As the Founding Sponsor of the “Olmsted Spirit 5K Race/Walk” since 1998, SpectraLight Photography is honored to be a part of an event that has awarded over $260,000.00 in college scholarships to 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 $2000.00 donation.

The event is a “community treasure” – with thousands of Olmsted Falls and Township walkers and runners participating over the years.

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

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?

The post 2022 Olmsted Spirit 5K was Fun for Everyone! appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

The COVID-19 pandemic just couldn’t keep the loyal runners, walkers and fans of the 2021 Olmsted Spirit 5K Race away for the second year in-a-row.

See a video from the 2021 race further down this page.

The event is a “community treasure” – with thousands of Olmsted Falls and Township walkers and runners participating over the years.

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 $262,500.00 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.

This year, race director Jeff Swislocki also blessed three local businesses with $500 each as a thank you for their continuing support of the Olmsted community. They are the Olmsted Community Center, Dolls and Minis and Roasted Coffee Shop.

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.

The post 2021 Olmsted Spirit 5K Race Leaves COVID-19 in the DUST! appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

As the Founding Sponsor of the “Olmsted Spirit 5K Race/Walk” since 1998, SpectraLight Photography is honored to be a part of an event that has awarded $261,000.00 in college scholarships to deserving Olmsted Falls graduating seniors.

See a video from the 2019 race further down this page.

These students have demonstrated selflessness by serving and/or giving back to their community throughout their young lives. In 2019, the event raised $12,000 for OFHS college scholarships!

The event has become a “community treasure” – with thousands of walkers and runners participating over the years.

A unique feature of the Olmsted Spirit 5K Race is that all runners pass through the open bay doors of the Olmsted Township fire station which you’ll see in this video.

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

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?

The post 2019 Olmsted Spirit 5K Race a Huge Success appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

As the Founding Sponsor of the “Olmsted Spirit 5K Race/Walk” since 1998, SpectraLight Photography is honored to be a part of an event that has awarded over $244,000.00 in college scholarships (as of 2018) 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 2018, the event raised $10,000 in scholarship money!

A unique feature of the Olmsted Spirit 5K 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 6, 2018 race in Olmsted Falls, Ohio. (Scroll down to click links to specific scenes in this video.)

The event has become a “community treasure” – with thousands of walkers and runners participating over the years.

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

Learn about the history of the race: www.SpectraLight.com/5krace/

For videos of past races, click here.

Click any of the links, below, to jump to that part of the video – above.

Kid’s Fun Runs
Start of 5K race
Runners dashing through the Olmsted Township fire station engine bays
Runners crossing finish line
Food spread, door prizes, close-ups of people relaxing in the cafetorium
Introduction of event team members and acknowledgements
Introduction of the OFHS Girl’s Running Club
2017 Olmsted Spirit 5K Scholarship winners’ names read
Presentation of race awards to all age groups

The post 2018 Olmsted Spirit 5K Race Raises $10,000 for OFHS College Scholarships appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

Call it “midlife crisis” or just a little insanity. Last Saturday was my latest “bucket list” moment as I joined dozens of Northeast Ohioans for the 2015 Arctic Plunge at Edgewater Park near downtown Cleveland.

After jumping out of a perfectly good airplane two years ago, I thought it would be fun to dive into the frigid waters of an icy Lake Erie to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Team Fox (Parkinson's Disease), University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital and Westshore Critical Incident Response Services.

Before taking the plunge, I videotaped my fellow “plungees” (plungers?) as they entered the water like sheep being lead to their slaughter. There were plenty of whoops and laughter as they proceeded in single file down the narrow channel that had just been carved out of the frozen lake by an excavator.

Then it was my turn. I peeled of my winter coat and pants, removed my socks and shoes, turned on my chest-mounted GoPro camera and ran into the lake in my t-shirt and shorts. Good times!

Surprisingly, while the water was cold, it really was quite bearable. The biggest issue I encountered were the chunks of ice floating on and below the water surface. I had a number of cuts and bruises on my lower legs when I finished.

When I got back to the registration tent, someone called a paramedic to attend to my bloodied legs. While he doused the cuts with hydrogen peroxide (which I couldn't feel due to the numbness of my legs), I asked him how many people his crew had treated. Almost apologetically he said, “Well, you're about the only one.” Proud moment for me – NOT!

Have you ever jumped in a frigid lake for a good cause? What was YOUR experience like? Please comment here.

Please THUMBS UP, LIKE, COMMENT and SHARE this story.

The post Cleveland Arctic Plunge – Another one for the “bucket list” appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

Yep, I knew it would happen eventually. I've been waiting to be asked to participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge but I never thought it would come from our Australian foreign exchange student from 24 years ago – Rebecca Freeman Haines! I asked her to do the ice bucket honors. She came all the way from Australia to be with us!

In this video, I weathered a bucket of ice water dumped over my head and then challenged my neighbors at Cypress Station in North Ridgeville and my co-workers at University Hospital’s Eye Institute Reading Centers to also support this worthy cause.Watch the video to the end to see a surprise in my ice bucket.

Also included in this video are VERY COOL celebrity challenges from around the Internet including President Barack Obama, Cleveland Cavalier LeBron James, professional ice hockey player Paul Bissonnette, “The Besties” – Brittany and Brittani, Jimmy Fallon with Rob Riggle, Horatio Sanz, Steve Higgins and the Roots.

Please make a donation to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge: http://www.alsa.org/

Did you participate in the challenge? Share your experience with a comment here.

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 and Northeast Ohio 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 My ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Has Surprise Ending appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

10. My co-worker – Glenn Barton – said he was going to shave his head for the St. Baldrick's cancer fundraiser, and I thought it would be cool if we confused our co-workers with the same new “hair” style.

9. I hate “bed-head” in the morning.

8. The Mocha Monkey said he would if I would.

7. I thought I saw some grey hair coming in and thought this was easier than plucking them individually. (Sorry – no photo with this one. You don't need to see what those nasty grey hairs looked like!)

6. Women just LOVE bald guys.

5. Have you seen my hair in the wind? No Fabio look-alike here.

4. I shaved my head 8 years ago and really dug the look.

3. My wife threatened to divorce me if I ever shaved my head again. (OK – she gets half the bills in the settlement.)

2. The money is going for a great cause – cancer research – so how could I say “no.”

1. I know that everyone who has followed this post would like to contribute to the cause. I, and future cancer survivors, THANK YOU. Please donate here: http://bit.ly/spec-bald

————————————————————-

Here's your chance to help!

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

Please support me with a donation to the St. Baldrick's Foundation. 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!

Click the link to make a donation online, or donate by phone or mail. http://bit.ly/spec-bald

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

The post Top 10 reasons why I decided to shave my head appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

The 6 to 7 year old students are in need of any used or new clothing and school supplies (book bags, crayons, pencils etc.)

To help, contact: Jenna McGilvray, 6280 Abbotts Park Dr. Apt E., Fayetteville, NC  28311, Phone: 330-338-9258, E-mail: Jenmack7843@yahoo.com

Or Jenna’s parents: Jim & Kim McGilvray,  Phone: 440-243-7843, E-mail: Mackpack555@cox.net

The post Former Olmsted Falls resident needs our help dealing with severe wrath of tornadoes appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

The 14th Annual Dara Hosta/Olmsted Spirit 5K Race/Walk was held on Sunday, May 1st in Olmsted Falls. Over 600 runners and walkers ranging in age from infants in strollers to eighty-four took part in the fund-raising annual event. An additional 200-300 family and friends were there to cheer on their loved ones.

It was extremely gratifying to have an event that brings out the community for fun, fellowship and exercise. Although the race has been in existence since 1998, it has grown significantly since 2006 raising over $100,000.00 for scholarships for Olmsted Falls' students over that five year period. It wouldn't be possible without the financial support of so many businesses from Olmsted Falls and beyond who donate money and door prizes as corporate sponsors.

In 2010, $21,000.00 in college scholarships was distributed to 42 Olmsted Falls High School graduates. To receive a scholarship, the student had to demonstrate their school and/or community spirit by the activities they were involved in during their lifetime.

Originally named the “Olmsted Spirit 5K Race/Walk” when first run in 1998, the event was renamed the “Dara Hosta Olmsted Spirit 5K Race/Walk” in 2000 in memory of the OFHS freshman who passed away after winning the 400 meter run in gym class in the Spring of 2000.

Did you walk, run or just watch the race? Did you know Dara personally? Do you know someone who received a scholarship in the past from the race? Please leave a comment on this post.

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?

The post 2011 Dara Hosta/Olmsted Spirit Race a huge success despite the rain appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

They danced to Abba's “Dancing Queen.”  The group was suppose to perform at the West Side Market but was bumped to the park so market vendors could service their Easter customers.

Have you ever seen or been in a flash mob? What was that experience like? Please leave a comment on this post.

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 and Northeast Ohio 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 Flash mob makes surprise appearance in Cleveland appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.