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Moss on the Rock
Community Meeting Notice
In 2023, residents of Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass formed the Citizens Research Group to explore the possibility of redefining the governance of the Bass Islands.
The group invites all community members to a public meeting on Monday, April 28th at 4 p.m., at the Put-in-Bay Town Hall.
At the meeting, they will present the results of research conducted by Bowling Green State University (BGSU) and Local Government Consultants. A representative from Local Government Consultants will share highlights from an in-depth report, including recommendations and a review of all potential restructuring options — along with the pros and cons of each.
Your participation and input are welcome!
Spring Play
The Put-in-Bay Arts Council is pleased to announce the production of Clue on Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 11, at 3 p.m. Located at the Patrick Myers Community Stage upstairs at the Town Hall. Tickets are only available at the door.
Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie which was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is a hilarious murder mystery. Some adult humor, but family friendly! Come help Scarlet, Peacock, White, Mustard, Plum, and Green figure out who did it, where, and with what!
Directed by Katherine Woischke and C.C. Wisniewski along with Scenic Design and Construction Lead Renee Market. Cast includes Nick Sanner, Elias Wright, Ava Heineman, Sarah Paul, Mike O’Donnell, Michelle O’Donnell, Dianne Smith, Renee Market, Jason Russell, Delaney Smith, Richard Scarpelli, Corey Wisniewski, and C.C. Wisniewski.
Save the Date! GLIA Islands Summit 2025
Great Lakes Islands Alliance’s visit to Beaver Island will take place September 21st-24th. The visit is an immersive event for Great Lakes island community leaders, residents and advocates. The Summit provides a unique platform for networking, exchanging ideas, and engaging in meaningful discussions on a range of topics that impact our island communities. Sessions will cover challenges and opportunities facing islands across the Great Lakes, including education, economy, housing, environment and more. Put-in-Bay, Middle Bass, Kelleys and Pelee Islands hosted the GLIA Summit in 2022 and it was an exceptional experience. Hope to see you on Beaver Island in September.
Draft Day 5k at Put-in-Bay
The Lake Erie Islands Brown Backers-sponsored Draft Day 5k take place on Sunday, April 27th. Every participant will receive an official Draft Day 5k jersey shirt, Draft Day 5k mug, custom race bib, goody bag, drink discounts, and free lunch and more! Everyone’s support of this race is greatly appreciated as proceeds from the race will go directly to the Lake Erie Islands Browns Backers for their 2025 charities. This past year the LEIBB donated over $14,000 to local, regional and national foundations and charities. Start training now if you haven’t started yet.
End of Flying Season Celebration
On Friday, March 21st, there was a little customer appreciation pizza party for the official end of winter flying season! Island Air Taxi and Griffing Airlines did a quick flyover of the PIB Airport and landed to a cannon salute courtesy of the PIB Vol. Fire Dept. Those who stopped by the new airport terminal for the celebration enjoyed live music, pizza, treats and drinks for both children and adults. The celebration was also a send off for pilot Josh Bierley. This was his final flight with Island Air Taxi as he just accepted a position flying Hawker and Gulfstream jets around the world.
State Park Awarded
South Bass Island State Park brought home some hardware at the Park Managers Conference held in March. The park was awarded the 4.5 Award. They share this award with 13 other parks across the state who all received 4.5 stars or better on the majority of their post-stay reviews. The park also took home the Service Excellence Award for having the highest-rated customer service amongst all 76 Ohio State Parks!! Both awards are a direct reflection of our amazing staff and volunteers!! Without them, none of these would be possible. These awards are directly related to our customer feedback. Please, after your visits, let the park know what you love about the park and its customer service, and where the park can make improvements. Staff read your feedback weekly and discuss the positives and negatives in staff meetings. Thank you to all who have taken the time to write a review! The park staff is looking forward to continuing its service excellence for its amazing park guests.
Reopening This Season
Discover the power of education this summer at Put-in-Bay’s renovated Aquatic Visitors Center at the west end of Put-in-Bay harbor on South Bass Island, With $6.2 million invested, this hub promotes experiential learning, outdoor exploration and conservation. Engage with Lake Erie’s ecosystem, foster a love of nature, and join the movement for a sustainable future! Great for groups or families of all ages.
Island Authors
Valerie Kowalski tells us that her husband Dan, the math teacher at PIB High School, and daughter Tatyana (PIBHS Class of 2018) have written a book called the “The Legend of the Black Hammers,”a new fantasy novel. The book is available now on Amazon. Check out their ad on page 7 of this edition of the Put-in-Bay Gazette for more information.
Lists
Put-in-Bay made more lists on the internet this past month. It made the “The 9 Small Towns Are Ohio’s Best Kept Secret,”the “7 Bizarrely Named Towns In Ohio, the 25 Best Small Towns to Visit in Ohio: Hidden Midwest Gems for Your Travel Plans,” the “9 Stunning Small Towns In Ohio,” the “11 Reasons Put-in-Bay Is the Great Lakes’ Most Underrated Island” lists on various websites. The Island also made “PHOTOS: Ohio’s Most Neighborly Towns” list. In the article “These Are The Best Great Lakes Vacations You Can Take In 2025,” travel.com ranked Put-in-Bay as the second-best spot to visit on the Great Lakes. And last but not least, Roger Parker found two lists, the “20 Most Overpriced Beach Towns in America” and Lake.com’s “Most Overpriced Fall Destinations in America.” Put-in-Bay was 12th on both lists.
PIB Chamber Spring Member Meeting
Mark your calendars and don’t plan to do anything else but attend! the PIB Chamber of Commerce’s Spring Member Meeting on Monday, May 19th, from 3-5 p.m. at the Put-in-Bay Yacht Club. Catch up on Chamber updates, connect with fellow members, and prepare for the season ahead.
Nature Camp Registration
The Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center’s Nature Camp registration is now open! The 2025 Nature Camp theme is “Under the Surface.” Campers will investigate the life teeming in ponds, uncover the secrets of burrowing animals, and discover the amazing processes that take place underground. They will enjoy activities such as exploring island caves, fishing and learning about the many animals that live beneath the surface! New this year, we are offering online registration! To register or learn more about Nature Camp, visit https://lakeerieislandswildlife.com/nature-camp-2/.
Pyrate Fest Needs You!
Pyrate Fest XVII is on the horizon, and The Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce still looking for sponsors to support this major summer event. Consider joining at the $500 sponsorship level, which includes:
- Logo placement on Pyrate Fest marketing materials
- Social media mentions from the Chamber and event pages
- On-site banner space during the festival weekend
- Listing on the official Pyrate Fest website
Your support helps make it a success! Interested? Reach out today to Wendy at director@visitputinbay.com.
PIB Firefighters attend Annual Training Event
In mid-March, several members of the Put-in-Bay Volunteer Fire Department attended the Northwestern Ohio Volunteer Firemen’s Association (NOVFA) annual fire school, participating in specialized training sessions designed to enhance their emergency response skills. During the event, firefighters took courses on critical topics such as Incident Response Considerations for Lithium-Ion Batteries, Fire Pump Operations, and Maintenance for the Modern Firefighter. These hands-on training sessions help ensure the department is prepared for a variety of emergencies, from structure fires to emerging hazards like electric vehicle battery incidents. In addition to the intense coursework, the volunteers had the opportunity to bond as a team, enjoying a dinner at Nagoya the night before classes began.
Island Folk Traveling
Fr. Robert Solon from St. Paul’s spent some vacation time in Melbourne, Florida. Roger and Mary Parker enjoyed the stay at Helen Brohl’s condo in St. Augustine, Florida. Helen donated a week in her condo to the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy for their silent auction and the Parkers were fortunate enough to win the auction and help the conservancy. Chris Joyce from the Senior Center and her husband Tony spent a couple of weeks in Florida, and Tom Thanasiu was spotted in a museum in St. Augustine. Terry Jenkins had a good time playing cards in Las Vegas. Val Chornyak from the West Shore was in the Virgin Islands with her brother Keven visiting her brother Kurt. While there she stopped by the Goat on St. Croix. Dave and Middy Church from Fox’s Den were in Cancun, Also from Fox’s Den were Richard and Joan French who were on a cruise that took them to Cozumel. Lorie Busold from Hooligans celebrated her 65th birthday in Mexico. Kevin Dailey from the Boat House was in Germany and Austria. The Hristovskis, Miyo, Maria and daughter Mia, visited Norway. KC and Jeff Bast were married aboard a cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Key West and Bimini, Bahamas. Joining them were KC’s son Jacob Seaman, Richard Scarpelli, Michelle and Ava Heineman, Joe Blumensaadt, Amanda and Jason Buttrey, Mr. Ed Fitzgerald, Brian and Justine Cultice, Chris and Juan Alvarez, Rachel and Andy Mohn, Mary and Noah Kneisley, Cheryl and Jeff Rubel, Loren and Shawn Dages, “Sheriff” Theresa Finney, Taylor Dewar and Jared Dickman, Hollie and Fred Cerny, and Heather and “Doc” Swayngim. Joan and Roger Rhoad were also aboard the cruise but only after they spent time at Mardi Gras and in Key West, and then heading to Las Vegas after the cruise. Also cruising together were John and Dona Mitchell, Marcia Ashley, and Dave and Christina McNew.
The previous piece is published in this month’s Put-in-Bay Gazette. The Gazette has been producing incredible independent Put-in-Bay island news for over 40 years. If you have any interest at all in what is happening on South Bass Island, we urge you strongly to subscribe to the Put-in-Bay Gazette. One-year online subscriptions are only $15, and print subscriptions are available as well. To subscribe please visit the Put-in-Bay Gazette subscription form. This piece of Put-in-Bay journalism has been provided to putinbayohio.com courtesy of the Put-in-Bay Gazette, Put-in-Bay’s only local newspaper. Visit their website putinbay.news for more information and to subscribe!
