Bay High School students involved in last year's Walk for Water event pose for a photo. Photo courtesy of Bay High School Key Club.

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio – The event is about a month from now, but Bay High School sophomore Lucy Gillette, a co-chair for the Walk for Water fundraiser, wanted to start spreading the news to encourage support for the event. Lucy is a member of the BHS Key Club, which sponsors the fundraiser.

Here is what she has to say about the event, in her own words:

Bay High Key Club, together with Westerly K-Kids and Bay Middle Builders Club, is changing lives one step at a time. These youth service organizations, sponsored by the Kiwanis of Bay Village, are designed to build leadership skills in young people through service to others. Our Walk for Water goal is to help end the global water crisis by raising $18,000 through our event on Sunday, May 1. Partnering with the Thirst Project, the world’s leading youth water activism organization, we strive to raise the money needed to build freshwater wells in eSwatini,(formerly known as Swaziland). Each dollar we raise goes directly to building the wells in the southern African country. In these communities, women and children have to walk an average of 3.75 miles every day to collect water. Not only is the distance challenging, but the water is also unclean and used by animals. The dirty water often causes disease or death. Due to the fact that the women are walking, they have no opportunity at a higher level of education or to work to help provide for their families. The children do not have the chance to go to school and get an education. These people are deprived of not just water, but of an education. Additionally, COVID vaccinations are not as readily available to these communities, so healthy water is especially important for prevention and spread of this deadly disease. Water also allows the families to grow their own garden for a dependable food source. By providing a water well to these communities, it would change their lives completely and provide a brighter future.

Each community well costs $12,000 and the local community helps to support the building of the well and is trained to maintain it. Each well is expected to last over 40 years. The Kiwanis family is aiming to raise $18,000 this year to provide for 1½ wells, after raising enough for one well during the pandemic last year. Our biggest event of the year is May 1 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Bay High School, where we will hold our Walk for Water. The community is invited to walk a 3.75-mile sidewalk route to simulate the journey women and children walk daily in eSwatini. Each adult walker is asked to donate $15 and children (12 and younger) $10, to help raise money for this cause. A “Swag Bag” is available for an additional $15 when ordered by April 13 and includes a Walk for Water shirt and additional goodies. Sign-ups begin April 1 on Hometown Ticketing at tinyurl.com/4fh3vhkn.The Thirst Project committee is co-chaired by sophomores, Lucy Gillette and Mary Catherine Murtaugh. Committee members include Elise Kelley, Anna Mayer and Amy Burgy. We are so excited about the Walk and we hope you can join us to help end the global water crisis and change lives for generations to come.

Pancakes, please: The Kiwanis Club of Westlake will have a pancake breakfast 8 a.m. to noon April 3 in the Westlake High School cafeteria.

Tickets will be available at the door or they can be purchased from club members. The menu features pancakes, sausage, coffee, orange juice and milk.

Proceeds will benefit the Westlake Kiwanis Youth Foundation, which supports scholar-

ships for Westlake High School seniors, the high school Key Club, middle school

Builders Club and various projects that affect the youth of the city.

Shredding day: Rocky River residents can bring their paper products to the City Hall parking lot (enter from Wagar Road) 9-11 a.m. – or until the truck is full -- on April 9 for recycling.

A picture ID to verify city residency is required. There is a limit of two standard-size boxes per household. No business materials will be accepted. There is no need to remove staples. Those bringing items for recycling should remain in their cars. All items for shredding will be removed and placed into containers. Boxes must be in the trunk or back seat to limit contact.

You can tell what holiday is coming up by checking out the inflatable at Sakana Sushi Lounge Fusion at Beachcliff Market Square in Rocky River. The large leprechaun outside the eatery has been replaced by an Easter Bunny. (Carol Kovach/special to cleveland.com)

Bunny time: Easter is about three weeks away, which means the Easter Bunny is starting to pop up around the area. Check out the photo above to see the large, inflatable bunny at Sakana Sushi Lounge Fusion in Rocky River.

Plant sale: Westlake Council of PTAs’ Spring Flower Sale is ongoing, in partnership with Dean’s Greenhouse. Visit bit.ly/38aS4ZF to an order.

There is a large selection of hanging baskets, annuals, vegetables, herbs and more, all locally grown at Dean’s Greenhouse. Gift certificates also can be purchased. Orders must be by April 27.

Pick up will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14 at Parkside Intermediate School, 24525 Hilliard Blvd., Westlake.

Westlake Council of PTAs will receive a portion of every sale, which will help the group continue to provide programming and scholarships.

At the library: Here are some of the events taking place in the next week at Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, Westlake. Visit westlakelibrary.org for more information or to register. Contact the library at 440-871-2600.

Learn about a featured illustrator at Illustration Creation, 3 p.m. April 2, and then create a project inspired by their art. The program is for students in grades 1-3 and registration is requested.

Children in grades 3-6 can explore the work of a well-known artist and then create a work of art in the Art Smarts program at 2 p.m. April 3. Registration is requested.

A Heartsaver CPR/AED program that offers certification in adult, child and infant PR and AED will be offered 6-8:30 p.m. April 4 at the library. An email is required for certification. Those younger than 14 must have a parent of legal guardian with them in class. For more information, contact the instructors at uh4cpr@gmail.com. Register at uhems.org/event-search.

Sign up for a Jewelry Junction: Spring Fling Bracelet kit and pick up the kit during library hours on April 7. Participants will make a colorful spring bracelet using silver findings and colorful glass beads.

An American Red Cross Bloodmobile will visit the library 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 7. Register for a donor appointment at redcrossblood.org.

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 carolkovach@hotmail.com.

Read more from the West Shore Sun.

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 5/1/2021).

© 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.

Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.