MARVEL IN THE WONDER OF THE LATEST GASTRONOMICAL ASSAULT.

THE GRILLED CHEESE BURGER MELT.

Look at it.  No…really, LOOK AT IT.  Marvel in it’s excessive wonderfulness, it’s majestic homage to All-American over consumption.  Drink in it’s flowing lines of ridiculous over-the-top-ness.

This is the future of fast-food.  This is the future of America!  God bless the hamburger.  God bless the grilled cheese.  God bless America!

READ MORE ABOUT IT “HERE“.

Who’s hungry??  I know I am!

-Walt

IS IT WRONG?

HEY, AT LEAST IT'S NOT LIKE THIS TODAY!

Is it wrong that the longest day of the year is a Monday?  Is it a diabolical plot?  Coincidence?  Happenstance?  I think not.  If I were ruling the world (don’t worry, it WILL happen someday), the longest day of the year would definitely be a Friday!  That way you could put in a full day’s work and still kick off the weekend and party till the cows come home!

Summer Solstice is a Monday…FEH!

Oh well, at least it’s not setting up to snow across the wooded plain. I’ll take a long Monday…if it’s sunny!

WINE AND CLEAN WATER.

THE SWP'S NATASHA KOSS.

Natasha Koss with the Superior Watershed Partnership filled us in about a special fund raising event coming up this Thursday evening at the Pavilion at Presque Isle Park in Marquette.  The event is a wine tasting gathering with live music as well as art on display and some guided tours of the SWP’s new offices located just down from the Pavilion at the former residence of the island’s caretaker.  The event is open to the public and tickets are available in a series of locations.  There will also be a special raffle at the event that will feature a 4-person cruise on a local schooner.  To listen to the comments of Natasha please click “HERE“.  To log on to the Superior Watershed Partnership’s website, please click “HERE“.

THAT WRAPS UP A CRACKIN’ DAY, GROMIT!

OK, out the door I go!  We’ll pick this up again tomorrow!

See you all then!

-Walt

PACKED IN TIGHT AND FEELIN’ ALRIGHT!

It’s one of those weekends again in Marquette County.  Packed full of events and activities to take in during this Father’s Day weekend.  From a Scandinavian Summer Festival to a rodeo to a classic car show it’s out there!  From a live music concert series at Presque Isle to the Relay for Life at Al Quaal, it’s out there this weekend!  There are so many things going on, even outside of the county with Bridgefest and the Rotary Seafood Fest up in Houghton to the Concert on the Shore in Gladstone, it’s going to be a great weekend to get out and take it all in!  So DO IT!

CHECK OUT THE COOL RIDES, DADDY-O!!

BARRY JAMES SAYS "COME SEE THE CARS, DADDY-O!!"

As part of the annual Father’s Day tradition, Barry James from the Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee Township came in to talk about the 21st Annual “Iron, Steel and the Automobile” Antique Automobile Show being held on Sunday, which is Father’s Day, at the museum.  This year’s show features over 50 vintage cars, trucks and more and the show will run from noon to 4-pm.  To listen for more details from the interview with Barry, please click “HERE“.  It’s a great way to spend a Father’s Day and the weather looks like it’s going o be great.

A BUSY WEEKEND ABOUNDS!

Have fun this weekend, everyone!  We will see you next week and chat with you then!

See you all later here on the Big Ol’ World Wide Web!

-Walt

GETTING READY FOR ANOTHER PACKED WEEKEND.

Yeah, it’s Thursday, but we spent a good amount of time today discussing events here in Marquette County that are going on this Friday, and beyond.  Why not?  Fridays are a great subject because they put everybody into a good mood and get you ready for the weekend.  So on that uplifting note, let’s get on with some Friday Marquette County talk!

THE MUSIC IS COMING TO THE PARK.

MUSICIAN WRANGLER, MIKE BEAUCHAMP.

Thanks to Mike Beauchamp for stopping in this morning to promote the third annual “Music in the Park” Bandshell Local Talent Performance Series at the Presque Isle Bandshell on Presque Isle in the city of Marquette.  The series features several local performers and is a free concert series that premieres this Friday night and will be held on most Friday nights throughout the summer.  For more information about the series and how to get involved, please click “HERE“.  For an excerpt of the interview with Mike Beauchamp, please click “HERE“.

RELAY FOR LIFE COMES TO MARQUETTE COUNTY.

SMILIN' CARL FULSHER

Show regular and cancer fighter Carl Fulsher joined us to give us an update of the Relay for Life going on this weekend at Al Quaal Recreation area in Ishpeming.  The event, which literally is a 24-hour long relay-based party in the park that serves as a celebration of those who are surviving cancer and a rememberance of those who have lost their battle with the deadly disease.  To listen to a portion of our interview with Carl Fulsher, take a moment and click “HERE“.

BACK AT IT TOMORROW!

Tomorrow is Friday.  We shall talk more about it then!

See Ya!

-Walt

THE MAJOR IS FAR FROM BEING A MINOR!

"CAKE OR DEATH?" "CAKE, PLEASE!"

Today is the 50-th birthday of our own Major Discount, Todd Noordyk, the owner and operator of our parent company Great Lakes Radio, Inc.  The cake is to the left and the birthday boy is on the air!  Congratulations to the Grand Old Man of Great Lakes Radio.  Hopefully the next 50 years are as eventful as the last!

Happy Birthday, Todd!

Be Safe and Fruitful!

IT’S ANOTHER Y WEDNESDAY!

LAURA AND JENNA FROM THE YMCA.

Thanks to Laura Murawski and Jenna Zdunek with the YMCA of Marquette County for joining us on the big program this morning for the latest edition of “Y” Wednesday.  They joined us for a full rundown of programs and activities that are currently underway at both of the locations of the YMCA in Marquette County, as well as those that are planned for the near future.  They also discussed activities for children AND adults to be utilized during the summer months to keep kids and their parents active while school is out.  To listen to the interview with Laura and Jenna, please take a moment and click “HERE“.  For more information about the YMCA of Marquette County, please click “HERE“.

THAT’S A WRAP!

See ya all later here on the big ol’ blog!

(And if you see Todd today, wish the old man a Happy Birthday!)

-Walt

A LOOK BACK FOR JUST A MOMENT.

Greetings, blog-o-philes!

VIHTORI EHVALTI (WALTER VICTOR) LINDALA (1908 - 1992)

Today is a special day for me because it is my father’s birthday.  If he were still with us, he would be 102 years old today.  Unfortunately, he passed away back in 1992.  I always remember him for saying, “I’m going to live until I’m 100!”  It was the stubborn Finlander in him, I guess.  Having him as a father was interesting.  Due to various circumstances, he had me late in life and he was generationally old enough to be my grandfather.  While it can be socially embarrassing as a grade schooler to have an older parent (and I caught some grief for it), whenever someone would say anything or ask me if that was my grandfather, I would pause and say “Yes!  He’s my GRAND FATHER!” and leave it at that.

He was a Renaissance man in a down home U.P. kind of way.  He was a skilled sign writer and graphic artist, a master puppeteer and marionette operator, a musician who played in dance bands, marching bands and orchestras, he also was a sublime B.S.’er!  A fantastic storyteller to say the least!!  He was the kind of man that many were drawn to because of his sense of humor and his willingness to entertain.  Not too bad for a guy who didn’t even graduate from High School.

ONE OF MY FATHER'S SIGNS THAT USED TO WELCOME PEOPLE TO THE KEWEENAW. IT'S LONG GONE NOW AS FAR AS I KNOW.

I know without him, I would not be the man that I am today, and he was instrumental in my development as a musician, radio host, entertainer and as a person.  I wish he was still around.  He never got to hear me here on SUNNY 101.9 doing the morning show.  It’s too bad…he may have become a regular!

I am glad, however, that he was able to live long enough to see me graduate from High School (which actually was his real goal late in life), graduate from Northern Michigan University with a Bachelor’s Degree and to see me get married to my wonder wife, April.

I guess I’ll just wrap this up with a special “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!!!!” I’ll see you again soon!

YOUR SON-

-Walter Jr.

GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS.

HEY EVERYBODY!!! WEEKEND TIME!!!

The good news is…HEY! IT’S THE WEEKEND!!  EVERYBODY GET UP AND DANCE!!  Boogie on down my children!  Two days of rest and relaxation and doing what you want!!  Blastin’ brain cells and goin’ fishin’!  That’s the way we like it!  WOOO-HOOO!

THE BAD NEWS…

A VERY DISTURBED BLOGGER.

The computers are running slow and have crashed at least once here in the Head Office of Mark and Walt in the Morning.  That means that today’s blog has been cancelled due to technical difficulties.  BOOOO!  HISSS!!  That’s the way we don’t like it!

I guess we’ll pick it up again on Monday!

Don’t be stupid and we’ll see you all then!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, EVERYBODY!

-Walt

FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE GOLF COURSE.

A SUCCESSFUL AND FUN GLR/FLANIGAN’S BIO-LIFE CHARITY GOLF OUTING.

ROAMING MARAUDERS ON THE LINKS.

Great Lakes Radio and Flanigan’s Bar teamed up once again this year for a blitz on the links for a great cause.  This year’s golf outing benefitted Willow Farms Therapeutic Riding in Harvey.  Willow Farm Therapeutic Riding’s mission is to promote and enhance the welfare of individuals with disabilities by providing a program of therapeutic, educational and recreational

ONE FULL STUDIO!

value, and further, to empower individuals who are mentally, physically, emotionally and/or socially challenged through the use of horses, while providing therapeutic benefits in a safe and controlled atmosphere bringingthose involved to better health, happiness, confidence and quality of life.

A HAPPY CREW IN THE STUDIO!

Representatives from all of the sponsors and supporters of the golf outing joined us in the Sunny Studios this morning for the presentation of the checks to the Willow Farm staff.  A total of $2600.00 was raised at the event with all of the money going to the programs for the kids at Willow Farms.  Thanks to everyone who took part in this year’s golf outing and thank you to all of the sponsors.  Great Lakes Radio, Flanigan’s Bar, BioLife Plasma Services, Rodney’s Pizza, KFC of Marquette, Kohl’s of Marquette an Pike Distributing, the home of Labatt Blue and Labatt Blue Light.

Now it’s time to start planning for next year’s outing, which will be the tenth anniversary.  Now THAT will be a party!!

IT’S MONDAY AND ANOTHER WEEK IS UNFOLDING!

THIS IS MY CAT, MERLIN. HE IS VERY MELLOW. I NEED TO BE MORE LIKE HIM.

What a week this is going to be.  I say that based on how this morning went.  Special events in our community, a huge listener day, and the construction has begun at the new Great Lakes Radio studio space!  A lot of information, a lot of fun and a lot of sawdust!  And it’s only Monday!  Looks like it’s shaping up to be quite an eventful week here at the radio ranch!  Everybody better buckle up and hang on!  It’s gonna be a heckuva ride!  And of course, we’ll be right here on your radio dial to keep you company through the whole process.

FRIENDS OUTSIDE OF THE MALL.

MARK PEEKS IN ON DAN TORRES FROM THE BORDER GRILL AND BIKE RIDE ORGANIZER BOBBI AYOTTE.

Outside of the mall this morning, the folks with the “Bike to Work” initiative set up a pit stop for folks who were taking part in the effort.  Representatives with the Marquette County Health Department as well as the Border Grill were on hand to meet and greet with bikers headed to work.  Fresh beverages and breakfast treats!  How can you go wrong?  It was a great morning for a ride, if you remembered to bring a jacket and touque for under your helmet.  There was a frost advisory in effect this morning until 8-am!  Happy June!

FRIENDS ON THE AIR.

MARK HOLDS THIS MORNING'S BIG STACK OF ENTRIES FOR MAIN STREET MONDAY.

Main Street Monday was a knockout today with a huge stack of entries.  Congratulations to Jan B. of Marquette who was the latest winner.  She knew we were looking for “Popeye”! She was the winner of the victory toss, beating out a stack of dozens of entries.  Way to go, Jan, and thanks for listening!  Enjoy the 2 – 14″ pizzas from Main Street Pizza!  She mentioned she was new to the show and the contest, so what a great way to welcome her to the family of Mark & Walt in the Morning!

A NEW SPACE FOR US TO HANG OUT WITH OUR FRIENDS.

YOURS TRULY, TODD NOORDYK, LUKE NOORDYK AND MARK AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE.

And after the show, Mark and I took a little jaunt up to our new Great Lakes Radio Studio and Office space.  The walls are getting framed in today for the new studios and production space and it is exciting to see!  If you want to see more, head on over to www.greatlakesradio.org for the latest photos of our move.  It’s going to get crazy over here real soon, and we ask that you bear with us as the moving project continues!

CHEERS!

-Walt

LOTS OF THINGS HAPPENING AROUND MARQUETTE COUNTY.

SOME OF THE BROADCAST AREA.

It’s one of those weeks around here with a ton of things going on.  We had a chance to touch on two rather interesting issues here in Marquette County this morning on the big program.  One had to do with some good financial news for a local schools district, and the other had to do with getting people involved in the local political process.  It’s the kind of information that helps to make Marquette County strong.  So, dear blog-o-phile, scroll down and take in some bona fide community information!

MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP LOOKS TO THE FUTURE.

STRATEGIC PLANNING IN MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP.

Marquette Township Manager Randy Girard joined us this morning via phone to give us an update on the latest efforts in the Township to develop a formal strategic plan for the next year and beyond.  According to Girard, the process has been very well received and the Township is now looking for residents to get together and join a series of ad hoc committees that have been formed to address a series of issues and goals created by the general strategic plan.  To listen to the interview with Randy Girard, please click “HERE“.  To log on to the Marquette Township website and find out more about the committee requests and the overall strategic plan, please click “HERE“.

NICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS GETS A GRANT.

Michael Haynes, Superintendent of the NICE Community Schools, called in this morning to chat about a $100,000 grant the district received to support early childhood programs.  The grant award will enable the district to establish a comprehensive early childhood program in order to strengthen the school-family connection prior to children entering Kindergarten and to facilitate parent/family/child  learning opportunities within and outside of the school.  The initiative solidifies the district’s commitment to adequately prepare all children to reach their fullest potential.  To listen to the interview with Superintendent Haynes, click “HERE“.  To log on to the District’s website and find out more about the programs for youth that are in the works, please click “HERE“.