Put-in-Bay Island Diary May 2025

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Island Diary May 2025

Thu., May 1st – Workers getting ready for the opening weekend of many island businesses are interrupted by really hard rain mid-afternoon.

Fri., May 2nd – The Jet Express enjoys coming over on a flat lake as it begins service to PIB for the season. Among those opening for the season are The Upper Deck, Hooligans, The Lobster Trap and Rita’s Cantina.

Sat., May 3rd – Kudos to those who spent time in the cold rainy morning pulling up garlic mustard weed in Cooper’s Woods. Bob Gatewood takes stage at the Reel Bar for the first island show of the 2025 season. Recycling is open on Middle Bass Island. Put-in-Bay’s baton twirlers are at the USTA State contest in Troy, Ohio. On this date 90 years ago The Peninsula News reports that Kelleys Island fisherman land a 7+ ft. long, 175 lb. sturgeon.

Sun., May 4th – Maisie Ruchala celebrates her 80th birthday with a party at Heineman Winery in the afternoon. Due to weather the Crew’s Nest closes the clubhouse.

Mon., May 5th – There’s a Sunday-like long line at the Lime Kiln in the morning. Traffic in the Village is rerouted for street sealing.

Tue., May 6th – Council meets early to hear about sealing the streets. The first graders and kindergartners from Put-in-Bay Schooltake a field trip to Perry’s Cave and Butterfly House. Scott and Caroline Jackson from the Goat leave for a week in Germany and Austria where they visit several breweries. The “Pelee Islander,” the ferry that runs from Sandusky to Pelee Island, is in Sandusky for its annual US Coast Guard inspection.

Wed., May 7th – Workers pour the last concrete for the parking lot at the Airport terminal. The Bush House on Bayview Ave. is getting a new set of steps to the redecked front porch. Several Village streets are being sealed. The Spring Concert features students singing songs from around the world. June Stoiber’s donates 250 of her delicious cookies for an after-concert treat. They all disappear in a flash one the concert ends. Thank you, June.

Thu., May 8th – It’s windy and chilly. The The first graders and kindergartners from Put-in-Bay School take a field trip to the Nature Center. Dave and Kat Holscott from the Goat Biergarten return to the island after cruising in Asia, spending time in South Padre Island, residing in India for five weeks, Cyprus for two weeks, and Malaga, Spain for two weeks, cruising in the Mediterranean and taking the ship back to Florida.

Fri., May 9th – There’s a long line up of fishermen returning to the mainland on the first few ferries in the morning. Sheriff officers come to the island to relieve K9 Sheriff Deputy Storm of duty on the islands after his sheriff handler Gary Allred resigns and goes to work for the Village police department. The Crew’s Nest holds its Opening Party. The first performance of the spring play, Clue, takes place at the Town Hall theater. The younger elementary students enjoy a sleep over birthday party for third grader Andrea Lopez. Ferry service between Sandusky and Pelee Island begins for the season.

Sat., May 10th – It’s a beautiful day for the clean up at the Put-in-Bay Yacht Club. The second performance of the Spring Play, Clue, takes place upstairs in the PIB Town Hall. Mike Adams performs his first show of the season at the Round House. The Jet Express has a West Sister Island Sunset Cruise.

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

Sun., May 11th – There’s a Mother’s Day buffet at the Crew’s Nest and a Breakfast and Bloody Mary Bar at the yacht club, plus mothers get half off their meal at the Boardwalk.

Mon., May 12th – Back to the Wild brings their wildlife friends to the PIB Town Hall in the afternoon for a free show. The program is sponsored by the Lake Erie islands Nature and Wildlife Center, the PIB Recreation Committee, the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy and Miller Boat Line. Tom and Paula Bartlett are banding birds at the Barnhill Vineyard property on East Point. Johnny Mattens hosts Open Jam Night at Topsy Turvey’s.

Tue., May 13th – After the Village Council meeting the Blessing of the Fleet takes place at Fox’s Dock. The treat for the day is another big batch of June Stoiber’s cookies for the attendees to enjoy. June’s been supplying the cookies for the Blessing for years.

Wed., May 14th – Traffic disruptions begin for the next couple of days for Village street striping. Delaware Ave will be closed after midnight tonight.

Thu., May 15th – There is an island shore clean up that starts at the Keys. There’s a field trip to the Toledo Zoo for the student body and staff at PIB School. In the evening, the Junior/Senior Banquet takes place at the Upper Deck. The Bayview Room at the yacht club begins summer hours.

Fri., May 16th – It’s Awards Day at School. It is announced that Ava Heineman is the Salutatorian and Elias Wright the Valedictorian. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will be participating in delivering summer meals to island children and hosts a mandatory training session for volunteers. The Keys, the Goat Biergarten and Splash all open for the season.

Sat., May 17th – The Lake Erie Island Conservancy has native wildflowers, grasses and small trees (bur oak, common hackberry and hoptree) for sale at the residence of John and Paula Ladd at the corner of Erie and Catawaba during the Island Wide Garage Sale. The Dairy Isle opens. Heidi Ladd enjoys a beautiful and relaxing evening while busily tying grapes in the Duff Homestead vineyard. Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial opens for the season. At Put-in-Bay Yacht Club, the Lighting of the Cupola takes place.

Sun, May 18th – Some of the South Bass Island kids head to Middle Bass Island to celebrate Bryn Marshall’s birthday. One of the things the kids do is jumping off the cliffs near Lonz Winery into the cold lake. At the Biergarten at the Goat, there’s a celebration of life for Rob Mohn. Rob Hard from the Black Squirrel is on hand to roast a huge hog for the event. There’s a wonderful belated birthday party for Mary Ann McCann who is celebrating her 90th year.

Mon., May 19th – Some islanders are dealing with cell phone reception issues. The Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce holds is Spring Member Meeting at the Yacht Club in the afternoon.

Tue., May 20th – Annie Parker celebrates her 96th birthday with family and island friends at her home on Catawba Island. The last ferry trip leaves PIB at 4 p.m. The last ferry leaving Middle Bass is at 2:15 p.m. Due to the cancellation of the last trip, Burgundy Bay trash will be picked up on Friday afternoon. Also on Middle Bass, the last potluck for spring takes place at the General Store.

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Wed., May 21st – May is the month of the year that the island gets the most rainfall. On average, May is the wettest month with 4 inches (101 mm) of precipitation. Members of the Garden Club get the flower baskets up just before some serious rain starts to fall. The group enjoys a potluck at the home of their president, Sheri Murphy later. The tall ship “Lettie G Howard,” a fishing schooner out of Erie PA is at the Jet Dock enjoying the rain and cold wind.

Thurs., May 22nd – Coffee with a Cop at the Senior Center is lightly attended. The Sheriff’s K9 Unit is inside the fire station with a dog to share a program with some of the school kids. Students only have a half day of class as it’s the last day of school year 2024/25, so they enjoy a movie and pajama day instead of “real” classes. The Goat opens for the season. There’s a Celebration of Life for Don Breier at Town Hall. High school graduation ceremonies take place in the school gymnasium rather than outside at Perry’s Monument. A reception at the yacht club follows the graduation ceremony.

Fri., May 23rd – The staff at PIB School has a work day now that the students are out for summer vacation. The sheriff is spotted near Heineman Winery handling a golf cart mishap of some kind. Jet Express service from Sandusky begins for the season.

Sat., May 24th – Goat bartender Jimbo Fortson celebrates his 40th birthday. His fellow workers sing Happy Birthday and share a cake with him. They’re short-handed at the Dairy Isle, so Dr. Jim Coviello steps in to make french fries to supplement his income. There’s an open house at the Middle Bass Island Volunteer Fire Dept. over the lunch hour. Later was a 60th party at the MBI Town Hall for Lyndell Bartels

Sun., May 25th – It’s busy at the Put-in-Bay Yacht Club. There’s the Commodore’s Reception Sunday in the morning before the Memorial Service remembering those who have departed. Then there is the ever-popular eye-opener. Over on Middle Bass, islanders spot Charlie Cartledge flying over in his WWII TBM Avenger.

Mon., May 26th – It’s a beautiful Memorial Day. Jets fly over the island. There’s a complimentary cup of the Boardwalk’s signature Boardwalk Lobster Bisque for all veterans and active military personal duty to thank them for their service. Members of the American Legion enjoy a steak fry Billy and Allie Market are celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary. There’s a Memorial Day Service on the plaza in front of Perry’s Monument. Over on Middle Bass, there’s a birthday celebration party for Eddie Sheller from the General Store.

Tues., May 27th – The island kids may be out of school, but their teachers are still working. They enjoy one of their favorites, the Teacher In-Service Day. Bird bander Tom Bartlett is on North Bass. There’s a Reel Fine Wine Tasting at Reel Bar featuring wines from Argentina. Chef & Sommelier Robby Lucas (PIBHS Class of 1999) presents five wines from Argentina, along with small gourmet dishes.

Wed., May 28th – What a pleasantly cool and peacefully quiet day it is. Piper Koehler begins her 13th birthday celebration with lunch with her friends, Melody O’Donnell, Carmen Castaneda Juarez, Brynn Marshall, Harper Scarpelli andSophia Mathys at Casa Las Palmas Mexican restaurant on the mainland. The girls then enjoy an overnight at Castaway Bay in Sandusky, The wait staff at the Goat enjoys a wine sampling.

Thurs., May 29th – State Highway 357 is having its stripes freshly painted. Bishop Anne Jolly is on the island to Celebrate the New Ministry to formally institute Fr. Bob as Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Fri., May 30th – Lisa Brohl reports seeing her first Mayfly of the season. Valerie Chornyak comes to the rescue and shows Jeff Koehler how to photograph items at Dockside while taking pictures for their ad in the Gazette. Ohio Edison is replacing the electric pole at the intersection of Delaware and Catawba Avenues. The summer doors (screen) are put on for the summer at Island Hardware & Market. Owner Chris Cooper says, “Not quite the event that the Whiskey Light is, but it’s still a sign of summer.”

Sat., May 31st – Paul Jeris from the Island Club is launched into space and becomes both the first person from Put-in-Bay and the 700th Human to Cross the International Karmin Line. There’s a launch party at Mr. Ed’s with a hundred people on hand to watch the space flight. The Lake Erie watersnake population census, also known as the Nerodio, begins. The census will go on until June 12th. On this date in 1914, the Ohio State Fish Hatchery at the west end of PIB harbor was destroyed by fire.

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

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