Month: November 2023

The Crookston Economic Development Association, in conjunction with Ward 4, will be holding an informational meeting at the Crookston Eagles Club on Tuesday, November 7, starting at 5:00 p.m. The association will be applying for grant funds to assist low and fixed-income homeowners, landlords of low-income properties, and commercial businesses with rehabbing their properties.

All community members are welcome to come to this meeting, especially if associated with Ward 4. “The small cities development program will be more geared toward low-income or fixed-income homeowners,” said CHEDA Project Coordinator Kayla Hanson, “Landlords, or individuals that have rental property that is geared toward low-income tenants. But also any businesses that are within the Crookston city limits are encouraged to join.”

The Small Cities Development Program grant has three grants that CHEDA is acquiring letters of interest for. Work that can be done under this program is generally limited to repairs or replacement of existing deteriorated features, such as windows, doors, furnaces, plumbing, electrical repairs, roofs, siding, and foundation repairs. Non-binding letters of intent are currently being collected to express better the need for grand funding within the Crookston community.

In addition to the Small Cities Development Grant, CHEDA is encouraging local businesses to apply for the Storefront Revitalization Program (or beautification grant), which is currently running with funding rolling out the door. This grant is designed to aid businesses’ interest in external storefront improvements.

Applicants can receive up to $5,000 with a 25/75 match or a 20/80 match with a purchase or renewal of a Crookston Area Chamber membership. For example, if a business receives the $5,000, they are required to match $1,250 of the grant, or if they are members of Crookston Area Chamber, it would equate to a $1,000 match.

“If anybody wants to become a chamber member as well, we can waive that fee into it,” said Hanson, “We just want to see area businesses come together and collaborate with the Chamber because the Chamber does so much. But it’s more so the collaboration of bringing Crookston together.”

There will be CHEDA representatives (including Kayla Hanson) present at the meeting to answer any questions, as well as hand out letters of interest where attendees can fill in their information if interested.

For any questions regarding these programs or the upcoming meeting, contact Program Director Kayla Hanson at 218-280-6368.

 

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Washington and Highland Elementary Schools will start their Read-A-Thon campaign beginning Monday, November 6, in hopes of fundraising for future field trips.

Before Read-A-Thon, Highland School hosted an annual PTO bingo event to fundraise money for field trips until COVID-19 ended the event abruptly. The PTO helps subsidize outgoing charges to parents for field trip expenses.

“I think this transitioned for a lot of schools to go to a Read-A-Thon,” said Highland Elementary School Principal Chris Trostad, “There are companies that set all of them up online because it’s very easy to go online and donate. We sent two buses to Grand Rapids last year, and it was almost $3,000. You divide that by 80 kids now; parents can afford that.”

Trostad also mentioned this campaign being a tremendous help in funding the Itasca field trip the students take yearly, which costs approximately $5,000-$6,000.

The money raised during Read-A-Thon gets distributed to both schools, and it’s based on how many minutes each student reads. “It’s kind of nice to know the money is going toward educational purposes,” said Trostad, “Kids are reading to generate money through this fundraiser.”

Students with email addresses can invite people (typically family members) to join this event and donate to it. Teachers will also send out QR codes to parents and community members.

If you want to donate straight to the Read-A-Thon, both schools will accept cash or check donations or drop-offs. The school you donate to will receive 100% of those donated funds.

Washington Elementary School Principal Denice Oliver believes students enjoy this campaign because of how much reading is involved and often includes their favorite books.

“At Washington School, we have the little people of the district, so they don’t necessarily know how to read yet,” said Oliver, “So their part of the Read-A-Thon is for someone to read to them. Just the idea for them to cuddle up with a good book with an important person in their life makes it a very fun experience for them.”

The Read-A-Thon campaign will consist of six themed days for both schools, allowing students to dress accordingly and bring literature catered for those events. “I think one of the favorites for these events would be the bedtime story day,” said Oliver, “They get to wear their pajamas or bring their teddy bear and their favorite book.”

Oliver also mentioned the “Reading is Everywhere” theme day, where students wear shirts that classmates can read. Oliver believes this event is especially popular at Washington School because kindergartners just learning to read enjoy seeing words they are familiar with.

Although the Read-A-Thon benefits both schools with funding, it also benefits the students and their path to reading. Oliver explained that it also helps bring families together and gives parents a chance to connect with their children through books deeply.

“I remember when my son was growing up many years ago, one of the things we always did was read a book at night,” said Oliver, “It was one my favorite times with him, and sometimes I’d even fall asleep, and he’d have to wake me up and tell me to reread it. But we’re so relational with our kids, and I think reading a book together is one of the most special times you can have with your kids. That’s what makes this special.”

All of the themed events for Read-A-Thon are listed below-

Monday, November 6, is “Cat in the Hat Day.” Students will be encouraged to wear hats and stripes to school.

Wednesday, November 8, will be “Color Day.” Students will be encouraged to wear a color that makes them happy.

Friday, November 10, will be “Favorite Book Day.” Students can dress up as their favorite book characters and bring their favorite books to school.

Monday,  November 13, will be “Reading is Everywhere Day.” Students will be encouraged to wear a shirt classmates can read.

Wednesday, November 15, will be “Wacky Wednesday.” students will be encouraged to wear wacky, inside-out, or backward clothing to school.

Friday, November 17, will be the final event of Read-A-Thon titled “Bedtime Story Day,” where students can wear pajamas to school and bring their favorite bedtime stories.

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Crookston Schools Business Manager Laura Lyzcewski announced her retirement date on Friday, November 3, after spending twenty years in the Crookston School District.

Lyzcewski has been the district’s business manager for the past 18 years. As a Crookston High School graduate herself, she believes the school district has many great things to offer for incoming families because of the standards that have been set within the district. She also talked about the importance of the district within the community.

“We have a great school district; I couldn’t speak higher about a district,” said Lyzcewski, “I just think it is the best, my kids went to school here. I’m very happy with the quality of education that we provide. We’re one of the biggest employers in town, and that gives us a lot of stability of being in Crookston.”

Lyzcewksi also said that the Crookston school district test scores speak for themselves, and she credited the teachers, staff, and students in the district for their great work over the years.

“This is a great place. This is a very good school district, I graduated from this district, I have Crookston roots, and once you’re a pirate, you’re always a pirate,” said Lyzcewski, “It’s the people that make everybody’s job much better, and makes it easier and enjoyable to come to work.”

Lyzcewski also said that her career has gone “in the blink of an eye,” and she has really enjoyed the people she’s gotten to work with over the years. “I think my favorite part of working here was the blend of working with people because we don’t work with students,” said Lyzcewski, “We deal more with staff, and you learn that you get to work with wonderful people.” Lyzcewksi also explained the district office as a “one-stop shop” regarding its operations, including funding, accounting, and payroll for staff members.

Being a business manager for a school district can be daunting when viewing all of the responsibilities and tasks performed. Lyzcewski spoke about some of the job duties the position entails. “We put all the different funding sources together that Minnesota gives us,” said Lyzcewski, “Students are generating income based on their attendance in school, so we really like our attendance of our students to be consistent because it is the biggest denominator for getting money.” The job also entails reviewing money from the legislature, finding grants for the district, and computing the funds into the system.

Lyzcewski was asked about some of her plans heading into retirement, and vacations are not on the agenda as of now. However, she has seven grandchildren whom she plans on spending more time with, and her mother, who still resides in Crookston.

 

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On Tuesday, October 31, at approximately 4:59 p.m., Officers of the Grand Forks Police Department were dispatched to the 1100 block of Demers Ave for a rollover vehicle crash.

When Officers arrived on the scene, they spoke with the 17-year-old driver, who was outside the vehicle and appeared to be in good condition. The vehicle, a 2015 Toyota Camry, was being driven westbound on Demers when it lost control, struck the north curb, and rolled, hitting the traffic signal pole in front of Central Fire. The Grand Forks Police, Altru Ambulance, and the Grand Forks Fire Department all responded to the scene. The driver was treated by Altru Paramedics on the scene and released.

Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the incident is encouraged to contact the Grand Forks Police Department.

The Grand Forks Police Department would like to thank the Grand Forks Fire Department for their assistance on the scene, as well as Altru Paramedics.

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