OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- Ella Young and her mom, Jen, went shopping for a prom dress Saturday (April 13) at the Olmsted Community Center.
That’s right. You read it correctly -- the Olmsted Community Center. And the items are free.
Ella chose two dresses from the clothing racks and headed to a room to see how they fit. Whichever she may choose, it will not cost her -- or her mom -- a penny.
Prom attire is free to any Bulldog senior at Charlotte’s Closet, located inside the center.
This “prom pop-up” offers various prom attire and accessories that have been donated for young ladies and men.
You’ll find short and long dresses that have sparkles, fringe, sequins and floral designs, along with more subdued fashions.
A rack or two hold men’s suit coats and pants, dress shirts and ties.
Need a pair of shoes? The pop-up has them, too.
Ella Young, an Olmsted Falls High School senior, browses through donated prom dresses available at the Olmsted Community Center in Olmsted Falls.Joanne Berger DuMound/Special to Cleveland.com
All the items, in various sizes, are donated. A few dresses even have their original sale tags attached.
Amanda Karpus, the center’s community engagement coordinator, said she saw the need for offering prom attire that has been worn once.
“I have six kids, from 11 to 23 years of age,” she said. “Over the years, some of their favorite outfits were loved by others first.
“So, the idea of giving these dresses another go on the dance floor instead of a landfill is pretty amazing!”
Ella and her mom decided to come to this event after a few of the dresses Ella liked in the stores were now unavailable.
“We came here to see what they have,” Ella said.
The prom pop-up will be open again from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday (April 20). It is also available during the week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The center’s number is 440-427-1599.
The Olmsted Falls Kiwanis Club and Olmsted Community Center sponsor Charlotte’s Closet. It is named after the late Charlotte Koesel, who was an active member of Kiwanis and the community and helped jump-start the project.
Charlotte’s Closet is open to everyone in the community. The prom pop-up is in a special room at the center just for this event.
Why not stop by and see what it offers? Your name will be placed in a raffle to win some great giveaways.
Long and short prom dresses, men's suit coats and pants and other prom attire are available to Bulldog seniors at Charlotte's Closet at the Olmsted Community Center in Olmsted Falls.Joanne Berger DuMound/Special to Cleveland.com
Do you have a prom dress, suit coat, slacks or other pieces that will not be used again by anyone in your household? Why not donate them at the center?
Call 440-427-1599 today about making a donation.
Read more information about Charlotte’s Closet in an upcoming column.
Train depot: The Olmsted Falls Depot & Model Railroad Museum has its annual spring open house over the next two weekends.
Its hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 20, 21, 27 and 28. The depot is at 25802 Garfield Ave., which is along the southern side of the Norfolk Southern Railway tracks.
Its members have created amazing O, HO and N model train layouts. They are fun to watch.
You will also learn some history about our area and the importance of trains to the community.
Admission is $5 for adults, but free for kids. Refreshments will be available.
You will also get to visit the caboose and historic markers. The club’s website is olmstedfallsdepot.com.
Praise and worship: Sanctuary Music will perform a praise and worship evening filled with Christian music at 7 p.m. April 22 at St. Mary of the Falls Church, corner of Bagley and Columbia roads.
The group includes three siblings -- Elizabeth, Joshua and Nathan Gonzalez -- and Christina Dupree, who is its lead guitarist and producer.
The Gonzalez family is Bulldog oriented since they live in our community. Parents John and Andrea are Olmsted Falls High grads and their seven children have either graduated, attend or will attend our schools.
They will sing various Christian songs, as well as some of their own creations. Their message is very poignant to young people, but offers something for everyone.
The performance is free and open to the public.
Pet photo contest extension: The entry date for the Olmsted Chamber of Commerce’s Spring Fe-fur Pet Photo Contest has been extended.
You may continue to send in photos of your pet through April 22.
The contest is open to anyone, not just Olmsted community members. So tell your relatives and friends.
There will be first- and second-place winners who will win a prize basket filled with pet goodies. Winning pets also will be featured on the chamber’s social media sites and website.
Simply go to Olmstedchamber.org to enter. Categories are Puppy Love, Cool Cat and Most Varied Pet.
The $10 fee will benefit our Olmsted Falls Kiwanis Club and its many community activities.
Voting for your favorite pet photo begins April 23 and ends at 8 p.m. April 30. Each vote costs $1, which also will benefit our Kiwanis Club.
To vote, go to olmstedchamber.org.
So take those pictures. Just say “cheese!” Well, maybe “treat!”
Scout fundraisers: Olmsted Falls Boy Scout Troop 201 and Cub Scout Pack 102 continue to offer coffee, plants and first aid online packages.
They also will directly sell Scout pancake mix and syrup at various locations.
The Scouts will be at Discount Drug Mart in Olmsted Falls from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 27 and 28 selling their maple syrup and pancake mix.
They will be duplicating that at the Tractor Supply in Columbia Township from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 27 and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 28. The store is at 24100 Royalton Road, just west of North Boone Road.
They also are selling first aid kits, flower and plant coupons from Uncle John’s Plant Farm and Red Cedar Coffee selections.
All funds help maintain the troop’s equipment. The funds also will continue to promote their activities, which foster citizenship, responsibility, leadership and so much more.
First aid kits range from $16 to $120 in various sizes and equipment needs.
Coupons for herbs, flowers and plants are from $5 to $25. They are redeemable at Uncle John’s Plant Farm on Columbia Road.
Red Cedar Coffee offers various roasts and blends for $15 per 12-ounce bag.
For more information and to order, go to https://troop-201-first-aid.cheddarup.com.
Perennials galore: You may still place online orders for the Olmsted Falls Garden Club’s May 5 plant sale.
The club has posted several plant groupings on its website, olmstedfallsgardenclub.com.
If you place a $25 or more online order, you may shop the physical sale a day early on May 4 when you pick up your online order.
The actual sale is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 5 on the grounds just west of the Olmsted Falls Library on Mapleway Drive.
Unicorn party: Girls interested in Girl Scouts are invited to attend the 6 to 7 p.m. April 23 Unicorn Party in the Olmsted Falls Intermediate School cafeteria.
It’s a chance for you and your daughter to learn more about the organization. Go to gsneo.org/join and just click on “RSVP Now’ to register for the event.
If you cannot attend but would like more information about Girl Scouts, go to customercare@gsneo.org, call 800-852-4474 or Live Chat at gsneo.org.
Future events: Reserve a spot in our community’s May 27 Memorial Day Parade by calling Aimee at 440-235-1055.
Girl Scout Troop 70155 will have a Kids Bike Parade at 10 a.m. May 5 from the Olmsted Falls Police Station to the Village Green. For more details, email ashleybasile@aol.com.
The Grand Pacific Junction will sponsor its Gather in the Gardens live music concerts from 6 to 8 p.m. May 8, June 12, July 10, Aug. 14 and Oct. 9. The concerts, which are on the second Wednesday of the month, are free and open to the public. Food will be available to purchase.
The Olmsted Falls’ Rock the Park concerts are June 30, July 28 and Aug. 18. They are from 6 to 8 p.m. at the East River Park on Lewis Road, just north of the Norfolk Southern Railway tracks.
I’m adding these future dates so you -- and I -- will remember them.
I’ll retire from the column May 2. I just want to ensure we know about some fun summer events coming to our back yard. More on this in an upcoming column.
Information, please: To include news, tidbits, honors or activities in Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township, contact Joanne DuMound at jdumound@yahoo.com. She is also on Twitter, @JoanneDuMound. The column’s online version at cleveland.com/olmsted has direct links for many news items.
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