Membership Sideblog
- Prairie’s Edge Humane Society: new officers, new name, new blogsite by Kathy Jasnoch
March 8, 2010 | 11:26 am
The Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, formerly the Rice County Humane Society, held its annual meeting on February 13th. New officers elected are: President, Kathy Jasnoch (that’s me!); Vice President/Treasurer Denise Budd; Secretary Priscilla Paton. Dr. Terri Derr will continue to serve as chief operating officer and LeeAnn Bestland is our newly minted Chief Executive Officer. [...]
- Prelude to the Vintage Band Festival by Tim Freeland
February 23, 2010 | 11:22 am
Tune into KYMN on Sunday mornings at 10:30 for Prelude to the Vintage Band Festival, with Paul Niemisto.
It’s a program of music and information about the bands coming to Northfield for Vintage Band Festival 2010.
- Rice County Humane Society will soon be Prairie’s Edge Humane Society by Kathy Jasnoch
February 3, 2010 | 7:02 am
The Rice County Humane Society Inc. will soon be known as Prairie’s Edge Humane Society. We will be phasing in the new name gradually over the next few months. We are very excited about the future as we launch a new web site and a new logo in February. This decision was made after much [...]
- KYMN welcomes back Dusty Budd for weekly ‘Raider Wrap’
January 30, 2010 | 7:21 am
Dusty’s long and winding road has led him back home….for now.
I am pleased to announce that Dusty Budd will be back on the microphone Saturday mornings at 10am, for Raider Wrap, talking to local Raider coaches and players.
Visit his program page to listen live.
- Guest blogger Felicity Boyd Enders: Martin Luther King Day
January 18, 2010 | 10:27 pm
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of [...]
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 Archive for Membership Sideblog »
KYMN Radio – Listen LIVE!
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By Griff Wigley, on March 10, 2010, 7:10 am
 Sandy Vesledahl and Kathy Jasnoch met me at  my morning GBM office early one morning last week to tell me about the American Cancer Society Relay for Life pancake breakfast fundraiser they’re hosting on Sunday morning, March 14, at the Eagles Club. (The actual relay, 2010 Relay For Life of Rice County, will be held on August 6, 2010 at the Rice County Fairgrounds.)
They each have their own Relay for Life web page with their personal fundraising goals where they explain their personal reasons for why they Relay:
Continue reading
By Griff Wigley, on March 9, 2010, 7:25 am
 Our guest this week, Steve Engler, currently Vice President of the City of Northfield Economic Development Authority (EDA).
The conversation primarily dealt with the recent debate on the EDA about the role of the Economic Development Director, Jody Gunderson.
I’ve turned off comments here. Continue the discussion on the blog post titled EDA struggles with its by-laws, process, effectiveness, election of officers.
Click play to listen. 30 minutes.
Continue reading
By Griff Wigley, on March 8, 2010, 11:51 pm
The ‘Save the Depot’ committee held a public meeting last Monday, March 1 at the NCRC. Members include Steve Edwins, Lynn Vincent, Rob Martin, Pat Allen, Chip DeMann, Alice Thomas and Clark Webster.
I’ve turned off comments on this blog post. Continue the discussion that’s attached to the Oct. 8 blog post titled Is Northfield’s train depot worth saving?
See the album of 12 photos, the large slideshow, or this small slideshow:
By Griff Wigley, on March 8, 2010, 3:51 pm
 I happened to drive by Northfield Photo and Memories on 111 West 6th St today and was surprised to see that they had closed. When did this happen?
I don’t see any mention of the closing on their still-alive website, nor on the sites for the Nfld News or KYMN or Northfield.org or…
The building is for sale, listed with Wendy Thorpe at Edina Realty.
By Tracy Davis, on March 8, 2010, 8:38 am
 The “Friday Memo,” written by Northfield City Administrator Joel Walinski and various department heads and other City staff, summarizes the staff and department activities for the week. The Friday memos are published and archived in PDF form at the bottom of the City Administrator’s web page.
This week’s memo contains the usual department reports, plus Joel’s thoughts on his long-range goals, and a link to the Minnesota State Auditor’s 2008 Analysis of Municipal Liquor Stores.
Since it’s the first week of the month, we also have the monthly Boards & Commissions report. I was amused to find that my contribution had been censored (or edited, depending upon your point of view). My original phrase describing the Planning Commission’s weekly meetings as “grueling” and “brain-sucking” was, um, amended to “arduous”.
You can find both documents here on the memo web page for the week.
There is a City Council work session this week. You can view all upcoming City meetings on the City calendar.
By Griff Wigley, on March 8, 2010, 7:48 am
We received this email from Nathan Yaffe, Carleton College student:
 As part of my Environmental Economics and Policy class, we’re conducting research on the different stakeholders relevant to the annexation issue.
Our end product will be a public poster presentation on Monday, March 15 from 8:30-11 in the Great Hall at Carleton… My group is conducting a survey to determine public attitudes about the annexation.
 Our questions came from a Ward 3 exit poll conducted by Erica Zweifel, who graciously agreed to share her poll results with us, but we’re hoping to collect more data.
Ultimately, the hope is for this to benefit the community, because our presentation will be attended by individuals involved in the decision-making process concerning this annexation.
Take the Prawer-Gill annexation straw poll.
By Griff Wigley, on March 8, 2010, 6:44 am
By Griff Wigley, on March 8, 2010, 6:29 am
 I noticed this sign in front of the CarTime Auto Center at the intersection Hwy 3 and Hester St. in Dundas.
It’s a little known fact that General Manager Jared Hubers is a member of the Ketchup Advisory Council (Facebook group).
By Griff Wigley, on March 7, 2010, 11:13 pm
  Sisters Ugly, the contemporary clothing shop owned by the mother-daughter team, Diane Sinclair and Jenny Sinclair, is moving to the Nutting Block building at 3rd and Division, recently vacated by Sweet Pea’s Loft.
I blogged the Sisters Ugly Feb. 2007 grand opening party.
By Griff Wigley, on March 6, 2010, 8:45 am
 Today, Faribault’s Sage Electrochromics was cited in the Strib for winning “a $72 million federal loan guarantee for a major expansion of its manufacturing facility, where the company has developed ‘smart’ glass for windows and skylights that reduce energy use.”
Two weeks ago, Faribault’s McQuay plant was cited in the Strib for “using $1.3 million in new federal tax credits to revamp a manufacturing plant to make more energy efficient air-conditioners.”
In January, Northfield’s Cardinal Glass was cited in the Strib for receiving “$7.7 million of new federal funds to convert its residential-glass factory into a solar glass-coating plant.” (A tip of the blogger hat to Larry DeBoer for alerting me to it.)
I don’t know to what extent the people involved with Northfield’s economic development ecosystem (see organizations below) are pursuing green collar manufacturing jobs. I found a few mentions:
Continue reading
By Griff Wigley, on March 6, 2010, 12:46 am
A multi-course, pay-to-play, disc golf complex called Castle Rock Disc Sports will open this spring in Castle Rock, about 10 minutes north of Northfield on Hwy 3. It will
 offer 72 holes, all designed in 9 hole loops, so a player can pick and choose which layout to play. Two of the 9 hole loops comprise one of the longest, hardest courses in the world, playing a “true par 72”. All the loops consist of rolling terrain with woods and open areas. Castle Rock will have camping on site with a full on pro shop.
 The president of Castle Rock Disc Sports is Timmy Gill, professional disc golfer (profile here) and disc course designer (Par72DiscGolf). See the article in the 2004 issue of Forbes magazine that features him titled Spin Cup.
There is a Southern Minnesota Disc Golf Association social networking site (Ning platform) where Gill is discussing the development of the complex. He’s just started posting to Twitter, too.
By Griff Wigley, on March 5, 2010, 7:57 am
 Christopher Sawyer, President of College City Beverage, stopped by my morning office at Goodbye Blue Monday earlier this week to seek our help with finding a photo of their 1982-87 warehouse/headquarters. I then paid a visit to their current HQ in Dundas to see the photos they have of their other buildings.
Christopher later emailed me this:
We are looking for a picture of the building we moved into on the corner of Hwy 3 and 19 where the Movie Gallery, Caribou, Subway, Taco Bell and Country Inn are located. We moved into that building in 1982 and moved out in 1987. We are putting together a showcase of all of the warehouses that CCB has been located and this is the only one we cannot find a picture of. Thus far, we have talked with the City of Northfield, Northfield Library, Northfield Historical Society, the lending bank, realtor, and Rice County Historical Society.
Here are my photos of the photos that they do have:
  
 
Above: my photos of the CCB warehouse photos
  
Above: my photos of CCB’s plaques of Tom Blaisdell and ‘The course called Life’
  
Above: my photos of (left) CCB’s location at 1720 Cannon Road, 1988-2006 (currently Upper Lakes Foods); (center) CCB’s current location at 700 Railway St S, in Dundas; (right) Christopher’s dad, Jim Sawyer, at the 2006 Chamber holiday party.
Christopher also emailed me this history of the company:
Continue reading
By Griff Wigley, on March 4, 2010, 10:54 am
 In mid-January, Northfielder Mary Lewis Grow authored a commentary in the Star Tribune titled Security alert: Gun show loopholes. (Mary Lewis is co-founder and board member for Citizens for a Safer Minnesota.)
In today’s Strib, there’s an article titled Effort to tighten Minnesota’s gun law getting folks riled up.
[St. Paul Rep. Michael Paymar] said the proposal addresses a significant loophole: While many gun show dealers have federal licenses, which require them to run background checks on purchasers, nothing requires someone who simply shows up at a gun show to sell a gun to do the same. Gun shows, according to one gun control group, are "Tupperware parties for criminals."
I’m a middle-of-the-roader when it comes to gun control. So it seems like a good time to learn more.
By Griff Wigley, on March 4, 2010, 10:28 am
 Hodge-Podge que’, the antiques and collectibles store at the corner of 5th and Division, closed on Monday. Owner Jerry Nord told me everything’s packed up and ready to be taken to an auction which will be held at the end of the month.
I’ll get some details later today when I get a haircut from Jerry at Fashionette Concepts.
By Griff Wigley, on March 3, 2010, 7:19 am
  I attended the Northfield Raider Wrestling team’s pancake fundraiser at the Eagles Club on Sunday. The team heads to the 2010 State Wrestling Tournament today for the first time. That’s coach Cliff Casteel in the right photo with Joe Hargis.
 More info – Nfld News: State wrestling preview: Wrestle for each other; Star Tribune: Northfield: On to the X mat
Posted to the Northfield High School’s activities web site today:
All students, staffs and parents are invited to attend the State Tournament Recognition program. This event will start at 8:30 am sharp and is open to the public. We are honoring all State Participants this winter and those who have qualified for State.
By Griff Wigley, on March 2, 2010, 10:20 pm
 Northfield Ward 1 City Councilor Jim Pokorney was our guest this week, talking about A) the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 13; and B) what else, City Council communications.
I neglected to take a photo of him so I’ve recycled one from a previous podcast, plus another of him in his St. Patrick’s Day hat and electric sweater.
Click play to listen. 40 minutes: You can also download the MP3 or subscribe to the podcast feed, or subscribe directly with iTunes. Our radio show/podcast, Locally Grown, usually airs Mondays at 6:00 PM and Sundays at 10 AM on KYMN 1080 AM.
By Griff Wigley, on March 1, 2010, 9:14 am
 At the Northfield High School last Thursday night, Paul Krause previewed his new documentary of Ray ‘Jake’ Jacobson’s Harvest sculpture.
 Among the attendees: Wes Jones, president of Casting Creations of Minnesota, the art foundry in Howard Lake, MN where the bronze casting of Harvest was done. Wes has a future in comedy.
See my album of 9 photos, the large slideshow, or this small slideshow:
Continue reading
By Griff Wigley, on March 1, 2010, 6:55 am
  
Robert Palmquist, CEO of Speechgear here in Northfield, has been in Vancouver for the Olympics the past two weeks, volunteering as a course worker for the women’s ski events and “supporting the Olympics by providing speech translation systems” (see press release).
He has four albums of Olympics photos in his Facebook photo gallery including the ones above where he wrote:
After a LOT of work on the course and VERY early and long days, we pulled it off and ran the woman’s downhill. Lindsey Vonn won the gold, Julia Mancuso the silver. Afterwards I went to the medal awards ceremony with the Vonn family, and later that evening joined them for a small celebration party with Lindsey and Julia.
I spent some time with Robert at Speechgear’s HQ before he left. More on that visit soon.
By Tracy Davis, on February 28, 2010, 11:49 am
The “Friday Memo,” written by Northfield City Administrator Joel Walinski and various department heads and other City staff, summarizes the staff and department activities for the week. The Friday memos are published and archived in PDF form at the bottom of the City Administrator’s web page. This is the memo page for the week.
This week’s memo consisted mostly of business as usual (ongoing projects, etc.) Engineering gave a heads-up about construction at the intersection of 4th and Division which will take place this spring.
There is a special closed meeting for review of the City Administrator will start at 6:00p, with a regular City Council meeting to follow. You can view all upcoming City meetings on the City calendar.
By Griff Wigley, on February 27, 2010, 9:26 am
 Looks like the Northfield Booster Club is going to have to update its sign on the south edge of town that lists Northfield Raiders state champions.
Last night, Northfield won the Class AA gymnastics title. On the Minnesota State High School League website, 2010 State Girls’ Gymnastics Meet:
 A new champion prevailed in Class AA. Northfield emerged out of a tight pack to bring home its first title with a score of 148.325. The Raiders were in third place going into the final rotation – behind Lakeville North and Cambridge-Isanti – but recorded a meet-high 37.925 on vault to pull away with the title.
The Raiders also scored the meet’s highest score on beam, with a 37.175. On floor and bars, Northfield scored a 36.625 and 36.6, respectively. Meaghan Howell led the team on vault, 9.7, and floor, 9.475. Sveta Mason recorded the team’s highest score on beam, with a 9.55, and on bars, with a 9.475. Four of the Raiders will return to compete in Individual finals on Saturday.
Other media coverage:
Continue reading
By Griff Wigley, on February 27, 2010, 8:00 am
 I stopped by the Northfield Beef O’Brady’s on Thursday night to check in on Northfield Skating School’s Olympics party that Director Carey Tinkelenberg had organized. I was a bit late and most of the younger skaters had gone home already but the older group posed for this photo with Carey.
 Next Wed. March 3, NSS is hosting a hosting a fundraiser at Northfield Culver’s.
FYI, the home page of the Northfield Skating School (NSS) website is a blog.
Update 2/28, 7 am: Michaela McLaughlin, Assistant Director at Northfield Skating School, emailed me these four additional photos from the Olympics party:
   
By Griff Wigley, on February 26, 2010, 9:43 am
 
Land Vista LLC has put up two signs on Hwy 19, just west of Decker Ave. The signs read:
Northfield’s newest gateway
Future business / industrial park
40 acres + or -
Land Vista also has a blog, a Facebook page, and a Twitter feed.
By Griff Wigley, on February 25, 2010, 7:49 am
  Golf course architect Paul Miller (Paul Miller Design Inc) stopped by my morning office at GBM last week with the poster of Saturday’s Singing for Haiti fundraiser at The Grand Event Center.
Paul has been involved in peace and justice work in Haiti for over a decade and is the founder of the Haiti Justice Alliance of Northfield which is hosting the event. Money raised will go to the What If? Foundation, Feed My Starving Children, and Partners in Health.
Musical groups performing include The Brothers Frantzich, founders of Feed Them With Music; Carleton bluegrass band, Porch Collective; St. Olaf psychedelic/blues/jam band Archaic Revival; and Northfield High School’s Madrigals.
Local sponsors include Carleton College, St. Olaf College, Labor Arbitration Institute, Schmitz, Ophaug, and Dowd, LLP, Buzz Salon, and Paul Miller Design Inc.
For more info, see 1) Carleton College’s Haiti Relief Gateway; 2) last week’s Nfld News article, Concert to benefit Haitians; 3) Jane McWilliams’ blog post on Northfield.org.
You can get tickets at Mary Rossing’s Present Perfect store on Division or at the door at the Grand on Saturday.
By Griff Wigley, on February 24, 2010, 8:35 am
  
While snowshoeing at the east end of the Cannon River Wilderness Area last weekend, I pointed out to my niece the approximate spot where Henry Fisk, the Rice County hermit, lived. Robbie and I happened upon his sparse living quarters when we first moved to Northfield in 1974 but I don’t remember if he was still living there.
Northfield News columnist Maggie Lee wrote several columns about Fisk (also spelled ‘Fiske’) back in 2006, and many people chimed in with letters-to-editor about him. (Do a search there on both spellings of his name.)
Anyone have memories of Henry? Anyone have a photo of him?
Continue reading
By Paul Krause, on February 24, 2010, 6:52 am
 On Thursday, February 25th, I will premiere “Harvest”, my latest documentary. Three years in the making, the hour-long film follows sculptor Ray Jacobson as he creates the sculpture. The film reveals the complex process of lost-wax casting, the astounding creativity of the artist and the marvelous relationships that were formed among members of our remarkable community.
The screening will take place in the Northfield High School Auditorium at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 7 pm. Free and open to the public. A reception will follow.
By Griff Wigley, on February 22, 2010, 8:04 am
  A week or so ago, local filmmaker Paul Krause, Dancing Sun Multimedia, previewed his new documentary, Harvest, for local media, including freelancer Alyssa Ford who’s doing a story on it for the Star Tribune this week. I weaseled my way into Paul’s studio in downtown Northfield for a photo and a sneak preview.
“Harvest” chronicles the creation of Ray Jacobson’s sculpture of the same title. From the initial drawings to the final installation on the riverfront, the film reveals every step required to craft the three thousand pound, bronze sculpture.
Continue reading
By Tracy Davis, on February 21, 2010, 11:46 am
The “Friday Memo,” written by Northfield City Administrator Joel Walinski and various department heads and other City staff, summarizes the staff and department activities for the week. The Friday memos are published and archived in PDF form at the bottom of the City Administrator’s web page.
Here’s an excerpt from this week’s memo:
Given what is anticipated for 2010 and 2011, the reductions in expenditures for 2010 and 2011 will need to be sustainable over time and will have implications on the service delivery to residents and businesses. The Finance Department has provided more information below on the levy limit requested by the Governor.
Continue reading
By Griff Wigley, on February 21, 2010, 9:18 am
 Robbie and I attended last night’s To Brasil and Back fundraiser for the Northfield Rotary Youth Exchange with our niece, Ellen. I was relieved of photo duty by Vicki Dilley but couldn’t resist capturing a little video of the music and energy of Beira Mar Brasil, the combination of music by the Robert Everest Expedition (“a Minneapolis-based Latin-American and Mediterranean influenced world music ensemble”), Samba dancers Edilson Lima and Vanessa Dos Santos Luiz, and dancer/vocalist, Dandara. The audience, led by inbound students from Brasil from around the region, really got into it. Watch this 4-minute video clip:
Continue reading
By Griff Wigley, on February 19, 2010, 2:32 pm
 The City of Northfield has posted its RFP (request for proposals) for the design of the new fire and police stations.
In the ranking process grid on page 5:
Local connection: Those firms currently paying property tax within the City of Northfield will be given the full 5 points. Firms demonstrating some relationship to the community will be given 3 points.
I like the 5 point property tax item. But I wonder what will qualify as ‘some relationship’? for the 3-pointer? “Well, the first time I ever got drunk/stoned/laid/arrested was in Northfield so I’ve felt this special relationship to it ever since.”
By Griff Wigley, on February 19, 2010, 10:10 am
 First National Bank of Northfield (FNB) is the second area bank this year to have federal regulators intervene. (Last month, it was Community Resource Bank – blog post here.)
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal agency that regulates nationally-chartered banks like FNB, has a statement posted to their website that says in part:
Continue reading
By Griff Wigley, on February 17, 2010, 8:11 am
 Truth be told, it was only me who was grumpy this week (see photo) as we reviewed our podcast and ongoing online discussion with Mayor Mary Rossing. (I’ve turned off comments here. Continue the discussion attached to the Feb. 1 podcast with the mayor.)
Click play to listen. 30 minutes:
Continue reading
By Griff Wigley, on February 16, 2010, 11:55 pm
 A parent stopped by my office at the GBM this morning to tell me that he took one of his children to the Northfield Hospital emergency room over the weekend for severe vomiting and diarrhea. The child was diagnosed with norovirus (aka Norwalk agent) and he said the emergency room was very busy with similar cases.
There’s an outbreak in Alexandria according to this article in the Echo Press: Peak norovirus season under way in Minnesota.
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