The City of Northfield has declared a Snow Emergency effective 1 p.m. January 17 until 9 a.m. January 19.

During a Snow Emergency there is no parking on any city street until it is plowed curb-to-curb and the weather system has passed. Vehicles parked on the street will be ticketed with the potential of being towed during a snow emergency.

Trash and recycling bins are not allowed on city streets.

Apply now via the city’s website

The City of Northfield is seeking interested individuals to serve as election judges for the presidential nomination primary on March 3, 2020, the primary election on August 11, 2020 and the general election on November 3, 2020. Election judges administer election procedures in polling places and ensure that voters' rights are protected and respected on Election Day. Election judges receive pay for required training time and work on Election Day. By law, employers must give election judges time off from work to serve. In addition to serving on Election Day, judges must complete required training prior to serving. Election judges may serve all day (approximately 6 a.m. – close) or choose a half day shift (6 a.m. – 2 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. – close).

Local author Joy Riggs will read from and sign copies of her nonfiction book, Crackerjack Bands and Hometown Boosters: The Story of a Minnesota Music Man, on Thursday, Jan. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Little Joy Coffee, 300 Division St. S. in Northfield.

Free finger food and brewed coffee will be served, and specialty coffee drinks will be available for purchase, including a book-themed drink created for the event.

Program aims to strengthen, revitalize and sustain downtown

The Economic Development Authority (EDA) approved $20,000 per year for the next three years to pilot a Façade Improvement Program. This program is designed to encourage downtown building owners to reinvest in the exterior of their buildings to extend the life of those important structures.

The Economic Development Authority will match private investment one-to-one up to $10,000. The EDA will be accepting applications between February 1 and March 15.

This program is part of the Economic Development Authority’s strategic plan to revitalize downtown Northfield.

More information can be found on the city’s website: ci.northfeild.mn.us/edagrant

Program aims to strengthen, revitalize and sustain downtown

The Economic Development Authority (EDA) approved $20,000 per year for the next three years to pilot a Façade Improvement Program. This program is designed to encourage downtown building owners to reinvest in the exterior of their buildings to extend the life of those important structures.

The Economic Development Authority will match private investment one-to-one up to $10,000. The EDA will be accepting applications between February 1 and March 15.

This program is part of the Economic Development Authority’s strategic plan to revitalize downtown Northfield.

More information can be found on the city’s website: ci.northfeild.mn.us/edagrant

Save the date February 13, 7:00 p.m. at Hideaway in downtown Northfield, for the Annual Meeting of Northfield Citizens Online (NCO).

Almost 30 years ago, a group of Northfielders had been discussing questions like:  What's the likely impact of the Internet on the local community? How can it be used to strengthen a geographic community rather than undermining it. 

The group established the non-profit NCO and founded the website Northfield.org to create an electronic commons that strengthens the fabric of community in the greater Northfield area. Over the years, Northfield.org has played a number of roles involving many local citizens and organizations. 

The question of the impact of Internet-based technologies on the community is as relevant now as at the time of the founding of NCO, if not more so. What role Northfield.org can and should play will be part of the discussion at the February Annual Meeting.

Community-focused clean energy effort will take shape throughout 2020

It is an energizing start to 2020 for City of Northfield who received a $3,000 Seed Grant from the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) today.

“We’re very excited to learn about the grant award,” said Beth Kallestad, City of Northfield program coordinator. “We can’t wait to get started on our project, Solar for Northfield.”

The Northfield Human Rights Commission is pleased to be hosting the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration at Emmaus Church, 712 Linden Street North from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The theme of the event is “We All Count.” Members of the Complete Count Committee and the League of Women Voters will have information tables. The event will feature speaker Joan Hepburn and performances from the Northfield Youth Choir and the Justice Choir.

Joan Hepburn has been an associate professor of English at St. Olaf College for 33 years. She currently teaches courses in English, Race and Ethnic Studies, and Africa and the African Diaspora. She specializes in West African Drama in English and has offered a wide array of classes across disciplines. Her written work focuses on the intersection of cultural diversity and relationships to power.

Join us for a free youth orchestra concert!

CVYO is a local youth organization with three string orchestras for elementary, middle, and high school age string players. See our website:  cvyomn.org   Our music director is Paul Benson, conductor at Bloomington Kennedy High School.  CVYO rehearses on Tuesdays at Emmaus Baptist Church in Northfield starting Feb. 4, ending with a concert Friday, April 17.  Contact us for a 10 minute audition time at info@cvyomn.org

Northfield’s Arts and Culture Commission will mark the start of the 2020 Sidewalk Poetry competition with a kick-off event hosted by Northfield’s Poet Laureate Rob Hardy on Saturday, January 18 at 2 p.m. in the atrium of the Northfield Public Library.

Winners of the 2019 competition will be featured reading their winning entries or favorite poems from their collections. Community members of all ages – poets and non-poets alike - are encouraged to attend and participate. The public isinvited to bring a favorite short poem to the kick-off to share with the audience. A Spanish interpreter is participating in the kick-off event.

This year’s sidewalk poetry competition is entitled “New Voices / Nuevas Voces.” Poetry submissions will again be accepted in Spanish and English. Participating poets do not need to provide translations of their submissions to the contest. This year’s judging panel will include both Spanish and English speakers.

Northfield residents will be receiving a survey from the City of Northfield in the mail. Residents are encouraged to complete and return it in the self-addressed prepaid envelope.

The City of Northfield has retained Fieldstone Research to conduct a survey designed to help city staff and elected officials determine the desires, perceptions and priorities of Northfield residents as they relate to enhancing the parks and recreation opportunities within Northfield.

The first concert in 2020 brings Jerry Kosak and Pat Donohue to the Guild stage. Both guitar masters will share music with Northfield audiences shortly after the new year. Audiences will recognize Pat’s signature style after hearing music he played or wrote for almost 20 years on A Prairie Home Companion as part of the house band. Jerry’s music has hints of roots and blues, rock, classical, and jazz, allowing him to “develop his own unique voice as a player and composer.” Don't miss this night of incredible guitar music, buy your tickets at the Guild today!

    Are you looking for ideas for the winter months ahead?  Have you wanted to start a new craft or needlework hobby but don't know where to begin?  Come to the Northfield Public Library on Saturday, January 11, from 11:30- 2:00 pm and watch demonstrations of knitting, spinning, wet felting, English piecing (quilting), rug hooking, and art projects.  You will have the opportunity to try some of these projects.  Demonstrators from Northfield Yarn, Reproduction Fabrics, Sketchy Artist and the local Rug Hooking group will show you how to get started.  The program is free and open to all ages.  For questions, email Joan Ennis at joan.ennis@ci.northfield.mn.us

Who comes to the Christmas Dinner for All? The community comes! You don't need a special reason to qualify - ALL are invited! People come who would otherwise be alone. People from St. John’s and the community come because they want to be part of the celebration. A favorite story concerns a mother residing at the Northfield Retirement Community who invited her children and grandchildren for dinner and came to St. John’s for the celebration. The daughter told us, "This was likely mom’s last Christmas and she celebrated in hosting the family dinner once more!" We invite YOU to join us in this celebration!