Month: January 2023

This weekend, a new store is coming to Crookston next to I.C. Muggs on University Drive, known as Revive: Secondhand Store and Gifts. The store will be holding a grand opening event this weekend with raffles and sales available for everyone to come to this weekend.

The store will be a retail store where the former Cofé Bistro used to be before it closed and will sell a variety of household items. “I started out with name-brand clothing mainly. I have men’s, women’s, and children’s at every size. I’m reasonably priced. I’m between a thrift store’s prices and Plato’s Closet,” Secondhand Store owner Jennifer Swatlowski explained. “A lot of my stuff is new edition and new with tags. I also have a lot of furniture, artwork, books, movies, and brand new toys in boxes for gifts, and I also make homemade baskets tailored for men, women, and children, and I also accept special requests for birthdays for the baskets. We also have a lot of household glassware and antiques.” Other items include name-brand purses, shoes like Coach and Victoria’s Secret, bath and bodywork, and other special glassware and art. Swatlowski stated that she created the shop after moving to the city from Grand Forks to help take care of her grandparents and saw there was a lack of places to get items she needed for her family, so she chose to bring in a new store option for the city. The store is also trying to use secondhand and recycled items to be environment-friendly.

To celebrate its opening, the store is holding a Grand Opening event this weekend from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both Saturday, January 28, and Sunday, January 29. They will be selling items with refreshments, raffles, and donation boxes. “We will be selling items; we have everything to take payment,” Jennifer Swatlowski explained. “We will have cookies, lemonade, and everything for everyone to stop in. I really encourage people to help donate to the Crookston Care & Share Women & Children Center and purchase some raffle tickets because we have some great prizes.” Raffle tickets will be sold for $5 each, or three for $10. Raffle prizes include gift certificates for the store, brand-new toys for children, bath & body products, home decoration, priceless pieces of art, and special glassware. Along with the raffles, the store will have three boxes at the store’s entrance for new products, clothing, and toys for Giving Hearts Day, with part of the profits from it and the raffle going to the Crookston Care & Share.

The store also plans to participate in future holidays and seasonal events with future sales and special deals. “We will have items for every holiday, and then eventually, we will have discounts for military and student customers,” Jennifer Swatlowski explained. “Also, we will have a billboard that states what sales we have on certain days.”

The new Revive: Secondhand Store and Gifts will be open for business with a grand opening event this weekend from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both days. The store’s regular hours will Wednesdays-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. but will be closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. The store is located at 1504 University Ave., next to I.C. Muggs.

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Northwest Arts Council applications are open for Project Grants for nonprofit arts organizations, communities, schools, and other nonprofit organizations from our seven-county Minnesota service area, including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau counties.

Nonprofits and government organizations can apply for one art project at a time. The upcoming grant deadlines for these are March 1. Grants are between $500 and $10,000. Funding sources for these grants are Clean Water, Land and Legacy funds, and general allocation funds from the State of Minnesota. 

Organizational arts activities funded through these very important grant opportunities include festivals, community theatre projects, folk music entertainment, sponsorship of visual demonstrations, creative writing workshops, and many other activities that improve the quality of life of people in our communities. This is a great way to bring arts experiences to your community.

The Northwest Arts Council is offering a grant writing workshop online or in-person to assist you with your application. You are welcome to come to our office in Warren for the workshop or to work on your grants in our new setting. RSVPs are required for grant writing sessions – please email  director@nwartscouncil.org. 

The session will be held Tuesday, February 14, at 11:00 a.m. You can also set up a time to work one-on-one with our director on the grant writing process.

Schools in the seven-county region can also apply now for an Artist Residency grant of $2,600 plus an additional $400 if the residency needs supplies. Their teaching artist roster is a great resource to view artists available to teach in our area and is available on our website at www.NorthwestMinnesotaArtsCouncil.org under the artists’ tab. Another resource to view artists available to enhance the curriculum is COMPAS.

Schools can initially apply for one residency. Then based on the remaining funding, can request up to three additional residencies into spring and summer. Funding for residency activities comes from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment in Minnesota. 

Also available on a first-come-first-served basis are Quick Turnaround Grants for $500. These grants are awarded to performing artists, visual artists, media artists, and creative writing artists from our seven-county Minnesota service area, including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau counties.

To learn more about these grant programs and start an application, visit www.NorthwestMinnesotaArtsCouncil.org. The grant application process is completely online, and NWMAC’s Director Mara Hanel can help walk you through the process of using the grants portal to get accustomed to it. Please contact her at director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886.

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Thousands of people die each year in situations where first aid could have made a difference. Make your home and community a safer place by learning what to do in case of a medical emergency. 

RiverView Health hosts four basic first aid classes a year. Participants in each class learn to provide first aid for acute injuries and sudden illnesses such as burns, bites, poisoning, and seizures.

Class dates for 2023 will be on the following Thursdays: 

• February 2
• May 4
• August 3
• November 2

First aid classes are held in the RiverView Home Care Building at 721 S. Minnesota Street, Crookston, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. The cost of a class, including the book and card, is $50. You must pay in advance to save your spot. To register or for more information, call 281-9405. No walk-ins will be accepted.

RiverView offers these classes as part of its American Heart Association (AHA) Community Training Center. Contracted Community Training Centers, like RiverView, are the only sites permitted to offer AHA classes to the public and professionals through their affiliated instructors and programs.

The American Heart Association is not responsible for fees for these classes. The AHA strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in all AHA classes and has developed instructional materials. Using these materials in an educational class does not represent course sponsorship by the AHA. Fees charged for a class, except for a portion for AHA materials, do not represent income to the AHA.

The post RIVERVIEW OFFERS FEBRUARY 2ND FIRST AID CLASS appeared first on KROX.

WEST POLK-KITTSON-WEST MARSHALL-PEMBINA-EASTERN WALSH-GRAND FORKS-TRAILL-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF CROOKSTON, EAST GRAND FORKS, HALLOCK, KARLSTAD, LANCASTER, WARREN, STEPHEN, ARGYLE, CAVALIER, WALHALLA, DRAYTON, PEMBINA, NECHE, ST. THOMAS, GRAFTON, PARK RIVER, GRAND FORKS, MAYVILLE, HILLSBORO, HATTON, AND PORTLAND 1:08 P.M. CST THURSDAY JANUARY 26, 2023.

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT…

…BLIZZARD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON CST FRIDAY…

* WHAT…FOR THE BLIZZARD WARNING, BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO TWO INCHES. WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 60 MPH. FOR THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY, SNOW IS EXPECTED. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO ONE INCH. WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 45 MPH.

* WHERE…PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL RED RIVER VALLEY WITHIN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA AND EAST NORTH DAKOTA.

* WHEN…FOR THE BLIZZARD WARNING, FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON CST FRIDAY. FOR THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY, UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT.

* IMPACTS…VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE TRAVEL CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. WIDESPREAD BLOWING SNOW WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY. THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS WILL IMPACT THE FRIDAY MORNING COMMUTE.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…WORST CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR IN OPEN COUNTRY OUTSIDE OF SHELTERED AREAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TRAVEL SHOULD BE RESTRICTED TO EMERGENCIES ONLY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL, HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED, STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

SLOW DOWN AND USE CAUTION WHILE TRAVELING.

THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS FOR NORTH DAKOTA CAN BE FOUND AT DOT.ND.GOV/TRAVEL AND FOR MINNESOTA AT 511MN.ORG OR BY CALLING 511 IN EITHER STATE

The post WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AND BLIZZARD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON ON FRIDAY FOR WEST POLK COUNTY appeared first on KROX.

Crookston and East Grand Forks are fierce rivals on and off the athletic playing fields. There have been many great games played between these 2 schools. Both have had their share of great wins and heartbreaking losses. But with this great rivalry, friendships have been made. I have many people that live in Crookston that I can call friends. Even though I live in East Grand Forks, I support the school in building the new facility and track that will be voted on February 14, 2023.

This facility will help improve those athletics in numerous ways. One, it will increase participants. The turf facility in EGF has caused our football, soccer, and track numbers to skyrocket. This is good for the school and community. The more students involved in extra-curricular activities, the better student and person they become. Two, the facility will be on school grounds. Having the field at the school will increase attendance, thus bringing in more revenue. Three, the school can rent out the facility to other schools as EGF does.

The field is also a classroom when the weather cooperates. Physical Education classes will be able to use the field and track for many units that are taught. Science classes and use the facility. I am a science teacher and use the facility in EGF for experiments in my physics class to show velocity, distance, and acceleration. There are other classes that could use the facility as well.

Lastly, the grass field at UMC is a mess. My son played against the Pirates this last fall. It was a great game that showcased many athletes from both teams. The first thing my son told me after the game was, “The field is terrible. It has many holes in it.” A turf facility will not allow a field to deteriorate like a grass field. The track is also in the same shape. Crookston cannot host a track meet for this reason. Events at this facility will bring in athletes and spectators to spend money in Crookston. This is good. Please vote yes on February 14.

Todd Schumacher
Science and Driver Education Teacher
East Grand Forks Senior High School

The post LETTER TO THE EDITOR: EAST GRAND FORKS TEACHER SAYS VOTE YES ON FEBRUARY 14 FOR THE MULTI-USE COMPLEX appeared first on KROX.

Minnesota State, the system of 26 state colleges and seven state universities, released today the results of a study that estimates the impact of Northland Community & Technical College on the regional economy to be $127 million and 953 jobs.

“At Northland, our top priority is the success of our students and providing students with marketable skills to contribute to our workforce, but it is important to note that Northland College plays a vital role in both the state and the regional economies,” said Northland President Dr. Sandy Kiddoo. “Our operations and the economic activity generated by our faculty, staff, and students touch virtually every corner of our regional economy, including manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and aerospace.” 

The study was commissioned by Minnesota State and was conducted by Parker Philips, a nationally recognized consulting firm specializing in economic impact analysis. 

“An economic contribution analysis is an objective way to measure the significance of an organization in the regional economy; it is a useful tool that policymakers can use to inform their decisions,” said Nichole Parker, President of Parker Philips. “The numbers speak for themselves — Northland clearly is an important contributor to the regional economy.”

In the analysis, the study considered Northland’s direct spending on operations, pay, benefits, and capital projects and the estimated increase in demand for goods and services in industry sectors that supply or support the college. The study also measured the effect of student spending and the induced effect of increased household income.

According to the study, a key result of this activity is that Northland supports and sustains 953 jobs, including direct employment by the college as well as indirect and induced jobs created by supply and equipment vendors, contractors, and laborers for the construction and renovation of facilities, and jobs created in the community at hotels, restaurants, and retail stores in support of the college’s faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

The study also calculated tax revenues generated by this level of economic activity, including sales, property, personal income, and corporate income taxes. The study concluded that Northland generates about $ 10.4 million in tax revenues for state and local government.

“Our economic impact goes beyond this specific study when you think about how Northland supports our local and regional economy,” Kiddoo added. “Yes, we absolutely provide a skilled workforce to our local employers and offer opportunities for students to access higher education, but Northland’s campuses are also a bedrock of our communities. The long-term impact of our continued dedication to our local region is impossible to put into simple numbers. Hometown pride may not be a traditional economic indicator, but it certainly translates into positive economic outcomes.”

Statewide, all Minnesota State operations, including all seven state universities and 26 community and technical colleges, plus the spending of its faculty, staff, and students, had a total statewide economic contribution of $8.4 billion. This activity generated an estimated 62,125 jobs in the state.

The economic contribution report for Northland is available at www.northlandcollege.edu/impact.

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U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand apprenticeship access. The American Apprenticeship Act would provide states with tuition assistance funding to support apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. 

“Apprenticeships help people receive valuable on-the-job training and get the skills they need to work in high-demand fields,” said Klobuchar. “By providing additional tuition assistance resources for apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, our bipartisan legislation will enable more people to access and benefit from these valuable programs.” 

“Small business owners have told me that one of the biggest challenges they face is finding qualified and trained workers to fill vacant positions,” said Collins. “Apprenticeships help address this issue by aligning employees’ skills with employers’ needs and preparing individuals for a successful future in their chosen field. During the ongoing workforce shortage, this bipartisan bill would help fill the gap by expanding access to and lowering the cost of apprenticeships, allowing more Americans to take advantage of these programs to gain in-demand skills and obtain good-paying jobs.”

“People are living paycheck to paycheck – they are in desperate need of a viable pathway to gain and use their skills,” said DeLauro. “The American Apprenticeship Act will help raise wages and reduce worker turnover by investing in workers, helping them gain skills to get good-paying jobs. The programs created under the legislation would allow businesses to create a pipeline of skilled workers while improving their bottom line and strengthening our global competitiveness – so workers win, business wins, and our economy grows.”

The American Apprenticeship Act would:

• Authorize the Department of Labor to award competitive grants to states that have developed effective strategies to diversify, market, and scale Registered Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs;
• Authorize states to utilize grant funds to assist participants in Registered Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs in obtaining industry-relevant classroom instruction;
• Require the Department of Labor to analyze the use of apprenticeships for in-demand occupations; and 
• Recognize that states play a pivotal role in elevating and expanding Registered Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships as workforce solutions.

Klobuchar has long led efforts to increase access to and expand apprenticeship opportunities. Last year, she and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) successfully pushed the Biden administration to increase efforts to strengthen women’s participation in apprenticeships.

Klobuchar also partnered with Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to reintroduce the Apprenticeships to College Act, bipartisan legislation to allow workers to earn college credits for completed apprenticeships.

In February 2021, Klobuchar and former Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) introduced the Skills Investment Act and Skills Renewal Act to help Americans save for and access skills training, apprenticeships, and professional development programs. 

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