---

In this Press and others to come, we are running an ad for the local Anonymous Santa Program. This is a wonderful program aimed at helping families who can’t afford to purchase toys and gifts for their children. In the ad you will find a questionnaire with a few simple questions. The people that run the Anonymous Santa Program are some of the most caring, honest, unbiased people you will ever meet. If you or someone you know would be a candidate for this program, just fill out the ad and send it in by December 1. Christmas is a very special time for children and the good people at Anonymous Santa want every child to experience Christmas the way it should be.

Speaking of the holidays, no one should have to celebrate them alone. The Chisago Lakes Lion’s Club agrees. They are hosting their annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Lindstrom, on Thanksgiving. The meal is free and dinner is served from noon until 1 p.m. The only thing the Lions are asking is that you call 257-2654 or 257-5679 to make a reservation. Come and enjoy all the great food and fixings and best of all spend it with some good company.

Everybody here at the Chisago County Press would like to give a big congratulations to one of our own. Andrew Vitalis, our former sports writer, and his wife Jessica, are the proud parents of a baby boy. Matthew Cody Vitalis was welcomed into the world last Friday weighing 8 pounds 6 ounces. Congratulations to the Vitalis you now have the complete set. Matthew is lucky to have such good parents.

Keeping on the subject of parents, our thoughts and prayers go out to the Meyer family in North Branch. They lost their teenage son last week during a wrestling practice. It is absolutely unimaginable to think how someone could lose their child so young. You have to believe that he is in a better place and his parents and friends lives were better for having known him. It’s just another reminder for us to appreciate our family and friends because you never know when something might happen.

A little side note for those of you who are new homeowners. Winter is just around the corner and so are cold temperatures. Don’t get caught letting your septic tank freeze like I did last year. It is an easy fix, all you need is some bales of straw––not hay. Just spread around your septic tank (preferably over a tarp) about 6 to 12 inches deep and you shouldn’t have a problem. Straw bales run around $4 a bale, pretty cheap considering it cost me $600 to get my septic thawed. Plus you won’t be awakened in the middle of the night by what sounds like an air raid horn.

---