Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas www.dakotacountytribune.com
June 26, 2014 • Volume 129 • Number 17
NEWS Girls expand horizons Farmington Community Education is offering a new class for girls to learn more about themselves and the world around them. Page 3A
OPINION
David and Barb Toombs stand outside the First State Bank of Rosemount in 2009 upon the 100-year anniversary of the bank’s founding. (File photo)
Educators say keep reading Area educators offer their suggestions to keep students engaged in learning through the summer months. Page 4A
From inkwell pens to the digital age
THISWEEKEND
Bubblegum and bracing for fun Farmington Dew Days filled the city with a range of events last week from the Grand Parade on Saturday to Friday’s Bubble Blowing Contest at Heikkila Studios and a Pizza Eating Contest under the big tent. Maricia Pacheco was crowned Miss Farmington at a pageant Tuesday, June 17, to kick off Dew Days. More photos are inside this edition. (Photos by Tad Johnson)
Eagan Art Festival returns The festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this weekend with exhibits, art activities and entertainment at Eagan’s Central Park. Page 17A
SPORTS
Farmington new school has new name Gateway Academy set to open this fall by Jennifer Chick SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Area players are all-stars Rosemount’s Ben Smith was among the area baseball players to vie in the Play Ball Minnesota High School All-Star Baseball Series. Page 10A
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INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Announcements . . . . . 6A Public Notices . . . . . . . 9A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 10A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 12A
News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000 Delivery 952-846-2070
As Farmington’s newest school gets ready to open its doors this fall, it has a new name. After a naming process that collected names from potential students and their parents, as well as gathering input from the larger Farmington school community, the name for the new school will be Gateway Academy. Comments from the public in support of the new name included: “Gateway represents the entryway to a new way of thinking;� “Opportunity is the key to creativity and growth, and if we offer a gateway to our students, they will always surprise us;� and “This Gateway is where the students will go through this exciting new adventure and come out on the other side into a much brighter future.� “We are excited to bring the school to life with the identity embraced within the name, Gateway Academy, opening doors to potential opportunities and limitless possibilities,� said Laura Pierce, director of innovative programming at Farmington Area Public Schools. Other names considered included APEX (Academy of Personalized Learning and Education Excellence), APECS (Academy of Personalized Education and Community Service), Ram-
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David Toombs, president of First State Bank of Rosemount since 1991 and a bank employee since 1953, understood the value of being involved in the community. Toombs, who died on Monday, June 23, at the age of 79, championed the bank’s community involvement along with his partner in life and business, his wife, Barb. See TOOMBS, 18A
One year later, urban chicken policy has five permit holders, no complaints SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
After quite a ruckus in the hen house last spring, Farmington finally passed an urban chicken permit policy, and there hasn’t been a peep since. It’s been more than a year since Farmington allowed urban chickens
within the city limits if owners apply for permits and follow the rules. Since then, five permits have been approved, and there have been no complaints on a subject that took two years of discussion and lots of questions from residents and City Council members. “Once we passed it, it became a non-story,� said
Farmington Mayor Todd Larson. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how it’s worked out.� At a recent City Council meeting, Farmington reviewed the policy, making one slight change after a request from a resident. When the policy was adSee CHICKENS, 9A
Having an ArtBlast
Children got to try their hands at playing a variety of instruments Tuesday, June 24, during Groth Music’s Meet the Instruments program at the Dakota County branch Robert Trail Library in Rosemount. The event was part of the weeklong ArtBlast festival organized by the Rosemount Area Arts Council. ArtBlast events continue Thursday through Sunday with a Bluegrass Americana Festival Square Dance on Friday and Bluegrass Festival on Saturday. More is at www. SunThisweek.com/tag/ArtBlast-2014. The Groth Music program also will be at the Wescott Library in Eagan on July 28 and Galaxie Library in Apple Valley on Aug. 5. The event is geared for children ages 2-12. (Photo by Tad Johnson)
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by Tad Johnson
Not a peep by Jennifer Chick
bling River Academy, and Farmington Sparks Academy. Gateway Academy was selected with very strong support and more than 350 votes. Gateway Academy will be a project-based, continuous progress, multi-age learning center open to students in and around Farmington ages 9 to 11. It will be housed in the District Instructional Services Center with a maximum student capacity of 120 students. Enrollment will be voluntary. Students will not be grouped by the traditional grade system but instead by abilities and interests. Pierce said there are currently 75 students registered for this fall. Others have shown interest but have not given their final confirmation yet, she said. Informational meetings about Gateway Academy are scheduled throughout the summer with future meetings at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 24, and 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11. Both meetings will be at Boeckman Middle School Media Center. Three staff members have been hired for Gateway Academy. Kathryn Bosak is the most recent hire. She will join Jon Stock, who taught in the English department
First State Bank of Rosemount president was all about community
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