Avon Lake Community

Great Pizza Bake-Off Event and the Awards went to….

/ jinnyn

Wow, thank you to all the 300+ pizza lovers and Rotary supporters who came to Avon Lake High School on Homecoming Thursday for the North Coast Rotary and Avon Lake City Schools’ 17th annual Great Pizza Bake-Off!

We also want to thank Doug Maurer, our Coordinator, and our amazing event sponsors, Avon Lake City Schools, Brian Kyles Landscapes of Distinction, Greenspace Construction Services, Minuteman Press, Peter & Co. Jewelers, and Rich Benoit and Jinnyn Tata and our pizzerias. They all made this event possible!

Jack Dibee kept the energy high as emcee! Student volunteers from ALHS Key Club and North Coast Interact helped out the Rotary club members with check-in, cookies, drinks, and fun activities for the kids.

And guess who won the awards? Here they are: 

People’s Choice – Big M! 

Master Pizza – Best Pepperoni! 

Domino’s Pizza – Best Crust!

Dirte Pi – Best Specialty!  

Pizza Hut won the Pro’s Choice Award!  

(Guests vote for their overall favorite – the People’s Choice Award and for Best Pepperoni, Best Specialty and Best Crust.  The Pro’s Choice Award is selected by our mystery guest who samples every single pizza!)  

Pizza BakeOff Fundraiser North Coast Rotary

Proceeds from our Great Pizza Bake-off fund community and youth initiatives.  Thank you again!

See more:Did you enjoy Pizza and More on Homecoming Thursday September 25, 2025 Avon Lake High School Commons?

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.

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

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.

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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

Welcome Paul Beran New North Coast Rotary Member

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President Cathy Pugh inducted Paul Beran, PhD into North Coast Rotary membership.  Paul, an Avon Lake resident, is a recently retired educator (Dean, Vice President, University Chancellor and University President at two different institutions.). Paul shared, “I am pleased to be in the North Coast Rotary as Rotary is consistent with my personal perspective about service above self.  I look forward to being part of a group who believes and practices those core values.”  

As a former Rotarian, Paul actively engaged college students to establish a University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Rotaract club.  

Welcome to Paul – whose leadership and rotary experiences will be of great help to North Coast Rotary! 

You Did it!  85+ Blankets to Homeless StandDown!!

/ jinnyn

Thank you to all our blanket donators and to Ridge Cleaners.  Rotarians and friends transported almost 90 blankets to the Homeless Stand Down last week.  This was a 30% increase over last year’s donation, and it was much appreciated by the Stand Down organizers and the recipients.  

The Blanket drive will continue and be more important as the temperatures drop.  We have recently received many blankets from donors to the Good Neighbor Thrift Shop and donations from the French Creek Family Y.  Thanks again for your help in keeping others warm.

Please Welcome Mary Beth Allen – Rotary’s new member!

/ jinnyn

Avon Lake resident Mary Beth Allen was recently inducted into membership.  She brings expertise from her financial CFO career and her non-profit Treasurer experience.   Mary Beth said that  “The Rotary Club is a great service organization and a great vehicle for establishing local connections and gaining an understanding of the community”.  She recently volunteered with the MESA pick-up and looks forward to helping judge the 4-Way Test Speech Contest and 4-Way Test Essay Contest.  North Coast Rotary plans to become more involved in Environmental opportunities, and Mary Beth has volunteered to help! 

Blankets needed for Homeless StandDown

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North Coast Rotary will be supplying blankets to the Homeless Stand Down on October 24th. A huge THANK YOU to those who have already donated!

If you have not yet donated your used but usable blankets or wish to donate new blankets, please take advantage of our collection boxes at: French Creek Family Y, Domonkas Library, Braeden Friss State Farm Agency, First Federal Lakewood Avon Lake Branch, GenFed Financial, Avon Lake Public Library and Ridge Cleaners. Thank you in advance for your support!

School Supplies for Families in Need

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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.