Diary September 2019 – What happened at Put-in-Bay Ohio!

Sun., Sept. 1st – The polka band playing at the Goat’s Biergarten, Das Lokal, has to put up with some rain for those enjoying their old-country entertainment.

Mon., Sept. 2nd – JD Owen is entertaining at the Antique Car Parade potluck at the Crew’s Nest Pavilion. Art Boyles leads the antique car parade for the last time in Car 54. Art is moving off the island and sold the car to Al and Marsha Ashley. The Coast Guard stops a boat in Schoolhouse Bay off Middle Bass. The boats are seen together for two hours before a squall comes through, leaving those who were watching from shore to wonder what was going on. To celebrate the season, the Crew’s Nest dockmasters all jump in the club pool with their clothes on. The entertainment at the last-boat-send off at the Lime Kiln is canceled right after a great fireworks show when black clouds dump rain on the party. Coach Craig Shuffenecker and members of the PIB School’s Panther volleyball team collect donations for a suicide prevention fund before the rain hits.

Tues., Sept. 3rd – Put-in-Bay School staff and elementary students and their parents meet in front of the school to celebrate the opening of the new school year with a human tunnel leading to the front door. Lots of photos were taken.

Wed., Sept. 4th – The food service tent is being set up on the east side of the Monument grounds for the hundreds of Boy Scouts who are coming for the Historical Weekend at Put-in-Bay. At the Reel Bar, there’s a 5-course meal prepared by guest chef Terry Galvin along with a wine tasting with six wines of the Veneto region in Italy.

Thurs., Sept. 5th – Representatives from the Ohio EPA are at a meeting at the Put-in-Bay Town Hall to discuss issues concerning water service options for the island in the coming years. It comes down to the island continuing making its own at the village water plant or running a line under the lake and being supplied by the regional water system on the mainland.

Fri., Sept. 6th – Island entertainer Ray Fogg is at the Round House for a rare afternoon show. Boy Scouts arrive on the island by the hundreds and set up their tents in McCann Field rather than on the lawn east of the Monument like they normally would due to the less-than-ideal condition of the grass and ground caused by the high water at Put-in-Bay this season. Lake Erie Shores & Islands mascot Wylie the Walleye arrives on the island to take part in the historical weekend parade. Bobbi Dobos has Drive-in Movie night at the old farmhouse next to Joe’s Bar.

Sat., Sept. 7th – Members of the Put-in-Bay American Legion Post hold a ceremony at the Doughboy Statue in De Rivera Park to dedicate a new memorial recognizing all veterans who served in all wars and branches, not just those from World War I. Dave Frederick is the master of ceremonies at the half-hour-long event. At Nature and Wildlife Center’s open house, they are tagging Monarch butterflies. There are free tours at the South Bass Island Lighthouse and Stone Lab on Gibraltar Island. Ham radio operators are on-air broadcasting from Oak Point State Park in a tent. In the afternoon, there’s a 70th birthday party for Zauzi Heineman at Heineman Winery. In the evening, the annual
Harbor Illumination takes place at dusk.

Sun., Sept. 8th – Miller Boat Line is hosting the winner of it’s “Captain for a Day” contest and his family. The Muffins from Columbus and the Mossback team from Put-in-Bay are competing against each other in old-fashion baseball gameplay using the rules when the sport was invented. A five-peace Mariachi band entertains as Bob Engel celebrates his 100th birthday at the front lawn at the Engel homestead across from Put-in-Bay Airport. Over on Kelleys Island, the officers from the police department are holding a car wash. All donations go to the KIPD.

Mon., Sept. 9th – Miller Boat Line starts another schedule. The September PIB Chamber of Commerce membership meeting is at Frosty’s. Yummy pizza for all! Following graveside funeral services for Bob “Werty” Wertenbach, friends and family convene at the Round
House. Tippers closed for the day. At the Senior Center, they are painting bowls for “Empty Bowls By The Lake” to help raise funds for the Calen. Todd Blumensaadt and his crew begin jackhammering out the old Crew’s Nest pool in preparation for the new one to be built.

Tues., Sept. 10th – It’s downright hot for September, and there are very few tourists except for the Elderhostel group on the island.

Wed., Sept. 11th – Village Council meets in the morning. Among the discussions are what options there are for the Bathing Beach at the end of Delaware Avenue by the Monument. Another modular home is being delivered to the island on the Miller Ferry. By our count, that is at least three new homes delivered this summer. Congrats, new homeowners! A Sept. 11th memorial service is held at Perry’s Monument. A quick storm hit the island in the evening toppling trees, plus blowing over several small catamaran sailboats at the yacht club. A tree is down by the churches, and Catawba Ave closed temporarily. Joan and Roger Rhoad of Lakeview Dr. have to take refuge at the Middle Bass State Park while the storm rolls over.

Thurs., Sept. 12th – An open house takes place at Put-in-Bay School after classes end for the day. The Put-in-Bay Garden Club is having a potluck at Mother of Sorrows Church Cornerstone Room. Work continues on the North Bass Airport.

Fri., Sept. 13th – It’s a hot summer-like day on the island. The Put-in-Bay Police Department conducts an
“active shooter” drill at Put-in-Bay School in the morning. Brit Schroeder is celebrating his birthday.

Sat., Sept. 14th – A video production crew is on the Island from NYC making a promotional video about Megabits internet for Google. Mother Mary Staley from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is on hand in the morning to bless the Ford Broncos that have gathered at the first Bronco’s at the Bay event. Around 20 classic Ford Broncos are meeting at Heineman’s Winery before their parade. It’s a packed station at the 44th annual Put-in-Bay Volunteer Fire Department Clam Bake. All 250 tickets sold this year! The Put-in-Bay Panthers volleyball team won a close match, 3-1, versus Toledo Scott. In the evening there is gambling at the Monte Carlo games for New Year’s at the Bay on Delaware
Ave. If you’re not into gaming, there’s a craft beer party at Put-in-Bay Yacht Club.

Sun., Sept. 15th – Al and Marsha Ashley lead the car parade for the first time since purchasing the lead police car from Art Boyles. St Paul’s Church welcomed the antique car parade participants for burgers and dogs afterward. Kayakers representing several Episcopal churches came to Put-in-Bay to spend the afternoon together. There are a pig roast and fish fry at Mist for the employees of Mr. Ed’s, Commodore Resort and the Tree Bar as reported to the Diary September 2019.

Mon., Sept. 16th – It’s release day for William Krejci’s 7th book, Ghosts, and Legends of Lake Erie (Haunted America). It’s available for $21.99 on Amazon. The North Bass airport is getting a cement injection, the final stage before asphalt is laid. The Browns play the Jets on Monday Night Football, and the Browns Backers meet at Topsy Turvey’s.

Tues., Sept. 17th – Heineman’s Winery releases a new collectors edition White Riesling wine, honoring the 10th anniversary of the revival of the Put-in-Bay Sports Car Races that ran on the island from 1952 through 1963. Workers are in the process of conducting a leak investigation of the Memorial Column today and over the next few days at Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial. Hooligans’ Kilted Classic golf scramble is a great success with over 30 participants! In the evening, there is a “onesie” bar crawl.

Wed., Sept. 18th – It’s starting to cool off with temperatures in the low 70’s. The smell of ripe grapes is in the air as grape picking has begun. Workers at the airport are gearing up for the Road Race Reunion next week as two truck fulls of hay bails arrive to create the course barriers.
Doug Wilhelm drops off PIBVFD shirts to the Attica Volunteer Fire Department in Attica, Ohio, to help with a benefit for one of their members battling cancer.

Thurs., Sept. 19th – Liam Market was putting in some time at the Lime Kiln freight warehouse. He was promised some Boardwalk lobster bisque for helping out. The Panther Volleyball team hosts a Volley-4-a-Cure game against Woodward. All proceeds go to the Susan G. Koman Foundation of Northwest Ohio. The third annual “Taste of Put-in-Bay” draws a great crowd at the PIBVFD station in the evening. Zach Hiss from the Fishbowl was a lucky gun raffle winner. Chef Mike Catey and his crew from the Crew’s Nest take top honors at the event.

Fri., Sept. 20th – School photos are being taken at the Put-in-Bay School. Even the youngest three, the class of 2037, gets their photos done. The Space Coast World Trade Council Seminar is at the Town Hall. The leak investigation is completed on Perry’s Monument.

Sat., Sept. 21st – It’s another busy Saturday at the Bay. Members of the Put-in-Bay Cross Country Team are running in the Miller Boat Line 5K. Sailors from around the area are racing in the Fall Bay Regatta. Natalie Ontko, Monk Nemec, Carmen Trisler, and others are helping Lisa Brohl pick her last rows of grapes. At the Monument, they have a giant peace symbol on the lawn with the park’s collection of flags from around the world to celebrate the International Day of Peace. At Hooligans, there’s the Half Way to St. Patty’s Day parade and a considerable group breaking the Guinness Book of World Record for the largest pretzel/cheese dip at one time. The Goat is having its Oktgoaterfest in it’s Biergarten. Westside Steve is at the Keys Put-in-Bay for his last show of the season. On Middle Bass, the grape stomping and pig roast at J.F. Walleye’s were lots of fun.

Sun., Sept. 22nd – Vintage sports cars begin arriving on the island for the 10th Anniversary Put-in-Bay Sports Car Races. The Antique Car Paraders stop at Hooligans after the afternoon parade. There’s a wedding shower for Agnes Uszak at the Crew’s Nest. The Sand Bar closes for the season. Heineman Winery and the Kelleys Island Wine Co. are both having their employee dinners at the Goat. The Browns Backers are at the Reel Bar for the evening game against the Rams.

Diary September 2019 Mon., Sept. 23rd – It’s “Crazy Hair Day” at school, and Braylee Dobos takes the cake with her donut hairstyle complete with icing and sprinkles. The Wine Club meets at the home of Tom and Barb Cooper on the shore of Pinky’s Pond. Just before 7 p.m., the emergency sirens sound, and the fire department responds to a kitchen countertop propane burner fire and leak at the home of Skip and Kim Morrison.

Tues., Sept. 24th – Scores of vintage sports cars are on display at Heineman Winery. In the late afternoon, the vintage sports cars do laps around the island on the original racecourse used back in the 1950s and early 1960s. The unique racecourse was on Catawba, Delaware, Toledo, Langram and Meechen Roads and Avenues.

Wed., Sept. 25th – The road racers are at the closed Put-in-Bay Airport racing around the course set up on the runway and aprons. You can hear the cars accelerating all the way downtown.

Thurs., Sept. 26th – A crew from Heineman Winery is using their new mechanical grape picker in their vineyards on Mitchell Rd. The second day of car racing takes place at the airport. Doug and Barb Mehling host the Put-in-Bay seniors who enjoy what has become the annual potluck as they watch the sports car races. A drilling crew is working along the north seawall at Perry’s Monument. There are temporary lane closures on Bayview Ave, as needed for their safety.

Fri., Sept. 27th – Bill Cantillon from East Point is conducting a seminar on world trade at the Put-in-Bay Town Hall. Among the topics are terms of trade, tariffs, and classification and import/export formalities. Happy Hour at the Crew’s Nest is interrupted a bit when a few pre-rain-storm sharp blasts of wind blow through the crowded patio area.

Sat., Sept. 28th – The two mayoral candidates, incumbent Jessica Dress and former mayor Judy Berry, along with incumbent PIB Twp. Trustee Chris Cooper, address those who attend the Put-in-Bay Property Owners Association meeting in the morning at the Senior Center. It’s Jim Duffy’s last meeting as president of the organization. Bill Boag jumps headfirst into his duties as the newest PIBPOA board member. Later in the day, there’s a public meeting at the Township building, rehashing the 2019 Bash at the Bay to make an even better 2020 Bash on the Bay. The 50th anniversary of the moon landing is the theme at The Crew’s Nest’s close down party. For those who love chocolate treats, it’s the last day of the season to get one at the Chocolate Cafe. A golf cart coming down the hill by the Goat’s Biergarten hits a sign. The cart has to be towed.

Sun., Sept. 29th – The last official car parade of the season takes place. Preparade sponsors are Bill Martens from East Point and, Dave Marshall and Pat Wencku from the West Shore. The post-parade stop is at Heineman Winery.

Mon., Sept. 30th – The Miller ferry boat schedule changes again. Fall is officially in full swing! That’s it for the Diary September 2019