Put-in-Bay Island Diary June 2025

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Island Diary June 2025

Sun., June 1st – St. Paul’s begins its 8 a.m., Sunday morning Summer Worship in DeRivera Park. There’s a bridal shower for Erin Urge, PIBHS Class of 2018, at the Ice House behind the Put-in-Bay Winery at the Doller Estate. If you pass the downtown docks in the mid-afternoon, you’ll see that there is not one single boat docked at the Village’s C-Dock.

Mon., June 2nd – About 90 Jehovah Witnesses are on South and Middle Bass Islands going door to door.

Tue., June 3rd – The EMS is busy shortly after midnight when Craig and Ashley Schuffenecker’s baby son is born at their home on East Point. As a precaution they are Life Flighted to the mainland. Village Council discusses an increase in water rates and a $1.8 million dollar ground storage tank, plus the Town Hall needs a new roof. Billy Market talks about a plan to add a couple more police officers each weekend during the summer. Council will reach out to the township to see if there is any interest in coming back to the Village for police protection after its contract with the sheriff department expires in December. It’s a nice warm day for Brian Cultice who is celebrating his 40th birthday, but it also is a bit smokey from the forest fires in Canada.

Wed., June 4th – The very warm day is relieved by rain in the afternoon. A group of Amish men are spotted playing mini-golf at Perry’s Cave. Aaron Wilson, PIBHS Class of 1999, conducts a low flyover of the Lime Kiln Dock in a Boeing Globemaster C-17 to mark his upcoming retirement from the National Guard. Scores of bikers are on Kelleys Island for a Dice Run that’s part of the Bike Week Week celebration in Sandusky.

Thu., June 5th – Sara Booker is at the Crew’s Nest going over details with Phoebe Koehler about her daughter Josie Sheehan’s wedding. Stone Lab hosts its first seminar of the season, a free, educational webinar presented by Ohio Division of Wildlife’s Avian Specialist, Jamey Emmert titled “From Flickers to Fire Throats: Rekindling Ohio’s Lake Erie Birding Trail Program.” Thursday Mah Jongg starts in the back room of the yacht club.

Fri., June 6th – The Mills Race starts in Toledo at 6 p.m. with sailors heading to Put-in-Bay in cool, dark and windy night.

Sat., June 7th – There are a clean up and spreading of mulch in the trails at the Massie Cliffside Preserve for National Trails Day. The Property Owners meet at the Senior Center to hear the recommendations from the Citizens Research Group about government options for the islands. John Murphy from Shore Villas is busy getting the ball diamond ready for the first games of the Lake Erie Islands Mens League Softball season. At the Niagara Event Center, the Gore Fest Horror Convention is taking place. The Phil Yan Polka Band is at Goat Biergarten for the first time this season. The Paul Jeris Return to Earth takes place at the Reel Bar. The Mill’s Race participants are celebrating their victories for drowning their sorrow in the beer tent at the yacht club. The annual South Bass Kayak Rendezvous takes place at the State Park. The Good Year Blimp circles over the Bay on its way west to Michigan.

Sun., June 8th – There’s a breakfast buffet for the Mill’s Racers at the yacht club. Javan and Jennifer Thompson are setting posts for their new mini-vineyard next to the Duff Homestead in the Duff Subdivision. A graduation party for the PIBHS Class of 2025 on the lawn at the Dodge House brings out many islanders in the afternoon. The first tour of the Benson Ford shiphouse takes place for the season. The Put-in-Bay Community Swim Sail Ice Cream Social takes place at the yacht club before the season’s lessons begin the next day. Participants and their parents have the opportunity to meet the directors and instructors of the program. Softball league play kicks off for the season with the Crew’s Nest playing Topsy Turvey’s and the Blue Marlin takes on Joe’s Bar.

Mon., June 9th – It’s rainy beginning for the swimmers and sailors as they kick off lessons for the season. Island mystery author Bob Adamov is at Goat for lunch and ends up dancing with sister waitresses Danica and Nevena Mrvic from Serbia. It’s Pride Day at the Bay. The first ever Pride Day Color 5k is in the morning, and Molly Kearney of Saturday Night Live entertains with jokes and stories in the afternoon at the Boathouse. Afterwards Molly dines at the Goat, one of the former work places they worked at over their years on the island. Later in the evening, the 16th Annual Drag Show takes place at the Round House with Ray Fogg and Tyler Whidden emceeing.

Tue., June 10th – The first PIBYC Auxillary Luncheon of the season takes place at The Bell Buoy (formerly the Picnic Basket). The Put-in-Bay Township Trustee’s regular monthly meeting takes place in the evening at the Middle Bass Townhall.

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

Wed., June 11th – The PIB Garden Club’s Green Circle Growers Tour takes place in Oberlin at one of the largest greenhouses in the U.S. The Boardwalk celebrates its 40th anniversary serving more than 700 bowls of lobster bisque for its 1985 price of $4.95. Tom Thanasiu working on getting floating docks in at Squaw Harbor. An Ohio Edison crew is setting a new electric pole on Bayview Ave. by the Put-in-Bay Winery. Employees at the Goat enjoy a sushi party after closing.

Thu., June 12th – Capt. Russ Brohl regales seniors at their center with a great overview of the colorful life aboard the lake freighters program. Patricial Fisher heads to Lonz at Middle Bass for a Slow Flow Yoga session.

Fri., June 13th – Strawberry prep and cutting for St. Paul’s shortcake booth at Founder’s Day is held at the Park Hotel kitchen. The “Phi Kai Phi”, a fixture at PIB and the Crew’s Nest for more than 50 years, hit something and took on water just outside East Harbor. The boat, a wood Manson custom built for the Dave Butz family, was a total loss. The 26th annual Swim/Sail Spaghetti Fundraiser Dinner took place at the yacht club. Friends, family and friends of the Bay celebrated the life of Craig Cox at the Round House in the evening.

Sat., June 14th – The weather isn’t the greatest for Founder’s Day in DeRivera Park. St. Paul’s strawberry shortcake sale is moved to the church. At the dock in front of the Put-in-Bay Winery, the Team Seneca Navy arrives in its boat that will attempt to row across the Atlantic this coming December. At the Goat Biergarten it’s Joann Jackson Day to celebrate the life of Scott Jackson’s mother.

Sun., June 15th – There are two queen mattress sets with frames and some old paintable picnic tables in front of the skyway that can be had free for the taking. The Monument celebrates the 110th Anniversary of its opening to the public. The Reel Bar celebrates Father’s Day by offering half off their meals, plus a $10 gift certificate. The antique cars head to Joe’s Bar after the parade.

Mon., June 16th – Paul Jeris, who reached new heights by travelling to space last month, is on top of Perry’s Monument inside the urn upgrading the web cams for Putinbay.com. The Boardwalk holds a trivia party for its employees.

Tues., June 17th – The PIB Auxiliary holds its luncheon at the Getaway Inn. If you dine at the Reel Bar, one of the weekly special desserts is Red Velvet Cheesecake. There’s an 80’s Vintage-themed staff party at the Keys. Today’s special at The Keys is Walleye Po’ Boy.

Wed., June 18th – Lobster Mania is Back at the Boardwalk! You can get a 1 lb. lobster, coleslaw roll and a cup of their famous lobster bisque — all for $10 off market price (dine-in only). Lesa Behrens from the West Shore posts a notice on social media looking for volunteers to help remove the mayflies from the downtown park lamppost flower basket nets.

Thurs., June 19th – The storm from the night before leaves eight downed trees in Victory Woods to be cleaned up. Several islanders are at the Catawba Island Club for a buffet breakfast and the awarding of the Ottawa County Community Foundation’s 2025 grants. The day turns rainy and windy, but end up gorgeous by late afternoon. Stone Lab hosts a summer webinar about the dragonflies and damselflies of Ohio. By mid afternoon, there’s a two-hour wait in line the ferry to PIB. For Juneteenth National Independence Day, visitors can go to the top of the Monument for free.

Fri., June 20th – Memorial services and reception for Mella Davies from Shore Villas take place at St. Paul’s. Friday and Saturday night karaoke with DJ Elo starts at the Brewery. While volunteering to set up things at the Ohio Wine Festival at Heineman Winery, Barb Hunter breaks her finger. There’s a native and edible plants program at the Middle Bass State Park in the afternoon. Summer officially begins at 10:42 PM.

putinbay.com Top Lodging Picks For 2025 At The Bay

Sat., June 21st – Rain in the morning makes for a steamy hot day for all the activities going on. PIB Village Mayor Judy Berry, Township Trustee Chris Cooper and Rosann Keiser from Miller Boat Line are speakers at the Property Owners Association meeting at the Senior Center. Rosann talks about the jetty going in at the Lime Kiln Dock, the mayor talks about policing in the Village and Chris updates everyone about what is going on in the Township. Their entire presentations are available on the Put-in-Bay Property Owners website. Heineman Winery hosts the Ohio’s Island Wine Festival. Everyone got a souvenir glass for sipping wine in the shade to live music. There are also some real deals to be had at the silent auctions held there by the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy and Lake Erie Islands Historical Society. On Middle Bass there’s a community event at the town hall field sponsored by Middle Bass Construction Co. There are inflatables, face painting, sno-cone machines, cotton candy machines, playground equipment, yard games, music and some food! All this is a thank you from Rob and Danielle Lasota to the community for helping them grow their little construction company. One of the most popular things of the day are the two huge beach balls the kids chase around the field. The Middle Bass Island Yacht Club has a poker run on Kelleys Island. Mike “Mad Dog” Adams is playing at St. Hazard’s on Middle Bass.

Sun., June 22nd – Day two of summer and it’s HOT! Roger Rhoad from East Point’s prestigious Lakeview Allotment celebrates his 70th birthday. Just before the antique car parade ends at the Put-in-Bay Yacht Club it’s 92 degrees in the shade. Today’s parade sponsors are Jerry and Kelly Butz and PIBYC. The 140-ft. Coast Guard Cutter Morro Bay spends the night in School House Bay off Middle Bass.

Mon., June 23rd – It’s another hot and humid day on the islands. You can cool off at the Dairy Isle where it’s Milkshake Monday. Shakes are $2 off.

Tues., June 24th – The Lake Erie Islands Historical Society’s popular North Bass trip takes place. The brutally hot weather doesn’t discourage those who enjoy seeing “Fantasy Island.” The island school was a welcome spot where one could cool off, get a drink or a bite to eat. Mo Mary Staley, formerly of St. Paul’s, is at the North Bass Chapel helping out. Jennifer Burris gave a talk at the island cemetery. You couldn’t help but notice the reconstruction projects that were going on at some of the ODNR’s historic buildings. The PIB Auxiliary luncheon takes place at the yacht club. Spectrum on parts of the island goes down for a while during the day. The Island General Store’s systems go down. The Put-in-Bay Township Board of Trustees holds a public hearing for a zoning change application submitted by Tracy Schork who has property at the airport. The PIB Chamber of Commerce receives many inquiries about the tragedy that took place at the Ottawa County Water Treatment Plant (A utility worker was found dead in one of their processing tanks on Monday). The Chamber posts that South Bass Island/Put-in-Bay has its own water supply and is not subject to the boil advisory in Ottawa County.

Wed., June 25th – A group from the PIB Senior Center is at a Mud Hen’s baseball game in Toledo. Kathy Schrader from the West Shore and Donna D’Amico from Victory Ave. are spotted removing mayfly carcasses off the nets on the lamppost flower baskets downtown. There is a group with about ten decorated golf carts having a great time at the Crew’s Nest. Speaking of the Crew’s Nest, their 3rd baseman Matt Fuchs tells us their softball team lost to Middle Bass.

Thurs., June 26th – NOAA releases its 2025 Harmful Algal Bloom forecast for Lake Erie at a media briefing hosted by Ohio Sea Grant and The Ohio State University’s Stone Laboratory. Due to the live web event, there are no Gibraltar tours. Another heavy rain storm interrupts the Ohio Edison crew that is putting equipment on the new electric pote by the Put-in-Bay Winery. The Goodtime excursion ferry has an oopsy as it runs aground between Buckeye and Ballast Islands.The PIB Village Police set up a road block on the road leading out to East Point as the Sheriff and EMS are at the turn around in case they are needed. The Reel Bar’s “Lake Erie Idol” hosted by Ron Howard with commentary by Ray (Fogg) & Duff (Spatafore) starts. Karaoke follows the show!

Fri., June 27th – The Village of Put-in-Bay Committee of the Whole meets in the morning to discuss the Police Services Contract it will offer to the PIB Township Trustees. Pyratefest XVII begins and the staff in many island businesses are dressed in pirate gear. It rains in the afternoon as the swashbucklers take over the island. We think the first canon fire made it rain. A small plane crashes on take off from Kelleys Island airport and injures two people. The Goodtime is freed from the reef about 10 p.m.

Sat., June 28th – The weather is perfect for the Pyrate Fest. At McCann field there’s the Browns Backer’s Battle At the Bay Flag Football tournament going on. Out on East Point at Rose Kahler’s home, there’s a baby shower for her granddaughter Sagan Kahler and Adam Myers. The PIB Yacht Club hosts the Reds, Whites, and Brews fundraiser with entertainer John Davenport on the patio. At the Middle Bass Island Yacht Club their annual meeting and club picnic take place.

Sun., June 29th – It’s a gorgeous day for the last day of Pyratefest. McCann’s field is also busy with tag football play. John Galvin says there are already boats at the DeRivera Park B-Dock for the 4th of July. There’s a graduation party for Danger Morrow, the son of Robby and Jen Morrow, at the Ice House behind the Put-in-Bay Winery.

Mon., June 30th – OK gang, it’s time to get real and buckle down as the summer tourist season shifts into high gear. The weather looks good for July, so let’s all hope for a prosperous 2025 season!

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

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