Don’t forget about our plans for publishing during the holidays.

    In the past few years, Americans have done a pretty good job of whittling down their debt load. If you’re in this group, you may now have a chance to use your lower level of indebtedness to your advantage  — by investing for the future.

Submitted by Gary Coon

Here’s a disturbing statistic: One out of every five Americans over the age of 65 has been victimized by a financial scheme, according to the Investor Protection Trust, a nonprofit organization devoted to investor education. If your parents are in this age group, should you be concerned? And can you help them avoid being “scammed” so that they maintain control over their finances?

 By Jeff Roth

With all of the national concerns, even protection of our funds in a nationally insured banking institution can be at issue. Several years ago the government increased the amount of coverage from $100,000.00 to $250,000.00 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. The government devised a very complicated formula to determine exactly how much would be protected. It combines the entire depositor’s like accounts in the calculation. Protection is granted based on ownership and stated beneficiaries.

I would like to extend my personal thanks to all who once again donated to our Mitten Tree. Our friends at Salvation Army came by to pick up the last of the decorations on Monday. We were able to provide to the needy of Ottawa County a total of 174 items, many of which were beautifully hand knitted just for the Mitten Tree.

Once again, through the generosity of hundreds of you out there, our Mitten Tree got all filled up with its very special ornaments, mittens, gloves, caps and scarves. We had a pickup from the Salvation Army on Tuesday morning, and they will make their final pickup on Monday, Dec.10. So there is still time to make a contribution. We also have a box in our office from Salvation Army for coats, other clothing items and toys so you can fill them up here. As always, the true spirit of Christmas is alive and well in Ottawa County.

It is definitely time to get into the Christmas spirit! If you need a little help, you can head to downtown Port Clinton this Saturday, Dec. 1, for the big Community Christmas celebration with a parade, lots of open houses and the lighting of the downtown Christmas Tree.

BY JOHN SCHAFFNER

Surprise! You are getting your Beacon a day early this week!

It has been fun to watch young Jacob Tetzloff grow up. He is the son of Glen Tetzloff, our bass player in The Travelin’ Lounge Lizards band, and he recently achieved Eagle Scout.

Most of you know that I have lived here most of my life (50 years) and that I am a proud graduate of Port Clinton High School. Every now and then an event happens that just fills me with pride.