Bay Village, Ohio
Bring your household animals to the 19th Annual Blessing of the Pets from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Oct. 5 on the front lawn of St. Raphael Catholic Church, 525 Dover Center Road, Bay Village.
Individual blessings will be given to each animal. Dog and cat treats and giveaways from Hot Diggity Dog Pet Sitting will be distributed and a garden statue of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, will be given away.
The event was first held in 2005 to commemorate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
“We welcome all our friends in the surrounding neighborhoods to join with us on this day, to give thanks for all God’s creatures – especially our faithful animal companions – and ask for his continued blessings on our families, our community, and on all living things entrusted to our care,” Fr. Dan Schlegel, St. Raphael pastor, said in a press release. “Our pets represent God’s abundant love and care for all of us. They are a blessing in our lives and we take this opportunity to ask God to watch over them and protect them.”
The event is free and parking is behind the church. Dogs should be on leashes. Cats and other pets should be in carriers or cages. The event will be canceled if it rains.
BAY VILLAGE
Coffee chat: Join Scot Prebles, Bay Village City Schools superintendent, for coffee and conversation from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Oct. 1 at Mojo’s, 600 Dover Center Road.
Homecoming: The Bay Village City Schools will celebrate Homecoming weekend with the annual Homecoming Bonfire and Light the Night Walk from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 2.
Bay High School students and the community are invited to participate in a fundraiser for Blood Cancer United (formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society).
Light the Night luminaria will be available for purchase online up until noon Sept. 30 and during lunch periods at the high school. To purchase, go to tinyurl.com/vp9ta5ta.
The 31st annual Homecoming parade steps off at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 3 from Cahoon/Wolf roads and travels down Wolf Road to Bay High School.
At 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3 food trucks from Cafe Melissa and The Original Steaks and Hoagies will be available prior to the football game against Valley Forge High School, and the concession stands will be open.
The Bay Alumni Foundation Hall of Fame will recognize Distinguished Alumni and Educators from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 4 at Avon Oaks Country Club, 32300 Detroit Road, Avon.
The Homecoming Dance is from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 4 at Bay High School.
College admissions process: A Roadmap to College: College Admissions 101 presentation will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Bay Village Branch Library, 27400 Wolf Road. Registration is required, go to attend.cuyahogalibrary.org/event/13739899.
ROCKY RIVER
Coffee chat: Join Rocky River City Schools Superintendent Adham Schirg for coffee and conversation at 9 a.m. Oct. 1 at Panera Bread, 19705 Center Ridge Road.
New salon: Stitch & Mane recently opened at 19777 Center Ridge Road. The salon specializes in coloring, hair extensions and cutting.
For more information, go to stitchandmanehairco.com.
Interim principal: The new school year began with several administrative changes within the Rocky River City Schools which were all reported on cleveland.com and in the Sun newspaper.
Another new administrator in the district is Steven Sayers, interim principal at Rocky River High School.
Sayers brings veteran leadership to the district having served as superintendent for the Amherst Exempted Village Schools and Kentson Local Schools, as well as several other administrative roles in other districts.
The district partnered with the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio to appoint the one-year interim principal for the high school.
This will allow time to conduct a comprehensive, community-inclusive search for a permanent leader, according to district officials.
Former principal, Rob Winton, is now an assistant principal at North Ridgeville High School.
Senior services: A free one time fall leaf clean-up is available to Rocky River homeowners who are 70-years-old and over. Leaves will be raked by local scouting troops, students, and athletic teams usually sometime in late October.
Registration ends Sept. 30 and the service is based on availability.
The snow removal, for the driveway apron only, to remove snow that has been displaced from the street when the streets are plowed is available for seniors. Snow will only be removed if at least three inches of snow has fallen and after the city snow plows have cleared all city streets.
Homeowners are responsible for clearing their driveways and sidewalks. The Senior Center maintains a list of individuals if you need to hire someone.
Registration ends Nov. 30.
To be considered for either program, call Mary at 440-333-6664. You must register annually for both programs and late registrations are not considered.
Quilt show: The North Coast Needlers Quilt Show will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 18; and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Don Umerley Civic Center, 21016 Hilliard Blvd.
The event features quilts, vendors, and raffles. Admission is $5.
Holiday craft, quilt show: The 37th Annual Harvest Holiday Craft & Quilt Show will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 7- 8 at the Senior Center, 21014 Hilliard Blvd.
Admission is $8 for a two-day pass, or $5 daily.
If you have a quilted item you would like to have considered for the show, stop by the Senior Center front desk or check online for the entry form, go to rockyriverohio.gov/senior-center.
The deadline for applications is Sept. 25.
WESTLAKE
Shred day: Safely dispose of documents at the city’s Fall Shred-It Day from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 4 at Westlake Elementary, 27555 Center Ridge Road.
Each household may bring up to two standard-size boxes of material.
Fall festival: Celebrate autumn at the annual Fall Festival & Pumpkin Hunt from noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Westlake Recreation Center grounds, 28955 Hilliard Blvd.
Children ages 2–8 can dash across the field in search of pumpkins during the hunt, which starts promptly at 1 p.m. Families can also enjoy hayrides, inflatables, and watch animal and bubble shows.
Pre-registration by Oct. 9 is required for the pumpkin hunt. To register, go to ohwestlakeweb.myvscloud.com.
Event business: Designer Events recently opened at 26615 Center Ridge Road. The balloon boutique and event venue is available to host your next party and/or provide balloons and other decor.
For more information, go to designereventsllc.com.
Merit students: Westlake High School recently announced 17 achieved National Merit honors from the National Merit Scholarship Program.
With more than 1.3 million students nationwide taking the PSAT, the students scored in the top 1% of the country.
National Merit semifinalists include Sujith Aring, John Davalla, Raine DeAngelis, Ria Guduguntla, Abigail Pelles, Alaina Pugh, Benjamin Suffredini, and Evan Szabo.
Commended Scholars include Teague Burkey, Natalie Chang, Brayden Cho, Neelesh Gupta, Layla Macias, Alyssa Pande, Phoenix White, Kyle Williams, and Zachary Willmer.
Duck race: The Westlake Historical Society’s annual Rubber Duck Race is at 1 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Westlake Recreation Center, 28955 Hilliard Blvd.
To adopt a rubber duck(s), go to westlakeohiohistory.org or call 216-848-0680.
During the event, a silent auction will take place, as well as an Old-Fashioned Pie Contest in memory of Sophronia Clague. Entries must be dropped off at the Westlake Recreation Center Community Room by 1 p.m. There are separate divisions for students and adults, residents and non-residents.
The free, family-friendly event supports the Clague House Museum’s utilities and maintenance. For more information, call the Clague House Museum at 216-848-0680 or email westlakehistory@yahoo.com.
Shout-out: Congratulations to Westlake High School student Brayden Cho, selected to participate in the Ohio Music Education Association’s (OMEA) All-state choir.
If you have news/information or a story idea you’d like to share or a ‘shout-out’, please send an email to jshortavon@aol.com. Read Short Takes online at https://www.cleveland.com/topic/westlake. Follow me on X (Twitter) @jshortavon.