Lakeville Pan-O-Prog 2014

PAN-O-PROGJuly 4-13, 2014

Lakeville’s Summer FestivalSpecial Supplement:

Friday, July 4

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Let the fun and games beginLakeville sets Pan-O-Prog celebration with new rules, old favorites, new events planned

by Laura AdelmannSUN THISWEEK

DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Panorama of Progress, Lakeville’s largest summer festival, returns with loads of folks’ favorite events and new activities this year. The large celebration will be held July 4-13, with most activities in the city’s historic downtown, including the Grand Parade on July 12. Former Lakeville police Chief Tom Vonhof, who retired Oct. 1 after serving 33 years on the Lakeville Police Depart-ment will serve as grand marshal. A longer parade route will provide more seating options for people, as some new rules have been instituted to solve problems for downtown business own-ers. Instead of the parade ending at Holy-oke Avenue and Heritage Drive, it will turn left at Heritage Drive, travel past City Hall and the Heritage Library up to Iberia Avenue. Saving spots along public right-of-way is prohibited until 9 a.m. the day of the event and must be removed by mid-

night under a new city ordinance initiat-ed last year after business owners raised concerns last summer. People had been blocking store en-trances with a variety of spot saving items, including tarps, bricks, chairs, ropes and blankets, starting days in ad-vance of the Pan-O-Prog events. The ordinance also bans people from securing their items to the boulevard with any materials that could “damage or negatively impact” the sidewalk or public right of way. Handicap parking will be available for the Cruise Night and the Pan-O-Prog Parade at Heritage Center, 20110 Holyoke Avenue.

Events set A new event, Brew Battle, will be held from 1-4 p.m. July 12 at the Lakeville Area Arts Center’s south lawn for those age 21 and older. Advance purchase tickets are $25 and may be obtained at www.lakevillemn.gov (select “Calendar of Events”) or for $30 at the door, if The Lakeville South High School marching band’s drumline thunders down Holyoke

Avenue in the 2013 Pan-O-Prog Grand Parade. The high school bands will be perform-ing again this year. (File photo) See PAN-O-PROG, 4


there are tickets remaining. A POP but-ton, for sale now at Lakeville businesses, is also required to enter. More than 30 breweries with more than 100 beers will battle for votes to be crowned at the end of the tasting. The Lakeville Area Arts Center is also the place to be on July 12 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. for another new event: Art on the Lawn. Artwork will be for sale by students and instructors along with entertainment and art projects for kids. Fireworks, food, clowns and enter-tainment featuring live music by the band Castaways will be at Lakeville North High School from 7-10 p.m. Friday, July 4. Visitors are advised to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on the football practice field and surrounding areas. The popular Cruise Night starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 11 at downtown Lakeville where more than 500 classic cars start cruising at the corner of Holy-oke Avenue and 210th Street, and travel to Highway 50 before heading to Cedar Avenue. Many of the classic cars will be on display downtown after the cruise, where music and vendors and entertainment

will be in full swing. It costs $10 to enter a vehicle at least 20 years old in the cruise. Registration begins at 3 p.m., at the Lakeville South High School parking lot; food vendors and music will be available during the registration process. Registration is being taken for the Monday, July 7, Junior Golf Tourna-ment at Heritage Links Golf Course, at 8075 Lucerne Boulevard in Lakeville from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. by calling 952-440-4653. Ages 15-18 and 12-14 tee off at 7:30 a.m.; ages 8-11 tee off at 10:30 a.m. A Fun Fair will be held Saturday, July 12, at the Lakeville Area Arts Center parking lot from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., when events include an exotic petting zoo and pony rides, a magic bounce, rides and turtle races. Turtle race registration starts at 11 a.m. and races begin at 1 p.m. with prizes for round winners and free entry into the next race. An unlimited wristband for carni-val rides is $15 for the day an includes unlimited bouncing and the Batters Up Baseball Challenge. Purchasing a $25 per day ultimate

PAN-O-PROG, from 3

See OVERVIEW, 5

The Lakeville North High School dance team kicks up some fun during the Pan-O-Prog Grand Parade, which this year will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 12. (File photo)


Pan-O-Prog events include a Pedal Tractor Pull for Kids at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 8. Registration for children ages 4 to 11 is at 5 p.m. (File photo)

wristband includes all inflatables, shark water slide, Eurobunchy, mechanical surf board, rock climbing wall, water wars and carnival rides. The Miss Lakeville Pageant will be held Wednesday, July 9, from 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m. at Lakeville South High School, 21135 Jacquard Avenue. The winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship and participate in Pan-O-Prog events, the St. Paul Winter Carnival Visiting Royalty program and the 2014 Minneapolis Queen of the Lakes compe-tition.

A silent auction starts at 6 p.m. and the pageant begins at 7 p.m. The Lakeville Lions’ annual fund-raiser, Beer, Brats & Bingo returns to the Lakeville Area Arts Center on Thursday, July 10 from 5:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Bingo starts at 7 p.m. and cards are $10 each. The final game starts at 11:15 p.m.; prizes are donated by area busi-nesses. For more information, go to www.panoprog.org.

Laura Adelmann is at [email protected].

OVERVIEW, from 4

The Pan-O-Prog Kiddie Parade will start at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, July 12, at Holyoke and 207th Street. Children ages 2-11 are be-ing asked to dress in their a costume depicting their favorite “hero.” Registra-

tion starts at 10:15 a.m. (File photo)


The chief of parade Former Lakeville Police Chief Tom Vonhof to be grand marshal

by Laura Adelmann and Tad Johnson

SUN THISWEEKDAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Former Lakeville Police Chief Tom Vonhof has been on duty for so many Pan-O-Prog parades that it would be difficult to recount them all. Vonhof will make 2014 one to re-member as he will be riding on the back of a vehicle as it cruises down Holyoke Avenue as this year’s parade grand mar-shal. Vonhof retired Oct. 1 as a 33-year veteran of the department and its chief since 2006. He began his law enforcement career as a Lakeville police officer in 1980. Vonhof has worked in every position at the department, including serving as an undercover narcotics investigator and a field trainer. He has even hosted the department’s cable television show. During his tenure as chief, Vonhof led numerous public safety initiatives including Pure Performance, a drug and alcohol prevention program implement-ed at the high schools, and was involved

with the planning and construction of the new police station in 2008. He described the decision to retire as a difficult one, stating that he still was excited to come to work and could not believe he got paid to be in law enforce-ment. He said he thought about retiring for a year prior to his announcement. Vonhof said at the time he had ideas to possibly travel more, but was looking forward spending time with family and pursuing hobbies that include classic cars, horses and sailing. Vonhof continues to serve as chair of the Scott County Planning Commis-sion and teach management courses at Metropolitan State University and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. He called it a privilege to work in the Lakeville police department, describing his love for the city and pride in his de-partment. “I have loved having the opportunity to serve residents in this city,” Vonhof said. “It’s been an honor and a privilege

Former Lakeville Police Chief Tom Vonhof, wearing a boutonniere instead of a badge, addresses the crowd at his retirement party. (Photo by Laura Adelmann)See VONHOF, 7


to serve as a police officer in this commu-nity. To my brothers and sisters in arms that I have worked with, they are some of the finest people I’ve had the pleasure to know. … The city is well-served.” Vonhof was paid tribute to several times before he officially retired, includ-ing a retirement party Sept. 30.

“I’m definitely sad to see him go,” Mayor Matt Little said in an interview. “He’s an absolute expert. He’s got that mix of law enforcement background and also has people skills, public presentation skills and leadership skills. It’s the perfect mix of what you’d want for a chief.” Little credited Vonhof for his actions

VONHOF, from 6

Lakeville police Chief Tom Vonhof grinned as Lakeville City Administrator Steve Mielke presented Vonhof’s wife, Nancy, with flowers during the Sept. 16 City Council meeting in gratitude for “all the time and effort (the family has) allowed Tom to do.” (Photo by Laura Adelmann)

See CHIEF, 9


Lakeville South sophomore’s design wins contest Teagan Velin plans graphic design career

by Laura AdelmannSUN THISWEEK


A Lakeville South High School sophomore’s patri-otic rendering that includes a nod to the city’s logo has been selected as the winning 2014 Pan-O-Prog button design. Teagan Velin, of Elko New Market, said she was excited her design will be featured on 8,000 event buttons during the city’s 48th annual sum-mer Pan-O-Prog celebration, July 4-13. Velin said winning the contest confirmed to her that she is head-ed down the right path in pursu-ing graphic design for a career. Her red-white-and-blue design features a prominent “Pan-O-Prog” in a banner waving over a circle de-sign resembling the city of Lakeville’s familiar water, hills and sun logo. “I love the design,” Velin said. “I love how it looks. It’s simple and neat and not too cluttered.” Velin said her motivation for entering the contest was to help others. “I’m going to use the prize money for a mission trip to Guatemala,” Velin said.

She said she will minister in the poverty-stricken country with Hosanna Church by leading vacation Bible school classes for children this summer. Including the $200 prize money, Velin has raised about two-thirds of the $1,500 needed to take the trip.

(Contributions are being accepted online at www.hosannaic.org/give. Click on “Give

Online” and choose “mission trip” from the “Apply this payment to” in the

drop down box. Include trip desti-nation and participant’s name to ensure the contribution is prop-erly assigned.) Velin said she worked on the button design during her graph-ics class in school and it took about four hours to complete. Velin said her achievement

also has meaning to her whole fam-ily.

“This means so much,” she said. “My family has been attending Pan-O-Prog

every year since I was born. I feel like I’m leaving my mark on Lakeville.”

Velin is the daughter of Trevor and Tammie Velin, and the granddaughter of Del and Bette Doetkott and Chuck and Pam Velin.

Laura Adelmann is at [email protected].

The 2014 Pan-O-Prog button design, created by Lakev-ille South High School sophomore Teagan Velin, features a patriotic theme with a nod to Lakeville’s logo. (Photo submitted)


to make sure children in the community have an opportunity to positively inter-act with police officers, including posting officers in schools and the department’s annual open house. He called Vonhof “a really incredible guy” who has devoted himself to better-ing Lakeville. Dakota County Sheriff Dave Bellows, who met Vonhof in the police academy, worked together at the Lakeville depart-ment until Bellows left in 1999 for the sheriff ’s department. Bellows called Vonhof a “consum-mate professional,” noting he came through the ranks at the Lakeville de-partment to become “one of the finest chiefs out there.” “He was courageous … inquisitive … thought-provoking and … tenacious as a terrier. He had that never-give-up atti-tude,” Bellows said. He described Vonhof as serving Lakeville with integrity and commitment and who is respected by all. City Administrator Steve Mielke, who recently announced he would be leaving the city to work for Dakota County, said Vonhof has been a leader and mentor to those in his department and peers in the city.

“His many connections in the law en-forcement community have helped our department continue to be a leader in law enforcement.” Mielke said. “He will be greatly missed.” Mielke said among Vonhof’s accom-plishments were the development of the city’s state-of-the-art police building and the department’s new digital forensics lab. He also cited Vonhof’s establishment of a street crimes unit that allows for proactive investigation and the traffic unit to address strong community con-cerns involving road safety. Mielke credited Vonhof for his com-munity-focused initiatives instituted to address major issues including major emergency planning, medical crisis inter-vention programs, and illegal drug use by youth. He cited Vonhof’s personality and leadership as skills he utilized to help him make city decisions. “I am a person who believes in con-nections and that we accomplish things together,” Vonhof said at his retirement party. ”As I look across the room, I see people from all parts of our community, and the success of our organization, the Lakeville Police Department, has always been built upon connections.”

CHIEF, from 7


Pan-O-Prog volunteers needed Help needed for Cruise Night, parade and much more

by Tad JohnsonSUN THISWEEK


Volunteers are still needed for this year’s Pan-O-Prog celebration. Most shifts are two or three hours and include selling buttons, the Miss Lakeville royalty reception, working the Fun Fair, Cruise Night car line-up and helping keep the streets clean. Volunteers receive a free T-shirt, Pan-O-Prog button and catered appre-ciation picnic lunch on July 13. The biggest needs as of June 24 were for the Cruise Night, Grand Parade, Pan-O-Prog Ambassadors and the new Battle of the Brews. Twenty people are needed on Cruise Night on July 11 to help line up and dismiss cars for parade from 3:15-7:15 p.m. at Lakeville South High School. Six people are needed to help stage cruisers after the parade from 8:30-9:30 p.m. in downtown Lakeville. A crew of 12 parade marshals are needed to help pace the July 12 Grand Parade units as they walk and make sure people are not throwing candy.

There is a free parade information breakfast for volunteers at 9 a.m. at the VFW. The important job of keeping Pan-O-Prog clean is in need of about 24 volunteers on July 11 and 12 to help in shifts. These ambassadors should be 16 or older, but can be younger if accompa-nied by an adult, and they will work the area around main street, the arts center grounds and Market Plaza. The new Battle of the Brews on July 12 at the Lakeville Area Arts Center grounds needs 11 volunteers to help set up, work the grounds and clean up after its all done. To see the full list of activities and times at Sign Up Genius, go to pano-prog.org and click on volunteer infor-mation. People may also contact volunteer coordinator Krista Jech for more de-tails at [email protected] at 612-269-6068.

Tad Johnson can be reached at [email protected].

Volunteers are an integral part to making events like the Pan-O-Prog Grand Parade successful events. People may contact volunteer coordinator Krista Jech for more de-tails at [email protected] at 612-269-6068. (File photo)


The Pan-O-Prog Pet Show will start at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 10, at Antlers Park. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Judged categories include most unusual, most color-ful, best dressed, best behaved dog (large or small), neatest reptile or rodent, softest, best animal trick, pet that looks most like its owner, largest cat and largest dog. Con-testants must be age 12 and under. (File photo)

Pets prance for prizes

Summertime Fun!Join us at Walker Methodist Highview Hills for an ice cream social featuring delectable Izzy’s Ice Cream. A fascinating presentation about US landmarks will top off the fun!

Ice Cream Social and US Landmark Program Wednesday, July 10, 2014 | 1:30 pm

Call Kit at (952) 985-9002 to reserve your place.

Life. And all the living that goes with it.

20150 Highview Ave.Lakeville, MN 55044(952) 985-9000

WalkerMethodist.org


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Lakeville Pan-O-Prog 2014