THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 23, Number 6 Thursday, February 15, 2007 Maritime Fest Slates ‘Full Boat’ Of Attractions by William F. Keefe The all-points invitation leaves no room for doubt. “Bring the entire family,” it reads, “to the Chicago Maritime Festival 2007, to be held at the Chicago History Museum on Saturday, February 24.” More specifi cally… Learn the history of Chicago’s lighthouses; enjoy a “bird’s-eye” view of the Chicago/ Calumet region ship- ping scene as viewed from the Chicago- WBBM “Chopper 780” catch up on the tragic/ inspiring story of Capt. Herman Schuenemann and his “Christmas Tree Ship,” and at some point study the intri- cate, delicate craft of building a model ship in a bottle. Enroute through the Chicago History Museum, Clark Street at North Avenue, polish your understanding of what goes into a Great Lakes weather forecast; admire the consummately skillful technique of diver/art- ist Michael Angelo Gagliardi; follow another diver’s explorations of shipwrecks, and lis- ten as a speaker tells how a special citizen group works to engage the public in the future of the Chicago River. Above all, don’t forget to bring the kids Old Town sailing dinghy. From the Chicago Maritime Society Collection. to the fi fth annual Chicago Maritime (Photo by Dan Kasberger) Festival that will begin at 10:00 total of fi ve individuals and groups will keep the a.m. and close temporarily at crowd enchanted, according to the festival’s 4:30 p.m. on February 24. The three sponsors: the Chicago Maritime Soci- festival’s evening concert will ety, the Chicago History Museum, and “Com- get under way at 7:00 p.m. mon times.” The fi ve evening “presenters” as sharp the same glorious day. sketched in advance: The lineup for the evening concert will offer a dazzling array of musical virtuosi. A Maritime Fest Continued on Page 2 THE Page 2 February 15, 2007 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.thebeacher.com/ PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by TM Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden 911 Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also Subscription Rates delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. 1 year $26 6 months $14 3 months $8 1 month $3 Maritime Fest Continued from Page 1 --The Bounding Main, “a costumed vocal group that sings richly harmonic versions of traditional maritime songs.” Returning in 2007 after stellar performances in early festivals, the group features men and women singers with as many as 30 years experience. The group’s second CD, “Lost at Sea,” has been critically acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic. Johnny Collins of London, England specializes in shanties, sea songs and maritime ballads. (Photo by Dan Kasberger) -- The Philippe Duo, consisting of Philippe Noirel, the singer with the huge voice, and Philippe Rouxel, the wizard with the swift hands on the button ac- cordion. The Duo specializes in Breton and purely French maritime music. “When the Philippe Duo performs, you are swept into the work songs, fore- castle tunes, and laments that will take you into the world of French sailors. -- Tom and Chris Kastle, who have performed at literally hundreds of venues, many local to the Chicago region while others are located in such Eu- The music and theater veterans who make up The Bounding Main vocal ropean countries as Poland, Norway, and Ireland. group are shown here performing a singing workshop at the 2006 Festi- val. (Photo by Dan Kasberger) The pair, boasting professional credits as both sing- ers and sailors, -- Jerry Bryant, a native of Maine, has performed have recently folk music on a wide range of usual and unusual returned from a instruments. Jerry’s repertoire ranges across both tour of New Zea- traditional and contemporary folk songs, with par- land. They have ticular emphasis on the music of the sea and sailors. been familiar fi g- His performances may include songs that he him- ures at tall ship self has composed as well as others published on his events around CDs. the Great Lakes- -- Johnny Collins, another repeat performer at -serving as hosts the Chicago Maritime Festival. The 2007 festival and/or perform- “welcomes Johnny back because of his vigorous ers. style and supreme ability to persuade audiences to join in choruses.” A resident of London, England, he ranks as an international performer specializing in the singing of chanties, sea songs, and maritime The traveling Kastles will ballads. He has for years been a favorite at mari- be on their home turf on February 24 when they time and folk fests in many parts of both England take part in the 2007 and the United States. Maritime Festival. THE February 15, 2007 Page 3 Seminars, Workshops, Exhibits The festival’s daytime schedule--beginning at Open ‘til 6 p.m. 10:00 a.m. and closing at 4:30 p.m.--is guaranteed Evenings to keep your eyes, ears, and camera busy. Not only will Kris Habermehl review the story of the Great Lakes shipping industry as it functions at the southern tip of Lake Michi- gan; the pilot of the famous www.littlehousefashions.comElegant Apparel for the helicopter, “Chopper 780,” [email protected] Conscious Woman will also show historic foot- Women’s Apparel age demonstrating how the region developed. Interested in a history Boss Is Away Sale seminar? Check the slate of events when you reach the History Museum for the Buy 1, Get 1 event titled “Shipwrecks at Pilot/reporter Kris Habermehl Death’s Door.” Historians Cris Kohl and Joan Forsberg will be doing the show- 1/2 Price ing and telling while revealing that “Death’s Door” (of equal or lesser value) refers to the “treacherous passageway between Lake Michigan and Green Bay.” With Kohl and Forsberg you’ll be able to dive (by proxy) on “the wrecks of the steamer Frank O’Connor and the scow Ocean Wave.” You’ll hear tales of lost shipwrecks awaiting discovery, then conduct searches (again by proxy) of “notorious Pi- lot Island hulks.” Moving on, a whole panoply of rare marvels awaits the visitor. Among them: -- Donald J. Terras, lighthouse keeper at Evan- ston, Illinois’s Grosse Point Lighthouse National Landmark, who will take audiences on a historical tour of the lighthouses that have guided ships into Chicago since 1832. -- Seagoing artist Eric Forsberg, who will exhibit and explain samples of his own marine art and the striking images that accrue to those who “go down to the sea in ships.” Having studied under the late Charles Vickery, Mr. Forsberg also prepped for life as a marine artist by living and working aboard sailing vessels. Maritime Fest Continued on Page 4 Parkhurst - Cotton Cable-Knit Pullover with White Trim- A softly feminine sweater with delicate allover cables. Generously sized so it layers comfortable, also looks great on its own. 100% cotton, dry clean. Sizes S-XL $64 Fall & Winter Clearance 50% off + 10% off Last Sale Price 409409 Alexander Alexander Street Street, LaPorte,LaPorte, IN IN 326-8602326-8602 On Hwy 35 - 5 Blocks South of Lincolnway TurnTurn Rightright on AlexanderAlexander Monday-FridayMonday - Friday 10 am 9:30 to 6 topm 7 Saturday Saturday 9:30 9:30 am to to 5 5 pm “Smuggler’s Dilemma” 30” x 40” oil painting by Eric Forsberg. THE Page 4 February 15, 2007 Maritime Fest Continued from Page 3 -- Amy Seeley, weather forecasting expert; Rochelle Pennington, talking about the original “Christmas Tree Ship;” Glenn Braun, specialty miniaturist who builds ships in bottles; artist Gagliardi, who will present a seminar on the linkage he has discovered between art and diving; and Ralph and John Frese, narrators of “voyages of adventure”--all are on the program. “Building ships in bottles calls for the ultimate in concentration,” says Something for Everybody Glenn Braun, model maker and expert on the “Art of Ship in a Bottle.” Like to be eclectic? The festival will give you the modern story of the “Christmas Tree Ship.” That chance to exercise your taste. yuletide program brings some 5,000 Yule trees to Jay Bonansinga, author of a book on the excur- Chicago annually for distribution to needy fami- sion steamer Eastland, which foundered in the Chi- lies. cago River in 1915, will discuss the “mythologizing” Also appealing to the kids will be the special pro- of the tragic event. Staff archivist Martin Touhy grams “Hands on Fun,” “Underwater Archeology,” will talk on “The National Archives in Chicago,” and Model Boat Building. stressing that that remarkable repository makes available what is reputed to be the nation’s largest collection of unique and original documents about Great Lakes maritime life and commerce. And there’s still more. Steve Georgas, new head of the Chicago Police Marine Unit, will describe the unit’s work. Phil von Voigtlander will lay bare the life-saving work of the Fox Island Lighthouse, near the northern head of Lake Michigan--isolated but essential. Remember Chicago’s lakefront? Bill Rossberger, historian and yachtsman, will review its history “from shoreline to landfi ll” while Jerry Thomas of the Chicago Maritime Society looks verbally at the city’s rich maritime heritage. Loyola University’s Ted Karamanski will describe the “daily life of a lakes mariner in the Age of Sail.” The contributions of the Friends of the Chicago River to the river’s present and future will come under the scrutiny of the group’s coordinator, Joni Kids’ activities include model ship building which they can take home.