FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared Dec. 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy" after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and thrust the United States into World War II.
On Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, American Legion Post 738 in Fairview Park will pay tribute to the service men and women who died at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked in 1941. More than 2,400 Americans were killed and six ships, including the USS Arizona, were sunk.
David Brown of American Legion Post 738 said the post will conduct a short ceremony remembering those who were killed that fateful morning. The ceremony will begin at 7:45 a.m. at the post hall, 19311 Lorain Road, Fairview Park. All are invited to attend. Morning colors will be conducted, followed by a 21-gun salute provided by the Marine Corps League.
Brief comments about the solemn occasion will be offered by members of the American Legion, active duty military personnel and any city officials who care to participate, Brown said.
Coffee and doughnuts will be available in the post hall after the ceremony.
Holiday help: Lakewood Charitable Assistance Corp. is preparing to deliver another round of holiday food baskets to needy Lakewood residents in time for Christmas.
LCAC had its 30th annual Thanksgiving food basket distribution just a few weeks ago, supplying turkeys and all the fixings for a festive holiday meal -- and more -- to 320 Lakewood residents in need.
Donations of non-perishable food items for the Christmas baskets can be dropped off until Dec. 13 at Lakewood Hardware or Emerson, Garfield, Harrison, Lincoln, Grant, Roosevelt and Harding schools and Lakewood City Academy.
Beginning Dec. 14, LCAC will ask community members to help sort the donated food, pack the baskets and deliver them on Dec. 15. Sorting and deliveries will be based at the Lakewood Masonic Temple once again, 15300 Detroit Ave. Watch for details next week.
LCAC is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of Lakewood's families in need. For more information, or to make a monetary donation, visit www.LCAC.info or check out its Facebook page at Lakewood Charitable Assistance Corp.
Celebrating the season: Democrats from the West Shore Democratic clubs will sponsor the seventh annual West Shore Democrats Holiday Party at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Western Cuyahoga Lodge FOP Hall 25, 26145 Center Ridge Road, Westlake. Parking and entrance are at the rear of the building.
Democratic club members from Bay Village, Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted, Rocky River, Stonewall Dems, Westlake and West Side Dems are invited to attend.
The gathering is a potluck dinner and charity box auction, with proceeds to benefit Wags 4 Warriors, a nonprofit that trains and provides service dogs to military veterans at no cost to the vets. Visit wags4warriors.org for more information.
Potluck assignments of either a side dish, dessert or salad are determined by last name initial. Contact Gretchen at [email protected] or 440-221-9295 for an assignment and information on how to support the charity auction by bringing an unwrapped gift. Non-perishable food items also will be accepted for donation to St. Herman's, a facility for homeless men in Cleveland.
Chili time: The American Legion Riders and the Sons of the American Legion will have a chili cook-off fundraiser beginning at 2 p.m. Dec. 8 at American Legion Post 738, 19311 Lorain Road, Fairview Park. The event includes viewing the Army-Navy football game on the big screen TV.
Chili judging will take place during halftime of the football game. For more information, contact David Brown at 440-385-7249 or Matt Lowry at 330-217-7104.
Santa breakfast: Santa Claus will take time from his busy schedule from 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 8 for a Breakfast with Santa hosted by the West Park Family YMCA at West Park Station, 17015 Lorain Ave., in Cleveland's West Park neighborhood. Register through the West Park Family YMCA by calling 216-941-5410 or going online here. For more information or to register for the event, click here.
Crafts and photos are part of the event. Cost is $10 per adult.
Online auction: Lakewood Chamber of Commerce's 10th annual Holiday Bid & Buy Local Online Auction is open for bidding.
Patty Ryan, chamber CEO and president, said this year's auction showcases items from some of the area's best locally owned businesses and is a great place to shop for the holidays.
Proceeds benefit the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce in order to support economic development projects and to encourage shoppers to buy local this holiday season.
Visit the auction site at biddingforgood.com/lakewoodchamber.
Holiday concerts: Kathleen Bosl, a member of the Beck Center for the Arts faculty in Lakewood, will perform at 4 p.m. Dec. 9 in a classical "Holiday Times and Seasons" concert presented by Elegance, an instrumental and vocal ensemble, at Grace United Methodist Church, 13406 W. Lake Road, Vermilion.
Refreshments will follow. A free-will offering will be accepted.
River's Edge, 3430 Rocky River Drive, invites all to its annual Christmas benefit concert from 2 to 3 p.m. Dec. 9 in the worship space. Featured will be the student choirs of St. Edward High School and St. Ignatius High School. A reception and raffle will follow.
Admission is $25 per person, with proceeds benefitting their Women's Outreach Center, which helps women who have experienced homelessness transition to a better life.
Talking technology: The Northeast Ohio Personal Computers group will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, for a presentation by John Dolinar of Cuyahoga Community College on "Information Technology Security Breaches: How Can This Happen?"
Refreshments will be available at 6:30, followed by the program at 7.
At the library: Here's a look at some programs being offered at the Fairview Park Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library during the next week. The library is at 21255 Lorain Road, Fairview Park. Visit cuyahogalibrary.org for more information or registration for programs.
- "Archiving Personal Memories" will be offered from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 11 by Cuyahoga Community College's archivist, Marietta Carr. She will discuss the proper way to care for and preserve personal/family history items. Attendees will also receive a free archiver's toolkit. Registration is required by calling 440-333-4700 or visiting
- Join the Cleveland Fleaharmonics Ukulele Ensemble for a holiday singalong from 7 to 8 p.m. Dec. 12. Attendees are welcome to bring their own ukuleles and play along for a festive version of "Jingle Bells."
Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. in Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted and West Park for the A Place in the Sun column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to [email protected].