Egg Hunt and Petting Zoo

The Victor Gardens Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Petting Zoo are back in 2022!

Egg hunt will be held in Arbre Park on Sunday, April 10 at 1:00pm. 

Don't be late! It is over quickly. Bring your own bag/ basket.

Petting zoo will be held in the park from 1 - 3pm. 

We hope to see you there to join the fun.

Lawn Core Aeration - VG Discount

Core Aeration Promotes Healthy Grass

Jeff Ambrose has offered his aeration services to Victor Gardens residents for many years. He does a very professional job. Jeff is offering a Victor Gardens discount rate of $40/per small lawn and $50/per large lawn. That's less than what most others charge for this service. For do-it-yourselfers, this is a pretty good deal considering the cost of renting the machine, time and effort involved, plus the cost of gas. Jeff's done a great job on our lawn over the years, and I would recommend his services to anyone.

Call Jeff Ambrose directly at (651) 274-1535. He's currently coordinating a schedule of Victor Gardens appointments.

If you're unfamiliar with core aeration, the U of M Extension Service describes it pretty well, "Core aeration is the best method of dealing with the problem of compaction in the lawn. Aeration promotes moisture and air penetration into soils, resulting in deeper and healthier root systems on the grass plants. ... The best time of year to aerate the lawn is late August to early October. Aeration can be done in the spring but will lead to additional weed seeds being brought to the surface where they may germinate. In fall, weed seeds will also be brought to the surface, but they will not sprout."

Irrigation Winterization Schedule

Sorry for the late notice - Shawn was having internet difficulties this week.

Below is the preliminary schedule for irrigation winterization by Shawn Herman from Classic Landscape.  Contact Shawn with questions or to signup.  $50/ Lawn good for weekend of Oct 16 and 17.  Cash or check. 

Shawn Call/ text: 612-366-6088

Saturday, Oct. 17th

9:00 AM

Downey -Victor Hugo Blvd

Dustin Becher - Poets Green

Primeau - Poets Green

9:30 AM – 11:00AM

Sears - Garden Way

Schwab - Garden Way

Schliess - Garden Way

Bridgeman - Garden Way

Stanko - Garden Way

Anderson - Garden Way

Peltier - Garden Way

11:00 – 12:00

Johnson - Jardin

Norr/Privette - Jardin

Thalhuber - Jardin

Weir - Jardin

Hermann - Jardin

Groneberg - Jardin

Wentz - Jardin Ave

12:00 – 1:30

Bosch - Garden Way

Mittleburn - Garden Way

Stein - Arbre Lane

White - Arbre Lane

Mader - Arbre Lane

Gloege - Arbre Lane

?? - 4362 Arbre Lane

Goodchild - Arbre Lane

1:30 – 2:00

Carlson - Garden Way

Desmond - Garden Way

Langhoff - Garden Way

2:00 – 3:00

Hal - Cossette Way

Coleman - Cosette Way

Berger - Cosette Way

3:00 – 3:30

Kluska - Cosette Lane

3:00 – 5:00

?? -14288 Grantaire

Betts - Grantaire Lane

Richter - Val Jean

Kolenich - Val Jean

Chatwin - Val Jean

Burr - Cosette Lane 

Carlson - Cosette Lane

Anderson - Cosette Lane

Ecklin - Victor Hugo Blvd.

Shaline - Victor Hugo Blvd. 

Sunday Oct. 18th 

12:00 PM 

Stanek - Val Jean

Starr - Everton

12:30 PM 

Buetow - Provence Way

Hageman - Provence Way

Halverson – Boyd - Provence Way

1:30

Houchins - Val Jean

Utech - Garden Way

Sprinkler Winterization

Fall is in the air and it's again time to winterize your irrigation system.  Shawn Herman with Classic Lawnscape has been offering our neighborhood a group rate of $50/ lawn (cash or check payable to Shawn Herman).  The group rate will be valid the weekend of October 16 and 17. 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 he 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 16th 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 17th the 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. 

Please contact Shawn directly with questions or to signup.

Shawn Herman

Classic Lawnscape Inc.

763-780-7231

shawn@classiclawnscape.com

Cell/text – 612-366-6088.

SFV Board Meeting set for August 18

The next meeting of Victor Gardens Single Family Village Homeowner's Association will be Wednesday, August 18. The Board will meet at VG's Neighborhood Activity Center's upstairs meeting room at 7:00pm.  Any resident of VG's Single Family Village is welcomed to attend. 

A few reminders for Single Family Village HOA residents

In the interest of keeping our neighborhood looking its best, Victor Gardens Single Family Village HOA's Board of Directors wishes to remind everyone the following long-standing rules:

Garbage & recycling cans
Garbage and recycling cans must not be left outdoors other than the evening before pickup (Thursday evening) and during the pickup day (Friday). All trash and recycling must be either bagged, canned or boxed to prevent it from blowing about and to prevent animals from gaining access to it.

Sports equipment storage
Hockey and lacrosse nets, portable basketball hoops, etc. should be stored in your garage overnight and not left out.

Changes to your home's exterior
An application for exterior improvements or alterations must to be submitted and approved before any work begins. Examples of improvements that need approval include, but are not limited to fences, decks/patios, retaining walls, landscape changes, exterior painting, play lots, etc.

Pool Update

Good afternoon Victor Gardens Residents,

The Victor Gardens Pool has now been open for about a month, and the operation has been going fairly smoothly without many incidents. We want to thank all residents for taking the time to review the established rules and regulations and keeping the pool a family friendly amenity for all to enjoy.

As the State of Minnesota continues to ease Covid-19 Restrictions, the Master Board of Directors has decided to ease some of the more restrictive measures that were initially implemented for the pool use.

1. Effective immediately, laps swimming hours have returned and the pool can now be used from 6am-10am for lap swimming, and 10am-9pm for open swim.

2. Our pool vendor has been instructed to redistribute the pool furniture. Homeowners are still encouraged to wipe down all furniture after use.

3. Homeowners are now allowed to bring guests to use the pool subject to the rules and regulations, however all guests should be made aware of the liability waiver and established rules.

4. Homeowners are still required to sign and return the Covid-19 Pool Rules Acknowledgement and Liability Waiver for their black key fob to be turned on. We have well over half of the forms returned and processed!

5. The Activity Center Party Room will remain unavailable for reservations.

6. The Victor Gardens Community Association is still considered a business and needs to follow all guidance by the State of Minnesota and the Department of Health. The Covid-19 Preparedness Plan may be amended, but is still in effect for the indoor space.

Thank you for your patience during these ever evolving times. We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully soon we can get back to the normal.

Phillip McDougle
Community Manager
Associa Minnesota

Email Documents By Thursday

Update from Associa: If you're hoping to use the pool this weekend, everyone should try to get their forms in by Thursday so they have Friday to process. Anything received after noon on Friday will not be processed until Tuesday. Everyone will receive a confirmation email that their fob has been turned on.

Pool Opening - Important Info

Check your mailbox for an important envelope containing a letter from the Board of Directors. Included are updated rules, details and important documents you’ll need to sign and return. Your key fob will not be turned on unless the signed documents are received by management.

Some key points to know:

• Additional Covid-19 rules apply.
• Masks and social distancing required in the building.
• Pool open to residents only. No guests outside of the community will be allowed.
• New sanitiation protocols.
• Pool furniture has been removed. Homeowners may bring their own, but it must be taken with you when you leave.
• Any items left will be disposed of.
• Be respectful of your neighbors. Limit your time in the pool if necessary.
• Each household must complete the Covid-19 Liability Waiver and Covid-19 Pool Rules Acknowledgement and return to management before their key fob is turned on for the season.
• Any homeowner/resident found to be in non-compliance will have their key fob turned off for the season and their pool privileges revoked.

Also, be aware:

• Security cameras and recording equipment are in use 24/7.
• Your key fob is unique to your home. Every time your key fob is used, it’s logged and recorded.
• Don’t risk losing your pool privileges. Don’t let others (other than your VG household) into the pool with your key fob.
• Security services have been contracted to monitor access to the pool area. 

————

Dear Homeowner,
We first and foremost want to thank you for your patience and understanding over the past year regarding the Victor Gardens pool. The Board of Directors have been working with management, our attorney, and our pool management company to carefully consider the Minnesota Department of Health requirements and have developed re-opening protocols to ensure the health and safety of residents.


We are happy to announce that the pool is scheduled to open May 28, 2021 provided all measures within the COVID-19 Preparedness Plan are put in place. In an effort to meet the requirements the Board has developed a set of temporary rules and regulations for homeowners to review prior to using the pool. This set of rules and regulations should be reviewed by everyone in your household so you know what to expect when arriving at the pool for 2021.


Additionally, The Community asks everyone who wishes to use the pool review with your own household sign and return the COVID-19 liability waiver enclosed. The waiver and rules and regulations acknowledgment forms must be returned to management before your key fob is turned on for the season.


As a reminder the association distributed new key fobs to owners last spring. Be sure you are using the black key fob and disposing of the gray key fob which is no longer active. Homeowners who are behind in their assessments will have their key fobs deactivated until the account becomes current.


While things may look different this year, with your cooperation in following the State and Association guidelines, we can ensure a safe, healthy, and fun pool season!


Sincerely,
Victor Gardens Community Association Board of Directors

Pool Will Open Memorial Day Weekend

Victor Gardens' pool will open this Memorial Day weekend for the summer 2021 season. The Board has been working with our community manager and vendors on a Minnesota Department of Public Health COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. Expect changes to occupancy limits, social distancing, cleaning protocols, pool rules and more. Details will be shared in the weeks ahead.

Fence guidelines updated

Victor Gardens Single Family Village Homeowners Association Board just approved a new set of guidelines for fence building within the neighborhood.  The Fence Guidelines are easier to understand with a clearer set of expectations for application.  There's a number of other home projects that need written approval from the Architectural Review Committee (ARC). Adding decks or making paint color or landscaping changes are a few.  There's a comprehensive list on the website if you're thinking of making any exterior changes to your home or landscape.  http://blog.victorgardensnews.org/p/sfv-arc.html#selected

Keep Kids Out of Construction Sites

Parents, please ask your kids to stay away from new home construction sites. Kids may think that homesites are fun, with interesting equipment, dirt piles, dumpster treasures, loose materials, and new places to climb and explore. Unfortunately, these are extremely dangerous places to play. You may not realize it, but anyone who's lived next to one of these new homesites will attest, it's no place for children. If your kids play outside at all, we hope you'll ask them to please stay away from these sites and encourage their friends to do the same. Thanks!