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Bestselling author returns with latest novel set once again in Minnesota
When bestselling author J. Ryan Stradal visits Northfield in late June, he’ll be with members of his family: his brother and their 99-year old grandmother who live in Hastings. A Minnesota native, Stradal will be making a 15-stop swing through his home state this summer to promote his latest book “Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club.” Since his nationwide book tour takes him to 25 additional places, the author’s lengthy time in Minnesota obviously underscores his popularity here. ...
Mosaic in City Hall's council chambers to receive dedication ceremony
City officials and the Northfield Arts and Culture Commission are hosting a public dedication ceremony for the mosaic mural located in the council chambers on Tuesday, June 13 at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 801 Washington St. The ceremony will be held in the chambers and will include remarks from Northfield Mayor Rhonda Pownell, artist Lori Greene, and Library Director Natalie Draper. Lori Greene, a St. Paul-based artist, was commissioned...
New youth soccer club starts in Rice County
Westley Dayus came from the United Kingdom and has over 25 years of experience coaching youth soccer leagues, even having spent some time with professional coaches in the Netherlands. He also coached semi-professional soccer for the Alvechurch Football Club. As the recreational coaching director and club technical director of the all-new Webster Football Club, he plans to share his expertise with even more youth of Rice County. Webster FC is made up of two groups: U5 to U6 and U7 to U8, which means under...
5-year-old's lemonade stand ushers in summer and profits
Lane Parker wanted a scooter. Parents Caitlin and Daniel Parker wanted to teach their 5-year-old son the value of hard work and money. So, parents and son struck a compromise; Lane could earn the money for his brand new scooter all by himself. Lane, who attends Hand in Hand Preschool in Northfield, decided that he...
Northfield baseball advances to semifinal round
The Northfield baseball team (17-5) advanced to the semifinal round of the MSHSL Section 1AAA tournament with a 7-2 victory over Stewartville on Tuesday, May 30, in a game played at Memorial Park in Dundas. The No. 1 seeded Raiders will continue in Section tournament play on Saturday, June 3 with an 11:00 a.m. game against #3 seed Byron at the Red Wing Athletic Field in Red Wing, Minn. Byron advanced with an 8-2 win over Red Wing in second round play. ...
Local singer songwriter Cedric Briand releases new album
Local musician Cedric Briand didn’t have to think twice when choosing the party date for the EP and album release of his band Greenvale Manitou; he chose his birthday, June 8. After all, a party can celebrate many occasions. Briand, a singer-songwriter based here in Northfield, said the party at the Grand Event Center will mark the three-song EP release as well as the first album release. “It is a...
Kenyans replanted in Northfield find community, purpose here
At last, summer is here. As I write from my home in Northfield, we are starting the planting season in our gardens. Already “chinsaga” and “managu,” some of our popular Kenyan vegetables, are sprouting. This is the best time to meet, share and exchange seeds and seedlings. We cannot wait to start eating fresh produce and share with others in the community. We pray that the weather will favor us. ...
Machine quilted flowers, birds, trees inhabit latest art exhibit at FiftyNorth
One of the nicest compliments Kathy Weed received after winning the Viewer’s Choice award at the Rosemont Quilt Show in 2018 was “This looks like a painting.” Weed, Northfield native and lifelong sewer, said she doesn’t enter many contests. Instead, she just concentrates on bringing her nature-inspired designs to life with fabric. Now, 32 of her machine-sewn quilted wall pieces are on display through June 26 in the gallery at...
Wisconsin-based band brings Jesse James song to Northfield this weekend
After The Whiskey Farm band member Jason Horowitz finished reading a biography about legendary bank robber Jesse James, the musician felt inspired to write a song. Horowitz said his ballad does not glorify the James story. Instead, it’s a song about an anti-hero, who turns his tail and fled. Basically, a coward. “This guy’s no...
Northfield girls golf clinches 2023 Big 9 title
The Northfield High School girls golf team clinched the 2023 Big 9 Conference championship for the fourth time, thanks to the Raiders’ second-place finish at the conference’s season end tournament on Thursday, May 25 at the North Links Golf Course in Mankato. The Raiders won the overall league crown with a season record of 31-2 and edged second place Albert Lea thanks to Northfield’s second place finish at the season end conference tournament. Owatonna won the Big 9 tournament with a score of 330, while...
Northfield softball survives in MSHSL Section 1AAAA
The Northfield High School softball team (16-7) stayed alive in the MSHSL Section 1AAAA tournament with a pair of wins in the elimination bracket on Thursday, May 25 at Todd Park in Austin. In the first round of the elimination bracket, Northfield scored a 14-3 win over Rochester John Marshall and then gained a 2-0 win over Rochester Century in the second game that day to advance in section play. The Raiders continued play in the Section 1AAAA tournament with a game against Farmington on...
Landfill reopens, but citizens asked to wait
The Rice County landfill has reopened to public use, though the county is asking people to wait to visit the site if they can. Over 80% of the area affected by the May 22 fire in the landfill at the Rice County Solid Waste Facility has on E. 145th Street in rural Dundas had been covered with soil to suffocate the smoldering debris as of Tuesday morning. Workers hoped to cover the remainder, located on a hill, on Tuesday. While the landfill is now open to everyone, a county press release warns that wait times may be long. Self-haulers that need to go out to the landfill portion of the facility should note that this area its also used by licensed haulers and that only one truck at a time will be allowed to dump at a time.
Carleton alum Jonathan Capehart returns to campus as 2023 commencement speaker
Journalist Jonathan Capehart can now add “commencement speaker” to his long list of professional accomplishments. Capehart will be the 149th commencement speaker at his alma mater Carleton College. Graduation ceremonies begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Bald Spot on Carleton’s campus. A luncheon follows the ceremony at 11:30 a.m. A 1989 Carleton College graduate, Capehart last gave an academic year opening address to students on campus 10 years ago. ...
All veterans honored on Memorial Day 2023
For the first time since 2018, hundreds of patriotic Americans brought their chairs, flags, and heavy hearts to Northfield Area Veterans Memorial Park Monday morning to honor the nation’s armed service members. Dry, sunny conditions provided fine weather for the outdoor tradition this year. This year’s Tribute to All Veteran’s Memorial Day program honored 48 area servicemen who died this past year: Zane Borchers, Thomas Brandt, Patrick Burns, Milton Burrow,...
Full budget for 2023-24 year approved by Northfield School Board
At the final meeting of the academic year, the Northfield School Board approved the full budget for 2023-24. The 53-minute meeting ended with a unanimous vote by board members present. They also approved the activity fees for next year that had been proposed May 8. Corey Butler, vice chair, officiated the meeting in chair Claudia Gonzalez-George’s absence. As discussed in earlier meetings, staff recommended, and the board approved, increases to...
Smoldering landfill remains closed
The Rice County landfill, including the Solid Waste Facility, remains closed to non-licensed haulers through at least Monday. A county press release states: “We are still in the active response phase related to Monday night’s landfill fire and need to remain closed for the safety of the public and our employees as we continue our work on reducing smoldering debris.” On Wednesday the county said it was receiving monitoring equipment to assess air quality for people at the site and around the site. An engineering and environmental consulting firm also was brought in to compile data assessing ambient air quality conditions before, during and after the fire. The county has created a webpage on which it is posting updates as well as a list of area garbage haulers that can service residents in the interim. Go to www.ricecountymn.gov/694/Landfill-fire-updates
Northfield welcomes third annual Pride in the Park
Northfield’s third annual LGBTQ+ Pride celebration, Pride in the Park, returns to fly its rainbow colored flag on Saturday, June 3 from noon to 4 p.m. in Central Park, 421 E. Fourth St. The event is free and open to all members of the public. The event is expected to attract over 2,500 attendees this year and will feature 60 vendors and exhibitors, including statewide LGBTQ+ resource organizations, local schools and organizations, art and jewelry vendors, and six Northfield churches. ...
Local legislators list session accomplishments, disappointments
Minnesota legislators have finally wrapped up work on a legislative session widely regarded as the most consequential in decades, with newly minted DFL majorities making big imprints on state policy on issues from health care to energy to education. After working at a breakneck pace that only increased in the final days, legislators passed a $72 billion budget, representing a 38% increase in state spending that more than accounts for the record $17.5 billion surplus legislators had to work with at the beginning of session. ...
Friends of Downtown Northfield holds annual meeting
The historic 1888 Northfield Depot was the venue for the annual meeting of the Friends of Downtown Northfield Monday morning. About 30 business owners, building owners, city staffers and downtown Northfield enthusiasts attended the hour-long gathering. Cody Larson, owner of Little Joy and Groundwire Coffee Roasters, provided the pastries and beverages. Christopher Tassava, president of the newly rebranded group, kicked off the meeting by explaining the history of the organization, which started in 2000 when downtown businesses banded together to respond to the development of...
Finnish-American brass music topic of new local documentary
At the heart of a new documentary produced by the 1855 History Team is a story about immigration, history, culture and music. The 35-minute film traces how a local band has revitalized Finnish brass band music from 1900. The locally produced documentary titled “Revitalizing Finnish-American Music: 30 Years of Ameriikan Poijat” features a brass instrument septet dedicated to rediscovering the popular dance music of Finland around the turn of the 20th century. ...
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Northfield News has been serving Rice County, MN since 1876 and publishes Wednesdays and online at www.NorthfieldNews.com
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