Pulse Volume 15 Issue 4

ERIC MULL

Virtual Visits for a Healthy You

Health has taken on a new importance these days. But at Mercy Health, yours has always been our top priority. And we’re as committed as we’ve always been to providing you with high-quality, personalized care—whether safely in our clean facilities or virtually from the comfort of your own home.

Visit mercy.com/primarycare to connect with a primary care provider today.

Safe Center

Wesleyan Village has provided a safe haven for Ukrainian residents forced to flee their country.

By Linda Feagler

The urgency of the phone call Tammy Bertrand, director of the Wesleyan Senior Living Foundation at Wesleyan Village, received in early spring was heart-breaking.

Bill McFadden, a retired minister who serves on the Wesleyan Foundation Board, was desperately seeking safe havens for Ukrainians who’d arrived in Lorain County after fleeing their beloved homeland that Russian forces were deep in the throes of desecrating.

Would Wesleyan Village, Rev. McFadden wanted to know, be willing to provide shelter to those whose world had been completely shattered?

Bertrand didn’t miss a beat.

Her answer: A resounding yes.

Twelve hours later, the families started arriving.

“We celebrated Wesleyan Village’s 125th anniversary this year,” Bertrand says. “Our mission has always been to provide a continuum of care to seniors. Opening our hearts and

homes to these young families was something we needed and wanted to do, too. I’m so proud of the way our staff pulled together to make it happen.”

Bertrand and her team filled patio homes and apartments with furniture donated by families of former residents; stocked refrigerators with nutritious meals; purchased new towels, sheets and pillowcases; and created a banner welcoming the newcomers in their native language. Good Knights, a nonprofit based in Amherst, built beds tailor-made for the children.

She’s also grateful for the support Wesleyan Village is receiving from Lorain County organizations that include LC4Ukraine, made up of individuals and groups that have banded together to provide necessities for those seeking asylum; and the Latino-based advocacy organization El Centro, that hosts Information Days designed to help Ukrainians gain access to translators, health care, food stamps and other services they need.

Currently, three families reside at Wesleyan Village.

Olga Loiko and her sons Arsenii, 13, and Mykhailo, 11, arrived in April. Olga and her husband Roma married in 2008. Six months later, Roma was diagnosed with brain cancer, and lost his fight two years later. Olga had a job as an office manager at a realty company, and the family lived a fulfilling life until the war started, and a pastor from her church pounded on the front door. Olga and her children had 20 minutes to pack one bag and board a bus to Poland. The Loikos spent six weeks living in a tent city there before obtaining an emergency visa which allowed them to head for America. Olga volunteers at Wesleyan Village 30 hours a week.

Oleg and Valentyna Tiurkin lived and worked in Mariupol. Oleg, a videographer by trade, and Valentyna, who worked in retail, never imagined they’d one day have to leave all they love behind. As the first bombs fell, they drove west, passing city after city in ruins and praying they would survive. The couple stayed with friends in Germany for several weeks before learning the United States was accepting refugees.

Natalia Glotova and her children David, 14, and Anastasia, 11, continue to reel from a nightmare they never dreamed possible. The trio arrived in Lorain County this summer, and have made a patio home at Wesleyan Meadows in Sheffield Village. Natalia’s husband and David and Anastasia’s father, Rusian, stayed behind to fight for their country.

“I could not imagine that I would receive so much help and support, material and morale,” Natalia says. “I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I want you to know that your help is invaluable. You bring light and fight evil in your own way. I thank God and pray for you.”

CATALYST

Pathway to Care

By Linda Feagler

Lorain County Community College (LCCC) is recognized as a proven leader when it comes to launching innovative programs designed to pave ways for students to succeed in all walks of life. One of the college’s most popular options: Earn and Learn programs where students earn an income while attending classes and gaining valuable on-the-job training experience.

“We’re very proud of Earn and Learn,” says LCCC program developer Hannah DiVencenzo, a member of LCCC’s Business Growth Services Team, who helps spearhead Earn and Learn initiatives among local corporations. “We serve as ambassadors to make the community aware of what the college offers and discuss how it can meet specific needs.”

University Hospitals (UH) took notice. To help develop creative solutions to allay the nursing shortage affecting patient care, the hospital system has partnered with the college to develop the UH/LCCC LPN Earn and Learn program. It allows current employees working at UHs on the West Side as patient care nursing assistants (PCNAs) to earn their Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) credential while remaining full-time employees at UH.

They receive full pay and benefits from their employer as they complete courses and training through LCCC. Upon successful completion of the program, they’ll have the opportunity to be hired as LPNs at the hospital. Currently, 16 students are enrolled in the yearlong pilot program, which began in August.

“We knew before COVID that the nursing shortage was coming, but because of the pandemic we’re at the place we expected to be four or five years from now,” says Tara Sostakowski, manager of nursing operations at University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center. “LCCC is very progressive. It’s been wonderful to work with them on this program that removes financial barriers, prioritizes schoolwork — and even builds in study time. [The team at UH] meets with the students once a week to make sure they’re doing OK and are on track. The program is designed to be very hands-on because we want students to be successful and ultimately add them to our workforce.”

Ashlee Pollock is one of those students. In April, she earned her state-tested nursing assistant (STNA) credential through LCCC’s tuition-free Fast Track program — which prepares students to acquire the skills they need

for high-demand fields in 16 weeks or fewer — and the Elyria Skill City Promise program. Pollock began working as a PCNA at UH in July, and she was accepted into the UH/LCCC LPN Earn and Learn program.

“Everything with LCCC has been opportunity after opportunity,” she says. “This program is amazing. I can still work and get paid while I complete the next step in my education.”

And that, DiVencenzo attests, is as it should be.

“Students who attend a community college are usually in a different [situation] than those attending a four-year institution,” she says. “Most are combining working and coming to school. We’re trying to create the best overall scenario so our students can be successful at school and also still earn a paycheck. In this case, University Hospitals and our nursing department teamed up and said, ‘OK, let’s work together to make this happen efficiently for the students.’

“UH,” DiVencenzo adds, “has been a terrific partner.”

“Everything with LCCC has been opportunity after opportunity. This program is amazing. I can still work and get paid while I complete the next step in my education.”

– Ashlee Pollock

A University Hospitals and Lorain County Community College partnership program is addressing the nursing shortage.

Communicating With Art

The MAD* Factory Theatre Co. wants people of all ages to explore their emotions and embrace the arts.

By Linda Feagler

Since 1999, the MAD* Factory Theatre Co. has transformed lives throughout Lorain County by sharing the magic that Music, Art and Drama make. Thanks to a $15,000 grant awarded by the Lorain County Commissioners, the nonprofit will be able to continue its mission of empowering and inspiring people of all ages through Music, Art and Drama. The funds were made available through the American Rescue Plan Act dollars the county received.

“This grant means so much to us,” says MAD* Factory Theatre Co. executive director Amber Michalak. “Like so many organizations, we had to cancel performances and after-school activities due to the pandemic. Although we’re getting back to normal, peoples’ budgets remain tight and are affected by the high cost of necessities that include gas and food. The American Rescue Plan dollars we received will be added to our general operating fund.”

Michalak and MAD* Factory Theatre Co. program director Nina Fisher touch their community in a number of ways. Their offerings are designed to nurture diversity, equity, inclusion and mutual respect; build confidence and self-esteem; instill artistic excellence; and build community partnerships.

Initiatives on stage and off include community productions at the MAD* Factory’s black-box theater on the organization’s campus located at 2655 Broadway Ave. in Lorain; and improv classes at its headquarters in Oberlin’s New Union Center for the Arts. Michalak and Fisher also lead after-school drama clubs and conduct summer camps for children ages 5 through 8.

“This past year was so traumatic for everyone,” Michalak says. “Nina and I are dedicated to presenting ways people of all ages can have an outlet for any kind of emotion they feel, including those they don’t know how to articulate. That’s particularly true in school, where students are struggling mentally and emotionally to get back on track.

I give teachers more respect than ever because they’re going through the experience with them.”

The MAD* Factory troupe also works with LIFE: A Dementia Friendly Foundation in Lorain County to present programs at Memory Cafes in local churches, which are part of a worldwide movement to help those diagnosed with dementia or brain disorders and their caregivers.

“Many patients struggling with dementia are afraid to say anything because they’re afraid they’d be perceived as being incorrect,” Michalak says. “But our shows are fun for everyone because we invite participants to reminisce, and we make sure there’s no wrong answer. One of the caregivers in attendance told me our presentations have helped the relationship she has with her husband, who suffers from memory loss. Instead

of getting mad, she tries to make a game out of their interactions, which lightens things up at home.”

In September, MAD* partnered with the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County to create a mural outside the theater’s Lorain location to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of suicide and educate the public about ways to prevent it. The brilliant rainbow-colored fresco bears the phrase, “We’re So Glad You’re Here,” in English and Spanish, as well as the phone number for the MHARS hotline so it can be easily accessed by those needing help.

“Our goal is to have people who come to our shows, or those just walking down the street, take a photo in front of the mural,” Michalak says. “It’s a positive way to embrace and send a message to everyone who sees it.”

Best of Lorain County 2022

MORE THAN 450 GUESTS gathered to enjoy an evening of food, entertainment and fun at this year’s Best of Lorain County held Sept. 15 at Lorain County Community College. The 11th anniversary of this local favorite featured more than 35 finalists who offered samples and displayed their businesses, while guests voted for the 2022 Best of Lorain County winners. Sponsors of the event included Lorain County Community College, Community Foundation of Lorain County, Hematology and Oncology Center, Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, Lorain County JVS, Lorain County Commissioners, Bendix and Stewart’s TV & Appliance.

KAITLIN

Mark and Rosey Wagner, Theresa and Tony Gallo

Guests check in to attend the 2022 Best of Lorain County Party.

Blessing House staff take part in the event.

Dollhouse Boutique showcased its products.

Marta’s N More Bakery offered samples.

Ten Point O Gymnastics and North Ridgeville Corn Festival had fun.

BESTOF LO R AINCOUNTY

Winners

Stories by Linda Feagler, Lynne Thompson and Ann-Marie Vazzano

Italian Fratello’s

Ever since brothers Craig and Ron Heldorfer opened Fratello’s in 1992, the menu has consisted of traditional Italian fare. But the Chicken Rollatini is executive chef Craig’s own creation, a take on a rollatini usually made of thinly sliced eggplant that is floured or breaded, paired with a ricotta cheese mixture, sauced and baked.

“What I look for in a dish is usually colors,” he says. “Not so much with this one. I’m looking for textures and to blend the textures.”

He achieves that goal with the following:

The chicken breast. Craig starts with fresh fowl raised cage-free and fed a predominantly corn- and soy-based diet with no added hormones. “We pound it out nice and thin,” he says.

The Fratello stuffing. Seasoned bread crumbs, fresh diced garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, spinach, pepper and pecorino romano are mixed and stuffed into the chicken breast. The spinach provides texture and earthiness, the hard cheese saltiness and even more texture. “The main thing with the bread crumbs is to have enough oil in them — you want to be able to take a handful, squeeze it and have it hold its shape,” Craig says. “[The oil] will go through the chicken and add a lot of flavor.”

The mozzarella cheese. Craig tops the chicken breast with a whole-milk selection before rolling it up, flouring and dipping it in beaten egg, browning and baking it. “[It] adds a creaminess to the dish,” he says.

The Fratello sauce. The Chicken Rollatini is finished with a sauce of butter, fresh lemon juice, vegetable base and “odds and ends” Craig declines to reveal. The classic combination “will enhance anything, whether it be chicken, fish, you name it, because of the lemon juice,” he says. “The butter adds a smoothness and creaminess to it.”

The marsala mushrooms. The crowning touch is prepared by cooking sliced fresh button mushrooms in butter and oil, then dashing them with dry imported marsala wine and drawn butter. The result adds a sweetness that balances the lemony sauce. “You can still taste the chicken, though,” Craig stresses. “That’s crucial, I feel.”

Happy Hour Speak of the Devil

When you partake in happy hour at Speak of the Devil, there’s a good chance you’re also supporting a good cause. Kurt Hernon, who co-owns the bar with his wife, Page, says when they do have one, it’s usually tied to a specific brand, with a percentage of the proceeds benefiting charity. The bar specializes in vintage cocktails, often using long-forgotten ingredients.

Here are three drinks to try:

JIMMY THE EXPLODER

“It’s just a riff on an old fashioned, but instead of using Angostura bitters and sugar and creating a syrup, we sweeten the drink with a sugar called Benedictine and a cherry heering,” Hernon says.

5TH STREET FINISHER

This Scotch whiskey sour features honey syrup, lemon juice and orange bitters. “It’s kind of a classic sour, but with a little twist by mixing honey and Scotch,” Hernon says.

THE 6/4/74

Hernon describes this rye whiskey mai tai as a “tiki drink,” with a hint of sweet pineapple and orgeat. Created around the start of baseball season, the cocktail’s name came from the date of the 10-Cent Beer Night riot at Cleveland Stadium — June 4, 1974.

Speak of the Devil

201 W. Fifth St., Lorain • 440-434-4286 speakofthedevillorain.com

Appetizers Bistro

83

Cheese and crackers? Absolutely not. Sauerkraut balls? No way. You’ll never find such mundane offerings on the appetizer boards Bistro 83 executive chef and general manager Tony Martorello prepares for guests at home or in his upscale-yet-laid back North Ridgeville establishment.

“Meat and cheese boards are really hot right now,” he says. “We develop, tweak and taste everything we make here before it passes muster on the menu.”

The same goes for what Martorello and his wife Faith serve during gatherings with family and friends.

“We make sure our boards have a little something for everyone,” he says. “When I build one, I always include three very different cheeses — soft, hard and something in-between.”

His go-to favorites: Beemster Classic, an aged gouda hard cheese known for its robust nutty and buttery taste; Purple Haze, a soft variety made of goat’s milk with hints of lavender and fennel pollen; and a smoked cheddar that’s a natural go-between.

Deli

Fligner’s Market

Expect to spend a while at Fligner’s Market’s full-service deli counter — not because the lines are long, but because there’s so much to see. The 90-foot-long refrigerated deli case offers all the lunchmeat classics like turkey, ham and hard salami, but you’ll also find the unexpected. “We’re always looking to bring different things in and try different things out, just to change it up,” says President Ben Fligner, whose great-grandfather started the business in 1924.

Fligner’s Market 1854 Broadway Ave., Lorain 440-244-5173 • flignersmarket.com

Bistro 83

36033 Westminister Ave., North Ridgeville 440-353-2828 • bistro83.com

Martorello is also meticulous about selecting specialty meats for the ideal accompaniment. His shopping list always includes mildly spiced ghost pepper and wine-infused cabernet salamis, as well as prosciutto, from Zoe’s Meats, available online through the company’s website or at local specialty supermarkets.

The finishing touch: Accoutrements ranging from smoked almonds, dates and fig jam to a combination of warmed Castelvetrano olives — known for their meatiness — and earthy Red Cerignola olives.

“I think of an appetizer board as an introduction to the meal you’re preparing to serve,” Martorello says. “And if you’re invited to an event at someone’s home, it has the potential of being the perfect icebreaker.”

Here are some items to try:

SMOKED KIELBASA

These savory, fully cooked sausages are homemade using a special mix of ingredients, giving them a delicious, garlicky flavor.

HOMEMADE CHICKEN SALAD

Made using boneless chicken breast, celery, onion and special seasonings, according to Fligner, this salad is a customer favorite.

DEVILED EGG POTATO SALAD

A perfect side dish to accompany deli sandwiches, this potato salad includes hardboiled eggs, paprika and other spices that make it stand out from traditional potato salad.

Boutique: Truly Simple Boutique

Sometimes only the perfect gift will do for that someone special. Look for graphic t-shirts that carry fun and seasonal messages and an on-point pair of Judy Blue jeans that can be worn with it. And don’t forget the trendy accessories.

134 W. Herrick Ave., Wellington • 440-987-9770 trulysimpleboutique.com

Shopping Around Town

SHOP LOCO

Garden Center: Pandy’s Garden Center

Whatever the season, you will find something to deck your home at this locally owned center. Shop for unique ornaments, goods to light up your outdoor space and plants to help make your yard shine.

41600 Griswold Road, Elyria • 440-324-4314 pandysgardencenter.com

Wine Shop: Giuseppe’s Wine Cellar

This wine aficionado’s destination carries vintages to meet all of your dining party needs, including brands from around the world. Pick up an extra bottle or two to enjoy during cold winter nights.

209 S. Main St., #1, Amherst • 440-984-5300 giuseppeswinecellar.com

Farmers Market: Vermilion Farm Market

This indoor market can always answer the question about what’s for dinner. You’ll find goods from fresh produce to artisan pasta and gourmet cheeses. Be sure to check out the bulk candy, too.

2901 Liberty Ave., Vermilion • 440-967-9659 vermilionfarmmarket.net

Fitness Trail

French Creek Reservation

With 450 acres of mostly wooded landscape set against a backdrop of high cliffs, deep ravines and three creeks, it’s easy to see why many of the folks who traverse the trio of trails in French Creek Reservation don’t think of it as physical fitness.

But for those who do, there’s plenty of ways to get your steps in at your own pace.

“With 4.5 miles of the most forested trails in Lorain County, you’re not likely to run out of walking room,” says Bev Walborn, outdoor experiences manager for Lorain County Metro Parks.

Each trail sports specific attributes. The Big Woods Trail offers a 1.5-mile gravel loop and a shorter .75-mile extension. The onehalf-mile Sugar Creek Trail is made up of natural wood chips, and the Nature Center Trail splits into a one-tenth-mile asphalt walkway and a one-half-mile asphalt path.

No matter what route visitors choose, Walborn recommends they climb the 28-step stairway adjacent to the Nature Center for a stunning view of French Creek below.

“At this time of year, keep an eye out for the screech, barred or great horned owls that spend the winter with us in the reservation’s oak, walnut and cottonwood trees,” Walborn says.

French Creek Reservation

4530 Colorado Ave., Sheffield Village 440-949-5200 • loraincountymetroparks.com

BEST SMALL BREWERY IN OHIO BEST SMALL BREWERY IN OHIO

COURTESY LORAIN COUNTY METRO PARKS

Larry Cariglio wanted to be his own boss. As the son of Italian immigrants, a lot of his relatives owned and operated pizza shops. “That was always something he was interested in doing,” his son Michael says. So when a cousin mentioned that an Oberlin pizzeria was for sale, Larry and wife MikelAnn decided to check it out. He subsequently quit his job as an Akron-based M&M/Mars candy salesman, bought the restaurant and renamed it Lorenzo’s, the Italian iteration of Lawrence. His goal: to make the very best pizza he possibly could.

Forty years later, Larry, Michael and their staffers continue to achieve that goal in the same South Main Street location. The pizzeria’s food truck, available for catered events, turns out a crispier-crusted version of a traditional Neapolitan pizza, the result of Larry’s earning a certificate in wood-fired pizza-making from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana in Italy. But the pies made in the restaurant have evolved into what Michael describes as a generously topped “Ohio-style pizza.”

Local Festival North Ridgeville Corn Festival

In 1975,

That annual celebration has grown from a Saturday-afternoon trial run with 13 booths to a second-weekend-of-August affair that blocks off a stretch of Bainbridge Road and raises funds for scholarships and community projects. Attractions include local and regional bands, fireworks, a parade, arts-and-crafts fair and, of course, corny concessions.

By the Numbers

HOURS the house-made sauce is cooked

2 40 3,000

PEPPERONI PIZZAS sold each month

PEPPERONI SLICES on a large pepperoni pizza

MEATS IN THE PEPPERONI

“Beef-and-pork pepperoni is better than all-beef pepperoni, flat out.”

– Michael Cariglio

2CHEESES ON PIZZA

It’s a mozzarellaprovolone blend.

The three to try:

1AMISH-STYLE SWEET CORN

Butkowski insists this is no ordinary sweet corn. It is boiled in water containing a mix of top-secret ingredients picked up from the Amish that makes the ears even sweeter.

2STREET CORN

Butkowski describes an ear of boiled sweet corn rolled in butter, then slathered in a mixture of mayonnaise, lime juice and spices. A dozen or so additional seasonings are available for festival-goers to shake on as they desire.

GRILLED SWEET CORN

Ears are grilled in their husks on a Ferris wheel-like unit. “[Vendors] rip the husks back to give you a handle to hold the corn,” Butkowski says. “The grilled corn is then dipped in butter.”

North Ridgeville Corn Festival 440-218-9802 • nrcornfest.org

North Ridgeville resident John Butkowski, who has served as the festival’s president, suggested starting the North Ridgeville Corn Festival as an ongoing reminder of the American Bicentennial to be celebrated the following year.

Pizza Lorenzo’s Pizzeria

Lorenzo’s Pizzeria • 52 1/2 S. Main St., Oberlin • 440-775-0118 • lorenzospizza.com

Theater Lorain Palace Theatre

Enter the Lorain Palace Theatre and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time to an era when attending a show was an event worthy of your snappiest suit and finest perfume. Thanks to the hard work of stakeholders, the theatre’s opulence remains, as does its original 1928 Wurlitzer pipe organ. “From what I understand, there are only four of them in the world,” Executive Director Christopher Pataky says of the organ.

Because an instrument like this is so complex, it’s become somewhat of a lost art, Pataky adds. “Musically, it’s the same as any other keyboard, except it’s organic,” he says, noting there’s no modern amplification — only the pipes along the walls that carry the sound through the theatre. “Then you have the foot pedals set up for it,” he says. “So they’re playing bass notes with their feet and working with both of their hands at the same time. It’s pretty unique.”

While the theatre focuses on primarily local and independent films and various stage acts, there are a few opportunities each year to hear the historic organ. Pataky recommends keeping an eye on the Palace’s event calendar.

Lorain Palace Theatre

617 Broadway Ave., Lorain 440-245-2323

lorainpalace.com

Dish to try:

TRUFFLE BURGER

Fresh charbroiled Angus beef topped with Havarti cheese, sauteed wild mushrooms, caramelized onion and truffle bacon butter on baby arugula and a toasted brioche bun

Chef and Owner Brian Weaver, Avon Brewing Co.

Every Saturday morning Brian Weaver got together with his father Ken, brother Dan and brother-in-law Mathias Hauck to brew beer. He’d devoted the years since his 1996 graduation from Avon High School to building a career as a chef. The hobby provided some muchneeded male bonding time.

“We were actually really good at it,” the 45-year-old Weaver says of the brewing.

In 2016, the trio opened the Avon Brewing Co., an establishment known as much for its comfort food, particularly its burgers, as its brews. Chef Weaver traces his passion for cooking to the meals his mother prepared on the budget dictated by his teacher-and-coach father’s salary. “She’d always take what she could and make something really amazing,” he says. His first formal training was a meat cutter apprenticeship his uncle got him at the East-Side Rini-Rego supermarket where he worked.

“I was making decent money,” he recalls. “But I didn’t want to just cut meat.”

A cashier’s introduction to a sous chef at the now-defunct Acacia Country Club in Beachwood led to Weaver’s completing the club’s certified chef’s apprenticeship program and landing a sous chef position there. A desire to work closer to Little Italy, where he lived at the time, subsequently lured him to successive jobs at the now-shuttered Filomena’s and Gusto! He left the latter in 2013 to help open Luca at its original Superior Viaduct location.

In July 2020, Weaver, his father and brother-in-law expanded operations by opening the Medina Brewing Co. just off the town square and reopening ZZ’s Big Top, an old bar at 35015 Detroit Road in Avon that they’ve rehabilitated. Their next unveiling: Avon Brewing Co.’s new home at 36383 Detroit Road, expected to be completed next spring or summer.

Avon Brewing Co. 37040 Detroit Road, Avon 440-937-1816 avonbrewingcompany.com

LORAIN PALACE THEATRE: COURTESY PETE SCHNEIDER AVON BREWING CO.: ERIC MULL

It’s not just any fish on the menu at the American Slovak Club’s fish fry — it’s local, Lake Erie perch and walleye, covered in homemade breading and fried to a golden, delicious crisp. “It’s all homemade by some of the ladies who first started working here back in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s,” says Pam Lofgren, office club manager.

You can stick with traditional sides like French fries or coleslaw, but for a twist, try one of club’s Eastern European-inspired dishes:

CABBAGE AND NOODLES

“They cook the cabbage down with onions and butter and then mix the noodles in,” Lofgren says. “It’s a side that a lot of people like.”

PIEROGIES

These potato-filled dumplings are dished up with melted butter and tender onions.

STUFFED CABBAGE

The meat mixture is cooked and the cabbage leaves stuffed the night before, allowing plenty of time to soak up the juices. “You know — everything tastes better the next day,” Lofgren says. THE FISH FRY IS HELD EVERY FRIDAY FROM 11 A.M. TO 7 P.M.

BISTRO 83

36033 Westminister Ave. North Ridgeville, Ohio 44039 440-353-2828 bistro83.com

Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm Happy Hour In The Bar Mon-Sat 3pm-6pm

Since opening its doors in 2013, the awardwinning Bistro 83’s knowledgable and well-trained staff has strived to make every customer’s dining experience a special one. Located on the border of North Ridgeville and Avon, Bistro 83 wants its guests to experience upscale dining in a laid back, comfortable atmosphere.

AVON BREWING CO.

37040 Detroit Road Avon, Ohio 44011 440-937-1816 avonbrewingcompany.com Tue-Thu 3 pm-Midnight Fri-Sat 11 am-Midnight

Avon Brewing Co. is a family-owned brewery featuring 22 award-winning ABC Beers on tap, a chef-inspired menu, daily specials and a large patio overlooking French Creek.

BLESSING HOUSE

6115 Olivet Ave. Elyria, Ohio, 44035 440-240-1851 info@blessinghouse.org

SAFE HOUSE. SAFE CHILD. Blessing House provides a safe home for children up to 12 years old when their families are in crisis.

BESTOF LO R AINCOUNTY

Winners

See the full list of this year’s winners.

Burger Avon Brewing Co., Avon

Burrito

Don Tequila Bar & Grill, Amherst

Chocolate

Suzin L. Chocolatier, Multiple Locations

Deli Fligner’s Market, Lorain

Fine Dining Strip Steakhouse, Avon

Fish Fry American Slovak Club, Lorain

Healthy Menu Aladdin’s Eatery, Oberlin

Ice Cream Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream, Avon

Restaurant

Bistro 83, North Ridgeville

Ribs

Moosehead BBQ Grill, Amherst

Sandwich The Feve, Oberlin Steak Strip Steakhouse, Avon

ENTERTAINMENT

Charitable Event Blessing House Rock-a-Bye Ball, Lorain

Happy Hour Speak of the Devil, Lorain

FOOD

Appetizers

Bistro 83, North Ridgeville

Asian Pine Garden Restaurant, Lorain

Bar Food Avon Brewing Co., Avon

Casual Dining Avon Brewing Co., Avon

Caterer Conference & Dining Services, Lorain County Community College, Elyria

Cheap Eats ZZ’s Big Top, Avon

Desserts Cakes by the Lake, Lorain Donuts Marta’s N More Bakery, Lorain

Family Dining Avon Brewing Co., Avon

Italian Fratello’s, Avon Lake Latin El Kefon, Lorain

Pastry Shop Kiedrowski’s, Amherst

Patio Avon Brewing Co., Avon Pizza Lorenzo’s Pizzeria, Oberlin

Sunday Brunch The Feve, Oberlin

Sushi Jin House, Amherst

Wine Shop Giuseppe’s Wine Cellar, Amherst

Wings ZZ’s Big Top, Avon

Local Festival North Ridgeville Corn Festival, North Ridgeville

Sports Bar

Ziggy’s Pub & Restaurant, Amherst

Theater Lorain Palace Theatre, Lorain Winery John Christ Winery, Avon Lake

SHOPPING

Beer Selection

Avon Brewing Co., Avon

Book Store

Ben Franklin & MindFair Books, Oberlin

Boutique

Truly Simple Boutique, Wellington

Farmers Market

Vermilion Farm Market, Vermilion Florist Off Broadway Floral & Gift, Lorain Gallery

Beth K. Stocker Art Gallery (LCCC), Elyria

Garden Center Pandy’s Garden Center, Elyria

Jeweler Peter & Co. Jewelers, Avon Lake

Shopping Area Avon Commons, Avon

Healthy Food Selection

Heinen’s Grocery Store, Avon

Senior Living Sprenger Health Care Systems, Multiple Locations

Dry Cleaner Ridge Cleaners, Multiple Locations

Mani Pedi Exhale Spa at UH Avon Health Center, Avon

Learning Center

Children’s Learning Center (LCCC), Lorain

Music Instruction Rock Town Music Academy, Lorain

Chiropractor

Jeremy Watson, Watson Wellness, Amherst

Local Volunteer

HEALTH

Fitness Center

UH Avon Fitness Center, Avon

Fitness Trail French Creek Reservation, Sheffield

Yoga Studio The Hive, Elyria SERVICES

Car Wash Ridgeville Wash Wizzard, North Ridgeville Day Spa Exhale Spa at UH Avon Health Center, Avon

Pet Boutique Paws by the Lake Pet Resort & Daycare, Avon Lake

PEOPLE

Bartender

Heather Moran, Avon Brewing Co., Avon

Judy Recknagel, Main Street Amherst and Community Foundation of Lorain County, Amherst

Master

Stylist

Alyssa Hulgin, Light Salon + Spa, Avon

Personal Trainer Gina Shaffer, UH Avon Fitness Center, Avon

CHILDREN

Dance Studio

The Little Gym of Avon, Avon Gymnastics Ten Point 0 Gymnastics, North Ridgeville

Board Member Brady Aldinger, The LCADA Way Board of Directors, Lorain Chef Brian Weaver, Avon Brewing Co., Avon

Lasting Community Impact

Founded in 1980, the Community Foundation of Lorain County is made up of more than 700+ endowment funds valued at approximately $133M. We wisely invest the funds’ assets and the interest earned provides $6.9M annually in scholarships and grants to support individual and nonprofit organizations in Lorain County. A gift to the Community Foundation is unlike any other gift as it will continue to grow and have lasting impact on our community . . . forever

snapshot

ORAIN COUNTY

Skate Away

A new outdoor ice-skating rink in Lorain is free to residents.

Spend time chatting with Rey Carrion, and you’ll soon discover the nostalgic fondness he has for Oakwood Park. Lorain’s Ward 6 councilman was 12 years old in 1978 when his family moved to the city from Puerto Rico. It didn’t take long for the youngster to embrace all the park had to offer.

“The country and the language were so new to me,” recalls Carrion. “Oakwood Park quickly became the hub of our community. There was something going on there every day of the week — softball tournaments, baseball and basketball games, swimming, tennis, you name it. And then when it got cold, you had ice-skating.

“Sadly,” he adds, “many of those activities went by the wayside.”

But the park is once again a winter wonderland. Thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of Lorain County and funds raised by The Friends of South Lorain — a grassroots organization Carrion created to nurture civic pride and improvement — the outdoor 100-foot-wideby-200-foot long skating rink installed earlier this year has become the centerpiece of cold-weather fun.

“We wanted to make sure residents could use it free of charge, and looked for ways to provide free skates to all who need them,” Carrion says.

The Friends of South Lorain raised $500 for the project, which the Community Foundation of Lorain County matched with a $500 grant.

Additional funding was provided through the Foundation’s partnership with In Our Backyards (ioby) and the Hispanic Fund.

Special events held at the park last year brought the total raised to $2,300. The councilman says he is grateful to longtime friend Ricardo Hernandez, a manager at Dick’s Sporting Goods at Crocker Park, who helped him select 75 pairs of skates in a variety of sizes.

“So many people couldn’t wait for the rink to open,” Carrion says. “They were so thankful to have something good to engage in with their children.”

Oakwood Park also sets the stage for summer events that include free concerts and movie nights. The park’s outdoor swimming pool is also undergoing renovation and, as of now, is slated to open by Memorial Day 2023. Funds are being raised to purchase pool passes for underserved children in the area.

“There are over 310,000 residents in 34 municipalities in Lorain County,” reflects Brittany Lovett, marketing and communications officer for the Community Foundation of Lorain County. “Not everyone needs a $50,000 grant to complete a project. We want organizations to understand that no matter the size of the undertaking, we’re your Community Foundation and are here for you.”

— Linda Feagler