U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Division 091-30 - Northstar

22/09/2025

See the coverage of Dr. Fritsche on tv in Northern News Now, Duluth MN

In forty-plus years of service, he’s saved a few lives on Lake Superior, earning him the Jim Munger Award for exceptional service.

22/09/2025

Leaders and members of Division 30, Great Lakes Central District of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, met in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, on Saturday, 20 September 2025. All four flotillas were represented by leaders and members. The meeting, held at Tasty Pizza North, began at 10 AM with donuts and coffee and concluded with lunch, awards, and a short training session. We were pleased to have Commodore Mark Villenieve speak to us from Michigan via Teams. David G. Anderson, Division Commander, presided over the recognition of Ted Fritsche, Apostle Islands Flotilla, with the James Munger Award for Leadership.

12/08/2025

Flotilla 30-07 (International Falls, MN) members were on site at Rainer Days on 9 August. The event has been a staple in Rainer, Minnesota, located on the American side of our border with Canada. Coastie was there to meet and greet our young visitors and those not so young, too. The Finsted Family hosted a variety of booths, including the DNR, two historical societies, the National Park Service, and, of course, the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Members Raoul Lufbery, Chris Silvers, and Tom and Sue Thurlow were there for the fun. The event was a great opportunity to meet members of the public and promote both Auxiliary membership and boating safety.

31/07/2025

Hanging at the Crow Wing County Fair with Coastie.

21/07/2025

Fifteen Chiefs of Staff and three instructors attended a week-long training at the Coast Guard Academy in June. Funded by the United States Coast Guard, instructors from the Leadership Development Center at the Academy, along with Auxiliary Instructors, provided the Auxiliary Senior Leadership Course members with training on leadership, transition planning, and understanding the role of the Auxiliary within the Active Duty relationship. One highlight of the week was a visit to the Academy simulation lab, where class members learned about an actual "near-mishap" that occurred in the San Francisco Bay several years ago. Members were able to listen to real-time communications and observe the ships as they approached one another on the simulation screen. Class members agree that the opportunity to learn together and build relationships with one another is the foundation of the learning experience.
Below in Photo #1-Commander Vandenheuval, a member of the Leadership Development Center Staff, spoke to our ASOC Students about Command and Personal Leadership Philosophy Development and Risk Management.
In Photo #2-Commodore Thurlow's Group shared a moment after ordering seafood dinners at Captain Scott's Lobster Dock in New London, CT, a tradition for Auxiliary Senior Officer's Course students.
In Photo #3-Chiefs of Staff, Craig Felde, Anthony Waters, and Christopher Ware collaborate on strategies for engaging Auxiliary members at the United States Coast Guard Academy in June 2025.

09/06/2025

Duluth and Viking- quite a pair.

06/06/2025

Thank you City of Duluth. Viking is an excellent cruise line to have stopping in our Division!

Viking Octanis docked at the City of Duluth's newly built Seawall.

Congrats to City staff and leadership getting this project to completion.

This is Duluth's new front door.

24/05/2025

Give them a break and a hand, if you can.

Be on the lookout for turtles crossing the road and remember to “give turtles a brake.”

Female turtles are seeking nesting areas to lay their eggs and may need to risk crossing roads to get to these habitats. Unfortunately, thousands of turtles are killed each year when struck by vehicles in New York State. Please never remove a turtle from the wild to ‘rescue’ it or take it to an area with fewer roads. Turtles are familiar with the landscape and may try to return, and risk crossing more roads. Removing even one adult female turtle from the wild can hurt local populations.

If you see a turtle in the road:
🐢 Reduce traveling speed, where safe to do so, and stay vigilant around ponds and wetlands, or other turtle crossing hot spots (turtle crossing signs).
🐢 Stop only if you can SAFELY do so, signal properly when pulling over and PARK ENTIRELY OFF THE ROAD.
🐢 Do NOT pick turtles up by their tails. Doing so can dislocate or fracture the tail bones and other tissues. Most turtles can be picked up safely by the sides of their shells. (See snapping turtle info below). Use a secure grip, as turtles may kick at your hands to loosen your hold. Dropping a turtle can damage their shell and developing embryos within females.
🐢 Move the turtle off the road in the direction it was already heading.
🐢 Wave goodbye and carry on living your life.

What if it’s a snapping turtle:
🐢 Snapping turtles have a strong bite and necks that reach far back. (*SAFETY NOTE*: snapping turtles can spin quickly and kick vigorously when gripped and lifted – use appropriate caution.)
🐢 Pick them up by the rear shell near the tail or slide a car mat under to drag safely across the road.
🐢 Do not drag the turtle by the tail. Doing so can dislocate the tail bones.

A licensed wildlife rehabilitator may be able to help if an injured turtle is found.

All amphibians and reptiles native to New York are protected by New York State Environmental Conservation Law.

Leave turtles in the wild—do not take them home as pets.

Photo of a wood turtle by Ksenia Zinchenko

24/05/2025

This is so fun and so true.

22/05/2025

Check it out. Duluth is where it’s at….

22/05/2025

May 2025- National Safe Boating Week. Auxiliarist Pat Westman presents boating safety information to seniors and their grandkids at the Four Seasons Senior Center in Roseau, Minnesota. (Photo by Senior Center Staff)

20/05/2025

This makes so much sense.