Mailbox

Dear Editor:
My name is Hank, and I write to you from my home in Maffra, Victoria, Australia. For some time now I have been corresponding with a citizen of Marquette. We are penpals. We "met" on the Internet, like so many people do nowadays. My friend sent me a wonderful package containing much information about your beautiful region. She also sent me a copy of your newspaper. (MM May 2000) How refreshing it was to read such a spirited local newspaper! I have never written to an editor, but after reading your paper, I felt compelled to do so. Your paper gives much detail to past, present and future happenings. I particularly enjoyed reading the history of your community. I have a very good old friend, a real old-timer. He once said, "Hankie, you can gauge the warmth of a town by its newspaper." Editor, you and your team have done a sterling effort for Marquette in delivering to them a very ‘warm' community newspaper—I hope that I receive another!
  Greetings from Aussie!

—Hank Lina,
Victoria, Australia

U.P. artists shine at Art on the Rocks

Once again, artists from the Upper Peninsula held their own against tough competition from all over the United States, holding on to about one third of the show space at this year's Art on the Rocks. The following U.P. artists will have their work showcased at the annual art fair, which will be held July 29 through 30 at Presque Isle Park:

Marquette artists
George Barosko
Tom Buchkoe
Kathleen Conover

Jack Deo
Patrick Dragon
Cheri Ann Fulsher
Christine Garceau
Bata Hsieh
Georgie Hurst
Gail Iwinski
Mike Irolla
John Jasinski
Marilyn Keefe
Sharon Kennedy
Jill Kline
John Krbec
Yvonne LeMire
Maggie Linn
Kristi Mills
Vicki Allison Phillips
Ed Risak
Randy Surfass

Other U.P. artists
Rick Shapero, Paradise
John and Sally Herbon, Sault Ste.
Marie
Ann Straka, Iron Mountain
Nora MacNamara, Escanaba
Bill Hamilton, Little Lake
Daniel John Nye, Ishpeming
Michelle Earle Bridges, Manistique
Dietmar Krumrey, Manistique
Carol Stoll, Manistique
Alan Asp, Manistique
Jane Ahlborn, Munising
Cynthia Lynne, Palmer
Patty Smith, Palmer
Robert LaLonde, Palmer
Ritch Branstrom, Rapid River
John Heath, Skandia
Todd Katke, Vulcan
Edith Isaacson, Laurium
Ed Adrejewski, Calumet
Gayle Dae, Caspian
Barb Bosco, Hancock
Andrea Baldridge, Houghton
Richard Boyd, Iron River
Steve Brimm, Eagle Harbor
JC Dixon, Toivola

Noga rubs Athena elbows

Marquette resident Pamela Noga was able to lunch with a group of women-friendly leaders, including former NASA astronaut Mae C. Jemison, when she attended the annual conference of the Athena Foundation this May in Denver. The Conference honored former Congresswoman Pat Schroeder with the International Athena Award and included workshops, panel discussions, breakout sessions and lectures by speakers such as documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and Olympic medalist Bonnie St. John Deane. The Athena Foundation is dedicated to creating leadership opportunities for women. The Athena Award program encourages communities to identify and honor women, men and organizations worldwide who assist women in reaching their full potential.

Arts Council offers music grants

The Marquette Arts Council is offering a limited number of mini-grants to area musicians for public service performances. Such performances might take place in nursing homes, senior citizen housing establishments, community centers and schools. Grants will be awarded in the amount of one hundred dollars per event and are subject to approval by the MAC board. The granting period ends December 31. This is an opportunity to get out in front of an appreciative audience and to contribute to our community. Interested performers should contact Bob Buchkoe at 226-7273 or e-mail rjbuchko@up.net for more details.

Beaver Island film

The Michigan Humanities Council has awarded a grant to the Beaver Island Historical Society to produce a television documentary on Jesse James Strang, "The King of Beaver Island." The program will focus on the life of Strang, a Mormon minister who unsuccessfully challenged Brigham Young for leadership and then established a flourishing Mormon settlement on Beaver Island in Lake Michigan in the 1850s. The story will explore issues of religious fervor, power and tolerance in the United States. The production is scheduled for distribution at the end of 2001.

Writer/naturalist reads

The Marquette Arts Council Poets and Writers Series will present a reading by naturalist, poet and author Keith Taylor on July 18. Taylor is a former Isle Royale artist-in-residence who was featured in the PBS documentary, "Isle Royale Reflections." He has received grants from both the National Endowment for the Arts and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural affairs, and has served as Writer in the Community for Writer's Voice in Detroit.
  Keith has published five collections of poetry and a book of short-short stories. His work appears also in numerous literary journals, magazines and newspapers, and has been read on stage in New York and on National Public Radio. He teaches creative writing at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
  Taylor will read from his work, and have books to sell and sign, at 7:30 p.m. at the Oasis Gallery. The event is free and open to everyone.
Dogs on parade

Registration forms for the Marquette Mile Dog Dash, a one-mile run or walk with your dog preceding the 4th of July parade, are available at the Pet Stop, Mares-Z-Doats, the Bubbles and Beaks. The $15 entry fee buys a T-shirt, Y2K9 doggie neckerchief and a chance to win numerous prizes and awards.

Ishpeming returns to the Renaissance

The Upper Peninsula's first Renais-sance Festival will be held August 5 in Ishpeming. The event will feature art, food, a special brew tent, music, a kids' activities area, a human chess game, demonstrations, costume awards and more. Awards will be given to the most fashionable Renaissance men and women. Dress as a pirate, peddler, wench, witch, nun, priest, gypsy, jailer, jester, merchant, sailor, soldier, knight, king, queen, tramp or thief. Spots are available for area artists and craftspersons at only $35 per booth. For more information, contact Globe Printing in Ishpeming at 485-1033, or Judy's Place in Skandia at 942-7865.

The little ambulance

Though a relatively "small" aspect in the world of emergency medical care, the Marquette General Health System Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) transport team plays a big role in stabilizing and transporting acutely ill infants and neonates throughout the Upper Peninsula.
  Staffing for the MGHS Regional Neonatal Transport Team originates from several different specialty areas within the hospital. Typically, the crew consists of two experienced NICU nurses, a respiratory therapist and the EMS paramedic crew. In addition, Dr. Julia Frei, neonatologist and medical director for the NICU, frequently accompanies the crew on their neonatal runs.
An integral part of this highly trained transport team is the infant transporter. The transporter is, in itself, a small ambulance. The transporter is secured to a modified ambulance stretcher and is, for all intents and purposes, the infant's treatment room throughout the transport phase. All aspects of stabilization or resuscitation can be provided while the infant is in the transporter. Such advances in medical treatment have vastly improved the eventual long-term outcome for many premature and acutely ill infants.

Crazy Days are coming

The Downtown Marquette Association is seeking craft exhibitors to participate in the Crazy Days and Market Street Celebration. The event is a popular Marquette tradition. This year, Crazy Days will be held Thursday, July 27 and Friday, July 28 on the 100 block of West Washington Street. The fee for this event is $15 per booth. All craft exhibitors wishing to take part must submit a registration form by July 13. For a form and further information, contact the DMA at 228-6213.

Johnson is "Making It"

Judy M. Johnson of Skandia is a featured artist in the June-July issue of Lake Superior Magazine. Her work as a paper doll artist, writer and art show manager is the focus of the magazine's "Making It In the North" segment. Three pages are devoted to Johnson's story and samples of her paper doll art, with special attention given to her popular DeFINNitive Fairy Tales and DeFINN-itions, a Dictionary of Finnish Names—with a twist. These works take a gentle jibe at the Finnish traditions and names familiar to all of us in the U.P.
Schwalbach on Women's Commission

Judith Schwalbach of Escanaba has been named to the Michigan Women's Commission. This spring, Governor Engler appointed Schwalbach and seven other new members to serve the organization, which strives to improve the quality of life for Michigan women. Schwalbach joined the commission because it offers her a chance to have a far-reaching voice in women's issues. She brings to the commission experience as a wife, mother and leader in her community.

Ray joins clinic

A new doctor has joined the Superior Women's Care OB-GYN Group. Dr. Holly Ray, a graduate of of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and former resident at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, comes to the Upper Peninsula after working for several years in a Women's Health Care Group in lower Michigan. Dr. Ray joins Dr. Richard Bohjanen and Dr. Lori Claypool.

MMBookshelf

Motherhood in Bondage

Planned Parenthood Northern Michigan has just republished Margaret Sanger's book Motherhood in Bondage, out of print for more than fifty years. The book is a collection of letters written to Sanger in the early part of this century by women desperate to control their own fertility. The new edition of the book includes a forward by Planned Parenthood President Gloria Feldt and an afterword by Alex Sanger, grandson of Margaret Sanger. Motherhood in Bondage is available at the Planned Parenthood health center at 1219 North Third Street.

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