by Rich Larson
As the Delta Variant continues to prolong the Covid-19 pandemic, Northfield Hospital + Clinics President and CEO Steve Underdahl said that his organization has been prepared for a resurgence in the virus and they are ready should the situation continue to worsen.
Underdahl said, looking back over the span of the global pandemic, by and large, the science has been right. So, when the Delta Variant was identified as a much more contagious version of Covid-19, the science and medical communities were able to warn of its dangers. Unfortunately, he said, so much Covid fatigue has set in, that many people simply didn’t want to listen, and many of those people are now dealing with those consequences.
There are several issues at play. First of all, he said, the transmission rate of the Delta Variant is much higher than any previous form of the Covid virus.
“The original version [of the virus] that we were contending with, if you had somebody that was positive for Covid, in general, they would affect two other people. With Delta, that one sick person can infect 4-5 other people. The exponential math of that is just part of why we’re seeing this just spread like crazy around the United States.”
Another issue is the problem of vaccination hesitancy and refusal. For a variety of different reasons, not enough people have chosen to be vaccinated, and that has given the virus the opportunity to spread as quickly as it has.
Underdahl said they are seeing the effects of the resurgence at Northfield Hospital. Throughout the late spring and early summer there was virtually no one in the hospital’s Covid ward. But now, he said, that ward is full again. In fact, he said, it’s getting to the point where resources are beginning to get stretched. While they have not had to make any changes yet, Underdahl said NH+C staff is starting to have daily discussions again about elective surgeries and scheduled procedures. He said there could be days in the future where such things will have to be re-scheduled because resources are needed elsewhere.
He stressed that anyone 12 years of age or older who has not been vaccinated can very easily receive the vaccine of their choice by calling 507-646-8019 and making an appointment at the hospital. Vaccines are the best tool we have against the virus, and NH+C has a wealth of information on their website. It can be found by visiting northfieldhospital.org.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with NH+C President and CEO Steve Underdahl can be heard here
Local’s express their concerns with Kraewood development
Members of the community surrounding the former Paulson Tree Farm have created an organization called Northfield for Sustainable Housing, Environments and Developments, or SHED, to voice their concerns regarding the proposed Kraewood Development that would build 22 single and multi-family homes along with a 100-unit apartment building on the Paulson property. The organizers of SHED have several concerns.
Diane Angell, a retired St. Olaf Biology Professor, said the proposed development area is likely a habitat for the federally endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, and they would like to see an environmental assessment done on the area.
More traffic in the area is another concern, as the development would be across the street from Greenvale Park Elementary School and the Area Learning Center. Kathy Schuurman, another resident and a SHED co-founder, said that while a traffic study has been done, there has not been a pedestrian safety study, which, she said, should be required in areas such as that.
Bob Thacker, a co-founder of SHED as well, said there are environmental concerns beyond the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee. The area to be developed is one of the last remaining urban forest areas in Northfield, and the West Side of Northfield is, as he put it, “underparked.” He said his organization is prepared to raise the necessary funds and resources to make the area a nature preserve.
Both he and Schuurman said that, while the development would address the severe shortage of housing in Northfield, it does not do enough to address the proper types of necessary housing. Moreover, Thacker said, the area is not an appropriate space for the apartment complex, and he had suggestions for other areas where it could be built.
“The 5th Street Lofts were very successful because of the location. They are within feet of all the goods and services. And there are spaces the developer owns, by estimate there are about ten spaces here in the city – right in town – that could be developed, including probably what will happen with the Archer House. So there is opportunity for apartments that are perfectly located.”
The Northfield Planning Commission will meet at 6 pm tomorrow night to offer their recommendation to the City Council on the development.
Bowling family approved for new liquor license
And last night at the City Council meeting, the council approved a new liquor license to Flaherty’s Arden Bowl, Inc., doing business as Flaherty’s Northfield Lanes.
The Flaherty family is set to purchase the former Jesse James Lanes at the end of the month. Daniel Flaherty and his son Adam attended the meeting and gave a short presentation. Daniel Flaherty said he and his family have owned Flaherty’s Arden Bowl since 1938, making them the oldest family-owned bowling business in the United States.
As a matter of course, the city did a full background check on the Flaherty family business. No issues or concerns were found.
Jesse James Lanes has been owned by Terry and Julie Heilman for 45 years. In May, Terry Heilman sent an email to friends and supporters that the business had struggled through the pandemic and was having a hard time finding adequate staff, and therefore they closed the bowling alley on June 1st.
The Flaherty’s found enthusiastic support on the council for their move to buy the bowling alley. The motion to approve a new liquor license passed unanimously.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net.
