Longtime Portage Township Trustee and Ottawa County Commissioner Jim Sass recently had a bout with pancreatitis and was admitted to Riverside Hospital in Columbus. While there he has suffered some significant complications.

I thought it would be nice to shower him with “get well cards.” Sass is in Room 7529 Silver, Riverside Hospital, 3535 Olentangy River Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43214. We all certainly hope he gets well soon.

The Greater Port Clinton Area Arts Council and Playmakers Civic Theatre are collaborating for a series of theater workshops and performances open to everybody. “3-2-1 You’re On” is a series of six workshops ranging from how to audition to costuming to all of the bits and pieces that make a show. They will feature two performances by the Toledo Repertoire Theatre along with members of Playmakers. Fees are $10 per workshop for adults, and free for students. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.pcplaymakers.org.

I am so proud to report that my niece Jennifer Willford has been named one of the top researchers in North America by the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention. Jennifer is a PhD at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania and will be giving a presentation at the organization’s annual Conference on “Putting the Long in Longitudinal: Research and Mentoring in Neurotoxicology. She is a 1988 graduate of Port Clinton High School and is the daughter of the late Mary (Schaffner) and Steve Willford.

Deanna Bogacki was selected from among 125 entries who found Wylie Walleye hiding in the ad for ReStore on Page 6A in last week’s Beacon. So, Deanna wins our weekly $25 gas card graciously donated by Friendship Stores. Each week we hide Wylie in an ad for our readers to find. When one does, log onto our website, www.thebeacon.net and let us know where he is!

Mayor Mike Snider told us that although the deadline for donations to the “One Mile of Dollar$” event supporting the Port Clinton area Fourth of July Celebration has passed, it is still possible to donate to “The Mile.” The goal is 5,280 feet of dollars, which is equaled to $10,560.

To date they have not met their goal, but are hoping to do so soon with your help! For more details and to donate visit OneMileOfDollars.com. or in person or via the mail to the Port Clinton Chamber of Commerce, 110 Madison St. Mayor Mike says: “The largest individual donor will get the opportunity to shave Mayor Snider’s head!

The Art Walks are back next week in downtown Port Clinton! The Thursday evening events hosted from 5-8 p.m. by the Greater Port Clinton Area Arts Council will begin today (Thursday, May 12), with a theme of “Don’t Give Up the Ship.”

The popular Art Walks will be held on the second and fourth Thursdays through Aug. 25, with Art Walk exhibitors set up in the 100 block of Madison Street. Artists eager to display their work can contact Todd Donald Davis at todddonalddavis@gmail.com .

The Oak Harbor Development Group’s Annual Community Cleanup Day will take place Saturday, May 14 from 9-11 a.m., providing an opportunity to get the community looking its best for spring. Volunteers will meet at the back of the Community Markets parking lot that morning to pick up trash and debris from around town. On the day of the event, service clubs, youth groups, church groups, families and individual volunteers are encouraged to join the effort. Gloves and trash bags will be provided.

On their last day of school, Port Clinton High Schools seniors traditionally leave school honking their horns, cheering and driving past the school. Two years ago, a new tradition began with a parade through the streets of town.

This is scheduled to take place at noon on Wednesday, May 18. Community members and family members can wish them well along the route that can be found at www.pccsd.net. The Port Clinton Police and Fire Departments will provide escort.

The 2nd Annual Putt-Putt Golf Tournament to benefit Joyful Connections will take place on Saturday, June 11 at Fast Eddy’s Sports Park on State Route 53 North. (280 SE Catawba Rd.). Teams will be made up of 3-4 people and the entry fee is $10 per person. Sounds like fun!

The Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce is coordinating the Annual Village-wide Garage Sale Days on Friday and Saturday, June 3-4. A complete list of sales will be available at the Chamber office and the Oak Harbor Library as well as on the community website, www.oakharborohio.net starting Wednesday, June 1. Contact the chamber if you want your Garage Sale listed for a $3 fee.

The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be a frequent visitor in our area this month. The Bloodmobile will be at the Holiday Inn Express on State Route 53 North this Friday, May 13, from noon to 6 p.m. They will return to the Port Clinton Elks Lodge on Wednesday, May 25 from 12:30-6 p.m. Finally, they will be serving blood donors at Magruder Hospital on Friday, May 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Port Clinton Lions Club will host a drive-thru Chicken Barbecue this Sunday, May 15 at Lakeview Park. Cost is $12. Pickup times will be between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. A limited number of tickets are available and can be purchased by calling 630-341-8230 or 419-341-1325.

Congratulations to Steven Weit of Port Clinton who was recently initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Weit was initiated at the University of Toledo.

Also congratulations to Madeline Recker of Catawba who earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy at UT on Saturday. She’s been working part time at the Port Clinton Rite-Aid store.

We want to wish the best to Ginger and Mike Schenk, who are retiring from management of the Resort at Erie Landings on Darr-Hopfinger Rd. They really did a tremendous job of bringing that facility back, making it an amazing complex!

The Magruder Hospital Foundation will be holding its 16th Annual Golf Outing on Monday, July 18 at Catawba Island Club. Registration opens at 10:30 a..m. with a shotgun start at noon. Participation also includes a CIC dinner after golf.

The Ottawa County Genealogical Society will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, May 17 at Ida Rupp Library in Port Clinton. The speaker will be Jane Crandall on “Gravestone Carvers and Icons.” The public is invited to attend.