♪ MAARJA: ALMANAC NORTH.

I'M MAARJA HEWITT.

BRETT: AND I'M BRETT SCOTT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TONIGHT, WE'RE SITTING DOWH A COUNTY COMMISSIONER TO DS THEIR ROLE IN LOCAL GOVERN.

MAARJA: WE'RE ALSO CHECKINT A FEW LOCAL ARTISTS AND MAS IN OUR REGION.

BRETT: LOCKS COMING UP, BUT FIRST.

NINE NATIVE AMERICAN INDIVS HAVE BEEN AWARDED NEARLY $0 IN MAADA'OOKIING GRANTS FRE NORTHLAND FOUNDATION TO SUT CULTURAL PROJECTS ACROSS NORTHEAST MINNESOTA.

THE PROGRAM, LED BY A NATIE ADVISORY BOARD, FUNDS INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHEN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE, ARTS,D TRADITIONS.

RECENT GRANTEES ARE CREATIG OJIBWE LANGUAGE MATERIALS, TEACHING TRADITIONAL CRAFTE MOCCASIN AND RIBBON SKIRT-MAKING, AND PROMOTING CULTURAL EDUCATION IN SCHO.

THE NEXT DEADLINE TO APPLYS MAY 28, 2025.

LEARN MORE AT NORTHLANDFDN.

MAARJA: STARTING MAY 5, MNT LL BEGIN WORK ON HIGHWAY 6O UPGRADE LIGHTING IN THE LAFAYETTE BLUFF AND SILVERF TUNNELS.

EXPECT SINGLE-LANE TRAFFIC MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, CONTROLLED BY SIGNALS, WITO CLOSURES ON WEEKENDS.

WORK BEGINS AT THE LAFAYETE TUNNEL AND WILL LAST THROUH MID-NOVEMBER.

DRIVERS ARE URGED TO SLOW , STAY ALERT, AND FOLLOW WORE SAFETY GUIDELINES.

FOR UPDATES AND MAPS, VISIT MNDOT.GOV.

NEXT WE'LL SEND YOU OVER TO DENNY'S DESK WITH DENNY ANDERSON.

DENNIS: I'M DENNIS ANDERSOD THIS IS DENNY'S DESK.

NOW THAT MAY HAS ARRIVED, E ACROSS OUR REGION ARE HEADG BACK OUTDOORS.

THE TRAILS ARE DRYING OUT,S ARE GOING IN, AND THE GRASS GREENER EVERY DAY.

IT'S A WELCOME RETURN TO TE NATURAL SPACES THAT MAKE TE NORTHLAND SO SPECIAL.

BUT AS WE ENJOY THAT RETUR, IT'S WORTH ASKING: WHAT ARE DOING TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PLACES?

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP T JUST FOR CONSERVATION GROUR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY WE AL SHARE.

IT'S THE SIMPLE SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES LIKE PICKP AFTER YOURSELF AT A CAMPSI, PROPERLY DISPOSING OF YARD WASTE, OR PROPERLY DRAININR BOAT AFTER A DAY ON YOUR FAVORITE LAKE.

IT MEANS THINKING ABOUT WHE LEAVE BEHIND WHEN WE USE PC LAND WATER.

RIGHT NOW, LOCAL AND STATE AGENCIES ARE ALREADY PREPAG FOR ANOTHER BUSY SEASON.

THAT INCLUDES CLEARING DEBS FROM TRAILS, MONITORING WAR QUALITY, AND DEALING WITH E GROWING IMPACTS OF CLIMATE STRESS ON OUR ECOSYSTEMS.

THEY'RE DOING THEIR PART.

WE SHOULD TOO.

IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, WE'E BUILT A CULTURE AROUND THE OUTDOORS.

MANY OF US ENJOY HUNTING, FISHING, HIKING, CAMPING.

BUT THAT ACCESS COMES WITH RESPONSIBILITY.

THE WOODS AND WATERS CAN'TK FOR THEMSELVES.

STEWARDSHIP ISN'T ALWAYS AMOROUS, BUT IT'S HOW WE PROTECT THE NORTHLAND FOR E NEXT GENERATION.

SO AS YOU GET OUTSIDE THIS SPRING, ENJOY IT.

BUT TAKE A MOMENT TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK.

BECAUSE THE LONG-TERM HEALF OUR ENVIRONMENT DEPENDS ONE CHOICES WE MAKE.

THIS HAS BEEN DENNY'S DESK.

BACK TO YOU, MAARJA.

MAARJA: THANK YOU, DENNY.

ON THIS WEEK'S “MAKING IT P NORTH”, OUR TEAM JOINED UPH LAKE SUPERIOR ART GLASS TOE WHAT GOES INTO THE ART OF S BLOWING AND WHAT MAKES IT A SPECIAL ART FORM.

>> I AM THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT LAKE SUPERIOT GLASS MINNESOTAIN -- GLASN MINNESOTA.

WE SPECIALIZE IN BOTH STOCK GLASS AND HIGH GLASS.

YOU CAN TAKE CLASSES MAKING SILICATE GLASS PRODUCTS.

STOCK GLASS IS WHAT YOU TRADITIONALLY THINK OF WITH GLASSBLOWING, MOLTEN GLASSA CRUCIBLE THAT YOU SCULPT.

SILICATE GLASS IS MORE THOT OF AS PYREX GLASS.

YOU MELT IT OVER A TORCH AD SCULPT IT AND SHAPE IT.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ARTFORM IS IT IO TIMELY.

WHEN I'M WORKING WITH AN OL PAINTER, THEY PAINSTAKINGLK OVER MONTHS AND YEARS ON A SINGLE PIECE TO GET IT COM.

IN CLASS, YOU DON'T HAVE TT LUXURY.

ONCE YOU START, YOU HAVE TO FINISH.

IT IS INTENSE BUT INCREDIBY CALMING BECAUSE YOU CANNOTE OUT OF CONTROL ONCE YOU DO.

THIS REAL SENSE OF TIME ANH TELL IT THE THAT YOU DON'TT IN A LOT OF OTHER ART FORM.

THIS IS FOR EVERYBODY.

ERYBODY LOVES TO DO THIS.

I THINK THERE IS A PARTIC GROUP AMONG THE DIY-ERS, TE WHO ENJOY SCULPTING, JEWELY MAKING.

I HAVE A LOT OF JEWELRY MAS THAT COME HERE.

AFTER YOU HAVE TAKEN ENOUGH BEGINNER CLASSES WITH US, E OFFER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED CLASSES.

YOU CAN FOLLOW THAT PASSIOS FAR AS YOU WANT TO GO.

WE HAVE BEEN BLOWING GLASSS HUMANS FOR THOUSANDS OF YE.

IT'SOT UNTIL THE LAST FEW HUNDRED YEARS THAT IT HAS E BEAUTIFUL IN ADDITION TO TE IN FUNCTIONAL.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVES OPPORTUNITY IS WE HAVE THIS LIKE MOLDS AVAILABLE TO US.

NOT THAT WE USE MANY HERE,T IN THE GLASS WORLD THAT WAA HUGE STEP FORWARD, BEING AO HUGE STEP FORWARD, BEING A.

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION CHANGED HOW WE USE GLASS.

THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION CHANGES WITH GLASS, HOW WEE IT IN SCIENTIFIC WAYS, IN ENGINEERING.

YOUR FIBER-OPTIC CABLE IS .

THE WORLD OF GLASS HAS EXPD A LOT, EVEN THOUGH MOST OFE TECHNIQUES ARE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD.

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH AT TORCH WORK AND LAMPWORK.

THAT IS WHAT WE DO THIS ST. THAT IS HOW THOSE MARBLES E MADE, FOR INSTANCE.

IT IS NOT AS ANCIENT, BUT S STILL A FASCINATING TECHNI.

IT'S STILL GLASSBLOWING.

THAT IS ANOTHER MISNOMER.

PEOPLE ELIEVED TO BE A GLAS BLOWER YOU HAVE TO LITERALY BLOW THE CLASS.

NOT ACCURATE.

YOU CAN NEVER BLOW INTO A E OF GLASS, BUT YOU ARE SCOPO GET AND YOU ARE A GLASS BLR -- YOU ARE SCULPTING IT ANU ARE A GLASS BLOWER.

A LOT OF UNIVERSITIES HAVE STOPPED TEACHING GLASSBLOW.

IT IS BECOMING MORE DIFFICO FIND PROFESSIONAL GLASSBLOG ARTIST AS A RESULT -- ART S A RESULT.

PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ARE KEEG IT ALIVE.

WE ARE NOT JUST HERE IN CAL PARK AS A TOURIST SPOT, WEE ALSO A TEACHING SPOT TO KEP THIS ARTFORM ALIVE.

MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT STUS THAT TAKE CLASS WITH US ISE ONES THAT KEEP COMING BACKR AND OVER AND DEVELOP THEIRN STYLE AND THEY JUST CAN'T .

I'VE GOT A FEW WHO COME AND THEY WERE LIKE, THAT'S TERY AGAIN.

[LAUGHTER] THEY ARE MAKING A VISIBLE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR CREATIE LIFE.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU O SEE EVERYWHERE.

IT'S AN AMAZING SIDE EFFECT I DID NOT EXPECT WHEN I CAE INTO THIS BUSINESS.

WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE HERE, THR EXPERIENCE IS ONE OF EXPLORATION, POSITIVITY, CURIOSITY.

I THINK IT INSPIRES IN PEOA CURIOSITY ABOUT THE THINGSY HOLD IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIF.

HOW DOES THAT FEED THE RESF MY LIFE, THE OTHER THINGS I BELIEVE ARE JUST FUNCTIONAT REALLY CREATE A NEE -- A ND FOR HUMAN INGENUITY OVER T. ♪ BRETT: OUR GUEST THIS WEEKS ANNIE HARALA, 1ST DISTRICT COMMISSIONER CHAIR FOR ST S COUNTY.

ANNIE, THANK YOU FOR JOINI.

MAARJA: SO GREAT TO HAVE Y. BRETT: WHATS THE ROLE OF A COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND HOW IMPACTFUL IS YOUR JOB IN PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY LIVES?

COMM.

HARALA: COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SERVE ALL OFE COUNTY.

THAT SOUNDS BASIC, BUT SIMR TO HAVE -- SIMILAR TO HOW E SCHOOL BOARD HAS A SCHOOL , WE MAKE A DECISION ON THE FINANCES, OUR POLICIES HIMD MAKING SURE WE ARE ADVOCATR OUR COUNTY.

A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO E LIVES THROUGH WHAT WE DO.

MAARJA: A COUNTY COMMISSIOS A BROADER LEVEL, BUT ST. LS COUNTY AS A COUNTY IS MASS.

YOU HAVE DULUTH, YOU HAVE , YOU HAVE CITIES.

WHAT IS IT LIKE MANAGING AD BALANCING THE NEED COMM.

HARALA: AS WE LOOK A. LOUIS COUNTY, THE LARGEST Y BY LANDMASS EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERT BASES, LIKE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

WE WALKED THROUGH BUDGETINR MAKING DECISIONS.

WE TRY TO DO AS EQUITABLE F DECISIONS AS WE CAN MAKE, T ALSO RESPONDS TO COMMUNITY.

EACH COMMISSIONER REPRESENA DIFFERENT AREA.

EVERYTHING FROM YOUR ROADSD BRIDGES TO PUBLIC HEALTH, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, 911, ALLF THOSE THINGS ARE WITHIN THE COUNTY.

BRETT: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THE COUS FACING RIGHT NOW?

COMM.

HARALA: SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES ARE THE UNKNOWN NATURE OF POTENTIAL FINANCIAL CUTS THAT COULD .

NOT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS TE COUNTY OFTEN TIMES PLAYS TE ROLE OF BEING AN ARM OF THE STATE.

IN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AND HN SERVICES ARM AS WE ARE MAKG SURE PEOPLE ARE SAFE AND WG ON REUNITING FAMILIES AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THOSE ARE MAD BY THE STATE, SO WE HAVE TO PERFORM THOSE THINGS WHICHE REALLY IMPORTANT AND WE ARE PROUD TO DO THEM, BUT WITHE UNCERTAINTIES AT DIFFERENT LEVELS FOR FUNDING WE ARE CHECKING TO MAKE SURE WE DO THAT, BECAUSE WE JUST NEEDT TO HAPPEN LOCALLY.

MAARJA: SPEAKING OF UNCERT, LOOKING AT IT FROM NATIONAL ECONOMICS AND POLITICS, TAS HAVE BEEN A BIG PART OF HEADLINES AS OF LATE.

ARE YOU SEEING ON THE COUNY LEVEL THE IMPACTS OF THOSE TARIFFS, IMPACTING OUR ECOY AT ALL?

COMM.

HARALA: WE ARE TRACKG THE REALLY EARLY.

WHERE WE WOULD SEE THEM HIT ARE ON OUR ROAD AND BRIDGE PROJECTS.

WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF WORKING VERY EARLY TO PLANR SEASONS, BUT WE HAVE A CONTINGENCY SET ASIDE JUSTN CASE THOSE HIT.

WE ARE REALLY HOPEFUL THATE CAN FIND OTHER WAYS TO BALE OUR ECONOMY.

WE ARE HEARING IT IS HARD N SMALL BUSINESSES.

WE AS A COUNTY CAN HANDLE T ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT IT ISD ON OUR NEIGHBORS.

BRETT: WE HAVE SUCH A CRAZY WINTER USUALLY EVERY YEAR,H IMPACTS OUR ROADS.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST INVESS IN INFRASTRUCTURE THE COUNY PLANS TO WORK ON?

COMM.

HARALA: THAT'S A GRET QUESTION.

AS WE LOOK AT OUR COUNTY, F OUR BEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMT OPPORTUNITIES AND INVESTMEN SAFETY ARE OUR ROADS.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST RATINGS IN ROADS ACROSS THE STATE BECAUSE THE SALES TAT WAS SUPPORTED A NUMBER OF S AGO, AND THAT HAS REALLY HD US TO CATCH UP AND BE READR THAT.

WE COMPLETED A HUGE NUMBERF BRIDGE PROJECTS THAT ARE HG WITH STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY D NOW THIS YEAR HAVE MADE SOE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS NOH AND SOUTH TO ENSURE THAT SY IS UPDATED.

MAARJA: I THINK IT WAS LATT YEAR WHEN THE BUDGET WAS P, THIS WAS A HISTORIC BUDGETN THE SENSE THAT IT WAS ABOV0 MILLION FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHICH HALF A BILLION SEEMSE A LOT.

WHERE DOES THE MAJORITY OFT BUDGET GO?

COMM.

HARALA: I LOVEHIS QUESTION, BECAUSE I WAS THE FINANCE CHAIR LAST YEAR.

WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WHERE EVERYONE SEES INFLATION, WE THAT INFLATION AS WELL TOO, MAKING SURE WE HAVE A STROG WORKFORCE, AND THOSE ARE TE PEOPLE ALLOWING YOUR ROADS, ANSWERING THE PHONE WHEN YU CA 911, STAFFING OUR JAILS.

THEY ARE LICENSING CHILDCAE FACILITIES, HELPING US BRIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

A LOT OF IT GOES TO OUR PE.

SOME OF THAT FUNDING COMESM THE STATE.

IT COMES OFF OF OUR LOCAL .

WE ARE VERY CAREFUL.

IF YOU DON'T MIND ME ADDINE START OUR BUDGETING PROCESS REALLY EARLY IN THE YEAR.

A COUPLE YEARS EARLY.

WE AS A BOARD HAVE FULL PLG ALL UGHOUT THE YEAR.

WE ALWAYS GO BACK TO OUR CY PRIORITIES OF SOUND INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC HEAH AND HUMAN SERVICES, STRONG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MAKIG SURE WE ARE DOING THAT.

WE GO THROUGH EACH ENTITY N OUR ORGANIZATION GOES THROA BUDGETING PROCESS TO BE AST AS POSSIBLE.

BRETT: WHAT ARE THOSE STRAS IN PLACE TO ENCOURAGE ECONC GROWTH IN THE REGION?

WE HAVE A BIG COUNTY.

COMM.

HARALA: AND A LOT OF ISSUES THAT ARE HOT BUTTONT COME INTO HERE.

I'ELECTED BY THE CITY OF DULUTH, THE SMALLEST BY LAS COUNTY.

WHAT WE ARE DOING IS TRYINO WORK ALONGSIDE PARTNERS TOG BUSINESS INTO HERE AND HELP BUSINESSES TO GROW.

WE ARE PROUD TO BE PART OFS EXPANSION THAT HAPPENED INT DULUTH.

WE WERE ALSO PROVIDED SOMES A FEW YEARS AGO WITH THE SO PROJECT IN MOUNTAIN IRON.

FINDING PLACES THAT WILL IT IN FAMILY JOBS IS SO INCREY IMPORTANT.

MAARJA: YOU WERE ELECTED CR BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.

YOU ARE THE FIRST WOMAN CHN TWO TICKETS?

COMM.

HARALA: YEAH, TWO DE, WHICH IS WILD.

MAARJA: DO YOU HAVE ANY GOS FOR THIS YEAR?

ANY INITIATIVES YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON?

COMM.

HARALA: I DO, THANK U FOR THAT.

WHEN I GAVE MY FIRST SPEECI SAID THIS YEAR'S WORD FOR E BOARD IS STEADY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS COMIN THE WORLD, AND LOCAL GOVERT IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE AFFECTED BY THE DECISION-MAKERS IN OTHER L, BUT WE NEED TO BE STEADY, S WORKING ON THAT.

TWO BIG INITIATIVES I AM WG ON IS HOW WE ARE HONING INN HOUSING AT ALL LEVELS ACROE COUNTY, AND EVERY SINGLE OF THE COMMISSIONERS ARE INVED IN THAT.

BRINGING THAT MORE TO LIFE.

WE HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING L OF OUR BOARD AND 30 STAFF T THROUGH A TRIBAL RELATIONS TRAINING TO MAKE SURE WE AE UNDERSTANDING SOVEREIGNTY H THOSE THAT WE SHARE BORDERH AND OUR TRIBAL NATIONS.

BRETT: HOW DO YOU INVOLVE RESIDENTS IN THE COUNTY INE DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES?

NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT TAXES.

[LAUGHTER] COMM.

HARALA: NO, BUT IF YU COMPLAIN ABOUT POTHOLES, YU ALSO HAVE TO KNOW YOU HAVEO PAY TAXES.

WE INVEST IN SAFETY ACROSSE STATE.

I WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE IE A BROAD BASE OF PEOPLE I LN TO FROM ALL SIDES OF THE A.

WE HAVE A TON OF STAFF THAO PUBLIC FEEDBACK SESSIONS, F YOU EVER GET A LETTER IN TE MAIL THAT ENCOURAGES YOU TE TO A PUBLIC MEETING, GO TO, OR SEND THAT INFORMATION IN ONLINE.

THAT IS WHO WE HEAR FROM.

I TRY TO GET TO AS MANY EVS AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CANE SURE WE ARE LISTENING TO TE IMPACT THAT PEOPLE WANT INR REGION.

MAARJA: I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD QUITE A FEW YEARS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

YOU ARE VERY CYNICALLY ENG.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT THS ROLE AND YOUR IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY?

COMM.

HARALA: I AM HONOREDO HAVE SERVED ON THE DULUTH L BOARD.

WHILE I WAS ON THAT, WE KET RUNNING INTO THINGS THAT I WANTED TO DO MORE THAN WHAS IT -- THAN WHAT WAS WITHINY ROLE, HELPING FAMILIES BE N THEIR HOMES.

THAT LEADS TO POSITIVE EDUCATION.

THE THINGS THE COUNTY DOESS LIKELY AUNT -- IS LIKE THET OR UNCLE TO THE COMMUNITY,E PROVIDE ASSURANCES FOR WHAS HAPPENING.

THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOT HOMELESSNESS IN DOWNTOWN D, ANOTHER ISSUE I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IS UPDATING OUR WORKING ON IS UPDATING OURN DULUTH FOR THE FIRST TIME 0 YEARS.

THAT IS A SHIFT.

THE GOSPEL MISSION EXPANDIG THEIR FOOTPRINT AND MOVINGN ENGAGEMENT CENTER.

IT IS HARD WORK, BUT IT ISE CITY, THE COUNTYAND ALL THE NONPROFIT PARTNERS PARTNERG TOGETHER.

AND I GET TO BE A POLICY ND EVERY DAY, SO I LIKE THAT.

[LAUGHTER] BRETT: YOU MENTIONED FOLKS COMING UP TO THOSE MEETINGU ARE HOSTING.

WHAT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE IN THE UNITY HAVE TO INTERACT WITH THEIR BOARD MEMBERS?

COMM.

HARALA: EVERY TIME WD A BOARD MEETING, THEY ARE USUALLY THREE OR FOUR TUESA MONTH.

PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT ITEMT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA ABOUT ANYTHING YOU ARE INTERESTE.

WE HAD VOTERS RIGHTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES -- THU T OF FOLKS OF PEOPLE THAT E IN, WE GET TO HEAR FROM TH.

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA YOU ARE INTERESTED , YOU CAN COME TO SPEAK.

YOU CAN HEAD TO THE ST. LOS COUNTY WEBSITE AND FIND OUR CONTACT INFORMATION.

ALL MY COLLEAGUES WORK TO O GET BACK TO PEOPLE AS BESTE CAN.

EMAILING THE BOARD -- THERS DIFFERT WAYS YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH.

YOU CAN ALWAYS ASK STAFF AE FRONT DESK.

I HAVE FEEDBACK ON THIS, WN I TALK TO?

THEY WILL SEND THEM TO ME.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

MAARJA: NOW, WE'RE SENDINGU TO THE COUNTY SEAT THEATREN THIS WEEK'S VENTURE NORTH.

>> MY NAME IS RICK BREWER I AM THE DIRECTOR FOR MAKINGT TEA AND OTHER SECRETS.

THE SHOW IS SET IN THE SOU, RURAL TENNESSEE, AND AS THE DESCRIPTION GOES, IT IS SEN CURRENT TIME, BUT FOR THE E THAT LIVED THERE, TIME STOD IN THE 1960'S, SO THEY LIVA VERY SIMPLE WAY.

IT CENTERS ON THESE TWO OLR SISTERS, THE HAMILTON SIST, WHO LIVE A SIMPLE, QUIET LN A FARM.

ONEHT THEY ARE VISITED BY THE LOCAL SHERIFF, WHO DROF A YOUNG GIRL WHO HAS BEEN N AND BATTERED.

THEY COME TO FIND OUT THATE YOUNG GIRL IS ACTUALLY TRANSGENDER, THAT IT IS HEN FATHER WHO HAS BEEN BEATIN.

AND FROM OUT OF THAT, YOU N IMAGINE THERE IS A LOT OF Y ARCS AROUND BIGOTRY, PREJU, TOLERANCE, ACCEPTANCE, ANDE SISTERS AND SOME OTHER GOOS IN THE CAST END UP HAVING - IT IS A GOOD VERSUS EVIL KF STORY, WHERE THE DAD AND OS WHO ARE LESS TOLERANT, THOE INTOLERANCES ARE EXPOSED BASICALLY.

I DON'T WANT TO GIVE AWAY O MANY SPOILERS, BUT IT GETS PRETTY DRAMATIC.

THERE'S A LOT OF STRONG LANGUAGE.

THERE IS A LOT OF REAL, ALO REAL ISSUES FROM TODAY'S WD THAT ARE THROWN OUT THERE E STAGE.

I THINK THAT IS A WONDERFUY TO BRING ABOUT DIALOGU TOUH ISSUES, IS IF YOU CAN SHOWN AN ARTISTIC WAY, IT KIND OF GIVES PERMISSION TO TALK AT TOUGH STUFF.

SOME TEENS EVEN LAUGH ABOUE HARD STUFF.

THERE IS PERMISSION TO LAUH ABOUT THAT IN THIS PLAY.

I THINK IT IS WONDERFULLY WRITTEN.

>> MY NAME IS SAM BREWER AI AM AN ACTOR.

I PLAY AMBER.

THIS SHOW, MY DAD WAS ORIGY THE ONE TO SHOW IT TO ME.

I WAS SPECIFICALLY DRAWN TE SHOW AND TO AMBER BECAUSE N RELATE TO HER IN MANY WAYS.

SHE IS TRANSGENDER AND I AO TRANSGENDER, SO I WAS INTRD WHEN I SAW I HAD THE OPPORY TO PLAY A CHARACTER WHO ISE SAME AGE AS ME, WHO HAS THT SAME SHARED LIFE EXPERIENCD I IMMEDIATELY FELL IN LOVEH HER AND WANTED TO BE ABLE O BRING HER TO LIFE ON STAGEN ANY WAY THAT I COULD.

THE SHOW, YOU WILL NOT BE .

IT WILL KEEP YOU ENTERTAIN.

THERE IS CONSTANTLY STUFF HAPPENING, WHETHER IT IS HR OR MOMENTS THAT ARE VERY DRAMATIC AND INTENSE.

IT'S A VERY INTERESTING SHO WATCH.

>> I AM AN ACTOR WHO PLAYS SHEILA RAY, THE TOWN GOSSI.

SHE IS A VERY CARING WOMANO JUST WANTS THE BEST FOR THE PEOPLE IN HER COMMUNITY.

SHE'S ALSO A HAIRDRESSER, E GETS TO HEAR EVERYONE'S ST. AS SHE WOULD SAY, SHE ALWAS LIKES PEOPLE TO KNOW THE T. THIS IS A SHOW THAT I WOULD CONSIDER THEATER FOR SOCIAL CHANGE.

IT IS VERY INSPIRING, BUT S IT IN A WAY THAT IT'S REALY ACCESSIBLE.

THE CHARACTERS ARE REALLY Y TO LOVE AND GET TO KNOW EVF THEY MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THU THE AUDIENCE MEMBER.

IT TAKES PLACE IN THE SOUT, WHICH IS REMOVED ELEMENT FM WHERE WE LIVE.

I WOULD SAY IT IS AN ENCOUG SHOW.

IT ASKS PEOPLE TO THINK SOE REALLY DEEP THOUGHTS WHILE EXPENDING THE LOVE FOR OTHR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THE DIFFERENT THAN THEM.

>> THIS IS MY FIRST FULL-LH SHOW I AM DIRECTING.

I ACTED FOR A WHILE AND HED BACKSTAGE.

YOU THINK IF THE RIGHT SCRT CAME ALONG, IT WOULD BE REY FUN TO BE ON THAT SIDE OF E STAGE.

THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNIO DO THAT.

IT HAD TO BE THE RIGHT SHOH THE RIGHT SCRIPT.

THIS SHOW IS ONE OF THE TOX NEW PLAYS IN 2017 THROUGH A NATIONWIDE SEARCH THAT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY THEATERS DO.

OUR THEATER WAS SELECTED TO THE WORLD PREMIERE FOR ONEF THOSE TOP SIX SHOWS.

WE GOT TO READ ALL OF THOSE SCRIPTS.

I LOVE THE SCRIPT.

THIS WAS NOT THE SHOW WE WE SELECTED TO DO.

WE DID ANOTHER WONDERFUL S, BUT EVER SINCE 2017 I HAVEN FASCINATED BY THIS.

MY WIFE DROVE TO NEBRASKA E THE PREMIERE OF THIS SHOWT THAT THEATER.

I HAVE BEEN ITCHING TO DO R THAT MANY YEARS, BUT IT ISA POWERFUL SHOW.

IT IS A MESSAGE THAT I THIS REALLY TIMELY RIGHT NOW, BT IT'S GOT ALL THE THINGS YOU WANT.

IT'S GOT HUMOR, TENDERNESST IT HAS AN EDGE TO IT.

BRETT: BEFORE WE GO, LET'SE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU MIGHT BP TO THIS WEEKEND.

SATURDAY FROM 10:00 A.M. T0 P.M. YOU CAN HEAD OVER TO D STREET FOR THE MAY DAY DULH FARMERS MARKET.

VENDORS OLD AND NEW BRING S OF GREAT ITEMS FOR SALE, INCLUDING FOOD AND CRAFTS.

THERE WILL EVEN BE A MAY PE DANCE AND LIVE MUSIC TO EN.

LOCATED AT 1324 EAST THIRD STREET IN DULUTH.

YOU CAN HEAD ONLINE FOR MOE DETAILS.

MAARJA: ALSO ON SATURDAY FM 10:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M., TE LAKE SUPERIOR ESTUARIUM ISN ON BARKERS ISLAND IN SUPER.

THE ESTUARIUM, A COMBINATIF OF ESTUARY AND MUSEUM, HOUA FUN FAMILY FOCUSED SET OF EXHIBITS THAT TELL THE STOF THE ST LOUIS RIVER ESTUARYE SUPERIOR, AND THE COMMUNITS ALONG THEIR SHORES.

THE EVENT IS FREE TO ATTEND IS ORGANIZED BY THE FRIENDF THE LAKE SUPERIOR RESERVE.

HEAD OVER TO FOLSR.ORG FORE INFORMATION.

BRETT: AND FINALLY, SPRINGN THE AIR THIS SUNDAY FROM 9O 11:30AM AT CHAMBERS GROVE !

THE EVERYONE CAN BIRD!

SPRG MIGRATION IS A FREE EVENT E LAKE SUPERIOR NATIONAL ESTE RESEARCH RESER AND THE FRIS OF THE LAKE SUPERIOR RESERE INTRODUCES FOLKS TO THE HOF BIRD WATCHING.

VISITORS CAN HOPE TO SEE TE FIRST GLIMPSES OF A VARIETF BIRDS MIGRATING BACK NORTHR THE SEASON SUCH AS WARBLER, SPARROWS, SWALLOWS AND MOR.

THE EVENT IS FREE TO ATTEND MORE DET ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE.

MAARJA: THIS IS MY KIND OF WEEKEND, BIRDS, FLOWERS.

BRETT: IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE TOO.

MAARJA: 60 DEGREES.

I JUST LOVE BIRDS.

BRETT: YOU HAVE A FUN BIRDFEEDER.

MAARJA: I HAVE A CAMERA BIRDFEEDER.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WATCG IT.

[LAUGHTER] BRETT: YOU GET TO SEE THEIR FACES UP CLOSE.

I LOVE THAT.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S .

GO OUT AND ENJOY YOUR WEEK.

I'M BRETT SCOTT.

MAARJA: AND I'M MAARJA HEW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪