Improving Accessibility and the Chassell Strawberry Festival
The past week saw the completion of a key milestone in the Chassell Historical Organization’s efforts to improve accessibility at the Chassell Heritage Center. After previous projects were completed with the help of patrons’ contributions and grant funding from the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission to add an ADA ramp and ADA parking spaces, Bach Mobilities out of Escanaba would add commercial stairclimbing units to the facility.
The first runs from just inside the building’s threshold to the first and second floors and the second runs from just inside the building’s threshold to the basement where the restrooms are located. This project would be completed, state inspected, and implemented on the strength of our patrons’ contributions and just in time for the Strawberry Festival.
We have many patrons for whom the museum’s stairs represent a significant barrier to being able to enjoy our collections and summer programs. Implementing this project is a game-changer for these patrons! On behalf of the board, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our incredibly supportive contributors who shared our vision for accessibility and helped made this project possible!
While this project was being implemented, Keweenaw Power & Lite was also in the Heritage Center performing work on the re-wiring and re-lamping project starting on the second floor. In time for our first summer program of the season, KPL completed the re-wiring and retrofitted the fluorescent lighting with LED lighting in the auditorium as well as the Friends of Fashion storage room.
This project is made possible by a Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission grant, proceeds from the VFW/Lions Club Benefit Breakfast, and our Chassell Historical Organization patrons. We would welcome additional contributions to support this effort that we would also like to extend to the basement.
Wednesday evening, Julie and I would get out for a 2-mile walk on the freshly weedwhacked Chassell Trails, the nature trail, and some of the snowshoe trails.
The mushrooms are starting to make their appearances along the trails.
Thursday I would reach out to the Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region (WUPPDR) about a grant opportunity that I learned about earlier in the week that would be a good fit with the Blight Mitigation Fund that we just established in partnership with the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Lisa McKenzie would help out with a form I would use at the Planning Commission Booth at the Chassell Strawberry Festival. Dan Palosaari would provide me drawings of the Chassell Mercantile project that we could share at the booth as well. Also on Thursday morning I would do an interview with Amanda Makela from Visit Keweenaw at the kayak launch on the Sturgeon River for a piece they are doing on Chassell.
Late Thursday afternoon, Julie and I would head down to the Centennial Park pavilion to help set up for strawberry cleaning and then we would stick around to clean berries.
My first-cousin Jim Heikkinen was in town and helping out at the strawberry cleaning. We would meet up again afterwards at my sister Kimberly’s place as she and my sister Kirsten had also popped into town for the festival.
Friday morning I would help Julie set up her booth at the festival where she would be selling her book “The Adventures of Hairy the Hare and The Yooperlites” and her art cards. We would run the Planning Commission booth alongside of her where we would roll out the Blight Mitigation Fund, talk with residents about the current grant opportunity that could augment the fund, share information about the Chassell Mercantile project, talk about the recently completed 5-Year Recreation Plan, the recently completed Master Plan, and the many other things we have going on.
I started out in the booth, but our planning commission chair Brian Waters covered for me while I schlepped strawberry shortcakes to the counter in the pavilion kitchen for three hours from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Lions Club strawberry shortcake crews are well-oiled machines!'
From 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. I would staff the planning commission booth where I would have a lot of great discussions with one break to grab a couple of lake trout for us from the fish boil. Julie was doing well selling her book and cards. We were ready to call it a day at 8.
Saturday morning I drove over to the Chassell Township Schools for the breakfast put on by the senior class and then picked up Julie to start all over again. I would start my day in the pavilion kitchen from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on the front of the assembly line putting cakes in the carryout containers. After finishing my shift, I would pick up a couple of chicken dinners from the Fire Department and First Responders and spend the rest of the festival covering the planning commission booth until 4:00 p.m., including covering Julie’s booth while she participated in the parade with the Chassell Women’s Club. There would be more great conversations at the booth, including a potential business start-up and the discovery of another remote worker. Remote Workforce Keweenaw would be an important part of the days ahead, but more about that next time!
Do you embrace winter and have the ability to work remotely? Consider locating in the Keweenaw where you will find ubiquitous natural beauty, no congestion, and lower crime! Note sure? Come UP for a workcation to check it out! Learn how at Visit Keweenaw at https://www.visitkeweenaw.com/plan/trip-ideas-itineraries/workcations/ Visit Remote Workforce Keweenaw at https://remoteworkforcekeweenaw.com. Learn about those making the decision to locate here by following the Remote Workforce Keweenaw Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RemoteWorkforceKeweenaw.