One-hundred guests enjoyed music from the Just Us Band, and BBQ from City Barbeque at Barnegie Hall to raise funds for North Coast Rotary’s community and youth initiatives! A huge “Thank You” to Marilyn Zeidner and Jim Miraldi for hosting us.
North Coast Rotary
A Rejuvenated Story Book Trail in Avon Lake
The eight-year-old book displays were deteriorating at the Avon Lake Public Library Story Book Trail and North Coast Rotary could help with funding and some volunteer labor to replace and upgrade them. The project is in line with Rotary’s commitment to our communities, to literacy and health.
Using grant monies from North Coast Rotary Foundation and Rotary District 6600 Foundation, ALPL was able to procure larger more durable storybook frames.
In a letter to North Coast Rotary, ALPL Director William Rutger wrote, “The updated pedestal frames have been a much-needed addition to the Trail, and we are incredibly thankful for your partnership in making this possible.”
Welcome Morgan McCartney newest Rotary Member
Morgan McCartney, Branch Manager, First Federal Lakewood Avon Lake , has been supporting North Coast Rotary events since early this year. She is now officially a member!
When asked why she joined, Morgan said, “I’m excited to have more opportunities to give back to the community and continue the longstanding relationship First Federal Lakewood has with North Coast Rotary.”
New North Coast Rotary Year 2023-2024
July 1 marks the new North Coast Rotary year. Members and guests enjoyed a combination Social and Officer Installation at a Crushers game at Mercy Health stadium.
Joining the board are Dr. Cathy Pugh, Vice President/President Elect, Kim Urig, Vice President/ President Nominee and Adam Ausperk, Director-Delegate. Remaining on the board are President Joe Matuscak, Treasurer Larry Calabrese, Co-Secretaries Allen Porter and Theresia Oreskovic, Past President Doug Maurer, Director-Delegates Gina Eschke and John Daly and Deputy Treasurer and Director-Delegate Jinnyn Tata.
Joe thanked everyone for their support during the year saying “Celebrate the year’s successes!” New members joined, more members participated in meetings and service projects, and we enjoyed popular speakers and engagement with local employers and organizations. He highlighted the community support for the ongoing Blankets for Beds project and Rotary’s pizza bake-offs and wine-tasting fundraisers .
“Libraries and literacy are important to us,” calling attention to the Avon Lake Storybook Trail refurbishment project. Joe encouraged members to “take a seat at the table.”
Rotary recognized Joe’s efforts with a personalized gavel, gifts from members and Rotarians thanked Maggie, Joe’s wife, for her support.
Scholarship Awardees Thank Rotary
Graduates from Avon, Avon Lake and Brookside High Schools who were each awarded North Coast Rotary $1000 Service Above Self scholarships, met with Rotarians to thank them at a recent Rotary meeting. Awardees are: Amelia Tomak, Avon – Jane R. Kuzman Memorial Scholarship; Ellamarie Green, Avon Lake – Bon R. Russell Memorial Scholarship; Mikhail Pyltsov, Avon Lake – Marilyn Weems Memorial Scholarship; Robert DeLuca, Brookside, awarded the Service Above Self Scholarship and Alexandra Rion, Brookside Interact Scholarship. Congratulations and best wishes in their college endeavors!
Rotary Tours LCCC MEMS
Many Rotarians had their first look at the hands-on training associated with the MEMS curriculum at LCCC when they toured there last month. LCCC offers a job-focused program with a one-year MEMS certificate, an A.A.S. in mechatronics technology – micro electromechanical systems or a bachelor’s in applied science MEMS. Program Coordinator Johnny Vanderford and Professor Manny Alhusayni shared their enthusiasm for the MEMs program’s growth. Johnny demonstrated the incredible skill required to hand solder at millimeter scale on a printed circuit board. Most exciting was learning about the students’ successes as they work at local businesses like Rockwell Automation and others while pursuing their degrees. The LCCC MEMS program continues to garner national attention and most recently was featured in an article in the Christian Science Monitor.
Sprenger Parkway Memory Care Courtyard Beautification
Rotarians, Rotary’s youth group Interact and Sprenger Towne Center staff collaborated to beautify the enclosed garden area of the Parkway Memory Care Building. With this improvement residents will be able to enjoy a beautiful and peaceful place for many hours this spring and summer.
Sip & Support Wine Tasting Fundraiser a Successful Event
“The food was outstanding, the keyboardist was perfection, the wine selection was nicely chosen by Pete Sandrev, the venue had a lovely ambiance, and it was a nice touch to have the artwork sale to benefit Ukraine” were some of the comments from our guests!
North Coast Rotary thanks our guests, sponsors and volunteers for a successful and fun wine-tasting event at LCCC Spitzer Conference Center April 29th. Sponsors included: Lorain County Community College, Peter & Co. Jewelers, The Urig Family Foundation, Dr. Cathy Pugh, The Avon Wine Room, Braeden Friss, Agent State Farm and the First Federal Savings of Lorain. Rotarians and friends and local businesses donated $1500 in raffle baskets.
More than 80 guests attended, resulting in over $3000 to support North Coast Rotary Foundation’s community and youth initiatives. An additional $250 was donated to the Rotary Foundation Ukraine Fund.
See more here! Wine Tasting Fundraiser Sip and Support April 29th 4 PM – 7 PM
Blankets for Beds – May 2023 Update
As of the beginning of May, Ridge Cleaners had provided hundreds of clean, sanitized blankets to Blessing House, Neighborhood Alliance and the Good Knights organizations.
The Blankets for Beds campaign began March 1st. Community members generously donated new and gently used blankets, and these donations are continuing every week. 300+ Blankets were donated by two Avon Lake School organizations and the Sheffield/Sheffield Lake schools are in the midst of a district-wide collection finishing up this month.
As blankets are cleaned and sanitized, they will be distributed to participating organizations.
Photo: Lisa Sebastian, Owner and President Ridge Cleaners and staff members
Congratulations to 7th and 8th Grade 4-Way Test Essay Contest Winners!
This spring, for the seventh year, Avon and Avon Lake 7th and 8th grade students participated in North Coast Rotary’s essay contest. Each student prepares an essay applying an ethical decision-making tool (the 4-way test) to their life experiences or society. Both Districts submit their top finalists to North Coast Rotary’s competition. A committee of Rotarians reviews and evaluates each essay for focus, content development, style, and other factors and selects first, second and third place winners.
Congratulations to these students for their effort and achievement, and much thanks to their Language Arts teachers for their support in this endeavor.
Avon Lake’s Caroline Wells, Lucia Durbin and Aubrey Kozar won 1st, 2nd and 3rd place respectively for the overall competition and for their school district.
Fatma Abdelnaby, Isabella Gentile and Reagan Sudik won 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for Avon.
4th Place finalists included Deana Abedeljaber, Ava Luchesi, Jocelin Ochs, Amira Owens, Baya Rojek and Kaylin Whatley.
Adopted by Rotary in 1943, The Four-Way Test asks that of the things we think, say or do:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all Concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
North Coast Rotary Club and Foundation 