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If you or someone you know is in the paper as the athlete of the week, we have some good news for you.  The Chisago Lakes Grill (at the Chisago Lakes Golf Estates) is proud to announce that they will be offering a free meal to the Chisago Lakes Athlete of the Week.  You are invited to come in and enjoy the newly remodeled restaurant with a new menu.  They do ask that you please bring in the clipping of the Press with the Athlete of the Week to receive your meal.  A pretty nice gesture from Todd and the folks at the golf course.

Speaking of free meals, I wanted to remind you that the Free Community Meals on Mondays at Zion Lutheran Church are going and being very well attended.  There are some wonderful people who have taken-over the program and with the help of a lot of great volunteers, the meal is able to continue to nourish our friends and neighbors.  

The meal begins at 4 pm and runs until 6 pm.  The meal is free and is supported by Zion Lutheran, Trinity Lutheran, Chisago Lake Lutheran and First United Methodist churches. I encourage you to come out and meet your neighbors and enjoy a great meal. Zion is located at 28005 Old Towne Road, Chisago City.

The Chisago Lakes Library is holding the annual used book sale. The sale begins today and runs through January 21.  You will find thousands of used books in great shape, It is an opportunity to add to your home library, support the library friends activities.  Books also make great gifts for friends.

The people that make up the ABC Committee, the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and the Chisago Lakes Tourism Committee have joined forces to bring something new and exciting to our area. Our area now has one main website on tourism, things to do, dining, lodging, community events, and general information about the Chisago Lakes area.  For decades, there has been a concerted effort to join forces to help attract visitors and further inform local residents of the many wonderful assets we have right here in our back yard. I would encourage you to visit www.chisagolakes.org and take some time to roam around the site. You might find things you never knew existed in our area.  

Okay, I know what you are thinking - with all of this warm weather, there is no way the Celebration of the Lakes will happen this year.  Well, my sources say that the ice is going to be fine (okay, I don’t have sources, but I am hopeful).  Worst case scenario is there will be a few things cancelled, but the event will go on.  Let’s hope we don’t make it to worst case scenario.  

Now, let’s ignore any of the warm weather talk and focus on the celebration.  There is a ton to focus on. The celebration begins next Friday.  There is a pie, puzzles and potato soup event taking place at First United Methodist Church in Lindstrom.  The event begins at 6 p.m.

The professional fishermen will be in town for the NAIFC tournament and will hold a fishing seminar where they will teach you their tricks to catching the big one. The seminar runs from 5-7 p.m. Friday night at Frankie’s Live Bait and Marine.

Also on Friday, the kick off for the Celebration of the Arts. The opening soiree will kick off at Gustaf’s Galleries and the public is invited to come enjoy appetizers and artwork, there will also be artists including sculptors, potters and painters at the brick Gustaf Anderson House next to Gustaf’s Galleries.  The kick-off for a weekend full of arts begins at 6 p.m.

We have some amazing artists here and during the Celebration of the Lakes you will be able to get up close and personal with them.  On January 28, they will continue the workshop and display at the Gustaf Anderson House --as well as the Art Warm Up at Ojiketa Regional Park in Chisago City. There, you will find a wonderful art expo and a market where you can actually purchase art.

The Celebration of the Lakes will again feature a 5K run/walk that starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Center City Fire Hall. You can register at midwestevents.com.  There is a free kids fishing camp held on the 28th at Frankie’s that goes from 10-11 a.m.  The kids will head out on the ice immediately following the class so dress your kids appropriately.

A few new items this year will be a fat-tire bike course where you can either bring your own fat-tire bike or Cyclova will have some on hand to try.  There will also be  family snowshoeing by candlelight.  Bring the family to Ojiketa Regional Park and have a wonderful time snowshoeing around the park.  The event begins at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Make your plans to attend the annual polka dance held at the Lindstrom Community Center Saturday night at 6 p.m.  The Chimelewski Fun Time Band will highlight a night of dancing and fun.

I will have much more in my column next week, but I encourage you to look at page 8 in this edition to see all of the happenings at the Celebration. If we keep our fingers crossed, hopefully the weather will NOT play a factor in this year’s celebration.  If it does, big deal, there are still a ton of events to take in.

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