Chanhassen, Minnesota |  5 November, 2011 | (952) 934-5045
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Catch Up
Been away? Use this Catch Up section to read all the news, reader submissions and recently posted events that happened while you were gone. All content is sorted from the top of the page from newest to oldest. Just read until you're caught up.
Linda McNulty: In tumultuous times, stay calm and carry on
The status quo is being rocked locally and what a commotion we have! Between the looming closure of Highway 5 next year and the new school district technology referendum on the ballot on November 8, the energy is flowing in Victoria, and elsewhere nearby, I suspect. What I am hearing are all kinds of rumors about both events. Who knows what is right and what is wrong? My suggestion would be: stay calm and carry on. That is my new mantra and i...
Six-week shutdown
by Unsie Zuege
BY UNSIE ZUEGE [email protected] After all was said and done, the Victoria City Council agreed with city staff’s recommendation that the best option is road reconstruction with complete closure of Highway 5 from Highway 41 to Stieger Lake Lane for six weeks next summer. City staff presented three options to the council at its Tuesday, Oct. 11, meeting. The second option was construction with some closures along Highway 5, and the third wa...
‘Chanhassen1st’ Grassroots activism springs up around Walmart proposal
by Unsie Zuege
BY UNSIE ZUEGE [email protected] When Chanhassen neighbors Wendy O’Connor and Elizabeth Kressler recently learned that the city of Chanhassen would be reviewing a proposal to bring Walmart to town, they were concerned. Kessler knew what was ahead. Back in 1994, when she was living in Westford, Mass., Walmart wanted to build a store in that community. Citizens organized, and in the end kept Walmart out. O’Connor and Kressler decided something h...
Day of the Dog at the Arb
by Unsie Zuege
Calling all dog-lovers! Reserve a spot for you and Spot or Rover or Snickers, at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's "All About Dogs Day" event Saturday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This dog-friendly celebration in the crisp fall air among the scenic Arboretum landscapes  will feature a 5K Dog Walk* beginning at 9 a.m., followed by a Pet Expo on the Oswald Visitor Center welcoming terrace. (*Normally, the Arboretum is closed to canines e...
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Chanhassen boys win Missota title
by Eric Kraushar
Spencer Mertes was among the seven Chanhassen boys cross country runners that had to watch the Storm girls celebrate a Missota Conference title last fall. Sure, they were excited for their teammates and happy that Chanhassen had its first conference title in the sport. But they were also a bit jealous - they wanted it, too. Four seniors off last year's team helped the Storm run away with the 2011 boys title with a solid score of 38 Tuesd...
The Wine Rogue: When your love of wine gets creepy
by Kris Barber
Kris Barber of Shakopee is the Wine Rogue. I called the liquor store twenty eight times just to ask if you were there. I hung up when the clerk recognized my voice. I don’t care. I just want to know that you’re still there. I want to know that I can still get to you. I still have the old bottle that you were in when I first found you. You didn’t know I kept it did you? It still smells like you. Sometimes I pull it out and smell it when I’m l...

Derek Eitreim
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Candidates for Minnetonka School Board: Q & A
Eight candidates are seeking four open seats on the Minnetonka School Board on Nov. 8. Minnetonka School District is governed by a seven member school board, elected at large and serving four-year terms. DEREK EITREIM Age: 47 City of residence: Excelsior Education: Wheaton College. B.A. Economics. 1987 Family: Kathy (wife) 46, Kendall 19 - 2011 MHS graduate. Torchbearers – Germany; Blake 15 - 10th grade Minnetonka High School; K...
Chanhassen man found guilty of kidnapping charge
by Richard Crawford
A Chanhassen man has been found guilty by a Carver County jury of a kidnapping and domestic assault charge and faces a potential prison sentence. Loren Veltkamp was found guilty on Tuesday and will be sentenced on Dec. 16 in front of Judge Richard Perkins. The charges stemmed from a July 2010 incident. According to the official criminal complaint, on the morning of July 25, 2010, Veltkamp allegedly hogtied a woman living at his residence, dr...
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Becky Folwick poses with Sparky at the Chanhassen Fire Department open house.
Spark of interest
Becky Folwick got a chance to meet Sparky at the Chanhassen Fire Department open house on Sunday. Participants at the annual event at Fire Station 1 were able to test their skills with a fire hose, ride on firetrucks and meet members of the Carver County Sheriff's Mounted Posse.
Minnetonka school board candidate forums set
Eight candidates have filed for the Nov. 8 School Board election in Minnetonka School District. The candidates are Derek Eitreim, Charlie Kanan, Kevin B. Maire, Laurie Stoltenberg, Lisa Sumner, Joe Torelli, Lisa Wagner (incumbent) and Karen Walkowski (incumbent). Four seats are open. The Minnetonka School District is governed by a seven member school board, elected at large and serving four-year terms. Elections are held in years ending in an ...
Chan man's Great Pumpkin at Arb
by Unsie Zuege
You'll have to see it to believe it. Click here to read about Chan resident Mitch Krause's 1,217 lb. pumpkin at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

Creatures such as these are ready to scare and entertain at the Halloween Haunt at ValleySCARE Sept. 24-Oct. 30. Photo courtesy of Halloween Haunt at ValleySCARE.
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Let's Go: Get into the spirit at Halloween Haunt
The Halloween Haunt at ValleySCARE is a world of terrifying mazes and scare zones that will bring fears and phobias to life. Guests will experience nine haunted attractions, creepy live entertainment and signature thrill rides. Daytimes Saturdays and Sundays, the all new Planet Spooky is open for all ages to join Snoopy and the Peanuts gang for non-scary Halloween activities and attractions, including a hay-bale maze, trick or treat trail, sto...

Frightmares at Buck Hill has four main attractions, including the Orchard Manor Dead and Breakfast and the Haunted Hollow. The third-year Halloween themed-park has 11 remaining dates available. Photo by Eric Krauchar.
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Let's Go: Buck Hill transforms into haunt for ghouls, goblins and vampires
by Eric Kraushar
Each October, a number of Halloween attractions open their gates and corn fields, but none have the backdrop quite like Frightmares does in Burnsville. The third-year attraction is set on the base of Buck Hill. With a near-full moon passing through rolling clouds coming over the hill on opening weekend, it was a great start to 13 October dates of screams and frights. Jessica Stone, Marketing Director for Frightmares, said the idea for the Hall...
‘The Great Halloween Adventure’ ballet is Oct. 30
by Unsie Zuege
Come to see lighthearted ballet story follows “Sister” and “Brother” on a quest to rescue their stolen pumpkin. A very special good witch, a heartbroken bride, a curious cat, and a quirky crow join them in battle and save the pumpkin from the spooky creatures who try to disrupt the Halloween fun. The Academy of Russian Ballet presents “The Great Halloween Adventure,” Sunday, Oct. 30, 1 p.m., Eden Prairie High School Auditorium, 17185 Valley Vi...
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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CARVER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY These Halloween costumes are the winners of the 1956 Halloween costume contest at the “WH School auditorium.” It’s unknown whether the school was in Waconia or Watertown.
HISTORY: The Halloween legend of Stingy Jack
By Wendy Petersen-Biorn Halloween is fast approaching. I remember, as a child, going to my grandparents’ house and ringing the front door, then running to the back door to surprise them. The problem is that they met us at the backdoor. How do grandparents get so smart? We played this trick every year. You would think at some point we could have caught them off guard. Pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating are customs that have been around f...
'Click It' enforcement under way
Deputies are conducting increased Click It or Ticket seat belt patrols during one of the state’s largest belt enforcement campaigns of the year, Oct. 14–27, according to a release from the Carver County Sheriff's Office. The campaign aims to increase belt use to stop preventable deaths and injuries. In Carver County during the last three years, 10 unbelted motorists were killed and 6 were seriously injured. Statewide during this same period, ...
State confirms first case of flu
Minnesota has recorded its first case of influenza for the 2011-12 season in a 26-year-old woman from Olmsted County. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Public Health Laboratory confirmed the woman's illness was caused by the A (H3) strain of the virus, which appears to be covered by this year's vaccine, state health officials reported today. The woman, who had no underlying health conditions and was not hospitalized, had not yet been ...

Wendy Lemke, at left, and members of the Chanhassen Storm volley ball team sold pink bracelets for "Dig Pink" night. Proceeds go to The Side-Out Foundation.
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They're digging pink and raising awareness
by Unsie Zuege
By Unsie Zuege Wendy Lemke is a senior and a member of Key Club. Before the school year began, she started thinking about what she might do for her Key Club letter project. The student volunteer club provides opportunities to create service projects, thereby enabling them to also earn a letter. She remembered that her older sister organized a Dig Pink event with her college volleyball team at Macalester in St. Paul. Wendy also plays volleyba...
Governor launches official blog
Gov. Dayton has announced the launch of two new communication channels — an official blog and newsletter. The new tools keep with Governor Dayton's vision for making state government more accessible and responsive to Minnesotans. The Governor's staff will be using both tools to highlight the latest efforts of Governor Dayton and the work being done across state agencies. The Office of the Governor Blog can be viewed here: http://mn.gov/gove...

Jeff Kamin brings Books & Bars to Chanhassen. Photo by Lara Leimbach Photography
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Buzz-worthy ‘Books & Bars’ comes to Chanhassen
by Unsie Zuege
Moderator Jeff Kamin will bring his unique take on a public book club show to a new venue, The School of the Wise II, every 1st Tuesday of the month. Kamin has taken the suburban book club tradition and put it in a public bar where people’s opinions flow freely with a little liquid courage. Even if you don’t like the book, he “guarantees a good time at our entertaining discussions.” Are all welcome to try this reinvention of the book club. An...
Don't break the bank on holiday decorating
Love the beauty of holiday decorating but not the bucks it takes to do a nice job? Join Becky Loe...
And the winners are...
Congratulations to Jennifer Bharucha, Sara Rohe and Jess Lundgren, winners in our latest Savvy.mn...
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Boys cross country: Blaze peaks again, finishes second at state
Once again, the Burnsville boys cross country team saved its best for last.   There's s...
Girls cross country: Lakers are little off their mark at state
The Prior Lake girls cross country team was a little off in its ninth straight appearance in t...
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« [email protected] wrote on Saturday, Nov 05 at 07:39 PM »
Unsie, thanks for covering the Carver County Ba...
« Crawford50 wrote on Wednesday, Nov 02 at 03:35 PM »
Feisty little town of Chanhassen: http://blogs....
« benbnewton wrote on Wednesday, Nov 02 at 12:39 PM »
I live within a mile of the proposed site and a...
« eyeawaguy wrote on Wednesday, Nov 02 at 12:05 PM »
The fact of the matter is that Wal-Mart came to...
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Sarah Palin: your opinion FAdams_swpub 3 2 years ago
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Online FORUM: "Three Cups of Tea" unsiez 2 2 years ago
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Chanhassen business briefs FAdams_swpub 35 14 months ago
Vikings playoff football FAdams_swpub 8 2 years ago
February 2009 Faith FAdams_swpub 6 2 years ago
2008 city services review FAdams_swpub 4 2 years ago
The state and national economy FAdams_swpub 14 2 years ago
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Chanhassen Villager

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Chaska, MN 55318-1907
(952) 934-5045
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