Our “Find Wylie” winner this week is Diane Wadsworth of Fremont who was one of 73 people to find our friendly fish hiding in the ad for Listening Room Local above Cielo Grande on page 6A in last week’s Beacon. He was well hidden this week. Anyway, Diane wins our weekly $20 gift card from Friendship Food Stores as well as a free doormat from our friend Tom McIntire at Captain’s Carpets, the customized carpet place at Fort Firelands. We’ll be hiding Wylie again this week, so 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 thebeacon.net.
Last week was such an incredible week, starting with the First Shot at Camp Perry (Welcome Shooters) followed by the Governor’s Fish Ohio Day and the arrival of the NEW (to us) Ford Tri-Motor at the Liberty Aviation Museum. It was flown into Carl Keller Field by Ed Rusch, a former Island Airlines Pilot. I got a chance to sit down with Ed and Dave Martin, both former Island Airlines pilots. It is so cool to have another Tri-Motor here. The plan is to have two flying Ford Tri-Motors when the one they are building is finished.
The next Roundtable for downtown Port Clinton business and building owners will be Thursday, August 21, at Cielo Grande Tapas Bar.
The Glass City Dixieland Band is holding a Free Concert on the Lawn at Otterbein North Shore tomorrow afternoon starting at 4:30. It is true, American Dixieland Style and New Orleans Jazz sure to pick up your spirits. What a great way to start the weekend. Also, the next “Breakfast of Champions” will be next Thursday, July 24, at 9 a.m. at Otterbein North Shore. Dr. Andy Kurtz, Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Service at Firelands BGSU will talk about the new SAGE program (Senior Adult Grants for Education) which is a program for folks over 60 who want to take college courses from BGSU at no charge!
The 50th Anniversary of the Ottawa County Fair runs through Sunday, July 20, at the Fairgrounds on SR 163 between Port Clinton and Oak Harbor. This local slice of Americana features lots of entertainment every day of the fair. Noting that this is the 50th, my mind runs crazy from my days on WRWR when the Fair was still very young. They had a “Youth Press Corps” and I was honored to work with Amy Minnich and Libby Kilmer who ran all over the place getting judging results and the like. Ahhhh…those were the days.
The annual Junior Regatta at Put-in-Bay, sponsored by the Inter-Lake Yachting Association, is next week. Port Clinton Yacht Club will be well represented with the help of their coaches, Ian Kyle and Amber Waite. Go get ‘em kids!
The Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce is coordinating the 5th Semi-Annual Village Wide Garage Sale Days scheduled for August 22 & 23. If you would like to place your sale on their list, there is a $3 minimum donation and must be received by Monday, August 18. For more information, call the Chamber office at 419-898-0479.
The Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce is holding their 21st Annual Jerry Lippus Memorial Classic Car Show on Saturday, August 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown. For more information, contact the Chamber office at 419-734-5503 or go to their website at portclintonchamber.com.
Speaking of the PC Chamber and Main Street Port Clinton, they are holding a Reverse Raffle Beach Party at Dock’s Beach House on W. Lakeshore Drive on September 20. Tickets are $100 each which includes dinner. Tickets are available at the Chamber office at 110 Madison Street, downtown; as well as Perfect Color Hair & Tan, Huntington Bank (downtown), AAA, First National Bank, or from any Chamber of Main Street Board Member.
Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to “ring the bell” for Christmas in July Red Kettle Campaign the weekend of July 25-27 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be several kettle sites, including Bassett’s Market, the Jet Express along with five locations on Put-in-Bay. All proceeds help the Ottawa County Salvation Army Service Unit. If you can help, call Maureen Saponari at 419-732-2769.
It must pay to advertise because the Catawba Volunteer Fire Department’s Chicken Barbecue was sold out by 6:15! Also, I ran into Scott Gresser, a long-time local resident, who just move back home from Florida. Welcome Home, Scott!
Don’t forget our “Coffee with the Editor” session at Common Grounds every Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. Lots of interesting local topics are discussed. We have arranged to turn the meeting into a “Town Hall” session once a month featuring Port Clinton Mayor Vince Leone. He is anxious to “correct the record” regarding the proposed improvement projects downtown and in Waterworks Park. Also don’t forget that Common Grounds offers their gourmet coffee for just 99-cents with one refill or you can also get 10% off your order on Wednesday mornings.