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By Griff Wigley, on April 24, 2011, 7:25 am
 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.
He’s evidently going to try again next year, according to this article in the Northfield News.
See the pre-race hype about Gus in this article on the St. Olaf news site: Boston Bound.
By Griff Wigley, on February 25, 2011, 10:41 pm
Nfld Patch (story and photos): Northfield Gymnasts Hit 150, Defend State Crown
All season long, the Northfield gymnastics team has been in search of its goal score of 150—on Friday night in the state Class AA championship meet, the Raiders got it when they needed it the most.
In scoring a 150.4 on the floor of the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion, Northfield edged runner-up Roseville by just three-tenths of a point to claim its second-straight state title.
 Nfld News: State champs, yet again
Nfld News video
Star Tribune
Pioneer Press: Northfield beats Roseville by 0.3
MSHL results PDF:
By Griff Wigley, on January 17, 2011, 7:13 am
Robbie and I strapped on our 40-year old Vermont Tubbs wooden snowshoes on Saturday afternoon and went for a short trek in lower Arb along Spring Creek.
   
We had to contend with hordes of pesky cross country skiers like the above hotshots, Amy Boxrud and her main squeeze, Doug Bratland. We ended with drinks in front of the fireplace at the Contented Cow.
See the album of 14 photos, the large slideshow (recommended), or this small slideshow:
By Griff Wigley, on January 8, 2011, 11:26 pm
  
I went to get my skates sharpened this morning at the Northfield Ice Arena and discovered that the Northfield Hockey Association is hosting the Jesse James Showdown Peewee A Hockey Tournament this weekend. (Peewee boys, ages 11–12.) Teams from Northfield, Faribault, St. Paul Como, Red Wing, Orono, Fremont NE, Austin, and Tartan are participating.
Cheryl Buck (right photo, center) is the Northfield Raiders PeeWee Team Manager. She’s also has duties as the President of the Laura Baker Services Association Board of Trustees while performing a few tasks as Director of sponsor relations for PRMIA.
By Griff Wigley, on January 4, 2011, 11:40 am
  
 
On Sunday night, two snowmobiles went through Hidden Valley Park where it abuts the back yards of the Valley Pond townhouses on the south edge of the pond. They then cut through the back yards of two of our neighbors. I took the above photos of the snowmobile tracks yesterday afternoon.
Robbie phoned the Northfield Police Department’s non-emergency number to report the incident. The person she spoke mentioned that city ordinance did allow for snowmobile use within the city limits to get to and from designated snowmobile trails. So I checked the Northfield municipal code and found out that it’s pretty restrictive. These sleds were definitely in violation:
Sec. 78-207. – Unlawful operation.
It is unlawful for any person to operate a snowmobile, for recreational purposes, within the city, except as provided in section 78-208.
(Code 1986, § 735:05)
Sec. 78-208. – Lawful operation.
It shall be lawful to operate a snowmobile within the city only when:
(1) Traveling to or from designated snowmobile trails on roadways designated to travel to and from designated snowmobile trails. Those roadways are Maple Street, Ames Street, Jefferson Road, roadways which run parallel to any railroad tracks and any roadway that is the most direct route to such streets, on the ditch bottom or outside of trunk county state aid and county highways when highways are within the city;
(2) Operating at speeds not to exceed 20 miles per hour; and
(3) Obeying all motor vehicle laws and ordinances.
In the three years we’ve lived here, this is the first time this has happened, to my knowledge.
Is anyone else experiencing problems with snowmobiles within the city limits?
Any members of the Waterford Warriors Snowmobile Club reading this blog who could comment about the club’s rider education and self-policing efforts?
By Griff Wigley, on December 27, 2010, 8:42 am
Kids of all ages were crashing and burning while sledding on Old Main Hill at St. Olaf yesterday afternoon.
See the album of 18 photos, the large slideshow (recommended), or this small slideshow:
By Griff Wigley, on December 20, 2010, 7:38 am
By Griff Wigley, on October 30, 2010, 11:46 pm
By Griff Wigley, on October 13, 2010, 4:02 pm
 I got to know Dale Snesrud when the local racquetball club opened up in the late 70s (now called the Northfield Athletic Club.) Dale and his sons were avid players and got so into the sport that he and son Kyle eventually bought the club. Northfield has more racquetball players per capita than anywhere in the state and much of that is due to the enthusiasm that Dale, his sons and grandsons brought to the sport. They’ve since sold the club but still make it their racquetball home away from home.
I last blogged here about Dale in 2007 when he wrote an eloquent heroin-related letter to the Northfield News titled ‘Holy Discontent.’
 Dale’s losing his battle with cancer and his son Kyle and grandson Elliot have organized a tournament in his honor called The "Oh Dale" Racquetball Invitational and silent auction.
I stopped by his house this morning to take his photo. As you can see, although he’s lost weight and is in a lot of pain, he still has that same mischievous smile.
Here’s Elliot’s letter with the details:
Continue reading A tribute to Dale Snesrud
By Griff Wigley, on October 7, 2010, 9:37 pm
 I took this aerial photo of Memorial Park in Dundas during the Sept. flooding. It’s the home park for the Dundas Dukes Class B amateur baseball club.
(Someone has posted six more photos of the flooded field in an album on the Dukes’ Facebook page.)
I got this email from former Dundas Dukes manager Bill Nelson earlier this week: Continue reading Help the Dundas Dukes clean up Memorial Park on Saturday, Oct 9
By Griff Wigley, on July 25, 2010, 10:10 am
  
Cycle America’s coat-to-coast bicycle tour came to Northfield (from Hutchinson, the last leg of the Mighty Rivers segment) last night and many of the participants were spending money in the coffeeshops of downtown Northfield this morning, including the Goodbye Blue Monday.
Today is a day of rest so they’ll be camped one more night in town, most of them at the Northfield High School. Tomorrow, the tour’s Heartland Patchwork segment takes them east to Cannon Falls on Hwy 19 where they’ll take the Cannon Valley Trail to Red Wing and then on to Pepin, WI.
Former Northfielder Don Haugo founded Cycle America many years ago. He sold the company back in the 90s. Anyone know where he is now?
By Griff Wigley, on July 11, 2010, 8:03 am
The wall outside the Town Ball Tavern at Target Field features old photos of amateur baseball teams from all over the state.I took these photos when I attended my first Twins game there last weekend.
  
The town ball wall includes a photo of the 1982 Class B Champion Dundas Dukes. (The story of that year is featured on the this Dundas Dukes tournament history page.)
There are 17 people in the photo, 9 in the back row, 8 in the front row. The only one I’m sure of is Bill Nelson, back row, 6th from the left.
Other players mentioned who played on the teams of the early 80s: Doug Fuchs, Larry Johnson, Dave Howie, Jim Fuchs, Doug Fuchs, Terry Johnson, Davie Howie, Rick Sviggum, Jim Sviggum, Steve Sviggum, Don Freeman, Dick Grass, Bob Klefsaas, Robert Weber, Pete Maus, Jay Olson, Lew Olson.
Let’s see if we can identify all the players in that photo. Attach comments please.
Update 11:15 PM: Former Dundas Dukes manager Bill Nelson emailed me the names of everyone in the photo, including two people from the edges of the photo who were cut off:
Back row: Rory Rice (current President of Dundas Baseball), Kevin Sevcik, Dave Howie, Scott Nelson (1988 State Tournament MVP), Terry Johnson, Bill Nelson, Larry Johnson, Lew Olson (1982 State Tournament MVP), Steve Sviggum (former Speaker of the House).
Front row: Doug Fuchs (cut in half) Steve Hildebrandt, Galen Sevcik, Batboys ? Elofson and Brian Sherwin, Dan Brodin, Dan King and Dick Sviggum.
I sent the picture in and to put it on the wall they cut off two very important figures in the Dundas story. Jim Fuchs our manager was the first person in the back row and Greg Kozulla a drafted pitcher from Burnsville that came to pitch in Dundas in 1986 was cut off from the right side of the photo.
Update 12:15 PM: Bill emailed me a color version of the photo that includes everyone on the team.
By Griff Wigley, on June 23, 2010, 10:15 am
 Gus (August) DeMann, Dundas, ran the 2010 Grandma’s Marathon in 3 hours 1 minute last weekend, faster than anyone in the area (Dundas, Northfield, and who knows how many townships.)
I caught him running behind the counter at GBM this morning.
By Griff Wigley, on May 20, 2010, 7:33 am
By Griff Wigley, on May 19, 2010, 7:31 am
  
Summer softball leagues have begun. I stopped by Babcock Park last night to take a few photos.
Last year, nearly 600 adults participated in softball according to this report by the Northfield Public Schools Community Services Division.
By Griff Wigley, on May 17, 2010, 7:33 am
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 May 8, 2010, 7:11 am
  Bonnie McKown stopped by my morning office at the GBM yesterday to ask me to promote the 1st Annual Northfield Table Tennis Open that her son, Patrick McKown, has organized.
I refused, insisting that he show up himself and pay his respects, bastard that I am. Alas, he arrived this morning at 6:30 and gave me the pitch.
 Patrick has confirmed that many of the best table tennis players in the state will be competing. He’s not too shabby himself, apparently. See his ranking.
 The non-sanctioned event (see the PDF registration form), held next Saturday May 15 at the Northfield Middle School, is sponsored by the Northfield Senior Center in part because they have a very active group of table tennis players led by Russ Margulies.
For more, see the Table Tennis Minnesota website and Facebook page.
By Griff Wigley, on April 24, 2010, 7:37 am
  Tricadecathlonomania (trica) is an annual, worldwide 24-hour scavenger hunt that began here in Northfield ten years ago.
More at Trica 2010 – Trica*DECADE*thlonomania.
It started at midnight and goes all day today.
By Griff Wigley, on March 6, 2010, 12:46 am
A multi-course, pay-to-play, disc golf complex called Castle Rock Disc Sports will open this spring in Castle Rock, about 10 minutes north of Northfield on Hwy 3. It will
 offer 72 holes, all designed in 9 hole loops, so a player can pick and choose which layout to play. Two of the 9 hole loops comprise one of the longest, hardest courses in the world, playing a “true par 72”. All the loops consist of rolling terrain with woods and open areas. Castle Rock will have camping on site with a full on pro shop.
 The president of Castle Rock Disc Sports is Timmy Gill, professional disc golfer (profile here) and disc course designer (Par72DiscGolf). See the article in the 2004 issue of Forbes magazine that features him titled Spin Cup.
There is a Southern Minnesota Disc Golf Association social networking site (Ning platform) where Gill is discussing the development of the complex. He’s just started posting to Twitter, too.
By Griff Wigley, on March 3, 2010, 7:19 am
  I attended the Northfield Raider Wrestling team’s pancake fundraiser at the Eagles Club on Sunday. The team heads to the 2010 State Wrestling Tournament today for the first time. That’s coach Cliff Casteel in the right photo with Joe Hargis.
 More info – Nfld News: State wrestling preview: Wrestle for each other; Star Tribune: Northfield: On to the X mat
Posted to the Northfield High School’s activities web site today:
All students, staffs and parents are invited to attend the State Tournament Recognition program. This event will start at 8:30 am sharp and is open to the public. We are honoring all State Participants this winter and those who have qualified for State.
By Griff Wigley, on February 27, 2010, 9:26 am
 Looks like the Northfield Booster Club is going to have to update its sign on the south edge of town that lists Northfield Raiders state champions.
Last night, Northfield won the Class AA gymnastics title. On the Minnesota State High School League website, 2010 State Girls’ Gymnastics Meet:
 A new champion prevailed in Class AA. Northfield emerged out of a tight pack to bring home its first title with a score of 148.325. The Raiders were in third place going into the final rotation – behind Lakeville North and Cambridge-Isanti – but recorded a meet-high 37.925 on vault to pull away with the title.
The Raiders also scored the meet’s highest score on beam, with a 37.175. On floor and bars, Northfield scored a 36.625 and 36.6, respectively. Meaghan Howell led the team on vault, 9.7, and floor, 9.475. Sveta Mason recorded the team’s highest score on beam, with a 9.55, and on bars, with a 9.475. Four of the Raiders will return to compete in Individual finals on Saturday.
Other media coverage:
Continue reading Northfield wins Class AA gymnastics title
By Griff Wigley, on February 27, 2010, 8:00 am
 I stopped by the Northfield Beef O’Brady’s on Thursday night to check in on Northfield Skating School’s Olympics party that Director Carey Tinkelenberg had organized. I was a bit late and most of the younger skaters had gone home already but the older group posed for this photo with Carey.
 Next Wed. March 3, NSS is hosting a hosting a fundraiser at Northfield Culver’s.
FYI, the home page of the Northfield Skating School (NSS) website is a blog.
Update 2/28, 7 am: Michaela McLaughlin, Assistant Director at Northfield Skating School, emailed me these four additional photos from the Olympics party:
   
By Griff Wigley, on February 20, 2010, 11:41 pm
Last week, I linked to Erin Mayberry’s blog post on Northfield.org about Community Ed and Rec’s Snowshoeing 101 class. I neglected to emphasize that they have snowshoes to rent.
I picked up two pair on Friday (unbelievable fee: $6/pair for the whole weekend) as my niece, Ellen, is visiting us from St. Paul. We spend a good chunk of Saturday afternoon in the Cannon River Wilderness Area, my favorite of the eleven Rice County Parks.
By Tracy Davis, on February 11, 2010, 2:45 pm
 I know that Griff usually has a corner on the fluff department, but I have two college-age daughters and occasionally I have to throw them a sop. They called my attention to the fact that local boy Justin Plank, bass player for Gospel Gossip, was named by VitaMN as “Male Hotness” winner. (If you haven’t heard Gospel Gossip, you may have seen Justin hanging out on on his motorcycle in front of Goodbye Blue Monday.)
This has been a public service announcement brought to you by the Committee for the Beautification of Northfield, a self-delegated, un-official subcommittee of the Streetscape Task Force.
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Ole Gus DeMann, one of the early morning baristas at GBM, ran the Boston Marathon last week. Unfortunately, he lost. Big time. 
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