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Didn't I tell you last week that Spring was on the way because the Home Show was here? Spring certainly had an odd look on Saturday when it proceeded to snow all day long. Just a dusting they said.

The white stuff sure didn't seem to deter people from coming out to this year's show. Saturday had great crowds from the time the doors opened until they closed. Just over 2,300 people made their way through the show. Not too shabby for a home show in a recession.

Thanks to everyone who made this year's show bigger and better than ever. Community Education and the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce really busted their tails to put on the show.

How does winning a new laptop computer sound? The Chamber along with New Vision computer are raffling off a brand new Asus P50 laptop computer. The computer has a 320GB hard drive with 4GB of ram. I have seen the computer up close and I really hope to be telling you in a few weeks that I won the raffle. Tickets to win the computer are $5 and you can purchase them at the Chisago Lakes Chamber office which is located in Lindstrom by the Veteran's Memorial. You can also call 651-257-1177 for more info.

When I first took over at the Press after Dad passed away, the Home Show was the one event that I dreaded the most. As hard as it may be to believe, I wasn't really a social person. Going to the Home Show meant having to visit with people I had never met for two days. I would lay awake for a week prior to the show worrying. Amazing what a little time will do for you. The Home Show is now one of my favorite events to attend for the exact same reason I dreaded it before. I absolutely love spending time at the Home Show visiting with everyone. I could spend a week there listening to all the great stories people like to share. They say that time heals all wounds, for me, time heals all phobias.

For those of you who live here, but are not that active in the community, you have no idea how many great people our community has. My suggestion to you is get involved in something local. Once involved, you will see that our community is like no other.

For all of you gardeners out there, mark your calendars. The 2011 Spring Gardening Bonanza is Saturday, March 12. Held at the Chisago Lake Lutheran church in Center City, the Bonanza is a one day event packed with classes and informative booths that address every gardening question out there. The classes do fill up, so they are asking you to pre-register by calling 651-277-0151 or by email at [email protected]. This is a great event that will fill up fast.

A couple of weeks ago, there was quite a bit damage done to one of our newest parks. It seems someone thought it would be cool to drive their four-wheeler throughout Allemansratt Park in Lindstrom. They even had the nerve to cut branches off of a cedar tree to make a fire. There are ruts all over the park, which is clearly marked "No Motorized Vehicles".

Shari and Rich Bachman were the ones that noticed the damages and even took it upon themselves to put up orange fencing to deter future damage. Shari told me that after the Home Show on Sunday, they were at the park and noticed that a snowmobile had driven right across the snow fence and did laps inside the park. The snowmobile broke tree branches and even ran over small trees.

If you know the person(s) responsible for damaging this beautiful nature park, please give a call the Lakes Area Police Department at 651-257-0622 or 651-257-4100.

Lindstrom and the Chisago Lakes area has lost a cornerstone business. Lloyd Anderson, whom many of you know as "Poik" is finally hanging up his clippers. Lloyd has run a barber shop out of his house on Newell Avenue in Lindstrom for an eternity. For 57 years people have been getting their hair cut in an old fashioned barber chair while getting an ear full of Poik's wisdom.

A gentleman told me a Poik story recently that pretty much summed up Poik. He told me that he and his wife were thinking about relocating from Iowa to Lindstrom. While up here shopping for a home to buy, they asked my Dad where a good barber shop was. My Dad directed them to Poik's shop. The man told me that once he got in the chair, Poik told him that he didn't recognize the man, so what was he in the area for? When the man told him he was looking for a house to buy, Poik immediately asked if they had kids. (The school was trying to pass a referendum at the time) When the man told him he did, Poik told him that the town didn't need his family and he should look in another community.

That was Poik, never short on opinions. Incidently, the man moved here and continued to get his hair cut by Poik.

Lloyd has my utmost respect for running a successful business for such a long time. Lloyd is also a Veteran whom I will respect and thank as long as I live. Here's to you, take a break, you've earned it.

We have received some great questions for our weekly "Tips From Kipps".  If you would like to ask our golf pro a question, please submit via email at [email protected].

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