Mn/DOT warns: watch out for frosty bridge decks, turn off cruise control

Motorists should be alert for frosty or icy bridge decks, overpasses and ramps now that near-freezing temperatures have arrived in the Arrowhead Region, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The roadways of bridges can freeze much sooner than the roadway because elevated highway structures are not insulated by the ground. Consequently, even though the main roadway may appear relatively safe, the bridge decks are likely to be frosty or icy, particularly in the early morning and late evening hours.

Another winter driving safety tip is to discontinue use of your vehicle’s cruise control during the winter months. On slippery highways and bridges, use of a speed control device has a great potential to cause rapid and catastrophic loss of vehicle control when the cruise control kicks in on slippery roads.

Motorists should log onto www.511mn.org or call 511 for current road and weather conditions.

Economics, staff changes forces local non-profit to continue with volunteers and part time staff

East Hillside Patch announced this month that it will continue to serve the community despite some recent staff departures. As a result of these departures and the current economic climate, the organization will operate mostly through volunteers and a social work intern. Its three biggest projects are the Health Equity Project, a free after school program named Mind 2 Mind and the needs assessment survey.

Changes in Patch
Cindy Donner, executive director, has accepted a teaching position at the College of St. Scholastica and Jennifer Zapata, youth director, has moved to California to be closer to family. For economic reasons, Patch’s board has chosen not to fill these vacancies.
Instead, the board of directors will take a hands-on role in carrying out administrative duties, continuing the Health Equity Project and supporting Jahna Hardy, the recently hired part-time Youth Program Director, for its Mind-2-Mind program. Tamara Miskovic, an UMD MSW intern, will assist with agency-support duties and complete the neighborhood surveys that began last year.

Extra volunteers needed
As a result of these changes, the Patch office won’t be open on a regular basis any longer. Other than that, the agency continues to seek extra volunteers, more funders and board members. Patch’s focus remains on community development, social justice and youth programs. The agency has secured funding to assist board members in board development and strategic planning, which will begin in the upcoming months.
“Patch is just like the East Hillside and Endion neighborhoods it supports – resilient,” said Mona Cheslak, Patch board member.
For more information about East Hillside Patch please leave a message at the office, 218-728-4287, or e-mail patch@cpinternet.com.

Social work intern
If someone comes knocking on your door to ask what type of needs you have, please take time to answer the questions. That’s the sentiment of Tamara Miskovic, a social work intern at East Hillside Patch. Miskovic said, “Please participate because it’s for you!”

“Please participate because it is for you!”

Tamara Miskovic
on neighborhood needs survey

She said the biggest problems she sees in the East Hillside neighborhood are health care and childcare. She also said young single mothers need support groups and all neighbors need to know what is going on with in the neighborhood and how to network with each other.

Duluth American Indian Commission listens to concerns about barrels of waste in Lake Superior

Caption: Jean Buffalo addresses the Duluth American Indian Commission about the need for more research and risk assessment of barrels of waste dumped into Lake Superior. To the left is her granddaughter, Mayeyna Bressler. To the right is DAIC member Anthony LaDeaux.


By Naomi Yaeger-Bischoff
With concern for the safety of all who live, work and play along Lake Superior, Jean Buffalo, a member of the Red Cliff Natural Resources Damage Assessment Committee, addressed the Duluth American Indian Commission to discuss investigating the toxicity levels of barrels of waste that were dumped in Lake Superior. Between 1959 and 1962 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dumped 1,457 barrels of waste generated at the Twin Cities Army Ammunication Plant near Duluth.

Buffalo had her granddaughter at her side to emphasize that she learned at her elders’ knees the importance of communication, and that future generations need to be protected from environmental harm.

The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa received a $600,000 grant from the Department of Defense and has contracted with EMR, Inc., a national environmental consulting firm, to find the location and study the toxicity of the barrels of waste. Suzanne Anderson, a geologist with EMR’s Duluth office, gave a presentation on this summer’s research to determine the location of the barrels.

Buffalo stressed that open communication with all stakeholders (those living around Lake Superior) is paramount. She said that when her tribe ceded their land in the treaty they also took on responsibilities, which they take seriously. One of those treaty responsibilities is to be a watchdog for the health of the land and water along Lake Superior.

Duluth city council member, Jay Fosle was a guest during this presentation. Fosle expressed concern and is interested in the next step of determining if the barrels are toxic and what to do about it for the safety of all. On Sept. 29 Buffalo met with Duluth Mayor Don Ness.
Joy Dorcher, co-chairman of the DAIC, said she appreciated the respectful way the Red Cliff tribe is consulting with other groups such as cities, states, and tribes both in the United States and Canada. She added that if tests prove the waste is toxic there should be no problem getting funds from the federal government to further research and mediate this problem.

Buffalo provided this statement to The Hillsider:
This is in remembrance of an “ancestor”, Kitchie Bezhke (Chief Buffalo), Anton Buffalo, Antwine Buffalo:

And all that came before
You opened
A door
Because of you
Change will come...
Gii go wa ba miin (until then)

Calendar

Nov. 9 & 23 Rehearsals for Puzzle Peace
Youth Choir 2-3 p.m. Peace UCC Church,
1111 N. 11th St. We are planning to sing 1-2
times in Nov. and Dec. and will accept new
singers through Nov. 9. For further
information, call Peace UCC, 724-3637 or
director Cyndi, 728-9774.

Nov. 11 “Examine the Field of Medicine”
event for high school students 6-8 p.m. at the
UMD School of Medicine. 6-7:15 Panel
Discussion in Room 142; 7:15-7:40 Tour of
UMD School of Medicine; 7:40-8
Questions/Answers with Physicians. The
Lake Superior Medical Society is hosting this
event to bring some insight into what it is like
to go through medical school. Don’t miss this
chance to examine the myths, realities, and
rewards for becoming a doctor! This event
has limited space and is free to high school
students interested in a career in medicine.
Call 727-3325. Register by Nov. 5.

Nov. 11 Veterans’ Day March begins at 9:30
a.m. from the Duluth Armory and ends 10:30
a.m. at the Duluth Depot (St. Louis County
Heritage & Arts Center). City of Duluth
Ceremony begins at 11 a.m. at the Depot.
Nov. 13 Lunch with the History People
Craig Grau presents “The 2008 Election”
12-1 p.m. St. Louis County Heritage & Arts
Center (Depot).
Nov. 13 "Sharing Indian Culture from East
and West” Registration is at 5:45 p.m.; dinner
at 6:00 p.m.; program at 7:00 p.m. Unitarian
Universalist Congregation of Duluth, 835 W.
College St. All are invited to a sharing
between Anishanabe people and East Indian
people. Come and enjoy two beautiful
cultures with food for body and spirit. The
menu includes American Indian foods and
East Indian foods. Skip and Babette Sandman
will speak about the Anishanabe culture and
spiritual practices. Indra and Chandra
Mehrota will speak about East Indian culture
and Hindu spiritual practices. $15, no charge
for children 12 and under. Free childcare will
be provided. Sponsored by the Arrowhead
Interfaith Council. Contact Erik at
ernordgren44@gmail.com or phone 310-0966.

Nov. 14 Family Day at the St. Louis County
Heritage & Arts Center 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the
Depot. Admission to the museums is $2 per
person and includes activities for the kids.

Nov. 16 Benefit for the KAKO Foundation
"Music for All" Program 3 p.m. Mitchell
Auditorium at The College of St. Scholastica.
Sara Thomsen and The Echoes of Peace Choir
Concert with guest storyteller Elizabeth
Nordell, violinist Rudy Perrault, and Three
Altos. $12. Co-sponsored by CSS Center for
Just Living and International Student Club.
For more information about The KAKO
Foundation call 724-3484. For more
information about this concert or about the
Echoes of Peace Choir call 525-6500.
www.sarathomsen.com.

Nov. 17 Duluth American Indian
Commission 5 p.m. City Hall Room 402.
Agenda: Update from Community Police
Officer; Work Plan Schedule for 2009
discussion.

ONGOING
Every Monday Duluth Laughing Club
12:10-12:20 p.m. Duluth Civic Center in front
of the St. Louis County Bldg.
Mondays-Thursdays Kid’s Café After
School Program 3:30-5:30 p.m. Damiano
Center Room 205. Free meal and activities
for children and their families. Children under
6 must be accompanied by adult.
Each Saturday Afternoon Gallery 2:00 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.
1st Thursday Central Hillside Community
Club/ND 5 6 p.m. Central Hillside Center, 12
E. 4th St.

1st Thursday Childbirth Collective Parent
Topic Nights 7 p.m. Peace Church, 1111 N.
11th Ave. E. Call Emily at 393-7042.
2nd & 4th Mondays Arrowhead Stamp Club
of Duluth MN and Superior WI 7 p.m. First
Presbyterian Church, 300 E. 2nd St. For more
information call Howard, 722-9016.

2nd Tuesday Free mini ceilis with instruction
7 p.m. at Carmody's Pub, 308 E. Superior St.
Cash bar. FFI call 728-1438.

2nd Saturday Ceramics Sale 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Duluth Art Institute great room in the Lincoln
Building, 2229 W. 2nd St.

2nd & 4th Sundays The Northland Anti-War
Coalition 2 p.m., Chester Creek Café, 1902 E.
8th St.

2nd & 4th Mondays Arrowhead Stamp Club
7 p.m. First Presbyterian Church. 722-9016
2nd Tuesday The Twin Ports Coin and
Currency Club 7 p.m. Rainbow Center
3rd Tuesday Campus Neighbors 7 p.m. Grant
Rec. Center, 901 E. 11th St.

3rd Wednesday Antique Appraisal noon-3
p.m. in the Rotunda of the St. Louis County
Heritage & Arts Center (Depot). Free.

3rd Thursday Duluth Superior Green
Drinks 5-9 p.m., Carmody's Irish Pub, 308 E.
Superior St. Every month people meet up for
informal environmental discussions with
people who think & act in concern for our
ecological future. You do not need to drink
alcohol to attend. Email:
duluthsuperiorgreendrinks@yahoogroups.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/duluthsuperior
greendrinks

3rd Thursday Park Point Community Club
7 p.m. Lafayette Square, 3026 Minnesota Ave.

4th Saturday Gloria Dei Community
Breakfast 9-10:30 a.m. Gloria Dei Lutheran
Church, 219 N. 6th Ave. E.
Submit your calendar events to Mona:
monajc@hotmail.com or 724-1193.