Submitted by

Better Business Bureau

As the holidays approach, many people are getting ready to donate to their favorite cause or charity. Historically, individual donations have accounted for well over 80 percent of the total amount given to charity. However, the recession has had an effect on the amount Americans have been able to give. According to the GivingUSA Foundation, charitable donations in 2008 amounted to $307.65 billion, down 2 percent from 2007.

By Forrest Adams

The Carver County deputies assigned to the cities of Chanhassen,
Victoria, and Carver and the townships of Laketown, San Francisco and
Dahlgren responded to the following calls from Nov. 30 – Dec. 6:

Nov. 30

At 9:34 a.m., responded to the 7800 block of Madelyn Creek Drive in Victoria for a report of credit card fraud.

The Carver County deputies assigned to the cities of Chanhassen, Victoria, and Carver and the townships of Laketown, San Francisco and Dahlgren responded to the following calls from Nov. 30 – Dec. 6:

Nov. 30

At 9:34 a.m., responded to the 7800 block of Madelyn Creek Drive in Victoria for a report of credit card fraud.

At 1:55 p.m., responded to the Highway 5/Audubon Road intersection in Chanhassen for a traffic stop. A Waconia woman was cited for speed, possession of an open alcohol container and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Christmas celebrators filled downtown Victoria streets Saturday, Dec. 5 for "A Victoria Christmas.' The day-long holiday event included pictures with Santa and reindeer, a cookie walk, Ye Olde Spirit Fest for seniors at city hall, caroling, a bonfire and much more. Go to the Photo Gallery to see photos from the day.

What services or businesses would draw you to downtown Victoria?

Roberto Vazquez-Garcia, 34, of Henderson, was arrested and charged with a first-degreedrug sales crime, according to a press release from Carver County Sheriff Bud Olson.

The charge followed an investigation by the Southwest Metro Drug
Task Force (SWMDTF) of drug trafficking in western Carver County.

The acclaimed Twin Cities Bronze handbell ensemble will perform in
concert at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec.
13.

Twin Cities Bronze
specializes in performing the music and art of English handbells with an 
energizing style and engaging visual presentation.

The acclaimed Twin Cities Bronze handbell ensemble will perform in
concert at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec.
13.

Over a recent fall weekend, Viking Squadron held a campout for their cadet members at Carver Park Reserve in Victoria.  Approximately 15 people and a dog arrived Friday afternoon and returned home on Sunday at noon.  The weekend provided an opportunity for cadets to socialize and have fun in an informal environment, in addition to lending multiple opportunities for practicing valuable search and rescue skills.

Leonard J. Koehnen, 86, of Laketown Twp. Chaska, Minn. passed away Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 at his home in Chaska.

Funeral service 11 a.m., Friday Dec. 11, Lake Auburn Moravian Church in Victoria with Rev. Frank Jones officiating; visitation Thursday 4-8 p.m. Johnson Funeral Home in Waconia and at the church one hour prior to the service; interment in the church cemetery.

Leonard was born on Aug. 7, 1923 in Chaska, Minn., the son of Leonard J. and LuVilla M. (Jensen) Keohnen Sr.

Carver County is under a winter storm watch from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening, according to the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen.

The winter storm watch extends from Redwood Falls to Mora on eastward, including the Twin Cities metropolitan area as well as all of west-central Wisconsin.

Heavy snow and strong northerly winds are possible from late Tuesday through Wednesday with snow totals reaching or exceeding 6 inches.

A Victoria Christmas launches this afternoon (Dec. 5) in downtown Victoria, a community celebration of the holiday season culminating in the tree-lighting of the city Christmas tree at 5 p.m. Local merchants and businesses are hosting this family-friendly event. There are hopes for more such events during the coming year.

SHERIFF

The Carver County deputies assigned to the cities of Chanhassen, Victoria, and Carver and the townships of Laketown, San Francisco and Dahlgren responded to the following calls from Nov. 23 – Nov. 29:

Nov. 23

At 4:31 p.m., responded to the 1800 block of Victoria Circle in Victoria for a possible identity theft.

At 4:48 p.m., responded to the Canyon Curve/ Saddlebrook Curve intersection in Chanhassen for a stop-arm violation.

Almost a year and a half ago, the Victoria Senior Commission
initiated a local history project with the Lake Minnetonka Cable Commission
(LMCC). During that time, LMCC videographer Ken Bush and Chanhassen Villager
reporter Unsie Zuege conducted interviews with 11 life-long Victoria residents. Bush has produced a DVD documentary of those
interviews that will be presented at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Ye Olde Spirit
Fest at Victoria City Hall.

Submitted by Mark Olson on December 2, 2009 - 4:05pm.

An investigation into the fatal June 10, 2009 Waconia Farm Supply
explosion that killed Ryan Samuelson, 18, of Cologne has been
completed, according to a press release from Carver County Sheriff Bud
Olson and Waconia Fire Chief Randy Sorensen.

“The investigation revealed no statutes were violated as a result of this tragic event” stated Olson, in a press release.

By Renee Stewart-Hester

“Composing is like driving down a foggy road toward a house. Slowly, you see more details of the house – the color of the slates and bricks, the shape of the windows. The notes are the bricks and the mortar of the house.”

One would be hard-pressed to find a more vivid explanation about composing than the words of British composer Benjamin Britten.

All Things Nordic: Carolyn Spargo

“Now it is Christmas again and it lasts until Easter. It is not true because in between is Lent!”

So goes a well-known Christmas song that Danes sing and to which they dance around the tree!

The Christmas season has indeed begun in the U.S. and in all the Nordic countries. The first Advent candle has been lit and the decorations are soon adorning the houses and streets.

By Unsie Zuege

If you build it, they will come.

Or not.

What will it take to bring residents to downtown Victoria?

By Unsie Zuege

In today’s economy, it’s become even more apparent that where people spend their money can make or break a small business community. It’s something that local business groups are taking seriously and addressing.

By Richard Crawford

Publisher, Chanhassen Villager/Chaska Herald

This year — at the time when we typically wrap up our voluntary subscription campaign — we’re especially thankful for the support we received from our readers.

Tax notices indicate flat taxes for most homeowners

Tax notices for most Carver County homeowners mailed out last week indicate that proposed property taxes for 2010 will be relatively flat.

For the owner of a median market value home, taxes will increase slightly in Chanhassen and Chaska and drop slightly in Victoria, according to the Carver County Taxpayer Services Department.

By Forrest Adams  

A Chanhassen pilot was seriously injured Saturday when the cargo plane he was co-piloting crashed during takeoff, killing three other American crew members.

The crash occurred at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China.

Bill Johnson Sr., 61, a resident of Chanhassen, was described in the Shanghai Daily as "in critical condition with broken bones." He was reportedly transported from the airport to a downtown Shanghai hospital.

Patrick Norman Rieck, 34, of Minneapolis (formerly of Chanhassen),
and John Christian Zastrow, 33, also of Minneapolis, have been arrested
and charged for felony level drug crimes, according to a Carver County
Sheriff’s Office press release.

The arrests were made by the Southwest Metro Drug Task Force and Scott and Carver County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

A Wayzata man has plead guilty to theft at KleinBank Norwood Young America.  Click here to read more.

By Richard Crawford

The Waconia Event Center septic system fails to comply with septiccodes, according to a follow-up inspection received by Carver County.

According to Robert Whitmyer, a septic inspector and soil specialist from Duluth, the system fails to meet required separation from the periodically saturated soil.

Now playing
Check out District 112’s newest auditorium and all its technological bells and whistles, when Chaska Valley Family Theatre presents “Little Women, the Broadway Musical.”
When: Nov. 27-28, 7 p.m., Nov. 29,  2 p.m.
Dec. 4—5, 7 p.m., Dec. 5-6,  2 p.m.,
Dec. 4, Lunch matinee 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Performance 1 p.m.
Where: Chanhassen High School
2200 Lyman Blvd. Chanhassen
Tickets: Adults: $15 students 17 and under $10
For information and tickets: www.cvft.org; (952) 250-7206

STATE OF THE CITIES

By Mollee Francisco
   Onward and upward – that was the message the mayors of area cities were toting last week during the SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce’s State of the Cities luncheon.
   Victoria Mayor Mary Hershberger Thun, Chanhassen Mayor Tom Furlong, Carver Mayor Jim Weygand and Chaska Mayor Pro Tem Chris Schulz were all on hand to address a full crowd at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

Barry Nelson
Age: 24
Job: District 112 Auditorium manager at Chanhassen and Chaska high schools
Education: Chaska High School 2003; Bemidji State University 2009, Bachelor of Science in Technology Education; Bachelor of Arts in Production Theatre.
Home: Chaska
Family: Brett and Jamie Nelson
Hobbies: Ballroom dancing, snowmobiling, hunting and camping.

By Unsie Zuege