Additional Stories
Navigating this temporary COVID-19 landscape has presented a wide variety of challenges for educators. Of particular concern has been how best to honor the Class of 2020 while also adhering to the pandemic guidelines from the state.
In an effort to raise awareness, educate our community and assist families who have been touched by Alzheimer’s disease, this month’s article will highlight Minnesota Department of Health’s tips to reduce COVID-19 anxiety.
It is time once again to honor our senior citizens. We are seeking nominations for the male and female Isanti County 2020 Outstanding Senior Citizen Awards. Nominees must be residents of Isanti County and must be age 70 by June 1, 2020. This award recognizes one male and one female outstandi…
Social media has taken on new importance as students, families, staff, and community members look for new ways to follow happenings at North Branch Area Public Schools (NBAPS). A look at our most recent quarter shows a significant increase in interactions at school district social media plat…
Among the events North Branch Area Public Schools (NBAPS) had to cancel this spring was the Kindergarten Round Up at the end of March. Staff were looking so forward to giving families a sneak peek at the brand new facilities we are providing kindergartners starting in the fall of 2020.
Memorial Day, May 25, is a time to remember the sacrifice of those who came before us. There are nearly 10 million American veterans of senior age. Even more seniors have lost friends or family members.
May is National Bike Month. Of course, millions of Americans enjoy biking, so there’s reason to celebrate. But even if you’re not much of a rider, you can apply some of the guidelines and lessons of bicycling to other areas of your life – such as investing.
In spite of the disruption being caused by COVID-19 in our world, the city of Cambridge has continued to work to provide essential services its citizens. Here are a few things that have been happening from the finance viewpoint:
As educators, we’ve dedicated our life’s work to children and education, so I’ve always felt schools were important to not only educate our students, but to serve our community. The past months have challenged us to do just that.
Never, would we have anticipated to end the 2019-2020 school year in this way. However, the last days of school - Distance Learning - are fast approaching. Allow us the opportunity to thank everyone for the dedication and commitment that has been provided to support the education of our stud…
In these times of uncertainty we are rightfully recognizing those who have risen to the occasion and are performing essential tasks that make it possible for the rest of us to isolate and protect ourselves and loved ones. We talk about teachers, custodians, support staff, and bus drivers goi…
Our school buildings belong to the community and, under normal circumstances are used by a wide variety of interests beyond the school day. We are a place to gather; a place for community. While we aren’t allowed to host groups and events during the COVID-19 response, we are doing everything…
As an investor, you’ll always need to deal with risk of some kind. But how can you manage the risk that’s been made clear by the recent volatility in the financial markets? The answer to this question may depend on where you are in life.
In an effort to raise awareness, educate our community and assist families who have been touched by Alzheimer’s disease, this month’s article will highlight tips on coping during this challenging time of sheltering in place, while keeping ourselves, and others, safe and well.
At North Branch Area Public Schools (NBAPS), we know how challenging the COVID-19 response period has been for many families. Chisago County experienced 2,858 unemployment insurance (UI) claims in all of 2019. In 2020, UI claims stood at 4,693 as of April 14. At this early stage of 2020, UI …
To the seniors, the graduating class of 2020, thank you! The sacrifices you are making during this difficult time will never be forgotten. To all students of Braham, you are severely missed. For every day that goes by, I walk the empty hallways of the school, wishing for your return! I miss …
It has been more than a month since the Cambridge-Isanti boys basketball team reached one of its season goals by winning the section title.
On April 23, 2020 Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker announced the extension of Minnesota Schools Distance Learning through the end of the school year, Friday, May 29, 2020. This announcement will give our families and educators…
During this unprecedented time, your staff at North Branch Area Public Schools (NBAPS) continues to provide essential services in a wide variety of areas, but they do need your help!
Over the past several weeks, many of us have been working from home in response to the “social distancing” necessitated by the coronavirus. Nonetheless, we still have opportunities to get outside and enjoy Mother Nature. And now, with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day being celebrated on Apr…
At the end of each season, students who participate in Activities (sports and fine arts) are invited before the school board to be recognized for the hard work and effort they put into competing and performing. As we were unable to honor those students in person last Thursday, I sent the fol…
On one hand, the coronavirus has brought out the best in us. People across the country are pitching in to help others, from providing protective masks to health care workers to holding video chats with confined residents of assisted living homes to simply buying gift cards to support local b…
I have noted in several communications to families our deep appreciation for our community’s patience and understanding as we navigate the COVID-19 response. I thought for this week’s column I would share a few of the positive messages school district staff have received from families over t…
I’m writing this article on my birthday and like all our experiences at this time, it certainly has a different feel. By the time you are reading this I will have been released from a 14 day recommended/required quarantine by the Minnesota Department of Health (on March 22 one of my adult ch…
We could have never imagined 30 days ago, the incredible disruption that our families, our schools, our community, and our world would face. I am so thankful for the strong, resilient community we have in Cambridge-Isanti. We are indeed in this together.
These are challenging times. Like everyone, you are concerned about keeping your family safe and healthy, and you’re doing your part to help protect your community from the effects of the coronavirus. And if you’re an investor, you must also address your financial situation. How should you r…
The state’s school district coronavirus response has been very public since last Sunday when Governor Tim Walz announced statewide school closures. To be sure, our school district, and most others, have been preparing for COVID-19’s arrival for several weeks; participating in conference call…
The daily routine — wake up, get dressed, go to school, come home, do homework, eat dinner, shower and go to bed early, just to do it all over again — has been disrupted.
Those of us who live in east central Minnesota know local businesses are the fabric of our towns. They provide an array of goods and services, shape the character of cities, and provide much-needed jobs for locals.
After a successful Spring Expo and seeing the Maple trees running sap are sure signs that spring is on the way.
In my many years of starting and running businesses, I am always looking for new ideas, new opportunities. With the latest purchase agreement in the “old” industrial park, the one east of CR 30, all the land in that Industrial Park is sold! The same week I signed the purchase agreement for t…
How to prepare for the coronavirus? Below is what I suggest to some friends I clean for who live in apartments and small townhouses. As well as suggestions for cleaning and sanitation, I am also including ideas for food, banking, etc. Feel free to tailor these suggestions to your own living …
Wild River Audubon (WRA) has a great line-up of events for bird enthusiasts. WRA is a local chapter of the National Audubon Society that encompasses East Central Minnesota’s Chisago, Isanti, northern Washington and southern Pine counties. Here is an overview of what’s ahead. For more details…
As you know, the coronavirus has become a major health concern, not just in China, but in other parts of the world, too – and it’s also shaken up the financial markets. As an individual investor, how concerned should you be?
It may not be obvious to the casual observer, but North Branch Area Community Education (NBACE) reaches a larger cross-section of the community than perhaps any department at North Branch Area Public Schools. Director Brett Carlson and his incredible staff serve residents as young as toddler…
Over the past few weeks, Cambridge-Isanti Schools have celebrated School Board Appreciation Week and #PublicSchoolsProud Week. As I think about the foundation of our community and society, I believe nothing is more important than the education of our citizens for the future of our democracy …
It is time to bring some information to the residents of North Branch as to the happenings at the North Branch Water and Light. It’s no secret that many of us are unhappy with the cost of our water and light bills; it has been a topic of social media as long as I can remember and as a user o…
North Branch Area Public Schools (NBAPS) announced in January the need to make roughly $500,000 in budget adjustments for the 2020-2021 school year, primarily due to a continued pattern of declining enrollment affecting roughly 40% (Schools for Equity in Education) of school districts in Min…
March 8-14 is Patient Safety Awareness Week, a time to learn more about health care safety. During this week, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement seeks to advance important discussions and inspire actions to improve the safety of the health care system—for both patients as well as the w…
In an effort to raise awareness, educate our community and assist families who have been touched by Alzheimer’s disease, this month article discusses the valuable resource available to families who have a family member in long term care such as Memory Care, Assisted Living or a Skilled Care …
We are quickly moving toward some important dates for our high school students. First off we have ACT/MCA testing dates to be mindful of which include:
How well do you sleep? National Sleep Awareness Week is March 1-8, and celebrates sleep health. This is the perfect time to encourage everyone to prioritize sleep, since sleep is important at every age and is a vital indicator of our overall health and well-being. We spend up to one-third of…
Salt is a wonderful thing. It’s an important element in keeping the proper mineral balance in practically all of the earth’s living creatures. But how could something so wonderful and natural become such a problem? Salt consists of two main ingredients, sodium and chloride. Doctors tell us t…
At our Feb. 20, 2020 Rush City School Board Meeting, we recognized our school board members to build awareness and understanding of the important function that these elected officials play in our community.
It’s important to have cash available for your everyday spending and the inevitable rainy day. However, you also need to develop a cash strategy that can contribute to your long-term financial success. But just how much cash do you need? And in what form?
After three years of working for The Isanti County News, The Post Review and The County News Review, I’m going home.
Elsewhere in this publication you have likely read that I have been offered the position of Executive Director for the Minnesota Association of School Administrators and have accepted the role starting July 1.
Our 2020 Spring Series of Gardening Classes begins soon. All classes are on Tuesday evening from 6-7:30 p.m. and are held at the North Branch Senior Center Dining Room located at the corner of Sixth and Maple Street in North Branch. All classes are free and pre-registration is recommended bu…
According to Time magazine, among the most popular new year’s resolutions are the improvement of physical health, learning something new, eating healthier, improving finances, spending more time with family, volunteering and lowering stress levels. Of course, we know that few achieve the goa…
We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. Now that 2020 is here, it is time to focus on yourself. What do you like to do in your spare time? Every January during National Hobby Month, Americans everywhere celebrate their favorite hobbies and try out new ones. From outdoor activities like hik…
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