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Thank you to all who braved the weather and ventured out to the 2015 Home, Garden and Business Show.  Attendance was suprisingly better than last year with close to 2,000 people.

I did a lot of speaking with vendors, and the concensus was great overall.  Lots of leads, lots of visiting with existing customers.  After spending a weekend with local businesses in a confined space, it has made me realize how lucky we are as a community.  Every business was so friendly, not just with potential customers but with other businesses.  

Every year we try to better the show.  We do take in all input from vendors and attendees, so look for changes next year.

Speaking of the show, we did pick our winner of a year’s subscription to the Chisago County Press.  John Swanson, of Chisago City will be reading the next 52 weeks of the Chisago County Press for free.  Thank you all who entered the drawing.  
Speaking of drawings, I had the pleasure of announcing the winners during the show.  There were over 40 prize winners selected and for the most part, the winners had already gone home.  

The Chamber of Commerce has a complete list of the winners.  winners can claim their prizes directly from the vendors.  We will run a door prize list on our Facebook page beginning Thursday.

 For those of you who were saddened when the Gallery Bar and Grill closed, I have good news.  In fact, I have good news for restaurant goers in our area.  The Gallery is opening again.  Taylor and Todd Jeans,  a father/daughter combo,  bought the restaurant.  The plan is to open April 1.  
Another restaurant that was a staple of the community is re-opening.  

The Swedish Inn is making a comeback after a few brief months hiatus. Mike and Trudy have thankfully reclaimed the restaurant and are working diligently to make it the wonderful icon we all remember.

We are putting the finishing touches on our annual Community Guide.  For those of you who were looking for it at the home show, I apologize, but as it turns out, we were down a sales person and to put it out would have compromised the guide both in appearance and businesses content.  We have an extra-ordinary guide planned for this year.  I will let you know when to look for it in your mail.  

Congratulations to the North Branch gymnastics team, which  finished fourth at state.  I have seen them in action, and they are really good.

Good luck to all of the winter sports teams as playoffs begin this week.  We have three CL wrestlers competing on Friday at the state wrestling tournament.  Teddy Pierce, Dylan Connell and Kyle Shoenecker all qualified for state.

Basketball and boys hockey teams begin their playoff runs this week.  The Wildcat boys basketball team plays Friday at home.  You are asked to please wear Wildcat green for “Green Out” day.  They play Hibbing.

The boys hockey team plays tonight in Isanti.  They will play Spring Lake Park.  The winner will earn a berth to the state tournament.  This is shaping up to be a very suuccessful winter for local schools!

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