We were sad to learn of the passing of Stephanie Richard of Port Clinton. She was just one of those people you enjoyed running into from time to time. She possessed boundless energy and was always smiling or laughing. She was just one of those people who brightened your day, no matter when or where you saw her.

There were only 41 cases of Covid 19 reported last week in Ottawa County and zero deaths. However, we learned that there has been a mini-outbreak of the disease at Edgewood Manor Nursing Home in Port Clinton affecting residents and staff. Ottawa County is now closing in on 50% of residents vaccinated.

Cherie Hanousek of the Cleveland area was selected from among 131 entries who found Wylie hiding in the ad for Ottawa County Pest Control on Page 5B in last week’s Beacon. So, congratulations Cherie. You are 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.

Crafts for a Cause will bring together a craft show and a bake sale this weekend to help support Port Clinton’s famous pay-it-forward restaurant, Bistro 163, at 1848 E. Perry St. in the Sutton Center. The show and sale will be Friday, May 7 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Saturday, May 8 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Local residents in need can help out Director Maureen Saponari at the Ottawa County’s Salvation Army by taking home some rather nice furniture — and it’s all free. The Port Clinton Salvation Army, 1834 E. Perry St., is not a thrift store, but is a very effective social services agency. It now needs to give away a rather large collection of dining room and offices chairs, end tables, night stands, mini-fridges, pictures and frames that were unexpectedly dropped off.

Everything is free, and Saponari wants all the goods to be inspected and picked up on Saturday, May 15 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Most are in good condition, so bring a truck and cart them away.

Bob Adamov’s entertaining mystery books are based in the Lake Erie Islands area, and the 14th thriller in the series, “Memory Lane,” is now in shops around Port Clinton.

The prolific writer is already working on No. 15. “Sunset Blues” will have Russian mobsters running London-style taxis on South Bass Island.

Honest! Adamov said so, but won’t provide details!

Look for a review of “Memory Lane” soon in The Beacon. You’ll want to read about the retired Miller Ferry skipper living in a mobile home on stilts at the Catawba Docks. Locals inserted in this mystery include Jerry Davenport, Mary Alice Schaffner of Catawba and “yours truly.”

I am a cardiologist and Mary Alice is my nurse!

The Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce is coordinating the annual Village Wide Garage Sale Days on Friday and Saturday, June 4-5. 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, June 2. If you would like to place your sale on the list, there is a $3 minimum donation and they must receive your information by Tuesday, June 1.

If you have any questions, call the chamber office at 419-898-0479.

The popular fine art and crafts festival … Arts in the Park … will return on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 7-8, hosted by the Port Clinton Artists’ Club. It will be held again at spacious Lakeview Park in Port Clinton.

Ottawa County’s premier arts festival hosts more than 100 artists from around the Midwest and beyond to display and sell their original art for two fun-filled days.

The festival is free, and also includes a Children’s Make and Take, entertainment, and a delicious offering of food, including Lake Erie perch.

The next visit by the American Red Cross Bloodmobile is next Thursday, May 13 from noon to 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express located on SR 53 North, just north of SR 163.

Otterbein Senior Life resident, Dee Eckel enjoy getting creative!