Bay Village, Ohio
After more than four years serving as executive director for the Village Project (VP), Meredith LaVecchia will be stepping down. She recently accepted a position at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (affiliated with Case Western Reserve University).
Village Project Executive Director Meredith LaVecchia (left) and staff celebrate another successful Village Project fundraiser.Village Project
“Meredith’s passion, compassion, and steadfast commitment have been the heartbeat of Village Project, and we are deeply grateful for everything she’s achieved on behalf of our families and volunteers,” said Jason Albers, Village Project board president, in a statement. “The Board is now embarking on a thoughtful search for a new Executive Director—someone who will honor Village Project’s legacy of delivering nourishing meals and extraordinary care, while also expanding our reach with fund development to ensure sustainable growth and expanded impact.”
The mission of the VP is to ‘work together as a community to provide nourishing meals and extended support to families fighting cancer’.
Current client meal delivery areas are Avon, Avon Lake, Bay Village, Rocky River, and Westlake.
Under LaVecchia’s leadership the VP has had incredible growth. In 2024, the organization served 17 percent more meals than in 2023, with 7,710 meals delivered to 1,224 families.
“Village Project is stronger than ever, with our incredible volunteers and donors supporting more neighbors and families impacted by cancer than ever before,” said LaVecchia.
“It truly is a special organization and being part of its mission has been an honor. This new chapter will allow me to make a broader impact on the lives of those facing a cancer journey, something I’m deeply passionate about. I leave with immense gratitude and confidence in the continued growth and success of this amazing organization.”
The public can also support the VP mission by shopping at the VP Market, 27378 West Oviatt Road, Bay Village, which is open year-round from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. occasional Saturdays.
The Village Project also participates in the BAYarts Summer Market every Thursday during the summer months.
“We sell locally sourced honey, jams, housewares, hostess gifts, our weekly meals that we provide for our clients, natural soaps from TootSweets and lots of other fun stuff,” said LaVecchia.
The nonprofit is celebrating 15 years of community impact this year.
For more information or to donate, go to ourvillageproject.com.
BAY VILLAGE
Updates from the service director: The city’s contractor will be working on the East Oakland/ Wolf/Clague roads sewer improvements construction for approximately two weeks (weather permitting).
After completing the sewer work, the entire intersection will be repaved (weather permitting) While two-way traffic will be maintained at all times through Wolf (and Clague), traffic delays are likely in/around this intersection.
– Sewer work on Lake Road (from Glen Park to Douglas drives) and on Douglas (Lake to Bruce roads) will begin once the Wolf/Clague sewer work ends, and there is a chance this starts a few days before the school year ends.
The work will require closing one lane of traffic on Lake Road between Glen Park and Douglas - eastbound traffic only will be maintained in that section of Lake Road.
Despite Douglas not being closed, there will be water main and sewer work completed, and parts of the road will be rebuilt. On occasions, Douglas may be blocked due to the work.
Prior to work beginning, the contractor will post LED sign boards on Lake Road about the lane closure, and residents may get calls as a result (residents in the Lake/Douglas construction area received letters).
— City workers will be digging a trench for electrical upgrades in the parking lot at Cahoon Park near the gazebo and Community House. The upgrades include removal of antiquated electrical infrastructure and relocating electric service away from the parking lot and out of programmable recreation space.
The improvements also offer more access to electric service in this area of the park. The parking lot restoration will be completed by Service Department personnel before the city’s Memorial Day ceremony, and ongoing electrical work will not impact the ceremony.
Garden Club fundraiser: Shop at Dean’s Greenhouse, 3984 Porter Road, Westlake, now through June 30 and Dean’s will award 20% of the sale to the club. Mention the Bay Village Garden Club at check-out. Funds raised will enable the club to purchase flowers for around the city.
Tree commission: City Council recently approved the mayor’s appointment of John DeBin to the Tree Commission effective April 26, 2025 for a three-year term to fill the vacancy of Leo Mahoney’s term which expired April 25.
Shout-out: Congratulations to the Bay Village City Schools’ Director of Communications, Karen Misciagna, for recently receiving the Ohio School Public Relations Association’s (OHSPRA) “Mark of Distinction” award for Enewsletters.
ROCKY RIVER
Shred Day: Residents can bring paper recyclables and witness the shredding process on-site during Shredding Day from 9 to 11 a.m. May 17 in the City Hall parking lot, 21012 Hilliard Blvd. (enter from Wagar Road).
For safety reasons, please remain in your car. Shredding documents will be removed and placed into containers. Boxes must be placed in the trunk or back seat to limit contact.
Proof of residency is required, bring a picture identification. There is a limit of two standard size boxes per household, and no business material will be accepted.
Patriotic concert: The Senior Center, 21014 Hilliard Blvd., is hosting a Patriotic Concert at 1:30 p.m. May 23 featuring award winning arranger/keyboardist Marge Adler with vocalists Laura Lindauer and John Webb.
Cost is $5 for residents, and $6 for non-residents.
Shout-outs: Congratulations to the Rocky River High School and Rocky River Middle School sailors who brought home their fourth consecutive Ohio Cup earlier this month.
—Rocky River High School junior Maeve Costello was one of 11 winners (out of 2,949 applicants) in the most recent New York Times student writing contest where students were asked to create a curated list.
WESTLAKE
Family resources: May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In honor of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day (May 7), Connecting for Kids (CFK) recently shared a sobering statistic: 12% of Ohio kids have moderate or severe anxiety – even higher than the national average.
CFK is committed to supporting families with tools to help their children. Check out the organization’s free podcast library featuring more than 80 episodes – with topics ranging from anxiety to autism – and much more. Go to, connectingforkids.org/Previous-Speakers.
Upcoming library events: Take a tour of Google Workspace, a suite of free, web-based productivity apps that can replace paid office software, during a presentation from 3 to 4 p.m. May 22 at the Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road.
Attendees will learn how to collaborate and share files with others using the Google ecosystem.
— Learn how journaling can be a helpful tool for mental wellness with Nina Liu-Guechev from Ellie Mental Health from 7 to 8 p.m. May 22.
— Knitting is a fun, relaxing activity. Learn the basics of knitting during an introductory class for adults only. Attendees will learn the knit and purl stitches and how to cast on and cast off. No experience is necessary and materials will be provided.
Pre-registration is required for the events listed, go to westlakelibrary.org/events.
Theater season dates: Clague Playhouse recently announced its 2025-2026 season. This is the 98th season and 58th season “in the barn.”
Upcoming shows include:
“The Mousetrap” by Agatha Christie, directed by Ron Newell, Sept. 12 to Oct. 5
“The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley” by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, directed by Curt Arnold, Nov. 14 to Dec. 14
“Maytag Virgin” by Audrey Cefaly, directed by Rose Leininger, Jan. 30 to Feb. 22
“Lettice and Lovage” by Peter Shaffer, directed by David Vegh, March 27 to April 19
“Ordinary Days Music and Lyrics” by Adam Gwon, directed by Anne McEvoy, May 22 to June 14
For more information, including audition dates, go to clagueplayhouse.org.
Wine festival: Tickets are currently on sale for the 14th annual Crocker Park Wine Festival taking place from 4 to 10 p.m. Sept. 12; and from 2 to 10 p.m. Sept. 13.
The event features 150-plus wines from local, national and international producers; select craft beers and spirits; as well as musical entertainment and exhibitors. Food will be available for purchase from area restaurants.
Proceeds benefit University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.
For information regarding vendor or sponsorship opportunities, email advertising@starkenterprises.com.
To purchase tickets, go to crockerparkwinefestival.com.
Shout-out: Congratulations to Westlake High School sophomore Charlie Reynolds named the People’s Choice Winner in this year’s Congressional Art Competition.
His artwork titled, “Adam and Aurora,” earned the popular vote and will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building for one year.
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors the nationwide high school visual arts competition to celebrate student creativity across every congressional district.
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. Read Short Takes online at https://www.cleveland.com/topic/westlake. Follow me on X (Twitter) @jshortavon.
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