
Northfield, we’ve reached the hand off. The Representative Journalism Project has come to another turning point after eight months. Now, instead of reading the work of a transplanted, temporary journalist (me) you could soon have the opportunity to support the area’s indigenous writers. Those writers, sponsored by the public, would produce news material that could appear across a range of local media, including LocallyGrownNorthfield.org. (More about that coming soon).
As the Representative Journalism Project collaborators have been hashing out the details of that new evolution, I came to the conclusion this month that perhaps one of the best things I could do to ensure the success of our latest ideas would be to step out of the way, instead of remaining until my work contract expired in July.
Now, the funds that would have paid my wage may be reinvested in jump-starting the project’s new efforts. Meanwhile, I am looking forward to immersing myself in a work environment that tethers me to computers less and fosters my desire to write about travel and adventure more.
The most difficult part of this transition is leaving our Northfield friends and neighbors. My fiance and I have hardly experienced a community that could equal Northfield in its warmth and kindness, as well as in its rambunctious spirit. Within hours of our arrival into this city, the people that were to become our good friends provided us with every essential. One person even scoured her neighborhood curbs to find us the perfect love seat to cram into our snug studio…
If I began to recount every kindness of every Northfield friend, this post would be exceptionally lengthy. I would love to thank everyone in person, however, and I invite everyone to come to the Contented Cow Pub tomorrow (Friday) beginning at 5:30 to enjoy a farewell gathering. I’ll be singing some songs with the New Moon Trio, dedicating each one to the people that we wish we didn’t have to leave behind.
To Bonnie-skirt and Joshie-pants, and she-who- is-definitely-irritated-about-her-name: The ‘Bon-est’ of BonVoyages !
Definitely-not-“mad”; definitely- just-sad !
so sad! you were the best tenants a store could have above them! bonnie, thank you so much for buying my art and other local art and even doing art! thank you for all your great stories! of course, i will miss josh coming in to play with the toys. 😉 sarah and edi will miss you, too! good luck with all your future adventures! love ya!
Farewell, to Bonnie and Josh!
We really enjoyed our nosh.
Hope to read your next musings and, gosh, we’ve really enjoyed your panache!
…can I keep your repJ skateboard which is hanging in my gallery window? All the Best, Dean
[…] Last night’s farewell party at the Contented Cow for RepJ reporter Bonnie Obremski and her fiancé, Josh Rowan, was a rockin’ good time, with lots of well-wishers, music by the New Moon Trio (plus Bonnie), and a candy piñata. (See Bonnie’s post for more on her farewell.) […]
Bonnie, it’s been more than a delight to get to know you and Josh. Last’s night’s farewell party at the Cow was a testimonial to how you’ve both touched the people of Northfield in your short time here.
You leave a legacy with your RepJ stories, many of which we’ll continue to link to and benefit from in the years to come. You also leave a legacy of journalistic transparency and collaboration with Northfield’s citizenry that will inspire all of us to keep alive as we embark on the next phase of ‘sustainable journalism’ for Northfield.
And here’s hoping you’ll retain some ability to talk Minnesotan no matter where you live. So, will you come back and visit Northfield occasionally, then?
So glad Bonnie and Raoul are leaving. I simply despise kind, intelligent, personable, creative people.
Now, I must go cry… because of my extreme happiness… of course.
[…] As RepJ reporter Bonnie Obremski and her fiancé, Josh Rowan, loaded up their car yesterday for their new life in Key West, their cat, Sarah Palin, registered her objection by hiding out above the street level door jam of […]
Josh and I are temporarily in upstate New York on our roundabout journey south. We miss everyone dearly and talk every day about the good folks of Northfield. Thanks for everyone’s kind words, they meant a lot to us. Hope all is well over there!
Thanks for the update, Bonnie… keep us posted!