Articles

Farmington residents will save on recycling

Talk about a win-win situation. On Monday, the Farmington City Council approved a new six-year contract with the city’s recycling provider, Dick’s Sanitation. The deal will mean quite a few benefits to the city and residents — not to mention, the environment.

Summer hockey, minus the skates offered in Farmington

A new hockey league is coming to Farmington this summer and no skates are required. Called simply ball hockey, the league is offered through Lakeville-based Dryland Hockey, Inc. It looks like a regular hockey game, but players are in tennis shoes and there is no ice. The game is played with a ball instead of a puck.

Farmington students read their way to the top

One fifth grade class at Akin Road Elementary School is among the top 100 in a nationwide reading competition that included more than 680,000 classrooms. Their good reading habits earned them a free pizza party.

• Photo: Reading

Looking Back: Mrs. G.E. Walters of Farmington filed for state representative seat 75 years ago

A Farmington man died as the result of injuries sustained in a train accident 100 years ago. Check out what else happened in Farmington's history by reading this week's Looking Back.

Quiet year ahead for road work in Farmington

But for a sanitary sewer replacement project and seal coating work in some neighborhoods, Farmington should be relatively free of road construction delays this summer.

Column: Reconsidering the benefits of a window with a view

There was a time when I fought tooth and nail to keep my desk in front of the big picture window at the front of our office. For those unfamiliar with our office, the front of our building is mostly one big window.

Sinkholes an issue on several Eureka township roads

Getting around Eureka Township has been a little more difficult lately, thanks to the amount of snow and rain the area has received. Several culverts in the township have given out in recent weeks, creating something of a sink hole in those locations.

Farmington High School Games for Change raised $5,700 for the food shelf

When Farmington High School students set out to do something good for others, they’re usually very successful. Last weekend’s fourth annual Games for Change was no exception.

• Photo: Games for Change

Spring snows play spoiler around Farmington

As the rain turned to snow — again — Monday afternoon, Farmington crews were gearing up for another possible six to nine inches of snow. But it wasn’t just the plowing crews who were watching the weather. It seems the prolonged winter weather has affected several of Farmington’s annual springtime events.

• Photo: Spring 2013

Looking Back: Electric lights were dim in Farmington 100 years ago

Dakota County's Harold Stassen filed for governor of Minnesota 75 years ago. Check out what else happened in local history by reading this week's Looking Back.

Columns

Column: A new view on the state capitol

I think I was in fourth grade the first time I set foot in the Minnesota State Capitol. I’m pretty sure it was a class trip, with all of us kids from Gaylord toting our cold meat sandwiches in brown paper bags. Heading to the big city of St. Paul, ready to see the sights we’d only read about in text books.

Column: Adjusting to life without sirens

When I lived in town, I used to count sirens at night. Weird as that might sound, I did it, whether I wanted to or not. I’d hear the sirens in the summer especially, when I would have my windows open in the evenings. At times, I’d wake from a sound sleep. I’d lie there, listening, and counting.

Column: Big decisions don't come easily

I’ve been wrestling with a big decision in my life lately. I’ve decided that the time has come for me to step down as president of the Farmington American Legion Auxiliary, but it’s not been an easy decision by any stretch of the imagination.

Column: Make the most of life in 2012

On Sunday, a friend of mine posted a kind of funny picture on her Facebook page. It was a cartoon of two Mayans talking, one of them leaning on a circular calendar. “I only had enough room to go up to 2012,” one of them says. “Ha! That’ll freak somebody out someday!” says the other.

Column: Good thing I didn’t make resolutions

Just out of curiosity Monday, I pulled up a column I wrote the first week of 2011. In it, I decided I was already too far into the new year – it was published on Jan. 6 – to set any resolutions. I thought instead I’d make me some pledges. And it’s a good thing I didn’t make those resolutions, because I’d have a heck of a lot to do in the next week. First off, I had pledged to learn to play cribbage, because The Beau likes to play Cribbage. Whoops. Didn’t master that one yet. File under “To Do in 2012.”

Column: Transitioning to a ‘dog person’

Puppies are funny creatures. I got my first kitten for my 10th birthday. I was 23 when my dad had to take her to the vet for the last time. Michke, my last cat, was my companion for 14 years. Suffice it to say, I understand cats. If I’d been asked, even three months ago, I’d fall under the “Cat Person” category. But now, Rissa’s come to our house, and she’s really messing with that whole label.

Column: The newspaper gods are on my side

Here’s the thing about holiday weeks: there is usually far too much to do, in far too little time. Don’t get me wrong. I’m gearing up for a nice, long four-day weekend with family and a couple hundred of my closest Black Friday shopping friends, just like anybody else.

Column: A case of puppy love at first sight

I had to break the news to Farmington fire chief Tim Pietsch Monday: for the first time in I don’t know how many years, I will not make it to Turkey Bingo this year. And as much as I enjoyed the 451st Army Band concert two years ago, I won’t make it to that, either.

Column: Finding the good from Sept. 11

Yet another year of omelet breakfasts at the Farmington American Legion started up last Sunday. By coincidence, it happened that our first breakfast of the year was scheduled on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States.

Column: I’m sorry for being an idiot

Dear Empire Township Residents, Please accept my heartfelt apology. I came to your Empire Celebration Aug. 4 - I really did. I came, camera in hand, to take pictures of your community celebration. I wandered around and around, for about an hour and a half.