A 10-year-old Olmsted Falls student won the female division of the Olmsted Spirit 5K Race on Sunday, May 29^th – easily beating 20- to 40-year-old women in the prime of their running careers.

Layla Bail finished with a 5K time of 22:07 – good enough for first place in the female division and 16^th overall against all males and females entered in the race. She capped off her stunning win by having her raffle ticket pulled for a girl’s bike to close out the day’s festivities.

Coincidentally (or not), Layla’s mom is one of the cross country coaches at the Olmsted Falls Middle School.

The overall race winner against a field of 317 runners was Avon Lake High School alum and cross country standout, Chip Connolly, with a time of 16:52.

The event has become a much anticipated “Rite of Spring” as hundreds of Olmsted residents come out to support the race. 

As the Founding Sponsor of this community-oriented race since 1998, SpectraLight Photography is honored to be a part of an event that has awarded $262,000.00 in college scholarships to deserving Olmsted Falls graduating seniors.

These students have demonstrated selflessness by serving and/or giving back to their community throughout their young lives.

In 2022, race director Jeff Swislocki also blessed the Olmsted Community Center with a donation of $2000.00.

More information: Olmsted Spirit 5K Race.

See ALL the Olmsted Spirit 5K Race videos below. Click the video to start play. It will be immediately followed by videos from previous years. If you hover over any video – you'll see three small horizontal bars on the upper right corner. Click those bars to see all the videos in the playlist and scroll down to the one you wish to view and then click it. Pretty simple, yes?

Have you or a family member ever participated in an Olmsted Spirit 5K run, walk or a kids fun run? Please share your favorite memory of that day with a comment here.

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On December 7, 2019, North Olmsted Evangelical Friends Church (NOEFC) members did and outdoor presentation – “A Night in Bethlehem” – recreating a market place setting in Bethlehem with live animals. The highlight of the evening was a dramatization of the birth of Jesus.

It is one of the best Christmas presentations I've ever seen that was not performed by professional actors. Here's a video I created of the evening's events…

I hope you enjoy it and have a better understanding of the “Reason for the Season.”

Merry Christmas!

Mark Madere

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Maria’s Field of Hope was first planted by the Prayers from Maria Foundation in Avon, Ohio in 2013, to draw attention to the lack of funding for childhood cancer. The field was inspired by the memory and spirit of Maria McNamara, who died at age seven on July 14, 2007 from a glioma – the second highest cause of cancer deaths in young people. The field is a way to love and honor the courageous children who are battling cancer and those we have lost.

Maria’s parents, Ed and Megan, said, “We did everything humanly possible to save our daughter, but in the end, we could only helplessly stand by as she endured the unimaginable. Through it all, Maria showed tremendous character and dignity. Her strength, her courage and, most of all, her faith, left marks on our souls that have changed us forever. She never thought of herself. Instead, she chose to pray for all children suffering from cancer and their families. She prayed that the doctors would find a way to help them. She is our hero and her fight became our inspiration. Her prayers became our mission.”

This photo was taken at Maria's Field of Hope and is available for purchase for your home or office. (It will NOT have the logos seen here.) It was enhanced with Topaz Labs “Studio” software. If you make a purchase through this affiliate link (Topaz Labs “Studio” software) – you'll help support this blog at no cost to you – allowing me to continue sharing information like this for your education and enjoyment. Win/Win! Thanks. [Photo: Mark Madere | SpectraLight Photography]

Ed and Megan are dedicated to funding global research into the cause, prevention, treatments and cure for childhood brain tumors. The foundation has an impressive Medical Board that consists of some of the best doctors in the country for this disease.

Because childhood gliomas are grossly underfunded, the McNamara family is diligently working to make a difference by raising public awareness and bringing hope to children and their families who live with this disease. The Foundation has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for desperately needed research.

A second field was planted in Sandusky, Ohio in 2019. The sunflowers draw thousands of visitors from across the country.

Discover more about this worthy cause at www.PrayersFromMaria.org and donate to support cancer research in Maria’s memory at www.PrayersFromMaria.org/donate.

Have you been to Maria's Field of Hope? Do you know a child who has cancer? How has that affected you? Please comment below.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and then click the bell icon to get instant notifications when we upload a new video: www.SpectraLight.com/YouTubeSubscribe

See more photos and videos highlighting what is great about CLEveland and Northeast Ohio on our HOTonCLE website: www.HOTonCLE.com

Please subscribe to our HOTonCLE YouTube channel and then click the bell icon to get instant notifications when we upload a new video: www.HOTonCLE.com/YouTubeSubscribe

See the gear and software we use to create our videos and photos: www.SpectraLight.com/Gear

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In 2009, I was asked by the North Ridgeville Rotary Club to donate my photography services for their 2010 Calendar. They sold it as a club fundraiser.

After meeting with members of the club, I suggested doing some “unusual” shots featuring a different member each month. I wanted the calendar to become a collector's item because of the fun photos I had in my “mind's eye.”For example, January featured retired FBI agent, Paul Graupmann in 1920's attire holding a machine gun next to a “gangsta-style” car of the era.

February featured Dr. Casey O'Conor, Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, with a pair of pliers and over-sized toothbrush as seen from inside a patient's mouth!

March featured Glenn Zimbelman, Pastor Spirit of Joy Church North Ridgeville, dressed in ancient attire and standing on a mountain top with Noah's Ark in the background.

You can view the calendar here if you wish. Please note that the text on the calendar won't appear as clear as the original as I had to reduce the file size to load quickly in your web browser.

So which month do you like best? Who is your favorite North Ridgeville Rotarian – past or present? Click here to share your answer.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and then click the bell icon to get instant notifications when we upload a new video: https://spectralight.com/YouTubeSubscribe

See more photos and videos highlighting what is great about CLEveland on our HOTonCLE website: http://HOTonCLE.com

Please subscribe to our HOTonCLE YouTube channel and then click the bell icon to get instant notifications when we upload a new video: http://HOTonCLE.com/YouTubeSubscribe

See the gear and software we use to create our videos and photos: https://spectralight.com/Gear

The post We Created Fun Photos for the 2010 North Ridgeville Rotary Club Calendar appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

Watch my head get completely shaved in this high-speed video in support of St. Baldrick's Foundation children’s cancer research.

I've answered the call to help a great cause! I had my head shaved to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer and to raise money to find cures. And you can help. The good news is that you don't have to get your head shaved to support this cause!

Please join me with a donation of any size to the St. Baldrick's Foundation (https://spectralight.com/CancerResearch). This volunteer-driven charity funds more childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U. S. government.

Your gift will give hope to infants, children, teens and young adults fighting childhood cancers. So when I ask for your support, I'm really asking you to support these kids.

Thank you!

Do you feel that cancer research is important? Please share this with your family and friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any other way you communicate online.

The post St Baldrick’s Foundation children’s cancer research: My head shaved in less than a minute! appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

We are thrilled to support Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital with the donation of family portrait for their Ride The Rainbow 2018 – Growing Our Big Back Yard auction. Watch the one-minute video, above, for details.

Why the donation? Years ago, my wife, Doreen, and I were touched by the care and compassion that Rainbow's nurses gave to a special friend of ours. Betsy Baker, who was a bridesmaid in our wedding, was a patient there many times before her passing from complications of Cystic Fibrosis.

In 2000, a friend of my daughter, Dara Hosta, was treated at Rainbow after she collapsed after winning the 400 meter run in her high school physical education class.  She passed away a few days later. Again, the staff at Rainbow was amazing.

The winning bidder and their family will be photographed by the picturesque, cascading waters of Olmsted Falls and receive a 20×24 inch color portrait of their favorite pose.

Bid on our item or many of the other surprises at https://spectralight.com/RainbowAuction.

Do you have an experience to share about the care that you or a loved one received at Rainbow? Please share it here! (You may need to scroll down to the comment box if there are other comments already posted.)

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The 2018 Olmsted Spirit 5K Race is almost here!

A unique feature of the race is that all runners pass through the open bay doors of the Olmsted Township fire station. You’ll see that in this video from the May 7, 2017 race in Olmsted Falls, Ohio.

Since 1998, the “Olmsted Spirit 5K Race/Walk” has awarded over $234,000.00 (as of 2017) in college scholarships to deserving Olmsted Falls graduating seniors who have demonstrated selflessness by serving and/or giving back to their community. The event has become a “community treasure” – with thousands of walkers and runners participating over the years.

More information: Olmsted Spirit 5K Race.

See ALL the Olmsted Spirit 5K Race videos below. Click the video to start play. It will be immediately followed by videos from previous years. If you hover over any video – you'll see three small horizontal bars on the upper right corner. Click those bars to see all the videos in the playlist and scroll down to the one you wish to view and then click it. Pretty simple, yes?

Have you participated in one of these races? What was your experience like? Please share it here! (You may need to scroll down to the comment box if there are other comments already posted.)

The post Olmsted Spirit 5K Race – Running Through a Fire Station! appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.