Beacon President and Publisher Ali Hermes talks about the positive impact of community newspapers. (Photo by Karen Evans)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

MARBLEHEAD – The Beacon staff were honored to have the opportunity to talk about “The Art of News” as speakers in a 4-part lecture series hosted by the Greater Port Clinton Area Arts Council (GPCAAC) on March 11. The event was held at the beautiful Beach Glass Lounge in Marblehead, where attendees enjoyed fabulous dinners of Caesar salad, perch, rosemary fries and cheesecake amidst the exquisite art of restaurant owner, Cary Ferguson.

Beacon President and Publisher Ali Hermes kicked off the talk with an explanation about the positive impact of community newspapers and the struggles they face. Account Executive Gina Monak-Miller talked about her roll helping businesses thrive through advertising. Editor Sheri Trusty rounded up the lecture by talking about the importance of preserving The Beacon as the county’s community story teller.

Beacon Editor Sheri Trusty asks the audience to raise their hands if she ever wrote a story about them or took their photo for a newspaper. (Photo by Karen Evans)

During her talk, Trusty asked the members of the audience to raise their hands if she had ever written a story about them or taken their photo for the paper. Multiple hands went into the air, proving, she said, that she has the best job in the county because it gives her the opportunity to meet the best people. That is what The Beacon is all about – telling the world about the incredible people who live in our community.

Sadly, that voice will be silenced if the pressures of today’s journalism close The Beacon. Without The Beacon, who will tell the story of the men who gather every year to host a Valentine’s Day Lunch for area widows? Or the story of Ottawa County’s only female practicing chiropractor? Or the woman who celebrated her 101st birthday by going bowling? Or the man who became Put-in-Bay’s ice fishing hero? Or the local shop that donated hundreds of dollars of spirit wear to area schools to ensure every student can show their school pride? Or the local man whose photo of eagles at the Marblehead Lighthouse was featured by Ohio State Parks? Or a local library’s guinea pig who encourages kids to read? Or the local pastor who is biking across the country to raise funds to build Habitat for Humanity homes in Ottawa County? Or the woman who owned the “biggest” closet in the world? Or the local woman who courageously gives speeches about her experience as a human traffic victim to help protect others from facing the same trauma?

Beacon Account Executive Gina Monak-Miller discusses the power of advertising. (Photo by Karen Evans)

Those are all stories told in The Beacon this year. Those are all stories that maybe would never have been told without The Beacon.

So, The Beacon ladies asked the audience to join them in helping The Beacon thrive. Purchase ads, support The Beacon’s advertisers, and share our stories on social media. Be a part of The Beacon community and help us be Ottawa County’s story teller, history keeper and biggest cheerleader.

The final speaker in the GPCAAC’s four-part lecture series will be Rose Lucas Haninger who will talk about “The Art of Makeup” on Tuesday, March 25, at 11:30 a.m.

“I will be reflecting back on the makeup, hair and wigs I designed for celebrities I’ve worked with in television and film, and a lot of the Broadway shows I worked on, including Wicked, The Lion King, and many more,” Lucas Haninger said.

Tickets for the Lucas Haninger’s lecture cost $50 and include a lunch of French onion soup, crabcake, brussel sprouts, and lava cake prepared by Beach Glass Lounge. For more information on the lecture or to buy tickets, visit https://www.gpcaac.org/about-1-2.