Rosemount High School to stage show with past, present, future students SEE STORY IN THISWEEKEND ON PAGE 9A
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville JUNE 4, 2010
VOLUME 31, NO. 14
www.thisweeklive.com
Opinion/6A
Announcements/8A
Real Estate/11A
Public Notices/12A
Lakeville North speaker to inspire classmates More than 870 to get diplomas at Lakeville’s graduation
by Derrick Williams THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the captain of Lakeville North High School’s speech team would want to be the student speaker at graduation. But Alexis Friesen needed some convincing. “My friends convinced me I’d be good at it, so I thought I’d give it a try,� she said. “I think I can be inspiring and represent the class.� So on June 11, when Lakeville North’s class of 2010 celebrates its commencement ceremony, Friesen, 18, will be the student-selected speaker offering words of wisdom and poking fun at herself. “I’ll certainly try to be funny,� Friesen said. “But I’ll also have a message that we’ll have all these wonderful memories from school, and we have to keep them in our heart, but at the same time, we have to focus forward.� And forward for Friesen means going to the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus to study to be a pediatrician. “Or teaching. I love kids,� she said. “During the summers I’m a fulltime nanny.� She’s also been active
by Derrick Williams THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by Derrick Williams
Lakeville North High School senior Alexis Friesen, 18, will be the student speaker at the school’s graduation ceremony on June 11. The South speaker is Adam Kunkel, who says on Page 12A: “I know almost all these kids, and I wanted to be the one to sum it all up.� in school. In addition to being captain of the speech team, Friesen is in choir, National Honor Society, Link Crew, Student Council, and did drama
More than 870 Lakeville students will receive their diplomas on June 11 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Lakeville South High School’s commencement for its 444 seniors will be held at 5 p.m., and Lakeville North’s ceremony for its 437 seniors will be held at 8 p.m. In addition to the pomp and circumstance of the festivities, each year the seniors at both schools vote on who they want to be the commencement’s student speaker. This year, North senior Alexis Friesen and South senior Adam Kunkel (story on Page 12A) will deliver the student speeches to their classmates. Both said they want to tie childhood and the journey to becoming adults into their remarks, while keeping the approach funny and light.
club and even some sports during her time at North. “In a word: wonderful. That’s how I’d describe being in school,� Friesen E-mail Derrick Williams said. at: lakeville.thisweek@ecmSee Friesen, 7A inc.com
Farmers’ market open early this year Weekly downtown event starts for the summer season series June 24 by Kara Hildreth THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Opening two weeks earlier than its inaugural year, the Downtown Farmington Farmers’ Market will be able to sell early spring berries and vegetables during its second season. The market will be open from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays beginning June 24 until Sept. 16 at 109 Spruce St., behind city hall and near the library. “If we start in July, it is
FARMINGTON too late for berries,� said Lisa Dargis, coordinator of the market, which also offers local baked goods and handmade crafts. The market has received good reviews from vendors. “I thought the Farmington farmers’ market was really good because I expected the turnout to be half of what it was, but I sold more in Farmington than in Eagan that is six
times the size,� said Aaron Brand, owner of a Farmington dairy farm and an apple orchard. Brand plans to sell apples, raspberries, honey, farm fresh eggs, along with
apple cider, chips, pies and crisps. Last year, attendance was high on opening night when city staff gave away 200 free Chico Bags in 20 minutes, Dargis said. Besides opening two weeks earlier, city staff surveyed residents to gather feedback on what they wanted to see added. “What we heard most from people in our survey last year was that they See Market, 20A
Classifieds/14A
Sports/18A
Former PTO treasurer charged with theft Stolen money has been returned to Oak Hills PTO by Derrick Williams THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
The former treasurer of a Lakeville elementary school’s parent-teacher organization has been charged with theft after allegedly taking thousands from the group’s coffers. Lisa Bostic Miller, 45, who formerly served as the treasurer of the PTO at Oak Hills Elementary, has been charged with two counts of felony theft and two counts of misdemeanor theft. All told, Miller transferred $45,500 of PTO funds to her family’s checking account over the course of a number of years, the charges allege. The money has been paid back, but it wasn’t until she
LAKEVILLE became aware of a police investigation, according to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office. The case first made news last fall when PTO members discovered the group’s checking account had just $66 left in it when it was supposed to have had more than $15,000. Lakeville Police were notified and an investigation quickly ensued. Between May and September of 2009, records show the Oak Hills PTO’s bank account was raided to purchase season tickets for University of Minnesota football games, salon treatSee Theft, 7A
City will plant new trees New advisory board will review future tree removal by Kara Hildreth THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
New maple and linden trees will be planted in yards or boulevards in one downtown Farmington neighborhood after many mature trees were removed as part of the Walnut Street reconstruction project. After discussing the recent controversial tree removal at a workshop Tuesday, June 1, the council agreed that trees needed to be replaced and a Tree City USA advisory board be created. The board would include city staff and community residents who would review road construction projects that involve potential tree removal, according to City Engineer Kevin Schorzman. The board’s creation and review process will be incorporated into a revised ordinance that must be approved by the Planning See Trees, 7A
FARMINGTON ISSUE HISTORY At a recent council meeting, many neighbors protested the removal of 21 boulevard trees on both sides of a block of Fifth Street in downtown Farmington. The tree removal was part of the city’s Walnut Street reconstruction project to replace aged and deteriorated sewer, water main and pavement. Trees were marked at 7 a.m. April 7 and by 8:30 a.m. the trees were removed, to the residents’ shock. The city sent a notice to residents April 2 that generally mentioned tree removal would be necessary, but did not specify which trees would be removed.
Local legislators talk about session to Lakeville chamber Budget is biggest topic of 2010 state legislative session by Derrick Williams THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Missed opportunity. Disappointing. It could have been worse. Such were the messages from local elected leaders following the 2010 state legislative session that wrapped up May 17. Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville; Rep. Patrick Garofalo, R-Farmington, and Sen. Pat Pariseau, RFarmington, talked about the session during a Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club on June 1. Garofalo said the handling of the state’s multi-billion budget deficit was disappointing. “We just kicked the can down the road,� he said. Garofalo said without some kind of revenue increase, he can’t imagine what the 2012-13 budget will look General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
DAKOTA COUNTY like. “I have to be honest even if it’s not popular,� he said. Holberg said the session was a missed opportunity to enact structural reductions to the budget. “The unallotment lawsuit sort of caused a tail-spin, but the reality is that a majority of the cuts were approved on a one-time basis this year,� Holberg said. “The cuts aren’t permanent so the spending bounces back next year.� She also said the budget deal was something of a “get out of Dodge strategy.� “With the elections coming and most people looking ahead to the governor jumping into the presidential race, this is what kind of came out of that,� Holberg said. For Lakeville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Todd Bornhauser,
the session was a win for the business community, even if it didn’t result in a lot getting accomplished. “There wasn’t a lot of activity and that is beneficial,� he said. “When the session began, there was talk of $4 billion in new taxes, many of which would have targeted business. That didn’t happen and that’s good for business.� The three legislators talked about racinos and Vikings stadiums in addition to the budget. Garofalo also touched on another disappointment he had from the session, the failure to enact education reform and walking away from applying for more than $300 million in federal Race to the Top funds. “The (teachers) unions are in opposition to reform, and so we walked away,� Garofalo said. “That was a disappointment. Reform is supported on a bipartisan basis
Photo by Derrick Williams
From left, Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville; Rep. Patrick Garofalo, R-Farmington; and Sen. Pat Pariseau, R-Farmington, spoke to members of the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce on June 1 about the 2010 state legislative session. – even the president supports it.� There were highlights, though, to the session, Holberg said. She was particularly proud of the expansion of the Ignition Interlock Program aimed at reducing repeat DWI offenses. An ignition interlock
device prevents a car from starting unless a driver passes a Breathalyzer test. “This makes the roads safer,� Holberg said. “It’s proven to reduce repeat offenders.� The bill expanded upon Minnesota’s existing pilot program – DWI offenders could choose to either drive
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their vehicle with an ignition interlock device or be without their license for an increased revocation period. This past session was Pariseau’s last as a state senator. She retired earlier this year. E-mail Derrick Williams at: lakeville.thisweek@ecm-inc.com
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