SEASON KICKS OFF Port Clinton, Oak Harbor start strong with wins FOOTBALL 1B
On sale this week:
Baby Back Ribs
2
$ 99
Open Pit BBQ Sauce
FREE
lb.
69¢ Volume 28 Number 29
www.thebeacon.net
Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010
Standard Mail U.S. Postage Paid Port Clinton, Ohio Permit #80
Time to Rock Gem Beach Author shares ghost stories
Raffle prizes include guitar autographed by Crystal Bowersox PORT CLINTON — Gem Beach Rocks is right around the corner and a local TV personality is among the special guests. Lauren Lowery of WTOL 11’s Your Morning Show will emcee part of the event along with local favorites Jim Sass and Carl Koebel. Gem Beach will be rockin’ and rollin’ again from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18. For the third year, residents and visitors to the area will gather to listen to music, enjoy good food and cold beverages, and above all reconnect. Among the activities are hourly 50/50 drawings and raffles with prizes like a one-week stay at Plantation Resort Condo at Myrtle Beach, S.C., Come Fly with Me Airplane Ride for Four and a guitar autographed by American Idol contestant Crystal Bowersox. The music starts at noon with The Travelin’ Lounge Lizards, followed by Wally and the Beavs and Paradise Island. The Jimmy Buffett tribute band Parrots of the Caribbean will close out the event. Other fun includes musical chairs and a cupcake contest. Perch sandwiches, pizza, brats, hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, funnel cakes and ice cream novelties will be for sale. “This is a great way to support a local charity while having a great time on the beautiful shores of Lake Erie,” said Chris Galvin, director of United Way in Ottawa County.
A guitar autographed by American Idol Crystal Bowersox is one of the raffle prizes for Gem Beach Rocks. Tickets can be purchased at MEMORIES Read and FriendShip BP at Ohio 53 and share memories of Gem Beach 2, FriendShip Sunoco on Perry at www.northcoastlive.net. Street, Gem Beach Marina Store, Common Grounds Coffee Shop WIN TICKETS Find the and the United Way office in beach ball hidden in an ad in Northcoast Live to win tickets. See GEM BEACH 2A
It seems the residents of Lake Erie’s North Coast have trouble leaving — even after they die. According to some, the area is flooded with the spirits of locals, some friendly, some not, and one local author has put it all down on paper. The History Press recently released “Ghosts and Legends of Lake Erie’s North Coast,” by Port Clinton native Victoria King Heinsen. The book includes stories about a high school student who floats the corridors looking for her lost boyfriend, and the ghost of a maintenance man who wander through a historic inn making routine repairs. Read about the figure that lurks in the clock of the Port Clinton Courthouse every night, never moving, simply watching, until disappearing with the sun. Heinsen is a Port Clinton native who each year between the summer solstice and Halloween conducts ghost walks through downtown. According to the author, the stories she tells during the tours and in her book have come to her over the years from locals and people on the tour. Others she has experienced herself. “I walk them around Port Clinton and tell stories of history, romance and of course spirits,” she said.
See AUTHOR 11A
CELEBRATING REFORM Marblehead resident and local business owner Cathy Allen spoke at the statehouse Tuesday to celebrate health care reform. Since she is self employed and has a preexisting condition, she was formerly “uninsurable.” Because of reforms, Allen now holds an insurance card. “It looks like an ordinary insurance card. But I feel like I should frame it in gold because if took a lot of work — by a lot of people — over many years — to get this card in my hands,” Allen said in her remarks. On Sept. 1, Ohio’s high risk pool program started to cover Ohioans who have been shut out of the insurance market because of pre-existing conditions. The program is expected to help 5,500 across the state.
PHOTO BY JOHN SCHAFFNER
Victoria King Heinsen signs a copy of her latest book, “Ghosts and Legends of Lake Erie’s North Coast.” The book was recently released by The History Press.
2010 PERCH FEST
By JOHN SCHAFFNER
Tell Tales
Perch, Peach, Pierogi and Polka Festival this weekend This is it! The weekend we have all been looking forward to! It’s the weekend of the GIGANTIC Perch, Peach, Pierogi and Polka Festival!!! It all starts on Saturday morning and goes through Sunday evening at the Denny Bergeman Knights of Columbus
Hall, 109 E. Perry St., in downtown Port Clinton. nnn
Also this weekend, the sailboats come to town for the 50th annual Green Island Race hosted by Port Clinton Yacht Club. Because it is the 50th sailing of the race,
INSIDE BEACON BITS 4A LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
n
HEALTH 6A
n
Sierra Puckett is crowned this year’s Lions Club Sight Princess by the 2009 Princess, Robin Skinner during the opening ceremonies last Saturday at James Park.
PCYC expects a banner crowd of boats. The first starts are at 9:20 a.m. on Sunday morning. If the wind is south to southwest, it should be a spinnaker start which would be spectacular!
See TELL TALES 2A
SCHOOLS 8A
n
OTTAWA COUNTY 10A
n
HEATED BOAT/RV STORAGE
BUSINESS 4B
• Business Un e its • Mini-Storag RESERVE NOW! 419-797-6303 • 4789 E. Muggy Rd., Port Clinton, OH • www.catawbaministorage.com
n
CLASSIFIED 5B