10/24/13 – Here is the latest edition of the Cook County West End News from WTIP, North Shore Community Radio. – Bill

10/19/13 – Every year the Fall crew at Sawbill has a pumpkin carving party. This year we saw a wide variety of artistic styles ranging from UFOs to resident penguin Roscoe.

Hank is eager to carve a pumpkin of his own!

The fall crew hard at work.

Master pumpkin carver Bill Hansen.

The final result.

10/19/13 – Here are some photos of the Aurora Borealis from October 1st taken by resident photographer Carl Hansen.

Photo by Hansen International Productions. All rights reserved.

Photo by Hansen International Productions. All rights reserved.

10/15/13 – Here is this week’s edition of the Cook County West End News from WTIP, North Shore Community Radio. – Bill

10/8/13 – The federal government shutdown has finally had some impact on us. The drive-in National Forest Campgrounds at Sawbill Lake, Crescent Lake and Temperance River will be “officially” closed starting tomorrow.
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is still fully open. Permits are free, unlimited and self issued right at each entry point.
The drive-in campgrounds, although officially closed, will still allow you to camp there, but the outhouses will be locked and the water will be turned off. Of course, there will be no charge for camping.
Here at Sawbill, we will have water and toilet facilities available at the store, which any campers are welcome to use, as always.
By the way, it looks like the next week or so is going to be unseasonably warm and pleasant weather-wise. Although the peak of the fall colors has passed, it is still quite colorful and beautiful here. – Bill

10/6/13 – Here is this week’s edition of the Cook County West End News from WTIP, North Shore Community Radio. – Bill

10/3/13 – Here is last week’s edition of the Cook County West End News from WTIP, North Shore Community Radio.

10/1/13 – Last night the entire crew was able to enjoy our annual fall dinner at Lutsen Resort. As we normally have to keep a few people working the store and outfitting desk while we eat dinner, being able to eat as a complete crew is a rare and uplifting occasion. The meal was followed by a very moving Dessa concert at Papa Charlie’s (Dessa is part of Doomtree Collective, a Minneapolis based hip-hop collective). Endless thanks to Nancy Burns, Scott Harrison, and all of their staff at Lutsen Resort for the decadent meal! We are so appreciative.

A full dinner table and soon-to-be-full stomachs. -Meg

10/1/13 – We’ve been getting calls and emails about how the government shutdown may affect the BWCA Wilderness. The shutdown will have no effect on trips to the Wilderness or the campgrounds on the Superior National Forest.
Just by coincidence, today is the day that BWCA Wilderness entry permits no longer need to be reserved in advance. From now until May 1st, you can write your own permit from a box located at each entry point.
Here at Sawbill, the store will be open until the end of October, from 8 am – 7 pm every day.
So, everything is open up here. By the way, it is beautiful right now, with the fall colors at or near their peak. – Bill

9/28/13 – Every fall, the late season Sawbill crew goes bowling at the Silver Lanes in Silver Bay. We all pile in the van right after closing and enjoy an evening of pizza and bowling. – Bill

The bowling crew: (f)Carl Hansen, Nils John Anderson (m)Jessica Hemmer, Crista Clark, Sarah Davidson, Meg Simon, Tsipora (guest), (r)Rachel Ter Beest, Jim Ter Beest, Cindy Hansen, Bill Hansen, Tyler Campbell.

Bowling shoe fashion.

Jim celebrates one of his many strikes.

Tyler reads Meg’s final score sheet, much to the amusement of the audience.