That's Rich(field) Podcast

Some cities hand out Keys to the City like the practice is going out of style. The City of Richfield on the other hand only awards Keys to the City to individuals who have made a major impact in the community, State of Minnesota, nation, or in the case of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the world. This past June, the city council awarded Dr. Marc Jenkins with the key to the city to recognize his accomplishments in the field of immunology, recent election to the National Academy of Sciences and his work to better public education in Richfield.     For the fifty-second episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast, we sat down with Dr. Jenkins to discuss his career accomplishments, his research team's recent creation of a COVID-19 antibody test and what it is like being elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

Most of us have not experienced anything even close to COVID-19 in our lifetimes. Everything from how we interact with each other, to how we play, to the logistics of daily living, have all been drastically altered. We thought it was appropriate to sit down with an expert to see where we are in terms of the disease, and what the future might hold for us. For the fifty-first episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast, we sat down with Community Health Services Administrator Jennifer Anderson to discuss the origins of COVID-19, why we needed to swiftly respond to the disease when it first appeared in Minnesota, and how different communities have been impacted.

Annually, Pride Month is celebrated during June to recognize the influence LGBTQ people have had around the world. Typically, parades and other celebrations are held throughout the month. However, with the ever-present specter of COVID-19, the vast majority of these large gatherings had to be canceled. We thought we would do our part to raise awareness and celebrate a great cause by inviting one of the city’s leading LGBTQ advocates to be a guest on the podcast.      For the fiftieth episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we sat down with community leader and Human Rights Commission member Mara Glubka to discuss the origins of Pride Month, the US Supreme Court’s recent civil rights ruling and other issues of importance to the city’s LGBTQ community.  

Eighty years ago, almost all of Richfield was covered in prairie, farmland lakes and other natural wonders. Today, it is very much the epitome of the “Urban Hometown,” but it still has quite a bit of its original natural flare due to its extensive park system and the Wood Lake Nature Center. For nearly three decades, Wood Lake Center Manager Karen Shragg has shepherded the nature center to new heights and met the needs of a changing population. Now, she is about to ride off into the sunset of retirement.     For the forty-ninth episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we sit down with Karen to discuss how the nature center has changed, the impact the people of Richfield have had on her and some of her more unique experiences over the years.

Some firefighters knew from a very young age that they wanted to fight fires and save lives, others had a first career before finding their calling in the fire service. Richfield’s newest firefighters Alisa Brakic falls somewhere in the middle. She has always known that she has wanted to save lives, but it took a fateful run while in college to point her to her career as a firefighter. Since then, she has worked for the St. Cloud and Fridley Fire Departments before setting into her new role as a firefighter for the City of Richfield. For the forty-eighth episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we sit down with Alisa to discuss what prompted her to become a firefighter, what working 24 hours straight looks like and why more women should become firefighters.    

No matter how old you are opening a gift from a friend or family member is always fun. Add the holiday season into the mix and gift giving and gift opening is one of the best times of the year. There is laughter, joking, happy tears and smiles from ear to ear. Sadly, not everyone can afford a boat-load of presents under there tree. The Richfield Police Department is doing what they can to bring the spirit of giving back to the community with its Heroes and Helpers program, which helps families in need to purchase gifts during the holiday season.   For the forty-seventh episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we talk with police Lieutenant Brad Drayna about the history, logistics and spirit of the department’s Heroes and Helpers program.   

You would be hard-pressed to find someone who thinks firefighters do not do enough for their communities. Most people do not realize that besides putting out fires and providing emergency medical assistance, firefighters find all kinds of other ways to contribute to the communities they serve. In the case of Richfield, one of the department’s biggest philanthropic efforts is Operation Warm, which annually sees firefighters donate hundreds of coats to the city’s elementary students. For the forty-sixth episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we talk with firefighter Mark Watczak about why the city’s firefighters took up the cause of Operation Warm, what it means to the community and how residents can get involved.  

Some infrastructure projects take a long time. Other infrastructure projects take a really, really long time. Then there is the 77th Street Underpass which makes all other infrastructure projects look like they were designed, proposed and built in about a week and a half. The City of Richfield, along with its other regional partners, has been trying to complete the 77th Street Underpass project for three decades. Just a couple weeks ago the Minnesota House of Representatives Bonding Committee toured the project to learn why it is important to the region. For the forty-fifth episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we talk with Public Works Director Kristin Asher about the history of the 77th Street Underpass project, why it is so important to the region’s transportation infrastructure and where the project stands.

The City of Richfield means a lot of things to a lot of people. Some people like it for its abundance of green space, some people like it for its unique food offerings, and some people love it for its “Urban Hometown” feel. In the case of Ward I City Councilmember Simon Trautmann he likes all of those things and so much more. Plus, he probably knows more about the city than most residents because he has been a part of the community in some way, shape or form his entire life. For the forty-fourth episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we talk with Councilmember Trautmann about growing up in Richfield, how it has changed over the years and why it is important for residents to get involved in the community.  

Did you know that one ton of 100 percent recycled paper saves the equivalent of 4,100 kWh of energy, 7,000 gallons of water, 60 pounds of air emissions and three cubic yards of landfill space? Richfield Sustainability Specialist sure does and she is on a mission to make the city as “green” as possible.   For the forty-third episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we talk with Rachel about the city’s sustainability journey focusing on where we have been and where we are going in the future.

If you bring up the topic of human rights concerns with a friend, more than likely the conversation will focus primarily on a distant county that is experiencing some form of political or humanitarian unrest. However, when it comes to the Richfield Human Rights Commission (RHRC), the topic hits much closer to home. This year, the RHRC is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding.  For the forty-second episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we talk with Human Rights Commission Secretary Bob Mulcahy about how the commission got its start, its accomplishments over the past 50 years and where it is going in the future.  

Minnesota is known for its many distinctive items: hotdishs, lakes, Post-Its, and the Coen Brothers, just to name a few. However, the state is probably best known as the State of Hockey. Residents from 9 months to 99 years of age love spending time on the ice year-round whether it is indoors or outdoors. Founded in 1971, the Richfield Ice Arena is still operating with its original ice generation plants. Due to the diligent work of ice arena staff, the system has met the needs of residents, but due to the systems age and a new United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation, that may not be the case for long. The city is considering renovating the ice arena to bring it up to modern standards and provide further amenities to residents.         For the forty-first episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we talk with Richfield Ice Arena manager Kris Weiby to learn where our ice arena has been and where it looking to go in the future.    

In the 1966 primetime animated television special It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Linus attests, "Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He's gotta pick this one. He's got to. I don't see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there's not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see." Here in Richfield, we are big believers in the Great Pumpkin and if he is looking for the most sincere pumpkin patch we would humbly suggest he stop by Fairwood Park on October 12 for the fifteenth annual Great Pumpkin Giveaway. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see… For the fortieth episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we talk with Steve Schneeberger the founder of the Great Pumpkin Giveaway about its origins, how it has grown over the years and what it is like to give away 600 pumpkins.

Nowadays, it seems like everyone has a side hustle. If you are not familiar with the term, a side hustle is a type of employment undertaken in addition to one’s full-time job. Approximately, 99.9 percent of society is happy to be employed in some field or another. However, for many people, their job does not bring them to the kind of joy that their favorite hobby does, so some people start a side hustle. Someone may be an accountant by day, but an artisan baker by night that sells their side hustle bread at weekend farmers markets or pop-up restaurants. One of Richfield’s best-known side hustlers is Cesar Castillejos. By day he is the leader of Richfield's Young Life group, but on the side he is the owner of the 1 of 1 Clothing Company, which has a Richfield-inspired clothing line called R City Threads. For the thirty-ninth episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we talk with Cesar about what got him into fashion design and how the community is embracing his Richfield-inspired designs.

Did you know that the State of Minnesota is home to more than 200 roundabouts? As all residents know, four of those roundabouts call Richfield home, with three more being added at the conclusion of the Lyndale Avenue Reconstruction Project. The Richfield City Council declared September 2019 to be Roundabout Education, Awareness and Safety Month in the city. So, we thought it would be a good time to dive deep into the rationale behind Richfield’s roundabouts. For the thirty-eighth episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we sit down transportation engineer Jack Broz to discuss why some of the city’s intersections have incorporated roundabouts to enhance pedestrian safety and more effectively move traffic from Point A to Point B.

In the past two years, the Richfield City Council has undergone quite a transformation, with a new mayor and three new council members. The newest of these council members is Ben Whalen who represents Richfield eastside. Elected in February, he has been on the job for a little more than six months, so has hit the grown running providing important contributions to the city’s long-term goals, recreation services and infrastructure projects. For the thirty-seventh episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we sit down with Whalen to discuss everything from what brought him to Richfield to where he sees the city going in the future.

If it is the third Sunday in September, it can only mean one thing in Richfield: Penn Fest. Richfield’s fall festival sees 14 blocks of Penn Avenue closed down for an afternoon. This year, Penn Fest will take place on September 15 from 1-5 p.m. Annually, more than 8,000 people attend the Open Streets event that was started in 2012. The event is free to attend with music, games and other activities. It is a great opportunity for residents to meet their neighbors and spend a beautiful fall day on Richfield’s west side. For the thirty-sixth episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we sit down with one of the event’s organizers Gordon Hanson to discuss how the event got its start and how it has grown over the years.

Like many Twin Cities suburbs, Richfield’s population exploded in the decades following World War II. The “Urban Hometown” went from a population of less than four thousand to an emerging city of almost 20,000 in less than a decade. This population increase meant more houses, businesses and, of course, schools. The majority of the city’s current schools were built in the 1950s and 1960s. These learning spaces were great for students interested in going to sock hops and listening to Minnesota Vikings games on the radio, but the spaces have proved challenging for students that want to learn in a 21st Century learning environment. To make sure the city’s education spaces are serving its students to the fullest, the Richfield Public School system is undertaking a major renovation project. For the thirty-fifth episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we sit down with former Richfield High School assistant principal and current construction project coordinator Teresa Rosen to discuss how the city schools will be transformed through the renovation efforts.  

Oak Grove Lutheran Church’s pastor Brice Eichlersmith has lived by the mantra, “show up, shut up and be present in people lives” as he has helped Richfield’s residents deal with difficult situations. He has worked to bring people together at Richfield’s schools, faith communities and in the case of the Richfield Police and Fire Chaplain program in some of the city’s most difficult times. For his contributions to the city, the city council bestowed upon him the Gene and Mary Jacobson Outstanding Citizen Award to him back in June.    For the thirty-fourth episode of the That’s Rich(field) podcast we discuss what called him to become a pastor, the challenges associated with being a police and fire chaplain and what it was like to be named Richfield’s outstanding citizen. 

Richfield students go on to accomplish great things after leaving the friendly confines of the city's schools. They become successful doctors, lawyers, politicians, artists and entrepreneurs. One of our favorite recent success stories involves Jessica January. She graduated as one of the best basketball players in RHS history and was part of the team that went all the way to the state finals. After graduation she attended DePaul University and is now playing professionally overseas.  For the thirty-third episode of the That’s Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Jessica to discuss her basketball journey and how growing up in Richfield prepared her for life abroad.  

You've got questions, the mayor has answers. Residents are running the show this week for the thirty-second episode of the That’s Rich(field) Podcast. We asked residents to submit questions they want answered by Richfield's Mayor Maria Regan Gonzalez and they came through in a big way. We picked our ten favorites and she answers everything from balancing a busy schedule to coping with change to when is the city getting a taproom. Plus, a lot more. 

Best laid plans have at least one or two backups in case of an emergency so that if the unthinkable happens the show can go on. That was the case last weekend when the crew responsible for the Urban Wildland Half Marathon and 5K had to resort to Plan B. Leading up to the race, the city had received more rain than usual and part of the course was under water. The crew leaped into action and plotted a new course so the race would not have to be canceled. For the thirty-first episode of the That’s Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Recreation Services Department Director and race organizer Amy Markle to learn what goes into organizing a race for nearly 1,000 runners, the challenges the group overcame this year and how the race benefits Richfield’s public school students.  

Creating and establishing a new podcast is always a labor of love. The That's Rich(field) Podcast has made it to 30 episodes, so this week we look back at some of our favorites, explain how the podcast came into existence and introduce you to its new co-host, Eric Paulson. 

If you have full control of your faculties, everyday life is pretty easy. Everything from running errands to getting dressed in the morning can be accomplished without much effort, thought or preparation. However, if you are a person living with one or more disabilities, even the simplest tasks can range from a nuisance to daunting. In 1990, the federal government passed the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibited discrimination based on disability. The act also required that employers provide reasonable accommodations and imposed accessibility requirements.   For the twenty-ninth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Richfield disability advocate Judy Moe to discuss what improvement the city is making in terms of accessibility. 

A little over two years ago, Richfield experienced one of its darkest days. As Jonathan O’Shaughnessy was walking home from the Red, White and Blue Days street dance he was shot and killed. To this day, the perpetrator of this heinous act has not been brought to justice. As a city, we thought it would be appropriate to celebrate Jonathan’s life in an episode of the podcast. For the twenty-eighth episode of the That’s Rich(field) Podcast, we sit down with Jonathan’s mother and father to discuss their son’s life, how the Richfield community has supported them in the aftermath of his death, and the nonprofit organization they founded to keep his memory alive.

The Fourth of July is all about freedom, fun and fireworks. Thankfully, Minnesota residents can get all those things in one place, Richfield, by attending Red, White and Blue Days from July 2-4. The event has a family night, car show, street dance, live music from JT and the Gunslingers, parade…and of course, fireworks. Personally, we think it is the best three-day party in Minnesota. Four our twenty-seventh episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Red, White and Blue Days chairperson Heather Lenke to discuss the new events added to the three-day itinerary and some of the old favorites.

In the past three years, Richfield's housing market has been rated first, first and fourth by the Star Tribune in their annual housing index. People love the quality of the housing stock and the friendly hometown atmosphere the city provides. Sometimes, people are not even thinking about buying a home in Richfield, but as soon as they see what the city has to offer, they stop looking anywhere else.  In this twenty-sixth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Andrea Pendergast to discuss her homebuying journey, which eventually led her to find her dream home in...you guessed it...Richfield, Minnesota. 

This year’s Minnesota legislative session went into overtime to reach a budget agreement. Find out what happened, as well as what it is like to be a first-term state representative as we sit down with our old friend and former at-large city councilmember Michael Howard for the twenty-fifth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast. 

Ever since he was a kid growing up in Richfield, Charlie Keis knew he wanted to help people. Eventually, this led him to become a firefighter. However, few people realize it is next to impossible to become a firefighter for the town you grew up in if it is part of the Twin Cities metro. Charlie’s journey post-Richfield took him to Duluth, then Bismark, North Dakota and eventually back to Richfield as the city’s newest firefighter.   For the twenty-fourth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Charlie to discuss his journey, how appreciative residents are of the services the RFD offers, and what it is like providing high-quality fire and medical aid to his hometown.   

Summing up retiring Centennial Elementary School Principal Lee Ann Wise is a next to impossible task. She has been a devout educator for 30 years, who has contributed in some way, shape or form to thousands of Richfield students’ lives. She is also the most successful women’s basketball coach in Richfield High School history. Through it all, she has been fair and consistent. For her contributions to the city, the Richfield City Council announced that June 4, 2019, will be Lee Ann Wise Day in Richfield.   For the twenty-third episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Principal Wise to discuss her career, how teaching has changed over the last three decades and her historic coaching run.  

Lyndale Avenue is not under construction, it is under reconstruction! The Lyndale Avenue Reconstruction Project kicked off in earnest in April and is moving along on schedule. For the twenty-second episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we talk with project engineer Logan Vlasaty about the changes coming to Lyndale Avenue, the project planning process and how it will be safer for residents in its future iteration. 

Sometimes it feels like summers last for approximately 19 minutes in Minnesota, that is why as soon as the weather warms up, residents spend as much time outside as possible.  One of Richfield's favorite past times is the summer farmers market. For those of you who are unaware, Richfield boasts the third oldest farmers market in the Twin Cities and on May 18 it opens for the 2019 season.  For the twentieth-first episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we talk with Bonnie Hanna-Powers, coordinator of the farmers market, about the market's history, its commitment to sustainability and all the new things she has in store for this year. 

If you are a frequent visitor to the Wood Lake Nature Center, there is a good chance that you know Amy Markle. Until recently, she was a naturalist at the nature center. However, a little over a month ago, she was appointed to the post of Richfield Recreation Services Director, which oversees the city's parks and recreational offerings.  For the twentieth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we talk with Amy about her career leading up to her promotion, her favorite part of the Wood Lake Nature Center, and her hopes and dreams for the future of the city's parks.  

Richfield is one of the most diverse cities in Minnesota. People who were born in countries all over the world, now make Richfield their home. It is this rich diversity of cultural heritages that makes Richfield so great. For the nineteenth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we are discussing this weekend's Unity in the Community event, which celebrates the different cultural backgrounds of Richfield residents. To do this, media coordinator Neil Ruhland sits down with Richfield Police Department community liaison Diana Chaman Salas. 

Curious about what the world was like more than one hundred years ago? If so, you are going to want to listen to our eighteenth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast. For this episode, we sit down with Pat Marble. She was born in 1912 and is more than likely, Richfield's oldest resident. She may also be one of Richfield's most active resident. Pat volunteers at the city's community center three times a week and in her words, "pretty much runs the place..." 

At-Large Councilmember Mary Supple lives a double life when it comes to her public service. She is a councilmember and the chairperson of the city's Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). Oh, and she is also a sixth-grade teacher at the middle school. For our seventeenth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down and talk with her about the city's public schools, why the HRA is necessary to help Richfield grown and how the first couple months of her city council tenure has gone. 

For our sixteenth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Councilmember Edwina Garcia. Over the course of her career, Councilmember Garcia has done it all! She was the first woman of color elected to the Richfield City Council and the Minnesota House of Representatives. She is also in the process of mentoring Minnesota's next generation of leaders. Plus, she tells some of the best stories in the business! 

When you live in the land of 10,000 lakes, you care about water quality. For our fifteenth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Water Resource Specialist Patrick Martin to discuss how the city protects its stormwater. He also talks about ways that residents can aid in keeping Minnesota’s stormwater pollutant free.

For our fourteenth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we brought in the best of the best Public Works Department staff we could find to discuss how the city's snow removal crews battled February's historic snow accumulation. 

For our thirteenth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with new city manager Katie Rodriguez to discuss her background, what brought her to Richfield and the opportunities that lay ahead for the city. 

For our twelfth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Richfield Chamber of Commerce president Anne Schultz to discuss the city's thriving business community. Schultz also explains how businesses are giving back to the community and how a prosperous business community impacts the city and schools. 

For our eleventh episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sat down with Richfield Public Schools Superintendent Steve Unosky to discuss the city's school system. We talked about what makes Richfield's public schools unique, the changes that have been made for the 2019 school year and how the city benefits from a strong school system. 

For our eighth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Richfield Curling Club president Lisa Rudolph to discuss the birth of curling in Richfield. Curling only started in Richfield last June, but in a very short amount of time, has developed a devout following among residents. Recently, it has even been popping out at the city's outdoor ice rinks in the form of voyager curling. 

For the second part of our ninth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast, we finish our conversation with new Mayor Maria Regan Gonzalez. Topics discussed include the importance of equity and inclusion, being elected Minnesota's first Latina mayor and the upcoming State of the Community event to be held on February 20. 

Our ninth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast is going to be delivered in two parts. For the episode, we sat down with new Mayor Maria Regan Gonzalez to discuss her background, what led her to run for mayor and her vision for the city's future. However, we covered so much more, so we decided to break it up into two parts. Tune in next week to listen to the conclusion of the interview. 

For our eighth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Housing Specialist Celeste McDermott to discuss the city's new first-time homebuyer program, as well as the other various housing programs offered through the Community Development Department. 

For our seventh episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Richfield Police Department Lieutenant Brad Drayna and Community Liaison Diana Chaman Salas to discuss how the city's police utilize community policing to build trust in with residents, as well as how this relationship leads to a safer Richfield. 

For our sixth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Public Works Department Operations Superintendent Chris Link to discuss how the city tackles winter weather. We also talk about how smart salting is saving the city money and better for the environment, while still keeping residents safe on the roads.  

For our fifth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Wood Lake Nature Center naturalist Ashley Hansen to discuss the nature center's annual Candlelight and Ice event taking place on December 31, as well as all the other winter happenings at the nature center. 

For our fourth episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with Fire Chief Wayne Kewitsch to discuss holiday fire safety and what it is like to spend Christmas at the fire station. 

For the third episode of the That's Rich(field) Podcast we sit down with city engineer Jeff Pearson to discuss roundabouts, road reconstruction and the city's complete streets policy.