LORAIN COUNTY’S MAGAZINE September 2022 | Volume 15, Issue 3 How local programs offer the tools workers need OurBuildingWorkforce INSIDE 2022 Best of LorainFinalistsCounty
www.pulselorainmag.com 3 CREDIT Departments 4 FROM THE EDITOR 6 COUNTY LINE Find out how the Connect to a Cause event raises money for the community. 8 CATALYST Lorain County’s business and manufacturing sectors get a boost. 10 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT A new Labor Day race spotlights veterans’ issues. 12 DINING A new Lorain restaurant offers popular comfort food options. 22 SNAPSHOT A 250-pound walleye sculpture reminds us about the importance of recycling. contents Feature 14 TODAY’SFILLING JOBS Learn more about programs designed to break the barriers that keep potential workers from getting jobs. 18 BEST OF FINALISTSCOUNTYLORAIN Check out which favorites made the list this year and mark your calendar for the September event. ORAIN 148 12 22 COUNTY PROJECT MANAGER COREY GALLOWAY PRODUCTION MANAGER JENNIFER ROBERTS ASSOCIATEMANAGERPRODUCTION ALYSON MOUTZ COWAN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Karen Beis and Linda Feagler CONTRIBUTING ARTIST David Schwartz ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Julie Bialowas, Sarah Desmond and Tiffany Myroniak PARTNERS & ADVISORY COMMITTEE American Oncology Network LLC Community Foundation Lorain County Lorain County Board of Commissioners Lorain County Chamber of Commerce Lorain County Community College Lorain County JVS CLEVELAND MAGAZINE OHIO MAGAZINE LAKE ERIE LIVING BRANDED CONTENT DEVELOPMENT DIGITAL MARKETING 1422 Euclid Ave., Suite 730 Cleveland, OH glpublishing.com216-377-369344115 For more information about how GLP can assist you with your communications needs, email klein@glpublishing.com. PUBLISHER ■ PAUL klein@glpublishing.comKLEIN EDITOR ■ JENNIFER BOWEN bowensima@glpublishing.comSIMA ART DIRECTOR ■ RAYANNE rmedford@glpublishing.comMEDFORD
4 pu L se ■ VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 3 MULLERIC EDITORTHEFROM LORAIN COUNTY CHAMBER upcoming events For more information on all events go to loraincountychamber.com or follow us on Facebook. FocusWeekForward SEPT. 12-16 MonthManufacturingKick-off OCT. 7 Business to Business Expo NOV. 3 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER
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The Community Foundation of Lorain County connects with causes.
By Linda Feagler
For more than four decades, the Community Foundation of Lorain County has made dreams come true. That calling will once again be showcased during Connect to a Cause, the foundation’s third annual, 12-hour crowdfunding campaign that takes place Sept. 15 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. “How often do you get to write one check and offer so much support to so many nonprofits in one day?” says Community Foundation of Lorain County president and CEO Cynthia Andrews. “We’re so fortunate to be a part of such a giving com munity. Sometimes, people feel like they need to have a million dollars to connect to the Community Founda tion. But they don’t. They can have $5, or they can have $20. They can donate online or stop by our office with cash or a check. Everyone is welcome to join us. It’s a feel-good day across Lorain County.” In 2020, more than 1,000 individ uals raised $148,000, plus a $40,000 match, for a total of $188,000 for 56 Lorain County nonprofit organizations. Last year’s fete raised more than $277,000 for 65 nonprofits. For this year’s campaign, the list of organizations has grown to 74. Clearly, says Brittany Lovett, the foundation’s marketing and communications officer, the need is never-ending.“We’reastory that’s changing every day,” she says. “We’ve heard from so many nonprofits. Some had to cancel fundraising events due to COVID-19. Others are struggling to keep the lights on. For them, Connect to a Cause is the only fundraiser in which they’re participating for the year. It’s a time when we want to rally and highlight the positive initiatives going on in our community.”
Connecting the Community
Laura Malone, the foundation’s development director, credits the Business Champions with being a crucial compo nent to the appeal’s success. Each is invited to participate at the $1,000, $3,000 or $5,000 levels. Last year, community leaders assisted the foundation with creating a $43,000 prize pool for the nonprofits that were taking part in Connect to a Cause. Part of the money was put toward an 18% match for every dollar they raised. Several individual cash awards were also distributed during the event to help keep the nonprofits energized.
“It’s a time whenwe want to rallyand highlightthe community.”goinginitiativespositiveoninour
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“We’ve elected to call them Business Champions for a reason,” Malone says. “They’re invaluable for the value they provide to our community and the support they give to local nonprofits. Many of the businesses that participate are located in Lorain County, and many have staff and employees who also lend a hand during the day’s events.”
“Think about what matters to you and your family,” she suggests. “What’s your story? All of us have one that’s filled with life experiences. No matter the narrative, there’s a cause here that will matter to you.” peoplewhocare.org/c2c2022
The poignancy of Connect to a Cause is not lost on Lovett, who offers advice to potential donors having a difficult time choosing which organization to support.
Connect to a Cause will feature four virtual Power Hours in which leaders of participating nonprofits discuss the instrumental roles their respective organizations play in arts and culture, education and youth development, health and human services and strengthening Lorain County. Following each presentation, viewers will have the opportunity to donate to organizations to which they relate. Nonprofits receiving the most individual donations will be eligible for a bonus from local businesses that are supporters.
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– Brittany Lovett
September 15 2022 8am-8pm peoplewhocare.org Sept. 15, 8:00am-8:00pm2022 Scan the QR Code with your phone to learn more about Connect to a Cause Connect to a Cause Connect to a Cause is a 12-hr crowdfunding campaign established by the Community Foundation of Lorain County to help local non-profit organizations fundraise. C2C is on Thursday, September 15th, from 8 am-8 pm. Which organizations are YOU going to support?
By Linda Feagler When it comes to attracting new business and preparing workers to enter the job market, Lorain County has become a proven leader.
Bringing in Business
To Tony Gallo, president of the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, the announcement is a shining example of tried-and-true teamwork between a trio of cities and their leaders.
The Ford Motor Co., DeWine-Husted Administration, Ohio Department of Development, city of Avon Lake, Lorain County, state and local elected officials and Ohio’s Congressional delegation collaborated with JobsOhio to bring the project to Lorain County. JobsOhio, the state’s private nonprofit economic development corporation, has placed significant focus on supporting the automotive supply chain as original equipment manufacturers have begun to place a major focus on electric vehi cle“Theproduction.harderwe work with Team NEO and JobsOhio, the more dollars will come [back] to Lorain County,” Gallo says. “Ultimately, we need to get these folks into the workforce again, and they want to be there.”
“The plant sits in three different cities — Avon Lake, Sheffield Village and Sheffield Lake,” he explains. “I credit the cooperation between the three cities and their three mayors — Gregory Zilka of Avon Lake, Dennis Bring of Sheffield Lake and John D. Hunter of Sheffield Village — to making this happen. Not only does the expansion benefit their communities, it also benefits Lorain, Elyria and other nearby cities.” Gallo adds that the county’s repu tation as a leader in manufacturing precedes it when it comes to welcom ing new opportunities.
To support the Avon Lake Ford ex pansion, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority will consider a tax credit, and JobsOhio plans to provide grant assistance.
A case in point: In June, Ford Motor Co. announced that the auto manufac turer is investing $1.5 billion into Lorain County at the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake to assemble an all-new commercial electric vehicle (EV). The investment will create 1,800 new hourly jobs. The new expanded facility will continue to produce Ford’s E-series van, medium-duty trucks and super duty chassis cabs.
“The ingenuity and talent of Ohio’s automotive workforce are second to none, and Ford’s investment in Avon Lake will play an essential role in grow ing the EV space,” said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in a statement about Ford’s commitment to the county. “Ford has been a partner in Ohio for generations, and its confidence in the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant operations secures EV operations in Lorain County that will be critical for decades to come.”
“During Manufacturing Month, we’ve been talking about what electric vehicles are going to mean to our local manufacturers, because we have a lot of Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive suppliers,” he says. “When you go from a gas-powered engine to an electric one, the parts aren’t the same. They’ve been preparing for this technology for the last four or five years. Ford is not going to put $1.5 billion dollars into a temporary plant. The additional jobs and what that’s going to mean here locally is vital. It’s proof that Lorain County is part of the automotive superhighway from Detroit on down. And it shows that we have a workforce that comes to work, that’s willing to work and willing to be retrained to do something new. That’s key.”
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“The ingenuity and talent of Ohio’s automotive workforce are second to none, and Ford’s investment in Avon Lake will play an essential role in growing the EV space.”
– Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine
Lorain County is continuing to stand out as a place for new jobs, including ones coming from Ford.
“Last year, we provided $940,000 in financial assistance to the veterans of the county. That puts us in the elite of the state as far as financially assisting veterans,” says Lorain County Veterans Service Executive Director Jacob Smith, a former Army artilleryman whose 2000 to 2004 term-of service included 15 months in Iraq. “If there’s a way we can help a veteran, we do everything we can to do so. In many cases, what we do here helps save their life.”
The Lorain County Veterans Service Commission is hosting the first-annual Race to End Veterans Suicide (REVS) 22K, which begins at 7:30 a.m.; and a 2.2-mile run-walk-ruck that starts at 9 a.m. All participants will receive a T-shirt and finisher medal, and proceeds will be donated to the nonprofit Emergency Veterans Support of Lorain County. The date also coincides with National Suicide Prevention Week, which takes place Sept. 4 through Dedicated10.to delivering help and information to veterans and their dependents and survivors, the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission provides transportation to VA medical appointments; helps with filing claims for financial assistance and benefits related to term of service; and recommends resources for mental health issues and employment opportunities.
Lorain County’s Labor Day Festival, which will be held on Sept. 4 at Black River Landing in Lorain, will feature food from local vendors and live music. But the fete will also be a time to remember those whose service to their country was fraught with life-ending despair after returning home.
– Jacob Smith
“REVS will give our county a chance to shine,” he says, “and will serve as the spark plug for years to come.”
By Linda Feagler Run for Lives
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The Navy veteran, who served as the female aircraft director on the flight deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt during the first attacks in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom, understands the benefits movement brings.
The Race to End Veterans Suicide (REVS) 22K focuses on veterans support.
“If there’s a way we can help a veteran, we do everything we can to do so. In many cases, what we do here helps save their life.”
“After leaving the service, I came to Cleveland where my husband is from, started a family and began attending college,” says Mayer, who participates in races that include the Cleveland Marathon. “It was a difficult transition, and running became an important stress-relieving outlet for me.”
For more information about the REVS events, visit loraincountyveterans.com and click on “Events.”
That includes focusing attention on suicide prevention. According to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, approximately 22 former members of the armed forces, on average, end their lives every day. Accord ing to statistics listed on the Ohio Veteran Suicide Data Sheet, 257 Ohioans were among those casualties in 2019.
ENTERTAINMENT&ARTS
Lorain County Veterans Service Commission Service Officer Krystol Mayer helped launch the idea for the REVS Labor Day initiative in Lorain.
“Veterans are more likely to commit suicide than their civilian counterparts,” Smith says. “Some take their own life because of personal issues. For others, it’s related to their time in service. Many see it as the only way out because they don’t see a solution to the problems they’re facing. It’s a real issue the VA is attempting to address. We hope the REVS events will raise awareness that assistance is available and that people do care about them.”
Garry Gibbs, director of the Lorain County Visitors Bureau, hopes the 22K and 2.2-mile run-walk-ruck will become an annual event that will not only promote suicide prevention but also bring casualty numbers down.
Here to Help
On Oct. 27, the LCADA Way will hold Pearls of Wisdom, its annual benefit and recognition dinner, at Embassy Suites Rockside in Independence. The keynote speaker for the evening is Dr. Drew Pinsky. For 25 years, Pinsky served as program medical director of the chemical dependency unit at Las Encinas Hospital, an acute inpatient psychiatric facility in Pasadena, California. Board-certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine, he has been an assistant clinical professor at the University of Southern California School of Medicine in the department of psychiatry. Known nationally as “Dr. Drew,” Pinsky is the author of Cracked: Putting Broken Lives Together Again and hosts a number of stream ing shows and podcasts on drdrew.com.
WAYLCADACOURTESY
“Unfortunately, we’ve gotten to the point where everyone knows someone who’s struggling with addiction,” Pinsky says. “One of the reasons I became interested in addiction is that it became clear to me some time ago that this is the medical problem of our time. This country, in particular, has a deficit in resources for mental health treat ment, and we have an extraordinary amount of people coming out of their childhood with trauma. We have a spiritual malady in this country that’s showing itself through the disease of “LCADAaddiction.istheshining beacon of light in a pretty dark landscape,” he adds. “It’s gratifying to see the community support this worthwhile organization.”
Dr. Drew Pinsky will share his insights during the Pearls of Wisdom annual event.
“The LCADA Way is for anyone who needs it,” says Joe Matuscak, the organization’s director of marketing, development and communications. “We’re here to help.”
People in all stages and ages of life struggling with addiction know they have a friend at the LCADA Way. Since 1981, the nonprofit orga nization has delivered customized approaches for treatment to men, women and adolescents in Lorain, Medina, Erie and Cuyahoga counties and surrounding communities.
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By Linda Feagler
For more information or to purchase tickets for Pearls of Wisdom, call 440-989-4919 or thelcadaway.org/eventsvisit
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By Linda Feagler
Smith, who hails from Delaware, Ohio, received a scholarship to Kent State University and moved north with the intention of earning a bach elor’s degree in dance. But fate had other plans. After being sidelined with an injury, she began cooking at home for friends and neighbors. They urged her to take her talents seriously and open her own restaurant.
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While her friends were glued to the Cartoon Network, 5-year-old DaShon da Smith and her grandmother avidly watched the Food Network. The pair admired the culinary artistry of the shows hosted by Paula Deen, Emeril Lagasse and Rachael Ray, and were captivated by the baking segments. “It fascinated me to see how you could take such small ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, water and vanilla and transform them into a cake, cobbler or crumble,” Smith, 27, recalls. “I thought, ‘Wow, this is great. I have to try this,’”
The youngster readily shared her homemade treats — ranging from art fully iced cupcakes stuffed with cream cheese to chocolate-covered pretzels and strawberries — with eager classmates. By the time she was a teenager, Smith had learned the nuances of cooking veg etables from her mom and graduated to making dinners that were ready when her parents returned home from work. Her specialties included pasta dishes and citrus thyme chicken, as well as a mean alfredo sauce made from scratch with heavy whipping cream. It didn’t take long for her to upgrade to being in charge of cooking her family’s Thanks giving and Christmas feasts. “It gave me a sense of knowing that they supported what I did — and loved the food itself,” she says. “Each was a home-cooked meal always made with love and a sprinkle of Jesus.” That mantra is clearly in evidence at Dishes by DaShonda, the restaurant she opened last September in Lorain.
The eatery features a tempting menu available for dine-in, carryout or delivery. Smith’s parents, sisters and grandmother lend a hand to make sure everything runs smoothly. The bill of A new Lorain restaurant lets the owner explore her talents.
Southern Fried Catfish: DaShonda Smith estimates that not a day goes by when at least 10 people don’t ask for this delectable specialty. The secret to its success: Smith’s fresh lemon-pepper seasoning. “Many cooks don’t use that in catfish,” she says. “But I believe the lemon gives the fish a special burst of freshness. We also fry the fish in a cornmeal and flour mixture so it’s crispy and crunchy on the outside, but still soft and tender on the inside.”
www.pulselorainmag.com 13 fare, which the owner describes as “meals for the soul,” changes weekly and includes generous portions of African American, Mexican and Carib bean favorites. “I love seeing my customers walk away with what they love the most,” sheThesays.Smith family also plans, caters and finds venues for special events that include themed bridal and baby showers. “My mom loves decorating, and I also fell in love with the matchy themes and bringing people’s visions to life,” she says. Although the restaurateur loves where life has led her, she hasn’t aban doned her ardor for dance or the goal of earning a bachelor’s degree in the subject from Kent State University. “I want to someday be able to teach kids how to find their passion,” she says. “With cooking and dance under my belt, it might be both.” 2428 Elyria Ave., Lorain, facebook.com/Dishes.By.DaShonda614-596-3874,
Caramel Brownie-Loaded Cheesecake: This irresistible dessert is oven-baked for 45 minutes before being topped with a whole pan of milk chocolate brownies and drenched in caramel sauce. The secret to its success: “When you take a bite, you get a bite of everything. It’s like a party in your mouth.”
Birria Tacos: The mouthwatering tortilla is comprised of a corn shell taco stuffed with quesadilla cheese and slow-cooked beef or chicken. The secret to its success: Authentic Mexican chiles. “We make them with Guajillo chilies, which is a level 4 spice on a scale of 5. It gives the Birria a kick of flavor and heat, which is so delicious because it is seasoned to a T.”
FAN FAVORITES
Connecting them to potential em ployers is at the forefront of Caldwell’s work. Before sending clients out on job interviews, she makes sure they’re ready to reenter the workforce. Some are recovering from substance abuses that involve alcohol or the recent surge in opioid addiction that put a blemish on their employment record. Others must learn how to reenter society after being serving time in prison. They are, she adds, from all walks of life, and no profession is immune.
Wendy Caldwell, executive director of Place to Recover (P2R) in Elyria, understands the rough the road ahead for people in recovery and those recently released from incar ceration. In 2000, the former parole program specialist with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction founded P2R, a nonprofit training and resource center that provides a safe place where under served and marginalized populations can receive wraparound services.
The executive director recommends resources that will help people achieve stability and, after proving they’ve achieved sobriety for 90 days, they turn to Caldwell to help them put their life back together. During her first year of operation, she assisted 217 clients with making a fresh start. “We focus on attitude, aptitude and attendance,” she says. “The people who come to P2R must have a desire to change their behavior and have things in place that will help them maintain a sober lifestyle. You need that in order to be successful at any job.” Caldwell and her team help poten tial jobseekers sharpen their computer
JobsToday’sFilling
Above all, no one is turned away.
ransportation. Child care. Finding a new career. Reentering the job market after facing struggles many of us can’t imagine. Lorain County organizations and employers have banded together to strengthen and engage the workforce in ways that work for everyone.
ByFeaglerLinda
Recovering and Reentering the Workforce
P2R Training and Resource Center Inc. helps those in recovery or recently released from incarceration.
Lorain County organizations are working to break down the barriers preventing people from joining the workforce.
T
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“One of our guiding principles is to help individuals recover from all of life’s circumstances through strength-based case management, evidence-based programming and mentorship leading to a better quality of life,” she says. “We tell our clients it won’t be easy but it’ll be worth it.”
“The Shared Mobility Transporta tion Pilot Project program has helped us touch base with a population we Statistics show that a person who’s in long-term recovery is a valuable employee who has a sense of gratitude that makes them work harder than their counterparts.younger www.pulselorainmag.com
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The solution is in sight. Launched in January, the Shared Mobility Transportation Pilot Project provides van transportation to employees living in Lorain and Elyria who work at Thogus Products and Avient Corp. in Avon Lake. The transportation service uses software from the Columbus-based Share Mobility platform and is connected to vehicles provided by LifeCare and Safe and Reliable for all shifts. Employees can sign up on a tablet or smartphone and meet their ride at a centralized location close to their home. During the pilot project, the service is being offered for free and is provided in partnership with organizations that to recovery for those struggling with addiction and mental health issues. For the LCADA Way President and CEO Dan Haight, his chosen profession is more than a job. It’s his passion. “Every time I see somebody return to our center and ask them why they’ve returned, the answer is often that they couldn’t find employment,” he says. “Sometimes, they’re laborers who developed backaches and began taking pain medications that became addictive, or perhaps it’s a nurse who lost her license and can’t return to the career she had before.”
To launch the project, a heat map was created that depicted the neigh borhoods where existing Thogus and Avient employees reside. Currently, seven workers use the service to travel to jobs at both manufacturing firms.
The LifeCare vans and Safe and Reliable buses help workers find affordable transportation to the workplace.
SCHWARTZDAVID
“Statistics show that a person who’s in long-term recovery is a valuable employee who has a sense of gratitude that makes them work harder than their younger counterparts,” she says. “We’re proving that data is true.”
The conundrum is one Lorain County has been grappling with long before the word “pandemic” became part of our vocabulary: How do residents travel to other parts of the county to get to work when they don’t live on fixed bus routes?
Since 1981, Lorain County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services Inc. (LCADA) has delivered customized approaches Being Able to Get to Work
The LCADA Way’s Vocational Rehabilitation program is dedicated to helping clients find sustainable employ ment and eliminate barriers to it that often include transportation, clothing, earning a GED or passing a driving test. Haight has also joined forces with the Lorain County Manufacturing Sector Partnership — a network of manufac turing companies working together to promote manufacturing and grow a include United Way of Greater Lorain County, Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, OhioMeansJobs and MOVE Lorain County. Beginning in September, riders will pay $2 per trip. “The service is something we’ve all been talking about for awhile,” says Ryan Aroney, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Lorain County. “It essentially operates like Uber or Lyft, activating idle vehicles in the commu nity to pick up people needing to get to work. The idea is to do that efficiently skilled workforce — to identify what he calls “recovery-friendly workplaces.
“Employers know that candidates are probably going to pass the drug test,” Haight says. “But they worry so much about background checks. And if it comes back [less that stellar], the employee won’t be hired. It’s time for employers to overlook that and say, ‘I need widgets made. I’ve got somebody who can pass a drug test. I know they’re working with LCADA and are in recovery. Let’s give them a chance.’” through routes so that the vans fill with people who live in the same neighbor hoods and travel to employers who are in close proximity of each other.”
skills, provide appropriate clothing when needed and feel at ease with the interview process.
“The individuals we see range in age from 34 to 55,” she says. “They’ve had success and wins in life, but have lost their way or gotten into a lifestyle of criminal behavior that has taken them away from the morals of society. As a result, they need to be retrained. relearned and reeducated on how to conduct themselves properly on the job. Our goal is to walk beside them so they’re never alone on this journey.” Since 2020, 15 employers have reached out to Caldwell, asking for re ferrals. She’s grateful for their support.
16 pu L se ■ VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 3 ISTOCK wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach,” says Erin Hlaven, director of human resources at Thogus. “It removes the barriers of folks being late or calling off because they don’t have a ride to Hlavinwork.” adds that shared trans portation also reduces the carbon footprint, which makes it a win-winwin for the employer, employee and theAroneyenvironment.applauds the way Thogus and Avient have stepped up to the plate to make the program a success.
“The process of working with the manufacturing companies has been heartwarming,” says Aroney. “And I choose that phrase carefully. They were deemed essential through the pandemic and their businesses are successful — and yet they’re losing money every moment they don’t have people to fill jobs they have open.
The Shared Mobility Transportation Pilot Project concludes at the end of August, but Mike Longo, director of the Lorain County Workforce Devel opment Agency — the organization that provides oversight to OhioMeans Jobs in Lorain County — explains plans are in the works to ensure the transpor tation continues. Known for providing services to employers and job seekers, OhioMeansJobs manages a program in which companies become eligible to receive funding for on-the-job training dollars. Thogus has committed to using the funding to find transportation solutions for employees.
For women returning or preparing to return to the workforce, finding stellar child care often heads their list of stressors. Jennifer Dodge, executive director of the nonprofit Child Care Resource Center in Lorain, has made it her mission to ease that burden. The center offers myriad ways to help families connect with the child care programs tailor-made for their situation and location.
“Oftentimes, we find families need many services other than child care,” Dodge says. “So we create plans that provide them resources that can connect them to what they need, including funds, to bolster them.” Free services for everyone, regard less of income, include a 24/7 online database; a parent hotline phone referral service that helps families find care that meets early leaning options; and help from parent and community services. Dodge admits COVID-19 has made the search for quality care a challenge. A shortage of personnel in the child care community has forced many centers to close because they couldn’t meet the required staff-tochild ratio. Compounding the issue is the fact that mothers who have gotten used to working at home for
helpedTransportationSharedTheMobilityPilotProjectprogramhasustouchbasewithapopulationwewouldn’totherwisebeabletoreach.
Addressing the Need for Child Care
There’s an urgency to those companies to fill those jobs. And with that urgency, they’ve started to think outside of the box in terms of how to fill those jobs. But they’re doing it with empathy, seeing an opportunity to not only fill open positions, but also do it in a way that transforms our community, that reaches into neighborhoods that have a higher poverty level, and gives access to living-wage jobs to people who might not otherwise have that access.”
“We’re seeing interest from other employers who have heard about the project,” Longo says. “As long as they see that it’s a means to attract qualified employees, I don’t see why they would want it to end.”
Sharon Pearson, one of the founders of MOVE Lorain County — an advocate for mobility solutions that improve the economy and quality of life for residents — serves as Lorain County’s mobility manager based out of United Way of Greater Lorain County. Pearson works with civic leaders to increase awareness of transportation options. She collects transportation data, coordinates educational training programs and develops pilot projects designed to improve unmet needs and gaps in transportation services. “Employers need to look at transportation as a benefit, not an afterthought,” Pearson says. “The reason is that younger workers want to move where they have transporta tion options. In order to get people to work, to school, to child care or to the grocery store, Lorain County needs transportation. When you strip it all away, that’s the key to everything.”
“Child care has been identified as one of the top three barriers employers face when they’re either recruiting new employees or maintaining them,” she says. “We’re connecting directly with businesses to say, ‘There might be a child care center 10 miles down the road. What you need is to [honor] the heightened expectation of child care being near your site or on it, or purchase slots in one. It’s time to take it to the next level and say to your employees, ‘We know your family is super important. They’re important to us, too, because [that philosophy] will make you a happy employee.’ This is what we need to start focusing on.”
“Employees know they can be just as productive at home as in the office because they’ve had to do it,” Dodge says. “The employer is now trying to catch up with that way of thinking. Some have embraced the idea of not requiring their staff to be in the office, and others have nixed the environment completely or have offered hybrid situations.”
The Child Care Resource Center is working with the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce to define where child care deserts exist and find ways to eliminate them.
www.pulselorainmag.com the last several years are reluctant to leave their children. “I liken it to the day when I took my infant daughter to day care for the first time,” Dodge recalls. “That first week was traumatic. We’ve had babies born during this pandemic who are already recognized, through screening tools, to have less language capacity because they did not have the socialized experiences most children learn in school. Employers are also grappling with what to do.” Dodge sees a shift in the way many businesses are designing the work day. She hopes they’ll also address the Child Care Resource Center’s new initiative to help ease the transition: Dodge and her team are meeting with local employers to encourage them to think about innovative ways to solve the child care dilemma.
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Lorain County Community College (LCCC) is at the forefront of helping job seekers find new careers through training and placement that benefits local businesses and leads to job growth. Through the Training Recruit ment Acceleration Innovation Network of Ohio Learn and Earn program, LCCC and local companies have created pathways to early hands-on experience and on-the-job training in high-demand and high-skill industries.
Students enrolled in the Earn & Learn program earn a certificate or associate or bachelor’s degree in fields that include automation engineering technologies, CISS software development, cyber and information systems, digital fabrication data, analytics, blockchain and Micro Electromechanical Systems (MEMS).
Students attend college full time, two days a week and work at a sponsoring company three days a week. During the program, they earn a livable wage while completing their education and gain early exposure to the hiring process, including creating a resume and job searching, interview ing and employability skills. “We keep employers at the table throughout the entire program and get their feedback on these degrees,” says Courtney Tenhover, LCCC’s Earn & Learn program developer. “This ensures we’re producing students with the knowledge and skills employers need. We’re also building those important personal student-to-employer connections to make sure it’s the right fit.”
Child care has been identified as one of the top three barriers employers face when they’re either recruiting new employees or maintaining them.
We reach out to human resources managers to understand the kind of positions they are looking to fill and their ability to hire workers.student Lorain County Community College's Earn & Learn program helps jobseekers access training to become qualified for new jobs.
“We reach out to human resources managers to understand the kind of positions they are looking to fill and their ability to hire student workers,” says Kelly Zelesnik, dean of LCCC’s Engineering, Business and Information Technologies Division. “Then, we work with our faculty to embed work-based learning as a requirement to graduate.”
Getting TrainingtheThey Need
BESTOF LO R AINCOUNTY
Lorain County boasts a wealth of dining options, shopping destinations, fun things to do and services that impact our lives. These finalists were the top vote getters in their categories and will vie for the best of the best honors for this year. Find out which of your favorites will vie for this year’s top honors.
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Finalists
FOOD Restaurant • Bistro 83, North Ridgeville • The Feve, Oberlin • Strip Steakhouse, Avon Fine Dining • Strip Steakhouse, Avon • Dodie’s Dockside, Lorain • 1833 Restaurant, Oberlin Casual Dining • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • The Feve, Oberlin • Ziggy’s Pub & Restaurant, Amherst Patio • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Lorenzo’s Pizzeria, Oberlin • The Brew Kettle, Amherst Sunday Brunch • The Feve, Oberlin • Foundry Kitchen and Bar, Elyria • Union Town Provisions, Lorain Family Dining • Blue Sky Restaurant, Multiple Locations • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Mutt and Jeff’s Restaurant & Bar, Lorain Bar Food • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Ziggy’s Pub & Restaurant, Amherst • Bar Nova, Avon Cheap Eats • Hot Dog Heaven, Amherst • Blue Sky Restaurant, Multiple Locations • ZZ’s Big Top, Avon Steak • Strip Steakhouse, Avon • Bistro 83, North Ridgeville • Diso’s Bistro, Lorain Italian • Nino’s Italian Restaurant, North Ridgeville • Sorrento Ristorante & Pizzeria, Sheffield • Fratello’s, Avon Lake Latin • Papasitos and Beer Mexican Grill, Lorain • El Kefon, Lorain • Lupita’s Restaurant,MexicanOberlin Asian • ThiNi Thai, Oberlin • Pine Garden Restaurant, Lorain • Golden Crown, Amherst Ribs • Moosehead BBQ Grill, Amherst • Uncle Bo’s SmokehouseSlow-n-LowBBQ,Elyria • Mutt and Jeff’s Restaurant & Bar, Lorain Burger • The Feve, Oberlin • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Bistro 83, North Ridgeville Appetizers • Bistro 83, North Ridgeville • Mutt and Jeff’s Restaurant & Bar, Lorain • Foundry Kitchen and Bar, Elyria Wings • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • ZZ’s Big Top, Avon • Ziggy’s Pub & Restaurant, Amherst Sandwich • The Feve, Oberlin • The Arb at Tappan Square, Oberlin • The Brew Kettle, Amherst Burrito • Fiesta Jalapeños, North Ridgeville • Don Tequila Bar & Grill, Amherst Pizza • Neechi’s Pizza, Avon • Lorenzo’s Pizzeria, Oberlin • Yala’s Pizza, Lorain Donuts • Expresso Bakery, Elyria • Kiedrowski’s Bakery, Amherst • Marta’s N More Bakery, Lorain Coffee • Slow Train Cafe, Oberlin • Arabica Coffee Bistro, Amherst • Check Please Cafe, Grafton Desserts • Little Devil Cupcakery, Amherst • Cakes by the Lake, Lorain • Blue Sky Restaurant, Multiple Locations Chocolate • Susan L. Chocolatier, Multiple Locations • Gibson’s Bakery, Oberlin Ice Cream • Cowhaus Creamery, Elyria • Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream, Avon • Twist-n-Shake, Elyria Wine Shop • Wine Room, Avon • Giuseppe’s Wine Cellar, Amherst Deli • Your Deli, Amherst • Fligner’s Market, Lorain • Rubin’s Deli & Restaurant, Elyria Pastry Shop • Little Devil Cupcakery, Amherst • Kiedrowski’s, Amherst • Cakes by the Lake, Lorain Fish Fry • American Slovak Club, Lorain • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Tom’s Country Place, Avon Caterer • Conferencing & Dining Services, Lorain County
Community College, Elyria • Crow’s Catering, Amherst • Fligner’s Market, Lorain Sushi • Jin House, Amherst • Mandarin Restaurant,ChineseOberlin • Fujiyama Restaurant,Japanese Avon Healthy Menu • Fresco Bistro, Lorain • Aladdin’s Eatery, Oberlin • Fresh Planet, Avon ENTERTAINMENT Sports Bar • Ziggy’s Pub & Restaurant, Amherst • Game On Lorain, Lorain • Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria Happy Hour • Bistro 83, North Ridgeville • Speak of the Devil, Lorain • ZZ’s Big Top, Avon Local Festival • North Ridgeville Corn Festival, North Ridgeville • Woollybear Festival, Vermilion • Lorain International Festival, Lorain JOIN US! Sept. 15 6-9 p.m. SpitzerCenterConferenceGoto pulselorainmag.com/bolc for information.ticket
SPONSORED BY: Join us at Spitzer Conference Center this Fall to celebrate everything you love about Lorain County at the SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 2022 BEST OF LORAIN COUNTY PARTY Get the latest info on purchasing tickets, entertainment, vendors and more pulselorainmag.com/BOLC
20 pu L se ■ VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 3 Winery • John Christ Winery, Avon Lake • Klingshirn Winery, Avon Lake Theater • Apollo Theatre, Oberlin • Lorain Palace Theater, Lorain • Stocker Arts Center (LCCC), Elyria Charitable Event • The LCADA Way Pearls of Wisdom Benefit and Recognition Dinner, Lorain • Blessing House Rock-a-Bye Ball, Lorain • North Ridgeville Community Care Soup for the Spirit, North Ridgeville SHOPPING Florist • Off Broadway Floral & Gift, Lorain • Puffers Floral Shoppe, Elyria • Zelek Flower Shop, Lorain Garden Center • Pandy’s Garden Center, Elyria • Pinehaven Garden Center and Greenhouses, Avon • Don Mould’s Plantation Garden Center & Nursery, Multiple Locations Beer Selection • The Brew Kettle, Amherst • Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Beerhead Bar & Eatery, Avon Book Store • Ben Franklin, Oberlin • MindFair Books, Oberlin • Central Book Store, Amherst Jeweler • Elyria Jewelers & Repair, Elyria • Vandemark Jewelers, Elyria • Peter & Co. Jewelers, Avon Lake Shopping Area • Avon Commons, Avon • Downtown Oberlin, Oberlin • Main Street Amherst, Amherst Boutique • Dollhouse Boutique, Amherst • Truly Simple Boutique, Wellington • Solene Boutique, Avon Farmers Market • Vermilion Farm Market, Vermilion • Oberlin Farmers Market, Oberlin • Fitch’s Farm Market, Avon Gallery • Ginko Gallery & Studio, Oberlin • FAVA, Oberlin • Beth K. Stocker Art Gallery (LCCC), Elyria HEALTH Fitness Center • Burn Boot Camp, Avon Lake • Grafton Barbell Club, Grafton • UH Avon Fitness Center, Avon Fitness Trail • Black River ReservationBur Oak, Elyria • French Creek Reservation, Sheffield • Sandy Ridge Reservation, North Ridgeville Senior Living • Kendal at Oberlin, Oberlin • Sprenger Health Care Systems, Multiple Locations • Kingston of Vermilion, Vermilion Yoga Studio • The Hive, Elyria • Solaluna Yoga, Oberlin • Simply Yoga, Wellington Healthy Food Selection • Heinen’s Grocery Store, Avon • Café Melissa, Avon Lake • Aladdin’s Eatery, Oberlin SERVICES Mani-Pedi • Headquarters Salon & Spa, Lorain • Adeva Salon and Spa, Oberlin • Exhale Spa at UH Avon Health Center, Avon GRAFTON BARBELL BIG MIKE ELY MAKEGREATAMERICAAGAIN! 2022 COUNTYLORAINFINALIST LORAIN COUNTY’S MAGAZINE 2022 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Donate on September 15th // 8am-8pm #C2CLorainCounty
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www.pulselorainmag.com Boutique Alpha-Dog Pet Center & Pet Wash Systems, Amherst Polished Paws Salon & Boutique, Avon Lake Paws by the Lake Pet Resort & Daycare, Avon Lake Car Wash Blue Falls Car Wash, Multiple Locations Ridgeville Wash Wizzard, North Ridgeville Goo Express Car Wash, Avon Dry Cleaner Elyria Dry Cleaners, Elyria Pat’s Cleaners, Multiple Locations Ridge Cleaners, Multiple Locations Day Spa Adeva Salon and Spa, Oberlin • Headquarters Salon & Spa, Lorain Exhale Spa at UH Avon Health Center, Avon PEOPLE (NameChiropractorandPractice) Jeremy Watson, Watson Wellness, Amherst Beth Kiser, Family Wellness Chiropractic Center, Lorain • Lindsay Horn, Dynamic Movement Chiropractic, Lorain Bartender • Heather Moran, Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Jeff Gresko, Bistro 83, North Ridgeville • Christina Piche, 83 & Chestnut Pub and Eatery, North Ridgeville Local (NameVolunteerandOrganization)
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• Kat Byrnes, Main Street Wellington, Wellington Annette Corrao, BHS Alumni Memorial Park, Sheffield Lake Dance Studio The Little Gym of Avon, Avon MovementWorks, Oberlin • Miss Kristin’s Dance Studio, Avon Lake Gymnastics Ten Point 0 Gymnastics, North Ridgeville Avon Dance Martial Arts and Gymnastics, Avon • Great Lakes Gymnastics, Avon Lake Learning Center Laura’s Learning Treehouse, Avon • Children’s Learning Center (LCCC), Lorain The Child Garden, Multiple Locations Music Instruction Avon School of Music, Avon • Community Music School (Oberlin Conservatory), Oberlin • Rock Town Music Academy, Lorain Judy Recknagel, Main Street Amherst and Community Foundation of Lorain County, Amherst Board Member (Name and Board) Teresa Bosela, Main Street Wellington, Wellington • Brady Aldinger, The LCADA Way Board of Directors, Lorain Chef • Adam Schmith, Culinary Arts Institute (LCCC), Elyria • Brian Weaver, Avon Brewing Co., Avon • Anthony Martorello, Bistro 83, North Ridgeville Personal Trainer Mike Ely, Grafton Barbell Club, Grafton • Dianne Green, Integral Fitness Ohio, Oberlin • Gina Shaffer, UH Avon Fitness Center, Avon Master Stylist • Megan Morgan, Nix & Row Salon, Avon • Hulgin, Light Salon + Spa, Chelsea Sitzhugh, Salon + Spa,
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Avon United Way of Greater Lorain County HELP STARTS HERE JUST DIAL DO YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW NEED ASSISTANCE WITH: Food & Meals emergency food pantries medicalTransportationappointments Heating & Utilities avoiding disconnections Shopping clothes & personal hygiene 24/7. FREE. Phone: 2-1-1 Web: 211lorain.org LORAIN COUNTY’S MAGAZINE 2021 Issue 3 PLUS: Best of Lorain County Finalists Connect Cause Boosts the Community Doors to the Future Lorain County Community College graduates stepped toward new opportunities LORAIN COUNTY’S MAGAZINE June 2022 Volume 15, Issue 2 It’s time to get outside and have fun.We’ve plotted courses to try. BIKE Lorain County PLUS Oberlin’s NationalTeacher of the Year Check SummerOutEvents // SUBSCRIBE // pulselorainmag.com
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“To be a good steward of our environment in Lorain County and every where, we need to keep our land and waters clean,” Walborn says. “Re ducing the amount of waste that we have will reduce the amount of items going into our landfills. If we have to utilize plastics and other materials, recycling them is the best way to help them become another product.”
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it, the pieces lodge into their muscle tissue, which can lead to starvation and reduced growth. “The plastic can also be present in the muscle tissue of the fish peo ple catch and eat,” Walborn says.
A sculpture focuses on the importance of recycling.
— Linda Feagler
She offers tips for what we can all do to reduce the amount of plastic found in lakes, rivers and oceans. They include limiting the use of plas tics such as straws, bottles and bags; recycling plastics; using products made with post-consumer recycled materials; and helping with local cleanup efforts to keep plastic litter from entering waterways.
The sculpture, currently at the French Creek Nature Center, will be on display and make stops throughout the park system. For more information, call 440-458-5121 or visit loraincountymetroparks.com
he 250-pound metal walleye sculpture created by Mitch Beursken, fleet supervisor for Lorain County Metro Parks, is more than a striking work of art. It’s a pointed reminder that none of us should put our recycling efforts on the back burner.
Art With Purpose
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Debuting last year at Lakeview Park, the 5-and-a-half-foot-tall piece has a design that incorporates more than 4,500 plastic bottles park vis itors donated for the project. The artist chose the image of a walleye to represent the fish’s prized culinary popularity and the fact that it’s native to Lake Erie.
When a plastic bottle hits the waves, it breaks down into small piec es of microplastics, which mimic the look of food. Although walleye are carnivorous by nature and partial to aquatic insects, gizzard chad and yellow perch, they’re also attracted to the plastic. Once they consume
“The reason we filled the sculpture with plastic bottles is because we want to spread the message about the problem of plastics getting into our waterways,” says Bev Walborn, outdoor experiences manager for Lorain County Metro Parks. “We’re pleased when visitors take the time to study the fish and are attentive to what it says about the importance of clean water and what they can do to help.”
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