Courtesy Gerry Ouellette
Gerry Ouellette
Singer-song writer Gerry Ouellette
Great Lakes Troubadour to Sing at Lake Superior Day(s)
Duluth native Gerry Ouellette has made a living writing and performing ballads that reflect the maritime heritage of the Great Lakes region. His free Music in the Park concerts will be Saturday and Sunday (July 18 & 19) at 1:30 p.m. in front of the Marine Museum. The concert is sponsored by the Lake Superior Marine Museum to celebrate Lake Superior Day(s). You can find more about Gerry at gerryouellette.com and more about Lake Superior Day - the third Sunday in July – at Lake Superior Day 2015.
Here is a short Q&A with Gerry:
LSM: At what age did you come to music and how did it come about?
Gerry: In 7th grade about age 13, I bought a guitar and tried to teach myself to play. My parents offered lessons, and I took several, absorbing more than I could produce, and then I kept practicing and playing. We (friends) hoped to have a band, of course, but it never did materialize.
LSM: Why do your stories come out as songs rather than, say, short stories?
Gerry: I hadn’t heard of a gig where they ask you to come and recite your stories. I actually liked poetry. I like how a song can create a whole story in just a few well-chosen words, set a mood and be memorable. One might say that the song is a shorter story.
LSM: Which of your songs speaks most clearly about your feelings for this region?
Gerry: Which is like asking which of your children do you like best. What comes to mind first today is “Hills of Stone,” on the Western Harbor CD.
I thought of "Hills of Stone" because the first verse cites liking what I see, but must leave: As a young man, I had the desire to travel, to see the bigger world, to experience more. So the first verse is a reference to that – in the context of romantic or affectionate encounter – place, person or possibly both.
The second verse is later in the day, evening, and I have found what I was looking to find: I noticed as I traveled that what I liked about many places were the things that remind me of my home, the Northland, be it hills, water, woods, all of it. So I like the coasts, I like rivers, I found I like green. You can really notice that driving into Minnesota from a drier place. It even smells different; you can smell the water. And, I met the love of my life here.
So the song is literal, and a metaphor, and vague.
I still go out on, and in, the water. Something is missing for me if that isn’t an option. … When one can look with a fresh set of eyes, even at the place where they grew up, it can be like looking at something new, some place new – a fresh discovery.
Years ago, a close friend went to LA to seek his fortune, and I believe he is satisfied, as he has done well. I chose to return to college and settle here. I could as easily have joined him there, sought a future there with the music business. I had already discovered my preference for where I wanted to be – not all of life is work and career. I’ve since visited California several times, and I’m OK with my choice.
LSM: What do you always wish someone would ask you about your work?
Gerry: When I am available to work for them.
William H. Hearst
William H. Hearst
Sault Names Civic Holiday for William H. Hearst
SooToday.com reports that the council of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, decided to name its Civic Holiday (the first Monday in August) after one of only two provincial premiers with Northern Ontario roots (SooToday). The holiday will honor William Hearst, who served as premier from 1914-1919 and under whose tenure women gained the right to vote in Ontario. Hearst moved to Sault Ste. Marie after becoming a lawyer in 1888 and had a law firm on Queen Street. (Mike Harris, the other premier with northern ties, grew up in North Bay and served as premier from 1995-2002.)
Strong U.S. Dollar Makes Canada a Good Deal
Paul Pepe, tourism manager for Thunder Bay, puts it succinctly (albeit tongue in cheek): Canada is on sale!
Not quite that, but the strong U.S. dollar can make visits to Lake Superior's Ontario shore even sweeter. Currently $1 U.S. equals about $1.30 Cdn.
"The low Canadian dollar translates into exceptional travel values for U.S. visitors," Paul says. "It's particularly noticeable on the restaurant meals and attraction admissions, which are usually priced on par with U.S. restaurants and attractions rates."
Even with the exchange difference, some items remain cheaper in the U.S., such as fuel prices and many building materials, such as lumber, tiles, etc.
Building materials especially have been, and remain, a strong draw to head south across the border. "Through the years we have always noticed a good amount of traffic from our loyal Canadian guests who continue to shop at Menards for their home improvement needs, in particular, in our most northern stores in Grand Forks, Minot, International Falls, Virginia, Hermantown, West Duluth and Superior,” according to Jeff Abbott, a spokesperson for Menard Inc., owner of Menards stores.
Jeff indicates that the exchange difference so far has not inhibited Canadian customers in their stores, probably because of regular low prices and sales "on a wide, diverse selection of products to help everyone with their home improvement projects."
Paul offers some advice for U.S. travelers heading north and taking advantage of the strong U.S dollar. "Credit card use offers the best possible daily exchange rate. Most bank ATMs are available 24 hours here and should be able to accept most major bank debit cards. It's always good to keep some Canadian cash on hand for little things."
He adds that businesses have a harder time keeping on top of the best daily exchange rates, so using U.S. dollars at retail stores, even when that is an option, might add costs.
The Bank of Canada has a simple online function to view the current exchange rate at U.S-Canadian Exchange Rate.
Isleroyalewolf.org
Home page for isleroyalewolf.org website
+ Isle Royale National Park seeks public input on wolf/moose/vegetation management for the island park in light of a severe decline in the wolf population: Moose-Wolf-Vegetation Management. Find out more about the 50 years of the wolf-moose study at www.isleroyalewolf.org.
+ Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe Aids Restocking of Sturgeon in the St. Louis River Duluth News Tribune.
+ A New Ferry for Mackinac Island mlive.com.
+ Sault-Hearst, Ontario, Passenger Train Coming to an End? Sault Star.
+ Ashland, Wisconsin, Breakwater Light Turns 100 Ashland Daily Press.