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The Victoria Lions We Serve.

Weddings, Proms, All Formal Occasions

Waconia 952-442-6383

Crossroads Medical Centers, P.A.

Chaska 448-2050

Shakopee 496-6700 Prior Lake 447-1700

St. Bonifacius * 952-446-1338

Holy Family Catholic High School

Victoria * 952-443-4659

Shake a Rake. Here’s a recent picture of our 4H Pleasant Valley 4H Club group that raked lawns for some folks in Victoria for our annual Shake a Rake this fall. This is a community service project that the club started nine years ago. It was a great day and everyone was blessed. Mrs. William Kaufhold sent us some pictures, too, which I’ll include for you to look at. Could you pick the one that works best? They were taken at the Kaufhold home in Victoria.

Besides our kids, James and Nathaniel, there were other Victoria kids involved.

The club has moved from Waconia to Victoria in hopes of having more residents that need their service. The members rake leaves for Victoria residents that cannot or should not rake their own yards. Members were able to enjoy our great fall weather while helping area residents with their yards. The leaves are then recycled into compost.

Carol Vadnais

Victoria, Minnesota

EDITOR’S NOTE: Colette Nicoletta, an art teacher at the Victoria Elementary School in Victoria, launches a new children’s book on December 20th. I asked her for some additional information.

What class/grades do you teach at Victoria Elementary? “I teach art for kindergarten through fifth grade.”

How long have you taught in Victoria? “I’ve taught in Victoria for three complete years -- I helped open the school -- and this is my fourth year.”

What other positions/work are in your background? “I taught Art at the Freshman Center in Chaska for one year. I taught Middle School Art in Michigan. I’ve been a designer for Steelcase in Michigan, and I’ve been a textile designer in New York.”

Where were you born and raised? “I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and raised in Pennsylvania.”

How long have you lived in Chanhassen? “My family has lived in Chanhassen for four years and before that in Plymouth, Minnesota.”

How old are you children? “Allison is 7 and Emily is 5.”

What do your children say about the book? “They helped create it. One summer day, while I was pruning some lilac bushes in the garden, I was surprised to find a tree frog on my forehead. I called out to my daughters so they could come to see it. As soon as the frog jumped for cover, the two girls began playing a game where they decided which animals would end up where, on their bodies. Thus, the game created the story.”

Which school do they attend? “They attend Victoria Elementary School.”

Will your book be in the school libraries here? “Yes. By the beginning of 2009 it will be in local libraries.”

Is it available at local book stores? “On December 20th it is available at Excelsior Bay Books in Excelsior. As it becomes available in other stores, people can go to www.frogonmyforehead.com and look under “Buy the Book.” You can also buy it online at that website.”

Working Side By Side. Students at St. Joseph Catholic School in Waconia took part in their annual service marathon this fall. Students, teachers and parent chaperones enjoyed the beautiful fall weather raking lawns throughout Waconia, Victoria, and St. Bonifacius. The theme for this year was “Working Side By Side.”

(L-r): Shelby Read, Anna Reichenberger, Frank Heenie, Jack Thuli, Delaney Devins, Jared Devins, Nick Heenie, Hannah Thurman, Mari Rathke, Audra Thurman, Colton Schrempp, Ben Thew, Connor Schrempp, Eli Devins, and Julie Devins.

Laura Thompson and Lisa Whitaker

St. Joseph’s School

Waconia, Minnesota

FIRE Students braved the 20-degree windchill in St. Cloud on Saturday, November 8th, to show support for their team from Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria. That’s (l-r) Dan Renfro of Chaska, Sean Powers of Minnetonka, Ryan Menden of Shakopee, and Colin Atkinson of Victoria.

Above: Colin King of Chaskka gives a strong stiff arm to a defender after hauling in a 49-yard pass from Zack Rockers of Shorewood.

Patrick Boughton

Sports Information Director, HFCHS

Victoria, Minnesota

Dance Light by Carol McIntyre displays a more realistic interpretation in “Capturing Nature’s Beauty” at the MN Landscape Arboretum. First Sign of Fall by Karen Knutson mixes realism with the abstract in an interpretation of the same subject as above -- an Arboretum crabapple tree.

Barb DeGroot

PR Specialist

MN Landscape Arboretum

Chanhassen, Minnesota