Home Care In Chagrin Falls, OH

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio— Why pop a cork when you can pop corn. It is time once more to let the new year pop on in with the annual giant popcorn ball drop in downtown Chagrin Falls. The evening’s festivities begin at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31 with hot cocoa, cookies and movies at Township Hall. You can also walk about the postcard-pretty streets, view the holiday lights and make a New Year’s wish at the natural waterfalls.

Make sure you’ve dressed for the weather to watch the outdoor spectacle as the 6-ft. diameter ball made from popcorn by the folks at Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop is dropped at the stroke of midnight in Triangle Park on Main Street.

New Years Eve in nature: 11-12:30 p.m. Ring in the New Year with nature a bit early 11-12:30 p.m. at The West Woods Nature Center in Oak Room A and B, and possibly outdoors depending upon the weather. Designed with activities for children and grandparents, pizza and beverages will be provided. Registration is required for this free program. Contact geaugaparkdistrict.org.

Invite the bats: Bats are amazing creatures. Learn about them and how to create a bat friendly backyard 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 at the Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District’s “Bats Incredible” program at Adam Hall.

The free, family-friendly program will cover bat biology, natural history, bat myths and threats along with tips on gardening for bats. Bat professionals Marne Titchenell, of the Ohio State University’s Extension office and Jamey Emmert of the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife, are the featured speakers.

Adam Hall is located at 11455 East Washington St. in Auburn Township. Reserve your seat at https://fs12.formsite.com/GeaugaSWCD/BatsIncredible/index. Contact [email protected] or 440-834-1122.

Have coffee with birds: Sip a cup of coffee or another hot beverage 9-10 a.m. Jan. 5 inside the Nature Center as you drink in the view of close-up bird watching through the floor to ceiling windows. A Geauga Park District naturalist will share identification tips for tracking winter birds at the feeders located just outside the Nature Center. The program designed for school age and up participants repeats 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Registration is required. Choose to attend just one of the two sessions. Contact geaugaparkdistrict.org.

Curbside tree recycling: If it is time to kick your spent Christmas tree to the curb, the service department of Chagrin Falls Village will pick it up for residents only on Tuesday, Jan. 2 and Monday, Jan. 15. The trees will be shredded for mulch.

Place your untrimmed natural Christmas tree on the tree lawn with the trunk toward the street. Decorated and artificial trees will not be accepted. Wood chips from the shredded trees are available to residents at no charge at the street department 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday.

After Jan.15, residents can discard their trees on their normal trash pick-up day by Kimble. Contact 440-247-5050 if you have questions.

This past year, the village collected 368 residential trees, 8,000 feet of natural garland and trees from the downtown decorations installed by the Chagrin Valley Jaycees. The result was 12 tons of wood chips used on village projects and picked up by residents for their projects.

Program on early Americans: The Park Synagogue is presenting a two-part virtual program 2 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 7 and 21 on the legacy of Early American Jews. In the series Michael Hoberman of Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts will discuss the Touro Synagogue Shrine to religious freedom on Jan. 7. On Jan. 21 he will tell family stories about Colonial-era Jews. Sponsored by the Park senior adult group, both programs are free and available to the community. Register by Jan. 3 to receive the Zoom link. Contact parksynagogue.org/events or email Ellen Petler at [email protected].

To post your news and events contact Rusek at [email protected].

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio (WOIO) - A massive rainstorm took a toll on parts of eastern Cuyahoga County Tuesday afternoon.

The village of Chagrin Falls was among the hardest hit areas.

The Fraternal Order of the Eagle’s Club on South Main Street started flooding around 3 p.m., when Melinda Blackford got to work.

“I came in and they were probably like two to three inches of muddy water everywhere,” Blackford recalled. “The parking lot was flooded that we just had redone yesterday so that was a shame.”

Thankfully volunteers started cleaning up right away because the water was everywhere.

“Throughout the whole restaurant, the kitchen, the dining room all had about 2-3 inches of muddy water in it,” Blackford said. “We’ve had issues before but not like this and I know there’s construction next to us and since then even with minor rains we’ve had a little bit of flooding in our beer coolers but yeah this was bad.”

Chagrin Falls Mayor Bill Tomko said in about 30 minutes the village got over two inches of rain.

“It just poured like a biblical rainstorm and mixed with hail,” said Mayor Tomko.

Tomko said it’s the worst he’s seen in decades.

“It just was a deluge,” Tomko said. “The last time I saw it rain like that was in ‘94 when the dam burst in Chagrin.”

Miller Plumbing on Bell Street sent 19 News a video of their flooding. They said they had to climb out of a window because they couldn’t open the doors because of the water pressure.

The Chagrin Valley Roller Rink across the street from the Eagles Club had crews cleaning up too.

Even Mayor Tomko wasn’t spared by the storm. His basement flooded.

“Well, I was home squeegeeing my basement and it’s now clean, the dehumidifier is running, air conditioner is running and hopefully it’ll dry out in a day or so,” he said.

The mayor said some roads were temporarily closed but they’ve all reopened.

Copyright 2023 WOIO. All rights reserved.

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CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio — A Northeast Ohio tradition is popping back up this weekend. Chagrin Falls will be ringing in the New Year with its iconic Popcorn Ball Drop.

The small town 30 minutes outside of Cleveland is known for its idyllic Main Street situated near a waterfall on the Chagrin River. During the holiday shopping season, the Hallmark-esque atmosphere attracts visitors and locals alike to its row of small businesses.

“I love all of it - the lights, the waterfall, all of the walks, the boutiques,” said Sharon Parr, who was visiting family in Chagrin Falls Thursday.

Resident MaryEllen Schron added, “I like the community and the closeness and living in a town where I can walk my dog everyday.”

One of the historic town’s oldest buildings, built in 1875, has been home to the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop for nearly 75 years.

“If you know it, you know it. And if you don’t know it, somebody’s going to tell you about it,” laughed Rachael Raymond, general manager of the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop.

The shop has expanded its offerings to include ice cream, locally made sweets and an ever-growing selection of small-batch popcorn.

“We’ve got something like 23 flavors at the moment, of popcorn. We experiment all the time and then there’s some seasonal goodies,” Raymond said.

One of the most notable seasonal goodies is not edible. Since 2012, a giant ball of popcorn has sat outside the shop door during the month of December.

“The first ball was comprised of plain white popcorn with glue, hairspray and who knows what else could stick it together. And it was this wide and only this tall,” said Raymond, referring to an oblong popcorn ball that made its debut during the first Popcorn Ball Drop.

More than a decade ago, the shop owners were inspired by a quirky New Year’s tradition in another small town where the locals lower a taxidermied possum at the stroke of midnight. In Chagrin Falls, residents thought a more fitting celebration should include a hometown staple.

“The Popcorn Shop being solely iconic to Chagrin Falls, it would be tradition to drop the popcorn ball,” said Schron.

Raymond added, “We could make it the small town get-together for Chagrin Falls.”

The size of the gathering and the girth of the popcorn ball have both grown over the years.

The 2023 behemoth nicknamed “Jupiter” features several hundred pounds of popcorn and other material secured to a two-piece frame.

“It’s about the size of 4-5,000 regular size popcorn balls,” Raymond said.

Each year, volunteers help hoist the ball onto a flagpole in the town center and crowds watch it drop at midnight on New Year’s Day. Raymond said the tradition has helped attract visitors during a slow period after the busy holiday shopping season. She believes it’s been a boost for the local economy.

“If someone were to come down for the New Year’s Eve ball drop, they’re like, ‘Wow, I’ve never been to that area before.’ They come down and they’re like, ‘There’s so much going on here.’ And they come back,” she said.

The 2023 New Year’s Eve celebration will begin at 10:30 p.m. at the Township Hall and move to Triangle Park in the town center at 11:30 p.m. The party features a live DJ, hot chocolate and more. You can find more details by clicking on this link.

Ponyboys in Chagrin Falls has closed. Restaurateur Brad Friedlander has purchased the business and will revive his legendary Mexican restaurant Lopez, which he opened in 1980 with partner Craig Sumers. Back then it was called Lopez y Gonzalez – and it launched with chef Rick Bayless in the kitchen.

The popular Cleveland Heights restaurant enjoyed an 18-year run before reopening a few years later as Lopez Bar and Grille down the road, with chef Michael Herschman at the helm. Lopez was finally put to bed in 2020 when Herschman revived Mojo, his small-plates bistro in Tremont.

When it opens in November, Lopez (506 E. Washington St.) will be as close to the original restaurant as possible, says Friedlander.

“My biggest fear is that people will say it’s not the same, it’s not the same, so I’m bringing in 10 to 15 of my original employees to come in and test the food before we present it to the public,” he says.

Friedlander and his kitchen staff have dusted off the original recipe books from the early 1980s to craft the new menu. Everything will be made from scratch, with no bagged sauces, salsas or mixes.

Diners of a certain age will recall with fondness dishes like tacos al carbon starring grilled skirt steak, pork adobo, quesadillas (called sinconizadas), enchiladas, and smoked game hen with jalapeño mustard sauce.

The original menu, which was extensive, will be pared down, says Friedlander.

Despite closing in 1998 and again in 2020, Lopez still enjoys a solid reputation with Mexican food lovers – even out in Chagrin Falls, reports Friedlander.

“People are more familiar with Lopez than I would have expected,” he says. “It’s shocking.”

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CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio -- It will definitely be looking a lot like Christmas from Sunday, Nov. 19 to Saturday, Jan. 6 with the festival of trees lighting up Riverside Park in Chagrin Falls. Members of the Chagrin Valley Chamber of Commerce teamed up with Chagrin Valley Jaycees to decorate and position the trees in the park.

Participants and sponsors included, Inn of Chagrin, Lowe’s Greenhouse, Guaranteed Rate Chagrin Falls, Karen Eagle Group of Elite Sotheby’s International Realty, Cleveland Field Kitchen, Candy Stick Photography, Life Style Floors, The Makee Group of Oxford Harriman & Company, St. Joan of Arc School, Ancora, Otero Signature Homes, Chagrin Valley Rotary Club, Fellowship City Church, LifeAct, Carmel Landscapes, Seriously Skin, Cosmetic & Laser Medicine, Dogwood Valley Garden Club, RollHouse Entertainment, Fortitude Drywall and Paint, Mobius Journeys, Irontrax, Breezewood Gardens, HG Agents -eXp Realty, and Herbein Watterson Talent Solutions.

Works of women artists: Wasmer Gallery at Ursuline presents a fine art show open through Thursday, Jan. 25 titled New Masters 3: Women Artists of Northeast Ohio. The juried exhibition showcases a diverse discipline by both emerging and established female artists who live and create in the region.

The show includes 47 works by 45 artists selected by juror Hilary Gent, an artist, arts advocate and the director of HEDGE Gallery. The call for entries drew 450 entries from 187 area artists. Cash prizes total $2,800, including a $1,000 best in show category.

Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. The gallery is located on the first floor of the Mullen Building, 2550 Lander Rd. in Pepper Pike. Contact Ursuline.edu/wasmer-gallery or 440-646-8121.

Holiday workshop: Santa’s elves have nothing on this workshop taught by Geauga County Master Gardener Shelly Kaman 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Dec. 9. She will guide the class in creating a fresh, long-lasting wreath made of fragrant evergreens, pinecones, ribbons, berries and other decorative items. Participants may want to bring garden gloves and their own pruning tools. Come with a friend and enjoy the morning.

The cost of the workshop is $40. Registration and payment is required by Monday, Nov. 27. It will be held at the Geauga County Extension Office, Patterson Center at the Burton Fairgrounds on Claridon-Troy Road. Contact Geauga.osu.edu or call 440-834-4656.

Buddy is back: Everyone’s favorite misfit elf, is back on stage weekends, Nov. 17 to Dec. 17, with Chagrin Valley Little Theatre’s production of “Elf, the Musical. The shows are presented live on 7:30 p.m. on selected Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. matinees on selected Saturdays and Sundays.

Last year’s production broke CVLT box office records by selling out every seat before the curtain rose on opening night. If you were shut out, consider checking the schedule and reserving your seats now. Many of last year’s cast members are returning, including John Kolar in the title role that featured Will Farrell in the original movie version.

Adapted from the popular Christmas movie, “Elf, the Musical” features songs by Tony Award nominated Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, known for Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway and the Wedding Singer. The script is by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan, known for Annie, The Producers and Hairspray, and Bob Martin, known for The Drowsy Chaperone.

The 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 matinee performance is a fundraiser to benefit Friends of WomenSafe, sponsored by Junction Auto Family.

Tickets are $21 for regular seats and $17 for students, seniors and active military members. Contact cvlt.org or 440-247-8955. The theatre is located at 40 River St. in Chagrin Falls.

Ribbon cutting: The Artist Collective is holding a ribbon-cutting event 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17 to mark the opening of the new store at Pinecrest. You can shop locally and find interesting products while supporting about 95 area small businesses and their families. From food products and condiments to candles and unique wearable art, it makes for a fun shopping experience.

The store is located at 400 Park Ave. in Orange Village. Contact Ohioartisancollective.com.

To post your news and events contact Rusek at [email protected].