Loo cha k for y 2 D nce to our inne W Tick r and IN Sh Cha e nha ts to th ow The s atre sen Di e on p nner age 14
Love, Life, Family, Faith, Business, Community
y p p a H ! s y a d i Hol
6 | December Calendar Find interesting things to do this month
Inside this issue: 8 | Don’t Let the Holidays 12 | T he History of Ruin Your Credit
Gingerbread Men
Serving the Western Suburban Community
December 2018
14 | Enter our Contest
For a Chance to Win
Waconia Trading open 7 days/week including Sunday
11am - 3pm!
Thank You Readers of The Laker Pioneer Newspaper for voting us Best Antique Store in the 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards! But, obviously, We
have WAY
more than just antiques! We’ve been selling interesting stuff for
over 19 years. New items arrive daily. Check out all the new home decor, jewelry, artwork, painted furniture & repurposed items to give your home/cabin/office some non “run of the mill” charm!
Find a small sample of inventory at www.facebook.com/waconiatrading/
Waconia Trading Co. 24 W. 1st Street • Waconia
Be a picker-We buy & consign interesting items including artwork, 952-442-3363 waconiabay@gmail.com jewelry, furniture, coins, musical instruments, collectibles & more. Mon.-Fri. 10:30-5:30, Sat. 10-4, Sun 11-3
2 December, 2018 • Balance MN
Balance MN • December 2018 3
"THERE ARE NO WORDS IN MY VOCABULARY THAT CAN HELP ME TO EXPRESS MY FEELINGS OF GRATITUDE FOR THEM."
THE DOCTORS
4 December, 2018 • Balance MN
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Balance MN • December 2018 5
DECEMBER COMMUNITY CALENDAR
WHEN SAT
/ December 1
Holiday Boutique Chanhassen Recreation Center, 2310 Coulter Blvd, Chanhassen 952-227-1400, ci.chanhassen.mn.us
Come shop local for a unique gift this holiday season. The boutique features a variety of commercial and hand-crafted arts and crafts, jewelry, collectibles, home décor, toys, and trinkets for everyone to enjoy. Please bring a nonperishable food item to donate to an area food shelf. sat
/ DECEMBER 7
FRI
Waconia Holiday Toy Drive Waconia Fire Station, 26 South Maple Street, Waconia 9:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m. facebook.com. Search for WaconiaToy-Drive
Day of giving! Presented by The Women of Waconia (W.O.W.) Toys are ONLY distributed to children living in the Waconia Area School district. This year an anticipated 300 children will benefit.
/ DECEMBER 8
Duct Tape Projects Norwood Young America Library 314 Elm St W, Norwood Young America www.carverlib.org. 952-227-1500 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Students will learn how to create funky, fun, and functional purses, wallets and cell phone covers out of duct tape. Teacher demonstrations and discussions will show students how to make patterns and construct basic forms. Then we’ll learn various techniques for adding embellishments and accents to personalize our duct tape art pieces. For ages 12 to 18. Registration Required. FRI
/ december 14
Tomte Solstice Magic Gale Woods Farm 7210 County Road 110 Ext, Mound 4:30-7:30 p.m. www.threeriversparks.org Experience the magical Scandinavian Tomte tradition. Listen to a story, enjoy Scandinavian music, make a craft, and search for the Tomte hiding in the barn. Visit the animals, enjoy a short luminary walk, and sample hot porridge. Res. req. by December 12. Tue.-Wed.
/ DECEMBER 18-19
Celtic Holiday Hooley Chanhassen Dinner Theater, 50 W. 78th St., Chanhassen 952-934-1525, www.chanhassendt.com This hosted variety show is a party for all ages with Irish music, stories, sketches, step dance, caroling and more. Beyond that, it’s wacky good fun for everyone with brief guest appearances from wellknown holiday characters including The Grinch and yes, even Santa Claus!
MON
/ DECEMBER 17
Fantastic Beasts Party Waconia Library, 217 S. Vine St., Waconia. www.carverlib.org. 952-227-1500 6:00 - 7:30 a.m. Join us for a celebration in honor of the new film, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald! Pose in front of our Harry Potter themed green screen and experience being up close and personal with your favorite magical creatures. Costumes are encouraged! sun
/ DECEMBER 23
Last Night: The Spirit of Winter Festival of Lights 9950 North Shore Rd, Waconia 952-446-9957, sovereignestatewine.com Enjoy a beautiful array of decorated trees and attractions featuring a deck hockey play area, gingerbread house, Santa, photo sleigh, lovable petting llamas, live music, Holly Trolley and walking trails about the winery, all synchronized to holiday music.
SAT
/ december 8
Santa’s Hidden Treasure The Gillespie Center, 2590 Commerce Blvd., Mound, 952-472-6501 10:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Kids secretly buy holiday gifts for their family and friends while the parents, grandparents, and friends enjoy the holiday atmosphere. Kids buy tickets for 50 cents each and the Seniors/High School Students help them shop. All gifts range from 50 cents-$3.00. Get a photo with Santa. Food available. SAT
/ DECEMBER 8
Winter Wonderland Super Storytime Waconia Library, 217 S. Vine St., Waconia. www.carverlib.org. 952-227-1500 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Come in from the cold and enjoy some special winter stories and then make your own holiday craft! For families, preschoolers and toddlers.
MON
/ DECEMBER 17
Mound Westonka Community Blood Drive Our Lady of the Lake Church, 2385 Commerce Blvd., Mound 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
To sign up go to mbcherohub.club and search for Mound or call Memorial Blood Centers at 651-332-7171
TUE.
/ jan. 1
New Year’s Snowshoe Hike Lowry Nature Center, Victoria. www.threeriversparks.org 12:30-2:00 p.m.
Start the year on the right foot. Get your step count up while searching for signs of wildlife. We will hike if no snow. Children 17 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations required.
Send your community events to: Balance MN at tjcrea@balancemnmag.com. are FREE and are published on a space available basis. 6 December, 2018 Calendar • Balancelistings MN Please submit information 45 days before your event.
Balance MN • December 2018 7
Avoid the Naughty List: Don’t Let the Holidays Ruin Your Credit (StatePoint) Looking for the “perfect gifts,” paired with enticing retail discounts and deals, can pressure holiday shoppers to spend more than they can afford. As a result, people may max out credit card limits or miss payments, negatively affecting credit scores. In addition, store credit cards may offer instant discounts that are tempting at the register -- but that new application could decrease your credit score. Not having enough money for presents and the strain holiday shopping puts on finances are big causes of anxiety for many consumers, according to a recent Experian survey. However, many of these same shoppers seem to be on the right track. In the survey, respondents listed several smart financial resolutions, including 28 percent who want to improve their credit scores, while almost 50 percent said saving more was a New Year’s resolution. But understanding how your credit score is calculated is critical. With this mind, here are some key factors: • Payment history: Accounting for roughly a third of your credit score, paying loans on time is crucial; too many late payments can decrease your score. • Balance: You never want your credit card balance to be higher than 30 percent of your credit limit -- on a single card and across all of them. Keep balances low to keep your score high. • Credit history: Those who’ve never used credit before will likely have a low score, or no score at all, while credit accounts that have been active for a long time reflect positively on your score, as does a healthy mix of accounts, such as having a mortgage, a few credit cards and auto loans. • Staying out of hot water: Many people believe that financial transactions like rent, utility and telecommunications payments impact credit scores, but in fact, these are not factored in by many scoring companies. However, if you don’t pay bills and they get turned over to a collection agency, this could affect your credit score. Severely delinquent accounts are often reported to the credit bureaus. “While it’s fun to give to others during the holidays, make sure to give yourself the gift of not getting into debt,” says Rod Griffin, director of Public Education at Experian. “Stick to a shopping budget. Only use credit cards for an amount you can pay off and pay the bill in full on time. You’ll lose your cheer quickly after the New Year if you face a mountain of debt.” A positive credit profile and history of using credit smartly can open up financial opportunities, like getting a car loan or home mortgage. There are clear benefits to building your credit file, but if you don’t build it responsibly those gains won’t be felt. To plan for the holidays and 2019, visit experian.com/education for information about credit scores, as well as personal finance tips. “Credit is a tool to be used wisely,” adds Griffin. “If you check your credit score regularly and make strategic decisions on when and how much credit to use in the short-term, it will benefit you when you absolutely need credit to make a large purchase or for an emergency expense.” 8 December, 2018 • Balance MN
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50th Anniversary Production!
Just One Stop...Bait & Tackle, Hunting, Liquors, Automotive , 24 Hour Towing & More ColonyPlazaWaconia.com
Michael Gruber, Ann Michels, Jessica Fredrickson, Tony Vierling
Through February 23!
The regional premiere of the brand new song and dance-fueled musical featuring 20 Irving Berlin classics!
952.934.1525 • 800.362.3515 ChanhassenDT.com
NO COUPON NEEDED Monday’s - Senior Discount 10% OFF all Wine & Liquor Tuesday’s 10% OFF all Wine No other discounts apply. Colony Plaza, 140 W. State Hwy. 5, Waconia. Exp. December 31, 2018
Waconia, Minnesota
5% 10% 20% Off
Off
Off
Beer Liquor Wine Colony Plaza, 140 W. State Hwy. 5, Waconia, Expires December 31, 2018
7¢ Off 7¢ Off
Per Gallon of Gas or Diesel
Per Gallon of Gas or Diesel
Colony Plaza 140 W. State Hwy. 5, Waconia Expires December 31, 2018
Colony Plaza 140 W. State Hwy. 5, Waconia Expires December 31, 2018
Bait Shop/Gas Station Monday-Friday: 5 am-10pm Saturday: 6 am-10 pm, Sunday: 6 am-7 pm
Shop Monday-Friday: 8:00 am-5:00pm After Hours Towing: 952-442-5289
140 West State Highway 5 • Waconia, MN 55387 • 952-442-2817
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Balance MN • December 2018 9
Nov2018-TradeOddD_4C-Gift.qxp_Layout 1 11/13/18 10:04 AM Page 1
There’s no better holiday gift than an evening at Chanhassen! Available in any amount and good forever! Good for everything from shows to concerts to camps and more!
Now Playing!
952.934.1525 • ChanhassenDT.com • 800.362.3515
Customer Appreciation Days SATURDAY, DEC. 1 & SUNDAY, DEC. 2 Visit Our Outdoor Area for Christmas Trees, Wreaths, Garland, Bulk Greens, Spruce Tops & More! 2250 Commerce Blvd., Mound M-F 7:30 am-9 pm, Sat. 7:30 am-6 pm, Sun. 9:30 am-5 pm 952-472-1819 10 December, 2018 • Balance MN
MOUND
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Happy Holidays from Waconia Dental! Exam & X-Ray (Bite-Wings)
Waconia Dental 238 1st Street West, downtown Waconia
952-442-9773
Visit our website www.waconiadental.com
Most insurances accepted • New Patients always welcomE
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Ask about our Waconia Dental Preventative Plan - a special discounted plan for Cash Patients
Balance MN • December 2018 11
The History of Gingerbread
Gingerbread has been around for a long time, but the recipes used to make it have changed considerably over the years. Initially gingerbread was made from breadcrumbs, ginger, and a sweetener, like honey. People discovered that ginger has preservative properties and used it accordingly. The recipe for gingerbread changed, and by the 15th century (the 1400s), the breadcrumbs had been replaced by flour. Honey was replaced with molasses. The dough became lighter. Some recipes made sweet, thin crisps of ginger and others were thicker and more biscuit-like. Pictoral scenes that told stories were carved in wood and the gingerbread was rolled and pressed into them. It was first made into figures (like people) in the 16th century (the 1500s). Queen Elizabeth I of England is credited with the first gingerbread men. The story goes that she had gingerbread cookies made and decorated to look like her favorite courtiers, and had the cookies presented to them. Gingerbread men tend to have vague shapes. For instance, the legs do not have definite feet, and they certainly don’t have any toes. The arms are fairly blobby, and they definitely don’t have any fingers. Gingerbread women are equally simple in design. Gingerbread expands when it bakes, even recipes without eggs. 12 December, 2018 • Balance MN
As a consequence, the cookies work better when they are not overly detailed. The detail work comes into play when you decorate these cookies. So, gingerbread men and women needed houses, chairs, tables, beds, wagons, trees, and livestock that are also made out of gingerbread, and bakers created these. The Brothers Grimm wrote Hansel and Gretel in 1812. The story told of a witch that wanted to eat the children, Hansel and Gretel. She fattened them up with candy and other sweets, and the children munched on a house made of gingerbread. Gingerbread houses became popular at that time, especially in Germany. Gingerbread houses are popular in the United States and many parts of Europe, but oddly, not England. These houses are most common during the Christmas season, but also work well for every other holiday. Valentine’s Day houses are decorated with pink, red, and white candy. Halloween houses have ghosts popping out of them and are often purposely constructed “wrong.” The only limits with gingerbread houses are your imagination and the size of your cookie sheets. by Gwen Nicodemus, a freelance engineer/writer and a homeschooling mom. Visit her website, notionnexus.com/index.php/homeschooling-menu for unit studies, worksheets, notes, and educational videos.
Dr. Brandon Bussler
Dr. Daniel Ross
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Stop in between December 3rd and 14th and register to win a Christmas Ham! Winner will be randomly selected and will receive the ham by Monday, December 17th
Tooth Grinding Treatment Available (Custom Made Occlusal Guards)
Norwood Dental
222 E. Wilson St. • P.O. Box 717 Norwood • 952-467-3518
www.norwood-dental.com
OPEN: Monday-Thursday, 7am to 7pm, Fri. 7am to 1pm We accept all major credit cards and provide financing through Care Credit financing services. Most insurance plans accepted.
Norwood Dental would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Balance MN • December 2018 13
Combine & Save. Good things happen when you combine your home and auto insurance with State Farm®. Like saving an average $894* Plus, you’ll have a good neighbor like me to of $761.* help life go right. CALL ME TODAY. *Average annual household savings based on 2016 national survey of new policyholders who reported savings by switching to State Farm.
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1606205
Here’s your chance to win 2 dinner & Show tix to the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre Congrats to Oct. winner: Kandy Schular, Waconia The answers to the 5 questions below can be found by looking throughout the magazine. Just fill in the page numbers and mail-in the form to enter. Mail to:
balance MN, P.O. Box 273, St. Bonifacius, MN 55375
Entries must be received by Dec. 15, 2018. Only original entry forms will be accepted. ONE ENTRY PER HOUSEHOLD. One winner will be picked by random drawing this month.
Which page(s) have a picture of a star?
________
Which page(s) have a picture of a bell?
________
Which page(s) have a picture of a ribbon?
________
Which page(s) have a picture of a pine tree?
________
Which page(s) have a picture of a snowflake?
________
Name____________________________________________ Address__________________________________________
City/State/Zip______________________________________ Phone No.________________________________________
Or enter online at BalanceMNmag.com
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Balance MN is published by Blue Sky Community Media P.O. Box 273, St. Bonifacius, MN 55375. 612-867-2148. www.BalanceMNmag.com • tjcrea@blueskycommunitymedia.com
We offer personalized chiropractic care for the whole family. We enjoy taking our time with patients by doing muscle work prior to adjustments and giving you at home tools to help you get better faster!
Dr. Emily Bottoms Dr. Lindsey Engmark 9384 Oak Avenue, Waconia 952-442-3220 www.waconiafamilychiro.com Now offering Graston Technique Therapy 14 December, 2018 • Balance MN
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Balance MN • December 2018 15
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