Life on Kelleys – The Emerald Isle News – made its debut on Kelleys Island in May 2023. Along with some regular features, there is coverage of events, a history column, and all the local news you could want. Published during the summer (with some extra issues thrown in) by Gerald & Victoria Rovder with Caroline Jorski, Editor. Their website is under construction:
May 2023 – The Easter egg hunt. Reports from the Mayor, VFW Post 9908 (celebrating 75 years with a little history of the building), Camp Patmos, the KI Historical Assoc., KILA, the Chamber, the school ( and the cross-country team), the Zion and St. Michaels churches,
The KI Audubon Club celebrates 30 years, Fall 2022 owl banding research released. Bill Ohlemacher is the new Principal of the KI school. The Ki Wine Co. holds a chicken derby. Stacey Notestine holds yoga classes, the School completes a strategic plan. Zoey Marek Leonard and Michael Vargo are married. Officer James Bartus head the KI Police force. Obituaries – Catherine Ullrich, Robert Coulon Sr., Charles Burns, Johanna Vetovitz, Katie Bugel, Marymargaret Welly, Byron Crabill. A History of Island newspapers.
June 2023 – Coverage of the Glacial Grooves Geological Preserve dedication. The Herndon Gallery hosts famous cellist Brian Shifflet. Plan for the 29th Annual KI Make-A-Wish swim & golf cart poker run. Updates from the 4-H, KI Landowners Assoc., KI History Museum, VFW 9908, the KI Chamber, the Zion and St. Michaels churches and the Parsonage Resale Shop. School custodian Joy Joyce retires. June Campbell writes about the German Reformed Church’s history. Jim Zeller reports a rare bird sighting-Kirtland Warbler. The School students hold an art show. Road Scholar birders spend a week on KI. Obituaries for Ray Meyers, Sarah Bishop Merrill and Emil Charles Hach. Leslie Korenko write about Decoration in 1870 and today.
July 2023 – School children in the news. Updates from the Chamber, the VFW Post 9908, the Parsonage shop, the KI school field station, St. Michaels and the Zion Church. Obituaries: Frank Vincent Muscioni and Elizabeth ‘Penny” Kyle. Deputy Sheriff Ron Schnittker retires. The Erie County Community Health Center opens on Kelleys Island.
August 2023 – New playground at Community Park planned, Updates from the Mayor, pickleball, the Make-A-Wish swim, VFW Post 9908, KI Landowners Assoc., the KI Audubon Club. History articles include – the 4th of July in 1872; 1890 ordinance regulating livestock on roads, and the Island in July 1873. KILA October family hayride, Lots of photos from Islandfest, Nature Camp 2023. Patti Johnson announced the history and closing of the Kelleys Island Brewery (formerly an ice cream shop!).