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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Uncle Sam Norman wants you — to meet and greet the mayoral and council candidates
By Griff Wigley, on August 14, 2008, 10:00 am
 
I took the photo of Contented Cow proprietor Norman Butler doing the Uncle Sam bit yesterday, promoting his pub’s Candidate Meet and Greet series for the Northfield mayoral/City Council primary.
The first in the series of three is tonight, 6-8 pm. See Politics and a Pint moderator Bruce Morlan’s blog post for details.
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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...
Thanks for the plug, Griff. Tonight’s kick off is at 6pm with the mayoral, 3rd ward and At-Large candidates each giving a 5-minute presentation at the microphone on the stage outside the Cow followed by a general mingling meet and greet on and around the pub and patio. No formal Q & A tonight though this can occur on a one-to-one basis after the presentations. No Ward 2 candidates since for that Ward there is no Primary.
Next Thursday (21st) will be Mayoral candidates. Cards will be available for Questions to be put by the Moderator. Ditto for the 3rd Ward and At-Large the following Thursday (28th). Format for both will be a 5-minute presentation followed by a moderated Q & A session, format to be decided. Essentially, for the first part of these two sessions, the candidates will be On-Show, the second part On-The-Spot.
There are many engagements and forums these days for the cadidates, so please forgive them if they cannot attend those at the Cow and also if they have to leave early.
Each of these three Thursdays from 6pm to 8pm, the pub, patio and peripheries will be dedicated to these Candidates at the Cow sessions. No entry fees, no purchases necessary, all ages welcome and if you do buy a beer be at least 21. See you at the Cow.
Nine out of 13 candidates, or their representatives, turned up and presented themselves to those assembled at the Cow. All gave a good account of themselves and some lingered to chat.
Next week, the mayoral candidates will once again present themselves followed by a Q & A session – 6pm to 8pm, Thursday August 21st at the Cow.
Norman -
Which were the four that didn’t show…
…and did they cite a scheduling conflict?
Which sent representatives…
…and did they name a reason?
- Ross
I appreciate the work of the Key and of Mr. Butler in hosting election events. I was wondering whether there might be any other candidate events before the primary? It would be great to have an event in the council chambers, hosted by a neutral party, or even the candidates themselves, so that it could be taped and shown on public access television.
Great suggestion Anne!! I know I would attend to ask questions.
Okay, great idea. Who wants to organize that one?
The LWV is doing a primary candidates forum in the Council chambers on Thurs, Aug. 28, 7 pm.
http://lwvnorthfieldmn.org/events/
I’ve asked for details (format, moderator, etc).
I just got back from the Cities and the answer to my question was in my e-mail. The News is co-sponsoring and NTV is taping.
Good news all around.
I am tempted to rearrange the third Candidates at the Cow forum for 3rd Ward and At-Large from Thursday August 28th to Tuesday Sept 3rd, 6pm to 8pm – obviously due to the clash with the LWV’s forum. Can anyone see a problem with this new date…?
One problem: Tuesday is Sept. 2 not 3. Thanks for the sessions, whenever they are, by the way!
Many Thanks, Susan. I mean Tuesday Sept 2nd.
The LWV forum details have now been blogged.
So Norman, the coast is clear for you to move yours to the evening of Tues Sept. 2.
So be it, Griff. The candidates for Ward 3 and At-Large are cordially invited to be On-Show and then On-The-Spot at the Cow on Tuesday September 2nd from 6pm to 8pm; citizens invited too!
The format tomorrow (9-21-08) at the Cow includes:
1. On Show…A PRESENTATION from the candidates – five minutes each with no stopwatch.
Then questions that each candidate would like to be asked and which will be put to the other candidates. So far, one question from a mayoral candidate…
2…On The Spot…”…the city of Northfield spent over $200,000 on legal fees in 2007. It is running up a huge total this year. What would you do as mayor to reduce the legal fees of the city?”.
I hope that more questions from the mayoral candidates will be put. For my part, I will as moderator ask them.
The question above is posed by Mayoral candidate David Hvistyendahl, the one below by Eduardo Wolle:
The City is about to take on some serious infrastructure issues. The annexation of more than 500 acres almost 7 miles from the sewer plant and safety center could result in serious costs … given that Minnesota law does not allow the use of impact fees to capture those costs directly from the developer, the current taxpayers are going to have to subsidize the very growth that threatens their lifestyle. What sort of total cost of services analysis do you understand well enough to communicate to the people why they should want to subsidize it?
Follow up: the safety center already is stressed by the fact that the railroad sometimes blocks the easy accesses to the west. Developing land that far away will almost certainly result in the need for a second station … good for the west side, but not so good for the city as a whole (who pays for it).
See you at the Cow tonight (Thursday) at 6pm.
Five candidates turned up last night; David Hvistendahl, Mary Rossing, Paul Hager, James Schlichting, Lee Lansing. Eduardo Wolle sent his apologies as he had to attend to an urgent personal matter and Jon Denison popped in early but didn’t stay. The presentation went well as did the Q&A afterwards.
Next will be the Ward 3 and At-Large candidates at 6pm, Tuesday Sept 2nd.
Norm, there is a conflict w/Sept. 2. We’re having the ONLY county commissioner candidate forum I know of at Bridgewater Township Hall in Dundas Tuesday Sept. 2, 7 pm. A couple precincts on the St. Olaf side are in this district, in addition to the townships of Bridgewater, Forest, Webster and Wheatland plus all of Lonsdale.
These are the candidates:
Mike Piper (former Bridgewater clerk)
Jerry Anderson, local developer
Gary Bruggenthies (Wheatland treasurer?)
Jeff Docken, farmer in Webster Township
Everyone welcome.
Maybe those attending the final forum at The Cow Tuesday night, Sept. 2, will go early at 6 pm so they can fly out to Bridgewater Township for the Dist. 5 county commissioner forum at 7 pm. Precincts 1 and 2 of Ward 3 (St. Olaf side) are included in this district which covers the northwest party of the county. These are the four candidates for Dist. 5:
Jerry Anderson
Mike Piper
Jeff Docken
Gary Bruggenthies
There will be more publicity on Dist. 1 (Gillen/Drevlow) and Dist. 3 (Plaisance/Rowan) after the primary on Sept. 9. (See my letter to editor in Saturday, Aug. 30, NNews for details.)
The Key and the Cow are cooperating to put on the Candidates at the Cow during October. All five Thursdays from 6pm to 8pm, we will feature one of the five races. Each candidate will give a 5 minute presentation and this will be followed by a moderated Q&A.
Does anyone know if this conflicts with any other forum/gathering on this matter? The schedule will be:
Thursday Oct 2nd….2-year At-Large
Thursday Oct 9th…Ward 2
Thursday Oct 16th…Ward 3
Thursday Oct 23rd…4-year At-Large
Thursday Oct 30th…Mayor
Tuesday Nov 4th – Election Day
The LWV has scheduled a general election forum for local candidates on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7-9 PM in the City Council Chambers, to be cablecast later on NTV.
That would conflict with your proposed mayoral debate on the same night.
Margit, many thanks. We will rearrange …Mayoral at the Cow on Thurs 23rd, 4-year At-Large on Thurs 30th.
Also, we hope that Bly and Rudd can come to the Cow on Wednesday the 29th.
We also hereby invite Coleman and Franken on Saturday 1st November.
We also extend a warm welcome to Obama & McCain on Sunday 2nd November, 6pm at the Cow.
In all cases, the Cow & The Key cordially invite the candidates. Please pass it on and rsvp.
Sounds great. I look forward to Oct. 9!
Norm, won’t all local candidates, including 4-yr “at large,” be expected at the Oct. 30 LWV forum?
You’re right, Stephanie. Also, Erika Zweifel cannot make the 16th. So, I will think again, and post later today. Any other conflicts…anyone?
OK. How’s this:
Thursday Oct 2nd….2-year At-Large
Thursday Oct 9th…Ward 3
Thursday Oct 16th…Ward 2
Thursday Oct 23rd…4-year At-Large
Wednesday Oct 29th…Mayor
Please note the changes for Oct 9th, 16th, 29th.
Are Bly and Rudd included in the LWV Forum on the 30th. If not can they come to the Cow on the 30th?
I *might* be out of state on the 16th… visiting family. I’ll tell you when my plans are definite.
I’ll be at the Cow on October 16. I like that The Key and The Cow, both fine downtown institutions, are collaborating.
In the meantime, Ward 2 voters (click here if you’re not sure if you live in Ward 2) can check out my website:
http://betseybuckheit.wordpress.com/
It’s like herding cats. Anyway, here’s the results of polling the candidates (all but 2) regarding their availability for Candidates at The Cow – a cooperation between The Cow and The Key.
The forums will be hosted jointly by Josh Hinnenkamp (Director of The Key) and Bruce Morlan (of Politics & A Pint) and will consist of a 5-minute presentation by the Candidates followed by a moderated Q&A session. Each forum starts at 6pm.
Many thanks to those candidates who are willing and able to talk with the citizens at the Cow on the following dates:
Wed 10/22…… Ward 2 + Ward 3
Thurs 10/23…. Both At Large
Wed 10/29……. Mayoral
Thurs 10/30…. State Representatives
Uncle Normie also wants YOU to come to Politics and a Pint this Sunday, Oct.12, at 6PM at the COW … because there’s going to be INFO on the MN Constitutional Amendment that’s on the November ballot.
Constitutional amendments are always controversial, so you can expect the usual “decorum” during the discussion, but you’ll have to be on your best behavior at least part of the time because there will be a very well informed guest speaker who’s prepared to give you all the facts.
Come prepared to listen FIRST, and then you can argue about whether there should be amendments to the MN Constitution…
See ‘ya there!
Since I haven’t seen it posted elsewhere, these are the upcoming candidates’ fora:
10/12: The Northfield East Side Neighborhood Association is having a candidates’ forum at 4:00 p.m. – 5:00, and a social from 5:00 – 6:30 at the First United Church of Christ, 300 Union St. Questions are geared toward the neighborhood’s concerns. Write to northfield.east.side.neighborhood@gmail.com for more information.
10/22: The Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s candidate forum begins at 8:00 a.m at the Community Resource Bank community room, 1605 Heritage Dr. Questions are geared toward local business and the general community.
10/22 – 10/30: The Contented Cow is hosting several candidate fora (see Norm’s post above).
10/30: The League of Women Voters is hosting a candidates’ forum. I don’t have specific details.
Latest: We had to cancel the State Rep forum on Thursday 30th as Tim Rudd cannot attend. Otherwise see post #28 & #30 above for impending opportunities to hear the candidates.
Ruth Amerman and Tim from the Key plus Bruce Morlan from Politics & a Pint will moderate the three forums at the Cow and which will be more fluid, dynamic and altogether more interesting than any and all of the other debates and forums evidenced thus far both locally and nationally.
Norman is to be congratulated for holding the best forums in town, so far. The format is excellent and allows the candidates to discuss a question, back and forth, together, in a way that is comfortable for them, and allows the audience to get a real sense of each person.
This in such obvious contrast to the Chamber forum yesterday AM ,which had the candidates restricted mostly to 45 SECOND (!) answers, to some very complex questions… and forced most of the candidates into soundbite mode. I’m perplexed by what information anyone gains by such a format. I felt very sorry for all the candidates having to deal with such a difficult situation.
I would recommend that more people attend the Cow forums, as they are the most informative you’ll find, especially if there’s a candidate whom you don’t know and would like to consider.
Thanks Norman…
Kiffi: The people I spoke with at last night’s Cow forum agree with you. The format was engaging and allowed a deeper understanding of the candidates’ ideas and motivations.
Norm and moderators, Bruce and Ruth, are all to be commended for their efforts in informing the voters about the candidates.
The Chamber of Commerce forum had all 10 candidates while the Cow had only 4 (from Wards 2 and 3), so the Chamber’s format was much more restrictive. At the Chamber, the candidates had 45-60 seconds to answer important questions. It’s a very tight timeframe, but nonetheless it still helps inform voters about the candidates. It forces candidates to be articulate and concise, which are valuable skills!
Thanks to all who participated in last night’s forum and the compliments from Kiffi and Jerold.
Just a reminder that tonight at 6pm The Cow will be hosting the 6 At-Large Candidates.
Julie
One additional comment: the *Host with the Most*, to paraphrase a famous Wash.DC hostess’s title, your own Norman Butler, can also be counted on to ask one or two very important and provocative questions of his own.