By John Schaffner

It must be Spring!

I saw my first robin, checked the calendar and, most importantly, the Miller Ferry began service on Tuesday! Finally, I read on Facebook that the tunnel to Put-in-Bay opens this weekend! It usually does not open until April 1!

My wife Mary Alice got in some early “Spring Cleaning” at our office last week. The end result is that we have lots of old newspapers for anyone who needs them or wants them. We have always known that one of the best uses for The Beacon is to line bird cages or kennels!!!

I just read a Facebook Post from the Bowling Green Sentinel Tribune about Molly (Loeffler) Mack. The Port Clinton High School graduate was elected last November as the first female Judge of Common Pleas Court in Wood County. Her sister, Sue (Loeffler) Hany is married to retiring Municipal Court Judge Fritz Hany, and her brother Bo is a local attorney.

Dolly Neff of Port Clinton is the 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. 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 downtown Port Clinton businesses are having a “Spring Fling” shopping event tonight (Thursday, March 21) from 5-8 p.m.

The folks at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge have chosen the first Saturday of Spring, this Saturday, for a Chili Cookoff! It all starts at 11:30 a.m. Bring a crockpot of your favorite chili and compete for nice awards. There will be tours of ONWR after the chili has you all warmed up! Donations raised at this event will help to fund their new ADA Accessible VC Fishing Access Trail.

Lively Folk and Gypsy Music from Eastern Europe will be performed by the Harmonia Band on Sunday, March 24, at 3:30 p.m. during the next Musical Arts Series concert in Port Clinton at Firelands Presbyterian Church, 2626 E. Harbor Rd.

Congratulations to Babette Klacik, the former manager at the Tin Goose Diner, as she steps in to replace Stacy Maple as manager of Bistro 163. As you certainly know by now, Stacy took the director’s position with United Way in Ottawa County. Meanwhile, her predecessor, Chris Galvin, has been having a tough time of it at St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo. Keep her in your prayers.

The Ottawa County “Wreaths across America” committee is hosting a barbecue chicken dinner and fundraiser on Saturday, March 30 at the Port Clinton VFW at 214 Madison Street. They hope to honor veterans buried in the cemeteries in Genoa, Elmore, Williston as well as Harris, Allen and Clay Townships. Dinner will be served from 5 to 8 p.m. and the price is just $15. Each dinner will purchase a wreath for a deceased veteran this Christmas.

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 hosting a fish fry on March 22. 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 of to 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.