The elected officials of Portage Township believe that it is fitting to maintain and enhance the cemeteries within the township in order to honor the memory of past generations. With the help of a $2,665 grant from the Ottawa-Sandusky-Seneca County Joint Solid Waste Management District, Portage Township has completed enhancements to two of the township cemeteries. An arbor was added to the existing fence at Christy Chapel Cemetery, located at the township maintenance complex on State Road. At the Shook Cemetery, located on the north side of Ohio 163 between Christy Chapel Road and Ohio 53, 84 feet of fence and an arbor were erected by the township maintenance crew.

Home Instead Senior Care is pleased to announce the CAREGivers of the first quarter of 2012:
• January CAREGiver of the Month — Jennifer Ackerman of Norwalk
• February CAREGiver of the Month — Patty Chapple of Port Clinton

Port Clinton Police K9 Fund will be hosting a Casino Bus Trip Fundraiser on Sunday, May 20. The proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to purchase Port Clinton Police service dog Spike a life jacket.  K9 Spike will be working the Harbor Patrol Unit for Port Clinton this summer and will need a life jacket while he is aboard the boat.

Celebrate Mother’s Day in Lakeside at the annual Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday, May 13 at Wesley Lodge, 510 Central Ave. There are two seating times available to gather for a brunch buffet: 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The cost is $18 per adult, $8 per child (ages 6-10) and children age 5 and under are free. There are no gate pass admission fees for this event.
Jason Platfoot of Black Tie Catering will prepare a buffet-style menu, including prime rib carving station, pasta primavera, stuffed chicken breast, red skin creamed potatoes, carrots, green beans, salad, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, hash browns, fruit skewers, Danishes, sugar free fruit pies, gourmet cupcakes, dessert bars and more.

Lakeside’s annual plant sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, on the front steps of Hoover Auditorium, 115 W. Third St. There are no gate pass admission fees for this event.
The plant sale will feature a variety of annuals, perennials, herbs, ground covers and small nursery stock for purchase. All proceeds from the sale will help to keep the Lakeside grounds beautiful throughout the Chautauqua summer season.
For information on vacationing or living the Lakeside Chautauqua experience, visit www.lakesideohio.com or call 419-798-4461.

North Central EMS recently hosted an anniversary dinner to honor their employees for years of service, and to recognize their 26 years as an organization. The dinner was held at Castaway Bay in Sandusky, and employees with two, five, 10 and 15 years of service were recognized and presented service awards by Executive Director Don Ballah. The following recipients were honored:
• Two-year awards — Karen Hetrick, Leah Lantz, Kelly Strimpfel, Matt Triana and Terri Hassinger
• Five-year awards — Diane Dower, Pam Justi, Jim Hinton, Karen Bissell and Bonnie Thompson

Catawba Island Township Trustees announce paving projects taking place in the next few weeks.
• Karwood, Roger, Linda, Delwood and Appell drives in the Krempa Subdivision will be resurfaced beginning May 10 with a tentative end date of May 22. Work will begin at 7:30 a.m. and stop for the day at 5 p.m. The paving company will be grinding out all asphalt prior to paving in full road width. Homeowners will have access in and out of the subdivision.  
• Resurfacing is also scheduled for the area around the township maintenance building.  Due to the paving project, township recycling bins have been temporarily moved to the compost area on Cemetery Road.  
If you have questions regarding the paving projects, call the township office at 419-797-4131 or the Ottawa County Engineer’s Office at 419-734-6777.

The Mental Health and Recovery Board of Erie and Ottawa Counties is looking for some feedback. The board, through contracts with community agencies, provided nearly $9 million dollars in public mental health and alcohol and drug addiction treatment, prevention and support services to residents of Erie and Ottawa Counties for fiscal year 2011 (July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011):
• Approximately 19,400 youth and 290 adults received prevention and consultation services  

The Port Clinton High School Concert Band will pay tribute to “The March King,” John Philip Sousa, at a Saturday, May 12, concert. The show will begin at 7 p.m. at the PCHS Performing Arts Center. Admission is free, however, a free-will donation will be taken at the end of the concert.
Music includes something for all ages and of course, the concert will conclude in traditional Sousa style with the playing of “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Guest soloists include: Dan Bentley, Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Air Force Band of Flight; Felita Rowe, vocal soloist, U.S. Air Force Band of Flight; and the Terra Choral Society. Rod Miller, PCHS band director, will portray John Phillip Sousa.

Registrations are now being accepted to join Champions for Children’s Summer Enrichment Program, which provides childcare for students during the summer months.    Champions for Children is a self-supported, after-school enrichment program available through the Port Clinton City School District and is a licensed child-care provider for the Department of Job & Family Services. The program is open to families in the Port Clinton City School District for children entering grades kindergarten through sixth. This year, all the summer sessions will be held at Port Clinton High School.