Paddles up! The North Shore Dragon Boat Festival has some new faces. (L-R, standing) Festival Director Ainslie Kincross, Board Members Mary Hjelle Black and Julie Carlson, Race and Safety Director Matthew Brown, and representatives of the organizations that benefit from the Dragon Boat Festival—Debbie Benedict of WTIP, Karl Hansen of North Shore Health Care Foundation and kneeling with Dragon Head, Greg Wright of North House Folk School.
Summer 2012 is on the horizon and the early registration deadline for the North Shore Dragon Boat Festival has been extended to May 1. Thirteen teams are already signed up and expanded opportunities for individual and family paddlers are available. Now’s the time to gather friends and extended family, coworkers, exercise buddies and church groups to make plans for July 27-29.
The North Shore Dragon Boat Festival has some new faces this year – Julie Carlson of Joynes Ben Franklin and Mary Hjelle Black, county assessor and owner of the Pump House Fitness Center, were welcomed to the board at the beginning of the year. Continuing members are Greg Wright (North House Folk School), Debbie Benedict (WTIP Community Radio), Karl Hansen (North Shore Heath Care Foundation), and Dave Tersteeg, Grand Marais Parks Department manager.
The board has also hired a new festival director, Ainslie Kincross, and a race and safety director, Matthew Brown. Ainslie is a newcomer to Grand Marais, drawn here by her interests in the outdoors and contributing to the strong community here. Her professional background is in architecture and outdoor education and includes organizing and overseeing many different kinds of projects and events. Many people know Matthew as the former captain of North House’s Hjordis and as the race marshal for the John Beargrease Sled Dog Race.
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