Applause Community Theatre adds visual magic to ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ which runs July 8-19 at the Lakeville Area Arts Center
by Andrew Miller
Thisweek Newspapers
Chemistry between two actors, no problem. Chemistry between an actor and a puppet – that takes a little practice.
That’s something Matthew Englund discovered as rehearsals kicked into
gear for Applause Community Theatre’s production of “The Wizard of Oz,”
which opens July 8 at the Lakeville Area Arts Center.
Englund, cast as the Scarecrow, faced the daunting task of harmonizing
with puppets. During one musical number, Englund’s vocal talents are
paired with two crows, manned by Peter Schmitz, 15, and Christian
England-Sullivan, 16. ...read more .
PHOTO: The Tin Man (Dan Lundin), Dorothy (Stephanie DeMars) and
the Scarecrow (Matthew Englund) join forces once more for Applause
Community Theatre’s production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Photos by Andrew
Miller
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by Andrew Miller
Thisweek Newspapers
As a Native American who grew up in a mixed-race household, Marc Yaffee is in a unique position to riff on race in America.
“I’m a Navajo adopted by a Jewish father,” he said. “That makes me a Bargain Hunter Gatherer.”
The stand-up comic and co-founder of the Pow Wow Comedy Jam is set to
deliver his “comedy with a Native American edge” in a two-night,
three-show run July 10-11 at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center. ...read more .
PHOTO: Marc Yaffee honed his comedic skills as a driving
instructor in his native California. “I opened my own driving school
and started teaching defensive driving classes, and basically I had a
captive audience to start telling my own jokes,” he said. Photo
submitted.
Click here to watch Yaffee on YouTube.
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Thisweek Open Mic is an audio podcast featuring poetry, short stories
and songs from local artists. Each week, Thisweek Open Mic brings you a
poem, a short story or a song from someone living in Burnsville, Apple
Valley, Eagan, Rosemount, Farmington, Lakeville or greater Dakota
County. To listen online or download the audio podcast, click here .
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READ MORE THISWEEKEND STORIES...
by Bruce Strand
ECM Publishers
Many of the top quarterback prospects in the state descended upon Elk
River this past weekend to show their stuff in an NFL combine type of
competition called Top Gun Quarterback Challenge.
The first such event in Minnesota was staged by John Pink, the Elks'
quarterback coach, with help from head coach Mike Cross, other
assistants and players, and the Quarterback Club.
To listen to interviews with John Pink, Jameson Parsons and Taylor Berger, go back to Sports, and roll down to Sports Chatter.
The Elk staff got a bonus as their own kid, Taylor Berger, placed
runner-up among 31 contestants -- a nice surprise from an athlete who
has yet to start a high school game at QB, competing against
accomplished veterans.

Jameson Parsons, Eagan junior-to-be, was the overall champion of the Top Gun QB Challenge in Elk River. (Photo by Bruce Strand)
Jameson Parsons of Eagan emerged as the champion after 15 finalists competed Saturday.
The event was intriguing enough to draw media attention from the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, KSTP-TV and Rivals.com.
"I've seen this (Top Gun) down south, in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma,
and it's a big, big thing down there," said Pink, who bought the
franchise rights in February and directed the event.
...read the full story on www.erstarnews.com .
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CHECK OUT MORE SPORTS STORIES....
by Larry Werner
Thisweek Newspapers
It seems like yesterday, but was actually a few years back that M.W.
Johnson, the Lakeville home building company, celebrated the opening
of its design center near I-35 and Highway 50.
Sadly, the collapse of the housing industry nationally took down
several local home builders, including M.W. Johnson and Wensmann Homes.
The beautiful new building where the Johnsons’ customers could select
fixtures and decor options for their new houses will be used to train
and retrain people for jobs that need workers.
Globe University/Minnesota School of Business will be opening a
Lakeville branch of the private vocational college this fall in the old
M.W. Johnson building. It will be the school’s 17th campus offering
what the institution bills as “education for the real world.” ...read more .
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by Steve Sullivan
Special to Thisweek Newspapers
Free.
It’s a popular word in today’s economy and at our Dakota County Parks it’s a word that has always been in our vocabulary.
Access to Dakota County Parks is free and always has been. So, why am I
telling you now? The National Parks Service and a nearby county were
recently in the news for offering free access on a handful of weekends
throughout the summer.
It seemed like a good time to remind fun seekers that we have five
great parks and three regional trails that are always free – any day of
the week and all through the year – and closer to home, too.
...read more .
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Teen referees do a good job -KATE SINGER
Prior Lake
Businesses face pressing concerns - PAUL HOFFINGER
Eagan
Defense of Will Morgan - LARRY FRAHM Burnsville
Message in a bottle - JON KUZNIA
Lakeville
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U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
Washington office:
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
phone: 202-224-3244
fax: 202-228-2186
Metro office:
1200 Washington Avenue South, Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Main Line: 612-727-5220
Main Fax: 612-727-5223
Toll Free: 1-888-224-9043
Southern office:
134 7th Street NW
Rochester, MN 55901
Main Line: 507-288-5321
Fax: 507-288-2922
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Minnesota 2nd District Rep. John Kline (R)
District Office Office:
101 W. Burnsville Pkwy #201
Burnsville, MN 55337
Main: 952-808-1213
Fax: 952-808-1261
Washington, D.C. Office:
1429 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Main: 202-225-2271
Fax: 202-225-2595
________________________________________________
Senator Chris Gerlach (R) District 37
Capitol Office:
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
State Office Building, Room 129
St. Paul, MN 55155-1206
651.296.4120
Email Address:
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(District 37 includes the cities of Apple Valley, Rosemount and a portion of southeast Burnsville.)
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Senator Jim Carlson (DFL) District 38
Capitol Office:
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Capitol Building, Room G-9
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
651.297.8073
Email Address: sen.jim.carlson@senate.mn
(District 38 includes all of the city Eagan and the northeast corner of Burnsville.)
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Senator John P. Doll (DFL) District 40
Capitol Office:
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Capitol Building, Room G-9
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
651.296.5975
Email Address: sen.john.doll@senate.mn
(District 40 includes northwest Burnsville and a portion of the city of Bloomington.)
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Rep. Mary Liz Holberg (R) 36A
303 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
(651) 296-6926
E-mail: rep.maryliz.holberg@house.mn
(District 36A includes the northwest area in the city of Lakeville.)
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Rep. Pat Garofalo (R) 36B
221 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
(651) 296-1069
(888) 667-3337
E-mail: rep.pat.garofalo@house.mn
(District
36B includes the city of Farmington, a small portion of Lakeville and
surrounding townships Empire, Eureka, Castle Rock, Greenvale,
Waterford, Sciota, Vermillion, Hampton, Randolph and others to the east.)
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Rep. Tara Mack (R) 37A
321 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
651-296-5506
E-mail:
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Legislative Assistant: Margaret Van Heel 651-296-5356
(District 37A includes the city of Apple Valley and the southeast portion of Burnsville.)
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Rep. Phil Sterner (DFL) 37B
523 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
651-296-4306
E-mail:
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Legislative Assistant: Sara Krogman 651-296-5398
(District 37B includes the city of Rosemount.)
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Rep. Sandra Masin (DFL) 38A
527 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
(651) 296-3533
E-mail: rep.sandra.masin@house.mn
(District 38A includes west Eagan and the northeast corner of Burnsville.)
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Rep. Mike Obermueller (DFL) 38B
335 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
651-296-4128
E-mail:
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and join Rep. Obermueller's e-mail updates
Legislative Assistant: Matt Scherer 651-296-5399
(District 38B includes the southeast portion of the city of Eagan.)
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Rep. Will Morgan (DFL) 40A
531 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
(651) 296-4212
E-mail: rep.will.morgan@house.mn
(District 40A includes portions of the cities of Savage and Burnsville.)