FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio – It’s been a long winter and I’m sure glad spring is here – at least according to the calendar.That means it also won’t be long before the local ice cream and custard stands return from their winter hiatus. One of the most venerable is Weber’s Premium Custard and Ice Cream in Fairview Park.It’s not a fancy, sit-down ice cream parlor, but it’s been a favorite summertime haunt for decades. One of the shop’s most popular flavors is the famous frosted malt, which was served for many years at Higbee’s Public Square store in downtown Cleveland. The tiny ice cream stand in the store’s basement offered the frosted malt – not too chocolatey and with just enough malt flavor – in a thin, fountain glass. The price was right – about a dime at one point, as I recall. You would tilt the glass and slurp the frozen treat without a spoon.I can remember visiting the stand with my mom and grandmother in the 1950s and ‘60s while bargain hunting in Higbee’s basement. That’s when I got “hooked” on the frosted malt. The frozen treat was invented in the early 1930s by the original owner of Weber’s. David Ford, Weber’s current owner, still uses the same recipe and premium ingredients. Ford also uses two vintage ice cream machines to create its various flavors.As much as I love frosted malt, I have to admit that Weber’s also has many other very tasty flavors, including salted caramel, which has become another of my favorites. And although my husband isn’t much of a chocolate lover, he is partial to Weber’s black cherry ice cream.April 1 can’t come soon enough … I need my Weber’s “fix.”Rotary fundraiser: The Trials for Hope program and the American Youth Foundation will be winners at the Rotary Club of Lakewood-Rocky River Sunrise’s May 6 fundraiser. The club will have a Kentucky Derby-type theme for the event.Festivities begin at 6 p.m. in Don Umerley Civic Center on the Rocky River municipal campus at Wagar Road and Hilliard Boulevard in Rocky River. Individual tickets are $30, or reserve a table of eight for $240.Attendees can browse through the paddock area to view the silent auction items and raffle baskets. There also will be a live auction. Proceeds will benefit the Trials for Hope and American Youth Foundation, two organizations spotlighted by the club.Trials for Hope provides food, clothing and personal hygiene items for needy families and homeless individuals on the Near West Side of Cleveland. It was founded more than a decade ago to help those in the community to meet their basic needs while providing them dignity, respect and love. Volunteers visit homebound seniors, provide the necessities to those in homeless camps and deliver food to hungry families from their food pantry.Student volunteers will serve dinner during the event. In return, they will receive a portion of the proceeds to help defray costs of attending the American Youth Foundation summer camp. The American Youth Foundation inspires young people to discover and develop their personal best, to seek balance in mental, physical, social and spiritual living and to make a positive difference in their communities and in the wider world.For more information visit lrrsunriserotary.orgTo order tickets for the event, make a check payable to Lakewood-Rocky River Sunrise Rotary Foundation and mail it, along with your contact information, to Lakewood-Rocky River Sunrise Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 16684, Rocky River, Ohio, 44116. The foundation is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization and $10 of each ticket is tax deductible.Established in 2007, the Rotary Club of Lakewood-Rocky River Sunrise is involved in a variety of activities including an annual Beck Center clean-up, holiday food distribution, third-grade dictionary distribution, youth exchange programs (sending dozens of youths to experience other cultures and welcoming dozens of youths into local homes and schools), foster care birthday bags and school backpacks, Nicaragua student supplies, emergency shelter boxes, supporting children’s sight in Ukraine and more.Members of the two Rotary clubs participate in many community, vocational and youth service activities. The noon club meets every Monday, the morning club meets every Wednesday. Both meet at the Don Umerley Civic Center in Rocky River.Contact Kathy Berkshire at [email protected] for more information about Rotary and how to give back through service in the community, and internationally.Now playing: The St. Angela Merici Drama Club at St. Angela Merici School will present Disney’s “The Jungle Book” at 7 p.m. in the parish social hall, 20970 Lorain Road, Fairview Park.This is the fifth year for the Drama Club, which was resurrected by Megan Kostura, SAM art and technology teacher. “The Jungle Book” is the club’s fifth production.The SAM Drama Club consists of students in grades 5-8 who perform in the play, create the sets, control the technical aspects of the s how and more.In collaboration with other teachers, parents and friends, Kostura and the students have worked many weeks to prepare for the performances.For more information, call 440-333-2126.Coffee break: Residents of Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood are invited to Coffee with the Commander 8:30-9:30 a.m. April 1 at Kristina’s Restaurant 9912 Lorain Ave, Cleveland.Cleveland Police First District Commander Michael Butler and police officers will be on hand for coffee and conversation about topics of interest and concern in the neighborhood. The First District includes all of West Park.Grab ‘n go meal: Clague Road United Church of Christ and Westlake Church of the Redeemer will offer another free grab ‘n go meal 4:30-6 p.m., or as long as the meals last, on March 26 at Clague Road UCC, 3650 Clague Road, North Olmsted.Drive to the rear door of the church and volunteers – who will be masked and gloved for everyone’s safety – will bring the meals to the cars.Craft show: The St Luke Craft Club will have a craft and art show 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 2 in McBride Hall at St. Luke Parish, 1212 Bunts Road, Lakewood.Event organizers said there would be one-of-a-kind items available, as well as a bake sale. The event is part of the parish’s centennial celebration. Admission is free.Pancakes, please: The Olmsted Historical Society will have pancake breakfasts 9 a.m. t 2 p.m. March 27 and April 3 in the Events Barn at the Frostville Museum complex, 24101 Cedar Point Road, North Olmsted, in the Rocky River Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks.Cost is $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 3-12 and free for those younger than 2.Meals include pancakes, hot beverages with free refills, juice and sausage. Take-out meals are available.Access Frostville from Columbia Road to Cedar Point or Lewis Road. Call 216-789-5298 or, visit the group’s Facebook page or website, olmstedhistoricalsociety.org.Fish fry Fridays: St. James Parish in Lakewood sends word that its popular Lenten fish fry dinners are back for three more Fridays: 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 25 and April 1 and 8 in Andrews Hall (lower church) at St. James Church, 17514 Detroit Ave., Lakewood.Entree choices are cod, flounder, baked shrimp or pierogi. Cost is $10 or choose two for $15. All entrees come with a choice of sides: mac and cheese or potatoes and cole slaw or applesauce. Creamy clam chowder is $4 and a pizza slice is $2. A kid’s meal consists of applesauce and mac and cheese for $4. Beverages are $1 and desserts are $2. Coffee is free.Fish fry committee members said there will be live music in a family-friendly atmosphere. For more information, call Tom at 216-798-5523.Passion play: St. Patrick Parish in West Park will host three performances of “Tetelestai,” a musical portrayal of Jesus’ trial, execution and resurrection. Performances are at 8 p.m. March 25-26 and 2 p.m. March 27 in the church. Seating is first-come, first-served. Admission is free but donations are welcome.St. Patrick is at 4427 Rocky River Drive, West Park.Singers sought: Singers are needed for the Rocky River Community Chorus. Rehearsals for the spring season are underway and will run until June 7.Choral experience and the ability to read music is helpful, but not required. Members hail from several communities on the west side.The chorus will present its spring concert at 7:30 p.m. June 12 Rocky River United Methodist Church, 19414 Detroit Road, Rocky River.The chorus practices 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the Rocky River Middle School choir room.Registration is available online or the Rocky River Civic Center’s welcome desk. There is a $50 fee to cover expenses, including music, which is provided.Camp Canopy scholarships: The Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District is offering scholarships for Cuyahoga County high school students to attend Camp Canopy from June 12-17 at Camp Muskingum in Carroll County. Incoming freshman through graduating seniors (up to age 19) are eligible to apply.Applications for scholarships are due to Cuyahoga SWCD by April 8. Scholarships cover the cost of the camp along with meals and programs ($375 value). Scholarships will be awarded April 15.For more information and an application, visit cuyahogaswcd.org/programs/camp-canopy.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] more from the Sun Post Herald.
