August 17, 2026
Good luck to all of the area students and staff heading back to school this week! Please use caution while driving as many students walk or ride bikes to school. Slow down and please get off your phone.
Sunflower field: Maria’s Field of Hope is already in full bloom on Middleton Road off Jaycox Road. Follow the Prayers from Maria Facebook page for information on upcoming events at the field. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Coin shop opens: Specializing in the buying and selling of coins, currency, and precious metals, Full Circle Coins and Currency is now open at 2100 Center Road (plaza with Barry Bagels). A grand opening celebration is planned from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 22.
Planning Commission updates: The city’s Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 in the old City Hall, 36080 Chester Road. Items on the agenda include:
Representatives from Avon Professional Building Inc., 36465-36475 Detroit Road, are requesting a Lot Split of 36475 Detroit Road and Consolidation of 36465 Detroit Road.
Architectural Design Studios, on behalf of All Around Children, is requesting approval of a Final Development Plan for the construction of a 15,206-sq.-ft. daycare facility at Just Imagine Drive.
Representatives from Stonegate LLC are requesting a positive recommendation to City Council for the rezoning of 33294 Detroit Road (Nagel Farms) from R-1 (Residential Single Family) to C-1 (Neighborhood Business).
Representatives from the City of Avon are requesting approval of a Lot Split to convey a certain portion of the Stone River Subdivision to the Lorain County Metro Parks. According to the city’s planning coordinator, it is being discussed and approved through the Planning Commission because the county wants the city to replat the subdivision showing the drive is being conveyed to the Metro Parks. There is no subdivision planned for the land.
Safety campaign: The Lorain County Safe Communities Coalition (SCC) is partnering with the Avon Police Department in order to bring awareness to prevent impaired driving on Lorain County roads. These efforts echo the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) annual reminder that there are options to help impaired drivers get home safely, such as designating a sober driver or calling a rideshare like Uber or Lyft. NHTSA’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign runs Aug. 7-21.
The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Kickoff Campaign takes place at 6 p.m. Aug. 20 at Forefront Field (home of the Lake Erie Crushers Stadium), 2009 Baseball Blvd., prior to the baseball game.
In 2025, 41% of all fatal crashes in Lorain County involved alcohol and/or drugs. Alcohol-related crashes are preventable when friends help friends drive sober.
Title holder: Congratulations to Avon Heritage Elementary School fourth-grader Ellery Seaman, 9, who currently holds several national and state titles including the reigning National North American Little Miss title from American Royal Beauties.
She will compete Labor Day weekend in the national pageant for American United Miss in Valdese, N.C.
Traffic Update: Construction begins this week on Nagel Road between Detroit Road and Cherry Street. The work will consist of milling off the existing surface, performing any needed basin repairs and putting down new asphalt surface. Due to the amount of traffic in this area, work will be done in the evening hours between 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. One lane of traffic will be maintained during construction with the use of flaggers and/or temporary traffic control devices. The project will take approximately three weeks to complete (weather permitting). Please use caution when traveling in the designated construction zone and expect delays.
Immersive experience: The newly reformed Avon Lake Women’s Club is hosting The Immersive Avon Lake open house-style event from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Lake House, 32756 Lake Road.
During the event, Avon Lake resident and owner of Love Our World Travel, Kim Urig, will be exhibiting as a "Travel Oracle" where instead of reading tarot cards, she will read people's travel styles. Wonder where you should travel next? Urig will let you know based on your answers. Registration is available online.
Scholarships: The Kiwanis Club recently awarded $17,000 in scholarships to Avon Lake college bound seniors. Students receiving scholarships attending Avon Lake High School include Natalie Avarello, Nathan Grieger, Reid Gunter, Ezra Jones, Laith Kamhawi, Maeve Kelly, Landen Kunzelmann, Ava Manly, Heath Norris, Odis Potonic, Mya Marci, and Irena Vatafu.
In addition, scholarships were awarded to Olivia Schaffner who attended St. Joseph Academy, and Grayson Basinski who attended St Ignatius High School.
For more information regarding Avon Lake Kiwanis, call 440-225-8686.
Elite swimmer: Avon Lake High School junior Aubrey Kozar recently spent time in Colorado Springs at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center for the Team USA Emerging Camp. The camp was an invitation-only event for swimmers who have achieved a National Emerging Team Standard in swimming and was funded by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Team and their sponsors.
Later this month, she will head to the 2026 Para Pan Pacific championship which is a Long Course International Competition in Walnut, California.
Board member resignation: Avon Lake City Schools Board of Education President Jim Stobe recently announced on his Facebook page that he is stepping down from his role on the Board effective Aug. 17.
He has served for four terms over the past 15 years. When he first ran for office, his two children were in kindergarten and preschool. Today, both have graduated from the district, and Stobe feels like it is the ‘right moment to step aside and allow someone new to take on the responsibility and privilege of serving on the Board’.
Ohio Revised Code requires a Board of Education to fill a vacancy within 30 days of a member’s resignation. Application packets for the district’s Board of Education opening are available at the District Office, 175 Avon Belden Road, from 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Completed applications must be returned to the District Office by 3:30 p.m. Aug. 28. The School Board will interview selected applicants at a Special Board of Education meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 2. Board action to appoint the new Board of Education member will be at the Regular Board of Education meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 15 in the L.A.K.E. Center at Avon Lake High School, 175 Avon Belden Road.
Restaurant owners’ new concept: After opening Birdietown, 12501 Madison Avenue, Lakewood, owners Tim and Erin Frazee have other new ventures in the works. They are the new owners of Forest City Shuffleboard, 4506 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland. Later this summer, they plan to open Sundaybird, 15027 Madison Avenue (former Pachamama Kitchen and Garden space), a fast-casual rotisserie chicken concept, along with Avon Lake’s Edacious Kitchen and Bar chef-owner Andrew Gorski.
Get your fix: City officials recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of The Fix, 32730 Walker Road, Unit C-5. The Fix is owned by Chef Terry Bell (Chef T), who spent 17 years as the team chef for the Cleveland Cavaliers, including during the team’s 2016 NBA Championship season.
The Fix offers chef-prepared, grab-and-go meals from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, pre-ordered meals on Tuesday and Thursday, as well as catering and personal chef services. The meals and menus vary and include several gluten-free and some dairy-free options. Many items, including soups, sauces, dressings, and marinades, are made from scratch using locally-sourced ingredients.
Honoring Amy: The annual Amy Mihaljevic 5K Run and Fun Walk will take place at 9 a.m. Oct. 24 at Cahoon Memorial Park, 350 Dover Center Road. The free community event (dogs welcome) brings people together to honor Amy's memory, and keep her story alive. The event raises awareness and supports the ongoing investigation through the Amy Fund, helping cover critical costs like DNA testing.
Feedback needed: City officials recently added another Drop-In Session for residents to ask questions and learn more about the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and Zoning Map Update. Stop by City Hall, 7307 Avon Belden Road, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24 to talk with staff, ask questions and learn more about the draft. Written comments will continue to be accepted through Aug. 31. Additional information is available on the city’s website.
New business: An Open House is planned from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 22 for Ascend Dance Complex, 34100 Center Ridge Road, Ste 102. The event is an opportunity to check out the new dance studio, register for classes, and purchase dancewear.
Corn festival wrap up: Kudos to the North Ridgeville Corn Festival Committee and all those who volunteered to make this year’s event a success.
Congratulations to Ludina Mills, this year’s Golden Kernel Award winner.
For those who maybe didn’t like something at the event, or want to see more activities at the festival, consider joining the committee and assist with the planning for next year’s festival. They would love your ideas/suggestions and help. Information on the festival is available online.
New exhibit: The Rocky River Public Library and Cowan Pottery Museum announce the opening of their newest exhibition, Worthy of Flowers. Guests are welcome to celebrate from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 10 at the library, 1600 Hampton Road, with live music by Hip to That. Refreshments will be provided.
Worthy of Flowers explores how Cowan responded to the floral trends of the 1920s.
The special exhibit of restored flower figurines from the collection explains the care and history of these objects. Restoration was funded in part through the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services LSTA grant awarded by the State Library of Ohio. The content does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the granting agencies, according to the press release.
The grant funded the restoration of multiple pieces in the Cowan Pottery Museum collection and restored three of its flower frog figurines over the previous six months. The conservation of these objects was handled by Claire Curran, Object Conservator at the Intermuseum Conservation Association (ICA). The ICA is a renowned Ohio preservation and conservation organization that has achieved national and international recognition for their work, according to the press release.
Blooming winners: City officials recently announced the 2026 Westlake in Bloom awards winners, honoring the residents, businesses and organizations whose gardens make the city beautiful.
Winners were recognized across 12 categories this year, and Kim Finau received the Lu Walter "Best in Bloom" Award. Crocker Park took First Place in the Business/Institution category.
A complete list of winners and photos from the awards night are available online.
