On November 14, Janet Lewis Muth sat down with Carleton student Brian Gilbert for an interview.  Brian and several other students at Carleton, along with faculty members, have started a website called Pressville for publishing news that is pertinent to the Northfield area.  Here is the link to the interview…

Pressville.org

Tomorrow evening is the annual “Night to Unite”  (formerly known as National Night Out) - a chance to get out, meet some neighbors, and get to know the local law enforcement folks as partners in our community.  The Cannon River Mobile Home Park is having their annual gathering from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.  Pinatas made by participants in our very own Camp Sol will be part of the festivities.

The Northfield festivities will be held in a central location - on Water Street.  Look for the Growing Up Healthy team from Viking Terrace at the Community Services table.

Hope to see you there!

Neighborhood leaders at last year's National Night Out event

This spring a Carleton College student produced a short video about the efforts of the neighborhood leaders in Cannon River Mobile Home Park.  It is a great depiction of their dedication and work.  Thank you to Libbie Weimer for all of her hard work!!  Check it out below…

Last night we had another successful “Monday in the Park” in Faribault.  Despite the cool, somewhat rainy weather, over 50 people gathered to socialize, play games with kids, share some food, and just enjoy time together.  We are continuing to meet every Monday evening in June and July from 6:30 to 7:30 pm in the park behind the Faribault Middle School.  While the focus is on socializing and English practice for women and children, all are welcome to come meet some new friends.   Join us if you can!

On Saturday, May 23 - in the rain - we broke ground for the community garden in the Cannon River Mobile Home Park.  Nine families will have small plots this year (10′ x 10′) right in their own neighborhood.  The tenth plot will be tended by the children who participate in the summer programming in the neighborhood.

Residents and volunteers remove sod from garden area

If you have any gardening supplies that you would like to donate, please contact Growing Up Healthy.  We are specifically looking for: a large (1000 gallons or more) water tank; a small shed for storing tools; various garden tools; and fencing to surround the garden.

I got a phone call the other day from one of our neighborhood leaders.  A resident of a mobile home park had been without heat for a few days and needed some assistance getting connected to a resource.  Our leader knew just what to do, called Three Rivers and got this resident connected with their emergency service.  Someone went to her house and fixed her furnace.   But as a result of going without heat for several days, many of her water pipes froze and burst.  So she had heat, but still couldn’t live in her home because she didn’t have any running water.  Three Rivers had their hands tied.  The funds that they receive to do the emergency furnace repair are restricted.  Don’t get me wrong - they were incredibly helpful, willing to help piece together other donations if possible to help this resident.  But the point is that the SYSTEM is completely flawed here.

So what is a person in this situation supposed to do?  We all know that in mobile homes the water pipes are prone to freeze - especially if the heat is off.  There are laws that protect people from having their heat turned off, but nothing in place to help people with the collateral damage that happens as a result of a loss of heat.  I think we can find a solution. Ideas anyone?

The transit conversation is gaining momentum.  In January another large group gathered at the Northfield Library to learn from City staff about the existing transit system and to discuss the needs that are not being met.  With great care so as not to break a system that is serving a portion of the population quite well, this group has embarked on an exploration of all of the unmet needs in the community and how to creatively meet those needs.  Various subgroups are meeting throughout the month, and the large group will gather again in late February to figure out next steps.  Stay tuned for more information and watch our calendar for the announcement of the next large group meeting…

My name is Ayan. I came to America in 2001.  I have lived in Faribault for one year.  I am from Somalia.  I like Faribault because it is very quiet and the rent is not expensive.  I like to help the Somali women and children.

On Friday, November 21, three Carleton students presented their work on a civic engagement project.  All three were students in a social welfare class tasked with identifying and researching a local topic that impacts social welfare. They went to Adrienne Falcon (Coordinator of Academic Civic Engagement at Carleton) for input on what topic might be most pertinent in Northfield right now.  Adrienne had participated in the public viewing and discussion of “Unnatural Causes” in which so many people brought up transportation as a major issue.  The students’ timing was perfect, and Northfield residents will surely benefit.

So the students did copious amounts of research and gathered a powerful group of people in a room on Friday to present their findings.  And now the conversation is happening.  The next steps include a detailed study of the needs and gaps that exist within the current system and the potential formation of a task force or working group under the guidance of a city commission.

If you are interested in getting involved in the transportation conversation - don’t hesitate to contact Growing Up Healthy or check out Northfield.org for more information  (coming soon!).