Welcome Shooters!!! Monday was the annual First Shot Ceremony for the National Rifle and Pistol Championships hosted by the Civilian Marksmanship Program at Camp Perry. Literally thousands of competitors from across the country will be in our area for the next four weeks, enjoying our hospitality and spending their money in our local establishments.

Ohio has an island? People live there? A great place to take your family on vacation? Why, yes, we sure do and ABC Television’s Good Morning America is coming to Put-in-Bay and South Bass Island this week to tell the nation all about it!

This is an exciting time for the community to be in the national spotlight and to share what an Every Day Island Getaway to the island is all about. The theme of the segment featuring Put-in-Bay will be Diving into Summer featuring island life and being on the water.

All while highlighting iconic stories, businesses and things to do, eat and enjoy while living on or visiting the island. Tune in to the live broadcast on Thursday, July 13 at South Bass Island State Park from 7-9 a.m.

Two of my favorite people, Jeni Hammond and Cindra Mielke, were at Kiwanis a week or so back. These are the ladies that do the annual Kelleys Island “Make-a-Wish” swim. The two will be hitting the waters of Lake Erie on Sunday, Aug. 6, leaving from Portside Marina around 11:30 a.m.

As part of this event, there will also be a golf cart poker run on Saturday, Aug. 5. Their “Make-a-Wish” kids this year are 12-year-olds Jazzy and Caydence, both suffering from cancer.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, send a check for “Make-a-Wish” to US Bank, 205 W. Perkins Ave., Sandusky 44870, or to P.O. Box 517, Kelleys Island, Ohio 43438.

The ”Doing Good Gala” Live Auction fundraiser supporting the Ottawa County Community Foundation is coming up on Tuesday, July 25, starting at 6 p.m. at Catawba Island Club. They will have a strolling supper, live music, fabulous sunsets and a live auction with a lot of interesting and unique items.

For more information or to make reservations, contact www.ottawaccf.org.

How about this for an incentive to give blood? A free ticket to Cedar Point! The American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be making two stops locally on Thursday, July 27. The first stop is at Catawba Community Hall from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the Port Clinton Elks Lodge from noon to 6 p.m. Help save a life and get a free ticket to Cedar Point.

American Legion Post 114, 221 Park St., Oak Harbor will hold a broasted chicken dinner this Sunday, July 16, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (or sold out). Eat in or carry out. Public is welcome.

Plans are underway for the upcoming Danbury High School All-80s Class Reunion. The reunion festivities will take place the weekend of Sept. 22-23. The reunion committee is actively looking for classmates that graduated between 1980-1989. Please spread the word to former classmates, teachers and staff! We’d love to see everyone!

For more information join the DHS All-80’s Class Reunion Facebook Page or contact Anna Fontana-Smith (1983) at 419-341-4491 or moon.girl65@yahoo.com.

The Oak Harbor High School OHSAA Fall Parent meeting will be held on Wednesday July 26 at 6 p.m. for all 7-12 Fall Athletes and parents. They will start in the Auditorium and then break off into specific sport meetings. You are encouraged to get into Final Forms and sign-up for athletics prior to this date so that you can begin getting paperwork signed.

In order to help share the Lake Erie Love, 5’ x 3’ flags are now available at both Shores Islands Ohio welcome centers for a suggested donation of $20 to the Lake Erie Foundation. The “Lake Erie Love” flags are available to both residents and local businesses, who are encouraged to show their Shores & Islands Ohio pride by sharing the love! A limited number of flags are available until sold out.

The Humane Society of Ottawa County will hold a big Yard Sale this weekend on Friday and Saturday, July 14-15 at the shelter, 2424 E. Sand Rd., Port Clinton.

Congratulations to the following students at the University of Findlay for earning Dean’s List recognition. The are all from Oak Harbor. Christine Bolen, Ellie Hanselman, Logan Harris, Alaina Hetrick, Amelia Mizelle and Caitllynn Noble.