Donald Jerome Swanson



Donald Jerome Swanson, 95, of Minnetonka, Roseville, Minneapolis, Ortonville, the North Shore, the lakes and streams of the north, and the back roads, parks, and small towns of North America, died at home with family on January 29, 2018. He was a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, friend, honest broker and trusted colleague in business civic and social causes, horticulturalist, […]

Historical Reflections



Down Memory Lane



10 YEARS AGOFEB. 15, 2008 Suggestions for possible budget cuts ISD 166 could make to avoid falling into statutory operating debt in FY2009 were presented to the school board at its regular meeting Monday night. The proposed reductions, which totaled $584,000, covered every aspect of school life, from administrative salary cuts to reduction in staff at Sawtooth Elementary School. “We […]

How Lodging Tax supports events and attracts visitors



The Visit Cook County team receives this question many times throughout the year. It sounds something like this: “We’ve got a great idea for a new event that we’d like to put on. Can Visit Cook County help us out?” The answer is yes! As events resource manager for Visit Cook County, my job is to ensure that events in […]

North Shore Health Care Foundation wins $10,000 grant for oral health



The North Shore Health Care Foundation (NSHCF) in Grand Marais recently received a grant of $10,000 from the Medica Foundation. “The Medica grant will help us continue our work in 2018,” said Paul Nelson, who chairs the NSHCF. “The Medica Foundation is the charitable giving arm of Medica Health Plans, a Minnesota-based nonprofit HMO and has been a great supporter […]

Nordic skiers compete at Ely Invite and Sections



In what seems to be a theme for the Nordic team, weather conditions at the February 1 Ely Invite were frigid. The race start was delayed until the afternoon when temperatures were above the minimum -4 degrees required to race. Two Harbors/Cook County skiers, along with 275 skiers from other teams, added extra layers and donned facemasks or put tape […]

Benson named one of the winners of Lake Superior Magazine photo contest



Scott Benson of Lutsen earned honorable mention in the People/ Humor category of the Lake Superior Magazine photo contest. Judges reviewed nearly 900 images for the contest this round and, as is true every year, the competition was tough because the quality of photography remains amazing. “Our spectacular Big Lake neighborhood – touching on three U.S. states and a Canadian […]

Freedom of speech unless…



One of my all-time favorite books is “To Kill a Mockingbird.” “Huckleberry Finn” didn’t make my top 10, but I understand its importance in American literature. Apparently the Duluth School District doesn’t. It’s taken both books off the required reading lists, allowing them in the schools but effectively banning them from the classroom. Both authors were wonderful writers; both were […]

Celtic music and Ceili dance with BARRA



Get your Ceili on! Sprightly masters of fiddle, bodhran, and button box will take you spinning through the early spring night on the lakeshore. The North Shore Music Association hosts an evening of Celtic music and dance featuring musicians from the band BARRA: Beth Vance, fiddle; Dave Cammack, bodhran and button box; Paul Garding, guitar and vocals; Bobbie Scott, concertina […]

Just Art or Just Art: Art in Times of Social Disquiet and Turmoil



The annual community art show— this year themed, “Chaos…Cracks…. Creativity!”—will open with a presentation by art historian and artist Wayne Roosa, Ph.D., entitled “Just Art or Just Art: Art in Times of Social Disquiet and Turmoil.” This theme, about the role of art in society, is a long-standing question, and particularly important in an artist community like ours in a […]