Golf course architect Paul Miller (Paul Miller Design Inc) stopped by my morning office at GBM last week with the poster of Saturday’s Singing for Haiti fundraiser at The Grand Event Center.
Paul has been involved in peace and justice work in Haiti for over a decade and is the founder of the Haiti Justice Alliance of Northfield which is hosting the event. Money raised will go to the What If? Foundation, Feed My Starving Children, and Partners in Health.
[show_avatar email=sandy.vesledahl@wigleyandassociates.com]Here at Premier Banks we are very excited to be a part of the membership of Locally Grown Northfield! We look forward to the opportunity this membership provides us to promote products and share some hopefully useful financial information with the community. We were also very excited to provide the Rice County Humane Society with a membership as well to promote their fundraising activities and programs.
Our employees are members of several non profit organizations; they are very active within the Northfield community and spend countless hours volunteering with local organizations. Some of the areas our employees are involved in are the Defeat of Jesse James Days committee, Rice County Humane Society, Northfield Historical Society, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, March of Dimes Walk for Babies, Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Leukemia/Lymphoma Society Costume for A Cure, Hearts and Hammers, Ringing Bells for Salvation Army, Basset Buddies Rescue, American Red Cross, Adopt-A-Family, Meals on Wheels, Christmas Sharing, as well as being active within area churches. Volunteering time and talents come natural to the Premier Bank team. We take pride in giving back to the community we are so privileged to serve.
If you are not familiar with the Premier Bank team, let me take this opportunity to introduce you to us! Premier Banks offers a variety of checking accounts, savings accounts and competitive CD rates, as well as Mortgages, Home Equity, and Installment Loans. Our priority at Premier Banks is to give you the personal attention you deserve. Our employees are friendly and eager to help you with all your banking needs.
We currently have 21 branch offices within several Minnesota communities to serve you. Drop by to check out what Premier Banks can do to help you with all of your financial needs or just to say hello!
Current CD Special – 2 year term, 2.45% APY, $1000 minimum (rate subject to change at any time). Member FDIC.
Dear friends at Locally Grown – The 8th annual Northfield Jingle Bell Run/Walk was held on Saturday the 12th and was a great success. We had a super turn out and early numbers indicate that as a community we raised around $3,500 for the HealthFinders Collaborative. The 2009 planning committee sincerely thanks everyone who came out to run, walk or volunteer!
Andrea Een was in promo mode yesterday at GBM, letting everyone know about the Way Park benefit concert on Saturday at First United Church of Christ. She and Theo Wee will be performing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The event also is a tribute to Wee who’s now in her 40th year as organist at First UCC.
I was out of town at a funeral on Saturday so I missed taking photos for the Susan Perry Memorial Walk for Animals. Fortunately, Castle Rock-based photographer Bridgette Hallcock was on hand to chronicle the event. I’ve put her photos into two albums in my Northfield gallery, appending Bridgette’s name to the albums (Picasaweb doesn’t allow galleries to have multiple authors).
set up your own fundraising page and then ask friends and family to donate via your page.
RCHS reminds everyone that they receive "… no tax dollars or United Way funds, and rely on donations from animal lovers like you to help us help animals."
On Tuesday, Aug 11, I had a double red cell donation appointment at 1pm at the Northfield Ballroom. When I arrived, donors were told that some supplies had not yet arrived from St. Paul and that it would be a 45 minute delay. I had other things scheduled so I departed, irritated because they have my phone number and could have alerted me. But I’m more irritated now that no one has contacted me in the month since it happened.(continued)
I phoned Gunnar Swanson this morning and yes, he’s in Faribault this morning and is finishing his 1000-mile Soldier’s March for Peace walk from Texas to Minnesota today. His ASM4P blog tells the whole story of his walk, but here are the details of his arrival today for DJJD Townie Night and the weekend:
9/10, Thursday – Northfield: 5pm Gunnar will meet Northfield high school students in parking lot of NF HS and walk the last mile with him to Bridge Square in center of Northfield for Townie Night. Northfield always throws this and there will be food and fun stuff to do. Very family oriented. Actually EVERYONE is invited to participate in this…not just highschoolers. Looks like the DJJD royalty and the James Gang will be coming too! There will be a reception in Bridge Square at 6:00pm.
9/11, Friday – Cannon Falls: 8am Gunnar and Dina will be at Cannon Falls Elementary to meet with all the students This will be amazing…don’t miss it! The entire Cannon Falls student body (pre-school through 12th graders) will gather to hear Gunnar’s and my final presentation (the one we have give to YMCA kids over the past 10 weeks) and then write letters for kids in Iraq and Afghanistan. They will also make a human tunnel from the elementary school to the high school for Gunnar to walk through..all wearing red, white and blue and holding flags. How cute! KARE-11 is coming to do a story on this as well.
9/12, Saturday – Northfield: 4:30pm Gunnar will give "the" speech near Bridge Square where the big bank robbery showdown was and will be presented with a check from VFW. Yes, this will be before the 5:00 bank raid reinactment. The VFW and American Legion Honor Guard will be holding the flags to honor Gunnar as he makes a short speech and thanks all who supported/donated. Also, the VFW will be making a donation at that time, and any other local businesses who want to make a public donation can do it then as well.
We got back in KYMN’s studio this week (new air-time 6:00 PM Mondays) and covered a bunch of local issues after a brief visit from Julie Bixby who talked about her recent participation in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure (breast cancer) in the Twin Cities. I neglected to get a photo of Julie so I stole one of her with her grandson Luke from the Cow’s website.
The Northfield Historical Society honored its 2008 volunteers of the year last Thursday night during its Volunteer Appreciation Day. Student Volunteer of the Year: Sofie Jokela. Volunteers of the Year: Chip DeMann and Earl Weinmann. See Hayes Scriven’s blog post for details on all three winners.
Bonnie McKown, Tom McKown, and Gayle Collins (click to enlarge)
There’s another triumvirate in town. Tom McKown (English teacher and Rock ‘N Roll Revival director), Bonnie McKown, and Gayle Collins (High School Media Specialist, now retired) are the big three behind the bi-annual event.
Bonnie and Gayle volunteer their time (Bonnie even takes vacation days during performance week from her job as a pediatric nurse), while Tom gets a small stipend that likely pays him the equivalent of 30 cents/hour.
5th Bridge Executive Director Candy Taylor and her husband Cliff created this volunteer thank-you display in the lobby of the Northfield Middle School, honoring this year’s Rock ‘N Roll Revival volunteers. It reads:
5th Bridge salutes the hundreds of people who have made this production possible… directors, choreographers, set designers, set builders, hair dressers, costume sewers, costume helpers, program designers, local business sponsors, concession volunteers, ushers, ticket agents, sound and lighting crew members, band members, cast members, refreshment volunteers, parent and community volunteers, and many, many more! Amazing things happen when people share their gifts and talents. Visit www.5thbridge.org to learn about local service opportunities.
Over the past few weeks, Griff and Ross and I have been talking with specific community members about the idea of becoming Contributing Bloggers on Locally Grown. A few of our new contributors have posts in the works, and we’re looking forward to the added dimension these voices will bring to our content and discussions here. Watch this space for the new bylines!
The last week in January, I interviewed three professionals who are trading their know-how for the ingenuity (and, to a certain extent, free labor) of interns from Northfield’s two colleges. One partnership has already led to an art project, transforming discarded steel breadboxes into women’s breastplate armor. And there is promise that another trade could result in two new Web sites that could help boost the careers of local ceramic artists and rock stars. Continue reading Deal or no deal? An intern story
At last week’s Manzone 2009 planning meeting, Mike Herman of Culligan got standing ovation and an award for his contributions of time and manpower for the 2008 and 2009 events. The event is being held this week on Friday, January 30 from 5-9 pm at the Community Resource Bank main branch on Hwy 3. (continued)
I got an email tip with photo that this illustrious group was meeting at The HideAway Coffeehouse and Winebar last week, concocting a civic-related scheme. L to R: Deb Carpenter, Ramona Pumper, Joyce Hoogenaker, Pat Vincent, Dan Bergeson
The Northfield mobile packing event for Feed My Starving Children, which was hosted by 5th Bridge, this past weekend, was a fabulous success. 171,072 nutritious, life saving meals, were packed by 705 Northfield volunteers and over $26,000 was donated by individuals and businesses to cover the costs of the food we packed. Simply put, 468 starving children around the world will be fed for the next year, because of the caring and generosity of Northfield residents.
5th Bridge has secured 800 Northfield-area volunteers to pack 150,000 meals and raise $22,500 for Feed My Starving Children this weekend. It all starts Friday at 11 am at the National Guard Armory and goes all day and all night through the weekend. See the press release (PDF) and the 5th Bridge FMSC page for details including who to contact if you’d like to volunteer.
Among the sponsors, contributors, and team sponsors:
Our local Circle of Service did a meal-packing stint at FMSC’s Eagan facility back in 2005. Here’s the slideshow:
kiffi summa: Griff: What’s up? “Stirring the Pot”" again? That’s a very selective quote out of an article that raises as many questions as it answers… Look at this sentence at the end of the second paragraph : ”...
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...
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...
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...
Golf course architect Paul Miller (Paul Miller Design Inc) stopped by my morning office at GBM last week with the poster of Saturday’s Singing for Haiti fundraiser at The Grand Event Center. 
On Tuesday, Aug 11, I had a 
There will be a reception in Bridge Square at 6:00pm.
While there are many 
Over the past few weeks, Griff and Ross and I have been talking with specific community members about the idea of becoming Contributing Bloggers on Locally Grown. A few of our new contributors have posts in the works, and we’re looking forward to the added dimension these voices will bring to our content and discussions here. Watch this space for the new bylines!
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