Join us for an afternoon of board gaming, pizza, snacks and good fun! Bring your own game, or enjoy one from the hosts' collection. Saturday, September 13th from 2-4 pm. Held at the home of Eric Waldman & Laura Solomon in Chagrin Falls.

We are pleased to host up to ten people for the Great Ashtabula Tour on a date TBD in Aug./Sept. We'll start with a drink and appetizers at Harbor Halcyon Restaurant on Historic Bridge Street. You'll have a brief time to SHOP - we like Harbor Gardens and Marianne’s Chocolates - then visit the Ashtabula Harbor overlook, stop in an Ashtabula cemetery that commemorates the tragic 1876 train wreck, wind our way to the beautifully sculpted Lake Shore Park, travel to the Smolen-Gulf Bridge (the largest covered bridge in the U.S. and one of 19 covered bridges in Ashtabula County) and end with more apps and a glass of wine at Harpersfield Winery in Geneva Township. You will want to return to Ashtabula and see the Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum, the Maritime Museum and the area's many fine restaurants and wineries! We'll cover the appetizers; drinks are on you. Donated by Tim & Jerie Green.

RAINBOW CAKE
A 6-inch, 7-layer vanilla cake with fresh strawberry filling and Italian meringue buttercream frosting, topped with a decorated sugar cookie rainbow. Donated by Diana Packer.

CRYSTALLIZED GINGER PUMPKIN CAKE
A 9-inch, triple-layer spiced pumpkin cake with a cinnamon cream cheese, browned butter, and crystallized ginger frosting in-between layers and piped on top. Donated by Diana Packer.

HOT FUDGE SUNDAE ICE CREAM CAKES
6 individual cakes with a brownie base layered with chocolate fudge, vanilla ice cream, dark chocolate ganache, whipped cream frosting, sprinkles... and a cherry. Donated by Diana Packer.

SPRINGTIME LEMON FILLED CUPCAKES
2 dozen lemony cupcakes with lemon curd filling, topped with vanilla buttercream frosting and homemade candied lemon peel or a slice of lemon jellied fruit candy. Donated by Diana Packer.

(Or two or three sessions as needed.) Each slot gives a chance to save the village by scaling the cliffs of Anchin and slaying the dragon that recently made its home in the caves above. Already this red wyrm has devastated several temples and caravans in the area to fatten its hoard. The host will provide pre-generated characters for this one-off adventure, but will happily work with people to make sure there is a character to their liking. This adventure will use Dungeons and Dragons version 3.5 and will be child-friendly. The adventure will be scaled to the number of players, to limit difficulty. Pizza and soda will be provided for the adventure. If your slot happens to go to a second session, the host will continue to provide pizza and soda. Let him know of any dietary restrictions and he will accommodate. Date(s) will be coordinated with players. Donated by Erik Stout.

For about 4 hours on a beautiful sunny afternoon in mid to late September, we will:
1. Meet at Eddy's Fruit Farm on Caves Rd. in Chesterland.
2. Pick our own concord grapes! (FYI - Bees like grapes too.)
3. Head to church where we will wash and prepare the grapes for jammin’.
4. Clean up! (Grapes are sticky, especially when squished.)
5. Have tapas!
A few days later, you will receive the fruits of your labor in the form of the best grape jam you've ever tasted!
(Tapas are appetizers or snacks in Spanish cuisine.) Donated by Diana Packer.

Join Glenn to learn to make your own beef jerky. Glenn has been making his own beef jerky for years and has a well defined process that is easier than it may sound. Working ahead, Glenn will ask your flavor preferences and have a couple pounds of beef jerky ready for you to take home after you learn how. Donated by Glenn Emelko.

Join Glenn and Liz to roast coffee. Your experience includes coffee roasted to your taste preference and 5 pounds of roasted coffee (regular or decaf) from fair trade coffee farmers. The coffee tasting includes various coffee types from around the world. Donated by Glenn Emelko and Liz Madigan.

Marjie and Esther invite you to come to their home and enjoy an escape room-style challenge with a scavenger hunt twist. Our mystery challenge this year is not a who-done it! And our escape room is not one from which you must find a way out! Here’s the new mystery…

Our minister’s flight back home from a conference has been cancelled and your team has been asked to get everything ready for the next day’s Sunday service. However, when you arrive to get things ready, you find that a mischievous sprite has gotten in and all the Sunday service items are nowhere to be found!

The order of service selections have been erased, the joys and cares stones are missing, the printed sermon is nowhere to be found, and you can’t find who is on the Sunday service team this week! Luckily, you find a post it note stuck on the laptop screen which challenges you to work together and use the puzzles, lock boxes, and clues left behind by the mischievous sprite to find the missing items, rebuild the order of service, and make sure that the Sunday service is ready to run as planned.

Light appetizers and beverages will be provided.

Date: Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 2-4:30 pm. Donated by Esther Sampol and Marjie Loring.

Marjie and Esther invite you to come to their home and enjoy an escape room-style challenge with a scavenger hunt twist. Our mystery challenge this year is not a who-done it! And our escape room is not one from which you must find a way out! Here’s the new mystery…

Our minister’s flight back home from a conference has been cancelled and your team has been asked to get everything ready for the next day’s Sunday service. However, when you arrive to get things ready, you find that a mischievous sprite has gotten in and all the Sunday service items are nowhere to be found!

The order of service selections have been erased, the joys and cares stones are missing, the printed sermon is nowhere to be found, and you can’t find who is on the Sunday service team this week! Luckily, you find a post it note stuck on the computer screen which challenges you to work together and use the puzzles, lock boxes, and clues left behind by the mischievous sprite to find the missing items, rebuild the order of service, and make sure that the Sunday service is ready to run as planned.

Light appetizers and beverages will be provided.

Date: This session had to be rescheduled and date is TBD.. Donated by Esther Sampol and Marjie Loring.

Join polymer clay and mixed media artist Mae Kowalke and up to 10 other like-minded folks for a relaxed, creative afternoon during this two-hour art workshop. You’ll use real leaves, polymer clay, and other tools and materials to create a leaf trinket dish–useful as a resting place for such things as jewelry on a dressing table, keys by the door, earbuds on a desk, or dice during a tabletop game.
This workshop will be held at East Shore sometime in September (date to be determined). Materials, tools, and light refreshments provided by Mae, along with expert polymer clay baking/curing service. Weather dependent, we may take a short walk around church grounds to collect leaves… or you may bring your own or choose from those supplied by Mae. (For best results, the leaf you use should have pronounced veins and be at about 5-6" from side to side at widest point; maple, oak, and Tulip Poplar leaves work well. Keep them in a baggie in the freezer until the workshop unless you pick them immediately beforehand.)

Baked/cured trinket bowls will be available to pick up at church within a few days of the workshop. No prior artistic experience required. For ages 8 and up; under 18 with an adult please. Donated by Mae Kowalke.

Learn the art and science of quick pickles. Dill pickles, Bread and Butter, Dilly Beans, Pickled beets and even fruit! Pickles are a great way to liven up a sandwich and a great use for surplus produce. You will successfully make at least two different pickles as well as understand the fundamentals of canning and storing pickles. Come and enjoy this hands-on kitchen experience - the afternoon will be a dilly of a time! Experience will occur in late July or early August depending on bulk produce being available. Donated by Sue Borstein.

Experience a tour of a magnificent 19th century Painesville mansion in the evening. Hear its history from fabulous to despair and back to fabulous again. You'll even peek into its darker corners and legends of visitors of long ago---or are they still hanging around?! We'll meet at 6:30 on Tuesday, October 21st in the mansion's elegant Victorian bar. Share bites of hors d'oeuvres, coffee, tea or lemonade (and/or a cocktail/wine you choose to purchase). Our tour will commence at 7:00 and last about 1.5 hours while we carefully avoid the true witching hour:)
(Details will be shared closer to the event. Organizers reserve the right to change the details of the tour if circumstances require.) Donated by Jan Hurwitz.

Have family or friends gathering for a celebratory weekend? Start the morning off with some amazing frosted cinnamon rolls. They can be delivered either the night before for you to bake, or I will deliver them first thing in the morning. Recipe will make 6 GIANT, 9 large or 12 modest size rolls -- your choice! Date to be determined. Donated by Maggie Calkins.

Let your pup celebrate their birthday adoption day or other celebratory occasion in style with a home-made, all dog-friendly-ingredient birthday cake. Enough to share with a few fellow furry friends. Can be made as a single cake, or cupcakes. Several flavors available. Donated by Maggie Calkins.

**NOTE DATE CHANGE!** October 11, 2025. Our annual Clam bake is back. Gather at our home in Chardon at 5pm on October 11th. We will provide a complete bake; clams, chicken, yams, corn, rolls, coleslaw and butter. We will provide beverages and apple pie. You will not leave hungry!!! Donated by Shirley & Steve Hairston.

Our group of 10 intrepid explorers will chose the exhibit and day/time to view one of the many current exhibits at the Cleveland Museum of Art. We may meet for coffee or tea or lunch before or after our tour depending on the time we chose to go. Tour will last approximately 1 hour and parking is included. Donated by Lynne Killgore and Dave Michel.

A foursome of Rack-O will be played after a dinner at the DeTar’s. Donated by Teresa and Marvin Detar.

The lucky participants will be hosted by Maureen & Jerry Huelsenbeck with their specialty homemade lasagna dinner. Includes both vegetarian (eggplant) and meat lasagna offerings and ranges from salad & appetizers to dessert. BYOB. Target date Saturday evening September 13. Plan on a festive evening. Kids are welcome. Donated by Maureen & Jerry Huelsenbeck .

Light brunch included. Some Saturday November 2025. Donated by Diana Jackson.

Sunday, November 9th after church, meet at Orchard Hills Main Shelter for a Warm Vegan Lunch followed by a hike around the park, no matter the weather. The shelter has an enclosed space with heat so we can stay out of the elements while enjoying a warm homemade vegan lunch prepared by Maureen. We will then hike at the pace of the group around the park if you choose. Dress for the weather and enjoy the company. Donated by Kristine Burkwood.

Enjoy a loaf of homemade sourdough bread. Each loaf is about one pound. Great toasted! Available on mutually agreed upon dates. Liz will bring the bread to church. Donated by Liz Madigan.

A class to make a Spring Angel wall hanging (painting and gluing) on a Saturday in March 2026. Light brunch included. Donated by Diana Jackson.

Clear your money worries—with a conversation that’s all about you.
Does any of this sound familiar?

* A nagging money question that never quite goes away
* Retirement projections that look… fuzzy (or worries about not having a retirement plan/fund at all)
* A complex family or business situation you’d rather discuss in private
* A plan you’re mostly confident in—but you’d love a second set of eyes

Let’s sit down—confidentially, judgment-free, and 100 % sales-pressure-free.

What these session are (and are not):
✅ Up to two focused meetings (phone, video, or in-person) dedicated to your numbers, goals, and “what-ifs.”
❌ A pitch for annuities, insurance, or the latest investment trend
✅ A seasoned sounding board: I have 15 years in consumer & small-business banking, 20 years in retirement-plan strategy, 8 years as a small-business owner, and 8 years as a family-therapy social worker (MSW).
❌ Jargon or product talk that requires a FINRA license. If you need those specifics, we'll point you to a licensed pro for a free follow-up.
✅ Practical next steps for the short, medium, and long term—tailored to your values, hopes, and concerns.

Why clients find this valuable:
* Real-world perspective. I’ve guided households ranging from first-paycheck savers to multi-property retirees.
* A holistic approach. Banking and business know-how + therapeutic listening skills = a plan that fits both your balance sheet and your life.
* Absolute confidentiality. No sales quota, no company script—just an honest conversation.

Ready to turn “I really should deal with that…” into a clear, confident plan?
Book your session—no strings attached—and leave with a roadmap you can act on immediately. Donated by Eric Waldman.

Learn the basics of blacksmithing at the shop, forge, and home of Nancy Tozer and Ken Roby, the Village Blacksmith (www.VillageBlacksmithInc.com). Discover how to use steel, heat, hammers, and tongs to create something wonderful. You'll leave with a self-made hook or bracket or whatever you're inspired to try. Plan on a couple hours of work capped off by light snacks and drinks, along with plenty of good company and conversation. Because you will enjoy one-on-one direction from Ken, maximum number of beginner blacksmiths is THREE per date. Starting at 1pm. NOTE: This is a working shop, so expect grease and coal soot. Ages 16 and over welcome. Donated by Nancy Tozer.

Learn the basics of blacksmithing at the shop, forge, and home of Nancy Tozer and Ken Roby, the Village Blacksmith (www.VillageBlacksmithInc.com). Discover how to use steel, heat, hammers, and tongs to create something wonderful. You'll leave with a self-made hook or bracket or whatever you're inspired to try. Plan on a couple hours of work capped off by light snacks and drinks, along with plenty of good company and conversation. Because you will enjoy one-on-one direction from Ken, maximum number of beginner blacksmiths is THREE per date. Starting at 1pm. NOTE: This is a working shop, so expect grease and coal soot. Ages 16 and over welcome. Donated by Nancy Tozer.