As of Tuesday, there have been 40 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ottawa County, with one fatality. Governor Mike DeWine is going to “partially” allow Ohio to be back in 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 imagine we still have birders out there right now, and it makes for a nice “getaway drive.”

With the sheltering in place issues, some local folks figured a way around their inability to wish their neighbors well. One example was the “Grass Roots Parade” for Ida Hahn on Monday, April 27. A former PE teacher at Port Clinton High School, Ida has always been one of the most giving individuals in town.

Unfortunately, she recently got a less than positive cancer diagnosis. So, many of Ida’s friends and neighbors decided that a parade in front of her house was in order, just to wish her well. She was overwhelmed by the gesture and wrote us a Sound Off letter this week to express her appreciation.

Then, last Saturday, a large group of friends of Judy Thompson decided on a parade to help celebrate Judy’s 80th birthday! Some 40 cars lined up at the west gate of Catawba Cliffs and did a drive by for the longtime Red Cross Bloodmobile volunteer and friend of so many.

Daniel Perl of Mansfield was chosen from among 99 entries who found Wylie in the ad for Century 21 Bolte Real Estate on Page 3 of last week’s Beacon. FYI, He told us that he is one of many “summer” residents.

“My permanent residence is in Mansfield, Ohio, but I’ve been picking up a copy of the Beacon for years,” said Perl. “My summer place is on East Harbor on Route 163 and I depend on The Beacon for local information, as opposed to Toledo TV, every weekend through the summer. I also really appreciate that The Beacon is still a free publication. Thanks!”

So Daniel 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.

Port Clinton School District teachers have been doing a great job with remote learning, along with students and parents, so this is cause for celebration. The Port Clinton Federation of Teachers (PCFT) have a parade planned through the streets of Port Clinton on Friday, May 8 beginning at 3 p.m.  PCFT, with assistance from Mayor Mike Snider and the City of Port Clinton, are organizing the event. The teachers miss seeing their students in person and they are hoping to get the opportunity to see them at a distance during the parade. Friday happens to be the end of Virtual Teacher Appreciation Week. The parade will start at Port Clinton City Hall and then follow this route:  South on Buckeye; West on State; North on Maple; West on Third; South on McKinley; Slight jog on Fremont Road; South on Kaspar; North on Grant; East on Alice; North on Harrison; East on Sixth; South on Madison; East on Eleventh; North on Fulton; West on Fourth; North on Harrison; East on Second; North on Maple; East on Perry; South on Buckeye; End at City Hall.

Debbie Hymore-Tester, of CG Saloon and Nail Bar in Port Clinton, has been named by the Ohio Department of Health (ODFH) to the Personal Services Advisory Group, which will be in charge of advising best practices for reopening hair salons, day spas, nail solons, barber shops, massage therapy locations and tanning facilities. The ODH has also created the Restaurant Advisory Group, in charge of advising best practices for reopening restaurants and bars.

Congratulations to Director Carol Ann Hill and her staff at the Ottawa County Board of Elections in Oak Harbor. With the coronavirus mandating mail-in ballots, the board stepped up to the plate and got the job done. “Helping,” said Hill, “was a fantastic community effort and support from county grocery stores.”

What a collection of custom cars! The Erie Shore Cruisers Club invented a car show that met the rules for socially distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, sending dozens of custom cars around Port Clinton on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. One of the custom cars was driven by my old buddy, Glen Tetzloff, a band member in our group, The Lounge Lizards. That was a pretty cool ’32 Ford Roadster he was driving.

The Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce Business Over Breakfast for May 14 will be held virtually. The session will begin at 8 a.m., and there is no cost. However all attendees will get credit for the breakfast. The speaker is Mary Lynn Graham, owner of MLG Strategic Intervention Coaching, and she will be presenting: “Leveraging what we have control over, in a world gone out of control”.

As a reminder, those who attend three out of the four breakfasts receive two free tickets to their Annual Dinner in January.

Joshua Brown of Port Clinton graduated from Cedarville University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance during the 124th annual commencement held May 2. Cedarville University is located between Dayton and Columbus.