Farewell, Susan.
Susan Askelin, passed away Jan. 1, 2010 of esophageal cancer.
Susan was born Nov. 13, 1949 in Duluth, to Harold and Jessie Askelin.
She grew up in Bagley and Savage and graduated from Burnsville high school in 1967. She was married to Richard Schmoller, and later to Michael Paymar. She moved to Duluth where she attended the College of St. Scholastica and graduated Suma Cum Laude with a Masters in business management. While in Duluth she played a critical role in the creation of several co-operatives including Whole Foods Warehouse, and Co-op and Builders & Laborers Commonwealth. She was the director of the weatherization program at Community Action Program, and later became the Director of the Program to Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault. She later moved to St. Paul and worked at Project Fast Forward in Dakota County. Later, she moved to Texas to bask in the sun and worked in several non-profit housing development organizations.
Susan will be remembered for her giving spirit, compassion, and integrity. She was smart, beautiful and strong willed. Her contributions to the world were profound. She loved traveling to Mexico and the Boundary Waters and especially loved the family cabin at Prairie Lake. In her last days her strength and compassion for others were inspirational, she passed away in Montana with sister Sharel beside her.
Susan was preceded in death by her sister, Lindy; brother, Shaun; paternal grandparents, Florence and Einar Askelin, and maternal grandparents, Winifred and Charles Jones.
She is survived by her son, Jason (Laura); grandson, Morgan and daughter, Nicole Harris (Dan); her parents, Jessie and Harold (Helen); aunts, Nancy Jones, Joyce Utter (Arnie); uncle, Ed Askelin(Joan); sisters, Michelle LeBeau (Kent) and Sharel Uphus (Mike); brother, Kurt Askelin (Ruenee); sister, Jodi Christianson (Don); sister-in-law, Beth Askelin; and many nieces and nephews.
SERVICE: is planned for late spring according to Susan’s wishes. A memorial fund is set up in Susan’s name at Wells Fargo Bank.
Question.
Has anybody done the math on what Superior and Duluth bars are geographically closest to each other? I’m thinking Schultz’s and Quinlans. Am I right?
Dog-friendly Duluth
I was reading comments to convince my girlfriend, and saw one reader post that Duluth is sooo dog friendly.
We have just moved from the Twin Cities and I have struggled finding dog-friendly places. Where we lived in the Cities, there were huge dog parks with hiking trails where we could safely let our dog off-leash (and get exercise ourselves), dog-friendly businesses to visit, dog day cares, cafes you could bring your dog, and a lot of special events. (It probably helped that there are publications like Sidewalk Dog to point you in the right direction).
The one tiny dog park in Duluth is inadequate to say the least (we won’t visit again), and while I’ve heard about the Superior Hiking Trail, in many places in Duluth it seems too close to roads to feel comfortable letting my dog off leash (also am not sure how easy it would be to hike it in the winter).
So, dog owners — what are your tips for great places to bring your dog? Where can you let your dog off-leash? I work in Duluth and am staying in Cloquet until we find a permanent place to settle, so am curious about any Cloquet/Esko tips as well.
Thanks!
The Rez and North Shore Trio at Twins Bar
The Rez will be playing with the North Shore Trio at the Twins Bar on Jan. 16 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Free show.
Come and get down with the funky jam music. Dance all night long baby, alright! =)
Perfect Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Duluth Day
The run down, courtesy of the Hillsider newspaper.
On Monday, Jan. 18, there is a free breakfast at 7 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 2430 W. Third St., followed by a march, which starts at the Washington Center at Lake Avenue and Fourth Street at 11 a.m. The march goes through downtown and the skywalk to arrive at the rally at the DECC at 11:45 a.m. The featured speaker will be Rep. Jeff Hayden. (more…)
Atlas Mts. w/ Equal Xchange @ Beaner’s
OK! Line-up change for this Saturday’s show. Birds of Virginia (MPLS) opening, Atlas Mts. playing second and a special, last minute headling set by Equal Xchange!
All ages, 8pm, $5
Dynomite!
I realize this is PDD…
but if anyone could make a perfect day in Superior, the Animal Rescue’s van has cashed in its chips… can anyone help? Per Facebook:
OUR VAN IS KAPOOT…PLEASE HELP!!! ARF”s Van is kapoot…if anybody could please help us out by donating either a van or a truck with a topper to help us bring the animals to and from necessary veterinarian appointments, it would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! Please call Bill at (218)525-7382
Bigtree Bonsai @ Rex Bar
Bigtree Bonsai Will Be Performing at the REX bar this Saturday! (1-16-10) “The Breeze” will be starting off the night.
Traditional Ojibwe Opening Ceremony for UMD Library Exhibit
“Lewis and Clark and the Indian Country,” a national traveling exhibition, is on display in the UMD Library fourth floor rotunda reading room. The public is invited to a traditional Ojibwe opening ceremony in UMD’s Weber Music Hall at 6 p.m. on Friday, January 15. The ceremony will include drumming, prayer, and welcome statements at the Weber, followed by a reception and viewing of the exhibit on the fourth floor of the UMD Library. Refreshments will be provided by Friends of the Duluth Public Library. Call 218-726-8130 for more information.
The exhibit, which tells the story of the explorers’ historic 1804-1806 expedition from the point of view of the Indians who lived along the route, is available for viewing during all hours when the UMD Library is open. You can learn more about the exhibit and check the library hours by going to the UMD Library web site:
“Robin Hood” at the Duluth Playhouse
A cast of 47 children takes over the Duluth Playhouse for two weekends in “Robin Hood.” (more…)
Convince my girlfriend
Help me convince my girlfriend that we should move to Duluth. Why do you love living in Duluth?
Heads up to Diorama enthusiasts…
Plug those glue guns in and start looking for the perfect box. The time has come again for the Diorama-rama! This year’s festivities will be held at Sacred Heart on Saturday, March 6. The Diorama-rama is a community art show of dioramas and is open to whoever wants to participate. Music and merriment will abound. The event will be 21+ If you have any questions/comments you can e-mail Sarah Heimer at caradiabolica @ hotmail.com
Doin’ the wash
Where’s a good Laundromat in Duluth? I live in the Central Hillside, but am willing to travel a bit. I was using the one next to Burrito Union, but my clothes seem to smell after washing them there. The new Maytag place on 4th Street is nice, although spendy (and usually busy). What do you suggest?
Whither (or wither?) the “creative community”?
Then: Knight Creative Communities Initiative, 2008:
Technology, Tolerance, Territory, and Talent. These four T’s are the base for building a more attractive environment for economic growth, according to Dr. Richard Florida and a growing number of other internationally known researchers.
In 2007-2008, the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation in connection with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation led a process to build on these assets in the Twin Ports….
Now: Alec McGillis, “The Ruse of the Creative Class,” The American Prospect 4 January 2010.
[It] is wrong, [Florida’s former manager] says, to see any conflict in Florida’s dire pronouncements on the places that bankrolled this success, because he hadn’t promised prosperity in the first place. “He wasn’t really making prescriptions,” Frantz says. “This wasn’t Jesus Christ throwing the money men out of the temple; this was an academic. He was a fucking college professor, and you’re hoping to resurrect Canton, Ohio? Yeah, good luck with that.”
We talked a little about the Knight Creative Communities Initiative project back at its inception. Florida sounds like a classic snake-oil salesman, but I note that people who participated in the project seemed to feel it was valuable in spite of his contribution/lack thereof. I’d be interested to hear what people had to say about the project–and its broader goals of community revitalization–now.
Come out to beautiful Cloquet for some G & S Comic Opera!
Rubber Chicken Theater heads down I-35 to stage An Evening of Gilbert and Sullivan on Feb. 11, 12, and 13 at 7:30pm and February 14 at 2:00pm at the Encore Performing Arts Center and Gallery in Cloquet, Minnesota. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. (more…)
Natural Parenting Workshop
Local Doulas Sara Weik and Jesse Dykhuis are teaching a Winter Session Natural Parenting Workshop through Duluth Community Ed. The class will run for three Wednesdays beginning 2/27. The cost of the whole session is $25/person or per couple. (more…)
Good travel agencies in the Twin Ports?
I am wondering if there are any good travel agencies in the area (or which ones are better and why)? Planning to go to Europe this summer and need a little “professional help”…thanks!
Saturday at Teatro Zuccone
A few different start times have been listed, here’s the plan:
8pm – Maple Keys
9pm- Coyote
Teatro Zuccone – 222 E. Superior Street – (218) 336-1414
Thanks. Hope to see you!
-jerree
Manufactured Reality at Washington Gallery
Washington Gallery presents “Manufactured Reality,” a photo/video exhibit by Jacob Swanson.
Washington Studios Artist Co-op
315 N. Lake Ave. – Duluth
Showing Jan. 8-30 [fri 12-4] [sat 3-6]
SMDC Rejects Contract Offer, Authorizes Strike
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/156923/publisher_ID/36/
FYI, SMDC netted $28.7 million in profits (despite being a “nonprofit” hospital) in 2007 and purchased over $5 million worth of property last year. CEO Peter Person makes $1.1 million per year. The average medical transcriptionist makes just on the threshold of a living wage – $35,000 per year. Solidarity! (Stay tuned for info on how you can help out…)
Recovering from Christmas (seen in Duluth)
A couple of items that struck me today. People apparently just dump their old trees in the Mount Royal Shopping center parking lot. And this sign didn’t seem to be doing much to stop them.
I also have been seeing a lot of construction equipment out clearing sidewalks. Near as I can tell about 2/3 of the city is covered in 2 inches of ice. Beneath the snow, that is.
