Chaska is preparing for a festive Fourth of July weekend.

For those who are all about the fireworks, the city will put on a “real similar show” to recent years, said City Administrator Matt Podhradsky.

All told, about $11,000 will go into Sunday night’s show, with the city getting 10 percent “more firepower” for buying early. Podhradsky expected 40 to 50 percent of the cost to be covered by donations.

“People tend to see the value in having a show like this,” he said.

Chaska's downtown merchants will hold their semi-annual “Night on the Town” event tonight from 5-8 p.m. The event will feature a variety of special discounts and offers, door prizes, treats and giveaways. A drawing will also be held for a $250 shopping spree comprised of a $25 gift certificate from each of the participating businesses.

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.