Community Events

Daughters of the American Revolution urges Americans to reflect on the United States Constitution during the annual observance, Sept. 17-23, to honor this foundational document. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed this observance into Public Law #915, in 1956.

Martha Devotion Huntington, the local DAR chapter, has celebrated Constitution Week for 10 years with the placement of signs and posters.

One year ago, our scope enlarged with the distribution of free pocket-size editions of the U.S. Constitution to the 8th grade social studies students at Bay Middle School. This year, we have added St. Raphael’s Parish School in the distribution of editions. A total of 250 books will be distributed to the two schools.

Lions, tigers and bears are not welcome, but household animals and their families are invited to the 18th Annual Blessing of the Pets on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 6:30-7 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!

2023 Westlake in Bloom Winners

Evergreen Cemetery Fence Gardens

First Place: “The Eberling Family” 

Second Place: “Thomas Seeholzer”

Third Place: “In Memory of Col. Robert Franklyn Overmyer”

Hilliard Boulevard Flower Box

First Place: “In Memory of Kathleen Ratcliffe”

Second Place: “In Memory of Nick Massa”

Third Place: “The Moran Family”

Ed Neal, executive director of the Cleveland Amateur Boatbuilding and Boaters Society, will address “The Lake Erie World of Henry Wischmeyer” at the next Bay Village Historical Society potluck dinner.

The Thursday, Sept. 21, 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.

The community is invited to join in the Installation celebration of Reverend Melinda Quellhorst at Dover Congregational UCC in Westlake on Sept. 24. A pastor’s Installation is a church service in which a new pastor is charged with duties and welcomed into the church family, marking the beginning with a sense of hope and possibility. 

Those who called Reverend Quellhorst to serve believe in her unique gifts, vision, passion and talent. The service of Installation is a way of saying, “You belong here!”

The Installation will include a time for ministers and community members to welcome Pastor Mindy into this fellowship. In the UCC there are promises by the larger church to support the minister in a covenantal relationship.

“Silhouettes of Style,” a fashion show of late 1800s to early 1900s clothing styles and a fall luncheon, will take place at Lakewood Country Club on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 11 a.m. Proceeds will benefit the Bay Village Historical Society.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this collection,” historical society member Marie Albano noted. “The clothing is from personal collections and not from the museum. It includes hoop dresses, walking skirts, Edwardian fashions and accessories like parasols and muffs, most of the fashion dating from 1860 to 1890.

There will be display tables of vintage clothing. We have a complete outfit from 1911, a 1927 dress from Halle Bros. and a maternity outfit from the Civil War era.” The five models will be modeling 13 outfits.

The Westshore Lions Club and The Church of the Redeemer United Church of Christ (UCC) are co-hosting a non-profit fair on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the grounds of the church located at 23500 Center Ridge Road in Westlake. There is plenty of parking and the non-profit organizations will be assembled on the front lawn rain or shine.

This is the first such event co-sponsored by Church of the Redeemer UCC and the Westshore Lions Club which we intend on making an annual program. The goal is to make it easier for people to connect with volunteer opportunities or to learn about the diverse array of charitible and service organizations in the community. If you represent a non-profit please join us.

For more information please contact us at 440-250-5564 or westshorelions1997@gmail.com.

People in our region of the country have been given the title “Buckeye” since before Ohio became a state.

Learn what it means to be a Buckeye when the Bay Village Historical Society holds its third 2023 summer porch talk at the Reuben Osborn Learning Center on Sunday, Aug. 20. Speaker Beryl Prusinoski will present this fascinating talk, coordinated with the support of historical society members Dean Brennan and Tom Phillips. This presentation celebrates 15 years of porch talks at the Osborn Learning Center.

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.

“Silhouettes of Style,” a fashion show of late 1800s to early 1900s clothing styles and a fall luncheon, will take place at Lakewood Country Club on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 11 a.m. Proceeds will benefit the Bay Village Historical Society.

The event includes a silent auction, mystery bags and raffle items. Tickets are $45. A cash bar will be available.

We are honored to present the remarkable Leonard J. Strnad II – Lenny to his friends and clientele. Lenny is an extraordinary individual whose passion for the arts has illuminated countless lives and resonated within the hearts of all who have encountered his work.

As BAYarts celebrates its Diamond Jubilee Year with the enchanting Moondance benefit, Lenny's unique talents and unwavering dedication promise to elevate the event to unparalleled heights. A longtime supporter of BAYarts, it is only fitting that he is this year's honoree. 

Lenny's visionary approach to artistic expression has earned him international acclaim, making him an icon of platinum-goldsmith jewelers. Amongst his many achievements, Lenny has had the honor of crafting custom pins for two U.S. presidents.

All are invited to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Bay Village Chapter of the League of Women Voters.

Join us on Sunday, Aug. 6, at Rose Hill Museum at 27715 Lake Road. It's a fitting site for the party as Rose Hill was formerly the Bay Library in which the first meeting of the Bay Chapter convened. 

Come celebrate with refreshments and music beginning at 1:30 p.m. and hear brief remarks at 2 p.m., followed by the cake cutting. The event is rain or shine and your RSVP is appreciated to bayvillage@lwvgreatercleveland.org.

Families enjoyed dancing, bubbles, ice cream, crafts, and more at the BAYarts Mini Moondance fundraiser on Sunday, June 25.

Harmonic Journeys Holistic Fairs are holistic, spiritual and metaphysical – all in one place. You’ll find vendors and practitioners, speakers and activities, along with psychic and tarot card readers.

The Summer Indoor/Outdoor Holistic Fair will be held Saturday, July 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Unity Spiritual Center in Westlake, 23855 Detroit Road. Outside activities will be on Unity’s beautiful grounds amid their labyrinth, meditation and butterfly gardens. The $5 admission includes all the activities and speakers, both indoors and out.

The Friends of BAYarts will be hosting their second annual Mini Moondance fundraiser on Sunday, June 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. on the BAYarts campus. Mini Moondance is a family-friendly event that will raise funds to benefit the Friends of BAYarts community programming and the Fuller House Restoration project.

"The Friends of BAYarts auxiliary board has been a great addition to the BAYarts family," said BAYarts board of directors President, Mary Conway Sullivan. "Their mission is to develop family-focused events to meet the demand of our growing community. We are looking forward to celebrating the second annual Mini Moondance and to working together to develop more community-based programming.”

BAYarts' Community Sensory Garden project is nearing its funding goal thanks to a Bay Village Foundation grant of $15,000 over three years. The grant was announced at the foundation's annual Memorial Day reception.

"The Bay Village Foundation has supported so many of BAYarts' projects over the years that otherwise wouldn't be possible," said BAYarts Executive Director Nancy Heaton, "including all wonderful summer programming BAYarts is able to offer free to the community each year."

The Bay Village Historical Society kicks off its summer season of porch talks on Sunday, June 11, with a special showing of the movie, “The Untouchables.”

The movie, shown in the Osborn Learning Center in Cahoon Memorial Park, is about the life and career of Eliot Ness. Ness became the director of Cleveland’s Public Safety after his efforts in Chicago to bring down Al Capone.

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.

Join artist Dominick Denaro at the opening reception of his inaugural Baseball Memories art exhibit and sale on Friday, June 9, from 7-9 p.m. at The Carolyn L. Farrell Foundation for Brain Health’s Center for Artful Living. The Center, located at 26633 Detroit Road in Westlake, will host the exhibit and sale through Friday, Aug. 4, on Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Denaro will donate a percentage of the sales to the Farrell Foundation.

Denaro, a Cleveland resident and contemporary artist, will exhibit major framed works, as well as number of smaller, unframed pieces of mixed media and monoprints, which use a variety of printing techniques. While most of the pieces are about baseball, some other themes also are included.

The Westlake Kiwanis would like to thank all the participants in the Memorial Day parade on Hilliard Boulevard on a beautiful weather day. They would also like to thank all the residents and other guests who attended the services at the Gazebo in Clague Park.

Attendees were rewarded with a Medley of Music by the Westlake High School Band and a Memorial Day address by Major Brian Barnes, U.S Air Force Retired.

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.