Community Services « Locally Grown Northfield

Snowshoes for rent (cheap!) from Community Ed and Rec

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.

Photos: Community Youth Fairs

By Griff Wigley, on August 22, 2009, 8:54 am

I was out for a leisurely bicycle ride on Wed. night when I came upon the 7th annual Community Youth Fair(s) that was being held outside Bridgewater Elementary, hosted by the Northfield School District’s Community Services Division.

Alas, I only had time for a few photos as Mary Ho, Rhonda Pownell, and Susan Hvistendahl (L to R, center photo above) kept bothering me about the 2010 Census, even though I have it on good authority that these types of people should be avoided.

[I don't why there was no mention of this event on the Community Services Division website nor via their Key Communicator emails. Nor was there any mention of it on the Northfield HCI blog, nor the Kid Happenings Northfield Public Library blog, nor the City of Northfield calendar, nor an article or press release in the Northfield News. All I found was this Aug. 12 blog post on Northfield.org with a non-PDF flyer attached.]

The district’s Key Communicator Network: a questionable strategy

By Griff Wigley, on February 25, 2009, 2:22 pm

Rob Hardy rhetorically asked in comment #71 attached to Kathie Galotti’s guest blog post about the district calendar flap, “How can the school district make itself feel like a real community, instead of education insiders vs. outsiders?”

I’ve been invited to attend the Northfield School District’s Key Communicator Network Training on March 19 (page 1 of the 4-page mailing is on the right – click to enlarge and then click the green arrow to enlarge again), and I plan to attend. I don’t think this program is likely to help address the issue Rob raises. (continued)

Continue reading The district’s Key Communicator Network: a questionable strategy

To India and Back: Tickets on sale now for Rotary’s Youth Exchange fundraiser (8)
- Vicki Dilley: Both of our Indian restaurants in town, Chapati and Kurry Kabab, are catering the food that will be for sale at the event. Yum, Yum… Have you always wished to have your photo taken in front of the Taj? Well that night you can!
- Tom Durkin: Tickets for the Event can also be purchased at the Northfield Public Schools Community Education & Recreation Office. Also, if purchasing on the www.northfieldrotary.org website, you do not need a paypal account. A simple credit...
- Vicki Dilley: Most important right now is where you can get tickets…If you are downtown find Rick Estenson at First National bank. If you want to purchase through Paypal go to www.northfieldrotary.org The sooner you do that, the less...
- Vicki Dilley: But, we need to pack the house on February 25th to be able to support such a large Youth Exchange program. I really would hate to have someone find out after the 25th what a spectacular night they missed…only one show, one time...
- Vicki Dilley: Glad you asked, Griff. Actually in 2010 we had 15 go out and in 2011 we had 16, now we have 16 planning to leave this summer to spots all over the world. We have quite a few going to Asia this year where as the last two years we had...
Did Northfield’s Republicans vote for the wrong guy in Tuesday’s caucuses? (2)
- Griff Wigley: Kiffi, I think you failed miserably on that attempt but I’m inclined to let it go for some reason.
- kiffi summa: stage directions: said in the sweetest possible, most concerned voice, with no hint of sarcasm… “Oh dear, our ‘award winning newspaper’ has gotten something wrong again! “
Something cool is coming soon to the old Digs space on Division (7)
- Griff Wigley: Should I bring my camera, Mary?
- Mary Rossing: OPENING TODAY!! Stop down and check it out.
- Griff Wigley: Name: The Local Joint Description: A handmade and vintage collective in Northfield, MN. COLLECTING.CREATING.COLLABORAT ING. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheLoc alJoint Nfld News: Store to open in former ‘digs’ space
- David Beimers: Hmmm… fans? air conditioners? ice cream?
- Jessica Paxton: I know. But I don’t wanna spill the (cool) beans!
Two bike repair stations installed in downtown Northfield (2)
- Griff Wigley: Ross, that’s good to know about Dan. I’ll have to get on his case about not including something about this on his dormant blog! It’s also interesting to hear that your perception of City Hall is changing.
- Ross Currier: Griff - Thanks for your kind words. Credit really should go to Streetscape Task Force Member Dan Bergeson, who pursued those repair stands with great vigor. His long-time working relationship with the always excellent T. J. Heinricy...
What’s up with the Northfield Fire Department? (63)
- kiffi summa: Grff: your third paragraph above does not make a succinct argument, MO, in that Kris Vohs was expressing such feelings of being at odds with his council/city role (except for the fine work of the HRA), that he ultimately resigned,...
- kiffi summa: Griff: I was dong the LWV observing at the Council meeting you reference above; I do not recall hearing , or seeing in the packet materials, this vote by the firefighters that you reference. I, of course, could be wrong and/or just...
- kiffi summa: Griff: regardless of Mr. Madigan’s explanation, the ISO rating is awarded by the insurance company, and yes… it takes into account several factors i.e. response time etc.; however the ISO rating NF residents enjoy does not...
- Griff Wigley: Kathie, What are the FFs’ issues that have not been heard? They all had a chance to talk individually to Soldo and long before that, several spoke against the reorganization plan to the Council. They’ve been listened to,...
- Griff Wigley: In comment #26 above, Jane Moline wrote: Our fire deparment does not deserve the these attacks that appeart to be motivated by an administration that is empire-building to go along with a Taj-Mahal safety center. Jane, I’ve...
Shannon Hyland-Tassava reading Feb. 15 at Monkey See Monkey Read (1)
- Griff Wigley: Shannon has a blog titled Mama in Wonderland: notes on the chaos and delight of mothering two small girls.
Northfield needs more beaches (5)
- john george: Kathie- I knew I was sticking my neck out on that one!
- Kathie Galotti: Geez John. Don’t get Griff restarted on the geese!
- john george: Yes, more beaches would certainly accomodate more geese. We have to remember to be waterfowl friendly.
- Susan Hvistendahl: I totally agree with you re the need for more beaches in Northfield, having just returned from a week in Puerto Vallarta. Could have had rum punches there but….well, after we visited a local tequila distillery and got to...
- Bright Spencer: Oh, you both look so happy! Thanks for sharing. More pics please!
CRWP photo contest results (10)
- kiffi summa: Griff: whither goest thy right arm if it starts to “whither” (sic) ? sorry; couldn’t resist… stuck at home with a bad knee provides way too much time on computer!
- Bright Spencer: i’ve been looking thru a site, crazyguyonabike.com that has lots of journals and photos from around the world.
- jane fenton: Congrats, Griff! That’s my son Cliff in the orange hat. He’s revamped the recycling bin prototype. You should see it!
- Griff Wigley: Don, I’ll keep ping pong in mind. I’d hate to have my right arm start to whither from a lack of racquetball. In the meantime, I’m trying to excite as many Northfielders as I can about mountain biking. I’ll...
- john george: Griff- Iris will have to work real hard to keep you in focus on everything else. I shutter to think where this could go.
Author Ed Conlon helps the Wigleys survive a power outage on Vieques (1)
- Bright Spencer: nice waterscape shot!
Northfield coworking gathering is Tuesday, Jan. 31 (2)
- Megan Tsui: Edward, Sorry you weren’t able to attend. We’ll be posting notes from the meeting on the NEC website and if you send me your email, I’ll make sure you get a copy! If you (or anyone else!) would like to chat about it...
- Edward Smith: I wanted to attend this, but was unable. Does anyone know if there will be a summary posted anywhere?
Are Northfield schools helping to make students climate literate? (1)
- Kathie Galotti: My kid had a pretty decent AP Environmental Science class 2 years ago….he’s not a great math/science student, but this one got him interested in at least knowing enough science to create good policies. I remember...
Even if you exercise, it may not matter if you sit too much (4)
- Paul Zorn: A few years ago one of my daughters spent a year working in Copenhagen, largely in an office setting. All desks in her office could be raised or lowered to permit either standing or sitting positions. I have no idea whether such...
- Griff Wigley: In today’s Strib: Office-dwellers stand up to ‘sitting disease’ Dr. James Levine has reviewed the statistics: One in three Minnesota adults is either diabetic or pre-diabetic, and one in four is obese. And he thinks...
Can hockey, the sport I used to love, be saved? (31)
- Bright Spencer: The All Pro Game last Sunday between the AFC and the NFC was so enjoyable. The stess, the anger, the anxiety all gone…well I didn’t watch all of it, as I rarely do watch an entire game, usually just the beginning and...
- Griff Wigley: Today’s Strib: Hockey safety goal expanded to youth In an unprecedented mid-year change, Minnesota Hockey is toughening the penalties for checking from behind and boarding. The change will affect 40,000 hockey players in the...
Public humiliation, put downs, harsh treatment: Mayor Rossing & Councilors Vohs, Pownell unhappy with their colleagues (70)
- john george: You are correct. That is why I didn’t allow my children to attack the character of their siblings just to support their position. There do need to be some kind of ground rules in any discussion so as to keep individual...
- kiffi summa: The issue could be considered to be: what is “conflict”, and what are two sides of a discussion… see #33 re: the Mayor’s admonition to Peter Dahlen at the joint Council/ChartComm meeting. I don’t see how...
- john george: Kiffi- This is a good article, and I agree with most of it. Just thinking about my kids in their youth, there was always some conflict between them, but our goal as parents wasn’t to force them into some weiner form but to help...
- kiffi summa: A very interesting article in the Jan.30th New Yorker magazine on the nature of the dynamics of creative discussion; it’s entitled “Groupthink; the brainstorming myth”. Based on studies done by a psych professor at...
The pros and cons of having Council wards and deciding about it now (15)
- Kathie Galotti: I read Betsey’s blog and, like most of Betsey’s blog entries, found it well-written and making a very good point. Though I agree that geographic districts aren’t the only way to represent different constituencies,...
- john george: Griff- The NN editorial presents the difference between geographic representation and ideological representation. Right now, the wards establish geographic representation. With this approach, depending upon the voter turnout, a person...
- kiffi summa: I hope that people will use the link here on LG to read the current posting by Councilor Buckheit on her blog, re: wards versus all at-large, and take the opportunity to comment. Once again, the NFNews has not given a very well...
Ice circles revisited and a software/app company discovered (1)
- Brenton Balvin: Those are pretty cool.
Art plus exercise: Gretchen Falck is having a Forza! open house on Nov. 8 (1)
- Griff Wigley: In today’s NY Times: Turning to Kettlebells to Ease Back Pain Kettlebells, cast-iron weights that have been used for centuries to train Russian soldiers and athletes, appear to be a promising therapy for back and neck pain, new...
Help me Rhonda, help me get you outta my heart (1)
- Sandy Vesledahl: UPDATE ON RHONDA: We are very happy to report that Rhonda was adopted over the weekend by a local family. Rhonda’s new mom is a Family Counselor and Rhonda will be going to her office with her and helping with her clients. So...
Aldsworth Building looks ideal as a coworking space. Are there others? (12)
- Megan Tsui: Griff, The NEC is moving forward with the idea of a non-profit Coworking Incubator/Accelerator space. Megan
- Megan Tsui: What do you think? Come to the Community Dialogue and tell us! January 31st from 2 to 4 pm at the Archer House lower level conference room. Share your ideas, thoughts, and dreams about a Coworking Incubator/Accelerator space in...

Locally Grown Northfield

Membership posts

Councilor Betsey Buckheit

Nfld League of Women Voters blog

Subscribe and Follow LoGro

Snowshoes for rent (cheap!) from Community Ed and Rec

Photos: Community Youth Fairs

The district’s Key Communicator Network: a questionable strategy

Search posts, comments, pages

Current Discussion Threads

Blog Monthly Archives

Blog Category Archives

Tags