And the winner is…EvaLyn Carlson of Grand Marais was the lucky winner of the Grand Marais Lions Club $10,000 raffle. She brought along a young friend, RaeAnne Silence, who she said was her “lucky charm” when she accepted the big check from Grand Marais Lion—and 2014 Citizen of the Year—Mike Carlson. See more Fisherman’s Picnic news throughout the paper.
The 85th Annual Fisherman’s Picnic wrapped up on Sunday, August 3, concluding four days of festivities enjoyed by young and old. A lot of good comes to the community from the event that includes a lot of revelry. The weather was wonderful and there were smiles all weekend for most of the attendees.
EvaLyn Carlson is grand prizewinner
The smile on the face of EvaLyn Carlson of Grand Marais was perhaps biggest of all. Carlson’s name was drawn from the big Grand Marais Lions Club drum of raffle tickets. The retired minister was nearby, selling tickets to support veterans through the America’s Vet Dog program. Friends scurried to tell her she had won and she arrived in Harbor Park to claim her $10,000 prize.
Carlson said Lion Steve Quaife sold her the winning ticket
Senior Citizens of the Year— Orvis and Donna Lunke
Grand Marais Lion Rosemary Lamson once again coordinated the Lions Club Citizen and Senior Citizen of the Year awards. Before a crowd in Harbor Park, Lamson happily made the announcement, noting, “Sometimes the Citizen of the Year or Senior Citizen of the Year is an individual. Sometimes it is a couple, a team that work together to make our community a better place.”
Lion Rosemary Lamson (right) coordinates the Citizen of the Year awards each year. She was happy to present the Senior Citizen of the Year Award to Orvis and Donna Lunke of Colvill.
That was the case for both categories this year. Lamson announced that the 2014 Senior Citizens of the Year are Orvis and Donna Lunke of Colvill.
Lamson said Orvis and Donna were nominated by a number of people for a variety of reasons, but heard the most often she said, was for their work to support our veterans.
Orvis has served as a volunteer four times on Northland Honor Flights, accompanying World War II veterans on a memorable flight to Washington, D.C. to see the memorial in their honor. In addition to paying his own way on these Honor Flights, Orvis and Donna have spent countless hours talking with local vets about the trip and raising funds for the program. As Orvis flies off to assist his assigned veteran, Donna volunteers at the registration table and wherever she is needed by the Honor Flight program.
Mike and Nancy Carlson pose with Lion Rosemary after they received the plaque recognizing them as Cook County Citizens of the Year.
The couple volunteers in many other ways, with other organizations, but one of the nomination letters received sums up why the Lunkes were considered for the award.
A woman who has lived away from Cook County spoke of recently arranging a funeral for a family member from afar. She said she didn’t really even know Orvis and Donna all that well, but the couple took it upon themselves to visit her grieving father, bringing fresh fish and gentle company. Then, when the entire family gathered for the memorial service, Donna and Orvis arrived with enough food for a large group.
The woman’s entire family—and indeed many other community members— felt that Orvis and Donna Lunke were very deserving of the honor.
Citizens of the Year— Mike and Nancy Carlson
Mike and Nancy Carlson of Grand Marais also received a number of nominations, both separately and together. Mike Carlson was recognized for his hard work with the Cook County Tennis Association, the Grand Marais Art Colony, the Cook County Food Shelf, the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op, and the Lions Club. Mike was also integral in the creation of the Workers on Wheels (WOW) program, which provides loaner bikes to international students working in the community.
Nancy Carlson was recognized for her involvement with the Grand Marais Art Colony and the Food Shelf, but she was also recognized for her long time involvement with the Grand Marais Garden Club. She was president during 2003-2004 and she served as co-chair of the Cook County Master Gardeners for two years, but she has been very active before and after that, ordering the flowers that beautify Grand Marais, helping plant them, planning and mapping projects, and reporting Garden Club efforts to the Cook County News-Herald.
Nancy also, with Mike’s help, led weekly hikes throughout the county for many years. The hikes were open to all and in the winter, Nancy planned cross country skiing adventures.
Both Mike and Nancy have been very active in the First Congregational Church-United Church of Christ. The perennial garden at the church and the parsonage are thanks to them.
Reverend Beth Benson summed up the thoughts of many in her nomination when she wrote, “In everything they do, they wash people in kindness…Mike and Nancy embody what is best and brightest among humankind. They do it quietly without fanfare.
“It is an honor and a privilege to serve with them and alongside them as they grow joy and plant peace,” said Rev. Benson.
The Lions Club can do spirit
The Grand Marais Lions Club, which hosts the Fisherman’s Picnic, is one of 46,000 clubs and 1.35 million members. The Lions Club is the world’s largest service club organization. The Grand Marais Lions Club offers scholarships to local graduates, supports youth activities, and assists community members in need whenever possible.
The Lions Club also is very involved in care for those with vision problems and has long been affiliated with the Minnesota State Services for the Blind and guide dog programs.
This year, another meaningful connection was made through the Fisherman’s Picnic Cutest Puppy Contest. (See page B7 for some pictures of the adorable entrants.)
Judging the 2014 Cutest Puppy Contest was former Grand Marais Lion Andy Brostrom and Beth Cherryholmes of White Bear Lake. Cherryholmes was the White Bear Lake Lions liaison with “Can Do Canines,” a nonprofit organization that helps people find greater freedom, independence, and peace of mind through a partnership with a dog specially trained to match personal needs.
Cherryholmes loves to talk about the program that she said, “gives people their lives back.” Can Do Canines trains and provides Mobility Assist Dogs, who help pick up and carry items, pull wheelchairs or perform other daily tasks; Diabetes Assist Dogs, who are trained to alert people with type 1 diabetes about dropping blood sugar levels; Autism Assist Dogs, who provide safety and a calming influence for autistic children and their families; Hearing Assist Dogs, who alert a person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing to every day sounds or to emergencies such as smoke alarms; and Seizure Assist Dogs, who help people before or after a seizure by comforting, bringing medicine or a phone and by getting help if a person is unable to communicate.
Cherryholmes is happy to share the amazing stories of how these Can Do Canines have truly given people their lives back. Because of the support of these dogs, she said, people are able to work to support themselves, to travel and to basically enjoy life again.
She said it is an amazing program. “The dogs show the trainers what they will be good at. I’ve learned so much. My own dogs are better because of what I’ve learned from Can Do Canines.”
Cherryholmes has three dogs—a black lab, a black lab mix and a shih tzu and bichon mix—and she said, “I just love dogs.”
Which is why she agreed to be the judge of the Cutest Puppy Contest with Brostrom. She is happy whenever she can find a way to get the word out about the good works of the Can Do Canines and the Lions Club. . For more about Can Do Canines, visit www.can-do-canines.org . For more about the international Lions Club, visit www.lionsclubs.org . Or, visit the local Lions Club website www.grandmaraislionsclub.com . Or look for the people in the bright yellow vests, your hosts for the annual Fisherman’s Picnic.
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