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Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount www.dakotacountytribune.com SPECIAL SECTION
and the surrounding areas July 30, 2015 • Volume 129 • Number 21
Traditions abound at county fair Late-summer party’s favorites return in 2015 by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Dakota County Fair on the way The Dakota County Fair is ready for its run of fun and activities Aug. 10-16 in Farmington. Inside this edition
OPINION No time for celebrating Minnesota shouldn’t rest on its laurel of being named as a top state in the nation for business. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
Some things change, but most things stay the same, and that’s what most people seem to like about the Dakota County Fair. Many of the favorites, such as the lumberjack show, demolition derby, Chautauqua, food vendors and midway rides, are back for another party Aug. 10-16 at the Dakota County Fairgrounds in Farmington. One of the new highlights is a natural resource building on the main grounds, which is a collaborative effort featuring booths from the Department of Natural Resources, area sportsmen’s groups and other groups related to natural conservation. One of the features the fair would like to highlight related to natural conservation is the approximately 190 acres of natural prairie land on the fair-
Chautauqua, an original musical-variety show, is back under the big tent behind the drugstore with performances. This year the performance is titled “Minnesota, the Good, the Bad, and the Uff Dah.� (File photo) grounds with daily tours. “We’ve never done a great deal to highlight that,� fair director Mark Henry said. “It’s open to the public. It’s a huge natural area diversified with 50-some prairie species.
It’s one of the nicest preserved areas in the county. There are pheasants, turkeys and deer back there. We think it’s really special.� For those with a bigger itch for nature, there will
still be a petting zoo, and this year A-to-Z Exotics will return to the fair instead of Fur-Ever Wild, according to Henry.
Grandstand Country artists Dia-
mond Rio will grace the Dakota County Fair Grandstand with opening act Kari & Billy beginning at 7 p.m. Aug. 12. The headliners have See FAIR, 6A
Leprechaun Days spreads its magic Large crowds turn out for Midsummer Faire concerts by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Carnage in the park Hip-hop artist Carnage will be demonstrating the basics of beatboxing at Caponi Art Park as part of the Family Fun Tuesdays series. Page 19A
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District.
The memory-making machine known as Rosemount Leprechaun Days spread plenty of its magic July 17-26. Whether it was giving a chance for a child to walk in the Grand Day Parade or hook a prize-winning fish with Dad or Mom, Leprechaun Days provided a little something for everyone. The 10-day festival was capped with a huge crowd that descended on Central Midway rides were busy during Rosemount Leprechaun Days’ Family Fun Night on Thursday (above) and the Midsummer Faire on Friday and Saturday nights. More See FESTIVAL, 9A photos are at SunThisweek.com/tag/Leprechaun-Days-2015. (Photos by Tad Johnson)
The Tailgate Party and Car Blessing at St. Joseph Catholic Church during Rosemount Leprechuan Days included a bounce house and other activities for children.
Children to explore new world Spanish immersion preschool Un Mundo Nuevo to open by Tad Johnson
CONTACT US News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2019 Classified Advertising 952-392-6862 Delivery 952-846-2070
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 10A Announcements . . . . 11A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 13A Calendars . . . . . . . . . 16A
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Preschool-age children can explore a whole new world at the appropriately titled Un Mundo Nuevo, a Spanish immersion academy opening this fall inside Faith Lutheran Church. Co-owners and teachers Sandra Huerta and Nelly Marett Benitez have turned their worlds upside down in the past three months to conceive of and launch the school in time for this Friday’s open house and first day of school Aug. 31. Huerta said she was driving by the church on Cedar Avenue in Lakeville when she saw it had a
playground outside. When she stopped in to the office and spoke with church officials, she discovered that the site’s previous child care center had recently closed and there were two classrooms available. “I loved it right away,� Huerta said of the school, which is located in the Rosemount-Apple ValleyEagan School District and has a Rosemount mailing address. “I was excited about the possibilities.� After getting approval from the church board, Huerta and Benitez have been working day and night to paint and decorate the rooms, gain approval from state and local agencies and set up the
Spanish immersion curriculum. That’s a process that usually takes about six to nine months, according to Huerta. “The inspector was so impressed at how organized we were,� Huerta said. That organization is likely attributed to the fact that Huerta and Benitez, who are both native Spanish speakers, have nearly 20 years of experience in working at child care centers. They said they have taken the best of what they have learned over the years and incorporated Co-owners and teachers Nelly Marett Benitez (left) and Sandra Huerta are launching Un Mundo Nuevo Spanish See SCHOOL, 12A Immersion Children’s Academy. (Photo by Tad Johnson)
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