It is Memorial Day Weekend, which means the Walleye Festival is in town. We are adding a Dining, Entertainment, Boating and Fishing section this week titled COASTLINES. The entire schedule for the Walleye Festival is included. Given good weather, the Memorial Day weekend also brings a lot of extra traffic, so please be careful, take your time and don’t text and drive. Most of all, Monday is Memorial Day, the day set aside to honor the fallen, those individuals who gave the full measure of devotion in defense of freedom. Please keep in your minds this weekend the true purpose and meaning of Memorial Day.
This quick reminder…because of the Memorial Day Holiday, our deadline for next week’s Beacon is this Friday, May 24.
One couldn’t help but be moved to see the incredible devastation caused by the EF4 Tornado that ripped a path through Moore, Oklahoma, on Monday. We learned on Tuesday that the home of Tim Ward, a Port Clinton High School graduate and his wife Anna, was caught in the tornado’s path and have lost just about everything. One of Tim’s classmates, Jason Palacios, lives nearby and can get donations to Tim and his family. Donations can be sent to Jason at PO Box 5181, Edmond, OK 73083.
Well, we did it again. We forgot to hide Wylie Walleye again last week. However 33 of you obviously noticed and told us “No Wylie”. So, our Find Wylie winner for this week is John Mathews of Catawba who e-mailed us NO WYLIE! John wins our weekly $20 gift card from Friendship Food Stores. We’ll definitely be hiding Wylie again this week. If you find him, drop off an entry form at our office in the Beacon Place Business Center or click on the Find Wylie Icon at our website, www.thebeacon.net.
One of the nicer observances of Memorial Day weekend locally is the effort of the Ottawa County Republican Women’s Club who line E. Perry Street and W. Fremont Road in Port Clinton with American flags. They do this as a project for each summer holiday to remind visitors of the true meaning behind the holiday.
There will be a brand new downtown Port Clinton event this Saturday. It’s the Lake Erie Arty Party from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 106 to 116 W. Perry Street The plans are to take a public art market to a whole new level. The band “Last Born Sons” will entertain during the event. They will feature artwork from dozens of local artists and artisans. Booth rental space is still available by calling 419-656-9487. Booth space is only $25.
Congressman Bob Latta will host an Ottawa County Constituent Conference on Thursday, May 30, at the Village of Oak Harbor Municipal Building in Council Chambers, 146 N. Church Street. According to the release from the Congressman’s office, these events provide constituents the opportunity to sit down with Congressman Latta to discuss issues that are important to them, their families and communities. Latta’s district staff will also attend to assist with casework or issues regarding federal government agencies.
Any business in Danbury Township and the Village of Marblehead is welcome to have a free listing on the Township’s Website, www.danburytownship.com. To place your listing, visit their website and click on “Local Commerce”. A link will take you to a form. If you are in need of employees, a help-wanted icon can be placed in your listing. Potential employees can contact you directly for information. For more information, contact Zoning Inspector Kathryn Dale at 419-734-6120.
Put-in-Bay is hosting the Amazing Island Raise, an event similar to TV’s Amazing Race, on Saturday, June 15. Teams will race through South Bass Island, solve clues, complete challenges and win prizes. Teams can be made up of 4 to 6 adults and is $30 per person to compete. Each team must bring one camera (digital or phone) and wear tennis shoes! Teams must register by May 31. It’s all part of a fundraising effort to support Joyful Connections, a supervised visitation and exchange center in Oak Harbor that provides a healthy, safe and homelike environment where children can interact with family members. For more information, contact Sheila Powell at 567-262-3181 or joyfulconnections08@gmail.com.
A new film from Emmy Award winning writer and producer Linda Midgett is coming to Port Clinton’s Ida Rupp Public Library. A national Christian non-profit organization called “Sojourners” has produced this half-hour film titled “The Line”. According to their press release, the film “uncovers the emerging and entrenched faces of poverty in our country – such as the suburban former banker who now relies on a food pantry; to an aging career fisherman, whose shrimping business has been devastated by the after-effects of Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill along the Gulf Coast. The movie will be played at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 30 at Ida Rupp Public Library. A local program about how to help our own community’s efforts follows the screening. Refreshments will be served and donations to the Food Pantry will be accepted during this special screening event.
Amanda Mortus, daughter of former Port Clintonites Joe and Deb Mortus who now live in Colorado, has released a new book titled “Worthy”. The official release date was May 14 and it is available at Amazon.com. She is having a book signing in Thornton, Colorado, this Friday, May 24.
Monday, June 24, is the date of the 24th Annual Chick Schaffner Memorial Charity Golf Classic at Catawba Island Club. Last year we raised over $25,000 for the American Heart Association and Stein Hospice. This year we hope to do even better. Once again, the price is $600 per team; with shotgun starts at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Lunch between the end of morning play and the beginning of afternoon play is included, along with a great buffet dinner at CIC afterward. For more information on registering, contact Bonnie Knepper at bonnie.knepper@materion.com; or Amy Skolnik at askolnik@steinhospice.org.
Riders Unlimited Inc. of Oak Harbor is seeking volunteers to assist with their therapeutic horse programs. Training will be offered this Monday, May 27, from 6 - 8 p.m. at their facility 3140 N. Behlman Road. Please call 419-898-6164 for additional information and to begin the registration process.