Maryland’s response to Hillsider Questionnaire

1. Affordable health care
Our country and culture have many social problems. However, keeping Medicare viable and effective is our largest long term public challenge today.
In Minnesota, Medicare, Minnesota Medical Assistance and Minnesota Care furnish health care to a large portion of our population. Along with these health plans and employer furnished health plans, there are still a large number of our citizens without health insurance. For the uninsured, I would propose a base health insurance plan where the premiums would not exceed 6 percent of their gross income. We should also explore the Massachusetts Health Plan which has been in effect for three years and includes all citizens of the state.
I have had the privilege to practice medicine for 50 years in Minnesota and in the 7B District of Duluth. With this experience I see this public issue from both sides. I believe I have ideas to deliver health care with more efficiency and reduced costs.
2. Livable wage
A livable wage issue is complex because of fluctuating economic times. This issue is a symptom of our local larger problem. District 7B has large segments of land not being efficiently used. We need new and vibrant industry to move into our area. Government incentives like inexpensive land and less tax for a period of time will help create a favorable environment.
3. Federal and state aid to cities, and taxes
I am not in favor of our city government to offer loans or bonding which can default. Note the past failed city projects.
With vibrant industry and manufacturing, more citizens are employed which increase revenues and high paid wages which improves our total economy. Therefore, the solution to our wage problem is more industry, manufacturing and employment.
4. Closing unfair racial inequities.
Racial and ethnic inequities have been present in human cultures since the dawn of history. Every civilization has had this terrible track record which eventually destroys the culture. We as Americans must not fall into this trap. Education of our citizens with tolerance is essential. We must judge our fellow Man by their behavior and character, not by their ethnic background or skin color.

Minnesota Legislative seat 7B Candidates answer Hillsider Questionnaire

Retiring representative Mike Jaros will vacate the Minnesota Legislative seat 7B. The following candidates are vying for the seat: Democrats Roger Reinert, Brandon Clokey, John Derbis, Marsh Stenersen, and Daniel Maryland; Republican Allan Kehr, and Independent party candidate Jay Cole.

Each candidate was contacted or attempted to be contacted more than once to participate. Candidates were allowed one press release or statement in addition to answering the questionnaire.

The primary election is Tuesday Sept. 9. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The Hillsider asked all the candidates to participate in our questionnaire. Here are the questions.

1. Health care is on everyone’s mind. What will you do as a representative to ensure that all Minnesotans have adequate access to affordable health care?
2. Half of Minnesota’s jobs do not pay a standard living wage. What is your position on providing subsidies or incentives to employers who provide a livable wage?
3. Federal and state aid to cities have been cut. Basic and important services such as senior meal staff, youth programs in general, those which add to health and prevent crime are affected; also vital services such as residential water have new rules and are expensive.
Question: What can you offer at the state level that would increase access and cut costs to vulnerable taxpaying citizens?
4. Racial inequities in Minnesota exist in most of life’s areas for American Indian and African Americans, they are statistically more likely to suffer: higher infant mortality, shorter life span, less access to health care, fewer high school graduates, higher unemployment, lower income, more often victims of crime, make up a higher percentage of prison inmate population. These historical trends continue to exist today in Duluth.
Question: Describe what specific actions you will take to lead the people of your district to close these unfair racial inequities?

TPAC candidate forum generates large turn-out, vigorous discussion

Twin Ports Action Coalition and the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless sponsored a candidate forum on Thursday, Aug. 21 at the Damiano Center Cafeteria. The forum was with six of the seven candidates for Minnesota Legislative House 7B seat which, will be vacated by Mike Jaros. Duluth Third District City Councilor Sharla Gardner moderated the forum and Kennedy Horton from the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless was the timekeeper. “This was a great event, I am glad the candidates came and answered the hard hitting questions about homelessness and poverty,” said Scott Yeazle, Chairman of the Twin Ports Action Coalition.

Sixty people attended the forum, many prepared with questions. The forum will be on PACT TV and was filmed by TPAC Member Shane Pribble.
See the forum on the Twin Ports Action Coalition website at
www.twinportsaction.com
(See the Hillsider questionaire.)

Welcom back college students, spaghetti dinner

Residents all over Duluth will get new neighbors this month as college students make their annual return to town. Lake Superior College started on Monday, Aug. 25, while both UMD and College of St. Scholastica start on Tuesday, Sept. 2.


Reaching Out to Neighbors Nips Problems in the Bud

Getting to know your neighbors can go a long way toward preventing problems. Chester Park United Methodist Church is working to foster good relationships by serving a Good-Neighbor Spaghetti Dinner. Students - along with their parents and friends - and long-time residents are encouraged to attend on Sunday, Aug. 31 anytime between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The church is located at 819 N. 18th Ave. E., one-half block uphill from East Eighth Street.

If you live in a neighborhood with student residents, please consider hosting a neighborhood gathering that includes your new and current student neighbors as well as your long-term neighbors. Parties have ranged from large potlucks to simply asking people to stop in, say hello and have an ice cream cone. As with National Night Out, traditionally, this is an alcohol-free family event. These gatherings traditionally take place on the Sunday after Labor Day (Sept. 7 this year), however, any time during the first two weeks of September would probably work.
UMD will reimburse residents who host neighborhood gatherings for up to $50 of their expenses. To qualify for reimbursement, you must register your event in advance with UMD by calling Cheryl Anderson at 726-6790.

For questions, call Sandy Robinson at 393-9329. Or, contact The Campus Neighbors Advisory Group at P.O. Box 3262, Duluth, MN 55803-3262, phone 724-4389, email campusneighborsATgmail DOT com.

A simple exchange of phone numbers between students and long-term residents can help ease future tensions. Most students would prefer to receive a phone call from you informing them that they are a little too loud instead of a visit from the police.
Additional police squads will be in place for the last weekend of August and the first two weekends in September to handle house party and neighborhood disturbances. If the situation does get out of hand call 911 for a squad to respond. Community Officer Bill Eickhoff recommends giving your name and number to the dispatcher and asking to have the responding officer call you. If a house becomes a chronic nuisance, please call Officer Eickhoff at 730-5563 to discuss options for resolving the issue. Central Hillside residents may phone Officer Barry Midthun at 730-5564. Leave a message as they may not be at their desks.
Officer Eickhoff will speak at the September 16 Campus Neighbors meeting.

American Indians talk about the future at feast and forum

Niko LaFrinier, age 2, enjoys a slice of watermelon at the Duluth American Indian Commission’s Feast and Forum on Aug. 21. He is the son of Rachael LaFrinier.

The Duluth American Indian Commission focused on the future at its community feast and forum last month at the YWCA’s Trepanier Hall. As part of the program, Michelle Gordon, co-chairwoman of the DAIC, asked attendees to envision the 26 housing units for American Indians and the American Indian Center that the YWCA will soon contain. The facility will also provide space for an art gallery, offices for service organizations and a health-care clinic.
Gordon said she could imagine kids drumming on the stage, feasts like the one that night, artwork and Dr. Joycelyn Dorcher’s medical students visiting the clinic. (Dorcher is also co-chairwoman of the DAIC.)

In addition to the future, some attendees took time to comment on the present. Bart Long, for example, had kind words for Police Chief Gordon Ramsay and the current relationship between the police and the American Indian community. “There is more communication [where] previously there was none,” he explains. “There is follow-up. [Ramsay] calls back.”Ron Boushey, another member of the DAIC said he was impressed with the new city council and that Indian people do have a voice in Duluth. “This community as a whole does not realize that there are many Native American businesses in this town that support the community directly,” said Marlene Diver, a retired social worker. “We have so many successful people.” She cited Jim Perrault Construction, Grey Star Electronics, police officers, foster care parents and UMD professors as examples.

In her address, Melanie Ford, St. Louis County Attorney, advocated fair and vigorous prosecution of crime, focus on preventing crime, truancy prevention and racial fairness, and equal justice. Her office is forming an advisory committee of people involved in the juvenile justice system, service providers and community leaders of all races and ethnic backgrounds in the county.

The DAIC meets the third Monday of each month on the fourth floor of City Hall.

Day of Prayer and Fasting for peace and wholeness in Central Hillside

Day of Prayer and Fasting
for peace and wholeness in our city
Wednesday, August 27
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you …, and pray to the Lord on its behalf,
for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
Jeremiah 29:7

Day of Prayer and Fasting
for peace and wholeness in our city
Wednesday, August 27

culminating with Worship & Supper at the Damiano Center
(206 W 4th St)

5:00
Worship and Praise
5:30
Prayer Walk
through the Neighborhood
6:30
Soup and Bread with Thanksgiving
at the Damiano Center
(206 W 4th St )

Come and join the Duluth Faith Community to unite in prayer in response to the recent violence in the Central Hillside Community
(For additional information, contact Kim Crawford,
CHUM Organizer at 218-740-2496)

Sponsored by the Community Safety Initiative, a cooperative program of CHUM, NHS, and the Duluth Police Department



Please pray
for the Central Hillside neighborhood

for our neighborhood leaders:
police, firefighters, elected officials, business leaders, community organizers, parents;

for safety and security
in our homes, on our streets,
in parks and businesses and schools;

for a fountain of hope to spring up,
hope for deliverance
from despair, emptiness, addiction, violence, poverty, racism, homophobia, abuse, and other sin which holds us down;

for God’s presence, power and peace
in our lives and in our city.

Iraq Moratorium anti-war vigil

Event: Iraq Moratorium anti-war vigil
What: Protest
Host: Northland Anti-War Coalition
Start Time: Friday, August 15 at 4:30pm
End Time: Friday, August 15 at 5:30pm
Where: Canal Park [in front of the DeWitt Seitz Building

7B Candidate Forums

Sponsored by the 7^th Senate District DFL

No charge for these educational eventsMeet the DFL Candidates for the7B House of Representatives Seat. Hear their positions on issues that are important to you.

August 15-------Lincoln School Cafeteria 2423 West 5^{th Street}
August 26------Morgan Park Auditorium 1243 88^th Avenue West
September 4-­--MacArthur School Auditorium 727 North Central Avenue

All forums begin at 6:30 pm with a

Question and Answer period.

Following the forum the candidates

will be available to meet and talk

with voters individually

Progressive Action sponsors candidate forum

Progressive Action Hosts 7B Legislative Forum August 13Progressive Action is hosting a forum on Wednesday, August 13. The forum will be held in the Duluth City Council Chambers, on the third floor of the Duluth City Hall, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the 13th. Of the seven candidates, the six Democrats and one Republican have confirmed they plan to participate, including Democrats Roger Reinert, Brandon Clokey, John Derbis, Marsh Stenersen, and Daniel Maryland and Republican Allan Kehr. Independence Party candidate Jay Cole is not able to take part in the forum.

Moderators for the forum will be Progressive Action President and local columnist Barb Olsen and Progressive Action Steering Committee member Patrick Boyle. Questions for the forum will be put together by Progressive Action members and the organization' s Steering Committee, and additional questions will be taken in written form from the audience. No questions will be shared with any candidate prior to the forum.The forum will be recorded by PACT-TV (Channel 7 on Cable) and broadcast multiple times, on dates and times to be announced soon. The event is free and open to the public.

Progressive Action is a group of volunteers in Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin formed after the death of Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone to continue his work on issues such as affordable housing, living wages, and electing progressives to office. For more information, see www.prog-action.org.

Understanding the Costs of War

“Days of Remembrance”
AUGUST 5th – 9th
Understanding The Costs of War

Loss of Life, Neglect of Human Needs, Economic Failure, Hope & Spiritual Decline, Nuclear Buildup

DULUTH EVENTS
August 5th Tues.

Press Conference on “Days of Remembrance” Events
10 a.m. Enger Park at the Peace Bell
7 p.m. Remembrance Church Service
Concordia Lutheran Church
2501 Woodland Avenue

August 6th Wed.

1945 US Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima
A Day of Silence (Consider wearing a black armband)
7 p.m. Film and Discussion “White Light/Black Rain”
First United Methodist (Copper Top Church)
230 East Skyline Parkway

August 7th Thurs.7 p.m.

A Community Conversation!
The Costs of War
Hear Panelists & Share Your Views
Small Groups will Report out to all
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation Bldg.
835 West College Street
(2 blocks West of U.M.D. on College Street)

August 8th Fri. 7 p.m.

Film and Discussion “Why We Fight”
The Duluth/Superior Friends Meeting Bldg
1802 East 1st Street

August 9th Sat. 1945

US Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki
7 p.m. Ecumenical Day of Prayer & Remembrance
Remembering, Mourning, & Repenting the Destruction
with Singer Sara Thompson
Peace United Church of Christ
1111 North 11th Street

Supporting Groups;

Northland Anti-War Coalition, Vets for Peace Chapter 80,

Loaves & Fishes Catholic Worker, Women in Black,
Duluth Chapter Every Church a Peace Church, Community of the Third Way,

Duluth Labor Caucus for Peace, Grandmothers for Peace,
Duluth Area Green Party, U.U. Peace & Justice Committee,

Network of Spiritual Progressives Duluth,

U.M.D. Students for Peace, Pax Christi,
Iraq Veterans Against the War MN Chapter, Woman Speak for a Sane World,

Just Peace Committee of Peace United Church of Christ, etc.

Contact: earthmannow AT gmail DOT com or 218 269- 8096 * 218-728-9395
Flyer Produced by Donated Labor

Goodwill Duluth: employing and empowering

Caption: Clients work together sorting donated items using a conveyor belt at the Garfield Avenue work site. (Photo by Wendy Grethen)

By Wendy Grethen

“By unloading you are uplifting.” This is the new marketing message for Duluth’s Goodwill. And they’re right. Every day people are cleaning house and unloading heaps and heaps of donated items for redistribution and resale.
The people who benefit most from Goodwill Industries are the people who process the donations.

The state of Minnesota has two Goodwill Industries and one is right here in Duluth. Goodwill Industries is a private non-profit community rehabilitation program which helps people with a disability or other barrier to employment achieve the highest level of work productivity with respect to individual dignity.

Goodwill serves about 190 clients in the Duluth area with almost half from the Hillside area. The hours and tasks that the client works are selected based upon the individual.
Client work activities include sorting donations into usable or non-usable items and different categories, removing metal from unusable goods, which then go to a secondary market to be recycled, or electronics testing.

Some clients work off-site and perform janitorial services at the Federal Building and other sites in Duluth or help with lawn mowing. Goodwill also has services to blister pack or shrink-wrap and can manufacture items. The clients are the labor force providing the work, whose revenues support Goodwill’s rehabilitation services.

Currently, a 21- member board of directors along with the staff of 135 from the Duluth area help to make operations as efficient as possible, provide job opportunities for clients or supervise clients either in projects or at the 11 retail stores in the Northland.
Some funding for Goodwill Industries comes through the United Way, but 85 percent of Goodwill’s revenue comes from its retail, lawn care, and janitorial services.
Loads of donations are dropped off at the Goodwill main drop-off sites or its other sites throughout the Northland. Most of the donations are clothing.

“The goal is for 11,000 saleable clothing items to ship to stores each week. The goal is often exceeded,” said Goods Manager Greg Conkins.

Unusable goods going to secondary markets, beyond what is sold at the regional stores, may go to locations such as Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, or India. Likewise, unusable items that have recycling potential are separated out by category and then sold to appropriate salvage markets.
Substantial progress has been made in cutting down about half of the materials that would have gone into a landfill and often the recycled metals or glass can then go on to make new products.

So, go ahead and do a little back-to-school and fall routine-cleaning in your closets and garage. Goodwill welcomes drop-offs of clothing, shoes, garden equipment, bicycles, sporting goods, linens, glassware, kitchenware, books and furniture in good condition.

For more information, call Goodwill at (218) 722-6351 for a pick-up or to ask a question on acceptable items to donate. Your donations are tax-deductible, as provided by law.

There are 11 retail Goodwill stores in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, including three in the Duluth/Superior Area: 700 Garfield Avenue, 4883 Miller Trunk Hwy, and 2401 Tower Avenue in Superior.
Visit the website at www.goodwillduluth.org.

Locations of 2008 National Night Out block parties

Caption: Police Officer Barry Midthun at a block party in July. Photo by Andre G.


East Hillside
East Sixth Street between 11th Avenue East and 12th Avenue East – Contact is Joann at 728-1516.
East Hillside Community Club at Grant Community Recreation Center (901 E 11th St) - Contact is Mona at 724-1193.
East Seventh Street between 16th Avenue East and 17th Avenue East – Contact is Carol at 730-9954.
East Sixth Street between 16th Avenue East and 17th Avenue East – Contact is Christine at 390-5363.
Grandview Avenue between alley below Kent Road & 10th Street – Contact is MaryAnn at 724-2729.

Central Hillside
First Avenue West above alley between First and Second Streets - Contact is Gregory at 720-6521.

Lincoln Park
Duluth Boys & Girls Club at Lincoln Park Picnic Pavilion - Contact is Tim at 725-7706.

Other neighborhoods east:
Robinson Street between 40th Avenue East and 41st Avenue East – Contact is Lynne at 525-1205
East Fourth Street between 37th Avenue East & Pinewood Contact is Laura 728-2410.
East First Street between 28th Avenue East and 29th Avenue East – Contact is Teresa at 724-1860.
McCulloch Street between 42nd Avenue East and 43rd Avenue East – Contact is Catherine at 525-3383.
Branch Street between 30th Avenue East & 31st Avenue East - Contact is Nancy at 724-1344.
Luverne Street between 43rd Avenue East & 44th Avenue East - Contact is Julie at 525-0051.
Longview Garden Club (Clover to East 7th Street to Irving Place) -Contact is Anita at 724-5761.
Lester Park United Methodist Church at 5401 E Superior St - Contact is Pastor David Warner at 525-4373.
Crescent View Avenue between 36th Avenue East & 37th Avenue East - Contact is Robert at 724-1969.
Cooke Street from 47th Avenue East to 48th Avenue East - Contact is Stefanie at 525-3637.

Other neighborhoods west:
Gary-New Duluth Community Club at 1313 101st Avenue West - Contact is Pat at 626-3438.
91st Avenue West between Grace Street and Hilton - Contact is Michelle at 626-2831.
Asbury Methodist Church at 6822 Grand Av - Contact is Shelly at 624-0061.
1200 block of 99th Avenue West - Contact is Steve at 626-2476
3216 Wellington Street - Contact is Sandy/Gary at 624-9433.

National Night Out, 2006

This photo was taken at a block party on East Sixth Street in 2006

See more here

Summer, time for block parties and annual National Night Out

See photo from 2007 NNO here

By Naomi Yaeger-Bischoff
Get together with your neighbors and enjoy a block party on Tuesday, Aug. 5. It’s National Night Out (NNO), an event celebrated across the nation as a way to strengthen neighborhoods and fight crime.

Last year over 34 million people across the United States and Canada participated, and Duluth was no exception. Across Duluth, people enjoyed hot dogs, hamburgers and other picnic-type goodies, while listening to music, playing games and acquainting themselves with their neighbors. In many cases, the block party guests included police and firefighters, which gave residents a chance to get to know their public safety officers a little better. Children (and adults) loved exploring the fire trucks.

The NNO hopes to achieve its mission of creating safe and strong neighborhoods through four main goals: heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police/community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Churches United in Ministry (CHUM) will celebrate on First Avenue West between First and Second Streets. Everyone is welcome to attend. Member congregations will supply and serve a meal. Special music is part of the celebration.

Most streets with parties will be barricaded from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

See photos from 2007 NNO here

Instead of fighting crime, let’s promote safer neighorhoods

Let’s learn from Three Cups of Tea author, Greg Mortenson

With some of these gorgeous evenings in Duluth it is a great time to get outdoors and say hello to your neighbors, go for a walk, or attend a Neighborhood Night Out party in your neighborhood. You may know that NNO got started 25 years ago and that it’s purpose is to fight crime by having people know their neighbors and get in touch with their safety officers.

I’d like to put in that I hope this night would, instead of “fighting crime” would be to “promote safer neighborhoods.” Let’s look forward to possibilities and what a simple wave and greeting can build and create in your neighborhood. Ultimately the goal is the same but I think it’s a little friendlier to work (and play) together making all the neighborhoods in Duluth fine places to live.

I learned from Greg Mortenson, author of “Three Cups of Tea” who visited Duluth this spring, that there is a basic difference between “fighting terrorism” and “promoting peace” in the world today.
Wendy Grethen

Public cautioned about copy-cat meter installers

The Duluth Police Department and the Department of Public Works and Utilities are asking citizens to be vigilant after an individual recently tried to gain access to a private home claiming to be an installer for the City’s Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) project.

The Department of Public Works and Utilities reminds citizens that installers can be identified by the following means:

Installers will always wear company apparel clearly indicating that they work for SL Serco, A.G. O’Brien or A.W. Kuettel companies

1. Installers will always wear a photo ID badge
2. Installers’ vehicles will also carry signs reading “Contractor for the City of Duluth, Automated Meter Reading Project”, with the City logo and the ComfortSsytems logo prominently displayed
3. The Duluth Police Department advises citizens to ask the installer who visits their home to show their photo ID. If an individual cannot produce such identification, deny access to the home and call 911 immediately.
4. Citizens with questions should call SL Serco at 730-4110 or Duluth Public Utilities at 730-4050 during regular business hours.

CHUM Celebrates National Night Out with the ALL CHUM Street Fest

First Avenue West between First and Second Streets

Tuesday, August 5 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Food served 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

The CHUM Community Celebrates 35 years of
“Caring about people and working for change!”

Everyone is Welcome! CHUM supporters, congregation members, neighbors, current or past volunteers, anyone having an interest in CHUM’s work – You are invited to share with us in an evening of food, music and fun!

Our member congregations will supply and serve the meal.
The menu includes: a hot dog or hamburger, potato salad, baked beans, watermelon, chips, dessert, coffee or lemonade.

Links to cool sites for Lake Superior Days

Subject: Lake Superior Day is Sunday, July 20, 2008!


For the fifth year, the Lake Superior Binational Forum invites you to celebrate the world’s largest freshwater lake on the third Sunday in July! This year we encourage you to “Go Fly a Kite!” The kite symbolizes a clean energy source—the wind—and fewer air emissions from alternative energy generators means cleaner lake water for people and wildlife.

Follow this link for a video about Lake Superior and its annual day. The video was written and produced by news reporter and videographer Greg Peterson of Marquette , Michigan .

The Binational Forum’s web site offers suggestions for many activities or actions you can take to protect, restore, or celebrate the lake on July 20 and every day.

A calendar is updated daily with new events and activities scheduled in many communities around the lake.

You can order free, multiple copies of a paper placemat and kids’ activity page by emailing http://b6.mail.yahoo.com/ym/sundogpress.com/Compose?To=lakesuperiorday@northland.edu. Use it at a family picnic, office gathering, church dinner, day camp, or other event.

This year’s Lake Superior Day postcard is a photograph of a swimming spot in Duluth , Minnesota , taken by former Duluth resident Mark Ryan. There’s a great story about this historic spot in the Duluth harbor!



For information about the Lake Superior Binational Program’s Lakewide Management Plan and biennial highlights of accomplishments for 2006-2008, please click here.

The Lake Superior Binational Forum has been headquartered in the U.S. at Northland College in Ashland , Wisconsin , for 17 years. Funding in the U.S. comes from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes National Program Office. The Canadian office is administered at EcoSuperior in Thunder Bay , Ontario , and is funded by Environment Canada.

Lissa Radke
US Coordinator
Lake Superior Binational Forum
Northland College
1411 Ellis Ave.
Ashland WI 54806
(715) 682-1489
http://www.superiorforum.info/
"Water is life, and the quality of water determines the quality of life."
--Lake Superior Binational Program vision statement
The next Lake Superior Day is Sunday, July 20, 2008!

Don't lose your home

Free Workshop Helps At-Risk Homeowners in Duluth Region Understand Options
Minnesota Home Ownership Center urges early action

The Minnesota Home Ownership Center and LSS Financial Counseling are offering a free workshop for homeowners living in the Duluth region who are worried about making upcoming mortgage payments, are already facing foreclosure or for anyone interested in learning more about foreclosure. The Borrowers Workshop will take place on Tuesday, July 15 from 4:30 to 7:30pm at First Lutheran Church, 1100 East Superior Street, Duluth. No appointments are needed. Participants are encouraged to stop in any time anytime during the workshop hours.

The workshop will provide information on what happens during foreclosures, homeowners’ rights, and solutions for long-term housing needs. Participants will be able to ask questions and get free advice – confidentially - from mortgage lending and foreclosure specialists.

The Minnesota Home Ownership Center urges all homeowners facing mortgage delinquency or foreclosure to attend this workshop. The most important thing a troubled homeowner can do is to begin working with their lender or a foreclosure specialist early. The earlier homeowners act, the more options they have.

For more information about foreclosure prevention or to learn about other upcoming workshops, call the Minnesota Home Ownership Center at (866) 462-6466. The Center works with a network of community-based organizations that offer free, confidential advice about mortgages and foreclosure.

Recognized nationally as a model of home ownership and foreclosure prevention programming, the Minnesota Home Ownership Center convenes a network of 50 community-based non-profit, government and tribal organizations to deliver home ownership education and foreclosure prevention services to low and moderate-income households throughout Minnesota. Through its network of community partners, the Center provides 15,000 low- and moderate-income households each year with the tools they need to purchase and sustain affordable homes.

Pick you own berries

Strawberries are ripe at Finke's Berry Farm in Carlton. Picking berries there is one of the best parts of my summer. The farm is located at 2331 Co. Rd. 4. Call 384-4432 or see finkesberryfarm.com for more information. Raspberries will be ripe later in the month or early in August. We'll try to arrange a group picking time followed by a jam making activity. Greens, radishes, spring onions, and other fresh foods are available at farmers' markets now. The Sustainable Farming Association's website has a list of area markets, including locations and times. (http://www.lakesuperiorfarming.org/FarmProductsDirectory.aspx)

The Slow Food Harvest Festival Pig Roast and Picnic committee is planning that event. It will be held September 6 at 5 p.m. at Bayfront Park. We'll need volunteers to help chop vegetables and do other preparation and clean up work for the picnic. Another group is planning monthly activities for the fall and winter. More information will be posted on the Slow Food Lake Superior website, http://www.slowfoodlakesuperior.org/. Let us know your ideas or join us to help plan.