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Volume 28 Number 52
www.thebeacon.net
Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011
Standard Mail U.S. Postage Paid Port Clinton, Ohio Permit #80
Danbury looks at community dog park By ROBERTA REDFERN Beacon Correspondent When Stevie Rinaldo moved back to the Marblehead area in December 2009, she wanted Penny Lane to have the same experience she did while living in North Carolina. Penny Lane is Rinaldo’s husky.
And while in Charlotte, the pair visited a downtown dog park about four times a week. “Everyone at the park talked to each other and the dogs loved it, and I thought ‘What a great idea,’ ” Rinaldo said. Upon her return to Ohio, Rinaldo pitched the idea to the
township trustees in the form of a 10-page proposal and a committee was formed. PAWS, a Danbury High School service club that promotes the well-being of animals, jumped in, and now all involved are hoping the park becomes a reality here soon. Rinaldo and PAWS – Promot-
ing Animal Welfare by Students – are working with officials to secure township-owned land for a park that would be accessible to all canine owners in the area. “Stevie came to us and suggested that we really need a dog park. I think she has a fabulous idea because dog parks are so up-
Ready, aim,
See DOG PARK 4A
Beacon Bits comes to an end
FIRE! By ANGIE ADAIR ZAM Editor As the snow continues to fall and the cold of winter continues, many in the area look for ways to get out of the house but still stay warm. The Civilian Marksmanship Program is offering just the thing each Tuesday and Thursday evening. Shooters, including aspiring new shooters, are invited to take advantage of a new opportunity to do practice shooting at the Camp Perry Marksmanship Center air gun range. The 80-point, 10-meter air gun range is fully equipped with electronic targets that accommodate air rifle, air pistol or National Match Air Rifle Shooting. “This range is one of the nicest air rifle ranges in the country,” said program manager Katie Harrington. “There’s a lot of technology in this building.” Upon arrival, shooters sign an affidavit, watch a short safety video and within minutes are given an air rifle and a target to begin. The cost is $5 to shoot and $7.50 for 500 pellets, which is plenty for a small group to share. Though shooters are welcome to bring their own guns, one is supplied for the initial $5 charge. For an additional $5, shooters can upgrade to a National Match Air Rifles. Plenty of staffers and experienced shooters are on hand to help get guests get ready, aim and fire. “We set them up on a target and show them how to use the monitors,” said Harrington, who herself was a competitive shooter at the University of Nebraska. The monitors, which sit next
scale,” said Township Trustee Dianne Rozak. “It’s a cool thing to have here; who would not want a dog park?” Trustees at minimum will answer that question at a Feb. 23 township trustee meeting, where they are expected to vote on
PHOTO BY ANGIE ADAIR ZAM
Local shooter Jackie Sloznerick fires off a shot during open shooting at the Camp Perry Marksmanship Center air gun range. A monitor next to each shooter shows to the shooter, show each shot exactly where the and its score. The targets are set up to shoot 200 yards and the pellet strikes the shooter can lower or raise the target and the target easily to stand, sit or even score. This screen lay down and take aim. shows a night of On one side of the building, shooting by Editor the 4-H Shooting Stars practice Angie Adair Zam and the other side is open to the — a first-timer at public — usually 20 or so shootthe range. (Two bullseyes!) See SHOOTING 2A
BY VIRGINIA PARK I wrote last week that I’m relinquishing the task of writing this “Beacon Bits” column on a regular basis. Today’s column is the last. After almost 28 years (since February 1983), the time has come for me to move on. As I thought about writing this final message, I remembered numerous events and incidents that I’d written about and thought I’d recount a few of them. And so, this column will be intensely personal. Read on only if you’re interested in that. To compile this I consulted desk calendars back to 1990. Long ago, my favorite great-aunt said that making notes on a calendar was the best way to keep a “diary,” She was right; my calendars yielded a wealth of information. Several common themes run through the entries of all those years. I note that church activities, choral singing, giving public talks, political events, election campaigns for many candidates at all levels of government, family holiday gatherings and attending community meetings were regular occurrences. 1990 seemed to be the year that was most interesting. The calendar revealed that at that time I often met friends for lunch at Town and Country Restaurant. Remember that? It was located where A la Carte is now. Lots happened in 1990. I attended a meeting on “zebra mussels.” (I wonder when biologists actually recognized those little critters as being a big nuisance.) A wonderful day that year was lunching at the Island House Hotel when the Ohio Supreme Court came to Ottawa County and heard
See BEACON BITS 4A
By JOHN SCHAFFNER
Tell Tales
After 28 years, we bid adieu to local writer A little over 28 years ago, when I was getting ready to begin publishing this new free weekly newspaper called The Beacon, I was told about this nice lady from Bay Township that was very involved in the community and loved to write. Knowing I wanted a community “bits & pieces” article from a local writer, I contacted her. That is how my relationship with Ginny Park started. It has lasted all of these last 28 years. She has never let us down. Today, she writes her final “Beacon Bits” column, and to mark the occasion, Angie and I decided to feature it on the front page. We
INSIDE RECORDS A2
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wish Ginny only the best, and hope to, someday, run an occasional “Beacon Bits” just so Ginny can say hi to all her fans and readers. nnn
Local contractors, large and small, are encouraged to attend an Informational Meeting at 3 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 11 in the Bataan Memorial Elementary Gymnasium. The School Facilities Project that includes the new Middle School and renovation of Bataan School will be outlined by Amy Runge of RJ Runge Company of Catawba, who is the construction manager
for the project. This is an opportunity for LOCAL contractors to learn about possible opportunities to get involved in the construction process schedule to begin this Spring. nnn
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Karen Rakosky of Port Clinton is our “Find Wylie” winner this week. She was selected from 73 entries who found our friendly fish in the ad for Great Lakes Popcorn on page 2B in last week’s Beacon. Karen wins a $20 gift card from Friendship Food Stores.
A general membership meeting of the Humane Society of Ottawa County will be held tonight (Thursday) at the Ida Rupp Public Library starting at 5:30 p.m. A vote will be taken for adoption of their newly proposed bylaws. All members are invited.
AROUND OTTAWA COUNTY A5 n SCHOOLS A6
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Living
WATERFRONT COMMUNITY • MARINA W/DIRECT ACCESS TO LAKE ERIE • POOL • CLUBHOUSE
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See TELL TALES 4A
SPORTS B1 n BUSINESS B4 n CLASSIFIED B6
5050 E. Muggy Road, Catawba Island East of Thompson’s Landscaping
Experience
We’ll be hiding Wylie again next week. If you find him, just drop off an entry form at our office in the Beacon Place Business Center, or hit the Find Wylie icon at www. thebeacon.net.
419-797-2100 or 419-341-0863 www.catawbabay.info
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