Yearly tip to fix your blue pool blues; Praisin and Grillin and ribs Sunday

This weekend if you happen to be roaming around the area, keep your eyes open for the KS95 van. On air personality Shannon Holly will be in the area visiting various businesses with prizes to share with listeners who come and talk with them. If you happen to spot them, be sure to stop and say hi. Not only will you make our area inviting, you will walk away with a prize. Every year I write this as my gift to all of you "blue pool" people. You know who you are, the house with the huge blue pool in the yard. Don't worry I am one of you. We all know each other from the aisle at the pool store. Usually bumping into each other while reaching for the famous paper filters for the pool pump. A couple of years back we (I) was at my wit’s end fighting the brown/orange color that was determined to stick around no matter how many filters I changed or how many chemicals I dumped in the pool. Someone very smart told me that every blue pool comes with an undersized filter and pump. Makes sense right?

So a few years back, I visited Bob up at APro Pools in Lindstrom. We ended up buying a Sand Pro filter which ran about $200 or so. A lot of money I know. But here is the deal - I fill our pool each year. Each year the water immediately turns a disgusting brown that you can not see the floor of the pool through. Instead of running to WalMart and buying 10 filters and a boat load of chemicals, I simply plug in the pump and within two days the water is sparkling clear. No joke. No chemicals, no paper filters, nothing. This pump has paid for itself twice over. If you are battling brown/orange water go see Bob. Ask for the Sand Pro and your clear water days are a day or two away.

If you read the Lindstrom City Council story this week, you will have seen a blurb about the sale of Karl Oskar and Kristina statues. Yes, it's true, I have sold the statues. Not to a collector, or a new restaurant, but to a legitimate buyer - The City of Lindstrom. The statues have been part of the Chisago County Press lawn for decades. Tens of thousands of visitors (mostly Swedish tourists) have taken photos on the front lawn of the County Press. Quite impressive if you think that people will fly across the world to see a statue that by the way is also erected in a Swedish outdoor mall as well.

Nonetheless, they still take the long voyage to come to Lindstrom to visit the statues, Gammelgarden, Nya Duvemala (Karl Oskar house) and a few other great sites. If I had $5 for every photo I have taken for tourists, I would be on easy street. So why sell? Why now? The first reaction will be to assume that the Press is closing. Not true. The second is they are hurting for money. Not true. So why sell? Two reasons. Two very simple and easy to understand. The first reason is the statues should be the property of Lindstrom. The public already owns four of the greatest statues in the United States. The sale would add to the collection and thus bolster the reputation as a major player steeped in Swedish heritage. Their magnetic draw to both Swedish and local tourists will increase with the addition of another great piece of art. The agreement with Lindstrom states that they (the statues) will remain located where they are now, until either the city finds an ideal location or if the Press should decide to move. So basically, nothing will change, at least in the immediate future. The second reason for selling the statues is by far and away the easiest to justify.

If you have ever had the pleasure (or misfortune) to come in the Press in the last six years, you most definitely would have noticed something. That something is a very sore spot with me. That something has ruined family vacations for me. That something has caused countless (and I mean countless) nights of sleeplessness for yours truly. That something is... a leaky roof. The Press has one of the famous Minnesota flat roofs that are nothing more than tar and gravel. If you have been in lately, you would have seen the hundreds of water spots that litter our ceiling tiles. Drives me nuts. It's embarrassing, gross looking, and a real pain in the tush. The sale of the statues will enable us to finally put on a roof that does not leak. It will finally allow me to re-tile the ceiling. A new roof means that the next time there is a threat of rain, I don't have to push the speed limit driving here so that I can set my buckets (as many as 11 of them) to catch the rain dripping in. A new roof means I can sleep. That is what I am most excited about. So when you read the council article, rest assured, we are not going anywhere. Except maybe to bed for a good night’s sleep.

The folks at First United Methodist Church in Lindstrom would like to see you on Sunday. They are having their annual Praisin’ and Grillin’ festival June 29. This year you are invited to bring your grill for a rib competition. The competition is limited to 10 teams and cost $50. That money pays for your entry fee and one case of ribs. There is a chef’s meeting on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the church. The festival will feature face painting, hot dogs, brats, ice cream, beverages, inflatables and great music from local musicians. The musicians are from churches in the area. You are encouraged to bring blanket or lawn chair. The event is free and guaranteed fun for everyone. Grab the family and come on out.