By Teri Knight, News Director
Northfield Area Fire and Rescue responded to a house fire on the corner of 4th St. W and Orchard yesterday afternoon. The fire started in the kitchen, crews knocked it down quickly but one person suffered some minor smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene. The home suffered some smoke and water damage but is habitable. The family just moved in two weeks ago.
NHS Asst. Principals exit, two more enter
Northfield High School Assistant Principals Jeff Eckoff and Marnie Thompson are retiring. During this is National Teacher Appreciation Week, Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann reported that, after decades in the school district, Eckoff retired mid-year and Marnie Thompson will retire at the end of this year. Hillmann said, “I want to publicly thank them on behalf of the thousands and thousands of students that they had a positive impact on, for all the parents that they worked with through disciplinary situations with their students and just for the clear commitment to caring for every kid. Jeff and Marnie are just highlights of what you want for assistant principals”. Eckoff was a large part of the LINK program, helping middle schoolers transition to high school and Thompson was there at the beginning of the TORCH program supporting first generation college students. The District had 60 applicants for the two positions and multiple rounds of interviews. Last week the School Board approved their replacements, “so I’m very proud to introduce to the public Nancy Veverka, who will join us. She’s a veteran administrator from the St. Paul Public school system”. She is bilingual in Spanish and English. Hillmann said, “and we also want to welcome Rico Bohren who spent the last six years as Dean of Students at Simley high school in Inver Grove Heights. And Rico’s also an adjunct faculty member at Concordia University in the Dept. of Educational Leadership”. Two leaders that came highly recommended. Bohren and Veverka will begin July 1st.
LBSA’s Molly Halls wins National award
On April 20th, Laura Baker Services Association Direct Support Professional, Molly Halls, was named the recipient of the DSP of the year! Halls was chosen from a field of 300 nominees. Executive Director, Sandi Gerdes said, “LBSA is overwhelmingly proud of Molly, for her award recognition of course, but more importantly for her dedication and commitment to true community inclusion for the individuals we support,”. Molly has worked at LBSA for 13 years and has a gift of tuning into the needs and interests of people she supports to determine what tools she can use to help them achieve their goals. She uses kindness and persistence to help transform those goals into reality. The full press release: 2020 DSP of the Year Awards Press Release – LBSA. She will be honored in a virtual ceremony this week.
Hops, Grapes & History Team Trivia!
The Northfield Historical Society has found a unique way to raise a few funds and have 
some fun answering trivia questions from home! Hops, Grapes & History Team Trivia. Register your team online at northfieldhistory.org by May 12th. It can be those in your home or a zoom team you create. All those registered will receive a trivia packet via email on May 13th. Answer the questions by NOON on May 16th. The cost is $25 per team. Submit answers to: info@northfieldhistory.org. You can Google the answers or use books on Northfield history. Some answers will only be found outdoors in the community. Then tune in to Facebook Live at 7pm on May 16 for the answers. Prize winners will be announced as well. History unites us even when we’re separated. Get all the details and register HERE.
Adopt a Senior
Seniors are being adopted on Facebook! The idea is to spread some good cheer! For anyone in the Northfield area, and nearly any school district, you’re invited to adopt a 2020 Senior or nominate your own. Once a Senior is adopted send them notes of encouragement, baskets of treats, goodies, school spirit or anything you feel in your hearts to show them we appreciate their hard work and efforts! Find out more on Facebook. This LINK takes you to the Northfield page. Go to facebook and find your school district.
