Feedback: Finding Babysitters, 35W Bridge Collapse, Storm Reaction

This is a weekly feature called "Feedback Friday" where we let you know what your neighbors have been saying on our Facebook page, to us on Twitter and in the Northfield Patch comment section about the stories from the past week.

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Mary Murphy
Well there is two minutes of wasted life that I can never get back after reading your garbage. So let me get this straight - you condemn others for suspecting terrorism, yet you march out a picture of a group of muslims? Makes one wonder and think about what is going on in your mind.

Britt Ackerman
The author is pictured in the photograph, I think that's why he chose the image.

Eric
Fear of terrorism can be used to justify just about anything. I applaud the author's pointing out how the media push to find stuff to fit their narrative. Kudos for pushing back the Islamaphobia.

Susan
We certainly don't need to wonder what is in your mind, Mary. How about you stop wasting all our time with your spiteful posts. Randy was right, you do need to release some pent up frustration, how about you go run around the block, or better yet, go jump in a lake, we have plenty here. John, thanks for your blog (and picture) it reminds us that sometimes we are so far removed from a situation that we find it easy to point fingers or assume the worst of others. 

Over on our Facebook page:
User question: Do you know if there is a registry of sorts for occasional babysitters in or around Northfield? I would think that with 2 colleges in town, and a Red Cross babysitting class offered at the Northfield Hospital, there would have to be SOMETHING. I'm just not sure where to look. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! 

Penny Dinneen Hillemann
Carleton used to keep a list of interested students -- maybe in its business office? It's many years since I had reason to use it, so I have no idea if they still do.

Salina Caldes 
Yes, Carleton has a great list!

Jillian Schlaak Werner
Would I contact the business office at Carleton?

Amy Sillanpa 
Contact HR at Carleton

Betsy Schneider Gasior 
I would start with the colleges. When I was in that boat, I called Churches, the HS etc., and was told that due to safety issues, they no longer kept lists of names.

Michael is a good babysitter. He's not only got his First Aid merit badge, he's CPR certified. :)

Betsy Schneider Gasior 
Maybe Patch could start something... :)

Northfield Patch 
That's not a bad idea. Maybe I'll create a post with babysitters and host it on Patch. If anyone wants to be included on it (you, your child, your niece/nephew, etc.), email me at corey.butler@patch.com with the name, phone number people can reach you and any qualifications you want people to know about. We'll see how this works out.

Salina Caldes 
Would anyone on FB be able to see it? I'd be a little concerned about having the names and phone numbers of teenagers publicly available online. The Carleton one is at least only accessible if you request it, and everyone listed is, most likely, over 18. Just something to think about.

Northfield Patch 
True. I was thinking about creating a page on our actual site, so it would be open to anyone who happened across it. That'd be the only way I'd be able to host anything for the public to find.

Betsy Schneider Gasior 
That's why many folks don't want to do that (but it was commonplace when I was a teen in the 80's).

Perhaps we're looking at this backwards. Corey Butler Jr....can you design a way for prospective parents looking for sitters to post their information (ages of kids, location, date/time they need help and their contact info) and that way the teens can contact the parents?

Northfield Patch 
We could do it that way if parents want to put their information out there. :)

Betsy Schneider Gasior 
A "Baby Sitter Locator" would likely work best in reverse with parents seeking sitters reached out first despite how easily teenager's contact information can be found on the internet these days. :)

Betsy Schneider Gasior 
And, most adults don't have a problem putting contact info out on the net. How many of us are Link'd In etc?

Northfield Patch 
People are weird. They'll gladly post all their personal information on some places (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) but shy away from posting them in other places. It's all more or less 'out there.'

Andrea Alveshere
It sure nailed us over by Randolph. We have at least six trees down in the yard, and a bunch more lost large branches. There are trees on the garage, on two vehicles, and on power lines by the road (Dakota Electric is here now). Quite a mess! D: