Story Portage is a non-profit, centered in Ely, Minnesota, created to foster the art of personal narrative and to promote literacy and reading here in the Northwoods. Current and future projects include: Ely, Minnesota Chapter of the League of Minnesota Poets The Maud Hart Lovelace and Star of the North Children’s Choice Book Award Program Random Acts of Poetry VCC Visiting Writers Program   Visit our website and take a look at our current projects to learn more, and contact us if you’d like to be part of Story Portage’s future! Story Portage P.O. Box 286 Ely, MN 55731

From the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota, Widji is uniquely situated to provide access to some of the finest wilderness areas in North America. Four generations of young lives, spanning over eighty years, have been transformed by a Widjiwagan experience. Through wilderness travel and environmental learning experiences, they have built leadership skills, gained confidence and explored extraordinary listings. Camp Widjiwagan offers programming for teens, ages 11–18.

The purpose of Incredible Ely is to revitalize Ely’s downtown and support innovative growth in the Ely area by connecting businesses, people, knowledge, ideas, and resources. IE’s vision is a dynamic, innovative, and distinctive community with a diversified and seasonally-balanced economic base. Explore our projects and join our beautification efforts while supporting innovative growth. Like many rural communities, the Ely area has struggled to maintain a vibrant economy in the wake of the 2007-08 economic recession. Empty storefronts are a visible reminder of the challenges we face in attracting and retaining young people and ensuring that they have employment opportunities throughout the year – not just during the summer tourist season. Yet there are signs of an Ely renaissance — in the re-opening of Wintergreen Northern Wear, in the expansion of Steger Mukluks, with the opening of the Folk School, and especially in the property developments being undertaken by the Ely Economic Development Authority. The Ely area has no shortage of talent, and it’s many volunteer organizations are enthusiastically adding to Ely’s offerings in the arts, recreation, and tourist attractions. Incredible Ely (IE) in conjunction with the City and the Chamber of Commerce is part of the community-wide effort to make the area a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

The award-winning Timberjay newspapers are the most widely-read weekly newspapers in the North Country, serving communities throughout our region with local and regional news, opinion, sports, outdoors reporting, and much more. We also serve as the official newspaper for the City of Tower, and a number of area townships, including Breitung, Vermilion Lake, Bearville, Leiding, Field, Embarrass, and Kugler. The Timberjay PO Box 718 Ely, MN 55731 Office address: The Timberjay, 414 Main St., PO Box 636, Tower, MN 55790. PHONE: 218-753-2950 FAX: 218-753-2916

Oriental Orchid features Vietnamese and Chinese Cuisine with daily lunch specials. Call now for Take-out and delivery!

Casual counter-serve chain for build-your-own sandwiches & salads, with health-conscious options.

Immerse yourself in Northern Minnesota comfort at Grand Ely Lodge Resort & Conference Center, a stunning choice in Ely, MN hotels. Located in the scenic Up North wilderness, our four-season resort boasts comfortable, spacious lodgings and stunning panoramic views of Shagawa Lake. Whether you’ve come to Ely for a family vacation, a much-deserved getaway, or a productive business retreat, Grand Ely Lodge Resort & Conference Center provides a much-needed escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The Grand Ely Lodge experience starts with our wide array of services and amenities. Take a refreshing dip in our indoor pool, or warm up and soothe tired muscles in our whirlpool and sauna. Traveling with children is easy and fun—entertain the kids with hours of fun outdoors or in our on-site game room. After days spent snowshoeing or afternoons spent hiking the Trezona Trail, you can enjoy all-day dining at the Evergreen Restaurant and refreshing beverages with a view at the Antlers Lounge; at both restaurants, children ten and under eat for free at every meal. After activities, you’ll love to unwind in our guest rooms, boasting the most comfortable and relaxing accommodations among Ely, MN resorts.

Services that the library offers: Books (including large print titles), movies (including TV show sets), books on CD, music CDs, and magazines to check out Minnesota and local author collections Free Wi-Fi hotspot – extends beyond the walls and stays on all night (look for Linksys) Programming throughout the year 9 public access computers Public photocopier – 20 cents per sheet Newspapers Kill-a-watt device for checkout Disc resurfacer – we will clean commercial DVDs, CDs, or computer games for a fee of $2 per disc Friends of the Library Book Club Community display cases and artwork by local artists Downloadable audios, e-books, and e-magazines via our regional library system Tours and presentations on request Study rooms