Short Takes on the Westside, December 30: No more car washes in Avon, Gorilla Tales, and Community West grants

Short Takes on the Westside

Happy New Year! Cheers to 2026!

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Avon

Moratorium extended: Many in the community joke that the city has too many car washes. City officials recently extended the Temporary Six-Month Moratorium (originally passed on May 28, 2024), which was also extended on Nov. 11, 2024.

The new Temporary Six-Month Moratorium (expired on Dec. 13, 2025) extends to June 23, 2026 and prohibits the future development and construction of any car washes and self-storage facilities.

Republican club meeting: The Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club will meet at 5 p.m. Jan. 8 in Ragan Hall, 1783 Moore Road. Guest speaker will be Ohio Treasurer and candidate for Ohio Secretary, Robert Sprague.

Also speaking is former Franklin County Common Pleas and U.S. Immigration Judge Colleen O’Donnell who is now a candidate for Ohio Supreme Court Judge. Refreshments will be available. Guest cost is $5.

Wags to Riches: Save the date for the Friendship Animal Protective League’s (APL) annual Wags to Riches Casino Night at 6:30 p.m. March 14 at Tom's Country Place, 3442 Stoney Ridge Road.  

Tickets and sponsorships for the event sell out quickly. Email shelby@friendshipapl.org if you have any questions.

Academy appointments: Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) announced his nominations of students from Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District for consideration to be accepted into the United States Air Force, Merchant Marine, Military, and Naval Academies in the Class of 2030.  

Congratulations Trevor Grzelak, Avon High School (U.S. Military and U.S. Air Force academies), Michele Smith, Avon High School (U.S. Air Force Academy), and Aidan Stewart, Avon Lake High School (U.S. Air Force Academy).

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Avon Lake

Awareness program: The Avon Lake Police Department's free Blue Envelope Program is designed to enhance communication between police officers and drivers with disabilities that might require additional accommodations or awareness during traffic stops, such as autism, dementia, physical disabilities, or mental health conditions, according to city officials.

The Blue Envelope contains the driver's important documents, including a copy of the driver’s license, proof of insurance, vehicle registration, and emergency contacts. Communication guidelines to assist both the driver and the police officer are written on the outside of the Blue Envelope.

Having important documents organized and prepared within the Blue Envelope will make traffic stops streamlined for all involved, reduce anxiety, and help police officers better understand and communicate with the driver.

More information regarding the program is available on the city’s website.

Tree disposal: If you’ve already started taking your holiday decorations down, please be aware that Christmas trees will be collected the first two full weeks of January. All decorations must be removed from the tree, including ornaments, tinsel, lights, etc. Please place the tree whole on the tree lawn. Do not place trees inside bags or other containers.

On the move: Avon Lake Public Library’s (ALPL) Communications Manager Shea Alltmont, is also taking her talents to Sandusky. She will be joining her former ALPL boss, William Rutger, at the Sandusky Library. Alltmont has been with the ALPL since 2017.

Update regarding the ALPL director search since Rutger’s departure in September…according to Alltmont, the director hire is taking a bit more time than expected. Library officials hope to have an announcement in early spring.  

New tax incentive: In one of its final votes for 2025, City Council voted (Dec. 15) to approve an ordinance to create tax increment financing incentive (TIF) districts relating to the new Sandridge Run and Harbor Crest residential subdivisions currently under construction along Avon Belden Road near the Walker Road intersection. The two subdivisions will add approximately 101 single-family homes to the city, placing additional demand on public infrastructure.

By establishing TIF districts, the City seeks to make necessary improvements to the roadways, water and sanitary sewer systems, sidewalks, and other infrastructure located within the one (1) mile of the Sandridge Run and Harbor Crest subdivisions, according to the press release.

The main idea behind TIF is to use future taxes generated by a new development to pay for the public infrastructure that made the new development possible in the first place. In Ohio, local governments are allowed to designate TIF areas in connection with new developments under the Ohio Revised Code (ORC). There are approximately 2,500 active TIFs statewide according to the Ohio Department of Development.  

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Bay Village

Leaf collection: Weather permitting, final leaf collection will continue this week. Collection work begins east with crews working westward. Follow collection progress and updates on the leaf-tracker map available on the city’s website.

Please remember, placing leaves in the street creates safety issues for collection, travel, and parked cars. Please place leaves on the tree lawn (grass will rebound quickly).

Tank project update: The Equalization Tank Project continues at the corner of Wolf and Cahoon roads, including the area where the pump station for the tank will be installed. The installation of the pump station will finalize the underground work of the project.

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North Ridgeville

Charity closing: Queen Moves, 8540 Root Road, has been providing free clothing and other items for families in need since 2023. The non–profit’s owner recently posted on social media that she has made the difficult decision to close Queen Moves Feb. 1.

She explained in her emotional video post that the economy is really bad right now and Queen Moves “does not have enough women power now to continue operating in the way that it does. Ultimately she needs a second location, but she doesn’t have enough woman power for the first location. After two years, Queen Moves cannot continue the way that it is.”

The owner is hoping that when the economy gets better, she can open again under a different name.

Pride award: Congratulations to Nino’s Restaurant, 32652 Center Ridge Road, for recently earning the Business of the Year Pride Award from the North Ridgeville Chamber of Commerce for the restaurant’s renovation and monetary investment that has improved the neighborhood and the city.

Art honors: North Ridgeville High School (NRHS) recently announced that senior Alaya Wilson has earned an American Vision Award in the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for her photograph. Only five awards are given per county and those students receive an automatic advancement to the national level competition.

NRHS students also earned four Gold Keys, eight Silver Keys, and 13 Honorable Mentions awards.

The public is invited to view the county Scholastic Art & Writing Awards exhibit Jan. 12 - Feb. 10 at the Lorain County Community College Stocker Arts Center. 1005 Abbe Road N., Elyria.  An artist's reception will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 18.  

Coffee keeps brewing: City officials recently announced the monthly Coffee & Conversation with Mayor Kevin Corcoran will continue in 2026 at City Hall.

Stop in to enjoy a cup of coffee and casual conversation. It’s a great way to get your questions answered or to learn more about current and upcoming projects.

The first chat for the New Year is from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Jan. 12. A complete schedule, including an evening conversation time, is available on the city’s website.

There is no excuse not to be informed about what’s happening in the city. In addition to the coffee chats, and city meetings (many of which are recorded), the city also has a monthly newsletter and the mayor records weekly videos.

A full calendar of events is also posted on the city’s website.

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Rocky River

Gorilla tales: Zoo educator and YouTube creator Larry Flanagan has spent the past three years documenting the lives of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's gorilla family through his channel Larry's Animal Safari. His videos viewed by more than 10,000 subscribers worldwide - share uplifting, educational stories about gorillas, orangutans, and other zoo animals.

He will share his findings in a “Meet the Gorillas” presentation at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 8 at the Senior Center, 21014 Hilliard Blvd.

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Westlake

Lights recycling: Now that the holiday season is coming to end, bring your broken, burned out strings of lights, power strips and power cords for recycling through the Lights for Lions Recycle program.

A collection bin will be in the front entrance vestibule at City Hall. Place all items loose in the bin as no bags or boxes will be accepted. The program benefits the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Lights for Lions program.

Grants awarded: Community West Foundation recently awarded $546,400 in fourth quarter grants to support community service organizations and other nonprofits delivering unique programs serving Cleveland, and western Cuyahoga and Lorain counties.

The total includes $440,000 approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors, along with an additional $106,400 distributed through the Community Impact Fund, which unites donors to tackle critical issues by pooling contributions.

Every dollar given to the Community Impact Fund goes directly to nonprofit grant recipients, ensuring that donations reach those in need while advancing the Foundation’s mission to illuminate hope and restore dignity.

With these awards, Community West Foundation concludes its 2025 grantmaking, investing a total of $4.6 million to empower local nonprofits and strengthen communities across the area.

Organizations receiving funding include:

Cuyahoga County
• Carolyn L. Farrell Foundation for Brain Health – Enhancing quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia through arts enrichment and programs to combat isolation.
• Community of Hope – Creating belonging for homeless youth and young adults aging out of foster care while connecting them to mental health services, education, job programs, and parenting support.
• Far West Center – Offering behavioral health services to residents of western Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties.
• Frontline Service – Providing critical behavioral health services for individuals facing homelessness, severe mental health challenges, trauma, and crisis situations.
• Lakewood Community Services Center – Delivering bi-monthly home food deliveries to low-income clients in Lakewood.
• May Dugan Center – Combating inequities in health care, food, and wages through programs including behavioral health services, trauma recovery, and education resources.
• Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center – Supporting people living with HIV/AIDS through housing, legal aid, addiction recovery, and food programs.
• Scranton Road Ministries – Breaking the cycle of poverty with a legal clinic, academic enrichment center, and youth job programs.
• Seeds of Literacy – Transforming lives through one-on-one adult education and GED tutoring, both in-person and online.
• Transformations by Cleveland Angels – Providing volunteer support to foster families to nurture healthy, lasting relationships.
• West Side Catholic Center – Offering food, shelter, clothing, job training, rent support, and a variety of programs to meet family and individual needs.

Lorain County
• Avon/Avon Lake Community Resource Services – Delivering short-term assistance and connecting residents to financial literacy, health, education, and job programs.
• Oberlin Community Services – Supporting the community through food access, emergency assistance, and resiliency programs, including food rescue, distribution, and delivery.

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