9 minute read
Along the Shore: Part 2
Gathering in remembrance
Annual Light Up a Life ceremony honors loved ones
By Kalli Hawkins
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.”
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:
“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.”
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.
• Senior rides for medical or personal appointments, errands, or social activities.
• Senior chore program.
• Caregiver coaching and respite.
• End-of-life doulas.
“Little things make a big impact,” Wilson said. “I think that’s the magic of Care Partners.”
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.
Seeing in the dark
Night vision adventures with Rory Island
By Dana Johnson
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 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.
