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HOMECOMING

KELLEYS ISLAND HOMECOMING WEEKEND TO BE DEDICATED TO

“BIG CHUCK” SCHODOWSKI

KELLEYS ISLAND, OHIO, JUNE 17, 2025 — Kelleys Island Landowners Association (KILA) is proud to announce that long time Kelleys Island landowner and Cleveland TV legend, Chuck Schodowski, will be posthumously honored, and Homecoming Weekend, August 8-9, 2025, will celebrate his career. Mr. Schodowski is well known for his “Ghoulardi,” “Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show,” and “The Big Chuck and Lil’ John Show” that spanned on the air from 1963 through 2007. These shows were the precursor to “Saturday Night Live” with B rated movies and thousands of comedy skits, including the infamous “Kielbasy Kid.” Mr. Schodowski was awarded 28 Emmys during his illustrious career.

To celebrate KILA’s 51^st annual Homecoming festival there are great activities planned. This year’s Homecoming will be held at the Kelleys Island Community Park on Addison Street. Landowners and visitors are welcome and encouraged to join the fun, and this event is family friendly.

Friday evening there will be a Perch Fry dinner and “Frank and Dean” for musical entertainment.

Saturday morning festivities begin at 11:00 am with a parade. The parade will feature the Edison High School and Crestline High School Marching Bands, along with historical vehicles and floats. Big Chuck’s family will be represented in the Grand Marshall’s car.

At the festival venue on Saturday from noon to 6:00 pm there will be games, vendor tents, wildlife demonstrations from “Back to the Wild,” a silent auction, a 50/50 drawing, and a barbeque and refreshments. “Fat City Band” will provide entertainment.

In addition KILA has been awarded an Event Grant to sponsor KILA’s Homecoming Weekend festival and parade by the Erie County Visitors & Convention Bureau, Inc., part of Shores & Islands Ohio, the destination marketing organization for Erie and Ottawa counties, This grant is to help with the promotion KILA’s biggest event, which has been held annually since1974.

In memory of Big Chuck, let’s share his credo that was on his old piano with a wooden sign adorned with white socks, a beer stein, and the words “BREW-SKIS and “WHIS-SKIS, and “MAY THE POLISH SPIRITS MOVE YOU.”

Na zdrowie to all!

For more information on Homecoming, please go to our website at www.kila.rocks.com

KILA Annual Raffle

Annual KILA Raffle

KILA will again have the annual Raffle to help fund projects to enhance and improve Kelleys Island. There are five cash prizes. Tickets are $20 each and a maximum of 600 will be sold. Tickets are available from KILA board members.

Visit the KILA booth at Island Fest

Recent KILA donations from Raffle tickets and fundraisers

Recent KILA donations from Fundraisers like Raffle Tickets:

Year	Recipient	Amount
2021	Trash Containers for village	$8,964
2021-22	Flag project by VFW	$1,000
2022	Community Park Playground	$16,000
2022	Trash receptacles for Trailheads	$771
2023	Community Park Playground	$15,000
2024	Community Park Playground	$9,000
2024	4H Camp new tables	$4,150
2025	KI School/Field Station outdoor seating	$7,261
2025	4-H Camp new appliances	$2,448
	(Total donation $40,000 for Playground)

Recent

KILA announces 2025 support awards

The Kelleys Island Landowners Association (KILA) received four applications to support projects in 2025 to improve and enhance Kelleys Island. Two awards were approved by the board of directors:

Kelleys Island School – $7261.00 for furnishing the outdoor classroom pavilion for the KI Field Station. The seating will include two octagon picnic tables with attached seating to accommodate 16 and four perimeter seating benches that will allow for up to eight people to sit at a comfortable distance if that is their preference. In addition, a trash receptacle will be purchased for the space. The Outdoor Classroom pavilion will be available for KILA and other community groups to use when not engaged by the Field Station.
Kelleys Island 4-H Camp – $2448.00 for the dining hall updates. This includes appliances to better serve campers, staff, and the KI community. The 4-H camp hosts the annual KILA family hayride on the third Saturday in October.

Awards for these and past projects are made possible by KILA members. Over the last five years, KILA has approved support for 12 projects totaling about $65,000. Annual dues, donations, and fundraising activities are the sources to fund KILA’s contributions. We welcome your joining as members and/or volunteers in our activities. Please visit our website www.kila.rocks or contact us at info@KILA.rocks for more information