The Cook County Senior Center recently had a day of fun at the Putt & Pets mini golf course in Grand Marais. Above: Betty Wilson and Jean Kloster relaxing on the deck during the Senior Center’s latest “mystery trip.”
Our Senior Center is fortunate to have two young volunteers from the Cook County “Incredible Exchange” program with us this summer. The intergenerational interaction that has been going on is a pleasure and a benefit for all. The following are two interviews by our Incredible Exchange volunteers, Keenan Hingos and Kestrel Pollock. An interview with Walt Mianowski Keenan Hingos, age 12
Walt Mianowski is 86 years old and currently lives in Grand Marais. He was born in 1926 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He came to Grand Marais in 1955 when he was 29 years old. Walt has lived in Grand Marais for 59 years and people around him believe Grand Marais wouldn’t be the same without him. Both of Walt’s grandparents from both sides of his family are Polish so Walt is 100 percent Polish. Walt has one sister in Pittsburgh, and she was Walt’s only sibling growing up.
Walt moved here with his wife, Jane. Walt was looking for a job so he started working at Taconite Harbor. He then worked for Rudy Backlund construction, Isak Hansen and was a custodian for the old grade school for 10 years. Finally he bought the Montgomery Ward store and was mayor for a number of years. In 1985 the store sadly went out of business. He is semi-retired but has always been very active in the community.
Walt has many fond memories of Grand Marais from when he moved here to right now. He said he really enjoyed just meeting new people in town and also he loved working at the school with the kids.
In 1955 he and his wife joined the Congregational Church. That summer, Walt and a friend of his started a softball league for kids that were members of the church, but it only lasted one year because the kids wanted to play with other kids that weren’t members of the church. Later he and another friend started a Little League and recreation program. He also helped hold weekly summer programs where Laura Grant would teach dancing in the school. Walt is a Mason at the Masonic Lodge and is a member of the Lions Club and has a lifetime membership. An interview with Tom Hedstrom By Kestrel Pollock, age 12
I sat down to interview Tom Hedstrom, a regular at the Senior Center for the past 10 years. Since I started working at the Senior Center two weeks ago, I have seen Tom there every day. So I decided to find out a little more about his life.
Tom was born in the year 1943 in Duluth. He has lived in Grand Marais all of his 71 years. As a Hedstrom, he worked for the lumber mill, founded in 1914, for about 30 years. Tom has two brothers; his younger brother, Howard, is the current president of the lumber mill. Tom retired about 10 years ago in order to take care of his mother. When asked what he used to do for fun, he replied that he used to enjoy bowling at the old bowling alley.
Nowadays, he likes to go to the Senior Center because he likes the activities and he says it gives him something to do. Another interesting thing about his life is that as a young man he was drafted into the Army, but was let go after three months due to a physical condition. Another thing you may not know about Tom is that he is completely blind in one eye because of an operation. Despite this, he is very cheerful and boisterous and I really enjoyed getting to know him.
I look forward to meeting others in our community this summer. Spaghetti and dragons
The Senior Center is joining in the fun of the North Shore Dragon Boat Festival by hosting an all-you-can-eat Spaghetti Dinner on Friday, July 25 from 5 – 7 p.m. (or until the food runs out!)
The Dragon Boat parade starts right from the Senior Center parking lot, so come have spaghetti and get front row seats for the parade!
The menu is all you can eat homemade spaghetti, fresh tossed salad, bread, and lemonade or coffee. Advanced registration is $8 (by 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 22) or $10 at the door. Children 6 and under, $5.
This is a fundraising dinner to help support our local senior center. Additional donations are always welcomed and very much appreciated.
For registration or more information on any of the Senior Center’s events, stop by or call (218) 387-2660.
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