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!
Once again Sprenger Towne Center, Anne Naumann, Becki Russell and staff, are collaborating with North Coast Rotary to collect used and usable medical equipment. Bring donations to 200 Community Drive, the Clubhouse at Sprenger Towne Center on Saturday October 19th from 10 AM – Noon. Rotarians will help unload your items and our Rotary Medical Equipment Supplies Abroad truck will take them for storage in our MESA Warehouse in Fostoria Ohio. Any items that can be used domestically are shared with organizations here. Shipments to countries in need occur regularly. The most recent shipment was to Ukraine in September. We thank you in advance for your support!
Were you among the almost 300 guests who enjoyed pizza at Avon Lake High School on Homecoming Thursday? It was North Coast Rotary and Avon Lake City Schools’ 16th annual Great Pizza Bake-Off.
The awards went to:
People’s Choice – Big M!
Old School – Best Pepperoni pizza!
Master Pizza – Best Crust and an Award of Excellence, a special recognition for their years of support!
Domino’s and Dirte Pi tied for the Best Specialty pizza award!
Dirte Pi also won the Pro’s Choice Award!
Proceeds from our Great Pizza Bake-off fund community and youth initiatives. Thank you again!
Read more and see the pictures with the following link
Past President Joe Matuscak took advantage of an opportunity to support maternal and child health when boxes of new baby safety and health supplies including thermometers, newborn nasal aspirators and more were made available to him. Through our connections, we were able to donate to University Hospitals St. John & Westshore Childbirth Educators, Neighborhood Alliance, El Centro and the United Way who will be distributing them in our communities!
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.
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.
Conversation with our Mayors is a great way to understand the vision of the four communities North Coast Rotary serves. The 4-Mayor Conference sponsored by the North Coast Chamber was an opportunity to hear our mayors’ public presentations.
(Photo from West Life News April 3, 2024 – Mayors with North Coast Rotary President Joe Matuscak; Mayor Radeff missing from photo)
In addition, Avon Mayor Bryan Jensen, The Village of Sheffield Mayor Bob Markovich and Sheffield Lake Mayor Rocky Radeff, made individual presentations and answered questions from our Rotary members at three separate meetings at the French Creek Family Y. A big thank you to Mayor Jensen, Mayor Markovich and Mayor Radeff for taking the time to meet with us.
Special thanks to Mayor Mark Spaetzel who hosted us at Avon Lake’s City Council chambers and allowed us to hold a brief Rotary meeting there as well.
Whether its supporting economic development, people in need, our libraries, parks, our safety forces and our schools, North Coast Rotarians plan to continue the dialogue and work to make a difference!
North Coast Rotary is excited to welcome new member Rachel Rieth, General Manager Marriott Cleveland Avon. Rachel explained at her induction that she is very familiar with Rotary through her former boss who was a past District Governor. She added, “I’m excited to forge my own path with North Coast Rotary!”
Rachel is a recent graduate of Leadership Lorain County – Class of 2024. Taking her busy schedule into consideration, Rachel designated Peter NeCastro, Marriott Avon’s Director of Sales, as a corporate alternate member. Congratulations to Rachel and Peter; we look forward to involving you in our community initiatives!
Saturday June 8 10 AM – 12 Noon, Sprenger 200 Community Dr. Avon Lake
Learn more about MESA: MESA Medical Equipment Services Abroad
North Coast Rotary Club and Foundation 