Support the Timberjay by making a donation.

Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Elyite.com website touts life at the end of the road

Keith Vandervort
Posted 6/13/18

ELY – Elyite/ee-lee-ite/noun – A person whose passion for Ely, Minn., and the surrounding community compels that individual to call it home.

The city of Ely, through a Blandin Foundation grant …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Elyite.com website touts life at the end of the road

Posted

ELY – Elyite/ee-lee-ite/noun – A person whose passion for Ely, Minn., and the surrounding community compels that individual to call it home.

The city of Ely, through a Blandin Foundation grant and the work of a group of dedicated volunteers, launched a new website last week for Ely, called elyite.com.

A roll-out party was held last Thursday at Amici’s Event Center.

In a ribbon-cutting ceremony, one of the founders of the effort, Joe Tome, said the purpose of elyite.com is to showcase the charms and opportunities of the Ely community. “We want to attract new businesses and people interested in purchasing existing businesses, to show people, from retirees to young families, that Ely is a great place to live, raise their children and follow their dreams. We firmly believe Ely has so much to offer and we want to show it off,” he said.

Mayor Novak will officially “cut the ribbon” on this new website. “This is one of several initiatives, including the growth of broadband and high-speed internet here, that are taking place now,” he said. “This area is setting an example of how to reach communities through working together and collaborating to get something done.”

Tome said the effort began last April. “We wanted a way to promote our town in a positive light and also to plant that seed that people can do their jobs here, and live here, like we all do.”

The website is still a work in progress and he encouraged folks to make suggestions of additions and corrections. “Visit the website, leave a comment or suggestion or ask a question. The volunteers will work to respond as quickly as possible,” he said.

Tome called Elyite.com a reference website. “It is not a catch-all, but instead, it is a quick reference to all things Ely. We hope to point people in the right direction for all things Ely.”

Elyite.com is a showcase for the “persona” of Ely. “Lots of videos of people talking about the area brings out their passion for the area,”:Tome said. “People find a way to be here.”

Some examples of content on Elyite.com:

Tourism

While people may think that the tourism industry “boom” in Ely started in 1964 when the Boundary Waters Canoe Area became a federally protected area, many fishing and hunting camps actually provided wilderness experiences for outdoors men and women dating back to the early 1900s.

Ely has enjoyed success as the “gateway to the Boundary Waters” and continues to provide outdoor enthusiasts with a variety of activities such as fishing, hunting, wild ricing, canoeing, kayaking, boating, ATV riding and snowmobiling, camping, hiking and cross country skiing.  

In addition to natural attractions, Ely also offers world-class attractions dedicated to research and public education of local species, including the International Wolf Center and the North American Bear Center.  If you are interested in more of the local history and folk lore, Ely offers the Dorothy Molter Museum, the Ely Art and Heritage Center and the Ely-Winton Historical Society Museum.  The diverse experiences inspire visitors to return year after year and make Ely an amazing community to live, work, vacation and play.

Health

Health care is a major factor when people are deciding whether to arelocate to a community.  Ely is fortunate to have quality healthcare right here in Ely.  Our healthcare campus includes a clinic owned and operated by Essentia Health, Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital, a Level 4 Trauma Center with a 24/7 staffed Emergency Department, Boundary Waters Care Center, and Northwoods Partners, offering an array of senior services.  Ely and the surrounding service area are also fortunate to have a full-time ambulance service, access to a Life Link helicopter for emergency transport, and some of the best Wilderness First Responders in the area.  There are also several housing options available throughout the community for seniors who need all levels of care. Ely also offers a VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic, open three days a week to meet the medical needs of local veterans. In addition to our main healthcare campus, Ely also offers a full-service vision center and three local dental offices.

If you are looking for more than traditional healthcare opportunities, Ely offers a wide variety of options for mind, body and soul health including yoga, meditation, massage and much more.

Ely also understands the importance of healthcare for you and your family, your entire family. Some of the best care available for our four-legged friends is found at the Ely Vet Clinic.

Why work

remotely?

The greatest benefit of working remotely from Ely can be summed up in one word: Access. It is difficult to put a price on the benefits of working in and being surrounded by such a beautiful and accessible landscape. Think of these benefits that include: livable neighborhoods, local culture, beautiful scenery, clean air, starry skies, clean water, and recreational opportunities as a ‘second paycheck’.

You may also take full advantage of Ely’s new Workspace, “Ten Below Coworking”, which offers broadband speeds! ”Ten Below Coworking” is an Incredible Ely project, with start-up funds from the Blandin Foundation, and is part of the city’s Broadband Initiative. There is so much up here to experience it would take a lifetime to explore, so why wait?

“We tried to paint an everyday picture of life in Ely and the surrounding area,” Tome added.

The home page introduces Ely as:

A small town at the end of the road in northeastern Minnesota.  

A town shaped around family values, rich culture, and everyday adventure.  

A place unaffected by the hyper pace of urban America.  

A place where your family, friends, and neighbors feel safe every day.  

A town with a community that selflessly works together to make life better for all.

A place where the citizens can still steer the development of the city to fit their ideals and dreams.

A place where Elyites gather and connect to develop a better and simpler way of life.

Elyites enjoy breathtaking sunrises to begin their days and stunning sunsets to bring them to a close. They enjoy the calm, quiet environment around them.  The wildlife that traverses their yards is akin to house pets.  They especially enjoy how easy it is to get away from the stresses of everyday life.

Elyites end their workday and within minutes can be on the water looking to catch the next lunker or a fresh dinner.  Within minutes they are out on a relaxing walk through the woods or a rigorous hike or they have embarked on their next big adventure into the vast Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. They have gathered their family and are hanging out at a beach or playground and they have already begun harvesting berries, wild mushrooms, or wild game.

Elyites have been living this way for generations.  They understand that every day is a vacation when you live in this wonderful area. Many Elyites were just on their way through when they fell in love with this way of life.  There is something magical when you discover that Ely is the place you want to call home.

Ely - where every day is a vacation.