Fundraising effort aims to help owner of fire-damaged Rocky River auto shop: West Shore Chatter - cleveland.com

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ROCKY RIVER, Ohio – The past year has been a rough one for Gary Mason.

The longtime Rocky River businessman’s rental property caught fire about eight months ago, starting a series of misfortunes. According to reports from his daughter, Mason experienced chest pains after the fire and landed in the hospital. After undergoing triple bypass surgery, he suffered a stroke.

He’s been recovering at his daughter’s home.

“Every day is a struggle but I am rewarded with being able to spend these days with my dad, which I wouldn’t have any other way,” Nicholette Mason wrote on a GoFundMe page she started to help her father.

His latest misfortune occurred early in the morning of Feb. 12, when his longtime business, Mason Auto Body and Mechanical Repair, caught fire. The shop, at 19601 Lake Road, Rocky River, was heavily damaged. Mason worked there for the past 47 years. In addition to vintage cars, motorcycles and other items, five of Mason’s beloved pet cats were killed in the blaze. The fire was so severe that firefighters from several nearby communities had to assist Rocky River firefighters as they worked to save the historical building and prevent the flames from damaging other nearby structures. The business sits on property adjacent to a historical yellow house that once served as the showroom for the former Cowan Pottery Studio.

Nicholette Mason said her father “is devastated and heartbroken” about the fire.

“He has given so much to his community, friends and family,” she said. He had hoped to use the auto business to provide for his retirement.

“Everything he had to retire on, that he worked for all of his life, is gone right before his eyes,” she added.

Many friends, customers and others have left messages of support for Gary Mason on the GoFundMe page.

For more information or to make a donation, visit Mason’s GoFundMe page.

Tri-C COVID tests — Tri-C’s Westshore Campus in Westlake will offer drive-thru COVID-19 testing on March 4. (Cuyahoga Community College)

COVID testing: The Westshore Campus of Cuyahoga Community College will offer drive-thru COVID-19 testing on March 4 through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.

Testing begins at 11 a.m. No testing will be done after 2 p.m. It is recommended that those being tested arrive at least an hour before the site closes in order to get through the line. Testing is completed on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary.

The testing service is available to area residents as well as Tri-C students, faculty and staff. The program offers testing to people regardless of their symptom status, insurance status or ability to pay. There is no charge for the test.

A government-issued ID with name and address is required for testing. Those with health coverage are asked to bring their insurance card.

Westshore Campus is located at 31001 Clemens Road in Westlake. Testing will take place behind the Liberal Arts and Technology building.

Visit tri-c.edu/covidtest or call 216-317-1250 for more information and other testing dates at Tri-C sites. Testing appointments also can be scheduled at the Care Alliance Central Clinic, located at 2916 Central Ave. in Cleveland.

Test results are communicated to individuals by phone within approximately one week. Reporting could take longer during periods of high-volume testing.

Care Alliance is a nonprofit community health center providing critical primary and preventative medical services to residents regardless of their ability to pay. It serves the unique needs of patients at two downtown health centers and a mobile unit, as well as through outreach programming.

BHS alum Nascar — Bay High School alumnus Austin Carras works with the team that won this year’s Daytona 500. (Bay Village City Schools)

Dream fulfilled: Austin Carras, a 2012 graduate of Bay High School, had a dream of working for a Nascar team.

His dream came true this year. He works on the Michael McDowell team and on Feb. 14, they won the Daytona 500. The photo above shows Carras and the winning car.

Word power: Char Skyrock, director of teaching and learning for the Bay Village City School District, will offer a program focusing on the impact of building a child’s vocabulary through research, conversations, experiences and opportunities to ask questions.

The session, for parents of students in all age groups, will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 25.

To register, visit bayk12-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gpF4sXqXTwy9-EaVeRfqAg.

Free meal: Once again, Clague Road United Church of Christ in North Olmsted and Church of the Redeemer in Westlake are co-hosting a free grab-and-go meal on Feb. 27 at Clague Road UCC, 3650 Clague Road. Serving will begin about 4 p.m. and will continue until the food runs out. Drive to the rear door and meals will be delivered to your car. All are welcome

Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. from Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake for the West Shore Chatter 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.

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