Paul Lundgren Posts

Duluth 2012 Primary Election Results

Aug 14, 2012 No Comments

Here’s the statewide numbers for races relevant to Duluth.

United States Senator, Independence Party
Stephen Williams – 3,068 | 60%
Glen R. Anderson Menze – 2,074 | 40%

United States Senator, Republican Party
Kurt Bills – 63,380 | 51%
David Carlson – 43,850 | 35%
Bob Carney Jr. – 16,755 | 14%

United States Senator, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Amy Klobuchar – 183,702 | 91%
“Dick” Franson – 6,831 | 3%
Jack Edward Shepard – 6,638 | 3%
Darryl Stanton – 5,161 | 3%

United States Representative for Minnesota District 8, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Richard Nolan – 20,839 | 38%
Tarryl L. Clark – 17,540 | 32%
Jeff Anderson – 15,978 | 29%

Minnesota House District 7A, DFL Party
Thomas Huntley – 3,337 | 82%
Brandon Clokey – 756 | 18%

St. Louis County Commissioner, District 3
Chris Dahlberg – 1,658 | 55%
Debbie Isabell-Nelson – 1,188 | 40%
Dennis Szymialis – 160 | 5%

Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice:
Lorie Skjerven Gildea – 145,004 | 50%
Dan Griffith – 85,828 | 29%
Jill Clark – 61,242 | 21%

Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice 4:
David R. Stras – 139,197 | 49%
Tim Tingelstad – 83,942 | 29%
Alan Nelson – 61,908 | 22%


News and Current Affairs, Politics

Operating levy for Duluth schools in November? Well, actually no.

Aug 13, 2012 3 Comments

Superintendent Bill Gronseth’s remarks at the August 13 School Board Business Committee meeting:

As you know, I’ve served as Superintendent for about six months. In that time, I have spoken with many groups, organizations, families and citizens.

Recently, I had the opportunity to have a cup of coffee with one of our alums. He told me that he has been a long-time supporter of the schools, but during last year’s operating levy he didn’t feel he could vote “yes.” I asked him why. He explained that it was a loss of trust – he didn’t really understand what the money was for and was confused about the facilities plan and how that might be tied to money for programs.

Read More


News and Current Affairs

Skunk removal advice, anecodotes, etc.

Aug 06, 2012 40 Comments

So, apparently, if you see a skunk scurry under your porch and want to know when it has left, so that you can create a better barricade while its not in there, one method is to put a little flour near the escape and see if the skunk messes it up on its way out.

Unfortunately, if the skunk waits until you are asleep to make its nightly rounds of digging in garbage cans and whatnot, you have to figure in the morning that it’s back in there.

Read More


Recommendations

Onion A.V. Club in Hibbing

Aug 03, 2012 7 Comments

The Onion A.V. Club’s Sean O’Neal traveled to Hibbing for a video that soaks up the Bob Dylan experience for the series Pop Pilgrims. There’s a nice look inside the Hibbing High School Auditorium — Minnesota’s second-nicest high-school auditorium.

[This post originally linked to the video, which no longer exists on the Onion’s site.]


Music, Videos ,

Duluth Jalapeno Express: Closed

Aug 01, 2012 42 Comments

Walt Dizzo reports via Facebook today: “So bummed, best restaurant in town. RIP Jalapeno Express.”

Remember all the ranting and raving about the greatness of this place? What happened?


R.I.P., Restaurants

Duluth Album Releases in 2007

Jul 31, 2012 No Comments

Trampled by Turtles
Trouble
(March 19)
Available on iTunes

Low
Drums and Guns
Sub Pop Records (March 20)
Available on Bandcamp

The Hotel Coral Essex
Glisten
(April 27)
Available on Bandcamp

Read More


History, Music ,

Video Archive: Robert Bly in 1976, interpreting Rumi’s poem “Feeling and Thinking”

Jul 30, 2012 10 Comments

This is an excerpt of the short film “From the Museroom: A Sampler of Minnesota Poets,” shot during a Poetry Collective benefit at the Firehouse in Minneapolis, Minn.

“Feeling and Thinking” by Rumi

Someone struck Zayd a hard blow from behind. He was about to retaliate, when his assailant cried, “Let me ask you a question: first answer it, then strike me. I struck the nape of your neck, and there was the sound of a slap. Now I ask you in a friendly way — ‘Was the sound caused by my hand or by your neck, O pride of the noble?'”

Zayd said, “The pain I am suffering leaves me no time to reflect on this problem. Ponder it yourself: he who feels the pain cannot think of things like this.”


Art, Videos , ,

Minnesota Flood 2012: Is that the best name we’ve come up with for it?

Jul 27, 2012 15 Comments

It seems to me the best local storm names tend to be tied to a holiday or otherwise significant date:

Leap Day Snowmageddon 2012
The Geek Prom Blizzard of 2008
The Halloween Megastorm of 1991
The Great Thanksgiving Blizzard of 1983

Following that tradition, our recent flood would be the Summer Solstice Flood of 2012. But I haven’t heard anyone call it that, and it’s been over a month.

What are you calling it? Any good ideas? Maybe if we come up with a good one there will be more federal relief money sent our way, so perhaps we should work the word “disaster” in.


News and Current Affairs ,

The Flame Nightclub, Duluth version

Jul 25, 2012 9 Comments

The new Flame Nightclub at 26 N. First Ave. W. in Downtown Duluth opens on July 29.


News and Current Affairs

Trampled by Hippies

Jul 24, 2012 1 Comment

Bruce Woodman had the fanciest shirt in West Duluth this morning.


Music

Henry Brick

Jul 23, 2012 3 Comments

Since the subject of Henry Brick came up in the “Bring back the bricks!” post, I thought I’d offer some background by way of a retrospective article I wrote 15 years ago for the Budgeteer News.

The man who saved downtown
By Paul Lundgren
Budgeteer News
June 1, 1997

The bricking of Downtown Duluth’s First Street in 1984 created traffic problems, parking hassles and unpleasant noise and dust. Retail shoppers took their money elsewhere. Superior Street was next on the bricking list in the summer of ’85, and business owners feared the effect on business would be similarly disastrous.

Then came Mr. Henry R. Brick, clad in overalls, flannel shirt, black bowtie, hard hat and horn-rimmed glasses. He starred in 38 television commercials that summer, encouraging shoppers to “come on down and jaywalk” through torn up Superior Street. They did.

Henry Brick quickly became one of the most highly recognized people in Duluth. When the construction was finally completed and the future of downtown secure, he disappeared – like any superhero would.

Read More


History

Duluth National Citizen Survey 2012

Jul 20, 2012 1 Comment

The results of the Duluth National Citizen Survey are now available. Click here to open the PDF.

The report provides the opinions of a representative sample of residents about community quality of life, service delivery, civic participation and unique issues of local interest.

  • 78 percent of respondents felt the quality of life in Duluth was “excellent” or “good.”
  • 56 percent of respondents felt Duluth was headed in the right direction.
  • 72 percent rated Duluth’s image or reputation as “excellent” or “good.”

Uncategorized

Great Lakes Warriors

Jul 12, 2012 3 Comments

[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source. The premiere episode of Great Lakes Warriors can be viewed on Vimeo.]

The new deckhand always gets the worst jobs. At Heritage Marine in Duluth, Captain Mike Ojard gives newbie Brandon one of the more unpleasant assignments — clean up the over-full debris pan from the Incinolet, an electric marine toilet.

This clip is from the History Channel show Great Lakes Warriors, which premieres July 19 at 9 p.m.

The adventures of two of Heritage’s boats — The Nels J. and the Helen — are featured prominently in the show.


Videos

Duluth SoundCloud Sampler 2

Jul 11, 2012 2 Comments

Spilled Milk — “The Real Jersey Shore (Summertime)” (New Teague Alexy project.)

Jaze with Big Jess and Bliss – “Lazy Afternoon”

While I recharge my speaker batteries, maybe you have some suggested listening you can mention/embed in the comments.


Music

7 West Tap House

Jul 11, 2012 36 Comments

old-ragstock-duluth

Apparently the old Ragstock location at 7 W. Superior St. is going to be transformed into a bar. Consider this a “before” shot.


Restaurants ,