Business

 The Community Action Center Clothes Closet can be a destination for the outgrown and surplus clothes we all have in our drawers and closets.The Clothes Closet seeks gently used clothing to replenish the rapidly disappearing donations its many customers have purchased. This local resource provides the public low-cost clothing, generating money for the operation of other CAC programs. The current economy has made contributions to the Clothes Closet more necessary than ever.

Children’s Therapy & Speech, a pediatric rehabilitation service of Northfield Hospital & Clinics, and WorkSystems, a service that addresses health and safety issues in the workplace, will be moving March 8.

Both services will relocate to remodeled space at the Center for Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation (CSMR), 1381 Jefferson Road. They are currently located at 527 Professional Drive. This will be the first time since 2004 that all of the hospital’s outpatient rehabilitation services have been assembled in one location.

Angelica Koch and Monica Caldwell have been awarded grants by the Ron Griffith Young Leaders Fund. These grants will enable Koch and Caldwell to pursue additional training contributing to their future leadership in Northfield.

 The City is seeking candidates for the open seat on the Economic Development Authority, the seven-member board whose purpose is to improve the economic condition of Northfield. Working in partnership with such organizations as the Chamber of Commerce, the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation and the Northfield Enterprise Center, the EDA provides loans and grants to support appropriate local commercial and industrial development. Currently, they are guiding the City’s master planning for the recently annexed acreage in Greenvale Township, and will also begin similar work in Bridgewater Township once the city and township complete their annexation agreement.

The 2010 Winter Olympics are upon us! Beginning Friday and continuing over 17 days, the excitement and glory (and 200+ hours of tv coverage) of 15 Olympic sports will finally be here. Visit the Official Vancouver 2010 site and NBC's official Winter Olympics site for highlights, tv listings, results, athlete info, and more.

Next Thursday 2/25, join the Northfield Skating School for our OLYMPICS PJ PARTY as we watch the ladies figure skating final in the party room at Beef O'Brady's.

Bring your PJs, because it will be a late night! Coverage runs from 7:00-11:00pm. We will raffle off Beef O'Brady's Gift Certificates and a FREE private lesson with a professional skating coach. Participate in our Destination Vancouver coloring contest and learn about skating's International Judging System.

The Dundas-based nonprofit Epic Enterprise recently hosted its annual celebration banquet at the Northfield Ballroom. More than 200 people attended the event, including Epic clients and their families, staff, board members and area business leaders. The gathering celebrated the work of clients, and the efforts of area businesses that work with Epic to help people with developmental disabilities participate actively in the community.

Epic clients earning special recognition were (L-R in photo at right):

• Sam Closser, who received the Commitment to Quality Award. Sam says he is willing to put in the time to get the job done right, and pays close attention to detail in his work.
• Natalie Leske, who received the Winning Attitude Award. Natalie has a positive attitude and is known for persevering when faced with significant challenges.
• Ken Brockton, who received the Team Player Award. Ken was identified as a hard worker who is proud of his work. He says that "joking around" makes the work environment more enjoyable for those working with him.

Competition Teams from Northfield Dance Academy will be selling products from Schwan's in the Northfield Dance Academy parking lot on February 2 from 1:00pm-8:30pm.

The fundraiser will raise money for their trip to Nationals in Chicago this summer.

Items will be available to take home immediately!

We appreciate any help you can offer and thank you in advance!

Rice County Public Health is pleased to introduce Healthy Rice County: Achieving Wellness in the Workplace.

The purpose of Achieving Wellness in the Workplace is to engage employers in developing or enhancing worksite wellness. The goal is to build a culture of health at the workplace that supports healthy behaviors. A team of wellness experts will provide consultation through two new employer coalitions for both the Faribault area and the Northfield area.

Employers are being recruited now to participate. Whether your organization has an employee wellness program in place or is new to this type of work – you are invited to learn more and participate. The project runs from early 2010 through June 2011. The registration deadline is February 26, 2010.

The Northfield Area Family YMCA seeks a part time "Worksite Wellness Specialist." The deadline for applications is January 29th, 2010.

A new collaborative effort between Rice County Public Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and the Northfield Area Family YMCA has been established to create two worksite wellness coalitions with employers in Rice County. The purpose of this project is to build a culture of health in the workplace supportive of healthy behaviors including physical activity, proper nutrition and tobacco use cessation. This program is funded by the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) and takes place from early 2010 through June 2011 with a possibility of further funding.