Ohio’s Avon Lake
Matt Dechant, Annette Ilg, Zach Janicek, Connie Meier, Tim Schumacher, and the 1985 Avon Lake High School (ALHS) Shoremen Baseball Team are among the 2025 inductees of the Avon Lake Sports Hall of Fame.
Dechant was a standout shot put and discus thrower at ALHS. Among the top 50 throwers in the US, he was named to the First Team All-Southwestern Conference (SWC).
He later enrolled at The Ohio State University after receiving an invitation to the US Olympic Team tryouts.
Ilg competed in three sports for ALHS. In basketball (All-SWC, All-Ohio), soccer, and track (three-time), she was chosen as an All-SWC.
She was a part of the University of California San Diego’s soccer squad, which advanced to the national finals.
In baseball, Janicek was selected to the All-SWC and All-Lorain County teams three times. He played baseball at The Ohio State University, where he was a part of a team that won a Big Ten championship.
Meier competed in gymnastics and was recognized as a two-time All-SWC competitor in track and volleyball.
She participated in bodybuilding after high school and qualified for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Nationals, winning the California Gold Cup and Miss California Bodybuilding Championship.
In football, Schumacher was selected twice to the All-SWC, All-County, All-District, and All-Ohio teams. In addition, he won the Golden Helmet, which is given to the county’s top senior football player, and was SWC-MVP.
He played for the US Air Force Academy for the remainder of his career.
The total record of the 1985 ALHS Shoremen Baseball team was 19-5. It was the most victories in school history at the time.
With a 13-1 record, the team also won the SWC championship. At the collegiate level, a number of the athletes continued their careers.
On September 20, the Lorain Brewing Company Event Center, located at 500 Shipyard Way, Lorain, will host a formal dinner to celebrate the inductees.
Online reservation forms can be found at avonlakesportshalloffame.org.
AVON
The Paris Baguette bakery has opened at 35705 Chester Road. The restaurant’s website states that the baristas, bakers, and cake makers serve freshly made breads and pastries, handcrafted cakes, Lavazza coffee, and other baked goods.
To learn more, visit Parisbaguette.com.
The salon closes:The owner, Becky Honey Anderson, passed away unexpectedly, and Crazy Beautiful Salon, located at 33580 Detroit Road, has announced that it is permanently closed. Sending condolences to the clients, colleagues, friends, and family.
Additional entertainment: Last week (July 2), Premier 1500 Nagel LLC submitted a proposal to the city’s Board of Zoning and Building Appeals that included a parking variance for a brand-new indoor entertainment center located at 1500 Nagel Road.
The property is located close to the Cleveland Clinic, across from the brand-new Nagel Crossing shopping center. The nature of the business is still unknown. Keep an eye on Short Takes.
Safety town open houses: On July 11, 18, and 25, from 9 to 11 a.m., children aged 4 to 7 are welcome to see the Avon Safety Town facility, located at 36600 Detroit Road.
Bring a bicycle helmet and a parent or guardian. There is no need to pre-register.
Summer concert: Rhythm N Rhyme Barbershop & Golden Cascade Chordsmen will perform at the Heritage Square Gazebo on July 17 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. near the intersection of Detroit and Stoney Ridge roads. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair.
Basketball registrations: The Avon Basketball Association is now taking coaches and boys and girls in grades 3-6 to register for the 2025–2026 season.
Register by visiting avonaba.com.
Summer concerts: Miller Nature Preserve is hosting free outdoor concerts this month starting at 6 p.m. Desmond and Molly on July 10 and Strukely and Cole on July 24.
Food and drinks are served from the Orchid Caf, and concerts are held on the terrace. Events are held rain or shine outdoors when possible or indoors in the Orchid Room during inclement weather. For outdoor concerts, there is limited seating, so please bring a chair. Parking is also limited, so carpooling is encouraged. Smoking and dogs (except service animals) are not permitted at the concerts.
Summer Palooza:Bring the family and enjoy a host of activities during Summer Palooza from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. July 26 at the Every Child s Playground, 36265 Detroit Road (adjacent to the Avon Pool).
The event includes a foam party bounce house, petting zoo, carnival games. DJ, crafts, balloon artist, sidewalk chalk art contest, and story time in the woods.
Movie nights:Enjoy watching the movie Up under the stars July 18 at the Every Child s Playground, 36265 Detroit Road (adjacent to the Avon Pool).
The free event is for Avon residents only and begins at 6 p.m. Movie starts at dusk.
Telos food truck will be onsite with items available for purchase.
The next movie night is Aug. 8 and features Cars.
Shout-outs:The Tree House Gallery and Tea Room, 36840 Detroit Road, is celebrating 30 years in Olde Avon Village. In addition to being a popular lunch spot in town, the Tree House also offers gifts, wine and other accessories for purchase.
Pastor Micah Holland is celebrating his 10-year anniversary at Avon United Methodist Church, 37711 Detroit Road.
– Scout Troop 333 and Pack 333 recently came together to build a GaGa Ball Pit at Veterans Memorial Park, 3701 Veterans Memorial Pkwy, as part of Justin Archer s Eagle Scout Service Project. Kudos to Mayor Bryan Jensen, Susan Beres, and Jenny Richwalsky of the City of Avon for supporting Archer s idea to bring the game to a park in Avon.
AVON LAKE
Museum open house:The Avon Lake Historical Society is hosting open houses from 1 to 4 p.m. July 20, Aug. 17 and Sept. 14, at the Peter Miller House Museum, 33740 Lake Road.
Summer concert:Summer concerts and the CLE Market continue at Veterans Memorial Park, 32756 Lake Road. The next event is from 4 to 8 p.m. July 17 and features Pete Lazard (acoustic rock). Food trucks onsite include Manna and Bruster s Ice Cream.
Chairs, blankets, food, and non-alcoholic drinks are welcome. Dogs must be on leashes. No smoking or vaping.
Holiday pop-up bar:Old School Pizza & Wings Event Center, 445 Avon Belden Road, is opening Mericas Christmas in July pop-up bar July 23-26. Chad Hoffman will be performing July 26.
For more information, follow onFacebook.
Retirement:After more than 15 years of dedicated service six of them as executive director- Pam Ohradzansky will be retiring from Avon/Avon Lake Community Resource Services (CRS), effective Dec. 31, 2025.
Shout-out:Kudos to the more than 60 teams of fishermen who competed in the 13th annual Hooks for Hunger walleye tournament benefiting CRS.
The event raised over $21,500.
NORTH RIDGEVILLE
Summer concert:The city s summer concert series continues with the Blue Water Kings Band performing from 6 to 8 p.m. July 13 at the Gazebo at South Central Park, 7565 Avon Belden Road.
Bring a chair or blanket. Food trucks onsite with items available for purchase include Brew Kettle and Bone Appetit Creamery.
Catch basin, roundabout updates:The contractor, Irvin s, Inc, recently began work on repairing 44 catch basins around the city. The project will last approximately five weeks (weather permitting).
Landscaping and gateway signage for the peanut roundabout (Stoney Ridge and Mills Road and Avalon Drive) will go out for bid later this summer.
Utility relocation work is underway for the State Route 83 and Chestnut Ridge Road roundabout.
Drinking water report:The city s drinking water met all Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, according to the 2024 Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report just released.
To view the full report, go tonridgeville.org/Water.aspx.
Cutest pet:The city s Kiwanis Club is hosting a Cutest Pooch photo contest. Submissions can be sent through Aug. 2.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to support the children of North Ridgeville by providing scholarships, Amtrykes, snack bags and used towards other children-related projects.
For more information, go togogophotocontest.com/northridgevillekiwanis.
Theater production:Fresh off sold-out shows for Grease, the Olde Towne Hall Theatre presents Disney s Descendents, July 11, 12, 18 and 19 at the North Ridgeville Academic Center, 34620 Bainbridge Road.
To purchase tickets, go tooththeatre.com.
Art fest:The TEAL Art Fest, from 1 to 6 p.m. July 19 at South Central Park, features live entertainment, kid-friendly activities, food, and a locally curated art gallery featuring artists in grades K-12.
For more information, go tobattleoftheteal.org/teal-art-fest.
Shout-outs:The Lions Club of North Ridgeville recently celebrated its 64th anniversary. Angela Finney was also inducted as the club s new president.
—Lion Ed Garrity recently also received the Melvin Jones Fellowship, the highest honor a Lion can receive.
—The Lions Club s annual Run the Ridge 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run takes place Aug. 9 at Ranger Stadium, 34600 Bainbridge Road.
For more information, go tonorthridgevillelions.org.
LORAIN COUNTY
Highway reconstruction:The construction work that begins this month on Interstate 90 includes complete pavement replacement and adding one lane in each direction from the merge/diverge with State Route 2 to the State Route 611 interchange.
The project limits on Interstate 90 will be from the Ohio Turnpike Toll Booth to the existing six-lane section at the State Route 611 interchange, a distance of roughly eight miles. The section between the Ohio Turnpike Toll Booth to SR 2 will be repaved, but will remain a four-lane roadway.
The new lanes will be constructed in the existing median of the highway. The project will also involve some bridge work; however, several of the I-90 bridges over the Black River, railroad lines, and local roads have already been widened to accommodate an additional travel lane and will require only re-striping to match the widened highway.
The project will also include items for pavement repairs to hold the existing pavement over until the new pavement can be constructed.
If you have news/information or a story idea you d like to share or a shout-out , please send an email [email protected]. Read Short Takes online atcleveland.com/avon. Follow me on X (Twitter) @jshortavon.
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