Empty lot next to VG's Neighborhood Activity Center

We will be setting a date for a special meeting of the Master Board during our annual master association meeting on April 13.

During the Great Recession a property the Board believed belonged to a bank reverted to ownership by the Master Association. This is land immediately adjacent to Victor Gardens Neighborhood Activity Center building. Some of you will recall a survey conducted by the Long Range Planning Committee that was conducted in 2015. During this survey many ideas emerged for using the land….a tot splash pad, more parking, a playground for the western end of our community. Do you have ideas? Come to the annual meeting at 6:00 on April 13 and help us select a meeting date for detailed discussion of this issue. We will also briefly talk about this at the April 13 meeting as time allows in our busy annual meeting agenda.

Karen

Thanks Kasey!

Thanks to Kasey Birch and all the volunteers who helped with our annual Egg Hunt & Petting Zoo.

New faces are needed to plan events in the neighborhood. Kasey needs a co-chair as well as other committee members to help with budgeting, planning, advertising and coordinating volunteers for events. New ideas are always welcome! For more information contact Kasey at (763) 300-5683

Egg Hunt and other upcoming events

Annual Victor Gardens Egg Hunt and Petting Zoo

Egg hunt and petting zoo will be held on Sat, March 19th at 4:00pm Arbre Park.  Please arrive a bit early so your kids don't miss out.  Bring a bag to collect goodies from the eggs.  Petting zoo will immediately follow.

Help needed for Egg Hunt

- Tuesday, March 15th at 6:30pm - egg filling at the activity center (pool house).  Children are welcome.
- Saturday, March 19th at 3:00pm - set-up.  Please meet at the pool house to collect supplies before traveling to Arbre Park.
- RSVP to Kasey at 763-300-5683 to help.

Mark your calendar for additional events

- April 10th - Flips Gymnastics open gym.

- May 29th - Movie night at Valjean Park

- June 24th - Root beer floats at activity center

- July 18th - Magic in the park family event

- Aug 2nd - National Night Out

- Aug 24th - Root beer floats at activity center

- Sep 23rd - Movie night at Valjean Park

More information to follow.  If you are interested in volunteering for any of the above events or are willing to plan another event please contact Kasey at 763-300-5683

Help needed on events committee

New faces are needed to plan events in the neighborhood.  Kasey needs a co-chair as well as other committee members to help with budgeting, planning, advertising and coordinating volunteers for events.  New ideas are always welcome!  For more information contact Kasey at 763-300-5683

Snow removal update 2-3-16

Below is an excerpt sent to board members whose sub associations have contracted Birch for their snow removal services. Keep in mind that not every sub association contracts with Birch. For a complete list of providers please check Victor Gardens News' Snow Removal page.

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Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2016 8:44 AM
Subject: FW: 2.3.2016 Snow Event Update

Good Morning,

The plowing crews have been working throughout the night getting ‘open-ups’ completed. We anticipated transitioning into ‘full-plow’ overnight but due to the continued snowfall and sustained wind speed at 20 mph with gusts over 25mph our efforts have been futile. After every property is ‘opened’ and functioning we will cease snow plowing and will return this evening to touch up the properties and finish the ‘full-plow’; as winds and snowfall are forecasted to subside this evening.

As for snow shoveling, crews were dispatched in the early morning hours, but have had the same challanges of continued snowfall with high winds causing the once cleared sidewalk and/or walkway to be quickly drifted back in with snow. We have choosen to transition our snow shovling crews to focus on garage door fronts this morning. The crews will return this evening to clear walkways and sidewalks.

Thank you for your patience as work through this winter storm.

Sincerely, 

Kris Birch
President

Snow removal update 2-2-16

Below is an excerpt sent to board members whose sub associations have contracted Birch for their snow removal services.  Keep in mind that not every sub association contracts with Birch.  For a complete list of providers please check Victor Gardens News' Snow Removal page.

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Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2016 3:08 PM
Subject:2/2/2016 Snow Event Update

Good Afternoon,

The much anticipated snow event is upon us. The afternoon rush hour timing, 1-2” per hour snowfall rates, combined with strong winds will make this snow event challenging. The good part is the forecasts have been discussing this event for almost a week, so we are ready.

Crews are being dispatched for ‘open-up’ plowing this afternoon ranging from 3 pm to 5pm, earlier times in the south, later times in the north; based on forecast snow accumulation of 4” around 6pm.

Heaviest snow fall rates from 4pm-8pm, tapering around midnight, with little accumulation snow in the early morning hours.

Full snow plowing and shoveling will commence once accumulation snow tapers.

Regards,

Kris Birch
President

Tonight's Master Board Meeting is cancelled

Due to absences, the Master Board's meeting tonight is cancelled.  Please keep an eye on our calendar for rescheduling info.

Master Board Meeting Wednesday, Jan. 13

The quarterly meeting of Victor Gardens Community Association's Board of Directors will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 13.  All master association residents and owners are welcome to attend.  A portion of this and every meeting will be available to residents to speak to board members and our new Community Manager, Colleen Brown about any concerns or questions.

VG Master Association Board Meeting

January 13, 6:00pm

Victor Gardens Neighborhood Activity Center

Welcome Colleen Brown, our new Community Manager

Colleen Brown has been on Victor Gardens' Community Development/Associa team for quite a while.  She knows our neighborhood well as she's worked very closely with Jennifer Campbell, our former Community Manager.  Ms. Campbell is moving into a more supervisory role within the company, and we're very fortunate to welcome Ms. Brown as Victor Gardens' new Community Manager.

As you probably know, Community Development Inc. is now Associa Minnesota.  Associa's new centralized customer service system has reduced response times for routine homeowner and association-related questions.  Please reach out to Ms. Brown and the Associa team if you have any questions.

Colleen Brown
Community Manager
Associa Minnesota

7100 Northland Circle N. Suite 300, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

763-746-1188 

AtYourService@Associa.Us

www.associaminnesota.com

Note from Gene's Disposal

Dear Residents,

If you have too much cardboard to fit in your recycle can, it should be cut to a size that would fit in your recycle can and bundled.

Reminder: Garbage cans should not be overfilled. The lid of the can should be able to close, when cans are overfilled the excess trash falls out of the can when the truck lifts it.

Thank You,
Gene’s Disposal Service

Your home will be visited this Saturday morning, November 21 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 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.

Thanks again and see you Saturday morning!

Sprinkler Winterization Schedule

Please see below for notes about sprinkler winterization tips for keeping Shawn on schedule.

Saturday is completely full.  Sunday has a little more wiggle room,  but not much.

It sounds like Saturday morning may be a little cool so I hope that does not slow down the process.

The times on the list are a window of when I hope to be in your area.  If you need updates on the progress you can call or text but my response time back may not be immediate since I will be concentrating my efforts on moving through the list or you could take a drive through the neighborhood to see how things are progressing as per the list.

If anyone has a conflict with the schedule on Saturday they can be moved to Sunday late afternoon/early evening as there is some limited availability.

Things to remember to make everything go smoothly:

1. Turn your water supply line to the irrigation system off. it is usually in the basement, the night before the service.

2. Make sure there is easy access to the controller (usually in the garage) or if arrangements have been made to use the valve boxes, that all valve boxes are uncovered, marked and soil/debris removed from around the valve inside the box so that they can be found and opened quickly.

3. If zones do not work from the controller I can still winterize the zone if the valve boxes are located, but I will not be able to spend a lot of time locating and fixing issues with systems and still keep on schedule.  This would need to be rescheduled.    

4. $50 Cash or Check to Shawn Herman.

Thanks to everyone in advance and I am looking forward to a very busy weekend.

Shawn Herman

Classic Lawnscape Inc.

763-780-7231

shawn@classiclawnscape.com

Saturday, Oct. 17th

8:00 AM - Poets Green

Heckman, Primeau, J. Johnson

9:00 AM – 11:30AM - Garden Way South to Jardin

Pinault, Sears, Schwab, Schleiss, S. Anderson, Bridgeman, Stanko, Sears

11:30 – 12:30 - Jardin

LaNasa, Privette/Norr, Hermann, Phillipson

12:30 – 2:30 - Arbre

White, Roberts, D. Mader, Gloege, J. Mader, Crep 

2:30 – 3:30 - Garden Way North from Arbre to Victor Hugo Blvd.

S. Carlson, C. Carlson, Warner

3:30 – 4:30 - Cosette Way

Kubow, Coleman, Berger

4:30 – 5:15 - Garden Way

Weaver, Viker

5:15 – 7:15 - Cosette Lane

Kluska, McGlone, Rogers, Weir, Bixby                        

The following will be late on Saturday.  Probably around 7:00 pm or later.  You can be moved to later afternoon on Sunday if that works better so you would have a more definite time.

Wannerstrum (Cossette), Powers (Victor Hugo Blvd), Bosch (VH Blvd), G. Olson (Valjean)

Sunday Oct. 18th

11:00 AM - Val Jean

Setter, Beriou 

12:00 PM – 1:00 - Everton Ave

Sanders, Savard, Not Confirmed - Starr , George

1:00 – 3:00 - Provence Way

Buetow, Nelson, Farrell, Hageman, Urban, Halverson-Boyd

3:00 - Everton Ave

Wright

3:30 - Val Jean Blvd.

Houchins

4:00 - Grantaire

Ferderer

Sprinkler Winterization

It's that time of year again - irrigation winterization! Shawn Herman with Classic Landscape has been doing winterizations in the neighborhood for several years.  He is planning on the weekend of October 17 and 18.  The price will remain the same as last year which was $50.00 cash or check payable to Shawn Herman.

THIS PRICE IS ONLY GOOD ON THIS WEEKEND.

Other times can be scheduled if this does not work for you but regular season rates will apply.

This is the tentative route I would use for the weekend based on last year numbers to help give residents a rough estimate of where they would be on the schedule.

On Sat. the 17th the route starts at about 8 AM on Poets Green then to Garden Way West side of street heading south.  Around Jardin to Garden Way (usually mid morning), up Arbre, and around to catch the east side of Garden Way (usually early afternoon).  Then head east around to Cosette Way and take Victor Hugo down to Garden Way.  Go around the Park and back up the east side of Cosette Lane (mid to late afternoon) around to Victor Hugo.  From there I will head east down Val Jean to the Bridge.  Depending on response I will probably stop here due to darkness.

On the 18th start time will depend on number of participants.  It probably would not be before 11 am.  I would begin again on Val Jean from the bridge heading east to Everton.  North on Everton, east side of street, to Provence.  Around Provence back down west side of Everton to Val Jean.  Then west down Val Jean to the Bridge.

As usual timing/scheduling will be totally dependent on the number participating and if there are any unforeseen problems encountered during the day.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Everyone can sign up by contacting me directly as per the contact information below.

Thanks.

Shawn Herman
Classic Lawnscape Inc.
763-780-7231
shawn@classiclawnscape.com
Cell/text – 612-366-6088.