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By Griff Wigley, on November 8, 2011, 11:41 am

I get regular updates on Gretchen Falck’s Forza! studio (on Professional Drive behind Casey’s). Why?
My wife Robbie is a ‘Forzite,’ hooked since March, 2010, doing everything from kettlebells, TRX Suspension training, and resistance stretching to a whole variety of body weight exercises. (That’s Robbie in the foreground of the photo on the right, swinging a kettlebell.) She just loves it.
Gretchen is hosting a Forza! open house tomorrow, Wed. Nov. 9, 5-7:30 pm. She’s mixing in exercise with the arts by unveiling a new mural:
Other Forzites [including Robbie] will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate some of the tools of the trade. Look for them in their black Forza! t-shirts. Come see this beautiful mural, enjoy some healthy snacks and the company of some truly great people!
I’ve stopped the studio a few times in the past few weeks to take photos of her classes for her website. Here are a few:


By Griff Wigley, on October 5, 2011, 9:33 pm

Laura Baker Services Association (LBSA) now has a big fundraising board on Bridge Square. The light bulbs in the shape of a heart change from white to red as the "Inspiring Possibilities, Realizing Dreams" campaign gets closer to the goal of $1,300,000. They’re currently at about 82% there.
Jane Fenton, LBSA’s Director of Community Relations, and Paul Krause, fundraising consultant, were overseeing the high-tech installation process (take bulb out of box; screw it in; repeat as necessary) at around noon today.
What’s the plan?
Our goal is to construct two new cottages, just like Wright Cottage and to renovate Elwell and Baker Halls. Once the new cottages are built, the aged Margaret Graves Hall will be razed and a beautiful Recognition Garden created in its place.
More fundamentally, we are creating homes for our Oak Street clients, a place where they can dream and be inspired and where the staff can work with them in ways not possible today. To date, we have already completed the restoration and Elwell and Baker and now move forward to make the new cottages a reality. Please help make this dream come true, for our clients, for Laura Baker Services and for our entire community.
See the Making the Case (PDF) document for more details and the four videos by Cheryl Buck, Bob Bonner, Sandi Gerdes and Eric Stratton about the campaign.
By Griff Wigley, on September 20, 2011, 6:01 am

I’ve been working with veterinarian Dr. Rich Lorang and his wife Virginia Lorang to revamp the website for Countryside Animal Hospital & Kennels. The vet clinic and newly acquired kennel operation serve the cities of Dundas and Northfield as well as the surrounding Rice County area.
Dr. Rich has begun to blog, along with staffer Jess Renderos. You can also visit the Countryside Animal Hospital & Kennels Facebook page and follow Dr. Rich Lorang on Twitter.
By Griff Wigley, on July 28, 2011, 10:44 am
Ray Cox stopped by unannounced at my morning office at GBM yesterday morning to talk politics, business, and web stuff for NCC.
And then former Northfielder Steve Grove (Twitter acct link) barged in, all the way from his Manhattan office where he’s head of News and Politics for YouTube. He’s in town for a few days for a wedding.
Note to self: gray t-shirts are evidently the hip attire these days.
By Griff Wigley, on June 15, 2011, 9:07 am
NDDC‘s Ross Currier has taken a cue from Governor Rick Perry’s Proclamation for Days of Prayer for Rain in Texas to issue a similar but opposite proclamation for Northfield this week. I took the photo of him on his knees this morning at the Church of the Blue Monday where we both attend religiously.
He wants sunny skies for the Sixth Annual Taste of Northfield (blog post here, full event info/schedule here), held tomorrow and Friday in downtown Northfield on Bridge Square.
Last year’s Taste was memorable; Day 1/Thursday night was a bust (photos) in part because of a botched triggering of severe weather sirens; Day 2/Friday night was spectacular (photos).
See all Locally Grown’s archived Taste of Northfield blog posts and photos for more.
Here’s the transcript of Ross’ adapted prayer for fair weather:
Almighty Lord God, who for the sin of man didst once drown all the world, except eight persons, and afterward of thy great mercy didst promise never to destroy it so again; We humbly beseech thee, that although we for our iniquities have worthily deserved a plague of rain and waters, yet upon our true repentance thou wilt send us such weather for the Taste of Northfield, that we may receive the fruits of the earth in due season; and learn both by thy punishment to amend our lives, and for thy clemency to give thee praise and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
By Griff Wigley, on May 31, 2011, 6:12 am
StarTribune reporter Richard Meryhew paid a visit to Northfield and a few other towns in District 25B last week, asking citizens their reaction to the state budget battle at the Capitol. His story appeared in yesterday’s paper: Voters say: Enough Already. In politically diverse House District 25B, folks wonder how compromise became a four-letter word at the Capitol.
Among the Northfielders he interviewed: Chuck DeMann, Peggy Prowe, Sue Lloyd, Al Linder, Jim Johnson, and me.
Sue Lloyd was quoted: "How we’ve come to such extremes I don’t know… Are there middle [ground] people? I don’t know anymore."
Sue, we had a "middle ground" legislator not too long ago: Ray Cox, a moderate Republican by most measures. Back in 2007, Ray got a measly 26% score from the Taxpayers League, was at times branded at RINO by some in the GOP, and received the endorsement from the Star Tribune. Ray wrote in a Jan. 2008 blog post after he lost the special Senate election to Kevin Dahle:
In the recent Senate Special election I was honored to receive the endorsement of the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper. That meant a lot to me. The editors and writers there conducted a thorough review of my voting record. They conducted a comprehensive interview about current issues. While they were careful to keep partisan politics out of their discussion, the editors are well aware of the environment that the legislature must conduct its work. They noted my ability to work in a bipartisan manner on state issues in an attempt to resolve some of the more pressing concerns.
Northfield’s liberal voters rejected this moderate Republican and instead voted for Dahle in large numbers. Likewise, Cox was not enough of a social conservative for a large number of voters in the western part of the district and so they didn’t vote in large enough numbers to offset the liberal vote in Northfield.
Northfield’s liberals won the battle of 2008 but they lost the war in 2010 when the Republicans fielded much more conservative candidates in Al DeKruif and Kelby Woodard who were able to get out the D-25 conservative vote in big numbers.
So for 25B voters to now complain about extremes, partisanship, and gridlock seems a little disingenuous. Al and Kelby and the rest of the freshman Republicans know who and what got them there. Why compromise with Gov. Dayton until you have to?
Wayne Cox, executive director of Minnesota Citizens for Tax Justice, had a commentary in last week’s Strib titled The state’s GOP has lost its way – and many party veterans know it. He criticized the GOP for being "Not Your Mother’s Republican Party" because the voices of moderate Republicans like Arne Carlson, Duane Benson, Dave Jennings, Al Quie, and Dave Durenberger were no longer being heard by the GOP.
Were he writing about Rice County, he’d likely name Ray Cox and Tom Neuville.
By Griff Wigley, on May 7, 2011, 8:34 am

I prompted HideAway Coffeehouse and Winebar proprietor Joan Spaulding earlier this week to hold up the issue of the May issue of the NEG.
It has a feature (page 40) by Felicia Crosby on the HideAway which is celebrating its 5th anniversary this month
Here’s the full text:
The pictures on the long hall of the HideAway say it all. Three large sepia-toned portraits of the Spaulding family – Jim, Joan and their six offspring – illustrate what makes the HideAway such an irresistible destination for a light meal, a glass of wine, or a mid-morning muffin. This very family business feels like home, and when you’re there you’re part of the family.
Occupying a light and bright space once part of Jacobsen’s Department Store, the HideAway boasts soaring tin ceilings, period moldings and fixtures, and tall windows that overlook busy Division Street. Walls are painted in warm shades of honey and saffron, the furniture is comfortable enough to curl up into, and the nook and cranny eating spaces create the most delightfully intimate places to talk, work and read. Celebrating its fifth birthday in May, the HideAway is convivial and unhurried, exuding a breezy welcome that makes it easy to fantasize about owning this little spot of gastronomic heaven; how hard could it be to own something so fun to be in?
Continue reading The HideAway turns 5
By Griff Wigley, on April 27, 2011, 12:19 pm
This morning I got a call from one of my sources that Leif Knecht, co-owner of Knecht’s Nurseries and Landscaping, was going apeshit while celebrating his 60th birthday today. ‘Tis pretty much true, as you can see from the above photos of Leif dressed up as Elmer Fudd in his normal spring attire, but there’s more to the story.
He was actually just excited about the complementary Northern Red Oak trees that the boys from Bailey Nurseries in St. Paul, (L) Hans Ostergaard and (R) Dan Bailey, were making available to anyone who stops by today in honor of Leif’s BD.
If you get out there, grab some free coffee and a cupcake while you sign the big birthday card in the retail greenhouse. In the meantime, mouseover the ‘child of the ’60s’ card for a special message, given to Leif by one their long time employees, Heidi Brosseau.
FYI, it’s not the first time that Leif and his many faces have graced this blog. See: Leif Knecht re-elected to Bridgewater Board of Supervisors.
By Griff Wigley, on April 16, 2011, 11:18 pm
I took a run out to Knecht’s Nurseries & Landscaping this morning to see if last night’s snowfall made for any interesting photos. I was not disappointed. I occasionally huddled inside one of the greenhouses to warm up and added 3 photos of things blooming.
See my album of 9 photos, the large slideshow (recommended) or this small slideshow:
By Griff Wigley, on March 28, 2011, 9:00 am
David Morris, co-founder of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, stopped by the GBM on Friday morn. He and his wife, Harriet Barlow, were accompanying their granddaughter, Tessa, and her friend, Soren Walljasper, on a visit to Carleton College (left photo).
I got to know David in the 90s while working at Utne Reader, as he was a frequent contributor to the magazine and a regular at our staff salons. Soren’s dad, Jay Walljasper, was the magazine’s editor during that time. Jay has been frequent presenter here in Northfield (see these Locally Grown blog posts tagged with his name).
I’m now collaborating with Jay and longtime client Curtis Johnson, Citistates Group, on a project (right photo). While I was at Utne, Curt was executive director of the Citizens League and was instrumental in finessing funding for the Neighborhood Salon project. It was a 1991 salon here in Northfield that was instrumental in the birth of Northfield.org.
Jay has a new book out titled All That We Share: A Field Guide to the Commons ("How to Save the Economy, the Environment, the Internet, Democracy, Our Communities and Everything Else that Belongs to All of Us").
One of the organizations profiled in his book is Northfield’s Rural Enterprise Center (REC). Another former Utne staffer, Jon Spayde, recently interviewed Jay about his book for The Line which included this blurb about Northfielder Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin (Regi!), and his work with the REC:
Another of the stories in the book is about a guy named Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, who lives down in Northfield. He’s an entrepreneur, one of the founders of Peace Coffee, and a Guatemalan immigrant. He wondered what he could create to boost the prospects of immigrants in Northfield, and also show other people that immigrants aren’t taking something away from the community, they’re contributing something. What he came up with was a chicken co-op.
Everybody understands that local food is healthier for people and for the economy, but local food is also really expensive. Yet here are all these immigrants who were farmers back home, working in jobs that don’t use those skills. So he created this co-op where they raise delicious chickens that are less expensive than the local, organically raised chickens you find in the grocery store. The community benefits and the immigrants benefit. And it’s a cooperative, so there’s not a single owner; but it’s part of the market economy and it’s not getting government funds.
See Jay’s article in the December issue of Yes! magazine which includes this great PDF poster titled 51 ways to spark a commons revolution:

By Griff Wigley, on February 13, 2011, 10:52 pm
By Griff Wigley, on January 11, 2011, 2:44 pm
By Griff Wigley, on September 16, 2010, 12:48 pm
I got an email tip this morning that former Northfield City Administrator Al Roder is in the news.
In today’s Omaha World-Herald:
Norfolk city admin. out of a job?
Mayor Sue Fuchtman has called a special meeting of the City Council Thursday to consider terminating the employment of Al Roder, who was hired two years ago.
Former Northfield City Administrator Scott Neal was in the Sept. 1 Strib:
Continue reading A Tale of Two Cities: former Northfield City Administrators are in the news
By Griff Wigley, on July 16, 2010, 12:52 pm
Construction Consulting Partners held an open house at their Phoenix Building last night. Tenants participating: Community Resource Bank, Anytime Fitness, and Allure Salon. Neighbor participant: Eco Gardens.
See my album of 23 photos, the large slideshow, or this small slideshow:
By Griff Wigley, on July 5, 2010, 4:33 pm
My consulting business brings an infusion of $1.65 to downtown Northfield most days, depending on where I have coffee. Last week I was happy to ratchet that up a bit with two client meetings at the HideAway CoffeeHouse and Winebar.
The principals of The Citistates Group paid a visit to Northfield on Wednesday to meet with me and Northfield web designer Sean Hayford O’Leary. Sean and I have worked with Neal Peirce, Farley Peters, and Curtis Johnson for years but had never met with them F2F.
On Thursday, I met with Republican-endorsed Senate 25 candidate Al DeKruif and two of his campaign volunteers, Daryl Bauer and Brian Wermerskirchen. I’m working with them on social media-related activities for Al’s campaign.
The first time my consulting business had a huge economic impact (dozens of dollars!) on downtown Northfield was in the summer of 2004 when a group of Brits from the Blair government descended on the Contented Cow, desperate for British beer. They returned with some colleagues in the summer of 2005.
I hope this helps for the day when I need to hit up the Northfield EDA for a loan.
By Griff Wigley, on July 1, 2010, 8:54 am
I took this photo of Dan Freeman and postal worker Patty Henry in the doorway of Monkey See Monkey Read yesterday afternoon, pointing to the 4th of July poster in the window.
Dan’s been doing fundraising once again for the 4th of July fireworks and this year, he’s got two fireworks shows for us citizens. (See the PDF poster for the complete schedule of events, including a change of times for the Kiddie parade and Kiddie carnival.)
Norman Butler, proprietor of Butler’s Steak & Ale, the Contented Cow, Chapati, and the soon-to-opened Pan Pan, has bellied up to the patriotic bar with a donation that, according to this article in the Nfld News,
was substantial enough to fund an additional fireworks show in Ames Park on the Fourth of July, Freeman said. The additional show, scheduled for 10 p.m., will not replace the regular fireworks display that Freeman has helped organize since 2002. Instead, the Ames Park show — limited in its size and height because of safety regulations — will precede the larger annual show, which launches from Sechler [sic] Park this year, Freeman said.
Ross Currier has a complete rundown of 4th of July weekend events in his NDDC blog post, Fireworks Mark Busy Weekend in Downtown.
By Griff Wigley, on June 24, 2010, 6:53 am
By Griff Wigley, on June 22, 2010, 6:56 pm
Normally TV-less, the Contented Cow brought in a projection-screen TV a week ago for the World Cup match between the US and England. ‘Twas a packed house.
See their blog post for the schedule of matches and protocols, eg, “So bring your flags, facepaint and scarfs — but leave the vuvuzela at home.”
By Griff Wigley, on June 21, 2010, 7:59 am
With the political season winding up, we’ve added 3 more local candidate blogs to our lower right sidebar aggregator: Mark Murphy, and Al DeKruif. Other candidates there include incumbents Kevin Dahle and David Bly.
Let us know if there are others to add.
2 PM update: I mistakenly added Mike Piper’s blog, thinking that he was the Republican endorsed candidate for 25B. Kelby Woodard is the endorsed candidate but he currently doesn’t have a blog or RSS feed. I’ve removed Mike Piper’s blog.
By Griff Wigley, on June 4, 2010, 11:33 pm
Some local musicians have formed a band called Prefab Modular and are performing Saturday night at Butler’s Steak and Ale, 8-11 pm.
The likely members: Peter Diggins, Steve Jennings, Mike Legvold, Alisa Leonard, and Craig Wasner. More details available on the Butler’s blog here.
Here’s a 2006 video clip of the Prairie Creek Band playing on the deck of the Contented Cow. It features vocalist Alisa Leonard and guitarist Peter Diggins. The song: Runaway, by Del Shannon:
Continue reading Prefab Modular, a spur-of-the-moment band of local superstars.
By Griff Wigley, on June 1, 2010, 11:30 pm
Another revelation in the June 2010 Northfield Entertainment Guide.
On page 25 is an ad for Pan Pan (Facebook page), the 4th restaurant of Norman Butler’s 1001 Solutions, LLC empire.
Location: 303 Division St, former home of Sweet Lou’s Waffle Bar & Cafe.
By Griff Wigley, on June 1, 2010, 10:41 pm
The June 2010 Northfield Entertainment Guide is online and on the streets. On page 25 is an ad for Butler’s Steak & Ale that says:
Enjoy a Knickerbocker Glory on our new deck overlooking the new bike path overlooking the old Cannon River.
The new bike/pedestrian trail is coming along nicely. The parking lot behind River Park Mall, however, is pretty much deckless.

By Griff Wigley, on May 29, 2010, 7:04 am
I’ve been experimenting with Foursquare for the past couple of months. The app on my Android phone (also available on the iPhone, Blackberry, and Palm) uses GPS to show a list of nearby places. I can then check in to see if the business is offering a foursquare special, alert selected friends (txt msg, Twitter, etc) to my location, earn points, and acquire ‘badges’ for repeat check-ins.
The person who has checked in the most at a given location becomes the ‘Mayor’ of that location. I’m currently the Mayor of the Goodbye Blue Monday but just lost my mayorship to someone named ‘Dan’ at the HideAway. Nationwide, retailers are starting to offer Mayor Specials. Starbucks launched a nationwide Mayors Special last week.
Last night was the first time I experienced a foursquare special from a Northfield-area retailer: the Contented Cow has a Foursquare special going this Memorial Day weekend. (No, I didn’t set this up, even though the Cow has been a client of mine for years.)
What other retailers are using Foursquare in the Northfield area?
By Griff Wigley, on May 14, 2010, 6:28 am
The rains have stopped, the skies have cleared, and the temps this weekend will be in the 70s. It’ll be a good weekend for some Bocce on the Contented Cow’s new lawn.
By Griff Wigley, on April 19, 2010, 7:02 am
I noticed that the HideAway Coffeehouse and Winebar put out its tables and chairs this weekend so it seems a good time to revisit the issue of sidewalk dining in Northfield (that’s a Tag link to all our blog posts on the subject since 2006.)
Plus, there are two more Division St. eating/dining establishments opening this year.
I blogged last November that “Northfield’s sidewalk dining ordinance has been in effect since early 2008 but only one establishment has taken advantage of the alcohol clause: the HideAway Coffeehouse and Winebar. Five others have not. It might be helpful to find out why.”
Ross sent me a link a week ago to a blog called cooltownstudios that has a series of posts on outdoor cafe districts. (The blog is part of the bigger CreativeCrowdSource project.)
One of those blog posts is titled How to crowdsource an outdoor cafe district and it links to a forum thread on related attempts. The overview of how to do it:
Continue reading Let’s crowdsource Northfield’s sidewalk dining scene
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