on Instagram, and enjoy exploring the North Shore like you’ve never seen it before.—Dana Johnson

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The Nelson family is from Mountain Iron. From the left are Patrick, Ebba the birthday girl, and Lanae, with their parents Jackie and Adam Nelson. | NAOMI YAEGER

Just before this pose, Leora Engesser, age 6, had been clinging to the wall as she tried to skate. | NAOMI YAEGER

World of Wheels Nostalgic indoor fun SUPERIOR— On a gray, cloudy Saturday afternoon, the music and lights inside the World of Wheels Skating Rink in Superior gave the area a warm and cheery atmosphere. Children skated, or attempted to. Some used a skatemate, a device made of PCP tubing that looks like a miniature walker. Adults skated with them or stood on the sidelines. Within minutes, three separate birthday parties reported the fun their groups enjoyed. These parties filled the venue with laughter and excitement. Chris Monroe, a grandmother on skates, was there to celebrate her granddaughter Selah’s 8th birthday. Selah had invited several friends. “I like the retro vibe here,” Monroe said. “The staff is really great.” The party had just finished eating pizza in a birthday room to the side of the rink. Selah’s friend, Sloan Scouten, age 7, was accompanied by her mother, Kelly Mullan. “It is something to do indoors in the winter. There are skate sessions on the weekends and school holidays. It’s safe here,” Mullan said. “There are adults who work here, so it’s not like the kids are out running on their own.”

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Another birthday celebration brought Ebba Nelson and her family and friends from Mountain Iron to the skating rink to mark her 11th birthday. Ebba spoke of her love for skating, while her friend Savana Tuonela, a basketball player, admitted to some apprehension about falling. Jackie Nelson, Ebba’s mother, fondly remembered her own college days spent skating at the rink. The birthday girl proudly mentioned her acquaintance with the DJ. Speaking of the DJ, in the background, music from the song YMCA by the Village People played. The lyrics: “Young man, there’s no need to feel down. I said, young man, pick

yourself off the ground.” The DJ and floor guard, Axel, skated onto the floor. “Stand up straight,” he announced into the microphone as if following the lyrics’ suggestions. “Bend down low,” he said as he crouched down himself. The skaters followed his directions as if playing a Simon Says game. Many skaters needed to hold on to their plastic skatemates for support. The music and disco lights continued the whole time. Soon, the lyrics of Ghostbusters filled the rink. “If there’s somethin’ strange in the neighborhood, who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters.” Axel skated over for an interview. “What that (the game) is doing really is helping skaters get used to bending their knees while on skates,” Axel said. He continued, “If I can make any warm-up a game for them, then it’s way easier to teach them to get comfortable on any skates.” Axel is his DJ moniker. His real name is Alex Morro. He said he works at World of Wheels about four days a week. Then he skated back to his soundboard behind a wall near the skate rental area. “Do you want to write a novel?” he asked. “When I was seven, this place saved my life.” He first sought refuge at the rink because bullies taunted him after school. Soon, Morro was skating himself. At age 12, he was “working” at the rink, putting skates away. “I remember him when he was a little squirt,” said World of Wheels owner Steve Grapentine. “He loves skating, and he’s good with people.” Grapentine purchased the rink in April 2008. He had worked at a rink in the Twin Cities for 28 years while working full-time in the grocery business. He retired early and moved to Superior to own World of Wheels.

Teller Leppeanen uses a skateguard during his sister Sondra’s birthday party. | NAOMI YAEGER “I love roller skating, watching people have fun and creating fun,” he said of becoming a rink owner. Speaking of creating fun, each month he plans themed events. In November, he planned a Taylor Swift Skate Night, featuring all Taylor Swift music. For New Year’s Eve, he’s planning two parties, one in the afternoon for children and one in the evening for adults. The oldest World of Wheels skater was 85 years old, according to Grapentine. An adult morning skate on Wednesday is for anyone. “Most coming are in their 60s, some 70s and 80s—looking for something to do,” Grapentine added. “It is good for your heart and muscles, and keeps you moving,” Grapentine said. To learn more about World of Wheels, visit: wowskatecenter.com. —Naomi Yaeger

Barefoot playing by talented musicians goes on all night at Woolsock. | CHRIS PASCONE

Woolsock Minnesota’s most homespun music festival STURGEON LAKE— Did you go to a small rural elementary school in the 1980s, like me? Did you have to do square dancing as an obligatory unit in gym class? Did you consider throwing yourself under a truck on the way to school for those three weeks every year to avoid the “shame” of dancing with 3rd grade girls? That was my thinking during those miserable square dancing days each winter. It felt like a rare form of punishment, seamlessly worked into the public school gym curriculum. I could never understand it. Why not basketball? Or indoor soccer? Please, anything but that rickety old record player forcing those entirely awkward moments of elementary school hell on me. Our PE teacher was the “caller.” Listening to him joyously telling us to “do-si-do” around the gym floor is my worst childhood memory. Thirty-five years later, I’m doing it. For fun. With my own family. What happened? Two musicians—Kyle and Cooper Orla, of the Tamarack Dance Association in Duluth—created Woolsock Winter Camping and Dance Festival. This festival takes my most feared childhood memory—the round dances and square dances of my youth, and combines them with one of my greatest passions—winter camping. Imagine having your daughter pull you out of your cozy tent, dug deep into the snow, to go dance to live folk music with 125 other wacky people on New Year’s Eve? That’s Woolsock. Woolsock is Minnesota’s Woodstock—in winter. Taking place December 29-31 this year, Woolsock is a two-night getaway hosted at YMCA Camp Miller in Sturgeon Lake. Kyle Orla describes Woolsock as a “weird idea,” but clearly the festival’s cult following is all on board. “It’s New Years, it’s this fun time of year, and this is just a special way to experience it, instead of watching the ball drop on TV,” says Orla. The live music thumps literally 24 hours a day at Woolsock. There’s groups of people strumming traditional fiddle over coffee in the morning. There’s guitar players making

music over lunch. And then the dancing begins in the evening and goes into the wee hours of the morning. Woolsock is a collaborative festival where the participants also host workshops. Many of the workshops are about music, but choices range far and wide. If you’ve got a talent—shoot! Last year there were workshops like sock darning, beginner book binding, making seed smashers (“like a firecracker, but bird seed”), and “learn to ice fish” on Sturgeon Lake (zero fish were caught, but this year will be different…). But it all comes back to the music. Workshops go on all day long in the Camp Miller dance hall. Learn dance calling, playing for dancers (“FAST!”), and waltzing for beginners. For Orla, “It’s important to know that music is 90 percent of the festival. It’s a music and dance festival that happens to take place in winter.” Orla recounts how every year there are some people who say “Oh, I didn’t realize this was a music weekend.” Orla doesn’t miss a beat: “It doesn’t matter if you’ve never done it. Just know that that’s a big part of how our time is spent.” So how does it feel to participate in this folk dance jam in the snow? Sam Karns of Duluth, who goes to Woolsock every year with his wife and daughter, calls it “incredible and unique,” and not without reason. “We don’t normally go cross country skiing on a frozen lake with 20 other people, or share a meal at a table full of strangers/new friends, or get to listen to amazing musicians play the night away, or do the New Year’s countdown around a massive bonfire under the stars—all in one place, over the course of a single weekend.” Karns says that despite the spectacular nature of the event, “It all feels comfortable and easy. The organizers and attendees create an atmosphere without judgment or expectation (other than a little bit of volunteer time), so even though we’re not at home, we feel as if we are.”

Woolsock is about making new friends and dancing. | CHRIS PASCONE The “family reunion” atmosphere makes Woolsock an amazing social event for Karns. “We get to see friends from all over the Upper Midwest, and for many of them, Woolsock is our one and only get-together of the year.” Perhaps the best part of all is the kid-friendly spirit that permeates Woolsock. “It’s an opportunity for the little ones to be wild and free, and safe. Woolsock is the village we all dream about where the big kids If you’ve never tried winter camping before, this is watch out for the little ones, your chance. | CHRIS PASCONE the adults help each other, and the spirit of camaraderie Woolsock is still very much a homespun, and care is truly present,” explains Karns. word-of-mouth event. It’s capped at 125 More and more families are staying in the people this year. For Orla, “Man, this thing’s Camp Miller cabins (you don’t have to sleep been growing, but I kind of feel like it has in a tent to attend). Woolsock was originally some natural bumpers, because it’s not your held at the Clair Nelson Recreation Center, average festival. Not many people want to in Finland, but moved to Camp Miller in go winter camping and party in the snow.” 2022 as it continued to grow. Now there If you’ve got kids, bring them too. Maybe are more housing options, instead of famithey’ll be more willing to try square dancing lies all sleeping in one communal room. And than I was back in the day. when you need a break from the dancing and the cold, you can hit Camp Miller’s For more information, check out the Wocommunal sauna, too. olsock Facebook page.—Chris Pascone

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DECEMBER 2023

Kay Slack (left) recounts the foundation’s 40-year journey while Shuan Floerke (right), who assumed the role of president and CEO two years ago, attentively listens. | SUBMITTED

Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation 40 years of transforming philanthropy DULUTH— In the world of Monopoly, a popular board game, players occasionally find themselves landing on the Community Chest square. It’s a windfall for the individual, but it comes with a catch; it swiftly empties the Community Chest, requiring several turns to amass those communal riches once more.

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In the real world, many nonprofit organizations operate in similar fashion. They conduct fundraisers, launch capital campaigns, host galas, raffles, and car washes or bake sales to collect funds. Once the money is raised, it’s put to good use. And it is spent. Shaun Floerke, the president and CEO of the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation (DSACF), presides over DSACF from spacious quarters on the 7th floor of Duluth’s Medical Arts Building. The Foundation is able to give grants and scholarships by investing it’s money and spending the interest of dividends only. Since 1983 they have distributed more than $63 million through more than 450 funds. Floerke and the entire community recently celebrated an event at the Clyde Iron Works in Duluth. Why the jubilation? Establishing a community foundation in Duluth and the Arrowhead region during the challenging economic climate of the early 1980s and maintaining its financial viability for four decades is no small feat. Nov. 2 marked the 40th anniversary of the Community Opportunity Foundation. Some 4,790 individuals have donated to that fund. Floerke said, “We’ve had gifts from $1 to $1 million.”

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If Floerke’s name sounds familiar, it might be because he served as a judge in Minnesota’s Sixth Judicial District from 2004 until he joined DSACF in January 2021. As a judge, he often encountered people at the end of their journeys, typically when they faced legal troubles. In his new role, he aspires to help people further “upstream,” offering

This map shows service areas covered by the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation. The blue pins represent tribal nations and the orange circles are Foundation affiliates. | SUBMITTED opportunities before they find themselves in legal, social, or personal difficulties. Floerke pointed out that many people are unaware of the Foundation. Its origins can be traced back to the challenging economic landscape of the early 1980s. The Foundation is committed to place-based funding, directing all its resources toward nonprofits and scholarships. Floerke swiftly transitioned to the various other programs the Foundation supports, including scholarships, grants for food access, youth development, the arts, historical programs, and various other nonprofit initiatives. He stressed the significance of individuals considering the Foundation in their wills. He cited individuals and couples who have come into their elder years with lots of money and either have no children or their children are doing well, so they want to leave a legacy to help others in their community. Financial planners and/or attorneys can often help them with this. One noteworthy aspect of the Foundation’s approach is its commitment to minimizing bureaucratic obstacles for grantees.

They aim to streamline the grant application process and reporting requirements.

Richard Burns meticulously drafted all the Foundation’s bylaws and handled the paperwork, adhering to the many tax-related rules and regulations that govern community foundations. The Blandin Foundation pledged a $25,000 grant, contingent on the completion of a feasibility study and matching funds. Slack and Bev Goldfine believed they could raise the necessary $25,000. Monte Goldfine, in their search for a solution, proposed a straightforward idea: “You just go to five people and ask them for $5,000.” While it was a substantial sum in the early ‘80s, their determination prevailed.

Moira Villiard, an Indigenous artist known for her collaborative murals and exhibitions, joined the board to gain insights into foundation operations. She said, “I want to support folks who might never access this Foundation.” She echoed the need to streamline the application process. Previously, as an artist applying for grants, she found the Foundation’s outdated internet portal cumbersome, but it has since been updated, which is expected to improve the application process.

Today, Fred Friedman, retired public defender for northeast Minnesota, serves on the board. He said he serves, “Because their goals are absolutely correct in being inclusive. Too many (foundations or nonprofits) are geo-centric to their neighborhood. This is for everyone.”

IT’S NOT JUST DULUTH AND SUPERIOR Don’t let the name “Duluth Superior Area” mislead you; as Floerke said, “There’s a lot in those four little letters.” The Foundation’s reach extends to Carlton, Aitkin, Cook, and Lake Counties, as well as communities in Wisconsin’s Ashland, Douglas, Bayfield, Iron, and Price Counties and has four affiliates: Eveleth Foundation, Two Harbors Area, Cook County, and Apostle Islands Chequamegon Bay. Each affiliate has its committee for outreach and grants, often benefiting those communities.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN In the early 1980s, Duluth faced challenging economic conditions, prompting an exodus of its residents. Some might recall a billboard at the time bearing the message, “Will the last one leaving Duluth, please shut off the lights.” However, amid this uncertainty, a visionary named Kay Slack, who served as the board president of United Way between 1981 and 1982, emerged.

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Slack, now 90, reflected on that period. “It was really tough going with fundraising that year and meeting our goals.” She said, “It was kind of desperate. But I realized that other cities and towns, big and small and with community foundations, had a fallback. They could fill in the voids in hard times. So that thought kind of germinated.”

As Slack recalled, their initial inquiries yielded a common refrain: “Oh, we tried it twice before, and it didn’t work.”

In 1982, Slack, alongside Jay Hess, thenhead of United Way, embarked on a mission to garner support for their foundation idea.

In essence, the DSACF has not only been playing the philanthropy game, but adding a twist worthy of the most strategic Monopoly master. In their world, the money multiplies, ensuring that giving back to the community remains a perpetual journey of growth, hope, and enduring impact. For four decades, nonprofits and students have reaped the benefits of this innovative approach, with millions of dollars in grants and scholarships making a substantial difference.—Naomi Yaeger

Undeterred, they sought guidance beyond Duluth. Slack said, “We interviewed foundation chairs and presidents down there (the Twin Cities) and found great support in the Bush Foundation. We told them about the negative references we were getting here, and they said, ‘Just do it. It’ll work.’”

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DECEMBER 2023

Julebyen brings Scandinavia to the North Shore KNIFE RIVER— Have you ever been to Norway in winter? If so, you know it’s a fairy tale country at Christmas time. But if 3,750 miles seems a long way to go to find authentic Scandinavian Christmas celebrations, then the close-knit community of Knife River has you covered. The Knife River Recreation Council is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its iconic Julebyen holiday festival (Norwegian for “Christmas village”) this Dec. 2-3. This is genuine North Shore culture at its best. Always held the first full weekend of December, Julebyen has been cranking out thousands of home-baked krumkake, lefse, and even Swedish meatballs, not to mention an intense entertainment schedule, for 10 years running. The outdoor festival, which is focused at the Knife River Recreation Center on the banks of its namesake river, is a twoday long celebration of holiday cheer, music, dance, and trolls. Yes, Norwegians love their fairy tales, and the gnomes and trolls come out in force at Julebyen. An event for the whole family, Julebyen is particularly spun around children. The excitement begins with a train ride to Troll Canyon. Leaving the Knife River Depot, hundreds of people take a 45-minute train ride in search of mischievous trolls along the railroad tracks. Kids love it. First, choo-chooing up the North Shore, then witnessing “real-life” trolls playing havoc in their enchanted canyon. Let’s just say it turns out trolls like throwing snowballs… The train to Troll Canyon rolls at 11 a.m., noon, and 1 p.m. on Saturday, and again at 11 a.m. and noon on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at the Knife River Depot, and are $5 for children 4-12, and $10 for adults. Little ones ride free.

Free arts and crafts for young and old abound at Julebyen. | CHRIS PASCONE

Meanwhile, back at the Julebyen main market square, the Gnome Dome tent features children’s arts and crafts workshops, krumkake and lefse demonstrations, live music, and endless baked goods for sale. Catch the Sterling Dancers, or the children’s puppet show—produced and performed by Knife River youth, on the Gnome Dome stage. On Sunday, the Gnome Dome hosts the inimitable THUG (Two Harbors Ukulele Group). If you hear a booming voice singing in a strange tongue around the outdoor market, it’s definitely the pride of the Iron Range—Steve Solkela, belting out Finnish ballads while he jams on his accordion. His Nordic aura is unmistakable. You will see him wandering the grounds and playing the accordion bare-handed in the ice-cold wind. A Minnesota phenomenon. A local Scandinavian dance group—the Viken dancers of Two Harbors—will take their traditional Norwegian dancing to the outdoor stage. All these events are just a small portion of the wacky fun and entertainment available at Julebyen. Take, for example, the children’s Herring Run (yes, children sprinting as fast as they can while balancing a dangling herring on a spatula). Norwegians know their humor. In the words of event director Helene Hedlund, there are grandparents, parents, and grandchildren from Knife River and surrounding communities working side by side, volunteering at the festival. Hedlund stresses the “multi-generational” aspect of the event organization. “It takes a village. All of the

DECEMBER 2023

Author Chris Pascone with accordionist Steve Solkela at Julebyen 2022. | CHRIS PASCONE The Troll Train departs the Knife River Depot for Troll Canyon five times over the weekend. | CHRIS PASCONE volunteers that do the baking—it’s all homemade. All the crafts at the indoor market are designed by our local community. They have fun, but they work hard.” Running an event this big also requires sponsors, and Hedlund credits the Knife River Recreation Council and Lovin’ Lake County

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destination marketing organization for promoting and financing Julebyen. Julebyen is an all-volunteer event, and the proceeds go to support community activities operated by the Knife River Recreation Council. “Whether it’s keeping the Knife River beach open to the public, maintaining the

tennis courts, the pickleball courts, or the fourth of July parade, the funds from Julebyen go to support these activities,” explains Hedlund. The town of Knife River also features the Huldrefolk Trail—a hiking trail ripe for troll encounters along the river itself. For families looking for an even bigger adventure, there’s the option of taking the Julebyen Express from the Duluth Depot all

the way to Knife River and back. This is fairy tale territory. The scenic train ride up Lake Superior’s blue shores is made possible by the North Shore Scenic Railroad. The train leaves Duluth at 9:30 a.m., arrives at Julebyen by 10:30 a.m., and drops off merrymakers to enjoy the festival until 2 p.m., at which point the train departs for the trip back to Duluth. Round-trip tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for 3–13-year-olds, and free for the littlest ones. All the fresh air and outdoor fun on the shore of Lake Superior is going to make you very hungry. While Julebyen volunteers used to prepare all the festival’s food, this year Hedlund notes a transition to food truck vendors. “We have three food vendors coming in to do the food. The only food that Julebyen will prepare is that we’ve added hot dogs over at the Depot, on the train side, because we wanted an affordable option for families with kids.” Hedlund says the transition to food trucks allows volunteers to focus their efforts on other parts of the production. “Selling food is very volunteer-intensive, and we had to take a look at it reality-wise. We tried one food truck last year, and this year we will have three,” says Hedlund. Another food option this year will be the return of the Waffle Hut, run by Knife River resident Randy Ellestad. If you’ve been to Julebyen before, you know that the amazing aromas and steaming hot coffee coming out of the Waffle Hut make it a sort of axis around which all other Julebyen activities revolve.

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www.RydensBorderStore.com The outdoor market square is the center of the action at Julebyen. | CHRIS PASCONE And what’s a Christmas market without shopping? According to Hedlund, “A lot of Christmas shopping goes on during Julebyen.” There will be 17 wooden huts at the Julebyen outdoor market with local artisans selling their unique hand-made gifts. These include Julebyen stalwarts like Christiansen Sauna, Fish Johnson (selling wild caught Alaskan salmon), and Miel Duluth (honey and beeswax-based products). Other artisanal wares for sale include art, woodwork, candles, sheepskin blankets, maple syrup, hand-forged ironwork pieces, jewelry, and pottery.

This year, Julebyen will be premiering a new heated farmers market tent, operated by the Two Harbors Farmers Market (seen in summertime at the Burlington Station parking lot on Highway 61). Local growers will sell their home-raised foods in a 40x100-foot tent on the train depot side of Julebyen. Get ready for wacky humor and lots of troll activity when you visit Julebyen in historic Knife River. This Christmastime experience with a Scandinavian flavor will transport you to a fairy-tale world. And you don’t even have to buy a plane ticket to Norway. For more information, visit: julebyen.org.—Chris Pascone

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The Christmas Card Tradition Carries On By Elle Andra-Warner

In this digital age of emails, texts, social media, cell phones, and DMs to send holiday greetings, I still like the old-fashioned way of mailing Christmas cards by post. Growing up in Port Arthur (now part of Thunder Bay) in an immigrant family, it was a tradition for my parents to send Christmas cards each year. Some were sent to Estonian friends and other Estonian refugees scattered around the world, others were sent to friends in our local community. Each card was signed with a short, handwritten note and mailed a couple of weeks before Christmas. While my parents have been gone now for several years, their Christmas card tradition is something I’ve carried on. Why do I still send cards? Well, besides tradition, for me it’s a way of connecting with people, including those I haven’t seen in person for a while. In the last few years,

I’ve even added some relatives I’ve never met to my list, having discovered them via researching family history. Admittedly, receiving Christmas cards in my mailbox always brings a smile and nostalgic memories of the sender. It’s a mutual way of keeping us linked, even if it’s only once a year. By the way, though I’m a card traditionalist, the digital musical animated greeting cards—a new age tradition—also brings smiles and are much appreciated. It’s important to remember to mail out the cards on time. A couple of years ago, I had all the cards signed, sealed, and stamped by early December. My husband volunteered to mail them, and put them in our car’s back seat to bring to the post office. Fast forward to early January, and guess what? The cards were still in the back seat—he forgot to mail them.

Not surprisingly, stamps cost more these days. In 1968, it only cost 5 cents to send a card within Canada. Today, the stamp is $1.07 (92 cents if bought in bulk). Though it costs more to send a card, the value remains “priceless.” Here’s some fun Christmas card trivia. According to various sources, the best-selling Christmas card of all time is the “Three Little Angels” launched in 1977 and updated

in 2019; it’s an image of three lovable angels. And while the first commercialized Christmas card was created in England in 1843, the first personalized photo Christmas card can be traced back to 1891 to America’s famous sharpshooter Annie Oakley, star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, while she was in Glasgow, Scotland. Happy holidays to everyone and all the best for 2024.

Lutefisk, Candlelight, Oyster Stew, and an Updo By Naomi Yaeger

My cherished childhood Christmas memories still warm my heart. We weren’t the neatest family, but Mom told us that Santa didn’t like to visit a dirty house. So, my brother and I diligently cleaned our house on the 24th. We enjoyed the house and how nice it looked. Candlelight services marked our Christmas Eves, and I recall my 3-year-old brother’s determination to “set my candle on fire.” As each person shared their light in the dimly lit church, a sense of wonder enveloped the congregation. The glow touched all, from toddlers to older people.

DECEMBER 2023

fisk and oyster stew. She didn’t want to cook that. So, they struck a deal, and on the 24th, Dad prepared lutefisk and oyster stew for dinner, followed by opening gifts sent by distant relatives. The next morning, we eagerly waited in our rooms until Mom confirmed Santa’s visit. Racing out in our pajamas, we reveled in discovering the surprises he left. Board games and cards became a cherished part of our celebration, a tradition I still uphold today.

As the congregation extinguished, excitement filled the air. Those who opened presents on Christmas Eve couldn’t wait to rush home and tear into their gifts.

My adult daughter shares my love for the anticipation of Christmas morning and, like me, enjoys playing games. In our household, the joy of watching each other’s eyes light up while discovering gifts was just as meaningful as the gifts themselves.

Our family blended diverse traditions, with Dad’s Scandinavian roots favoring Christmas Eve celebrations and Mom’s British heritage leaning towards Christmas Day. Mom learned that Dad didn’t feel like it was Christmas unless he had some lute-

In addition to Dad’s lutefisk and oyster stew, Mom ensured we lit the Advent candles symbolizing joy, peace, love, hope, and, most importantly, the Christ child candle. These traditions filled our home with love and warmth, making our Christmas

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celebrations truly special. As an adult, I have added some new traditions. On my second marriage, I started a new tradition of visiting the beauty parlor to put my hair up fancy. I’ve been doing that for 21 years. My husband plays the guitar, and I place red and Christmasy-looking blankets on our couch. I also make sure the dogs have Christmasy scarves or bandanas. One year, we didn’t even have a Christmas tree, but we did have the ceramic nativity scene my daughter made when she was in 5th grade. Christmases don’t seem as fun as they were when I was a child. But that’s OK, I don’t have to have the “Best Christmas Ever,” I just have to play a board game, updo my hair, and attend a candlelight service.

Wilderness Ice Skating By Jon R . R emus

Our festive holiday tradition promotes both great exercise and an enchanting outdoor experience for multiple generations to skate together on natural ice. An afternoon in the brisk air, sheltered by towering snow-covered pine trees, and gliding across the “hard water” of a frozen pond, guarantees to put you into a joyous mood. With little to no expenses involved, you can invite as many friends and family as possible to join in the fun. It’s easily imagined: past generations riding in a horse-drawn sleigh or large family sedan, out to a local pond with shovels in hand to clear a patch of ice. The popularity of canal skating is evident in Canadian cities like Winnipeg and Ottawa. Minnesota also has endless opportunities with thousands of small lakes and neighbourhood ponds for skating and ice fishing. People with all levels of skating experience can partake, from the complete novice to the former hockey player and figure skater in the family. Little ones can be pulled in a toboggan, while the family dog enjoys bounding through snow drifts and chewing on sticks. The appetite developed by the high energy output is fully satisfied with fire-roasted sausages

in/out flows. Check the ice thickness with a hand auger or axe, making sure to have a minimum of 6 inches. When legs get tired, I’ll add straps to the back of the ATV and pull participants around the ice, creating our own little roller derby. Sometimes, even an impromptu pond hockey match starts by passing around the puck, without the formality of nets, boards, or blue lines. When the temperature allows, and the snow is pliable to be rolled and molded, snowball fights break out, or a snowman sculpture is built.

and s’mores treats, cooked on the end of a stick, and paired with a steaming mug of hot chocolate or cider. I prepare the day before, using an ATV plow to make a path down to the pond and meticulously circle around until just the right width and smoothness are obtained. Be sure to pay close attention to possible areas of thin ice, like adjacent to a beaver house or creek

There are no age limitations (old or young) to join in the fun. Skates can be dusted off, borrowed, or picked up at a second-hand store. Even my 85-yearold mother tied on the blades and used her walker to avoid any potential injury. A helmet is practical for beginners, in case of an unexpected slip and fall. We are paying homage to how an old-fashioned holiday gathering on ice has a rejuvenating effect on the soul. With a little bit of planning and a scouting trip to locate a convenient nearby pond, your family can start their own on-ice tradition. I wish you and yours the very best of the season.

The Sentence Game By Hartley Newell-Acero In our family, we laugh ourselves silly playing the Sentence Game. It’s like a mashup of Telephone and Pictionary. It works best with at least four people. The only supplies needed are sheets of blank paper, something to write with, and a willingness to leave your artistic critiques at the door.

in the 1-inch section underneath it. They then fold the paper backwards, so that only their description is showing. Without looking at any of the previous drawings, the next person now draws their interpretation of the caption in front of them, and folds the caption back, leaving only the picture showing.

Start by taking the blank sheets of paper (one for each person playing) and folding them like fans (but a short fan, not a long one). The first fold should be about 1-inch wide, the next fold should be about 2 inches, then 1 inch, then 2 inches, and so on until you run out of paper. Try to finish with a 1-inch fold.

STEPS: Each person gets a piece of paper and in the first 1-inch fold, writes a goofy prompt describing an imaginary scene, i.e. “The moose family enjoys their Hawaiian vacation.” Going in one direction, everyone then passes the paper to the next

After one more caption, picture, and then a grand finale caption, that round of the game is done, and the serious laughing begins! One by one, each page is unfolded and everyone can see and read all the captions and illustrations. person. In the 2-inch section, person number two now draws that scene. When done, they fold the original prompt backwards, so that only the drawing is visible. The paper is then passed on to person number three, who looks only at the drawing, and writes a description

Stick people are the upper limit of my drawing ability. Even with that, the Sentence Game is one of my favorites—I always end up with my face hurting from laughing so much! I hope you and your loved ones give it a try, and I hope that you have as much fun as we do.

Evolving Holiday Traditions By Michelle Miller

I feel fortunate to be surrounded by a large extended family. If there are not 30 people around the table at any given holiday, something is definitely missing. However, as the years go by, the dynamics of a large family shift, and traditions are reinvented. Elders pass away, the homestead is no longer the gathering place, and as children grow and have families of their own, new routines are formed. Some of my earliest Christmas memories are going to Grandma’s house and spending the evening singing carols, telling outrageous stories, and enjoying amazing food. The next morning, our smaller family unit would open gifts at home. For many years, one of those gifts was cozy flannel winter jammies that Mom had made for each of us seven kids. Later in my childhood, a new tradition of going “up north” to Osakis, MN, began. Several aunts, uncles, and cousins would join for a weeklong stay by the lake to enjoy fishing, ice skating, and playing cards. There was always something fun to do and someone there to do it with. Many of our brand-new gifts were “broken in” on that trip—fishing gear, winter jackets, board games, or homemade cuddle blankets. Creating holiday ornaments was a pre-holiday activity we engaged in for years. Our kitchen table became a workstation filled with colorful supplies, glue guns, a sewing machine, or materials gathered from nature. The theme varied from year to year, and we worked like a well-oiled machine, turning out finished items by the dozens to be shared with family and friends. Few ornaments have survived over the 40-plus years, yet when it comes time to set up the tree each year, they vividly appear in my memory. A consistent tradition I have carried into my adulthood is hanging stockings. They may or may not be filled with treats, but if I know you will be spending Christmas with me, you will be sure to have a stocking hanging with honor, personalized with your name. How we celebrate the holidays indeed shifts and evolves over time, but being with those you care about is truly the best tradition of all. NORTHERN WILDS

DECEMBER 2023

HOW KIM ASMUSSEN BRINGS WINTER TO LIFE By Kalli Hawkins

After completing his first couple of snowshoe art designs, Kim Asmussen deployed a drone to capture an aerial photograph of the finished artwork. This piece is titled “Gichi-Gami’s Gateway.” | SUBMITTED

s winter tightens its icy grip on the northern landscape, many Minnesotans and Canadians are busy digging out knitting needles, XC skis, woodworking tools, ice fishing gear, or finalizing their winter reading list. In the frigid northern regions of Minnesota and Canada, winter tends to feel less like a temporary season and more like a way of life. To survive the lengthy gray months, one must find a hobby (or two) to keep your mind and hands busy. Ontario resident Kim Asmussen prepares for the long winter months by booting up his AutoCAD software and ensuring his chainsaw and snowshoes are in tip-top shape. Asmussen lives in Schreiber, a small town of approximately 1,100 people along the Canadian ‘North Shore’ of Lake Superior. Over the last few years, Asmussen’s winter hobbies of ice sculpting and snowshoe art have drawn regional and international attention to the small Canadian town, earning him the title of ‘Snowshoe Art Guy’ or ‘The Ice Man of Schreiber.’ Asmussen, a retired principal, has dabbled in woodworking and ice sculpting for many years. However, it wasn’t until the onset of the covid-19 pandemic during the spring of 2020 that he strapped on snowshoes and ventured out to the ballfield near his home to create beautiful and elaborate designs in the snow. His inspiration to expand his winter hobbies stemmed from Simon Beck, an internationally recognized snowshoe artist from England known for creating math-based snowshoe art. “I looked at it and said, you know what, I think I could do that,” Asmussen said. “So, I took a crack at it and started liking it.” He found geometric designs and patterns online and used AutoCAD, a 2D and 3D computer-aided design software, to mathematically map out the real-life dimensions of the design. Then, with his trusty 18

DECEMBER 2023

NORTHERN WILDS

Kim Asmussen of Schreiber with his creation, Sitting Santa, a life-sized replica of Old Saint Nick. | SUBMITTED metal snowshoes, 300-foot tape measure, a handful of 3-foot dowels to mark his points, and a good old-fashioned compass, he took to the ballfield. While he initially embarked on crafting snowshoe art as a way to stay mentally and physically active during the pandemic, as word spread through Schreiber, it quickly evolved into much more than that. After completing his first couple of snowshoe art designs, Asmussen deployed a drone to capture an aerial photograph of the finished artwork. It wasn’t long

before he started sharing these images on his personal Facebook page and various Facebook groups, such as North Shore Vibe. As time passed, he gathered a growing audience of snowshoe art admirers and began developing a unique avenue for connecting with others. “It’s rewarding just knowing people are enjoying seeing it,” Asmussen said. “That’s basically my motivation to it now more than anything.”

Asmussen calls this piece his “Lucky Loonie,” a large ice sculpture depicting a one-dollar coin. | SUBMITTED As pandemic restrictions loosened and the popularity of his snowshoe art spread, retirees and outdoor enthusiasts eagerly stepped forward with snowshoes in hand to volunteer in the design’s creation. Volunteers receive specific snowshoe ‘packing’ instructions based on Asmussen’s desired pattern. “I try to get it laid out ahead of time and then give them directions about where to walk and what to do,” he said. “I like the social aspect of when you’re doing it with other people. You crisscross and stop and talk to them for a while, then keep on going.” Although Asmussen receives plenty of eager volunteers, creating snowshoe art relies on the precise alignment of winter conditions, including temperature, minimal wind, and plenty of sunlight. And as many northern folks know, the sun can be hard to come by in the winter months. Once conditions align, which can take weeks, Asmussen makes a few phone calls to friends and volunteers and immediately heads to the intended location. “To get a good picture, you need the sunlight,” Asmussen said. As his primary motivation is to share the aerial image to motivate and inspire others to embrace the winter season while showcasing the natural beauty of his northern Lake Superior town, sun-

While he enjoys and welcomes the help of willing volunteers, now and then, Asmussen will create a design from start to finish by himself. | SUBMITTED light makes all the difference. “There’s no way to do it if you’re not going to get a good picture.”

town. Among these creations was the charming Sitting Santa, which proudly sat beside the town sign.

While he enjoys and welcomes the help of willing volunteers, now and then, Asmussen will create a design from start to finish by himself. Late last winter, he ventured beyond his neighborhood ballfield to a nearby frozen lake to create a truly stunning elaborate design of a moose, titled “Moose on the Loose by the Hungry Moose” (shown in photo below), a play on the restaurant across the street called The Hungry Moose.

Although Asmussen said he has a handful of snowshoe art designs in his queue for the 2024 winter, he wasn’t ready to spill the beans on what they would be. However, he said he always starts the snowshoe art season with a snowflake design. And if you keep a close eye on his designs, he likes to incorporate a signature snowflake in every design.

“That was a big one,” he said. “I ended up doing it myself.” In between moments of sunshine and ideal snowshoe art conditions, Asmussen sets his snowshoes aside and picks up his chainsaw and chisels to create festive ice sculptures. During recent winter seasons, he launched Schreiber’s Sidewalk Sculptures, featuring various creative icy designs around

As a retired principal in a small Canadian town, Asmussen occasionally fills in as the substitute principal when needed. However, last year, during February and March, he humorously advised the school to “not call me unless it’s an emergency.” On sunny days in Schreiber, you can assume that Asmussen will be found on a ballfield or a frozen lake, enjoying his winter hobby and sharing his passion with others.

NORTHERN WILDS

DECEMBER 2023

By Breana Johnson

‘Tis the Season

The holidays are my favorite time of year. I love all the sparkling lights and decorations, eating lots of delicious food, spending time with loved ones, and spreading joy to others. In honor of this magical season, I’ve gathered some holiday artwork, some of which can be found at upcoming art and craft shows and sales. Happy Holidays!

Jo Wood will be attending the Northwoods Fiber Guild Holiday Sale in Grand Marais, Dec. 2. This felted wool “painting” is titled, “Winter Lodge with Stars.” | JO WOOD

This “Afternoon Ski” woodcut print by Nan Onkka can be found at the Duluth Winter Village event, Dec. 2-3. | NAN ONKKA

“Comfort. Sharing” is part of Betsy Bowen’s Comfort drawings. See more from Bowen during Holiday Art Underground, held at her Grand Marais studio now through December. | BETSY BOWEN

Lutsen artist Kari Vick created this piece, titled “Merry Xmas for Mama.” She will be at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth Dec. 2 for a book signing. | KARI VICK

This festive giclee piece, titled “Christmas at the Lodge,” is by Duluth artist Rick Allen. His work can be found at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, and the Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, among other places. | RICK ALLEN

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NORTHERN WILDS

Find Duluth wood mosaic artists Anna and Nathanael Bailey, owners of Bailey Builds, at the Duluth Winter Village. This ornament is titled "Zenith City." | BAILEY BUILDS

Before finding a forever home, quilts are displayed over pews and the church altar for a Blessing of the Quilts ceremony. | KAY STRUVE

Quilting for Community Knife River Lutheran Church

CREATIVE SPACE: By Michelle Miller Laughter spilled out of the small church basement, as the group of dedicated volunteers began their weekly meeting to work on quilt making. It’s winter, making it the ideal time to gather once again to create the warmth of blankets for those in need. The Knife River Lutheran Church has been hosting the quilting group since the early 1980s and distributes over 40 handmade quilts throughout the year. Dozens of individuals have been part of the quilting club over the years, and the current ladies who gather each week interact like a well-oiled machine, having nearly 90 years of experience between them. The process of creating a completed quilt involves several steps. This group chooses to keep it simple, using a standard large square pattern. They begin by deciding on the color theme and cutting the fabric into squares. The next step is laying out the pattern, followed by sewing the squares into strips. Ironing between each step is key to keeping the fabric easy to work with and looking nice and polished. Seasoned quilter Sue Hubbard points out, “There is always ironing to do!” Hubbard has been active in this craft for over 40 years. When not participating at church, she makes baby blankets on her own to give to crisis centers in the area.

Once the basic sewing is complete, a large wooden frame is used to hold the large pieces of fabric, keeping them flat and tight. The back section is the first to be placed into position, followed by the soft batting, and finally, the top of the quilt. The trademark process of tying each square corner with colorful thread is then done. This is the part of the process when the ladies can really converse, as they all gather around the frame cutting and tying off the thread. Group member Vicky Gorman shares that the conversation is the best part of the meeting. “This is why I come to quilt—the socializing and the laughter!” Now, it’s time for the final step: binding the edges. “We use the special Knife River Stitch, created years ago,” explains member Kay Struve. The completed quilts are then given

to local families in need, whether due to house fires or other crises. Additionally, some are donated as raffle gifts for local fundraisers or sent overseas through the Lutheran Church mission projects. Before finding a forever home, however, they are lovingly displayed over pews and the church altar for a Blessing of the Quilts ceremony. The quilting program is a congregation-supported effort. The group receives a $1,000 annual stipend for supplies and has a dedicated space to store materials and equipment throughout the year. Hubbard, Gorman, and Struve also have other roles within the church, such as wedding coordination, bell ringing, and assisting with community dinners. All agree that coming together to quilt is a time to slow down and really catch up with each other. In addition to the satisfaction of creating quilts for the benefit of others to use and enjoy, the weekly group accomplishes many other things. “It is a chance to provide support to each other too,” says Struve. The group has grown smaller over the years, with some members now doing the work at home, but they are always welcoming new members. Experience in quilting is not a requirement, and neither is being a Knife River Lutheran Church member. Gorman shares, “It’s a fun, friendly place and

The process of creating a completed quilt involves several steps. The Knife River Lutheran Church group chooses to keep it simple, using a standard large square pattern. | MICHELLE MILLER not a huge commitment.” The group meets every Wednesday from 9:3011:30 a.m., September through June. For more information, call the church at 218-834-5172 or just stop in: The Knife River Lutheran Church is located at 158 Church Road in Knife River.

NORTHERN WILDS

DECEMBER 2023

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On Friday, Dec. 1, the CPKC Holiday Train will make multiple stops in our area, including Schreiber, Nipigon, and Thunder Bay. | CPKC HOLIDAY TRAIN

BENTLEYVILLE “TOUR OF LIGHTS”

Thru Dec. 26 Located in Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, Bentleyville “Tour of Lights” invites guests to stroll under the glow of over 5 million lights, while enjoying complimentary hot cocoa or coffee, cookies, popcorn, and roasted marshmallows. Kids can also visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus (kids 10 and under will receive a knit winter hat). Bentleyville is free (though donations are appreciated) and opens at 5 p.m. daily, including all holidays; parking is $10 per vehicle. Guests are also encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item or new unwrapped toy to donate to the Salvation Army for those in need. Remember to dress for warmth as Bentleyville is an outdoor event. bentleyvilleusa.org

donation to your local food bank/pantry, which will be on site taking collections. CPKC also donates to the local food shelf at each stop. cpkcr.com

CPKC HOLIDAY TRAIN

HOLIDAY HARBOR VILLAGE

Dec. 1, Friday The CPKC Holiday Train will return to the rails for its 25th year supporting food banks and food shelves across our network by raising money, food, and awareness of food insecurity issues. On Friday, Dec. 1, the train will make multiple stops in our area, starting with a stop in Marathon at 12:30 p.m., followed by Schreiber at 2:45 p.m. It will also stop in Nipigon at 5:30 p.m. and in Thunder Bay at 8:30 p.m. Each stop will include a live performance by Anyway Gang. All train concerts are free, but it’s requested that you bring a food or monetary

Held Dec. 2-3 at the Decc, the Duluth Winter Village is free to attend and offers fun for the whole family. | SUBMITTED

Dec. 1-2 Embrace the deep calm of the far north this holiday season during the inaugural Holiday Harbor Village weekend in Grand Marais, Dec. 1-2. Activities include a sled dog meet and greet, mukluk ball, frozen fish toss, unique holiday shopping, a rock skipping competition (weather dependent), the Northwoods Fiber Guild Holiday Sale, Pots for Presents Pottery Sale, karaoke, photos with Yeti Santa, artist talks, and lots more. A full list of events can be found online. holidayharborvillage.com

NORTHWOODS FIBER GUILD HOLIDAY SALE

Dec. 2, Saturday The annual Northwoods Fiber Guild Open House and Holiday Sale will take place at the Grand Marais Art Colony’s Studio 21 (21 W. Hwy 61), featuring high quality, one-of-a-kind handmade clothing and unique holiday gifts for sale. Held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., there will be tasty treats and refreshments, as well as knitting, weaving, and spinning demonstrations. A take-home craft kit will also be available.

SANTA SHUFFLE FUN RUN & ELF WALK

Dec. 2, Saturday Every year, thousands of passionate Canadians dedicated to making a difference join the Santa Shuffle to help the Salvation Army support vulnerable people. Held at 10 a.m. at the Current River Recreation Centre in Thunder Bay, this fun, family-friendly event consists of a 1km Elf Walk and a 5km Santa Shuffle Fun Run, with in-person or virtual attendance options. This year’s Santa Shuffle will be packed with new surprises such as new pledge incentives, best-dressed contests, updated medal and shirt designs, and more. Prizes will be given for several categories, and Santa also will be in attendance. Registration can be done online in advance. santashuffle.ca

NORTHERN WILDS

DECEMBER

2023

PARADE OF LIGHTS

Gunflint Pines

Dec. 2, Saturday The annual Thunder Bay Police Association Parade of Lights is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Presented by Tbaytel, dozens of beautifully decorated trucks will line the streets in front of thousands of spectators. The parade will start at Manitoulin Transport on Main Street to Harbour Expressway, and turn right onto Memorial Avenue to Queen Street. From there, it turns right onto Fort William Road and ends on Water Street— this section will be sensory-friendly with no music or horn honking. facebook.com/ paradeoflights.thunderbay

Year-Round Cabins Ski/Snowshoe Rentals Ice Fishing Gift Shop & Grocery Pizza & Ice Cream Open to the Public 218.388.4454 www.gunflintpines.com 217 South Gunflint Lake Grand Marais, MN 55604

Betsy Bowen Studio’s

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November 24 - December 30

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Dec. 2-3 At the annual Julebyen Christmas Village festival in Knife River, you will find all things Scandinavian. There are indoor and outdoor marketplaces with foods and handmade gifts by local artisans, an international flag parade, sledding, snow sculptures, live music and entertainment for the whole family, food trucks, a children’s herring run, a train ride to troll canyon (admission required), lefse and krumkake demonstrations, free workshops for kids, and more. Santa will also be in attendance both days. Julebyen will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2 and from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free. julebyen.org

DULUTH WINTER VILLAGE

Dec. 2-3 Held outside along the lake at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center’s Harbor Drive, the Duluth Winter Village is free to attend and fun for the whole family. This two-day festival brings more than 40 local businesses together to sell

The Dark Sky Festival in Cook County offers activities of all kinds, including stargazing parties. | JACOB NEPRUD their unique, curated goods out of custom-built wooden cabins. In addition to shopping, visitors will enjoy food and beverages from local restaurants in a heated dining space, campfires by the lake, live animals, carolers, free skating inside at the DECC, hands-on art for the kids, and more. The event runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. duluthwintervillage.com

SANTA’S SLEIGH AT GRANDSTAY

named Santa’s Sleigh will take place from 3-8 p.m. at Black Beach Inn by GrandStay in Silver Bay. Up to 50 vendors will be offering a wide array of arts and crafts and holiday items, including sweets and baked goods, clothing, jewelry, pottery, woodwork, knitwear, toys, and more. There will also be a door prize and live music by local musician Robin Sunquiet. Be sure to bring cash or checks, as not all businesses will be able to accept credit cards. Facebook: Black Beach Inn by GrandStay

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DECEMBER

2023

Gunflint Trail

NORTHERN WILDS

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Black Beach Inn S I L V E R B A Y, M N Do your Christmas shopping locally and conveniently this year! Local businesses will be setting up mini-stores at the Black Beach Inn of Silver Bay. Come to one location and get all of your shopping done with a variety of businesses, crafters and artists. Rooms available for $50.00 plus tax for shoppers who want to spend the night.

Visit Santa and his reindeer during the Christmas Cookie Cabin event in Two Harbors, Dec. 17. | SUBMITTED

LIGHT UP A LIFE

Dec. 7, Thursday Sponsored by Care Partners of Cook County, the annual Light Up a Life event offers community members the opportunity to celebrate the life of a loved one during the holiday season, while supporting end of life care. Each $5 donation will light up one bulb in memory of one person on the memory tree, located by the Johnson Heritage Post in Grand Marais. The tree lighting ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. Donation forms are available online. carepartnersofcookcounty.org

DARK SKY FESTIVAL

Dec. 7-9 Organized by Visit Cook County, the Dark Sky Festival in Grand Marais returns for its fifth year. This year’s activities include multiple presentations at various locations, a screening of the documentary “Northern Nights, Starry Skies” at the Grand Portage National Monument Heritage Center, a Dark Skies art exhibition at Johnson Heritage Post, a guided night hike at Gunflint Lodge, painting the aurora and night skies at Joy and Company, telescope viewing and photography demonstrations at Gunflint Lodge, and more. Don’t miss the stargazing parties with Low Light Experiences Dec. 8-9 at the Mink Lake parking lot, as well as a star party with the Marshall W. Alworth Traveling Planetarium on Dec. 9 in Tofte. A full schedule of events can be found online. visitcookcounty.com

ARROWHEAD ICE FISHING & WINTER SHOW

Dec. 8-10 Held at the Decc in Duluth, the Arrowhead Ice Fishing and Winter Show features activities for all ages, as well as sales on the latest outdoor products and gear. Try your luck fishing at the frozen basin for prizes, attend panel discussions at the ice box, and save big with show-only pricing. Bring the kids to the sea lion splash with multiple daily performances showcasing the talents of these amazing animals—this is the only traveling, self-contained sea lion attraction in the U.S., fully licensed by NOAA Fisheries, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Tickets can be purchased on-

The Arrowhead Ice Fishing and Winter Show will feature daily performances from live sea lions. | SUBMITTED line for a discount, or at the door; ages 5 and under are free. arrowheadiceshow.com

HOLIDAY PARTY

Dec. 9, Saturday The Ely Folk School will host a free outdoors holiday party for the community from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. Held at Semers Park Beach on Shagawa Lake in Ely, there will be a bonfire, dog sled rides, Ojibwe snow snake demos, winter bowling, hot cocoa, glögg, snacks, and more. More information can be found online. elyfolkschool.org

CHRISTMAS COOKIE CABIN

Dec. 17, Sunday For one day, the RJ Houle Information Center in Two Harbors is being transformed into a Christmas Cookie Cabin. Bring the kids to visit Santa, his real live reindeer, and other holiday characters. There will be holiday treats, music, prizes and drawings, and photo opportunities. Kids can also bring their letters to Santa to put in his special North Pole mailbox. The fun will take place from 2-5 p.m., and admission is free. lakecounty-chamber.com

Debbie Alhbeck: Jewelry, Paparazzi Jessie Anderson: Creating My Journey, Custom Vinyl, etc. Jessica Berger: MARS CO. Cocoa Infused Food Enhancers + Goodies Tina Buus : Home Decor and Events Planning Mary Chmielewski: Cookies, Jewelry, and Photography Carol Conrad: Sewing Crafts, Kitchen Towels, Hand Bags Janice Daniel & Melody Baerg: Filipino Food and Desserts Jill Davey: Soap, Pillows, Mittens Sheila Fetters: Wood Signs, Glassware with Decals Maria Gilbertson: Suds N’ Wicks Cindy Gustafson: Tie One On, Jordan Essentials Christy Harling: Hannah’s Handmade Creations, Bath and Body Products Nancy Hart - American Girl Doll Clothes, Koozies, Star Ornaments, Aprons North Shore Horizons: Wood Crafts - Cribbage Boards, Magnets, Ornaments, etc. Penny Jo Hauphudson: Pink Zebra - Soy Based Beads and Scents Louella Heckathorn: Misc. Baby Apparel, Garden and Holiday Decor Angie Johnson: Photography, Wall Art Evanna Judkins: Holiday Wreaths, Christmas Trees, Specialty Items Michelle Ketola: Childrens Books Jamee Kloster: Mary Kay Cosmetics Rebecca Kobes: Blankets, Slippers, Gnomes, Christmas Decor, Novelties and Toys, Spa and Salon Gifts, Necklaces Brooke Larson: Baked Goods, Crochet Crafts and Pet Toys Laurie Larson: 100% Northshore Rock Art Lattin Family - Bakery Items, Rolls, Peanut Butter, etc. Diana Lax: Thirty One Bags, Quilting and Crafting Items Lisa Lepak: Hand Embroidered Items, Keychains, Notebooks Jan Lillis: Suncatchers, Jewelry, Resin Art Molly Lisor: Sipology by Steep Tea and Wine Shop at Home Tami Long: Young Living Essential Oils, Plant Based Cleaning Products and Supplements Donna McCurdy: Avon & Color Street Nails Bev Mell: Mittens from Sweaters Audrey Nelson: Sewing Items, Mittens, Artwork Allison Packard: Acrylic/Poured Art, Hand Crafted Jewelry Cindy Rowlee: Pampered Chef, Kitchenware, Cookware Kristina Semler: Wall Art, Wood Burnings, Jewelry Lyn Singleton: Popcorn and Cotton Candy Gloria Stern: 30-1 Gifts Suzan Tabelle: Gift Shop Items, T-shirts, Candles, Magnets, Glitz and Giggles Jackie Thomason: Paracord Fairy Stuff, Yarn Crafts, Wood Cut-outs, Animal Towels, Handmade Crafts, Pincushions Melissa Tveiten: M&K Sassy Duo Creations - Tumblers, T-shirts & Hats Ben & Tamber Weller: Rock Artwork, Agate Jewelry and Polished Agates

Michele Wick: Metal Yard Art, Christmas Decor, Hats, Mittens Beth Wiskow: Baked Goods and Arts and Crafts Care Zylka: Quilted Items, etc. Businesses: Shabby Shed, Junk & Disorderly

Due to the temporary nature of the stores, many businesses will be unable to accept credit cards. Please plan ahead and bring cash and/or checks. Thank you. Questions or if you would like to set up a store, call 218-226-4300 Visit the Black Beach Inn of Silver Bay on Facebook! NORTHERN WILDS

DECEMBER

2023

December NORTHERN WILDS CALENDAR OF EVENTS Thru Dec. 3

CPKC Holiday Train 5:30 p.m. 60 Front

Festival of Trees Grand Ely Lodge, Ely, northwoodspartners.org

Thru Dec. 10

Dark Skies Exhibition: Zimmerman & Swanson Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Thru Dec. 16

Pepperkakebyen Gingerbread City Nordic Center, Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org

Thru Dec. 26

Bentleyville “Tour of Lights” 5 p.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, bentleyvilleusa.org

Thru Dec. 29

Mazinibii’igewininiwag: Two Woodland Artists Aicho Galleries, Duluth, facebook.com/aichogalleries

Thru Dec. 31

Sharon Dawson: Above Below Within Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org Holiday Art Underground Betsy Bowen Studio & Gallery, Grand Marais, woodcut.com Shine Bright Ely Ely, ely.org

Thru Jan. 6 Thru Jan. 7

Rachelle Wunderink: Blankouts Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Thru Feb. 3

64th Arrowhead Regional Biennial: Juried Group Show Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Thru March 3

Radical Stitch Exhibition Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru March 31

Fur Trade Fort William: A Chronology Through Art, 1805-1882 Thunder Bay Museum, fwhp.ca

Nov. 29-Dec. 9

A Christmas Carol 7:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. Sun.) Cambrian Players, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/cambrianplayers

Dec. 1, Friday

CPKC Holiday Train 12:30 p.m. Curling Club Parking Lot, Marathon, cpkcr.com CPKC Holiday Train 2:45 p.m. Cenotaph, Schreiber, cpkcr.com Bookworm Social Hour 5 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com

DECEMBER

Dec. 1-2

Holiday Harbor Village Grand Marais, holidayharborvillage.com Christmas Craft Sale 5 p.m. (10 a.m. Sat.) West Thunder Community Centre, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/westthundercommunitycentre

Dec. 1-3

Voyageur Artists Winter Market 10 a.m. (Noon Sun.) Voyageur Art Center, Two Harbors, facebook.com/voyageurartists Twas the Night Before Christmas x2 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, grandmaraisplayhouse.com

Dec. 1-17

The Sound of Music Duluth Playhouse, Duluth, duluthplayhouse.org

Michelle Wegler & Cheryl LeClair Sommer: We Are Water Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth, glaquarium.org

Street, Nipigon, cpkcr.com FUNtastic Family Night Christmas Party 6 p.m. St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/foodforthesoulstpauls Vik Wilen Exhibition Opening 7 p.m. Co.Lab Gallery & Arts Centre, Thunder Bay, vikwilen.com CPKC Holiday Train 8:30 p.m. CPKC Train Depot, Thunder Bay, cpkcr.com

2023

Dec. 1-31

Zoo Lights 5 p.m. Lake Superior Zoo, Duluth, lszoo.org Artist of the Month: Kristen Anderson (Reception Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.) Tettegouche State Park: Visitor Center, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche

Dec. 2, Saturday

Pancake Breakfast & Blood Drive 8 a.m. Timber Hall Event Center, Embarrass, ely.org Northwoods Fiber Guild Open House & Holiday Sale 9 a.m. Studio 21, Grand Marais Chester Rim 5k 9 a.m. Chester Park, Duluth, duluthwintertrailseries.com Pots for Presents Pottery Sale 10 a.m. Grand Marais Art Colony: Founders Hall Get It Local Gift Fair 10 a.m. Peace Church, Duluth, wendyupnorth.com Santa Shuffle Fun Run & Elf Walk 10 a.m. Current River Recreation Centre, Thunder Bay, santashuffle.ca Northern Sights Book Signing with Tove Conway & Kari Vick 11 a.m. Siiviis Gallery, Duluth, facebook.com/siiviisgallery Author Meet & Greet: Craig Blacklock 11 a.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com Boozy Book Fair 11 a.m. Ursa Minor Brewing, Duluth, facebook.com/zenithbookstore

NORTHERN WILDS

Authors Meet & Greet, Book Signing 11 a.m. Zenith Bookstore, Duluth, facebook.com/zenithbookstore Travis Novitsky: Spirits Dancing Book Signing 11:30 a.m. Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply, Grand Marais, facebook.com/stoneharbor DSSO: Holiday Spectacular 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, dsso.com Maker’s Market & Mixer 3 p.m. Ely Folk School, facebook.com/northernlakesarts Cook County Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club Kickoff Party 5 p.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, facebook.com/cookcountyridgeriders Parade of Lights 7 p.m. Thunder Bay, facebook.com/paradeoflights.thunderbay The Bad Apples: Clayton Stewart & Nelson Mayer 7 p.m. & 10 p.m. Nortenos Taqueria, Thunder Bay, crickets-comedy-club.square.site TBSO: Afterdark: Taylor Swift Night Two 7:30 p.m. The Industry, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca

Light Up a Life 5:30 p.m. Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, carepartnersofcookcounty.org Northerly Scholarship Concert 6 p.m. Zeitgeist Teatro, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com

Dec. 2-3

Dec. 8-10

Julebyen 9 a.m. (10 a.m. Sun.) Knife River, julebyen.org December Dreams 9 a.m. (11 a.m. Sun.) CLE Coliseum, Thunder Bay, lakeheadrotary.com Duluth Winter Village 10 a.m. Decc, Duluth, duluthwintervillage.com The Wish Market 11 a.m. Keskus Court, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/borealmuseum The Lion King Jr 7 p.m. (& 3 p.m. Sat.) Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Dec. 4, Monday

Game Night 6 p.m. Ely Folk School, elyfolkschool.org The Hunter Brothers 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com LU Vocal Ensemble: Medieval Legacy 8 p.m. Trinity United Church, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

Dec. 5, Tuesday

Forever Seger 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Dec. 6, Wednesday

Hometown Holiday: Community Choir

5:30 p.m. Vermilion Fine Arts Theater, Ely, northernlakesarts.org BoneyM Featuring Liz Mitchell “The Original Lead Singer” 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Dec. 7, Thursday

Santa’s Sleigh at GrandStay 3 p.m. Black Beach Inn, Silver Bay, Facebook: Black Beach Inn by GrandStay Walking Through a Westfort Wonderland 4 p.m. Westfort Village, Thunder Bay, westfort.ca

Dec. 7-9

Dark Sky Festival Cook County, visitcookcounty.com

Dec. 8, Friday

First Day of Chanukah/ Hanukkah Dec. 8-9

FWMC: Prelude to Christmas 7:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. Sat.) Hilldale Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay, fwmc.ca TBSO: Messiah 7:30 p.m. St. Paul’s United Church, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca Bluey’s Big Play Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com Arrowhead Ice Fishing & Winter Show 10 a.m. (Noon on Fri.) Decc, Duluth, arrowheadiceshow.com Twas the Night Before Christmas x2 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, grandmaraisplayhouse.com The Nutcracker: A Duluth Tale 7 p.m. (3 p.m. Sun.) Decc, Duluth, minnesotaballet.org

Dec. 8-17

A Don’t Hug Me Christmas Carol 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Fitger’s Spirit of the North Theatre, Duluth, boatclubrestaurant.com

Dec. 8-Jan. 17

Jon Steffl: Steffl in Steffl Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Dec. 9, Saturday

Scandinavian Christmas on the Shore 9 a.m. French River Lutheran Church, Duluth, lovinlakecounty.com Santa at the Lighthouse 10 a.m. Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, mnhs.org/splitrock Nice Girls of the North Marketplace 10 a.m. Spirit of the Lake Community School, Duluth, nicegirlsofthenorth.com Grand Portage Craft Market 10 a.m. Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, grandportage.com Mrs. Claus Holiday Party 10 a.m. Grand Ely Lodge, Ely, ely.org Neighbor-Made Gift Fair 10 a.m. Peace Church, Duluth, wendyupnorth.com Winter Wonderland Market 10 a.m. Elks Lodge, Superior, facebook.com/getschickdone

Author Meet & Greet: Paul Bogard 11 a.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com Winter FUNdraiser 1 p.m. Lake View Conference Center, Two Harbors, facebook.com/communitypartnersth Santa Hay Ride & Boutique Sale 3 p.m. Babbitt Municipal Gym, ely.org Holiday Party 3 p.m. Semers Park Beach: Shagawa Lake, Ely, elyfolkschool.org Christmas at the State: A Hometown Holiday Concert 7 p.m. Ely’s Historic State Theater, northernlakesarts.org

Dec. 10, Sunday

Sip & Shop Vendors Gala Noon, Wayland Bar & Grill, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/waylandbarandgrill

Dec. 11, Monday

Arrowhead Library System’s Bookmobile 4:30 p.m. Clearwater Grille, Duluth, alslib.info Serena Ryder: Merry Myths Tour 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Dec. 13, Wednesday

Ring those Christmas Bells 7 p.m.

St. Agnes Church, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/lakeheadchoralgroup

Holiday Spectacular Extravaganza Pageant 7 p.m. Zeitgeist Teatro, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com North Shore Swing Band 7 p.m. Up Yonder, North Shore Swing Band, upyonderon61.com

Dec. 22, Friday

Dec. 15-Jan. 7

TBSO: Flight of “Phantasy” 7:30 p.m. Hilldale Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca

Jayne Richards Exhibition: Genesis Loci (Reception Dec. 15 at 5 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Dec. 23, Saturday

Santa Day! 8 a.m. AAD Shrine Event Center, Hermantown, facebook.com/glitteratievents The Honest Heart Collective 8 p.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, upyonderon61.com

Dec. 16, Saturday

Santa at the Lighthouse 10 a.m. Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, mnhs.org/splitrock Karaoke Xmas Party 1 p.m. The Hub Bazaar, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/thehubbazaar Free ArtDAI 1 p.m. Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org Moose Kids Christmas Party 1 p.m. Two Harbors Moose Lodge, facebook.com/lodge1463 Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest 5 p.m. American Legion Post 109, Two Harbors, facebook.com/twoharborsamericanlegion Stars on Ice 6:30 p.m. Amsoil Arena, Duluth, decc.org TBSO: Holiday Pops 7 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbso.ca

Dec. 24, Sunday

Dinner with Santa 4 p.m. AAD Shrine Event Center, Hermantown, facebook.com/glitteratievents Christmas Cookie Exchange 4 p.m. Ely Folk School, elyfolkschool.org Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Tour 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Christmas with Mrs. Claus 11 a.m. Dagwood’s Bakery & Deli, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/dagwoodsbakery

Dec. 25, Monday

Christmas Day

Dec. 14-15

Mark Price & Steve Hytner 8 p.m. Crickets Comedy Club, Thunder Bay, crickets-comedy-club.square.site

Dec. 15, Friday

Jerry Seinfeld 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org Junkin’ Market Days 4 p.m. (9 a.m. Sat.) The Inn on Lake Superior, Duluth, junkinmarketdays.com

Winter Markets 12:30 p.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland Christmas Cookie Cabin 2 p.m. RJ Houle Information Center, Two Harbors, lakecounty-chamber.com

Dec. 31, Sunday

New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve with Tony & Frank 6 p.m. Ely’s

Meat Raffle 5 p.m. American Legion Post 109, Two Harbors, facebook.com/twoharborsamericanlegion

Saturdays

Thunder Bay Country Market 8 a.m. CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca Saturday Fiber Circle: Free 10 a.m. Dappled Fern Fibers, Grand Marais, dappledfernfibers.com Makers Market (Thru Dec. 16) Noon, Hoops Brewing, Duluth, hoopsbrewing.com

Historic State Theater, northernlakesarts.org Glamour & Gold: A Great Gatsby New Year’s Eve 6 p.m. Decc, Duluth, facebook.com/glitteratievents

Dec. 21, Thursday

Winter Solstice

BUY 1 GET 1

Fridays

Falcons, Live! 10 a.m. Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche Falcons, Live! 1:30 p.m. Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberry

Free Antique Appraisal Noon, The Depot, Duluth, facebook.com/stlouiscountyhistoricalsociety

Adult Game Day 1 p.m. Two Harbors Public Library, facebook.com/communitypartnersth Thunder Bay Country Market 3:30 p.m. CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca Colvill Dance Practice & Lessons 7 p.m. Colvill Town Hall: 2963 Hwy 61

Dec. 29, Friday

Dec. 30, Saturday

Dec. 20, Wednesday

North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Full Moon Reading 6 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com Free CD Launch Concert: Maria Nickolay “Wolves” 7 p.m. Hovland Town Hall

Zeitgeist Teatro, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com

Emotions: Rita Fortunato Sterling Ely’s Historic State Theater, northernlakesarts.org

Locals Night with Live Music 4:30 p.m.

Dec. 27, Wednesday

The Salmela Sisters’ Winter Cabaret 7 p.m.

Dec. 18-31

Tuesdays

Makers Morning 9:30 a.m. Ely Folk School, elyfolkschool.org Thursday Night Art 4 p.m. Joy & Company, Grand Marais, facebook.com/ joyandcompanymn Date Night with Live Music 6 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us Hygge Party Fiber Circle 6 p.m. Dappled Fern Fibers, Grand Marais, dappledfernfibers.com

Boxing Day

Dec. 17, Sunday

WEEKLY EVENTS

Thursdays

Dec. 25, Tuesday

End of the Year Craft Market 9 a.m. CLE Coliseum, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/shoplocaltbay

New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party 6 p.m. Victoria Inn Hotel, Thunder Bay, dpcares.ca The Big Holiday Package 8 p.m. Zeitgeist Renegade, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com New Year’s Eve Party with Laura Velvet 8:30 p.m. Pier B Resort, Duluth, pierbresort.com

Wednesdays

Christmas Eve

Dec. 16-17

Dec. 14, Thursday

Dec. 15-16

A Night in Bethlehem 6:30 p.m. Evangel Church, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com Arrowhead Chorale 7:30 p.m. (3 p.m. Sat.) First Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay, arrowheadchorale.com

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Light Up a Life Celebrate the life of loved ones during the holiday season and help Care Partners support end of life care.

Tree Lighting Ceremony Johnson Heritage Post Thursday, December 7, 5:30 pm All are welcome!

GUNFLINT TRAIL GRAND MARAIS, MN

For more information or for forms visit www.carepartnersofcookcounty.org or call Care Partners at 218-387-3788

Each $5 donation will light up one bulb in memory of one person on the Memory Tree by the Johnson Heritage Post. Enclosed find my donation of $ ___________ for ___________ light(s). In memory of: ___________________ _______________________________________________________ Donated by: ___________________ _________________________________________________________ Address: _____________ __________________________________________________________________ Your tax deductable donations support those on the journey of aging and end of life.

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www.visitloonlake.com 218-388-2232

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15 West Hwy 61, Grand Marais • 218-387-3382 1810 W Superior St, Duluth • 218-216-6030 28

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The North Shore Dish Holiday Traditions By Virginia George

Holiday traditions are fascinating. Every family does things just a little differently, even within the same cultural or religious community, and as the needs of the family change, traditions change as well. The North Shore still reflects the influence of the fur trade, logging, and mining industries that shaped both our culture and landscape. As a result, we have many Indigenous, French, and Scandinavian influences on winter tradition. For me, the most important thing during the winter holidays is to get together with the people I love, eat good food, and laugh. And we always use the good China; even when we’re locked down and the kids request ramen and pizza rolls. Maybe especially then. Tradition is important, and it acts as a bridge between where we’ve been and where we are going. My kids eat Tin Roof Sundae ice cream because it was my grandpa’s favorite. They never met him. We make lefse the day after Thanksgiving because it became a tradition among my mother-in-law’s family 18 years ago. We also go to Glensheen every Christmas to count the elves and hope for shortbread cookies because we get free tickets and vote on our favorite tree. The beauty of tradition is that you can start and stop them however you see fit. So here are a few holiday traditions to try on and see how they fit. I think it started with my dad’s cousins. My grandmother was a second mom to them after their mother died, so our families are close. One day, they took my grandmother to high tea at a tea house in Anoka, MN, and had so much fun that they decided to make it a family event. So, once or twice a year, all the women and girls available would gather and have our own “high tea.” There were 20 or so of us, all gathering in my grandma’s little house in cabin attire and donning fancy old-fashioned hats, at least long enough to take a photo. None of us much liked tea, but we cheerily sat around eating finger sandwiches, discussing which tea we disliked the least, and giggling over whoever it was who ended up with the “bird butt” hat.

Christmas Tea on the Edna G, Two Harbors

The Edna G is a tug that operated out of Agate Bay from 1896 until 1980, save for two years where she assisted in World War I

Enjoy tea, hot chocolate, sandwiches, and dessert aboard the Edna G this holiday season. Christmas Tea on the Edna G occurs every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas, with several tea times offered each day. | SUBMITTED NORTHERN WILDS

DECEMBER 2023

vorite bars and cakes. If you need help with sandwiches, Dagwood’s can do that too with their meat and cheese platter, or their platter of finger sandwiches. This year, Dagwood’s is hosting Christmas with Mrs. Claus on Christmas Eve, where customers can stop by and take photos with Mrs. Claus and purchase or pick up any holiday treats. One year we tried taking a page from someone else’s family tradition and went out to dinner on Christmas Eve “so no one had to do the dishes.” It was a mess. The restaurant was a national chain and they were out of everything. I mean everything. Even after everyone’s substitutions were made and the waitress took our order to the kitchen, she soon returned to let us know they were out of one more thing. Thankfully, not everyone’s holiday dining experiences reflect ours, and a select few places are open on Christmas in case you, too, don’t want to do the dishes.

Dagwood’s Bakery and Deli in Thunder Bay offers yule log cakes, as well as a variety of platters and other tasty treats. | DAGWOOD’S BAKERY & DELI efforts by hauling coal barges up and down the Atlantic coast. Initially commissioned to help ore boats in and out of Agate Bay, the Edna G was later retrofitted to operate as an ice breaker. With its long and storied history, the Edna G is a 110-foot-long gem, which once was the “finest and most powerful tug in the area.” Friends of the Edna G help her legacy to live on, and one fun way to support the Edna G’s maintenance and preservation is through their annual Christmas Tea event. Christmas Tea on the Edna G occurs every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas, with several tea times each day. You’ll board the Edna G, dressed in her holiday finery, and enjoy a tea for up to four people on the rolling waves of Lake Superior. You will be greeted with a warm cabin and festive ambiance to enjoy tea, hot chocolate, sandwiches, and dessert in the mess. To find out more and reserve your seats, visit: friendsofednag.org. I didn’t grow up with a fireplace, so there is one well-known holiday tradition that hasn’t ever made a lot of sense to me: the

yule log. With the advent of 24-hour television and streaming services, it is now possible to have a virtual yule log on your television. Many years ago, my mom put this on the TV while we were gathered for the ambiance of a quiet, warm fire. Every now and then a hand would appear to add another log, eliciting cheers and speculation from across the room. The origin of the yule log traces to Scandinavian and Germanic traditions of celebrating the winter solstice. This is not dissimilar to Ojibwe traditions of building a fire to gather around and tell winter stories. Some stories cannot be told when the animals and spirits might overhear them. These stories are gifts from the elders to the younger generations.

Dagwood’s Bakery and Deli, Thunder Bay

As fireplaces phased out and people were less able to participate in the burning of a yule log in their homes, they came to enjoy the European tradition of the yule log cake. Dense chocolate cake is baked into a thin layer and then rolled up with frosting inside to

create a log. The cake is then often decorated with chocolate frosting on the outside to look like bark, perhaps even with a dusting of powdered sugar to resemble the freshly fallen snow. And Dagwood’s Bakery and Deli offers these yule logs each winter season. Dagwood’s maintains an unassuming storefront between a small engine shop and residential homes, just a stone’s throw away from the Kaministiquia River. And while the building is nothing to gawk at, what you will find inside surely is. The bakers at Dagwood’s are truly artists who create beautiful and delicious baked goods. They have pumpkin persians decorated as gingerbread men, cupcakes piled high with perfectly swirled or flowered frosting, and creatively designed custom cakes I cannot begin to describe. A Pusheen cat cake with donuts. A VHS player with personalized cassette tape. The most perfect unicorn cakes I have ever seen. Dagwood’s also offers a variety of platters to cater your get-together, or to simply supplement. The fancy pastry platter includes little eclairs and crème puffs, and the square pastry platter has an assortment of your fa-

Silos Restaurant, Duluth

One of the area’s greatest Christmas attractions is Bentleyville. If you have never been, it is a walk-through light display of gigantic proportions that is held annually in Bayfront Park from mid-November until the day after Christmas. Conveniently, next door to Bentleyville you’ll find Pier B Resort, with Silos Restaurant inside. For resort patrons, Pier B offers the Bentleyville Express Wagon to transport visitors to and from Bentleyville. The Silos Restaurant dining room features large windows with a beautiful lakeside view. The menu offers a variety of foods from sandwiches and burgers to steak, seafood, and pasta. Chefs cook steaks to perfection over a wood fire, lending unmatched flavor. Silos has many allergen friendly dishes, and just happens to be open Christmas Day. In addition, Silos throws an annual New Year’s Eve party complete with hors d’oeuvres and a midnight toast of champagne. Whatever your holiday traditions, I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.

Down-home Northwoods Atmosphere

Open All Year

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Order Online! 218-387-1915 401 E. Hwy 61, Grand Marais 30

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Diverse Needs, Shared Moments

Cooking Up Inclusive Holiday Feasts By Hartley Newell-Acero The winter season heralds the return of holidays, each with their own unique origins and traditions, and yet sharing common themes: gathering with loved ones, giving gifts, and eating together. Chock-full of cultural and family expectations, these holiday meals can be challenging, especially for people with eating patterns that differ from what may be considered “normal.”

Different By Choice and Necessity

Some people opt for a diet that’s different from their cultural or familial norms. For instance, in the U.S., where most people eat meat, about 4 percent of the population identify as vegetarian, and 1 percent categorize themselves as vegan. In Canada, almost 8 percent are vegetarian and 4.6 percent are vegan. Some people’s food choices may be different because they choose to avoid refined flours or sugars, refrain from drinking alcohol, or elect to follow a specific diet regime. But for other people, the way they eat is less a matter of preference and more about necessity dictated by medical conditions. For example, allergies, intolerances, kidney disease, gout, and celiac disease all limit the foods that someone can safely eat. Certain medications, when combined with common foods or drinks, may result in dangerous interactions, making it necessary for the people that take those medicines to be careful about what they consume. Neurodiversi-

BEST THING ABOUT A WINTER DAY?

ties, such as autism and sensory processing issues, can impact someone’s food choices and mealtime needs. Foods that taste or feel wonderful to one person can cause misery for another person who processes sensory input in a different way.

Setting the Table for Success

Some people love big, boisterous gatherings, rousing conversations, and tables loaded with a wide variety of foods. Others prefer quiet, intimate celebrations with a limited menu. What can we do to make holiday meals enjoyable for everyone, while honoring people’s varying preferences, needs, abilities, and boundaries? 1.

Normalize differences and assume that others are doing the best they can. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, and any one person’s wants and needs are not the baseline against which others should be judged. Labeling someone as “picky” or “demanding” assumes that they are trying to be difficult. Go into gatherings with an understanding of what would be helpful. As the host, you can help pave the way with a brief call, text, or email inquiring about your guests’ needs. Especially where children are concerned, The Family Dinner Project suggests that it’s helpful to know: what challenges might come up; how the child might behave due to those challenges; and how the other adults can help.

Create “scripts” that support healthy boundaries around food discussions. When things get chaotic, it can be hard to know how to respond. If you’re anticipating sensitive discussions, plan in advance responses that support your needs. Here are some to get you started:

•

We all have foods we like and dislike. I don’t really like ____. What’s something that you don’t like?

•

My food choices (or weight, health, etc.) aren’t something that I want to discuss.

BEST THING ABOUT A WINTER DAY?

A WINTER NIGHT. •

What could you contribute?

Develop your own game plan and let others know about it. As a guest, you can offer to bring a dish to share that fits your dietary needs, or bring a plate of “safe” food from home. As the host, you can keep individual food restrictions in mind when planning the menu, and welcome guests’ offers to contribute food for sharing or to provide food for themselves.

I’m going to need help preparing food and cleaning up after the meal.

•

No, thank you. I’ve had enough.

•

I’ll bring a dish to share that works for my food needs.

•

I’d rather not talk about diets. How’s your ___ (work, school, hobby, etc.) going?

Mind your own business. Outside of a caregiver/child relationship, other people’s food choices aren’t really anyone else’s concern. Keep the food on the table, and the judgments and comments about someone’s eating habits off it.

What Matters Most?

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for Person A to make what they think is a simple food choice for themselves, only for Person B to take that decision as a signal of personal rejection. In these instances, maintaining relationships requires us to peel back a layer and ask ourselves, what truly matters most: what’s on a person’s plate or our relationship with that person?

BEST THING ABOUT A WINTER DAY? Why do you take your child to checkups?

A WINTER NIGHT.

Sometimes, the best thing about a North Shore winter is escaping it for just a little while. Come inside and make yourself at home!

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Northern Trails The Journey of a Moose Hunter By Gord Ellis

My two sons were introduced to hunting at a young age. When they were quite young, I’d pick them up after school and take them out for grouse hunts during the last few hours of daylight. Devin and Austin both had little blaze vests (made by their mother) and blaze hats and learned early on where food came from. They carried the birds I took and marveled at the beauty of the feathers. They were often my bird spotters, and I’d tell them to put their “grouse goggles” on. Supper was fried grouse fingers, the perfect end to a hunt. When the boys turned 12, they took firearms and hunter training. This was a natural progression, and they both became safe and competent hunters. Both boys took to hunting well, and my oldest son, Devin, became especially keen. The first time Devin killed a deer is a moment I’ll never forget. He was 13, with long hair and braces. We went for an afternoon hunt east of Thunder Bay on a glorious late fall day. There was a skiff of snow on the ground, and we could see some deer tracks. Devin was hunting and was carrying my 250.3000 Savage. I was not carrying a firearm as he was an apprentice hunter. I was mentoring him, showing him how to track and scan the woods before moving on. We had done a large loop through a forest cutover and seen lots of tracks and sign, but no deer.

Devin Ellis overlooks a moose swamp. | GORD ELLIS Devin and Gord Ellis in New Brunswick in 2018. | GORD ELLIS to the back of the bay and could see a moose, but he didn’t have a clear shot. I had picked my way to another vantage point and could see the cow clearly. However, I wanted my boy to get the animal, not me. So, I held off. The cow turned and disappeared. There were a couple other unfulfilled opportunities, and then the snowstorm came.

“You want to take another walk through there Dev?” I asked. “Yah Dad, I think so,” he replied. So, we started another stalk. As Devin topped a hill, he stopped and slowly put the rifle up. Not a word was spoken; it was obvious what was happening. He slid the safety off, took a breath, and squeezed the trigger. The shot echoed across the cut-over and then there was silence. Half an hour later, we were standing over a small, antlerless deer. Yet it might as well have been the world record buck. Devin had cleanly killed his first deer and I was bursting with pride. His brother Austin would catch up a couple of years later, taking a buck and doe in the same day, which was another proud dad moment. Also a couple of years later, Austin would end up taking a huge buck on a gorgeous evening in mid-November with a full moon on the rise. But that’s a story for another time.

Devin had shown an interest in moose hunting early on but wasn’t able to swing it until he began working. In 2014, he was part of a fly-in hunt we did north of Armstrong. This was going to be a great opportunity for him to have a crack at his first moose as we

had a cow and bull tag. On the first evening of the hunt, we boated to a weedy bay and stalked the edge. There were some sounds of an animal in the water, and I pointed to a trail along the lake edge. We slowly moved down the edge, but I hung back. Devin got

In 2018, Devin and I both put in for a New Brunswick moose tag, and he managed to get drawn as one of 50. So that fall, we drove two days to get to the east coast where we would stay at Governor’s Table Camp, on the headwaters of the Miramichi River. The rules for moose hunting in New Brunswick are different from Ontario. As a non-resident tag holder, Devin would need to shoot the moose; I came along to carry the gear and provide moral support. The first morning of the hunt was one of the wildest I’ve ever experienced. We could hear cow moose calling all around us, bulls thrashing shrubs, and animals walking in water. Yet no moose ever appeared in the open. Later in the hunt, there was a close shave with a big bull, but a running animal in tag alders meant Devin again would not get his chance. That New Brunswick tag went unfilled.

NORTHERN WILDS

DECEMBER 2023

Devin Ellis approaches the moose he harvested in October 2023. | GORD ELLIS Fast forward to this past October. It was opening morning of the moose hunt, and our small group of hunters, including Devin, Tom Armstrong, Paul Karpowich, and myself, had a bull tag to fill. There was a spot in a small cut that had a large rock overlooking a prime area. It was agreed that Devin would sit there. What unfolded that morning was almost hard to believe. Devin walked into the spot at first light, got up on the rock, and immediately saw a bull in the cut. He went to get his rifle in the shooting stick and made

a noise. The bull trotted off, as did another animal he never saw. He was dejected and thought he had blown it. About 30 minutes later, things changed. I was only about 250 yards away when I heard the shot. It came from Devin’s position. When I got to my boy, he was still on the rock. His eyes were a little wider than normal. “I spooked those first animals and thought it was over,” he said. “Then after 30 minutes, another bull walked out and came my way.”

Devin, Gord Jr., and Gord Ellis Sr. with the moose. | GORD ELLIS Shortly thereafter, we stood around Devin’s first moose. His grandfather, who had been at camp due to a sore back, was alerted and made the drive to see his grandson’s moose. There was something ancient and sacred about the moment when we knelt beside the great animal. It was the end of one journey and the start of another.

CASCADE LAKE BY JOE SHEAD WHY GO: Cascade Lake is located just outside the Boundary Waters and provides good fishing in a scenic setting, where anglers can still fish with small motorboats. The lake is known as a good walleye fishery. ACCESS: Cascade Lake is located near the intersection of the Caribou Trail and The Grade. From Lutsen, proceed about a mile northeast up Highway 61. Turn left onto Cook County Highway 4 (Caribou Trail) and head north about 17 miles to the intersection with Cook County Highway 165 (The Grade). Turn left and after a quarter-mile, turn right into the road to the lake. There is a gravel ramp suitable for small boats, an outhouse, and parking for about six trucks and trailers. VITALS: Cascade Lake is 451 acres with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Overall, most of the lake is relatively shallow. The water clarity is about 8 feet. There’s only one cabin on the lake and you’ll find two free campsites on a first-come, first-served basis. The campsites feature a picnic table, fire ring and a latrine.

DECEMBER 2023

GAMEFISH SPECIES PRESENT: Walleye, northern pike, and yellow perch. WALLEYE: Walleyes are the main draw for most anglers on Cascade Lake. “The lake’s still looking like a high-quality walleye fishery,” said Matthew Weberg, assistant area fisheries supervisor, after conducting a survey of the lake earlier this fall. “Our gillnet catch of walleyes was among the highest we’ve seen in the last 30 years.” Weberg noted that the average walleye length was just under 16 inches, but anglers will find a variety of sizes, from juvenile fish to those surpassing 20 inches. “We’ve seen walleyes over 20 inches in all of our surveys,” he said. “The lake’s been really steady as for walleye relative abundance.” Walleye growth rate is slightly below the area average. NORTHERN PIKE: Anglers will also likely tangle with a few northern pike on Cascade. They’re not overly abundant, Weberg said, but their numbers have remained steady over the years. “The gillnet catch was a little lower than we’ve seen in the past, but size was similar,” Weberg said of the 2023 survey. Most pike run 18 to 24 inches. Rarely would a pike approach 30 inches in Cascade. There are a few weedy areas that are best

NORTHERN WILDS

suited to pike. Northern pike growth rate is slightly above the area average. YELLOW PERCH: Yellow perch, along with white suckers, round out the fish community in this lake. Perch don’t get very large; usually not exceeding 8 inches. They serve primarily as forage for pike and walleyes.

WATCH FOR WOOD: Some logs from the logging era remain lodged in the lakebed, so boaters should watch for them, in addition to rocks. Logs are located right in front of both campsites.

View all our Fishing Hole Maps at: northernwilds.com/fishingholemaps

SAWTOOTH RACING DOG BLOG BY ERIN ALTEMUS

Feet, Meat and Beats I know it’s cliche to say, but there is so much going through my head right now, I feel it is going to explode. Sometimes, I can make a list that helps keep an idea from floating in across the membranes of my brain and back out before I have truly absorbed what I am supposed to remember. Here are a few things I have been contemplating.

Feet

Better known as paws on our canine friends, we must spend a good deal of time caring for these assets to our athletes’ bodies. I’ve read of runners in Australia who run barefoot across great tracts of land, and so do our dogs until there is an abrasion, a ding in their pad, and then we rub on a special cream, don a bootie, and on they go, as if there were no problem at all. So, this time of year, each run starts with a look at each paw and a check of the armpits. Harnesses can start to rub, causing chafing. If there is a rub starting, we can give them a special shirt to wear under their harness to keep it from rubbing. It can take a long time to dress up a 14-dog team. Eventually, when it does snow, their toenails will start to grow, and the hair between their toes will grow, necessitating some trimming, lest they build up ice balls, which cause splits in the skin between their toes, necessitating more cream, and more booties. On certain days we go around with toenail trim-

mers and hair trimmers doing what we can to keep things tidy. Short nails mean more life out of our dog booties, which these days run $1.25 a piece, so at four paws, that’s $5 when all dressed up. Alaskan husky racing dogs are used to having their feet messed with—touched, bootied, clipped, looked at, salved, you name it. But we have one special dog named Frida who has made a reputation for herself by refusing to abide by our belief that we should be able to touch her feet. Back feet, maybe; front feet, definitely not. So when I take her to a race, I have to explain to the vets that I can’t touch her feet, so you (the vet) definitely aren’t going to be able to touch her feet—if that’s a problem, we should probably figure that out now. Then halfway through the race, the vets insist they should look at her feet, and she freaks out because she doesn’t want her feet touched, and I say I told you so. Eventually, they give up. I’ve been trying to get Frida to let me put booties on her front feet because if she won’t, she definitely won’t be running the Iditarod because a dog can’t run the Iditarod without booties on all four feet. This year, with a real lack of snowfall, we’ve had to bootie a lot of paws. I’m often found sewing booties out of a thick Cordura fabric we use for running on gravel just before a run so that we have enough to bootie the problem paws. For a

few days, there was snow to run on, providing a nice soft cushion for running, and allowing us to up our training mileage.

Meat

Another crucial commodity for fall training that has been particularly hard to come by this year has been meat for the dogs. Our regular hauling truck has been out of commission, so we’ve had to borrow meat from other mushers. Meat is a crucial part of the diet for these dogs to keep their weight up when they start running more miles each day (they are currently running 100 miles a week), and it helps them stay hydrated when the temperatures are below freezing because we are using meat to bait water—we blend it into water, making a “soup” that we feed each morning before they run. At the beginning of November, I was able to make a run to a facility near St. Cloud that supplies mushers with meat and brought home a large supply (2,000 pounds), much to our relief. Then the meat becomes part of the daily routine—pull five tubes out of the freezer to thaw each night. If they don’t get pulled, oof, big mistake, because it’s hard to hydrate dogs with frozen meat.

Beats

When we are out running dogs, on ATV or sled, both Matt and I enjoy listening to music. Titani-

Gunflint Mail Run January 6, 2024

A coating of snow makes a much softer surface than gravel for running on. | ERIN ALTEMUS um by David Guetta is the song that both embodies and perks me up when it plays on shuffle. Some days, it takes a tough state of mind to live this life that we have created for ourselves. Music transcends us to a mental place that embraces that tough place. Music can, of course, also capture beauty and magic. “I’m bulletproof, nothing to lose, fire away, fire away.” I hear the desperation in these lyrics, and some days, I’m just right there. I know this is supposed to be exciting, running the Iditarod. I know

that when I pull the hook in early March, it will be. It is also perhaps the most stressful thing I’ve ever tried to pull off. The training, the logistics, the life that I am supposed to hold together while training, working, and parenting. It’s a new kind of pressure that even with the many big things I have undertaken in my life, I have never quite felt. So, I embrace bulletproof for now; I embody Titanium. November hasn’t been the easiest of months in recent years. Perhaps by December, I will have moved on to something more Celestial.

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DECEMBER 2023

Gidaanikeshkaagonaanig Gidaanikoobijiganinaan Following the Ancestor’s Steps

Gaa-Kizhaadaged Makwa Bear Guards Fire and Friends By Zhaawanoogiizhik / Sam Zimmerman My East Coast niijii (friend) and family flew to Minnesota for an exhibition ishwaaso-anama’e-giizhik (a few weeks) back. It was their first time odishiwe (visiting) Minnesota, meeting my ingitiziimag (parents) and siblings, seeing Gichi-Gami (Lake Superior) and my home and studio, and visiting Gichi-onigamiing (Grand Portage) and Binesii-wiikwedong (Thunder Bay). I wanted to honor their visit in this new piece. While in Gichi-onigamiing (Grand Portage) dibikidaabii’iwe (driving late at night), we pulled over, turned off the car lights and stood under the beauty of the Bineiwi-miikana (Milky Way). It was such a majestic peaceful evening to watch the anangoog (stars). This piece has 257 anangoog (stars) for our collective ages, and naanan (five) pines—one for each person who kept me grounded during my time away from home. The makwa (bear) guards and cares for the family represented in the ishkode (fire) as embers dance above into the giizhig (sky). The ajijaak (crane) constellation for my own doodem (clan) is hidden in the night giizhig (sky).

DECEMBER 2023

NORTHERN WILDS

Follow my studio on Facebook and Instagram @CraneSuperior or if you have ideas for a North Shore painting, you can email me at: cranesuperiorstudio@gmail.com.

NORTHERN SKY By Deane Morrison, MN STARWATCH

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DECEMBER 2023 The dark skies of December form a fitting backdrop for the interplay of the moon and planets and the arrival of the iconic winter stars.

away, it’s the closest star cluster to Earth. The bull’s eye is the bright star Aldebaran, which is closer than the Hyades and not part of the cluster.

In the first half of the month, no moon will interfere with views of the early evening sky. In the west, Saturn drops as Earth leaves it behind in the orbital race, but it will always be up at nightfall. So will Jupiter, a beacon in the eastern sky.

December’s full moon rises about 45 minutes before sunset on the 26th. It travels the night sky amid the large knot of bright winter constellations, near the left leg of the Gemini twin Castor.

East of Jupiter, two famous star clusters herald winter’s approach. About midway between Jupiter and Capella— the bright star in the northeast—you’ll see the Pleiades cluster. The Pleiades are estimated to be about 100 million years old, or scarcely two percent of the sun’s age. The cluster contains thousands of stars born in the same stellar nursery and is approximately 400 light-years away. Below the Pleiades is the V-shaped Hyades cluster, which forms the face of Taurus, the bull. A mere 153 light-years

In the morning sky on the 1st, brilliant Venus appears in the southeast close to Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, the maiden. But the two quickly separate as Venus sinks and Spica soars. A waning moon visits Spica on the 8th and Venus the 9th. The bright star to the upper left of the pair is Arcturus, in Bootes, the herdsman. Winter begins with the solstice, at 9:27 p.m. on the 21st. At that moment, the sun reaches a point over the Tropic of Capricorn and begins its long journey back north.

For more information on the University of Minnesota’s public viewings of the night sky at its Duluth and Twin Cities campuses, visit: d.umn.edu/planet.

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North Shore Health is seeking applicants for a Director of Nursing of the Care Center. The DON is responsible for the leadership to plan, develop, direct, coordinate, evaluate and revise the efficient and effective delivery of quality nursing care at North Shore Health designed in the Household Model of Care. Provides leadership for the implementation and evaluation of departmental goals, standards of performance, resident safety and quality initiatives and oversees corrective action plans. Ensures North Shore Living meets regulatory, legal and organizational guidelines. Ensures resident care and services are provided and improved through interdisciplinary teamwork, using clinical practice guidelines, evidence based outcomes or best practice recommendations while creating an experience of home that uplifts resident choice and opportunities for a meaningful life and promotes resident and family satisfaction. North Shore Health Care Center is a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) licensed by the State of Minnesota.

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DECEMBER 2023

A Song Over Miskwaa Rapids A Novel By Linda LeGarde Grover

University of Minnesota Press, 2023, $21.95

Trauma Sponges

Critters of Minnesota

Dispatches From the Scarred Heart of Emergency Response

Pocket Guide to Animals in Your State By Alex Troutman

Adventure Publications, 2023, $7.95

By Jeremy Norton

Returning to the fictional Mozhay Point Ojibwe reservation in northern Minnesota, Linda LeGarde Grover reveals traumas old and new as Margie Robineau, amid a fight to keep her family’s long-held allotment land, uncovers events connected to a long-ago escape plan across the Canadian border, and the burial—at once figurative and painfully real—of not one crime but two. Both moving and mysterious, the novel also features a chorus of female spirit voices who help guide and shape the story with family, myth, history, and humor. Filled with gripping prose, A Song Over Miskwaa Rapids is an engaging and thought-provoking read. —Breana Johnson

University of Minnesota Press, 2023, $25.95

Critters of Minnesota is a wildlife pocket guide for kids that’s informative, concise, and easy to use. Written by wildlife biologist Alex Troutman, this handy book includes 63 critters, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Each species is showcased with a high-quality photograph and facts such as habitat, range, size, and preferred food sources. Illustrations of the animal’s tracks complement the information, and a “Did You Know?” section provides interesting facts and trivia. Kids of all ages will enjoy this guide.—Breana Johnson

In this remarkable memoir, Minneapolis firefighter Jeremy Norton marshals 22 years of professional experience to offer, with compassion and critique, an extraordinary portrayal of emergency responders. The book captures the personal and social toll the job exacts, as well as the unique perspective afforded by sustained direct encounters with the sick, the dying, and the dead. Norton’s thought-provoking, behind-the-scenes depiction of the work of first response and last resort starkly reveals the realities of humanity at its finest and its worst. Trauma Sponges is both interesting and informative.—Breana Johnson

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Give Them (and Yourself) Canoe Country All Year Long! • 9”x12” Wall Calendar • Extraordinary photos with locations noted • Moon phases • Hunting and fishing dates • Permit information • Emergency contacts • Camping tips • Natural history info • Donations to youth BWCA trip scholarships

Order by mail, phone, or online or find it at your favorite store. See our website for store locations.

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Strange Tales Historical Monument for the Indigenous Group of Seven By Elle AndraWarner

A modern-day ‘historic’ event took place in Nipigon, Ontario, in October of this year. An impressive monument was officially unveiled at Nipigon’s Bridgeview Lookout Tower, overlooking the Nipigon River. But this wasn’t an ordinary kind of monument. It was honouring the Indigenous Group of Seven and one of its famous members, the Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau—who was born and spent his early years in the area. Topping the monument is a large metal bird—Copper Thunderbird—with airbrushed images of Morrisseau and his artwork. Directly below is an interpretative panel written in Ojibwe, English, and French, which celebrates Morrisseau and the other six artists of the Indigenous Group of Seven. Morrisseau’s spirit name is Ozaawaabio-binesi, which in Cree means “Copper Thunderbird.” Attending the installation ceremony was Eugene Morrisseau, one of Morrisseau’s seven children. “It makes me proud. It’s a great honour for my father because he was born there—that’s his traditional area,” said Eugene. The monument is part of the Lake Superior Tourism Project and was developed in collaboration with the staff of Superior Country, Norval Morriseau’s estate; Joseph Sanchez (a member of Indigenous Group of Seven); Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabe First Nation, and the Red Rock Indian Band. Designed by Firedog Communications, it was fabricated and installed by BHP Productions (both Thunder Bay companies). So, who are the Indigenous Group of Seven? Besides Morrisseau, the professional artists include Jackson Beardy, Eddy Cobbines, Alex Janvier, Daphne Odjig, Carl Ray, and Joseph Sanchez. Beginning as a trail-blazing collective in the early 1970s, they had a goal to have their work included as art and not labelled “Indigenous craft.” Their group name—Indigenous Group of Seven—was influenced by the other Group of Seven formed by Euro-Canadian artists in the 1920s and famous for their paintings of the Canadian wilderness. In a 2018 interview, Sanchez told CBC’s Radio Active, “Native art was always just considered craft and not considered fine art. We’re very committed to the community and to bringing contemporary Native art into the mainstream of Canada and the world in general.”

At Nipigon’s Bridgeview Lookout Tower, a monument was unveiled in October honouring the Indigenous Group of Seven and its member Norval Morrisseau, who was born and lived in the area. | JAKE ALFIERI And the Indigenous Group of Seven were successful in their goal. Here’s a snapshot look at the seven Indigenous artists, listed in alphabetical order. 1. Jackson Beardy (1944-1984) was an Ojibway born on the Garden Hills Reserve at Island Lake, Manitoba. He was a residential school survivor, studied at Winnipeg’s University of Manitoba, and was a “pioneer in expressing the new iconography of his people by reconceptualizing Indigenous symbolism” (Memorable Manitobans). 2. An Ojibway born in Warroad, MN, Eddy Cobbines (1933-1996) was raised on Manitoba’s Buffalo Point Reserve. While in the U.S. Army, he developed his artistic skills during leisure time. His art, which has been described as “gentle flowing lines,” helped to define contemporary Native Canadian art. 3. World-renowned Alex Janvier (of Dene and Saulteaux descent) was born in 1935 at Cold Lake, Alberta, and attended residential school where the principal encouraged his artistic side. A pioneer in Indigenous art in Canada and who still paints today, Janvier is a graduate of Alberta’s College of Art in Calgary. On his website is a description stating, “His vibrant colours and distinctive lines tell

you stories about his unique culture and life experience.” 4. Sometimes referred to as “Picasso of the North,” the worldwide highly acclaimed Norval Morrisseau (1932-2007) was a self-taught Ojibway artist born and raised along the southeast shores of Lake Nipigon on the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabe First Nation (formerly known as Sand Point First Nation). Morrisseau’s artwork evolved into bold vibrant colours outlined in black lines of people and animals with a connection to Indigenous traditions and stories. He was the founder of the Woodland School of Art. 5. Daphne Odjig (1919-2016) was an Odawa-Potawatomi internationally recognized visual artist who was born and raised on the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Indian Reserve on Ontario’s Manitoulin Island. Her decades of artwork featured lyrical legend paintings, and she was the first First Nation woman to have an exhibit at the National Gallery of Canada (2009). She was the recipient of many awards, including Canada’s Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts (2007).

Ontario and painted in the style of the Woodland School (also known as “legend painting”), mentored by Morrisseau. In describing his work, he said, “What you are looking at is ancient and sacred. In fact, what you see could be part of my soul.” 7. The only non-Canadian in the group is artist and curator Joseph Sanchez, born in 1948 in Trinidad, CO. Of Pueblo, Spanish, and German heritage, Sanchez was in the U.S. Marine Corps before moving to Canada and later returned to live in the U.S. During his career, he was deputy director and chief curator at Maine’s Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (2002-2011) and later contemporary curator of the Native American Art at New Hampshire’s Dartmouth University. The ground-breaking Indigenous Group of Seven brought professional recognition and respect throughout the world for Indigenous artists and their artwork.

6. Mostly a self-taught Cree artist, Carl Ray (1943-1978) was born on Sandy Lake First Nation in Northwestern NORTHERN WILDS

DECEMBER 2023

218-387-2131 101 West highway 61 grand marais, mn 55604

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DECEMBER 2023

NORTHERN WILDS

218-387-2131 101 West highway 61 grand marais, mn 55604

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N E W 77 Wi lde rn e ss T ra i l

1 1 P o p l ar Cr e e k D r

Amazing opportunity to own a private getaway on 309’ of Poplar This sweet, half-log sided cabin has all your modern conveniences, and Lake. The 4BR/5BA house is currently operating as a B&B on 7.2A loads of privacy on a spectacular Tom Lake lot! The lot is gently rolling, with BWCA access and is only about 30 miles from Grand Marais. The features 189 feet of Tom Lake shoreline, has incredible views, mature BWCA, hiking trails, bike trails, and miles of ski trails including the trees, and lots of sunshine. If you are looking for the “get-away-from-itBanadad system all provide endless opportunity for outdoor advenall” appeal with the modern conveniences, this is the place for you. tures. The area is rich in wildlife. Make it your ideal north woods MLS 6111205 $389,900 escape or dream business or both rolled into one! MLS 6109270 $749,900

LAND Greenwood L a k e Imagine calling this magnificent piece of premier Greenwood Lakeshore, YOUR private, Northwoods retreat! Very private with over 700’ of lakeshore; 4+ acres; 80’ of creek frontage; AND abuts Federal land. MLS 6110312

$539,900

3 5 & 4 0 No r di c Star D r i ve Incredible opportunity for a residential development in the city limits of Grand Marais! The 3.72A property offers multiple options to build on the west side of Grand Marais. MLS 6110418

$399,900

O nag o n L a ke

10 M u rp h y Dri v e

Enjoy the natural beauty of forested lands on this affordable 1.62A lot, located at the end of the historic Gunflint Trail. 200’ of lake shore, providing plenty of privacy.

Beautiful piece of land with a healthy forest, a Lake Superior view, and 10 minutes from Grand Marais. Features a screen house and solid driveway.

ML S 6109045

$79,900

d pen

MLS 6108990

ing

$127,900

Pending

XXX Popl ar L a k e

H oney mo o n Trai l

1 1 X X H i g h way 6 1 W

11 A lta Miik a n a R d

There are few mid-trail parcels that feature this much privacy! 10A totally surrounded by US Forest Service lands and only about a mile and a half off the Gunflint Trail.

Rural, private, 10A forested land (mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees) and close to Lutsen lakes: Caribou, White Pine, Christine, Pike, and more.

Unique opportunity to find a 1A lot in the heart of Grand Marais. Directly abouts Highway 61 with commercial usage.

Residential acreage in the heart of Lutsen ready for your north shore getaway. Close to all of the outdoor recreational activities.

MLS 6110281

$69,900

MLS 6108969

$114,000

MLS 6108208

$199,900

ML S 6110680

$139,900

COMMERCIAL 12XX Highway 61 W

1315 E Highway 61

RARE opportunity to find almost 6A of mixed use located in the heart of Grand Marais, with city sewer and city water. This property has approximately 825’ of frontage on Highway 61 and access off 1st Street.

Incredible commercial opportunity at Grand Marais City Limits Current use includes a 3BR rental unit, office, and home! Cathedral ceilings, partially finished second floor, custom designed kitchen, main bedroom with ensuite & patio access.

MLS 6108209 $789,900

6104280 $1,250,000

NORTHERN WILDS

DECEMBER 2023

218-387-2131 101 West highway 61 grand marais, mn 55604

LAKE SUPERIOR

NEW 7 2 C h i m n ey Ro c k

Ro a d

Modern amenities meet classic style in this quality-built Clarence Kemp/Dale Mulfinger designed 3-bedroom home! Capturing panoramic Lake Superior views with 223 feet of accessible ledge rock, this home is all about comfort and tranquility. The quintessential covered porch beckons “Welcome Home”--enter and be mesmerized by the mood of Gichi-Gami; dark and stormy or peaceful and calm, the freshwater sea is front and center! You’ll appreciate the high-quality workmanship and consistency in every room.

MLS 6111288

$1,249,500 NEW 3 2 8 0 Hi g h w a y 6 1 W This 3-bedroom 2-bath home overlooks over 200’ of gorgeous Lake Superior ledge rock shoreline and has amazing panoramic views. The house sits above the lake with an abundance of windows to take in a glorious sunrise over the water. The yard is lovely with mature trees, garden space and a two-stall garage. Butterwort Cliffs Scientific & Natural Area is directly to the east and provides additional privacy. This home is approximately 8 miles from downtown Grand Marais and within walking distance of Cascade State Park.

MLS 6111396

$749,900 3 8 4 X H i g hway 6 1 E

7 8 Tro ll’s Trai l

Exceptionally stunning Lake Superior property, perfect for building your ultimate North Shore retreat, with over a thousand feet of shoreline! This 5+ acre lot has officially been subdivided into 2 independent lots and is part of the aptly named Paradise Beach. Imagine owning this beautiful cobblestone beach surrounded by government land.

Affordable Lake Superior! Over 300’ of shared lakeshore and over 7 acres of shared land! Great opportunity to build a cabin or year round home. Forested area, firepit picnic area, lawn area--sit back and relax while someone else takes care of the plowing and lawn care.

MLS 610784

MLS 6108596

$149,900

$1,200,000

DECEMBER 2023

NORTHERN WILDS

Enjoy Fun Times for the Holidays! Cheers to the New Year!

Call TimberWolff for Your Personal Tour of Homes & Land!!! Local (218) 663-8777 Toll free (877) 664-8777

WATER, WATER, WATER AND THE BIG LAKE!

D L SO PURE, COOL, PRISTINE, SUPERIOR! This Post and Beam Lindal Cedar Home has all the bells and whistles including 245ft of shoreline on Lake Superior! The living room’s wall of glass displays each big-lake moment and the woodstove adds ambiance. The kitchen is class-act and off the kitchen is a sunroom, a good place for deep thought or a deep snooze! Plenty of room here: three bedrooms, three baths, A loft to sneak away to for a good book or everyone cuddled up for movie-night. The primary bedroom is dreamy under lofted ceiling with an ensuite bath. Down below is a spacious family room with impressive views of the lake. Big ‘ol garage with stairs up to a room that is great for storage. Outside is a sprawling deck, perfect for BBQ’s! The locale is a strategic basecamp for North Shore Fun: Lutsen and Grand Marais aren’t far, Splitrock just down the road. Or, bring enough groceries for a month! Hole up among the cool air, pristine forest, and neighboring 3 quadrillion gallons of freshwater, better known as Superior!

MLS#6108922 $949,000

DRAMATIC VIEWS OF GRAND MARAIS’S EAST BAY WITH GREAT INCOME! This classy, Scandinavian Modern, 2 bedroom, well-

appointed unit is just a stone’s throw from the lake. Enjoy the views while soaking in the sounds of the big lake! The open Kitchen and Living room give you plenty of space to enjoy meals before going out to explore, and the balcony is the perfect place to enjoy the sunrises. The spacious bedrooms give everyone space to relax. There is nothing to worry about with this property; Come use it, enjoy, and let it earn while you’re off doing you.

MLS#6110340 $339,000

CARIBOU LAKE PARCEL IN LUTSEN! Rare opportunity to acquire a lake lot on the coveted Caribou Lake in Lutsen! Nestled in the quiet Sawmill Bay, this lot offers a unique opportunity to build your dreamy cabin or home. Climb up to the top of the knob to see the views stretch out before you! Work with the layout of the land to create a magical and one-of-a-kind place! Located at a cul de sac, this parcel is accessed by privately year-round maintained road with electricity at the road! 1.71 acres and 242 ft of rugged shoreline can explore the best area for your future dock to enjoy the lake. Plenty of room for you to play and relax!

D L O S FREI LEIF HAUS MLS#6100212 $699,000

MLS#6111272 $329,000 NINEMILE LAKE HOME Enjoy this Fabulous vacation or year-round home at Ninemile Lake! This 3 bedroom home doesn’t disappoint with floor to ceiling windows and vaulted ceilings in the Great Room, a spacious Kitchen and even a covered porch this home has everything you need to relax and unwind! Shared access to 1800ft of shoreline on Ninemile lake and close to close to many inland lakes, plus direct access to snowmobile, ATV and hiking trails means you can enjoy all your favorite outdoor activities! Visit today and start planning your summer Up North!

E L A S ING D N E P

SWEET VIEWS OF GRAND MARAIS VILLAGE, EAST BAY, ARTISTS POINT WITH GREAT INCOME! Leave your stress behind at this East Bay Suite.

With 3 bedrooms you have room for the whole family to enjoy their time on the North Shore! The Large Kitchen and Dining Room space give you space to cook large meals for everyone or walk down the street to get a quick meal at one of the close restaurants! With 500ft of shared Lake Superior Shoreline you can easily watch the sunrises or sunsets with an unobstructed view. Wander over to Worlds Best Donuts to get a yummy snack or stop at the Beaver House to get bait to catch the night’s dinner. The options are endless! And while you are away this Suite will pay for itself in Rentals! Check it out today! MLS#6110341 $403,000

MLS#6107181 $269,900 PRICE REDUCED

FIND THOSE NEW LISTINGS FIRST!! EMAIL INFO@TIMBERWOLFFREALTY.COM TO SIGN UP FOR AUTO EMAIL! NORTHERN WILDS

DECEMBER 2023

Enjoy Fun Times for the Holidays! Cheers to the New Year!

Call TimberWolff for Your Personal Tour of Homes & Land!!! Local (218) 663-8777 Toll free (877) 664-8777

HOMES, HOMES, HOMES, READ ALL ABOUT ‘EM!!

E L A S ING D N E P GOOD LIVING IN SCHROEDER

Just over thirty minutes to Grand Marais, tucked away on the hill of the Cramer Road in Schroeder is this cute 2-bedroom home. With a large yard and 3+ acres to explore, you will have plenty of space to enjoy the seasons. Walk inside from the large deck overlooking the yard and enjoy the open layout. From the entryway giving you space for all your seasonal gear (that means no mud in the house!!) to the open Kitchen and Living room with a ton of natural light, you will be able to relax and unwind at the end of the day. Even a Large Deck overlooking the yard and detached garage! Located just a minute drive from Highway 61 you have easy access to all your favorite places like Schroeder Bakery or Temperance River. Or travel further on the Cramer Road to many inland lakes and spend the day fishing! All that is missing is you!

MLS# 6111108 $285,000

NEW! BREATHE EASY IN HOVLAND!

Hovland, what a groovy little town on the edge of the biggest lake around and less than 20 minutes from the Grand Marais harbor! The Arrowhead Trail is the Gateway to sprawling forests, lakes, trails and solitude. Affordability alert! Can’t find a home in Cook County to fit your budget? Here you go! Come have a look at this sweet abode on 2.4 acres. Inside, the home is a cozy retreat as would be expected from one of the good ones from back in the day. Spacious kitchen looks out to the gardens, Living room is just the right size and overlooks the ancient lilac that scents the yard and home via summer windows. Currently one bedroom, but the upper office, with the addition of a new egress window, could house the kids, visiting family, or all the guests who want a piece of the action up in the Tip of the Arrowhead! Outside there is a terrific half garage, half workshop awaiting your favorite activities- from a fly tying station to a place for all the tools or toys. Visit today and make this property fit your vision.

$229,000 MLS#6111287

D L SO

RUSTIC CABIN LIVING NEAR PIKE LAKE! MLS#6110497 $199,900

HOME ON A HILL IN THE SILENT WOODS!

NEW! BEAUTIFUL LOG HOME NEAR CHRISTINE LAKE IN LUTSEN! Enjoy this beautiful Log home in Lutsen just a minute from Christine Lake! Vaulted

Ceilings and large Log Beams give you the ambiance of a cabin in the Northwoods, while the Open Floor Plan gives you all the space you crave. Enjoy cooking in the spacious kitchen with room for all your cooking accessories or walk out onto the deck to enjoy a BBQ. 3 bedrooms gives you space for everyone to unwind after the day’s adventures. Amazing location with 1.90 acres and surrounded by State and Federal land. Enjoy all your favorite outdoor activities just outside your door from biking to boating! Oversized garage gives you room for all your gear AND 2 cars. All that is missing is you! Visit today!

MLS#TBA $599,000

Up the Sawbill Trail in a vast stretch of Superior National Forest is a home on a hill. Built by the current owners it is a home of simplicity on 40 acres! Windows are oriented to take in warm winter sun and sweeping views. A sweet deck overlooks it all, including lady slippers in early summer and a pond at the bottom of the hill, spring fed and pure. It’s made for off-grid living with solar panels and a back-up generator. Inside, the home is about comfort and oneness with its locale: indigenous stones surround the capable wood stoves, beams from a pioneer horse-barn support the roof, cabinets from a caring neighbor provide character. Propane heat is available when the wood stoves cool. Two bedrooms and additional rooms for the office or your vision. The earth sheltered home includes a root cellar to store the food: perhaps blueberry jam from your own berries. A three-season porch is just the thing when the skeets are hungry or a place to nod off after harvesting the garden. Explore in all directions: flyfish or head out on a mountain bike along miles of forest roads. BWCA entry points are close. Tofte and Lutsen are nearby. Or stay home and enjoy the quietness the woods provide!

MLS#6110010 $299,900 PRICE REDUCED

VISIT US AT TIMBERWOLFFREALTY.COM CHECK OUT OUR WEEKLY BLOG AND FACEBOOK POSTS OF FUN TIMES ON THE NORTH SHORE! 44

DECEMBER 2023

NORTHERN WILDS

Enjoy Fun Times for the Holidays! Cheers to the New Year!

Call TimberWolff for Your Personal Tour of Homes & Land!!! Local (218) 663-8777 Toll free (877) 664-8777

CAMPN’, HUNTN’, FUN GETAWAY LAND, INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE! SILVER BAY AREA

LUTSEN AREA

ENJOY THE VIEWS FROM ABOVE! Imagine

49+ ACRES WITH 1600 FT OF SHORELINE ON BIGSBY LAKE IN LUTSEN! Have the

waking up every morning to a view of Lake Superior. This property could give you that! Located at the top of a hill you could be overlooking Lake Superior while drinking your morning coffee! With a driveway in place (needs a little TLC) and a circle turnaround you have the first steps in place to build the getaway of your dreams! We think the best building site is right off the driveway, but you will have to explore to decide for yourself. Great location just outside of Silver Bay giving you close access to all the Hiking, Biking and ATV Trails. Or maybe you just want to enjoy the abundant wildlife that also wanders around the 9-acre parcel. All that is missing is you! MLS#6108926 $108,000

D SOL

LUTSEN AREA FINLAND AREA BUILD YOUR VACATION GETAWAY AT NINEMILE LAKE!

.18 acres with 1800ft of shared shoreline on Ninemile Lake! With septic, water and electric all on site all you have to do is hook up to it! Easily start your project and be able to enjoy your time Up North! MLS#6107242 $60,000

LAKE VIEW LOT! GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A LAKE HOME AT THE VILLAGE AT NINEMILE!

Fish the day away from the 1800ft of shared shoreline on Ninemile Lake or travel to one of the many inland lakes that are close by. Snowmobile from your front door! All the important infrastructure is there: Septic, water and electricity- all you have to do is hook up to it! Start making your dream Up North home a reality today! MLS#6107243 $60,000

START ENJOYING YOUR INLAND LAKE DREAM AT THE VILLAGE AT NINEMILE!

This .60 acre lot was recently created by combining two lots so it offers plenty of room to build your dream cabin or home with an amazing lake view and direct lake access! Great opportunity for the outdoor enthusiast with snowmobile and ATV trails right outside your door! 1800ft of shared lake frontage on Ninemile Lake and infrastructure in place for Septic, Well and Electricity, all you have to do is hook up to it. You will be ready to relax and unwind before you know it! MLS#6107241 $150,000

SCHROEDER AREA 25 ACRES OF BEAUTIFUL BOREAL WOODS JUST SOUTH OF SCHROEDER NEAR SUGARLOAF COVE. Great mix of birch, aspen, and

LE G A S conifers. Not to mention the neighbors: deer, INandfox,getmoose, DCome wolves, woodpeckers! it! N E P MLS#6111096 $109,900

NEW! MAPLE FOREST LOT IN LUTSEN! This

lot is part of the Sawmill Bay sites with deeded/shared lake access to Caribou Lake in Lutsen! Located on a quiet maintained road which includes year-round access. Gently sloping land with many sites to choose from to build a home or cabin. Lutsen location allows for quick drive to Lutsen Mountains Ski Area, multiple x-country ski trails or if you prefer to just explore the woods with snowshoes! Winter season is upon us, and this will be a great opportunity to explore the layout of the land and make plans to build your dreamy North Shore escape. During the fall season you will get to enjoy the colors in your own backyard – fiery red maples and brilliant oranges! Imagine not having to travel to see the colors but instead just walking out your front door. Walk down the association path to cool off in the lake or maybe take the canoe out! So many opportunities to enjoy all the North Shore has in one place, what are you waiting for? MLS#6111271 $105,000

NEW! CARIBOU LAKE PARCEL IN LUTSEN!

wilderness at your fingertips and STILL have room to create your own Up North Home Base for all your favorite outdoor activities! Watch the wildlife all around you as you sit back and let the stress of the world melt away. Beautiful setting with mature cedar trees and a mixed forest, perfect place to enjoy nature and wildlife. Ward Lake public access is nearby, take the walking path carrying your canoe and Caribou Lake Public Landing is only a few minutes driving distance, great place to spend the day fishing! This is the Ideal parcel to build your North Woods adventure base and create multiple trails, take a snowmobile or ATV ride or just relax by the lake, perfect for an outdoor adventurer! MLS# 6110674 $249,900

E SA L ING D PEN

GRAND MARAIS AREA RARE OPPORTUNITY IN THE CITY OF GRAND MARAIS!

Large parcels don’t come up for sale very often, especially within the city of Grand Marais, this is your opportunity! There are many possibilities to develop this 2+ acre parcel, The Property was just surveyed and there is a designated 33 ft wide easement on the east side to build a road to this parcel from E 5th ST. The location couldn’t be any better with schools, YMCA, and the Community center within walking distance. Easily get to the Gunflint Trail, just a block away, and spend the day fishing at one of the many close inland lakes. Hiking trails, Biking trails, Cross Country Ski Trails and Snowmobile Trails are just a minute away, you will always have access to the different seasons adventures. Visit today and start planning your getaway Up North! MLS#6107788 $179,900

E SA L ING D PEN

Rare opportunity to acquire a lake lot on the coveted Caribou Lake in Lutsen! Nestled in the quiet Sawmill Bay, this lot offers a unique opportunity to build your dreamy cabin or home. Climb up to the top of the knob to see the views stretch out before you! Work with the layout of the land to create a magical and one-ofa-kind place! Located at a cul de sac, this parcel is accessed by privately year-round maintained road with electricity at the road! 1.71 acres and 242 ft of rugged shoreline can explore the best area for your future dock to enjoy the lake. Plenty of room for you to play and relax! MLS#6111272 $329,000

START UP AT TAIT LAKE! Are you ready to have your own place on the North Shore, Build the cabin or home of your dreams and start creating memories? Located in a great location near Tait Lake, away from the hustle and bustle this lot already has the driveway and building site in place. Deeded access to both boat launches you will be able to fish the day away with ease. And Lutsen is just 20 minutes away for Golfing, Skiing, Restaurants and Shopping. Eagle Mountain is only 10 minutes away for a hike to the highest point in Minnesota! MLS#6108876 $67,000

CHECK OUT OUR NEW LOCALLY CR AFTED TIMBERWOLFF WEBSITE , SEARCH ALL MLS LISTINGS AT TIMBERWOLFFREALTY.COM NORTHERN WILDS

DECEMBER 2023

CONSIDERING SELLING? We know this is a big and important decision. We’re here to guide you through the process, offer advice and support you in navigating many aspects of selling that are often overlooked.

STEPHANIE DRISKELL | Agent (218) 206-5374 stephanie@lutsenrealestategroup.com

C A L L F O R A F R E E M A R K E T A N A LY S I S

Give one of our “Awesome Agents” a call today to learn more about why it remains a good time to sell irrespective of rising interest rates and other uncertain national and regional market conditions. Our team of experts will provide you with a F R E E Market Analysis on your home and/or property and outline why Lutsen Real Estate Group is your B E S T C H O I C E when considering listing your home for sale.

SARENA CROWLEY | Agent

W E A R E VA C AT I O N R E N TA L E X P E R T S Looking to buy a property for a vacation rental? Through our sister company, Cascade Vacation Rentals, we have gained incredible knowledge about what North Shore visitors are looking for. We are happy to use that information to help guide you in purchasing a property that is not only a good fit for you, but will also increase your chances of high rental income.

C A S C A D E VA C AT I O N R E N TA L S . C O M STEVE SURBAUGH | Broker

Peace

REALTORS®: Mike Raymond, Broker • Jake Patten, Assoc. Broker, Jess Smith, Realtor • Sue Nichols, Assoc. Broker • Gail J. Englund, GRI

Red Pine Realty • (800) 387-9599 (218) 387-9599 • Fax (218) 387-9598 • info@RedPineRealty.com PO Box 938, 14 S. Broadway, Grand Marais, MN 55604

LAKE SUPERIOR PROPERTIES

PRIVACY ON LAKE SUPERIOR – NEW STRUCTURES IN PLACE

WATERFRONT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Beautiful waterfront commercial property in downtown district of Grand Marais, which includes 2 apartments overlooking Lake Superior, and a retail/rental business. Also included in the sale is a 5 acre parcel on County Road 7, with a 52' x 42' warehouse for boat and other inventory storage and deliveries.

MLS#6103262 $1,950,000

Deeply wooded lot on Big Bay has great views of the lake and hills along the coast. Privacy on the 500ft of shoreline with its own long driveway from Hwy 61 and a buffer of state land. Charming guest cottage is being completed with flowing, multilevel decks and a unique privy. You have a place to start while you finish renovation of an old cabin that sits right on the shore by variance from the county. The contractor is ready to go.

MLS#6110389 $549,000

INLAND WATER PROPERTIES

SALIENG PE N D

CLASSIC LOG CHARM – CARIBOU LAKE LAKE SUPERIOR PRIVATE RETREAT Unique private place - a park-like preserve all your own. The 2000 ft of rugged lakeshore and dense boreal forest create a place to immerse oneself in the magic of the ancient shore. The 19 acres is accessible by a 1/4 mile of boardwalk and deck overlooks. Dramatic points protect the private views. Power and phone are waiting for your choice of building sites.

MLS#6107927 $1,750,000

SOLD

The classic feel and warmth of a 1938 log home with modern upgrades is a rare find. Nothing can match the rich, deep tones of the wood patina on the cozy interior, the cobblestone fireplace, beamed ceilings and rich wood floors. Master bedroom/bath and cozy den with second fireplace. Covered patio and south views of Caribou Lake feel private and secluded. Small bunk house for guests. Large, heated 3 stall garage/workshop with attic storage & a shed for the boat. Everything has been lovingly maintained and updated. Rental license in place. Perfect hide-a-way on 2.4 acres of wooded privacy with over 290 feet of south facing shoreline. Permanent dock and accessible shoreline.

MLS#6111370 $949,900

NEW!

INLAND WATER PROPERTIES

DEVIL TRACK LAKE HOME Three bedroom, 3 bath home on 2 acres of dense forest and 200 ft of shoreline on coveted north shore of the lake. Quality-built 1981 home has many recent updates, including windows and roof. Updated kitchen with new slate tile floors, granite countertops, cabinets and appliances. Open floor plan on main floor with hardwood floors, lofted ceilings, large windows and expansive deck accessed by 2 patio doors. Primary bedroom has lake views and a private bath with walk-in closet. 2-car attached garage and a detached 2-car garage. Dock and lift included.

MLS#6108491 $599,000

LOON LAKE TURN-KEY LOG HOME Stunning, brand new, turn-key log house on Loon Lake! Many convenient amenities make this property user friendly, and suitable for rental or residence. The 746 square feet of living space is meticulously detailed with textures and tones that draw your attention while also calming your busy mind. Enjoy this property year-round as the destination itself, or as a gateway into the vast wilderness that surrounds it. Appropriately set on Solitude Drive, this is the perfect place to escape the chaos of life and be still. Book a showing before the snow flies, and nestle in for the winter at your own Gunflint Trail lake property.

MLS#6110987 $549,000 PRICE REDUCED

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS Amazing land situated on Chicago Bay at the mouth of the Flute Reed River. Comfortable home with beautiful views. Guest cabin currently operated as a vacation rental. A 900 square foot garage with insulated space on 2nd level. Main home has 3 bedrooms, full bath on each level and a 3-season porch overlooking the lake and river. House needs wall coverings in the main floor bedroom and 2nd level. Home is built to high quality standards with in-floor heat, top of the line windows, water from the lake with UV, triple filtration and a circulating heat pump providing hot water on demand.

MLS#6110397

CLASSIC GUNFLINT TRAIL CABIN Nestled in the towering evergreens is this classic Gunflint Trail cabin that has been enjoyed and cared for by the same family for 50 years! Enchanting inside and outside with impressive fireplaces built of stone directly from Gunflint Lake, 3 levels of living space designed to take advantage of the views along 422ft of lakeshore and a setting crafted to be an oasis either as a 2nd home or a year-round homestead. Mile O' Pine is plowed by the county providing easy year-round access.

MLS#6111135 $749,900

GREENWOOD LAKE PANORAMIC VIEWS Greenwood Lake property offers the best of lake life and the north woods experience. Vaulted living area, open kitchen and dining area offer unobstructed lake views from nearly every angel. Cabin has 3 bedrooms with ample closet storage. Clear railing system on the deck allows you to take in the panoramic views. A short walk down to the wind protected harbor & swimming beach. Off-grid living with amenities of solar power, custom water collection system and propane.

MLS#6108310 $549,000

www.RedPineRealty.com • Locally owned and operated since 1996 • info@RedPineRealty.com 48

DECEMBER 2023

NORTHERN WILDS

INLAND WATER PROPERTIES

& CABINS HOMES & CABINS REALTORS®:HOMES Mike Raymond, Broker • Jake Patten, Assoc. Broker, Jess Smith, Realtor • Sue Nichols, Assoc. Broker • Gail J. Englund, GRI

Red Pine Realty • (800) 387-9599 (218) 387-9599 • Fax (218) 387-9598 • info@RedPineRealty.com PO Box 938, 14 S. Broadway, Grand Marais, MN 55604

TOM LAKE RETREAT CABIN Drop in your boat and turn on the inverter to power up your updated and turn-key cabins! Property has been meticulously maintained. Solar powers all the comforts of home. Behind the main cabin, is a 2-bedroom bunkhouse with half-bath and game room. Internet and electric are coming to Brumbaugh Rd in 2025! Maintenance-free steel roofing on all 5 buildings, including sauna, tool shed & heated outhouse! Nearly 4 acres and over 300 feet of shoreline on Tom Lake.

MLS#6108657 $399,000

SOLD

EFFICIENT 2 BED 2 BATH HOME ON 4 ACRES Well insulated and heat efficient home on 4+ wooded acres has all the amenities you need while maintaining a relatively compact footprint. A convenient detached garage will keep your vehicles and tools covered, and give you space for extra storage or doing small building projects out of the elements. Property is bordered by several hundred acres of Federal Land, making this a perfect wilderness homestead just 20 minutes from downtown Grand Marais.

MLS#6110786 $379,000

KELLY’S HILL RD 5+ ACRES A short 15 min drive from Grand Marais sits this beautiful 5+ acres! With plenty of room to expand, this property features raised garden beds and trails throughout! With some selective clearing you could open it up to a lovely view of Lake Superior! Power and high-speed internet are on site along with a 12x20 storage shed. Superior Hiking Trail access just down the road.

MLS#6110837 $150,000

RIVER/CREEK FRONTAGE

TOM LAKE PEACEFUL HAVEN A beautiful drive through the forested hills of the Hovland area takes you to this peaceful haven on Tom Lake. A total of 32 acres on each side of South Tom Lake Road. North half has 660 feet of shoreline with a mixture of deciduous and evergreen forest. Southern half slopes gently up from the road and is a mature deciduous forest. From the lakeshore, enjoy summer sunsets to the northwest or peaceful morning sunrises.

MLS#6108188

CHARMING HOME ON 19+ ACRES Located only 25 minutes from Grand Marais. This 1 bed 1 bath home features a large loft with ample storage, open concept floor plan. Home has in floor heat and a large woodburning stove that is sure to take the chill out of the air in the cooler months. Close to Judge Magney State Park, Lake Superior a short drive away. Privacy abounds and miles of backroads to explore!

MLS#6111172 $350,000

40+ ACRES ON COUNTY RD 14 Over 40 acres with a creek running through and 1300ft of County road frontage. Very nice potential building sites in this parcel. West and south property boundaries are abutted by Federal land. Zoned FAR-3, could be subdivided, or you can maintain the elbow room with your own beautiful, private homestead.

MLS#6108229 $330,000

POPLAR LAKE LOT

Over 300 feet of private shoreline on Poplar Lake and just under 2 acres of land. Lots of spruce, cedar, tag alder and diamond willow creates a haven for moose and other wildlife. Bring rubber boots and a camera to check this one out. Beautiful shoreline in a friendly neighborhood!

MLS#6108233 $199,000

HOMES & CABINS

COZY OFF-GRID CABIN ON 83 ACRES Well-loved, kit log cabin perched atop 83 acres, bordered by MN State land. Being this deep in the woods, it is a treat to catch a glimpse of Lake Superior on a clear day from the south facing bedroom window. Interior is accented by beautiful diamond willow railings and custom ironwork. Cozy off-grid cabin with propane lights, refrigerator and cooking range reduce utility expenses.

MLS#6110432 $289,000

NEW!

MAGNEY PARK AREA RIDGE TOP WITH LAKE SUPERIOR VIEWS Remote and secluded "80" acre property has high ridge views of the big lake. Property adjoins Judge C.R. Magney State Park. Easements in place for road access on old logging trails. Ultimate privacy! Mixed, mature forest of evergreens and maples, creeks and pond. Walking distance to Brule River. Many unique aspects to this beautiful recreational property.

NORTHWOODS SANCTUARY HOME

OFF-GRID CABIN

Stunning home tucked away on 89 gorgeous acres. Includes 2-bedroom, 2-bath home with all the privacy features, maintenance-free siding, a metal roof, vaulted ceilings with pine tongue and groove, a stone fireplace and custom hickory cabinets. A Northwoods sanctuary, with views all around. Solar system leaves you with minimal utility bills. Power & broadband are slated to arrive.

Sweet little off-grid cabin on 20 acres with knotty pine and a wood burning stove. Property is wired for power when it becomes available on the road, and has a hand pump well on the driveway. Septic sites have been verified. Freshly updated with new windows, doors, roof and much more. Attached screened porch with a nice west-facing view of the forest and sunsets.

MLS#6109126 $495,000

MLS#6111180 $159,900

MLS#6107790 $129,000

PENDING! LARGE PARCEL WITH CREEK, LOST LAKE DEEDED ACCESS Nice 41 acre parcel with good slope to southern exposure, frontage on Mohns Creek with ponds, and deep forest. Easy access with frontage on Camp 20 Road. Deeded private lake rights to Lost Lake. A remote escape with easy access and soon to have power and broadband access.

MLS#6110761 $57,900

www.RedPineRealty.com • Locally owned and operated since 1996 • info@RedPineRealty.com NORTHERN WILDS

DECEMBER 2023

LAND/BUILDING SITES

SALIENG PE N D

LAND/BUILDING SITES LAND/BUILDING SITES REALTORS®: Mike Raymond, Broker • Jake Patten, Assoc. Broker, Jess Smith, Realtor • Sue Nichols, Assoc. Broker • Gail J. Englund, GRI

Red Pine Realty • (800) 387-9599 (218) 387-9599 • Fax (218) 387-9598 • info@RedPineRealty.com PO Box 938, 14 S. Broadway, Grand Marais, MN 55604

WOODED 64 ACRES – ACCESS TO PRIVATE LAKE

RARE 40 – LUTSEN CARIBOU TRAIL Unique 40-acre parcel surrounded by Federal land in the Superior National Forest. It has a 1/4 mile of frontage on the Caribou Trail north of Lutsen, a year-round, county maintained gravel road (black topped to within about 2 miles). Build your home or retreat here. Power and Broadband are accessible. The woods are deep and the property has a variety of trees and elevations.

This large wooded retreat property is within walking distance to a shared landing on Lost Lake - a private access lake. Good road access and many nice places to build a cabin. Privacy on top of restricted private road access makes this a unique opportunity for wilderness seclusion.

MLS#6103974 $59,900

PEACEFUL TAIT LAKE PINES

Beautiful 15+ acre wooded lot, covered in Maple Forest perfect for making your own maple syrup! In the fall this area is ablaze with stunning colors. Caribou Lake Public Access nearby, Superior Hiking Trail down the road, Lutsen Mountains Ski Resort, Gitche Gumee bike trail and all the things the North Shore has to offer.

MLS#6102969 $43,000 - Lot B MLS#6102971 $46,000 - Lot C MLS#6102970 $44,000 - Lot D PENDING

SALIENG PE N D

MLS#6110287 $174,900

15 ACRE CARIBOU HILLSIDE MAPLE LOT

BRULE VALLEY LOTS These 3, 40+ acre adjoining parcels are connected to a vast amount of Federal and State land, and are the perfect place to get away. Everyone needs a quiet respite, and this place provides that wholly. Towering Pines, poplar, birch and evergreens, ponds, creeks and rolling hills.

You'll appreciate the private & peaceful location in Lutsen, MN. Complete with its own hiking trails, outstanding views, maintained roads, yearround accessibility, access to power, calm and serene overall vibe. Deeded lake access to Tait Lake! Additional lots available.

MLS#6106368 $48,000 PRICE REDUCED MLS#6098276 $47,900 PRICE REDUCED

REMOTE PEACE & QUIET, PRIVATE LAKE ACCESS

Hide away in this dense forest, with miles of remote trails to explore, and private lake access to Lost Lake. Twenty acres of rolling topography and nice building sites for your cabin retreat. The area is part of an association with gated access to Lost Lake, a limited private property lake with no public access, and great trout fishing and wildlife viewing!

MLS#6098653 $39,900

MLS#6110960 $149,000

REMOTE ACREAGE, ADJOINING FOREST LANDS-PRIVATE LAKE RIGHTS LARGE, REMOTE ACREAGE – PRIVATE LAKE RIGHTS This over 80-acre tract has some high ground with views of the hills to the south. Good road access. Some young planted pine trees. It adjoins a Private Conservation Easement area. The property is part of a private association with lake rights to Lost Lake, a limited access lake with shared carry-in landing from which you can launch your canoe or kayak.

MLS#6103975 $74,900

43 acre tract has adjoining federal land and state park within walking distance. Good road access, with an old "logging road" into the property. Property is part of a private association with lake rights to Lost Lake, limited access lake with shared carry-in landing.

MLS#6103979 $46,900

SALIENG PE N D

REMOTE, END-OF-THE-ROAD PRIVACY Deeply wooded 20 acre parcel, remote with nice southerly exposure and creek frontage on Mons Creek, a trout stream. Deeded access to Lost Lake, a private access lake with limited private property. A place to fish, listen to loons and watch the sun set. Private area is gated and maintained by association. Main road access is seasonal. Broadband/ power slated to come soon.

MLS#6098654 $38,900

Happy Holidays BIG LAKE VIEWS 40 ACRES– STONES THROW TO TOM LAKE

40 acres with an easy walk to the Tom Lake boat landing. Year-round road to within 1000 feet, power is possible here. Driveway easement granted to build shared access. Many great building sites. Easy access to trails and other lakes.

MLS#6095114 $60,000

from your friends at Red Pine Realty

One acre lot with views of the Big Lake!! This is the location of the old 1 room Colville School House! The driveway has been started!! Take a short walk across Highway 61 to the Lake Superior shoreline owned by the State of MN and enjoy a beautiful & private feeling beach! Property is a non-conforming lot and unbuildable. Could be used as a camping spot.

MLS#6109904 $45,000

www.RedPineRealty.com • Locally owned and operated since 1996 • info@RedPineRealty.com 50

DECEMBER 2023

NORTHERN WILDS

CATCHLIGHT

Bobcat While on my way to work one cold winter morning, I noticed a roadkill deer on the side of the road. To keep scavengers of the carcass from the same fate, I dragged it into the woods a safe distance away. As I was leaving work that evening, I noticed this little bobcat heading toward the deer for an easy meal. It paused on the edge of the forest when it noticed me and sat down in a pose similar to one that I’ve seen from my house cats. After capturing a few quick shots, I let the cat resume its dinner and left.—Ryan Pennesi

NORTHERN WILDS

DECEMBER 2023

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Northern Wilds December 2023

Articles inside

Along the Shore: Part 3

Along the Shore: Part 2

Along the Shore

Feature: Part 2

Feature: Part 1

Feature

Creative Space

The North Shore Dish

Health

Northern Trails

Sawtooth Racing Dog Blog

Following the Ancestor's Steps

Strange Tales