Local News

​Serving in the military is not only an honor and a privilege but for some families a tradition. For one local family three brothers have continued that tradition, a tradition that started with World War I and has lasted almost six generations.

Lifelong residents of Westlake and graduates of Westlake High School, Colton and Dylan Rooney (class of 2007) and Brody Rooney (class of 2011) are all currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. Whether motivated by stories from family members about Vietnam, Korea or World War II or from a very positive upbringing for the love and respect for the flag and our country, Brody, Colton and Dylan found it very easy to serve their country.

Through diligent planning, dedicated employees and community reinvestment, Westlake has maintained its status over the past year as a premier destination for residents and businesses alike, Mayor Dennis Clough told members of the West Shore Chamber of Commerce on March 12. In his 28th annual State of the City address, Clough highlighted the achievements of each city department and measured his administration’s progress toward objectives set for the year.

Mayor Clough said Westlake sits in a strong financial position, calling it “pretty much debt free,” with a “higher bond rating [AAA] than the U.S. government.” In accordance with city goals, Westlake’s property tax and sewer rates remain the lowest in the Westshore, and in some cases, the county, while income tax rates have been stable for the past twenty years. Clough, a certified public accountant, credits his city’s diverse economic composition and responsible fiscal management.

Michael Heaton, the Plain Dealer's Minister of Culture, author, speaker and Bay Village resident, once said that he used to live in the shadow of his dad: much loved sportswriter Chuck Heaton. Then it was his little sister, Patricia Heaton, who became well-known for her television roles.

But now he can celebrate the attention he is getting for his television movie "The Christmas Heart" replaying during the month of December on The Hallmark Channel. The film was truly a family affair: when Hallmark approached Patricia's production company Four Boys Films for ideas, she remembered the script her brother had written. Hallmark fell all over it, the theme was perfect for their holiday lineup of family-friendly movies.

Scary happenings are occurring on the 500 block of Elmwood Road in Bay Village this time of year! The neighbors on this stretch of road between between Osborn and East Oviatt have caught the Halloween bug and are going all out to decorate their yards for the occasion.

Start your spooky journey at the Dead Dropp Saloon and meet your host and hostess, Ray and Karen Kent. Ray started the day after Halloween last year designing this year's theme: a scary ghost town saloon equipped with bar and bartender ready to serve you. If you're arrested for your ghoulish activities, you'll be escorted right next door to the jail! If you don't behave there, it's on to the ghost town cemetery! Here's a tip: If you need a fast getaway, Bandito Ray will guide you to the haunted stagecoach and eight-foot ghost draft horse.

The “Sister Cities” relationship between the city of Westlake and the town of Tralee, Ireland, has officially celebrated its fourth anniversary. In 2009, Mayor Dennis Clough and Council President Michael Killeen, together with Brett Luengo, Director of Westlake World Partners Co., established the partnership with Tralee in County Kerry. That year, Mayor Clough, Planning Director Bob Parry and Luengo traveled to Tralee demonstrating Westlake’s commitment to helping both municipalities learn about serving citizens in troubled economic times.

In 2011, Tralee’s Mayor, Grace O’Donnell, and County Kerry Tourism Officer, John Griffin, came to Westlake in order to celebrate the Westlake Bicentennial. This year Luengo, and Westlake Councilman Michael O’Donnell and his family traveled to Tralee at their own expense, to continue the tradition. While in Tralee, Westlake’s delegation met with the new Mayor Johnnie Wall and town council and Kerry County officials to discuss tourism, energy conservation and business development.

While most families spend their final summer evening going out for ice cream or taking one final dip in the pool, one Westlake neighborhood found a new way to celebrate the end of the summer this year. On Aug. 15, nearly 30 people traveled to a Westlake home to attend the one and only performance of "Astrius," an original drama written by Emily and Adam Schordock. The show’s cast of eight children provided an unforgettable experience with their original production and brought the summer to a more-than-satisfactory close.

The production was staged by the Westlake Mini Playhouse Theatre, which began nearly 10 years ago with Emily and Adam, along with their older brother Scott, writing small one-acts in their home’s basement. Over time, the productions became more and more elaborate going from a simple script to shows consisting of make up, dry ice, sound effects and elaborate lighting. This small theatre became a wonderful way for the siblings to bond.

Some of the most interesting stories are those that are unexpected. Such is the case with Audrey Daniels, a fellow Bay Village resident, whom I met in my Five Seasons water exercise class. As our group chatted over lunch after a recent class, Audrey, 85, shared something that had us all leaning forward in our seats, eager to hear more: her name is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Audrey was a star pitcher in the short-lived All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, made famous by the 1992 film, “A League of Their Own.” Her tale began in 1944 when then-16-year-old Audrey Haine was playing in a women’s softball league in her hometown of Winnipeg, Canada.

Westlake held its annual beauty of nature celebration Aug. 2 at LaCentre, as the winners of Westlake in Bloom were recognized for their green-thumbed efforts. The friendly competition, now in its 11th year, encourages residents and businesses to help beautify the city by landscaping their properties and planting the Hilliard Boulevard flower boxes and Evergreen Cemetery fence gardens.

Eighty-five entrants in 23 categories vied for top honors, as judged by nine master gardeners and several city employees. Westlake’s four garden centers contributed gift certificates for first-place winners and discounts on plants for Bloom participants.

This year’s overall winner was Terence Poje of Strauss Drive, who took first place in the Residential Entire Yard Landscaping, Medium-Sized Lot category, as well as the Lu Walter “Best in Bloom” award. The judges noted the arbor of New Dawn roses and combination of evergreens, perennials and annuals, commenting that “every view is lovely while maintaining a secluded feel.”

Stacey and Phil Nye are third-generation Bay Villagers. They were sweethearts at Bay High. Their three sons – Kevin, Jeff and P.J. – also attended the Bay Village schools from kindergarten through graduation, and they had many of the same teachers who taught their parents. The boys grew up biking to both grandparents’ homes, to the parks, the beaches, the local stores and to watch parades and community music concerts.

Family Circle magazine's August issue features the Nye family as illustrative to what makes Bay Village one of its Ten Best Towns for Families this year. The magazine cites outstanding schools, affordable housing, plenty of green space and a giving spirit as reasons for devoting the first page of its cover story to the only Ohio town to make its top ten.

The new Ames Family Hospice House began accepting the first phase of patient transfers on Monday, June 25, just over one year after construction began on the Hospice of the Western Reserve’s Westlake facility.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house were held June 22 and 23, where local officials, volunteers, donors, staff and members of the community got a first look at the building’s home-like environment and state-of-the-art technology.

The Ames House was meticulously designed with terminally-ill patients, as well as their families and caregivers, in mind. An aura of tranquility permeates the 30-acre property, indoors and out, beginning with the winding, tree-lined driveway leading from Crocker Road to the modern, multicolored brick building, nestled in a wooded lot.

“Bay Village is steady and stable,” Mayor Debbie Sutherland told the Observer following her May 8 State of the City presentation to the West Shore Chamber of Commerce at LaCentre in Westlake. In a struggling economy, where cities across the country – including Bay – are faced with shrinking budgets and difficult decisions, “steady and stable” can be viewed as optimism.

While the focus of the mayor’s twelfth annual address – a record number, as Sutherland is Bay’s longest-serving mayor – was on the city’s accomplishments in the past year, she acknowledged that times are tough. As the nation slowly climbs out of recession, she noted that municipalities often lag behind other sectors in recovery, and Bay Village expects some level of financial hardship to continue into the coming years.

Mayor Nelson Santos of Kingsville, Ontario, visited Westlake on March 23 to explore the possibility of becoming a sister city with Westlake. The sister city program is facilitated by Sister Cities International, a nonprofit network that creates and strengthens partnerships between U.S. and international communities.

"Being a sister city allows Westlake to have a formal alliance with an international city,” said Brett Luengo, vice president of Westlake World Partners Co., a nonprofit organization founded to support Westlake’s Sister City program. “That exchange could be cultural, educational, the governments can exchange information, and you could have trade between the two cities.”

Who says two cities can’t come together for the common good even though they separated more than 100 years ago? A recent exchange between the clerks of council for Bay Village and Westlake proves they can.

In February 2010, a year before Westlake’s Bicentennial, Clerk of Council Denise Rosenbaum began a quest to find every elected official in the city’s 200-year history. As part of her project to pay tribute to the leaders that helped shape the city, Ms. Rosenbaum pored over archived records, newspapers, plat maps and census forms, adding all the names she found to a master spreadsheet.

Shortly after she began, Ms. Rosenbaum showed the unfinished spreadsheet to someone she knew would share her enthusiasm, fellow clerk Joan Kemper of Bay Village. Since both cities share a common beginning as the township of Dover, the officials on Ms. Rosenbaum’s list between 1811 and 1902 belong not just to the history of Westlake, but to Bay Village as well.

The Westlake Service Department has received the Top Green Shop Award for 2011 from Fleet Equipment magazine. The award is based on green initiatives such as those incorporated in the construction of our Service Facility and the use of equipment and best management practices that promote and achieve environmentally sound policies.

The award is a national distinction that in the past has generally been awarded to private sector fleet companies. Annually, more than 50 fleet organizations vie for this designation.

“The best thing about the award is that we won it as a municipality," said Chris Stuhm, deputy director of public service, noting that the three previous award-winners were private companies. “We’re proud that we can remain competitive with the private sector and be good stewards of the taxpayers’ money.

A personal perspective of the 2011 Cleveland Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure

It turned out to be the most grueling experience of my life, but also the most amazing and life changing.

At 6 a.m. on Friday, July 29, I joined my two “Nice Tomatoes” teammates – Gina Borovica from Brecksville and Nanci Huff from Seven Hills – and more than 900 other walkers at the Cleveland Port Authority, and prayed it wouldn’t rain. The opening ceremony of the 2011 Cleveland Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure was so exhilarating and inspiring that not even the ominous clouds overhead could dampen our resolve to walk the 22.5 miles required on Day 1 of the three-day, 60-mile route. 

Shortly after 8 a.m., as we made our way into the first pit stop outside Progressive Field, it was pouring rain. Who knew that would be the defining moment of the weekend? If it hadn’t been for the rain, my 3-Day for the Cure experience would never have been as fulfilling.

Scott Carroll, a 1991 Bay High School graduate, was promoted in 2010 to the rank of Commanding Officer for the U.S. Navy, prior to his most recent deployment to the Persian Gulf. At the end of July, he will be taking command of a guided-missile destroyer, the USS Paul Hamilton, in a change of command ceremony at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Commander Carroll’s family, including his mother, Colleen Bennett of Bay Village, will be joining him in Hawaii for the ceremony. The Navy is sponsoring a weekend of family activities, including a picnic on the deck of the ship and gun firing exercises.

“I am [taking] a family cruise on my son’s naval destroyer...which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a civilian like me,” Bennett told the Observer. “I am busting my buttons with pride... as would be any mother.”

The Bay Village Community Council has named Lawrence Kuh the city’s 2011 Citizen of the Year, and the 2010 Bicentennial celebration its Project of the Year.

Kuh, a fifth-grade teacher at Bay Middle School and the married father of three, was selected for his leadership of the Bay Skate and Bike Park Foundation, which for six years worked to substantially fund, design and construct a skateboard and bicycle park in the city.

“Kuh was the face and voice of the project,” one nomination read. “Through multiple site changes that required meeting with city departments, planners and designers to repeatedly change site designs and satisfy the various city boards, Lawrence spearheaded the skate park project through to completion.

“Lawrence was able to keep this project moving forward, despite roadblocks and opposition, using the process to teach his young group of skating enthusiasts…Not only did Lawrence give these children an opportunity to develop life-long skills in planning a project and seeing it to completion, he also brought a diverse group of supporters together for a common good.”

The Bicentennial celebration, headed by a committee comprised of Ward 1 Councilman Dave Tadych, Bay Village Historical Society President Carole Roske, coordinator Evelyn Allen and Historical Society treasurer Tom Phillips, was handily selected as project of the year.

The long awaited renovation of the BAYarts Irene Fuller House is nearly complete. Scott Adams, of JQA Construction, the general contractor on the project, is targeting early January to "turn over the keys" to the BAYarts organization, once the inspections are completed, so they can hold classes and a gallery show. The renovation began in spring 2010 and is wrapping up.

"I'm really excited about this renovation of the Fuller House," said Scott Adams. "It's been a great project for me and my team of contractors. Early on, we aggressively rebuilt the entire infrastructure of the building to be sure it was strong and secure. Once that was complete, we were able to save much of the original house ad blend new contemporary elements in with the old house, creating an environment unlike any other gallery or arts teaching facility in Northeast Ohio. The combination of the new and the old makes for a great setting, both inside and out, and I think the patrons will be pleased with what we've accomplished."

Approve or disapprove of the Cahoon Park location of the Bay Skate and Bike Park? Vote now in our Daily Question poll.

Have more to say than Yes or No? Sign up on the Observation Deck discussion board to share your opinion and read what others have to say. Start a conversation about the skate park or anything else on your mind!

Local residents took turns standing and voicing their support for the proposed Bay Skate & Bike Park in a standing-room-only council meeting on Jan. 25. Lawrence Kuh, spokesperson for the Bay Skate & Bike Park Foundation, told council members, "This is our sixth year. It's time to build or time to walk away. I hope this decision will be made in the first quarter." Council President Brian Cruse responded that, as he sees it, the project has three options: One, build the park next to the police station; two, build the park at Bradley Park; or three, consider other alternatives.

Even though the assembled crowd and many council members preferred the police station location because of its central location in the city, it would require an additional $12,800 to conform to EPA regulations. Because the police station location is adjacent to a landfill, the site would require testing, according to the EPA requirements. 

Bay resident and retired Cleveland police detective Gerald Viola was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by mayor Debbie Sutherland at the December 7th city council session. Detective Viola was also awarded the Medal of Honor by the city of Cleveland, the highest award that an officer can receive, for his performance, bravery and actions during the Glenville riots of 1968.

Officer Viola was one of the first to respond to distress calls during the riots, and arrived on a scene of intense gunfire and wounded officers. He dashed through a volley of bullets to reach a wounded officer, carried the man to his car and transported him to the hospital. Officer Viola then restocked his ammunition and returned to the scene of the riots. 

When the violence ended, three officers were dead and 15 more were wounded. The officer that Viola rescued, who suffered five gunshot wounds, survived and attended the council meeting in support of the man who helped to save his life.

Mayor Sutherland thanked Detective Viola for his heroism on behalf the administration, police department and residents of Bay. "We are proud and grateful that you're part of our community," she said.

Gerald Viola has lived in Bay for 35 years. His wife, Miriam, has worked in the Bay schools for 25 years, and they raised three children, all Bay High School graduates.

A woman with a passion for non-profits and nature has been tapped as the next Executive Director of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center in Bay Village. Following a nationwide search that took nearly 6 months, a seven member Search Committee announced the appointment of Catherine J. Timko as Executive Director. When she takes the helm in January, Timko will become just the fourth Executive Director to serve in the non-profit organization’s vibrant 60 year history.  

“We are thrilled to find someone of Catherine’s caliber right in our own backyard,” said Colleen Lowmiller, who chaired the Search Committee for the Center’s Board of Directors. “We’re confident Catherine’s experience, talents and interests combine to make her a perfect fit to lead this cherished community organization into the future.”

Francis “Frank” Aleksandrowicz gave four years of his life to his country, and now, in his golden years, he’s giving even more to honor his fellow soldiers. Frank served three years in World War II, from 1942 to 1945, and one year in the Korean War, from 1950 to 1951. 

He met his future wife while stationed in Belgium and she travelled two weeks by ship across the Atlantic Ocean to join him in the U.S. after he was discharged. “It was a present from God that she came to me,” Frank said, fondly. 

They moved to Bay Village in 1951 and settled into married life, with Frank working as a photographer and Louise becoming accustomed to life in America. Louise developed into an avid bowler, Frank recalls, and “even learned to use a typewriter.” They spent much of their free time at local bowling alleys, sometimes visiting five or six alleys in a single day.

Warren Buffett once said, “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” It’s unlikely Buffett was thinking of Bob Parry when praising that second “someone,” but the comparison is fitting, literally and figuratively. Current and future generations have Parry to thank not only for the abundance of trees lining Westlake’s streets and developments, but also the transformation of the city from a quiet farming community to a bustling destination for residents and businesses.

Bob Parry, who retired as Westlake’s director of planning and economic development on April 19, played a vital role in shaping the developing city over the course of 26 years at city hall. Hired in 1986, Parry helped to plot a course forward during the most dynamic period in Westlake’s history as the construction of Interstate 90 and a population boom that began in the 1980s shifted the city away from its agricultural roots.

Photo: Sister Judith Ann Karam, president and CEO of Sisters of Charity Health System, offers an opening prayer at the April 15 blessing ceremony for St. John Medical Center’s new  37,000-square-foot, two-story wing housing a grand main entrance, state-of-the-art surgical suites and sun-lit patient care areas.

County officials Ed Jerse and Dale Miller kicked off the League of Women Voters–Cuyahoga Area's three-part forum on regionalization on March 5 at Bay Village's Dwyer Center. Both speakers emphasized opportunities for voluntary collaboration among cities, as well as between cities and the county. Both stated that mergers between political entities are not the first choice, given local communities' desire to preserve their identities, as well as the expense and length of time to effect mergers.

Mr. Jerse, Cuyahoga County's Director of Regional Coordination, cited the county's 59 communities signing a landmark anti-poaching agreement, promising not to attempt to persuade businesses to relocate within the county. Instead, the focus is on developing a strong region that businesses outside the county and the state will find attractive. Mr. Miller, Cuyahoga County Council District 2 representative, agreed, citing the Global Center for Health Innovation (Medical Mart) as a project that will revitalize downtown Cleveland and bring new businesses to the entire region.

Lysa Stanton and Dave Pfister were recognized as Mr. & Mrs. Westlake 2013 by Mayor Dennis Clough during the Nov. 17 tree lighting ceremony at Crocker Park. The award is presented annually to a Westlake couple who best exemplifies the service-oriented goals of the Westlake Town Criers. Stanton, president of the Westlake Historical Society, and Pfister, a member of the board, were honored for their efforts during the city’s 2011 bicentennial year, as well as countless volunteer hours with other civic organizations.

Bay Village is back on top. The June issue of Cleveland Magazine lists Bay above all of the 76 other Northeast Ohio communities judged in its annual “Rating the Suburbs” feature. It is a return to glory for the city, which last held the No. 1 spot in 1995 and 1996.

The magazine specifically referenced Bay’s low crime rate, strong schools and home-sale values, but the rankings also factor in such criteria as pollution, community services, sidewalks, poverty and diversity.

To celebrate the feat, Mayor Debbie Sutherland held a luncheon for city employees at the Dwyer Community Center on June 13. Over sandwiches and cake, the group reveled in their achievement before heading back to work. The Observer sat down with the mayor following the reception to hear her thoughts on the No. 1 rating.

The demands on the modern firefighter are more numerous and dangerous than ever. When folks are in trouble and need help, they call their local fire department and expect the responding firefighters to be competent, knowledgeable, and efficient in abating whatever hazards or emergencies they might encounter.

Frequently, these emergencies come in the form of an illness or injury, in which case the Bay Village firefighters – all of whom are certified as EMT-Paramedics – are well prepared. The fire department receives over 1,000 calls for some type of medical assistance every year, and our firefighter/paramedics train constantly to maintain their skills and knowledge of this discipline at the very highest level.

The Bay Village Relay for Life will not take place this year. According to Evan O'Malley, event chairperson from 2006 through 2009, no one has stepped up to organize and be responsible for this year's event.

Since Jim Cahoon's resignation as chairperson last year, the Relay has been on shaky ground. Efforts to recruit new individuals to chair this event have been unsuccessful. A meeting with local representatives from the American Cancer Society could not resolve any of the Relay's problems.

Barbara Harrell has been selected as the Bay Village citizen of the year for 2012, and the renovation of BAYarts' Fuller House has been selected the project of the year.

Both will be honored at a reception to be held Sunday, March 4, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fuller House. The event is sponsored by the Bay Village Community Council, whose members made the selections.

Harrell was selected for her service to the community as a director of the Village Food Project.

In 2009 and 2010, Harrell started, planned and implemented the Village Food Project, which provides healthy in-home meals to Bay Village families in a cancer crisis. She has rallied high schoolers, school administrators, adult cooks, shoppers and drivers to make this program a reality.

When much-loved Bay Middle School art educator Ruth Purdy-Leslie passed away on Easter weekend, she left behind inspiring gifts of beauty and the colorful art she was known for to hundreds of school children and to the city of Bay Village where she lived and taught for 26 years.

Look up at the tower of the middle school and you'll see the mobile that started with Ruth’s vision, was made possible by her relentless fundraising efforts and now will be enjoyed for generations to come. When Ruth retired in 2010, she did not stop inspiring or doing her art.

After a break to travel with her husband, Jack Leslie, Ruth was looking forward to teaching children during the summer at BAYarts, where generations of Ruth's family have left their own creative mark. She was also helping with the design and execution of garden benches for the BAYarts renovated gardens. 

The Bay Village Kiwanis planted four buckeye trees, one each for Bay High School, Bay Middle School, Westerly Elementary and Normandy Elementary schools in Bay Village, on Friday, April 30, in honor of Arbor Day.

According to Kiwanian and Bay Village Schools superintendent, Clint Keener, the trees are from the same family as Ohio buckeye trees, but do not grow as tall or drop the buckeye nuts.  The trees are a dwarf red chestnut decorative shade trees with bright red flowers in the spring. The lush foliage also provides excellent cover for songbirds. The trees are expected to grow anywhere from 10 to 15 feet high. 

“This is a wonderful donation to our schools,” Keener said. “Students will be able to enjoy the beauty, color and shade of these trees for many generations to come.” See more photos of this event on the Observer website at www.wbvobserver.com/photoblogs.

More than a hundred mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers attended the annual afternoon tea with their daughters at the fifth annual Victorian Tea held April 24 at the Dwyer Memorial Senior Center in Bay Village.

Models wearing frilly hats, period dresses and parasols were featured in a style show as attendees enjoyed a traditional afternoon tea.

Click here to view more pictures of the event.

For the second year in a row, Bay Village resident Edward Beyer has won Best of Show in the BAYarts Juried Show. Although he’s won numerous prizes over the years, this year, the award was for his body of work. When asked to describe his work, Beyer says: "My paintings develop from 'impressions' of the locations and places that I've seen. The paintings become composite impressions in which the subject becomes subordinate to the stronger elements of design, shape, and color."

Respected and admired by his fellow artists, he is the catalyst who gets everyone together to paint, go to museums and galleries and enter shows. At BAYarts he formed a weekly portrait studio and plein air studio. John Carlson, a fellow painter, says of Edward's work: "He's a classic. A romantic. He has a superb sense of color and composition."

Bay Village and Westlake share an important resource. Everything a Westlake resident puts into the storm sewer system ends up somewhere in the over 120 miles of streams and creeks that meander through the city. Likewise, anything that goes into a Westlake stream ends up in a Bay Village water way and eventually into Lake Erie.  

But, you may ask, what am I putting in the storm sewer that causes pollution?

One of the biggest and perhaps most-overlooked practices is that of yard care. Chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides that are applied to a lawn and landscape can end up in Lake Erie. Many people don’t realize that chemical fertilizers (whether or not they contain pesticides/herbicides) are formulated to be water soluble. According to the EPA, up to 80% of this soluble fertilizer runs off into nearby water ways causing pollution. Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, are water insoluble and don’t run off like their chemical counterparts.

At the December 7th council meeting, Bay Village mayor Debbie Sutherland presented a Certificate of Outstanding Achievement to Michael Brajdic, winner of the OHSAA Cross Country Division II title.

Michael’s coach and many of his teammates attended the meeting to celebrate with him as he received his accolades. To satisfy the crowd’s chants of “Speech! Speech! Speech!” Michael made a few brief comments. “I want to thank everybody for coming out,” he said. “It was an outstanding season for the team and myself... a season to remember.”

Michael also placed 27th out of 109 student-athletes in the national competition held in Oregon.

The Bay Village American Legion Post #385 will conduct a retirement ceremony for old, torn or faded flags on Friday, November 13th before their monthly meeting.

Those who have flags to retire are asked to bring them to the Post Home in a grocery bag and place them on the doorknob. The Post Home is located at 695 Cahoon Road, Westlake, just south of the railroad tracks.

Last year, the Post retired over 250 American flags.

Most of us have tossed around a Frisbee sometime in our lives, and many of us have played (or tried to play) golf. There's a relatively new sport growing in popularity across the country that combines the two activities, known as disc golf. It's played by tossing a disc from the tee area across the green toward the “Pole Hole,” an elevated metal basket, in the fewest number of throws.

Enthusiasts of the game cringe at the term “Frisbee golf,” because players don't use a regular Frisbee but rather a flying disc specifically designed for use in disc golf. Instead of the big bag of clubs used in golf, disc players traditionally use a set of 3 discs: a driver disc for long distances, a mid-range disc and a putter disc, though some players have up to 15 discs designed for distance and flight curvature.

The Browns may have lost against Philadelphia, but the kids from Youth Challenge were the winners at the team’s home opener on Sept. 9. For the seventh year, the Cleveland Browns Foundation donated a suite, 50 tickets and a chance to be on the field for pre-game festivities to Youth Challenge. 

Besides getting an up-close view of the team warming up, the kids also got to meet former Browns stars and the game's honorary co-captains, Bernie Kosar and Webster Slaughter.