Scouting for Food & Feeding the Need update

Update: 4/11/15 2pm

We have great news!  Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts have completed their collection drive for today.  Together, these teams fanned out throughout the City of Hugo and collected over 2425 pounds of donations.  That's a 46% increase over last November's effort.

Even with over 100 volunteers, covering nearly every neighborhood in Hugo is a big task.  It's possible that Scout teams, however, were not able to make it to your home this morning. We did miss a few bags and we're working to pick them up this afternoon and tomorrow.

To request a pickup, please email markviker.pack151@gmail.com .  Please leave your address and unit number.  Alternatively, you can drop off any donations to the front porch at 4545 Garden Way N. this weekend.  We'll make sure they're delivered to the Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf right away.

- MV

Food Shelter Collection Drive Saturday Morning

Your home will be visited this Saturday morning, April 11, by a small group of Hugo's Scouts. They'll be part of a city-wide effort known as "Hugo's Scouting for Food & Feeding the Need".  Scouts all across Hugo will collect non-perishable food and personal item donations for our Hugo Good Neighbor's Food Shelf.  

This isn't just a fun Saturday morning activity for kids.  It's an effort we can all be proud of.  Young people learn to work together.  They help to solve a tangible problem and draw inspiration to greater service.

On Saturday morning, Scouts will ring your doorbell seeking donations.  If you're not available (or would rather not answer your door in your pajamas) you're welcome to leave a bag at your front door before 10am or drop off at Viker's front porch at 4545 Garden Way N. These will all be collected by Scouts. Thanks in advance for your generosity and the community spirit that Victor Gardens residents are known for.

Hugo's Scouting for Food & Feeding the Need is a growing collaboration that now includes many individual Hugo and White Bear Lake Girl Scout Troops, Boy Scout Troop 151, Boy Scout Troop 89, Cub Scout Pack 151, White Bear Lake's VFW, and Hugo's Good Neighbor Food Shelf volunteers.

Thanks again and see you Saturday morning!

Thanks to Dawn LaFontsee!

Dawn LaFontsee served on the Master Association's Long Term Planning Committee, the Master Association's Landscape Committee, and as VG's Creek Side Villas Liaison to the Master Board.  She and her husband John were great neighbors and friends to many in our neighborhood.  Although they've moved away, their positive impact on our community will remain.  We wish Dawn and John all the best in their new home and thank them for their years of service and friendship.

Spring projects

Over the last few months the Victor Gardens Community Association's Board (also known as the Master Board) has taken action on a variety outdoor maintenance and improvement projects.  As Spring rolls in, you'll start to see work finishing up on projects such as:

• The Victor Square pond fountain has been started up for the season.
• Repairs have been completed at our Neighborhood Activity Center.
• Pool and Neighborhood Activity Center key fob access has been upgraded along with improved security camera recording systems.
• As the ground warms up, the uneven area under the broken Poet's Green Fountain will be dug up, re-leveled, and re-set.  The fountain will be converted to a planter in the same location, installed with drip irrigation, and professionally planted and maintained.
• Repairs to Jardin Fountain have begun.  A few replacement parts have already been installed.  The fountain will be re-started up after the repairs are completed.
• The City of Hugo will complete its work at Poet's Green.
• Electrical service will be completed at Victor Gardens main entrance at Frenchman Rd. and Victor Hugo Blvd.  This work will facilitate the future installation of holiday lighting, landscape lighting, etc. near the wooden arbor and surrounding median area south of Frenchman Rd.

Egg Hunt and Petting Zoo

The annual egg hunt and petting zoo will be held at Arbre Park on Sat, March 28th.  The egg hunt begins at promptly 4:00 (don't be late... it lasts just minutes!).  The petting zoo from Walton's Hallow will run from 4:15 - 5:15.  Don't forget to bring quarters for animal feed.

Can you help make this fun event happen?  We need volunteers on Monday, March 23rd at 6:30pm to fill the eggs in the activity center (pool house).  Kids are welcome (you may want to discuss beforehand how much candy they can eat while helping...).  We also need help with set-up at 3:00 at Arbre Park on Sat, March 28th.  Please contact Lisa at john3995@umn.edu or 651-353-2619 to volunteer or if you have questions.

Is this your dog?

Lab found in Victor Gardens

GOOD NEWS UPDATE:

REUNITED: From Otter Lake Animal Care
Her owner has reclaimed her!

Date found 02-07-15 Date reunited 02-11-15

Previous message....
This dog was found in Victor Gardens on Garden Way North early Saturday morning.  Can you help find her owner?

Date Found: 02-07-2015 3:30 AM
Breed of Dog: Labrador Retriever

City where found: Hugo
Nearest Intersection? Garden Way North
Zip Code: 55038
Gender: Female
Neutered / Spayed? Unknown
Color or Markings: gray around face
Approximate weight: 50-60 lbs
Approximate Age: Senior
Have you checked the dog for microchip? Yes, no microchip was found
Dog was wearing: Wearing Collar, Wearing Tags
Any information on how found, description information, color of collar, etc. : Wearing choke chain and rabies tag - will be pursued.
**This dog is not for adoption - finder will only accept calls/emails regarding locating this dog's family**

Where is the dog being held? Otter Lake Animal Care Center
Contact's name: Brittany Harmon
Contact's Phone Number: (715) 220-1332
Alternate Phone Number: (612) 616-6135
Contact's E-mail: companionanimalcontrol@gmail.com

Alternate E-mail: ktrotto01@gmail.com

Shared from Lost Dog MN's Facebook

Feb. 10 ARC Meeting Cancelled

Victor Gardens Community Association' ARC meeting scheduled for Feb. 10 is cancelled.  There were no complete Architectural Applications submitted by the 7-business prior deadline.

The committee members are now in the process of rescheduling ARC's March meeting to avoid absences due to the March school spring break.  Upcoming, tentatively scheduled ARC meetings are posted on Victor Gardens News' calendar. 

SFV Board meeting location change

Update: Victor Gardens Single Family Village's Board of Directors meeting will meet at Rice Lake Centre on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 6:00pm.  The meeting's location has been moved due to construction in our Victor Gardens Neighborhood Activity Center.

Winter Carnival at Oneka Elementary

Looking for something to do with the kids this Friday night?  Come to the winter carnival on Fri, Feb 6th from 6-8pm at Oneka Elem.  Cost is $10/ child or $25 for 3 kids and covers all games and activities.  The carnival will feature a bounce house, mad science experiments, games, face painting, a raffle, book walk, Nordy from the MN Wild and much more!

Support Tristan Kalos' Eagle Project

Your neighbor and Victor Gardens resident, Tristan Kalos, is a remarkable young man. He's a volunteer generous with his spare time and talents. Working regularly with Hugo's Good Neighbors Food Shelf and with younger boys in Cub Scouts, he's now turned his attention to his next effort.  Tristan's currently a "Life Scout" with Hugo’s Boy Scout Troop 151 on his way to earning Scouting's highest award- Eagle Scout.

With his Eagle Project, Tristan will continue to give back to his community by making improvements at Central Middle School in White Bear Lake.  In order to complete the project he’ll be raising funds to pay for materials and supplies.  He’ll also be in charge of coordinating the many volunteers needed to complete the job.  Please follow this link for details and donation information.

It’s easy to be proud of a self motivated young man like Tristan. I hope as neighbors we can all help financially support his ambitious project.  Thank you for supporting Tristan!

- Mark V.

Habitat for Humanity

Did you know that Habitat for Humanity is coming to Hugo?  Want more information?  Attend an informational session on Wednesday, January 28th from 6:30-8 pm at the St. Genevieve Community center (6995 Centerville Rd)

 

Learn About:

• What is Habitat for Humanity??

• Building a Habitat Home

• Owning a Habitat Home

• Supporting Habitat in our Community

A Light Supper will be Provided.  For more information contact Julie at socialjust@stgens.org

Changes to the Social Committee in 2015

After 3 years Kelly Farrell has decided to step back from leading the social committee.  If you see Kelly please thank her for all her hard work over the last 3 years (especially her work on National Night Out!). 

We welcome Kasey Birch as the new co-chair of the social committee.  Kasey and Lisa are working to plan events and budget for 2015.  If you have any suggestions, concerns, or would like to volunteer to run an event please let us know! 

Kasey: kasey.birch@me.com or 763-300-5683
Lisa: john3995@umn.edu or 651-353-2619

Check back in the next couple of week for a more complete list of events but for now mark your calendar for Sat, March 28th at 4:00 for the annual egg hunt and petting zoo!  Hope to see you there!