South metro business briefs

Last update: October 7, 2008 - 11:34 PM

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SCOTT/DAKOTA COUNTIES

Start your own business

Inexpensive classes aimed at helping people start their own business are being offered this month and next in a partnership between a government agency and Dakota County's technical college.

"Take the Plunge! Start Your Own Business" will be from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Shakopee Workforce Center, 752 Canterbury Road. The same class will be in Dakota County from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the West St. Paul Workforce Center, 1 W. Mendota Road, West St. Paul, in Room 110A.

The cost is $10. Register by calling 651-423-8612.

The classes are being offered by the Dakota-Scott Workforce Investment Board, which hopes to help attendees find out if they "have what it takes to be an entrepreneur, along with the ins and outs of starting a business."

PRIOR LAKE

Tribe installing 'green' surface, rain gardens

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community will install about 15,000 square feet of "green" surface in one of its casino parking lots, as well as two rain gardens that can absorb excess storm water.

Pervious pavement is made from materials that, instead of allowing pollutants from vehicles to run off into streams and lakes, are made of a paste-like substance that binds gravel and stone together, allowing water to sink through to the ground, becoming purified as it goes and recharging underground water supplies.

New city finance director

A woman describing herself as "not your typical bean-counter" has been named Prior Lake's new director of finance.

Jerilyn Erickson, of Lonsdale, replaced Ralph Teschner, retiring after 31 years with the city. She has been accounting manager for the city of Burnsville and an accountant for the city of Northfield.

BURNSVILLE

Car dealer honored

John Adamich, owner of Dodge of Burnsville, was honored recently by Chrysler for owning his dealership for 25 years. That anniversary came with icing on the cake for Adamich, known locally as a civic booster.

Back in 1983, the first check in his store at Interstate 35W and Cliff Road came from Wes and Marcia Gatzke, who bought a car. Adamich saved a copy of that check. Over the years -- and even before Adamich owned his own dealership -- he sold the Gatzkes a total of 21 cars. The most recent sale to the couple came almost to the day of Adamich's 25th anniversary at his dealership. The Gatzkes had stopped in as they traveled from their summer home on Crane Lake in Minnesota to their winter home in Sun City, Ariz. Now, Adamich has copies of that check as well as the 1983 check, which he's saving for their sentimental value.

"That makes me feel pretty darn good," Adamich said. "As we get older we save funny things. I save copies of checks."

Cole's leads fundraiser

A 31-member team from Cole's Salon has so far raised $84,000 in the Race for a Cure aimed at helping to fight breast cancer. A salon spokeswoman said it was the most raised by any team.

Cole's had 11 employees along with clients and family members in the 68-mile walk/race that started at the State Fairgrounds and ended at the State Capitol over a three-day stretch in September. Cole's team members ranged from age 16 to 63.

Julie Norstedt, who works at Cole's Burnsville Salon and is herself battling breast cancer, spearheaded the Cole's effort. The team held fundraisers that included grocery bagging, a wine-tasting party, a spaghetti dinner, a brat sale and a garage sale.

Cole's has five salons in the south metro area.

JOY POWELL AND DAVID PETERSON