FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- The American Nationalities Movement has presented a 2019 Freedom Award to Richard DeChant in recognition of his work with military families through the Veterans Initiative at Cuyahoga Community College.
DeChant, a Fairview Park resident, serves as executive director of the Veterans Initiative at Tri-C. He said he was “humbled and flattered” to receive the award earlier this month from the Cleveland-based organization. The presentation was made during the group’s annual Captive Nations Dinner event.
The American Nationalities Movement works to advance freedom and self-determination for the people of “captive nations” around the world. It seeks to unite all nationalities to overcome differences and work toward a common good.
The organization dates to 1959, when Northeast Ohio leaders led efforts to pass a Congressional resolution condemning aggressive Soviet Union policies that placed captive nations under harsh communist regimes.
Meals on Wheels benefit: Lakewood’s sarita restaurant will host a fundraiser to benefit West Shore Meals on Wheels, of which the Rocky River-Lakewood Meals on Wheels is a subsidiary. The event will be from 5 to 10 p.m. at sarita, 14523 Madison Ave., Lakewood. Reservations are recommended. Call 216-226-5200.
The restaurant will donate 20 percent of all meal tabs to West Shore Meals on Wheels. Visit sarita’s website, sarita-restaurant.com/events, for more information.
West Shore Meals on Wheels prepares and delivers two freshly made meals per day -- Monday through Friday -- to its clients. The service is available to anyone who has difficulty purchasing food and/or preparing nutritious meals.
Many clients are senior citizens, but the service also is available to those dealing with a short-term or long-term physical or mental disability. Clients may be recovering from an injury, illness or medical procedure, or be unable to drive. Caregivers who are overtaxed, as well as parents of newborns and members of the military returning from deployment, also can use Meals on Wheels.
The meals are prepared by volunteers fresh daily in local kitchens, using high-quality ingredients such as homemade baked goods and soups, specialty breads and pastries, and fresh local produce from community gardens. Dedicated volunteers deliver the meals to recipients’ doors between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. daily.
The service can help people to stay in their homes rather than live in a temporary or permanent institutional setting. Meals on Wheels also can mean the difference between a nutritious diet and the malnutrition that can be experienced by those who live alone and/or cope with disability and frailty.
Although the main focus of the service is to deliver nutritious meals, there are other benefits. Contact with the delivery volunteer may be the only personal interaction some clients will have all day, and they appreciate the visit.
In addition, those who deliver the meals will note if a recipient does not answer the door as usual, in which case the client’s contact person can be alerted to a possible problem needing intervention.
With the beginning of the school year just around the corner, the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce will welcome teachers new to schools in the city at its 63rd annual New Teachers Luncheon. (Carol Kovach, special to cleveland.com)
Back to school: The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce is continuing a longtime tradition of welcoming teachers who are new to schools -- both public and parochial -- in the city.
The 63rd annual New Teachers Luncheon will take place Aug. 16 at Garfield Middle School, 13114 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., with lunch and the program at noon.
Local businesses and organizations are invited to make donations to the event. Traditionally, each teacher receives a gift bag with approximately 40 items. Call the chamber office at 216-226-2900 to arrange for a donation or for more information on other opportunities to market a business at the event.
Some businesses defray the cost for a teacher’s lunch ($20), while others contribute door prizes valued at $25 or more. Event tickets, gift certificates or other gift items are needed.
For more information on the lunch or to make reservations -- $20 for chamber members, $25 for non-members -- call the chamber office or visit lakewoodchamber.org.
Volunteers needed: The Ohio Flags of Honor display, a traveling memorial that honors all of Ohio’s military personnel who have been killed in the war on terrorism, will visit North Olmsted Aug. 23-25 at North Olmsted Park during the city’s Homecoming weekend.
Volunteers are needed to for the event. Interested people can review the available slots online and register for a shift at signupgenius.com/go/8050f4daeae2fa7f58-volunteers.
Individuals or groups from the community also are needed to help keep watch and guard the flags around the clock through the afternoon of Aug. 25. If you can spare two hours out of the weekend to help out, click the signup genius link to volunteer. The link is: signupgenius.com/go/8050f4daeae2fa7f58-flags.
Front Porch Concert: It’s time for another weekly Front Porch Concert, presented by LakewoodAlive and sponsored by Bentley Wealth Management of Raymond James, from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday (Aug. 9) on the front porch of Lakewood Public Library, 15425 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. Cats on Holiday will perform this week at the seventh concert. The series runs through Aug. 30.
Now in its ninth year, the popular Front Porch Concert Series adds vibrancy and a sense of community to Lakewood’s urban core. It draws several thousand attendees annually. Each week showcases a different style of music. Visit LakewoodAlive.org/FrontPorchConcerts for more information.
Attendees are reminded to bring lawn chairs or blankets.
Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. in Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted and West Park for the A Place in the Sun 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 carolkovach@hotmail.com.
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