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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Who Says I Can’t Do Fluff?
By Ross Currier, on June 12, 2008, 2:32 pm
 Griff just called me on the phone. He was racing down the highway in response to a Fluff Alert. I told him to slow down and I’d step up to the plate.
Here’s my swing at some fluff. US Senate candidate Al Franken (and SNL alum) was hanging at Goodbye Blue Monday this (Thursday) afternoon.
Yo Griff, if Tina Fey shows up in Downtown Northfield to campaign for Al, please give me another call.
Update 5:45 pm: More photos, submitted by Jane McWilliams, who wrote:
Ross, I caught Franken in conversations about the schools, Hager for mayor, and health care before he and his entourage walked over to The Sketchy Artist where, when I left, he was doing a sketchy candidate bit. (I couldn’t get close, but I think he was drawing blue states.) His aide said they were going next to OoLaLa and Rare Pair: Franken wanted to visit local businesses run by women! All that in beautiful downtown Northfield.
   
   
Update 9:30 PM by Griff: Robbie and I stopped by The Sketchy Artist to buy a sympathy card tonight and store owner April Ripka was nowhere to be found. However…
April’s mom, Linda Ripka and sister, Sarah Ripka were tending the store, and were quite happy to display the drawing of the United States sketched earlier in the day by Al Franken.
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Griff just called me on the phone. He was racing down the highway in response to a Fluff Alert. I told him to slow down and I’d step up to the plate.
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...
Ya done good, Ross. Credit goes to Michael Fallon, chief blogger at the Northfield Arts Guild, for the alert. You now have to buy him the beer I promised.
8 more photos added to the blog post, courtesy of Jane McWilliams… and some narrative, too.
Robbie and I stopped by Sketchy Artist to buy a sympathy card tonight and store owner April Ripka was nowhere to be found. However, April’s mom, Linda Ripka and sister, Sarah Ripka were tending the store, and were quite happy to display the drawing of the United States sketched earlier in the day by Al Franken. See the photo above, added to the blog post.
yeah, sorry i missed you guys. i was over at Art on Water putting up a show. btw, it’s THE Sketchy Artist. i know it’s dumb, but it weirds me out to see the name without the The.
on Al Franken…i was totally ready for him yesterday, but today took me a little by surprise. mostly because i was busy getting some pieces ready for Dean and didn’t even think about Franken possibly stopping in today. i should have known. i got about a 1 minute notice from someone from his entourage. argh! so yeah. i would have loved to have had him pose with Pee&Poo then i could have had my own campaign: “Al Franken supports Pee&Poo!” great promo for the store! hee hee.
i did have some issues ready to discuss with him. unfortunately he didn’t seem to have much time. oh well. i’ve got the states. and funny thing – he told me he didn’t do alaska and hawaii because when he was in school they weren’t states yet so he never really learned to draw them as well as the rest of the US. and he started out drawing MN first. very interesting day. fun! oh, and thanks for all the photos! can i have copies??
What a great map! My first real memory of Al Franken was his appearance on SNL’s “News” right before the 1988 election. That night, he drew the United States on a poster board, adding each state individually in red or blue, while explaining how Michael Dukakis could pull off an upset win over Bush in the electoral college. I was humbled by his skill, and inspired to work harder on my geographical knowledge.
15 years later, a geographically-challenged medical student from Rhode Island asked the following astounding question of a group of displaced Wisconsinites:
“Wisconsin… that’s near Washington State, right?”
It was met with silence, followed by a discussion of the myopic, parochial perspective of Northeasterners. In response, he questioned whether midwesterners weren’t just as parochial and oblivious to the details rest of the country.
The gauntlet was thrown, and there was no other option: I challenged him to a map-off.
He managed about 10-15 lumpy states, scattered around an amorphous blob vaguely resembling the USA.
Summoning my inner Al Franken, I then pulled out a piece of paper, and proudly and accurately drew all 50 states in their proper places – including an insignificant little dot representing Rhode Island.
So Al, thanks a lot for helping me put that pompous little twirp in his place.
April, check with Ross and Jane on the photo permissions. Jane might have higher-res originals, too.
Oh, and I’ve added the “The” above!
yea! thanks griff. you guys rock.
Patrick! Oooooh. I’m already setting up my whiteboard for the next game night … “Pictionary IV: The Redeemer’s Revenge!”.
Bruce,
Pictionary is not a game. It is an amusement.
Patrick, that is a great story about the map. When I was a kid, we had a wooden puzzle of a map of the USA, with the capitals of each state listed. I put that thing together a million times, sometimes upside down, backwards and with the print facing downwards. In geography class, I kicked ass. Sadly that knowledge, at least of the capitals has diminished greatly.
Anyway your story of the humble, virtuous midwesterner triumphing over the swarmy, east coast elitist (ok, I added my own adjectives, don’t tell Felicity) reminded me of the story from the locally grown thread about presidents-in which Missouri’s Truman took the easterners to the woodshed:
http://locallygrownnorthfield.org/archives/3070/
Lots of firsts for April Ripka…including being a guest artist in our art photography exhibition at ArtOnWater Gallery…including Northfield’s first vegan sushi exhibition opening reception tonite from 5 pm…ataway April
Weird call of the day:
I picked up the phone, and the voice on the other end said, “Hello Patrick – this is Al Franken.” Surprised, I paused for a second, expecting the robocall to go on with its message (while trying to figure out how it had managed to address me by name.)
But no, it was a real, live person on the other end of the line, who did in fact seem to be Al Franken, and he was calling to invite me and my wife Felicity to a little cookout he was putting together in Dundas this weekend.
(I assume, of course, that it will be held at the Morlan residence.)
As I said: weird.
Apparently, donating a couple hundred bucks to Barack Obama has made us important people, worthy of wooing.
Oh, I can feel the power of political influence coursing through my veins. So I ask: to what great purpose should we aspire? When we whisper in Mr. Franken’s ear, what special considerations should we seek?
I was out carousing with the Northfield Newcomers’ group and missed this call. What a shame! But the Newcomers’ group was full of zip. If anyone’s interested, watch Northfield.org for a picnic event in August.
If Al is planning on using my house he must be doing worse than I though in terms of numbers of followers. (or is that “The Al”, kind of like “The Donald”?).
If you are interested in the Franken fundraiser, please visit the Franken website at
http://www.alfranken.com/northfield
Amy