Thisweek Apple Valley and Rosemount

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N COUPO ION T C E CONN edition

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Louie Anderson is bringing his homegrown stand-up comedy to the Burnsville PAC. See Thisweekend Page 7A

Thisweek Apple Valley-Rosemount DECEMBER 17, 2010 VOLUME 31, NO. 42

in this 10A on Page

NEWS OPINION SPORTS

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Holiday Greetings/4A

Puzzle Page/8A

Opinion/6A

Legal Notices/9A

Classifieds/11A

City targets prostitution

Wish comes true for Rosemount boy who had a really bad year Elliott Bosak chosen as Minnesota’s Wish Kid by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Days after returning home from a vacation that included Sea World and swimming in the Gulf of Mexico last year, doctors told Elliott Bosak, 12, of Rosemount, he had a tumor in his liver. “Things cascaded from there,� said Elliott’s mom, Susan Doherty. Eventually, Bosak was diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma, a rare, aggressive liver cancer. Since the diagnosis, Bosak has endured two liver transplants, nine months of chemotherapy, and numerous tests and procedures, twice nearly dying. At one point, the once-active seventhgrader grew so weak he needed a walker. But Bosak fought back, completed his treatments, and on Dec. 10 was named Minnesota’s Wishes Across America Wish Kid by Macy’s and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. A surprise ceremony was held in his honor at Macy’s in the Mall of America, where friends and family gathered.

Bosak was granted his wish of a European cruise and took a red-carpet walk amidst great fanfare, then was presented with a suitcase packed with gifts of travel essentials. He was also surprised with the unexpected appearance of many of the classmates who had stood by his side during all he’d been through. “It was just awesome,� said Doherty. This marks the second straight year Macy’s has held the event, declaring Dec. 10 National Believe Day. That same day, dozens of similar events were held in other states in honor of other children who are battling life-threatening illnesses. Gary Young, spokesman for Macy’s, said they worked with the school, parents and the Make-A-Wish Foundation to coordinate the event for Bosak. “It’s really a celebration of Elliott. He’s had a lot of medical concerns that the whole family has gone through, and this was really meant to be a big, happy day,� Young said. Doherty said the program meant a lot to the whole family.

Ordinance requires massage business owners to undergo background checks by Andrew Miller THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

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Elliott Bosak, 12, deposited Santa letters from his classmates into the Macy’s “believe box.� For every letter collected, Macy’s donated $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “We are so heartened by the level of support people really have for children,� Doherty said. Laura Adelmann is at laura.adelmann@ ecm-inc.com.

Special delivery Four apply to complete Bills’ city council term Applications will be taken until Dec. 30 by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

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A healthy DeBrazza’s monkey was born Dec. 10 at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley. The infant, as yet unnamed, was introduced to the exhibit with its mother Monday. This is the second infant born to the zoo’s pair of adult monkeys, Otis and Mashama. Their firstborn at the zoo, Dafu, which is Swahili for “coconut,� is now a juvenile and quite rambunctious, according to zoo staff. Their exhibit, part of Faces of the African Forest, is located along the zoo’s tropics trail. The DeBrazza’s monkeys will be alternating days on exhibit with the colobus monkeys.

21 years old have until 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 30 to turn in applications at City Hall, 2875 W. 145th St. Residents can also download an application from the city’s website, www.ci.rosemount.mn.us, and e-mail it to amy.domeier@ ci.rosemount.mn.us. The open term ends Dec. 31, 2012. City Administrator Dwight Johnson said he expects a candidate to be selected by mid-February. Interviews will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 11 and continue to Jan. 12, if necessary. If the city council decides to interview applicants as a board, the meetings will be open to the public. Council members may also interview candidates separately, thus enabling the interviews to be private. However, the ultimate decision to name a candidate to the position will require a council resolution and will be open to the public.

As of Wednesday morning, four Rosemount citizens had applied to complete City Council Member Kurt Bills’ remaining two years in office. Bills, a Rosemount High School economics teacher, is leaving his term early because he was elected to the Minnesota House Nov. 2. Applicants for the open seat include Pamela L. Vanderwiel, Sharon E. Peterson, Denise Lynn Bednar and David J. Ganfield. Ganfield is the only candidate who was part of the historic 2008 city council race. In that election, which was won by Bills and Council Member Jeff Weisensel, an unprecedented 26 candidates ran for a seat on the board. To fulfill Bills’ term, Rosemount City Council members decided to avoid the expense of holding a special election and instead go through the appointment process allowed under Minnesota law. Interested Rosemount residents Laura Adelmann is at laura.adelwho are eligible voters and at least mann@ecm-inc.com.

Centuries of evolution pay off for manufacturer Apple Valley-based Uponor NA looks to take advantage of new housing codes by Jessica Harper

cating consumers on the changes, Drake said.

THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Apple Valley’s Uponor is an ever-evolving global enterprise that has been adapting to changing market demands for nearly 400 years. Most recently, the North American division has been eying the growing sprinkler market created by state mandates that require sprinkler systems in all new homes beginning in 2011. So far, California and Pennsylvania have been the only states to adopt the new code, but Minnesota has previously put it on the table. “We believe this will help Uponor and all in the industry,� said Jayson Drake, product manager for plumbing and sprinkler systems at Uponor North America. Currently, the company is working on expanding marketing efforts geared toward eduGeneral 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000

Centuries of adaptation The Swedish corporation has been meeting changing market demands like this for hundreds of years. Uponor’s history begins long before the United States declared independence from England. Its roots are buried deep in Sweden, where it was founded in 1620 as Wirsbo Co., a steel and weapons maker for the king’s army. The company dropped arms manufacturing by 1970 and dove into the radiant floor heating market. This type of heating system differs from traditional forms of radiant heat in that tubes installed below or inside the floor radiate heat into the building. By 1984, Wirsbo had decided

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Uponor, which has its North American headquarters in Apple Valley, has been adapting to changing market demands for nearly 400 years. The manufacturer’s diversification has paid off in the last four decades as it managed to remain profitable through several recessions. to introduce its product across the pond. Four years later, Wirsbo opened a North American headquarters in Lakeville and was acquired by Uponor, a Finnishowed radiant heat systems manufacturer. It continued to carry the

Wirsbo name until 2005, when the company decided to rebrand itself under one name – Uponor. Much has changed since the merger 22 years ago. In 1990, Uponor’s North American headquarters moved to its present location in Apple See Uponor, 10A

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A massage parlor that opened in October in a home on Garden View Drive in Apple Valley caused an uproar among neighboring residents who alleged the business was a front for a prostitution service. While that massage business, located about a block from Westview Elementary School, has since closed, the Apple Valley City Council approved an ordinance last week that seeks to thwart prostitution rings from hiding behind a facade of massage therapy. The new ordinance requires massage businesses and their therapists to be licensed by the city, and allows for police to periodically inspect such businesses. “Most cities in the southern metropolitan area already have this ordinance,� said Police Chief Scott Johnson. “It gives us the ability to prevent those with a criminal record from coming into our city and setting up a massage parlor.� Licensing will include a criminal background check on massage business owners and their therapists. The City Council passed the ordinance Dec. 9 by a 3-2 vote; Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland and Council Member Tom Goodwin voted against. Both Hamann-Roland and Goodwin expressed support for the ordinance, but simply wanted more time to review it. Their desire for additional review followed testimony by Barbara York, president of the therapeutic-massage trade association Minnesota Touch Movement, who said such an ordinance serves to “criminalize� legitimate practitioners of massage therapy. “You’re trying to go after prostitutes – go for it, full bore,� York told the council. But the ordinance, she added, “creates an onus on citizens who have home businesses.� Hamann-Roland said prostitution is “absolutely something we want to get rid of in this community,� but wanted more time to review the ordinance in order to ensure it wouldn’t jeopardize the livelihoods of legitimate massage therapists. “Massage is an alternative healing method and I just really support that,� she said. “It’s unfortunate that the people who are doing things illegal are affecting people trying to make a living doing something good for the world.� Police are aware of four massage parlors currently operating in Apple Valley, Johnson said. Existing massage businesses in Apple Valley have until March 15 of next year to file license applications. Health care clinics and state-licensed medical professionals who do massage are exempt from the ordinance and needn’t obtain city licenses. For massage business owners seeking city licenses, the application fee is $300. For the therapists, the application fee is $100. Andrew Miller is at andrew.miller@ecminc.com.

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