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The Irene Fuller House was moved from Lake Road to the BAYarts campus via barge on Lake Erie in August 1984.

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BAYarts will kick off 2023 with a lot to celebrate! Founded in 1948, BAYarts plans to stick around for a whole lot longer thanks to strong community support of three great projects happening now.

Phase 2 of the restoration of the former playhouse is underway with the piece de resistance! The auditorium's long overdue makeover, transforming it into a 2,000-square-foot education/event/performance center, opening in the fall.

The Irene Lawrence Fuller House (aka the house that floated on a barge to its current location in 1984) is 130 years old! As the heart and soul of BAYarts, the beloved "Fuller House" has been the home to hundreds of events, concerts, exhibitions, weddings and more and is in need of some TLC. Plans include exterior painting, lighting and other building repair. All of these projects are made possible by the generosity of the BAYarts community, local businesses and foundations.

Flags honoring local veterans line the lawn in front of Westlake High School.

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Westlake Demons Athletic Boosters (WDAB) was thrilled to share its fourth annual Veterans Day Flag Display at Westlake High School. Twenty-five athletic teams from Westlake High School and Lee Burneson Middle School, along with WDAB and the Athletic Department, each planted a flag in honor of American veterans for a total of 27 flags.

Working with WDAB, each team selected a veteran to celebrate. Those recognized include service men and women from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps. The students selected parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, Westlake alumni, neighbors, and friends.

“Each veteran has a connection to the Westlake athletic community,” stated Virnette House-Browning, President of Westlake Demons Athletic Boosters. “They are grandparents, neighbors, friends, uncles, aunts and some even work within the school district. They are selfless individuals and we honor their commitment to our country.”

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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).

Once again this holiday season, the Christmas spirit will shine a little more brightly in Bay Village.

The Bay Village Historical Society and the Bay Village Kiwanis are asking Bay Village residents and children of all ages to join them in celebrating an old-fashioned community Christmas on three Sundays in December. A kickoff to the holiday season, these events will include the reading of holiday stories, caroling and crafts, the Kiwanis Christmas tree sale, a visit by Santa Claus and the lighting of the community tree in the Cahoon Memorial Park gazebo.

Follow Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus on their journey through the streets of Bay Village aboard a fire truck on Sunday, Dec. 4. They will leave from the Bay Lodge on Bradley Road at 2 p.m. and will arrive at the gazebo in the center of town for the holiday tree lighting ceremony around 4:30 p.m.

As a critical component of Westlake City School District’s Portrait of a Lifelong Learner, integrity is a characteristic we hope to encourage in each of our students. Having integrity means doing the right thing in a reliable way. It means doing what we say we will do, and doing it well. It means others know they can depend on us.

A person of integrity develops empathy, social awareness, and accountability to understand how behaviors and actions impact others. They exhibit a consistent dedication to their own character development and demonstrate the ability to take action for the greater good. In every interaction, they actively listen to understand others’ perspectives and contemplate problems through various lenses.

A model of integrity acts with honesty, respect and responsibility and prioritizes keeping their promises and helping others. Honesty – both with others and with ourselves – requires that we approach every situation with the intention to stay true to ourselves and be open with the people around us.

Do you keep a household budget? I do and I see my actuals creeping up. My family has been frugal but the current economic environment tests the definition of frugality for us. Probably many are in a similar boat so hang in there as this can't continue forever!

Although this is not a financial advice column, the digital world has been helping me save money, both literally and figuratively. Latter because "time is money" where efficiency or convenience brought forth by the services in the cloud, aka internet, gives me more time for the important things in life.

My readers know how much I appreciate the digital library services that our Westlake Porter Public Library and Bay Village branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library provide. For this article, I thought why not tabulate how much I'm saving each year by using those services.

Friends Board and members ready to work the party: Front row (left to right) - Karen Alfred, Friends Board President Lynn Pettyjohn and Karen Kovac. Back Row (left to right): Steve Pettyjohn, Cathy Schultz, Jim Hajek, Barb Hajek, Jennifer Cirincione, Barb Frase and Barb Gauthier.

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More than 200 people attended the Friends of Porter Public Library’s 50th Birthday Bash on Nov. 4. The evening included a special friends-themed storytime, a screening of the Friends’ 50th Anniversary documentary showcasing the Friends throughout the years, Mayoral and State proclamations honoring the Friends of Porter Public Library, a “Happy Birthday” sing-along, friends-themed music, a cakewalk and of course, refreshments.

The Friends of Porter Public Library was founded in 1972 by a group of community members who believed in the importance of reading, the value of books and the importance of library services to the community and wished to support those values. Over their 50 years they have donated more than $1 million to the library to fund the annual Summer Challenge, purchase Outreach vans, fund the Myrna Chelko Early Literacy Program (named after one of the group’s founders), National Library Week activities, special activities for the library’s staff and much more. Most recently they donated $100,000 toward the Outdoor Programming Pavilion now under construction.

Cartoon by Megan Stewart

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Me: Tell us who you are?

HSV-1: Oral herpes or herpes simplex virus 1 here. I cause cold sores. Sitting next to me, hiding behind a mask of shame, is my sibling herpes simplex 2…

HSV-2: I can speak for myself.

HSV-1: Sorry.

HSV-2: I’m the dreaded genital herpes – but for the record, these days HSV-1 causes as many herpes in the genital area as I do.   

Me: How’d that happen?

HSV-2: Most people get HSV-1 as children. About 7 out 10 people have cold sores. People get HSV-2 later with sexual activity. Because HSV-1 can cause both oral and genital herpes, those without natural immunity to HSV-1 can develop HSV-1 genital herpes through oral sex.   

HSV-1: Speaking for me and HSV-2 (HSV-2 groaned under its mask), we have an unjust rep because of where we go – not what we do. Yeah, I get it – nobody wants me on their date nights or vacation photos, but nobody wants COVID, either. Yet, we, and other STDs, are cemented in the Walk of Shame. Somebody said, “Life is sexually transmitted.” (HSV-1 looks at HSV-2 nervously.) HSV-2 have been relationship breakers. To me, infections are infections. COVID likes lungs, Staph likes skin, we like nerves and skin. Like our cousin, chicken pox/shingles, we spent most of our lives traveling, multiplying, and sleeping in nerves. Yes, I deserve respect. No, I will not live in whispers.

St. Paul Lutheran Church and School are collecting new toys for underprivileged children in the inner city of Cleveland. New, unwrapped toys may be dropped off in the front parking lot of the church located at 27993 Detroit Road in Westlake on Nov. 25, 26 and 27 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Donations will help Build Hope in the City and make it a blessed Christmas for many children living in today's difficult times.

On Nov. 8, the residents of Bay Village voted to approve Issue 3, a 7.2 mill operating levy for the Bay Village City School District.

According to the unofficial returns from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, nearly 58% of voters supported the levy.

“Our residents made our school district a priority, and for that we are very grateful,” said Paul Vincent, President of the Bay Village Board of Education.

Vincent said he and the other school board members are also grateful for the work done by the Citizens for Bay Schools volunteer levy committee.

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s upcoming 2022 calendar of events. All programs are subject to change. Please check westlakelibrary.org or follow the library on Facebook and Twitter (@WestlakePorter) for the latest updates.

Tuesday, Nov. 15 (4 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Kwame Christian – Join us online for an enlightening hour with bestselling author Kwame Christian as he chats about his new book, "How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race." Streamed live. Please register.

Tuesday, Nov. 15 (7-8:30 p.m.) History of the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft & Magick – Join Steve Intermill, Director of the Buckland Museum, as he discusses Cleveland’s own museum of witchcraft and all its weird, wonderful, and unique items. Please register.

Tuesday, Nov. 15 (7-8 p.m.) Young Adult Book Club – "The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams. Those unable to attend in person can join us simultaneously via Zoom. Please register.

Wednesday, Nov. 16 (2-3 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – The Wednesday Book Group meets the third Wednesday of each month. A limited number of books are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk. This month’s title is The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan. Please register.

Friday, Nov. 18 (4-5 p.m.) Brick Builders – Do you love Legos? Bring your ideas and imagination to Brick Builders! Bricks provided. No registration required, but room capacity is limited. First come, first served. Ages 5-12.

Saturday, Nov. 19 (10:30–11 a.m.) Library Giraffe Meet and Greet – Join us for a morning of stories and rhymes celebrating our library giraffes as we unveil the name of our baby giraffe! Ages 2-6 with a caregiver. Please register.

Saturday, Nov. 19 (3-4 p.m.) 3D Printing Orientation – In order to use the library's 3D printer, you'll need to take this orientation first. Learn library policies about using it, how to download a 3D-printable object, and how to prepare it for a great print. Please register.

Sunday, Nov. 20 (2-3 p.m.) Come Play With Me – An open playtime for children ages 2-5 with a caring adult. Siblings welcome! No registration required but room capacity is limited. First come, first served.

Monday, Nov. 21 (1-2:30 p.m.) True Crime Book Club – This club is a great way to discover some new titles and some classics of True Crime. Please register.

The most impactful change that the Bay Village Green Team helped foster in 2021 was coordinating a drop-off compost service for Bay Village, and now we have even better news to share: an additional drop-off location at Reese Park!

The original drop-off location is still going strong at the Bay Lodge parking lot, on Bradley just south of Wolf. Now we have a second location located at Reese Park, in the lot next to the pickleball courts (you need to drive all the way to the back). The location is accessible 24/7 and provides clean, secured bins for members for $10/month.

If more residents sign up for this service, Rust Belt Riders also has a home pick-up service they would start offering, but will not provide it until we have more households. If you would like to see the home pick-up service brought to Bay, please start by signing up for the drop-off location.

Women's Board members enjoy a reception during their "Fly Me to the Moon" fundraiser.

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The Women’s Board of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center held a fundraising event, “Fly Me to the Moon,” on Oct. 9 with proceeds benefiting the Center’s astronomy internship. Guests enjoyed a program about Humans in Space in Schuele Planetarium presented by Planetarium and Program Coordinator Katy Downing, and a bountiful post-program reception.

The Women’s Board has a long history of supporting and advocating for the Center’s mission through service, community awareness, and fundraising. Funds from the “Fly Me to the Moon” fundraiser will support a stipend for a future astronomy intern.

The Center’s Astronomy and Space Science Education Internship offers a unique opportunity for college students to gain career experience in one of two public-access planetariums in Cuyahoga County. Working alongside program staff, interns assist with public astronomy education, learn about current mission news and astronomical research, and become familiar with planetarium technology. The combination of an opti-mechanical star projector and digital projector in Schuele Planetarium provides an immersive learning experience through high-resolution, 360-degree images and a realistic, breathtaking display of over 3,000 stars.

Bay Village Garden Club's "Holiday Greening" centerpiece.

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’Tis the season, and for the Bay Village Garden Club it is a busy season indeed. Many of our service projects are in full swing – decorating our City Welcome signs, Christmas Wreaths for City Hall and Community Building doors, as well as the summertime Wolf Bridge and Gazebo. We also create small Christmas decorations for area shut-ins and cancer patients to brighten their holidays.

The effort we put into our service projects is free, but there is always a cost for materials. To raise funds for greenery, ribbons, bows, and ornaments, we hold our annual Holiday Greening sale.

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Pet photos with "Santa Paws" return to the Clague House Museum on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 1-5 p.m. Reservations are requested; please call 216-848-0680 to make your appointment. A monetary donation of $10 is suggested. Donations benefit our Outreach programs.The museum is located at 1371 Clague Road.

For more than a decade our "Santa Paws" has been visiting all the adorable pets in Westlake and surrounding communities.

Bay High senior Adam Ward has been selected to play in the All-State Jazz Ensemble for the second year in a row.

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Bay High School trumpet player Adam Ward was again selected for the Ohio Music Education Association’s All-State Jazz Ensemble. Ward, a high school senior, auditioned alongside top high school musicians from all over the state. This is the second year in a row he was chosen.

This year’s All-State Jazz Ensemble will rehearse in January, and then play a concert at the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) Convention, which takes place in Columbus this year, Feb. 2-4, 2023.

“Only five trumpet players were selected for this throughout the state, so this is exciting,” said Darren Allen, Bay High School Band Director.

Just a small sample of items available this year at Clague Playhouse's Annual Jewelry Heist.

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Clague Playhouse's 13th Annual Jewelry Heist opened on Nov. 11 and will run through Dec. 11 during the production of "One Christmas Eve at Evergreen Mall" on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 1-8 p.m. and Sundays from 1-3 p.m. and during the Youth Theater production of "Christmas Shorts" on Friday, Dec. 16, and Saturday, Dec. 17, from 1-7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 18, from 1-3 p.m.

Stop on by to see what treasures lie within! We have more jewelry, scarves, handbags and other accessories this year that have been donated by friends of the theater. This our biggest fundraiser of the year and 100% of the proceeds goes directly back to the theater.

Since 2009 the Observer has strived to fulfill our founding mission – to strengthen our community by informing and engaging Westlake and Bay Village residents. 

Times are tough, and the pandemic has presented an added challenge at a time when emotional connection and togetherness matter so much. Please help us continue to provide a free medium where the community can share news, share stories and share laughs.

If you’d like to keep the Observer serving the community, please send a cash or check donation along with your name for recognition in a future edition of the Observer. Donations may also be made via credit card using the links in the left column of the website. All supporters will be recognized in a future edition of the Observer.

Please make checks payable to WBV Observer and mail to: 451 Queenswood Drive, Bay Village, OH 44140.

The Observer is an independent, community owned publication. Please note that charitable contributions are gratefully accepted but not tax-deductible. For questions about donating or more information on how to get involved, contact publishers Denny Wendell or Tara Wendell at 440-409-0114, staff@wbvobserver.com.