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By Griff Wigley, on January 15, 2012, 8:15 am
By Griff Wigley, on December 29, 2011, 11:55 pm
Ross Currier has sent this to City of Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing and other members of the City Council.
 Mary -
I am writing to you not as executive director of the NDDC but as a citizen of Northfield. It is on a subject about which I have very strong beliefs.
Northfield’s economy is driven by knowledge workers, the "creative class", or economic innovators. These individuals, businesses, and institutions "export" their information-based products and services around the country and the world. Their clients and customers reflect the diversity our our country and our world. In addition, our economic future is based on our community’s ability to continue to attract and retain these people and these organizations. Northfield must be safe and welcoming to all people.
Working with a small group of Northfield citizens, I have drafted a statement (which I have attached) that I hope the Council will adopt for MLK Day 2012. For many Americans, Dr. King has come to symbolize the on-going struggle for human rights. I thought adopting the statement for his birthday was a way of honoring his work.
I have only managed to share this idea with a dozen or so people. I plan to come to the January 3rd City Council meeting to ask for Council adoption of the statement. I may be alone or I may be joined by others.
Thank you for considering my request and thank you for all you do for Northfield,
Ross
By Griff Wigley, on December 14, 2011, 9:07 am
 
I put on my treasured Xmas tree balls hat this morning at the GBM, as NDDC ED Ross Currier and I are in full promo mode for tomorrow night’s big event:
Trailer Trash brings their celebrated holiday show, A Trashy Little Christmas, to the Grand Event Center here in Northfield. Details here.
VitaMN’s Dec. 8 Naughty Holidays blurb:
Honky-tonk band Trailer Trash has drawn sell-out crowds for nearly 20 years with its debaucherous “Trashy Little Xmas” show at Lee’s. These guys are the real deal — the band’s first collection of Christmas covers, 1996′s “Hell, It’s X-mas,” remains one of the best local holiday albums of all time. For the show, revel in the band’s revamped classic and not-so-classic holiday tunes, from Clarence Carter’s “Backdoor Santa” to Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (along with a few originals), and get into the spirit by coming dressed as Santa, Mrs. Claus, or one of their elves.
By Griff Wigley, on December 6, 2011, 8:33 am
   
Yesterday afternoon, Megan Allen Tsui, Executive Director of the Northfield Enterprise Center (NEC), convened a meeting of possible stakeholders and other people interested in creating a coworking/incubator/accelerator space in Northfield (background blog post here). We met in a conference room at the Neuger Communications Group.
Other attendees: Ross Currier (NDDC), Tami Enfield, Rick Estenson (First National Bank Northfield, NEC, Chamber), Kathy Feldbrugge (Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce), Jody Gunderson (City of Northfield), Beth Kallestad (CRWP), Julie Kildahl, Dave Neuger (Neuger Communications Group, Chamber), Rhonda Pownell (Northfield City Council), Donna Rae Scheffert, Mary Schmelzer (Northfield Enterprise Center), Justin Volling (St. Olaf student), and Erica Zweifel (Northfield City Council).
Tentative next steps include a community awareness meeting in January, as well as a couple of coworking jellies.
After the meeting, I attended an event at CoCo MSP’s new space in the Grain Exchange Building in downtown Minneapolis.
Here are some photos of what it now looks like, with its:
 
large event space;
  
open tables;
   
and dedicated desk and ‘campsite’ spaces.
By Griff Wigley, on October 13, 2011, 11:55 pm
 
When I was up at St. Olaf’s Buntrock Commons a couple weeks ago for the Eat Local Challenge, I noticed a big NDDC poster outside of The Lion’s Pause with the headline: Locate your business in downtown Northfield.
NDDC Executive Director Ross Currier published an Oct. 3 blog post that explains. An excerpt:
One of the new initiatives that this group developed was alumni entrepreneur recruitment. In addition to promoting downtown Northfield as a marketplace, we wanted to promote it as a business location, particularly to the graduates of Carleton and St. Olaf Colleges. We introduced the concept for the first time at this year’s Homecoming Weekends.
I knew this poster was in the works because back in early August, Ross had asked me to contribute photos for it and they needed one additional: a photo of creative class types working in a coffeehouse.
 All month long, I kept watching for a good photo op from my early morning corner office at GBM but it never quite came together.
So on Aug. 29, noticing that I had the raw material for a photo, I asked the laptop users to switch tables. I then asked Nancy Amerman who was sitting with a group of runners to sit at my laptop for the photo. Perfecto.
It should be noted that Nancy felt no shame over helping to perpetuate this fraud, whereas at least I felt conflicted. And yet she calls herself a Christian. Go figure.
By Griff Wigley, on July 28, 2011, 6:42 am
Ross Currier’s NDDC blog has the announcement about Crazy Daze today: Alaskan Doughnuts…er…uh…Crazy Daze, this Thursday!
 But, yes, this Thursday (July 28th) is Crazy Daze in downtown Northfield. Starting at 8 a.m. with activities until 8 p.m., it’s a whole lot of fun brought to you by the Retail Committee of the Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce.
This year’s events include a Watermelon Seed Spittting Contest, 11:00 a.m., Just Food; Bean Bag Toss, 1:30 p.m., Fine Threads; Hula Hoop Contest, 2:00 p.m., Rare Pair; and Classic Cars, 5 p.m., on Division Street between 5th and 6th Streets.
But a glance at the home pages of Northfield.org, the Northfield News, Northfield Patch, and KYMN at 6:15 am this morning reveals a complete lack of information about Crazy Daze.
The Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce (the main sponsor of Crazy Daze) lists the event on its community calendar page but with this feeble, generic paragraph:
Don’t miss this crazy shopping spree in downtown Northfield every July. Fantastic bargains are provided by local retailers. Call for details and times for special events taking place all day! (507) 645 5604 or (800) 658 2548.
The featured event page on the Chamber’s Convention and Bureau’s site is even more cryptic:
Don’t miss this crazy shopping spree in downtown Northfield every July. Fantastic bargains are provided by local retailers.
nor is there any mention of the event on the Visiting Northfield Facebook page, nor on the Be Local Northfield Facebook page.
Last year, the Chamber had a Crazy Daze poster/flyer. Was there one this year? I’ve not seen it in store windows, but maybe I’ve just missed it.
Something has failed.
By Griff Wigley, on June 15, 2011, 9:07 am
 
NDDC‘s Ross Currier has taken a cue from Governor Rick Perry’s Proclamation for Days of Prayer for Rain in Texas to issue a similar but opposite proclamation for Northfield this week. I took the photo of him on his knees this morning at the Church of the Blue Monday where we both attend religiously.
He wants sunny skies for the Sixth Annual Taste of Northfield (blog post here, full event info/schedule here), held tomorrow and Friday in downtown Northfield on Bridge Square.
Last year’s Taste was memorable; Day 1/Thursday night was a bust (photos) in part because of a botched triggering of severe weather sirens; Day 2/Friday night was spectacular (photos).
See all Locally Grown’s archived Taste of Northfield blog posts and photos for more.
Here’s the transcript of Ross’ adapted prayer for fair weather:
Almighty Lord God, who for the sin of man didst once drown all the world, except eight persons, and afterward of thy great mercy didst promise never to destroy it so again; We humbly beseech thee, that although we for our iniquities have worthily deserved a plague of rain and waters, yet upon our true repentance thou wilt send us such weather for the Taste of Northfield, that we may receive the fruits of the earth in due season; and learn both by thy punishment to amend our lives, and for thy clemency to give thee praise and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
By Griff Wigley, on May 24, 2011, 8:25 am
  Ever since his daughter Athena’s comic strip about his anatomical nickname as a kid, Ross Currier has been using his physical attributes to advertise various causes.
This morning it was his Duluth Does Dylan t-shirt which he was using to promote tonight’s Dylan Fest at the Contented Cow, celebrating Bob’s 70th birthday today:
More than 20 Northfield area musicians will perform songs from Dylan’s legendary catalogue in a five hour concert on The Contented Cow’s popular outdoor stage.
I’ve obtained the performance schedule. Ross’ band, the New Moon Trio, performs at 7:40.
 
By Griff Wigley, on May 11, 2011, 12:18 pm
 Someone from the NDDC put up this sandwich board in front of the Northfield Post Office this morning. I’m not saying who it was.
See the NDDC’s Keep the Northfield Post Office Downtown page for the latest news.
FYI, the municipal code for sidewalk signs reads:
Sidewalk signs in C-1 and C-2 zones. The use of sidewalk signs shall only be allowed in the central business zones (C-1 and C-2). All sidewalk signs shall be limited to two feet in width and 3½ feet in height, including the support members. No sign shall have more than two faces. Changeable copy is permitted except for plastic letters. The sign shall be placed only in front of the business without significantly limiting the normal pedestrian use of the sidewalk. One sign is permitted for each building/land frontage, and it shall be removed from the sidewalk at the end of each business day. No sidewalk sign shall be lighted. No sign permit is required.
That sign looks to be at least a half inch taller than allowed. Someone should report this.
By Griff Wigley, on April 6, 2011, 9:39 am
By Griff Wigley, on February 19, 2011, 7:04 am
By James Grabau, on February 4, 2011, 6:56 am
 Join the Rotary Club of Northfield and the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation (NDDC) for a Winter Dance Party at the Grand Event Center with Trailer Trash, Minnesota’s premier Honky-Tonk Band!
- Swing Dance Instruction begins at 8pm
- Music starts at 8:30
- ONLY $10 at the door
- Be Local – Dance Local!
For more, see Ross Currier’s NDDC blog post: NDDC and Rotary Celebrate Our Community at The Grand.
The theme is “We (Heart) Northfield”. We (Heart) our authentic downtown, our historic architecture, our wild and scenic river, our quality businesses and cultural institutions, and our fine schools and medical facilities. The list could go on…and will go on, at our upcoming event at the Grand.
We’ll start it off by thanking our partners and members, and then we’ll open the doors to the entire community to celebrate Northfield. It’ll be an opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of the NDDC, the Rotary, and all of the community-based organizations in Northfield…and have a whole lot of fun in the process.
By Griff Wigley, on November 28, 2010, 4:06 pm
  
It’s been two and a half years since Highland Bank foreclosed on the Northfield Crossing development and a sizeable portion of the surrounding property is still a mess. I took these photos last week.
I first complained about the mess in 2007. In June, 2008, I blogged: Banks foreclose on The Crossing; now the City should clean up the surrounding property. A year later, June 2009, I added a comment containing the text of an email from Brian O’Connell, Northfield community development director, on the status of the clean-up.
The relationship is that the clean up items are essentially the same items. Piper wants to renegotiate the TIF note, Council is saying they would consider renegotiating the note if the site clean up issues are completed. Highland is now the owner of the residential condominium to which the clean up items are related. So Highland is now determining the cost to complete the items to see if they can complete in time which will assist in unit sales efforts. Everyone wants the same thing; the issue is determining cost and identifying sources of money to pay the expense.
WTF is taking so long to clean up this ‘gateway to downtown Northfield’?
  
This portion of the property doesn’t look that much better than it did in 2005 when NDDC‘s Dan Bergeson and Ross Currier took matters into their own hands and personally demolished seven buildings when it was known as the Riverfront Development Site. I think we need them again to take charge, this time to haul all the construction shit out of there.
Dan? Ross? How about it?
There is some good news, however. There have been some improvements to other (city-owned?) parts of the property in recent weeks: streetscape-style decorative fencing along Hwy. 3, with many new trees planted.
By Griff Wigley, on July 13, 2010, 11:55 am
 I saw this Fourth Street reconstruction chart in the downtown lobby of the First National Bank of Northfield this morning. (See the PDF of the top half of the chart on the City’s site titled Fourth Street Improvements 2010 – Project Phases.)
I asked EDA member and bank VP Rick Estenson what the delay was since the chart indicates (in yellow) that the Phase 1B was to be completed by July 2 and [sigh] there’s no explanation on the City’s 1999-style web page for the project. "Rick, the weather’s gorgeous. Why aren’t they at least pouring sidewalks this week?”
Rick suggested that the delay might be due to the fact that the NDDC, which agreed to contribute labor to help reduce project costs in front of its office on 4th St., might be hampered by its unskilled workforce.
 
Sure enough.
Update 7/16, 8 am: Ross continues to do his part, however inadequate it might be. He poured the sidewalk outside the NDDC office yesterday.
By Griff Wigley, on June 24, 2010, 3:56 pm
@Ross Currier, my Locally Grown co-host, tweeted on Monday, “As citizens increasingly challenge politics as usual, is it no longer left vs. right, nor faith vs. reason, but individual vs. institution?”
 Then Steve Clift @democracy retweeted this from @72prufrocks today, a report titled Listen, Participate, Transform: A social media framework for local government from the UK-based Young Foundation. It’s part of their Local 2.0 project (see the Local 2.0 Blog here), funded by the Department of Communities and Local Government.
The report’s emphasis on the importance of public officials building relationships with citizens, using social media in part, is encouraging and is the best writing I’ve seen thus far on the topic.
In Northfield, this is more than a little timely because:
- Significant budget cuts have to be made soon and the process is receiving some criticism
- Citizens are being asked to support a referendum for new police and fire facilities
- The Northfield City Council has a goal of improving communication with staff, citizen advisory groups and community
From the report’s introduction:
Continue reading Budget cuts: an opportunity for local government to deliver services WITH citizens. Social media can help.
By Griff Wigley, on June 24, 2010, 6:53 am
By Griff Wigley, on June 17, 2010, 7:39 pm
 Day 1 of the Taste of Northfield was pretty much a bust due to the severe weather in the area. Good thing there’s going to be Day 2 tomorrow.
At around 5:30 pm, just as Robbie and I settled in the beer/wine tent with some ribs from the Quarterback, the storm sirens went off, triggering a mass exodus from Bridge Square. But even before that, the high winds and ominous clouds kept the crowd small, and many vendors had been packing up. Ross and Jessica were definitely grumpy.
 The storms ultimately slid to our south and all we got was a light rain shower, with a spectacular sunset.
See the album of 13 photos, the large slideshow, or this small slideshow:
By Griff Wigley, on June 17, 2010, 8:26 am
I’ve nagged Ross for over a year to register a domain name and set up a webpage for the Taste of Northfield and he completely ignored me, hurting my feelings.
But last week, he got enough pressure from his task force that he finally caved and hired me to do what needed to be done.
tasteofnorthfield.org is now working and the page is up, complete with the two-day schedule of activities and performers, the list of vendors, the list of sponsors, and photo albums from previous events.
I’m pretty much over it now, Ross. No need to kiss and make up, however.
By Griff Wigley, on June 15, 2010, 11:45 am
 Emily Northey, Minnesota Main Street Program Coordinator with Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, joined us this week for a chat about historic commercial districts like we have in downtown Northfield. She and the board were in town Monday afternoon for a long-range planning retreat at the Archer House.
Ross has written about the program here and here on the NDDC blog:
Continue reading Podcast: Emily Northey, Minnesota Main Street
By Griff Wigley, on May 5, 2010, 6:59 am
 Ross has the info in his blog post detailing Friday night’s Girls Nite Out (GNO) activities (PDF).
What he fails to mention is that the veteran members of the Shop Local/Somewhat Full Monty routine at the Grand, he and I among them, have not been invited back. We’ve retained counsel. Clearly age discrimination.
Hopefully, they’ll let <ahem> photojournalists in the Grand.
See the 2009, 2008, and 2007 GNO photo albums.
By Griff Wigley, on April 19, 2010, 7:22 pm
 The NDDC has a slick new downtown Northfield brochure out (“Great downtowns don’t just happen”), the work of Board member Anastasia Balfany who teamed up with Nichole Day Diggins at Flying Pan Productions. ED Ross Currier’s job was to nag me for photos.
Click the thumbnails above for a quick look or view this big PDF.
By Griff Wigley, on January 24, 2010, 7:59 am
By Griff Wigley, on January 22, 2010, 10:49 am
  I had a Liberace flashback when Ross began strutting around the GBM this morning in his new NDDC vest, promoting Saturday night’s NDDC 10th anniversary/Partnership Celebration, 6 to 10 p.m at The Grand.
I’ll be there with my sweetie, taking photos.
It’s open to the public, no cover, free d’oeuvres, lots of live music, and a helluva raffle.
Update 2 PM: Here’s the flyer on the raffle
For more details, see Ross’ blog post, or this email from Jessica Paxton:
Continue reading Ross ‘Liberace’ Currier invites you to NDDC’s 10th anniversary bash on Sat.
By Griff Wigley, on December 18, 2009, 8:03 am
Ross stopped by my corner office at the GBM yesterday to show me a new NDDC poster that’s a variation on the Be Local…Buy Local campaign:
Be Local… Rock Local! Live Music Downtown Northfield Seven Nights A Week
His NDDC blog post from yesterday lists all the music happening around Northfield this weekend.
By Griff Wigley, on November 20, 2009, 11:13 am
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11 comments 
Businesses, Civic Orgs 
accelerator, Beth Kallestad, co-working, coworking jelly, Dave Neuger, Donna Rae Scheffert, Eric Zweifel, incubator, Jody Gunderson, Julie Kildahl, Justin Volling, Kathy Feldbrugge, Mary Schmelzer, Megan Allen Tsui, Megan Tsui, Neuger Communications Group, Northfield Enterprise Center, Rhonda Pownell, Rick Estenson, Ross Currier, Tami Enfield 
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