Shakopee Valley News - Entertainment - Comments

Yeah casino shows are really

jasonla — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:39:26 -0500

Yeah casino shows are really weird with their seating and the crowds i've been to a few i just got some oasis tickets and think it may be in a similar type of venue.

isnt that cruel putting them

PAT T LAND — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:31:31 -0500

isnt that cruel putting them goldfish in that DNA laced mudhole they call a swimming pool?

Supersize My Sonic!.....Cant

PAT T LAND — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:13:00 -0500

Supersize My Sonic!.....Cant wait for my arteries to slam shut.

I can't wait. So much for

arthurvandolay — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:31:48 -0500

I can't wait. So much for attempting to eat healthy.

MOPS program is also offered

Justmeagain — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:23:18 -0500

MOPS program is also offered at Friendship Church in Shakopee and their campus in Prior Lake. http://www.friendship-church.org/mops/#info (website for further information).

Wow, that makes sense. kinda

ndouglas — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:20:41 -0500

Wow, that makes sense. kinda sad in a way how the times have changed. As a musician myself, I know how under-funded, expensive, and time demanding any music program is. -From schools to hobby bands, It's always a huge sacrifice.

I do remember the marching bagpipe band in the parade. -That was neat! Oh, and the Shriners playing ukuleles...

The high school bands,

Justmeagain — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:59:26 -0500

The high school bands, including Shakopee has some issues with getting the marching band program going and sustaining. Two years ago, SHS tried, but three weeks into the marching band season (marching band is AFTER school is dismissed for summer) it was disbanded.

Reasons: not enough committment from the students. Giving up much of your summer to march in parades (not just Derby Days) and practice...just is difficult with family summer vacations and summer jobs.

Lack of section instrumentation..not enough of trumpets or percussion or whatever instruments, band must sound whole.

Lack of an band director for marching band. No one for the past two years (Shakopee). Again, there is a time commitment and giving up much of the summer away from their familys, etc. I believe it is a paid position, but not alot of pay for the stress and giving up summer.

Yes, I agree I miss the bands, but I'm thinking it is because of our climate. Most of our bands back in the northeast march in the fall/winter parades. Marching band was part of the everyday performances equal to pep band. The difference is most parades in Minnesota are held in the summer, and not during school year.

It's hard to criticize such

vemons49 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:09:39 -0500

It's hard to criticize such an event because so many people work so hard at making it a success. Thanks to all those folks ! However, the one thing that seem to be missing for me was bands. Music might have elevated the enthusiasm maybe. Why wasn't the Shakopee High School band in this community event? Surely enough kids could have been rounded up to participate?

I walked in the parade and I

Ruth Anne Maddox — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:32:54 -0500

I walked in the parade and I wasn't bored at all!

I, too, was wearing a tiara (I am the self-appointed reigning Miss Shakopee Valley News) because it just seemed like a very parade-like thing to do.

I waved (never above the tiara), tossed candy and lobbed tiny boxes of Nerds to all the adults who cried out for sweets. I even let my wit show, telling one overly excited man who exclaimed, "I love Nerds!" that "You are what you eat!" ;-)

Of course, I didn't know what to say to the group of teenagers that was letting the "yucky" candy pile up at their feet and who waved off our attempts to shower them with our sweets.

"We don't like that kind," one of the girls said.

Maybe you saw me then and thought I was bored when, actually, I was just a bit bewildered. I recovered quickly though and found some little ones who hadn't yet developed a discerning palate.

And, if I'd have known where you were sitting/standing/diving, I'd have tossed you your fill of Laffy Taffy, Runts and Nerds. You gotta help out a fella with a sweet tooth, gym or no gym!

I will say this,

ndouglas — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:24 -0500

I will say this, though.....

I watched the whole parade from my lawn on 4th Avenue and I noticed a lot of people marching in it seemed like they didn't really want to be there. Kids and adults alike, a lot of them seemed like they weren't having fun as in they were suckered into doing something they really didn't want to. Perhaps they were tired? Not I, a 34 year old man who was out on the street wrestling for candy with kids. -I was having the time of my life diving for Tootsie Rolls and Starburst Tropical Fruit Chews (artificially flavored, of course).

For example, when the Gold's Gym float was approaching; I got a candychucker's attention. He was a young 9-year old with freckles and a bowl-cut. Anyway, I just wanted him to throw some sugar my way and I blurted at him, "Hey, I love Gold's Gym...I'm a starvin' grown man" and held my empty hands out.

What does this kid do? He walks towards me and says, "Yeah, you look like you're starving...If you like Gold's Gym, then why don't you use it?" -Then, while I'm holding out my hands he lobs a fist full of candy at me. I stood in disbelief as wild children surrounded me, feasting on the candy scattering on the ground around my feet. -I think one of those kids stole my sole!

I stood there in what would normally be instant humiliation for any adult when a child calls them "fat". -But I stood tall and lean (well, I'm not fat but I know I have a nice body and I don't go to the gym. It's my broad shoulders and a diet of beef jerky and Red Bull (<-Why wern't they there handing out cans? I see their car driving around all year long! Oh well, they missed a good parade.) Regardless of the adults laughing behind me on the grassy boulevard. I'm sure they were the parents of these sugar-heathens! Wait, oh yeah...They were my neighbors and their kids. I remember now because I wanted to tell them to pack their crap up and take their chairs off my lawn. But in the excitement of all the candy-flinging; I had moved down too far and I was in front of their house. We all made up later that night with a chicken wing bbq cook-off.

I would never expect so much sarcasm from a young boy. But that's okay. I know where he works out! Nah, I really wasn't insulted by his comment. I was more impressed by his quick wit.

The Derby Day Parade is really a celebration of town spirit. It brings people together and we are reminded of the great community we live in. By living, I'm talking about in some way or form; we're all contributing to the best town on the Minnesota River. Watching the local businesses, service men, and organizations that all took part in the parade; it is a good feeling because these are the faces that make up our community.

Why were there so many floats from other communities and why were they all beauty queens, or whatever they are called? I don't think I've ever seen so many tieras before in one afternoon.

14 years ago didnt they

PAT T LAND — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:39:40 -0500

14 years ago didnt they CLEAR the way downtown for the new Bridge and bypass?..........Across the street from the Tole Bridge looking north, right on the corner were the corner bar once stood?... maybe under the walkway to levee Drive?.......I got a feeling......Nix the Court House. I was there an hour ago and almost got arrested!

Perhaps people should look

sfiecke — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:09:56 -0500

Perhaps people should look back 14 years ago in the newspaper archives for whatever happened that year. New buildings or structures perhaps? I would have been middle school at the time, so I have no idea what was happening in Shakopee then.

I think its Taped on the

PAT T LAND — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:32:21 -0500

I think its Taped on the base of the flag pole at the courthouse.......I could be wrong, but then again who knows

That's adorable. Cute photo!

Keighla Schmidt — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:14:41 -0500

That's adorable. Cute photo!

I only play golf if there's

Ruth Anne Maddox — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:06:08 -0500

I only play golf if there's a windmill or a clown on the course ... and if I finish under 100 I'm a happy camper!