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Well another Chisago Lakes Triathlon has come and gone.  I can not believe that it has been nine years since our first event.  Where has the time gone?  We have seen some amazing things take place at the event.  We have seen participant numbers balloon beyond belief.  We have seen a participant win it six years in a row (I am speechless).  We have seen a blind person participate.  We have seen our good friend perish in an auto accident.  You name it, we have seen it.  This year's event was just as I hoped it would be - non-eventful.  The weather was as cool as I could remember.  A few rain showers that the runners seemed to enjoy.  And a breeze that the bikers did not seem to enjoy.  

The group of motorcyclist called "draft marshals" is what I ride with.  I know, I know, I swore it off after Sherwin was struck last year.  But the more I thought about it and the more my cohorts bugged me, I caved in and decided to ride. I am glad I did.  We had some great shirts printed up that said the first ever Sherwin Johnson Memorial Ride.  I couldn't be more proud to wear the bright yellow shirt. I will say that my approach was different than in the past.  I was a much more calm, calculated rider this year.  Sherwin was in my head pretty much the entire time.

Our family also runs a water station along the long run.  We are in a stretch that has zero shade, so the runners can be a little agitated when we see them.  We had something like 23 helpers working the station and it couldn't have gone more smoothly.  Runners were appreciative and the fist bumps were a plenty.  

This year's triathlon was just as I had hoped it would be - well attended, nice temperatures and uneventful.


This weekend it's Center City's chance to show the world they know how to throw a celebration.  Center City Days kicks off tomorrow with a potluck dinner at Water Tower Park.  You are encouraged to bring a dish to share and your own beverages.  The Center City Fire Department is holding a family cash bingo event at the fire hall at 7 p.m.  Grab the family and a blanket and head to Moody Baseball field by the church for an outdoor movie at dusk.  

Saturday begins with a craft fair on Summit Avenue.  There is a great art exhibit called Willhelm Moberg Art Expo being held at the Swedish Village Restaurant and other businesses.   Saturday will have inflatables for the kids to jump around in and games for the kids to play..  There is a guided bike ride that families are encouraged to take part in.  Please contact Larry at 257-6822 to register.  The Swedish Village Restaurant is hosting a cribbage tournament  that begins at noon.  Summit Avenue in downtown Center City will host cloggers, Jim Briggs, and Paul Dennison and Friends.  At 4 p.m., the art from the expo will be auctioned off, so if you see a piece you really enjoy - buy it and take it home!

Sunday, the firemen invite you to their annual pancake breakfast that runs from 8 a.m. until noon at the fire hall.  There is a great classic car show in the parking lot of the Porterhouse that opens at 11 a.m. Mark Grim takes the stage at noon to wrap the even up. Come on up to Center City.  Let's show the folks we appreciate their beautiful town.


This week we say goodbye to a rock.  Sandi Williams is saying goodbye to her friends and colleagues at St. Croix Regional Medical Center.  Sandi has been a fixture at SCRMC for years and years. Many of you might not know the name, but you certainly would recognize the face.  Sandi has been a champion for SCRMC and for the Chisago Lakes Area.  She lives in Lindstrom and has long been a supporter of the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. She can be seen at virtually every community event as well as walking in local parades.  

 Sandi is one of the kindest people you could ever hope to meet.  She exudes community pride, she genuinely cares about local businesses not just her own.  If we had more Sandi's in the world, well you get the picture.  Recently I was speaking with Sandi about her future plans.  She plans on relaxing, fishing, relaxing, fishing, traveling and fishing some more.  If you happen to see Sandi out and about, wish her well.  Please tell her thank you from me and also from our community.

I have a couple of teens that share a roof at our house.  I say that in jest, but lately it seems like they are tennants more than family.  I have written about the latest fads with our kids and how they are consumed by whatever is hot at the moment.  The flavor of the day is some game on their Ipods and phones called "Clash of Clans".  I know I am preaching to the choir, and there is a good chance that many of you reading this have a "clan" of your own, but I don't get it.  It is a video game with terrible graphics and the figures are so small you have to squint to see them.  Basically you build your cities and attack other cities.  It is not violent at all and is very simplistic to use.  But for some reason, every kid is playing this game.  They can text each other while playing.  Their heads are all bent over looking at the tiny screens.  I vividly remember telling my dad he was so "Old" because he didn't want to play nintendo (a really old video game system) with us.  I wish he was here today.  One so I could apologize to him and two because we would enjoy making fun of all these kids that are wasting the best times of their lives with video games.

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