As of Tuesday, there have been 37 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ottawa County, with no fatalities. Gov. Mike DeWine is going to “partially” allow Ohio to back to business on a limited basis on Friday, May 1. So, please stay safe, use common sense in public, and maintain Social Distancing.

One of the events that got the “deep 6” this year was the Greatest Week in American Birding, which would be starting right about now. Mary Alice and I took a “cabin fever” ride a couple of weeks ago out to the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. I imaging we still have birders out there right now, and it makes for a nice “getaway drive.”

Port Clinton Mayor Mike Snider will pound the pavement to help the city afford this year’s fireworks for the annual 4th of July Celebration at Waterworks Park in Port Clinton. Snider is calling his effort “A Fat Guy’s 4th of July Fireworks Fundraiser,” and challenging fireworks fans to sponsor his marathon walk at the Port Clinton Fire Station on Monday, May 4 at 8 a.m.

Everyone can watch the mayor sweat on the mayor’s Facebook Live Page. Checks can be mailed to the Port Clinton Chamber of Commerce Foundation, 110 Madison St., Port Clinton, Ohio 43452 with the memo: fireworks. For a PayPal donation, visit historicportclinton.com. Credit card donations can be made by calling the Port Clinton Chamber of Commerce (419-734-5503) after 8 a.m. on May 4. A fire boot for cash donations will be on the east side of the Port Clinton Fire Station during Snider’s walk.

Jill Wierzba of Port Clinton was chosen from among 97 entries who found Wylie NOT hiding in ANY AD in last week’s Beacon. Sorry about that. So Jill 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.

BTW, our winner announced on April 16 (April 9 edition), Virginia Cordy from Oak Harbor, is probably the oldest winner we’ve had yet. Virginia is 92! Her daughter called us and told us that it “made her day!”

A group of local folks got together on Easter Sunday to hold a very special non-denominational Ecumenical Service. The group managed to raise nearly $3,000 for the mission of Bistro 163, who has been quite busy feeding folks during this Covid-19 lockdown.

Please send out prayers for last week’s “birthday boy,” Don Dougherty of Catawba. He celebrated his 84th birthday AND had a pretty serious heart attack. Don has been hospitalized in Toledo. Get well soon Don!

One of the groups most affected by this Covid-19 lockdown have been the members of the Senior Class at virtually all the high schools in Ohio. No prom, a highly modified commencement ceremony, and all the wonderful interactions during the spring of that senior year. I thought it was a nice gesture for the local high schools to turn on the stadium lights for 8 minutes a week ago to honor the seniors.

Ottawa County Law Enforcement and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources have been prowling the state launch ramps around Ottawa County lately, checking for out-of-state visitors eager to get in on the Lake Erie walleye fishing. The goal of this effort, said officials, is to ensure compliance with the state order that addresses essential travel and the request for out-of-state visitors to self-quarantine for 14 days. Non-resident fishing license sales have been suspended by the Ohio Division of Wildlife, effectively stopping out-of-state anglers from fishing. Erie County has posted its launch ramps are for Ohio residents only.

Arbor Day and Earth Day events have all been cancelled, including the Saturday, April 25 Earth Day program at the Elk’s Club in Port Clinton. Planting a tree would be a great way to celebrate this year’s events. Congratulations to Port Clinton, Oak Harbor and Put-in-Bay, all members of Tree City USA.

The NASA Glenn Research Center has launched “NASA at Home” for all of the K-4 school children who are learning from home right now. The program is a collection of content from the entire NASA agency, including virtual tours of NASA Glenn’s facilities and labs in Cleveland and Sandusky.

Babette “Babs ”Klacik and her dedicated volunteers at Bistro 163 have done a phenomenal job of feeding the community, handing out 7,386 meals over the last six weeks to hungry folks from around the area. The drive through pickup lane at the Sutton Center is open from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday, and the dinners have been getting rave reviews. Be sure to check out the Bistro 163 musical fundraiser on Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m. Jerry Davenport, Ron Miller, Ron Nisch and Frankie Bickel are performing live on the The Listening Room Facebook Page.

Ron and Peg McCauley, Otterbein Senior Life Marblehead residents, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on April 10. Congratulations Ron and Peg, we wish you many more.