Bay Village groups share winter plans

Representatives from many of Bay Village's civic groups and nonprofit organizations attended the Community Council meeting on Nov. 18 to share news, notes and events scheduled through January.

BAYarts presents its annual Holiday Shop for unique, handmade local gifts throughout the season: Mondays-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays); and Sundays, noon-5 p.m. Full winter program guides are available online at bayarts.net.

Bay Village American Legion Post #385 has begun their annual collection of donations for the statewide program "Gifts for Yanks." This effort is part of a larger drive of the Ohio American Legion that for over 65 years has pooled funds from local posts to maximize the impact of local gifts providing activities and gifts for veterans in Ohio’s State VA hospitals and other VA centers. Collection bottles have been placed in select businesses in Bay and Westlake.

The Bay Village Education Foundation's annual fundraising dinner event, "Creating Opportunities," is upcoming on Jan. 31, 5-8 p.m. Tickets are available from any trustee. The high school’s video production studio, supported by a BVEF grant of $35,000 and slated to go live in the spring semester, has 15 students enrolled. Outfitting of the studio continues. BVEF participated at the inaugural Trick or Treat on the Track held at BHS Stadium along with many other local businesses and civic organizations.

Bay Village Kiwanis are holding their annual Christmas tree sale at Cahoon Park. The Kiwanis recently contributed $12,000 to the new playground at Normandy School and continue to fund the Bay High Key Club and the Builders Clubs at both St. Raphael and Bay Middle School.

The Bay Village Historical Society and the Bay Village Kiwanis will host an old-fashioned community Christmas on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2-4:30 p.m. The event will include a children’s gingerbread house contest at Rose Hill Museum, the reading of holiday stories, caroling and crafts for kids in the Bay Village Community House, the Kiwanis Christmas tree sale, a visit by Santa Claus and the lighting of the community tree in the Cahoon Memorial Park gazebo. Residents can help to "Light up Bay Village" by placing luminaries in their yards that evening. Bay Village community groups are invited to participate by decorating a holiday wreath, to be displayed in the gazebo. Any civic or school groups interested in taking part in the festivities or selling holiday merchandise should contact Cynthia Eakin at info@bayhistorical.com or 216-213-0312, or Rhonda Schneider at baykiwanis@gmail.com or 216-225-6538.

The Bay Village Women’s Club and Foundation will hold their annual holiday luncheon and raffle on Dec. 3 at Westwood Country Club. The Bay High School Choraleers will present their special, wonderful holiday program. Social hour begins at 11:30 a.m. and lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend; contact Lou Popp at 440-871-3075 for tickets or more information. The 45th Annual Antique Show featuring an antique doll display will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 13 and 14 at Bay High School. Interested dealers can contact Nancy at 440-334-7539 or visit baywomensclub.org. Memorabilia is still available for sale and makes a great holiday gift. Please call Marilyn at 440-892-4344 or Nancy at 440-334-7539.

With summer bike season winding down, the Village Bicycle Cooperative's Fix-it-Forward program continues at a good pace for the holidays. So far this year VBC has refurbished and donated 50 adult and children’s bicycles to needy individuals. It is expected that an additional 30 bikes will be rider ready and donated for the upcoming holiday season. This year the VBC will be partnering with Bay Community Services to provide refurbished bicycles to deserving families in Bay. During the Cahoon Christmas, Village Bicycle will also offer upcycling craft classes, as well as host tours and an Open Shop. Volunteer nights continue every Wednesday in the Community House at 7 p.m.

The Citizens for Bay Village Community Theater have talked to Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman about keeping the existing theater. If the Metroparks decides to go another direction concerning the fate of the current Playhouse facility, the group will attempt to partner with any potential affiliate in sharing the space of any new facility to be built on the site of the current Playhouse. The group will look for a suitable space within Bay Village to convert to theatrical use. The group filed for 501(c)(3) status, is working on a business plan specifically designed to use the current Huntington Playhouse facility with the hope of acquiring affiliation with the Cleveland Metroparks and is exploring the feasibility of producing one or two theatrical productions in 2016. Shows and locations are to be determined.

Friends of the Bay Village Branch Library will hold their next book sale Jan. 23-26.

The Lake Erie Nature & Science Center reports another record-setting year for its wildlife rehabilitation program. At the end of October, nearly 1,400 patients had been admitted surpassing last year's total of 1,325 patients. The entire list of all winter programs, including events for all ages, can be found at lensc.org.

The League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland, Bay Village Chapter has approved the donation of an additional $10,000 to Bay Village City Council to install a microphone system in both the council chambers and the committee/conference room, bringing the total donation to $20,000. In council chambers, the funds will cover the cost of stationary microphones for each member of council, the mayor, law director, finance director and clerk, as well as two mobile microphones for department heads and residents seated in the audience and a lapel microphone for guest presenters. In the conference room, there will be a microphone for every seat at the table. The recordings will be available online. Speakers will also be installed to amplify sound. The chapter hopes that the installation will be completed in January 2016. The chapter voted to donate $100 towards the improvements to Play in Bay. The next chapter meeting is Saturday, Jan. 9, 9:30 a.m. at Bay Library.

The next meeting of the Bay Village Community Council will be Jan. 14 at the Bay Village Branch Library. The Selection Committee will meet at 6 p.m. to select the Citizen of the Year and Project of the Year. The regular meeting will follow at 7 p.m.

Jessica Breslin

Jessica Breslin is the Secretary of the Bay Village Community Council

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Volume 7, Issue 23, Posted 9:56 AM, 12.01.2015