Port Clinton Mayor Mike Snider will present his State of the City Address at Port Clinton City Council on Tuesday, March 8 at 6 p.m., and he has a lot to talk about, as the city moves forward with its infrastructure plans. While the presentation will take place in the Municipal Court next door, people attending should go to Port Clinton City Hall, where they will be directed to the courtroom. “There won’t be many surprises, and some of the big picture plans have changed a bit, because of the challenges of Covid-19,” said Snider. “We do have some ideas to move the community forward that we will unveil that evening.”

I saw Mike at a recent Kiwanis meeting and asked him what was new. He said “paving.” I asked, “What streets?” He said, “All of them!”

Back in the day when I used to cover the Winter Sports Awards programs, I’ll never forget when swim coach Ken Gipe talked about the daily workouts demanded of the members of his swim teams. It was just plain hard! That is why it is so special to congratulate current PCHS swim coach Danny Diaz and the girls’ swimming team for winning the Districts at Sam Cooper Pool at BGSU last weekend. Also, congratulations to Danny himself for being named District Coach of the Year.

Tim Glovinsky was selected from among 125 entries who found Wylie hiding in the ad for St. John Lutheran Church on Page 5 in last week’s Beacon. So, congratulations to Tim, 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.

St. John Lutheran Church will offer its annual Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner for takeout only on Tuesday, March 1. Packaged meals will be available for pickup from 5:30 p.m. until supplies run out or 6:30 p.m. Donations are accepted for the meals. The meals are pancakes, syrup, sausage and applesauce.

Drive-up pickup will take place at the back door of the Parish Hall in the alley behind the church at 207 Adams St., Port Clinton. Proceeds from the meal benefit St. John’s Confirmation Camp. For information, call 419-734-5548 or visit stjohnlutheranpc.com or follow on Facebook at @saintjohnlutheranpc.

The Oak Harbor High School Art Department is sponsoring another round of Elementary Art Classes beginning in March. Students in the 1st through 4th grades are able to sign up for four weeks of art classes which will include Clay, Acrylic Painting, Glazing, Drawing, and Watercolor Painting. Art classes will take place in the OHHS Art Room, Room 609 from 5-6 p.m. starting Tuesday, March 1.

Classes will be every Tuesday in March ending on March 22. Masks are required and the cost is $30 per student. For questions or to RSVP, email egilbert@bcssd.com. Spaces are limited.

State Reps. Michael Sheehy (D-Oregon) and Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) have provided sponsor testimony on House Bill 484, which would designate the walleye as the State Fish of Ohio. Ohio is one of only three states in the U.S. without an official state fish.

“People travel from far and wide to catch walleye in Lake Erie. I hope my colleagues will recognize the great impact the walleye has on the state’s culture and economy by naming it the official state fish,” said Rep. Sheehy. “The walleye plays an important role in Ohio’s economy, whether it is prepared as delicious food, a target for sport fishing, or as an athletic team mascot. It is time to recognize the walleye as Ohio’s State Fish,” said Rep. Sobecki. Lake Erie is home to 95 million walleye, and walleye can also be found in the Ohio River. Additionally, the walleye is among the most sought-after fish for anglers, and Lake Erie sport fishing and associated expenditures generate $1 billion a year. HB 484 now awaits further hearings in the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee.

The Port Clinton Lighthouse Conservancy will be hosting the 4th annual Lighthouse and Maritime Festival on Saturday, Aug. 20, at Waterworks Park on Perry Street. As in past years, this year’s festival will feature music, great food, events for the kids, demonstrations, free lighthouse tours, historical talks, and storytelling.

New this year will be plein air painting hosted by the Great Port Clinton Area Arts Council, an on-land boat show, and kite flying. Vendors will be displaying their nautical-related wares. The Lighthouse Conservancy is calling on members of the community to step forward and offer their talents. Volunteers should send an email to contact@portclintonlighthouse.org.

It’s time to break out The Ohio State University’s scarlet and gray colors and join the fabled Jon “Big Nut” Peters at the 27th annual Scholarship Auction held by the Alumni Club of Ottawa County on Saturday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. The popular party is at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds, 7870 St. Rt. 163, Oak Harbor. The gala is $20, and promises dinner, silent and live auctions and a crowd of rabid Buckeye fans.

The auctions include a full slate of OSU home game tickets, autographed jerseys and lots of other Buckeye-related prizes. Fans are urged to donate Buckeyes’ memorabilia, as well as items and services from local businesses. All of the proceeds benefit Ottawa County high school graduates who attend The Ohio State University.

Congratulations to local Youngstown State University student Emily Wolf of Oak Harbor just named to the Dean’s List for Fall Semester 2021. She is majoring in Psychology.