Once, Then is a collection of eulogy poems Scarpino wrote after she had experienced a summer of loss. Scarpino was overwhelmed with grief after losing her grandma, grandpa, and a friend in such a short period of time. Because of her losses, Scarpino started writing numerous poems about the people she loved so much.

“It was a way for me to make sense of what happened and a way for me to deal with my loss and grief,” Scarpino said.

Once Scarpino had an ample amount of poems, she began shaping them into a book. After that, it just made sense for her to try and get published. Once, Then was accepted by Red Hen Press a few years ago, and it was finally published in March 2014.

Working with a small publisher, Scarpino realized the need to promote her own work and scheduled a book tour that will take her to Massachusetts, Ohio, Wisconsin, and then back to the Upper Peninsula. She said she couldn’t be more excited to get on tour.

“Writing at home in pajamas is fun, but getting out and sharing it is what makes it,” Scarpino said.

Scarpino has been using poetry as a way to process the world around her for as long as she can remember. Some of her earliest poems were typed by her mother, as she recited them before she even knew how to use a typewriter. Much of her inspiration comes from what is happening in her life at the moment and from reading, reading, and more reading.

“If you want to be a writer you have to start reading,” Scarpino said.

Some of Scarpino’s favorite authors ranging from contemporary to classics are Anne Carson, Erica Dawson, Adrienne Rich, and Emily Dickenson, only to name a few.

For more information about Scarpino and her book tour visit her website or through her Twitter account.

Sarah Carstens is a writer for MQT Social Scene. She can be reached through our contact us page.

MQT Social Scene went to the UP Builders Show on March 8. Instead of writing another article to be lost in the traditional coverage of the event, MQT Social Scene took to social media and put all of our pictures on our new Instagram account. The pictures were autoposted through the app to our Twitter account. This was all done in real time, meaning it was the most immediate coverage of the UP Builders Show ever across two different social media platforms. #Instagramming should be a regular feature of MQT Social Scene in an attempt to use emerging technology in the media market to more efficiently share the stories of MQT. (Photos, captions by Brice Burge)

By Brice Burge
Editor In Chief

The MQT community is rallying around Baby Isaiah.

T-shirts, benefit dinners and monetary donations have all been compiled to help offset the increasing medical bills and aid for parents Erica Kaye and Joe Gatiss as they stay in Ann Arbor to stay with the embattled infant.

Isaiah was born on January 17, exactly three months before his due date. Isaiah's mother Erica Kaye said she experienced a pregnancy complication called placenta abruption, which occurs when the placental lining has separated from the uterus. It occurs in roughly one percent of pregnancies worldwide and is a major factor in maternal mortality, according to the March of Dimes.

However, the most damage for Isaiah have come from necrotizing enterocolits, also known as NEC. NEC is a bacterial disease that attacks the intestinal wall, killing off parts of the organ. NEC has a high mortality rate and is found primarily in premature babies.

Isaiah received the worst possible outcome of the NEC, when a hole was discovered in his intestines. Bowel perforations in any form, including Isaiah's hole, is treated only through surgery, according to the United States National Library of Medicine.

According to Kaye, the NEC ordeal is past Isaiah, as the perforation has healed.

“We are slowly working on feeding him again and getting his bowels to tolerate and move milk,” Kaye said.

Unfortunately, new problems have emerged. Isaiah was again placed on antibiotics, this time for a kidney infection. Kaye said that fluid has appeared in his lungs, which has made it harder for Isaiah to breathe.

“This last week has been kind of rough,” Kaye said. “We just keep our faith strong and pray a lot.”

Kacie Hanford is the unofficial leader of the aid efforts in MQT. She paid for the “Hope” T-shirts upfront for the donations while helping establishing benefits. She also posts regularly in the Facebook group “Baby Isaiah”, which extends emotional support as well as information about future events.

“This family needs a helping hand and one less thing to worry about,” Hanford said. “You have to keep the love alive.”

According to Hanford, the benefit for Baby Isaiah at the Wild Rover on Sunday, March 9, raised over $2,300 in aid, through an all you can eat spaghetti dinner, 50-50 drawing and silent auction. Another benefit dinner will be at the Up North Lodge on Sunday from 1-4 p.m..

“I cannot explain how unbelievably grateful (Gatiss) and I are with the support show to Isaiah and us,” Kaye said.

T-shirts are available at the Wild Rover and Ore Dock Brewing Company for $18.

Brice Burge is Editor In Chief of MQT Social Scene. He can be reached at briceMQT@gmail.com.

By Brice Burge
Managing Editor

A multifaceted cultural event will ask people to love the life around them in the MQT Love show, tonight at Ore Dock Brewing Company.

"I want this event to bring the all the amazing people of our Marquette community together in a loving, spiritual way," said event creator Kira Treloar. "I want it to inspire more art in our community, more conscious living in the way of respect for our beautiful planet earth, and more love among community members of all walks of life."

According to Treloar, The Love Show attempts to exhibit love and peacefulness through multiple artistic styles. Musical performances, dance shows, artwork and a fashion show by over 25 local artists and performers will highlight the four-hour event.

"People in MQT are so community oriented. Pretty much the moment I decided to do this event, everyone wanted to help," Treloar said. "Everyone cared about bringing people together and getting involved."

According to the event's Facebook page, over 250 people plan on attending. Also available on the page are numerous examples of the artwork expected to be on display. With a wide theme of love and peacefulness, different interpretations will add to the already diverse artistic styles throughout the event.

"When someone makes a piece of art, it comes from a beautiful place in their heart: a sacred place of love," Treloar said. "This event is just a celebration of that spiritual connection that art brings to life through its creator."

Artists showcased at The Love Show are Roslyn McGrath, Lisa Kupfer, Ryan Dalman, Amy Conover, Victoria Walther, Austin Gatz, Justin Savu, Zachary Schneider, Collen O'Hara, Allen Finau, Jenny Frein, The Moonstone Gallery and Treloar.

Musical acts include Not Quite Canada, Arsenal Ten, Funky Purple Tits, Troy Graham and Bedrooms & Basements.

Dancing at the event will be Maggie Barch, Alesia Maki, Beladinas and Random Acts of Art.

Highlighted in the fashion show will be Libby Buchler of Wooly Mama Clothing, Jeremy Symons of Yooper Shirts, Alexandra Zender, Studio 519 and Serendipity Salon. Double Trouble DJ's as well as guest MC's Loretta and Mercedes will also help with the fashion show.

The event is semi-formal and a $5 cover is suggested, but not required. All proceeds will be donated to Save the Wild U.P..

Brice Burge is the Managing Editor of MQT Social Scene. He can be reached at briceMQT@gmail.com.

In addition to the DDA's meeting plans, MQT Arts & Culture Center is also seeking public opinion on the upcoming Arts and Culture Master Plan. Open forums occurred earlier this month at Lakeview Arena, but now a survey has been open to the public as well. The two online surveys are split into an open public survey and a survey for artists. According to the artist survey, it is intended for "all creative disciplines; architecture, literary, dance, theater, film, design, music and visual arts."

The artist survey can be found here, while the open public survey can be found here.

Brice Burge is the Managing Editor of MQT Social Scene. He can be reached at briceMQT@gmail.com.

By Brice Burge
Managing Editor

A new exhibit of Paul Grant art is on display at the City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center. The exhibit titled "Revisiting People and Places" is his first exhibit of his work in over four years.

The selection of art is inspired by subjects over the last forty years, which is roughly how long Grant has lived in the MQT area. Grant's works have been for sale on a limited basis at the Landmark Inn. He also has a book entitled Portrait of a Peninsula that features his work.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," Grant said in a phone interview. "It allows me to do my own thing."

"Revisiting People and Places" uses watercolors, oil and charcoal-based art. It will run in the SmallWorks Gallery of the City of MQT Arts and Culture Center (MACC), located in the basement of the Peter White Public Library.

Also running in the main gallery of the MACC is a new exhibit called "Rock, Water, Wood". The exhibit focuses on the artwork of Sue Roubal, Marc Himes and Charlice Stewart.

Both of the exhibits will run from today through March 1. An opening reception will be at the MACC on Thursday, February 6 from 6-8 p.m..

Brice Burge is the managing editor of MQT Social Scene. He can be reached at briceMQT@gmail.com.

Black Shirt Beer Review (BSBR) is a beer review show on YouTube created and produced by people who live and work in MQT.

This episode has MQT Social Scene's Brice Burge and Wild Rover front house manager Alex Palzewicz sit down and try a mystery beer that debuted last Friday at the downtown bar and restaurant.

Black Shirt Beer Review is paired with Peanut Butter Disaster, a combination of other review shows on the internet, but BSBR runs on MQT Social Scene in syndication. Do you have a YouTube show of things focused on MQT or created by people from MQT? Let us know about syndication on our website.

MQT has been flirting with the idea of a true Mexican place after Los Tres Amigos ceased operations years ago. Franchises stepped up originally, as locally-owned Border Grill and national power house Taco Bell took charge. Other restaurants like the Crossroads, Vangos and Stuckos have days where their specials are focused on Mexican options. Fieras, located on Northern Michigan University's campus, is self-described as Latin-based cuisine, but has many Mexican foods. Fieras is the second-most popular dining outlet behind the more known Temaki and Tea.

Each of the three new Mexican restaurants brought something new to the area. Dia De Los Tacos was the first food truck of its kind in the MQT area. Ron's Taco Shop has the most available hours of any locally-owned restaurant. Sol Azteca brought Mexican food to downtown MQT by taking over the old Waterfront above L'Attitudes.

For a city already respected for its art and music scene, the culinary culture is improving in MQT.

Artists renderings of possible changes and additions to the Lower Harbor Ore Dock for the potential Ore Dock Bot Eco center. (oredockboteco.com)

PUBLIC OPINION IN CULTURAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES

Through surveys, focus groups and public sessions, the citizens of MQT can help shape major changes to the area. Two big initiatives -- the Marquette Arts and Culture Master Plan and the Ore Dock BotEco Center -- are actively looking for people to add to their projects.

Meetings were held yesterday and earlier this morning on the Marquette Arts and Culture Master Plan, the first such plan by the city in over 20 years. Participants were asked to share what their cultural experiences were and what the city did to help or hurt those experiences, from funding and publicity to road closure and tax spending.

A committee has been formed to help draw up the plan, co-chaired by Walt Lindela and Michelle Butler. The committee is working with MQT's community services. A survey will be out shortly for those that did not attend the meeting, but those willing to offer input now can contact Arts and Culture manager Tiina Harris at tharris@mqtcty.org.

The Ore Dock BotEco Center will have their meetings on Wednesday, February 5, at the Ore Dock Brewing Company and Thursday, February 6, at the Shiras Room in the Peter White Library. At the meetings, visuals and more information about turning one of MQT's most recognizable landmarks into a botanical garden and ecological education center will be provided.

The center has recently received non-profit status according to BotEco Center Board President Gisele Duehring, a major step in turning the Ore Dock into a more usable space. Previous attempts at shopping districts and apartments have not been successful.

Public input was important in last year's discussion of the Third Street Sustainable Corridor Plan. The majority of their planning last year, but input is still available for turning what is known as "the Village" into a more walkable district.

THE AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE ACT

The controversial law, also known as Obamacare or the Health Care Bill, is full of debate in Washington, but one specific aspect looks to hurt MQT's tourism and service industries. The hourly quotas are proving a challenge for managers and a concern for part-time workers in the area.

Younger people will not be able to stockpile hours in the summer during higher travel seasons, outdoor recreations while they are free from education schedules.

Expect more people to have to get a second or third job, while business owners and managers will have issues with scheduling and moonlighting policies. There are less available hours for part-time workers, with some people receiving more hours to reach full time to receive the healthcare promised in the Affordable Healthcare Act.

With stricter scheduling and people spread out further with work responsibilities, MQT's special events and tourism could suffer. Whether a small fundraiser, advisory committee or a large fest at Lower Harbor, these events need volunteers to run. A lot of these volunteers come from younger people in the part-time job force. Filling these spots and jobs this first summer with the Affordable Healthcare Act in effect will be a lesson in patience and dedication, not just for the area, but for our fellow MQT citizens.

RUNNING

Running is a wide topic, but covers so much for the MQT area. 

As a runner-friendly city, MQT has miles of paved and nature trails as well as stores knowledgeable about running trends. Currently, runners are trying to bring back old races like the Fourth of July Mile to join other contests throughout the year. The Marquette Marathon will reportedly have a new course as well.

Running is an individualistic sport and activity, but can be done as groups. That versatility pairs up well with MQT's other popular sports like cross country skiing, cycling and disc sports like Frisbee golf. It promotes a healthy, active community for the citizens of MQT.

Local teams also are doing well in running, as the MQT Redmen and Redettes will defend their UP Cross Country championships next fall, while NMU will look to build off their best season under Head Coach Jenny Ryan.

Also fun runs look to make an impact both recreational-wise and as fundraisers. The Run or Dye series coming to MQT with other fun runs being investigated as fundraisers for groups in the MQT area.

MQT BURDENED BY BOARD OF LIGHT AND POWER RATE INCREASE

The MQT BLP rate increase was approved by the MQT City Commission last October after a request from the publicly-elected Board of Light and Power. The increase will be minimal for regular homeowners, with an estimated $13 increase, according to stats provided in an editorial by the Mining Journal. Those stats were taken from previous Mining Journal articles.

Increases are the first in roughly 30 years, according to Upper Peninsula Source and are one of the many reasons that increases are so drastic. In comparison, BLP rates are still cheaper after the increase than other regional power companies, like UPPCO or Alger/Delta.

The big challenge will be for businesses and non-profit groups. In the same editorial by the Mining Journal, MQT Area Public Schools (MAPS) will have an extra $113,000 to pay, while NMU will have an additional $650,000 on their bill. These are massive increases that will play major havoc in each group's budgets the next year.

With more donations and emergency funds from these groups being funneled into such a massive increase, businesses and non-profits are not as prepared for the other changes expected to hit MQT. The BLP has created an unnecessary financial burden and risk for these groups and subsequently the city.

Brice Burge is the Managing Editor of MQT Social Scene. He can be reached at briceMQT@gmail.com.

By Brice Burge
Managing Editor

UP Mosaic, an exhibit at the Beaumier Heritage Center, ends this weekend.

The exhibit examined the relationship between the culture of Upper Peninsula residents with the environmental factors of the area, like climate and mineral resources.

Mosaic is stocked with multiple artifacts from multiple donors covering anything from ice climbing to the logging industry.

There were some availability problems with the exhibit. After starting later than the original date, the exhibit also ran through NMU's Winter break between semesters. However, fans of the history museum located in the Cohodas Building on 1401 Presque Isle, came and interacted with the exhibit.

After UP Mosaic comes down, a traveling exhibit from the Canadian War Museum will come to Beaumier. The exhibit will focus on the War of 1812 from four different points of views: Americans, Canadians, Native Americans and the British. The opening reception will be on Thursday, January 23 at 6 p.m..

Brice Burge is the Managing Editor of MQT Social Scene. He can be reached at briceMQT@gmail.com.

By Brice Burge
Managing Editor

The tentative course for the 2014 Run or Dye 5K run has been announced.

The course, starts at Mattson Lower Harbor park and takes the bike path through Eastern MQT. Traveling past the Coast Guard base and Maritime Museum, the course follows the path past McCarthy's Cove, through Shiras Park near Picnic Rocks towards the intersection of Pine Street and Lakeshore. The course then returns on the same route to the Lower Harbor, but finishers will finish on the concrete walkway near the water.

Four dye stations – where runners get sprayed with colored, washable, cornstarch powders – are currently marked at the starting line, at the South boundary of Shiras Park heading North, by the Shiras Park playground as runners head South, and the intersection of Crescent and Lakeshore streets. They are at each kilometer mark and use different colors.

Runners will find the course somewhat familiar. The course is similar to the 2009 Run for Veterans, using the same stretch of bike path. However, instead of starting and ending at the YMCA on Fair Street, the turnaround is further up the bike path.

There is one place where runners cross a street: the intersection of Fair and Lakeshore. This is also a street crossing in the Marquette Marathon route. It is a flat course, with the greatest elevation change near Lower Harbor.

The run is a fun run, which means that there will be no times or prizes given to competitors. The race will be on June 28, 2014, the first of its kind in the Upper Peninsula.

Brice Burge is the Managing Editor of MQTSocialScene.com. He can be reached at briceMQT@gmail.com.