The bids were opened at City Hall yesterday for the Kamm's Corners Lorain Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project!  The construction work will begin on Lorain Avenue in September, with a ribbon cutting ceremony to take place at the beginning of the Independence Day Parade next year.

The apparent low bidder on the project is Vandra Brothers with a bid of $2,327,577. Other prime bidders included Terrace Construction, Licursi Company, Envirocon, and Perk Company. This project includes the removal of all overhead power lines and associated poles, new sidewalks, benches, planter boxes, and other amenities within the project area, which includes all of our "downtown" area. New "historic" light posts will be installed, as well as new decorative traffic light mast poles. Additional details will be revealed in the upcoming issue of Kamm's Corners Magazine. Details are also available on our website.

After many fits and starts, this project will become a reality soon! Our thanks to Mayor Frank Jackson and his staff, Councilman Martin Keane, and former Councilman Mike Dolan, who originally got the ball rolling.

And, if you know of retailers looking for a shiny new location, please ask them to consider Kamm's Corners and call Cindy Janis at 216-252-6559, ext 1200.  This is prime time to be part of the renaissance!

Join in a community dialogue with Mayor Frank Jackson on Tuesday, August 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at our Lady of Angels Church in Linus Hall, 3644 Rocky River Drive. Plenty of parking is available. All are welcome! To see the flyer, click here.

Asphalt Cinema features Muppet Treasure Island at dusk on Friday, August 15. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to 15501 Lorain Avenue in the parking lot behind the West Park YMCA, starting at 6:30 p.m. Kids will love the Walk-the-Plank activity, coloring stations, and a treasure chest full of prizes from our Asphalt Cinema sponsor, Fairview Hospital. Other activities include free family swim time inside the Y from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Games and fun for children at booths operated by local merchants start at 6:30 p.m. Fritz the Balloonatic will make balloon creatures for the kids from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. followed by a bubble gum blowing contest for all ages. Beverages, popcorn, and snow cones are available for purchase. Best of all, the movie and the fun activities are all FREE of charge to you thanks to our Asphalt Cinema sponsor, Fairview Hospital! For a flyer, click here. For a gallery of photos from our July movie event, click here.

Stop by the Kamm’s Corners Farmers Market every Sunday in the municipal at West 168 Street off Lorain Avenue. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine. Purchase locally grown produce AND enjoy a cooking demonstration and live musice. See the schedule of fine entertainment, chef demonstrations, and wellness features here . Click here for additional details including maps and market information. Click here to subscribe to the Kamm’s Corners Farmers Market monthly e-newsletter. See you at the market!

Another Rain Barrel Opportunity! Last month in a special e-newsletter, 10 rain barrels were offered through the Cleveland Water Department in conjunction with the City of Cleveland's Office of Sustainability and KCDC -- free to the first 10 applicants. A $200 value, the rain barrels were snapped up within hours. Now, for a small fee of $35, you may be one of 30 people accepted to attend a workshop with Amy Roskilly of the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District.

KCDC is pleased to co-host this rain barrel workshop at the Kamm's Corners Farmers Market on September 7, at 10 a.m. The session will take about 90 minutes. The workshop fee of $35 includes a barrel, valve, and overflow tube. There, you will assemble your own barrel using tools provided, and you will leave the workshop with your rain barrel. However, you will be responsible for buying a downspout diverter (about $30) on your own. Because the workshop will fill up on a first come, first served basis, quickly call Amy Roskilly, Conservation Education Coordinator at 216-524-6580, ext. 22 to reserve your spot.

You may also come to the Kamm's Corners Farmers Market just watch the program and assembly process for free, test drive a vegetable or two, and enjoy the music while you're there!

See an original play at Drakefield Park with drums and dance FREE on Sunday, August 10, at 4 p.m. The teens of Cleveland Public Theater’s Student Enrichment Program will present this free theater production. For more information, visit www.cptonline.org. or call 216-631-2727, ext. 201. Drakefield Park is on Drakefield Avenue between W. 157 Street and Silsby Road.

To receive your quarterly issue of Kamm’s Corners Magazine in the mail (if you aren't already doing so), please e-mail your name and full address to info@kammscorners.com. The magazine is published each August, November, February, and May. To see past issues, click here.

Parade Fans! View images from this year’s West Park/Kamm’s Corners Independence Day Parade (sponsored by the West Park Kiwanis Club), by clicking here for a gallery of photos, courtesy of Joe Outlaw of Outlaw Productions.