All businesses need to keep investing in maintenance and equipment in order to stay in operation and continue to draw customers. Such is the case at Gunflint Hills Golf Course, owned by the City of Grand Marais. On December 6, 2011, Parks Director Dave Tersteeg and Course Manager Mike Kunshier presented the Grand Marais Park Board with a list of […]
Bureaucratic roadblock for EDA commercial rehab projects
At the November meeting of the Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA), Steve Grabko of Community Fundraising Solutions (CFS) reported on progress of the EDA’s commercial rehabilitation funding. Two projects in Grand Marais will be receiving grant funds from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)— The Garage and the Grand Marais Senior Center. However, […]
Sirius Golf Advisors— consultants or management?
Management of Superior National at Lutsen was once again on the Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) agenda in November. The topic was a carryover from discussion at an October 24 special meeting at Superior National at Lutsen (SNL). Chair Mike Littfin reported that the EDA had received a proposal from John Wait of Sirius Golf Advisors […]
Tofte to hear new cell phone tower proposal
At press time, the Town of Tofte was once again considering placement of a cell phone tower in the township boundaries. An anticipated addendum to the joint Tofte Township and Birch Grove Foundation meeting at Birch Grove on Tuesday, December 5 did not transpire, as Shane Begly of Minnesota Towers, Inc. was not able to make that meeting. He rescheduled […]
School gets clean audit and strong advice from accountant
CPA Carl Nordquist of the accounting firm of Althoff and Nordquist presented the ISD 166 school board with the results of the audit they completed for the year ending June 30, 2011. He recommended that the district keep a close eye on the budget, saying schools can go quickly from having a healthy fund balance to being in statutory operating […]
Undoing racism:
the connection between race, power, privilege, and povertyIn early October, a group of about 30 people spent 2½ days at Grand Portage Lodge and Casino talking about how racism in America has impacted our entire society. Its lasting effects can still be seen in institutional practices and continues to filter down into individual lives. The workshop, presented by The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond of New […]
Black Friday in a small town
I didn’t get up at midnight and camp out in front of Joynes. I didn’t stand in long lines at Lake Superior Trading Post. In fact, I had no plans to go shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving notoriously dubbed as “Black Friday” by the national media. While the rest of the country battled over electronics deals and fought gridlock […]
Motivation with Lori Harder at Pump House Fitness Center
Two things about Lori Harder. One, she’s not pretentious. Not one bit. And two, she couldn’t be nicer. As for ego? None of that, either. Which is saying a lot for a cover girl and Ms. Bikini Universe 2010 overall champion. She could have a big head, but then, the Lori Harder of today is the creation of hard work, […]
Why you should go fishing when business is slow
Your business is down. The slow season is here, tourists are staying home because of the weather, because their companies aren’t giving out bonuses this Christmas, because of the price of gas. What should you do? Go fishing! And what good will that do? You could land some keepers—customers, that is—who will keep coming back. On October 26, 2011, Susan […]
Announcing: ambitious and amazing season!
The Grand Marais Playhouse announces its 2012 season—six productions and some very special events. The Playhouse will present a classic drama, murder mystery dinner theater, a restoration comedy, two musicals and a hilarious modern comedy. In an effort to attract more participants, the Playhouse will cast plays in the winter months and rehearse over a longer, more relaxed period of […]