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"Growth: 2025 in Brainerd Lakes Area"
"Growth: 2025 in Brainerd Lakes Area"
Don't miss out on the chance to win! Enter our contest by 12/31 and check out our exciting newsletter stories including Bizzy Cold Brew, upcoming events, and more! 🔥🏆
Joshua McElmurray
Jan 1, 2026
Sorry for the delay in this weeks newsletter... | ||
We hope you enjoy this edition |
Trivia Question❓Which grand hotel, built in 1913 in Ironton, stands as a testament to the early economic optimism of the Cuyuna Iron Range investors? Answer at the bottom of the newsletter |
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2025 wasn’t just another year in the Brainerd Lakes Area—it was a turning point. A quiet, powerful shift in how this community shows up for one another, builds businesses, and turns everyday moments into stories worth remembering. If you’ve felt that something special was happening here these past few months, you’re right—and this piece captures exactly why. In this year-end feature, you’ll revisit the unforgettable people who defined 2025—from an 84-year-old Taekwondo Grandmaster proving it’s never too late to start, to local leaders fighting homelessness and suicide with heart, courage, and relentless hope. These aren’t abstract headlines; they’re your neighbors, your favorite baristas, the volunteers you pass in the grocery store aisle. You’ll also get an inside look at the food, flavors, and small businesses that gave this year its soul. New restaurants, handcrafted chocolates, bold coffee, and big dreams turned into brick-and-mortar realities—all rooted in small-town grit and big-hearted vision. It’s a snapshot of an economy and community on the rise, told through the places you actually visit and the people you already love supporting. Most importantly, this reflection doesn’t just look back—it points forward. As major projects reshape local infrastructure and new opportunities emerge across Crow Wing County, you’ll see how 2025 quietly set the stage for an even more ambitious, connected, and compassionate 2026. Read More... |
Weather Forecast |
Tuesday, Dec 30 Wednesday, Dec 31 Thursday, Jan 1 Friday, Jan 2 Saturday, Jan 3 Sunday, Jan 4 Monday, Jan 5 |
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If you've been reading Lakes Area Buzz these past few months, there's something you deserve to know—and it's a conversation most newsletters never have with their readers. This piece isn't about celebrating another business opening or profiling another local hero. It's about something more fundamental: how this newsletter stays free, who supports it, and what that actually means for you. Behind every story you've read, there's been a quiet commitment to keeping Lakes Area Buzz accessible to everyone in the Brainerd Lakes community. No paywalls. No subscription fees. No intrusive ads cluttering your inbox. But free doesn't mean effortless—and it certainly doesn't mean without cost. In this candid update, you'll discover exactly how Lakes Area Buzz operates behind the scenes. You'll learn about the partnerships that make local journalism possible without compromising editorial integrity, the creative funding model that keeps stories flowing, and what it actually takes to produce 72 stories in just five months. This isn't a sales pitch—it's an honest look at the real economics of community storytelling. More importantly, you'll see how reader support directly fuels the next interview, the next feature, and the next spotlight on someone in your community who deserves recognition. It's a model built on trust, not manipulation—and this piece reveals everything. Whether you've wondered how independent journalism survives in small towns or simply want to understand what goes on behind the scenes of your favorite local newsletter, this is essential reading. It's vulnerable, straightforward, and refreshingly honest about both the challenges and the path forward. If you believe in transparency, local stories, and supporting journalism that puts community first, you need to read this. Read More... |
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Most mornings in the Brainerd Lakes Area begin with lackluster coffee — either too weak, too bitter, or costly, leaving locals struggling to kick off their busy days.
Picture a Baxter January morning: snowplow just blocked your driveway, school’s delayed, and your Zoom call looms — only to find your coffee tastes burnt and thin.
Bizzy Cold Brew, born in Minneapolis, offers a solution with smooth, ultra-strong, locally brewed coffee made from 100% Arabica beans, micro-brewed cold for 18 hours.
Bizzy started as an experiment by two friends, Alex French and Andrew Healy, who wanted powerful, low-acid coffee without the big city price.
Now available across the Lakes Area, Bizzy is praised for its convenience, consistent quality, and fridge-ready options.
Whether you’re a teacher on Highway 210 or launching boats on Gull Lake, Bizzy delivers practical, Minnesota-made energy—with easy shipping direct to your door. Read More... |
LAKES AREA KIDS BUZZ |
Share with a child you know :) |
In the serene winter woods of Crosby, Minnesota, Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe, embrace a rare foggy morning. Instead of rushing through chores, they take a gentle stroll, discovering the hidden beauty of nature's quiet. As they listen to the soft sounds of the forest and observe the wildlife, Paul learns the value of slowing down and appreciating peaceful moments. Their day ends with warmth and reflection, cherishing the calmness of winter.
Kids learn to Choose to Be Positive |
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The United States is preparing to retire the penny after more than two centuries in circulation.
The Common Cents Act of 2026 would end one-cent coin production, responding to rising costs—each penny now costs nearly four times its value to mint.
With over 3 billion pennies made in 2024 alone, the Treasury saw a seigniorage loss of $85.3 million last year.
By ceasing penny minting, officials expect to save about $56 million annually.
Championed by Congressman Robert Garcia and Congresswoman Lisa McClain, the bill introduces rounding for cash payments, while electronic transactions will remain unchanged.
The plan, supported across party lines in Congress, is expected to cause little disruption, with studies showing minimal impact—roughly $6.06 million per year—on consumers.
Retailers nationwide are updating pricing and educating customers to ensure a smooth transition, as the U.S. moves to modernize its currency. Read More... |
Upcoming Events |
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
10:00 AM — Open Ski/SB — Mount Ski Gull, Nisswa Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (New Year’s Eve)
10:00 AM — ★ Noon Year’s Eve (Kids Celebration) — Just For Kix, Brainerd Thursday, January 1, 2026 (New Year’s Day)
9:00 AM — Winter Fun at Resort Trails — Train Bell Resort, Merrifield area Friday, January 2, 2026
1:00 PM — ★ Crafting Fun with the Happy Hoppers 4‑H Group — The Center, Brainerd Saturday, January 3, 2026
9:00 AM — ★ Brainerd Holiday Alpine Ski Invite — Mount Ski Gull, Nisswa Sunday, January 4, 2026
10:00 AM — Veteran Coffee — Brainerd VFW, Brainerd Monday, January 5, 2026
9:00 AM — Exercise Room & Activities — The Center, Brainerd |
VIDEO OF THE WEEK |
VIDEO CREDIT: Lakeland PBS |
💡 Answer to Trivia Question: The Spina Hotel. |
Thanks a bunch for reading Lakes Area Buzz today! If you spotted something handy, go ahead and pass it along to a neighbor or a friend—ya never know, it might make their day too. |