Editor's Note: The following was submitted by Richfield Dual Language School teacher and mother of Deric Campaña, Melissa Campaña. The 5th grade students from RDLS had the opportunity to converse with the first Latin American astronaut, Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz, via SKYPE this morning (and they did it ALL in Spanish).  Dr. Chang-Diaz was the subject of Deric Campaña’s biography assignment in December and he & his mother decided to contact Dr. Chang to tell him what an inspiration he was and invite him to either visit our school or communicate with them in some way.  Deric, and  group of 6 …

Editor's Note: The following was submitted by Coordinator for Gifted and Talented services for Richfield Public Schools Mindy Hendrickson. Richfield held a reception at the Richfield Middle School in honor of the fact that this year, for the first time, ALL six schools had a team or teams that won an award at the FPS regional competition, grades 4 - 12. We also had a number of teams advance to state - in each age division.   The evening began with the parents getting to watch their child complete a creative problem solving challenge: " Make an award to honor your accomplishment this year - …

Editor's Note: The following is a letter from Rep. Linda Slocum (D-50A). To the editor: Governor Dayton recently released his budget proposal for the 2014-2015 biennium. The Governor’s proposal rejects shifts, tricks, and gimmicks—it would end an era of structural deficits. Though I am still reviewing the proposal, Governor Dayton’s budget includes smart, new investments in early, K-12, and higher education. Investing in a world-class education system ensures Minnesotans will develop the skills for the economy of the future. This budget proposal also includes property tax reduction for middle…

To the editor: As a teacher, I understand how important education is to the next generation. Great schools and quality education are the tickets to economic opportunity for our kids. As a legislator, I am committed to ensuring our schools have the resources they need to provide a world class education to our children and grandchildren. Due to budget shifts from the past two years, Minnesota owes our schools $2.4 billion in delayed aid. I am honored to serve this term as Vice-Chair of the Education Finance Committee. As Vice-Chair, I am working to repay our schools so that they have the …

Editor's Note: The following letter was submitted to Richfield Patch. Dear Editor, We have reached a critical crossroads for Richfield Soccer. With registration for the 2013 spring/summer season right around the corner (Feb. 1, 2013), the time has come for the current board to make a decision on whether or not there will be a recreational league for the upcoming season. Despite RSA's request for a parent or adult to volunteer their time as the recreational league coordinator, unfortunately as of Dec. 14, no one has done so.  The recreational league director is a big job: setting the schedule…

Dear Editor, The Richfield/Edina Youth Wrestling set ambitious goals back in June; attend the Keen Cliff USA Wrestling Nationals in Cedar Falls, IA this November. First year coaches, Jeffrey Wichern and Jaffari Vanier know that building a championship program, you have to shine at the State and National events.  The Richfield/Edina Rampage took this big step by attending the Keen Cliff USA Nationals and were represented by Evan Mertz 90lbs., Keno Vanier 50lbs., Terae Dunn 50lbs. and Kaine Laroque 45lbs. Their five months of hard work reaped success by wrestling well against the best 1,300 …

Dear Editor, This year, Richfield L.E.G.O. is participating in the annual Walk to End Hunger on Thanksgiving Day. L.E.G.O stands for Local Education Global Outreach, and they do many volunteer projects based on the U.N.'s Millenium goals of poverty, education, health, the environment, and gender equality. The Walk to End Hunger is at the Mall of America on Thanksgiving morning. The money raised will go to various hunger relief organizations including V.E.A.P, the Salvation Army, and Loaves and Fishes. L.E.G.O. is looking for volunteers that are interested in walking or donating. If you are …

To the Editor, When I joined the military, I took an oath to support and protect the constitution of the United States. In the US Constitution it has a bill of rights and prescribes three branches of the government, Executive, Legislative and Judicial. These branches of government are the first 3 articles of the constitution and is the check and balance system of our government. The Minnesota state constitution is like the US Constitution. The first article is the bill of rights. The third article sets up the same three branches of government. This I swore to protect. We the people elect our …

Dear Ms. Illes,   I appreciate your support of Sheridan Hills Elementary School. As a teacher at the Richfield Dual Language School, I must say that your son would have flourished in our school as well. He would have done well at the R-STEM School or Centennial School. I am proud to be a Richfield teacher. It is always good to hear the truth of how hard our teachers and support staff and leaders work to deliver quality instruction. Why? It is because our mission statement gives us the reason: we are building life-longer learners. I am pleased that you have found this to be true for your son. …

To the Editor, As the current Chairman and 4th District Commissioner, we are both supporting John Gunyou for Three Rivers Park Commissioner. Like all public agencies, Three Rivers faces the challenges of continuing to provide the excellent facilities and services our users have come to expect. With over 40 years of public service, John has proven himself time and time again as a creative and committed leader who can help us meet that challenge of financial and environmental sustainability. John will be a great addition to the Board, as we all work to preserve and protect the great parks, …

Dear Editor, I just wanted to spend a few minutes telling you about the wonderful trip the Richfield Music program recently took to the East Coast. After spending 24 hours on a bus ride to Boston, we listened to the choir sing in front of Faneuil Hall marketplace. On the first day in Boston the Band and Choir had a concert clinic at the Cambridge Masonic Hall, with a member of the MIT staff leading. In the afternoon, we had a great history lesson on how Boston became the great city that it is and then followed the Freedom Trail to the USS Constitution. We had dinner at the Hard Rock Café, …

To the Editor: As a Richfield resident and former Superintendent (1995 – 2008), I am writing this letter to urge your support for the Richfield School District operating levy.  This levy request is fully justified following three years of no increase in State funding, and just under $5.5 million in budget cutbacks over the past decade. Two questions will be on the ballot:  Question #1: Renew expiring levies to maintain existing programs. An operating levy approved by voters in 2002 is expiring. This levy provides $301.40 per pupil in annual operating revenue that the district uses to maintain…

Dear Editor, I doubt I’m alone in being tired of the political rhetoric this election season. Spin doctors are actively a part of our culture. We say veal to distract us from the reality that we’re eating baby cows. We say faux instead of fake because fake is less marketable. And November 6 we will vote on the so called “defense of marriage act.” By spinning it that marriage needs defending, proponents hope to sell it as the opposite of what it really is: discrimination dressed up in fearful rhetoric. Marriage is not a zero sum proposition! Amending our state's constitution is a solution …

Editor's Note: The following is a letter submitted to Richfield Patch. To the Editor, On November 6, Richfield voters will have a wonderful opportunity to reaffirm what kind of community we are. On that day, voters will be presented with two important questions: 1) To renew a voter-approved school operating levy that is expiring (with no resulting tax increase), and 2) To increase school funding by $60 per student(a monthly tax increase of only $1.33 per month for the average Richfield homeowner).  Why is this important? Consider the facts: Without the renewal, $3.7 million will be cut …

Editor's Note: The following letter was submitted by resident Molly Illes. Dear Richfield citizens, Two years ago when my son started kindergarten at a high-performing, 93% white, language immersion school, we were all thrilled. He was quickly becoming proficient in a foreign language and soaking up the culture. Over the course of two years, I ignored the chaos in the incredibly cluttered hallways and disarray in the classroom as I dropped my children off in their classrooms. However, last year when my son relayed story after story about racial and sexist remarks from one child to another …

Editor's Note: The following letter was submitted to Richfield Patch by Deb Nelson. Dear Friends— My daughters and I have been overwhelmed with the support and encouragement we’ve received since our home was destroyed by fire on September 2. We’ve lived in our Richfield home for 20 years and would never consider living anywhere else, especially after this disaster when our neighbors, some of whom were strangers or mere acquaintances before, reached out immediately to console us and offer support. We are so lucky to live where we do. We’d like to specifically thank the Richfield Fire …

Editor's Note: The following is a Letter to the Editor submitted by Richfield resident Joe Hoover. My name is Joe Hoover and I am a member of Richfield Commoners United (RCU). Let's really call Pillsbury Commons out for what it is - a big money grab by Ron Clark and the city council, commissioners and it's other supporters. All they hope to do is line their pockets with the money made by this development. Now the scandalous statement I just made is not totally inaccurate. Ron Clark is doing this for the money, I doubt he would be volunteering his time and donating money for the project. But …

Follow Richfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter Barn Swallows recently began building nests in the Veterans Memorial Park picnic shelter and a local resident believes the city is removing the nests illegally. The city denies any wrongdoing, saying a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service endorsed procedure is used for removal. The following is a Letter to the Editor Richfield Patch received earlier in the week: Dear Editor, For an unspecified reason, the City of Richfield is waging war against Barn Swallows at Veterans Memorial Park. Richfield has been …

Editor's Note: The following letter was submitted in response to Camillo DeSantis' letter to the city, which Richfield Patch ran on Thursday, April 26, 2012. Dear Patch Readers, My name is Barry LeBlanc and I am a member of the Richfield Commoners United (RCU). Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Mr. DeSantis’ recent letter. While my immediate reaction was to slump against my desk and beat my head on my monitor, deeper reflection has made me realize that Camillo is right—for him. When he reads the flyers and our Facebook postings and all he sees are "examples of fear mongering, …

Editor's Note: The following is a letter sent by Richfield resident Bob Olson to Richfield city staff, council members and local media editors. The Pillsbury Commons development project has become a great controversy among neighbors, who have a wide variety of concerns. Many letters have been written to city staff and council members. The following is an example of those those letters, sent to staff and editors Monday. Dear Mayor Goettel, Richfield City Council and Richfield Commission Members: Since the Pillsbury Commons issue has arisen I have become increasingly concerned with what seems …