Historic Homes of Minnesota

Here's an interesting blog on a subject that many of you might enjoy.  Historic Homes of Minnesota

For example, here's a collection of historic Stillwater homes, Minneapolis homes, and St. Paul homes.

Bridge Landscape Improvements

Last week, the Master Board approved a proposal to install irrigation equipment and landscaping at the bridge between Pratt Homes' Creek Side Villas and VG's Single Family Village.  Goetz Landscape and Aquatec will begin work in the next few months.   

The landscaping will tie in with the other Victor Gardens landscaped areas.  Many of the same plants have been chosen, keeping the area a consistent with the rest of the neighborhood.

landscape plan

plant choices

Empowered Parenting Seminar - Rescheduled

Empowered Parenting presented by Jamie Waldvogel, MS, BCBA
Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Owner, Behave Your Best, LLC

Our most important role as parents is to teach our children all about the world around them. Capitalizing on the power of positive reinforcements can help prevent behavioral challenges and can turn even the most challenging moments into teachable moments. Come to this seminar to learn more about reinforcement and how to incorporate it into your interactions with your child to make your job of being a parent less stressful and more enjoyable, while maximizing teaching moments.

Cost is $10 per person or $15 per family
Tuesday, April 30th 6:15-7:45pm
KinderGardens, 14665 Mercantile Drive N Hugo, MN 55038
Sign-up Sheet located at KinderGardens Front Desk.
Call: 651-204-5101
www.behaveyourbest.com

Thanks For Your Generosity!

Yesterday, Hugo Troop 151 Boy Scouts and Pack 151 Cub Scouts picked up donations for local food shelves.  I'm happy to report that they collected a record 1900 pounds of donations, that's 400 pounds more than the previous year.  Thanks to everyone who participated in this effort!

Scouts will collect food donations in VG's single family village neighborhood Saturday morning

Your home will be visited Saturday morning by boys from Hugo's Cub Scout Pack 151 and Boy Scout Troop 151 to collect non-perishable food items and cash donations for local food shelves.  If you're not planning to be home, please leave food donations on your front porch by 9:00am for the Scouts to collect. 

My 1st grade son (and his older Girl Scout sisters) will place a paper door hanger on your front door as a reminder.  On Saturday morning, Scouts hope to collect: Canned meats, canned fish, soup, chili, pasta, rice cereal, canned fruit, baby formula, food, diapers, etc.

Because of our your generosity last year and the generosity of your Hugo neighbors, the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts collected more than 1500 pounds of food in one morning. That exceeded the previous year's donations by more than 300 pounds.

Please donate what you can, and help the Scouts "do a good turn" for our community.

Thanks!

- MV

Upcoming Spring & Summer Events in Victor Gardens

Hello Neighbors!  See the below list of spring/summer events for all of Victor Gardens!  Put them on your calendar now!!!

We need your help to make these events happen.  Please contact Kelly at Kelly_Farrell@comcast.net or Lisa at john3995@umn.edu if you are able to volunteer an hour or two of your time to make an event possible.

Cliff Notes Version- Details on website or below

Monday, April 29th 7-8pm - Container Gardening Workshop
Saturday, May 18th Dark - Movie in the park
Thursday, May 23rd 7-9pm - Olive Branch Adults Night
Fri, June 7th- Sat, June 8th - Neighborhood Garage Sales
Tuesday, June 18th 6:30-7:30 - Root Beer Float Night
Thursday, June 27th 6:00 - Summer Olympics
Thursday, July 18th 6:30-7:30- Root Beer Float Night
Tuesday, August 6th 6-8pm - National Night Out
Wed, August 21st 6:30-7:30 - Root Beer Float Night
Friday, Sept 13th Dark - Movie Night


The details and volunteer info:
 

Container Gardening Class- Don’t miss it!!!! 

Please RSVP to Kelly_Farrell@comcast.net

Date: Monday, April 29th at 7pm
Place: Pool House
Details: Master Gardener Michelle Riedel providing guidance on container gardening! Michelle is a 12 year Master Gardener, holds a BA in Speech Communications, and has published gardening articles in Northern Gardener magazine. In May 2011 she discussed container gardening on Kare‐11s ‘Grow with Kare’ with Bobby and Belinda Jensen.

Everyone welcome to attend.  Please RSVP so we know how many hand outs to print.  Thank you.

Spring Movie in the Park

Date: Saturday, May 18th at dark (Note the date change from May 10th due to the long, cold spring!)

Place: Val Jean Park
Details: Come and see “Here Comes the Boom” Rated PG.  Snacks provided.  Bring your blanket or lawn chair.  Come early to get a good spot, visit with friends, and enjoy some outdoor games.

*2 volunteers needed

Olive Branch Adult Night Out

Date: Thursday, May 23rd from 7-9pm

Place: The Olive Branch in White Bear Lake. 2202 5th St #20, White Bear Lake, MN 55110 (651) 653-2207

Details: The Olive Branch is an oil, spice, and vinegar shop.  Come sample their products and enjoy an evening visiting with neighbors.  Cost is $10 per person for appetizers and drinks. The first 20 people to RSVP will get free admission.  Please RSVP to Laura at: lmforsyth@msn.com by Monday, May 20th.  

http://www.theolivebranchmn.com/home.php

Neighborhood Garage Sales
Date: June 7-8th.

If you are interested in hosting a sale or are about to help with advertising please contact Kasey at: kasey.birch@me.com.  

Summer Olympics!!! - A NEW big event this year 

Place: Arbre Park
Date: Thursday June 27th
Kids Event for all ages!!! 
*Look for more info and sign-up information coming on the website. Lots of volunteers needed.

Summer Ice Cream Nights by the pool!
Dates:
-Tuesday 6/18
-Thursday 7/18
-Wednesday 8/21
Time: 6:30-7:30pm
*2-3 volunteers per night needed.

National Night Out - Our largest event of the year
Tuesday, August 6th 6-8pm
Place: Arbre Park
Food, games, bounce houses, police and fire, glitter tattoos and more! An all ages event!

**New this year: We are inviting local businesses to sell/advertise their products for a small donation.  If you know of anyone interested, please contact Kelly_Farrell@comcast.net.  Examples include, Norwex, Thirty One Bags, Pampered Chef, cleaning services, landscaping services, etc.  Individuals and Businesses are invited.

*Lots of volunteers needed!

Fall Movie Night
Friday, September 13th at dark
Place: Val Jean Park
Movie TBD
*2-3 Volunteers needed.

Fall/Winter events…dates and times TBD
-Guys Golf Night at Tanners Brook
-Adult Holiday Party at the Blue Heron
-Family Skating Party
 

Volunteering

We need volunteers to help with these events!!!  We have a new volunteer website!

We’re using VolunteerSpot to organize our upcoming activities. Please sign up - here’s how it works in 3 easy steps:
1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/PQ4UUL
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot)
3. Sign up! Choose your spots - VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!

Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact Kelly at Kelly_farrell@comcast.net and I can sign you up manually.

Starting this year, we’re going to have a little incentive for those of you who volunteer!  Those volunteering for 3 or more hours (through the year Jan-Dec)  will have their name placed into a drawing for a $50 gift card to Kwik Trip.  For every additional 3 hours, you get another chance! Think of the possibilities!  Use the website (volunteer spot) to volunteer so we can keep track!  Thanks so much! 

Please check the neighborhood website victorgardensnews.org for changes or updates.
You can also "like" us on facebook at "Victor Gardens News".

Thanks! 

Kelly and Lisa 

VG Annual Garage Sale...Volunteer(s) Needed!

The VG Events Group is looking for a neighborhood volunteer or group of volunteers to lead the charge on our annual neighborhood garage sale.  The Events group has $$ set aside in their budget to pay for advertising and signage but just need the help to coordinate the event.  This event is for everyone in the neighborhood--all sub associations!

Unfortunately, if no one steps forward to help out, we won't have a neighborhood sale this year.  The current volunteers have full plates so hoping someone new can come in and help out just this once!

Please contact Kelly (Kelly_Farrell@comcast.net) or Lisa (john3995@umn.edu) if you'd be willing to organize/plan the sale this year.  It sounds like a lot of neighbors are interested in hosting sales!

In years past the sales have coincided with the Clearwater Creek sales.  According to their website, their sale will be:

Friday June 7th 8am-5pm., and Saturday June 8th, 8am-3pm. 

Please contact Kelly or Lisa if you'd be interested in helping organize our sale this year!  Thanks!

Victor Gardens Running Club

Are you a runner? Would you like to be a runner? There is a group of runners who meet on Saturday mornings in Provence Circle. Runners of all speeds and endurance are welcome. Contact Keven at krkrech@gmail.com for more info. 

Some Insight into Victor Gardens Architectural Review Process

I've been working with Victor Gardens' Architectural Review Committee for a few years now. Over that time, the ARC has reviewed many new home designs. Although the committee's membership has changed over time, the group takes it's responsibilities seriously and reviews each proposal with care.

The ARC has met monthly, and sometimes more often with potential owners and builders to review new home designs. Those who seem to make it through the process with the least amount of difficulty meet early-on with the ARC. The process is both objective and subjective, and this initial "concept" meeting helps builders get a sense of what the ARC's looking for. Alternatively, potential home buyers work with a builder who's very familiar with ARC's process.

Builders who propose homes that are easily identified as one of Victor Gardens "preferred styles" seem to get through the approval process easier. Victor Gardens Application Package for New Home Construction instructs builders to "design [home plans] using modern floor plans with an architectural theme." Preferred home styles include "Colonial, Victorian, Federal, Farmhouse, Cape Cod, Tudor, Stick, Shingle, (early) Prairie School, and Arts & Crafts Bungalow."

To be sure, the ARC's process is selective, and building in Victor Gardens is definitely not for everyone. Builders who propose superficially modified suburban tract-style homes have walked away from the ARC review process in frustration. They avoid the expense and time required to modify their off-the-shelf plans into something Victor Gardens' ARC would approve. Some have given up altogether to concentrate on building in neighborhoods with different architectural standards.

For anyone new to Victor Gardens' ARC process, I'd strongly suggest picking up a copy of A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia & Lee McAlester. Published by Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-394-73969-8. Each ARC member is issued this book. It is used principally as a reference to Victor Gardens "preferred styles". Most builders and architects seem to be familiar with the book.

The ARC process can be complicated, but there are ways to make it go more smoothly. Choosing a particular "preferred style" in my opinion is the most important aspect of building a new home in this neighborhood. Once a home style is chosen, an architect/designer can use that style's specific conventions, massing, forms, rooflines, and architectural detail, etc. to start designing an appropriate home. For example, a Victorian home will have very different forms and rooflines than an Arts & Crafts / Bungalow home. A Prairie Style home will look very different than a Colonial or a Cape Cod. Style choices go well beyond siding choices, window styling, or column selection. Style is the root of design. A Field Guide to American Houses really helps illustrate that point, and I believe it's the key to building a stylistically appropriate home and getting through the ARC process easily.

A word of advice: beware of plans that call themselves "craftsman", "victorian", "tudor", etc. Many off-the-shelf plans or builders in the market use these buzzwords and some marginal amount of stylistic ornamentation to disguise suburban tract-style forms. Understand that adding wide stone columns to a tract home do not make it an Arts & Crafts style home.

My advice in a nutshell: Research home styles- choose a distinctive style- and the rest of the decisions will come easy.

- MV

Interesting Home Designs via Simply Elegant Home Designs Blog

Simple Elegant Home Designs Blog is a great little website that contains a variety of modernized interpretations of many Victor Gardens' preferred styles. Many of the homes are larger than found in Victor Gardens, but the designs could be scaled down to fit on a smaller lot.

This single-level Craftsman is especially nice. The style choice is obvious and each elevation is articulated and detailed. 

Many of these designs could fit right in here in Victor Gardens. What do you think?

 

Container Gardening Workshop

Monday, April 29th from 7-8pm at the Activity Center (pool house).

Are you interested in adding a little color to your porch or deck?  Come learn about container gardening from an expert.  Michelle Riedel is a 12 year Master Gardner, hold a BA in Speech Communications, and has published gardening articles in Northern Gardener magazine.  In May 2011 she discussed container gardening on Kare- 11's 'Grow with Kare' with Bobby and Belinda Jensen.  When not teaching, she is a professional photographer specializing in weddings, high school seniors, families, kids, babies, and newborns.

Please RSVP no later than Thursday, April 25th to Kelly_Farrell@comcast.net if you plan to attend.  We need at least 8 people to make this event happen.

3 New Homes in Planning Stage - Master ARC meeting April 10.

Immediately following April 10's Master Annual and Master Board Meetings at City Hall, the Master ARC will meet with three separate builders to discuss new home concepts and ideas.  This is an informal process that allows builders to understand what the ARC members are looking for in new home construciton.  

The ARC Meeting will likely begin around 7:30 at City Hall.

For anyone interested in learning about the ARC's process, this would be a good opportunity.  The ARC's meetings are open to any owner within Victor Gardens.  

Scheduled to meet with the Master ARC are:

• 14330 Grantaire Lane – Lot 11 Block 3, Colfax Companies
• 4570 Val Jean Blvd. – Lot 4 Block 5, Homes by James
• 4644 Cosette Lane – Lot 7, The Nest

To familiarize yourself with the location of these lots, check out this map found on victorgardensnews.org's maps page.