1812 was both the topic and the venue as Ottawa County Historical Society members and guests gathered at the Island House’s 1812 Food and Spirits Dining Room for their annual spring meeting. 

War of 1812 scholar Louis Schultz of Sandusky and The Columbus Academy in Gahanna gave an informative presentation about the ‘Forgotten War,’ and displayed some of his extensive collection of related artifacts.  Schultz is the author of the current War of 1812 on the Ohio Frontier exhibit at The Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont.

Schultz related many examples of how misdirection and missed communications, coupled with treachery both foreign and domestic, added to the difficulty of fighting the War. The necessity of traversing the Great Black Swamp made it difficult to get troops where they needed to be and to find food for both animals and men.  When the battle of Lake Erie started,  Commodore Perry overcame his own strategic blunders to win the day, though Schultz said the Battle had no real impact on the war.  Although the British and Americans’ result was essentially a draw, it was the Native Americans who really suffered the greatest defeat, losing territory and influence. 

The Ottawa County Historical Society welcomes new members interested in their mission of discovering and preserving local history.  For information, visit www.thekeepershouse.org

The Musical Arts Series at Firelands is bringing two spring concerts to area senior centers with the assistance of a grant from the Ottawa County Community Foundation. On Saturday May 4, the Elders of Jazz will present concerts at 1:30 p.m. at Edgewood Manor and at 3:15 at the Vineyard on Catawba.

Many of the Elders of Jazz are indeed elders from Presbyterian churches on the west side of Cleveland. This group celebrates the roots of jazz based on the spirituals and gospel songs played by the early New Orleans street bands. While     this group usually plays in the greater Cleveland area, in recent years they have played at Lakeside for programs and worship in Hoover Auditorium. The Elders of Jazz have also played as part of the summer concert series on Put in Bay at the Perry Monument.

The public is welcome to come and enjoy either of these concerts. Contact Carolyn Legg at Edgewood Manor or Paul Shaw at the Vineyard on Catawba for additional information.

“Savor the Flavor of Firelands’Finest”, presented by the Sandusky Register, is an opportunity to sample some of the finest cuisine and wines in the Firelands area. Tuesday, May 14, 6-9 p.m. at the Port Clinton Yacht Club, will feature an evening of delicious food, fine wine and auction items. The event will feature cuisine from 1812 Food and Spirits/Rosie’s Bar and Grill, Bruno’s Pizzeria, Cleats, Crosswinds Restaurant & Bar, EHOVE Career Center, Great Lakes Popcorn Co., Mesenburg Creative Catering, Mon Ami Restaurant & Historic Winery, Papa Jimmie’s BBQ & Pizza, Phil’s Inn Restaurant, Providence Care Centers, Slater’s Madison Street Pub, Thirsty Pirate Taphouse Grille, Timbers Smokehouse & Grill, Toft’s Dairy, Waldo Peppers and Wendy Kromer Confections.

Tickets are $30. To purchase tickets or for more information call 419-332-3016.

Savor the Flavor sponsores include Crown Battery, Lafarge North America, Eagle 99, Mix 102.7, Carbo Forge and the Croghan Colonial Bank.

All money raised will support local programs and services to adults and children with disabilities in our community.

On Tuesday, April 30,  three volunteers from the Ottawa County CASA program traveled with Connie Cornett, Executive Director, to Columbus to join with other CASA programs in the State of Ohio to celebrate CASA Day in Ohio. A reception was held in the Supreme Court building and the Honorable Justice Judith French was the host for the event. Rosalyn Barnhill, JoAnn Behlke, and Mary Hall, all dedicated volunteers in the Ottawa County program, listened to presentations from the Justice, the Ohio Attorney General’s office and the Office of Families and Children.

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates and these volunteers are trained to advocate for children that are abused or neglected. Volunteers investigate all there is to know about a child and then become the “voice” of that child in the courtroom. John Davis, president of the Youth Advisory Board, a group of young people aged 14-24 that have experienced foster care, expressed his appreciation for the CASA volunteer that has helped guide him to the success he is experiencing today.

Attorney General Mike DeWine has committed $2 million to the statewide Ohio CASA to grow the program throughout the state. During a year-long state wide listening sessions, these volunteers were found to be crucial in helping courts make decisions on the best interest of the children served according to a report released by the Attorney General’s office. Jennifer Justice, Director of the Office on Families and Children, stated that local job and family service offices need to work in conjunction with local CASA programs to serve the needs of the most vulnerable children in the state and that those agencies truly appreciate the commitment of the volunteers to the kids.

Ottawa County CASA is currently recruiting volunteers for a new class of CASAs.  Volunteer training is scheduled to begin soon, so if you have a few hours a month to give to a child in need please contact the CASA office at 419-301-0225 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Ag Credit, Agricultural Credit Association, (Ag Credit), stockholders elected four farmers to three-year terms on the organization’s board of directors effective May 1, 2013: Charles Bostdorff, Bowling Green; Jerry Layman, Kenton; Deborah Johlin-Bach, Elmore; and Lauren Kamm, New London.  Their terms end April 30, 2016. All four were incumbent members of the board.

Deborah Johlin-Bach and her husband farm 1,200 acres, rotating corn, soybeans, wheat and/or spelt. Additionally, they feed out steers for market. Mrs. Johlin-Bach was elected to the Board in 2007, representing eastern Lucas, Ottawa, and Sandusky counties. 

Ag Credit finances the growth of rural America including the special needs of young, beginning, small and minority producers. With more than 6,300 customers and $1.325 billion of assets, Ag Credit is one of the region’s leading providers of credit and insurance services to farmers, agribusiness and rural residents in northern Ohio. Learn more at www.agcredit.net

Port Clinton Boys tennis took on Oak Harbor Thursday at Port Clinton High School in an SBC Match.  The Redskins improved to 7 - 4  (4 - 2) on the year winning 4 - 1.  Port Clinton will resume league play home vs. Perkins Monday at 4 p.m.

The scores were as follows:

• 1st Singles:  Eli Boldt (OH) def. Matheus Rodrigues (PC) 6 - 0, 5 - 7, 6 - 4
• 2nd Singles:  Noah Cross (PC) def. Ian Rhoads (OH) 6 - 3, 4 - 6, 7 - 6 (3)
• 3rd Singles:  Leandro Papa (PC) def. Doug Pennington (OH) 6 - 3, 6 - 0
• 1st Doubles: Matt Fillmore/Jeff Griffin (PC) def. Matt Rayburn/Garett Crum (OH) 6 - 0, 6 - 1
• 2nd Doubles:  Max Mercurio/Ryan Norgard (PC) def. Bryce Rubie/Dane Puckett (OH) 6 - 3, 4 - 6, 6 - 4

Coach Aaron Taylor: “Matheus returned to action is a tough re-match with Eli, that Eli gritted out in the end today, both players played well and we can look forward to more in the SBC tournament/Sectionals.  Noah and Ian slugged out another 3 setter that was very similar to their previous match, Noah took over in the 3rd set tiebreaker to secure the victory.  Leandro came up with a big win today over Doug, hitting all his shots and playing with great confidence.  Matt and Jeff were able to team back up today and they never missed a beat with a thorough victory.  Max and Ryan played tough and mentally strong, pulling out a very even 3 setter today.  In JV action Ellis Adolph and Tristan Auxter won their match as did Steven Kast and Joseph Miller.  Cameron King and Avery Dackermann took a loss today but played well at 2 JV doubles.”

On Saturday, May 4,  Ottawa County residents may bring their old appliances and scrap metal for recycling.to the Ottawa County Fairgrounds at Ohio 163, Oak Harbor, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.

Items accepted include washing machines, dryers, ovens, stoves, hot water heaters, refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, dehumidifiers, furnaces, air conditioners, water fountains, etc. Items made of steel, such as grills, lawn mowers, and propane tanks will also be accepted. Televisions, computers, computers and electronics will not be accepted at this collection. This collection is free to all Ottawa County residents and appliances with CFC’s (Freon) will be accepted. All of these items will be taken to a scrap metal yard.

For general recycling information, District recycling collections or sponsored events log onto the OSS Solid Waste District’s website at www.recycleoss.org or on Facebook.

Mary Gardner, longtime Ottawa County Courthouse employee with both the Clerk of Courts and the Auditor's office, was the recipient of the Liberty Bell award given annual by the Bar Association of Ottawa County. It is given to a local resident who is not an attorney who promotes the meaning and the importance of the law in daily life. Photo by John Schaffner