Smiles For Sophie Bash and Dash Registration Opens

Last year more than 1,000 people participated; event returns on July 4.

A race that celebrates the birthday of a young Avon Lake girl who passed away from pediatric brain cancer before her fifth birthday, is entering its fifth year and expected to be larger than ever. Last year’s Fourth of July Smiles For Sophie Birthday Bash and Dash drew almost 1,000 runners, raising funds in honor of Sophie Quayle, who was born on July 4, 2003. The race and festival returns on July 4 at Walker Road Park on what would have been Sophie’s ninth birthday and includes a 5k race and a 1.5-mile family friendly walk. Sophie’s mother, Emily Quayle, said the event continues to grow each year. “Last year we had 900 registered and another maybe 200-300 kids and volunteers,” Quayle said. “It continues to grow each year.” There are a few…

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Wine Festival in Veterans Park Gets the Go-Ahead

Council votes 6-1 to allow a one-day alcohol permit in the park.

The July 13 Avon Lake Wine Festival in Veterans Park received a nod of approval from city leaders June 11 and will go on as planned, weather permitting. Councilman Dan Bucci, who has helped organize the festival through the non-profit Avon Lake Waterfront group, reiterated to council that alcohol consumption, generally prohibited in all city parks, will limit consumption to 2-ounce samplers of wine for July 13 only. Bottles of wine from area wineries will be  sold, but the bottles must remain unopened while on park property. “(Alcohol) Prohibition in the Lake House will remain,” Bucci said. Current plans call for an art show in the Lake House while the festival, which runs from 4 p.m. to dusk, is going on. Council approved by a 6-1 vote …

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Annual Pizza Bake-Off is a Hot Homecoming Event

Thursday's Rotary Pizza Bake-Off is an all-you-can-eat pizzafest.

Everyone loves pizza. That may be why the annual Avon/Avon Lake Rotary Great Pizza Bake-Off has become one of the hottest homecoming weekend events in town. More than 700 pizza enthusiasts attended the 2010 bake-off, according to Frank Krempasky, treasurer of the Avon/Avon Lake Rotary Foundation. “It’s fun for both adults and children. We start the weekend with the Rotary event on Thursday and close with the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast on Sunday,” he said. “These are two key student-oriented organizations participating and making a difference during homecoming.” Winner of last year’s “People’s Choice” award, Coleone’s Pizza, bill be back to defend that title for the third consecutive time. Other returning award winners are Cici’s Pizza, …

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Frank Krempasky

11:01 pm on Thursday, September 29, 2011

Great night had by all. Thank you vendors, patrons and Rotary members for another great event. Romeo's wins peoples choice in an upset, Coleone's best specialty pizza and Doughboy's best pepperoni.   more ›

Council Candidate Comments on Criminal Charge as a Teen

Gallagher says misdemeanor passing bad checks almost 20 years ago was a misunderstanding

William E. Gallagher, who is seeking a Ward 1 council seat in November said a conviction for passing bad checks as a teenager was a result of a misunderstanding.  “I was 19 years old and working for a company that was going out of business,” Gallagher said July 10. “I was in charge of paying bills and didn’t know that some checks went bad.” Gallagher, 38, said the company, Advanced Ultraviolet, went out of business soon after. “I was contacted by the courts and paid the bills myself,” he said. “I was charged because I was the signer on the checks.” In 1992, Gallagher was charged with theft and passing bad checks valued at less than $300 in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. On Feb. 1, 1993 he changed his plea from not guilty to guilty …

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Avon/Avon Lake Relay For Life Announces Weekend Schedule

Annual event starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday and runs through Sunday morning.

The 11th anniversary of the American Cancer Society’s Avon / Avon Lake Relay For Life, Community Festival kicks off Saturday, June 4 at Avon Lake High School’s Memorial Stadium this year. Relay organizers have announced the schedule for the overnight event which ends June 5 at 10 a.m. The relay concludes months of planning and events, including fundraisers such as wine tastings.  The Relay is the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The festival will feature plenty of family entertainment including music, food, contests, a golf ball drop, awards and prizes as well as somber moments, including the lighting of the luminaries that circle the track representing cancer survivors and those lost to cancer. Many participants pitch…

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Pet of the Week

Friendly Grady Plays Nice With Others

This pretty gray kitty needs a new home.

Grady is a front-declawed,  3 1/2-year-old solid gray male who looks like a Russian Blue.  He was born in September 2007 and was adopted from Love-A-Stray as a kitten, but was recently returned because the owner's new boyfriend is allergic to him. His owner said that he acts like a dog. When he hears the doorbell ring, he runs to the door to greet everyone. Grady also likes dogs. He is neutered, current on vaccines and has tested negative for feline leukemia/FIV.  Grady is currently available for adoption at the Great Northern PetSmart in North Olmsted.  For further information, call Marge at 440-777-1081. For more adoptable cats and kittens, visit the Love-A-Stray website.

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Parenting Peaks and Pitfalls

In Homework vs. Summer Break Fever, Fever Winning

Avon Lake mom Alicia Castelli finds a looming summer break can distract.

Getting kids to do homework at the best of times is difficult. Getting them to stay focused during these last weeks of school is exhausting. Our oldest isn’t really a problem and neither is our youngest since she’s in kindergarten and doesn’t have homework. Our middle child, however, not only still has homework every night, but he frequently has homework during the weekend. I like that his teacher is continuing to make the students work hard since they’re going to be learning quite a few new skills in third grade including cursive writing, multiplication and division. She’s already started working on these skills and that’s the bulk of his homework (in addition to daily reading). My son likes it considerably less. He has always had some …

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Turbo Ready to Charge Up Your Heart

Tuxedo cat abandoned after owners evcited

Turbo is a long-haired black and white male tuxedo cat who was born around July 0f 2007.  His family was recently evicted from their apartment, and the landlord found Turbo left alone in the apartment after they'd left. Turbo is a very handsome guy with long white whiskers and big green eyes. Turbo is declawed on his front paws, neutered and current on his vaccines.  For more information, please call Marge at 440-777-1081. Love-A-Stray cats are available for adoption at the Avon Petco on Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. and at the Great Northern PetsMart on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. What do you love about cats? Tell us in the comments.

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