The summer festival season is winding down with three popular events this weekend: the eighth annual European Festival Sept. 9 at St. Mary Magdalene Byzantine Catholic Church in Fairview Park; the Lakewood Community Festival Sept. 9 at Madison Park; and Our Lady of Angels Fall Festival Sept. 8-9 in Cleveland's West Park neighborhood.

Hundreds of people will head to St. Mary Magdalene for the European Festival 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 9. The church is at 5390 W. 220th St., Fairview Park to sample ethnic goodies including pierogis, halushki, paprikash, kielbasa and stuffed cabbage. Bakery items featured include nut roll, poppyseed roll and apricot roll.

There also will be a beer garden, wine and soft drinks available, as well as ethnic entertaining with live music and dancing. The Honky Express, a polka band, will play 6:30-10:30 p.m.

A new feature this year is a pierogi-pinching contest that will take place at 4:30 p.m. Participants must be 16 or older.

Children's activities, tours of the church and guest speakers are also included.

Visit stmarymagdalenebyzantine.org for more information.

Don't forget about the 30th annual Lakewood Community Festival 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 9 at Madison Park in Lakewood.

There will be live entertainment, old-fashioned games for children and adults, information booths, nationality foods and bakery, craft items, free books offered by the Kiwanis Club of Lakewood and more.

Call 216-529-6650 or visit onelakewood.com/event/lakewood-community-festival-3 for more information. The festival takes place rain or shine.

Our Lady of Angels Parish will host its annual Fall Festival 6-11 p.m. Sept. 8 and 2-11 p.m. Sept. 9 on the parish grounds, 3644 Rocky River Drive in West Park.

The festival will include a midway with games for all ages, a variety of foods, a beer garden and raffles of gift baskets valued at $100 each.

All-inclusive wristbands can be purchased for $15, or individual tickets are available. The rock-climbing wall will be back, there will be in inflatable obstacle course and the popular toilet bowl races will return. Participants can earn prizes by kicking a soccer ball into the goal or throwing a baseball the farthest.

The popular steak roast will be about 5 p.m. on Sept. 9 (after 4 p.m. Mass). A limited number of steaks will be grilled. Dinners are $15. There also will be pie contest with fruit and custard categories. Pies should be dropped off before 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 9; judging will take place at 5:30.

The Craic Brothers, a local Irish band, will perform beginning at 7 p.m. Sept. 8. Entertainment on Sept. 9 will be Johnny Squeeze, a polka band, followed by Westies.

New this year is a chance for youngsters to mingle with princesses and heroes 2-3:30 p.m. Sept. 9 while decorating and enjoying cookies.

There also will be a corn hole tournament on Sept. 9. Registration begins at 2 p.m. with play beginning at 3. Players must be 18 or older. Entry is $30 per team and cash prizes will be awarded to the first and second place teams. Online registration can be completed at olacougars.com/FallFestival_CornHole.html.

For more information on the festival, visit olangels.org/fall-festival-2017.

Boating safety courses: The boating season is nearing an end, but the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 7-5 is looking ahead to next year and will offer three boating safety courses 7-9:30 p.m. Sept. 13 through Nov. 15 at Garfield Middle School, 13114 Detroit Ave., Lakewood.

Boating Skills and Seamanship (powerboat oriented) is $35 plus a $30 Lakewood registration fee for residents and $40 fee for nonresidents.

Sailing Skills and Seamanship is $35 and a $30 Lakewood registration fee for residents and $40 for nonresidents. It is the only Coast Guard Auxiliary sailing course in Greater Cleveland.

The boating skills course includes classroom boat handling skills and safety training. Participants will learn boating nomenclature, how to handle boating emergencies, proper seamanship, VHF marine radio procedures, knots, engines, trailering, docking, navigation rules and aids to navigation.

The sailing course includes how a boat sails, sailboat maneuvering, rigging and boat handling.

Coast Guard Auxiliary and Ohio boating course completion certificates will be issued. Completing the courses could result in an insurance discount.

There also is a Basic Navigation (charting and GPS) class. Cost is $45 plus a $30 Lakewood registration fee; $40 for nonresidents.

Register through Lakewood Recreation Department, lakewoodrecreation.com or call 216-529-4081.

Contact V. Suda, 216-226-7221 or sudav@cox.net, with any questions.

Suda said that according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, there are 25,114 boats registered in Cuyahoga County. From 2010-2014 there were 310 accidents on Lake Erie involving 394 vessels with 119 injurie, and 22 fatalities. Total boat damages were $3,918,174 and total property damages were $201,537.

She said the state's mandatory boating education law requires boaters born on or after Jan. 1,1982, to complete a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators approved course before operating a boat with an engine of more than 10 horsepower.

Suda said those who have a paddle craft are considered boaters, also.

Fairview Park schools' Hall of Fame inductees: Congratulations to the 2017 Fairview Park City Schools Hall of Fame inductees. A dozen people were inducted during a recent ceremony.

New members of the Alumni Hall of Fame are Tudor Dimofte, Rene Hernandez, Dr. Mary Nock and Stephen Senderoff.

New members of the Athletic Hall of Fame are Pat Hoy, Jim Leffingwell, Bryan Weir and Jeremy Uzarins

And new members of the Faculty Hall of Fame are Anthony DiBiasio, Margaret Godbolt, Tom Kairis and Judi Norton

The next induction is scheduled for May 2020. Applications are being accepted for candidates from among deserving alumni, athletes and faculty/staff. Visit fairviewparkschoolshalloffame.com for nomination/donation information and updates.

Celebration of Caring Gala: Broestl & Wallis Fine Jewelers in Lakewood donated a diamond and tanzanite 14-karat white gold pendant with 12 round-cut diamonds hanging from a gold cable link chain with a blue tanzanite stone that will be raffled off at the Celebration of Caring Gala for North Coast Health.

There will be a drawing for this diamond and tanzanite pendant during the Sept. 14 Celebration of Caring Gala to benefit North Coast Health.

The event will be 6:30-9:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at Emerald Event Center, 33040 Just Imagine Drive, Avon. Tickets are $150 and include an appetizer reception, seated dinner, wine, beer, auction and raffles.

Tickets for the pendant are $25 each, three for $50 or eight for $100. Visit northcoasthealth.org/event/2017-white-gold-diamond-pendant-raffle for raffle tickets or

Nothcoasthealth.org/events/celebration2017 for gala tickets or information, or call 216-228-7878.

North Coast Health, 16110 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, was founded in 1986. A committee of concerned area residents, with the support of a coalition of churches, founded the ministry to address the needs of the medically underserved who were falling through the gaps in the health care system.

With support from volunteer doctors, nurses and other caregivers, NCH staff members provide primary health care, preventive care, chronic disease management, medical tests, specialty referrals, prescription assistance and health education to low-income individuals and families in the area. Originally, the program operated from St. John Medical Center in Westlake. A second location opened at Lakewood Hospital in 1986 and in 2003, NCH purchased and renovated its current location.

Reunion: Marge Sheridan sends word that St. Augustine Elementary School will have a reunion on Oct. 8, beginning with Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine Church, 2486 W. 14th St., Cleveland, followed by brunch. Prepaid brunch reservations are $15.

For more information or to make a reservation call Sheridan, 216-252-2514.

Marching Band Festival: Lakewood High School Ranger Marching Band will host its 31st annual Marching Band Festival on Sept. 16 at First Federal Lakewood Stadium at Bunts Road and Madison Avenue. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 6. Tickets can be purchased at the gate. Cost is $7 for adults, $5 for senior citizens, $3 for students and free for preschoolers.

In addition to the LHS band, participants will be Avon, Brush, Fairview Park, North Olmsted, Strongsville, Valley Forge and Bay high schools.

The traditional "pass and review" introduction of each band will be followed by individual field shows. The LHS band will perform last.

Concessions will be available.

Event organizers said the festival not only showcases the students' talents but also is a fundraiser the LHS band's seasonal expenses and out-of-town performances. The Ranger Marching Band will be purchasing new uniforms soon and proceeds from this event will help with those costs.

Cleveland Orchestra Music Study Group: The Fairview Park Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library will host the Cleveland Orchestra Music Study Group 1:15-2:45 p.m. on Wednesdays from Sept. 20 through Nov. 15.

Participants can explore the orchestra's concert of the week through informal lectures and guided listening. The classes, designed for both new and experienced music lovers, will be led by Rose Breckenridge, who is also a regular concert preview speaker at Severance Hall.

Pick up a mail-in registration brochure at Fairview Park Branch Library, 21225 Lorain Road.

For more information about music study groups, call the orchestra's education and community programs office at (216) 231-7355 or visit clevelandorchestra.com to register (fee required).

The program is presented by The Cleveland Orchestra in partnership with Cuyahoga County Public Library and Friends of Fairview Park Branch with support from Friends of The Cleveland Orchestra (formerly known as Women's Committee of The Cleveland Orchestra) and other donors to the orchestra's education programs.

Concert series: LakewoodAlive's free Front Porch Concert Series continues 7-9 p.m. Sept. 8 on the front porch of Lakewood Public Library, 15425 Detroit Ave. with the Havana Nights Orchestra offering music with a Cuban flair and salsa style. In case of inclement weather, the concert will move into the library's auditorium.

The 11-week summer concert series ends on Sept.15.

This is the seventh year for the popular concerts. Attendees should bring a blanket or lawn chair and snacks.

Visit LakewoodAlive.org/FrontPorchConcerts for more information.

NEOPC explores recycling: Members and guests of the Northeast Ohio Personal Computers group will look at recycling, including e-cycling, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, Westlake.

The program will look at how and where to discard old electronics responsibly. Kathleen Rocco, educator at the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, will speak on "Recycling: Curbside and Beyond," looking at the five categories of materials mixed for collection: cans, cartons, glass, paper and boxes and plastic bottles, jars, jugs and tubs.

Refreshments are at 6:30 p.m., with the program at 7. Visit neopc.org for more information.

Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. in Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted and West Park for the A Place in the Sun column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com.