Almost Wordless Wednesday: The Old Two Harbors Super One

In the late 80s and early 90s our family used to take some vacation time at some cabins up the North Shore just beyond Gooseberry Falls. Each time we went we'd stop at the Super One grocery store in Two Harbors for supplies.

This summer I learned that the grocery store is no more. Instead, the building is being renovated and will feature  a candy making business and numerous other reasons to stop.

Muralist Brian Olson (creator of the Palace Theater mural in Superior) is making his mark in Two Harbors, both outside and inside the former grocery store. 

It's an ambitious project and impressive space.

TRIVIA:

Did you know that 4 million people drive up the North Shore

through Two Harbors every year? 

This new complex will be just one more reason

to stop along the way next time you're heading North.

*

Can't wait till it's completed. My grandson is gonna love it.

Upcoming Events at Oldenburg House & Two Harbors and a Reminders About Tonight

How to catch an artist. 

First let's start with the Art: The DAI Member Show and the Biennial Opening Receptions are tonight at the Depot from 5-8 p.m.
Hope to see you there.

* * * *
The Swansons at Oldenburg House in Carlton have released a schedule of upcoming presenters and performers for Magnolia Salon and Cookin' at the O.

TONIGHT, JANUARY 24
MAGNOLIA SALON / HAPPY CRITTERS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31
MAGNOLIA SALON | CLAIRE LANDE - JUNEBUG BEE FARM
Register Here

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7
MAGNOLIA SALON | LOVE IS A BOX OF CHOCOLATES
Register Here

Sarah Greer

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14
MAGNOLIA SALON | SARAH M. GREER - VALENTINE VOICES
Register Here 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15
COOKIN AT THE O | SARAH M. GREER
Register Here

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16
COOKIN AT THE O | SARAH M. GREER
Register Here

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21
MAGNOLIA SALON | WHITE WINTER WINERY
Register Here

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28
MAGNOLIA SALON | ROCK OF AGES LIGHTHOUSE RESTORATION
Register Here

* * * *

THIS JUST IN
Guest Artist Bonnie Cutts will be at Two Harbors Community Center for an Art Lecture and Workshops. The events are sponsored by Voyageur Artists.

Bonnie Cutts

Bonnie Cutts is a Minnesota artist  who was trained by GOLDEN for the Certified Working Artist Program in 1998. Since 1998 she has been offering lecture/demos and hands on workshops in select locations around the midwest. Bonnie is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where she received her B.F.A. in drawing and painting. She has been exhibiting her work professionally since 1981, in both solo and group shows. Her drawings and paintings are included in numerous corporate and private collections around the country.

HERE ARE DETAILS of the Two Harbors workshops.
>>SCROLL DOWN TO THE DESCRIPTIONS that correspond with date of even you wish to attend.

FREE Mixed Media Techniques Lecture and Demo
February 15th     6:00 - 8:00
Two Harbors Community Center
*No charge but we need at least 15 people
and RSVP is required: email Sandi at
mailto:authenticartist@sandipillsbury.com

Workshop #1 Loose, Lush Landscapes
February 16th 9:30 - 4:00    (9:30 checkin and setup)
Two Harbors Community Center
$100 Non-members ($75 + $10 materials fee for members)
RSVP: authenticartist@sandipillsbury.com

Workshop #2 Encaustic Effects With Acrylics 
February 17th 9:30 - 4:00 (9:30 checkin and setup)
Two Harbors Community Center 
$100 Non-members ($75 + $10 materials fee for members)
RSVP authenticartist@sandipillsbury.com

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Get into it.

See you tonight @ the DAI

See it. Say it. Stop it.

Over the past ten years I've had the privilege of being involved, to varying degrees, with a high school program called DECA in which kids learn through experience the various aspects of marketing, from market research to fund raising and PR. Projects involve collaboration, extensive research, writing and the honing of presentation skills.

The teacher who recruited me to assist his Proctor DECA students in 2002 was Jay Belcastro. The things I saw him achieve with these kids each year was nothing short of amazing to me. The long hours and personal sacrifices they made was impressive. Likewise, the kinds of projects the kids embraced were important. It wasn't make-work. They were learning valuable lessons for life.

Jay moved on to the Two Harbors school district last year, but his passion for the DECA program hasn't dissipated. This week he asked if i would read on of the projects and make comments or suggestions. The students, in an effort to tackle the problem of bullying, created a PR campaign called "See it. Say it. Stop it." I asked permission to share a portion of it here on my blog.

Here's a statement that made me sit up: "On any given day 160,000 students stay home from school because they are afraid of being bullied. That is twice the population of the city of Duluth, Minnesota. Bullying is one of the biggest issues in our nation’s schools today."

The Two Harbors DECA kids were aware of the problem but were not aware of how extensive it was. In order to address bullying they also had to learn about and understand its various forms.

"After researching the topic and talking with those with personal stories to share, we discovered that bullying happens in a variety of ways; but, those who target others do so in such places as locker bays, locker rooms, on the bus, and online where adults cannot witness these activities.

"Being bullied has a negative effect on students’ lives. Bullying can lead to students failing classes, dropping out of school, hurting themselves, committing suicide, or committing violent acts against others. In 1990, 12 of the 15 school shootings occurred by someone who had a history of being bullied."

Here are some other thought-provoking stats these youth noted in their presentation.

"One of four students in the United States reported being bullied on a regular basis. Seventy-seven percent of bullying is done verbally. Eighty-five percent of the time bullying occurs without any intervention from teachers or administrators. Suicide is the 3rd largest cause of death for teenagers and victims of bullying are 9 times more likely to consider it."

Bullying takes many forms including name calling, taunting, swearing, spreading rumors, gossip, note writing, whisper campaigns, laughing at someone's mistakes, making up stories to get someone in trouble, insulting nicknames, hate speech, mocking or imitating, sexual bullying, threats, and prank phone calls are all issues students deal with each and every day in each and every school across the country.

Children at risk of being bullied:
• Are perceived as different from their peers, such as being overweight or underweight, wearing glasses or different clothing, being new to a school, or being unable to afford what kids consider "cool"
• Are perceived as weak or unable to defend themselves
• Are depressed, anxious, or have low self-esteem
• Are less popular than others and have few friends
• Do not get along well with others, are seen as annoying or provoking, or antagonize others for attention

The solution these DECA youth proposed was not only to educate the community about the harmful effects of bullying, but to also have young people themselves speak up when they see it. Because most bullying happens where teachers and adults are not, the young people need to say, "Hey, that's not cool. That's not right."

There were other recommendations as well, beginning with increased awareness of the problem, which is the reason I am sharing this here. Our schools need to be safe. Kudos to the Two Harbors High School DECA team for their efforts here in Northern Minnesota.

The source for some of the stats cited in this article can be found at bullyingstats.org

Blood on the Tracks Express Has Something For Everyone

The Freelwheelers filled the American Legion dance floor with rockin' renditions of Dylan favorites. There were plenty of smiles to go around.

I was told that I really shouldn't miss the last night's Blood on the Tracks Express, and I didn't. What a great capstone to a great week of events here in the North Country where Dylan's birthday was celebrated by fans young and old alike. Yesterday Bob turned 71.

The train boarded at Fitgers Brewery Complex at 5:30, departing promptly at 6:00 p.m. for Two Harbors. Six bands or all stripes performed on the way up and back on the train and at the American Legion once stopped at the other end of the line.

There were far more rail cars than I expected, perhaps eight or more. Two styles of performance took place. At one end of the train there were acoustic musicians like Sarah Krueger and Jim Hall. At the other end Dirty Horse and the Black-eyed Snakes took the crowd away and back. The Bitter Spills and Silverback Colony also performed, with the heart of the night being devoted to a fantastic set by the Freelwheelers (a.k.a. the Boomchucks) at the Legion. 

John Bushey never ceases to amaze.

Highlights for myself included being able to do a few harmonica riffs with Jim Hall and seeing John Bushey dazzled friends and fans with a bit of mind-befuddling magic along the way, including what must be a favorite, Little Bunny's Card Trick. Most know Bushey as host of KUMD's Highway 61 Revisited radio program, which airs Saturday evenings on 103.3 here in Duluth and re-airs Mondays at five, but he is also a well-known professional magician. Interestingly enough, I learned last Sunday night at the Dylan trivia competition that Dylan once said if he could go back and time to see one event it would be to see Harry Houdini perform his famous underwater escape at New York's East River. My guess is that Bushy, too, would have loved the opportunity to see Houdini perform.

As for the music, it was top-notch all around, though Alan Sparhawk's Black-eyed Snakes took the crammed front car to the limits of capacity and borderline insanity before it was all over. Lots of wriggling and writhing in that jammin' little space. 

If you've still got the gumption for more, head up to Hibbing for the weekend where Dylan Days is underway. Here's the page where you'll want to begin.

And if you're not heading north, there's still plenty happening here in the Twin Ports. The Ochre Ghost Gallery is having an opening with details at their Facebook page. Also, at Teatro Zuccone there is another night of local writers reading Zenith City Tales. $5 will get you a seat for something that promises to be exceedingly satisfying, thought provoking and entertaining. On Sunday there is the traditional Battle of the Jug Bands at Amazing Grace, with a pre-Battle evening of jugband music Saturday night.

In short, you just might want to get out this weekend and drink in some music an entertainment. Have a good time... and enjoy.