What's Up Ely

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with Rachel Hedlund, the Northern Education Coordinator for Friends of the Boundary Waters. Rachel’s work includes collaborating with other organizations to guide Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness excursions for youth.  From the first time Rachel put a canoe on her shoulders, she knew she would spend the rest of her life connected to the...

What’s Up Ely celebrates the spirit of Ely, Minnesota – a small town on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounded by the Superior National Forest. In addition to being a gateway to great outdoors, Ely is a vibrant community with a rich history and a dynamic arts and cultural scene.  There is truly always something fun to and someone fascinating to meet in Ely! With an ab...

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with Kelsey Cooke, a historian and the executive director of the Ely-Winton Historical Society. Kelsey also serves as a mine interpreter for the Soudan Underground Mine.  Show Notes Email Lacey whatsup@ely.org What’s Up Ely Facebook Group  Ely-Winton Historical Society   Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park Ely Echo Introducing...

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with our Ely, Minnesota friends and neighbors Chris Glazer and Tad Drechsler, the team behind Boundary Waters Catering, a new venture in town. Together Chris and Tad have over 45 years of experience in the food service industry, including cooking, bartending, large scale catering events, and French fine dining. Chris Glazer is the founder a...

The What’s Up Ely Podcast is growing and evolving! We are expanding to produce four episodes per month, with two dedicated solely to rounding up a selection of Ely-area events, and two episodes dedicated to Ely-area-inspired inquiry and conversation. The What’s Up Ely Podcast is brought to you by Visit Ely, the Ely Area Tourism Bureau. This episode is an April & May 2025 event round up, featur...

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with our Ely, Minnesota friend and neighbor Michelle Moore. Michelle is the owner of Functional Fitness, a 24-hour gym located in the new Ely-Area Community Hub building. Functional Fitness offers a variety of classes (including spin!), personal trainers, a juice bar, AND…. fun themed parties?! Michelle will be hosting a Studio 54 themed da...

The What’s Up Ely Podcast is growing and evolving! We are expanding to produce four episodes per month, with two dedicated solely to rounding up a selection of Ely-area events, and two episodes dedicated to Ely-area-inspired inquiry and conversation. The What’s Up Ely Podcast is brought to you by Visit Ely, the Ely Area Tourism Bureau. This episode is an April 2025 Ely-area event round up featurin...

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with our Ely, Minnesota friend and neighbor Dale Beers.  If you’ve ever enjoyed a glass of wine at Northern Grounds on the corner of Central and Sheridan Street in Ely, Minnesota, you’ve likely interacted with our Dale. He is a former suit wearing city-slicker and chef who traded in the fast life for a pair of skis and a fishing pole. In hi...

The What’s Up Ely Podcast is growing and evolving! We are expanding to produce four episodes per month, with two dedicated solely to rounding up a selection of Ely-area events, and two episodes dedicated to Ely-area-inspired inquiry and conversation. The What’s Up Ely Podcast is brought to you by Visit Ely, the Ely Area Tourism Bureau. This episode is a late March and early April 2025 Ely-area eve...

Join Lacey in conversation with Dominick Olivanti and Holly Bachschneider of Arrowhead Transit. Arrowhead Transit is the primary provider of public transportation in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota. Dominick and Holly give us an inside scoop on what’s up in Hibbing and the Quad Cities as well.  Show Notes: Email Lacey whatsup@ely.org Seasonal Ely Adventure Guides (Forthcoming: Ely-Area Arts &amp...

The What’s Up Ely Podcast is growing and evolving! We are expanding to produce four episodes per month, with two dedicated solely to rounding up a selection of Ely-area events, and two episodes dedicated to Ely-area-inspired inquiry and conversation. This episode is an early March 2025 Ely-area event round up featuring host Lacey Squier and producer Brett Ross. Show Notes Links Ely-Area New Reside...

In this episode Lacey will have a conversation with Sean and Jill Leary. Sean and Jill are the founders of Adaptive Wilderness Within Reach, and owners of North of North Resort on Birch Lake. Adaptive Wilderness Within Reach is a nonprofit organization that brings adaptive outdoor recreation within reach for people living with permanent physical disabilities. They work to remove physical and commu...

Lacey and Brett take this episode on the road to Happy Days Learning Center in the newly renovated Ely-Area Community Foundation Hub. Listeners will be in conversation with director Kathleen Floberg, as well as a handful of very special guests – some of the children who attend Happy Days Learning Center.  Show Notes: Ely, Minnesota is home to a vibrant community with a dynamic schedule of events t...

This episode listeners hear from Aaron Kania, the District Ranger for the Kawishiwi District of the Superior National Forest. Ranger Kania will share the details of a comment period for the proposed Fernberg Project. Next we’ll have a conversation about the upcoming Ely Film Festival with festival director and coordinator, Jacob White and Nina Wray, respectively. The 3rd annual Ely Film Festival i...

On this episode of the What’s Up Ely Podcast, listeners will join host Lacey Squier in conversation with her friend and neighbor (and returning guest!) Tim Barton. Tim is an Outfitting Manager at Piragis Northwoods Company, and he specializes in winter. He also happens to be an excellent conversationalist and radio nerd (which is to say he studied radio broadcasting in college). You may recall mee...

On this episode of the What’s Up Ely Podcast, listeners will join host Lacey Squier in conversation with Bill Erzar, a born-and-raised Elyite. Bill is the grandson of a Slovenian immigrant who arrived in Ely in 1909 and worked underground for 45 years. Bill himself worked in local mines for over 30 years, and now serves as a volunteer tour guide at the Pioneer Mine. Bill and Lacey will reminisce a...

On this episode of the What’s Up Ely Podcast, listeners will join host Lacey Squier in conversation with Scott Stowell, author of Back Road Grace. Back Road Grace is a collection of essays, memoirs and short fiction about the culture, Wilderness treasures, and the character of the inhabitants in northeastern Minnesota. Scott and Lacey’s conversation is inspired by the spirit of Scott’s writing – i...

Abby Dare is the owner of The Meadows Gallery & Studios on Sheridan Street. She also serves on the Parks and Recreation Board for the City of Ely. Through all of her endeavors she is committed to fostering meaningful relationships, making the world a better place, and having fun along the way.  Join Abby and Lacey in conversation as they discuss how Abby came to be an Elyite, Abby’s journey to...

While walking 70 miles through the BWCAW on the Kekekabic and Border Route Trails, Ozzie Reif had the opportunity to test the gear he made from natural materials. Along the way he learned a lot about this gear and spent a significant amount of time thinking about how he and other humans interact with our outdoor spaces.  Listen in on the conversation about what went well, what he learned, and what...

Join the conversation as Lacey chats with her new friend and regional neighbor, Bridgit Maruska. Bridgit is the Parks, Trails, & Recreation Director at the City of Chisholm. Her work involves fostering vibrant recreational environments and public spaces to increase community participation and volunteer mobilization. Specifically, Bridgit is here to tell us all about the Redhead Mountain Bike P...

Join the conversation as Lacey chats with her friend and neighbor, Sarah Vogl. Sarah is a relatively new Elyite who made the journey from South St. Paul to Ely, from suburban cubicle to self-employment in the woods. She is also actively learning about the art of homesteading (so y’all can expect to hear mention of gardening and chickens!). And no introduction to Sarah would be complete without men...

Join the conversation as Lacey chats with a new friend, Buddy Huffaker, the Executive Director of the Aldo Leopold Foundation. They’ll be chatting about Aldo Leopold’s land ethic, made famous via his book A Sand County Almanac. This conversation is taking place in anticipation of a series of events in Ely in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the publication of the book, as well as the 60th an...

Join the conversation as Lacey chats with her friends and neighbors, Kes Ebbs and Lou Wiggin. Kes and Lou are affiliated with the SAGE Foundation, an Ely-based nonprofit that aims to uplift First-Gen and BIPOC education by offering mentorship, community, and a range of resources to Minnesota North Vermilion Campus students. Additional discussion topics include the allure of the Wilderness, love of...

Join the conversation as Lacey chats with her friends and neighbors, Tom Moore and Susan Polege. Tom and Susan are members of Ely’s Rotary Club which is hosting a Casino Night at the Miners Dry House on Friday, August 16. Discussion topics include the importance of community engagement and volunteerism, supporting youth activities, and international cooperation. And, of course, this episode includ...

Listen in on Lacey’s conversation with her friends and neighbors, Nick Wognum & Johnnie Hyde.  Nick Wognum is the owner and editor of the Ely Echo, Ely’s newspaper of record. Johnnie is the owner of Raven Words Press, which publishes the Ely Summer and Winter Times. In 2023 Nick and Johnnie collaborated to establish an Ely Alliance of Braver Angels, a local chapter of a national nonprofit that...