---

On Monday we as a country celebrate those women and men who have dutifully served our great country and are no longer with us.  Memorial Day has taken a back seat to the pandemic (for good reason) and is now finally a full go.  That means we as a community are invited to come out and pay our respects to these great people who have helped make our country what it is today.  We have a large spread in the middle of this edition that details each and every Memorial Day event in the area. You don’t have to be related to someone who has served to pay your respects, by all means, come on out Monday morning to one or more of the events.  They are quite moving and to pay respects it the right thing to do.  The events don’t last very long so it won’t eat up your day.  I will see you there!

This week we lost a real gem. Bill Burgin passed away after a long battle with various illnesses.  Many readers will recognize his face (see the obituary page) as a permanent figure on the Wildcat Boys Basketball bench back when Herb Jangor coached.  Bill and his beautiful wife Mary have lived in Lindstrom for decades.  Bill was a counselor at Hazelden and was a counselor at Stillwater prison for decades.  I have known Bill for a very long time and he was one of the kindest devout people I have ever met.  Many an afternoon at Koehn Auto, we would sit and talk about the area, religion, sports and anything else.  His nature was so calming and his heart (which wasn’t his original) was so big.  Enjoy your time in Heaven Bill, you earned it.

This week we have completed our 2021/22 Chisago Lakes Community and Visitor Guide.  Yes it’s a bit late coming out, but we wanted to see what the landscape looked like as far as events taking place or not.  We are making a concerted effort to spread them around the area, but if you would like one, we have plenty of copies here at the Press. Just stop by and pick one up.  Our address here at the paper is 12631 Lake Blvd.in Lindstrom.  

The guide is filled with so much stuff.  Community events, local information about Governments, cities, places to visit, and so much more. You will find business listings for any project, any need in the world.  It is your one-stop shop for anything Chisago Lakes.  

 A huge thank you to all the advertisers who took part in this year’s book.  Even on the back side of a pandemic, the guide managed to increase by eight pages.  Get yours today!

Next Wednesday the kick-off to summer (in my mind) starts with the first Harmony in the Park concert.  I can’t tell you how much joy it gives me to actually be writing about events that we can see each other at, face to face. The other day I went back and read the first paper when the state shut down.  Our entire paper was filled with cancellations.  It was the most depressing newspaper I have ever seen.  Well we have made it.  Hopefully those days are behind us and we NEVER have to go through that again.  Brighter days are in front of us!

On June 3, 4 and 5, the city of Shafer invites you to come out for their annual City Wide Garage Sale.  The city will be filled with garage sales offering something for everyone.  Look for signs off Highway 8.

Grab your kayak and paddle and head to Paradise Park at 9:30 on Memorial Day, for the annual Memorial Day Paddle.  The kayakers will wind their way to Lindstrom before ending at Center City docks around noon. Join in any time, if you don’t own a kayak, Captain Sean’s will rent you one.

---