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Burnsville Lakeville May 5, 2011 • V36.18
Apple Valley vs. Lakeville North PAGE 22
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In the Community, With the Community, For the Community
More to taste at upcoming Taste of Lakeville event BY MICHAEL RICCI SUN NEWSPAPERS
South Metro residents line up at the Burnsville Transit Station Thursday, April 28. Minnesota Valley Transit Authority has reported record first quarter ridership this year due in part to increasing gas prices. (Photo by Jennie Olson • Sun Newspapers)
Bus ridership reaches record levels as gas prices climb BY JENNIE OLSON • SUN NEWSPAPERS Suburban residents are apparently thinking twice before making the trip downtown by car. High gas prices are one of the factors leading to the highest first quarter ridership ever recorded at the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, the public transportation provider for residents and business-
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es of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Rosemount and Savage. From January until March 31, more than 631,000 rides were reported, an increase of 6.4 percent from the same period in 2010 and a 1.2 percent increase from the same period during its previous record in 2008. MVTA: TO PAGE 19
Having hosted many successful fundraisers over the years has hardly resulted in complacency for the Lakeville Rotary Club. More wines and additional space are among the many features of the annual Taste of Lakeville celebration, which takes place 5-9 p.m. Thursday, May 12, at the Lakeville Area Arts Center. Brenda Visnovec, director of liquor operations for the city, explained how this year’s wine tasting will be especially appealing to both attendees and vendors. “There were, last year, about 36 different categories that were judged,” she said. “This year, we have expanded it to 43 to include an organic section.” The vendors nominate their wines for a fee, and all of the proceeds, as much as $7,500, go back to the Rotary Club. “If their wine wins, they get a medal, and it’s recognized in the stores as a winner, which generates
additional business for their products,” she added. According to sales figures from last year, the recognition in the stores for the winning wines has been mutually beneficial for all parties involved. “Basically because the ones that win, the recognition in the stores has proven out to increase their sales by over 200 percent. Actually it was 223 percent,” Visnovec noted. But the wine judging doesn’t end there, as Taste of Lakeville attendees get the chance to have their voices heard, or their palates in this case. “Every wine at the Taste of Lakeville is up to be judged as the People’s Choice award, and basically all of the attendees nominate which wine they think is their favorite,” Visnovec said. But above all else, Visnovec is mostly thrilled with the support of the vendors and what it means to the community. “These [vendors] are putting literally thousands into this tasting, each venTASTE: TO PAGE 12
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