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yEB, F20ebruary 20, 2024
Interview & photos by Pam Roberts
Courtney and Betsy Forsberg and puppies Duke and Daisy: Courtney: “We just got Duke last Saturday. We got him at Contented Critters. I think a different dog had more puppies. We have two dogs now so it might be hard. I am in fourth grade. School is good. I like math. We are going to keep going on a walk. Daisy sit! Stay! We’re just taking advantage of the nice weather and seeing how it goes with the two new pups. Daisy is nine months old and we got her when she was eight weeks. So she’s new. Work has been good. We own Gene Hicks Gourmet Coffee. This weekend we had basketball tournaments for Courtney. And yeah, just keeping busy. Now dance starts soon for Courtney, ‘Reflections’. She’s at Studio North too. They are just starting getting ready for a recital for Studio North. I think it is in May. After walking the dogs we’ll probably go clean house and get ready to go back to school tomorrow.”
Jen and Dave Gubrud and their dog Miley: Jen spoke for both she and Dave: “We just live right there by the park. My husband is just off work for the county so we are just taking the dog for a walk. I have lived in Ely my whole life. Born and raised here. It’s great to live where my family is from. They help watch my daughter sometimes and spend time together. I am just spending time at home with my daughter. I’m lucky to be able to do that. We didn’t take a vacation this year. Not doing anything too exciting. I am going home and cook supper in a little bit.”
“You must be Pam! I know because I read the ELY ECHO!... I”m Lucy Soderstrom. I work for the Ely Folk School. I spent President’s weekend doing some winter camping with some friends out on Farm Lake. It was sunny and very nice, very warm. I think I got more sunshine in one day than I have for the last month and a half.” (Can you describe your winter camping trip?) “I have friends who live on White Iron Lake so we packed up our pulk sleds and skied out right from their house. A pulk sled is a sled you can load your gear up in and it’s got the poles to attach to your hip so you can pull it behind you on the snow. We skied from White Iron and crossed the land at Silver Rapids and skied through Farm Lake across the wilderness boundary and found a place to camp. We brought canvas tents with stoves so we were able to stay warm but it was pretty sunny out, pretty warm. I did not do any fishing but we did set a couple beaver traps but no beavers were caught. I am the director at the Ely Folk School where we have classes and events all about getting people working with their hands, exploring their creativity, being vulnerable in trying something new, engaging with crafts and meeting their neighbors and learning how to converse with more people. It’s pretty fulfilling work. I get to learn a little bit about a lot of different things. I have been at the Ely Folk School since the summer of 2021. I’ve been in Ely since the summer of 2020. I grew up visiting and then I worked at Camp Widjiwagan when I was in college. I came back during the pandemic and I never left. It’s been the best! I got involved at the Folk School initially through volunteering a few hours here and there and then it became full time. And we are currently hiring for a full time program director position. Applications are open until early March. I am going to try curling in Babbitt this weekend. Did you know they have open curling once a month or something like that at the Rec Center down there.” (Is that on ice?). “Yes I think so. I don’t know yet, I haven’t tried it. So I am going to try curling this weekend. Gotta keep learning. And for today I am just going to be hanging out enjoying the sunshine.”
Aspen Eck: “I’ve gone on this walk and so many people have waved hello and just retorted and said, What a nice day today! We’re just enjoying what this February weather is, remarkable in its own little way. I work at the Ely Steam Bath and I am a park ranger. I worked at Mt. Rushmore as an interpreter park ranger. I am a seasonal park ranger and in the off season I work at the Ely Steam Bath. They are open Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays from 4 to 7:30. We have two sessions from 4 till 5:30 p.m. and from 6 till 7:30 p.m.. We have three private saunas and there’s publics for men and women. People can come in and steam and I help facilitate by telling them where to go, grab their towels, make sure everyone is safe and honestly play some great funky music when people come in. Sometimes it’s K-Pop, some times it’s Latina X and sometimes I just play what’s on the Current. Helping facilitate people to have a great steam and make sure everyone is safe, that’s what I do there. I’ve worked there two years. My boss is Julie Petrzilka. She owns the Steam Bath in town, Stinky Pete’s, part of the Tamarak Resort and then Rick’s Relics in Tower. She does all that! I am planning on going on this walk while I am talking to a friend on the phone right now.” (Oh, hi friend...). “They are from Utah. So I plan on just walking around enjoying myself. I am talking to my friend who is a postcard mate and I am probably going to write them a postcard when I leave here today... I would say to the world: “Be kind to yourself and be kind to others...”
