The Avon Safety Fair and Avon Lake’s Big Trucks events are great ways for Rotary to support our communities. A member of North Coast’s Rotary Youth Group, Interact was popular at Avon’s events as she used face paint to skillfully create designs that children asked for.
It’s reported that at least 1000 firehats were distributed at Avon Lake’s Big Trucks! The North Coast Rotary table was a popular Passport stop handing out granola bars, fruit snacks, and fun bendable/ toys, mini pull back cars and spring launcher toys. We thank both communities for including us in their events.
North Coast Rotary inducted two new members, Avon Lake resident Doug Fullerton and Avon resident Gael-Sylvia Pullen! We welcome their energy, expertise and look forward to their help in serving our communities.
A big Thank You to Tom Nekoloff, Manager of the Ace Hardware Avon Lake Store, who donated 400+ packets of vegetable, flowers and herb seeds to North Coast Rotary Foundation. We distributed them to our community partners: Community Resource Services (CRS), the Avon Lake Public Library, the Domonkas Library (Sheffield Lake) and the French Creek Family Y for their Youth Summer Camp.
Pictured are half of the seed packets donated! Check with your local libraries!
Community supported fundraisers and personal donations from Rotarians allowed North Coast Rotary Foundation to donate 80+ boxes of gallon Ziplock bags (value $500) for Students’ school supply needs in Avon and Avon Lake. The project is coordinated by Community Resource Services (CRS).
Thank you to our many supporters and to CRS for their impactful projects.
Pictured is CRS Executive Director (and Rotarian) Pam Ohradzansky.
Rotarians and guests enjoyed an evening at Emerald Event Center to celebrate the achievements of the past Rotary year, recognize outgoing President Joe Matuscak and Install the incoming President Cathy Pugh and her leadership team.
Joe Matuscak thanked everyone for joining us that evening and Rachel Reith and Pete NeCastro of Emerald Event Center for hosting. He added that all four Mayors were invited and extended a special thank you to Village of Sheffield Mayor Bob Markovich who came.
Joe presented an overview of his past year/s. He highlighted Rotary’s community partners including Ridge Cleaners, Lorain County Community College, Scott Latiolais, President Tri-C Westshore, Marilyn Zeidner with Music on a Mission, and the North Coast Chamber. Joe noted how local media helps Rotary increase the impact of our projects and fundraisers and thanked the Morning Journal, Chronicle Telegram, Cleveland.com, Westlife, WEOL and WOBL for their support.
Joe swore-in the ’24 – ’25 President Cathy Pugh.
President Cathy Pugh swore-in the ’24 – ‘25 Officers Vice President and President Elect Kim Urig, Secretary Jamie Wise, Treasurer Lawrence Calabrese, Deputy Treasurer Jinnyn Tata and Foundation Coordinator Gina Eschke (not present). Past President Joe Matuscak will also be a member of the Club Executive Board. Members of the North Coast Rotary Foundation, Inc. Board include: Cathy Pugh, Kim Urig, Jamie Wise, Larry Calabrese, Jinnyn Tata, John Daly and Gina Eschke (not pictured).
President Cathy Pugh explained that Joe’s gift from North Coast Rotary was a donation to purchase a bed through the LCADA Way Adopt-a-Bed program. In parting, Joe honored seven members who assisted him during his presidency, awarding “Rotarians of the Year” plaques and flowers (Gina Eschke not pictured).
Pictured are from left to right: Allen Porter, Theresia Oreskovic, Cathy Pugh, Jinnyn Tata, Larry Calabrese and Doug Maurer.
North Coast Rotary thanks ALCC President Marty O’Donnell and the Avon Lake Community Council (ALCC) for its recent award of Project of the Year in partnership with Ridge Cleaners. Marty presented the award to Rotarian Cathy Pugh. Cathy accepted on behalf of Joe Matuscak who developed the idea of cleaning and sanitizing gently used blankets for those in need. Ridge Cleaners Owner Lisa Sebastian immediately volunteered to clean and sanitize them absorbing the cost.
Cathy Pugh and Lisa Sebastian also received Congratulations from Representative Joe Miller on behalf of the members of the House of Representatives, and a Proclamation of Recognition and Congratulations from Avon Lake Mayor Mark A. Spaetzel. The Blankets for Beds project is ongoing. Our thanks to our most recent donors from Good Neighbors Thrift Shop, Vermilion Schools Interact group and the Sheffield Lake and Lorain Offices GenFed Financial Credit Union.
A huge thank you to Sprenger Towne Center, Anne Naumann, Becki Russell and staff, for collaborating with North Coast Rotary to collect used and usable medical equipment. With donations from many in the community as well as the American Legion, Rotarians were able to fill a 16 foot box truck with scooters, crutches, wheel chairs and more.
Scholarship awardees from Avon High School, Avon Lake High School and Brookside High School joined our June rotary meeting. We heard highlights of each awardee’s achievements and each awardee spoke about their college plans.
Lincoln Barnhart from Brookside High School was awarded the Service Above Self scholarship selected from students participating in the Rotary youth program Interact. Zuriah Radeff-Koonce a Brookside High School senior was awarded a Service Above Self scholarship.
Avon Lake senior, Mary Bigenho was awarded two scholarships, one funded by the Weems family and a Service Above Self Bon Russell Memorial Scholarship.
Avon High School Principal Kristina Buller introduced Ishani Kishorepuria who was awarded the Jane Kuzman Memorial Scholarship for Service Above Self.
With donations and revenue from fundraisers, North Coast Rotary (formerly Avon/ Avon Lake Rotary) has awarded scholarships to graduating seniors for decades. The scholarship amount began at $500 each, increased in 2009 to $750 each and increased to $1000 each since 2012. Rotarian Gina Eschke coordinates the program.
North Coast Rotary Club and Foundation 