HOPE Center is currently accepting applications for its Board of Directors. The mission of HOPE Center is to create zero tolerance for sexual and domestic violence through healing, outreach, prevention and education. Through innovative programming, we offer direct support to victims in Rice County, collaborative support to other organizations that serve victims, and educational support to the entire community.

Serving as a Board member is a great opportunity to connect with a lively and committed group of people, give back to your community, and make a difference. If interested, please call Erica at 507-332-0882, or visit our website.

Attention Northfield Childcare Providers:

• Looking for support, unity and a sense of community?
• Want more local training?
• Interested in a toy/equipment exchange?
• Looking for socializations in a sometimes lonely field?

Please join us for an informal meeting of the Northfield Childcare Provider’s Association in conjunction with the Northfield Early Childhood Initiative Coalition.

Did you know that Northfield's Central Park was once the focus of a MN Supreme Court decision?

On July 29, the America-in-Bloom/Northfield committee will present to national America-in-Bloom judges a reading of a skit written by Marie Gery telling the history of Central Park.

We need a cast of 7 plus a narrator. The time period and characters are below:

1) 1856: John and Ann North.

2) Controversy of late 1940s: Erling Johnson, George Zanmiller, Leal Headley

3) Controversy of early 1990s: Charlie Kyte and Christie Clarke

The skit will be presented in Central Park at 5:30 p.m. Contact Alice Thomas to get involved!

St. Olaf College is hosting the biennial Conference on Worship, Theology and the Arts July 21-25. Called "Fling Wide the Gates," the conference will gather -- from a variety of denominations -- nationally recognized musicians, artists, scholars and theologians who will examine their work through lectures, seminars and daily worship. Worship services will be open to the public and streamed live and archived online.

An exhibit by He Qi, arguably China's most sought after contemporary Christian artist (see his "Finding Moses," at right), also is part of the conference. The artist will talk about his colorful, contemporary paintings during a reception Tuesday, July 22, 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Flaten Art Gallery of Dittmann Center.

Join us for another super Books & Stars with Rachael Kroog's KID POWER. Rachael has been wowing audiences with her unique blend of interactive guitar music, comedy, cartoon impressions and juggling. Her high energy and fast paced shows also draw upon her captivating storytelling and theatrical techniques. Her themes include: the power of kindness, the value of respect, our spiritual connection to the earth and it's animals, and the ability to make our dreams come true.

Check out her website at kidpowerwithrachael.com.

ChARTdonnay Thursday is happening as usual this Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at the ArtOnWater Gallery. Also that evening, Holes is being performed at 7:30 p.m. at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater. Mark Mraz is playing The Tavern Lounge and Joel Cooper, Alisa Leonard and Bo Aylin are playing The Contented Cow.

On Friday there is another performance of Holes at 7:30 at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater. Kevin Stanke is playing The Tavern Lounge.

In the interest of having fun, keeping restaurants honest, and then eating out so we don't have to wash pots and pans, and, although I keep typing 'blob', we now have a mostly Northfield restaurant blog up at http://blog.beautywood.com/blog

We don't have comments open on it yet because we are getting a lot of ringtone offers to delete, but you can send comments by emailing me any time, day or night (doesn't mean I will reply or anything ;) ), at brightbrightlight@yahoo.com

We will be hitting the road and talking about nearby locations outside of Northfield from time to time as well.

The Northfield News posted three stories late today to announce that four more candidates have thrown their hat into the mayoral race: former Planning Commission and school board member Eduardo Wolle, fourth ward Councilor Jon Denison, Mayor Lee Lansing, and lawyer James Schlichting. These four will join previously-declared candidates David Hvistendahl, Paul Hager, and Mary Rossing in a September 9 primary election. The two highest vote-getters will move on to the November 4th general election.

Not to be outdone by all those presumably serious candidates, playwright, blogger, and Northfield.org board member Brendon Etter has launched a write-in campaign. Is he serious? Is he ever serious? You be the judge.

The Northfield Arts Guild has paired up with the Quarterback Club to bring area youth a burger and "Holes" on Thursday night, July 17. For $11, students get their choice of one of four burger baskets from Quarterback Club—which includes a burger, fries and a drink—and will picnic outside the restaurant before heading up the street to see the NAG's latest production, HOLES. Northfield Arts Guild theater committee member Deborah Clark will escort diners to the show. Adults are welcome, too, but the dinner and theater discount applies to students only.

The Saturday, July 19th performance of HOLES will also be interpreted with American Sign Language.

Since 1980 Bob and Gail have traveled the country together taking old time music to audiences of all ages at festivals, fairs, concerts, dances, schools, libraries, music camps, radio and TV programs. This is rural music as played in homes, at dances and for earlier entertainments such as minstrel shows and country radio. Along with a repertoire including dance tunes, ballads, cowboy songs, humorous and sentimental numbers, blues and rags, they spice their shows with stories, history and folklore. They both sing (Bob yodels, too) and play fiddle, banjo, guitar and harmonica.

We received this note today from Bright Spencer...

Although not about Northfield, many of us and several businesses will feel this impact either positively or not so much!

I talked to the manager of Monte's Steak House today, while trying to make a reservation. He told me that due to the soft economy they were closed and trying to re-organize something. Very vague, no target date to re-open. 

Good Luck!

We received this note from Steph Miller in the Northfield.org Forums a few days ago, and it seemed like the sort of thing that should get some wider exposure. If you can help out, send us a note at contactus@northfield.org and we'll get you in touch with Steph.

I'm inundated with kittens.  We've just got too many that have been dropped off (i.e. abandoned!) because we live in the country.  Most of them were pregnant at the get-go.  I can't afford to keep them all and be a responsible pet owner at the same time. Spaying and neutering is just too expensive for one person to handle.

Any takers? They've all been loved up by my kids and are ready to go!

- Steph Miller

A group exploring a possible cohousing project in Northfield is meeting the evening of Tuesday, July 15th in the Just Food community space (behind the co-op, 516 Water St.). The public is invited to attend. A brief presentation on the recent National Cohousing Conference will be followed by a short video on successful cohousing communities around the country. The balance of the meeting will be spent discussing and developing a shared vision for the proposed community.

The meeting will run from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, and the room will be available beginning at 6:45 for socializing and light refreshments. For further information, contact Bruce Anderson

Entertainment, information, prizes and free samples are a recipe for a wonderful evening for you and your friends in downtown Northfield! The creators of "4RealWomen" and "Manzone" invite you to "Annie Get Your Girlfriends", a free downtown health event on July 25 from 4-8 p.m.

From the Community Resource Bank parking lot to Anna's Closet, down to The Sketchy Artist, attendees will enjoy a live bluegrass band, face painting, chair massages, a Harley-Davidson women's clinic, information on health and community, free samples and plenty of "retail therapy".

The City of Dundas Parks and Recreation Board, along with the Dundas Baseball Association, is sponsoring “Movie Night in Memorial Park” with a free outdoor screening of Bee Movie on Saturday, July 12 at the Memorial Park Stadium in Dundas.

The event, free and open to the public, begins at dusk, or around 8:45 p.m. The Dukes will open their concession stand with pop, popcorn, and ice cream available. The Parks & Recreation Board and the Dukes ask that movie-goers support their causes by purchasing all food and drinks from the concession stand, and that no outside food will be allowed.