putinbayohio.com is proud to present the Put-in-Bay Gazette’s “Moss on the Rock”. For the best South Bass Island journalism, visit putinbay.news and subscribe to the Gazette today!
Moss on the Rock
Community Thanksgiving Dinner
There will be a Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, November 27th, from 4 to 6 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. If you do not have your own Thanksgiving plans (or you don’t want to cook!), come bring a dish and share it with anyone and everyone else in the Parish Hall. Everyone is invited. Food for the meal is being donated by the Sunglass ladies, Anne Spettel and Laurie Utterberg. There will be turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, veggies, salad and rolls. If you’d like to bring a dessert or something to share, that would be great, but not necessary. Fr. Bob Solon will be the chef, so if you’d like to lend a hand, give him a call. And don’t forget, as part of St. Paul’s Ministry of Service to the Community, the food pantry at the church is open 24/7.
Water Going Down
The Army Corps Of Engineers is projecting that Lake Erie’s water level will drop another 5” this month. A 5” drop on Lake Erie over a month is impressive and would equal about 850 billion gallons of water lost. It would also be the lowest water level since March of 2015. It is worth noting that the current water level is near the long-term average over the past 100+ years. In other words, Lake Erie’s water level is reaching a milestone, but this is far from unprecedented.
New Memorial In Port Clinton
A new memorial in Port Clinton was dedicated to fallen Ottawa County law enforcement officers on October 16th at Friendship Park in Port Clinton. The memorial, organized by the Fraternal Order of Police Associates Lodge #34, commemorates five officers who died in the line of duty. The officers are Sergeant Robert Rigoni, Officer William Hetrick, Police Dispatcher Michael Sweeney, Deputy Sheriff Bruce Mettler and Marshal Frank Robel. South Bass Islanders Mettler and Sweeney were with EMT Duane Dress Dec. 9th, 1983, when their plane crashed into Lake Erie while flying from Put-in-Bay to assist the police chief on Kelleys Island who was suffering a heart attack. They were killed along with pilot Robert Rigoni.
Chamber Wins 2 Ruby Awards
Those at the Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau recently learned it won two Ruby Awards from the Ohio Travel Association in the category of honoring outstanding marketing efforts in the tourism industry. One award was for Broadcast Advertisement and the other was for its newsletter. It was also named a finalist in three other categories. “This marks the fourth year in a row our marketing efforts have been recognized at the state level, a streak we’re proud to continue as we showcase all that Put-in-Bay has to offer,” the local chamber noted.
putinbayohio.com Quick Picks
- Put-in-Bay Attractions
- Put-in-Bay Event Calendar For 2026
- The Best Put-in-Bay Bars and Dining
- How To Get To Put-in-Bay
Awarded For Cleanliness
Those who work at The Keys on Put-in-Bay recently shared how the eatery received the Top Merit Award for Food Service Operation, Sanitation and Safety, by the Ottawa County Health Department. This is the agency’s highest honor when judging restaurants and businesses on their cleanliness. “Huge congratulations to our amazing crew for their hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence every single day,” according to a statement from The Keys’ leadership team.
Giving Tuesday
On Tuesday, December 2nd, from 3 to 6 p.m., Nature & Wildlife Center, Duff Homestead and Bayfront Preserve and the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society museum will be open. The Giving Tuesday event is back by popular demand as the three non-profits in charge, Lake Erie Islands Conservancy, Put-in-Bay Park District and Lake Erie Islands Historical Society, combine the event with stops at their locations. The Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center will have fun kids activities. There will be snacks, beverages, and shopping opportunities at the Duff Homestead and Bayfront Preserve and the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society. This is a great opportunity to come out and see what our island non-profits have been up to this year! Participants that visit all three locations will be entered in a drawing for a basket!
Lake Erie Bass Islands State Parks
South, Middle and North Bass Island State Parks have closed for the season. The window to reserve a campsite for 2026 opens up 6 months in advance. Please visit reserveohio.com or call 866-644-6727.
Dealing with Deer
One of the biggest concerns on the island is the deer population. So far this season there have been three car accidents involving deer, people’s flower and vegetable gardens have been devoured, and the grape crop this year was a disaster in part because of the deer. There’s no doubt something has to be done.
2026 putinbayohio.com’s Best Places To Stay!
- Island Club Rentals (islandclub.com) – 216-898-9951
- Commodore Resort (commodoreresort.com) – 419-285-3101
- Bird’s Nest Resort (birdsnestresort.com) – 419-285-6119
- Put-in-Bay Condos (putinbaycondos.com) 216-898-1105
- Victory Station Hotel (putinbayvictorystation.com) 419-285-0120
Our Record Is Perfect!
Joan French said she had to laugh when she read the October Gazette. Apparently, a photo she was pictured in with husband Richard, was misidentified as her brother-in-law Jim. In another photo, Sheri Murphey from the Garden Club tells us her Gazette reading photo was taken in Budapest, not Bucharest. As editor’s we purposely make these minor mistakes. There are three reasons for this. 1) It tells us who reads the Gazette closely; 2) It makes people laugh when they read it; and 3) We’ve never had a Gazette in 45-odd years without a mistake. Our record is perfect!
Golf Carts In Cleveland
It sounds like downtown Cleveland will have golf carts in the streets just like Put-in-Bay. City leaders voted to allow carts, but always with a professional driver and not available for rent to the public to drive. One promoter put it, “You can be drunk on my golf cart, but you’re not gonna drive it.” The carts would be subject to yearly inspections, traffic restrictions and a $150 fee per vehicle.
Holiday Open House
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife invites island residents to celebrate the season “island-style” at the Aquatic Visitor Center Holiday Open House on Wednesday, November 19, from 5–9 p.m. The event follows the annual Put-in-Bay Holiday Bazaar.
Guests can enjoy an evening of good cheer, local camaraderie, and a splash of Lake Erie fun at the historic Aquatic Visitor Center. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided, and islanders are welcome to bring a favorite treat to share. If you were unable to visit the Center during the summer…now is your chance!
Visitors may tour the facility, meet staff, and observe a Lake Sturgeon feeding demonstration. Fishing licenses and Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamps will be available for purchase—great holiday stocking stuffers.
At 7:30 p.m., the Center will present a special screening of THE FISH THIEF: A Great Lakes Mystery. Formerly known as Relentless, the documentary immerses viewers in the effort to protect the largest freshwater ecosystem on Earth, the Great Lakes. Narrated by Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons, the true-life film runs for about 90 minutes. We will provide popcorn, but feel free to bring your own movie night snacks.
The event is open to all island residents — bring a friend and enjoy an evening by the lake.
Travelling
Jim and Gerri Dunfee from Fox’s Den headed to Cozumel, Mexico for a few days last month. DeRivera Park manager John Galvin was in Cancun, Mexico where he swam with the dolphins. Bob and Andrea Gatewood flew to San Francisco. Roger and Joan Rhoad spent a few days in Key West. Eric and Jen Booker toured the west coast of Michigan. Scott and Caroline Jackson took their kids, Liesl and Cal, to Universal in Orlando over the mid-month, long weekend school break.
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!
