Mutt Madness

Mutt Madness Update: Buzz Nation, You Did Not Come to Play 🐾

We announced Mutt Madness on Friday. By end of day, 108 dogs had applied for the title of Cutest Pup on the Westside.

Our inbox was fuller than our stomachs leaving Progressive Field on Dollar Dog Night. Big-time regrets and serious indigestion.

Here's the updated bracket structure: two 64-dog brackets, 128 pups total — hard cap. We're roughly 20 spots away from a full field, and if we know Buzz Nation (we do), those fill up today.

If you already submitted your dog and didn’t get an email response, please submit again!

Haven't entered your dog yet? Here's all it takes:

Reply to this email or email us with their best photo, their name, and their breed. That's it. Voting kicks off soon, and Buzz Nation will decide who takes the crown — along with a complimentary professional photo shoot and some other seriously good prizes.

Want the golden paw? 🐾 Donate to any animal shelter of your choice, send us a screenshot, and your pup's photo gets a gold paw print on the voting form. It's the easiest way we can all do our best to continue to support our area shelters.

Don't let your neighbor's dog win this thing. You know your pup deserves it.

Short Takes

The full column lives here on our new website but here are the highlights worth your morning coffee.

Avon

Time to make the donuts: The wait is over, Jack Frost Donuts will open in Olde Avon Village, 36840 Detroit Road (next to Strip Steakhouse) March 21. The grand opening festivities will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. featuring freebies, giveaways, and donuts.

The donut shop will open at 9 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday during the opening weekend. After the opening weekend, the new location will move to its regular hours of 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

For future updates and announcements, follow Jack Frost Donuts on social media.

Historic transportation: The Avon Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. April 2 at the Avon Olde Town Hall, corner of Detroit and Stoney Ridge roads.

This month’s program is “Historic Railways & Trolley of Lorain County,” presented by Dr. Charles “Eddie” Herdendorf III, a geologist, oceanographer and professor emeritus of Earth Sciences at The Ohio State University.

The meeting is open to the public.

Avon Lake

Everything is possible: Enjoy some quality time with the family during a pop-up game night anytime between 6 to 8 p.m. March 18 at the Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd.

Hosted by I'm Possible Games, a Lorain County non-profit that aims to build a space where people of all abilities can interact free of expectations and fun for all.

New bike shop: Encore Cycles is opening today (March 17) at 296 Moore Road. It offers recreational products for the entire family.

Avon Lake resident Dan Sirkin owned a similar shop in Solon for 21 years. He sold the building in 2024 with full plans to start a new chapter in Avon Lake.

Bay Village

Citizen, project of the year: Village Bicycle Cooperative (VBC) volunteer Bob Piccirilli has been named the Bay Village Citizen of the Year. He has dedicated significant time, talent, and resources to improving the quality of life in both Bay Village and throughout the Cleveland area.

Bay Days, brought to you by the Kiwanis Club, received Project of the Year honors.

North Ridgeville

‍More Easter fun: The Rotary Club’s annual free Easter Egg Hunt (ages 1-9) will take place at 1 p.m. March 28 at Ranger Stadium, 34600 Bainbridge Road. In partnership with celebrating America 250-OH North Ridgeville, the club has several surprises planned for this year’s egg hunt.

Gates open at 12:30 p.m. (event is rain or shine).

Grief support: In partnership with OhioGuidestone, North Ridgeville City Schools will be hosting two Community & Grief Support Sessions for anyone who has been impacted by recent trauma or loss.

Each session will begin with a brief presentation highlighting available resources and support services, followed by small-group breakout discussions to provide space for connection, reflection, and shared support.

The first session is at 6 p.m. March 26 in the North Ridgeville High School Media Center, 34600 Bainbridge Road.

The next session is at 6 p.m. April 23 in the North Ridgeville High School Multipurpose Room.

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Rocky River

🍂 Leaf collection: The early start to winter made fall yard cleanup challenging. Mayor Pam Bobst recently advised that from March 30 to April 3, city crews will have one last pass for leaf collection and yard waste from the tree lawn. They do not traditionally do spring pick up, but this year residents can put loose yard waste and leaves on the tree lawn within this window, and it will get picked up.

Westlake

Easter Bunny photos: Bring the kids for free Easter Bunny photos at Crocker Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 28 inside Barnes & Noble (second floor). Pets are welcome, too.

Upcoming library events: High school students and eighth-graders can prepare for the SAT by taking an SAT practice test. Sylvan Learning will be at the Westlake Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, to simulate the exact environment for taking the SAT from 10 a.m. to noon March 21. Bring your own calculator and a No. 2 pencil.

The Westlake High School Crochet Club and Westlake Porter Public Library invite local yarn enthusiasts to contribute crocheted or knitted wildflowers and pollinators to a community wildflower garden on display from April 19 through mid-May in the library's lobby.

Item drop off is March 18-22. Please register online for all library events.

Mark Your Calendars

The Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby📍 Rocky River Reservation

Somewhere in Northeast Ohio, a fisherman just read the words "fish for steelhead using only a kiddie fishing pole" and started stretching.

The 11th Annual Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby returns to the Rocky River on Saturday, March 28 — an event that is exactly what it sounds like, run by people who clearly have a great sense of humor and an even better cause. Cleveland Metroparks leads the event, with the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders non-profit hosting the raffle.

Here's the deal:

• Headquarters at South Mastic Woods Picnic Area, just south of the Puritas Road bridge

• Trophies for the three largest steelhead caught on a kiddie pole

• Raffle prizes, a cookout, and plenty of smiles

• Register early online to save

• 100% of proceeds support the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund — $79,000 raised for public fishing since 2015

Eleven years running. Kiddie poles mandatory.

Something Cool

Hand-drawn Map of Ohio

As a self-proclaimed map nerd, I stopped in my tracks as I was perusing the Cleveland Reddit group this weekend.

This hand drawn map of Ohio done in great detail captures our state in excruciating detail. It features all of the great communities in Ohio and specifically the Westside amongst the corn, soybeans, and more corn.

He is selling prints on his Etsy shop. 

Have a Westside map nerd in your life? This could be the gift to say, “I support your obsession.”

🍽️ Business & Restaurant News

Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken Coming to Crocker Park 📍 Westlake

If your idea of a good lunch involves signing a legal document, Northeast Ohio just got its next great dining destination.

Hangry Joe's — the fast-casual Nashville hot chicken chain with a cult following and a sauce lineup that doubles as a dare — is opening its first Northeast Ohio location at Crocker Park's 242 Main St. this April. Local franchisee Omar Al-Qadan is running the operation, and it'll be halal-certified (a first for Crocker Park's restaurant roster).

The chain has been quietly building momentum across the country on the back of one simple premise: people will happily pay for food that scares them a little.

What's hitting the menu:

• Heat levels ranging from "No Heat" to Angry Hot — the latter requires an actual signed waiver before they'll hand it over

• The Mega Chicken Sando — an 8-oz seasoned breast loaded with cider slaw, pickles, and Hangry sauce on brioche

• Nashville-style tenders, wings, and chicken & waffles for the people who want the experience without the liability paperwork

• Loaded fries, wraps, and shareable sides — ideal for groups, families, or anyone who enjoys watching a friend make a terrible decision in real time

Grand opening details are still TBD, so follow their socials for the official date — and maybe spend the next few weeks mentally preparing.