A grateful heart
It’s that time of year again. A time to recognize our blessings and be grateful for them. If you make the mistake of turning on the news at the wrong time, it can make you very sad. It can also make you very grateful that we get to live where we do.
Bay Village is a pretty friendly town. We still meet owners when we walk into establishments. Many times Ross himself greets you at Ross Wine & Liquor store. If you tell him what you are looking for or how much you want to spend, he shows you where the item is located and makes fantastic recommendations.
If you shop at Vivid Jewelers, chances are a nice guy named Lenny will say hello and greet you enthusiastically. If you wait for him you may chat with his completely delightful mother.
Thyme Table, the Print Shop and Trust Coffee Co. (formerly Java Bay) are owned and run by Mike and Tess Smith, who live in Bay. They are both very kind and visible at their establishments.
O Nail Spa is owned by Vitah and she sits in the first chair on the right when you walk in.
Dr. Kelley is the optometrist and usually smiles and says hello at some point.
Quinn of Quinn’s is the newest addition to 44140 and is located between Speedway and Marco’s by the railroad tracks. You may not see him a lot because he is usually cooking in the kitchen, but he is a really nice guy.
Although some places don’t have an owner on-site, they have employees who treat you like they own the place (in a good way) like Heinen’s, Malley’s and Arrabiata’s. It’s very nice to feel taken care of by someone who makes you feel like they are glad you are there. Many of these experiences are unique to Bay Village and are part of the reason it’s pleasantly different here.
We also support local print like the one you are reading now which highlights local writers, photographers and advertisers.
It’s easy to take our little town for granted if you haven’t lived any place else for a while. It’s easy to not think about it when you grabbing a bottle of wine for a hostess gift at Ross’s or heading into Alterations Today to get your pants hemmed. I don’t think people in New York City or San Francisco are enjoying the same experiences.
So I am grateful for our friendly little town and the local merchants, restaurants and periodicals that make it a special place to live. My heart is grateful this season!
Colleen Harding
President of The Cleveland School of Etiquette and Corporate Protocol. I am a member St Raphael Women's Guild, Friends of the Westside Catholic Center and The Avon Oaks Women's Golf Association.
I live in Bay Village with my husband and 3 children.