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There are a few Easter related happenings around our area that might interest you. I know that Easter is a little while off, still, it is nice for families to have a plan and mark their calendars.

The great people of Chisago City would like to formally invite all kids to their annual Easter Egg Hunt Extravaganza. The hunt takes place on April 16 and is held at Paradise Park. Your children are encouraged to decorate their Easter bonnets and baseball caps. There will be prizes given out for best bonnet and ball cap. The hunt will consist of three age groups and each age group will have a golden egg somewhere in the hundreds and hundreds of eggs scattered everywhere. There will be face painting, games and the Easter Bunny will be there for photos with your children. Please bring a non-perishable food donation.  The event begins at 2 p.m.

If you have plans in the afternoon on April 16, don't worry. The good folks at Parmly have planned their own Easter Egg Hunt which will take place at 11 a.m. Children will search Parmly's beautiful back yard for colored Easter eggs. This is a wonderful event both for the children and for the residents of Parmly. They love to watch the children search for eggs. Bring the kids, they will be glad they came.

While we are on the subject of large rather odd looking furry characters, Steve Levey would like to summon all fisherman in the area.

Steve and the Chisago Lakes Lions have set a date for their second annual Carp Fishing Tournament. Why on earth would anyone want to enter a carp contest? Well besides looking like Steve Levey, carp are very invasive fish that eat everything in the lakes, thus leaving no food for the desirable fish to survive. The carp can be caught on either North or South Center Lakes by spearing, bow hunting, rod and reel and landing net. I am sorry to announce, dynamite will not be allowed this year.

The contest will have cash prizes for largest carp, most carp and will be given out in three age categories. The categories are junior division, adult division and Steve Levey or senior division. All entrants will receive a commemorative t-shirt for entering.

If you would like to enter the carp contest, you can pick up a form here at the Press, call 257-2966 or email [email protected]. Please use small words, we don't want Steve to be in front of his computer too long.

Thanks to all of our readers who have taken advantage of our early renewal offer so far. On page two (look left) you will find a box for renewing your subscription. All we ask is you fill out the form and send it in with your payment. This year you will notice we have added a line on the coupon. We are asking for our reader's email addresses. We are trying to build a database of our readers with the intention of starting something very innovative and beneficial to our readers. Thank you for reading.

We have already had three readers refer new subscribers. They received Saints tickets for doing so. If you refer a new subscriber and they sign up for a year's subscription, we would like to offer you either St. Paul Saints tickets or tickets to ride the Osceola Train. Make sure that whomever you refer tells us who referred them.

Just another reminder about the Chisago-Isanti County Heartland Express new inbound and outbound extension routes that will take you to connecting stops to St. Paul.

There are two pick-up spots where you can ride the bus, County Rd. 17 & 35W and St. Bridgets' in Lindstrom. Heartland Express drops you off at Running Aces where a coach bus then picks you up to go to St. Paul. You board the warm bus and relax as you pass other drivers who are stressed from driving in rush hour traffic. You can read the paper (preferably the County Press) drink your coffee or close your eyes. Sounds delightful doesn't it? The bus takes riders to downtown St. Paul, and the best part?  How does $4 one-way sound? Compare that to a quarter tank of gas...easy decision.

For more information you can call 763-689-8131 or email [email protected].

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