St. John's Thanksgiving Dinner

The Rev. Greg Snow invites the community to St. John's annual Thanksgiving dinner.

Source: http://www.chaskaherald.com

Important Announcement from "The Landing"

Source: http://www.chaskaherald.com

Amazing Act of Kindness foir Thanksgiving Goes Viral!

A young man brought joy to the lives of strangers when he did something so simple and kind for them - he bought their groceries. Just watch their thankful reactions, it's heartwarming.




Source: http://www.godvine.com

5 tips to maximize Black Friday card rewards

Coming up with a strategy now can help you match cards with purchases to get the most rewards for your shopping dollars.

1. Take stock of your rewards cards. 
A lot of Americans have multiple rewards credit cards, but if you want to save the most money on Black Friday, you have to use the right one. This means finding the card in your wallet that will deliver the most cash back, points or miles for purchases at the stores where you will be shopping. This can be tricky if you have a card that offers bonus categories of spending that change each quarter.

2. Watch out for limits on rewards. 
Many reward credits offer generous rewards, but limit it at a certain amount of spending each quarter or each year. For example, the 5% cash-back bonuses on the Chase Freedom and Discover It cards are only valid on a cardholder's first $1,500 of spending each quarter, while the Citi Dividend Platinum Select card limits 5% cash-back bonuses to $6,000 of spending in a calendar year. After those limits are reached, all purchases earn only 1% cash back.

3. Avoid paying interest. 
Black Friday is all about saving money, but those who carry a balance on their credit card will have trouble realizing any benefit once interest charges are added. Those who pay off their cards every month should figure out ahead of time exactly how much they can afford to spend on Black Friday (and Cyber Monday) and stick to that limit.

4. Research store cards ahead of time. 
One of the reasons Black Friday sales can be so generous is that retailers are counting on making profits off of other products, such as their store credit cards. The card that are offered at the checkout counter sometimes feature poor terms, high interest rates and negligible rewards.

5. Don't get too caught up. 
The most important piece of advice for credit card users is not to get overwhelmed by the hype on Black Friday. Credit cards are more secure than other methods of payment and quite convenient, plus we don't normally see the bill for a few weeks. Therefore, it can too be easy to rationalize a questionable purchase. Try to remember that 70% off of an unnecessary purchase is still a waste of money.


Source: http://money.msn.com

How to Choose Fonts For Your Website - 4 Common Mistakes To Avoid

Here are some common mistakes that solopreneurs make when choosing fonts for their websites, and what you can do to avoid them.

1. Too Many Fonts.

Sometimes when you're trying to emphasize different pieces of your content it can be tempting to use a special font to draw attention. The problem is that the more fonts you have on a page the "messier" it looks.
So when you're deciding on fonts to use just pick two. Typically a "sans serif" font for regular text and a "serif" font for the headings is best, though you don't have to stick to that rule.
And for those of you that are really new to this whole font thing like I was, sans serif means there's not little doohicky on the ends of the letters and they are more block-like (like the font you're reading now). Serif's have the little doohicky so they look a little fancier which makes them great for headlines, for an example look at Georgia - it's my personal favorite.
And yes, doohicky is a technical term.

2. Unreadable Fonts.
Fancy isn't always better, what may look beautifully whimsical to you might be difficult for your visitor to read. Make sure the fonts you're using for your content is clear and easy to read. As in, no hand written or scripty/flowy fonts.
Save these for a logo or graphical element that is created by a designer that can make sure they're done right and are readable.

3. Fonts That Aren't "Web Safe".
Something that not a lot of solopreneurs realize is that there is a limited selection of fonts you can use on your website and have them display the same across all browsers and devices.
The reason is that your computer can only display the fonts that it has installed locally, so if you have a Mac and your visitor has a PC the fonts that are locally available are different so your website may display differently.
There are two ways to ensure your fonts display the same way for everyone:
A. Use " Web Safe Fonts " which are fonts that are universal to all devices.
B. Install the font to your website host server - this one is a bit more tricky so you'll want to talk to your website developer.
Google Fonts offers a wide range of free fonts you can use on your website (though just to note they can slow down your site so I recommend only using them for your headings and use a web safe font for your regular text).
The other option is to purchase a web version of a font. So if you have a favorite font you use in your word processing software do a quick search online to see if it's available as a web font. Many times they are available for a flat fee or a monthly subscription.

4. Color on Color.
So this isn't really a "font" issue but I feel it falls into the same category as it does relate to the text on your site. Be careful about putting colored text onto a colored background, it can spell disaster for many if you aren't well versed in color theory and what colors pop against each other.
Typically color on color is not easy to read especially when you factor in that sometimes colors display differently on different monitors.
If you follow these simple rules when choosing fonts for your website it will definitely give you a more polished and put together look, as well as still allow you to infuse a personality in a very subtle way.

Source: http://biznik.com

Potentially Fatal ‘Knockout’ Game Targeting Strangers May Be Spreading

A terrifying new ‘game’ that’s already caused deaths in Syracuse, St. Louis and New Jersey is sweeping the nation, and it preys upon unsuspecting people walking the streets, anywhere.

A recent report from New York-based CBS 2 shed light on the growing trend, displaying unsettling footage of teens participating in this game – which goes by the name ‘Knockout’ – and involves randomly targeting passersby, with the ultimate goal being to knock them out with one punch as they walk by.

One victim shown in the footage was 46-year-old Ralph Santiago of Hoboken, N.J., who was found dead with his neck broken and head lodged between iron fence posts, according to NJ.com.

Video surveillance shows Santiago walking in an alleyway in broad daylight, and just as he’s about to pass a pack of teenagers, one launches the fatal, knockout blow.

And what’s the point?

“For the fun of it,” one teen said in the video.

“They just want to see if you got enough strength to knock somebody out,” said another.

D.C. has not been spared of this violent trend.

One local woman, who was attacked on 14th Street NW in Columbia Heights on Thursday, tells DCist.com she believes to have been a target of this game, as a group of around eight males on bikes came up behind her, with one hitting her in the head. According to the report, police categorized the attack as “simple assault.”

The woman tells the publication she believes others in the area should be on the lookout for similar types of attacks.

Source: http://cbslocal.com

Falling Leaves Reveal Mark of the Wasp

Now that the leaves have fallen from the trees, anyone who has gone for a walk on these crisps autumn days no doubt has seen a large gray object hanging in the trees. It is usually larger than a football and similarly shaped. So what are these things? They are the nests of the bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata).

Bald-faced hornets are a large, North American, stinging insect in the yellowjacket genus. It is actually not a hornet at all, but rather a type of wasp. The adults are about .75 to 1 inch long. It is easily identified by its white face, which gives rise to the common name. It also has three white stripes on the end of its abdomen. Other than that it is all black.

Each spring the female, also known as the queen, starts a new colony. She was born and mated the previous fall. She chooses a location for the nest, usually at the tip of a sturdy branch, and begins constructing the nest. As she does, she lays eggs inside the small nest and feeds the first group of larva. These will grow and become her workers, which are infertile females that only maintain the nest and care for the young. The more workers, the faster the nest expands, allowing the queen to lay more eggs and produce more workers.

The workers go out and forage for small amounts of wood that they chew up. Mixing the chewed wood with their own saliva, they make a wet papery paste that they spread around with their jaws. They form and shape the wet paste with their legs, and when it dries it forms the papery structure. This continues all summer, slowly building layer after layer until full size at the end of summer.

Each layer inside the nest consists of many egg chambers. The queen deposits an egg in each chamber. The eggs hatch and a grub-like larva emerges. After pupating (resting) for several days, the larva changes into the adult wasp. The job of some of the workers is to tend to the young exclusively. The job of others is to guard the nest, while others gather food. They eat tree sap, along with fruit, particularly apples. They also hunt down other insects, chewing them up and feeding them to the developing larva back in the nest.

Near the end of summer the queen lays special eggs that produce male drones and new queens. These males and females fly off together to mate. The females will be the only ones to survive the winter. The males will die with the first frosts.

As winter approaches the hives are abandoned and all the workers die. One or two cold nights below freezing and all the occupants will perish. The newly fertilized females will over-winter underground, under a log, inside a dead tree or other protected places. In the spring they will emerge and start the process all over again.

So if you are seeing one of these large nests in a tree at this time of year, most likely it is empty and will not be used next year. Raccoons, skunks and even squirrels will tear into these nests to eat any remaining larva. Until next time...

Source: http://www.chaskaherald.com

Dealing with Financing in Real Estate

As the events of the last few years in the real estate industry show, people forget about the tremendous financial responsibility of purchasing a home at their peril. Here are a few tips for dealing with the dollar signs so that you can take down that “for sale” sign on your new home.

Get pre-approved. Sub-primes may be history, but you’ll probably still be shown homes you can’t actually afford. By getting pre-approved as a buyer, you can save yourself the grief of looking at houses you can’t afford. You can also put yourself in a better position to make a serious offer when you do find the right house. Unlike pre-qualification, which is based on a cursory review of your finances, pre-approval from a lender is based on your actual income, debt and credit history. By doing a thorough analysis of your actual spending power, you’ll be less likely to get in over your head.

Choose your mortgage carefully. Used to be the emphasis when it came to mortgages was on paying them off as soon as possible. Today, the debt the average person will accumulate due to credit cards, student loans, etc. means it’s better to opt for the 30-year mortgage instead of the 15-year. This way, you have a lower monthly payment, with the option of paying an additional principal when money is good. Additionally, when picking a mortgage, you usually have the option of paying additional points (a portion of the interest that you pay at closing) in exchange for a lower interest rate. If you plan to stay in the house for a long time—and given the current real estate market, you should—taking the points will save you money.

Do your homework before bidding. Before you make an offer on a home, do some research on the sales trends of similar homes in the neighborhood with sites like Zillow. Consider especially sales of similar homes in the last three months. For instance, if homes have recently sold for 5 percent less than the asking price, your opening bid should probably be about 8 to 10 percent lower than what the seller is asking.

http://www.advisorswest.com

Facebook Introduces Mobile Video Ads

Facebook announced recently it will introduce video ads on its mobile iPhone and Android apps. For now, that advertising service will be marketed primarily to other app developers. Facebook mobile video ads might show a video demonstrating how another application works, for example.
In an announcement on the official Facebook Developer Blog, software engineer Radu Margarint wrote:

Potential customers will be able to click play to watch a video featuring your mobile app before installing the app. Video creative has proven to be an effective way to drive engagement in News Feed, and we look forward to helping developers use their video creative to find new app installs.

Advertisers will bid for the new video ads on a cost per action basis. This means advertisers will pay only when a customer downloads and installs their app.
It’s uncertain how this bidding concept might eventually apply to other products and services. However, the new feature suggests Facebook is actively pushing toward more ad revenue from its mobile presence.

Source: http://smallbiztrends.com

How do you handle bad online reviews?

It's not uncommon to receive a few negative reviews, but what's the best way to handle it?

 Here's what you don't want to do: Call online reviewers punks, trash or other expletives on your company Facebook page like the owners of Amy's Baking Company did last spring. Their outrageous behavior became a story in and of itself -- and escalated the negative feedback far beyond where it started.

 While most business owners probably aren't tempted to call commenters "fat, disgusting losers" and threaten legal action, it's easy to make a misstep. Here are some tips on how to respond to negative reviews.

1. Don't post fake positive reviews

"Fake reviews happen everywhere," says Giorgos Zervas, a Boston University marketing professor who analyzed reviews of thousands of Boston restaurants. About 80% of the restaurants had at least one "filtered" review, which means Yelp (YELP) software found it suspicious. "[It] might be real or it might be fake," he says. "But Yelp finds it suspicious enough to avoid publishing it."

2. Address negative feedback personally -- but carefully

Lockbusters, a New York City locksmith, is approached often by companies offering to craft reviews, according to owner Jay Sofer.

He turns them down, preferring to connect with negative reviewers personally. In a phone call or email, he asks questions, lets them vent and if the company didn't meet expectations, offers a discount or even a refund.

3. Move conversations offline

When it comes to Facebook (FB, Fortune 500) and Twitter vents, it's often more productive to have conversations in private.

"It gives us the flexibility to find the best solution without multiple fans jumping into the conversation or making the customer feel like we've forgotten about them," says Donna Faust, Hayneedle's director of brand management. Once the problem is solved, the company asks the customer to write a follow-up post.

 4. Be proactive

Houston-based Blinds.com takes a more proactive approach. The company sends customers an email asking how they did -- hopefully catching complaints before a person vents publicly. The positive feedback has landed in marketing campaigns, and the gripes have helped identify problems at the company, says Daniel Cotlar, the chief marketing officer.

"We've uncovered a lot of stuff that is broken," says Cotlar, such as software glitches, vendor problems, misleading product images or customer service holes. "For every customer who will tell you something is wrong, there are 10 people who don't bother. So you're fortunate to get that information."

Source: http://money.cnn.com

Chaska Chiropractors Share Motivational Tips

Most of us are not short on good reasons to skip exercise. We may be ill, over-worked, caring for children or even juggling multiple responsibilities like work and school but making time to exercise regularly can give you the energy and good health you need to get those same responsibilities taken care of.

So, how can you stay motivated to stay active and committed to an active lifestyle?

Tweak Your Mindset. Quite often, making physical changes starts with making mental changes. If you consider exercise a sacrifice or time thief then you probably need to make a list of the benefits of exercise. Think more energy, longer life, less back pain or lowering your blood pressure. The blessings of exercise could go on and on. For each of us, our physical challenges vary but the benefits are all overwhelmingly positive and similar.

Set A Goal. Whether it be to drop a few pounds, run a race, run a longer race or fit into those smaller jeans-write something down and begin working toward it. Set smaller goals along the way to boost your confidence and maintain your motivation. You'll be surprised at how great these seemingly small goals will make you feel.

Schedule Time For Exercise. Don't just wait for the perfect combination of energy and opportunity to fall into your lap, make it happen. Scheduling time for exercise is as important as any other appointment. Whether you need to find a gym that offers childcare, get up early or workout with the night owls, make a time that's your time to devote to your physical fitness. You are important and being able to maintain an active lifestyle is critical.

Chiropractors acknowledge that regular exercise can help with pain and preventative care and can help you reach weight loss goals and health goals. Working in conjunction with your chiropractic specialist is a good way to establish specific goals for health and fitness short-term and long-term.

Source: http://www.healthsourceofchaska.com

Own a Small Business? Increase Your Sales by Doing This

Ever wonder about the benefits of accepting card payments at your business? Learn why small business owners are going from "cash-only" to "paperless."

Pride of Chaska

The City of Chaska, the County Seat of Carver County was established in 1851 and is located 30
minutes SW of the Twin Cities on the Minnesota River. Historic Downtown Chaska is rich in shopping opportunities with charming architecture much of which was built with Chaska Brick made in Chaska. Chaska possesses a strong sense of community, an active business community, a progressive school district, a strong faith community and a high quality of life. Many parks and trails are located in the city limits and you won't want to miss the historic Chaska City Square Park which hosts city celebrations, musical events and community activities.


As you move North through town, you can visit the Chaska Commons business district which offers many choices to eat and shop. If golfing is an interest, visit one of America's top private golf courses, Hazeltine National Golf Club as well as Chaska's own Chaska Town Course -- among one of the best public courses in the country. Both courses hosted the U.S. Amateur in 2006.

Chaska offers diverse opportunities for everyone. During the summer you will find easy access to local lakes and festivals like the Taste of Chaska and River City Days and Amateur Baseball at Historic Chaska Athletic Park. Community gatherings occur throughout the year and you will find many program opportunities for all ages and interests at Chaska's Community Center again one of the best in the country.

Chaska is a very proud community -- Proud of its long history and heritage as a small town with a strong sense of community and community values. As it has grown to a population of 25,000 it has retained these same small town values and attributes. Visit us or call us home and experience this all for yourself and your family.

Source: http://www.prideofchaska.com