By John Schaffner

Our area, and particularly Put-in-Bay, lost an true icon over the weekend. Louie Heineman, long-time Island entrepreneur, passed away. In my 40 years of media coverage of South Bass Island, never did I hear a bad word about Louie. Everybody loved him and he definitely will be missed.

For years now we have joked about the number of friends I would see while strolling through the Cleveland Boat Show, which starts today at the IX Center near Hopkins Airport. But it is a strong reminder how much local commerce is contained in our local boating industry. So lets hope that the resurgence in the economy encourages folks to upgrade their boats and once again think about us here along Lake Erie.

Garrett Lee of Elmore is our winner this week in our “Find Wylie” contest. Garrett was chosen from among 79 contestants who found our friendly fish hiding in the ad for Destination Designs on Page 5 in last week’s Beacon. So Garrett is the winner of a $25 gas card graciously donated by Friendship Stores. Each week we 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.

B-C-S 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 that began on Jan. 13. Racquetball courts will also be open to adults during these times. The pool and racquetball courts will be open on the following Sundays from 2-4 p.m.: Jan. 20, 27; Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24; March 3, 10, 17.

Check out The Beacon’s newly reformatted and redesigned Web Site, www.thebeacon.net. One of our specialized business services is Destination Designs, a custom Web Site Design company. Particular thanks goes to our favorite intern, Dalton Chapman of Marblehead.

It’s Girl Scout Cookie season. Enjoy!

On Monday, Jan. 21, at noon, Magruder Hospital will host an educational luncheon in the Conference Center.  Michael W. Wilson II, MA, LPC, will present a program on “Reducing Aging Anxiety.” Learn about the impact of anxiety on adults, as well as approaches and strategies to manage it. This luncheon is part of a monthly education series in the hospital’s conference center, which features a different topic and speaker each month.

The luncheon series is open to the public and the cost is $6. The program is free if you do not wish to have lunch. An RSVP for the Jan. program is required by noon on Friday, Jan. 18, by calling 419-732-4061.

Magruder Hospital’s monthly Cancer Support Group will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 12:30 p.m. in the Conference Center. This support group is for anyone who has been impacted by cancer. There is a complimentary light lunch provided, so please RSVP to 419-301-4317 by Monday, Jan.21. This support group is an excellent way for patients, caregivers and family members to connect with others to share information and resources. For more information about support groups and other events visit www.magruderhospital.com and click on the events calendar.

Port Clinton’s High School and Middle School are offering FREE admission for home athletic events for government staff (Coast Guard, Border Patrol, etc.) impacted by the partial Federal Government shutdown. Just show your government ID and the whole family receives FREE admission.

This time of year, The Beacon starts getting a little “skinny” thanks to our seasonal marketplace. However, we want to encourage all of our readers to please regularly check out our website, www.thebeacon.net. What we can’t fit on the pages of the newspaper, we will always try to fit on the pages of our website. Thanks.