*Moorhead Fire Department Open House
The Moorhead Fire Department would like to welcome you to their annual Fire Prevention Week Open House on Sunday, October 11, 2015 from 1-4 pm at Station 1, 1120 1 Ave N.
A host of free activities include:
Station and equipment tours
Interactive computer learning games
Fire extinguisher demonstrations
Kids “Squirt House”
Award of annual fire poster contest winners
Hands-on home fire drill class and activities in our mobile training house
Hotdogs, chips and soda also provided free while supplies last.
Come on out, rain or shine!
*Moorhead Business Association News
By David N. Hunstad, Executive Director
I was inspired by the report that was presented last week by Dave Feehan and Jack Hopkins. The study was motivated by the Fargo Moorhead Area Foundation and funded by the Bremer Foundation. In short, the study revealed that opportunity and interest exist to move forward, develop a plan and get to work rebuilding and revitalizing downtown Moorhead.
I am aware that there have been several attempts at downtown revitalization in the past that have not born the fruits we would like to see. I think many reading this would also agree that downtown Moorhead needs revitalizing. Downtown revitalization is not a new idea. What I am hoping is that this might be a new time. Fifteen years ago the Moorhead Schools were shrinking, but now they are over -crowded and expanding. Fifteen years ago there was not a vital downtown Fargo within walking distance of Moorhead. The Moorhead Business Association did not exist when previous efforts were taken. The Fargo Moorhead Area Foundation was not convening conversations that united government, private business and educational institutions. I think this just might be the time.
My impression of the work that was done by Dave Feehan and Jack Hopkins is a work that perhaps we can begin to say yes to. Yes, Moorhead needs revitalizing. Yes, the center of town can be more than it is. Yes, we need to see changes in policy. Yes, we need to see changes in attitude. Yes, legislation that provides incentives would be helpful. And finally, Yes! I can’t speak for you but I hope you say Yes, I want to help make this happen.
It is important to look back and learn from our past experiences. But as we look back it is also important to realize that there is a reason the windshield is bigger than the rear view mirror. It is even more important that we look forward. Where have we come from? What have we learned along the way? But most importantly, where are we going?
Moorhead faces some real challenges. We are a border city that faces stiff competition from tax structure, population, perception and attitude. We lack historic buildings that can be reclaimed and made new. On the other hand, we are experiencing growth that we haven’t seen in decades. New and existing businesses are expanding in Moorhead. The Moorhead Business Association, along with the Moorhead Economic Development Authority, the Moorhead School District, Concordia College, Moorhead State University Moorhead and our city government are all working together to ensure continued growth in Moorhead.
This is a great time for Moorhead!
Join us this week for Let’s Talk Business at 7:00 Wednesday morining at the Moorhead Fryn’ Pan and for 560 Connect at 5:00 on Thursday at Dave’s Southside Tap.
*Fargo Police to host Madison neighborhood meeting Oct. 15
The Fargo Police Department will host a neighborhood meeting on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. at Madison Elementary School, 1040 29th St. N.
The purpose of this meeting is to talk with Madison neighborhood residents about crime in the area and safety tips, and address any crime or safety concerns residents may have. The meeting will begin with a presentation by beat sergeants and will be followed with a question and answer session.
*Boys & Girls Club of the Red River Valley Receives Bremer Bank Grant Award
The Boys & Girls Club of the Red River Valley received a $50,000 grant award from the Otto Bremer Foundation to assist in operational costs for The Club and the P.O.D. “Play Outside Daily” programs. The cost per year to operate The Club is approximately $1,500 per youth and approximately $15,000 per year for the P.O.D, yet the charge to attend is minimal or free.
The Club, a traditional Boys and Girls Club program, is a membership based youth development program available to youth ages 5-17 after school, evenings and throughout the summer. The cost of membership is $10 per year per youth, yet the cost to operate The Club is approximately $1,500 per year per youth. The Club is intentionally designed for those youth who cannot afford typical fee based youth programming.
*82 Citations issued in Fargo during distracted driving campaign
As part of a statewide effort, the Fargo Police Department conducted a heightened enforcement campaign focusing on distracted driving on 11 separate days in September. A total of 82 citations were issued in Fargo including 45 distracted driving citations.
It’s illegal for all drivers in North Dakota to compose, send or read texts while driving. Drivers may not access the Internet, emails, texts or instant messages at any time while their vehicle is in a traffic lane, which includes when their vehicle is in a construction zone or stopped for a red light.
*The Rourke Art Museum’s New Program, “The Rourke Art Academy”
New Project Provides Free Classes for All Ages
The Rourke Art Museum proudly announces the beginning of a free arts education program, The Rourke Arts Academy. The goal of this program is to provide free arts educational opportunities to people of all ages. We are offering lectures as well as hand-on classes by some of the best arts educators in our region. Michael Strand , Theodore Gracyk, MacKenzie Kouba, and Emily Williams-Wheeler are just some of the exceptional instructors that we have working with us for this program.
The lectures will take place in the main gallery, and the hands-on classes will be held in the newly remodeled educational room. Our family programming has already begun with a performance and talk by Sonnet Man, as well as an aerosol art event and lecture.
We have now opened up registration for our first hands-on class at the museum. This class is an introduction to sculpture class for kids in grades 3rd-6th. The artist teaching this class is Naomi Schliesman, whose show with Chris Walla, “Together”, is now showing at the museum.
Information about, and registration for, classes can be found at: http://www.therourke.org/
Registration is required to insure there are enough materials for everyone.
*MSU Moorhead’s Homecoming runs October 12-18
Minnesota State University Moorhead will host their Homecoming from Monday, Oct. 12 to Sunday, Oct. 18 with events scheduled throughout the week. Notable activities include a community block party, the burning of the M, the Homecoming parade, recognition of distinguished alumni, and various sporting events, including the Dragon football game versus Bemidji State.
To kick off Homecoming, MSUM will host a community block party on Monday, October 12 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The block party will be held in the campus mall and will have music, inflatable games, free food and a pep rally.
MSUM will also host a Homecoming parade on Saturday, October 17 at 11 a.m. The parade will circle the entire college campus and will be followed by Dragon tailgating at 11:30 a.m.
To learn more about MSUM’s Homecoming events, visit www.mnstate.edu/homecoming.
*Moorhead Fire Fighters Raise $4,313 for Fill the Boot for MDA
On September 18-20, Moorhead fire fighters were at the two Moorhead Hornbacher’s locations to “Fill the Boot” for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Grand total raised was $4,313 for local families living with muscle disease.
“We deeply appreciate the work the Moorhead fire fighters do on behalf of MDA,” said Area Director Sue Wiger. “The Moorhead Fire Department raised an additional $1,565 over 2014, which is an amazing increase. We couldn’t make this happen without the generous support of the Moorhead community. We certainly tried to get out the word that 100% of the dollars raised are used for our local families with muscle disease and I think that makes a difference when people hear that. A word of thanks also to Hornbacher’s for their generosity in providing the locations for the event.”
*Senator Kent Eken honored for exceptional work supporting Minnesotans with disabilities
The Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota (ARRM) honored Senator Kent Eken (04) with its 2015 ARRM Leadership Award on Thursday, September 24. The presentation ceremony at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge recognized Senator Eken for his ongoing dedication to supporting people with disabilities across the state. The ARRM Leadership Award was created over a decade ago to recognize innovative leaders whose advocacy work has significantly impacted Minnesotans with disabilities.
ARRM CEO Bruce Nelson presented the award and commended Senator Eken for his strategic legislative efforts, including rate reform and authorship of The 5% Campaign’s senate bills in 2014 and 2015. The Senator’s strong advocacy was instrumental in securing a five percent rate increase for Home & Community-Based Services in 2014; these essential services support 90,000 people with disabilities and older adults in Minnesota. The bill helped address a crisis, with the bulk of the funds going to underpaid direct care workers.