Salamander Days is an awareness campaign presented by the City of Marquette and Superior Watershed Partnership, in partnership with Peter White Public Library, Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum, Moosewood Nature Center and Members of the Community. It is a collective effort to educate the public about the annual migration of the blue spotted salamander and the associated city road closure that occurs at Presque Isle Park in the spring months. This unique natural phenomena in the City limits presents an opportunity to advocate for environmental etiquette and appreciation.

The goals is to celebrate and spread conscientious awareness of the blue spotted salamanders and other spring indicator species through educational programming, arts, and community engagement throughout the greater Marquette community.

Salamander Days events will occur throughout March and April and include: salamander-themed crafts and activities in the Children’s Maker Space at the Peter White Public Library; Second Thursday programming of springtime amphibians, frog poetry, and salamander painting at the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum; educational programming at the Moosewood Nature Center; Signs of Spring Art Exhibit hosted at City Hall; Senior Arts April programming through the Office of Arts and Culture; and more educational and science programming with the Superior Watershed Partnership.

For specific programming information and the call to artists for submission to the Signs of Spring exhibit, please visit the Marquette Compass at mqtcompass.com; https://www.mqtcompass.com/salamander-days/.

For questions, please contact Kathleen at kathleen@superiorwatersheds.org or Amelia at apruiett@marquettemi.gov.

The City of Marquette Office of Arts & Culture is currently accepting proposals for projects to take place during this year’s City of Marquette Art Week, scheduled for June 20-25, 2022.

Art Week is an annual event held during the last full week of June that invites local artists, organizations, and businesses to come together, collaborate, and present a series of free arts and cultural events, concerts, workshops, performances, exhibits, demonstrations, and more for the Marquette community.

Proposed Art Week projects should connect to and play off of this year’s theme of Water, inspired by the City’s Cultural Trail initiative. The Cultural Trail will celebrate Marquette’s cultural heritage and natural environment, connecting historic and culturally significant locations and natural features along the City’s multi-use pathway through public art, space design, and interpretive signage. In particular, the Office of Arts & Culture seeks projects that explore the shoreline, its history, and spectacular landscape from the Carp River to Presque Isle.

Artists and organizations interested in proposing a project must complete and submit a proposal form by Sunday, March 13.

Full information, guidelines, and a link to the proposal form are available on the Marquette Compass Art Week homepage, www.mqtcompass.com/art-week.

Please contact the Office of Arts & Culture with any questions or concerns at arts-culture@marquettemi.gov or (906) 228-0472.

The following streets will be closed to motor vehicles at the following times for the start of the Annual U.P. 200 & Midnight Run Dog Sled Races, to be held Friday, February 18.

Thursday, February 17
10:30 p.m. - Washington Street from Front Street to Lakeshore Boulevard

Friday, February 18
5:00 a.m. - Washington Street from Front Street to Sixth Street
7:00 a.m. – Fifth Street from Spring Street to Bluff Street (closed to through traffic)
9:00 a.m. - Fourth Street from Spring Street to Bluff Street (closed to through traffic)
1:00 p.m. - Lakeshore Boulevard from Mattson Park to Baraga Avenue (closed to through traffic)
5:00 p.m. - Lakeshore Boulevard from Baraga Avenue to U.S. 41 (closed to through traffic)
5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - The northbound lane of S. Lake Street from U.S. 41 to Hampton Street
5:15 p.m. - Front Street from Baraga Avenue to Bluff Street (closed to through traffic)
5:45 p.m. - Third Street from Spring Street to Bluff Street (closed to through traffic)

A detour route around the closure areas will use Baraga Avenue, Seventh Street, and Bluff Street.

The street closures will remain in effect until 2:00 a.m. Saturday, February 19.

Pedestrian access will be allowed all days throughout all the street closure areas.

City offices located at Marquette City Hall, 300 W. Baraga Avenue; the Lakeview Arena, 401 E. Fair Avenue; the Arts and Culture Center, 217 N. Front St. (in the Peter White Public Library); and the Municipal Service Center, 1100 Wright Street, will be closed on Monday, February 21, in observance of Presidents’ Day. Marquette Police, Fire, and Public Works and Utilities will remain operational during this time. 

There will be no change in garbage pickup for City residents.

The annual meeting of Special Event holders in the City of Marquette will be held Tuesday, February 22 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.  This meeting will be held virtually, with event holders and City staff attending remotely. This meeting will discuss updates on the process for special events for stakeholders and event planners.

To participate, please visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86732052907?pwd=KzA0WW5acitPeThNSlJ1dUV6L0Y4Zz09

Special Event holders wishing to participate via telephone can call 312-626-6799and enter the meeting ID: 867 3205 290. Written questions can be submitted to amaciver@marquettemi.gov

The Marquette Public Art Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, February 9 at 6:30 p.m. This meeting will be in-person in the City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center, 217 N. Front Street, Marquette.

Public Participation

There will be one public comment period for the meeting, at the beginning of the agenda. Comments are limited to three minutes and speakers must give their name and address before speaking. Written comments will be presented to the board during the meeting and can be submitted by emailing tmorin@marquettemi.gov. Written submissions will be accepted until 5pm on Wednesday, February 9.

The Presque Isle Park Advisory Committee (PIPAC) meeting scheduled for February 9, has been canceled.  The next regularly scheduled meeting will be March 9.

A regular meeting of the Marquette Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors will be held Thursday, February 10, at the Marquette Commons, 112 South Third Street. The meeting will begin at 8:00 a.m. Masks are encouraged.

Public Participation

There will be two options for public participation in this meeting: in person or written. Written comments can be submitted by emailing Becky@downtownmarquette.org. Written submissions will be accepted until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 9.

The Board of Zoning Appeals regular meeting on March 3, has been canceled.   The next scheduled meeting will be held on April 7.

Thursday, February 10, the Marquette Arts and Culture Advisory Committee will hold its regular monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. This meeting will be in-person at the City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center, 217 N. Front Street, Marquette.

Public Participation

There will be one public comment period for the meeting at the beginning of the agenda. Comments are limited to three minutes and speakers must give their name and address before speaking. Written comments will be presented to the Committee during the meeting and can be submitted by emailing tmorin@marquettemi.gov. Written submissions will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Thursday February 10.