Articles written by Ann Markusen
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 85
By 
On The Mark: Finding out what makes politicans tick
Have you ever wondered why our neighbors decide to run for office? What life encounters led them to do so? Here are my endorsements for three local candidates - Michelle Lee, Mike Sundin and Quinn...
Sawyer native wins Minnesota Sings contest
Due to Covid-19 and social distancing mandates, the 11th annual Minnesota Sings competition took place virtually this year. Participants submitted videos of their performances via YouTube. Sawyer...
On The Mark: Scarecrows bring a fall flair to Cromwell
If you've driven through Cromwell this past week, you'll have glimpsed the 10 scarecrows lining the main street downtown. Because the usually annual Harvest Fest had to be canceled, the Cromwell Area...
On The Mark: There are always surprises when putting garden to bed
Three nights of frost propelled us into motion. Our roomy veggie garden still had lots growing in it: squash, pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers, chard, kale, basil and other herbs. Green beans that have bee...
On The Mark: DFL makes best of Labor Day
Labor Day turned out windy and rain-free but cold - 57 degrees in Cloquet's Veterans Park. Lots of people showed up for chili, music and rousing speeches in front of a cheeky sign saying to "elect an...
Drifting Into Watercolor
Cloquet's Lyn Jutila is currently exhibiting her watercolors at the Pine Knot office. She recently sat down with us to talk about her work and how she became a watercolorist after hanging her...
On The Mark: Cromwell-Wright plan uses small school size to its advantage
Over the past month, our area schools have had to redesign their spaces and curricula to cope with Covid-19 and submit their plans to the Minnesota Department of Education. Thanks to the size of the...
On The Mark: There are better ways to cut prison costs
In early August, the Minnesota Department of Corrections announced the pending closure of two of its prisons due to the state’s budget crisis. Both are among the smallest of our prisons. They are...
On The Mark: Gershwin comes alive with close listening
Music and film have long offered “outsiders” — immigrants, women, African Americans — opportunities to tell their stories, use their talents and earn a living. Often pigeonholed into...
County has a berry cornucopia
As children, we'd pile into our family car and head north from Minneapolis on Highway 65 for Cromwell to visit my grandfather. After 30 miles or so, leaving the suburbs behind, my father began to scou...
On The Mark: Jazz, al fresco, is a delight
It was a balmy evening, perfect for sitting outside and listening to high-energy jazz. We'd brought our lawn chairs and positioned them near the front of the tent, to the left of the stage. We were...
On the Mark: Up north swimming vacation hits the spot
Tired of staying home and not hosting friends and family for meals, music evenings and overnights, my husband and I provisioned our small motorhome and set out for a week in the Northwoods. We'd...
On The Mark: School made things work
Cromwell-Wright Superintendent/Principal Nathan Libbon reflected recently on his team’s response to the order to close schools and educate from afar this past spring. To me, it sounded incredibly cr...
Senior offers perspective on school year cut short
“It was the second week of April,” recalled Amber Collman, a senior at Cromwell-Wright High School. They had only a couple of days to decamp and prepare for remote schooling, time that their...
On The Mark: Violence against Black Americans has deep roots through history
Why are African Americans so often the victims of police killings? A history of enslavement, violence-enforced exploitation and often killing labor, followed by decades of industrial exploitation and...
Watercolorist finds joy in plein air painting
For the next two months, the Pine Knot Gallery will exhibit Julia Jaakola's watercolors, with an opening and in-person (socially distanced) reception on Thursday, July 9. How did Julia become an artis... Full story
On The Mark: Police trainings pit 'warrior' vs. 'guardian'
I’ve been so sad since George Floyd’s murder. It’s sad and enraging. I keep wondering how it could have been different. For years, my son has been teaching me about police brutality against...
Artists get a boost in pandemic dearth
In this pandemic, artists are among the most financially vulnerable. At the last full Census count, 65 percent of writers, 57 percent of visual artists, 41 percent of musicians and singers, and 36... Full story
On The Mark: Still peeling popple after all these years
Walking south and west from home, over moraines left by the last glacier, I follow the chainsaw sound, pausing to watch a chestnut-sided warbler. Veering off trail, I find my brother Steve peeling...
On The Mark: Birders delight in nearby refuge
May is a spectacular month for birding in our part of Minnesota. Not just in numbers, but variety, artistry and antics. In April, the early birds touch down for a visit on their way north: snow... Full story
Obituaries: Delynn Marie (Morrow) Loeb
Delynn Marie (Morrow) Loeb, 76, of Los Gatos, California, and formerly of Pengilly, Cloquet, and Owatonna, passed away May 18, 2020. Our merciful God was truly on her side as she passed suddenly,... Full story
On the Mark: Past economic challenges offer lessons
Through interviews, we’ve been learning about Carlton County’s small-business challenges with COVID-19 social distancing requirements and mandatory shutdowns of many kinds of businesses. Here’s...
On The Mark: Food shelf volunteers fill new gaps
As increasing numbers of our neighbors are laid off or staying home with children, they find it harder to make ends meet. Nonprofits such as the Tri-Community Food Shelf are helping mightily to...
On the Mark: Small businesses try to stay upbeat
Tracey Goranson's "Hair It Is!" is the longest-living commercial business on Cromwell's Main Street. Tracey offers haircuts, perms, color, eyebrow waxing and a tanning booth to men, women and...
On The Mark: Food providers adapt during 'stay at home'
I set out to ask small businesses in Carlton County how they are faring under social distancing practices. I found amazing spirit, concerns, and accommodation on the part of employers, suppliers, cust...
