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As you may have read in this paper in the past, Parmly LifePointes in Chisago City is about to embark on a very exciting new phase. They soon are opening their Vitalize! Wellness Center that will aid people's journey and promote successful aging. Take it from me, this place is really cool. It has every bell and whistle made from gym machines that are specifically designed to measure each user's progress to a warm-water lap pool and a warm-water pool with a tread mill for rehabilitation.

We at the Press are pleased to feature the new Director of the Vitalize! Wellness Center Patricia Montgomery in a new column appropriately called "Active Aging by Patricia Montgomery. Patricia will write about new and inventive ways to help you and I age gracefully in a healthy manner. I think that her column coupled with Vitalize! will really bring a terrific, new outlook on aging in our area. Make sure you read her articles and then drop her a line or e-mail her with your opinions and questions. Welcome aboard Patricia!

Last year about this time, I wrote about a scam that has ties to our local high school. No the high school is not involved in any way. It is a business that sells ads for a fall sports schedule. They solicit local businesses, promising them they will be distributed all over the area in mass quantities. Take it from me, this is a scam. Please do not throw your money away, simply just hang up on these people. A couple of businesses got taken for quite a bit of money last year and have filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau. The high school does put out a wonderful Wildcat activities poster in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. This is a terrific poster and it directly benefits the high school.

If you are in the mood for some local festivities, then North Branch's Fall Harvest Festival is right up your alley. The festival runs from today through Sunday. Tonight (Thursday) there is a block party being held on Main Street, Forest Blvd., and 9th Avenue.

On Friday, there will be a spaghetti dinner at the Chisago County Senior Center. The dinner gets started at 5 p.m. and the cost is $4 per person.

Saturday, you will find an arts and crafts fair in Central Park, a classic car show, an omelet breakfast at the Legion, and a "Change for Schools" walk, bike, run.

Sunday holds more of the same but has my favorite, Booya. You can get all the Booya you want at St. Gregory's. Look for a complete listing in this edition. Hope to see you there.

Matt Silver

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