As an avid user of the great trail system that we are lucky to have here in the Chaska, Chanhassen and Victoria area, I need to point out that some people are littering after picking up the discharge from their four-legged friends.
With the lion’s share of coverage of the coronavirus being focused on physical infrastructure (where to get tested, how to quarantine, what is/isn’t open, etc.), my community and parental (two kids under 5) instincts pivot to concern of our social infrastructure — things like mental health a…
We wanted to thank the Chaska SnoHawks and our friends and family for making our daughter Madelyn's benefit on March 7 a huge success.
Some thoughts on how to manage during stressful and straining times.
Now that spring is here, I've hit the local trail system off Pioneer Trail for my daily walks.
Last week almost every parent in Minnesota, and across the United States, was thrust into a new and unfamiliar role … that of a homeschool teacher. And while this is overwhelming and seemingly impossible at times, we’re all going to get through this with a little patience, grit, and grace. B…
Regarding the article last week about "Cooper's to close?"
As my toddler grows older, I’ve been thinking more about his education.
I have never actually met Gary Cooper, but I've definitely seen him working in the grocery store over the years (including many Thanksgivings) and I've seen him on Walnut Street working the grill during River City Days. His face, like many others at Cooper's, is really familiar to me.
While this darn coronavirus is wreaking havoc on many aspect of life, there is hope for some upside.
The last several days have been trying on our country, state and community. We have seen a virus spread throughout the world, hit the shores of America, travel to the Midwest, and make its way to our own county.
Retired women, I have a challenge for you. Knowing that you have been paid 80 cents to the dollar compared to what men have been paid over your lifetime, figure out how much less you are receiving in Social Security and other retirement benefits.
When budget considerations for any public organization are funded by taxpayer dollars, the rights taxpayers have to that information for where and how spent ensures funding fulfills intended purposes.
I’d like to provide a student’s perspective on the items last week’s letter touched on. ("Public schools no longer safe," March 5.)
The 2020 election cycle will drive wedges between some friends and neighbors — if we let it.
I am a passionate supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). I think we should add it to our U.S. Constitution and to our Minnesota State Constitution. I think that women and men should be treated equally under our laws and I think that protection should be guaranteed by a constitutional…
A member of the Eastern Carver County school board sent an email to Victoria Mayor Tom Funk after he attended the budget open forum at the Victoria Recreation Center.
A few days ago, the School Board convened and voted on a series of cuts to school programming, services, teachers and support for our children. These cuts were not brought about by a school system’s failures to manage their budget, but by an election fraught with distortions, distractions an…
Other than in history lessons, there is no place for blackface; nowhere, period.
I have both degrees in engineering and economics and pursued careers in both. I thus see many community issues from both perspectives: what things cost to design and build and whether the public expenditure is needed on a cost/benefit basis.
Editor's note: The author is responding to a letter that appeared in another publication last week, but is running in the Chaska Herald ("Strengthen open meeting law") this week.
Our schools are getting more crowded. This issue is only going to increase with the continued population growth in our region, including the recently approved Timber Creek subdivision of 344 homes in Carver, on top of several hundred homes approved last year for both Chaska and Carver.
On Jan. 27, Sen. Scott Jensen spoke in favor of abolishing the Open Meeting Law at the Victoria City Council meeting.
There's still a lot of conversations concerning the referendum and the equity program in District 112.
Unfortunately, the proposed closure of East Union Elementary (EUE) for the 2021-22 school year will have a negative effect on all students and families in the Eastern Carver County School District (ISD 112). Therefore, I oppose the proposed closure of the school for the 2021-22 school year.
Last November, voters did not pass Question 1 of District 112's referendum asking for an annual $5.6 million, and included operational costs for the proposed new school in Question 2, which also did not pass. As a result, District 112 is proposing a budget that will reduce spending up to $29…
There are many confusing historical references in Mr. Tom Funk’s recent letter ("Question meaning of equity," Jan. 23). But his misrepresentation of a social movement inspired and led by Dr. Martin Luther King seems the most oppressive in 2020.
At the last school board meeting (Jan. 27), a school board member showed frustration at the number of FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests that District 112 has recently received.
Recently, a letter from a community member attacked an event where critical questions were asked about American history and injustice, and challenged this as unpatriotic. However, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
Recently I have read several letters to the paper complaining about efforts to improve equity in our school district. Some even bragged about helping to defeat the recent school bond issue to attack the district’s equity efforts.
Regarding Victoria Mayor Tom Funk’s letter regarding the “equity” social experiment in our schools ("Question meaning of 'equity,'" Jan. 23).
Since relocating with my family to Minnesota in 2005, I have watched taxpayers in the Eastern Carver County School District open a brand new school in Victoria; build a brand new high school in Chanhassen; build a brand new elementary school in Carver (which we were told was built for future…
A recent letter to the editor raised a concern about a training led by the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) held at our District Education Center this past summer. ("Question meaning of 'equity,'" Jan. 23.) We welcome the opportunity to provide more clarification about the Community Leaders …
Last week’s paper featured a letter to the editor by Victoria Mayor Tom Funk ("Question meaning of 'equity'"). Funk's letter attacked the school district's equity work and follows the same sad partisan misinformation route that was taken by the "Vote No" groups during the referendum campaign…
After reading Tom Funk's editorial this week in the newspaper ("Question meaning of 'equity'") I suspect that he and I have several things in common. Like me, I suspect that he is white. Guessing he's male. Also guessing he is in or approaching middle age. While I didn't spend better than a …
Recently the Carver County GOP Facebook page posted about the two candidates seeking the Republican endorsement for the Minnesota Senate District 47 Seat, Julia Coleman and Tom Funk.
I write in reference to Mayor Tom Funk’s letter “Question meaning of ‘equity’” (Jan. 23), but I want to address my fellow Carver County residents, not him.
As mayor of Victoria, I questioned the meaning of the word "equity" we see permeating government after attending GARE (Government Alliance on Race and Equity) training put on by the League of Minnesota Cities (summer 2019). I, along with other community leaders and staff, attended this train…
My name is Dan Kessler and I am running for the Minnesota House of Representatives for Chanhassen, Chaska and Victoria. I want to invite everyone to our official campaign kickoff on Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Chaska Community Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Regarding Dr. Muhammad Khalifa’s comments on "Islamophobia and Christian Privilege."
Our founding document, the Declaration of Independence, has beautiful words in it. “All men are created equal” and “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
On Sunday, Dec. 22, my neighbor’s townhome caught on fire. She lost everything in that fire and my heart breaks for her.
Concerned Parents of District 112 reviewed the 2018-19 district budget.
Dontá Hughes complains of a “mess” created by the ‘vote no’ crowd who spoke against the Eastern Carver County School Board referendum in November, and that we’re gloating over the defeat of the referendum and have now gone our separate ways. (“Have allowed house to become a mess,” Dec. 26.)
I want to take this occasion to recognize and thank retiring Police Chief Scott Knight for all the wonderful leadership and service he has provided in and for our community of Chaska.
I read the “Ruff Patch: Humane Society bouncing back after communication, leadership bumps,” by Amy Felegy (Dec. 5). I would like to share my experience.
