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In the middle of summer, The Ely Winter Festival board is looking toward winter and planning to create another festival Feb. 4-12, 2022. The festival draws thousands of people from the upper Midwest and beyond.
Board chair Chris Kloppenberg said, “After a smaller but successful 2021 festival, we are excited to be creating a traditional festival with a park full of snow sculptors and many outdoor events.”
The 2022 pin depicting a carver working on a moose snow sculpture was designed by local artist Nancy Ensley.
This will be the fifth festival where the festival will have donated $1 of the $6 price of a pin to an Ely Public Schools arts program.
Programs supported so far have been the art department, the instrumental and choral departments, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math). Proceeds from the 2022 pin sales will go to another arts endeavor for students. The other $5 is a vital part of being able to put on the festival.

The Prospector ATV project picked up another grant, this time through a federal program.
The Recreational Trail Program provides grants using federal monies through state agencies such as the Minnesota DNR.
This is the second time the Prospector project will benefit from an RTP grant.
“We knock on a lot of doors to get funding and this is the second time federal RTP dollars will be used for construction work,” said Prospector trail administrator Ron Potter.
The first phase of the Prospector Loop is nearing completion with around 250 miles of trail connecting the communities of Ely, Babbitt, Embarrass and Tower to the North Shore Trail System.
“After eight years it would be nice to kick back and enjoy what we’ve done so far but we’re full steam ahead on phase two with four trail connections and a bridge over the Beaver River,” said Prospector president Nick Wognum.

Among the reminders of friends is a wood plaque on my wall. It says: “Old friends take a long time to create.”
It was given to me by a friend. I was reminded of her with the notice that soon she would be 76, if she had not died at 75 or 74.
An accomplished piano player, she had played in Alaskan clubs and my music room. But she hadn’t always been easy to find in Ely.
She chased mind goblins until her life slowed down.
More recently I’ve heard from an artist friend, Stephan Krasemen from Canada. We caught up on the changes in our lives as we age.
Quick notes have come from Bob Columbo in Brazil, and Kent Worley.
My biggest and best surprise was from artist and cartoonist Bill Baron in Taos, New Mexico. We were friends in an Illinois high school long ago.
He had just refound an old poem of mine entitled “Each Time.”
I hankered after the post-war Paris, the world of Sylvia Beach, James Joyce and Rue de I’Odeon.

Editor:
Having had the occasion to use the local ER and hospital recently, I feel obligated to report that my experience was very positive. Beginning with the EMTs, personnel were competent, caring, and quick to respond.
The ER personnel were exceptional, starting with the ER physician, Dr. Olsen. He made calls to my specialists and ordered important tests. Later when I was in the hospital, the nursing staff showed itself to be equally impressive.
I believe Ely has an impressive response team of whom we should be proud. This is a relatively small remote community with services here one might only expect in larger facilities. We have been a community that has long insisted on quality care despite many challenges. Area residents should feel confident their health care is in good hands despite our size. It is the people here who make the difference.
David Kess
Ely, MN

A special event that has become an Ely baseball tradition is coming up at Veterans Memorial Field.
The Ely Baseball Association will salute local veterans on Tuesday July 27 for its annual Veterans’ Night celebration.
All veterans and military personnel will be admitted free for the Northeast Substate Division II playoff doubleheader at the ballpark, and they’re also invited to take part in the on-field veterans tribute that will occur at approximately 7:15 p.m.
The event has become a staple on Ely’s summer baseball calendar.
“We’ve done the veterans’ tribute the last 15 years or so and it has been very well received,” said Tom Coombe, head coach of Ely’s Legion team and longtime tournament director. “We’ve had some very moving opening ceremonies before our major state VFW and Legion tournaments, and it is something we want to do every year whether or not we are hosting a big tournament. We hope a lot of veterans will come out and participate.”

by Tom Coombe
After a one-year hiatus, a popular fundraiser for Vermilion Community College athletics returns later this summer and will include a special tribute to one of its namesakes.
The AltaZmeja Fundraiser for Vermilion Community College athletics is in its 30th year, although the 2020 event was not held because of COVID-19.
But it’s back and set for Saturday, July 31, and organizers say they’ve lined up an extra special day of fun and activities next weekend.
The golf and fishing outing, named in honor of retired VCC coaches Bob Altavilla and Rudy Semeja, and most recently in honor of former VCC assistant coach and local business owner the late Gary Zaverl, takes place at both the Ely Golf Club and on Shagawa Lake.
Semeja passed away in 2020, and in conjunction with the event is a celebration of life in his honor, which will take place at Zaverl’s Bar.

School Board Meeting Minutes June 14, 2021 (Board approved 7/12/2021)

Study Session
June 22, 2021 (Board approved 7/12/2021)

Study Session
June 28, 2021 (Board approved 7/12/2021)