The Perch, Peach, Pierogi and Polka Festival will have everyone dancing this weekend, Sept. 2-4 at the Denny Bergeman Knights of Columbus Hall, 109 E. Perry St. in Port Clinton. There will be perch sandwiches, peach pie, and polish sausage and pierogis, as well as cold beverages served.

Entertainment will include The Del Sinchak Band, Duane Malinowki Orchestra, Frank Moravcik Band, the Culkar Band and the Eddie Rodick Orchestra. Admission is $8 per day or $20 for the weekend. Children under 18 are free. For more information visit www.kofc1750.org.

Last Friday, Aug. 26, the Ohio State Patrol initiated an OVI checkpoint in Port Clinton funded by federal grant funds. It was conducted on Perry Street near Buckeye Boulevard. The Port Clinton Police Department and the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office also supplied officers, working side by side with OSHP officers, in cooperation for safety of motorists traveling throughout the area.

During the two-hour operation, 636 cars passed through the checkpoint. Drivers were delayed approximately 20 seconds while officers conversed with the motorists. Eight motorists were diverted for additional investigation. Two of the eight who were diverted were arrested and charged with OVI. One driver was charged for misdemeanor marijuana possession.

School is officially in session this week. Watch out for school buses and youngsters crossing the street in the early morning hours and after 3 p.m. Let’s keep our kids safe!

Jim Cloud from the Newark/Lancaster, Ohio area, was selected from among 169 entries who found Wylie Walleye hiding in the ad for Berkshire Hathaway on Page 6B in last week’s Beacon. So, Jim 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, they 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!

The Port Clinton High School graduating class of 1967 will hold their 55th Class Reunion on the weekend of Sept. 16-18. The initial gathering will be at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 at The Brickhouse downtown. A group will be also be headed to the Port Clinton High School football game that evening.

On Saturday, the classmates will get together at Port Clinton Yacht Club with social time beginning at 4:30 p.m. The final event will be the traditional get-together at the home of 1967 Student Council President Jeff Bugbee on Perry Street.

The Ottawa Soil and Water Conservation District is observing its 70th Anniversary with a special dinner event at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Doors open at 5 p.m. with a barbecue rib or chicken dinner at 6 p.m. Dave Grimm, son of the late, great agriculture expert Fred Grimm, will provide a fascinating trip down memory lane for those in attendance. Make reservations by calling 419-898-1505.

Four local Non-profit organizations have once again teamed up in a joint fund-raising effort. On Saturday, Oct. 15, a raffle drawing will be held where one lucky $5 ticket holder will win a brand new 2022 EzGo Valor Street Legal Golf Cart valued at over $9,000.

The $5 tickets are available at Liberty Aviation Museum, 3515 East State Rd., Port Clinton during normal business hours and special events. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Tri-Motor Heritage Foundation, Lake Erie Warbirds, the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1247 and Liberty Aviation Museum. Proceeds from the raffle will be used by Liberty Aviation Museum and the Lake Erie Warbirds to keep and maintain their collections of fully-functional historic aircraft. The EAA and the Tri-Motor Heritage Foundation will use the proceeds to support their efforts in restoring the Ford aircraft currently underway. The touring Ford Tri-Motor will be visiting the airport the last weekend of September.

An anonymous donor recently provided funds to build a brand new swing set and playground area at Immaculate Conception School. “Swing” by and take a look!

Sunday is the annual Green Island Race at Port Clinton Yacht Club. Saturday evening, the PCYC side of the Portage River will be loaded with beautiful sailboats rafted off one another. It’s quite a sight to see.

Port Clinton High School Class of 1954 classmates Judy (Ellithorpe) Bodenmiller and Joanne (Hofacker) Fleming recently spent a few days together when Judy visited from Urbana, Ohio. Joanne lives in Port Clinton and hosted Judy. The ladies spent their time catching up, touring the lakefront, shopping at local fruit markets, and visiting with one of Judy’s kids.

The Class of ’54 used to have an annual perch fry at Kenny McAtee’s home. Now the remaining class members try to have an annual lunch together about this time of year.

Time now for my annual Labor Day speech. Some think that Labor Day weekend is the end of “the season” here. Not hardly! With Lake Erie water temperatures well above 70-degrees, the thermal effect will keep our area nice and cozy warm for at least another eight weeks. It is also the height of the perch fishing season. So enjoy our great fall weather!