Culture

​Madam Melvina Massey and the Crystal Palace

May 3rd, 2017

The surface of the former city hall parking lot had been filled in, was much lower long ago.

It flooded nearly every spring, was called The Hollow, and was Fargo’s red light district, full of illegal swinging-door saloons -- and what are called “female boarding houses” in the old insurance maps.

The most famous house of prostitution in the history of the Red River Valley was Melvina Massey’s Crystal Palace, at what was once 201 Third Street North.

Until recently, there was a…

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​Printing importance

April 27th, 2017

I have purchased many computer printers in my time, some good, some bad, some terrible! It has always been a necessary evil to have a printer on your desk.

Early dot matrix printers were a nightmare to keep running, keep the paper from jamming, keep the ink cartridges fresh and making sure you made the monthly payment after you charged the printer on your VISA card.

All of that is changed (except for paying for it). You still hear about the headaches caused by printers in the review…

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​A tale of two saunas

April 26th, 2017

Finland won its independence from Russia on December 9, 1917, but the Red River Finns, Nordic Culture Clubs, and Folkways are celebrating early, in the most Finnish possible way, by hosting a sauna in the Viking Ship Park in Moorhead, near the Hjemkomst Center.

“We are not Swedes, we do not want to become Russians, let us therefore be Finns,” said Adolf Ivar Arwidsson (1791-1858), and we agree entirely, even if it’s only for two days -- and being Finnish means lengthy and repeated…

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It’s time to move out of North Dakota

April 26th, 2017

I have lived in North Dakota my whole life, and up to a point I had hoped to continue to living here. I wanted to make a positive change in this state and make it a place I was proud to be a resident of.

With this goal I have written over thirty articles, provided mentoring for the last three years, and delivered cultural competency training to a number of organizations. I’ve testified in front of a house committee on the need of protections and watched hundreds of others through the…

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​The return of the Flatout Fargo

April 26th, 2017

Schollander Pavilion, in West Fargo, was home to many aspiring motorcycle racers from late 1969 until 1980. Every Saturday night from fall to spring, daredevils would roll up to the starting line seeking victory.

The Schollander is known for close quarters indoor motorcycle racing action across North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Montana and Canada, attracting over one hundred entries. Fans would find the danger factor extreme, with a dozen motorcycles flying inches…

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​Local nurses in World War I: Historical Society features student’s research

April 26th, 2017

The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County (HCSCC) and the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) will host a talk by local researcher Angela Beaton at the Historic Solomon G. Comstock House on Thursday, April 27, at 6:30PM. Beaton’s talk will illuminate the service and sacrifices of local nurses during World War I. This date was chosen to observe the 100th anniversary of Woodrow Wilson’s signing of a joint resolution declaring war on Germany, bringing our country into World…

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Gender Friendly Grand Forks

April 19th, 2017

Theresa Marshall leads Gender Friendly Grand Forks (GFGF) and is the first person I contact if someone comes to me looking for trans-related resources or support and lives near the Grand Forks area. In that regard, she’s helped a good number of people start the journey to become their authentic selves. She is also a fierce and determined activist who is fighting to make our state more inclusive for trans people. I had the honor of interviewing her to learn more about what she does and…

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​Spay-ghetti and no balls with a side of kindness

April 19th, 2017

This Thursday, Fargo’s Holiday Inn will once again host Homeward Animal Shelter’s Annual Spay-ghetti and No Balls Lunch. The general public is welcome anytime from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM to come enjoy a spaghetti lunch, along with breadsticks, salad, and lemonade, with dessert served by Gigi’s Cupcakes.

For the shelter staff, the Holiday Inn was a tried-and-true choice for a venue.

“It provides a warm, inviting environment and is a great central location for a lunch event,” says…

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​Lots and lots of Earth Week events

April 19th, 2017

The first Earth Day was launched by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin on April 22, 1970. His worries about the environment and the rate of industrialization created Earth Day for us to take green active actions to protect our planet.

Since then, this celebration day has become a worldwide event for all of us. It is not easy to take care of our Earth and we still have some careless attitudes towards our environment that are slowly killing our only home.

For example, riding a bike…

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​Getting sold out

April 12th, 2017

Last Monday, President Trump signed a Congressional resolution repealing rules that would have required Internet service providers to get customer permission to collect, use and sell information about your online habits.

The pending regulations had been passed five months ago by the Democrat-led Federal Communications Commission.

What does this mean to you and I, Joe and Jane Computer-User? AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon have each said they will not sell data to third parties. Yeah,…

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