I ran into Gary and Becky Quisno the other evening. I congratulated Gary on his induction into the Oak Harbor High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He stated, “I am very honored to be inducted. It was a very special experience to teach and coach there for the years I was there.” (I just made that up.) He also said “I owe it all to The Beacon” (He really did say that!)

The Ottawa County Health Department is still tracking Covid-19 cases locally. From October 21-28, there were 115 total cases reported with four hospitalizations. The good news is that nobody died during that time frame. They are also encouraging residents 65 and older to get a booster shot.

Congratulations to the students, staff and administrators of the Benton-Carroll-Salem Schools. They were rated in the top 5% of Ohio Schools by the evaluators of the Ohio Department of Education on the most recent State Report Card.

Cheri Katynski of Port Clinton was selected from among 117 entries who found Wylie hiding in the ad for Slack House on Page 3B in last week’s Beacon. So, congratulations to Cheri, 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.

The men of Port Clinton’s Immaculate Conception parish will be serving their annual Spaghetti Dinner starting at 5:30 p.m.this Saturday evening, but things will be a little different this year. It will be 100% carryout, and patrons will receive only their special sauce and meatballs which can be taken home to be served on your self-prepared pasta.

The Greater Port Clinton Area Arts Council and the Ottawa County Veterans Office announce a Vietnam War Commemorative Pinning Ceremony to be held at TAG, The Arts Garage, 317 W. Perry St., in Port Clinton on Wednesday, Nov. 10 beginning at 10:45 a.m. A reception with light refreshments will begin at 11 a.m. and the pinning will follow. This ceremony is part of an ongoing effort to honor all Vietnam veterans who were on active duty between Nov. 1, 1955 and May 15, 1975, regardless of where they served. Vietnam veterans and their guests are welcome. If possible, please RSVP to Sara Toris, 419-898-2089 or storis@co.ottawa.oh.us.

The “Eddie Adams: Vietnam” photography exhibition runs through Sunday, Nov. 14. The photos chronicle some of the time Adams was in Vietnam. It includes his Pulitzer Prize winning photograph “Saigon Execution.” The exhibition is open at 10 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and closes at various times based on current weather conditions. But typically until 2 p.m.

A Big Band Dance in honor of area veterans will be held on Sunday, Nov. 14 at the Port Clinton High School Cafeteria. The dance will feature the 16-piece big band “Night Session.” Admission is $10 advance sale or $12 at the door. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served and the event includes raffles and door prizes.

Dress is nice casual or dress for the occasion – Veteran apparel (uniform, t-shirts, caps, jackets indicating branch of service and/or era). Tickets are available at Mary’s Blossom Shoppe, 125 Madison St., Port Clinton or, for the convenience of guests, reservations for tickets/group tables can be made by calling Juanita at 419-341-1080. This dance is open to the public and is made possible through the Veterans’ Dance Committee.

Immaculate Conception School in Port Clinton will hold its annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 12 on the Veterans Circle of the Ottawa County Courthouse lawn. The children of ICS are practicing their favorite patriotic songs and fifth graders are writing essays from the heart expressing what being a Veteran means to them. In the case of bad weather, the ceremony will be help inside at Immaculate Conception Church. Immaculate Conception School officials are especially welcoming honored veterans to join them in celebrating the bravery and heroism of those that have given of themselves for the freedom we all enjoy each and every day.

The Salvation Army’s “Coats for Families” program will run through January 2022.  This program is based on donations from the general public new coats only. Last year, The Salvation Army collected and distributed over 570 coats to local families in Ottawa County. This is the 27th year this program has been providing coats to the local residents. Collection area for new coats is The Salvation Army’s Port Clinton office. If you would like to donate new coats or are in need of a new winter coat, please call The Salvation Army at 419-732-2769.

The ADA compliant kayak access at the Nehls Memorial Nature Preserve on Catawba is nearing completion. The contractor recently poured the concrete sidewalk and parking spaces to allow a smooth transition from a vehicle to the EZ-dock accessible kayak launch. With this addition many more people will have the opportunity to connect with nature at West Harbor. The preserve is located on East Muggy Road. It is owned by Black Swamp Conservancy and cooperatively managed by the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.

Ottawa County Community Blood Drive and the American Red Cross are hosting an upcoming blood drive this Friday, Nov. 5 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.

The Danbury Parent Teacher Community Organization 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 this Monday, Nov. 1 and be included in the reverse raffle program. For information call the chamber’s Director Teri Cassell, 419-702-7492.