Chaska American Legion Post 57 is accepting applications for the 2010 Minnesota Boys State, to be held June 13 to 19 at Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall campus.

Minnesota American Legion Boys State is a week-long experience of learning about Minnesota government at the local county and state levels by “doing.” It is a week of intensive study and involvement, according to a press release.

The Minnesota State Horticultural Society is hosting an emerald ash borer seminar in Chaska.

“Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an insect that destroys ash trees, and it has arrived in Minnesota. EAB only kills ash trees, but in great numbers, and is expected to have a huge effect on Minnesota’s 937 million ash trees. Early detection and isolation are vital to slowing its spread,” states a press release

By Unsie Zuege

It’s one of the area’s best kept secrets.

For the average commuter, the simple, rustic “Camp Tanadoona” sign on the west side of Highway 41 in Chanhassen might elicit fleeting curiosity; eventually, though, it just blends into the scenery.

Unbelievable. Story here.

By Unsie Zuege

For parent advocate Susan Shimota of Chaska, initiating a community conversation about children and adults living with disabilities is a positive step.

That upcoming conversation includes three events in Chanhassen and Chaska, April 8-9, led by Rachel Simon, the author of this year’s Community Read, “Riding the Bus with My Sister.”

Sara Hanlon, Chaska artist and Mill House Gallery owner, is offering an upcoming course through Chaska Community Education called “Working with Acrylics and Water Mediums.”

The course includes painting on canvas, panel or heavy paper; watercolor applications; and/or collage. Hanlon has been offering the course locally since 2002.

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will welcome a new director later this summer, Edward L. Schneider, currently president and CEO of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden in California.

Schneider will join the Arboretum as its fourth director since its founding nearly 52 years ago, according to an Arboretum press release.

Schneider will also serve as a professor in the Department of Horticulture Science at the University of Minnesota.

Ready for golf?

The Chaska Town Course and the Chaska Par 30 will open for play for the 2010 season on Wednesday, March 31.

Both courses will begin taking tee time reservations on Monday, March 29.

Tee times will be available starting at 9 a.m.

Visit www.chaskatowncourse or call the pro shop at (952) 443-3748.

Chanhassen has built it, and the team is coming.

The Chanhassen Red Birds geared up for their first amateur baseball
season with a gathering of club officials and city leaders on Friday
afternoon at Chanhassen High School.

The ballclub unveiled its team logo, uniform and cap, and introduced its
manager and mascot.

Carver County Parks will produce maple syrup through March 31 at Baylor Regional Park, 2-1/2 miles north of Norwood Young America on County Road 33.

A maple syrup open house is scheduled for Saturday, March 20 from 10 a.m.-noon. At the open house visitors will have the opportunity to learn how maple sap is collected and boiled down into pure maple syrup.