Caponi Art Park goes medieval.
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Thisweek Apple Valley-Rosemount SEPTEMBER 16, 2011 VOLUME 32, NO. 29
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Merchants Bank to create contiguous territory Pending Central Bank of Rosemount purchase will fill in gap of Dakota County presence by Tad Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
With four locations in Dakota County, many Rosemount residents are familiar with Merchants Bank. The leaders of the Winona-based bank plan to make that connection stronger after it completes its expected purchase of Central Bank in Rosemount later this year. With a track record of supporting
local sports teams and the Christian Elder Memorial Bike Ride MORE to raise money for ONLINE Apple Valley-based First version was Saturday, Kids ’n Kinship, Mer- posted Sept. 10 at chants hopes to weave thisweeklive.com. its presence into the fabric of the local community. “We are a community bank just like Central Bank,� said Mark Metzler,
Merchants’ media and communications officer. “Our strength is building relationships in the community.� Merchants Financial Group Inc. announced last Friday it would purchase the former Rosemount National Bank location that the FDIC closed in April and was then acquired by Central Bank. Located at the southwest corner of County Road 42 and Chippendale Avenue, the site has prime visibility and
Banner weekend for band
Police: Brutal bar assault followed failed flirtation
Photo by Rick Orndorf
It was a good weekend for the Rosemount High School marching band: The 22nd annual Rosemount Marching Band Festival was held Sept. 10 at Irish Stadium, and saw the host band give an exhibition performance of its production “Catch This� featuring the music of Russian classical composers. Later that night, the marching band won the Eastview Marching Band Festival. And, for the third consecutive year, the Rosemount Marching Band was named State Fair Grand Champion. Out of 43 participating bands that performed in the daily parade during the run of the state fair, the RHS Marching Band earned the top score.
means Merchants now has a contiguous territory in Lakeville, Apple Valley, Rosemount, Hampton and Hastings. “Acquiring the bank strengthens our presence in the southern metro and provides greater convenience to our current and future customers,� Merchants President and CEO Richard L. Mahoney said in a press release. “We look forward to serving the needs of the customers in See Bank, 7A
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A vicious attack on a patron at Bogart’s nightclub in Apple Valley may have been prompted by a flirtatious woman’s bruised ego. Brandon J. Fraher, 26, of Burnsville has been charged with felony assault for the Aug. 17 incident that rendered another man swollen, bloody and unconscious. Police were called to the bar around 11:30 p.m. Multiple witnesses reported that Fraher had attacked the victim without warning, and then continued to assault him as he lay unconscious on the ground. Friends of the victim finally pulled Fraher off the man, who sustained a swollen eye and cuts on his head and face, the criminal complaint said. A woman at the bar informed police that she thought the attack was her fault
because she had told her group of friends, including Fraher, that the victim had insulted her. The woman admitted to officers, and witnesses confirmed, that she had attempted to flirt with the man but he had denied her advances. The victim was still lying on the ground, and still not fully conscious, when police arrived on the scene. He told officers he could not remember what had happened to him. Police described Fraher as “very agitated,� screaming and fighting with officers as they handcuffed him and placed him in the back of a squad car. Fraher has been charged with thirddegree assault, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. —Andrew Miller
Friends unite to make Bella Pizza Time for booya in Apple Valley Native Moroccans bring a slice of American creation, Annual firefighters’ event is Sept. 17
much more to Rosemount by Tad Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
by Andrew Miller
Karimi Abdelmajid has three passions in life – family, food and soccer. While the No. 1 priority is always family, the competition for No. 2 depends on the time of year. If his native Moroccan soccer team is playing in international competition, food would merely be a complement to the action on the television screen inside the new Bella Pizza & Mediterranean Cuisine in Rosemount. Longtime friends and fellow countrymen Abdelmajid and Khalid Benlamlih recently opened the restaurant in the space formerly occupied by Big Daddy’s Diner and the Irish Loon. The spacious, sleek dining room has been transformed and turned to face the sidewalk and bustle at the corner of South Robert Trail and 145th Street. It took some time to find the right location and complete the floor to ceiling renovation, which started in January, of the downtown Rosemount space. The result is an atmosphere that’s suitable for taking a leisurely stroll through a wideranging menu that includes Moroccan, Italian and American favorites. The only problem is there’s
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Photo by Tad Johnson
Longtime friends and fellow Moroccans Khalid Benlamlih and Karimi Abdelmajid came together to form Bella Pizza after operating two restaurants on their own. isn’t a stomach large enough to take in all there is to offer in one sitting. The solution – repeat trips. The concept of Bella Pizza is to offer a variety of food, fresh ingredients and from-scratch cooking. “We spice by our own experience,� Abdelmajid said. “We don’t spice to make it hot, we spice for flavor.� Abdelmajid said about 70 percent of the food served is made from scratch, such as his special pasta sauces. He said popular items so far have been stromboli, Philly cheese steaks, gyros, couscous and, of course, pizza. “I am happy when I give good food to people who appreciate it,� Abdelmajid said. “You need money to survive
IN BRIEF Bella Pizza & Mediterranean Cuisine is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, go online at www. bellapizzashop.com or call (651) 322-1818 or (651) 322-1820. but not a lot. It’s more important to be happy and have a job that you like.� The diverse menu of offerings shows the many sides See Pizza, 7A
Booya isn’t exactly fast food. Apple Valley firefighters begin preparing the savory stew a day in advance of their annual booya fundraiser, chopping vegetables for three to four hours before filling the massive booya pots with meat and other delectables for the all-night cooking process. “It’s about an 11-hour process,� said Al Olson, firefighter and chair of this year’s event. In fact, Olson said, it takes longer to make the 500 or so gallons of booya File photo than it does to sell all of it. Each year, firefighters Apple Valley firefighters will be dishing up the savory stew start dishing up the booya that is booya starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at Fire in the late morning, and Station No. 1 at County Road 42 and Hayes Road. they usually run out by about 3 o’clock. Firefighters will be hostwill also feature bingo, chil“It’s happened earlier dren’s games and inflata- ing a 9/11 memorial display, than that, it’s happened bles, a silent auction, bake including a plaque with later than that,� Olson sale and raffle. Raffle tick- a piece of metal from the said. “We sell it until it’s all ets are $1 and the top prize Twin Towers, and will be gone.� is a $300 gift certificate to giving away a print of the This year’s booya event Von Hanson’s meats. iconic photo of three New hosted by the Apple ValThis year firefighters will York City firefighters raisley Firefighters’ Relief As- be will putting a focus on ing the flag at Ground Zero. sociation starts at 11 a.m. remembering 9/11, Olson More information about Saturday, Sept. 17, at Fire said, as the event comes a the event is at www.cityoStation No. 1 located at week after the 10-year an- fapplevalley.org. County Road 42 and Hayes niversary of the terrorist Road. attacks on the World Trade Andrew Miller is at andrew. The 33rd annual event Center and Pentagon. miller@ecm-inc.com.
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