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Burnsville | Eagan June 22, 2012 | Volume 33 | Number 17

Death threats darken golf course debate Despite receiving a threatening letter, Eagan council unanimously approves sending guide plan amendment to Met Council by Jessica Harper Sun Thisweek

Opinion Cyber bullying can be stopped The locker room video and photo incident in Lakeville can bring awareness to stop cyberbullying. Page 4A

thisweekend

Shakespeare in the woods Eagan’s Caponi Art Park is playing host to a staging of the Shakespeare comedy “The Merry Wives of Windsor” this Sunday. Page 12A

sports

Lightning strikes at state The Eastview baseball team won its first state championship on Monday at Target Field. Page 14A

Eagan City Council members received a chilling message this week that darkened the debate over a golf course redevelopment plan. A handwritten note sent to city hall stated, “Any council members voting for developing Parkview will die. You are in on it with the developer.” It was signed FOV, which city officials interpreted to mean Friends of Parkview, a vocal group opposed to plans to turn Parkview Golf Course into housing. Members of a group, which doesn’t call itself Friends of Parkview, but is often referred to as such, deny being associated with the letter and said they don’t condone threats. “I’m sorry to see this kind of correspondence,” said Patrick Campbell, a member of the group. “This doesn’t represent us. We prefer a more civil discussion.”

Photo by Jessica Harper

The Eagan City Council unanimously approved submitting an amendment to the city comprehensive guide plan, that if approved, would change Parkview Golf Course’s guided land use from private recreation to low-density residential. Mayor Mike Maguire read the letter aloud June 19 during a public hearing on a proposal to amend the city’s guide plan, which would change Parkview’s guided land use from private recre-

ation to low-density residential. Eagan Police are investigating the threat, but declined to speak about it in detail since it is an ongoing investigation.

Gallery show features Knutson’s Nobel portfolio by John Gessner Sun Thisweek

It took little coaxing to make the Dalai Lama his usual beatific self before Doug Knut- Doug son’s medi- Knutson u m - fo r m at camera. “With the Dalai Lama, I did three frames,” said Knutson, who photographed His Holiness backstage at Northrup Auditorium during a Carlson Lecture Series appearance in 2001. “I snuck in a tiny bit closer and said, ‘Come on, you can give me a bigger smile than that.’ So he gives me this little grin. I took that, and I knew that was it.” The Tibetan spiritual leader is one of 21 Nobel Peace Prize laureates Knutson has portraitized

File photo

New agreements between Burnsville and Xcel Energy address unresolved issues at the Black Dog power plant, the first portion of which was built in 1956.

Xcel would reclaim road under agreement Agreements clear up issues surrounding Black Dog plant

This is Doug Knutson’s portrait of the Dalai Lama. in a sideline to his success- Knutson is displaying his ful commercial photogra- Nobel Peace Portraits colphy career. See Knutson, 15A Raised in Burnsville,

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The flood- and damageprone Black Dog Road will be turned over to Xcel Energy under a new agreement between Burnsville and the company. A set of agreements, approved by the City Council June 19, clears up a number of tensions over access, safety and building codes that have mounted since Xcel’s Black Dog power plant began operating more than 50 years ago. The city will eventu-

by John Gessner Sun Thisweek

Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A

Public Notices. . . . . . . . 16A

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ally relinquish ownership of the road — which runs along the Minnesota River between Burnsville and Eagan and was originally built to provide plant access — while gaining easements on Xcel property for a regional trail and park facilities. Agreements also address the city’s emergency response functions at the coal- and gas-fired plant, as well as its oversight of building and fire codes. See Black Dog, 15A

Drinking water raises hackles

Index

Thisweekend. . . . . . . . . 12A

by John Gessner

Surveys: Burnsville great, but no new taxes

Find more storm photos at sunthisweek.com.

Mature Lifestyles . . . . . . 8A

See Parkview, 3A

Portraits of laureates

Online

Announcements . . . . . . . 7A

Anyone with information about the letter or letter writer is urged to call Det. Desiree Schoepfer at (651) 675-5889. Maguire said the council won’t be swayed by intimi-

dation and urged residents to discuss the matter civilly. The council unanimously approved submitting a comprehensive guide plan amendment to the Metropolitan Council for review. If approved, the amendment would return to the City Council for a final vote. Eden Prairie-based real estate developer Hunter Emerson notified city officials in May it hopes to build 173 homes on the 80acre site. The developer’s plans for the site at 1310 and 1290 Cliff Road also call for a clubhouse, community gathering space, neighborhood parks and a bike path that would connect the new development to the Fairway Hills neighborhood and Lebanon Hills Regional Park. Home prices would range from $200,000 to $650,000. Hunter Emerson entered

International Fest entertains Photo by Rick Orndorf

Circus Manduhai, billed as a Mongolian family show, was one of the multicultural attractions at the International Festival of Burnsville on Saturday, June 16. Performing on hula hoops was Chimgee Haltarhuu. The festival continued despite being forced from its original location, Nicollet Commons Park, inside the adjacent Performing Arts Center.

Burnsville residents and business owners are pretty happy campers who share an opinion on city taxes: Don’t raise ’em. New city-commissioned surveys, one of residents and one of business owners and managers, gave Burnsville high marks for quality of life, government and city services. But when the 400 randomly selected residents

were asked if they’d favor a tax increase to maintain city services, 63 percent said “no” and only 17 percent said “yes.” When the 300 randomly selected business people were asked, 43 percent said “no” to 19 percent “yes.” “No,” said Bill Morris of polling firm Decision Resources Ltd., summing up the mood. Morris presented results of the surSee Burnsville, 10A

June 22, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan

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Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan June 22, 2012

Parkview, from 1A into a purchase agreement last month with the property’s owner, Parkview Golf Associates. The agreement is contingent upon a guide plan change, rezoning and plat approvals that would allow a project to move forward. Shortly after Parkview Golf Associates purchased the course in 2001, it saw a steady decline in customers and revenue, Parkview co-owner Robert Zaviheim said. “Parkview is no longer a viable operation,” he said. Parkview’s annual rounds of golf dropped 25 percent from 50,000 at its peak in 2007 to 37,000 in 2011. Parkview’s revenue has fallen 17.5 percent in the last four years. The course incurred a loss of $142,211 in 2011. Zaviheim said he has invested $1 million in the golf course since 2011 with no return. Parkview isn’t alone in its struggle, said Michael Abee of Paradigm Golf Group, a national golf industry expert. “We have an oversupply and decline in demand in the industry right now ... and Minneapolis is one of the most saturated markets in the nation,” Abee said. Last year marked the first time more golf courses closed nationwide than opened, with 157 closures, he said. Parkview Golf Associates looked at other options but felt selling the property to developers was the only viable one, Zaviheim said. Zaviheim’s comments didn’t sway many of the residents who crowded the Eagan council chambers.

Preserving green space Several residents urged the city to consider the

benefits of an 18-hole golf course. Mark Wanous, a coach for Eastview High School boys golf, noted that Parkview provides a place for youth camps. “There’s a niche for Parkview,” Wanous said. “It’s not just about a game of golf, it’s about what it teaches kids.” Zaviheim noted that demand for youth golf at Parkview has dropped 40 percent, from 500 participants in 2007 to 300 in 2011. Maguire added that the council doesn’t have the authority to preserve the property as a golf course. Under the existing zoning, Parkview’s owner has the right to change it into a number of things, from a gun range to a campground or nursery, he said. Some residents suggested the city should purchase the property for a municipal golf course. Julie Sydell Johnson, director of Eagan Parks and Recreation, said the department has studied the issue and has determined a municipal golf course would not be viable. Sydell Johnson also noted that a 2008 referendum that would have enabled the city to purchase Carriage Hills golf course for $10.5 million failed. Others urged Parkview Golf Associates to consider other options or further market the course to potential buyers. Council members agreed with Zaviheim, who said the association has struggled to find other private buyers in the current market. “It’s clear that there might be slim opportunity for a white knight to come through and buy the property to preserve it as a golf course,” Council Member Gary Hansen said. Several residents claimed the agreement between Hunter Emerson and

This threatening letter was sent to Eagan City Council members this week. Mayor Mike Maguire read it aloud during a June 19 public hearing on a proposed guide plan amendment for Parkview Golf Course. If approved, the amendment will change Parkview’s guided use from private recreation to low-density residential. Parkview raised the price, making it difficult for anyone else to bid on. Other residents, such as Mark Skweres, said they worry Eagan will lose more green space. “I believe open space is the highest and best use of land. It serves as a buffer between neighborhoods and should be preserved,” Skweres said. Friends of Eagan Core Greenway also sent the council a letter opposing the guide plan amendment, saying, “We would like to work with the (city of Eagan) and the landowners to explore alternative solutions.” City Administrator Tom Hedges noted that efforts are being made in the city to preserve green space, including preserving Patrick Eagan Park 11 years ago. Hedges added that Parkview is not a part of the recognized Eagan Core Greenway.

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Kurt Manley, spokesman for Hunter Emerson, promised the developer will preserve some green spaces as parks within the development. Pointing to the Fairview neighborhood’s history of flooding, Skweres expressed concerns about water quality and flooding. Eagan Public Works Director Russ Matthys assured the council and residents that water quality issues would be examined prior to a project being approved. He added that phosphorous levels would likely be lower with a residential development than with a golf course, which is permitted to use higher levels of phosphorous in its fertilizers. Other residents expressed

concern that the developer would walk away from a project as some have in other suburbs. Eagan, unlike some outer-ring suburbs, has not encountered developers who have walked away from a project, said Jon Hohenstein, Eagan’s economic development director. This is in large part due to the city’s strict rules pertaining to financing, he said. Hunter Emerson admitted it recently abandoned a project in Prior Lake after its finance company went belly up. “We had to turn it over to the receiver,” Manley said. “We had no choice in the matter.” This issue would be avoided in Eagan, which only allows secured banks, not finance companies, to back development projects. Eagan real estate agent Keith Hittner was the only resident to vocally support the proposal, saying he believes a housing development would boost home prices in the surrounding neighborhoods. The council concluded redevelopment seems to be the most viable option. Council members also said they fear if they left the property owner without a viable option, the city could face litigation as it did in the Carriage Hills development. “We can’t favor a public benefit that disproportionately falls on a private property owner,” Maguire said. In 2004, the council declined to change its guide plan to allow Wensmann Homes to develop the property. The city was subsequently sued by the developer, who claimed it incurred losses as a result of the council’s decision.

The case eventually went to Minnesota Supreme Court in 2007, and the city settled with the developer before a ruling could be made. Though Wensmann intended to redevelop the property, its plans were stalled in 2008 by the recession. Another developer has since started construction on the property. Maguire urged residents to continue to participate in the discussion with the city and developers as the process moves along. Skweres said he is disheartened by the council’s decision to send the guide plan amendment proposal to the Met Council. “This amendment says they don’t value open space as they say,” he said. Campbell, too, is disappointed in the council’s decision but said he understands it is trying to protect taxpayer funds from potential litigation. If the Met Council approves the amendment, it will go back to the council for approval. An approval of the guide plan amendment doesn’t guarantee a development can move forward. Several steps will need to be taken before the developer can break ground. Among other things, the City Council would need to rezone the site as residential and approve detailed plans before the project can move forward. The Planning Commission voted May 22 to recommend against changing the guide plan for housing. Jessica Harper is at jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Opinion

June 22, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan

Lessons from Lakeville about cyber-bullying by Joe Nathan Sun Thisweek

Will you take five minutes to help protect your children? Please consider several steps that come from an incident in Lakeville where some middle school students took photos inside a girls locker room. First, read the following with (not to, but with) your children. Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said Four students at Century Middle School in Lakeville were charged last week with crimes involving the taking and distribution of inappropriate photos and a video in May 2012. The following charges were filed: Two boys, ages 13 and 14, were charged with conspiracy to commit interference with privacy and criminal defamation, both gross misdemeanors); A 14-year-old girl was charged with interference with privacy and criminal defamation, both gross misdemeanors; and another 14-year-old girl has been charged with gross misdemeanor interference with privacy. These charges stem from a May 2012 incident that was reported to the Lakeville Police Department on May 21 by a school administrator, in which two girls allegedly took photos and a video of two other girls

Sun Thisweek Columnist

Joe Nathan

undressing in the school’s locker room. The first girl charged is alleged to have taken four photos of one victim and a video of another victim. The second girl charged is alleged to have taken one photo of one of the same victims. The photos and video showed the backs of the victims partially undressed from the waist down, according to the Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom. None of the images showed the victims naked. The two boys apparently had created a game in which they took photos of the buttocks of girls in the hallway and forwarded these photos to other students. It is believed that each boy paid one of the girls $5, and one of the boys gave her a can of soda to take the inappropriate images in the locker room. The second girl charged is believed to have taken one inappropriate photo as a result of the urging of the first girl. These inappropriate photos/images may have been seen by more than 40 students from

the school. Stunning, right? Now please consider having your youngsters watch a 45 second video, “Pause before you Post,” produced by Josten’s. Jeff McGonigal, an Anoka-Hennepin School District administrator, reports students were “extremely attentive” when teachers showed this. He recommends that parents watch and discuss it with their children. The video is at www.jostens.com/students/ students_cp_pause_before_you_post.html After reading this and watching the video, it’s time for a short family writing assignment. Ask: “Please write down five rules that you will follow about the use of cell phones and forwarding pictures, based on what you’ve read and seen.” My list would include: • No taking pictures of people who are not fully dressed. • No forwarding of embarrassing pictures to others, that someone sends you. • Tell me if someone does this to you. Compare lists, and create a final copy. Now, what happens if these rules are not followed? As one teacher reminded me: “There need to be consequences – like losing a cell phone for a while, if youngsters don’t follow these rules.” You and your child or children should sign this.

Marco Voce, Zimmerman High School principal, told me: “Usually the biggest problem is that the school doesn’t get notified until it (bullying) has been going on beyond a reasonable time frame. I would suggest reporting as soon as possible.” Julie O’Mara-Meyer, a family support worker at the Caledonia Elementary School suggests that families “listen to your kids when they come home. Encourage them to tell you if someone is bullying them. Give them some strategies to help. For example, tell the bully – strongly, ‘I don’t like it. Stop!’ If that doesn’t solve the problem, contact school officials immediately.” Backstrom praised the Lakeville Police and school district for their prompt actions. He’s right. We can’t prevent every young person from sometimes doing silly, even stupid things. But we can help children and teens learn how to deal. The Lakeville incident can help bring awareness that we need to protect your young people. Joe Nathan, a parent of three and formerly a 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.

Four-day school week has some hidden costs by Zack Avre Special to Sun Thisweek

With schools across Minnesota feeling an increasing budget pinch, several districts have opted for or considered moving to a four-day school week to save money. The BurnsvilleEagan-Savage School District made the right choice in declining to pursue this option. While it’s debatable whether or not schools see a significant savings going to four-day weeks, we know this move winds up costing most parents more in child care costs. Over time, a significant economic and education equity narrative also emerges. As part of a plan to save $5 million next school year, the district entertained the idea of instating a four-day week model by slashing 17 days from the academic calendar. However, the school district has since dropped the proposal after widespread parent objection. A map posted with this story at SunThisweek.com highlights that moving to a four-day school week would have cost district families an additional $518.50 to $595

Guest Columnist

Zack Avre

per student annually, with average daily child care costs varying across the district, based on Census and state department of education data. These figures do not take into account existing days off of school for parent-teacher conferences, teacher in-service days, and holidays; in total, the average child care costs for days off exceed $1,200 annually across the district. These additional costs do not appear unbearable considering the five cities that comprise the district – Burnsville, Eagan and Savage – are all above Minnesota’s median household income for 25- to 44-yearolds, according to estimates from the 2010

American Community Survey. In fact, ACS places Savage’s median household income for 25- to 44-year-olds just shy of $100,000. With such relative prosperity, an additional $500 to $600 doesn’t seem too problematic. Numbers can be deceiving, though, and when juxtaposed with the percentage of students on free or reduced lunch in 2011, a different picture materializes. Although a suburban school district, Burnsville-EaganSavage retains a relatively high level of socioeconomic diversity. As the map online shows, six of the 10 elementary schools in the district had rates of free or reduced lunch above the 37.3 percent state average, with four schools over 50 percent free or reduced lunch. A majority of the district’s elementary schools are Title 1 schools, which receive federal aid to support low-income students. Considering these factors, the costs of moving to a four-day school week for families become more glaring. Creating the need for additional child care will undoubtedly place extra financial burden on families that are already in a crunch.

What’s more, many households in the school district are still facing uncertain economic conditions. As late as April 2012, 1 in 1,116 households in Dakota County and 1 in 491 households in Scott County faced foreclosure, according to RealtyTrac. With these underlying economic conditions, the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District was wise to put its proposal to rest. However, budget crises remain a real issue, and school districts across the state need help. Instead of cutting education funding and forcing school districts to flirt with fourday weeks, policymakers should be investing in schools and their respective communities. When both are healthy, our kids can get back to learning and Minnesota can move forward. Zack Avre is a Minnesota 2020 undergraduate research fellow. MN2020 is a nonpartisan, progressive think tank focusing on the issues of education, health care, transportation and economic development. Columns reflect the opinion of the author.

Letters Daley will keep state on the right track To the editor: The calm in St. Paul and the warmth of summer should not lull us into complacency regarding the state of affairs in Minnesota, since the election of a new Legislature is just a few months away. It is important that the presidential race doesn’t totally overshadow the state House and Senate contests, because the outcome will determine whether Minnesota can stay on a sound financial course. There will be many calling for new spending in hopes of easing unemployment, but the money spent will come from the pockets of taxpayers, who have already suffered

enough. Sen. Ted Daley, R-Eagan, has worked to improve government efficiency during his first term and will continue his efforts, while opposing increases in state taxes. Improving education and promoting greater interaction between the state and local government can bring big benefits without big price tags. GERRY CHAPDELAINE Eagan

Investing wisely To the editor: A recent opinion piece about rising enrollment in charter schools was thought provoking. Yet the vast majority of our young people attend our K-12 public schools. Prominent stories about

school district budget cuts highlight the fact that our state legislators have been appropriating less and less each year after inflation for one of the greatest legacies we can leave our next generation. Opponents of levy referendums to permit level spending on our students, cry the mantra of “accountability,” yet I can think of nothing more irresponsible than stinting on the education of our young people. Ongoing growth in class sizes is a symptom of this irresponsibility. Another is the rate of pay for starting teachers, which can discourage juniors in college from borrowing hefty amounts to study education. Graduates of local two-year colleges are not being given any incentive to pursue teaching degrees and certificates. This is hap-

Letters to the editor policy Sun Thisweek welcomes letters to the editor. Submitted letters must be no more than 350 words. All letters must have the author’s phone number and address for verification purposes. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. Letters reflect the opinion of the author only. Sun Thisweek reserves the right to edit all letters. Submission of a letter does not guarantee publication.

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pening at a time when economists say we are investing less in our educational system than what is needed to create growth in our economy. What we need is a change of heart and mind. We need this for the ability to compete on a world stage where foreign countries, and other states, are investing more in their future than we in America and Minnesota. It may seem like an old-fashioned value, working on a Minnesota Miracle again, but it is a future-oriented, forwardthinking belief that will repay us all in years to come. LARRY KOENCK Eagan

Save the U.S. Postal Service To the editor: There have been news reports the past several years about the U.S. Postal Service’s severe financial condition. It has reached a crisis this year as revenue has declined along with a 20 percent decline in mail volume. The Postal Service is on the verge of going bankrupt and closing. If that happens, it would be a disaster of catastrophic proportions. It would put a large number of postal employees out of work and really hurt the economy. The Postal Service is 7 percent of the gross national product and millions of Americans use the Postal Service to mail money, goods and communications. The problem is caused by emails and texting replacing postal mail, especially first class mail. To save the Postal Service, I urge Americans to stop sending so many emails and go back to postal mail. Write letters and pay your bills by postal mail. It is fast, inexpensive and unlike email, it is

reliable and dependable. I use postal mail all the time. With computers, information is sometimes lost. Screens freeze up, viruses invade, servers crash and other problems occur. None of these things happen with postal mail. As a result of computers, we have a generation of very fat teens and adults who spend endless hours sitting at computers. They are losing the ability to read, write and speak. There have been divorces over computer use. One man told me his wife was on the computer day and night and he couldn’t get her off of it. She neglected the children. He finally divorced her. It is an addiction. Write or call your U.S. senators and U.S. representative and ask them to co-sponsor and vote for legislation that will end the financial crisis for the Postal Service and put it back on sound financial footing. About one-fourth to onethird of the American people do not have computers or email. If the Postal Service closes, 25 to 33 percent of the population will be left with no way to communicate, other than by telephone. RALPH A. GILBERTSEN Burnsville

Is telling the truth important in elections?

lieve that. Call me naïve, but I’d like to think the people in the south suburbs deserve better. Some of our incumbent Republican legislators and their PAC supporters have chosen to make a big fat lie the heart of their campaigns, and the lie has appeared in this paper’s pages. The big lie is the claim that our IR friends were responsible for an $8 billion, nine-month turnaround in the state’s budget. Let’s be clear. No selfrespecting economist would stand behind this claim. Whether you support the state budget compromise of July 2011 or not, it had nothing to do with the improvement in Minnesota’s economy that changed the budget outlook. In fact, it may have hurt it in the long run by borrowing from our schools. It would be truthful to instead acknowledge the effects of billions of dollars in federal aid Minnesota received from President Obama’s stimulus package, as well as the Federal Reserve’s actions to stimulate the economy. But how should south metro citizens take the claims their Republican legislators are making? Do the lies matter? I, for one, think they do. If our candidates lie because they can’t justify their votes based on an honest assessment of the implications, then we all lose something unbelievably important: the integrity of our democratic process. We might blame “the system” or the media or one political party or another for the state of our lives, our communities, our state or our country, but in the end, we have only ourselves to blame, and our votes come November, if we accept such lies as “business as usual.”

To the editor: Should honesty and integrity be trivial matters in an election? Is it OK to lie in a campaign? Have voters come to expect it? Have we become so used to such lies that we don’t care anymore? Is it fair to try to justify a big lie with the excuse: “The other side does it” or “It’s just politics”? JOHN WELLS Some would have us be- Eagan

Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan June 22, 2012

Storm fells trees, power lines in Burnsville Eagan Briefs An estimated 75 trees were downed in Burnsville during violent storms early Tuesday that heavily affected the Twin Cities’ eastern and southern suburbs. Crews continued to clear some streets late Tuesday morning, while Xcel Energy repaired downed power lines, the city announced. As of 11 a.m. power was still out at the city’s water treatment plant, which was operating on its emergency generator. The power outage has not affected water quality or delivery, and the city will work with neighboring Lakeville and Savage to meet demands in the event of peak water usage prior to power being restored, the city said on its website. As it has for past storms, the city will provide a site for disposal of homeowners’ tree debris. Residents may drop off storm debris at the city compost site, located directly behind Dodge of Burnsville on Pleasant Avenue. Residents should not put debris in plastic bags

Blood drive scheduled July 2

Camp Invention at Thomas Lake

LearningRx, 2874 Highway 55, Eagan, will host an American Red Cross blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, July 2. Donors or a family member are eligible to receive a free cognitive skills assessment from LearningRx. To schedule an appointment, call LearningRx at (651) 686-1066 or visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter keyword “LearningRx Eagan.”

Camp Invention, a week-long science, technology, engineering and mathematics enrichment program for children entering grades one through six, will be held June 25-28 at Thomas Lake Elementary School in Eagan. To register a child or for more information, visit www. campinvention.org or call 1-800-968-4332.

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Burnsville’s compost site, located directly behind Dodge of Burnsville on Pleasant Avenue, is accepting tree debris from the storm early Tuesday. for disposal at the compost site. If tree debris has been placed in plastic bags for hauling purposes, residents are asked to open bags and empty them at the compost site. The plastic bags can then be reused or disposed of properly. Hours of operation for the compost site will be 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven

days a week through July 1. Private contractors are also available for tree removal and disposal. A list of tree contractors licensed in the city is at www.burnsville.org/forestry. For more information on tree disposal, call the Burnsville Maintenance Facility at (952) 895-4550.

Pinnacle considers move to Eagan, among cost-saving options by Jessica Harper Sun Thisweek

Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines is considering moving its headquarters to Eagan as part of a moneysaving strategy. Joe Williams, spokesman for Pinnacle, confirmed that the airline is exploring that option but has not made any decisions. “We don’t have plans to move, but every opportunity to reduce costs will be explored,” Williams said. If Pinnacle were to move its operations to Eagan, it could restore hundreds of jobs that were lost when Mesaba Airlines closed its headquarters. The headquarters, located at 1000 Blue Gentian Road, was purchased by

Pinnacle from Delta for $62 million in July 2010. Pinnacle has struggled financially since then. It lost $8.8 million in the first nine months of 2011, which the airline credits to difficulty integrating the two airlines and the economy. Pinnacle is still on the hook for the Mesaba space and continues to operate a flight-training facility and data center there. By moving its operations to Eagan, Pinnacle could save on rent. Pinnacle began looking at Eagan as a possible relocation site after the option was suggested by the director of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. In its bankruptcy filing, Pinnacle claimed assets of

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$1.5 billion and debts of $1.4 billion. Pinnacle, which provides regional flights, continues to have obligations toward national carriers. When it filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April, Pinnacle reached a $74 million debtor-in possession credit agreement with Delta — one that carries 12.5 percent annual interest. Once Pinnacle’s bankruptcy is complete, it will consider Delta a major customer and stop regional service for United and American airlines. Jessica Harper is at jessica. harper@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

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June 22, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan

Hot rods, Johnny Holm and more Dancin’ & Cruisin’ classic car show/concert kicks off Apple Valley’s Freedom Days by Andrew Miller Sun Thisweek

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Expect to see plenty of polished chrome outside Bogart’s Place nightclub next Friday. Hot rods, dune buggies and other vintage vehicles will be on display June 29 for Dancin’ & Cruisin’, the annual classic car show and concert that serves as the kickoff to Apple Valley’s Freedom Days festival. The event, which runs from 6 p.m. to midnight in the Bogart’s parking area, includes a concert by the Johnny Holm Band, food concessions, a business vendor fair and music throughout the night provided by DJ Sounds. Now in its 13th year, Dancin’ & Cruisin’ has seen some big-time growth since its inception. Originally held outside Rascals Bar & Grill across town, it featured a meager 25 or so cars its first year, according to Freedom Days chair Pat Schesso. But the event grew to the point that a few years back organizers began searching out a bigger venue. Bogart’s, with its expansive parking area, fit the bill, and in recent years the event has drawn an estimated 3,000 people and has featured 200-some classic cars each year.

File photo

In addition to its usual array of classic cars, Dancin’ & Cruisin’ will have some additional visual sizzle this year, as organizers are opening the show up to classic trucks and motorcycles for the first time. The car show will have some additional visual sizzle this year, as organizers are opening it up to classic trucks and motorcycles for the first time. “We’re trying to give it a whole new look,” said Schesso. “It’s not just classic cars this year.” Admission to the car show is free, though there’s a $10 cover for the 8:30 p.m. Johnny Holm concert. As in past years, vehicles will be judged and plaques will be awarded to winners in various categories. There is a $20 entry fee for entrants in the car show

which includes a T-shirt and “goodie” bag for the first 150 registered participants. A 10- to 15-mile car cruise will be assembling in the Apple Valley Ford parking lot and will begin between 4 and 4:30 p.m. and end at Bogart’s. Registration will begin at 3 p.m. More information about Dancin’ & Cruisin’, including registration forms for the car show and the business vendor fair, is at www. avfreedomdays.com. Andrew Miller can be reached at andrew.miller@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

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Dan Hall sets in-district office hours

BHS dance team holds car wash The Burnsville Blazette dance team will hold a car wash from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at the Holiday Stationstore located at Nicols and Cliff roads in Eagan.

Sen. Dan Hall, R-Burnsville, will hold in-district office hours to hear from constituents in Senate District 40 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 25, at Jo Jo’s Rise & Wine, 12501 Nicollet Ave., No. 100, Burnsville. Roers named to To make an appointment, advisory panel contact his office at (651) Craig Roers of Burns296-0415. ville has been named to

the Own Your Future Minnesota campaign advisory group by Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon. The 26 members of the advisory panel are charged with guiding a statewide public awareness campaign to encourage Minnesotans to plan for the care they will need as they grow old. Roers is currently director of marketing for Richfield-based Newman Long Term Care.

Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan June 22, 2012

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Jeffrey Donald Anderson Born October 2, 1964 passed away peacefully at home in Farmington on June 15, 2012. He was a loving son, friend and partner. He will be greatly missed by friends and family. He is survived by his Mother, Kathy Storlie, Step Father Gerald Storlie, Father Clint Anderson, two daughters, three brothers, three sisters and companion, Sheri Costa. Memorial to be held by family at a later date. Memorials can be sent to Kathy and Gerald Storlie.

Vanessa Kay Szyman (Paulsen) Entered into rest at her Lakeville, MN home on Friday, June 15, 2012, at 55 years of age. She leaves her husband of 33 years, Thomas Szyman, two children- son Richard Szyman (Laura) and daughter Kim Szyman (friend Adam), her parents Richard and Barbara Paulsen, 3 sisters: Pat VanHoecke (Morey), Pam Paulsen, Carrie Hiniker (Mark), brother Steve Paulsen, brothers-in-law: Robert J. Szyman (Marie Towey), Charles R., James D., Lawrence M. (Carol Erickson), Mark H. (Valerie Black), Peter A., (Catherine Williams), sister-in-law: Marijo T. Bjorlin (Dean) Nieces: Chrissy DeBates (Jeff), Emma Paulsen, Chelsey and Brooklyn Hiniker, Elizabeth A., Rachel A., Malia P., Megan C., Jessica B. Kasper (Isaac), Anna E Graves (Peter), Christina M. Hershberger (Jason) and Jessica Huston; Nephews: Bill VanHoecke (Emily), Aiden Hiniker, Robert M. Szyman (Tamala Hoftiezer), Stephan S., SSG. Daniel P. (Emily Weidhaas), Douglas S., Zachary A., Nathanael E., Joshua L., SGT Mark T., SPC Nicholas G. (Rachel Limas), SPC Travis A. (Amanda Garza), Patrick T., Liam J., Mikel Herb (Brian); David D., and Stephen D. Bjorlin and great nieces and nephews: Will and Matt DeBates, Carson VanHoecke, Bella, Cecelia, and Trinity Szyman and Malachy and Anthony Herb. Vanessa was born on January 7, 1957 in her hometown of Pipestone, MN. She graduated from Pipestone High School in 1975 and furthered her education at U of M in Waseca for animal vet science. Upon completing her degree she moved to Sioux Falls, SD, where she worked with Dr. Christensen. Van was united in marriage on December 28, 1979 to Thomas Szyman. Together they resided in Pipestone, MN where she was employed at the ASCS office. They later moved to Slayton, MN where they began raising their family. They briefly resided in Cloquet, MN before reaching their permanent home in Lakeville, MN in 1983. In 1985, Vanessa established a daycare in her home up until July 2011. Vanessa will always be remembered for her strength, beauty, contagious laugh, her constant rocking in her rocking chair, snacking on Cheerios, home shopping (especially QVC) and her love for children and her pets. She was the family leader on keeping traditions and loved Christmas. Her many interests included: decorating her beautiful home and garden, reading, music, watching movies, traveling, decorative birds, sewing, baking, puzzles, cake decorating, planning parties, and playing games with family. She was preceded in death by her grandparents- Kathryn and Bernard Hjermstad; Bill and Emma Paulsen, her in-laws- Bob and Pat Szyman, nephews Patrick K. Szyman and Sam Huston and 3 uncles- Robert Paulsen, Donald Hjermstad and Timothy Hjermstad. Visitation was held 5-8pm Monday, June 18, 2012 at All Saints Catholic Church, Lakeville, MN. Mass of Christian Burial in Pipestone, MN was Friday, June 22, 2012.

Mabel was born September 1, 1926 in Madelia, MN to Edward and Louise Jahnz. She was baptized and confirmed at Fieldon Lutheran Church in Watonwan County. She graduated from Truman high School in 1944. Mabel married Alvin Meyer of Lewisville, MN on September 22, 1946. They became parents of four children. She resided in Rosemount and worked at the Legion Club, Warner Hardware, and retired from the Dakota County Technical College in 1988. For many years Mabel was active in Home Extension, and in a number of committees, and Circles at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. She also enjoyed various hobbies and crafts with stamping and quilting being her favorites. Mable is survived by her husband of 65 years, Alvin; sisters, Lillian Bode, Arlis Black; sister-in-law, Mary Jahnz; children Nancy (Ron) Wiborg, Vicky (Larry) Wolle, Daryl (Patti) Meyer, Sherry Huber (Denny Cegla); grandchildren, Sheila Baker, Lonnie Wiborg, Dana Alvarado, Nicole Geiger, Jamie Bergeman, Shannon Brekke, Cami Jo Krueger, Allison Meyer, Nate Meyer, Seth Meyer, Joe Huber; also eleven great grandchildren. Mabel was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers and two sisters. Funeral Service was held 11AM Friday, June 15, 2012 at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran church 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN. Visitation was 6:30 – 8:30PM and also was one hour prior to service at Church. Interment Lebanon Cemetery. White Funeral Home Apple Valley 952-432-2001 www.whitefuneralhomes.com

Leighton - Ries Kristin Leighton, daughter of Paul and Jeanne Leighton of Apple Valley, and Jim Ries, son of Jim and Sue Ries of Plymouth, announce their engagement. Kristin is a 2004 graduate of Eastview High School and a 2009 graduate of Creighton University. She is employed as an occupational therapist at Gillette Children's Specialty Hospital. Jim is a 2003 graduate of Wayzata High School and a 2007 graduate of Concordia University and is employed as a financial advisor at North Star Resource Group. An August 10th wedding is planned.

Two charged in heroin sale from hotel room Two men are charged in connection with a heroin sale this month from a Burnsville hotel room. Rolando Ruiz, 21, of Burnsville, is charged with two third-degree controlled substance crimes (sale and possession). Zachary Hirsch, 21, of Savage, is charged with a fifth-degree controlled substance crime (possession). Dakota County Drug Task Force officers heard from three informants that Ruiz was selling heroin out of the hotel room, according to the criminal complaint. All three had bought the drug from him before. Officers had one of

the informants arrange a June 11 buy from Ruiz, who came out of the hotel and said his friend, Hirsch, would be coming with the heroin. The informant was wearing a wire, the complaint said. Hirsch exited the hotel and brought the informant .8 grams of heroin, for which the informant paid $100. Ruiz and Hirsch then returned to the hotel together. Executing a search warrant for Ruiz and the hotel room, which was in Hirsch’s name, officers arrived the next day to find the room vacant. But officers spotted Ruiz’s vehicle at Burnsville Center, where they arrested both men as they

left the mall together. Ruiz was carrying two plastic bags with 4.8 grams of heroin and $807 in cash, the complaint said. Items Hirsch was carrying included a “cut-straw” with heroin on it. Ruiz denied selling heroin but admitted to using it. Hirsch said he bought heroin from Ruiz, who had paid him to rent the hotel room in his name when they checked in about two weeks earlier. Hirsch said that “some girls who work at the hotel told them the Drug Task Force was looking for them,” the complaint said. — John Gessner

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Honl - Nelson

James L. McLaughlin Age 79, of Burnsville, passed away on Saturday June 9th peacefully at home after a courageous twelve yr. battle with cancer. Preceded in death by parents, Leon & Martha; sister, Jean Ann Jensen; and nieces, Debbie & Cheri. Survived by wife, Diane; sons, David (Wendy), Steven, Kevin, Mark (Stephanie); sister, Marcia Chalgren (Bill); brothers-in-law, Lamar and Robert Walters (Harold); and granddaughter, Donna Meyer. He was born in Mankato Minnesota in 1932, graduated High School in 1950, and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1954. He joined the U.S. Navy's Aviation Officer Candidate program, entering flight training in Pensacola, FL before being commissioned in Corpus Christi, TX. After receiving his wings, he joined the VA-125 "Rough Raiders" in 1956 where he flew the Douglas A-1 Skyraider ("Spads") aboard the USS LEXINGTON (CV-16). He served a total of 12 years between active duty and the reserves and left the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander. In 1958 he joined Northwest Airlines, where he flew for 34 years until his retirement as a 747 Captain in 1992. After retirement, he enjoyed nearly 20 more years of summers spent at the cabin on Roosevelt Lake, where he liked to fish and play golf. We would like to thank the nurses and Dr. Dien at MOPHA and Curt and Cindy at Hospice Advantage for all the care they have given to Jim. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the American Cancer Society (towards Lymphoma & Leukemia Research) or Hospice Advantage at 18472 Kenyon Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044. "And God's Finger Touched Him and He Slept". Funeral service 12 noon, Tues., June 26th, 2012, at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church 5025 Knox Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55419; visitation one hour prior to service and reception to follow.

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DeeRae Honl and Matt Nelson, Fargo, ND announce their engagement. Parents are Raymond and Connie Heley, and the late Harris Honl, Lidgerwood, ND, and Maureen and Dan Nelson, Burnsville, MN. Dee Rae graduated in 2005 from Lidgerwood Public School and in 2011 graduated from Minnesota State University, Moorhead with a Master’s degree in speech language pathology. She is a speech language pathologist at Aegis Therapies in Fergus Falls, MN. Matt graduated in 2004 from Burnsville High School and in 2009 graduated from MSUM with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He is the assistant wrestling coach at Moorhead High School and is an account an t f o r Wi l l ia m C. M c C aw , CPA. An August 4 wedding is planned at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, followed by a reception at the El Zagel Shrine, Fargo.

To submit an announcement 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@ecminc.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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June 22, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan

Mature Lifestyles ��

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There are many new considerations to take into account when people in the golden years enter into new relationships after a lifelong spouse has died.

Restarting love in the golden years Age, health, family can hinder personal relationships by Emily Hedges Contributing Writer

When Boyd Phelps, 88, married his wife, Shirley, on Sept. 11, 1948, he knew he had found the love of his life. For almost 60 years the couple lived together, raised two children, and faced whatever challenges came their way. But after Shirley died, for the first time since Harry Truman was in office, Phelps experienced what it was like to be alone. “I was just watching TV, nothing but watching TV,” he said. “I could tell you every program on every night of the week. I started thinking there’s got to be more to life than this.” Phelps decided to start getting out. He began by contacting old friends. One of the first people he called was Carol, a friend he had known for more than 40 years. “She used to call up every few months to see how I was getting along,” he said. “We started going out together. It was fun to meet once a week. Then it became twice a week.” Boyd’s wife Shirley had gone to high school with Carol. He played golf with Carol’s husband for decades. The two couples were in a dance club for almost 20 years. “We always saw each other socially. We went to dinner at each other’s houses as couples,” he said. Now Boyd and Carol take vacations together. They particularly love cruises. As of last month, Carol is living in the same inde-

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pendent living center. “Under the same roof but not in the same apartment,” Boyd was quick to add. Relationships like the one Boyd and Carol share are important to many seniors, according to Sandra Grace of Healing Works in Chaska. But sometimes they can be tricky. “As they age, people want someone to be there,” Grace said. “They wonder if they will find compassion and patience from someone. They worry how health issues will limit them.” She also points out that for many surviving spouses, guilt can hinder their ability to move on. “If you had a loving relationship with a deep connection, it can be really hard to move on and let go of that,” Grace said. “There’s guilt about how the children are going to perceive it. Will they think they’re not honoring the spirit of their mother or father?” One of the first things Boyd did was talk to his daughter. “At first she thought I wanted to talk to her to tell her I had cancer,” Boyd said. “It took her a few days to get used to the idea, but she responded in the affirmative to the relationship.” Grace says that what grown children think about their parents entering a new relationship can be one of the biggest obstacles. “Kids can be very threatened, especially if there is any kind of wealth,” Grace

said. “They suspect their motivations.” But Grace encourages the children to see their parents new relationships as a blessing. “Many times their kids are busy,” she said. “If they are able to find someone, their kids should be thankful.” So part of her job is to help older clients move past those feelings of guilt and other barriers that can stand in the way of a successful and healthy new relationship. “Sometimes as people become older, they get rigid in their beliefs, routines, family rituals, in their physical surroundings,” she said. The challenge comes in figuring out how to compromise. Another concern is attractiveness. Grace finds many clients worry about whether or not they will be attractive to anyone, especially if there are health issues. “Hopefully we are more spiritually attractive, instead of all the materialist trappings,” Grace said. It’s this focus on the opportunities rather than the limitations of dating later in life that Grace stresses to her clients. “If we age gracefully, we have more compassion, wisdom. We feel lighter,” Grace said. “There is no biological clock ticking or career building. During this time, it’s not about becoming; it’s about being.”

Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan June 22, 2012

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June 22, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan

Burnsville, from 1A

Residents were anti-tax increase veys, conducted between businesses. Over March and May, to the surveys since 2007, City Council June 19. responses have risen

more than three “no” from

47 percent in 2007, while “yes” responses have fallen from 31 percent in 2007. “That’s exactly what we’re seeing in other sub-

urban communities,” said Morris, whose firm polls widely for a number of local governments. Businesses, however,

are less anti-tax than they were in 2008, when the last business survey was done. A total of 69 percent opposed tax hikes to maintain services four years ago, and only 14 percent were in favor. “Property tax hostility by this measure has decreased among business owners,” Morris said.

Residential survey Residents’ satisfaction with Burnsville is on the upswing compared with previous surveys. Morris said. “There is a greater amount of goodwill out there than we have seen in previous surveys,” he said. The 89 percent of respondents saying quality of life is good (61 percent) or excellent (28 percent) is “well above the suburban norm” of about 75 percent, Morris said. Seventy-five percent said the city is on the right track, a 4 percent increase over 2010 and “well above” the metro-area norm of 66 percent, Morris said. The Burnsville number has fluctuated between 70 percent and 85 percent over six surveys since 2001. Twenty-one percent said the city is on the wrong track, a 4 percent decrease from 2010. Asked about the most serious issue facing the city, school funding led the pack – chosen by 13 percent of respondents, who were given a host of choices, including crime, taxes, the economy and the Performing Arts Center. Concerns among those respondents focused on “whether there’s too much money over there,” Morris said – a direct result of the controversial $255,000 buyout of ex-School District 191 administrator Tania Chance. But responses to the serious issue question were all over the map, with traffic congestion and crime showing marked decreases from past surveys. Asked their perceptions of city services, residents singled out drinking water as a concern, with 51 percent giving negative responses. “Drinking water was a bit of a problem – it was

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a showstopper as far as our interviewers were concerned,” with respondents describing the “agony and the ecstasy” of Burnsville’s drinking water, Morris said. Burnsville began capturing and treating surface water from a riverfront mining quarry in July 2009 and blending it with the city water supply. The city has worked to control taste and odor problems that were the subject of many complaints. Police did exceptionally well, with a 5 percent disapproval rating that Morris said is “very low in comparison to other communities.” The mayor and City Council received a 65 percent approval rating, their highest since 2005 and a 14 percent increase since 2010. City staff received a 77 percent approval rating, compared with 66 percent in 2010 and 75 percent in 2007 and 2005.

Business survey Ninety-two percent of respondents to the business survey rated Burnsville’s business climate good (75 percent) or excellent (17 percent). “That’s the highest we have on business climate anywhere. ... Ninety-two percent is setting the pace for the rest of the metro area,” Morris said. The survey shows an “amazingly robust business sector ... in terms of the number and types” of businesses, he said. Retail led the way, with 29 percent of respondents reporting they’re in retail. Consumer services was next at 23 percent. However, both have fallen since the last business survey in 2008, when 35 percent of respondents were in retail and 25 percent were in consumer services. “This would be consistent with the economic times,” Morris said. Seventy-three percent of respondents say they plan to stay in Burnsville for 10 or more years. Businesses are “very loyal to the city,” Morris said. Asked what they like most about the city, 34 percent picked location, followed by 27 percent who picked a reliable client base. What do they like least? Forty-three percent said “nothing,” comparatively high among metro cities, although the rating is 18 points lower than in 2008, Morris said. “What’s popped up? City restrictions are chafing a little bit,” he said. Seventeen percent of respondents picked city restrictions, which led the list of gripes respondents could pick from. Only 3 percent picked city restrictions in 2008. Sign restrictions are among the gripes – a “perennial” issue for some business owners, Morris said. It’s ironic, given that the City Council recently “liberalized” Burnsville’s sign ordinance, Council Member Mary Sherry said. The ordinance is now “so liberal,” Mayor Elizabeth Kautz added. “We’ve pushed the boundaries on our sign ordinance.” John Gessner can be reached at john.gessner@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan June 22, 2012

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June 22, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan

Thisweekend Shakespeare embraces the great outdoors Caponi Art Park plays host June 24 to a staging of ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’

by Andrew Miller Sun Thisweek

series continues July 8 with a concert by the Dakota Valley Summer Pops Orchestra. A concert by the Minnesota Sinfonia, originally scheduled for Father’s Day but canceled because of rain, has been rescheduled for July 15. O’Shea Irish Dance and Music plays the Caponi amphitheater on July 22, followed by the Japanese taiko drumming of Mu Daiko on Aug. 5. Admission to all the performances is free with a $5 suggested donation to support programs at the 60-acre nonprofit art park. For families with younger kids, the art park also offers Family Fun Tuesdays, events held each week at 10 a.m. in Caponi’s sculpture garden. Upcoming Family Fun Tuesdays programs include a puppet show by Open Eye Figure Theater (June 26), a raptor presentation by the Dodge Nature Center (July 3) and Mexican folk dance (July 10). The full schedule for Caponi’s Summer Performance Series and Family Fun Tuesdays is at www.caponiartpark.org.

The wooded beauty of Caponi Art Park in Eagan will serve as the backdrop this weekend to “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” Cromulent Shakespeare Company, the Minneapolis-based theater group behind the production, describes “Merry Wives” as a “bawdy farce with colorful characters, silly comedy and audience participation.” Though it’s set in Elizabethan England, director Erin Caswell says audiences will have no trouble relating to the material. It centers on courtship – suitors vying for the affections of a lovely, eligible maiden – and its humor is derived in part from the busybody matchmaking involved. “Think of it as an Elizabethan ‘Real Housewives of Windsor,’ ” Caswell said. The family-friendly performance will be at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 24, in Caponi’s outdoor amphitheater, and guests are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs, and a picnic dinner. The Shakespeare comedy is the latest in Caponi’s annual Summer Per- Andrew Miller can be reached at anformance Series featuring regional drew.miller@ecm-inc.com or facebook. theater, music and dance groups. The com/sunthisweek.

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Tim Jopek of Cromulent Shakespeare Company plays Sir John Falstaff in “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” The Shakespeare comedy will be staged at Eagan’s Caponi Art Park this Sunday.

theater and arts briefs Art fest in Eagan The 18th annual Eagan Art Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 23, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 24, in Eagan’s Central Park.

The festival will include global cuisine and traditional fare in a familyfriendly venue. For a list of this year’s artists, go to www.eaganartfestival.org.

Concert rescheduled

concert at Caponi Art Park, Eagan, has been rescheduled for Sunday, July 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the park’s Theater in the Woods outdoor amphitheater. The performance, originally scheduled for Sunday, June 17, was moved to a later date due to inclement weather.

The Minnesota Sinfonia’s annual Summer Pops

Country sound in Burnsville The Devon Worley Band, a seven-piece country band, will perform at 7 p.m. June 27 as part of the Wednesday in the Park series at Civic Center Park in Burnsville. People who bring a canned or nonperishable food item will receive a free Pepsi beverage. In the event of rain, the concert will be held at Nicollet Junior High School. For information, visit www.communityed191.org or call (952) 707-4150.

Theater group celebrates 40th anniversary The Prior Lake Players will hold its 40th anniversary celebration and fundraiser from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at the McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center in Savage. The event will feature a dinner buffet from CRAVE restaurant, live music from the Red Rock Swing Band, and a variety of activities celebrating PLP’s 40 years of community theater. A silent auction and raffle will also be held to raise funds for PLP’s future theatrical productions. Event tickets are $30 and can be purchased online at www.plplayers.org/plp40th.

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Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan June 22, 2012

family calendar To submit items for the Family Calendar, email: darcy. odden@ecm-inc.com. Friday, June 22 Inaugural Louie Schmitz Memorial Golf Tournament at noon at Fountain Valley Golf Course, 2830 220th St. W., Farmington. Cost: $100; includes golf, free beer and food on the course, prizes and music, and a steak dinner at the Farmington Legion. Proceeds will go towards memorial scholarships and a fund for financial assistance for student athletes. For more information or to register, contact John Barger at (952) 240-6793 or johnbarger@ frontiernet.net. Outdoor movie, “Soul Surfer,” 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. Saturday, June 23 Family open house for Rocky Point Lighthouse Vacation Bible School from 9 a.m. to noon at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School, 151 E. County Road 42, Burnsville. Activities include music, games, crafts, skits, bounce house, and a community service project. Free. Information: www.goodshep.com or (952) 432-5527. Benefit for the Gagnon family at noon at Hope Church, 7477 145th St. W., Apple Valley. Bill Gagnon is currently receiving hospice care for stage 4 colon cancer. His wife Leanne is in remission from breast cancer. Benefit includes lunch, silent auction, bake sale, and family-friendly games. Donations can be made to the Gagnon family and mailed to the church. Field Day – An emergency communications public demonstration, starting at 1 p.m. and running 24 hours at Neill Park, Burnsville (Upton entrance). See how local “ham” radio operators with the Twin Cities Repeater Club serve the community during an emergency. Information: www.tcrc.org. Movies in the Park, “Dolphin Tale,” at dusk at the Central Park Amphitheater near City Hall, Rosemount. Bring blankets and lawn chairs. Weather-related updates: (952) 985-1790, option No. 6.

theater and arts calendar

“The Amazing Cow Boat” puppet show, 10 to 11 a.m. in the Sculpture Garden at Caponi Art Park, Eagan. $4 per person donation is suggested. Information: (651) 454-9412 or www.caponiartpark.org. Tuesday Evenings in the Garden – Taming Garden Godzillas with Elizabeth Spedaliere, 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the garden at UMore Park, 1605 160th St. W. (County Road 46), Rosemount. Learn strategies to help manage Japanese beetle and emerald ash borer in the home landscape. Fee: $10. Questions or to register by phone, call University of Minnesota Extension: (651) 480-7700. Wednesday, June 27 Little Chefs Cooking Class for ages 3-11 from 1 to 2 p.m. at Valley Natural Foods, Burnsville. Free. Register 32 hours in advance by calling (952) 891-1212, ext. 221. Eagan Market Fest, 4 to 8 p.m., Eagan Festival Grounds. Farmers market, Radio Disney with music, prizes and contests, the Teddy Bear Band (6 p.m.), inflatables (weather permitting), Eagan puppet wagon shows, kids’ art, family games and extra family fun activities. Information: www.cityofeagan. com/marketfest or (651) 6755500. Thursday, June 28 Music in the Parks – Wiggle Jiggle and Jam, 10 a.m. at Central Park Amphitheater, Rosemount. Free. Weather line: Call (952) 985-1780 option 6 to find out if a performance has been cancelled. Thursday Rockin’ Readers – Rahn Principal Elaine Mehdizadeh, 11:15 a.m., Nicollet Commons Park, 12600 Nicollet Ave., Burnsville. Free. Thursday Rockin’ Lunch Hour – Sticks and Tones, noon, Nicollet Commons Park, 12600 Nicollet Ave., Burnsville. Free. Music in the Parks – South of the River Community Band, 7 p.m. at Central Park Amphitheater, Rosemount. Free. Weather line: Call (952) 985-1780 option 6 to find out if a performance has been cancelled.

Friday, June 29 Open house by the Apple Valley MOMS Club-South Tuesday, June 26 (Moms Offering Moms Sup Family Fun Tuesday – port) from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Open Eye Figure Theater’s at Lac Lavon Park in Burns-

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ville. Information: momsclubofapplevalleysouth@live. com. Summer Fresh Friday Film, “Locavore: Local Diet, Healthy Planet,” 6 to 8 p.m. at Valley Natural Foods, 13750 County Road 11, Burnsville. Information: (952) 891-1212, ext. 221. Blood drives The American Red Cross 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. • June 23, 10:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Burnhaven Library, 1101 W. County Road 42, Burnsville. • June 26, 2 to 7 p.m., St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 4625 W. 125th St., Savage. • June 28, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Eastview High School, 6200 140th St. W., Apple Valley. • June 28, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Quello Clinic Ltd., 14000 Nicollet Ave. S., Burnsville. • June 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Culver’s, 3445 O’Leary Lane, Eagan. 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 MBoegemanJ@ yahoo.com 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.

To submit items for the Arts Calendar, email: darcy. odden@ecm-inc.com.

John Prine with Willie Watson, 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 29, Subway Music in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphiComedy theater, Apple Valley. Cost: Dwight York with special $67. Tickets available at tickguest Earl Nitch at 8:30 p.m. etmaster.com. Friday, June 22, and Saturday, June 23, at MinneHAHA Exhibits Comedy Club, 1583 E. First World Travel PhotograAve., Shakopee (lower level phy exhibit by artist Becqi of Dangerfield’s), (612) 860- Sherman at the Lakeville Area 9388, www.minnehahacom- Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke edyclub.com. Tickets: $13. Ave. Information: (952) 9854640. Concerts Music in Kelley Park fea- Festivals turing Ménage à Neuf from 6 Apple Valley Freedom to 9 p.m. Friday, June 22, at Days runs June 29-July 4. Kelley Park, 6855 Fortino St., Information: www.avfreedomApple Valley. Free. Food and days.com. beverages available for pur- Lakeville Pan-O-Prog chase. runs July 1-8. Information: The Pines with Lucy Mi- www.panoprog.org. chelle and The Velvet La- Eagan July 4th Funfest pelles, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, runs July 3-4. Information: June 23, Subway Music in the www.eaganfunfest.org. Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, Apple Valley. Cost: Theater $24. Tickets available at tick- Cromulent Shakespeare etmaster.com. Company’s “The Merry Tedeschi Trucks Band Wives of Windsor” will be with Ryan Shaw, 7:30 p.m. presented at 6:30 p.m. June Sunday, June 24, and Mon- 24 in the Theater in the day, June 25, Subway Music Woods outdoor amphitheater in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo at Caponi Art Park in Eagan. amphitheater, Apple Valley. Free, but a $5 donation is reCost: $58 and $66. Tickets quested. Information: www. available at ticketmaster.com. caponiartpark.org. Gavin DeGraw and Colbie Caillat with Joey De- Workshops/classes Graw, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Music Together in the June 27, Subway Music in the Valley offers classes for Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphi- parents and their infant, todtheater, Apple Valley. Cost: dler and preschool children $56. Tickets available at tick- in Rosemount, Farmington, etmaster.com. Lakeville and Apple Valley. Wednesday in the Park Information: www.musictoConcert Series with The getherclasses.com or (651) Devon Worley Band, 7 p.m. 439-4219. June 27 at Civic Center Park, The Eagan Art House of75 Civic Center Parkway, fers classes for all ages. For Burnsville. Rain location: a complete listing go to www. Nicollet Junior High, 400 E. eaganarthouse.org or call 134th St., Burnsville. (651) 675-5521. Emmylou Harris with Dan Petrov Art Studio Field Report, 7:30 p.m. in Burnsville offers oil paintThursday, June 28, Subway ing classes for beginners, Music in the Zoo, Minnesota intermediate and advanced Zoo amphitheater, Apple Val- skill level painters, www. ley. Cost: $58. Tickets avail- danpetrovart.com, (763) 843able at ticketmaster.com. 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. Fee is $3 and includes all supplies. Bring any old jewelry you would like to re-make. 3981 Lexington Ave. S., (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 classes 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. Beginner country line dance classes on Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Lakeville VFW, 8790 Upper 208th St. $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.

14A

Sports

June 22, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan

Megan Linder already keeping fast company CDH sprinter and Eagan resident is state 400-meter champion by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Cameron Hall of Eastview tries to slide past Bemidji catcher Collin Leif in the fourth inning of the state Class AAA baseball championship game at Target Field in Minneapolis. Hall was called out after tagging up and trying to score from third base on a fly out.

Lightning wins as one Players credit family atmosphere for baseball championship

by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

A.J. Stockwell met Evan DeCovich in front of the dugout during Eastview’s state baseball championship celebration and hugged the senior pitcher. “You’re a hoss, bro,” Stockwell said. He didn’t need to say anything else. The Lightning’s first state high school title almost certainly wouldn’t have been possible without DeCovich, who pitched 14 2/3 innings over three Class AAA tournament games, allowing just one run. At the same time, DeCovich said his success wouldn’t have been possible without his team. “At the start of the season, I felt like I needed to do it all,” DeCovich said. “We struggled a little bit defensively at the beginning. Later in the season, I realized the defense had my back and I didn’t have to try to strike everybody out.” Eastview’s 1-0 victory over Bemidji in the Class AAA championship game Monday at Target Field might have been the ultimate example of pitcher and defense working together. DeCovich was working on two days’ rest after throwing 98 pitches in two state tournament games Friday. If he could make the Lumberjacks put the ball in play and avoid deep counts, all the better. DeCovich threw a two-hitter and needed just 88 pitches in a game that took 1 hour, 17 minutes to play. He got nine outs on fly balls, six on grounders and struck out five hitters. Eastview catcher Ryan Reger threw out one Bemidji runner attempting to steal. Only one of Bemidji’s three baserunners advanced past first. The Lightning did not commit an error (neither did the Lumberjacks). “We always have confidence in our

pitching, and Evan has pitched great all year,” senior outfielder Chris Narum said. “By the end of the season, we were hitting better and playing good defense. It all came together for us.” Eastview center fielder Brennan EspindaBanick raced into the gap to rob Bemidji’s Mitch Hendricks of an extra-base hit in the fourth inning, a play DeCovich referred to as a gamechanger. Bemidji got a runner to third base with two outs in the sixth inning, but DeCovich got the next hitter to fly out to center. DeCovich helped supply the only run he needed by leading off the second inning with a double. E.J. Stevens went in as a courtesy runner and advanced to third on Patrick Strey’s sacrifice bunt. Narum then drew a walk and stole second. Stevens scored on Stockwell’s grounder to shortstop. Eastview (22-5) was the third team from Dakota County to play in a state high school championship game at Target Field, which opened in 2010. Burnsville advanced to the Class AAA final the previous two years. The Lightning’s victory also means the South Suburban Conference has had the state large-school baseball champion each season of its two-year existence. Burnsville won Class AAA in 2011. But that doesn’t mean Eastview went into its first state baseball tournament appearance as a favorite. Eastview was 16th among Class AAA teams in the final Minnesota-Scores. net computer ranking. The other seven state tourney qualifiers all were ranked higher. If that wasn’t enough motivation, “it kind of fired us up to see the Star Tribune pick Bemidji to beat us 6-2” in the championship game, Narum said.

Another oddity: No Eastview players were selected for this weekend’s Lions All-Star Series in Chaska. But the Lightning believes the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The team’s motto, “Ohana,” is a Hawaiian word meaning “family.” The seniors have been on the same teams for almost a decade and won a couple of state championships in youth baseball. “It’s unreal. I’ve never been a part of something like this,” said senior shortstop Scott Nelson. “It really is like a family, and I think it helped settle our nerves today. We were excited to be here, but we were able to do our thing and play our game.” The baseball championship is Eastview High School’s second in a boys sport; the first was in lacrosse earlier this month. Although the school has been open only 15 years, the baseball championship isn’t an overnight success story. “It feels like it’s been a long time coming,” said Tom Strey, who became Eastview’s head coach in 2001 after 10 seasons as an assistant at Apple Valley. “There are a lot of good people in the community, and a lot of effort went into this,” said Strey, who also coached the current seniors in youth baseball. “A lot of the players’ dads have served as coaches. We developed our own (American) Legion team, which gave more of our kids an opportunity to play at that level. It really was a community effort.” It fostered a belief that every player, from the ace pitcher to the last man on the bench, had something to contribute. That’s why they called it Ohana. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike.shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/ sunthisweek.

Brothers finish in a tie Eagan fifth in state boys golf

by Mike Shaughnessy

Mike Shaughnessy is at mike.shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Slow start hinders Eastview Girls golf team fifth at state

by Mike Shaughnessy

Sun Thisweek

Derick and Nick Kuchera have done a lot of things together, so perhaps it’s fitting that the brothers finished their final high school golf tournament with the same score. By tying for 20th place individually, they helped Eagan finish fifth at the Class AAA boys tournament last week at Bunker Hills in Coon Rapids. Nick Kuchera, the Wildcats’ No. 1 player and Section 3AAA medalist, shot 80 in the first round but closed with 74 for a 154 total. Derick Kuchera had rounds of 78 and 76 to also finish at 154. Ben Welle of Moorhead and Jon DuToit of Chaska were co-medalists after each finished with a 142 total (2 under par). The Kuchera brothers also helped Eagan place third in the Class AA boys hockey tournament in March and plan to play junior hockey in the fall. Eagan was sixth in the team standings after shooting 319 on the first day of the state tournament. The Wildcats improved by 11 strokes the next day and jumped past Forest Lake to place fifth with a 627 total. Eagan was the only team to count four scores below 80 on the second day and finished one stroke behind Rogers for fourth place. Class AAA team cham-

A Twin Cities-area high school without a track had a state track and field champion this spring. Come again? Cretin-Derham Hall, for all its success in other sports, hasn’t had an on-campus outdoor track for decades. That didn’t prevent sophomore Megan Linder, an Eagan resident, from walking away from the state Class AA meet earlier this month with three medals, including one for first place in the 400-meter dash. She also had top-five finishes in the 100 and 200 and was responsible for all of Cretin-Derham Hall’s 25 team points, which put the Raiders 10th in the Class AA standings. But where does she practice? “We’re at Macalester College, which is a mile or mile and a half away from school,” Linder said. “I think it’s a really nice facility and it’s not hard to get to – unless you don’t have a car.” Linder won the Class AA 400 final in 56.53 seconds, a personal record and more than two seconds faster than her eighth-place time at the 2011 state meet. She would have to drop another couple of seconds over the next two years to threaten the all-time state meet record of 54.36, set by Vanessa Clarida of Bloomington Kennedy in 2001. Linder said that thought has already crossed her mind. “I think that’s a goal for my senior year,” she said. “(The state record) is a really fast time, but my coach says it’s a possibility. If I stay healthy, train hard and peak at the right time, I think I have a chance.” When she qualified for state a year ago, Linder said she was caught off-guard by the surroundings and the pressure of the state meet. This year, she said she was far more comfortable and better prepared. She was the No. 2 seed in the 400 going into state and had the fastest time in preliminaries. Linder won the state final by about half a second ahead of Irondale senior Kianna Carter. Linder, who attended Dakota Hills Middle School before enrolling at Cretin-Derham Hall in ninth grade, said she ramped up her training after the 2011 season. She did additional weight training – some of it under the direction of her father, Michael – and it paid immediate benefits. She set personal records in all three of her events at the state meet. She finished fifth in the 100, an event where the alltime state meet record was broken in the preliminaries and finals by different sprinters. Hopkins junior Taylor Anderson won the event in 11.71 seconds. Linder was third in the 200 in 25.35, behind Alexandria eighth-grader Wensia Johnson (24.65) and Anderson (24.75). She was the only girl to qualify for the Class AA meet in all three sprints. “The 400 was the race I had the best chance to win,” she said. “I knew there were some fast girls in the 100 and 200, and I was shooting for top five in those races.” Linder, an Academic All-State athlete with a 4.2 grade-point average, used to play basketball but now will focus her athletic energy on track and field. She has done the long jump in the past and could return to that event. If the Raiders develop more sprinters, they might put Linder on a relay or two. And, “I hope to run for a Division I college,” she said. This weekend, it’s back to the track for Linder, who is scheduled to compete in an AAU regional qualifier at Brooklyn Center High School.

Sun Thisweek

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Nick Kuchera of Eagan hits a pitch shot during the state Class AAA boys golf tournament. pion Moorhead had a 599 total, including a 297 in the second round that was 10 strokes lower than anybody else. The Spuds won the team title by 14 strokes. Eagan senior Christian Butler tied for 42nd place after shooting 79-79–158. Ryan Punch, also a senior, had 82-79–161 to tie for 57th. Reed Becker, a junior, shot 88-81–169 to tie for 80th and senior Drew Bauer tied for 83rd with 8587–172.

Eagan finished sixth in the South Suburban Conference, although Nick Kuchera was the league’s third-ranked player. The Wildcats were second after the first day of the Section 3AAA tournament but passed East Ridge in the final round to qualify for state for the second time in three years. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

One golf axiom states that you can’t win a tournament on the first day, but you can shoot yourself out of it. Unfortunately for Eastview’s girls, that’s what happened at last week’s state Class AAA meet. Eastview couldn’t completely recover from a rough first round and finished fifth in the 36hole event. The Lightning did make significant improvement in the second round of the tournament June 13 at Bunker Hills in Coon Rapids. Its second-round team score of 333 was 27 strokes better than its opening day score of 360. The secondday score also was the best an Eastview girls team has shot at Bunker Hills. Eastview, tied for sixth after the first round, jumped over Alexandria to finish in fifth place but was too far behind the top four teams to move up farther. New Prague won the Class AAA championship with a twoday total of 661; Eastview’s total was 693. Lightning senior Sara Detlefsen tied for seventh place to earn her third state individual medal in four years. Detlefsen, who will play at Florida Gulf Coast University, opened with an 82 but shot a 3-over par 76 in the second round for a 158 total. Cretin-Derham Hall

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Eastview junior Madi Roe putts during the state Class AAA girls golf tournament. The Lightning was fifth in the team competition. sophomore Celia Kuenster, who was Class AAA comedalist in 2011, finished first by herself this year after shooting 72-69–141. Most of Eastview’s lineup improved from the first day to the second. Sophomore Kari Opatz (88-82–170) tied for 24th place, and senior Maddy Paulsen (95-82–175) tied for 37th. Junior Madi Roe (97-93–190) tied for 69th. Lydia Jorgenson, a senior, shot 99 in both rounds

for a 198 total and 80th place. Eighth-grader Tylor Christensen (105-94–199) tied for 81st. The state tournament wrapped up a strong season for the Eastview girls, who were second in the final Minnesota Golf Association state team rankings and third in the state coaches association Class AAA rankings. Detlefsen and Opatz also received All-State recognition. The Lightning rolled to the South Suburban Conference championship, winning three of the four regularseason conference tournaments and finishing fourth in the other. Eastview also won four regular-season invitational tournaments as well as the Section 3AAA championship. Others from the Sun Thisweek coverage area competing in the state tournament were Rosemount junior Molly Flynn (tied for 42nd, 88-88–176), Lakeville North eighth-grader Brianna Vetter (tied for 45th, 90-87–177), Lakeville North junior Laura Larson (tied for 53rd, 92-89–181), Apple Valley sophomore Lauren Kerr (tied for 53rd, 90-91–181) and Eagan junior Shelby Braun (tied for 63rd, 95-89–184). Mike Shaughnessy is at mike.shaughnessy@ecm-inc. com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan June 22, 2012

Black Dog, from 1A Mayor Elizabeth Kautz called the agreements a “playbook” for relations between the city and the plant. “This is very comprehensive work, very complicated work, with all of the items that needed to be addressed,” she said. Black Dog Road, which was dedicated to the city in 1979, will be turned back to Xcel. Under the turnback, vehicle traffic would be shut off between the road’s east and west bridges, and the road would function as a private entrance to the plant on the west end. Reopening the entire length of Black Dog Road,

Knutson, from 1A lection through July 21 at the city’s Performing Arts Center gallery. An opening reception was held June 14. Knutson has gained access to the laureates mostly through the Carlson lectures and the Westminster Town Hall Forum in Minneapolis (he is the portrait photographer for both), and Nobel Peace Prize Forums, which have been hosted by five Lutheran Norwegian colleges in the Upper Midwest, including Knutson’s alma mater, Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. A 1979 graduate of Burnsville High School, Knutson is one of five children of Howard and Jerry Knutson of Burnsville. Howard was an elder statesman here, serving as a state representative and senator from 1967 to 1990 and running a local law practice that once included his son, David. David followed in his father’s footsteps as a state senator from Burnsville before becoming a Dakota County district judge. Howard died in 2006 at age 77. “I think a lot of why I can deal with these people (Nobel laureates) the way I do is my upbringing,” said Doug, who lives in Minneapolis. “My first campaign I participated in, I was 5 years old. We were meeting congressmen and governors then. And my dad always emphasized, ‘You treat these people with respect, but you treat everybody else with the same level of respect.’ “I really think with this series of portraits I do, it’s a perfect combination between my philosophy degree, my photography and the political family I grew up in.” Knutson majored in philosophy at Luther, where he worked as a staff photographer for the newspaper and college publications. The shutter bug bit in his sophomore year at BHS, when he took a photography class because the woodshop class he wanted was full. After college he marked time working at Mr. B’s convenience store in Burnsville while assisting established photographers in Minneapolis. A job assisting Milwaukee free-

which is closed at the damaged west bridge, would require a prohibitive $1 million in repairs over the next one to three years, according to the city. If the city kept the road, its costs would exceed $600,000, even after assessments paid by Xcel. The road has been a headache for years. Flooding, a common springtime occurrence, saturates the road until it “falls apart” under Xcel’s heavy truck traffic, Burnsville Public Works Director Steve Albrecht told the council. Flooding also leaves silt piles that are costly to remove, he said. Terms of an assessment and development agree-

ment with Xcel call for the company to pay most of the cost of a new west bridge. Burnsville will pay only $60,000 of the $717,000 cost. After that, the city’s only responsibility for the road will be $150,000 for resurfacing on the west end and some maintenance on the east end. The council has yet to vote on vacating the road. The process of turning the entire road back to Xcel could take several years. The Black Dog property will be platted for the first time, by the end of 2013, under the agreement. Easements and land will go to the city to satisfy park and stormwater requirements.

The agreement paves the way for eventual construction of a Burnsville-Eagan trail segment of the Minnesota River Greenway. Burnsville has received a $1 million federal grant for its trail section from Interstate 35W to Cedar Avenue. Negotiations with Xcel were spurred largely by a proposed $600 million plant upgrade that would have converted the plant’s two coal-fired turbines to natural gas. The company reversed course last year, saying it has enough generating capacity to meet customers’ needs without the upgrade. Planning had begun for a $5.5 million extension of

lancer James Schnepf on a Money magazine cover shoot at a Hennepin County park proved to be a big break, Knutson said. More jobs with Schnepf followed. “One day he said to me, ‘When are you going to go to New York and show your portfolio?’ ” Knutson recalled. “I said, ‘Wow, I can do that?’ ” Knutson mailed out samples and by 1990 was visiting the offices of New York photo editors. Magazine assignments followed, from Sports Illustrated and Newsweek to Business Week and Forbes. “Over the years I think I’ve worked for just about all of them,” said Knutson, who now finds most of his work in advertising. He launched his Nobel portfolio in 1991 at his alma mater, which was hosting the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. His first portrait was of laureate Betty Williams, a peace activist in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. “And five minutes after that, I shot Oscar Arias Sanchez from Costa Rica,”

said Knutson, who shoots in black and white to give the portraits a timeless quality. He shot about half his portraits at Nobel forums. His best, Knutson said, are of Elie Wiesel, the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, the anti-apartheid archbishop from South Africa. “With Desmond Tutu, I was all set up in one room and at the last minute the organizers of the lecture series made me move to a different room because they wanted to keep the flow easier and not have him walk through a bunch of people to get where I was set up,” Knutson said. “The room they made me switch to had these stainedglass windows behind him that made it look like angels’ wings. Them making me move really helped the picture.” Most of his Nobel Peace Portraits showings have been at the Nobel forums or at Carlson lectures. Knutson said he asked for the Burnsville showing after his mother told him the PAC was seeking gallery proposals from artists.

The 20-by-24-inch portraits are limited editions available for purchase. “The only one that’s not there is F.W. de Klerk,” Knutson said. “I just photographed him in March.” John Gessner can be reached at john.gessner@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

12th Avenue in Burnsville through Black Dog Park to the company’s high-water road in the Minnesota River bottom. The extension would have taken Xcel truck traffic off neighborhood streets during flooding. Those plans were set aside. Should the plant upgrade be revived, the assessment and development agreement reaffirms previous plans to have Xcel pay the entire cost through added tax revenue from the upgraded plant. It includes a guarantee even if tax revenue falls short. Fire and building concerns are addressed in two memos of understanding.

15A

“It’s important that the fire code be followed,” Albrecht said. A framework for city emergency response comes nearly two years after a coal-bunker fire and explosion at the plant. The explosion tore apart the plant’s west wall and caused extensive interior damage. The Fire Department formally honored about two dozen of its members for their response to the hazardous scene. John Gessner can be reached at john.gessner@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Today’s The Day Stop Smoking

16A

June 22, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan

Ex-employee charged with stealing $183,000 from firm A Burnsville woman who worked for a local shipping company is accused of stealing $183,000 from the company over nearly five years. Laura Michelle Schwartz, 36, of Burnsville, was charged June 15 with 10 counts of felony theft by swindle. She’s accused of initiating 182 fraudulent transactions from June 2007 to January 2012 that funneled funds from freight-shipping company Network FOB to her personal bank accounts. The company, which was located in Eagan until October 2011 and has moved to Florida, contracts with truckers and trucking companies to provide freight shipments for its clients. “This is a major financial crime that resulted in significant loss during difficult economic times for this business,” Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said in a news release. “This is the 23rd major economic crime exceeding $50,000 in loss prosecuted in Dakota County since 2006.” Schwartz started as a clerical support worker at the company and worked in the Eagan office until 2005, when she was allowed to work at home, according to the criminal complaint. Her duties included billing and collecting from clients, bank reconciliations and basic bookkeeping. A recent company audit revealed suspicious transactions linked to an employee with Schwartz’s password,

according to the complaint. The company discovered that invoices from old reconciled and closed accounts were being reopened and paid years later, the complaint said. Company records showed that the employee reopened closed accounts numerous times by altering vendor codes. Payments to carriers were arranged to be paid via check or electronically. But many of the checks issued were sent to addresses that didn’t belong to the carriers whose names were on the checks. And the electronic payments were routed to two bank accounts belonging to Schwartz, the complaint said. Burnsville police determined that from June 2007 to January 2012, about 82 checks and 100 electronic payments wound up in Schwartz’s accounts, the complaint said. She allegedly used the money to pay for personal items such as utilities, legal fees, child care, children’s athletics, schools, automotive services and health care. Questioned by police on April 9, she declined to provide a statement. Schwartz made her first court appearance June 15. Bail was set at $25,000 with conditions or $50,000 without conditions. Her next appearance is on Oct. 2 in Hastings. — John Gessner

�� District 194 School Board Proceedings

This is a summary of the Independent School District No.194 Regular School Board Meeting on Tues, May 22, 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.isd194.k12.mn.us or District Office at 8670 210th Street W., Lakeville, MN 55044 The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. followed by pledge of allegiance. All board members and administrators were present. Consent agenda items approved: minutes of the meetings on May 8 and 15; employment recommendations, leave requests and resignations; resolution relating to the termination and non-renewal of probationary teacher; payment of bills and claims subject to annual audit; wire transfers & investments; alt facilities bids/quotes; AMSD membership; donations; and fieldtrips. Reports presented: K-12 science curriculum; CLEC update; Multiple Measurements Rating (MMR); iLearn update and Key Work of School Boards. Recommended actions approved: Graduates for class of 2012; ELA curriculum resources; 2011-12 revised budget. Adjournment at 9:19 p.m. 3059003 6/22/12

�� PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

2012 Nicollet Avenue Watermain Improvements and Street Rehabilitation (12-102A) Nicollet Avenue & TH 13 Turn Lane (10-502)

Sioux Trail Elementary Safe Route to School City Project No. 12-313 State Project No. 179-591-001 Minnesota Project No. SRTS 2712 (199)

CITY OF BURNSVILLE BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA -ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS -

RECEIPT AND OPENING OF PROPOSALS: Sealed proposals for the following described local improvements under Minnesota Statues, Chapter 429 will be received at Burnsville City Hall, 100 Civic Center Parkway, Burnsville, MN 55337, until 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday the 10th day of July, 2012, at which time the bids will be opened and publicly read. The Council will consider such bids in the Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 17th, 2012. DESCRIPTION OF WORK: The work includes the construction of approximately: 365 SY Concrete Pavement 2740 TON Bituminous Mixture 1 LS Altitude Valve Vault Improvements 1940 LF 36" DIP Watermain 19,000 LB Ductile Iron Fittings 1 SYSTEM Revise Signal System together with numerous related items of work, all in accordance with Plans and Specifications. COMPLETION OF WORK: All work under the Contract must completed by November 30, 2012, along with interim substantial completion dates. PRE-BID CONFERENCE: A non-mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on Monday, July 2, 2012 at 1 p.m. at Burnsville City Hall, address above. PLANHOLDERS LIST, ADDENDUMS AND BID TABULATION: The planholders list, addendums and bid tabulation will be available on-line at www.bolton-menk.com . Any addendums will be mailed, faxed or electronically delivered to all planholders. TO OBTAIN BID DOCUMENTS: Complete digital project bidding documents are available at www.bolton-menk.com or www.questcdn.com . You may download the digital plan documents for $20.00 by entering Quest project #2096588 on the website's Project Search page. Please contact QuestCDN.com at 952-233-1632 or info@questcdn.com for assistance in free membership registration, downloading, and working with this digital project information. An optional paper set of project documents is also available for a nonrefundable price of $75.00 per set (non-refundable), which includes applicable sales tax and shipping. Please make your check to payable to Bolton & Menk, Inc. and send it to 12224 Nicollet Avenue, Burnsville, MN 55337-1649, (952) 890-0509, fax (952) 890-8065 BID SECURITY: A certified check or proposal bond in the amount of not less than 5 percent of the total amount bid, drawn in favor of City of Burnsville shall accompany each bid. OWNER'S RIGHTS RESERVED: The City of Burnsville reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive informalities, and to award the bid in the best interest of the City. No bids may be withdrawn for a period of forty-five (45) days. BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL Macheal Brooks, City Clerk City of Burnsville, Minnesota Published in Burnsville Sun Thisweek on June 22nd and 29th, 2012 Published in the Finance & Commerce on June 22nd and 29th, 2012 3058959 6/22-6/29/12

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Sealed proposal bids will be received by the City of Eagan, Minnesota, in City Hall at 3830 Pilot Knob Road, until 10:30 A.M., C.D.S.T., on Thursday, July 12, 2012, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud for the furnishing of all labor and materials and all else necessary for the following: CITYWIDE TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS City Contract No. 12-11 Involving Approximately: 150 CY Common Excavation 200 TN Class 5 Aggregate Base 12 EA Remove Trail Overgrowthl 13 EA Traffic Control 250 L.F. Concrete Curb & Gutter Removal & Replacement 3,800 TON Wear Course Bituminous Mixture - Trail Overlay & New 1,800 S.F 4-inch Concrete Ped Ramp 90 Each Truncated Domes Detectable Warning Paver (2' x 2') Together with Miscellaneous Structure Installations, Adjustments & Site Restoration Complete digital contract bidding documents are available at www.questcdn.com . You may download the digital plan documents for $20.00 by inputting Quest project #2092465 on the Web site's Project Search page. Please contact QuestCDN.com at (952) 233-1632 or info@questcdn.com for assistance in free membership registration, downloading, and working with this digital project information. Complete contract documents may also be seen at the offices of the City Clerk and City Engineer, Eagan, MN, at 3830 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, MN 55122, Phone (651) 675-5646. Contractors desiring a hardcopy of the complete bidding documents may obtain them from the office of the City Clerk, Eagan, MN upon payment of $50.00. No money will be refunded to any person who obtains plans and specifications. Each bid proposal shall be accompanied by a bidder's bond naming the City of Eagan as obligee, a certified check payable to the Clerk of the City of Eagan or a cash deposit equal to at least five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid, which shall be forfeited to the City in the event that the bidder fails to enter into a contract. The City Council reserves the right to retain the deposits of the three lowest bidders for a period not to exceed forty-five (45) days after the date and time set for the opening of the bids. No bids may be withdrawn for a period of forty-five (45) days after the date and time set for the opening of bids. Payment for the work will be by cash or check. The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids and technical proposals, to waive irregularities and informalities therein and further reserves the right to award the contract to the best interests of the City. /s/ Christina M. Scipioni, City Clerk, City of Eagan 3049595 6/15-6/22/12

NOTICE OF THE CITY OF EAGAN POLICY OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY The City of Eagan is committed to the policy that all persons have equal access to its programs, services, activities, facilities and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status or status with regard to public assistance. Auxiliary aids for persons with disabilities will be provided upon advance notice of at least 96 hours. If a notice of less than 96 hours is received, the City of Eagan will attempt to provide such aid. Telephone: (651) 675-5000; TDD: (651) 454-8535. 3049714 6/15-6/22/12

80 310 180 200 90 159 800 125 1

TON CY TON SF LF LF SY LF EA

Bituminous Pavement Common Excavation Aggregate Base Class 5 4" Concrete Walk 6" Perf Drain Tile 6" PVC Pipe Sewer Seeding 4” Solid Line Yellow-Paint Advance Warning Flasher Sign System

The bids must be submitted on the Proposal Forms provided in accordance with the Contract Documents, Plans and Specifications as prepared by the City Engineer, which are on file with the City Clerk and may be obtained at the office of the City Engineer. Digital copies of the Contract Documents can be obtained at www.questcdn.com or www.burnsville.org/bids . The Quest CDN project number is #2122340. Bidders can download the Contract Documents for $20 by searching for the project on the QuestCDN website's Project Search page or selecting the Engineering/Public Work Bid link and then the project on the Burnsville website. Please contact QuestCDN.com at (952) 233-1632 or info@questcdn.com for assistance in free membership registration, downloading and working with this digital project information. Bidders can also view the Contract Documents at either website free of charge. No bids will be considered unless sealed and filed with the City Clerk of the City of Burnsville endorsed upon the outside wrapper with a brief statement or summary as to the work for which the bids is made and accompanied by a cash deposit, certified check, bid bond, or cashier's check payable to the City of Burnsville in the amount of five percent (5%) of the amount of bid, to be forfeited as liquidated damages in the event that the bid is accepted and the bidder shall fail to promptly enter into a written contract and furnish the required bond. The City of Burnsville reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive informalities, and to award the bid in the best interest of the City. No bids may be withdrawn for a period of forty-five (45) days. Immediately following expiration of the time for receiving bids, the City Clerk and Engineer will publicly open bids in the City Hall. The Council will consider such bids in the Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m. July, 17, 2012. Minimum wage rates to be paid by the Contractors have been predetermined and are subject to the Work Hours Act of 1962, P.L. 87-581 and implementing regulations. READ CAREFULLY THE WAGE SCALES AND DIVISION A OF THE SPECIAL PROVISIONS AS THEY AFFECT THIS/THESE PROJECT/PROJECTS

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed proposals will be received by the City Council of the City of Burnsville at 100 Civic Center Parkway, Burnsville, MN 55337, until 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday the 10th day of July, 2012, said proposal for the furnishing of all labor and materials for the construction, complete in place of the following approximate quantities:

PUBLIC NOTICE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 196 Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools Educating our students to reach their full potential CALL FOR PROPOSALS Student Information System Notice is hereby given that PROPOSALS will be received to award a contract for purpose of purchasing a single Student Information System solution by Independent School District 196 at the District Office located at 3455 153rd St W, Rosemount, MN 55068 until 2:00 PM, Tuesday, July 24, 2012, at which time and place Proposals will be publicly opened. Complete instructions on how to obtain Proposal Documents can be found at: http://www.district196.org/District/LegalNotices/ index.cfm The School Board of Independent School District 196 reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals and to waive any informalities. Joel Albright, Board Clerk Independent School District 196 3059023 6/22-6/29/12

The Minnesota Department of Transportation hereby notifies all bidders: in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Act), as amended and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Subtitle A Part 21, Non-discrimination in Federally-assisted programs of the Department of Transportation, it will affirmatively assure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded maximum opportunity to participate and/or to submit bids in response to this invitation, and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, disability, age, religion, sex or national origin in consideration for an award; in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, and Title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 230 Subpart A-Equal Employment Opportunity on Federal and Federal-Aid Construction Contracts (including supportive services), it will affirmatively assure increased participation of minority groups and disadvantaged persons and women in all phases of the highway construction industry, and that on any project constructed pursuant to this advertisement equal employment opportunity will be provided to all persons without regard to their race, color, disability, age, religion, sex or national origin; in accordance with the Minnesota Human Rights Act, Minnesota Statute 363A.08 Unfair discriminatory Practices, it will affirmatively assure that on any project constructed pursuant to this advertisement equal employment opportunity will be offered to all persons without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, disability, sexual orientation, or age; in accordance with the Minnesota Human Rights Act, Minnesota Statute 363A.36 Certificates of Compliance for Public Contracts, and 363A.37 Rules for Certificates of Compliance, it will assure that appropriate parties to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement possess valid Certificates of Compliance. If you are not a current holder of a compliance certificate issued by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and intend to bid on any job in this advertisement you must contact the Department of Human Rights immediately for assistance in obtaining a certificate. The following notice from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights applies to all contractors: "It is hereby agreed between the parties that Minnesota Statute, section 363A.36 and Minnesota Rules, parts 5000.3400 to 5000.3600 are incorporated into any contract between these parties based on this specification or any modification of it. A copy of Minnesota Statute 363A.36 and Minnesota Rules, parts 5000.3400 to 5000.3600 is available upon request from the contracting agency." "It is hereby agreed between the parties that this agency will require affirmative action requirements be met by contractors in relation to Minnesota Statute 363A.36 and Minnesota Rules 5000.3600. Failure by a contractor to implement an affirmative action plan or make a good faith effort shall result in revocation of its certificate or revocation of the contract (Minnesota Statute 363A.36, Subd. 2 and 3)." BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL Macheal Brooks, City Clerk City of Burnsville, Minnesota Published in the Burnsville Sun Thisweek: June 22nd and 29th, 2012 Published in the Finance & Commerce: June 14th, 21st and 28th, 2012 To receive future bid notices via email or to see the plan holders' list, visit www.burnsville.org/bids. 3058808 6/22-6/29/12

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice of Public Sale SS MNRI, LLC doing business as Simply Self Storage intends to enforce its lien on certain personal property belonging to the following, at the facility. The sale will take place (unless otherwise withdrawn) on Wednesday July 11, 2012 on or after 9:30am at the Simply Self Storage location at 4025 Old Sibley Memorial Highway, Eagan, MN 55122 Phone 651-894-5550. This public sale will result in the goods being sold to the highest bidder. Certain terms and conditions apply. V. Sandelin #148 Clothes, Luggage, Childrens Toys E. Morganti #510C Clothes, Boxes, Household Items L. Debreto #528 Household Items L. Debreto #530A Television, Artwork, Plastic Totes 3043088 6/22-6/29/12

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PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING A Public Hearing will be held on June 25, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as possible by the Burnsville Planning Commission, 100 Civic Center Parkway, in the Council Chambers on the application of Coleman Scott Perry Corporation for a Conditional Use Permit Amendment to improve the parking lot of the existing Ryder Truck facility located at 3615 Highway 13 West. The application will be scheduled for the next appropriate City Council meeting following the Planning Commission meeting. All persons desiring to speak on this application are encouraged to attend. For more information concerning this request, please contact Planner Chris Slania (952) 895-4451 at the City of Burnsville. Chris Slania On Behalf of the Chair of the Burnsville Planning Commission 3049279 6/15-6/22/12

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Breaking the silence

Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan June 22, 2012

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Forum participants share experience, pain of mental illness

by Laura Adelmann Sun Thisweek

Seven men and women punctured the hidden shame, silence and isolation by offering painful testimony to a standing-room St. Paul History Theater crowd that shouted encouragement, cheers and gave robust applause. The June 18 Minds Interrupted monologues was a declaration that diagnoses like paranoid schizophrenia, manic depression and bipolar did not erase the participants’ humanity, has not stopped them from living, and has united them to stand against society’s stigma that for lifetimes left them ashamed and trapped in their or their family member’s mental illness. Among the speakers was Heidi Nordin of Eagan, a manager for a Fortune 500 company who lives with bipolar and borderline personality disorder, rides a motorcycle and loves Lady Gaga’s music so much her friends call her “Heidi Gaga.” Depression enveloped her at 15, after a series of life-altering circumstances: Her grandmother, the “glue” of the family, died, she transferred from a small Catholic school to large public high school, and Nordin’s parents divorced. “Oh my God,” Nordin

said, her voice wavering, “Even after all these years, just thinking about my dad leaving creates a sick feeling in the deepest part of my soul.” High school felt like a black hole; she cut herself and often contemplated suicide. As an adult, her behavior “became truly out of control,” Nordin said. She went into manic episodes, skipping medications while on “highs,” that included wild spending sprees and too much food, alcohol and one-night stands. “There’s no moderation when I’m depressed, either,” Nordin said. “I’m like a radio channel that’s either blaring at full-blast or at such a low volume you can’t hear me at all.” Nordin said although she still spirals between depressive and manic episodes, suffers nightmares and a racing mind and “almost constant” thoughts of suicide, she found hope through the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which sponsored Monday’s event. NAMI Minnesota Executive Director Sue Abderholden said society’s stigma against people who suffer mental health issues is so strong, people live with their symptoms an average of 10 years before seeking

help. She said a survey last year showed that nearly 100 percent of patients hospitalized for mental illness never received a get-well card. “There is isolation with this illness,” Abderholden said. “When someone shares their story, we take another brick off that wall.”

In Dakota County NAMI is active in Dakota County, which is the only county in the state with an “Experienced Parent” program. Started 18 months ago, a team of eight trained parents are helping about 50 families struggling with mental health issues. NAMI Operations Director Suzette Scheele of Burnsville coordinates the Experienced Parent program that matches trained, experienced parents who are raising children with mental illnesses with parents who are new to the mental health system. Experienced parents meet weekly with the families in the program to listen, provide support and connect them to resources. “Parents who have walked this path understand,” Scheele said. “When you’re a parent and faced with these challenges and don’t know where to go for help, they trust parents

who’ve walked the path.” One mother recently was helped through the program, after she broke down in tears at a NAMI support group, expressing feelings of hopelessness because her child had been hospitalized with a mental health diagnosis. Four weeks after entering the Experienced Parent program, the mother told the group she felt there was hope and that her child had a positive future. That mother’s despair reflected what Scheele said she has experienced with a positive outcome. A single mother of three, one of her sons was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at age 3, underwent the first of eight psychiatric hospitalizations at age 5 and was diagnosed bipolar by age 14. “There were no support groups then,” Scheele said. “You feel like you’re alone, and the stigma prevents a lot of people from getting the help they need.” Now 22, he has graduated cum laude from the University of St. Thomas with a double major, and is working part-time while earning a graduate degree. “He has strengths and talents like everyone else,” Scheele said. “He just so happens to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It’s

Graphic submitted

The cover of the “Minds Interrupted” program featured a photo of a cloud-covered walkway. been a challenge, but he’s a wonderful young man. I’m very proud of him.” During the Minds Interrupted forum, speakers shared their struggles, and those of friends and relatives. They spoke of abuse, beatings, horror movies in their heads, hearing voices, or of being a child, roiling with emotions through the years: confused, frightened, angered, embarrassed of a parent they could not understand until years later. Sometimes, the presenters could not speak, stopped by memory too painful to admit: A surprise party, followed by his friend’s suicide; porn images that refused to leave; sobbing and making animal noises in a corner; pleading with authorities to see even if her child was arrested.

Most of the speakers had to stop as they struggled to read, standing in the spotlight, looking down, choking back tears. People in the crowd urged them on. And they continued; every one finished their monologue. Several called their diagnosis a blessing, in part because of the help, support and friends they have found through NAMI. Nordin said while she has found help and comfort in the support, she also has found she is grateful because of who she is: “Heidi Gaga.” For more information about NAMI, go to www. namihelps.org. Laura Adelmann is at laura. adelmann@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

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June 22, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan

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June 22, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Burnsville / Eagan

Business Briefs New IT leaders at Blue Cross Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Eagan, announced two new appointments to its IT leadership team, naming David Kaercher as vice president of infrastructure and Colleen Sargent as vice president of application development. Kaercher will be responsible for aligning the corporate technology vision with business strategy by integrating company processes with the appropriate technologies. He most recently held the position of senior vice president of technology operations and service delivery at PNC Bank. Kaercher holds a bachelor’s degree from Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa., and a master’s degree in computer science from the George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science in Washington, D.C. Sargent is responsible for the company’s strategy, design, and delivery of application solutions. She works across the organization to assess current and potential processes, strategies and initiatives that will best align with Blue Cross’ technology needs to remain competitive in the marketplace. Prior to this position, Sargent held leadership positions at U.S. Bank. Sargent holds a bachelor’s degree and a master of education degree from the University of Minnesota, as well as a master of business administration degree from the University of St. Thomas.

Proto Labs leaders named Entrepreneurs of the Year Larry Lukis and Brad Cleveland of Proto Labs Inc., Maple Plain and Rosemount, a provider of custom CNC machined and injection molded parts, have received an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. The award celebrates the Upper Midwest’s most innovative business leaders in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota. Proto Labs and other award winners were formally recognized June 14 at the regional awards gala at the Marriott City Center in Minneapolis. Proto Labs will now be eligible for consideration in the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year Program. National award winners will be announced Nov. 17 at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, Calif.

Murphy Automotive garners ethics award Murphy Automotive Inc. has been honored with the 2012 Minnesota Business Ethics Award. Murphy Automotive was an award recipient in the small size company category. The MBEA recognizes Minnesota businesses that exemplify and promote ethical conduct in the workplace, the marketplace and the community. Founded in 1976, Murphy Automotive is a privately owned company with five automotive mechanical repair facilities and one fuel/convenience store. The company, with its distinctive customer and employee policies, is headquartered in Lakeville.

Local Fairview clinics receive grants Fairview Physician Associates has awarded grants totaling $122,000 to medical clinics across the Twin Cities including Fairview clinics in Burnsville, Eagan and Rosemount. Funding is part of an annual program to improve clinical quality, efficiency and the patient and family experience within the FPA network.

Fred Astaire Warehouse Dance studio company buys Moves to Eagan space in Eagan Fred Astaire Dance Studio has moved from its Inver Grove Heights location to a new studio at 1975 Seneca Road, Suite 700, in Eagan. Owners Chad and Joanna Lessard can be reached at (651) 451-6300 or clessard@ fredastaire.com.

Murphy Warehouse Company, an asset-based logistics company based in Minneapolis, has purchased a 350,000-squarefoot warehouse facility at 905 Yankee Doodle Road in Eagan. The purchase of the

property, which has been on the market since 2005, was completed June 12. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The new Murphy Warehouse logistics campus will serve customers in the food, medical, retail, paper and home construction industries. While Murphy Warehouse has 11 facilities in the Twin Cities, the

new Eagan logistics campus will be the company’s first full-scale facility in the southern metro to serve customers in that area and throughout southern Minnesota. The campus will undergo $3 million in improvements including several environmentally sustainable features, from native prairies to solar panels,

common to the company’s other logistics campuses. The company’s planned improvements include opening a new access driveway off Michael Collins Drive to facilitate smoother truck movement in and out of the campus, as well as re-establishing rail connections to bring rail cars indoors.