JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER ALONG WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

DENNY: IT'S THE COLD, FLU, AND NOW, COVID SEASON.

WE'LL TALK WITH A DOCTOR ABOUT WHAT VACCINATIONS YOU SHOULD HAVE TO HELP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM.

JULIE: WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO TWO INDIGENOUS ARTISTS AND SEE THEIR ART ON DISPLAY AT DULUTH'S AICHO BUILDING.

DENNY: AND WE'LL PREVIEW A NEW PBS NORTH DOCUMENTARY; AND ALSO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP "TRUCKERS FOR TOTS" REACH THEIR GOAL.

JULIE: THOSE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION, UP NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

DENNY, IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK AFTER MY WEEK AWAY.

DENNY: NICE TO HAVE YOU BACK.

YOU ENJOY YOUR TIME OFF A LITTLE BIT.

JULIE: I GOT TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH THE GRANDKIDS.

HAD A BIT OF A THROAT TICKLE TO PROVE IT.

[LAUGHTER] LET'S GET TO THE HEADLINES.

DENNY: THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY BOARD HAS SCHEDULED TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR RESIDENTS TO GIVE INPUT ON THE 2024 COUNTY BUDGET.

THE FIRST MEETING IS THIS COMING MONDAY AT 7:00 P.M. AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN VIRGINIA.

THE SECOND MEETING WILL BE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH AT 7:00 P.M.

IN THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN DULUTH.

THAT MEETING WILL ALSO BE LIVE STREAMED ON THE COUNTY'S FACEBOOK PAGE FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON.

JULIE: THE ANNUAL "GIVE TO THE MAX" DAY ON THURSDAY RAISED MORE THAN $34 MILLION FOR MINNESOTA NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

THE 15TH ANNUAL STATEWIDE GIVING CAMPAIGN RAISED MONEY FOR 6600 NONPROFITS AND SCHOOLS.

PBS NORTH AND THE NORTH 103.3 FM RAISED $3400 FOR PROGRAMMING.

THANKS TO ALL WHO GAVE.

DENNY: THE LOCAL SALVATION ARMY IS SUFFERING A SHORTAGE OF BELL RINGERS FOR THE RED KETTLE SEASON, PUTTING THEIR FUNDRAISING GOAL IN JEOPARDY.

SO FAR, THE ARMY IS ABOUT $3000 BEHIND WHERE THEY WERE AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR, THREATENING THEIR $225,000 GOAL.

CONTACT THE SALVATION ARMY IF YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER AS A BELL RINGER.

JULIE: AND THE HOLIDAY SEASON KICKS OFF IN EARNEST THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN PORTS.

THE CHRISTMAS CITY OF THE NORTH PARADE RUNS DOWN SUPERIOR STREET IN DULUTH TONIGHT.

AND THEN THE ANNUAL BENTLEYVILLE TOUR OF LIGHTS AT DULUTH'S BAYFRONT PARK OPENS FOR THE SEASON ON SATURDAY.

DENNY: THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS ALSO A TIME WHEN COLD AND FLU CASES POP UP AS FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHER IN CLOSE QUARTERS.

AND THOUGH THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC IS BEHIND US, COVID IS LIKELY TO ARE IS BEHIND US, COVID IS LIKELY TO STAY WITH US FOR YEARS TO COME.

JOINING US WITH SOME TIPS TO STAY HEALTHY IS DR. ANDREW THOMPSON, AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST WITH ST. LUKE'S IN TOLUCA.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

OUR VACCINATIONS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE HAVING ANNUALLY?

DR. THOMPSON: YES WE SHOULD.

FOR A WHILE NOW FLU SHOTS HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR ALL PEOPLE ANNUALLY.

AND THIS YEAR, THERE IS ALSO A COVID BOOSTER RECOMMENDED FOR ALL, AND RSV VACCINE RECOMMENDED FOR SOME GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

DENNY: WHAT IS RSV?

DR. THOMPSON: RSV IS A VIRUS.

IT IS PARTICULARLY BAD FOR THE VERY YOUNG, FOR INFANTS AND FOR OLDER INDIVIDUALS, AND THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE IMMUNE PROBLEMS.

IT CAN CAUSE A BAD PNEUMONIA.

JULIE: WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES IN OUR AREA?

DR. THOMPSON: I NEVER LIKE TO PREDICT.

[LAUGHTER] WE CAN RELIABLY EXPECT THERE WILL BE SOME INFLUENZA.

WE ARE ALREADY SEEING A FEW CASES OF INFLUENZA IN MINNESOTA, BUT IT IS HARD TO KNOW WHEN IT WILL PEAK AND ACTIVITY WILL BE PARTICULARLY BAD.

LAST YEAR WAS AN EARLY-SEASON.

USUALLY WE SEE A LOT OF ACTIVITY INTO SENIOR -- IN DECEMBER, JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF INFLUENZA.

COVID, WE ARE SEEING SEASONAL TRENDS.

WE EXPECT THAT AS WE ARE INDOORS MORE, BREATHING THE SAME AIR, THAT THERE WILL BE MORE COVID CASES AS WELL.

RSV IS VERY PREDICTABLY A WINTER VIRUS.

WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT RSV STARTING NOW INTO THE MIDDLE OF WINTER.

DENNY: ARE THERE ANY SHORTAGES OF VACCINES WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT?

DR. THOMPSON: NO SHORTAGES OF VACCINES THIS YEAR.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO GET ONE.

JULIE: WE ARE HEADING INTO A HOLIDAY WEEK.

IS IT TOO LATE FOR PEOPLE TO GET VACCINES NOW THAT WILL HELP THEM AT THAT FAMILY GATHERING FOR THANKSGIVING?

DR. THOMPSON: IT REALLY IS.

IT IS TOO LATE TO GET A VACCINE NOW TO PROTECT YOU DURING THANKSGIVING, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO GET ONE TO PROTECT YOU DURING GATHERINGS IN DECEMBER.

FAMILY GATHERINGS ARE ON CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR.

YOU WANT TO GET A VACCINE ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOU MIGHT BE EXPOSED TO SOMETHING FOR IT TO BE EFFECTIVE.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED COVID VACCINES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR EVERYONE.

PEOPLE WHO HAD THE INITIAL SEQUENCE AND/OR HAVE HAD COVID, DO THEY HAVE ANY IMMUNITY FROM COVID, OR HAS IT MORPHED TO THE POINT WHERE THAT DOES NOT REALLY PROTECT YOU ANYMORE?

DR. THOMPSON: THAT IS A SOMEWHAT COMPLICATED QUESTION.

THEY HAVE SOME PROTECTION, BUT COVID HAS MUTATED SO QUICKLY THAT THE VIRUS THAT IS CIRCULATING NOW IS DIFFERENT THAN THE ORIGINAL STRAIN.

OUR UPDATED BOOSTER VACCINE, THE CURRENT ONE THAT IS AVAILABLE, IS TARGETED TOWARD WHAT IS CIRCULATED NOW, WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM THE INITIAL STRAIN.

DENNY: IS IT MORE DEADLY?

DR. THOMPSON: NO, IT'S JUST CHANGED A FEW OF ITS PROTEINS, SUCH THAT OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT AS WELL FROM THAT INITIAL EXPOSURE.

SO IT IS NOT MORE SERIOUS, BUT YOU MAY HAVE LESS PROTECTION BASED ON YOUR PAST VACCINE OR PAST INFECTION.

JULIE: AS A PHYSICIAN AND IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, IS COVID STILL A GREATER CONCERN THAN THE REGULAR SEASONAL FLU, OR HAS IT MORPHED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME?

DR. THOMPSON: THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

THEY ARE BOTH OF SIGNIFICANT CONCERN TO ME.

I WILL NOT RANK THEM IN ORDER.

BUT COVID IS STILL SIGNIFICANT.

THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF DEATHS DUE TO COVID.

THERE ARE HOSPITALIZATIONS DUE TO COVID.

IT CERTAINLY HAS NOT GONE AWAY.

I STILL TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

DENNY: ARE LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED?

DR. THOMPSON: NO, IT IS SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTING WITH OUR RECENT BOOSTER VACCINE, A RELATIVELY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS ARE GETTING VACCINATED.

MY HOPE IS FOR THOSE THAT ARE AT HIGHER RISK, THOSE OVER 60 OR 65, OR THOSE WITH IMMUNE CUMBER MY ZINC CONDITIONS -- IMMUNE COMPROMISING CONDITIONS, IF THEY GET IT.

DENNY: THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

DR. THOMPSON: THANK YOU.

♪ JULIE: IT'S TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION, WHEN WE HEAR FROM A LOCAL JOURNALIST ABOUT TOPICS IN THE NEWS.

JOINING US THIS TIME IS AARON BROWN, AN AUTHOR, COLUMNIST AND JOURNALISM INSTRUCTOR FROM RURAL ITASCA COUNTY.

♪ >> RECENTLY THERE WAS A MAJOR FIRE DOWNTOWN AND ONE OF THE HISTORIC BRICK BUILDINGS IN THAT RANGE TOWN BURNED, HAD TO BE ACTUALLY DEMOLISHED IN THE PROCESS OF THE FIRE SUPPRESSION.

OF COURSE THESE OLD BUILDINGS ARE OFTEN RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN THESE DOWNTOWNS, SO IT WAS MORE THAN A DOZEN, MAYBE EVEN 20 FIRE DEPARTMENTS CAME IN TO HELP ADDRESS THE FIRE.

IT IS AN APARTMENT BUILDING NOW.

I BRING IT UP BECAUSE IN THE PROCESS OF FIGHTING THIS PARTICULAR FIRE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THE LOCAL TOWNS, HAD TO TRUCK IN WATER TO HELP KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND FOR WATER AT THE MOUTH OF THE HOSES GOING INTO THE FLAMES.

A LOT OF THESE TOWNS AND THEIR 100-YEAR-OLD DENVER STRUCTURE WILL BE CALLED UPON TO FIGHT -- OLD INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE CALLED UPON TO FIGHT FIRES.

WHEN YOU SEE THIS, IT SOMETIMES CAUSES STRATEGIES TO CHANGE AS FIRE DEPARTMENTS THINK ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE THIS IN THE FUTURE.

♪ THERE WERE SCHOOL BUFFER ZONES THAT FAILED ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

ONE IN DULUTH PASSED, BUT THE SECOND FAILED.

AS WE LOOK AT THESE REFERENDUMS FAILING AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE THAN PASSING IN THIS LAST GO AROUND, WE REALIZED, OR SHOULD, THAT SUPPORT FOR TAXATION FOR EDUCATION RIGHT NOW IS PROBABLY LOWER THAN IT HAD BEEN.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF REASONS.

THIS REFERENDUM IN GRAND RAPIDS FAILED BADLY, 25% FOR, 75% AGAINST.

THERE IS A VARIETY OF REASONS.

SOME INTERESTING GROUPS CAME TOGETHER TO OPPOSE THE REFERENDUM.

OF COURSE, PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE TAXES ARE A BIG FACTOR IN THE NO VOTE, BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ALSO FELT THAT THERE HAD BEEN TOO MUCH -- TOO MANY OTHER TAXES PASSED RECENTLY, AND WITH THE VALUATION INCREASE THAT I ITASCA COUNTY HAD SEEN IN ITS PROPERTY -- THAT ITASCA COUNTY HAD SEEN IN HIS PROPERTY, VOTERS DON'T NECESSARILY DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN SCHOOL BOARD AND COUNTY AND LOCAL TAX REFERENDUMS.

THEY SEE IT AS ALL PART OF THEIR POCKETBOOK.

IN THIS INSTANCE THE GRAND RAPIDS SCHOOL DISTRICT CAME UP SHORT AT A TIME WHEN THEY HAVE A LOT OF BILLS COMING DUE.

SO THERE WILL BE SOME MAJOR CUTS.

WE ARE SEEING THAT IN OTHER DISTRICTS ACROSS MINNESOTA, WHERE REFERENDUMS HAVE FAILED.

♪ AARON: IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING LABOR NEWS, YOU KNOW THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS WERE ON STRIKE, AN EXTENDED STRIKE AGAINST AMERICAN AUTOMAKERS.

THE STRIKE WAS SUCCESSFUL.

IT LED TO SOME REALLY GOOD CONTRACTS FOR THE UAW, AND KIND OF A HISTORIC WHEN FOR LEGACY -- A HISTORIC WIN FOR LEGACY LABOR ORGANIZATION.

BUT IT WAS NOT UNIVERSALLY LOVED BY ALL.

FOR ONE THING, THE AUTOMAKERS WILL BE PAYING THEIR WORKERS A BIT MORE, BUT WITH THAT, CLEVELAND CLIFFS, THE BIGGEST MINING COMPANY IN MINNESOTA RIGHT NOW, AND STEELMAKING COMPANY, OPTED TO RAISE ITS FLAT RATE STEEL PRICES AGAIN.

IT HAS BEEN STEADILY RISING PRICES SINCE THE COVID DAYS.

THEY ARE DEALING WITH VERY HIGH PRICES RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS DIRECTLY COMING OUT OF THE AUTO MARKET, SO THE AUTOMAKERS, SEEING THAT NEWS COUPLED WITH THEIR LABOR NEWS, ISSUED A STATEMENT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO OPPOSE AND FIGHT CLIF FS' EFFORTS TO BUY U.S. STEEL, WHICH IS THE HISTORIC BIG STEEL COMPANY IN AMERICA, NOW NO LONGER THE BIGGEST STEELMAKER OR EVEN BIGGEST IN MINNESOTA, BUT STILL AN IMPORTANT COMPANY THAT IS ESSENTIALLY FOR SALE.

CLIFFS WANTS IT.

THE GLOBAL STEELMAKING GIANT WANTS IT.

AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER BIDDERS.

I AM HEARING THOSE BIDDERS ARE SUBMITTING THEIR BIDS EVEN AS WE SPEAK AND THAT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES UNDER NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS HAVE TOURED U.S. STEEL FACILITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING NEAR NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

AS THIS IS HAPPENING, I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF WE HAVE BIG NEWS ABOUT U.S. STEEL BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

♪ DENNY: TWO NATIVE ARTISTS' WORK IS ON DISPLAY DURING NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER AT THE AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITY HOUSING ORGANIZATION BUILDING ON WEST SECOND STREET IN DULUTH.

PBS NORTH VIDEOGRAPHER A.J.

LARSON TALKED WITH THE ARTISTS FOR THIS STORY.

A.J.

: WE ARE AT THE AICHO GALLERIES.

THE NAME OF THE ART EXHIBIT MEANS "TWO WOODLAND ARTISTS."

I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH GORDON, A SEASONED ARTIST.

>> I HAVE BEEN AN ARTIST FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY DID NOT HAVE DIGITAL ART BACK IN THE DAY.

PRIMARILY YOU START OUT DRAWING, PAINTING.

FROM THERE, YEARS LATER, GOT INTO COMPUTER GRAPHICS.

I HAVE A LOT OF FLORAL DESIGNS IN MY WORK AND THERE IS A LOT OF FOUR-LEGGED RELATIVES OF OURS, THE BEAR, EAGLE, BULLHEAD, THE MOOSE.

I USE PLAINS, GEOMETRIC DESIGNS AS WELL.

I USE BOTH BECAUSE I AM ALSO OF DAKOTA LINEAGE AND AN OJIBWAY ARTIST.

A LOT OF THE STUFF I USE IS A DUAL IMAGERY WITH WOODLAND AND PLAINS ART.

>> I GREW UP ON A RESERVATION.

WE USED TO MAKE ART.

WE USED TO GIVE IT AWAY.

I WOULD SEE IT BEING MADE AROUND MY HANDS AND UNCLES.

I HAVE BEEN -- MY AUNTS AND UNC LES.

I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR 30 YEARS.

I NEVER WENT TO ART SCHOOL.

HIGH SCHOOL IS WHERE I GOT MY TRAINING.

MY IMAGES ARE PULLED FROM MY HEAD.

WE TELL STORIES.

NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT OTHER NATIVE ARTISTS WILL PULL INFORMATION FROM THEIR STORIES FROM THEIR HISTORY.

SOME OF MY WORK HAS MORE OF A HISTORICAL THEME, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE CLAN STORIES.

YOU WILL SEE THEM IN MY IMAGES.

I DO A WOODLAND ART STYLE.

I HAVE AN IMAGE IN THE BACK THAT I DID WITH DUCT TAPE.

I HAVE IMAGES THAT ARE JUST EMBOSSED PAPER.

I HAVE ONE THAT I DID WITH DUCT TAPE.

THAT IS MORE MODERN.

IT IS A SUPERMAN TYPE CHARACTER.

IF YOU LOOK AT HIM, INSTEAD OF S , I USE NDN.

YOU GET INDIAN.

I AM TRAINED TO LET THE KIDS KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT STUCK -- TRYING TO LET THE KIDS KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT STUCK IN THE PAST.

THAT HERO PERSON IS WHO THEY ARE.

ONE THING IN THOSE IMAGES, I WANTED PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE BUILT THE COUNTRY, WE GAVE UP LAND.

>> I ENJOY SHARING SEEING PEOPLE'S PRIDE IN VIEWING TRADITIONAL ART FORMS.

THEY LOOK AT IT AND SAY THIS IS WHERE I COME FROM, THIS IS WHO I AM.

THESE ART FORMS REPRESENT MY PEOPLE.

♪ DENNY: AT THE BEGINNING OF A SEASON FILLED WITH CHARITABLE GIVING, NONPROFITS AND COMPANIES ACROSS THE NORTHLAND ARE BANDING TOGETHER TO ASSIST THOSE IN NEED.

OUR TEAM SPOKE WITH FOLKS AT MID-STATE TRUCKING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR TRUCKERS FOR TOTS' INITIATIVE, AND HOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN GET INVOLVED.

♪ >> TRUCKERS FOR TOTS, THIS STARTED ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.

WE ARE A FAMILY OWNED COMPANY OUT OF WISCONSIN.

ORIGINALLY WE HAVE SIX STORES IN WISCONSIN WE ARE DOING THIS WITH.

WHEN WE MOVED UP HERE, THIS WILL BE OUR FOURTH YEAR FOR MINNESOTA BETWEEN TOULOUSE AND VIRGINIA, MINNESOTA.

I AM ON THE SPEARHEAD OF THIS TO RAISE MONEY AND FUNDS AND TOYS FOR OUR LOCAL CHARITY FOR TOYS FOR TOTS.

OUR PROMOTION IS TRUCKERS FOR TOTS OBVIOUSLY.

THE SILTATION ARMY HELPED US LOGISTICALLY WITH GETTING TOYS OUT.

-- THE SALVATION ARMY HAS HELPED US LOGISTICALLY WITH GETTING TOYS OUT.

I WAS TOLD BY OUR TOYS FOR TOTS REP THAT WE ACCOUNTED FOR OVER 40% OF THE TOYS COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED.

LAST YEAR I THINK WE SPENT ROUGHLY ABOUT $16,000 AT FLEET FARM LOCALLY.

THEY HAVE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER WITH THIS AS WELL.

THEY OFFER A DISCOUNT FOR US TO SHOP AS WELL AS DONATE TO THE PROJECT.

IT HAS BEEN A REALLY GOOD SITUATION.

OUR SHOPPING DATE THIS YEAR WILL BE THE 28TH OF NOVEMBER.

WE WILL BE AT FLEET FARM AND WILL HAVE A BIG HUGE TRAILER UP THERE AND BE LOADING EVERYTHING UP.

THE FOLLOWING DAY WE WILL BE DOWN AT THE LOCALS OVATION ARMY TO DO DISTRIBUTION -- LOCAL SALVATION ARMY TO DO JUST A VISION.

WE ARE TRYING TO TOP $65,000 OR BETTER.

WE NEED THE COMMUNITY'S HELP.

WHETHER THAT IS $5,000 OR $500, WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THAT A POSSIBILITY.

WE TRY TO TAKE ALL THE PAIN POINTS OUT OF IT FOR PEOPLE.

IF YOU WANT TO DONATE AND DROP A CHECK OFF AND LET US DO THE HARD STUFF, WE WILL DO IT.

JULIE: THIS FALL HAS BEEN A BUSY ONE HERE AT PBS NORTH, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO LOCAL PRODUCTIONS.

ON NOVEMBER 30TH THE STATION WILL PREMIERE ITS NEWEST DOCUMENTARY, "ON BY," A FILM THAT FOLLOWS FOUR MUSHERS ON THE BEARGREASE TRAIL.

IT BRINGS AUDIENCES TO BEHIND-THE-SCENES MOMENTS FROM CHECK POINT TO CHECK POINT, AND TONIGHT WE HAVE AN EXCLUSIVE CLIP FROM THE FILM.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> THE START IS COMING UP AT 10:00 THIS MORNING.

FIRST MUSHER SHOULD BE UP THERE BY 12:00 NOON THIS AFTERNOON.

EARLY TOMORROW MORNING, UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS, AND JUST BEFORE 10:30.

4:00 P.M. TUESDAY AFTERNOON, I CAN TELL YOU THE RACEHORSE IS IN GREAT CONDITION.

[DOGS BARKING] ♪ [DOGS BARKING] ♪ [DOGS BARKING] ♪ >> OLIVIA!

LOVE YOU!

♪ >> READY?

READY?

♪ >> SET FOR THE MARATHON.

[DOGS BARKING] >> IT'S UP TO YOU.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

THERE HE GOES.

DENNY: BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK, WE WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE END OF AN ERA HERE AT ALMANAC NORTH.

AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS AS THE CO-HOST OF OUR SHOW, JULIE ZENNER IS RETIRING AT THE END OF DECEMBER.

BACK WHEN SHE STARTED HOSTING THE SHOW IN 1993 WITH JACK SETTERLUND, JULIE WAS A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE OF PBS NORTH, WORKING ON DOCUMENTARIES AND DOING STORIES FOR THE VENTURE NORTH SERIES.

IN 1997, DARREN DANIELSON JOINED THE TEAM, AND CO-HOSTED WITH JULIE FOR MORE THAN 14 YEARS.

DURING THAT TIME JULIE WAS A CONSTANT FOR THE PROGRAM EACH AND EVERY WEEK.

IN 2011, I HAD THE HONOR OF TAKING THIS SEAT NEXT TO JULIE, AND 12 YEARS SEEM TO HAVE PASSED IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

I ASK YOU, WHAT MAKES THIS THE RIGHT TIME TO STEP AWAY FROM ALMANAC NORTH?

JULIE: FIRST OF ALL, I'M REALLY CITED ABOUT THIS BUT ALSO A BIT BITTERSWEET -- EXCITED ABOUT THIS BUT ALSO A BIT BITTERSWEET TOO.

THIS HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF MY LIFE.

YOU MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION 30 YEARS.

I WAS 29 YEARS OLD WHEN I TOOK OVER THE SEAT AT ALMANAC NORTH.

30 YEARS LATER IT SEEMS LIKE A NICE ROUND NUMBER.

I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO WRAP IT UP.

JULIE: YOU KEPT COMING BACK FOR 30 YEARS.

WHAT DROVE YOU?

JULIE: THERE WERE QUITE A FEW THINGS THAT DROVE ME.

BESIDES THE FAME AND FORTUNE, OF COURSE.

[LAUGHTER] WHICH IS JUST A GIVEN.

I REALLY HAVE ENJOYED DOING THE SHOW, HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SOME OF THE NEWSMAKERS FROM AROUND THE AREA, GET A CHANCE EVERY WEEK TO LEARN ABOUT A TOPIC, TO TALK WITH THEM IN AN IN-DEPTH FORMAT, WHERE THEY CAN GIVE THEIR PERSPECTIVES, THEY CAN GIVE THEIR OPINIONS, AND SOMETIMES THEY CAN BE CHALLENGED TO DEFEND THOSE POSITIONS.

I THINK THAT IS PART OF OUR ROLE HERE.

I REALLY ENJOYED THAT.

ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

YOU SAW AND WERE PART OF THAT LITANY OF GREAT JOURNALISTS THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEARS.

DENNY: THANK YOU.

JULIE: IT HAS BEEN A REAL GIFT TO SIT NEXT TO YOU, TO SIT NEXT TO DARREN, TO JACK.

YOU ARE ALL CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONALS AND REALLY CONSIDER EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU MY FRIEND TOO.

THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, GREG BEHIND THE SCENES, GREG HAS BEEN THE PRODUCER OF ALMANAC NORTH SINCE DAY ONE.

HE'S REALLY THE GLUE THAT KEEPS THE WHOLE SHOW TOGETHER.

WE HAVE GROWN UP TOGETHER.

GREG ALSO IS PLANNING TO RETIRE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

DENNY: YES HE IS.

JULIE: SO THIS IS A REAL NEAT PACKAGE OF CLOSURE I THINK FOR THE TWO OF US, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD.

I AM REALLY EXCITED THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE STICKING WITH THE NEXT ITERATION OF ALMANAC NORTH.

DENNY: I WILL BE.

WE WILL SEE WHAT THAT IS GOING TO BE LIKE.

I WILL STAY AROUND FOR A WHILE.

JULIE: THAT IS GREAT, BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUCH A WAY WITH THE NEWS.

YOU HAVE SUCH A WAY OF MAKING PEOPLE -- DENNY: HOW WILL YOU BE SPENDING YOUR FREE TIME?

JULIE: LOTS OF THINGS PLANNED.

DENNY: GRANDKIDS.

JULIE: TWO BEAUTIFUL GRANDKIDS AND ONE ON THE WAY.

I HAVE A FREELANCE WRITING BUSINESS THAT I'M GOING TO KEEP DOING FOR A FEW BUSINESS CLIENTS.

OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS OR SO I HAVE ALSO DEVELOPED SOME SKILLS AS A POTTER, SO I'M GOING TO BE CONTINUING TO MAKE POTTERY, SELL POTTERY AND REALLY ENJOY LIFE OUT ON THE FARM THAT WE BOUGHT.

DENNY: IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE THRILL SITTING HERE WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

JULIE: I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALMANAC NORTH BY FOLLOWING US ON FACEBOOK AND X.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE PBS NORTH WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND OUR UPCOMING EVENTS.

AND DON'T FORGET TO DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ON DEMAND.

AND DENNY, READY OR NOT, THANKSGIVING AND THE REST OF THE HOLIDAYS ARE STRAIGHT AHEAD.

DENNY: I AM READY.

I GUESS SO.

[LAUGHTER] I AM HUNGRY.

JULIE: I AM PORTING MY TURKEY TO MY DAUGHTER'S HOUSE.

AND A PROGRAM NOTE, WE WILL BE OFF NEXT WEEK FOR THE HOLIDAY, SO OUR NEXT SHOW WILL BE ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1.

FOR DENNIS ANDERSON AND THE CREW AT ALMANAC NORTH, I'M JULIE ZENNER.

HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪