Membership Sideblog
- The Marcus Welby of law, by Lance Heisler | Lampe Law Group
July 31, 2010 | 7:45 pmGrowing up in North Dakota during the 50s and 60s, I was privileged to experience something that's all too rare now - the old-fashioned family doctor. "Doc" delivered babies, set broken bones, treated pneumonia, and helped Grandpa with his newfangled hearing aid. Doc knew the community, the families, and the individuals whose basic medical needs he treated from birth through the end of life. Some of you who grew up in that time, and perhaps in smaller communities, may remember a Doc of your own. . . . → Read More: The Marcus Welby of law, by Lance Heisler | Lampe Law Group
- Kitty Mania at the Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
July 28, 2010 | 10:51 pm
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 . . . → Read More: Kitty Mania at the Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
- On Watermelons and Widgets, by Tom Swift
July 12, 2010 | 11:50 am
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, disaster relief, and health care. That is, certain services must be rendered — necessary services, universal services — whether or not those services are financially profitable. If your house is on fire, you do not have time to . . . → Read More: On Watermelons and Widgets, by Tom Swift
- Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance, by Dan Bergeson
July 12, 2010 | 10:56 am
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. Dancing will begin at 8:30 p.m. with a “Grand March” led by 60 costumed members of the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Brigade, followed by a variety of period dances including polkas, contra dances, schottisches, reels and waltzes. . . . → Read More: Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance, by Dan Bergeson
- The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome, by Tom Swift
June 27, 2010 | 8:00 am
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 thought. Maybe tomorrow, I said to myself. But, then, I couldn’t not read it, either. If you have not done so already, I hope you will read . . . → Read More: The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome, by Tom Swift
- Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! by Kathy Jasnoch
June 27, 2010 | 7:54 am
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 were born at the shelter and spent some time in one of our fabulous foster homes. They are now back at the shelter and ready to find . . . → Read More: Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! by Kathy Jasnoch
- Relay for Life of Rice County, August 6th, Rice County Fairgrounds. By Sandy Vesledahl
June 23, 2010 | 9:35 pm
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 around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events. Relay for Life of Rice . . . → Read More: Relay for Life of Rice County, August 6th, Rice County Fairgrounds. By Sandy Vesledahl
- Critter Cam live from Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
June 16, 2010 | 9:04 amNow 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 Critter Cam is featuring kittens available for adoption. Watch them play, sleep, eat, and everything else they do 24 hours a day 7 days a week! It’s better than anything you can see on TV! . . . → Read More: Critter Cam live from Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
- Save the Northfield Depot: fundraising help needed. By Lynn Vincent
June 11, 2010 | 11:34 am
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 Communications group, and Steve Edwins is facilitating the Design and Build group. What we are missing and really need are Fund Raising people. We have two grant writiers, but we need folks who are committed to the . . . → Read More: Save the Northfield Depot: fundraising help needed. By Lynn Vincent
- Photo albums: 2010 Prairie’s Edge Humane Society Walk for the Animals, by Bridgette Hallcock Photography
June 11, 2010 | 8:09 am
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 print, please contact me, as the proceeds will benefit the animals at PEHS.
-
 Archive for Membership Sideblog »
Feeds Recent posts by Northfield area civic bloggers and issue-oriented news sources
|
Final Course Cafe to open now open closed in The Crossing Business Center
By Griff Wigley, on December 14, 2007, 6:42 pm
Kurt Larson of Larson’s Printing attached a comment yesterday afternoon in the Ole Store to reopen? blog post discussion, saying:
Just noticed a banner for a new eatery at Mendota Homes corner building. Anyone know what it is?
John Thomas follow with two comments:
I saw it this morning on my way out of town as well. I will stop by on my way back, and find out what it says.
…
The sign says: The Final Course Cafe, opening January 2008. Soups, Paninis, Salads, Tortes, Truffles, Coffees, Ice Creams – [I've edited that list slightly to coincide with the banner in the photo below - Griff]
Northern Letter blogger Bill Ostrem followed with:
The Final Course Cafe, at the Crossing, will be run (and owned?) by Dean and Rose Sorenmann. I know that Dean is an astute gourmand – some would say a foodie – so it’s likely to offer good fare.
  
So I snapped these photos today. Click to enlarge. Thanks, gents!
Update 12/16, 9:15 PM: The restaurant has a web site: Final Course Cafe.
Update 02/11: They opened last Monday.
|
|
but I’d have a hard time during the sabbatical not paying attention to see if that was actually the case. I think the more places in Northfield...
I hate to be that guy, but what’s the deal with the name, “Final Course Cafe”? I can’t help but imagine them slipping cyanide into the food
I see where you are going, but the final course is more about deserts, coffee, tortes, ice creams, etc.
Basically, ligher fare, and items that you can linger and have a conversation over.
Oh, how I hope they have some nice big comfortable leather chairs and a fireplace… and gourmet hot chocolate!
The name is all about the desserts and the coffees. We certainly wouldn’t mind people hanging out and lingering over coffee and a truffle, no hurry, no worry. You could even blog in our cafe as it will have wi-fi.
Rose and I are owners and managers and have experience in the hospitality and catering industry. Rose was in management at a 4 diamond hotel in Minneapolis, while I worked in customer relations.
We will have comfy chairs but the fireplace is better left at Caribou. People wouldn’t be in much of a mood for ice cream in front of a roaring fire.
We are not food snobs but we know what we like and are pretty sure others will like it too. Relaxed sophistication. Remarkable service. Quality you can taste and see. See you soon at the Final Course Cafe.
Thanks for the update, Dean. I’ve updated the blog post to include the web address of your new restaurant: http://finalcoursecafe.com Let me know when I can come by and snap an interior photo, with you and Rose, natch!
I have to agree with Sean about the name Final Course. As if our death by execution will follow. I’m not trying to be funny; it really does sound deadly. I comment in hopes of influencing a name change, although it’s too late at this point, I suppose.
Well, Dean, though I do enjoying judging books by their covers, I’ll have to stop in when it opens!
Welcome, Dean and Rose. Good luck with your new venture. I just checked out your website and must point out that the college name is spelled “Carleton.” I am glad you did not say “St. Olaf’s College,” another common error!
Good luck Dean and Rose.
Correction #2 for the web page, the referenced highway is not County 19, rather MN 19 – it is a state highway. A minor point to be sure, but it will confuse those from out of town or on the internet.
I will have my web editor make those corrections listed above or what may appear below.
Thanks for the comments on the name. We like it and find no ill will toward our customers in it at all. The Final Course is of course beverages or the digestif. Although I do have a preference for the Final Course to be the entremets, or desserts. Death by chocolate, anyone?
I like the name… I find it lovably gothic and gleefully morbid. My kind of place.
Eat on… if you dare!
I shall half my cake and beat it, two.
Dean and Rose, sorry to pile on with editing comment #3: “irresistible” is spelled wrong on the homepage.
As a friend, I’d be happy to donate my editing services during your start-up period. Once you’re in the black, my rates will go back to their usual astronomical levels.
The Final Course Cafe opened last week. I took this photo of Rose and Dean Sorenmann and their two daughters last Sunday.
Dean saved me last week when I waited too late to procure a dessert that I’d promised to provide to an event. The lemon raspberry pie was a definite hit (the servers were actually hiding slices behind the table so they’d be sure to get some for themselves). Great service at a moment’s notice, and a fabulous dessert!
The food looks delicious and I’ll be happy to try it out soon.
I just tried this place today and found it to be great. The service and food were excellent. It’s nice to have another option here in town – and one that’s as close to the campuses as anything on Division.
Dear Dean & Rose….
You are a wonderful asset to the City of Northfield!
I hope you have refilled my cocoanut (sp?) is there a spell check here?
icecream…I better not tell everyone or you will be out again!
I hope the community and your friends from St.Paul continue to support your efforts and contribution to the neighborhood. It so nice to see lights and activity over there.
I will be sure to stop by before I leave this City!
Your friend at City Hall. Charlene
I really miss my Sunday morning coffee there before church, but now, with the 11 AM open on Sunday, reading the morning paper there over a cup of great coffee no longer happens. 8-(
Final Course has the best coffee, the best service, and the best treats in town. I hope business picks up, so that the hours can be extended once again. I would love to see a 9:30 open on Sundays.
So Char, what’s up? Are we in a race for the exit? Come on, spill the beans.
Just let Dean know…he is refining his times and openings.
He just needs a day of rest, so I am sure he would be happy to hear your suggestions.
We need to embrace our new businesses and help them grow in a positive way.
Thanks John for supporting this new business!!
Charlene
Charlene, your ‘hint’ about leaving this city is now news. (See the 4:30 PM story on the Nfld News website. )
Great job, Char. The city was lucky to have you, and foolish for treating you so badly.
How nice of you to say so. I have been called a breath of fresh air and also a spit fire.’
but my favorite so far….passionate for her clients.
I am sure there are a few others.
Hey Charlene -
So the rumors are true.
I’ll miss your honesty and directness.
Good luck with your next endeavor.
- Ross
Sorry to hear this news. I hope you were provided due process, Charlene. The article makes it sound a bit sudden.
Best wishes!
Ross,
I don’t do rumors…but thanks for your kind words.
Jane,
I can hold my head up high, thats all I know. I worked with some great people and had some fun and Got R done.
Due Process….I am sure things will all turn out just fine.
Thanks for sharing
Char
Char,
You will always have my support as a person. Your ideas are both creative and fun, which is important to my business.
May health and happiness follow you where ever you go.
On Coulombe-Fiore’s departure
Things are sad if not bad at City Hall. The City Council should weigh-in on this one. Do THEY have the spine?
Charlene WAS … a “different” fit … and certainly challenged the MN NiCE character of Northfield … fact is, she is so nice, that she raised that concept to a new level … SINCERITY … and attempted to do her job using the strong professional skills she has honed in a twenty year career.
QUESTION: Who up there on the metaphoric “HILL” does “fit-in”?
That’s a short list!
Looking at the morass of confusion facing Northfield … from personnel challenges to near economic collapse … complicated with a citizenry eager to blog but otherwise largely, mere bystanders … and a newspaper that simply doesn’t understand the need for objectivity and in-depth reporting of too many ISSUES … then throw in a dollop or two of reasoned fear of survival in these trying times….
TRYING TIMES? (Does that have a new and a more critical meaning today than ever before?) Are we facing in “these times” even more serious threats than ever before? Seems so … but really …
I mean, (claiming no personal accomplishment) but, in my 76 years, I’ve survived the Great Depression, WW II, The Atom Bomb [so far] HIV-Aids, assassination of our leaders in the 60s, and … being Italian in Minnesota!
Excepting the Italian thing most of us, have survived most of these.
So today… with all our emphasis on Human Resource management, Privacy Laws, right to work and other rungs up the ladder of civilization … how can one misfit power-craved authority so impact another person’s well being … on style?
But, if the “POWERS THAT BE” felt discomfort with her (Coulombe-Fiore’s) style today … then they (if they’re “good fits” for their jobs,) should have sorted that out at hiring. Evidently they saw real value in her strengths and made the move.
So, now THEY evidently feel the fit’s slipped .. and bear NO responsibility?
Where’s the “employee review in in all this? Seems to work better for some than some others! If you’re to take the News report as presented in her departure letter as fact, Coulombe-Fiore “passed muster” not too long ago.
A member of the EDA since October ‘07, I’ve had considerable opportunity and need in attempting to do my EDA job, for interfacing w/Charlene, frequently … perhaps more frequently than most other EDA members whose time was not so easily made available to the volunteer task. I take the EDA rigor very seriously, as I believe did Char … and I think I have a real understanding of Char’s and Northfield’s dilemma.
Maybe the termination process should have started at higher levels.
In any event, while meeting personnel requirements … administrative staff should have found a more equitable manner to make the change.
What Northfield’s top Administration has done with this move is disable the EDA , overtax a depleted staff, and destroy an employee’s life. Hopefully, that’s temporary and both the effected employee and Northfield will, in short-time, regain what they have lost.
Again: if you’re to take the News report as presented in her letter, as fact … The City Council should weigh-in on this one.
You all know this is serious when Victor and I agree, but I am apalled at the process — or lack of it — in Charlene’s sudden forced departure. “You don’t fit in” is hardly cause for dismissal, and in her case should have been treated as a warning of sex discrimination. Who decided she didn’t fit in, the men supervising her or dominating her board?
The stress of her job led to the need for some medical tests, tests which coincidentally happened just before her release. Are we containing health care costs by eliminating employees with real or even potential medical claims?
Being forced to write a letter of resignation means the city will never have to be accountable for using due process. If nothing else happens, the council must at least ban this method of dealing with employees. If there’s a problem, document it.
Charlene will come out of this just fine, but with all the projects she has done and had in her portfolio when she left, city officials certainly seem willing to choose style over substance.
And yet more serious when Victor and Anne and I all agree!
Who gets the title Business UN-friendly now? Char was the most business supportive person you can imagine; she was willing to consider every possible way to help. Think of the “temporary banner” situation on the Final Course Cafe. After being up a couple weeks, the “city” asked the owner to take the banner down ( there is a time limit in the ordinance), but there are other ongoing banners that have been up for years. Charlene went to bat for the cafe owner, and got the banner back up.
Was it being willing to try to improve that dastardly label of “NF not being biz friendly”, even if it meant gong against another staff opinion, that made Char get the “does not fit in” label?
*** If the city staff fills that NF is not Business friendly, why not suggest some changes in ordinances, regulations, etc, that would improve the business friendly atmosphere***
Instead, we get from staff regulatory monsters like the new Outside Dining ordinance, which makes it more difficult and more costly, for the people who were already doing it. The NDDC worked on this issue for at least four years, gave all sorts of comment, other cities ord language, etc., and it is almost as if that is taken as a challenge.
The conversations are never simple; too many “power” issues …
….and if Charlene does not fit are we therefore to assume that all other senior staff do. If so, gawd help us!
There’s a sign in the window of the Final Course Cafe: “Closed till further notice. Please accept our apologies. Dean, Rose.” Anyone know what’s going on?
The Northfield News has a piece this morning: Final Course Closes
It is really too bad. It was a nice place, with great treats, coffee and ice cream.
I loved going there, but when the hours shifted (especially on Sunday mornings), it just didn’t work out. We would already be at work by the 7 AM open, and at church by the 11 AM open on Sundays. We would stop in for the occasional ice cream, but the new hours were difficult.
I am sorry to see them close. It was a tough location, especially for pedestrian traffic.
Good luck to Dean and Rose.
The Final Course Cafe, a business about desserts and coffee, truly had the promise of being an outstanding destination for Northfield and its visitors. Unfortunately, the market did not respond as quickly as was necessary to sustain operations and make it a long term success. My family and I are grateful to our loyal customers and we hope to see you again soon.
I’m really sorry about the FInal Course closing — you deserved a better business environment and economy!
The FCC’s closing is terrible for the city. They had a nice niche, and the food – I ate entrees and desserts from there four times in five days last week – was excellent. I hope the Cafe’s demise leads business powers-that-be in Northfield to reflect further on how to make this town friendlier to start-ups.
Dean, I enjoyed meeting you and eating your food – best of luck with your future endeavors (and if they include another business, I’ll be one of your first customers).