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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It’s enrollment lottery time for Northfield area Charter Schools; Legislative threats loom
By Griff Wigley, on March 5, 2009, 10:53 pm
 Caroline Jones, Director of Prairie Creek Community School, will be our podcast guest next Wed. PCCS is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year (a K-6 Charter school since 2002). Their enrollment lottery is March 16. The Northfield School of Arts and Technology (ARTech) is a 6-12 Charter School that opened in 2003. Their lottery is April 6. Both PCCS and ARTech are sponsored by the Northfield School District. A new K-8 Charter, the Cannon River STEM School (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) opens this fall, sponsored by the Audubon Center of the North Woods. It holds its enrollment lottery on March 14. While all seems healthy for local Charters, there are some ominous changes being considered by the Legislature. (continued)
Clarice Grabau, PCCS board member and parent, had a letter to the editor in the 2/25 Nfld News in which she mentioned charter-related proposals being considered by the legislature. You can track those proposed changes by following the Advocacy Blog by Executive Director Eugene Piccolo of the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools.
 In the Jan-Feb 2009 issue of the Citizens League’s MN Journal (pages 11-12), Eric Mahmoud and Joe Nathan have an article titled Replicate rather than restrict Minnesota’s most successful charters in which they argue that “some changes to the charter law are needed, but not those suggested by long time opponents.” Their article ends with this:
But replication of outstanding charters would be blocked by the moratorium proposed by Education Minnesota, the state’s teacher union. Other opponents, citing Minnesota’s budget problems, recommend prohibiting charters in any community where the district is considering closing a school. Replicating success is a far better idea.
A moratorium is not the only challenge to chartered schools. Some want to eliminate or dramatically reduce state funds designated to help charters lease buildings. Unlike districts, charters may not levy taxes for buildings (and some districts can tax for construction without voter approval).
Charter building “lease aid” funds have produced ecologically wise space decisions, including schools sharing space with social service agencies, leasing closed school buildings (when districts agree), and converting closed or under-utilized buildings into schools in some growing areas.
Unfortunately charter lease aid is being considered for reduction or elimination.
More than $100 million has come to Minnesota from federal and outside Minnesota foundations explicitly because of our charter law. Even more important, some charters have produced excellent results. We should follow President Obama’s advice, expanding excellence, and terminating failure.
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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...
It’s great to see local charter schools covered in this forum. ARTech is hosting an open house this Sunday from 2-4 pm. We are currently accepting applications for next year. Our lottery is Monday, April 6. We have 18 openings in 6th grade and a few limited openings in other grades.
Thanks, Simon. I’ve edited the blog post to include your lottery date. By the way, nice blog you have! It it linked from the main ARTech website someplace?
Griff,
Yes, there is a link to the director’s blog on the front page of the ARTech website.
Thanks
Simon
The problem with attempts to “replicate success” is that it treats charter schools (or choice programs) — to at least some degree — as if they are products you can mass produce.
But consider that, when you start a choice program or a charter school, it’s often forged from the talents, vision, passion and committment of a visionary group. They face obstacles as they work to put their dreams, their research, and their best hunches into reality. They modify and improve the dream as the rubber hits the road.
The vision, committment and practical wisdom gained from the journey is impossible to replicate in the way that some who use that language seem to imply.
Better still, might be a different approach: If there are visionary people who have founded choice programs or charter schools, and who have experience with the process of collaborating with teachers and parents and districts in doing so, perhaps we need to send folks like that out to work with districts that want to develop choice programs and charter schools so that the ideas have local roots and support, and take on a local flavor. Then they may have more chance for success.
Paul: I celebrate all efforts to inspire and educate children, for them to take an active role or “ownership” in our Constitutional society. Whether visionaries successful with charter schools join the public school system, vice versa, or people with no experience contribute to either, I like seeing people reaching out and trying to make an improvement in the lives of youth.
I’ve heard that the Cannon River STEM School has confirmed a location for the school. I don’t see an announcement yet on their blog so maybe it’s not official/ready for a public announcement. Anyone know?
Not me. But I’m really interested!! Post when you know!
I know but I don’t know if it is public yet.
This is fun knowing something that others want to know!
The answer can now be found here.