People

St. Olaf College will dedicate its newest building, Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, during a ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 4. The dedication festivities, part of this year's Homecoming and Family Weekend (Oct. 3-5), will include a variety of events and programs -- from a ribbon-cutting ceremony to a NASA exhibit to a St. Olaf Band performance.

View the online schedule for details about these and other events, all of which are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

First National Bank of Northfield, the longtime cornerstone of Northfield’s banking community, announced that it has promoted Vice President Jodi Lawson to head of credit administration. In her role, which encompasses the credit analysis and administration of First National’s commercial loan portfolio, she will help facilitate the commercial lending process to ensure timely and effective credit decisions on behalf of First National clients. Lawson, a longtime Northfield resident, has been with First National for 25 years. During that time, she has held a variety of positions, including responsibilities for bookkeeping, consumer lending, documentation and compliance, and commercial lending.

The Northfield Community is invited to a Candle Lighting Vigil in support of families with mental health issues on Thursday, October 9, at Bridge Square from 8:00pm to 9:00pm. Presiding will be Mark Johnson, Pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Speakers will include Jim Blaha, Executive Director of NCAC, Kris Flaten, former Chair of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Mental Health, and others.

Included will be prayers for families and other care givers, for understanding and compassion for all who suffer in mind, body or spirit. Some candles will be provided.

On Sunday, Carey Tinkelenberg, Founder & Executive Director of the Northfield Skating School, will give a presentation on behalf of US Figure Skating at the Professional Skaters Association (PSA) national seminar in Bloomington, MN. Tinkelenberg was selected as one of ten skating directors nationwide to represent figure skating's governing body. Others presenting include B. L. Wylie, mother of 1992 Olympic Silver Medalist Paul Wylie, and Jill Hare, US Figure Skating Basic Skills Program Manager.

Tinkelenberg's presentation, entitled "Growing Skating," will address the strengths and concerns facing the sport as well as marketing and collaboration tips for directors nationwide. Her experiences in Northfield will guide much of the content.

Are you a stay-at-home mom (part time or full time) in Northfield, Dundas, Dennison, Nerstrand, Randolph or Stanton? Join us at the monthly meeting of MOMS Club of Northfield, MN. Children are always welcome at the meetings - we're a non-profit organization (www.momsclub.org) formed to support at-home families and provide activities and friendships during the week while we're home with the kids. Please send an e-mail to northfieldmomsclub@gmail.com for more information about the meeting or visit http://northfieldmoms.blogspot.com for more information about our chapter.

It's time to gather volunteers for the fall session of First Steps. First Steps is a parent or caregiver-directed activity center where toddlers and preschoolers are surrounded by alphabet manipulatives, concept books, board books and puzzles, all designed to be a fun learning experience. Volunteers are needed to monitor the room and keep it fun and safe.

Duties include:

Neuger Communications Group is pleased to announce that Daniel Edwins has joined the firm as a technology specialist. Edwins will manage data and information systems, design and build websites, and assist with a broad array of other technological issues. A 2008 honors graduate of St. Olaf College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, Edwins is a Northfield native and a 2004 graduate of Northfield High School.

While at St. Olaf, in addition to his work in mathematics, Edwins completed extensive computer science coursework and pursued computer science research on stereo vision as part of a project funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He worked for four years as a student consultant to the Multimedia Development Center at St. Olaf, co-designing the college’s Virtual Tour; designing posters and websites for faculty, staff, students and campus organizations; and presenting at software instructional workshops for students and faculty. Edwins also served as public relations director to the Student Government Association.

Group description: Emotions Anonymous takes a Twelve-Step approach, and helps people look at emotions they are dealing with. Free and open to the public. Confidential, non-professional setting with no therapists present.

The Emotions Anonymous group meets every Monday (ask about days surrounding holidays) from 7pm to 8pm at St. Peter's Church in Northfield, on Sumner Street. For more information, contact the Northfield Hospital Chaplain, Dr. Neal Thompson at 645-8252.

Group description: Emotions Anonymous takes a Twelve-Step approach, and helps people look at emotions they are dealing with. Free and open to the public. Confidential, non-professional setting with no therapists present.

The Emotions Anonymous group meets every Monday (ask about days surrounding holidays) from 7pm to 8pm at St. Peter's Church in Northfield, on Sumner Street. For more information, contact the Northfield Hospital Chaplain, Dr. Neal Thompson at 645-8252.

Thursday's Table from 5pm to 6:30pm at the Community Action Center, 1651 Jefferson Parkway, Northfield. A free hot meal is served to anyone that comes. No registration is required and it is free and open to the public. Volunteer positions also available. If you have questions or need directions, call the CAC at 664-3550.

Thursday's Table from 5pm to 6:30pm at the Community Action Center, 1651 Jefferson Parkway, Northfield. A free hot meal is served to anyone that comes. No registration is required and it is free and open to the public. Volunteer positions also available. If you have questions or need directions, call the CAC at 664-3550.

Thursday's Table from 5pm to 6:30pm at the Community Action Center, 1651 Jefferson Parkway, Northfield. A free hot meal is served to anyone that comes. No registration is required and it is free and open to the public. Volunteer positions also available. If you have questions or need directions, call the CAC at 664-3550.

Group description: Emotions Anonymous takes a Twelve-Step approach, and helps people look at emotions they are dealing with. Free and open to the public. Confidential, non-professional setting with no therapists present.

The Emotions Anonymous group meets every Monday (ask about days surrounding holidays) from 7pm to 8pm at St. Peter's Church in Northfield, on Sumner Street. For more information, contact the Northfield Hospital Chaplain, Dr. Neal Thompson at 645-8252.

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.