The Maple Grove Gazette - April 18, 2026
Maple Grove's Only Newspaper of Record — Est. This WeekEdited by Mr. Ellison, Town Archivist & Historian
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
It has come to my attention that Maple Grove lacks a proper newspaper. For a town with this much history —and, frankly, this many incidents — the absence of a written record is nothing short of a civic failure. I intend to correct that, starting today. Expect thorough reporting, editorial restraint, and absolutely no gossip.
(Mildred has already submitted three corrections to this paragraph. I have ignored all of them.)
📜POLICE BLOTTER — EASTER EGG-STRAVAGANZA INCIDENT
Saturday, April 12 Update—Town Square Event April 5
The Maple Grove Ladies Group Easter Egg-stravaganza proceeded without incident for approximately eleven minutes.
At 12:14 PM, volunteer coordinator Charlene announced the start of the Golden Egg Hunt, in which one gold-painted egg—containing a gift certificate to the Calamity Jane’s Toys and Trinkets—was hidden somewhere in the town square. Participants were instructed to search "calmly and in an orderly fashion." This instruction was optimistic.
At 12:17 PM, Lisa—who this editor will note was not an official participant—announced that she had "a feeling" about the Golden Egg's location. She proceeded toward the Ladies Group refreshment table with what witnesses described as "a very determined walk." Several children followed.
At 12:18 PM, Lisa's determined walk became a determined reach across the refreshment table for a decorative basket she was certain contained the egg. It did not contain the egg. It contained two dozen deviled eggs prepared by Charlene herself, which were launched from the table when Lisa lost her balance and caught the edge of the tablecloth.
The resulting chain of events was as follows: deviled eggs became airborne. Children screamed—some in horror, most in delight. Charlene, who had been standing directly behind the table adjusting a centerpiece, received the majority of the impact. One deviled egg landed in her hair. Two more found her Easter cardigan. The decorative bunny centerpiece toppled into the lemonade pitcher.
Charlene demanded an immediate investigation. Officer Markle responded and, after surveying the scene, reportedly said, "There's no crime here, ma'am, just egg salad."
The Golden Egg was later found by a six-year-old named Oliver, lodged beneath the park bench nearest to the gazebo. Lisa maintains she was "very close."
Chief Carter declined to comment, though witnesses noted he was trying hard not to smile.
No charges were filed. The tablecloth has not been recovered.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
LOST & FOUND: One Easter bonnet, pale yellow, with deviled egg staining. Found near the gazebo. Owner may claim at the front counter of Brewed Awakenings. Please bring proof of ownership. (Charlene, we know it's yours. Just come get it.)
BREWED AWAKENINGS SPRING MENU: Jenna McGregor's café has introduced its spring menu, featuring lavender honey lattes and a gluten-free lemon scone that this editor can personally confirm is excellent. The chalkboard outside has been restabilized after last week's wind incident. Biscuit remains on greeting duty.
HISTORICAL NOTE: This is not the first Easter-related disruption in Maple Grove. In 1987, the egg hunt was suspended after a raccoon was discovered nesting inside the prize basket. In 1994, a disagreement over hiding locations resulted in three eggs placed on the roof of the post office, where they remained until July. We are, if nothing else, consistent.
🔍 Fellow Sleuths Worth Following
Guest Sleuth picks this week—four authors I think you'll love. Click through to meet them and grab their books.
🎻 The Great Nashville Bake Off Mishap — Greta Sinclair
Hattie Leiper never imagined her baking could earn a handshake from a famous TV judge — especially one followed by his sudden collapse. Between competitive bakers, sugary secrets, and her opinionated furbabies (Moose the Chow, Mini Pearl the Yorkie, and Cecil the crime-magnet cat), Hattie pieces together clues that nobody else sees coming. A 2025 Global Book Awards Silver Medal winner — and for good reason.
👉 Meet Greta and grab the book →
🐕 Dead in the Wool — Etta True
A summer fiber festival in the small town of Seven Springs should be all about fleece and folk music. But when the Saturday Spinners find a body in the fleece tent, fiber artist Adri Foster and her Border Collie, Snooper, are on the case. Gossip spreads fast, suspects multiply, and Snooper notices what everyone else overlooks. 4.9 stars — readers are obsessed.
👉 Meet Etta and grab the book →
🐉 Wildergrove Whispers — Blossom SeaFarrer
A little something different this week — a dragon on a sacred quest gets trapped by a spell cast by a quiet girl with secrets of her own. When his counterspell binds her right back, neither can escape without the other. Fantasy romance with heart, danger, and a bond that was never part of the plan.
👉 Meet Blossom and grab the book →
🌶️ Spiced to Death — Susana Sage
When Tilly Martin trades city life for a needlepoint shop in small-town Texas, she doesn't expect a murdered chef at the food festival. Secret ingredients, stolen recipes, family rivalries — and a mischievous gray cat named Stitches — pull her into a whodunit that simmers with Hill Country charm.
👉 Meet Susana and grab the book →
🧁 The Main Course
GHOSTS DON'T USE BLUEPRINTS IS LIVE!
I'm sitting here with my coffee going cold because I keep refreshing the page to see the buy button and every time I see it I feel a very specific kind of dizzy that I think is just what it feels like to have put something genuinely personal into the world.
Here is what you need to know about this book:
It starts with Jenna McGregor as a teen, in a town that doesn't quite know what to do with her yet. It ends with the beginning of everything you already know — the friendships, the café, the particular gift for finding trouble that has defined her adult life.
In between, there is a ghost story (sort of), a mystery (definitely), a hallway disaster (not Jenna's fault, mostly), and a moment between Jenna and Lisa that made me laugh when I wrote it and still makes me a little giggly when I re-read it.
It's $3.99 now — but the story is exactly what I hoped it would be.
Get your copy of Ghosts Don’t Use Blueprints.
And if you've already read it and want to make my entire month — a review on Amazon or Goodreads means more than I can say. Even one line. Even just the stars.
✍️ Behind the Scenes
My granddaughter HayHay (nickname) and I set out to make rice crispy treats with our leftover Peeps this week. We got about two minutes in before she announced she was going to "film it." She narrated the entire process in segments like a tiny cooking show host—filming the entire time—complete with dramatic pauses and commentary on the melting marshmallows. I haven't laughed that hard in weeks. Charlie supervised from a barstool and looked deeply unimpressed.
Thank you for being here, fellow sleuths. Truly.
Willow 🌿
Meet Willow
Author, School Board member, and gluten-free baker. I write the Jenna McGregor mysteries from my home in Michigan, fueled by coffee and Peloton PRs.
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