For any students who need a ride home for the holidays, the USG will be chartering two buses this winter break. One bus will travel to Lower Michigan, and the other bus will travel to Wisconsin and Chicago. The buses will leave from the Memorial Building Union Bus Stop on Saturday, Dec 16, and return on Sunday, Jan 7. 

The Lower Michigan Bus will depart from Houghton at 8am, and will stop at St. Ignace, Gaylord, Clare, and East Lansing. The Wisconsin/Chicago Bus will depart from Houghton at 8am, and will stop at Rhinelander, Stevens Point, Madison, Rockford, Chicago, and O’Hare International Airport. The buses will depart on their return journeys at 8am, and follow the same routes back. 

Tickets are first come first serve, and will close on Monday, Dec 11 at 5 p.m., but may sell out even sooner. The cost is $144 for the Lower Michigan Bus, and $138 for the Wisconsin/Chicago Bus. The cost is the same whether you ride one way or round trip, and stays the same regardless of your destination stop. If you purchase a ticket, it’s vital that you complete the waiver, or you will not be able to board the bus. It’s also important to remember that all sales are final and nonrefundable. 

The annual 41 North Film Festival will take place from Nov. 2 – Nov. 5, and will be located in the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts. The festival will showcase a diverse range of films over the course of four days. The films will take place in the Rozsa Theater unless otherwise noted on the schedule. The event is free and open to the public, so no tickets will be required. If you wish to bring children to a film, it’s advised to check the website for content considerations. 

The 41 North Film Festival showcases award winning independent films from around the world, and provides the community with a chance to see new and unique films that are currently in distribution or under discussion. Over 20 films will be shown over the weekend, along with other activities for attendees to enjoy. There will also be a chance to interact with filmmakers, producers, and other industry professionals to learn more about the art of cinema. The festival will offer a unique opportunity to explore the world through a different lens. Whether you attend one film or all of them, alone or with friends, it will surely be a memorable experience. 

Although the festival is completely free to all participants, you can still choose to show support by making a donation. All donations will be tax deductible and will support the festival’s operation costs. 

If you wish to see a schedule of this year’s events or want to learn more about the event, please visit: https://41northfilmfest.mtu.edu/.

As the fall season begins to reach its peak, Keweenaw Community Alliance for Progressive Education, (CAPE) prepares to host its first ever annual Pumpkin Race Fundraiser in honor of Deb Mann. The downhill races will be held on Ryan Street in Hancock, on Saturday, Oct 21. The racer inspection will begin at 12 p.m., followed by races at 1 p.m., and lastly awards at 3 p.m. 

What is a pumpkin race? The rules are simple: you must design your pumpkin race car from a single pumpkin of any shape or size. You must insert two independent axles with any type of wheels attached, and the pumpkin cannot be powered by anything but the gravity of the downhill slope. There will be multiple race heats, with an extra heat for all the cheater pumpkins that didn’t follow the rules. There will even be special prizes for placement and most creative racers. 

Whether you come to race or hang out, there will be plenty to do for everyone. In addition to the races, there will be other games like apple pressing, button making, and maybe some pickup flag football games. When asked why people should attend, Anna Sanchez, the event organizer and founder, said, “Enjoying the simple pleasures of fall is something a lot of us can lose sight of as we get older. Being able to volunteer for an event like this can bring back some of the joy.” 

This family friendly fundraiser honors a great person who worked for and supported the City of Hancock: Deb Mann. As Keweenaw CAPE says, “Deb Mann was a creative thinker and organizer and we hold this event to remember her energy and passion by bringing folks together.” The optional donations will be divided 50/50 between Keweenaw CAPE and the Deb Mann Scholarship. Keweenaw CAPE will use their portion to continue to offer innovative educational opportunities to the public. 

Races will be held regardless of weather. To register for this event, or to learn more about the rules and how to prepare, please visit: 

https://www.keweenawcape.com/october-pumpkin-races-fundraiser.html.

As the fall season approaches its peak, Mont Ripley gears up for its final weekend of fall color tours. The final round of tours will take place on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 14 and 15, from 12-6:30 p.m. The tours will begin at the base of Mont Ripley, where viewers will ride the chairlift to the top of the ski hill and witness the spectacular fall colors along the way. 

Tickets will be $10 for adults, $8 for Tech students with IDs, and free for children 10 and under. All proceeds from the color tours will be used for Mont Ripley chair lift improvements, Mont Ripley’s Volunteer Ski Patrol, and the new Copper Country Snowsports Club. 

Timing is everything, and the last weekend of tours will offer peak foliage viewage. Not only will you witness a sea of vibrant colors, but the chairlift ride will also offer a unique birdseye perspective of the picturesque landscape. According to Nick Sirdenis, the General Manager of Mont Ripley, “looking down on the lift bridge and the canal, mixed in with a small quaint town like Houghton with the colors in the background is stunning.” The chairlift will bring viewers to the top of the hill, where they can walk around and enjoy the sights. When the viewers are ready to head back, they can take the lift back down the ski hill.

Fall colors or not, the view always remains captivating. As Nick Sirdenis says, “simply put, the view from the top of Mont Ripley is beautiful no matter what time of the year.” With the fiery reds and rustic oranges added to the view, get ready to take some breathtaking pictures. 

The Color Tour rides are weather dependent, so dates and times may be subject to change. To learn more about the tours, please visit: https://events.mtu.edu/event/fall_color_tour_4320.

The Keweenaw is gearing up for a record day of excitement with the upcoming Plaidurday celebration. On Friday, Oct. 6, at 12:45 p.m., the Guiness World Record attempt for the most people in a Plaidurday photograph will take place. The rules are simple: wear any plaid patterned clothing and join the fun at the Houghton High School Football Field. For any students who may need a ride, there will be a shuttle service departing from the MUB at 12:20 p.m. that will head to and from the football field. 

Currently, the world record for the most people wearing plaid is held by Ontario, which was set in 2019. According to Keweenaw Public Relations and Events Coordinator, Jesse Wiederhold, “To break the current Ontario record from 2019, we’ll need to get 1,360 on the field.” To keep track of the count, Visit Keweenaw has 2,000 Keweenaw Plaidurday branded bracelets, which will be handed to each attendee. Although the exact capacity of the football field is unknown, Wiederhold says “it can hold at least 2,000,” but also says it would be, “incredible if we ran out of room.” 

To add even more excitement, the event will be graced by the Michigan Tech Pep Band, ready to play some lively tunes. The organizers will also be incentivizing attendance by holding a raffle for two free tickets to the Charlie Berens Show in the Rosza, which will be given to one lucky attendee. 

Organized by Visit Keweenaw, this event will be a fun and exciting way to enjoy Plaidurday, the worldwide celebration of plaid. This laid-back holiday first started in Michigan back in 2011, and has continued on the first Friday of October ever since. The celebration is welcome to all who want to join in on the fun. 

If you wish to learn more about this event, please visit: 

https://www.visitkeweenaw.com/event/keweenaw-plaidurday-celebration/4468/.

Michigan Tech’s Homecoming is set to make a splash this year with its much anticipated Cardboard Boat Race. In this event, student organizations, Greek life, and dorm communities will construct their cardboard vessels and compete against each other as they race across the water. The races will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sep. 29, and will take place at the Houghton Waterfront Park. There will be a free shuttle that will depart from the MUB and SDC, and take students to and from the Houghton Waterfront Park. 

The rules of the race are simple yet challenging: students must design and construct boats entirely out of cardboard and duct tape. These fragile vessels are then put to the ultimate test as participants race them across the waters of the Portage Canal. Each team has their own unique design and strategy, as they all strive to make it to the buoy and back. However, more often than not, the cardboard boats are doomed to sink into the icy waters of the Portage, along with the crews of unfortunate students. 

This thrilling event is not just about testing the waters – it’s about putting innovation and creativity to the test in a fun and unique way. It’s about learning through experience, pushing boundaries, and having a great time doing it. Spectators can expect laughter, cheers, and definitely a few capsized cardboard vessels. When asking a cardboard boat builder about his experience, Greg Ruedisueli said “I’ll probably capsize again this year, and the year after, but I’ll always have a blast.” 

Whether you’re a student, an alumnus, or a local resident, this event will truly be a memorable day of creativity and fun. To learn more about this upcoming Cardboard Boat Race, please visit: https://events.mtu.edu/event/cardboard_boat_races. 

As the days grow shorter and the leaves begin to change, Michigan Tech prepares for its annual Support Pack Weekend (formerly known as Family Weekend). This is a weekend filled with fun, where parents and family members come and visit their students, tour the campus, enjoy local attractions, and explore the beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula. The weekend is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Sep. 29 and 30. 

While there aren’t many official events scheduled for the weekend, it’s recommended that families use the time for exploration and sightseeing. Here’s just a few activities to enjoy with the whole family this Support Pack Weekend: 

Quincy Mine Tour – if you are interested in learning more about the local history of the Keweenaw, this tour is a great way to learn about the area’s rich mining heritage. The full tour includes a guided tour both above and below ground, where you will learn the local geology and history of the immense mine. 

Mont Ripley Color Tour – a fan favorite activity that’s loved by all enjoyers of autumn. The tours take place at Mont Ripley, where you pay a small fee to ride the chair lift up to the top of the ski hill. As the fall colors begin to emerge, viewers will look upon a spectacular view of autumn in the Keweenaw Peninsula. When asked about these rides, Tyler Leither, a 3rd year student at Tech said, “The colors are unreal. Definitely my favorite activity during the fall, and a great place to spend time with family.”

Michigan Tech Homecoming – don’t miss your chance to cheer on the Huskies. Tech will be playing Davenport in the Homecoming football game on Saturday, Sep. 30 at 1pm. The volleyball team will also be facing Lake Superior State on Friday, Sep. 30 at 7pm, and Ferris State on Saturday, Sep. 30 at 4pm. 

Waterfalls and Hiking Trails – take a drive to one of the many waterfalls and trailheads in the Keweenaw. Though there are many to choose from, two of the most popular waterfalls are Hungarian Falls and Douglas Houghton Falls, which are located just a short drive from Houghton. 

If you wish to learn more about this upcoming Support Pack Weekend, please visit the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success webpage on mtu.edu.

The Houghton City Council met on Aug. 23 and discussed matters of painting a new mural downtown, ongoing construction work, and new pavement projects. 

The new mural is located on the street level of the parking deck used by The Vault on Shelden avenue. The artists have created a black mural with drawings of nature, animals, and abstract shapes. 

The remaining portion of the 1978 parking deck downtown has been taken down. There is still sidewalk installation work and landscaping work that needs to be done. The entire area also needs to be cleaned and re-paved. A new pedestrian walkway will be built in the area leading down to Lakeshore Drive. If the project continues to run smoothly, City Manager Eric Waara says it will be completed by late September or early October. 

Public works crews finished pavement work on the Bridge Street basketball court, located a few blocks from downtown. The crews installed new water and sewer services on Blanche Street, and fixed a water leak at Kestner Park. 

Waara explained that the city has been unable to fix small potholes and patches because they can’t get access to the necessary blacktop. There is only one company to purchase the blacktop from, but most of the current blacktop being produced from the company is a special mix for the airport project. 

Bacco Construction is preparing Gundlach Road and Razorback Drive to be blacktopped. They will bring their own temporary blacktop machine to Houghton for the project. 

If you wish to learn more about Houghton City Council meetings, all meeting minutes can be found here: https://www.cityofhoughton.com/city-council/. If you wish to attend, the council meets on every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, at 5:30 pm. You may join on zoom or attend at the City Center Council Chambers, 616 Shelden Avenue, Houghton.