When the clocks strike midnight Dec. 31 in Illinois, bar and club patrons will raise a glass and toast the New Year with one hand, and for some, snuff out their cigarette butt with the other.

On Jan. 1, smoking in Illinois will be illegal in restaurants, bars, nightclubs, workplaces and all public buildings. Smoking also will be banned within 15 feet of building entrances, exits and windows.

So what's to become of all those ashtrays? At least one Crete bar owner has an answer -- host an "Ashtray Toss."

"We're turning a negative into a positive," said Nick Henricks, owner of Hi-Fi Music Bar & Grill. "Let's have some fun with it."

Henricks is incorporating the ashtray toss into the popular bar game "Cornhole," or "Bags," substituting his glass ashtrays (which will be fitted with padding) for the bean bags. The ashtray toss will take place in the bar's adjoining parking lot, regardless of weather conditions ("A blizzard would make it more interesting"). The winner will receive a Hi-Fi gift certificate.

Henricks, a nonsmoker, said he's not for or against the ban. He feels for some of his employees and customers who smoke, but he's aware of the benefits the ban offers his nonsmoking patrons.

"Our dining room was already smoke-free," Henricks said. "I've asked customers after their dinner if they were staying to see the band (in the bar area). Most of them would say no because of the smoke."

Henricks said the ban is a win-win situation for everyone. On one hand he'll lose customers who want to smoke, but on the other he'll gain customers -- especially from just across the border in Indiana -- who yearn for a smoke-free atmosphere.

"I'm not celebrating the ban. I'm just taking a situation and doing something about it," he said.

Henricks plans to have a large tent in the bar's patio (meeting compliance) for smokers.

"We'll turn it into a smokehouse, it'll be a nice place," he said. "They'll be a little bit out of the elements."

If you're interested in tossing some ashtrays, Hi-Fi is located at 1361 Benton St., Crete (708) 672-6864.