WE WON!
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DAY 1 Gordon Lindquist of Grand Marais (right) with his wife, Joyce, and son, Reid, prepare for Gordon’s departure Oct. 19 on a mission trip to Africa he and Joyce began nine years ago. The trip closes the circle on a dream that astounded even them in the enthusiastic support it drew, funded by many friends and residents in Grand Marais, Cook County and throughout Minnesota — as well as those in 30 other states.
On Oct. 19, Gordon flew from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, to meet the Lindquist’s daughter, Julie Lehman, in Boston to rest at her New Hampshire home for several days. On Oct. 22, they boarded flights that began the 8,000 mile trip to Uganda together. All told, Gordon and Joyce helped raise over $100,000 in nine years to build and furnish the state-of-the-art Nyakatsiro Maternal and Child Health clinic in southwestern Uganda. The clinic will celebrate its Grand Opening Oct. 26 with Gordon and Julie as honored guests. After flying to Kampala, the Ugandan capitol, the two will take a 13-hour Jeep ride to the clinic, driven by a Catholic priest they befriended over the years. Watch this space for daily updates from Gordon and Julie and a dream being realized. To receive daily email inbox postcard updates on their trip, email [email protected] |
DAY 2 Above, on Oct. 22, 2018 Gordon Lindquist and his daughter Julie Lindquist Lehmann left from Boston’s Logan Airport for Kampala, Uganda, Africa. Below, Gordon first arrived in southwestern Uganda in June 2010. He was greeted by the Catholic nun who manages health care there, Sister Christine, and flute players honoring him with music. |
DAY 2, continued Oct. 22, 2018
Gordon Lindquist Africa ProjectThe Lindquist Way: Inspiring Giving
Would You Take $10? Fundraising for an African health clinic by lifelong Grand Marais residents Gordon and Joyce Lindquist began small and slow. Nine years ago, in the early days of the project, Gordon recalls speaking at a Methodist Church about the health needs of women and children in a rural, poor Ugandan village that is today the home of the Nyakatsiro Health Clinic. Since then, Gordon helped raise over $100,000 to build, furnish and equip it—much of it from donors in Grand Marais, Cook County, and Minnesotans all over the state as well as donors in 30 other states. He left Grand Marais October 19 to attend the clinic’s grand opening on October 26 with his daughter, Julie Lindquist Lehmann. It’s a 16,000 mile round trip.Even at age 89, Gordon says he wouldn’t miss it for anything. One woman’s response still stirs Gordon. She lived in a nursing home in New Brighton and phoned him after he had spoken about the mission project at a Methodist church. Says Gordon: “She called up and said, “I heard about the clinic in Uganda you want to help. I don’t have much money, but I’d like to help, too. Would you take $10?” It was the first of many times he teared up over this project and the goodness it calls forth in a wide range of people. Adds his wife Joyce, recalling the early days of continual fundraising presentations, endless stuffing of envelopes with appeals —and wonder of wonders, opening envelopes with donations. “We were really, really worried for a while that we weren’t going to make it,”Joyce says. “But every time Gordon sent a report out about what was needed, checks came in ….and checks came from people didn’t have much money. It brought tears to my eyes.” Gordon sums it up with a comment a friend made as he reached for his checkbook: “Gordon, if you don’t think the Lord has a sense of humor, look at it this way: Here you are a Baptist raising money for a clinic in Africa run by nuns, and here I am a Protestant priest writing out a check to a Catholic church.” |
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CoCo KIDS' HEALTH | e-cigs & vaping
by Sammie Garrity Health Columnist Great Expectations Charter School MLK day is an important moment in our history. It reminds us of our culture and the troubles that we have all faced in the past and the present. The injustices that we all face not depending on our race, culture, or religion have one thing in common, it is all caused by pure hate. When we face discrimination it is not based on us. It is not our fault. It is the person-that-is-putting-us-down's fault. Health discrimination There is injustice everywhere, including improper advertisements of smoking equipment. Racial minorities are one of the many groups that are targeted by large smoking companies. Another group of people that are targeted are women. Since early in the 20th Century women have been subject to many unfair examples set upon stereotypes. It is recognized by the American Lung Association and many other health organizations that women, children, racial minorities, and many other people are unfair and very large targets for tobacco companies. Notice Tobacco Executives Do NOT Smoke...Why? A certain tobacco executive said, and I quote, "We don't smoke that s**t….We just sell it. We reserve the right to smoke for the young, the poor, the black and stupid." You can find this on this website, https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/factsheets/0208.pdf. Here is a two minute video aggressively targeting African American people, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ7ZtFDOwTM. Labeled below is a fact from the U.S. government’s own study on smoking: "Compared to other racial/ethnic groups, African Americans bear the greatest health burden from preventable tobacco related diseases which kill approximately 45 000 African Americans yearly." Here is the link for it, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2791258/ All in all, I hope that we can remember the importance of standing up for our rights just like Martin Luther King Jr, did. Remember! “Those who accept evil without protesting against it, are really cooperating with it.” - Martin Luther King Jr. * The original quote uses the pronoun "he". I corrected it. |
CoCo KIDS' HEALTH | e-cigs & vaping
Fast Facts by Bryn Fitzgerald-Wells Staff Writer Great Expectations Charter School The electronic cigarette — e-cig—is a new way of encouraging children, adults, and society in general to smoke by minimizing the health dangers. An e-cig is a mechanical device that delivers the addictive drug nicotine in a hazy vapor cloud, not smoke from burning tobacco. You don’t smoke an e-cig — you “vape” it. It’s not rare to see a kid attempting to buy or use one. Unfortunately, a lot of the time they are pressured into using them because they want to be considered ‘cool.’ How it starts This is just one way that a kid can encounter one of these cigarettes: Imagine you are a highschool kid who is hanging out with some friends near a drug store. Your friends decide to go inside to buy some cigarettes and convince you to go with them. Once you get inside, they tell you that you should try one. You feel pressured and cave in. You think that it might be alright if you try it and that it doesn’t sound that bad. You don’t realize how addictive they are, and use it. Bad for you Studies show vaping e-cigs only arrived on the scene in 2007, so all the dangers have not yet been scientifically discovered. But studies do show it’s bad for you: mouth sores that don’t heal and a depressed immune system are two bad health effects. But it’s not rare to see a kid attempting to buy or use one. Unfortunately, a lot of the time they are pressured into using them because they want to be considered ‘cool.’ Addiction After you start, you see how many e-cigarettes you have smoked and decide that you made the wrong choice. But when you want to stop, you can’t because of how serious your addiction has become. All types of cigarettes and cigars have addictive properties due to nicotine. The brands adds various amounts of nicotine to all their products because they want to make sure that you keep buying them. Lung damage Smoking constantly is really bad for your lungs. It can cause sickness and death. The only way of avoiding something that severe is to stop yourself before you light another cigarette—whether it’s a tobacco cigarette or an e-cigarette. The sooner that you can detach yourself from doing so, the better your health will be, whether or not you are an adult or child. |
CoCo KIDS' HEALTH | e-cigs & vaping
Editorial by Sammie Garrity Staff Editorial Writer Great Expectations Charter School Imagine a kid rushing down the sidewalk, not wanting to be late for his first day as a lifeguard. Shortcut Time is running out, so he decides to cut through the woods. In those woods are teenagers. They are smoking, vaping, and who knows what else. This particular kid, being around the age of 12, does not know them. When he reaches a clearing, almost to the pool, he stops. The clearing A group of older kids, all around the age of 17 stare at him. Before he could even think of what to do, they speak. “Hey, kid,” says one. “You ever smoke? You should try some,” another one speaks. The rest just look. “No thanks. I’m okay.” “I said, ‘You should try some.’” Peer pressure All of the teenagers are staring at him. Pressuring him into smoking, vaping. He really doesn’t know what is happening. “Really, I’m good.” Even though he said no, a pen-shaped item gets put into his hand. Everyone is looking at him. Peer pressuring him into a choice that he does want to commit. Choices Right now, the kid has two choices: To either smoke it and head down a path that could lead in sickness, addiction, and possibly death. Those drastic measures being the results of side effects of e-Cigs, Vaping, and regular smoking. Or firmly say no and just run. Run Run. Run away from bad choices, bad situations and bad people. Breathe, think Though it may not seem easy, you can do it, and when you can take a breath and think, you will feel good, too. |
"Judges looked for positivity"
WHAT'S TRENDING?!..
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DID YOU KNOW!?
LOCAL MAKERS: Inside Cook County The Crafting Scene by Siena Woerheide, Staff Writer |
Hello, my name is Grace, and I am here to inform you about the hottest trends and gossip. First in the news is pre-mudded jeans. Don’t understand? Yeah neither do I. Nordstrom has been drawing a lot of attention to the media lately for selling a pair of jeans and a denim jacket from the label PRPS. Here's the twist, they’re covered in a mud-like material. The over-priced items are supposed to be a fashion statement but they look more like a used gardening outfit or a Canadian tuxedo that has seen better days. The real controversy about these mud covered items are that Nordstrom is selling them for $425. The store's website copy says the jeans “embody rugged, Americana workwear that’s seen some hard-working action.” The description then falls into a time warp when it claims the stains on the jacket “give you permission to get down and dirty from rodeo to grungy rock show.” Ok Nordstrom I think I’ll stick to regular clean jeans, thanks. Mike Rowe, the former host of Discovery Channel’s television show “Dirty Jobs” posted this to his Facebook page, which has more than 4.7 million followers: “The Barracuda Straight Leg Jeans aren’t pants. “They’re not even fashion. They’re a costume for wealthy people who see work as ironic - not iconic.” More than 14,000 followers agreed with him, sharing his post. Even I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Rowe. Twitter users quickly took to their accounts to fire off more taunts. Some of their tweets include things like: “For when you need a pair of jeans as fake as you are.” “It seems Nordstrom was short on workers so they hired 5 year olds.” It seems Nordstrom is ignoring all the controversy about them, because for now the muddied jeans and jacket remain available online. |
Did you know that my dad works at Border Design Signs? His name is Dave Woerheide. His workshop is right by his house. He makes all sorts of signs, agate tables, big signs, small signs, light switch plates, benches, and all sorts of furniture. He uses acrylic paint sometimes and mostly oil base enamels. He also uses paint thinner to clean his paint brushes. My dad uses tape to make lines straighter or to make it look better. He uses sign foam and vinyl, too. He uses the vinyl for lettering and other small stuff. That's what goes on at our sign shop! |
The Crooked Spoon Cafe
17 W. Wisconsin Street, Grand Marais, MN 55604 218-387-2779 | www.crookedspooncafe.com Restaurant Review by Sammie Garrity, Editor In a small town like Grand Marais you would be surprised how many culinary treasures you can find. The Crooked Spoon Cafe, is one of them. When you walk in it is normally pretty busy but not intolerable. They make that easy by having a rooftop, indoor dining area for appetizers and drinks. It has a nice and comfortable atmosphere. For appetizers I recommend the French Onion Soup, the Braised Pork Belly and the Mussels. For dinner I would suggest the Seared Sea Scallops or whatever steak they have. They bring out the flavors in everything that they make and I always leave needing a wheelbarrow! The last time that I have been there I wanted more quantity of what I was getting which is good and bad. It is a pricey place but yet, well worth it. I think that I would probably give The Crooked Spoon Cafe a 5 star rating. I hope that you check it out and try their delicious food. When you go I would recommend getting there around 5-5:30 p.m. |
Angry Trout Cafe
Restaurant Review by Sammie Garrity, Editor When you go to Angry Trout Cafe they usually have a wait. STAY. You will not be disappointed. When you sit down and get food I recommend the fritters and eggplant for appetizers. When you get to the actual meal I recommend the grilled bison tenderloin, pasta and salad or the daily fish. They blend the salads to perfection and in the meat and fish are always flavorful and juicy. When you get there I recommend arriving around 5 p.m. and make sure to go inside first. Ignore the beach. Someone always comes right after and then they fill scarily fast. Typically I would give the Angry Trout a 4 or 5 star rating. Jump in Lake Superior while you’re at it. Have fun! I almost forgot the most important part: get the Mocha Cheesecake to top it all off. |
Click the button at right to listen to WTIP's behind-the-scenes coverage of Grand Marais' version of Beauty and the Beast performance in January 2017!
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What Is Boreal Corps? |
The new Boreal.org is now kid-powered — we have a new reporting team for kids called Boreal Corps, and we'll run their stories on the new webiste, at boreal.org, when it launches later this month.
WHEN By March 31, 2017, www.boreal.org will launch on a new platform that is more secure and modern than the current website platform. That's right, the owl and the birch will retire. Among the improvements are weekly reports of Cook County community that are written, illustrated and digitally produced by Boreal Corps students from schools throughout the county. Kids in grades 4-8 are producing the spring Boreal Corps columns. In the fall, kids in grades 9-12 will staff Boreal Corps. A sandbox web site is where Boreal Corps' kids practice digital reporting skills...and it's ready! You're reading it now! Look for our March 15th live coverage from the St. Paul State Capitol when our 6th grade editor, Sammie Garrity, attends "Broadband Day on the Hill". It is a connection made possible by the Blandin Foundation, the rocking Grand Rapids, Minn., foundation that is funding Boreal Corps in an effort to enrich Cook County rural life through kids' digital storytelling mastery. Thanks Blandin! (Click here to see the Blandin press release, or download the PDF file from the right-hand column.) WHAT We call our new youth reporting group Boreal Corps—and we want you to join us! Send a note to our publisher at Boreal Community Media, [email protected] if you are interested. HOW Coached by Boreal Community Media's (BCM) Development Director, Anne Brataas, an award-winning science writer and digital media teacher, Boreal Corps' students meet weekly at flexible times and spaces within Grand Marais to learn and master digital communication skills needed for 21st century life, learning, success and connection. Boreal Corps work will be published weekly in Boreal.org along side of Boreal.org's standard favorites such as news from Cook County Herald and WTIP, classifieds, blogs and more. WHY Developing digital media skills empowers Boreal Corps students to:
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Photo Credits: ©2017 Boreal Corps, all rights reserved, with free use in the Commons for educational and non-profit projects, providing photo source credit is given to Boreal Corps, Grand Marais MN.
MORE WHY
Boreal Community Media explained the need for Boreal Corps to the Blandin folk this way: From their earliest learning experiences, Boreal Corps' kids come to view—and accept—their role and responsibility in North Shore rural life as a call to:
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We want to know what is most important to our friends and neighbors, and how to make it a part of our culture.Youth are a large part of every community, but often struggle to find avenues for their voices to be heard. Boreal Corps changes this!
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Amplifying the Voices of Our Youth |
How Might We:
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Increasing Health and Wellness of Our Youth
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