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Local News

Fundraiser held for Kew. Mt. Lodge park

By GARRETT NEESE, DMG writer
POSTED: January 11, 2010

Article Photos


HOUGHTON - The Dude - and the Ocha Potter Park - abides.

The Copper Harbor Trails Club and Rhythm held a "The Big Lebowski"-themed party at The Mine Shaft in Houghton Sunday.

The Coen Brothers' 1998 cult hit played on screens at the bowling alley, while several people dressed up in lead character The Dude's ratty sweater, or Walter Sobchak's headband and shades.

The event was a fundraiser for the Ocha Potter Park, a new winter terrain park at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge.

Amanda Wais, treasurer for the Copper Harbor Trails Club, said the group had discussed a fundraiser at a bowling alley with fellow club member Dan Kauppi. She suggested "The Big Lebowski," in which bowling is featured heavily.

"I was just joking, but he thought it was a good idea," she said.

The free park, which opened on Saturday, has a variety of jumps and rails, said Copper Harbor Trails Club president Aaron Rogers.

It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Rogers said the park both allows people skiing at Mount Bohemia to extend their day, and gives local people something extra to do on the weekend.

It's already attracting a crowd, Rogers said.

"It's great," he said. "People came up and they just love it."

The Red Jacket-BlueSky Health Cycling Team donated $1,000 to the club, which it raised from the Keweenaw Cup Cyclocross race in October.

Chris Schmidt, president of the team, said many of the team members live too far away to build and maintain the trails directly.

"Through a financial contribution we can at least support the maintenance and construction of new trails," he said.

"They're some of the best trails in the country," said team vice president John Gershenson. "We're just lucky to have something like this in our own backyard."

Gershenson said they were happy to help the Copper Harbor Trails Club, which he said "has just done a fantastic job of making it all happen up there."

Garrett Neese can be reached at gneese@mininggazette.com.

 
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View Comments: | 1-2 | Post a comment
DMGreader
01-13-10 7:01 PM
Does anybody know where the name Ocha Potter comes from? Perhaps it was in an earlier story I did not read.

It's great to hear about community members coming together to support this idea. I can't wait to check out the park.

Abides
01-11-10 10:59 AM
Abides abides!

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