Ed Kuhlman is back from his trip to Greece and promptly violated my personal space yesterday with a hug in my morning neighborhood office space at GBM.
His wife Barbara warned me but alas, not even a fist bump could deter him.
Last week, Robbie and I had breakfast with Northfield newcomers Rebecca Bliss and her husband Don Hasseltine (new VP of External Relations at Carleton).
When I told their young daughters about the spooky old tree in the Arb, they alerted me to a spooky tree they discovered in the Upper Arb that "only creaks when people walk by."
So with moms and dogs in tow, we paid the tree a visit on Tuesday and sure enough, it creaked just loud enough for a hearing impaired geezer to hear. Freaky.
I’d like to give the print to the one of the families whose kids appear in the photo.
I took the photos of these kids (two more above) at the model railroad train display at the Northfield Library during the 2009 Winter Walk (album here).
The Boys of the Goodbye Blue Monday, 6 AM Edition, fattened up on scrumptious coffeecake last Sunday to help Patsy Ophaug celebrate her 60th birthday. Then earlier today I noticed the Grand Event Center‘s marquee proclaiming, "Believe it! Patsy is 60 today." Same Patsy? I’ve no idea, but let’s assume so unless someone whines.
Brenton’s tweets and blog posts are personable, often opinionated, and cover many different topics but nearly always linked somehow to Northfield and his life as a husband, dad, rink rat, store manager, part-time preacher, kids baseball coach, and many other roles. He’s an occasional commenter here on LoGro and his blog posts often appear on Northfield Patch.
WCCO News recently aired a Good Question segment about breastfeeding in public as a result of a Texas woman’s nationwide call to for a "nurse-in" at Target stores after she said she was humiliated by Target employees.
The segment reminded me of a blog post I wrote in July 2006 (Pornography yes – Breastfeeding no – Are We Serious?) on the hypocrisy and idiocy of the fact that our nation accepts and promotes the normalcy and legitimacy of pornography, and yet demands nursing mothers sit in dirty bathrooms and closet spaces to feed their infants just so passerby’s aren’t exposed to the slightest embarrassment of having to see a sliver of a breast performing its most natural function.
A simple mantra has guided me through the darkest bouts of autocerebral asphyxiation: You don’t have to believe everything you think. I know, right??
If you are having trouble uploading positive images to your ego satellites, here is a great tactic: Ignore your fucking brain altogether.
It doesn’t mean to lead you in bad directions! It’s just that, unless properly trained, it usually takes into account only your short-term happiness. “Get drunk in the morning!” “Eat 50 Chocodiles” “Instead of working, you could masturbate!”
These are all examples of things that will bring you only microbursts of temporary happiness but could have negative long-term effects. You can simply say to yourself, “I hear what you’re saying, brain, but I choose to ignore you.”
If your brain rages beyond that, you can diffuse it by acknowledging its request and explaining in detail why it could be devastating were you to honor it. Be smarter than your brain.
That’s not only hilarious, it’s psychologically and spiritually brilliant.
Are there therapists in Northfield who would agree? Are there members of Northfield’s clergy who would agree?
Last week I met up with them at GBM because Leslie has just had her middle grade novel, The Howling Vowels, published by the Do Life Right publishing house. Description:
Welcome to Sundog, Minnesota! When homeschooled, Norse-myth-obsessed Alexa Stevens moves from New York City, she doesn’t know what to expect. What is a small town like? Explore a new landscape with Alexa as she observes wolves in the wild and forms a close pack of friends.
Leslie will be doing a reading/book signing on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the Northfield Public Library.
And you can buy the book right in downtown Northfield at Monkey See Monkey Read. I stopped by to make sure proprietor Jerry Bilek has the book in stock. Proof:
Northfielder Gene Ganske has been a GBM regular for many years. He and his wife Roberta were treated to a breakfast send-off last week (quiche courtesy of Maggie O’Dell), as they’re departing Northfield for Mankato to be closer to family.
As it turned out, we didn’t even talk religion so violence wasn’t an issue. We kept to non-controversial topics, like politics. We had fun, as you can see. So no worries. Move along now. Nothing to see here.
Today was Abby Benson’s last day at Goodbye Blue Monday where she’s worked for over three years. Proprietors Dan Riggins and Katherine Dominguez along with several of her co-workers gave her a little send-off this morning. The 2011 St. Olaf grad is also known to the Northfield community for her work with STOGROW and the SEEDS Farms (see this Relish.com article about her). She’s heading to Portland, OR for a life of quiet desperation productive and satisfying experience doing who-knows-what.
I know her dad, Marty Benson, from playing racquetball and her mom, Jean Callister-Benson from way back when she worked at the Y in Faribault. As parents, they are reportedly thrilled that they no longer have Abby’s expensive mouth to feed proud that Abby’s launching her life as a full-fledged adult.
Northfielders Jeff and Leanne Stremcha have created a legacy fund in honor of their son Shea who would have turned 26 years old today. This flyer, Honoring Shea Stremcha: a Lasting Legacy (PDF), has the details:
The fund will support community building with emphases on improving financial literacy and support for the arts—goals that were important to Shea. We hope the fund can become a permanent legacy of Shea’s generous spirit.
We would be especially honored to have family and friends consider making contributions to Shea’s Legacy Fund as part of their annual charitable giving as a way to help remember Shea.
Jeff and Leanne also want to make available the text of the eulogy (PDF) delivered by Shea’s brother Jesse.
To help mark the occasion of our beloved Shea’s 26th birthday this Friday, his parents and siblings invite all of Shea’s family and friends to reflect, in some personal way, on how he touched their lives.
To help us remember and honor him, we have decided to publish the eulogy delivered by his brother, Jesse, at Shea’s remembrance and burial service on July 26.
Special thanks for including photos of our friend, Bob Lampe, a soldier who went through hell in WW ll. How many times Lampe told me about the horrors of the Battle of the Bulge. He is in very poor health nowadays, as you know, so it was endearing to see the proud old soldier, one who surely deserves our honor and gratitude.
I confirmed with Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post 4393 Commander Bill Murphy that it was Pete Grossman with Bob Lampe in the series of photos. I also spoke with Bob’s son Robbie Lampe and his wife Lynne Lampe who are staying with Bob at his house here in Northfield.
See also the Wikipedia entry on the Battle of the Bulge: "For the Americans, with about 500,000 to 840,000 men committed and some 70,000 to 89,000 casualties, including 19,000 killed,the Battle of the Bulge was the largest and bloodiest battle that they fought in World War II."
I’m trying to find a copy of an article about Bob’s WW II experiences that appeared in a regional publication a couple of years ago. I’ll post it here when I find it.
Former Northfielders (and country singer-songwriters) Johnny Western and Marilyn Sellars came back to their hometown last Sunday night to join the community in a celebration of Maggie Lee’s 90th birthday.
Scott Richardson composed the words to "The Ballad of Maggie Lee," (sung to the tune of Rawhide):
Rolling, Rolling, Rolling Keep those presses rolling Keep those presses rolling Maggie
News and information Your readers are waiting Hungry for what you’ve got to say.
City Council’s steaming School board is dreaming Opinion is what is you try to sway.
Get the news, make it sing, type it up, paste it up Turn the press, hit the street, Maggie Eat a bite, check the mail, pet the cat, get some sleep Back to work Back to work, Maggie
Clicken, clicken, clicken Keep those keyboards clicken Keep those keyboards clicken, Maggie
Always deadlines loomin’ No time for snoozin’ PMTs are still an hour away
That waxer is cloggin’ Photon lens is foggin’ Why can’t those writers make some hay!
Get the news, make it sing, type it up, paste it up Turn the press, hit the street, Maggie Eat a bite, check the mail, pet the cat, get some sleep Back to work Back to work, Maggie
Strolling, Strolling, Strolling Division she is strolling Division she is strolling, Maggie
Broomball shoes protect her The cart is her collector Gathering news and goods she finds on sale.
Shops and keepers need her Her stories they are feeders She never tires of telling Northfield’s tales
Get the news, make it sing, type it up, paste it up Turn the press, hit the street, Maggie Eat a bite, check the mail, pet the cat, get some sleep Back to work Back to work, Maggie
Purple, purple, purple What’s the deal with purple? Why’s it always purple, Maggie
First a fashion respite, Now her fans expect it. Regal in every swish and sway.
Accessorizin’s easy Oft’ a wee bit cheesy Now you know the secret so they say.
Get the news, make it sing, type it up, paste it up Turn the press, hit the street, Maggie Eat a bite, check the mail, pet the cat, get some sleep Back to work Back to work, Maggie
When he gets back home, I typically see him early Sunday mornings at the GBM where he grabs some grub with his daughter Abbi. Since I sign about as well as I speak Chinese, we have to write notes back and forth.
But last Sunday, when he and Abbi cruised into town on his BMW G 650 Xcountry, I discovered that Abbi could interpret. I’ve never had the experience of an extended one-to-one conversation before with someone who’s deaf. What a treat to have an interpreter and an excellent one at that.
About half way into our conversation, it occurred to me that I was talking to and looking at Abbi even though I was trying to interact with Sean. I stopped and asked for the correct protocol. Sean whacked me upside the head politely and said that it’s best to look at/talk to him. Duh.
Sean and his wife Anna own and operate Northfield’s first bicycle company, Rawland Cycles.
A Norwegian TV crew was in Northfield last week, doing a background piece on former Northfielder and Ole Bjorn Carlson. Bjorn was one of four Norwegian American singles selected for a new Norwegian reality TV series about single Norwegian-Americans "looking for love." I got alerted to this by a buddy of mine, Bjorn’s dad Barry Carlson, who works as a Senior Development Officer at St. Olaf.
The four Norwegian American singles will be presented on Norwegian TV in an episode this May. Norwegian singles looking for love can then log on to the show website and send a date-request to one of the Norwegian Americans, and write a little bit about why they want to date this person or upload a video of themselves.
The single Norwegian Americans will then each select eight single Norwegians they want to get to know better. Those Norwegian singles will be flown to the U.S and will go on dates in the Norwegian Americans’ hometowns. The Norwegian singles will the be voted off, one by one. Finally, the Norwegian Americans will have to choose which of the singles they want to be with. Will they find true love?
The Fond Farewell Party for Patsy Dew at the Arts Guild this past Friday night (9-22) was great fun. Patsy has left her position of Program Director at the Guild, and after 15 years of her work you can bet there were lots of people with stories to share and tributes to make. Some theater folks did a surprise reprise of one of Patsy’s theater roles, and another group put together a slide show of some of her moments on stage as actor or director. There were dance performances, limericks and poetry, lots of good food and fun. Here are some pics!
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.
Ole Gus DeMann, one of the early morning baristas at GBM, ran the Boston Marathon last week. Unfortunately, he lost. Big time.
Not only did he not finish in the top ten, he got beat by 372 other runners, finishing at 2:45.46. To put that in perspective, that’s nearly 3/4 of an hour behind the winner, which is about the time it would take me to leisurely stroll from downtown Northfield to his hometown of Dundas and back.
The Northfield VFW hosts a benefit for the family of Don Mills this Saturday. Don passed away in February after battling cancer, leaving behind wife Shannon and three children, Taylor, Christopher and Landon…
Saturday’s benefit will feature a variety of activities, including a spaghetti dinner at 5:00, a beer bash at 6:00 and a Texas Hold ‘em tournament that begins at 8:00. There will also be a silent auction starting at 4:00. If you’d like to make a cash donation to the family, you can do so at the First National Bank of Northfield. The benefit gets underway Saturday at the Northfield VFW.
23-year old Northfielder Max Henson died last week from injuries sustained at work the week before. The Benson & Langehough obituary includes this:
He attended Northfield Schools, graduating in 2008. Most recently he was working at Drink Restaurant in the Uptown area of Minneapolis, where on March 23rd, he sustained a traumatic brain injury while protecting a co-worker with an unruly patron. Max was loving, helpful, caring and strong. He enjoyed his friends and was an avid football fan.
He recently moved home to help care for his mother. Max was active in helping people recover from addiction. Max was a longtime member of the Youth Board and The Key (Northfield Union of Youth) and was attending Minneapolis Community Technical College (MCTC) – studying economics and photography.
At no time was his loving, caring nature more apparent than when he reached out to those who were trying to kick their opiate addiction. His mother, Sarah Henson, takes great pride in knowing that her son was responsible for getting others into treatment.
Max Henson’s willingness to give extended even after his death Tuesday. As an organ donor, doctors have told the family he can help 40 to 60 others.
Jane McWilliams: Griff – I think the poetry project is a good investment. As you see from the quote below from the Streetscape Task Force page on the city web site, money comes from the Master Development Fund which is designated for...
kiffi summa: To follow up on Peter’s You Tube video recommendation, read the May 12th article in the New York Times (search archives) entitled “Harming the Troops”. Republicans on the Armed Services Committee, led by Rep. Todd...
Griff Wigley: I’ve removed those 5 ‘orphaned’ comments that were mucking up the hierarchy. All’s good now?
Peter Seebach (Seebs): John, someone forwarded me a thing which helps explain why I do not believe the current situation provides adequate legal protections: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =ah4ke16g1DI Watch that, and then tell me with a straight...
Peter Seebach (Seebs): California in general has very high rates of “drug use”. And frankly, there is no place in the US that can be meaningfully called “very accepting” to gays. More accepting than others, sure. Why, I...
David Henson: Peter, you have the Internet you do the research. Use San Francisco as a baseline (an accepting place) – gays there have very high rates of depression and drug use.
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.
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...
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...
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...
Curt Benson: So Hvistendahl has found another place to wet his beak. You ask a good question, “Why is it important that the City not know the Northfield Rescue Squad Association financials?”
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?
Jim Mangan: I noticed this morning that a few of the newly planted trees along South Highway 3 have a pronounced lean. Could it be storm damage?
Ross Currier: It’s great that someone is enhancing the connection between downtown and uptown. I know they coordinated their work with MNDoT, City staff, and the Streetscape Task Force. Uh, raise your trowels in a toast to the 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!
Peter Seebach (Seebs): Heh, we had those when I was in college. Guess we’re making progress, they’re starting years earlier now!
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.
Bright Spencer: To see this makes me so happy! Best of luck to you!
Peter Seebach (Seebs): For what it’s worth, I’m pretty happy with the whole process so far, although we found exciting new things out about the land development code, such as “the rules for calculating how tall a building is for...
Peter Seebach (Seebs): Not a hot tub, a swimming pool. One of those backyard pools you can get at k-mart, and the greenhouse is so we can use it a couple months earlier in spring and later in fall.
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...
Sean Hayford O'Leary: I would say the current configuration of Division Street makes me grateful not everyone is doing it. Sidewalk dining brings a lot of livelihood to the street — but I’ll admit that I’ve been occasionally...
Griff Wigley: Rebecca, there are several Northfield eating and drinking establishments that have outdoor dining with tables and chairs, serving alcohol, but not SIDEWALK dining. Downtown ones that come to mind: The Tavern, Chapati, The Cow, Froggy...
Rebecca Bliss: Timely post, Griff -I didn’t realize this. I was just commenting to my husband about how nice it would be to dine al fresco now that the weather is getting warmer. Guess this is another discovery for the new...
Back in 2008, I blogged about 
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