Author: northcoastrotary

Knollwood Elementary School Wellness Project – Three Phases

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Phase 2 – Security Fencing

Building the ¼ mile walking path was Phase 1 of the project.

Once the walking path was in-use, city safety officials recommended the installation of a security fence, adjacent to Oster Road. 

Again, the talented rotary club member Doug Maurer stepped up to design the fence and lead the project.  Rotarian Larry Calabrese who has a good relationship with Lowe’s in Avon, procured the lumber. Working alongside Doug, Larry also helped lead. 

Rotarians and family members worked with Doug to power-auger the postholes, dig the postholes and set the fence posts. 

A friend of Rotary and Principal Colleen Mudore and one of her staff joined the team in operating the saw and affixing the horizontal rails and vertical panels. 

After multiple working sessions, the 163 ft. protective fence was successfully completed ensuring Knollwood’s students’ safety on the walking path.

The project isn’t finished yet. The final phase—a new outdoor learning space—will be completed this spring!

Culinary & Wine Experience Fundraiser April 18th 2026

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SAVE THE DATE!

To support our youth and community initiatives, North Coast Rotary and presenting sponsor Tri-C Westshore, are hosting the “Culinary and Wine Experience”, North Coast Rotary’s major fundraiser on April 18th, 2026.     

This event will highlight four local culinary schools: Tri-C Westshore, Lorain County Joint Vocational School, Westshore Career-Tech, and Frederick Douglass High School. They will prepare two small plates each from France, Italy, Spain and America. In the planning are samples of Olive oil poached monkfish, Chilled Grilled Octopus, Scallop Meuniere, and BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders! Guests will have the opportunity to meet culinary school students and enjoy their creations.  

Wine tastings will be paired with the food to enhance each other for an unforgettable adventure. 

Aramark, a leading food service company, will provide high-end appetizers and desserts, and sampling dessert wines will add to the experience.  Wine professionals from Heidelberg Distributing will select the wines.

Tri-C Westshore is a great venue for music, dining and conversation! Here are a few pictures from last year’s event. Look for our 2026 Culinary & Wine Experience Registration information coming soon!

NCR President Dr. Cathy Pugh Welcome
Guests Enjoy the Casual Evening
Tri-C President Dr. Scott Latiolais
Tri-C Jazz Band
Hors d’oeuvres by Aramark
Charcuterie Table by Aramark

Knollwood Elementary School Wellness Project – Three Phases

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Digging Knollwood Elementary Walking Path
Knollwood Elementary Walking Path Completed

Phase 1 – Walking Path

The Wellness Project initiative began last spring when Brenda Svec, Rotarian and Curriculum Director Sheffield Lake Sheffield Village Schools invited North Coast Rotary to ask Knollwood Principal Colleen Mudore, “What do you need and how can Rotary help?”

Principal Mudore wanted a safe accessible walking path to support their “Walk-a-Mile on Wednesday” program.  With help from grants from District 6600 and North Coast Rotary Foundation, generous donations from club members and strong Rotarian community connections, the path quickly became a reality. 

The talented Rotary Club Member Doug Maurer and Owner of Eliza’s Garden of Ethan Greenhouse, served as “General Contractor” designing the walking path, securing the equipment and crews, operating trucks and more.  Todd Vanek, the owner and president of King Sports Turf Company, generously donated his crew’s time and equipment to excavate the track.  Rotary club members assisted where needed.  Mulching was the final step.

Students at Knollwood Elementary School soon had a safe, accessible walking path. Peals of laughter could be heard as the children walked and ran with “Chomps” from the Cleveland Browns “Stay in the Game” program celebrating the new path.

Phase 2 of the Wellness Project followed over the next several months with the construction of fencing to better secure the area.

Rotary for Reading – Lorain County Imagination Library

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North Coast Rotary President Cathy Pugh presented Jamie Simoneau of Community Foundation of Lorain County with a $500 donation to the Lorain County Imagination Library. Rotary club members also contributed to the campaign. At a February meeting, Jamie explained that when enrolled at birth, each child is going to receive 60 books, an age-appropriate book each month. Lorain County Imagination Library (approximately ten years old now) is a program that Community Foundation of Lorain County is the fiscal sponsor for. The Community Foundation helps to raise funds for it, to enroll children in it, and to spread the word about it. There are currently 2,023 children in Avon, Avon Lake, Sheffield Lake and Sheffield Village communities that are registered in this wonderful program.

Jamie also explained the impact. Survey results show that children who receive books through the Imagination Library program have a higher Kindergarten Readiness Assessment score. Further, that the higher that score, there’s a positive correlation with a child being able to read in third grade. And the success continues through high school graduation!

Want to make a difference in a child’s life by instilling the love of reading by gifting books from birth to age five? From now until March 14, you can donate to “Rotary for Reading” https://givebutter.com/ohiorotary. All donations received will support this program in our local area!

Imagination Library Fundraiser All Ohio 2026Download

North Coast Rotary Donates $1000 to Brookside Robotics

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North Coast Rotary President Cathy Pugh presents a donation for the Brookside Robotics Club to Principal Emily Adkins and Robotics Club Leader Val Rion.

Sheffield/Sheffield Lake students in grades 4 – 12 can participate in the program. This year they have seven elementary school teams, four middle school teams and three high school teams.

The teams compete all over Ohio throughout the season October through February. Last year SSL Robotics Club teams came home with 25 judged awards, 5 skills championships, 8 tournament finalist trophies and were tournament winners at 3 competitions!

The Robotics Club’s mission of promoting lifelong skills, including teamwork, leadership, and communications, is exactly what North Coast Rotary can stand behind!

February is Rotary Peace Month

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February is Rotary Peace & Conflict Prevention Month, and North Coast Rotary is supporting the upcoming Rotary District 6600 Community Peace Summit hosted by Rotary District 6600 and the Elyria YWCA.

The summit focuses on peace, non-violence, and courage — topics that matter to our community.

The event is free to all, but registration is required at the link below. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

📅 February 7, 2026, 8:30 AM – 4 PM
📍 LCCC Stocker Arts Center, 1005 North Abbe Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035
🔗 Learn more & register: https://www.d6600peacesummit.org

#PeopleOfAction #RotaryPeace #RotaryDistrict6600 #StockerArtsCenter #YWCAElyria #RotaryDistrict6630

Welcome New Members Jen Fitch and Paul Appel!

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Welcome Jen (Virginia) Fitch and Paul Appel, new North Coast Rotary Club and North Coast Rotary Foundation members.  Both bring strong community commitment and active involvement in our local schools.  

Jen, a resident of Avon, is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Avon Local Schools.  

At her induction she said:  “I am excited to discuss our community’s needs and develop ways that we can not only meet them but expand outside of what we could even imagine.” Jen is already actively supporting the club’s Youth Engagement Committee.

Paul is a resident of Avon Lake and works as a Financial Consultant with Civista Wealth Management.  He shared that he has been a part of Rotary clubs since he was young assisting his father with Rotary service projects and fundraisers.  

At his induction, Paul expressed his enthusiasm for community service and his desire to contribute to the club’s initiatives. We look forward to Paul’s involvement in North Coast Rotary Projects.

SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR PIZZA FUNDRAISER!

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Mark your calendars for our 17th annual Great Pizza Bake-off at Avon Lake High School happening on Homecoming Thursday, September 25, 2025. We’d love for you to join us in support of our youth and community initiatives! Avon Lake schools we support Students of the Month recognition, 7th and 8th grade Essay contests, High School Students Speech contest, Leadership programs and scholarships.

This Library is on the Little Free Library Map!

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North Coast Rotary has teamed up with the French Creek Family YMCA to install a Little Free Library —a children’s book-sharing box—now located near the Y’s vibrant children’s room.

This initiative is part of a larger District 6600 Rotary quadrant literacy project involving multiple clubs who purchased kits, painted parts and assembled the Little Free Libraries for the locations of their choice contributing to community-based book access. North Coast Rotary was proud to collaborate with Robyn Gauder and the French Creek Family Y for the  placement of the library.

Thanks to generous donations from Avon Lake City Schools, the Little Free Library is already brimming with children’s books to inspire young readers and spark imaginations. 

Little Free Library is a registered trademark, officially recognized by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2013. These beloved boxes invite anyone to take or leave a book, operating on the honor system. North Coast Rotary and the French Creek Family Y will continue to maintain the library. Stop by, pick up a story, and help us grow a community of readers!

2025 Scholarship Awardees/ HOBY Grad

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During its summer meetings, North Coast Rotary proudly honored a group of exceptional students whose leadership, compassion, and community engagement reflect Rotary’s enduring motto: Service Above Self. Scholarship Awardees each received $1000, were recognized during their school’s awards night and joined a North Coast Rotary meeting when they could!

Noah Adkins, Ava Rosemark, Termeh Shahmir

This year’s honorees include:

  • Jane Kuzman Memorial Scholarship – Ava Rosemark, Avon High School
  • Bon Russell Memorial Scholarship – Termeh Shahmir, Avon Lake High School
  • Marilyn Weems Memorial Scholarship – Gana Youssef, Avon Lake High School
  • Interact Scholarship – Noah Adkins, Brookside High School
  • Service Above Self Scholarship  – Arushi Phukan, Brookside High School
Gana Youssef and Gina Eschke, Coordinator
Gina Eschke, Alexander Hick, Arushi Phukan

Alexander Hick, Brookside High School, also joined us to share his experiences from a Rotary funded Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar.