The Freedom to Vote Act sets national standards for us to safely and freely cast our ballots, ensure every vote is counted, and elect people who will deliver for us.
Imagine you find someone who looks exactly like you at summer camp. Later in the movie, a deep secret is revealed.
Jan. 6 marked one year since the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol to stop the certification of the presidential election.
We must demand accountability for the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021 when our U.S. Capitol was overrun by MAGA militants. The day that the certification of the free and fair election of 2020 was to happen. Together we all watched in horror as America was attacked, our Capitol defiled, our lawm…
On Nov. 2, an ailment brought my wife, Kathy, to the hospital, where the magnificent staff saved her life.
It is almost every day that we hear about the negative impact of social media on teenagers’ mental health.
In an Aug. 7, 2021 Facebook post, Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Dr. Scott Jensen called Critical Race Theory (CRT) "toxic.” However, when a group of parents from District 112 attended school board meetings in the summer of 2019 to beg the board to stop the anti-American CRT curriculum pe…
I am no stranger to winter weather. After all, I do live in the frozen northland. So, I really didn’t think much about it when I went out the other day to photograph some owls.
A person living in California whom I know quite well recently suggested to me that, given all the tumult of the past two years, we should consider starting all over in America. Just toss the U.S. Constitution and our freedoms along with it. (Ever heard of the 'Great Reset' John Kerry advocates?)
Nothing in nature ever stays the same. It is a mantra that I find myself telling people more and more. We expect nature to always be the same.
The guest commentary by Dr. Richard Scott in the Dec 23 Villager was disappointing because all it did was raise alarms. ("We face another variant battle: Omicron," Dec. 23.)
Winter can be a challenging time for wildlife, especially when deep snow blankets the land and the wind blows bitterly cold. Birds fluff up their feathers and search high and low for anything to eat. Squirrels are extra plump and fuzzy and dig down through the snow in hopes of finding a forg…
Are you ready for the holidays or are you feeling overwhelmed?
Have you heard the expression, “It’s like trying to put 10 pounds into a 5-pound bag”? We got to thinking about this expression lately because it usually means it’s about trying to do more than is possible. Life is busy enough and for some people it’s the norm to live by trying to do too muc…
We are all gifted and many of us choose to give our time and talents for the benefit of those who are less fortunate.
Along with monitoring water chemistry, staff at the Carver County Water Management Organization monitor aquatic life in lakes and streams to gauge the health of the water.
Join us for Winter music with Tara B, for an online show of winter tunes, other seasonal favorites, and more on Facebook live at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21.
Do you take things personally and jump to conclusions? Many people struggle with this problem.
A month after Republican Glenn Youngkin won the Virginia governor's race, there has been nary a peep about "voter fraud" or "election fraud" in that state. It's like playing poker with your opponent's cards lying flat on the table — they've shown their hand.
Looking for a creative learning experience that you can do right from the comforts of home? Keep your slippers on, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and join Artistry online for Holiday Paper Art for Adults at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14.
How are you at setting boundaries? We’ve been thinking about this subject because many people struggle with setting boundaries. This happens especially during the holidays when they are confronted with a variety of social situations. Today we’ll talk about what it means to set boundaries and…
In the movie "Princess Diaries," Anne Hathaway played the 15-year-old Mia Thermopolis.
Green water and algae blooms are normally a sign of bad water quality. So, does that mean clear water is cleaner? Not always.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, (for those too young for this reference, it refers to vinyl records that would skip and repeat the same thing over and over again and were considered broken) I love unique or unusual critters.
The current energy policy of the Joe Biden administration with regard to fossil fuel and climate change has eclipsed any semblance of logic and reality.
When I learned that the Eastern Carver County School District’s Attendance Area Task Force included in their recommendation a proposal that would move my son to another school, it was like the district had punched me in the gut. Pain, shock, and the force of the blow left me gasping. It has …
If you’ve traveled on Highway 212 west of Chaska this year, you’ve probably noticed the massive undertaking of digging, hauling, scraping and leveling of the landscape to the north and south of the highway between Carver and Cologne.
After a long stint as an evening “star,” Venus plunges into the sunset on its next trip between Earth and the sun. It’s a short trip, though; in less than a month, Venus reappears in the morning sky.
Come to the Victoria Library on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Friends of the Victoria Library’s first book sale! The last hour will be a $5 per bag sale.
Thank you to the over 180 participants who submitted entries for this year’s 2021 Carver County Library Teen Six Word Story Contest. This year’s theme was “Where Do We Go from Here?” Congratulations to all our 2021 winners.
In your life, what are you most thankful for? What does a good life look like for you?
Having a hard time with any negativity in your life?
I have never written a letter to the editor but since Eastern Carver County School's referendum passed on Nov. 2, I want to “applaud” our community for “speaking loudly” for our students.
Yet another white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) mating season is behind us now. This year I spent a truckload of time in the woods following several large bucks who were actively searching for mates. I was able to capture a pile of images of the most interesting mating behavior.
Hoping to get a new printer as a holiday gift? That might not be necessary as the Chaska, Victoria, and Chanhassen libraries all offer office services, such as printing, faxing, and copying.
How do you feel about your imperfections?
On a sunny Saturday morning last month, Rennie Gathier showed a group of volunteers how to use a special gel to keep the roots of young saplings hydrated for the trip to the Saint Paul homes where they would be planted. By the end of that weekend volunteers from Saint Paul’s Unity Unitarian …
Rarely does a governor’s race hold so much significance as the election of Glenn Youngkin in the commonwealth of Virginia. Reclaiming that spot after a 12-year dry spell is stunning, as President Joe Biden carried Virginia by 10% in 2020. Other national races held similar impact as the voter…
Already in a book club or perhaps looking to start a new discussion group? Be sure to check out the Library’s Book Club in a Bag Kits. We have kits available for kids, teens, and adults that can be checked out for eight weeks.
Do you use your common sense? You may wonder why we’re asking that question. It’s because Nov. 4 is "Use Your Common Sense Day" in America.
Carver County residents have been experiencing thefts from vehicles in recent months, which is a trend being seen throughout Minnesota and the U.S.
Club Book returns online with award-winning author Jane Smalley on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. Her 30 books to date include two short story collections, two biographies, and eight books geared towards young readers.
I am always drawn to unique animals. You know, the kind of critters that are different from all others such as the Virginia opossum, which is the only marsupial in America. Or the osprey, a fish-eating raptor that is the only raptor to dive feet first into the water, often completely submerg…
This submission is in response to your article of Oct. 21, "Man charged after school board incident."
Do you suffer from samhainophobia?
This letter is in response to last week’s paid letter “Has district earned your trust?”
One million people in the U.S. live with Parkinson’s disease (PD), the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s.
We all work so hard every day to provide for our families and create a brighter future for our children. As a member of the District 112 School Board and someone who works in finance, I hope you’ll consider some perspective and data on our financial circumstances to realize just how critical…
Public education and the strength of our schools is the cornerstone of our communities. However, for the last several years it feels like public education has been the ball in a game of ping pong, each side using it as a platform to support their own interests. Please don’t let this noise sw…
Watching November’s evening planets from night to night is akin to watching a slow-motion chase. Venus comes out in the setting sun’s afterglow and barely seems to budge all month long. But not so Saturn and brilliant Jupiter. After nightfall you can watch them close in on Venus as they head…
