Red Birds play on
Fair phenomena
Regional playoffs begin Friday
100 or so things to do at the Carver County Fair
Page 12
Page 22, 23
CHANHASSEN
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011
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Villager Why they come out National Night Out parties cover city BY FORREST ADAMS fadams@swpub.com
A couple of years ago, thefts from vehicles were a concern, but now the biggest problem in Erika Falconer’s Chanhassen neighborhood is speeding vehicles, she said. Even so, she coordinates her neighborhood block party on National Night Out each year because it brings people together. “This is a great neighborhood. Everybody is looking out for everybody else,” said Falconer.
Mary Jazerski agreed. She has lived in the same home for 43 years, and during that time the neighborhood has grown up around her. She came out on Tuesday because the block party was right outside her front door in the cul-de-sac, and she enjoys visiting with the neighbors. “It has always been a nice neighborhood,” she said. Across the city, more than 40 neighborhoods held block parties with similar themes. Get out and meet your neighbors, meet emergency responders, meet city officials and maybe even get to know your city councilors. Councilor Denny Laufenburger
Night Out to page 14 ®
PHOTO BY UNSIE ZUEGE
Give Nanci Aeilits some hot glue and paint and there is nothing she can’t create. Aeilits works with costume director Rich Hamson at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres to bring even the most fantastical costume ideas to life. Aeilits is currently working on costume/props for the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres upcoming musical, “Hair Spray.” This apple red Chevy not only has to look good but enable the actress wearing it to move and dance.
CDT designer works magic with glue, paint and imagination BY UNSIE ZUEGE uzuege@swpub.com
Deep within the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Nancy Aeilits takes the ideas dreamed up by costume director/designer Rich Hamson, and fi gures out how to make those ideas, as fantastic and nearly impossible as they might seem, come to life.
It’s Aeilits’ artistic challenge to create costumes such as a giant hand mixer, an armoire, or walking, talking marble statues, and make them look realistic. She also has the technical challenge of making these bigger-than-life-size costumes flexible and comfortable enough for the actors inside to sing and dance. It’s a challenge that Aeilits has
gladly taken on for the past seven years at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT). Aeilits graduated from college with degrees in art and in theater. She realized early on that being in a classroom wasn’t for her. Instead, she used her artistic skills to form a business, teach art classes, paint
PHOTOS BY FORREST ADAMS
Pete and Jessica Toevers and their son, Joshua, listen as Chanhassen Fire Marshal Mark Littfin explains about firefighting equipment at their neighborhood block party during Tuesday night’s National Night Out. Pete said they come out for National Night Out every year because they get a better sense of community.
CDT to page 2 ®
A fair deal for annual county celebration BY RICHARD CRAWFORD editor@chanvillager.com
When the “100th Carver County Fair” opens next week, organizers hope residents come from far and wide to take part in the annual celebration. The gate revenues are critical to the financial health of the fair, which is operated independently from county government. The Carver Agricultural Society owns the fairgrounds in Waconia and the fair is overseen by an independent Fair Board. Mike Jensen, manager of the fair, says the $6 admission fee is still one of the best deals around. “We’ve tried really hard not to increase ticket prices and the cost to participate for patrons, exhibitors and concessions,” said Jensen. Gate admission was $4 in 2004, Jensen recalled. It increased to $ 5 several years ago. This will be the second year at $6. “It’s still cheap for the amount of entertainment you get,” he said. The Fair Board has had to explore
new ways to make ends meet, in part, because of a reduction in the amount of fi nancial support it has received from Carver County government. As the economy has prompted the county to trim expenses, the amount of annual support given to the fair has declined from $110,000 in 2008 to under $55,000 this year. In the past, the county’s annual contribution has been primarily used for capital improvements at the fairgrounds, including an updated grandstand and buildings that house displays during the fair. Carver County Commissioner Jim Ische, of Norwood Young America, serves as a liaison to the Fair Board. He said organizations such as the Fair Board, the county historical society and the county library system provide a lot of value to the community. But in the current economy, budgets need tightening. The County Board plans to trim assistance further in 2012, Ische said. Ische said he is a strong supporter of 4-H programs, which are showcased at the fair, and noted that the fair-
Carver County Fair Dates: Aug. 10-14 Location: 501 W. 3rd St., Waconia Admission: $6; age 6 and under free Information: www.carvercountyfair.com
WONDERING WHAT TO DO AT THE FAIR? SEE PAGES 22 & 23. grounds are also used for a variety of shows and activities throughout the year. But as county financial aid has been reduced, more of the burden for maintaining the facilities and grounds has shifted to the Fair Board, Jensen explained. The Fair Board has worked on getting more creative with marketing the fair and has also focused on enlisting business sponsorships to help fill budget gaps. But, perhaps one of the biggest
FILE PHOTO BY UNSIE ZUEGE
The Carver County Fair will celebrate a century when gates open Aug. 10. financial keys to making the fair work is Mother Nature. Good weather translates to good attendance during the fair. When the weather is nice,
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close to 100,000 people typically come through the gates. In 2008, when it rained throughout the fair, attendance was off dramatically, Jensen said.
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