Vote ELISE

Over the past several months, I have been involved with the Half-Hour Hero Program as an ambassador helping to promote and encourage participation in the program by our citizens. Today, I attended the HHH meeting in conjunction with the Duluth Community Leaders organization led by Chip Sweeney as we discussed more strategies for getting the word out.

This is a great opportunity for Duluth citizens to have a positive influence on our children. For one-half hour a week, Half Hour Heroes meet one-on-one with a child to mentor, tutor, and/or to be a friend them. For more information about how to become a Half Hour Hero, contact the school closest to you.

After several hours of campaigning, I was off to the First Friday Art Walk by the Duluth Fine Arts League. The crown jewel of this event was the captivating and creative performance art of Kerry Jackson (sponsored by the Huthmakers), climaxed by his live paintings performed to the rhythm of background music.

With the combination of music, art, food, and fellowship, this evening proved to be inspiring and refreshing. (More Duluth Fine Arts League photos can be found here.)

[Pictured above: Kerry Jackson performing art to music. Below: Elise interviewed at the October First Friday Art Walk.]

Today I attended the first meeting of the second annual City of Duluth L.E.A.D. (Learn, Engage, Advance Duluth) program spearheaded by Council member Marsha Anderson Bomar and led by Alisa Williams.

I am a graduate of the City of Duluth LEAD 2008 program. Because I believe this program to be a vital part of educating citizens regarding city government operations and processes and a catalyst for citizen engagement, I became one of the major sponsors of this program for the 2009 LEAD participants. (more…)

After several weeks of planning and preparation, the Big MAC (Mayor’s Advisory Committee) 2008-2009 Alumnus group reformed and met at Steverino’s to discuss how we, as a group, want to engage Duluth regarding issues and challenges facing us today. Several constructive ideas surfaced, and so we are off to a great start.

The planning and preparation committee consisted of Janet Tidwell, Janice Polack, Mayor Harris, and myself; others who joined or participated the first inaugural meeting tonight were Chuck Mason, Robin Gail Sessions, Harry Andrews, and Rob McQueary.

A few topics discussed included signage at new intersection of Pleasant Hill and Buford Hwy.; downtown traffic and road realignment; the Buford Hwy. corridor; and Old City Hall block. The group concluded that we needed more information and that attending City Council meetings would be a good place to start.

Thank you, Steverino’s, for graciously providing the space for our Big MAC Alumnus group.

I spent a productive day of meetings with various Duluth citizens who expressed enthusiasm and support for the “VOTE ELISE” campaign—thank you for standing strong with me in preserving and advancing core values of faith, family, and flag.

Today, I had several meetings with campaign volunteers to finalize a few strategies, and then I was off to the Duluth Fall Festival Sponsors and Volunteer Taste of Duluth dinner. There I sampled gourmet treats and chatted with Senator David Shafer, Mayor Nancy Harris, a few council members, fall festival sponsors and volunteers, and chilled with Miss Cindy and her mom. This city likes to have a good time and it is great to be a part.

Today I was attending to business at Albion Farm HOA meeting, and then off to the Duluth Fine Arts League Forum moderated by Wallace Reid and held at the Duluth Gallery. League members had an opportunity to ask questions of Council Member Marsha Anderson-Bomar and the three candidates for City Council Post 3, which is the post for which I am running.

Tuesday was a full day of community, individual and board meetings; beginning with Civitan and ending with the Downtown Development Authority meeting at Duluth City Hall… with campaign planning meetings mixed in between.

Chocolate Perks always makes a great business meeting place, and a place to chill out and take a brief mocha break as one enjoys the stained-glass artwork of Hardeman Fine Art Glass of Duluth (just a few doors up on historic Main Street).

From September 11 through September 20, Huthmaker Violins Shop of Duluth hosted a French Violin Exhibit which featured eight French luthiers or stringed instrument makers and bow makers.  The event launched Saturday morning via a concert by the Duluth High School Orchestra followed by a Saturday night concert whereby Duluth’s local violinists and cellists gave a stellar performance.

Elise had the privilege of meeting Hans Nebel, a French violinmaker, and his lovely wife, Inge. She looks forward to other history-making events such as this that will continue to advance the City of Duluth as a Fine Arts Destination City.

“I have a great appreciation of the fine arts today because during the late 1960’s I was exposed to the fine arts talent of my immediate family at an early age,” said Elise. ”Mom was a violinist and artist (oil paintings), and my brother was an aspiring classical pianist– then there was my father’s love for country music; so you might say I had the best of both worlds—classical and country. When I heard about the French Violin Exhibit, I knew this was one event I did not want to miss.”