Catawba Island lost a good friend last week. Duke Benevento passed away. He was an electrician by trade, but he and his wife and sister fell in love with Lake Erie and our area a long time ago. These are his parting words. “To all those that think of me, Be happy as I go out to sea. If others wonder why I’m missing, Just tell them that I’ve gone fishing!”

As award-winning, island author Bob Adamov prepared to celebrate his 20th year of writing Put-in-Bay-based, mystery adventure novels last Tuesday, October 19, he will follow up on his exceptionally-rated Memory Layne, set on Catawba Island, with the release of three novels in 2022.

Lynn Bevington of Marblehead was selected from among 123 entries who found Wylie hiding in the ad for The Marblehead Galley on page 6A in last week’s Beacon. So, congratulations to Lynn, the winner of 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.

Congratulations to Kenn Bower for presiding over his first meeting as President of the Port Clinton Kiwanis Club.

My personal congratulations go out to Gary Quisno, JD Bergman and Pat Kania who were inducted into the Oak Harbor High School Athletic Hall of Fame earlier this month. All three had incredible resumes for their inductions. Gary and I had this ongoing personal relationship over the years he was head football coach at Oak Harbor. He was sometimes difficult to find for weekly interviews, so I would go ahead and quote him anyway because I knew him so well! He always admitted “yeah, that’s probably what I would have said”!

Ottawa County Community Blood Drive and the American Red Cross are hosting an upcoming blood drive this Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Holiday Inn Express (RT. 53 N) from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. There will also be a blood drive at Oak Harbor High School in the atrium of the auditorium this Tuesday. The Red Cross is reporting an extraordinary need for blood donors.

Marblehead’s inaugural Chili Cook-Off scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 23 in James Park has been put on hold until next year according to a report from the Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.

The Danbury Parent Teacher Community Organization, however, will team with the Marblehead Chamber for the 2nd annual Marblehead Reverse Raffle on Saturday, Nov. 13 at St. Mary’s Social Hall in Marblehead, with a grand prize of $10,000. The $125 tickets are now on sale, and include a prime rib dinner from the Marblehead Galley at 6 p.m. and raffle at 7 p.m.

Buy tickets before Monday, Nov. 1 and be included in the reverse raffle program. For information call the chamber’s Director Teri Cassell, 419-702-7492.

The free ELMS Community Meal is available today (Thursday, Oct. 21) at 5 p.m. in the St. Thomas Episcopal Guild Hall at E. Second Street in Port Clinton. The ELMS meal brings local residents together for a hot meal and to socialize during the year, and this month’s home-cooked dinner features traditional goulash and lots of deserts. The ELMS meal is a joint effort of St. Thomas and Peace Lutheran churches. Carryout meals will continue due to Covid-19 concerns.

Walleye bite dinners are available at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Marblehead on Friday, Oct. 29 from  4 – 6 p.m. Carry-out or dine-in dinners are $12. Call 419-702-7004 to place your order by noon the day before. Baked goods and raffle tickets for gift baskets are available to benefit the church. St. Mary, 505 E. Main St., is adjacent to the historic Marblehead Lighthouse.

St. Paul Lutheran Church, 9789 W. Oak Harbor Southeast Rd., Oak Harbor, will be hosting its annual chicken BBQ on Sunday Nov. 7 at the church. Serving time will be from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. or until sold out. Menu includes a half chicken, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, bread, sherbet, and a drink. Cost of the meal will be $10. Contact any church member or call 419-276-9124 to reserve your tickets. This event is carryout only. A limited number of tickets may be available the day of the event.