JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER ALONG WITH DENNIS ANDERSON.

DENNIS: THE CONVENTION CENTER HAS HAD A FINANCIAL YEAR.

JULIE: AN EXIT INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR EMILY LARSON WITH HER EIGHT YEARS ON THE JOB.

DENNIS: AND LEGO CLUB IS PIECING TOGETHER A NICE FOLLOWING.

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

JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

AND DENNY, YOU JUST RETURNED FROM YOUR SECOND DINNER OF THE SEASON.

DENNIS: SECOND OF THE WEEK.

SERIOUS.

IS THAT WHAT YOU CALL IT?

JULIE: I HAVE NEVER EATEN IT.

DENNIS: COULDN'T BE BETTER.

JULIE: KICK OFF THE SHOW.

DENNIS: MINNESOTA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION APPROVED AN INTERIM RATE HIKE FOR MINNESOTA POWER CUSTOMERS THIS WEEK.

THE INCREASE WILL BE 8.6%, $8.

THE RATE INCREASE BEGINS IN JANUARY AND REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL FINAL RATES ARE DECIDED LIKELY DECIDED IN 2025.

MINNESOTA POWER IS PROPOSING A 12% TOTAL RATE HIKE TO PAY FOR INVESTMENTS AND ITS CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION.

JULIE: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS NAMED WISCONSIN'S ICE AGE TRAIL AND SCENIC TRAIL AS PART OF THE NATIONAL PARKSYSTEM.

IT WILL INCREASE FUNDING AND IMPROVE FUNDING FOR THESE TRAILS.

THE MILES OF TRAIL WILL BE INCLUDED ON NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MAPS.

DENNIS: IRON RESEARCH BOARD INCREASED BUDGET.

33 MILLION IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDING.

$15 MILLION WENT TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDUSTRIAL PARK IN AURORA AND $5 MILLION WENT TO COST OVERRUNS IN THE NEW SCHOOL.

JULIE: SNOW ENTHUSIASTS AND SNOW-GLOBE-LIKE SETTING ARE KEEPING FINGERS CROSSED.

STATISTICS SHOW DULUTH IS LIKELY TO HAVE A WHITE CHRISTMAS WHICH HAPPENS 8-10 YEARS.

AND STATISTICS SHOWING A 98% PROBABILITY.

DENNIS: THE DULUTH ENTERTAINMENT AND CONVENTION CENTER WENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR A LINE OF CREDIT.

DECC OFFICIALS TRYING TO STABILIZE FINANCEES AS THE END OF 2023 YEARS IS THE FACILITY MAKING POSITIVE PROGRESS.

JOINING US IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE DECC.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THE DECC LAID OFF A NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.

HAVE THINGS IMPROVED?

>> YEAH.

I WANT TO START OFF, CHECK OFF THAT LINE OF CREDIT FOR A MILLION DOLLARS.

SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER SEASON, EXCEPT OUR SLOW POINT IN CASH FLOW.

WE DIDN'T SPEND A SINGLE DOLLAR OF IT.

I AM HAPPY TO REPORT WE DIDN'T USE IT.

STILL HOLDING ON UNTIL OCTOBER OF NEXT YEAR AND NOT USE IT IN THE REST OF THIS YEAR.

I THINK IT IS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY AND CAN'T GET IN A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN'T MAKE PAYROLL.

JULIE: WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT LED UP TO THAT ISSUE?

>> WE WERE IN A PERFECT STORM OF LEGACY CHALLENGES AND BUILDING UP FOR DECADES AND PROBLEMS IN THE PAST.

THERE WAS A YEAR THEY DIDN'T MAKE PAYROLL.

AND NOW IT IS PRIVATELY HELD.

THE REASON IT CAME TO A HEAD ARE TWO BIG REASONS.

ONE, COMING OUT OF COVID, YOU CAN'T PAY ANY FRONT-LINE EMPLOYEE 10 BUCKS ANYMORE.

15 TO 18 RANGE.

AND RETAIN SOME OF MY FULL-TIME STAFF.

YOU WENT FOR THE OPERATION, 450 EMPLOYEES, $200 MILLION INCREASE.

THE SECOND CHALLENGE IS THERE ISN'T A LOT OF REPAIRS TO THE FACILITY OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS.

A LOT OF THAT FELL APART.

WHEN THE LEAK OCCURRED, WE DIDN'T LOSE THE CURLING CLUB, THEY WERE USING THAT ICE PLANT TO GIVE A.C.

I LOST THREE VENUES IN ONE.

AND SAME THING HAPPENED IN DECC ARENA.

SO ICE PLANTS HAVE BROKE.

DENNIS: EXPENSIVE FIX.

WHAT GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING?

>> LAST YEAR HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BUSIEST YEARS WITH PEOPLE ATTENDING.

ONE HAND WE HAVE THE CHALLENGES, BUT DOING BETTER ON THE REVENUE SIDE THAN THE DECC HAS HAD FOR YEARS.

AND PART OF THAT WE HAVE HIRED SOMEONE TO DO ENTERTAINMENT AND MORE SHOWS ARE COMING TO TOWN AND BRINGS MONEY TO THE DECC.

CONVENTIONS HAVE BEEN UP.

WEIRD DEAL, ON ONE HAND, LOOKS LIKE WE ARE DOING BAD BUT WE HAD A BANNER YEAR ON THE ENTERTAINMENT FRONT AND SEE OVER 500,000 PEOPLE GOING THROUGH OUR DOORS THIS YEAR.

THIS IS ABOUT A 45.7 MILLION IMPACT TO OUR REGION.

THAT'S THE THING THAT GETS KIND OF LOST, MAN, THIS FACILITY HAS MATTERED TO DULUTH AND STILL MATTERS IN A GREAT WAY.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE PERSONNEL CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAD TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS.

AS THE BUSINESS COMES BACK IN AND WHAT IS LOOKING LIKE A BANNER YEAR, COULD ANY OF THOSE POSITIONS COME BACK OR PEOPLE COME BACK?

>> MY HOPE IS WE RE-EVALUATE THAT.

I SHOULD BACK UP AND SAY, SOCIAL MEDIA DOESN'T DO GREAT THINGS AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY FELT WE LAID OFF 450 PEOPLE, WE LAID OFF FOUR.

THAT BEING SAID, AS WE GROW PARTS OF THE BUSINESS BACK, I COULD SEE THOSE POSITIONS IN TIME COMING BACK.

IF YOU NOTICED BEFORE, WE WERE PRETTY SURGICAL TO MAKE SURE IT DIDN'T AFFECT OUR CONVENTION BUSINESSES.

AND SO FOR A LOT OF OUR MEETING BUSINESS, WHOA, WE DON'T SEE ANY DIFFERENCE HERE, BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ANY.

SOME POSITIONS WERE NEW OR LION'S SHARE.

DENNIS: DID COVID-19 HAVE AN EFFECT?

DECK IT DID.

MOST OF US HAVE GOTTEN PAST THOSE NUMBERS NOW, BUT ON THE FACILITY SIDE THERE ARE TWO YEARS WE WEREN'T WORKING ON THE FACILITY AND ADDED TO THE FACILITY CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE AND EVERYONE FACED.

JULIE: AS WE HEAD INTO 2024, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO BE FOCUSING YOUR ATTENTION TO MAKE SURE THE FACILITY AND ITS OPERATIONS KEEP MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

>> FOR SURE, CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE CORE WHAT WE DO.

THE CONVENTION MEETING PLACE BUSINESS.

THAT IS MORE THAN 50% OF WHAT ACTUALLY PAYS THE BILL.

AND THE SECOND ONE IS FOCUSED ON ENTERTAINMENT AND THAT DRIVES MORE REVENUE IN THE LAST YEAR.

AND GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE, TO.

200,000 TO $600,000.

THE BIG RED BOW.

JULIE: BIG WEEKEND COMING UP.

>> COMING UP NEXT WEEKEND, JERRY SIGNFIELD, MAN I'M STEAMROLLER.

DENNIS: THANK YOU, DAN.

JULIE: A NEW MAYOR AND SEVERAL CITY COUNSELORS.

EMILY LARSON HAS HELD THE TOP POSITION.

AND GREG GRELL SAT DOWN WITH MAYOR LARSON TO GET HER THOUGHTS.

>> INCREDIBLE GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND YOU AND I WERE SAYING AND GETTING SET UP HERE, THIS HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE TIME PERIOD TO BE WORKING AND LEADING THIS COMMUNITY THROUGH A PANDEMIC, THROUGH THESE VERY LOUD POLITICAL TIMES, THROUGH THIS EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL MEDIA, ALL OF THIS TENSION THAT WE SEE IN THE WORLD.

AND IT HAS BEEN A REMARKABLY DYNAMIC TIME TO HAVE THIS JOB AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD AND WORK.

AND TO HAVE EXPERIENCED SO MUCH RICH LIFE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND TO BE PRESENT TO THE DAILY CHALLENGES, TO HAVE THE VISION TO MOVE US FORWARD AND EXPERIENCE IT WITH A LOT OF JOY.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE SOME OF YOUR MOST PROUD ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SOME OF THE THINGS YOU ARE HAPPY ABOUT?

>> I AM SUPER PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE TOOK ON VERY PERSISTENT LONG-TERM CHALLENGES, THE STREETS, THE STEAM PLANT, HOUSING, WE TOOK ON THESE BIG STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES THAT IN MANY WAYS WERE NOT POLITICALLY EASY AND NOT FANCY, BUT THEY ARE JUST SO CRITICAL.

SO SOMETHING -- AND JUST CAPPED WORKING AT IT, BECAUSE EACH ONE OF THOSE THINGS IF YOU THINK ABOUT STREETS, WE HAVE A 25-YEAR PLAN AND QUARTER-CENTURY PLAN AND TOOK FOUR YEARS TO GET IT GOING FROM THIS TIME THE FUNDING WAS REALIZED.

I AM PROUD.

AND THE DECISIONS I MADE AS MAYOR WERE ALWAYS ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY AND THEY WERE NEVER -- THEY WERE NEVER JUST ABOUT THE POLITICS.

AND I AM REALLY PROUD OF THAT, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE EASY TO MAKE POLITICAL DECISIONS AND THAT'S NOT THE WORK OF A MAY JOHN KERRY AND -- MAYOR AND I'M PROUD OF THAT.

>> IF YOU GO BACK AND REFLECT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN YOUR MIND?

>> DULUTH TODAY FEELS -- I FEEL A LOT OF PROGRESS.

I FEEL A LOT OF PRIDE ABOUT THE WORK WE HAVE DONE AS A COMMUNITY.

I CAN SEE, I CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO ARE LEADING RIGHT NOW IN THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE HAD TURNOVERS AND CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE HAD TURNOVER.

I KNOW THAT DOOR HAS BEEN BLOWN OPEN MUCH WIDER BECAUSE OF MY ABILITY TO LEAD BEING THE FIRST WOMAN IN THIS OFFICE.

I THINK WE HAVE AS OUR CITY HAS EVOLVED AND CHANGED, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO SEE THEMSELVES IN THIS COMMUNITY AND IN THIS VISION AND THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> AS FAR AS THE CITY ITSELF, DO YOU SEE DULUTH AS THE CITY ON THE RISE?

>> OH, YES.

I CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT A STRONG POSITION WE ARE IN.

WE ARE IN AN INCREDIBLE POSITION IN WITH OUR BOND RATING AND THE WAY WE HAVE MANAGED DEBT AND MOVING FORWARD.

THESE RECORD YEARS OF PERMITTING AND CONSTRUCTION AND THIS GROWTH AND BOONL OF ENTREPRENEURISM AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE, WE HAVE -- THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS ARE GOING TO BE AMAZING HERE.

YOU WILL SEE NEW UNITS OF HOUSING AND EXPANSIONS HAPPENING ALL BECAUSE OF THE WORK WE HAVE LAID DOWN AND INCREDIBLY BRIGHT DAYS ARE AHEAD FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND SO PROUD OF US, GRATEFUL AND EXCITED.

>> LOOKING AT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND YOU MENTIONED HOUSING IN YOUR ANSWER BUT THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES GOING FORWARD?

>> HOUSING IS A CHALLENGE AND WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS, 1700 BRAND NEW UNITS HAS BEEN KRE AID -- CREATED.

AND ONE OF THOSE CHALLENGES WE EMBRACED AND EMBARKED ON.

IT REALLY TAKES TIME TO PLAN TO BUILD OUT, TOWNHOMES, CONDOS, SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, YOU HAVE TO FACTOR IN THE COST OF TIME.

HOUSING WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND SEE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS ON THAT JUST IN THE NEXT 18 MOANTS BASED ON THE FORECASTING OF THE PROJECTS THAT WILL BE COMING FORWARD.

>> AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS FOR HIGHER INCOME PEOPLE BUT DOES THAT CREATE A DOMINOE AFFECT?

>> I BROUGHT ON A HOUSING DEVELOPING EXPERT AND THAT PERSON IS BASED IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON PURPOSE BECAUSE HOUSING IS BOTH.

HOUSING IS EXPANDING YOUR COMMUNITY AND EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

AND YOU WILL ONLY GET DID DONE WHAT YOU SET OUT EXPLICIT EXPLICITLY WHAT TO DO AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS TO BE FOR SENIORS AND COLLEGE DEBT-RIDDEN YOUNG PEOPLE AND FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

BUT THE TENSION AROUND AFFORDABILITY WILL BE IMPORTANT AND YOU ARE SEEING THIS NATIONALLY AND NOT UNIQUE TO DULUTH.

AND SO THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A NEED FOR THIS COMMUNITY FOR SURE.

>> WHAT'S NEXT TORE -- FOR YOU?

>> I'M GOING TO SPEND A FEW MONTHS FOR RESTING, WHICH I HAVE NEVER DONE.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING SING I'M 15.

MY GOAL IS TO REST AND REFLECT AND FEEL GRATITUDE AND START FORECASTING MYSELF.

BUT I AM REALLY GOING TO LOOK FORWARD TO LINGERING IN THE MOMENT OF BEING ABLE TO GET A FULL NIGHT'S SLEEP.

SPEND TIME WITH MY THREE OF FOUR PARENTS AND BE THE KIND OF FRIEND THAT MY FRIENDS THAT I WANT TO BE MY FRIENDS.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT HAVE TO GIVE IN THIS JOB AND I'M REALLY EAGER AND GRATEFUL THAT I CAN SHIFT THAT NOW AND BE MORE PRESENT TO SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS IN MY LIFE.

DENNIS: TIME NOW FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION" AND HEAR FROM A LOCAL JOURNALIST.

MARSHAL HELMBERGER.

♪ >> UNION CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A PLAN TO OFFER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFF AND NEW KEVLAR PADDLE AS PART OF THE NEW RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROGRAM.

LIKE MANY SMALL TOWNS HAVE STRUGGLED TO HIRE NEW POLICE OFFICERS AND KEEP THE ONES THEY HAVE WITH MANY BIGGER CITIES STRAPPED FOR OFFICERS AND PAY PACKAGES HAVE JUMPED AND MAKES IT HARD FOR SMALL TOWNS.

LOST THREE OFFICERS.

AND NOW THEY ARE TRYING THIS AS A WAY TO HIRE UNIQUE OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE IN HOPES IT WILL OFFER AN INCENTIVE THAT OTHER CITIES WON'T BE ABLE TO MATCH.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKED WITH THE LOCAL TOURIST BUREAU TO REDESIGN THE POLICE BADGES TO BE MORE REFLECTIVE.

THE NEW BADGES IS A LACK THEME, A SHORELINE, CAMP SITE TO HARKEN BACK TO THE PAST AS WELL.

WE ARE ALSO REPORTING ON THE GROWING CONCERN BY MANY DEAR HUNTERS BY THE DECLINE OF DEAR.

WE DID A DEEP DIVE IN NUMBERS AND OTHER RELATED TRENDS THAT MAY BE PLAYING A ROLE IN THE DEAR REGISTRATIONS IN OUR AREA.

WE FOUND THAT SEVERAL FACTORS ARE PLAYING A ROLE IN THAT TREND, 30% DROP IN THE NUMBER OF HUNTERS.

AT THE SAME TIME, CUT THE NUMBER OF ANTLER PERMITS IN OUR REGION WHICH LIMITS MORE HUNTERS TO BUCKS ONLY.

THE BIGGEST FACTOR IS SEVERITY OF WINTERS WHICH CORRELATES WITH THE RISE AND FALL OF THE RISE AND FALL OF DEAR POPULATIONS.

WE HAD A RECORDER POPULATION IN THE EARLY TO MID-2000'S.

THOSE PEAK NUMBERS COULD INSIDED WITH THE HIGHEST WOLF POPULATION, WHICH TOPPED OUT AT JUST UNDER 3,000.

IT STANDS TO REASON THAT ABUNDANT FOOD SOURCE IS GOOD FOR PREDATORS.

BACK THEN THE MANAGERS WERE WORRIED THAT THE DEAR POPULATION COULD GET OUT OF CONTROL.

RETURN OF REGULAR POPULATIONS AND BACK TO BACK SEVERE WEATHER WHERE WE HAD DEEP SNOW THAT LASTED UNTIL THE END OF APRIL.

IT IS A COMPLEX STORY AND ISSUE, BUT FOLKS LOOK FOR SIMPLE EXPLANATIONS.

FINALLY, R.V.

PARK HAS FACED CONSIDERABLE OPPOSITION AND NEED TO CONDUCT AN ENVIRONMENTAL WORK SHEET IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD.

IT APPEARED INITIALLY THAT THE PROPOSAL DID NOT NEED TOTAL CONDUCT AS PART OF THEIR REQUEST.

STATE LAW ALLOWS UP TO 50R.V.

PARK SITES ALONG SHORELINES EXCEPT IF THE SHORELINE IS CONSIDERED SENSIBLE.

THE PROPOSED R.V.

PARK IS ALONG MINER'S LAKE WHICH DOESN'T SHOW UP ALONG SENSITIVE SHORELINE BUT THE LAKE TIES STOCKED WITH TROUT AND CONSIDERED TO HAVE A SENSIBLE SHORELINE.

NOW THE PARK IS CALLING FOR THE CREATION OF ABOUT 25R.V.

SLOTS.

SO IT SEEMED AT FIRST THAT IT DIDN'T REQUIRE BUT IT TOOK EVERYONE SEVERAL MONTHS INCLUDING CITY OFFICIALS TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND IS IS SIGNIFICANTLY COMPLICATED THE PLAN OF THE DEVELOPERS.

THEIR PROPOSED THAT FELL INTO THIS USE.

LOCAL OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSAL HAS BEEN VEE HEALTH AND ANY ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENTS ON THE PROJECT WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL SPRING.

JULIE: THE TEMPERATURES FORECASTED TO BE DROPPING SOON, SOME FOLKS ARE HYBERNATING.

AND SUPERIOR PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS AN ACTIVITY TO GET THE FAMILY OUT OF THE HOUSE.

THE FUN TO LEARN ABOUT THE LEGO CLUB.

>> I THINK LEGOS HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME FOREVER.

I MEAN I HAVE PLAYED LEGOS AND MY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.

MANY DIFFERENT FORMS OF LEGOS.

BUT SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY YOU CAN MAKE ANYTHING.

>> LEGO CLUB IS ON MONDAY NIGHT FROM 4-6.

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ALL GATHER TOGETHER.

MEET OTHER PEOPLE AND MEET OTHER FAMILIES, SOCIALIZE.

THEY CAN USE THEIR IMAGINATION AND THAT IS ALL THE BIG RAGE RIGHT NOW AND KIDS LOVE TO DO.

AND SOMETHING FUN TO DO.

AND UNIQUE THING ABOUT OUR LEGO CLUB IS THE FACT -- IT IS A DROP-IN AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE AT A CERTAIN TIME, COME IN DURING THAT TIME AND JUST KIND OF DO WHAT YOU WANT.

WHEN THE KIDS COME, I HAVE A CHALLENGE READY FOR THEM TO DO.

OUR CHALLENGE WAS EITHER SNOWFLAKES OR ORNAMENTS.

AND THEY DID MOSTLY ORNAMENTS.

IT IS SOMETHING FUN TO DROP PEOPLE IN AND GET PEOPLE TOGETHER.

JULIE: SOMETIMES WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS, SOMETIMES THERE IS JUST ONE AND SOMETIMES IT IS GOING ON IN THE LIVES OF THE KIDS.

BUT IT IS A GREAT THING.

AND IT IS A REGULAR ACTIVITY AND ALWAYS KNOW THAT IT'S THERE AND SOMETHING WE CAN DO.

WINTER TIME, A LOT OF TIME, IT'S SOMETHING FUN FOR PARENTS TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.

IT'S A WARM PLACE.

THEY CAN COME IN AND PLAY FOR A WHILE AND I JUST THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO BE THEMSELVES AND HAVE THAT INDEPENDENCE AND DRAWING THEM INTO THE LIBRARY IS ANOTHER GREAT THING AND THEY GET THEIR TOYS AND BRACE THEM INTO THE LIBRARY MAYBE LOOK AND SAY, MAYBE, I CAN LOOK AT SOME BOOKS.

AND SEE WHAT ELSE THE LIBRARY HAS TO OFFER.

WE OFFER A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THROUGHOUT OUR MONTH.

NOT ONLY IN THE CHILDREN'S ROOM BUT THE ADULTS, TOO.

AND DRAW PEOPLE IN.

OUR LIBRARY HAS AN INNOVATION IN 2018.

AND WE LOVE IT.

WE LIKE TO GET PEOPLE IN.

I THINK LIBRARIES ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT PROVIDES A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO EXPAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND DON'T HAVE TO SPEND MONEY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE LIBRARY ALLOWS PEOPLE NOT TO SPEND MONEY TO LEARN, TO EDUCATE, TO ENJOY WORK.

I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO COME IN AND READ THIS BOOK.

DENNIS: BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK, WE WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT A SPECIAL ONE-HOUR ADDITION OF "ALMANAC NORTH."

JULIE ZENNER WILL BE RETIRING AND GREG GRELL WHO HAS BEEN THE PRODUCER SINCE IT WENT ON THE AIR WILL ALSO RETIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

NEXT WEEK, FAVORITE TOPICS OVER THOSE YEARS AND WATCH VINTAGE "ALMANAC NORTH" SEGMENTS AND WELCOME GUESTS AND HAVE A FEW SURPRISES.

JULIE: I WONDER WHAT SURPRISES GREG HAS DRUMMED UP.

I GUESS I BETTER SHOW UP.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND X.

KEEP AN EYE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES AND NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND DENNY, HARD TO BELIEVE OUR LAST SHOW TOGETHER IS GOING TO BE NEXT WEEK.

DENNIS: I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT NOW.

IT HAS BEEN A GREAT JOY.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER.

JULIE: FOR THE CREW, I'M JULIE ZENNER.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.