In advance of its annual Spring Gala, Healthfinders Collaborative has announced it will host event over the next three
weeks that will focus on the need for mental health care. Each of the events will feature a screening of the movie Hiding in Plain Site, a collaboration between acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns and PBS that focuses on young people struggling with mental health issues.
Healthfinders Executive Director Charlie Mandile said the organization has sought to engage the communities they serve, Northfield, Faribault and Owatonna, directly to help those in need of mental health care and those dealing with substance abuse issues. Community outreach, he said, is a function of the belief that healthcare happens in the community, and outside of the clinics. Healthfinders has brought in bilingual counselors in both drug and alcohol and mental health specialties and are focusing on the youth. They have created outreach groups in the high schools and with the Northfield Union of Youth at The Key to try to help those in need who wouldn’t typically ask for help.
Mandile said the mental health component of their work has become more and more important over the last few years.
“A big part of anybody’s overall health, I think, really starts with how they are feeling in their own mind, in their own heart. And I think that can really shade every single piece of their life and so these programs have been critically necessary and frankly life changing.”
Meanwhile, he said, Healthfinders remains as busy as ever, if not more so. The clinic itself can be booked out 6-8 weeks, and their dental practice is at full capacity as well. One of the goals, then, for the Spring Gala, is to expand the capacity of both departments in order to meet the demand for the services. Another goal, he said, is to bring the needs of Healthfinders patients to the forefront, and to uncover hidden needs within the community. He said the gala’s Hollywood Red Carpet theme is an excellent way to pursue that goal.
“The best part about this evening is this film theme has really opened up a lot of opportunities and intersections with our mission and our program work. We’re highlighting our commitment to elevating the voice of our patient communities and telling the stories that aren’t often heard. This theme of film and video is really going to be a vehicle to do that.”
The first of the screenings will begin at 5:30 tomorrow night at Imminent Brewing. A panel discussion, moderated by Northfield Hospital + Clinics President and CEO Steve Underdahl will follow the film. Mandile said there will be time for questions and answers as well.
The Healthfinders Collaborative Spring Gala is set for Saturday, April 22nd. Tickets can be purchased at healthfindersmn.org.
Tree Sale offers 16 different types of trees
The annual Northfield Shade Tree Sale is now underway. Northfield Residents can place an order for a tree from now 
through April 26.
The city has 210 trees available in 16 species. The trees come in bare root, #5 or #7 containers and are between 4 to 10 feet tall and 3/4 to one inch in trunk diameter. Prices range from $37.95 to $149 per tree.
Shelley Evanson, the Northfield city horticulturist, reminded residents that planting trees, and as many different species as possible, has become more important in Northfield than ever.
“With the emerald ash borer in Northfield,” she said, “it’s important to plant a variety of tree species to ward off any insects or diseases that infect a single species.”
The trees will be available to pick up at the Streets and Parks Maintenance Facility during the week of May 15th. Planting and tree care instructions will be provided to buyers to help their trees thrive.
Those who would like to donate a tree from the sale for a city park may do so as well. Orders are being taken on the Northfield City website at northfieldmn.gov/treesale
Supplies are limited and orders will be taken on a first-come-first-served basis.
Council will further discuss mill & overlay plans
And the Northfield City Council will meet tonight in the Council Chambers in City Hall. 
Natalie Draper will present an update on the 1% for Arts program, to begin the meeting. Her presentation will be followed by a presentation of a proclamation declaring April 20th to be Penchant Day in Northfield.
Among the items on the regular agenda, the Council will approve the plans and specifications for the new Drinking Water Treatment Plant and will authorize the advertisement for bid. They will discuss the Alternative Urban Areawide Review that is going to be done later this year in the Northwest section of the city, and they will consider approval of the consultant team that will lead the process creating the city’s new Comprehensive Plan. And in what could be the most interesting conversation of the evening, the council will give approval f the plans and specifications for the 2023 Mill & Overlay project, which will include controversial two-lane protected bicycle lanes in the Heritage Drive, Lincoln Street South area.
As always, the city and the council are asking to hear opinions and comments from the public. Anyone who wishes to do so is invited to come to the meeting and address the council on any topic they see fit. Those wishing to voice their opinions without addressing the council should email their councilors directly or post a comment through the eComment button on the “Agendas” section of the City Council website.
Tonight’s meeting will begin at 6:00.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
[recent_post_carousel slides_to_show=”1″ limit=”5″ slides_to_scroll=”1″ category=”10″ media_size=”medium” dots=”false” show_read_more=”false”]
