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CALUMET – Controversy raged at Agassiz Park Saturday, where issues of personal and national identity divided PastyFest stalwarts intent on deciding once and for all which walking pasty would represent their cause. At the Main Street Calumet booth, retired Calumet Village Comptroller Sue Dana collected $1 votes for Toivo, the festival’s longtime mascot, and for Cousin Jack, a moniker whose relation to the pasty’s original Cornish heritage goes back generations.
Dana also campaigned actively for the Cousin Jack cause, noting that her great-great grandfather was a Cornish miner.
“I’ve had people come up and drop twenties in the jar on the right,” she purred, her hand inadvertently blocking access to the ‘Toivo’ jar on the left. “I think we’re changing the name.”
Toivo the pasty was nowhere to be seen, avoiding the controversy and the scores of hungry, fork-wielding attendees, but his protege ‘Lil Toivo marched proudly in the parade, and represented nouveau Finnish-American cuisine afterward at the park.
“It’d be hard to change my name,” she said. “I want to be called Lil’ Toivo or nothing.”
Dana dismissed the youngster’s impudence, proclaiming that “when Cousin Jack wins, the small pasty will not be Lil’ Toivo, she will be Little Cousin Jenny.”
Newly-hired Main Street Calumet Executive Director Leah Polzien attempted to stay above the fray, at least for a few days.
“I’m Swedish,” she said. “A neutral territory. … I’m a big pasty fan, though, but no carrots.”
Regardless of the outcome, Polzien said the vote was bringing in a lot of cash to support Main Street’s efforts. The vote will continue through the summer, she said. To have your voice heard, contact Main Street Calumet through its website, mainstreetcalumet.com, or call 337-6246.