Don Sabinske, Sabinske & Associates Inc.

I decided on a new website. The old one couldn't cut it, and it was costing me more and more each year.

I don't understand how real estate websites which the realtor creates himself can charge more each year for less exposure. But, then again, I don't understand how most businesses charge fewer realtors more each year for services when there are fixed fees and less income for most realtors.

That hasn't been the case for me. I had the best year in the last three last year and the brokerage and myself are both off to a roaring start for 2012.

But, back to the website. I have always felt that our hands-on approach worked the best for us. So far, they have done all the work. I am a little disappointed at present, but I know that after Monday, when we get more training, we can "fix" the things that are a little off....misspellings, pictures, etc.

So wish me luck with the new site, and it will be great to have donsabinske.com back up and running!

We like to invite friends over for the football playoffs. And, there is always the problem of what to make to feed everyone besides the usual snack-type foods.

This is one that is a favorite with both sexes. It is meat in meat for the guys. And it is chicken and tasty for the females....I don't want to call them "gals" for fear of reprisals.

This recipe takes about half an hour to make and it feeds 8.

4 double chicken breast about 7 oz. each, skinless and boneless to be filleted.

8 slices of good Virginia ham, or something equivalent

16 slices of Gruyere cheese

Flatten the breasts with a mallet between Saran Wrap to 1/4 inch thick taking care not to create holes in the meat.

Add two slices of cheese, two slices of ham, and two slices of cheese again to each half of the breast leaving some room to seal the roll. Roll it up jelly-roll style and secure with toothpicks.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Measure 1 cup of panko bread crumbs, and mix it with 2 tsp fresh chopped thyme, salt, pepper and 1 tsp good olive oil. Then beat 2 eggs with 2 tsp. water until well incorporated.

Dust the chicken rolls into 1/4 cup of lfour, then dip in the egg wash, and finish with rolling in the breadcrumb mixture. Put on a jellyroll or cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until juices run clea and they are browned.

Cut into pinwheels and serve warm.

We usually add a fruit salad, some great rye and wheat rolls, and a pasta salad on the side.

Dessert is usually provided by the guests, but we have served a lemon meringue pie, and that was a big hit with everyone, too.

Bon Appetit....and may be the best team win to get to the Super Bowl.

The local Elk River Boys and Girls Club is a great place for kids.

Their motto is: Great Futures Start Here

And they mean it. The local club is the place to be. “Our club is a safe and fun place for kids to come after school,” said director Russ Branjord, who is assisted by ERHS senior Moriah Babneau. “Moriah and I try to focus on building our kids’ imagination and character through their involvement in our planning of activities and supporting each other.”

The club’s Youth Development Strategy is called CUBI – meaning senses of Competence (feeling proud and confident to acquire new skills), Usefulness (the satisfaction of doing something of value for others), Belonging (knowing they are welcome and fit in) and Influence (knowing their opinions are heard and valued).

“We have many more programs and activities in the works for 2012,” said Branjord. They are:

Power Hour —Mentoring and tutoring to help kids with homework and college prep, Monday through Friday beginning at 3 p.m.

Job Ready — Mentoring getting ready for a job, Tuesdays at 4 p.m,

Career Launch —Mentoring on careers, Thursdays at 4 p.m.

Youth of the Year — a program where a club member receives a $1,000 scholarship and an opportunity to earn over $25,000 in scholarships.

Camping get-together at the Boys & Girls Club.

The facility, located at 905 Sixth St. West, just west of Jackson Avenue, near Lions Park, is open Monday through Friday, 2 to 6 p.m. Cost is $10 for a year’s membership. Memberships are free for kids with a parent in the military. Call 763-241-5000, ext. 12.

For more information on the program, click here.

http://www.bgca.org/Pages/index.aspx

One Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) has been donated to the Zimmerman/Livonia Fire District by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Mdewakanton LIFE Program.
The SMSC has donated 733 AEDs since the program began in 2004 and facilitated the low cost purchase of an additional 20 units. The Mdewakanton LIFE Program provides defibrillators to organizations including law enforcement programs, charitable groups, and schools.
At least 16 lives have been saved by law enforcement officers and emergency medical personnel using defibrillators donated by the Mdewakanton LIFE Program, according to the SMSC.

This is great news for our community. We have experienced an increase in population, and this will make everyone feel safer. Our fire and police are very pleased with the donation.

A committee to put together an arm of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon in Elk River formed earlier this year and the group will host a kickoff at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 at the Elk River American Legion.
It’s open to the public, including service members and their families as well as average citizens and representatives of business and community organizations who want to help servicemen and women return home to the communities.

Annette Kuyper, director of military outreach for the Minnesota National Guard, will present a PowerPoint and video presentation as well as answer questions about the program.
Several committees have been busy preparing a multi-faceted approach to determining and filling the needs of service members and their families — before, during and long after their deployments. Beyond the Yellow Ribbon responds to all branches of the military as well as reserves and guard members.

This group will be assisting local families with many facets of single life for the spouses here while their other half is deployed. Snow removal, fix it jobs, the honey-do list, etc., become insurmountable tasks for some.

The public is encouraged to come and find out more about Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program on Jan. 7. There will be treats and refreshments. Elk River Mayor John Dietz, who has been a supporter of this movement and on the organizing committee, will speak