Letters from our Oct. 9 edition

Lacrosse

start-up here

For the past year, Mitch Jasper, a junior at Shakopee High School, has been working with the Minnesota Lacrosse Association with the goal of getting lacrosse started in the town of Shakopee. After many phone calls, his vision of starting lacrosse in Shakopee is starting to come into focus.

As the parents of Mitch, we are very proud of his efforts. Trying to get a new sport started in a town is no small task for a high school student. The first step in seeing his vision become reality took place on Saturday, Sept. 20. A lacrosse clinic was held in Shakopee from 3:30-6:30 p.m. with close to 50 boys and girls participating. We would like to thank all the kids who participated in this clinic.

In addition to the kids who participated in the clinic, Mitch was able to line up a number of people who are actively involved in lacrosse throughout the state of Minnesota. A special thanks to the following people who took the time on Sept. 20 to participate and run the clinic: Larry Doran, president of Minnesota Lacrosse Association; Maureen Novak, secretary of Minnesota Lacrosse Association; Aron Lipkin, executive director of Homegrown Lacrosse; Colin Achenbach, Minnesota Swarm player; Jesse Schelitzche, owner of Lavon Lacrosse and Burnsville high school boys’ head coach; Brian Finnvik, University of Minnesota Duluth women’s coach; and Ric Novak, Spring Lake Park boys’ high school coach.

Thanks to all of you for bringing the lacrosse sticks, nets and balls for the kids to use. What a treat to have a player from the Minnesota Swarm in attendance.

The clinic was a great success and the kids had a ton of fun. The goal of the Shakopee Lacrosse Club is to field a team in spring 2009. The Shakopee Lacrosse Club is currently not a sponsored high school sport and the team will function as a club team and play other junior varsity teams.

There will be two informational meetings at the Shakopee Community Center on Thursday, Oct. 30 and Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7:15 p.m. for parents and ninth- through 12th-grade boys interested in playing in spring 2009. Player registration will be held in October, November and December.

It was fun to watch the kids throw the ball around and truly wonderful to see our son's vision become reality.  Please call us at (952) 496-1732 if you have any questions. 

— Linda and Joe Jasper, Shakopee, Shakopee Lacrosse Club. 

Protection

for taxpayers

If the financial problems of our country are caused by extending bad credit and writing bad mortgages, why should my money buy these bad loans back?

If we have to keep some banks afloat, why not let them clean up their own mess (and not allow any ducking into bankruptcy), but instead take back stock ownership from them for any loans necessary.

Maybe then we have a chance of getting repaid.

— Keith L. Carlson, Shakopee. 

How about a

grocery store?

You want to put an Asian Market in this city and we do not even have a decent grocery store. Who would even think of that?

We have one dumpy grocery store and the people who own this Cub franchise are taking advantage of the fact that there is no competition.

Why can't we get a Lund’s or anything decent around here? Has anyone thought of this since Rainbow went out of business?

Please consider a grocery store, not an Asian Market.

— Dorothy Trehy, Shakopee.