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Just A Few Random Thoughts
I Kinda Remember That
I’ve always contended that the tourist seasons at Put-in-Bay have, like people, their own personalities. They are never quite the same. This season, for example, had the cool June, the smokey haze from the huge wildfires in Canada, lackluster days and busy weekends, two events, the Survivor TV show tryouts and the visit by Good Morning America that each brought the island nation-wide publicity, plus the controversy of “permit parking” downtown. The nice thing about each season is that we’ll probably group it in with all the other past seasons and remember just enough to say, “I kinda remember that,” but won’t be able to recall the exact year.
Power Outages
Entertainer and owner of the Reel Bar Ray Fogg had some interesting thoughts about the random power outages we’ve experienced this summer and what happens in an establishment like this, especially at meal times. There’s lots of food being cooked and when the hood fan dies, the kitchen can fill with smoke. Unfinished food is lost and customers who’ve had drinks or who are ready to leave find that they can’t get a payment processed unless they pay cash. Ray also talked about the musicians and entertainers who depend on power for their mics and instruments. There’s not much you can do, but just go with the flow. Oh! And by the way, the Boardwalk has a generator that kicks on so their lights still burn brightly when the rest of the town is in the dark.
5000 eScooters!
One of the biggest complaints we hear is about the number of golf carts on the island, but how about this? There’s a fellow from Akron who posted that he has 5,000 electric scooters and wants to partner with someone here on the island and rent them out. We can imagine the multiple traffic issues and injuries associated with an idea like this.
Lack Luster Season
As usual, we’re hearing reports about this season compared to others. The consensus seems to be like the weather, inconsistent. You’d think with the price of gas way down, there would be a lot more people vacationing on the island, but that may be offset by some of the high prices they are faced with when they get here. In our travels this past winter, prices on the island seem to be about in line with most other tourist destinations.
OSU Marching Band
To everyone except UofM fans, there’s a lot of excitement about The Ohio State University Marching Band visiting Put-in-Bay on Sunday, September 3rd. The Best Damn Band in the Land (TBDBiTL) will come to Put-in-Bay’s downtown aboard one of the Miller ferries. After coming directly through the harbor, they will land at Miller’s downtown dock and then parade into town along Bayview Ave. The last time the band did this was ten years ago and it was one of the most memorable and well-attended events ever at Put-in-Bay. You won’t want to miss it. You can find more details at millerferry.com/event/theohiostateband-atputinbay/ . The Put-in-Bay Yacht Club is selling $20 raffle tickets to ride with TBDBITL on the Miller ferry from Catawba to Miller’s downtown dock when they come to Put-in-Bay that day. See the manager or one of the bartenders or roving sellers at the club to get one of only 160 tickets to be sold. The drawing will take place on August 19th.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
The Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce has worked diligently the past couple of years with a marketing campaign to bring families to the island and create a much more positive image of Put-in-Bay. Well, the “Half-way to that certain holiday everybody celebrates in December” roared its ugly head again on the weekend of July 21st and 22nd as unruly and disrespectful visitors resulted in multiple negative headlines and reports in media of all kinds. All the good things and events the islands have to offer were overshadowed by a few bad apples. Let’s hope island business people and officials take this weekend to heart and prepare ahead next year so this doesn’t happen again.
The previous piece is published in this month’s Put-in-Bay Gazette. The Gazette has been producing incredible independent Put-in-Bay island news for over 40 years. If you have any interest at all in what is happening on South Bass Island, we urge you strongly to subscribe to the Put-in-Bay Gazette. One-year online subscriptions are only $15, and print subscriptions are available as well. To subscribe please click here.
