Local News

On March 13, Bay Village City Council confirmed the appointment of Kathleen Messeri as Director of Community Services.

Human Resouces Director Jennifer Demaline introduced her to Council, saying: “Kathleen recently has been working with the City of Brooklyn and has most recently been serving as their community services coordinator, which would be the similar job title to our community services director here. She has a lot of expertise and a lot of experience, and we’re really looking forward to having her come on board."

Kathy grew up in Massachusetts before moving with her family to California where she attended high school and earned a bachelor's degree in business and marketing at Cal State Bernardino. After graduation, she moved to Portland, Oregon, to begin a career in banking. Kathy continued working as a loan officer after moving to the Cleveland area and worked as a reporter for several years before being hired by the City of Brooklyn, Ohio, in 2014.

Bay Village residents are well aware of the infrastructure improvements made last year when the two main thoroughfares, Lake and Wolf roads, each received a makeover. In 2023, Mayor Paul Koomar aims to go deeper – as in underground. 

The city is dealing with mandates from the Environmental Protection Agency – at both the state and federal levels – to reduce sanitary sewer runoff into Lake Erie during periods of heavy rain.  

Mayor Koomar discussed his administration’s plans during the annual State of the City address on March 3.

It’s time to announce the winners of the 2023 Cutest Pet in Westlake contest!

The contest is broken down into 4 divisions: Cat, Senior Dogs over 9 years, Dogs 2 to 9 years old, and Puppies. Our winners are listed in that order. Westlake is home to so many fabulous pets. Our judges always have a difficult time selecting our winners.

This year we have: Mia, a Russian Blue cat; Mandy, a Puggle; Farrah, a Labrador Samoyed; and Denali, a Giant Schnoodle.

Here is some backround information on each of our winners.

Mia is part of the Elswerth Family and she got her name from the Spanish word for “mine.” She quickly became her mom’s fur baby. This 8-year-old lady is a rescue who found her family at a Christian campground. Favorite things for Mia are morning breakfast from her daddy, Tasty Temptations, playing with her laser pointer, going for walks in her stroller, and enjoying naps on either her Mommy or one of her Sherpa blankets.

Huck Kurinsky, who just turned 8, won the USA BMX amateur series in the U8 division earlier this year at the U.S. Cycling Olympic Training Center in Woodward, PA. Huck began riding at 6 years old, and set a world record for youngest to land a backflip on a BMX bike. 

Now in second grade at Normandy Elementary School, Huck participated in the USA BMX amateur series, which traveled across the country for eight different competitions. He capped off the Finals with a National Championship win. Huck ranks fourth in the world for kids 12 and under, and is the best 8-year-old in the world. Huck is also a two-time Ohio State National Champion.

If you or a loved one have ever experienced a serious illness requiring doctor visits, hospital stays, poking and prodding, fear and uncertainty, pain and fatigue, you know that there can be many dark days. Sometimes the thing you need most is the kindness of others, a small act that turns a stranger into a friend.

To those facing cancer, Sherri Reilly has been a friend. For the past 12 years, Sherri has turned her compassion into a nearly full-time volunteer endeavor as the Village Project’s garden leader. During the growing season, Sherri would spend up to 30 hours a week at the Bay Village Community Garden, tending vegetables, growing herbs and snipping flowers.

The vegetables and herbs go to the Village Project kitchen, where volunteers prepare nutritious meals for clients battling cancer. The flowers provide nourishment for the soul, as Sherri and her team would bundle the blooms into colorful bouquets and place them in hand-painted vases to brighten clients’ dark days. During the winter, Sherri partnered with the nonprofit BigHearted Blooms to use “recycled” flowers leftover from weddings and other events.

When the Bay Village Community Council is evaluating nominations for Project of the Year, among the main considerations are the impact of volunteers and involvement of community organizations.

It is always a difficult choice, as Bay has no shortage of community-based projects and programs. This year’s deliberation was no exception, with a long-awaited new library and many civic groups working to make Bay an even better place to live. But rising to the top was the year-long celebration of the Bay High School Centennial and the sheer number of groups and individuals involved in the effort.

The year 2022 marked 100 years of high school in Bay Village. In 1922, Parkview School opened at the corner of Cahoon and Wolf roads and housed grades K-12. Prior to that, Bay Village students traveled to other Westshore suburbs for high school.

Bay Village Garden Club is one of more than 30 affiliate garden clubs from Northeast Ohio featured in Cleveland Botanical Garden’s “Twinkle in the 216” holiday display. The show is an honor to and celebration of Cleveland’s beloved historic neighborhoods.

Our creative president, Erika Mittermeier, chose E. 55th and Broadway – the old Brooklyn neighborhood – as the theme for our holiday door decoration. She based her design on Dick Feagler’s “Christmas at Aunt Ida’s,” a column Feagler wrote many years ago about a childhood experience in that neighborhood on Christmas, 1945. Erika framed old family photos and arranged antique toys to capture the style and mood of the period. Her stunning display reflects the warmth and community of one of Cleveland’s iconic neighborhoods.

The Bay Village American Legion Post 385 met with the student body at Normandy School to celebrate Veterans Day 2022. Principal Dan Sebring explained the history of Veterans Day to the 500 students of the kindergarten, first and second grades.  

The American Legion Americanism Chairman explained the history of salutes including both military and civilian salutes. He further told of the American flag design and construction by Betsy Ross. He told students when to stand and salute for the Pledge of Allegiance, national anthem and taps.

"Good Medicine, Hard Times," a book written by Bay Village resident Dr. Edward Horvath, has recently been published. Colonel Horvath served three deployments in Iraq from 2005 to 2011, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. His book, a memoir about saving the lives of soldiers, enemies, and civilians amidst ongoing warfare, has been favorably reviewed by national media. A writer from the Wall Street Journal described it as “A must-read testament to acts of valor in one of our hardest wars.”

Throughout the year Bay Village police officers wear special badges honoring officers and causes. Below are some examples. Officer Ed Kanieski is wearing a special police badge which shows his service in the military (Marines).

“We are proud of our officers that were in the military. Our complement includes individuals from the Air Force, Marines, Army, Navy and Coast Guard,” stated Chief Robert Gillespie. The pink badge is for Breast Cancer Awareness month (October).

The Kiwanis and Key Clubs of Bay Village invite you to the annual spaghetti dinner on Saturday, Nov. 19, from noon to 7:30 p.m. Take-out and dine-in options are available.

The meal features Tony Dostal's award-winning signature sauce and spaghetti, salad, roll and sweet for only $14. Drive through or dine in at Bay Middle School 27725 Wolf Road.

Proceeds directly benefit our community. Currently sponsoring Academic Achievement awards including scholarships for Bay High School students, and service and leadership clubs in the Bay schools. Also helps sponsor projects for community organizations like Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, Village Project, helmets for youth riders, Fill This House and others.

I moved to Bay a little over a year ago from my hometown of San Diego. I have family in Bay, and over the years loved visiting so when the opportunity arose, I decided to move here.

I was pleasantly surprised when I came upon a group in Bay called the Bay Village Anti-Racism Network or BVAN. I learned BVAN was formed by Bay Village residents in response to the brutal murder of George Floyd. The abuse of power and tragic loss of life demanded a response, so the group organized a large demonstration against racism right here in Bay. Then, they persuaded the City Council to pass a resolution condemning racism.

Today, I am a member and we continue to work for an open, inclusive, diverse and equitable Bay Village. Our mission is to educate and empower ourselves and to educate, identify and eliminate racial biases, prejudice, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination that may exist among Bay Village citizens, businesses and government systems.

The Westshore Lions Club, originally the Westlake Lions Club, were recently recognized by the Lions of Ohio for 25 years of service to the community. During the club's Sept. 21 meeting, a certificate was presented to Lion Nan Baker who is a charter member and co-founder of the club. The Certificate of Appreciation read "Celebrating 25 Years! Congratulations on this milestone event! Thank you for your service to the Lions of Ohio and worldwide."

Since 1996 the Westlake/Westshore Lions Club has had a profound effect on the community in a variety of service efforts – both major community service undertakings as well as smaller service efforts. Major efforts included the engraved bricks at the Westlake Recreation Center Community Square, the Tile Mural located in the front lobby of Westlake Porter Public Library, playground equipment purchased for the Westlake Recreation Center and more recently the Safety Bucket Project which provided 570 safety buckets divided between the Westlake and North Olmsted public schools.

Bruce Hamilton, longtime Westlake resident and business owner, was recently honored by Mayor Dennis Clough at a luncheon at Claudette's in Westlake for his longtime service to the community. Bruce and his wife Charlotte, who died in 2018, lived on Westwood Road. There they raised their four children, Judy, Beverly, Dianne and Bruce Jr.

Bruce began his work career at age 13, working at Sauer's garage on Center Ridge and Dover roads. He then worked for various auto dealerships before starting his own auto repair business on Center Ridge Road which closed this year when Bruce retired at the age of 92, a 79-year work career.

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center will host a grand opening for its new program space, the Cahoon Room, on Thursday, Sept. 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We are excited to welcome more preschool age children for session classes beginning the week of Sept. 12,” says Preschool Coordinator Teece Lester. “In these classes, children and their families will meet an animal, create a simple craft, enjoy playtime, and connect with nature through our live animal exhibits.”

Donations from visitors and businesses in the community totaling more than $50,000 made possible the renovation of a former retail space into an engaging and lively learning environment for children. The Cahoon Room will host classes for preschool children and was remodeled with this special audience in mind. Filled with natural light, the room offers plenty of space for social interaction and nature-based play, including a children’s restroom and an extra sink anticipating many fun hands-on activities.

Eagle Scout and former Westlake Youth Advisory Board member Paul Palmer worked with the Community Services Department to create a new way for patrons to memorialize lost loved ones. Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough thanked Paul for a job well done during a short dedication ceremony at the Westlake Community Services Center on Aug. 16.  

Paul connected with the Community Services Department when he joined the newly formed Westlake Youth Advisory Board in August 2020.

In October 2021, Paul approached the Community Services team with the desire to do an Eagle Scout Project that would benefit the department … and especially the department’s mission.

I have had the pleasure to write about many of the early Dover/Westlake families and individuals that helped to make our town the wonderful city it is today. The early settlers paved the way for this to happen but there have been many others in more recent years that have done so much for our city and its residents.

One of those individuals that touched the lives of many families and especially the students of Westlake was Thomas F. Hill, Westlake’s school music director from 1954 through 1987. He touched the lives of thousands of students during his 33 year career … not only by teaching them music but by teaching them about life.

Tom and his family lived in Bay Village where he attended the Bay schools and graduated from Bay High School in 1946. Tom was an outstanding trumpet player and was the 1st chair trumpet player while in high school. He grew up in a home surrounded by music. His mother played piano and violin and his father had studied piano. Tom’s three brothers and a sister all developed a love for music but Tom was intrigued by all aspects of music.

Since 1971, College Club West has awarded educational scholarships to women aged 25 or older who are enrolled in a four-year degree or graduate program. College Club's Scholarship committee determines grant eligibility based on maturity, academic record, goals and financial need. This year's scholarships totaled $31,000, and were awarded to women from Cleveland, Olmsted Township, Strongsville, Broadview Heights, Parma, Warrensville Heights and Lakewood.

Two scholarships were awarded to women pursuing graduate degrees in education: Sherry Morgan of Cleveland is enrolled in a Master of Science in Education online program, Fort Hays State University, Kansas. Abigail Nixon of Olmsted Township is enrolled in a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, University of Akron.

To those of us who interact with Bay Village City Council on a regular basis, Joan Kemper is the Clerk of Every Year. She is dedicated to her craft; eager to help others; incredibly kind, caring and thoughtful; the epitome of a public servant.

For the past 57 years, Joan has served the public in various roles. At age 82, she still works late into the evening and on weekends when the job calls for it, preparing packets of information for council members, conducting comparative research with other cities, responding to public requests and, of course, diligently transcribing the minutes of public meetings.

“Joan is admired by everyone with whom she connects,” remarked City Council President Dwight Clark. “She is the ultimate City of Bay Village ambassador to our residents, colleagues, friends and acquaintances. She is the model of consistency and professionalism, one who represents the ideal qualities of a dedicated public servant. No employee with the City of Bay Village comes in earlier and stays later than Clerk Kemper. She can make a pot of hot coffee and bring a smile to one’s face, second to none."

Last month, Joan was recognized by her peers for her professionalism and dedication, receiving the prestigious 2022 Clerk of the Year award from the Ohio Municipal Clerks Association.

The Bay Village Community Council held a celebration of this year’s Citizen of the Year, Patrick McGannon, and Project of the Year, Bay Village Historical Society’s Revitalization Efforts, on July 16 in the Cahoon Creek valley. City Council President Dwight Clark presented proclamations on behalf of the city, followed by tours of Village Bicycle Cooperative, Rose Hill Museum, Osborn Learning Center and the Log Cabin.

Patrick was honored for his tireless volunteerism and advocacy for sustainability and cycling. He is president of the Bay Village Green Team and is one of the founding members of the Village Bicycle Cooperative.

The Bay Village Historical Society used the pandemic downtime to begin a complete inventory of its massive collection. leading to the discovery of hidden treasures and a reorganization of Rose Hill Museum. More than 7,000 historical artifacts have been entered into an archival database, along with more than 11,000 images of those items.

American Legion Post 385 and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 249 are sponsoring an All Veterans Picnic on Saturday, Aug. 20, noon to 4 p.m.

This free event is open to all veterans and their families at the American Legion Post 385, 695 Cahoon Road, Westlake.

Come join us for lunch or a mid-afternoon snack. We will have hot dogs, hamburgers, side dishes and dessert. We would like to meet you so please stop by, if just to say hello. We will also have a representative from the VA to answer veteran-related questions.

Any questions regarding the picnic can be addressed to Loretta Krook of the American Legion at loretta.krook@yahoo.com.

Requests for membership in two West Side grassroots groups have surged since the overturning of Roe and show no signs of slowing. Interest in GRR (GrassRoots Resistance) and GRAB (GrassRoots Activism Bay) has spiked since the Supreme Court’s ruling last month.

“We are fielding dozens of new membership requests each day as well as requests to our private Facebook group,” said Nora Kelley, a leader of GRR. “More women are coming to us and saying they are furious abortion care is essentialy illegal in Ohio and want to become active, even more so than after the 2016 election when our group was founded.”

Misty Elek, one of the founders of GRAB, (formally the Bay Village Nasty Women) says the group has also seen a similar increase.

Bay High School seniors Maizy Ereditario and Jack Mediate were awarded Champion of Democracy scholarships of $1,000 each by the Bay Chapter of the League of Women Voters at the Kiwanis Award Ceremonies on May 23. The scholarships were awarded based on their persuasive and moving essays on the topic “Democracy is not a spectator sport.”

Maizy Ereditario is planning to attend Ohio University to study chemical engineering. She was involved in Buckeye Girls State and served as Vice President of NHS, as well as golf team, lacrosse team, YPF, SADD, and the kindness club.

Jack Mediate is planning to attend The Ohio State University to study political science. Among his many accomplishments, he is an Eagle Scout and was senior class president and Head Chair of Model UN. He was active in registering voters at the high school and helped with the school board and city council forums the League sponsored for the November 2021 election.

We send them our best wishes for all their future endeavors.

The Foundry Community Rowing and Sailing Center in Cleveland provides fun, safe and accessible training for middle and high school students in the growing sports of rowing and sailing. This non-profit organization opened in 2017 and many student athletes participate year-round in these two water sports.

On June 4 and 5, the 2022 ISSA Fleet Race National Championship (Mallory Trophy) was hosted by Mission Bay Yacht Club in San Diego, California. The Bay Sailing Team, which trains with the Foundry’s High School Sailing Team, qualified and traveled to California to compete in this high school level regatta.

Goodwill is asking the communities of Westlake and Bay Village to make a special effort to donate items as they are in urgent need of donations.

Goodwill opened its Westlake store/donation center in March providing an opportunity for the community to shop thousands of books and specialty wares for a fraction of retail prices, as well as donate their unused items.

While the retail portion is a bookstore, Goodwill accepts more than books at the convenient drive-up donation center. Think everything from household goods like kitchen wares, small appliances, pots & pans, home decor & knick-knacks to clothing, electronics, toys, baskets, furniture, and more! These items ultimately support a comprehensive network of outreach programs that help thousands in the community.

Westlake High School 2022 senior, Anna Williams, is the recipient of The Jeffery Owen Marriott Memorial Scholarship. This is the seventh year the scholarship has been awarded to a Westlake High School varsity student athlete who demonstrates strong academics, outstanding character and a commitment to community service, similar to Marriott – a 1992 Westlake grad.

Williams was ranked in the top five of her 2022 WHS graduating class while maintaining a year-round athletic schedule on Westlake's varsity soccer, basketball and track teams. Academically, Williams excelled in the classroom, acing nine AP-level courses over her high school career. She was equally impressive on the athletic field and court racking up nine varsity letters in addition to being a second-team Great Lakes Conference (GLC) member, Academic All-Ohio, and GLC Scholar Athlete in soccer.

Major Joseph Anthony, a United States Air Force veteran, holds a bouquet of flowers donated by the Westlake Garden Club for the Memorial Day ceremony sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Westlake to remember all the fallen soldiers who had called Westlake home.

The Westshore Young Leaders is a youth organization comprised of students from the six Westshore cities of Bay Village, Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted, Rocky River and Westlake. The group meets once a month during the school year in the Bay Village Police Department's community service room. It has been around for 12 years and is headed up by Mrs. Noreen Kyle, the School Outreach and Education Specialist of the Westshore Enforcement Bureau. The mission of the organization is: Westshore communities working together to support young leaders and promote healthy, safe and substance-free life choices.   

The students held their final meeting at Urban Air at Crocker Park in Westlake. Meetings normally consist of an educational piece instructed by the Effective Leadership Academy or McKeon Educational Group followed by interactive games and activities. This month, they took the show on the road for the last meeting of the school year and enjoyed an evening of ropes courses, go karts, obstacle courses, trampolines and pizza.

The City of Bay Village is planning a Village Green for the space between City Hall and the new Cuyahoga County Public Library branch. The space will be both a connecting hub to travel between area destinations and a gathering space for casual get-togethers and planned events.

The city is working on the design with HBM Architects, the same firm that designed the library, and Deru Landscape Architecture is contributing landscape design.

The plan will include concrete walking paths, a central hub and pergola, seating, lighting, native plantings, and memorials, including the Amy Mihaljevic memorial and a possible Bay Village veterans memorial. There will also be an area for Food Truck Friday vendors and visitors.

Boy Scouts Mark Rennard and David Schulz of Troop 208 out of Dover Congregational United Church of Christ in Westlake earned their Eagle Scout rank on May 9.

Mark is currently a junior at Westlake High School. During his 10 years in Scouting, Mark served in many leadership positions, including Senior Patrol Leader, and earned 34 merit badges.

Mark’s  Eagle Scout project included the construction of a stone path at the Westlake United Methodist Church to facilitate moving items between the church and an historic outbuilding that is used for off-season storage. Other facets of the project were rebuilding the roof on a 4’x5’x5’ shed, removal of a small tree and removal of overgrown vegetation in the project area. 

Thanks to help from 14 other scouts, a total of 229 hours were donated to improve the WUMC grounds. Mark is especially thankful to Keith Sherrill of KB Sherrill Construction for excellence in excavating the path.

David Schulz is currently a senior at Westlake High School. During his 11 years in Scouts, David served in several leadership positions, including Den Chief, and earned 24 merit badges.

Mayor Dennis Clough presented his annual State of the City address on Tuesday, May 10, to an engaged group of Westlake residents at the Community Services Center.

The presentation, sponsored by the Observer, included a rundown of the activities of each city department over the last year, along with a reasonably deep overview of the city’s financials. A trained CPA, Clough enjoys the chance to talk numbers and highlight Westlake’s strong financial standing.

As he does every year, Clough praised the city’s sizable business community, the diversity of which has become more important as the lingering effects of the pandemic alter the workforce. But he also acknowledged that the changing landscape has the city’s attention.

The Bay Village Women's Club Foundation has awarded scholarships to 7 Bay High School 2022 graduates of $2,500 each. One scholarship is a memorial to Shirley LeMay, a past Club member and officer, who worked for the City of Bay Village for 25 years as a staff accountant.

Club members met the students at its annual Honors for Scholars Luncheon at the Cleveland Yachting Club on April 28, after a 2-year hiatus due to COVID. Each scholarship recipient announced his or her college and major area of study.

The Knickerbocker Senior Apartments will be holding a grand re-opening ceremony at 27100 Knickerbocker Road in Bay Village on Thursday, May 26, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. This event will celebrate the major renovations that took place between 2018 and 2020.

During reconstruction all the apartments were remodeled with new kitchens and bathrooms, all safety and mechanical systems were replaced, and the common areas greatly expanded. Additionally, 42 of the studio units were converted into 21 large one-bedroom apartments, eight of which are fully handicapped accessible.

“We are pleased with the completion of the $11,000,000 renovation that has transformed the Knickerbocker apartments now and for the future. The renovation doubled first floor space which provides a variety of opportunities for residents to develop a stronger community within the building,” said Jay Magee, President of the Bay Interfaith Housing board of trustees.

Lakewood Elks Lodge #1350 located at 24350 Center Ridge Road in Westlake recently awarded a $3,500 Elks National Foundation Inc. Beacon Grant to Connecting for Kids. These funds were used to create 250 resource bags containing information on area therapists, summer camps and adapted programs for children who have disabilities, mental health and other concerns.

The resource bags were provided free of charge to families who attended the Connecting for Kids Lorain County Resource Fair in Elyria and the Meet and Greet Resource Fair in Rocky River. In total, 298 local families (or 641 individuals) attended these events to find help for a struggling child.

“The Lakewood Elks Lodge #1350 is proud to partner with Connecting for Kids to help local families,” said Exalted Ruler Mike Sheehan. “Not only were we able to provide the funds for the resource fair materials, but 26 Elks members volunteered at the events or helped assemble materials prior to the fairs. Now that the pandemic restrictions are easing, we are glad to get back to our in-person work in the community.”

The Westlake | Bay Village Observer will be sponsoring Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough's State of the City address at the Westlake Community Services Center on Tuesday, May 10, at 6:00 p.m. The event is open to the public.

The culmination of six years of discussions, several public input sessions, two architectural plans and 14 months of construction was unveiled at the grand opening of the new Bay Village Branch Library building on April 30.

A throng of area residents came out to celebrate the occasion, which featured remarks from Cuyahoga County Public Library executive director Tracy Strobel, Mayor Paul Koomar, County Councilmember Nan Baker, State Rep. Monique Smith, State Sen. Matt Dolan, a representative from U.S. Sen. Rob Portman’s office, and CCPL board president Dean DePiero. An estimated 2,900 people toured the building after the speeches and a ceremonial ribbon-cutting.

Though only 3,000 square feet larger than the old branch, the 17,000-square-foot facility features a number of improvements, and was designed with the future in mind. As reading habits change, libraries seek to move beyond being a simple repository of books and periodicals, to become integrated in civic life.

Bay Village Mayor Paul Koomar offered his State of the City presentation at the Dwyer Center on Wednesday, March 2, to a modest crowd of city officials and residents. In his annual address, the mayor shared highlights from each city department over the past year, and previewed some of the projects coming soon.

The City will begin implementing the “Stay in Bay” mixed-use zoning overlay and the Lakefront Master Plan in Cahoon Park. The zoning overlay, approved by voters last November, encourages retail, office and residential development in Bay’s commercial districts.

The Lakefront Master Plan, partially funded by a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and finalized last year, seeks to protect the shoreline, offer increased lake access, and improve connectivity throughout Cahoon Park. A pedestrian bridge will be installed this fall over Cahoon Creek, connecting the east and west sides of the park. Grant funding from NOACA and the state will cover a large portion of that cost.

On Friday, March 25, students of St. Bernadette School in Westlake are standing up against childhood cancers. St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research grants, will host one of its signature head-shaving events at the school. Many students will shave their heads at Brave the Buzz 5 to raise money for the foundation. 

It can be an emotional event for participants, but it’s also a celebration of and a tribute to everyday heroes. 

Brave the Buzz 5 brings the greater community together to show solidarity with kids fighting cancer. There will be speakers, music and entertainment. Students learn that small acts – such as shaving their head or donating their hair – can have a powerful impact on others.

Connecting for Kids has recognized Jeremy Meduri, Director of Clinical Services, and Sara Rausch, Director of Education, both of Insight Academy in Westlake with its 2022 Board Awards.

These awards are given to those that exemplify the mission of Connecting for Kids to provide education and support to families concerned about their child. 

During the pandemic, Meduri, a resident of Avon Lake, and Rausch, a resident of Westlake, saw an urgent need in the disabilities community with parents and caregivers having nowhere to turn. They watched schools closed and therapy center wait lists grow. They also watched families reach their breaking points.

Members of the Bay Village Community Council met on Jan. 24 to review nominations and select this year's Citizen and Project of the Year. A committee of six people, themselves active volunteers in the community, unanimously voted to honor Patrick McGannon for his sustainability and bicycling safety efforts, and the Bay Village Historical Society's revitalization project, "Shining a New Light on the Past."

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

Chances are, you know Patrick McGannon and may not even realize it.

If you’ve ridden your bicycle through Bay Village in the past decade, you know Patrick. If you’ve filled your water bottle at the Dwyer Center or one of the city’s parks, you know him. If you’re a member of the new composting collection site at Bay Lodge, if you’ve participated in a stream cleanup, if you fill your curbside recycling bin every week, Patrick’s volunteerism has affected you.

Patrick has spent most of his life in Bay Village, aside from four years earning a biology degree at John Carroll University and a few years working in Seattle. During the day, he is vice president of OneLink Technical Services, an IT firm in Westlake, but in his free time, Patrick devotes countless hours to volunteerism and advocacy.