Westlake Novelist Eyeing Publication Prize for Children's Novel

David Simon's novel selected as finalist. Vote now through May 30.

An aspiring Westlake author has found himself on a short list of finalists in a children’s book contest and you can help him get his first novel published. David Simon, who works as a creative director for Rosenberg Advertising in Lakewood, is a finalist in the CBAY Books competition in the Middle Grade Finalists category for his entry, Trapped in Lunch Lady Land. The 30,000-word novel actually started as a much shorter item. “It started out as a picture book and then a chapter book,” Simon, who created the illustrations, said. “I sent the picture book to the contest and they chose me as a finalist and asked me to extend it to a full-fledged novel.” The result is a story about Josh and Patty Anne, two students who detest each other. They …

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Meet Billy Yank And His Life As a Union Soldier

Reenactor from Columbus will speak on how life was in the Union Army May 18.

More than 300,000 Ohioans served in the Union Army from 1861-65. In this talk you will hear first hand from one of them about leaving home for the army—about camp life, the fury of battle and more. In this first-person portrayal, learn what soldiers ate, how they coped with the cold and heat and how they made it through four years of marching and fighting. At 1 p.m. on May 18 at the Westlake Porter Library, the public can hear first hand what it was like from reenactor Mark Holbrook of the Ohio Humanities Council Speakers Bureau. “I’ll be telling a first-hand story of a soldier in the Union Army,” Holbrook said. Dressed in period-correct attire, Holbrook will speak as a “composite” character who is home from the Civil War recuperating from…

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Westlake Pianist Performs in 'Music Al La Mode'

Joseph Anthony will be a guest soloist at Westlake High School on Saturday.

A Westlake pianist will put on a special performance over the weekend. Joseph Anthony will be the guest soloist on the upcoming Music Al La Mode program on Saturday, May 11 in the Westlake Performing Arts Center at Westlake High School. Anthony, a pianist and piano teacher, will perform the world famous Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor. This magical classic is filled with romantic pianism at its best ands reaches its zenith with a spectacular and justly famous cadenza. Tickets are $8 and all proceeds will be donated to Westlake Music Boosters. This performance is sponsored by the Westlake Kiwanis.

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Art Gallery Preps for Move to New High School

Teachers and students are getting everything ready for the relocation next school year.

Come this fall, Westlake High School will be in a new location, along with its art gallery. In preparation for the move, former art teacher Christine Filmer and a team of National Art Honor Society students will remove, clean, categorize and restore the current art in the Art Gallery, according to a press release from the district. The art will be stored in the Westlake Schools Administrative Offices until it can be re-installed in the new high school. In 1989, the Westlake High School Art Department conceived and created the Art Gallery to honor and support the visual arts in the community. The Art Gallery was supported by the Westlake Arts Council under the direction of former high school art teacher Steven Davies. The new Art Gallery is…

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Paintings Will Be Honored in DC, Congressional District

View the artwork of three WHS students who swept the Congressional Art Awards.

Today we are bringing you the spectacular artwork of the three Westlake High School students, all instructed by WHS teacher Jerry Everhard honored by Congressman Jim Renacci (OH-16) April 9. The three, sophomores Madeline Lee and Paige Dawson and senior Ricky Kolar took the top three spots for the 2013 Congressional Art Competition for Renacci’s 16th U.S. Congressional district which stretches from Cuyahoga to Wayne counties. Madeline earned Best in Show for her piece Rainbow Street.” Her painting will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. 1st Runner Up Paige Dawson took 2nd honors for her piece “Westside Market.” 2nd Runner Up Ricky Kolar  took 3rd honors for his piece “East 14th Street.” Both Paige and Ricky's pieces will be …

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WHS Students Sweep Top Honors From Renacci in Congressional Art Competition

Two other WHS students also honored by Congressman Jim Renacci

Three Westlake High School students, all instructed by WHS teacher Jerry Everhard were honored by Congressman Jim Renacci (OH-16) April 9. The three, Madeline Lee, Paige Dawson and Ricky Kolar took the top three spots for the 2013 Congressional Art Competition for Renacci’s 16th U.S. Congressional district which stretches from Cuyahoga to Wayne counties. “Their work is just phenomenal,” Everhard said. “They take it a step beyond.” The presentation was all the more impressive since not only did the three earn all the top spots for the competition, but are all instructed by Everhard, despite the school boasting four art teachers. Madeline earned Best in Show for her piece Rainbow Street.”  Her painting will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol …

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8th Annual 'Nothing Like a Band' Variety Show Set for April 20

More than 300 are expected for annual variety show.

More than 350 attendees are expected at the 8th annual “Nothing Like a Band” variety show April 20 at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Led by John Zehnder, the founder and director of The Lutheran Wind Ensemble, the 7 p.m. show will be held St. Paul’s Lutheran Church’s activity center. “The show will include Marches, hymns and showtunes,” Zehnder said of the evening. “We’ll have the band concert with variety acts and play popular tunes.”  Intermission will feature a door prize drawing of six $50 JC Penney gift cards. Zehnder founded the Ensemble in 1999 and is currently in its 15th season as a performing group, and the 8th at the church. The show generally caters to an older audience. “They’re usually gray-heads,” Zehnder said. The band also …

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Maureen Kostalnick to Speak at Crocker Park

Author of "The Butternut Tree" will talk about her life at Barnes & Noble in Westlake.

Lutheran Wind Ensemble Gearing up for Spring Concert

The Christian band is slated to play on April 20 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Westlake.