Fellow residents of Cook County: If you’re thinking of donating “time, talent, or treasure” to any of our region’s fine nonprofit and volunteer groups during this holiday season, the Cook County Community Fund reminds you that the free “Guide to Giving,” recently delivered to your mailbox, provides a ready reference to many of the admirable groups at work in our […]
Generosity of community seen at Empty Bowls, in Guide to Giving
On behalf of the volunteers and clients at the Cook County Food Shelf, I want to thank all who made the Empty Bowls event a success again this year. The Art Colony staff and volunteers, the Empty Bowls planning committee, the volunteers who helped serve and clean up and the talented people who made the bowls all worked together to […]
Our country is turning away from God’s Word
Our country is reeling from the public announcement of the horrific scandal rocking Penn State because of the alleged sexual abuse of young boys by one of their well-known coaches. Though this reportedly happened years ago, because people turned their eyes away and never followed through on getting to the truth, we are learning of this tragedy over a decade […]
Young and old gather to honor veterans at Grand Portage
Veterans Day, 11-11-11, at Grand Portage Veterans Memorial Grounds found a group of hardy folks who braved the weather to come and give “honor and thanks” to, and for, our veterans. The flags were raised to the sound of the Star Spangled Banner and O, Canada. A joint Canadian and American team—Al Fugelsans of Thunder Bay and Ralph Tesser of […]
Serving up sustenance for neighbors in need
November 10 was a big soup day in Cook County. There was neither windstorm nor snowstorm, and grocery stores were open as usual. Four hundred eighty people, by last count, converged on First Congregational United Church of Christ in Grand Marais to donate money, pick out glazed and fired clay bowls handmade by members of the community, and enjoy an […]
Are you having a Charlie Brown Christmas?
People often have different experiences of the holidays. For many, it is a time of joy, happiness, peace on earth, good will, celebrating with family and friends, and hope for the future. But despite the bombardment of Christmas season merry-making, the holidays can really present a challenge for dealing with the sometimes hidden needs of our community. Many are unable […]
Surround Sound
Once again this year folks from around Cook County are being brought together by music. An orchestra is practicing. A choir is practicing. The fun of making music together and working on getting better at it fills several Monday evenings with music that keeps running through our minds the rest of the week. This week, we did something new: towards […]
Frederic (Fred) Dell,
Frederic (Fred) Dell, 89, died November 6, 2011 in Hopkins, MN. He was born on September 7, 1922 in Minneapolis, MN. He is survived by his wife, Jeannette Dell, daughters Katherine Dahl O’Dell, Minnetonka, MN and Karen A. Kangas (John), St. Charles, IL. He was preceded in death by parents Clara and Harold Dell; son James Frederic Dell and granddaughter […]
Herbert D. Hakes,
Herbert D. Hakes, 77, of Spirit Lake near Aitkin, died of Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at the Aicota Health Care Center in Aitkin. He was born March 3, 1934 at Aitkin, Minnesota, the son of Kenneth and Merry (Welton) Hakes. He moved with his family at a young age to Springfield, Minnesota where […]