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If you really like Halloween, I mean really like it, this weekend is your chance to immerse yourself in all things Halloween.  This is because Ojiketa Regional Park in Chisago City will open the Ojiketa Haunt.  If you dare, try to walk the haunted trail and enter the haunted house filled with ghostly characters.  It is a great place for a haunted experience and the cost is only $5 or $3 if you bring a non-perishable food donation.  The haunt runs October 17, 18, 24 & 25, from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Parents, mark your calendars, a week from Saturday.  The anual Falloween Festival will take place at Ojiketa Regional Park.  Kids are invited to come in their costumes for all kinds of fun including a pumpkin giveaway, a magic show, games, face painting, balloons, crafts, snacks and much more. They will also get to go trick or treating from cabin to cabin in the park.  The festival runs from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Tomorrow (October 17), the good folks at Lakes Free Church will hold their annual "Sharing Shop".  They are offering gently used clothing for those who are in trying times.  The clothing is priced very affordable ( 10 cents per item and 25 cents per jacket and snow pants).  The event runs Friday 9 a.m. until noon and again 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. until noon.  If you are struggling a little right now, please, please take advantage of what these wonderful people are offering.  We have two events like this in our area and both groups only care about one thing - your well being.

Hey Veterans; Taylors Falls Elementary and the Taylors Falls Fire Department  along with the Chisago Lakes School District Food Service formally invite you to come visit with TF Elementary students on November 7. You will be treated to coffee and cookies while meeting with different classes.  I have been to many of these, and I tell you this, these kids are so respectful and so grateful to meet men and women who have served our country.  
Lunch will be served at the TF Fire Department at 11 a.m. and it usually features a guest speaker.  Spouses are encouraged to come.  I really hope you can make it, the kids love it and you will too I promise.  If possible, please call 651 213 2100 to let them know you plan on attending.

Politicians - if you are running for a seat in any election in November, we want to help you.  Call us at the Press; we can assure you get your message out to the voters in the most effective means possible.  We offer many avenues for communication including print, on-line, and Facebook.  We can get your message in front of as many as 37,000 sets of eyes in a week!  Give us a call at 651-257-5115, and we will help your campaign.

There is still time to take advantage of our great local farmers markets.  Chisago City still hold the Friday market and will now hold a winter market every other week,  indoors,  beginning next Friday.  Then November 7, 21 and December 5 & 19.  
Lindstrom will continue to hold markets Wednesdays and Saturdays in St. Bridget’s Catholic Church parking lot.  

Last week we had our first formal “Listening Session” for the Future Walk movement that I have been writing about for months.  This is a monumental event for the group.  Why monumental?  Because for months we have been trying to get groups formed, had countless meetings, sat in on various seminars, but now it has become a reality. Our goal is to listen to 1,000 community members in less than a year.  So brace yourself, we are coming for you.  We want to hear your opinions of our area, we want to hear your strengths and ideas on how to improve our already wonderful area.  We will begin having listening sessions very soon, and now that I have taken part in two of them, rest assured, they are easy, pressure-free and your opinions will not be judged. They only take an hour.  They are a great way to meet your neighbors and hear their views of the area.  I will let you know when the next session is.

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