CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's been nearly a week since the funeral services for Cleveland police officer Vu Nguyen, yet blue ribbons remain on trees, sign poles, fences, utility poles and fire hydrants along what was the route for his funeral procession.
Rocky River Drive in Cleveland's West Park neighborhood has hundreds of the ribbons along the way from Chambers Funeral Home to Our Lady of Angels Church, where the funeral Mass was celebrated. More ribbons still line Lorain Avenue in West Park, Lorain Road in Fairview Park, West 210th Street in Fairview and Wagar and Detroit roads in Rocky River along the route followed to Lakewood Park Cemetery, his final resting place.
Hundreds of residents joined police officers, family and friends of Nguyen in lining the route to pay final respects to the officer, who collapsed during a training exercise on July 2 and died four days later.
Nguyen, 50, was a beloved member of the community. He was raised in Lakewood, spent time in West Park and most recently lived in Avon with his wife, Holli, and two daughters, Kayla and Maya. He is survived by a large, close-knit family, including his 15 siblings, and many in the law enforcement community. The Nguyen family fled Vietnam in 1975 and settled in Lakewood.
There is a large wreath at the West Park Police and Fire Memorial on Rocky River Drive near the Lakewood border surrounding Nguyen's badge number, 1534. The length of the memorial walkway is filled with blue ribbons tied to the decorative fence in tribute to Nguyen.
Condolences to his family and friends. He was one of Cleveland's finest.
Market time: North Olmsted Senior Center is hosting a Mobile Farmer's Market from 10 a.m. to noon every Tuesday through August at the center, 29114 Lorain Road. Richardson Farms is selling locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, herbs, jams and salsas.
Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging Senior Farmer Market Nutrition Program vouchers are accepted, as well as cash or check.
Gift of life: The Red Cross will send a bloodmobile from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 20 to the Fairview Park Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, 21255 Lorain Road.
Red Cross officials said blood supplies are dangerously low, so they encourage donors to stop by.
For more information or to make an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
Know your home: LakewoodAlive will offer "Hands-on Window Repair," the next in its series of free home maintenance workshops, from 7 to 9 p.m. July 19 at Lakewood Hardware, 16608 Madison Ave., Lakewood.
Glenn Palmer will lead the program and work with participants to check window sashes, identify parts of the window and learn simple window fixes, such as sash repair, glazing, sash cord repair, etc.
The class size is limited to 25 participants. Attendees are asked to register at eventbrite.com/e/knowing-your-home-hands-on-window-repair-tickets-44570228754.
In lieu of charging for these events, LakewoodAlive asks participants to consider bringing cans of food or non-perishable items for the Lakewood Community Services Center.
Visit lakewoodalive.org for more information.
Asphalt Cinema: "Finding Dory" will be the next family-friendly movie for Kamm's Corners Development Corp.'s Asphalt Cinema, starting at 6:30 p.m. July 20 at Impett Park, 3180 W. 153rd St., West Park.
Admission is free. Concessions will be available. There will be games, activities and music before the movie, which starts at dusk. Attendees should bring blankets or lawn chairs.
TED Talk: Olmsted Unitarian Universalist Church will have a TED Talk on "We're Building a Dystopia Just to Make People Click on Ads," offered by techno-sociologist Zeynep Tufecki, at 11 a.m. July 22 at the church, 5050 Porter Road, North Olmsted.
Talk topics for the balance of the summer can be found at olmsteduu.org/events/month. The programs end at noon and are followed by refreshments and informal conversation. All are welcome.
West Park's annual Arts & Crafts Walk returns July 21 to Kamm's Corners.
Arts & Crafts Walk: West Park's annual Arts & Crafts Walk will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 21. Local artists and crafters will be located at tables inside and on the front and back patios of three nearby pubs/eateries: Backstage Bar, 17007 Lorain Ave.; West Park Station, 17015 Lorain Ave.; and PJ McIntyre's Irish Pub, 17119 Lorain Ave.
Front porch concert: Mimi Arden, an indie rock band from Cleveland with influences in folk and soul music, will be featured for week five of LakewoodAlive's Front Porch Concert Series, from 7 to 9 p.m. July 20 on the front porch of Lakewood Public Library, 15425 Detroit Ave., Lakewood.
Visit LakewoodAlive.org/FrontPorchConcerts for more information on the concert series, which is in its ninth year. The concerts continue each Friday night through Sept. 7.
In case of rain, the concert will move into the library auditorium. Attendees should bring lawn chairs.
Women in history: The Fairview Park Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library will present "Women in History-Abigail Adams" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 23 in Lower Level Meeting Room A&B.
Anne McEvoy of Women in History will re-enact First Lady Abigail Adams. A question-and-answer session will follow the program, which is sponsored by Friends of Fairview Park Branch Library.
The library also will have a program on cyber security and online safety, presented by a representative from Cuyahoga County Consumer Affairs, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 24.
Registration is required. To register, visit cuyahogalibrary.org or call the Fairview Park Branch Library at 440-333-4700. The library is at 21255 Lorain Road.
Jefferson Rocks: This is the second year for the Jefferson Rocks West Park free concert series and resource fair for West Park and surrounding neighborhood residents. The opening act, resource fair and beer garden and concession start at 6:30 p.m. July 25 at the park, which is at the corner of West 132nd Street and Lorain Avenue in West Park. Main acts take the stage at 8 p.m. The July 25 headliner is Shout Band.
Visit bpdc.org for more info.
Helmet smart: The Fairview Park Police Department once again is partnering with AAA in the Helmet Smart program to promote helmet use by children when riding their bicycles. This is the 13th year for the program, which is supported by longtime sponsor Dariview and a new sponsor, 808 Shave Ice.
Officers will give a citation to children "caught" wearing a helmet. The citation entitles them to either an ice cream cone or a free topping, depending on which sponsor is on the ticket. In addition, kids can fill out an entry into a drawing for a new bike from AAA.
Parents are encouraged to stop at the police station for information on helmet safety, how to properly adjust helmets or to get a free bookmark outlining bicycle safety tips.
Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. in Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted and West Park for the A Place in the Sun column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com.