By Bunny Lacey, Personal Assistant to Mimi Vanderhaven It seems like only yesterday I attended Fairlawn Elementary School (now Judy Resnick Learning Center). I remember walking to nearby Fairlawn Lanes with members of Girl Scout Troop 777 to earn the coveted bowling badge. Fairlawn Lanes sat empty for years, but was recently razed and in its place is the new, gorgeous home of One of A Kind Pets Rescue. I visited their new retail store and met director Dawn Pokorny, with Lincoln; and trainer Ron Shannon, with Maxine. It's a small world! On a recent visit to First & Main in Hudson, I ran into a fellow member of Troop 777, Carolyn Carr. Carolyn now manages Gracy Lane, a store featuring all things Vera Bradley. On Friday, Oct 22, I had the pleasure of seeing one of my favorite musicals, A Chorus Line, at the beautiful E.J. Thomas Hall. The performance was extra special since local dancer, Ashley Klinger, had one of the featured roles. She played Kristine – the dancer who “couldn't really sing”. A Cuyahoga Falls native and Walsh Jesuit High School graduate, she's the daughter of Rick and Carol Klinger, and granddaughter of well-known dance guru Nan Klinger. You may have seen Ashley perform locally with the Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet and Verb Ballet. After the show I joined Sophie and Francia Albrecht, and Helen Fleming, reminiscing with Ashley outside the green room. Taste of Hudson raised $40,000 this year, for a total of $175,000 over six successful years. All profits go to local, community-based organizations, including their primary beneficiary Safe Kids Coalition of Summit County. Director Andy Malitz and board president Jim Hackney credit their major sponsors, Akron Children's Hospital, Summa Hospital, Acme Fresh Market, Windstream Communications and Laurel Lake Retirement Community in making it a success. An open house at the FabShop by Cambria in Kent on Wednesday, Nov. 3, drew a veritable who's who of home improvement specialists from the area. After previewing the latest colors for 2011, we enjoyed a personalized tour of the plant led by production manager, Wayne Mayle. Guests included Bill and Cindy Staycheff (Freedom Design), Dominic and Debra Fimiani (Firenza Stone), Max Mammana, Countertop Sales and Doug Fleming, Roberts Remodeling. Just in time for the holidays! Reeve's Cake Shop, a Kenmore fixture for over 30 years, recently opened a take-out shop with cookies and cupcakes near the center of Summit Mall. Reeves built a solid reputation for gourmet custom cakes, cookies and pastry trays. Manager Julie Thomas's sister Patti is married to Rick Reeves, and her other sister Sandi is married to Ron, sons of founder, Delores Reeves. Pure Delight – a specialty cupcake store - opened Nov 2, in Merchant Square on Ghent Rd. The owner is Rachel Hough, of Norton. Flavors rotate daily, with an assortment of up to 12 different choices, including gluten-free. I loved her sweet potato cupcake with marshmallow frosting and miniature marshmallows on top. My favorite so far is the “original” – a chocolate peanut butter delight. “Hudson, Ohio,” a glossy coffee table book featuring photos of familiar places and events in Hudson is now available. It includes a collection of 100 images depicting life in Hudson through photographs. The book retails for $39.95 and is available at The Learned Owl Book Shop. All profits will be donated directly to the Hudson Community Foundation. The Hudson Economic Growth Board and the City of Hudson recently presented The Learned Owl with its 2010 Small Business of the Year award. Owner Liz Murphy was honored for maintaining the store while nearly all independent bookstores in northeast Ohio have closed. Allstate, which employs 1,350 people in Hudson, was named 2010 Large Business of the Year. On Sunday, Sept 26, Hattie Larlham hosted a Mother, Daughter, Sister, Friend Fashion Show at the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls. WKYC-TV meteorologist Betsy Kling hosted the afternoon of fashion and fun, which included the latest styles from Hudson retailers Grey Colt, b. Lux, Nicky Nicole, Coldwater Creek and Chico's. Several of the models receive help from Hattie Larlham and are developmentally disabled. They really enjoyed strutting their stuff at the event which raised almost $10,000. Be sure to check out the 8th annual Gifts from the Heart Holiday Boutique being held on Sunday, Nov 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Executive Caterers-Landerhaven, in Mayfield Hts. Your $5 admission benefits Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital, helping kids with cancer. The juried arts and crafts show will once again offer boxed sets of holiday cards designed by the children. Last year they sold out in an hour. Visit www.giftsfromtheheartboutique.com.