The City of Northfield has announced that it will host three open houses over the next two weeks to give community members a chance to learn about the new projects and initiatives that are being planned for Downtown Northfield.
The meetings will be led by city consultants Bruce Jacobson and Bob Close and will include information on the new developments at 5th and Washington Streets, 5th and Water Streets, and Bridge Square. Other projects, including the Archer project, and additional parking structures will be touched on as well
A statement issued by the city said this is an opportunity for community members to view illustrations, give comments and ask questions. Stations will be set up in the different venues with display boards to illustrate the various projects and city initiatives.
Spanish interpreters will be available.
The first open house is set for next Wednesday, October 4th, from 6-8 pm in the Fifty North meeting room. The second will be on Saturday, October 7th, from 2-4 pm at the Greenvale Park Elementary School cafeteria. And the third open house will be on Wednesday, October 11, from 6-8 pm at the Weitz Center for Creativity on the Carleton College campus.
Individual web pages for several of the projects have been created on the City of Northfield website. For more information visit northfieldmn.gov/projects.
Sponsorship opportunities opening up for local business with Northfield School District
As we move through the time of year where taxing authorities are setting budgets and preliminary tax levies, the Northfield School District is looking at alternative measures to secure equipment and technology that will enhance the experiences for district students and athletes without adding more burden to local taxpayers.
Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann said the Northfield School Board has authorized a program that will allow the district to sell naming rights and sponsorships for specific areas. The best example, he said, is the new scoreboard that has been ordered for the swimming pool at the Middle School. After twenty years, and paying off the debt on the middle school, Hillmann said a need for a new scoreboard was identified. Rather than take $20,000 out of the general fund to pay for one, the district made a deal with Community Resource Bank. In exchange for their funding of the purchase, Community Resource Bank will have exclusive advertising rights on the scoreboard for the next ten years.
Hillmann said the district is getting assistance from a local sales & marketing group to facilitate agreements and help figure where the market is.
“We’re working with LMR Media here in town because it’s hard to know what you know, what do you charge for an advertisement on a a particular scoreboard? So, we’re working with LMR Media Consultants to help us with those kinds of things. Their help is very valuable as we explore what are the kinds of things that can support a sponsorship, and what things make sense to people for them to sponsor.”
While naming rights and corporate participation in youth athletics is not a new idea, Hillmann said the district has moved into this program methodically and deliberately. They have to decide when, where and what is appropriate for agreements like this, and that will likely be an ongoing conversation. But they are also ready to listen to someone that might have a keen interest in doing something to help both the school district and their own business.
“We’re still learning what are the different spaces that can be advertised and what’s the appropriate way to do it. What’s the fee structure? We’re still working on that. But if there is a business who has an interest then they have something specific like they’d like to do, such as looking at a scoreboard or if they’d like to look at a piece of equipment in one of our Career Technical Ed program, or our new Ag program, they should reach out to us and we’ll work on finding a way to make a match.”
Hillmann said the new scoreboard for the Middle School swimming pool is 12-20 weeks out, but it will be delivered and installed sometime in the first half of 2024.
NAFRS school visits on tap for Fire Prevention Week
The Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service is preparing for National Fire Prevention Week, which will run from October 8th-15th. Fire prevention week has been observed for nearly 100 years, since President Calvin Coolidge declared the first observation in 1925. The date was selected to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8th, 1871, killing 250 people and destroying more than 17,000 structures.
A key component of the week is to educate everyone about preventing fires and staying safe in a fire situation. Northfield Fire Fighters will make visits to area elementary schools to talk to young students about fire prevention, and, of course, to let them see one of the fire trucks up close.
According to the National Fire Protection Agency, time is of the essence in a fire, and seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. Northfield Fire Captain Andrew Tussing said that is why it is so important for every family to have a plan, and that kids need to know what the plan is wherever they spend their time.
“Have a plan to get out and stay out. Don’t hide. Don’t go back in for your pet when it’s not coming out of the building. Find a place to go so everyone knows you’re out and safe and that doesn’t just mean at your home, but maybe at the grandparents’ house, also. That’s something that isn’t thought about very much, but kids are often at their grandparents’ house, and they need to know what to do in in different houses as well.”
Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Chief Tom Nelson said one of the reasons for the school visits is to motivate the students to go home and ask their parents about THEIR fire safety plan, which could, in turn, nudge those without a plan to create one.
Fire safety education isn’t just for school children. The elderly are as at risk as young children are. The Chief said it’s important for every member of the community to take some time to make sure they understand how to stay safe in case of a fire, and he stressed making sure the people who are aging in place take precautions, either for themselves or with the help of the people around them.
Tussing said there will be other educational opportunities for the community as well, including, he said, the open house hosted by the fire department every other year. This year, the open house will be held on October 12th.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
