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Volume 29 Number 26
www.thebeacon.net
Thursday, August 11, 2011
State officials hit PIB
19th annual Legislative Days shines spotlight on lake issues By ANGIE ADAIR ZAM Editor Elected officials hit the islands last week to learn about issues affecting the Great Lakes and Ohio State University’s research to solve those issues when Ohio Rep. Dennis Murray and Ohio Sen. Mark Waggoner played host to Legislative Days. The two-day event brought the officials together with representatives of the tourism industry and scientists to show them just how
important this area is. “It’s an opportunity to introduce lawmakers from around the state to one of the greatest destinations Ohio has to offer,” said Marc McQuaid of the Ohio Travel Association. McQuaid was among those gathered for a luncheon Friday at Put-in-Bay to wrap up the 19th annual event. “Many haven’t experienced the island and this is a great way to showcase the natural beauty and the economic im-
pact,” he said. Officials were welcomed Thursday by OSU President Gordon Gee before heading to Gibraltar Island and OSU’s Stone Lab. There, they were able to take a trip on one of university’s research vessels to pull a fish trawl and discover what lives under the surface. They also had the chance to speak with scientists and Ohio Sea Grant staff and get the
Island home featured on MTV
See LEGISLATIVE 10A
PORT CLINTON SEES FIRST-EVER FLASH MOBS
The Benson Ford Shiphouse, an iconic and awe-inspiring image on Put-in-Bay, will be featured Aug. 12 on MTV’s new spin-off program Extreme Cribs. The newest edition to the MTV Cribs franchise, Extreme Cribs is a 16-episode series which will showcase homes with peculiar features and design quirks that are unique, unusual, alternative and extreme. From scaling living spaces suspended in tree tops to crawling through cozy caverns built inside caves, viewers will be whisked away to the doorsteps of some the most distinctive dwellings across the globe and meet the families that call these places home. The Aug. 12 episode of the program will include a segment on Put-in-Bay’s Benson Ford Shiphouse which is owned by Bryan and Emily Kasper of Sandusky. The luxurious Shiphouse is the retrofitted front end of the Ford Motor Company’s former Benson Ford (I), a freighter that transported iron ore and related materials across the Great Lakes from 1924 through 1981. After the freighter was decommissioned, the four-story, forecastle was removed and placed on the island as a summer cottage. The home would include the walnut-paneled staterooms, dining room, galley and passenger lounge designed by Henry Ford for his own pleasure while traversing the Great Lakes on business. Towering over the rocky cliffs of the island and jutting out into Lake Erie, the Benson Ford Shiphouse has been featured on Home & Garden TV’s Extreme Homes, the Travel Channel, The British Daily Mirror, Ohio Magazine, the National Enquirer and countless area publications.
PHOTOS BY ANGIE ADAIR ZAM
Attendees at both Arts in the Park and the classic car show in Port Clinton Saturday were surprised with a flash mob, a group of dancers who put on an unexpected show for the crowds. The music kicked on and row after row of movers and shakers gathered first at Lakeview Park then an hour later at the intersection of Second and Madison streets downtown. Surprised onlookers were quick to pull out their cameras and cell phones to record the action. To check out videos online, find North Coast Flash Mob on Facebook.com. To take part in an upcoming flash mob in Sandusky, contact organizer MaryAnn Snider at theballetschool@yahoo.com or 419635-6106
See MTV 10A
By JOHN SCHAFFNER
Tell Tales
You know you are from Port Clinton/Catawba when ... For those of you on Facebook, have you heard about the new group: You know you are from Port Clinton/Catawba Island when … ! I got invited last Thursday by Rich Riley who graduated from PCHS in the early 80s. Well, let me tell you, this thing has gone viral! By the time I got back from the Bay Week Regatta, I had more than 800 e-mails with some extraordinary reminiscing. A lot of folks remembering Gem Beach, particularly the Roller Rink
there. Also Enchanted Lake Park, Edgar’s, jumping off the cliff at The Nabagon in Catawba Cliffs, the Spook Light and on and on. There has to be close to 1,000 postings by former local folks from all over the world! Also some frank admissions about stealing the Big Boy from Frisch’s! nnn
I hope the folks who went to Arts in the Park and the Classic Car Show in downtown Port Clinton enjoyed the flash
INSIDE RECORDS 2A
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SCHOOLS 4A
mob put together by MaryAnn Snider. A Port Clinton first!!! nnn
Diana Eisel was selected from among 111 entries as our “Find Wylie” winner this week. She found our friendly fish in the ad for Minuteman Press on page 6B in last week’s Beacon. Diana wins a $20 gift card from Friendship Food Stores AND two tickets to Gem Beach Rocks on Aug. 27!
See TELL TALES 2A n
HEALTH 7A
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PHOTO BY ANGIE ADAIR ZAM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE!
John Mullen, left, stopped to pose for a photo with his wife and David Zavagno during a trip to Put-in-Bay Friday. The Lakewood man and his children and grandchildren — 23 in total — spent the day on the island to celebrate his 75th birthday.
NORTH COAST LIVE 9A
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BUSINESS 1B n CLASSIFIED 6B
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Model Home Hours: Thurs - Sat. 11-5 Sun. & Mon. 11-4 Tue. & Wed by Appointment