Former Chaska Rotary President Dan Workman was presented with the George C. Klein “Service Above Self” Award Saturday night at the annual Chaska Rotary banquet held at the Oak Ridge Conference Center.

The Klein Award is given to individuals that display service above self in the community. This year marks the 31st year of the Klein Award.

Former Mayor Bob Roepke presented Workman with the award Saturday, saying, “He stands among those people who have left an imprint on our community through his actions.”

High school seniors residing within School District 112 boundaries, except Chanhassen, are invited to apply for 2-year and 4-year college scholarships being awarded by the Chaska Rotary Club/Grace Gibson Foundation. Chanhassen residents are eligible for scholarships awarded by the Chanhassen Rotary Club.

These scholarships are open to students in public and private schools. Private schools may be located outside District 112 boundaries, but all applicants must reside within the school district.

Former Chaska resident Mark Kiefer of VIP Gallery in Waconia was recently named the 2009 TCPPA Photographer of the Year. This is the second year in a row Kiefer has earned this honor.

According to a press release, he was recognized for Best of Show in the Illustrative category as well as receiving two Judge’s Choice Awards. Kiefer also entered the top scoring album in the competition entitled “Haiti Revisited”. The awards were presented at the annual TCPPA Awards banquet held at Jax Café in Minneapolis.

Are there any local connections to Haiti out there? Relatives? Friends? Non-profit efforts?

Post your story here, or contact Herald editor Mark W. Olson at (952) 345-6574 or [email protected].

For an idea of the devastation, click here: www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/01/earthquake_in_haiti.html

KleinBank is collecting food and donations for the CAP Agency.

Non-perishable food items and cash donations can be dropped off through Dec. 28 at any of these KleinBank locations: Chaska Downtown, 301 Chestnut Street; Chaska Commons, 120 Pioneer Trail; Chanhassen, 600 West 78th Street; and Victoria, 1630 Arboretum Boulevard.

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity invites Chaska families to attend a Homeownership Exploration session and qualify to purchase one of its homes.

The non-profit group builds single family hones and twin/town homes, as well as reconstructs existing homes for purchase.

The homes are 0 percent interest, 30-year fixed mortgage, with payments between $600 and $800 and a low-closing cost, according to a Habitat press release.

For more information, contact John Blamo at (612) 305-7135 to sign up.

From the District 112 Web site:
All Eastern Carver County Schools will be closed Wednesday, December 9th due to severe weather conditions. All activities, before and after school, including Club Care and Community Education programs, are cancelled.

The Census Bureau has launched a massive field operation to kick off the 2010 Census. More than 140,000 temporary U.S. Census Bureau workers are now verifying addresses across the nation as the first major field operation of the 2010 Census began is underway. It is called address verification or address canvassing. Address verification is a critically important step to assure that every housing unit receives a census questionnaire in March 2010. The Kansas City Region includes 6 states where approximately 11,000 census takers will verify and update more than 10 million housing units.

The Chaska Town Course and the Chaska Par 30 will open for play on Friday, April 10. Tee times will begin at 9 a.m.

Charlie’s Grille will also open for business on Friday, April 10th. Derek Helstrom has joined the Town Course as the new Assistant Golf Professional.

Helstrom worked in the golf shop last season, and is a graduate of The Professional Golfer's Career College, a premier golf management school, in Temecula, Calif.

All Chaska Town Course and Par 30 leagues, lessons and programs are open for registration for the 2009 season.