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This week is a rough one for many Minnesotans.  This week has two significant events that have shaped our lives as we know it.  The first is 9/11.  Can you believe it has been 15 years since the country was attacked and the towers were brought down in New York?  

It still seems like yesterday.  I can remember every minute of that day, what I was doing, who I was working with and coming home to my family. Sitting in silence watching the news, waiting for the next horrific event to happen.  I remember driving home in rush hour from downtown Minneapolis that afternoon.  It was so odd, my life, the traffic, people's expressions were all moving in slow motion.  So many lives were lost, so many lives were touched, so many lives became altered from that very moment.  

This Sunday is our chance to honor those who were lost that day and our chance to honor the men and women who serve including essential emergency responders. You are invited to Moberg Park in Chisago City, Sunday September 11 at 6 p.m. for this moving tribute. The American Legion will be presenting the colors. The school band will play and refreshments will be served. I hope to see you there.

As I mentioned earlier, this week has contained two significant events. Sadly, the second is locating Jacob Wetterling's body.  Jacob as we all know disappeared from St. Joseph, Minnesota 27 years ago.  Most people assumed from his 27 year absence that Jacob was no longer alive, but everyone in the back of their mind held onto a shred of hope. Hope that possibly he was raised by someone, brainwashed and would someday be reunited with his family.  Sadly that never came to be, and instead authorities were led to his burial site by the monster they already had in jail.  

While it does finally bring closure for the poor family of Jacob, it altered every one of our lives.  Gone were the days of letting children bike all over tarnation. Gone were the days of letting our young children out of our sight. Gone were the days of trusting neighbors and community members.  Admit it, when your child has asked you in the past if they can ride over to so and so's house, whose name pops into your (our) mind? Jacob Wetterling.  Every single time. Even now when I am driving and I happen to see a young child walking by the road unattended, I think what if someone like the man who took Jacob comes along?  Forever altered.  Forever.  


This is your final reminder for the Blue Zone Rally. Mark your calendars for September 14. The rally is at the Chisago Lakes High School.

Learn the secret to living longer and better lives,  from speaker Tony Buettner whose work has been featured in National Geographic and Newsweek.  Be a part of transforming well-being so healthy choices become easy choices for you and your community. This presentation is part of the America’s Best Communities competition.  

Free admission and childcare while you attend the event.  Let’s make a real effort to get out and make a difference in our community.  See you there!

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