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A chair volleyball match at the Rocky River Senior Center. Photo by Laurie Schaefer

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 40 percent of American adults sit for more than 8 hours per day; 40 percent are physically inactive with no moderate exercise during the week, and an additional 10 percent fit into both categories. These percentages increase with age.

But sitting doesn’t have to mean inactivity. If you’ve ever taken a spinning class, you know what I mean. Chair yoga is another (less intense) option that is very popular with seniors, giving a full work-out regardless of balance and mobility issues.

Now there’s another fun option in town that is also a team sport. Indoor chair volleyball is a new activity taking senior centers across the country by storm. It is played with two teams of at least six players, with a shorter, 5-foot-high net. The “volleyball” is actually a beach ball. Rules are similar to regular volleyball except for the “one cheek on the chair” rule. Yes, I said one cheek on the chair; think about it.

Now that the holidays are behind us and all of the gifts have been given and returned, The Bay Village Foundation and its trustees want to remind organizations that we are now receiving applications for our 2019 Community Grant Program. Grants of up to $5,000 can be awarded.

We encourage organizations to begin gathering information for the 2019 program as the deadline for acceptance of applications is Feb. 28. To qualify, program projects must be received by the deadline. Unfortunately, in past years, program applications were received after this deadline and could not be considered. Please be mindful of this requirement.

Former U.S. Department of the Treasury senior economist Dr. Kevin Jacques will examine what to expect for the U.S. economy in 2019 during the Monday, Jan. 21, Investors’ Interest Group program at Westlake Porter Public Library.

His presentation will include a discussion of Federal Reserve interest rate policy, inflation, economic growth and the political economy, with an eye toward the implications for individual investor stock and bond portfolios.

Clague Playhouse begins 2019 with a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, "Other Desert Cities." As dysfunctional family plays (and aren't they all?) go, this is one of the smartest, funniest, most moving to have played on Broadway in recent memory.

The Wyeth family is at war over daughter Brooke's writing of a memoir that lays bare all the family secrets. But this is a family that is united by deep love and compassion, and hope wins the day. Political divides also run deep between the conservatives and liberals in this family. Considering it opened on Broadway in 2011, it is remarkably predictive of the state of things in our country right now.

It’s a whole new ballgame when our parents enter their 80s, and it’s easy to fall into bad habits when we’re with them. In 2019 I resolve to:

1. Stop “dealing” with them: Language matters, and if I’m not careful, Mom will think I consider her a burden, which is not the case. 
2. Walk in their shoes: Imagine you’ve lost your spouse or home or driving privileges – or all three. Would you be sad now and then? Angry? Confused? I resolve to work on my empathy muscles in 2019.
3. Consider they might be right: My dad made it to 87 without organic kale juice every morning, so I need to stop sniping about his hot dogs and Pop-Tarts. And I resolve to drop off Dortmunder 12-packs now and then.

New Westlake Schools alumni coordinator, Megan Moutoux.

Westlake High School 1992 graduate Megan Ferry Moutoux will assume the newly created role of Alumni Coordinator for the Westlake City School District. Superintendent Dr. Scott Goggin said it’s a goal of the school district to strengthen its bond with alumni.

“Strengthening this bond starts when our students are in our schools,” Dr. Goggin said. “Megan will work to engage our future alumni with our current alumni by acting as a liaison between the Westlake Schools and alumni.”

Moutoux will serve as a liaison between alumni and the Westlake City Schools, be a resource for reunions and alumni events, organize fundraisers to support alumni scholarships, and maintain a database of alumni.

This report is not an official statement of the League of Women Voters. Mayor Kennedy's office prepares official minutes.

Present: Mayors Kennedy, Clough, Bobst, Summers, Patton and Koomar, along with fiscal officer.

Fiscal Officer’s Report: WCOG can’t receive Federal Equitable Sharing funds for drug enforcement; instead, funds go to Westshore Enforcement Bureau (WEB).

2019 Budget: Less than 1 percent change from last year. There is some cash balance left due to CERT refocus. Westshore Young Leaders is partially funded. WEB received $190,000 in grants, mainly for salaries. Bay Village applies for these grants – group agreed proposals don’t need WCOG’s approval.

Robbie Curry, Eagle Scout

Robbie Curry, Bay Village Troop 41, earned the Eagle Scout rank on Dec. 10, 2018. Robbie is the Troop's 160th Eagle Scout since 1964. He is the son of Robert and Patty Curry of Bay Village.

For his Eagle service project, Robbie's team installed an herb garden and composite picnic table for the Village Project. Visit troop41.wordpress.com for more information about Scout Troop 41.

It was a busy and productive 2018 for Bay Village's Boy Scout Troop 729 as six young men earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout. Below is a summary of their Eagle Scout projects.

• Evan Danielson provided a board for learning and practicing knot-tying at Avon Lake's Miller Park.
• Liam Kovich assisted the Menlo Park Academy in Cleveland with an inventory program installation for its Little Libraries.
• Brendon O'Doherty installed a bench at the Prayers for Maria site in Avon.
• Patrick O'Doherty oversaw the completion of a Sensory Table for an organization in Avon.
• Drew Ware installed wheelchair picnic tables and garden planters for Our Lady of the Wayside in Avon.
• Nathaniel Day supervised a nursery project for St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Bay Village.  

Congratulations to these fine Scouts for their accomplishments in the community!

The Women in Transition program at Cuyahoga Community College will launch a new session at Corporate College West on Jan. 14.

The free program empowers women in their pursuit of education and professional training. Participants build confidence and self-esteem through classes on personal development, career exploration and financial and computer literacy.

The course is designed to assist women in transitional periods of their lives, such as a career change or return to the workforce. The eight-week, non-credit program is free and open to the public.

Gary Ebert shows the plaque to his wife, Pamela, as Mayor Paul Koomar reads the proclamation. Photo by Denny Wendell

Former Bay Village law director Gary Ebert was honored at the Dec. 17 Bay Village City Council meeting for his decades of service to the city. Mayor Paul Koomar read a lengthy proclamation detailing Ebert’s history in the city and love of baseball before revealing a plaque that will dedicate one of the city’s baseball fields in his honor. After the plaque installation this spring, a field located in Cahoon Memorial Park East will be known as Ebert Field.

“It’s dear to my heart,” Ebert said of the city to which he dedicated so much of his life. “I bleed blue. My heart’s here in Bay Village and always will be, and my whole family’s as well.”

Starting in 1982 as a Ward 4 councilman, Ebert’s public service career spanned 36 years and included more than 30 years as law director and two separate stints as interim mayor.

Looking for a way to while away the long, cold month of January? Pick up a book and join Westlake Porter Public Library’s Adult Winter Reading Program! For every book read from Jan. 6 through Feb. 2 participants can complete an entry for a chance to win one of four weekly prizes.

Entries can be completed at the library’s Ask Us and Circulation Desks, or online at westlakelibrary.beanstack.org. Read as many or as few books as you like – you can enter for every book you complete!

The program is open to adults 18 and over, and no registration is required.

Work continues at BAYarts on Phase One of the former Playhouse renovation. Newly installed windows add more natural light.

Dan Ruminski returns to the Bay Village branch library on Thursday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. to talk about Francis Drury, who turned his love of theater into a reality called the Cleveland Play House. He'll discuss how Drury achieved his wealth, why he and his wife, Julia, suddenly abandoned their home in Cleveland, and what role Cleveland society played in that decision. You'll learn about his building of one of the last and most fabulous mansions on Millionaires’ Row and his desire for more space resulting in the building of his Cedar Hill Farm, known today as Gilmour Academy. This program is presented in collaboration with the Bay Village Historical Society and sponsored by the Friends of the Bay Village Branch. 

CHILDREN

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. and 11 a.m.) Family Storytime – for all ages

Thursday, Jan. 10 (3 p.m.) Write On! – Join us for fun, quirky and challenging writing exercises and activities to get your creativity flowing. Registration required.

Wednesdays, Jan. 9 and 16 (10:15 & 11 a.m.) Let’s Sing and Dance! – Sing and move to the music with Miss Nancy! For children ages 2-6 with a caregiver. Arrive early to receive a ticket.

Wednesdays, Jan. 9 and 16 (4-5:30 p.m.) and Thursdays, Jan. 10 and 17 (6:30-8 p.m.) Bow Wow Books – Stop by Youth Services to sign up for a 10-minute reading time with a reading therapy dog. Registration begins each Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. and Thursday at 6 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 10 (10-11:30 a.m.) Intro to Smartphones – Learn the basics of using smartphones, such as screen brightness, wi-fi settings, adding apps and more. If bringing your device, please bring all account passwords. Please register.

Thursday, Jan. 10 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile

Thursday, Jan. 10 (2-3:30 p.m.) Great Decisions Discussion Program on World Affairs – Discuss critical global issues facing America today. At the beginning of each month a copy of the article may be picked up at the Ask Us Desk to be read prior to the meeting. Please register.

Thursdays, Jan. 10 and 17 (4-5 p.m.) Code Club! – Learn how to build an app, design a video game, and change the world through code! Grades 3-4. Please register.

Friday, Jan. 11 (9:30 and 10:30 a.m.) and Saturday, Jan. 12 (9:30 and 10:30 a.m.) Music Therapy & More – For families and their children (ages 0-6 years) who are struggling in an area of development. Join us for a hands-on program designed to teach families how to use music to improve their child’s motor, communication and social skills as well as behavior. Siblings (ages 0-6 years) may also attend but must register separately. Each session is 30 minutes. For more information and to register, visit connectingforkids.org/music or call 440-570-5908.

Bill March

The Friends of Porter Public Library’s annual meeting on Sunday, Jan. 20, will feature musician Bill March. The meeting and performance will take place at the library (27333 Center Ridge Road) from 2-3 p.m.

March is a veteran of the Cleveland music scene. He has played solo and with a countless number of bands including The Raspberries in a career spanning over three decades. He has played with many local favorite recording artists such as Jonah Koslen (Stage Pass Now, Breathless, Michael Stanley Band), Wally Bryson (Raspberries), and was also a founding member of Beau Coup. His performance will take attendees back to the singer/songwriter era.

No registration is required.

Sad news for 2019: The Erie County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society ceased operation, as of Dec. 31, 2018. Their P.O. Box 1301, Sandusky, OH 44871, will remain open through the spring. You may not care about Ohio’s Erie County Chapter, if you have no family ties to that area, but when a chapter fails to attract new members to its ranks, it fades away.

New members bring critical dollars to a genealogical chapter. Most local libraries provide a meeting room free of charge, but the speaker’s fee for the program is paid by the chapter. No local tax dollars are used. New members also serve to keep a chapter vibrant, when they volunteer to write articles for or edit the quarterly newsletter, participate in chapter activities like family history research help sessions, or serve as an officer on the board.

Each year, the Bay Village Community Council honors a worthy Bay Village resident with the title of Citizen of the Year. The award recognizes an individual’s service and dedication to the community. Special projects are also considered for distinction based on community impact and the involvement of volunteers and organizations.

The deadline to nominate a citizen and/or project is Monday, Jan. 14. Forms are available to download (Citizen of the Year | Project of the Year), or to pick up at City Hall, the Bay Village Branch Library, and from members of the Bay Village Community Council. Completed forms may be submitted via email to tara@wbvobserver.com or mailed to Bay Village Community Council, 350 Dover Center Road, Bay Village, OH 44140.

Relive the struggle of Michelangelo in his restless search for beauty by attending a discussion course in Bay Village, starting this month.

Set in the turbulent world of 14th and 15th century Italy with its plotting princes, warring popes and brilliant artists, there is indeed a new awakening which reshapes the future of Europe and all of western civilization. Michelangelo embraced and struggled with all that faced him in this Renaissance period. Irving Stone, in his masterpiece "The Agony and the Ecstasy" (our text for this course), has “painted a portrait of a supreme craftsman (and) created a cyclorama of an astounding age in history.” Meet the sculptor of David and the Pieta, the painter of the Sistine Chapel and the architect of the dome for St. Peter’s.

Are you aware that stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States? Approximately one-third of strokes result in aphasia which is a language impairment that can affect speaking, understanding, reading or writing. The National Aphasia Association estimates that there are 2,000,000 people in the USA living with aphasia.

Aphasia is always due to injury to the brain – most commonly from a stroke, particularly in older individuals. But brain injuries resulting in aphasia may also arise from head trauma, brain tumors or from infections. If you are one of the more than 750,000 people in the United States who have a stroke each year, you or your family should not have to face aphasia alone. Knowing there are others in your community in the same situation can make a world of difference.

Did you receive, or gift yourself, a digital-world device such as a tablet or a smartphone during the holidays? Have you already set it up and are enjoying the benefits like streaming movies and music, playing the kind of games you enjoy (racing games are my favorite!), videochatting with your grandkids, and getting your dose of up-to-the-second news? Or is the gift still sitting in the box and at risk of not even seeing the light of day?

Upon reading that last sentence, some of you may think it to be absurd. Unfortunately I’ve heard, in confidence, similar outcomes repeatedly over the years from seniors I helped. I blame these outcomes on the “intimidation barrier.”

Westlake Kiwanians Alan Hendricks, Jennifer Rutkoski, Al Smith, Bruce Zyrkowski and Rick Grane delivered food to Meals on Wheels clients over the holidays.

The Westlake Kiwanis have been relieving the Meals on Wheels regular drivers on special holidays, particularly Thanksgiving and Christmas, for many years so they may be at home with their families. T

his year was no different except the area has expanded beyond Westlake to Bay Village, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township. This service provides a hot meal for individuals who would have otherwise been alone on Christmas.

Maximum Accessible Housing of Ohio will give a presentation at Westlake Porter Public Library on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 11:00 a.m. Learn about accessibility basics in various areas of the home. This program is focused on solutions that help increase safety and efficiency. Also includes costs, resources and working with contractors. Please register in person, call the library at 440-871-2600, or visit westlakelibrary.org. 

“I’m trapped in a spider web of endless work/stress and I have lost my sense of balance – is work my only life?" a career counseling client once said to me.

Too many American adults are struggling with work demands that are overwhelming, endless, and limit the full development of adult life.

We seem to have come full circle since 1998, when my counseling staff at InfoPLACE, the adult career planning program at the Cuyahoga County Public Library, began to counsel adults struggling with work/life balance. We researched and wrote the first edition of ABLE (Adult Balanced Life Enhancement) and began to use it widely in workshops and individual appointments. Since then, and several editions later, ABLE is a vital element of my career counseling with a broad range of clients.

When I was 14-15 years old (1949) we moved to Westlake. A big change from Lakewood. I had a .22 rifle when I was 10 years old, and a shotgun when I was 13, and did a lot of target shooting. 

In Westlake, which was still open country, one could go hunting pheasants, rabbits, and even squirrels in season. I became an excellent shot and never missed what I was shooting at. We had many meals of pheasants and rabbits.

Brookdale Westlake Village residents have a "ball" in their balance and strength training class. Photo by Julie Mooney

The independent living residents of Brookdale Westlake Village stretch into the New Year with a daily dose of fitness. A line in the classic song that we all ring in our New Year singing, "Auld Lang Syne," says “And there’s a hand my trusty friend, and give me a hand o’thine!” Our residents realize the importance of social connection and the benefits it pays on physical health and psychological well-being.

The feeling of being connected, having that support system, a feeling of belonging, a purposeful day which ignites a cooperative spirit and blossoms an empathetic nature is all part of the path. This path in turn supports good health, strengthens the heart, brings forth a joyful mind and increases longevity. The residents are proud to share with you the power of exercising in a group setting as it is a contagious and energizes the entire being.

Many individuals throughout various stages of life recognize the importance of regular physical exercise to maintain health and physical function. Wellness services, fitness centers, parks and senior centers offer physical activities and fitness experiences on a routine basis.

Cognitive fitness or exercising one's thinking abilities is another important aspect of healthy routines that one should consider. Cognitive decline may be described as one of the biggest fears of our aging population. Prevention of cognitive decline can occur through modifying lifestyle habits as well as a concerted, focused plan of cognitive stimulation.