Spring has sprung, and thewelcome mat is out at theHitching Post, where a newly-remodeled bar and dining areacombine to set the perfect back-drop for relaxing over a refresh-ing drink and a delicious meal.

Conveniently locatedbetween Clearwater and Annan-dale on Hwy. 24, the HitchingPost has built a strong reputa-tion for its fine food and friend-ly atmosphere. Donny andStacy Handeland invite MapleLake-area residents to take ashort drive and discover whatmany of their neighbors alreadyknow – that good eating andtop-notch service are really justminutes away.

“We’re just nine miles fromMaple Lake,” said Donny.“We’re proud to be one ofMaple Lake’s favorite spots togo.”

As general manager and headchef, Donny’s been at the Hitch-ing Post’s helm for three of thefour years it’s been open. Hisbrother, Tom, who runs a simi-lar establishment in Marshall aswell as LeRoy’s in Cotton-wood, took ownership of theformer Lake Center Bar andGrill in April 2011. From itsinception, the Hitching Posthas been a busy place – a popu-lar spot for people of all ages togather, relax and unwind.

Specialties servedwith pride

Starting out in the late 70s,the Handeland brothers sharenearly four decades of restaurantindustry experience. Donny –who honed his culinary skills atSt. Cloud Technical and Com-munity College before cookingat the Hyatt Regency Hotel andLincoln Del – is proud to offera generous menu that includeseverything from the great Amer-ican staples to a couple of hisown mouthwatering in-housespecialties.

“We have our own smokernow,” Donny said. “We smokebeef brisket in the kitchen, andwe serve beef brisket sandwich-es in two different styles. It’sreally good – it’s delicious.”

In addition to several newsauces and a new chicken dishthat’s “fantastic,” Donny said,“We cook our own ribs here,too. And we make each one ofour rib dishes per order – they’renot kept hot on a steam table allday.”

A two-time spare rib blue-ribbon winner at Taste of Buffa-lo, Handeland takes his reputa-tion for making excellent foodin stride, but not for granted.His menu, he said, is in a con-stant process of re-evaluationand change, and new items areadded on a regular basis.

An intrepid staff of about 20employees adds its own person-al touches to the HitchingPost’s warm ambience, provid-ing great food with attentiveservice.

“Our staff is really good,”said Donny. “They areunmatched, if you ask me. Theyare experienced, they’re well-rounded. We have great bar-tenders and great servers. Theyreally are excellent. I’m veryproud of all of them.”

His wife, Stacy, manages thewait staff and handles adminis-trative duties.

The Maple LakeThe Maple Lake

Messenger Extra, April 2015 A publication of the Maple Lake Messenger - Distributed to 5,000 area homes & businesses

By Katie Friedman

Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday-Sunday: Closed

(320) 963-3813Fax: (320) 963-6114

218 Division Street WestPost Office Box 817

Maple Lake, MN 55358

news@maplelakemessenger.com

ads@maplelakemessenger.com

mapleakemessenger.com

The Maple LakeThe Maple Lake

The Hitching Post:Great food, friendly service, minutes away.

maplelakemessenger.com

The Hitching PostContinued on page 2

Top: The Hitching Post is conveniently situated between Clearwater and Annandale

on Hwy. 24. Above: Stacy and Donny Handeland (center), with employees Ashley Gries,

Amy Ellestad, Tracy Rapinac, Josh Glunz (standing), Crystal Long and Lisa Beuning,

converge at a corner of the Hitching Post’s newly expanded bar.(Photos by Katie Friedman)

The Maple LakeThe Maple Lake

usinessuzzB

Waitresses Rachael Miller (foreground) and Bridget

Beckman exemplify the Hitching Post’s amiable work

ethic, serving up great food with friendly smiles. “If the

Hitching Post isn’t your favorite place to eat, then you’ve

never been here.” (Photo by Katie Friedman)

Next Meeting: May 5 at 7 p.m.Huikko’s Bowling in Buffalo

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Gift CardsAvailable!

Monday-Wednesday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. • Thursday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-10 p.m.• Sunday: Closed

Next to Cenex • 901 State Hwy. 55 East, Maple Lake • 320.963.3715

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Maple Lake Brewfest

Saturday, June 6, 2015 Sampling from 2:00 5:00 pm Entertainment Mitch Gordon and the Unleaded Band

Ticket Prices: $20-In Advance $25-At the Door $5-Designated Driver ***Must be 21+ with a valid photo ID***

BREWFEST

Buy your tickets here! On sale now!Join the party at Maple Lake’s

first ever Brewfest, June 6, 2015in conjunction with our

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Maple Lake Messenger Extra Page 2

The Hitching PostContinued from page 1

“Stacy is the glue of theplace,” Donny said. “Withouther, we’d crumble.”

Positive change The Hitching Post under-

went a tasteful remodelingprocess over the winter, closingfor the month of February andreopening in March with a floorplan that’s more open and yet,more intimate, as well.

Most notable is the expandedbar: Converted from an L-shapeto something more like a horse-shoe, it seats nearly twice asmany people as before, and ismuch more conducive to eyecontact and conversation.

“The new bar is beautiful,”Donny said. “People love it. It’schanged our whole bar crowd.People who never sat herebefore sit here all the time now.By having three corner areas,four people can sit and talk toeach other at each one. It’s real-ly changed the whole characterof our bar, and it’s reallyincreased our bar crowd, too.”

The Hitching Post features aHappy Hour from 4-5:30 p.m.Monday through Friday, andmeat raffles every Saturday at2:30 p.m. On Tuesday nights,customers are invited to playKeys for Cash, a free-to-play

progressive jackpot, with adrawing at 7:30 p.m.

Groups are always welcome,as are parties and celebrations.Catering service is also avail-able, either pickup or onsite, forbackyard barbecues, weddings,grad parties and more. The

Hitching Post can be found at10480 State Hwy. 24 NW.Kitchen hours are 4-9 p.m.Mondays and Tuesdays, 11a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday-Satur-day, and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun-days. For more information,call 320-274-5400.

MAPLE

LAKE!MAPLE

LAKE!

Got News?Want to win?

Submit a photo or story idea tothe Maple Lake Messenger

and you will be entered into a monthly drawing

for business bucks!

320-963-3813news@maplelakemessenger.com

Top: A grinning Muskie at the front door adds a local

touch to a friendly welcome. Above: The Hitching Post

is a popular spot for people of all ages to gather, relax

and unwind. (Photos by Katie Friedman)

Member FDIC

Buffalo 910 Commercial Dr

888-KLEIN-4U | kleinbank.com

Proud to support our community.Happy Hour

Monday-Friday4-6 p.m. &

during meat raffle

MeatRaffles on

Saturdays at 2:30 p.m.

320-274-5400 • Open 7 Days a WeekBetween Clearwater & Annandale

Mon. & Tue. Open at 4 p.m. • Wed. thru Sun. Open at 11 a.m.Kitchen hours: Sun. thru Tue. Close at 9 p.m. • Wed. thru Sat. Close at 10 p.m.

Lions Pull Tabs • License #02921

“If The Hitching Post isn’t your favorite place to eat,then you’ve never been here!”

www.northstargranitetops.comFabricators of Natural Stone Tops

for kitchens, baths, bars, fireplaces, etc.

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Roger’s BP Amoco

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Eat In or Take OutSupporting our Community for Over 40 Years!For employment opportunities, visit us at mpnexlevel.com,

or stop in at 500 County Road 37 East, Maple Lake.

500 County Road 37 East • Maple Lake

320.963.2400 • www.mpnexlevel.com

Upcoming Red Cross blood drivesDonors of all types are encouraged to help save

lives by giving blood. Appointments can be madeby calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or visiting red-crossblood.org. Upcoming blood donation opportu-nities in Wright County: April 28, 1 - 7 p.m., St.James Lutheran Church, 1000 6th Ave., HowardLake; May 2, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Buffalo CountryStore, 101 8th St. NE, Buffalo; May 7,12 - 6p.m., Preferred Choice Chiropractic, 703 ThielenDrive SE, St. Michael.

Nunsense Auditions is May 4 & 5Are you interested in singing and dancing with

the little sisters of Hoboken? SOAR Regional Artsannounces auditions for Nunsense, The SecondComing on Monday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 5from 6-9 p.m. at St. Michael City Center, 11800Town Center Dr. in St. Michael. Women must be15 or older to audition. Please prepare a song andbring sheet music for the accompanist. Dress formovement. Also, bring a headshot, if you haveone. If not, one will be taken at auditions. Per-formances are June 18-21 at Maple Lake HighSchool and June 25-28 at St. Albert's Parish Cen-ter.

Jeff Nothnagel Cancer Benefit After a courageous 6 month battle with kidney

cancer, Jeff Nothnagel passed away on March 13th.Jeff leaves behind his wife and children who needyour support for mounting medical bills and funer-al expenses. Please join in celebrating the life ofJeff and help the Nothnagel family at a benefit onSaturday, May 9, at the Maple Lake AmericanLegion Club. There will be a pork chop dinner, raf-fles, silent auction and music. Dinner will be avail-able from 4-6 p.m. and is provided by B & P Cater-ing. Silent Auction will end around 7 p.m. If youwould like to make a donation or have questionsplease contact: Jeremy Nothnagel at 612-369-2930,Jenny Carlson at 763-614-7810 or Sara Stempler at763-300-2398.

Identity theft informational brunch IWright County Sheriff Joe Hagerty will be

sharing important information to help you stay safeand smart. Join this important brunch at St. John'sLutheran Church in Annandale on May 14 at 9:30a.m. Simply call Eleanor at 320-274-5460 orDawn at 612-723-3905 for reservations, and don'tforget to invite a friend. The brunch will alsoinclude wonderful music and a captivating diologueby speakers Jodi Repinski & Diane Beers of Still-water. This event is sponsored by Stonecroft Min-istries.

Fit for Life: Holy Spirit Academy 5k Holy Spirit Academy in Monticello is hosting

its first annual Fit for Life 5k fundraiser on Satur-day, May 16. The event starts at St. Henry’sCatholic Church with a 1k kid’s fun run at 9:30a.m. and the chip timed 5k at 10 a.m. Come enjoythis family event and support a great cause. All agesand abilities welcome. Discounted registration forfamily teams. Visit www.hsfitforlife.com to regis-ter or to find more information.

CHF Buffalo Stampede 5K Walk/RunThe 2015 CHF Walk-Run is now called the

CHF Buffalo Stampede 5K Walk/Run. This is the6th annual family-friendly 5K walk/run. The 5K isheld in support of Lakeside Oasis which opened itsdoors in July 2014. The 2015 CHF Buffalo Stam-pede 5K is Sunday, May 17, at Sturges Park inBuffalo. The walk/run begins at 1:00 p.m. Regis-tration is now open online atwww.chfwc.org/events, find Buffalo Stampede.

Maple Lakes 125th Anniversary Maple Lakes 125th Anniversary Celebration is

Saturday, June 6. The day will begin with an AllSchool Reunion open house from 10:30 a.m. to1:30 p.m. An Irish Scramble 9 hole golf tourna-ment will start at 9 a.m. at Whispering Pines. Takea walking historical tour of Maple Lake from 12 to6 p.m. Maps will be available at local businesses.City Hall will also have a historical display andvideo playing throughout the day. Family bowlingfrom 1 to 4 p.m. at Maple Lake Bowl for just thecost of shoes. Don Bursell will be presenting afamily entertainment show with juggling, unicy-cles and illusions at the Fire Hall with shows at 2and 3:15 p.m. The craft Brewfest will be held from2 to 5 p.m. Sample over 50 different kinds of craftbeer while listening to Mitch Gordon and TheUnleaded Band and cast your vote for the TastersChoice award. Maple Lake Lions will be servingburgers, brats and more on Division near Birchthroughout the day. From 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Out-side Recess will be performing at the Street Dance.Fireworks sponsored by the Maple Lake Lions willconclude the night beginning at 10:30 p.m.

Check out ancestry.com at ML LibraryPatrons of the Maple Lake Library are encour-

aged to stop in and check out your family historyon ancestry.com for free. So come join us at thelibrary, take advantage of this opportunity, and dis-cover your roots. Library hours are Monday and Fri-day from 12 to 6 p.m., Wednesday from 12 to 8p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Programs & Events

02/23/15 - 04/24/15: Bowfishing - 2015 early season -south of Hwy 210 only on lakes and on Minnesota, Mississippior St. Croix rivers, from boats only.

04/18/15 - 09/14/15: Stream Trout in streams SE - 2015season

04/18/15 - 09/30/15: Stream Trout in streams, except SE- 2015 season

04/25/15 - 02/28/16: Bowfishing - 2015 season04/25/15 - 02/14/16: Bullhead, Redhorse, other rough fish

Spearing - 2015 season04/25/15 - 02/28/16: Sucker Spearing - 2015 season05/09/15 - 02/28/16: Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass -

2015 season -North and East of U.S. Hwy 53 from Duluth toInternational Falls and Pelican and Ash lakes in St. Louis Coun-ty

05/09/15 - 02/28/16: Walleye, sauger, northern pike - 2015season

05/09/15 - 05/22/15: Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass -2015 early Catch and Release season Only -South and West ofU.S. Hwy 53 from Duluth to International Falls except Pelicanand Ash lakes in St. Louis County

05/09/15 - 05/10/15: Take-a-Mom fishing weekend05/09/15 - 09/30/15: Lake Trout (summer) - 2015 season05/09/15: 2015 Walleye Fishing Opener05/23/15 - 09/13/15: Smallmouth Bass - 2015 Season -

South and West of U.S. Hwy 53 from Duluth to InternationalFalls except Pelican and Ash lakes in St. Louis County

05/23/15 - 02/28/16: Largemouth Bass - 2015 season -South and West of US Hwy 53 from Duluth to International Fallsexcept Pelican and Ash Lakes in St. Louis County

06/05/15 - 06/07/15: Take-a-Kid fishing weekend06/06/15 - 12/01/15: Muskellunge (Muskie) - 2015 season09/14/15 - 02/28/16: Smallmouth Bass - 2015 late Catch

and Release Only season-South and West of U.S. Hwy 53 fromDuluth to International Falls except Pelican and Ash lakes in St.Louis County

09/14/15 - 02/28/16: Smallmouth Bass - 2015 Catch andRelease season only (statewide)

09/15/15 - 10/15/15: Stream Trout (Fall) SE - 2015 sea-son Catch and Release season only

11/15/15 - 02/28/16: Dark House Spearing-2015 season

Maple Lake Messenger Extra Page 3

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2015 Fishing Seasons

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Tires • Brakes • Oil ChangesSuspension/Steering • Diagnostics & More!

Used Boats/Motors/TrailersDock-Rite Docks & Lifts • Pontoon Trailers

Mercury Motors • Parts & AccessoriesStorage & Winterizing

Montego BayPontoons

MirrocraftBoats

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Recreational boating reachesits peak when the weatherwarms up and people take towaterways in droves. Spending aday on the water enjoying thescenery or trying your luck atfishing are popular pastimes.

Following proper boatingpractices and etiquette can pro-tect everyone onboard. Althoughensuring passenger safetyshould be a priority, safeguard-ing against environmentalimpacts while boating alsoshould be a concern.

Marinas and various marineareas can become contaminatedwith pollutants generated fromboating activities. Boat clean-ing, fueling and marine head dis-charge are just a few of the pol-lutants that can find their waysinto the water. A past studyfound that boat anchoring alsois a considerable threat tomarine habitats, as vulnerableecologies can be damaged by

anchors.Although there are regula-

tions in place to protect marinelife and ecosystems, these rulesaren't always adhered to. Recre-ational boaters can do their partto keep oceans, bays, rivers, andlakes pristine by adhering tosome sound advice.

· Reduce engine exhaust.Whenever possible, row, paddleor use sails to decrease engineuse and subsequent exhaust.When engines must be used, donot idle unnecessarily. Alwayssteer clear of the aft of the boat,where fuel fumes and carbonmonoxide can cause serioushealth implications.

· Keep trash on the vessel.Do not discard any items overthe side of the boat. Even seem-ingly harmless items can impactthe environment. Store garbagein a bag and dispose of it prop-erly when you return to themarina or dock. Secure items

onboard so they will not blowoff and end up in the water.

· Avoid antifouling paints.Antifouling paints are specialpaints applied to the undersideof vessels to prevent or slowdown the growth of barnaclesand other organisms. MaritimeNew Zealand notes that thesepaints can harm other sea lifeand prove dangerous whenscraped off and not discardedproperly.

· Keep boats in proper work-ing order. Poorly maintainedboats may harm the environ-ment. Inefficiently workingengines can produce moreexhaust and contaminate the airand water. Oil and other mechan-ical fluids can leak into thewater and affect the marine envi-ronment. Proper maintenancehelps keep boats safe and mini-mizes their impact on the envi-ronment.

· Use pump-out stations.

Pump out stations at marinasenable boaters to safely disposeof the contents from sanitarysystems without waste endingup in the water. Commercialships, such as tankers and bulkcargo carriers, have the addedthreat of ballast water. Ballastwater keeps vessels buoyant.However, when this water is dis-charged at the next port of call,it can transfer biological materi-als, like bacteria and plants,from foreign waters. Thesematerials can compromise theintegrity of ecological systems.

· Respect marine ecosys-tems. Boaters who plan to enterthe water and explore shouldtread delicately. Coastal areasoften play home to birds andother wildlife. Use cautionaround reefs and habitats.

Safe boating involves fol-lowing the rules of the water andalso keeping marine environ-ments clean and protected

Protect the environment with safe boating

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Maple Lake Messenger Extra Page 4

Spring Cleaning & Organizing? We have the extra space you need!Moving Boxes & Storage Supplies For Sale

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Visit your local dealer & test drive one today!

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Yard by Yard Garden & Landscape Design

Shelly Liljequist

(612) 719-9891Maple Lake, MN 55358

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• Consultations• Design Services• Installations• Maintenance

All Wright County residentsare invited to participate

in this cleanup.

Sponsored by the

City of Maple Lake

$2..........13-15” Car Tires (on/off rim)$8.... ..... .16-17” Car Tires (on/off rim)$15...................Truck Tires (off rim)$25............... Tractor Tires (off rim)

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Spread the Word...Maple Lake’s

Appliance Recycling DayIt’s Your Chance to Dispose of Items at a Minimum Cost

Saturday, May 169 a.m. to 1 p.m.

NO ITEMS WILL BEACCEPTED BEFORE OR AFTER

SCHEDULED HOURS.

The City Maintenance Shop

441 Oak Avenue SouthMaple Lake

$5 Per Household ApplianceIncludes: refrigerator, freezer, water heater,

range/stove, washer, dryer, dishwasher, trash compactor,garbage disposal and air conditioners.

Computers & TV Sets: $20 Each • Microwaves: $10 Each

* NOT ACCEPTING Sulfur Dioxide (SO-2) or Gas Ammonia RefrigeratorsWe cannot accept glass, paint, liquids, carpeting,

wood or burnable materials, food, debris, water softeners, mattresses, humidifiers, de-humidifiers or hazardous waste.

• ADDITIONAL CLEAN-UP ITEMS •

Join Maple Lake for the All City Garage Sale &125th Anniversary Celebration on June 6th, 2015!

Bountiful, healthy trees canbe beautiful to behold andimportant contributors to athriving environment. Accord-ing to American Forests, a non-profit conservation organiza-tion, a tree can absorb as muchas 40 pounds of carbon dioxideper year and can sequester oneton of carbon dioxide by thetime the tree reaches age 40.The United States Forest Serv-ice adds that trees placed proper-ly around a home can reduce airconditioning and heatingdemands considerably.

Many homeowners are con-tent to leave healthy treesalone. However, trees eventual-ly must be pruned or removed ifthey become safety risks orpose other threats. Trees withroots that are damaging homefoundations or those withlimbs overhanging propertylimits or power lines can betroublesome. Although home-

owners can handle relativelyminor tree maintenance, for avariety of reasons, many treeprojects are best left to the pro-fessionals.

Avoiding injuryis job one.

Professional tree contractorsrecognize and understand thehazards associated with tree andlimb removal. Many operate inaccordance with national orlocal guidelines to maintainproper clearance of power linesand structures.

Trimming trees close toelectrical lines puts a person atrisk of being electrocuted. Pro-fessionals know how to protectthemselves and prevent poweroutages, which can result whenlimbs come into contact withpower lines.

Professional tree serviceswill use machinery appropriatefor the task. Cherrypickers andcranes may lift workers to the

correct height to work on trees,while do-it-yourselfers who relyon climbing trees or using lad-ders are at risk of injury.

The importance ofpreventing damage

to the tree.Many tree services under-

stand the proper way to prunetrees to minimize stress anddamage to the tree itself.Novice pruners may inadver-tently do more harm than good,resulting in proliferation of treedisease or shock. Improperpruning technique also can leadto an unsightly tree.

Liability is aresponsibility.

A professional tree servicewill possess the correct liabili-ty and worker's compensationinsurance. This protects home-owners against litigationshould someone be injuredwhile tree work is being done.

Homeowners who damageneighboring properties whencutting down a tree may findthat they are not covered bytheir homeowner's insurancepolicies. This can be a costlymistake that's easily avoided bysimply hiring a fully insuredtree removal service.

Always use the rightright tools.

The right tools can mean thedifference between a job donecorrectly and one that results indisaster. Professional arboristsand tree services have acquiredthe training, tools and tech-niques to perform the job safe-ly. This includes using theright tools to tackle the job.Ropes, pulleys, cranes, stumpgrinders, and other heavymachinery are just a few of thetools tree services have at theirdisposal that the average home-owner does not.

Pruning trees may be a job best left to the pros

• Lakeshore Restoration • Patio & Walls• Driveways • Water & Fire Features• Drainage Solutions • Firewood• Fertilization & Weed Control• Hauling & Bobcat Work

Office: 320-274-6853Quote@sticksandstonesmn.comwww.SticksAndStonesMN.com

LANDSCAPE AND TREE SERVICE

We wearour boots

out for you!

Maple Lake Messenger Extra Page 5

Maintaining a lush lawn is ahealthy and rewarding hobby thataffords homeowners to spendsome time outdoors in nature.Lawn enthusiasts can make theirhobby even healthier by adopt-ing several eco-friendly lawn carestrategies that not only make fora healthier lawn, but a healthierplanet as well.

Responsible landscaping hasgrown increasingly popular inrecent years, as more and morehomeowners are adopting eco-friendly lawn care practices inthe same way they haveembraced environmentally con-scious behaviors in other areasof their lives. The following area handful of ways lawn careenthusiasts can incorporate eco-

friendly practices into their land-scaping routines.

• Maintain an appropriategrass height. When temperaturesstart to peak in summer, home-owners may be tempted to cuttheir grass as close as possibleso they can reduce the number ofafternoons they spend riding orpushing a mower in the hot sun.But cutting too low makes thegrass increasingly susceptible toinfestations and disease, and suchproblems may need to be reme-died with potentially harmfulpesticides if no other approachproves effective. Even if itmeans an extra afternoon or twomowing under the hot sun,maintaining an appropriate grassheight can lead to a healthier

lawn, as longer grass soaks upmore sunlight, allowing it togrow a deep root system thatwill help a lawn survive droughtand other potential problems.

• Cut back on harmful pesti-cides. Many homeowners nowprefer to avoid pesticides at allcosts, but sometimes pesticidesare a last resort when lawns arefalling victim to harmful insectsand organisms. Homeownerswho want to embrace more eco-friendly lawn care practices cancut back on their use of pesti-cides, first trying more environ-mentally friendly options. Forexample, biopesticides are madefrom naturally occurring materi-als, including animals, plants,bacteria, and certain minerals.

According to the United StatesEnvironmental ProtectionAgency, biopesticides are ofteninherently less toxic than moreconventional pesticides. In addi-tion, biopesticides typicallyaffect only the pest causing theproblem, whereas broad spec-trum pesticides may affect sur-rounding organisms, such asbirds and mammals, in additionto the targeted pest. The EPA(www.epa.gov) advises home-owners hoping to use biopesti-cides first learn about managingpests so they can effectively rem-edy problems on their properties.

• Harvest rainwater. Lawnsneed water, especially when tem-peratures rise in the summer. Butwatering lawns can have an

adverse effect on your communi-ty's water supply, draining thatsupply and hurting the commu-nity in the long run. Homeown-ers who can harvest rainwatercan drastically reduce theirimpact on their communitywater supply, thereby helpingthe planet and their community,especially if they reside inlocales where water resources aretraditionally scarce. When rain-water is harvested, it is collectedfrom downspouts before it wash-es into nearby sewage systems.Many lawn and garden retailerssell rainwater harvesting sys-tems, which homeowners caninstall themselves or pay a land-scaping professional to installfor them.

• Lay mulch down aroundtrees, shrubs and flower beds.Trees, shrubs and flower bedsneed water, especially in thesummer when rising tempera-tures pose a threat to plants.Homeowners can cut back on thewater they use to protect thoseplants by laying organic mulchin the spring. Organic mulchconserves moisture in soil, pro-moting stronger roots in plantsand helping homeowners cutback on the amount of wateringthey need to maintain a gardenthat's both healthy and pleasingto the eye. Organic mulch,which might be made of bark, isalso heavy, making it hard forugly weeds that rob plants ofwater to thrive.

A more eco-friendly lawn is just steps away

There is so much more online! Check us out at maplelakemessenger.com

New Home • Remodeling • Garage • Pole Building

320-963-3612120 Oak Ave. S • www.MapleLakeLumber.com

Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.Saturday: 8 a.m. - Noon • Sunday: Closed

Stop in & look atour Composite

Decking display!Redwood Decking

is back!

6 Foot DeluxeFolding Table

$34.99• Polypropylene top folds in half for storage• Steel frame with powercoated finish• 30” x 72” • Includes carry handle 64000

Hefty Trash Bags$6.99

Reg. $8.99 Featuresdrawstring top and OdorBlock technology

Fiskars 2 pc.Lopper/Pruner Tool Set

$19.97• Cuts Cleanly • Comfort-grip handles• Hardened steel nonstick blades

We CutResidential

Keys!

Insect Control ChemicalsBroad Leaf Weed Control Products

Veggie Seeds • Potting SoilGrass Seed • Mulch

Lawn & Garden FertilizerGarden Decor • Wind Chimes

Check Out Our Lawn & Garden Department!

Cenex-Lake Region Co-opHwy. 55 • Maple Lake

320-963-6074

We handle a full line of Aquatic Chemicalsfor lake & shore maintenance

Hydrothol 191We handle a full line of Aquatic Chemicals

for lake & shore maintenance

Hydrothol 191

Butterfly Gardens Flower MartOpening April 24th!

Weather Permitting

Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. • Sunday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.Located in Cenex-Lake Region Co-op Parking Lot • Maple Lake

Hanging Baskets • Veggies • Bedding PlantsPerennials • Specialty Annuals • Garden Decor

Family Owned, Locally Grown

Go ahead, make yourself more comfortable!

DeZiel Heating& Air Conditioning, Inc.

Call us for all your heating & cooling needs!

763-684-3965

AC Tune-Up Special:

$49.00

Buffalo Floral & LandscapingBuffalo Floral & LandscapingGreat Landscaping - Done Right from Concept to OOH!... not Ouch!

FULL SERVICELANDSCAPING &IRRIGATIONDESIGN &INSTALLATION

763-682-2010114 Central Ave.• Buffalo

Across from the Courthousewww.buffalofloral.com

763-682-2010114 Central Ave.• Buffalo

Across from the Courthousewww.buffalofloral.com

FREEESTIMATES

3 Year Guarantee on Plants and Workmanship!

WEEKLYLAWN MOWING

SERVICESAVAILABLE

CALL NOW!

WEEKLYLAWN MOWING

SERVICESAVAILABLE

CALL NOW!

The flowers are blooming,and the grass has begun to grow,making spring a great time forhomeowners to turn their atten-tion to landscaping. Those whoaren't looking forward to dust-ing off their lawnmowers and re-threading their string trimmersmay want to hire professionallandscapers to tend to theirlawns and gardens.

A recent joint study by theNational Gardening Associa-tion, Residential Lawn andLandscape Services and theValue of Landscaping found thathomeowners spend roughly $45billion per year on professionallawn and landscape services, asnearly 30 percent of all house-holds across the United States

use at least one type of lawn orlandscape service. The risinguse of lawn care services isindicative of homeowners'appreciation of the convenienceand craftsmanship professionalservices can provide. While theimpact professional landscaperscan have on a property's aesthet-ic appeal is considerable, home-owners also benefit from work-ing with professional landscap-ers in various other ways.

Time savings: One of thebiggest benefits of leaving lawncare to the professionals is theamount of time it will save forthe average homeowner. Lawnsgenerally need to be mowedonce per week during the springand summer seasons and,

depending on the size of theproperty, that can take an houror more. Add the time it takes toclean up clippings, mulch land-scaping beds and edge the prop-erty, and homeowners canexpect to devote a significantchunk of their weekends to car-ing for their lawns. Lawn serv-ices employ a few workers whomake fast work of the job, leav-ing homeowners time to enjoytheir weekends however they seefit.

Reduced risk for injury:Maintaining a landscape is hardwork, and those unaccustomedto this type of activity may findthemselves winded or at risk ofinjury. Improper use of lawnequipment also is a safety haz-

ard. Leaving the work to profes-sionals can help homeownersavoid strained backs, lacera-tions, pulled muscles, sun-burns, and any other dangersthat can result when tacklinglandscaping projects.

Financial savings: Onthe surface, hiring a landscapingservice may seem like a costlyventure. However, after crunch-ing some numbers, manyhomeowners realize that doingthe work themselves may costmore in the long run than hiringa professional landscaping serv-ice. Homeowners who decide togo it alone must purchaseexpensive equipment, and thoselawn tools will require routinemaintenance, which costs addi-

tional money. Inexperiencedhomeowners may incur extrafees to "fix" mistakes that occurduring the learning process.Each year, new seed, fertilizer,mulch, pesticides, and othersupplies also must be pur-chased. But professional lawncare services typically charge aset fee per month, and that feecovers the maintenance of bothyour property and the equipmentneeded to keep that propertylooking great.

Know-how: Many profes-sional landscapers know how toaddress lawn care issues thatmay arise throughout the year.They will know how to dealwith dry patches of lawn orpoorly draining areas, and they

also can make recommendationson plants that will thrive undercertain conditions.

One-stop shopping: Cer-tain landscaping services pro-vide many different options forprospective customers. Basiclawn cuts may be one package,but there also may be servicesfor seasonal seeding, weeding,leaf clean-up, and winterizing.

Cons i s tent mai nte-nance: Homeowners who fre-quently travel or spend much oftheir summers away from homeoften find that lawn care compa-nies are a wise investment.Established weekly schedulesensure the landscape always willlook its best whether homeown-ers are home or out of town.

The benefits of hiring professional landscapers

Supporting our Community for Over 40 Years!

500 County Road 37 East • Maple Lake320.963.2400 • www.mpnexlevel.com

For employment opportunities, visit us atmpnexlevel.com, or stop in at 500 County

Road 37 East, Maple Lake.

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310 Congress Street WestMaple Lake • (320) 963-3200

• Lifelong Learning •

320-963-5991 • www.annml.com

• School Age Childcare

• Preschool

• Youth/Adult Enrichment & Recreation

• Early Childhood

• ABE/GED

AMERICANMini Storage, LLC

Planning a gathering?We rent tables and chairs!Moving Boxes & Storage Supplies For Sale

Maple Lake & Annandale Locations

320-274-SHED (7433)www.aministorage.biz

308 West Hwy. 55 • Maple Lake320-963-6677

Service “The Old-Fashioned Way”

Award Winning Smoked MeatsUSDA Choice Meats

Fresh & Hot DeliWild Game Processing

Monday: 10-5 • Tuesday-Friday: 9-6Saturday: 8-4 • Sunday: CLOSED

OPEN DAILY300 Hwy. 55 West • Maple Lake

320-963-6555

Visit yourMaple

Lake LibraryMonday, Wednesday, Friday: Noon to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Downtown Maple Lake

320.963.2009

• Choir 8 SpringConcert 7:30 p.m.

• Baseball vs. EdenValley-Watkins 4:30 p.m.

• Softball vs. EdenValley-Watkins 4 p.m.

• Baseball vs.Holdingford 4:30 p.m.

• Lions Club Meeting atthe Legion Club 7 p.m.

• Sons of the AmericanLegion Meeting atLegion Club 8 p.m.

.

• Grandparents’ DayGrades 1 & 3

• 4th Grade Concert6:30 p.m.

• Softball vs. HowardLake-Waverly-Winsted4:30 p.m.

• School Board Meeting7 p.m.

Shane Jurgens • Maple Lake

320-274-ROOF

• 6th Grade Graduation• St. Tim’s 8th grade Graduation 7 p.m. Mass

• Knights of ColumbusMeeting atSt. Timothy’s Church7 p.m.

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• Wright Saddle ClubMeeting 7 p.m.

• Kindergarten Field Trip• Chamber of CommerceMeeting, Noon, at The V by HH

• Senior Awards Night7:30 p.m.

BUILDING SUPPLIES - DRAFTING - BLUEPRINTING

POST FRAME CONSTRUCTION

120 Oak Avenue South • Maple Lake

(320) 963-3612maplelakelumber.com

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LLC

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• Baseball vs. Kimball Area 4:30 p.m.

• Boys Golf at Annandale12 p.m.

• Last Day of School• Kindergarten Graduation

• GraduationCommencement 8 p.m.

• MLE Festival ofNations 9:45-11:30 a.m.

• Mother’s Day

• City of Maple Lake Clean-up Day

• Appliance RecyclingDay

Roger’s BP Amoco

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Schedule your appointments 24/7/365

Annandale • 440 Elm St. E320-274-3744

Cokato • 110 Olsen Blvd.320-286-2123allinamedicalclinic.com

320.963.3715www.mlwine-spirits.com

Ask about ourWine Club!

Next to Cenex901 State Hwy. 55 East • Maple Lake

MAPLE LAKEChamber of Commerce

The Maple Lake Chamber of Commerce is a membership of business, educational &

organized non-profit member entities.

It also serves as a business advocate with local government and as a community

business information resource.

Maple Lake Chamber of CommerceP.O. Box 461 • Maple Lake, MN 55358www.maplelakechamber.com

Mark Redemske, President: (320) 963-7491

Upcoming Chamber Events:

• Hasty-Silver Creek Sportman’s ClubMeeting 7 p.m

Money S

pent in the Community

Stays in the Com

munity

Is Invested in the Communi

ty

Mak

ing O

ur C

omm

unity

Stron

ger Shop

LOCAL“You” Helping

Yourself

June 6

125th Celebration

All City Garage Sale

• Late Start• St. Tim’s Home &School Meeting 7 p.m.

• Volunteer Orientation6-6:30 p.m.

• Softball vs.Holdingford 4 p.m.

• Chatham TownshipMeeting 7 p.m.

• American Legion Post131 Meeting 7:30 p.m.

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• Baseball vs.Paynesville 4:30 p.m.

• Softball vs. Dassel-Cokato 4:30 p.m.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Annandale • Maple Lake • ClearwaterPaul Manuel, Agency Manager • 320.963.3163www.mylakecentral.com • agency@mylakecentral.com

Providing Insurance For:Home • Auto • Life • Health • Farm • Business • Long Term Care

at LakeCentral

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840 East Elm Street • Annandale320-274-3064 • countrychev.com

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Bernatello’s Foods...

A total commitment

to quality!

Proudly

employs over

225 people!

205 1st St. S.Buffalo, MN 55313763.682.2244

Open 6a.m. - Midnight

Grocery • Bakery Meat • Fresh ProduceDelicatessen • ATM

Floral • Postage Stamps• Money Orders

RedboxWedding Cakes

Special Party Orders

• Choir 7 Spring Concert7:30 p.m.

• Track Meet 2 p.m.• Corinna TownshipMeeting 7 p.m.

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• Family Medicine• OB/GYN• Occupational

Medicine• Mental Health

Services

May 2015May 2015

• Band Concert for Junior High &Grades 5-6 7 p.m.

• Boys Golf at Whisper-ing Pines 4:15 p.m.

• City of Maple LakeCouncil Meeting 7 p.m.

• Maple Lake TownshipMeeting 7 p.m

• Corinna TownshipMeeting 7 p.m.

- Continued to Bottom Right Corner

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• 9-12 Choir Spring Concert 7:30 p.m.

• Girls Golf vs. Dassel-Cokato 12 p.m.

• Gardening Worldwide7 p.m.

Maple Lake • www.Bernatellos.com

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Continued from May 19• Albion Township

Meeting 8 p.m.• Silver Creek TownshipMeeting 7 p.m.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

• Memorial Day• No School

• Elementary Track &Field Day Alternate

• Wright CountySnowmobile AssociationMeeting 7:30 p.m.

Cell: 612-242-0785Home: 320-963-3063Office: 763-682-3434

RickThomas@EdinaRealty.com311-10th Ave. South, Buffalo, MN 55313

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• Elementary Track &Field Day

• Jazz Band Concertfor Senior High 7 p.m.

• St. Tim’s Track & Field Day

• Science Fair• Veterans of ForeignWars Post 7664Meeting and AuxiliaryMeeting atThe V by HH 7 p.m.

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