Put-in-Bay residents, even without a frozen Lake Erie, enter into a period of hibernation in January–or so people think!
In fact, this time of year there is much which beckons islanders to leave warm and cozy homes. Business owners head to trade shows, musicians 
discover new mainland venues, snowbirds flock to the Gulf Coast, adventure-minded managers visit Bulgaria, retirees head to India and beyond, and sportsmen seek the best hunting and trapping opportunities. Even a handful of stalwart fishers dot the waters between South Bass and Kelleys.
On the island friends gather frequently at REEL BAR, Wharfside/Topsy Turveys, at the Put-in-Bay Senior Center, and especially at Put-in-Bay School Basketball games (tomorrow!) ATV riders scout the island for signs of ice, bird-watchers explore the wonderful nature preserves (especially Scheef East Point and Massie Cliffside), and diligent walkers routinely take in the settled environment on two-or-more mile hikes. Human Resource managers begin to sort through employment applications, and Put-in-
Bay Chamber of Commerce begins the detailed preparations for summer events.
All is well on South Bass Island, but don’t let the serene glimpses offered by Webcams and resident photographers fool you. There is a lot going on at Put-in-Bay, albeit with a healthy dose of peace and quiet.
Images courtesy of OSU-Gibraltar Webcams