Author: northcoastrotary

Celebrating Awards at North Coast Rotary Installation Dinner

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AG Tony Cuevas Installs President Cathy Pugh
Jack Dibee Rotarian of the Year 2024-2025
Joe Matuscak Rotarian of the Years 2023-2024-2025
Executive Board: Theresia Oreskovic, Joe Matuscak, Gina Eschke, Jinnyn Tata, Jamie Wise, John Daly, Larry Calabrese, Jack Dibee and President Cathy Pugh

North Coast Rotary recently installed its officers for the July 2025 – June 2026 Rotary year. Assistant Governor Tony Cuevas administered the oath of office to President Cathy Pugh, who in turn, installed her Executive Board. During a casual dinner at the Folger Home in Avon Lake, Rotary club members and guests celebrated several special awardees. Joe Matuscak was awarded Rotarian of the Years 2023-2024-2025. Jack Dibee was awarded Rotarian of the Year for 2024-2025. Tom Porter was recognized for over 50 years of Rotary service. A new member, Dr. Tim Dorsey, was also welcomed. 

New Member Dr. Tim Dorsey with Membership Chair Jamie Wise and President Cathy Pugh
Tom Porter Recognized for 50+ Years of Rotary Service

Advance Ticket Sale Price for March 29th Sip & Support Ends Today

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Our Sip & Support Fundraiser is from 5 PM – 8 PM at Tri-C Westshore in Westlake on Saturday March 29th! Join us for three hours of samplings featuring 21 wines from California, Italy, Chile, France, Spain, Washington, and Oregon, showcased at tasting stations arranged by Heidelberg Distributing Company.

New this year: sample non-alcoholic wines, including a Spiritless Margarita drink.

While sipping, indulge in the gourmet appetizers and delectable desserts prepared by the noted chefs from Aramark.

This Sip & Support event will also feature exciting, themed raffle baskets, a 50/50 cash raffle, and live music provided by students from the Tri-C Creative Arts Program.

Tickets for Sip & Support are $50 each pre-sale, if purchased on or before March 21, that’s TODAY! or $60 each if purchased after March 21 or at the door. 25% of the ticket price is tax-deductible. All proceeds from this event will benefit youth and community initiatives of the North Coast Rotary.

Purchase your tickets here! Buy Sip and Support Tickets

Great Pizza Bake-off At Avon High School

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What a night!  Superintendent Ben Hodge observed, “there was a steady flow of guests” keeping the check-in table busy.  In total, over 300 people joined Rotarians at Avon High School cafeteria to enjoy delicious pizza and vote for their favorites. 

For this fundraiser, North Coast Rotary partnered with The Hope for B.E.S.T., Lori Yeager, who will receive a portion of the proceeds. 

In demand was the Lorain County Community College FabCab mini-makerspace, thanks to FabLab Team Lead Ryan Corrigan and Rotarian Cindy Kushner. 

Once the votes were counted, Rotarians Doug Maurer and Becki Russell handed out the awards: Dirte Pi won Best Pepperoni and Marco’s won Best Specialty pizza.  Our mystery sampler selected Marco’s to receive the Pro’s Choice award. For the second time in North Coast Rotary’s Great Pizza Bake-off history, the Peoples’ Choice Award was tied between Marco’s and Master Pizza. 

A big shout-out to Avon Local Schools, our guests, participating pizzerias, Rotary’s youth group Interact and the sponsors of North Coast Rotary.

The money raised from this fundraiser will go towards youth and community initiatives in our local area.  

Pizza Bake-Off at Avon High School Cafeteria on Tuesday February 11th, 4:30 – 6:30 PM / 7 PM Jazz Fusion Concert at the PAC

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Sample pizza from Dirte Pi, Master Pizza, Marco’s and Domino’s. Vote for your favorites! LCCC and their Fab Cab, a mini makerspace and Rotary’s high school youth group will be offering fun activities for kids.  Then head over to the Avon PAC for the Fusion Concert starting at 7 PM.

Bring your friends and family for a fun evening of food, community, and friendly competition!  Enter the high school through the “new” main entrance from the general parking lot.  The door is to the right of the front of the Performing Arts Center. Continue down the hallway to the cafeteria.

Hope to see you there!  You can buy tickets here or at the door:  2025 Avon High School Great Pizza Bake-Off FUNdraiser

Proceeds benefit North Coast Rotary Foundation’s youth and community initiatives. Thank you and our sponsors for your support.  

Avon Lake Public Library Discovery Works – Grand Reopening

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North Coast Rotary is proud to have financially supported the Avon Lake Public Library Discovery Works build. Treasurer Larry Calabrese and Secretary Jamie Wise enjoyed the preview event and said they were very impressed with the new exhibits! A big congratulations to the ALPL leadership, staff and Friends for this achievement.

Screenshot

Education and literacy has long been an area of focus for Rotary and our local libraries and schools have been the beneficiaries of our support.  

In 2023, we worked with Avon Lake Public Library to rejuvenate their Story Book Trail. See more with the following link:

https://northcoastrotary.org/2023/08/27/a-rejuvenated-story-book-trail-in-avon-lake/: Avon Lake Public Library Discovery Works – Grand Reopening

Second Harvest Foodbank – Volunteering

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North Coast Rotarians and friends volunteered Monday evening at Second Harvest Foodbank of North Central Ohio Nordson Food Distribution Center located in Lorain.  Rotarians filled backpacks and then inspected and sorted donated food.  The back packs were filled for Friday distribution to students in Norwalk.  

Many companies, retail stores, farmers and food manufacturers donate food and grocery products which need to be inspected for food safety then sorted for future distribution.  This is an ongoing volunteer opportunity.

For 40+ years Second Harvest has been a lifeline for thousands in need; and its vision of creating a healthier, hunger-free community is as important and relevant today as it was in 1982. Find out how to help here: https://www.secondharvestfoodbank.org/

Welcome new member Brenda Svec!

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North Coast Rotary recently inducted Brenda Svec, Sheffield/Sheffield Lake City Schools Curriculum Director as a new member in Rotary.  Brenda has been working in education for 17 years. She has three adult children who attended Avon schools; Brenda and family have lived in Avon since 2001.  She explained that she sought to join Rotary because her children as well as the students in the Sheffield/Sheffield Lake School district have benefited from Rotary’s initiatives.  Brenda concluded that she strongly believes in giving back to her community. North Coast Rotary looks forward to working together with Brenda in support of our communities!!

Blankets – Keep Them Coming!

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Our communities have rallied to supply blankets for the Blankets for Beds initiative, and Ridge Cleaners continues to clean, sanitize and wrap them for distribution.  

Rotarian Jamie Wise delivered fifty cleaned and sanitized blankets to Neighborhood Alliance in late November.  

Thanks to our collection partner, Good Neighbor Thrift Shop, Rotarian Ken Mather picked up 17 bags of blankets and took them to Ridge Cleaners and his wife picked up more the week after!  

Thanks to our collection partner the French Creek Family Y whose blanket box was overflowing with donations, many of which were new and were promptly delivered to Blessing House!

THANK YOU TO ALL for helping to provide warming blankets for those in need.

Above – Blankets delivered to Neighborhood Alliance

Below – Overflowing donation box from the French Creek Family Y

Senior Care Baskets for Neighborhood Alliance – Fun Packing!

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Clubmembers and friends donated boxes and fun items  and Cathy Pugh, Jamie Wise and Jinnyn Tata provided the personal care items paid for by a Thrivent Community Impact Fund Grant donated by Gina Eschke.  Combining the donations we were able to pack 20 large Senior Care Boxes!  Personal care items, small games, warm socks, ornaments, gift cards and candy were some of the items included.  

Thanks to Pete Sandrev, who made the Avon Wine Room available for us to enjoy a social evening while we packed! Neighborhood Alliance appreciated receiving the care boxes valued over $500.

The Neighborhood Alliance organization has been caring for the community since 1927.  Today their services include daily meal delivery and nutrition services for seniors, emergency shelter, homeless outreach, in addition to programs for children.