First of Highway 8 chairs sold

The first of 37 Highway 8 Chairs has been sold for the top price. The Highway 8 Chairs debuted on Monday, July 1, as part of the "Life is GREAT on Highway 8!" campaign initiated by the Chisago Lakes Area Community Foundation. The chairs are available for purchase via Silent Auction. Each sponsor location has a bid sheet inside their business, and the Silent Auction will continute through Labor Day, September 2. A bid of $1,000 will close the bidding for that chair, but the chair will remain on display until after September 2. Monica Tosteson of Chisago City placed a $1,000 bid on the "Scandinavian Folk Art" chair painted by Pat Post and sponsored by Gustaf's/Up North Gallery in Lindstrom.

A big THANK YOU to Monica! The current bid status for all chairs is available online at www.highway8chairs. com, along with photos of each of the chairs, and information about the artists and sponsors, and other details. Proceeds from the sale of the chairs is being invested by the local community foundation, an affiliate of the St. Croix Valley Foundation , a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. The funds received will then enhance life in the Chisago Lakes area in the form of grants for the arts, parks, the environment and other civic needs.

The Chisago Lakes Area Community Foundation has obtained sponsorships for large oversized, photo opportunity chairs in each of the five cities along the Highway 8 corridor. The large chairs are located in Moberg Park in Chisago City, just off Highway 8 in Lindstrom and Center City, at the Shafer Corn Maze in Shafer, and adjacent to the community center in Taylors Falls. Maps identifying the location of all the chairs (large and small) are available at all sponsor locations and at www.highway8chairs.com.