Introducing the Bandstand

Although the seed for a grandstand was planted long ago, the bandstand didn’t take shape until last year.  This is the bandstand project as it appeared on September 6th, 2015.

On October 2nd, 2015, the roofline took shape against Stieger Lake.

The Charlson Thun Community Bandstand is named for the main contributors, David and Mary Thun, residents since 1997 on Lake Minnetonka in Victoria, and Charlson Meadows, an adult retreat center on Lake Zumbra in Victoria.

Mary Hershberger Thun has been attending Victoria Concerts in the Park since they first began exactly ten years ago, when Bob and the Beachcombers played on the ball diamond at Lions Park in June 2006.  Mary, a city councilmember at the time, and Kristy Mock, Victoria Park and Rec Supervisor at the time, were the cheerleaders behind Concerts in the Park.  The band normally played on top of a hayrack.

The Hartman Brothers are involved in many ways on many projects, in Victoria and beyond Victoria.  Here, their main charge was the landscaping.

The bandstand was mainly completed that fall before winter set in.

The dedication, ribbon cutting, and grand opening occurred the following spring, on May 18th, 2016.  It began with singing The National Anthem, led by the brass of Victoria boy scout musicians and their scout leader.

The National Anthem always provides a solemn and moving time.

The weather couldn’t have been nicer — a perfect 75 degrees under a clear blue sky.

A couple hundred people showed up for the dedication and following concert.

Back to back.  The large building on the left is the new Victoria City Hall/Victoria Library.  The one on the right is the Lakeside Office/Retail building.  They both front on Stieger Lake Lane.

The Stieger Lake vista is part of the Charlson Thun Community Bandstand vista.

Obviously, I get carried away with the National Anthem.  That’s David Thun, husband of Mary, who stepped back from his emcee position at the mic.

Clapping occurs for the fine musicians and the patriotic spirit in the crowd.

The bandstand is located on property owned by the Three Rivers Park District.  That hurdle was overcome on December18th, 2014, with a land lease agreement between the City of Victoria and the Park District.

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District was also heavily involved and they required two major approvals.  (L-r)  Telly Mamayek (Director of Education and Communications, MCWD), Sherry White (President, MCWD Board of Managers), Darren Lochner (Education Manager, MCWD), Lars Erdahl (Administrator, MCWD), and Bill Olson of Victoria (Manager, MCWD Board of Managers).

When Telly Mamayek of the MCWD was at the mic, she announced that Mary Hershberger Thun and her project were being nominated for their 2016 Watershed Heroes Award.  Each year the MCWD recognizes community members who have made “significant contributions that improve the quality of water and thereby the quality of life in the District.”

The bandstand project included the creation of a giant rain garden located next to the bandstand (center of photo above).  Telly said this particular rain garden is significant in scope and function because it filters all of the runoff water from downtown Victoria before it gets to Stieger Lake.

Joined by Bill Olson, left, is Carver County Commissioner Randy Maluchnik, center, and Eric Evenson, Planning and Environmental Services Director, Winona County, former administrator of the MCWD.

It was such a beautiful evening and event and location, I could hardly put down my camera.

See the Victoria House restaurant in the background?  It’s the blue building.  Also fronting on Stieger Lake Lane is Vic’s Bar and Grill and the Enki Brewing Pub.  You can’t go wrong coming to Victoria.

When Mary Thun was at the mic, she thanked her husband David and many others who were instrumental in the success of her bandstand project.

The ribbon cutting ceremony involved (l-r) David Thun, Nancy Nelson (Charlson Meadows), Victoria Mayor Tom O’Connor, Mary Hershberger Thun, and Ann Mahnke (Victoria Parks and PW Director).

Ready, set, cut.

I caught the ribbon in mid air as it was cut, lucky photographer than I am.

Current Mayor Tom O’Connor has been part of the Victoria City Council since he first took office as a councilmember in January 2009 and was elected mayor four years later, serving as the Mayor of Victoria since January 2013.  He said is he proud of all the good things that have been happening in Victoria.

Those MCWD officials involved in the rain garden project (directly behind them, on the shores of Stieger Lake) were Bill Olson, Sherry White, Telly Mamayek, and Darren Lochner.

Mary Hershberger Thun has come to know well the people at the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.

In past years, dancing at the summer concerts occurred on grass or closed streets, next to the hayrack.  But now, since the bandstand project included a large paver area, there is a spacious dancefloor and it was used well the evening of the dedication …

 … including by Mary and David Thun.  The couple has been married for 27 years and they are in step.

As the Rockin’ Hollywoods entertained, their music was also enjoyed up the hill, on the patios and outdoor seating areas of Vic’s Bar and Grill, the Victoria House, and Enki Brewing.

David Thun visits in the audience, including with Joyce Burau and Margaret Hanson.

See anybody you know?

Hi, Nan Emmer and Kathy Paulsen.

Randy Miller, left, President of the Victoria Business Association, visited with Jeff Filipek, President of the Southwest Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Cindy Hagen.

Mary Hadaway, Father Bob White of St. Victoria, Nan, and Kathy.

A lone fisherman cast his reel from a small fishing boat in the distance on Stieger Lake, in the same painting as the bandstand.  Norman Rockwell would have been pleased.

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