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This is Thanksgiving week. Wow - tough year for thanks.  Pandemic, economic shut-downs, closed restaurants and bars, death toll rising as well as hospitalizations.  

There are still plenty of things to be thankful for in this year of turmoil.  I am thankful for you our readers, our wonderful advertisers and thankful our doors are still open.  Thankful our kids have managed to contract and heal from the virus.  Thankful I live in the most generous, giving community in the state.  Thankful the election is over.  Thankful for being here.  Thankful for my faith, it has gotten me through so much.

This Saturday is Shop Small Saturday. This is our chance to stop chasing that ever-elusive Playstation 5 that is as rare as the Stresemann's Bristlefront. This is our chance to stop in all of the wonderful stores that make up Chisago Lakes, North Branch and Taylors Falls.  All of these shops have had to endure so much this year with state mandated shut-downs.  We can help them by visiting their stores and purchasing something in person rather than (gulp) from Amazon.  We don’t need to break the bank at local stores, but believe me when I say that anything  and everything helps these folks who are our friends and our neighbors.  We can do this - the end of the tunnel is in sight. Let’s make sure these great businesses make it through to the other side.

Speaking of shut-downs, another round has hit our local restaurants.  As if it wasn’t hard enough for them to make it through the last wave, here comes another.  Do NOT get me wrong, I am all for getting this virus under control.  But I fear the latest shut down will permanently damage local restaurants.  So once again we are asking you to please get some take-out from local restaurants.  What a year they have had.  

Our annual Gift Guide came out last weekend. The guide is filled with great Holiday ideas as well as tons of local businesses offering Holiday goods and services.  If you have children, look at page 15, there is a coloring contest for kids ages 3-11.  If their entry is chosen they will receive a prize and get their photo in the County Press. Entries are due here at the office by December 18.

This weekend the Taylors Falls Tree Lighting Festival is still planning on holding an event.  The parade will be stationary and vehicles will slowly drive by. Enjoy the scene from the safety of your own vehicle.  It is the only way the event can take place with the recent state orders. If you plan on attending the parade, they are asking people to begin lining up at the Taylors Falls Elementary School and proceed down the hill and through town where the floats will be displayed.  Trust me folks it will still be a great time and it’s just what we need to get in the Christmas spirit.

Chisago City Tree lighting festival has altered plans a bit as well. The event isn’t until December 6, but I encourage you to look at the new ad on page 9 for the new details.

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