Maple Grove Gazette - May 23, 2026
Maple Grove's Only Newspaper of Record — Vol. 1 No. 6—Edited by Mr. Ellison, Town Archivist & Historian
EDITOR'S DESK — Memorial Day Weekend in Maple Grove(updated)
This weekend, Maple Grove will observe Memorial Day in the manner it has for generations—which is to say, with appropriate solemnity on Monday morning and an entirely unreasonable amount of potato salad in the afternoon.
The annual parade steps off at 11:00 a.m. sharp on Monday, led, as ever, by the surviving members of the local VFW and American Legion posts. Spectators are reminded to remove their hats as the colors pass, and to remain quiet during the moment of silence at the memorial. It is, the editor would gently note, not the occasion for cheering—however well-intentioned.
This year brings a notable expansion to the procession: the Maple Grove Junior High Band will march alongside the senior high band for the first time in recent memory. The junior high ensemble has been practicing together on the football field throughout the month. In many cases, this is the first time students have attmpted to play and march simultaneously. The Gazette is told this is more demanding than the casual observer might suppose.
Taking this event very seriously, I am told, the junior high band members have been practicing diligently outside of school as well. The Band Director, Mr. Robinson, reports that squeaks and missed notes have diminished dramatically. I have also been told that several family dogs in the vicinity now retreat to the basement when the instrument cases come out. Gordon also reports that there has been a significant uptick in the sale of STIHL PRO Protective Earmuffs.
Last week's rehearsal produced what the band director has described, with admirable restraint, as "a teaching moment” when the junior high tuba player mis-stepped during marching practice, which set off a brief but consequential domino effect along the front line of the formation. The piccolo player at the head of the line escaped with only a sprained ankle and is expected to march on Monday in a supportive brace. The tuba was less fortunate; Mr. Robinson has spent several evenings this week with a rubber mallet and a great deal of patience, removing what he describes as "the worst of it." Spectators are encouraged to applaud generously regardless. They are, after all, learning.
By Sunday afternoon the town will already have settled into that particular Memorial Day rhythm—backyard picnics on every block, lawn chairs unfolded in driveways, a steady migration toward the lake and the campgrounds. Coolers will be packed. Card games will get heated. Someone's uncle will, as ever, debate the proper temperature for grilling chicken.
The Gazette wishes safe travels to those heading out of town, and a quiet, restful weekend to those staying in. We will remember why we have the day.
📋 COMMUNITY NOTICES
Memorial Day Parade—Monday, 11:00 a.m. The parade will proceed down Main Street to the Veterans' Memorial at the cemetery. Viewing spots along the route are known to fill up early on Monday morning, and residents are encouraged to plan accordingly. The Men's Club will be placing flags along the parade route in the days leading up to the holiday.
A Reminder Regarding Chairs—Chairs and other items are not to be set out along Main Street prior to Monday morning. Anything placed along the parade route Sunday evening in an attempt to reserve space will be confiscated.
The Gazette has been advised that Charlene is currently lodging a formal complaint with the Village Council regarding this ordinance. Her separate complaint to local law enforcement from last year — concerning the disappearance of several lawn chairs and one market umbrella along the parade route — remains, regrettably, unresolved. Neither the Men's Club, the Village Council, nor the Police Department has yet acknowledged responsibility for the items' removal.
The editor would note, with no particular insinuation, that items closely resembling the chairs and umbrella in question were observed at last year's community rummage sale. Sale organizers are unable to confirm whether the items were purchased that afternoon or, alternately, donated to the local Goodwill thereafter. The Gazette will continue to follow developments as warranted.
No Parking on Main Street—Monday Parking will not be permitted along Main Street on Monday in connection with the parade. Police Chief Carter has requested that residents abide by the ordinance so that he and his officers may be spared the unpleasant task of writing tickets and arranging tows on a national holiday.
Veterans' Luncheon—VFW Hall, immediately following the parade The Ladies' Auxiliary will host the annual luncheon for veterans and their families at the VFW Hall immediately following Monday's parade. Fried chicken, iced tea, and lemonade will be provided. Attendees are kindly asked to bring a dish to pass, along with their own plates and cutlery. All veterans, their families, and members of the community are welcome.
🏛️ HISTORICAL NOTE
Long-time residents may recall the Memorial Day of an earlier decade, when the matter of chairs along Main Street first became one of village ordinance rather than neighborly understanding. For many years, the question of who arrived first to claim curbside viewing space had been settled informally—usually on Saturday evening, occasionally with raised voices, and once, the Gazette is told, with a garden hose.
It was the Village Council of 1979 (or thereabouts—the official minutes are not what one might call meticulous) that finally codified the rule: no chairs, blankets, coolers, or markers of any description to be placed along the parade route prior to Monday morning. The vote, the Gazette has been assured, was unanimous, though several residents present at the time have since suggested otherwise.
The ordinance has held, more or less, ever since. The chairs themselves, occasionally, have not.
🧁 The Main Course—A fellow sleuth worth following.
A new cozy launched this past Thursday and is worth grabbing before the parade starts—
Murder at the Steeplechase by Greta Sinclair—released Thursday. A jockey and his horse turn up dead at the Hillshire Farms Steeplechase, the authorities call it a tragic accident, and Hattie Leiper, naturally, has questions. (One of them is why the man died with his mouth open, as if he swallowed something. Cozy readers will understand why this matters.) Throw in a grumpy Chow Chow named Moose, a Yorkie who keeps everyone honest, a British Shorthair who refuses to be left out, and bonus recipes in the back—and you've got a Memorial-weekend kind of mystery. Greta is a multi-bestselling author and a 2025 Global Book Awards Silver Medal winner, and each Hattie & Moose book stands alone—so jump in here without worrying about the ones before.
Read Greta's full Sleuth Spotlight here →
✍️ Behind the Scenes
Fellow sleuths, this one's a personal week in our house.
On Monday we'll be honoring Joe—my husband, a veteran of the 1st Ranger Battalion—alongside all the men and women who have served. He doesn't make a fuss about it. The rest of us do, quietly, every year.
On Sunday we'll gather four generations of our extended family at a local park for our annual kickball tournament and cookout. My niece Jenny has, once again, been relegated to the outfield. (Three years ago she took a kickball directly to the face during what was meant to be a friendly inning. Two black eyes. A solid week of sunglasses everywhere, including indoors. The family has decided one direct hit per generation is quite enough.)
And on the writing desk: Hotter than Coffee is getting a refresh I'm genuinely excited about—a stronger version of the story I wanted to tell the first time around. If all goes to plan, the new edition will be live by Tuesday. I'll let you know when.
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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