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Recent photo albums

Books and Stars on Bridge Square July 2010Bands playing outdoors downtown Northfield July 23 2010
Riverwalk Market Fair July 17, 2010Thunderheads over Northfield

  • On Watermelons and Widgets, by Tom Swift
    The free market does many things well, but we know it does not do everything. Even market fundamentalists concede that the public must build roads, put out fires, police streets, and provide national defense. Most people, at least those to the left of the Tea Party edge of political spectrum, accept that the government must also be involved in education, dis […]
  • Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance, by Dan Bergeson
    Okay, so most of the news about the Vintage Band Festival so far has been about the bands. But there’s a number of other events during the weekend. Like the VBF Contra Dance, for instance. The Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance will feature music by The Dodworth Saxhorn Band of Ann Arbor, Michigan and will be led by dance instructor/caller Robin Nelson. Danc […]
  • The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome, by Tom Swift
    Even before I read the first word of this article I had a visceral reaction to it. The accompanying photographs — my eyes tend to skip over photographs in magazines — affected me in a manner that is difficult to articulate. I knew, immediately I knew, I was not going to like what I was about to read. In fact, for that reason I put the piece aside. Not now, I […]
  • Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! by Kathy Jasnoch
    June may be Adopt A Cat month here at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society and we have lots of wonderful cats, but we also have PUPPIES! We have a male Newfoundland mix named Chong who is 6 months old, he was a stray so we don’t know a lot about him.  He loves to play! We also have three Australian Cattle Dog mixes who are two months old.  Marcia, Bobby and Cindy w […]
  • Relay for Life of Rice County, August 6th, Rice County Fairgrounds. By Sandy Vesledahl
    The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay for Life, teams of people camp out at local parks or fairgrounds and take turns walking or running aro […]
  • Critter Cam live from Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
    Now Showing! Live Kittens playing! You can now watch our adoptable animals at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society (PEHS) live 24/7 on the new Critter Cam installed in conjunction with KYMN Radio. Thanks to the fine folks at KYMN radio we now have a live feed of our adoptable animals showing on our website and KYMN’s website, Tim and Jeff are AWESOME! Currently the […]
  • Save the Northfield Depot: fundraising help needed. By Lynn Vincent
    A BIG Thanks to all of you who came to last Monday’s Volunteer Organization Meeting, and to those who contacted us saying you wanted to help but could not make the meeting. We have pretty full support for Communications and Design and Build sub-committees, and we got a web graphic designer to help with the site.  Alice Thomas is facilitating the Communicatio […]
  • Photo albums: 2010 Prairie’s Edge Humane Society Walk for the Animals, by Bridgette Hallcock Photography
    Thank you to all of those who came to Alexander Park on a beautiful Saturday morning in May to help support Prairie’s Edge Humane Society! I have placed all of the fun photographs on my Bridgette Hallcock Photography Facebook page so that everyone can see how much fun we had!  See the two 2010 Walk for the Animals albums here and here. If you would like a pr […]
  • Five beautiful women in need of homes. By Sandy Vesledahl
    Prairie’s Edge Humane Society has five very special house cats available for adoption. Ester, Ashley, Angel, Mystic and Trigger are five beautiful house cats that need a home. They are indoor-only adult cats, all spayed, current on vaccinations, and all front declawed. These five cats all qualify for our “Fat Cat” Special. (They are not all fat by the way!) […]
  • Vintage Band Festival returns Aug. 5-8, by Dan Bergeson
    If you were around in 2006, you may remember the Vintage Band Music Festival in early August of that year. There were brass bands and folks in period dress on every street corner and in every bar, restaurant, and church in Northfield. It went on for four days (it was also very HOT!). Well, we’re doing it again. August 5-8 in Northfield and surrounding commun […]

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    Recent posts by Northfield area civic bloggers and issue-oriented news sources

    Photo album: Books and Stars finale on Bridge Square

    Last night’s Books and Stars on Bridge Square was the finale for the summer. See Northfield librarian Kathy Ness’ blog post on Northfield.org for details. And see the her Kid’s Happening blog for all the latest kid-related activity at the library.

    See my album of 16 photos, the large slideshow, or this small slideshow:

    Vintage Band Festival sets up its HQ downtown

    Paul Nimisto VBF ad in The New Yorker
    Having placed an ad in the July 12 & 19 issue of The New Yorker, Paul Nimisto’s life is about to go from hectic to ape shit.

    The Vintage Band Festival (VBF) starts next week: "Over 100 concerts by 25 historical American and international bands in 4 days."

    Vintage Band Festival HQ Vintage Band Festival HQ Vintage Band Festival poster Vintage Band Festival venues
    Vintage Band Festival headquarters: the now-vacant Community Resource Bank building downtown at 4th and Division, right on Bridge Square.

    Follow VBF on Twitter and VBF on Facebook.

    Kitty Mania at the Prairie's Edge Humane Society

    Let’s talk about cats, cats and more cats! Why?? Because Prairie’s Edge Humane Society is full of cats and we have many more arriving daily. As of today, there are 44 cats on the adoption floor with more awaiting their surgeries so they are ready for adoption. There are cats in every corner of the shelter who need homes! We are in desperate need of homes for these cats. We cannot emphasize this enough. So we are having a cat sale and we are calling it Kitty Mania !

    Kitty Mania is this weekend, beginning Thursday, July 29th and running thru Saturday, July 31st, during regular business hours, all cats and kittens at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society (PEHS) will be available for adoption at greatly reduced Kitty Mania prices! These are all great cats, spayed or neutered, current on vaccinations, dewormed and healthy. They all come with our usual adoption perks; a 4 pound bag of Science Diet food, an offer of one month of free ShelterCare pet insurance, a free year’s membership to PEHS, and a free wellness exam at participating veterinary clinics. (Cannon Valley Veterinary Clinic is a participating clinic).

    Kittens below the age of 4 months will be available for adoption this weekend at the great price of two for $200. Normal adoption fee is $145 each. You must take two in order to get the lower price. This is a savings of $90! Kitty Mania!

    Cats over the age of 4 months are all reduced to the low price of $50 each. Normal adoption price ranges from $65 to $125. Kitty Mania!

    If you have been thinking about adding a fabulous feline to your household, now is the time to do it! Don’t wait any longer! You will never find a better price on a better cat. Don’t miss Kitty Mania!

    Sand needed in brick paver crosswalks downtown: how to tell the city about it?

    Brick paver crosswalk in downtown Northfield Brick paver crosswalk in downtown Northfield
    Looks like some of the brick paver crosswalks downtown are need of sand fill after recent heavy rains. Lots of gaps in lots of pavers. And some pavers are cracking. 

    I’d report this via the City of Northfield’s Tell the City About page but I used it over a month ago to report graffiti and never heard back. A good idea and implementation back in 2005 but now way outdated.

    I wonder if they’ve heard about SeeClickFix? The difference? Transparency and accountability… plus photos via mobile phones.  Cheap to implement!

    NHS recommends trees be removed in front of Scriver Building; Council agrees

    NHS trees 1The Northfield Historical Society is recommending that the two ash trees (see photo above with red arrows) in front of the Scriver Building (its headquarters and museum) be removed.

    The issue was on the agenda at last week’s Council meeting. See p. 42-52 of the July 20 packet (PDF). From the packet:

    NHS is initiating a project to increase the accessibility of the Scriver Building by installing an elevator in the alley behind the stair tower that opens onto Bridge Square. The elevator will provide ADA access to all three levels of the building. Currently the accessible entrance to the building is off of Division Street. However, this enters into the Museum proper and does not allow access to other floors of the building.

    To make the elevator ADA accessible they are proposing to use half of the sidewalk in front of the building to construct a ramp to allow access to the elevator from the stair well. Other options were explored but were not feasible due to physical constraints of the building. Drawings showing the proposal are attached. Currently the sidewalk in this location is about 12 feet wide. The proposed improvements would use 5-6 feet of this width leaving 6-7 feet for the pedestrian access route if additional width for pedestrians is not provided.

    Here are six more photos of the area in front of the Scriver Building.

    NHS trees 2 NHS trees 3 NHS trees 4

    NHS trees 5 NHS trees 6 NHS trees 7

    I’m trying to understand the rationale for the removal of the trees since ADA standards would still be met after the ramp was built.

    Update July 29 7:05 am: photo of the access at the Holland Block at 5th and Division:

    Holland Block

    After a presentation at the Council meeting by NHS Executive Director Hayes Scriven and SMSQ architect Steve Wilmot, much of the Council discussion was about the removal of the trees. It ultimately voted 6-1 (Pokorney opposed) to approve the resolution to begin negotiations for the right-of-way (ROW). Here’s the video of the discussion:

    Continue reading NHS recommends trees be removed in front of Scriver Building; Council agrees

    Northfield in Bloom: not just flowers anymore

    There are some new trees in Riverside Park near the pergola, courtesy of Northfield in Bloom, which I think is a subsidiary of the Northfield Garden . . . → Read More: Northfield in Bloom: not just flowers anymore

    Friday night’s thunderstorm did some damage

    Friday night’s thunderstorm (actually Sat. morning around 1 am) did some damage on the north side of Northfield.

    At least four of the historic-type street lights on the east side of Hwy 3 near The Crossing blew down. And many trees near St. Olaf took a beating, including these on Highland Ave., one of which landed on a parked car according to this comment from Josh Dale who lives nearby:

    I live on the north-east corner of St. Olaf property, off Highland Ave. The power went out shortly after 1am. No power=no warnings, other than a lightning . . . → Read More: Friday night’s thunderstorm did some damage

    Cycle America’s cross-country tour: a day of rest in Northfield

      Cycle America’s coat-to-coast bicycle tour came to Northfield (from Hutchinson, the last leg of the Mighty Rivers segment) last night and many of the participants were spending money in the coffeeshops of downtown Northfield this morning, including the Goodbye Blue Monday.

    Today is a day of rest so they’ll be camped one more night in town, most of them at the Northfield High School.  Tomorrow, the tour’s Heartland Patchwork segment takes them east to Cannon Falls on Hwy 19 where they’ll take the Cannon Valley Trail to Red Wing and then on to Pepin, WI.

    Former . . . → Read More: Cycle America’s cross-country tour: a day of rest in Northfield

    Glen and Cindy Grisim, still doing that sweet corn thing

    After buying corn from the Grisim’s Sweet Corn stand for years, I finally lucked out yesterday afternoon: Glen and Cindy Grism were there for a photo op. “Spread the word, we’re open,” said Cindy.  . . . → Read More: Glen and Cindy Grisim, still doing that sweet corn thing

    City Administrator’s weekly Friday Memo of July 23

    The “Friday Memo,” written by Northfield City Administrator Joel Walinski, department heads, and other City staff, summarizes the staff activities for the week. The Friday memos are published and archived in PDF form at the bottom of the City Administrator’s web page.

    The Friday Memo information from the Library, Streets & Parks, and Recreation departments would be of interest to most citizens. This week’s memo (PDF) also includes

    draft agenda items for August City Council sessions first notice of Public Forum on Budget – August 23, 2010 (check it out!) details on annual water testing

    There is a . . . → Read More: City Administrator’s weekly Friday Memo of July 23

    Photos and video of a music night in Northfield: The Big Strong Men; Area 51; Fort Wilson Riot

    As Robbie and I got out of our car in downtown’s west side parking lot last night, we heard music coming from both the Cow’s outdoor stage and the back deck of The Key. Northfielders who ventured downtown, it turns out, got a real treat from the bands at both outdoor venues—with warm temps, spectacular skies, and later on, a full moon.

    See my album of 18 photos, the large slideshow, or this small slideshow (videos below):

    Below: a two-minute video clip of The Big Strong Men (Facebook page). The band wowed the audience (wide age range) . . . → Read More: Photos and video of a music night in Northfield: The Big Strong Men; Area 51; Fort Wilson Riot

    What’s a college degree worth in the Great Recession?

    Bloomberg Businessweek ran a special report a month ago titled What’s Your College Degree Worth? Less than you think. Exclusive new research suggests most students would be better off never setting foot in a classroom. (See info on Carleton’s #1 ranking (St. Olaf runner-up) in MN: What’s Your College Degree Worth?)

    Over the course of a working life, college graduates earn more than high school graduates. Over the past decade, research estimates have pegged that figure at $900,00, $1.2 million, and $1.6 million.

    But new research suggests that the monetary value of a college degree may be . . . → Read More: What’s a college degree worth in the Great Recession?

    Carlson SEEDS interns Chelsea and Natasha: planting, growing, selling, blogging

    It’s not often that someone beats me to a blog post after a community event. But it happened this week.

        At last Saturday’s Riverwalk Market Fair, I took the photo on the left of Carlson SEEDS interns Chelsea Wagner and Natasha Hegmann (housemate Julia in the center) selling their wares, including the fantastic basil (center) that Robbie purchased from them. What’s SEEDS about?  The St. Olaf Center for Experiential Learning has a page on it:

    The Carlson SEEDS (Social Entrepreneurship, Environmental Design, & Stewardship) internship program, founded by Greg and Nancy Carlson ’82, is designed to engage . . . → Read More: Carlson SEEDS interns Chelsea and Natasha: planting, growing, selling, blogging

    Crazy! Team Coldwell Banker South Metro hugs for the food shelf

    A team of realtors from Coldwell Banker South Metro has set up a hugging tent on Division St. to raise money for the Food Shelf at the Community Action Center during today’s Craze Daze.  For every passerby who gets (in my case, “reluctantly consents to”) a hug from a team member, they put one of their own dollars (raised from staff contributions this week) into the food shelf fundraising jar.  Of course, you can put your dollars in the jar, too.

        When I stopped by at 8:15, Jim Blaha, Executive Director of the Northfield Community . . . → Read More: Crazy! Team Coldwell Banker South Metro hugs for the food shelf

    Should Crazy Daze be two days?

    The scene on Division St at 6:30 this morning was rather bleak.  The radar doesn’t offer  much encouragement, nor does Paul Douglas’ forecast.

    Should the Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s Crazy Daze (PDF of today’s schedule of events) be two-days long in case of inclement weather, like the 2010 Taste of . . . → Read More: Should Crazy Daze be two days?

    Using blogs and Twitter to leverage your influence as a Northfield community leader

    Way back in 2004-05 when I was still at NCO/Northfield.org, we encouraged local civic leaders (including members of the city council, school board and county board) to start blogging. I taught a civic leader blogging class and even coached some local ministers.  It was all part of the civic blogosphere project with an emphasis on including leaders.

    So as A) we head into the 2010 election season; and B) begin looking for a new Northfield City Administrator, I thought it might be helpful to point out some very important reasons on WHY someone in a leadership . . . → Read More: Using blogs and Twitter to leverage your influence as a Northfield community leader

    Hwy 19 between Northfield and I-35 closed starting today, July 21

    The “road closed” signs went up on Hwy 19 last night though the barricades were still off to the side.

    The truck drivers from Missy’s Trucking in Rochester were all holed up at Americas Best Value Inn & Suites (former Super on So. Hwy 3.

    I’m guessing that by 7 am or 8 am, the detour will be in effect.

    July 13 Nfld News: Hwy. 19 closings will compound traffic woes

    That means motorists heading from Northfield to I-35 will be forced to  detour from the detour. Rice County Engineer Dennis Luebbe says that will push traffic . . . → Read More: Hwy 19 between Northfield and I-35 closed starting today, July 21

    Podcast: Triumvirate minus 1 on goose poop, the elections, and a departure opportunity

    It was just me and Ross this week, talking about all-things Northfield including goose poop, the upcoming council and school board elections (separate issues), and the opportunities afforded by the departure of Northfield City Administrator Joel Walinski.

    It’s clear from listening to the show, however, that we need Tracy.

    She’s–not–just a pretty face She’s–got–everything it takes She’s–mother–of the human race She’s–not–just a pretty face

    Click play to listen. 30 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 . . . → Read More: Podcast: Triumvirate minus 1 on goose poop, the elections, and a departure opportunity

    LoGroNo site cleanup

    Our blog has been slowing down lately under the weight of a lot of plugins, widgets, add-ons, and various other digital gizmos.

    Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through the site cleaning house, flipping features on and off, testing new ones, and in general, making a mess of things. We’ll still be blogging daily but probably at a slower pace.  We’ll keep you updated with comments to this post and may need your help occasionally to give us feedback.

    Photo album: Riverwalk Market Fair

    Saturday morning’s Riverwalk Market Fair—was picture-perfect: blue skies, puffy white clouds, lots of people having fun and reportedly spending money.

    See my album of 56 photos, the large slideshow, or this small slideshow: