---

What a beautiful weekend we had for the Memorial Day events and all of the outdoor festivities people were taking part in.  Yes it was hot, but I am NOT complaining. After the winter we just endured, we can use the heat to warm ourselves and our souls.  

I had the honor of attending the Memorial Service at Franconia Cemetery Monday with my wife.  It was great seeing the huge turnout of residents and families to show their respect to the fallen men and women who served our great country. What really stood out to me was just how many young adults and children were there to pay their respects. Yes, their families may have brought them, but every single one of them behaved with the utmost respect and it was just great.

Thank you to all of the men and women who put together the Memorial Day ceremonies and gave us a chance to pay our respects and say thank you.

Deadline for 'The Good Neighbor Project' nominations is June 1.  If you know of a family, due to medically related hardship, who is in need of some extra support, this is your opportunity to help.Write a brief summary of the medically related hardship and a selected family will receive gifts, groceries or other needed items that will be delivered at the end of July. Submit nominations to [email protected]  Questions contact Jessica or Sara at 651-243-5556.

Last weekend, the majority of you received our 2018 Chisago Lakes Community and Visitor Guide. The guide is jam packed with information about our great area including an up to date calendar of events to help you plan your weekends.

We have worked very hard to improve this year’s guide and hope you will find it enjoyable as well as informative.  Please note all of the wonderful advertisers in the guide. They are the lifesource of the area and without them, both the Press and the community would be nothing.  A huge thank you to the businesses that have made the guide bigger and better each of the 15 years we have been putting it out.  It started as a 36 page guide that was black and white and has transformed into a 92 page beautiful full color guide.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.

We have a couple of new businesses to celebrate and both happen to be in Shafer. Okay, they are not new, but the owners certainly are.  Nick and Michelle Pratt are the new owners of Eichten’s Market and Grill.  Michelle and Nick are related to the Eichtens and will do a great job keeping the tradition of great food and service going and growing.

Rochelle and Joe Olson are the new owners of what was formerly known as Big Game Bar. They have brought back the Crossroads  name and changed it to Ole’s Crossroads.  We have known the Olsons for a while and they are wonderful people who will do well. Stop and pay a visit to both businesses and welcome them to town.

---