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We here at the Press are getting ready to put out our 2008 Home and Garden tab. If you have plans to showcase your business in the show, please give us a call. We still have time to help you put a clear business message out to over 19,000 local homes and businesses. Call Becky, Dave or Matt at 651-257-5115, we would love to talk with you. If you want to be in the Home Show and just haven't got around to registering, you still can. Call Community Ed at 651-213-2600 and tell them you would like to be in the 2008 Home and Garden Show. This year's show is looking nice and full which means that the crowds should also be large.

The good people at Recycled Wardrobes in Lindstrom need your help. They are looking for your used prom dresses. Your dresses will be offered to local girls who can't quite afford to drop a lot of money for prom. It is Recycled Wardrobes fourth year of doing this, and they have had great success in the past. I know there are a lot of used prom dresses that are in people's closets that will never be worn again. Why not donate them and really make some local girls happy? You can call Recycled Wardrobes at 651-257-8133 for information or questions.

Today is Valentine's Day. Hopefully you have something special planned for your loved ones. If you are still wanting to take her or him somewhere for a nice meal, there are plenty of places right here in our backyard. Virtually every restaurant in the area is preparing a special Valentines meal for you and your sweetheart. In this edition, you will see advertisements for local restaurants, along with local businesses that would love to help you in your time of desperation. Having eaten locally last Valentine's Day, I can tell you that our local restaurants are second to none.

I have an eight year-old at home that thinks he is Kevin Garnett. He is in his third year of LARA basketball and loves it. It can be 40 below zero outside and he will ask if I can go shoot baskets outside with him. Since we don't watch basketball on television, other then when the Gophers are destroying Iowa (ha ha Grandma) at the barn, his only exposure to basketball is LARA. I know I toot the LARA horn a lot in this space, but I can't tell you how big of an impact it has on our children. Whether it is playing t-ball, playing flag football, or basketball, LARA has done a great job selecting the right people to run each sport. Thanks to Leif Thompson and all the dads who have made some young boys normally dull, cold winter, something fun and exciting.

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