Victoria Auto Haus, which overlooks and commands the attention of the streaming Highway 5 traffic in Victoria, was completed in April of 2004, having broke ground in the spring of 2003.  Estimated construction cost was less than $1 million.  The building, whose owners are known as the Bavarian Land Company, appears to be a Swiss Chalet as one enters down-town from the west.  The Victoria Auto Haus was built on the site of the former Laketown Town Hall building.  It advertises itself as "A New Auto Buying Experience.  Tell Us What You Want … We Deliver!"  Next on the agenda of the Bavarian Land Company is the Rose Street Project, another classy building for retail business and offices in downtown Victoria.  The Rose Street Project is projected to be alive and open for business in the summer of 2005!

Mount Olivet Church-West Campus, which overlooks beautiful Schutz Lake in Victoria, broke ground in May, 2004, for a new sanctuary that will seat up to 300 people on the first level and house classrooms and nursery on the lower level.  Estimated construction cost is $4.5 million.  The building is easily expandable, when that times comes, and the exterior is the same Mankato stone that was used at the Minneapolis campus of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.  From ground to peak will be an estimated 80 feet in height.  The Victoria campus is projected to be alive and open for worship in the sumemr of 2005!

New St. Victoria Catholic Church, which overlooks secluded Church Lake in Vic-toria, broke ground in October, 2003, and was under construction for all of 2004.  The structure will seat about 1,000.  Estimated construction cost is $5.2 million.  The lower level will include several class-rooms and a choir room.  The remodeled and attached St. Victoria Parish Center contains new kitchen and dining space.  A large parking lot adjacent to the new church became avail-able for use in the fall of 2004.  The new church is projected to be alive and open for worship in April of 2005!

Victoria Elementary School, which overlooks serene Lake Waserman in Victoria, broke ground in June of 2004 for the newest, and fifth, elementary school to be built in District #112.  Estimated construction cost is $11.5 million.  Contrary to continual reports (reports outside the Victoria Gazette), this is NOT Victoria's first elementary school.  Prior to 1970, Victoria had two elementary schools, as a matter of fact.  One was Victoria Public; the other was Victoria Catholic.  Since both of those schools met their demise, timely or untimely makes no difference at this point, it is accurate to say that, today, Victoria is once again home to both public and private schools.  Victoria Elementary School is projected to be alive and open to 625 students in September of 2005!

City Administrator Steve Sarvi, who oversees the City of Victoria and all of its people and operations, spent most of 2004 in Kosovo, a province of Serbia, Yugoslavia's dominant republic, where Slobodan Milosevic terrorized and killed.  Steve was part of a peacekeeping force that included, among others, the United States, Great Britain, Italy, Germany, and France.  He protected churches and people and helped to teach about freedom and democracy.  His story continues to be told, including on the local cable TV network, which is sometimes caught in the editor's office.  Administrator Sarvi is projected to be alive and working full time for the City of Victoria in 2005!

Jenny and Christopher Norgaard of Northfield, MN, and many other young couples in Victoria and in the world, are signs of hope for the future as they begin families and raise their children with love and discipline to become genuine and unafraid seekers of all that is good and right.  Little Master Gunnar Ray Norgaard, first grandson of Allan and Sue Orsen of Victoria, was born at 4:04 p.m. on Tuesday, December 21^st, 2004, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.  He weighed 8 lbs. 0 ounces, measured 21 inches in length, and arrived complete with ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes.  Lovely Little Miss Addie Sue, our first granddaughter, will be two years old on January 21^st, 2005. The Norgaard family is projected to be alive with challenges and good cheer in 2005!

Emerald Crest, which lies adjacent to Bavaria Road in Victoria and is nestled among residential neighborhoods, is a Senior Care/Assisted Living/Memory Care Facility that broke ground in June of 2004.  Estimated construction cost is $1.2 million.  It is not built to look like an institution.  There are no hallways to get lost in.  Meals are served homestyle.  Nursing and therapy will be available.  There is a fenced in area and a walking area which provides some independence and safety.  There will be an enclosed courtyard area and garden beds.  Emerald Crest is projected to be alive and open for up to 30 elderly residents in June of 2005!

The Shores of Stieger Lake, which overlooks pristine Stieger Lake, is a 42-unit condominium complex in downtown Victoria.  Groundbreaking occurred in January of 2004.  Esti-mated construction cost is $7.8 million.  At least half of the 42 units are sold.  First occupants are moving into the attractive four-story complex in February, 2005.  Its 13-month construction time was right on target.  (Ribbon cutting ceremony for the nearby reconstructed and redesigned downtown bridge occurred in December of 2002.)  The Shores of Stieger Lake is projected to be alive to the public for the Spring Preview on February 12^th, 2005!

President George W. Bush, who visited Carver County in October of 2004 as part of his re-election campaign, came closer to Victoria, Minnesota, than any other President of the United States.  Each visitor to the Chanhassen park was required to walk through one of the dozen or so checkpoints where purses were opened, and magic wands checked every-body for evidence of terrorist or disruptive intention.  But the lines moved fast and nobody seemed annoyed by anything.  Bud Olson, the Sheriff of Carver County and the Sheriff's Mounted Patrol, helped keep things in order.  People arrived several hours in advance of the President's 3:15 p.m. speaking engagement.  Lots of fast food and porta potties were available.  It was a like a huge picnic with 20,000 people spread out on blankets and lawn chairs.  President George W. Bush is projected to be alive and energetic for America and freedom for another four years!