BY JOHN SCHAFFNER

As you know, we got quite a bit of snow on Monday night, which officially opens the Christmas season. That also means that the 2019 Beacon Mitten Tree goes up. For over 30 years, The Beacon has had a Christmas Tree decorated with gloves, scarves, caps and, of course, mittens that we pass along to the Salvation Army for distribution to needy families to help keep heads, hands and hearts warm this winter.

You can bring your donation to The Beacon office at 205 SE Catawba Rd. next to the Goodwill store. Thank you.

Since the Browns-Bills game wasn’t on regular local TV on Sunday, I went to Port Clinton Yacht Club Sunday to watch. I sat with former Port Clinton School Superintendent Denny Rectenwald and his grandson, Jac Alexander, who is quarterback of the now 11-0 Oak Harbor Rocket football team who plays unbeaten Eastwood at Lake High School Friday night for the Regional Championship. Jac is a very nice and respectful young man, and I told him to “Keep It Going!” Go Rockets!

There will be a Downtown Business and Property Owners’ Round Table on Thursday, Nov. 14 at the Denny Bergeman Knights of Columbus Hall, 109 E. Perry Street in Port Clinton starting at 5 p.m. There will be a cash bar. RSVPs are requested by email … admin@portclintonchamber.com.

Michael Bogolki of Olmstead Falls is our winner this week in our “Find Wylie” contest. Michael was chosen from 68 entries who found Wylie hiding in the ad for Arter Furniture.on Page 8A., So, Michael wins our weekly $25 gas card graciously donated by Friendship Stores. Each week we generally 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.

Got a nice note from Carol Clemons this week who is helping to create the Firelands Caregiver Support Group. Their next meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Firelands Church on SR 163 east of Port Clinton. So, if you are a caregiver now or have been at anytime in the past, you are invited. For more information, contact Anne O’Malley at 440-488-3055 or Carol Clemons at 419-732-0644.

The Oak Harbor High School Thespians present the stage play CLUE this weekend, Nov. 15-17. Show times are Friday at 7:30 p.m., a special Saturday matinee at 1 p.m., and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8, and $6 for students and seniors, and available at the door or from any cast member. Whodunnit? You’ll have to wait and see!

The Ottawa County Salvation Army Toy Drive began on Monday. This event is co-sponsored by the Port Clinton Kiwanis Club, the Ottawa County Republican Women’s Club, Toys for Tots, Weapons Company 1/24 and the Ottawa County Holiday Bureau. They anticipate serving over 1,000 children county-wide. There are nearly 50 Ottawa County drop off locations. All toys collected will stay in Ottawa County to help local residents in need.

The Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Port Clinton invite businesses and organizations to participate in the 2019 Gift of Lights, where they will decorate a tree for charity. They may purchase a tree for a $35 donation. Make checks payable to the Port Clinton Recreation Department.

The trees will be located at Adams Street Park in Port Clinton. People will vote for their favorite or best-decorated tree for a dollar donation.  Proceeds will be donated to the 2019 winner’s charity of choice. The donations will determine this year’s winner!

Organizations and businesses may decorate their trees beginning on Friday, Nov. 22. All trees should be completed by Friday, Nov. 29.  Voting begins on Saturday, Nov. 30, which is also Small Business Saturday. Ballot boxes will be available at the Main Street PC/Chamber office, City Hall, Coffee Express, Lilly & Gerts, Slater’s Madison Street Pub, and the Ala Carte Café. The deadline to vote is Friday, Dec. 13 at Noon.

The Port Clinton Knights of Columbus will be conducting a Red Cross Blood Drive at Denny Bergeman Hall, 109 E. Perry St., Port Clinton on Wednesday, Nov. 20 from Noon to 6 p.m. Donors should call 1-800-Red Cross to make an advance payment. Walk-ins are also welcome.

The Port Clinton High School Hall Walking Program started on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Community members interested in walking at the high school should arrive between 8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday morning when school is in session.  Doors of the PCHS Performing Arts Center open at 8:15 a.m. Walking ends at 9:30 a.m. Parking is available adjacent to the Performing Arts Center off of Tenth Street. For more information call Jan Gluth, Director of Student, Staff & Community Development at jgluth@pccsd-k12.net or 419-732-2102, Ext. 8.

On Monday, Nov.18 at noon, Magruder Hospital will host an educational luncheon in the Conference Center. Dakota Stone from the Alzheimer’s Association will present “10 Warning Signs of Alzheimers.”  Learn about typical age-related changes, common warning signs of Alzheimer’s, how to approach someone about memory concerns, early detection, the benefits of a diagnosis and the diagnostic process, and Alzheimer’s Association resources. 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 November program is required by noon on Friday, Nov. 15 by calling 419-732-4061.

The Ottawa County Genealogical Society meets on Tuesday Nov. 19 p.m. at the Ida Rupp Public Library. The Speaker will be Tom Neel, OGS Library Director, presenting “Clues to Your Ancestors in Newspapers.” The public is welcome to attend.

The Jessie Schenk Memorial Turkey Chase will be held on Saturday, Nov. 30 at Resort at Erie Landing. It is a 5K Run/Walk to benefit the Jessica Schenk Scholar/Athlete Memorial Scholarship. Pre-Registration is $27 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. For more information and for registration, search Jessie Schenk Memorial Turkey Chase online.

On Thanksgiving Day, United Way in Ottawa County (UWOC,) along with local volunteers, will organize a community-wide Thanksgiving Day meal for those in need. This is the 28th year of the gathering being hosted in Port Clinton and the first it will be organized by UWOC. Currently, UWOC is asking community members to donate ready-to-eat pies, raw turkeys or make monetary donations for the event. There are also volunteer opportunities to help prepare the meal the day before (Nov. 27) or serve the day-of (Nov. 28). UWOC also welcomes local businesses to donate bulk side dishes and assist with the transportation of items. To donate or sign up to supply a ready-to-eat item for “A United Thanksgiving,” call UWOC’s office at 419-734-6645.