Entertaining Family in the Keweenaw

When I left you last time, I was heading out the door to a Chassell Township Planning Commission meeting. I will touch on a few things of note. First, on the Spark Grant projects, work by DP Construction will be beginning soon on the ADA sidewalk from the pavilion to the lake. The waterfront boardwalk RFP deadline has been set for August 27th. We are also working with the DPW on how we will display the veterans banners being produced as our existing streetlights are not an option. Dale Peterson will be stepping down from the Commission which opens up a vacancy. It would be great if we could pick up a new member who would be willing to take on the Secretary’s role as I have been performing this role in addition to serving as Vice-Chair since Ericka Malone stepped down quite some time ago. If you are a Chassell Township resident interested in serving, please get into contact with our Chair, Brian Waters.

Friday morning I would get in a 2,250 yard swim at MTU’s SDC and come home to an email from Andy Powers at the Michigan Department of Transportation providing an update on the rail corridor between Chassell and Arnheim. Since our last contact, MDOT hired a local mower/brush clearing contractor which completed work on July 8th which will allow for inventory and research. MDOT will be cooperating with MTU on taking an inventory of assets on the ground during September and October. MDOT is currently scheduling a meeting with local shoreline rail to understand the value and desire to acquire the rail. Once the rail is removed, MDOT will coordinate with the DNR and allow them to lead efforts from there. MDOT and the DNR are currently working to finish an MOU between the agencies that will govern this property and several others in the state.

At 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Chris Holmes would conduct an online meeting with Jeff Kakuk and Dan Dowdy from the DNR with Township Supervisor Dave Mattson, Trustee Dan Palosaari, me in attendance to discuss the details around the FEMA storm water project that we need to complete by the end of the year. The last leg of the current design does not meet the DNR’s expectations. We resolved to meet on site the following week on Thursday to continue the discussion.

That afternoon, we ran up to Calumet with Julie’s brother, sister-in-law, and sister where we stopped by the Gallery on 5th and then did a self-guided walking tour at the Calumet Theater.

The theater opened in 1900 which was the same year my great-grandfather Charles Sillanpää came to Calumet from Teuva, Finland. Charles would spend much of the next decade working for the Calumet & Hecla copper mining company, first as a trammer in the mine and then on the surface as a stone mason. He would move to Paynesville ahead of the strike where he become active in the cooperative movement and would be one of the founders of the Settlers Co-op in Bruce Crossing.

After touring the theater we explored the old Vertin’s Department Store which now is a large antique shop. We then grabbed dinner across the street at the Michigan House.

Saturday turned out to be a rather dreary day, but we made the best of it by making a drive up to Copper Harbor by way of the Jam Pot between Eagle River and Eagle Harbor. We then made the drive up and over Brockway Mountain taking in the rainy/foggy view of Copper Harbor along the way.

While in Copper Harbor we stopped by Grandpa’s Barn which is a cool bookstore definitely worth checking out while in the area! Julie would be invited to do a book signing there with her new children’s book, “The Adventures of Hairy the Hare and the Yooperlites”, the following weekend during the Copper Harbor Art in the Park. From Grandpa’s Barn, we would enjoy an excellent early dinner nearby at The Mariner North.

Sunday morning I would knock out a four-mile run on the rail-trail before we would all head out boating with our friends Erik and Kara (who both work remotely). The weather had cleared and warmed substantially which provided outstanding conditions for getting out on the water. We would cross the lake and head out for an adventure on the Portage River to the South Entry on Lake Superior.

Calm conditions would allow us pass closely to the lighthouse and travel on Keweenaw Bay off of White City Beach.

On our way back, a bald eagle would land on a tree top on the Bootjack.

It was the first time that Julie had both her brother and sister here in the Keweenaw at the same time. It was awesome getting everyone together for a really nice extended weekend!

After everyone had turned in that evening, I let the dogs out one more time and discovered the northern lights were very active. While there was a bit of cloud cover, the views were still very impressive!

Jeff, Barbara, and Jan hit the road on Monday morning. We had some catching up to do on things around the house and the cabin, like cutting grass and doing wash. I also spent time chasing down loose ends on township related items. Good news would come regarding the sign permit application for the kayak launch entry sign which U.P. Engineers and Architects would submit to MDOT. We would also receive notification from the DNR that our quarterly Spark Grant report had been approved.

Tuesday, Julie and I would head down to the North Country Trail to hike another four miles toward our #hike100NCT, but more about that adventure next time!

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