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.
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Podcast: Housing and Redevelopment’s Michele Merxbauer
By Griff Wigley, on February 28, 2008, 8:26 am
City of Northfield’s Housing and Redevelopment Division staff person Michele “Mitch” Merxbauer was our guest this week. Northfield was just selected, out of communities all around the state, for funding by the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund (GMHF) and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation. Michele is staff liaison to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA).
  Tracy was AWOL and I was napping so Ross carried the load all by hisself. To complete the meltdown, KYMN goofed and didn’t air the show at 5:30 pm. Fines and suspensions will be announced next week.
Since I wasn’t there, we don’t have a photo of Michele. Here’s the best we can do: a Harley motorcycle shop foreman. What’s the connection? Listen to the show to find out.
(Update 4:45 PM: I stopped by Michele’s office at City Hall this aft. for a photo. Click thumbnail to enlarge.)
The HRA is securing 14 acres at reduced prices to create approximately 60 units of ownership housing, targeted as starter homes, workforce housing and down-sized homes for empty-nesters. See the Dec. 19 Northfield News article titled HRA may purchase 14 acres for more background info.
In last week’s Weekly Memo, City Administrator Al Roder wrote:
Staff met with John Harrington from Greater MN Housing Fund this week and also Janet Mutch from Growing Up Healthy, Rice County. These two organizations, as well as Blue Cross Blue Shield, are involved in the new housing development that the HRA is planning with Three Rivers for the Southbridge site. The focus on this neighborhood will be emphasizing healthy communities by utilizing not only “green” building techniques, but also promoting a healthy neighborhood by incorporating a walkable neighborhood that connects to the greater community.
There will be a Community Input session on Tuesday, March 4, from 6-8 in Council Chambers. Staff will be on hand to greater explain the collaborating partners, ideas for the neighborhood, and receive input from the Community as to what they would like to see incorporated into the neighborhood.
Click play to listen. 30 minutes.
Our radio show/podcast, Locally Grown, usually airs Wednesdays at 5:30 PM on KYMN 1080 AM. You can also subscribe to the podcast feed, or subscribe with iTunes. We seek your comments and suggestions.
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Tracy was AWOL and I was napping so Ross carried the load all by hisself. To complete the meltdown, KYMN goofed and didn’t air the show at 5:30 pm. Fines and suspensions will be announced next week.
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...
Gee Griff, you’re really off your game right now, Three Rivers has a website to which you coulda/shoulda linked: http://www.threeriverscap.org/
I know, I’m a slug, Ross. FIXED!
By the way, what does the ‘p’ stand for in the domain name for Three Rivers Community Action? http://www.threeriverscap.org/
Where is the Southbridge site? Can someone give me the exact location? Neighborhoods and areas seem to get named and then referred to with the assumption that everyone will know where they are, but I can’t find any specific information on the city site, Three River’s site or here. I have a general sense where it is, but would like to know more precisely.
That’s just me.
Great podcast, Ross. I had a chance to talk with Mitch Merxbauer this morning, and blogged about the project as well.
Brendon, I like to know where stuff is, too. The site is an irregularly shaped piece of land roughly midway between Maple Street and Highway 246, just southeast of the Spring Creek Soccer Complex. I have an image of the site in my blog (http://www.sustainablecommunitysolutions.com/index.php/2008/02/28/green-workforce-housing-coming-to-northfield/).
Bruce,
“Just southeast of the Spring Creek Soccer Complex” is Maple Street. How could the site be “roughly midway between Maple Street and Highway 246″?
I couldn’t read any street names and there was no directional compass on the map on your blog. So, I remain, confused.
You can see more about some of the Maple Hills development homes on the Cannon River Community Land Trust blog site. And here’s a Google map:
View Larger Map
The site that is being discussed is just southwest of the soccer complex, west of Maple Street and east of 246. Southbridge Drive will continue into the development, and Ford Street will be south of our development line.
At the Community Input Meeting on Tuesday, I will provide maps that show the area more clearly.
Thank you, Brendon, for pointing out that sometimes we tend to carried away in names, not necessarily location specifics. I hope this helps.
Thanks, Michele, southwest of the soccer fields, Southbridge and Ford. I get the boundaries now.
I would suggest calling it a “neighborhood” rather than a “development”; because words matter, and it might be nice to frame it that way.
I’m excited to see this come together. Thanks for the good work you do for Northfield.
Thanks for the clarification, Michele. My directional dyslexia sometimes rears its ugly head!
I’ve updated the map with Maple Street, Highway 246 and Ford Streets labeled.
I stopped by Michele’s office at City Hall this aft. for a photo and have edited the blog post to include it. Now it’s time for my nap.
In today’s Nfld News: Open house Tuesday on mixed-income neighborhood.
Since last week’s show with Michele didn’t air on KYMN, it’ll run today in the regular 5:30 PM timeslot.
Last night’s Housing and Redevelopment public meeting on the new Southbridge development was well-attended. I missed most of it but took a few photos.
Michelle, can you give us a brief summary? And can I get photos or PDFs of the various charts you displayed?
Here’s a Flashplayer view of the types of homes that’ll be built. According to Michele, “these are actual homes that have been built in Pine Island and Cambridge.”
Thanks for posting the photos Griff. These are the style and type of homes recommended in the book Suburban Nation. Porches and sidewalks actually help build strong neighborhoods. Notice how far forward the house is set on the lot.
It’s also the type of house Northfield Construction built for my family in 2004.
The houses look a lot like the ones already in the neighborhood, right along Jefferson Parkway. They’ll be a nice addition to the diversity we have out here.
I hadn’t heard the podcast, so I learned a lot at the HRA open house last night. I was impressed not only by the goal of affordability, but of energy conservation as well as the collaboration of funders and organizations to achieve these two goals. The presenters, Michelle, Jenny Larson of Three Rivers, and John Harrington of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, sought public comments. Several public members were concerned about adding more housing stock, given the current market. One person suggested that it would be better to scatter affordable housing, rather than creating affordable neighborhoods. I suggested they consider one or two rentals as there seems to be a serious shortage of that kind of housing in Northfield.
The presenters said this could be a unique project – putting us on the map nationally. So – in spite of the problems at the council level, good things are happening in the city!
Congratulations to those who have worked on this project. I listened to the podcast and was impressed that Blue Cross chose the project over others around the state and also that it will possibly be featured in a PBS TV show.
I hope that there can eventually be improved access for kids in this neighborhood to walk and bike to the the schools on the other side of 246. Right now everyone east of 246 is bused for safety reasons.
[...] Which one? The same one she talked about on a LoGroNo podcast back in late Feb this year. [...]