Participate long distance in Rotary’s 17th annual Turkey Trot

You’re not going to be in town for the 17th Annual Northfield Rotary Turkey Trot? No worries. Join us long distance through our Free Range Turkey Trot option.  

Gather friends and family wherever you are on Thanksgiving Day and run or walk your own 5K to support the important causes supported by this event and show your solidarity with the 1,000-plus runners and walkers making their way through the friendly neighborhoods of Northfield.

Funds raised at the Turkey Trot will support Rotary’s ongoing work with its youth exchange program and polio eradication. Northfield is known as a “rock star” in Rotary youth exchange circles. Northfield regularly sends 10 to 15 students abroad each year and this year is hosting six foreign students.

Superintendent of the Northfield Public Schools, Matt Hillmann, will explain the school district’s levies at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, November 2nd in the Bridgewater Town Hall, 500 Railway Street, Dundas. On November 7, 2017, school district residents are asked to vote on two important funding changes:  increasing the operating levy and authorizing the sale of $109 million in bonds for building construction and improvements.

Following a three-year process to analyze building needs, the school board voted to place the levy and bond questions on the ballot this November. The League of Women Voters, a non-partisan organization dedicated to voter education, is the sponsor of this opportunity for the public to prepare for the November vote. 

Come for conservations with candidates, stay for coffee and cookies! Members of the public are invited to attend Democracy Extravaganza, an evening of civic engagement, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, November 6, at the First United Church of Christ, 300 Union St. in Northfield. The event is sponsored by Cannon Valley Indivisible.

Information tables will be set up throughout the evening so people can talk to representatives from a dozen local grassroots and civic organizations and learn more about topics including health care, social justice, immigrant advocacy, voter registration, youth activism, gun control, climate and the environment, and local government.

River Bend Nature Center is the place to go for Halloween fun on Saturday, September 28 from 2 to 6 p.m. This is a “spooktacular:, non-scary Halloween event with wagon rides, an animal show, complimentary cider, s’mores and popcorn, games, crafts and more! Admission is $7 each ($5 for members) or $20 per family ($15 for member families).

River Bend Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that specializes in nature and environmental education. The Center includes 743 acres of original and restored natural lands with over ten miles of trails that are open to the public 365 days per year. It is located on the east side of Faribault, Minnesota:  follow the brown nature center signs from the intersection of Shumway Ave. and MN Hwy 60.

 For more information about River Bend Nature Center or their upcoming programs, visit them on the web at www.rbnc.org, on Facebook at fb.me/riverbendMN, or on Twitter @riverbendMN.

The 17th annual Northfield Rotary Turkey Trot is an opportunity to have fun while doing good.

The 5K Run-Walk Thanksgiving morning in Northfield raises funds for Rotary International’s Polio Plus campaign and for Northfield’s successful youth exchange program. And don’t forget the Northfield Food Shelf. Runners and walkers are encouraged to bring a food item to replenish the store.

The Turkey Trot will begin at the Carleton College Weitz Center at 9 a.m. Same-day registration opens at 8 a.m. The cost is $15 per participant if you register by Thursday, Nov. 9, or $20 if you register after that. Runners and walkers are encouraged to bring their dogs to the event. Canines will be recognized with a bandana complements of Countryside Animal Hospital and Kennels, one of the Turkey Trot’s major sponsors.

It is said that you should never discuss politics or religion in polite company. But three veteran peace advocates will do just that at “Perspectives on Palestine 2017,” a day-long conference presenting thoughtful, progressive voices on the crisis in Israel-Palestine.

The conference will be held 8:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 500 3rd St W., Northfield.

Dr. Mark Braverman, program director of Kairos USA, will present“Tipping Point? Politics, Zionism and the Call to the Church.” Nathan Stock is the former director of the Israel-Palestine Office of The Carter Center and will speak on “Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.” Jennifer Bing, director of the Chicago American Friends Service CommitteeMiddle East Program, will present “No Way to Treat a Child.”

The League of Women Voters of Northfield/Cannon Falls will hold a candidate forum on Monday, October 23, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at the Northfield City Hall, 801 Washington Street.

On November 7, there will be an election for an at-large seat on the Northfield City Council, with three candidates vying for the position. The incumbent, Greg Colby, was appointed to fill the vacancy created in November 2016 when Rhonda Pownell was elected Mayor. Colby’s term ends on December 31, 2017.  The term of the elected candidate will be one year with the possibility of running in the 2018 election for a 4-year term.

The three candidates are:  Greg Colby, Jon Denison and Don McGee.  Allene Moesler of Cannon Falls will moderate the forum. There will be opportunities for the public to submit questions to the candidates following their formal presentations.

Tonic Sol-fa is coming to Northfield! This family friendly concert is one you won't want to miss. Tonic Sol-fa's original songs, arrangements and albums have won numerous contemporary a cappella awards for best pop album, gospel song and Christmas original, have been featured on television and in movies and have garnered numerous positive national reviews. Join us Friday, October 13 at 7:00 at the Northfield Middle School Auditorium - a benefit concert for Three Links.

Tickets are $20 and for seniors and students; $15. Purchase tickets online at www.tonicsolfa.com or pick them up starting one hour prior to event at the Middle School Auditorium; 2200 Division St. S in Northfield. Questions: call Ruth at (507) 664-8867

The Northfield Arts Guild presents two Halloween themed events this October.  Danse Macabre is back, and this time, “Night of the Living Dancers”, is perfectly situated on Friday the 13th of October. This sure-to-sell-out event is one night only: a night of dances and surprises revolving around the dark, macabre and twisted. Danse Macabre is held at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third Street West, beginning at 7:30pm, October 13, 2017.  Tickets are $15 general admission and are available at NorthfieldArtsGuild.org or by calling 507-645-8877.

New Northfield Arts Guild Exhibition

The Northfield Arts Guild presents “Take the Fork in the Road: Realism and Abstraction” an exhibition featuring paintings by Julie Fakler, ceramic installation by Lisa Truax, and colored pencil drawings by Steven Watson. This exhibition runs September 28 through October 28, 2017 in the Main Gallery at the Northfield Arts Guild Center for the Arts, 304 Division Street South. 

Julie Fakler paints on a gessoed hardboard with many thin watered down layers of acrylic paint. Her subjects are domesticated animals that include cats, dogs, and farm animals. This exhibition will feature the work created during her SEMAC grant project after visiting South East Minnesota farms to meet the farm animals and farmers. 

FirstUnited Church of Christ in Northfield will resume evening services Sunday, Oct. 1, at 5 p.m., with Hans Peterson, an accomplished church musician, leading the music for this service. First UCC is excited to have Peterson joining their staff.

Hans comes to First UCC with a rich background in Progressive Christian church music in a folk style.  Hans has toured with a musical group to West Africa, worked as a youth director/worship leader, and served homeless men in a Catholic Worker House. Hans' passion for the church as a welcoming place led him to United Seminary in the Twin Cities where he completed a masters in theology and arts. As a singer/songwriter he ventures out solo and with the Dakota Road band, playing piano and acoustic guitar.

The Knightcrawlers swimming club celebrates its 20th season and recruits new members.    Consider joining.   Contact Patsy Ophaug (patsy@deskmedia.com), Dan Hofrenning (dhofrenn@gmail.com), or Andy Clark (aclark@carleton.edu).   Season starts September 11; there is an interest meeting on Wednesday, August 30, at 7 pm in the Carleton West Gym classroom.  See this Northfield News article for more details.

Horseshoe hunting is for kids too! Jesse James and his gang left behind more than one horseshoe as they were leaving town and we need your help to find all of them. Clues will help you locate the hidden horseshoes, each with their own prize. Unlimited horseshoes and prizes per person may be won. Participants of each age category (entering grades K - 4 and entering grades 5 - 8) will have a chance to win one of their own category's bronze, silver or golden grand horseshoe cash prizes! Parents are welcome to come along and help. This evening event will get you in the spirit of Northfield's annual horseshoe hunt beginning one day after the youth hunt!

Join Carleton's resident astronomers to view Jupiter, stars, clusters, and nebulas Friday June 1 from 9:45 - 11:45 PM. The event will be cancelled  if cloudy.    If it is cloudy or partly cloudy, a final decision regarding the open house will be posted at the observatory  website, http://go.carleton.edu/observatory by one hour before the start time.