Mayor's Report

MAYOR’S REPORT AS PRINTED IN THE WILLOUGHBY TIMES:

As we welcome Spring, we are pleased to announce that our summer events and activities begin this month. Our unofficial start of the summer season, the Willoughby Outdoor Market, opens on May 7^th in the City Hall Parking Lot and continues every Saturday through October from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. This weekly shopping experience is the signature event of The Heart of Willoughby organization and began on July 9th, 1979. It is the longest-running outdoor market in Lake County. Each week, various local vendors offer great selections of seasonal fruits and vegetables, baked goods, fresh flowers, coffee and more! The Heart of Willoughby was founded in 1979 by a group of civic-minded citizens dedicated to revitalizing our Historic Downtown. This group is also the sponsor of the Last Stop Willoughby event in August. Also happening this month is the Touch A Truck event with our Police, Fire and Service Departments on May 14^th, the annual Downtown Willoughby Rib Burn Off on May 21st and 22nd and the Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on May 30th.

Both of our pools will open over the Memorial Day weekend, but we will have different hours of operation this season due to the lifeguard shortage. Please check our website for a complete listing of each pool’s hours. In addition, pool passes are now available at the Park and Recreation office from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and please remember to bring your proof of residency.

It is also the time of year that we remind our residents that yard waste must be in a 50lb Kraft bag or a bin marked “Yard Waste.” In addition, branches and limbs should be tied or bundled in lengths of less than 4’ and no more than 30 lbs. As we begin yard work, we also ask that you do not allow grass clippings into the street. Grass clippings can be a hazard for pedestrians and cyclists if they are wet and can clog the storm sewers, which could cause flooding.

While Willoughby is a dog-friendly city, please remember that dogs must be on leashes on public property and are not allowed in our cemeteries. Also, please be courteous and keep your dogs off private property and be sure to pick up after your pets.

Finally, we are delighted to announce exciting economic development news. Mickey’s Ice Cream and Hot Dogs, located on 3rd Street, is now open. And, just a few doors away, The Yard on 3rd will open in June. This project will bring rotating food trucks with a Geraci’s Slice Shop. The proprietors are local and have a history of successful food ventures. For those of you who enjoy Chick-fil-A, we are excited to share that they will be making significant improvements to their traffic flow and a more efficient drive-thru experience.