Go-Float Signs New Dealers to Sell Its Electric Boats

Based in Hopkins, Go-Float boats garnered their some of their first brand exposure on and around Lake Minnetonka.

Go-Float has signed four new U.S. dealers and one Israeli resort to sell the company’s electric boats, the company announced Wednesday. The additional dealers are part of growing success the company credits in part to this year’s boat shows. Prior to the shows, it introduced four new models for 2012 with prices below $5,000. Its production team has doubled in size and expects to quadruple in 2012. “Our boat show results have been better than expected. We are signing new dealers and those dealers report that they’ve sold boats within days of receiving their first shipment,” a news release quoted Steve Hendrickson, Go-Float’s general manager. “Our vision of electric boating is connecting with all types of people and we are thrilled to see …

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Wayzata H.S. Student Surprised With Scholarship

Ejab Dema was surprised by staff and members of TwinWest May 2 with the $5,000 Twin West Legacy scholarship.

Ten years ago Ejab Dema and her family moved to Minnesota from across the globe. Now, as a Wayzata High School senior, Ejab wants to take on the world. The local teen not only strives to make a difference in her community, but aspires to helping others everywhere. It is this passion and drive that was quite evident in her winning application for the 2012 TwinWest Legacy Scholarship. Ejab was chosen by the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce Foundation as this year's recipient of the $5,000 scholarship that will help in her financial aid to attend the University of Notre Dame next fall. Ejab was surprised with the scholarship by TwinWest Chamber members, school staff, family and friends Wednesday morning at the school. "I knew I wanted to go to …

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Ask an Expert

Ask an Expert: Pet Grooming

Heidi Baroun, owner of Heidi's Elite Pet Grooming, is here to answer your grooming questions.

Pets that love to romp outside welcome the return of warm weather, but the higher temperatures come with an increased importance of keeping your pet safe in the heat and tick-free. Grooming is an important part of combating this. It prevents matting of the coat and undercoat that can cause many unexpected problems. In this inaugural edition of Ask an Expert, Heidi Baroun, owner of Heidi's Elite Pet Grooming, is here to answer your grooming questions. Baroun has been grooming pets since 1998. At her Hopkins business, she pampers pets with gentle brushing and baths. And she knows the power a treat and a belly rub can have toward convincing pets to allow inspections of those hard-to-reach places. Baroun will be answering your grooming …

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Heidi Baroun

10:14 pm on Friday, May 11, 2012

I would say definitely trim the hair around the ear canal. That hair holds in moisture and decreases air flow in and out of the ear. This causes the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Be very careful when trimming this hair so you don't knick the skin. I would flush out the ears before and after baths and/or swimming. If you flush the ears before the bath or swim, the ear cleaner that stays in…   more ›

New Grocery Store Plans Spark Debate in Excelsior

Residents expressed a mixture of support for and opposition to site plans.

Excelsior residents are voicing both excitement and grievances regarding a development plan that would potentially bring a grocery store and other businesses to town. Paul Tucci from Minnetonka-based Oppidan presented development plans for the now vacant Mason Motors property on Water Street, between Oak and George Streets, to the Excelsior City Council last week. The site plan includes an addition to the Mason Motors building, a second building for businesses and parking. Bill Mason, owner of the former Mason Motors, told the council about the excitement surrounding the possibility of a grocery store coming to Excelsior. Many council members, however, had concerns about traffic and the orientation of the building that would house the …

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Better Business Bureau Tips: Window Replacement, Spending Tax Refund

Here are the Better Business Bureau tips for April.

Energy Efficient Windows: A Clear Improvement?  The warm weather is here, and many consumers are looking to make home improvements while sticking to a budget. The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) advises consumers to balance cost effectiveness with energy efficiency, as more efficient windows, doors and skylights can make a big difference in energy consumption over time. Start by looking for products that carry the Energy Performance Ratings label from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). The label can help determine how well a product will perform its key functions - helping to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, keeping out wind, and resisting condensation. By using the …

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Birchview Students Learn Real World Science

Birchview students participate in a hands-on science project with Siemens Corporation employees.

Fifth grade students at Birchview Elementary School had the opportunity to work with employees of Siemens Corporation to design and create windmills during a one-hour real-world science activity March 21. Siemen’s is a global powerhouse in the area of electronics, energy and healthcare. The presenters brought in materials and provided the background knowledge for small groups to design and test windmills in the classroom. The students then competed to see whose windmill was the winner based on design and effectiveness. The windmills are on display in the fifth grade showcase at Birchview. Former Birchview, and 2005 Wayzata High School graduate student Steven Bruce works for Siemens. He and three other employees, Predrag Bjelogrlic, Felicia…

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What Do You Think of The Latest Vikings Stadium Sketches?

The Vikings released new concept images Monday.

The same day as the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee signed off on the Vikings stadium bill, the team released concept sketches of what a stadium might look like on the site currently under discussion. The proposed 1.5 million-square-foot “Downtown East” stadium would be built on the current Metrodome site for an estimated $975 million. It would have 65,000 seats that would be expandable to 72,000 seats for a Super Bowl. There would be 7,500 club seats and 120 to 150 suites. It would also have a multipurpose, fixed roof in contrast to public requests earlier in the stadium process for a retractable roof. The stadium proposal will next go to the Rules and Regulatory Reform Committee, along with a companion bill that gives …

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Caitlin Burgess

10:41 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012

Do you really have to pay a ridiculous amount to be in the tailgate lot? I've never been in that part. I'm assuming it's labeled as a "parking fee," but do you know about how much it runs? Sorry. A little off topic, but I find that point interesting.   more ›

Plans for Closed Excelsior Car Dealership Include a Grocery Store

Mason Motors closed earlier this year.