(Photo: Jon Sortland (left) and Daryl Henry)
WA – The Tri City Americans today announced the expansion of the franchise’s ownership group with the sale of a majority ownership position to former technology executive and longtime Washington resident Jon Sortland
and former Americans player and Vezina Trophy winning goaltender Olaf Kolzig will each continue to retain minority ownership in the organization
“We are delighted to bring someone onboard with Jon’s blend of passion for the WHL
business acumen and creative ideas to help take our organization to the next level of success,” Tory said
“Jon has a clear vision for how to increase our team’s visibility in the community and help grow our fan base.”
Sortland will immediately assume the role of President and lead all Sales
Finance and Business functions of the organization
Tory signed a multi-year contract extension to continue to serve as General Manager and Alternate Governor with full responsibility for leading all hockey-related operations
Stu Barnes will remain the team’s head coach
“It is the achievement of a lifelong dream to become an owner of a Western Hockey League franchise,” said Mr
“And it’s all the more special to have it be here in this wonderful Tri-Cities community where I now make my home
It will be an honor to work with top-notch hockey professionals and fine gentlemen like Bob
The current ownership group has built a solid foundation of success
and my job will be to help make it even better.”
Sortland was formerly a business executive in the technology sector
having spent the last three decades as a chief financial officer for several high-growth venture capital-backed companies in the Seattle area
He was formerly a season ticket holder of the Seattle Thunderbirds and was a youth hockey coach when his children were growing up
Sortland is magna cum laude graduate of Western Washington University and earned his MBA from Columbia University
Also joining the Americans’ ownership group is Calgary executive
and Executive Committee member of the WHL Player Alumni Association
who has served as a consultant to the Tri-City Americans since 2017
marketing and community engagement initiatives
“It is a real honor to be part of the Tri-City Americans
having played for this same franchise many years ago when it was the Billings Bighorns,” said Mr
“Having worked earlier in my career in the role of Marketing Director for the Memorial Cup winning Medicine Hat Tigers
Bob and the rest of the great ownership team which has guided such a successful franchise in Tri-Cities for so many years.”
“We have a resurgent team this season along with a deep prospect pool which hopefully will translate into winning seasons for our fans for several years to come
This is the right time to expand and reinvigorate our ownership group with the addition of Jon and Daryl.”
“With Jon’s success in business and his passion for hockey we’re looking to take this organization to the next level and continue to build a franchise that this community can be proud of.”
the Americans also announced that the team has extended its lease with Toyota Center to run two additional years through at least 2030
“We wanted the fans to know that this change in the franchise’s ownership structure comes with a firm long-term commitment to the entire Tri-Cities community,” said Mr
and I will be working closely with elected officials and business leaders to explore options for a new venue as part of the ongoing Vista development project
Our long-term commitment to the Tri Cities market is unwavering.”
Kristoffer Sortland is the lead R&D engineer at Remota
His responsibilities are within early product development and R&D project development
He has a diverse background as a metal worker
mechanical engineer and innovation adviser
He has a master's degree within manufacturing engineering.
2024Natanya Sortland's life changed when she had a stroke and then a traumatic brain injury
The Mind Your Brain Foundation helped her recover.MALVERN
Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Natanya Sortland's life changed when she had a stroke and then a traumatic brain injury
It's hard for her to remember what life was like before the age of 40
The Mind Your Brain Foundation helped her find a way to recover through one of their various conferences held throughout the year
Sortland has become an advocate so others can follow in her footsteps
Sortland recently revisited Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital with Action News
She enjoyed dancing freely on the same property where she used to frequent in a wheelchair
Watch the video above to see more of Natanya's story
To learn more about the Mind Your Brain Foundation and future conferences, visit their website.
RELATED: Brain aneurysm survivor is 'Fighting Back' with help of nonprofit
Home » UK-led reaction system activated for seabed warfare and Russian shadow fleet monitoring
The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) has activated an advanced UK-led reaction system to track potential threats to undersea infrastructure and monitor the Russian shadow fleet
following reported damage to a major undersea cable in the Baltic Sea
The 10-nation strong Joint Expeditionary Force
has also released a statement expressing concern at the damage caused to Estlink2 and highlighting the Alliance’s commitment to working together to safeguard shared interests
activated last week and named Nordic Warden
harnesses AI to assess data from a range of sources
including the Automatic Identification System (AIS) ships use to broadcast their position
to calculate the risk posed by each vessel entering areas of interest
The JEF action reinforces existing and planned NATO responses
Specific vessels identified as being part of Russia’s shadow fleet have been registered into the system so they can be closely monitored when approaching key areas of interest
the system will monitor the suspicious vessel in real time and immediately send out a warning
which will be shared with JEF participant nations as well as NATO Allies
“Growth and national security are vital to our Plan for Change
which is why this government is working closely with our allies to protect critical national infrastructure
such as undersea cables.I am pleased we are launching this cutting-edge technology so soon after the JEF Summit to enhance European security and deliver on our Plan for Change.”
Nordic Warden was activated last week under JEF protocols
which provide a series of options to the Alliance that can be activated in order to protect against potential threats
The initiative highlights how the JEF is using innovative technologies to boost collective European security
while supporting and complementing NATO’s own operations
It comes following reported damage on Christmas Day to the Estlink2 undersea cable in the Baltic
which authorities in Finland suggest may have been caused by a tanker which forms part of Russia’s shadow fleet of vessels it uses to attempt to bypass international sanctions
“The UK and JEF are leading the way in providing support to our Allies to help safeguard the offshore infrastructure we all rely on against potential threats.Nordic Warden will help protect against both deliberate acts of sabotage as well as cases of extreme negligence which we have seen cause damage to underwater cables.Harnessing the power of AI
this UK-led system is a major innovation which allows us the unprecedented ability to monitor large areas of the sea with a comparatively small number of resources
helping us stay secure at home and strong abroad.”
22 areas of interest – including parts of the English Channel
are currently being monitored from the JEF’s operational headquarters in Northwood
where personnel from all JEF nations work side by side
Nordic Warden was first trialled during the summer of 2024 and again during the JEF’s Exercise Joint Protector, which saw more than 300 UK personnel deploy to Latvia to demonstrate the ability of the UK to deploy its operational headquarters for JEF abroad at short notice
The UK has led international efforts through a global alliance to disrupt the shadow fleet
As part of the initiative launched by the Prime Minister at the European Political Community last year
the UK has sanctioned 93 oil tankers which Putin has been using to soften the blow of sanctions and bankroll his illegal war in Ukraine
Today’s announcement complements last month’s agreement between the UK
Finland and Estonia to request proof of insurance from suspected shadow vessels as they pass along the Baltic route
Commenting on the reported Estlink2 damage
the joint statement from Joint Expeditionary Force members said:
“This is another example of maritime incidents causing direct economic and security implications for Finland and Estonia
highlighting the risks to vital communication and energy networks essential for the security and prosperity of all our nations.The JEF commends Finland and Estonia for their decisive actions in dealing with the Estlink-2 power cable incident
We remain committed to supporting Participant Nations
and Allies in safeguarding our shared interests and regional stability.”
Keeping the country safe is the Government’s first priority
and an integral part of its Plan for Change
is critical to the security and stability of the UK
and Nordic Warden will help protect against threats
The Joint Expeditionary Force is comprised of 10 like-minded nations
adaptable force which enhance the ability of the grouping to respond rapidly to threats
Naval News brings you news coverage of the latest naval defense shows & events
We are also reporting on naval technology from all over the world
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Margie Alloway begins her descent down the side of the Holiday Inn Lancaster at VisionCorps’ “Eye Drop” on Friday
“It was fabulous,” Margie Alloway said
Alloway was standing at the foot of the Holiday Inn Lancaster
she had rappelled down the west facade of the 10-story building
one of more than 100 participants in the 2024 Eye Drop
The annual event raises money for Lancaster-based VisionCorps
The nonprofit assists blind and vision-impaired individuals in Lancaster and four other southcentral Pennsylvania counties: Adams
This year’s Eye Drop was the largest ever
The fundraising goal was $200,000; as of midmorning
Alloway was there as part of Team Chester County
then was struck in the head when her woodshed roof collapsed
She said she had been unable to find help until VisionCorps opened its office in Exton
Her therapist came in with the attitude that vision impairment is just a problem to be solved; together
That’s why she dresses as Lady Liberty
Sortland said: “Vision Corps gave me my life and liberty back
… I’m not afraid anymore.”
Sortland did her first Eye Drop four years ago
becoming the first Chester County participant — and that year
it set a fundraising goal of $15,000 and met it
Her friend Nicole Sakowitz joined her for the first time this year
the two of them heading down the side of the hotel in tandem
Going over the edge was “death-defyingly frightening,” Sakowitz said
but “It ended up being exhilarating.”
That initial fear “is just the speed bump you have to get over,” Sortland told her
Jesse Miller of Lancaster is a five-time rappeler and the 2024 Eye Drop’s top fundraiser
he lost the vision in his good eye in 2018 due to a stroke
“The Vision Corps family took me in,” he said
clean and look after himself without sight
“It’s an awesome feeling to be able to help our soldiers,” he said
He loves the Eye Drop and the way everyone comes together to support it
He was “scared out of my wits” on his first descent
“I always joke with everyone that I don’t look down,” he said
One United Lancaster is made possible in part by
Our family of property and casualty insurance companies provides full lines of personal
farm and commercial insurance products across multiple regions of the United States
oneunitedlancaster@uwlanc.org717.824.8124
The former Colorado State University student accused in 2014 of stealing an ambulance, fleeing to Loveland
wrecking the rig and then sparring with law enforcement pleaded guilty on Friday
pleaded guilty to felony counts of motor vehicle theft and second-degree assault on a police officer for the bizarre series of events that stretched from the CSU campus to Loveland
He was given a four-year deferred sentence
meaning if he remains law abiding and follows the plea deal stipulations
2014 incident that garnered international media attention started when Poudre Valley Hospital EMS responded to a 1:47 a.m
call at Academic Village for someone experiencing a medical emergency
The crew left the ambulance in a parking lot
When they returned with the patient at 2:14 a.m.
"Our ambulance is gone," an EMT reported to dispatchers
All PVH EMS ambulances have on-board GPS tracking systems
dispatchers and emergency crews contacted Loveland police along with multiple other agencies and aired repeated updates about the ambulance's real-time location to its eventual stop on U.S
Loveland police approached the vehicle and contacted Sortland
who was standing next to the ambulance wearing an EMT safety vest and refusing to obey commands
He started walking toward one of the officers and refused to drop an armful of items
prompting police to deploy a Taser to subdue him — he was clutching a blanket and box of Wheat Thins crackers
Sortland said he was "following the bright lights and other ramblings which were not relevant to the incident at hand," police wrote in sworn statements
Authorities also located a pill labeled as Adderall
He referred to the officers as “zombies and space aliens in disguise,” his defense attorney said in subsequent court hearings
Once in custody, Sortland was uncooperative and punched a Larimer County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was delivering his meal at the jail
Sortland “began to thrash his body and kick” before ultimately being restrained in an emergency chair
He also referred to himself as “Jesus” and said he had “special powers” while a deputy read him his rights
The case dragged through the legal system while questions lingered about his mental competency and whether an insanity plea would be appropriate
His attorney said Sortland has since started taking the appropriate anti-psychotic medications
Reporter Jason Pohl covers courts for the Coloradoan
Stark expressed his appreciation for the things the Jamestown Lions do for the community and provided greetings from International President Dr
He also congratulated the club for being 95 years old
Stark recognized several club members for milestone anniversaries: Ed Anderson
Three new members were recognized: Steve Limesand
Stark installed the following new officers and directors for the 2024-25 year: Kevin Sortland
Boe reported on the Stutsman County Fair Clean-up Project
Club volunteers will be picking up trash on the mornings of June 13-15
Sortland reported on club volunteers needed for Meals on Wheels
warden of the James River Correctional Center
The reviews posted here are from travelers who started their planning with Wendy’s trip questionnaire for Jan. That made them VIPs and earned them these five benefits
If you want similar VIP treatment and benefits
Contact Jan
Jan has earned a spot on Wendy’s WOW List of Trusted Travel Experts based on Wendy’s rigorous testing and vetting as a traveler and journalist
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Have you returned from a trip arranged through Wendy’s WOW List and want to submit a review? Check your inbox for an email from info@wendyperrin.com with the subject line “Please review your trip: That’s how you get a WOW Moment.”
We went on a wonderful trip last week (March 10-17
On our way to Alta we had a short stopover in Copenhagen
The trip was meticulously planned by Jan’s team
All the drivers and guides we had were excellent
We had gone on dogsledding “rides” before where they put you on a sled with a driver and you ride around a track and get a good photo op as you go by
This dog sled experience was much more interesting
We first met our five dogs (out of a kennel of 60+ dogs)
hooked them to the sled and drove the sled for a few hours’ ride through the countryside (with our excellent Sami guide on the sled in front of us
she also provided an excellent lunch for us in the middle of our sledding adventure)
We also had a great time snowshoeing with Kristine who went at a nice
easy pace for us and made us a delicious lunch in a Lavvu (Sami dwelling)
our guide Rikki took us on a full day trip visiting a Sami reindeer herder where we “helped” him round up stray reindeer on snowmobiles
Buljo also invited us into his worksite cabin and served us a delicious reindeer stew
One last tour was of the Sorrisniva Ice Hotel
where we finished with a yummy cocktail in the ice bar
As for our goal to see the northern lights
we had a guide that was ready to take us out every evening
We were lucky and had two beautiful nights with the aurora borealis (and two snowy nights)
we had a wonderful vacation that was flawlessly planned by Jan’s team
Finland’s “scrumptious and fresh” food includes black and red caviar
I reached out to Jan Sortland recently to plan a trip to Finland on short notice
This is the third such trip that Jan has planned for me to Scandinavia
Previous trips to Norway and Denmark (with a brief foray into southern Sweden) had gone beautifully so I did not hesitate to reach out to Jan again through Wendy’s website
did a super job and was a lot of fun to be with
She was particularly adept at weaving illustrations of the local way of life throughout the day
one of the joys of solo travel is that I have more one-on-one time with guides and can get to know them and the local scene better
you’re given a glimpse into their everyday lives when they aren’t working
Because the trip was planned on short notice
I didn’t take the time to do much research in advance
so the entire trip experience was a grand surprise
the food is scrumptious and fresh (lots of fish and shellfish)
the style of art and architecture is unique
public parks and walking trails are very scenic and plentiful
and the Baltic Sea (the Gulf of Finland) is everywhere you turn
With the exception of one overnight stay in Savonlinna
I was based in Helsinki for the entire trip
we could always adapt on the fly if the situation or the weather warranted
Jan and Raila developed a very diverse itinerary which included several city walking tours in Helsinki and multiple day trips into the surrounding suburbs and further into the countryside
In addition to the walking tours in Helsinki which included food
there are several unique experiences that Jan and Raila included that stand out …
I flew north to Savonlinna to watch a performance of DonGiovanni performed in Olavinlinna Castle
a 15th-century castle with three towers built on an island
Not only was the venue exceptional and different
Before I returned to Helsinki the next morning
I took a long self-guided walk around the town of Savonlinna
and discovered a local market outside the entrance to my hotel—a gorgeous Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral and attendant Hero’s Grave memorial and multiple ornate birdhouses which were part of over 100 in the city centre contributed by local artist Marko Ruuskanan
Returning to my hotel I walked across the Torisilia walking bridge past the Samaii ringed seal statue to the harbor and market square in front of my hotel
all the while listening to an opera singer performing at a nearby open air restaurant
2) July is when Finns leave Helsinki and go to their summer homes
I was blessed to be invited to the summer home of Raila’s family friend one afternoon
We toured his family property (including four different lakeside saunas)
had coffee and local pastries in the garden
One afternoon we left Helsinki for the neighborhoods north of the city and took the same long walk along the neighborhood shoreline that Raila takes on her days off
all the while seeing how locals spend their time off with family outdoors
We ended the day at her apartment with a champagne toast and a walking tour through her modernized complex complete with dog washing stations
The driver that we had for the entirety of the trip often had suggestions for short detours… one stop in particular was a stone church in the suburbs of Espoo which was surrounded by the most beautifully manicured cemetery I had ever seen
Everything was immaculate and the interior of the church was fascinating
5) One evening we went to a local dance club north of the city… it was a fascinating glimpse into a unique social aspect of Finnish culture
Many couples came together for a night out of dancing
but more came as singles (of both genders) in hopes of finding a dance partner
Women lined up to be chosen as partners and if they weren’t chosen in a particular round
6) Ferry ride to Suomenlinna Seaborg… this morning excursion by ferry to Suomenlinna was super interesting … built by Sweden beginning in the mid 18th-century as a naval fortress
it has also been governed through the years by Russia and now Finland… the fortified islands are now inhabited by local Finns in what is now considered a bit of an artist’s colony
A 70-foot yacht originally designed and owned by Prince Rainier of Monaco
It was a great trip to Copenhagen and Stockholm and a visit to countryside (200 miles from Stockholm) where our ancestors in the 1850s lived before they emigrated to the USA in 1880—a fantastic connection with ancestors
I even met a distant cousin whose great-grandfather was my great-grandmother’s brother in 1855 when they lived in a small village
The 3 guides we had during our 12 days of travel in Copenhagen
Stockholm and the Swedish countryside were absolutely the best
We enjoyed almost 6 days of travel with them and enjoyed the history
Wendy Perrin’s consultant for Scandinavia also arranged a fabulous 8-hour boat trip in a 1960s 70-foot yacht originally designed and owned by Prince Rainier of Monaco
and we sailed in the Swedish Archipelago for gorgeous
delicious lunch and strawberries with vanilla ice cream with champagne and wines all day
The trip was beyond our wildest expectations
and we had luxury accommodations in both cities and a pristine country inn with five-course tasting dinner in the countryside
and the cultural guides we enjoyed in each city
We are just back home from three nights in Copenhagen and seven nights in Norway on a trip planned by Jan Sortland
Jan did an excellent job planning an amazing self-drive itinerary in Norway—his preferred way of seeing his beautiful country
He also listened to us when we pushed back a bit to reduce the number of guided segments
as we like to have some autonomy to explore on our own when we think we can do so
make sure you know your budget before getting too deep in the details
Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world…
guides and transfers arranged by Jan were excellent
Jan also took care of our reserving the two regional flights on this trip
Our Copenhagen itinerary organized by Jan had a nice mix of guiding with an expert native Scot who has been living in Copenhagen for over 30 years
She guided us through numerous castles over two days and our visit to the Louisiana Museum
If you are a fan of modern art and appreciate seeing art in an unusual setting such as a former residential estate
then I would allot several hours to this museum
It has a stunning collection of art in a beautiful seaside setting with a cafe and outdoor space for relaxing
Our Norway itinerary began in Bergen where we picked up our rental car arranged by Jan
Our Lexus hybrid SUV became our main source of transportation for the next 7 days as we navigated northward in Norway on a self-driving tour with detailed and excellent driving instruction supplied by Jan
We loved the autonomy of driving ourselves
Jan also arranges trips that include a driver but the ability to explore a bit on our own
change the timing and stop spontaneously when the mood struck us was a major plus for us
We didn’t think any of the driving was too difficult
an avalanche blocked the descent from Trollstigen with its 11 hairpin turns
so Jan’s team adjusted our drive to allow us to maximize our sightseeing despite missing this portion of the drive
We are confident we could have easily done that part of the drive (we could see all the turns from the elevated viewpoint) but you do need to be confident driving on curvy roads
so factor that in when deciding whether to self-drive or use a driver
Norway is breathtakingly and relentlessly beautiful
around and on (via car ferry) the fjords is the perfect way to see Norway
One stunning sight after another comes into view
You have to resist the urge of stopping too many times to take pictures and enjoy the view so you can reach your next destination
fields in the mountains all overwhelmed us with their beauty
We could not stop saying WOW every few minutes—part of the name of this website constantly on our lips
We had so many unique and incredible experiences on this trip but will list only a few:
RIB boat adventure—this three-hour private RIB boat trip from Gundvangen on the Narroyfjord
and the Sognefjord eventually docked in Solvorn at the Hotel Walaker
Along this exhilarating fast boat ride we saw stunning beauty
cascading waterfalls and other sights that are too beautiful to adequately describe in words
You might ask what happened to our car while we were zipping along the fjords
No problem—Jan arranged for someone to drive our car the two-and-a-half hours to the hotel for us while we were having all the fun
A day on the fjord—another highlight of our trip—perhaps the most unique and beautiful experience of the trip—was a full day with Sverre and his dog Rondor on an antique rowboat on the fjord just outside the Hotel Union Oye where we stayed
We essentially had this fjord to ourselves while we rowed and fished
We caught two small haddock and Sverre rowed us to shore where he cleaned
deboned and cooked the fish over a fire he built in minutes
with whom we hiked to the Jostedal glacier two days earlier
His love of nature and his ability to share the beauty of Norway with us was truly special
Hotels in Norway are historic—some are renovated a bit better than others
The hotel locations were stunning—incredible views from the bedroom
The staff at all of them were professional
All our dinners were conveniently at the hotels
The floating sauna on the fjord at the Hotel Union Oye was a great plus
We have planned many international trips ourselves and have used this website numerous times to plan through a Trusted Travel Expert
He brings value by making the experience special
I’m sure we could have found the hotels he chose
but arranging a car transfer while we sailed
getting last-minute updated driving directions when one of the roads was closed (and then partially opened) and finding a unique local guide like Sverre I suspect would be difficult if not impossible
Julie Silbermann spent a day with Sami people and got to help feed their reindeer
What a trip we had to Finnmark in Northern Norway
We can’t thank Wendy Perrin enough for connecting us with Jan Sortland and Miriam Paige-Sortland for our trip March 7-15
They crafted an exciting trip of 1 adventure after another
We flew to Oslo and then flew directly onto Trondheim
It was white-glove service all the way (and our driver actually wore white gloves
We had wonderful tour guides in Trondheim and took a day trip to Roros
which is 400 miles inside the Arctic Circle
and stayed at the Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge
We stayed in a room overlooking the river and mountains with floor-to-ceiling windows
Jan’s office worked with a local expedition company
We even caught arctic char which our guide
expertly cooked for us inside our warming tent for lunch
Each night we were taken out on a Northern Lights Safari
We were very lucky to see the Northern Lights on 3 out of 4 nights and Helle knew just where to bring us to see the spectacular light show
One of our most special expeditions was spending the day with the Sami people helping them herd and feed their reindeer
We were in the middle of a herd of hundreds of reindeer watching them and admiring their beauty inside an Arctic wonderland
and Emilie for their special care on our expeditions
Everything was taken care of for us—there wasn’t a detail left to chance
I highly recommend Jan’s team for a Wendy Perrin WOW trip to Norway
We had a fabulous time at Alta in Arctic Norway thanks to Jan Sortland and his team
with nightly northern lights tours both public and private
We were fortunate enough to see spectacular displays 3 of the 6 nights
Jan’s office arranged for us to stay at the Sorrasniva
a wonderful modern lodge with spectacular food and very attentive service
We also had a very memorable all-day snowmobiling adventure with one of the sons of the owners
The trip was made even more special by his recollections of his family
and growing up on this spectacular property
Jan’s team also arranged a private day-long dogsledding adventure from Trasti and Trine
as well as an unbelievably wonderful 5-course meal at the restaurant there
provided color on the meal as it came from the kitchen and his delightful and dry sense of humor and his remarkable humility all very much impressed us
Jan’s team arranged a private lunch and reindeer ride with a Sami family
We were culturally enriched and had a lot of fun
Jan Sortland worked very closely with us to make sure we had exactly what we wanted and needed to have a fabulous time
We had a very short break of 4 days in February and an old dream of seeing the northern lights
This time we decided to rely on Jan Sortland’s expertise—he promised that if we spent at least 3 nights in Alta
the chances of seeing it would be quite high
That’s what we did: We spent 4 nights at a beautiful hotel in a very quiet area and got to see the lights twice
taking advantage of the beautiful sunny days
But the most amazing experience—which Jan strongly recommended—was reindeer herding with a Sami family
learning more about their culture and meeting one of the very few female herders
Feeding the reindeers with the Arctic sunset as our background was magical
Kate Ogg and son Will see the northern lights from the driveway of their lodge in Alta
Will is graduating from high school this Spring
and so we let him choose the destination for a family vacation this year
where we could do some fun outdoor adventures
and hopefully see the Northern Lights (which we had tried and failed to do in Iceland a couple of years ago)
We stopped in Copenhagen on the way to check out another city and have a couple of fun dinners out before our rural adventures
Copenhagen was still pretty magical the week between Christmas and New Year’s
and we found some good restaurants despite a few of the ones we had hoped for being closed
We got to see the Christmas lights in Tivoli Gardens and took a ride on a wild roller coaster
The next day we started the day with a boat ride through the harbor and some of the bigger canals
which gave us a sense of the city’s geography as well as a lot of the architecture
we had a guide and driver who showed us the highlights
we didn’t want to spend too much time in any one location
the Royal Castle and a couple of the horses
the outer edges of the hippie commune of Christiana
The next day we went out into the countryside
driving along the seaside to the Hamlet castle and then inland to another
Oslo was all closed while we were there because it was both Sunday and New Year’s Eve
to the Fram museum to see a polar expedition ship
and a chance to see the Nobel buildings and then along the harbor was a nice way to spend the day before a fancy dinner at our hotel (The Thief) and a midnight toast on the roof
On New Year’s morning in a snowstorm we made it to Oslo airport and up to dark Alta
The Sorrisniva Hotel was fully booked by the time we planned our trip (August)
so we stayed in a little fishing lodge in the woods
down the driveway from Tristin and Trine Restaurant and past some sled dogs
the very first night as we walked out of our lodge to dinner
the sky lit up with northern lights that continued to brighten and dance until we gave up and went to bed
I credit our very dark spot in the woods for the fantastic viewing
and king-crab fishing all showed us different parts of the landscape and culture in Northern Norway
When looking for a place to spend the Thanksgiving holidays this year
I decided to book a city trip (mostly) versus some of the more active trips that Wendy’s travel planners have booked for me over the last year or so
did a phenomenal job of planning the trip that I had envisioned
Instead of supersizing each day with multiple activities
I was interested in a combination of privately guided days
interspersed with unscripted days to explore (or not) on my own and at my own pace
Copenhagen is a gorgeous and engaging city
as are the ‘burbs and towns the further away from the city center one goes
What I did not appreciate ahead of my arrival was just how much of a kick start to the Christmas season this trip would be
Copenhagen was already decorated for the “Jul” season and a number of Christmas markets had already opened on the day of my arrival
The hotel that Jan chose had everything that I was looking for and was perfectly located on Kongens Nytorv (the King’s New Square) for the market on the square
harbor walks and for great shopping in general
did a great job of orienting me to the city and introducing me to the art and architecture
urban development and repurposing of buildings and land
culture and moods of Copenhagen’s various neighborhoods
listened intently and had great ideas for what I might like as we got to know each other
she took me to a “pop-up” Christmas market off the beaten path
I would have likely missed out on it altogether had I been looking for it myself
As we made our way out of the city on other days to Fredericksborg
she introduced me to locally made products
and took me to several sweet churches tucked away in quiet neighborhoods
we somehow managed to share with each other our backgrounds and respective family histories
Truly a terrific ambassador for Copenhagen and a delightful woman
Since Copenhagen and southern Sweden are conveniently connected by the iconic Oresund Bridge (think “The Bridge” on Prime Video)
Jan planned a day trip for me to southern Sweden toward the end of the trip
were both from southern Sweden and were a delightful addition to my experience for the day
followed by a scenic walk on the Baltic Sea coastline
a preserved stone megalith (think Stonehenge) in the shape of a ship on the cliffs above the harbor town of Kaseberga
On the return trip we stopped for lunch and a tour of scenic Ystad
followed by a late afternoon tour of the coastal town of Malmo before returning to Copenhagen
Jan alerted me early on in our trip planning that Copenhagen is a city known for its food and in particular
he used his “fixer” to secure a table at Geranium (ranked the best restaurant in the world in 2022)
one of the two 3-star Michelin restaurants in Copenhagen
which included a private tour of the wine cellar and the kitchen
a visual as well as gastronomic experience
I am so very glad that I followed Jan’s lead on that
A word about the temperatures and the crowds.… I’m always looking to get away from crowds
lines and traffic and I don’t mind traveling in the off season to do so (as Wendy so often suggests)
The weather in Copenhagen at this time of year alternates between cool and crisp with gorgeous
I cannot say enough about the lengths to which Jan
the local guides and drivers went to make this trip seamless
It was a terrific and different Thanksgiving getaway that has me prepped for Christmas earlier than usual
Just returned from a solo trip to Norway September 11-20
After my pet sitter bailed on me at the last minute
I reached out to Jan Sortland to see what he could do to adjust the 3-week driving itinerary through Norway that he and I had just finalized
gave me several options to choose from and before long we had whittled a 21-day trip down to 10
maintaining the main focus of trip…seeing the northern lights
I started out at Sorrisniva Wilderness Lodge in Alta
above the Arctic Circle in the northern fjords
By day I was entertained with king-crab fishing in Storekorsnes
lunch with and storytelling by a local reindeer herder
a visit to the nearby UNESCO site featuring northern Europe’s largest concentration of petroglyphs (rock art) made by hunter-gathers dating back 2000-7000 years
and a boat ride on the Alta River with Tor
Each night after dinner I was driven to different locations to search for the lights…
I had been coached beforehand that not everyone gets to see the lights every night and sometimes not at all over a period of several nights
Fortunately I saw them each of the four nights that I was there and got some great photos
On my last night in Alta I came back early enough to see the lights with a cup of hot chocolate from the warmth of my bed
It was an experience that I will never forget
I had shared with Jan that I had a very broad range of interests coming into this trip, so the tenor and tempo changed quickly when I arrived back in Oslo. At my request, it was all about art, architecture, history and culture. In a very fun surprise, I was treated to a WOW Moment as I walked out of the elevator my first morning there
Jan knew from our trip-planning discussions that I am involved with a professional theatre company in my hometown and had made arrangements for his sister-in-law
a Norwegian actress (and national treasure)
to spend an hour with me prior to the start of my planned day
Over coffee we had a lovely discussion about the theatre and then walked across the street together to the National Theatre for a backstage tour
architecture and parks in Oslo were beautiful…the Munch (The Scream) Museum
the Deichman Bjorvika (the world’s best new public library)
the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History and the Vigeland Sculpture Park
The next day was spent away from the city at the Kistefos Museum in Jevnaker
one of the most important outdoor sculpture parks for contemporary art
I cannot say enough about Wendy’s suggestion to use Jan.… His detailed planning
and restaurant suggestions were all spot-on
I enjoyed myself so much on this trip that I had Jan plan a 10-day itinerary to Denmark for the fast-approaching Thanksgiving holidays
And next summer I’ll work in the driving portion of the Norway trip that I missed out on this year
my husband and I visited Norway for three days and Iceland for six
These were add-on days to a cruise we were taking from Bergen
I reached out to Jan Sortland to plan activities
In his usual manner he took the responsibility out of my hands and created an exciting itinerary and flawless experience
This was the second trip I arranged using Jan and his colleagues
The first trip occurred in the summer of 2022 when my husband and I spent 3 weeks self-driving through Norway
What I particularly appreciated on both trips was Jan’s attention to detail and persistence in trying to book tough-to-get reservations that would make my experience so much more special
“we never would have found this place on our own,” after staying in our turf hotel in Iceland
fine wine selections and individual saunas outside of each house
On another occasion I wanted to book a restaurant in Oslo where we had a wonderful experience the year before
I had no luck but Jan’s team called it regularly until shortly before our departure and managed to get us a table
Anyone who travels much appreciates good logistics
With the help of Jan and his staff we had a seamless transfer from cruise to car and home again
We were given detailed written driving directions to ensure no site was missed as well as maps marked to take us along the most scenic routes
Iceland or other parts of Scandinavia I would heartily recommend using Jan Sortland and his team
They are travel professionals with knowledge and experience
1,000-2,000 new vines are planted each year at Hällåkra Vingård in Anderslov Sweden
The planning had to incorporate two specific requests from us
The first request was to fit in time with relatives we only recently discovered in Sweden
They are descendants of the sister of my paternal grandfather
They fled Nazi Germany in 1939 and found refuge in Sweden
except for my father who stayed in England
which so angered me that I made the effort to investigate the German side of my family to acquire a German (i.e.
leading eventually to my contact with this hitherto unknown branch of my family
The second request was to build our itinerary and schedules in Sweden and Denmark around a tour of Norway which we had planned for 2020 and already paid for but was postponed to 2023 because of the pandemic
The planning of our itinerary involved several video calls and email exchanges with Jan so he could understand our wishes and interests and we could appreciate the range of possibilities and evaluate his recommendations and alternative suggestions
including several we would not ever have considered
He also explained what we should especially look for during our tour of Norway and the unique natural beauty we will see there
our experiences exceeded all our hopes and expectations
We were lucky with the weather — in contrast to the oppressive heat being suffered at the time by many tourists in other parts of Europe — and with the on-time performance of all the flights and train rides in our schedule
There were no strikes or weather delays or cancellations
which lie outside the control of travel advisors
All the guides we encountered who were chosen by Jan’s office were extremely knowledgeable about the subjects we are interested in
They also gave us insights into the status and recent or modern history of today’s Scandinavian societies
The guides worked very well with the drivers we had when we traveled by car
We were delighted to find that Scandinavians’ sense of humor is akin to ours
and we think they found ours to be as well
and thought-provoking discussions between us
The hotel accommodations in the hearts of the major cities we stayed in were grand in the best European tradition
and in the smaller towns and villages delightful and charming
The only encumbrance we encountered was in Copenhagen when on arrival we had to make our way to the hotel entrance through crowds waiting and hoping to catch a glimpse of Bruce Springsteen
who was giving several performances in Denmark
The itinerary we finally agreed on with Jan’s team covered a very wide range of historical sites and exposure to the arts and culture of the region
as well as insights into the realities and achievements as well as the not so positive behavior of the Vikings and the transition from the Nordic Gods to Christianity
We were reminded that among many other heritages from the Vikings
We also found out that important words in English such as “husband” and “law” are derived from the Viking language
Nordic runes as translated to us refer to more inspiring examples of human relationships than many of the modern graffiti found on walls and monuments today
Our experiences during the trip were very diverse and sometimes unexpected
Before this trip we had no idea winemaking in Sweden was even feasible
We were greeted by the couple (the Hanssons) in their 70s who founded and run this enterprise and have a long family history at its location
They served us a smorgasbord of meats and cheese
called Swedish “tapas,” and we enjoyed samples of all the wines they currently make
They explained that people thought they were crazy to try to make wines in Sweden
but they saw an opportunity that would only grow thanks to climate warming
We had a tour of the vineyard and the property after lunch
Sweden has a state monopoly on selling alcohol (in a chain of liquor stores Systembolaget)
We wish that an exception could be made in this case to allow the vineyard to sell directly to visitors
This surprising and delightful viticultural experience more than lived up to the WOW designation
We understand that it was chosen by our guide that day (Annette Hansson
no relation to the owners of the vineyard)
who had been tasked by Jan Sortland with coming up with a WOW Moment we would appreciate
Another unexpected experience (but in this instance not planned even as a surprise in our itinerary) was an antique car rally in the small village of Tällberg
which is well known for its beautiful rural surroundings and its houses and buildings that are all made of wood
This village is situated in Dalarna in central Sweden
which is home to many Swedish traditions and cultural heritage
for which reason it was included in our itinerary
The rally was dominated by American cars from the 1950s
They were in widely varying states of maintenance and appearance
They were driven and occupied by Swedes (male and female) who looked like those one would expect to encounter at similar rallies in the US
playing music contemporary to the cars when they were new
the scene was reminiscent of the movie “American Graffiti.” When we talked to some of the participants (Joyce learned to drive in a 1955 Chevy) they were delighted to discuss their cars and other subjects
including in some cases their visits to the US
The diversity of the content and experiences included in the itinerary organized for us is its most impressive and memorable legacy
We enjoyed urban and rural settings (both natural and cultivated)
We learned about history from the Viking era (and even earlier) through medieval times
We covered the move from divinely ordained to constitutional monarchies
and the turmoil of the 20th century up to and during World War 2 and the establishment of today’s welfare states
The Scandinavian monarchies all seem to be well liked these days
without the turbulence associated with the British Royals
We were able to appreciate the very different balance in these countries compared to the US between individual (including property) and community rights and obligations
allemansrätten (literally “the everymans right”) is a freedom granted by the Swedish Constitution
Allemansrätten gives a person the right to access
and camp on any land—except for private gardens
the immediate vicinity of a dwelling house and land under cultivation
It places an equal emphasis upon the responsibility to look after the countryside; the maxim is “do not disturb
We learned much we did not know about the evolution of relationships and interactions between Scandinavia and the rest of Europe
as well as the impact of conflicts and migration and the contributions of several extraordinary individuals as explorers
On the cultural side we will mention specifically the visits to (a) Kronborg Castle in Denmark
the setting which inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet
and (b) the home of Anders Zorn in Dalarna Sweden
He was a celebrated 19th-century painter from very humble origins who achieved international success (including portraits of 3 American Presidents)
we were told about the filming of “The Girl with the Golden Tattoo” (one in the series of Stieg Larsson’s Nordic noir novels) in locations in Sweden
which starred Daniel Craig (of James Bond fame) as the journalist Mikael Blomkvist
In Denmark the subject of the Danish political drama series “Borgen” came up
which portrays a complex and rare combination of idealism
We experienced firsthand a wide variety of natural landscapes and man-made achievements over the centuries
as well as examples of more recent architecture in public and private buildings
We were impressed but also embarrassed by the quality of the urban public transit we took and of other infrastructure compared to their lamentable state today in many parts of the US
This trip and travel itinerary met the criteria of broadening our minds and perspectives and covering our major interests while offering a rich and thoroughly enjoyable set of vacation experiences
maybe even unique in its ability to work with clients to plan and organize a Scandinavian trip which will meet or exceed all expectations and will be thoughtfully tailored to satisfy specific interests
while also allowing room for the serendipitous or unexpected
Our trip to Sweden was beautifully executed
and in accordance with a preference as we stated
I would have preferred another day or two but perhaps another time
Jan Sortland planned a perfect experience for us in Norway and he provided great weather as well
Norway was one of the first countries to allow travelers without restrictions
and I have always been intrigued by the beauty of Norway…so I reached out to the WOW List expert
Had a couple of Zoom calls with Jan—he was extremely gracious and informative…we discussed budget and main highlights of what we like in a trip…he said he’d provide an outline of the trip and then we’d review and provide some tweaks…Jan provided some great ideas and what our expectations should be
Norway is a country where one needs to understand the logistics of where things are to get around efficiently (fjords
and Jan knows Norway like the back of his hand
We decided on having a driver versus self-driving…a great choice for us
We spent most of our 10 days in the Western Fjords and the Lofoten Islands—in a word—BREATHTAKING—such a beautiful place
The food in Norway was much better than expected…quality that you expect at 5-star hotels
Some magazine rated Norwegian cuisine toward the bottom (note—they are highest per capita eating frozen pizzas in the world)…we would passionately disagree
Our guides Isak and Veronika were beyond fantastic!
A lot of laughter and fun in the vehicle and at dinner—like hanging out with good friends…
the hotels were excellent—the trip operated like a luxury Swiss—Everything was right on time and very luxurious considering our surroundings
The scenery of Norway will enchant your eyes with its beauty…
Jan Sortland will make sure you have a wonderful trip
I first heard about Jan Sortland and his company through the Wendy Perrin WOW List
Seeing the Northern Lights was on my bucket list and Jan helped me plan every detail of the trip
When the original estimate was more than I had budgeted
From start to finish he was responsive and every question was answered thoroughly and quickly
The hotels were excellent and we received many upgrades
Our hotel in Alta was particularly lovely and our dinners there were incredible
Knowing how much we wanted to see the Lights
and being disappointed twice before in Iceland
Much of this is due to the incredible guides Jan arranged
Despite the fact that it was cloudy and snowing the first two nights
our guides looked at all the weather maps and found the area that had the most potential to clear up
but the clouds disappeared and the Lights danced
a visit to the area where the Sami live and herd reindeer
These indigenous people live the same way their ancestors did and it was a privilege to spend the day with them
met us and drove us over 30 miles on snowmobiles to watch the Sami move a herd of 2,500+ reindeer to higher terrain
we snowmobiled back to his home where he had prepared a delicious lunch of salmon and Arctic char
He generously and patiently answered all our questions and made us feel like welcomed guests
Our day with this incredible gentleman was truly the highlight of our trip and it is an experience that will not be forgotten
my husband and I were the beneficiaries of your many years of experience
I loved every bit of my Norway vacation in July
the very special guides…was all exactly as I would have wanted
and the special attention to detail and pivots towards whatever I wanted made this experience unforgettable
Jan was incredible to work with every step of the way
It is hard to choose a favorite part of the trip; although Faroe and Lofoten (flexible guide Veronica was awesome!) were the most beautiful
my favorite guide might have been delightful Isak
who helped tremendously when luggage was lost and flights changed
I hope to return sometime when the weather is less rainy
but I will never forget this most beautiful place on earth
Jan Sortland coordinated our amazing two-week Norway trip
This was by far the best vacation we’ve ever experienced
to having a traditional lunch prepared by a charming woman in her quaint summer cabin
to fishing in a small 160-year-old oselver row boat with an amazing guide and his dog
Not to mention catching fish and having him fry it up on shore along with a hot pot of coffee
Our experienced guides and drivers were all wonderful
especially Isak who we spent the last 7 days with
Incredible sites and attractions either by private RIB
Beautiful charming accommodations with lovely meals
We miss Norway and look forward to returning
My association with Jan goes back to November 2020
My husband and I were interested in a trip to see Oslo and Norway’s famous fjords
We were hopeful that by the summer of 2021
the country’s COVID restrictions would be over
After an initial phone conversation with Jan
that bookings were impossible as long as quarantine requirements were in place
we picked up a car and hit the road to see the fjords
Jan provided detailed driving instructions to take us along the most scenic routes
identifying places to stop for views or photos and points of interest
At one point we encountered a blocked tunnel on a major highway that delayed us enough to impact our schedule
We called Jan and he was able to exchange our timed tickets on a scenic train
and reroute us on an alternate series of roads that got us to our lodging in time for dinner
Although the detour was close to three hours and involved three car ferries (a big distinction in Norway)
the views were breathtaking and we have a great story to tell
Jan was always quick to respond to any of my queries
and honest in his evaluations of worthwhile activities
I am using his services again in planning a new trip to Iceland in 2023
We are just back from a most wonderful two weeks in Norway as arranged by Jan Sortland
So many aspects of this trip are amazing and I will try to touch on a few of them
although the entire time is worthy of mentioning
which we easily explored on our own upon arrival
Such a pretty and comfortable — it deserves at least two days
We left Bergen feeling we would love to come back and spend more time
But we had much to see in our short two weeks
so our next day we were picked up by Erik Haukeland
who would be with us the next 3 days on our drive north through the fjords
we had discussed with Jan about cruising vs
driving — and he totally recommended the drive
We were so glad we took his recommendation
It was three days of constant awe-inspiring scenery
But Erik had so much insight into places we drove through — history
stories and just talking to us about life in Norway
He was the best and we so appreciated his being our guide
Jan had arranged two different times we would be on the water in a fjord — so we did not miss the feeling of what being on a cruise might be like
We spent a 1/2-day on a RIB boat — just the two of us and the captain — gliding along the fjord waters and enjoying the experience
I have to mention that Jan also arranged for some amazing lodging along the way
as we had to continue our drive each morning
All three could have been a trip by themselves
We were so sad each morning to have to leave and not get to fully enjoy just staying in these incredible places for at least two nights
I hope sometime we can return to at least one of them and just stay a few days to enjoy
Oh — and the food in each place was superb
I couldn’t even compare between the three — each was that good
Then it was time to say goodbye to Erik and fly to the Lofoten Islands where we stayed in a Rorbu in Reine
We had another Erik — Erik Fokke — who also fitted us perfectly
he didn’t just show us scenic or interesting places — but talked to us and answered so many questions we had
I love leaving a location feeling I have learned a little about the people and customs — and that was being fulfilled on this trip
We spent two enjoyable days in the Rorbu and had a fun WOW Moment when an excellent halibut dinner was prepared for us in our own room and we were able to enjoy this private time together watching the harbor with a great meal
I’m not sure if this was also part of the plan
we stepped outside to a show of the Northern Lights — right there on our own porch!
after too short of a time in the Lofoten Islands (detect a theme here?!) — we flew up to Alta
Our first accommodation was the Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge
looked out over the Alta River and you really felt a million miles from everything
We would have been content to stay there and never leave the grounds — but there was much to see and do
but due to a convention that had booked the entire hotel a year ago
we had to move to a different place for our last two nights
that was also very charming and we enjoyed it very
was amazing — and Jan had mentioned he was considered one of Norway’s best
The guides were all wonderful for the various activities
They accommodated us to our wishes and needs
We were able to take a boat ride on the Alta River with a BBQ lunch of salmon along the way
The visit to the Sami — where we met Johan — was so interesting and so glad we were able to learn about this culture
Sara took us on our Chasing the Northern Lights Safari
Jan went out of his way to arrange our time with him
as we had requested time to do some birding
Johansen is world famous for raptors and also a busy medical doctor
he took the time to spend two days with us and was so gracious
We just can’t express how much we appreciate what he did to fulfill a request we had made — probably somewhat ignorantly
as we didn’t understand this was not a great time to see birds!
he showed us what he could — and so much more
We learned about his wonderful country and special things about it
we saw aspects of Norway you can’t see without someone who lives there showing and explaining their life
Another WOW Moment and this one left both of us speechless
Kenneth must have something of historical interest to show us
The fall colors were lighting up the whole countryside and we saw it all from the air
It was the cherry on top of a perfect trip and we thank all of you for arranging this
We travel to see the beauty of the world and explore famous or historical sites
But the best part is always when there are opportunities to meet the people who live there and you have the chance to gain insights into their way of life
We always come home feeling enriched from these experiences
Norway is a beautiful country with incredible people
What a pleasure to have been able to share their country for two weeks
My husband and I just returned from a trip to Norway organized by Jan Sortland
We had planned the trip at the height of Covid to have something to look forward to
and the trip definitely fulfilled all our expectations
We had explained to Jan that we wanted to see the fjords and also the northern lights
and he advised us the best time to travel would be September
He kept us appraised of changes that had to be made to our itinerary and provided options to substitute when
Other request were for hiking and good food
In the west of Norway to see the fjords we opted to self-drive
and Jan provided excellent driving directions enabling us to take the most scenic routes
after a very wet summer the sun came out and gave us spectacular views
Jan arranged excellent hiking guides who suggested routes suitable for our fitness
and were very knowledgeable about Norway’s history and culture
with excellent food and very attentive staff
to optimize our chances of seeing the northern lights
Jan had arranged for our trip to be guided by Glod Explorer
days one and three were difficult due to cloud cover
and despite travel only caught glimpses of the lights
on day 2 the skies had cleared and we were treated to an amazing display
which we experienced both hiking and canoeing
The lodge where Jan had arranged accommodation was very comfortable and the food was extremely good
unfortunately our initial choice of restaurant was closed on a Saturday
but Jan obtained a booking at a wonderful replacement where the multi-course tasting menu was incredible
is an amazing place to visit and we had an unforgettable experience there
PANDEMIC TRAVEL Jan Sortland and his team planned a fantastic trip for our family of four – us and our 18-year-old son and 22-year-old daughter — to Denmark and Norway
The experience met or exceeded our expectations in virtually every way
and we have made memories that will last a lifetime
The trip went way beyond a surface touristic visit to give us a real and deep sense of the places we saw
It didn’t just refresh and relax us; it educated us and broadened our horizons as well
There was serious construction on the road that delayed our progress (this is something that GPS would probably note) and we just made the ferry with less than 15 minutes to spare
while this dramatic trip was the longest ferry ride of our stay — at 2.5 hours — the boat is the least well outfitted
with only a self-service snack bar offering crisps and candies
So it would have been helpful to know that we should have asked Solstrand to pack us a picnic lunch of some kind
I’d strongly suggest provisioning yourselves with food for lunch before getting on the boat
Our stay here on the shores of beautiful Lake Hafslo was a classic example of how first impressions can be wrong
I think it is fair to say that upon arrival
This property is in no sense what any American would consider a “hotel.” It is more like a bed and breakfast or a country house but it lacks the usual privacy one expects in a true hotel
that we might have to share baths with strangers
These concerns ultimately evaporated upon the arrival of Lindis
We ended up having the entire upstairs of the main house
including a newly built sort of master suite with a large ensuite bath
while the kids each had a separate room and bath down the hall
The kids were also initially upset and unnerved by the idea of dining at a communal table
allowing us to meet and converse with interesting and cosmopolitan European and Australian travelers
which expanded our understanding at a troubling time for our own country
The food is excellent and Lindis a completely charming
the nightly routine of the shared meal – and Lindis’s preference for a plated
multi-course breakfast rather than the more typical buffet
It might have been good to spend one night here not dining at Bestebakken
though I doubt the food anywhere else in the area would have been as good
By far the hardest part is the rocky hourlong walk leading to the ice
Lindis packed us a picnic lunch but Jan’s advice about the Glacier Museum and visitors’ center was very helpful and we stopped there for coffee and cake afterward
I personally loved this experience and was fascinated by the life that the owners Kjersti and Geir have chosen to live here in a kind of “back to the land” experiment
This visit to a family farm that has been under cultivation since 600 A.D
was a chance to learn about a vanishing part of Norwegian life that has endured for centuries but is now at risk
I think the kids and Dee Dee might have preferred a somewhat shorter visit that allowed time for another activity during this day
this was a very special journalistic opportunity that went well beyond any kind of typical tourist visit one could imagine
arguing against the idea of fitting in another activity on this day
it was nice to have a fairly late and easy start on this morning after a busy couple of days
Our ferry ride on the Geirangerfjord was all that this route promised
This was the first and almost the only place on the trip where we encountered a lot of tourists from buses and the big cruise ships and it made us all the more appreciate the special places Jan sent us
where we did not encounter other Americans
The Eagle’s Road offered amazing views back down to the fjord
steep roads in our mountains and coastline here
the sun came out as we approached the ferry from Linge to Vallidal – and once again
we would have appreciated some advice about provisioning ourselves for lunch
we stopped at a BunnPris grocery store in Vallidal to get picnic makings (itself a cultural experience!)
and then proceeded to inadvertently annoy the café operator at the Gudbrandsjuvet gorge by setting up our picnic at one of his tables there
We did not realize that this was not allowed
but promptly moved to a bench where picnicking was OK
There just aren’t that many good food options in rural Norway
Jan is a strong advocate for expert guides
and he suggested that we have them at virtually every point of the trip
We found our guides to be wonderful shepherds who not only explained their countries’ heritage and history at the sites we visited but conversed meaningfully in general about how life works in Scandinavia compared to the U.S
Yet we also strongly appreciated having ample unstructured time to explore on our own – especially in Copenhagen
Travelers should feel free to advocate for their own preferences and push back if they feel Jan is proposing too many guided experiences
and would not have wanted any additional guided activities
did anyone ever offer to help us get bags up and down steps or elevators to the rooms – and sometimes there were twisted paths
This is not so much a complaint as an expression of confusion
This is apparently just the way Norwegians like to drink their brew
None of the foregoing small notes should be heard in the nature of a serious complaint
but rather in the spirit of constructive feedback that might aid in planning for future travelers
remain incredibly grateful for Jan and his team’s kindness
and would recommend them in the most enthusiastic way
We contacted Jan almost too late to put a trip together that would include the Northern Lights over the Christmas New Year’s holiday
All flowed together to visit three locations — Oslo
guides and drivers in the cities were spot on
Our experience in Alta was way beyond what we expected
Jan told us that in 30 years if his clients stayed in the Arctic Circle four nights
But we also had wonderful experiences during the day
as was snowshoeing and ice fishing and snowmobiling
and made us feel relaxed and refreshed as we experienced these new to us activities
Jan Sortland helped us plan our trip to see the Northern lights
We are a family of five and were celebrating our son’s 17th birthday
and thought it would be a memorable way to celebrate
Jan suggested Norway as our destination and after a detailed phone conversation put together an amazing itinerary that not only included the Northern lights
Jan was wonderful to plan with and was very responsive especially dealing with our dietary requirements and allergies
He also suggested wonderful additions that made the trip all the more special
and the staff at every location were incredibly attentive
one shellfish allergy and other requirements
They would escort us personally at buffets to explain each dish and prepare special food to make sure we were attended to
I can’t express how personal the service was
The whole trip was an experience like no other with individual activities that were very unique and personal
All the guides were very knowledgeable and added so much to our trip
We were able to see the Northern lights on 2 of our 3 nights of hunting for them and every night was a unique experience
and we are already thinking of planning a trip back to Norway during the summer with Jan
The hotels were wonderful and the restaurant recommendations were spot on
The best part of the trip was our guide Omar
We could not wait for the day to begin and it always ended way too soon
His knowledge of the history and culture of the island was incredible
He adjusted our daily itinerary working around the weather
The vehicle he drove looked like something NASA would design for a moon landing
Omar’s skill at navigating this vehicle on the difficult terrain was nothing short of amazing
My wife and I just returned from three weeks in Norway Sweden and Denmark
Jan Sortland and his team planned every detail and element of our trip and we were thrilled with their effort
We spoke to Jan several times during the planning process and it was clear from our itinerary he had listened
We like taking private tours during our travels as we feel we learn more
Without exception every guide we had was not only pleasant to be with and they really knew their stuff
I was most impressed with Jan when we checked into The Grand Hotel in Stockholm and had an issue at 10pm on a Saturday evening
I called the in country number they gave us prior to our trip
Jan answered on the second ring and personally helped manage the situation
We would highly recommend Jan and his team
Came up with a 3-week itinerary which met and exceeded our expectations
and called me when we were delayed to help make alternative arrangements
Jan was easy to work with and very responsive (even allowing for the time difference)
I did not give him much specific guidance and he was able to create a trip full of experiences that my family thoroughly enjoyed
We made several additions mid trip and they were very easy
All of our guides and drivers were very professional
Witnessing the land of the Midnight Sun and seeing Norway’s fjords has been on our bucket list for decades
After multiple emails and several phone calls Jan Sortland put together an itinerary that exceeded our expectations
Our trip involved our own self guided city tours (Oslo and Bergen) along with Jan orchestrating all of the other details (drivers
bike and kayak rentals and museum vouchers) for exploring Western Norway and the Lofoten Islands
Visiting Western Norway and the Lofoten Islands felt more like a road trip with 2 really smart and funny buddies (our guides) than a “see Norway in 12 days package tour”
Most travelers return home with souvenirs and laundry
but Jan Sortland created a two week Norwegian holiday where the memories surpass any expectation and will last for generations
Jan’s expertise in genealogy provided my husband with an opportunity to walk on five generations of family farms near Stavanger and thoroughly explore another family’s farm in Vaga
Jan’s connections in Norway were outstanding
Throughout the gorgeous Norwegian landscape
each and every ground person employed (drivers
local historians and genealogists) made this journey exceptional
Jan made suggestions for excursions that were “outside” the box and suggestions on what to possibly avoid
His best advice was to see the fjords from land-breathtaking
my husband was able to enjoy each and every aspect of the scenery
he dined with us in a 3 Michelin star restaurant in Oslo
We could not reserve a table for two in the restaurant
Jan offered himself to join us for dinner so we could taste that particular restaurant that we wanted to try
a classy knowledgeable guy who is passionate about luxury travel
Our journey was perfectly arranged and a mixture of adventure and leisure
off road and driving on the glacier in Iceland with a huge 4×4 wheel superjeep
another hike on the glacier (this was our highlight)
accompanied by the best driver guide who loves to drive
Sweden and Denmark were superb to be accompanied by the best guides
We will be back for the northern lights for sure…
So when I made the decision to visit Norway and its stunning fjords this May/June
I reached out to Wendy last year and she recommended Jan Sortland
It was one of the first things that Jan talked to me about so I could manage expectations
This wasn’t about making money for Jan
This was Jan wanting to plan a trip that i would be happy with and if i accepted the truths about the costs going into the trip
the trip Jan planned for me was worth every penny
When Jan sent me an idea of an initial itinerary
but because I didn’t know about 3/4 of the names of the places that he wanted me to visit
I had read enough at this point to know that Oslo was lovely
and Bergen was charming and brimming with history
Little did I know that I would be walking into a world of such great beauty
and an almost fairytale like quality to each place
And these were just the cities; imagine what happened to my heart when i first set eyes on the fjords
I was either speechless because my breath had been taken away by the expanse of nature in all its glory or screaming with delight over the sheer indescribable beauty of the place
Our guide took this photo from the first night
Photo: Norwegian-Adventures/Veronika Ostermaier
Jan and his team were responsive and helpful
They tailored our visit to Norway to our specific desires and needs every step of the way
What I like to say is (after nailing down the itinerary unique to us) that we just “showed up” and were taken care of
Since we only had about a week to experience Oslo
Our drivers and guides were always waiting for us upon arrival with a smile and great knowledge of the area
Flight updates (considering the grounding of the Max 8 and potential Norwegian Airlines financial worries) came to us daily
They checked in for us for all flights and boarding passes were waiting in our room the night before our departures
The highlight for us was the day spent dogsledding with our guide Elaine at the Trasti and Trini Lodge with the thrill of meeting the owners’ daughter who had just that day won a major dog sledding event at the young age of 19
fabulous viewings of the Northern Lights in both Lofoten and Alta
Both of which were bucket list items for years
It was a memorable trip to a stunningly beautiful country
Jan and his team were highly attentive and responsive
They really listened to what we wanted from our trip (e.g.
some guided experiences and time to explore on our own)
and dining recommendations were uniformly excellent
We loved our trip and felt like we really got to see parts of Norway that are off the beaten path
It was particularly amazing seeing the landscapes in the fjords and ending our days in tiny hotels and towns that are basically only accessible in summer
where we could really get a sense of the multi-generational family ownership of this quirky
unique hotel while enjoying a cozy room and delicious food
so we swam in the fjord each day and watched children and adults jump off the (very high) dock
Additional favorite activities included glacier hiking
which neither of us had done before and included crampons and ice axes… and kayaking along the super peaceful
The only challenge was that dining choices were a little limited at the small
but the chefs were able to accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences when asked
This was a great trip for couples or families with easygoing
We look forward to returning to Norway in the future
Going to Norway in the winter is not for the faint-hearted
I took my brother on a 60th bucket list journey for one week to do things wed never done
Jan Sortland was an excellent listener and provided such great guidance and advice
We had an amazingly knowledgeable and charming guide during our one day in Oslo
I think that Bergen was eminently missable- we did not find it to be the charming or beautiful city it was described to be
and after our wonderful Oslo guide this one was disappointing and a bit tired
Going above the Arctic Circle was superb – dog sledding
reindeer racing with the Sami and hunting for the Northern Lights
I would not advise anyone to do 2+ hours of motor scooters over snowy trails – perhaps it was because we were there when the snows were unseasonably deep and the paths were not at all groomed and incredibly bumpy
I just wanted to get out of the whiteout and go have a cup of tea
I had my arms practically pulled out of my sockets
Jan knows his restaurants and menus – his advice in this area was also superb!
this was a fantastic and memorable journey
I am a world traveler with high expectations and
a very honest and clearly a rather critical reviewer
We just returned from a trip we planned with Jan Sortland to see the Northern Lights in Alta
Norway and wanted to tell you that he is fantastic
and thank you so much for what you do as you made it very easy for us to find him
We saw the Northern Lights 4 nights in a row (unbelievable experience)
we dined with one of the world’s great chefs
Jan was great to work with from start to finish
even though Jan warned us of possible disappointments
It turns out Iceland is way below Alta standards
Alta has the best food (thanks to the chef)
I keep thinking that I will find the time to describe just how responsive Jan Sortland was and that he planned an excellent and flawless trip for us
And I will use your organization again based on the experience with Sortland
The travel agent was able to find for us two tickets for the opera house for a sold out performance
We left the planning and recommendations to Jan Sortland of Norwegian Adventures
Our trip was predicated on attempting to view the Northern Lights
Jan recommended Alta Norway as the best place to view the lights
His communications were timely and his attention to details was fantastic
He made many recommendations to us about activities while we were in Alta
hiking and of course Northern Lights “safaris”
He also arranged for a private experience in meeting Sami tribal people and learning about their culture with reindeer sledding
Everything worked to perfection and there were no hiccups in any of the details
Fantastic vacation and dealing with a fantastic travel specialist in Jan Sortland
There is a big advantage in using a local person to plan your vacation
He know all the little things that go in planning a high end adventure
I would give Jan our highest recommendation and we plan on using him on our next adventure to Norway on a Fjords excursion
While many of our friends have visited and enjoyed Scandinavia
their trips seem to me the equivalent of visiting New York and Chicago and calling it “America.” It is
My husband and I wanted the “so much more.” Problem is
if you ask travel planners to put together an independent itinerary that’s even a little off the beaten path
not one was familiar enough with Scandinavia to offer anything beyond the typical Copenhagen-Bergen-Oslo-Stockholm track
We wanted our Scandinavian trip—with an emphasis on Norway—to provide lots of photo ops and local color
What we didn’t want was to continually run into every travel photographer’s nemesis: busloads of tourists
Jan Sortland promised to show us “the Norway that only Norwegians see,” and (with a little Denmark & Sweden thrown in)
We traveled to places where the Norwegians themselves were on vacation
along the way driving hundreds of miles through gorgeous country filled with fjords
around every bend yet another extraordinary view
We especially loved our days in the Lofotens
a small fishing community with roots dating back to the 14th century
famous for its abundance and variety of nesting sea birds
Jan brilliantly managed a 23-day journey with a complicated itinerary that included (take a deep breath): 3 car rentals
numerous car ferries and an assortment of other boats
ranging from 5-stars and spas to “the oldest hotel in Norway,” a cozy family-run place
It was truly the “adventure” we’d hoped for
showcasing the beauty of the Danish countryside
we were well-supplied with pre-paid vouchers for museums
and a journey out into the Stockholm archipelago
Our trip concluded in Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea—our second favorite place
How fortunate for us that Jan arranged our arrival to coincide with the last day of their annual Medieval Fair—what a sight coming upon half the town in medieval garb in this meticulously preserved medieval town
Everything was great—the accommodations were the finest
and the views and scenery were superlative
For a travel solution tailored to your trip goals and preferences
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There was a little something for everyone at Minot High School’s Thursday night hockey game against the Beulah-Hazen North Stars
In an emotional pregame Seniors Night ceremony
the program honored its 14 elders with thunderous applause echoing across Maysa Arena from parents and students alike
The student section was decked out in jerseys of each’s favorite professional or college sports team as part of a ‘Jersey Night’ spirit night
the Magicians asserted their dominance over the winless North Stars from the opening puck drop
The first period may as well have been played on a table at a 45-degree angle on the visitors’ end
Minot peppered Beulah-Hazen’s goaltender with shots
leading 5-0 in the category after the first two minutes and two seconds had elapsed
The Magicians’ Caelton Eslinger unleashed the first shot that would find the back of the net
The sophomore forward received a perfect assist from Zachary Diehl from behind the net and flicked the puck right past the unsuspecting North Stars’ netminder
Casey Fjeld aided on the scoring chance as well
breaking back onto the point sheet after seeing his three-game scoring streak snapped in Minot’s last contest January 5
The Magi’s tally would be the lone score of the first frame
but the period wasn’t as close as the 1-0 score would have you believe
Minot registered 20 shots on net to the North Stars’ seven
the Magicians simply toying with the visitors
A penalty committed by the North Stars’ Landen Sayler ignited the rally for Minot’s second goal
A rebound off a long shot attempt from the between the circles by Gabriel Thongphet was finished by Sam Bessette
Minot had doubled its advantage three minutes and 47 seconds into the frame
The Magicians added a third with just over five minutes remaining on the clock
A one-timer from Aiden Morelli was blocked away
and directly to the waiting stick of Casey Fjeld who quickly converted on the chance to put Minot ahead 3-0
He would also later score a goal of his own to extend his
Senior Riley Opperude also assisted on the Magi’s third goal
giving him his ninth point of the season and extending his team lead in the category
The defenseman has recorded at least one point all but one of Minot’s games this season
The Magicians headed to the locker room in complete control
holding a 3-0 lead and the advantage in shots 40-11
The North Stars simply had no answers for Minot
as the Magi would later add six more goals from Opperude
Magi netminder Tre’ Sortland turned away all 13 shots he faced to finish off the rout
SD — The Minot State Beavers concluded their 2025 season Wednesday with a loss in round one of the ..
The Minot State softball team racked up honors from the NSIC for its play this season on the diamond as the league ..
FARGO – The Bison Open was as eventful and record-breaking as you could get with the regular season winding down ..
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Shanghai: The international north was put on hold when the sanctions against Russia were introduced
who continually threatens to choke international trade
China is open for trade again – and the forward-leading industry in the north is waiting impatiently
I was at a café in Shanghai the other day with Geir Wold
investor and founder of Vesteraalen’s fish products in Sortland
long before Norwegian authorities started talking with their Chinese colleagues
It has taken three years to get to where he is at today
a factory that is to supply the Chinese market with fish products is nearly complete
Geir Wold and his partners have put NOK 250 million ($ 30 million) into this adventure
Impatient customers in China are eagerly awaiting the finishing of this North Norwegian initiative
I was often on the docks by Vesteraalen’s Canned Goods factory in Sortland
We would balance on slimy green lumber logs that would only be available at low tide
Our fishing equipment was homemade and we tried catching a fish whose official name I do not know
as was much else coming from the sea at that time
The spikes were to kill us if we touched them
a most valid currency for children who were barely old enough to get a weekly allowance and thus worth risking our lives for
who thought we were at some field playing football
Revealing our treasure hunt would lead to our being grounded and to our fishing gear being confiscated
Vesteraalen’s Canned Goods factory produced green cans with fish balls inside
and they were the pride of Sortland at a time when I truly and proudly would refer to myself as ‘Vesteråling’; a person coming from the Vesterålen region in northern Norway
The recipe for the fish balls was surrounded by secrecy; however
according to Geir Wold there was no secret other than using top-quality fresh raw materials
The cans from Vesteraalen’s are still to be found in shelves at the shops
Vesteraalen’s also produces top-quality fish oil
but oil filling design bottles sold online
Most of the fish that is landed in Sortland is processed and climbing the value chain
And now it is heading for the Chinese marketm
as soon as the new factory is finished and the Norwegian and Chinese food authorities have joined forces in joint regulations
such technicalities necessarily take their time
according to business people who are eager to reap the benefits from the capital they have invested
The new factory built in Sortland will be one of the most modern fish-processing plants in the world when it is finished
Through extensive automatization it also moves the boundaries of what is industrial possible in the High North
in particular when comparing salary levels with China and other countries
is more or less eliminated through technology
That does not mean that Vesteraalen’s and others who put new technology into use do not have to offer competitive salaries
It just means that there is a demand for a different kind of work force in tomorrow’s job market
It is about engineers and others with higher education
and Norway does not have the highest salaries for these professions
Competence may come cheaper in Norway than in other countries
and we see investments into a gigantic Chinese food market
solid analyses and heavy investments lie behind such a major initiative from the founders in Vesterålen
Geir Wold and his co-workers and co-owners have every possibility to succeed against this backdrop
based on a historic tradition of a company holding rich traditions
It is not hard to re-live the old sense of pride that came from being able to balance on the logs underneath the docks of Vesteraalen’s Canned Goods back in the day
We never caught any fish with pennies in their bellies
Have a great weekend!(This editorial originally appeared in Norwegian and has been translated by HNN's Elisabeth Bergquist.)
High North News is not responsible for the content or opinions expressed on external web pages
Editor in Chief:Trine Jonassen
E-mail High North News
Editor/Commentator: Arne O. HolmTel: (+47) 905 29 472
Journalist:Hilde-Gunn Bye
Journalist:Astri Edvardsen
Translator:Birgitte Annie Molid Martinussen
Ane Høyem is the Director of Sortland Museum
a museum breaking new ground to attract children and youth
Sortland: Sortland Museum takes a new route to attract children and youth
the museum has taken measures to affect the future of the Vesterålen region
Director Ane Høyem spearheads the project called Gaia
“Gaia is a large tech and environmental project
and also a societal project based here in Sortland”
a container museum based on discarded containers from the fish industry
A giant 3D model of Vesterålen is to show what the region was like in the past
“We also want to create an environmental contract for Vesterålen for companies
private individuals and for public offices
We connect the private and the public to see if we can solve climate and environmental problems”
Ane Høyem er enhetsleder på Sortland Museum
et museum som går nye veier for å tiltrekke seg barn og unge
“We wonder whether a museum can play a different role in society
Can we be a hub and a platform through which people want to work together?” she asks
Many of the ideas are built on meetings with school groups that have visited the museum
“It does something to you when you see children start crying in the face of plastic ocean waste
The question then is ‘What can we as adults do about this?’”
Young digital talents have also been engaged to develop a unique and local computer game
Join us at Sortland Museum and see the whole interview with Director Ane Høyem
This article was originally published in Norwegian and has been translated by HNN's Elisabeth Bergquist
2012 at 2:47 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The three-member Civil Service Commission considering whether former Enumclaw Police Lt
Eric Sortland should get his job back decided Tuesday that his 2011 firing was "warranted."
The Commission heard two days of testimony from various city and police personnel in late June
(See stories from and of the Commission hearing)
Among the Commission's conclusions was that the city had just cause to discipline Sortland -- both in his initial 10-day suspension that was issued shortly before his later termination
(Scroll down for a timeline of pertinent events.)
"The Commission has considered whether demotion or other level of discipline other than termination is warranted
Based on the totality of the evidence before the Commission
termination was warranted following Sortland's conduct on August 4
a confrontation ensued between Chief Jim Zoll and Sortland which the city has held as the final example of insubordination by Sortland and in which Sortland alleged Zoll had assaulted him
"Sortland's conduct was not to the standards of performance expected of an officer with over 25 years of law enforcement experience
a supervisory and management officer has responsibility because of that management rank
the attorney who representing the city of Enumclaw in the hearing said
"the city certainly agrees with the decision and believes justice was done."
Mayor Liz Reynolds said in an email to Patch
that the determination of justifiable termination carries many philosophical messages
including that the administration will not tolerate inappropriate behavior
and "our citizenry deserves a law enforcement agency that is professional and handles itself with high integrity and honesty."
reorganize the department and move forward in positive manner for the community of Enumclaw."
was not in his office Wednesday and could not be reached for comment
Sortland can send an appeal to King County Superior Court within 30 days of the decision
The appeal wouldn't overturn the findings but would ask the court to review the hearing's proceedings for possible errors
The 12-page decision lays out the causes for the city's action pretty well
April 1985: Eric Sortland joins the Enumclaw Police Department
he had received numerous commendations and recognitions
October 2004: Chief Jim Zoll came to head EPD
2007: Sortland was given a five-day suspension by Zoll for giving his duty rifle to a corrections officer during a high-risk incident
January 2008: The Enumclaw Police Officer's Association advocated for Sortland to then City Administrator Mark Bauer that the suspension was not warranted and alleged it was Zoll who had a personal dislike of Sortland that caused him to issue the discipline
Bauer directed Zoll to improve communications within the department with both lieutenants and reduced Sortland's suspension to a reprimand
there were allegations that Sortland had initiated the letter written by the guild and strong-armed officers into joining his 'camp.'
2010: Zoll issues a memorandum of corrective action to Sortland due to a failure to properly manage a commendation received by Officer Tony Ryan
2010: Sortland files a complaint against Zoll alleging he was subjected to a "hostile work environment."
2011: The city hires independent investigator Don Austin to interview the department and investigate Sortland's complaint
2011: Austin informs the city that he finds Sortland's complaints were unfounded; moreover in the course of speaking with officers
he found that there were divisions in the department attributable to Sortland's actions
and differential treatment of female employees by Sortland as well as others
2011: With the city's direction to further investigate
Austin issues another report that there is a basis for finding discriminatory treatment by Sortland and Sgt
2011: The city issued a pre-disciplinary notice to Sortland
2011: The city gave Sortland notice of a 10-day suspension
That suspension was never served as his termination followed that October
2011: Sortland is involved in a heated discussion with Zoll in the office of Lt
the Commission found he was being insubordinate when he blocked Zoll's path out of the office
"This clear and direct act of insubordination demonstrates that he is no longer fit to serve in the EPD," the Commission's report said
2011: Sortland was notified of his termination
2012: This was the original date for Sortland's hearing before the Civil Service Commission for his appeals of both his suspension and termination
Severe winter weather caused it's postponement to June
May 2012: The city settles with two female officers who filed complaints of sexual discrimination (See )
2012: Sortland's appeals were heard before the Civil Service Commission
2012: The Commission finds the city was justified in its disciplinary action against Sortland and his termination is affirmed
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Global Maritime Group has appointed Peder Sortland as its first CEO
created by merging four companies belonging to HitecVision
has put another important piece in place for realising its substantial growth ambitions over coming years.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150202/727848 )
Global Maritime Group is a worldwide enterprise with its head office in Stavanger
almost 650 employees in 26 countries and an overall annual turnover of about NOK 1.4 billion
Its business areas comprise Consultancy & Engineering
an independent consultancy for the offshore and maritime industries, Marine Contracting
transport and installation of offshore structures, Vryhof Anchors
a global supplier of powerful anchors and associated mooring products and services
which delivers mooring solutions for exploration and production companies and for rig contractors
Sortland (51) comes from the post of CEO at Apply ASA
and knows part of the group well from holding the position as chair of Global Maritime AS since April 2014
"Sortland has demonstrated that he has the right qualities to realise a strategy as ambitious as the one established for Global Maritime Group," says Jan Vatsvåg
"His professional qualifications are strong
and he has substantial understanding of the oil service sector and the customer side of the business after spending almost two decades with an oil company
He is also a unifying leader with the ability to generate enthusiasm and to get employees to pull in the same direction."
Sortland was chief executive of Ross Offshore and Subsea Technology Group
He has also managed the Norwegian unit of Subsea 7
and held the position as chair in Ocean Installer
He held a number of leading posts in the Statoil group from 1992-2010
covering upstream and downstream oil and gas activities both in Norway and internationally
He has a master's degree in economics and management from the University of Wyoming
"The companies in Global Maritime Group are all well positioned
which collectively provides a solid and highly interesting foundation for building a group which ranks as an international leader in defined market areas," says Sortland
"The group is also internationally oriented
with roughly 75 per cent of both employees and turnover outside Norway and the Norwegian continental shelf
The fact that I am very familiar with both the principal owner and the chair means that this opportunity
was not one I could refuse." Sortland takes office immediately
Do not sell or share my personal information:
2012 at 1:10 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Update: June 21 - The Civil Service Commission hearing is Friday
We initially reported the hearing was Thursday
Two female officers with the recently settled sexual harassment and discrimination complaints with the city for $15,000 each
who was fired in October but is seeking reinstatement
The women--a corrections officer and a patrol officer--are also potential witnesses next week at
Enumclaw Patch obtained copies of the women's complaints (attached to this story)
officers Nona Zilbauer and Amber Brunelle complain about sexual discrimination
Zilbauer wrote in her claim that she faced several instances of harassment and unfair treatment by Sortland and Sgt
Zilbauer said fellow officers warned her the men were targeting her
possibly as retribution for refusing to sign a "vote of no confidence" that Sortland began in August 2008 against Chief Jim Zoll
She reported the men were not following policy regarding shift changes
and when she complained about being left on graveyard shift
Chilman told her that Sortland was "tired of you whining and crying about doing graveyard and he's not going to allow you to go to day shift...."
Zilbauer also claims that Sortland and Chilman asked other officers to keep detailed notes on her mistakes in an effort to single her out to "get me fired or at least severely disciplined."
After she reported the incidents to her guild representive
Zilbauer alleges the men went further with their harassment
While her percentage of correct bookings was higher than the other corrections officers'
Chilman gave her low marks on her evaluation and she was placed on probation in December 2008
And when she was hired both as a corrections officer in 2007 and then as a patrol officer in 2009
Zilbauer alleges she was started at a lower pay rate than male counterparts though she had more experience
who was hired in August 2009 after 11 years of experience in corrections
Chilman and Officer Chris Grant as the principal parties in her claim
Brunelle alleges Sortland told her he preferred not having anyone in his department that belonged to the "NBA," later learning it stood for "No Babies Allowed."
"He had basically just told me that he did not want women with children around," Brunelle wrote
suggestions and good work in the jail were routinely ignored by Chilman
including discovering an inmate was having a relationship with his attorney
and discovering inmates were making homemade alcohol using bread and sugar they ordered through the inmate store
Brunelle administered CPR to a female inmate who she reported having seen through the jail camera sitting in an odd manner
The inmate was stabilized at the scene by fire officials who responded and later taken to the hospital
Greg Schipper had reportedly written a letter of commendation for Brunelle
"I have been told by multiple officers and dispatch personnel that I deserved a department commendation as my actions were above and beyond the call of duty
Chilman still gives me the feeling that I did something wrong."
Brunelle's colleague Grant presented a different ordeal--one allegedly fueled by sexist and racist comments
Brunelle said in her complaint that Grant regularly proclaimed
someone get her a pole!" and made other disrespectiful remarks
She said he indicated his distaste for potentially working with a black job candidate who was up for a new corrections position: "I don't have any use for those types," she quoted him as saying
Brunelle said she was also subject to unfair scheduling
working the majority of time since her hiring on graveyard shift and having vacation requests denied
She also alleged fraud on Sortland's part in misrepresenting the position she accepted in terms of pay
Both women said when they reported the incidents
neither the police department nor the city took appropriate actions to remedy the situation
According to City Administrator Mike Thomas
the women's claims were settled in May and each was awarded $15,000 in damages; their initial claims were much higher at $350,000 each
neither the city nor the women admitted to any wrongdoing
said they agreed to the settlement because they wanted to move on
"Legal battles in court are time and resource intensive," he said in an email to Patch
I hope things will change at their department going forward for them."
The city of Enumclaw does not face personnel claims like that too often
and these settlements came about relatively quickly from when they were first filed
"I'm happy that this issue is settled and we can move forward," he said
Chilman and Grant remain employed with the Enumclaw Police Department
though both received written reprimands that go into their personnel files
Thomas explained the reprimands are cumulative
so that if further claims are made against them
there would be escalating consequences for the men
If no further claims are made in a two-year period
Sortland's termination last year coincided with an investigation by the State Auditor's Office of the police department's property room, which he managed, according to The Courier-Herald
(The PDF of the Auditor's Office findings is attached.)
who is representing Sortland through his hearing next week
The claims by Zilbauer and Brunelle will also be a factor in the hearing
The hearing was initially supposed to occur in January before severe winter weather conditions forced its postponement
fought deputies and performed lewd acts in police stationSaturday
2014Stefan SortlandLoveland PoliceFORT COLLINS
-- A Colorado State University student is charged with stealing an ambulance from campus after allegedly taking drugs at a Halloween party
Authorities say 18-year-old Stefan Sortland drove the ambulance from Fort Collins to nearby Loveland and crashed into at least one road sign
The Coloradan reports the emergency vehicle is equipped with a GPS system and was tracked
Police say they found Sortland standing next to the rig and wearing an EMT's vest
He now faces a number of charges including aggravated vehicle theft and drug possession
Sortland allegedly stole the ambulance after taking cocaine and "molly," according to 7NEWS in Denver
The 18-year-old was reportedly shot with a stun gun when police found him
kicked the wall and masturbated" when he was taken to the police station
Sortland is also accused of attacking two deputies while he was being booked into jail
punching one in the face and causing a concussion
while another deputy suffered a scrape and a bruised finger when they tried to get Sortland under control
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Fortum logoFortum logoFortum
Ånstadblåheia wind farm was put into operation in 2018
the Minister of Petroleum and Energy officially inaugurated the facility
Ånstadblåheia wind farm is located in Sortland municipality
The wind farm has a total installed capacity of up to 50 MW
This corresponds to the electricity lighting up a town about 46,000 households
The wind farm is jointly owned by Energy Infrastructure Partners (EIP) Energy Infrastructure Partners (EIP) - External link and Fortum
and Fortum operates the wind farm with Nordkraft
The local utility company Nordkraft is responsible for the daily operation of the wind farm on behalf of Fortum and is responsible for all local operational tasks that are not related to the actual wind turbines
for example maintenance of roads and grid connections The turbine supplier Vestas is taking care of the maintenance of the wind turbines
© Fortum 2025
A Colorado State University student was jailed on Sunday after he stole an ambulance from campus
crashed into at least one road sign and then defied an officer's orders prompting them to deploy a Taser and take him into custody
Poudre Valley Hospital EMS responded at 1:47 a.m
on the CSU campus for someone experiencing a medical emergency
hospital spokeswoman Kelly Tracer confirmed
The ambulance crew left the rig in a parking lot
and when they returned with the patient at 2:14 a.m.
"Our ambulance is gone," an EMT reported to dispatch
All PVH ambulances have on-board GPS tracking systems
dispatchers and emergency crews contacted Loveland police along with multiple other agencies and aired repeated updates about the rig's location in real-time all the way to its eventual stop on U.S
which was facing north in the middle of the east-west street
They contacted 18-year-old Stefan Sortland standing next to the ambulance wearing a PVH EMT safety vest
He began walking toward one of the officers and refused to drop an armful of items
prompting police to use a stun gun to subdue him
The items he was clutching included a blanket and box of Wheat Thins crackers
told police he took the ambulance and talked about "following the bright lights and other ramblings which were not relevant to the incident at hand," police wrote
Authorities later located a pill labeled as Adderall — a schedule II controlled substance for which he did not have a prescription
The ambulance was damaged and appears to have barreled off of U.S
34 and crashed into a sign before being disabled
A damage estimate was not immediately made available
Sortland also told police he broke out a window of a Nissan sedan and tried to steal it before he took the ambulance
He also smashed the window of another sedan that was located near where the disabled ambulance was found
Contents from the ambulance were inventoried
Sortland was arrested on suspicion of multiple misdemeanor and felony crimes including aggravated vehicle theft
criminal mischief and unlawful possession of a controlled substance
He remains in custody at the Larimer County Jail
The patient who needed medical attention is reported to be doing okay and was treated and transported to an area hospital when another ambulance arrived
It has been about 30 years since a PVH ambulance was stolen
That incident involved a psychiatric patient who stole a rig from the emergency bay at the hospital
It isn't uncommon for crews to leave ambulances running while they treat a patient — it allows for faster transport and ensures all devices in the patient cabin can work immediately
we will definitely re-evaluate the protocol," Tracer said
Reporter Jason Pohl coversbreaking news for the Coloradoan
The Norwegian coast guard vessel KV Jan Mayen docked in Sortland earlier this week
It was formally handed over to the Norwegian Navy at the start of 2023
The new Jan Mayen class will eventually replace the Nordkapp class
Norway’s new coast guard vessel KV Jan Mayen docked for the first time at the Norwegian Navy’s northern Coast Guard station in Sortland
The patrol vessel will protect Norwegian interests in the High North
Norwegian version
the recently completed Norwegian patrol vessel KV Jan Mayen made its first port call in Sortland in Vesterålen
This is where the staff and command of the Norwegian Coast Guard are based
“Finally home!” the Coast Guard comments on the vessel’s port call
KV Jan Mayen is the first of a total of three new coast guard vessels that will safeguard Norwegian interests in the country’s large ocean areas in the High North
The vessel is 136 meters long and 22 meters wide
It is equipped with modern technology and designed to operate in challenging Arctic waters
Among the facilities are a helideck and a hangar
as well as a cabin capacity for 100 persons
It can manage at sea for eight weeks without resupplying fuel and provisions
The investment in the three new patrol vessels has a cost frame of NOK 7.2 billion
This is one of the largest procurements in the Norwegian maritime sector ever
according to the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency
the Coast Guard's three ships of the Nordkapp class from the 1980s will be replaced by the significantly larger Jan Mayen class
The other new ships are scheduled to be delivered this year and next year
The Coast Guard's mission is to protect Norway’s sovereignty and sovereign rights in Norwegian waters and zones
environmental supervision and oil spill preparedness
In the north of Norway there is a town in which many
of the buildings in the town centre are painted blue
you come across somewhere that you expect to be completely ordinary
That's definitely the case with Sortland in Northern Norway
On the final days of my recent research trip to Lofoten for Moon Norway
I turned north to explore the lesser-known Vesterålen archipelago
As the largest town in the region and for its central location
Sortland was my choice for an overnight stay
Much like many towns on Lofoten and Vesterålen
Sortland is an ordinary small city that provides accommodation and services in an area of outstanding natural beauty
There's not a great deal else on offer. Except the people of Sortland
who tried to put their city on the map for
Local artist Bjørn Elvenes came up with the idea of turning his home town into a three dimensional artwork using a blue colour palette
which at the time was a grey city with little optimism
yet it provided the inspiration for the idea
the Mayor of Sortland presented the idea of painting the town blue to a pessimistic pool of local journalists
Questions were asked about cost and practicalities
but the idea captured the imagination of the town’s people
The local newspaper played the role of mediator in the discussion and debate among local residents
with comments such as: “Of course you could say that painting the town blue is madness
“The municipality can’t afford to waste money on nonsense
It’s the mountains and the bay that make Sortland special
That's how people remember their hometown when they’ve moved away
and that's how people who live here want it to be.”
The blue city project was adopted as a millennium project by the city
this was one the beginning of the problems
While the artist wanted the freedom to create his vision of a three-dimensional painting that you could enter and interact with
the architects preferred using colour to emphasise the features of individual buildings
while the local bureaucrats insisted on a managed process
The artist fell out with the council and started to cooperate with selected building owners directly
while others implemented the council’s plans
The result is a mish-mash of styles and colours that keeps a stroll around Sortland's city centre an interesting one
The city is by no means completely blue, but enough buildings are blue to raise a curious eyebrow from visitors. Just take a look at this view from a guest room at the Sortland Hotel:
Going forward, Sortland is likely to become even bluer, as colour is now an important aspect of all planning decisions taken in the central area. Blåby (meaning blue city) also finds its way into many public buildings, events, advertising, and so on. The town's new indoor sports arena is officially known as Blåbyhallen
Elvenes and the city council have reconciled their differences
so this is a story that may have a happy ending after all
Sortland lies at the heart of the Vesterålen archipelago
The closest major airport is Evenes (Harstad/Narvik)
while smaller airports nearby include Stokmarknes
The Norwegian coastal route calls daily at Sortland and the nearby town of Stokmarknes
which is also home to the coastal route museum
The historic Sortland Hotel has provided accommodation to the people of Sortland and their guests since 1908
All 50 guest rooms and suites were refurbished in 2010
Originally from the UK, David now lives in Trondheim and was the original founder of Life in Norway back in 2011. He now works as a professional writer on all things Scandinavia
What a delight to stop at the Blue City of Sortland on board the Hurtigruten
It was quite site surrounded by the blue of the beautiful sea a site to remember
Life in Norway is published by Words of Norway AS
The Sortland Hotel offers comfortable accommodation in the centre of Norway's blue city
but there are many choices of accommodation in and around Vesterålen
Although there are just two hotels in Sortland
cabins and guest houses across the archipelago offer a choice to visitors. After days of driving Lofoten
I wanted to stay in a town for an evening so I chose the historic Sortland Hotel
Sortland HotelVesterålsgate 59
the hotel was super easy to find and had a large parking lot immediately behind. After ringing the bell on the desk (super old school
I was given a room on the second floor close to the lifts
Overall the hotel was quiet as there weren't many other guests
but the shared areas were large enough for me to suspect that it doesn't feel cramped even when fully-booked
which was actually a comfortable place to relax
The hotel has a proud past and each room contained a book about the building's history. The Nobel prize winning author Knut Hamsun wrote his famous book “ Den siste Glæde” between 1911 and 1912 in one of the rooms
The room was simply furnished and brightened up with artwork from a local artist
There were some interesting pieces of art in the corridors and stairwells
TV and (not pictured) a small working area where I happily typed up my notes from the day's travel from Svolvær
Despite overlooking the major road through town, the hotel room still offered a nice view of the mountains across the water and a glimpse of the blue town:
Considering the small number of guests I was surprised at the variety of hot and cold choices on offer
The staff kept everything topped up and seemed only too happy to help when a particular item was requested
I didn't feel rushed like I do at so many other breakfast buffets
Just off the reception and lobby area is the lovely library bar and restaurant
Dedicated to Norwegian author Lars Saabye Christensen who included the hotel in one of his books
the room houses many books donated by the author himself
Dinner is served every evening excluding Sundays
Sortland is never going to attract hoards of tourists
this hotel is more a place to rest your head for a night while passing through Vesterålen and Lofoten
you could choose to base yourself here for a week
using it as a base to explore each of the Vesterålen islands in turn
Check availability and prices at the Sortland Hotel with Booking.com
I stayed as a guest of the Sortland Hotel
However this review in independently written and free of influence from the hotel management
Hurtigruten Diary Day 9: Today we got to enjoy arguably Norway's most spectacular coastal scenery lit by a glorious full moon
the southbound return to Bergen is shorter and today it's been really noticeable
it was a very early start and another day of spectacular sights
and at least one of the crew was off ill today too
It only seems to have spread to one of the people I regularly hang around with
so whether we're just lucky or we're all washing our hands obsessively I'm not really sure
I was in two minds about joining the ‘taste of Vesterålen' bus tour this morning
On the one hand it would be 4.5 hours off the ship
walking on dry land is a tempting prospect after nine days at sea
But the bus tour from Harstad to Sortland would skip the port of Risøyhamn
one of the more picturesque stretches of the sea voyage
most of the tour actually took place in Troms
Our first stop was in Harstad itself and the beautiful Trondenes Church
The architecture and location – a stone
fortified church overlooking the bay of Harstad – was hard to beat in the stunning polar light
Inside the adjacent museum was an exhibition on the local area's history that stretches back thousands of years
and the more recent history from World War II
The bus continued onwards towards Vesterålen by way of Kvæfjord (home of Kvæfjordkake!) and the impressive Gullesfjord
one I'd not previously heard of but is now one I'd happily recommend to people
We crossed the fjord on the regular car ferry and had some coffee and bite-size typisk norsk snacks: lefse, and a waffle wedge with brown cheese
As with the trip to Nordkapp the guide – in this case Berge – was excellent and
very willing to answer any and all questions in Norwegian
On arrival at Sortland we had to wait for 10 minutes or so for the slightly delayed MS Vesterålen so we could cross the bridge into Sortland as she was sailing underneath
Although it was a slightly surreal experience watching your own ship sail away complete with all your belongings on it
it's a Hurtigruten tradition and was fun to do
I even managed to grab a snap despite being on the wrong side of the bus
I was looking forward to the hour-long stop in Stokmarknes simply to visit the Hurtigruten museum
The ship docks just a few minutes walk from the museum
the star attraction of which is the striking retired vessel Finnmarken
Read more: New Hurtigruten Museum Design Announced
Unfortunately we were late arriving which cut the available time
I wanted as much time as possible to explore the museum as it's something I didn't want to rush
as I simply had to photograph everything 🙂
Several other passengers were a bit miffed at having to pay 50 kroner entrance to a company they've already paid five figures to for the voyage
While 50 kroner is essentially nothing in Norway
it is a barrier when people are converting it in their heads to US Dollars
I'd been most looking forward to sailing down the narrow Raftsund and by the 100-metre-wide entrance to the Trollfjord
At this time of year the avalanche risk is too great to sail into the fjord itself
but even sailing up to the entrance is a memorable experience
It was a race against time with the diminishing light
but thankfully the intensity of the stunning full moon came to the rescue
The moonlight also helped enormously with our visit to the entrance to the Trollfjord
providing just enough light on the mountains to create an eerie backdrop that perfectly suited the time of year
The biting wind made taking stable photos a challenge but despite the cold a decent number of people were finally up on deck to enjoy one of the best parts of the coastal voyage
This included quite a few local passengers
When I eventually turned to the Vesterålen lounge for a well-earned beer
I got chatting to a group of young 20-somethings who had gathered around a table to play a board game
I hadn't seen them before and it turned out they were students travelling from the Tromsø International Film Festival back to Svolvær where they were studying
I recorded a brief interview for a future episode of the Life in Norway Show
but the most striking comment they made was that after almost a full day on the MS Vesterålen
they were warming to her after a ‘disappointing' first impression
They had made their original journey on one of the newer ships
but said they had enjoyed ‘finding all the quiet cozy spots' on the Vesterålen
After my brewery visit on the northbound leg
I wasn't planning on returning to shore in Svolvær going southbound
However with a two-hour port call and a blizzard just about to begin
it seemed like a good opportunity to get some more photos
As we left Svolvær there was talk of a rare blood moon that should be visible very early tomorrow morning
Bang goes my plan for a lie-in and a bit of rest tomorrow morning
Even though an early night would have made sense
I couldn't resist going up on deck for another look at Stamsund
this time with the added benefit of the full moon
While the video doesn't capture the mountains all that well
it does demonstrate what it's like to be up on a snowy deck at 10.30pm
Despite starting off by saying the southbound journey has been passing by noticeably quicker
I have managed to write one of my longer daily updates
I thoroughly enjoyed today and while I can imagine seeing so much more scenery in the spring
there has been something very special about the winter light on this voyage
but realized after following your tour that I can’t do it due to the fact I get very seasick
I was hoping we would be close to the shore the whole time
but based on your reporting the ship is in open
I know it is a beautiful trip and enjoyed following your journey
I’m taking it in by far the most stormiest month of the year
and there’s only been two days of ‘bad’ stability from a guest perspective
There really isn’t much “open sea” on the voyage
just maybe four stretches lasting 2 hours or so each
We had one night that was a bit rough but sleep carried me through it
It is the most beautiful journey a person can take
It’s a trip to put a person back in touch with one’s soul