LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- When Emanuel Flagg began receiving care from Hospice of the Western Reserve’s Lakewood home care team, he told the social worker that he still had two things on his bucket list: Go bowling with his family and ride a horse.

Lori Scotese and Lisa Waryck, volunteer service managers, got to work to ensure that both wishes became a reality through HWR’s Moments to Remember

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a program that enhances patients’ quality of life by fulfilling their special wishes.

For the first wish, a gift card was provided so Flagg could treat his family to a bowling party.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, his second wish was fulfilled when he got to ride a horse.

“Mr. Flagg was all ready to go in his cowboy attire, including a cowboy hat and cowboy boots,” said Julia Wasilewski, hospice social worker. “I joined him at Valley Riding, located at Rocky River Stables in the Cleveland Metroparks.

“The instructor was named Marty, and the handsome horse was Merlin. Marty was wonderful, to say the least. She not only helped Mr. Flagg with riding, but provided him with so much education.

“A couple of facts we learned: Horses talk with their tails, and the horse’s eyes are their best defense mechanism,” Wasilewski said.

“Marty showed Mr. Flagg how to brush Merlin and allowed him to assist. Mr. Flagg was a natural. He got to ride around the arena many times and gave commands to Merlin. Merlin proved to be a great listener,” she said.

“At the end, I asked Mr. Flagg what motivated him to do this,” Wasilewski said.

He told her: “I raised five children on my own and didn’t have the time to experience things like this.”

He said he loves to watch Westerns and had always wanted to ride a horse.

“I’m so excited we were able to make this happen for him,” Wasilewski said. “We were finally able to make his dream come true.”

Thanks to Laurie Henrichsen, public relations-media manager at Hospice of the Western Reserve, for sharing the information and photo.

Small Wonders:

More than 60 dollhouses and room boxes will be featured in the Small Wonders Miniatures Show Sept. 11 through Oct. 3 at the historic Nicholson House, 13335 Detroit Ave., Lakewood.

The displays represent medieval times to modern day. The event will include items from local collectors and the Western Reserve Historical Society.

The event is a benefit for Lakewood Historical Society. Tickets are on sale for $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-12. No strollers are permitted.

Show hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 16 and Oct. 2 and 3.

For more information, email lhsminiaturesshow@gmail.com or call 216-221-7343.

Cruise-in benefit:

Ascension Lutheran Church, 28081 Lorain Road, North Olmsted, will have its 12th annual Car Cruise In Benefit in the church parking lot. The event begins at 4 p.m. Sept. 1. Rain date is Sept. 2.

The event is free, but visitors are requested to donate some canned food to benefit the Oxcart food pantry and Redeemer Crisis Center.

There will be refreshments and live music by the Crooked River Band. For more information, call 440-759-8201.

Church tours:

West Park Historical Society will offer a tour of four area churches Sept. 19.

Advance reservations must be made by Sept. 8. Cost is $20. Make checks payable to West Park Historical Society, c/o Marge Sheridan, 3808 W. 129th St., Cleveland, Ohio 44111.

Attendees must be 12 or older and must have their own transportation. All churches are ADA accessible.

There will be refreshments after the tour at West Park Historical Society, 17401 Lorain Ave. in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood. There is parking available at Citizens Bank on the south side of Lorain.

Churches on the tour are:

· St. Patrick Catholic Church, 4427 Rocky River Drive at Puritas Avenue

· Second Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 12017 Emery Ave. at Bellaire Road

· Beth Israel-The Temple West, 14308 Triskett Road (north side of street, with parking in the front lot at Stuart House)

· Bethany English Lutheran Church, 15460 Triskett Road

For more information, call 216-252-2514.

Meet the candidates:

The Lakewood Chapter of the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland and Lakewood Chamber of Commerce will host a Meet the Candidates open house from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 28 under the Kiwanis Pavilion at Lakewood Park, 14532 Lake Ave., Lakewood.

The event is free and open to the public. Attendees will have a chance to meet and talk with candidates who will run for office in Lakewood before the Sept. 14 primary election.

Those attending are asked to wear a face mask.

Work is progressing on the Brookpark Road improvements in North Olmsted. This photo shows the area near Great Northern Mall. (Carol Kovach/special to cleveland.com)

Road work:

Those traveling on Brookpark Road in North Olmsted have probably noticed the bumper crop of orange cones that sprouted this summer as improvements are being made to the busy street. Signs warn motorists to expect delays during the project, which is progressing.

When finished, drivers can enjoy smooth sailing on the freshly repaved and improved roadway.

Poster contest winners:

The Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District hosted its 2021 district poster contest for Cuyahoga County recently, with first-place students in each grade band level advancing to the state contest sponsored by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

This year’s theme was “Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities.”

Moira Burke, a student at St. Angela Merici School in Fairview Park, finished first in the seventh- to ninth-grade category at the state competition. Her poster was sent to the national competition sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts and the NACD Auxiliary. Winners of the national contest will be announced in February.

The following Cuyahoga County students are also being recognized as Ohio’s 2021 poster contest winners:

• Jaxon Dea, Charles A. Mooney School in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood, second place, grades K-1

• Andrew Studeny, St. Angela Merici School, Fairview Park, third place, grades 2-3

• Natalie Hooper, St. Angela Merici School, second place, grades 4-6

• Anna Buhrow, Beaumont School, Cleveland Heights, third place, grades 10-12.

Congratulations to all the winners.

CSWD is hosting a 2022 poster contest themed “Healthy Soils: Health Life.” Students can begin work on their posters on or after Jan. 1, 2022 -- George Washington Carver’s birthday -- to honor Carver’s contributions to the field of soil science.

Teachers can register their classes online by April 1. Submissions must be received by 6 p.m. on Earth Day, April 22. Detailed instruction will be available in January at cuyahogaswcd.org.

For more information, contact Jacki Zevenbergen at 216-524-6580, extension 1006, or jzevenbergen@cuyahogaswcd.org. Or visit cuyahogaswcd.org.

Singing Angels auditions:

Children from fourth grade to age 16 are invited to audition for the Singing Angels, the region’s most diverse and unique performing chorus.

Children can audition this fall and participate without paying any fees -- one way the Singing Angels is showing gratitude for the community’s support during the pandemic.

Auditions will take place from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 1 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Singing Angels Studios, 3600 Biddulph Ave., Suite A, in Cleveland. No appointment is necessary. For those who cannot make it in person, online auditions are accepted at singingangels.org.

As a Singing Angel, children learn how to perform while reinforcing music-reading skills and proper vocal technique, cultivating an environment where singers gain valuable leadership skills and grow personally and emotionally. A trained voice is not necessary -- only a pleasant voice, love of music and commitment to continuous improvement.

During the last 57 years, the Singing Angels has performed in 34 countries, sung with major celebrities, accompanied symphonies and entertained dignitaries, presidents and popes. The Singing Angels has been featured on national and international television, performed four times at the White House and appeared in concert with numerous celebrities.

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

carolkovach@hotmail.com

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