Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas www.dakotacountytribune.com
NEWS Daylight saving time begins Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8, when clocks should be moved one hour ahead.
OPINION Nonprofit has wide reach While a person may come to 360 Communities for food assistance, the nonprofit aims to help with other areas of need. Page 4A
March 5, 2015 • Volume 130 • Number 1
Zip Rail would likely have a Rosemount stop Organizers are leaning on private funds for the project by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Perhaps one day residents in the south metro may be able to zip to the airport, downtown St. Paul or Rochester in a fraction of the time it takes now. That’s the updated plan coming from the Federal Railroad Administration and the Olmsted County Regional Railroad Authority, which are in the initial planning stages of a potential passenger Zip Rail from the Twin Cities to Rochester. The plans call for a high-speed train traveling between 150-200 mph with stations at either the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the Union Depot in St. Paul or both. The end point
would be Rochester and would serve Rochester’s Mayo Clinic and proposed $6 billion Destination Medical Center. “I would say that when and if we get to the point that the build option for the project is decided, a potential station in Rosemount will be pursued to provide better access for southern metro area,” said Daniel Krom, director at the passenger rail office for the Minnesota Department of Transportation. After doing an economic study, Rosemount is viewed as an attractive stop. “There’s a lot of growth happening in Rosemount heading toward the UMore park area near County Road 42,” said Charles Michael, project manager with
the Olmsted County Regional Railroad Authority. “Our ridership numbers increase by 30 percent if we put that stop in Dakota County in Rosemount, and that certainly justifies a location.” Michael said the studies have found that many people who live in the south metro commute to Rochester daily for work. “There will certainly be a lot of visitors and patients using the train, but thousands of people commute back and forth every day living in the area — from Mendota Heights on down,” he said. The entire project has an estimated cost of $2 billion to $4 billion and is several years from becoming a reality. Although the initial planning
stages used public funding, Michael said they are not planning on using public funds moving forward. “Now we have to fill it in with the private sector,” Michael said. “Both here and in (Washington) D.C., it’s not politically favorable to fund large projects like this. We have to adjust and make plans accordingly.” Planners believe with a higher speed, the project provides a higher return on investment and positive profit margin, which reduces public financial support. Michael said there is private interest in the project, but there were no specific financials available. “It’s a large project and it takes See ZIP, 6A
THISWEEKEND
Mentors making a difference Farmington resident serves as role model to Parkview student by Jessica Harper SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Music during wartime A concert at the Lakeville Area Arts Center features compositions written during or just after World War II. Page 17A
SPORTS
Hedin wins state title Rosemount High School’s Adam Hedin is the state wrestling champion at 132 pounds. Page 10A
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PUBLIC NOTICE Inside this edition are the minutes from February meetings of the Lakeville Area School District. Page 12A
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Announcements . . . . . 6A
On a Friday afternoon, Deena Mahowald and 11-year-old Talia Jolliff sit by the small koi pond at Parkview Elementary School in Lakeville to work on math problems and talk about the day. Mahowald is more than a tutor. For Talia, Mahowald is a role model, a grandmother figure and a friend. The Farmington resident is one of four volunteer mentors in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District. The program, which is operated by Apple Valley nonprofit Kids ’n Kinship, pairs mentors with students in grades K-5 who have been referred by a teacher or school social worker. Children are referred for a variety of reasons ranging from poor academic performance to issues at home, said Patsy Ryan, a social worker at Westview Elementary in Apple Valley. “Sometimes they just need a trusted adult to spend time with,” Ryan said. “It’s nice to have someone special of their own to depend on.”
Farmington’s Allison Crandall, 31, was crowned Mrs. Minnesota United States last weekend. (Photo submitted)
Farmington resident Deena Mahowald has mentored 11-year-old Talia Jolliff for two years through Kids ’n Kinship’s school-based program. The two meet every Friday at Parkview Elementary to work on Talia’s homework and spend time outside of school baking, crafting and other activities. (Photo by Jessica Harper) Having that special person has special needs, her mother, to spend quality time with was Tia, said she often struggled to something Talia yearned for. As give Talia the one-on-one time a single mother caring for Talia and her 6-year-old brother, who See KINSHIP, 6A
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
When David Gerfast was injured playing football for Rosemount Middle School last fall, it was a fortunate occurrence. After the mishap, the 12-year-old Rosemount resident was taken to the hospital where an MRI scan revealed he had a tumor in his neck. A biopsy showed that David had chordoma cancer, which occurs in the bones of the skull and spine and has an annual incidence of approximately one new case per million people. That started a journey for David and his family that led to a three-day procedure to remove the tumor at Mayo Clinic in Rochester in November, reha-
bilitation, and radiation treatment appointments in Boston. Family and friends of the Gerfasts have organized a fundraiser Saturday, March 14, at the Rosemount VFW to help raise money for the family. The beer bash event for those
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
See GERFAST, 6A
See PAGEANT, 9A
His journey
David Gerfast
by Andy Rogers
Since the beginning of February, David and his father, Lars Gerfast, have been spending much time at Mass General Hospital in Boston for proton radiation therapy, which is a daily routine. The two go to the hospital each morning for a 15-20 minute treatment and return to the hotel room where they have been staying. The treatment is expected to last eight to 12 weeks. During this time Lars Gerfast has had to leave his job. While insurance is paying most of the medical bills, the family has mounting expenses
21 and over will include food, silent auction, and two live bands. Tickets cost $20 per person. For tickets or to donate silent auction items, call David’s aunt, Cindy Gerfast at 651-3034325.
by Tad Johnson
Allison Crandall overwhelmed with the honor
With a life goal of empowering women, Farmington’s Allison Crandall was empowered beyond her expectations last weekend. Crandall was crowned Mrs. Minnesota United States during the 2015 pageant Feb. 28 at the Landmark Center in St. Paul. “It’s something I wanted really bad,” she said. “I honestly can’t believe it yet.” She said she was up against some pretty tough competition. “They were all beautiful and had so much to offer,” Crandall said. “That makes me feel that much more privilege to have the title.” They’re judged based on charm, personality, poise, beauty and ability to articulate. The three categories the contestants are judged on is a personal interview, swimsuit and evening gown. Her interview question was “What is America’s greatest quality?” She said America is the land of opportunity, something many take for granted and should fully realize. Her primary goal was to spread the spirit of her platform of empowering women. “I want to help women be in that total wellness — to be the boss over their own life,” Crandall said. “I want to help women achieve that total balance of wellness between physical, financial, personal and environmental.” She’s made it her work to promote those ideals. She helped launch Lady
Fundraiser to help young cancer patient’s family David Gerfast was diagnosed after he was injured playing football
Farmington woman named Mrs. Minnesota United States
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