May 11, 2026
Master gardening: Avon resident and St. Edward High School student Ethan House organized a four-part master gardener class series with proceeds benefiting Feeding America.
The first class is Vegetable Gardening 101 and takes place from 7 to 8 p.m. May 20 at the St. Edward High School Center for Urban Agriculture, 13500 Detroit Road, Lakewood. Learn the basics of growing your own fresh, nutritious vegetables.
Additional classes include:
Pruning for Results, May 28, from 7 to 8 p.m. Learn the proper techniques for pruning and deadheading.
Herbs for Your Home, June 6, from 10 to 11 a.m. Grow flavorful herbs in any space.
Multiplying and Dividing Plants, Wednesday, June 10, from 7 to 8 p.m. Learn how to divide perennials, grow new plants from cuttings, as well as layering and storing seeds.
Sessions are $15 each, or all four for $50. Register online.
Rebranding: The Frontier League (Lake Erie Crushers are members) recently announced it will compete as the National Association of Professional Baseball (NAPB) beginning next year.
The transition follows an historic 2025 season where the league set its fourth consecutive attendance record and led the four Partner Leagues in player contracts transferred to Major League Baseball organizations. The league’s 34-year history, statistics, and records, along with those of the individual teams will still remain, according to the press release.
The NAPB is an official Partner League of Major League Baseball. Founded in 1993, it is the oldest and largest independent professional baseball league in North America, featuring 18 teams across the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Eastern Canada.
Animal rescue: Kudos to Avon firefighters Ryan Saleet, Andy Schaefer, Cory Furnas and Captain Mike Panehal for recently rescuing a brood of ducklings that fell into a storm drain near Avon Middle School. The ducklings were eventually reunited with their parents.
On-air talent: Congratulations to Avon High School Class of 2022 graduate Sydney Brown, named a Gracie Award recipient in the On-Air Talent category from the Alliance for Women in Media. Brown graduated from Kent State University May 9 and will be working as a multimedia journalist at WKBN-TV, a Nexstar station in Youngstown.
Not their first rodeo: The Avon Lake Randy Knilans Bike Rodeo will take place from 10 a.m. to noon May 23 at Avon Lake High School (north parking lot), 175 Avon Belden Road.
Participants are asked to bring their bikes and helmets for a fun morning of learning, and riding. The free event for kids is designed to help young riders build confidence and learn safe biking skills.
The deadline to register online is 5 p.m. May 21. For more information call Lieutenant Les Carrender at 440-930-4116.
Pet parade, dog show: As part of the city’s 250 Jubilee celebration, the Kiwanis Club is hosting the Golden Paw Awards and Parade May 30.
The parade of participants steps off at 4 p.m. at the former Erieview Elementary School building, 32630 Electric Blvd., followed by friendly competitions, music dog-friendly vendors onsite.
Online registration is now available.
Second location: Since taking over ownership of John Christ Winery, Zech and Brittney Laughbaum have been doing amazing things with the space. Now they are branching out and opening a second location in the Westpark neighborhood at Kamms Corner in the former Working Class Brewery space, 17448 Lorain Avenue.
According to the owners, this isn’t just another taproom. The location will serve as the new home base for brewing all the beer, cider, seltzers, plus offer a fully immersive taproom and restaurant experience. Follow Laughing Bomb Brewery on Facebook.
Shred day: Gather up your sensitive documents and other papers for the Community Shred Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 16 at the Ellen Trivanovich Aquatic Center, 32850 Electric Blvd. Two shred trucks will be onsite. Each household may bring up to five standard size copy paper boxes or five grocery-sized bags of personal, confidential documents.
Citywide garage sale days: The Avon Lake Early Childhood PTA (ALECPTA) is once again offering residents the opportunity to market their garage sales during the annual Citywide Garage Sale event June 11-13.
For a $10 registration fee, residents can have their address and description of the sale to be featured on an official digital sellers map.
The ALECPTA is also featuring junior sellers this year to encourage youth entrepreneurship. Kids can set up lemonade stands or sell handmade crafts, friendship bracelets, trading cards, or other items.
The fee supports the ALECPTA. The master map will be available for download online just before the sale days. The deadline to register is June 9 just before the sale.
Building a legacy: It’s been nearly one year since the recount and official certified passage of Issue 16, the 2.75-mill, $88 million bond issue to construct a new 158,000-sq.-ft. middle school and repair existing elementary schools within the school district.
Now school officials are ready to officially begin the construction phase and will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. June 1 at Learwood Middle School, 340 Lear Road (site of the new Avon Lake Middle School). The community is invited to attend.
The anticipated opening date for the new grades 5-8 middle school is scheduled for the 2028-2029 school year.
Renovations and improvements will be made to the elementary schools in the summer of 2027.
Follow the progress on the district’s website.
Band concert: The Bay Village Community Band concert is at 7 p.m. May 22 at Bay High School, 29230 Wolf Road.
Spring cleaning?: Register online to sell your items during the Bay Village Community Yard Sale which takes place May 30. Proceeds benefit Bay Middle School PTSA.
Saving lives: The fire department recently received Silver recognition through the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS program. The national initiative recognizes ‘excellence in prehospital care for patients experiencing heart attacks and strokes.’
Name change: In addition to the change in ownership announced in Short Takes last week, Between the Bun Bar & Grill is now renamed Buns and Brews Sportsbar and Grill, 34445 Center Ridge Road.
Coffee chat: Mayor Kevin Corcoran’s next Coffee and Conversation will take place from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. May 15 at City Hall, 7307 Avon Belden Road.
This month’s guest speaker is Sam Meluch from the North Ridgeville Heart & Sole Collaborative.
Can donations: Kudos to the city’s firefighters for their support of Aluminum Cans for Burned Children (ACBC) for more than 25 years. ACBC recycles donated aluminum cans from local fire departments, supporting environmental sustainability, funding fire safety education and providing support for pediatric burn survivors’ camps.
The fire department has replaced the trailer with a dumpster at the back of the staff parking lot at Fire Station #1 on Ranger Way where residents can drop off aluminum can donations.
Clean hydrants: The fire department will begin the flushing and servicing of fire hydrants this week. Signs will be placed in neighborhoods when flushing occurs.
Residents may find rusty water in the lines. If so, let the faucet run until the water is clear. This includes running the washing machine through a cycle without laundry. In the event clothes become discolored, the fire department has packets of rust remover. Contact City Hall at 440- 331-0600, ext: 2285.
Fore!: The Back Nine, 21633 Center Ridge Road, is opening June 27. In advance of the opening, demos begin May 15. Reserve your spot for just $25. The location offers state-of-the-art golf simulators, including the WellPutt Big Tilt XL dynamic putting green.
New business: Grateful Heart Wellness recently opened at 24350 Center Ridge Road. The location offers yoga, Zumba, pilates and other wellness classes and workshops.
Grand opening: Residents are invited to gather for the grand opening of the new Recreation Center Park Athletic Fields and playground, 28955 Hilliard Blvd. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at noon May 16. The event will feature a DJ, inflatables, snacks and beverages, and other activities.
The complex was made possible through levy funds approved by residents in 2017. The fields will serve Westlake Youth Soccer, Football, Softball, and Baseball, as well as other local athletic programs. The expanded playground includes shaded seating areas, accessible pathways, and dedicated play zones for children of all ages.
Pressed flowers: The Westlake Garden Club will host a presentation and hands-on pressed flower and card making activity by Darlene Hritz, from the Western Reserve Herb Guild, May 20 at the Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road. Cost is $10 for supplies. RSVP to teri_maurer@yahoo.com. There is a charge of $10 for materials. A light breakfast will be served at 10:30 a.m. before the talk begins. The meeting is from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Theater production: Clague Playhouse presents “Ordinary Days” running May 22-June 14 at 1371 Clague Road. The play tells the story of four young New Yorkers whose lives intersect as they search for fulfillment, happiness, love and cabs.
Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are available online.
Beautiful music: Congratulations to the Westlake High School Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble for earning Superior (I) ratings at the recent Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) District Event. Both bands qualified for the state level and were two of 25 bands from the Northeast Region to perform at the OMEA State Band Adjudicated Event. They earned straight Superior ratings at State.
