To the Editor:
I wonder if you still remember me.  I just turned 95 years old and am doing pretty good for my age.  I remember writing the Senior Citizens Column for about 14 years in the Gazette.  My son Gary has to read me parts of the Gazette since my eye sight is so poor.  My, how Victoria has changed since I moved there in the 1930's and only left a few years ago.  Enclosed is a picture taken on my 95th birthday.
Love from Gladys Hartmann
Chaska, Minnesota

To the Editor:
Life is always a surprise, not what we want, but a surprise nonetheless.  My teenagers are back in school, although high school activities after school hours have been cancelled for the remainder of this week.  The sniper's capture has lifted a pall of apprehension from the shoulders of everyone living here.  Once again our lives are changed forever.  Nothing can ever be taken for granted, even stopping for a bite to eat.
Now, as I have my afternoon rest, I learn that your Senator Paul Wellstone has died in a crash along with members of his family.  Politics make no difference, and at the same times all the difference.  We pray for your state as it now must decide even more intimately its destiny.
On a better note, we have mailed a package to your home for Jenny and her husband.  We had a very wonderful time putting it together and hope it arrives in good condition.
I will go back to my tea and my book, turn off the media for a while, and remember you and Minnesota.  Take care of yourselves, enjoy the mystery of life, and think of us the next time you fix a pot of hot chocolate.
Much love,
Mary and Dan Henrich
Colonial Heights, Virginia

To the Editor:
Children in the state's foster care system, particularly older youth and sibling groups, need families.  Permanent families provide the love, stability, and guidance children need to grow into healthy productive adults.
In 2001, 541 children under state guardianship were adopted.  Today, 692 children are waiting for families to adopt them because they cannot safely return to their birth families.  Most children are 6 to 18 years old and are part of sibling groups who need to remain together when they are adopted.  Most of the children have special needs.
To celebrate the adoption of children from the foster care system in the past year, current and prospective adoptive parents and their families are invited to the fifth annual "Celebration Adoption:  A Circus of the Heart" event at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 3rd.
The free event will include games, clowns, prizes, pony rides, moon walk, petting zoo, reptile exhibit, face painting, and Minnesota Twins' and Timberwolves' mascots.  Throughout the afternoon, prospective adoptive parents will have the chance to ask questions of adoption experts and gather information on adopting children who are in the state's foster care system.
Permanent families give children in foster care what they need.  And we know there are parents out there for these child-ren.  We know there are aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and other relatives who will commit to them for a lifetime.
We know there are parents consider-ing adopting an infant who may be the perfect parents for an older child or sibling group.  Our job is to seek them out and give them the information and support they need.
Prospective adoptive parents who would like more information about adopt-ing a child under state guardianship may contact their county social service agency, the North American Council on Adopt-able Children at 651-644-3036 for infor-mation on how to become a foster or adoptive parent, or the Minnesota Adoption Resource Network at 612-861-7115 for a listing of children available for adoption.
Beth Voigt
Children's Services Communications
MN Dept. of Human Services
St. Paul, Minnesota