by Rich Larson
The Northfield Police Department has recently begun working with a program that gives officers another option when they pull 
a motorist over for a non-working light on their car.
The Lights On! Program is an initiative by a non-profit organization called Microgrants, to fund the repair of a broken headlight, taillight, or break light for those who might not be able to afford to get it fixed.
With this program, an officer has the option to give the motorist a voucher for up $250 to replace the broken light. Before now, the most common option has been to issue a correctable violation, better known as a fixit ticket. The motorist is given a certain amount of time to make the necessary repairs to their vehicle, and then show the police department that those repairs have been made, with the court date on the ticket serving as the deadline. Should the repairs not be made before then, the fine is issued to the motorist. If that fine is not paid, the motorist’s license could be suspended. According to the Lights On website, a recent study has shown that nearly half of all people who have their license suspended become unemployed as a result, and this program is an attempt to prevent that downward spiral.
In an informational video currently playing on Northfield Public Broadcasting, Northfield Police Chief Mark Elliott acknowledged that $250 might sound like a lot of money to some for the repair of a headlight. But he pointed out that vehicle lighting has changed quite a bit over the last few years.
“It’s a little different from when I was younger. I can remember going to buy a $6.99 headlight to throw in, and it was four screws and a plug. But now with technology and LED lights and that type of thing, it’s all a little different than it used to be, and some folks just can’t afford to get that fixed.”
Participating local auto repair shops include Blue Bird Autowerks, Car Time Auto Center, Doug’s Auto Service, Elite Auto Care, Northfield Auto Care, Valley Auto Haus, Witt Brothers and Ziggy’s.
For more information on the Microgrants and the Lights On! Program, visit lightsonus.org
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Police Chief Mark Elliott can be heard here
New science curriculum had great expectations
During the last school year, the Northfield School District made a major change in the way science is taught at the elementary school level. The belief that this will create a better foundation for further scientific learning in Middle School and High School.
Superintendent of Northfield Public Schools, Dr. Matt Hillmann, said one of the things the pandemic made very clear was that science education is more important than ever. Northfield High School prides itself on the science curriculum it offers, and Hillmann believes they have one of the best science programs in the state. However, he said, that hasn’t necessarily been the case in the elementary schools, where so much emphasis is put on math and reading. With the addition of the social emotional curriculum the district adopted a few years ago, Hillmann said the elementary general education teachers had more to teach than time to do so.
To that end, the science curriculum has been shifted into a specialty classification, like art, music, and physical education. Now, Hillmann said, every elementary student from kindergarten through fifth grade will have one hour of science education every week. The district has hired three dedicated science teachers, one for each elementary school, and those teachers have selected a curriculum that is a hands-on, inquiry-based program designed to train the students to be science literate.
As science education becomes more and more of a priority across the country, Hillmann said this new approach will pay dividends later.
“For folks out there, who understand the importance of science education for our students’ future, this change at the elementary school is really setting them up for success as they get into our middle school program and then our high school program where there are at least four Advanced Placement courses that a student can take.”
Dr. Hillmann said the district expects to have the first evaluation of the new approach within the next month.
Rotary Bike Tour back after a one-year layoff
After a year off due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a shift in the regular schedule, the Northfield Rotary Bike Tour is set for tomorrow morning.
Bicyclists will be able to choose between six different rides through the Southern Minnesota countryside that surrounds Northfield. Among the options is a 10-mile family-friendly ride on the Mill Towns Trail. Those looking for a more demanding and challenging course have several options. For the first time, the event has two gravel courses: one 58-mile gravel ride through Sogn Valley, and a 31-mile gravel ride east through Nerstrand. There is a 27-mile road ride through Nerstrand, as well, a 50-mile road ride west to Montgomery and a 52-mile road ride east to Urland Church. The more adventurous riders can combine the Montgomery and Urland Church courses for a 100-mile day. Aide stations and sag wagons will be provided.
Rotarian Jean Wakely said the Tour has been an important Rotary fundraiser for many years, and the money raised funds a long list of rotary funded initiatives and causes.
“This is one of the Rotary fundraisers that supports so many of our local and international projects, like clean water in Guatemala, international youth exchange, local youth projects like The Key and The Butterfly Project, The Mill Towns Trail, Polio and Covid immunizations around the world. So, the money really goes to very important causes.”
The tour will begin at the Northfield Middle School. Riders can choose their time of departure anytime between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. Pre-registration is still open. The price is $10 per rider, $15 the day of for the family ride. The price for all of the other routes, $29 per rider, $39 the day of. On-site registration opens tomorrow morning at 6am.
For more information and registration, visit northfieldrotary.org.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Jean Wakely of the Rotary Club of Northfield can be heard here
