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The Chisago County Press has some exciting news for both ourselves and readers in the community. We are pleased to announce that the Sweet Swede will be opening its doors this week. Located in the front of the County Press building, the Sweet Swede is a candy shoppe that you simply must try.

The Sweet Swede offers a delicious collection of gift-worthy exceptional chocolates, premium candies and imported Scandinavian treats. I have sampled quite a few over the last year, and I am not lying when I say they are some of the most unbelievable chocolates you will ever put in your mouth.

Come on up and say hi to Sonjia the owner and let her show you all the wonderful types of chocolates and candy gifts she has imported from Scandinavia.

We think she will be a great fit at the Press with all of the tourists stopping by. The Sweet Swede will be open the second weekend of every month for now and she hopes to increase those hours in the near future. You can check out the Sweet Swede at: www.thesweetswede.com or call Sonjia at 651-387-1214.

Last week I wrote about North Branch celebrating their ninth annual Winter Fest. This weekend Winter Fest really gets rolling. On Saturday you are encouraged to participate in the Freeze Your Bunz 5K run/walk on the Sunrise Prairie Trail. The run/walk begins at 10 a.m.

Hopefully Mother Nature cooperates a little bit for the Ice Sculpting contest in Central Park. You can view the sculptures beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, you will find a chili contest, a snow sculpting contest, a vintage snowmobile ride and expo, and a family skate, where your family will get to skate with Frosty the snowman.

Sunday, Winter Fest wraps up with an omelet breakfast at the Legion, a really neat program about the Swedish history of North Branch held at the Villages, and finally, sliding with Frosty the snowman at Stacy Lions Park.

Winter Fest is a great time for families to get out for one last winter hurrah before the big thaw comes, so grab the kids and come out.

There is still time to get your business in the 2009 Home Show. While the early bird rates have now expired, there is still room for exhibitors who would like to showcase their business or services. The Home Show is a very popular attraction and brings in thousands of visitors. If you would like to be part of this year's show, you are encouraged to call Community Ed at 651-213-2600 for details. Hopefully we will see your business at the show!

I like to think that I am somewhat of a baseball purist at heart. While I cannot rattle off batting averages for all players of all generations, I do consider myself a fan of the game. For that very reason, the last few years are coming close to turning me off the game for good.

All (well not quite all) of these players that I idolized growing up, seem to now be involved with steroids or human growth hormones. Granted, the group of ballplayers from the generation before are not being accused of any wrong doing, but I also didn't grow up watching these people play.

Just when you think that the last of the offenders has been wrangled up, here comes the one superstar who has been vocally outspoken about steroid use and how he has never participated in any usage whatsoever.

Yesterday, he was on television apologizing to the public for lying and using steroids. What?

Honest to God, is there anyone in professional baseball who can tell the truth? Is there any of them that have not used steroids?

I think it is time to find another sport to idolize, let me think. I got it cheese rolling. 15 men start at the top of a steep hill and chase a huge cheese wheel down the grassy slope. I wonder if drug testing is mandatory in cheese rolling.

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