Paul Sved (left) accepts Lion of the Year award from past king Lion Willie LaLonde. (Photograph courtesy of St. Ignace Lions Club) Even though the temperatures are below zero some mornings, when the ice crystals on the trees shine like diamonds in the early morning sun, I am reminded of the beauty of the season. While driving across the Mackinac Bridge last weekend, I saw the ice on the Straits was piled up like sheets of aqua colored glass. I am sure this sight is not often seen in other states. It's easy to complain about the snow and cold, but instead we should look for the special beauty that the Straits area offers.

The 2009 Little Bear Ice Hockey Invitational Driftwood Cup Tournament will be Friday, January 23, through Sunday, January 25. The three-day 12- man ice hockey tournament will begin at 3 p.m. Players must be at least 18 years old to participate. Contact Scott Winkelman at 643- 6970 for more information.

Kristi (nee Garcia) and Brian Harmison are the proud parents of a daughter, Jenna Nicole. Jenna was born Monday, January 12, at 7:22 a.m., in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She weighed 5 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 18 inches in length. The baby arrived three weeks early, but both mother and baby are doing well. The proud grandparents are John and Debbie Garcia of St. Ignace and Glenn and Nevin Harmison of Elkhart, Indiana. Debbie says that this is their seventh grandchild and they can't wait to see her.

The St. Ignace Lions do a lot of community service by helping those less fortunate. They have been providing service for 73 years. Willie LaLonde, past king Lion, presented the prestigious Lion of the year award to Lion Paul Sved at their annual installation meeting in June, and has passed along a photograph to share with readers. Willie reports that this award is given to a Lion member who goes above and beyond, which Paul has. Paul is in charge of the Adopt a Highway program, plus many other activities within the organization.

The LaSalle girls junior varsity and varsity basketball teams will be playing the Cedarville girls basketball team in "Hooping for a Cure" Monday, February 9, at 6 p.m. at LaSalle High. This is a fundraiser for the Mackinac Straits Hospital Oncology Department for breast cancer awareness. There will be a silent auction, a 50/50 drawing, and before the game, a Kiwanis tailgate party. The girls are also selling pink Tshirts with the logo, for $10. Contact any girls varsity player to purchase one of these shirts. For more information, call Kathy Marshall at 643-8145 or Shannon Doran at 643-0456.

Bingo is offered at the Moose Lodge every Tuesday. Early Bird bingo starts at 5:45 p.m. and the regular bingo is at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

The VFW also offers bingo Wednesdays at 6 p.m. A fish fry is provided every Friday at 5 p.m.

Faith Baptist Church will show the movie, "Obsession, Radical Islam's War against the West" Sunday, January 25, at 6 p.m. The movie is free of charge.

Our military people in the middle east still need our support. Some of the military people from St. Ignace include John Coveyou, Dan Coveyou, David Durm, Karen Moses, Joseph Bellant, Michael Green, Brian Cahill, Ryan Burtka, and Adam Patten. Please keep these servicemen and women in your thoughts and prayers.

Happy 10th birthday to Fred Wright January 22. Enjoy your special day!

Happy birthday to Jordan Grogan and Cord Wilson January 22, Patric Schlehuber January 23, Chad St. Andrew January 26, and Carol Halberg January 27.