November 3, 2026
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Short Takes on the Westside by Julie Short
Veterans Day meal: The VFW is hosting a catered dinner for all veterans from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Post, 36950 Mills Road.
New ownership: Laura’s Learning Treehouse, 37190 Colorado Ave., has provided childcare and preschool services for countless families over the years. Owner Shannon Andrews-Scheetz’s mom opened the business April 1, 1987. At the conclusion of this school year, Emmaly Sandell is taking over ownership. Andrews-Scheetz will be just three months shy of 20 years as owner (28 years total working).
Sandell was a student at Laura's Learning Treehouse and has worked for the business since she graduated from high school. It’s a bittersweet time for Andrews-Scheetz, but she’s looking forward to being a "retired" business owner.
Closings, openings: Avon Commons lost a few businesses recently with the closing of T-Mobile and Sally Beauty.
Local Infusion, 35516 Detroit Road, is now open in the former Anytime Fitness space at Marketplace at Avon. It’s an outpatient specialty infusion center that provides a spa-like, non-hospital setting for patients requiring chronic conditions and biologic therapies.
Acute Pet Urgent Care, 2100 Center Road, recently opened offering same-day outpatient urgent care for dogs and cats.
Another gas station is available in town as Speedway recently opened at 35045 Chester Road (in front of Planet Fitness). For those who may not know, gas stations are only permitted in Avon north of Detroit Road.
Coming soon are All Around Children (childcare facility), 33335 Just Imagine Drive; Bronzing Bar, 35956 Detroit Road; and Hummus & Garlic, 35956 Detroit Road (Avon Commons).
For those who keep asking, Pizza 216 is still coming (former Avon Brewing Company space, 37040 Detroit Road)…it’s just taking a long time. In the meantime, support the other local small businesses around town.
Santa photos: Bring the family to the Wilbur Cahoon House Museum, 2940 Stoney Ridge Road, for a 5x7 holiday photo with Santa Nov. 14. Be sure to reserve your time slot as spots are limited. Photos are from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Registration is available online.
Republican Club meeting: Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club will meet at 5 p.m. Nov. 12 in Ragan Hall, 1783 Moore Road. This month’s presentation is, “Salute to Veterans.” Also, James Trutko, economist, business consultant and politician will provide a detailed analysis of federal, state and Lorain County election results and possible future activities. Refreshments will be available. Guests cost is $5
Garden Club meeting: The Avon Garden Club will meet Nov. 17 in the Orchid Room at Miller Nature Preserve, 2739 Center Road. Guest presenter is Beryl Prusinowski with “Life is Sweeter with Chocolate.” Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the free program starting at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.
Helping others: Avon Middle School sixth-grader Dylan Lindsay is continuing to prove that you're never too young to make a difference. After organizing a successful food drive last year that collected 262 pounds of food, he set his sights on something bigger: Bringing together local musicians and the community for a fundraiser benefiting families in need.
Lindsay will host "Families Helping Families: A Dueling Piano Sing-Along with CRS,” from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 22 at the American Legion, 31972 Walker Road, Avon Lake, with all proceeds benefiting Avon/Avon Lake Community Resource Services (CRS), a local nonprofit that provides basic needs assistance to families in both communities. The event also includes raffles, and pizza
To bring his vision to life, Lindsay has enlisted the talents of two dueling piano entertainers: his cousin, Jo Powers, a Sheffield Lake resident who performs around the world, including aboard major cruise ships, and Andrew Sabol, a popular local entertainer known for his high-energy, crowd-engaging performances.
Admission is $15 for adults and $8 for children (includes pizza and soft drinks).
Tickets/donations are available online.
Baseball season: Think spring now as the Lake Erie Crushers recently announced the 2027 season game schedule, including Opening Day at ForeFront Field May 14, nine homestand weekends, and the return of the Independence Weekend celebrations and fireworks July 3-4.
Season details and ticket information are available online.
Veterans Day: A Drive-up Veteran Pinning Ceremony will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 10 (the day before Veterans Day) in the parking lot of the Old Firehouse Community Center, 100 Avon Belden Road.
There will be a brief ceremony with pinning, followed by a boxed lunch for each Veteran and one guest. Mayor Mark Spaetzel and Avon Lake Police will be in attendance.
To register, call 440-930-4135.
Leaf pickup: Curbside leaf collection is underway now through December (weather permitting). City crews follow a route through the city and there is no specific day for pickup. It can take crews two to three weeks to complete a route.
Residents are reminded that leaves should be placed on the tree lawn area and in the street. Leaves should not be placed around fire hydrants. Please do not mix leaves with branches. Piles should only be leaves (no rocks, pumpkins, woody materials etc.).
Fall concert: TrueNorth Cultural Arts will present a fall concert titled, The Songs We Carry: An American Journey in Music, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at Avon Lake Presbyterian Church, 32340 Electric Blvd.
Coffee chat: Bay Village City Schools Superintendent Scot Prebles’ next Coffee Chat with the community will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Bay Village Library, 27400 Wolf Road. (Sorry, the date was accidentally not listed last week).
Veterans Day: Thank you to all Veterans whose service and sacrifice have helped protect the freedoms we enjoy every day. A veteran's recognition lunch has been planned for 11:30 a.m. Nov. 13 at the Bay Village Senior Center, 300 Bryson Lane.
Community heroes will be honored with a lunch, provided by Archwell Health and a Pinning Ceremony presented by Amada Senior Center. Registration is limited to Veterans and one guest. For more information, call 440-835-6565.
Grand tree honor: City officials recently recognized the owners of the Wolf Road White Oak Tree, recipient of the 2026 Grand & Glorious Tree Award, for their commitment to preserving and caring for the tree.
Achievement award, dinner: The Bay Village Historical Society was recently the recipient of an Outstanding Achievement Award for historical exhibits from the Ohio Local History Alliance (OLHA). The award recognized the Revolutionary War and Native American display at the Osborn Learning Center, exploring Indigenous history and the Revolutionary War veterans who settled in Dover Township.
In other news from the historical society… Sean Crum, artist, printmaker and art historian, will be the featured speaker at the Nov. 19 Bay Village Historical Society potluck dinner and program.
The presentation on “Cleveland and the Arts” will include famous Cleveland artists past and present, as well as important public sculpture and architecture. Crum earned a Master of Art degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1977. The lecture, held at the Bay Lodge, 492 Bradley Road, begins with a social at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and program at 7 p.m.
The main dish of roast turkey will be provided by the historical society. Attendees with last names beginning with A through J should bring a side dish for 10 to share. Those with last names beginning with K through Z should bring a dessert for 10 to share. All attendees should bring their own place setting and beverage. Alcohol is permitted at the lodge. There will be a $10 charge at the door for non-members of the historical society. RSVP by Nov. 16 to drgbay@aol.com or call (440) 554-6355.
Tours of Rose Hill Museum are available by appointment. Rose Hill is open free of charge on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Community Pancake Breakfast: Enjoy pancakes, sausage, fruit, juice and coffee from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 7 at the Senior Center, 7327 Avon Belden Road. Adults are $8 and seniors and ages 6 to 18 are $7. Children 5 and under eat free. The event is sponsored by VFW Post 9871.
Craft show: Hope for the Soul is hosting a craft show featuring more than 40 tables of artists, crafters, homesteaders and artisans from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 14 at 34881 Center Ridge Road. Admission is free. The show supports the Caring Closet, which serves foster and kinship families and young adults aging out of the foster care system in Lorain County.
For more information, email TMazzola@Hope4theSoul.com or call 440- 315-2184.
Facilities Plan: The McKenna team will be at Stache Dash at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 7 at South Central Park to gather feedback on concept ideas for North Ridgeville Parks and Recreation facilities. Residents are encouraged to stop by, review concepts, and share thoughts about future improvements and priorities for parks, greenspace, and recreation amenities throughout the community. Input activities are also available online.
Walking, biking connector: Residents have been vocal to city officials that they would like safe, connected places to walk and bike close to home. The city is now looking at how Sugar Ridge Road can do more of that between Bender Road and Waterbury Boulevard.
The design under review focuses on improving connectivity, walkability and bikeability along the road. The project has $2 million in federal funding for road rehabilitation with bicycle and pedestrian improvements. A companion project would add a roundabout at Bender Road to improve safety at that intersection.
The community’s ideas matter at this stage, whether you walk, run, bike, push a stroller or simply want a safer way to get around. Review the proposed plans online and share your comments now through Nov. 27.
Holiday food, toy drive: Help those in need in the community this holiday season. Non-perishable food items and new toys in original packaging can be dropped off now through Nov. 30 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at City Hall, Parks & Recreation Department, and the Senior Center, 7307 Avon Belden Road. Holiday Food & Toy Drive. Items benefit Community Care.
Veterans Day celebrations: Join the North Ridgeville City Schools on Veterans Day (Nov. 11) as they honor the brave men and women who have served our country. Local veterans and their guests are invited to a luncheon at noon, followed by a Veterans Day Assembly at 1 p.m. at the high school, 34600 Bainbridge Road.
Online registration is available, or call 440-327-1992.
A Veterans Day Community Ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Veterans Memorial, corner of Bainbridge and State Route 83. Lassos and Lattes will be onsite with coffee and pastries for purchase.
Night at the Races: Tickets for the annual Lions Club Night at the Races are currently on sale. The event takes place Jan. 30 at St. Clarence Pavilion, 30106 Lorain Road, North Olmsted and includes horse racing, food, drinks (beer and pop), raffles, and games all to benefit the many causes that the Lions Club supports in the community such as vision, diabetes, pediatric cancer, hearing, local food banks, and the schools.
Cost is $40. Purchase an ad, sponsor a race, and buy a horse or two online.
For more information, private message on Facebook or email lionsclubofnr@gmail.com.
Happy retirement: The retirements of two longtime members of the Rocky River City Schools leadership team, Goldwood Primary School Principal Dr. Carol Rosiak (effective July 31, 2027) and Treasurer Greg Markus (effective Jan. 15, 2027), were formally announced during the Oct. 28 Board of Education meeting.
Rosiak served the district for 15 years, and Markus for 21 years.
Restaurant opens: After months of renovations by the new owners, the former The Woods Restaurant, 21919 Center Ridge Road, is now open as The Woods Italian. The white table-cloth space features handmade pasta, wood-fired flavors and cocktails for lunch, Happy Hour and dinner.
Pumpkin collection: Not sure what to do with your pumpkin(s) now that Halloween is over? A Pumpkin Composting Collection is currently underway now through Nov. 10 at Kauffman Park, 15450 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood; and the Westlake Police Department, 27300 Hilliard Blvd. No corn stalks, hay bales, yard waste, or other kitchen waste is allowed in the pumpkin collection containers. The 20-yard collection bins only accept unbagged pumpkins and gourds.
Veterans Day cards: Stop by the Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, Nov. 5-9 to make thank-you cards to be delivered to a local independent living or skilled nursing facility for Veterans Day. Materials are available at the Youth Services desk.
Footwear store coming: Just in time for holiday shopping, Crocker Park representatives recently announced a new Crocs store is coming to 153 Main Street in the former Where I'm From space next to recently opened Portland Leather. The goal is to be open early this winter.
In other Crocker Park news…Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister are now open across from the Cheesecake Factory. A “wing concept” restaurant is moving into the former Baracco space. Uncle Julio’s is opening their first Ohio location (Tex-Mex) in the former Wild Mango spot. Flower Child is opening their first Ohio location in the former Bonefish Grill building.
Renovated birthing center: Newly renovated labor and delivery and postpartum suites were recently unveiled at University Hospitals (UH) St. John Medical Center, 29000 Center Ridge Road. The upgrades, part of the UH MacDonald Women's Hospital family birthing center at UH St. John, expand care for mothers and babies across western Cuyahoga County, Lorain County, and surrounding communities.
The newly renovated unit was designed with both clinical and patient experience in mind. On the second floor, expectant mothers are cared for in 11 Labor, Delivery and Recovery rooms which include ensuite bathrooms, along with four private triage rooms, three pre- and post-operative bays, two operating rooms and an infant stabilization room.
Several features support a more personalized birth experience. Two labor rooms include tubs for hydrotherapy, while aromatherapy, adjustable lighting and nitrous oxide are available for patients seeking additional comfort measures during labor.
After delivery, families move to the fourth floor, where 15 private postpartum rooms allow mothers and newborns to recover together in a comfortable setting. A newborn nursery also supports ongoing care during the hospital stay, according to the press release.
