Animal Medical Clinic Founder Dies Sunday

Joel Locketz was a resident of Minnetonka.

The founder of the Animal Medical Clinic in Uptown died unexpectedly Sunday at the age of 70, according to a Hodroff-Epstein Memorial obituary. Joel Locketz, a veterinarian from Minnetonka, opened the Animal Medical Clinic in 1970. He also volunteered with various animal-related organizations, as well as Big Brothers Big Sisters. He is survived by his wife, Sheila Gittleman Locketz; two daughters; two sons; two sisters and other friends and family. He was preceded in death by his parents and Jan Locketz Dolejsi, his wife of 20 years. A funeral service has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday at Temple Israel (2324 Emerson Ave. S., Minneapolis). Shiva will take place at the Locketz residence at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.  

• Photos (1)

Hockey Boys Behaving Badly, a Local Lennay and Bye-Bye Beeks: Pick of Our Patches

The Maple Grove hockey team stayed in the news this week. Other looks around the metro include a pot bust in Otsego, a Vikings surprise, and Richfield mourns a baby lost too soon.

Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Services Held for Tabitha Rose Markle Tabitha, 9 months, passed away Monday morning from injuries she sustained in an accident on Lake Minnetonka. Her mother, Amanda, works for Richfield Public Schools. Maple Grove Senior High Shares Action Plan Following Boys Hockey Team Incident School officials: “Following the recent situation involving some members of the hockey team, we know there is additional work to do.” Hundreds of Teachers Rally Against Standards Based Grading …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

Winds of Change and Two Controversial Trains: Pick of Our Patches

This week's roundup also includes news on a new bar in Southwest Minneapolis, Edina's top students and business changes in St. Michael-Albertville.

Editor’s Note: Every week we will bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Richfield, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, and St. Michael. Southwest LRT Typo Underestimates Co-location Costs by $100M Engineering consultants have identified a $100 million typo in a Southwest Light Rail Transit report that understates the cost of putting the Twin Cities & Western freight line in the same corridor as the light rail—an option known as “co-location.” The correction narrows the gap between the co-location option and the so-called “locally preferred alternative” that would reroute freight rail to a spur line in St. Louis …

• Photos (2)
• Documents (2)

The Fifth District Report

VIDEO: Colbert Report Profiles MN 5th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison suffered gamely through an interview by host Stephen Colbert.

Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District was the subject of a "Better Know A District" segment on Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" Thursday. Host Stephen Colbert highlighted New Hope, the Hennepin Avenue Bridge and Prince in his intro, then "sat down ... in a room" with U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (DFL-MN) for a wide-ranging, even scattershot interview that managed to touch on both Mohammed and Mary Tyler Moore. The "Fighting Fifth" is the second Minnesota district to be profiled on the "Colbert Report" and the 67th overall.

• Photos (1)

(UPDATED) Ron Paul's MN Convention Speech Drawing 5th District Interest

Local Republicans readying for Paul's appearance Friday.

See updates below. Ron Paul is set to speak at the Minnesota Republican convention Friday, and party activists in the Fifth District are preparing for a possible Paul win—with one local activist saying "I get the feeling I'm witnessing history." Paul is poised to make a strong showing in Minnesota after congressional-district conventions gave him 20 of 24 available national delegates. The Texas congressman was denied a speaking slot at the 2008 state convention, but has proven a popular candidate and speaker here since—turning fans away, for example, from an over-capacity speech in Arden Hills shortly before Minnesota's 2012 caucus night. On Monday, Paul announced his campaign would stop spending money in states that haven't yet held …

•  25 Comments
• Photos (1)

Former SW, Washburn High Teacher Dies

Harold Strobel taught students for 30 years.

Pastor Youngdahl of Mount Olivet Died Monday

The 73-year-old pastor met with two sitting presidents while serving Mount Olivet.

Senior Pastor Paul Youngdahl of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Southwest Minneapolis died Monday. "He will be remembered as one of Mount Olivet's greatest treasures for his leadership, his commitment and service to God's family, and for his never-ending love of the Lord," said a statement posted on the church's website. "We will miss him dearly and extend our condolences to you, his beloved church family." Funeral arrangements are being worked out. Youngdahl was a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and the Lutheran School of Theology in Rock Island, Ill. He was ordained by Mount Olivet in 1963, then served at churches in New Orleans and St. Paul before returning to Mount Olivet in 1968. He assumed the senior pastor position in 1974. He…

• Photos (1)

Savoring Southwest

Our Fine Farmers Markets Before Opening Weekend: The Kingfield Edition

The already successful Kingfield Farmers Market has its season opener on May 22, 2011. Here's some history and vendor info to whet your Southwest appetite before the parking lot fills up on Sunday.

I agree whole-heartedly with my editor (can you believe it?) here at Patch about opening day at the farmers market. It is the first true representation of a Minnesota spring, which frankly on March 21 is not well promoted by the whisper of wind through icy tree limbs and piles of black snow. But enough about the past. The grass is green, it's time to sow seeds and the sun has actually made a legitimate show of itself on more than one occasion. So now it is time for all the sights, sounds and tastes that our Southwest markets promise from now through late fall. In this, part one of my intro to the fine markets or our area, I bring you the reigning local fave: the Kingfield Farmers Market with its season opener on Sunday, May 22 from 8:30 a.…

• Photos (11)

Savoring Southwest

Take Mom Out to Eat for Mother's Day and a Cinco De Mayo Secret...

There are many restaurants doing something special for moms on Sunday, May 8 in the area. Here are some of our favorites plus a great local deal for Cinco De Mayo.

I'm not a mom, so I make sure to revere and fête the mothers I know, including my own, on Mother's Day. I can barely take care of my cat and my husband, let alone be responsible for a wee one. What I can do, however, is choose the appropriate restaurant for the occasion. And while that may be a minor talent in a world where diseases are cured, despots are dethroned, and mothers nurture their children, I do strive to use my powers for good. In this case, Sunday, May 8, 2011, requires some serious thought about where to take mom and her hangers-on — so that she has the best time possible. Today is her day, whether she's your significant other, aunt, niece, friend or actual mother — as long as she's raising up, or has raised, a child. Show …

• Photos (13)

Savoring Southwest

Sun Street Breads to Open in March — Plus a Rundown of Eatery Openings in the Southwest

With Sun Street Breads opening in March, it seemed a good time to meet the baker behind it and then give you a cheat sheet about all the area restaurant comings and goings.

Sun Street Breads Coming to 46th Street and Nicollet Avenue "Here's my new electric stacked oven," bragged Solveig Tofte, about her gleaming, four level baking appliance, obviously excited about her Sun Street Breads store as it takes shape at 4600 Nicollet Avenue. She and her husband, Martin Ouimet are deep into the renovations of the old Snyder's drug store, which is on schedule to open in March as a retail and eat-in bakery with breakfast and lunch service. Sun Street will also have a beer and wine license. "We were at the Kingfield Farmers Market all summer, so really when we were looking for a space it was kind of our hope to stay in the 'hood," said Tofte, formerly the head baker at Turtle Bread Company. "We picked this spot because …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (17)