A longtime downtown business is expected to close in the coming months. Tiny’s Hot Dogs at 321 Division St. is set for a sheriff’s sale June 3, according to a legal notice published last week. Owner Timothy Sellers has until Dec. 3 to rework his mortgage or come up with the necessary funds to cover the debt. Sellers declined to comment, but support of the longtime Northfield shop has quickly grown.
[show_avatar email=tim@kymnradio.net]Just a reminder that without a clear channel like WCCO carrying the Minnesota Twins, you’ll need your local syndicate to get the best quality sound when you’re out and about listening to your soon-to-be-World-Champion-Minnesota-Twins! With permission of MLB, we broadcast all games in real time, cutting in local ID drops, commercials, and liners.
So, when you go from TV, to the yard, to the car, keep it tuned to 1080AM KYMN for your Twins action!
[show_avatar email=kiffisumma@gmail.com]I have been for several years, and continue to be, seriously opposed to the Northfield News practice of allowing anonymous comments on their website.
You might ask, ”Why? How seriously does anyone take comments to which a person does not care to attach their name?”
My answer is this: Some people take those anonymous comments seriously enough to bring some of that defamatory material, mis-representations of fact, outright lies, etc., to this opinion based community discussion, thereby convoluting the discussion in a way which, I believe, is a detriment to community relationships.
Griff gets angry with me if I refer to the Northfield News’s anonymous commenters, and says they are not relevant simply because of their anonymity and being “off-site” , even if they relate to a current subject thread on Locally Grown.
I disagree, strenuously.
There is no journalistic purpose served by allowing anonymous comments; the ‘gossip’ factor drives hits to their website, which then encourages advertising sales.
A good portion of their website comments do not deal with being for or against an issue brought forward by an article in the print version of the newspaper; instead they are personal attacks meant to harm, if not actually libel; they are often attached to an article to which there is no relevant content link.
Example: A few weeks ago a rash of escalating offensive comments were attached to various articles, including one to that week’s City Administrator’s Memo. The one attached to the administrator’s memo was removed, and an admonition (citing lack of relevance to the city memo as reason for removal) was posted from Jaci Smith, the Northfield News Editor; however, all the other comments were allowed to remain in place.
Anonymous comments allowed on newspaper websites have been the subject of some spirited debate. What do you think is their impact in our community?
A week or so ago, local filmmaker Paul Krause, Dancing Sun Multimedia, previewed his new documentary, Harvest, for local media, including freelancer Alyssa Ford who’s doing a story on it for the Star Tribune this week. I weaseled my way into Paul’s studio in downtown Northfield for a photo and a sneak preview.
“Harvest” chronicles the creation of Ray Jacobson’s sculpture of the same title. From the initial drawings to the final installation on the riverfront, the film reveals every step required to craft the three thousand pound, bronze sculpture.
It features a roundtable discussion (“chatfest”) about “marriage, dating, romance and relationships in general” with some Northfield-area guys including Hans Olsen, Mike Miller, Adam Andreasen, Nathan Kuhlman, Ed Kuhlman, Drew Weis, James Schlicting, Jason Hoffman and Dan Freeman.
Dusty’s long and winding road has led him back home….for now.
I am pleased to announce that Dusty Budd will be back on the microphone Saturday mornings at 10am, for Raider Wrap, talking to local Raider coaches and players.
I very much appreciated 1) a personal invitation to the party from Board Chair Nate White; and 2) Jessica Peterson White (the "Quiz Mistress") including this question in the trivia contest: “What local web site referred the most traffic to Northfield.org during 2009?”
[show_avatar email=tim@kymnradio.net]We’re looking for your input on what you consider ‘local.’ KYMN has put together a quick 10-question anonymous survey that asks you questions pertaining to your views and habits in the local Northfield community and marketplace. Our findings will be shared with city government. Voice your opinion.
[show_avatar email=tim@kymnradio.net]KYMN is proud to launch “Snowday Email Alert”. We’ll keep you up to date during weather events by sending you emails throughout the day as news happens and closings are called into the station. Just submit your email and we’ll be on top of it for you. Relax and know that you’ll get an email if schools close, business shut their doors, or any weather related breaking news happens during winter snow events.
Your email address will be used for only this purpose. Opt out any time. You will need to click in the email that is sent to your inbox after subscribing.
Our radio show/podcast guest yesterday: KYMN Radio’s operations and sales guy, Tim Freeland, talking with us about how Northfield area retailers can make use of social media for marketing.
I spent a couple hours yesterday afternoon with the Carleton students who are in the journalism class that’s publishing Pressville… which I took to task last week (Pressville stories miss the new journalism boat). One student asked me if I had similar criticisms of the Northfield News. Oh yeah.
I had an email exchange with Publisher Sam Gett and Regional Editor Jaci Smith last June, asking them, for the record, what their policy was on linking to area websites from articles on their website, as well as including web addresses in articles in the print edition. Here’s the transcript:
Tim Freeland has a post on the KYMN blog, asking listeners to take a 30-second survey:
For the love of radio…we need your help. Please take a 30 second listener survey. It will help us maintain great local programming for another 40 years…at least.
Cannon Falls-based whimsical artist Bryan Moon (see his James-Younger gang ‘cats’ painting) was a guest on KYMN’s Wayne Eddy Affair yesterday morning. In my photo, Bryan’s holding up a collection of dog tags, as he’s a co-founder of MIA Hunters, whose mission is to "… seek to locate and aid in the return of lost World War II American airhen bringing them back for burial here in the U.S." The audio of Wayne’s interview with Bryan is not yet posted on the KYMN blog but should be shortly.
I got this email from Nancy Soth this week about Charter Cable:
Charter, to non-digitalized, non-bundled customers has taken off two important channels, while retaining most "trash television". These channels are: (continued)
Today’s Northfield News has a story titled, Community Resource Bank move on hold. In July, the paper ran a story titled, Bank moving south on Division, and included a photo with the caption “The building at 618 Division St., pictured here in 2008 with co-owner Randy Lutz, will soon be the new home to the downtown Community Resource Bank.” A July 31 editorial stated “An opportunity arose this week in the form of Community Resource Bank deciding to relocate to the Phoenix Building at 618 Division St.” (continued)
I was stunned to see this Strib photo accompanying the story on pre-Vikings game partying, titled Party Purple. The text with the photo includes: "Cindy Bradley whetted patrons’, Jason Staads, whistles with free shots."
I think it’s irresponsible for the Strib to glamorize this type of rapid consumption of alcohol, as if drinking to get drunk is a normal, fun thing to do. Jeesh.
Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin (AKA ‘Regi’) was featured on The Story last week in a piece titled The Fight to Farm. (The Story is distributed by American Public Media (APR), the parent of MPR.)
Although a lot of what came out in The Story was about some of my encounters with racism and discrimination, all of those events happened before I moved to Northfield…
I took this photo of Regi last Saturday while he was having coffee at the GBM with Greg Carlson, Justin Stets, and Rick Estenson.
john george: Peter- I’ll be glad to do that, if I can figure out how. I’m technologically challenged, to say the least.
Peter Seebach (Seebs): John, that sounds lovely. I will try to remember to call. If I don’t, ping me (email is usually good for reaching me) to remind me, because I have a really bad memory for things I was going to do.
john george: Peter- I was just thinking that I would enjoy a cup of coffee with you sometime. You can ask Grifff- I don’t bite! My days off are Monday & Tuesday. I’ve bee a little tied up recently with new grandchildren being born...
Peter Seebach (Seebs): I think we are probably pretty close to agreement on that one. One of my hobbies is nudging things along to get people out of some of the various poverty loops. It is amazing how little money it takes to move someone from...
Peter Seebach (Seebs): A clarifying note: Consequences of Gay Marriage. No one is proposing making homosexuality a civil right. Marriage is already a civil right, and gays are already a protected class for discrimination purposes in most cases....
Curt Benson: Hvistendahl’s strange request for omerta from the Rescue Squad’s auditors doesn’t seem so strange today, after Suzy Rook’s NFN article: http://www.southernminn.com/no rthfield_news/news/article_...
Griff Wigley: Props to the newspaper and Suzy Rook for mentioning LoGro twice in the story: Fire Department officials, including Fire Chief Gerry Franek, did not respond to several requests from the News for association financial records or...
Griff Wigley: Posted to Northfield News at 1pm: Ethical questions arise over Northfield Fire Relief Association expenses Donations made to Northfield Fire Relief Association aren’t public dollars, but that hasn’t extinguished city...
Griff Wigley: Curt/Robert, There’s a summary of the Rescue Squad on Page 21 of the 2009 NFD report to the City. It doesn’t mention that there’s a Rescue Squad Association. The last paragraph states: The Northfield Rescue Squad is...
Robert Palmquist: If Hvistendahl’s motivation was to keep the financials from getting known, his submitting a memo like that just really backfired. I agree, why would these financials be such a secret??? And why did the NRSA hire a lawyer to...
Griff Wigley: Today’s Nfld News: Rescue Squad’s agreement with speedway concerns Northfield leaders The consultant’s June 2011 report to the city found that the three city employees who also serve on the Rescue Squad were being...
kiffi summa: I’m known… or thought to be… pretty tough on ‘doing the right thing’, i.e. as much transparency as possible. But I don’t require, or even feel the need of any more info from the Fire Relief Assn; I...
Griff Wigley: Nfld News editorial: Public, city of Northfield deserve transparency by Fire Relief Association It doesn’t appear that the Relief Association has done anything illegal, as the organization is not required to release documents to city...
Griff Wigley: Suzy Rook has a sidebar to today’s Nfld News update on last night’s Council meeting. Excerpt: The city administrator and finance director say they have asked for the information on several occasions, including last month...
Barry Cipra: Hayes, I agree. I remember thinking Wallace’s work would fit wonderfully well in Northfield’s historic downtown.
Hayes Scriven: Barry, that is great idea! It pulls together both history and art!
Barry Cipra: A few years ago I saw a striking sample of sidewalk art in San Antonio, Texas (whose River Walk, I understand, was cited as a model for Northfield’s own stretch along the Cannon). An artist there named Anne Wallace took a...
Curt Benson: If this is an ongoing project, I would suggest sandblasting the poetry into the existing concrete with the next round. This is not difficult. One could have the sandblasting stencil mask cut at a sign shop, like Graphic Mailbox. I bet...
Hayes Scriven: Griff, the money the Arts and Culture Commission got from SEMAC is to go for projects like this! That is why the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment was passed! Now, yes there are some programing projects I have heard bout that I...
Tom Kotula: Despite rumors you may have heard to the contrary, I have not thrown my hat into the ring.
Sean Hayford Oleary: I was glad to hear Erica Zweifel is running again. She’s done an excellent job and has advocated well for her ward. I’m eager to see some filings for mayor.
Griff Wigley: Good turnout last night for the Cannon Valley Mountain Bike Team meeting at the high school. I’ve blogged a summary with the ppt presentations.
Griff Wigley: Jordan Osterman, the new Sports Editor for the Northfield News, scooped me on Saturday. I’m glad! Northfield high school mountain bike team forming As a club sport, mountain biking would have no official affiliation with either...
Griff Wigley: Good suggestion, Curt. I’ll do that for next week’s blurb. I have been verbally emphasizing the importance of having girls on the team, especially since their points on race days count more than boys’ points. Other...
Curt Benson: Hey Griff, I wonder if you shouldn’t put a bit more emphasis on the idea that you’re recruiting both boys and girls for this team. And that the scores for both the boys and girls make up a team score. I think that in the...
Griff Wigley: It should be noted that this team does not yet exist! So this meeting is for those student-athletes (and their parents) who might be interested in joining this new team.
john george: Living where we do, it is only a few blocks walk to North Street and a grand view of the sunsets. Also, with our neighbors’ mature white pines & spruce, our covered deck affords outdoor enjoyment with a fair amount of...
Jim Haas: Happens to me a lot. So much that my lovely wife had to coin a term for it: she says I have datelexia.
norman butler: Since coming to my adopted country 16 years ago I have observed, amongst other things, that not putting the day with the date is both common and peculiar to Northfield (MN? USA?).
John Thomas: Just a reminder, advance tickets for Girls Night Out 2012 can be purchased on The Grand’s website at http://www.thegrandnorthfield. com/public-events. Your tickets will then be available at a special “Will Call” at...
Liz Reppe: This is a great place to buy plants! Jeni is very knowledgeable and they are both really helpful. You get great service and plant expertise, but the prices are not higher than other places in town.
bill metz: While most of how Jake is being remembered revolves around, and rightly so, his great and wonderful talent as an artist and teacher and the works of sculpture he has left for our and the next generations enjoyment, I have had the...
Ross Currier: It was an honor for me and the NDDC to work with Jake. His pieces of sculpture in our community send a powerful visual message that Northfield is an Art Town. I still marvel at his clever and creative approach to building social and...
paul krause: The memorial service will be held at 11am. Doors to the Chapel will open at 10am for a chance to visit with family members and friends to share memories of our dear friend. Anyone who would like to view the documentary Harvest (which...
kiffi summa: Come on, Griff… you say you’re “more than a little clueless about about investments” but you “just happened to notice”… and from what you said, were reading analytically, etc etc… Once...
Griff Wigley: I’m more than a little clueless about investments but I noticed on page 14 in the April 24 Council packet that the Fire Relief Association has 85% of its pension portfolio in stocks. Isn’t that a bit risky/aggressive for...
Griff Wigley: Has there been any media reporting on the intergovernmental meeting in Bridgewater Township that was held on April 25 re: the Rural Fire Protection District and the City of Northfield?
Vicki Serreno: I wish I’d known – this is my neighborhood since I left Northfield in 2010. I’d have shown up to support them.
Kathie Galotti: My neighbor and sometimes babysitter Maggie Kennedy appears in this video as well! Go Maggie, and Cliff and Sophie and Parker and everyone else! Well done, guys!
Sandy Vesledahl: Thanks for blogging our garage sale Griff! We are at 2018 Jefferson Rd, Suite 1, thanks to the Jasnoch Family for allowing us to use the space. We will be there until 5:00 today and again from 8-2 on Saturday. We’ve had a...
Bright Spencer: I have an 8 year old dog that has not been neutered, has not reproduced and never been out unleashed except in our yard. It costs nothing to care for your pet properly.
Arlen Malecha: I wish more establishments had outdoor seating & dining. Now that our offices (Coldwell Banker South Metro www.CBSouthMetro.com are downtown, I love to see people sitting and dining outside. It is fun to walk up and down...
Anonymous comments on the Northfield News website
[show_avatar email=kiffisumma@gmail.com]I have been for several years, and continue to be, seriously opposed to the Northfield News practice of allowing anonymous comments on their website.
You might ask, ”Why? How seriously does anyone take comments to which a person does not care to attach their name?”
My answer is this: Some people take those anonymous comments seriously enough to bring some of that defamatory material, mis-representations of fact, outright lies, etc., to this opinion based community discussion, thereby convoluting the discussion in a way which, I believe, is a detriment to community relationships.
Griff gets angry with me if I refer to the Northfield News’s anonymous commenters, and says they are not relevant simply because of their anonymity and being “off-site” , even if they relate to a current subject thread on Locally Grown.
I disagree, strenuously.
There is no journalistic purpose served by allowing anonymous comments; the ‘gossip’ factor drives hits to their website, which then encourages advertising sales.
A good portion of their website comments do not deal with being for or against an issue brought forward by an article in the print version of the newspaper; instead they are personal attacks meant to harm, if not actually libel; they are often attached to an article to which there is no relevant content link.
Example: A few weeks ago a rash of escalating offensive comments were attached to various articles, including one to that week’s City Administrator’s Memo. The one attached to the administrator’s memo was removed, and an admonition (citing lack of relevance to the city memo as reason for removal) was posted from Jaci Smith, the Northfield News Editor; however, all the other comments were allowed to remain in place.
Anonymous comments allowed on newspaper websites have been the subject of some spirited debate. What do you think is their impact in our community?