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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Google News: This was Brainerd - Brainerd Daily Dispatch0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&amp;sa=T&amp;url=http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/031010/new_20100310007.shtml&amp;usg=AFQjCNGb9_l_3QIhjas-hZyDNHQsr3cImg</link>
<description><![CDATA[This was BrainerdBrainerd Daily DispatchThe job of managing the six Mississippi River headwater reservoir lakes was described by the Corps of Engineers as a guessing game. ...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:57:18 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Google News: Brainerd's jobless rate jumps to 19 percent - Brainerd Daily Dispatch0]]></title>
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<description><![CDATA[Brainerd's jobless rate jumps to 19 percentBrainerd Daily DispatchIt is the highest unemployment for a city with a population of 10000 or more in the state. By the numbers For an indication of the ...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:57:16 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Google News: No agreement - Brainerd Daily Dispatch0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&amp;sa=T&amp;url=http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/031010/new_20100310002.shtml&amp;usg=AFQjCNENYXkSaztWiEU-CSIhcuiJdIMdAw</link>
<description><![CDATA[No agreementBrainerd Daily DispatchNo contract agreement was reached during mediation Tuesday between the Brainerd School District and Education Minnesota Brainerd, ...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:57:15 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Dispatch News: Brainerd's jobless rate jumps to 19 percent0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.brainerddispatch.com/ystories/031010/new_20100310001.shtml</link>
<description><![CDATA[[Brainerd's jobless rate jumped nearly 2 percent in January to reach 19 percent.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:43:25 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Dispatch News: Food stamp use climbs in past year0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.brainerddispatch.com/ystories/031010/new_20100310027.shtml</link>
<description><![CDATA[[Food stamp use has increased significantly in the past year, Susan Beck, human services director told Crow Wing County commissioners Tuesday.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:40:31 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Dispatch News: Board implements new reporting practice0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.brainerddispatch.com/ystories/031010/new_20100310022.shtml</link>
<description><![CDATA[[Crow Wing County commissioners reviewed the state auditor's recommendations on per diems Tuesday.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:40:13 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Dispatch News: Big plans0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.brainerddispatch.com/ystories/031010/new_20100310004.shtml</link>
<description><![CDATA[[CROSBY - Something big is in store for youth in the Crosby-Ironton area - 4,000 square feet, to be exact.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:40:10 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Dispatch News: Overheard0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.brainerddispatch.com/ystories/031010/new_20100310005.shtml</link>
<description><![CDATA[[&amp;quot;They both are very concerned for the district and want to be the best district and do the best for the district. We do have common goals, which is great.&amp;quot;]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:40:03 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Google News: Sebeka Sr. High Knowledge Bowl team headed for state - Review Messenger0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&amp;sa=T&amp;url=http://www.reviewmessenger.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=4755:sebeka-sr-high-knowledge-bowl-team-headed-for-state&amp;catid=30:news&amp;usg=AFQjCNGMSxWsy-47OwZ-s56PACKRkA2SYQ</link>
<description><![CDATA[Sebeka Sr. High Knowledge Bowl team headed for stateReview MessengerPictured are (lr) Dylan Gronlund, Jonathan Miller, Kyler Pittman, Brett Malcore, and Paul Schmitt. Congratulations! Thursday, March 4, the top 21 teams ...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:01:52 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[The Planner Blog: Small Town Values0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2010/3/9/small-town-values.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Our pattern of growth is now more of a belief system - a religion almost - than it is an expression of logic.

This line, buried deep in Monday's post on whether or not we have the capacity to resolve conflict when our core values clash, resonated with Internet users around the country. Google Reader tells me this one line has &amp;quot;gone viral&amp;quot;, in a modest sense, appearing as a link in many tweets and blogs. While we welcome those just discovering the Strong Towns movement here in our small part of cyberspace, I want to follow up on why this one statement may have attracted a lot of attention.
My chosen profession - and the unique way I work in it - requires me to attend a ton of meetings. Last year I attended over 120 community meetings, mostly city and township government, providing assistance as a planner/engineer. At many of these meetings I will be assisting the community with a planning process, helping them set goals and strategies for achieving an identified, common vision.&Acirc;&nbsp;
At one recent meeting, we were proceeding through a group exercise to establish community goals and I brought the group to a point where they were faced with a clash of values. What do we do when a new development costs more to provide service to than it generates in tax revenue? In small towns, as you have seen on this blog, this situation is the default occurrence.
The answer is a slippery slope. If we continue to build such developments, there is an implied tax increase in the future (Core Value #1: Low Taxes) where current residents are essentially subsidizing a developer by committing to shoulder the future, unfunded maintenance burden. If we limit such developments, we are imposing restrictions on what someone can do with their property (Core Value #2: Limited Government Regulation), restrictions that many see as unfair in light of what others have been allowed to do in the past.
It is tough to get past this, and most often people will end up rejecting the premise (that new development in our current model does not pay for itself), even though they deep-down understand it is true.
Clash of values unresolved. Our belief system rejects the challenging premise and we can remain ignorant and happy.
For those of us that see this clearly for what it is, there is a&Acirc;&nbsp;religious&Acirc;&nbsp;feel to it. The desire to believe is so strong that anything that questions the core belief is rejected as heresy. As was recently said to me in one meeting:

&amp;quot;Of course it pays for itself - how else would we be here?&amp;quot;

Oh my.
Recently I was part of a panel put together by Minnesota Public Radio to discuss issues of growth and development in exurban communities. As part of the event, MPR presented a video put together by Nikki Tundel. It is brilliant. In a very real, yet charming and respectful way, the video captures many of the value clashes I routinely am trying to resolve in the communities we work with. It is particularly striking since the words are those of the residents of rural Baldwin Township, an exurban community here in Minnesota.
This topic fascinates me, so there will be more on it to come here in the future. For now, take a few minutes to watch this video and make your own mental count of how many clashing core values you hear.

&Acirc;&nbsp;
You can continue this Strong Towns conversation by&Acirc;&nbsp;posting a comment or by joining us on&Acirc;&nbsp;Facebook. You can also follow Strong Towns on&Acirc;&nbsp;Twitter. We appreciate all of the feedback and support.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:32:40 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Minnesota MN Inn Accommodations Lodging Bed &amp;amp; And Breakfast BB: buttermilk sucanat pancakes0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.whiteleycreek.com/queen_of_the_meadow_bloom/2010/03/buttermilk-sucanat-pancakes.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[I made these lightweight buttermilk pancakes from Clean Eating Magazine this morning. The sucanat adds wonderful flavor. We were racing out the door, so I didn't get a photo of the end product.
&Acirc;&nbsp;
Buttermilk Sucanat Pancakes
Makes 16 pancakes
1 &Acirc;&frac12; cups whole wheat flour
&Acirc;&frac34; &Acirc;&frac14; cup organic sucanat
1 &Acirc;&frac14; tsp baking powder
&Acirc;&frac12; tsp baking soda
&Acirc;&frac12; tsp sea salt
1 &Acirc;&frac12; cups low-fat buttermilk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 egg white
1 tbsp sour cream (I used homemade yogurt.)
Olive oil cooking spray
In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, and sour cream; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moist. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Mist skillet with cooking spray. Pour &Acirc;&frac14; cup batter into skillet for each pancake and cook for 2 minutes or until tops are covered with bubbles and edges appear cooked. Carefully turn pancakes over and cook for 2 more minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Repeat with remaining batter, remisting skillet with cooking spray between batches.&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;
&Acirc;&nbsp;]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:21:21 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[The Planner Blog: Friedman and a Green G.O.P.0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2010/3/9/friedman-and-a-green-gop.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Yesterday we wrote about whether or not we, as a country, could question our own values. This was not so much a political argument as a societal one. While both parties seem&Acirc;&nbsp;ideologically entrenched, our society evolves. Will that evolution bring about a change in political direction? We must do more than hope.
On our off-day, I wanted to pass along an op-ed by Thomas Friedman, one of our favorite columnists, called &amp;quot;How the G.O.P. Goes Green.&amp;quot; As a registered member of the G.O.P. (other members of Strong Towns are registered members of other political parties - we are non-partisan as an organization), I found some of the thoughts compelling. That is, compelling in the same way we wrote last year about branding New Urbanism for small towns. There is a lot of common ground out there based on values we all share.
The article is essentially an interview with Lindsey Graham, Senator from South Carolina, with some Friedman logic sprinkled in. A good read that we recommend not waiting until Friday for.

So Grahams approach to bringing around his conservative state has been simple: avoid talking about climate change, which many on the right dont believe. Instead, frame our energy challenge as a need to clean up carbon pollution, to become energy independent and to create more good jobs and new industries for South Carolinians. He proposes putting a price on carbon, starting with a very focused carbon tax, as opposed to an economywide cap-and-trade system, so as to spur both consumers and industries to invest in and buy new clean energy products. He includes nuclear energy, and insists on permitting more offshore drilling for oil and gas to give us more domestic sources, as we bridge to a new clean energy economy.
Cap-and-trade as we know it is dead, but the issue of cleaning up the air and energy independence should not die &#8221; and you will never have energy independence without pricing carbon, Graham argues. The technology doesnt make sense until you price carbon. Nuclear power is a bet on cleaner air. Wind and solar is a bet on cleaner air. You make those bets assuming that cleaning the air will become more profitable than leaving the air dirty, and the only way it will be so is if the government puts some sticks on the table &#8221; not just carrots. The future economy of America and the jobs of the future are going to be tied to cleaning up the air, and in the process of cleaning up the air this country becomes energy independent and our national security is greatly enhanced.
Remember, he adds: We are more dependent on foreign oil today than after 9/11. That is political malpractice, and every member of Congress is responsible.

&Acirc;&nbsp;
You can continue this Strong Towns conversation by&Acirc;&nbsp;posting a comment or by joining us on&Acirc;&nbsp;Facebook. You can also follow Strong Towns on&Acirc;&nbsp;Twitter. We appreciate all of the feedback and support.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:00:45 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Google News: Hey, Brainerd, strike up the band - Brainerd Daily Dispatch0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&amp;sa=T&amp;url=http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/030910/new_20100309002.shtml&amp;usg=AFQjCNGm8e4QcpBR5dxBfHE7S4j4xmHogw</link>
<description><![CDATA[Brainerd Daily DispatchHey, Brainerd, strike up the bandBrainerd Daily DispatchIn 1912, a new bandstand was built in Gregory Park located in the heart of Brainerd. Almost a 100 years later, community members, ...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:50:05 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Minnesota MN Inn Accommodations Lodging Bed &amp;amp; And Breakfast BB: raw spinach avocado pudding0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.whiteleycreek.com/queen_of_the_meadow_bloom/2010/03/spinach-avocado-pudding.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[&Acirc;&nbsp;This pudding from eatrightamerica.com is a nutrition powerhouse! Check it out... avocado, banana, and spinach with raisins and shredded coconut toppings. Dick wouldn't get up in the middle of the night to devour it, but he ate it. That's a reliable testament to its flavor quotient. It's really very good. I&Acirc;&nbsp;have included a few recipe tweaks.&Acirc;&nbsp;
&Acirc;&nbsp;
Spinach Avocado Pudding
2 1 avocado 
1 2 bananas
4 cups organic baby spinach
&Acirc;&frac12; cup vanilla soymilk (I used unsweetened rice milk.)
&Acirc;&frac12; cup date sugar (I didnt use any sweetener at all and it was good, but next time I am going to try 1/8 cup (2 tbsp) just because I think the date sugar would add wonderful flavor. You definitely do not need the entire &Acirc;&frac12; cup.)
&Acirc;&frac12; cup currants or raisins, optional
1 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut for garnish
Blend all ingredients except currants and coconut in a Vita-Mix or other powerful blender until smooth and creamy. (I dont have a Vita-Mix, so I coarsely chopped the spinach and my blender did a fine job.) Stir in currants or raisins (or omit or sprinkle on top). Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. (I didnt wait this long.) Stir. Scoop into individual bowls and sprinkle with coconut. 


]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:38:35 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Pine River Market Square: Vendors on Board So Far&brvbar;.0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://prmarketsquare.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/vendors-on-board-so-far/</link>
<description><![CDATA[We already have some vendors on board for the 2010 season!
Armstrong Acres of Backus (produce, baked goods, packaged chickens)
Great River Gardens of Aitkin (produce, bedding plants)
JoAn Wannebo of Backus (chemical free veggies, bedding plants, farm fresh eggs)
We hope youll join the market this year!! Watch for updates to the list&brvbar;.
     ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:59:25 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[The Planner Blog: Questioning our Values0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2010/3/8/questioning-our-values.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Endurance is frequently a form of indecision.&Acirc;&nbsp; ~Elizabeth Bibesco,&Acirc;&nbsp;Haven, 195
I spent the last weekend pondering an important question: Do we as a county have the capacity to question our own values?
This post is not going to be a diatribe about how our values are messed up, but more of a reflection on the decision-making process itself. At a time when we seemed paralyzed as a nation while we careen into one crisis after another, we need to know if we have the capacity to self-correct.
I'm rereading Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Killer Angels. It is an historical-fiction account of the battle of&Acirc;&nbsp;Gettysburg, the decisive, tide-changing battle in the Civil War. It is an incredible, inspiring novel I would recommend for everyone - even those adverse to tales of military conflict. If you ever get the chance to visit Gettysburg, do yourself a favor and go. It is a humbling experience.
What strikes me now about Killer Angels is how the Southern Army defeated themselves because their core values failed them. They abandoned the hard-earned knowledge they had gained in battle, the tough lessons they had taught the Union Army, and instead of making a tactically decisive move that likely would have won them the war, they instead charged up a hill to their doom. Let me elaborate.
The American Civil War began with southern states, including Virginia, seceding from the Union. When it became clear that the North was going to enforce the union by military means, armies formed and prepared for battle. Those battles would initially be fought in the south, most decisively in Virginia on ground very near Washington D.C.
The battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, two major conflicts involving Robert E. Lee's command, should have taught the South some clear lessons. In those battles, the Union Army headed south into Virginia. Lee's Army was dug in, waiting. Lee occupied the high ground and, in terms of terrain, had every tactical advantage. The Union commanders, being pushed hard from Washington to use their superior numbers to attack, walked right into slaughter after slaughter.&Acirc;&nbsp;
After Chancellorsville, following&Acirc;&nbsp;Napoleon's tenant that, &amp;quot;the only logical outcome of a defensive war is surrender,&amp;quot;&Acirc;&nbsp;Lee decided to bring the Rebel Army north and take the fight to the Union. With the Union Army reeling from defeat and clearly lacking capable leadership, it was thought that a decisive battle on Union soil would end the war.&Acirc;&nbsp;
Killer Angels begins as the armies converge on Gettysburg. The picture the book paints is even more real in my mind having seen the site in person. The Union Army was first to the scene and occupied the high ground to the east. The Confederate Army came from the west and would have to cross a wide clearing and then advance, under fire, up a steep hill. This was crazy.
As Shaara brilliantly gets into the minds of the commanders, his tale describes how Robert Lee disagreed with his second-in-command, General James Longstreet. Longstreet felt that the lessons of Fredericksburg, where he had commanded the Confederate troops atop the defensive hill, were apparent. They should not attack the Union Army on such poor ground. They should swing the Confederate troops to the south, position them between the Union Army and Washington D.C. and then back into their capital, fighting a defensive war on the best ground of their choosing.
General Lee would have none of it, and this is where the values question comes in. In the book, it is pride - the &amp;quot;we can't retreat&amp;quot; type of pride - that compels Lee to attack at Gettysburg. And this is not simply Lee's shortcoming. Sharra depicts it as the mentality of the entire Southern Army. We don't retreat. We don't withdraw. As Lee is reported to have said,

&amp;quot;If the enemy is there tomorrow, we must attack him.&amp;quot;

The rest is history. Lee attacks, his troops are predictably cut down and he subsequently orders a retreat back to Virginia. The war drags on through that year and the next until the South is forced to surrender.
This is where history is interesting to me, because I can't help but ponder the larger question. Obviously by today's set of values, there would be nothing dishonorable and everything tactically brilliant about Longstreet's advice. It is hard to understand a value system that would rather run up a hill and be killed than fall back a few miles and dramatically increase your chances of winning. It seems so foreign to us now, yet it was this hubris that changed the course of history and, ultimately, allowed the North to turn the tide of the war.
And in Killer Angels, it is not just Lee and his commanders that thought Longstreet was crazy. The troops - the ones who would die first - looked up the hill and said, &amp;quot;There they are. What are we waiting for?&amp;quot; From our view of history in 2010, this is not gallantry but madness. These were not &amp;quot;southern gentlemen&amp;quot;. They were pompous fools.
Or were they?
This is where I get to Strong Towns. So much of our pattern of growth is now more of a belief system - a religion almost - than it is an expression of logic. Even when we give specific examples of where our approach is bankrupting us, it is tough to get buy-in. Sure, Chuck, that example is pretty remarkable, but overall that can't possibly be true. We persist in our beliefs, even when confronted with facts that challenge the reality as we see it.
Driving equals freedom, even when we give ourselves no option but to be a slave to our cars, wasting years of our lives in the &amp;quot;freedom&amp;quot; of traffic congestion.
More parking helps businesses, as our eyes see failing business after failing business in our downtowns full of parking.
Wider roads are safer, as we build fences to keep our kids from getting anywhere near them.
People don't like density, as condo units sell out and single-family, exurban homes fade into foreclosure.&Acirc;&nbsp;
We need to grow our tax base to reduce taxes, as our tax burdens continue to climb.
We want limited government, as nearly every city in the country turns to Washington D.C. for grants, aid and bailouts.
Can we question our own values, determine where they fatally clash and make logical, proactive decisions about the future? Or do we need to wait for the decisive battle, when the broken bodies of our own delusions are left to rot and we retreat back to whence we came?
We have to do better. We need a national&Acirc;&nbsp;dialog&Acirc;&nbsp;on our values, which are systematically being undermined by our pattern of development. Please join us in building an America of Strong Towns from the bottom up.
&Acirc;&nbsp;
You can continue this Strong Towns conversation by&Acirc;&nbsp;posting a comment or by joining us on&Acirc;&nbsp;Facebook. You can also follow Strong Towns on&Acirc;&nbsp;Twitter. We appreciate all of the feedback and support.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:31:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Realtor Randy: Quality Built Baxter Town Home!0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://brainerdlakesrealtorrandy.blogspot.com/2010/03/quality-built-baxter-town-home.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[OPEN HOUSE - Today, Sunday March 7th from NOON - 1:30! Directions to the OPEN HOUSE are - From Hwys 371 &amp;amp;amp; 210 East to North onGolf Course Dr approx 1.5 miles toright on Links Way into Country ClubEstates. 2nd right on Fairway Drive tosign on property. Quality built 3 BR/ 3BA town home with many upgraded amenities. OUTSTANDING floor plan. Entertaining kitchen, master bath, large master closet, hardwood floors, very open designed 4-season porch , main floor laundry, large living room, large family room with eat in serving area, bathroom on the lower level, ample extra storage, work shop area, 20 x 20 garage, patio &amp;amp;amp; much more . . . . You have to see this one! In youre not investing in real estate, youre not investing in your future. Change that and call me today! MLS 188308 for $215,000 Link to this listing (NOTE: This link expires in 30 days) http://glarmls.fnismls.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=9b70795c-ddb4-42c7-96f4-6aacacda6027&amp;amp;amp;Report=Yes Contact me for more information or to view this property in person. Randy Ahern - Broker&Acirc;&reg; Ahern Real Estate Direct: 218.838.5066 Email: rahern@realtorrandy.com Web: http://www.realtorrandy.com/ Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/randyahern Twitter: http://twitter.com/randyahern Business Card : http://randyahern.businesscard2.com/ My blog link - http://brainerdlakesrealtorrandy.blogspot.com/ ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:20:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Minnesota MN Inn Accommodations Lodging Bed &amp;amp; And Breakfast BB: spring blog cleaning0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.whiteleycreek.com/queen_of_the_meadow_bloom/2010/03/spring-blog-cleaning.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[&Acirc;&nbsp;
If you have been a frequent visitor to my site, you may have had the same reaction that my youngest daughter Jess had when she recently stopped by for a read. &amp;quot;I almost jumped back from the screen because I was surprised to see flowers. So big and bright and pretty!&amp;quot;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;For the past couple days on my blog,&Acirc;&nbsp;I have been &amp;quot;rearranging furniture for a&Acirc;&nbsp;new look, picking up odds and ends strewn about and putting them back where they belong, sweeping away the cobwebs,&Acirc;&nbsp;picking a bouquet of wildflowers for the kitchen table, and throwing open the windows to let&Acirc;&nbsp;some fresh air&amp;quot; into my site. The impetus for the cleaning frenzy was my daughter Lisa's graphic designer eye, and simply...&Acirc;&nbsp;her new eyes peering in and providing &amp;quot;unsolicited&amp;quot; (Lisa's word) suggestions. My blog's spring cleaning is not complete, but&Acirc;&nbsp;please do stop by for a visit.&Acirc;&nbsp; (Picture is from a Dick &amp;amp;amp; Jane&Acirc;&nbsp;workbook circa 1962.) Note:&Acirc;&nbsp; I thought it would be helpful to&Acirc;&nbsp;be &amp;quot;at the door to greet you&amp;quot;... just&Acirc;&nbsp;to reassure you that you were indeed at the right blog address. So,&Acirc;&nbsp;for yesterday's post, I moved an older post into that position... one with a photo of me and a bit of an introduction.&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp; ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:50:45 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Realtor Randy: Own a part of Mille Lacs Lake - ONLY $28,9000]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://brainerdlakesrealtorrandy.blogspot.com/2010/03/own-part-of-mille-lacs-lake-only-28900.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Own a part of Mille Lacs Lake ($28,900) - http://glarmls.fnismls.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=e93e28c8-3b99-4882-b54a-af49dabcb430&amp;amp;amp;Report=Yes]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:10:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Realtor Randy: REDUCED: NEW Furnished Park Model on Mille Lacs Lake with shed, deck, dock and boat slip - ONLY $99,000.0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://brainerdlakesrealtorrandy.blogspot.com/2010/03/reduced-new-furnished-park-model-on.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[REDUCED: NEW Furnished Park Model on Mille Lacs Lake with shed, deck, dock and boat slip - ONLY $99,000. http://glarmls.fnismls.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=c0309a40-6024-411e-957e-6917c6678702&amp;amp;amp;Report=Yes]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:07:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Minnesota MN Inn Accommodations Lodging Bed &amp;amp; And Breakfast BB: a little bit0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.whiteleycreek.com/queen_of_the_meadow_bloom/2010/03/a-little-bit.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[&amp;quot;A little bit about me before you go... &amp;quot; This phrase has been floating around in my brain... song lyrics, I think. Each of us has a story... a song. Here's mine.
&Acirc;&nbsp;
&Acirc;&nbsp;
 Hello. My name is Adrienne Cahoon (a.k.a. &amp;quot;queen of the meadow blooms&amp;quot;). I grew up in a family of fourteen on a 160-acre farm ten miles southeast of Brainerd. I attended first grade in a one-room schoolhouse 1-1/2 miles from my childhood home. The following year, schools were consolidated and we were bused into Brainerd. Throughout my childhood, I helped tend gardens and fields on the acreage that my father farmed in addition to his full-time job with the Minnesota State Highway Department. I had an apron-clad stay-at-home mom who baked made-from-scratch fresh from the oven bread and cookies for when I got off the school bus. It is from this background that I developed a love for all facets of homekeeping, gardening, land stewardship, and related environmental issues. During my eleven years as a full-time classroom teacher (six years in Minnesota and five years in Florida), I was selected 1996 Conservation Education Teacher of the Year for the state of Florida and recipient of Disney's 1996 Teacherrific $3000.00 Top Program Award for a school-wide waste management system utilizing composting. In 1993, I earned a Master of Science Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and completed my Master Gardener certification through the University of Minnesota in March 2000. In 1999, I opened Whiteley Creek Homestead Bed and Breakfast on the property where my husband and I have lived for 36 years. I am presently earning a Bachelors Degree in Holistic Nutrition. I have three daughters. My eldest daughter lives in New York with her husband, two daughters and a son and is a freelance graphic designer and author and illustrator of children's books. My middle daughter lives in New Jersey with her husband, son, and daughter and is a freelance graphic designer in NYC. My youngest daughter has a degree in psychology and lives in Florida working as a merchandiser for a women's fashion designer based in Los Angeles. Her territory includes the entire state of Florida, as well as Puerto Rico.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:00:17 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Pine River Market Square: Vendor Meeting April 200]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://prmarketsquare.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/vendor-meeting-april-20/</link>
<description><![CDATA[There will be an informational meeting for potential vendors on April 20 from 6:30-8:00PM at the Hunt Utilities Group Campus, located on Hwy. 2 west of Pine River. Market board members will be presenting information regarding selling at the market for the 2010 season, and answering questions. Refreshments will be served! Hope to see you there!
*Please pass the word to anyone you know who might be interested in being a vendor this year!
     ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:53:13 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[The Planner Blog: Friday News Digest0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2010/3/5/friday-news-digest.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[This is a week of celebration here at the Marohn household as, by her own proclamation, my youngest daughter was magically transformed into a &amp;quot;big girl&amp;quot;. (I'll interpret Stella lingo: that means she turned three). While we still have the big &amp;quot;Panda Party&amp;quot; to come this weekend, the major damage has been done. I disassembled the crib (tear), we now have her sleeping in a &amp;quot;big girl bed&amp;quot; and for some reason she now feels liberated to argue about everything. I'm sure hyper-independence in a child is a sign of good parenting.
Enjoy this week's news.
This week I was asked to participate in a forum on Baldwin Township put on by Minnesota Public Radio. It dealt with issues of growth, development, annexation, incorporation, road maintenance, rural life.....all things that we are passionate about here at Strong Towns. MPR is looking in depth at this exurban township in a series they are calling Ground Level. There are a couple of online articles that may interest the ST.org audience, including one on the cost of unplanned growth and another on how the recession is changing the township. Way to go, MPR. Well done.&Acirc;&nbsp;
In Minnesota, with our current budget shortfall and a larger one yet looming for the next biennium, aid to local governments has been &Acirc;&nbsp;an &amp;quot;easy&amp;quot; cut for the state legislature. This is making for some interesting, but necessary, discussions as the costs of our development pattern trickle down to the lowest levels of government. At least one town is still looking at this as &amp;quot;trimming fat&amp;quot;.&Acirc;&nbsp;It never ceases to amaze me how we will cut parks and police yet the enormous costs of our inefficient development pattern is the last cut we consider. Let's see....wider roads so we can get save 40 seconds on our commute or things that make our community enjoyable to live in?

[City Administrator] Clark said the city would need to increase its levy by 34 percent to recoup funds lost this year if the proposed unallotment sees fruition. The unallotment is significant, he said, because offsetting the amount lost would, in theory, mean eliminating the entire parks department or one-third of the police departments officers.

The LGA cuts have also revealed some interesting conflict of values as those advocating limited government face the reality of what that means. In my hometown they debated, and ultimately failed to approve, a resolution rejecting the cuts. I don't make this point to belittle the values but to point out that we have had our cake and eaten it too for a long time now. We face a future, at all levels of government, where we will not be trimming fat but making difficult discussions over our values. We need that conversation.

Council member Mary Koep offered a substitute to the resolution that would eliminate the paragraph urging the Legislature to reject Pawlenty's budget cuts for 2010.Instead, Koep offered an amendment that Brainerd would urge Pawlenty, the Legislature, the city and groups that lobby on behalf of the city to work together for new ideas to meet the state's budget crisis.&amp;quot;It seems to me a much more positive approach than being so negative and gimme, gimme, gimme,&amp;quot; Koep said.&Acirc;&nbsp;

The world will get really interesting here in Minnesota if local governments are actually given more freedom over the revenue side of their budgets. Right now, they are not allowed to tax outside of some very proscribed and limited mechanisms. As this article suggests, there are all kinds of creative ways in which local governments will likely seek to raise revenue. As for me....you can tax my digital download when you pry it from my cold, dead hard drive.

A coalition of Minnesota mayors reeling from more proposed cuts in state aid to municipal coffers Friday proposed a way to indirectly prop up their budgets: Tax tattoos, facials, manicures, body piercings and digital downloads.

I spent an extended time in Italy several years ago and, bringing my American ways, found it remarkable how much they spent on food and clothes and how small their apartments and cars were. As I grew to appreciate their values, I came to see a lot about the Italian lifestyle that was endearing. Certainly any culture where you can sleep past 8 AM, take a nap in the afternoon and then stay up late having a large dinner of amazing food with family and friends had redeeming qualities. That, and the gelato. Oh my...gelato. In that context, this article on designing cities for quality of life&Acirc;&nbsp;resonates as something we need to seriously ponder as our culture evolves and ages.

If we in the Third World measure our success or failure as a society in terms of income, we would have to classify ourselves as losers until the end of time, declares Pe&Atilde;&plusmn;alosa. So with our limited resources, we have to invent other ways to measure success. This might mean that all kids have access to sports facilities, libraries, parks, schools, nurseries.

Lastly, the tragedy in Haiti has brought some creative genius to bear on the reconstruction. One of those genius minds belongs to Andres Duany. In this video he shares some of the complexities of this challenging undertaking.

Rebuilding Haiti from Marvin Joseph on Vimeo.
&Acirc;&nbsp;
You can continue this Strong Towns conversation by&Acirc;&nbsp;posting a comment or by joining us on&Acirc;&nbsp;Facebook. You can also follow Strong Towns on&Acirc;&nbsp;Twitter. We appreciate all of the feedback and support.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:30:22 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[The Planner Blog: The Simple Answer0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2010/3/3/the-simple-answer.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[I've been asked to elaborate on the answer I alluded to at the end of yesterday's post&Acirc;&nbsp;regarding development in Rogers, Minnesota. In that post, we pointed out that the development code in Rogers was typical of low-density &amp;quot;sprawl&amp;quot; (their word) and was not going to bring about a walkable, transit-ready concentration of jobs and housing as they are telling federal funders they intend.
I offered that they could simply change their city code to allow all of their single-family homes to be turned into duplexes. That would allow them, at no cost, to more than double their population and close the financial gap between their tax base and their enormous long-term infrastructure maintenance liabilities.
Here is how we ended the post:

In a city with one of the highest foreclosure rates in the state, this seems a better (albeit less flashy) way to grow and help your residents. Certainly better than begging Washington for money or leveraging your future for shiny new stuff today.
This is so obvious, so why has it not been done already? The answer to that question is another reason why the federal government should not be wasting our money on places like Rogers.

So what is that answer? Why have they not already done this?
It's simple. They don't want to.
They like their single-family homes. They like their garages and cars. They like their cul-de-sacs and wide streets. They like their big boxes and their drive thru food.
They like their front yards. Their back yards. Their side yards. Both of them.
They like living in Rogers, and that means they like single-family homes on moderately-sized lots on the fringe of the metro area. They do not want duplexes. Not multi-family housing either. If they wanted that, they would live somewhere else. If you ask, they will say, &amp;quot;That's not why we moved here.&amp;quot;
Our Strong Towns reply is: more power to them! In America the people of Rogers have the right to live in essentially whatever fashion they choose. If they want single-family lots, that is their choice. To each their own.
Our objection is paying for it. Why should the American taxpayer sink $34 million into supporting the Rogers lifestyle - or the lifestyle of any of the thousands of similar communities in the country? What is our return on this investment? Of all the places we could spend our limited resources, is subsidizing a development-pattern that is not financially viable, or even productive, really a priority?
As we argued with Randal O'Toole: Let Them Eat Lobster!
If we stopped subsidizing inefficient development, we would stop seeing inefficient development. This fact alone should unite fiscal conservatives (who abhor government waste) with environmentalists and urban advocates (who abhor a wasted landscape).
It is time for a Strong Towns approach.
&Acirc;&nbsp;
You can continue this Strong Towns conversation by&Acirc;&nbsp;posting a comment or by joining us on&Acirc;&nbsp;Facebook. You can also follow Strong Towns on&Acirc;&nbsp;Twitter. We appreciate all of the feedback and support.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:47:46 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Minnesota MN Inn Accommodations Lodging Bed &amp;amp; And Breakfast BB: rolled oats soaked0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.whiteleycreek.com/queen_of_the_meadow_bloom/2010/03/rolled-oats-soaked.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Last night, I prepped for this morning's breakfast by&Acirc;&nbsp;combining 3 cups&Acirc;&nbsp;thick rolled&Acirc;&nbsp;oats, 3 cups purified/filtered water, and 6 tablespoons buttermilk (or Kombucha, kefir, or whey). By allowing&Acirc;&nbsp;it to sit overnight on your countertop a minimum of 7 to 8&Acirc;&nbsp;hours, the acidic medium neutralizes the phytic acid in the oats. Remember, from a previous post, I stated that I had learned in one of my nutrition class textbooks that&Acirc;&nbsp;&amp;quot;phytic acid can bind such minerals as calcium, iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium in the gut and carry them out through the intestines so that they are not assimilated and utilized.&amp;quot;&Acirc;&nbsp;(Haas, E.M. Staying Healthy With Nutrition) Phytic acid, which&Acirc;&nbsp;is present in the outer layer, or bran, in&Acirc;&nbsp;whole grains is the&Acirc;&nbsp;seed's means of preservation until the conditions (moisture, warmth, time, and slight acidity) are conducive to sprouting. By providing these conditions in advance of consuming the grain, the nutrients can be&Acirc;&nbsp;more efficiently utilized by our body.&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;
&Acirc;&nbsp;This is what my oats looked like upon rising this morning. I like to soak them in a two-quart glass measuring bowl. It comes with a cover, but you could throw a kitchen towel over top or use an elasticized bowl cover that looks like a shower cap. All that's needed&Acirc;&nbsp;in the morning&Acirc;&nbsp;is to add 3 cups milk (preferably raw) and&Acirc;&nbsp;1 tbsp cinnamon. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, covered, for 5 minutes or until thick. (Because the oats are soaked overnight, the cooking time is reduced.) Remove from the heat and stir in 2 tbsp extra virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed coconut oil, 1/4 to 1/2 cup organic raisins, and 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut. 
 
Spoon into bowls and serve with fruit, chopped nuts, 1 1/2 tbsp ground flaxseed, and&Acirc;&nbsp;milk. So, so good...&Acirc;&nbsp;
&Acirc;&nbsp;
Because this recipe makes such a large amount (7 one-cup servings), it will last for&Acirc;&nbsp;several breakfasts depending upon family size. Use recycled pickle, applesauce, peanut/almond butter,&Acirc;&nbsp;or spaghetti sauce jars to store&Acirc;&nbsp;premeasured serving sizes. In the morning, it's as simple as heating in a pan with a little liquid.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:31:21 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Pine River Market Square: Kick-off Celebration0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://prmarketsquare.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/kick-off-celebration/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Be sure to mark you calendars for Friday, May 28th and start the season off right! Join the community and build sustainability in a exciting, fun atmosphere.&Acirc;&nbsp; Stop in anytime between 2:30pm and 6:30pm and bring a friend. The market kick-off will feature the 3rd Annual Pine River Garden Club Plant Sale co-sponsored by PRB Community Education. Proceeds go to a horticulture student scholarship and Community Ed summer youth scholarships.
Come for the goods! Stay for the fun!
     ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:44:18 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Come and Grow with Bonnie The Plant Lady: Icicles Outside,Greensicles Inside0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://sunshinegardens.tripod.com/BonnieTPLBlog/index.blog?entry_id=1993618</link>
<description><![CDATA[Gardens in the miniature are bursting the most appealing green!&Acirc;&nbsp; Buds are popping and my mini peach is forming a shooter marble sized fruit.&Acirc;&nbsp; Our Skewer Rosemary is ready to have cuttings taken to root for spring sales. Jasmine is after the bunnies camping out under the camper.&Acirc;&nbsp; Bad Bunnies! Go gettum Jazzie!]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:35:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Real Estate Blog: Real Estate Practice : Lesson 5350]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://activerain.com/blogsview/1506571/real-estate-practice-lesson-535</link>
<description><![CDATA[Remember&Acirc;&nbsp;to help your clients figure in insurances , utilities, possible repairs /replacements etc. I just had&Acirc;&nbsp; some renters contact me who&Acirc;&nbsp; figured they coud make monthly house payments&Acirc;&nbsp; with what they paid out in rent. If only it was that easy!Via David Saks - Broker (The Real Estate Mart of Tennessee, Inc.):&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp; #535
A man is applying for aconventional loan with an LTV of 90%.
He has a monthly income of 3000 dollars a month.
His total monthly recurring debt obligations equal 500 dollars.
What is the maximum monthly mortgage payment that this buyer will qualify for ?


A. $580
Here's how it works.
3000 total monthly income*0.36 or 36% of monthly income for mortgage=1080 total for mortgage -500 in additional recurring&Acirc;&nbsp;debt subtracted from the maximum allowable for the mortgage=580 dollars total available for mortgage payment
36% is the&Acirc;&nbsp; standard for lending if there are other monthly debt obligationsWelcome from the Brainerd Lakes - where outdoor and indoor recreational opportunites abound. Looking to buy on one of our many lakes? Ready to move up or down?&Acirc;&nbsp; Having trouble selling your home? Falling behind on payments or already in the foreclosure process? I am a Certified Short Sale Specialist as well as a Home Staging Expert.
Call me!]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:22:20 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Real Estate Blog: Greater Lakes MN home sale report0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://activerain.com/blogsview/1503579/greater-lakes-mn-home-sale-report</link>
<description><![CDATA[Home sales in the Greater Lakes region in January were once again up compared to a year ago at 93 closed sales, an increase of 34.8 percent from a year ago. That's the fifth consecutive month where the change compared to a year ago has been positive.
The increase in sales has led to stabilizing home prices. January's median sales price of $124,405 was 1.4 percent higher than a year ago. Yes, rising prices are ordinarily a pretty ho-hum and normal thing, but in light of the drop in prices that most parts of the country have seen over the last several years, &amp;quot;ho-hum&amp;quot; is a welcome phrase these days.
The Months Supply of Inventory in the region has decreased in the last year to 17.3, down 7.8 percent from the mark of 18.7 seen a year ago. That's still a very high mark, which means sellers still face challenging conditions that require smart pricing, home staging&Acirc;&nbsp;and&Acirc;&nbsp; intensive marketing.
Home not selling -ready to try something different?
Kathleen Lordbock -The Staging &amp;amp;amp; Selling TeamWelcome from the Brainerd Lakes - where outdoor and indoor recreational opportunites abound. Looking to buy on one of our many lakes? Ready to move up or down?&Acirc;&nbsp; Having trouble selling your home? Falling behind on payments or already in the foreclosure process? I am a Certified Short Sale Specialist as well as a Home Staging Expert.
Call me!]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:50:16 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Real Estate Blog: Kathleen Lordbock Completes Prestigious LDPD Designation0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://activerain.com/blogsview/1499823/-kathleen-lordbock-completes-prestigious-ldpd-designation</link>
<description><![CDATA[&Acirc;&nbsp;
-- Kathleen Lordbock Completes Prestigious LDPD Designation to Specialize in Luxury Home Sales
&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp; Kathleen Lordbock a Realtor with Keller Williams Brainerd Lakes has earned the prestigious Harris Real Estate University Certified Luxury Distressed Property Designation (LDPD), having completed extensive training in negotiating and closing short sales for the higher end market. This expertise is invaluable as the current housing recession forces more luxury homes into foreclosure.
Short Sale real estate agents need to understand the intricacies of representing clients in the sale of their luxury homes and demonstrate expertise in facilitating confidential transactions. As a representative of the home seller, the agent must understand how to negotiate with first mortgage lenders, second mortgage lenders and Home Equity lines of credit in a Short Sale transaction.
The Harris Real Estate University LDPD designation has been invaluable in work with sellers and lenders on complicated luxury Short Sales. In this economy, luxury homes are more susceptible to lender foreclosure. My brokerage must be able to professionally and ethically advise clients on the differences between a Short Sale, deed-in-lieu, foreclosure and loan modification, said Lordbock, so we can assist them in planning the most beneficial foreclosure alternative.
Tim and Julie Harris, founders of the Harris Real Estate University in Las Vegas, NV, said Realtors such as Kathleen Lordbock with the HREU LDPD designation have valuable training in listing, marketing and negotiating the short sale of luxury homes. Through our in-depth training and continuous education programs, these agents are trained to aggressively connect luxury home sellers and buyers using our extensive training.
If you are in need of more information about foreclosure alternatives, or if you are under water on your mortgage payments, call Kathleen for more information at 218-831-8001.
&Acirc;&nbsp;
Specializing in the sale of residential properties in the Brainerd Lakes area and listing homes for sale in Aitkin, Crow Wing and Cass Counties contact klordbock@kw.com for more information, or visit
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes
1-218-831-8001
&Acirc;&nbsp;Website:&Acirc;&nbsp; http://www.topbrainerdagent.com
&Acirc;&nbsp;
&Acirc;&nbsp;
&Acirc;&nbsp;Welcome from the Brainerd Lakes - where outdoor and indoor recreational opportunites abound. Looking to buy on one of our many lakes? Ready to move up or down?&Acirc;&nbsp; Having trouble selling your home? Falling behind on payments or already in the foreclosure process? I am a Certified Short Sale Specialist as well as a Home Staging Expert.
Call me!]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:09:54 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Real Estate Blog: The Skinny on Minnnesota Real Estate for January 20100]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://activerain.com/blogsview/1495438/the-skinny-on-minnnesota-real-estate-for-january-2010</link>
<description><![CDATA[Wondering how things are going in the wonderful state of Minnesota as far as Real Estate is involved?  Here is the skinny on what is up in our great state. If you want information on the state of Real Estate in the Brainerd Lakes area - just give me a call.  I have many wonderful properties waiting for you to choose from.Welcome from the Brainerd Lakes - where outdoor and indoor recreational opportunites abound. Looking to buy on one of our many lakes? Ready to move up or down?&Acirc;&nbsp; Having trouble selling your home? Falling behind on payments or already in the foreclosure process? I am a Certified Short Sale Specialist as well as a Home Staging Expert.
Call me!]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:29:30 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Real Estate Blog: Serpent Lake Home (Minnesota's Brainerd Lakes Area)0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://activerain.com/blogsview/1493393/serpent-lake-home-minnesota-s-brainerd-lakes-area-</link>
<description><![CDATA[Call 218-831-8001 if you want a tour of this home or any home in the Brainerd Lakes area.
Looking to sell? All my listings get a complimentary staging consultation to get them showing way above the competition.Via Scott Pederson (Distinctive Properties MN):Take a virtual tour of this&Acirc;&nbsp;Serpent Lake Home for sale
Distinctive 6br/4ba quality built executive showcase home; 150 shoreline; 2.73 acres; fabulous lake views; beautiful hickory flooring; custom knotty alder columns &amp;amp;amp; doors; huge living room w/ tray cove ceiling; hearth room/beamed ceiling/built-in bookcases/gas stone fireplace; gourmet kitchen/hickory cabinetry/granite ctops/top-line appliances/breakfast bar/wet bar/walk-in pantry; elegant formal dining room/built-in china cabinets; vaulted knotty pine sun porch; main floor office; huge lakeside mbr suite/private deck/cathedral ceiling/gas fireplace/built-in book shelves &amp;amp;amp; audio system/sitting area/walk-in closet/luxurious cathedral bath; large laundry room w/ office area; theatre room; exercise room; several walk-in storage closets; 2nd laundry room; systems room; mudroom; triple attached heated garage; professionally landscaped; paved circular drive; insulated/heated detached triple garage; 14x16 barn; huge pole building; lakeside aggregate patios; fire pit; rainbow play system!
Contact Jim Christensen
Serpent Lake Home for sale
Minnesota Lake Homes for saleWelcome from the Brainerd Lakes - where outdoor and indoor recreational opportunites abound. Looking to buy on one of our many lakes? Ready to move up or down?&Acirc;&nbsp; Having trouble selling your home? Falling behind on payments or already in the foreclosure process? I am a Certified Short Sale Specialist as well as a Home Staging Expert.
Call me!]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:27:28 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Pine River Market Square: 2010 Market Season Opens May 28th!0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://prmarketsquare.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/2010-market-season-opens-may-28th/</link>
<description><![CDATA[We are quite excited, and busy getting ready to open the second season of the market!&Acirc;&nbsp; New forms are available for download from the Box.net widget on the right side of the page. We are making final tweaks to our new Vendor Guidelines, and Market Bylaws &amp;amp;amp; Guidelines, and will post them soon. Our vendor meeting will be on April 20th, 6:30pm at the Hunt Utilities Group Campus in Old Main. (Directions) If you are planning your garden, plan for some extra produce to sell at the market! And you still have 3 months to work on your art or craft to stock up for your booth!
     ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:09:33 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Realtor Randy: Helping out the MDA Challenge0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://brainerdlakesrealtorrandy.blogspot.com/2010/02/helping-out-mda-challenge.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ I need help raising money for a great cause - MDA. Here is my link, please check it out, watch the video and donate what you can to help out the kids.It truly goes to a great cause - http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.joinmda.org%2FMyLockup%2FMyHomepage%2Ftabid%2F121909%2FParticipant%2Frahern%2FDefault.aspx&amp;amp;amp;h=afb059bf29d4f3688b573981eaba3e1b]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://brainerdlakesrealtorrandy.blogspot.com/2010/02/helping-out-mda-challenge.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:16:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd News: DNR news release for February 4, 20101]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/story_detail.php?permalink=http://brainerdcommunityjournalism.blogspot.com/2010/02/dnr-news-release-for-february-4-2010.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[  DNR NEWS &#8220; FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp; &Acirc;&nbsp; FEBRUARY 4, 2010  Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director, 651-259-5023; Patricia Arndt, Parks and Trails Division planning and public affairs manager, 651-259-5578.  &Acirc;&nbsp;  Free Take-A-Kid Ice Fishing Clinic set for Feb. 13 at Lake Carlos State Park  Register before Feb. 11  &Acirc;&nbsp;  Cabin fever setting in? Bundle up the kids and participate in the Take-A-Kid Ice Fishing Clinic at Lake Carlos State Park on Saturday,  Feb. 13, from 1 to 4:30 p.m.  &Acirc;&nbsp;  This event will get everyone from preschoolers to teens outside and back into nature, said Ryan Sansness, assistant park manager. This clinic is geared towards families that have little or no ice-fishing experience.&Acirc;&nbsp;   &Acirc;&nbsp;  The clinic is free to attend, but people should call the park at 320-852-7200 to register before Feb. 11, because class size is limited.  &Acirc;&nbsp;  The ice-fishing clinic begins inside the parks visitor center, where presentations will be given on ice-fishing safety, gear, techniques, and &#8220; most important &#8220; how to have fun. Kids will be able to make their own jigging stick to use on the ice and take home. The last hour of the clinic will take place on Lake Carlos, where well attempt to catch sunfish, crappies, and even the elusive walleye.&Acirc;&nbsp;   &Acirc;&nbsp;  Christopherson Bait of Alexandria donated the fishing equipment needed to make the jigging sticks. One kid will win a complete ice-fishing kit at the end of the clinic.  &Acirc;&nbsp;  Adults do not need a fishing license to attend. Anglers age 18 and older can also fish without a license from Feb. 13-15 if they are accompanied by a child younger than 16 and actively participating in Take-A-Kid Ice Fishing Weekend.&Acirc;&nbsp;   &Acirc;&nbsp;  &Acirc;&nbsp;A vehicle permit ($5 one-day or $25 year-round) is required to enter the park and can be purchased at the park office.&Acirc;&nbsp;   &Acirc;&nbsp;  Lake Carlos State Park is located 10 miles north of Alexandria. From State Highway 29, go two miles west on Highway 38 to reach the park entrance.&Acirc;&nbsp;   -30-  &Acirc;&nbsp;    ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.orgbrainerdcommunityjournalism.blogspot.com/2010/02/dnr-news-release-for-february-4-2010.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:06:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Realtor Randy: 4 Demographic Trends That Will Affect Housing0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://brainerdlakesrealtorrandy.blogspot.com/2010/01/4-demographic-trends-that-will-affect.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[A new report from the Urban Land Institute predicts two major changes in the U.S. housing market as we began a new decade.*  Home appreciation will slow considerably to about 1 percent to 2 percent annually.*  The current U.S. homeownership rate, now at 67 percent (which is down from a record high of 69 percent), will fall further to about 62 percent.4 Major Demographic TrendsThe report also cites four major U.S. demographic trends that will have a major impact on housing.1. Aging baby boomers (ages 55 to 64 years old): They will keep working, and many will be forced to stay in their suburban homes until values recover. Those who are able to move will choose mixed-age living environments that cater to active lifestyles. Walkable suburban town centers also will appeal to this group.2. Younger baby boomers (46 to 54 years old): They are now entering their prime earning years but they will lack home equity and unlike the older members of their generation, they wont be able to purchase second homes. This will likely curb the prospects for the second-home market.3. Generation Y: They are larger than the baby boom generation (with a population of about 86 million). As they enter the housing market, they are less interested in homeownership than their parents were when they were young adults. They will be renters by necessity or choice for years ahead, says John K. McIlwain, author of the report.4. Immigrants &#8220; both legal and illegal: They are nearly 40 million strong. They often prefer multi-generational households and if they can afford them, larger homes in neighborhoods with a strong sense of community.Source: The Urban Land Institute (01/27/2010)Posted by:Randy Ahern - Broker&Acirc;&reg;Ahern Real EstateDirect: 218.838.5066Email: rahern@realtorrandy.comWeb: http://www.realtorrandy.com/Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/randyahernTwitter: http://twitter.com/randyahernBusiness Card : http://randyahern.businesscard2.com/My blog link - http://brainerdlakesrealtorrandy.blogspot.com/]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:16:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Come and Grow with Bonnie The Plant Lady: PushingSpring0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://sunshinegardens.tripod.com/BonnieTPLBlog/index.blog?entry_id=1984558</link>
<description><![CDATA[So far it is the Sedge seedlings that have a jump on things in the pushing spring department. &Acirc;&nbsp;What are sedges you might ask. &Acirc;&nbsp;They are sort of like grasses only sedges mostly have triangular stems and grasses have round stems. &Acirc;&nbsp;We grow ten kinds here at sunshinegardens.tripod.com mostly for shoreline plantings as we do a lot of that. &Acirc;&nbsp;Sedges have robust spaghetti like roots that grow down deeeplyto hold a shoreline in place should wind or ice or waves come along and threaten to cut into the shoreline. &Acirc;&nbsp;Most shoreland owners figure they paid good money for their shoreland and they want to keep it there. &Acirc;&nbsp;I agree and so do the sedges. &Acirc;&nbsp;I like to interplant with marsh milkweed( Asclepias incarnata)and blue flag irises(Iris versicolor) along with grasses such as Prairie Cord Grass(Spartina pectinata). &Acirc;&nbsp;Those latin names have you scratching your head saying why bother with the latin names? Foe example the latin name helps me identify one Asclepias from another. &Acirc;&nbsp;Asclepias incarnata I mentioned before likes to be planted where it can send its roots down into a lake or shallow water table or moist soil while Asclepias tuberosa Butterflyweed likes to send its deep fleshy roots down &Acirc;&nbsp;deep too but it thrives in dry soil to the point of croaking if it gets too moist. &Acirc;&nbsp;I am also seeding some of the Butterflyweed in my special sandy soil mix without perlite. &Acirc;&nbsp; I don't use perlite in this seed starting mix as perlite tends to float away when watered or blow away if I plant the resulting plugs on a sandy windy site leaving the tiny yet fleshy roots exposed to the elements and good old minnesota frigid temps which I hear we are in for more of below zero temps. &Acirc;&nbsp;Batten the hatches as the full moon cometh so do the colder temps!]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:51:12 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Realtor Randy: Housing Economists: Sales Are on the Rise0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://brainerdlakesrealtorrandy.blogspot.com/2010/01/housing-economists-sales-are-on-rise.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Posted by:Randy Ahern - Broker&Acirc;&reg;Ahern Real EstateDirect: 218.838.5066Email: rahern@realtorrandy.comWeb: http://www.realtorrandy.com/Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/randyahernTwitter: http://twitter.com/randyahernBusiness Card : http://randyahern.businesscard2.com/My blog link - http://brainerdlakesrealtorrandy.blogspot.com/The housing recovery should gain moment in 2010, but the improvement will still be slow, according to a panel of economists speaking at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas.&amp;quot;It won't be a strong recovery, but it will be a recovery,&amp;quot; said David Crowe, chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders.Crowe forecast that sales of new homes will rise by about 33 percent while resales will go up 7 percent. He expects prices to remain stable in most areas, but some cities may see some slight declines.&amp;quot;I believe we've seen the worst of the house price declines ... The stage is set for the consumer to return,&amp;quot; Crowe said.Source: Associated Press, Alex Veiga (01/19/2010)]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:28:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd Lakes Realtor Randy: Consider Live-In Stagers for Vacant Homes0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://brainerdlakesrealtorrandy.blogspot.com/2010/01/consider-live-in-stagers-for-vacant.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Posted by:Randy Ahern - Broker&Acirc;&reg;Ahern Real EstateDirect: 218.838.5066Email: rahern@realtorrandy.comWeb: http://www.realtorrandy.com/Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/randyahernTwitter: http://twitter.com/randyahernBusiness Card : http://randyahern.businesscard2.com/My blog link - http://brainerdlakesrealtorrandy.blogspot.com/Showhomes, a Nashville, Tenn.-based home-management and staging company with eight offices in Florida, provides live-in stagers for vacant homes that are up for sale.Live-in stagers reduce the chances that the property will be vandalized, and they ensure that the listing is kept in show condition and ready for buyers to tour with just 30 minutes' notice. They also must vacate the home when it sells; but in return, they pay dramatically reduced rents. Don Vanderhoef, who owns Showhomes' Fort Lauderdale franchise, says, &amp;quot;A big part of it is psychology. Buyers see food in the refrigerator, clothes in the closet. They see all the signs of life of a regular home.&amp;quot;While some real estate agents worry that live-in stagers will not keep the home clean or cause problems when asked to move out, Vanderhoef says in-home managers sign contracts and submit to background checks.In the company's 24-year history, he says it has worked with only one problem manager. The program's properties generally spend less time on the market and fetch more money than other vacant listings. The company collects a &amp;quot;success&amp;quot; fee of 1 percent of the list price when a sale is completed and only the upfront money if the home is not sold.Source: Charlotte Observer, Paul Owers (01/17/2010)]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:26:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Come and Grow with Bonnie The Plant Lady: New Year, New Sun!0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://sunshinegardens.tripod.com/BonnieTPLBlog/index.blog?entry_id=1981432</link>
<description><![CDATA[Springy winter greetings! Yes it may seem like I am pushing spring.&Acirc;&nbsp; I grow more and more perennials every year and the greenhouses are going to be packed again this year so I have to start in mid January if I am to accomplish this joyful task.&Acirc;&nbsp; Fellow and gal spring pushers give a listen to www.kaxe.org the last Thursday of the month to chat about the pushing spring opener January 28th at 8:10 am.&Acirc;&nbsp; We are thawing out the potting soil and seed starter mixtures in the garage, alias the new work area.&Acirc;&nbsp; We keep it at 40 degrees now to store seeds and thaw soil.&Acirc;&nbsp; We will also be at the Back To Basics fifth anual featuring the topic Warming Up Winter.&Acirc;&nbsp; Forty-five workshops are featured.&Acirc;&nbsp; Bonnie teaches Attract the birds that warm our hearts, Wind Snow and Sun Breaks, and Houseplant Warmth.&Acirc;&nbsp; Check out www.happydancingturtle.org for registration and workshop schedule.&Acirc;&nbsp; Here is a Queen's Tears Bromeliad in full bloom in our house now.&Acirc;&nbsp; You might be lucky enough to win one at the BackTo Basics at the Pine River Backus School January 30 if you come to the Houseplant Warmth&Acirc;&nbsp; workshop.&Acirc;&nbsp; Y'all Come now, Hear?]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:58:06 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd News: DNR news release: Itasca State Parks youth deer hunt gets kids outdoors1]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/story_detail.php?permalink=http://brainerdcommunityjournalism.blogspot.com/2009/12/dnr-news-release-itasca-state-parks.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[DNR NEWS &#8220; FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE				     DECEMBER 21, 2009Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director,651-259-5023; Patricia Arndt, Minnesota State Parks planning and publicaffairs manager, 651-259-5578.Itasca State Park's youth deer hunt gets kids outdoorsItasca State Park hosted its first firearms youth deer hunt earlierthis fall. Forty young hunters participated in the event, with aconfirmed harvest of seven deer. The two-day hunt was meant to help meetthe park's deer reduction goals while encouraging new hunters. Thisevent was in addition to a regular season hunt with yearly participationof nearly 500 hunters.           Although the number of deer has decreased across the region, thepopulation is still higher than Park Resource Specialist Cathy Handrickwould like to see. &amp;quot;We are still seeing deer browse that is affectingour forest regeneration efforts,&amp;quot; she said.   Prior to the hunt, the young hunters had an opportunity to attend aday-long mini-camp, where they learned the basics of deer hunting frommembers of the Park Rapids Chapter of the Minnesota Deer HuntersAssociation (MDHA). The mini-camp covered topics such as tracking, treestand safety, and compass use. Both the MDHA and park officials believeeducating and encouraging young hunters is critical to instilling theimportance of Minnesota's outdoor heritage in future generations.  Some participants bagged their first deer during the youth hunt, whileothers simply enjoyed the time spent in the woods with a parent ormentor. One young hunter who didn't see any deer said he was stillexcited, because he had never heard a grouse drum before. &amp;quot;Whether these young hunters bagged a deer or not, the underlying goalwas to get youth engaged in the outdoors,&amp;quot; said Matt Snyder, ItascaState Park manager, &amp;quot;Anytime you can get youth involved outdoors, itgives them an appreciation of the natural resources and what Minnesotahas to offer.&amp;quot;                       -30-]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.orgbrainerdcommunityjournalism.blogspot.com/2009/12/dnr-news-release-itasca-state-parks.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:16:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Northern Comfort: Spiders Everywhere0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://jackypine.blogspot.com/2009/10/spiders-everywhere.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Yes. Spider Woman.Some friends and I decided to dress up for Halloween at work. I wouldn't reveal my costume to my co-workers, but as a &amp;quot;teaser,&amp;quot; I draped my office door in webbing and dangling spiders, as well as the front of my desk.The &amp;quot;seed&amp;quot; for my costume was the hairnet (worn on the face) with spider inside that I talked my little sister into wearing many years ago for Halloween at elementary school.For my costume, I added several additional adornments: more spiders inside the face net, some dangling on threads below my chin, and two speared on safety pins and inserted in my pierced ears. (I originated the safety pin earrings before the punks thought of it. When I was a waitress at Holiday Inn during the late 1970s, I wanted &amp;quot;new&amp;quot; silver earrings and wore safety pins. They became a conversation piece that generated good tips that night!)A giant spider nestled lovingly on my left shoulder, draped in spider webs with tendrils wrapped around the fingers of my right hand. I darkened my hair with stiff spikes and also  draped it with webbing. It was fun to make up my face in dramatic eyeliner and hollow-shadowed facial features. Even the false eyelashes felt like tiny spiders perching on my eyelids. Black shirt, feather boa, swishy red &amp;amp;amp; black skirts, and tall black boots finished the attire.The appropriateness of this costume was manifested on Wednesday, two days before I wore it. While I was speaking at lunch during a meeting, the woman seated next to me reached up to brush away a spider that was creepy-crawling its way across my shoulder. The same afternoon, while I was driving down the road in my car, a spider on a thread dropped down near my head and I had to bat it away.I've never been fond of spiders, but they seem to be drawn to me.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://jackypine.blogspot.com/2009/10/spiders-everywhere.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:50:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Come and Grow with Bonnie The Plant Lady: A Dark and Rainy October0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://sunshinegardens.tripod.com/BonnieTPLBlog/index.blog?entry_id=1956041</link>
<description><![CDATA[We are waiting for the sun here in northern MN.&Acirc;&nbsp; I am tempted to start piling up some leaves but am certain that more will fall.&Acirc;&nbsp; We have gotten five inches of rain in the last three weeks. Time to keep thinking Sunny! I have been collecting seeds in my loyal kayak when we are not planting shores and yards.&Acirc;&nbsp; At least I don't have to water the plants in! I have a new view from my new drawing room window in our loft we had built above our garage.&Acirc;&nbsp; I was cramming in too many plants in the root cellar.&Acirc;&nbsp; It will be fantastic to have 9 new sunny windows that is when old Sol decides to shine again!&Acirc;&nbsp; Come on Sun!]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:14:23 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Northern Community Internet Project News: Bemidji e-Democracy: B.R.E.C. AFFirmative action Staffing01]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/story_detail.php?permalink=http://dev.minnesotacommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/1yyO2EBeFJd0ymz1UrbgZM</link>
<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:32:57 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Northern Community Internet Project News: Bemidji e-Democracy: Green spaces around the BREC01]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/story_detail.php?permalink=http://dev.minnesotacommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/36WhGz3NgzDw3U7Vgq2fFy</link>
<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:26:15 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Northern Community Internet Project News: Iron Range ATV Trails: Great fall riding this weekend!01]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/story_detail.php?permalink=http://dev.minnesotacommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://larry.ironrange.org/blog/2009/10/16/great-fall-riding-this-weekend/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Fall colors have pretty much come to a peak here in northern Minnesota.&Atilde;&#8218;&Acirc;&nbsp; But this weekends weather forecast looks like it could be a great time to get out and ride the trails around the area and catch one last glimpse of the fall color on the Iron Range.
Heres a quick link to some of the trails in the Iron Range region: http://ironrange.org/recreation/atv-ohv/ironrangetrails/.
Several of the Iron Range lodging properties are offering some terrific fall lodging specials, as well.
And dont forget your camera! Take some photos of your ride and whats left of the fall color here on the Iron Range and upload it here.
ShareThis]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:11:25 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Northern Community Internet Project News: Hibbing Public Library: Edgar Allen Poe Website01]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/story_detail.php?permalink=http://dev.minnesotacommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://hibbinglibrary.blogspot.com/2009/10/edgar-allen-poe-website.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[www.iknowpoe.com/The Library of Virginia and The Poe Museum are inviting visitors to learn more about the man, the myth, the legend here at this collaborative exhibition website. Four icons greet the visitor: a raven, a swinging blade, a hot-air balloon, and a sinister looking cat. Visitors shouldn't miss the &amp;amp;amp;quot;Learn &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Play&amp;amp;amp;quot; area (symbolized by the hot air balloon), containing the highly entertaining &amp;amp;amp;quot;I Know Poe Game Show&amp;amp;amp;quot;.From the Scout Report. www.scout.wisc.edu/The Scout Report is a weekly publication offering a selection of new and newly discovered Internet resources of interest to researchers and educators. However, everyone is welcome to subscribe to one of the mailing lists.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:38:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Northern Community Internet Project News: Northern Community Internet Project News: Bemidji e-Democracy: CassLeech] B.R.E.C. AFFirmative Action Staffing011]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/story_detail.php?permalink=http://dev.minnesotacommunityinternet.org/story_detail.php?permalink=http://dev.minnesotacommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/79ZpohiNbXHsWyoPIGnBXO</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:53:21 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Brainerd News: DNR state park news releases - October 9, 20091]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/story_detail.php?permalink=http://brainerdcommunityjournalism.blogspot.com/2009/10/dnr-state-park-news-releases-october-9.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[DNR NEWS - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	                                OCTOBER 9, 2009Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director,651-259-5023; Patricia Arndt, Minnesota State Parks planning and publicaffairs manager, 651-259-5578.Fall Festival set for Lake Carlos State Park on Oct. 10 The leaves are vibrant, the air is cool - fall is here! Bring the wholefamily to welcome the change of season at Lake Carlos State Park'sFall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 10. The event will take place at thepark's Lakeview Group Camp from noon to 4 p.m. Activities for all ageswill include guided nature hikes, pontoon boat rides, and more. The parkwill even be providing pumpkins for children to decorate and take home. A complete schedule of events can be picked up at park office orvisitor center. There is no fee for this program, but vehicle permits($5/day or $25/year-round) are required to enter Minnesota state parks.In case of rain, events may be moved to various park shelters; detailswill be available at the park office.Lake Carlos State Park is located 10 miles north of Alexandria on StateHighway 29, then 2 miles west on Highway 38. For more information, call320-852-7200.                                                       -30-DNR NEWS - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE				                                                      OCTOBER 9, 2009Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director,651-259-5023; Steve Carroll, DNR information officer, 651-259-5342.Fall is busy time at two Minnesota state parksFrom wildlife watching, to fall colors, hiking to camping, there'splenty to do this fall at Hayes Lake and Lake Bronson state parks innorthwestern Minnesota.Fall migrations are taking place so visitors can watch waterfowlflights of ducks, geese, and sand hill cranes. Migrating raptors can beseen along roadways. Visitors can see elk herds with bulls activelybugling. Song birds, especially warblers, are prolific in both parks.There are also opportunities to hunt elk, sharp-tail grouse, ruffedgrouse, and waterfowl in the area, or experience the special permit deerhunts in the parks.  Both parks also offer camping options for people interested in spendingthe night.Hayes Lake State Park offers: &Acirc;&middot; Rustic* fall camping for $16 a night for electric or $12 fornon-electric.&Acirc;&middot; Camper cabins available through October. Rates are $45 a night fornon-electric, or $50 a night with electricity.Lake Bronson State Park offers:&Acirc;&middot; Rustic* fall camping at Lakeside and Lakeside Extension, Two Riverscampgrounds for $16 a night for electric or $12 for non-electric. Call today for reservation at 1-866-85PARKS (1-866-857-2757), or goonline at www.stayatmnparks.com.*Rustic camping amenities include vault toilets and hand pumped water,showers and flush toilets are closed for the season.                                           -30-]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:27:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Northern Comfort: Serendipity0]]></title>
<link>http://www.brainerdcommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://jackypine.blogspot.com/2009/09/serendipity.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Serendipity: &amp;quot;. . . finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for&amp;quot; (Webster's Dictionary)A truly serendipitous event doesn't come along every day.I've always loved shopping for school supplies. Since I'm now an adult I need to call them &amp;quot;office supplies,&amp;quot; but the principle is the same. Even now, back-so-school season infuses me with the nostalgia of new shoes, new notebooks, and finding the perfect box of crayons.A few days ago, I asked my Facebook friends if anyone remembered the &amp;quot;Nifty&amp;quot; -- a binder with two holes at the top for special Nifty loose-leaf paper and a magnetic-closure compartment to hold a pencil and eraser. It was from the mid-1960s, so that gives you a clue as to my age.Mine was brown -- boring, serviceable brown. Keep in mind, this was before they began marketing colors and designs that would appeal to children. I don't remember how I learned about the Nifty, but every elementary-aged child who was anybody had to have one.Last weekend, a few days after posing the Nifty question to my FB friends, I was on my way home from the flea market and randomly stopped at a garage sale. There wasn't much in the sale assortment that appealed to me and I was about to leave, when I skimmed my eyes over the last table. There, atop a pile of assorted office supplies, was a distinctive black binder with the &amp;quot;hinge&amp;quot; at the top. Could it be?Yes.It was a Nifty -- fully loaded with the special top-punched paper.I felt God smiling. Still do.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:16:00 -0700</pubDate>
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