Raffle winner and council colleagues enjoy boat trip

Joan Kemper, left, Bay Village’s clerk of council and winner of the Freedom Boat Club raffle, invited her council colleagues for an August cruise on the Rocky River. Pictured with Joan are Paul and Therese Koomar.

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This last spring, at the Bay Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, I purchased Raffle Ticket No. 4 for the Freedom Boat Club raffle offered by the Bay Days Fireworks Fundraising Committee. The prize was a one-year membership in the Freedom Boat Club, which entitles the winner to use a boat for free at any one of the club’s more than 80 locations throughout the United States.

I purchased the raffle ticket for my son-in-law’s birthday present and when the winner was announced on Memorial Day, our entire family couldn’t have been more pleased.

This year the Bay Village City Council enjoyed their summer recess during the months of July and August. Rob Massey, the director of the Freedom Boat Club and local resident, treated the City Council to a boating adventure on a beautiful Monday evening in August. 

We enjoyed two beautiful hours cruising on the Rocky River and seeing the sun begin setting on the lake.  Four of the council members and myself had a wonderful evening of looking at Rocky River and Bay Village from the water’s side.

Our group included Paul Koomar, president of council, and his wife, Therese; Steve Lee, councilman-at-large, and his wife, Diana; Dave Tadych, Ward 1 councilman, and Mike Gore; and Paul Vincent, Ward 2 councilman, and his wife, Kateri. We cruised until sunset, enjoyed refreshments courtesy of Paul Koomar, and truly enjoyed each other’s company as well as Rob’s warm hospitality and boating skills.

This was all made possible by the answering of the call to the need of fundraising to continue the Fourth of July Bay Village fireworks, which has become so dear to our hearts, and a wonderful family tradition.

Thank you again Bay Fireworks Committee, and the Freedom Boat Club.