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

>> THE DULUTH 2023 SHIPPING BEGINS THIS WEEK!

WE'LL SPEAK WITH DULUTH SEAWAY PORT AUTHORITY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DEB DELUCA ABOUT ONE OF DULUTH'S BIGGEST INDUSTRIES.

>> THE MINNESOTA FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO THE NORTHLAND.

WE'LL SPEAK WITH ZIETGIEST'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TONY CUNEO,AND FESTIVAL PROGRAMER KELLY FLORENCE ABOUT WHAT MOVIE GOERS CAN EXPECT AT THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL!

>> AND WE'LL BRING YOU A STORY OF A SPECIAL DEDICATION FOR A NEW LOCAL SNOWMOBILE SHELTER IN ALBORN MINNESOTA.

>> THOSE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION, UP NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH!

HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

JULIE, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GETTING SMALL GLIMPSES OF SPRING THIS WEEK.

>> WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A GLIMPSE TO GET RID OF THE SNOW.

>> THAT SNOW IS HANG AROUND FOR A WHILE I THINK.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE WEEK'S HEADLINES: >> THANKS DENNY!

THE MINNESOTA HOUSE PASSED THE SO CALLED "REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM DEFENSE ACT" WITH A 68-62 VOTE THIS MONDAY.

THIS BILL INTENDS TO PROTECT PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS FROM LEGAL OR DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR ACTS INVOLVING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.

THE BILL NOW MOVES TO THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

>> THE SOLON SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTIFIED FAMILIES THIS WEEK THAT ALL IN PERSON CLASSES WOULD BE SWITCHING TO VIRTUAL LEARNING, THIS NEWS COMES AFTER SAGGING TRUSSES WERE SPOTTED ON SECTIONS OF THE SCHOOL'S LOWER ROOF.

PARENTS WERE ASKED TO COLLECT MATERIALS FOR GRADES PRE-K TO TWELFTH GRADES SO THAT VIRTUAL LEARNING COULD COMMENSE ON THURSDAY.

EXPERT SNOW REMOVAL BEGAN ON MONDAY.

NO WORD YET AS TO WHEN IN PERSON >> IT WILL RESUME ON MARCH 27.

>> THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION INVITES THE COMMUNITY TO JOIN IN A PUBLIC UPDATE MEETING ON THE TWIN PORTS INTERCHANGE PROJECT ON MONDAY MARCH 27TH.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY FROM TWELVE FIFTEEN TILL ONE P. M, AND IN PERSON FROM SIX TO SEVEN THIRTY P.M AT THE LINCOLN PARK COMMUNITY CENTER.

>> DULUTH CITY COUNCILOR JANET KENNEDY ANNOUNCED HER PLANS FOR RE-ELECTION IN DULUTH'S 5TH DISTRICT ON TUESDAY.

COUNCILOR KENNEDY HAS BEEN SERVING HER FIRST TERM ON THE DULUTH CITY COUNCIL AND IS CURRENTLY COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

>> THE 2023 GREAT LAKES-ST LAWRENCE SEAWAY SYSTEM NAVIGATION SEASON BEGINS IN FULL WITH THE SOO LOCKS' SCHEDULED OPENING TOMORROW.

HERE TO TALK WITH US ABOUT THE OPENING IS, DULUTH SEAWAY PORT AUTHORITY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DEB DELUCA!

WELCOME!

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> IT FEELS LIKE YOU WERE JUST HERE TALKING ABOUT THE END OF THE SEASON AND NOW IT IS STARTING.

THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME AT THE PORT.

>> IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING.

LAST YEAR THE SEASON STARTED SLOWLY WITH HEAVY ICE COVER.

MARITIME SHIPPING MOVEMENTS WERE IMPEDED.

THIS TIME WE HAVE ONLY 5% ICE COVER ON LAKE SUPERIOR.

>> HOW VITAL IS THE MARITIME INDUSTRY?

>> IT IS THE REASON WHY THE TWIN PORTS, IT'S WHY WE EXIST.

IT REPRESENTS $1.4 BILLION IN BUSINESS ACTIVITY AND 8000 JOBS IN THE REGION.

THAT IS JUST COUNTING THE MARITIME FREIGHT MOVEMENTS ACROSS THE DOCKS.

EVERYONE OF THOSE DOCS IS A ROAD AND RAIL AND SHIPPING COMES TOGETHER SO THAT'S NOT EVEN COUNTING THOSE MOVEMENTS.

>> A OR SERVICE FROM DULUTH TO BELGIUM THAT WILL CAN -- CARRY CONTAINERS.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> AS YOU RECALL, WE ADDED THE MARITIME CONTAINER CAPABILITY LAST YEAR.

A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DUTCH STEAMSHIP LINE THAT IS OFFERING THIS MONTHLY SERVICE.

THAT PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN GROWING FOR YEARS.

OUR AGENT DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB, VERY GOOD SERVICE WITH GREAT FREIGHT RELIABILITY.

WE ARE OFFERING THE ONCE MONTHLY SERVICE INTO AND OUT OF DULUTH THAT SERVICES CONTAINERS BUT ALSO THE GENERAL CARGO THAT WE ALWAYS SEE AT OUR TERMINAL.

THAT WILL SERVE AS A BROAD CATCHMENT AREA FOR ALL THE WAY OUT TO ALBERTA, WISCONSIN, OMAHA.

DENNIS: THE PORT AUTHORITY UNSENT MANAGES SEVERAL WATERFRONT PROPERTIES.

>> THE BIG ONE IS THE CLEAR PUBLIC MARINE TERMINAL.

IT IS ONLY PUBLIC TERMINAL IN THE PORT AND THE ONLY CARGO TERMINAL IN THE PORT.

PRIVATE COMPANIES CAN ACCESS THE DEEP SEA SHIPPING THAT IS OFFERED BY THE GREATLY SYSTEM.

JULIE: THERE IS A MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WRAPPING UP WITH 55,000 SQUARE FEET OF WAREHOUSE SPACE?

>> WHEN WE FINISH THAT LATER, WE WILL HAVE 500 SQUARE FEET -- 500,000 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE.

WE OPERATE THAT AS A MULTI-LOGISTICS HUB.

WE HAVE ALL THE TRANSPORTATION ACROSS THE TERMINAL AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE INDUSTRIES WE SERVE WE CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH THAT SUPPLY CHAIN OPTION OUT HE BETWEEN THE MARITIME CONTAINER, THE CONTAINER ON ROAD AND RAIL, RAILROADS, THE WAREHOUSE SPACE, IT MEANS GREAT OPTIONS FOR THE REGION AND THE IMPORT EXPORT CAPABILITY IS PROVIDED BY THOSE VARIOUS ROUTES.

DENNIS: I'VE NOTICED A NUMBER OF WHITE TRUCKS.

DO THEY COME IN OR ARE THEY GOING OUT?

PARKS THEY BELONG TO ONE OF OUR TENANTS.

AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRIAL RETAILER IN THE REGION.

THEY BUILD THE HOIST EQUIPMENT TICKETS PUT ON THOSE TRUCKS.

YOU ARE SEEING THE ONES THAT COME IN AND GO OUT.

THEY ARE VERY BUSY.

THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO HIRE ANYONE WHO IS LISTENING.

JULIE: LAST YEAR, CARGOES WERE DOWN.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT FOR THIS YEAR?

>> IT WAS AN OK YEAR FOR IRON OR.

THIS YEAR, THE JANUARY NUMBER WAS, THERE WAS AN UPTICK AT THE END OF THE SEASON.

THE MINES ARE FULLTILT.

IT WAS THE BIGGEST NUMBER FOR JANUARY THAT WE HAVE SEEN SINCE THE EARLY 2000.

I TALKED TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MINING ASSOCIATION AND THEY HAVE THE SAME MESSAGE.

WE ARE EXPECTING IRON ORE TO BE STRONG.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT GO IN.

WE HAD A VERY POOR -- -- LAST YEAR.

THE DOLLAR IS OFF ITS.

THERE'S A LOT OF ODD THINGS GOING ON IN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE.

RUSSIA JUST WENT BACKWARDS ON THE YOU DEAL THAT WOULD ALLOW UKRAINE TO SHIP THROUGH THE BALTIC SEA.

THAT HAS NOW REVERSED SO THAT MEANS THERE'S GOING TO BE LESS GRAIN COMING OUT OF THAT AREA.

IT MAKES OTHER ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

THAT WHEN IT'S HARD TO REACH CEMENT THERE SHOULD BE A GOOD YEAR THERE IS SO MUCH CONSTRUCTION, ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK GOING ON IN THE REGION AND THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

DENNIS: WILL WE SEE CRUISESHIP TRAFFIC AGAIN THIS YEAR?

>> YES LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR WE HAVE HAD CRUISING SINCE 2013.

VIKING MADE SEVEN STOPS LAST YEAR.

THE GOOD NEWS IS SOME OF THEM ARE WHAT WE CALL TURNAROUND STOPS.

THERE STARTING AND ENDING TRIPS.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

PEOPLE ARE FLYING INTO AND OUT OF DULUTH, STAYING THERE.

THAT'S A BIG ONE FOR DULUTH.

NOT ONLY VIKING, BUT TWO OTHER CRUISESHIP LINES COMING.

AFTER THIS YEAR, THEY WILL BE BACK AT THE DECK.

JULIE: THE DEADLINE TO ENTER THE FIRST SHIP CONTEST MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND TALKING ABOUT THIS.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

♪ DENNIS: IT'S TIME NOW FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION", WHEN WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT STORIES MAKING NEWS.

THIS WEEK OUR GUEST IS HEIDI HOLTAN, KAXE'S DIRECTOR OF CONTENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN GRAND RAPIDS MINNESOTA.

♪ >> WITH THE RISING COST OF INFLATION, GAS PRICES, AND LINGERING EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, FOOD SHELVES THROUGHOUT THE STATE ARE SEEING INCREASED USAGE.

AN ADVISORY GROUP ADVISES THAT ONE IN SIX STUDENTS FACE FOOD INSECURITY.

THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE FREE MEALS BILL INTO LAW MAKING MINNESOTA THE THIRD STATE IN THE NATION TO PROVIDE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH ALONG WITH MAINE AND CALIFORNIA.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT NORTH HARVEST FOOD BANK WAS RECENTLY IN OUR STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT THE MARCH CAMPAIGN.

IT LEVERAGES MORE FOOD FOR LOCAL FOOD SHELVES.

IT SAYS FOOD SHELVES AND SCHOOLS ARE NEEDED FOR THEIR WORK AS WELL.

>> THAT'S GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER FOR FAMILIES.

IT LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD AND AT -- EDUCATION.

WILL THEY BE ABLE TO GET BREAKFAST AND LUNCH?

IT'S A GREAT EQUALIZER AND IT SHOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR FAMILIES AND KIDS TO GET THE FOOD THEY NEEDED SCHOOL.

THAT IS ONE LESS THING FOLKS WILL HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

THEN THERE'S ALWAYS SUMMER.

FOR NOW, KIDS SHOULD START GETTING MEALS IN SCHOOL AND THAT'S A GREAT THING.

>> YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION ON MINNESOTA FOOD SHARE MARCH CAMPAIGN AT THE WEBSITE.

MINNESOTA'S STORYTELLER IS TOURING LIBRARIES IN NORTH-CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MINNESOTA NEXT WEEK.

HE TALKED WITH OUR STAFF LIBRARIAN ABOUT WHY HE TELL STORIES.

>> WHEN A KID COMES UP AND SAYS YOU'RE ALMOST AS GOOD AS MY GRANDMA, IT'S LIKE BOOM YOU NAILED THAT ONE.

THAT'S WHEN YOU KNOW YOU OWN.

I CAN ONLY HOPE TO CONJURE IN THEIR MINDS PEOPLE FROM THE PAST.

PEOPLE FROM THEIR LIVES.

IT'S WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO AS A STORYTELLER.

BRING TO LIFE PEOPLE'S MEMORIES.

>> WE CONTINUE TO COVER THE MUSIC SCENE IN THE STATE.

ALAN TALKED ABOUT LOSING HIS MUSICAL AND LIFE PARTNER IN THE MAGIC OF MUSIC.

>> I ALWAYS KNEW THAT WE WERE REALLY GOOD TEAM.

WE REALLY MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR EACH OTHER TO DO WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO.

IT'S DEFINITELY AN ADJUSTMENT.

THERE IS DEFINITELY STRENGTH THAT LINGERS ON FROM HER AND FROM WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO.

IT IS STRANGE TO ME THAT IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO FIND THIS WAY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE.

BECAUSE OF THAT, IT IS VERY CLOSE TO OUR CORE.

WE ARE VERY MUCH IN TOUCH WITH THE THINGS THAT ARE JOYFUL, THE THINGS THAT ARE SAID.

I HAVE BEEN VERY GRATEFUL WE HAVE A GREAT COMMUNITY HERE.

I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DO AND PEOPLE STILL LISTEN TO HER SAYING.

>> HE HAS BEEN A HUGE PART OF THE MINNESOTA MUSIC SCENE SINCE IT FIRST CAME ABOUT IN THE 90'S.

HE'LL BE PLAYING IN HIS SIDE PROJECT SATURDAY, MARCH 25 AT THE RIPPLE CENTER.

♪ DENNIS: WHAT WAS ONCE THE NORTH BY NORTH FILM FESTIVAL HAS RETURNED TO THE TWIN PORTS THIS YEAR AS THE MINNESOTA FILM FESTIVAL!

BUT THE NAME CHANGE ISN'T THE ONLY NEW THING MOVIE GOERS CAN EXPECT THIS YEAR.

HERE TO TALK WITH US ABOUT THE FILM FESTIVAL IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ZEITGEIST, TONY CUNEO, AND MINNESOTA FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAMMER KELLY FLORENCE.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE!

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

THE MINNESOTA FILM FESTIVAL FEATURES FILMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD HIGHLIGHTING INDEPENDENT FILMS.

FILMMAKERS AND FILMS THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE.

YOU WILL SEE FILMS THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE STORIES TO TELL DOCUMENTARIES, FEATURES AND SHORTS AND ALL SORTS OF WAYS.

DENNIS: HOW MANY ARE BEING SHOWN HERE?

>> LAST YEAR IT WAS CLOSE TO 80 FILMS.

THERE ARE FIVE FULL DAYS OF PROGRAMMING.

>> WHY THE NAME CHANGE?

WHY CHANGE THE NAME?

>> GETTING TO KNOW THE FILM SCENE AND NOT WANTING TO STEP ON TOES OF ANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND CARVE OUT A NAME THAT WAS SPECIFIC TO OUR WORK AND COULD SPEAK TO THE WHOLE NORTHERN REGION AND A WHOLE STATE.

JULIE: ARE THERE SPECIFIC TYPES OF FILMS OR CATEGORIES THAT MAKE THE FESTIVAL UNIQUE OR THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST?

>> SOMETHING THAT IS EXCITING ABOUT THE FILM FESTIVAL IS WE HAVE AN INDIGENOUS WALK.

THERE'S A BLOCK JUST FOR KIDS, IT IS VERY FAMILY-FRIENDLY.

IT'S NOT LIKE A FILM FESTIVAL THAT IS GENRE SPECIFIC.

IT IS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

>> HOW DOES FILM HELP CONNECT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD?

>> THIS YEAR THERE WERE CLOSE TO 200 FILMS SUBMITTED.

WE ARE BRINGING FILMMAKERS AND FOR MANY OF THOSE COUNTRIES.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SEE OUR REGION.

TO THINK ABOUT CRATING PROJECTS IN OUR REGION AND IT'S A WAY TO TELL OUR REGIONAL STORIES TO INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE.

IT IS REALLY ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT THIS FESTIVAL IS IT'S A UNIQUE MIX OF INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL FILMS.

REALLY IT'S A GREAT TOOL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> GREATER PUBLIC CAN ATTEND?

>> BADGES ARE ON SALE NOW.

YOU CAN TAKE BLOCKS FOR JUST CERTAIN SHOWINGS.

JULIE: WHERE THINGS BEING SHOWN AND HOW CAN THEY GET THE MOST OUT OF THAT BADGE?

>> ALL THE SHOWS ARE HAPPENING AT ZEITGEIST.

YOU CAN GET TICKETS ON THE ARTS WEBSITE.

YOU COME AND WE HAVE THE WHOLE SCHEDULE LINED UP ON THE WEBSITE.

AS KELLY MENTIONED, THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF TYPES SO CHECK OUT WHAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN.

WHAT IS EXTRA EXCITING IS THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THE FILMMAKER IS THERE FOR YOU TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH AFTER THE FILM WHICH IS SUCH A GREAT WAY TO SEE MOVIES.

>> MOST OF THE FILMS WILL HAVE Q&A AFTER.

I AM A HORROR WRITER SO I PROGRAM THE HORROR SHORTS WALK.

I THINK IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

DENNIS: WE WILL GET ALONG WELL.

JULIE: WHAT'S IT LIKE THAT EXCITEMENT OF BEING A FILMMAKER AND BEING ABLE TO SHARE YOUR WORK IN A THEATER WITH A LIVE AUDIENCE?

>> HEARING THE AUDIENCE REACT.

WHETHER IT BE A GASP OF FEAR OR LAUGHTER THE RIGHT MOMENT THEN GETTING TO HEAR THE QUESTIONS OF THE AUDIENCE SANG WHY DID YOU DO THAT AND GETTING THE IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK.

>> HOW IMPORTANT IS THE AUDIENCE REACTION?

>> FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE IT, IT'S EVERYTHING BECAUSE YOU'RE PUTTING OUT YOUR ART AND THAT YOUR BABY.

KNOWING THAT DIDN'T WORK AND CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

JULIE: HOW MUCH DOES THE INDUSTRY PAY ATTENTION TO FILM FESTIVALS LIKE THIS?

IS IT REALLY A LAUNCHING POINT FOR FILMMAKERS OR DOES THE BUS STAY IN THE COMMUNITY?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

FOR US IN DULUTH AND MINNESOTA, WHERE WE HAVE AN UPCOMING FILM ECONOMY, IT'S AN IMPORTANT STEP TO LEARN HOW YOU SUBMIT YOUR WORK, HOW YOU BECOME PART OF THAT CIRCUIT SO YOU CAN WHETHER YOU ARE SUBMITTING YOUR WORK OR YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM OTHER OFFICIALS HOW TO DO IT, INCREASINGLY THE FILM FESTIVAL WILL BE PART OF THAT FILM CIRCUIT THAT CREATES BUZZ FOR NEW FILMS.

LAST YEAR WE SAW A NUMBER OF FILMS THAT WE SHOW HERE SUBSEQUENTLY BE PICKED UP BY LARGE STUDIOS AND STREAMING SERVICES.

DENNIS: WHO SELECTS THE FILMS?

>> WE HAVE A GROUP OF PROGRAMMERS THAT WATCHES EVERYTHING THAT COMES IN AND SELECTS FROM THEM.

>> THE FESTIVAL STARTS ON WEDNESDAY.

TELL US ABOUT THE OPENING FILM.

>> IT IS WRITTEN BY A LOCAL AND IT STARS THE LATE BOB SAGET AND ALSO A COMEDIAN.

SHE WILL BE IN TOWN FOR THE PREMIER AND DOING A COMEDY SET THAT NIGHT.

JULIE: WHAT ABOUT OTHER FILMS THAT HAVE REAL LOCAL CONNECTIONS?

>> KELLY MENTIONED THE INDIGENOUS FILM BLOCK.

THAT INCLUDES FILMS BY LOCAL FILMMAKERS.

>> AN ENTIRE LAKE SUPERIOR BLOCK OF STORIES FOCUSING ON LAKE SUPERIOR.

LOTS OF LOCAL FILMMAKERS.

JULIE: THERE ARE STILL OPPORTUNITIES PEOPLE WANT TO GET INTO THE OPENING FILM.

STILL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE THE RESERVATIONS OR HOW DO THEY GO ABOUT DOING THAT?

JULIE: YOU CAN STILL MAKE RESERVATIONS, BUT THERE ARE VERY FEW TICKETS LEFT SO GO ONLINE.

>> THANK YOU BOTH.

>> OVER THE WEEKEND THE ALBORN SNO-DEVILS SNOWMOBILING CLUB UNVEILED THEIR NEWEST SHELTER WITH A VERY SPECIAL DEDICATION.

VIDEOGRAPHER OWEN ZAGRABELNY BRINGS US THIS REPORT.

♪ >> TODAY WE ARE MARKING OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SNOW DEVILS.

IT WAS FORMED IN 1972 AT THE TAVERN WHICH IS JUST BEHIND HERE.

THERE WERE EIGHT MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION.

WE STILL HAVE TWO CHARTER MEMBERS ACTIVE IN THE CLUB.

WE USED TO HAVE A GREAT TRAIL SYSTEM.

PEOPLE FROM HERE ARE OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS.

IT HAS EVOLVED OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS.

WE HAVE A SHELTER WE HAVE BUILT OVER THE LAST 6-8 MONTHS.

TO COMMEMORATE ONE OF OUR MEMBERS WHO WAS OUR FIRST SNOWMOBILE INSTRUCTOR.

WE ARE HERE TO COMMEMORATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH OUR NEW SHELTER THAT WE BUILT IN MEMORY OF DON.

HIS SONS IT WAS THEIR IDEA TO DO THIS.

THEY FUND RAISED ALL THE MONEY FOR THE SHELTER.

ALSO THE MATERIALS AND LABOR.

>> I THINK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT.

WE ARE STILL BURNING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY.

-- CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY.

THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY IT TURNED OUT TO BE.

IT IS THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY, LET'S DO SOMETHING SPECIAL.

HE FUND RAISED $9,000.

WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT HIM AND ALL THE PEOPLE HERE THAT WORK SO HARD.

OUR ORIGINAL SHELTERS, WE HAVE FOUR OR FIVE OF THEM IN THE SYSTEM.

THEY WERE SIMPLY A PLACE WHERE YOU COULD BUILD A FIRE AND GET OUT OF THE WIND.

YOU WILL SEE THEM TODAY.

THE PORCUPINES HAVE ATTACKED THEM AND EATEN THE SIDING.

THE IDEA OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF BUILDING A NEW SHELTER AND IT IS QUITE A NICE SHELTER.

WE HAVE A CAMPFIRE OUT FRONT, PEOPLE STOP BY.

WE GET PEOPLE TO JOIN THE CLUB.

IT HAS EVOLVED FROM THE EARLY DAYS.

WE PLAN TO BUILD MORE OF THE SHELTERS.

THEN YOU'RE GOING TO GO OUT, BRUSHED TRAILS, PUT SIGNS UP, DONNIE WAS THERE.

HE WAS OUR FIRST INSTRUCTOR HERE.

HE ALSO INSTRUCTED NEW SNOWMOBILE SAFETY.

HE WAS JUST A SOLDIER THAT WAS THERE FOR THE CLUB.

SOME YEARS WE HAVE UP TO 100 MEMBERS, BUT THERE ARE 25-30 THAT ARE ACTIVE, HARD-WORKING MEMBERS.

HE WAS ONE OF THOSE GUYS.

>> OUR DAD LOVED SNOWMOBILING.

HE WAS FRIENDS WITH EVERYBODY IN THE CLUB.

THIS WAS HIS WAY OF GETTING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS UP THERE SMILING.

HE HAD A BIG HEART.

EVERYBODY LIKED HIM IN THE COMMUNITY.

[APPLAUSE] DENNIS: YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALMANAC NORTH BY FOLLOWING US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

HEAD TO THE PBS NORTH WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES AND UPCOMING EVENTS.

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

JULIE, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL FINALLY HAVE SOME SUNSHINE THIS WEEKEND.

DENNIS: IT SHOULD BE A GOOD ONE TO GET OUTSIDE.

WITH JULIE ZENNER I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE, AND BE KIND!

♪