Happy Friday, Westsiders! Jodie hates when I do this…I think the cold weather and snow are very soon behind us. Regardless of the gloomy weather and cold temps, The Buzz is here to heat things up on this beautiful Friday morning!

Today we’re buzzing on:

• 🦮 The heartwarming story of our Mutt Madness Champion

• 🏠 A Westside start-up is shaking up the building industry

• 🏌️‍♂️ Today’s Buzz Strip is a direct shot at me

Let’s make it a great day,

—The Briggses

🐕 MUTT MADNESS

Well, Buzz Nation. Whether you knew it or not, you did an amazing thing. Keep your tissues handy and get ready to shed a tear or two (of joy).

Your 2025 Mutt Madness Champion is Oliver!

Big congratulations to Oliver and his family for being crowned the cutest pup on the Westside, especially after the harrowing journey he overcame.

Oliver walked into a gas station as a stray (pictured below), likely after years of abuse. He had a horrible skin infection, 4” long untrimmed nails, and deformed ears after a botched crop job. I am tearing up as I write this, looking into his sad eyes. But this is where Oliver’s life turns around.

Oliver was hours away from needing to be put down when the angels at Love a Stray in Avon Lake rescued him. They gave him some much-needed love and found him a foster family to live with.

Westside Buzz Community member Claire stepped in and fostered Oliver. As you can probably predict, as soon as Claire’s daughter became attached, there was no giving him up.

Here are some fun facts about our champion:

• He can hear a cheese stick wrapper being opened from a mile away.

• He loves to play ball outside and sighs heavily when you don’t take him out.

• He weighs about 100 pounds and has zero awareness of his size.

• He is truly a Mutt. Part Swiss Shepherd, Asian Central Shepherd, German Shepherd, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bulldog, oh and cant forget the 3% ChowChow.

💘 Claire has decided to forgo the $50 prize and rather donate it to Love a Stray in Avon Lake! Jodie and I at The Buzz have decided to match that, so the total will be a $100 donation. 💘

If you enjoyed Mutt Madness and feel inclined to open your heart so that other good boys and girls can have a comeback story like Oliver, please consider donating here:

Big thank you to Robyn White for donating her time to give Oliver and his family photos that will last a lifetime! Robyn is a rockstar who donates her time to take great photos of pets that help get them adopted.

🙏 Please support Robyn and check out her amazing work on her website and Instagram

COMMUNITY BLEND

Bicycle safety takes center stage at council meeting | Lakewood

Following two serious accidents at the Hilliard-Madison intersection (including one fatality), Lakewood is taking immediate action by installing plastic delineator poles in the bike lane, restriping dividing lines, and planning to paint bike lanes reflective green when weather permits. Kudos to Lakewoods city council for taking swift action, but I still don’t think I’m going to ride my bike at this intersection anytime soon.

Cleveland Moves to more biking safer | Cleveland

Cleveland is rolling out an impressive plan called “Cleveland Moves” to transform the city into a cyclist's paradise, investing in 50 miles of high-comfort bikeways and widening existing lanes while adding practical touches like converting 150 parking meters into bike racks. They're responding directly to residents' concerns about dangerous drivers, acknowledging that many Clevelanders want to ditch their cars but simply don't feel safe enough to pedal around town just yet.

With 72% of Baldwin Wallace poll respondents supporting increased investment in biking, walking and public transit, the city is finally putting its money where its mouth is and making pedestrian and cyclist safety a genuine priority!

REAL ESTATE

Cleveland Soccer exec selling lakefront marvel | Rocky River

When paddleboarding on the Rocky River, I always look up and admire the beautiful homes that overlook that gorgeous view. Then, a boat flies past me and almost knocks me off, snapping me back to reality.

This custom-built beauty is being sold by Nolan Gallagher, founder of Gravitas Ventures. The St. Ignatius grad led Gravitas to tremendous success by bringing the movies you watch in theatres on demand to your house.

If you buy this shack, you could watch a different movie in each room every day for a month!

The features:

• 8,600 sq. ft.

• Floor-to-ceiling windows for breathtaking lake views

• Five patios perfect for entertaining

• 5 Bedrooms and 6 bathrooms

MLS# 5099992, Listing agent: Terry Young

🧠 TRIVIA

The Buzz Strip

Who is Patrick? He is a Lakewood-based artist known for vibrant watercolor and oil paintings. Patrick is mega-talented and has painted four live weddings, published a children’s book, and appeared as a guest on Donovan Live! hosted by the late, great Jim Donovan.

If you are looking for something special, he is open for commissions!

For more of Patrick’s work, check out GeyserArt.com and follow him on Instagram: @GeyserArt.

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

🧸 Kids Corner

🎷 Live Entertainment

Friday

Cleveland Crunch vs. PAO Chicago | Wolstein Center, CSU 7 PM

Crack the Sky | Music Box CH, Flats 8 PM

Drag Bingo with Veranda L'Ni & Friends | Music Box SC, Flats 7:30 PM

Max Schlenk Quintet | The Bop Stop, Cleveland 8 PM

Ballinloch “10 year anniversary” | Gormley’s, Rocky River 8 PM

Shaker | Backstage Bar, Westpark 8:30 PM

Into the Blue: Grateful Dead Revival | Mercury Music Lounge, Lakewood 8 PM

R&B Invitation Tour | Keybank State Theatre, Playhouse 8 PM

Peter Pan | Connor Palace, Playhouse 7 PM

Pouya: They Could Never Make Me | House of Blues, Cleveland 7 PM

Lake Erie Elmo Club | The Winchester, Lakewood 7 PM

Follow the Sun | Time Warp Bar, Westlake 9 PM

Saturday

Katy & OC | Gormley’s, Rocky River 8 PM

Flatliners | Backstage Bar, Westpark 8:30 PM

Truth | Mercury Music Lounge, Lakewood 8 PM

Peter Pan | Connor Palace, Playhouse 1:30 & 7 PM

Joey McIntyre: Freedom Tour | House of Blues, Cleveland 7 PM

The Asheville Mountain Boys | The Winchester, Lakewood 8 PM

OMF | Time Warp Bar, Westlake 9 PM

Sunday

Yacht Rock Brunch | Mercury Music Lounge, Lakewood 11 AM

Weather

Friday

44 🌡️ 38 | 🌥 | 20% | 💨 N 9-11 mph

Saturday

47 🌡️ 34 | 🌥 | 10% | 💨 S 14-16 mph

Sunday

55 🌡️ 47 | 🌥 | 10% | 💨 S 3-7 mph

Monday

66 🌡️ 42 | 🌧 | 40% | 💨 S 7-13 mph

💧^{🌡️ Water temperature = 42ºF}

^{Weather courtesy of the National Weather Service}

Have a great weekend! If you are going to any of the events listed in today’s edition, let us know. Email: [email protected]

Big Love,

—The Briggses