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Wow what a difference a week makes. I can't tell you how many conversations I had last week regarding when the ice will be off the lakes.  The majority (including myself) were all guessing right around opener which is next weekend.  After today, it looks like many of the lakes will reach ice out by this weekend.  It sure is nice to see open water again.  

I remember when we first moved here. I was in sixth grade.  We were driving through Center City and across from the Porterhouse (for those newcomers that is the Pizza Pub) was a car. It kind of looked junky - in fact it was a Chevy Nova, I remember it clearly. My dad told me it was for an ice-out contest.  People would put money down and pick a day when they thought the car would fall through the ice.  I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever heard of, in fact, I made him turn around and place a bet on a date at the Country Squire (for you newcomers that is Al's Center Saloon).  Of course I didn't win (or at least if I did Dad must have kept the money) but I thought it was a really neat bonding event for the community. Little did I realize that it was most likely destructive to the area lakes even though the car was pulled out when all of the ice was off. It would be neat to do something similar to that but obviously with an item safe for the lakes. Maybe a giant ice sculpture of Karl Oskar - no wait how about a 1972 Chevy Nova ice sculpture?


Tomorrow (Friday) the Chisago Lakes School District will break ground on the soon to be Chisago Lakes Community Center. The community center will be located where the student parking lot currently exists.  We have had plenty of stories detailing the community center, but if you haven't seen the renderings, go to isd2144.org and click on building projects and then community center plans.  There you will see three different images of plans.  The community center looks spectacular and I can't wait to see the final product.  For those of you who think the community center is being built just for school kids, that just isn't so.  The idea is to have it open to the public as much as to the schools. We will be able to use this great building for sports, weightlifting, meetings, big events such as the home show.  This area needs a large gathering space for events and this place looks amazing.  They will have the official ground breaking ceremony at 3pm on Friday.

Also, Friday is May 4th.  For all of you trekkie fans it is May The Fourth Be With You Day. Okay, okay I know it's not Star Trek, it's from Lost In Space.  Or is it Star Wars? Either way the Chisago Lakes Library invites people ages 11 and up to come and try a May The Fourth Be With You escape room.  Players try to solve a series of Star Wars themed puzzles using clues, riddles, and strategy while trying to save a droid named BB8.  This will fill up so they ask you to register by calling 651-257-2817.

Thanks to the Chisago Lakes Lions Club for another great Cadillac Dinner. We had a great time and the food was amazing.  You are the best!

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