Mayor's Report

Spring is a great time of the year. After a long winter sequestered indoors and limited contact with others we can finally journey outdoors and re-connect with friends and neighbors. It is also a great opportunity to experience the monthly events sponsored by our civic organizations. These include:

• Downtown Willoughby Car Cruise-In on Saturday, June 16^th from 4:00PM to 10:00PM. This event showcases great motor vehicles. Proceeds from the Cruise-In are used as donations to The Glenn Sheffield, Kenneth F. Stafford Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Willoughby Food Bank, and Toys for Tots. Any additional proceeds go directly back into the community.
• ArtsFest on Saturday July 21^st from 10:00AM to 6:00PM. Sponsored by the Willoughby-Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce, this popular event showcases artists and craftsmen from throughout the region and it is a great opportunity to visit our local craftsmen, merchants and restaurants. This year we are planning a downtown surprise immediately after the event that will display unique artworks of a much larger scale!
• Last Stop Willoughby on Saturday, August 18^th from 10:00AM to 5:00PM. Sponsored by the Heart of Willoughby, the event includes free narrated Trolley Tours of the historic areas in and around the downtown area; a Kids-Zone located in Point Park with arts, crafts, and face painting;  Trains at Your Place will return with their model train layout around the fountain that provides kids the opportunity to be the train operator; music in the gazebo; and The Willoughby Library will be hosting an elaborate train layout made entirely of Legos.

These events are free and a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon in our community. While Downtown we encourage you to shop at our local merchants and enjoy our great food and beverage establishments.

Spring is also a great time to consider a few “good-neighbor” behaviors. One is to remember to keep all dogs leashed when Downtown. Some adults and many children are nervous around pets they are unfamiliar with. Also, pets have accidents. Please clean up after them.

We also encourage our residents to follow city ordinances regarding the use of equipment and tools during early morning hours, the disposal of grass clippings and yard waste and property maintenance in general. These ordinances are meant to enhance our property values and maintain the quality of life in our City.

Finally, we asked that all residents keep “eyes on the street”. If you observe suspicious vehicles, people or activities please report these to our Police Department. Our safety forces rely on community involvement and we have a shared responsibility to look after our neighbors.

Have a safe and wonderful Summer!