Local News

Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough shared a snapshot of each of the city’s departments, its financials and upcoming projects in his annual State of the City address to residents at the Westlake Community Center on May 12. The event was sponsored by the Westlake | Bay Village Observer as part of our commitment to making news and information accessible to all in the community.

Clough offered a shortened version of the presentation he made in March to the West Shore Chamber of Commerce, in order to allow more time for audience questions.

In his 38th annual address, Mayor Clough again emphasized the city’s focus on controlled growth and conservative fiscal policies, as well as his administration’s commitment to maintaining Westlake’s infrastructure.

Over the past three years, Westlake has spent $36.6 million on infrastructure improvements, from the new Community Center, to water and sewer lines, to road resurfacing.

The Interurban Pedestrian Bridge was set in place across Cahoon Creek on May 4. The bridge follows the route of the former Lake Shore Electric Interurban Railway and is 125 feet long and 12 feet wide. 

The bridge was recommended in the Cahoon Park Connectivity Study completed by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) in 2016. It is expected to cost about $700,000, $475,000 of which will be paid for by two grants from NOACA. The bridge was also awarded state capital funding in 2020.

Trails to connect the eastern end of bridge to the Bay Village Branch Library and Dwyer Memorial Senior Center are in the planning stages. The West Interurban Connector Trail will connect the western end of the bridge to the Cahoon Basin Trail and is planned for construction in 2023.

Westerly fourth-grade teacher Barbara Woodburn is ending her accomplished Bay Village career, retiring May 31. Woodburn has proudly served students, parents, fellow teachers, staff and the school system since her starting in 1972 – 51 years ago.

“Not one day has ever felt like work,” Woodburn stated in reflecting on her time teaching in Bay. She credited the sheer joy of teaching children as the motivating factor for her extensive tenure. She also credited the “team” teaching concept, which she helped establish in Bay, allowing teachers to split teaching duties 50/50, rather than teaching full-time every day. 

“I was truly blessed to have taught with two of the best teachers and friends with anyone you could hope for in Lu Laing and Mary Jo Mahall,” explained Woodburn. Mahall is also retiring this year.

Dover Congregational United Church of Christ in Westlake is an open and affirming congregation. No matter who you are or where you are in your life's journey, you are welcome here. We proudly fly the rainbow flag along with the American flag.

Someone wanted to make a statement regarding our stand and damaged the rainbow flag on Saturday, May 7. The following Sunday at the church service, Rev. Melinda Quellhorst stated, “A new flag will soon be flown and love will always prevail. Let’s pray for those who find hatred in their hearts.”

Sexual preference has been with us since the beginning of time. When I was in high school, many years ago, if you wore yellow clothing on Thursday you were labeled queer. Unfortunately, time has passed but attitudes and labels by some, toward people with alternative lifestyles, are consequential issues that perpetuate divisiveness.

Village Project's (VP) humble beginnings started in September 2010, when VP served its first four families in active cancer treatment from the Bay Presbyterian Church kitchen. We were small, but we were mighty!

Today VP serves Avon, Avon Lake, Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake. And, last year, we served close to 6,500 meals! Today that number is only growing. We also know many people need our services but are unaware of what we do. 

"The Village Project name, logo and mission statement were created more than 12 years ago and have served our community well," said Meredith LaVecchia, Executive Director. "However, in recent years, we frequently hear from those who drive by our offices or see us at events that they don't know what the Village Project does. So, imagine the challenge this creates for families fighting cancer who still are not aware of the services we provide!"

On April 20 several members of the Martha Devotion Huntington Chapter Daughter of the American Revolution joined the Vietnam Veterans of America Bay Village/Lakewood Chapter for their April meeting. The DAR members presented the VVA chapter with a Vietnam War Commemoration flag and stand, and a certificate of appreciation signed by the Secretary of Defense. 

The certificate read: “The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, Department of Defense, recognizes Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 249 as an Honorary Partner. This distinction is reserved for and conferred upon organizations consisting solely of those who “bore the battle” or “bore the loss” of the Vietnam War. A grateful Nation honors your collective service and untold sacrifices. Welcome home! Done this 8th day of March 2023. Signed Lloyd J. Austin, Secretary of Defense.

Westlake's 2023 primary election is Tuesday, May 2. The polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. The only issue on the Westlake ballot is Issue 5, the levy request placed by the Board of Trustees of Porter Public Library. (For more information about the levy, go to westlakelibrary.org/levy-12755 and westlakelibrarylevy.com.)

Early voting is available at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, 2925 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, until April 30. The voting hours at this location are listed at boe.cuyahogacounty.gov.

The New Bay Village Dog Kennel Fund is open for business and accepting donations to help us meet our $50,000 goal. We say thank you to all those citizens who have paid for supplies and advertising; Bay High students for their creativity and hard work in developing an exceptional door hanger and those Key Club members who will be delivering them city wide; and local merchants who have donated a percentage of daily sales to our cause.

Beginning on April 20, dependent on weather, Key Club members will begin canvassing the entire city providing each home with a door hanger. The hanger has the information of how and where to donate to this effort. There is also a QR code on the hanger to make donating to this 501c3 fund super easy!

Connecting for Kids has recognized the following Westlake and Bay Village residents with its 2023 Board Awards. These awards are given to those that exemplify the mission of Connecting for Kids to provide education and support to families concerned about their child.

2023 Professional of the Year
Lisa Ruman, a resident of Westlake and president & founder of The Child & Family Counseling Center of Westlake, has logged countless volunteer hours with Connecting for Kids over the years as a program facilitator.

On March 13, Bay Village City Council confirmed the appointment of Kathleen Messeri as Director of Community Services.

Human Resouces Director Jennifer Demaline introduced her to Council, saying: “Kathleen recently has been working with the City of Brooklyn and has most recently been serving as their community services coordinator, which would be the similar job title to our community services director here. She has a lot of expertise and a lot of experience, and we’re really looking forward to having her come on board."

Kathy grew up in Massachusetts before moving with her family to California where she attended high school and earned a bachelor's degree in business and marketing at Cal State Bernardino. After graduation, she moved to Portland, Oregon, to begin a career in banking. Kathy continued working as a loan officer after moving to the Cleveland area and worked as a reporter for several years before being hired by the City of Brooklyn, Ohio, in 2014.

Bay Village residents are well aware of the infrastructure improvements made last year when the two main thoroughfares, Lake and Wolf roads, each received a makeover. In 2023, Mayor Paul Koomar aims to go deeper – as in underground. 

The city is dealing with mandates from the Environmental Protection Agency – at both the state and federal levels – to reduce sanitary sewer runoff into Lake Erie during periods of heavy rain.  

Mayor Koomar discussed his administration’s plans during the annual State of the City address on March 3.

It’s time to announce the winners of the 2023 Cutest Pet in Westlake contest!

The contest is broken down into 4 divisions: Cat, Senior Dogs over 9 years, Dogs 2 to 9 years old, and Puppies. Our winners are listed in that order. Westlake is home to so many fabulous pets. Our judges always have a difficult time selecting our winners.

This year we have: Mia, a Russian Blue cat; Mandy, a Puggle; Farrah, a Labrador Samoyed; and Denali, a Giant Schnoodle.

Here is some backround information on each of our winners.

Mia is part of the Elswerth Family and she got her name from the Spanish word for “mine.” She quickly became her mom’s fur baby. This 8-year-old lady is a rescue who found her family at a Christian campground. Favorite things for Mia are morning breakfast from her daddy, Tasty Temptations, playing with her laser pointer, going for walks in her stroller, and enjoying naps on either her Mommy or one of her Sherpa blankets.

Huck Kurinsky, who just turned 8, won the USA BMX amateur series in the U8 division earlier this year at the U.S. Cycling Olympic Training Center in Woodward, PA. Huck began riding at 6 years old, and set a world record for youngest to land a backflip on a BMX bike. 

Now in second grade at Normandy Elementary School, Huck participated in the USA BMX amateur series, which traveled across the country for eight different competitions. He capped off the Finals with a National Championship win. Huck ranks fourth in the world for kids 12 and under, and is the best 8-year-old in the world. Huck is also a two-time Ohio State National Champion.

If you or a loved one have ever experienced a serious illness requiring doctor visits, hospital stays, poking and prodding, fear and uncertainty, pain and fatigue, you know that there can be many dark days. Sometimes the thing you need most is the kindness of others, a small act that turns a stranger into a friend.

To those facing cancer, Sherri Reilly has been a friend. For the past 12 years, Sherri has turned her compassion into a nearly full-time volunteer endeavor as the Village Project’s garden leader. During the growing season, Sherri would spend up to 30 hours a week at the Bay Village Community Garden, tending vegetables, growing herbs and snipping flowers.

The vegetables and herbs go to the Village Project kitchen, where volunteers prepare nutritious meals for clients battling cancer. The flowers provide nourishment for the soul, as Sherri and her team would bundle the blooms into colorful bouquets and place them in hand-painted vases to brighten clients’ dark days. During the winter, Sherri partnered with the nonprofit BigHearted Blooms to use “recycled” flowers leftover from weddings and other events.

When the Bay Village Community Council is evaluating nominations for Project of the Year, among the main considerations are the impact of volunteers and involvement of community organizations.

It is always a difficult choice, as Bay has no shortage of community-based projects and programs. This year’s deliberation was no exception, with a long-awaited new library and many civic groups working to make Bay an even better place to live. But rising to the top was the year-long celebration of the Bay High School Centennial and the sheer number of groups and individuals involved in the effort.

The year 2022 marked 100 years of high school in Bay Village. In 1922, Parkview School opened at the corner of Cahoon and Wolf roads and housed grades K-12. Prior to that, Bay Village students traveled to other Westshore suburbs for high school.

Bay Village Garden Club is one of more than 30 affiliate garden clubs from Northeast Ohio featured in Cleveland Botanical Garden’s “Twinkle in the 216” holiday display. The show is an honor to and celebration of Cleveland’s beloved historic neighborhoods.

Our creative president, Erika Mittermeier, chose E. 55th and Broadway – the old Brooklyn neighborhood – as the theme for our holiday door decoration. She based her design on Dick Feagler’s “Christmas at Aunt Ida’s,” a column Feagler wrote many years ago about a childhood experience in that neighborhood on Christmas, 1945. Erika framed old family photos and arranged antique toys to capture the style and mood of the period. Her stunning display reflects the warmth and community of one of Cleveland’s iconic neighborhoods.

The Bay Village American Legion Post 385 met with the student body at Normandy School to celebrate Veterans Day 2022. Principal Dan Sebring explained the history of Veterans Day to the 500 students of the kindergarten, first and second grades.  

The American Legion Americanism Chairman explained the history of salutes including both military and civilian salutes. He further told of the American flag design and construction by Betsy Ross. He told students when to stand and salute for the Pledge of Allegiance, national anthem and taps.

"Good Medicine, Hard Times," a book written by Bay Village resident Dr. Edward Horvath, has recently been published. Colonel Horvath served three deployments in Iraq from 2005 to 2011, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. His book, a memoir about saving the lives of soldiers, enemies, and civilians amidst ongoing warfare, has been favorably reviewed by national media. A writer from the Wall Street Journal described it as “A must-read testament to acts of valor in one of our hardest wars.”

Throughout the year Bay Village police officers wear special badges honoring officers and causes. Below are some examples. Officer Ed Kanieski is wearing a special police badge which shows his service in the military (Marines).

“We are proud of our officers that were in the military. Our complement includes individuals from the Air Force, Marines, Army, Navy and Coast Guard,” stated Chief Robert Gillespie. The pink badge is for Breast Cancer Awareness month (October).

The Kiwanis and Key Clubs of Bay Village invite you to the annual spaghetti dinner on Saturday, Nov. 19, from noon to 7:30 p.m. Take-out and dine-in options are available.

The meal features Tony Dostal's award-winning signature sauce and spaghetti, salad, roll and sweet for only $14. Drive through or dine in at Bay Middle School 27725 Wolf Road.

Proceeds directly benefit our community. Currently sponsoring Academic Achievement awards including scholarships for Bay High School students, and service and leadership clubs in the Bay schools. Also helps sponsor projects for community organizations like Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, Village Project, helmets for youth riders, Fill This House and others.

I moved to Bay a little over a year ago from my hometown of San Diego. I have family in Bay, and over the years loved visiting so when the opportunity arose, I decided to move here.

I was pleasantly surprised when I came upon a group in Bay called the Bay Village Anti-Racism Network or BVAN. I learned BVAN was formed by Bay Village residents in response to the brutal murder of George Floyd. The abuse of power and tragic loss of life demanded a response, so the group organized a large demonstration against racism right here in Bay. Then, they persuaded the City Council to pass a resolution condemning racism.

Today, I am a member and we continue to work for an open, inclusive, diverse and equitable Bay Village. Our mission is to educate and empower ourselves and to educate, identify and eliminate racial biases, prejudice, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination that may exist among Bay Village citizens, businesses and government systems.

The Westshore Lions Club, originally the Westlake Lions Club, were recently recognized by the Lions of Ohio for 25 years of service to the community. During the club's Sept. 21 meeting, a certificate was presented to Lion Nan Baker who is a charter member and co-founder of the club. The Certificate of Appreciation read "Celebrating 25 Years! Congratulations on this milestone event! Thank you for your service to the Lions of Ohio and worldwide."

Since 1996 the Westlake/Westshore Lions Club has had a profound effect on the community in a variety of service efforts – both major community service undertakings as well as smaller service efforts. Major efforts included the engraved bricks at the Westlake Recreation Center Community Square, the Tile Mural located in the front lobby of Westlake Porter Public Library, playground equipment purchased for the Westlake Recreation Center and more recently the Safety Bucket Project which provided 570 safety buckets divided between the Westlake and North Olmsted public schools.

Bruce Hamilton, longtime Westlake resident and business owner, was recently honored by Mayor Dennis Clough at a luncheon at Claudette's in Westlake for his longtime service to the community. Bruce and his wife Charlotte, who died in 2018, lived on Westwood Road. There they raised their four children, Judy, Beverly, Dianne and Bruce Jr.

Bruce began his work career at age 13, working at Sauer's garage on Center Ridge and Dover roads. He then worked for various auto dealerships before starting his own auto repair business on Center Ridge Road which closed this year when Bruce retired at the age of 92, a 79-year work career.

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center will host a grand opening for its new program space, the Cahoon Room, on Thursday, Sept. 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We are excited to welcome more preschool age children for session classes beginning the week of Sept. 12,” says Preschool Coordinator Teece Lester. “In these classes, children and their families will meet an animal, create a simple craft, enjoy playtime, and connect with nature through our live animal exhibits.”

Donations from visitors and businesses in the community totaling more than $50,000 made possible the renovation of a former retail space into an engaging and lively learning environment for children. The Cahoon Room will host classes for preschool children and was remodeled with this special audience in mind. Filled with natural light, the room offers plenty of space for social interaction and nature-based play, including a children’s restroom and an extra sink anticipating many fun hands-on activities.

Eagle Scout and former Westlake Youth Advisory Board member Paul Palmer worked with the Community Services Department to create a new way for patrons to memorialize lost loved ones. Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough thanked Paul for a job well done during a short dedication ceremony at the Westlake Community Services Center on Aug. 16.  

Paul connected with the Community Services Department when he joined the newly formed Westlake Youth Advisory Board in August 2020.

In October 2021, Paul approached the Community Services team with the desire to do an Eagle Scout Project that would benefit the department … and especially the department’s mission.

I have had the pleasure to write about many of the early Dover/Westlake families and individuals that helped to make our town the wonderful city it is today. The early settlers paved the way for this to happen but there have been many others in more recent years that have done so much for our city and its residents.

One of those individuals that touched the lives of many families and especially the students of Westlake was Thomas F. Hill, Westlake’s school music director from 1954 through 1987. He touched the lives of thousands of students during his 33 year career … not only by teaching them music but by teaching them about life.

Tom and his family lived in Bay Village where he attended the Bay schools and graduated from Bay High School in 1946. Tom was an outstanding trumpet player and was the 1st chair trumpet player while in high school. He grew up in a home surrounded by music. His mother played piano and violin and his father had studied piano. Tom’s three brothers and a sister all developed a love for music but Tom was intrigued by all aspects of music.

Since 1971, College Club West has awarded educational scholarships to women aged 25 or older who are enrolled in a four-year degree or graduate program. College Club's Scholarship committee determines grant eligibility based on maturity, academic record, goals and financial need. This year's scholarships totaled $31,000, and were awarded to women from Cleveland, Olmsted Township, Strongsville, Broadview Heights, Parma, Warrensville Heights and Lakewood.

Two scholarships were awarded to women pursuing graduate degrees in education: Sherry Morgan of Cleveland is enrolled in a Master of Science in Education online program, Fort Hays State University, Kansas. Abigail Nixon of Olmsted Township is enrolled in a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, University of Akron.

To those of us who interact with Bay Village City Council on a regular basis, Joan Kemper is the Clerk of Every Year. She is dedicated to her craft; eager to help others; incredibly kind, caring and thoughtful; the epitome of a public servant.

For the past 57 years, Joan has served the public in various roles. At age 82, she still works late into the evening and on weekends when the job calls for it, preparing packets of information for council members, conducting comparative research with other cities, responding to public requests and, of course, diligently transcribing the minutes of public meetings.

“Joan is admired by everyone with whom she connects,” remarked City Council President Dwight Clark. “She is the ultimate City of Bay Village ambassador to our residents, colleagues, friends and acquaintances. She is the model of consistency and professionalism, one who represents the ideal qualities of a dedicated public servant. No employee with the City of Bay Village comes in earlier and stays later than Clerk Kemper. She can make a pot of hot coffee and bring a smile to one’s face, second to none."

Last month, Joan was recognized by her peers for her professionalism and dedication, receiving the prestigious 2022 Clerk of the Year award from the Ohio Municipal Clerks Association.

The Bay Village Community Council held a celebration of this year’s Citizen of the Year, Patrick McGannon, and Project of the Year, Bay Village Historical Society’s Revitalization Efforts, on July 16 in the Cahoon Creek valley. City Council President Dwight Clark presented proclamations on behalf of the city, followed by tours of Village Bicycle Cooperative, Rose Hill Museum, Osborn Learning Center and the Log Cabin.

Patrick was honored for his tireless volunteerism and advocacy for sustainability and cycling. He is president of the Bay Village Green Team and is one of the founding members of the Village Bicycle Cooperative.

The Bay Village Historical Society used the pandemic downtime to begin a complete inventory of its massive collection. leading to the discovery of hidden treasures and a reorganization of Rose Hill Museum. More than 7,000 historical artifacts have been entered into an archival database, along with more than 11,000 images of those items.

American Legion Post 385 and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 249 are sponsoring an All Veterans Picnic on Saturday, Aug. 20, noon to 4 p.m.

This free event is open to all veterans and their families at the American Legion Post 385, 695 Cahoon Road, Westlake.

Come join us for lunch or a mid-afternoon snack. We will have hot dogs, hamburgers, side dishes and dessert. We would like to meet you so please stop by, if just to say hello. We will also have a representative from the VA to answer veteran-related questions.

Any questions regarding the picnic can be addressed to Loretta Krook of the American Legion at loretta.krook@yahoo.com.

Requests for membership in two West Side grassroots groups have surged since the overturning of Roe and show no signs of slowing. Interest in GRR (GrassRoots Resistance) and GRAB (GrassRoots Activism Bay) has spiked since the Supreme Court’s ruling last month.

“We are fielding dozens of new membership requests each day as well as requests to our private Facebook group,” said Nora Kelley, a leader of GRR. “More women are coming to us and saying they are furious abortion care is essentialy illegal in Ohio and want to become active, even more so than after the 2016 election when our group was founded.”

Misty Elek, one of the founders of GRAB, (formally the Bay Village Nasty Women) says the group has also seen a similar increase.

Bay High School seniors Maizy Ereditario and Jack Mediate were awarded Champion of Democracy scholarships of $1,000 each by the Bay Chapter of the League of Women Voters at the Kiwanis Award Ceremonies on May 23. The scholarships were awarded based on their persuasive and moving essays on the topic “Democracy is not a spectator sport.”

Maizy Ereditario is planning to attend Ohio University to study chemical engineering. She was involved in Buckeye Girls State and served as Vice President of NHS, as well as golf team, lacrosse team, YPF, SADD, and the kindness club.

Jack Mediate is planning to attend The Ohio State University to study political science. Among his many accomplishments, he is an Eagle Scout and was senior class president and Head Chair of Model UN. He was active in registering voters at the high school and helped with the school board and city council forums the League sponsored for the November 2021 election.

We send them our best wishes for all their future endeavors.

The Foundry Community Rowing and Sailing Center in Cleveland provides fun, safe and accessible training for middle and high school students in the growing sports of rowing and sailing. This non-profit organization opened in 2017 and many student athletes participate year-round in these two water sports.

On June 4 and 5, the 2022 ISSA Fleet Race National Championship (Mallory Trophy) was hosted by Mission Bay Yacht Club in San Diego, California. The Bay Sailing Team, which trains with the Foundry’s High School Sailing Team, qualified and traveled to California to compete in this high school level regatta.

Goodwill is asking the communities of Westlake and Bay Village to make a special effort to donate items as they are in urgent need of donations.

Goodwill opened its Westlake store/donation center in March providing an opportunity for the community to shop thousands of books and specialty wares for a fraction of retail prices, as well as donate their unused items.

While the retail portion is a bookstore, Goodwill accepts more than books at the convenient drive-up donation center. Think everything from household goods like kitchen wares, small appliances, pots & pans, home decor & knick-knacks to clothing, electronics, toys, baskets, furniture, and more! These items ultimately support a comprehensive network of outreach programs that help thousands in the community.

Westlake High School 2022 senior, Anna Williams, is the recipient of The Jeffery Owen Marriott Memorial Scholarship. This is the seventh year the scholarship has been awarded to a Westlake High School varsity student athlete who demonstrates strong academics, outstanding character and a commitment to community service, similar to Marriott – a 1992 Westlake grad.

Williams was ranked in the top five of her 2022 WHS graduating class while maintaining a year-round athletic schedule on Westlake's varsity soccer, basketball and track teams. Academically, Williams excelled in the classroom, acing nine AP-level courses over her high school career. She was equally impressive on the athletic field and court racking up nine varsity letters in addition to being a second-team Great Lakes Conference (GLC) member, Academic All-Ohio, and GLC Scholar Athlete in soccer.

Major Joseph Anthony, a United States Air Force veteran, holds a bouquet of flowers donated by the Westlake Garden Club for the Memorial Day ceremony sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Westlake to remember all the fallen soldiers who had called Westlake home.

The Westshore Young Leaders is a youth organization comprised of students from the six Westshore cities of Bay Village, Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted, Rocky River and Westlake. The group meets once a month during the school year in the Bay Village Police Department's community service room. It has been around for 12 years and is headed up by Mrs. Noreen Kyle, the School Outreach and Education Specialist of the Westshore Enforcement Bureau. The mission of the organization is: Westshore communities working together to support young leaders and promote healthy, safe and substance-free life choices.   

The students held their final meeting at Urban Air at Crocker Park in Westlake. Meetings normally consist of an educational piece instructed by the Effective Leadership Academy or McKeon Educational Group followed by interactive games and activities. This month, they took the show on the road for the last meeting of the school year and enjoyed an evening of ropes courses, go karts, obstacle courses, trampolines and pizza.

The City of Bay Village is planning a Village Green for the space between City Hall and the new Cuyahoga County Public Library branch. The space will be both a connecting hub to travel between area destinations and a gathering space for casual get-togethers and planned events.

The city is working on the design with HBM Architects, the same firm that designed the library, and Deru Landscape Architecture is contributing landscape design.

The plan will include concrete walking paths, a central hub and pergola, seating, lighting, native plantings, and memorials, including the Amy Mihaljevic memorial and a possible Bay Village veterans memorial. There will also be an area for Food Truck Friday vendors and visitors.

Boy Scouts Mark Rennard and David Schulz of Troop 208 out of Dover Congregational United Church of Christ in Westlake earned their Eagle Scout rank on May 9.

Mark is currently a junior at Westlake High School. During his 10 years in Scouting, Mark served in many leadership positions, including Senior Patrol Leader, and earned 34 merit badges.

Mark’s  Eagle Scout project included the construction of a stone path at the Westlake United Methodist Church to facilitate moving items between the church and an historic outbuilding that is used for off-season storage. Other facets of the project were rebuilding the roof on a 4’x5’x5’ shed, removal of a small tree and removal of overgrown vegetation in the project area. 

Thanks to help from 14 other scouts, a total of 229 hours were donated to improve the WUMC grounds. Mark is especially thankful to Keith Sherrill of KB Sherrill Construction for excellence in excavating the path.

David Schulz is currently a senior at Westlake High School. During his 11 years in Scouts, David served in several leadership positions, including Den Chief, and earned 24 merit badges.

Mayor Dennis Clough presented his annual State of the City address on Tuesday, May 10, to an engaged group of Westlake residents at the Community Services Center.

The presentation, sponsored by the Observer, included a rundown of the activities of each city department over the last year, along with a reasonably deep overview of the city’s financials. A trained CPA, Clough enjoys the chance to talk numbers and highlight Westlake’s strong financial standing.

As he does every year, Clough praised the city’s sizable business community, the diversity of which has become more important as the lingering effects of the pandemic alter the workforce. But he also acknowledged that the changing landscape has the city’s attention.