Thank You

A giant KIITOS (THANK YOU) to all of the people who helped to make the 50th Annu­al St. Urho’s Celebration happen. From all of those who help put the sign up over the highway, to the folks in the parade, to all the raffle ticket sellers, to the businesses that helped out by donating or selling raffle tickets and buttons, and to the businesses and folks who par­ticipated in the ‘Stamp Game’… you all help make this event hap­pen. Thank you so much!

A general thank you to the whole crowd and community who show up in purple and green and help spread St Urho’s cheer. Some of you have been showing off your Finlander spirit for 50 years! We appreciate you all!

Big thanks to the outstanding bunch that put-on Miss Helmi, the great contestants this year and their helpers, and to the kind folks at Our Place for feeding the crew afterwards. The Miss Helmi 2025 winner is Tom Campbell. Thanks to Adam’s Auto Value SB for providing the bus and an es­pecially big thanks to our driver, Gus! Also big thanks to past Miss Helmis, Demetrius Hill 2022, Jonathan Beauchane 2023, and Shawn Nowotczynski 2024 for be­ing good sports and helping make the show bigger and better this year, to Lindsey Dietz for chore­ography, and to the sound crew – Jeffrey, Chris and Lindsey. Special recognition to Patrick Ramsdell for being such a terrific Master of Ceremonies.

Thanks to all who helped out at the Float Workshop, especially all of the artistic community kids who helped create the Grand Marshal Float, the Miss Helmi Float, and the Finland Community Youth Program Float.

Thank you to Tina Kreger Buus for organizing our parade this year! Thank you to our col­or guard, and to all of the creative people with their amazing parade floats! You guys all rock! Thank you to our Grand Marshal Joretta Nikula and to her family mem­bers for making sure she was able to be there! Thanks to Arlene Con­zelman for her work on the Grand Marshal float. And a big thanks to our parade judges (Sugar Goette, Miranda Bischoff, and Miranda Sve) and to Pat Ramsdell (Herbie) for making the awesome trophies!

Thanks so much to Kaare Melby for all the work on livestreaming, photos, and graphics. People really do comment about how much they appreciate it!

Thanks to FMHS and especial­ly to Danette this year for all the work on the pancake breakfast! It wouldn’t be St. Urho’s Day with­out pancakes and grape juice!

Big thanks to Robin Sunqui­et for setting up and decorating the outdoor stage, to Robin and Steve Solkela and the Hauliwood Dreams band for playing music outside during the day, to Teresa Aho and the Northern Stars for playing at the Clair Nelson Cen­ter, and to Lovin Lake County for sponsoring the whole thing.

Thanks to Meghan Mitchell and the Finland Food Chain team for making mojakka for lunch at the Clair Nelson Center after the pa­rade.

Thanks to Crystal Bay Town­ship for providing port-a-potties for the weekend! All of us really appreciate it!

We also want to acknowledge Adam’s Auto Value for sponsoring and providing the sober cab (bus) – it really is a great option and helps keep everyone safe! Thanks so, so much!

Huge shout-out to all the indi­viduals and businesses who do­nated for the online auction and for door prizes for the raffle tick­et drawing this year! There were so many beautiful items donated. Thank you so much! Thank you bidders! And the donated door prizes really help to make the drawing a festive event.

Adam’s Auto Value

Amber Klinker – Scentsy

AmericInn by Wyndham Tofte

Baptism River Barbecue Co.

Black Beach Inn by GrandStay

Blackbear Outfitters – Dick Krech

Black Beach Mini Golf

Bluefin Bay Resort

Briesa’s Convenience Store

Clearview General Store

Cove Point Lodge

Creating My Journey – Jessie Anderson

D&D Services

Dave & Heidi Hove

Dave McDonough & Crash and Burn Racing

Don’s Auto Repair & Towing

Donna McCurdy-Wolke – Avon & Color Street Nails

Finland Cooperative Company

Finland Fire Department

Finland MN Historical Society

Finland Snowmobile / ATV Club

Finnskogen Farm – Kaare & Pam Melby

Fish Out Of Water

Four Seasons Restaurant & Bar

Happy Wanderers

Holiday Stationstore Beaver Bay

Hugo’s Bar

J&H Auto Repair & Towing

Jen’s North Shore Nursery

Julie’s True Value

Just Plain Sorrel – Christine & Libby Althaus

Knotted Pine Inn & Tavern

Lauri Hohman

North Shore Federal Credit Union

Northwoods Family Grille

Organic Consumers Association

Our Place

Paparazzi & Thirty One Gifts – Debbie Ahlbeck

SalonHaven

Silver Bay Municipal Bar & Liquor Store

Silver Bowl

Temperance Traders

The Green Door

Timber Coffee Co.

Wildhurst Lodge & Campground

Zup’s Food Market – Silver Bay

Zup’s Flower Shop & Dollar Store

Thanks to Senja Ahlbeck-Bates and Heather Sve for all of their work to gather door prizes and on­line auction items.

Thanks also to Thrivent Fi­nancial and those who filled out Thrivent Action Teams to support this event!

Thanks to Senja, Heather, Ar­lene & Keith Chmielewski for co­ordinating the fireworks show and Jon Nelson (Palisade Firewood) for providing the firewood for the fire on Saturday night. The fire­works were AWESOME and the whole event with the bonfire and s’mores was really nice. Thank you to those who braved the weath­er and came out to enjoy the show!

Big thanks to Jeff, Pam, and the staff at the Four Seasons for all the extra work and logistics of the tent and outdoor music. It really helped make the 50th annual event special.

Huge thanks to Bob, Dianne, Mason, Tina, and the crew at the Our Place for going all out this year for the 50th annual and for hosting the raffle ticket drawing. Big thanks to everyone who helped out the day of the drawing! Extra special thanks to Pat Ramsdell for doing all the talking.

Thanks again to Lovin’ Lake County for all the support!

Thanks again to all for support­ing St. Urho’s Day! It really does take the whole town and then some to put on this event, so to everyone who helps – THANK YOU! We’ll see you next year for the 51st an­nual, or as we have been joking, the 2nd annual 50th event! Here’s to 50 more years!

With so much love and gratitude,

The St. Urho Committee

St. Urho 2025 Rundown:

Raffle prizes were as follows:

• 1st prize $650 – James Edstrom of Eveleth, MN (ticket sold by Kayla Schaefer)
• 2nd prize $350 – Jim Zupancich of Babbitt, MN (ticket sold by Four Seasons)
• 3rd prize $250 – Adam Kofstad of Silver Bay, MN (ticket sold by Adam’s Automotive)
• 4th prize $150 – Sue Butler of Finland, MN (ticket sold by the Trestle Inn)

Parade prizes went to:

• Most Original: Diane Helander – Finland MN Historical Society Float
• Most Traditional: Heather Sve – Hopper Stopper Taksi
• Best of Show: Hooterville

The Tug of War was won by the north side of the bridge both times. Very close, intense matches each time!

Yearbook (stamp) game prizes went to:

• Phil Brayley $50
• Sarah Gagner $100
• Liz Wilde $150