Community Events

Memorial Day will soon be here. The Westlake Kiwanis Club hopes you will participate in our annual community parade and services on Monday, May 29. 

Come out and line the parade route along Hilliard Boulevard and enjoy the parade, which starts at 10 a.m. in front of Sts. Peter and George Coptic and Orthodox Church and ends in Clague Park at the Gazebo for the Memorial Day Tributes.

The parade and services will honor those civilians and military that sacrificed so much to preserve our freedoms and protect our shores – many of those fallen were members of our Westlake community. If you participated in the parade or in the services in Clague Park in the past, the Westlake Kiwanis and the community appreciate your participation and hope you will take part again this year.

It is that time of the year when we start to think about summer and look forward to the Memorial Day weekend. While many think of this as a “Holiday” it is really a “Remembrance” day. It is meant to remember all the men and women who have served our country and have passed away.

This year the Bay Village Memorial Day Parade will be on Monday, May 29. The parade timetable is as follows:
    •    8 a.m. Assemble in Huntington Beach parking lot on Lake Road
    •    8:45 a.m. March west on Lake Road to Lakeside Cemetery
    •    9:00 a.m. Ceremonies at Lakeside Cemetery
    •    9:15 a.m. March east on Lake Road to Cahoon Park Gazebo
    •    9:45 a.m. Ceremonies at Cahoon Park

The Parade Committee invites all Veterans and Blue and Gold Star Mothers to participate and march in the parade.

The Sabrina Noelle Foundation was founded by Bay Village mother Kristin DuPrey after the loss of her 17-year-old daughter, Sabrina, to suicide. The foundation’s mission is to create strategies for better mental well-being. Methods for young adults include art as therapy, jewelry making, journaling, music and exercise.

On Saturday, June 3, from 4-8 p.m., the foundation will host its third annual Sabrina Street Party at Liquid Lifestyles, 975 Basset Road in Westlake. Young designers will showcase their work in jewelry, music and art. Local high school bands RRRIOT! and Skippy’s on the Run will perform live. Food trucks will offer food and dessert for sale.

Proceeds from this nonprofit organization help fund jewelry supplies, journals, exercise programs and local scholarships, allowing the Sabrina Noelle Foundation to give back to the community. To date, they have donated over $19,900 in scholarships.

The artistry and significance of beadwork is on full display at Rose Hill Museum’s latest exhibition, “Beadwork: The Beauty of Small Things.”

Along with its permanent display of artifacts from the history of Bay Village, the museum will temporarily showcase beaded items from the Bay Village Historical Society’s collections that are not often displayed to the public. The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore intricate designs on many aspects of beadwork on both clothing, personal items and salesman’s samples from years gone by.

Be a part of A Night for Nature, a brand new event to benefit Lake Erie Nature & Science Center’s programs on Friday, April 28, at 6 p.m.

Enjoy up-close encounters with animal ambassadors, see the planetarium, and learn how the Center’s animal programs and wildlife rehabilitation efforts connect people to the natural world. The evening will feature live presentations and opportunities to support programs through mobile giving.

The Western Cuyahoga County Resource Fair (formerly known as the Meet and Greet) will be held on Saturday, March 25, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Rocky River Civic Center, 21016 Hilliard Blvd.

With March being Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, this Connecting for Kids event brings awareness to the many providers in the community who offer help to those struggling with ADHD, learning issues, an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental delays. According to the CDC, developmental disabilities affect approx. 1 in 6 children (17%) aged 3-17 years.

The Herb Guild Garden Club is offering a $1,600 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.

Clague Playhouse, in conjunction with The Carolyn L. Farrell Foundation, offers an extraordinary opportunity for individuals and families experiencing communication challenges with someone with dementia in a home setting to learn about new approaches.

"Yes, And … Adventures in Communication with Loved Ones with Dementia" is a one-hour performance and conversation that takes place at Clague Playhouse, 1371 Clague Rd., Westlake, on Sunday, Feb. 26, at 2 p.m.

While antiques might remind you of your grandmother’s house, antiques (usually 100 years old) plus vintage (1980s or older) have gained popularity as households mix the old with the new. Local antique stores report increased buying levels from well before the pandemic as older items are meeting current needs. 

Many homeowners are looking for uniqueness, quality, immediate availability, and eco-friendly options. Researchers rate the carbon footprint of old furniture at 16 times less than newly-produced furniture. Reported decorating trends include warmth from natural woods, brighter colors, and accent pieces that add a nostalgic design.

For the 53rd year, shoppers can again buy antiques and vintage items in a charity show at Bay High School. Mark your calendars for Saturday, Feb. 18, and Sunday, Feb. 19, to attend this annual fundraiser for college scholarships for Bay High seniors. This show is hosted by the Bay Village Women’s Club.

On Saturday, Feb. 18, community members are invited to view the new West Side Home Furnishings Resale Shop Showroom at The Gathering Place’s Westlake location from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

The shop features high quality, donated furniture, décor and home accessories from premiere brands such as Arhaus, Baker Furniture, Henderson, Waterford, Val Saint Lambert and more at greatly reduced prices. All proceeds from the sales support the free programs and services The Gathering Place provides for individuals and families currently coping with the impact of cancer.

Westlake’s Dover Congregational United Church of Christ is a congregation of amazingly talented people, including a six-time Emmy winning producer and director! Lucky for us, that Emmy winner, Michael Angelo DiLauro, will be sharing his celebrated documentary, "Prisoners Among Us: Italian American Identity and WWII," at our church this month.

The film, with commentary by Tom Brokaw, chronicles how Italian immigrants assimilated into American culture from the early 19th century through WWII. The film looks at America’s “enemy alien” policies and the impact of that legislation upon unwitting immigrant families.

Bay Village Senior Center is hosting the 13th annual Soup Cookoff on Friday, Jan. 27, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Participants have an opportunity to taste soup from up to 10 local vendors and cast their vote for the people's choice award.

This annual fundraiser helps raise money for new and existing senior activities put on by the Bay Village Community Services department.

The Bay Village Senior Center is located at 300 Bryson Lane. Tickets are $10 per person and include admission to the event, the chance to win door prizes and all the soup, crackers and bread you can eat! You must buy a ticket in person at the senior center to reserve your spot.

Learn the history of the American Ship Building Company of Lorain, presented by local historian Matthew Weisman at the Feb. 16 Bay Village Historical Society potluck and program. Weisman will discuss the early formation of the company and its connection to the Steinbrenner family.

The Thursday, Feb. 16, presentation, held at the Bay Lodge on Bradley Road, begins with a social at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and program at 7 p.m.

Looking for a way to brighten these gray winter days? If you are 55 or older, Cuyahoga Community College’s Encore 55+ program can help you master new skills, meet new people, and learn about a wide variety of interesting and important topics in traditional classroom, virtual, or field excursion settings.

Dozens of classroom courses on topics as diverse as yoga, Cleveland history, popular music, religion, cooking, gardening, watercolor painting, politics, and retirement planning are offered on Fridays at CCC’s western and eastern campuses starting on Friday, Jan. 27. Each course runs for seven weeks and the instructors are a mix of CCC faculty, subject matter experts, and other professionals.

Step back in time to experience what Christmas was like in the 1800s. The Bay Village Historical Society is inviting Bay Village residents and children of all ages to join them in celebrating an old-fashioned community Christmas on Sundays, Dec. 11 and 18.

Rose Hill Museum will be beautifully decorated for the holiday season. This year’s theme is “Toys of Yesteryear,” with vintage toys featured throughout the museum. There will be miniatures of Christmas scenes and the Portrait Gallery is complete with Cahoon family portraits from the 1800s. “The Night Before Christmas” will be read by Preston Postle on Dec. 11 and 18. The Bay High Choraleers will sing carols at Rose Hill on Dec. 11 at 2:30 p.m.

Sara Armagno of Westlake, and her daughter Everly, age 2, took a few minutes to admire the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the lobby of the Westlake Porter Public Library. Several members of the Westlake Garden Club recently decorated the tree.

The tree design was planned by Robert Pearl and the theme was woodland animals. He was assisted by several Westlake Garden Club members including Carolyn Steigman, Deb Dougherty, Carol Lewellen, Teri Lyons and Margaret Schulz.

Everly confessed that she is looking forward to Santa's visit and hopes he brings her some special gifts.

Dover United Church of Christ honored retired pastor Keith Stuart and his spouse, Cynthia, with a gala celebration on Saturday, Nov. 12, at Wagner’s of Westlake event center.  

Reverend Stuart's 10-year leadership has been recognized for his exemplary contributions while enhancing an open and affirming mission within the church and community. Cynthia is a retired Ohio educator, guidance counselor and member of P.E.O. (Philanthropic Education Organization). She was a devoted member of Christian Education at Dover UCC.

Special guests and speakers included Reverend John Dorhauer, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ; Rev. Scott Patterson, Pastor Emeritus; Rev. Dr. John Rinehart, Minister of Justice; Jane Coil, Director of Christian Education and Office Administrator. Larry Coil served as Master of Ceremony.

As our beautiful fall weather turns to the inevitable, brisk and cold reality of late November and beyond, a stroll in the park starts to sound a little less appealing. Instead, might I suggest an indoor nature walk of sorts at the Westlake Community Services Center, where we are hosting an exhibit of the nature photography of local artist Neil Doren? 

A large portion of Neil's work is shot locally in our very own Metroparks, so you can view some of our local, natural beauty through Neil's artistic eye. Viewing his work may even trigger a nostalgic recognition for some, as Neil was a regular vendor at the St. John West Shore Festival of the Arts, a 20-plus-year community art festival that many still remember and miss.

The exhibit at the center is really a lifetime of this extraordinary artist's work. The pieces are also for sale, with half the proceeds being generously donated back to the center's senior programming in memory of Neil's late wife, Donna.

Once again this holiday season, the Christmas spirit will shine a little more brightly in Bay Village.

The Bay Village Historical Society and the Bay Village Kiwanis are asking Bay Village residents and children of all ages to join them in celebrating an old-fashioned community Christmas on three Sundays in December. A kickoff to the holiday season, these events will include the reading of holiday stories, caroling and crafts, the Kiwanis Christmas tree sale, a visit by Santa Claus and the lighting of the community tree in the Cahoon Memorial Park gazebo.

Follow Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus on their journey through the streets of Bay Village aboard a fire truck on Sunday, Dec. 4. They will leave from the Bay Lodge on Bradley Road at 2 p.m. and will arrive at the gazebo in the center of town for the holiday tree lighting ceremony around 4:30 p.m.

Clague Playhouse's 13th Annual Jewelry Heist opened on Nov. 11 and will run through Dec. 11 during the production of "One Christmas Eve at Evergreen Mall" on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 1-8 p.m. and Sundays from 1-3 p.m. and during the Youth Theater production of "Christmas Shorts" on Friday, Dec. 16, and Saturday, Dec. 17, from 1-7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 18, from 1-3 p.m.

Stop on by to see what treasures lie within! We have more jewelry, scarves, handbags and other accessories this year that have been donated by friends of the theater. This our biggest fundraiser of the year and 100% of the proceeds goes directly back to the theater.

Thirty-three years have passed since the disappearance of 10-year-old Amy Mihaljevic after she vanished from the Bay Square Shopping Center in Bay Village on Oct. 27, 1989. The abductor had contacted Mihaljevic by telephone and arranged to meet her on the pretext of buying a gift for her mother because she had recently been promoted, as he told her.

On Feb. 8, 1990, the girl's body was found in a field in rural Ashland County. Evidence at the scene included the presence of yellow/gold colored fibers on her body. It appears her killer took several souvenirs including the girl's horse-riding boots, her denim backpack, a binder with "Buick, Best in Class" written on the front clasp, and turquoise earrings in the shape of horse heads.

The Bay Village Police and the FBI conducted an extensive investigation into her disappearance and murder. The case generated thousands of leads. Dozens of suspects were asked to take lie-detector tests, but no one has ever been charged with the crime. Law enforcement continues to pursue leads and monitor suspects to the present day. More than 20,000 interviews have taken place during the investigation, and the case is still open.

Trace the history of Cleveland’s East Fourth Street with Alan F. Dutka, author of “East Fourth Street: The Rise, Decline and Rebirth of an Urban Cleveland Street.”

Once home to Cleveland’s opera house, central markets and five-and-dime stores, Fourth Street fell into disrepair in the second half of the twentieth century. Now, East Fourth Street serves as the center of a chic entertainment and residential district, perhaps the coolest place in Cleveland.

The Thursday, Nov. 17 presentation, held at the Bay Lodge on Bradley Road, begins with a social at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and program at 7 p.m. Dutka’s book will be available for purchase and signing.

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.

The 2nd annual Pumpkins for Pets fundraiser was held on Oct. 8 at Bay Middle School. The fundraiser collects money from donations for the Bay Village Kennel and the Quincy Humane Society.

We were thrilled to exceed last year's donations, raising $1,700 for these two organizations. It was a beautiful, chilly, fall day and anyone who stopped by enjoyed free pumpkins, cookies, cider, pet photos and was entered into a drawing for the "Dawg" basket!

My love for my community and my rescue dog Quincy Jones, a 5-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, prompted me to start this fundraiser in 2021. Quincy is the star of the day and we are both grateful for all who stopped by or made a donation!

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner. That means it’s time to get a jump on your holiday gift shopping!

Village Project is holding its annual Holiday Shoppe, a special shopping event, at their Project Shoppe store on Thursday, Dec. 1, from 5-9 p.m. to assist you in finding unique, locally-sourced gift items for all the special people on your list. Project Shoppe is located within Village Project’s headquarters at 27378 West Oviatt Road in Bay Village.

You will be able to shop and visit with local vendors onsite that evening, including Gourmet Firehouse Salsa, Backattack Snacks and Macrons by Victoria, just to name a few.

For the fourth year in a row, the Westlake Demons Athletic Boosters (WDAB) is seeking veterans to honor during its annual flag display. The goal is to honor 27 veterans representing the school's 26 athletic teams and the boosters organization. 

The flag display, along with accompanying team and honoree signs, will be placed in front of the WHS main entrance on Hilliard Blvd. The display will begin Sunday, Nov. 6, and stay up through Sunday, Nov. 13. To nominate a veteran, please reach out to Jane Peer at peerja71@gmail.com by Oct. 22. 

Meals on Wheels invites the community to a Night at the Races on Saturday, Oct. 29, at Wagner’s of Westlake. The event is a first for Meals on Wheels and will raise money to support its mission of providing meals to the homebound in the five communities of Bay Village, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, Olmsted Township, and Westlake.

The evening will feature horse racing, sideboards, and a wide array of silent auction baskets. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the event will end at 11 p.m. All community members are invited to attend and enjoy an evening with friends and family and support a great cause. Attendees are invited to wear Derby attire or Halloween costumes, and prizes will be awarded for the best costume!

The Friends of Westlake Porter Public Library at 27333 Center Ridge Road will be having our Annual Book Sale from Oct. 20 to Oct. 23. We are taking over several rooms in the library to display the books we have been putting aside for the past year. Last year we decided to move our big sale from February to the more weather friendly month of October, and it was such a great idea that we decided to keep the sale in October from now on.

We have a large selection of books of fiction and non-fiction, hundreds of children's books, DVDs, BluRays, CDs, and audio books. We have been receiving a large number of donations so you will have a lot to choose from.

The Walk for Amy event started during the Covid pandemic on a cold, raining day on the 31st anniversary of Amy Mihaljevic's abduction. Approximately 60 individuals stood for one hour outside of Bay Village City Hall and directly across from the shopping plaza where Amy was abducted.

One year later the number of participants grew to more than 350. This time, the event began at the front of Bay Middle School where the Chief of Police, Robert Gillespie, shared a few remarks. This was followed by a remembrance walk to the Bay Village Square shopping plaza and back to the Bay Middle School Memorial Garden where a large stone has been place with the inscription, "Amy Mihaljevic - NEVER FORGOTTEN." White ribbons were tied around the various trees as a reminder to all of us that Amy is never forgotten and we share in keeping her memory alive.

Cynthia White, Bay League of Women Voters chapter chair, and Kari Eckel, Voter Services Chair, are pictured with the Bay High School Key Club leadership team as they prepared to distribute Vote411.org door hangers to every house in Bay Village!

This is a huge job requiring as many of the over 240 Key Club members as possible to participate. They will be walking the streets of Bay in teams of two from Oct. 1 to Oct.11 to make sure every house gets information about how and where to vote and how to find non-partisan information about candidates for office and issues on the Bay ballot Nov. 8.

The Joker, Batman's arch enemy, has joined Mel Maurer's annual display of his homemade superheroes and cartoon characters at 1988 Sperry's Forge Trail in Westlake. Visitors and photos are welcomed.

David S. Greenspan, President of Westlake City Council, will be the discussant at the Thursday, Sept. 22, meeting of the Westlake-North Olmsted chapter of the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland. Guests are welcome to attend. The meeting will be at Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road., at 7 p.m.

Attendees will engage Greenspan in commentary about the best (and worst) examples of how city, county and state governments work together to optimize living and working conditions for citizens, business owners, and employees.

Lions, tigers and bears are not welcome, but household animals and their families are invited to the 17th annual Blessing of the Pets on Thursday, Oct. 6, from 6:30–7:00 p.m. on the front lawn of St. Raphael Church in Bay Village.

Individual blessings will be given to each animal. Dog and cat treats and give-aways from Hot Diggity Dog Pet Sitting will be distributed and a garden statue of St. Francis will be given away. The event is free and all are welcome!

The event was first held in 2005 to commemorate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals.

Even though fall was still a week away, strains of music associated with fall and harvest were enjoyed at Westlake Porter Public Library on Sept. 18 as the Westlake-Westshore Arts Council (W-WAC) presented their fall program.

The program, Harvest Home, was performed by Sunday in the Park, a husband and wife duo. Karen Ellicott, clarinet and voice, and Christopher Ellicott, guitar and voice, are both accomplished musicians and teachers from Baldwin Wallace University.

The Ellicotts began the program with "We Gather Together," a 16th-century Dutch melody, followed by "Simple Gifts," a 19th-century Shaker hymn. The titles may not have been familiar, but the melodies were immediately recognizable.

Hear about the life of crime fighter Eliot Ness on Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Bay Village Historical Society’s Osborn Learning Center porch talk. The featured speaker will be Rebecca McFarland, an international expert on Eliot Ness.

The free porch talk begins at 2:15 p.m. Guests are asked to bring their own lawn chairs. Visit www.bayhistorical.com for additional information.

Rediscover “Mid-19th Century Cuisine,” as part of the Thursday, Sept. 15, Bay Village Historical Society potluck program.

Guest speaker Angie George, a member of the North Coast Narrative, a group dedicated to bringing Ohio history to life, will talk about food before supermarkets. Where did food come from? How was it prepared? What did kitchens look like 150 years ago before electricity? How does food preparation resemble and differ from today?

These topics will be discussed during the hour-long presentation. Enjoy samples and take home recipes of period food items to try yourself. The event, held at the Bay Lodge on Bradley Road in Bay Village, begins with a social at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and program at 7 p.m.

The September meeting of The Herb Guild will be held on Wedneday, Sept. 14. at Westlake Porter Public Library. The business part of the meeting will start at 10:30 a.m., with the presentation following at 12:30 p.m. Sue Olsen, a certified instructor in Zentangle, will introduce us to this relaxing art form. Guests are very welcome but must register! Please call 440-353-9764 to register.

For more information on the upcoming meeting, call 440-842-5863 or visit our website theherbguild.org.

For the second time in as many years, the Westlake in Bloom Appreciation/Awards Ceremony was held at the Westlake Community Services Center on Aug. 9.

The award-winners from each category were invited to attend the cherished annual event celebrating the extraordinary efforts of Westlake’s gardening community.

Mayor Dennis Clough commended their efforts, noting that they serve to enhance the city’s beauty year after year and set it apart from other communities in Northeast Ohio.

The winner of the coveted Lu Walter “Best in Bloom” for 2022 is Mayuresh Dhond who took first place in the “Residential Landscaping – Rear Yard, Small” category. His award-winning yard features numerous sculptures and other unique decorative features among the colorful plant-life.

The Herb Guild Garden Club held its 36th annual scholarship luncheon on Aug. 3. Two area students received scholarships, both of whom were present at the luncheon to receive them.

Haley Viskocil is a graduate of Lake Ridge Academy in North Ridgeville and will be attending Ohio University. She will major in Environmental Science. Maxwell McNeil is a graduate of St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. He will be attending Penn State University and will be pursuing a Master's Degree in Landscape Architecture. Both are looking forward to attending college this fall.

Learn the true story of Johnny Appleseed on Sunday, Aug. 7, at the Bay Village Historical Society’s Osborn Learning Center porch talk.

Many people think of Johnny Appleseed as a fictional character. In fact, he was a pioneer on the Ohio frontier. Beryl Prusinoski will talk about Johnny Appleseed and the conditions our state’s early settlers encountered.

The free porch talk begins at 2:15 p.m. Guests are asked to bring their own lawn chairs. Visit www.bayhistorical.com for additional information.