Forestview Middle School is 339,000 square feet, the entire site area covers 180 acres of land, and we currently have 1,880 students in grades 5-8. At first glance, it could be said that the building looks "imposing." Imposing? Yes.

Significance - that's what Kinship Partners is all about. Each one of us, someday, wakes up and asks ourselves, "What did I do to make a difference in this world?" And some of us, including me, didn't have a good answer for that question.

To be immortal is to be misquoted. Repeatedly, and often at length. It is to have words stuffed into your mouth by total strangers.

Two days before Christmas, President Obama signed a payroll tax cut extension bill that forces him to decide on the controversial TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline within 60 days.

Recently, I was invited by Brainerd resident Jim Erickson to speak at the Brainerd Lakes Area Senior Center. During my visit to the senior center, I planned to share my beliefs and vision for Warrior Activities.

Each year, at the start of the New Year, we take pause to think about the things that we did last year that we just as soon would not repeat this year. They were mostly things that were unproductive, or hurt other people or us.

On the eve of a new session of the Minnesota Legislature, the Legislative Committee of the Brainerd School Board had the opportunity to meet with local legislators to discuss educational priorities they believe require legislative attention.

For more than 20 years Kinship Partners youth mentoring program, Crystal Cleaners and BL Broadcasting have partnered for the annual Coats for Kids drive.

As Christmas approaches, we need to acknowledge God's gift of creation, the natural bounty afforded to us on this remarkable planet. This great gift carries important obligations. In Genesis, the Lord grants humans dominion over all creation.

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade .