Put-in-Bay Diary May 1st, 2017 – There’s rain before breakfast. The Put-in-Bay Village Council meets at 9 a.m.

Put-in-Bay Diary  May 2nd, 2017 – There’s a strong west wind blowing 30-35 mph since 5 a.m. and the last boat to Put-in-Bay is
canceled.

Put-in-Bay Diary  May 3rd, 2017 – Christie Ontko is substitute teaching at Put-in-Bay School. Representatives Heather and Ashley
from Back To The Wild, an animal rehabilitation clinic in Castalia, visit Put-in-Bay Ohio and present a wonderful program at the
Town Hall in the afternoon. “Their primary mission is to rehabilitate and ultimately release into their natural habitat, injured,
orphaned and displaced wildlife.” They brought “wildlife patients” for their educational and entertaining presentation. The
visit is sponsored by the Put-in-Bay Recreation Committee, the Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center, the Lake Erie
Islands Conservancy, and Miller Boat Line. There is a Lasagna Dinner fundraiser at Mossbacks to benefit Wills Playground
Handicap Section.

Put-in-Bay Diary  May 4th, 2017 – It’s a rainy day at Put-in-Bay with a northeast wind. There are lots of cars, trucks, and trucks with boats all trying to leave before the Put-in-Bay Ferry stops running late in the afternoon. The line up looks like a busy Sunday morning in July. The water is up to the top of the DeRivera Park dock. All the Ohio State Boats from Stone Lab are tied up on B Dock & C Dock. Water covers the docks in from of Stone Lab on Gibraltar Island.

Fri May 5th,2017 Put-in-Bay Ferry service is suspended for the day. The Crew’s Nest has it’s opening party in the evening. Among those attending is Lois Jellison who is celebrating her 87th birthday with Lake Erie island friends and family. It’s blowing so hard that five blue robin eggs fall out of their nest on to the sidewalk on Bayview Ave.

Sat May 6th, 2017 – The boys at Put-in-Bay Island Hardware start selling flowers at 8 in the morning. Island entertainer Ray Fogg has his season opener at the Reel Bar. The students from Put-in-Bay High School have their prom dinner at the Boardwalk Restaurant Upper Deck and then head to the Put-in-Bay Winery for a little dancing.

Sun May 7th, 2017 – In the morning a Ruby-throated hummingbird is seen at Barnhill’s vineyard by the banding station. There’s a baby shower at Heineman Winery for Michelle White Blumensaadt. The Put-in-Bay EMS has a wonderful, all-you-can-eat Taco Bar fundraiser at the Town Hall.

Mon May 8th, 2017 – It’s Mary Ann Wilhelm’s 86 birthday! Representatives from the Inter-Lake Yachting attend the Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce’s meeting at the Put-in-Bay Brewery and Distillery where a multitude of delicious pizzas were served for lunch. Workers are working on the fence in the parking lot at the Island General Store. Tree trimmers are busy on Catawba Ave. between Mother of Sorrows and the Goat.

Tues May 9th, 2017 – It’s delightful weather, for a change, for the Blessing of the Fleet at Fox’s Dock, aka Jet Dock. John Rees has his drone hovering to take a few photos of the traditional event.

Wed May 10th, 2017 – Jackie Taylor from the Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center finalizes a grant application for this summer’s Green Week funding.

Thurs May 11th, 2017 – The island Girl Scouts are at the fire station in the afternoon for a fundraiser car wash. The cost is $12.00 and you may even get a treat!

Fri May 12th, 2017 – Miller Ferry goes to its “early” Summer schedule for both Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass! There’s a “Re-Do” opening party at the Crew’s Nest for those who missed the real one the Friday before when the weather was bad.

Sat May 13th, 2017 – We’ve never seen this before! There was a fellow riding around the island in a Put-in-Bay Golf Cart with his pet boa constrictor. The 5-year old snake was 6-foot long. Ryan McBride has his first customers for the new Put-in-Bay rolling pub. The Put-in-Bay Garden Club has its first clean up at the Bathing Beach in the morning. Two guys are seen jumping into Lake Erie by the launch ramp dock next to the Put-in-Bay Jet Express Dock. The water is still a bit chilly for swimming.

Sun May 14th, 2017 – Miller Boat Line has a special $2 off a round-trip ticket for mothers visiting the island.

Mon May 15th, 2017 – There’s a special early morning Put-in-Bay Village Council meeting to vote on for new ordinances and approve repaving of Victory Ave. The Coast Guard, Jet Express, and Miller Boat Line hold a joint training session.

Tues May 16th, 2017 – It’s annual fire hose testing day at the Put-in-Bay Volunteer Fire Dept. It took the entire day with a company based out of Michigan called FireCATT to test 12,000 feet of hoses and ladders. All passed except for 150 feet of hose! Put-in-Bay Township Trustee Chris Cooper visits all three of the Bass Islands for a road tour with the Ottawa County Engineer. Dale Burris provided transportation on North Bass. PIB student Tyler King gets his drivers license. Things are getting organized for the lamppost flower planting in the downtown Put-in-Bay park.

Wed May 17th, 2017 – Volunteers are busy planting the lamppost flower baskets in the downtown park. Adam Riley from Island Bike & Cart Rental celebrates his birthday with family and friends with a tour train ride around the island. Patrick Green is rebuilding the side steps on the porch at the Round House. At the Visitors Center, those interested in the future of Perry’s Monument meet to weigh in on the future management of the cultural landscape at the park. Discussions include care of historic trees and shrubs, addition or alteration of ramps, sidewalks, or stairs to improve access to the plaza and memorial, installation of wayside exhibits, locations for future housing and outdoor gathering space and enhancements to park gateways.

Bob and Cathy Adamov loaded up his SUV with his Put-in-Bay mystery books and set sail for Put-in-Bay Island to deliver them to the retail shops which carry them. They saw some island friends, plus had a picnic lunch at Oak Point. The spring concert takes place in the evening at Put-in-Bay.

There’s a ribbon cutting and a soft opening in the late afternoon at the Anchor Inn Boutique Hotel. Those who were there had an opportunity to explore the beautiful new rooms. It’s Awards Day for the students at Put-in-Bay School. Over on Middle Bass Island, there is free food and cheap drinks at Hazards to welcome the new season.

Fri. May 19th, 2017 – There’s a bit of a cool down after two warm days. The Goat and the Keys open for the season. the Brig Niagara sails past Put-in-Bay shortly after lunch. Put-in-Bay Daily reports the ship is on a college level training voyage focusing on the fundamentals of square rig seamanship and comparative public history.

Sat  May 20th, 2017 – It’s Island-wide Garage Sale Day. There are lots of great finds at great prices for those who tour the island looking for deals. The Put-in-Bay Property Owners Association has its meeting at the Senior Center in the morning. Among the guest speakers are Mayor McCann, Township Trustee Chris Cooper, Patrick Myers from the Port Authority and Chief of Police Steve Riddle.

The Sonny S begins ferry service between Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass. At St. Paul’s there is a celebration of life for Evelyn Mantor, one of the last of the island’s direct descendants of the Put-in-Bay’s first permanent residents, Phillip and Amelia Vroman. In the evening there’s a wine tasting and food pairing event at the Put-in-Bay Yacht Club. Six varieties of island wines were paired with vegetable, cheeses and spreads, scallop bake appetizer, wedge salad, beef filet, Lake Erie Perch and desserts at delectable food stations.

Sun May 21st, 2017 – The Put-in-Bay EMS holds an open house at the station. One of the neat things to be seen is the power assist for getting the large stretchers into the EMS ambulances. In the afternoon, Hristovski’s have their annual island appreciation hog roast at the Sand Bar. Ben Parker and the Screamers perform in the afternoon at the Boathouse. You could tell this group of guys was having fun bringing back the memories of their glory days on the stage at the Round House. At Hooligans in the evening, there is a beer launch put on by the Market Garden Brewery from the west side of Cleveland.

Mon May 22nd, 2017- On this date in 1993, the M/V Wm. Market was christened at the Miller Ferry Downtown Dock. The Wine Club meets at the Put-in-Bay Winery at the Dollar estate.

Tues., May 23rd,2017- The Brig Niagara is at the Jet Dock. In the evening, the Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce holds its State of the Island event at the Town Hall. Former island resident Ned Bixler is on the island for a visit with his daughter Rhonda. They see many of their old friends.

Wed May 24th, 2017 – The DeRivera Park Trust holds a meeting in the Town Hall in the late afternoon. On hand are those who would like to see Cooper’s Woods protected from future development. There’s a Poker and Euchre Tournament at the Put-in-Bay fire station to benefit island residents Stan and Marge Snyder.

Thurs May 25th, 2017 – Power goes off about 9 p.m. for much of the island. It’s raining hard. The vandalism at Put-in-Bay Perry Monument earlier in May makes news in USA Today.

Put-in-Bay Diary Fri May 26th, 20147 – For the second day in a row, electric power is off for portions of the island for about an hour in the late afternoon. Funeral services are held for Judie Bahney, a longtime resident of Peach Point.

Put-in-Bay Diary Sat May 27th, 2017 – The island is packed with visitors in spite of the rainy weather forecast. At Topsy Turvey’s in the evening, there is a book release for Bill Krejci’s new book, Haunted Put-in-Bay.

Put-in-Bay Diary Sun May 28th, 2017 – There’s a ceremony at the Put-in-Bay Yacht Club to remember those members who passed away this last year. The Skip Duggan Car Club’s parade is sponsored by Mark and Sandy Chance and Bruce and Reggie Hamman. After the parade, everyone heads to Joe’s Bar. Following the morning sunshine, there’s a heavy rainstorm with hail in the late afternoon.

Put-in-Bay Diary  Mon May 29th, 2017 – Island members of the American Legion honor departed veterans at two ceremonies, a Salute to the Troops at Perry’s Monument and at Maple Leaf Cemetery to rededicate the graves of veterans buried there. They then took part in the Memorial Day antique car parade and afterward stopped at the Goat’s Biergarten to enjoy the polka music from the live band, Polka Revolution. They then had a dinner picnic at the South Bass Island State Park.

Put-in-Bay Diary Tues May 30th, 2017 – Keith Blumensaadt reports the little restaurant, Axel’s Waterfront Cafe, at South Bass Island State Park was vandalized overnight. There’s wine tasting to “wine” down after the big Memorial Day weekend at the Reel Bar with Ray Fogg, Sr. Wines of Italy were featured.

Put-in-Bay Diary Wed May 31st, 2017 – There was a tree dedication in DeRivera Park late in the afternoon followed by a gathering at The Red Moon in memory of island yoga instructor Beth Cueto from the Put-in-Bay Village Bakery. The new Boathouse Biergarten featuring Warsteiner beer from Germany has its grand opening. Lots of people enjoying Bier and Bratwurst!