The Catholic Spirit has a great story about the seven seniors from Shakopee's championship volleyball team who have played together since their Catholic grade-school days. Before the state tournament, the girls
returned to SACS for Mass and a special blessing from the Rev. Peter Wittman.

Shannon Fiecke 

A couple people have asked me what's being built by Home Depot in the Southbridge area. No, it's not a new building.

Crews are constructing a right-in, right-out turn lane onto County Road 18. This is something the developer (and city) were seeking to spur business development in that area.

Developer Steve Soltau had said he couldn't get businesses to come in without that access. The county finally agreed to allow the connection when negotiating with the city about the Co. Rd. 21 extention project. The work is being financed by Soltau's company.

I'm sure I'm dating myself with the post, as it's been several months since I'd been to the Shakopee Wal-Mart, but I sure was in for a happy surprise when I stopped there last week for an eye exam. Aunt Annie's has replaced what used to be a McDonald's. Hurrah!! I LUV their pretzels and the only other places they sell them at in the Twin Cities are malls (including the Eden Prairie Center).

Is it just me, or are scooters popping up everywhere?

I was just at Shakopee City Hall and the front desk receptionist has one, parked tantalizingly outside the front window. On the way back to the office I spotted a couple more. 

I got the bug for two wheels a couple weekends ago when I went on a motorcycle benefit ride (the first time I'd been on one since I was weee-tall.)

I haven't ridden a bike since college, when my purple 10-speed mountain bike, a 13th birthday present, rusted out fromtoo many days of snow and rain while chained to a rack outside my dorm room.

Somehow I've gotten by since then, but on peaceful summer evenings I really miss a pair of wheels. Not wanting to buy a cheap bike from a department store, nor a professional one I won't get much use for, I decided to go the used bike route.

Last night was the close of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival- or so I thought. Those who missed the fest -- or didn't get to watch everything they wished- have one more chance.

The "best of" will play one more week, starting tonight at the Oak Stret Cinema. See schedule below

As a tall woman who hovers between a size 8 and 10 (I'm no string bean), I never thought I'd be saying this. I'm too small for Fashion Bug.

I just renewed my auto insurance (I have Progressive) and, at the end of my call, the lady asked if I'd like to find out if I'm receiving all possible discounts. I leerily said yes (figured she would give me a sales pitch), but I am glad I did. Turns out you can get money off your bill if your house is insured or you have renter's insurance (I live with parents, so I didn't qualify). Additionally, if you have your bills e-mailed to you instead of getting them through the regular mail, they take $29 off EVERY SIX MONTHS. That's nearly $60 per year.

I volunteer for World Relief, an organization that helps settle refugee families in the Twin Cities. Again this winter, they are in need of winter coats and clothing. Please read this message and donate if you are able. Thanks!

Last week, World Relief greeted a refugee family from Kenya at the airport. When they stepped outside the glass airport doors, they shrieked and covered their faces, their eyes wide with horror - this was cold as they could have never imagined.