SUN Thisweek Apple Valley and Rosemount by Sun Thisweek

www.SunThisweek.com Special Section

Apple Valley | Rosemount July 20, 2012 | Volume 33 | Number 21

Rechtzigel chosen for Apple Valley police chief 25-year department veteran selected from field of 39 candidates by Andrew Miller Sun Thisweek

A Special Section Focusing on Summer Fun July 2012

Mature Lifestyles

Included in this issue

Opinion College-credit plan is brilliant

City officials announced this week that 25-year Apple Valley Police Department veteran Jon Rechtzigel has been selected as the next police chief. Rechtzigel, who began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer in Apple Valley in 1987, has been serving as interim police chief this year as the City Council vetted applications for a permanent replacement

for longtime Chief Scott Johnson, who retired in December. The city received 39 Jon applications, Rechtzigel and four finalists were interviewed by the City Council, City Administrator Tom Lawell and human resources staff on July 13. Along with Rechtzigel,

the finalists were: Shaun LaDue, former Owatonna police chief; Jeffrey McCormick, Cannon Falls police chief; and Eric Werner, a captain with Burnsville police. William Blair Anderson, chief deputy with the Carver County Sheriff’s Office, was named a finalist but withdrew prior to the final selection process. Rechtzigel, a captain with Apple Valley police at the time of Johnson’s retire-

ment, has served in various positions on the force over his career, including detective, sergeant and investigative sergeant. An Apple Valley resident, he holds a master’s degree in police leadership from the University of St. Thomas and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. “Chief Rechtzigel is a proven leader and is wellprepared to lead our police department,” Lawell said.

“His familiarity with the community and the organization will serve him well in the years to come.” The City Council is expected to formally approve Rechtzigel’s appointment to police chief at its meeting on July 26. Andrew Miller can be reached at andrew.miller@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

New events add to Leprechaun Days Community members invited to share in the fun

Joe Nathan, from the Center for School Change, praises plan that allows high school students to earn an associate’s degree. Page 4A

by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

As Rosemount Leprechaun Days kicks off Friday, there are several new events and some that are changing from previous years. One of them is the Rosemount Community Band’s performance (see related story). “The Rosemount Community Band will be performing for the first time at Leprechaun Days on Monday night,” said Laura Briggs, president of the Rosemount Leprechaun Days Committee. “I’m excited to see them perform.” The band’s show will come after a busy weekend at the Central Park Amphitheater, which will host the Bluegrass Americana Festival July 20-22. “I’m looking forward to Saturday night of the Bluegrass Americana Festival,” Briggs said. “The Rosemount Area Arts Council works very hard to put together this event and I’m excited to see what they’ve done with it this year.” More about the festival is at www.rose-

thisweekend

mountarts.com. The Leprechaun’s Lost Medallion Hunt will return to its traditional start time of Monday on July 23. The first clue will be released at 9 a.m. on the front door of Sterling State Bank, 4520 150th St. W., corner of County Road 42 and Diamond Path, and online at www.SunThisweek.com. Sterling State Bank is offering a $500 cash prize to the winner. The medallion will be hidden on city of Rosemount park property that can be seen and reached by even the youngest of hunters. Hunters won’t have to move, damage or destroy park property in order to find the medallion. Official rules and a picture of the medallion will be posted at SunThisweek.com and on the front door of the bank. A new event that will start July 23 is called the 5-Day Club. The event being organized See events, 12A

Strike up the band … again Rosemount Community Band to play at Central Park by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

Caponi taps into Irish dance St. Paul’s O’Shea Dance nationally-recognized students will perform traditional Irish dances such as reel, slip and jig at Caponi Art Park. Page 10A

Online Look for photo slideshows from this weekend’s Rosemount Leprechaun Days events, including the Bluegrass Americana Festival. Go online to SunThisweek.com to find out how to register for this weekend’s Share-ACan Golf Tournament to benefit the 360 Communities food shelf. Breaking news is posted daily at SunThisweek. com. To find out the latest, keep our site bookmarked.

Index Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8A Public Notices. . . . . . . . . 9A ThisWeekend. . . . . . . . . 10A Announcements . . . . . . 12A Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . 13A General Information 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000

Photo by Rick Orndorf

The Rosemount Leprechaun Days Grand Parade, which is at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 28, has had great participation by Rosemount High School groups, including the cheer team. More information about Leprechaun Days is at SunThisweek.com.

An old-time feel will permeate the air around the Central Park Amphitheater when the Rosemount Community Band plays Monday, July 23. It will be the first summertime performance for the band, which was formed last year and debuted during a two-night Christmas show at the Steeple Center in Rosemount. “We were very pleased and proud to present our talents and love of music to the community,” said John Zschunke, the band’s director of the holiday shows. “Some audience members teared up to see their family member or friend perform again.” While the emotion of the

Most county drug cases tested by lab under scrutiny by Laura Adelmann Sun Thisweek

sends case evidence. During the three-day evidentiary hearing this week, defense attorneys Lauri Traub and Christine Funk scrutinized lab practices in the first of eight Dakota County drug cases they claim may have convicted people based on “bad science,” according to a report in the Star Tribune. Several St. Paul Crime Lab employees testified the lab has no written procedure or formal training program and does not keep documentation of when drug evidence is accessed, according to Minnesota Public Radio and the Star Tribune reports. Minnesota requires prosecutors to prove the scientific techniques used are generally accepted in the scientific community, and that the lab conducting tests employed proper controls. With testimony concluding this week, the hearing will be suspended to give both sides time to review reports and documents that were recently disclosed, Backstrom said. Backstrom said Judge Kathryn Messerich is expected to decide on the case by early fall.

The St. Paul Crime Lab, under scrutiny for what two public defenders say are questionable testing practices, has been used almost exclusively in Dakota County drug cases for the past five years, said Dakota County Drug Task Force Cmdr. Dan Bianconi. While Bianconi and Dakota County Sheriff Dave Bellows credit the crime lab for its efficiency and quick turn-around time, they both cited concerns about highly publicized court testimony from its employees this week indicating the lab’s practices may have compromised the reliability of the tests and results. Both officials indicated the county will likely seek other options for its future evidence testing. “My main concern is maintaining the integrity of our work,” Bianconi said. “That’s paramount and cannot be jeopardized. We put far too much effort and labor into these cases, and we want them prosecuted and convicted. … We want our cases to be beyond reproach.” Bellows said he would talk with Dakota County Attorney James Laura Adelmann is at laura.adelBackstrom and police chiefs this mann@ecm-inc.com or facebook. week to determine if changes are com/sunthisweek. needed regarding where the county

debut shows has subsided, the excitement of the players and their fans hasn’t. “The members are excited to be preparing new and more challenging music,” Zschunke said. Among the brands of music the band will play are Americana, marches and Hollywood movie themes, which Zschunke calls great summertime fare. The band will play John Philip Sousa’s “Minnesota March” and “Stars and Stripes Forever,” along with “Sing for America,” which is a sing-along of patriotic songs. If that isn’t enough for upbeat, the band will make a foray into Disney classics including “Shrek and “Alad-

din,” along with other Disney hits such as “Under the Sea” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Another selection of songs will come from the Beatlesinspired musical “Love.” Zschunke said the material was a challenge for many band members. “The first reads were very rough,” Zschunke said. “Some were shaking their heads. Even for the more experienced players, it was a challenge. We practiced it just last night and I stopped and complimented them.” In thinking about the summer’s heat preventing the band from hitting every note, the band has been practicing in a sauna of sorts the past See Band, 12A

Spotlight on Seuss

Photo submitted

Lauren Zugschwert, left, and Molly Cornell get into the spirit of the colorful and surreal world of Dr. Seuss for their roles in “Seussical, Jr,” which will be performed at Falcon Ridge Middle School in Apple Valley at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 26, and 10 a.m. Friday, July 27. Presented by Applause Performing Arts Camps, the musical features Horton the elephant, the Cat in the Hat and other classic Seuss characters, with a cast made up of fifth- through ninth-grade students in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District. Tickets are available through the district’s Community Education office and at the door.

July 20, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Top 2000 florist Photo submitted

Rosemount Floral owner Michelle Scheuerlein was recently recognized by Teleflora as a TOP 2000 florist for the year 2012. Teleflora, a flower wire service offering hand-arranged and hand-delivered floral arrangements by local florists, has over 16,000 member florists throughout the United States and Canada. The award, based on the volume of incoming and outgoing orders, recognizes Rosemount Floral as being in the top 8 percent of all U.S. flower shops sending orders through Teleflora.

Couple in Apple Valley murdersuicide had troubled history Couple’s children, ages 4 and 5, now in protective custody by Andrew Miller Sun Thisweek

The shooting deaths of an estranged husband and wife outside an Apple Valley apartment complex Saturday marked the dark final chapter in the couple’s troubled, often abusive relationship. According to police, 41-year-old Woynshet Woldemariam was shot by her estranged husband, Anteneh Tsegaye of Eagan, in the parking lot outside the South Cedar Knolls apartment complex around 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Tsegaye then turned the gun on himself. Both had died by the time police arrived on the

scene. A shotgun was located near the bodies. Prior to Saturday’s fatal shootings, police had responded to domestic calls involving the couple, who were married in 2007 but no longer lived together. Woldemariam, an Ethiopian immigrant and naturalized citizen who worked as a nurse, had been arrested for hitting Tsegaye and was convicted on domestic abuse charges, according to a Star Tribune report. However, in June 2010 a district judge awarded custody of the couple’s two children to Woldemariam, noting that she was the victim of ongoing abuse –

emotional, verbal, physical and sexual. Following the shooting on Saturday, the bodies were transported to the Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office in Hastings. The couple’s two children – a 5-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy – are in protective custody. Apple Valley police report that Woldemariam’s relatives are working with social services to get custody of the children. Andrew Miller can be reached at andrew.miller@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

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Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 20, 2012

Rosemount man dies Suspect charged in Valley Buick GMC burglary after motorcycle crash by Andrew Miller arrested and booked into Outside the restaurant, Berry has faced burglary

A 58-year-old Rosemount man died on Saturday at about 9 p.m. when the motorcycle he was driving left the roadway of Highway 3 near 160th Street in Rosemount. James J. Schillinger was driving a 2008 Honda Roadstart motorcycle without a helmet and alcohol was detected in Schillinger’s

system, according to a Minnesota State Patrol report. Road conditions were reported as dry at the time of the crash. Funeral arrangements for Schillinger, formerly of Marquette, Mich., will be announced by the CanaleTonella Funeral Home of Marquette. —Tad Johnson

Apple Valley driver injured in rollover on Galaxie Avenue A 53-year-old Apple Valley man was hospitalized with potentially life-threatening injuries following a rollover crash involving three vehicles Tuesday afternoon on Galaxie Avenue. According to witness accounts, the man was driving north on Galaxie in Apple Valley at about 2:15 p.m. when his Toyota Rav 4 struck two vehicles at the intersection with Founders Lane. He was ejected from his vehicle. Responding officers found the driver of the Rav 4 lying in the roadway. He was given emergency medical

treatment at the scene by Allina paramedics and Apple Valley police and firefighters before being transported to Hennepin County Medical Center. The other drivers in the crash were uninjured. Police said the Rav 4 driver’s name is being withheld until his family can be notified. He was the sole occupant of his vehicle. Troopers from the Minnesota State Patrol are assisting Apple Valley police with the ongoing investigation. —Andrew Miller

Sun Thisweek

A Minneapolis man who allegedly tried to steal the safe from Valley Buick GMC in Apple Valley was charged with burglary last week in district court. Apple Valley police arrested 57-year-old Sam E. Berry outside the car dealership at 7500 W. 145th St. in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 8. The safe was recovered in the business’ parking lot near Berry’s vehicle. According to the criminal complaint, officers were summoned to the business after a witness called 911 to report suspicious activity in the Valley Buick GMC lot at about 2:30 a.m. A man had parked his vehicle in the lot, the witness reported, and shortly thereafter the same man was seen pushing a dolly with a large box on it toward his vehicle. When officers arrived, the safe was still on the dolly near Berry’s vehicle, though Berry had taken off running north across 145th Street. He was subsequently

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the Dakota County Jail. He was charged last week with third-degree burglary, a felony, for the Valley Buick GMC incident. He’s facing another felony charge for an alleged overnight burglary of an Apple Valley restaurant in August 2011. The restaurant, located on the 7000 block of 149th Street, reported on Aug. 7, 2011, that sometime in the night the register area in the front of the restaurant had been disturbed and money had been taken.

police found a blue and white bandana on the sidewalk, and the bandana was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for DNA analysis. Analysis revealed that DNA on the bandana matched a DNA sample from Berry in the Minnesota convicted offender database, the complaint said. If convicted of both counts of burglary, Berry faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines. This isn’t the first time

charges. According to Minnesota court records, he’s been convicted of more than a dozen theft- and burglary-related crimes in the Twin Cities area since the late 1970s. Berry remained in the Dakota County Jail as of Tuesday afternoon, with bail set at $150,000. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 31 in district court in Hastings. Andrew Miller can be reached at andrew.miller@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Opinion

July 20, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Visionaries are helping high school students earn a two-year college degree by Joe Nathan Special to Sun Thisweek

They call it “4 for 2” and I call it brilliant. “They” are Long Prairie-Grey Eagle High School Principal Paul Weinzierl and Central Lakes College President Larry Lundblad. Their program saves students and families $20 to $30,000, by allowing high school students, taking classes in their high school, to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and a two-year, associate arts degree. Over the last two school years, 30 students have done this. About twothirds of the high school’s approximately 180 juniors and seniors have earned at least some college credit. Weinzierl explained that the name comes from the fact that students can earn both a four-year high school and two-year college degree. Students are able to start taking a college level course in 10th grade (advanced placement biology). Many students in the 4+2 program started with this class. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle also offers some college level vocational courses on its campus, such as welding. Weinzierl says “we hope to offer more in the future.” Dr. Mike Lopez, associate vice chancellor for student affairs at Minnesota State

Sun Thisweek Columnist

Joe Nathan

Colleges and Universities notes that “credits earned through CLC’s concurrent enrollment programs are fully transferable within the MnSCU system as determined by Board Policy.” At private and other colleges and universities, a determination is made about how many of these courses will be accepted for credit. The 4+2 began about four years ago when a student discussed taking advanced courses on a college campus. Weinzierl thought this would be “cumbersome” and also hoped that the school could develop a program encouraging students to stay in the high school, rather than participate in Post Secondary Enrollment Options. Moreover, “the nearest college is about an hour away, so students taking PSEO would be taking not only funds, but also their leadership skills.” For about a year, Central Lakes trained

high school faculty at Long Prairie-Grey Eagle so they could offer some college level courses. “We have the same syllabus and in most cases the same book (as is used at Central Lakes),” Weinzierl said. “Central Lakes was wonderful to work with – they are really collaborative.” The high school “had the vision,” Lundblad said “I applaud them. We were glad to help.” Though other nearby high schools have not asked for an identical program, Central Lakes has worked with a number of others to develop College in the Schools courses, courses taught through an “Instructional Television” consortium, and Post Secondary Enrollment Options courses on campus. Lundblad reports that about 45 area high school students earned AA degrees last year, along with students who took some classes. Brenda Cassellius, Minnesota Commissioner of Education gave the commencement address at Long Prairie-Grey Eagle this year and helped confer the associate degrees. She told me “Long Prairie-Grey Eagle is leading the way in creating expanded college access and rigor to their students by forging rich partnerships with

Central Lakes College. This is the way of the future. LPGE is showing us all that it is possible … this kind of innovation … will transform how we think about college and high school and make grades 11-14 much more relevant, fluid and integrated.” Recently the Public Broadcasting System featured a Texas school district serving mostly low-income Spanish-speaking students that has a similar program. Superintendent Daniel King started it. Here’s a link to the program: http://learningmatters. tv/blog/on-pbs-newshour/watch-early-college-hs-in-south-texas/10190. PBS reporter John Merrow notes that the program has dramatically reduced the district’s dropout rate. The program also helped many students from low income families not only enter college, but also earn a two-year degree. Weinzierl, King and Lundblad are practical visionaries. Joe Nathan, formerly a Minnesota public school teacher and administrator, directs the Center for School Change. He can be reached at joe@centerforschoolchange.org. Columns reflect the opinion of the author.

Letters Who pays for photo ID? To the editor: I was wondering, after reading a previous letter, how the new photo IDs are going to be paid for. If in fact they will be free, won’t the burden fall on the Minnesota taxpayer? Will this be an ongoing expense for the taxpayer every year in order to cover everyone who moves? Stops driving? Goes away to college? Needs to vote while traveling on the job? Those temporarily employed out of state? Everyone who turns 18 every year but won’t be driving? Does anyone know? LYNDA MACKIE Apple Valley

Wills has the right values

people together by recruiting and organizing volunteers for our organization. The persuasiveness and persistence needed to do this are great traits for a legislator. Anna is eager to learn from people around her and listen to the people she hopes to represent. We need our representative to be willing to learn from others. Anna has been a legislative aide, giving her a very detailed understanding of the job of a legislator and the myriad issues they face daily. This experience is strengthened significantly by Anna’s values and abilities to listen and bring people together. Anna Wills is the best choice for the new state representative from District 57B.

Pat Staley Rosemount Senate District 57 RepubliTo the editor: What do the people of cans chairman state House District 57B need from a state represen- A watershed tative? Retiring Sen. Chris Gerlach summed it up when moment he described starting with To the editor: a set of core principles and The startling editorial values shared by the people about the reach of poverty in our community, and ad- in the state and south metro vancing those values by communities was part of a bringing people together one-two punch to wake us and understanding many up to the challenges conpoints of view. Anna Wills fronting us in redesigning government, is a person who fulfills those businesses, communities and families qualities. Principles and values for the new economy. The provide an important start- other part of the punch ing point because many is- was a call to cooperation, sues faced by legislators personal responsibility and may not be today’s “hot innovation itself in forging issue.” Anna became a new directions and opporcommon-sense conservative tunities for coming generagrowing up as the oldest tions. child in a large, strong fam- Sometimes it just takes ily in the area and working things getting bad enough in a small family business. before there is the willingShe has a firsthand under- ness to consider something standing how important different. The need for a both of these institutions hand-up is an ongoing crisis – families and small busi- when virtually 99 percent of nesses – are to our commu- us have seen falling incomes nity and country. She has while the fortunate few have lived some basic lessons: had excellent luck in gainYou can’t spend more than ing resources. People work you have, you have to set three jobs to put food on the priorities, and individuals table. We scramble mightily working hard and doing the to educate our kids. And the right things are the strength young folks’ prospects seem to diminish before our very of our society. I have seen Anna bring eyes.

The RedesigningMN. org site is a valuable impetus for all of us to use. We must help our poorest citizens survive, and we must build new and better opportunities for us all to work. Candidates like former state Rep. Mike Obermueller and U.S. Rep. John Kline will be discussing a new kind of world and 2nd Congressional District. It’s an interesting several months before us. Paul Hoffinger Eagan

Government will take care of you To the editor: How can anyone not share Don Heinzman’s enthusiasm for the recent Supreme Court decision making Obamacare constitutional? After all, we know that we as individuals hate to have to make decisions and it is really wonderful to have the federal government take that responsibility from us. Could you imagine someone who eats very healthy, works out and does not want to pay for health insurance? How dare they try to put a dent in President Obama’s re-election statistics. These kind of free choices must be eliminated. We would much rather have our brain surgeries and open-heart operations be determined by the kind of people who work at the Department of Motor Vehicles – aren’t they practically brain surgeons themselves? Or how about having our children’s check-ups be performed by those selfless defenders of freedom – the Transportation Security Administration? After all, they can do a very thorough exam of your children – for a preview just buy a plane ticket. We know that nobody would ever think to drop their insurance and pay the lower amount for a fine (oh that’s right – tax) until they have a pre-existing condition. We also know profitmotivated employers would

Photo Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rick Orndorf Sports Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Shaughnessy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Rogers Sales Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Jetchick Office Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ellen Reierson

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never dream of dropping their employee’s coverage and pay the smaller fine because they know their employees would be covered by the government. Heinzman is a big proponent of education. I bet he just loves the fact that our top students will flock to the medical profession just so the federal government can limit what they can charge as the feds do in Medicare. Meanwhile all the high school dropouts get free medical coverage paid for by those top students. Is this a great country or what? Hal Cranmer Lakeville

This dog likes the new park To the editor: Hats off to Eagan! I have been waiting for a dog park since I moved here 9 months ago, from a rescue home. I couldn’t even wait for the official opening July 17, so my owners got a park license Monday, and even though it was 98 degrees, we went for a test run. It was great, but I got pooped running all over in the heat. Remember to bring water. Much to look forward to. My thanks to Mayor Mike Maguire and the council for their efforts. Dakota Miller springer, 5 years old Editor’s note: Dakota’s owners Sharon and Alan Miller of Eagan submitted the letter.

Beware of will predators To the editor: There are people in the Lakeville area that will “help” you “type” up your will and health directive. They “help” by taking advantage of vulnerable men who are lonely, widowed or divorced, have mental health issues, dementia and/or are addicted to alcohol or drugs. They hear about the men through word of mouth and visit them in the dark of night. They befriend the men. They get the men’s sympathy by telling stories about their childhood, such as growing up in foster homes, having been through every kind of abuse and having terminal cancer. They will tell the men not to tell anyone about the will, especially their family, because the family wouldn’t like what it says. After the man dies, red flags should go up when: • They won’t let the family see the will. Attorneys say an honest person would show the will to relatives. • They insist on immediately changing the deceased homeowner’s door locks. An attorney says you don’t have to change the door locks until after probate. • They charge for “helping” to write the will. • They charge a fee of 10 percent of the estate. The Minnesota Attorney General says 0 percent to 3 percent of the total estate is the norm. • They need three years to settle the deceased man’s estate.

• The documents were notarized at a local bank. Some notaries will no longer notarize wills because they do not want to appear at court hearings, trials or give depositions. I have been told the will helpers’ past behavior predicts their future behavior. Who do you think the deceased men’s estate will go to? Not the deceased man’s family. For more information, contact Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson at (651) 296-3353 or www. ag.state.mn.us and ask for booklet “Probate and Planning.” COLLEEN POWELL Lakeville

Searching for ex-Marine To the editor: I am trying to locate a recently discharged Marine Corps officer. I don’t know his rank but his name is Patrick McCahill. He and his family recently moved to Burnsville from North Carolina. I met Patrick in the parking lot of the Burnsville Center in late June. I neglected to get his phone number. I’m also a former Marine. If Patrick reads this or if anyone knows how I may contact him, please call me – “Gil” – at (612) 9130874. Thank you. RALPH “GIL” BERTSEN Burnsville

GIL-

Letters to the editor policy Sun Thisweek welcomes letters to the editor. Submitted letters must be no more than 350 words. Letters must be written by the author. All letters received must have the author’s name (no initials), phone number and address for verification purposes and received by 5 p.m. Tuesday for consideration of print for the following Friday edition of Sun Thisweek and 5 p.m. Monday for the Thursday edition of the Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly. Do not submit an anonymous letter. Clearly indicate that your submission is for “Sun Thisweek letters to the editor.” Do not personally address staff members or other letter writers. Do not write libelous information or personally attack others. Sun Thisweek reserves the right to edit all letters. Submission of a letter does not guarantee publication. Letters reflect the opinion of the author. Multiple letters received from the same author will have a lower priority. A representative letter or letters received on the same topic may be run while others will not. No election-related letters will run in the edition closest to the election date, unless the letter responds directly to information in a previously published letter. Letters from candidates will not be printed during an election, unless the letter responds directly to information in a previously-submitted letter.

Youths tour Washington, D.C.

Photo submitted

Five students from local high schools in and around Dakota Electric Association’s service area recently returned from the 48th annual National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Rural Electric Youth Tour held June 16-21 in Washington, D.C. Dakota Electric awarded the students an all-expense-paid trip after they completed the application and interview process in March. The five local winners visited with U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Lakeville; they are, from left, Whitney Johnson (Hastings High School), Christopher Runck (Apple Valley High School), Kline, Daniel Dawson (Hastings High School), Nicholas Misukanis (St. Thomas Academy) and Luke Birtzer (taking PSEO classes at Inver Hills Community College).

Man charged after Dakota County building lockdown A 53-year-old Inver Grove Heights man was charged on Friday with felony terroristic threats in connection with an incident that resulted in the lockdown of Dakota County’s Northern Service Center the morning of Thursday, July 12, according to a release from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office. According to the criminal complaint, Terry Lee Debates allegedly was depressed and told a social worker and staff at the mobile home park where he lived on Thursday that if he

was unable to obtain financial assistance from Dakota County to pay his rent, he intended to get into a confrontation with police and make them kill him. He also told staff at the mobile home park he would have a toy gun with him when he went to the Northern Service Center. The building was placed in lockdown at approximately 9:30 a.m. and a search of the building was conducted by approximately 40 police officers from West St. Paul, Dakota County Sheriff, South St. Paul, Inver Grove

Heights, Mendota Heights and Minnesota State Patrol. The search team located Debates in an office on the third floor at 10:35 a.m. and was arrested without incident. No staff or officers were injured during the incident. Debates made his first appearance in court Friday and was released without bail to a crisis center by Judge Jerome Abrams. His next court appearance is set for Oct. 2. – Tad Johnson

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 20, 2012

July 20, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

News Briefs AVaires to hold car wash The Apple Valley High School AVaires dance team will hold a car wash from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 21, at Red Tag Cleaners at the intersection of County Road 42 and Garden View Drive (behind Flowerama) in Apple Valley.

Eat Local Farm Tour The second annual Eat Local Farm Tour will be held July 21. The tour is sponsored by Twin Cities area food co-ops, including Valley Natural Foods in Burnsville. The 2012 “Meet Your Farmer” tour provides an opportunity to visit local farms and meet the people who make seasonal, fresh, local eating possible. Hands-on education about sustainable agriculture will

will be four special tent presentations – Weeds, The Well-Tended Garden, Plant Photography, and Honey Bees. The Simply Good Eating program will share information about the importance of eating healthy and nutritious foods. TickSuper Tuesday ets for refreshments will be in the Garden available for purchase. Visit The Dakota County http://blog.lib.umn.edu/mgMaster Gardeners will web/dakota for more inforsponsor Super Tuesday in mation. the Garden from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, at the Da- Military Retiree kota County Master Gardener Research and Display Appreciation Day Gardens in UMore Park, A Retiree Appreciation 1605 W. 160th St., Rose- Day will be held Friday, mount. The event is free and Aug. 24, at the National open to the public. Guard Armory and Com Garden tent talks will munity Center, 13885 S. be organized around six Robert Trail, Rosemount. themes: Growing Healthy Retirees from all branches Foods, Sustainable Land- of the armed forces and scape, Minnesota Introduc- their family members are tions & Bird Gardening, eligible to attend. The event Preservation of Pollinators, will run from 8 a.m. to 4 Minnesota Research, and p.m. Gardening for Kids. There Retiree Appreciation

be provided. All tours are self-guided and free. The hours of operation will differ from farm to farm. Visit www.facebook.com/EatLocalFarmTour.coop to see farms on the tour.

Day is an opportunity for all armed forces retirees, spouses, widows and/or guests to receive updated information about retiree entitlement programs. Registration is required and limited to 300; all reservations beyond 300 will be returned. Cost for attendance is $13 and includes a morning snack and lunch. Registration forms must be mailed no later than Aug. 15. The registration form is available on the Fort McCoy public website at http://www.mccoy.army. mil/Services/ACAP_Documents/2012_RAD_Registration.pdf. For additional information or to register by phone, call (612) 861-6589.

Kids ’n Kinship seeks mentees Kids ’n Kinship, a local mentoring program celebrating its 40th anniversary, is looking for anyone who

has benefited by being mentored in the program over the years to contact Kids ’n Kinship if they aren’t currently connected to the program. Call (952) 892-6368 or email jbkinship@aol.com.

Vault Denim has consultant Lakeville resident Julie Joswiak, formerly a top manager at Bloomingdale’s, is now a sales consultant for Vault Denim, a growing direct sales company of designer jeans at a discount. Joswiak’s website is at http://www.vaultdenim. com/jeans/juliejoswiak/.

following Grossman’s retirement. The new office is located at 14050 Nicollet Ave. S., Suite 301, Burnsville. Kuipers Orthodontics has served the Burnsville, Bloomington and Red Wing communities for more than 30 years.

Northern Tool gets facelift

Northern Tool + Equipment has remodeled its Burnsville location at 12205 River Ridge Blvd. The 24,413-square-foot store offers a wide range of tools and equipment for do-ityourselfers and contractors. The Burnsville store was designed with customer convenience in mind with Grossman’s easy-to-shop departments practice acquired clearly labeled with over Dr. Peter Kuipers, owner head signage and product of Kuipers Orthodontics, visible throughout each derecently acquired Dr. Rob- partment. ert Grossman’s orthodontic practice in Burnsville

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 20, 2012

Former football coach rolls as Big Bob Dave Fritze’s band to play during Leprechaun Days

by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

Although he isn’t delivering instructions from the sidelines as head coach of the Eagan High School football team, Dave Fritze is still a leader. For the past 10 years, Fritze has been known as Big Bob, serving as the catalyst for his band, The High Rollers, as they crank out rock ’n’ roll on musical stages around the metro area, including from 6-10 p.m. Thursday, July 26, at the Central Park Amphitheater in Rosemount. “The guys in the band are such great people,” Fritze said. “I think we often have more fun playing than our audience does watching.” Fritze has been an Eagan High counselor since the school opened in 1990. “It keeps me young,” Fritze said. “I love going to work each day because I work with what has to be one of the top teaching staffs in the state. I really enjoy helping students, and particularly those that

might have some very difficult issues going on in their life.” For 17 years, Fritze coached the school’s football team – a job that required similar organizational skills as being the leader of Big Bob and the High Rollers. He recruited band members from his connections through school and football. His teammates in musical endeavors include one teacher, five parents of his former players and three parents of students at the school. “At some coach-parent football functions, I began talking about my love of music to a few of the guys,” Fritze said of the band’s formation. “We found out that we had some very fine musicians, and we played for one of our football booster functions.” Things started “rolling” after that. Fritze has been known as Big Bob since a country line dance instructor dubbed him with the nickname when the old coach was

In Brief Among the other events slated in Central Park on the night of Big Bob and the High Rollers’ performance are: Family Fun Night, 5-10 p.m., amusement rides, food booths, games and entertainment. JAMM Dance Co. Performance, 5 p.m. Celts Beer Garden, 5-10 p.m. At the Steeple Center there will be a public viewing of the Rosemount Area Arts Council Photo Contest from 7-9:30 p.m. when there will be People’s Choice Award voting, winners announced, and contest judge presentation. Info: www.RosemountArts.com. moving with two left feet. “At one point the instructor stopped the music, looked back at me and said: ‘You in the back, Big Bob, you have got to get it together,’ ” Fritze recalled of the outing with his football cohorts and their wives. The name has stuck ever since. Big Bob’s group, which includes a horn section,

Big Bob & the High Rollers plays its share of public gigs – about once a month – but mostly it is booked for weddings and other private parties. That’s the case because so much of the band’s material lends itself to a goodtime party feel as most folks could sing along with the songs. The material the band covers includes songs from such diverse artists as Neil Diamond, Bobby Brown, Journey and Stevie Wonder.

Fritze, who inherited his tuneful interest from his mother (a college music major), said he started singing in his high school choir and also sang in a choir at his church. He said the students he works with on a daily basis think it’s cool their counselor is in a band, and he often shows them the music group’s website, bigbobandthehighrollers.com. Though being in a band has been a fun diversion

for Fritze since he left the coaching ranks, he doesn’t rule out a return to the field. “I really miss football and would enjoy getting back into the game,” he said. “One of my sons Tom is a football coach at Hastings, and my son Dan coaches at East Ridge. I would love to coach with them some day.” Tad Johnson can be reached at tad.johnson@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Sports

July 20, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Soccer virtuoso Billings eyeing major league

Photo submitted

Brian Billings, who grew up in Apple Valley, secures the ball as the goalkeeper for Bradley University.

Apple Valley native one of the top keepers in college by Andy Rogers Sun Thisweek

Apple Valley’s Brian Billings has been the custodian, the last line of defense for some of the top club, high school and college soccer programs around. He’s hoping it will take him to the top league in the country. Billings attended an invitation-only camp for Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders last week with 15-20 of the top underclassmen in college soccer. “Basically they just rolled the ball out and let us play,” he said. “It was an impressive group. A lot of those guys, if they keep going, will get drafted in the next year or two.” That includes Billings. If he’s invited back to the MLS Combine in January, he could go in the 2013 MLS Draft. “If I have a good year (at college) again, there’s a good chance,” Billings said. If he attends the MLS Combine, he’ll forgo his final year of NCAA eligibility, but “if I get invited I’ll go,” he said. This wasn’t the first time he’s been courted by a professional team. In high school he went to Turkey, trained with multiple teams, and was offered a spot with a Division II program. He turned it down feeling he was missing a step. “I needed a high school education first,” Billings said. “I was again offered another nice contract (after he graduated) but felt it wasn’t enough to leave because if that didn’t go well then I couldn’t go back and play Division I (college).” Last winter a Premier division team offered him a contract, but he sensed the MLS on the horizon. He got his start with the Dakota Rev club program, where he grew into a goalkeeper as the tallest player on the team. “My team was not the best,” he said. “I feel it helped me the most because that’s how I received a lot of shots

and crosses.” He earned a spot with the Bangu soccer club, an elite club program that’s now part of the Minnesota Thunder Academy, before attending Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault. He led the team to titles at the 2010 Disney Showcase, the 2010 CASL College Showcase and two second-place finishes at national championships. At the time Shattuck was an up-and-coming soccer program being built by Tim Cater, former Illinois State University men’s soccer head coach. It was a long, daily drive to Faribault and the homework was staggering. “I wouldn’t have changed my decision in a heartbeat,” he said. With that success he earned a Division I soccer scholarship at Bradley University in Illinois where he took on the starting goalkeeper spot early in his freshman year. Billings has helped Bradley to consecutive NCAA tournament appearances for the first time in program history and he ranks third in Bradley history with a .797 save percentage and 1.12 goals-against average. His favorite memories so far are stopping a penalty kick to clinch the Missouri Valley Conference title, and the fact his father Brad has been able to attend every single college game. “He’s got a great job, so he takes a lot of time off,” Brian Billings said. “Minus a spring game or two and a trip down to Barbados, he’s been there. We went to a game in Texas, he came down to that. He’s pushed me to be what I am.” To get this far, he admits he had to make sacrifices. “I gave up a regular high school experience, going out with my childhood friends all the time, and going to parties,” he said. “You have to train every day, sometimes multiple times a day, and absolutely love the game.

in January, Billings will be blocking shots from some of the best professional soccer players the United States has to offer.

Eat, sleep, school and soccer was my childhood.” It’s been worth it. If all goes well at the next MLS Draft

Andy Rogers can be reached at andy.rogers@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Local team competes with elite soccer squads Dakota REV girls U16s just miss out on trip to Sweden by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

Dakota REV Soccer Club’s Under-16 girls Premier team is accustomed to traveling, but last weekend found itself one victory from a once-in-a-lifetime journey. The local team reached the championship game in the Puma vElite Group, held during the July 13-15 USA Cup Weekend tournament at the National Sports Center in Blaine. The event, billed by USA Cup officials as a “tournament within a tournament,” features several of the top domestic boys and girls club teams at the U16 level. In the girls division, the Dakota REV Rampage played the So Cal Blues of California for the championship – and an expensespaid trip to Sweden to train with one of the world’s top women’s club teams.

Photo submitted

The Dakota REV Rampage poses with its trophy and medals after finishing second in the girls vElite Under-16 division at the USA Cup Weekend tournament. The Blues won 1-0, depriving the Rampage of the international trip but perhaps sparing it from a major logistical headache. The trip to Umea, Sweden, to train with the Umea IK club was likely to take place in September, in the middle of the Minnesota high school season. All of the

Rampage players also play high school soccer. Rampage coach Tobbe Thorsell said the players had to submit passport information before the tournament, but beyond that, the team was taking a crossthat-bridge-when-we-cometo-it approach to the potential schedule conflict.

The California team won the championship and the overseas trip. “We got medals and a lot of great memories,” Thorsell said. “And that’s fine.” La Roca Premier of Utah defeated Minnesota Thunder Academy 3-2 in the boys vElite division and will travel to England

to train with Newcastle United, an English Premier League team. The vElite bracket at the USA Cup started in 2008 with a boys division. A girls division was added in 2011. The Rampage was the first Minnesota team to compete in the vElite girls tournament. Several of the teams in the girls bracket were selected by Puma, the event’s title sponsor, and others were invited by USA Cup officials. The Rampage got an invitation because “our girls have played in the USA Cup since they were 9 and have won it just about every year,” said Thorsell, who also is Dakota REV’s director of soccer operations and an assistant coach for the Concordia University women’s team. “We’ve had success playing against other good teams.” The team won its division in the USA Cup five years in a row. Earlier this year, they reached the semifinals of a national tournament in Las Vegas and went undefeated at a college showcase

in Omaha, Neb. Most of the Rampage players come from the Dakota REV core area of Rosemount, Eagan and Apple Valley. Elise Abbott, Kathryn Eaton, Brianna Lindstrom, Kellie McGahn, Chandler Peterson, Emily Sutliff and Paige Wilberding attend Eastview High School. Kaylie Hanson goes to Rosemount High, Julia Lam attends Apple Valley and Leah Schmidt is an Eagan student. Alexis Joyce and Lauren Sherry attend Lakeville North (Joyce did not play in last weekend’s tournament because she was attending a hockey camp). The team also has two White Bear Lake players (Jamie Rademacher and Rebekah Thom), one from Minnetonka (Emily Graupmann), one from Cretin-Derham Hall (Molly Johnston) and one from Owatonna (Katlin Ptacek). Thorsell became the team’s coach this season. Previously the Rampage was coached by Nels DokSee soccer, 9A

Local squads make noise at Gopher Classic Eagan reaches semis of 84-team Legion baseball tourney by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

Although a team from Dakota County didn’t win the Gopher Classic American Legion baseball tournament, five of them made their presence known by reaching the final 16 of the 84-team tournament. Eagan and Lakeville North reached the semifinals before being knocked out of the event, which is the country’s largest American Legion tourney. Apple Valley and Lakeville South reached the quarterfinals, and Eastview lost in the round of 16. Burnsville went 3-0 in its pool, but a couple of rainouts might have cost the Cobras their chance to advance. One of the rained-out games was to be against Omaha (Neb.) Burke, which went 4-0 in the Alimagnet Park pool. Coon Rapids won the tournament for the second consecutive year, beating Elk Grove, Ill., 6-0 in the championship game

Tuesday afternoon Minnetonka.

in lost to Elk Grove 4-2 in the semifinals Tuesday. Eric Peterson, who’s hitting .459 Eagan this season, had two of the The Patriots went 5-1 at Patriots’ six hits. the Gopher Classic after having their first two games Apple Valley rained out. Their most re- The 76ers went 4-0 in markable performance pool play, with one game might have been in a 20-16 rained out. That put them victory over Excelsior in the in the round of 16 and gave quarterfinals. them a rematch with Na Eagan trailed Excelsior poleon, Ohio, a team they 10-0 after 1 1/2 innings defeated 5-1 in pool play. and 14-5 after 3 1/2 before Napoleon received one of coming back with a 14-run the two wild-card spots in fourth inning. Matthew the round of 16. Fiedler had a home run and Apple Valley defeated six RBI in that game, while Napoleon again 7-5 on Josh Loew homered and Monday to advance to the had three RBI. quarterfinals against Coon Left-hander Kevin Rapids, which defeated the Kunik pitched a complete 76ers 15-4 in five innings. game as Eagan defeated The 76ers were 24-8 the Manitoba Selects 2-1 overall after going 5-1 in the in nine innings in pool play Gopher Classic. Saturday night. With sunset imminent, the umpires de- Eastview clared that the ninth would Eastview made a run at be the final inning. Eagan winning the Gopher Classic pushed across the winning in 2011 but took a different run on a suicide squeeze. approach this year. Eagan, 21-12 overall, “We were second last

year, played eight games and just killed ourselves,” coach Bob Klefsaas said. “We really got tired, and I think it affected us after the tournament. That tournament is important, but this year we wanted to give as many of our kids some competition as possible. We have three double-rostered 16-yearolds, and the Gopher Classic gave us a chance to see how they might fit in for us in the playoffs.” The Thunder, 19-5 overall ranked second in the state American Legion poll, won its pool in St. Louis Park by going 4-1. Its biggest victory was 2-0 over Forest Lake on Sunday. Forest Lake would have won the pool by beating Eastview, while the Thunder needed a victory to preserve its chance of advancing. Adam Moorse, Quinn Trusty and Jacob Bechstein combined to pitch a threehit shutout. Evan DeCovich hit a solo homer in the

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Eastview’s Rhett Hebig (1) goes into the outfield to catch a popup during the Gopher Classic baseball tournament. Eastview, ranked second in the state American Legion baseball poll, won its pool but the Thunder’s tournament ended when it lost in the championship round to Lakeville South in extra innings. fourth inning and Austin Hebig drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Later Sunday, Eastview defeated Chester Bird 9-4

as Kevin Wobschall pitched a complete game. Ryan Heisler went 3-for-4 and Cameron Hall drove in two See baseball, 9A

Golf tournament raises money for food shelf

baseball, from 9A

soccer, from 9A

tion fee covers the cost for a golf cart, 18 holes of play, food and door prizes. Participants who bring a pack of new diapers will receive a free bucket of balls for use at the driving range. Among the items people may bring to donate are non-perishable food items, hygiene products or baby items. Check-in will be from 1-1:45 p.m. The shotgun start is at 2 p.m. The event is being sponsored by Cub Foods, Rich Valley Golf Course and the city of Rosemount. Individuals or teams may register in advance by mailing a registration form posted with this story at SunThisweek.com or calling Rich Valley at (651) 4374653.

“There’s a lot of talent at that age level,” Thorsell ken, Dakota REV’s player said. development director, and Thorsell said Dokken had More USA Cup much to do with molding results the players into the kind of Several other teams with team they have become. After going 1-1-1 in pool local ties had strong perplay in the vElite tourna- formances during the USA ment, the Rampage rallied Cup Weekend tournament. from a two-goal deficit to The Dakota REV Revenge beat Sereno 96 White of Ar- reached the championizona 3-2 in the semifinals. ship in the girls U14A di “The teams we played in vision before losing to the that tournament are very Centennial Cougars 2-1. good at possessing the ball,” The Eagan Wave won its Thorsell said. “They were first four games in the girls better at it than the teams U16A tourney to reach the we see in Minnesota, and final, where it lost to the Minnesota has some very Caledon Wildcats of Canada 2-1. The Lakeville Force good teams. “We play a very high- went 4-1 in the girls U16B pressure style, and that tourney, losing only to the might have forced the teams Lakehead Express of Canwe played to adjust. That ada in the championship tournament also was the game. first time all season we’ve The Dakota REV Rebbeen completely healthy, els (women’s U19), Valley United Fusion (boys U17A) and that was a big help.” Dakota REV will hold and Eagan Wave (girls tryouts for its 2013 season U13A) reached the semifiteams later this summer, nals in their tournaments. but it’s expected most of The weeklong USA Cup the Rampage players will youth tourney – a separate stay together and play at the event from the weekend U17 level. The club actually tournament – runs through could have two girls U17 Saturday. Premier teams next year if its U16 Classic 1 squad wins Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. the state championship later shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or this month and earns a pro- facebook.com/sunthisweek. motion.

�� District 917 School Board Proceedings

Summer is the time when supplies are often depleted It’s not often one can chase a small white ball around expanses of green and raise money for a good cause. But people can do just that at the third annual Share-a-Can Golf Tournament on Sunday, July 22, at Rich Valley Golf Course in Rosemount. All proceeds from the 18-hole shotgun-style event and items donated will go toward 360 Communities, which operates the Rosemount Family Resource Center. Summer is the time of year when food shelf supplies are most often depleted as children are out of school and eating more meals at home. The cost to play is $50 per person or $200 for a team of four. The registra-

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 20, 2012

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Eastview infielder Dave Barry fields a ground ball against Chester Bird during the Gopher Classic baseball tournament. runs. Eastview and Forest Lake finished with the same record in pool play, but Eastview advanced because of its victory over Forest Lake. The Thunder played Lakeville South in the round of 16 and lost 5-4 in 12 innings. Bechstein, one of the 16-year-olds, has been a major benefit to the pitching staff. DeCovich, who had two victories and one save in for state champion Eastview in the high school Class AAA tournament, was diagnosed with tendinitis in his shoulder earlier this month and is likely to be limited to designated hitting duty the rest of the summer. Returning to the staff is Adam Moorse, who missed almost all of the high school season because of elbow trouble. He’s still on a strict pitch count, but Klefsaas said Moorse is able to pitch for two or three innings at a time.

Rosemount Rosemount struggled at the Gopher Classic, going 1-4 in pool play at Bethel University in Arden Hills. Elk Grove took first in that pool, winning all five of its games. Rosemount’s victory was 15-10 over Rapid City (S.D.) Post 320, one of two teams from that city to play in the Gopher Classic. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

This is a summary of the Intermediate School District 917 Regular School Board Meeting on Tuesday, July 10, 2012, with full text available for public inspection on t h e d i s t r i c t w e b s i t e a t www.isd917.k12.mn.us or the District Office at 1300 145th Street East, Rosemount, MN 55068. The meeting was called to order at 5:27 PM. Board members present: Arlene Bush, Ron Hill, Jill Lewis, Kathy Lewis, Deb Clark, Vanda Pressnall, Tom Ryerson, Veronica Walter, and administrators were present. Absent: Dan Cater. Oath of office was administered to reappointed Board Member Arlene Bush from Bloomington. Good news reports were presented. The following Consent Agenda items were approved: minutes, personnel, donations, bills to be paid, wire transfers and the investment report. Reports presented: Lease Levy Allocation; Safe Schools Levy Allocation; Workers Compensation Insurance. Recommended actions approved: Membership with Metro ECSU, AMSD, and MSBA for 2012-2013; Resolution approving Health and Safety Program Budget; Health and Safety Plan and Indoor Air Quality Management Plan and Written Plans; Temporary Work Agreement Report; DCALS and DCALS North Student Handbook for 2012-2013; and Special Education Student Handbook for 2012-201; Terms and Conditions of Employment for PC Technician and Custodial/Delivery Staff. Adjournment at 6:51 PM. 3081840 7/20/12

District 917 School Board Proceedings

This is a summary of the Intermediate School District 917 Organizational School Board Meeting on Tuesday, July 10, 2012, with full text available for public inspection on the district website at www.isd917.k12.mn.us or the District Office at 1300 145th Street East, Rosemount, MN 55068. The meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM followed by the pledge of allegiance. Board members present: Deborah Clark, Ron Hill, Jill Lewis, Kathy Lewis, Vanda Pressnall, Tom Ryerson, Veronica Walter, and administrators were present. Oath of office was administered to newly appointed Board Member Ron Hill (Burnsville), and reelected Board Member Vanda Pressnall (Randolph). The following officers were elected for 2012-2013: Chair/Deborah Clark; Vice-Chair/Jill Lewis; Clerk/Vanda Pressnall; Treasurer/Kathy Lewis. Recommended actions approved: School Board meetings dates for 2012-2013 to be held on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 5:30 PM, with the exception of August 21 at 5:30 PM and November 6, 2012, beginning at 4:30 PM; designated SUN/Thisweek Newspapers, Lillie Suburban Newspapers, Inc.; and the Hastings Star Gazette as official newspapers for ISD 917; ISD 917's Public Notice regarding student records; no increase in annual compensation for 917 Board members; designate depositories; authorize Business Manager to make short-term investments, to use facsimile signatures of Board officials, to perform the duties of clerk and treasurer as provided in M.N. 123.34, subd. 1, to make electronic transfer of funds, and to lease/purchase, and contract for goods and services within the Board approved budget. Committee and representative assignments were slightly modified. Adjournment at 5:25 PM. 3081497 7/20/12

�� PUBLIC NOTICE

DOCUMENT 00 11 13 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS One (1) Traffic Control Signal System, One (1) Revise Signal System, and Traffic Control Interconnection City of Apple Valley, Minnesota City Project No. 2011-140 County Project No. 31-63 SEH No. APPLE 119268 Notice is hereby given that sealed Bids will be received by the City of Apple Valley until 10:00 am CDST, Thursday July 26, 2012 at the Apple Valley Municipal Center at 7100 West 147th Street Apple Valley, MN 55124 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud, for the furnishing of all labor and material and all else necessary for the construction of one (1) Traffic Control Signal System, one (1) Revise Signal System, and Traffic Control Interconnection. Major components of the Work include: * 6-inch Concrete Walk * Truncated Domes * One (1) Traffic Control Signal System (CSAH 31 at 157th Street West) * Traffic Control Interconnection * One (1) Revise Signal System (Galaxie Avenue at 147th Street West) * Pavement Markings and Messages Bids shall be on the form provided for that purpose and according to the Bidding Requirements prepared by Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc., dated June 28, 2012. The Bidding Documents may be viewed at the office of the City Clerk of the City of Apple Valley, and at the issuing office of Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (3535 Vadnais Center Drive, St. Paul, MN 55110-5196, telephone 651.490.2000). Digital copies of the Bidding Documents are available at http://www.sehinc.com for a fee of $30. These documents may be downloaded by selecting this project from the BIDDING DOCUMENTS link and by entering eBidDocTM Number 2135880 on the SEARCH PROJECTS page. For assistance and free membership registration, contact QuestCDN at 952.233.1632 or info@questcdn.com. Paper copies of the Bidding Documents may be obtained from Docunet Corp. located at 2435 Xenium Lane North, Plymouth, MN 55441 (763.475.9600) for a fee of $75. A pre-Bid conference will NOT be held. Bid security in the amount of 5 percent of the Bid must accompany each Bid in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders. Bids shall be directed to the City Clerk, securely sealed and endorsed upon the outside wrapper, "BID FOR APPLE VALLEY TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEMS - CITY PROJECT NUMBER: 2011-140." The City reserves the right to retain the deposits of the three lowest Bidders for a period not to exceed 60 days after the date and time set for the opening of Bids. No Bids may be withdrawn for a period of 60 days after the date and time set for the opening of Bids. The City reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive irregularities and informalities therein and to award the Contract in the best interests of the City. Pamela J. Gackstetter City Clerk City of Apple Valley, Minnesota 3069309 7/6-7/20/12

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PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Hearing Notice City of Apple Valley NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Apple Valley will hold a public hearing on lowering the water levels of two stormwater ponds which is required by Minnesota Statute 103G.408 Temporary Drawdown of Public Waters. The hearing will be held on Thursday, August 9, 2012, at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as possible, in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Center, 7100 147th Street W., Apple Valley, Minnesota, as part of the regular City Council meeting. The City of Apple Valley is preparing plans to remove accumulated sediment from stormwater outfalls as a water quality project. Both ponds are in the Long-Farquar Lakes Watershed where a TMDL Study has been approved by the USEPA and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Temporary lowering of the ponds exposes sediment for ease and accuracy of removal, and allows free water to drain from the materials prior to excavation. The sediment removal project is anticipated to begin in September and be completed by late November 2012. Members of the public are invited to attend the public hearing and provide comments or questions about the project. Questions regarding this notice may be directed to the Natural Resources Coordinator at 952-953-2461. DATED this 11th day of July, 2012. /s/ Pamela J. Gackstetter Pamela J. Gackstetter Apple Valley City Clerk 3081738 7/20/12

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July 20, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 20, 2012 Sun ThiSweek - Farmington - Lakeville

Thisweekend Irish tradition

dances into Caponi Art Park

Photo submitted

Students of St. Paul’s O’Shea Irish Dance school will perform a variety of traditional Irish dances at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 22, at Caponi Art Park in Eagan. perform a variety of traditional irish dances such the slip, reel and treble jib accompanied by Celtic music played the Center for irish Music. “My hope is the audiences gets a little flavor of irish dance and culture by seeing this performance,” said Cormac O’Se, director of O’Shea irish Dance. The high energy dances have been mastered by most of O’Shea’s students, several of whom have taken top awards at national and international competitions. Among those are evan Lowe, 16, of Rosemount who has received recognition

by Jessica Harper Sun ThiSweek

They move in step, tapping their feet in perfect time as though they are the instruments playing the jig. The rhythm and complexity of irish dance never ceases to amaze and entertain. Area residents will be able to view students from St. Paul’s O’Shea irish Dance school perform their traditional art at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 22, at Caponi Art Park, 1220 Diffley Road in eagan. Dressed in simple costumes that commemorate irish heritage, 20 dancers from the nationally-recognized school will

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in the united States and in ireland for his skilled dancing. Lowe said he views Sunday’s performance as an opportunity for all the dancers to showcase their talent and dedication to the art. “it’s more than a thing people do socially. it’s more physical like a sport and requires a lot of training,” Lowe said. “i hope it shines through that we worked really hard.” Fellow O’Shea dancer krista Peterson, 17, of Lakeville said she hopes the event will generate interest in irish dance. “i hope it will get more people to want

to try it like when we saw River Dancing growing up,” she said. The free performance is part of Caponi Art Park’s Summer Performance series, which features a variety of music, theater and dance concerts in the Theater in the woods outdoor amphitheater. More information is at CaponiArtPark. org. Jessica Harper is at jessica.harper@ecminc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Medallion hunt to start Monday, July 23 This year’s Leprechaun’s Lost Medallion hunt will return to its traditional start time on Monday of Rosemount Leprechaun Days, which runs from July 20-29. The medallion hunt will start at 9 a.m. Monday, July 23, when the first clue is re-

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leased on the front door of Sterling State Bank, 4520 150th St. w., corner of County Road 42 and Diamond Path, and online at www.SunThisweek.com. Sterling State Bank is offering a $500 cash prize to the winner. The hunt has enough clues, in limerick format (a nod to the city’s irish heritage), to have it run until the festival ends July 29. Over the years, the me-

dallion has taken on various shapes, sizes and colors. it’s been green to blend in with grass, red when attached to a fire hydrant and made of wood when placed on a bench. Medallion-seekers should note that this tradition will continue, along with it being hidden on city of Rosemount park property that can be seen and reached by even the youngest of hunters.

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hunters should note that they won’t have to move, damage or destroy park property in order to find the medallion. Official rules and a picture of the prize will be posted at clue central at SunThisweek.com and on the front door of the bank. Clues will be published every morning at 9 a.m. at the entrance to Sterling State Bank and on the newspaper’s website.

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ThiSweek - Farmington - Lakeville July 20, 2012 SunSun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

family calendar To submit items for the Family Calendar, email: darcy. odden@ecm-inc.com. Saturday, July 21 Food drive for Dakota County food shelves from 9 a.m. to noon at Saints Martha & Mary Episcopal Church, 4180 Lexington Ave. S., Eagan. Requested items: Canned food, peanut butter, dry goods, personal hygiene items, cooking oil, flour and baking items. Cash donations encouraged. Car wash by the AVaires dance team from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Red Tag Cleaners, intersection of County Road 42 and Garden View (behind Flowerama) in Apple Valley. 30th anniversary celebration by AMVETS Post 1, Mendota, at the Mendota VFW on Highway 13 beginning at 2 p.m. Program at 3 p.m., pig roast and live music from 4 p.m. to midnight. Beer, fun, friends. All welcome, especially veterans and their families. Information: (651) 688-7408. Tuesday, July 24 Family Fun Tuesday – Minnesota Percussion Trio’s Clicks, Claps, and Clunks, 10 to 11 a.m. in the Sculpture Garden at Caponi Art Park, Eagan. $4 per person donation is suggested. Information: (651) 4549412 or www.caponiartpark. org. Music in the Parks – Splatter Sisters, 1:15 p.m. at Jaycee Park, Rosemount, after Blarney Stone Hunt. Free. Weather line: Call (952) 985-1780 option 6 to find out if a performance has been cancelled. Tuesday Evenings in the Garden – Lasagna Gardening with Mickey Scullard, 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the garden at UMore Park, 1605 160th St. W. (County Road 46), Rosemount. This no-dig method saves labor and

creates an environmentally friendly vegetable or flower bed. Fee: $10. Questions or to register by phone, call University of Minnesota Extension: (651) 480-7700. Wednesday, July 25 Eagan Market Fest, 4 to 8 p.m., Eagan Festival Grounds. Farmers market, concert by Wild Honey & The Locusts, free kids’ art, family games. Information: www.cityofeagan.com/ marketfest or (651) 675-5500. Thursday, July 26 Thursday Rockin’ Readers – Sky Oaks Principal Kay Fecke, 11:15 a.m., Nicollet Commons Park, 12600 Nicollet Ave., Burnsville. Free. Thursday Rockin’ Lunch Hour – Dazzling Dave yo-yo master, noon, Nicollet Commons Park, 12600 Nicollet Ave., Burnsville. Free. Friday, July 27 Outdoor movie, “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale,” 7:30 p.m. seating, dusk showtime, part of Burnsville’s “Flicks on the Bricks” series at Nicollet Commons Park in the Heart of the City. Summer Fresh Friday Film, “Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days,” 6 to 8 p.m. at Valley Natural Foods, 13750 County Road 11, Burnsville. Information: (952) 8911212, ext. 221. Saturday, July 28 Youth Fishing Contest from 9 to 11 a.m. at Valley Lake, 16050 Garrett Path, Lakeville. Ages 13 and younger. Bring your own fishing equipment and bait. Register the day of the contest. Free. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and Minnesota Pole Benders. Blood drives The American Red Cross

theater and arts briefs will hold the following blood drives. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. • July 21, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sprint Lakeville, 17713 Kenwood Trail, Lakeville. • July 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hosanna Lutheran Church, 9600 163rd St. W., Lakeville. • July 25, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Prince of Peace Community Life Center, 13901 Fairview Drive, Burnsville. • July 25, 1 to 7 p.m., St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 22120 Denmark Ave., Farmington. Call Marlene at (651) 460-6083 for an appointment. Walk-ins welcome. • July 26, noon to 6 p.m., Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley. • July 26, 2 to 7 p.m., Glendale United Methodist Church, 13550 Glendale Road, Savage. Reunions Lakeville High School Class of 1972 will hold its 40th reunion at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 28, at the home of Bruce and Pat Zweber, 387 Maple Island Road, Burnsville. Information: Mary Boegeman Johnson at M B o e g e m a n J @ y a h o o . c o m or Mary Ann Knox at MaryAnnKnox@visi.com. Burnsville High School Class of 1992 will hold its 20th reunion from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at the Hyatt Regency, downtown Minneapolis. Tickets are $50 in advance or $65 at the door. To register and purchase tickets, visit https://reunionmanager. net/class_members/registration.php?class_id=124786 or contact Kelly Bruce Regan at kelbel070@gmail.com or Bob Hayes at bobhayes37@yahoo. com with questions.

theater and arts calendar To submit items for the Arts Calendar, email: darcy. odden@ecm-inc.com. Books Mystery authors Marilyn Jax and Jim Proebstle from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Apple Valley Barnes & Noble, 14880 Florence Trail. Comedy Bill Blank with special guest Laura Thorne at 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 20, and Saturday, July 21, at MinneHAHA Comedy Club, 1583 E. First Ave., Shakopee (lower level of Dangerfield’s), (612) 8609388, www.minnehahacomedyclub.com. Tickets: $13. Concerts Music in Kelley Park featuring Michael Monroe from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 20, at Kelley Park, 6855 Fortino St., Apple Valley. Free. Food and beverages available for purchase. Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 21, Subway Music in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, Apple Valley. Cost: $56. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com. O’Shea Irish Dance and Music, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 22, at Caponi Art Park’s Theater in the Woods outdoor amphitheater in Eagan. Suggested donation: $5. Rain date: July 29. Information: www.caponiartpark.org. Q The Clique, 7 p.m. Sunday, July 22, part of Sunday Night Music in the Park at Nicollet Commons Park, 12600 Nicollet Ave., Burnsville. Free. Los Lonely Boys and Ozomatli, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 22, Subway Music in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, Apple Valley. Cost: $53. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com. Ticket to Brasil, 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, part of the Wednesday in the Park Concert Series at Civic Center Park, 75 Civic Center Parkway, Burnsville. Los Lobos and Steve Earle, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, Subway Music in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, Apple Valley. Cost: $47. Tickets available at ticketmaster. com. Music in Kelley Park featuring MacPhail Jazz from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 27, at Kelley Park, 6855 Fortino St., Apple Valley. Free. Food and beverages available for purchase. BoDeans with Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts, 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 27, Subway Music in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, Apple Valley. Cost: $35. Tickets available at ticketmaster. com. Cactus Willie, Boxcar Bob and The Drifter, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 28, at the Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Ave. Tickets are $14 at the arts center. Advance purchase is recommended. Information: (952) 985-4640. BoDeans with Honeydogs, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 28, Subway Music in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, Apple Valley. Cost: $35. Tickets available at ticketmaster. com. From Age to Age, a choral music ensemble, will present “Sing for the World” at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 28, at The Basilica of St. Mary, 88 N. 17th St., Minneapolis. Suggested donation: $20. Information: www. fromagetoage.org. Robert Randolph and the Family Band and JJ Grey & Mofro, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July

29, Subway Music in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, Apple Valley. Cost: $38. Tickets available at ticketmaster. com. Dance Zenon Dance School’s Hip Hop and Breakdance Camp Aug. 6-10 at Burnsville Performing Arts Center: 9 a.m. to noon, ages 6-10, $190; 12:30 to 4 p.m., ages 10-14, $220. Enroll online at www. zenondance.org/summercamps-2012 or call (612) 3381011. Exhibits Botanical art exhibit by The Great River Chapter of Botanical Artists at the Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Ave. Information: (952) 985-4640. Festivals Rosemount Leprechaun Days runs July 20-29. Information: www.rosemountevents. com/Leprechaun.html. Theater Eagan Summer Community Theatre will present “Cinderella” in the Eagan High School auditorium, 4185 Braddock Trail, at 7:30 p.m. July 18-21, 25-28, and 2 p.m. July 22 and 28. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors 62-plus and children under 12. To purchase tickets, call (651) 6836964 between 1 and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or purchase online at www.eagan. k12.mn.us/. Workshops/classes Mystery Art Night will be offered Friday, July 20, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Eagan Art House. All supplies will be included and light refreshments will be served. Cost per class is $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Register at www.eaganarthouse.org. Call (651) 6755521 for information. Music Together in the Valley offers classes for parents and their infant, toddler and preschool children in Rosemount, Farmington, Lakeville and Apple Valley. Information: www.musictogetherclasses. com or (651) 439-4219. The Eagan Art House offers classes for all ages. For a complete listing go to www.eaganarthouse.org or call (651) 675-5521. Dan Petrov Art Studio in Burnsville offers oil painting classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced skill level painters, www.danpetrovart. com, (763) 843-2734. Teens Express Yourself with Paint, 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays at Brushworks School of Art in Burnsville, www.BrushworksSchoolofArt.com, (651) 214-4732. Drama/theater classes for ages 4 and up at River Ridge Arts Building, Burnsville, (952) 736-3644. Special needs theater program (autism-DCD), ages 5 and older, Burnsville, (952) 736-3644. Join other 55-plus adults at the Eagan Art House to create beaded jewelry. The Jewelry Club meets on the third Friday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. Information: (651) 675-5500. Savage Art Studios, 4735 W. 123rd St., Suite 200, Savage, offers classes/workshops for all ages. Information: www. savageartstudios.com or (952) 895-0375. Soy candle making classes held weekly in Eagan near 55 and Yankee Doodle. Call Jamie at (651) 315-4849 for dates and times. $10 per person. Presented by Making Scents in Minnesota. Country line dance class-

es held for intermediates Mondays 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Rambling River Center, 325 Oak St., Farmington, $5/class. Call Marilyn (651) 463-7833. Country line dance classes on Wednesdays at the Lakeville Senior Center, 20732 Holt Ave. Beginners, 9-10 a.m.; Intermediate, 10 a.m.noon. $5/class. Call Marilyn (651) 463-7833. The Lakeville Area Arts Center offers arts classes for all ages, www.lakevillemn.gov, (952) 985-4640.

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Tickets for tween sensation on sale

mance will be moved to information, call (651) Crossroads Church, 4100 675-5521. Lexington Way, Eagan. For more information, visit www.caponiartpark. org.

Tickets are on sale for the 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, performance of 11-yearold musical sensation Ethan Bortnick with special guests, The Kidz Bop Kids, at Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. Prices range from $24.50 to $49.50 and can be purchased at the box office, via Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster. com.

Harvest of Art

Drums at Caponi Art Park Mu Daiko, a Japanese taiko drumming ensemble, will perform at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5, at Caponi Art Park’s Theater in the Woods outdoor amphitheater. A $5 per person donation is suggested. In the event of poor weather, the perfor-

The Eagan Art House will hold its seventh annual Harvest of Art Community Art Exhibit Sept. 9 through Nov. 2. The exhibit is open to all south-of-the-river artists ages 8-18 and ages 19plus. All media are accepted. The exhibit opening will be 1 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the Eagan Art House. The exhibit will then be divided to go on display at various community locations. Preregistration is required. Registration fee is $16 for up to two pieces of artwork for ages 8 to 18 and $22 for up to two pieces of artwork for ages 19 and up. Register by Aug. 20. Exhibit guidelines are available at www.eaganarthouse.org. For more

Taylor artwork on display

Artwork by Dakota County clay artist and photographer Linda Ann Taylor is on display at the Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Parkway, Eagan. For more information, call the Eagan Art House at (651) 6755521.

Oak Ridge Boys tickets on sale Tickets are now on sale for the 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, performance by the Oak Ridge Boys at Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. Tickets are $49.50 and $79.50 and can be purchased at the box office, via Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com.

July 20, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Golf tournament raises money for food shelf Summer is the time when supplies are often depleted

It’s not often one can chase a small white ball around expanses of green and raise money for a good cause. But people can do just that at the third annual Sharea-Can Golf Tournament on Sunday, July 22, at Rich Valley Golf Course in Rosemount. All proceeds from the 18-hole shotgun-style event and items donated will go toward 360 Communities, which operates the Rosemount Family Resource Center. Summer is the time of year when food shelf supplies are most often depleted as children are out of school and eating more meals at home. The cost to play is $50 per person or $200 for a team of four. The registration fee covers the cost for a golf cart, 18 holes of play, food and door prizes. Participants who bring a pack of new diapers will receive a free bucket of balls for use at the driving range. Among the items people may bring to donate are non-perishable food items, hygiene products or baby items. Check-in will be from 1-1:45 p.m. The shotgun start is at 2 p.m. The event is being sponsored by Cub Foods, Rich Valley Golf Course and the city of Rosemount. Individuals or teams may register in advance by mailing a registration form posted with this story at SunThisweek.com or calling Rich Valley at (651) 437-4653. band, from 1A

native performance scheduled in case of rain. The performance starts at 7 p.m. and will last about an hour. More about the band is on Facebook and at rosemountcommunityband.org.

few weeks. The temperature in their Rosemount Middle School practice space has been around 87 degrees, “so we look forward to playing outdoors,” Zschunke said of the possibility of a least Tad Johnson can be reached a little breeze. at tad.johnson@ecm-inc.com “We fear bad weather,” or facebook.com/sunthisweek. he said, as there is no alter-

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events, from 1A

years, Cub Foods will be spearheading the Share-ACan Food Drive to benefit 360 Communities. People can bring their nonperishable food donations to Cub, the parade or the Mid-Summer Faire Leprechaun Days Information Booth, which is located next to the Central Park shelter. Briggs said the committee always needs some help cleaning up after the MidSummer Faire is over on Friday and Saturday nights. Those who are interested in helping out should email the committee at leprechaundays@gmail.com. Many of the volunteers who work during Leprechaun Days are on the committee that has been meeting since the end of 2011 to plan this year’s festival. It takes a lot of time and energy to organize all the fun, but Briggs says it is worth it. “Once I see all the families (and individuals) enjoying the festivities, I know it’s worth it,” Briggs said. “After all, we do this for the community.” Sun Thisweek has created an Information Central for Leprechaun Days at its website SunThisweek.com. The posting includes links to a schedule of events, a PDF of last week’s special section and information about button sales, the Share-A-Can Golf Tournament, stories about musical acts and much more.

Lighthouse Christian Church and Child Evangelism Fellowship will include Bible lessons, activities and songs for ages 5-12 at three Rosemount parks. The daily sessions will be from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Birch Park, 1:30-3 p.m. at Family Resource Center Park, and 3:30-5 p.m. at Jaycee Park. A Friday Rally will be held July 27 for the families of participants with food, music and a time for participants to talk about what they learned. More information is at WorldwideLighthouse.com or (651) 423-2566. A new business in town will hold a free cookout Tuesday, July 24, at its location at the southwest corner of County Road 42 and Chippendale Avenue. The Merchants Bank Community Appreciation Picnic will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the bank parking lot. On the same day, another gathering will be held at the Rosemount Family Resource Center from 5-7 p.m. The 360 Communities Community Get Together will feature walking tacos and root beer floats for the first 150 people. The event also will have a Slip ‘N’ Slide and other games. During the Grand Parade, the Friends of the Robert Trail Library will be handing out coupons for children to obtain free books at the library after Tad Johnson can be reached at tad.johnson@ecm-inc.com the parade. As has happened in past or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

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Cardona - Blair Heather Cardona and Joe Blair announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Heather is the daughter of Dan and Pat Cardona of Apple Valley. She is a 2000 Burnsville High School graduate and a 2008 graduate of Concordia University. She is employed at an accounting firm as an Account Manager. Joe is the son of Dennis and Linda Blair of Bloomington. He is a 2001 Burnsville High School graduate and a 2004 graduate of Academy College. He is employed at an accounting firm as an Account Manager. An October 2012 wedding and reception are planned in Bloomington, MN.

Fox - Kraft Kelsey Fox, daughter of Rick and Brenda Fox of Lakeville, and Jordan Kraft, son of Trent and Kathy Kraft of Fargo, ND announce their engagement. Kelsey is a 2009 graduate of Lakeville North High School and is attending North Dakota State University. Jordan is a 2009 graduate of Park Christian High School and is also attending NDSU. An August 3 wedding is planned at Bethel Free Church in Fargo, ND.

�� Laon Solie Hammer 3-6-1922 to 7-14-2012 Born Bronis Kowalczyk in Middle River MN to Joseph & Caroline (died 6/1922), adopted by Julius & Florence Solie in Fall 1922, re-christened Laon Adair Solie. Graduate Washburn HS 1940, Miss Woods Academy 1942. Married Donald Hammer Oct 1943, they lived in Richfield and Lakeville MN.Preceded in death by both birth & adoptive parents, beloved brother Jack Solie; sisters Josephine MacGlover, Helen Frank; brothers Louis & Joseph Kowalczyk and husband Donald (2006). Survived by children: Marnie (John Flaherty), Laurie Hammer and David (Denise Iser) Hammer, grandchildren: Natalie (Jack) Tente, Nicholas (Chelsea Welch) Hammer and Stephanie Hammer and great grandchildren: Kourtney, Isabella and Cole.The famil y is deepl y gra tef ul for the excellent loving care provided by Minnesota Masonic Home for the last 5 years and to Fairview Hospice for their guidance & support the last 10 months of Laon's life. Family requests no flowers; donations may be made to Minnesota Masonic Home, 11500 Compass Dr., Bloomington MN 55437-3699. Services will be at Minnesota Masonic Home Chapel, Bloomington MN (use Landmark Center Parking) on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 2 pm with visitation viewing from 1 pm to 2 pm. Private interment at Ft Snelling National Cemetery. The Funeral Directors 612-866-6711

To submit an announcement

Cherry - Carroll Bob & Diane Cherry of Rosemount are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter Shannon to David Carroll, both of Farmington , MN. David is the son of Kay Carroll of Rosemount & Don Carroll of Hastings. Shannon is a graduate of Rosemount High School, and St. Mary’s University with a degree in Elementary Education. She is a preschool teacher in the Farmington School District. David is a graduate of Rosemount High School, and Dakota County Technical College with a degree in GM ASEP and Mankato State University in Automotive Engineering & Technology. He is an engineering technician for Cummins Power Generation in Fridley. Shannon and David will be married in Rosemount, MN in August.

Luger-Tervola Brooke Luger, daughter of Bob and Jacqui Luger of White Bear Lake, and Brent Tervola, son of Steve and Terrylee Tervola of Eagan, announce their engagement. Brooke is a 2004 graduate of White Bear Lake High School and has a degree in Public Relations from the University of St. Thomas. She is employed as a Community Relations and Communication Specialist with Globe University in Woodbury, MN. Brent is a 2002 graduate of Eagan High School and has a degree in Accounting and Real Estate Management from the University of St. Thomas. He is employed as a Senior Accountant with Ameriprise Financial in Minneapolis. A September 8th wedding is planned at the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas in St. Paul, MN.

Forms for birth, engagement, wedding, anniversary and obituaries announcements are available at our office and online at www. thisweeklive.com (click on “Announcements” and then “Send Announcement”). Completed forms may be e-mailed to class.thisweek@ ecm-inc.com or mailed to Sun Thisweek, 15322 Galaxie Ave., Suite 219, Apple Valley, MN 55124. If you are submitting a photograph along with your announcement, please only submit photographs for which you have the right to permit Sun Thisweek to use and publish. Deadline for announcements is 4 p.m. Tuesday. A fee of $50 will be charged for the first 5 inches and $10 per inch thereafter. They will run in all editions of Sun Thisweek. Photos may be picked up at the office within 60 days or returned by mail if a self-addressed, stamped envelope is provided.

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65th Anniversary ��

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Bob and Marilyn Christiansen of Lakeville invite you to join them in Celebration of their 65th Wedding Anniversary. Open House will be Sunday, July 29, 2012 from 2 to 4 p.m. It will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lakeville. No invitations have been sent. No gifts please.

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 20, 2012

Business Briefs Bank receives five-star rating Castle Rock Bank, with locations in Castle Rock and Farmington, has received a five-star superior rating from BauerFinancial Inc., a national bank rating and research firm. The bank has earned a recommended rating from Bauer for the last 91 consecutive quarters.

Credit union sponsors team US Federal Credit Union, Burnsville, sponsored the Dakota County Technical College Entrepre-

of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. To earn the award, a company needs to have five surveys submitted to NARI by customers and receive an average rating of four out of a possible five points Closets for Life across five categories: quality, responsiveness, meeting wins ACE Award deadlines, professionalism, Closets For Life, an and communication. Apple Valley-based custom organization company, has Referral Buzz received an Achievement in Consumer Excellence award launches contest Credit union’s for providing an elite level Lakeville residents Klaus QA1 hosts five-star rating of service to its customers. and Lisa Schneegans, owncar cruise Oak Trust Credit Union, The ACE awards are hosted ers of the Twin Cities-based QA1 Precision Prod- which has a branch in by the Minnesota Chapter company, Referral Buzz, are ucts, Lakeville, a supplier Eagan, has received a fiveof performance shock ab- star superior rating from neurship team in the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference competition from June 23-25 in Kansas City, Mo. SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization that promotes success in trade, technical and skilled service occupations. The DCTC team’s plan, which detailed ideas for aquaponics and urban farming, was awarded a Gold Medallion, the competition’s highest honor.

sorbers, suspension components and rod ends for motorsports, will host an open house and cruise event from 7 to 9:15 a.m. July 20 for those who are preregistered for the 2012 Car Craft Summer Nationals. Visitors can show off their cars, tour the facility, enjoy coffee and doughnuts and win door prizes. The event is free to attend. QA1 is at 21730 Hanover Ave.

BauerFinancial Inc., a national bank rating and research firm. The credit union has earned a recommended rating from Bauer for the last 88 consecutive quarters.

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launching a series of “Ugly Room” contests across the metro area. The Ugly Kitchen contest is first in a series of “Ugly” contests including: Ugly Bathroom, Ugly Yard and Ugly Family Room. Each contest will run for three months. Entries can be made on Referral Buzz’s Facebook page. The entry with the most votes wins a $50 cash card and a chance to win a $500 cash card or $500 off any project through ReferralBuzz.com. More information can be found at https://apps.facebook.com/contestshq/contests/228019/rules.

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July 20, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 20, 2012

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July 20, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 20, 2012

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Area dogs and their owners were able to explore Eagan’s new dog park for the first time in Thresher Fields Park during opening day on July 17.

Dog park opened July 17 in Eagan by Jessica Harper Sun Thisweek

Dogs both large and small are able to run free in Eagan for the first time, thanks to a new off-leash dog park. The six-acre fenced dog area at Eagan’s Thresher Fields Park opened July 17 and features trails, and a rugged natural setting for dogs and their owners to explore. “There was only one thing missing in Eagan to make it a perfect city and that was a dog park,” said Alan Miller, who, along with his wife, Sharon, brought his dog, Dakota, to the park on Tuesday. Miller and his wife previously brought Dakota to dog parks in White Bear Lake and Burnsville and said they were glad to have one close to home. “It has some really unique features and the dogs love it,” he said. The park also includes an area for small dogs and a lake shore with a gated access to the lake for waterloving dogs. The dog park at Thresher Fields will be open year round, consistent with park hours and rules. Water and restrooms will be available on a seasonal basis. Eagan’s Parks and Recreation department had tossed around the idea for the dog park several years. “There was a lot of advocacy in our citizenry which allowed us to come up with pretty grounded plans,” said Paul Olson, Eagan park supervisor. Eventually the city settled on Thresher Fields due to its natural features and

available land. Mayor Mike Maguire and the City Council marked the park’s opening Tuesday with a ceremonial breaking of a leash. The greatest challenge for park officials will be staying ahead of waste and other maintenance issues in the dog park, Olson said, adding that dog owners will be responsible for bringing

their own waste bags. Eagan isn’t the only city to open a dog park in recent months. St. Paul opened one off Shepard Road in June. Residents and visitors will be required to obtain a permit and color-coded collar to enter into the dog park. Permits must be purchased in person at Eagan Parks and Recreation, 3830

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July 20, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Juggling whiz Photo by Andrew Miller

Children at the Galaxie Library in Apple Valley took a time-out from reading Tuesday to enjoy the zany antics of Bill the Juggler. The comedy juggling act included tricks with a yo-yo, cowboy lasso and devil sticks. A schedule of upcoming summer programs for children at Dakota County libraries can be found at www.co.dakota. mn.us/library.

Religion Briefs SouthCross VBS SouthCross Community Church is offering free Vacation Bible School from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. Aug. 5-9 for children age 3 through those who are entering sixth grade in the fall. This year’s theme is “Sonrise National Park.” Parents are invited to a special program at 7 p.m. Thursday followed by a family game and treat time. Register at www. southcrossmn.org or call (952) 432-4286. SouthCross is at 1800 E. County Road 42, at the Apple Valley/ Burnsville border.

VBS at Apple Valley Baptist “Kickin’ It Old School” is the theme of this year’s Aug. 12-16 Vacation Bible

Thursday, July 26, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, July 27. The sale will be held in the lower level of the church in room 150. Proceeds will go to helping widows and children in Kosovo. Donations will be accepted Sunday, July 22, 2 to 7 p.m.; Monday, July 23, 5 to 8 p.m.; and Tuesday, July 24, 5 to 8 p.m. Use the lower parking lot when donating. Items not accepted are mattresses, car seats, cribs, curtain rods, tires, TVs, VCRs, microwaves, large computer monitors, light fixtures, chandeliers, large trees, household/ Garage sale for Christmas automotive chemicals or Kosovo widows, any items needing cleaning or repair. For more inchildren formation on the sale, call Faith Covenant Church (952) 890-3110. Additional will hold its annual garage details are available at www. sale from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. faithcovenant.org. School at Apple Valley Baptist Church. Children will rock out each night with the Go Fish Guys. C h i l d r e n from the community, ages 4 through sixth grade, are invited. VBS runs 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There is no charge for Vacation Bible School, but a freewill offering will be received for the VBS Mission Project. To register children’s name, age and phone number, or for more information, call (952) 4323151 or email avbc@juno. com. The church is at 964 Garden View Drive, Apple Valley.

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