Month: February 2024

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents will consider potential finalists during its meeting on Thursday, February 8 and Friday, February 9 as part of its search for the 18th President of the University of Minnesota. 

As the Board sought to attract a broad and diverse pool of the highest-quality candidates, it also emphasized the value of community engagement throughout the search process. This was part of its charge to the Presidential Search Advisory Committee and WittKieffer, an executive search firm specializing in higher education and nonprofit leadership hires. 

“From the call for nominations to the search committee, initial public listening sessions held across the state, and feedback received on the presidential search website, we have all worked together on this important endeavor,” said Board Chair Janie Mayeron. “I am proud of our thorough and thoughtful process, the strong interest in this important leadership role, and our community’s continued engagement as we identify the right leader to build on the momentum of the University’s service to our students and all Minnesotans.”

After evaluating a talented pool of 46 candidates and interviewing 12 individuals, the Presidential Search Advisory Committee unanimously recommended four lead candidates to the full Board. The applicant pool was 89% men, 11% women, and 39% people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds.

The Board will consider the lead candidates on Friday, February 9. In accordance with state law, candidate identities will remain confidential during the discussion and will be named if they are selected as finalists to be invited for interviews. 

Finalists will go on to meet with community members in a series of public forums at each of the University’s five campuses and interview with the Board. Throughout the search process, the Board has emphasized the importance of collecting input from all members of the University community and others across the state who are invested in or connected to the U of M. The forums will provide an opportunity for the Board to hear feedback about finalists before it interviews them and begins deliberations. 

Updates about the search and future engagement opportunities — expected to begin the week of February 12 — will be available on the Board’s Presidential Search website. Input may also be provided directly to the Board at any time on the presidential search or any other topic through the recently launched Virtual Forum.

As part of its February meetings, the Board is also expected to: 

• Review completed external audit work and the fiscal 2024 plan with University Controller Mollie Viola.
• Discuss the Governor’s Task Force on Academic Health at the University of Minnesota with Regent Penny Wheeler, Interim President Jeff Ettinger and Vice President for Clinical Affairs and Dean of the Medical School Jakub Tolar.
• Receive an update on Higher Learning Commission Accreditation for the Rochester and Twin Cities Campuses from Executive Vice President and Provost Rachel Croson; Erin Slattengren, accreditation liaison officer; and Robert McMaster, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education.
• Act on amendments to the University’s supplemental fiscal 2025 State budget request. 
• Review Board of Regents Policy: Reservation and Delegation of Authority.
• Act on the University performance and accountability report with Interim President Jeff Ettinger and Executive Vice President and Provost Rachel Croson.

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The Crookston Eagles Club will have Bar Bingo this afternoon starting at 2:00 p.m. This is a $400 must-go jackpot.

The artist series concert will take place on Sunday, February 4, at 2:30 p.m. at Crookston High School. This concert is a matinee performance. 

The Dream Boutique is going to be having a prom dress donation drive. Donations of prom dresses, prom shoes, and prom-type jewelry can be dropped off on Monday, February 5, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 107 E 2nd St across the street from City Hall in the old Opticare building. Donations can also be dropped off at any time with Erin LaPlante at State Farm Insurance.

Join the Crookston Public Library on Tuesday, February 6 from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. for Baby Bounce, for social and early literacy activities for children 0 to 3.

The Crookston Public Library will have Storytime on Thursday, February 8, from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.

RiverView Health will be offering a CPR class on Thursday, February 8, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the RiverView Home Care Building, 721 South Minnesota Street in Crookston. The cost is $55 for those needing certification, and for those not needing certification, the class is free. To register, call 218-281-9536. No walk-ins will be allowed.

The 21^st Annual Ice Buster Daze Fishing Derby in Crookston will be on Saturday, February 10. The Masonic Lodge Breakfast will be 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. at 112 West Robert Street. Pancakes, Waffles, sausage, coffee, juice, and milk will be served. It’s a free-will offering with money going to local charities. Ice fishing will be from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on the Red Lake River at Central Park. Registration begins at 11:00 a.m. $25 for 2 holes. Tickets are being pre-sold at Crookston Ace Hardware and Scott’s True Value. Ticket sales are limited to 300. The Awards Ceremony will be at 7:00 p.m. at the Crookston Eagles. For more information, contact Crookston Ace Hardware at 281-1749 or Brian at 281-7762.

The Camp Confidence Fundraiser Cornhole Tournament will be held on Saturday, February 10, at the Crookston Eagles Club. Registration and check-in will be 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Bags will fly at noon. The cost per team is $40, and Venmo is available. It’s double elimination with payouts for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place.  There are new custom-made boards and bags. Wear your favorite football jersey for a chance at a $20 bar tab. To pre-register, call or text Tandra at 218-289-0575 or Nicole at 443-716-8635.

The Golden Link Senior Center will host a pancake and French toast breakfast on Sunday, February 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There will be no cost, but free-will donations will be offered. The menu will include pancakes, French toast, sausage links, and biscuits and gravy.

Join the Crookston Public Library for STEMsational Tuesdays on Tuesday, February 13, from 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. as they explore science, technology, engineering, and math activities. STEMsational Tuesdays are held the second Tuesday of every month while school is in session.

The Driftbusters Snowmobile Club  Fundraiser Galentine’s  Designer Purse Bingo and Vendor Show, with special guest Blinked Permanent Jewelry, will be held Tuesday, February 13, at the Crookston Eagles Club. Vendor Show will be from 5:30 to 7:00 and Bingo at 7:00.  Advanced tickets are $40 and $50 at the door. 15 games will be played. There will be door prize drawings throughout the vendor show. For tickets, contact Anna Peterson at 218-280-8994 or Shannon Knaack at 320-309-7308.

The Crookston Public Library will have Storytime on Thursday, February 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Join the Crookston Public Library on Tuesday, February 20 from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. for Baby Bounce, for social and early literacy activities for children 0 to 3.

Celebrate the Young Child will host Let’s Pretend at the Crookston Library on Tuesday, February 20, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Crookston Alliance for Literacy and Learning (CALL) Committee invites you to come dressed up as your favorite character or hero and play at their pretend post office, police station, flower shop, fire station, restaurant, doctor’s office, and vet clinic. Free books will be provided by the CALL Committee.

The Crookston Public Library will have Storytime on Thursday, February 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The Crookston Gun Club will host its 43rd annual Family Fun Night and Awards Banquet on Saturday, February 24, at the Crookston Eagles Club. There will be a social at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Dinner choices will include Prime Rib or Walleye. The price is $30 for adults and $25 for ages under 18. For more information, call Steve Videen at 218-289-2115.

The February Fitness Fever activity will be ice skating at the Crookston Sports Center on Sunday, February 25, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. This is a free event.

Heads up, Trainers! Join your “Poke-fan”  librarian for some Pokemon-themed activities, coloring pages, books, games, and cards for Pokemon Day on Tuesday, February 27, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Crookston Public Library.

Join the Books and Brews Book Club at Drafts Sports Bar & Grill on Tuesday, February 27, at 6:00 pm. They will be discussing “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus.

The Crookston Public Library will have Storytime on Thursday, February 29, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

CONTINUING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Join the Crookston Library winter’s reading adventure Book Blizzard going on now through February 29!! Read to win cozy prizes. Complete a reading log for every four books you listen to or read. Participate at the Crookston Library or online at larl.org/bookblizzard 

DNR Hunter Safety Traning for ages 11 and older will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays beginning May 7. The classes will be held at the Crookston Gun Club. To register, contact Youth Activities Coordinator Steve Videen at 218-289-2115 or by email at stevevideen@yahoo.com

The Crookston February pool hours Monday through Friday are – lap swim  6:00 to 9:00 a.m., aqua aerobics 9:00 to 10:00, homeschool open swim 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Fridays only, and open swim 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, open swim 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. birthday party slots from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m., call 218-1180 for reservations.  Closed on Sundays. Costs are: Open swim $5 a person, aqua aerobics $5 a person, lap swim $5 a person, aqua and lap swim membership is $36 a month.

As the Crookston Care and Share expands, its women’s dormitories are in need of twin bed frames, dressers, lamps, and end tables. Donate: call 218-281-2644.

The Crookston Squadron Civil Air Patrol meets every Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Call 218-281-3954 for more information.

Highland Elementary School is looking for new or used winter gloves and snow pants in sizes 8, 9, and 10. If you are interested in donating or have any questions, call 218-281-5600.

Parents of children are invited to register their children for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The program provides one book every month to your child for FREE from when you enroll until they turn five. Crookston Public School manages the program, and you can register at www.ImaginationLibrary.com.

The Crookston Care and Share is now accepting donations of Women’s, Men’s, and children’s clothing, toiletries, and other everyday items. Donations may be dropped off at the Care and Share Center at 220 East Third Street or call 281-2644. The Donation Room is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and Fridays from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Polk County Public Health and ECFE will host a Newborn Baby Talk event for parents with babies newborn to 12 weeks every Tuesday from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Crookston Public Library. There will be 2-12 week sessions. January 9-March 26, and April 2-June 18. A public health nurse, parent educator and lactation specialist will be available to answer questions about your newborn and provide support and information on your journey of parenting. A facilitated discussion will cover feeding, attachment, sleep, development, family changes, and returning to work. You can have your baby weighed too.

Every Tuesday (except for Federal Holidays), The Crookston Public Library will host New Born Baby Talk from 9:30 am. to 11:00 a.m. This is for parents with babies 0-12 weeks old. A public health nurse, parent educator, and lactation specialist will be available to answer questions about your newborn and provide support and information on your new journey of parenting.

The Crookston Public Library’s Books & Brews Book Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of every other month at 6:30 p.m. at Drafts Sports Bar and Grill. They will discuss books and enjoy beverages. Appetizers are provided by the Friends of the Crookston Public Library; participants are responsible for the cost of their food and drinks. All are welcome.

The Crookston Public Library’s Reading by the Red Book Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of every other month at 6:30 p.m. They will discuss books and enjoy beverages.

The Crookston Public Library will have StoryTime every Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The Golden Link is serving noon lunch Monday through Friday. All are welcome to dine in between the hours of 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Crookston Friends of the Library meet on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

The Crookston Library Board meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 5:15 p.m.

The Cove Youth Center in Crookston is open Monday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Students and parents should call ahead to check the availability of the youth center at 218-470-0149.

The Crookston Care and Share Center’s Donation and New Hope Food Shelf will be open every Monday and Wednesday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and every Friday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. For more information or to donate, call 218-277-0000.

 

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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wants people to be extremely cautious around ice on smaller bodies of water and even swimming pools.

Unseasonably warm weather, combined with a lack of snow cover, has taken a toll on the ice on some water bodies, particularly small ponds and drainage ditches often found in neighborhoods. These smaller, nearby water bodies can be magnets for curious children. It’s especially important to talk with children about the dangers and warn them to stay off.

• Temperatures in the 40s and 50s are weakening the ice, with small ponds and drainage ditches melting the fastest. The lack of snow cover is causing the land and water bodies to warm up faster than they would if they had snow to reflect the sunlight and provide insulation.
• With the extremely unusual conditions this winter, it is especially important that kids and adults are aware of the dangers of “ice in the backyard” – small ponds, creeks, and even drainage ditches.
• In the past 25 years, eight children under the age of 10 died in Minnesota after falling through backyard ice. It only takes one gasp for air – caused by cold shock – for a person to drown in cold water.
• Children are at a much higher risk because they do not understand the danger and might not even know that they are walking on ice when they are playing near a frozen holding pond or drainage ditch.
• With the unseasonably warm weather and poor ice conditions this winter, now is a critical time for parents and guardians to talk with their kids about the dangers of walking on ice. Everyone can play a part in talking with their neighbors and making sure kids are never on the ice without an adult.
• For more information about staying safe on and around the ice, visit the ice safety webpage of the DNR website.

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Matthew Kuznia has been chosen as the Benedictine Living Community – Crookston February Athlete of the Month.  He was determined not only because of his dedication to his therapy during his skilled admission but also for his dedication to exercise in his free time.

Mat enjoys spending his time outside therapy doing more exercises in his room, including sit-to-stand exercises at his bedside and using his free weights.  He can also be seen frequently wheeling himself up and down the hallways of The Villa in his wheelchair for cardiopulmonary improvements.  Mat always brings a positive mindset to the gym and his peers around him.   

Some of his favorites include:

Food – Lobster

Exercise – Push Ups (as he giggled)

Season – Summer

Color – Orange

Holiday – Christmas

Hero – His wife

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