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.

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode LII)

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.

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode LI)

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.  

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode L)

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.

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XLIX)

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.    

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XLVIII)

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.   

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XLVII)

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.  

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XLVI)

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.

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XLV)

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.  

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XLIV)

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.

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XLIII)

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.  

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XLII)

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.    

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XLI)

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.

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XL)

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.

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XXXIX)

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.

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XXXVIII)

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.

hat's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XXXVII)

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.

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XXXVI)

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.  

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XXXV)

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. 

That's Rich(field) Podcast (Episode XXXIV)

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.  

That's Rich(field) Podcast

That's Rich(field) Podcast

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