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A painting by Hussein Ghareeb is part of the compassion-themed exhibit on display at BAYarts.

Currently on display in BAYarts' Sullivan Gallery is an exhibition titled "Paintings of Compassion" by the Artists in Bloom Community, founded by Virginia Maloof Cascarilla.

Cascarilla says her mission is to "mentor people into translating their life experiences into visual poetry." The community is comprised of people from several different countries, including Iraq, India, Syria, Bahrain and the U.S. Along with translating their life experiences into art, the group aims to "raise consciousness about global and personal issues and interests." And so for this exhibition, they focused on compassion.

Celebrate summer and the Westlake community with a FREE weekend of music at the Westlake Music Festival! This family-friendly two-day event features live music, entertainment, fun and food trucks. Join us on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2-7 p.m., at Porter Public Library and on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2-8 p.m, at the Rec Center.

On Saturday, families can enjoy face painting, or buy some custom cookies from a Westlake bakery. On Sunday, family activities include inflatables, balloon clowns and a face painter. Popcorn will be available both days! The music lineup has something for everyone. Come hear our kids' musicians at 2 p.m. both days, and stay for dancing and fun for the rest of the afternoon!

In 1865 the notorious American humorist Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, wrote down a story he had heard in a California mining camp. "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” launched his career as an author and propelled him to fame and fortune. Bay Village Community Theater pays homage to this bit of American literary history with a staged reading of “Mark Twain & His Jumping Frog.”

Adapted and directed by Preston Postle, the reading features this famous Twain story along with material from Twain's journal and a speech he gave on the occasion of his 70th birthday. The reading features the talents of John Hnat, Tim Jones, Bob Kenderes, Patrick Meehan and Leigh Ann Spratt.

The dogs enjoyed jumping through the hoop of the agility course. Photo by Haley Birchard

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The second annual Howl at the Moon Dog Walk on June 28 was a huge success. This event hosted by the Westlake Recreation Center collected supplies and monetary donations benefitting local animal shelters. This year the recipients were the Westlake Animal Shelter, Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter and City Dogs Cleveland. Many local vendors attended the event donating their time and gift baskets for the raffle. And the best part of the evening, the dogs brought their families out for a night of fun and frolicking.

Joining in the fun this year were several local vendors who serve our furry friends and their families. Each vendor donated a gift basket that was raffled off with toys and delicious treats. The dogs and their families loved playing on the agility course. For pets and people on the go, a local pet services company and mobile groomer shared information on services to pamper our furry friends while saving time for busy families. Great tips for keeping our pets safe and healthy during the warm summer months were provided by a Westlake animal hospital.

Kaitlin Willi

The Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Board is made up of our great state’s best and brightest young leaders, hand-picked to contribute to the success of the Ohio State Fair each year. Selected to represent their respective youth organizations, these students serve on behalf of thousands of students across Ohio. As ambassadors for 4-H, FFA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Farm Bureau, Grange and Tech Ed, they are able to share their experiences and emphasize the value of the Junior Fair with patrons throughout the 12 days of the Fair.

Kaitlin Willi of Westlake will be representing Technology Education on this year’s Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Board. Kaitlin’s public speaking, organizational and leadership skills will be an asset to this year’s board. In addition, her communication and hands-on teaching skills will ensure a successful Fair.

The Friends of the Bay Village Library Summer Used Book Sale begins Saturday, July 28, at 9 a.m. and runs through Tuesday, July 31, at 7 p.m. The sale is held in the meeting room of the library.

There is a large selection of books for readers of all ages as well as magazines, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks and more. All materials have been categorized for easy shopping. Tuesday, the last day of the sale, is bag day when a full bag of books costs $1. Bags are provided by the library. Proceeds from the sale are used to support upcoming library programs and activities.

For more information on the book sale, volunteering to help with the sale, or becoming a member of the Friends of the Bay Village Library, visit the library at 502 Cahoon Road or call 440-871-6392.

CHILDREN

Pool Storytime: Join us at the Bay pool every Monday and Tuesday at 2 p.m. as one of our children's librarians hosts storytime during the rest break.

Weekly Storytimes: 

• Mondays (10 a.m.) Toddler Storytime – ages 19-35 months
• Tuesdays (10 a.m.) Toddler Storytime – ages 19-35 months
• Tuesdays (6:45 p.m.) Family Storytime – for all ages
• Wednesdays (10 a.m.) Baby and Me Storytime – ages birth-18 months
• Thursdays (10 a.m.) Preschool Storytime – ages 3-5 (not yet in kindergarten)
• Fridays (10 a.m.) Family Storytime – for all ages

Thursdays, July 19, 26 and Aug. 2 (2 p.m.) Little Buddies – Share the joy of books with Big Buddies by reading aloud to each other and playing fun reading games and activities. Students must be able to read. Please attend all 3 sessions. Registration required. 

Saturday, July 21 (10 a.m.) Mr Science – While using mostly ordinary household materials and a dash of exuberant character, Mr. Science will bring joy and wonderment to the minds of any and all young learners. You will learn about and see dozens of experiments, demonstrations and creative tricks, all while discovering the science behind how they work. Sponsored by the Friends of the Bay Village Branch Library. Registration required.

Monday, July 23 (2 p.m.) Monday Movies at the Library – Cool off this summer by visiting the library for special screenings of popular movies. Bring a blanket and pillow or sleeping bag.

Friday, Aug. 3 (10 a.m.) Let's Rock Storytime – Join us for a rocking storytime featuring stories and songs with guitar accompaniment. 

ADULTS

Thursday, July 19 (7 p.m.) De-Stressing Tools and Techniques: Finding Peace & Balance for a Joyful Life! – Join us as Shannon Baron, wellness consultant from Heinen’s Bay Village, and Rebecca Reynolds, certified health coach and drugless practitioner, present proper nutrition, helpful anti-anxiety tools and practices for creating balance in life. 

Overdrive Inc.’s Digital Bookmobile National Tour will be making a stop at Westlake Porter Public Library on Wednesday, July 18, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors are invited to board this unique traveling exhibit and enjoy an interactive experience in which they’ll learn about and try eBooks and audiobooks available from the library.

Readers at all levels of comfort and familiarity with eBooks are welcome. Equipped with interactive workstations, touchscreen activities, devices to sample titles and more, the Digital Bookmobile has all readers need to get started. Popular devices, including iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, Chromebook and Kindle, fill the Gadget Gallery for visitors to browse Porter Library’s digital service.

Join us as we celebrate STEAM Week, July 15-21, with programs that focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Conceived as Science Week, STEAM Week recognizes the importance of these disciplines to today’s life and seeks to encourage all library visitors to learn more about them, whether as a potential career field or to better understand and use the technologies we rely on.

Sunday, July 15 (3-4 p.m.) Art Smarts – Explore works of a well-known artist and then use what you’ve seen to create an art piece of your own! Grades 3-6. Registration begins July 8.

Monday, July 16 (1-2 p.m. OR 4-5 p.m.) COSI on Wheels: Energy! – Experiment with electricity, magnetism and motion while you help COSI’s inventor complete their greatest creation. Build circuits, create chain reactions and move objects without touching them while learning more about forces and energy.

Monday, July 16 (1-1:30 p.m.) Yoga Time! – This is a perfect way to introduce yoga and practice simple poses that imitate animals and nature. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a towel or yoga mat. Ages 3 and up with a caregiver.

Monday, July 16 (6-8 p.m.) Rockin’ Games – Stop by the Youth Services area to play games using rocks ... mancala, checkers, tic-tac-toe and more. Finally, create your own rockin’ game to take home!

Monday, July 16 (6:30-7 p.m.) Digital Storytime – Songs, rhymes and stories with multimedia elements such as video clips, music and animation. For children up to age 6 and a caregiver.

Monday, July 16 (7-8 p.m.) Cyber Security: What Everyone Needs to Know – Security expert David Kennedy, founder of TrustedSec and Binary Defense and former chief security officer for Diebold Inc., will talk about the steps that everyone should take to keep their information and computers secure. Please register.

Tuesday, July 17 (10:30-11:30 a.m.) Tablet Tuesday User Group – This group will share tips and tricks with each other about using iPads and Android tablets. Kindle Fire users welcome! Please bring your devices. Please register.

Tuesday, July 17 (1-3 p.m.) Winning 101: Interviewing for Jobs in 2018 – Are you prepared to have a successful interview today? Learn some basic expectations of the interviewer with extra tips from employers on how to differentiate yourself from other candidates, answer difficult questions, discuss salary needs and WIN.

Tuesday, July 17 (2-3 p.m. OR 3:30-4:30 p.m.) Makey Makey – Create a banana piano, play video games with Play-Doh, and use your fellow humans to play the bongos with Makey Makey, which can turn any conductive material into a keyboard! Geared towards grades 3-5. Please register.

Tuesday, July 17 (6-7 p.m.) Egg Splatter Painting – Have you ever wanted to make a beautiful piece of art and have fun doing it? Choose your colors, fill your eggs and throw them at your canvas. When you’re finished take home your one-of-a-kind creation! Grades 5-6. Registration begins July 10.

Tuesdays, July 17 and 31 (6-7 p.m.) Heartfulness Meditation – Heartfulness is a simple, practical way to regulate the mind and experience the heart’s unlimited resources. An experienced trainer will guide you through the various aspects of heartfulness meditation practice. Registration begins one month before each session.

Wednesday, July 18 (11-11:45 a.m.) WPPL’s Annual Egg Drop – Celebrate engineering during STEAM week by designing a protective device for an egg. Come to the Porter Room from 11-11:45 to build your creation then join us at noon in the library lobby to test all of the devices in the official egg drop!

Wednesday, July 18 (4-5 p.m.) Marshmallow Challenge – The task is simple: teams must build a free-standing structure out of spaghetti, tape, string and a single marshmallow ... which team can succeed in building the tallest tower? Grades 5-9. Please register.

I love libraries. I remember walking once a week to our neighborhood library when I was a teenager. As long as the weather was good, my friends and I made the trip. The library was my refuge, a place so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Living in a two-generation home was often challenging. My grandparents had different ideas regarding child-raising than my parents. I needed a quiet place to work on school projects and sometimes to just daydream.

Choices make us
Who we are
Looking glass past
Reflections seem far

Resistance pulls tight
When starting anew
Decisions bring growth
Years turn to few

Sunsets of hope
Offer strength from Above...
A compass of wisdom
That navigates love

Richie Rich the magician captivates children at Camp Gan Israel of Westlake.

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A Jewish experience is something every Jewish child deserves and should be provided of. A Jewish experience that incorporates fun and games is real treat!

This summer, Chabad of the West Side launched "Camp Gan Israel" – a branch of the largest network of Jewish camps around the world – right here in Westlake. It was a stellar opportunity to teach and engage, imparting meaningful Jewish values to last a lifetime. And of course, a whole load of fun!

Norman Boecker shows off his painted rock. Photo by Denny Wendell

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Families dropped by the Bay Village Library on July 14 to paint rocks that they then hid throughout the community.

Here’s how you can join in the fun:

1. Look for these colorful rocks around Bay Village.
2. When you find one, take a photo and post it to facebook.com/groups/NEohioRocks.
3. Choose a different location in Bay Village and rehide the rock.
4. Use the hashtag #BAYlibraryrocks to follow the travel of the rock.

The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and Ecto-mobile will return for this year's event.

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Believe it or not, the bewitching season of Halloween is just around the corner. At least that is how the members of the Cleveland Haunt Club see it. With that idea in mind they will be hosting the Club’s third annual Haunted Garage Sale and Hearse Cruise on Saturday, Aug. 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Bay Village Community House located at 303 Cahoon Road.

Yes, Halloween is looming for all of the Halloween fanatics and many a home haunter and professional haunter are cleaning out their attics, garages and basements of previous years' decorations to make room for this year’s Halloween extravaganzas. For the community this is a great opportunity to pick up some amazing spooky decorations, costumes, props, music and so much more at great prices.

Allen, 56, has a decision to make. Should he start prostate cancer screening? He knows two prostate cancer survivors.

His father was diagnosed with prostate cancer, young – in his 50s. Opting out of treatment on his doctor’s advice, he died at age 84, of Alzheimer’s complications.  

His friend Kevin, 73, was diagnosed at 53. He underwent prostatectomy, radiation and followed up diligently. Though he felt fine, last year a workup showed bone metastasis to his ribs, shoulder and hip.

Prostate cancer is very common.

Momentum is building with the global movement to ditch plastic drinking straws. In Cleveland, the Skip the Straw campaign is being promoted by the Sustainable Cleveland Plastic Reduction Working Group. Sustainable Cleveland is a 10-year initiative by Mayor Frank Jackson to encourage residents and businesses in Cleveland to be environmentally conscious.

Last month, Melt Bar and Grilled announced that they would be joining the Skip the Straw movement and will not automatically serve a plastic straw with beverages. Melt is committed to do their part to help curb the use of single-use plastics and help Cleveland and Lake Erie's environment. Also this month, Starbucks announced that it would stop using plastic straws by 2020. This is a big deal, and will eliminate more than one billion plastic straws per year from the earth! Hopefully other large food retailers will follow suit, and other local restaurants will follow Melt.

Photo by Craig Baker

WestShore Lions Dennis Clough and Nan Baker, and 13 patriotic youngsters, participate in the national "Ringing of the Bell" ceremony in recognition of the original 13 colonies on July 4 at Clague Park.

In past years the ceremony was held at Peterson Pool but due to the renovation, the ceremony was held in the park.

The Clague family tree features a kite bearing the flag of the Isle of Man. Courtesy of the Westlake Historical Society

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Second in a series of articles on the Clagues, one of the founding families of Dover (now Westlake). Part I was published Dec. 5, 2017, and is archived at wbvobserver.com/read/columns/digging-dover.

The best known Manx emigrant to America was Myles Standish – the military leader of the Pilgrim Fathers who sailed for New England in 1620. Why Robert Clague, the patriarch of the Dover/Westlake Clagues left the Isle of Man and came to Dover nearly 200 years later, in 1829, is unknown, but we have some clues.

John Feltham, an English travel writer, describing the Isle of Man in 1797, stated that: “The population of the island in general is excessive: it is no uncommon thing for fourteen to be grown up in one family. But in general, except the eldest son and daughter, the whole are obliged to quit the island to gain their bread, and seldom return.” It was also stated that the increase in population had pushed the cultivation of unsuitable land and the rulers of the island raised the rents and tithes, including a tithe on potatoes in the 1820s.

Matthew Hengelsberg, Troop 41 Eagle Scout

Matthew Hengelsberg, Bay Village Troop 41, earned the Eagle Scout rank on July 9. Matthew becomes the Troop's 156th Eagle Scout since 1964. He is the son of Jennifer and Gary Hengelsberg of Bay Village. For his Eagle service project, Matthew's team rebuilt planting beds and installed a refurbished garden bench for Bethesda on the Bay Lutheran Church. Visit troop41.wordpress.com for more information about Boy Scout Troop 41.

You know what’s fun about being a writer? Fan mail.

At least, that’s what they tell me, since I’ve never actually received any fan mail myself. (A dubious record such as this sort of makes me the Hue Jackson of writing, does it not?) If you consider the notion that up to now, I’ve had to settle for profanity-laced tirades aimed at eroding the few shreds of dignity that still comprise my ego, I am pretty much a Hue Jackson clone, no?

But what the hey, at least I can say that because of those expletive-laden “suggestions,” I’ve added a number of new words (most of which cannot, since this is a family publication, be repeated here) to my vocabulary, right?

Bay Village Kiwanis Club President Foster McMasters and members of the Bay High School Key Club serve up curly fries during Bay Days.

Another year and another Bay Days has come and gone. Aided by the Bay High School Key Club, the Bay Village Kiwanis Club transformed hundreds of pounds of spuds into delicious curly fries for the event. The generous donation of potatoes by Bay’s own Jerry Fritz helped make the fundraising event a huge success.

Through the support of area residents attending the event and the volunteer efforts of the Key Club, Bay Kiwanis will be able to continue their mission of changing the world, one child and one community at a time.

New St. Paul Westlake principal Jeremy Louden.

Admittedly, Jeremy Louden has a big job in front of him. He likens it to working on a jigsaw puzzle. Running Westlake’s oldest independent preparatory school for students in grades Pre-K through 8 is no easy task. But the West Park native is up to the challenge.

“I want this to be a thriving community where we focus on spirituality, academics, leadership and innovation,” he said. Louden officially began his duties as St. Paul's principal on July 2. “Right now, I’m learning the bits and pieces and how everything fits together.”

I grew up making memories at Huntington Beach. The beach is home, and I feel a great sense of pride over it. I’ve traveled the world, yet I always come back to Bay Village as my favorite spot. Given my childhood, it is no surprise that I now spend my adult life working with the media to expose environmental issues that harm our water, air, wildlife and land.

Unfortunately, my sense of pride in Lake Erie is starting to be overcome with worry as I read about the algae bloom advisories. Not only are my favorite areas getting destroyed, but my family’s drinking water is at risk too. We do not need a scare like the one Toledo had.

When people adopt a dog, their life changes. It helps people who don't get that much exercise, get more by their dog. Dogs can also help people have a buddy when you're lonely. I mean, I'm not forcing you to get a dog – but it can really help.

Dogs help you have a better life. I know, you're probably thinking, I can just exercise more and spend more time with friends. That's right, you can. I don't have a dog, and I do get lonely sometimes. And since I don't go to the gym every day, I started a business where I get to walk dogs. Just think, dogs can change your life.

– Sam Viskocil, Avon Lake

Youth Challenge participants, volunteers and members of the Shoremen soccer team get ready to compete at Avon Lake Memorial Field for Paralympic Day.

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Recently, the Avon Lake High School boys soccer team and participants and volunteers from Youth Challenge joined together to celebrate the Paralympics.

Youth Challenge not only provides adapted sports and recreational opportunities to young people with physical disabilities and their teen volunteer partners, but the U.S. Paralympics, a division of the National Olympic Committee, designated YC as Paralympic Sport Cleveland.

Four YC Teams – The Vipers, Betty White Killer Clown Memes, Three Pointers, and Nacho but Fantastic Bears – competed at Avon Lake Memorial Field throughout the day in various Paralympic events including tennis, basketball, track & field, and (of course) soccer. Each team was led by YC staff members and two captains from the ALHS soccer team.