By John Schaffner

What a great crowd showed up Sunday at Ciao Bella for the Spaghetti/Alfredo fundraiser for the Humane Society of Ottawa County. It was standing room only by noon! We got one of each and it was delicious!

Speaking of great fundraisers, the 2019 Leadership Ottawa County Class held an Indoor Rummage Sale at Trinity Methodist Church in Port Clinton last weekend and it was an amazing success. They raised over $4,500, which will be used to furnish the multipurpose room in the new Ottawa County Family Advocacy Center.

Dolly Neff of Port Clinton is our winner this week in our “Find Wylie” contest. She was selected from among 71 contestants who found our friendly fish hiding in the ad for Crow’s Nest on Page 6A in last week’s Beacon. So Dolly wins 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.

The Mid-County EMT Association will hold a Spaghetti Dinner this Sunday, March 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be held at St. Paul UCC at 165 Toussaint St. in Oak Harbor. You can dine in or carry out the dinner. They are requesting a donation of $9 for adults and $4 for children under 12. All the fixings are included.

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Kathy Witter last week. She was one of the driving forces behind the Holiday Bureau at Christmastime. She was a lovely lady with a constant smile on her face. I will miss that smile.

This Monday, March 18, at noon, Magruder Hospital will host an educational luncheon in the Conference Center.  Magruder’s Director of Nutritional Services & Clinical Dietitian Tracy Stadler will present a program on Diabetes.  Learn about what it is, what it is not, and how it can be managed. 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 March program is required by noon on Friday, March 15 by calling 419-732-4061.

The Magruder Hospital Nutrition Department is offering monthly Diabetes Get-Togethers on the third Thursday each month at noon in the Conference Center. There will be a different topic & speaker each month. For March 21, Magruder Medical Group Internal Medicine Physician, Timothy Mummert, D.O., will present a program about “Should I call the office or wait until my next visit?” The group meets from September through May and is for anyone dealing with Diabetes or Pre-Diabetes, including family and friends.   Light refreshments will be provided.  For more information, call 419-732-4047.

The Annual Lenten Fish Fries, hosted by the Port Clinton K of C, are each Friday during Lent at Denny Bergeman Hall on W. Perry Street. The Knights of St. Joseph/Marblehead will be serving Lake Erie Perch and Perogies on March 15 and April 12 from 5-7 p.m. in the St. Joseph Church Hall at 822 Barclay St. in Marblehead. Dinners are $14 and Sandwiches are $7.50. The Knights of St. Boniface in Oak Harbor will be holding fish fries also, just not sure about their dates. Some sacrifice, no meat on Fridays!

The City of Port Clinton Recreation Dept. and The Port Clinton Chamber of Commerce are seeking donations for the annual Port Clinton Easter Egg Hunt to be held Saturday, April 13, at 10 a.m. at Lakeview Park. Preparations are underway to buy candy and prizes, fill eggs, and prepare prize baskets. Monetary donations, candy and prizes are all needed and may be sent or dropped off at Port Clinton City Hall, 1868 E. Perry St. Port Clinton.  Or, if preferred, donations can be picked up by contacting Rachel Klimentov at rklimentov@portclinton-oh.gov  or 419-734-5522 ext 237.

The Ottawa County Genealogical Society will be meeting March 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ida Rupp Public Library in Port Clinton. The meeting will be Member Helping Member. You can bring your questions and/or laptops to show and ask for help with Brick Walls. Connie Starnes will go over new features on the free websites (Family Search and Find A Grave). Public is welcome to attend.