LAKEWOOD, Ohio – Looking for a different way to observe Valentine’s Day?
Lakewood Historical Society will sponsor its annual Valentine’s Tea Party 1-3 p.m. Feb. 11 at the historic Nicholson House, 13335 Detroit Ave.
Cost is $10 per child; every two children must be accompanied by a guardian. There is no charge for adult admission.
Call 216-221-7343 to reserve a spot.
Author, author: Two local students are among those who were honored for their recent submissions to Cricket magazine.
Areesha Nouman, 8, a resident of Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood, received a second place prize for her poem “Hurricane” that was published in the February magazine.
Fairview Park resident Isabella Bixler, also 8, won third prize for her poem,” Where are They?” Her work was published in the October 2016 issue of Cricket.
The magazine sponsors a unique writing or art competition in each issue. It features the best short stories, poems and articles by children’s authors and it’s illustrated by artists from the United States and abroad.
State of the City: North Olmsted Mayor Kevin Kennedy will deliver his annual State of the City address Feb. 16 at Springvale Ballroom, 5871 Canterbury Road, North Olmsted. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for networking, with lunch at noon. The program will end about 1:30 p.m.
Tickets are $20 and include a plated lunch and raffle prizes. Reservations are required by Feb. 10. Visit north-olmsted.com/events/state-of-the-city.
Chapel dedicated: The Rev. Dennis Hrubiak of the Byzantine Catholic Church in Parma blessed the new chapel at O’Neill Healthcare Lakewood on Jan. 30. Hrubiak is the son of Irene Hrubiak, a resident of the assisted living facility.
A new chapel was dedicated recently at O’Neill Healthcare Lakewood. Photo provided by O’Neill Healthcare Lakewood.
He also donated an icon of the Virgin Mary.
The blessing was followed by a memorial service led by Julie Greer of O’Neill Healthcare Hospice. The service ended with refreshments and sharing of memories of lost loved ones.
In memoriam: Anne Palomaki of Lakewood sends word that her son-in-law, Dr. Steve Meadows, died recently, just a day after being diagnosed with acute leukemia.
Meadows was born in Lakewood and graduated in 1990 from Lakewood High School. He played trumpet in the LHS marching band and was involved in theater productions.
He graduated from The Ohio State University and the OSU Medical School in 2001. Meadows was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He served his ophthalmology residency at OSU and was a board-certified ophthalmologist. Meadows was a partner in Fairview Eye Centers. He also served on the Lakewood Ranger Education Foundation and presented programs at the Watters Science Seminar at LHS.
Meadows, 44, was a member of Lakewood United Methodist Church, where he and his wife, Julie Palomaki Meadows, were married in 1997. A celebration of his life took place at the church on Jan. 21. Meadows also is survived by two children, Owen and Finn.
He was planning to go on a medical mission to Central America with his partners to restore eyesight for patients with cataracts and glaucoma.
Palomaki said contributions in his memory can be sent to Ophthalmology Medical Outreach and Mission Fund #313571, The Ohio State University Havener Eye Institute, 915 Olentangy River Road, Suite 5000, Columbus, Ohio 43212.
Garden club meets: “Let’s Grow Butterflies” will be the topic of the Fairview Park Garden Club’s Feb. 14 meeting in the Dunson Community Room at Fairview Park City Hall, 20770 Lorain Road.
Ken Rohal will speak about how to attract butterflies to your garden with plants and food and what is needed to support a butterfly population in your backyard.
The evening begins with refreshments at 6:30 p.m., business meeting at 7 and the program at 7:45.
Parking and entrance are in the rear of the building, lower level.
Happy birthday: Addilynne Shirey of Lakewood continues to beat the odds. The little girl who was given a 10 percent chance of living to her second birthday, is now 31/2 years old. She has spinal muscular atrophy, Type 1.
Addie is attending preschool at Hayes Elementary School. However, due to her susceptibility to germs, a robot is taking her place in class during the flu season because a simple cold could turn into pneumonia and leave her fighting to breathe and live, her family said. They said Addie is anxious for spring to come so she can return to school.
Because of her illness, Addie has a tracheotomy to help her breathe and she is fed through a tube. She also has respiratory treatments several times daily to keep her airway clear since she is unable to cough or swallow on her own.
Her family said Addie is getting stronger, thanks to a clinical trial she is participating in. She has been able to lift and use her arms and hands, can bend and lift her legs and can almost completely roll over. She also is gaining head control and with some support, she can sit for a short time. The medication she has been taking recently was approved by the Federal Drug Administration and soon will be available for other with the same condition.
Although Addie can’t speak, she knows some sign language and is starting to use a communication device. She also gestures and uses her eyes to indicate what she wants. Her family said she is a bright little girl who enjoys playing with the same toys and participating in the same activities as other children her age. Although some things need to be modified, her family is doing its best to ensure she doesn’t miss any experiences.
There is one thing the family is struggling with – providing Addie with her own room and an adapted bathroom to accommodate her special needs. Currently, her machines, supplies and special medical equipment are located in the dining room and Addie sleeps, plays and has therapy in the living room. It makes things challenging for this family of six.
The Shirey family said they enjoy living in Lakewood and hope to stay in the city, but they have been unable to find an affordable home with a first-floor bedroom and bath, as well as a driveway large enough to get Addie in and out of the van. They hope to add on to their home, so a fundraiser is being planned for Feb. 19 at Brookpark Skateland.
Helping the needy: Students at Our Lady of Angels School in West Park, in conjunction with West Park Station, collected socks, gloves and hats for the Socks Plus Initiative of the Community West Foundation. The drive took place during Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 29 to Feb. 4.
West Park Station set up a collection site at its restaurant and said it would provide a pizza party for the winning classroom.
The items collected will be distributed to homeless men, women and children in Greater Cleveland.
Public employee retirees meet: Sue Rowe, assistant to U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-9, will speak to Chapter 91 of Public Employee Retirees, Inc. at the group’s 11 a.m. meeting on Feb. 14 on the lower level of the Fairview Park Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, 21255 Lorain Road.
Rowe will address issues regarding Social Security, Medicare and any current information on changes to the Affordable Care Act.
PERI Chapter 91 includes members from the western suburbs of Cleveland. The group meets monthly to discuss topics of interest and to keep updated on proposed legislation. Public sector retirees are welcome to attend the meetings. Light refreshments will be served.
How does your beard grow?: If you haven’t started growing a beard for the annual Loving Lakewood Lumberjack Bash, or if you haven’t started planning your novelty beard, time is running out.
The fundraiser for LakewoodAlive will take place 7:30-11 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Bottlehouse Brewery in Lakewood. For more information or reservations, visit lakewoodalive.org.
Calling all Dems: Westside Democrats will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 14 at Western Cuyahoga Lodge Hall No. 25, 26145 Center Ridge Road, Westlake. Parking and entrance are at the rear of the building. Attendees can bring a snack to share; beverages will be provided.
Billy Sharp, executive director of the Straightaway Project, will read excerpts from his book.
For more information, contact Jeanne, 440-892-3430.
New location: Ohio Genealogical Society, Cuyahoga West Chapter, will meet at a different location for its next program. Members and guests should meet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Westlake Family History Center, 25000 Center Ridge Road, Westlake. Betty Franklin will give a free demonstration on resources available at the center.
For more information, visit rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohcwogs, or email cuyahogawest@gmail.com.
Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. in Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted and West Park for the A Place in the Sun column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com.
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