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I can’t believe this, but Karl Oskar Days is next week.  That means in less than seven days, we will be able to attend the largest celebration of the summer.  Beginning on Wednesday, you are invited a St. Croix Valley Camera Club photo show at the library.  You are invited to Harmony in the Park on Wednesday. Lions Park is where you will find this year’s Karl Oskar Ambassador Coronation.  Come out and support the girls as they try to become the new ambassadors who will represent Lindstrom for the next year. The coronation begins at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday will have another showing of the photo show at  the library at noon and then Trinity Lutheran will host a cribbage tournament at 6:30 p.m.

Friday, I would encourage you to attend the guided walking tour of Lindstrom.  The tour is free, and is filled with great stories from the past.  Trust me, it is really neat and worth your time. The tours begin at 3 p.m. at the statues here at the Press.

Last week I wrote about saying goodbye to a good friend Tangi at the Chamber.  This week, I am proud to introduce you to the new face of the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.  Her name is Wendy Redland.  

Wendy is a familiar face in downtown Lindstrom. For the last three years, Wendy ran a sewing shop in downtown Lindstrom.  Many of you might have met her on the many groups she volunteers with, such as Future Walk.  

Wendy grew up in North Branch, where her father was a dentist.  She attended college in Wisconsin and then came back to North Branch and opened “The Threaded Needle” sewing shop.

Redland and her husband Chris moved to Chisago Lakes (Almelund) after a brief stint in St. Paul and have lived here for the last 15 years.

Wendy has a daughter that will be a sophomore and twin boys who will be in eighth grade this year.  

During her time owning a sewing shop in Lindstrom, Wendy recognized what a great group of businesses and individuals we have in our area.  When the Chamber position became available, she felt it was the perfect fit.

Wendy is very excited to be writing a new chapter in her life, and we couldn’t be happier to be part of it.  If you get a chance, I highly urge you to stop in the Chamber of Commerce building and say hi and welcome to Wendy.  You will then get to see first hand the wonderful successor we have found.  Tangi will be missed, but we are also lucky to have found Wendy.

I wanted to wish you and your family a happy Fourth of July.  One of the things I love about this place is how friends and neighbors get together.  Many choose to forgo heading to town to watch the fireworks.  Usually, the fireworks you can view on any of the lakes in the area are pretty darn good anyway.  I urge you to be safe this weekend.  If you are having fireworks, please be careful.  And please keep the kids far away.

Thank you so much for all of your clothing donations.  I ran a photo of the last load that you so graciously donated last week. Guess what?  I already have that amount donated this week.  You people are unbelieveable.  Thank you for being so generous.

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