We’re looking for some hands-on volunteers to profile for an upcoming issue. Any suggestions of those who go above and beyond in local volunteering, especially those with those moving stories that would inspire others to volunteer? Send us an email at slange@rochestermagazine.com.

(Or at least wants to know about you.) The City of Rochester, Destination Medical Community, Rochester Downtown Alliance and University of Minnesota Rochester — among other community organizations — are inviting Rochesterites to take a simple (”but cool”) 20-minute survey. Check it out at this link. It’s more fun than most surveys, and it’s important.

From now until Christmas, at least. You heard it here first (it’s not, in fact, even on their website yet, but check that out anyway for the food photos alone): www.prescottsgrill.com.

Because, really, we don’t expect you to have every cover memorized:

May:

June:

Sept.:

Oct.:

Nov.:

Rochester Magazine takes home six MMPA awards.

“To refuse awards,” said Mark Twain,  “is another way of accepting them with more noise than is normal.”

Which is why we never refuse an award. So we’ll take the six they handed out to us at the recent 2011 Publishing Excellence Awards, sponsored by the Minnesota Magazine and Publishing Association (MMPA).

In the Best Page Design category, Rochester Magazine took home a gold award for “The Man Who Built The City” (Jan. ‘11), which was designed by Jamie Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald also took home a silver award in Best Cover Design for the “Rochester 2020” cover (June 2011). Vicky Kruger assisted with the design.

In the Best Profile category, the magazine took home a silver for “Megadrive to Succeed” (Dec. ‘10), a profile of Rochesterite Johnny Pemberton, written by Steve Lange.

The magazine received a bronze award for Best Feature Design for the May 2011 “Style Musings” photo spread. Nood Reynolds served as fashion and style editor, Shem Horsley (Unique Touch Photography) took the photos, and Fitzgerald designed the layout.

in the Best Regular Column category, Jennifer Koski took home a bronze for her “Random Rochesterite” column.

In the Best Feature Article category, the magazine took home a bronze for “The Deprivation Issue” (Oct. ‘10). The stories were written by Marcia Cipriani, Ashley Fetters, Steve Lange, Beth Nervig, Charles Pappas, and Greg Sellnow.

And fill out our Best Restaurants ballot. You could win $50!

Just got their press release …

ROCHESTER, MN – Officials with Hy-Vee, Inc. today announced plans to build a fourth Hy-Vee supermarket in Rochester.

The company has purchased land on West Circle Drive north of 41^st Street Northwest, next to Northern Hills Golf Course, and plans to construct a 95,000-square-foot supermarket and adjacent convenience store with car wash. The new store will be part of an 18.5-acre development that will include 48,000 square feet of attached retail space and additional lots for retail or commercial use.

Tom Watson, Senior Vice President of Hy-Vee’s Eastern Region, said the new store site will enable the company to provide better service to customers in the northwest part of Rochester.

“The three stores we currently operate in Rochester have done very well, and we’re looking forward to bringing a larger store with more products and features to the market,” Watson said.

The new Rochester Hy-Vee store will emphasize freshness, variety, convenience and service. Features of the store include a food court with dining area; a pharmacy; a staff dietitian and in-house chef; a HealthMarket showcasing natural, organic and special dietary products; a meeting room that will house the store’s cooking school; a Caribou Coffee outlet; and much more. The convenience store will offer Hy-Vee shoppers discounts on gasoline purchases.

“This is a store designed with today’s lifestyles in mind,” Watson said. “Our customers look to Hy-Vee as a resource to help them lead easier, healthier, happier lives. Our goal is to provide them with the highest quality products, outstanding values and friendly, helpful service.”

Watson said the new store will bring 450 jobs and an investment of $15 million or more to the Rochester economy. He said work on the site will begin in 2012, but a construction start date has not been set.

On Oct. 14, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association’s sixth biennial “Reach for the Stars” gala will feature a “Rockin’ for a Reason” theme–complete with cocktails, sit-down dinner, silent auction, jewelry raffle (courtesy Hight & Randall), scooter raffle (courtesy Cycle City), and entertainment featuring the Brian Kinney Band. Tickets for the fundraiser, slated for the DoubleTree Hotel, cost $50 and need to be reserved by Oct. 10. You can just show up for the entertainment: Stop in anytime after 8 p.m. and just make a donation at the door. For info, call 507-269-3267 or check out www.PHAgala.org. And if that’s not enough: Rochester Magazine’s Steve Lange will be honorary chairperson!!!!![keep adding exclamation points to make this part seem even more exciting!!!].

VERTIGO THEATRE FACTORY PRESENTS: SCENES FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BRAIN

It’s that time of year! Rochester Magazine is looking for singles. Every November, we profile a handful of local singles to give us their take on the city’s dating scene. Send us a brief bio to SLange@rochestermagazine.com. All ages, races, creeds, and dancing abilities considered.