News & Articles

Build your own Glensheen
Now that we are beginning to deplete the good snacks, we already have put together a puzzle, and watched every episode in the latest series… twice… We have a new quarantine activity for you!
Glensheen is hosting a Build a Glensheen contest.
Between April 27 and May 4, take your best shot at building Glensheen with whatever materials you have at home. You could use legos, blocks, jelly beans, cardboard, you name it!
You can officially submit your Glensheen by sharing a photo of you and your creation in addition to a short story about your building process by sending an email to info@glensheen.org or commenting on the Glensheen Facebook page.
Voting will be held to determine various awards: Most Accurate, Most Creative, etc. The winners will receive a free specialty tour of their choosing of Glensheen and an overnight stay at The Inn on Lake Superior.
The contest is open to all ages. Let the building begin!

Preserving COVID-19 experiences
As the COVID-19 pandemic rages, the St. Louis County Historical Society is committed to saving today’s history for tomorrow’s generations.
“A year from now, are we going to remember what it felt like to be afraid of touching door handles or grocery store carts?” asked Charley Langowski, the SLCHS curator. “We must save the stories of how our lives changed and how we adapted. Future generations will want to know.”

The historical society is encouraging people to think about how COVID-19 has directly affected their lives and what artifacts will help tell their story. Possible artifacts include diaries, mask patterns, recipes for homemade hand sanitizers, distance-learning lesson plans, social distancing signs, quarantine crafts and more.

Since those items are still in use, the SLCHS is not accepting artifact donations at this time. However, Langowski urged people to start thinking about the types of items they would want to show their family members 50 or 100 years from now.
“Any donation we accept (in the future) must include provenance – why it was important, how it was used and what part of life it reflected,” Langowski said. “That can only be defined by thinking about our lives and the ways they have changed.”

The following questions will help people determine which artifacts can help tell their personal story:
• How has this pandemic affected you and your family?
• Are you social distancing? If not, why not?
• What movies, books or music are you enjoying? Are you binge-watching?
• Are you cooking more? Have you discovered any new recipes?
• How have business closings affected you?
• Are you working from home now? Or are you searching for a job?
• How are your children dealing with distance learning and uncertainties?
• Do you have a front-line or essential worker in your family? How has that affected your family?

People are sharing their COVID-19 stories and photos on social media. Those posts can be shared with the SLCHS in three ways:
• Tag the society by adding @thehistorypeople
• Email Langowski at charlene@thehistorypeople.org
• Mail items to St. Louis County Historical Society, 506 W. Michigan St. #9, Duluth, MN, 55802
To learn about SLCHS, visit thehistorypeople.org and facebook.com/stlouiscountyhistoricalsociety.

Tool promotes safe workplaces
One of the most important aspects of workplace safety during a pandemic is effective health screening of employees. That’s why in Executive Order 20-40, the Governor requires all non-critical businesses coming back into workplace environments to engage in proper health screenings each day.

The MN Symptom Screener is a new web-based tool that allows businesses to enter non-personal health information to help make a determination about someone entering their facility. MN Symptom Screener uses a few simple questions and also provides the option to record a daily temperature.

By aggregating and synthesizing this anonymous data, the MN Symptom Screener tool provides organizations with a daily snapshot of the health indicators of people about to enter the workplace. And, through this unique partnership, we are making the tool available at no cost to businesses and organizations statewide.

Businesses and organizations need to register online to be able to use the tool. Designate a Gmail (Google Email) account for using the tool and get started at minnesotasafetycouncil.org.

If you are a business or organization interested in using the MN Symptom Screener, please visit mnsymptomscreener.minnesotasafetycouncil.org.

Crisis Lines
Safe Haven 24/7 Crisis Line:
218-728-6481
Arrowhead Region Crisis Line:
218-723-0099
Douglas County Crisis Hotline:
715-392-8216
Fond du Lac Crisis Line:
218-655-3669 or 218-655-3668
Minnesota Warmline: Adults needing support can talk to a specialist who has firsthand experience living with a mental health condition. 651-288-0400
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255)
North St. Louis County: LetsTALKMN.com 218-288-2100
South St. Louis County: LetsTalkMN.com 218-623-1800
Peer Support Connection: 844-739-6369 (5 p.m. to 9 a.m.)
Program for the Aid of Victims of Sexual Assault (PAVSA): 218-726-1931

Duluth Transit Authority
All rides are free in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Please limit bus travel to essential trips during this time. Reducing the number of passengers on each trip can help reduce the spread of illness.
The last trips of the evening Monday through Saturday are just after 9 p.m., leaving downtown. The last trips of the evening on Sunday are just after 7 p.m. also from downtown.
A shuttle runs 10:10 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. each day, including Sunday, departing Miller Hill Super One for Menards and Walmart at :10 and :30 past each hour.
Go to duluthtransit.com or call 218-722-7283.

Finances
If you need assistance finding food, paying housing bills or other essential services, dial the United Way Helpline at 211. (In Minnesota you may also dial 800-543-7709 and in Wisconsin 877-947-2211.)

Food
AEOA food shelves (St. Louis County): 800-662-5711
Damiano Center, 206 W. Fourth St., provides free bagged meals in the parking lot Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday for:
Continental breakfast 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Dinner 5-6 p.m. (Fri., Sat., Sun. only)
Kids’ Kitchen, 2nd Ave. W. entrance, serves boxed meals Mon-Thurs 3-6 p.m.
Damianocenter.org
Duluth Public Schools serve free carry-out lunch and breakfast for Duluth students age 18 and younger, 10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays through May 4. Other meal hubs are served 10-11 a.m. For updates, times and locations see Isd709.org or call 218-336-8700.
Burrito Union, 1332 E. 4th St., offers free kids lunch Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donations may be sent to Burrito Union, c/o #FeedTheKids, 1332 E. 4th St., Duluth MN 55805.
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank (NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin): 218-727-5653
Superior Public Schools has a mobile service that provides breakfast and lunch at various locations (Superior High School, SuperOne, WalMart, Park Place and more) weekdays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For times and locations go to superior.k12.wi.us or call 715-394-8707.
Union Gospel Mission, 219 E. First St., Duluth, serves curbside lunches Tuesday and Thursday 12-12:30 p.m. Dinners served Sunday through Friday 4:30-5:15 p.m.
Wisconsin: access.wi.gov

Health care
If you need health insurance visit mnsure.org or call 855-366-7873. In Wisconsin visit access.wi.gov or your county health and human services. (Douglas County 715-395-1304)
Essentia Health: essentiahealth.org, 855-469-6532Build

Lake Superior Community Health Center, lschc.org
Duluth: 218-722-1497
Superior: 715-392-1955
St. Luke’s: slhduluth.com,
218-249-5555
Wisconsin State Health Dept.:
608-258-0099

Housing
St. Louis County Southern Triage Team: 218-733-2717
Northern St. Louis County Triage Team: 218-471-7391
Illegal evictions during crisis:
HOME Line Tenant Hotline:
612-728-5767
Legal Action of Wisconsin:
855-947-2529
MN housing question hotlines:
For single-family residences:
651-296-8215
For multi-family residences:
651-297-4455

Jobs
CareerForce Duluth: 218-302-8400
Northwest Wisconsin Job Center:
715-392-7800
Minnesota hotlines
Health questions: 800-657-3903
School and childcare questions:
800-657-3504
Discrimination Helpline:
833-454-0148
Report a concern about the stay at home order: 651-793-3746
Minnesota Responds
Partnership that engages volunteer programs to strengthen public health, preparedness and recovery. Become a qualified volunteer by completing online orientation. mnresponds.org
Northlanders in need of help
during Corona Crisis
Facebook group to lend a hand in the Duluth/Superior area.

Seniors
Age Well Arrowhead delivers groceries to seniors and needs volunteers to make the deliveries. Students home from school also wanted to make check-in phone calls to seniors and make cards that can be delivered with the groceries. 218-623-7800.
Douglas County Aging & Disability Resource Center: 715-395-1234.
Senior Linkage Line (800-333-2433) is a free service for Minnesotans that can help adults 60 and older find answers questions and locate services.
Twin Ports Mask Brigade
Collecting donations of unused masks for doctors and nurses. twinportsmaskbrigade.com

Unemployment
Looking for information? Find it at the Department of Employment and Economic Development website mn.gov/deed, and sign up at uimn.org or call 651-296-6141.
Information about Wisconsin Unemployment may be found at dwd.wisconsin.gov or call 608-266-3131.

Veterans
Any veteran who has been financially hurt by COVID-19 can apply for a special needs grant through their local County Veteran Service Office.
Duluth: 218-725-5285
Ely: 218-365-8203
Hibbing: 218-262-6090
Virginia: 218-749-7110

Vikre Distillery
Vikre Distillery, 525 S Lake Ave. in Canal Park, is giving away free organic hand sanitizer 12-5 p.m. weekdays. Bring your own 16 oz. container, one per person. For larger requests, email info@Vikre.com. Check their Facebook page for updates or call 218-481-7401. A GoFundMe page has been set up to take donations. (Go to gofundme.com and search for Vikre Distillery.)

Sutherland CBD & Dr. Juice USA
Sutherland CBD and Dr. Juice USA, both on Tower Avenue in Superior, are now offering handmade hand sanitizer.
While they are selling the four-ounce bottles at cost (about $3) all sales go back into production so any financial or ingredient donations are welcome. You can call, or order online for pickup. Contact Dr. Juice at 715-718-0912 and Sutherland CBD at 715-718-8050.

Arts
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council resources for artists: aracouncil.org/covid19-resources
Indy Music Livestream Concert Clearinghouse: Facebook page to connect independent musicians with audiences in search of livestream concerts.
Livestream Cover Challenge: Facebook page in which musicians challenge fellow musicians to learn and stream cover songs.
Quarentunes: Facebook page for live music shows during the quarantine.
Virtual Duluth: A place to post all the upcoming virtual events.

To submit entries to this list, please email info@readerduluth.com.