44th Annual Lucia Fest Set for Friday, Dec. 13

Northfield High School students Ava O'Neill, Grace Casson, and Lenyn Pfau will lead the procession Friday, Dec. 13, at the 44th annual Lucia Fest sponsored by the Northfield Swedish Club.

Area residents of Swedish descent, or those interested in Swedish customs, are invited to join the festivities beginning at 6 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, 500 Third St. West in Northfield. The celebration includes a potluck supper, a Lucia processional and pageant, live fiddle music, the singing of Swedish carols, and folk dancing.

Northfield launches local leadership program

Growing local is a popular concept in Northfield and while it routinely applies to food, the City of Northfield and partners are applying it to a pilot leadership training program. The Growing Local: Northfield Emerging Leaders Program is launching in Northfield early next year. This program is a collaboration between the City of Northfield, University of Minnesota Extension, Healthy Community Initiative, Growing Up Healthy, the Northfield School District and Northfield Shares.

The program goals for participants are to:

Be nice by recycling your holiday lights. Don’t be naughty by putting wrapping paper in your recycling.

Don’t know what to do with those old or non-working holiday lights? Are you making the switch to energy efficient LED holiday lights? Recycle your old lights!

Residents can drop-off any unwanted holiday lights at ACE Hardware at 670 Water Street South during the holiday season or at any point during the year at Rice County Solid Waste and Recycling Center at 3800 East 145th Street in Dundas. ACE is collecting old lights through January.

DSI is asking residents to not put wrapping paper in your curbside recycling or in the large collection bins at grocery stores. Most wrapping paper contains foil, tape, bows and other items that contaminate the paper recycling. Instead of traditional wrapping paper, consider other options such as reusable cloth bags, gift baskets, paper bags, or newsprint.

The City of Northfield has declared a Snow Emergency effective 9 p.m. November 26 until 9 a.m. November 28.

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.

Residents can give input via app, website or paper

The City of Northfield is asking for public input on general community and neighborhood questions during its annual community survey (closing on December 15) and other wellness related questions by using Polco, a public engagement platform. Community members can review survey results on Polco.   

Residents can participate on Polco by downloading the Polco app for Android or iOS, or visiting the city’s web page on Polco at polco.us/northfield. QR codes on City information boards allow easy access to the Polco website. Residents’ individual information is never shared and cannot be accessed by the City.

The Northfield Human Rights Commission is seeking nominees for its annual Human Rights Award by December 6, 2019.

To be considered for this award, a nominee should be a local individual, group or organization that has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to the advancement of human rights in the Northfield area, either through volunteer or professional efforts. The Human Rights Commission seeks a balanced and diverse slate of nominees that contribute to the cause of human rights in a variety of ways. All nominations should include a brief biography of the candidate as well as the reasons the nominee should receive consideration for the award.

Alyssa Herzog Melby, Chair of the Northfield Arts and Culture Commission, will speak about “Creative Placemaking: Developing Northfield through Arts and Culture” at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 7, 2019, in the Bunday Room of the Northfield Public Library. Her talk, sponsored by Pi Chapter (Rice County) of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international society for key women educators, is free and open to the public. Desserts will be served. All welcome!  

Energy Action Team recommends Home Energy Squad® visits to identify smart fixes for avoiding trouble and staying comfortable

As winter approaches, Northfield’s Energy Action Team is mobilizing to help residents avoid costly ice dam problems at home. They are encouraging homeowners and landlords to schedule visits from the Home Energy Squad®.

The application deadline for service on City Boards and Commissions has been extended to Friday, November 8, 2019. The City of Northfield is seeking applicants to fill volunteer positions on several City advisory boards and commissions. Please visit the City of Northfield’s website Boards & Commissions page for information and an application: www.ci.northfield.mn.us/98/Boards-Commissions.

The Arts and Culture Commission invites Northfielders to nominate anyone whom they feel is worthy of being considered the 2020 Northfield Living Treasure by November 18, 2019.

The annual award honors an individual who has, over time, made significant contributions to Northfield in, through, or on behalf of the arts and culture to enhance the reputation of the city and the quality of life of its residents. Nominees may be either a practitioner in one or more of the arts, an arts or cultural leader, a supporter, or an advocate.

Nomination forms can be picked up at the Northfield Public Library, the City Hall Administration office, and the Northfield Arts Guild. They can be dropped off at the Northfield Public Library or completed online at https://forms.gle/TXxfJHZ94XdLLmRdA.

Authors Dennis and Karen Vinar will speak about their family story and second edition at the Northfield Public Library on Thursday, November 14, at 7:00 pm.              

An emotion packed yet heart-warming account of two teenagers who face an expected pregnancy and separate for 53 year, this true story will touch your heart when they reunite with each other and the child they placed for adoption.  A quote from a friend, "If you don't turn the page, you won't know what the next chapter holds."

Authors Dennis and Karen Vinar will speak about their family story and second edition at the Northfield Public Library on Thursday, November 14, at 7:00 pm.              

An emotion packed yet heart-warming account of two teenagers who face an expected pregnancy and separate for 53 year, this true story will touch your heart when they reunite with each other and the child they placed for adoption.  A quote from a friend, "If you don't turn the page, you won't know what the next chapter holds."

    Charles Dickens lives on in the writing of his great great great granddaughter, Lucinda Hawksley!  Lucinda, a British biographer, author, lecturer and award winning travel writer will speak at the Northfield Pubic Library on Tuesday, October 29, 5:00 - 6:30pm        

  CVRO presents  the Mendelssohn Reformation Symphony and Dan Kallman's trubute to Joseph Lee Heywood "Fidelitas"

October 26-27 . see Facebook "Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra" for details

The City of Northfield is asking for the public to participate in a community survey by using POLCO, a public engagement platform. Survey results will be tabulated and shared with the City Council and community through the city website.

Residents can participate on Polco by downloading the Polco app for Android or iOS, or visiting the city’s web page on Polco at polco.us/northfield. QR codes on City information boards allow easy access to the Polco website. Residents’ individual information is never shared and cannot be accessed by the City.

Links to Polco can also be found on the city’s website www.ci.northfield.mn.us/polco, and city’s Facebook feed. English and Spanish paper surveys are available at the Northfield Public Library and Motor Vehicle Services at City Hall.