The ENP continues to be a busy place. We welcome our Mentor Student, Daunte Deschampe. Daunte is 13 years old and a strong football player. He is a great asset, and we are enjoying his enthusiasm, his strength and willingness to pitch in and get the job done. Grand Portage has talented, wonderful young people.
The Elder Advisory Board honored graduating high school senior Douglas Pervais with an Elder sweatshirt for all he does for us. Doug volunteers at all our fundraisers. He helps with set up and cleans up, runs errands, is friendly and so willing to honor any request we have. Miigwech to both these young men. You make our lives easier and make Grand Portage a good place to live.
A Chi Miigwech is given to Leland “Jesse” James, Norman Larsen and the other men who have volunteered their time to renovate the Rendezvous fish shack. The Elders were given the food stand next to us last year by the Rendezvous Committee. The buildings needed to be tied together with a new roof, doors, electrical and appliances installed. Rob Hackett from the Dairy Queen generously donated a large, commercial fryer with exhaust hood for the shack. The ENP received a new refrigerator and donated their old one. The whole building has been rewired and will be painted with updated new signs. All these upgrades will make the place more efficient and safer to work in. Everyone is invited to check us out and sample our food. We will continue to sell our fresh, herring fish nuggets, strawberry shortcake and this year we’ve added cheese curds. All proceeds go for Elder trips, our annual Christmas party, get well flowers, cards, and donations to our local school and organizations.
Grand Portage Elders are busy enjoying the summer weather this year. Here are Bob and Eddie Hertzberg with a young helper picking strawberries in Canada.
Marjori Bottila from the Senior Linkage Line was here enrolling eligible elders into Medicare. She did one on one enrollment and an evening session with a wonderful meal provided by the ENP. Just a reminder to all Elders turning 65 – you have the three months before or the three months after you turn 65 to enroll in Medicare. If you are still working and have medical insurance through your job, you will receive Medicare Part A. If you are not employed or not eligible for Veteran benefits you need to sign up for Medicare Part B too. Part B will come out of your monthly Social Security check. Questions can be answered by calling the Senior Linkage Line at 1-800-333-2433.
We have been enjoying community picnics these past weeks at the ENP. They have been provided by the North Shore Federal Credit Union and the Grand Marais Pharmacy. We have had delicious food, toe-tapping music provided by “Portage” and lots of fun. Seven Elders and one Mentor student spent last Friday morning picking strawberries in Canada. I know there will be sweet, tasty jam in the near future. The weather cooperated, and ice cream cones were enjoyed by all.
On behalf of the Grand Portage ENP and Elders, I want to personally send a Chi Miigwech to the family of Irene Deschampe and Ivy Church and Don Davison for their generous donation in Irene’s name. I want to also thank the generous staff of EvaLyn Carlson, Arvis Thompson and Barb Jansen of Oddz & Endz for the amazing donation. This money will be used to help cover the costs for logos for our new bus and a trip for the Elders. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated. Anyone wanting to work at First & Second or Oddz & Endz can donate their wages to a nonprofit in the community. This program has helped so many organizations, and it is greatly appreciated.
We wish everyone a wonderful Fisherman’s Picnic and Rendezvous Days. Come and check out our new fish stand and play bingo or buy a ticket for a chance to win a beautiful quilt, flat screen TV or a $50 gift certificate from the Grand Portage Trading Post. Yeah, summer is finally here!
Cook County has a vibrant and active community of elders. Each week we will offer Senior News to highlight our senior citizens. This week’s submission is about the Grand Portage Elder Nutrition Program courtesy of Patty Winchell-Dahl.
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