Articles written by Ann Markusen
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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...
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...
On the Mark: Jury out on how pandemic shapes us
Since the coronavirus emerged, we've become acutely aware of our own social spaces - where we live, how close or far our families and neighbors are, how we move across local and regional space, the...
Cromwell care complex prepared for a pandemic
Since elderly people are most vulnerable to coronavirus, their living quarters and quality of care matter greatly in protecting them from it. It's quite a challenge for the managers and staff at area...
On The Mark: Tromping in a pandemic
Hoping, dear readers, that you are finding it a kind of strange gift to be shut out of most social events and gathering holes. At first, I discovered the joys of just staying home, cleaning out the...
On The Mark: Enjoying the sweet sounds at music contest
Buses loaded with high schoolers disgorged their passengers and teachers in front of the Univeristy of Minnesota Duluth's Weber Music Hall. Eager and nervous, the students retrieved their instruments...
On The Mark: Viral upheaval hits this corner of Carlton County
What a week. News of the coronavirus has altered our pathways, habits, spending and sociability. Just last Thursday evening, we were hosting visitors to The Knot Gallery, serving food and drink and... Full story
It's watercolors with a little extra at Knot gallery
During March and April, The Knot gallery in the Pine Knot News office is exhibiting the work of Sue Brown Chapin. Sue employs unique watercolor techniques to give her works depth and sometimes an...
On the Mark: Cromwell mayor lays out path to the future
Our city of Cromwell, nestled along the east-west BNSF rails, has its challenges. Sandwiched between two lakes that empty west toward the Mississippi, Cromwell's water table is high, creating...
On The Mark: Healthful cooking opens up a wide world
I enjoyed Holly Henry's Pine Knot News articles on Jan. 17 on healthful living. They were well-researched and had good tips for everything from what we eat to exercise. Here are some cooking tips to c...
On The Mark: Art tradition continues at newspaper office
We've just finished a heady year of two-month exhibits by Carlton County artists in our refurbished Pine Knot offices on Avenue C in Cloquet. It's been quite a whirl. Altogether, we hosted works by...
On the Mark: This handy man is my handyman
My husband, Rod Walli, often and confidently says in Finnish: "Voin Korjata mitaan." It means "I can fix anything." He's not bragging. Just expressing confidence. I'm drafting at home. Morning light...
On the Mark: Resolving to talk politics
Like most of us, I generally make a limited number of New Year’s resolutions. Mostly they are personal: getting more sleep, exercising, and spending time with family and friends. This year, 2020,...
On the Mark: Japan offers insight on practical urban living
A kinder, gentler community life. That's how I'd describe Kyoto, Japan. I'm here for probably the sixth or seventh visit, including the fall I taught at Ritsumeikan University. Probably community...
On The Mark: There's a lot to love about wild weather
I admit to being a lifelong winter lover. When voluptuous snow blew down from the north this past weekend, I watched whorls of powder surf off the garage peak. Coming home from the morning walk, I...
On The Mark: Why Ukraine matters to us as Americans
Listening to portions of Congressional testimony this past week, I realized how little most of us know about Ukraine. It’s important because of its strategic economic and geopolitical position in...
On The Mark: Church auction is a real hoot
It's a good season for church bazaars. You can find one-of-a-kind handmade items and artworks, edible lovelies and lightly used items. I'm used to silent auctions. But I've never lived in a community...
ON THE MARK: Compassion is where you look
Lately, I’ve been searching for compassion in our public discourse. Actually, I’ve been longing for more discourse, period. The kind where people listen carefully to each other and honor the...
Artist spotlight: Photographer Mark Cline exhibits at The Knot
Photography was one way Cloquet area resident Mark Cline dealt with an enormous personal setback. As a 55-year-old married father, he received his first serious DSLR camera in 2007, shortly before...
Artist spotlight: Photographer Vern Northrup exhibit at the Knot through December
Fond du Lac Band member Vern Northrup began photographing during his work as a Bureau of Indian Affairs wildland fire operations specialist working on Native lands across the U.S. “When I was a...
We're still here
The Pine Knot celebrates one year of publication this week. It's been a heady journey for the founders and those who work to assemble your newspaper every week. We re-opened the downtown Cloquet offic... Full story
