Open Thread #41
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NOTE: The views expressed in original posts on "Grand Forks Life" are merely the views and personal opinions of the owner of this blog. No guarantee is given for the accuracy of content. The views expressed in reader comments are the views of those readers. "GrandForksGuy" and "Grand Forks Life" do not endorse the views of readers.
119 comments:
Happy Labor Day to everyone.
Anyone but Hillary or ABH...
A proposed fitness facility sponsored by the GF Park Board was discussed today in the Herald.
It would be great for GF citizens to have more fitness options, but the proposed location south of SuperTarget is haphazard planning. The Park Board seems to have their eyes shut with planning: choosing the cheapest possible options that create no symbiotic relationship. A fitness center should be next to something, so that the two together much than their parts.
Why can't a facility like this be located with access to the Greeway, helping both, as well the the YMCA downtown? The Greenway is an undeveloped jewel, and a fitness center should have programs focused on it. Too often govenment entities want to creat their own empires, when if they worked together with other businesses and government, something much greater can occur.
Or why not locate it at the Fair Grounds, which clearly needs upgrades for parking and other essential services? Here, the Park Board would need to work with the County - can that be too difficult?
Why not locate it in the open lots near Altru Hospital, especiallly with they are going to be partners? Build a parking ramp, and included strip mall businesses as part of the ramp/facility. Everybody benefits. But the Park Board would need to reach agreements with Altru as well as other businesses: that's too difficult.
Have the Park Board talk with Columbia Mall, and allow them to convert/upgrade the old Target building into a fitness center for minimal rent. This would add a lot of walk-up business to the Columbia Mall and fill in a major hole. Another win-win potential, so why not look.
UND athletics is supposedly building a indoor training facility near the human nutrition lab. If the Park Board partnered with those two, even more capacility could be developed, benefitting all three parties But is the Park Board open and enclusive enough to look at options where they don't have total control, but yet where GF as a community would clearly benefit?
I appreciate those ideas on location and partnering options for a new fitness center. Locating it south of Target would be the last straw for my membership. No way I would waste gas driving to the far corner of town to try to do something healthy. The fitness center should be more centrally located, and as a public facility, more easily accessible to the population that either doesn't drive, can't afford to make extra trips, or wants to conserve resources.
I agree that a new fitness center should be more centrally located. How many people from the north or far east part of town will want to drive all the way south of Target to exercise? People are already limited on the amount of spare time they have in a day, so who would be willing to waste 15-30 minutes of driving time, depending on the traffic, if they have only an hour to exercise?
I love the idea of building it near the greenway.
The site is already a done deal...just a matter of what else will be added to the building.
My understanding is this is "fast tracked" and construction will begin very soon....I'm going to bike past the park and see if it is "staked" yet.
Do we need a new subsidized fitness center in town? UND has opened its Welness Center, if UND athletics is opening a training facility how many students can your really expect to use Center Court? How many new 24 hour places have opened in various strip malls in the past year? I for one don't want my tax dollars used to subsidize some palacial estate of a fitness center just because the current one can't compete. If it can't compete maybe that is a sign the Park District should get out of the fitness business and let the private sector do what it does. Should a time come in the future when all the private places close well then the issue can be revisited.
The site is already a done deal...just a matter of what else will be added to the building.
My understanding is this is "fast tracked" and construction will begin very soon....I'm going to bike past the park and see if it is "staked" yet.
That's exactly what's wrong with this town. Every group is out to buit it's own empire and building structure (School Board, County, Park Board, City) without any kind of creative workmanship between them. Many cities/counties/school districts have worked out agreements to partition space, buildings, costs among the different users, why can't GF government.
Look at all the buildings that have come up recently, without any apparent longer-term planning or how things could have been done differently, especially considering this town was an open-book after the flood: county jail (which has been a total financial fiasco), and the city building for fire training and pesticide management. Why couldn't those building have been combined: it would have saved huge infracture (HVAC) costs. BUT GUESS WHAT: IT WOULD HAVE MEANT THAT DIFFERENT FORMS OF GOVERNMENT HAD TO BE COOPERATIVE and SERVE THE PUBLIC WITH A MUTUAL VISION. Imagine.
The Greenway needs a central recreational focus point. Grand Forks, this is your opportunity: don't squander and make this town just one more suburban jumgle.
Crap, even the Alerus Center area would be a better location: at least there would be alternate options: drop the kids off at the water park and Grandma can have a beer at the Pub!
Grand Forks is already a suburb in the middle of nowhere.
Grand Forks is already a suburb in the middle of nowhere.
Wrong. 32nd Street is a suburb like you describe,
but the downtown, Greenway, and UND all have characters their own that are not reproducible in a surburban environment.
Interesting comments about the new wellness center. From what I know, the site is pretty much a done deal. I'm not sure why the Park Board never bothered in the past to solict comments about potential locations.
I have to say that the proposed location doesn't seem so bad to me. If you already currently drive to Center Court, would it really destroy your day to drive an extra one to two miles to reach a new fitness center? Center Court and the Kiwanis location are both in the 32nd Avenue neighborhood - there really isn't that much of a difference. In fact, if you live in the western half of Grand Forks, the Kiwanis location would be closer to you than the Center Court location. Also, we need to remember that Grand Forks continues to grow to the south. In the future, Kiwanis Park will be much closer to the center of population in Grand Forks.
For anybody who's interested, the new McDonald's on Gateway Drive opened on Friday. Also, the Columbia Road Subway is finished remodeling and is open again.
I agree with GFG, the distance and location are really not a problem. I've always felt Grand Forks needs to grow along the Interstate. That will help spur other developments and show travelers that Grand Forks is really there. Hopefully they can work with YMCA and add the pool, tennis courts, and a walking track.
If you already currently drive to Center Court, would it really destroy your day to drive an extra one to two miles to reach a new fitness center? Center Court and the Kiwanis location are both in the 32nd Avenue neighborhood - there really isn't that much of a difference.
First off, do you realize there was a huge amount of controversy when the Park Board bought Center Court from a private business that was in danger of going bankrupt? Buying Center Court was a way for those with vested interests on the Park Board to protect their own (i.e. tennis) interests. Not exactly a good legacy with which to defend the current Park Board. At least the new complex is more multidimensional.
One of the reasons for this complex is to help the average GF resident become more active and healthier. But yet, the location forces practically everyone to get in a car and drive, or drop off their kids. The location criteria should be: a location is that biker friendly for kids, bus friendly for those without transport, advances GF as part of an overall vision, offers other nearby options by walking, and shows the PB can actually work with other government entities.
"First off, do you realize there was a huge amount of controversy when the Park Board bought Center Court from a private business that was in danger of going bankrupt? Buying Center Court was a way for those with vested interests on the Park Board to protect their own (i.e. tennis) interests. Not exactly a good legacy with which to defend the current Park Board. At least the new complex is more multidimensional."
Where in my comment was I defending anything the Park District has done in the past? In fact, I mentioned that I thought it was was silly of them not to solicit opinions about potential locations for this fitness center. I also certainly was never defending Center Court...you don't seem to have read my comment very closely.
I'm certainly not here to defend the Park District...all that I was saying is that I think the Kiwanis Park location really isn't anymore of a drive than the current Center Court location. They are both currently on the south side of town in the 32nd Avenue neighborhood. Also, like I said in my past comment, Grand Forks will continue to grow southwards and Kiwanis Park will someday be near the city's center of population. I'm not here to defend the Park Board...I just don't see the Kiwanis Park as such a terrible location for something like this.
Why does Grand Forks need 2 fitness centers on the south side? Do people on the north side of town not want to use a fitness center that is more convenient? I understand that GF is growing fast on the south end, but does that mean we should forget about the rest of the town? I just don't understand the logic in this location. How does this help the people of Grand Forks?
Northside, Southside.....This town is not that big....I live south but still shop at home of economy...and have been known to go to "The Bun for one".
all the Northside, Southside talk is so bizzare because we are really a small town.
Ditto what anon said above. As long as you don't get stuck behind some slowpokes doing 20mph in town, you can quickly get across Grand Forks
"Why does Grand Forks need 2 fitness centers on the south side?"
What two fitness centers are you referring to? After the new wellness center opens, I believe the Park District will close Center Court and sell the property.
Can someone tell me what they are building on 42nd st. in between Loaf & Jug and the new Red Pepper? I live in Campus Place right by it and see it every damn day but have no idea what it is...hopefully something useful, I'm sick of seeing something being built and it ends up being a bank or a furniture store.
"Can someone tell me what they are building on 42nd st. in between Loaf & Jug and the new Red Pepper?"
Dakota Commercial is building another building similar to the one directly north of this site...the building that houses the Red Pepper and Dakota Textbook. I believe this new building will look similar to the other one and be two stories with commercial space on the first floor and residential units above. I've heard that Starbucks is going into the new building, but I can't confrim that or any other possible tenants. What would you like to see go into that building?
The gentrification of Grand Forks will receive yet another boost if the fitness center is built on the south end of town. How could it seem like a good idea to build a fitness center so far away from the soul of our city? I like the idea of integrating this with the green way, there is already bike trails and public transportation readily available. Our downtown area is starting to thrive, and this could put it over the edge. Would our town benefit more from driving our SUV's to workout or drop-off the kids downtown, supporting local merchants along the way; or heading south, stopping off at target to send more dollars out of our community? I for one am against anything being built south of 32nd. I think we've proven that we can make our town look just like every other one...
I think people are failing to realize that the park district already owns this land. It would be a very large expense to go out and buy more land to place the fitness center. There is really no land available downtown, and what is there would be extremely expensive to buy and build on. And the Greenway is on the wet side of the dike system...let's not forget what can happen to places built too close to the river.
Someone asked what 2 fitness centers are on the south side...there is that 24/7 Fitness place in the Menard's strip mall...and another one going into the Shoppes at Aurora(?) (the strip mall-type center down by Aurora).
You want to know my problem with the expansion to the south? The fact that there don't seem to be any new green spaces going in. I know that we have the Greenway on the river because it floods every year, but it's a great place to do just about everything. Why aren't we designing more pedestrian/bicycle/green corridors into the south end? I don't mean "bike paths" that are really just glorified sidewlkas, I mean a real block and a half wide strip of land complete with pedestrian overpasses or underpasses that would eliminate the start/stop and interaction between cyclists and motorists.
This is where I see the town of Grand Forks beginning to fail again. Not that I really see any planning going on anyway.
Heard Johnny Carino's is trying to obtain a permit to build in Grand Forks. Hope that is true. Could use a good Italian restaurant, and if Olive Garden can't figure out how busy they would be here, then let someone else fill the void.
Great! Johnny Carino's is way better than the Olive Garden anyways!
"What would you like to see go into that building?"
A small furniture store with a bank on the second story, hah, but seriously I would like to see Erbert's and Gerbert's sandwiches go in one of the buildings... I don't know much about the company but they have a bunch in Fargo, and although similar, they impress me a lot more than Jimmy John's. It would be a perfect spot for it, right on campus (and walking distance from my apartment :p )
As long as some sort of dining comes into one of the spots, it would be nice. Thanks for the prompt response, GFG
I can't stand Jimmy Johns & their delivery is slower than anyone else's.
Erbert's and Gerbert's, please no! I have had the dis-pleasure of eating at 2 different ones in Fargo, and they are the most tastless subs I have had. Jimmy John's beats them by a landslide.
Erbert's and Gerbert's "gimmick" is to pull out the center of the bread (which JJ's does as well) and then lay it atop your sandwich before they wrap it up. Sort of like a doughy turd. Ack.
Give me a JJ's #5 w/peppers, extra lettuce and vinegarette anyday.
"Heard Johnny Carino's is trying to obtain a permit to build in Grand Forks. Hope that is true. Could use a good Italian restaurant, and if Olive Garden can't figure out how busy they would be here, then let someone else fill the void."
I ate once at the Carino's in Fargo. Beautiful building and delicious food...a little pricey for me though. If Olive Garden is too dumb to realize there is a market here for them, I would be happy to see Carino's come to town.
"I think people are failing to realize that the park district already owns this land. It would be a very large expense to go out and buy more land to place the fitness center. There is really no land available downtown, and what is there would be extremely expensive to buy and build on. And the Greenway is on the wet side of the dike system...let's not forget what can happen to places built too close to the river."
I agree, Ben. It sounds like there is going to be a little difficulty getting the money to make this building as big as they want it to be...having to buy new land near the center of the city could be very expensive. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see something like this close to downtown and the Greenway...I'm just not sure that would be a practical move right now and money matters would almost certainly prevent that from ocurring. Besides, like you said, land downtown is now quite scarce...actually, I think that goes back to my earlier opinion/proposal that downtown is in need of a major addition of land in which to expand. The current downtown area is too small for something like this.
And I agree with Matthew's statement that not enough land is being set aside for parks as Grand Forks continues to push southwards. Older neighborhoods have neighborhood parks...not so in newer neighborhoods.
If we're bringing in a sandwich place that's already in Fargo, I opt for Schlotzky's Deli. I think everyone can agree on that place (sure :-)
Big thumbs up on Johnny Carino's. It puts Olive Garden to shame.
Judging "quality" Italian food as the Olive Garden & Johnny Carinos is like saying McDonalds serves top-quality beef.
Okay...Carino's is alright. I just don't understand this city's obsession with Olive Garden. I've been once and quite frankly was very underwhelmed. Is it quite possible an entire city is unaware of quality Italian food?
undflyer- yes, we are all unaware.
What we need in this town is a Speak Easy like in Moorhead. Delicious!
I'd like to see a Hu-Hot in GF, ate there for the first time in Fargo a few months ago and it was really cool...Mongolian stir fry for the win
If we had some real Italians, we might have some good food. Until then, Grand Forks just doesn't understand that good food doesn't come from chain restaurants.
so what's with Golden Corral? I heard a rumor that they aren't even accepting checks anymore... just cash. Is this true? I haven't been there for a while, the place was kinda heading downwards....and what was with the employment? I thought when I walked by the grills that I was gonna get shanked, it seriously looked like a prison block back there....everyone had insane amounts of tattoos and were yelling all the time, and i had to eat the food these people were cooking? No thanks.
I heard a rumor that they aren't even accepting checks anymore... just cash
When I was there a week or so ago, they took my check card. Not accepting checks, that's pretty standard these days. Despite the cost of taking credit cards (2-4% of the transaction,) not dealing with bounced checks and getting your money right away make it cheaper to only accept cards.
While I wouldn't say that I noticed any great slide in quality at that visit, that's as much a result of not being particularly impressed with them ever, as it is any reflection of recent changes. Doesn't keep them from packing 'em in, though -- there was a line out the door when we left.
Judging "quality" Italian food as the Olive Garden & Johnny Carinos is like saying McDonalds serves top-quality beef.
Boy, people sure like pulling out the snob card, when it comes to any mention of Olive Garden.
Okay, there is a "quality" Italian restaurant in Grand Forks. It's called Mamma Marias, it's on South Washington, and it's not likely to be around forever, because you and all your fellow Italian gourmands are apparently too busy whinging to bother eating there.
If people won't keep Lola's or Mamma Maria's in business, but clamor for Olive Garden, leave them to it. Personally, I patronize Mamma Maria's and will continue to do so, but that doesn't keep me from wanting another choice.
I think people are failing to realize that the park district already owns this land. It would be a very large expense to go out and buy more land to place the fitness center. There is really no land available downtown, and what is there would be extremely expensive to buy and build on.
Excuse me, but I just don't understand the logic here. When GF County was building their new office building, they had to buy land because it only made sense to build it next to the courthouse. It would have saved tons of money to put it on the southend or the industrial park, but they chose not to for civic reasons.
No one is suggesting that they put a rec center on the wet side of the dike. There is always a possibility of a land swap, and even downtown, there are numerous block areas that have little or no activity or minimal commercial value. The city needs to put more investment downtown to increase its livability and to augment and enhance the Greenway. When/if the water treatment plant is replaced/torn down downtown, the city would reap major benefits if there was more activity nearby to enhance the value of that land. The core of the city needs investment, 32nd Ave hardly needs a boost.
There also is the issue of putting the screws to Riverside Park area residents. Although I agree that an outdoor pool shouldn't be built there, placing a rec center on the far south end would be a considered a backstabbing event, with reason, for north enders.
"If we had some real Italians, we might have some good food. Until then, Grand Forks just doesn't understand that good food doesn't come from chain restaurants."
REAL Italians? As opposed to what...fake Italians? There are Italian people in Grand Forks...real ones. However, I'm not sure that having an ethnic group represented in the city is a requirement for having a restaurant that serves that ethnicity of food.
Heck, Grand Forks is predominantly Norwegian and German...there hasn't been a Norwegian restaurant in town since the flood and I don't remember any German restaurants.
"so what's with Golden Corral? I heard a rumor that they aren't even accepting checks anymore... just cash. Is this true?
The Grand Forks Golden Corral has never taken checks...not since day one. More and more places are refusing to take checks these days.
Golden Corral had a no checks accepted policy from the start. Nothing new, there.
The Park district should NOT build a fitness center without collaborating with the YMCA! A brand new facility would kill the Y (the UND fitness center being the first nail in the coffin) and if it goes, so does it's daycare and all the other programs it offers over and above the fitness center. Not to mention what a big hole this would leave downtown (some posters seem to forget that the Y is on the northside).
I'd like to see the Y and Park Dist. work together. Fix up the Y building with some of the money, set up a dual membership situation, whatever.
Ideally, the park district should not even be competing in this field, but if it must, don't kill off the non-profit Y.
"When/if the water treatment plant is replaced/torn down downtown, the city would reap major benefits if there was more activity nearby to enhance the value of that land."
Now that would be a wonderful thing...tearing down the water treatment plan. I've thought many times about how great it would be to have all of that land just south of downtown that could be developed into something useful and exciting to add to downtown. Admit it or not, but there are few few empty areas directly in our around the present downtown area that could easily be developed...I think that's a shame. Downtown needs to spread up and out, in my opinion. The present day downtown area is just too small for the city we are becoming.
1. Restaurants taking checks - this is the 21st century! :-) GFK is actually the first place I have ever lived (lived here a year) where people are still writing checks out like it's 1990.
2. Italian/ethnic food - Agreed, Olive Garden and Carino's are NOT top-quality Italian. However, I would take either, because GFK is definitely, definitely lacking in any sort of ethnic food restaurant. The two sit-down Mexican places in town can barely be called Mexican food. (It's not BAD food, just not good Mexican...Juano's on Broadway in Fargo is a step above...they should come here.) Other than the 2 Mexican places, we've got Mamma Maria's, which I've yet to visit but need to...a handful of typical Chinese buffets (which, for the most part, is still not traditional Chinese food)...and the Japanese restaurant by Menard's. We could really use some more options. It seems to me like most restaurants in this town serve some form of the same "variety" of burgers, pizza, and pasta.
The present day downtown area is just too small for the city we are becoming.
Which is why other cities have built up.
Vote for Dullum!
I love that I live in a town where all we have to debate/complain about is restaurants and fitness centers. I'm not even being sarcastic. It just reminds me of the positive reasons I live here and raise my daughter here.
Get ready for higher taxes. Just read it in the Grand Forks Herald.
Since the county was swindled by the former jail administrator Gary Gardner, the people of this city and Grand Forks county are going to pay for this man's his incompetence, hence, with higher more out of control taxes. Just another example how the city and county can't keep their hands out of the people's pockets.
This is truly unacceptable, they should throw Gardner in jail for his misaction. Here is an idea, how about cutting the new administrators pay and budgeting better so we don't have to pay higher taxes.
how about paying the new administrator a good wage so he is a competent individual who can run the jail well, therefore getting more federal and state inmates, and getting the place out of a budget shortfall?? what a thought, huh? And by the way, the only way that Gardner could have swindled the county commission is that the commissioners were asleep at the wheel and did NO checking into the lies he was telling. Also, don't lump the city in with the county. The city has cut mills very successfully the last few years, while the school board, county, and park district are taxing like it is going out of style.
The out of control taxing needs to end. By the way the government told Gardner they weren't going to pay the 100+ bucks a day to house federal prisoners. I believe the board was asleep at the wheel.
cutting 1-2 mills by the city isn't going to mean much if we are taking it from the County and the Park Department are going to sock it to us.
this is the 21st century! :-) GFK is actually the first place I have ever lived (lived here a year) where people are still writing checks out like it's 1990.
It's 1950 in Beaulah!!!
Oops, when I wrote that about Golden Corral, I meant that I heard they don't take CARDS or checks anymore, I knew they never took checks, my mind was elsewhere at the time, myself and some friends were gonnna eat there one night but one said they heard that they dont even take cards anymore, just cash...and since i hardly ever have cash on me, we ditched it.
FYI... Any new development in Grand Forks is required to set aside 5% of the land for the Park District. As a result the park district is always getting more land (especially on the south end).
What's the facts on the incident at Gilley's? Hard to believe a fall caused that extensive of injuries.
It's 1950 in Beaulah!!!
hehehehehe....
What's the facts on the incident at Gilley's? Hard to believe a fall caused that extensive of injuries.
I don't know, but I went there for the first time this past weekend and was amazed at the amount of sketchiness going on there. This doesn't surprise me one bit.
...and since i hardly ever have cash on me, we ditched it.
Not missing much anymore! :-) I went there for lunch about 6-8 weeks ago, and the food was absolutely delicious. I was so impressed that I insisted we go back a few weeks later for dinner. Gross. We were both pretty much disgusted by the dinner options, lack of cleanliness on both the buffet lines and in the dining room, and lack of customer service from the wait staff.
Pizza Hut on 32nd is disgusting. We ate there for the first time a few weeks ago. My glass had old, dried food on it. When my daughters milk came there were little black specks floating in it. When I went to the salad bar it was so gross I couldn't get anything. Our waitress wasn't any cleaner looking.
After the salad bar thing we payed for what we had already received and then left before we got our pizza. If the stuff in the seating area is that disgusting I don't even want to know what the kitchen looks like. We've decided not to order anything from any Pizza Hut again.
Uffda. Saddens me that the Pizza Hut experience was so negative. And I would feel the same---have, of other eateries from time to time---and never return.
My experience, on the other hand, is most positive, all the way around, with the location on 32nd, equaled to the location in Fargo.
The only negative: no working lock on the men's biffy door.
Just my two cent's worth.
"If people won't keep Lola's or Mamma Maria's in business"
Lola's was a gold mine, it's the owner who was a moron. I haven't eaten at Mamma Maria's since the original owner, who knew Italian food, left.
This week's issue of CD ROM came out today, including mattfacingsouth's live music calendar. Some of you might find it interesting to check out:
http://talk.campusdakota.com/index.php?topic=1655
I haven't eaten at Mamma Maria's since the original owner, who knew Italian food, left.
Then how do you know that the people who took it over changed the recipes and/or screwed things up?
And, for what it's worth, Vinnie has been here at least once, working with the new owners. He was here for at least a month earlier this year. Maybe when you name a restaurant after your wife, you keep an eye on it :-)
"Then how do you know that the people who took it over changed the recipes and/or screwed things up?"
Care to read over again what I said? I don't believe I mentioned the food there, did I?
Agreed on the Gilly's comment. Gross! And as a female if you ever even think about entering there after nine you are bound to be groped. The people that hang there are turning it into the dive of all dives!
I don't believe I mentioned the food there, did I?
Sorry, the way your statement was phrased insinuated that you no longer ate there because Vinnie had left.
Drove by the Big Lot building and saw signs that there will be an indoor flea market there this weekend. Anybody have any more details? Who is spear heading this?
Maybe Gilly's should change its name to the Double Deuce or Roadhouse, like that movie starring Patrick Swayze. At least you'd know what you're walking into.
Echem...there already is a Roadhouse in Grand Forks ;-).
This city's restaurant and club/bar scene is great because it makes everywhere else look AWESOME!
Borrowed Bucks Roadhouse
I love how Gilly's is so sketchy, yet has a dress code in place.
Why do people have to complain about absolutely everything. Seriously if you hate everything about GF then leave and somebody better will take your place.
I don't think people in Grand Forks complain about EVERYTHING. We complain about the same things that people in any other city complains about (restaurants, stores, bad drivers, city leaders, etc.).
People are going to complain about something no matter where they live. I think there's just a bunch of complaints on this blog because it's read by lots of people (I assume) and it's a great place to get your frustration out to others who feel the same.
I don't hate everything, or even lots of things, about Grand Forks. I love that all I have to complain about is a restaurant or some bad customer service. Other places have to complain about serial rapists, gangs, guns, etc..
Please, stop complaining about people who complain. ;)
Before the Canad Inns announced the water park plans, the Park Board was going to fund its own water park at the Alerus.
There have been rumors that Canad Inns would construct an attached fitness center to it's hotel/water park. Shouldn't private enterprise responsible for a fitness center, rather than a likely Park Board funded and subsidized fitness center? The Park Board should ensure that it is reducing its mill taxation rate, not increasing it.
I'd like to register a complaint. All this complaining about the complainers is my complaint.
What's the facts on the incident at Gilley's? Hard to believe a fall caused that extensive of injuries.
Am I out of the loop? What happened?
The basketball coach at UMC had an exchange with an employee of Gilley's and was asked to leave at one point. Police are asking for witnesses who may have seen if he fell or if something else caused his injuries.
We recently ordered Pizza for carry out from the one on Washington. The girl on the phone was super friendly and helpful, plus our pizza was ready in 15 min.
Ah, it seems a Rounder has weighed in with the old "if you don't like it, leave."
I always get a kick out of that, but I'm more of the scary "if you don't like it - change it" types of dudes.
The Herald's "Prarie Voices" by Doreen Yellow Bird was very disapointing this morning.
The story is about N.D.'s U.S. Attorney, Drew Wrigley. There are several problems with the column. Here's two: He is only referred to as "Wrigley" throughout the entire article. You have to look real close at the name under his picture to obtainn his first name. Also, there are multiple typos in his quotes! I'm sure Mr. Wrigley is very disapointed with the piece. He's a great man and one can assume, he knows the difference between "your" and "you're". Very bad reporting.
My grammar sucks but, I'm not a newspaper editor.
I don't usually liston to Dakota Huseby, but I did today for a half hour or so. It seems like every time I listen to Dakota, she's being negative about something. Why is it that Dakota is always so negative, negative, negative? It's depressing.
As far as the above post about Ms. Yellow Bird, it isn't the first time that someone has complained about her writing. Yes, there should be an editor checking the column before it is printed, but Ms. Yellow Bird's writing itself leaves much to be desired. It always has.
" Why is it that Dakota is always so negative, negative, negative?"
Have you ever heard an optimistic talk-jock. She's trying to generate phone calls; that's how that kind of show works.
"but Ms. Yellow Bird's writing itself leaves much to be desired."
Yeah, like when she predicted women's hockey at UND would be a "cash cow."
I would rather have Romano's Macaroni Grill than Olive Garden or Carino's.
So, Matt, what are you doing to change the things you complain about? I think we can see that everything is relative. One person loves certain things and restaurants, while the next person hates it. Personal taste is always going to cause some people to complain, while others find no problem.
For one, I'm certainly not telling people who don't like it here to leave, which is counterproductive and really the only thing I was on about, anyway. Complaints are necessary - it's all part of the communicatory ebb and flow that goes along with progress. Telling people to leave if they don't like it is not progressive, it's more like a hissy-fit.
Personally, I've been on a kick for years trying to get people involved in the music scene and I'm sure I've touched plenty of people in a positive way through my music and my attitude toward music - in both performance and education.
I don't know if that counts as being a productive member of the community, but you asked for it.
I don't care anything about the local music scene. Can I stay?
Sure, but the particular aspect of local progress I'm involved in doesn't matter. The fact is someone here was being a tool, I called them on it, someone (else?) asked me what I contribute and I answered.
How the heck did this become about you staying in town? Apparently, I'm not the authority on who is invited to stay 'round here.
I do, invite you, however, to check out the local music scene. If you're not into music then I guess that's that; if you think there's nothing to be said here, I'd like to prove you wrong.
I have a friend who just arrived at GF who plays tenor sax. Where would he go to pick up a gig?
Now that Phil Jackson has achieved just about everything an athlete/coach can, it would be nice to see him come back and coach at UND. He certainly doesn't need it, but it would be a great "feel-good" thing to and give back to the institution that helped launch his illustrious career. Talk about putting UND's D-1 basketball program on the map in no time!
Sorry, just daydreaming a bit...
Ninety entries on this thread...so far, at that! Not bad. Not bad at all---and the majority of them either informative or positive.
Congrats, all the way 'round....
anonymous, I think you are dreaming more than a little bit about Phil coming back to UND. He gained much from UND, but to my knowledge has never given back. From his political leanings and comments in the past, I am sure a lot of that has to do with his opposition to the fighting sioux nickname and logo.
ec99 - he should come talk to me - seriously.
email me at mattfacingsouth [at] gra [dot] midco [dot] net and I'll give you info on where I can be reached.
Thanks!
The odds of Phil Jackson coaching at UND are same odds of him coaching at his old alma mater Williston High School... Go Coyotes! At least Williston named the H.S. Fieldhouse after him. UND hasn't even throw him a bone.
"he should come talk to me"
I'll talk to him about it.
"The odds of Phil Jackson coaching at UND are same odds of him coaching at his old alma mater Williston High School... "
Maybe not. If they can give there hockey coach the equivalent salary of 6 faculty, they could close down an academic department (Anthropology, Physics) to pay Jackson.
I was told UND was going to name some stuff after Jackson last year, but did not because they couldn't align schedules with him for a visit. Something about a Buss. I'm sure key UND officials will be in attendance at his upcoming basketball Hall of Fame induction. Anybody get NBA TV? I can spot Kupchella from 500 yards.
I've always been a little disappointed that Jackson doesn't seem to have too much interest in his alma mater. That guy has to be worth a fortune. Hey Phil, how about "pulling a Ralph" and giving your alma mater a "Phil Jackson Basketball Center" or something like that? It would be nice, but I don't see it happening...
When Williston named the H.S. Fieldhouse after him, they wanted him to come for the dedication. They had to schedule when he was driving to his lakehome on Flathead Lake in Western MT. The funny thing is, he shows up in Williston about every other summer for H.S. reunions or to visit old friends, he just does not want to be in the spotlight. Many folks in Williston have stories of going out for dinner and Phil Jackson is sitting at the next table with a bunch of old Williston cronies.
100 comments???
sure!!
The last two comments don't count, though...they gotta have content, substance...then they'll count! :o)
content & substance....count this one cuz' it's got both...
Earlier comment was correct. I believe Jackson is against the Sioux nickname and that is why he does not donate any money or come back to UND at all.
That is correct, Jackson is against the Sioux name. Last year UND offered Jackson an honorary doctorate degree... he refused it because of the nickname.
I would like to add that Mamma Maria's Italian Restaurant is now under new ownership and the service has drastically changed for the best. This amazing restaurant is now open more normal hours and the new owner is there visiting with guests and welcoming them while they eat their delicious meals. From what I have gathered the new owner is in this for the long run and truly cares about making this place a household name around Grand Forks. I strongly urge everyone to check this place out for truly authentic Italian food that none of the chains you all talk about compare to. Thanks Dale for recommending this place to me. Maybe I will see you there sometime.
i also recently tried Mamma Maria's again. The new owner (a young guy with motivation and vision)greeted my wife and i and made us feel welcome. i haven't eaten there since vinnie left, but let me tell you the food is still wonderful. the new owner told us of his redecorating plans and signs of the work are already showing. i truly believe in supporting local business over national corporations and this place is worth supporting with what my wife calls "food to die for"!
I'm sorry...I hate to be a conspiracy theorist...but those last two comments sound so much like they coming from someone at the restaurant. Does anybody else feel that way? I just had to point that out because it seemed so obvious...
Ate at Mamma Marias...won't go back. Worst Italian I have ever had...by leaps and bounds.
It's too bad, I had heard good things about it too.
And the service was horrible, so it had to be a DRASTIC improvement.
I used to eat at Mamma Maria's frequently when the origianl owner was running the place. He was Italian and the place smelled like a real NYC pizzeria. Haven't been there since he left. Guess the only way to find out what it's like now is to go again, and hope it isn't a disappointment.
I eat at Mamma Maria's once in a while and although it seems that the management needs to work on certain foods that always seem to be running out, the food and service is still wonderful. I am not really sure why the place is not more busy - after all everybody compains about the lack of Italian in this town. Location?
Mamma Maria's had a bad spell shortly after Vinnie went back to Pennsylvania. The quality took a nose dive, and the good lunch crowds quickly fell off. Many's the time that we were the only people in there at the lunch hour.
New owners took over about a year ago, and they've been working their way back every since. The crowds still aren't what they once were, but they're seeing more people in there. The location and parking are still tbe biggest problems that they face.
There was a great authentic Mexican restaurant. It got flooded out in 1997. It got moved to the K-Mart mall. Then, apparently, it went broke. That has been the story of dining in Grand Forks.
I got a pizza at Mamma Maria's 2 days ago, and it was as good as always.
OK, Mama Maria's sounds interesting. Whereabout are they so I know when I come up to visit?
GJB
Mamma's is on South Washington. Know where Josef's School of Hair is? No? Kenny's Music? No? Well, you can see their problem :-)
They're on the east side of the road, roughly across the way from Orton's. There are three or four parking spaces on the street in front of the place, though it's marked as "No Parking." I've never gotten a ticket (though have heard of those who have,) but YMMV. Otherwise, park in the back, not too bad on the weekends, otherwise it can get pretty full with all the hair students.
Thanks Dale.
Never really paid attention to that area and noticed that.
It shows up in Google Earth, but not as an exact location for me. They seem to have everything a bit 'off', at least from what I'm currently seeing on the screen.
GJB
Another problem with Mamma Maria's is the fact that you never know when they are open. I've stopped by a few times during "normal" operating hours for a restaurant, but they were closed. And, of course, you never can actually see whether there is anyone in the store because the blinds are always closed.
As for Phil Jackson, Ed Schultz was running his mouth on KFGO about the Sioux logo and quoted Jackson as to the effect of saying that the logo and name are outdated and need to be changed. He then mentioned something relating to Jackson actually being a member of one of the tribes, and refusing to support UND until things were changed.
Phil Jackson is an enrolled member of the Oglala tribe and he is against the nickname.
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