Goodbye to a few community staples, the state is open? Let's go out to eat!

Goodbye to a few community staples, the state is open? Let's go out to eat!

If there is one thing that I hate about this job, it has to be people I have become friends with, great people in our community, passing away. This week we have two to mourn. Not to belittle the others in our obituary section, I am writing about those whom I knew. Ace Johnson of Lindstrom and Frankie Dusenka of Chisago City passed away recently.

Frankie is the past owner of Chisago Hardware, which his daughter Tracy and husband Marcus now run. He ran that store for decades and even served as mayor of Chisago City. Always beaming with a smile. He is re-united with his bride Shirley in a better place.

Ace Johnson has been a staple in Lindstrom since the beginning of time. He was involved in so many groups including the hockey association, Masons, and Wild River Snowmobile Club. I have known Ace forever and he is one of the nicest people you would ever hope to meet. Always asked about your family instead of telling you about his. I will miss seeing his little blue Hyundai driving all over town and parked in front of The Swede. He is in Heaven where there is no shortage of toothpicks.

The Chisago Lakes Chamber, in conjunction with Wild River Snowmobile Club and Kids Pro Ice, are selling raffle tickets far a chance to win a brand new Polaris 600 Indy. The tickets are only $10 and the winner will be drawn February 13 at 4pm.

Second place will win a Bikeman Performance Tuneup worth $500 and third place is a $250 gift certificate to FXR outlet in Forest Lake.

You can contact any of those places to buy your raffle ticket. Good luck.

The Celebration of Lakes will take place February 12-14 and will feature Dogsled Rides (Moberg Park, Chisago City), Hot Chocolate/Cider (Moberg Park, Chisago City), Food Truck (Moberg Park, Chisago City), Candlelit Trail Hike (Allemansratt Park, Lindstrom), Puzzle Contest (via Zoom). On the 13th there will be: Medallion Hunt (Community Wide), Vintage Snowmobile Show (North Center Lake)Radar Run (North Center Lake), Kids Pro Snowmobile Races (North Center Lake), Ice Skating/Hockey/Broom Ball (North Center Lake), Fishing Tournament (North Center Lake), Fireworks (Paradise Park Chisago City)

On the 14ht there’s: Grumpy Old Men Church Service (Chisago Lake Lutheran), Dodgeball Tournament (North Center Lake), Ice Skating (North Center Lake), Kids Pro Snowmobile Races (North Center Lake).

Our Governor has finally loosened covid-19 restrictions on many of the businesses that have been so stressed this last go-round of executive orders. That means we can finally go out and have a bite to eat instead of getting take-out and staring across the table at our spouse - the same ritual we have been doing since St. Patrick’s Day - of last year....

I’m not complaining, but imagine my wife having to look at this mug all weekend long... Anyways, I realize that indoor dining capacity will be limited, but we still get a chance to have a night out! That’s huge. Let’s make an effort to go out and support those businesses that have been mandated to stay closed. (or takeout) for way too long.

Hopefully there is time to save those who have not been put out of business due to the pandemic. I can taste a peanut gallery porter from the Uncommon Loon as I write this.