Show Host | Lifestyle + Fitness Model
I just love this Episode if Josie in Paradise and I’m sure you will too. Myself and cameraman, Kim Kindinger, owner of the X5 Network, headed into the gates of North America’s premiere Catawba Cliffs neighborhood. Featured Videographer Theo Dunham also edited this entire episode. We also hit a low key waterfront restaurant nestled in a blue collar community on the Sandusky River. Here is what all is featured.
Easy breezy summer days are exceptionally serene when approached atop a beach cruiser bicycle. There isn’t any headache over trying to find a place to park and unless earbuds are in and there isn’t a stereo to shake up the placid peace. Again and again bicycling proves to be a Shangri-la mode of transport. To shoot Episode I we ventured onto South Bass Island with a bomber aboard the ferry and headed to the town hall for Hatha Yoga with Kathi Spayde. An effortless cruiser fits every island escape.
David Stover, the service manager at Fremont Cycle and Fitness readied the ride. “What you did was the basic which was a sixty-five dollar tune. That goes over truing the wheels, checking the shifting, putting the brakes in proper order and a light clean-up on the bike. That’s good for what you’re doing.”
Stover shared this in Josie in Paradise, Episode II about pedaling for a better fettle.
Josie in Paradise can be viewed every Sunday at 9:30 p on AT&T U-Verse from Key West to the Florida Keys, across the nation via ROKU on the Ohio X5 Channel, and here.
The style started when skilled sailor, Paul Sperry, fell overboard. Inspired by the paws of his Cocker Spaniel, who he noticed didn’t slip in snowy or icy conditions, Sperry knew he needed a split shoe sole. One which was white to prevent marks from being left on the boat’s deck. The first patent of the non-slip shoe was marked in 1920 by John Sipe. He applied the technique to Sperry’s and the first sailor’s show emerged in 1935. Over 80 years later, crowds still tout the tread and swoon over the Sperry Style.
Josie in Paradise can be seen ever Sunday at 9:30 p on AT&T U-Verse from Key West to Boca Raton, through any ROKU Box via the Ohio X5 Channel, and here.
The luxury lakefront Put-in-Bay Condos are outfit nicely inside with modern kitchens, everything one needs to cook and prepare meals, two balconies, an in suite washer and dryer, plus a flat screen tv next to the open kitchen.
Outside of the PIB condos are community grills, plenty of umbrella covered patio tables. and a pool with lounge chairs.
“This is real laid back. Bring your own beer there’s a ledge in the pool where you can sit down in the water,” highlights PIB Condos Manager Tony White.
Plus, golf carts ready for rent on site.
Josie in Paradise can be seen every Sunday at 9:30 p on AT&T U-Verse from Key West to Boca Raton, through any ROKU box across the nation on the Ohio X5 Channel, and here.
Whether one buys or rents a luxury waterfront condominium on the Lake Erie Islands, one component is as on point as the ferry schedule, a place to sleep on Put-in-Bay, Middle Bass, and Kelleys is the ticket to paradise all season long. For Episode II of Josie in Paradise Tony White opened the door to Unit 212: a four-bedroom, two bathroom space with a washer and dryer and two lakefront balconies.
Four units are available to purchase. Many are yours to rent. A side note, to note, regarding beds and headcounts when booking at most Put-in-Bay resorts, or anywhere in general on the LEIs is embedded in this interview with White.
Josie in Paradise airs every Sunday night at 9:30 p on AT&T U-Verse from Key West to Boca Raton, and can be seen across the nation through ROKU on the Ohio X5 Channel, and here.
Realtor Alex Morgan Johnson is showing a four-thousand square foot, four bedroom, four and one-half bathroom home on Ohio’s north coast. Located at 1101 NW Catawba Road in Port Clinton this unshakable structure showcases the builder’s and contractors’ skills. The initial home plans were drawn out at only half of the size of the final product.
Here is the home tour as seen in Episode II.
Josie in Paradise can be viewed every Sunday night at 9:30 p on AT&T U-Verse from Key West to Boca Raton, on Ohio’s X5 Roku Channel, and here.
What is even better than releasing the first episode of a new lifestyle show that showcases the talents and products of so many great people in a community is … working out a couple of kinks, ironing out imperfections and striving to be better with each release. Episode II of Josie in Paradise makes a mark of its own.
Here is who and what is featured. Cheers to everyone who participated.
Josie in Paradise can be seen on AT&T U-Verse from Key West to Boca Raton every Sunday night at 9:30 p, on Ohio’s X5 Roku Channel and here on this web page.
“I’ve been on the journey of natural and organic living for quite some time, and I said one day too my aunt, ‘what about that recipe? Can you get it for me?’ I made and I realized: if I can make this, I can make other things,” Christie Ontko owner and operator of Freshwater Retreat and Remedies retraces some of the steps regarding her island entrepreneurial journey.
The “this” that she made is affectionately called, Grandma’s Salve.
She explains what the container contains, “camphor, pine sap, lard, bees wax, flax seed oil and it was my great-grandmother’s recipe on the island here and we grew up not having Neosporin or anything but we used this Grandma’s Salves for all of our cuts and bruises and mishaps.”
Freshwater Retreat and Remedies is nothing of a mishap, but a step into the direction of the “trend” in that the PIB crowd won’t always want to party, party, party.
She stresses she isn’t anti-alcohol by any means, “I drink alcohol. I think moderation is the key. When we’re out of balance we’re out of balance.”
She opened the couples retreat and adjoining wellness center about five years ago on South Bass Island. This true island girl, author and businesswoman is adamant about pointing out that she does not operate a spa offering services one might find on the mainland, such as, waxing, haircuts and color, manis, pedis, and eyelash extensions.
She is however, besides a true Island Girl, the creator of OntkOrganix, a line containing organic balms, skin care, even deodorant she makes herself.
“I’m very picky about what goes in my body, on my body,” Ontko voices, “I dived in for my own selfish reasons.”
Massage, Thai massage and Reiki are part of the wellness menu. Masseuse Mary Ann Billings makes the trek from Bay Village to work on guests and visitors.
“Tai Yoga Massage is a massage where I work on the energy lines of the body with palm presses, relaxation massage, acupressure and some gentle stretching. I bring my clients into some yoga poses on the table and massage them while their in the yoga poses. Especially the locals here really enjoy the service because they’re working so very hard, on their feet, all day, every day, taking care of the guests that come to Put-in-Bay. So they really enjoy getting their legs stretched out and worked on,” Billings expressed.
The “spa” segment with Freshwater Retreat and Remedies aired on Episode I of Josie in Paradise. Watch here.
Josie in Paradise airs every Sunday night at 9:30 on At&t UVerse from Key West to Boca Raton, on Ohio’s X5 Roku Channel and here.
Rolling out their mats, and rolling into Put-in-Bay’s town hall is a collection of visitors to the island, retirees, workers, islanders, and bartenders. The yogis are as eclectic as their island paradise nestled directly off of Ohio’s north coast.
“I retired from NASA after thirty-four years working as an aeronautical engineer,” says Sue Prahst. “I was fortunate enough to leave and be able to live my life here on the island.”
Prahst is putting herself into the Hatha yoga poses alongside her husband, Steve.
“I’m getting up there in years so its really a nice way to feel good for the rest of the day and it releases a lot of stress. Its so nice to get here and get it all out and relax. This also involves a lot of stretching. This helps with my back problems and my wrist. I recently had surgery on my wrist because I broke my wrist this winter. I asked Kathi to add another class. I would be here every day,” the missus makes solid statements.
She had two more years in with the national agency all about aeronautics and space travel than her groom.
“I put in thirty-two years with NASA,” Mister Prahst confirms.
This is one guy all about exercise.
“I like to go to the gym. I’m kind of a gym rat and I like to bike ride, and swim and kayak. I think the thing about exercise is you have to keep doing different things. You don’t want to get into a rut and do the same thing over and over again so I’m always looking for something different to do. Yoga was never convenient or whatever and here it is on Put-in-Bay. Kathi has this class twice a week and its works in just fine,” Mister Prahst proves the benefits are as evident as the moon phases.
“Hatha Yoga is a combination of physical and mental self-control through postures, breathing and balance,” enters instructor and islander Kathi Spayde. “Yoga enhances breathing, balance, posture, flexibility (and) strength. It also lowers cholesterol, reduces stress, and provides better sleep.”
Sleep is something most vacationers find themselves lacking after a few days away from the mainland. Spayde recently added this amenity to South Bass Island and those such as the Prahsts are proving the instruction is what the island craved.
“Today I had three walk-ins they happened to see the sign out front and said, ‘hey, let’s go to yoga class,'” Spayde remarks.
The craving was created simply by the craziness one can only experience on an island fueled with an influx of visitors, revelers, and party-goers once season hits. To service them the workers have to work. Rita Overmier is one of them. She bartends at The Boardwalk Restaurant and has visitors surrounding her space from sun up to well past the hours when the sun finally sets.
“I like taking time to do something for myself. (I’m) relaxing, stretching, being around people who enjoy yoga,” Overmier admits. “This is the only thing on the island that I have time to do.”
The Prahsts are proof the hours with Spayde doing the downward dog and settling into goddess squats are an effective way to destress.
Sue shares, “I feel like a million bucks. Obviously on this island there’s a lot of partying going on…”
In their own backyard.
“We happen to have our own vineyard we make our own wine. People find us,” Sue expanded with her husband chiming in, “We have our place here. We grow some grapes and make some wine ourselves.”
Noting that their PIB home is the place to be.
“This is the best place to vacation in Ohio. Right here. We got the islands. The Lake Erie Islands are the place to go,” Steve said.
Spayde solidifies everything they’ve said, “we have a great community of people here and residents. Its not party time all the time. We enjoy the parties but not as much as the visitors do on the weekends. We’re bombarded constantly by people who want to come here.”
That means a decompression chamber was in the cards, hence Put-in-Bay Yoga.
“Its really cool to be here doing yoga in this historical place in the Put-in-Bay City Hall right in downtown (PIB), Its just a great feel,” articulates Steve.
Classes are every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:30 a.
The F I T N E S S segment from Josie in Paradise Episode I is here.
Josie in Paradise airs every Sunday night at 9:30 p from Key West to Boca Raton on At&t UVerse, on Ohio’s X5 Roku Channel, and here.
Photos by Kim Kindinger
The owner and operator of Freshwater Retreat and Remedies has a pedigree Put-in-Bay resume one could not duplicate even if one worked around the clock.
Christy Ontko is not only a business owner, life and wellness coach, masters degree toting school teacher, columnist and author, she was born to a family of islanders. A status one can not aspire to.
“Its embarrassing sometimes to discuss, Ontko says when asked about herself humbly, “I’m just me.”
Ontko is intriguing, enchanting and educated. Setting up a retreat on South Bass Island directly across from the PIB airport which exemplifies what she stands for isn’t any surprise.
Freshwater Retreat is a luxurious place to stay. This five-bedroom guest house features five bedrooms, two bathrooms, and all organic linens. Two bedrooms are located downstairs and three are upstairs. The home was constructed back in 1985. Ontko’s great-great grandfather was on the island during this unforgotten era working as a stone mason.
Ontko reflects, “We’re thinking he probably did help build the house.”
Here’s more of Ontko’s interview and tour of her B&B as featured in Josie in Paradise, Episode I.
There’s more on this true Island Girl. She shares the Freshwater Retreat amenities. Note this property also has a converted garage or a barn where a list of wellness (not spa) services can be administered to anyone able to make their way to Put-in-Bay for the day or to stay and be guided to an adventure by this true island woman.
Josie in Paradise can be seen every Sunday night at 9:30 p from Key West to Boca Raton on At&t UVerse, on the Ohio X5 Roku Channel and here.
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