Tomlinson and Burge arraigned
‘We are innocent’: Prosecutor, chief of staff deny felony charges
Owen MacMillan
The Community Guide
ELYRIA — Lorain County Prosecu -
tor J.D. Tomlinson and Chief of Staff Jim Burge faced felony charges as they made their initial appearance in Elyria Municipal Court on Oct. 3.
As Tomlinson and Burge walked out of the Municipal Court building, they were met with cheers and applause from about two dozen supporters.
Speaking from the courthouse steps, Tomlinson proclaimed the pair’s innocence, saying that when the truth came out, they would be exonerated.
“We just want to say that we’re very comfortable with the evidence that we
have and we look forward to our day in court. We are innocent,” he said.
Tomlinson and Burge are each charged with intimidation and tampering with evidence, and Tomlinson is also charged with attempted bribery.
All are felonies.
The charges were filed by the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, which alleges that Tomlinson and Burge tampered with evidence and a witness in an ongoing joint investigation between the Sheriff’s Office, the state Auditor’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Burge and Tomlinson are accused of trying to convince Tomlinson’s former girlfriend and employee Jennifer Battistelli to sign false statements about an
In Milton’s path
Stay or go? Stay or go? We decided to stay and hope we are spared as we wait the wrath of a direct hit
The waiting is the hardest part.
It’s like being hunted down by a murderous turtle, like a local TV celebrity said.
By the time you’re reading this, I will know whether the decision not to evacuate was the right one.
Eleven days ago, Hurricane Helene skirted by Tampa Bay on its way north. That “skirting” destroyed the beaches in Pinellas County, the little peninsula across the bay from Tampa. From St. Pete Beach to Clearwater Beach, Helene’s wall of water washed over the barrier islands, flooding homes and businesses that have never flooded and spreading sand everywhere.
Bulldozers and all kinds of trucks had begun clearing the streets of sand -- and trash.
People pulled everything that was ruined in their houses onto curbs. If streets were houses, they could be on that “Hoarders” show. Piles of mattresses, couches, drywall, furniture, clothes … anything you can imagine is piled in front of houses.
They hadn’t made a dent in the cleanup when we started hearing rumblings another hurricane was on its way.
Didn’t pay much attention.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” I thought as I dragged another pile of fallen palm leaves to the curb after Helene. Before long, it started getting serious, real serious.
There really was another hurricane coming. Milton.
And, it looked as if it was headed right toward Tampa Bay, a very shallow and warm body of water that is about 15 miles across.
Catastrophic.
A hurricane spinning counterclockwise heading into the bay would wipe out Tampa, the left side of the spin. We’ve heard it before. It’s common knowledge. And the rest of the
argument in August 2023.
In a complaint last year that was written but never filed, Battistelli alleged that Tomlinson “grabbed, threw and shook” her during that altercation.
Battistelli and the Prosecutor’s Office eventually agreed to a $100,000 settlement that was approved by the Lorain County Commissioners in October 2023.
That settlement was paid through requistitions from the office’s salary budget rather than through the county insurance plan, and it is now subject to the joint investigation.
Tomlinson and Burge are accused of attempting to tamper with evidence and intimidate Battistelli into walking back her previous statement.
bay wouldn’t fare too well either.
Despite the warnings and my faraway sons’ urgings, I was staying.
I’m about a half mile to the intercoastal with three cats and a dog but
I’m in Evacuation Zone D. Zone A is the worst; mandatory evacuation always. Sometimes Zone B gets some flooding but C and D are usually good.
There really isn’t anywhere to go anyway. When Helene was coming, a lot of people evacuated to Orlando, which is about an hour northeast.
Not this time. Did you see Milton’s cone? Covers the state of Florida. We would have to drive to Georgia to get out of this one.
And that option ran out when gas
stations along I-75 ran out of gas.
I’ll be fine.
A few hours later, they added Zone B to mandatory evacuation. Monday night, A, B and C were all under evacuation orders.
Should I be more afraid than I am?
My best friend and her husband, who live two blocks over, are leaving their 100-year-old house to stay in my 20-year-old house. And my friend (who has a generator!) is here, too. He thinks his little wood-frame beach house at the top of Tampa Bay could be washed or blown away.
So, here we are waiting. It’s calm and breezy and the sky is kind of yellowish the way it gets before a tornado in Ohio.
Earliest possible arrival is about midnight Wednesday. (Last night to you.) I’ll keep you posted.
Just remember (and tell my sons), I’ll be fine.
the map above) in 2008.
Former deputy guilty of rape
Richard Perrins The Community Guide
A jury found Charles “Chuck” Crausaz guilty on all charges in Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Rothgery’s court on Oct.2.
Crausaz, 52, of Columbia Township, faced felony charges of rape, kidnapping and two counts of strangulation as well as misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and using weapons while intoxicated in the trial that started Monday. Crausaz is a former deputy with the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office.
Throughout the week, jurors heard testimony from the victim, who took the stand on Monday and Tuesday, and several other witnesses in support of the state’s case. Crausaz himself was the only witness called by the defense. He took the stand on Thursday morning.
The Chronicle-Telegram does not typically identify victims of sexual assault.
On May 11, Crausaz returned from a brief stay at an alcohol abuse rehabilitation facility in Cincinnati. While drunk the next day, Crausaz is convicted of handcuffing the victim in his home, physically assaulting her and forcing her to engage in sexual acts while taking photos.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to calls for domestic violence at the home,
placed by the victim and individuals she had contacted for help, to find Crausaz sitting in his garage with a handgun, loaded with a single round. Rothgery gave instructions to the jury at about 2 p.m. on Thursday after closing arguments were given by Lorain County Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hakos and defense attorney Matthew Bobrowski. The jury deliberated for about two hours before returning with its verdict.
Crausaz, sitting at the defense table, didn’t visibly react as the jury delivered its verdict.
As the prosecution, Hakos had the opportunity to address the jury twice. In his closing statement, he ran through the requirements for each count as dictated by law.
Many of the issues in question were not in dispute, Hakos said. The defense did not argue Crausaz didn’t have a sexual encounter with the victim, nor that his conduct took place on May 12. Where the two sides differed, Bobrowski said, was the nature of the sexual conduct. In its case, the defense asserted it was entirely consensual.
Bobrowski’s defense case argued that the prosecution had not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Crausaz’ offenses had occurred.
Throughout his testimony earlier on Thursday, Crausaz contradicted what witnesses for the prosecution had previously testified about the incident.
Patti Ewald, the former managing editor of The Chronicle, moved to Gulfport (under the “3” on
PATTI EWALD / COMMUNITY GUIDE
The streets are all lined with the stuff that people put on the curb after Helene. Where is all that stuff going to go when the new wall of water comes? These pictures were all taken in Gulfport.
Crausaz
BRUCE BISHOP / COMMUNITY GUIDE
Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson, left, talks to his chief of staff, Jim Burge during their arraignment in Elyria Municipal Court.
Patti Ewald
OBITUARIES
Karen Frances Ganch
Karen Frances Ganch, 77, started her journey to glory Tuesday, September 24, 2024. She was born January 16, 1947 in Elyria. Karen graduated from South Amherst High School in 1965. Karen was a long standing resident of Lorain County and made Amherst her home for most of that time.
Karen was a woman of enduring faith, accepting Christ as her Savior at the age of seven years old. Her mantra in life was, ‘Everyday you wake up, is God’s way of telling you, He’s not done with you yet, you still have work to do.’ From an early age Karen knew what her purpose in life would be, to make other people smile and direct them to Christ, especially in hard times. Her favorite things to do included, crocheting, doing word search puzzles, adult coloring books, reading and listening to religious music. She loved going to garage sales and taking nature walks, decorating for Christmas and collecting angels and cookbooks.
Karen especially loved people, and made friends wherever she went. She was particularly grateful for all the Veterans and first responders she met.
Karen is survived by all her friends that she considered her family.
She was preceded in death by her father, Frank Ganch; her mother, Marie Emily (nee Hubbard); her stillborn sister, Ann Ganch in 1946; her stepfather, Herbert; and her grandparents, many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Friends may call Monday, October 7, 2024 from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m. in the Hempel Funeral Home, Amherst. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, South Amherst. Rebroadcasting of services will be available at www.hempelfuneralhome. com
For those unable to attend please visit the funeral home’s website to share a memory and sign the guest register, www.hempelfuneralhome.com
Beverly Jean Roice
Beverly Jean Roice, 98, of Deltona, Florida, died Thursday, August 22, 2024 at home under hospice care.
Born June 3, 1926 in Lorain, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Leon and Edna (nee Bratton) Field. Beverly grew up in Lorain and was a 1944 graduate of Avon High School. In 1946, she married Dean Roice and moved to Wellington.
Locals fly supplies to Tenn. for hurricane Helene victims
Owen MacMillan
The Community Guid
NEW RUSSIA TWP. — Thousands of pounds of vital supplies are bound for victims of Hurricane Helene after an Elyria couple led a drive to collect and fly them to the devastated region.
Samantha Fisher of Elyria endeavored to organize the supply run after she heard about similar private efforts to supplement the emergency response to the deadliest hurricane in the U.S. since Katrina.
“I feel like everybody just sees the videos and what’s coming out of there and it just breaks their heart,” Fisher said. “Especially since it’s a big vacation area so people here have been there with their families and seen how beautiful it is. The devastation just breaks your heart.”
Throughout Saturday the effort flew around 10,000 pounds of supplies out of the Lorain County Regional Airport.
Helene tore through the southeastern U.S. last week and rescue and recovery efforts continue as the death toll has risen to over 200.
County answered the call.
“Really I just picked up the phone and started making calls,” Fisher said. “I don’t think I expected this much, it just kind of took off.”
Samantha Fisher and her husband Andy Fisher estimated that they gathered around 10,000 pounds of supplies; including food, bottled water, medical supplies, clothing, diapers and paper goods.
Samantha Fisher got in touch with MRK Aviation to work out how to fly the supplies. The company was able to help secure donated planes and pilots from the Ohio Flight Center and Ohio University.
“We’re super thankful to them because without them I don’t think I would’ve been able to do anything,” Fisher said.
The first 1,200 pounds of supplies were loaded onto a small Ohio University plane flown by instructor Greg Pfeil and recent graduate Dianna Sprague.
The supplies were dropped off in Sevierville, Tennessee, about an hour and a half away from Lorain County by plane.
Sprague said that the airport they are flying into is “super overwhelmed,” but that the crew on the ground there said they would find space for the supply plane.
The trip is personal for Sprague, who has family friends located in Banner Elk, a town north of Asheville, North Carolina.
After the first trip is complete, the OU team will return to Athens to fly the supplies gathered there, and the Ohio Flight Center crew will take over in Lorain County.
They will make flights until all the donated supplies have been delivered, Samantha Fisher said.
Fisher thanked the following businesses and organizations for contributing supplies or donating in other ways:
n MRK Aviation
n Lorain County Regional Airport
Beverly was a longtime member of the United Church of Huntington and attended the Wellington First United Methodist Church as well. She and her husband were avid travelers and members of the Holiday Travel and Good Sam Camping Clubs. Beverly enjoyed volunteering at the Elms, crafting, and camping across the U.S. with her husband, family, and friends. In 2011, Beverly relocated to Florida, full-time, where she was an active member, and volunteered at Deltona Presbyterian Church in Deltona, Florida. Survivors include her daughter, Judith Elliott of Florida; granddaughters, Mindy (Matthew) Simms of Florida, and Shannon Quast of New York; and one brother, Edward Field, of North Ridgeville.
Beverly was preceded in death by her loving husband, Dean; and her sisters, Elaine ‘Betsy’ Baxter and Norma Fashing.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 11 a.m. at the United Church of Huntington, 26677 State Route 58, Huntington, Ohio, in the original church building with the Rev. John McLaurin officiating. Burial will follow at the Huntington Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gentiva Hospice, 929 N. Spring Garden Ave., Suite 145, Deland, FL 32720 or to Deltona Presbyterian Church, 2300 Howland Blvd., Deltona, FL 32738.
Expressions of sympathy for the family may be made online at www.norton-eastmanfuneralhome.com
LETTERS
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The mountainous region of eastern North Carolina was hit particularly hard, and the difficult terrain in addition to flooding and damage has made rescue and delivering vital supplies difficult.
Across the country, individual efforts have been made to gather supplies to be sent to help those in the area.
Those other efforts inspired Fisher to launch her own supply run out of Lorain County, and she said people and businesses from around Lorain
“I mentioned this to our boss and basically said ‘Hey they’re doing this, would anybody at the university be interested,’ and he started making calls,” Pfeil said.
“It made it all the way to the president of the university and she said let’s do it. The plane is donated, they’ve got a bunch of donated fuel, we’re donating our time and so it’s just let’s get this done.”
Pfeil said that upon hearing about the plan, some individuals in Athens, where OU is located, began to gather supplies to make their own delivery. He and Sprague planned to deliver those supplies after they made the first run out of Lorain County.
Lorain County Voters are invited to the second of two consecutive nonpartisan Meet the Candidate events tonight at Lorain County Community College Spitzer Center.
Doors open at 5:30 for the 6-8 p.m. programs, in the Reaser Grand Ballroom. A social hour follows.
All candidates who appear on the ballot for the
n Ohio Flight Center
n 1War Clothing Company
n 1War Barbell Club
n American Legion Post 118
n Ohio University
n Elyria Chapter Eagles Club
Volunteers
n Civil Air Patrol volunteers from Lorain and Medina Counties
n Tap That Mobile Bar
n Schafer Excavating
Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.
following offices have been invited: The judgeships of the Court of Common Pleas, the Court of Common Pleas - Domestic Division, the County Prosector’s office and candidates for Ohio State House of Reps from the 52nd, 53rd, and 54th districts.
Wednesday night, commissioner, sheriff, treasurer, and recorder candidates appeared.
Candidates will give an opening and closing statement and answer questions prepared by the organizing committee as well as those offered by the attending audience. The programs were sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Lorain County and the Elyria YWCA dba The Lorain County Racial Equity Center and several affiliates.
Ganch Roice
OWEN MACMILLAN / COMMUNITY GUIDE
receive their blessing from
FEAST DAY OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Congregants bring pets to be blessed
The Community Guide
Dozens of congregants brought their pets to be blessed at St. Peter Parish in Lorain on Sunday for the Feast of St. Francis. In a short service, the Rev. Craig Hovanec recognized the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, which was on Friday. He then blessed each pet in attendance with holy water before
leading the crowd in prayer.
Hovanec said his pets have taught him how to care and love for another unconditionally.
“God has given to us his gifts,” Hovanec said. “Allow your fur babies to teach you things. Know that while they’re great to have them when they’re healthy, even when they’re more challenging it can teach us something.”
AMHERST BRIEFS
Spirits galore in cemetery walk
The “By My Lantern’s Light Cleveland Avenue Cemetery Walk” will be held on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20 from 3-5 p.m, at Cleveland Avenue Cemetery, 590 Cleveland Avenue, Amherst.
Tours start every 15 minutes – last tour begins at 4:30 p.m.
$5 per person – age 5 and under are free (pay the day of, at the cemetery) Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Please join us to meet some of Amherst’s historic spirits who will share their stories of days gone by.
Parking is right next door at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 115 Central Drive.St. Paul Lutheran Church is also providing refreshments (donations appreciated) as well as parking and restrooms.
For more info, please contact the Amherst Historical Society at 440-988-7255 or office@amhersthistoricalsociety.org. Veterans remembrance program
The American Veterans Remembrance Association and the Amherst Historical Society present The Best Years of our Lives!
This Free 1945 Living History Event will be held Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Nov. 10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sandstone Village, 763 Milan Avenue, Amherst.
Free shuttle and parking is at Amherst Junior High, 548 Milan Ave, Amherst. It is November 1945. WWII has ended, and millions of servicemen and women
are returning home to a greatly changed United States. Immerse yourself in the music, fashion, and culture of the era, and join us for a glimpse into The Best Years of Our Lives at this free living history event.
For more info, please contact the Amherst Historical Society at 440-988-7255 or office@amhersthistoricalsociety.org.
Amherst Rotary to meet Monday
The Amherst Ohio Area Rotary Club will be hosting its next meeting on Monday at noon at the Studio at Doc Watson’s Market.
The featured speaker will be local photographer Martin Olesky of Lorain365.com. Martin will be sharing his perspective on life through his lens. Rotary is a service-based organization that does various projects locally and internationally, including scholarships to two Amherst High seniors and one Amherst JVS senior.
The Amherst community has had a very robust rotary club since 1937.
More information at facebook.com/ share/1d4qzvww5Y4BF7MY/ Fire Dept. serving pancakes
The Amherst Fire Department will hold its annual Fire Prevention Week pancake breakfast and open house from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday at the Amherst Fire Department, 414 Church St., Amherst. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, milk coffee and orange juice. Donation accepted. Guests can tour the station and get their pictures with firefighter picture props.
RICHARD PERRINS / COMMUNITY GUIDE PHOTOS
Murphy, left, and Clancy
the Rev. Craig Hovanec at St. Peter Parish on Sunday. Clancy is a 7-month-old labrador retriever who is taken care of by Peggy and Barry Mason of Lorain.
Stella, a 6-year-old labrador retriever, eagerly awaits her blessing. Stella’s owner, Lorain resident Janet Burns, rescued her from a shelter a year and a half ago.
Art for autumn
John Benson
The Community Guide
Despite the fact that Mother Nature is only now showing no signs of cooling off, fall has officially arrived.
And, the Elyria Arts Council already has turned the page on the seasons with its new exhibit, “Stills in Orange and Yellows,” which will be on display through Oct. 19.
“I noticed that the leaves are beginning to wear their fall colors,” said Clint Rohrbacher, council co-founder and board of directors member.
“The spirit of autumn is rising and the spirits of our incredible artists are rising to welcome it.
“This is such a great idea, challenging our artists to create work using the fall pallet of colors. As this show clearly demonstrates, our artists meet any challenge with warmth and fearless creativity.”
The exhibit features colors throughout different media and subjects involving fruit, flowers, leaves and collages that represent inanimate objects.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Elyria Arts Council presents “Stills in Orange and Yellows” WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesdays through Saturdays now through Oct. 19
WHERE: Elyria Arts Council, 336 Broad St., Elyria INFO: (440) 328-3025 or elyriaartscouncil.org
Participating artists with watercolor, photography, oil and acrylic works include Martha Aherns, Peg Asensio, Edward Cebulla and Megan Rowe.
As far as the display is concerned, Rowe said it’s always positive to have people looking at art from a new perspective.
“I always find the colors yellow and orange exciting because they’re so bright,” said Rowe, a former board member.
“And one way that I make those colors
Arts Council unveils
come to life is a juxtaposition with their complements, which is usually purple is the complement of yellow, blue is the complement of orange and green is a complement of red.”
That’s exactly what “Stills in Orange and Yellows” display viewers will experience across the handful of Rowe pieces.
“I have one of bright yellow sunflowers and the background behind them,” she said. “The side light coming from them is yellow like the flowers, but it gradates into the blues and purples.
“Another one is a still life from Carlisle Reservation of the Lorain County Metro Parks. It’s from a fall walk. That’s a still life in nature.”
Something else at play is the fact that fall is Rowe’s favorite season.
“That’s because it’s so colorful,” she said. “It’s just breathtaking. As an artist, my life is a lot about color. I hope everybody appreciates the seasonal thing.”
Contact John Benson at ndiffrence@att.net.
TechCorps honors Oberlin High students
BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETING DATES ALL MEETINGS WILL BE Live Streamed @ http://oberlinoh.swagit.com/live
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A page for your life’s good news go to www.chroniclet.com/milestones
CITY OF OBERLIN ,OHIO
The Community Guide OBERLIN – TechCorps presented pre-apprenticeship certificates to Oberlin High School students at the Oberlin City School District Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2024. Students receiving the pre-apprenticeship certificates were Jalynn Williams, Jaiden Strayer, Erica O’Neal, Preston Cawthern, Matthew DeWitt, Asmit Mehta and A’son Bell.
According to TechCorps Regional Manager NEO Michelle Moore, the purpose of the innova-
NOTICEISHEREBY GIVEN:
That theCityofOberlin is accepting applications from residents whowishto applytoserve on theCity’ sBoards or Commissions forterms beginning January1,2025.
Applications andinformation regarding thesevacanciesare availa bleatthe Clerk of Council’s Off ice, located at 85 South Main Street,Oberlin, Ohio 44074. Application scan also be completed online at the City’s website : www.cityofoberlin. com.
Please return applications to theOberlin Clerkof Council.Off ice hoursare Monday through Fridayf rom 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
tive program is to prepare students for the workforce by teaching them hands-on skills that they practice and use while in the pre-apprenticeship training.
“These skills include technical skills, such as hardware, software, networking; tech support; customer relations; and professional/durable skills such as critical thinking,” Moore said.
Students also had the opportunity to connect with local tech professionals and explore tech fields, Oberlin City School District Director of Family and Family Support Jay Nimene said at the Board of Education meeting.
“In-demand tech skills prepare high school students for future careers, enhance problem-solving, and foster innovation in a digital world,” Nimene said.
Oberlin High School senior Matthew DeWitt said TechCorps was a fun way to learn web development.
“For me, the program taught me how to develop professional-looking websites and also helped me learn what it means to work as a team with other likeminded individuals on such a project,” Matthew Dewitt said. “The program provided useful information and tools to help me on my career path that I intend to
pursue. I have always had a passion for computers, and working with coding in this program will be very helpful in the profession of computer hardware engineering.”
Students participated in the program from June 10 to July 19 at Lorain County Community College. This summer, the program was funded by Nordson and The Community Foundation of Lorain County.
The Ghostly Gala, presented by the Oberlin SCAREitage Center, will be held from 7-11 p.m. on Oct. 19 at the New Russia Township Lodge (Cedar East), 46300 Butternut Ridge Road. Tickets are $45 (this is a 21 and up event) ($40 for OHC members). Reserve a table for six to save on admission. Register online at oberlinheritagecenter. org. by Tuesday. You get two drink tickets (cash bar for additional drinks), a ghoulishly good selection of hors d’oeuvres and sweets and music by DJ Dolla Bill (Billie Neadham). There will be awards for best costumes.
PHOTO PROVIDED
The fall-themed exhibit features colors throughout different media and subjects, such as Peg Asensio’s “Orange Collage.”
PHOTO PROVIDED Oberlin High School senior Matthew DeWitt accepts his preapprenticeship certificate from Oberlin City School District Director of Student and Family Support Services Mr. Jay Nimene.
Get ready to be spooked at Ghostly Gala
Owen MacMillan
The Community Guide
A Grafton local favorite is set to hit the national stage, as Check Please Cafe will be featured in a future episode of “America’s Best Restaurants.”
Patrons were joined by host and a camera crew as one of ABR’s two vans traveling the country stopped by the restaurant at 597 Main St., Grafton.
“America’s Best Restaurants” is an online outlet that showcases some of the best eateries across the country, based on their menus, reviews and customer recommendations.
Check Please owner Tara Vruvas said that her restaurant was nominated by a customer.
“It’s awesome that a customer thought highly enough of us to throw our name in the ring,” she said. Tara Vruvas and her husband, Mike, founded Check Please with two goals in mind; to provide healthy, local food and to provide it however their customers want it.
“We focus on local supplies like a local coffee roaster, local milk and then also cleaner foods and making things from scratch,” Vruvas said. “We can do a lot of things that are low carb, keto diets, gluten-free, vegan … because it can be hard for those people to find something that they want to eat at some places.”
Vruvas said that when she and her husband began thinking about the idea of opening their own restaurant, some of the more particular eaters in their family came to mind.
“Every time we would go out to eat he (my husband) is like ‘I can’t have anything with mushrooms on it,’ my sister can’t even have onion on the plate,” Vruvas said. “So it was like, what if we opened a restaurant and people told us what to make them and you didn’t have to overcome that awkwardness of ‘I’d really like this, but can you make it without this and this?’ I said what if we just got rid of that pain point and people told us what to make.”
The solution was Check Please’s unique “checklist” ordering system, which allows customers to build their own meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Mother, daughter killed Saturday in Wakeman
Carissa Woytach
The Community Guide
A mother and daughter killed in a house fire Saturday morning have been identified by the Huron County coroner.
Dr. Jeffrey Harwood identified the deceased as Cynthia Jackson and her 12-year-old daughter, Nichole “Zoey” Senghas. The pair died in their Verlin Street home in Wakeman on Saturday. Zoey had Angelman syndrome, a genetic condition causing developmental delays, problems with speech and balance, and sometimes seizures.
Wakeman Fire was called to the home around 8:15 a.m. Saturday. On arrival the fire had spread to multiple rooms.
Fire Chief David Wilson said the family was well-known to the department, as Cynthia Jackson’s father, Robert Jackson, was a longtime member of the Wakeman Fire Department.
The fire remains under investigation by the state fire marshal.
Jared Clay, public information officer, said foul play is not suspected and there were working smoke detectors in the home at the time of the blaze.
In 2018, The Chronicle-Telegram spoke to Zoey’s parents, Jackson and Nick Senghas, about her condition. Zoey was 6 years old at the time and received medication to control her seizures and tremors, and physical, occupational and speech therapy. Zoey was able to walk and communicate via an app, but was otherwise nonverbal.
Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.
Carissa Woytach
The Community Guide
At its peak, Lorain’s steel mills earned the city its nickname: the International City. It was an industry that employed thousands, drawing workers from Europe, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the southern United States. Now, there is a skeleton crew at Republic Steel not big enough to keep the vandals or weeds at bay, and U.S. Steel has fared no better.
There has been a steel mill, under one name or another, stretching along East 28th Street since the 1890s. Most recently those owners have been Republic Steel — now a subsidiary of Mexico’s Grupo Simec — and U.S. Steel Corp. Republic idled its Lorain plant in 2016; and U.S. Steel in 2020. Dominic Cataldo remembers Lorain’s heyday. He remembers the bars along East 28th Street that catered to the mill workers — loud and lively, so many you could never visit them all in
“You can create your own omelet, create your own sandwich or salad, it’s really what — I think — is a lot of the draw of coming here,” Vruvas said. “That and the clean eating.”
one night — and the money that flowed easily. And he remembers when it all fell apart.
“I think I caught the tail end of the Golden Age of the worker,” he said.
“And I pray that I’m wrong on that statement, and I hope there’s a resurgence. … I was no one special, just born at the right time.”
Cataldo, a member of United Steelworkers Local 1104, had not planned to work at Republic Steel like the rest of his family. It was where both his grandfathers had worked as fresh-off-the-boat immigrants from Italy, and later his uncles, aunts and countless others of the brood that settled in south Lorain had spent their time earning a living.
When Cataldo started at the mill in March 1969, it was not the highest paying job in the city — he could have made more at a grocery store. But it was stable, and, by then, it had a union.
There were “gravy” jobs,
The “America’s Best Restaurants” crew said that Vruvas and the Check Please staff will be featured on the outlet’s online show sometime in the next two to three months.
Keep an eye on the res-
he said, and there were absolutely brutal roles in the plant. Some were labor intensive and dangerous, like the blast furnace.
Some cost men their lives, not to mention countless injuries, he said. It was not easy, the rotating shifts changing days off so the mill could hire fewer workers. But Cataldo
taurant’s Facebook page, where the feature will be reposted once it is live. Check Please is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and can be found at checkpleasecafe.com.
Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 3297123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.
spent nearly 35 years there mostly as an armature winder, on and off through layoffs and callbacks.
“It was the whole existence of Lorain, the steel mill,” he said.
It was an industry that supported Lorain for nearly 130 years, Cataldo said.
“You thought it would never go away,” he said.
When the mill boomed, Lorain was golden — and the county along with it.
It was a middle-class job, he said. While workers always wanted a bigger paycheck and better benefits, they had stability.
“That’s why I wish it was still there, because jobs are the bottom line,” Cataldo said.
At its peak, Lorain boasted about 78,000 residents, according to the 1970 census. Since then, it has been on a steady decline. It is not alone.
Youngstown’s population loss has knocked it down to the bottom of the list for Ohio’s 10 largest cities, with Lorain now standing at No. 9.
BRUCE BISHOP / COMMUNITY GUIDE
A memorial is seen outside the Verlin Street home in Wakeman where Cynthia Jackson and her daughter, Nichole “Zoey” Senghas, died Saturday.
Oberlin Girls Soccer vs Firelands
Oberlin hosts Firelands in their second meeting of the season and the conference leading Firelands. Firelands picked up where they left off in the first meeting, controlling the ball, scoring early and frustrating Oberlin most of the night on their way to a 5-0 win over Oberlin.
Oberlin Boys Soccer vs Firelands
Firelands’ Mikey Janosik gets the ball past Oberlin keeper John McMillionJarven and defender Ashton
no
Oberlin’s Kylie Walter blocks a pass by Firelands’ Hazel Littleton.
Firelands’ Ariannah Floyd turns with the ball past Oberlin’s Melody Cyrus.
Oberlin keeper Michaela Streator collects a Firelands shot.
Oberlin celebrates their four 2024 Boys Soccer Seniors Daylon Mason, Luke Peterson, Justin Chambers and Winston Melzer on Senior Night.
Oberlin’s Ashton Stephens knocks the ball away from Firelands’ Mikey Janosik.
Oberlin celebrated their four 2024 Boys Soccer Seniors. Firelands spoiled the celebration by scoring seven goals and holding the hosts to
goals for a dominating win.
Wellington Volleyball vs Mapleton
Wellington celebrates their two 2024 Volleyball Seniors, Brooke Lehmkuhl and Danica Borzy against Mapleton.
Wellington’s Kalynne Pickering gets a hit against Mapleton.
Wellington celebrates their two 2024 Volleyball Seniors with a 3-0 sweep of Mapleton.
Wellington’s Lauren Vannatter prepares a set against Mapleton.
Photos by Russ Gifford / LCCG
Avon K of C plans firearm safety training
On Oct. 17 at 6 p.m., the Knights of Columbus Council 3269 in Knights of Columbus will host Kevin Arocho, President of Arocho Firearms LLC, and a member of his staff (Heather) for a free mini-class including informing and training attendees on gun safety at Ragan Hall, 1783 Moore Road, Avon. They will talk about the Rules of Firearm Safety, home security; creation of a home defense plan; legal use of force responsibilities; and aftermath of an encounter.
Please RSVP by Oct. 14 to rudybreglia@gmail.com. Snacks and refreshments will be served. Bring a friend. Public is welcome.
Free Clinic annual steak fry Oct. 18
The 24nd Annual Lorain County Free Clinic Steak Fry Benefit will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Oct. 18 at the Eagles, 1161 Milan Avenue, Amherst.
Tickets are $25 and include steak, potato, salad, desert and beverages. You can by tickets at lcfreeclinic.org, by emailing paul@lcfreeclinic.org or calling 440-277-6641. All proceeds support the work of the Free Clinic and help provide medical care to the underserved in Lorain and eastern Erie counties.
For more information, contact Paul Baumgartner at 440-315-9012.
Empty Bowls by the Lake plans fundraiser
Guests are invited on Oct. 19 to a simple meal of soup and bread served at ALHS from 11am- 2pm. In exchange for a $25 donation, guests will be asked to keep a bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world.
The event will include live entertainment and a silent auction.
All proceeds benefit Second Harvest Food Bank and other local community resource centers and food banks. When you give to Empty Bowls by the Lake, you are helping feed the hungry and to spread the word about the need that exists all around us.
Please email us at EmptyBowlsByTheLake@gmail. com if you’d like to help in any way.
Avon Democratic Club to meet
The Avon Democratic Club will hold its next meeting today at 6:30 p.m. at the Avon Library, 37485 Harvest Drive. We will discuss the upcoming election and what we can personally do to elect local and national Democratic candidates.
Local candidates will also be present to meet in person and provide their signage.
More information at https://www.avonohdems.com.
Last County Action Plan summit Oct. 22
The Lorain County Strategic Action Plan Final Summit will be held at the Spitzer Conference Center, Lorain County Community College, 1005 Abbe Rd N Elyria, on Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to noon.
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The Final Summit will be the culmination of the work from the Lorain County Strategic Action Plan process, launched in March.
The Final Summit will include a presentation of the short, medium and long-term actions that have been established from the Task Force sessions.
Oberlin Library board to meet
The Oberlin Public Library Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting at the library today at 5 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.
Lost Houses of Lorain County program
A review of selected historic houses and the case for historic preservation and architectural salvage will be the topic of a free program at 7 p.m. today at Pittsfield Township Hall, State Routes 58 & 303, just south of Oberlin.
The presentation will be given by Col. Matt W. Nahorn, owner and manager of the New Indian Ridge Museum on Cooper-Foster Park Road, in Amherst.He will talk about the houses from which the salvaged doors, windows, and other architectural features have been saved.
Avon historians plan spooky Halloween talk
The Avon Historical Society will have a program called “Halloween, Our Spookiest Holiday” at 7 p.m. today at the Olde Town Hall at the corner of Detroit and Stoney Ridge. For more information, go to www.avonhistory.org.
Ebony and Ivory Piano Wars
The Rotary Club of Oberlin will hold a piano wars program at 6 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Oh-Ky Adc of Bricklayers, 45960 Telegraph Road, Amherst.
Enjoy a fun night of fellowship and fundraising. Cocktails, dinner and entertainment are included with your ticket. $75 each Venmo @OberlinRotaryClub, PayPal @ Rotary Club of Oberlin OH, DACdb, or Check to PO Box 123 Oberlin, OH 44074. No tickets sold at door.
Avon-Avon Lake GOP to meet
The Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club will meet at 5 p.m. today in Ragan Hall, 1783 Moore Road, Avon. County official Rob Berner will talk about how the reappraisals were derived; the impact on our property taxes and Ohio’s solutions. What about school levies? Tom Hach, executive director of Free Ohio Now/State Director of Ohio Freedom Action Network, will speak about his actions to perpetuate our God-given inalienable rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Also speaking will be John Prajzner, assistant to the Lorain County Recorder and candidate for Lorain County Treasurer.
Oberlin Parents Weekend tours Nov. 8-10 Oberlin College’s Parents & Family Weekend is one of the Oberlin Heritage Center’s last big tour weekends of the year. Tours will be open to the public as well as to campus visitors.
Nov. 8: Oberlin Origins Self-Guided Tour of the Monroe House 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Guided tour of the Jewett House 1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Nov. 9: Oberlin Origins Self-Guided Tour of the Monroe House 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Freedom’s Friends History Walk 10:30
LUIS VISALDEN JR. Respondent CDCD098494 NOTICE REGARDING ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE TO THE ABOVE-NAMED
RESPONDENT: You are notified that there is now on file in the office of the Clerk of Court for the Iowa District Court in and for Polk County an order to show cause in the above referenced matter. The Petitioner’s attorney is: Kenneth J. Weiland Jr., 1414 12TH Street, Suite A, Des Moines, Iowa 50314; PH: (515) 419-1626; Email: weilandlaw@gmail.com You are further notified that the order to show cause requires an appearance on November 6, 2024 at 10:00am at the Historic Courthouse, 500 Mulberry Street, Room 140, Des Moines, Iowa 50309. If you fail to appear at the date and time referenced herein you are subject to having a warrant for your arrest being issued and being arrested and held until such time that you can appear before the Court to answer to the Order to Show Cause. This case has been filed in a county that uses electronic filing. You must register to eFile through the Iowa Judicial Branch website at https://www.iowacourts.state. ia.us/Efile and obtain a log in and password for filing and viewing documents in your case and for receiving service notices from the Court.
o For general rules and information on electronic filing, refer to the Iowa Court Rules Chapter 16 Pertaining to the Use of the Electronic Document Management System, available on the Iowa Judicial Branch website.
o For Court rules on the Protection of Personal Privacy in Court filings, refer to Division VI of the Iowa Court Rules Chapter 16.
o If you are unable to proceed electronically, you must receive permission from the Court to file in paper. Contact the clerk of Court in the county where the petition was filed for more information on being excused from electronic filing.
If you electronically file your Answer or Motion, it will be served automatically on Petitioner or on Petitioner’s attorney(s). A Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) will tell you if the Court has excused Petitioner from electronic filing. If the Court has excused Petitioner from electronic filing, you must mail a copy of your Answer or Motion to Petitioner. If you need
Can you taste the difference between an apple,a potato and an onion? Believe it or not, it is difficult to taste the differencebetween a potato and an onion if you can’tsmell it. Don’tbelieve me? Trymy experiment!
STUFF Y ’LL NEED:
Grate the apple,potato and onion separately Wash the graterbefore grating each of the foods. Puteachgrated food in aseparate bowl
Blindfold afriend or partner. Have your partnerholdtheir nose tightly
Replace the missing words.
Placea small amount(about ¼teaspoon)ofone of the foods on your friend’stongue.Tell your friendnot to chew the food,but to roll it around their mouth. Askyour friend to guess which food is in their mouth
Repeatwith each of the foods. Besureto have your friendrinse theirmouth between tastings.Dothree taste tests with eachfood item.Use the charttokeep track of the taste tests.
The rstpotato chips were a rare and treat, servedonly at special
That wasbecause it took a long time to potatoes by hand.
Then in 1920, withthe of the mechanical potato peeler, potatochips jumped from a specialrestauranttreat to a top-selling food.
he “Keystone State”could also be called thePotatoChip State, sinceit’sknown as theChip Capital of theWorld! Dozensof snack food companies got their start in thisstate. Usethe code to find out thenameofthisstate.
Today, Americans more potato chips than anyother people in theworld. We eat about 1.85 billion pounds each_______. That’s an average of about6.6 pounds perperson!
With hundreds of topics,every KidScoop printable activitypack features six-to-seven pages of high-interest extra learning activities forhomeand school! Getyour free sample todayat:
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