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Membership Sideblog

  • The Marcus Welby of law, by Lance Heisler | Lampe Law Group
    July 31, 2010 | 7:45 pm

    Growing up in North Dakota during the 50s and 60s, I was privileged to experience something that's all too rare now - the old-fashioned family doctor. "Doc" delivered babies, set broken bones, treated pneumonia, and helped Grandpa with his newfangled hearing aid. Doc knew the community, the families, and the individuals whose basic medical needs he treated from birth through the end of life. Some of you who grew up in that time, and perhaps in smaller communities, may remember a Doc of your own. . . . → Read More: The Marcus Welby of law, by Lance Heisler | Lampe Law Group

  • Kitty Mania at the Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
    July 28, 2010 | 10:51 pm

    Let’s talk about cats, cats and more cats! Why?? Because Prairie’s Edge Humane Society is full of cats and we have many more arriving daily. As of today, there are 44 cats on the adoption floor with more awaiting their surgeries so they are ready for adoption. There are cats in every corner of the shelter who need homes! We are in desperate need of homes for these cats. We cannot emphasize this enough. So we are having a cat sale and we are calling it Kitty Mania !

    Kitty Mania is this weekend, beginning Thursday, July . . . → Read More: Kitty Mania at the Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl

  • On Watermelons and Widgets, by Tom Swift
    July 12, 2010 | 11:50 am

    The free market does many things well, but we know it does not do everything. Even market fundamentalists concede that the public must build roads, put out fires, police streets, and provide national defense. Most people, at least those to the left of the Tea Party edge of political spectrum, accept that the government must also be involved in education, disaster relief, and health care. That is, certain services must be rendered — necessary services, universal services — whether or not those services are financially profitable. If your house is on fire, you do not have time to . . . → Read More: On Watermelons and Widgets, by Tom Swift

  • Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance, by Dan Bergeson
    July 12, 2010 | 10:56 am

    Okay, so most of the news about the Vintage Band Festival so far has been about the bands. But there’s a number of other events during the weekend. Like the VBF Contra Dance, for instance.

    The Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance will feature music by The Dodworth Saxhorn Band of Ann Arbor, Michigan and will be led by dance instructor/caller Robin Nelson.

    Dancing will begin at 8:30 p.m. with a “Grand March” led by 60 costumed members of the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Brigade, followed by a variety of period dances including polkas, contra dances, schottisches, reels and waltzes.

    . . . → Read More: Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance, by Dan Bergeson

  • The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome, by Tom Swift
    June 27, 2010 | 8:00 am

    Even before I read the first word of this article I had a visceral reaction to it. The accompanying photographs — my eyes tend to skip over photographs in magazines — affected me in a manner that is difficult to articulate. I knew, immediately I knew, I was not going to like what I was about to read. In fact, for that reason I put the piece aside. Not now, I thought. Maybe tomorrow, I said to myself. But, then, I couldn’t not read it, either. If you have not done so already, I hope you will read . . . → Read More: The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome, by Tom Swift

  • Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! by Kathy Jasnoch
    June 27, 2010 | 7:54 am

    June may be Adopt A Cat month here at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society and we have lots of wonderful cats, but we also have PUPPIES!

    We have a male Newfoundland mix named Chong who is 6 months old, he was a stray so we don’t know a lot about him.  He loves to play! We also have three Australian Cattle Dog mixes who are two months old.  Marcia, Bobby and Cindy were born at the shelter and spent some time in one of our fabulous foster homes.  They are now back at the shelter and ready to find . . . → Read More: Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! by Kathy Jasnoch

  • Relay for Life of Rice County, August 6th, Rice County Fairgrounds. By Sandy Vesledahl
    June 23, 2010 | 9:35 pm

    The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay for Life, teams of people camp out at local parks or fairgrounds and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events.

    Relay for Life of Rice . . . → Read More: Relay for Life of Rice County, August 6th, Rice County Fairgrounds. By Sandy Vesledahl

  • Critter Cam live from Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
    June 16, 2010 | 9:04 am

    Now Showing! Live Kittens playing! You can now watch our adoptable animals at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society (PEHS) live 24/7 on the new Critter Cam installed in conjunction with KYMN Radio. Thanks to the fine folks at KYMN radio we now have a live feed of our adoptable animals showing on our website and KYMN’s website, Tim and Jeff are AWESOME!

    Currently the Critter Cam is featuring kittens available for adoption. Watch them play, sleep, eat, and everything else they do 24 hours a day 7 days a week! It’s better than anything you can see on TV! . . . → Read More: Critter Cam live from Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl

  • Save the Northfield Depot: fundraising help needed. By Lynn Vincent
    June 11, 2010 | 11:34 am

    A BIG Thanks to all of you who came to last Monday’s Volunteer Organization Meeting, and to those who contacted us saying you wanted to help but could not make the meeting.

    We have pretty full support for Communications and Design and Build sub-committees, and we got a web graphic designer to help with the site.  Alice Thomas is facilitating the Communications group, and Steve Edwins is facilitating the Design and Build group.

    What we are missing and really need are Fund Raising people.  We have two grant writiers, but we need folks who are committed to the . . . → Read More: Save the Northfield Depot: fundraising help needed. By Lynn Vincent

  • Photo albums: 2010 Prairie’s Edge Humane Society Walk for the Animals, by Bridgette Hallcock Photography
    June 11, 2010 | 8:09 am

    Thank you to all of those who came to Alexander Park on a beautiful Saturday morning in May to help support Prairie’s Edge Humane Society!

    I have placed all of the fun photographs on my Bridgette Hallcock Photography Facebook page so that everyone can see how much fun we had!  See the two 2010 Walk for the Animals albums here and here.

    If you would like a print, please contact me, as the proceeds will benefit the animals at PEHS.

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    City promises to do a better job maintaining its buildings. Here’s an opportunity.

    To her credit, Mayor Mary Rossing acknowledges in her budget presentations that the City has not properly maintained the Safety Center, something I complained about in a blog post last November. (On taking responsibility for 20+ years of deferring maintenance on the Northfield Safety Center.)  She promises that the City will do better.

    The hole in the external wall of the Muni is an opportunity to deliver on this promise.

    Back in April, Northfield News Managing Editor Suzy Rook wrote in an online column called ‘Walking the Walk’:

    For several months I’ve seen a section of the liquor store’s south side wall crack, buckle and come apart, leaving a hole I could fit both fists into with room to spare. I’ve wondered how long the city planned to let moisture impact a building that’s already in poor condition.

    Hole in Northfield Municipal Liquor Store wall

    Two months later, the hole is still there (right under the display window on the sidewalk), getting bigger, letting in rain water, and prominently countering the Mayor’s promise to do better at the very time that the City ramps up its pitch to the citizens on the need for new police and fire facilities.

    Podcast: the Triumvirate on Mayor Rossing’s crackdown on Council decorum; City Hall budget cuts

    The LG TriumvirateWe split our time between A) making suggestions for cutting the budget at City Hall and B) discussing Mayor Mary Rossing’s 5-minute commentary at the start of last week’s Council meeting.

    Click play to listen. 30 minutes:

    Mary Rossing remarks to CouncilKYMN has the indexed video of the 5/18/10 Council meeting so you can go right to the video of the Mayor’s Opening Remarks.  (KYMN News Director Scott Peterson mentioned her remarks in his news update on 5/19.)

    There are a couple minutes of dead air at the beginning, plus the approval of minutes etc. so her opening remarks don’t begin till the 3:45 minute mark. If you’re in a hurry, here’s an audio excerpt. (Click play to listen. 5 minutes.)

    Continue reading Podcast: the Triumvirate on Mayor Rossing’s crackdown on Council decorum; City Hall budget cuts

    Audio: Mayor Mary Rossing on financing the Capital Improvement plan, budget shortfall

    Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing at NDDC forum Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing
    Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing presented at an NDDC forum this morning, discussing, as noted in Ross’ NDDC blog post, “the City of Northfield’s plans for financing the Capital Improvement Plan and [the] work to address the budget shortfall in the 2010 budget and a similar challenge for the 2011 budget.”


    Click play to listen. 1 hour, 13 minutes. Or download the MP3.

    Podcast: Triumvirate grumpiness with the Mayor continues

    LoGroNo Triumvirate: Ross Currier, Grumpy Griff Wigley, Tracy DavisTruth be told, it was only me who was grumpy this week (see photo) as we reviewed our podcast and ongoing online discussion with Mayor Mary Rossing. (I’ve turned off comments here. Continue the discussion attached to the Feb. 1 podcast with the mayor.)

    Click play to listen. 30 minutes:

    Continue reading Podcast: Triumvirate grumpiness with the Mayor continues

    Podcast: Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing

    img-2065We’re having Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing on our show today, live at 6 pm on KYMN 1080 AM. (The photo is from our January, 2009 podcast.)

    Do you have questions for her that you’d like us to consider asking?  (Note the word consider, please.) If so, attach a comment here or use our Contact Us form.

    Update: 2/2, 7:25 am: Ross wasn’t able to attend. And the live show went for a full hour. Yikes!

    Click play to listen. 60 minutes:

    You can also download the MP3 or subscribe to the podcast feed, or subscribe directly with iTunes. Our radio show/podcast, Locally Grown, usually airs Mondays at 6:00 PM and Sundays at 10 AM on KYMN 1080 AM.

    Separated at birth? Not.

    Mary Rossing, Jane RossingGeorge Washington and Bernie MadoffI’ve been a fan of ‘separated at birth’ since the days of Spy Magazine, so when I saw Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing in the HideAway Coffeehouse and Winebar last week with someone who looked somewhat like her, I paused. It turns out, her sister Jane Rossing (a regular visitor to LoGroNo, she contends) was paying a visit to Northfield. On the right: a current favorite ‘separated at birth.’

    Photos: Tour d’ Art / Ride with the Mayors

    Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing, Dundas Mayor Glenn Switzer Tour d' Art / Ride with the Mayors Tour d' Art / Ride with the Mayors 
    tour d art flyer 2009 I took the photo of Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing and Dundas Mayor Glenn Switzer last Saturday at the Peggy Prowe Pedestrian Bridge Dedication.  But I left at the end of the ceremony to do the Faribault Hospice Ride. The mayors and the rest of the assembled bicyclists went on the Tour d’ Art (PDF flyer), a " bicycle tour of the public art in our communities." See the actual route on the Tour d’ Art / Ride with the Mayors live map on the ArtOrg web site. Councilor Erica Zweifel emailed me the other two photos above.

    Photo album: Peggy Prowe Pedestrian Bridge dedication

    Saturday’s Tour d’ Art bike tour (part of ArtSwirl) began with a dedication ceremony for the Peggy Prowe Pedestrian Bridge, part of the Mill Towns Trail.

    See the album of 28 photos, the large slideshow, or this small slideshow:

    Audio: Mayor Mary Rossing’s ‘service’ speech on Memorial Day

    Mayor Mary Rossing Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing was one of the Memorial Day speakers at Northfield Area Veterans Memorial in Riverside Park on Monday. Her speech was why it’s important that all citizens serve others, their nation, and their community.

    Click play to listen. 10 minutes. And hear the audio of the entire Memorial Day service on KYMN’s blog.

    Joel and Mary get a tour from Mark

    Joel Walinski, Mary Rossing, Mark Werner Joel Walinski, Mary Rossing, Mark Werner Cannon Valley Veterinary Clinic Pharmaceutical Solutions and Veterinary Provisions
    Dr. Mark Werner gave Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing and City Administrator Joel Walinski a tour of the 62,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility under construction that’s now attached to his Cannon Valley Veterinary Clinic on So. Hwy 3. The building will house Pharmaceutical Solutions and Veterinary Provisions, two companies of the Mike Strobel–Mark Werner Partnership. See my Nov. 2007 blog post for more details on the companies and my Aug. 2008 blog post for construction photos.

    Podcast: an impromptu visit from Mayor Mary Rossing

    Mary Rossing and the LoGroNo TriumvirateWe’d planned to do yesterday’s show all by our lonesomes. But halfway through, Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing stopped by KYMN studios to record an ad for her store and barged in graciously joined us to talk about recent Council decisions on the liquor store and Way Park street closure.

    Continue reading Podcast: an impromptu visit from Mayor Mary Rossing

    Podcast: Mayor Mary Rossing

    Ross Currier, Mary Rossing, Griff Wigley Our guest this week, fittingly so for the first show of the year, was Mary Rossing, the new mayor of Northfield as of Monday evening.

    She’s been on the job for dozens of hours but unfortunately, as you’ll hear, has very few accomplishments she can point to.  Recall, anyone?

    Continue reading Podcast: Mayor Mary Rossing

    New Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing talks about her first day

    repj-logo

    I surprised Mayor Mary Rossing in her store Present Perfect this morning with my video camera. I mostly asked her questions that had to do with Monday night’s City Council meeting, which you can read a bit about here. We touched upon her changes in meeting procedure, her tactics on facilitating meetings and her outlook on information exchange in Northfield and on the financial health of the city’s businesses. Continue reading New Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing talks about her first day