OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- It was a dark and stormy night.
Well, how about a dark and drizzly evening, when Mike and Jackie Brzoska drove throughout Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township to map out the competitors in the Olmsted Chamber of Commerce’s Fright Fight Halloween Decorating Competition.
They parked across from quite a spooky house filled with pirates, a witch flying over a bubbling cauldron and a giant skeleton crawling out of the ground.
“Oh, I love the witch,” Jackie said. “This is amazing.”
The Brzoskas discovered this annual event last year.
“I made it as a bucket list this year to see every competitor,” said Jackie, who takes photos at each stop. “We’re on our third. We’ll see all of them. We are really enjoying each of them.”
There are 27 competitors in the contest. They have graveyards, giant skeletons holding smaller ones in their hands, ghoulish werewolves, whimsical pumpkins, electrifying spiderwebs, skeletal horses and dinosaurs and, well, you name it.
All are welcome to view them and vote for your favorite. The voting runs through Oct. 29.
The Olmsted Chamber of Commerce’s website, olmstedchamber.org, has a live map with each address listed. It’s easy to check out each one. After viewing, return to the chamber’s website and vote for your favorite.
Here is a list of the frightening addresses: 6524 Fitch Road, 6726 Crestwood Lane, 26953 Tall Oaks Trails, 7200 Timber Lane, 26668 Cook Road, 7710 Columbia Road, 25327 Holton Road, 8760 Forest View Drive, 23216 West Road, 8810 Columbia Road, 8262 Bradfords Gate, 8374 Bradfords Gate, 26585 Kingswood Drive, 8815 Yellowstone Parkway, 9265 Lindbergh Boulevard, 9697 Grist Mill Run, 23285 Chandlers Lane, 24781 W. Northwood, 24850 Sprague Road, 9082 Shady Elm Lane, 9030 Shady Elm Lane, 9036 Shady Elm Lane, 27160 Lynde Drive, 9329 Patterson Lane, 9591 Beatrice Lane, 9574 Taberna Lane and 9642 Grand Oak Trail.
A special thanks to the chamber, which spearheads this event. Its sponsors include Southwest General Health Center; Awesome Paws Pet Salon; Falls PC Clinic; Margaret T. Karl, Attorney at Law; Nicole E. Brewer & Crew; and Quick Ship Delivery & Logistics.
Leaf raking: Every year, youth groups, with adult supervision, offer to clear community yards of leaves.
This year, Yard Charge is Nov. 11 in Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township. Boy and Girl Scouts and our high school’s Key Club, Student Council and Builders Club will bring rakes and bags to clear yards of the fallen leaves.
Anyone wishing to have the youth come to your yard should contact Sandra Graham at 440-235-2588 or [email protected]. The sign-up deadline is Oct. 30.
Jenkins Center: Here are a few upcoming events that the Jenkins Place Senior Center is sponsoring.
• Enjoy the Halloween Monster Mash at noon Oct. 27 in the Chambers Room in Olmsted Falls City Hall. Dress in your favorite Halloween costume and get those feet moving to the sounds of Linda & Dale from Heart to Heart.
A special thank you to Riverview Pointe for the food and Spry Senior & Generations Senior Living, which are sponsoring the coffee and desserts.
• BalloFlex with Vicki is a fun, high-energy -- but low-impact -- chair workout program. It combines dance and stretching. Check it out at 11 a.m. Oct. 26.
• Journey through time as you learn about the spooky history of Olmsted Falls. “The Haunted Olmsted Falls, A Walk Through Time” is at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 31.
Kara Crissman and Lisa Tarcy will share information about some of the key spots throughout the town that have a haunted twist. The sisters created the Olmsted Falls Ghost Walk.
Be sure to call 440-427-2519 or email [email protected] to sign up for these activities. Some of the events have limited space. Reservations are required so all may enjoy the activities.
Warm welcome: A community welcome to Gary Velenosky, the township’s new administrator. He began the job this week.
There is a community meet-and-greet from 6:30 to 7 p.m. this Wednesday (Oct. 25) in the administrative building’s community room, 7900 Fitch Road.
Band fundraiser: Stop by Mooyah from noon to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 26 and enjoy a meal -- and help raise money for our Olmsted Falls High School marching band.
The eatery at 19137 Bagley Road offers burgers, fries, shakes and more. The eatery will donate a portion of the proceeds to the band to help offset its travel costs to Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla..
Take the family for a great meal and help the band head south at the same time.
Trick-of-treat: Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township have their official community trick-or-treat hours from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 -- Halloween.
Be sure to drive carefully that night as kids are going house to house for some treats -- or tricks. All should walk and cross safely, too. Enjoy the fun!
Substitute jobs: The Olmsted Falls School District has openings for several substitute jobs.
Those interested in serving as a substitute teacher should apply online at renhillgroup.com. You do not need a degree. If you have questions, call 216-767-5608.
The district also needs substitute bus drivers, paraprofessionals and various other positions. Go to https://tinyurl.com/bu6se5k7. The positions offer flexible schedules and competitive pay, according to the school district.
Fastpitch clinic: The Alpha Dawg Softball Fastpitch Clinic is offering training for beginner and intermediate pitchers ages 8-14. Beginners will learn the six basic steps to pitching, while intermediate pitchers also will learn these techniques as well as various pitches.
There are four one-hour training sessions on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, 12 and 19. You may choose either the 11:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. session. Registration ends Oct. 27 or until the sessions are filled.
Sessions are at the Olmsted Community Center Gym. For more details, go to https://tinyurl.com/ys2zzx6z.
Information, please: To include news, tidbits, honors or activities in Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township, contact Joanne DuMound at [email protected]. She is also on Twitter, @JoanneDuMound. The column’s online version at cleveland.com/olmsted has direct links for many news items.