Island Diary May 2019 Put-in-Bay Ohio
Wed., May 1st – It’s Ottawa County Senior Day at Camp Perry! Sarah Toole is honored as the Put-in-Bay “2019 Senior of the Year.” The High Water overnight floats several floating docks up onto the road at Squaw Harbor and blocks both lanes.
Thurs., May 2nd – The Fishbowl and Mossbacks open for the season. Bill “He’s Everywhere” Boag and Jim French are at Mossbacks for
Dinner.
Fri., May 3rd – It’s not a lovely day for the media that was invited to the island. The weather keeps those at the Crew’s Nest opening party inside for the event in the evening.
Sat., May 4th – There’s a great surprise 40th birthday party for Jeremy Berman at the Reel Bar. The place was crowded with friends and
family. Besides owning a summer home at the airport, Jeremy is an officer with the Put-in-Bay Police Department on weekends.
Sun., May 5th – The antique car paraders enjoy the first parade of the season, then stop at Heineman Winery afterward. There are 14 cars in the parade. There are $5 Margaritas at Joe’s Bar to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. The EMS is holding an open house complete with delicious tacos for those who stop by.
Mon., May 6th – Talk about a change in the weather. It’s hot out – no wind and no clouds! Lisa Brohl, Nancy Welter from Middle Bas, and Susan Byrnes from the Arbor Inn are at the Town Hall assembly room in the morning getting ready for the Road Scholars. There’s a whiskey tasting at Hooligans in the evening. There’s a report of counterfeit $100 bills floating around the island. The Boardwalk Harbor Operations places the mooring balls in the harbor.
Tues., May 7th – Another “cold and cloudy” Blessing of the Fleet fed by the wind out of the north takes place at the Jet dock. Among the vessels blessed by Rev. Mary Staley, Rev. Jim Lehman, and Deacon Mike Leahy are Perry’s Longboat from the Monument, Miller, and Jet Express ferries, a few private boats, one of the Boardwalk harbor taxis, the Life Flight helicopter that flew overhead, and vehicles from the Put-in-Bay Vol, Fire Dept., Put-in-Bay EMS and Put-in-Bay Police Department.
At the DeRivera Park dock, workers are putting platforms on the dock so people can walk through the water when it floods. The Bible Explorers helped plant two trees in the backyard at St. Paul’s.
Wed., May 8th – Council meets in its regular session with Tip Boyles taking the place of Mayor Dress, who could not be there. Ferry service is suspended late in the morning due to high water.
Back To The Wild, a Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic in Castalia, Ohio, is at the Town Hall presenting programs with their birds and critters to the Road Scholars and some Put-in-Bay students. David Dress, Bob Stausmire, Jake Market, Eric Engel, Briton Schroeder babysit two of Miller’s ferries, one anchored off the State Park and one at the Lime Kiln Dock. The Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce is represented at Ohio Tourism Day at the Statehouse in Columbus!
Thursday, May 9th – The Canton Country Day School students are at Stone Lab dissecting fish. Thirty mph NE winds are scheduled for Sunday.
Fri., May 10th – The summer Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass Island Miller ferry schedules start. The 9th Annual Corn Hole Tournament begins at the Put-in-Bay Resort & Conference Center
Sat., May 11th – There’s a gathering on North Bass Island to remember Joe Dopps, who passed away this winter. Billy Markets posts, “If you want to spend time with your Mom tomorrow, be safe and leave the island today.” Miranda Krueger (Put-in-Bay High School Class of 2012) dips the rear tire of her bike in the Atlantic Ocean in northern Florida and begins a 2 1/2-month, 4000-mile trip across the U.S. with a group of young people who are part of a Habitat for Humanity Bike & Build program.
When she reaches the Pacific, she will dip her front tire in the water. The island police have a busy night. A beer bottle hit someone in the head, and someone else fell out of a golf cart.
Sun., May 12th – The previously-predicted 30 mph winds fail to reach expectations, and the Miller ferries are in service despite the high water.
Mon., May 13th – Susan Byrnes from the Arbor Inn, Nancy Welter from Middle Bass, and June Campbell from Kelleys Island are at the Put-in-Bay Town Hall in the morning getting things ready for the Road Scholars who are birding this week on the islands. The DeRivera
Park Trust holds its regular meeting at the Town Hall. Community members are in attendance to check on the progress of the Cooper’s Woods sale.
Tues., May 14th – It’s a beautiful day for the volunteers in the Village park planting flowers. The Safe Island Task Force, created to investigate and report on South Bass Island infrastructure concerns related to large crowds during special event weekends, delivers a
presentation at the Put-in-Bay Senior Center,
Wed., May 15th – Back to the Wild is at the Town Hall presenting its program about wildlife rehabilitation. Thanks to the sponsors Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center, Put-in-Bay Recreation Committee, Miller Boat Line, and the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy! Andy “Shuttle” Shuttleworth makes history as he makes the first tandem parachute jump on the island. The M/V Put-in-Bay is heading back to Put-in-Bay from Cleveland after being hauled out to fix a rudder problem. David Dress, Bob Stausmire, and Greg Johnson are on board.
Thurs., May 16th – The police report that the Put-in-Bay Shirt Shack was broken into. A few days later, a suspect is caught and charged. There’s a Malibu Rum event at the Boathouse with complimentary eats and giveaways.
Fri., May 17th – The Red Cross set up shop at the Put-in-Bay Town Hall to conduct a blood drive. The island kindergarten students have their graduation ceremony in the morning. The Goat opens for the season.
Sat., May 18th – Sonny-S Boat Ferry Line begins service between Middle Bass Island and Put-in-Bay for the 2019 season! The Monument opens for the season. Mayor Dress is busy swearing in new police officers. Island Realtor Rudy Cooks is busy with an “Island Tour of Homes,” showing properties for sale on the island. It’s the day of the Island Wide Garage Sale. Did you find the buy of a lifetime?
Sun., May 19th – Along with the “Lighting of the Cupola,” the inaugural Souper Duper cook-off at the yacht club occurs. Barb Cooper with her clam chowder and Joy Cooper with her chicken matzo ball soup tie for first place honors.
Mon., May 20th – A semi-truck car hauler arrives on the island packed with a load of new rental Put-in-Bay Golf Carts. The grand opening of the Island Paws Dog Park at the south end of the Put-in-Bay Airport takes place in the late afternoon.
Tues., May 21st – The 2nd Annual Meet and Greet Dinner with Mercy Saint Vincents, the PIBVFD, PIB EMS, County EMA and police takes place at the fire station. A hands-on educational experience for students to learn about the War of 1812, life during that period, and life on board the US vessels take place at the Monument. Students experience learning through a Living History camp that includes living conditions, cooking, 1812 medical practices, and black powder demonstrations.
Wed., May 22nd – A new Joe’s Bar sign is going up to replace the one run down earlier this spring. Ed Herdendorf, former director of Stone Lab, is the speaker for the Road Scholar group in the evening at the Town Hall.
Thurs., May 23rd – A storm goes through in the morning. The water temperature is about 58 degrees. The Biergarten at the Boathouse opens for the 2019 season.
Fri., May 24th – Two members of the Put-in-Bay Village Council have a luncheon at the Town Hall to meet some of the new police officers. Many island businesses offer specials and reduced prices to veterans visiting this Memorial Day Weekend. The Put-in-Bay High School graduation ceremony takes place at the Monument in the evening. This year’s graduates are Max Schneider, Lauren Peter, Jack Booker, and Matthew Stacy.
Sat., May 25th – The thunderstorm in the afternoon doesn’t put a damper on the fun being had by the friendly crowd on the island for the day. The Brig Niagara enters Put-in-Bay harbor and spends the night at the Jet dock.
Sun., May 26th – Islanders awake to morning rain. The Put-in-Bay High School Alumni Association holds its annual Alumni Brunch at the Crew’s Nest Pavilion. There’s a surprise 70th birthday party for Bill “He’s Everywhere” Boag’s wife, Allie, from the West Shore at the West Shore Blvd. home of Steve and Denise Snyder in the late afternoon. And of course, Bill is there.
Mon., May 27th – At the Perry International Peace Memorial Monument, there is a memorial honoring those who fought and died in the Battle of Lake Erie; honor all veterans who have sacrificed for our country. In the afternoon, there’s a live Polka Band at the Goat Biergarten, Das Lokal. The antique car parade stops at the end of their Memorial Day parade. West Shore resident and World War II veteran Gill Terry celebrates his 95th birthday with Bill “He’s Everywhere” Boag, Jim French, and “Listen to Larry” Schrader.
Tues., May 28th – Rain in the early morning hours and at dinner time makes for a nice wet day on the Bay.
Wed., May 29th – There’s a birthday party for seven-year-old Piper Koehler upstairs in the Town Hall, lots of fun stuff for the kids to jump around on, a pinata and tacos, and birthday cake to eat. Volunteers gather in the Undercroft at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to help stuff gift bags to hand out at the Employee Welcome Fair on June 4th and 5th.
Thurs., May 30th – Deacon Mike Leahy has on his schedule a tour of Mother of Sorrows for a group of 20 students. There’s free pizza being served at the opening in evening of the Fire Engine Pizza Co. at the Grand Islander Hotel.
Fri., May 31st – The weather forecast for June for our area is temperatures in the 70s and low 80s with little rain. High water in the lake will continue.
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