Thinking about having a Garage Sale?

It's time to start thinking about garage sales! The last couple of years we've done the Victor Gardens Neighborhood sale the same weekend at the Clearwater Creek Sale/ Hugo Good Neighbor Days. This is June 4, 5, and 6.

Is there interest in doing a neighborhood sale (this weekend or another)? If so, we need someone to coordinate. At absolute minimum the person coordinating needs to submit advertising to the Citizen and Craig's list. Ideally the coordinator would also collect a list of addresses and times that we could put on the website as well as make some signs about a neighborhood sale (each sale also would be encouraged to have their own signs).

Please e-mail Lisa at john3995@umn.edu if you are interested in having a sale or are willing to coordinate.

Quality Window Cleaning - Flat Rate Offer for Residents

Quality Window Cleaning is offering a special $175 flat-rate for Victor Gardens Single Family Village residents. This price includes cleaning all windows, screens and doors inside and outside. This is the same company Tony Schwab has recommended for a number of years, and reports of their work were very positive. Please contact Grant Dahl at (763) 656-8519.

Similar flat-rate discounts were offered last year for Condo residents.  Last year's $100 Condo price included cleaning all windows, screens, and doors inside and outside.   This offer extended to the Villas, Gables, North & South Village, etc...  

Please contact Grant Dahl at (763) 656-8519 for more info.

$40 Spring De-Thatching/Raking Service

Bud Schneider is offering discounted machine de-thatching/raking services again this spring.  Tony Schwab has negotiated group rate pricing with Bud.  The cost is the same this year as in previous years: $40 per yard. 

Many residents have been hiring Bud Schneider for the last few years and he's done a great job.  Sure beats raking by hand! 
  
Please contact Bud Schneider at (651) 429-6896.

Disclosure Statement

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!