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Have you noticed that there is a bounce in everyone's step lately? I think it is the arrival of spring looming just beyond our sight. Or maybe it is the 30s we just experienced, (Yes, 30 degrees actually gets us excited.) or maybe it is the Home and Garden Show this weekend.

I hope Mother Nature sides with us again this weekend, because this year's show is going to be bigger and better than ever before. There are 130 plus exhibitors already scheduled and possibly even more come show time.

The show gets going this Saturday at 10 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m. If you are busy on Saturday, you are in luck because the show gets rolling again on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. As always, the Home and Garden Show is at the Chisago Lakes Senior High School.

The show will feature local businesses displaying their goods and services for you the consumer. There is absolutely no pressure, rather these people are there to show what their business is all about and to shoot the breeze. You will be surprised at just how many of these business owners you recognize from around the area.

Did I mention prizes? There are prizes galore at the show. There will be hourly prizes given away as well as a grand prize that would look pretty good in my living room. How would you like to come home and turn on your new 50-inch plasma HDTV? Not too shabby.

Presentations from various companies will be running both days. Make sure to stop in and see KARE 11's own Bobby Jensen. Bobby is a gardening expert that hosts a show with Belinda Jensen called "Grow with KARE." Check last week's Search Shopper for times.

The good folks at Chisago Lakes Community Ed and the Home Show Committee have really done a wonderful job this year. They have even got Ruddy's Rental to install a balloon bounce for kids to enjoy (in the old gym) while their parents are at the show.

I hope you read the Search last weekend. We here at the Press put out the Home and Garden Show tab, which was one of the best we have ever printed. If you missed last week's Search, don't fret. There will be plenty of Home Show tabs available for you at the door. Feel free to keep yours because in addition to some great advertisers in the tab, you will also find a map of the show.

Please come out to the show, with that many exhibitors and growing, there has to be something for everyone.

This week is annual School Board Appreciation Week. If you get a chance this week, tell a school board member thank you. We are lucky enough to have some really great people looking out for our schools. If you look around, you can see massive troubles afflicting many schools in the state. Somehow our school board, along with some fantastic behind-the-scenes employees, seem to keep our schools on a positive path.

Speaking of schools. Chisago Lakes lost yet another legendary teacher. Sadly, Kermit Christensen passed away last week. Kermit (when I was in junior high) was a science teacher who really made learning fun. He was one of the nicest people I have ever met and always, always, made everyone feel like they belonged. We have got some really great teachers in the Chisago Lakes School system, but we will only have one Kermit.

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