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If your kids are excited about dressing up for Halloween, they don't have to wait a week. Saturday, from 2:30 until 4:30 p.m., Ojiketa Regional Park will play host to the 11th annual Falloween Festival.  It's a chance for children of all ages to take part in an early Halloween with their friends and family.  I have been there many times, and I assure you, the kids love it.  There are hayrides, a friendly haunted house, crafts, a pumpkin hunt, trick-or-treating, music, face painting, a magic show, a costume contest and much more.  They do ask that you bring a non-perishable food item for the local food shelf.  (Me speaking now), if you have more than one food item that you can part with, I would encourage you to bring them.  Our food shelf is a little low now and with the winter season approaching, it would be nice to replenish inventory before the need exceeds the ability to help.  Thanks for giving.

Speaking of giving to the food shelf, if you are not planning on attending the Falloween Festival but would like to give to the shelf, you are in luck.  On Halloween night, the wonderful kids that make up the Chisago Lakes National Honor Society will be out collecting non-perishable food items as well as personal hygiene products.  These will help in filling our food shelf as well as provide supplies to the Refuge.  The Refuge is a battered women's shelter and program serving Chisago County.  So if you see some teenagers at your door on Halloween, please donate if possible.  Thank you again.

There are plenty of local places to enjoy the Halloween season.  This is great apple picking season, and if you have had some local apples recently, you know how absolutely wonderful they taste.  We also have corn mazes, as well as lots of pumpkin patches in our area.

If you are stocking up on candy for the big night, look no further than Thrifty White.  They have everything you need regarding Halloween.

Over MEA break, my family finally had a chance to travel to Iowa to see my grandmothers.  Yes I am lucky enough to say I have two of them.  Their ages are 95 and soon to be 97.  Unbelievable.  They both are doing great, in fact my older grandmother just purchased a new sporty car.  her other car of 20 years finally gave out.  

There is something about visiting them that does something for me.  It puts things in perspective.  I can be having all kinds of trials in my life, but when I am with them, these simply melt away.  There is a serenity that they bring to my life that is hard to explain.  Maybe they are all I have. Maybe I look to them for wisdom.  Maybe I see mom and dad in them. Whatever the case, they are my rock.  People including myself ask them what is their key to living such long, healthy, positive lives? Their answer (both of them) is always faith.  Faith that God will provide and look out for them.  

Because I was in Iowa, I happened to miss an event here that I really wanted to attend.  Sue Wilson celebrated her 80th birthday.  Many of you might remember Sue as the local librarian from when the library was located in the Chamber building. Sue has also been a regular at St. Bridget’s church for as long as I can remember.  

Sue was the first person I met when we moved here in 1979.  She forced (yes forced) her two sons to spend the day with my older brother and I.  It was very uncomfortable for the first few hours, but since then, we have remained great friends.  Sue and my mom formed a wonderful relationship from day one.  Sue was such a kind, caring person toward my family and especially my mom.  Over the years, she has taken on the role of surrogate mother to me...stopping in to say hi and get a hug from time to time.  This is not meant to come off as a eulogy, I am simply trying to relate what a special woman she is.  Happy birthday Sue.  You are appreciated.

If you run a home-based business and are struggling to make it grow, we can help.  Give us a call here at the Press.  We have a few new things that are specifically geared towards small businesses.  We want to see you succeed.  We want to help you.  Call us at 651 257 5115.

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