Rember me for the rest of the winter and help keep me clear.

The Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau celebrated the newly remodeled Kwik Trip, Inc. Located at 2401 Crest View Drive, Kwik Trip, Inc. underwent at 12,000 square foot renovation that lasted 5 months.  Kwik Trip, Inc. is a Wisconsin based company headquartered out of La Crosse Wisconsin. The Hudson store provides gasoline, car wash, fresh bakery goods, milk, snacks, hot sandwiches, fresh coffee, tourism information and other items to customers every day. Present for the ribbon cutting, were from left, Chamber Ambassadors Pete Keskey, Dawn Marquart, and Jenny Olson, Chamber President Kim Heinemann, Assistant Store Leader Ben Lenzen, Chamber Ambassador Ron Revere, Store Leader Tom Vierling, and Chamber Ambassadors Bjorn Nesvold, Jerermy Lilyquist, Pennie Peterson, Andrew Nilssen, Traci Leffner and Pat Millfelt. Visit www.kwiktrip.com or call (715) 386-8650.

Next game is scheduled for Friday, March 8, 12:45 pm at Boulder Ridge.
Please call or email me back with questions, for directions, or for reservations.
715 381 0011.

Kantor's Rule 7. 
A takeout double by a passed hand shows 9-11 HCP with shortness 
in the opener’s suit. If the opponents have bid two suits, the double 
promises at least four-card support for both unbids. 
You hold: ♠ AJxx ♥ xx ♦ KJ10xx ♣ xx 
South (you) West  North  East 
Pass        1♣      Pass    1♥
Dbl. 
You show both unbid suits with your double. A 2♦ overcall might lose a spade fit. 

Tied for top place in Friday's game:  

George and Brenda Taylor

Lucille Spinden and Eleanor Smith

Lilly has been missing since 1/24/2013. Her owners are missing her very much. She is a 6 year old very tiny sable Sheltie at 11 pounds. She went missing from 6th St. and Oak St., Hudson, WI http://goo.gl/maps/H4yhL She is microchipped. She was wearing a pink collar w/tags and dragging a pink leash when she went missing. She could survive on her own this long or someone may have picked her up. She is very shy & timid, please  DO NOT CHASE or CALL OUT HER NAME. If you have seen Lilly call 651-402-7603 or 651-955-5268 with approximately when, where and
what direction you saw Lilly moving. Please keep an eye out for her. If she is still out there on her own, she is going to need to be found soon.

Today is Girl Scout's 101st birthday and it's a great excuse to eat Girl Scout Cookies. Even better, this entire week is Girl Scout Week. 

Here's what Anna Maria Chávez, CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA, has to say in honor of the anniversary:

Juliette Gordon Low’s vision was to establish an organization in which any American girl could expand her horizons by having fun, exploring new interests, and contributing to society. The core of that vision was girl leadership and I am immensely proud to note that it continues to be at the center of our mission today.

In fact, as we enter our second century of service to girls, our focus on girl leadership is more intense than ever.

Are you involved in Girl Scouts? Leave a comment below about how it's made a difference.

Now the bad news.

If you haven't already eaten all the Girl Scout cookies you've bought this season then you will have to rush out and find the nearest Girl Scouts selling those delicious Thin Mints and Samoas

This is the last weekend of cookie sales and you will you find them for sale at County Market and Walmart and other sites around Hudson. If you know of any other sites, post it in comments, and if your daughter is still selling cookies, feel free to post the best way for people to contact you to buy them in the comment section.

Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys is the Girl Scout Council that includes Hudson.  

Glendale Heights, Ill. (Mar. 1, 2013)- Today, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI), the nation’s leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, is proud to announce the graduation of Zachary T. Weishaar from its automotive, diesel and industrial programs.  Originally from Baldwin, Weishaar came to the Glendale Heights, Ill. campus to pursue a program specifically designed to provide the training necessary for professional, entry-level technicians. Weishaar also received special training in the Toyota Professional Automotive Training (TPAT) program, through UTI's partnership with Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

“Our students take their training very seriously,” says Julie Mueller, campus president of UTI-Glendale Heights. “Often there are many sacrifices that have to be made in order to pursue their technical program. There is work, life, and school balance that must be maintained in order to successfully complete their studies at UTI. Our graduates are technical experts that are chosen by industry and ready to work.”

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.:
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. With more than 160,000 graduates in its 47-year history, UTI offers undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs at 11 campuses across the United States, as well as manufacturer-specific training programs at dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, UTI provides specialized post-secondary education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). For more information visit www.uti.edu. Like UTI on www.facebook.com/UTI or follow UTI on Twitter @UTITweet, @MMITweet, and @NASCARTechUTI.

Twin Cities pilot-turned-author Philip Donlay will be signing copies of his just-released novel, Zero Separation, at Chapter 2 Books in Hudson this Saturday, March 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Zero Separation is the highly anticipated third novel in the Donovan Nash series, taking Donlay’s complicated hero into uncharted territory as he is forced to navigate a potentially explosive international incident. 

Donlay’s experience as a working pilot – he is rated to fly six different types of jets and has logged more than 14,000 flight hours – adds incomparable realism to his high-altitude stories. His writing combines the staccato drumbeat of aviation chatter with an adrenaline-fueled narrative to create a special brand of thriller that’s sure to enthrall seasoned fliers and novices alike. 

Visit www.philipdonlay.com to learn more about Phil and his high-flying series of aviation-themed novels. 

As cigarette smoking rates have dropped, the tobacco industry has created new products to keep users hooked and find new customers. These "other tobacco products" (OTPs) are harmful and addictive, plus they're marketed aggressively and priced inexpensively. That's not safe, not fair, and not good for Wisconsin.

The sweet flavors and candy-like packaging of these products makes it hard to believe that life-long smokers are the target audience.  Strawberry, Grape, Apple and Chocolate are just a few of the kid-friendly flavors used for new products like little cigars and cigarillos.  Some of the products even come in packaging that resembles markers and lip gloss.  The reality is that these products’ harmless appearance and cheaper prices make them more appealing to young people.

With these new products on the racks, health professionals say it’s more important than ever to prevent tobacco sales to minors. 

“Bright packaging, candy flavors, and the illusion of a safer product may make these products more appealing to teens,” said Cortney Draxler Assistant Coordinator of Western Wisconsin Working for Tobacco Free Living (W3TFL).  “Retailers help their business and their community by checking IDs for all tobacco purchases.”

Selling tobacco products to minors can have serious consequences for retailers.  Wisconsin State Statute 134.66 prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 and also requires training for staff that sell tobacco products.  Retailers who sell to minors can receive fines as high as $500 for selling to minors and licenses can be suspended up to 30 days if they’ve had a prior violation in the previous year.  Both retailers and any employees who make illegal sales are subject to fines. 

Free tobacco sales training and certification is available for retailers at www.smokecheck.org, an online test developed by the Wisconsin Wins program.  Wisconsin Wins is a program of the Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, and provides training, media and community outreach, and education to help retailers avoid hefty fines.  To learn more about Wisconsin Wins go to www.wiwins.org

Food preferences, lifestyles, cultural and ethnic traditions and health concerns all affect our food choices. That is why, as part of National Nutrition Month® 2013, Healthier Together –St. Croix County supports and wants to encourage the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics message for everyone to "Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day." 

Each March, the Academy encourages Americans to return to the basics of healthy eating through National Nutrition Month. This year’s theme emphasizes the advantages of developing a healthful eating plan that incorporates individual food choices and preferences. This year marks the 40th anniversary of National Nutrition Month. 

"There can be a misperception that eating healthfully means giving up your favorite foods," said registered dietitian and Academy President Ethan A. Bergman. "Our 'Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day' National Nutrition Month theme encourages consumers to include the foods they love as part of a healthful eating plan that is tailored for their lifestyles, traditions, health needs and, of course, tastes."

The Academy strives to communicate healthy eating messages that emphasize a balance of food and beverages within energy needs, rather than any one food or meal. To this end, it is the position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that the total diet or overall pattern of food eaten is the most important focus of healthy eating. Most favorite foods can fit within this pattern, if consumed in moderation with appropriate portion size and combined with physical activity.  These ideas fit well with many of the Healthier Together -St. Croix County collaborative strategies focused on increasing physical activity and healthy nutrition.    Visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at www.eatright.org and for more Healthier Together-St. Croix County information, visit www.sccwi.us/publichealth.   

SPRING ELECTION

TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

STATE OF WISCONSIN, St. Croix County

Any qualified elector unable or unwilling to appear at the polling place on Election Day may request to vote an absentee ballot.  A qualified elector is any U. S. citizen who will be 18 years of age or older on Election Day who has resided in the ward or municipality where he or she wishes to vote for at least 28 days before the election.  The elector must also be registered in order to receive an absentee ballot. 

TO OBTAIN AN ABSENTEE BALLOT YOU MUST MAKE YOUR REQUEST IN WRITING.

Contact your municipal clerk and request that an application for an absentee ballot be sent to you for the primary or election or both.  You may also request an absentee ballot by letter. Your written request must list your voting address within the municipality where you wish to vote, the address where the absentee ballot should be sent, if different, the date of the election, and your signature.

Special absentee voting application provisions apply to electors who are indefinitely confined to home or a care facility, in the military, hospitalized, or serving as a sequestered juror.  If this applies to you, contact your municipal clerk.

You can also personally go to the Clerk's office, or other specified location, complete a written application, and vote an absentee ballot during the hours specified for casting an absentee ballot.

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CITY of HUDSON 
Nancy Korson, Clerk 
505 Third Street, Hudson, WI  54016  
(715) 386-4765 Ext. 140 
Regular Office Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm  
The City will also be open on 3/28/13 & 3/29/13 until 5:00pm. 

VILLAGE of NORTH HUDSON
Gloria Troester, Administrator
400 7th Street N, Hudson, WI  54016
(715) 386-5141
Regular Office Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm
The Village will also be open on 3/28/13 & 3/29/13 until 5:00pm. 

TOWN OF HUDSON
Vickie Shaw, Clerk
980 County Road ‘A’ Hudson, WI  54016
(715) 386-4263
Regular Office Hours: Monday-Wednesday 9:00am-4:00pm
Also open:  3/28/13 & 3/29/13 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

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MAKE YOUR WRITTEN REQUEST FOR A MAILED ABSENTEE BALLOT EARLY!  Military electors should contact the Municipal Clerk regarding the deadlines for requesting or submitting an absentee ballot.  

THE FIRST DAY TO VOTE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT IN THE CLERK’S OFFICE IS MARCH 18, 2013.  The deadline for voting an absentee ballot in the Clerk’s office is 5:00 pm on March 29, 2013. 

The Municipal Clerk will deliver voted ballots returned on or before Election Day to the proper polling place or counting location before the polls close on April 2, 2013.  Any ballots received after the polls close will be counted by the Board of Canvassers if postmarked by Election Day and received no later than 4:00 P.M. on the Friday following the Election.

The Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau welcomed Sommers Embroidery as a new member of the Chamber. Owner Elizabeth Sommers has produced high quality logos and designs on clothing, accessories, gifts, and wall and window decals since 2004 in Hudson. Her services include custom embroidery and heat transfer processes to your items. Present for the ribbon cutting were from left, Chamber Ambassadors Pete Keskey, Joel Larsen, and Ron Revere, owner Elizabeth Sommers from Sommers Emroidery (holding scissors), Chamber Ambassadors Andrew Nilssen and Pat Millfelt, Chamber Director of Communications & Programs Andrea Jorgenson, and Chamber Ambassadors Jeremy Lilyquist, Traci Leffner and Paul Simmons. For additional information visit www.sommersembroidery.com or call (715) 381-8215.

Next game will be held on Friday, March 22, 12:45 pm at Boulder Ridge.
Call, or return this message for reservations, directions, or with any questions (715 381 0011).

This game is open to all interested players.

Kantor's Rules:
42. If one (or both) of your opponents is a passed hand, assume that player has fewer than 12 HCP. If that player turns up with 10 HCP early on, play the partner for any missing queen, king, or ace.

43. There is nothing more important than counting your sure tricks before you begin to play.
At notrump count your sure tricks outside of the suit you plan to establish. This tells you how many tricks you need in your main suit and then play accordingly.

On Saturday, June 8^th, Tri to Change the World, Inc. (TCW), in partnership with the YMCA of Hudson, will host a youth triathlon for ages 6-15, open both to seasoned youth triathletes as well as children who would like to “tri” out a new sport.

Youth can compete in three categories:


Beginning Youth (ages 6-8 at date of event):

Swim 50 meters

Bike 2 miles

Run .5 mile

Intermediate Youth (ages 9-11 at date of event):

Swim 150 meters

Bike 4 miles

Run 1 mile

Senior Youth (ages 12-15 at date of event):

Swim 250 meters

Bike 6 miles

Run 2 miles


The cost to enter is $30. Every participant will receive a T-shirt, a goodie bag, and a finisher's medal.

This youth triathlon is intended to be a fun and exciting time for kids and families of all levels of physical fitness. It
is TCW's desire to work with anyone who wishes to participate, regardless of ability or disability. All reasonable requests for accommodation will be entertained.

For more information about the event, visit www.tritochangetheworld.org/register
or log on to www.tritochangetheworld.zapevent.com.

Mercedes S. “Mercy” Marson of Hudson passed away at home, March, 18, 2013 after her long, courageous battle with Scleroderma. 

Mercy was born in La Union, New Mexico, December 29, 1929 to Jose and Juliana Salinas.  She graduated from Gadsden High school, Anthony, New Mexico in 1950, Valedictorian of her class.  One of her first post-high school occupations was as assistant to the founder of Valley Canning Company, (currently Old El Paso Foods, a General Mills product line for Mexican-style food).  She liked to tell us that the factory at that time was so small that her office was inside a silo.

Mercy took a position in 1952 with Ballistic Research Labs, White Sands Missile Range, Las Cruces, New Mexico, the largest military installation in the United States. It was there that she met Thomas (Tom) Marson who was stationed at White Sands with the Army.  They were married Feb 6, 1954 in her home town parish church, St Patrick’s Church of Canutillo, Texas, a small town adjacent to the city of El Paso, Texas.

Mercy and Tom were blessed with 5 children: Michael, Mari, James, John, and Julie.

In 1964, Mercy helped move her family from the El Paso, Texas area to Hudson where husband Tom began a career with 3M Corporation in St. Paul, Minnesota. The family often made flying trips between El Paso, Texas and Hudson in their small private plane where Mercy was co-pilot to her husband, Tom.   Mercy was known to all as a sweet, gentle, kind, caring person who went out of her way to reach out to others, or to lend an ear and comforting hug. She was a master organizer, superb “accountant,” and tireless worker. Her greatest joy was to provide a loving home for her husband and children.  She was greatly involved for many years in St. Patrick’s Church Women’s Council (PCCW) and 4-H leadership with the Glover All Stars.  Fluent in Spanish, Mercy also taught Spanish at St. Mary’s Parochial school in New Richmond, Wisconsin.

During the family’s growing years, and later, she was a master planner and avid participant in weekly family camping and fishing trips where the family used everything from tents to motorhomes. She often said the best trip of all was one week of rough wilderness camping on Connor’s Lake in the Minnesota Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

All who knew Mercy remember her wonderful, easy going and caring personality.  Mercy possessed a quiet humility and took great pleasure in championing the accomplishments of others. She was always the gentle leader who got things done by quiet and thorough planning for any and all activities. She made things seem easy, but behind the success were hours of meticulous planning and even "dry runs."

Mercy is preceded in death by her parents Jose and Juliana Salinas, brother, Cruz Salinas (WW2),  brother, Ramon Salinas, and sister Librada Porras.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas, and children Michael Marson, New Brighton, MN;  Mari Marson, Hudson, WI; James Marson, Minneapolis, MN;  John Marson, Beldenville, WI; and Julie Marson, Hudson, WI.

She is also survived by a brother, Marc Salinas,  and sister, Genoveva Salinas,  as well as daughter-in-laws Cindy (Michael) Marson and Kathy (James) Marson, grandson Cooper Marson, and dozens of cherished cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 11:00 am at St. Patrick's Church in Hudson, Wisconsin. Memorial visitation will be Monday, March 25, 2013 from 5-8 pm with a prayer service at 7:30 pm at St. Patrick’s Church and also Tuesday from 10-11 am before the service. Interment will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services of Hudson.

March Madness is in full swing. The NCAA Basketball Tournament is entering its second week, and now the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship tournament is set.

For the first time ever, Northwestern Mutual is hosting a bracket challenge for the Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship to help fans follow the action on the ice like never before.

"There is a passion for ice hockey that runs deep in many of the communities we serve," said Conrad York, vice president of marketing at Northwestern Mutual. "Our hope is that our on-going series of bracket challenges provide more ways for avid sports fans to enjoy college tournaments."

The hockey brackets went live today, allowing hockey fans to visit Northwestern Mutual on Facebook and register for the contest and select who they think will skate to the NCAA Frozen Four^.

The deadline for entry is noon on Thursday, March 28.

A Grand Prize winner will be randomly selected from among the four highest bracket point totals and will win a $500 gift card to the NCAA Shop, while one additional randomly selected participant will receive a $100 gift card to the NCAA Shop.  

In November 2012, Northwestern Mutual announced a series of NCAA bracket contests on Facebook beginning with women's volleyball and continuing into 2013 with men's ice hockey, men's lacrosse and softball in May, baseball in June, and women's soccer and women's volleyball in the fall.

The Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau welcomed L.West Color Consulting as a new member of the Chamber. Interior design consultant Laura West is an independent decorating consultant assisting clients in their homes with paint, fabric, flooring, cabinets, countertops, wallpaper, window coverings, and light staging.  “I have years of experience in the field of interior decorating. I love it. Nothing has made me happier than to start my own consulting business. I love color and textures, and the impact they make in a room. Guiding my clients through a trained eye gives them the option to mix it up and do it right, making for an effortless look of balance and flow, with their own personal style” said West.  Preset at the ribbon cutting were, from left, Chamber Ambassador Pete Keskey, Chamber President Kim Heinemann, Chamber Ambassadors Tom Bordenave, Barb Zimmerman, and Stacey Knoebel, L. West Color Consulting owner Laura West, and Chamber Ambassadors Ron Revere, Dawn Marquart, and Paul Simmons. For more information call (715) 386-6895.

Vision is our most prized sense. In fact, most people fear losing it more than any other primary sense. Vision loss can threaten your ability drive, work, and live independently. That’s why it’s so important to take care of your eyes and keep them healthy, and to know about the physicians that care for your eyes. 

National Doctor's Day, observed March 30, is a great time to learn more about the role of ophthalmologists in helping you maintain a lifetime of healthy vision. As medical doctors and surgeons, ophthalmologists provide specialized eye care, and are the only eye care providers qualified to perform medical-based eye care and surgical procedures. 

The American Academy of Ophthalmology encourages you to make eye care a part of your overall health-maintenance strategy. For example: 

• Have Your Eyes Checked: At age 40 all adults should have a baseline eye disease screening, even if your vision seems perfect. If you’re age 65 or older, schedule an eye exam every 1-2 years, or as recommended by your ophthalmologist. Seniors in this age group may qualify for a free eye exam at www.eyecareamerica.org. 
• Get Plenty of Exercise: Our eyes need good blood circulation and oxygen intake, and both are stimulated by regular exercise. Being physically active also helps in maintaining weight in a normal range, which reduces the risk of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy, which is a serious eye complication related to that disease.
• Don’t smoke: Avoiding smoking or quitting altogether is one of the best investments a person can make in their long-term health. Smoking increases the risks of a variety of diseases, including those that affect the eye such as cataracts and diabetic-related conditions.
• Understand the impact of other diseases on the eyes: The eyes are a complex organ.  They contain pigmented cells, a rich network of blood vessels, connective tissue, and the eye’s retina is actually a part of the brain. Diseases like diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, sickle cell disease, lupus, and many others can affect the eyes and threaten vision.  Your primary care physician may call upon your ophthalmologist to detect and manage these problems. 

For National Doctor’s Day, join us in celebrating Eye M.D.s by watching a series of short videos in which ophthalmologists speak about their passion for helping patients, the expertise they bring to eye care and their dedication to preserving vision and preventing blindness. The videos are a part of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s public education program, EyeSmart. 

For more information about eye health, visit www.geteyesmart.org. 

Next game is scheduled for Friday, March 22, 12:45 pm at Boulder Ridge. Call for reservations, directions, or with any questions (715 381 0011). This game is open to all interested players.

Yellowstone Trail Heritage Day is set for Saturday, June 1^st in Hudson, WI and is seeking vehicles from the 1930s or older (preferably stock or unique vehicles) for display at the event. Vehicle owners are encouraged to bring their historic car for display at Lakefront Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with optional activities of a “Slow Race” at 1:00, followed by a drive on the Yellowstone Trail to Hammond and back. Please join us for this family friendly community event that celebrates the 101^st anniversary of the Yellowstone Trail. For more information and to register your vehicle, please contact Linda White at 715-386-8332 or linda57tbird@hotmail.com.