She was only the third author ever to have her book selected as one of Oprah Winfrey’s Book Club selections. And while there are plenty of authors that would kill for that honor just once in their lifetime, Jane Hamilton is one of a handful of writers that have experienced “The Oprah Effect” not once, but twice.

“She gave me a million readers for each book,” said Hamilton in a phone interview. “Not even God can do that.”

This year’s local Memorial Day events on Monday, May 31, will follow the same schedule as recent years.

The day will begin with a series of stops at area cemeteries. The first stop will be at 7:30 a.m. at East Union and will continue on to St. Nicholas, Mount Hope, Guardian Angels, Chaska Moravian and Mount Pleasant before finishing up at St. John’s cemetery at 9:30 a.m.

The 25th annual Chaska Area Taste took place Wednesday, May 19. Here are a few photos from the event. These photos are also available for purchase at chaskaherald.smugmug.com.

The mere mention of the Chaska Area Taste can be enough to put the salivary glands in motion. Hot dogs and cold beer will await those who make the trek to City Square Park for the 25th annual event next Wednesday evening.

“There’s something for everyone’s taste,” said Kelsey Van Ordstrand, event and program coordinator for the SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Flowers may be in bloom and the weather may be warm enough for short sleeves, but come Saturday, it’s Christmas time in Chaska.

If all goes as planned, hundreds of volunteers will descend on six locations across Chaska to paint, repair and landscape. This year’s event marks the 14th anniversary of the program which assists homeowners who don’t have the physical or financial means to rehabilitate their own residences.

Last year, more than 250 volunteers helped spruce up places around town. This year, so far 75 have committed via phone.

Traditional garage sales may trigger visions of cardboard boxes full of vinyl records, mismatched glasses and racks of baby clothes, but this year’s Jonathan Festival of Garage Sales will also feature plenty of things straight from the garage itself.

“As far as quirky things, we have a GMC Jimmy, a Ford F-150, a boat and a boat motor,” said Jeri Glander, one of the members of St. Andrew West Church’s service team helping to organize this year’s event.

Under sunny skies, hundreds of kids of all ages descended on City Square Park last Saturday for the 58th Annual Chaska American Legion Auxiliary Easter Egg Hunt.

The weather was cool, but that didn’t seem to slow down the anxious egg gatherers. With Easter baskets in tow they scoured the park for pastel colored eggs filled with sweet treats. A few lucky kids turned up golden eggs, entitling them to a special basket full of goodies.

The 24th annual Jonathan Festival of Garage Sales will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 24. Registrations for those planning to host a garage sale will be accepted through April 17. Here is more information courtesy of the Jonathan Association website: