By John Schaffner

From the first day of my publishing career back in the 1970s, our area has been blessed by so many women in business here in Ottawa County. Ann Bolte, who became a business owner in 1936 when it was virtually unheard of. Anna Lou Spino became the Grand Dame of real estate in Oak Harbor, where she is still active today.

My favorite “Beaconettes” newspaper folks, Sandy Schaffner, Kendra (Larcy) Koehler, Nadine Jensen, Diane (Davis/Vickers) Janowich. Then there is the current crop that is just as impressive. Enjoy the stories about some outstanding female business owners in our “Women in Business” supplement in this week’s Beacon.

We have been having some very interesting conversations recently at our “Coffee with the Editor” sessions the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 9 a.m. Our next session is scheduled for next Wednesday, April 3 at Rosie’s Bar & Grill in Downtown Port Clinton.

Jennifer Wieland of Marblehead is our winner this week in our “Find Wylie” contest. She was selected from among 77 contestants who found our friendly fish hiding in the ad for the Musical Arts Series on Page 6 in last week’s Beacon. So Jennifer 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.

This Sunday, March 31, the Oak Harbor Knights of Columbus will be sponsoring an “all you can eat” Pancake and Sausage Family Breakfast at St. Boniface Catholic Church beginning at 9 a.m. Menu includes homemade rolls, homemade applesauce, coffee, hot chocolate and juice. Donation is $6 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. Proceeds will fund K of C charitable and benevolent programs and activities.

Certified Pilates instructor, Liz Tarney, offers Pilates classes in the Magruder Conference Center on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. The cost is $4 per class. The classes will resume on Monday, April 1. Pilates is a method of exercise that consists of low-impact flexibility and muscular strength and endurance movements. Participants may join the classes anytime. For more information, please call 740-403-9053.  For information about other classes, educational programs and other events, visit www.magruderhospital.com and click on the events calendar.

There will be a Port Clinton beautification meeting this Monday, April 1 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. They are always looking for good ideas.

Advance Ride Tickets for the 2019 Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival are now on sale.  Each ride ticket is $40 and good for the entire Walleye Festival weekend. The Walleye Festival will run from Thursday-Monday, May 23-27, at Waterworks Park. Each Advance Ride Ticket enters you to win a $100 gift card. Two gift cards will be given away.

Deadline to purchase Advance Ride Tickets is Thursday, May 23 at 5 p.m. Make checks payable to Main Street Port Clinton. You can purchase the Advance Ride Tickets at the Port Clinton Chamber office at 110 Madison Street and Great Lakes Popcorn  located at 60 N. Madison Street in downtown Port Clinton.

The Ottawa County “Wreaths across America” committee is hosting a barbecue chicken dinner and fundraiser this 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 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 is 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 Friday fish fries the next three weeks. 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.