Welcome to Victoria!  Parker Tannin opened for business in the Notermann Building in downtown Victoria on Monday, April 6th, 2007.  Ryan Dussault, who lives on the city limits of the Victoria-Chaska border, named the establishment in honor of his three sons -- Parker, 14 months; Tanner, 6 years; and Colin, 3 years - as well as the obvious wine relationships to tannins and even Robert Parker, influential wine advocate and critic.
Ryan Dussault, on the far left, is photographed here with three Victoria shop managers (l-r) Steve Rusch, Jimmy Gollombecki, and Jeff Schaller.  Originally from Burlington, Wisconsin, Ryan also coaches tennis at Lifetime Fitness in Eden Prairie, and he is a personal coach for professional Minnesota tennis player Eric Butorac.
How did Ryan come to open a wine shop in Victoria?  "I was thinking about a new kind of shop with ambience, that would be more of a destination place, and I was driving through Victoria, a cute town, and I thought this would be the place for my wine shop," he replied.
"All of our wine is hand selected," said Ryan.  "It's all exceptional wine.  That does not mean it needs a big price.  The wines here range from $9.99 to $600 a bottle.  We cover the whole spectrum.  We've got Spanish, Italian, and French wine.  Yes, we've got a wonderful assortment of California wine, and Washington and Oregon are well represented."
There is also a full spectrum of beers and liquors for sale at Parker Tannin.  "And we've already placed ten special orders for people," said Ryan.  "We like to accommodate our customers."  Grand Opening for the establishment, with beer and wine tastings, is the weekend of May 4^th and 5^th.  ~the Editor

Congratulations, Pastor Frank Jones.  Three Rivers Park District is proud to award Franklin C. Jones of Victoria a 2007 Distinguished Volunteer Service Award.  Frank is being honored for his outstanding service as a bird banding and program volunteer at Lowry Nature Center in Carver Park Reserve in Victoria.
Frank has devoted his time to the Park District in a number of ways throughout these past 12 years.  As a longstanding bird banding volunteer, he has ob-tained a high level of proficiency.  He has also been invaluable as an informal liaison between the local community and the Park District. 
He has donated more than 609 hours to volun-teering at the Park District since 1995, including 35 hours last year.  In addition, Frank volunteers with Boy Scouts of America and Carver County Public Health Department, and serves on the Board of Directors for Southern Valley Alliance for Battered Women and the Board of Directors of Moravian Care Ministries Nursing Homes Assisted Living Facility.  He is also the pastor at Lake Auburn Moravian Church in Victoria.
"I enjoy the personal satisfaction of volunteer-ing," said Pastor Frank.  "I would be hard put to label any one experience as special.  Every experience of sharing what I've learned is a standout favorite.  You always get more than you give with volunteering.  What you learn as a volunteer in Three Rivers Park District enriches many other experiences as well."
Beth Johnson and Tom Knisely
Three Rivers Park District

International Motto.  Victoria Lion Loane Burau, left, and Victoria Lion Steve Olson, right, shared the motto, "We Serve," during a recent trip to Budapest, Hungary.
Joyce Burau
Victoria, Minnesota

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