The Village of Put-in-Bay announced in December to Put-in-Bay News it would continue its sidewalk subsidy program until June 2015. If you apply for the program, you can put in a sidewalk or replace an old sidewalk and the Village will pick up half the cost. This is for a basic sidewalk and applies to both commercial and residential property owners. If you are interested, please call (419) 285-4313 and get your application. The application must be filed by June 1st, but work need not be completed. Sign up now! It’s a great deal.
Put-in-Bay News reports “Friends of the Bay” video released The official song of the village of Put-in-Bay “Friends of the Bay” has a brand new music video that is available on YouTube and www.bobgatewood.com. The song has been freshly re-recorded by Bob Gatewood and produced by Country Music Award-winning guitarist Tom Bukovac. The accompanying video was shot by Nick James Productions this past Labor Day in downtown Put-in-Bay and features hundreds of weekend revelers! Gatewood wrote “Friends of the Bay” some 20 years ago and since then it’s heartfelt lyrics have become a popular sing-along at parties and celebrations on and off the island. Hence, the Put-in-Bay village council designated it as the island’s official song. The new recording of “Friends of the Bay” is available for download at www.bobgatewood.com. Look for it on iTunes, Spotify, and Pandora as well!
Put-in-Bay News received reports of Islanders traveling over the holidays. The Scott Market family was in Chicago. Larry and Tammy Knaser went on a Caribbean cruise. The Michael McCann family headed to Keystone, Colorado, for a little skiing. Terry Travis from the Perry Holiday will be taking over the operation of the Lake Erie Island Historical Society’s Resale Shop this year. Kendra Koehler is retiring from the position to spend more time with family. Elizabeth Heineman was busy in December taking pictures of birds. Just before Christmas, she took this picture of a snowy owl in DeRivera Park.
A number of people noticed a life-size Santa in a dumpster behind the Put-in-Bay Restaurant Hooligans this past month. It looked like he was dumpster diving for toys for bad little boys and girls. Santa was rescued and showed up at the employee Christmas party the Village of Put-in-Bay held for its staff.
If you’re in Key West this winter, be sure to look up Joe Suttmann who started driving the conch tour train there. What a great job for Joe! He gets paid, has his very own microphone and has a captive audience. We saw an interesting post on the Put-in-Bay Ohio Facebook Page about Scott Market wanting to go back to heating his ice shanty with a coal stove.
Our best wishes go out to Dave and Jill Warga from East Point who both retired from teaching in December. When Put-in-Bay Township
Trustee Dale Burris from North Bass had his boat pulled on December 19th, his GPS recorded 3156 miles for the 2014 season. If you want to apply for a job as a Put-in-Bay police officer for the 2015 season, you’d better hurry. Only the first 100 resumes emailed to employment@pibpolice. com will be accepted according to Put-in-Bay News sources.
Jack and Janet Bergan from Victory Ave. celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in December. Congrats!
Ohio State’s Stone Lab on Gibraltar Island holds 25 one- and five-week science courses each summer for students with any major. Both introductory and upper-level classes are offered, getting students up-close with animals and insects in their natural habitats. Job opportunities and scholarships are available to help offset tuition costs or cover room and meals. Read more at stonelab.osu.edu.
The Progressive Insurance Mid-America Boat Show at the IX center in Cleveland will be held January 15-19. The Boardwalk’s famous lobster bisque will be made fresh daily at the show! Mark your calendars! Speaking of the Boat Show, Sara Booker Sheehan will have a table promoting her book, Lakes, Seas & the Shore. She donates a portion of the proceeds from each book to the Lake Erie Island Chapter of the Black Swamp Conservancy.
It’s amazing what’s out there on the Internet. If you’re interested in rescues on the ice you may want to check out this at WISE
Technology LLC’s website, https://www.indiegogo.com/ projects/air-responder-abold- new-concept-in-ice-rescue.
Our condolences to Sue Thwaite, the rookie Fantasy Football player, who led in the Goat’s Fantasy Football League until she lost in the final championship game and placed second overall. The water level in Lake Erie is about 6 inches higher than it was one year ago at this time. Rick Ziebarth is the new member of the Put-in-Bay Port Authority. Rick flies the biplane at the Put-in-Bay Airport.
Once the cut-down Model A’s were the preferred mode of transportation on the ice. Today, there are only three left which can be seen in the Lake Erie Islands area. They belong to John Ladd on Put-in-Bay, Dale Burris on North Bas and Neil Shock on Marblehead. Cliff Fulton recently announced he will be conducting Put-in-Bay fishing charters. His business will be called Freshwater Charters.
Miller Boat Line’s last ferry of the season pulled into Put-in-Bay’s empty harbor on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 3rd. Fireworks
and multiple horn blowings signaled the last trip. Stay tuned to Put-in-Bay News for information on the resumption of Put-in-Bay ferry service.
Lake Erie Islands Chapter of the Black SwampConservancy celebrated Christmas with 48 guests and a beautiful night at the South Bass Island Lighthouse! We had a Champagne Toast with Heineman’s finest to the busy 2014 land preservation efforts. Ham and turkey with lots of great holiday dishes were enjoyed as well as tours of the Lighthouse. Mark Nemec played Santa Claus coming with a donation check for the Conservancy and a Home Depot gift certificate! Thanks to our partners the Ohio State University Stone Lab for hosting us!
