Community Events

Kiwanis offer take-out spaghetti dinner

The Kiwanis Club of Bay Village invites you to the take-out spaghetti dinner on Saturday, May 8, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Pre-order online or order at drive-up for Tony Dostal's award winning signature sauce and spaghetti. Take home a dinner for only $10 including salad, roll and sweet. Also available: sauce in quarts and 50/50 raffle. Order online at bay-village-kiwanis-club.square.site.

Drive-thru pick-up at Village Project 27378 W. Oviatt Road (between Dover Center and Cahoon roads). Drive, bike, or walk up – everyone is welcome. Proceeds from Kiwanis events are used to benefit the children of our community and around the world. Currently we are supporting the high school Key Club, Project Thirst, Academic Achievement Awards for high school students, and BAYarts' stage, wood shop and sign projects. Kiwanis also needs volunteers. If you want to help, call 440-724-1578.

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Volume 13, Issue 9, Posted 10:04 AM, 05.04.2021

Earth Day celebration to review area's tree coverage

Cuyahoga County’s tree canopy will be discussed by the Westlake/North Olmsted Chapter of the League of Women Voters at its Earth Day 2021 celebration, Thursday, April 22, at 7:30 pm. Guest speaker Alison Ball, a planner with the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, will speak at the Zoom meeting. Ms. Ball was involved with the 2019 county-wide Urban Tree Canopy Assessment and manages the ongoing grant program.

The 2019 Assessment showed that the Cuyahoga County tree canopy had a net loss of about 6,600 acres of canopy, a 6.1% decline from 2011. The loss comes despite concerted efforts in many local communities to increase tree canopy. Losses are primarily due to development, natural loss from invasive pests, wind damage and neglect. In 2020, the County funded 26 community tree projects. This funding spurred the creation of 18 tree plans, nine tree maintenance plans and 14 tree inventories for area municipalities, neighborhoods and nonprofits.

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Volume 13, Issue 8, Posted 10:47 AM, 04.20.2021

Westlake is ready to bloom again

Now that spring has arrived, it is a great time to enter your garden or landscape for the Westlake in Bloom community beautification competition. This is the City’s opportunity to recognize Westlake’s avid gardeners who beautify their homes, businesses and institutions.

Entry is free and everyone who enters will receive an invitation to the Westlake in Bloom reception and awards ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at the Westlake Community Services Center auditorium, where the winners will be announced.  

Entering is as easy as visiting the City’s website and downloading an entry form or submitting one electronically at www.cityofwestlake.org/588/Westlake-in-Bloom. Residents also may pick up an entry form at Westlake City Hall, Porter Library or these Westlake garden centers: Cahoon Nursery, Dean’s Greenhouse, and Gale’s Westlake Garden Center.

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Volume 13, Issue 8, Posted 10:43 AM, 04.20.2021

Westlake Memorial Day Parade to return this year

The Westlake Memorial Day Parade, sponsored by the Westlake Kiwanis, will be held on May 31. The starting point will be at Sts. Peter & George Coptic Orthodox Church, 25800 Hilliard Blvd., at 10 a.m. The parade will march down Hilliard and end up at Clague Park, where a small ceremony will be held in the gazebo.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will be no candy or flags handed out. Also, the City asks that parade spectators stay off the grass median. People are welcome to watch from the south curb side and north street side of Hilliard. This will help with spacing requirements.

Those who would like to walk or ride in the parade can email rickgrane@aol.com or call 440-829-0974 and leave phone number and message.

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Volume 13, Issue 8, Posted 10:42 AM, 04.20.2021

Bay Village groups share spring news and activities

The Bay Village Community Council met via Zoom on March 30. Annual elections were held and the following officers will begin their terms at the May meeting: Tara Wendell, president; Mary Kay Wilson, vice president; Peggy Ludwig, treasurer; and Beth Zellers, secretary. Community group representatives presented reports from their organizations: 

The next Bay Village Green Team meeting is Monday, May 10, 6:30-8 p.m. We will host green burials speaker Chad McGreevey to discuss what is involved with choosing a green burial in Ohio. The Green Team is hosting a Habitat for Humanity collection of gently used household goods, appliances and building materials on Saturday, April 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Bay police station.

The League of Women Voters, Bay Village Chapter will host community forums at election time for each of the contested city offices. This year, our mayor and most city council positions are up for re-election. This is the year that our long-standing efforts to end gerrymandering go into high gear - after the census results are released, the state legislature will begin to re-draw congressional and state district lines to adjust to the new census figures. To that end, we will be offering educational programs about the new rules and a map-making contest so high school students and adults in Bay Village can get involved.

The Bay Village Kiwanis Club continues to assist with projects at Bay Arts, most recently restoring the stage platform and erecting a new canopy. We will be having a take-out spaghetti dinner on Saturday, May 8, 4-7 p.m. It will be at the Village Project. Tony Dostal’s spaghetti sauce will be for sale.  Dinner is $10 and includes salad, roll and a sweet. Orders will be taken online at bayvillage-oh.kiwanisone.org. Thirst Project Walk for Water will be on Saturday May 1, including the Bay High School Key Club and other Kiwanis-sponsored school groups.

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Volume 13, Issue 7, Posted 10:30 AM, 04.06.2021

Westlake Educational Foundation announces car raffle winners

The Westlake Educational Foundation is excited to announce Joseph Pavlik as the winner of a new 2020 Chevy Trax, donated by Serpentini Chevrolet of Westlake for the benefit of Westlake City Schools’ students.

Covid, a snow storm – nothing could prevent the Westlake Educational Foundation from holding its first car raffle on Feb. 16! Craig Catanzarite, Foundation board member, emceed the drawing, with Ryan Serpentini as the guest of honor drawing the winning ticket for the Chevy Trax.

When picking up the vehicle from the Westlake Board of Education offices, Joe’s wife, Elaine, was especially excited. Joe and Elaine had been looking for a new car, but Elaine couldn’t decide which car she wanted. She jokingly told Joe to “Just win me a car!” So, he did!

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Volume 13, Issue 6, Posted 10:28 AM, 03.16.2021

Knickerbocker to host Old Mother Hubbard's Cupboard event

Not every city has two senior centers like Bay Village does. Most know about the Dwyer Center that serves all of Bay Village and surrounding communities with programs and services. However, the Knickerbocker Senior Center exists to serve the residents living in the Knickerbocker Senior Apartments. During the pandemic our center was closed down per the governor's orders. We are yet to open back up but are eagerly awaiting word that it's OK to do so.

Since the Knickerbocker Senior Center is a 501(c)(3) entity, run entirely on donations and volunteers, we are holding our first annual Old Mother Hubbard's Cupboard event. We are in desperate need of replenishing our kitchen supplies. There will be a drive-thru, drop-off event at the Knickerbocker Apartments, 27100 Knickerbocker Road, on Saturday, March 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to collect donated kitchen items from the list below. If you are unable to make that time slot, we welcome your donations any time.

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Volume 13, Issue 5, Posted 9:49 AM, 03.02.2021

State Board of Education members to address League of Women Voters

Members and guests of the Westlake/North Olmsted Chapter of the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland will delve into the workings of the Ohio State Board of Education (OSBE) at its Monday, March 15, meeting via Zoom. The speakers, two elected members of the OSBE, Dr. Christina Collins and Meryl Johnson, will be introduced at 8:00 p.m., following the 7:30 p.m. chapter business meeting.

Dr. Collins was elected in November 2020 to represent the widespread District 5, which includes Westlake and Bay Village. She is an adjunct professor at Kent State University and formerly served as curriculum director in Buckeye Local Schools. Ms. Johnson represents District 11, which covers the city of Cleveland and the remainder of Cuyahoga County that is not included in Dr. Collins’ district. A retired Cleveland Public Schools teacher, Ms. Johnson was first elected to OSBE in November 2016 and was re-elected in November 2020.

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Volume 13, Issue 5, Posted 9:48 AM, 03.02.2021

Bay Village Foundation honors local residents through bronze plaque program

If you’ve ever walked along the lake in Cahoon Park, you may have noticed a small footbridge lined with bronze plaques. You may even recognize the names engraved on the plaques as some of the city’s finest citizens. Do you have a family member or friend that you wish to honor in this special way?

The Bay Village Foundation has been creating a beautiful place to remember loved ones for 19 years. The Foundation’s Bronze Plaque Program was established as a way for families and friends to give permanent recognition to Bay citizens in one central place. Donors that contribute $2,500 or more may request a plaque to honor the life and work of Bay Village residents, living or deceased. The plaques are engraved with personalized text and are installed on the T. Richard Martin Footbridge in Cahoon Memorial Park.

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Volume 13, Issue 5, Posted 9:45 AM, 03.02.2021

League of Women Voters to consider 'Hunger in our Midst'

Hunger issues have risen in the city of Cleveland as well as its suburbs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Details on how two suburbs, Westlake and North Olmsted, are addressing this challenge will be discussed at a meeting of the Westlake-North Olmsted chapter of the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland on Monday, Feb. 22. The meeting will take place on Zoom. Non-members who are interested in attending (by computer or by phone) can request admission by calling the chapter’s voicemail to leave an e-mail address. The voicemail number is 216-264-6496.

The meeting will start at 7:30 p.m. and the speakers’ presentations will begin at 8 p.m.

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Volume 13, Issue 4, Posted 11:06 AM, 02.16.2021

Calling all artists: Westlake Art Festival set for July 31

The Westlake/Bay Village Rotary Club is hosting this year’s Westlake Art Festival on Saturday, July 31, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the grounds just west of Westlake Porter Public Library.

The Rotary is looking for top artists in Northeast Ohio to participate in exhibiting their creativity and unique art work in a fun-filled festival. In addition to artists, the Rotary is welcoming Northeast Ohio business sponsors interested in supporting this premier summer event.

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Volume 13, Issue 3, Posted 10:10 AM, 02.02.2021

Annual Village Project gala returns Feb. 27

Great news! NOURISH, the popular fundraising gala benefiting Village Project, will be held for a sixth consecutive year.

As always, this eagerly-anticipated event will be a chance to unite with other members of the community in support of this worthwhile local organization. The COVID-19 crisis has certainly demonstrated how essential human interaction is to personal fulfillment. As a wise and talented man, Tom Ford, once said, “The most important things in life are the connections you make with others.”

We all know that it has been a challenge to physically connect with other people during this past year. For that reason, Village Project is very excited to tell you that NOURISH 2021 will provide a fun, safe and easy way to make a connection and interact virtually with lots of great people as we all help to sustain its mission to come together as a community of all ages to provide nourishing meals and extended care and service to our neighbors battling cancer in Bay Village, Westlake, Avon, Avon Lake and Rocky River.

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Volume 13, Issue 3, Posted 10:09 AM, 02.02.2021

Win $100,000 in the Straight from the Heart Raffle

Community West Foundation and Cleveland Clinic Avon, Fairview, and Lutheran Hospitals are holding the annual Straight from the Heart Raffle where participants have the chance to win a grand prize of $100,000! This year’s raffle boasts 40 fabulous prizes including a Mercedes Benz, Sea-Doo and trip to The Greenbrier. All proceeds provide heart healthy initiatives in the community and support cardiology services within Avon, Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals.

In 2019, the Straight from the Heart raffle funded the Youth Movement Challenge which is a fun, motivational contest to help combat youth obesity by encouraging Northeast Ohio school-age children to be more active. This program awarded up to $5,000 grants to schools for health education equipment, materials and more to help students stay active.

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Volume 13, Issue 2, Posted 9:59 AM, 01.19.2021

LWV, CWRU to host addiction forum online

Although the recent opioid financial settlements are suggesting steps in the right direction, issues related to alcohol, drugs and substance use disorders continue to represent a major public health concern in our society, especially during the pandemic.

Join the Siegal Lifelong Learning Center of Case Western Reserve University and the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. for an online forum, “The Addiction Disease and What We Can Do About It.”

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Volume 13, Issue 1, Posted 9:39 AM, 01.05.2021

Bay Village Sea Scouts team conducting COVID-19 prevention experiment

In November, a study from Cardiff University in Cardiff, Wales, UK, presented promising signs that certain kinds of mouthwash kill the coronavirus within 30 seconds, helping to reduce transmission and slow the spread of the virus. The type of mouthwash that was included in the study is one that contains at least 0.07% cetypyridinium chloride (CPC).

After reading news articles about the results of this study from Wales, the Bay Village Sea Scouts team, properly called the CPCees, decided to conduct their own trial as part of a STEM competition – eCyberMission Challenge – to address a community concern. Their mission is to find out if the simple act of using this mouthwash does indeed help prevent the transmission and contracting of COVID-19.

The CPCees team consists of Peter Sutherland, Zach Graham, Jason Hartzell and Trey Kraska, led by Richard Gash. The team even reached out to the doctor who led the study, Dr. David Thomas at Cardiff University in Wales. Dr. Thomas responded positively to the boys’ study and is looking forward to learning their results.

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Volume 12, Issue 24, Posted 9:55 AM, 12.15.2020

Bay UMC continues Knickerbocker Thanksgiving tradition

The Bay United Methodist Church provides an annual Thanksgiving dinner for the residents of the Knickerbocker Apartments. Members of the Church prepare the food and set up, serve, and clean up after the dinner is served.

This year, the current pandemic provided some challenges but Bay United Methodist would prevail. Not being able to have the residents gather for dinner coupled with the concern of having the Church congregation gather and prepare the meal, prepared dinners were acquired by the Church and provided to the residents as a substitute.

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Volume 12, Issue 24, Posted 9:56 AM, 12.15.2020

Bay Village porch talks to resume in spring

The Reuben Osborn Learning Center and the Bay Village Historical Society have announced that their popular porch talks will resume in the spring. The last talk, held in September, was attended by a socially distanced and masked audience. They listened to speaker Rebecca McFarland talk about the, “True Story of the Life of Elliot Ness.” Admission to the porch talks is free and open to the public.

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Volume 12, Issue 24, Posted 9:57 AM, 12.15.2020

Bay Men's Club members assist neighbors

Members of the Bay Men's Club, masked for everyone's safety, recently raked and cleaned the yards of 16 Bay Village residents who could use a hand this time of year.

"Bay Men's Club members have volunteered their efforts over the years for the betterment of the community, and this is just another way we can give back to our community," President Matt Williams said. "Our guys had a great time helping others. That's what it's all about."

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Volume 12, Issue 23, Posted 10:03 AM, 12.01.2020

Shop local and be safe this holiday season

So, it is here—holiday season 2020! We welcome the joy and beauty of this time of year, even as we hunker down in our homes to stay healthy and well.

Shopping this holiday season certainly is going to be a bit more challenging. Village Project’s Project Shoppe is doing its part to make it easier and safer to choose a special gift for your friends and family. Home for the Holidays is running from Nov. 30-Dec. 22 and allows you to select from Project Shoppe’s thoughtfully-curated, unique and locally-sourced gifts from the comfort and safety of your home, then conveniently pick up your order curbside on Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at their Bay Village location. To make your inner elf even happier, use the code HOLIDAY2020 at check out to save 10% on your entire order.

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Volume 12, Issue 23, Posted 10:00 AM, 12.01.2020

Westlake hosts 'Patriotic Pick-Me-Up' for local veterans

In honor of Veterans Day 2020, the Westlake Senior and Community Services Department hosted a drive-through event on Nov. 11 to say "thank you" to local veterans.

Mayor Dennis Clough was on hand to greet the brave men and women who have served our country. Participants received gift boxes and baked goods from the safety of their cars and were able to converse with the mayor from a safe distance.

"We're just very pleased that the veterans are coming out here so we can say 'thanks' for their service to our country over the years," Mayor Clough said during the event. "And it's just nice to be able to put a little smile on their face."

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Volume 12, Issue 22, Posted 9:22 AM, 11.17.2020

Reinvention in challenging times

The year 2020 provided us with plenty of routine busters. Essential employees adapted to plexiglass, masks and sealed-off water fountains. Others worked from home with house slippers and Zoom a part of their new normal. Parents of school-aged children juggled classroom instruction into their work-life balance. And these were the lucky ones, because they still had jobs.

This chaos leads to the road of reassessment. As long as we are already pushed out of our comfort zones, we may as well start dreaming about the next chapter. Whether that next chapter is retirement, a career shift, or the process of recovering from a job/income loss there are ways to prepare for successful life transitions.

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Volume 12, Issue 21, Posted 9:27 AM, 11.03.2020

Winning entries in the 8th Annual Scarecrow Festival

Westlake residents were invited to put their creativity to the test during the 8th Annual Scarecrow Festival. Entrants were given a scarecrow building kit to be completed and delivered back to the Westlake Recreation Center by the last week of October to be displayed for all to enjoy.

A balloon-toting "IT" clown scarecrow won first prize for "Scariest" entry. The "Most Original" title went to a Jack-o-Lantern-headed scarecrow with a friendly crow on its shoulder. And last but not least, a tattered black bird scarecrow, submitted by the Tomkalski family, won for "Most Creative."

Two of the winning entries came courtesy of United Consumer Financial Services. The UCFS IT department entered the "IT" scarecrow (fittingly) and the company's underwriting department assembled the one crowned Most Original.

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Volume 12, Issue 21, Posted 9:26 AM, 11.03.2020

Westlake Community Services hosts Halloween Parade of Cars

Staffers and volunteers passed out treats to patrons at the Westlake Senior and Community Services Center on Thursday, Oct. 29, as part of the facility's first Halloween Parade of Cars event.

Patrons were asked to dress up in their "Halloween Best" and to bring cereal boxes to donate to the Westlake Food Pantry as the price of admission for the event.

Staffers and volunteers from the organizations sponsoring the Halloween-themed event showed up dressed for the occasion as well.

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Volume 12, Issue 21, Posted 9:27 AM, 11.03.2020

Halloween thrills and chills for a good cause

The 15th Annual Garage of Doom UNICEF fundraiser will be once again scaring trick-or-treaters this year on Halloween night! Located at 28002 West Oakland Road in Bay Village, the attraction will be open from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The Garage of Doom, staffed by an all-volunteer crew of high school students, is not recommended for children under the age of 10.

There is no admission fee, but donations will be accepted. Over the past 15 years, the Garage of Doom has raised more than $3,500 for UNICEF.

We’re committed to holding our event safely and cautiously with respect towards current government COVID-19 guidelines. In addition to holding the entire attraction outside this year, patrons and volunteers will be required to wear safety masks at all times. Safe social distancing will be maintained in the line and throughout the attraction. For more info call 440-554-6234.

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Volume 12, Issue 20, Posted 10:24 AM, 10.20.2020

Halloween parade of cars coming to Westlake Community Center

Older adults are invited to celebrate Halloween “2020-style” on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 10:30 a.m. (weather permitting) at the Westlake Community Services Center! The facility will open its parking lot to local trick-or-treaters who will be able to gather treats from the safety of their vehicles.

This "Halloween Parade of Cars" is just the latest in what has become a long list of drive-in events hosted at the Community Services Center since June.

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Volume 12, Issue 20, Posted 10:24 AM, 10.20.2020

Kiwanis offers take-out spaghetti dinner

The Kiwanis Club of Bay Village invites you to our annual Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 7, between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. This will be a take-out only event. We will again feature Tony Dostal's award winning signature sauce.

Take home a spaghetti dinner for $10 including salad, roll and sweet. Also available is sauce in quarts for $10 each and 50/50 raffle tickets. Order online at bay-village-kiwanis-club.square.site and drive thru at Village Project, 27378 W. Oviatt Road. Walk-ups are also welcome.

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Volume 12, Issue 20, Posted 10:15 AM, 10.20.2020

The Great Pumpkin Decorating Contest

The Westlake Recreation Center invites Westlake residents to enter their creatively carved or decorated pumpkin for a chance to win fun prizes.

Entries will be displayed alongside the scarecrows from Oct. 26 through Halloween. All pumpkins must be dropped off to the Rec Center from Oct. 23 to Oct. 26.

Rules, guidelines and a list of award categories will be provided upon registration. Participants can register in person at the Rec Center or online at webtrac.cityofwestlake.org. Entry fees are as follows: one pumpkin, $5; two pumpkins, $9; three pumpkins (max), $12.

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Volume 12, Issue 19, Posted 9:52 AM, 10.06.2020

Westlake's 8th annual Scarecrow Festival is Oct. 23

The Westlake Recreation Center will be hosting its 8th annual Scarecrow Festival this October.

Families, companies and small groups are invited to purchase a scarecrow pack and create their own scarecrow to be displayed outside the Rec Center and judged for prizes for three award categories: Most Original, Scariest, and Most Creative.

The cost is $20 for each scarecrow pack. Registration is available at webtrac.cityofwestlake.org or in person at the Rec Center. The deadline to register is Oct. 12. Assembled scarecrows must be returned to the Rec Center by Oct. 23 at noon.

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Volume 12, Issue 19, Posted 9:52 AM, 10.06.2020

Connect at BAYarts' new fall workshops

Autumn is a beautiful season to pause and reconnect with nature and do something kind for yourself, something we all could use right about now. Beginning this fall, BAYarts launches a new series which combines hands-on crafts in a peaceful, mindful environment, connecting to nature and enjoying the company of new and old friends. The workshops will be facilitated by Bay Village resident Alison McKim, whose recent Equinox Meditation on BAYarts' campus was an immediate sellout and a memorable evening for all who attended (next up: a Blue Moon Mediation on Halloween Night!).

Beginning this fall on Saturday afternoons, workshops will include guided meditations and mindfulness combined with creative, hands-on nature-based activities such as nature mandalas, making fire cider, corn husk dolls, herbal smudge sticks and autumn centerpieces. The workshops will be held outdoors or next to the woodburning fireplace in the playhouse depending on weather. In addition to these workshops, BAYarts will be offering yoga and meditation programming for all ages this fall and winter.

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Volume 12, Issue 19, Posted 9:51 AM, 10.06.2020

BAYarts installs mural for the community

It takes a village! BAYarts' new mural is a community collaboration that incorporates the positive message of the healing power of art, community and the natural beauty of the Cleveland Metroparks.

The mural was conceived and created by BAYarts students under the guidance of their mentor Jim Giar, a professional muralist and BAYarts faculty member. Another community group, Bay Village Kiwanis, took care of installing it on the west side of the former playhouse.

The site was chosen for its proximity to BAYarts' back lawn where art classes, music and celebrations take place. Donors can purchase one of the limited spaces in the "school of fish" to show their support at www.bayarts.net. It's also a great photo op! Please check it out and share your photos on Twitter using the hashtag #bayarts_ohio or send them to us via email at info@bayarts.net.

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Volume 12, Issue 18, Posted 10:48 AM, 09.15.2020

Bay alumni scholarships fundraiser sailed into a 2020 success!

The Bay Alumni Madness bowling event proceeds soared to new heights thanks to the generosity of alums and friends!

This year, the committee brought in Barb Chrystal Houston, '73, whose personal contact efforts ensured more multi-class donations as well as new and exciting raffle prizes donated by local vendors. Barb also devised a Bay Trivia quiz about our history, sports, music, and other fun facts. The game was for those who were to socialize rather than bowl. The trivia prize was for two diamond box seats to an Indians game, donated by Cristine and Ben Hoffmann. The game and prize will be saved for the next fundraising event.

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Volume 12, Issue 18, Posted 10:24 AM, 09.15.2020

Porch talks resume with 'The True Life Story of Eliot Ness'

The Bay Village Historical Society and the Reuben Osborn Learning Center resume their series of porch talks on Sept. 13 with Rebecca McFarland speaking about “The True Life Story of Eliot Ness."

McFarland is an internationally recognized expert on the life and times of Eliot Ness. Her research has been requested for magazines, books, movies, radio and television. Formerly a resident of Bay Village, McFarland has served on several committees impacting the city of Cleveland. She coordinated a funeral for Eliot Ness in 1997, attended by international press.

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Volume 12, Issue 17, Posted 9:33 AM, 09.01.2020

Fourth of July flag-raising in Bay neighborhood

On July 2, neighbors were invited to attend a flag-raising ceremony in front of retired Bay Middle School social studies teacher, Doug Borchert's, home. The invitation read, "Tomorrow we will hang up in our front yard the flag that covered my Dad's coffin ... Capt. Jay Bender, U.S. Army, served almost 4 years in the Pacific in WWII. We will also remember Doug's Dad, Pvt. Ben Borchert, who served in Europe and received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. If you can, join us as we begin our joyous yet reflective celebration of Independence Day. God bless America! – Gay Borchert"

At 9:00 a.m., 12 adults and eight children gathered as Mr. Borchert spoke about the sacrifices our veterans in general, and our two fathers specifically, have made since our country was founded. He read the last few statements from the Declaration of Independence and explained why we were raising Old Glory on July 2 and will do so again on July 4.  

On July 2, 1776, the document was submitted to the Continental Congress and signed by John Hancock. On July 4, it was made public. The flag went up as those gathered joined in singing the national anthem.

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Volume 12, Issue 13, Posted 10:05 AM, 07.07.2020

Westlake in Bloom competition heats up as summer arrives

With the warm weather finally settling in throughout Northeast Ohio, it is a perfect time for Westlake’s gardeners to set their sights on the 2020 Westlake in Bloom competition.

This cherished annual tradition blossomed in 2004 after the city earned top honors in the nationwide America in Bloom competition in each of the two preceding years.

In 2002, Westlake celebrated a first-place win among cities with populations of 20,001-50,000. Although the city would have liked to try to repeat its success the following year, contest rules do not allow cities to claim the top prize in the same category more than once. Therefore, the city took a new approach the following year and found continued success in the competition.

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Volume 12, Issue 12, Posted 9:50 AM, 06.16.2020

Herb Guild cancels scholarship luncheon

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Herb Guild Garden Club has cancelled its 36th annual Scholarship Luncheon for this year, which was to be held on Aug. 5, 2020. The Guild regrets this decision, but does not want anyone to get sick with the virus. 

Next year's scholarship luncheon is in the works already and it will be bigger and better! All proceeds from the annual event are used for the club’s scholarship fund, so plan to attend in 2021. 

For more information call Kathie Conrad at 440-872-9725 or email her at Miatakath@aol.com.

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Volume 12, Issue 12, Posted 9:48 AM, 06.16.2020

Bay groups discuss coronavirus-altered plans

The Bay Village Community Council convened via Zoom on May 27, with representatives from many of the city’s civic and nonprofit organizations sharing news and notes from their groups. Here are excerpts from their reports:

American Legion Post #385 honored Memorial Day with their traditional 21-gun salute at Lakeside Cemetery. Chaplain Ed Kus gave an opening prayer and Commander Stanley Zeager read the names of those 59 individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms that we all enjoy. Janice Blanton represented the Daughters of the American Revolution at the event.

Bay Village Education Foundation awarded the Amy Mihaljevic Scholarship to Katherine Knight and Natalie Surdy. The scholarship was established in 1994, and is awarded to one or more college bound Bay High seniors who have been active in community affairs. The Annual Tri-Bay Golf Outing fundraiser has been cancelled for this year. 
The Fall 2020 grants cycle has been put on hold due to the uncertainty surrounding what the 2020-2021 school year will look like. 
The next meeting is scheduled for June 16, 7 p.m., via Zoom.

Bay Village Foundation 
awarded scholarships to three Bay High School seniors: 
Olivia Doland, Olivia Reed and Eddie Papp. The Foundation also awarded grants to seven local organizations: 
BAYarts, to be used toward new programming initiatives; the Bay Rockets Association, to be used toward the fieldhouse at Bay stadium; the Bay Village Historical Society, for their textile preservation project; the Cuyahoga County Public Library, for naming rights of a room at the new library; Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, to be used toward new programming initiatives; the Village Project, to be used for the purchase of generators; Youth Challenge, to be used toward new programming initiatives.

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Volume 12, Issue 11, Posted 10:34 AM, 06.02.2020

Westlake Kiwanis will hold virtual Memorial Day parade and services

In this age of COVID-19 many events have been cancelled. The Westlake Kiwanis has already cancelled their spring pancake breakfast but are determined to have Memorial Day services.

As a result they will be having a virtual Memorial Day parade and services on cable channels AT&T U-Verse channel 99, Spectrum channel 20 and WOW channel 21. They will also be running it on their website, k03498.site.kiwanis.org, and the city's website, www.cityofwestlake.org.

The virtual celebration will feature a video of the parade and services from 2014, including a reading of the names of all the fallen service members from Westlake. Kiwanis President Ray Budoi has taped a brief introduction to the video, paying tribute to all of those on today's "front lines" battling the coronavirus. A printable program of the event is available for download.

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Volume 12, Issue 10, Posted 10:41 AM, 05.19.2020

Cub Scout Pack 39 info night June 2

Cub Scout Pack 39 will have an information night on Tuesday, June 2, from 6-8 p.m. The event will be at Walker Road Park pavilion, 31558 Walker Road, between Avon Lake and Bay Village. Stop by to learn more about Cub Scouting for boys and girls, grades K-5! Please contact Kristine Stylski at stylskipack39@gmail.com with any questions.

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Volume 12, Issue 10, Posted 10:43 AM, 05.19.2020

Westlake Rec stages at-home Easter egg hunt

Employees of the Westlake Recreation Department played Easter Bunny for local families on the eve of Good Friday, staging an At-Home Easter Egg Hunt for 100 households throughout the city. Employees distributed 20 eggs for children to find when they woke up the next morning.

The event was a welcome alternative for families who missed out on the egg hunts typically hosted by the Westlake Town Criers and other organizations this time of year.

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Volume 12, Issue 8, Posted 9:01 AM, 04.21.2020

Bay Village hosts blood drive April 16

The Red Cross is experiencing a severe blood shortage due to the coronavirus. Please join us for a blood drive at the Bay Village Dwyer Senior Center on Thursday, April 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. To schedule an appointment, go to RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code "BayVillage", or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

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Volume 12, Issue 7, Posted 9:44 AM, 04.07.2020