Avon will not have a Memorial Day parade this year, but a ceremony will take place May 30 to honor our fallen heroes. (Photo is from a previous parade)

LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio -- The countdown is on for the “unofficial” start of summer -- Memorial Day weekend. A host of activities are planned in the area, and below is a list for Avon, Avon Lake and North Ridgeville.

Avon will not have a parade this year (city officials noted that one will take place next year), but there will be a ceremony at 10 a.m. May 30 at the Veterans Memorial located behind the post office, 36225 Detroit Road, to honor our fallen heroes.

In Avon Lake, a parade will be held at 10 a.m. May 30. The parade begins at Avon Lake High School, 175 Avon Belden Road, and ends at Veterans Memorial Park, 32756 Lake Road.

The City of Avon Lake is committed to the health and safety of the community and will follow all COVID-19 guidelines in effect from the State of Ohio at the time of the event.

If you would like to walk, ride or enter a float in the Avon Lake Memorial Day parade, email avonlakememorialday@avonlake.org with the name of your organization, contact name, email, phone number and approximate number of participants.

All Blue Star and Gold Star Mothers are invited to participate in the Avon Lake Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park at 10:45 a.m. May 30. The city would like to recognize and honor the Blue Star and Gold Star Mothers for the service of their military son or daughter. Names will not be used to protect privacy.

For more information, contact Jacqui Hoffman at 440-930-4130, extension 1033, or email AvonLakeMemorialDay@AvonLake.org.

A special Memorial Day project in the works is a partnership between Avon Lake American Legion Post 211 and Avon High School. Students from Avon art classes, Art Club and the National Art Honors Society have been making ceramic poppies to honor fallen veterans.

The red poppy officially became the national emblem of remembrance in 1920. The post has been selling the poppies, which will soon be on display as a memorial in front of the post, 31972 Walker Road, leading up to Memorial Day.

North Ridgeville’s Lions Club and VFW Post 9871 are hosting the city’s Memorial Day parade and service May 30. The parade will assemble at 9:45 a.m. at the North Ridgeville Senior Center, 7327 Avon Belden Road, and will travel east down Bainbridge Road, ending at Ranger Stadium, where a ceremony will be held to honor our fallen heroes.

Kids can join the Memorial Day Kids Bike Brigade contest and participate in the parade by decorating a bike for a chance to win an award. Parents must accompany kids for the entire parade route. Younger siblings are welcome in decorated strollers or wagons.

Awards will also be given for the Best Float, marching group and cars. For more information, contact Dennis Boose at 440-327-8528.

Garden Club meeting: The Avon Garden Club will meet May 17 in the Orchid Room at Miller Nature Preserve, 2739 Center Road. Master chef John Ellis will present “Cooking with Herbs.” Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the free program starting at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

Store closes, Planning Commission items: Not good news for any last minute prom tux renters, Men’s Wearhouse in Avon Commons has permanently closed.

A sign on the front door states that patrons can go to the nearest location at 25102 Brookpark Road, North Olmsted, or shop online 24/7 at menswearhouse.com.

On a positive note, according to the city’s planning coordinator Pam Fechter, even though Men’s Wearhouse left, the space will be divided into two units. No word on what businesses will lease the spaces.

Panera Bread, which closed several months ago at Avon Commons, will be converted into a salon (no word on the name or services offered).

I will keep you posted on the new businesses coming.

Speaking of new businesses, during last month’s Planning Commission meeting, members heard an informal presentation from Thomas Dowling of Zeisler Morgan for the proposed site plan for a grocery anchor to be located on the north side of Detroit Road, near French Creek Square (lot behind Bob Evans).

The name of the store was not mentioned, but according to Fechter, “there was quite a bit of conversation around the existing traffic concerns on Detroit Road and what the additional traffic would mean.”

“They also talked about possible roadway improvements that could be done to help alleviate the congestion and what could be done internally within their site to help,” she wrote in an email.

The Planning Commission also heard from Michael Tomsik, representing Fiesta Habaneros, requesting approval of the site plan and the recommendation to City Council to create a Special Use Permit to include an outdoor patio with seating at the restaurant located at 38790 Chester Road.

Jay Valadez, from Great Lake Basketball, also requested approval of the site plan and the recommendation to City Council to create a Special Use Permit for an indoor training facility at 1284 Miller Road.

Online privacy: Stop by the Avon Branch Library, 37485 Harvest Drive, this month to pick up resources regarding basic online privacy and security. Get tips on managing passwords, browsing anonymously and much more for the whole family.

Eagle Run Kids T-shirts: Congratulations to Avon East Elementary School second-grader Lainey Hetrick, winner of the Kids T-shirt Design Challenge for the Avon Eagle Run.

Lainey’s design will be featured on the Kids Fun Run T-shirts at the May 28 race.

Avon Local Schools Superintendent Ben Hodge presented Lainey, 8, with the final T-shirt design image, a certificate and a goodie bag.

Runners-up include Mariano Melendez (Avon East first-grader) and Lucy Heinig (Avon Heritage fourth-grader). Each received a certificate and a goodie bag.

To register for the 20th anniversary Avon Eagle Run, presented by Mercy Health, go to runsignup.com/Race/OH/Avon/eagleruncle.

Republican Club meeting: The Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club will meet May 12 at the Father Ragan Knights of Columbus Hall, 1783 Moore Road. Lorain County Commissioner David Moore and candidates Judge Darrel Bilancini, Lorain County Court of Common Pleas; Jeffrey Riddell, Lorain County commissioner, and Rodger Roeser, Lorain County auditor, will be available at 5 p.m. to chat with attendees. Cost is $5 for guests.

Road closure: Case Road is now closed between Center Ridge and Otten roads for replacement of a bridge. Work is expected to be completed Aug. 26 (weather permitting). Detour signs are posted.

Cool treats now available: A sure sign summer is right around the corner is the opening of Avon Dairy Treat, a.k.a. The Lick, at 37131 Colorado Ave.

Also open is 808 Shave Ice, 35669 Detroit Road, from 1 to 9 p.m. (weekends for now, daily starting May 9).

Plant sale: The annual Mother’s Day plant sale of the Avon-on-the-Lake Garden Club runs from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday (May 7) in the Goddard School parking lot, 430 Avon Belden Road.

The Environmental Affairs Advisory Board will also be distributing free native plants to Avon Lake residents in conjunction with the plant sale. Native plants provide many benefits to the environment, including deep roots for clean water and filtration of pollutants, habitat for butterflies and pollinators, and prevention of soil erosion.

These plants stabilize clay soil so that it doesn’t erode into our water; therefore, keeping our waterways and lake clean.

Shout-out: During last month’s Avon Lake City Schools’ Board of Education meeting, Mighty Goliath Productions presented the district with a check for $4,500.

Mighty Goliath Productions (MGP) has been supporting the arts in Avon Lake since 1959. They are able to continue this tradition with the help of our amazing community, which sponsors, supports and donates to productions each year.

For more information on MGP, go to mightygoliath.com.

College symposium: Stephanie Carr, Clara Orr and Emma Pruzan, students at the University of Findlay, recently participated in the annual Symposium for Scholarship and Creativity.

Undergraduate and graduate students were given the opportunity to share their research, creativity and professional learning experiences with the university and community, with many students receiving honors at the same time.

Carr was named Outstanding Teacher Education Graduate: Dual Early Childhood/Intervention Specialist.

Orr presented “Invasive Flowering Tree Influences Pollinator Species Diversity.”

Pruzan presented “Assessing the Rate of Concurrent Hormonal Contraceptive and Antidepressant Medication Therapy in Female Patients Aged 18-26 in a College-Based Community Pharmacy” and “Patient Perceptions and Confidence in Self Care.”

The symposium can be viewed at findlay.edu/offices/academic/ssc2022.

Bulk collection now weekly: North Ridgeville joins the list of communities served by Republic Services that will receive weekly, year-round collection citywide for yard waste and bulk items on the regular service day. The current monthly bulk schedule, dividing the city between east and west of Ohio 83, will be eliminated.

There are also modifications to bulk and yard waste collections. Residents should limit bulk disposal to four items on the weekly collection day.

Yard waste (grass clippings and leaves) can be placed in clear plastic bags, yard waste bags or loose in a trash container, not to exceed 32 gallons or 50 pounds and clearly marked as “yard waste.” Yard waste bags are no longer required. Small branches must be bundled and tied in no more than 4-foot lengths or 50 pounds.

Trash collection day for all materials will continue weekly on Tuesdays, unless a holiday falls before or on the regular collection day for that week only. The holidays that affect collection are New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Fishing Derby: The North Ridgeville Parks and Recreation and Fire Department’s annual free fishing derby for children ages 3-18 is 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday (May 7) at South Central Park, 7565 Avon Belden Road.

Bring your own bait and fishing rod, if you have one. If you don’t have a rod, one will be provided. A $5 donation for Aluminum Cans for Burned Children is encouraged. For more information, go to the city’s website, nridgeville.org, or call 440-353-0880.

Review project plans: Residents and business owners can now view plans for the proposed project (set to begin next April) to improve the intersection at Ohio 83 (Avon Belden Road) and Chestnut Ridge Road.

The project limits on Chestnut Ridge Road begin 400 feet southwest of the current intersection and end 325 feet northeast of the intersection. The project limits on Ohio 83 begin 175 feet south of the current intersection and end 400 feet north of the intersection.

The work to be completed includes the construction of a single-lane roundabout at the intersection, including full-depth pavement reconstruction, as well as intersection improvements such as lighting, storm sewer, signage and pavement markings.

Comments forms and project plans are available on the city’s website, nridgeville.org. A hard copy of the design plans and comment forms are also available for viewing at North Ridgeville City Hall, 7307 Avon Belden Road, and at the North Ridgeville Branch Library, 35700 Bainbridge Road.

Residents can contact the city engineer at 440-353-0842 or by email at drodriguez@nridgeville.org with any questions. Viewing and comment submission will be accepted through May 23.

Zumba classes: Have fun and get fit with Latin beats at Zumba from 2 to 2:45 p.m. May 6, 13, 20 and 27 at the North Ridgeville Branch Library. Pre-registration is required. Go to lorainpubliclibrary.org.

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.

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