Shawn Bakken of ‘Beauty and the Geek’ fame starring in Lakeville community-theater show See Thisweekend Page 5
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Thisweek Burnsville-Eagan NOVEMBER 12, 2010 VOLUME 31, NO. 37
www.thisweeklive.com
Opinion/4A
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Old fire truck gets new life City’s first fire truck, ‘Jenny,’ is restored to her former glory by Erin Johnson
Submitted photo
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
She was in decent shape for a 60-plus-year-old truck, but Jenny, Eagan’s first fire truck, had lost much of her luster – and some of her original parts – over the years. Now she boasts a shiny new coat of red paint, sparkling brass trim, and fully functional equipment after a seven-month makeover funded solely by donations. Bringing Jenny back to life was an important goal for a group of retired Eagan firefighters, including some founding members of the department, said Eagan Fire Chief Mike Scott. “Their biggest thing was they really wanted to see Jenny restored while they were still around,” he said. “We wanted to do it right because this will probably be the last time in any of our lifetimes this will get done.” Jenny, a 1942 Chevrolet pumper, was originally used as an Army fire truck at the Gopher Ordinance Works in Rosemount during World War II. The Eagan Fire Department purchased the truck in 1963 for about $500. Equipped with just a hose, ladders and some fire extinguishers, Jenny did not have a radio system, flashing lights, heat, or for that matter, room for firefighters, who would hold on to the side of the truck on the way to calls.
Left: Eagan township officials (from left: Town Board Chairman Art Rahn and committee members Maynard Ohmn and Wally Potter) get the keys to Eagan’s first fire truck, a 1942 Chevrolet pumper. Below: Fire Chief Mike Scott gets the keys to the newly restored truck from Superior Service Center owner Dan Sjolseth.
Photo by Erin Johnson
But she did help extinguish many a blaze in her day, and the firefighters who relied on her still speak of her fondly, saying she served the city well. Jenny was retired more than 30 years ago. She is now used in parades and city events, and she makes an appearance each year at the Minnesota State Fire
Conference. The department began fundraising in 2006 for the project, which was estimated to cost $40,000. But Superior Service Center in Eagan, which did the body work and painting on the truck, gave the department some big discounts, bringing the total amount to around $21,000.
Superior owner Dan Sjolseth has been very generous, Scott said. “He’s not charging us all that he should be charging us, plus he’s letting us pay as we get enough money,” he said. “These guys have donated a ton of time.” Superior has been working on the truck since May. See Jenny, 14A
Public Notices/14A
Eagan library holds silent auction fundraiser Friends of the Wescott Library is looking to raise money for new cafe, other library programs by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
she said. Friends gives funds to various library programs, such as the summer reading club and home school science series, as well as money for two scholarships through the Eagan Foundation. The group’s main fundraiser is its annual book sale, which was held in October and raised about $7,000. Members are hoping the silent auction will raise about $10,000. “This will provide an extra cushion to make sure the library can provide all these programs and services through the next year,” she said. “And it’s going to be fun.” Friends has donated about $40,000 to Dewey’s Cafe, which is expected to begin construction Tuesday, Nov. 16. Organizers expect construction will take about six or seven weeks, she said. Tickets for the silent auction are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. They can be purchased in advance by credit card or Paypal at www.fwlonline.com. To donate an item for the event, call (651) 6870343. All contributions are tax deductible.
The Wescott Library in Eagan will host a silent auction from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, to raise funds for completion of its new coffee shop and other library programs. Sponsored by Friends of the Wescott Library, the event will feature complimentary hors d’oeuvres, wine and entertainment. More than 80 items will be available for bidding, including a week at Breezy Point Resort, gift certificates for local restaurants and retailers, Ordway and Guthrie tickets, museum and comedy club tickets, health club memberships, sports items, children’s birthday party packages, original art, handmade jewelry, and more. Owners of the new coffee shop, Dewey’s Cafe, will also be on hand with samples of their coffee beans. Darcy Schatz, member of the Friends of the Wescott Library board, said this is the first time the group is holding a silent auction, but fundraisers such as this are crucial for many library programs. “Wescott Library is a huge benefit to this community. More than 350,000 Erin Johnson is at eagan. people use it each year,” thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
Real estate was more lucrative, but radio got Ekholm enshrined On-air personality known as ‘Donald K. Martin’ inducted into Museum of Broadcasting Hall of Fame by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Darwin Ekholm, better known to his customers and a generation of radio listeners as Donald K. Martin, had a longer and more lucrative career in real estate than he did in radio. But it’s the radio career that’s forever enshrined. Ekholm, who amused audiences with his character voices while reading the news at AM powerhouse WDGY in the 1970s, was inducted last month into Minnesota’s Museum of Broadcasting Hall of Fame. The 72-year-old Burnsville resident is one of 10 new inductees, including Cyndy Brucato, Eric Eskola, Minnesota Public Radio’s Arthur Hoehn and the late Darcy Pohland. Ekholm’s radio career ended in 1977, when he was dumped by WDGY, now KFAN, after nine
Submitted photo
Donald K. Martin, standing, was Photo by John Gessner known for his amusing characters Darwin Ekholm, who went by Donald K. Martin during his radio and while working with D.J. Charlie real estate careers, holds the 1953 Fender Telecaster guitar he played Van Dyke, seated. with the Delricos, a Twin Cities band he led in the 1950s. them,” said Ekholm, who’s lived years with the 50,000-watt station. the air for nine years, if I said in the North River Hills neigh“They decided after being on ‘Donald K. Martin,’ I was dating borhood since 1965 and raised
two sons with his wife, Marilyn. “I had been there too long. I always say I got too old for rock ’n’ roll, and they threw me out.” It was rock ’n’ roll that launched Ekholm’s radio career. The 1956 graduate of St. Paul Johnson High School was the lead singer and guitarist in a cover band called the Delricos. He met Buddy Holly at the old Prom Ballroom in St. Paul just days before Holly’s death. Ekholm’s band won some adulation of its own from screaming girls. “More for the drummer,” said Ekholm, who still owns the 1953 Fender Telecaster guitar he used to play. “He was a year or two years younger than me — a Mexican guy who lived two doors down from me in St. Paul. He was real good-looking at the time.” Ekholm said emcees at rock See Ekholm, 3A
Nonprofit in the business of Proposed city tax hike about next year on average home ‘bridging’ loved ones online $15Burnsville Council CaringBridge, with 50 employees, calls Eagan its home
by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
A The loss of a child is often the most daunting moment in many parents’ lives. It was also the inspiration behind the online nonprofit CaringBridge. In 1997, founder Sona Mehring faced the heartbreaking task of notifying loved ones of the premature birth and later death of her close friend’s baby girl, General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
Brighid. Mehring, a website consultant, thought an online site would be the most efficient way to notify people. From there, CaringBridge was born. “I was wowed by how powerful it was in getting everyone connected,” Mehring said. Mehring chose the name CaringBridge for the Eagan-based nonprofit as a way to illustrate how the site “bridges” loved
ones. It was also a way to incorporate Brighid’s name, since she was the inspiration, Mehring said. The website provides a free, online service that enables people with serious illness or injury to connect with friends and family. “It’s centered around a patient’s deep, meaningful converSee CaringBridge, 13A
continues budget talks; open house set by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Next year’s city taxes would rise by about $15 on an average-valued Burnsville home ($208,000) under proposals taking shape for the 2011 city tax levy and budget. The City Council continued deliberations at a Nov. 9 work session on a proposed budget of about $81 million, which includes a general operating fund of $33.8 million.
Council members discussed further cost-saving measures in an effort to pare the 5.6 percent maximum tax levy they certified on Sept. 7. Based on council members’ informal rejection Nov. 9 of some of $175,000 in additional savings, the levy increase would be pared to 5.2 percent. But further budget talks are scheduled for Nov. 23, with final action on Dec. 7. A public open house on the budget will be held Nov. 30 at 4 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Civic Center Parkway. City taxes on an average-valued See Tax Hike, 14A
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