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This morning between sets of deadlifts and overhead presses I pulled out my copy of The Manual for Living by Epictetus (Hallmark edition). I did this in response to a discussion during book club last night. We are reading The Philosophy of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy by David Robertson. In a chapter on the history of philosophy, […]

Host Pauline Jennings talks with composer Daniel Kallman.  Dan’s compositions for orchestra, winds, and choir are widely published and have been performed across North America, Europe and East Asia by the National Symphony Orchestra, the Air Force Academy Band, the Hong Kong Children’s Choir, the Minnesota Orchestra, and A Prairie Home Companion, to name a

Northfield Police Chief Monte Nelson provides information about fireworks, “if it flies in the air or explodes, it’s illegal,” and reminds folks that the legal fireworks sold in Minnesota must be used on private property.  He discusses local police department policies and trainings in response to questions from the community.  More information can be found

Event date: July 1, 2020
Event Time: 04:30 PM - 11:59 PM
Location:
801 Washington Street
Northfield, MN 55057
Description:
You can join the meeting by telephone:
United States: +1 (224) 501-3412
Access Code: 363-472-341

Kosmo Esplan knows he’s only one person.

After having 3 camping trips cancelled due to COVID, the state parks are now open, and our annual trip to Tettegouche State Park (usually Wooden Boat Show, but that’s virtual only this year) over solstice was booked a year ahead again, so we headed up north.

Campers don’t seem to get that we’ve got a COVID pandemic happening. No masks, other than ours and DNR staff. We spent much of the time at our site, and up and down the shore checking out campgrounds, and of course, a stop at Gun Flint Tavern!

Back home, after a long drive to consider the situation, I fired off this missive to the DNR person in charge of this sort of thing, Linda Erickson-Eastwood, the DNR Commissioner, and the Governor:

Ms. Erickson-Eastwood, Commissioner Strommen, and Governor Walz:

We need an Executive Order requiring everyone to wear masks in public.  I also think it’s too early to have campgrounds and parks open.  After spending 5 days up at Tettegouche State Park, and an afternoon at Jay Cooke State Park, I think it’s too early to “open up.” At Tettegouche, staff was wearing masks, most but not all, when deep cleaning and stocking bathrooms and taking out trash, and that was happening at least twice daily, GOOD! Plastic barrier was up between sinks, GOOD!  Signs on bathroom door about distancing, GOOD, but no mention of wearing MASKS.

And the CAMPERS!!  That was the major problem.  We were the only ones wearing masks in the tight bathrooms, and we had them around our necks hiking and pulled them up when others were nearby.  People didn’t seem to care about distancing. Jay Cooke was so crowded, particularly on the approaches to and on the bridge, people were not observing distancing at all, and again, we were the only ones with masks on.

In a camping situation, how on earth will any sort of enforcement happen, who would that fall to?  I can’t imagine a more difficult task than attempting to get folks to take this pandemic seriously!  But if Menards can, so can Minnesota.

Generally, we need an Executive Order to wear masks in public, top down.  Again, I think it’s too early to have campgrounds and parks open.  But campgrounds and parks are open…  That said, in addition to an Executive Order from Gov to wear masks in public as state parks and campgrounds are open, a few things I’d recommend:

• A LARGE NEON sign at the check-in stopsign/desk “wear masks in public, i.e., restrooms, and have handy out in public” or some such, signs on bathroom doors.
• Get serious about signage. There should be signs everywhere there’s a sign of another sort, i.e., vending machines, wood sales, picnic areas, water spigots, rentals, etc., EVERYWHERE.
• Make sure staff has large supply of cheap Menards style masks to hand out to everyone not wearing one, asking, “Do you need a mask?” frequently!!
• Masks everywhere, with a sign, “”Take one, wear it in good health!”  Camp hosts can put masks on picnic tables in a bag with note inside, “Please wear masks in bathrooms, in public where others are nearby, have handy on the trails, for everyone’s protection,” or some such…
• Sell irresistibly cute pine tree, bear, moose, etc. masks at all visitor centers, front and center with a sign, “Please wear masks, help keep our parks open,” or some such.
• Camping and reservation page banner with two photos, one of cute 20 somethings with masks hanging around their neck hiking with message, “Pull up your mask when you encounter others on the trail!” and a few women in the bathroom with masks on distancing and handwashing, “Keep 6’ Distance!  Wear Masks!  Wash Those Hands!”  Website changes are easy.
• On reservation page, when making reservation, the message “I agree to wear a mask when in proximity to others, while hiking, in bathrooms, etc.” and click an “I accept” box. Again, website changes are easy.

We just cancelled out of our Minneopa State Park camp host gig, which I was seriously looking forward to, but that gig involves not just stocking, but cleaning bathrooms at the campground and separate picnic site, and of course greeting and hosting… but there’s COVID (plus we’re down to one vehicle now).  As it is, I don’t think I could do camp hosting without bringing my sewing machine and making masks in the screen tent, greeting campers and handing them out, hanging them on each site number post, in the bathrooms, etc!  It’s not part of the camp host gig, nor is being a bossy boots, but this is a pandemic, and I think the state needs to step up its precautions.

We need an Executive Order requiring wearing of masks in public.  STAT!

Thanks for your consideration,

Carol A. Overland

I’m seriously bummed over backing out of the camp hosting gig, but with what I observed this past week, neither of us are comfortable with all the cleaning necessary and dealing with people, mostly unmasked, that’s necessary as camp host. Same goes for camping in the near, and perhaps distant, future — is camping in crowded campgrounds a good idea? Would it be better to head out to way out of the way dispersed camping areas? Reservations about reservations going forward…

But the past week was overall well worth it, got around to a few favorites and some new places too. Cascade River State Park is still closed to camping, but will open on July 15.

Silver Bay has a rather bizarre scenic overlook of the Cliffs taconite pellet plant!

Yes, MASKS!!!

And Taconite Harbor, where I took old Kenya for a swim a decade ago while touring the state getting caught up on CLEs:

Smothered chicken burritos:

And of course, corncakes with rhubarb & maple syrup:

And no, not even close to primitive:

Little Sadie loves not-at-all-primitive camping:

And a stop to check out Jay Cooke State Park on the way back:

An article written by St. Olaf College graduate Tyler Benning '17, a medical student at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, and Associate Professor of Political Science Chris Chapp was recently featured in JAMA Pediatrics, a monthly peer-reviewed journal published by the American Medical Association.

By Teri Knight, News Director Just before 6 o’clock yesterday evening, Rice County deputies were dispatched to a personal injury crash involving a dump truck and side-by-side all-terrain vehicle (ATV) in the 20000 block of Geneva Avenue in Shieldsville Township. The ATV was traveling southbound on the west shoulder of Geneva Avenue when it attempted

Hosts Wayne Eddy and Dina Fesler talk with Physical Therapist and James Gang Reenactor JB Dudley, State Senator Mary Kiffmeyer, and former Minnesota Viking Stu Voigt.

A popular downtown restaurant is operating in a new location ⁠— in the basement of Armory Square.

April Kopack and Rick Hirsch announce that the Riverwalk Market Fair will not open on Bridge Square this year and instead will operate as a “virtual” market.  For more information, visit their website at riverwalkmarketfair.org.

Northfield Mayor Rhonda Pownell and City Clerk Deb Little provide information about the upcoming elections.  There will be a primary election on August 11 for the Northfield Mayor position.  Citizens are encouraged to vote by mail.  You can apply online for an absentee ballot at mnvotes.org.  Early voting begins at city hall on Friday, June

The Northfield City Council last week took an important step to shore up the maintenance process at the wastewater treatment plant following a number of troublesome incidents.

The Northfield Economic Development Authority recently approved a $15,000 grant program for restaurants, eateries and retail shops in Northfield to help them build their online commerce presence.

Businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent employees are eligible to receive a grant for 50% of costs associated with e-commerce investment up to $1,500.

This is a first-come, first-served reimbursement program.  Applications are due by June 30th.  More details can be found at ci.northfield.mn.us/edagrant and a Spanish version of the information here.

The post Deadline approaches, funds still available for EDA e-commerce grant program appeared first on Northfield Downtown Development Corporation.

A popular downtown restaurant is operating in a new location.

DUNDAS, Minn. - Dundas will open its 2020 season on Saturday with a non-league game against the Moorhead Brewers at Memorial Park at 4 p.m.

The Dundas Association Baseball Board of Directors on Monday night approved the start with a directive that the club and its visitors adhere to the the guidelines set forth by the MInnesota Department of Health and the parameters set by the Minnesota Baseball Association. Teams and fans will be mandated to social distance and avoid all unneccesary contact. 

The Dukes are coming off an up-and-down 2019 campaign that saw the club go a mere 4-6 in section play before a sweep of Hampton in the section playoffs. Dundas then rattled off four stratight wins to reach the state title series. Chanhassen swept the Dukes on Labor Day, giving Dundas its eighth runner up finish to go with five state titles. It was the fourth championship appearance since 2008.

National Disability Provider Association Names Molly Halls Recipient of 2020 Minnesota Direct Support Professional of the Year Award The American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) announced that Molly Halls, a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at Laura Baker Services Association (LBSA), has been named the recipient of the 2020 Minnesota Direct Support Professional of the Year...

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By Teri Knight, News Director While the colleges seem to be planning for returning students, the Northfield School District continues to work on plans for three different scenarios including a full return to in-person classes, continued long-distance learning and/or a hybrid. Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann said the hybrid option would mean strict 6 ft. social

St. Olaf student Zeke Warren-Weigmann ’21 has been named the winner of the first Big Scribble student journalism contest. 

Event date: July 14, 2020
Event Time: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Location:
Northfield, MN 55057
Description:
An air-source heat pump can provide efficient heating and cooling for your home. When properly installed, an air-source heat pump can deliver one-and-a-half to three times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes. Learn more about air-source heat pumps and what you need to know before installing one.