Tag Archives: money

Areavoices Digest #88 – Some top performers

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I decided for this week’s digest to offer up another look at some of our top performing blogs. They’re both consistent with their posts, and their posts seem to generate broad interest in everything from politics to food to money. If you’ve never read them – what are you waiting for?

She Says TV
shesays.areavoices.com
The video blog of She Says, including food and lifestyle segments such
as The Great Indoors, Hungry for More and Happy Body Hot Life.

New Plateaus
newplateaus.areavoices.com
Brandon Ferdig’s popular column on social behavior and more.

Capitol Chatter
capitolchat.areavoices.com
A Forum Communications blog about Minnesota government and politics.

Sundog
sundog.areavoices.com
The latest news in marketing and technology from the cutting edge firm.

Real Money
realmoney.areavoices.com
Financial guidance, money management education, and debt management from
The Village Financial Resources Center.

Areavoices Digest #72 – Spinach Bacon Mac and Cheese and Black Russian Cake

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I enjoy writing my little blog on the Areavoices community. I really do. I love sharing news of the latest and greatest blogs on the platform. But deep down, I think I’m a frustrated food blogger.

As evidenced by my consumption this week of a great food blog called Lagniappe. (See link below). It’s written by Beth Rickers of Worthington, Minnesota.  I was attracted by a recent post in which Beth describes a pretty decadent meal that starts with Spinach Bacon Mac and Cheese and ends with Black Russian Cake. Hello! The diet can take a break for a day.

Beth is consistent with her recipes and she’s a great writer. It must be so much fun to write about so much deliciousness. Lagniappe is just one of our recommended blogs of the week.

Living in Retirement
http://retire.areavoices.com
Chartered Financial Consultant Tim Barton helps readers plan for retirement.

Red River Convoy of Hope
http://rrvconvoy.areavoices.com
Convoy of Hope is a faith-based non-profit founded in 1994. This blog will promote
their “one-day blitz” on June 30th to help thousands in need.

Lagniappe
http://lagniappe.areavoices.com
Lagniappe means “something a little extra.” That’s just what you get in this food related
blog out of Worthington, Minnesota. Lots of yummy recipes!

Purple Politics
http://purplepolitics.areavoices.com
The thoughts of a blue state girl surrounded by red.

Living Empowered
http://livingempowered.areavoices.com
A Soul Sisters blog with advice on how to “Tap into your power, realize your potential, and achieve your dreams.”

Areavoices Digest #70 – A song that might drive WDAY’s Weather Guys Crazy!

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Okay, technically “Fargo’s First Radio” isn’t turning 90 until May 22nd, but I’m a firm believer in celebrating milestones as long as possible.

But perhaps more than that, the station’s anniversary is worth mentioning today because of something the fine folks at ‘DAY just started doing. They’re helping us relive history. (I mentioned last week how the Duluth News Tribune is celebrating history in it’s Attic blog, now WDAY is following suit). The station has uncovered some classic old radio clips from the past century – with the voices of Ken Kennedy, Jack Dunn and more. (Trivia: Did you know WDAY radio personality Ken Kennedy discovered singing great Peggy Lee, the former Norma Deloris Egstrom from Jamestown, ND?) What’s even more fun is hearing the old game shows and commercials. Now you can hear these clips from the Golden era of radio on the WDAY Radio Blog.

I have to point out one clip in particular. It’s from a live weather report in 1946. What stands out to me is the weather jingle sung by Lynn Abbott. It is vintage. Really cheesy. But delightful. I’m sure the jingle stopped airing in the 1940′s or 50′s, but it never really went away. I remember a couple of years ago when I worked for WDAY, the studio production crew would pipe this old jingle into the studio as the meteorologists were prepping their forecast. While I think they all appreciated the walk down memory lane, I think it might have driven them a little nuts too. Now you can listen to that song on the WDAY radio blog.

The WDAY radio blog will be sharing these clips with us through the spring and even summer. Please feel free to leave your comments and memories in the comments section of their blog.

Now here is the WDAY radio blog along with the rest of the recommended blogs of the week:

WDAY Radio
http://wdayradio.areavoices.com
Fargo’s first radio celebrates its 90th birthday by uncovering some rare audio and video clips from radio’s golden era.

Marilyn Hagerty
http://marilynhagerty.areavoices.com
Grand Forks own media darling. The 85-year-old retired Herald columnist has captured the nation’s attention with her
restaurant reviews. What started with a review of The Olive Garden is now taking Marilyn around the world!

Oil Patch Dispatch
http://oilpatchdispatch.areavoices.com
Forum Communications reporter Amy Dalrymple brings us news from the oil boom in western North Dakota.

Chew the Fat
http://mpfitness.areavoices.com
A health and fitness blog designed with you in mind.

Real Money
http://realmoney.areavoices.com
Advice from The Village Financial Resource Center as we hit the heart of tax season.

Areavoices Digest #67 – More than just Marilyn Hagerty

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That title you see above is my cheap ploy to get you to click on my blog. I’m not beneath trickery. But the fact is: Marilyn Hagerty is hot. Stories about her and now her Areavoices blog are generating huge traffic from around the world for this website and many more. I love it! Not just because of my position as Areavoices cheerleader, but because Marilyn seems like a wonderful woman who deserves all the attention and accolades she’s getting. I’m just wishing I could have been the one to accompany her to New York City, instead of my co-worker Ryan Babb. Anyway, I told him to say “hi” to Anderson Cooper for me.

That being said, my point is this. I wanted to let you know Marilyn Hagerty isn’t the only  hot commodity on Areavoices. Check out this week’s group of new and recommended blogs. Enjoy!
Financial Planning: Information and Resources
http://financialplanning.areavoices.com
Paul Jarvis specializes is a Certified Financial Planner who helps clients accumulate, grow, protect and distribute wealth through comprehensive financial plans tailored to their needs and goals.

Across and Abroad with Devin
http://devinberglund.areavoices.com
Devin Berglund is from Twin Valley, Minnesota. She’ll blog about her adventures living in Australia.

2 Wheeler
http://2wheeler.areavoices.com
Gary Miller of The West Central Tribune in Willmar, Minnesota blogs about all things bicycling, including stories and pictures from his national and international bicycling trips.

Levi’s Catching Radius
http://leviscatchingradius.areavoices.com
Levi Weber writes about Minnesota sports and entertainment

Rep. Dean Urdahl
http://repdeanurdahl.areavoices.com
Rep. Urdahl is in his fifth term serving House District 18B of Minnesota which spans most of Meeker County and the western portion of Wright.

Areavoices Digest #62 – What exactly is “Geek Culture” anyway?

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Would you describe yourself as a “geekette?”

Well, that’s how Kari Lucin describes herself. This Areavoices blogger says she loves “Dungeons and Dragons,” science fiction and playing video games. She writes about all of her loves in her blog “Oh look! A Shiny Thing!” The blog is both well-written and very funny. Step into Kari’s world for a minute. She claims you don’t even need to be a geek.

It’s just the first in this week’s recommended blogs.
Oh Look! A Shiny Thing
http://shiny.areavoices.com
The author, a self-described geekette, hopes to bring a bit of geek culture to the rest of the world.

Middle Aged Plague
http://middleagedplague.areavoices.com
Modern life’s oddities and ends.

The Dirt
http://thedirt.areavoices.com
The real dirt on gardening (and a little cooking too) from Master Gardener Sandra Paulson.

In the Black
http://intheblack.areavoices.com
It’s not what you earn, it’s what you spend.

The Farm Bleat
http://farmbleat.areavoices.com
Tales of a country girl from Southwest Minnesota.

Last minute Thanksgiving recipes and Black Friday advice

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If you’re like me these last couple of days of work before Thanksgiving are tough. You’re trying to concentrate on work, but visions of grocery shopping, pumpkin pie baking and Black Friday deal hunting keep creeping in.

“Do I have enough Craisins for my broccoli salad? Will anybody really miss them? Do I have to go back to the store?”

“Hmmm…maybe Mrs. Smith or Village Inn bakes a better pie than I do. Yeah, probably.”

“Is it worth getting up early on Friday to shop? Maybe wearing my jammies and hitting Amazon makes more sense.”

How am I supposed to be a Digital Content Development Director with all this clutter in my head? Well because I am a DCDD (I try not to spell out  my title too often. My fingers start to cramp) I am able to assist in your last minute Thanksgiving preparations.

I’ve spotted a few of our Areavoices bloggers who are getting into the spirit of the day (and the day after). Check out these blogs: Now I’m off to buy some Craisins.
Real Money: http://realmoney.areavoices.com  5 Things to do before leaving the house this Black Friday.


Arlene Coco’s Prairie Kitchen: http://arlenecocosprairiekitchen.areavoices.com  Making a Turducken this Thanksgiving.

Everyday Gourmet: http://everydaygourmet.areavoices.com – Citrus and Brown Sugar Turkey.

Lagniappe: http://lagniappe.areavoices.com - Crockpot Stuffing.

Areavoices Digest #51 – Something for WWII buffs and more

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I’ve always been intrigued by the World War II era, the photos, the music, and the people. Maybe that’s why I’m so excited about the first of this week’s recommended blogs. Check it out and the rest of this weeks’ list. Enjoy!

Tri State Aviation
http://tristateaviaton.areavoices.com
Tri-State Aviation out of Wahpeton, North Dakota is a mainstay in the agriculture aviation world, but these days might be best known for its work restoring World War II fighter planes – P-51 Mustangs. This blog includes videos of the restored planes in action again. A sharp looking blog for WWII buffs all over the region.

 

Grapes and Grains
http://grapesandgrains.areavoices.com
After a brief hiatus Greg Rixen is back with recipes and ideas for entertaining with food, beer, wine and spirits. Great recipes. (Prosciutto wrapped asparagus? Yum!)

 

In the Black
http://intheblack.areavoices.com
Nancy Kvamme provides daily tips on how to save money and use it more wisely. Nancy is really consistent and I think that’s one of the things that makes her blog great. People have come to rely upon her advice.

 

Images of Fall
http://fall.areavoices.com
A photo blog celebrating autumn in the upper Midwest with photos submitted by you. I wanted to mention this to you again before it’s too late. We’re getting some nice photos into this blog from readers around the region. But you know soon enough, winter will be here, so I wanted you to capitalize on this one while you can!

 

Connecting Learning to Life
http://packerpaths.areavoices.com
West Fargo (ND) High School’s Career Center blog not only offers students information on part-time jobs and scholarship opportunities, but also advice on the best careers of the future. Great example of how schools can utilize Areavoices. Now if we could get every high school in the region to do this….Hmmmmmm….

 

Areavoices Digest #31 – Here’s “The Dirt”

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With summer almost here, I know gardening will be a hot topic for Areavoices. That’s why I was excited to see The Dirt, one of our newest blogs. Check it out and the other recommended blogs of the week.

 

The Dirt: The real dirt on gardening from a master gardener in Moorhead, Minnesota
http://thedirt.areavoices.com As we head into summer, gardening blogs will be hot! Master gardener Sandi shares information and plenty of photos in her gardening blog. A good resource for gardeners this spring and summer.

 

DeAnn Pladson Family Law Advisor
http://familylawadvisor.areavoices.com
Pladson’s blog will be a place to share ideas and opinions on issues relating to family law and issues that affect families as well.

 

Money Matters: Increase your success
http://eraofsuccess.areavoices.com
Money Matters is dedicated to improving the success of its users by providing valuable information, techniques and strategies.

 

Reluctant Stage Mom: Featuring the theatrical adventures of two kids with a flair for the dramatic
http://reluctantstagemom.areavoices.com
Leah Baker says her blog “is a record of efforts to introduce her children to new experiences, inspire confidence, groom talents and discover passions – without going over the top!”

 

What in the World? The life of a travel agent
http://traveltravel.areavoices.com
Katie Rahr is the Director of Leisure Sales & Special Event Travel at Travel Leaders/Travel Travel in Fargo, ND.  She specializes in Destination Weddings, Honeymoons, and Group Travel and heads up the new division of Travel Leaders, “Vows in Paradise/VIP Weddings”.   She hopes to bring some insight of what a travel agent does everyday.

Looking for a few good Bob Vilas (or even Tim “The Toolman” Taylors)

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So you’ve spent all winter sitting in your house, staring at your four walls thinking, “Man, once summer comes I need to fix that, or build that, or paint that!”

It’s time to start thinking about those home improvement projects. People are craving information on how to get those projects done efficiently, easily and with as little expense as possible. That’s why we’re looking for some home improvement bloggers on areavoices. Maybe, you manage a home improvement business or maybe you’re just the neighborhood handyman (or woman). Either way, we’d love to hear what you have to say and so would the thousands of people who could be reading your blog.

A reminder: areavoices is part of the FCC network with reaches now 1.7 million people every month. They are people across Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas and all around the world.

Share your home improvment thoughts with them for FREE through areavoices blogging. Just go to www.areavoices.com to get started or watch the video tutorials on my blog. They’ll take you through the process.

I promise your blog will be a heck of a lot easier than any home improvement project you’re cooking up! Uh, uh, uh!

Areavoices Digest #24 – Hot blogs for a snowy day!

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Happy Snow Day everyone!
 
Let’s hope those of you struck by the storm today are safe, sound and warm. Nothing like a blizzard at the end of March. Crazy! For those of you not struck by the storm. I’m jealous! Can I move in with you?

So to help warm you up as Old Man Winter gets one last laugh on us, I have some hot blogs you might want to look over.
 
Running: One foot in front of the other over and again – http://running.areavoices.com
Shane Mercer of The Forum says this blog has really taken off. It’s a community blog about running. So far there are 11 people from the region who are writing posts about running. You know runners can be pretty fanatical and plugged in. We’ve found that blogs about running tend to be pretty popular. In fact, if you haven’t looked at Steven Wagner’s Addicted to Running http://runningspud.areavoices.com that’s a really good running blog too. It looks at training and nutrition.

Prairie Aire- http://prairieaire.areavoices.com
This recommendation comes from Logan Adams of The Jamestown Sun. Prairie Aire is written by Katy Kassian. She writes about small towns in North Dakota. She’s energetic and has some nice photos, too.

Bluestem Center for the Arts: Educating, entertaining, inspiring and enriching our community through the arts – http://bluestemcfa.areavoices.com
Bluestem is a brand new outdoor peforming arts center in Moorhead which hosts music festivals, community events, performance art, speakers, and a variety of other activities and exibitions.
 
And speaking of music….
 
FM’S Finest – http://fmfinest.areavoices.com 
FM’s Finest is a showcase for some of the best bands in Fargo-Moorhead who you might not know about; and a chance for you to tell us what other music should be in the conversation. As part of this partnership between Jade Presents and Inforum.com, FM’s Finest will feature nine musical acts, ranging from funk rock to bluegrass, on the site while inviting music fans to weigh in and share thoughts and photos.

Basic Business – http://basicbusiness.areavoices.com
This recommendation comes from Anna Erickson of The Park Rapids Enterprise. “Louis Schultz has been a regular columnist on our business page. I think there’s an audience out there in the business world that can find some useful information from him. He has extensive knowledge about business and finance.”

Areavoices Digest #14 – Traveling the World with Tator Tots and Barry ZeVan the Weatherman!

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I’m resuming my weekly look at areavoices blogs you might want to consider. This is an eccletic group of topics. But I think a mix you’ll find informative and entertaining!
 
UND Sports -http://undsports.areavoices.com/ Senior Associate Athletic Director Sean Johnson just started this blog last week. He’s hoping to use the blog platform to talk about things he wouldn’t normally get talked about in the paper or on the University of North Dakota Sioux website. He wants to use it to promote Sioux Booster clubs in the region, share game promotions and other information regarding UND sports.
 
Since I have arrived – a collection of traveling tales by a mother and daughter – http://travelnotebook.areavoices.com/    Since I Have Arrived is a collection of travelling tales by Merrie Sue Holtan and her daughter Johanna. Merrie Sue is a talented freelance writer who has lived throughout Minnesota. Her daughter, Johanna is currently living in Scotland. I’m excited about this one. Merrie Sue is a great writer and I think she’ll bring us some entertaining stories as she travels the globe with her daughter. One of her last posts was the appeal and confusion about tator tot hotdish in Europe. (Oh, they have so much to learn!)
 
A Senior Moment with Barry ZeVan – http://seniormoment.areavoices.com
Formerly known as Barry ZeVan the Weatherman on Channel 5 in the Twin Cities and Channel 7 in Washington, D.C. in the 1970s, and later on Channel 11 in Minneapolis during the 1980s, Barry ZeVan is a colorful character. He was even featured on The Daily Show with Craig Kilborn.  Barry wants his blog to reflect his thoughts about life as a senior citizen, as well as great memories. He currently lives in the Twin Cities area.

And finally as the New Year starts with people trying to pay off Christmas, a couple of interesting MONEY blogs:

Forum’s Financial Fix-up – Helping readers fine tune their finances – http://financialfixup.areavoices.com A very practical blog which examines how three families work through their finances with the help of the Village Family Service Center. They’ll learn about investing, saving and paying off debt. Great user friendly content for the entire region. GREAT MONEY BLOG.
 
In the Black – http://intheblack.areavoices.com/ - Blogger and financial counselor Nancy Kvamme looks at practical ways to save money such as cooking all of your week’s meals in one day and the high cost of clutter. Another good money blog.
Happy reading!

Areavoices Digest #13 – Dec 15, 2010 From Positive Motion to Dilly Casserole Bread

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Positive Motion – Movement with a message – http://positivemotion.areavoices.com.
Patrick Kasper is the creator-presenter of the mind/body fitness/team building program POSITIVE MOTION. He’s says “It is my passion to Inspire, Encourage, and Motivate people to live happier and healthier lives We are all very well aware of the obesity epidemic in the United States, and how it is affecting our young people. I believe issues like obesity, bullying, internet abuse, alcohol abuse and tobacco use are all related and we need programs and people to teach our students the tools to live in ‘Pro-action instead of dis-traction.’” Patrick puts on seminars and events across the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin in which he teaches children about getting up and moving and in turn feeling good about yourself.
 
Appropos of Nothing – http://approspoofnothing.areavoices.com 
I found Mary Hubbell’s slice of life blog entertaining and well written. Her last post asked the question, “At Christmas time, are you a peeker or a shaker?” I found some great recipes on the blog as well. In fact, I plan on making her Dilly Casserole Bread for Christmas.
 
Lend a Hand – A Dakota Medical Foundation Initiative – http://lendahand.areavoices.com
Lend A Hand is a Dakota Medical Foundation initiative to support and improve volunteer efforts to raise funds for people experiencing a medical crisis. Lend a Hand provides people with an online fundraising kit to teach them how to put on a successful fundraiser. They also help cover administrative costs and provide matching funds.  In their blog, they hope to share the stories of some of their clients and tell you more about how you can help. 
 
And finally here are a couple of business/money blogs you might want to check out:
 
The Dickinson Chamber – http://thedickinsonchamber.areavoices.com  - Obviously, Chambers of Commerce are full of user-friendly information.
 
Economic Development News and Information – http://economicdevelopmentnews.areavoices.com -  Another good example, of an organization with topical information about the business community.
 
 Coming next week: The last areavoices digest of the year. Like so many people do this time of year, I’m going to compile a “best of” list. I’m going to recap some of the best recommended blogs from our 5 hot topic areas.

Areavoices Digest #12 – Dec 8, 2010 – Great Blogs for the Holidays!

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Maybe I’m  all about the Christmas spirit today or maybe I just can’t get last night’s Glee Christmas special out of my mind. Whatever the case, this week’s recommended blogs have that holiday feel.

First a couple of fantastic food blogs:

 
GOT SOUP? http://gotsoup.areavoices.com. Sara Watson and her husband Eric are the chefs and owners of Mosaic Foods Catering www.mosaicfoods.net and also co-owners of Maxwells Restaurant in West Fargo www.maxwellsnd.com.  Sara will be the primary writer. She is bubbly and fun and full of personality. Their food is amazing! They used to be guests on my radio show and I think I learned something new everytime they came on. Sara says, “ I feel like I dedicate much of my life to food; whether it be cooking, creating recipes, talking about of food, reading about food, teaching our children how to cook and eat healthy etc…. I’m looking foward to sharing knowledge I come across and hope others who are as passionate about food as I am will also share their knowledge with me.”  
 
ARLENE COCO’S PRAIRIE KITCHEN – http://arlenecocoprairiekitchen.areavoices.com  Arlene Coco runs a food segment on WDIO-TV in Duluth. She hunts for local culinary stars and treasures. She says her writings follow the seasons so look for recipes and information about local food events, chefs and all things food related in the north land. She says, “ I will also share my culinary travels with you as I am a frequent visitor to Australia and recently to Southeast Asia.” I really liked the look of Arlene’s blog and I think it relates to all of us.
 
But Christmas isn’t just about the great food, it’s about shopping and our next blog will help you keep your budget in check.
 
REAL MONEY – http://realmoney.areavoices.com – Financial counselors from The Village Family Service Center offer tips on how to save money, how to get out of debt and set up budgets. Their last post was about the 5 things you should know before heading to the mall for Christmas shopping. It’s a practical money blog where people can get valuable information.
 
GOOD PEOPLE GOOD BUSINESS – http://goodpeoplegoodbusiness.areavoices.com   Darrin D. Tonsfeldt is the director of in-office and organizational service at The Village Family Service Center. He is the lead blogger for Good People Good Business. Darrin will write about human resources including how to have a healthier work environment for your employees.
 
HEALTHY TIDBITS – http://peggysue.areavoices.com Peggy Anderson is a breast cancer survivor and retired Duluth school teacher who talks about community events and other health-related issues. I think it’s worth a look if you’re a Minnesota property.
 

Black Friday Shoppers? Smart Bargain Hunters or Just Plain Nuts?

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Whatever you feel about Black Friday, whether you spend most of Thanksgiving combing through newspaper ads plotting your shopping strategy or you spend Friday morning snuggled in a warm bed puzzled as to why anyone would rise at 3:00am to battle the crowds, we want to hear from you!

We want you to use areavoices to share your Black Friday tips, pointers, and strategies. It’s the perfect use of the areavoices community, sharing ideas or maybe even venting your frustrations. Throughout Friday, you can weigh in on our Black Friday Chat. Click the link below to take you there. Access it as you shop for tips on what’s on sale where, what’s sold out and more info on the latest surprise bargain.

http://topics.areavoices.com/2010/11/23/talk-about-it-black-friday/

Shoppers, you’re going to be up anyway. You might as well use every tool you can. Sleepers, tune in and see what your neighbors are up too. You can always roll over and wait for Cyber Monday!

AREAVOICES DIGEST #8 – NOV 10, 2010

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it’s been an exciting week here on areavoices. Not only did we host our first ever “areavoices walkthrough” yesterday, but we’re welcoming some new individuals and organizations to the platform. Check them out:
 
MS SIMPLICITY – http://mssimplicty.areavoices.com – Melissa Schmalenberger is a lawyer by trade, but a few years ago she startled dabbling in home organizing and soon found it taking off. Melissa has her own website and has been very active blogging on it. She’s also very active on Facebook and has built a national following. I’m really excited to get her own board. She frequently writes about easy meals to make for busy families, or things such as how to handle all of those papers your kids bring home from school. Great practical advice. She told me this morning, she’s hoping to run a list of Christmas organizing tips in the coming weeks. 

 
EAST METRO WATER – TIPS AND TALES FOR KEEPING WATER CLEAN – http://eastmetrowater.areavoices.com. This blog is written by The East Metro Water Resource Education Program. It’s a partnership formed to improve local surface and groundwater resources through education and outreach about non-point source water pollution. While it’s most relevant to communities such as Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Lake Elmo, Forest Lake, Stillwater, etc from what I’ve read there is environmental information that would appeal to anyone interested in environmental issues.
 
FILL THE DOME 2010 -  http://fillthedome.areavoices.com – For the past few years,  K-12 students in Fargo-Moorhead and some outlying communities hold a massive food drive to fill the Fargodome with food. It’s been a huge success and they’re doing it again on Nov 22-23rd. They were blogging on their website, but we got them to start on areavoices to get more exposure for this wonderful project. 

Speaking of schools….two more schools are on board with us:
 
JAMESTOWN COLLEGE NEWS – http://jamestowncollegenews.areavoices.com  – Jamestown College has now started its official school blog to share the latest news from campus. 

 
DAKOTA WESLEYAN NEWS – http://dakotawesleyan.areavoices.com – Dakota Wesleyan out of Mitchell, SD has also started an official school blog to share the latest news from its campus. This blog is really well done. It’s has a nice look to it. Great photos and good information. It’s a nice example of how a college can utilize a blog to share its message.

Areavoices digest #7 – Nov 3, 2010

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Here is my weekly look at what’s news on areavoices. It’s been a busy couple of weeks. Word is definitely spreading about areavoices as a great place to share information. Check out some of our new bloggers!
 
TRAVELING TOD – http://travelingtod.areavoices.com  I’m really excited about this one. Tod Ganje is a travel agent for Travel Leaders in Moorhead. He had a weekly radio segment for 2 years on WDAY-AM. His blog will now replace that segment. Tod is a great resource for everything travel.  His blogs will include: advice on off beat or popular destinations or great deals on airfare, etc. He’s also open to answering questions. 

 
TO BE WELL – http://tobewell.areavoices.com  -
Connie Morrison is a general surgeon at Avera Worthington Specialty Clinic in Worthington.
I really like Connie’s blog about health issues. She writes about everything from walking away the common cold to telling us more about a Lance Armstrong live strong banquet. She also addresses timely topics such as the recent rash of concussions in the NFL.

UND NEWS – http://undnews.areavoices.com – This is a big one. UND has now joined NDSU and MSUM in starting an official university blog. I’ve already heard from UND alumni who are happyt to have this blog going so they can keep up with their alma mater. 

 
NDSU EXTENSION  – http://ndsuextension.areavoices.com  – This is a fairly new blog written by contributors accustomed to sharing valuable, useful information. The most recent post features a discussion on whether beef source and age verification is worth the effort. Scroll down and you’ll see a brussel sprout recipe. This is going to be a nice resource for information and gardening, cooking, food, health and so much more. 

 
NDSU FINE ARTS  – http://ndsufinearts.areavoices.com – The blogger describes his blog this way: “This is a space where you can learn about our events, departments, faculty, students, guests artists and so much more.  We hope you’ll enjoy this blog, a space in which you may love what you see or question what people call “art.”  Because if art doesn’t make you occasionally question reality and broaden your mind, what is the point?”
 
And finally, Moorhead Public Schools have started an official school blog. Fargo started a few weeks ago.  West Fargo Schools should be up and running soon as well. If you are a teacher or school adminstrator and want to learn more about school blogging, just leave a comment on this blog or email me at tracy.briggs@fccinteractive.areavoices.com.

AREAVOICES DIGEST #3

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AREAVOICES DIGEST #3
It’s time again for our weekly look at what’s new and what might be worth another look on areavoices. Here are some blogs that you might like. 
 
 
1. Everyday Gourmet – http://everydaygourment.areavoices.com – Jessica Sevald is a classically trained executive chef employed at The Waterford at Harwood Groves in Fargo. She is also an in-home culinary instructor, caterer, wife and mother.  She has a French culinary background, but she says her mission is ” trying to replicate that quality of flavor using as many shortcuts as possible.  I want great food without the fuss!”
 
2. Change for a Dollar – http://changeforadollar.areavoices.com – Ross Almlie has been a financial analyst for 18 years. Although, he is still very new to areavoices, I’ve followed his enewsletters. What I like about Ross is his writing style and his way of making the financial world, more understandable to the common folk.
3. Modern-Day Jane – http://moderndayjane.areavoices.com – Lyz  has been blogging on another site for a couple of years and recently made the switch to areavoices. This is a nice slice of life blog about her life. Here’s what she writes about herself: “Wife of Aaron and mom of Leah (6) and Ben (4), and baby Adam (1). Want a Masters degree without all that work. Teacher by personality, not employment (for now). Love Christ as my savior. A fan of pop culture, especially movies and music (although taste in novels leans more toward the classics.) Also love to talk and can’t stop if making others laugh.” 
 
4. The Gay Agenda - what two middle aged guys are really up to – http://thegayagenda.areavoices.com. This is a blog written by a gay couple in Fargo. The title is obviously a play on the argument made by some that homosexuals have an “agenda” to push their lifestyle. Ricky and Brad, claim that they’re not always organized enough to handle their own life (complete with kids, grandkids and a dog) let alone push an agenda. They’ve written very funny posts about hosting dinner parties for friends, or coping with life with a new dog, but they also write meaningful posts about topical issues such as Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and the sexuality debate in the  ELCA. I think it is a blog that would inform, entertain and start interesting discussions.  It reminds me a little of the The Daily Show using humor to talk about newsy and relevant topics.
 
Also, be looking out for our upcoming blog about Extreme Makeover Home Edition, written by a contractor/volunteer. It should be fun. I’ll let you in on the details of that when they become available.
As always you can leave comments here or email me at tracy.briggs@fccinteractive.com for more information or questions.