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Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville JANUARY 13, 2012
VOLUME 32, NO. 46
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
www.thisweeklive.com
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Larson announces re-election bid Farmington mayor cites diversified tax base among his goals by Laura Adelmann
Photo by Aaron Vehling
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
A man sustained severe injuries after he reportedly fled a crash, rolling over his pickup several times at around 7:35 a.m. on Cedar Avenue and County Road 50 in Lakeville.
Hit-and-run on Cedar leaves man hospitalized Alcohol may have played a role, Lakeville police say by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
A man was hospitalized after he allegedly hit a stopped car at Cedar Avenue and 202nd Street at 7:35 a.m. Monday, Jan. 9, and drove off, then crashing down the road in a ditch. Jason Fields, 40, of Lakeville, was airlifted to North Memorial Hospi-
tal from the scene because of his injuries, according to the police report. Fields rolled his GMC pickup several times and was injured when he was ejected from the vehicle. Andrew Rundell, 34, of Lakeville, was stopped at a stop sign in his Toyota Echo when Fields allegedly rear-ended his vehicle and fled. Rundell
sustained injuries, but they were not life-threatening and did not require further treatment. Alcohol is a suspected factor in the crash, according to the police. Cedar Avenue was closed from Highway 50/ Lakeville Boulevard to about 202nd Street going northbound for a couple hours as a result of the
crash. The Minnesota State Patrol also responded to the scene. The Lakeville Police Department is currently investigating the crash. Aaron Vehling is at aaron. vehling@ecm-inc.com or www.facebook.com/thisweeklive.
n o t i n g the school district is considering leasing space at City Hall, a move that may save Farmington the disMayor Todd trict money Larson while bringing revenue to the city. He also cited his continuing efforts to develop a fire service district with Rosemount and Empire Township to cut costs and maintain response times. “We have leadership all on the same page, and I see good things ahead,” Larson said. The mayor in Farmington is elected to a four-year term and earns $8,040 annually; council members also serve four years and receive $7,020 every year. In 2012, seats held by council members Terry Donnelly and Julie May are up for re-election. Council Member Christy Jo Fogarty announced her candidacy for the retiring Joe Harris’ seat on the Dakota County Board of Commissioners. If she is elected, the 2013 Farmington City Council will select a member to fulfill Fogarty’s term.
Farmington Mayor Todd Larson will seek re-election in November. “I’ve worked hard for three years to bring a positive image to Farmington, and we have turned a corner,” Larson said. “I want to keep that vision and model going now into the future.” Citing improved city communications and leadership, Larson said he has helped build stronger community relationships and improve the city’s bottom line while in office. He is focused on diversifying the city’s tax base in 2012 and beyond. “My goal for the city is more business,” Larson said, emphasizing the need to keep taxes under control while improving Farmington’s commercial, retail and industrial tax base. Elected in 2008, Larson said under his leadership the city developed a capital improvement plan and made cuts that included dropping a consultant engineer. During his term, Larson said the city has strengthened its relationship with the school district and neighboring communities. Those relationships are leading to changes for all entities, Larson said. “We are looking for any way we can to develop Laura Adelmann is at laura. partnerships,” Larson said, adelmann@ecm-inc.com.
Nancy Quinnell dies
Casa Nostra expands restaurant
Local businesswoman, volunteer was active in community
Lakeville Italian eatery now has full-bar, larger dining area after it renovates former Cornerstone Copy space
by John Gessner, Tad Johnson and Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Nancy Quinnell’s favorite quote was from Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen: “A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.” Quinnell, a Lakeville resident and tireless volunteer who died Jan. 6 after a battle with cancer, did enough good deeds to fill a large volume during her life. She was 51. The senior vice president for operations of Hollstadt and Associates since 1996 and Lakeville Rotary member since 2001, left her imprint in business and civic involvement. “It’s a difficult, tough loss,” said Tom Mork, a longtime friend of Quinnell who is also a member of the Rotary. The 2011 Dakota County Tribune Exceptional Businesswoman Award winner said during an interview last year that she wore many hats with the company and was always up for a challenge. She was responsible for service delivery, quality, staff development and retention for the business’s management and technology consulting staff that ranges from 100 to 140. Quinnell started at General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
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Nancy Quinnell
ing 50 hours to the event’s Silent Auction Committee. She chaired the club’s 2009 BIG Project, an annual community service and team-building effort. In May of that year the club planted 130 trees in a local park. Quinnell was active in the Minnesota Sled Hockey Association, which allows youths and adults with disabilities to take to the ice. She created the Lakeville Sled Hockey Exhibition in 2007 and led the event for two years to raise money and awareness for the sport. “When she grabbed ahold of something she believed in, she did not let go,” Mork said, “whether in business or being a good mom and wife.” Mork described Quinnell as “extremely humble” despite her pervasive involvement in the Lakeville community. She did not talk much about herself, he said. Instead, people knew her through her actions. He also said Quinnell held a perennially positive disposition. “Throughout her illness you never heard her complain,” Mork said. “You always thought if anybody’s going to lick cancer, it’s going to be Nancy.” Services for Quinnell were Wednesday, Jan 11, at Hosanna! Church, 9600 163rd St. W., Lakeville. Visitation was held at Boldt Funeral Home, Faribault, on Tuesday, Jan. 10, and also at Hosanna! Church on Wednesday. Quinnell is survived by husband, Tim; three children, Alex, Ethan and Abby Quinnell, other relatives and friends.
Hollstadt and Associates, a former Burnsville company that recently moved to Mendota Heights, as a consultant but moved into an office role after a year and a half, creating a resource management program to strengthen the company’s consultant retention, development and effectiveness. She was hired by the company’s president and CEO, Rachel Hollstadt, who was Quinnell’s boss at Northwest Airlines where Quinnell worked as a programmer and project leader after she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Winona State University in 1983. “I quickly moved into business analysis and project management roles in my six years there, and found my passion in solving business challenges with technology, instead of just implementing technology,” she said in an interview with Thisweek. Quinnell worked for two other companies – Washington Square Capital and Watson Wyatt Worldwide – before joining Hollstadt again. She had been a leader in Rotary Club projects such Aaron Vehling is at aaron.veas the annual Taste of hling@ecm-inc.com or www. Lakeville, regularly devot- facebook.com/thisweeklive.
by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
As it enters its third year serving Italian family recipes, Lakeville’s Casa Nostra has much to celebrate. This month it took over vacant neighboring space, nearly doubling its dining room size and adding a fullservice bar. Proprietors Mario and Nina Pelagalli said they had been contemplating an expansion for some time. Previously, Nina said, “there was not enough room to seat all the customers. Some would leave because they had to wait.” Occasionally, customers would note the absence of a full bar and decided on other options. No longer. Cornerstone Copy’s move from its space at Heritage Commons on County Road 50 to downtown Lakeville allowed the Pelagallis to fulfill their dream by expanding into Cornerstone’s adjacent space. In addition to the expanded liquor choices and ample dining area, the Pelagallis also intend to offer entertainment. DJs, Frank Sinatra tributes and more were some of the possibilities the Pelagallis envision. The couple said this combination gives them an improved ability to serve large groups and private parties. In December, the Lakeville City Council approved a liquor license for Casa Nostra. Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Todd Bornhauser praised the Pelagallis at the meeting. “They’ve been a chamber member since they opened up,” he said. “It’s great to see a small, family-owned business able to expand.”
Photo by Aaron Vehling
Nina and Mario Pelagalli have expanded their Casa Nostra Italian restaurant in Lakeville, nearly doubling their dining room and adding a full-service bar.
‘Our House’
taurant is an attractive venture, but it is also a lot of hard work. At least when it’s a family affair, it provides added rewards. “It’s fun, but tough,” Mario said. His favorite part? “I enjoy the opportunities to meet people.” The restaurant’s official grand opening celebrations kick off the first week of February, though the new space is open and fully functional. Casa Nostra will be advertising specials on its website at www.casanostramn. com. The restaurant is located in the Heritage Commons shopping center, near the Dodd Boulevard and County Road 50.
Casa Nostra is Italian for “our house.” Its recipes and ambiance speak to this sentiment. The Pelagallis serve recipes from each of their families – Nina’s father is from outside of Naples and Mario’s are from Rome. This combination of culinary offerings provides diners with a vast array of menu items, everything from antipasti and salads to pastas, saltimboccas, paninis and pizza. Desert offerings include tiramisu, cannoli and spimoni. The Pelagallis ensure their chefs tackle these dishes with the passion, accuracy and tenacity they themselves do. Nina’s mother also works at the restaurant, creAaron Vehling is at aaron.veating sauces from scratch. Owning one’s own res- hling@ecm-inc.com or www. facebook.com/thisweeklive.