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THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2011
EDEN PRAIRIE
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news Friends keep legacy, build future Honoring Randy Voas’ memory by raising money for scholarships
A close-up look at the shadow box on display at EPHS in memory of Randell Voas.
BY MICHELLE STEVENS mstevens@swpub.com
PHOTOS BY MICHELLE STEVENS
Jonathan Kim plays the piano as Menards patrons ride the moving sidewalks between the two floors.
Save big money, see grand piano
Maj. Randell Voas graduated from Eden Prairie High School in 1985. Randy was a dedicated husband and father and respected military member who gave his life to service and was killed when his Osprey aircraft crashed in Afghanistan on April 9, 2010. The second annual Randy’s Run 5K Fun Run/Walk and Silent Auction will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 23, to raise funds for a college scholarship in Maj. Randy Voas’ name and to present the inaugural scholarship winner, who will carry the U.S. flag flown over Afghanistan by Randy’s unit as he runs.
Randy’s Run to page 10 ®
Randy’s Run The 5K is being held to raise money for the Randell Voas scholarship and remember Maj. Randell Voas, who died serving in Afghanistan in April 2010. What: Randy’s Run 5K Fun Run/ Walk and Silent Auction When: 8 a.m. Saturday, July 23; registration opens at 6 a.m. Where: Purgatory Creek Park, 13001 Technology Road, Eden Prairie Info: randysrun.com
Menards pianists tell tales of tickling the ivories amid the plywood and spackle BY MICHELLE STEVENS mstevens@swpub.com
“I
The shopping continues as Jonathan Kim plays during his Saturday shift at Menards.
t’s the Disneyland of home i mprovement,” said general manager Jim Deck. The Eden Prairie Menards features two levels of shopping joined by escalators, which is more of a moving sidewalk that goes from one floor to the other. Between those two escalators? A piano. During the week, the piano is on auto-play, but on weekends, Menards customers can hear recent high school graduates Davis Fischer and Jonathan Kim and recent college graduate April Kim tickling the ivories. According to Deck, having a piano player in the store has brought in more customers. They even had
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one guest call in and ask if they had escalators and a piano player to settle a bet. He attributed this to the fact that having a piano player is unique to the business and gives it a department store feel. According to Deck, the three students play varied styles, ranging from Elton John to Usher to Kiss. “Something [customers] can tap their feet to as they walk around,” said Deck. Jonathan Kim started work-
Pianists to page 10 ®
FILE PHOTOS
Last year’s race drew 135 runners and plenty of walkers as well.
Compromise brings end to the shutdown BY LEAH SHAFFER lshaffer@swpub.com
Is it kicking the can, a true compromise, or a case of both? When it comes to the end of Minnesota’s state shutdown, most everyone can find something to dislike in the budget that emerged from the Legislature this week. “That’s the nature of the compromise,” said Eden Prairie’s Republican State Sen. David Hann. Tuesday, legislators worked through the night in a special session to pass nine fi nance bills and a $500 million bonding bill. Gov.
Mark Dayton signed the bills into law Wednesday. As soon as appropriations are sent out today, the process to recall state workers will begin. As agencies get up and running in the next few days, it brings an end to an unprecedented state shutdown that continued for more than two weeks; left thousands of Minnesotans in the lurch when it comes to accessing needed state ser vices, and thousands more without jobs. Eden Prairie Republican Rep.
Shutdown to page 10 ®
The Gulden ticket for Willy Wonka production BY UNSIE ZUEGE uzuege@swpub.com
PHOTO BY UNSIE ZUEGE
Thaddeous Gulden, of Eden Prairie, plays the madcap, mercurial chocolatier in CVFT’s “Willy Wonka.”
When Thaddeous Gulden showed up to audition for the role of Willy Wonka in Chaska Valley Family Theatre’s summer musical “Willy Wonka,” Director Kelly Jeremiason knew Gulden had the look for the eccentric, wacky and mercurial candy impresario: Gulden’s naturally reddish orange hair, long, skinny frame and a mobile face that could be charming and sincere, and in an instant, creepy and sinister. Putting on a summer community theater production can be challenging, Jeremiason said. Vacations, trips to the cabin, and outdoor activities take precedence over rehearsals and putting on a show.
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“It’s more difficult to get auditions in summer, Jeremiason said. “I’ve pushed for us to do a kids show in summer, and this year we did. That made it easier. We auditioned 170 and have a cast of 80. Normally [in summer] we don’t get anywhere near 170 to audition. Getting 80 would have been a good number.” But back to Gulden. “He was a new person that showed up,” Jeremiason said. “Out of the 170 auditioning for parts, we had some really good Willy possibilities.” Gulden was a cast member in several high school productions at Eden Prairie High School, but never had a lead. After graduating in 2006, he attended Brown College
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