By Ed Lufkin, on March 26th, 2010
This just in from architect Steve Edwins:
Benton House is on the NW corner of Winona and Second Street.
The south side was remodeled in the last few days. The east, or front side, remains.
The west, or back, has had all siding and trim removed ready for steel siding to be applied today.
In the residing work, all distinguishing historic details are being removed: window trim, under eave brackets and modillions, etc.
Years back, when Carleton resided the Strong House, one block west on College Street, Cliff Clark and others convinced the College
to work around these details, and that was successful. Note on Strong House that the window trim remains.
Once the features that give a house its character are removed, it is highly likely that they will not be restored.
All it takes to degrade a neighborhood is one house at a time.
Look at BENTON HOUSE TODAY.
We thank Steve for this alert. Ed
By Ed Lufkin, on March 14th, 2010
A fine crowd of over 50 members of NESNA gathered today, March 14, at First UCC Church, to carry out a number of functions. (You can enlarge photos by clicking on them.)
Outgoing president, Mike Harper, opened the meeting with a description of several success stories related to our neighborhood interests in the past year. 
Here you see him in action, describing the great alleviation of parking problems in our neighborhood as a result of the completion of the two new dormitories at Carleton College, bringing over 100 students back onto campus from their previous rental units; the fruitful discussions between NESNA and Carleton concerning the progress of the Arts Union; the discussions underway concerning the landscaping of Memorial Park; and the possibility of other uses for Memorial Park besides its handsome new swimming pool. We also re-elected 4 incumbent members of our board, and nominated two new members.
Betsy Buchheit, one of our members of City Council, described some of the interactions between the Council and the Parks Board. 
Steve Richardson showed us the handsome newest drawings of plans for the Carleton Arts Union, which, if current plans are realized, should open its doors in fall, 2011.
Shown here is Scott Carpenter, reviewing with a breakout group the current layout of Memorial Park and discussing the hopes for further landscaping and other uses of the park.
Finally, a view of the breakout session with our councilors, Jim Pokorney and Betsy Buchheit. All in all it was a fine meeting of minds. Ed
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