Northwest Minnesota Foundation awards grant for multi-county health improvement project

NMF AWARDS GRANT FOR MULTI-COUNTY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Bemidji, MN – May 13, 2010 -- The Northwest Minnesota Foundation recently awarded a grant for $25,000 to Polk County Public Health for the Northwest Minnesota Health Improvement Project.

The NMF Community Connections grant will supplement the work of three community health boards -- Polk County Public Health, Quin Community Health Services and Norman/Mahnomen Public Health -- that together applied and received funding for the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) designed by the Minnesota Department of Health to help communities address tobacco use, physical inactivity and poor nutrition.

The project will involve eight counties: Kittson, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau. Comprehensive, evidence-based interventions have been selected which address obesity and tobacco prevention in the school, worksite, healthcare and community settings.

The partners believe that the Health Improvement Project will provide a platform for instituting changes that will be long-term, sustainable, and will eventually result in better health for the residents of northwest Minnesota.

Sheri Altepeter, grant coordinator, explained that the groups are working together to make the healthy choice the easy choice.   "This means having access to physical activity, nutritious foods and avoiding exposure to tobacco," she said.  "It will take time and effort to decrease costly chronic health conditions associated with obesity, inactivity and tobacco use.  The Statewide Health Improvement Program will result in longer and healthier lives and lower health care costs."

A Community Leadership Team and County Steering Committees represent the eight-county project area. They are comprised of representatives who are the key people and organizations needed to promote broader community buy-in and sustainability.  The Community Connection Program funding will be used to build new coalitions, strengthen networks, and change organizational practices and policies. Proposed outcomes include improved efficiencies, reduced duplication of services and lower costs.

According to Jim Steenerson, NMF Senior Program Officer – Grants, the project will support specific activities within this large collaborative to help it achieve overall success. "Although real change is a slow process," Steenerson said, "the capacity of all the collaborative partners to address social and behavior issues and other emerging public health concerns will be improved by this project. An immediate benefit is seeing the community health partners develop new relationships with people not normally involved with the public health network."

Visit the NMF website www.nwmf.org for more information about grants and other programs.

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is a public community foundation serving Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau Counties. NMF invests resources, creates opportunities and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.

Media Contact: Lisa Peterson, Communications Director

4225 Technology Drive NW ~ Bemidji, MN 56601

Phone: 218-759-2057 ~ FAX: 218-759-2328 ~ e-mail: lisap@nwmf.org

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jim Steenerson, 218-759-2057, jims@nwmf.org

 

R2AC Awards $110,000 in Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants!

The R2AC recently awarded $110,000 in Arts and Cultural Heritage grants to artists, arts organizations, and non-profits in Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, and Mahnomen counties These new grant programs are available as a result of Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

Terri Widman (far left), Executive Director of R2AC, and Representative John Persell (back row, far left) stand with the first Arts and Cultural Heritage grant recipients.

The monies were given in two grant categories: Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants ($66,000) and Community Arts Support Grants ($44,000).

The Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants are available for individual artists and non-profit organizations. . Recipients of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants will use the funds to create opportunities for arts access, arts education, and build bridges between Minnesotans through arts and cultural heritage in the five-county region. Grantees were awarded a total of $66,000 for their community-based projects.

Artists and organizations benefiting from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants are as follows.

Representative John Persell (far left, back row) and R2AC Executive Director Terri Widman (far right) stand with Arts and Cultural Heritage Grant recipients.

Beltrami County:

Rose Heim: $3,000 to complete a photo exhibit that is a "portrait"of Kelliher, Waskish and the surrounding area.

Bemidji State University Music Department: $4,089 to commission and

Deb Steinbar, BSU Adjunct Music Instructor and Project Director, and Terri Widman, R2AC Executive Director

premier a multi-harpsichord concerto by MN composer Asako Hirabayashi written for and performed by La Musique Nomade.

Headwaters School of Music & Arts: $4,088 to purchase four potter wheels to facilitate pottery workshops for adults and children.

Headwaters School of Music & Arts: $4,820 to host a water-color workshop with internationally known artist, Paul Jackson.

Kelliher School: $1,938 to take the Holocaust Literature and English 11

Holocaust Literature and Literature 11 Classes at Kelliher School

classes to the "The Diary of Anne Frank" at the Park Square Theatre in St. Paul, MN.

Kristin Majkrzak: $1,990 to attend an international fiber arts conference to learn new tapestry weaving skills. She will provide classes in the art form to northern Minnesotans in late 2010.

Paula J. Swenson: $2,245 to paint a mural acknowledging the beauty and wildlife of Bemidji and northern Minnesota.

Marion Reil and Grace Garland: $3,000 to host 10 watercolor workshops at assisted living facilities in Clearwater and Beltrami counties.

Boys & Girls Club of Bemidji Area Teen members: $6,000 for visual and theater arts programming. Teens will create six painted and batiked screens and six dyed screens for the teen center stage and participate in 12 weeks of theater arts classes.

Bemidji Community Theater: $4,200 for a collaborative production with the Paul Bunyan Playhouse of Disney's musical, Aladdin, Jr.

Clearwater County:

Vanessa Pulkabrek (far left) took students for a weekend of arts and culture in Minnepolis. R2AC Executive Director Terri Widman is on the far right.

Clearbrook-Gonvick High School: $4,120 for students to visit museums and theaters in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.

Northern Exposure to Lifelong Learning: $4,500 to sponsor a one-day festival of ethnic music.

Hubbard County:

Eric C. Bervig: $2,520 to provide professional quality modal jazz performances to Minnesotans in the Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, and Mahnomen counties.

Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning: $4,945 to offer a series of sessions about cultural and folk art traditions and ethnic heritage, culminating with a multi-ethnic festival.

Lake of the Woods County:

Terri Widman (right) of the R2AC and Joanne Kellner of the Depot Preservation Alliance in Baudette.

The Depot Preservation Alliance: $2,000 to bring in art and design consultants to guide the development of the exhibit celebrating the cultural heritage of the Baudette area.

Lake of the Woods School : $4,545 to hire mosaic artist, Marsha Wolff, for a two week Artist in Residence program to teach students how to design and make mosaic art.

Lake of the Woods School: $2,000 to take the class of 2010 to see "Footloose" at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater as a supplement to their usual Senior Class Trip.

Representative John Persell (left), Darby Miller from the Center of Human Environment, and Terri Widman of the R2AC

Mahnomen County:

The Center of Human Environment: $6,000 to provide opportunities for

artistic expression that will enrich residents' lives at this group home.

Community Arts Support Grants provide some measure of funding stability for non-profit arts organizations so that their energy can be better focused on increasing the quality and availability of the arts to their communities. The Community Arts Support Program granted $44,000 to nonprofits in the five county region.

R2Ac Executive Director, Terri Widman (second from left) and Representative John Persell( third from right) stand with Community Arts Support Grant recipients.

Non-profit arts organizations that benefited from the Community Arts Support Grants are as follows:

Bemidji Chorale: $3,000 to apply for 501(c)3 designation, purchase music folders, purchase music for a special concert with the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra and compensation for the conductor, accompanist and guest musicians.

Bemidji Community Arts Center: $6,000 to hire staff to assist in the implementation of existing programs.

Bemidji Community Theater: $3,000 to support rental of permanent costume storage and costume construction space as well as funds to expand our technical capabilities in order to add to the artistic quality of our productions.

Bemidji Symphony Orchestra: $6,000 to support the costs of producing the 2010-2011 Orchestra Concert season.

Terri Widman, R2AC, and Bill Zigmant, Treasurue of the Heartland Concert Association

Heartland Concert Association, Park Rapids: $4,000 to help provide necessary revenue to bring musical concerts, entertainments and programs to Hubbard County and surrounding area.

Minnesota Folklore Theater, Akeley: $3,000 to apply for 501(c)3 designation and for staffing and audience development.

Northern Artist Association, Bemidji: $4,070 to support the the marketing arm of the Northern Artist Association by assisting with monthly expenses and outreach.

North Country Museum of Arts, Park Rapids: $2,930 for operating expenses.

Northern Light Opera Company, Park Rapids: $6,000 for operating expenses and to hire a stage director and a technical director for the annual summer production.

Park Rapids Lakes Area Council: $3,000 to support projects in the Park Rapids area.

Terri Widman (left) presents representatives from the Pequana Playhouse board of Directors with their Community Arts Support Grant.

Pequana Playhouse, Baudette: $3,000 to implement arts programming in Lake of the Woods county and to repair the lighting and lightboard in the Lake of the Woods school auditorium where Pequana Playhouse productions are held.

The Region 2 Arts Council is one of eleven regional art councils in the State of Minnesota with the purpose of supporting and promoting art appreciation throughout Region 2. For more information about grant opportunities and other services provided by the R2AC stop by their offices at 426 Bemidji Avenue N in Bemidji, visit http://www.r2arts.org or call 218-751-5447 or toll-free at 1-800-275-5447.

Reward Offered for Mailbox Damage

Since the last week in April 2010 through the first week in May, the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office has been inundated with numerous complaints about individuals damaging mailboxes in Beltrami County in the area south and east of the City of Bemidji.  Some of the primary roads that have been targeted are the Power Dam Road, Carr Lake Road and the Mission Road to name a few.  The individuals responsible for this activity have damaged the property of several hundred citizens in Beltrami County with a damage estimated to be at approximately $5,000.00.   

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office is offering a financial reward to anyone who has information leading to those responsible for this criminal damage to property.  Any information that leads to the arrest of these individuals would be greatly appreciated.  If you have information or questions concerning the recent damage to property complaints please contact the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office at 333-9111.

Beltrami Sheriffs Investigator Danelle Haugen Receives Award

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office is proud to announce that on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 7:00 p.m., Investigator Danelle Haugen of the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office was presented with the Excellence in Performance Award by the MN Association of Women Police. This award was presented to Investigator Danelle Haugen by the MN Association of Women Police at their 2010 award dinner located in Roseville, MN. The awards ceremony was attended by Chief Deputy Mike Bakke, Sheriff Phil Hodapp and Investigator Haugen's husband Todd Haugen. The Excellence Performance Award is awarded on a yearly basis by the MN Association of Women Police to a law enforcement officer who encompasses demonstrable excellent skills related to day to day police assignments including, but not limited to, investigative work, street activity, supervision or leadership special assignments, decoy sting operations, and/or any other day to day performance that is considered excellent. Investigator Haugen was nominated for the award by Chief Deputy Mike Bakke of the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office. Haugen was nominated for this award because she exemplifies everything that is stated in the description of a peace officer who is qualified to receive this award. She demonstrates excellence and leadership on a daily basis and produces results that promote the cause of justice and public safety in Beltrami County.

Investigator Haugen began her career in law enforcement in the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office in the spring of 2000 where she was assigned to the Beltrami County Boat and Water Division. She then went on to work as a uniformed patrol deputy, D.A.R.E. Officer, Civil Process Deputy and was ultimately promoted to Auto Theft Investigator in October of 2006. During every stage of her career, Investigator Haugen has demonstrated the utmost professionalism, competence and willingness to learn new skills in order to grow professionally. She has developed a gift for interview and interrogation and is perhaps one of the most skilled interviewers that currently work for the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office. Investigator Haugen demonstrates a tough minded, determined approach in seeing to it that the cases assigned to her are resolved successfully. Investigator Haugen requires very little supervision and has always demonstrated a selfless attitude by being available for case work whenever necessary and working to fulfill the mission of the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office. Over the course of her career Investigator Haugen has brought numerous felony cases to a successful end working both independently and as part of the team. These cases include burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, sex crimes, child abuse/neglect, assaults, and homicides. The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office congratulates Investigator Haugen on this award and is thankful to the MN Association of Women Police for recognizing her professional accomplishments in the field of law enforcement.

Chief Deputy Mike Bakke

Beltrami County Sheriff's Office

NMF Awards Capacity Development Initiative Program Grants

 

 

BEMIDJI, MN – April 20, 2010 -- The Northwest Minnesota Foundation's Capacity Development Initiative, made possible by an award from the Compassion Capital Fund of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, recently awarded 11 sub-grants.

                This funding will help nonprofit and faith-based organizations strengthen their delivery of programs to the region's unemployed, homeless, low-income and at-risk youth and adults.

The goals of the project are to support regional strategies to reduce homelessness, enhance welfare-to-work transition programming and improve employability by increasing capacity, sustainability, effectiveness and collaboration among the region's human service providers. In addition, the project is working to enhance the ability of faith-based organizations and community-based organizations to sustain the delivery of social services by developing supportive and culturally diverse training, combining and sharing existing resources and volunteer energies, and promoting multi-level strategies that maximize local and regional resources.

A total of $103,603 was awarded to faith-based and community-based organizations located in Mahnomen, Crookston, Erskine, Park Rapids, Naytahwaush, Warren, and Bemidji, which collectively serve all twelve counties in the NMF service area.

Mahnomen County Development Activities Center $2,500

The Mahnomen County DAC is a public entity that provides adult day training and habitation services to special needs, low income adults across Becker, Mahnomen, and Kittson Counties. The organization will implement systems to keep records of service recipients' satisfaction and/or service recipients' outcomes to increase the capacity of the organization in tracking client progress and documenting outcomes. In addition, they will obtain program related technology / equipment and train staff to work more effectively with clients on new technology.

 

Care and Share, Inc.  $8,885

Care and Share is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non denominational corporation serving those who suffer from economic hardship,  providing a food shelf, soup kitchen, clothing, emergency and transitional shelter. The organization will implement a multi-level evaluation of the current food shelf operation to identify ways to better and safely serve growing community needs by analysis of current data and evaluation of current services. They will also strengthen multiple partnerships and identify additional partnerships with other community agencies by creating or improving processes for collaborating with partners and strengthening partnerships.

 

Grace Lutheran Food Shelf  $2,354

Grace Lutheran Church Food Shelf is a faith-based, 501 (c)(3) providing emergency food services to the unemployed, underemployed and homeless in the communities of Erskine, McIntosh, Winger and Mentor. 

The organization will purchase an upright freezer and reorganize the food shelf space to better serve the clients and increase efficiency and safety of operation while increasing the effectiveness of services to clients.

 

Human Achievement Performance Academy (HAPA) $14,957

HAPA is a 501(c)(3) delivering financial counseling and employment education services to underemployed, unemployed adults, financial and credit counseling, life-skills to at-risk, homeless and transitional youth and adults.  HAPA serves Hubbard, Becker, Mahnomen and Beltrami Counties and one American Indian reservation. The organization will create marketing materials to increase the number of clients served; create a revenue development plan using a consultant to increase the ability to identify funding streams and obtain funds; create and implement a client database system for improved client record keeping system and data sorting system; upgrade current technology in computers, software and communication systems to increased efficiency with daily operations, report generation, and communications.

 

White Earth Reservation Constituency Service Program  $13,500

White Earth Constituency Program is a public agency providing financial assistance to White Earth families whose income is 135% of the Poverty Index:  Homeless persons, elders in need, Native Americans, families in transition, in a three county area. The organization will create a data collection, sharing, reporting system for the White Earth Constituency Program to increase the capacity of departments across a three county area to generate reports, conduct data collection, and provide services to clients.

 

Peacemaker Resources  $13,210

Peacemaker Resources is a 501 (c)(3) serving schools (including three reservation schools), at risk youth, Native Americans, and families in transition by providing social emotional skills training to reduce violence, high risk behavior, and improve communications.  The organization will develop a new strategic plan to increase the ability of Peacemaker to define direction and innovate; establish new strategic partnerships through increased referrals and requests for service delivery; and, expand program services to include non-violent communications to increase the scope of existing services.

 

Warren Living at Home Block Nursing Program  $4,800

Warren Living at Home Block Nursing Program (WLH/BNS) is a public entity that assists the elderly in living in their homes as long as possible by providing in-home nursing services, assistance with personal care and light housekeeping, referrals to social services, and transportation to meals and activities.  The organization will purchase new technology and software to increase the effectiveness of client recordkeeping and reporting, which will increase staff ability to access and maintain client records and generate reports. In addition, they will create new marketing materials to increase client referrals and participation in program and activities.

 

Bemidji Community Food Shelf $13,825

Bemidji Community Food Shelf is a 501(c)(3) interdenominational faith-based organization serving elders in need, families in transition, and low income individuals seeking to gain greater access to state and federal benefits. The organization will purchase database software and supporting technology to increase the ability of staff to access and maintain client records as well as develop plans for service expansion. In addition, they will develop a strategic plan to explore and implement a co-location with partner services.

 

Evergreen House, Inc.  $14,364

Evergreen House, Inc.  is a 501(c)(3) community- based organization providing services to a four-county area for homeless youth, high-risk youth, transitional services for families and youth through:  youth crisis center, alcohol and drug recovery house, suicide prevention education, transitional housing, mentoring program, youth and family counseling, youth drop-in center for homeless youth. The organization will purchase a variety of technologies to improve cross program communication, report sharing, and client records across three program locations including: phone system, server system, and upgrade their copier in order to increase capacity to communicate, access client records, plan for transitional move and improve existing services to better serve their growing client base.

 

Servant Hearts $4,651

Servant Hearts is a 501 (c)(3) community- based organization serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, two-spirited , questioning, ally, marginalized at-risk youth and adults with programs, support, education, and referral services.  The organization will create a website of services and available resources and attend grant writing and strategic planning training. They will also purchase technology to support program development and website development.

 

Northwoods Habitat for Humanity $10,587

Northwoods Habitat for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) faith-based organization dedicated to building affordable homes for people in need throughout Beltrami and Clearwater Counties.  They provide, through the Re-Store operation, access to affordable building supplies, home furnishings and accessories. The organization will purchase a new electronic cash register compatible with the QuickBooks accounting system to improve financial recordkeeping and will provide cash register training to staff and volunteers for improved customer service at the Re-Store. In addition, they will install a handicap access door to increase access for a new customer base.

 

A second round of grants will be announced in May.

The Capacity Development Initiative is also providing training and technical assistance for area faith-based organizations and community-based organizations in leadership, organization and program development and community engagement. Workshops are now underway and open for registration. Learn more at www.nwmf.org. 

For more information, contact Jane McKelvy, NMF program officer for training, at 218-759-2057 or email janem@nwmf.org.

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is a charitable foundation committed to investing resources, creating opportunities and promoting philanthropy to make the region

 a better place to live and work.

Defensive Driving Classes--Bemidji Community Education

MN law requires your insurance agent to give you 10% discount on your
vehicle insurance if you are 55 or older and complete this course. Taught
by licensed instructor, Dave Free, the class is interesting, informative
and very worthwhile. Classes are held in Bemidji at Paul Bunyan Center
with plenty of parking close by and a classroom that is completely
accessible and close to parking area. Refreshments are provided.
Discount is given for all your vehicles, including most recreational
vehicles. This program is run by Bemidji Public Schools and is certified
by the MN Dept. of Public Safety.

Class schedule:
Refresher class: For those who have had the class before
Tuesday, April 20 at 5:30 PM
Wednesday, May 17 at 5:30 PM
Tuesday, June 22 at 5:30 PM
Thursday, July 29 at 1:00 PM **note this is an afternoon class
Monday, September 20 at 5:30 PM

Initial class: For those taking the course for the first time
Monday & Wednesday, May 17 & 19 at 5:30 PM
Tuesday & Thursday, August 24 & 26 at 5:30 PM

To register or for more information contact Bemidji Community Education at
333-3100 x 301 or go online to [ http://www.bemidjicommunityed.com
]www.bemidjicommunityed.com.
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Scenic Hwy road construction starts Monday April 19 2010.pdf - Adobe Acrobat Professional

SCENIC HWY CONSTRUCTION starts April 19, 2010

Beltrami County Highway announces that road construction will begin on Monday, April 19, 2010
on the Scenic Highway (Co Rd 39) from the south Beltrami County line to the junction of Birchmont Beach Rd SE
(Co Rd 20). The road will be open to local traffic only. Bituminous pavement will be removed in various locations.

Please use caution and remember to drive safely and slowly.

Mrs. Beryl Wernberg
911 Communications Supervisor/
Emergency Management Director
Beltrami County Sheriff's Office
613 Minnesota Ave NW
Bemidji, MN 56601