BY JOHN SCHAFFNER

With Christmas coming on a Wednesday this year, we have had our press and delivery times all messed up. You may be getting The Beacon on Tuesday or early Wednesday. Or, you may be getting your Beacon on Thursday, the day after Christmas. Either way, we all hope you have or had a wonderful Christmas holiday and enjoyed spending time with your family or friends.

Yes, Tuesday night is the annual New Year’s Eve Celebration of the dropping of Wylie the Walleye in downtown Port Clinton. This year is kind of special as the overall theme is the Roaring 20s! It all started on Jan. 16, 1920 when prohibition became the law of the land. The face of eastern Ottawa County changed forever as Port Clinton became a convenient location for trafficking of bootleg alcohol from Canada, which did NOT have prohibition. Legends began as Port Clinton became a regular stop for such well known individuals as Al Capone. We will be planning some interesting historical stories from that era.

Nicole Geller of Marblehead is the winner this week in our “Find Wylie” contest. Nicole was chosen 67 entries who found Wylie hiding in the ad for Slater’s on Page 8A in last week’s Beacon. So, Nicole wins our weekly $25 gas card graciously donated by Friendship Stores. Each week we generally hide Wylie Walleye in an ad and our readers, when one of them finds him, can either bring in a contest entry cut out of the paper or log onto our website … www.thebeacon.net … and let us know where he is, thus entering, and possibly winning the contest.

Otterbein residents, Geri, Joyce and Mary Jane enjoy The Tree of Hope Celebration at Otterbein Marblehead. The event is a gathering to remember those we loved and lost and offers residents, partners and families a chance to donate to Otterbein’s Benevolent Care Fund.

We had quite a front page last week, as there were a lot of major news items. We wish all of the individuals well in the community. We wish the best to Stacy Maple who is moving from United Way to become Culinary Director at Lakeside. Allison Falls will be taking over at United Way. Olen Martin, will be departing as Safety-Service Director of Port Clinton. And on and on.
Best wishes to all.

The 5th annual 1940s New Year’s Eve Big Band Hangar Dance will take place at the Liberty Air Museum on Tuesday starting at 8 p.m. Single: $70, $130 for couples and reserved tables of eight are $550. For more information, contact them at 419-732-0234 or check online at www.libertyaviationmuseum.org.

A reminder that next week there will not be our normal weekly Tell Tales column. Next week, we substitute “The Great Swami,” who will peer into the magic glass to make his fearless predictions as to who things will look in Ottawa County come 2030. It ought to be something.

Tickets for the annual Marblehead Purse Bingo are on sale. The actual event itself happens on Saturday, March 7 at Danbury Local Schools. Tickets are $40 per person and are currently on sale at the school office or at the offices of the Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.

The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be visiting the area quite a bit in the next few weeks. The Ottawa County Blood Drive will be today (Thursday, Dec. 26) from 1-6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express at the Causeway on SR 53, just north of SR 163. They will be at the Oak Harbor VFW on Thursday, Jan. 2 from 12:30 to 5 p.m.; Magruder Hospital on Friday, Jan. 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and the Catawba Community Hall on Saturday, Jan. 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Benton-Carroll-Salem Schools has announced new times for Sunday Fun Open Swims at the Oak Harbor High School Pool for all B-C-S students, families, and community members starting on Jan. 12, 2020. Racquet ball courts will also be open to adults during these times. The pool and racquet ball courts will be open on the following Sundays from 2-4 p.m.; Jan. 12, 19, 26; Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23; March 1, March 8, March 15. Pool admission paid at the door for B-C-S students is only $1, and B-C-S adults will be $2. Racquetball courts will be open to B-C-S adults only for an additional charge of $2 (limit 4 per court). A lifeguard and site director will be on site to ensure safety. Please note that these Sunday Fun times will be cancelled if Ottawa County is on a Level Two or Level Three Snow Emergency as announced by the Ottawa County Sheriff. Call Mrs. Alison Wolf, Oak Harbor Assistant Principal at 419-898-6216 if you have any questions.

Kylie Cunningham will offer Beginner Yoga in the Magruder Conference Center on Tuesdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 7. Cost is $10 a class, or $50 for 6-week sessions. These classes will be an introduction to yoga postures, stretching, proper breathing, proper relaxation, positive thinking and meditation. Students should bring a floor mat and wear layered comfortable clothes. For more information call 419-341-6163 or 419-732-4061.