🌱New Locker Room Ready For Start Of School + Animals In Need Of Homes

Welcome back, Avon-Avon Lake! I'm here in your inbox today to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

First, today's weather:

Sunshine and delightful. High: 75 Low: 56.

Here are the top three stories today in Avon-Avon Lake:

1. According to an iHeart article, "Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Bendix) awarded a $25,000 grant spread over a two-year period to the Avon Athletic Boosters’ Project SOAR in support of the renovation and construction of a modernized athletic facility just outside the Avon High School stadium. The Project SOAR team renovated the school’s existing locker room building to create a one-story, 4,400-square-foot structure housing a locker room, restrooms, coaches’ office, medical training room, and a community room. It did so with numerous grants and in-kind donations from Avon-area entities, financial support from the school district and volunteer efforts from the community. Bendix’s award granted the company naming rights for the coaches’ room. As many as 40,000 spectators and 5,000 student-athletes visit the high school stadium each year. The existing locker room, originally constructed as the wood shop and later converted, needed updates as well as increases in capacity. The school has experienced rapid growth over the last few decades, with the number of students using the locker room more than doubling." (iHeart)
2. Looking to add to your family? Look no further than these Avon-Avon Lake animal shelters for a pet available for adoption. Many shelters in and around Avon-Avon Lake are still working to find forever homes for dozens of cats, dogs and other adorable critters coming through.
   Across Ohio, there are thousands of dogs, cats and other animals of all ages and sizes without a home — and many of them are located not too far from you. Looking to adopt your new family member? A great place to begin your search is at Love A Stray, where Monroe the cat is waiting patiently, or another local adoption center. If you aren't sure if you have time to take care of a pet year round, many shelters also offer opportunities to foster pets until they are placed in appropriate homes. (Avon-Avon Lake Patch)
3. Late Wednesday night a chase broke out reportedly involving the Ohio State Highway Patrol on I-90. Unfortunately, the incident ended with a crash in Avon. According to News 5 Cleveland, "deputies said the chase started near the turnpike on I-90 eastbound in Elyria after a 25-year-old man driving a 2007 silver Mitsubishi Raider failed to pull over for reckless driving. During the pursuit, troopers said they received a call from the Erie County Sheriff that the vehicle was stolen from a gas station in Vermilion. The driver crashed on I-90 near Route 611. Troopers said the driver was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries." (News 5 Cleveland WEWS)

Today in Avon-Avon Lake:

• Friday Flicks - Sing 2 - Avon Lake Parks & Recreation (6 p.m.)
• Star Parties - Avon Lake Parks & Recreation (9 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Support Avon Schools: "And they're off!!!! Our bus drivers are practicing routes this week. Please be patient as we prepare for our first day of school Aug. 25." (Support Avon Schools via Facebook)
• Avon Lake City Schools: "Please complete your student's back-to-school forms via your PowerSchool Parent Account. All forms are to be completed prior to the first day of school (Aug. 23). This is a one-stop shop for updating your child’s emergency and medical information as well as signing off on the annual permission forms for school district policies." (Avon Lake City Schools via Facebook)
• Avon Lake Police Department: "School is starting in less than two weeks! Children will be walking and riding to school, school buses will be out, and school zones will be active again. Please drive with caution and be prepared for delays. " (Avon Lake Police Department via Facebook)

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Events:

• The Dinner Detective Comedy Murder Mystery Dinner Show (August 12)
• Cleveland Summer Beer Fest (August 13)
• The World Is Yours Art Show (August 13)
• Get the BAL Rollin'! Ingenuity Cleveland Fundraiser & Festival Sneak-Peak! (August 13)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you all tomorrow morning for your next update.

— Karena Garrity

About me: Journalism is in my veins! I have been a community reporter for the better part of the past 20 years. I love my small town community and I am honored to be a part of Patch.com. You can reach me at; karena.garrity@patch.com.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Avon-Avon Lake Daily? Contact me at karena.garrity@patch.com