One man has died due to injuries received from a head on collision on Saturday morning on County Road 1 in between Dundas and I-35.
According to reports, a car driven by 44-year-old Daniel Rocha Jr. was traveling westbound on Millersburg Boulevard/County Road 1 when it crossed the center line and collided with a small truck.
Rocha, who was from Northfield, was declared dead at the scene. Both the driver and passenger of the truck that struck Rocha were transported to separate hospitals, according to a release.
The crash occurred on a curve in the 1000 block of Millersburg Blvd at around 11 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Archer Project site preparation expected to begin in December
Last week the Northfield City Council held the required public hearing in order for the Archer project to receive the tax increment financing for which the developers have applied from the city. With the hearing finished, the final step in the process is a vote to approve by the City Council. However, Northfield Mayor Rhonda Pownell and City Administrator Ben Martig indicated that the Council will not take the vote until the Historic Preservation Commission approves a Certificate of Appropriateness on the building’s exterior design.
Earlier this month, the Historic Preservation Commission asked the developers to make one final change to the design, having to do with balconies and screens on the front side of the property facing Division Street. When the changes are made to the HPC’s approval, the COA will be issued. Mayor Pownell said the change is relatively minor, and this should not require any more debate.
Three years after a fire destroyed the iconic Archer House, the vacant lot left after the old building was demolished is moving very close to being redeveloped, with only the COA and TIF approvals needed before site preparation can begin.
“We are almost there. I think it’s just a 20’ by 30’ foot section at the front of the building on Division Street that is just the remaining question mark. So, folks, let’s just stay together on it and find a way forward. That’s my hope. We’ll get this project going and through to the finish line.”
The Tax Increment Financing that the developers have applied for is a complicated and highly regulated process that will ease the cost burden on the developers by approximately $3 million. The Council spent quite a bit of time discussing the process and asking many questions of the City’s financial advisor about the need for the assistance. Martig said it is his opinion that the TIF is appropriate, and the project would not be able to move forward without it.
“That’s the only assistance that they’re looking for from the city. The developers would basically continue to pay the same tax that they pay now. This is a state approved program, and the city has a very clear process. We’ve authorized this before, and redevelopment does qualify. They’re going to need some significant tax increment financing assistance in order for this project to be viable.”
With the vote on the TIF contingent on the COA, there is talk of an emergency meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission before the end of the month in order to get things going.
The developers hope to begin site preparation in early December, and the goal is to have the project complete by the end of 2024.
Fine Craft Collective celebrates its 20th year
With the holidays fast approaching, the Fine Craft Collective has once again set up shop at the Northfield Arts Guild, offering holiday shoppers and art connoisseurs an opportunity to purchase original art and crafts made by local artists.
Heather Lawrenz, one of the organizers of the event said the this is the 20th year of the FCC. The pop-up market was the idea of jewelry artist Leanne Stremcha who saw the need for a space where artists could come together to show their wares. While the market has been in several different locations over the years, often renting an empty storefront on Division Street, the main gallery of the Northfield Arts Guild has now been the store’s location for six years.
Lawrenz said artists of many different styles and disciplines are participating this year. Shoppers will find jewelry, paintings, pottery, ceramics, woodwork, glass work and much more. She said the market also offers handmade honey, soap, candles and lotion. Among the 29 participating artists are many local favorites like Cathy Collison, Colleen Riley and Sue & Chris Holmquist.
As the endeavor is an artist collective, each artist takes several shifts minding the store. Lawrenz said that makes for an ideal opportunity for shoppers to visit with a participating artist each time they visit, and those artists have been educated about everything that is available.
“The beauty of the Fine Craft Collective is the artists who are participating, are actually the folks who are running the register every day. So, each time you visit, you have the opportunity to meet one of the participating artists. And during the setup day we also had an artist party where all of the artists go around and talk about their artwork and so they educate all of us on how to speak about their work.”
The Fine Craft Collective is open six days a week, Tuesday-Sunday through Christmas Eve in the main gallery of the Northfield Arts Guild. The hours are 11-5 Tuesday through Saturday and 11-4 on Sundays. For more information, visit finecraftcollective.com.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Heather Lawrenz of the Fine Craft Collective can be heard here
School Board will hear World’s Greatest Work Force presentation this evening
The Northfield School Board will meet tonight in the boardroom of the Northfield School District office building.
Among the items on tonight’s agenda will be the annual public hearing on the World’s Best Workforce Plan, and the board will hear updates on the Early Learning and Adult Basic Education programs
The board will vote on the creation of an English Learner teaching assistant position, as well as a part-time grant writing position that will be shared with Healthy Community Initiative. They will also hear a report on district enrollment.
The School Board will always invite public comments from those who live in the Northfield School District. Time for those comments is scheduled at the beginning of each meeting. Registration is required to address the School Board. Those wishing to do so may sign up beginning at 5:30 pm.
Tonight’s meeting will begin at 6:00
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
