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So once the dust settled after the home show I opened up the free subscription entry box. Whoa I wasn't ready for the volume of entries. We had to have well over 500 entries!  We hired (okay we just asked our next door neighbor) an outside party to draw the names and the lucky winners of one year subscriptions are as follows: Wayne Peltier of Taylors Falls, Carol Swanson of Chisago City, Jolene Winterlin of Shafer and Daniel Swenson of North Branch.  Congratulations! You do not need to call us, we will get you in our files and you will receive your papers next week.

We also did a drawing for $250 worth of advertising for a local business.  The contest wasn't limited to show vendors, all associated with local businesses were encouraged to enter. We had around 200 entries and we are happy to announce that Heritage Remodeling of Sunrise was this year's lucky winner.  We will be contacting you soon about advertising.

Thank you to all who participated in our drawing as well as the tens of drawings other vendors in the show had.  It really was great to see so many vendors participating in giveaways and the crowds seem to appreciate it as well.

The Chisago Lakes Marching Band is in search of new uniforms.  I have written it before, but to me it is so strange the kids are marching in uniforms that were bought in 1984.  Thats 36 year old uniforms, polyester and wool nonetheless.  No thanks.  For the last year or so, the booster club has been actively fundraising to hopefully get 100 new uniforms. The goal is to have new uniforms by the September 11 Memorial Ceremony held in Chisago City. The reason they picked that date is because the Chisago City Fire Department has been a huge help in the money they donated.  
 
To date the club has raised around $35,000 which translates to about 70 percent of the uniforms cost.  They have held a super-successful garage sale as well as bagging groceries, washing cars...you name it they have been trying it.  So why am I telling you all of this?  The band is hosting another two day garage sale on March 21 & 22 at the Lindstrom Community Center.  Everyone is invited and the proceeds go to a great cause as you have just read.  They are still looking for donations for the sale. They ask you to please bring in your gently used items in enough time for them to price items accordingly.  The sale will run 8am to 5 pm on March 21 and 8 am to 2 pm on March 22.  

We here at the Press are currently working on our annual Chisago Lakes Community and Visitor Guide.  Many of you know it as the handy events and info magazine that you get delivered to your homes and is at most waiting rooms and public places.  This is our 20th year of putting out the guide and it has grown from a 42 page guide, to over 100 pages.  

The guide is filled with important info about the area, happenings, events and so much more. Why am I telling you all of this?  Because if you have a business in Chisago Lakes or a business that people in Chisago Lakes can utilize, this is THE one piece that you should advertise in.  Think about it, the guide is dispersed all year long and goes out to thousands of residents who keep it as a reference throughout the year.
The guide is also handed out to thousands of visitors each year.   Your ad in the guide literally lasts all year long.  Break that down with the cost and the ad really costs pennies.  

Don't miss your chance to advertise in this year's guide, give us a call at 651-257-5115 or email us at [email protected], we will help you create a great ad that will draw people to your business.

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