Duluth Mayor Don Ness wears a Hillsider T-shirt as he jumps into fridgid Lake Superior to promote Google Fiber

Catch the Olympic Spirit

"Warmer By the Lake" to be held February 13th at Bayfront Festival Park

Bayfront Festival Park will be the place to be in Duluth on Saturday, February 13th from 2:00-5:00 PM at the annual "Warmer By the Lake" winter event. Everyone will be able to enjoy the traditional activities of skating, snow shoeing, marshmallow roasting, and sleigh rides with the addition of the Olympic spirit. You will also be able to come in out of the cold and enjoy free hot chocolate and cookies as well as enjoy festive music in the large warming tent or warm up by the huge bonfire.

From February 12-28 the Olympic spirit will play out in Vancouver, Canada site of this years winter Olympics, inspiring us to be the best that we can be. The American Lung Association, Young Athletes Association, Friends of the Parks, True North AmeriCorps, Duluth Parks and Recreation, local businesses and clubs are joining forces to hold a community-wide Olympic Celebration starting with an Opening Ceremony on February 13th at Warmer by the Lake. This ceremony will focus on Duluth's Olympic history and future and will include a parade of community centers and local winter sports clubs to kick off the next two weeks of events called "Snowlympics".

The opening ceremony of "Snowlympics" will begin at 3:00 PM and will include former Olympic participants George Hovland, Adrian Watt and Joe Polo bronze medalist of the 2006 winter grames. After the lighting of the torch the focus will shift to Bayfront Park skating rink where two talented local figure skaters will perform.

So pack up the kids, grab your skates and head on down to Bayfront Park for a fun-filled day of winter activities brought to you by Duluth Parks and Recreation.

Duluthians visit the state capitol to save GAMC (General Assistance Medical Care)

On Thursday, Feb. 4 I joined a group of 51 people to ride a bus from Duluth to the state capitol to urge the Minnesota legislature and Gov. Pawlenty to save GAMC. GAMC is the medical insurance the poorest of the poor receive. It stands for General Assistance Medical Care. The proposed cuts are to single individuals who earn less than $7,000 per year.

Without this insurance these people will go without or end up visiting the emergency rooms. These emergency room visits will end up costing all of the public money. While on the bus and at the capitol I visited with several people who are recipients of GAMC. It is scheduled to be cut on April 1.

There is some movement in the legislature to have a temporary extension of the program for 16 months and by that time Minnesota will have a new governor. Many of the people on GAMC have physical and mental health issues that make it hard for them to work.

Several ordained clergy attended the event. Clergy on the bus included Rev. Kathy Nelson of Peace United Church of Christ, Rev. Cathy Cathy Schuyler of Duluth Congregation Church and retired Rev. John Clark Pegg.

Many people say it is a moral issue.

The Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman of Temple Israel said different denominations and religions might pray differently, but all were in agreement to take care of their neighbor. "Let us find the spiritual audacity deep within us." She also said, "We will propel you," to the legislators who are supportive of the GAMC.

The Duluth group visited their districts representatives and senators. Some of the Duluth group broke off to visit Linda Berglind, Chair of the Health, Human Services and Corrections Budget Division. Tommy O'Neill, was one to tell her his story.

The group of people went into Gov. Pawlenty's office hoping to meet with him, but he was unavailable. Over 60 letters in support of keeping GAMC were left at his office.

After being at the capitol for under two hours the group board the bus and headed back to Duluth

Slideshow of bus trip to St. Paul to save the General Assiatnce Medical Care

Bus Trip to St Paul to Save the GAMC

'Go get a Feb. Hillsider, learn about fun events in the snow and with your sweetie'

'Go get a Feb. Hillsider, learn about fun events in the snow and with your sweetie'

Ongoing meetings

ONGOING…………………..
Mondays
Duluth International Folk Dance Club, 7
p.m. to 9 p.m. Grant School (no dance held on
school holidays). Free.
Mondays-Thursdays
Kid’s Café After School Program 3:30-5:30
p.m. Damiano Center Rm 205. Free meal and
activities for children and their families. Chil-
dren under 6 must be accompanied by adult.
Saturdays
Saturday Afternoon Gallery 2 p.m. Tweed
Museum of Art, UMD. Free and open to the
public. www.d.umn.edu/tma, 726-8222.
1st Tuesday
East Hillside Community Club 6:30 p.m.
Grant Rec. Center, 901 E. 11th St.
Leche Club, 6:30 p.m., Coppertop Church

1st Thursday
Central Hillside Community Club 6 p.m.
Central Hillside Center, 12 E. 4th St.
Childbirth Collective Parent Topic Nights 7
p.m. Peace Church, 1111 N. 11th Ave. E.

1st Saturday
African American Men’s Group 9 a.m., Du-
luth Grill.
2nd & 4th Mondays
Arrowhead Stamp Club of Duluth MN and
Superior WI 7 p.m. First Presbyterian Church,
300 E. 2nd St., 722-9016.
2nd Tuesday
The Twin Ports Coin and Currency Club
7 p.m. Rainbow Center.
2nd Sunday
The Northland Anti-War Coalition, 2 p.m.,
Unitarian Church library, 835 W. College St.
3rd Monday
Duluth American Indian Commission 5 p.m.
City Hall Room 402.
3rd Tuesday
Campus Neighbors 6:30-8 p.m. Grant Rec.
Com. Center, 901 E. 11th St. Topic this month:
University Housing Overlay Working Group
Report
3rd Wednesday
Antique Appraisal noon-3 p.m., St. Louis
County Heritage & Arts Center (Depot). Free.
East Hillside Block Watch 7 p.m., Grant Com-
munity Recreation Center, 901 E. 11th St.
Leche Club, 10 a.m., Coppertop Church
3rd Saturday
Tamarack Dance, 7 p.m. Family dance, 8 p.m.
Dance, Peace Church.
4th Saturday
Gloria Dei Community Breakfast 9-10:30
a.m. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 219 N. 6th
Ave. E.

February 2010 calendar of events

FEB 6, Dances of Universal Peace (new loca-

tion!), 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Deep Peace Wellness Stu-

dio, Hunter Building, 31 W. Superior Street #501.

By donation. No experience necessary.

FEB 7, Slow Food Lake Superior Potluck-

Food, Books, Movies, 4-6 p.m., Peace Church,

1111 N 11th Ave E. Bring your favorite root

vegetable potluck dish and food-related books or

movies, or info. about them.

FEB 9, 12th Annual Death by Chocolate, 11

a.m. - 1 p.m., Radisson Hotel. Chocolate delights

by the best chefs in the Northland. Boxed gourmet

chocolates available. Advance tickets $12 call

726-4725. $15 at the door. Arc Northland and

ACF Arrowhead Prof. Chef’s Assoc. benefit.

FEB 11, Lunch with the History People, 12

p.m. St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center,

506 West Michigan St. Author and retired educa-

tor Paul Lind discusses “Stock Car Racing in the

Twin Ports: 1950 – 1962.” Free event.

FEB 11, CHUM Annual Meeting

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Karen Smith Sellers. Pilgrim

Congregational Church, 2310 E. 4th St., 6:30 p.m.

social, 7 p.m. meeting and worship

FEB 11, Lewis & Clark and the Indian Coun-

try Point of View by UMD American Indian

Studies Faculty, 6:30 p.m., UMD Ballroom. Fac-

ulty will also respond to questions from viewers of the

Lewis & Clark. & the Indian Country national travel-

ing exhibit which is at the UMD Library, 4th floor Ro-

tunda until Feb 25.

FEB 13, Annual Valentine Party, 12 to 2 p.m.

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Picnic lunch, music

with Terence Smith, activities for all ages. FREE

FEB 13, Twin Ports Action Coalition Third

Annual Valentines Party and Silent Auction.

Starts at 7 p.m. Venue at Mohaupt Block, 2024

W. Superior St.

FEB 13, 11th Annual “Warmer By the Lake”

2-5 p.m. Pack up the kids, grab your skates and

head to Bayfront for fun winter activities brought

to you by Duluth Parks and Recreation.

FEB 16, History in a Pint, 6 p.m., Carmody's

Irish Pub, 308 E Superior St. Guest: Joe Gomer –

WWII Veteran, Gold Medal recipient, and Tuske-

gee Airmen, the popular name of a group of Afri-

can American pilots who flew with distinction

during WWII, US Army Air Corps.

FEB 16, Renters Unite, Lincoln Park Renters

Association, 5:30 p.m., Harrison Community Cntr

3002 W. 3rd St. Dinner and childcare provided.

FEB 18, Hillside Renters Association, 6 p.m.,

Central Hillside Community Cntr, 12 E. 4th St.,

Dinner and transportation provided. 740-2497

FEB 20, iFilm at the Library: The Drummer,

1:30 p.m., Duluth Public Library. From Hong

Kong. In Mandarin/Cantonese w/subtitles. Free.

FEB 20, 11th Annual Polar Plunge, Registration

is Noon-3 p.m/3 p.m. plunge. Fundraiser for Spe-

cial Olympics MN. Held at Lake Superior/

Grandma's Sports Garden. 390-7780 or 340-0797,

FEB 24, Circle of Support, a breast cancer sup-

port group for survivors and supporters. 7 p.m.-

8:30 p.m. Duluth Grill, back room 525-1905

FEB 25, Unnatural Causes documentary se-

ries, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Teatro Zuccone, Bad Sugar:

What are the connections between diabetes, op-

pression, and empowerment in two Native Ameri-

can communities?, Place Matters: Why is your

street address such a strong predictor of your

health? Free. A short discussion follows the films

whi ch are each 1/ 2 hour.

FEB 27, Pancake Breakfast Health Care Fund-

raiser for...Everyone! 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Holy

Family Church, 2430 W. 3rd. St. Bake Sale, 8

a.m. to noon. 10 a.m. program: Co. Commissioner

Steve O'Neil. Fundraiser for the Citizen Fed.

FEB 27, 8th Annual Mush for Kids!, 12-4 p.m.

Marshall School, 1215 Rice Lake Rd. Dogsled

rides for ages 3-12, horse drawn sleigh rides, x-

country skiing, skijoring, snowshoeing, winter

camping demo, cookies and coca. 391-0147

FEB 27, A Minnesota Without Poverty Event :

If not we, then who? If not now, then when?

6:30 - 8 p.m. Peace Church, Sponsored by: Com-

munity Action Duluth, CHUM, Catholic Diocese

of Duluth

FEB 27-28, Lake Superior Family Fun Fest

Held at the DECC. A taste of summer for fami-

lies. Rides and games for kids from two to early

teens and an expo featuring products and services

that appeal to young families. Entertainment and

interactive demos, too. 727-1177