People: July 30

• Samuel Black

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council has hired Samuel Black of Two Harbors to the position of assistant director. He started in May.
• Mayor’s Block Party

Cassandra Beardsley, president of North Shore Rotary Club, gave Two Harbors Mayor Randy Bolen a check for $500 toward the Mayor’s Block Party and the purchase of a movie screen for outdoor showings.
• Vicki Louks

Vicki Louks receives a certificate of appreciation for her work to beautify the city of Two Harbors. With her are city council member Chris Swanson, Louks, Mayor Randy Bolen, and council member Mary Rosati.

Talk about it

New arts assistant

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council has hired Samuel Black of Two Harbors to the position of assistant director. He started in May.

Black moved from Oklahoma City to Two Harbors in 1995 with the intention of making music more central in his daily life. Since then he has been active as a pianist, organist, and conductor from Madison, Wis., to Big Fork. He has been involved with several churches over the years, currently serving Duluth Congregational and Knife River Lutheran congregations. In 1998 he began the Northshore Chamber Society to create a series of chamber recitals in Lake County two or three times yearly. More recently, he brought together cellist Josh Aerie and violinist Laurie Bastian and they formed the Gichigami Trio, sharing recitals in the region since 2006.

Over the years, Black has performed with the Duluth Playhouse, Playground, Lyric Opera of the North, Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, Highland String Quartet, Superior Brass Quintet, and is a frequent partner in recitals at colleges in Duluth and Superior. Since 2000, he has been a free-lance music critic for the Duluth News Tribune.

Black has taught writing and literature courses at Lake Superior College, University of Wisconsin-Superior, and at The College of St. Scholastica. He is a frequent speaker on literary and musical topics, and offers regular seminars for seniors through the local Emeritus College program from St. Scholastica.

“His vast administrative experience, 15 years of involvement in the region as a musician, and his strong support of the arts throughout the region makes him the ideal candidate to help the Council transition and grow,” Executive Director Robert DeArmond said.

Training finished

Army National Guard Pfc. Philip Ness has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C.

He is the son of Shirley Ness of Two Harbors. He graduated in 1998 from Two Harbors High School and received a degree in 2000 from McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

Tags: two harbors, community, people