BY JOHN SCHAFFNER

Welcome to Memorial Day weekend. We’re glad you picked up a copy of The Beacon to help you learn about all the activities happening in our area this weekend. Our newspaper is audited by a company out of St. Louis. Our most recent info indicates close to 99% of the papers we print are picked up and read. I’d like to personally recommend that, while you are reading The Beacon, you take close note of our advertising customers and patronize them. They are the ones who are keeping your weekly newspaper alive. Thanks.

Also, please remember the true purpose of Memorial Day on Monday. It is a day set aside to remember all of those soldiers, sailors and airmen who gave their lives so that we can live free.

Congratulations to Dan Howerth of Port Clinton, who was selected from 195 entries who found our friendly fish hiding in the ad for the Marblehead Galley on Page 6B in last week’s Beacon. Dan wins our weekly prize of a $25 gas gift card provided us by the Friendship Stores throughout the area.

We will continue to hide Wylie each week in an ad. To enter the contest, look for the link on our website, www.thebeacon.net.

Ottawa County schools have launched summer vacation, which means youngsters will be much more visible in our neighborhoods. Please drive carefully when traveling through your neighborhoods. Also, congratulations to all of our graduating seniors.

The summer lunch bag program has also launched again this summer. They will be distributed on Wednesdays at the Ottawa County Family Advocacy Center, as well as Marblehead and Port Clinton police departments from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. More lunch bags will be distributed on Thursdays at Oak Harbor High School and St. John Lutheran Church in Graytown.

The grab bags are for youngsters 18 and under and include five lunches and five breakfasts, and a half-gallon of milk along with two pints of milk. Reservations are required. Call 419-307-0225.

The Port Clinton Elks Lodge Sunday morning breakfasts are back. It is an “all you can eat” buffet, fully stocked with all of your favorite breakfast fare. Adults can eat for $13, half price for kids ages 5-10, and kids 4 and under are free!

Advance Ride Tickets for the 2023 Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival are now available.  Each ride ticket is $50 and good for the entire Walleye Festival weekend. The Walleye Festival will run from Thursday, May 25 to Monday, May 29 at Waterworks Park. Quantities are limited. Deadline to purchase Advance Ride Tickets is today (Thursday, May 25) at 5 p.m. Make checks payable to Main Street Port Clinton, cash and credit cards are also accepted. You can purchase the Advance Ride Tickets at the Port Clinton Chamber office located at 110 Madison Street.

The Catawba Island Historical Museum has a very special exhibit through Friday, June 2. Former Catawba resident Paul Rofkar left some amazing artifacts from World War I and World War II.

Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge has been chosen as the 2023 Nonprofit of the Year Prism Award recipient at a ceremony on May 18 at Maumee Bay State Park. The Nonprofit of the Year Award honors a community-based non-profit or volunteer organization which has demonstrated excellence in serving its clients and/or has benefited the community as a whole.

The Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce is coordinating the Annual Village-Wide Garage Sale Days in Oak Harbor, on Friday and Saturday, June 2-3. A complete list of sales will be available at the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce and the Oak Harbor Public Library, and also on www.oakharborohio.net starting Wednesday May 31. There is a $3 minimum donation. Call 419-898-0479.

Three Port Clinton students have been awarded the Main Street Scholarships, $20,000 per year, from Capital University. They are: Lydia Boykin, Lillie Rolen and Mia Sanchez. Asia Taylor and Briana Carlson, both of Port Clinton, were named to the President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University for the Winter Term.