Locally grown sweet corn now ripe and ready at farm market

The wait is over.

Larry Secor reveals that his super sweet corn is now being picked and is available at his Secor’s Farm Market, 4940 North Ridge Road (Route 20) in Perry. Homegrown cantaloupes, potatoes, green beans and other produce are also on the market stand, while blueberries and red raspberries are abundant for those wishing to pick their own. The market is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week, but you-pick hours are shorter. It operates on a cash-only basis.

Details: 440 259-3487.

Experience Spanish, Portuguese wines

Mentor’s Heinen’s will showcase wines from Spain and Portugal in a 6:30 to 8 p.m. tasting on July 27 at the 8850 Mentor Ave. store. Twelve wines from the Iberian Peninsula will be paired with cheeses and snacks from those two countries. The cost is $15 and reservations are being accepted at 440-255-1244.

Christmas in July

Christmas decorations are up and holiday music is the backdrop for the Christmas in July promotion through July 28 at Great Harvest Bread Co., 9440 Mentor Ave. Ten local children battling life threatening illnesses will benefit from $2 customer donations to A Special Wish Cleveland. As a thank you, Great Harvest is offering a cookie and an ornament to decorate the Christmas tree in the lobby. Gift baskets, free bread and other giveaways add to the festivities.

Fondant cake decorating

Learn to make and decorate cakes with fondant, the icing used to sculpt three-dimensional decorations, in a July 31 class at the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking. Chef Rick Harrison will lead the 3-hour, handson class in which students will create and decorate their own cakes with polka dots, stripes, flowers, bows, ribbons, numbers and basic animals. Class begins at 6 p.m. and costs $75. Register: www. lpscinc.com; 440-729-1110.

Life-size cow of butter

If the July 25 to Aug. 5 Ohio State Fair is in your plans, be sure to visit the life-size butter cow and calf residing in the Dairy Products Building at Interstate 71 and 17th Street in Columbus. Joining the cow and calf this year are scenes from “A Christmas Story,” with Ralphie in his bunny suit, Randy in his snowsuit, a Christmas tree with actual sparkling lights and the leg lamp. Flick and the calf are both sticking their tongues to a pole to recreate the iconic scene from the movie.

The cow sculpted from butter is a long tradition at the state fair, originating in the early 1900s. Made from 2,200 pounds of donated butter, the sculpture is displayed in a 33-foot long refrigerated display case. Each year it takes about 400 hours to sculpt. It pays tribute to the 2,200 dairy farms in Ohio.

Trains, planes, automobiles

Mark your calendar now for a festive barbecue enjoyed among vintage airplanes set from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 9 on the Madison grounds of Pheasant Run Airport and Museum, 5782 Trask Road. Classic cars and vintage model trains will also be showcased among planes from both world wars. Sponsored by the Lake County Visitors Bureau and Excalibur Auto Body, the proceeds with benefit the LeRoy Heritage Association. Tickets are $25 and the event takes place rain or shine. Classic car owners who bring their cars can get discounted $10 tickets. Contact the Visitors Bureau at 440975-1234 for tickets and information.