In November of 2010, Matt Little was elected to his first term as a Lakeville City Councilor. At the time, Little—who was just 25-year-old—was considered an unlikely choice. He was too young, too green and too liberal for Lakeville's council, opponents said. But his public message emphasising public safety, low taxes, and volunteerism seemed to resonate with voters, and he was elected in spite of what critics said. Fast forward two years. In November of 2012, Little was elected to his first term as Lakeville Mayor. Ok, then. Little, 28-year-old law student at the University of Minnesota, is …

When the graduating classes from Lakeville’s two high schools gather together for the final time tonight, they will hear messages about the need for curiosity and balance in their lives from some of their peers. The customary graduation speech tradition will be filled by Dylan Slinger at Lakeville South while Zach Nelson will deliver the parting speech for Lakeville North students. Each speaker said they will draw on personal experiences to help sum up their student experiences and offer guidance to their fellow seniors as they all prepare to embark on life's journeys. Slinger, a two-time …

Life’s busy when you’re a National Merit Scholar. Over lunch at Lakeville North High School, Seniors Natalie Dokken and Marcus Blackstad had a brief break to talk about their plans for college and careers, and what the National Merit Scholar honor means to them. “Getting a scholarship to help pay for college is always a good thing,” Dokken said. “I’m going to Grinnell College in Iowa to study linguistics.” “It’s a pretty big one,” Blackstad said. “I’m going to Gustavus Adolphus College, and I want to be a physicist. Maybe I’ll go into theoretical physics, engineering or mathematics.” Not too …

Alex Richter, a 6-foot-6, senior forward from Lakeville South, has committed to Division II Augustana to play his college basketball. Richter was a first team Star Tribune All-Metro selection and helped lead the Cougars to the Class AAAA State Tournament this season.Richter received four Division I scholarship offers last fall, but has decided to wait until the spring signing period before making his college choice.Richter averaged 22.7 points per game, tops in the South Suburban Conference, as the Cougars finished 21-9 this season. He scored in double figures all 30 games, including a season…

When Olivia Howard, of Lakeville, came home briefly to meet the phone guy a few weeks ago, the timing couldn’t have been luckier. Charter Communications technician Greg Sheldon was at the Howard residence to do a routine repair when Olivia Howard noticed her father-in-law, who lives in a basement apartment at the home, was ill. “Greg asked me to call the phone in my father-in-law’s apartment to test the repair and when I did, there was no answer,” Howard said. “I ran down to check on him and he looked horrible and was unresponsive.” Howard came back upstairs and told Sheldon that something …

For Megan Olsen and Wesley Brand, it’s not hard to stand out at Lakeville South, despite the fact that there nearly 1,900 students at their school. Both students have excelled academically, and have full schedules that include sports and after-school activities. But what they really love most is learning. “I’m really good at memorizing things, but I also love thinking things through logically,” Brand said. “I’ve always been a good test-taker, and I can reason things out quickly.” “You really need to be able to focus well,” Olsen said. “But I just love to learn, It really doesn’t matter what …

Some people honestly think Charlie Sheen is going crazy. But whether he's talking about his goddesses to bragging about his “tiger blood,” Sheen has captured the attention of the country. And while some think he’s off his rocker, others, like 2008 Lakeville South graduate Shannah Henderson, think he's merely winning. Duh. And surprisingly, it seems as though Sheen’s winning rubs off, because right now, Henderson is doing some winning of her own. The self-described “Sheeniac” has managed to best more than 82,000 other applicants who are vying to become Sheen’s "#Tigerblood" social media intern…

Editors note: The original story published listed Dan Peterson's name as Anderson. Lakeville Patch regrets the error. Workers are ramping up construction efforts on a new Pizza Ranch franchise location coming to Lakeville. News of the restaurant’s opening first broke in summer of 2010, but the location next to Hirshfield’s in front of HOM Furniture on Kenyon Avenue has been quiet until recently. “We’re excited to finally be coming to Lakeville” said Dan Peterson of DDJ Ranch, LLC., the store’s operator. “I think we’ll give people a good offering for their money.” According to Peterson, the …

There are countless people living in the community—civic leaders, longtime residents, small business owners—with interesting stories that readers of Lakeville Patch are curious about.Sara Nivala is the owner of The Loft Bridal and Design, a fashion-forward boutique along Lakeville's Holyoke Avenue, offering a unique bridal attire shopping experience that's also become an institution for folks living in the city's historic downtown. Lakeville Patch caught up with Nivala to learn more about her business and how she's made it a success. Lakeville Patch: "When did you open The Loft Bridal and …

When the Lakeville School Board announced their initial plans to cut music and arts programs in the district due to a $15.8 million budget deficit late last year, Joy Afdahl knew it was time to begin actively pursuing her dream. That dream became a quick reality when Forte Fine Arts Academy opened for registration earlier this week. The non-profit program is scheduled to begin providing classes for area youths in June to help fill some of the void left when elementary band and art, and other fine arts program reductions, were officially reduced or eliminated in February beginning with the …

Step into Christopher Clifford’s Orchard Lake Elementary School social studies class and you may find yourself in the middle of a revolt by the British colonists against King George. Or you may decide to join the Patriots as they square off against the Red Coats. No matter the topic of the day, Clifford and his co-teacher Janine Steffer are sure to be busy on the front lines. Clifford was honored last week in Rochester as the state's Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year at the Minnesota Council for the Social Studies Teacher of the Year Awards gala. He was nominated by students and …

Holly Hewitt of Holly’s Centre Stage Dance has been teaching dance in Lakeville for more than 10 years. We stopped by her studios on Holyoke Avenue to talk about her passion for dance why she thinks the art form is so important. Lakeville Patch: "What is your background as a dancer and how did you get into teaching?" Holly Hewitt: "I started dancing at about age three when my family lived in Kansas. We moved to Minnesota when I was six and I took classes at Monique's School of Dance in Apple Valley. I eventually started teaching there, and we often traveled around in the summer to different …

Pizazz Accessories and Gifts is one of Lakeville’s newest boutiques, located in the back of Barger’s Salon on Holyoke Avenue. We sat down with owner Erica Demo to talk about what makes her shop unique and why she chose Lakeville. Lakeville Patch:  What inspired you to open Pizazz Accessories and Gifts? Erica Demo:  I’ve been working in Lakeville for about 14 years at Barger’s Salon, where I’m a stylist. My new shop is right in the back of the salon. I’ve always loved gifts, accessories and purses, and when the space became available I decided I’d give it a whirl back here on my own. That way …

Gary Werning doesn’t remember his face hitting the rock on a remote mountainside last August. Considering the near-fatal traumatic brain injury caused by the fall, it could easily be considered improbable that the Lakeville Lifetime Fitness employee remembers anything at all. “I wanted to go finish the race,” says Werning who trained relentlessly for the race when recalling his first thoughts after waking up in a Denver hospital after his accident. “And then I realized where I was and I felt fortunate when I looked around and saw some of the cancer patients and other accident victims that …

Lakeville Patch: "How did you get started in the floral business?" Amy Povroznik: "I used to be an interior designer, and I started doing some freelance floral design for some clients I was working with. Before long I realized I just liked it better. It’s a more soulful experience for me. Then a number of years ago my aunt from Farmington saw an ad for a Lakeville flower shop that needed a designer. I got the job and worked there for two years, but they decided to close. So I jumped on the chance to open my own shop (Flora Etc.) in the existing space. If it hadn’t been for my aunt, I wouldn't…

Lakeville Patch:  How long have you been in business with the Pink Door Boutique, and what was your inspiration? Lisa Vossen:  I opened two-and-a-half years ago. I was working in the mortgage industry, and had lost a job due to the economy. That job was a really different career, but it was a job. It really wasn’t my passion. What I have here is my passion, so I knew if I didn’t take the risk I’d regret it, and luckily it’s been working out. It’s a lot of work, but I love it, and I enjoy being here. Lakeville Patch:  How did you prepare yourself to be a first-time business owner? Vossen:  …

While most children are toddling at the age of two, Lakeville native Matthew Strand stepped into the rigging of a small pair of skis while his father strapped his boots on. To date, it’s been a journey of swooshing his way to where he is today—about to take part in the World Junior Alpine Ski championships in Crans, Montana, Switzerland. Strand's event of choice is the slalom. So, for the skiing novice, slalom skiing is a technical ski event which consists of the skier racing down a hill, weaving in and out of colored poles (called gates) at high speeds shooting for not only accuracy and …

It's hard not to get caught up in a little history when you walk through the doors of Mohn's Barber Shop in Downtown Lakeville. Like a time capsule that was never stashed, the 51-year old establishment and community fixture is filled with reminders and mementos from days past. The iconic spinning barber poles that guide you to the doors are your first clue that you're in for a traditional barber shop experience when you visit Mohn's. The guys in white inside that recognize customers by name and flash smiles to familiar faces passing by the large picture window confirms it. "Get on over here, …