Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Soccer Shots of the Twin Cities is a two-year old company that has spread through Dakota County daycares and pre-Ks like wildfire.
You could say Dan Larson is living the dream. He turned his love of a particular sport into a fast-growing company—Soccer Shots of the Twin Cities and Western Wisconsin. Surveying the scene at Burnsville's River Hills Early Childhood Center, Larson concedes that it's a pretty good gig. Before us about a dozen kindergarten-age kids tussle happily over the ball, squealing and laughing. More than a few loose velcro-strap sneakers go flying as the scrimmage progresses. Grass stains abound. The groups ends the session with a spirited huddle and cheer. "If you're having a bad day, they'll really brighten you up," Larson says later. The whole session lasts about 30 minutes, just enough time to give small children a good workout and a few new …
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Also in this week's headlines, a possible monastery in the south metro and a dribbling duo. Plus, Patch says farewell to Mr. Northfield.
Take a trip around Dakota County and the south metro with this week's rundown of top news. EHS Grads Will Dribble Across Minnesota on Awareness Mission Alex Daley and Matt Scott want to bring soccer fields, sustainability and social change to urban areas in the U.S.—and are about to embark on a trans-Minnesota journey to spread the word. On Eve of Outlet Mall, Jensen's Supper Club Seeks Reinvention Jensen's plans to invest as much as $900,000 into a series of internal and external renovations designed to expand parking and update the 17-year-old restaurant's ambiance. Neighborhood's Affordable Housing Development Fears Unfounded, Officials Say A 50-unit housing development designed for low- to moderate-income families got a green light …
Kids in the south metro can learn the fundamentals of baseball and softball from the best this summer, completely gratis.
The Minnesota Twins will be offering a series of free youth clinics this summer. PlayBall! Minnesota Youth Clinics will teach kids fundamentals of hitting, fielding the ball, and throwing. The workshop is aimed at boys and girls aged six through 16. The clinic consists of two 1.5 hour sessions: The first is for children aged six to nine, and the second is for older kids aged 10 to 16. No registration is required. The Twins will provide most of the equipment, but kids are asked to bring their own baseball or softball gloves. There will be several clinics across the south metro this summer: For more information, visit the sponsor Dakota Electric's website.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
The state dropped two spots in the League of American Bicyclists’ annual rankings.
(Editor's Note: The map above was created by the League of American Bicyclists.) Minnesota is still among the top states in “bike friendliness,” but its ranking fell a couple notches in 2013, according to the League of American Bicyclists. The state was ranked fourth this year, down from second in 2012. It ranked high in legislation and enforcement, policies and programs and education and encouragement. But it was middle of the pack in infrastructure and funding and lower tier in evaluation and planning. Minnesota was also missing three of the league’s “Top 10 Signs of Success: Use the map above to see how Minnesota compares to other states in the various categories. Do you think Minnesota needs to do more to support cycling? Share your …
Monday, April 29, 2013
Timothy Risdal ran a marathon and then some.
A Burnsville runner was among the 72 who finished the Trail Mix 50K on April 13, 2013 at Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington. Timothy Risdal, 53, finished in 6:07:09, placing 44th. Finishers in the 50K race ranged in age from 22 to 69 years old. First across the finish line among male racers was Jason Tischer, 38, of Blaine, with a time of 3:59:44. For women it was Sonya Decker, 46, of Minneapolis, with a time of 4:46:12. The Trail Mix is three races in one: Three different cross-country trail races are offered: 50K Ultra (solo), 25K (solo), and 50K Team (4-person teams/12.5K each runner). The beautiful course is run over hill and dale on wood chip and grass trails. Each clearly marked loop is 12.5 kilometers (7.75 miles) in length …
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Four Burnsville athletes committed to schools in the Midwest on April 17.
Burnsville High School's athletic department recently announced that four of its own signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, April 17. The seniors have pledged to play their respective sports at NCAA Division I or II institutions. They are:
Friday, April 26, 2013
Many south metro golf courses are planning to open for the 2013 season this weekend.
Looks like 69, 73… Those aren’t just excellent golf scores—they’re the projected highs this weekend in the Burnsville area. After a seemingly endless winter, the weather is finally poised for a turnaround. Today should be a bit warmer as well, with temperatures expected to reach 66 under mostly sunny skies, according to the National Weather Service. If you’re itching to hit the links, here is the latest on south metro golf course opening dates:
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Also in this week’s recap – A scholarship created to honor a lost friend and a surprise discovery in a Burnsville park.
Take a trip around Dakota County and the south metro with this week's rundown of top news. For the original story, simply click on the link in the headline. Fate of Parkview Golf Course Decided After Six-Hour Debate Amid heated words, the Eagan City Council voted Tuesday to allow developer Hunter Emerson to redevelop the well-known local golf course. Eagan Runner Finished Boston Marathon 45 Minutes Before Bombing "I don’t understand why anyone would target this crew, this group. No marathon hurts anyone," Lance Kuehn said. Friend of Eagan Car Crash Victim Creates a Scholarship in His Name Sean Choi wants to create a legacy for deceased Eagan High School student Ahsim Ahmed, who was killed in a car crash last year on Diffley Road. …
Friday, April 19, 2013
Tad Dunsworth, a 49-year-old Burnsville man, came in first during Dakotah! Sport and Fitness' eleventh indoor triathlon.
Let the snow fall. One gym in Prior Lake has found a winter weather work-around, as the winner of the 11th Annual Indoor Triathlon can amply attest to. A Burnsville man, Tad Dunsworth, 49, beat 43 other competitors to the punch at the event, which was held at Dakotah! Sport and Fitness on April 13. Dunsworth also happens to be the director of the gym. In second place for men were Joe Eder, 33, and Mike Blair, 43, both of Prior Lake. Sarah Foley, 42, of Cologne, finished first among the women, followed by Annie Melek, 41, of Shakopee, and Trisha Caton, 29, of Chaska. Indoor triathlons are judged by distance, rather than time. Each participant had to complete a 7-minute swim, a 30-minute bike, and a 20-minute run. They were ranked …
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The Minnesota Vikings will form a 20-member cheerleading squad from 52 candidates.
A Burnsville woman is among the candidates vying for spots on the 2013 Minnesota Vikings cheerleader roster. The Vikings website, which identifies the cheerleader candidates only by their first names and first initials of their last names, is asking visitors to vote for candidates to determine who will make the team. Burnsville resident Danielle M is candidate No. 12 of 52 candidates looking for a spot on the 20-woman team. Voting ends at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Two Savage women, Saral H and Molly M, are also competing for spots on the roster. See 2013 Minnesota Vikings cheerleader candidate photos Cast a vote for 2013 Minnesota Vikings cheerleader candidates
Watts
3:39 pm on Friday, May 10, 2013
Has anybody else received the following when trying to reply in this thread: "This comment has been rejected." I received this as an immediate response from the Patch site, for a completely innocuous reply to somebody that was me actually agreeing with them and the post contained no foul language or anything that could be interpreted to violate any rules of the site. In fact, the reply came back … more ›