A
Out of the control booth, into the spotlight. See Thisweekend Page 6A.
NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Thisweek Burnsville-Eagan NOVEMBER 4, 2011
VOLUME 32, NO. 36
www.thisweeklive.com
Opinion/4A
Announcements/8A
Sports/12A
Classifieds/9A
Public Notices/14A
District 191 seeks levy renewal No new taxes in Tuesday’s $10 million ballot measure by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 isn’t alone in asking voters to renew an existing referendum levy this year. Just over half of the 113 Minnesota districts with operating-levy questions on the ballot Nov. 8 are seeking renewals, not new money, said Greg Abbott, spokesman for the Minnesota School Boards Association. Last year, renewals passed in all 17 districts that sought them, Abbott said. “And they passed by a pretty good margin,” he said, characterizing a vote that doesn’t raise taxes as “an easy ‘yes’ vote to give.” District 191 is seeking renewal of about $10 million in levy authority first approved by voters in November 2002, according to Lisa Rider, business services director. The levy is set to expire in 2013. Many Minnesota districts won voter approval for new levies a decade ago, resulting in the rush of renewals this year, Abbott said. State law limits voter-approved school operating levies to 10 years, he said. District 191 is seeking $845 per pupil. The 2002 levy amount was $837; Rider
attributed the slight change to actions of the state Legislature, not the local School Board. Officials have reason for optimism on Election Day, especially with a recent opinion survey suggesting most residents back the renewal. Voter rejection would force “very devastating” budget cuts, School Board Chair Ron Hill said. The loss of funds would equal 9 percent of the district’s current general fund budget of $110,519,000. “It would be a difficult conversation for the community to have if we were to lose this money,” he said. “But that’s where we would go – we’d go right out to them. I don’t think that’s the direction they want to head in. I believe they’re going to be totally supportive of what’s currently going on in the school district and recognize the need to maintain it.” The levy will be decided by a relatively small number of voters. It’s an odd-year election with no state or national races on the Nov. 8 ballot. The only other contests on the ballot within District 191 are city elections in Savage. “It’s hard to attract atSee District 191, 8A
Photo by John Gessner
With 25-inch guns, Philip Breecher of Burnsville is featured in a Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” syndicated cartoon labeled “World’s Biggest Biceps!” The cartoon goes on to explain they’re natural. Breecher notes that Greg Valentino of New York, considered the world record holder, has bigger biceps enhanced by steroids.
No drugs, mostly muscle Burnsville man lays claim to world’s biggest natural biceps by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
The case is closed, says Philip Breecher of Burnsville: His are the world’s biggest natural biceps. Breecher says he’s no juicer and can’t compete with bodybuilders on steroids. So his 25-inch guns — which Breecher says have room to grow — are unlikely to ever match the 28plus of New York’s Greg Valentino, an Internet sensation proclaimed by eBicep.com as the unofficial
world record holder and an admitted steroid user. Breecher is just a 50-year-old ex-wrestler and lifelong bodybuilder with a clean conscience and a biggest-biceps dream that refused to die. “It was an obsession, probably too much, I’d say probably since the ’80s,” said Breecher, a longtime Burnsville resident who attended Burnsville High School and lives with his mother, Caryl. His claim is buttressed by Ripley’s “Believe It or
Eagan teen admits to peeping, repeat break-ins and assault by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
A 17-year-old Eagan boy admitted to police he started his crime spree by peeping in teenage girls’ windows. But this soon escalated into home break-ins and an assault of a teenage girl, prosecutors say. William Donald Maloney, 17, received three new felony charges Oct. 20 by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office, which brings the total to eight. Since his arrest Oct. 10, Maloney has been charged with second-degree burglary, harassment,
first-degree attempted burglary, fourth-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct, two counts of stalking and two counts of firstdegree burglary, one of which includes criminal sexual predatory conduct. Maloney has been charged as a juvenile but Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom is seeking to charge him as an adult. According to the criminal complaint: Maloney admitted to breaking into several Eagan homes and peeping in windows. Maloney told police he began
peeping in teenage girls’ windows in June and July 2010. It didn’t stop there. He broke into three Eagan homes to steal underwear belonging to teenage girls. Police found several pairs of girls’ underwear during a search of his bedroom. Maloney’s crimes further escalated on Oct. 8 when he broke into a home on the 4200 block of Valley Forge Place. Maloney entered the home through an unlocked door, and once inside, he snuck into the bedSee Maloney, 8A
The Mezz aims higher than the usual dinner with a movie Restaurant and lounge opened Oct. 28 at Burnsville theater by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by John Gessner
Andrew Holmes, left, executive chef, and Robert Fronckoski, theater and restaurant general manager, opened The Mezz Bistro Lounge Oct. 28 on the second floor of the Paragon Odyssey 15 multiplex in Burnsville. General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
Dinner with a movie isn’t so novel anymore, as theaters try new customer enticements in their competition with expanding home-entertainment options. The Mezz Bistro Lounge, on the second floor of the Paragon Odyssey 15 showplex in Burnsville, is aiming for a higher distinction. “A lot of the different theater chains are doing different concepts that are similar to this,” said Robert Fronckoski, general manager of the theater and restaurant. “I think what sets us apart is we’re looking at it as a restaurant that has a
theater as an amenity.” The Mezz in Burnsville is the first for Florida-based Paragon. The company, less than 2 years old, plans to expand the concept to all of its five theaters in Florida, Virginia and Minnesota, including one in Rochester, Fronckoski said. Paragon bought the Burnsville theater in February after CineMagic Theatres of Maple Grove, the company that built it, filed for bankruptcy. CineMagic never built out the second-floor lounge and restaurant it promised when it opened. Paragon began the job in June and opened on Oct. 28. The look is simple but sumptuous, with a full bar, low lighting, a dining area with tables, a lounge with black-cushioned soft seating, and the Van Gogh See The Mezz, 8A
This is the Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” cartoon featuring Phil Breecher of Burnsville. Not,” which recently pro- drawing of Breecher and duced a cartoon with a See Breecher, 5A
New board member appointed in 196 Gary Huusko replaces Kevin Sampers who resigned in August by Jessica Harper
Huusko has been an active volunteer at their schools and The Rosemount-Apple district since moving to Eagan Valley-Eagan School Board in 1996. He was appointed to has chosen a new memthe District 196 Budber to replace Kevin get Advisory Council Sampers who resigned in 2004 and has colast summer. chaired the council Gary Huusko was since last year. selected in a special Huusko was instruboard meeting Oct. 27 mental in establishto fill the vacant seat. Gary ing the District 196 “I’m honored by Huusko Foundation in 2008 it,” the Eagan resident said. “I will try my best and has served as chair of the to continue what the school foundation board since its inboard is doing, which is pro- ception. He also served on the Disvide a great education.” Huusko was among seven trict 196 Strategic Planning applicants who were inter- Task Force that met several times this past summer to viewed for the position. The 54-year-old was cho- identify challenges facing the sen for his commitment to district and develop goals for the school district and com- the future. In addition to his service munity over the past 15 years, at the school district, Huusko according to a release. Huusko’s son is a sopho- has served on the board of dimore at Eagan High School rectors for the Eagan Rotary, and his daughter graduated the Eagan Citizens’ Crime from the school in 2010. See District 196, 5A THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
School Board election is Nov. 8 Voters in School District 196 will elect four members to the School Board on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Seven candidates are vying for four, four-year terms. The incumbents are Joel Albright of Apple Valley, Rob Duchscher of Rosemount, Jackie Magnuson of Rosemount and Bob Schutte of Apple Valley. Challengers are Steven Butler of Eagan, Fay Coggshall of Apple Valley and Gary Krueger of Eagan. For more about the candidates, go online at www.thisweeklive.com/?p=50254.
Parasole Restaurants Holiday Gift Cards RECEIVE A FREE $ 25 GIFT CARD FOR EVERY $ 100 YOU PURCHASE Welcomed at all Parasole restaurants and available in any denomination, Holiday Gift Cards are offered
Nov. 1 through Dec. 24 and redeemable after Dec. 25, 2011. Purchase yours at parasole.com, by calling 1-866-541-4438 (GIFT), or at any of our restaurants.
&
!""'! !
$
Manny’s Chino Latino Cafeteria
Salut Bar Américain
Mozza Mia
Muffuletta Il Gatto Good Earth
The Living Room
11/4•2805850R•AB
W Minneapolis – The Foshay
Prohibition
PARASOLE.COM
W Minneapolis – The Foshay
NO EXPIRATION AND NO FEES