Children can sign up for Bike Rodeo, safety checks at Westlake Porter Public Library: West Shore Chatter

First- to sixth-graders can sign up to get their bikes ready for summer on June

First- to sixth-graders can sign up to get their bikes ready for summer on June 10 at Westlake Porter Public Library during the Bike Rodeo and safety checks. (Carol Kovach/special to cleveland.com)

WESTLAKE, Ohio – Children in grades 1-6 can get ready for summer bicycling during Westlake Porter Public Library's Bike Rodeo 1-3 p.m. June 10 at the library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, Westlake,

The Bike Rodeo will include safety checks by the Westlake Police Department and Village Bicycle Cooperative, a "rodeo" showcasing participants’ bicycle handling skills and more.

Participants must sign up for specific times to go through the safety checks and rodeo course, which will take about 30 minutes. The last slot will be at 2:30 p.m. Each child also must bring a helmet and a bike in good condition and working order. Those who successfully demonstrate their skills in the bike rodeo will earn a certificate. Parents/guardians must attend with their children. Those without a helmet cannot participate in the rodeo.

Younger siblings are welcome to attend with their families but will not be permitted to ride in the bike rodeo. There will be a special play space available for them.

To register, visit westlakelibrary.org/events or call 440-250-5471.

Weekend fun: Got plans for this weekend? Crocker Park is hosting its third annual block party featuring 20 blocks of fun 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 11. The shopping and lifestyle venue is collaborating with several departments from the city of Westlake to offer a day of personal safety activities, games, exhibits, demonstrations and more.

The free event will feature touch-a-truck where children can get a close-up look at Westlake police vehicles like the bomb squad, SWAT, drone and more, the Westlake fire medic unit and a fire truck, Cleveland Metroparks mounted unit, Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Internet Crimes Against Children and more.

In addition, the Crocker Bark 5K will step off at 9:30 a.m. that day at Market Square.

The event is a partnership with Hermes Sports & Events and is sponsored by Elite K-911 at Market Square.

Runners, walkers and their canine companions will follow a route through Westlake. The 5K is open to all levels of runners and their leashed canine companions. A portion of the proceeds from the $35 registration fee will support the Westlake K9 Unit.

After the race, there will be a demonstration of the K9 Unit at 10:30 a.m.

To register for the 5K, visit unsignup.com/Race/OH/Westlake/CrockerBark.

Mural artist named: Rocky River Public Library has chosen Evan Laisure to create a mural based on an interactive nature identification design to brighten the stairwell connecting the lobby area and mezzanine floor in the library's children's area.

The design will start with underground scenes and continue to upward into the sky. It will include opportunities for learning through engagement with different elements of the mural. The final selection of flora and fauna will be assisted by community feedback opportunities that will be announced through the Library's social media platforms.

Laisure is a graduate of Kent State University with a degree in visual communication design. He created large-scale murals for Sherwin-Williams and the bike rack in Lakewood Park, as well as other public design creations.

A committee of Rocky River Public Library patrons and community members were presented with online submissions from which three candidates were asked to present their ideas.

Work will begin on the mural is scheduled to begin in August.

Call 440-895-3750 or email [email protected] for more information.

School employees, retirees recognized: The end of the school year means retirement for many teachers and support staff in the Bay Village City Schools.

Retiring staff this year include Tony Ambrozic, Cathy Bogart, Jane Godfray, Denise Greene, Carol Grandy, Julie Holland, Roger Koch, Eileen Meehan, Mary Jo Mahall, Susan Masarra, Katie Passalaqua, Ken Schroeder, Gary Sherwood and Barbara Woodburn.

Those with 25 years of service are Heather Baldwin, Eric Caddey, Jane Godfray, Kathy Corona, Wendy Crumbacker, EJ Gorman, Julie Hack, Susan Masarra and Linda Stasko.

The retirees and 25-year employees were recognized at a recent school board meeting.

Helping hand: Mark your calendar for June 24. That's when Habitat for Humanity will have a truck available 9 a.m. to noon in the Rocky River Senior Center parking lot off Wagar Road and Hilliard Boulevard.

Donations of usable furniture, construction and remodeling materials, small kitchen appliances, hardware, tools and other household items will be accepted and will support Habitat's mission of providing affordable housing.

Arrangements can be made to pick up larger items by calling 216-429-3631.

Reminder: The Bay Village Historical Society kicks off its summer season of free porch talks at 2:15 p.m. June 11 at the Osborn Learning Center in Cahoon Memorial Park with a special showing of the movie, "The Untouchables."

The movie is about the life and career of Eliot Ness who became Cleveland's director of public safety after his efforts in Chicago to bring down the infamous gangster Al Capone.

Guests should bring their own lawn chairs.

Visit bayhistorical.com for additional information.

Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. from Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake for the West Shore Chatter 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 [email protected].

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Children can sign up for Bike Rodeo, safety checks at Westlake Porter Public Library: West Shore Chatter