Friday night is the annual renewal of Ottawa County’s biggest football rivalry, Port Clinton vs. Oak Harbor. My thoughts drift back to the OH vs. PC days of old, mostly coaches like Jim Hastings, Bill Hubans and Gary Quisno. I especially remember Dave Martin who was my “go to guy” when it came to the history of the rivalry.

Also, there’s lots of pizza on the line. The Mayors Challenge will require the loser, either Quinton Babcock of Oak Harbor or Mike Snider of Port Clinton, to deliver pizza to the winning team. And do it while wearing the opposing team colors. Game time is 7 p.m. in Oak Harbor. The pandemic protocols will limit the crowd to 15% of the stadium’s seating capacity. May the best team win!

Yes, I know it rained Monday afternoon, but what an incredible stretch of nice weather we had in September. Like I said in our Labor Day weekend issue, Fall always serves us up with some nice weather. Today is the first of October. Hopefully, with Lake Erie’s water temperature still near 70, we will have some more beautiful weather to make memories with this month.

Britt Stantz of North Olmsted was chosen from among 126 entries who found Wylie in the ad for St. Boniface Bingo on Page 5A in last week’s Beacon. So, Britt wins our weekly $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 our weekly contest.

The Ottawa County Business Advisory Council (BAC) held an Open House on Thursday, Sept. 17. Students and parents had the opportunity to check out the workshop area and program curriculum and meet with the instructor as well as members of the Business Advisory Council. During the event, Bill Hutchisson was introduced as this years’ Skilled Trades Academy Instructor. Hutchisson is a certified MSSC CPT instructor and is an Advanced Manufacturing Training Coordinator for Custom Training Solutions, a Division of Northwest State Community College.

Congratulations to Mike Zipfel who has been inducted as the new President of the Kiwanis Club of Port Clinton.

Marblehead makeup artist Rose Lucas Haninger styled Vice President Mike Pence’s hair and makeup during his Sept. 16 visit to Zanesville. Lucas Haninger told the Toledo Blade she learned that Pence is truly the kind, considerate man he appears to be in public. Lucas Haninger owns Madame Rosie’s Boutique and Painted Rose Gallery in Marblehead, and she has worked as a professional celebrity stylist for decades doing makeup and hair in television, theater, film, and photography. She has worked on high profile politicians, such as former Gov. John Kasich and former President Bill Clinton.

Sometimes our space limitations are cruel to local high school sports teams that aren’t football and basketball. We wanted to recognize this year’s Port Clinton High School girls’ tennis team and their excellent season under coach Lindsay Dunn. Last Saturday was the Sandusky Bay Conference Championships and #1 singles player Alaina Dackermann took second, gaining 1st team All-SBC honors. The #1 Doubles Team of Arielle Montowski and Paige Reineck scored a 6-0, 6-0 win over Fremont St. Joe in the finals, also gaining 1st team All-SBC honors. Hanna Cross, Olivia Eickert along with the #2 doubles team of Alyssa Mares and Reagan Ruthsatz were all Honorable Mention All-SBC as well.

Today (Thursday, Oct. 1) is the first of 11 days for the “Virtual” Apple Festival Run. Participants can contact the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce for details.

They decided to go through with a Homecoming Spirit Week at Oak Harbor High School. The spirit week runs from Sept. 28 until Oct. 2. The themes are Monday – Pajama day, Tuesday – Twin Day, Wednesday – Jersey Day, Thursday – Throwback Thursday (dress from a different decade), and Friday – Rocket Spirit Day.

They are going to host a Pep Assembly for Juniors and Seniors only on Thursday, Oct. 1 from 2:10 – 2:40 p.m. outside on the bleachers of the Football Stadium (weather pending). The band will play, some OHHS staff members will compete in a game, the Homecoming Court will be there and the King and Queen will be crowned.

Otterbein Senior Life resident JoAnne Wagner enjoys a moment of quiet peace and meditation in the garden.