Put-in-Bay Community Events continue in December, with rewarding activities for all! Click image to enlarge.
Fly the Islands with Island Air Taxi
Island Air Taxi wishes all a happy December!
A letter from owner/operators Dustin & Chontel Shaffer:
Here’s to good ice and blue skies this winter! Flying season is here and we’ve got a few updates and general information. First, we’ve hired another pilot last spring. Now Dustin can sit in the back with you guys! Kenan Lorentz is a skilled pilot and great flight instructor who will help out on weekends this winter. Chontel will also have an assistant, Nick Valore, to help with phone calls, texts, and scheduling. We are very excited and grateful to expand our little operation and look forward to loading your luggage.
Being that it’s been 10 years, insurance and gas prices have risen, and apparently we have to pay these new employees. Airfare prices have to change. Adult One Way is now $45 for 13 years old and up, Child One Way is $25 for 2-12 years old. Dogs, Cats and Babies still fly free–but be prepared to hold them, even if they’re not yours.
We truly thank each and every one of you for your support these last 10 years, and we look forward to more decades to come!
Check out the new website for more details: www.islandairtaxi.com
Panther Basketball Wins on Beaver Island
Put-in-Bay Panthers completed the 2022 Great Lakes Islands Tournament on Friday afternoon. The Panthers took on the Islanders of Beaver Island and the Bucks of Washington Island in a shortened competition. The Mackinac team was unable to participate.
The Lady Panthers won their fourth championship in a row. They were victorious 37-26 against Beaver Island, and 44-10 vs. Washington island! Leading the Panthers were Ava Heineman with 26 points for the tournament, and Lilian Frederick with 17 points.
The boys split the tournament with an opening win vs. Beaver Island 41-7, and a loss to Washington Island 46-30. Doug Steidl led the Panthers with 23 points in the tournament, and Geoffrey Luecke contributed 17 points. The Panthers won the overall tournament combined record with a final standing of 3-1.
Great job Panthers–you got your growl on!
Audubon Christmas Bird Count on Horizon
Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count will be held in the Lake Erie Islands Count Circle on Sunday, December 18, 2022. Participants will be needed on Kelleys, Pelee, and the Bass Islands that day. On South Bass, we need volunteers to listen for owls in the early morning, travel the island bird watching during the day, and to watch their feeders at home. On South Bass, we would love to have someone spend time at our island preserves to watch that day-any amount of time is good. We have a form that will help with observations recording time of day, time spent, distance traveled, weather conditions and a bird checklist. These areas are also listed as ebird hotspots-Massie Cliffside, Dodge Woods, Scheeff East Point, Cooper’s Woods, Jane Coates Wildflower Trail, Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center etc. If you are interested in watching your feeders or traveling the South Bass Island for all or part of the day, call or text Lisa Brohl at (419) 366-2087 or e-mail at leiconservancy”at”gmail.com. We may get together for a potluck or pizza afterwards at the Brohl home if there is interest.
We are also looking for birders or feeder watchers to help with Middle Bass and North Bass Contact Teddi Keith Morris(614-373-7533) or 419-285-0042 to participate on Middle Bass.
John Pogacnik, the official Count Circle Compiler, will be coordinating the efforts on Kelleys Island. Please correspond with him at jpogacnik”at”hotmail.com or with Tom Bartlett at hthomas.bartlett”atgmail.com if you wish to help at Kelleys.
Participation in the Christmas Bird Count is free and a lot of fun! The data gathered over 100 years of the count show important trends in bird populations.
Lisa Brohl, Chair
Lake Erie Islands Conservancy