Put-in-Bay Island Diary March 2025

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Island Diary March 2025

Sat., Mar. 1st – South Bass Island State Park ice ramp is no longer safe to use as a launch for shanties, since there’s open water as clear as the eye can see. There’s a Mardi Gras party at the Yacht Club in the evening. Among the items served were muffaletta and shrimp and grits.

Sun., Mar. 2nd – Many island families are flying back to the island from their mid-winter break off island vacation. There is a lot of open water east of Bass Islands, plus in the channel in front of Lonz Winery there is no ice. People are still fishing off Victory Point and out by Rattlesnake Island.

Mon., Mar. 3rd – It’s the first day of school for students after mid-winter break. The March PIB Gazette is printed in Sandusky. There’s even more open water in front of Lonz Winery, but there are still a handful of shanties off the West Shore

Tue., Mar. 4th – Those that are getting their last thrill of ice fishing in for the season are mainly using buckets. The only shanties still on the ice are in the harbor between the docks and Gibraltar. Sue Cooks is busy taking down some of the Christmas lights in DeRivera Park. The Ottawa County Park District meeting takes place on the mainland, and Lisa Brohl from the Put-in-Bay Township Park District attends. She returns to the island with the last of the money needed to finalize the purchase of the Duff Vineyard. The temperature rises into the mid 50s by midnight. Former island painter Ned Bixler turns 90 years old.

Wed., Mar. 5th – With another generous donation to the ice ramp repair, Rob Hard now has enough for supplies to build two massive 5 foot by 12 foot floating ramps for the 2026 ice fishing season. Temperatures are in the 60s during the day, but drop drastically after the sun goes down and drops below 30 degrees. Barry Koehler reports it’s prime ice cake jumping at the end of the road on East Point and Buckeye Island. The last of the shanties are off the weakening ice, as a cold rain pelts the roof tops of the islands. It’s a perfect night for the lentil soup and fish fry at the Yacht Club.

Thu., Mar. 6th – A light snow covers the island overnight. Mary Ann McCann celebrates her 90th birthday.

Fri., Mar. 7th – Spectrum is once again down on the island, this time affecting Put-in-Bay Road and the Island Club. Topsy and the Forge both have fish fry dinner specials for Lent. Two of the Santa’s deer that are part of the DeRivera Park Christmas light display and the star on top of the fountain are still up and it’s almost spring. By dinner time, a light rain/snow mix is falling and visibility around the islands is quite low.

Sat., Mar. 8th – About an inch of snow falls on the island overnight. There’s open water to the east and the ice is quickly disappearing between Lonz Winery on Middle Bass and PIB Harbor. PIB Harbor is still clogged with ice and the West Shore is still covered with locked-in solid water. With warmer temperatures expected in the following week, this could very well be the last sign of winter. Put-in-Bay Brownie Troop 1314 members are selling Girl Scout cookies at the Hardware Store in the afternoon and at Topsy’s in the evening. Several members of the PIBVFD attend fire school training at Penta Career Center in Perrysburg.

Sun., Mar. 9th – There’s a barn fire mid-afternoon at Dustin Shaffer’s home on Lakeview Ave. Dispatch indicates that one person was upstairs at the time of the call. According to reports, the fire is extinguished and everyone is safe.

Mon., Mar. 10th – Baton practice is moved back to the Town Hall after it was closed for furnace repair. Michael McCann and Terry Jenkins take an air boat out on the ice to get in a bit of last minute fishing. The PIB High School Class of 2027 holds a pasta fundraiser at the Yacht Club. The first of the Miller Boat Line ferry crew is called back to work.

Put-in-Bay Quick Links

• Things To Do At Put-in-Bay
• 2025 Put-in-Bay Event Calendar
• Our Favorite Places To Eat At PIB
• Put-in-Bay Ferry Service

Tue., Mar. 11th – The PIB Village Council meets in the morning and introduces an ordinance to enter into a contract with Waterfront Wonders, LLC for the lease and operation of the Village Docks and Bathhouse. Council votes to hire Terry Linn from Put-in-Bay Rd. full time as Chief of Maintenance at a rate of $23.00 per hour. Rob Hard from the Black Squirrel makes a bonfire out of the makeshift wooden ramp at the new ice ramp off the West Shore to mark the “unofficial” end to the ice fishing season. Eric Booker Facetimes his father, Marv Booker, who is visiting Apalachicola, and gives him an ice update in the harbor. Andrea Calfee from Chapman Rd. celebrates her 80th birthday.

Wed., Mar. 12th – Many more Miller Boat Line employees are called back to work, a sure sign that ferries will be running soon. You can get a bowl of chili at the yacht club, and a small group gathers to play Euchre.

Thu., Mar. 13th – It’s the last “mainland luxury” night at the Forge and the theme is Chipotle. The Annual Talent Show takes place in the PIB School Gym. Rachel Cooper stuns the crowd by singing her version of Landslide, by Stevie Nicks. Norah Blumensaadt and Evelyn Wertenbach tie for second place for their individual baton twirling routines and Olivia Christensen takes home third place for her ukulele playing and singing. Miller Boat Line starts taking reservations for Middle Bass for the week of March 27th to April 1st.

Fri., Mar. 14th – There’s a stunning Lunar Eclipse in the sky above the island at 2:30 a.m. for those that wake up or stay awake to see it. Miller Boat Line announces they will begin ferry service for 2025 on Friday, March 21st. Because it’s Pi Day, all pies at the Hardware Store are $3.14 off. Put-in-Bay Yacht club has their last pizza delivery night of the winter in the evening. Over on Middle Bass Walleye’s is serving beer-battered cod for Lent.

Sat., Mar. 15th – The wind shifts and PIB harbor is ice free except for a little ice inside the public docks. It’s very windy and warm (68.5 degrees) with gusts close to 50 mph and temps around 60 degrees. The PIB Panther Twirling Team has a competition in North Baltimore. There’s a St. Patrick’s Day dinner at the Yacht Club.

Sun., Mar. 16th – Pasquale’s holds a pizza night. Bryan Gilles and Rob Hard celebrate “Austin 3:16” day at Topsy’s.

Mon., Mar. 17th – The PIB Village Council’s Rules and Ordinance Committee meets at the Town Hall for the discussion of proposed short-term rental regulations. Topsy Turvey’s is hopping with live music by Jamtastic to celebrate St. Patty’s Day. A group does the “polar plunge” off the docks behind Topsy. The line up for Bash on the Bay is announced. On this day in 1945, the M/V South Shore was launched. It was the first of the all-steel passenger/vehicle ferries for the Miller Boat Livery (later Miller Boat Line). Today the “South Shore” is a floating office on the Chicago River.

Tue., Mar. 18th – Chris Cooper and his daughter Meredith fly back to PIB after their teeth cleaning day on the mainland and enjoy a bonus stop at Middle Bass. Members of the Rec Committee are taking down the last of the Christmas decorations in DeRivera Park.

Wed., Mar. 19th – The island’s tornado sirens are triggered for a state-wide test. Miller Boat Line completes two days of training with about 32 of its captains, crew and dock hands, along with reps from the PIB Police Dept., the Ottawa County Sheriffs Dept., the PIB EMS and the Volunteer Fire Dept. Training included passenger safety practices, CPR and first aid, onboard fire fighting, electrical vehicle fires, a class from the TSA about their “See Something, Say Something” program, vessel systems refreshers, inclement/rough weather protocols, active shooter/disruptive behavior training, man overboard drills as well as employee safety training/practices. The M/V Mary Ann leaves the Miller downtown dock to get the winter “rust” knocked off.

Thu., Mar. 20th – A rain and wind storm hits the island about midnight and briefly knocks out power in spots around the island. Rob Hard at the Black Squirrel ends winter breakfasts with an end-of-the-year treat, crab legs for dinner.

putinbay.com Top Lodging Picks For 2025 At The Bay

Fri., Mar. 21st – It’s the first day of service for Miller Boat Line to PIB. This year Miller Boat Line marks 120 years of service in the Lake Erie Islands. Paul Jeris from the Island Club is the first passenger to step off the ferry at the Lime Kiln. There’s a flyover party at the PIB airport to celebrate the last day of flights and first day of ferry service. It’s also a going away party for Josh Bierley who has been a pilot at Island Air Taxi for the past two years. J.F. Walleye’s celebrates the end of their off-season schedule with a beer-batter cod for Lent special. KC Seaman and Jeff Bast enjoy their wedding ceremony aboard a cruise in Florida. They are joined by around 40 friends from Put-in-Bay.

Sat., Mar. 22nd – Anne Auger opens the Resale Shop for a couple of hours. Sonya Dress from Concord Ave. celebrates her birthday with family and friends. PIBHS has 6 students competing in the Regional Science Fair held at Ohio Northern University. Some of them advance to the State Science Fair.

Sun., Mar. 23rd – Fr. Robert Solon Jr. from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is on a train returning from Florida where he was on vacation.

Mon., Mar. 24th – State testing begins at PIB School. In the small world category, Brian and Justine Cultice run into the Jackson family, Scott, Caroline, Liesl and Cal in the Ft. Lauderdale Airport. The Cultices are heading home from a cruise and the Jacksons are returning to St. Croix after a week at Perdido Key, Florida. Miller Boat Line ends their trips an hour early for the day due to high winds and low water.

Tue., Mar. 25th – The car ferry line at the Catawba dock is packed with cars returning to Put-in-Bay. Billy Market moves the last of the freight from the airport to Miller’s freight barn.

Wed., Mar. 26th – Staff/owners at Cameo Pizza, PIB Brewery and Reel Bar are busy getting their businesses ready for opening day on April 4th. Joe’s Bar staff is also preparing their building to open April 9th. The path to Buckeye Island is exposed due to low water. Those that walk the pathway find many treasures left behind over winter.

Thu., Mar. 27th – Passenger and vehicle ferry trips to Middle Bass begin and the General Store opens its doors for the season. Lisa Brohl from the PIB Twp. Park District and Walt and Sue Duff stop by Hartung Title Co. in Port Clinton to finalize the sale of the Duff Vineyard. The 11 acres is a wonderful addition to the Park District’s other preserved properties.

Fri., Mar. 28th – Put-in-Bay School has early dismissal in the afternoon. Miller Ferry starts their extended spring schedule, adding extra trips throughout the day and evening. Jake Market from Bayview Ave. is checking on the progress of the M/V Put-in-Bay at Great Lakes Shipyard in Cleveland. The vessel has been dry-docked all winter while being retrofitted with new engines and transmissions.

Sat., Mar. 29th – Put-in-Bay Yacht Club has their annual cruise out to Buckeye Lake Yacht Club. Middle Bass General Store is having an opening weekend party.

Sun., Mar. 30th – Ferry boats are pushed back one hour to start the day due to weather. Cody Kowalksi earns his Red Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Congrats Cody!

Mon., Mar. 31st – The April Gazette is printed a day early. Online subscribers are happy to receive their issues immediately.

Putinbay.com is proud to present the Put-in-Bay Gazette’s Island Diary for March 2025, in the April 2025 issue of the Gazette.

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