Community Blend

The New Cannabis Corridor? 📍 Lakewood

A new cannabis dispensary called The Forest is preparing to open at 18605 Detroit Ave., the former home of Harry Buffalo, which closed earlier this year. The new shop will sit right next door to Rise, a dispensary that has operated in the city for several years.

That will make The Forest the third dispensary in Lakewood.

Here’s what we know so far:

• Location: 18605 Detroit Ave., the old Harry Buffalo space

• Neighbor: Next door to Rise, one of the city’s existing dispensaries

• City count: This will bring Lakewood to three cannabis shops

• Multiple Locations: The Forest operates four other shops in Ohio

Why it matters: Lakewood recently received its first state cannabis tax distribution — $743,400 tied to marijuana businesses operating within city limits.

As a Lakewood resident, I get the upside. That’s real revenue flowing back into the city. But it does raise a fair question: how many dispensaries does one stretch of Detroit Avenue actually need?

A little competition with Rise probably makes sense. This is something we will continue to monitor.

Zoom out: Lakewood may be turning into Cleveland’s unofficial cannabis corridor.

Short Takes

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

Avon

Easter breakfast, egg hunt: The annual French Creek Foundation Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt takes place at 9 a.m. (hunt starts at 10:30 a.m.) March 21 at Avon Middle School, 3445 Long Road.

Proceeds from the event are used to purchase flowers for the 25 cement planters French Creek Foundation installed along Detroit Road and hanging floral baskets for the poles in Avon's historic French Creek District.

The breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, and beverages.  Following breakfast, kids can enjoy activities and visit with the Easter Bunny. Hop on tickets

S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G B-E-E: Good luck to all of the students competing in the finals of the 42nd Annual Spelling Bee to be held at 6 p.m. March 12 at Northwood Middle School, Elyria. The winner will represent the Lorain County region at the 101st Scripps National Spelling Bee May 26-28 in Washington, D.C.

Area students include Sireen Essa (Avon), Stephen Higdon (Avon), Sirhaas Nimmagadda (Avon), Stephen Rodriguez (Holy Trinity), Dominic Novak (Holy Trinity), Julia Walsh (Holy Trinity), Anar Bayarbadrakh (Learwood Middle School), Grace DeBord (Learwood Middle School), and Liam Distefano (Learwood Middle School.

Avon Lake

Coffee capital: Grabbing a cup of coffee is taking on a whole new meaning in the city as businesses are opening up on every corner of town. New to the scene is Love Coffee Company, owned by Love Coffee Roasters founders Chris and Landry Schilla, which will open in a few weeks in the former Goonie’s Hot Dog shop space, 33473 Lake Road.

“My family and I are from Cleveland , and have been here for several generations,” said Chris. “My great grandfather on my mother’s side immigrated to the United States from Sant’Agata di Militello, Sicily in the early 1900s and owned a produce stand at the Westside Market (Cleveland). My great-grandmother is still pictured to this day in the Westside Market cafe and I often go there to see her picture etched into Cleveland’s history.

After serving honorably in the U.S. Army as a medic from 2019 to 2023, I moved back home to Avon Lake. I served full-time as a first responder, while also running a mobile coffee cart on the side with my wife.”

Love Coffee Company will be the couple’s first brick and mortar location.

Also planning to open soon is Biggby Coffee at 33388 Walker Road.  

New eagle family growing: After the beloved eagles (named Stars and Stripes) that had called Redwood Elementary School home for many years left the nest last year, a new pair has since taken over.

Eagle watchers have been waiting patiently hoping the new pair would start a family soon. The wait is over and there are now two eggs in the nest.

It had been a long standing tradition at the school for students to name the eagles. Apparently this year that will not happen. School district officials explained that wildlife experts are now discouraging the practice of naming bald eagles, citing that it ‘diminishes the integrity of these national symbols and complicates conservation efforts to keep them protected.’

You can follow the nameless eagle couple on a live 24/7 eagle cam, as well as on Facebook.

Bay Village

Luck of the Irish: Celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day holiday with an evening of Celtic Rock with Mary's Lane from 7 to 10 p.m. March 14 in the Sullivan Family Auditorium at BAYarts, 28795 Lake Road. General admission tickets are $25 and are available online.

New treasurer: Current Avon Lake City Schools Treasurer Autumn Reed was recently approved by the Bay Village City Schools Board of Education to become the district’s new treasurer. She will begin her employment April 20.

Prior to working in Avon Lake, she served as assistant treasurer for the Avon Local School District and in the Finance Department of her hometown district, Mapleton Local Schools.

Reed was appointed to replace Meghan Rohde, who served as treasurer in the schools since April 2021. Rohde took a similar role with the Lakewood City Schools in January 2026. Emily Cundiff has served as interim treasurer since Rohde’s departure from the district, and will continue in that role through Reed’s transition.

North Ridgeville

Movie celebration: As part of America 250-Ohio, the city is partnering with Aut-O-Rama Drive-In to present, "The Goonies" April 2. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. and concessions will be available for purchase.

Space is limited to the first 400 cars, so advance registration is required; your confirmation is your ticket. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to support Community Care.

To register

Rocky River

Craft show: The annual Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 21 at Rocky River Memorial Hall, 21016 Hilliard Blvd.

The show features artists and crafters selling their original handmade items. Admission is $3 and children under 12 are free. A portion of proceeds will benefit local non-profit, Girls on the Run.

High school production: The Rocky River High School Drama Club presents, “Cinderella.” Show dates are March 26-28 at 7 p.m. Grab your glass slippers

Westlake

Community service hours: The Westlake Historical Society is seeking student volunteers to earn community service hours at the Clague House Museum. Students interested in volunteering at the Clague House Museum should contact Lysa or Dave at the museum at 216-848-0680. There are various ways students can earn service hours with opportunities during the week and on weekends throughout the year.

Cemetery history: Did you know that many of Westlake’s earliest settlers are buried at the Evergreen Cemetery on Center Ridge Road near Crocker Road.

As Westlake celebrates roots this year as part of America’s 250th anniversary, the Westlake Historical Society is hosting a special Evergreen Cemetery tour at 1 p.m. April 25.

Volunteer actors are needed to make this event a success. This is a chance for you or your child to play the role of one of Westlake’s historical founders.

For more information on how to be part of the interactive cemetery tour, contact Mary Beth Schneidler.

Adopt

The Lakewood Animal Shelter just took in Aileron and Rudder, two 10-year-old brothers who’ve spent their entire lives together. Their elderly owner recently had to move somewhere they couldn’t take the good boys, so they are suddenly looking for a new place to land.

And the big thing: they’re a package deal. These brothers have basically been side-by-side since day one.

So if you’ve got room in your home — and maybe a green backyard and a cozy couch — the shelter would love to see them spend their golden years somewhere calm and comfortable together.

How nice would it be to see these two retire somewhere on the Westside?

🍽️ Business & Restaurant News

Speed Trap Racing Simulator 📍 Lakewood

It looks like there’s finally some movement at the old Melt space at 14718 Detroit, and the concept being floated is pretty cool: a Speed Trap racing simulator venue.

Nothing’s officially approved yet, but if it gets the green light, the idea is to bring in those high-end racing simulators — the kind where you strap in and feel like you’re actually on the track. Think less arcade game, more “pretend you’re qualifying at Monaco.”

The timing makes sense, too. F1 has exploded in popularity the last few years, and places like this usually run leagues, competitions, and events for people who want to test their inner race car driver.

Who knows… the next Max Verstappen might start their career on Detroit Avenue. 🏁

🌿 River Plant Co. Grows Into a Bigger Home 📍 Rocky River

Good news for Westside plant parents: River Plant Co. has officially moved into a larger space just a few doors down in Rocky River, and they had their grand opening last Saturday.

According to the team, the move is bittersweet for the team, who said goodbye to the original shop after years of building a loyal community of plant lovers there.

They’re also adding a “grow room” party space for workshops and events.

If you’re a Westside green thumb, make sure to stop in and stock up before spring blooms.