We are fortunate in America to have a great water system. If you live in the city you are pretty well assured by turning on the tap to have water that should be clean enough to consume. It's a wonderful gift that our forefathers gave us... and a gift that we can hopefully hand down to our next generations.In other countries they are not so fortunate. Visiting Africa two years ago I was given the opportunity to travel into some fairly small villages where an organization like 'World Vision' had been in and placed a deep water well. There were droves of families that visited the well everyday. It was the children mostly that headed with their pails and buckets to the location of the well. The older kids took turns pumping the water up and they all worked together for a common goal. Mind y... 05/01/2011

The 6th Annual Taste of Elk River is just days away!  Weather will be turning around soon, so the perfect way to finally bring in Spring with a bang is the Taste of Elk River. When and where: May 12th from 5pm - 9pm at Lions Park in Elk River For $25 you get a ticket to sample wine, beer and food from several area distributors.  From being at this event in the past you will definately get full so come hungry and come thirsty! There is also live music feature Shane Martin from 5-7pm and The Mighty Hildenburgs from 5:30-6:30 & 7-8pm.  Plus Horse and Buggy and Wild Wood Sleigh Rides from 5-9pm. To get your tickets and for a full list of venders go to: www.elkrivermnrotary.com     05/01/2011

If you've visited the Elk River branch of the library system lately you'd know that they are taking a 'furlough' day on April 12th. The reason? Money is tight. Like every business and organization right now - the libraries are suffering too. Before the end of the year they will be taking two more.... that is three unpaid days off for all employees... That's why this year is especially important to support the organization through their high "5" program!For just $5 you can support your library and give them the resources to keep their doors open another year. I have done my part + some. Yes, not only did I raise my hand to the library, but I've paid many late dues for books I just haven't gotten back on time. It's the least that I can do.This year Great River Regional Libraries has made ... 04/09/2011

Tomorrow is the annual Elk River Business and Lifestyle Expo and it's gonna be something! If you have a chance to stop by please take the time to stop and say hi to me at the Coldwell Banker Vision booth. We will be celebrating a great spring season tomorrow with the "Great House Giveaway!"  Yes, you heard me right. If you have a little tyke hanging onto your pants leg you will want to check this out!At this year's expo we will be highlighting the great home prices in our area. You can take a minute and see what's for sale and what's selling too. We will have it ready for you. But, the best part? We are giving away a house... a little people's house. It's gonna be great and it's gonna be special!This is a great "pressure free" place to ask questions and seek information! We will have gr... 03/26/2011

 Elk River Rotary Pancake Day Returns   March 20, 2010 - Time Out Restaurant - Elk River Greetings!   The Elk River Rotary would like to invite you to our Pancake Breakfast on March 20, 2011 at Time Out Restaurant  19232 Evans St NW Elk River, MN 55330 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM   Rotary Pancake Day Returns     March 20, 2011 9:00 AM to 1 PM   Time Out Restaurant 19232 Evans St NW Elk River, MN   Adults - $5.95 Children under 12 - $3.95 Pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, juice or coffee.   Thank you for supporting all our activities in the past and look forward to seeing you at this event. All proceeds to go to supporting our many Rotary projects.   Sincerely, Elk River Rotary www.elkrivermnrotary.org via Bob Maxwell Elk River Rotary   03/16/2011

Curently one in seven mortgages are in trouble. Chances are you, or someone you know may be facing foreclosure. Please come to this free community foreclosure forum to learn about your options. Hear from a foreclosure prevention counselor from Lutheran Social Services, learn about the City's initiatives and strategys and more. RSVP to this event or call 763-635-1042. This is a serious issue- please pass this information along to your friends, family members, church, etc. Do your part to help our community, your neighbors and loved ones. Posting this event on your wall is much appreciated.This event is free. Free daycare will be available and all attendees will receive passes to the Elk River YMCA.More information at www.ci.elk-river.mn.us/housing 03/16/2011

The MOMS Club of Elk River-North is having a garage sale on Saturday, April 9 from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm at Emmanuel Lutheran Church (1506 Main Street, Elk River - just west of Handke Center). There will be lots of kids clothing of all sizes, adult clothing, baby gear and equipment, toys and household items. A portion of all garage sale proceeds will be donated to CAER Elk River Food Bank. There will also be a bake sale sponsored by Emmanuel Lutheran Church. MOMS Club of Elk River-North is a non-profit, nondenominational support group for at home moms in Elk River. If you are a full time or part time stay at home mom, your invited to check out the group. It is a great place for you and you children to meet new friends. MOMS Club offers activities every week for you and your children. There... 03/16/2011

Like many cities in Minnesota, Elk River has spent the last many years experiencing growth, change and then a standstill. Still a thriving town in the north suburbs of Minneapolis, Elk River holds families that still desire to see a bit of the philosophy that has been in the heart of us for years and years. Throughout my growing up years we would drive into town passing the billboard that proclaimed, "where city and country flow together" and though recent changes have made it feel more like 'city' the 'country' still survives.I had the pleasure of visiting "The bluffs of Elk River" during yesterday's chamber after hours. Due to the timing of the building going up and my family growth I hadn't had the pleasure of checking out the city's only 4 story building until yesterday. It was buil... 03/11/2011

Elk River Area Toastmasters is having our speech contest on March 17th. The meetings are held at the Elk River Senior Center located at 413 Proctor Avenue in Elk River.There will be some really good speeches as members compete to advance to the area contest on March 26 in Albertville! We would be happy to have some visitors that day to take in the entertainment! More details in the video and link below or contact me for more info! For more information on Toastmasters go to: Elk River Area Toastmasters 03/04/2011

I think that every child who has attended Sunday school has wondered if it's really possible to walk on water. I know in our house the conversation has come up. The reality is that Peter may have once walked on water, but in Minnesota the only way that I know it works is to step out onto a frozen lake.Many lakes in Minnesota are frozen through and through right now... sporting small cities of fish houses and dedicated winter fishermen. I've never felt comfortable on the ice... maybe thinking that it's going to crack and swallow me up or something.Today was a reality check for me. Seeing the ice blocks that had been cut out of the lake really told me that it was okay today to be on the ice. Those ice blocks were like two feet tall - maybe more.   The kids asked me over and over if the w... 02/12/2011

Today the kids and I bundled up in many layers from socks to snow pants in effort to stay warm while watching the "crazies" plunge into freezing cold Lake Orono. I'm not sure if I was more impressed with the huge ice blocks cut out of the lake or the fact that more than forty people had the guts to wait in line without jackets or sleeves in effort to raise money by plunging into a freaky cold lake. It's a pretty raging event in Minnesota right now... raising money jumping into frigid water. I'm sure that the folks today were grateful for the 20-something temps in comparison to last weeks below zeros..... I post these videos because I am in total AWE of these folks. I'd say that maybe, just maybe, someday I could bravely suffer in the frigid temps for a cause close to my heart but it isn... 02/12/2011

The Little Crooked HouseBy: Margaret Wild & Jonathan BentleyRemember that little diddy growing up about the man with a crooked house? I never realized before that it was a whole story. This is a really really cute story bringing"light" to the idea of moving. If only homes could have legs and up and move whenever we needed to find a new neighborhood.Going from being right near a railroad track all the way through many challenging places and ending in a safe spot between two homes in the city...The man and the crooked house finally finds his way home. If you have a little one that isn't 'sure' about where home will end up...Or, if the home is in the right place at all...This might be the book for you.My boys thought it was a fun and adventurous and asked me to read it a second time. Mayb... 02/11/2011

The Elk River Area Toastmasters has another FREE event for people wanting to find out more information about Toastmasters!  This Thursday form 11:45am to 1:00pm at the Elk River Senior Acitivity Center the club hosts a visitors day. You can log onto Facebook and RSVP on the event page or call Chuck Carstensen at 612-290-3809 or email chuck@thediscoveryteam.com.  Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped millions of men and women become more confident in front of an audience. Our network of clubs and their learn-by-doing program are sure to help you become a better speaker and leader. Why pay thousands of dollars for a seminar when you can join a Toastmasters club for a fraction of the cost and have fun in the process? ....For more info on Toastmasters go to the Elk River Area To... 02/06/2011

Looking for a Elk River MN Home? Have a home to sell in Elk River? Go to: Elk River MN Real Estate! The video below is a market summary on the Elk River MN Real Estate Market for January 2011. Quickly showing you the active, pending and closed homes for the month. 187 homes currently listed with 36 pending sales...full details: 02/01/2011

Sometimes when you see a house it's clear as mud if it's for you or not. It might be size... it might be shape... it might be number of bedrooms or the size and feel of the kitchen. If it doesn't fit your personality it can be quite obvious right away. Sometimes it's a matter of what your mind has already drawn... But, then, there are those homes that need some imagination. You may have to imagine your furniture inside, or the current furniture and belongings vacated... Maybe you need to get your color palette out and see it in a different color. Might be that you have to work your way past children's pictures drawn on the walls and holes punched into the walls.When you are looking at potential homes to purchase it is important to remember that what you will buy will be yours. What you ... 01/29/2011

If you are on the lookout for a great home in 2011 you have found a great place to start! It's about more than just digging out the binoculars and looking out the window. Though there are homes in every neighborhood on the market right now... it takes a professional to help find the greatest deals. From bank deals to short sales... estates to plain ol' sellers. There are some great deals to be had and a lot of it is watching the market. Daily there are new listings and daily there are properties selling at great prices. If you are interested in buying a home in the next year and want me to set you up on a home search please give me a shout. Starting your search early on will help you to find out what is available, what is a great deal when it comes up, and when to jump in and buy! So, a... 01/27/2011

The city of Elk River does a great job putting on events. Coming up in a week at Great River Energy from 7:30 to 9:30 am on January 27th a FREE EVENT called Trim Your Waste Line will help local business owners learn how they can Trim their bottom line Watch the video below and find out more information at Trim Your Waste Line 01/20/2011

In the beginning of the 2011 year one of my goals was to connect the community of Elk River, MN by starting a Facebook Page called 365 Things To Do Around Elk River, MN. Each day we spotlight an event coming up in or around Elk River, MN. One of the goals is to grow the page so we can learn about more events happening in the area, and of course post them on the page. We also are starting to do a Business Spotlight at least one local business each week. If you are in the Elk River Area you are welcomed to contribute to the Facebook Page. There is a link to it at the very bottom of this blog below my signature if you want to LIKE the page on Facebook. Just below this is a tuturial of the page and what we have been posting and spotlighting on it! 01/18/2011

The first couple weeks of the New Year has proven to be a busy one for a lot of agents in this area.  Today I am going to write about the Elk River Housing Market.   Coming into the year there were several good homes that were clean enough and in good enough shape under $120,000 that just were sitting on the market.  Now in the first couple weeks about 10 of the 20 homes in this price range are under contract and a few of the other ones are entertaining offers! Buyers who waited until after the New Year to buy might be kicking themself a bit as we are starting to see more multiple offers situations where prices get bid back up a bit. Also the interest rates are a little higher then we saw late in the fall. How it works in Minnesota it picks up even more in the Spring.  There seem to be ... 01/14/2011

This Saturday from 9am to 11am at the Elk River YCMA there is a FREE Community Foreclosure Forum being offered. See the video and the link below for more information! Check out the full details at: Elk River, MN FREE Foreclosure Forum 01/13/2011