---

If you are looking to find some after Christmas deals, I would encourage you to check locally before you head to the big city. Just about every retailer around the Chisago Lakes area is having a clearance sale for you to take advantage of. The great thing about these sales is that you will get the merchandise you want without the headache of trekking to the malls, and odds are that those malls won't have some of the one-of-a-kind deals that you can find around here.

Peter Wilson, the owner of Makers Healthy Market, in Chisago City, was telling me about a couple of really neat campaigns he has going right now. Once again this year, he is conducting a bulk food drive to support the local food shelf. You can participate by making a donation which will purchase large amounts of organic oatmeal and rice for the food shelf. A $25 donation will purchase 50 lbs. of organic oatmeal which is enough to feed one child breakfast for six months. A $10 donation will purchase 10 lbs. of organic rice which will feed a family 10 meals.

The other event he has going on right now is called VitaminAngels. VitaminAngels is a charitable organization that is dedicated to providing basic nutrition to people in need. Their affiliation with Maker's Healthy Market is in the form of eye sight. You see, for every vitamin or supplement you purchase at Healthy Market, they will be donating 25 cents towards VitaminAngels operation 20/20. Twenty five cents will purchase two high-dose vitamin A capsules for a child. Just two doses per year will prevent that child from losing his or her eyesight forever. We all need vitamins and there are a lot of us taking them, why not take them and save a child's eyesight?

Local businesses -- we will be calling on you this week to hopefully get your businesses into the upcoming Chisago Lakes Community Guide. I know some of you have already been approached by someone stating that they are the official Community Guide, but don't be fooled. The Chisago County Press is the only official Community Guide and is backed by the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and the Taylors Falls Chamber of Commerce. In fact, the Chisago County Press is proud to say that we give over 1 percent of all proceeds right back to the Chamber of Commerce. If we have yet to contact you, we apologize, but we intend to very soon. The Community Guide is a terrific vehicle to advertise your business or services. The guides are sent to all area homes in the Search Shopper and are dispersed throughout the area all year long.

You will notice that the annual Celebration of the Lakes ads are beginning to run again in the Press and Search. Looking out the window today, I see standing puddles of melted snow and pools of standing water on the lakes. Hopefully Mother Nature will help us out and bring some cold weather and create enough ice for the celebration. If not, the Celebration of the Lakes will be held at Ki Chi Saga Park in Lindstrom. We will keep you updated.

No matter what the weather brings, there will be a celebration. And with the celebration comes lots of fun things to do. In this edition of the Press, you will find sign-up sheets for the annual chili cook-off and for the annual ice fishing contest. The Chili Cook-off is always a huge hit, and last year they had the most entrants they have ever had. So dust off your cook book and pull out your favorite chili recipe, maybe you will take home the grand prize.

If you are a landowner and a balloon lands on your property, your name will be entered in a raffle to win $50. If you are a landowner and would rather not have a balloonist land on your property, please call the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce at 651-257-1177 and they will take your name and address.

---