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We have reached the end of our annual subscription renewal campaign. Thanks to all of our loyal readers who have sent in their blue cards. Thanks also to those of you who took part in our early renewal specials as well. If you have yet to send in your blue renewal card, you still have time before we stop sending papers. I urge you to send them in soon so you never miss an issue of the Chisago County Press.

If you are a reader of the Press, but not a subscriber, there has never been a better time to subscribe. For a little while longer, if you subscribe to the County Press, you will also receive two tickets to the historic Osceola Train. We will treat you to a train ride for two that takes you back in time. The tickets are valued at $34, so a new subscription to the Press will cost you virtually nothing. The train special is for new subscribers only, and you must mention the train special when purchasing your new subscription.

This weekend marks one of the most important holidays in the world. Mother's Day. I know the staple holidays hold a more popular place, such as Christmas and Easter, but Mother's Day has to be right up there.

Maybe I am making too big of a deal about it, or maybe I was just spoiled, but my mom, grandmas and my mother-in-law and most importantly my wife are some of the absolute greatest people you would ever hope to meet. Real salt of the earth people who would do anything for anyone at any time. I don't know if that is something you learn or just something that runs in bloodlines. Either way, moms like them (and yours I am sure) certainly make this world a better place.

When I lost my mom some years ago, I had visions of Mother's Day being a sad reminder of how much I missed Eileen Silver. While she does cross my mind quite often, I have noticed that my thoughts now center around my mother-in-law and my wife. And when I do reflect about my late mom, it makes me appreciate what I have now even more.

Take it from me, if you are not planning anything for your mom or wife on Mother's Day, please do so. At the very least, please tell them just how important they are and how we could not function without them.

A quick little note about Mother's Day. I am continously asking my kids what they want to be when they grow up. My son always gives the standard pro baseball or pro football player (good luck, you are a Silver). When I ask my daughter what she would like to be, she always begins her answer the same way. "I would like to be a mom"...pretty neat. Of course she adds that she will win a gold medal in gymnastics but the mom thing is still pretty neat.

If you would like to take your mother, wife or mother-in-law out for a nice meal this weekend, look no farther. Our area restaurants have some really terrific Mother's Day specials designed with her in mind. Check out this edition of the Press to find a local restaurant that will help you make her day great.

Congratulations to Clare Linehan of Lindstrom. Clare recently won a spot in the National History Day competition. She will compete in June at the University of Maryland. Look for a feature article about Clare and her trip in the Press the next few weeks.

We had the chance to attend this year's Lions Cadillac Dinner last weekend. What a wonderful event these Lions put on. The crowd filled the Chisago City Community Center and everyone was having a wonderful time.

For those of you who have never been to a Cadillac Dinner, with the purchase of a ticket, you get two meals, drinks and a number. The numbers are drawn at the end of the night and every ticket wins something. The prizes range from the flower on the table to $2,000 cash. Well as luck would have it (or not), we went home with yet another centerpiece from the table. This year's big winner was Jim McCarville.

We had a great time. Other than listening to Steve Levey attempting to harmonize (he is from Iowa after all), it was a great event. If you have a chance to attend next year, I would urge you to do so. You could walk out with the $2,000 cash Grand Prize and some sore ears.

Congratulations to DeAnn Alsaker for another successful prom dress fundraiser. DeAnn who runs Recycled Wardrobes, was able to provide 30 prom dresses to local girls for very little cost. One hundred percent of the prom dress event proceeds will go to the Chisago City Fire and Rescue. Thanks also to Forest Lake Cleaners and Designers Salon for participating in this wonderful day. You have made some memories for these girls that will last a lifetime.

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