The Beacon

Each year, United Way works tirelessly during the autumn months to raise money to advance the common good. The money goes through an extensive investment process run by a team of community volunteers. This “Community Solutions Team” is co-chaired by Brenda Smith, Director of Riverview Industries. This a long and time consuming process, reviewing funding applications to decide how best the dollars will serve Ottawa County. It takes some serious dedication to head up this vital team, which is why we say that Brenda Smith “Lives United”.
We are already getting bunches of donations to our annual Mitten Tree, including an entire local sewing group, “The Knit-Wits”, who dedicate this time of year to adding ornaments to our tree with mittens, gloves, scarves and caps, all of which will be collected and distributed by The Holiday Bureau. They will distribute early this year, so donations must be on the tree before Monday, December 8.


Our “Win it on the Web” winner this week is Terry Hasselbach of Oak Harbor who clicked his way to at $20 gas card from Friendship Food Stores. You might be our next winner, just log on to  HYPERLINK www.thebeacon.net and click on the “Win it on the Web” icon.

A Community Ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve worship service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Port Clinton beginning at 7:30. Also participating will be St. John Lutheran, Peace Lutheran and Church of the Nazarene. St. John’s Pastor, Dan Keck will give the sermon. There will also be a special offering to help the hungry in the community.

The Second Annual Holiday Craft Show will be held this Sunday, November 23 from Noon to 4 p.m. at the Nor’Easter Club on Catawba. There will be a light food buffet for $6 per person and a cash bar. Admission will be a non-perishable food item to benefit Ottawa County Job & Family Services and the Salvation Army. The public is invited along with Nor’Easter members.

Here’s a great Holiday idea!!! When doing your Christmas cards this year, set aside a card and send it to the following address: “A Recovering American Soldier” … C/O Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20307-5001.

The Otterbein Auxiliary will host a special Gift Shop Open House on Friday, November 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They will feature a wide selection of Christmas ornaments and jewelry. Otterbein North Shore Retirement Community is located at 9400 North Shore Blvd. in Marblehead.

I got an e-mail from Mike “Mad Dog” Adams, who literally survived a head-on collision with a Category 3 Hurricane named Paloma while entertaining down in Grand Cayman Island. He will be at Mr. Ed’s Saturday for the big Ohio State-Michigan post-game party, which is also a special fund-raiser for a couple of needy local families.

Speaking of entertainment, those old-time rockers, the Travelin’ Lounge Lizards, will be at Mon Ami this Friday evening from 8:30 to 12:30. We’ll be playing all your favorite tunes.

Ummmmm…let’s see…something tells me that something is happening down in Columbus this Saturday … Oh yes, now I remember … GO BUCKS! BEAT MICHIGAN!