A new year, a new look

By Mary Hershberger Thun

On Thursday, Dec. 11, Victoria’s City Council approved the 2009 final
tax levy for the city of Victoria in
the amount of $4,362,480. The overall
budget increase in Victoria from
2008 to 2009 will be 5.41 percent, which translates into an approximately
$8.93/year increase on an average home, based on a city tax rate of 37.096
percent. This is slightly lower than the 2008 rate of 37.152 percent. The council was very
conservative in approving our budget for 2009. The slight increase is because of
the following:

Baby boomers have ridden a wave of achievement and success all the way to the beach -- where they are being deposited unceremoniously on the sand of a sinking economy. Immediately, they are being pulled back out to sea by an age riptide. What happens next is really up to them. They are the ones, currently ages 45 to 62, who will either be prepared for advancing age, or not.

 December 13 is one of the shortest days of the winter, and according to the old style Julian Calendar, it was. In recognition of that, St. Lucia is a popular occasion in Sweden celebrated in families and in communities.

Victoria is in the midst of changes that fairly boggle the mind. The most talked about change is the new Fresh Season Market. Everyone I’ve spoken to is absolutely thrilled to have this particular market come to town. For those who are concerned that the prices may a little higher than Cub, I suggest that the money saved in gasoline and time will far outweigh any expense.

By Linda McNulty

 By Randy Maluchnik

Pushing back old age will have effect on retirement, housing, and healthcare

By Linda McNulty