Former Victoria girls and new babies gathered at the recent Lions Halloween party held at the Victoria Field House.  They are (l-r):  Denise (Hilgers) Stewart and Baby Kyle, Chaska; Nancy (Hilgers) Boyle and Baby Jack, Chanhassen; Jenny (Orsen) Norgaard and Miss Adeline, Northfield; Rita (Hilgers) Belka and son Jordan, Elk River.  Many other families gathered for this annual event sponsored by the Victoria Lions.  Thank you, Lions.  We appreciate all that you do for the community and its relatives.

Good luck, Rachel!  The Upper Great Lakes Regional 2004 Figure Skating Championships was held October 14-18 at the Bloomington Ice Gardens.  Rachel Kern, a 9th grader at Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria, finished sec-ond and qualified for the U.S. Junior National Championships.  Rachel will be competing along with 35 other athletes from across the country in Scottsdale, Arizona, this December, 2003.  Rachel resides in Victoria, MN. 
~Rod and Cyndi Kern, Victoria, Minnesota.

The American Heart Association distributed three automated external defib-rillators (AEDs) to Carver County in an effort to equip all first responders with the life-saving machines.  The Association purchased the AEDs partly with funds donated by the family of David H. Gustafson, a late Victoria resident.  The Waconia West Carver County Rotary Club matched the Gustafson memorial funds to buy the additional AEDs.
Gustafson, a Navy veteran and a career State Farm insurance agent, suddenly passed away in October of heart failure.  His widow Dorothy, daughter Susan, and son James wanted to do something positive with the memorial money received from family and friends.
The Chaska Police Department, the Victoria Fire Department, and the Carver County Sheriff's Department will all receive an AED for their first responders.  The only definitive treatment for sudden cardiac arrest is a defibrillation shock from an AED, which restores a normal heart rhythm.
The photo shows Susan Haub, daughter of David Gustafson, and Gary Sohns, Victoria Fire Chief, holding a plaque that thanks the Gustafson and Haub families.  ~Karen Einisman, American Heart Association.

Jeff Byrne, owner of Cabin Fever Sporting Goods in Victoria, recently contributed the raffle prize for our fundraiser to wipe our cystic fibrosis (CF).  Jeff said he knew that CF is a heinous killer and would be glad to help.  I asked him for a soft-sided tackle box and three lures and hooks that he thought would work.  When I went to pick up the prize for our raffle, the tackle box was heavy with hundreds of hooks and lures and jigs of every size and color.  We sold over $1,300 worth of tickets for the Cabin Fever prize.  Our thanks to Jeff and all the people at Cabin Fever for their outdoor gift and for helping to make the event successful.
   ~Sara Barsness, Cystic Fibrosis Fundraiser. 

Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria wants everyone in Victoria and outside of Victoria to know that they are most gratified to see so many of us at the high school's football games and hockey games and basketball games, etcetera.  Holy Family is happy to be known as the hometown high school and invites one and all to attend their other activities as well, including plays, concerts, speaker forums, and other programs.  Almost everything at Holy Family is open to the public.  Thank you, Holy Family, for this special invitation and thank you, also, for inviting the local editor to delicious lunch and conversation with (l-r), Al Bill, development director; Katie Burke, communications director, and Frank Miley, newly installed president.

Teens and leaders of Faith Lutheran Church, Victoria, with Pastor Arnold Lemke attended an International Youth Rally this past summer.  Here they are photo-graphed at YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado.  Some 2,500 were in attendance at the Denver area rally from the USA, Canada, Mexico, and other places.  The four-day rally included worship, Bible study, music, and activities.  WELS stands for Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. 

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