The 22nd Winter Walk will be this Thursday in Downtown Northfield. After a forced year off thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, the
enthusiasm among the many store fronts and operations up and down Division Street is at an all-time high, including at the Northfield Public Library. According to Director of Library Services, Natalie Draper, the library is planning several activities and presentations that evening for people of all ages.
The evening will feature a model train display, an exhibit has become a tradition at the Northfield Library. An Operation Lifesaver officer will be on hand to discuss train safety, and there will be an area set up to take “Train Conductor Selfies.”
A new attraction this year will be several stations set up in the library where visitors can attempt to break a Guinness World Record. Which records have yet to be determined, but the requisite documenting tools will be on hand should someone succeed.
Draper said there will be an ongoing outdoor “Story Stroll.” The multilingual story time will be pre-recorded and running throughout the evening. Library staff will also be on the patio with a bonfire serving Hot Coco.
An eight-round trivia contest for adults will begin at 5:00. Topics will include Northfield, winter, current events and general knowledge, as well as image and sound rounds. The winner of each round will receive $10 in Chamber Bucks.
The library will be asking for help all evening, as well, looking for suggestions on what to name the library’s unicorn mascot. Draper said suggestions will be taken all month, and an announcement will be made at another holiday celebration.
“We’re going to do a big reveal at our Noon Year’s Eve Celebration. We’ll drop the ball at 12pm on New Year’s Eve so the kids can celebrate the new year in the middle of the day. And we have a whole unicorn party planned for this, so that’s when we’ll reveal the name of the unicorn.”
There will be live music beginning at 5:00 provided by Patrick O’Loughlin and David Hougen-Eitzman on the banjo and fiddle, The Hotspot will offer a ukulele play along from 6-6:30. That will be followed by a performance by the Limestones from St. Olaf College at 6:30, and the evening will wrap up with a performance by the Northfield Handbell Ensemble from 7-8 pm.
Winter Walk begins at 5pm Thursday evening.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Director of Library Services Natalie Draper can be heard here
Northfield Hospital + Clinics needs crutches
Northfield Hospital & Clinics is asking for help as it faces a problem health care systems across the country are dealing with right now, a
shortage of crutches.
The global supply chain crisis has caused a shortage of aluminum. Specifically, the shortage is tied to a shortage in magnesium, which is used to harden the aluminum to make crutches more stable.
As the end of the year approaches, more people tend to have orthopedic surgeries before insurance deductibles reset. A shortage of crutches might seem like a curious or even trivial thing at first, but it could become a very serious problem very soon.
As NH+C is running low on crutches, which are given to patients free of charge, the organization is appealing to the public for help. Anyone who has a pair of gently used crutches in good condition is asked to please consider donating them to Northfield Hospital + Clinics.
In a statement issued on Friday, NH+C said it would take donations of aluminum crutches and asked that people not bring in wooden crutches. They should also be in working condition. Please do not bring broken crutches to donate.
A drop-off station will be set up at the hospital’s main entrance, located at 2000 North Avenue, from 7am-4pm. Or crutches can be dropped at the Hospital Emergency Room where staff will be prepared to receive donations at any time.
NH+C will clean and sanitize the crutches and get them to patients who need them.
Rice Soil & Water Conservation District 2022 tree sale on now through the winter
The Rice Soil and Water Conservation District is now accepting orders for the 2022 Rice SWCD Tree Sale. 
A statement issued by the district said they have a strong selection of species to meet the conservation needs of property owners. The trees may be planted for windbreaks, wildlife habitat, agroforestry, erosion control, and other conservation practices.
Twenty-seven species of trees and shrubs are available for spring planting. New species this year include silver maple and concolor fir. Most of the stock is bare root, but a few potted evergreens are available. The district may also be able to special order species not listed on the order form.
Those looking to restore a woodlot, windbreak, or wanting to create a woodland habitat for birds and wildlife should contact the district office for assistance with planning and implementation. District staff with backgrounds in forestry are available to answer any questions regarding species selection and can help make the right choice of trees and shrubs
The trees typically arrive around the second week of April. The district also offers tree mats, fertilizer packets, and other tree supplies. Orders will be taken into April on a first come first serve basis. The district said many species sell out, so those interested after February 26th are advised to call for availability
Tree orders can be placed online and be paid by credit card. Visit the Rice SWCD’s online store at www.riceswcdonlinestore.com for more information.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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