12/20/2012 - Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly

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Former Menards building put to use 2A Council says no new apartments 2A BPAC seeks management proposals 5A

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date ##, 2009 december 20, 2012

Volume 30, Number # VOLUME 33, NUMBER 43

Dakota County Tribune Since 1884

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Eagan family’s Christmas becomes brighter after tough times Business repays military family with free holiday decoration service

by Jessica Harper

Photo by Jessica Harper

Kathy and David Cleveland (middle) were surprised by their son, Geoff, with Christmas decorations hung along their home by Christmas Decor, a landscaping business that provides Christmas decorating services. The Clevelands’ decorations were provided for free as part of the company’s Decorated Family program, which provides free Christmas decorating services for military families.

DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Kathy Cleveland understands firsthand the stress of war. Her husband, David, is a decorated Vietnam War vet and her son, Matt, an Army sergeant, will be shipping out to Afghanistan in January to serve his fourth tour in the Middle East. While her son faces combat abroad, the 62-year-old Eagan resident faces her own battle at home. Kathy was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago and continues to struggle with the disease. Yet she continues to hold the family together, said Geoff Cleveland, Kathy’s youngest son. “She’s the true soldier of this family,” said the Apple Valley resident and substitute teacher. It is her strength that inspired Geoff to nominate his parents to receive services from holiday decorator Christmas Decor’s Decorated Family program, which installs Christmas decorations for free on the homes of military families. Christmas Decor by Greener Grass Systems and the Greenskeepers is a St. Croix, Wis., business that provides landscaping from spring to fall and holiday decorating services in December for high-end homes in the St. Croix River Valley and eastern Twin Cities. Geoff explained that this Christmas will be a special one for his family because it will be the first time in eight years that he and all three of his brothers will be home for the holidays. Kathy loves to decorate for Christmas and fills her home each year with several Christmas trees of varying sizes, lights, garland and other decorations. However, she and David, 66, struggled to decorate the outside of their home this year because of illness and time constraints. As a result, the home was left with one strand of lights spanning half the front of the roof. Within a few weeks of sending the nomination, Geoff ’s family was one of two military families in Minnesota selected to receive the free decorating services. Unbeknownst to Kathy and David, a crew of five Christmas Decor workers came to their home on Dec. 6 with lights, garland and festive red bows, which they neatly drew across the home’s trim and shrubbery. Several strands of lights were custom fit to the shape of the ranchstyle home’s roof.

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inside biz forum

360 Communities knows it takes more than just parents to help children f ind success in school. anika 4A rychner

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Minnesota has lost it lofty standing in the U.S. with regard to its four-year high school graduation rate. joe 4A nathan

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Three lawmakers from the EaganBurnsville area are returning to the State Capitol after sitting out for one term. jim 7A carlson

dakota arts

Farmington woman donates her longtime this collection week news of Happy Meal toys-turnedCode Type: UPC Version A Stats: 0 Photo submitted Customer: 3242-ECM Publishers ornaments Order #: P34915-017 MAG: 1.00 to A crew of six Christmas Decor workers gathered with franchisee Melissa Crayford at the EaganP.O. #: BWA: 0.0020 senior Ordered By: Symbolcenter. Width: 1.4690 home of Geoff Cleveland’s parents to provide free outdoor Christmas decorating services. Polarity: Positive Up anne Symbol Height: 1.0200 Date Run: 05/29/2002 Flexo Width: Page 0.0000 Back The services are provided to military families as a part of the company’s Decorated Families tice program. “It’s pretty cool,” Geoff said. “It’s more than I expected.” Geoff said he hopes the decorations will make Christmas a little brighter for his mother as well as for Matt, who will be home on leave for the holidays. Despite her illness, Kathy focuses her attention on her job as a guidance secretary at Eagle Ridge Junior High School in Savage and on her sons, Geoff said. “She’s always been there for us,” he said. “She supported my brother’s decision to join the Army even though it’s not what she wanted for him knowing what Dad went through.” Christmas Decor launched its Decorated Family program about 10 years ago to assist military families in need, said Melissa Crayford of Christmas Decor. “It’s our way to give back to the community

that has supported us,” she said. In addition to loaning and installing Christmas decorations for the Clevelands and other military families, Christmas Decor removes the decorations for free at the end of the holidays. The crew finished working on the Clevelands’ home within two hours, leaving just enough time to surprise Kathy and David as they arrived home from work. Unsure for a moment if he had arrived at the correct home, David looked at the decorations in amazement. Overcome with joy, Kathy hugged Geoff and Crayford. “I love it,” she said. “I can’t thank you enough.” Jessica Harper is at jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

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