Several members of the Northfield Mayor’s Youth Council helped members of the Northfield Garden Club and Northfield in Bloom plant flowers along the pedestrian bridge in downtown Northfield last week. This marks the third year that the Mayor’s Youth Council helped with this planting project.
Many thanks to the Northfield Garden Club and Northfield in Bloom for all their efforts to keep Northfield looking beautiful this summer!
Applications are being accepted for an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow position at the Northfield Middle School for the 2010-11 school year. The Promise Fellow works with a cohort of 25-30 students to help close the academic achievement gap for these young people. The Promise Fellow program is sponsored by the Minnesota Alliance With Youth.
For a copy of the position description, CLICK HERE.
For more information on the position, contact Jen Winterfeldt (Youth Development Coordinator, Northfield Public Schools Community Services Division). Jen can be reached at jennifer.winterfeldt@nfld.k12.mn.us
Ed Vivant is the May recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) Making a Difference Award. The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth.
Ed, a driver for Benjamin Bus, was nominated by students from the Northfield Middle School Youth Center. His daily route includes picking up students at the high school and middle school who attend after school programming through PRIMEtime.
In their nomination, the students commented the way he greets them when they get on and off the bus and his energy and enthusiasm. Ed is committed to the students on the bus and is a positive influence on each of them.
The HCI and the Northfield News present the Making a Difference Award cooperatively. If you know an individual or group that you would like to nominate for award, visit www.northfieldhci.org for nomination guidelines and the application. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are selected by a review team of HCI board members and local youth.
The Main Street Moravian Church will host a Town Hall Meeting on Sunday, May 23, 2010, from 1 pm to 3:30 pm called: “ ‘Whatever:’ The Quality of Life of our Northfield Middle School Youth.” The entire event is FREE.
During the first part of the session, a variety of speakers who work directly with middle school-age youth will share their perspectives on this topic. The speakers include:
Representatives of The Key (Union of Youth), the YMCA and the Middle School Guidance Office will also be there. There will also be a video of middle school youth sharing about their lives in Northfield.
Following the time of sharing, there will be a moderated question-and-answer session between the audience and the speakers.
Please call Pastor Amy at 645-7566 with any questions. The Main Street Moravian Church is at the corner of 8th and Division Streets.
The Northfield’s Alternative Learning Center (ALC) business class is the April recipient of the Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) Making a Difference Award. The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth.
The student’s in Cheryl Mathison’s class manage a small business called Soy Scents Candles & Soaps. Student entrepreneurs learn about the production and marketing of a product with an added bonus. The satisfaction of giving back to the community. Soy Scents Candles & Soaps has donated $14,000 since the beginning of operations to the Northfield Community Action Agency Food Shelf. The students were nominated as a result of this act of leadership and philanthropy.
The Healthy Community Initiative and the Northfield News present the Making a Difference Award cooperatively. If you know an individual or group that you would like to nominate for this award, visit www.northfieldhci.org for nomination guidelines and the easy-to-complete application. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are selected by a review team of HCI board members and local youth.
Congratulations to Dan Kust who received the March Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) Making a Difference Award! The award is presented to individuals or groups in Northfield who give time and talent to provide positive support for youth.
Dan teaches sixth grade at Northfield Middle School and coaches the Northfield High School Nordic Ski Team. As a coach, he teaches all aspects of Nordic skiing while sharing his enthusiasm of a lifelong physical activity. Beyond the roles of teaching and coaching, Dan empowers high school students to be positive role models and lead by example when mentoring younger students.
The HCI Making a Difference is co-sponsored by the Northfield News. Visit www.northfieldhci.org to submit a nomination for the award. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are selected by a review team of HCI board members and local youth.
When: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 — 6:00pm-8:00pm
Where: Lion’s Pause, Buntrock Commons, St. Olaf College
Moderator: Mary Crippen, Northfield Resident
Sponsors: St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges, Northfield Mayor’s Task Force on Youth Alcohol & Drug Use, Healthy Community Initiative
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April is Alcohol Awareness Month and the Federal Government’s Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking is supporting Town Hall Meetings that are taking place in communities across America.
The purpose of these Town Hall Meetings is to increase awareness, identify how underage drinking affects the community, and brainstorm possible solutions. This meeting will provide an opportunity for the colleges, neighbors, Northfield Police and local business owners to voice their concerns and suggest ideas for addressing use of alcohol by underage people. Our focus in this meeting will be on underage college students.
Please join us for a moderated discussion. Complimentary pizza and sodas will be served beginning at 6:00pm in the Lion’s Pause and the discussion will begin at 6:30p.m. and finish at 8:00p.m.
Underage Drinking Prevention: Town Hall Meetings is a national effort by the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to educate youth, parents, caregivers, and other adults about the harmful effects of underage drinking.
For more information, call Roz Eaton-Neeb at 507-786-3615
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Minnesota is hosting its annual (and very fun!) Bowl for Kids Sake event in Rice County on April 23, 2010. The event will run from 4:00-9:00 p.m. at the Faribault Bowling Center. This is a fantastic way to help an outstanding organization that makes a real difference in the lives of many of our local kids.
You don’t need to be a great bowler to take part 
— please consider giving an hour or two to bowl for the youth of our community.
For more information, visit www.bbbsofsouthernmn.org or call 507-334-0258
Rice County Public Health has launched a new “Healthy Rice County” website as part of the agency’s “Statewide Health Improvement Program” (SHIP) initiative. Visit http://healthyricecounty.org today!
Information on Healthy Rice County:
Healthy Rice County is an initiative led by Rice County Public Health with funding from a Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) grant from the Minnesota Department of Health. SHIP addresses the top three causes of preventable illness and death in the United States: tobacco use, physical inactivity and poor nutrition. The work of SHIP occurs in four areas: Schools, Work Sites, Health Care Facilities, and Communities.
Check out the website for information on SHIP-related efforts in all of these areas, as well as the availability of mini-grants to support local projects.
Questions? Contact the Rice County SHIP Coordinator, Natalie Ginter at (507) 645-9576 or nginter@co.rice.mn.us
All are invited to an education session on Adolescent Brain Development on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Buckham Memorial Library in Faribault. The training will be led by Dr. Ken Winters from the University of Minnesota. For more information, click HERE.
There is no cost to attend, but advance registration is required. Lunch is provided. To RSVP, contact Becky Ford at 507-838-1788 or bky_ford@msn.com.
The training is sponsored by the Rice County Chemical Health Coalition.
