Today is Crazy Daze, Northfield’s annual shopping event, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Local shop owners and merchants have shut down Division Street to offer bargains, food and family-oriented activities.
As is the case with any outdoor activity, organizers always have to plan for weather disruptions. Usually that comes as planning for rain, however today Northfield is under a heat advisory, and the temperatures could be the warmest experienced all year.
The National Weather Service has predicted a high today of 96° with scattered clouds. At 60% predicted humidity, the heat index could make it feel as hot as 103°. There is a 20% chance of rain today as well.
The Chamber of Commerce has issued a statement advising both merchants and shoppers about the dangers of the heat and the plans put in place to help people feel comfortable and safe.
Three complimentary water stations, with water donated by Culligan, will be set up across the event. The Friends of Downtown Northfield will have water in their tent on Division Street, the Chamber of Commerce will have water in their tent on Bridge Square, and water will also be available in the Chamber of Commerce offices off of Bridge Square. The statement also said that the Chamber Offices are air conditioned and will be open to the public for anyone who needs to cool off.
Public restrooms will be available at the Northfield Historical Society, and on Bridge Square. The Northfield Public Library, which is also an air-conditioned space open to the public, has public restrooms as well.
The Chamber is advising all vendors with an outdoor space to bring a tent and chairs for their employees. It is also recommended that employees receive regular breaks and time to take in water as necessary.
Participants and shoppers are reminded to use their best judgment on how much time to spend outside.
Dundas budget will increase slightly more than $200,000
The Dundas City Council began the work of planning the 2024 budget on Monday night during their regular Council meeting.
Minnesota Statute requires that cities set their preliminary property tax levies by September 30th. Once set, that number can be reduced, but may not increase, and it becomes incumbent upon the local municipal governments to study their situations carefully in order to ensure enough space to levy for necessary funds.
Dundas City Administrator Jenelle Teppen said this was the Council’s first look at the budget, which calls for a 13.67% increase. At slightly more than $1.7 million, the budget will increase by approximately $211,000.
Teppen said a major reason for the increase is because the city has designed to no longer contract for grass cutting services. Instead, the city will buy two new commercial lawn mowers at a total of $57,000 and will increase the expected payroll by $13,000 for two seasonal employees. A breakdown of the rest of the increase shows $60,000 to go toward a new cold storage facility, $40,000 for a lease down payment on a payloader, $30,000 for a branding and marketing campaign, $21,000 to repay a loan between two city funds, $15,000 for increased road maintenance costs, $12,000 for a new sound system in the City Council Chambers, and a 4% coast of living adjustment to the city payroll.
Teppen said the numbers reflect those of a growing community. Despite some slowdown in 2023 due to inflation, she said there are expectations for more growth in 2024.
“We’re a small, growing community. Residential development has slowed down this year, but we do anticipate that it will pick up next year when you know construction costs have come down a little bit, along with the cost of infrastructure. We do expect [development] to pick back up, and we have plenty of space available ready to go for residential.”
The Dundas City Council will review the numbers again next month before setting the preliminary levy in September. The final vote on the budget will come in December.
Rich Larson’s full conversation with Dundas City Administrator Jenelle Teppen can be heard here
Thirteen hours of music on Bridge Square this Saturday
Northfield’s annual Vintage Band Festival will be held on Saturday on Bridge Square.
After hosting a four-day event in 2022, this will be a more compact one day event. The festival website promises 12 bands in 13 hours this year, with music styles ranging from traditional Bavarian to Mexican Mariachi, to more contemporary takes.
According to the VBF website, the festival strives to create a high-quality musical experience that emphasizes Northfield history and showcases the city’s outdoor and community spaces. The festival even encourages visitors and participants to dress up in vintage attire to get excited about local history.
The Vintage Band Festival began as a four-day event in July 2006 and was an idea developed by Professor Emeritus of Music at St. Olaf College and VBF Artistic Director, Paul Niemisto.
Niemisto was inspired by his experiences with The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, the Lieksa International Brass Week, both in Finland and the Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, Kentucky, the only other festival like the VBF in the United States. In 2006, 50 musical performances were presented, and the festival has expanded over time. After the success of the four-day events which were held every three years, the decision was made in 2014 to present one-day festivals on off years.
This year’s event will begin at 9:00 on Saturday morning with the New Prague Community Band. Other participating bands include the Sheldon Theatre Band, the Twin Cities Trumpet Ensemble, Minnesota Pipes and Drums, Mariachi Mi Tierra and the Bend in the River Big band.
For a full schedule and more information on the Vintage Band Festival, visit vintagebandfestival.org
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
