To the Editor:
Hi, Sue.  I don't want to be ungrate-ful, but when you took my picture at the Concert in the Park event this summer and put it in the Gazette, you called me "Squeaky" the Clown in the paper instead of "Sneaky" the Clown.  I still appreciate the press.  Thank you.
Monique/Miles of Smiles
Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:
Haven't had time to read the entire Gazette yet (I like to take the time to really enjoy it), but did read your editorial with tears in my eyes regarding your beautiful Jenny and mother/daughter relationship.  You are both precious gems.  There's a proverb someplace when I can take the time to look it up.  (I'm really not as busy as I'm making it sound.)
I do want to thank you for the lovely thought and effort of bringing me a break-able object from as far away as Italy.  I love it.  I appreciate so much the lovely addition to my mask collection.  Many thanks.  I want to hear more about your trip.
Jan Olinger
Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:
We wish to express our deepest grati-tude to all our friends and neighbors for flowers, food, cards of sympathy, and memorials sent at the time of the loss of our husband and father Leo F. Schneider.  A special thanks to the Ridgeview Medical Staff, ICU nurses, Dr. Hoggarth, Fr. Larry Blake, Fr. Conran Schneider, Fr. Bob White, Fr. Phil Schotsco, and the Johnson Funeral Home. 
It is such a comfort to know so many people share our loss.
The Leo Schneider family

To the Editor:
Mary Chessmar, who wrote you in the October issue of the Gazette, may have to look elsewhere for her ancestors.  The Ches Mar farm on Highway 41 near Excelsior was named after Chester and Margaret Johnson.
Lenny Van
Via email

To the Editor:
Enclosed is a check and also thanks for a great job and match to my brother Dan Schwalbe.  If you are ever in the Tower, MN, area, give me a call and I'll buy lunch on the beautiful shores of Lake Vermillion.
Carol Pratt
Mounds View, Minnesota

To the Editor:
I just looked at last month's ad in the Victoria Gazette and it was much bigger than I expected.  Great value for the money.  Thanks again.
Bonnie Carlson/SouthWest Transit
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

To the Editor:
In the October 2006 issue of the Gazette, a brief article appeared in the City Scoop pages about problems at the recent Victoria Volksfest.  Since I had asked the police to elaborate on the Volksfest, I thought it would be helpful to our residents to follow up with additional information on the Chamber's 2006 Volksfest.
On October 10^th, a group of city officials, including Victoria's "Town Cop" Erick Boder, the Chamber's Executive Director, and a member of the Chamber's Board of Directors, met to plan how next year's Volksfest could be even better.  I participated in the meeting because I currently serve as the Victoria City Council's liaison to the Chamber of Commerce.
While there were two incidents relat-ing to alcohol and drugs that evening of Saturday, September 23^rd, neither incident occurred because of Volksfest.  The City and the Chamber have pledged to work together to ensure that appropriate barriers are established to prohibit activities that are unlawful or could be harmful to Volksfest participants.
The Chamber will also be working closely with our town top and city officials to ensure that there is adequate police presence, as well as Chamber members, to help contain Volksfest activities. 
Both the City and the Chamber pledged to meet on an ongoing basis as soon as the appropriate permits are issued for next year's event.  These collaborative meetings will help make sure that "all bases are covered."
This was Volksfest's second year.  As the festival grows, the Chamber and the City will continue to work together to pro-vide a festival that is designed to show-case downtown businesses as well as provide an opportunity for citizens to come together and enjoy the festivities.
This year, Volksfest was pleased to have more vendors, including Macken-thun's Meat and Deli Shop, which will be locating at the Notermann Building in Victoria in March, 2007, as well as over 50 (double the number of last year) collectable cars for people to see and enjoy.
Other "during the day" activities also had increased participation, and over 75 prizes were given away.  Go to www.victoria-chamber.org to see who the lucky winners were.  Unfortunately, for the second year in a row, we experienced the cool September rains and winds, which lowered the evening attendance.
Click here to continue Mary Thun's letter.