April 13, 2026
Short Takes on the Westside by Julie Short
Planning Commission items: The city’s Planning Commission's monthly meeting is at 7 p.m. April 15 at City Hall, 36080 Chester Road. Items of note include Acute Pet Urgent Care, 2100 Center Road, is requesting a positive recommendation to City Council for approval of a Special Use Permit to operate a veterinary urgent care facility within an existing 3,000-sq.-ft. tenant space.
DJH Developers, on behalf of Avon-Nagel LLC, is requesting a positive recommendation to City Council for the rezoning of a portion of Nagel Road (west side of the road just south of Sheetz) from R-1 (Residential Single Family) to C-4 (General Business District). This the same request as the one that was voted down by residents in the 2024 November General Election.
Planning Commission will hear the rezoning proposal and make a positive or negative recommendation to City Council. City Council will vote to either put it back on the ballot or deny putting it back on the ballot, according to Pam Fechter, the city’s economic development and planning coordinator. If City Council denies the request, the developers do have the option to gather signatures and put it on the ballot themselves.
Civil Design Group, on behalf of Gold Metal Construction, is requesting approval of the Final Development Plan for a flexible office and warehouse development consisting of two buildings to be constructed in two phases at the intersection of Mills and Jaycox roads.
Swipe USA is requesting approval of the Preliminary Plat for a residential subdivision (Westhaven Estates) consisting of 34 single family homes on Detroit Road (next to Pinehaven Garden Center).
On the move: After 10 years in Avon Commons, Master Pizza is leaving and moving right down Detroit Road taking over the former White Box Pizza space at 36962 Detroit Road (near Dairy Mart and Graffiti Warehouse).
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Tech savvy: Learn how to effectively use AI applications to stay productive and manage everyday tasks during a special presentation from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 23 at the Avon Library, 37485 Harvest Drive. Pre-registration is required.
Who let the dogs out?: Inn the Doghouse is opening its third location April 25. A Grand Opening celebration with an official “leash-cutting” will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. where guests can tour the facility which features daycare, boarding and grooming services.
Vendor applications: Organizers are now accepting vendor applications for the upcoming Heart of Avon outdoor markets. Free booths are available for Avon residents.
Upcoming markets include from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 20 (Avon Vendor Night, Hope for B.E.S.T charity night), June 10, July 15 and Aug. 5.
For more information, email heartofavonmarketplace@gmail.com.
Play ball: The Lake Erie Crushers are the first team in the Frontier League to feature a Ballpark Pass - a ticket option allowing fans general admission access to all 51 Crushers home games at ForeFront Field in the 2026 season at a one-time cost of just $99.
The general admission ticket is standing room only and does not include a permanent seat-back. Locations include the Left Field Grass Berm area or the Third Base Picnic Plaza, when space permits.
To purchase a Crushers Ballpark Pass, click here or call the ticket office at 440-934-3636.
The Lake Erie Crushers open their 17th season at ForeFront Field May 8 in a playoff rematch against the Schaumburg Boomers. A post game fireworks show will take place and its Dollar Dog Night.
Garden club meeting: The Avon Garden Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. April 21 in the Orchid Room at Miller Nature Preserve, 2739 Center Road. A presentation from Patti Donnellan, executive director of the Lorain County Conservation District will cover managing stormwater runoff with rain gardens. The public is welcome to attend.
Shout-out: Avon-Avon Lake Knights of Columbus recently donated $600 to Zelie’s Home, to support homeless mothers and their babies.
Bagging hunger: The Harvest for Hunger Celebrity Bagging event takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. April 17 at Giant Eagle, 31990 Walker Road.
Go shopping and get your groceries bagged by local celebrities while supporting Second Harvest. Your donation of $2, $5, or $10 at checkout helps provide meals to local families in need.
Local celebrities include Hanford Dixon, Cleveland Browns; Mark Spaetzel, Avon Lake mayor; Greg Zilka, former Avon Lake mayor; Julie Chase-Morefield, president and CEO of Second Harvest; North Coast Rotary Club members; Stomper, Lake Erie Crushers mascot; and Ruby, Avon Lake Police Department, Crisis K9.
Seeds available: The Avon-on-the-Lake Garden Club members have filled the Little Garden Book House with decorated bags filled with seed packets of flowers and vegetables. The gift bags are free to the public and will be replenished while supplies last.
Once the bags are no longer available, the Little Book House will return to holding a variety of gardening books for the public to check out and replace when finished.
The book house is located at the Wildflower Garden at Miller Road Park, 33760 Lake Road.
Power plant discussion: The League of Women Voters of Lorain County will present an Avon Lake Power Plant Redevelopment Forum at 7 p.m. April 22 at the Avon Lake Public Library, Waugaman Gallery, 32649 Electric Blvd.
A presentation on the Avon Lake Power Plant redevelopment will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Mayor Mark Spaetzel; Ted Esborn, community development director, Scott Reschly, president of Charah Environmental Redevelopment; Todd Davis, Environmental Attorney; and Kayla Goodwin, Council-At-Large and Environmental Committee Chair.
Light snacks will be provided. The event will be livestreamed on the city’s website and Facebook account.
For more information, email LWVloco@gmail.com.
Print shop update: The old Avon Lake Print Shop building at the intersection of Walker and Miller roads is currently being transformed into a railway museum (moving from its current location near the Post Office).
The building once housed Avon Lake Printing and Signs and most recently Minuteman Press.
Minuteman Press moved to the Landings, 32730 Walker Road, F2.
Special dedication: The Bay Village City Schools will dedicate a POW/MIA Chair of Honor at 10:45 a.m. April 18 at Bay Memorial Stadium on the Bay High School campus, 29230 Wolf Road. The community is invited to attend.
Rolling Thunder sponsored the cost of the Chair of Honor. Bay High School students collected $500 to make a donation to Rolling Thunder to forward the nonprofit’s mission.
The chair dedication coincides with National Month of the Military Child. A complete list of activities the district has planned to honor the 72 military-connected students and their 42 families that are served by Bay Village Schools is available on the district’s website.
Home program: The city is continuing its participation in the Heritage Home Program of the Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS). An Information Session will take place at 6 p.m. April 20 in City Council Chambers, 350 Dover Center Road.
The program can assist homeowners with homes 50-years-old or older, in maintaining and improving their properties by providing access to free technical assistance and financing options for qualifying home repair and maintenance projects.
Grant reveal: Staff and stakeholders of the Bay Village City Schools will come together for the Facilities for the Future ‘Grand Reveal’ ceremony at 6 p.m. April 30 at Bay High School.
During the event, final renderings of the improvements at four school buildings, and a ceremonial moving of dirt to symbolize the subsequent next two years of construction, will take place.
This event comes nearly one year after the voters approved a no-increase property tax levy dedicated to the permanent improvements.
Next month, the final renderings will be available for the public to view inside Glenview, Normandy, Westerly and Bay High schools.
Recycling: The city’s next free recycling event takes place from 9 a.m. to noon April 25 at the Bay Village Service Department, 31300 Naigle Road.
Paper shredding, Habitat for Humanity, styrofoam recycling, food recycling and composting education with Rust Belt Riders, household hazardous waste, computer, bulk and scrap metal roundup are included.
The next event is Sept. 26.
Hall of Fame: Liberty Elementary School has been selected as an Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (OAESA) Hall of Fame School. The statewide recognition honors schools that demonstrate exceptional service, innovation, and commitment to student success.
Coffee chat: Join Mayor Kevin Corcoran for the next Coffee & Conversation from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. April 22 in Council Chambers at City Hall, 7307 Avon Belden Road. Joining the mayor will be Ludina Mills from the North Ridgeville Arts Council.
Book sale: Friends of the North Ridgeville Library, Inc., Book Sale will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (Preview) April 23; from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 24-25; and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. (Bag Sale) April 26, at the library, 35700 Bainbridge Road.
Tomorrow, tomorrow: The Olde Towne Hall Theatre presents, “Annie,” from April 17 through May 2 at the Grafton Ghost Light Theater, 1111 Elm Street, Grafton.
For specific dates/times and ticket information, click here.
Garden party: Preparations are underway for the 2026 season at the North Ridgeville Community Garden. Open to North Ridgeville residents, the garden offers a chance to grow fresh produce, connect with neighbors and give back to the community.
Applications and garden guidelines will be available at nridgeville.gov beginning April 20 and will be accepted through May 8. Plots are 20 by 15 feet and available for $20. The garden is located along Chestnut Ridge Road across from Alternate State Route 83 at the roundabout.
Community chicken paprikash dinner: Back by popular demand, the Senior Center is hosting a chicken paprikash dinner, sponsored by the North Ridgeville Corn Festival Committee, from 5 to 7 p.m. April 24 at 7327 Avon Belden Road.
Cost is $8 for adults, seniors are $7, and children 10 and under are $5. Soda and desserts are available for $1 each. Dine-in or carry-out is available.
Support a good cause: North Ridgeville Community Care continues to make an impact by helping those in need in the community.
The organization provides assistance with food, clothing, household items, utilities, housing and other everyday essentials for local residents.
Community Care is seeking a volunteer gardener to care for its garden plot. Fresh produce is distributed directly to clients. Contact heather@nrcommcare.org.
You can also support Community Care by attending the annual Soup for the Spirit fundraiser at 6 p.m. April 25 at VFW Post 9871, 6805 Lear Nagle Road.
Book fair: The Rocky River Public Library is celebrating National Library Week with a Book Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25 in the Auditorium and Community Room, 1600 Hampton Road. Take home free books, crafts, and other giveaways (available while supplies last).
Pool closed: Beginning May 18, the city’s Civic Center indoor pool will close, with an anticipated reopening date of Sept. 8. The outdoor pool will be opening at 6:30 a.m. May 18.
Current Civic Center membership may swim at Westlake’s indoor pool, 28955 Hilliard Blvd., from May 18-31. Members must sign-in at the Welcome Desk. Westlake’s indoor pool is closing for renovations on June 1.
Beginning in June, current Civic Center members will be able to swim at Fairview Gemini’s indoor pool, 21225 Lorain Road.
Finalists: All eight of Westlake High School's National Merit Semifinalists are now National Merit Finalists. Congratulations to Sujith Aring, John Davalla, Raine DeAngelis. Ria Guduguntla, Abigail Pelles, Alaina Pugh, Benjamin Suffredini, and Evan Szabo
The students now rank among the top 15,000 students nationwide with high scores on the PSAT/NMSQT.
