What a beautiful shot! This is what winter is all about!

Love the view. Thanks for a window on my favorite place on earth.

I see open water in the background, maybe these people are out there on a bet on how far they can go. Then again they might always be playing on thin ice. I've been on thin ice on the lower end of this channel but not without a sounder pick and a pair of skiis on my feet to distribute the weight.

Charlie: Please repeat the info so that I/we can help with the van project. Don't be shy, we all here in Pastycamville would like to help. When you show the picture of it, I want to be able to say I helped.

Also I want to wish my friends at Lac la Belle a great new years eve at the party they're going to have. I'll be there in spirit Ned.

To all of you in our unique group a very very Happy New Year to you all too!!!!

great picture indeed, I'm trying to guess where this is, a couple of miles before Houghton?? Used to be a trailer park there. Nice to see new construction, those people have a great view!!

Do those old people get paid to make all those pasties or are they slave labor?

Photograph was taken from the east parking lot of MTU overlooking the Houghton stamp sands. I stopped when I looked over and saw two small children on their bellies and several folks running out on the ice to them. I thought that they had fallen through the ice but was wrong. It is still a bad idea to go out on the ice.

The below posting shows that someone in Vermont needs some enlightenment.

By Al, Vt on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 08:14 pm:
Do those old people get paid to make all those pasties or are they slave labor?

Proceeds go to the nonprofit home's reserve fund, which it is required by its mortgage holder, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to maintain.

Also, the residents have been busy all of their lives, and to just go to 'the home' and fade away is not in their nature. Studies have also shown that people who keep busy tend to live a longer, happier and healthier life than those who idle away their time.

Besides working to make the approximate 1000 pasties per month is not mandatory, it is strictly voluntary.

A very big thank you to the dozens of Pasty Camwatchers who have helped Still Waters with a donation for the resident van project. Over the years you have seen some of our residents on these pages, peeling veggies for pasties, pitching horse shoes, or celebrating birthdays. (And yes, Al, VT, the residents do get paid for the time they spend working on the pasties).

The resident van is definitely in need of replacement. I suppose if we raised the price of the pasties enough, in time we probably could earn enough extra to buy a van. Here's an idea: how about we keep the pasties affordably priced, and you can take a tax deduction for any contribution you make toward the van :) Still Waters is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, and any donation submitted before midnight Dec. 31 will be deductible on your 2002 taxes.

For a secure link to make a donation by credit card, click here. Thanks again for caring.

Does anybody know Mr. Whittaker down in West Virginia? We hear he has a few extra dollars to spare these days - - around 117 million. Bet he could use a good tax deduction.

I'll be willing to bet about right now Mr Whittaker most likely isn't even answering his phone. Heard something on the news the other day that they had recieved over 2000 calls from people wanting money.

Correction for D. Buckmaster: last summer our shipments hit 12,000 picnic pasties in one month (for the Minnesota State Fair). If you have been watching the pasty counter on the front page, you have seen us go through about 8,000 this holiday season.

The question about pay for the residents reminded me of a few years ago when we started giving paychecks after the peeling sessions. One of our men took his walker from the dining room to a sitting area, and we handed him a check. "What's this?" he asked. Dolly answered that from now on the residents would be getting paychecks for their work. He stared for a moment in disbelief. Then he waived it in the air and shouted, "Woo Hoo! There really is a Santa Claus!"

Sure is a pretty shot, Donn. Don't think I'd want to be out on the ice yet either. Must be almost across the lake from Dollar Bay, huh? Pytavay, Happy New Year from over here in Cornell! God bless America!

The big lottery winner does have a distant relative living right here in Hancock, a 4th or 5th cousin, but he said he won't see a dime...

A BIG NEW YEAR THANK YOU to you, Charlie, and all who help with Pasty Central (photographers, writers, pasty-makers, e-mail contributors, and on and on)....for another most exciting year on the best web site in the world. Your efforts bring a lot of joy and a "letter from home" each day.
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all who love the UP!

Amen to what Lois said (Happy New Year, wonderful lady!)! Let's all take a moment today, the last of this hectic and eventful year, to look back at those who have left us in whatever way, those who have touched us and those who have changed us; and to look forward to new adventures, challenges and opportunities for 2003. For me (an others, I'm sure), pasty.com will remain a vitally important part. Charlie, this is indeed your mission, gift and calling -- thanks for listening to another Voice. Onnellista Uutta Vuotta!

I am new ot Pasty Central! Each day I look at the Bridge CAM to SEE the weather report. It also gives me a chance to kid my brothers that I keep track of their crossing. We grew up in West Houghton. I watched the bridge go up while working at the power plant summers. I also enjoyed the pictures of Old Houghton. It's hard to remember the Copper Range coal dock etc. I now live in Florida in the winter and park our Motor Home south of the Houghton County airport on some property we own there during the summer. We travel during the other seasons.