Grand jury may review Apple Valley suicide 2A Ruling says county prosecutor caused mistrials 5A Save big money on RVs at Menard’s site 6A
Laura Adelmann Laura Adelmann John Gessner
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date10, ##, 2009 may 2012
Volume 30, Number # VOLUME 33, NUMBER 11
Dakota County Tribune Since 1884
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Somalis sip, chat at coffee shop Raaho Coffee and Tea opened this year in Burnsville
by Ibrahim Hirsi
ages. Alongside American foods, the store also provides meats that are halal, which means “permissible” in Arabic. Most Raaho Coffee customers are also customers of the grocery store, Mohamed said. Although the majority of the customers are Somalis, Mohamed’s businesses also attract buyers from Ethiopia, Kenya and the Middle East. A 1978 City College of New York alumnus, Mohamed lived and worked in many places as an engineer, including New York, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Ga. He moved to Minnesota about 14 years ago and lived in Eagan and Apple Valley. Mohamed and his family now live in Burnsville. “The state has one of the best public education systems in the nation,” Mohamed said of his reason for moving here. “I wanted my kids to be part of this great education.” As his children continue pursuing the education he had hoped for them, Mohamed said he tirelessly works to satisfy his customers. “My customers always leave happy,” he said. “That’s why we’ve been so successful in our store business. The new coffee shop will take that path, too.”
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Regional chamber president says Department of Commerce’s recent audits of small businesses are an undue burden. 4A
When Somali-born Ahmed Mohamed arrived in the United States more than four deruthe cades ago, he expected two things: a better edubatulis cation and a life of contentment. He has met his expectations. forum What the retired mechanical engineer didn’t expect, because he couldn’t imagine it, was esFirst Judicial tablishing Raaho Coffee and Tea, a social hub in District Court the Colonial Ridge Shopping Center in Burnsjudge says decisions ville. Dozens of local Somali immigrants meet at regarding children the coffee shop to exchange information about and custody rights their community here and about the troubling are very politics back in Mogadishu. diff icult. edward Raaho Coffee and Tea, which Mohamed 4A lynch called a “Caribou Coffee version” of the community, has become a centerpiece for Somalis news in Burnsville and surrounding cities since it opened earlier this year. State Rep. Pat “We opened the coffee shop to save the culGarofalo, ture and the community,” Mohamed said in an R-Farmington, interview Sunday at Raaho Coffee and Tea, was the only local 13734 Nicollet Ave. “Before we opened this House member to place, the community was scattered all over.” vote for a Vikings Abdirizak Nur, who was socializing with stadium bill. Photo by Rick Orndorf friends on Sunday evening at the coffee shop, pat 5A said the taste of the Somali tea and the chance to Owner Ahmed Mohamed opened Ibrahim Hirsi is a Burnsville-based writer who regarofalo mingle with community members are what keep Raaho Coffee and Tea earlier this cently graduated from the University of Minnesota year next to his halal market in him coming back. with a journalism degree and a minor in African dakota arts “It’s a good place for the community,” said Burnsville. and African-American studies. Hirsi’s articles have ‘The Wizard of this week news Nur, director of the New Planet Education Cenbeen published in numerous publications, includOz’ goes Code Type: UPC Version A Stats: 0 over the ter in Burnsville, which serves African immigrant students. “It ing TC Daily Planet and Minnesota Public Radio’s Customer: 3242-ECM Publishers rainbow through Order #: P34915-017 MAG: 1.00 gives us an energy that we would have never gotten from other commentary page. He has also written for New York’s P.O. #: BWA: 0.0020 ballet with a By: Symbol Width: 1.4690 places.” Long Island Newsday and the Record-Journal, a localOrdered Polarity: Positive Up Symbol Height: 1.0200 locally-produced Date Run: 05/29/2002 Flexo Width: 0.0000 The location is convenient and easy to find, said Nur, newspaper in Meriden, Conn. music score. a Burnsville resident of eight years. 28A the While some people quietly fixed their eyes on wicked their laptop screens Sunday evening — takwitch ing advantage of the wireless Raaho Coffee Internet connection — others spoke about the politics in Somalia, which has left the country in turmoil for more than 20 years. Customers can choose from coffee flavors similar to those sold at typical American coffee8 34493 00023 6 houses, Mohamed said, as well as special Somali tea and snacks. The coffee shop isn’t the only local business Mohamed owns and operates with his wife, Ilhan Hussein. Mohamed, General 952-894-1111 a father of five in his 60s, also operates the 7-year-old Dakota Distribution 952-846-2070 Halal Market next door to the coffee shop. Advertising 952-846-2011 The store sells African and Middle Eastern products including breads, spices, sugar, flour, fruits, rice, beans, soups and beverJENNY WOODS AN STACEY ACKERM MILLER ANDREW
ons 2A r’ of promoti 7A A new ‘Frontie entrepre neur Inks tests young nment 8A Threads & Slam for entertai tribune.biz Hitting a Grand dakotacounty
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PHIL KRINKIE BUSINESS
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help A mentor can a young worker the rise through ranks of an or organization career lead to other opportunities.
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The 2009 Legislature couldn’t balance a budget the governor could to OK, but tended other hot topics. 4A
HAROLD TORRENCE
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Today one of three vice be special. friendly staff one of those t Cole, tofounder she is experience pany for 30 years Doug Barberby be greeted S of Cole’s. visit Paul growing throughou St.will as salon managerto shape the future instantly you BEST PRACTICE in making your andattended learning and Valley learned helping Salon, assist he you Apple work lit they as where presidents 18 Pixar promotes the warmly members of at age their careers. been all I need to the newly remodeled ls School longtime hisaround you look share the merits Visit her at professiona Rients, a culture of be “Cole’s has Jerry As she will proudly or the custom tiled notice busy fromunique. trends or successful and location and communication stations you’ll latest hair styling counter tops make my life Janel Murphy, a 30area. “All this mentor. the 74, works at further and new granite spa the new said that reaps the around performing Rients, . Walk the of our fulfilled,” Today as a bar- you to the spa floors that lead to veteran. “At techniques for the success innovation and foiling Valley salon doors that lead Apple for , manicure and re-modeling is importantabout people. We willPhoto by Rick Orndorf year Cole’s SalonI feel good about glass Cole’syou’ll notice been doing day, profits in it’s still he has in skin Hanson, Tim end of the king. massage treatments ber, which continues good.” company, but where latest feel Melissa movie-ma Rients area20 the or years. making others has grown through has Or sit and left) Laura Trish,Storhoff. the past JEFF Cole, andprovided. pedicure services 6A member the a leadership (from each Trish Cole’s Salon team a mentorn for services are sipping Salon to berejuvenatio Cole’s last four de- area to give t, and nurturing employAPPELQUIST .” “We wantr Tourtillot the spa waiting him forinthe the years by something Cole,Cha their biggest inspired andofprinciples a loyal clientele. relax in the Of course,Cole, Doug Golden Nugto take hold herbal tea. started the ees and building been seeing the Sataught histyemployColereality” cades.warm cup ofhis Cole’s firstjust happen overnight. have Cole has opportuni whatthem into in which employees openeddoesn’t was thing years, and program Cole nug- Many clientsfor several years. andisbring this special the last 30 in 1979. It its doors dreams ’ suc- gets foryears to write 200 Doug Cole, owner ees28 me same stylist in to his businesses lon in Burnsville the riverspecializing are—challenged service keeps Salon ofopened Cole’s attributes south salon The first Cole “The customer Trish Perkins, en- hehis Dougthe the only gets in six months. vision are putting owner available serviced withthat back,” said nuggets the onsetcess. agotime salon Cole opened best candidates “Golden be mind. It is coming at that late 1970s,with more not our haircuts. look for the the From 1970, Doug the Apple ValleyJessica “It may in In than children’s During Today, continue Wilson.things atto Southdalesays good self- a client at it was stylist on people. team tire family. 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Cole’s noted for high than 952-846-2011 changed Colebeenevery beenbelieve” and “Habits currently with Cole’s. day,”have true,” says Advertising business pany hasn’t hour a“We explains, it’s still have we more Many still remain , Apple business. an The staff yet from the trust and honesty , what before,stem community in Burnsville team member start learning of this beginning heard in the people our salons.” a itwhich very yourself,” people for “We’vehas eachSavage trail.” five salons – Eagan and “we are all “growing great “From the in their support a of this Cole’s Salon also community want said.dreams in to givehold in closing. consiststoofproviding a8A “Wetwo of. their Cole Colebiggest a learning culture,are partEach Valley, best dgenerous Page employees and forward as back to take Cole’s, establishe See to we“The to better to giving where business. We look says Cole. opportunity work as well of the staff members has 330 employees reality” committed – and locations intohis learning library, on-going in the desire od and deeply people to come to keep learning to our come.” lly kept grounded and bring them by providing and feel value t in neighborho encouraged and place for community for years to do this is strong has purposefu resources,provide truetheir involvemen tools,ourselves, members values are riverto to form way we know serving our Cole’s team live by our the south of the by sharing the latest culture.” Each andthrough events. leading g and education customers charitable y ties. in an activeislearning used communit enjoy participatin — day a someand training resource center their families an hour a with Savage Learning — PAID ADVERTISING at 42 salon is equipped while veteran employees Eagan Marketplace learning group for 5310 Eagan Eagan Station 952 226 / LY 9454next page. to/ the 456 Cedar Cliff ip” Burnsville Court 651 ESS WEEK pages to “fl BUSIN to the / 1390 of the lle 651 454 Cobblestone Apple Valley corners in. The links page. Rd. 11, Burnsvi .biz Centre 1. Click on 8585 page to zoom of the 12190 Co. 952 435 / Southport ribune the top of any appear at the bottom 4112 2. Click on akotaCountyT will 952 891 /
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