Students get letter from Obama
Redskins clinch share of SBC title
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THE FREE Since 1983
CIRCULATION AUDIT BY
®SM TM 1992
Ottawa County’s Largest Circulated Newspaper Published by Schaffner Publications, Inc.
VOLUME 27
TellTales BY JOHN SCHAFFNER
Once again, in spite of last Friday’s horrible weather, Ron and Debbie Miller along with their volunteer crew, managed to raise more than $7,500 for the family of Simon Mercurio. They had a big turnout at the spaghetti dinner at Port Clinton High School before the PCSt. Mary’s game, sold a bunch of tickets and actually had a decent turnout for the First Friday Bash at Mango Mamas. Once again, our community steps up and shows us all that we are still made of the RIGHT STUFF! ——— We had 66 correct entries in our Find Wylie contest last week. Our winner is Bertha Sands, of Port Clinton, who found Wylie in the Pro Flowers ad on page 2A last week. Bertha wins a $20 gift card from Friendship Convenient Stores. We’ll hide Wylie again this week. If you find him, drop us a note at our office … or click on the Find Wylie icon at www.thebeacon. net. ——— The Beacon’s Web Site, www.thebeacon.net, has been upgraded to allow YOU, our readers, to submit stories and photos. We call you “citizen journalists” and we always appreciate your editorial contributions to YOUR community newspaper and daily news Web Site. ——— As you know, this Sunday is Valentines Day, and the Humane Society of Ottawa County is having a “Have a Heart for Homeless Pets” fundraiser at Ace Hardware and Community Market in Port Clinton this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can find “sweets for your sweet” at Ace and unique crafts at Community Market. All proceeds benefit the Humane Society. ——— This Saturday, the new Beer Thirty’s (formerly DJ’s Lounge) at the corner of Second and Maple streets in Port Clinton will host a special benefit for the Stubblefield Family to help cover their funeral costs for their dad, Bill, who recently died after a bout with cancer at age 40. Lonesome Pony is performing and the cover charge is only $3. All proceeds, from the cover charge to the raffles are going to Tracy Stubblefield and her boys. ——— The Port Clinton Elk’s Lodge Sunday Breakfasts are back starting this Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. They feature Mike’s “real egg” scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, pancakes or sausage gravy biscuits. ——— Were you aware of the fact that the Miller Boat Line recently had the M/V Put-in-Bay modified? A 40-foot steel fabricated section was inserted into the boat after it was cut in half, making it now 136 feet long. This should allow eight additional cars to be loaded onboard this summer. Work on the boat is being done at a shipyard in Cleveland. ——— John Kasich, Republican candidate for Governor in 2010, will be the speaker at the Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca County Lincoln Day Dinner to be held next Thursday, Feb. 18, at the Crystal Arbors, 2270 W. Hayes Ave. in Fremont. The program is at 6:30 p.m. with dinner to follow. Donation is $35. For reservations, call Terry Lowe at 419-898-6874 or 419-360-6874 or Karen McTague at 419460-2429. ——— There is still time to get your tickets for the 56th annual Magruder Hospital Auxiliary Charity Ball scheduled for Friday, Feb. 26, at Catawba Island Club. The theme this year is “A Night in the Vineyard”. Tickets may be purchased by calling Kerryn Lockhart at 419734-3131, ext. 3105, before Feb. 19.
NUMBER 50 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2010
Experience
www.thebeacon.net
Real Estate report
The door is open! By Leonard a. Partin 2009 President FireLand’s association oF reaLtors First-time home buyers, drawn to the market by favorable pricing and the lure of an $8,000 tax credit, dominated the Ohio housing market throughout 2009, according to research conducted on behalf of the Ohio Association of REALTORS. In fact, first-time buyers accounted for 47 percent of all buyers nationally and in Ohio last year, with 55 percent of those in Ohio indicating that the credit was a key determining factor (compared to 49 percent nationally). The 2009 profile is the first such report conducted for Ohio since 2003 and reveals marked differences. Six years earlier, first time home buyers only accounted for 38 percent of the market (verses 47 percent last year). Just a few other interesting nuggets in the report included:
The use of the Internet in the homebuying process continues to increase, with buyers in Cincinnati (91 percent), Cleveland (89 percent) and Columbus (90 percent) helping to drive the statewide number up six points from the 2003 mark of 71 percent. The number of “for sale by owners” is declining statewide, with only 9 percent selling without the use of an agent verses 14 percent in 2003. Half of the sellers knew the buyer prior to the home purchase. Recent sellers typically sold their homes for 94 percent of the listing price, and 62 percent reported they reduced the asking price at least once. Forty-six percent offered incentives to attract buyers. Ninety-two percent of sellers report their home was listed or advertised on the Internet. Among recent sellers who used an agent, 84 percent reported they would definitely (56 percent) or probably (28 percent) use that agent again or recom-
mend to others. The added value consumers place on the services offered by real estate professional is reflected in the large majority of consumers who would use again, and or recommend them to others. The extended first-time buyer credit (up to $8,000) and the new tax credit (up to $6,500) for buying up or down, historically low mortgage interest rates, plus favorable buying opportunities makes this a great time to capture the benefits of home ownership. The door is open to great buying opportunities plus the once in a lifetime tax credits. Contact a local Realtor and learn more about the great tax credits and ask about the great buying opportunities Source OHIO REALTOR Newspaper: The 2009 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers report prepared by the National Association of REALTORS, and made possible by a grant from the Ohio Division of Real Estate’s Education & Research fund.
Supporting Simon
photos by angie adair
Hundreds of diners packed the cafeteria at Port Clinton High School Friday night for a spaghetti dinner to support student Simon Mercurio. Mercurio, 17, was paralyzed from the waist down in a tumbling accident.
Spend a Night in the Vineyard The Magruder Hospital Auxiliary’s 56th annual Charity Ball committee is set to take its patrons though a “Night in the Vineyard” Feb. 26 at the Catawba Island Club. Co-chairpersons Adrienne and Scott Hines, and Julie and William St. Leger, along with their committee, have planned experiences of vineyards from around the world. “The money we raise from the charity ball this year will go toward the new private inpatient rooms Magruder is currently constructing. With décor themes like Tuscan, Botanical, Cape Cod and Outdoors, these rooms transform what
you think about a hospital room. The committee wanted to make sure the donation will benefit as many patients and their families as possible,” said Adrienne Hines. The event, which is open to anyone who purchases a ticket, will begin at 6:30 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails followed by a specially selected dinner. “We have decided to go with a simple, elegant theme involving wine and we are excited to have wine tasting offered this year to add another element to the charity ball experience,” said Julie St. Leger. “Even if people cannot attend, I hope
they consider giving a tax-deductible donation. All donor names are publicized to the entire community in the hospital’s annual report,” said St. Leger. Tickets are $100 per couple and $50 per individual and can be purchased at Bassett’s Market, Mary’s Blossom Shoppe, Magruder Hospital Gift Shop, National Bank of Oak Harbor in Oak Harbor. Sponsorship information may also be downloaded from the hospital’s Web site, www.magruderhospital.com. Questions regarding tickets, or donations, may also be made to Kerryn Lockhart at Magruder, at 419-734-3131, ext. 3105.
PC Schools receive high bond rating
Inside This Week…
Records ...........................2A Beacon Bits ....................4A Around Ottawa Co ........5A Entertainment ................6A Community Calendar ....7A
Standard Mail U.S. Postage Paid Port Clinton, Ohio Permit #80
Sports .............................1B Schools ...........................3B Business .........................4B Real Estate Transfers .....5B Classified ........................6B
There is more good news for Port Clinton City Schools. Just a few weeks after receiving word they will receive $15 million in Qualified School Construction bonds for new facilities, there was more cost savings news for the district. Port Clinton City School District received the second highest possible rate bond rate of AA+ from Standard and Poor’s Rating Agency for the sale of their bonds. “This rating is very important as it eliminates the need for bond insurance since we are now rated higher than the bond insurance company,” said Patrick Adkins, Superintendent of Schools.
Living
“A solid financial performance and voter history played a big part in receiving such a high rating,' said Treasurer Jeff Dornbusch. Out of 97 Ohio school districts that currently have an S&P bond rating, Port Clinton City School District is second on the list. District officials, working with bond counsel, recently met with investment firms to determine their bond rating. “The bond rating of AA+ means more to investors than in the past and will greatly assist the district when the bonds sell in February,” said Dornbusch.
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