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This week is Fire Prevention Week.  This is our chance to get out and meet the men and women who faithfully protect our homes and businesses day in and day out.  These firefighters are our friends, our neighbors, who make up this great community.  They do this out of the goodness of their hearts.  Yes they make a pension, but it is tiny compared to the hundreds if not thousands of hours they put in over the years.  

Center City and Lindstrom will be having open houses this Saturday.  Center City will host a 5K run/walk and a Kids Run.  You can register at www.frontrunnerusa.com.   You can meet the firefighters, take a ride in a fire truck, spray a hose, and win great prizes.  They will also hold a chili feed from noon until gone.

Lindstrom will also be holding their open house.  You can get a tour of the ladder truck, maybe if you ask nicely you can get a lift on the boom of the aerial truck.  They will have refreshments, plastic fire helmets for the kids, and will have several demonstrations for all to learn.

Chisago City will take their skills and equipment to the local schools and will visit the Primary School and Lakeside tomorrow.  The kids have a blast crawling on the trucks and shooting the hose.

If you know a firefighter, take the time this week to stop and say thank you.  Thank you for protecting our great community.  Thank you for risking your lives to save ours.

Sunday, everyone is invited to the Chisago Lakes High School for the 100th annual Lions Pancake Breakfast.  The meal runs from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. so there is plenty of time after church to go to the breakfast.  

It is not the 100th pancake breakfast, but it has been going for as long as I can remember.  I remember moving here in 5th grade and attending the Lions breakfast with my family.  Not divulging my age, but that was a very long time ago.

The meal is great with pancakes, french toast, eggs, sausage, and drinks, all for a low price of $7 and $3.50 for kids.  I hope to see you there.

In this edition of the Press, you will find the first of our Voters Guides.  Federal candidates and school board members talk about important questions.  I invite you to read each and every one to truly learn about who you will or will not be casting your vote for in November.  Denise has done a great job, and I feel like you will gain new insight on these folks running for office.

Sadly, we had yet another icon pass away this week.  Last week we lost Shirley Dusenka and this week we say goodbye to Mary Eichten.  Yes that Eichten.
I have known Mary for 26 years.  She and her husband Joe ran the very successful Eichten’s Cheese Farm.  On top of running that great business, she somehow managed to raise 10 children.  She was a wonderful woman.  So thoughtful, so caring. One day I was speaking to her on the phone.  When we said goodbye I told her I loved her.  I stared at the phone wondering what she was thinking.  Speaking to her, she reminded me so much of my grandmother, she even sounded like her.  We had a good laugh the next time I spoke to Mary.  I would wager that she has heard that many times before.  Mary will be missed by all.

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