---

The Chisago County Press has just completed its third annual Celebration of the Lakes circular. With some really great help from the Celebration of the Lakes committee, we have put together a beautiful piece for you to read and keep as a memento. The circular has stories about hot air ballooning, this year's ambassadors the Dusenkas, lots of beautiful photos from last year's celebration and most importantly a schedule of events. We plan on distributing the circular to local stores this week wherever Celebration of the Lakes buttons are sold. You will also be receiving the circular in with your Search Shopper in a couple of weeks. We hope you enjoy the circular and more importantly we hope you come out and enjoy this year's Celebration of the Lakes.

Keeping on the subject of Celebration of the Lakes, you will see an ad in the Press and the Search asking landowners for permission to land hot air balloons on their property. If for some reason the balloonists do land in your field, you will be entered in a drawing for $50. If you do not want balloons to land on your property, you are encouraged to call the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber at 651-257-1177. Speaking from experience, the balloonists always try to land on lakes, but sometimes winds change and they are forced to land in fields. They do not make a mess and are usually quite quick in clearing out.

I have thanked you, the readers, in the past for your donations of toiletries to St. Bridgets Catholic Church. They called the other day and wanted me to let you know that they are still actively taking donations of all toiletries including soap, shampoo and toothbrushes, to name a few. You have been doing a wonderful job with donating so far, for that we thank you. I also mentioned that the toiletries were being distributed to a battered women's shelter in Cambridge. The toiletries are being distributed at New Pathways, a homeless shelter for families, in Cambridge. I apologize for the mix up.

I don't know about you, but I for one am glad the holiday season is over. I did have a wonderful time with family and friends over the last month. But all of those wonderful times have really bitten me on the scale. If you know me, you know that I have been heavy bordering on really heavy, in the past. I have been really trying to get my weight under control and up until the last few weeks I have been somewhat successful. It was so hard, everywhere you went people were serving such great food and beverages. I pride myself on not making New Year's resolutions, but I might have to join the masses this year. The weight sure goes on a lot faster than it comes off.

---