Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
IRONWOOD STUDENTS, from left, Sydnee Lorenson and Selena Pecotte; along with shop teacher Alison Stehlik bring the sign they spent several months hand making into About the Hair Wednesday in downtown Ironwood. Several other students, including Marissa Wendt - who graduated last year - also did work on the sign.
By RICHARD JENKINS
Ironwood - Downtown Ironwood will soon have another splash of color, as Ironwood industrial education students were at the Suffolk Street hair salon About the Hair Wednesday to deliver the sign they built in the district's wood shop class.
"Oh my gosh," a shocked Gail Mlasko -who owns the salon - said repeatedly after seeing the completed sign for the first time.
"This is beyond anything I could have expected," Mlasko told the students after a couple minutes, seemingly fighting back emotion at times. "This is so wonderful."
The sign was started in February, according to shop teacher Alison Stehlik, and the finishing touches were still being put on it Wednesday.
Ironwood sophomore Selena Pecotte and junior Sydnee Lorenson, along with Marissa Wendt - who graduated last year - were responsible for most of the work on the sign, almost all of which was made by hand.
"(The girls used) little teeny palm chisels," Stehlik said. "And they worked like crazy."
While it would be simple for Mlasko to hire a sign company to build the sign, she said she intentionally chose to reach out to the Ironwood school district.
"I wanted the promotional work ... for the (areas) skilled trades programs that have gone by the wayside," Mlasko said, adding the trades remain an important option for students as an alternative to a four-year degree that need more support.
"We need to get the trades up and going," she said.
The sign will be hung above the salon's main entrance, where the students can see their creation as they travel through downtown Ironwood - which Mlasko said she hopes will also serve to promote the trades.
"This is amazing," Mlasko told the girls. "You girls should be very proud."
Mlasko, who has been operating the salon since the end of January, said she also plans to run a promotion where part of her proceeds from a week of business will be donated to the Ironwood shop program.
Stehlik said anyone interested in commissioning the shop program for a project can contact the district at 906-932-0200.
