Stroll The Lakes

09/10/2026

New Preferred Partner Alert

We’re excited to welcome Rooster River to the Stroll the Lakes community as one of our newest Preferred Partners. This apparel brand is a fantastic destination for high-quality hats and clothing designed to be both functional and fashionable. Their collection features a wide variety of styles built for everyday wear, whether you are out on a hike, running errands around town, or just relaxing at home.

What truly makes Rooster River special is the heart and mission behind their business. They have a deep passion for animals and a strong commitment to assisting the people who work tirelessly to care for them. Every purchase makes a real difference, as they generously donate ten percent of all proceeds directly to local animal shelters to help our animal friends in need.

With a focus on premium quality and excellent customer service, Rooster River offers comfortable, stylish apparel that you can feel great about wearing. It is a wonderful opportunity to find your new favorite hat or sweatshirt while directly supporting a purpose-driven mission.

Please take a moment to follow their social media and leave a comment welcoming them to the community.

Learn more at roosterriver.com

09/10/2026

New Preferred Partner Alert

We are excited to welcome Chick-fil-A Blaine Hwy 65 to the Stroll the Lakes community as one of our newest Preferred Partners. Locally owned and operated by Minnesota native Alex McLaughlin, this Blaine based restaurant brings much more to the table than just their famous chicken sandwiches and waffle potato fries. For Alex and his wife Jen, who was born and raised right here in the area, running this location is a personal journey rooted in a genuine desire to serve their neighbors. They are passionate about delivering exceptional hospitality and freshly prepared food to everyone who visits.

What truly sets Alex and his team apart is their vision to be the most caring business in Anoka County. They believe in treating every single person with honor, dignity, and respect. This commitment extends beyond the restaurant and directly into our neighborhoods. Whether they are hosting school spirit nights, supporting local charities, or redirecting surplus meals to nearby shelters and food banks through their Shared Table program, this team is deeply invested in giving back. They also remain closed on Sundays to ensure their employees have a dedicated day to rest and recharge.

From a quick and friendly breakfast to seamless catering options for your next gathering, this local team is ready to serve you with excellence. Please take a moment to follow their social media and leave a comment welcoming them to the community.

Learn more at chick-fil-a.com/locations/mn/blaine-hwy-65

09/09/2026

Part of your marketing plan should be branding and trust building, not simply advertising to capture immediate need.

There is a short, burst version of marketing, and a long term, trust building version.

You must do both.

09/02/2026

Thank you Deborah Walker for this.

Show up for people.

08/24/2026

We had a wonderful morning for our latest Lakes Business Alliance gathering, hosted at Kozlak-Radulovich Funeral Home.

Real relationships are built when local leaders pull up a chair, share their experiences, and collaborate. This is where neighbors meet face-to-face, connections turn into meaningful partnerships, and things truly get done for our community.

A warm thank you to all the local business owners who joined us and made the morning so engaging:

Chris and Gary Gorham

Grace and Wymond | Twin City Heating, Air and Electric

Melvin Baker | Baker's Carpet Cleaning

Sarah Grace | Sarah Grace Photography

Angie | Art Lab RX

Shawn Hunter | Equity Source Mortgage

Jeremy Ellingson | Re/Max Advantage Plus

David Salter | Salter Law

Daniel Ello | Edward Jones

Christian Olsen | Schooley Mitchell

Shawn Fleck | Fleck's Garage

If you are a business owner in the Lakes area looking to build authentic local connections and plug into a supportive network, we would love to have you at our next gathering.

To request an invitation to an upcoming Lakes Business Alliance meeting, please reach out directly to Allen Ferrell at [email protected]

08/19/2026

Being part of a community means showing up for organizations that do the quiet, essential work when families need it most. We are deeply grateful to TPC Rose for inviting us to stand alongside them in supporting the Invisible Wounds Project. A sincere thank you to Brandy Gilbert, Karissa Dunham, Melissa Jaeger, Rachel Edwards, and Emily Lauterbach (the assistant coach with the U of M women's golf team) for bringing everyone together for such a meaningful effort.

It was also a proud moment to have my son Jack working right beside us, setting up our tent and tables, and keeping us moving around on the golf cart throughout the day.

This cause hits close to home. My dad served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged after breaking his back in Germany when he was very young. Thinking back on his journey, I know how much a resource like the Invisible Wounds Project in Forest Lake would have meant to him and our family. Getting to support non-profits that truly make a difference for our first responders, veterans, and their families is a privilege, and we are honored to play a small role in that work.

https://iwproject.org

08/19/2026

What makes someone pause when the daily mail arrives is rarely slick design. It is seeing a face they recognize looking back from the cover.

Deborah Walker takes the front page of our new issue, bringing a story built on real family life, quiet resilience, and what it means to show up for people in our community when care matters most. When a publication belongs strictly to the streets we live on, the people featured inside are not distant figures. They are the neighbors, local business owners, and familiar faces who shape the neighborhood from the inside out.

Copies hit mailboxes across the Lakes this week. Set it on the counter, flip to page one, and take a look!

08/17/2026

Kids 2 Kids | Alexis Smith

Traveling out to Boise, Idaho for the USA Gymnastics Western Championships meant more than just stepping onto a competitive floor for Alexis Smith. Her trip turned into an adventure of team dinners, exploring the Boise State campus, hitting a new personal record on vault, and catching mountain views on a morning hike before flying home. In her own words for this month's Kids 2 Kids feature, Alexis gives a front row look at what it was like to represent our region alongside athletes from across the country.

08/17/2026