Local Issues

The Northfield Area Family YMCA is very pleased to announce the addition of two new Youth Board Members.  Emily Morsching, Senior at Northfield High School and Cole Glassing, Sophomore at Northfield High School were heartily welcomed to their first YMCA Board Meeting this month.  "The addition of youth in all our conversations will bring a wonderful perspective and value to the future of the YMCA."  said Virginia Kaczmarek, Executive Director.  For a complete list of all board members, visit http://northfieldymca.org/about/board-of-directors/

The United Nations International Day of Peace is celebrated annually around the world on September 21. The Northfield Community Celebration of the 2015 International Day of Peace will be held on Sunday, September 20, 2015, from 2:00 to 3:30PM in Bridge Square.

Building on this year’s theme, “Partnerships for Peace - Dignity for All,” the program will highlight local and regional partnerships that promote ideas and actions for peace in our community and the surrounding area. Special attention will be given to partnerships which advocate on the behalf of diverse populations that make up our community. We thrive as a community when the dignity of everyone who regards himself/herself as a community member is a priority for each of us.

Join members of the Northfield Human Rights Commission, community leaders, and your friends and neighbors for the Northfield Community Celebration of the International Day of Peace on Sunday, September 20!

The Northfield Area United Way will host a family friendly Super Hero Kickoff for its fall fundraising campaign at the Northfield Area Family YMCA, Saturday, September 19, from 10 a.m. to noon. The public is invited to meet powerful United Way partner agencies and learn how these local heroes benefit one in three Northfield area residents. Kids are encouraged to dress as their favorite super heroes for the chance to win a prize for Best Dressed Super Hero.

The public is invited to try the YMCA all day. Other features of the morning kickoff include live folk music, interactive games and giveaways. Super heroes and common folk are invited to dress up and take their own photos in the photo booth sponsored by Brand Yourself Consulting.

The Northfield Area Family YMCA is Hiring!

Job Title: FT Member Services Coordinator – apply by Aug 23rd
Posted: August 5, 2015
Status: Full Time Non-Exempt
Wage Range: $26,020 - $30,960 annually (includes a $6,000 health insurance stipend)

The City of Northfield and Northfield’s PRIMEtime out-of-school-time network were featured in a recent national newsletter published by the National League of Cities.  The article highlights the efforts of the PRIMEtime collaborative to provide free summer programming to over 500 Northfield youth this summer.  Northfield is recognized as a national leader among small cities in creating citywide out-of-school-time systems.

The article notes the City of Northfield’s support for PRIMEtime, including partnerships with the Northfield Public Library, Northfield Police Department, and Northfield City Pool.  The piece also recognizes valuable financial grants provided to PRIMEtime by the Northfield Area United Way, Women In Northfield Giving Support, and Youthprise.

Participating PRIMEtime summer programs include:

• Summer PLUS – serving youth in grades K-5, four days per week for 7 weeks at Greenvale Park Elementary School
• Summer BLAST – serving youth in grades 6-8, four days per week for 7 weeks, and splitting time between Northfield Middle School & Carleton College
• The Key – a youth-run youth center in downtown Northfield, open daily to all youth ages 12-20

Partners in the PRIMEtime collaborative include the Northfield Public Schools,Northfield Healthy Community Initiative, Tackling Obstacles and Raising College Hopes, Carleton College, St. Olaf College, and Minnesota Alliance With Youth Promise Fellows program.

To access the full National League of Cities article, CLICK HERE.

News Release

Contacts:

Leah Eby, Growing Up Healthy

(507) 664-3527, Leah@growinguphealthy.org

Julie Ann Eastling, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation

(651) 662-6574, Julie_A_Eastling@bluecrossmn.com

Growing Up Healthy awarded grant through the Blue Cross Foundation
Grant helps create greater health equity in the community

WINGS (Women in Northfield Giving Support) honored its 2015 grant recipients at a celebration last Tuesday at the Carleton College Weitz Center for Creativity.

Over 125 people attended the event to hear about the work of the 27 organizations that received $73,868 in grants from WINGS. 2015 grant recipients can be viewed at http://www.wings-mn.org/current-grant-recipients.

Volumes 2 and 3 of Susan Hvistendahl's trilogy of "Historic Happenings" books will be presented at the Village on the Cannon Community Room, along with a book signing, on Thursday, June 11, with a social time at 6:30 followed by the presentation of books on St. Olaf and Carleton happenings at 7 pm. The books are compilations of columns written for the Entertainment Guide since 2007. Refreshments will be provided by the Northfield Historical Society, which published the books in collaboration with the Guide. Special musical guest on the VOC piano will be Marc Reigel of Carleton's Night Crawlers, a rock group featured in the Carleton book.

The Mayor’s Youth Council is hosting a community garage sale this Friday and Saturday.  There are hundreds of items for sale!  The sale is part of the Northfield Shares “Goods for Good” community garage sale initiative.

WHEN:  

• FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 — 3:30-6:00 p.m.
• SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015 — 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Northfield Maintenance Facility (1710 Riverview Drive, behind Perkins Restaurant and across from the new police station)

WHY? All proceeds will go to the Northfield YouthBank, which provides grants to youth-run projects. All funds raised at the sale will be matched — dollar-for-dollar — by the Youthprise Foundation.

The spring season is officially upon us and the public is invited to check out what’s happening in the Carleton College Cowling Arboretum.

Wildflower Tour

Come learn about the wildflowers of the Cowling Arboretum on a field trip led by Arboretum director, Nancy Braker. Learn flower identification tips and see what is blooming. The field trip will visit Stork Forest, the oldest forest restoration project in the Arboretum. Wild ginger, trillium, bellwort, hepatica and bloodroot all grow here, but what will be seen on the trip depends on how far advanced the spring is. This will be a joint field trip with the Prairie Partners Chapter of the Wild Ones.

The field trip will take place on Thursday, May 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. Participants will meet at the entrance to the Upper Arboretum at the intersection of Second and Oak Streets. Casual clothing and walking shoes are recommended.

Annual Spring Bird Count

Peter Kageyama, the author of "For the Love of Cities," writes:  "Instead of merely livable, I think we need to start thinking about how we can make our cities more lovable.  When we love something, we cherish it; we protect it; we do extraordinary things for it."  Northfield's Arts and Culture Commission invites the public to Carleton's Weitz Center for Creativity Cinema on Thursday, April 23rd, at 7:15 pm for a screening of a TED talk by author Peter Kageyama and a panel discussion of his ideas.  The panel moderator will be Suzie Nakasian, City Council Member, First Ward; respondents will include Scott Bradley, MnDOT Office of Environmental Stewardship, Director of Context Sensitive Solutions; and Nick Haggenmiller, City Administrator of Northfield.

Best Summer Ever!
Friendship, Accomplishment, Belonging

Register for Y Navigator Camp in April and get rewarded! If you register between April 1-15, you’ll receive a $15 gift card, good towards merchandise in the Y Store! Register between April 16-30 and receive a $10 gift card. It’s easy– register today!

Y Navigator is a flexible 3-, 4- or 5-day-a-week camp, available from 6:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with programmed activities from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., that is based at the new Northfield Y facility.  Come one week or come all summer! Kids will enjoy trips to local and not-so-local destinations, all designed to strengthen their imaginations and stretch their bodies. Includes swimming at our pool.

Your kids will have an amazing experience, all in a safe, inclusive, nurturing environment.

Mary Jo Christofaro reminds readers that the Northfield community will be springing into its sixth Perennial Earth Day Celebration on April 17th and 18th. "Mark your calendars for a great event. The kick-off will be Northfield AreaCommunity Solar’s 'Sun Power Hour' on Friday, April 17th from 5pm-7pm at First UCC.  Join us for a community gathering with appetizers, tea and coffee. Learn more about Community Solar and take advantage of this opportunity to subscribe."