Brighton Beach is closed

The storm on Friday that brought the first snow of the year also brought winds and that brought waves.  Multiple places along the shore experienced damage and Brighton Beach was one of them.

I put photos on the Look at Lakeside Facebook page.  Meanwhile, here are a few:

Mid-August already - here

Have you done all the projects that you wanted to do?  Have you gone to the places you wanted to? Have you achieved all the goals you wanted?  It's hard to believe mid-August has arrived.  We still have painting projects, finalizing yard projects, and a few more fun goals to do.  The days are still pretty long - with early sunrise and some evening light.  I mean to savor these final days of summer, eat plenty more fresh local veggies, bake a little, and enjoy the outdoors.  You can tell there have been plenty of visitors to Duluth.  Isn't is great that we are here already?   Here to head to Brighton Beach, here to go out on the Lakewalk, here to enjoy public garden spaces and eat locally-grown food.   We haven't played as much croquet as last year but we will squeeze some more times in.  I hope there can be more neighbor get-togethers, especially on a smaller scale.  Books clubs, walks, potluck dinners, perhaps games - for neighbors to come together.   Time for a bike ride, sit in the backyard or out on a public bench catching a few more summer sunshine in between the rain drops.  I also have my dulcimers out to play.  I enjoyed sharing music at Ecumen Lakeshore today and introducing dulcimers to others and adding a bit of Celtic and traditional music to people's day. What do you do for fun?

Busy summer - great weather

Ahh - the flowers are blooming and the vegetable garden area is slowly coming up.  My husband and I built a new little patio in our backyard to spend more time outside.  Last night was an example of multiple activities going on in Lakeside and it was tough to choose what to attend.

Whether you choose to chill out in your backyard, read a book, walk your dog on longer walks, or go to special summer events it's all up to you.  We have Duluth's beautiful rivers/creeks and lovely Lake Superior to enjoy.

Here is an event July 23 - a Sunday later in July to take an opportunity to visit 5 garden/yards in Lakeside -Lester Park.  Here is a flyer for the event.  Please share with others.

Capture some of your favorite activities this summer by taking a photo.  Submit photos, announcement and news to wendyupnorth@yahoo.com.
The next deadline is July 14.  It's time for me to interview another person and dig into more local history.  

Wendy
www.wendyupnorth.com
www.LookAtLakeside.com

Gardens, flowers, birds and bees

This weekend we spotted our first hummingbird in our yard - just in time as the feeder went out.  Blood root is blooming in the front yard.  Days (or parts of days) are refreshingly warm and pleasant - but we always have a light coat on hand.   I'm working on the June/July issue and enjoy taking photos of current sites and pulling together happenings.  I'd love for more advertisers to place ads in this neighborhood publication.  This issue wraps up 5 years of producing this bi-monthly publication.  This began in the summer of 2012.  Thanks to the readers and supporters of this project.

Sppprinnnggg

We've had a few nice days or even hours of warmer weather to enjoy.  The snow slowly melts and seeps into the ground nourishing the plants.  The April/May issue is ready and has been distributed.  You'll learn about Sam Snively who lived just over Hawk Ridge on his farm, a couple teachers (one retired), a cool projects with Bluebirds, have a page to color of a bridge from Seven Bridges Road, and learn about lots of events in the community.  I always include resources to connect people and some photos taken recently.

I hope you can join together to play Bunco on April 25.  I'll teach everybody how to play this simple, fun game.  It's also a fundraiser for Circle of Hope so $10 donation is requested.

I'm also offering bus trips again this summer.  Eleven day trips are scheduled - going north, east and south.  We'll go on cruises, see theater performances, go to the Capitol, go to art fairs, eat out, and enjoy the scenic beauty and interesting history of events and places.  Please sign up early.  The trip list is at www.wendyupnorth.com/excursions.

Enjoy the days ahead.  The sunrises and sunset colors are short-term but beautiful.  Golfers are ready to play, I'm sure and the hockey players will have to wait until next year.  Get out on the Lakewalk, enjoy Brighton so close to home, and thank you for reading the current issue.

February is oh so fine - newsletter ready

I hope you'll enjoy the Feb/March issue and get to know more about the activities and updates happening in Lakeside.  There are some 'hotspots' like the Portman ice rinks.  New owners are now in place and are working on a sprucing up of the Snap Fitness Center.  Some neighbors are working toward a memorial for a popular and super friendly cat that once roamed the area.  An awesome person coordinates school groups and their visits to the Great Lakes Aquarium and lives in Lakeside - Samantha Smingler.  I also have included a handful of upcoming events in the community and some volunteer opportunities.
Have a sweet Valentine's Day and wear a bit of green for celebrating St. Patrick's Day.

Happy Holidays and Winter

Snow has come.  The Dec/Jan issue is out with topics ranging from a Q&A on Meals on Wheels at Ecumen Lakeshore, Dance lessons in Lakeside, after school activities, lit church windows, interview with the head of the Swedish choir and more.  It's pasty season, goodies time of year, and purdy window decorations.

In the next issue there will be a memorial for the Great Catsby who was hit by a car a short time ago. He will be sadly missed.

You'll also meet an Great Lakes Aquarium educator and learn more about HAM radio.

If you would like to submit local history bits, news items, or Lakeside photos - please send them before the Jan 14 deadline.

Thank you to new and returning advertisers and subscribers for supporting this publication.

Thank you to the postal workers who get an extra workout in the cold and high mail volume time of year.

Here's a glimpse from the past couple months - the pumpkin train stops on the pumpkin patch in Lakeside.   Pasties at Lakeside Presbyterian Church.  They are one of several churches that make thousands of them.  Freshly made, then freeze for a handy, hot meal.

Wendy

Announce your business - place an Ad

The Look at Lakeside is a great place to place an ad to announce your business.  Whether your business is right along Superior Street or in your home - or even just a website - this newsletter can help you reach more people.
Your ads help support this publication that is very local and helping people learn more about Lakeside - its past and present.
Assorted ad sizes are available and a discount is available for running an ad four times and pre-paying.  Give me a call, send an email, go to the Look at Lakeside Facebook page and message me if you have any questions.  The next deadline is coming up soon.  The newsletter comes out every two months so deadlines are 2 months apart.  If you need a business card scanned or an ad created let me know.  Web ads are also an option for this site.
Thanks for your support.
Ad rates are easy to find on the website.

Wendy

Hustle of the fall

The summer days are over as the school year begins.  The weekends are even more treasured to go outdoors.  Lakeside's main upcoming changes are the houses being built/put in at Dodge and 40th Ave. E.  Nine houses will go in.  The Oct/Nov issue gives information on the houses.  I also came across an interesting article on Robert Sweeny who was the head of the fish hatchery at its beginning days. You'll meet the nice couple - Bill and Janalee Reinke Lyth - who live in our neighborhood.  Check both the back calendar, ads, and the community calendar for upcoming activities.  Learn what you can learn about DNA from your dog, learn about a few businesses in Lakeside in the 1930s and about Duluth being Dementia-friendly.

If you have a topic you would like to share in the Look at Lakeside newsletter let me know.  I'd love to learn more about the history of houses and buildings and past people who lived here and to learn more about you - the people of today.

Wendy

Thank goodness the power is back!

What a storm and recovery from the storm.  Trees are still down and not all fallen branches have been removed.  Yards that once had grand trees in them are wide often.  A car parked on the street was smashed. Power lines dangled.  It's over and we move on.

In this current Look at Lakeside issue you can see some photos from the aftermath of the storm, learn about a bioblitz at Hawk Ridge, learn about the Wurlitzer theater organ at Lester Park United Methodist, and more.

Also, note the Love the Lester image contest.  Submit a photo, painting or sketch of the Lester River or an activity with the river by mid-September.  You could win a prize.

Have you marked your calendar for some upcoming area events like the Lester River Rendezvous?

Soon enough school will be back in session.  These precious summer days are numbered but thank goodness the super hot days will pass.  Take time for another swim in Lake Superior, catch some views of lightening lighting up the sky or maybe a meteor shower at night.  Hawk migration is beginning soon.  Even dragonflies will glide through as will the inline marathoners.

The interviewed person this issue was Sharon Dawson who does adaptive therapeutic yoga.

I have another bus trip tomorrow.  I'm excited to offer Up North Excursion day trips.  Check out the schedule through the www.wendyupnorth.com website.

Organ Pipes, Picnics, and Big Tent - Bridge Photo contest

This month I was able to venture into the 2 pipe rooms that are part of the Wurlitzer organ at Lester Park United Methodist Church.  Wow!  That was incredible to see the many tubes and all the sizes.  Tubes are the passageways for the sound.  Maybe we need to have a special concert there?

I was driving up on Woodland Ave. today and saw a church announcement for having a church picnic in Lester Park.  Lester Park is a beautiful place for people to gather to enjoy an afternoon outdoors together.  Have you been to the park lately?  Or do you go to Brighton Beach more often?  A neighbor I interviewed for the Aug/Sept issue, Sharon Dawson, says Brighton Beach is her favorite place.  I hope to have at least 3 meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner - out at Brighton this summer.  Maybe a loon will swim by.   The parks are also places for festivals - the Lester River Rendezvous in late September at Lester Park and an art festival at Brighton Beach in mid-August.

The Big Tent topic is partly that Terry and I bought a camping tent where you can stand up inside.  We've done quite a few nights of camping bent over crawling in the tent.  This deluxe cabin tent is taller and even has a front screen room.  We practiced setting it up in our front lawn and slept outside last week.  This weekend we may give it a try at Pattison Park or Jay Cooke and do some hiking time.  The Big Tent is also for the fun Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield, WI.  I had my first day trip in my new business - Up North Excursions- yesterday.  One of the 3 stops was to attend the Keeper of the Light show at the Big Top.  Their performance had touching stories, fun ghosts singing, historical slides showing of the days gone by where there were lighthouse keepers on the Apostle Islands doing important and remote work.  Now the lighthouses are automated and the gardens, greetings, and stories aren't being made like they used to.  The program was great and the setting is a part of the fun - being under a giant tent.  Most of the attendees on the first trip (all but one, actually) were from Lakeside.  We like to explore the Northland.  More trips are scheduled through October. Go to www.wendyupnorth.com/excursions.

I'll be finalizing the next Look at Lakeside issue over the next week.  Stories, history, photos, celebration announcements are welcome.  I will also be offering a Bridge photo contest.  See the issue for more information. It will be at www.LookAtLakeside.com.

Good day all!

Rain & Sun & Bus Trips

We've had our share of rain.  It's good for the plants and gardens.  Now the sun is shining and these long days are splendid.  It's great for having cookouts in the backyard, playing lawn games, hiking, biking, and assorted summer specialty activities like outdoor music concerts at Chester Bowl or the library.   We've added a couple more little bought sculptures in our yard and a new bench.  I pulled and cut a bunch of buckthorn and it's time to harvest the Rhubarb.  I planted cosmos and zinnias and don't know of the rain washed them away but I'll keep an eye out to see what grows.

If you didn't see the ad in the current Look at Lakeside newsletter, I'm now offering bus excursions from Duluth.  Nine trips are lined up and each trip has an art, music, nature, or history connection.  The first trips are in July.  July 14 will be a trip to beautiful Bayfield.  We'll stop at the White Winter Winery on the way out and have time to walk about Bayfield and the south shore.  We'll go to the Big Top Chautauqua for the Keeper of the Light musical on the history of light house keeping in the area.  The Up North Excursion includes your entrance to the show.  Meals are not included.  The trip is $79.  Sign up today!
The other 8 trips are at www.wendyupnorth.com/excursions.   Let's Go Explore the Northland together.
Have a fun and safe summer.  Be kind to the bees.  Why not convert some of your lawn to bee-friendly plants?  

Early Summer - Lakeside

The June/July issue of the Look at Lakeside newsletter is ready.  Pick one up or read it online.  You'll see some old ads and photos of lodging places in Lakeside.  Have you heard of Riordan's?   Meet Brian Klawiter who will be teaching geology classes with field trips this summer through Duluth Community Education.  Faith Lutheran Church closes this month although Gloria Dei congregants will continue to meet there.   Come to a House Concert (reservations requested) on the solstice with accordion player Arna Rennan.  She will sing and play Nordic music on the langelek as well.   You'll find more dates of outdoor music and events in the area during our short summer.
Thanks to those who came to the showing of the Snively's Road documentary on Skyline Parkway.  The director, Mark Ryan, also came on up to share how he filmed some footage while on rollerblades.

Enjoy the summer!  Grandma's Marathon runners and fans will be lining London Road in just a few weeks.  Brighton Beach might be just the place to catch a cooler breeze when (if) warm weather comes.  I'll be out in the front and back yard gardening and we'll have an occasional camp fire in the backyard.  The birds are calling starting early in the morning and the long day length days are welcomed.

Wendy

Snively's Road - video showing April 28 at 6:30 p.m.

Head over to the Lakeside Lester Park Community on April 28 for a showing of the film Snively's Road.  Mark Ryan is the producer.  The film is a great way to learn more about one of Duluth's favorite mayors and the building of Skyline Parkway, especially Seven Bridges Road.  A $2 donation is suggested.
The LLPCC is at  54th Ave. E and Tioga St. in the former Lester Park branch library.

Spring issue is ready

Spring is in the air - some of the time.  Green shoots are starting to appear and buds forming on the trees.  Snow patches are dwindling and the days are definitely longer.
I hope you'll enjoy reading the April/May issue of the Look at Lakeside newsletter.
This issue has a good number of dates of events that you can attend in Lakeside - from a spring carnival for youth, to a gathering of seniors and a local history film on Seven Bridges Road.  You'll also get to read about efforts to grow more milkweed for Monarch butterflies, view a list of eating establishments, and be introduced to a couple new massage places in the neighborhood.

I'm doing a call out for information on church organs or church bells in the local churches.
With reading this issue you'll also meet the current president of the Lakeside Lester Park Community Club and learn about an interesting past history bit to raise money for orphans in Belgium by Lakeside folk.

Thanks for being a reader.  Feel free to share a photo, celebration announcements, or even wildlife photo - or even your thoughts on what you'd like to see in Lakeside.  The next deadline is May 14.

I appreciate the renewing and new subscribers.  Please support and thank the advertisers in this publication.


Wendy

Spring melt / snow storm / games inside

Snow is turning to water and rushing down the storm drains.  The leftover sand sits along the road side.  There's less ice now and the snowmen are down to little bumps.  Will we have more snow?  Sure.  March is a fair game time for more.   A few more times of skiing will be out there.

One thing we can do come winter, spring, or summer is gather indoors, is play games.

Come support Circle of Hope, a local breast cancer financial support group, for a fun game on Sunday, March 13 at the Lakeside Lester Park Community Club.  I'll go over the simple playing rules for this old-time dice game and we'll have a fun afternoon playing.  There will be prizes, too.
Suggested donation is $10.  Please RSVP to wendyupnorth@yahoo.com.  Age 7 and older welcome.  It's a fun community game.  Game time is 3 p.m. on March 13.

What does Lakeside need? What do you think?

The February/March issue is coming out by the end of the month.

In the issue, I'm asking What does Lakeside need more of?   I'd love to hear your responses.

Also, I've added another live music concert.  It will be Jim Hall singing and playing his guitar - and probably harmonica too - on February 9 at the Lakeside Lester Park Community Club.  Please come and listen to his great music!

I'm always interested in listing good deeds.  Share something your club, church, or youth group is doing in the neighborhood.

Thanks again to new subscribers and people renewing their subscription.
Read about the local firemen in this issue - thanks to them for people on hand to handle protecting people and our area.


Wendy

Last issue - of the year 2015

The December issue of Look at Lakeside is ready.  The eight pages include bits on local businesses over the generations,  youth enrollment at the school district, information on a new swap shop, new bike trail, new future development that is getting a soil cleanup, contact for our new city councilor, science library, community events, teen drivers ed information, and more.  The Meet Your Neighbor article is on Nancy Cayemberg, an active community member volunteering in the neighborhood, serving as an election judge, and another big fan of living in Lakeside and visiting Lake Superior.  There are photos of a fun bell at the bakery and turrets along London Road, and the pair of sphinx statues that guard the road.

In 2016 I would love to have more people share their love of Lakeside with a poem, a story of involvement in a community project, or maybe a bit of history.  Good news to share?  

Thanks for being a reader of the newsletter.  Thanks to the subscribers and all the advertisers - new ones and continuing ones.

Happy holiday, winter season to all and good health and happiness in the new year!

Peace,
Wendy

By the way, if you'd be interested in buy a used Infrared Sauna we are ready to have it find a new home.  It's been a healing and warming place in our living room for the last few years.

Time in Lakeside

In Lakeside we can shop, eat, hike, walk, hang out by Lake Superior, buy used books, stop at a Little Free Library, golf, ice skate/ice hockey, watch hawks, hear/watch trains, see wildlife, go to church, grow a garden, go to a high school sports game, theater productions, and student-run restaurant, exercise, and other places to stop or activities.

OLD-TIME MUSIC CONCERT ON NOV 5
One things I'd like you to come to is a Old-Time Music concert on Nov 5 (Thursday) at 6:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Lester Park Community Club.   The group will be Four Mile Portage.  The concert is only $4 a person and under 15 is free.  BYOD (Bring your own dinner) at 6 p.m.    Listen to live music in Lakeside.   If there is a good turnout I'll organize another live music event in the spring.

I work now at Duluth East part-time as a paraprofessional.  Not bad to have a 3 block commute.  Most of the youth are good and it's fun to see the variety of talent and experiences available at the high school.  I'm looking forward to going to the fall musical - The Addams Family - the end of October.

Other activities I do in town include putting on local art & gift fairs.  One is this weekend at the Lafayette Community Center on Park Point, 3026 Minnesota Ave. is the address.  Saturday, Oct 10 from 10AM-3PM there will be 16 local artists with locally-made things.  Actually one booth will be a local farmer so this year you can even buy cut flowers and a pumpkin.   Other upcoming fairs are Get Great Stuff Nov 14 at Duluth Congregational Church, 3833 E. Superior - next to Northland Country Club and Dec 5 the Get It Local Fair at the Peace Church, 1111 N. 11th Ave. E. Local authors and local writers  and at some local music and local nonprofits all are ways we can support local creativity and find some really great gifts.  I'll have to check my count again but I think the Get It Local gift fair will be the 50th fairs I've organized - or close to it.

The leaves are changing, the leaves are falling, some leaves are covering the storm sewers.  Rake 'em up if you can.

Wendy

Cool Lakeside

The evening temps are dipping lower and the morning air is refreshing.  A hummingbird - rather chubby - is still visiting flowers in the yard.  This summer included several picnics out at Brighton Beach.  One picnic event was an oven pancake themed one.  We'll still do some outdoor eating when we can.  My husband and I also bought a croquet set and have been playing at assorted park squares in Lakeside.  He's been the winner every time so far.  We'll likely have a few more games this month and maybe I won't be in last place at one of the games.

Over the next week I hope a couple more ads will come in (Deadline is Sept 15) and I have several sets of notes to write up for articles.  I'll see if I turn some things I've learned about Lakeside into a quiz or just go for the Did You Know style.  If you have Lakeside/Lester Park news, calendar items, or ideas send over an email.