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There is no lack of things to do in our area this weekend.  My favorite festival of the year happens in Almelund on Sunday.  I am referring to the 21st Almelund Apple Festival.  What is an apple festival you say?  It is the celebration of the apple harvest with everything apple you can imagine.  There are mouth watering desserts, apple jams, apple butter, apple sausages and of course many of the local apple farms are there selling their wonderful apples.  There is entertainment all day with music from Porcupine Creek, Wisconsin Indianhead Barbershop Chorus, River Valley Brass Band, and the Cruiser's.  The cloggers will take the stage at noon and there will be old fashioned movies shown in the barn.

For those of you who have never been to Apple Fest, it is a blast back in time.  Much like the Threshing Show, the festival is set on a rustic farm with an old school house and many outbuildings including an old log cabin.  The grounds are filled with many great vendors and apple specialties.  You can take a free ride in a model T ride with your family.  The schoolhouse has a great museum detailing the rich history of Amador and Almelund.  I would encourage you to put down the remote and get out and enjoy the beautiful weather with friends and neighbors.  The show runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday.

Speaking of festivals, make some time next weekend for North Branch's Fall Harvest Festival.  The festival begins this Wednesday with a treasure hunt and continues Saturday with a 5K run/walk.  There is a craft fair, a classic car show a snowmobile swap and my favorite a booya.  See page 11 in this Press for more details.

Our own Chris Walker is up against the clock.  We ran a story about Chris a while back on his "Rat Rods" he builds.  Chris is an exceptional builder and has built some really neat cars.  He is in a nation wide contest with other builders.  He needs our help.  If you could please go to www.ratrodtour.com and click on the yellow button on the right hand side, it will take you to the list of builders.  Simply click on Chris and submit your vote.  Thanks for helping.

This Sunday there is a dedication that is very near and dear to many of our hearts.  Navy Seal Nicholas Spehar who was sadly killed in action in 2011, will have a monument dedicated to him.  If you have been by Moberg Park in Chisago City, you would have seen the monument being constructed.  To further honor Nick, a stretch of Highway 8 will now be named in honor of him.  If you remember, when Nick was brought back here to be laid to rest, the community came out in droves to honor him.  It was easily the most touching thing I have ever taken part of.  Let's honor Nick one last time this Sunday.  The dedication begins at 1 p.m. in Moberg Park.

We are still in need of volunteers.  Sorry, A Brush With Kindness is still in need of volunteers.  A Brush with Kindness is an exterior home preservation program that offers painting, landscaping and minor repair services to eligible homeowners so they can continue to live in safe, decent homes for years to come. Projects include painting, landscaping, weatherization and minor repair services. We are a faith based organization that believes in helping our brothers and sisters in times of need. We have our "Mission Week" on September 20-27 and we are looking for some volunteers who would like to make a difference in this world. If you would like to help us, please call 651-361-0229. We welcome any and all volunteers!

It’s nice to see the Vikings finally came around and did the right thing.  By suspending him indefinitely, they at least look credible in the public eye.  There is not a single shred of me that is okay with child abuse.  Even if the person doing it is an icon.  We are all human, we all make mistakes, but a crime against a child is where the line gets drawn.  Forgive yes, allow to keep playing? No.

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