Sports

Karate develops self-confidence, focus, strength, and flexibility. The Northfield Karate Club is open to adults, teens, and children (at least 6 years old). Karate is a great family activity, and we especially welcome children and their parents.

Summer classes are Monday, 6:15-7:15 pm, Wednesdays, 6:15-7:15 pm, and Saturday, 12-1 pm at the Carleton Recreation Center. (The schedule will change in September.)

The Northfield Church Softball League is going to bat for the Northfield Community Action Center. All-stars from the 16 teams will come together Sunday, July 13, 2:00 p.m. at Babcock Park to play a benefit game for the local social service organization.

The goal for this event, now in its 19th year, is $6,000. Each team will send two players to the game and will collect cash and food donations. Several local banks and businesses are offering matching funds for this event.

John Frederick, commissioner of the church softball league, said the summer months are the time of year when the C.A.C. has its greatest need, especially at the Northfield Food Shelf.

“Please come and watch a great game and make a donation at the game,” he said. “If you are unable to attend the game but you want to make a donation, please make check payable to Northfield C.A.C. and send it to John Frederick, 9230 Edgebrook Drive, Northfield, MN 55057.

The Northfield Bicycle Club http://www.northfieldbikeclub.org/home/ will be hosting the 6th annual "Tour de Nick" on Sunday, August 10. This unsupported ride leaves in a mass start from the parking lot at Mike's Bicycles and riders will have a choice of 3 different ride lengths from 10 to 50 plus miles.

Free will donations to SAVE, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education will be encouraged and accepted. Executive Director Dr. Dan Reidenberg, of SAVE plans to kick off and participate in the ride.

The long ride will have a variety of trophies to the top sprinters, hill climbers and the overall "Big Ring" award.

No matter who wins the game, count on a good time for a good cause at the Northfield Soccer Association Coaches' match against a Co-Ed High School Team, made up of experienced players

The real winners will be local soccer players - all proceeds from the game go to the Northfield Soccer Association Scholarship Fund. About 10% of traveling soccer players need scholarship assistance and the Northfield Soccer Association wants all kids to have the opportunity to play.

Come to the game: Sunday, July 13, 7 p.m. on field 6 at Spring Creek Soccer Complex (510 East Jefferson Parkway). 

$5 suggested donation

Need more information? Contact Mary Schmidt

The Northfield Soccer Association's 19th Annual Jesse James Soccer Jamboree will take place on Saturday, June 28, 2008 from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Stop by to cheer on the local kids or visiting players from all over the metro area (and beyond).

Most games will be played at the Spring Creek Soccer Complex (510 E. Jefferson Pkwy), but some games will be played at Sibley Elementary School, Northfield Middle School and Northfield High School.

Visit the Northfield Soccer Association website for more info, including team pairings and a full schedule of games.

Note: We are still looking for volunteers to help with course marshalling.  It's a great way to watch the race.  Please contact Sean Noonan if you have a few hours that day to help!

Milltown Cycles is proud to be organizing the 9th Annual Northfield Criterium on July 4, 2008.  This is a cycling race that will showcase the best riders of Minnesota and the Midwest.  The course is a short, but extremely fast, lap through downtown that racers do for a given period of time, from 30 to 70 minutes.  Racers will hit speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, with averages above 25mph.  Come and watch this fast and exciting race!

It’s almost summer vacation! How will you keep your kids busy?

Northfield Public Schools Community Services Division has openings in the following programs for children and youth: Little League Softball, Little League Baseball, Tennis Lessons, Volleyball Boot Camp, Basketball Camps, Raider Football Camps, SUPER Kids, Adaptive SUPER Kids, Tae Kwon Do, Summer Track Program, Northfield Volleyball Youth Team Camp, Lacrosse, Youth Soccer Program, Wiggle & Giggle, Skyhawks Multi-Sport Camps, R2 Volleyball, Art Programs, Family Tennis Fun and Swimming Lessons.

There are also openings in many adult recreation programs, such as: Adult Beginner Tennis Lessons, Kyudo, Golf Lessons, Yoga, Pilates, Beginning Reformer, Forza!, Personal Training Classes and Adult Swimming Lessons.

The newly formed Northfield Karate Club is offering free classes in traditional Okinawan karate. Karate develops self-confidence, strength, stamina, and flexibility. Its emphasis is on both physical and mental conditioning with the goal of developing students to their maximum potential. Classes are open to all ages.

The Northfield Karate Club aims to bring students together in a rewarding physical activity that fosters both individual skills and community spirit. Karate is also a great family activity! The club is part of the Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate USA organization, with clubs and dojos in dozens of cities in the U.S. Classes are held three times a week at the Dance Studio in Carleton's Recreation Center. Students may attend as many classes as they wish.

Earlier this week, Carey Tinkelenberg, Director and Founder of the Northfield Skating School and Gene Uenishi, Webmaster and Skating Instuctor, gave a presentation entitled “Using Modern Technology to Enhance Your Program” at the North American Rink Conference and Expo (NARCE) in Chicago.

Invited by US Figure Skating Headquaters, we presented at our second conference of the spring on the necessity of having a website, the features and ease of creating a Wordpress site, and the impact our website has had on our program.

Northfield Dance Academy's Summer Schedule is now available at www.northfielddance.com! We have lots of FUN events this summer including:

• Competition Team Auditions (July 7-9)
• Summer Classes (July 14 - Aug 14)
• Mini Theme Camps (July 14-25)
• Northfield Dance Intensive Study (August 11-15)

Visit our website for schedules, registration forms, and details! Or call us at 507-645-4068.

"Where life values are cultured through the art of dance."

Tennis anyone?  Join us! Youth, adults, seniors, beginners, intermediates, advanced -- All are welcome at the upcoming Tennis Block Party!

The Northfield Tennis Association (NTA) is sponsoring a "Tennis Block Party" at the Northfield High School Courts on Saturday, May 17, 2008, from 10:30 a.m. to Noon.

Tennis players of ALL ages and abilities are invited! Bring your racket and be ready to have some fun on the courts. If you haven't played in a while, just stop by - we'll have rackets available to use.

Phil Lundin, head men's track and field coach at the University of Minnesota, has been named head men's cross country and track and field coach at St. Olaf. Lundin, a four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, will begin his new job this summer.

Lundin ("lun-DEEN"), a four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, will finish the spring season at Minnesota before taking the reins at St. Olaf this summer. He will replace Bill Thornton, who is retiring after nearly four decades of service at St. Olaf.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge -- one that is more than coaching," says Lundin, a graduate of Augsburg College. "I'm excited to get back to my roots."

The Northfield Gymnastics Club is sponsoring a golf tournament again this year as the club’s major fundraising event.

The tournament will be held at the Northfield Country Club beginning at 1:00pm on June 16th. Cost per individual is $100 and includes golf, cart and dinner. Or if you can only join us for dinner, the cost is $25 per person. There will also be an auction, door prizes and personal goodie bags for golfers.

A registration form is attached, or you can pick one up at the Northfield Gymnastics Club (601 Professional Drive) or from our website.

Individuals or corporations wishing to further assist with Hole Sponsorships, contribution of Auction Items or Door Prizes would also be greatly appreciated.

About the Northfield Gymnastics Club

Submitted by Suzie Nakasian

(Photos taken by Pat O'Loughlin at the Northfield Earth Day Contra Dance last Saturday, April 26.)

• Click here to see the gallery
• Click here to see the slideshow

The dance was generously underwitten by Carleton's SOPE (Students Organized for the Protection of the Environment) in collaboration with the St. Olaf Environmental Coalition and the Northfield Community Contra Dance Association. The dance was held in Carleton's "Great Space", Sayles Hill Campus Center, and was attended by about 180 people - they were moving - I couldn't count. The room was packed. Music was provided by Contratopia and the dance was led by dance "caller" Robin Nelson of Minneapolis.

A good time was had by all...including the band, as evidenced in the attached photos.

Note: the next opportunity to contra dance in Northfield will be the June Moon Community Dance, part of the NDDC's upcoming Taste of Northfield Celebration on Bridge Square on June 19. The June Moon Dance will proudly feature Northfield's Over and Back Band and include swing dancing, waltzes and contra dances led by dance "caller" Beau Farmer.

The first ever muggle quidditch tournament was held Saturday at Carleton College. Despite a forecast of rain and snow, it was a beautiful spring day, and it was a hoot watching the students run about with brooms between their legs, throwing balls at each other and at the hula hoop goals.

Check out this short video clip or the set of 16 photos in the Northfield.org community photo gallery.