Community Service

The Westshore Lions Club and community partners Church of The Redeemer UCC, The Lake Erie Huddle and the City of Westlake Service Department teamed up on Saturday, April 15, to clean up litter in various locations in Westlake to kick off the observances of Earth Day and to serve in an important area of Lions' concern about the environment.

Westshore Lion Linda Krasienko organized and chaired the project which began with a welcome from Westlake City Council President David Greenspan who thanked the volunteers for their efforts as the volunteers then spent the next two hours fanning out to pick up litter in seven different locations in Westlake.

The weather was perfect and the Lions and our partners hope to make this an annual effort.

The Westlake Kiwanis held a RePlay for Kids project on Tuesday, March 28, at Westlake Porter Public Library. Kiwanis and teachers from the Westlake Elementary School worked together adapting toys. There is nothing that makes a person smile more than making life better for a child with a disability. 

They adapted the toys so they can be used by children with disabilities. It involves taking the toys apart and installing switches which can be used to make the toys operate in various ways, such as blowing into a tube or touching with the side of a head. They managed to complete 25 various types of trucks. Leading the group were Kendal Duncan and Amy Davarpanah from RePlay for Kids.

For nearly 8 years, The Fairytale Foundation has brought smiles to thousands of kids across Northeast Ohio all while raising money for local charities. The company has donated nearly $26,000 and 12,000 hours of service between over 150 volunteers. All of this has been done through attending local events such as birthday parties, fundraisers, and so much more!

The Fairytale Foundation was founded in 2015 by the company’s current president Stephanie Jordan. It started small with a few hand-made gowns and a few friends from school volunteering at Bay Days. As the years progressed, the group began attending a handful of events such as city parades, birthday parties, and small community events.

The Fairytale Foundation has grown beyond expectations over the past 8 years. There are currently 60 active volunteers, over 20 characters to choose from, and have raised thousands of dollars for local charities.

Over 900 girls from around the state of Ohio will meet in Bowling Green June 11-17 for Buckeye Girls State. Two girls from Bay High School chosen to be representatives and supported by Bay Kiwanis are Evelyn Ray and Margaret Buttrick. Three additional girls from Bay High will be sponsored by The American Legion Auxiliary or other organizations including Emma Lindway, Sophia Heinrich and Delaney Carter.

The Kiwanis Club of Bay Village has supported Buckeye Girls State through the American Legion Auxiliary for several years. This year again the Bay Kiwanis Club will donate the funds to pay expenses for meals and accommodations for two representatives. A Kiwanis committee, including Foster McMasters, Ed Colleran and co-chairmen Aaron Ereditario and Jim Potter, met with five junior class students and selected these girls to attend the week-long program at Bowling Green State University.

St. Bernadette art teacher, Mrs. Sarah Butler, put together artwork to send to Arts for Little Hearts, a non-profit that brings hope and to the world's children. Volunteers, organizations, schools, and others create handicraft donations which are then distributed to hospitalized children worldwide. 

The creator as well as the recipient child, even though they will never meet, will share a special bond of compassion, love, confidence, courage and optimism that crosses all cultures and countries.

Westlake resident Carly Millis Jalowiec looks and acts like your typical 30-something. With long blond hair and big eyes, she is both engaged and engaging as she talks a mile a minute, smiling and laughing. The average person would likely never label her as autistic. But she is.

“I’ve always known that I was different, even from when I was little,” Carly says, “and a lot of my struggles were more internal and misunderstood.”

Carly is part of a rapidly-growing population of adults seeking an autism diagnosis. The interest is often spurred after a diagnosed family member, or increased awareness of the signs of autism.

The Westlake Town Criers crowned Harry and Nancy Applegate as Mr. & Mrs. Westlake 2023 during the Dec. 4 tree-lighting ceremony at Westlake City Hall. The Applegates were recognized for their enthusiastic support and involvement in various activities and organization within our community.  

Harry is a longtime member of the Westlake Kiwanis Club and the Westlake Town Criers. He has been actively involved with Westlake City Schools and was a high school softball coach for many years. Nancy was an elementary school teacher for 22 years and volunteered at Westlake City Schools in countless ways including field trips, lunch room volunteer, team potlucks, room mother and PTA.

For more than 35 years the Westlake Town Criers have selected a Mr. and Mrs. Westlake from nominations submitted by the community. Nominees are selected based on their dedication to service of the Westlake community.

The Bay Village Community Council reminds residents that the nomination deadline for Bay Village Citizen and Project of the Year honors is Monday, Jan. 16.

Download a nomination form for Citizen of the Year or Project of the Year, or pick up a hard copy from City Hall or the Bay Village Branch Library. Completed forms may be submitted via email to tara@wbvobserver.com or mailed to Bay Village Community Council, 350 Dover Center Road, Bay Village, OH 44140.

In the spirit of the season, the Westshore Lions Club will be accepting new and gently used winter coats for Coats For Kids. Please join us on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. in the Dover Room at Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, for some holiday treats and a presentation on services for homeless youth.

Carey Gibbons, Youth Engagement Manager of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, who works with gay homeless and the wider community, will discuss the array of services available to a diverse population of homeless youth in need.

The Westshore Lions Club welcomed Mrs. Allison Martzolf to their Nov. 16 meeting to discuss the importance of reading for youth. A fifth-grade teacher at Horace Mann Elementary School in Lakewood, Mrs. Martzolf discussed her efforts in assembling a classroom library with age-appropriate books for her students so as to engage them in reading on a regular basis.

Many students who are less fortunate may not have access to good reading material outside of school. In quoting Neuman's research, Allison noted that "when students are able to read more frequently they are more likely to become more competent, fully engaged readers." She also said that the research shows "that classrooms with libraries are correlated with gains in statewide reading, writing and science assessments."

Volunteers from the Bay Men's Club, the city's oldest and largest civic organization, took time recently to clean the yards of some 20 needy and worthy Bay Village residents. The club has done this "leaf rake out" for more than 25 years.

"It's a great way to help those who might need a helping hand," President Ed Robertson said, "and we are more than happy to assist. This is what Bay Village is all about."

St. Paul Lutheran Church and School are collecting new toys for underprivileged children in the inner city of Cleveland. New, unwrapped toys may be dropped off in the front parking lot of the church located at 27993 Detroit Road in Westlake on Nov. 25, 26 and 27 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Donations will help Build Hope in the City and make it a blessed Christmas for many children living in today's difficult times.

The Women’s Board of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center held a fundraising event, “Fly Me to the Moon,” on Oct. 9 with proceeds benefiting the Center’s astronomy internship. Guests enjoyed a program about Humans in Space in Schuele Planetarium presented by Planetarium and Program Coordinator Katy Downing, and a bountiful post-program reception.

The Women’s Board has a long history of supporting and advocating for the Center’s mission through service, community awareness, and fundraising. Funds from the “Fly Me to the Moon” fundraiser will support a stipend for a future astronomy intern.

The Center’s Astronomy and Space Science Education Internship offers a unique opportunity for college students to gain career experience in one of two public-access planetariums in Cuyahoga County. Working alongside program staff, interns assist with public astronomy education, learn about current mission news and astronomical research, and become familiar with planetarium technology. The combination of an opti-mechanical star projector and digital projector in Schuele Planetarium provides an immersive learning experience through high-resolution, 360-degree images and a realistic, breathtaking display of over 3,000 stars.

The Westlake Kiwanis held a RePlay for Kids project on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Westlake Porter Public Library. Eight members and five guests volunteered their time to work on the toys. There is nothing that makes a Kiwanian smile more than making life better for a child with a disability. 

They adapted the toys so they can be used by children with disabilities. It involves taking the toys apart and installing switches which can be used to make the toys operate in various ways, such as blowing into a tube or touching with the side of a head. They managed to complete 25 various types of trucks. Leading the group were Edie Dale and Kendal Duncan from RePlay for Kids.

The Bay Village Community Council has opened the nomination period for the annual Bay Village Citizen of the Year and Project of the Year awards, to recognize those who have offered their time and talents in the service of others.

Citizen of the Year nominees, either individual or couple, must be Bay Village residents that have provided significant community service without monetary reward. Although not necessarily an annual designation, special projects will be considered for Project of the Year based on community impact and the involvement of volunteers and organizations.

Download a nomination form for Citizen of the Year or Project of the Year, or pick up a hard copy from City Hall or the Bay Village Branch Library. Completed forms may be submitted via email to tara@wbvobserver.com or mailed to Bay Village Community Council, 350 Dover Center Road, Bay Village, OH 44140.

Worried about the security of elections in Ohio?

Questioning the results of recent elections?

Afraid that we are losing a critical component of our 225-year-old democracy?

If so, turn off the TV, power down your phone, and lend a hand in running free and fair elections here in Cuyahoga County. The County Board of Elections (BOE) is always looking for poll workers to work election day at voting locations and for temporary workers to assist full-time staff members at the BOE headquarters in the weeks before and after voting.

The IRS-sponsored AARP Tax-Aide program is looking for volunteers for the upcoming tax filing season. AARP Foundation Tax-Aides provide free personal income tax assistance and tax form preparation for low and moderate income taxpayers, with special attention to those age 50+. 

You need not have any prior tax experience. As an AARP Tax-Aide volunteer, you will be provided with free training through IRS designed classes. The initial meeting for prospective volunteers is in early December. Tax preparation season runs from mid-January to mid-April.  We are looking for volunteers for Fairview Park, Westlake, and Bay Village.

This year, Village Project (VP) was able to award three graduates from Bay Village High School each with a $1,000 scholarship. These student volunteers were chosen based on merit, past experiences at VP, and their essay responses describing the importance of VP to the community and to them personally. The scholarships were awarded to Jennie Koomar, Aden Bergstresser and Emily Terrell.

The Harrell Family Scholarship was awarded to Jennie, one of VP’s long-standing volunteers. She’s been involved with VP since third grade after her girl scout troop began a card-making competition at Westerly, which led her to start making cards regularly. Because Jennie started so young, she commented that the multi-generational aspect is a highlight of working at VP. “No matter what age or ability you have, there’s always a place for you here. In third grade, I would come after school and walk Ernie,” she recalled. “I’ve also worked with someone in the kitchen who has special needs.”

The Westlake Kiwanis presented Mason Kruse with the William E. Sifritt Community Service Award on July 11 at Westlake City Hall. Mason had over 400 hours of community service to others in the Westlake community. The award is named for longtime Westlake Kiwanian William Sifritt. 

In addition to a $100 award Mason's name will be added to a plaque in the rotunda of Westlake City Hall. Mason will be attending Ohio Northern University in the fall, majoring in mechanical engineering.

The First Family Project, "Prevention of Kids' Head Trauma," is a program that was inspired by the Ohio District Kiwanis Foundation "Safe and Healthy Kids Initiative." 

The Westlake Kiwanis are doing their part by providing safety helmets for all the youth who have graduated from Westlake's Safety Town for the past three years. Westlake Kiwanis want kids safe as they ride their bikes, go-carts, skateboards, scooters, etc. By making helmets available they hope to do their part as Kiwanians to help reduce the number of head trauma cases.

Of the more than 4,000 submissions nationwide, Village Project is honored to announce they are one of the top 100 winners of a $25,000 grant from the 2022 State Farm Neighborhood Assist program! 

“We can’t thank our supporters enough,” says Executive Director Meredith LaVecchia. “After we learned we made it to the top 200 organizations, it was up to our amazing supporters to push us into the top 100. Our volunteers, clients, supporters, donors, friends, family – everyone showed up to make sure we crossed the finish line. We are beyond grateful, blessed and are excited to use this funding to continue to provide nourishing meals and serve our communities.” 

In just 10 days this spring, 88,000 people cast more than 2 million votes to help decide the top 100 winning causes.

Two second-grade girls learned about the power of determination and saving at Orchard STEM School in Ohio City. By exercising "earning power" developed by Assistant Principal, David Funk, these young ladies earned “dollars,” or points, through positive human interaction and community involvement.

Earned school “dollars” afforded them with their wish. They were able to earn their own bikes, something they could only hope for in the past.

The Village Bicycle Cooperative was thrilled to recondition and donate the two bikes they now possess. While other students might have used those “dollars” for candy, as an example, this learning process educated these young ladies in understanding the benefits of earning and owning through helping others. Just in time for summer!

Lakewood Elks Lodge #1350 once again generously donated the use of its facility at 24350 Center Ridge Road in Westlake to Connecting for Kids for a bowling fundraiser, which raised more than $5,000 for the Westlake-based nonprofit. In all, 60 bowlers participated in the event held on April 23. All funds raised will allow Connecting for Kids to further its mission of educating and supporting local families.

“The bowling event last year was such a success that we jumped at the chance to do it again,” said Mike Sheehan, Exalted Ruler of the Lakewood Elks Lodge #1350. “It is a win-win for all involved as our Elks members can combine their love of bowling with the opportunity to raise money and help out a local organization that does so much for families in our community.”

Bay Village Garden Club’s long tradition of civic beautification was in full throttle this May.

Early in the month members cleaned and groomed flower beds to prepare for spring planting. After the weather warmed up, green-thumbed gardeners planted colorful flowers around the Gazebo and City Hall, prepared fresh planters for the Wolf Road bridge, and settled new sprouts in the Welcome Sign saucers that adorn each entrance to Bay Village.

The Bay Men’s Club has awarded four $1,000 scholarships to four very deserving Bay High students: Sam Houk, Carli Mendelow, Norah Hamil, and Danny Kruzer.

Scholarships are awarded based on need, character, scholastic achievement and leadership qualities.

Houk will be attending the University of Cincinnati where he will major in business. Mendelow will be attending the University of South Carolina where she will be studying psychology and pre-med. Hamil will be attending The Ohio State University where she will be majoring in business. Kruzer will be attending the University of Cincinnati where he will be studying political science and pre-law.  

“The accomplishments of these four recipients, both academically and in other fields, is quite impressive,” scholarship committee chairperson Peter Gierosky said. “We are happy to provide this seed money for our leaders of tomorrow.”

Students in Mrs. Cathy Bogart's second-grade class at Normandy School in Bay Village, aided by a few moms, held a cookie sale recently to raise money for the Bay Village Historical Society. As part of the unit on Bay Village history, all second-grade students tour the Rose Hill Museum in Cahoon Memorial Park, and this fundraiser was part of that curricula.

Historical society president Cathy Flament and treasurer Eric Eakin recently visited the class to gratefully accept their $150 donation.

"We cannot thank you enough for this wonderful donation," Flament told the class. "We sincerely appreciate your efforts, and look forward to having you visit our museum soon and learning more about local history.”

The Bay Village American Legion Post #385, plans to conduct a flag retirement ceremony on Friday, June 10, as part on their annual Flag Day celebration. The ceremony will take place at the post home, 695 Cahoon Road in Westlake at 6:00 p.m.

Citizens may bring old, torn and faded flags and deposit them at any time in the red and white box, American Flag Collection Bin, located at the post front door.

The ceremony is conducted in accordance with American Legion protocol and visitors to witness the retirement are welcome.

The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Bay Village held their first Voter Girl workshop with Brownie Girl Scout Troop 71943 at the Bay Village Library on April 10. The Voter Girl Project was developed by the LWV of Kent, Ohio, in partnership with Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio. The Voter Girl Project aims to teach scouts of all levels – from Daisies to Ambassadors – about the responsibilities of citizenship, voting and leadership.

League members Evelyn Sobczek, Jane Blackie, Kari Eckel and Chapter Chair Cynthia White presented a program including principles of good citizenship, illustrated with a puppet show, and a book reading about what makes a good community member. They played a diversity game with a variety of yummy snacks and learned the meaning of the words of the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as the significance of the colors, stripes and stars on our American flag. 

Calling all community members: Village Project (VP) has a chance to bring $25,000 to our community!

“We are so excited to be named one of the top 200 finalists in the State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant program,” said Executive Director Meredith LaVecchia. “We really need everyone to rally behind our cause and cast your votes for Village Project to help us!”

“It really is like a popularity contest,” Meredith says. “It will all boil down to the top 100 nonprofits that get the most votes. So, we’re really counting on the community and beyond to help us win.”

Village Project is excited to invite incoming freshmen and current high school students to volunteer at Village Project this summer. Combining the experience of adults and the energy of youth results in an explosion of contagious enthusiasm. Village Project brings ordinary people together to make extraordinary differences. Volunteers are equipped, empowered and encouraged – reflecting the true strength of community. 

Volunteer opportunities for students include:

• Preparing/packaging meals under the supervision of encouraging adults

• Developing proficient culinary skills and gaining nutritional knowledge

• Learning the importance of kitchen cleanliness (vital to our clients)

• Assisting with fundraising and special events and other roles outside the kitchen (i.e., Project Shoppe, farmer’s markets, gardening, and so much more)

Bay High Key Club, together with Westerly K-Kids and Bay Middle Builders Club, is changing lives one step at a time! These youth service organizations, sponsored by the Kiwanis of Bay Village, are designed to build leadership skills in young people through service to others. 

Our Walk for Water goal is to help end the global water crisis by raising $18,000 through our event on Sunday, May 1. Partnering with the Thirst Project, the world’s leading youth water activism organization, we strive to raise the money needed to build freshwater wells in eSwatini, (formerly known as Swaziland). Each dollar we raise goes directly to building the wells in the southern African country.

In these communities, women and children have to walk an average of 3.75 miles every day to collect water. Not only is the distance challenging, but the water is also unclean and used by animals. The dirty water often causes disease or death.

Avery Junkins witnessed family struggling with stress from work and feeling overwhelmed by the pandemic. She is currently working on earning her Gold Award, the highest award you can earn in Girl Scouts. She wanted to make a difference in the community and create a sustainable way to get messages to both patients and caregivers, so over the last year and a half she developed a solution which she calls “The Positivity Postbox.” 

The Positivity Postbox is inside the lobbies of both University Hospitals St. John Medical Center and Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital. It is a collection box for people in the community to submit anything for caregivers or patients. The contents are distributed to those who need them. Examples may include handwritten notes of appreciation, encouraging letters, small crafts, inspiring quotes, painted rocks, or tokens of appreciation.

Lakewood Elks Lodge 1350 in Westlake donated $856 to the Westlake Police Department, enabling them to purchase specially designed light and mount for emergency personnel. This money was awarded to the Elks in the form of a grant from the national lodge.

Pictured are Rick Grane, Brian Gartland, Chris Johnson, Ruth Ann Witteman, WPD Chief Kevin Bielozer, and Mike Sheehan.

Children and teens across the world are experiencing grief in ways that are more complicated and often more traumatic due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Joel’s Place for Children, a Cleveland-based 501(c)(3) non-profit, provides grief support to school-aged children and their families who have experienced the death of someone special in their lives. They are receiving more phone calls and emails than ever from caregivers needing grief support for their children.

The organization has been serving grieving families in Northeast Ohio since 2003. Non-denominational groups meet by age/developmental level at Bay Presbyterian Church in Bay Village twice-monthly for pizza dinner, community, expressive arts and emotional intelligence activities, and discussion. Families do not pay to attend Joel’s Place; the organization is funded solely by donations. A Butterfly Release is also held every summer, where living butterflies are released in honor of those who have died, followed by a picnic lunch.

Bay Family Services is a program sponsored by the City of Bay Village for all Bay residents. In our 12th year now, we provide mental health assessments, consultations, counseling and referral services, as well as community resources. The caring and compassionate team of mental health professionals works in a private and confidential setting and is implemented by the McKeon Education Group.  

We can: 

• Provide initial assessment and consultation during a time of crisis.
• Implement social emotional programs on topics such as mental wellness, social skills, assertiveness, student leadership, and character development.
• Consult with Bay Village Police Department and the Westshore Enforcement Bureau on student safety, substance abuse concerns and other legal matters regarding minors.
• Serve as the community liaison to the Westshore Young Leaders Network, a regional student leadership program that includes Bay Village and five other districts.
• Coordinate an adopt-a-family program during the holidays to connect lower income families with gift donors.

Old man winter gets a speck in his wizened old eye when he swirls around Bay Village. At each entrance to our city he is greeted by a splash of color, thanks to Bay Village Garden Club’s evergreen foliage tucked into our Welcome planters.

Placed in late fall to welcome the holidays, the greenery brings life throughout our notoriously grim winter months. When spring starts to wake up, Club members pull the pine and boxwood from the planters, and fill them with brightly colored living flowers and vines that thrive through the summer.

Trustees of The Bay Village Foundation announced that the foundation is accepting grant requests for specific projects of local civic and non-profit organizations. Applications are due the last day of February 2022. Awards will be announced in April 2022 and may range from $500-$5,000.

The Bay Village Foundation is primarily interested in supporting capital projects that improve the quality of life in the city of Bay Village. Projects must be responsive to community needs. The Foundation will also consider requests for support of programs that benefit the citizens of the Bay Village.

Bay Village Cub Scout Pack 39 is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2022. The Scouts most recently attended the Cleveland Monsters hockey game on Jan. 22, serving as Color Guard for the opening ceremonies. 

The community is invited to an anniversary celebration on Thursday, Feb. 17, from 6-8 p.m. at Bay Middle School. Bring your own Pinewood Derby car for a ride on a classic wooden track, or build one from plastic blocks provided. Light refreshments will be served. Please wear masks while indoors. The address is 27725 Wolf Road.

Visit tinyurl.com/bvpack39 to learn more about the Pack. 

For a while, we felt like Old Mother Hubbard over here at Village Project. Our kitchen shelves were looking pretty bare. Thank you so much to all of our friends and neighbors who answered our call for help and generously donated much needed pantry items and office supplies.

“I’m so grateful for the compassion and generosity our community continues to show us at Village Project,” said Executive Director Meredith La Vecchia. “These donations help us serve our clients while they’re going through one of the toughest times in their lives. No two cancer journeys are the same and we’re proud to walk with our clients through theirs.”

The Community West Foundation board of directors approved $584,300 in fourth quarter grants bringing the grand total to $2.6 million awarded in 2021 to 81 non-profit agencies located in Cleveland, western Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties. The recipient organizations for fourth quarter grants include:

• Connecting for Kids, $12,300: Funding for the Ask Us 1:1 program which addresses the needs of local families who have children struggling to cope with the after-effects of the pandemic
• Galilean Theological Institute, $5,000: Capacity Building grant supporting the En Conjunto Community of Hispanic Houses of Worship Collaborative
• Good Knights Inc., $5,000: General operating support to build and provide beds and bedding to children in Lorain County       
• LifeAct, $20,000: Program support for suicide prevention programs for Grades 6-12
• Love INC., $10,000: Program support for housing vulnerable Clevelanders
• Rocky River Meals on Wheels, $10,000: General operating support to provide low-cost, nutritious meals to Rocky River, Fairview Park and Lakewood residents
• Lakewood Community Services Center, $40,000: General operating support for emergency food programming
• Church of the Open Door/Generations House, $20,000:Funding transitional housing for homeless families in Lorain County
• Lorain County Safe Harbor, $25,000: General operating support for shelter and support to men, women and children of all ages who are victims of domestic violence
• Seeds of Literacy, $35,000: Continuing support of basic education programs
• Village Project, $40,000: General operating support to provide nourishing meals and extended care and services to people experiencing cancer