Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Scott Yeazle...Serving the Twin Ports


New Year offers fresh start to look forward

Happy New Year to everyone and I hope that most of you are still keeping your resolution if you made one. The Year 2010 is here and we have a few things to look forward to.

By the end of the year we will have a new governor in Minnesota. The forums have started already and I have heard from more than a few people that Duluth and the surrounding areas are extremely important. I am looking forward to Martin Luther King Day. We have wonderful events planned for the weekend so please join us. On Monday, Jan. 18, there will be a free breakfast starting at 7 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church and a march and a rally starting at the Washington Center at 11 a.m.

The Minnesota legislative session starts on February 4. In the upcoming months, I will be posting updates from trips to the capitol. On January 30, Duluth Hillside SHARE will have a pickup day. It is a great savings on fresh foods at a low cost.
I know that a majority of readers will be cheering on the Vikings in the playoffs. Good luck to them and I hope everyone is safe in their celebrating.

We at the Hillsider community paper are looking forward to a wonderful 2010. I am always excited to hear from the readers. I think we have a product that is second to none.

Scott

Yeazle serves as vice president of the Hillsider board and is the chairperson of the Twin Ports Action Coaltion as well as serving on many other non-profit boards.

If he visited Duluth today, what would Martin Luther King, Jr. Do?


By Allegra Henderson

If Martin Luther King, Jr. were alive today and visited our beautiful city on the Lake, would he see an inclusive community? As he visited businesses, neighborhoods and schools would he see people of color included at all levels?

Monday January 18 marks the 24th observance of the federal holiday, Martin Luther King Day. We celebrate this great man because his ideas and achievements were a powerful force. He helped eliminate the American Jim Crow system of segregation and racial discrimination. But have we come to celebrate him as a historical figure?

What does Dr. King inspire in our community to increase racial harmony and understanding? If King came to Duluth and was not recognized, would he experience discrimination as he sought services and accommodations? Would he feel welcome and encouraged to fully participate in all areas of life?

Dr. King’s legacy and vision for social justice is both controversial and often misunderstood. Using his deeply inspiring oratory skills, his dream of racial equality was conveyed in his most memorable speech during the March on Washington for JOBS and FREEDOM. He spoke against both the overt and subtle ills of racism. While we honor his oratory messages, would we be surprised if he organized sit-ins and rallies in our Duluth of 2010?

Minnesotans in general enjoy a good life, but currently the disparities in education, healthcare, housing and income between whites and people of color are some of the worse in the nation, according to a 2007 “Minnesota Legislative Report Card on Racial Equality.” In Duluth, the average African American household income is less than half that of whites. Many African Americans have not been promoted beyond entry-level jobs. This may be happening because they are being systemically excluded from the labor pool because of stereotypes, discrimination and lack of preparation.

Which Duluth leaders would King seek to gain understanding and take action in our community? Would he perceive any successes and hard won battles with regards to race relations? Would he organize protests, work to change legislation, organize a march on the Capitol in St. Paul for JOBS and FREEDOM?

Let’s be inspired and remove some of the denial around race relations. Let’s validate the experience of Native Americans, African Americans, Asians, Hispanic and Latino Americans living, working and raising their families in Duluth.

Let’s ask ourselves, “What would MLK do?”

Monday, December 28, 2009

Shoveling sidewalks critical in winter

By Maypakou Ly
City of Duluth
It is snow season and even a couple of inches sometimes pose a barrier. For those individuals trying to get around town, snow-covered ,slick sidewalks create a hazardous situation. As community members, we can all do our part to ensure safe passage on sidewalks for our family, friends, neighbors, or customers. People tend to focus on streets during a snowfall, but the reality is that it is equally important to clean off sidewalks. That responsibility belongs to everyone.

Duluth City ordinance (Section 45, Article VI) requires that all residents (whether you own, lease, or rent a property) clear their sidewalks within 24 hours following any snowfall. Residents should clear a path with a minimum width of 36 inches. Residents may be assessed a fine if they do not remove snow from their sidewalks and the City Public Works staff find it necessary to take care of it for you.

You can be a partner in ensuring safe mobility for everyone. Snow is expected in the Northland and is unavoidable, but everyone has a responsibility as a member of the community to help keep sidewalks clean. It’s required by city ordinance but most importantly, doing so demonstrates courtesy to your neighbors, friends and family.

The city code is available by visiting the www.Municode.com. Go to the website, click on Municode Library, then click on Minnesota, and then Duluth, click on Duluth Legislative code. Enter key words of sidewalk and snow.

General information on street maintenance during the winter is available on the city’s Winter Watch website at http://www.duluthmn.gov/winterwatch/

Fast Facts about Hmong in Duluth, MN

• The Hmong fought for the U.S. during the Vietnam War.
• The word “Hmong” means “Free People.”
• Nearly half the pre-war Hmong population of Laos died during the Vietnam war and its aftermath.
• The first Hmong arrived in Duluth in 1978
•Traditionally there are no written records. Hmong history has been passed down through legends and ritual ceremonies from one generation to another.
• Currently there are 20 Hmong families, about 150 people, in the Duluth area.
• In Minnesota, the Hmong have the highest rate of homeownership as an ethnic minority because they pool resources.
• Minnesota has two Hmong legislators; one of them is the first female Hmong legislator in the nation. They are Representative Cy Thao and Senator Mee Moua.

Interesting links on Hmong

www.factfinding.org
www.hmongihrw.org

Twin Ports Hmong welcome New Year

Hmong New Year 2010 Celebration
Food, music, clothing, dance and history shared with Twin Ports and new generation


Caption: Tou Ger Moua, age 5, wears an embroidered Hmong cap at the Hmong New Year celebration. (Photo by Rosemary Hampton)

By Rosemary Hampton

Celebrating the New Year is one way the Hmong people of the Twin Ports can make sure their culture is not forgotten, and a New Year celebration is also a way to share their heritage with the non-Hmong people.

Each year in early December, the Hmong of the Twin Ports come together to celebrate their New Year; they share their clothing, dances, food, music, poetry, and songs.

This year, many Hmong families came together December 5, 2009 to celebrate the Hmong New Year 2010. Dressed in their native costumes, many celebrated during a two-hour program in the Lakeview Social Hall of First United Methodist Church, 230 E. Skyline Prkwy.
This year about 400 people gathered for the event, and 300 of those were non-Hmong people. So, the event was a success in sharing Hmong culture.

History of Hmong in the U.S. and Twin Ports
In 1978 the first Hmong families came to Duluth. Currently about 20 Hmong families, which would be about 125 to 150 people, are living in the Twin Ports. The Hmong who came to the United States as refugees from the Vietnam War came out of Laos where they were recruited by the CIA, beginning in the early 1960’s under President Kennedy to help fight the communist invasion of Southeast Asia. They spent time in the refugee camps of Thailand, varying from a few months to decades. Their culture, language, and background are all very different from that of the other Southeast Asian refugees who came out of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand following the Vietnam War.

In Minnesota the Hmong have the highest homeownership rates of any other minority. This is because the Hmong value living in extended families and pool their resources.

New Year Celebration
The celebration featured interesting instruments including a bamboo flute named a tsaajnplaim and a geej, a large Hmong folk wind instrument made of many pieces of bamboo. Many of the Hmong proudly donned their festive traditional attire. Galong Xiong sang the “Hmong New Year Song” and played the tsaajnplaim. In the “Hmong Traditional Clothing Show” Neng Xiong and Bao Vang wore traditional Blue Hmong clothing, the roots of the Hmong people. Xai and Ka Moua wore clothes to represent the White Hmong, a branch of the Blue Hmong that formed with the early arrival of people from the Middle East to China.

Yia and Xai Vue, nephews of Chia Ying Vue, danced a strenuous folk dance while they each played a geej. The Hmong Girl Dancers, all UMD students, danced a few “Hmong Second Generation Dances” while a a narrator in English told the story that related to each dance. Except for about 20 Hmong born in camps in Thailand, the second and third generations of Twin Port Hmong were born in America.
Tai Xiong wrote, sang and read his poetry in his native language.

Larson retires from ISD, but stays involved with Hmong
The celebration brought a closure not only to the Year 2009 but also to the assistant of the Hmong New Year Committee in Duluth. On that day Bea Larson handed the responsibilities to the Committee’s new assistant, Stacey Afterhoff, a teacher in the Duluth Public Schools. Larson, who is retiring, has been with the Hmong of Twin Ports since they first arrived in 1978.
Although Larson is retiring from her position of instructor in English as a Second Language at the Duluth Adult Learning Center, she will continue to advocate for the local Hmong population as well as tutor people studying for the naturalization exam to become American citizens.

City Crews and Citizens Work Together to Clear Nearly Two Feet of Snow

City of Duluth snowplow operators have been working since early Christmas Eve trying to keep the roads in driving condition. Depending on which part of Duluth you live you may have experienced anywhere from 10-24 inches of heavy wet snow. Removing the snow from over 400 miles of streets is now the city’s top priority.

There are a total of 38 snow plow routes with each route containing 60 streets each including some main arteries, residential streets and alleys in that vicinity. All plow route mileages are an average of 50 miles each. It took operators on average 4 hours to plow main streets, which always are top priority. In some areas during the storm the snow was so deep it went well over the plow blade forcing operators to more slowly across city streets.

After city streets are cleared crews will focus their efforts in clearing the city sidewalks which will be difficult due to the freezing of the wet snow. It may take up to three weeks to clear all of the sidewalks due to additional snow which is forecasted for later this week.

We apologize for any blocked sidewalks or driveways due to our efforts to keep the streets safe to drive.

We ask citizens to follow a few snow recommendations:

  • Please remember it is illegal to remove snow from your property and place it in city streets and alleys.
  • Please help out your neighbors that are having difficulty removing this snow.
  • People who park on the street should be extra diligent to follow these ordinances; no closer than 7 feet to alleys or driveways, must park with 12 inches of the curb and parking or partially blocking driving lanes will result in a ticket and the car will be towed.

For additional snow related information please go to www.duluthmn.gov Winter Watch.

If you have a snow related issue to report please call 730-5100 (answered during normal business hours)

We will continue to our best to keep our city streets clear of snow and safe for travel.

City of Duluth Cross Country Ski Trails Now Open

The Parks and Recreation Division has announced all cross country ski trails are groomed, in fantastic condition and are ready for skiing.

The City of Duluth has 45 kilometers of skiing on five cross country ski trails. These trails provide a great skiing expereince for every level of skier and pass through beautiful forest with tremendous views of Lake Superior and the St. Louis River valley. For current information on trail conditions, persons can call the Ski Hotline at 730-4321.

City of Duluth Cross Country Ski Trails:

Chester Bowl: located just off Skyline Parkway at 16th Avenue East in the center of Duluth. A 3.1 km loop groomed for traditional cross country skiing.

Hartley Ski Trail: double looped 5.0 km ski trail that is groomed for traditional cross-country skiing at beginning and intermediate levels. There are two access points: Fairmont Street, off Woodland Ave and the intersection of Hartley and Woodhaven, off Arrowhead Road.

Lester/Amity Ski Trail: 18 km of trails groomed for both traditional and skate-style skiing. Every evening a 5.0 km loop is lit from dusk to 11:00 PM. To reach Lester/Amity, drive east on Superior Street to the Lester River Road, left on Lester River Road, parking lot is a block up on the left.

Magney-Snively Ski Trail: trail network consists of 15 km of trails that are cut through beautiful hadrwood forest. Groomed for both traditional and skate-style skiing. Access the trail by traveling west on Skyline Drive two miles past Spirit Mountain. Parking lot is 1/4 mile beyond the old stone bridge.

Piedmont Ski Trail: 5.0 km double tracked loop that is appropriate for traditional skiers of all levels and includes some scenic overlooks of the St Louis River valley. Take Piedmont Avenue to Hutchinson Road (two blocks up from the six-corner intersection). Turn left on Hutchinson and follow to Adirondack Street. Trail starts on the left of Hutchinson Road.

Spirit Mountain and Snowflake are two additional locations in Duluth to cross country ski.

A Minnesota State Ski Pass is required for use of the city trails. To obtain a ski pass go to www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/skipass

In order to help maintain good skiing conditions for the fun and safety of all skiers, users of the ski trails are requested to follow good trail etiquette.

Ski in the indicated direction

Leave pets at home

Hikers and dogs are not allowed on groomed trails

Try to fill any holes and smooth track if you should fall

Maps for each trail are available on the City of Duluth Parks and Recreation Division web site at www.duluthmn.gov or at the Parks and Recreation office located at 12 East 4th Street open Monday-Thursday 8:00-4:00 PM.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

MINNESOTA POWER AND US BANK STEP UP TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED


Holiday Promotions Offer Benefits to Participants and to Second Harvest

Updating your holiday light sets and recycling your old working refrigerator will not only

save energy, save you money and help the environment, it will also help people in need this

holiday season.

Minnesota Power and US Bank have partnered with Duluth Ace Hardware stores and

95 KQDS/Red Rock Radio to raise funds for Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank. From

now through December 31, 2009, customers can ensure a donation to the food bank by

participating in Minnesota Power’s conservation program. For each string of LED holiday lights

sold at Downtown Ace Hardware and Denny’s Ace Hardware in Woodland, the food bank will

receive $2.00. What’s more the light sets which sell for $7.99 and $9.99 offer a $3.00 instant

rebate to the purchaser.

Minnesota Power is also offering their customers a chance to recycle their old, inefficient

Working refrigerator or freezer. Those who participate in this offer between now and December

31, 2009 will ensure a $25.00 donation to the food bank for each one recycled. Customers who

recycle their refrigerator or freezer also receive $50 for themselves

plus their appliance is picked up at their home address, as is listed on their Minnesota Power bill.

“We are seeing an unprecedented number of people needing our food bank’s food this

holiday season,” said Shaye Moris, the food bank’s executive director. “Minnesota Power and

US Bank have pledged their support to help. If people have a need to upgrade their holiday

lights to more energy efficient sets or want to recycle their old working refrigerators or freezers

they should really consider doing it now. Their purchase or recycling would have great impact

on so many people in need right now.”

Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, the region’s only “food bank,” is on track this

year to rescue a record 3.3 million pounds of food or enough food for 2.6 million meals for

distribution to 140 non-profit programs and 40,000 Northland residents located throughout NE

Minnesota (St. Louis, Carlton, Lake and Cook counties) and NW Wisconsin (Douglas, Bayfield,

Ashland and Iron counties. For more information visit www.northernlakesfoodbank.org. For

further details about this special promotion visit www.mnpower.com/secondharvest.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Bentleyville Tour of Lights Weekend Excitement Planned

“Elfis” Performance Friday and Saturday

Bayfront Skating Rink Now Open

Only 7 Days to Visit Santa

Make you plans now to visit the Bentleyville Tour of Lights display at Bayfront Festival Park this weekend.

The weekend will be one of the most exciting of the Bentleyville Tour of Lights. The weekend starts out with the popular “Elfis” (half elf and half Elvis singer) who will be performing at the Bentleyville main stage on Friday, December 18th and Saturday, December 19th starting at 6:00 PM. You don’t want to miss this truly spectacular performance of your favorite holiday tunes.

Everyone is invited to bring their skates to Bentleyville and enjoy the newly opened Bayfront Park skating rink. Skating hours this weekend are Friday 4:00-8:00 PM, Saturday 1:00-8:00 PM and Sunday 1:00-5:00 PM. Also available to all skaters is the Family Center’s which is equipped with large fireplace which will warm you up from the cold.

Children wanting to see Santa should make their way to Bentleyville over the next 7 days. As we all know Santa will be leaving for the North Pole late December 23rd in order to load up his sleigh with presents for all children. Santa visits begin at 5:00 PM daily.

Please remember to think of those in need during this holiday season. Bentleyville Tour of Lights is an official Salvation Army drop off site. Bring your non-perishable food items and new unwrapped toys to Bentleyville. Donations will be accepted until the last day of Bentleyville, which will be January 2.

Bentleyville Tour of Lights, which is one of the largest lighting displays in the state of Minnesota runs from 5:00-10:00 PM daily free of charge. Visitors will be greeted by the spectacular Bentleyville castle which stands 24 feet high and 78 feet long and the Cookie House where visitors are welcome to complimentary hot chocolate, coffee and cookies as they stroll through the park. A dazzling 500 foot lighted tunnel leads you to Santa, live outdoor entertainment, 15 fire pits for roasting marshmallows and the Polar Popcorn Hut. Everyone will be amazed at the local displays of the Aerial Lift Bridget, a replicate of a thousand foot ore boat and the famous Enger Tower.

Bentleyville Tour of Lights is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization. The community mission of this event is to raise non-perishable food items and new unwrapped toys for families in need.

For more Bentleyville Tour of Lights information go to www.bentleyvilleusa.org

For further information contact: Nathan Bentley, Bentleyville Tour of Lights (218) 740-3536; Mayor Don Ness at (218) 730-5320; Amy Norris, Public Information Coordinator at (218) 730-4312; Kristi Stokes, Greater Downtown Council at (218) 727-8549 or Gene Shaw, Visit Duluth at (218) 625-8106.

Monday, December 14, 2009

2009 Christmas Eve services at Duluth Congregational Church

The Hillsider regrets an error in the December issue of the Duluth Congregational Church's Christmas Eve services ad.

The correct information for their Christmas Eve services are the is the following:

Duluth Congregational Church
3833 E. Superior St.
525-1911
4:30 and 11:00 pm, Candlelight services

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Kick-off for the construction of the American Indian supportive housing project

Caption: Sheery Sanchez TIbbetts, executive director of AICHO (Photo by Naomi Yaeger-Bischoff)

The American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) held a construction kick-off for the Gimaajii project.

The Gimaajii will create 29 units of permanent supportive housing and an American Indian Community Center in the old YWCA building at 202 W. Second St. in downtown Duluth.

The kick-off included a self-guided tour, welcoming drum songs, a pipe ceremony by Jeffery TIbbetts, words from: Sherry Sanchez Tibbets - executive director of AICHO, Laura Kadwell - Minnesota director for Ending Long-Term Homelessness, David Danz - planner with the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa and Robert E. Powless, PhD. project funder a past chairman of the Duluth Indian Commission.

Friday, December 04, 2009

Opinion: These conservatives are saying what?

By Dane Smith, president of Growth & Justice

Steve Forbes has a reputation as a fiercely zealous capitalist, and in general we need much less of such wild-eyed fundamentalism – from both the right and the left – in policy and politics.

But I went to hear his speech in Minneapolis last week, partly because my friend Mitch Pearlstein at the Center of the American Experiment graciously offered me a seat, and partly because I always like to know what the smartest anti-government adversaries are saying.

I was pleasantly surprised that Forbes delivered a message that was bullish about the future, candid at times in admissions of Wall Street failures, and mostly lacking in incendiary, Tea Party polemics about the evils of all things public and governmental.

Forbes, who ran for president in 1996 and 2000, is a fabulously wealthy publisher who inherited the Forbes magazine empire from his father, Malcolm Forbes. By most accounts, the junior Forbes has worked hard to deserve his place at the top of the American economic aristocracy.

He is best known as an advocate for cutting taxes, especially on the rich, and as the apostle of the so-called flat tax – and he’s been mostly scornful about the role of government as an economic regulator and equalizer.

And he got off some pretty hard shots at the CAE fundraising event, against both health care reform and the growing federal deficit.

But he sounded imminently sensible in making these points:

• Capitalism has a moral foundation, in that “you don’t succeed unless you meet the needs of other people” but, he added, that “doesn’t excuse what Wall Street did,” especially mortgage bankers.

• While to some it “looks like free markets have ill-served us,” Forbes said, the larger and more accurate picture of the U.S. economy is one of remarkable productivity, resilience, innovation and growth that actually outperformed India and China in raw dollars, even in recent years.

• Rather than a call for abolishing the Federal Reserve and any governmental role in oversight of the economy – as some extremists do these days – Forbes implicitly endorsed a Fed that would strengthen the dollar, print less money and keep credit tighter.

• Repeating his points from a magazine column more than a year ago, Forbes called for judicious reforms in regulation, especially “mark-to-market” accounting rules, and he actually praised the Democratic Congress for reforming that irrational system earlier this year.

The most important takeaway was that Forbes, unlike some sky-is-falling conservatives who declare that the Obama administration’s policies are about to destroy capitalism, believes that the system is essentially sound.

Forbes noted that despite all the gloom about trillions in market losses in recent years, the United States and its citizens and businesses still have some $70 trillion in assets.

In short, we remain a nation of unequalled and fabulous wealth, albeit one of the most unequally distributed economies among the wealthy nations.

The fact that Forbes did not mount an all-out anti-Obama screed was counter-intuitive, but it was reinforced in a commentary from syndicated conservative columnist David Brooks a few days later. (Brooks also was a Center of the American Experiment speaker this year.)

Continuing his pattern of evolution toward a far more reasonable accommodation of public investment and moderation on tax-and-budget policy, Brooks opined that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has been mostly right and has been vindicated for the massive outlays of taxpayer dollars to stabilize the economy.

Noting that early on both the liberal New Republic and a panel of Wall Street Journal economists gave Geithner an “F,” Brooks wrote that the “financial sector is in much better shape than it was then. TARP money is being repaid, and the debate now is what to do with the billions that were never needed.”

Brooks went on to say that the left was wrong in calling for nationalization of the financial industry and the right was wrong to fault the administration’s pragmatic tactic of having the federal government act “as aggressive(ly) as possible, as early as possible.”

The crisis is not over yet, Brooks concluded, and the nation and its president face three cross-cutting pressures: a need to reduce deficits, a rising populism in Congress, and “intense public cynicism about government, which means that every debate is washed in negativity.”

Cynicism and negativity, about our private sector and our public sector, are our enemies. To borrow from Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the only thing we have to be cynical about is cynicism itself.

Constructive and honest criticism are always in order, but it’s great to hear voices of reason and balance from both sides in these perilous times.

And listening carefully to the more thoughtful conservatives is always a good idea for practical progressives.

A version of this column originally appeared in the St. Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report on Thursday, November 26.

Dane Smith is president of St. Paul-based Growth & Justice, a progressive research organization that focuses on economics and state-and-local budget issues. He also spent 30 years as a journalist for the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press, where he delved into state, local and federal governments and politics.

Don't forget teens in your charitiable gift giving

2nd Annual Teen Gift Drive at BragGame Rights

Duluth, MN (12/02/08) - Join BragGame Rights, MIX 108 (KBMX 107.7FM) and Nelson & Company Advertising and PR, to help make our area teens'
holiday wishes come true this holiday season. Friday, December 4 from
3-7 pm Laura and Jean from the MIX 108 Morning Show, representatives
from Nelson & Company Advertising and PR and Coy Christmas from BragGame
rights will host a live remote on the at BragGame Rights to help raise
much needed gifts for area teens.

According to the local Salvation Army, teens are often forgotten in the
area toy drives. "We are looking for gifts for teens ages 13 - 17, such
as teen rated video games, grooming products, sporting goods items,
jewelry, gift certificates to local stores, and music and DVDs," says
Coy Christmas, "weather permitting, we'll hit the roof and get shoppers'
attention not to forget area teens." BragGame Rights also has gift cards
in all dollar increments if you don't have time to shop

MIX 108 and Nelson & Company are donating their time to help BragGame
rights kick off this event.. Items can be dropped off in advance at MIX
108 (14 East Central Entrance) or BragGame Rights on Maple Grove Road.

BragGame Rights, Duluth's only licensed console gaming host location,
boasts 4000 square feet of pay to play gaming, retail products, new and
used games, and entertainment. Located at 2510 Maple Grove Road, phone
number 218-740-GAME (4263), or at BragGameRights.com.

Donate to restock the food shelves

EXTREME GIVING - Builders Commonwealth & Downtown Computer

Join Forces Restocking Local Food Shelves!

Builders Commonwealth and Downtown Computer are asking every able person or business in our community to help meet the extreme need to refill the shelves by donating non-perishable food items, hygiene items, or grocery gift cards.

We all are aware with the economic crunch everyone has had to do some “belt tightening”. One of the many things that make our community such a wonderful place to live is the generosity of the people who live here. The holiday season is a perfect time to help out your neighbors in need.

With that in mind, mark your calendars for Extreme Giving: Monday, December 7th through Tuesday, December 21st

Drop off points: Builders Commonwealth , 517 Garfield Avenue Duluth MN (218) 729-1192

Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Downtown Computer, 201 E. Superior Street Duluth MN (218) 733-0400.

Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. - Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

On behalf of Builders Commonwealth , Downtown Computer, and the Twin Ports’ food shelves, we thank you in advance for your contribution to this community wide effort to RESTOCK THE SHELVES – EXTREME STYLE!

–Thad Whitesel, Builders Commonwealth and Gina Esterbrooks, Downtown Computer

Visit this link for gift ideas

Hillsider gift ideas

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Movie and discussion Protecting Our Waters, Dec. 3

Sulfide Mining in Minnesota - Protecting our Waters
Thursday, December 3 6:00 - 8:30pm
EPA Conference Center, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth
Movie & Panel discussion / Q&A Information Tables

6:00: Information tables

6:30: Showing of the film "Precious Waters" - Friends of the Boundary Waters new documentary

7:00 Panel discussion, followed by questions from audience.
Panelist include:
Ken Westlake - US EPA Region 5
Nancy Schuldt - Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Frank Ongaro - Mining Minnesota
LeRoger Lind - Save Lake Superior Association

Free and open to the public – Refreshments will be served

Sponsored by the League of Women Voters Duluth Natural Resources Committee and the Association for Women in Science - Lake Superior Chapter

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Duluthian on front page of Yahoo News

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=16947270

Soldier's mom sues over letter marked deceased.

Still looking for gift ideas? Local art and products

TWO UPCOMING DECEMBER HOLIDAY FAIRS FOR LOCAL SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES

Still looking for gift ideas? Give gifts that keep your dollars local
and improve the community and meet the people who make creative RIGHT
here in the Twin Ports.**
* *

*1. GET IT LOCAL Gift Fair *

Saturday, December 5 10 to 3 p.m.

Peace United Church of Christ, 1111 N. 11th Ave E.* *

This is the 3^rd year for the fair that has over 25 local artists and a
mix of nonprofits providing essential services and support in the area.
All the artists living in the Twin Ports.

What you will find there: artwork, pottery, jewelry, felted and sewn
items, wood turned bowls, painted gourds, homemade cards, calendars,
origami, wreaths, and so many unique items.

NEW THIS YEAR—Make & Take station:

10 to 12 - Kid's Crafts by Bohemia Arts
12 to 12:45 - Dye a Silk Scarf
1 to 2 - Learn to Felt

The local nonprofits attending this year will be Humane Society of
Douglas County, Altrusa Club of Duluth, Hartley Nature Center, Mentor
Duluth, Seeds of Hope Youth Ranch, Outdoor Edventures, and Friends of
the Duluth Library. Community Action Duluth will have food, coffee, and
other beverages available all day.
Live Music with Terry Larson in the morning and Charity Huot in the
afternoon.

*2. GET GREAT STUFF* evening art & gift fair

Shop after work on the evening of Tuesday, December 8 at Duluth
Congregational Church, 3833 E. Superior St., next to Northland Country Club

Open shopping time: 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Do some holiday shopping after work. Many local-made and creative gift
items will be available for purchase. Over 20 artists will be
participating. Pottery, books, sewn items, jewelry, cards, diamond
willow items, tshirts, chocolates, and more. NOTE: Only 5 of the 22
artists overlap with the GET IT LOCAL fair so come check this fair out
to shop from more wonderful local artists. This fair has area artists
ranging from Oulu to Holyoke with mostly Duluth - some within a few
blocks of the church.

Food & treats will be available.

For more information, contact 525-5098 or wendyupnorth@yahoo.com. These
fairs are brought to you by www.wendyupnorth.com