OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- Ready to get out of the house and find that special something that will make a statement in your home, yard or around your wrist?
Well, Sunday is for you. The Vintage Marketplace at the Falls returns from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 29 around the Grand Pacific Junction.
Connie Stephens, owner of Second Thyme Around, started this event in 2014, and other local merchants joined in the fun. It has grown over the years -- except for 2020, due to the pandemic. But it returns with a vigor this year!
More than 50 vendors will sell their wares along Mill Street/Clint Williams Way, in the courtyard of the Grand Pacific Junction and in the Junction’s Wedding Gardens. Their wares will include vintage, antique and collectible items; upcycled art; and handmade and crafted pieces. In short, you’ll find a little bit of everything.
This year, the Wedding Gardens will be a venue for music, a farmers market and a few vendors. Its bar will be open, offering water, soft drinks, beer and wine. Some local entities -- Gibbs and Matteo’s -- will offer food, and a smoothie vendor will be there, too. Canyon Wind, a local band, will provide the music.
The shops around town also will be open, so take a walk and check out our local businesses.
Connie invites the community to enjoy the event in “beautiful” downtown Olmsted Falls.
“It’s a great day to check out the awesome vendors who are set up. Stop by many of the cool shops in the Junction and the other areas of downtown,” she said. “The plus is you will be in walking distance from the falls and a covered bridge. Plan to spend the day and enjoy!”
Agreed, Connie. Come on down to downtown Olmsted Falls and start shopping.
The second and final Vintage Marketplace this year will be Sept. 26. Dare I say Christmas is only four months away?
School’s back: This week, our local students return to their classrooms. That, in itself, is a great announcement since, in my opinion, that is where the best education begins, as opposed to Zoom meetings in homes.
Please be careful when driving. Remember, stop when you see flashing red lights on a school bus. Do not go around the bus. Many motorists and pedestrians are now keeping watch and have their phone cameras ready when they see an offender. If that doesn’t jolt you, maybe the thought of hitting a student will wake you up.
School groups and organizations are starting up. Why not join one or two of them?
Years ago, I was at a PTA meeting where the late Superintendent Joe Madak spoke. He said he was overwhelmed by the number of volunteers in the Olmsted Falls School District. He said the work they perform for the district’s children was extremely important for students, families and the district itself and, at times, underrated.
Why not join a PTA, a school group or another organization to support the education occurring in our classrooms?
A special note of thanks to three local sponsors during the Olmsted Falls Music Association’s marching band season. Angelina’s Pizza again will supply the third-quarter pizza for bands at football games. The eatery also loans equipment needed for the concession tent. It also aided in obtaining the new marching band uniforms that premier this year.
Drug Mart will donate all the water during home games. Home City Ice, formerly Olmsted Ice, will donate ice to chill bottles for the band and concessions tent.
A special thanks to these local businesses and all who help make this community such a giving one.
School bus rules: Now may be a good time to review school bus rules of the road. This is for Ohio.
Any roadway with four or more lanes only requires vehicles traveling in the same direction as the bus to stop for the flashing red lights. However, any roadway with less than four lanes requires that all cars, stop regardless of the direction in which they are traveling when the school bus has its red lights flashing.
The latter includes a road with one lane traveling in each direction with a turning lane in between them. Safe traveling to all.
Music in the Park:This Sunday -- Aug. 29 -- will feature music at East River Park. The RayBans will play from 6 to 8 p.m. Remember to bring a chair or blanket on which to relax and enjoy the music.
Oktoberfest: This Friday and Saturday, Aug. 27 and 28, are the final days of the Sommer Oktoberfest at the Donauschwaben German-American Cultural Center.
Friday’s hours are 6 to 11 p.m. and Saturday’s are 4 to 11 p.m. at the center located at 7370 Columbia Road. There will only be 1,200 tickets sold for each day. Tickets, which are $10, are available online at the center’s website, donauschwabencleveland.com. Those 15 and younger are free.
Enjoy some great German food, refreshments and music as the final days of summer dance away.
Mea culpa: My apologies for last week’s missing Olmsted Dates and Data column.
I had hip replacement surgery Aug. 10, and my mind just wasn’t ready to put thoughts and words to the computer for an Aug. 19 column. Maybe it was the anesthesia, medication or my attitude in thinking I should feel better than I did. Whatever it was, it has passed.
I am sorry for those who had events that week that were not mentioned. I try to mention events, programs and news often to remind all about their timing.
A special thanks to Dr. Mark Panigutti with OrthoWest Ltd., who performed the surgery at Southwest General Health Center. He did my knee four years ago, which was a game changer. Guess you just can’t stop arthritis that runs in the family.
Keep the news coming, folks, especially school events, so we can tell the community what is happening in town.
Information, please: To include news, tidbits, honors or activities in Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township, contact Joanne DuMound at jdumound@yahoo.com. She is also on Twitter, @JoanneDuMound. The column’s online version at cleveland.com/olmsted has direct links for many news items.
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