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Since I broke the news last month in my regular email to our writers and in the Feb. 6 issue about the Observer’s impending demise, I’ve been asked the same question nearly every day, by email and phone, in person at meetings and while out shopping, and even from pop-ins at my part-time job in the Bay Village Senior Center. 

Over and over I’ve heard with genuine concern: “Can you save it?”  

Let me tell you now what I’ve been telling them: We are sure going to try!

My initial heartbreak has turned to hopefulness after hearing from so many readers that care so much about the paper. 

We will take a break from publishing after this issue and use that time to solicit funding from community organizations and businesses, in hopes that the Observer can get back on track – better and stronger than ever – a little farther down the line. 

If you have any contacts that you think might be willing and able to help, please encourage them to do so! They can email me at tara@wbvobserver.com for more information.

The Westlake City School District Board of Education is excited to welcome Brad Lamb to the Westlake school board. Mr. Lamb brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to education.

Currently serving as a bailiff and courtroom assistant, Lamb's dedication to the community is evident through his roles on the Westlake Board of Zoning Appeals and his prior service as a school board member in Fairview Park.

A proud 1993 Westlake City School District graduate with a political science/history degree from Ohio State, Lamb is poised to contribute his valuable insights to the board. Passionate about fiscal responsibility, he prioritizes maximizing taxpayer dollars and ensuring excellence in academic programming. As a coach for his son's sports teams and an engaged spectator at his daughter's games, Lamb values the importance of real-world experiences for students.

Nancy Brown with her pup, Sunshine.

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For furry friends in need, Nancy Brown is a friend indeed. For over 20 years, Nancy has advocated for dogs and cats in Bay Village. She partners with the police department and animal control officer when support is needed for dogs who are lost, abandoned or have medical issues. She has strong working relationships with local veterinarians to contact in emergency cases and dog adoptions. And she is always willing to serve as a community resource for pet owners in need of references for animal care.

Nancy’s dedication to the animals in her community was among the many reasons that the Bay Village Community Council last month selected her as the 2024 Bay Village Citizen of the Year.

The Great American Total Solar Eclipse will pass through Northeast Ohio on April 8, and local residents are fortunate to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime event. Bay Village specifically falls within the “Path of Totality” and is very near the exact center line of the eclipse, which runs through Avon Lake. This will allow interested star gazers to be in near complete darkness for almost four minutes.

Understanding that this event may draw large crowds, the city administration has been preparing for well over a year. City leaders looked to best practices and lessons learned from cities that have gone through similar circumstances in the past, most notably the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse that bisected the United States from east to west. 

The largest problems seen in these other cities included traffic congestion, communications issues and lack of foreknowledge from local residents and businesses. The city administration has been working diligently to tackle all of these issues.

The “Branching Out Together” community event on Tuesday, March 12, will present a panel of ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) arborists and industry professionals sharing the correct steps for tree care and preservation.

Guest speakers include Nick Dios, Bay Village Tree Commission Chairperson, explaining how to choose a tree care company that is right for your property. Chadwick Clink from Bartlett Tree Experts will present best practices regarding oak wilt and general tree care. James Lassiter from Cleveland Metroparks will discuss community forestry.

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The Westlake Town Criers announce the 2024 Westlake City Easter Egg Hunt and Candy Scramble will again be held at the Westlake Recreation Center, 28955 Hilliard Blvd., on Saturday, March 23.

There will be two candy scrambles: the first at 1:00 p.m. for ages 4 through 6, and the second at 1:30 p.m. for ages 7 through 10. At these times the children will scramble for wrapped candy in addition to searching for special eggs redeemable for a stuffed animal.

Monarch butterfly on native butterfly weed.

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It’s spring, a time of renewal, and perhaps a time to re-think traditional lawn practices here in the suburbs.

While many folks seem committed to continuing the “tradition” of turf-grass lawns, a growing number of homeowners are taking a different path.

Turf-grass lawns in America – often chemically enhanced and empty of native plants or insects – cover more than 40 million acres. That’s more land than is devoted to any food crop, and nearly equal to the 52 million acres contained in all of America’s national parks.

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s March 2024 calendar of events. All programs are subject to change. Please check westlakelibrary.org or follow the library on Facebook and Instagram (@WestlakePorter) for the latest updates.

Wednesday, March 6 (4-5 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Nina Totenberg – You’re invited to an intimate conversation with Nina Totenberg as she talks about her nearly 50-year friendship with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Streamed live. Please register.

Wednesdays, March 6, 13, 20 and 27 (4:30-6 p.m.) Bow Wow Books – Stop by Youth Services to sign up for a 10-minute reading time with a reading therapy dog. Sign up starts at 4 p.m. Dogs will stay for 10 minutes past the last registered reader or 1-1/2 hours, whichever comes first. Recommended for grades K-4.

Wednesday, March 6 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) Horror Film Club – Join us for another creepy classic from the Vault! New members are welcome, but children under 13 must be with an adult. Please register.

Wednesdays, March 6 and 20 (7-7:30 p.m.) and Saturdays, March 9 and 23 (10:30-11 a.m.) Family Storytime – Join us for rhymes, songs and play! Children are welcome to wear their pajamas and bring along a stuffed animal to the Wednesday evening session! Ages 2-6 with a caregiver.

Wednesday, March 6 (7-8:30 p.m.) The Final Witness – Paul Landis was a Secret Service agent attached to Mrs. Kennedy’s detail on that fateful day in November 1963. Paul joins us to discuss his new book and what he saw that day in Dallas. Please register.

Storytimes: Caregivers and their children are invited to enjoy rhymes, songs, fingerplays, books and stories together. No registration is required.

Mondays (10 a.m.) Family Storytime – for all ages
Tuesdays (10 a.m.) Toddler Storytime – ages 19-35 months
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)

Saturday, March 9 (10 a.m.) Kindergarten Countdown – Join us as we help your child build kindergarten readiness skills in a program aligned to Ohio’s Early Childhood Standards. This session, we will focus on nutrition. Registration is required.

Bay High School teachers Luke Kieffer, left, and Ron Rutt were recently honored with the Program Excellence Award by International Technology and Engineering Educators Association. 

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Bay High School teachers Luke Kieffer and Ron Rutt were recently honored with the Program Excellence Award by International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) for the 2023-24 school year.

This award recognizes “Superior K-12 technology and engineering education programs from around the world. These programs serve as a standard for comparison and models for the development of other programs. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in their region, province, or state as proponents of advancing technological literacy for all.”

Kieffer and Rutt will be honored at a conference this spring.

Ever since Tara Wendell announced the impending demise of the WBV Observer about a month ago, I have started virtually every morning with the intention of writing my last column for the Observer.

The classic procrastinator, I typically didn’t start a column until arriving home from work – usually exhausted – before I even thought up a title on deadline day. There were occasions when it seemed to be a good strategy, as at times I felt some of my better efforts came when I was teetering that fine line between my being vertical or horizontal.

Of course, “better effort” is an incredibly relative term, and my guess is that as it became later and later in the evening, my writing started to look better and better. Sometimes even Pulitzer-ish, if you will.

This column is a thank you to you, my readers, as this may be the last issue of the Westlake | Bay Village Observer. I have been writing this column since 2015 and I have truly enjoyed it. I have loved when people approach me and inform me that they enjoy reading my columns. That has meant so much to me to hear.

When I started doing this, I had no idea if people would read it, or that I would be doing this close to nine years later! I have learned so much as I researched different topics.

I hope that you have been able to incorporate some of the ideas into your daily lives. I also hope that you will continue to talk with family, friends, and neighbors about the habits you have changed, and how each one of us plays a role in protecting the environment. Each one of our actions makes a difference, as when they are added up collectively, that is how we change the world.

What do you remember about 2013? Maybe President Obama starting his second term or Edward Snowden revealing secrets? For me, it is more personal. I recall fondly meeting my uber editor at Mojo's. That meeting led to the birth of this column.

As I wrote in the first article of this column, Tara was "cognizant of the changing world and the need to demystify technology for their readership." Now as I write this, it seems hard to sum up 211 articles, 105,500 words in total, into one 500-word article … or is it?

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Some say there’s nothing to do in Ohio. I couldn’t disagree more. Did you know we live in a world-renowned birding paradise, home to 450 bird species?

Just take OH-2 West to Magee Marsh, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Maumee Bay State Park – really any park, shore or island – and you’ll find yourself in the Warbler Capital of the World. Bring binoculars for the Biggest Week in American Birding, a birding festival held in Oak Harbor in mid-May.

In these parks, you can find rare warblers as well as bald eagles, sandhill cranes and common terns in active restoration programs. Even our backyard bird feeders are chock full of gorgeous native birds. In Westlake, I see red-bellied, downy, hairy and pileated woodpeckers from my window daily. We Ohioans are lucky, to say the least.

The cast and crew of "The Answer," a story based on Scripture, would like to invite you to special performances being done at St Ladislas Church on March 8 and 9. The shows begin at 7:30 p.m. On March 8 come enjoy the fish fry at St Lads from 5-7 p.m. being sponsored by the KOC prior to the show. 

The cast and crew members are looking forward to presenting to you the story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus set to contemporary music. The production is a wonderful way to devote time and prayer during the time of Lent.

A gun is dismantled to be transformed into a garden tool at a Guns to Gardens event at St. Barnabas last October. The church will again host the event on April 13. Photo by Kari Eckel

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Guns to Gardens is a national movement among faith-based organizations to intervene in gun violence. They seek to promote public safety and confidence by dismantling surrendered firearms, and inspiring alternatives to violence through the transformation of those guns into garden tools and other life-giving items. 

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 468 Bradley Road, will host a Safe-Surrender and Guns to Gardens program on Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to noon.  

Safe-surrender events promote public safety by giving individuals and family members the opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted and/or unsecured guns. A safe-surrender gun buyback is anonymous and 100% voluntary; it does not interfere with anyone’s right or ability to own a gun.

Are you over age 50, and often feel lonely or a little disconnected, and would like to do something about it?! 

Maybe you have experienced loss or life transitions and need a boost in getting out and “belonging” somewhere again?

Keep reading.

By now you probably have heard that loneliness is as bad for your health as a 15 cigarette per day habit. The good news is, you can do something about it.

The Westshore Arts Council (WAC) kicks off the 2024 season on Tuesday, March 26, at 7 p.m. with Catch A Rising Star at Westlake Porter Public Library. Enjoy an evening with Jessi Kirtley and Richard Morgan, both senior Music Theatre majors at Baldwin Wallace University.

Jessi most recently performed as Natasha in "Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812," for which she received a Cleveland Critics Circle Theater Award. She has also appeared in "Ghost" and "Lizzie" at the Beck Center for the Arts, and "Mamma Mia," "Something Rotten" and "Kinky Boots" at The Forestburgh Playhouse.

When paperhanger Harry Stewart signed and dated the plaster wall in July 1902 he did future historians a big favor! Photo by Marjorie Dwyer

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The 28th in a series of articles to be published as a walking tour of Lake Road by the Bay Village Historical Society in 2026. The articles profile the oldest to the newest minimum-century-old artifacts.

Marius Tuttle was born in a log cabin in 1839 to Dover pioneers Dexter and Amelia Tuttle. In 1852 he moved with his parents and siblings to the Greek Revival home which still stands at 25547 Lake Road.

According to Flora Tuttle Renfrew (in “Retracing Footsteps”), Marius “had a great sadness in his young life. The beautiful young school teacher whom he loved very dearly and possibly would have married, was taken very ill and passed on…He never loved again. He was short in stature, good looking and a good man.”

Alejandra Corral-Tavitas, Westlake, (holding flag) was honored to be the 1,000th new American citizen who registered to vote in Cuyahoga County in 2023 at the federal naturalization ceremony conducted on Dec. 15, 2023, in Cleveland. Surrounding her are five volunteer registrars representing the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland.

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Every other Friday, an intrepid group from the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Westlake/North Olmsted and other chapters arrive at the Carl B. Stokes Federal Courthouse in Cleveland to register new citizens to vote. Spearheading this routine is Bruce Robinson of North Olmsted. He took on this volunteer routine in retirement (he was a nurse at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus for 31 years) and now inspires others to do the same.

“I’ve been doing this about six years and every time I am in awe of the ceremony and the people,” Robinson said. “It is an extraordinary moment for those attaining citizenship. I never get tired of watching their smiles, their great pride.”

Kaovya Vel receives a $1,000 check from Westlake Kiwanis President Nan Baker with Kiwanis members looking on.

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The Westlake Kiwanis has joined in to support the Westlake High School Team Hope in their quest to become Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Student Visionaries of the Year while raising funds to fight childhood blood cancers.

Westlake is competing against other Cleveland-area schools to win this prestigious award while helping defeat cancer. Westlake High School junior Kaovya Vel became dedicated to this campaign while shadowing Dr. Zahler, a Pediatric Hematology doctor at the Cleveland Clinc, and observing a 1-year-old child being treated for a tumor. She said what we are doing could make a difference for this child and his family. She returned to Westlake and formed Team Hope and has thus far raised $20,000.

Anneliese Larsen signs to row at Monmouth University in New Jersey. Foundry coaches and family witness the signing. 

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On an unseasonably warm and sunny day in early February of 2024, the Bay High School community, along with numerous family members, friends, and teammates, gathered to celebrate seven members of the class of 2024 as they committed to continue their respective athletic careers in college.

Bay Rockets’ Athletic Director Matt Spellman noted that gathering to celebrate athletic successes and future opportunities is “very exciting” and he “looks forward to it every year.” This year was especially notable for Spellman, given the large size of the group of student athletes, and that his son Brendan was among the signees and will join the football program at MIT in the fall.

Anita Scanlon, with her daughter Kim Klein, receives the keys to her new car from Scott Goggin, Westlake Educational Foundation chairperson and Superintendent; Mary Essig, Foundation President; and Chris Steiner, Foundation Treasurer.

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The Westlake Educational Foundation’s 4th annual car raffle has concluded, as winners were drawn on Feb. 13 during the Westlake boys varsity basketball game. This year’s car winner was Anita Scanlon. Serpentini Chevrolet of Westlake donated a 2024 Chevrolet Malibu RS to the Foundation’s raffle, which helped to not only create buzz around the community about who will win the car, but also about the incredible efforts of the Foundation’s mission. 

The Foundation also partnered with organizations within the school district who support various aspects of Westlake student life. By promoting the raffle, Westlake Demons Athletic Boosters, Westlake Music Boosters, Westlake PTAs, and Westlake Alumni Association shared in the ticket sales proceeds. With their involvement and support, the Foundation’s fourth car raffle exceeded $30,000 in ticket sales proceeds.

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Several key booster organizations are pivotal to the Westlake City School District, enhancing educational programs and student opportunities. The district benefits from the contributions of the Westlake Demons Athletic Boosters (WDAB), Westlake Music Boosters, Westlake Council of PTAs, and Westlake Educational Foundation, each supporting different aspects of the district's mission.

Volunteer-driven and focused on athletic excellence, Westlake Demons Athletic Boosters (WDAB) enhances Westlake High School and Lee Burneson Middle School sports programs. Their fundraising efforts provide student-athletes with the necessary equipment, facilities, and training. Highlighting their calendar is the Westlake Demon Derby on March 23, an evening filled with horse racing, contests, and community spirit. For more information or to participate, Howard Thompson can be reached at 216-849-0110 or howardt05@yahoo.com.

Photo courtesy Michael Angelo DiLauro

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Dover Congregational United Church of Christ is proud to host a screening of the award-winning documentary, "La Mia Strada: My Road."

Six-time Emmy Award recipient, Michael Angelo DiLauro will be on hand to share his feature-length documentary. The program offers a personal perspective on ethnicity and culture as it links ancient and contemporary Italian culture with its Italian-American counterpart. It’s a discovery of how fragile the bonds are that connect a family from generation to generation, from country to country, even as they search for ways to adapt to an ever-changing world.

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Judy Brody captured these shots of a young barred owl in her Bay Village yard in June 2022. She was able to identify them as juveniles because they couldn't hoot; young owls make a squeaky/hissing sound. And being younger and curious they are sometimes more visible – not yet realizing they should keep a lower profile! – so they can be easier to spot.

Spring blossoms greet BAYarts visitors to the Fuller House.

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A sensory garden is a unique and therapeutic space designed to engage the senses, particularly touch, smell, sight, and sound. These gardens are carefully planned and structured to provide an immersive experience that promotes relaxation, mindfulness, and emotional well-being. They cater to individuals of all ages and abilities, making them a wonderful addition to the community, and public parks.

The idea behind a sensory garden is to create an environment that stimulates the senses, allowing visitors to connect with nature in a deeper and more meaningful way. This is often achieved through the use of a variety of plants, flowers, and other natural elements that appeal to the senses.

Bay Village Schools invites all residents to the remaining two Coffee Chats of the school year, March 20 and May 10.

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Bay Village Schools invites all residents to attend the last two Coffee Chats of the school year, set for Wednesday, March 20, from 6-7 p.m. at the Board of Education, 377 Dover Center Road; and Friday, May 10, from 10-11 a.m. at Bay Provisions, 328 Bassett Road (the old Martin's Deli).

These Coffee Chat events provide Bay Village residents with the opportunity to meet Supt. Scot Prebles and Treasurer Meghan Rohde, to ask questions about the district, to find out more information and to make suggestions.

Coffee Chats for the 2024-25 school year will be announced this summer. Bay Village Schools thanks everyone who has attended one of this year's previous chat events.

In 2014, Mary Sue Anders’ life was forever changed by her third-grade student, Michael Orbany. Michael was diagnosed in 2010 with medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor; in 2012 his cancer returned and had metastasized to his spine.

Inspired by his attitude of unwavering faith and spirit of never giving up, Anders made a decision. In February 2014, she sponsored a St. Baldrick’s Foundation head shaving event she called “Brave the Buzz.” This first event rallied the student body of St. Bernadette School in support of their classmate. In all, 136 students shaved their heads and together they raised over $64,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research grants.

Bogey

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It is once again time to announce the winners of the Cutest Pets in Westlake for 2024!

Our impartial panel of judges reviewed quite a few entries. After much deliberating, they have made their choices.

The winners are: "Newton" in the Feline Division, and "Bogey" in the Canine Division.

One of Vicki Wert's floral photographs.

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The Carolyn L. Farrell Foundation’s Center for Artful Living welcomes Vicki Wert’s "Exploring Life Through the Lens: Feathers & More" photography exhibit to its gallery. Wert's photos are available for the public to view and purchase through April, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Center, located at 26633 Detroit Road in Westlake.  

The exhibit highlights some of Wert’s favorite photographic subjects, including florals, animals, and landscapes. Her photos have been exhibited at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, Cleveland Hopkins Airport, the Holden Arboretum, and many other Cleveland area locations.

The Herb Guild Garden Club is offering a $2,000 scholarship to graduating high school seniors, as well as Lorain County Community College and Cuyahoga Community College current freshmen and sophomore students. 

Applicants must be Ohio residents and U.S. citizens (international or foreign exchange students are not eligible). Only students with a proposed academic study in agriculture, agriscience, botany, culinary arts, environmental science, forestry, greenhouse and nursery management, horticulture, landscaping, and natural resource management are eligible for this scholarship.

The Western Cuyahoga County Resource Fair will be held on Wednesday, March 27, 6-8 p.m., at the Don Umerley Civic Center, 21016 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River. New this year will be a sensory area that will allow attendees to take a break, if needed.

With the Ohio General Assembly’s recent passage of bills requiring all public school students in grades kindergarten through third grade be screened for dyslexia this school year, families of children identified as at-risk will find a number of options for reading tutors, academic help and alternative schools at the fair.