June 29, 2026
Short Takes on the Westside by Julie Short
Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!
Festival canceled: The Country Rising Festival slated for July 24 at ForeFront Field (home of the Lake Erie Crushers) has been cancelled.
The announcement came via social media and stated, ‘Due to circumstances related to required event approvals and public safety requirements, we are unable to move forward with Country Rising Festival Cleveland as originally scheduled.
Following discussions with local stakeholders and public safety partners, it became clear that the approvals necessary to safely produce the event would not be in place within the required timeframe.’
Anyone who purchased tickets will be receiving an email regarding refunds from the organizers.
Story time: Bring the kids for Story Time in the Woods at the Every Child’s Playground, 36265 Detroit Road from 10:30 to 11 a.m. July 10 (weather permitting)
Music, movement activities and play will accompany nature-themed stories. Dress for the weather and bring a blanket.
Republican Club meeting: The Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club will meet at 5 p.m. July 9 in Ragan Hall, 1783 Moore Road. Guest speaker is Justice Daniel Hawkins who also has served for more than 10 years as a county prosecutor, director, special victims unit and is currently a candidate for re-election as a Supreme Court Justice.
Also speaking is Columbia Area Republican Central Committee Chairman Jim Dowdell who will be describing threats to the Second Amendment. Refreshments will be available and guest cost is $5.
Voter registration: Join the Avon Democratic Club (ADC) and the Avon Lake Democrats (ALD) as they hold simultaneous Voter Registration Drive-Throughs from 10 a.m. to noon July 18.
The ADC event will be held at the Avon Library, 37485 Harvest Drive; and the ALD event will be held at the Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Boulevard.
Garden club meeting: The Avon Garden Club will meet July 21 in the Orchid Room at Miller Nature Preserve, 2739 Center Road. Cuyahoga County Master Gardener Christine Harris will present, “Cool Weather Vegetable Gardening.” Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the free program starting at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.
Honor wall: This fall Avon High School will install 5x7 images of graduates who have served our country in the armed services (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard).
To be included, submit online a print-worthy image of the individual in dress uniform in the rank that he/she is to be honored.
An annual induction ceremony will be hosted by the school and VFW Post #7035.
Market proposal: Carter Avon II LLC recently submitted a proposal to the city’s Board of Zoning & Building Appeals for construction of Sprouts Farmers Market, 35130 Chester Road.
Business milestones: Stack Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electric, 37520 Colorado Avenue, is celebrating 50 years in business.
Another business celebrating is Bramhall Engineering with 30 years of providing engineering services for both commercial and residential properties.
Composting info: Fruit peels, vegetables, coffee grounds, and eggshells don't have to end up in a landfill. Composting helps turn food scraps into a useful soil amendment while reducing household waste. Collection bins are located at the Avon Lake Service Department, 750 Avon Belden Road. Members of the Rust Belt Riders program get an access code they can use to unlock the bins. The Avon Lake Environmental Affairs Board has additional information posted on the city’s website.
Road closure: Electric Boulevard is closed between Avon Belden Road and Bleser Park’s eastern entrance for the replacement of the culvert near City Hall. The road will be closed for approximately 11 weeks, tentatively reopening early to mid-September. During construction, the Bleser Park parking lot can be accessed from the western entrance, near the Ellen Trivanovich Aquatic Center.
Pantry expansion: Phase 1 of the 624-sq.-ft. pantry expansion at Avon/Avon Lake Community Resource Services (CRS), 33479 Lake Road, is now complete. The expansion significantly increased the shelving capacity and created a dedicated home for the food inventory.
Kudos to Nate Gamilia and Henry Homza, the landlords at Stop 65 / Beachpark Station for their generosity, vision, and support of CRS.
Helping design the new space to maximize functionality was Erin Rudy of Erin Rudy | Milestone Home Design | Cleveland Interior Design Home Design.
Bendix provided the grant that allowed CRS to purchase the additional shelving needed to make the expanded pantry work.
Eyring Movers helped relocate the shelving and inventory into the new space.
CRS Pantry Manager C. Carlson, and longtime CRS volunteer and pantry organizer Marilyn Bible, were valuable in making the transition seamless.
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Get your ducks in a row: Cheer on your lucky ducks as they race along the lazy river at the Ellen Trivanovich Aquatic Center, 32850 Electric Blvd., during the annual Ducks-n-Donuts Derby at 8:30 a.m. July 11.
Winners from each qualifying heat will earn a spot in the championship race for a chance to win a 2027 pool season pass. Participants do not need to be present to win and you do not need to have a pool membership to attend.
Donuts will be provided, while supplies last.
The deadline to register online is July 8. Ducks will not be available for purchase at the event.
Little art: Registration online for the Tiny Art Show at the Avon Lake Public Library closes July 2. All ages are welcome to sign up and paint a tiny masterpiece that will be on display Aug. 11-31 in the library. Kit pickup begins July 10 and the submission deadline is Aug. 8.
Women’s Club rebirth: The city previously had a Women’s Club in the past, but now it’s back again.
The club meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the third Tuesday of every month at local venues that are owned by and operated in the city.
The Avon Lake Women’s Club exists to cultivate a connected and purpose-driven community of women who support one another through meaningful relationships, foster leadership and personal growth, strengthen our local community through intentional service, and empower future generations through mentorship, scholarship, and opportunity, according to the members.
Women of all ages, backgrounds, professions, and life experiences are welcome to join. Whether you’re a student, professional, entrepreneur, retiree, never entered the workforce, single, married, mother, veteran, volunteer, or simply looking to connect with other women, the club has a place for you.
Upcoming events include Coffee Connection at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. every Friday (skipping July 3) on a rotating schedule between Emilie’s Coffee House & Wine Bar, Elysium Cafe, and Love Coffee. The next one is July 10 at Love Coffee, and July 17 at Emilie’s.
The next general meeting is from 6 to 8 p.m. July 21 (location TBD). A Book Club meeting is from 6 to 8 p.m. July 27 (location TBD).
Follow the club on Facebook or emailavonlakewomensclub@gmail.com with any questions.
Bike safety: The scheduled Avon Lake Bike Rodeo which was rained out in May has been rescheduled for July 11 from 10 a.m. to noon at Troy Intermediate School, 137 Belmar Avenue. The free event is an opportunity for kids to learn bicycle safety and transverse an obstacle course. Bring a bike and helmet.
Registration is available online.
Food trucks: Don’t forget Food Truck Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. are in full swing this summer at the Village Green behind City Hall, 350 Dover Center Road, although there is no event July 3 due to the holiday and Bay Days.
Upcoming trucks include July 10 with CLE Chicken and Smooth Rider, and also featuring musical artist Jason Meyers. On July 17 the food trucks are Manna and CLE Cookie Dough Co.
Natural gas agreement: A new agreement for the city’s voter-approved natural gas aggregation program has been finalized, securing a fixed rate of $0.729/CCF with Direct Energy, effective from July 2026 through July 2030.
City officials negotiated the rate to provide the community with peace of mind, protecting households from the monthly market fluctuations often seen in standard utility pricing.
Currently enrolled customers are automatically included in the program. Residents do not need to take any action to secure this aggregation pricing.
For those interested in environmental sustainability, a carbon neutral product available at $0.7825/CCF. The product offsets carbon emissions associated with your natural gas use. To opt in, contact Direct Energy Customer Care at 1-866-968-8065.
Corn festival juniors: Kids can get involved with the community and earn service hours as part of North Ridgeville Corn Festival Jr. Committee.
A mandatory information meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. July 8 in Pavilion 1 at South Central Park, 7565 Avon Belden Road. At least one parent must attend with each member. Snacks and drinks will be provided
The Corn Festival takes place August 7-9.
Evening coffee chat: Join Mayor Kevin Corcoran for his monthly Coffee & Conversation from 6 to 7 p.m. July 7 in Council Chambers at City Hall, 7307 Avon Belden Road.
125 years of Disney magic: Learn about the life of Walt Disney, born in 1901, as well as the founding of Disney Studios and theme parks in the United States during a presentation from 6 to 7:30 p.m. July 14 at the North Ridgeville Library, 35700 Bainbridge Road.
College Board honors: The North Ridgeville City Schools recently announced that 22 students from North Ridgeville High School have been recognized through the College Board National Recognition Program. The students are members of the Class of 2027 and 2028.
In addition, 21 students earned the School Recognition Award, which honors students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement within their school community. To qualify, students must either score among the top 10 percent of PSAT/NMSQT test takers at their high school or earn scores of 3 or higher on two or more Advanced Placement (AP) exams by the end of sophomore year.
College Board School Recognition Award recipients include Leah Boutton,
Reagan Carvell, Madison Chinchar, Brayden Crumley, Alivia Denk, Benjamin Dornan, Chesney Flint, Madelyne Gerrick, Chen Fei Lin, Isabel Maldonado, Thomas Marks, Shawn McElyea, Antonio Mireles, Milan Nguyen, Olivia O’Shea, Colin Oberholzer, Olivia Ripley, Adalynn Schuster, Jason Sewell, Jr., Abigail Sulo, and Alivea Zaremba.
Receiving the First-Generation Recognition Award are Cameryn Chapman, Alivia Denk, Chesney Flint, Jason Sewell, Jr., and Abigail Sulo. The distinction honors students who have demonstrated strong academic performance and aspire to become the first members of their families to attend college.
Schools update: The Rocky River City Schools recently announced several staffing updates for the 2026-2027 school year.
At Rocky River Middle School, Austin Handrych is the new assistant principal and athletic director. Within the Communication, Technology, and Financial Services teams, Christa Lokiec was appointed Director of Communication, Community Engagement, and Technology Services; and Dan Kalemba, who has supported Rocky River schools for nearly two decades through its technology partner, QuadStar, was appointed Supervisor of Information Technology.
Additionally, the Board of Education approved a title change for Norman Funk, who will now serve as Deputy Treasurer. In his expanded role, he will continue to work alongside Treasurer Greg Markus while assuming additional leadership responsibilities within the Treasurer's Office.
Yard sale: Join the Westlake Historical Society for its annual Fall Yard Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 12. Shop for antiques, household items, collectibles, books, seasonal décor, and other items while supporting the Westlake Historical Society and Clague House Museum.
Interested in selling items during the event? Table rentals are $10. Call 216-848-0680 to reserve your space.
Park enhancements: City officials have entered into a professional services contract with Environmental Design Group for the Clague Park Enhancement and Amphitheater Project. The contract is for an amount not to exceed $448,212 and covers professional design services for the next phase of planning, cost estimating, bid documents and technical support during construction.
The project is intended to build on recent investments in the city’s parks by refreshing Clague Park as a community destination with stronger trail connections, updated recreational areas and more open green space. The planned work includes design for a potential new outdoor amphitheater, improvements to ballfields C4 and C5, expanded walking trails, park beautification, upgraded lighting, lake dredging and water-quality improvements, replacement footbridges, drainage work and a new maintenance and restroom building near the ballfields.
The amphitheater is envisioned as a flexible outdoor venue for concerts, performances, civic gatherings and outdoor movie screenings. Design work will help determine the final location, size, layout and supporting features.
Several project elements will be refined through the design and master-planning process, including the final parking layout, trail amenities, restroom needs and whether pickleball courts can be located at the park in a way that appropriately considers nearby properties.
The city’s request for proposals identified an estimated project budget of approximately $4.2 million, subject to final design, bidding and market conditions. The tentative schedule calls for bid documents to be completed in late 2026, construction bidding in early 2027 and substantial completion in November 2027.
New store: Crocker Park officials recently announced that MINISO, the global lifestyle retailer known ‘for its playful product mix, immersive store experiences and popular brand collaborations’, will open a new location in August at 224 Main Street.
If you have a news item or event to share, email jshortavon@gmail.com.
