Together With Ronald P. Kolodziej, D.M.D., M.S.

Lakewood’s Hometown Orthodontist

The Westside Buzz is thrilled to partner with Dr. Ron Kolodziej, Board-Certified Orthodontist. For over 25 years, Dr. K and his family have been proud Lakewood residents, where he has grown a reputable practice and enjoys being involved in the community.

Dr. K is an independent owner of his practice and is not affiliated with any corporate chains. He attributes much of his success to this because it allows him to deliver exceptional results with a very personal touch. It also means that patients get to see the same doctor at every appointment throughout their treatment, which fosters consistent, attentive care from start to finish.

Why so many Westside families choose Dr. Kolodziej:

• Convenient Scheduling - Early morning & evening appointments available

• Experienced Team - Staff tenure of 3-20 years means familiar faces throughout treatment

• Reasonable Prices - No gimmicky coupons or specials because treatment fees are always priced for exceptional value. Even former patients receive lifetime minimum pricing for replacement retainers.

If you’re curious and want to learn more, an in-office visit is the best first step for you or your child.

Call to set up a complimentary consultation

Short Takes on the Westside

Bay Village

Police Academy: Residents can go behind the scenes and learn how the Bay Village Police Department runs during the upcoming free Community Police Academy.

The Community Police Academy will meet on Wednesdays for 12 weeks. Classes will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. beginning Jan. 7 and ending March 25 (graduation) at the police department.

Julie Short’s full write-up can be found on the blog if you want to dig deeper.

Well-balanced parent expo: Save the date for the Bay Village City Schools free inaugural wellness event, The Well-Balanced Parent, from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 22 at Bay Middle School.

All parents, grandparents, and residents are encouraged to attend. There will be information and live demos featuring yoga, reiki, fitness, healthy eating, sleep, and a keynote speaker providing information on helping you navigate phones and social media with your children.

Avon

Store closing: It’s just a few more weeks until the last remaining antique store in Avon’s historic French Creek District closes at the end of the year.

Mary Ann Brown opened Jameson Homestead Antiques, 36675 Detroit Road, in 1979.

The City of Avon bought the Jameson property in 2018. Mayor Bryan Jensen and Brown came to an agreement that as long as she wanted to run her antique business there, she could. Sadly, Brown passed away in August.

When the City purchased the property, the original intention was to make it a Visitor’s Bureau office. City officials have now decided to relocate the Recreation Department to the house building. The department is currently located at 35001 Schwartz Road.

Plans are also in the works to restore and utilize the barn adjacent to the main building for educational programming, both for children and seniors.

Principal retire-rehire: Avon High School principal Kristina Dobos Buller is remaining at the school after being awarded a new three-year contract, effective Jan. 6, 2026, which is a few days after her Dec. 31 retirement date.

She has been principal at Avon since 2011. Prior to that, she served as assistant principal of the high school for 13 years.

Avon Lake

Time to play: It may be a little frosty out, but the Avon Lake Play Space (ALPS) is no longer an active construction site and is now open to the public.

The ALPS community celebration will have to wait until Spring, but you can bundle up for a visit and start making memories. Guests can check out the view from Lakers Lookout, make snow angels, or go sledding.

Don't forget to visit the donor bricks that have been installed at the south entrance to honor the community members who helped make the original park possible. Explore becoming a sponsor.

Happy birthday America: The Avon Lake 250 Jubilee is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime celebration honoring America's 250th birthday, and city officials want the community to be part of the party.

Next summer will be filled with music, events, contests, a 5K race, and plenty of family-friendly fun, culminating in a grand fireworks display on July 3.

Join the celebration as event hosts, sponsors, and volunteers are needed.

North Ridgeville

Ward seat: There is another vacant seat on City Council after Ward 2 representative Eric Shaffer pled guilty to stealing more than $8,000 in veterans’ benefits from Lorain County Veterans Service.

The Ward 2 seat term ends on Dec. 31, 2027. Interested parties, who must be a resident of Ward 2 in the City of North Ridgeville and a registered voter for at least one year prior to appointment, should send a cover letter and resume to the Clerk of Council’s Office by Dec. 25. Council will then review the applicants and appoint a replacement per the prescribed Charter timeline.

Rocky River

Pickleball returns: The city’s Recreation Commission recently met regarding pickleball after activities were postponed due to the bad behavior of some players.

There is now a Pickleball Program Plan. There will be a designated Program Supervisor, and their responsibilities will include signing people up, setting up, and managing the space. The program will be registration-only, with priority given to residents first, non-resident members, and then non-residents. Each session will run for five to six weeks, including a small program fee, much like swim lessons.

Registration will be limited to 20 players per session to ensure a quality experience and a manageable group size. The program will initially operate for two days a week with the third week for mini sessions to teach people the rules of pickleball.

Fees for pickleball will be $30 per session for members, $36 for residents and $48.00 for non-residents.

Boutique closing: It’s the end of an era. After nearly 11 years in business, Tart Boutique, 20145 Lake Road, will be closing up shop after the New Year. The store opened in April 2015 as a consignment shop and then transitioned in December 2021 to a gift boutique.

Westlake

Votes needed: Westlake High School alum and diver Grace Kelsheimer (Class of 2021) has been named a finalist for the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission’s Female College Athlete of the Year. She currently attends Marshall University. Consider sending a vote her way.

Community honor: Congratulations to Dale and Betsy Smith, the new Mr. and Mrs. Westlake, presented by the Westlake Town Criers during the recent treelighting ceremony at City Hall.

Dale’s family settled in Westlake in 1936. He graduated from Westlake High School in 1968. He later served as auxiliary officer for the Westlake Police Department, as well as with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office, Cleveland Clinic Protective Services, and Westshore Enforcement Bureau.

He is also very involved in recreational efforts throughout the community including spearheading efforts to help disabled children play baseball.

Betsy is recognized for standing by Dale's side and supporting his community efforts throughout their years together.

Caption Contest

This photo is going viral for being so midwest that you can actually hear it say “Ope!” as it walks past you in the grocery store.

You know this guy is reluctantly running errands before the Browns game and wanted to feel something that wasn’t the empty void in one’s soul caused by watching the Browns play.

Shoot us a reply to this email with your best caption for this moment of perfection caught on film.

Community Blend

Piano prodigy headed to Carnegie Hall 📍 Lakewood

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice… oh, and apparently being a Lakewood eighth grader named Mikey Klein with a knack for Chopin. The 13-year-old piano prodigy is heading to the Big Apple next week to perform at Carnegie Hall after winning an international competition that his piano teacher casually signed him up for.

Mikey’s rise is wild considering he only started playing a few years ago—on a toy keyboard, no less—after picking the trombone because “the slide was cool.” Now he’s stacking trophies, rocking a baby grand, and melting faces in the Lakewood Project. Next stop: high school, composing original music, and possibly world domination—if he can decide between St. Ed’s or Ignatius.

Westside Pour Over

North Olmsted: Senior Center trips are announced for 2026. Head to the center to sign up or contact Liam Fay for more information.

Olmsted Township: Lt. Scott Sonneborn is appointed Police Chief.

Brunswick: The Blue Devils Men’s Basketball team sits atop the Cleveland top 25 rankings. St. Eds and St. Ignatius aren’t far behind.

Mark Your Calendars

Winter Wonder Days are back 📍 Downtown

For all of our Westside families out there — someone’s going to start climbing the walls over winter break (and it might be you). But good news: Winter Wonder Days are back at the Great Lakes Science Center all December long, and it's the perfect way to trick your kids into learning while they think they’re just launching marshmallows across a room.

Here's what's brewing:

Cocoa Catapults (Family Workshop)
📅 Dec 14, 20, 27 + Jan 3
Design a mini catapult, decorate it, then see if you can launch a “marshmallow” into a cocoa cup. Bonus: You take the catapult home, so the chaos can continue in your kitchen.

Winter Wonder Days: Dec 26 – Jan 2
This stretch is packed with STEM-packed fun for all ages:

• Fire & Ice Science Show (daily)

• Cryoblast Countdown at noon on Dec 31 — perfect for a “Noon Year’s Eve” with early bedtimes

• Polysnow Station: Make fake snow using real science

• Hockey Friction Fun: Slide a mini puck across surfaces and feel like a tiny NHL player

• Snowflake Symmetry Build: Add your own snowflake to a massive community snow globe and learn the cool math behind it

Whether you’re chasing cocoa catapults or wrangling gingerbread clues, it’s hands-on, screen-free fun for the whole crew.

New Restaurant

From Pioneer to fancy burgers 📍 W. 25th

Le Burger—replacing Pioneer at Intro in Ohio City—opens Wednesday, and it’s what happens when fine-dining chefs go full mad scientist on burgers (think wagyu patties, truffle aioli, and miso-buttered buns). The dining room with be full table service with cocktails, crispy frites, and yes, beer-battered cheese curds, which is a nod to the company’s Minnesota headquarters. Bonus: an upstairs revival of Jaja is coming in 2026 with a fresh menu and the same over-the-top flair. Full article