LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio - Start making some reservations, as you will want to get in on the action as the Lorain County Commissioners and Visit Lorain County are sponsoring the second annual Restaurant Week March 2-11.
Several area restaurants will be offering three-course meals with a set price of $30 or less per person. Patrons are also encouraged to enter a drawing for a chance to win a $50 gift card to their favorite restaurant.
Coffee-Braised Veal Short Rib or Sole Roulades stuffed with fresh crab will be offered at Bistro 83 in North Ridgeville during Lorain County's Restaurant Week March 2-11.
Participating restaurants in the Sun Sentinel's coverage area include Bistro 83 (North Ridgeville), Nemo Grill (Avon), Parker's Grille and Tavern (Avon Lake) Sapori Italian Grille (Avon Lake), and Veranda Bistro and Bar (Avon). A complete list of Lorain County restaurants is available at visitloraincounty.com/locoeats.
Bistro 83, 36033 Westminister Ave., North Ridgeville, will feature a first course choice of a Bistro Salad or Side Salad. Secord course choices are Coffee-braised Veal Short Rib or Sole Roulades stuffed with fresh crab. Dessert is Earl Grey Creme Brule. To make a reservation, call 440-353-2828
Nemo Grill, 36976 Detroit Ave., Avon, will be serving guests a first course choice of House Salad or Lobster Bisque. Second course is a choice of Faroe Island Salmon or Boneless Short Rib. Dessert is either a Ghirardelli Brownie, Bread Pudding or Creme Brulee. To make a reservation, call 440- 934-0061.
Parker's Tavern and Grille, 32858 Walker Road, Walker Road, Avon Lake, offers a first course choice of House Wedge Salad or Grilled Caesar Salad. Second course choice is Seared Salmon, or Forest Mushroom Chicken, or BBQ Ribs, or an 8 oz. Filet Mignon. Dessert features a choice of Belgian Double Chocolate Mousse or Seasonal Bread Pudding. To make a reservation, call 440-933-9400.
Sapori Italian Grille, 33481 Lake Road, did not have a Restaurant Week menu selection listed online as of this week. To contact the restaurant, call 440-933-4360.
Veranda Bistro and Bar, 32045 Detroit Road, Avon, offers a first course selection of Short Rib and English Pea Stuffed Aroncini or a Warm Mixed Green Salad. Second course offers a choice of Gorgonzola and Pepper Crusted Beef Medallions or Pan Seared Black Cod Puttanesca. Dessert is Angela's Homemade Lemon Cheesecake or Chocolate Mousse. To make a reservation, call 440-471-7459.
For more information on Restaurant Week, go to visitloraincounty.com/locoeats.
AVON
Merit finalists: Congratulations to Avon High School seniors Bhavya Appana and Ashley Granitto for reaching Finalist status in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship program. The two were named semifinalists back in September and have now advanced in the competition.
The National Merit Scholarship program recognizes students with high PSAT scores and a strong academic record. Approximately 1.5 million high school juniors across the country this year will compete for 7,400 scholarships -- a total of $32 million. Semifinalists represent less than 1 percent of American high school seniors. Approximately 15,000 students advanced to the finalist round.
Mayor's Choice: Mayor Bryan Jensen continues to recognize talented Avon student artists with the Mayor's Choice Award. Winning artwork is on display at City Hall each month. February winners include: Caden Clapham (Heritage), Cael McChrystal (Holy Trinity) and Marjorie Hricovec (St. Mary's).
Certificates of Recognition were presented to: Ashley DeHaven (Heritage), Sundae Delarm (Holy Trinity), Declan Kuebler (St. Mary's), Tuongvy Luong (Heritage), Gabriel Ondrus (St. Mary's), Caila Texter (St. Mary's), Elizabeth Samson (St. Mary's), and Colette Welch (Holy Trinity)
Montessori open house: Avon Montessori Academy (AMA), 37701 Colorado Ave., is hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. AMA offers programs for children beginning at 18 months and continuing up through sixth grade. Visitors will have the chance to meet teachers, visit classrooms, and learn more about the Montessori approach. For more information, call 440-934-1774, email AvonMontessoriOffice@gmail.com, or go to AvonMontessoriAcademy.com.
Safety Town registration: The Parks and Recreation Department and Avon Police Department offer a Safety Town program in June for children entering kindergarten. The week-long sessions are held at the Avon Board of Education Office, 36600 Detroit Road, and in the Avon Safety Town village located behind the board office.
Topics covered include fire safety, riding the bus and healthy living. Several program dates and times are available.
Safety Town is not a requirement for entrance into kindergarten and is open to Avon residents/students that will be entering school in the fall. Registration opens at 8 a.m. March 1. To register, go to cityofavon.com and click on the Parks and Recreation tab.
Dr. Seuss' Birthday: Stop by the Avon Library throughout the day March 2 to celebrate all things Dr. Seuss for his birthday. Crafts and other activities will take place. A special Dr. Seuss story time for children ages 3-5 is from 10:30 to 11 a.m.
Adult Art Show: Friends of the Avon Library is hosting a reception for the March art show featuring local adult artists from 7 to 8 p.m. March 5. The art show runs through the month during regular library hours.
Dean's List: The following Avon residents made the list at The Ohio State University for the Fall Semester: Brian Christopher Baker, Natalie Ann Bally, Sarah Michelle Baron, Suji Govin Baskar, Teresa Bell, Nicole Elizabeth Bell, Matthew George Beltz, Katherine Danielle Berkheimer, Claire Bettinger, Hannah Grace Brown, Thomas Michael Bulger, Nicholas Anthony Coffey, Michael Lange Collins, Emma Delaney, Alyssa Douzos, Andrew Regan Dudukovich, Paul Thomas Duesler, Arianna Gabrielle Fine, Elizabeth Jean Frombach, Dana Furnas, Scott Michael Garner, Ashley Brooke Harris, William Russell Heilman, Clay Andrew Heilman, John Charles Kamper, Meredith Kitzel, Callista Elice Krebs, Victoria Lee Krebs, Melanie Grace Lander, Rachel Erica Lew, Maggie Sierra Lieb, Jacob Loudenslager, Hope Olivia Lunt, Rachael Anne Maria, Gabriella Morgan Marino, Domenica Ida Marino, Jonathan Charles Maxwell, Sean Edward Messerly, Matthew Raymond Moritz, Sherry Mortach, Danielle Lauren Nagy, Jared Michael Nardi, Kayley Elizabeth Nickels-McLaughlin, Filip Jarek Niebrzydowski, Michael Nose, Jessica Ann Novotny, Thomas Scott Paoloni, John Peganoff, Grace Catherine Pelfrey, Jennifer Margaret Polito, Ryan Paul Prieto, Dana Pusterhofer, Eric John Pusterhofer, Rhys John Ratino, Parker John Ripich, Danielle Roberts, Emily Rachel Roessler, Julia Catherine Scarpelli, Jacob George Sedlak, Emma Katherine Shirley, Kimberly Ann Siegel, Julia Autumn Smith, Jacob Jeffrey Socha, Stavroula Christianna Soulas, Anastasia Marina Soulas, Paige Alexis St. John, Nicholas John Stamatis, Julia Madeline Stowe, Alivia Kathleen Svec, Britne Lane Vondra, Sarah Nicole Warnkin, Alec Tyler Warren, Nya Rachelle Washington, Justin Allen Watson, Allen Wenzl, Austin Grant Williams, Nolan Edwin Woods, Keely Ann Wotsch, and Spencer Lawrence Yates.
Pizza Bakeoff results: The people have spoken (and eaten). The results for the 2018 North Coast Rotary Club's Pizza Bakeoff at Avon High School are: People's Choice - Neechi's Pizza (Avon), Best Specialty - Coleone's Pizza (Avon Lake), Pro's Choice - Master Pizza (Avon), and Best Sauce - Pizza Hut.
AVON LAKE
Merit finalists: Congratulations to Avon Lake High School seniors Robert Nordman and Morgan Strauss for reaching Finalist status in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship program. The two were named semifinalists back in September and have now advanced in the competition.
Teacher honored: Westlake-based Connecting for Kids (CFK) will honor several area individuals who have helped fulfill the organization's mission to provide education and support to families with concerns about their child at its annual fundraiser Friday at Ahern Catering & Banquet Center, Avon Lake.
Natalie Tesar, second-grade teacher and Building Advisory Team member at Eastview Elementary School, Avon Lake, is the "Educator/Professional of the Year." She is student-centered, plans instruction to meet her students' individual needs and uses technology to engage and empower her students, according to her principal, James Franko. Tesar also displays all the professional and personal traits that make her a quality educator. She is professional, caring, builds strong relationships with others, and remains calm under stressful circumstances.
(CFK) serves all families, including those children with and without formal diagnoses. The organization offers educational programs, support groups, a Parent Match Program and numerous resources. For more information, go to connectingforkids.org.
Nominations needed: Do you know someone or a group that has made a significant impact in Avon Lake? The Avon Lake Community Council is currently accepting nominations for 2018 Avon Lake Citizen of the Year and 2018 Project of the Year.
Nominees for Citizen of the Year must be an Avon Lake resident. The nominee may, but is not required to, belong to a service organization. The Project of the Year is given to a project that merits community-wide recognition for its positive impact on the community. Nominees may be an individual or a group.
Nomination forms are available at the Avon Lake Public Library and at City Hall. Completed forms can be dropped off at City Hall, emailed to modonnell@avonlake.org or mailed to Martin O'Donnell, Project/Citizen of the Year, City of Avon Lake, 150 Avon Belden Road, Avon Lake, OH 44012. For more information, call O'Donnell at 440-933-7310. Deadline for nominations is March 16.
Great Lakes Theater program: "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" will be performed by the Great Lakes Theater Company at 10 a.m. Saturday in Waugaman Gallery at the Avon Lake Public Library. The free program is recommended for students in grades 3-8. No registration required.
College honors: Kevin Collins, an environmental engineering major at St. Francis University in Loretto, Pa., was named to the Provost List (3.8 GPA or higher).
Dean's List: The following Avon Lake residents made the list at The Ohio State University for the Fall Semester: Nicholle Cassidy Acciarri, Gaber Ali Alawi, Abigail Rose Armbrecht, Caitlin Elizabeth Armbrecht, Curran William Arora, Ross Thomas Barone, Anne Elaine Bishop, Hayley Lynn Burke, Kay Butrey, Kimberly Faith Byron, Caroline Grace Caldart, Claire Catherine Caldart, Kennedy Lee Clement, Bailey Elizabeth Coatoam, Lorenzo Giuseppe Costanzo, Emma Grace Coughlin, Isabella Culliton, Grant William Davis, Alanna Jane Daws, George Richard Durisek, Mary Kathryn Durkin, Marisa Dzwonczyk, Nader Sam Elkurd, Douglas Rudolph Fink, Abigail Grace Francy, Jacob Kirk Francy, Alexander Mitchell Gabanic, Charles Anthony Giganti, Trent Elliott Glasser, Logan Michael Good, Lucas Wayne Good, Matthew Thomas Gottshall, Emily Elizabeth Grosjean, Jack Donovan Gulling, Madison Hansborough, Caitlyn Elizabeth Harrington, Abigail Erin Hawkinson, Catherine Maria Hawrylko, Marcella Josephine Hegarty, Park Herbert, Paige Nicole Higgins, Jessica Leigh Horvath, Margaret McMaster Hudnutt, Adam David Jankowski, Lauren Jedlicka, Erin Johnson, Brian Michael Kachala, Owen David Kirkwood, Meredith McCarty Klopp, Lauren Terese Krupar, Hannah Elyse Lang, Marissa Lynn Maiorca, Ashley Elizabeth Mandel, Anthony Michael Mango, Nicole Marie Mango, Mallory Ann Masarik, Daniel Thomas McCormick, John Patrick McGinness, Andrew Max Melchioris, Haley Melinda Micsak, William Cole Moench, Brendan William Moore, Alexander Steven Muszynec, Dana Kathleen Niehaus, James Paul O'Connor, Jacob Mark O'Connor, Pradip Chinu Patel, Anna Violet Phillips, Allyson Nicole Prince, Samuel Redman, Alyssa Yvette Roggenburk, Megan Ann Ryan, David Carl Scheatzle, Kenneth Michael Schneider, Hannah Schuette, Max Mark Seipel, Andrew Kevin Shee, Tyler Andrew Simons, John William Skaggs, Nolan Charles Skelly, Patrick Dean Smith, Kimberly Eva Stawski, Christian Stephens, Zachary Dean Strimbu, Kelly Shannon Sullivan, Jack Patrick Sullivan, Alison Grace Walasinski, Jacob Evan Walasinski, Kelly Elizabeth Walsh, Paul Adler Warns, Trevor Stephen Warthman, Trevor William White, Sarah Elizabeth Winkel, Matthew Joseph Wozniak, and Emily Andress Young.
Kiwanis scholarships: The Kiwanis Club of Avon Lake has scholarships available for Avon Lake seniors in high school, regardless of the high school they attend. The application is available on the Avon Lake High School guidance website on the scholarship page, avonlakecityschools.org. For more information, contact Kristen Boll at kfyeboll@yahoo.com or Eileen Wozniak at wozniakeileen@yahoo.com.
NORTH RIDGEVILLE
Merit finalists: Congratulations to Lake Ridge Academy seniors Elizabeth Coble (Avon Lake), Ben Gwinnell (Cleveland Heights), Noah Kawaguchi (Amherst) and Anjali Prabhakaran (Avon) for reaching Finalist status in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship program. The students were named semifinalists back in September and have now advanced in the competition. They join 15,000 finalists who will be considered to receive one of the 7,500 Merit Scholarships that will be awarded nationally in March. The four students represent eight percent of Lake Ridge Academy's Class of 2018.
Giving back: Families at the Goddard School North Ridgeville raised nearly $600 for North Ridgeville Community Care by purchasing artwork created by children at the school.
Parents of the Year: Westlake-based Connecting for Kids (CFK) will honor North Ridgeville residents Chris and Maureen Box as "Parent of the Year" during CFK's annual fundraiser Friday at Ahern Catering & Banquet Center, Avon Lake. The couple are noted for arranging fundraisers and encouraging dads to get out and connect with each other. They are the parents of a child with a severe disability and have built a community within the CFK organization. For more information regarding Connecting for Kids, go to connectingforkids.org.
Dr. Seuss' Birthday: The North Ridgeville Library will host a celebration for preschoolers from 2 to 3 p.m. March 2 to celebrate all things Dr. Seuss for his birthday.
Old Glory history: Jim Smith, Lorain County Historical Society educator, will show samples of many different U.S. flags and explain the history behind Old Glory during a presentation from 3 to 4 p.m. March 4 at the North Ridgeville Library.
Spring Fling: The Rotary Club of North Ridgeville is hosting its annual Spring Fling - Reverse Raffle at 6 p.m. March 10 at Tom's Country Place, 3442 Stoney Ridge, Avon. Tickets are $80 per person and include dinner and one raffle number for a chance to win $3,500. Live and silent auctions will also take place during the fundraiser.
The North Ridgeville Rotary is responsible for the annual Easter Egg hunt, upkeep at Safetyville, scholarships to high school seniors, recognition of students of the month, among many other local and international service projects. For tickets and more information, call Traci at 440-353-3235.
Easter Bunny pictures: Get your pet's picture taken with the Easter Bunny from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 3 and 4 at The Bark Club, 33549 Liberty Pkwy. A framed 4x6 print is $12. Photos also will be posted on social media.
Proceeds benefit Mutts in Rut Rescue and Fido's Companion Rescue Inc. The event is hosted by Elite K911, Grateful Dog Bakery and The Bark Club.
Healthy living program: Every Monday during the month of March, from 1 to 2 p.m., the North Ridgeville Senior Center is hosting a program titled, "Healthy Outlook." The program is designed to keep those healthy New Year's resolution goals in check.
Program topics include: Food Safety, presented by Lorain County Public Health (March 5); Nutritional Eating, presented by Lea Goldsmith, Maximize Fitness (March 12); Cooking for One Demonstration/Portion Control, presented by Ideal HHC, Woods on French Creek, Bella Hospice (March 19); and Healthy Lifestyle Choices, presented by a nutritionist from the Northridge Health Campus (March 26). To register, call the Senior Center at 440-353-0828 by March 2.
Dodgeball tournament: The Fourth Annual North Ridgeville City School Dodgeball Tournament will take place at 6 p.m. March 16 in the North Ridgeville Academic Center gym. Presale tickets are $3 available through the schools. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Cub Scouts ceremony: Congratulations to the members of Cub Scout Pack 153 who will be bridging over to Boy Scouts. The annual Blue & Gold Dinner will be held March 18 at St. Peter's Gym.
All-you-can-eat pizza, wings: The North Ridgeville High School After Prom committee is hosting a fundraiser from 7 to 9 p.m. March 23 at Razzles/Rockers Cafe, 27128 Bagley Road, Olmsted Township. Admission is $20 per person and includes all-you-can-eat pizza and wings. Draft beer and pop are included. To purchase tickets or for more information, email HSchnell1107@oh.rr.com.
Auditor honor: The North Ridgeville City Schools received a clean audit report by the Auditor of State's office, earning an "Auditor of State" award. The honor is presented to local governments and school districts upon completion of a financial audit. To receive the award, groups must have a "clean" audit report according to the auditor's office, including timely financial reports with the Auditor of State's office in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
"Achieving these awards is due to the dedicated effort and adherence to procedures by my team," Michael Verlingo, the North Ridgeville City Schools treasurer, said in a press release.
Dean's List: The following North Ridgeville residents made the list at The Ohio State University for the Fall Semester: Alexis Colleen Archacki, Kyle Joseph Baker, Casey Michael Bernhardt, Regan Taylor Betts, Emily Bundy, Morgan Faith Finau, Richard Steven Foster, Dylan Joseph Hanna, Alana Renee Jarrell, Addysen Kristine Kerr, Zachary Lee Konno, Kristen Nicole Konno, Leah Kay Lindak, Macie Mae Mancuso, Alan Robert Mather, Brenna Moreno, Meilenys Idbel Peraza, Antoan Minh Pham, Aaron Ray Pycraft, Eric Reinhart, Ryan David Robinson, Zachary Alex Rumora, Jarod Steven Wade, and Corey Williams.
If you have news to share regarding an event, award or other interesting tidbit happening in Avon or Avon Lake, and North Ridgeville send me an email at jshortavon@aol.com. The column's online version is at Cleveland.com/Avon, which offers direct links for many of the news items listed.