Conexiones Comunitarias es un boletín mensual que ofrece información sobre servicios y actividades disponibles en Northfield. Este boletín es cortesía del Centro LINK y puede pinchar aquí para acceder a los boletines anteriores.

Conexiones Comunitarias (Junio 2013)

Colleen Johnson is the new director of the Center for Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation (CSMR), a service of Northfield Hospital & Clinics.

She comes to Northfield by way of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester where she spent 27 years working in a variety of clinical and leadership positions. Vicki Stevens, Division Administrator for Ancillary Services at Northfield Hospital & Clinics, said Johnson brings a wealth of leadership and management experience to her new position.

“Over her career, Colleen has worked in numerous rehabilitation settings and demonstrated a commitment to leadership and professional development,” Stevens said. “We are excited to have her join our rehab team."

Road construction season is in full swing. Here are some of the projects in the area, with links to project websites where you can find maps, schedules, updates about construction, lane closures, and other information:

• Sixth St. & Ninth St., Northfield. (Summer and fall). Project website.
• Maple, St., Prairie, St., Veterans Park, Northfield. (Summer and fall).  Project website.
• Highway 3 from Northfield to Faribault (ongoing, through June). News release.
• Highway 19 from Northfield to Cannon Falls (resurfacing, August-October). Project website.
• I-35 from Faribault to Owatonna (resurfacing, July-October). Project website.
• I-35/I-35E from Elko to Cliff Rd, Eagan (ongoing, through the summer). Project website.
• Cedar Ave., Apple Valley (ongoing). Project website. Access updates. Schedule updates.
• Highway 52 & County Road 9 Interchange (proposed). Safety and access study website.
  

The Northfield Arts Guild Theater is excited to announce its annual theater in the park production,  the Shakespeare comedy Twelfth Night.  A much loved and hilarious offering from the Bard, Twelfth Night tells the tale of Viola, a young woman washed up on shore who disguises herself as her twin brother Sebastian.  Thought by all to be Sebastian, Viola must ward of the affections of the fair Olivia even while falling head over heels in love with the Duke Orsino.   Deception, disguise and intrigue all meet in this delightful comedy that will have the audience in stitches.

Friends of the Northfield Public Library and library staff volunteered on Saturday, June 1, to spruce up the grounds around the library.  Armed with rakes and pruners they weeded, pruned, deadheaded, swept, raked and generally cleaned up the lawn and gardens surrounding the library.

The Friends support the library and its programs and services in many ways.  Cleaning up the grounds in June and again in August is another form of support, this one using elbow grease.  Our new Director of Library and Information Technology Services Teresa Jensen joined the Friends for the morning.  Being still relatively new to town, she was impressed with the steady traffic of library users including children, youth, adults, and even a film crew using the library's reading room as a backdrop for a documentary. 

Cultural influences from all over the world contributed to the rich history of American brass bands. Attendees of this summer’s Vintage Band Festival will hear this richness expressed through the performances of a number of ethnic bands, including several from Minnesota.

Here’s a look at some of those bands participating in the Aug. 1-4 festival:

The Brass Messengers started as a street band playing the music of the Caribbean and Balkans. This Minneapolis-based band is well known for its lively performances and its involvement in the Heart of the Beast May Day Parade. “Our music of choice is anything that fits in the twisted brass tubing, from originals to covers from around the globe, as long as it makes a joyful noise.”

The entertainment band tradition of klezmer, secular Jewish music that originated in Eastern Europe, will be represented at the Vintage Band Festival by the Klezmerica band of the Twin Cities. Also known as the Frozen Chosen, Klezmerica has played all over the United States, in Canada, and Israel.  

The Northfield Public Library offers a free Summer Reading program for children from pre-school to teens. The program is designed to help children & teens retain and enhance their reading skills over the summer.  Come to the library starting June 3 and pick up a reading record folder, and start reading.  Special age-appropriate story and activity times begin the week of June 10th through July 25.

TUESDAYS

10 am Tuesday Infant Lapsit- is specially designed to encourage development of language and motor skills by incorporating books with simple songs, rhymes and fingerplays.   For ages 6-24 months with parent or caregiver.

1-2 pm “We Dig Kindergarten” a special program for children who will be entering K this fall. Includes books to keep and take home thanks to a SMIF BookSmart Grant!

WEDNESDAYS

9:30 Toddler Rhyme Time I

The Northfield Downtown Development Corporation (NDDC) is proud to present the 8th Annual Taste of Northfield, Thursday, May 30th, from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.

This year the event will be in and around Bridge Square, including the Sesquicentennial Legacy Plaza along the Cannon River.  Featuring delicious food and beverages, a beer and wine garden, and live entertainment, the Taste of Northfield promises fun for everyone.

The event takes place rain or shine. Along with tasty treats being served up by a baker’s dozen of local food vendors and a beer and wine tent, this year’s Taste of Northfield will feature a special bank raid re-enactment by the infamous James-Younger Gang and performances by a variety of local musicians. Please visit www.nddc.org for a list of the food vendors and the entertainment schedule.

Summer classes will be starting soon at the Northfield Arts Guild.  We've added eight new instructors and 18 new classes to our summer schedule, including many for adults.

You can go on-line to see our new lineup including advanced oil painting, precious metal clay jewelry, natural history writing, and an acting dialects workshop.

As always, we have lots of fun classes for kids including puppetry, summer art camps and the Young Peoples Theater Workshop.  REGISTER NOW!  Northfieldartsguild.org or 507 645-8877 or stop by 304 Division Street.

     The Community Action Center has received a College Ready grant for $126,345 from the Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation to support the TORCH (Tackling Obstacles and Raising College Hopes) project.  This grant will benefit 455 Northfield students by helping to prepare them for academic success when they arrive at college.

     The Community Action Center, part of the collaborative group supporting TORCH, was one of 34 recipients to receive grants totalling more than $4,000,000 in College Ready funds from Great Lakes.  TORCH will use the funding to provide academic-focused services during the 2013-14 academic year to students to improve the academic preparedness of students in grades 6-12 who are low-income, students of color and/or potential first-generation college attendees.

At their meeting on Tuesday evening, Northfield City Council member Suzie Nakasian reported that the language to lift the ban on the Dan Patch Rail Line was not included in the legislature’s 2013 transportation bill. Although Senator Kevin Dahle succeeded in getting approval from the full senate for his proposal, Representative David Bly’s companion bill never got a hearing in the House Transportation Committee.

The late Dan Freeman, commonly known around town as “Mr. Northfield,” will have a tree dedicated in his memory Friday, May 24, at 5 p.m. on Bridge Square. Freeman died earlier this month after a long illness. The public is invited to attend.

The tree, a New Harmony elm, was donated by Knecht’s Nursery and Landscaping in Northfield. Owners Leif and Deb Knecht picked the tree because, says Leif, “When I think of Dan Freeman, I think of Dan as a goodwill ambassador for Northfield. Goodwill is like harmony, and that’s why we picked that tree.” He adds that the tree will be resistant to Dutch Elm disease and will grow quickly. “It will be a long-term reminder of the goodwill Dan always tried to bring to our community.”

A plaque, donated by the Defeat of Jesse James Days Committee and the Northfield Historical Society, will read “Dan Freeman, ‘Mr. Northfield,’ 2013.”

 The Community Action Center is working with the USDA to provide summer lunches to children.  Lunches will be provided to all children without charge under standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Lunches will be available at two Northfield sites.  At Jefferson Square Apartments, 1356 Jefferson Road, lunches will be served from 11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  At Emmaus Church, 712 Linden Street, lunches will be served from 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

The summer lunch program will begin at both sites on Monday, June 10.  Lunches will be served on Monday - Friday until August 30, 2013, except for July 4th and 5th.  The meal is available to all children under 18.  All children may participate regardless of race, color, national origin, gender or disability.  Complaints of discrimination can be addressed to the USDA at 866-632-9992.

For more information, call the Community Action Center at 507-664-3550.

Three local women who led an after-school sewing group at Northfield Middle School have received the Healthy Community Initiative “Making a Difference” Award for May 2013. The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth.

Joyce Schlossin started the group and recruited Beth Endert and Emily Schmitz to assist her. Over a 12-week period, they taught a group of about a dozen girls to make items such as scarves, mittens, headbands, placemats, potholders, pillows and cell phone holders.

“They were pleased – they couldn’t believe they could do it,” Endert said. “We’re already getting ideas for next time.”

Susan Sanderson, coordinator of the middle school TORCH program, said the women also taught the girls about the economics of sewing, how to save money and make the most out of every scrap of fabric.

“Joyce and her partners have great energy, and we are so fortunate to have them sharing their skills and love of sewing,” Sanderson said.

- Written by Joy Riggs, HCI Board member and freelance journalist

**********************************************************************
The Healthy Community Initiative and the Northfield News present the Making a Difference Award cooperatively. If you know an individual or group that you would like to nominate for this award, click HERE for nomination guidelines and the easy-to-complete application or find HCI on Facebook.  Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are selected by a review team of HCI board members and local youth.

This year's group of retiring St. Olaf College faculty and staff includes (front row, l–r, including year hired in parentheses): Phyllis Larson '69 (1993), Dean of the College's Office and Asian Studies; David Schodt (1977), Economics; Jill Ewald '87 (1998), Art and Art History; and Ruth Block (2006), Bookstore. Back row: Alan Norton (1996), Treasurer's Office; Bob Jacobel (1976), Physics; Kathy Schuurman (1999), Alumni and Parent Relations; Susan Jorgensen (1985), World Languages Center; Duane Schlobohm (1985), Facilities; Diane Thompson (1990), Facilities; Wendell Thompson (1990), Facilities; Cathy Draves (1984), Facilities; and — not retiring — President David R. Anderson '74.