Page 6 - Leisure Living Magazine: Spring 2020

Meet Our Readers
Simple Gestures Lead to Big Results
By Maggie Kelch, Feature Writer
Kathy Jo Schweitzer of Port Clinton was a teacher for 30 years and now works in a variety of part-time jobs. She is passionate about photography, writing and using her organizational skills to help others.
Kathy Jo was an active member of the Kiwanis Club for 28 years where she used her leadership skills, committee work and service to make a difference. She found that many people wanted to help, but did not have the time or resources to devote to an organization or major event. She
wanted to find a simpler way to enable more people to help. So, she created Simple Gestures.
“I have always believed that assistance to others can easily be given, without much fuss or expense, and
that by helping others, we can also help ourselves,” Kathy Jo said.
The process is very simple. When Kathy Jo hears about a need in the community, or comes up with one
herself, she researches it and then emails a donation request to her Simple Gestures contributors, who have agreed to be put on a list of potential donors. Contributors are not asked for money; they are asked to help others by donating items (new or gently used) to meet needs. The contributors can then decide if they wish to donate and respond with a simple yes or no. All contributions are anonymous.
At present, there are more than 80 contributors, who range in age from 18 to 85. To date, they have had 18 distributions and distributed more than 10,079 items. Donations have been as diverse as food for a food bank, clothing for needy families and even top soil for a local battered women’s shelter.
“It is also an opportunity for people to clean out their closets and to possibly share those good unused or unwanted items with others,” she added.
To become a Simple Gestures contributor or share a need, contact Kathy Jo at MSKJS10@gmail.com.
LeisureLiving
Gracious Living for the 50+ Generation
On Lake Erie
spring and early summer make this the time of year when the water levels normally rise.
Strong storms, large waves and the rising water lev- els, have caused higher erosion along Lake Erie’s shores. So, we all need to be careful when walking along the shoreline as some of the banks may be less stable. When boating, be cautious as the high water level also means there’s a higher risk of hidden hazards. And, beaches affected by erosion may be deeper than they
have been in the past and have hidden dangers.
Get out and enjoy the spring weather, but be aware of the high water and plan accordingly. And although high water levels may cause inconveniences, our lake-
shore businesses are open and awaiting your visit!
LeisurelyYours -
Barb Clemons, Editor
LAKE FRONT PUBLICATIONS
lakefrnt@thirdplanet.net
419.734.1280
Hello -
...and, welcome spring! The winter of 2019-2020 was
not your typical winter on Lake Erie. We had a lot of ups and downs, ranging from unseasonably warm to arctic cold. Now it’s time for sunshine and spring flowers!
While there were ups and downs in the tempera- ture, the one thing that remained high over the winter months was the Lake Erie water level. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently announced that Lake Erie water levels continue to reach record highs. They said the January 2020 water levels were higher on all the Great Lakes than they were last year. And, they expect the trend to continue into the spring and summer.
Persistent wet conditions across the Great Lakes basin are causing the high water levels. January’s warmer than normal temperatures lead to greater runoff along the lakefront. Increased rainfall and runoff in the late
Established 2005
6 |LeisureLiving Spring 2020
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