SEASON’S GREETINGS FROM ABOVE Santa’s tallest elf, Julia Pankhurst, greets Erin David, 3, and his mother, Rosemary, during Crocker Park’s Christmas Tree lighting Saturday in Westlake. See page 4 for more photos of the festivities. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

Dispatch group ups ante
NORTH OLMSTED — With a fresh offer from the West Shore Council of Governments to waive his city's first year fees — about $200,000, Mayor Thomas O'Grady is renewing his fight to persuade council to join the region's joint fire/paramedic dispatch program.

Beachcliff leads
River renaissance
ROCKY RIVER — Kory Koran, the city's economic development director, says the renovation of Beachcliff Market Square is “breathing new life” into the city’s eastern end.

Porter in top 10 list
of U.S. libraries
WESTLAKE — The accolades come from Hennen’s American Public Library Rankings (HAPLR), which ranks 9,092 U.S. libraries. Porter also placed second in its population category (25,000 to 49,999) this year, out of 933 libraries.

Could Rotsky be the man at St. Edward High School?
A source tells West Life exclusively that current Maple Heights coach Jeff Rotsky mat takeover the football program at St. Edward High School. Rotsky has turned around programs at both Maple Heights and Chanel, where he won a state championship.

Holmes at home in Ohio
Forget the rivalry, forget the history. When it came to playing in Cleveland, former Buckeye and current Stealer receiver Santonio Holmes needed no motivation.

‘Christmas at Aunt Ida’s’ revives the spirit of holidays past
The world-premiere production at Huntington Playhouse is based on a newspaper column written in 1993 by Dick Feagler. David Hall, then the Plain Dealer editor, was so touched by the column that he declared it would run annually at holiday time. Now, it is coming to the stage.