Bay civic groups share news, events
The Bay Village Community Council held its final meeting of the year on Oct. 24, with representatives from many of the city's civic and nonprofit organizations reporting on the news and activities of their groups. The Council will meet again in January to select the 2023 Citizen and Project of the Year. To nominate a worthy Bay Village resident or community project, forms are available for download from wbvobserver.com.
The Bay Village American Legion will be celebrating Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at Normandy School. Veterans related to the students will be in attendance for the special assembly. Additionally, there will be a discussion on U.S. government from 1620-present, as well as an overview of the history of the hand salute and when/how it should be used. The program will conclude with a parade led by the Legion Color Guard and veterans around the school property.
The Sabrina Noelle Foundation will host a Make-N-Take and Meet & Bead event for teens on Nov. 6 and Dec. 11 from 2-4 p.m. Not sure how to make a bracelet? Want to learn a few tricks, want to hang with your friends? All free, we have beads and supplies. Or bring your own and add to your collection. For more information on this and other upcoming events, or to make a bead donation, visit sabrinanoelle.org.
The Bay Village Chapter, League of Women Voters sponsored a forum on Oct. 11, featuring 4 speakers explaining how school funding works in Ohio. A video of the forum is available at lwvgreatercleveland.org under the Resources tab. Voters are reminded to cast their ballots on or before Nov. 8. Nonpartisan candidate information is available at vote411.org; judicial candidate info is available at judge4yourself.com. Explanation of the proposed Bay Village charter amendments can be found at cityofbayvillage.com.
Bay Village Kiwanis will again be selling Christmas trees at Cahoon Park starting the day after Thanksgiving on Fridays-Sundays until we sell out. Warren Remein was recently sworn in as club president. The Bay High School Key Club is up to a record 250 members.
In August 2022, Friends of Bay Village Kennel (FOBVK) changed its name to Friends of Bay Village Community Cats. We are a very small, all volunteer organization and we feel we can best serve Bay Village animals by concentrating on care for the community cat population. Between February 2021 and August 2022, we responded to calls from more than 60 households involving more than 100 cats. We are not a rescue organization, although we can help residents locate a rescue organization and care for a friendly cat until the rescue has space to take the cat. We are looking for more fosters by next kitten season. Contact Susan Murnane at 440-541-3304 if you want to volunteer or know of cats in need. Or contact us through Facebook at Friends BVCC.
The New Bay Village Dog Kennel Fund met on Oct. 19 with Mayor Koomar, Law Director Barbour, Police Chief Gillespie and Project Manager Kathryn Kerber. We presented preliminary cost estimates for a new kennel. The meeting had healthy discussion regarding priority needs in considering what the future kennel must address. Another meeting will be held to share input from the city's engineers.
The Village Bicycle Cooperative is hosting Open Shop hours Wednesdays and Saturdays. During Open Shop hours bikes may be donated and/or purchased from present inventory, cash or check only. Mechanic volunteers will be available to offer repair advice. A limited number of work stands may be used by patrons for repair or maintenance. Check villagebicycle.org for shop hours and updates. VBC's Fix It Forward program will again donate bicycles to a variety of charitable organizations to distribute and provide safe transportation to people in need. Please consider donating outgrown or used bicycles for this program.
The Bay Village Foundation seeks to raise $50,000 to support the creation of a Village Green in partnership with the City of Bay Village. So far, $15,000 has been donated. To make a contribution, visit thebayvillagefoundation.org.
The Bay Village Garden Club's annual "Greening" project fundraiser will feature member-made holiday arrangements available for pre-order prior to Dec. 6. Details will be announced soon. Club members plan to place fresh greens in the "Welcome" flower pots at the entrances to the city by early December.
Lake Erie Nature & Science Center offers free general admission to indoor and outdoor exhibits seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Center offers free wildlife services 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Members of the community are encouraged to call 440-871-2900, ext. 204, or email wildlife@lensc.org with wildlife questions and concerns. A full slate of fall programs for children, teens and adults is available at lensc.org.
The Bay Village Green Team is exploring various projects to use Fund to Reforest Bay Village donations to plant trees on public property, including a possible partnership with Bay Schools to use native plants and trees to create an outdoor education space at Normandy. To donate to the fund, visit bayvillagegreenteam.org. A second composting drop-off site has opened in Reese Park. To learn more about the $10/month membership, visit rustbeltriders.com. Residents are reminded to ignore the numbers on plastic items to determine recyclability; instead consider the shape of the item. Plastic bottles and jugs can be recycled if the neck or opening is narrower than the body.
The Bay Village Historical Society, in cooperation with Bay Kiwanis, will again be bringing Santa Claus to Bay Village. He will ride through the city streets aboard a fire truck the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 4, departing from Bay Lodge about 2 p.m. He will end up at the Cahoon Memorial Park gazebo about 4:30 p.m., where he will help light the city’s holiday tree. A map of his route will be published in the Observer and on the Facebook pages of the society and Kiwanis.
The Bay Village City School District has an operations levy on the Nov. 8 ballot. Supt. Scot Prebles has been meeting with district families and community members as part of his 100-day plan since starting on Aug. 1. He and Treasurer Meghan Rohde have been attending PTA meetings, Booster meetings, civic group meetings, information sessions at local churches and visiting small groups in residents’ homes.
The Martha Devotion Huntington Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution is looking for new members. The DAR is a national service organization open to any woman, 18 years or older, who can prove lineal decent from a patriot of the American Revolution. Members support community service, preserving history, educating children, as well as honoring and supporting those who serve our nation. For more information, contact Nancy McGrew at mdh.dar1776@gmail.com. Chapter volunteers will place donated wreaths on the graves of veterans at our local Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, in Rittman on Dec. 14. The wreaths cost $15 each. The Chapter will receive $5 per wreath to be used to help local veterans. The wreaths can be purchased at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/OH0132P.
Village Project is kicking off the holiday season with its Holiday Shoppe on Thursday, Dec. 1, 5-9 p.m. Enjoy holiday refreshments and sample a treat or two from new and current local vendors that will be showcasing their products. Shop with a purpose and experience the joy of giving by shopping at this local gem, knowing that proceeds from store purchases help support the Village Project mission! Admission is free (with suggested donation of one item from our “Most Needed Donations” List – see ourvillageproject.com). Enter through Project Shoppe, 27378 W. Oviatt Rd.
The Bay Village Women’s Club will host its annual Christmas Party Dec. 1 at Westwood Country Club, $35 to attend.