Active Living Blog
Berrrmidji Kids’ Ice Fishing event
Posted: 9 days ago
BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA (January 27, 2012) – Just when I thought I had tracked down all the various spellings of our First City on the Mississippi, I have discovered yet another. Although it’s captivating to continue discovering new spellings for Bemidji, I’m also thrilled there are so many events taking place during the cold weather months to provide the Bemidji community with opportunities to stay active.
On Sunday, February 19, 2012, from 1:30pm-3:30pm, the park naturalist at Lake Bemidji State Park will be holding an event called Berrrmidji Kids Can Ice Fishing. This event is for kids ages 8-15 and the kids will be ice fishing for perch on Lake Bemidji. Enter Lake Bemidji State Park just off County State Aid Highway 20. For more information, call #218-308-2300 or visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/ice_fishing.html#.
For reference, here is my previous list of Bemidji winter events with unique spellings. I hope to continue to add to this list, starting with the new addition of the upcoming Berrrmidji Kids Can Ice Fishing event.
• Brrrrmidji New Years Bike Ride (1/1/12)
• Brrrmidji Polar Daze (1/20/12-1/28/12)
• Jaycees Brrrmidji Plunge (1/21/12)
• Brrrmidji.com
Have a wonderful weekend!
Natalie Gille, Bemidji resident and outdoor enthusiast
Ice skating at Nymore Park
Posted: 10 days ago
BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA (January 26, 2012) – Ice skating at Nymore Park in Bemidji is awesome! Last night when I took the ice, my blades made new lines as I made my first lap. I skated around in a loop along the outskirts of the open rink, old school style, like you see in the photos and videos of couples and families skating at Rockefeller Center Ice-Skating Rink in New York City.
I mention New York City, because I’d like to shine a light on one difference between the “Big Apple” and our “First City on the Mississippi”, when it comes to ice skating – it costs adults $21 and youth $12.50 to skate through the newly designed igloo and enjoy an evening ice skating in New York City. In Bemidji, skating at Nymore Park is FREE.
Last night, the ice was perfect! The Nymore Park ice skating rink is a hidden gem. Upon arriving at the rink, I went into the warming house and changed into my skates, leaving my boots in this spacious, heated building and in care of the warming house attendant on staff. There are bathrooms in the warming house, and a soda machine and water fountain, if you get thirsty.
Ice skating and hockey, in particular, are very popular in Bemidji, with the Bemidji State University Beaver Hockey team competing just down the road from the Nymore Park Ice Skating rink at the new Sanford Center. This weekend coach Tom Serratore will lead the men’s team into a series versus Minnesota State University, Mankato. Tickets range in price from $20-$40, according to the Sanford Center box office. #218-441-4032 http://www.thesanfordcenter.net/tickets.html
BSU Hockey game times for this weekend will be held on Friday, January 27 7:37pm and Saturday, January 28 7:07pm.
I invite you to dig out your skates, whether they are figure skates or hockey skates, both types of skating are popular at Nymore Park. There are two rinks available to cater to which ever type of skating you prefer. The hockey rink is equipped with two nets and surrounded by boards, with a high fence on three sides, to catch stray pucks from flying towards neighboring homes, figure skaters skating on the other rink, and folks entering and exiting the warming house. The open rink is boarder by a short snowbank (at least this year!) on three sides and the high fence I mentioned, on the fourth side between the open rink and the hockey rink.
Stay active this winter by ice skating at Nymore Park. Join friends and family for a pick-up game of hockey or teaching your child to skate. You’ll never regret these memorable times with family and friends, enjoying an activity that keeps you active during the winter and creates friendships that may last a lifetime.
See you on the rink!
Natalie Gille, Bemidji resident and outdoor enthusiast
Streets are not just for cars – streets are for people too.
Posted: 11 days ago
BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA (January 25, 2012) – “Turn off your engine. Turn on your hearts.” This is the slogan for the Streets Alive! event held biannually in Fargo, North Dakota, which they kicked off in 2010. The group in Fargo is using a model called Open Streets to temporarily close down streets to automobile traffic, so that people may use them for walking, bicycling, dancing, playing, and socializing. Minneapolis joined them by holding an event in 2011 called Open Streets Mpls. I look forward to learning more about what each of these cities are planning for 2012!
In Bemidji next week, community leaders will begin to discuss bringing the Open Streets model to the first city and draw not only avid athletes, but community members who have an interest in being active and just need some inspiration – that’s where Open Streets comes into play. Open Streets not only provides an opportunity to participate in a variety of activities on the day of the event, but also provides that voice of inspiration to take the next step and make an active lifestyle part of your everyday routine.
Do you ride bike, skateboard, roller-skate, run, walk, play in a marching band, play hockey, dance, ski, zumba, practice yoga, play music, sculpt, take photography, skip rope, practice aerobics, practice massage, eat healthy, or hula hoop?
There will be LOTS of opportunities to get involved. Stay tuned for details about the event, as well as information on volunteer, vendor and sponsorship opportunities. Active Living Bemidji posts “Upcoming Events” on the homepage of their website at http://www.activelivingbemidji.com/, to promote and lead community events that create and sustain an active environment in Bemidji.
See you on the trails!
Natalie Gille, Bemidji resident and outdoor enthusiast
“Top 9” items to pack when bicycling to work.
Posted: 12 days ago
BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA (January 24, 2012) – Pack these 9 items and roll out the door to the office.
Helmet
Bike lock
Water bottle
Blinky light
Backpack or messenger bag
Work clothes
Lunch
Snacks – almost always includes a banana and jar of almonds or pecans
Raincoat
It’s only 3.64 miles from my home to my work, so in the grand scheme of things – a short bike ride. I rarely even drink much water on my ride, since it only takes 15-45 minutes, depending upon the weather conditions. I rarely fill my water bottle past half-way for work commutes, since the additional water adds weight; however, I guess there are plenty of reasons to bring extra water, if you want to be on the safe side. I don’t carry my rain gear unless the forecast calls for more than a 20% chance – another trick to keeping my pack light. I also use the smallest and lightest bag I need for my ride. I like my new Kelty Redstart, which is impressively light and weighs only 1 lb, 12 oz. This bag is fine for point A to point B travel, such as bicycling to work. However, when I’m running errands in town and need to stop and start frequently, I use my messenger bag. My messenger bag allows me to quickly load groceries and has zipper pouches that make it easy to settle up my tab, without delaying other shoppers.
This is not an all-inclusive list and can easily be tailored to your bicycling preferences. Feel free to post any questions or gear you would consider in your “Top 9”…or “Top 10”, if you want to be trendy.
See you on the trails!
Natalie Gille, Bemidji resident and outdoor enthusiast
How many "R"s in Bemidji?
Posted: 17 days ago
BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA (January 19, 2012) – It depends upon who you ask. It’s too uncanny to overlook the “R” factor when looking at promotional materials for winter events in Bemidji. Take a look at the following Bemidji events that use “R”s when spelling Bemidji and you’ll see what I mean. (Twitter users also make use of the “R” factor when making cold weather comments, using #brrr and so on and so forth up to 27 “R”s!)
Brrrrmidji New Years Bike Ride (1/1/12): To ring in the new year in 2012, Diane Pittman led a group of 9 bicyclists on the annual Brrrrmidji New Years Bike Ride. This event is spelled using 4 “R”s. Nice work bicyclists, you guys are awesome biking in the snow and enjoying the great outdoors year round! To view photos of this event and other bicycling events Diane organizes, check out her Shifting Gears website at http://shiftinggearsbemidji.com/.
Brrrmidji Polar Daze (1/20/12-1/28/12): I’m excited about the upcoming Brrrmidji Polar Daze kicking off this weekend. This event has chosen to use 3 “R”s and will be held January 20-28, 2012 in Bemidji at the Waterfront and a few other Bemidji locations. The Bemidji Chamber of Commerce has done a fine job at communicating the upcoming Brrrmidji Polar Daze activities. For a schedule of activities taking place during this event, visit http://business.bemidji.org/Events/details/201-brrrmidji-polar-daze for details. One of the activities taking place this weekend is the Jaycees Brrrmidji Plunge this Saturday, January 21 @ 1:00pm, which uses the same 3 “R” factor as the larger weeklong event.
Brrrmidji.com (ongoing): This is a website for Bemidji enthusiasts to come together and share stories, and also includes a blog and local weather feed. I look forward to seeing some historical information and photos surface during Paul and Babe’s 75th anniversary celebration this year (2012). This site has a vintage look and feel, with scheduled office hours during the week and office hours on the weekend…when they’re not fishing! You can also find these guys on Twitter by using @brrrmidji.
Bemidji is a vibrant city and despite its frigid winter weather, hosts events for locals and tourists alike to participate in and stay active all year round.
Stay warm and safe out there today!
Natalie Gille, Bemidji resident and outdoor enthusiast
Stay active this winter by walking to The Cabin Coffeehouse and Cafe for a cup of tea.
Posted: 19 days ago
BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA (January 17, 2012) – FREE hot tea or ice tea with any purchase at The Cabin Coffeehouse and Cafe on Tuesdays in January (2012). Come to “The Cabin” to celebrate National Tea Month!
This morning I stopped by The Cabin and enjoyed a Chai Spice Black tea with a lemon bar. Both were delicious!
If you’re a trivia kind of person, Noemi Aylesworth, the owner of The Cabin Coffeehouse and Cafe, has posted some trivia on their Facebook event page…and if you stop by The Cabin, you could use one of the computers made available to customers FREE of charge (awesome by the way, thanks Noemi!) and find out some more tea information on:
■Who made the first tea bags?
■When were the first tea bags made?
■What were the first tea bags made of?
■What is the difference between black, green and oolong tea?
■Which has more caffeine and how much more – tea or coffee?
■Which type of teas contain a type of antioxidant called flavenoids?
■What is the maximum amount of caffeine in a cup of tea to be labled “decaffeinated”?
Out and about in the Bemidji community at 8:00am on Tuesday morning, the day after a holiday, it’s pretty quiet.
During my non-bicycling winter months here in the northwoods, I stay active by ice skating and hopefully soon, skiing. Noemi is an advocate for walking and is featured on one of the many Active Living kiosks placed throughout the City of Bemidji. Her featured kiosk is on 3rd Street, right across the street from The Cabin Coffeehouse and Cafe.
Do you know how your neighbors stay active? I encourage you to talk with others and check out the kiosks to see people you may know and find out what they’re doing to stay active.
The Cabin Coffeehouse and Cafe is located at: 214 3rd Street NW, Bemidji MN 56601. Stop by this local restaurant where “Homemade is in the air!” http://www.cabincoffeehouse.com/
Natalie Gille, Bemidji resident and outdoor enthusiast
On my bike I feel like a super hero.
Posted: 24 days ago
BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA (January 12, 2012) – My story is about a single bike. I own one bike and I ride it everywhere I go during the spring, summer and fall months, which includes not only to work, but grocery shopping, going to the post office and bank, out on the town (if I don’t walk), and exploring parks and trails nearby my home. Writing this story has been a reality check for me. I have a single bike I demand to perform for me in varied terrain and not break down, because I’m not much of a “do-it-yourselfer” when it comes to making my own repairs on the fly.
I ride a Trek hybrid with tires that are not as skinny as they come and not as wide as the ones that were on my mountain bike I rode for years. On my bike I feel like a super hero and this two wheeled human-powered ride I zoom through town on, serves as my special weapon. Although I only boast of superhuman powers in jest, on my bike my mind is free and my body is moving in perfect synchronicity with my surroundings.
My bike commute to work is 3.64 miles one-way. Doing the math after my morning coffee, it’s a 7.28 mile roundtrip commute. This can take me between 15-45 minutes one-way, depending upon weather conditions. Strong winds slow me down considerably. The terrain I face on my bike commute is quite easy to navigate, including mostly pavement and paved trails. It’s the social and environmental conditions I face that prove most contentious on this route. I ride from the Nymore neighborhood to the north side of town by the mall. On my way to work I ride the trail that runs past the waste water treatment plant, because I prefer a continuous ride and there are no stop lights to slow me down. However, there are a couple mini-stop signs that are confusing to me. In my experience bike riders and skateboarders blow through these mini-stop signs, without regard. I think they were posted for snowmobilers in the winter; although, I’m not sure whether the snowmobilers also experience the same mini-stop sign dilemma that I do. I continue my commute through downtown Bemidji, which I ride with traffic and experience little difficulty. Roads downtown are clean and clear. This part of my commute is an enjoyable, social experience in which many times I will roll past people I know and wave. After buzzing through downtown, I head north in a straight shot down Irvine Avenue to 15th by Dave’s Pizza. Irvine is paved and has designated space between moving vehicular traffic and the curb for me to ride; however, my speed and ease of navigation on this stretch of pavement is dependent on how many cars are parked on the side of the road, which varies, and whether inconsiderate folks have trashed my route with debris or street sweepers have not adequately cleared rocks, leaves, sand, and other said debris. If it’s raining, leaves can become slick along this route, which I’m most concerned with on the downhill run when I’m at my max speed. I make the turn at Dave’s Pizza on 15th, to take the road less traveled and loop around, turning north just before the skate park. I find very few, if any cars, parked along this route and smooth sailing along the road. Terrain again is paved and the streets along this stretch of road seem considerably clearer than along Irvine. I’m not sure why that is exactly, but I appreciate the ability to zip along this route with ease. On my way home, I choose the path along Lake Bemidji for a couple reasons. I like to look across the lake, which is beautiful. But unfortunately, I also choose not to return home on the paved trail along the waste water treatment plant, because many times there is broken glass I’m not able to see at dusk or when it’s dark. I find that people dispose of glass beer bottles along this path, which I’d like to see less of. If you’re reading this and have the ability to lessen this broken glass bicycling hazard, I’d greatly appreciate it. If the timing is good, I’m able to ride home at sunset and relax breathing in the clean northern Minnesota air and watch the sun disappear over the horizon. This has been many times over the highlight of my day.
Thank you for reading my story. Please post any questions or comments you have about bike commuting and I’ll try to answer them. If you’re interested in discussing bike commuting with me in person, I’ll be presenting on this topic at Pecha Kucha on Thursday, January 19th and invite you to attend. I love riding my bike and welcome discussion on this fun and healthy way to get around town.
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 6:30pm: Pecha Kucha at Hungry Bear Banquet & Conference Center, 2300 24th St NW, Bemidji MN 56601. This is a community event and FREE to the public.
See you on the trails!
Natalie Gille, Bemidji resident and bicycle commuter
Top 30 Destinations
Posted: 293 days ago
A key theme for active living is that there is a need for facilities and infrastructure that makes bicycling and walking a safe, easy, accessible and enjoyable option. One of the priorities identified by our partnership was to install bicycle racks at key destinations throughout the Bemidji Area.
Active Living Bemidji is launching a robust campaign called “Top 30 Destinations for Bicycles in the Bemidji Area.” The initial purpose of this campaign is to hear from the public about where they are traveling to via bicycle in our community. Help us identify the Top 30 Destinations by taking our survey located on our home page.
Stay up-to-date with this project by watching our blog and facebook page!
http://www.activelivingbemidji.com
Active Living Bemidji Policy Pursuit
Posted: 370 days ago
Formal policy for the Bemidji Area is near! With the recent approval from the Bemidji City Council of the edits made to the Land Use and Transportation documents, Active Living Bemidji is on track to present these updates to the Joint Planning Board for formal adoption in February. (Northern Township and Bemidji Township were also presented these updates and have approved them).
Active Living Bemidji has approached policy development by updating the Greater Bemidji Area’s Joint Planning Board’s Land Use and Transportation documents. The purpose of editing these documents was to frame the issue of active living in the community and set a policy direction that will ensure that the Bemidji Area will be designed and built in a manner that makes physical activity a safe, easy and convenient option.
In addition to the Land Use and Transportation edits, each of the Townships and the City Council were also presented an Active Living Resolution. This resolution is not a restrictive mandate that commits or requires these entities to pay for expensive infrastructure or retrofits, but simply indicates that these entities embrace the vision of Active Living and will consider the needs of all modes of transportation as opportunities present themselves.
The adoption of these edits is an exciting step for the Bemidji Area. Our community values of health, wellness, and equity among all modes of transportation can be seen through this action. Thank you for your continued support of Active Living Bemidji!
Bemidji Area Complete Streets Workshop
Posted: 443 days ago
We held our Bemidji Area Complete Streets Workshop this Tuesday at the Sandford Center and we couldn’t have asked for a better turn out. Numerous individuals were in attendance including the Mayor Elect, City of Bemidji, Beltrami County, Mn/DOT, Active Living Partnership, DNR, and various other entities and advocates.
Our facilitators Ethan Fawley and Jack Broz helped frame the issues in our community and work with us to envision what a Complete Streets policy would add for the Bemidji Area. Ethan Fawley represents Fresh Energy and the Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition. Jack Broz represents Howard R. Green Company.
Judging by the overwelming buzz and great conversation that was had, it seems that people are very receptive to the idea of pursuing a Complete Streets policy. This is a huge step for Active Living Bemidji and something we have been working towards for the past two years. We are very excited to begin workng on this process! I will try to keep all of our readers informed so watch our blog for updates on this process.
Thank you to everyone who was able to make it to the workshop. Your attendance and input was greatly appreciated.
Just a reminder, that the monthly “Here’s to YOU” section of the Bemidji Pioneer comes out next Tuesday. This section is devoted to active living, health, and fitness. Don’t forget to pick up a copy!
