St. Mary of the Falls Monday night women’s prayer group will sponsor its annual Parish Lenten Baby Shower during the March 18-19 weekend at the Olmsted Falls church. Shown here are four members of the group, from left, Ann Marie Simone, Judy Vassel, Genny Bures and Donna Hebda. (Joanne Berger DuMound/special to cleveland.com)
OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- One of the main practices during Lent is almsgiving. It is an act of giving to others.
The Monday night women’s prayer group of St. Mary of the Falls Catholic Church offers that opportunity each year. The women sponsor the annual Parish Lenten Baby Shower.
This year, it is scheduled for before and after each Mass March 18 and 19. The community has been so generous over the past years.
Anyone may donate items for the newborn babies and mothers that five local agencies help. The baby shower benefits the Cleveland Pregnancy Center, Hannah’s Home, Zelie’s Home (formerly Maggie’s Place), Laura’s Home and Family Promise of Greater Cleveland. The organizers contacted these agencies to learn what their needs are.
The shower assists young mothers and newborns who are in need of new or gently used items. They include baby and toddler clothing, bath and forehead thermometers, diaper wipes, Jesus Storybook Bibles, disposable changing pads, diaper bags, diaper rash cream, diapers in sizes 3 through 6, baby bottles, pull-ups, sippy cups, hooded bath towels and gentle laundry detergent.
The mothers also need such items as disposable gloves, disinfecting wipes, tissues and such personal items as shampoos, soaps, etc.
The items will be distributed March 20 to the above-mentioned agencies.
The women, children and agencies truly appreciate any donation you may offer. Donations, including monetary, should be dropped off before and after the 5 p.m. Mass March 18 and the 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Masses March 19. Containers will be in the church vestibule off the parking lot.
The Cleveland Pregnancy Center sent a thank-you letter to the group after one year’s donation.
“We are humbled and blessed by your generosity,” it read. “Thank you for the many items you gave to families in need. We cannot do it without you.”
Anything you may donate would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Scholarship: The North Olmsted Junior Women’s Club (NOJWC) is offering a $2,000 scholarship to women over the age of 24 who are pursuing a college degree or health/technology/vocational certification.
Applications and more information about this scholarship are available at the NOJWC website, https://northolmsted.wixsite.com/nojwc/scholarships. Information also is available at the group’s Facebook page.
Please note that applications must be submitted by March 31. The selected recipient will be notified after April 30.
Heads up: The annual Olmsted Falls Kiwanis Club’s Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast is April 2. Be sure to put this on your calendar. More information about the event will be shared as the date draws closer.
Talent show tryouts: Have a special gift you want to share with the community? Now is the time to show it.
Auditions are under way for the 34th annual Olmsted Falls High School PTA Talent Show. Acts must submit their request to pattonkristie95@gmail.com for consideration by March 12.
The talent show is April 1 -- no fooling -- in the Olmsted Falls High School auditorium.
What quality acts may be considered? How about singers, musicians, dancers, comedians, magicians, jugglers, singers, instrumental groups and bands.
According to a news release, anyone with a school-appropriate act to share is welcome to send in an audition video. Group and family acts also are welcomed and encouraged to try out. Just one requirement -- performances are limited to 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
Why not enter and share your gift with the rest of the community.
Summer camp: The Olmsted Falls School District again is offering Camp Invention this summer for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade.
This STEM program inspires collaboration and creative problem solving that will benefit kids in many disciplines.
It will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 19-23 at Falls-Lenox Primary School. The cost is $260, but discounts are available.
The program also provides opportunities for students in grades 7 and 8 to sign up as Leaders in Training. They will participate in the camp as they work with instructors and leadership interns. Students in grades 9-12 are invited to be Leadership Interns -- camp counselors who may receive 40 hours of service.
For more information, go to invent.org/camp or call 800-98-4332.
Video game contest: Olmsted Falls Boy Scout Troop 201 invites boys and girls ages 5-18 to enter its Video Game Tournament April 29 at the Olmsted Community Center’s Hawkins Hall.
Be part of the competition that will compete in Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. or both. The entry fee is $25 per tournament.
Each game is double elimination -- participants are guaranteed a minimum of two matches. The tournament is limited to the first 32 boys and girls registered in each age group. Registration closes April 15. Age groups are 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14. 15-16 and 17-18.
To register, go to https://bit.ly/3mu7AXG.
Chili time: Get your best concoctions ready for the Chili Cookoff set for noon March 19.
Olmsted Community Church again is offering this great competition, open to participants and the community.
The fee to enter the contest is $10. Entrance into the event is $5 for adults, with a $10 maximum cost per family. Kids are admitted free.
Once inside, you simply taste the chili and vote for your favorites.
All proceeds will benefit the Brenda Glass Trauma Center, which supports Cuyahoga County victims of crime and violence. Brenda may attend the event.
To sign up your chili, go to https://olmstedchurch.breezechms.com/form/chili2023.
Road alert: The township will undergo construction on Stearns Road from Bagley to Schady roads. According to reports, tree clearing will begin March 13 and continue for one week.
April 7 is the tentative date that the Stearns Road bridge over the Ohio Turnpike will close -- after the Jennings Road base repairs are done. This means traffic will have to find another way to get to Bagley Road from the south other than using Stearns Road.
The project includes a new bridge, pavement reconstruction and widening, upgraded traffic signals at the Bagley and Schady road intersections, new curbs, walks, drainage, sanitary sewers and other items.
Yes, it will be a pain, but the final results will bring improvements to that intersection and to Stearns Road from Bagley to Schady roads. Patience, please.
Environmental scholarship: The Friends of Euclid Creek group is seeking applicants for its annual $1,000 scholarship in environmental studies. The deadline to apply is April 1.
The scholarship aids a deserving college student or high school senior who is pursuing a degree in environmental studies or environmental fields related to watershed health. There may be a second $1,000 award for another deserving student, with the board of directors’ approval.
Evaluation is based on background and the potential to contribute to environmental sustainability. For more details, go to friendsofeuclidcreek.com/scholarship. For more questions you may have, contact Jeanette Evans, scholarship coordinator, at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.
The Friends is an all-volunteer, nonprofit watershed group dedicated to ensuring the environmental health of the Euclid Creek Watershed. Its website is friendsofeuclidcreek.com.
Information, please: To include news, tidbits, honors or activities in Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township, contact Joanne DuMound at jdumound@yahoo.com. She is also on Twitter, @JoanneDuMound. The column’s online version at cleveland.com/olmsted has direct links for many news items.
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