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There is a crispness in the air. The fall rains are beginning. The Vikings are losing. All of this can only mean one thing. It's Apple Festival time once again. Amador Township is proud to present its 15th annual Apple Festival.

One of my favorite events, Apple Festival takes you back to the way festivals used to be. Small, personal, friendly, inviting, and fun for everyone. If you love apples, you will be in paradise. Because this Sunday, everything apple will be in Amador.

Be sure to check out the museums and relive some of the rich history that is Amador and Almelund. Take a ride on a Model T, or listen in on some great storytelling. There will be all kinds of vendors selling their specialties (my favorite is the apple butter), and of course there are plenty of great things to eat. It all gets started this Sunday at 11 a.m. and goes until 4. For more info check out page 7 in this edition of the County Press.

I recently wrote about how much fun a trip to the Shafer Corn Maze would be for your group of friends or family. I was quickly reminded that our area has more than one of these corn mazes. Gilbertson Farms in Scandia will also have a corn maze this fall. This is their fourth year planting corn mazes and this year's maze has special meaning. This year's maze theme is Messages to Heaven. It is a salute to owner Gary Gilbertson who passed away unexpectedly last March. Gilbertson Corn Maze will be open until October 31, with October 4 being "Kids Day". There will be all kinds of kid activities along with the Teddy Bear Band. Log on to www.gilbertsonfarms.com for all the details.

Last Tuesday night we were looking for something to watch after the kids went to bed. We stumbled onto the History Channel and became locked in for the next hour and a half. The History Channel was airing a show called "102 minutes that changed the world". The show is comprised of eyewitness accounts around the World Trade Centers, who just happened to have their video cameras filming. There is no narration, and all you can hear is what their cameras picked up on the microphones. There are people that are right across the street from the towers, there are people across the Hudson River, people in Times Square and so on.

This documentary is one of the most powerful shows I have ever seen in my life. I can't speak for anyone else, but I am guilty of letting the memory of 9-11 fade from my mind. Yes, when I hear the date I have a quick memory back to the tragedy, but after viewing the towers crashing to the ground, I had that same sick, shaky feeling I had when I first viewed it. It is the most horrorific sight that probably has ever aired on television, yet if you were like me, you couldn't look away.

There are plenty of shows about 9-11, but I am telling you, this one is different. This one, because it is filmed by eye witnesses, will stop you in your tracks.

I am officially jumping off the Viking bandwagon. Looking back as the wagon slowly plods away, it actually seems pretty empty. I have been a Viking fan as long as my memory reaches, but not anymore. Not this year anyway. How can the Vikings have such a potent, explosive offense and not score any touchdowns...ever? I am not just talking about this past game, I am talking about the last three years. As long as the coach has his trailer hitched to the present quarterback, the sales of Rolaids will remain through the roof.

On a more positive football note, the Wildcat football team is playing their game in a special place on Friday. They will play at St. Croix Falls football field as one of their home games. As an added bonus the Taylors Falls Elementary School along with the community would like to invite you to tailgate before the game. The tailgate party will be held at the Taylors Falls Elementary School and will run from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The party will feature free brats, hot dogs, chips and cookies. All you need to bring is something to drink for yourself. Come on out, have some good food, and cheer on the Wildcats.

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