Bay groups share winter plans

Members of the Bay Village Community Council met via Zoom on Nov. 15 to share news and notes from their civic organizations. The Council also formed a Citizen/Project of the Year selection committee to review nominations for the annual award. Nomination forms are available at wbvobserver.com, Bay Library and City Hall. Following are highlights from the meeting:

The Bay Village American Legion celebrated Veterans Day by retiring 288 full-size American flags using proper respect and procedures. This is an annual event conducted at the Post home each year.

The Bay Men’s Club volunteers raked leaves and cleaned the yards of some 20 needy individuals and families on Nov. 20.

The Bay Village Women's Club meets the second Thursday of every month at 12:30 p.m. Bay Village-themed gifts are available for the holidays and include afghans, cookbooks, playing cards and more.  Call 440-334-7539.

The Bay Village Foundation’s Scaredy Cat Fun Run was held on Oct. 16. Despite inclement weather, the event was still a success with 180 runners registered. Funds collected are used to support Bay Village community projects. Donations are accdepted at thebayvillagefoundation.org. Last year’s donors enabled BVF to award 8 grants totaling $22,667 to Bay organizations and $8,000 in college scholarships.

The Bay Village Historical Society has a new lending library, built by the service department and painted by Pamela Ebert. The concept is to take a book to read and leave a book for someone else to read. It is named after Julia Osborn Smith, who was the librarian at Rose Hill when it was the city library.

The Bay Village Branch Library has rapid at-home Covid tests available to pick up curbside. Call ahead, 440-871-6392, to make sure they are in stock. The annual Great Books for Kids list is available at cuyahogalibrary.org and in the winter program guide at the branch.

The Bay Village City School District passed a resolution supporting military-connected families. Interim Superintendent Char Shryock has been out in the community for “Talk Supt.,” where parents and residents can meet her one-on-one and ask questions. Shryock and the Communications Director invited the five candidates who did not win Board seats to meet for coffee to see where the district can still tap their passion.

The Bay Village Kiwanis Christmas Tree sale continues through Dec. 12. Every dollar raised stays in Bay; most of the funds go toward the scholarship fund.

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center continues to offer free general admission to indoor and outdoor exhibits, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and free wildlife services seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Members of the community should call 440-871-2900, ext. 204 or email wildlife@lensc.org with wildlife questions and concerns.

The Lake Erie Nature & Science Center Women’s Board meets the first Wednesday of every month at 1 p.m. The focus of the Board this year will be increased volunteerism. Future meeting speakers are being sourced that will expand our members’ understanding of our local wildlife and the beauty of the vast skies above. Any questions about membership, volunteer work or speaker recommendations, call Karen Huhndorff at 440-670-6760.

The Martha Devotion Huntington Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution is participating in a Wreaths Across America fundraiser. Volunteers will place donated wreaths on the graves of veterans at our local Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, in Rittman on Dec. 18. The wreaths cost $15 and can be purchased at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/OH0132P. The chapter receives $5 per wreath, which it will use to help local veterans.

The Village Bicycle Cooperative's Fix-it-Forward program is on track to donate more than 100 bikes this year to the Salvation Army, West Side Catholic center and 3 refugee organizations. Bike donations will be accepted during shop time on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Visit villagebicycle.org for shop hours and updates.

The Sabrina Noelle Foundation's Oct. 16 fundraiser was a success, with over 250 attendees. So far, at least four scholarships have been set up for the 2022 graduating class. The Foundation's long-term goals are to work with teens in schools and to blend mental health with physical health. Visit www.sabrinanoelle.org.

The Village Project will be have extended holiday hours at Project Shoppe: Dec. 9, 4-8 p.m.; Dec. 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Dec. 16, 4-8 p.m.; Dec. 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. VP will be closed for Christmas – Dec. 23-Jan. 3. Cooking will resume Jan. 4-5, 2022.

The League of Women Voters, Bay Village Chapter hosted two well-attended community forums for school board and city council candidates and published a voter guide to help residents become informed voters on the issues and candidates on our ballot this year. The League is following the state legislature’s redistricting process and working with the redistricting commission in hopes they will eliminate the gerrymandered maps. For more information about League membership or redistricting efforts, contact Bay chapter chair Cynthia White, cwhite8215@gmail.com.

The Bay Village Community Council will meet again in January. For information about membership, contact Council president Tara Wendell, tara@wbvobserver.com.