The Minnesota River segment begins at 7:10.
Villager Tower Archives Now Available
Ricki Schultz and I are happy to announce that the full historical archives of the Villager Tower (originally the Carver Gazette) have been digitized and made available at http://carvercurrent.com/villager-tower/.
This newsletter and their archives provide an important history of the last 30 years in the City of Carver.
The Villager Tower by Ricki Schultz started in 1983 as the “Carver Gazette”. Published monthly, it is printed and distributed to the downtown businesses and post office. The newsletter has many local readers, as well as Carver expats across the state and country.
Ricki Schultz can be contacted at (952) 448-5126 and [email protected].
Carver tax rate increases 8.56 percent
The new year will bring city of Carver residents a 8.56 percent increase in the city property tax rate and no increase in utility rates.
The City Council voted unanimously Monday to adopt a $2,239,332 budget for city government operations and repaying debts in 2012 and a $1,870,647 property tax levy to pay most of those expenses.
Read more: Chaska Herald – Carver tax rate increases 8 56 percent
Carver votes to accept RR bridge donation
The Carver City Council wants the city to own the old Main Street railroad bridge and later figure out what to do with it.
Councilors voted unanimously Dec. 5 to accept donation of the bridge from Omaha Track Materials LLC, which acquired the bridge from Union Pacific Railroad Company.
Read more: Chaska Herald – Carver votes to accept RR bridge donation
The Lowly River
Hard to believe just 6 months ago the river was spilling over its banks, and is now so low that rocks in the Carver rapids are exposed.
Jerrod Larson, who runs and hikes in the Louisville Swamp area in Scott County, said the massive outcroppings of rock in the Minnesota are impressive. The more dramatic stretch of rapids requires a 3-mile hike to view, he said, but another set is easier to access.
Read the full story at http://www.startribune.com/local/west/134972383.html.
Carver Bridge Last Hurrah
The Carver Black Sox Turkey and Ham Bingo
Like to play bingo? How about forty games of bingo?
When? This Friday!
The Carver Black Sox formally invite all of you interested in playing
bingo and having fun to come to the Village Hall on Friday, November 18th
at 7 PM. You can play bingo until 11 PM. There will be food and beverages
served. There will be a meat raffle, as well. So be sure to mark on your
calendars, November 18th, and plan on coming to The Carver Black Sox
Turkey and Ham Bingo !! It’s fun for all ages !!! All funds raised will
be going towards bettering the baseball field at Carver Community Park.
Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas – the Musical” presented by the Chaska Valley Family Theatre
Where: Chanhassen High School, 2200 Lyman Blvd, Chanhassen.
When: 7:30pm Dec. 2,3,8,9,10 and 2:00pm Dec. 4, 10, 11.
Ticket prices: Adults: $15.00, 17 and under $10.00.
Adapted from the holiday classic of the same name, Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas – the Musical” is a story, not only about how boy meets girl, but about the loyalty and love that exists among members of the Armed Forces during times of war and times of peace. The dazzling score features well known standards including Blue Skies, I Love A Piano, How Deep Is the Ocean and the perennial favorite, White Christmas. Start your holiday season with Chaska Valley Family Theatre and “White Christmas – the Musical.”
For tickets and more information go to www.cvft.org or phone 952-250-7206.
photo: Judy (Theresa Stecker) Betty (Emily Jansen) sing “Sisters” in CVFT’s production of “White Christmas – the Musical.”
Annual Carver Senior Citizens Luncheon
Annual Carver Senior Citizens Luncheon
December 14 2011
11:30 AM
Carver Village Hall – Downstairs
You are invited to the Annual Senior Lunch sponsored by the Carver Lions.
Social at 11:30 AM – Lunch at 12 PM
After lunch we will have time to socialize, have drawings for prizes and
play some cards or dominoes, if you wish to stay for that.
You must call for a reservation, so we know that you will be there.
Call Lee Ostlie at 952.448.4783
Reservations are due by December 10th
If you need a ride that day, please tell Lee when you call for your reservation,.
Carver Historic District Updated
John von Walter has updated the Carver Historic District document for 2011.
The first part of Carver Historic District provides an introduction to the history of the area, and then the remainder takes a look at the history of each building and site individually. Please take a look at this and send any feedback to John on Facebook.
Historic Carver Slide Presentation
Carver-on-the-Minnesota, Inc. invites the public to
attend a narrated slide presentation on the history of
Carver. The event will be held at the Church-by-the-
River at 109 Main Street East in downtown Carver and
is free, with refreshments provided.
The presentation will begin promtly at 7:00 p.m. on
Thursday, November 3, 2011. Space is limited, so
seating will be on a first come, first served basis.
Carver-on-the-Minnesota, Inc. is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to the enhancement of Carver
and its surrounding areas.
Bye, bye bridge
“We are anticipating completion of the removal of the last of the steel deck plat girder spans sometime next week,” wrote Terry Peterson with Omaha Track Material – the outfit handling the project. “Once that is complete, we will begin preparation for the demolition of the six concrete piers.”
Carver’s river crossing was originally built in 1871 by the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway (M&St.L). The railroad bested steamboats in the area by allowing for travel year round, including when the river levels were too low or the water frozen. It also allowed for important connections between Minneapolis and St. Paul to points west and south.
Carver 2nd Alarm 16th Annual Chili Feed
The 16th Annual Chili Feed by the Carver 2nd Alarm are planning to serve
between 11 Am and 5 PM. A meat raffle and silent auction will also be
held. All you can eat, chili, French Bread and Homemade Bars, Cookies and
Desserts. Advance tickets are available for $5.00 or $7.00 at the door.
Proceeds will benefit children with special needs surgery through the
Smile Network. Advance tickets can be purchased from Second Alarm members
or contact John Lenzen at 952.448.2850 or Barb Swanson at 942.448.2830.
You can enjoy the delicions chii on October 23rd …be sure to come and
have fun and a good meal….
September/October Villager Tower
The latest Villager Tower is now available for download!
Please support the Villager Tower by downloading it and visiting its sponsors.
Villager Tower #278 September / October
The Villager Tower has been written and published since 1983 by Ricki Schultz. She can be contacted at (952) 448-5126 and [email protected].
Carver Current Server Upgraded
For the last year I’ve been hosting Carver Current out of a server in my home. This has been convenient and worked well for the most part.
Recently I migrated to a different server in my house, and since then, I’ve had about 5 days of downtime and significantly slower response times.
In order to increase speed and reliability, I have migrated the site again to a virtual server in a data center. Hopefully this will really improve things for everyone. Thanks for reading!
The Carver Black Sox Turkey and Ham Bingo
Like to play bingo? How about forty games of bingo? When???? You ask.
The Carver Black Sox formally invite all of you interested in playing bingo and
having fun to come to the Village Hall on Friday, November 18th at 7 PM. You can play bingo until 11 PM. There will be food and beverages served.
There’s a meat raffle, as well. So be sure to mark on your calendars, November 18th, and plan on going to The Carver Black Sox Turkey and Ham Bingo!! It’s fun for all ages!!!
Villager Tower Available for Download
Read this month’s Villager Tower for complete information on Steamboat Days, as well as the story of Carver’s very own steamboat!
Please support the Villager Tower by downloading it and visiting its sponsors.
Villager Tower #277 August / September
The Villager Tower has been written and published since 1983 by Ricki Schultz. She can be contacted at (952) 448-5126 and [email protected].
Historic rail line soon to be history
The Chaska Herald has some great pictures and history of the rail line and bridge, connecting Chaska and Carver, that is being removed this summer.
The 5.6-mile stretch of rail running between Louisville in Scott County through Carver and into Chaska was constructed by the Minneapolis-St. Louis Railway in 1870 and 1871 at a cost of $20,000 per mile, according to von Walter’s research. The grand opening run was made from here to Minneapolis on Nov. 25, 1871.
Here’s the remaining demolition schedule for weeks beginning:
Aug. 1, 8 and 13: Remove wood bridge trestle.
Aug. 22, 29, and Sept. 7: Work continues on bridge. Remove road crossings in Chaska.
Sept. 14 thru Oct. 10: Complete steel bridge span removal.
Oct. 17 thru Oct. 24: Demolish concrete piers.
Oct. 31 through Nov. 7: Final cleanup and re-grading.
Read more: Chaska Herald – Historic rail line soon to be history
Carver on the Minnesota Accepts Steamboat
Carver on the Minnesota has accepted the donation of an 1890, fully restored, 30′ steamboat. More information on Carver on the Minnesota’s facebook page.
The nonprofit was also written up this week in the Chaska Herald. 
July/August Villager Tower Now Available
Do you have plans for August? Read the latest Villager Tower for a full listing of community events and activities. As summer begins to wind down (it pains me to say that), don’t miss your chance to get involved in many of the great events that are available every weekend.
Please support the Villager Tower by downloading it and visiting its sponsors.
Villager Tower #276 July / August
The Villager Tower has been written and published since 1983 by Ricki Schultz. She can be contacted at (952) 448-5126 and [email protected].