catawba island magazine

on page

17

On the Cover… Coloring contest winner, DJ Webster (age 6)!

3… Letter from the Press

4… Giving Thanks

8… The Arts

11… Battle of Lake Erie Revisited

12… Police Beat

14… Township News

16… Fire Department

17… Restaurants & Entertainment

18… Around Town

20… Classifieds

21… Horoscopes

on page

20

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Catawba Island Township: Police, Non-emergency

419-797-2422

Fire, Non-emergency

419-797-2424

Trustees & Clerks - 419-797-4131

Zoning Office - 419-797-4131

Maintenance - 419-797-2460

Ottawa County: Sheriff - 419-734-4404

Commissioners - 419-734-6790

Auditor - 419-734-6740

Treasurer - 419-734-6750

Building Dept.- 419-734-6767

Prosecutor - 419-734-6845

Recycling - 419-734-6783

Dog Warden - 419-898-1368

Emergency Mgmt - 419-734-6900

Regional Planning - 419-734-6780

Engineer - 419-734-6777

Schools: Board of Education - 419-732-2102

Bataan Elementary 419-734-2815

Middle School - 419-734-4448

High School - 419-734-2147

Bus Garage 419-734-1516

Immaculate Conception School

419-734-3315

Utilities: Sanitary Engineer- 419-734-6725

Time Warner Cable - 888-683-

1000

Ohio Edison - 800-633-4766

Verizon - 800-555-4833

Columbia Gas - 800-344-4077

Other Numbers: Magruder Hospital - 419-734-3131

Post Office - 419-732-3322

Visitors Bureau - 419-734-4386

Chamber of Commerce -

419-734-4386 ∞

Dear friends, Hasn’t it been a beautiful transition into fall around our little peninsula? I love the beautiful foliage and brilliantly colored sunsets autumn gives us. Fall seems to fly by as quickly as the leaves from the trees and the holi-days are fast approaching. This time of year our thoughts turn gratefully to those of you who support our little publication as we could not do this every month without you! And as always, be sure to thank our advertisers and visit their businesses! Christmas will be here before we know it which means our arts and craft show, Christmas on Catawba, will be here too! It is scheduled Saturday, December 11th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the community hall on Catawba. There will be over 30 local artists and crafters selling their wares. There will also be food, entertainment and even pet pictures with Santa Claus! It will be great fun and benefits the Humane Society of Ottawa County! Hope to see you then! As some of you know, when we first started the magazine, many Catawba Islanders did not receive the first two issues. We will be raffling these first two issues at Christmas on Catawba! Tickets are $2 each and area currently on sale at www.catawbaislandmagazine.com for advance sales. We also will be selling back issues for as low as $1 each at Christmas on Catawba so be sure to stop in and say “hi!” Even with the onslaught of the upcoming winter weather, our publication still reaches 3,700 plus addresses of business and residents on and around Catawba Island not including subscribers. More than 4,000 maga-zines are distributed each month via the USPS. We are proud to say that we are Catawba Island’s #1 coffee table book! Unlike newspapers or cou-pon clippers, our readers proudly keep our publication for months and many have since day one! Thanks again for your ongoing support! From our family to yours, we truly wish you the best of everything this Thanksgiving. Thanks for reading and we hope to see you around town!

West shore of Catawba Island along Sand Road after an Autumn storm by AJE

Andrea J. Elliott

Publisher and Photographer, Catawba Island Press

November 2010 Catawba Island Magazine 3

NAME____________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS (Sorry, NO P.O. Boxes!)___________________________________________________

CITY_______________________________________ STATE__________ ZIP___________

Please note: Subscriptions will start the month after we receive your order. If you want to start your subscription in a later month, please note it on your order. Mail Orders to: Catawba Island Press, 9841 State Road, North Royalton, Ohio 44133 with a Check or Money Order made Payable to Catawba Island Press. Subscriptions can also be ordered online at www.catawbaislandmagazine.com. Thanks!

Christmas on Catawba is Saturday December 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

at the Catawba Community Hall! Be sure to stop by!

Be sure to check out our Weather Vane Scavenger Hunt on page 15 for your

chance to win a $20 GC to Crosswinds! This weather vane picture was taken not

too far from where I shot this background photo off Sand Road.

It was so difficult for us to choose the winner of our coloring contest! Here is

another great entry; Brooke Gibbon (age 8) of Catawba Island.

“Betsy.” Many articles have been

written about her—but few of them

are accurate. There was even a pho-

tograph of her with one article, pro-

vided by the Ottawa County Histori-

cal Society.

The first United States camera patent

was issued in 1840. Photographic

studios did not become common in

the Midwest until 1850. It was be-

lieved that Betsy was born about

1813, although no one knew for sure.

If born in 1813, she would have been

37 years old in 1850. It is doubtful

that the picture was of Betsy, since

the Indian girl in the studio photo-

graph appeared to be a teenager.

Betsy MoJohn was believed to be the

daughter of Chief Ogontz of the Ot-

tawa tribe. Chief Ogontz lived near

Sandusky Bay in the early 1800s.

Supposedly he led his band to the

River Raisin area of Michigan (now

Monroe) in 1831, and left his wife

and seven (or eight) children behind.

They were left behind because of

some tribal misdeed done by his

squaw. No Native American chief

would have left his children behind

when he planned to move perma-

nently. Moreover, Ogontz was not

living in 1831. He was murdered

during a pow-wow near the Maumee

River soon after the War of 1812

ended.

What is true is that an Ottawa Indian

woman nicknamed “MoJohn” lived

on Catawba Island when the first

white settlers arrived in the 1830s.

The pioneers befriended MoJohn,

and helped feed her and her large

family of children. Supposedly, she

was overly fond of alcoholic bever-

ages. Her neighbors nicknamed her

“MoJohn” because “John” was a col-

loquialism for corn liquor. It was

said that she always asked people for

“Mo John.” Because of her drinking

problem, MoJohn‟s children and

livestock were left to care for them-

selves. Her children sometimes

earned a few pennies working on

neighboring farms. When they re-

turned home, however, MoJohn

would take their money and buy liq-

uor.

The following story may be a legend.

An old Catawba Islander said he

knew of no graveyard where six chil-

dren were buried at one time on

Catawba Island Magazine November 2010 4

Betsy MoJohn and Her Log Home

By Pat Bristley

Betsy MoJohn was the last Native

American who lived on Catawba

Island. She was a full-blooded Ot-

tawa Indian. Her name was Mary

Elizabeth, but she was called

CONTINUED on NEXT PAGE

Horrified settlers decided to bring

MoJohn to trial for experimenting on

her children. Not wanting to be shut

up where she could not obtain liquor,

MoJohn wandered off and was never

seen again. However, Betsy re-

mained on Catawba Island and went

to work for a German immigrant,

Henry Luckart. According to Ottawa

County Marriage Records, Justice of

the Peace H. J. Miller married

Luckart and Betsy on May 1, 1852.

It was said that Luckart could speak

only German, so how the two con-

versed is unknown.

Luckart built Betsy a six-room, story

-and-a-half log house on East

Catawba Road, overlooking Lake

Erie. They did not get along, because

like her mother, Betsy was fond of

alcohol. It was also said that she had

a temper.

While she was living on Catawba,

Betsy took in a little white girl, Net-

tie Jewett, whose mother died in

Catawba. The legend went:

In pioneer days, white snakeroot was

prevalent in the woods on Catawba.

Settlers called the plant “tremble-

weed” because when cattle ate it,

they began to shake and soon died.

MoJohn‟s cow ate the poisonous

plant and died. She asked a neighbor

to cut up the carcass so she and her

family could eat the meat. When

warned by her neighbors not to eat

the poisoned meat, MoJohn told

them she would try it out on her chil-

dren first, and if they died she would

not eat it. They thought she was jok-

ing, but she fed the meat to her chil-

dren and dogs, and they died.

At this point the story had two ver-

sions. One said that she had seven

children, and that her daughter,

Betsy, was working as a domestic

servant in the home of the Haynes

family of Port Clinton at the time, so

she did not eat the meat. The other

version said that there were eight

children, and that besides Betsy, Mo-

John‟s son, John, was working on a

lake boat, so he too was gone when

MoJohn fed her children the poi-

soned meat.




CONTINUED from PREVIOUS PAGE

On the previous page: Photo of the back of the Betsy MoJohn log house as it stands today on Wine Cellar Road.

Photo by Andrea J. Elliott. Above: Moving the MoJohn Cabin. Photo courtesy of Don Rhodes.

Below: Alleged photo of Betsy MoJohn.



1871 through 1873. In April 1874,

Luckart advertised his house, all its

contents, and his horse and plow for

sale. In the Ottawa County News of

April 3, 1874, appeared the follow-

ing: “Mary Luckart, whose place of

residence is unknown, is notified that

Henry Luckart has filed his petition

for divorce, charging her with willful

absence for over three years.”

Later, Luckart withdrew his divorce

suit. On December 22, 1874, Dr.

Bainbridge was called to Henry

Luckart‟s home, only to find him

dead. Just before his death he told

neighbors that he had taken poison.

An empty bottle labeled “Poison

Strychnine Cryst” was found on the

premises. It appeared that Mr.

Luckart had for years been jealous of

his wife and had expressed his inten-

tion of committing suicide.

Betsy married Henry Bonnet about

1879 and moved to his home in Erie

County. In the late 1800s Bonnet

gave up farming to run a saloon

called Bogart‟s Corners. Betsy re-

portedly entertained guests of the

saloon with stories about her past.

Betsy MoJohn lived until 1908. She

was buried in Bloomingdale Ceme-

tery, Erie County, Ohio. Her obituary

appeared in the Port Clinton Herald

on January 24, 1908. It said:

“Bonnet, Mrs. Betsy, died: Better

known in the Catawba area as Mrs.

Betsy Luckart, who is well remem-

bered by the oldest citizens here. She

was a full-blooded Indian woman

and was the daughter of the last chief

of the Ottawa tribe inhabiting Ca-

tawba Island, many years ago. In her

early days, she married Henry

Luckart, a German, and lived in our

midst for many years. The old log

house they built and occupied is still

standing and is now owned by Mrs.

Burgderfer. After several years of

married life, Mr. Luckart died and

after a few years of widowhood,

Mrs. Luckart married Henry Bonnet,

of Bogart, Ohio, near Sandusky, with

whom she lived 29 years previous to

her death.

“While living on Catawba, Mrs.

childbirth. Betsy raised Nettie until

she was about 15. Then her father

came from Connecticut with plans to

take her back with him. Nettie did

not want to leave her foster mother.

She ran into the woods and hid in a

hollow tree, where her father found

her. Later, Nettie told about many

Indian traditions she had learned

from Betsy.

In 1868, a historian interviewed

Betsy. She claimed she did not re-

member her father. She also spoke of

playing as a child in front of the

tribe‟s dwellings.

She disappeared from home between


Above: The addition on the front of the addition used

as a real estate office today. Left: Oil painting of the

MoJohn log house as it once stood on E Catawba Road by Pat Bristley.

it was costly and took too long to

build. The only lapped-notching

found in Ohio is on the MoJohn

house. The log house was not only

the home of the last Indian of Ca-

tawba, but it was uniquely built.

Betsy MoJohn‟s house was donated

by the owners to the Ottawa County

Historical Society. It was moved to

the grounds of Mon Ami Winery in

1968. It is now on the Register of

Historic Places. If you visit the win-

ery, stop and look at the log house

and remember Betsy MoJohn, the

last Native American who lived on

Catawba.

Thanks to Don Rhodes of Catawba,

whose records were the basis for the

article. ∞



Luckart took and raised a white

child, Nettie Jewett, whose mother

died in her infancy. When [Nettie

was] about 15 years of age, Mr. Jew-

ett came from the east and claimed

his daughter, and took her home to

Connecticut with him, where she has

lived, married and made her home.

She didn‟t forget her foster mother

and has visited her occasionally.

Mrs. Bonnet didn‟t known her age,

but it is thought she was over 95

years. Funeral took place January 21

from the family residence. Buried in

Bloomingville Cemetery.”

Like Betsy, the home she lived in on

Catawba Island has always interested

local people. Older residents remem-

ber its forlorn appearance; its roof

sagged and it had vines crawling all

over it. The Progressive Times, of

Port Clinton, on August 6, 1928, had

the following to say about the struc-

ture:

“…This weather-beaten old house

was huddled down in a tangle of old-

fashioned myrtle, snapdragons, tiger

lilies and honeysuckle, while its

porch and roof were smothered by

clinging vines. It reminded me of a

delicate old lady with a gossamer

shawl about her shoulders gazing

into the past and reliving her early

romance. An old juniper tree,

gnarled and twisted with the winds

of many years, bent protectingly

above the little house and whispered

to it tales of long ago. The monoto-

nous swish of the waves on the lake-

shore blended with the juniper‟s

tale…This fascinating little house is

on Catawba Island, and from it one

can look across to Kelley‟s Island…

It is the oldest house on the island.”

The timbers of the house were of

black walnut from Catawba. The

builders used “Scandinavian lapped-

notching” on the corners of the

building. When pioneers began con-

structing log cabins in the Midwest,

they used another method. Although

Scandinavian lapping was superior,

Above: Inside of the log house today.

Right: Inside the front addition, a fireplace slides to

the side to reveal the entry into the log house.

Photos by Andrea J. Elliott.

local art shows and the Rosemary

Schramm Gallery. George shares a

few hints on taking colorful sunrise

or sunset photos.

Sunrise, Sunset

by George Krejci

How fortunate we are to live on Ca-

tawba Island - a photographer‟s

dream! If you‟re into nature photog-

raphy, there are wonderful places to

photograph our specialty, sunrises

and sunsets. We also have an array

of wonderful birds and animals that

nearly pose for the camera—but

that‟s another story. The public ac-

cess areas on both coasts of Catawba

provide great photo opportunities in

the morning and evening.

What makes the wonderful colors

that are seen in a beautiful sunset?

Dirt! It‟s the small particles in the

atmosphere that provide the wonder-

ful color spectrum. Major volcanic

eruptions to our west offer rich sun-

rises and sunsets for several years

following the event. Key West sun-

sets are famous, but Catawba sunsets

are just as good, if not better. I dis-

covered the joys of photography

about 40 years ago in Guam and Ha-

waii. As I look back at old 35mm

slides, I recall the added costs, issues

and developing delays. How won-

derful are the new digital cameras of

today. Often when Mary and I go on

a shoot, we take 100-150 shots to

catch one or two shots that may have

commercial value. Digital cameras

come in many sizes and shapes and

some have the “feel” of a classic

35mm—my own camera even emits

the sound of a focal-plane shutter

each time I take a shot!

Here in the northern latitudes, sun-

sets last longer than those in the

South where the sun‟s path is more

directly overhead. The sun rises

nearly straight up and sets almost

straight down. In Hawaii there were

no lovely, long twilights and after-

glows like we enjoy here in Ca-

tawba. It was humorous watching

Waikiki Beach tourists as the sun

began to set—rushing to their hotel

rooms to retrieve a camera, only to

discover on their return it was al-

ready pitch dark!

Let‟s get ready to shoot a sunset.

You may find many hidden “modes”

in which you can operate your cam-

era, so be sure to read the instruction

manual. There may be modes for

shooting portraits, scenery, snow,

Local nature photographers George

and Mary Krejci enjoy the numerous

photo opportunities available in our

area. Their photos can be found at



shots after the sun has risen. There

are many web sites which provide

the sunrise/sunset times for this area.

I prefer the weather site Intelli-

cast.com which can be customized to

your area. Note that during the sum-

mer the sun rises very early in the

morning—much earlier than it does



and miss the afterglow. The after-

glow can often be more spectacular

than the sunset itself, which may

take another 15-20 minutes. While

everything is occurring, occasionally

look over your shoulder; the clouds

behind you may be the best part.

All of this works in reverse when

shooting a sunrise. Arrive early to

get the pre-glow, keep shooting the

sun as it rises, and take a few extra

beaches, and even a mode for sun-

sets. A digital camera provides you

with immediate results, so experi-

ment with the different modes. Re-

member, the sun will not wait for

you! You might use your camera in

a completely manual mode, but by

the time you get everything set up

you may miss your shot. When

shooting sunsets you may have to

“stop down” or decrease the lens

opening. Most of the various modes

will do this for you.

With the auto-focus option it‟s some-

times difficult to get a good, crisp

photo. Moving waves are notorious

for confusing an auto-focus camera.

Most digital cameras allow you to

focus on a distant object, like an is-

land, then while holding the shutter

release button halfway down, com-

pose your shot and take the photo by

completely pressing the button.

There is something very important to

watch when shooting sunrises and

sunsets—your eyes. It‟s easy to get

wrapped up in the wonderful sight

and not realize you are staring di-

rectly into the sun. Please don‟t stare

at the sun too long—take the picture

and enjoy looking at the print in-

stead. Wearing sunglasses will help,

but may cause difficulties using the

camera. Polarized lenses are great,

but the polarity usually blocks the

image in an electronic viewfinder or

the screen on the back of the camera.

When shooting a sunset, plan on

some time to take many different

photos. Arrive early and take a

photo of the sky before the sun gets

too low. While the sun is descend-

ing, keep shooting as the sky

changes color as the sun moves.

Once the sun has set, don‟t leave yet

as you could miss the best part! A

good weekend sunset attracts many

visitors to the Catawba Island State

Park pier—and one of our favorite

sites. Just like those Hawaiian vaca-

tioners who missed the sunset, many

visitors leave as soon as the sun sets Krejci



lake‟s presence. We can see the lake

on both the sunrise and the sunset

sides of Catawba, and since the lake

looks different every day, one never

knows what to expect. Sometimes

the water will give a glass-smooth

reflection; other times the waves pro-

vide a very unique effect. If you are

into setting your camera manually or

wish to experiment with the various

modes, you can shoot with different

shutter times. This will give you

either a crisp, motionless wave ac-

tion or somewhat blurred moving

waves. Remember the horizon on

the lake is supposed to be level, so

take an extra second or two to assure

the lake is level in your photo. You

may be able to straighten a photo on

your computer, but it helps to start

with a level photo.

Don‟t be afraid to zoom in on the

sun. What may look good to your

eye may be disappointing when

printed when all you see is a distant

pin-hole of light! If part of the sky

has the colors you seek, ignore the

rest of the sky and zoom in on that

part only. Note, too, your camera‟s

white balance may change the over-

all appearance of the sky as you aim

or zoom in on different areas.

Remember the sun‟s path across the

sky changes throughout the year, and

this affects the sunrise/sunset points

from winter to summer. During the

winter the sun rises and sets more to

the south than in the summer provid-

ing a different background horizon

every time. From the north end of

Catawba in the summer, the sun rises

over Kelleys Island—during the win-

ter; over Marblehead. While taking

sunset photos, consider whether you

want the Davis-Besse power plant in

the background.

Once the lake freezes, unique sun-

rise/sunset photos become available,

and the results can be startling. I

have winter sun-setting photos over

crumpled ice resembling a shot of

Mars. Good books are available on

digital photography and a bookstore

such as Borders carries an excellent

selection. Check out the bargain sec-

tion too.

So enjoy, experiment, and take a lot

of digital shots—they don‟t cost any-

thing until you print them. If you see

us on the pier or beach, stop and say

hello! ∞


in the winter, and that‟s why Mary

does summer sunrises and I do those

in the winter.

Another advantage of sunrise/sunset

photos on Catawba Island is the

Above- Painting by Rosemary Schramm inspired by

George & Mary Krejci’s photography.


Catawba Island Township Police Department

Excerpts from the Police Call Summary for October, 2010

the residence for his prescription

drugs.

October 12th Accident. 1999 Ford

Ranger making a turn onto Wine

Cellar from RT 53 turned into the

path of a 1984 Volkswagen causing a

collision and the Ford to spin out 180

degrees. Passenger and driver trans-

ported. Other driver cited for failure

to yield right of way on a left turn.

October 13th Abandoned car re-

ported in a parking lot near the point.

Registration for the Dodge Neon

went back to a subject with a warrant

out of Toledo. A recent parking

ticket from Put-in-Bay police was

inside the vehicle. Subject possibly

employed on South Bass Island.

Turned over to Put-in-Bay police.

October 14th Suspicious call. Resi-

dent reported a female caller solicit-

ing from a retirement company say-

ing they had permission with Ottawa

County to solicit senior citizens.

Caller asked unusual questions so

subject requested house watch in

anticipation of the arrival of the sus-

picious person. No one arrived.

Nothing further.

October 15th Shots fired call. Three

gun shots on Charles Lane. Unable

to locate.

October 16th Disturbance complaint

from Harbors End. Property owners

were fixing up property and making

excessive noise. Neighbor con-

fronted subjects and were allegedly

pushed and choked. Words were ex-

changed until police arrived. Charges

were filed. Apparent ongoing prob-

lem.

October 20th Call received regard-

ing a boat stuck on a sand bar off

Moore‟s Dock. Stranded boater was

an older diabetic male. Coast Guard

and Division of Watercraft called.

Once on shore subject was checked

by squad. Subject stated he was near

the ramp when his motor quit.

Another boater brought him back


October 6th Call received from a

resident requesting patrol at their

home between the hours of 3:30 AM

to 7:30 AM during the time their

lawn crew worked. The subject

feared the lawn crew may break into

October 29th Dog barking com-

plaint received from a resident on

West Catawba. Dog owner stated

that if his neighbor would stop blow-

ing leaves in front of his dog then the

dog would stop barking. ∞

out. A line was tangled in the propel-

ler.

October 21st Officer out on a dis-

abled vehicle scene heard a nearby

collision. A vehicle darted in front of

another vehicle turning on to West

Catawba causing it to brake hard and

get rear-ended. Driver and 6 year old

passenger transported. Vehicle towed

by Don‟s Body.

October 22 DUI. A 2007 Chevy

pickup was observed crossing over

the centerline on NE Catawba Road.

Officer followed vehicle and ob-

served it cross over the centerline 3

times and stopped the vehicle. Driver

omitted the odor of an intoxicating

beverage, admitted to violation stat-

ing he had a back brace and was try-

ing to get comfortable. Driver also

admitted to consuming six beers and

was instructed to get out of the vehi-

cle for a field sobriety test. After ex-

iting the vehicle the driver walked

into the rear fender. Field sobriety

test was not completed, breath test

refused. Driver arrested for DUI and

marked lanes violation.

October 23rd Loud party complaint

from Terrace Circle. Party asked to

tone it down.

October 24th Trespassing complaint

regarding fisherman on a pier at Har-

bor Park Marina. Fishermen stated

they had permission to fish there.

October 26th Driver reported paint

damage to their vehicle when they

drove on Muggy Road. They were

headed eastbound, turned into a

parking lot and heard wet paint as

they drove over the centerline. Lines

were recently striped on the roadway

without any warnings.


POLICE CALL SUMMARY

for October 2010 181 incidents including:

1 DUI • 5 Civil • 4 Shots Fired 3 Trespassing • 2 Injury Crashes


Above: Call received regarding a boat stuck on a sand bar off Moore’s Dock on October 20, 2010.

Catawba Island Township Board

of Township Trustees

Special Meeting Minutes

October 4, 2010

A special meeting of the Catawba

Island Township Board of Trustees

was called to order by Chairman

Gary Mortus on October 4, 2010 at

7:00 p.m. in the conference room. In

attendance were Gary Mortus, Wil-

liam Rofkar, Matt Montowski, Pat

Cerny, and Police Chief Bob Rogers.

Matt Montowski made the motion to

accept Patricia Cerny‟s resignation

as Township Fiscal Officer, Zoning

Inspector, and Assistant Administra-

tor effective October 4, 2010. The

motion was seconded by William

Rofkar and all voted aye.

Meeting adjourned.


of Township Trustees Special

Meeting Minutes October 7, 2010

A special meeting of the Catawba

Island Township Board of Trustees

was called to order by Chairman

Gary Mortus on October 7, 2010 at

7:00 p.m. in the conference room.

In attendance were Gary Mortus,

William Rofkar, Matt Montowski,

and Karen Shaw.

William Rofkar made a motion to

appoint Karen Shaw to fill the unex-

pired term of the Fiscal Officer. Matt

Montowski seconded the motion. All

voted aye.


hire David Robenstine, Harris Town-

ship Fiscal Officer, as a consultant to

our office. Matt Montowski sec-

onded the motion. All voted aye.

Matt Montowski made a motion to

appoint Walter Wehenkel as interim

Zoning Inspector with expectations

to work part time by appointment

and for approximately 8 to 10 hours

two set days per week.

Meeting adjourned.


of Township Trustees Meeting

Minutes October 12, 2010

The regular business meeting of the

Catawba Island Township Board of

Township Trustees was called to or-

der by chairman Gary Mortus at 7:30

p.m. in the conference room.

In attendance were Gary Mortus,

Matt Montowski, William Rofkar,

Karen Shaw, Dan Barlow, John

Gangway, Jack DeVore, Mark

Cencer, and Deborah Beck.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited

by all and bills were approved and

paid in the amount of $37,101.79

seconded by Matt Montowski. All

voted aye.

John Gangway said they are taking

fire engine 222 in to have an ongoing

problem with the brakes reviewed.

He said they are not going to make

any repairs at this time but the fire

department would be advised on any

necessary repairs.

John Gangway also said they had a

mishap with one of the compartment

doors on engine 21. The manufac-


CONTINUED on NEXT PAGE After the storm October 27, 2010. View of scenic Rock Ledge Inn, Catawba Island by Andrea J. Elliott.

turer was contacted in hopes of re-

placing the damaged door since it is

brand new, but it was too expensive.

He said they have received a quote

for $700 to repair the dent, repaint,

and restripe the door.

Matt Montowski asked Dan Barlow

if he had followed up with ODOT on

cleaning up Pebble Beach. Dan Bar-

low said he has called both his con-

tacts but they were not available. He

said their secretary said she would

give them the message, but he has

not received a call back from either

of them. Dan Barlow also stated the

maintenance department has not had

time to go out and clean it up. He

said he would call ODOT again to-

morrow.

Dan Barlow said they have ordered

the material to make the roof repairs

to the salt shed. He said the materials

were around $800 and they should be

here in a week or so.


approve the sale of the 1998 GMC

Dump Truck to the City of Olin,

Iowa, high bidders on Govdeals.com,

for $18,025. Matt Montowski sec-

onded the motion. All voted aye.

Gary Mortus thanked William

Rofkar for his hard work getting the

truck sold on Govdeals.com. William

Rofkar said he thinks the township

should utilize Govdeals.com more

often. He said Erie and Ottawa

County are listing many items for

sale and the site is a good way to

dispose of unused items.

Matt Montowski made a motion to

contract with Barnes Nursery in the

amount of $2,200 to turn over our

mulching material. William Rofkar

seconded the motion. All voted aye.

Meeting adjourned.. ∞


Please note: Meeting minutes contained

herewith are edited for space. The full

version is available through the Township

Administration.


ardous materials emergencies possi-

bly by news reports of incidents such

as the recent oil spill in the Gulf of

Mexico. Did you know that there are

many different hazardous materials

that can be found in stationary facili-

ties on Catawba Island or that are

transported on our roads on a daily

basis?

Chemicals such as chlorine, bromine,

hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlo-

rite and sulfuric acid can be found in

our sewer treatment plants, swim-

ming pools, marinas and gas stations.

Propane, gasoline, liquefied natural

gas, diesel fuel and large batteries in

hybrid vehicles are all used for mo-

tive power on vehicles. These are just

a few examples of more than 36 mil-

lion registered chemicals and com-

pounds. A hazardous materials inci-

dent results if an accidental spill or

fire occurs where these everyday

chemicals are involved.

Our recent training included hazard-

ous materials recognition, characteris-

tics of hazardous materials, toxicol-

ogy, and appropriate use of personal

protective equipment, decontamina-

tion and confinement or containment

of a hazardous material. We practiced

proper use of chemical protective

suits and decontamination procedures

which you can see an example in the

picture above.

In addition to personnel training,

trailers are dispersed at different fire

departments in our county that con-

tain equipment and supplies to con-

tain and control many hazardous ma-

terial emergencies. Members from

any fire department within the county

may volunteer to be part of the Ot-

tawa County Hazardous Response

Team and receive additional training

enabling them to utilize the special-

ized equipment in these trailers.

Hazardous material response is one of

the many diverse and interesting re-

sponsibilities of your local volunteer

fire department. I am always proud of

our member‟s dedication and willing-

ness to receive specialized training to

better serve the residents and visitors

on Catawba Island.

John Gangway, Fire Chief

November 2010

LETTER FROM THE CHIEF

Our members recently completed re-

certification training to safely respond

to a hazardous materials emergency.

These classes were conducted by fac-

ulty of the University of Findlay All

Hazards Training Center and were

held at the fire station.

Many people may be aware of haz-


Abe Woods (to the left) and Breann Christiansen,

CIVFD Photo courtesy of Amanda Horn

ordered a pepperoni pizzabella with

pizza sauce on the side.

Our pizzabellas soon arrived. Quite

different from a pizza, pizzabellas

are served on a flat, thin crust some-

what like a thicker tortilla. They

were a tasty treat! I ended up getting

a side of salsa for my pizzabella

which, for me, seemed more appro-

priate for dipping than the pizza

sauce. Despite my dislike for tradi-

tional pizza, I am almost embar-

rassed to say that I ate all of my piz-

zabella. Dave did as well. No left

overs here!

Our check was under $20 which was

great for a few beers and our first try

at a tasty twist on pizza. The Bell

Mell Tavern is highly recommended

if you are looking for a casual “pizza

night” just don't expect table-side

service. The bar is open 11 a.m. to 1

a.m. seven days a week. The kitchen

closes at 9 p.m. in the winter. They

are open year round and offer “take

and bake” pizzabellas as well. Pool,

darts, the casual neighborhood bar

atmosphere, cold beer and a warm

pizzabella would make this a cool

place to warm up any chilly fall or

winter evening. ∞


Bell Mell Tavern

Port Clinton, Ohio By Andrea J. Elliott

A lazy Saturday afternoon with not

much to do soon found my husband,

Dave and I hungry and looking for a

“new” place to enjoy dinner. As long

as we have lived part-time on Ca-

tawba, we had never tried the Bell

Mell Tavern in Port Clinton. We

heard they have some killer pizza so

we figured it would be a good time

as any to try it out.

Off the beaten path to downtown,

The Bell Mell Tavern is nestled on

Fulton Street off E. Perry. Its a de-

cent size bar with an ample dining

area. Despite the older decor, I was

impressed with its cleanliness and

welcome atmosphere. The bar was

busy and there were many customers

in the dining area.

We sat ourselves in a high-top table

not far from the bar. Dave walked

over to the bartender and got us a

few beers and menus. We were sur-

prised by Bell Mell‟s “serve your-

self” style. A sign on the wall stated

drink orders were placed at the bar

and food orders were placed directly

with the kitchen. Even though I am

not a big fan of pizza (yes, I know,

Dave thinks I‟m nuts too), I did order

a pizzabella with cheese, mushrooms

and black olives. The pizzabellas

came with a dipping sauce of your

choice; I choose pizza sauce. Dave

painted numerous watercolors

capturing Ohio's splendor. Prints

of Jim's Lake Erie watercolors are

available in Lake Erie area gift

shops and galleries on Middle

Bass Island, Port Clinton, Put-in-

Bay, Catawba Island, Marblehead

and Vermilion. Jim recently

launched a website called

LakeErieArt.com where it is pos-

sible to order his art online. ∞

Winter “Coats for Families”

The Salvation Army in Ottawa

County has partnered with the

News Herald, Executive Cleaners

and Howard Hanna to provide

warm winter coats for local fami-

lies in need.


Lake Erie Watercolors Exhibit

Now thru Nov 28, 2010 Mon -

Fri: 8:30 am - 5 pm Lake Erie

Shores & Islands Welcome Cen-

ter - West, 770 SE Catawba Rd.

(SR 53), Port Clinton.

Jim Siemer is an artist from Co-

lumbus, Ohio whose family built

a cottage on Middle Bass Island

in 1983 and Jim was inspired by

the beauty of the Lake Erie area

to begin painting watercolors. Jim

believes that Ohio is one of the

most beautiful states in our nation

and over the last 20 years he has

The Salvation Army‟s “Coats for

Families” program will run now

through December 31st, 2010.

This program is based on dona-

tions from the general public of

new and gently used coats to be

cleaned by Executive Cleaners, at

no charge and redistributed, cost

free to local families in need of a

winter coat.

Last year, The Salvation Army

collected and distributed over 800

coats to local families in Ottawa

County.

This is the 15th year this program

has been providing coats to the

local residents. Collection areas

for coats are the News Herald,

Executive Cleaners, Howard

Hanna and The Salvation Army.

Executive Cleaners is offering a

10% off cleaning coupon to every

person who brings in a coat for

this program. They are providing

cleaning of all coats, at no cost,

and offered to be a satellite col-

lection and distribution site for

The Salvation Army.


The Ohio Statehouse in winter by Jim Siemer

23rd. 419.732.3582. ∞

Sandusky Christmas Lighting

Ceremony

Nov 26, 2010 from 6 - 9 pm

Washington Park Gazebo & His-

toric Downtown, Sandusky. Stop

by and check out the beautiful

lighting ceremony, sure to get you

in the Christmas spirit. Carousel

rides are offered at the Merry-Go-

Round Museum for $1. ∞


Anyone needing a warm winter

coat can stop by The Salvation

Army at The Sutton Center and

pick one out.

If you would like to donate gently

used coats, please drop them off

at one of the collection sites listed

or call The Salvation Army at 419

-732-2769 and speak with Mau-

reen Saponari. ∞

ODNR Ohio Boating Safety

Education Course

Dec. 11, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the

Sandusky Watercraft Office, 1407

Cleveland Road, Sandusky. 419-

621-1402 An 8-hour class in boat-

ing and water safety designed by

ODNR Division of Watercraft. It

covers the fundamentals of safe

boating: state-required equipment,

watercraft laws, navigation Rules

of the Road, basic safety and risk

management, and aids to naviga-

tion. Classes are enhanced with

videos, slides, overheads, hand-

outs, and other visual aids. Pre-

registration and a pre-paid materi-

als fee generally are required.

Some classes may have additional

fees due to site rental. $5 ∞

Rock-Paper-Scissors

Now thru Nov 28, 2010 Sun -

Fri: 1 - 4 pm Sandusky Cultural

Center, 2130 Hayes Ave. (SR 4),

Sandusky. Rock-paper-scissors is

a popular two-person hand game

often used as a selection method

in a similar way to coin flipping

or drawing straws. The artists of

Rock-Paper-Scissors have been

given this title as a theme. Their

interpretations of it will range

from conceptual ideas inspired by

the title to the very literal use of

its materials or images. 419.

625.1188 ∞

CONTINUED from Previous Page

20th Annual Thanksgiving

Feast

November 15, 11:30am - 2pm

Trinity United Methodist Church

Fellowship Hall, Corner of Ad-

ams & 2nd Sts., Port Clinton.

For the 20th year on Thanksgiv-

ing Day, the Port Clinton area

will come together for a free com-

munity meal. Bring your family

and friends, or come alone and

join in celebrating this important

time of togetherness. Reserva-

tions are never required. To sign-

up for shut-in delivery, call

Marion by Tuesday, November


ORGANIST WANTED. Resurrection

Lutheran Church, 2370 N. E. Catawba

Road, Port Clinton, is seeking an

organist full or part time. Please call

419-797-4628 to apply.

ing to play devil‟s advocate and just

say No!

Gemini “The Twins”

May 21st thru June 20th

In November it„s time to react to

those ideas that seem to keep pop-

ping into your mind.

Cancer “The Crab”

June 21st thru July 22nd

The Full Moon this month will re-

mind you that since you have only

one life to live, it should probably be

your own.

Leo “The Lion”

July 23rd thru August 22nd

Take time during November to earn

those extra credit points with those

you love.

Virgo “Virgin”

August 23rd thru September 22nd

Relax and enjoy the ride this month.

It‟s time to “trust” that the horse

knows the way.

Libra “Scales”

September 23rd thru October 22nd

Do your best job at listening in No-

vember, you may pay a price for ig-

noring advice.

♥

By Starr

“Scorpion Success”

Scorpios are brilliant and very per-

ceptive. They prefer a career that

allows them to work hard and to be

passionate about what they are do-

ing. Best-suited in a field where am-

bition, insight, and intelligence are

key factors. Scorpios do not like to

be interrupted and need the freedom

to perform on their own terms.

Scorpio “Scorpion”

October 23rd thru November 21st

Remember….Flexibility is a good

thing. Be sensitive to all possibilities

during the month.

Sagittarius “The Archer”

November 22nd thru December 21st

Now is the time to get your ducks in

a row. You‟ll be more relaxed and

ready for the Holidays.

Capricorn “The Mountain Goat”

December 22nd thru January 19th

You need to do a quick reality-check

& make sure you have all the facts

before reacting.

Aquarius “The Water Bearer”

January 20th thru February 19th

Release your natural charm! The un-

expected occurs when you least ex-

pect it.

Pisces “Two Fishes”

February 20th thru March 20th

Try to override your impulses during

November. Action without thought is

like shooting without aim.

Aries “The Ram”

March 21st thru April 19th

Focus on what you really want and

will be happy with. Be true to your-

self.

Taurus “The Bull”

April 20th thru May 20th

Stay on top of your game - Be will-


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