To the Editor:
We certainly continue to enjoy the Gazette, Sue.  What a good job you do with that.  It does seem we know fewer and fewer people but it is good to keep up with the happenings in Victoria.  I also enjoy keeping up with your family through your web site photos.
Dottie Rupp
Tampa, Florida

To the Editor:
Our city administrator, Steve Sarvi, is a member of the National Guard and has been called up for active duty to serve as a member of the peacekeeping force in Kosovo.  He will be on active duty for one year and his tour of duty began in October.
Steve spent the first three months in Georgia training for the assignment, and after a Christmas leave with his family back in Minnesota, he will ship off to Germany for a month of additional train-ing before going to Kosovo.  We wish him a safe journey and thank him for serving our country.  We look forward to his return in the fall.
We do not intend to hire a temporary replacement for Steve while he is on active duty.  We have reassigned his re-
sponsibilities as much as possible, but we expect the next year will be a challenge for the city staff.
Mark Kaltsas, our planning and com-munity development director, has been made acting administrator in Steve's absence.  Some of Mark's planning responsibilities will be assigned to Lisa Krause, our planner.
We have also hired an administrative assistant to help fill the gap.  We know we will not be able to service our residents as well as we would like, but we ask your patience when it takes longer to respond to your requests.
We have to be thankful there are people like Steve who volunteer to be in the reserves; the least we can do is be patient and understanding toward the staff while he is on duty
Sincerely,
Jerry Bohn, Mayor
City of Victoria
Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:
Happy New Year!  I hope that you had an enjoyable holiday season.
The 2004 legislative session is just around the corner.  We start on February 2nd for what I hope will be a relatively short session.
It is truly an honor to serve in the House of Representatives.  I was priv-ileged to be a part of the many accom-plishments of the 2003 legislative session -- most notably erasing a $4.6 billion deficit without raising taxes.
We also passed positive education reforms, overhauled our welfare system, and passed an $800 million highway fund-ing package aimed at adding capacity to our road system and reducing congestion.
I also carried legislation to allow Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia to equip a 20-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit, the first time in over 20 years that a hospital in the seven-county metro area has received an exemption from Minneso-ta's hospital-bed moratorium.
Although I believe we accomplished many good things last year, there is still much to be done.  That is why I have decided to run for re-election.  As you know it takes a lot of money to communi-cate with my constituents and run a successful campaign and I need your help.  I thank you in advance for your continued support.  It is truly appreciated.
Warmest regards,
State Representative Paul Kohls
P.O. Box 475
Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:
Attention, Senior Citizens!  Once again, Lutheran Social Services, along with Carver County Community Health Services, is pleased to announce that the Healthy Living Education Series for Seniors grant has been refunded for the year of 2004.   
Funding for these programs through-out Carver County is provided by the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging.
What does this mean for Senior Citizens throughout Carver County?  Under one portion of the grant, we will be providing low or no cost health and wellness seminars and/or screenings twice per month at various locations in each of the targeted communities.
These communities include Victoria/
Chanhassen, Watertown, Waconia, Norwood Young America and Chaska.
In addition to the seminars, a Walk-ing Club has been started in each of the communities.  The Walking Club for 2004 will be new and improved.  The Walking Clubs are sponsored in part by the Chaska Community Center, Safari Island Com-munity Center, and CART Transportation.
Learn more about this grant and other grant programming and senior services in your area by attending the "2004 Healthy Living Education Series for Seniors Open House" event in your community.
These open houses not only give you the chance to learn more about the Healthy Living Series grant but to learn about grant programming from other agencies that is specifically for seniors and caregivers.
At each of the open houses we have also invited our local hosting partners so you can become aware of the partnerships that we have formed and of the services that they provide as well.
Please feel free to come to any of the open houses and enjoy complimentary refreshments while you gather your infor-mation.  A door prize will be given away at the end of each open house.
*Victoria/Chanhassen, Monday, January 12th, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Chan Senior Center, 7700 Market Blvd., Chan.
*Watertown, Tuesday, January 20th, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Watertown City Hall, Conf. B, 309 Lewis Ave., Watertown.
*Waconia, Wednesday, January 21st, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Safari Island Commu-nity Center, 1600 Community Drive, Waconia.
*Chaska, Thursday, January 22nd, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Chaska Com-munity Center Community Room.
*Norwood Young America, Friday, January 23rd, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Peace Villa Apartments, 308 N. Faxon Rd., Norwood.
For any questions, call me, Denise Sorenson, at 651-238-2183.  Don't miss out on these fun, free, and educational opportunities in your community.
Denise Sorenson
Lutheran Social Service
St. Paul, Minnesota