Lorain County Community Guide 6-13-24

Annoying little harbingers of summer are back

BRUCE BISHOP / COMMUNITY GUIDE

Scary-looking but harmless, mayflies cling to the window of Vermilion City Hall.

Crowd gathers to help fledgling caught in fence Watchers were really hawk-eyed

Owen MacMillan

The Community Guide

When Lorain resident Jerry Fleming spotted a crowd gathered around a fledgling hawk huddled against a fence at Lakeview Park on Friday, he feared something was wrong and swooped into action.

“I just pulled up and they were here, so I came over to see what was wrong with him,” Fleming said.

“... I thought maybe he was caught in the fence and I just had gloves on me, so I went over to see if I could get him untangled.

Fleming got a hold of the hawk, who let out a loud screech as he was apprehended. The group then began debating what to do next.

Eventually, Janice Farrall, who volunteers to rescue injured wildlife, was brought in to take the bird to the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center to be checked.

Farrall said the hawk was a fledgling, perhaps still learning how to fly. She said that he appeared to be in fine shape, but that she would take him in just to be sure.

“Everybody said he got stuck in the fence so that’s my guess,” Farrall said.

Owen MacMillan

The Community Guide

In one of the surest — though certainly not the most popular — harbingers of summer in northern Ohio, the first large flock of mayflies has descended upon Lorain County. A swarm of the bugs, also known as Canadian soldiers, large enough to appear like a large cloud on the National Weather Service Cleveland’s Doppler radar flew in last week.

“It’s not unusual for our

Doppler radar to detect mayflies this time of year,” NWS meteorologist Keith Jaszka said. “It does seem to be at least once or twice this time of year that there will be a swarm large enough that they show up as weak radar echoes.”

The appearance on the radar was no issue to the weather service, Jaszka said, as its meteorologists on the Great Lakes have a wealth of experience spotting those pesky blips and sorting them out from real

“Stuck in the fence, we’ll check his wings and make sure there’s no breaks. If there’s any breaks (the science center) will do a wing wrap or a leg wrap, I usually don’t do the rehab.”

At the Lake Erie Nature and Science center, the young bird received a clean bill of health, so Farrall sim-

The Taste of History Canteen Pub Crawl is tonight from 7-10 p.m. in downtown Amherst. Alcohol will be allowed on the streets in designated areas. There will be military vehicles in the streets and reenactors in uniform and period dress. For people coming to the Canteen Crawl, please help welcome and meet reenactors from multiple states who are making The Taste of History possible, while supporting local businesses.

ply returned him to a tree in Lakeview Park healthy and happy, although perhaps a bit annoyed.

Whatever the hawk’s feelings on the encounter, Fleming said he was happy to help ensure the young bird was OK.

“It’s cool to be that close to one, for sure,” he said.

For reenactors who can attend, please dress in your uniform or period civilian attire. Some businesses are even decorating their windows like last year to welcome everyone, as well as to celebrate our freedom.

This is the official kick-

off for Military History Preservation Group and the Amherst Historical Society’s The Taste of History, Friday and Saturday, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at Sandstone Village. For more information, see Page A7 or office@ amhersthistoricalsociety.

weather patterns.

“We are well-versed in how they appear on doppler radar, as are our meteorologists at nearby stations including in Detroit,” he said.

“We’ve never been confused by mayfly-related radar echoes … they look like relatively smooth blobs and look quite different from rain showers, for example.”

It is not unusual for insects to appear on the radar between 1,000 and 4,000 feet, Jaszka said.

Jaszka said this is also very common, as the mayflies spawn predominantly in the shallower, warmer waters of western Lake Erie and come down to earth as they move to the southeast. Jaszka said as is the experience of just about anyone who grew up on the shores of Lake Erie, Lorain County is likely due for at least a couple more major swarms this summer.

Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.

NOACA acts on charging stations

I-90 widening, bike maps for region also in the works

The Community Guide

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, or NOACA, board of directors has taken several actions that will affect Lorain County.

The NOACA board approved Phase 2 of its electric vehicle, or EV, charging design and installation program to design and install EV charging stations in Lorain, Cuyahoga, Medina, Geauga and Lake counties at a cost of $18.75 million.

NOACA’s Long Range Plan and Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP, also was amended to include four projects worth $250 million.

One is the nearly $144 million Interstate 90 rehabilitation and repavement project, which involves the addition of another lane to

convert from four to six lanes from the Ohio Turnpike booth to the French Creek Bridge in Lorain County.

The board also approved a contract with Tierra Plan worth $120,500 to develop a web-based application for NOACA’s bicycle maps in each of the five counties it serves.

The maps currently are only available in hard copy or in PDF on the NOACA website.

“The maps provide cyclists with the location of bike routes and facilities throughout the region and are unique in that they highlight the level of traffic stress that vehicular traffic imposes on cyclists along these routes. The maps also include information about amenities, such as points of interest along routes.

BRUCE BISHOP / COMMUNITY GUIDE

This fledgling red shouldered hawk, found against the fence on the baseball field in Lakeview Park, keeps an eye on his rescuers. Taste of History Canteen

the scene of a fatal truck crash into a home on Lakeview Drive in Carlisle Township last week.

Family spared, driver dies when truck hits house

Richard Perrins

The Community Guide

Bill Foglyano said he and his wife, Robin, would be sitting in their living room on an average morning.

But, last Tuesday morning, they were outside in their backyard working on their new shed.

The shed may have saved their lives.

At 10:52 a.m. Tuesday, Foglyano heard a car accelerating down Lakeview Drive in Carlisle Township. A white GMC Sierra traveling east drove off Lakeview Drive, through a row of bushes two houses down and past several trees in Foglyano’s neighbor’s front yard before crashing into the front of his house at 54 Lakeview Drive, according to a news release from the Elyria Post of the State Highway Patrol.

The driver, Erik Traxler, a 50-year-old man from Grafton, was pronounced dead at the scene, the release stated.

Foglyano said the truck was bouncing through the yard of the neighboring house about 20 feet away from him before it crashed.

When the truck stopped, protruding out of the front of his house with the engine still running, he tried to reach in through the truck’s broken window to turn off the ignition, cutting his arm on the glass.

The crash caused extensive visible damage to the front of the house, including the dining room and living room where Foglyano said he would have been sitting. The family’s dog was inside the house at the time of the crash but was not injured.

The crash remains under investigation by the State Highway Patrol.

State to increase enforcement in effort to curb work zone crashes

The Community Guide

The state has announced a new initiative intended to curb reckless driving and reduce crashes within road work zones.

The initiative will be a collaboration between the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Ohio Highway Patrol, Gov. Mike DeWine said.

“Drivers are expected to slow down and pay attention in work zones, yet unsafe driving in road construction areas continues to be a serious problem,” DeWine said.

“I’ve asked the Ohio State Highway Patrol to dedicate more resources to patrolling work zones, and troopers will have no tolerance for reckless drivers.

“We’re doing this not only to protect road workers but for the safety of all travelers.”

The state said that increased enforcement in work zones would include additional troopers monitoring those zones, including motorcycle and aviation units.

Troopers would focus on what the release called “crash-causing violations” such as exceeding the speed limit, driving impaired and driving distracted.

“As our thoughts turn to warmer temperatures, graduations, family vacations and trips to the ball

This map shows the 10 “priority enforcement zones”

fields, it is important to remember the vital message that moving over, slowing down and paying attention to flashing lights can and does save lives,” Ohio Highway Patrol

Superintendent Col. Charles Jones said in a release.

More than 500 active road construction projects are ongoing in the state, with nearly 1,000 more slated to start before the end of the summer, according to the release.

“OSHP and ODOT are coordinating to ensure that each work zone

experiences increased enforcement, with a particular focus on longterm work zone sites where crashes and reckless driving are frequent,” the release said.

Though increased enforcement could impact any work zone, the release included a list of 10 “priority enforcement zones.”

None of those priority zones are in Lorain County, but there are two in Northeast Ohio: Interstate 90 in Cuyahoga County and Interstate 77 in Summit County.

The release said there have been 26,000 work zone crashes in Ohio, which have resulted in over 9,000 injuries since 2019. In that same span 99 people have died, including nine road workers.

“When you arrive at a highway work zone, please be patient and aware of the surroundings all around the work zone,” said Linda Cook, whose husband Steve was killed in 2017 while working in a construction zone in Columbus.

“Please be kind and try to respect all the highway workers because, at the end of the day, they just want to go home to their families as well.”

Along with the increased enforcement, ODOT is expanding efforts to educate the driving public about the importance of moving over and slowing down in work zones.

Ohio law requires drivers to move over when passing a vehicle on the side of the road with flashing lights or to slow down if moving over is not possible.

“Whether they are in a work zone or responding to an incident, roadside workers need your help to keep them safe,” ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks said in the release.

“Please move over and slow down, but above all pay attention.”

New exhibit brings together ‘People’

John Benson The Community Guide

Getting to know folks is often easier said than done.

That’s why the Elyria Arts Council is presenting new exhibit

“People” now through June 27 at its Broad Street venue.

“This show is about people because they are interesting subjects in many ways,” said EAC board member Deb Martin, who is cocurating the exhibit.

“We were pleasantly surprised to see artists who don’t normally work on people took this challenge on in so many mediums.”

Participating in the exhibit are watercolor artists Lisha Nasipak, Megan Rowe and Nancy Kuhn; oil painters David Pavlak and Marilynn Kerchenske; sterling silver artist Debra Martin; acrylic artists Peg Asensio and Floyd Kemp; glass fusion artist Jackie LaGrotteria and digital design artist Sara Fenik.

For Grafton resident and Lorain County native Kuhn, the “People” exhibit allowed her the opportunity to share the inside jokes enjoyed with her friends.

“I have a couple of small paintings from pictures that I’ve taken with my friends, who get together and tend to get a little bit goofy,” she said.

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“It’s a lot of fun. When the Elyria Arts Council said they wanted to do an exhibit on people, they were the first ones that came to mind.”

Goofiness galore will be on display in her works “Squirts,” “Games” and “Spoons.”

The latter finds folks getting creative with ice cream spoons.

“It’s simple fun,” she said.

An Elyria Arts Council member for three years, Kuhn has an associate degree in fine art.

When she’s not crafting, the artist can be found creating stone artwork.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Elyria Arts Council presents “People” WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays through June 27 WHERE: Elyria Arts Council, 336 Broad St., Elyria INFO: (440) 328-3025 or elyriaartscouncil.org

“It’s important for people to realize that there are local artists in the area,” she said. “It can be

something fun for you, something that attracts your spirit and makes you feel like you’re a part of that scene.”

EAC co-founder and board of directors member Clint Rohrbacher said the “People” display epitomizes the spirit of the organization and gallery.

“At a time when it seems like some people are not getting along very well, we thought that maybe taking a fresh look at ourselves — at people — would bring the healing power of art where it is needed most.”

BRUCE BISHOP / COMMUNITY GUIDE

Firefighters work

IMAGE PROVIDED

“At a time when it seems like some people are not getting along very well, we thought that maybe taking a fresh look at ourselves — at people — would bring the healing power of art where it is needed most,” says Elyria Arts Council board member Deb Martin, who is co-curating the “People” exhibit.

Columbia Gas volunteer Maria Dobos plants native species as part of a new pollinator garden at Powers Elementary School in Amherst.

Powers pollinator garden is living lesson for students

Carissa Woytach

The Community Guide

AMHERST — Next school year, students at Powers Elementary School will be able to watch indigenous plants and flowers grow in real time, all without leaving school property.

Volunteers have planted a pollinator garden at the district’s elementary building, with plans to expand it next year to include a storybook trail.

Marion L. Steele High School teacher Kim Haney and her medical health technology students kick-started the garden last year, after winning a sustainability contest sponsored by Domino’s Pizza to fund a “Going Green and Gold” sustainability fair.

As part of that fair, Haney contacted Brandi Schnell, Lorain County Solid Waste Management District community outreach coordinator.

“A few weeks later she called, she said you know what, I think we can do more,” Haney said. “Here we are, fast forward, to doing more.”

The “more” was planting a pollinator garden at Powers Elementary. But the program will not stop there, Haney said. Her junior students this year won another contest hosted by Corteva Agriscience, granting them $2,500, alongside another $1,000 from a contest hosted by the NFL — all of which will be used to build a storybook trail starting in the pollinator garden and wrapping around the elementary school.

“We need to bring more awareness of pollinators and the younger we start teaching people, the further it goes,” Haney said, adding later that the storybook trail builds science, literacy and physical activity for students.

Junior Marin Tellier, 17, who was part of the group that won the Corteva Agri-

science contest, said the group was handed the initial pollinator garden by last year’s graduates.

“They’ll be able to learn about the plants that are growing and they will all be indigenous plants of Ohio. … We’ll be making (the storybook trail) super interchangeable,” Tellier said. “So if the teachers want to make it part of their lesson plan they can change it out.”

Schnell said when Mike Mennett, executive director of Keep Ohio Beautiful wanted to put another pollinator garden in Lorain County, she thought of the ongoing sustainability programs at Amherst Schools and reached out to Haney.

“To have this whole collaborative effort come together and be this whole teaching and learning experience for students, that is everything I had wanted for this project,” Schnell said.

“And then the storybook trail when that goes in later this is going to be a really great space for years and years to come.”

Keep Ohio Beautiful is a statewide nonprofit working to reduce litter, promote recycling and beautify outdoor spaces in the state. Its local affiliate is Keep Lorain County Beautiful.

Mennett said the space is also a collaboration with the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative, which will provide wildflower and milkweed seeds to be planted in the fall to fill in the rest of the garden.

In total, 16 flats of 544 native plants and 10 native trees were planted in the Powers Elementary garden by volunteers from Columbia Gas. Davey Tree provided the plants and helped guide volunteers on how and where to plant them within the space.

The pollinator garden at Powers is the 17th completed by Keep Ohio Beautiful, Mennett said. Its first garden was at the Middle Ridge Turnpike Plaza in Amherst.

Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@ chroniclet.com.

AMHERST POLICE BLOTTER

Friday, May 3

12:58 p.m. — police department, fraud reported. Tuesday, May 14

3:21 p.m. — 712 N. Leavitt Road, private property accident at Speedway.

Monday, May 28

2:02 p.m. — 100 block of North Lake Street, welfare check requested for an adult man with autism; it was determined that a domestic dispute occurred and the man was sent to his mother’s residence.

2:50 p.m. — 1400 Cooper Foster Park Road, report of a breaking and entering; the business did not want to file a report.

5:53 p.m. — state Route 58, traffic stop; citation issued for driving under suspension and

expired plates. Wednesday, May 30 2 a.m. — 800 block of South Lake Street, an open 911 call sent officers to a home where an elderly female could be heard mumbling on the line. The woman could be seen inside, lying on the floor and in need of immediate help. Emergency medical help was summoned and it was determined the woman was a hospice patient. Minor comfort care was provided. 5:30 p.m. — 493 Cleveland Ave., officers were called to Hot Dog Heaven for a disturbance; a 14-year-old was charged with menacing and disorderly conduct. He was released to a guardian.

7:38 p.m. — 8000 Oak Point Road, report of shoplifting at

Columbia Gas volunteers Danny Whitlock, left, and Dan Kennedy plant native species as part of a new pollinator garden at Powers Elementary School in Amherst.

CARISSA WOYTACH / CHRONICLE

Target; suspect fled the store before officers arrived but a suspect was identified and a warrant for theft and criminal tools was sought through Oberlin Municipal Court.

Thursday, May 31 9 a.m. — Cleveland Avenue, traffic stop; citations issued for driving under suspension and expired plates.

Monday, June 3 9:09 a.m. — police department, fraud reported. 10:31 a.m. — 200 block of North Leavitt Road, harassment reported at a local massage business when an employee’s girlfriend’s ex-husband wrote a bad Yelp review and threatened to “take it to the media.”

Cities can become ‘dementia-friendly’

Richard Perrins

The Community Guide

In 2022, Terri Lanham was working at an information session for dementia care at the North Ridgeville branch of the Lorain Public Library. After the session, a woman came up to her, crying, and said the session gave her information she hadn’t been able to access before.

“That’s when I decided we have to do something,” Lanham said. “People need to know there are resources available.”

Since 2021, Lanham, a resident of North Ridgeville, has been a care coordinator for Kendal at Home, a Quaker-based organization that helps provide resources

Sewer, bridge, airport projects get OK

Dave O’Brien The Community Guide

The Lorain County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved several contracts for sewer, bridge and other projects in the county. The largest of these is a $500,000 grant contract with the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Office of Aviation for the second phase of pavement and public apron rehabilitation at the Lorain County Regional Airport in New Russia Township. The county’s local share of the cost is $64,640, according to the board’s agenda.

Paving, runway grooving and striping work are, or have been, ongoing at the airport over the past month. Runway and airport closures are expected on and off for the next several weeks, according to county officials.

A second large contract worth $497,226 was approved with Fechko Excavating of Medina for the Forestview Street sanitary sewer extension project in Columbia Township. Fechko’s was the best of six bids received May 9, according to the board’s agenda.

A total of 1,964 linear feet of 10-inch sanitary sewer pipe will be installed along the entire length of Forestview Street by Nov. 30. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District will reimburse the county 50 percent of the cost, according to the board.

The board also entered into a consulting agreement worth $9,900 for an underwater inspection of the East 31st Street Bridge in Lorain and agreed to cooperate with the city of North Ridgeville on the replacement of the Chestnut Ridge Road bridge in that city.

and support for older adults planning to live in their own homes, many of whom have dementia.

This year, Lanham was part of a team that successfully applied for North Ridgeville to be designated as a “dementia-friendly” community by Dementia Friendly America, a national outreach organization. The city is one of just seven such communities in Ohio and the only one in Lorain County, according to dfamerica.org/community-directory.

Emily Lockshine, administrator for North Ridgeville’s Office for Older Adults and Senior Center, also was part of the team that applied for the designation. Lockshine said the senior center

has resources for the community to use regarding dementia care, and she said the office’s next steps after the designation will be to get more individuals in the community to attend educational sessions and become “dementia friends.”

Lockshine also said the office will focus on outreach to schools and the business community, especially businesses that are public-facing.

“Our presentations talk about the myths of what it’s like for an individual to have dementia, how family members and caregivers can support that individual and resources that are available,”

Lockshine said. “That’s the overarching message we want people to walk away with … individuals

knowing they can contact our office for resources and support.”

Jason Jacobs, president of North Ridgeville City Council, introduced a resolution at the Council meeting on Monday that supported the effort to get the designation and declared June as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month in the city. The resolution was passed unanimously.

Lanham said she’s proud North Ridgeville received the designation, but said her work isn’t finished. She said she’s looking for other communities in Lorain County to help them get started and improve their outreach for people with dementia.

“We’re really excited about this and really want to make sure we can continue to do things,”

Lanham said. “This is a small community, and I think we can definitely help our people who have dementia.”

“Any of us would feel that going through (the symptoms of dementia) can be very frightening and sometimes very lonely, and it not only affects the person who’s diagnosed with dementia, but also their loved ones, their family members and their caregivers,” Jacobs said during the Council meeting on Monday. “Being able to understand, respect and support those with dementia as well as their caregivers is a very important thing to do.”

Contact Richard Perrins at (440)752-5509 or email rperrins@chroniclet.com.

Sugar Ridge Inc. tow trucks work to free a semitruck wedged underneath the railroad

over Washington Avenue last week.

The unlucky No. 13

The Community Guide ELYRIA — The Washington Avenue bridge in downtown Elyria was closed for just over an hour last week after a semitruck became stuck underneath the railroad bridge.

The truck, branded “United,” wedged itself under the southern

Dukes In Gear was a free, two-day summer camp held recently in Wellington. Students learned basic bicycle safety, basic bike mechanics, nutrition education and community urban design. Funding came from Thrive Southern Lorain County and the United Way of Greater Lorain County.

track of the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge just after 5 p.m. Wednesday. Elyria police closed Washington Avenue from Broad Street to the Washington Avenue parking lot on the other side of the Black River.

Sugar Ridge Inc. Towing and Recycling assisted with removing the

truck and detached the trailer from the cab in the effort. By 6:30 p.m. the truck had been successfully removed, but Elyria police cruisers still blocked the street. An Elyria police officer at the scene said the driver would be cited with failure to control.

The Community Guide

The Eric & Jane Nord Family Fund has given a $5 million gift to the Lorain County Community College Foundation to create the college’s STEM Discovery Institute, one of a number of announcements the college made as part of the college’s 60th anniversary celebrations.

The College Center building at the heart of its Elyria campus will be named the “Eric & Jane Nord College Center.”

The LCCC Foundation’s GRADitude event celebrated 60 years of serving Lorain County, and the LCCC Foundation celebrates its 50th year of philanthropic support of the college.

Eight inaugural members were inducted into the LCCC Commodore Hall of Fame: Michael J. Brown, Charlotte Gardiner, Gary LaBranche, Georgeane Poplar, Dan Reaser, Michael Sherman, Dan C. Smith and Tiffany Tarpley.

The Eric & Jane Nord STEM Discovery Institute will be aimed at preparing future generations for highdemand STEM careers.

“STEM-related careers, whether in health care, information technology or advanced manufacturing, are among the most in-demand jobs today and in the future and are among the top careers that also support strong wage growth,” LCCC President Marcia Ballinger said.

“Yet not enough students choose these careers; often because these careers are not well known to students and their families, or the pathways may seem out of reach, especially for firstgeneration or economically disadvantaged students.”

“We must change that,” Ballinger said.

“The Eric & Jane Nord STEM Discovery Institute will open students to the possibilities and support them in pursuing educational pathways to prepare for these careers offered right here.”

As the Eric & Jane Nord STEM Discovery Institute develops, programming will include opportunities to engage high school students in STEM education through College Credit Plus and other opportunities, according to the college.

Currently, 47 percent of Lorain County high school students graduate with college credit from LCCC, and the STEM Institute aims to increase that percentage.

BRUCE BISHOP / THE COMMUNITY GUIDE

overpass

Vermilion OKs 700 new homes

Sunnyside Road lies west of Baumhardt between Route 6 and North Ridge Road

Owen MacMillan

The Community Guide

VERMILION — City Council has approved a rezoning request from DBR Commercial Realty to rezone 300 acres along Sunnyside Road to make a nearly 700-home mixeduse development possible.

The $300 million proposal includes three neighborhoods totaling 671 detached homes along with a commercial development area just off of state Route 2.

The vote came after a packed and contentious public hearing on the proposal from DBR and owner Dan Reaser.

The approval will see the land rezoned from an R-1 Residential district to a Planned-Use Development (PUD) district.

The rezoning allows the developer more flexibility than R-1 provides and allows DBR to move forward with formalizing its plans for a development that would see up to 700 homes along with commercial development.

Reaser and several members of Council stressed to the audience that the rezoning did not approve any plans, which are still in the preliminary stages.

“This is the start, this is not the end,” Councilman Brian Holmes, who represents the 5th Ward where the property is located, said. “Before any shovel hits the ground, we’re gonna have many, many, many meetings, many discussions.”

The ordinance was approved by a vote of 6-1, with the only vote against it coming from Councilman Gary Howell, atlarge.

“I’m not necessarily against anything,” Howell said after the meeting. “But there are just too many unanswered questions for me to just give this the thumbs up.”

Many of those questions were asked during the public hearing before the vote, as residents overflowed the pews of the Vermilion Municipal Court and spilled into the hallway.

Nearly 20 residents spoke and many more clapped or called out in response to speakers.

The majority of residents who spoke shared apprehension about the project, voicing concerns centered around the size of the development and its impact on traffic, infrastructure and the Firelands School District.

But, chief among those concerns was a fear that

the development would alter Vermilion’s character and “small town feel.”

“What’s it gonna do to the character of our community? It’s gonna change it,” neighbor Adam Wilson said. “It ain’t gonna be Vermilion no more, it’s just gonna be the next town on the highway.”

Reaser told residents that he had a deep connection to Vermilion and its personality as a city and promised he would do nothing to change that.

“I’m very cognizant of the community aspect of Vermilion,” Reaser said.

“I’m not some private equity guy from New York that doesn’t care what happens other than the bottom line dollar.

“I care what happens to the community, I care about my reputation, I care about the neighborhood feel that Vermilion has and I don’t think our project is going to change that.”

At least some residents were unconvinced, saying that the development would cause the area to no longer be rural.

One suggestion that was repeated frequently, and applauded regularly, by residents was the idea of approving the development but requiring DBR to limit its lot sizes to 1 acre. The minimum of 1-acre parcels is codified in Vermilion’s ordinances, but that requirement will no longer apply to the proposed development because of the new PUD zoning.

In response to this idea, Reaser reiterated that the current plan was far from final and that all suggestions and concerns from residents would be considered.

In addition, Reaser said the development would reduce in size from the initial proposal of 700 homes for a number of reasons including the fact that there were two eagle nests on the property which would be left in place.

He said that in removing homes from the plan to leave room for those nests, the total number of homes would drop by at least 100.

The impact of the development on those eagles was one of a number of additional concerns voiced by residents, with another being an increased need for emergency services.

Mayor Jim Forthofer said the police and fire chiefs said they would be able to handle the growth in their current state.

LORAIN COUNTY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS

FREE AS A BIRD

BISHOP / CHRONICLE

A heron flies over the Oasis Marina in Lorain on Thursday. According to Lake Erie Living magazine, the largest heron rookery in the Lake Erie region is on West Sister Island, a poison-ivy infested wilderness about 15 miles northwest of Put-in-Bay. The island once served as a stopover for bootleggers. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established it as a wildlife refuge in 1937, and to protect the more than 4,000 nests only researchers are allowed on the 80-acre island.

Woman who shot husband gets year

Dave O’Brien The Community Guide

ELYRIA — An Elyria woman who wounded her husband in a February 2023 shooting at their West River Road North home was escorted away Monday from a hearing in Lorain County Common Pleas Court in handcuffs to begin serving a prison sentence.

Judge John Miraldi sentenced Cheryl Johnson, 67, to four to six years in prison for the attempted murder of Steven Johnson on Feb. 6, 2023. Cheryl Johnson pleaded guilty May 2 to attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault and one count of possession of criminal tools, all felonies, and a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence.

The felonious assault charges merged with the attempted murder charge for the purposes of sentencing. Miraldi also gave Cheryl Johnson nine months in prison on the criminal tools charge, to run concurrent to the prison sentence for attempted murder.

Cheryl Johnson was sentenced under the terms of an agreement approved by Steven Johnson and the

BISHOP / COMMUNITY GUIDE Cheryl Johnson was sentenced to four to six years but will only serve one year in exchange for good behavior under a plea agreement.

Elyria Police Department.

Per the agreement, she will serve only one year in prison before being set free on judicial release as long as she gets a good behavioral report from the warden at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Lorain County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Chris Pierre said. Cheryl Johnson must also get a

psychological evaluation. Firearms specifications to several of the charges were dismissed by the prosecutor’s office at the time of Johnson’s plea. Those could have added extra prison time onto her sentence.

By pleading guilty, Cheryl Johnson avoided a trial that was scheduled to begin May 14.

Steven Johnson said only that he “wishes that she (Cheryl Johnson) didn’t have to go away” and “I don’t want her to go,” Pierre said on the victim’s behalf.

Cheryl Johnson apologized in court for her actions.

“I just want to explain to everyone that I’m very sorry for what happened, that yes, I did go out of range of what I should have done, I should have talked instead of going the route I did, but I wanted to say I’m very sorry to my husband, to my family,” she said. “That’s all I can say is I’m very sorry.”

Defense attorney Douglas Merrill told Miraldi that his client didn’t have a significant criminal history and was unlikely to ever get in trouble again.

Man gets probation for bomb threat

Dave O’Brien

The Community Guide

ELYRIA — An Elyria Township man who made a bomb threat to The Chronicle-Telegram in September that forced the closure of several downtown Elyria streets has been sentenced to probation, time served and was ordered to get mental health treatment and to take his medication.

Robert “Shane” Reynolds Jr., 35, of Lake Avenue, was sentenced to eight months in the Lorain County Jail, with credit for eight months already served awaiting trial, and two years of intensive supervised probation by Lorain County Common Pleas Judge John Miraldi.

Reynolds’ threat on Sept. 24 brought a response from the Elyria Police Department, Elyria Fire Department and Lorain County Bomb

Squad. There was no bomb found, only the threat.

Reynolds apologized to The Chronicle, to Elyria and “the people that I scared.” “I kinda … went overboard. Actually not kinda, I did go overboard and … I just want to apologize, plain and simple,” he said. Miraldi also ordered Reynolds to take his prescribed medications, not to leave the state without his probation officer’s permission and not to own any guns. He also emphasized that a part of Reynolds’ probation is to comply with all mental health treatment recommendations.

“I’ve watched you progress since

you’ve been in front of me,” Miraldi told Reynolds before pronouncing sentence. “You’re the best you’ve ever been. Why do you think that is?”

“Medication,” Reynolds replied.

“Yes,” Miraldi told him. “Medication. Medication, medication, medication. It’s the most important thing in your life. You stop taking it and you start having big trouble.”

Reynolds will be released from jail today or Wednesday, Miraldi said.

The Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office asked Miraldi to sentence Reynolds on one count of making false alarms, a third-degree felony. Three other felony charges, including another count of making false alarms and two counts of inducing panic, were merged with that charge for the purposes of sentencing.

encouraged to preregister for the T-shirt order. Register at northlakemissionarybaptistvbs. myanswers.com/. Elyria Friends “Start the Party” VBS, 9 a.m. to noon June 17–21 at Elyria Friends Church, 9300 W. Ridge Road, Elyria. Doors open at 8:45 a.m. daily. For more information, visit noefc.org/elyria. College Heights Baptist Church VBS “Adventures in Heartland,” 6-8 p.m. June 23-26 at 980 N. Abbe Road, Elyria. Classes for kids 3 to 12. For more information, visit chbcelyria.org/activities/children/ registration-form. Oberlin Calvary Baptist Church VBS, 6-8 p.m. June 24-28 at 414

S. Main St., Oberlin. Ages 4 to sixth grade. Call (440) 774-1551 for more information. Lakeview “Breaker Rock Beach” VBS, 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 24-28 at 591 Ferndale Ave., Vermilion. Register at lifeatlakeview.com Lake Avenue Baptist Church VBS, 7 p.m. on July 27, 28 and 29; 10 a.m. July 30 at 310 Lowell St., Elyria. Belden Methodist Church VBS, 6:30-8:10 p.m. July 8-12 at 36130 state Route 303, Grafton. Register in-person at 6 p.m. July 8. LaPorte United Methodist Church “Celebrate the Savior” VBS, 5-8 p.m. July 15-19 at 2071 Grafton Road, Elyria. For grades K-6. For more information, call the church office at (440) 458-5717 or visit laportechurch.org/news/vacationbible-school Grace Lutheran Church “SCUBA” VBS, 6:30-8:30 p.m. July 15-18 at 9685 East River Road, Elyria. Ages 4-11. Call (440) 322-5497 to register. North Eaton Church of God VBS 6-7:30 p.m. July 22-25 at 12096 Island Road, Grafton. Themed nights: Monday: Crazy socks night; Tuesday: Backwards night; Wednesday: Crazy hair night; Thursday: Tie-dye night. Free community carnival on July 27. Ages 5-17. Register by July 13 at (440) 748-2230. Columbia Road Baptist Church “Jungle Journey” VBS, 6-9 p.m. July 22-26 at 4116 Columbia Road, North Olmsted. There will be a celebration picnic Sunday, July 28, following the morning service. Register at columbiaroad.org/vbs Wellington First UMC “Cave Quest” VBS, 8 a.m. breakfast; 9-11:30 a.m. July 23-25 at 127 Park Place, Wellington. Games, activities, music and snacks. Pre-K through sixth grade. Call (440) 647-3263 for more information. Faith Baptist Temple “Direct Connect Prayer-Lines” VBS 6-8:30 p.m. July 28-Aug. 1 at 34361 Lorain Road, North Ridgeville. Ages 4-14. More information available at faithbaptisttemple.org or call (440) 327-8563. Transportation available. Crossroads Community Church “Stellar” VBS, 6-8:30 p.m. Aug. 6-9 at 43824 state Route 511, Oberlin. Faith discoveries, music, snacks, games and adventures. Call (440) 775-4451 for more information.

BRUCE

BRUCE

MINI CAMP, MAXI EXPECTATIONS

For an encore

Charting QB’s progress after shoulder surgery continues to be the No. 1 topic of discussion

The Browns’ offseason program reaches a crescendo this week, then abruptly stops. The three-day mandatory minicamp runs through today. When it’s over, the majority of players will make a beeline for the airport.

Summer vacation will officially be underway at about noon Thursday and will last until training camp starts in late July. With only three days left of on-field football to savor for the next six weeks, here are five things to watch during minicamp.

How much, how strong Deshaun Watson has been throwing for nearly three months, and all the reviews have been extremely positive. “He looks like Deshaun Watson,” coach Kevin Stefanski reiterated last week.

Until Watson is completely back to normal, his recovery from shoulder surgery in November will deservedly command the most attention within the Browns. During the organized team activities, he took every other day off from throwing and didn’t participate in seven-on-seven or team drills.

Watson is expected to throw for at least two of the three minicamp practices. While his medical team has long been focused on ramping up in training camp, if he takes on a larger workload this week, that would be another positive sign.

Watson is also scheduled to talk to reporters for the first time since April. He can give the best update on how the shoulder feels, how close he is to 100 percent and how he plans to approach training camp.

Happy camper?

Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper is entering the final year of a five-year, $100 million contract he signed while with the Cowboys. He skipped the voluntary OTAs over the previous three weeks.

He’ll be asked if the two are related and if he’s requested an extension.

If the answer to the first question is yes, minicamp will have some drama. Cooper will make $20 million this season, his third with the Browns after a trade. He remains the clear-cut No. 1 wideout and is coming off his fifth Pro Bowl season and a career-high 1,250 yards. He’s also watched the top of the receiver market explode in the last couple of offseasons, with Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson last week signing a deal worth $35 million annually.

pieces returning.

Declining production late in seasons is a trend for the five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. The constant double and triple teams take their toll, while providing teammates with one-on-one rush opportunities.

If the scheme and the rest of his linemates can take just a little attention off Garrett, 2024 could be his best year yet — individually and as a team.

Welcome back

Garrett and Cooper had plenty of company in skipping OTAs, but everyone should be there for the mandatory sessions. That includes Njoku, left guard Joel Bitonio, defensive tackles Dalvin Tomlinson, Quinton Jefferson and Shelby Harris, safety Juan Thornhill and kicker Dustin Hopkins.

Reporters will get to see if they’re healthy and able to participate. Bitonio, Thornhill and Hopkins left Berea in January with injuries.

Myles Garrett had been chasing NFL Defensive Player of the Year since he was the No. 1 pick in 2017. After finally corralling it last year, what comes next?

Will he feel like a weight has been lifted and soar even higher? Will he be motivated to win the award again for validation?

Garrett didn’t attend OTAs and hasn’t talked to reporters since last season. He’ll begin to provide insight into his mindset this week.

He played in tight end David Njoku’s celebrity softball game Saturday and looked in fantastic shape … as usual. Garrett’s been vocal about the desire to create a championship legacy in Cleveland, so it will be interesting to hear him talk about how he views the team coming off a playoff appearance and with all the key

Injury report

Running back Nick Chubb, right tackle Jack Conklin and running back/returner Nyheim Hines won’t practice as they recover from torn anterior cruciate ligaments sustained last year. Hines said he’ll be back early in training camp, with the timelines for Conklin and Chubb less certain. The long break before training camp will be critical in their hopes of making it back for Week 1 or soon after.

Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. watched but didn’t practice during OTAs and could return to the field this week. He missed the end of last season with a torn medial collateral ligament and has been working on the side.

Browns QB Deshaun Watson goes through drills during organized team activities May 22 in Berea.

AP PHOTOS

Scott Petrak

Taste history in Amherst Taste of History, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 14 and June 15 at Sandstone Village, 763 Milan Ave., Amherst. A unique military living history event focusing on the food and rations that fed soldiers across all eras. Sample military chow through the ages available for donation. Military displays, shooting demonstrations, home front and camp follower displays, kids’ activities, vendors and more. Free shuttle and parking at Amherst Junior High School, 548 Milan Ave., Amherst. Registration to be a reenactor or a field kitchen for the event is free. Vendor registration is $50. Registration is available at https://www.mhpg.us/ tasteofhistory. For more information, please contact the Amherst Historical Society (440) 988-7255 or office@ amhersthistoricalsociety.org.

Festival of the Fish June 14-16

Vermilion’s Festival of the Fish will return June 1416, with the ultimate summer theme: a tribute to Jimmy Buffett. The weekend’s events will celebrate the “Wastin’ Away in Fisharitaville” theme with beer cabanas, where patrons can also sip margaritas and hard ice teas, along with food, midway treats and games, shop artisan treasures from boutiques and vendors, listen to music and watch fireworks.

Complete schedules of events will be coming soon or visit vermilionohio.com.

Sports Foundation fundraiser June 18

T3 Sports Foundation fundraiser, gates open at 6 p.m., first pitch at 7:05 p.m. June 18 at the Lake Erie Crushers Stadium, 2009 Baseball Blvd., Avon. Tickets are $13 each. Proceeds benefit athletes in need as a portion of ticket sales and 50/50 Raffle proceeds will go directly to the T3 Sports Foundation. Tickets can be purchased at fevo-enterprise.com/event/T3Foundation.

The Ohio Genealogy Society, Lorain County Chapter, will present a program called “Have you Written your Story?” online on June 10 at 7 pm.

MLS Class of ‘74 to hold 50th reunion

The Marion L. Steele class of 1974 will be having its 50th reunion the weekend of July 26.

We are looking for the following classmates: Debbie Green, David Jones, Jerry Pinson, Terry Lyman, Jerry Mattney, Frank Sabo, Patty Singleton, Brenda Smith, Craig Smith, and Tim Watson. If you have not received your invitation or know where any of the missing classmates are, please contact Raynelle Wasem Bozicevich at (440) 242-1283 or raynelle187@oh.rr.com

South Amherst Alumni Banquet June 20

The South Amherst Alumni Banquet will be held on July 20 at the New Russia Township Hall. The class of 1974 will be honored. Invitations have been sent out and

SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS

ACROSS

1. Molten rock in earth’s crust

6. Scarlett Johansson’s 2013 voice only role

9. Jezebel’s idol 13. Not silently

14. Pro vote

15. Italian bowling

16. Proclaimed as true without proof

17. Rob Manfred’s org.

18. Savory taste sensation

19. *Tom Cruise’s 1986 blockbuster

21. *It featured the song “What Was I Made For?”

23. Wrath, e.g.

24. Milton Bradley’s “The Game of ____”

25. General Post Office

28. A woodwind

30. Group of trained professionals, pl.

35. Icy precipitation

37. Concert units

39. Charles Dickens’ Heep

40. Scandinavian capital

41. Rebroadcasted

43. Khrushchev’s domain, acr.

44. *What the gang did in 1988’s “A Fish Called Wanda”

46. Exploding star

47. Clarified butter

48. Airport surface

50. Highway hauler

52. Breed

53. Miss Muffet’s repast

55. Not flow

57. *Tim Burton’s 1989 and 1992 title character

60. *Featured song ‘Summer Lovin’ 63. Popular fashion magazine 64. Road in Rome 66. Comment to the

BULLETIN BOARD

The Lorain County Community Guide Bulletin Board is for local nonprofit and not-for-profit events. Items are published on a space-available basis and will be edited for style,

must be returned by July 8.

Any senior whose parents or grandparents have graduated from South Amherst high school is eligible to apply for a $500 scholarship. This scholarship can be used for college or a trade school. Applications are due by June28.

If you haven’t received an invitation, want a scholarship application or want to donate to the scholarship fund, call Jerry Bozicevich at (440)773-5546.

Amherst library invites kids’ stories

Desperately needed: Junior scribes to go on an adventure with the staff of the Amherst Public Library as it launches the summer short story contest.

Children, tweens and teens are invited to write a short story that includes an adventure, a hot air balloon, slime, and the author’s favorite library book character.

Staff will choose five favorites to be featured on social media and win a prize. Stories can be typed, handwritten or transcribed by a grown-up.

Bonus points will be awarded for illustrations.

Entries should be turned in at the second-floor information desk by 8:30 p.m. July 24. Winners will be chosen July 31.

Adventure is the theme of its summer reading program’s kickoff party from 4-6 p.m. Monday on the library’s front lawn. Drop in to run an inflatable obstacle course, spin to win fun library swag, enjoy a sweet treat and start your summer reading adventure.

The library is at 221 Spring St. For information, visit amherst.lib.oh.us or call (440) 988-4230.

County food pantry needs donations

The Lorain County Office on Aging is asking residents for help as its food pantry runs low on supplies, according to a release.

“Our shelves are much depleted as donations have slowed down,” the release on Friday said. “We are currently looking for more food and personal care items.”

The office said it will accept “almost any” food or personal care items, but that there are a few items in particular it needs most.

The most-requested items are:

- Pineapple - Pudding - Cake mix

- Soup - Laundry detergent

- Pancake syrup

- Dish soap

- Peanut butter

- Tuna - Bleach - Shampoo - Cereal

Clients of the office’s food pantry are mostly elderly and living alone so smaller items are better than family or value-sized food items that can go stale.

All donations can be dropped off at the Lorain County Office on Aging, 534 Abbe Road S., Elyria from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information, call (440) 326-4800.

EHS class of 1969 to hold reunion

The Elyria High School Class of 1969 will host its 55th class reunion at 6 p.m. Aug. 17 at Greyhawk Golf Club/ The Nest, 665 U.S. Grant St., LaGrange.

Reservations are $25 per person and are due by July 15. Make checks payable to Harry Tulk and mail to 240 Stanford Ave., Elyria, Ohio 44035.

Include name of graduate and guest. There will also be a get-together at 6 p.m. Aug. 16 at Smitty’s in Elyria.

Join the class Facebook group page, Elyria High School Class of 1969. For questions, call Sandie Toth Hamby at (440) 3665248.

Summertime and the driving is scary

The time from Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend is referred to as the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” on state roads, and the Ohio Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to buckle up, to drive focused and to drive sober.

During this time period in 2023, 67,305 crashes occurred on Ohio’s roadways, a 3 percent drop from 2022. Of those, 371 were fatal crashes that killed 397 people which was five fewer than the year prior.

There were 1,588 crashes in Lorain County during that period, according to patrol statistics.

Even though the 100 deadliest days only represent 27 percent of the calendar year, in the last five years, they account for more than one-third of all fatal traffic crashes. The 100 deadliest days also encompass the primary motorcycle riding months.

In 2023, more than half of all motorcycle-involved crashes occurred during this period. Motorcycle-involved crashes made up about 3 percent of all crashes during these 100 days. However, in 2023, they comprised almost one in three fatal crashes, according to the patrol.

Last year during the 100 deadliest days, citations of 20 mph or more over the speed limit accounted for nearly 29,000 citations statewide, the highway patrol said.

More than 1,200 of those citations involved speeds of at least 100 mph. Also, during this period, troopers made more 4,490 impaired driving arrests and issued 19,143 safety belt citations statewide.

Motorists are encouraged to contribute to roadway safety by calling #677 to report drug activity and dangerous or impaired driving.

Salvation Army to close one store

The Chronicle-Telegram

ELYRIA — After almost 30 years in operation, the Elyria Salvation Army Family Thrift Store, 165 Cleveland Street, will close permanently June 30.

Capt. Bryden Swires of the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers in Cleveland said the store would close June 30.

The store, open for nearly three decades and provided tens of thousands of items of clothing, home goods and furniture to Elyrians.

“This is a heartbreaking decision for us at The Sal-

vation Army to close a thrift store that has been such a critical part of the Elyria community for a long time.

“However, financially, we can no longer sustain the efforts at this location,” Swires said.

The thrift stores are a crucial source of fundraising for its drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. Salvation Army will not be withdrawing services from Lorain County.

The 716 Broad St. Elyria location and the 2506 Broadway Ave. location in Lorain remain open.

What is black and whiteand FUNall over? Thenewspaper! Summer funbeginswith your local newspaper! It canbeusedto playgames,tosay “Happy Father’s Day” andevento takea nap

your body,bring the rope ends togethertoform loops for hanging.

FirstFather’sDay

The first Father ’s Day wascelebrated in 1910 in Spokane,WA. It was_ _by Sonora Dodd.

Replacethe missingwords in this story. SUNDAY MET CHURCH BROTHERS CARE SPECIAL STARTED

She and her five brothers were raised by their fatheraftertheir motherdied.

Afterlistening to aMother’s Day sermonin one Sunday,she thought of her father’s loveand themanysacrifices he had had made to raiseher andher __________.

And of the many ways fathers everywhere took of their families.

Her idea of aFather’sDay celebration in her community_ with strong support.

Newspapersacross the country told the story of the _day for fathers in Spokane. However, it was not until 1972 thatFather’sDay wasset as anational celebration on the third _inJune.

How many years afterthe firstFather’sDay wasit made into anational celebration?

Standards Link: Understand the meaning of national holidays.

Make alist of wordsthat describe your dad. Pickthe fouryou like the best. Find picturesintoday’spaperthatrepresent thewords you have chosen.

Cut out the picturesand arrange themonthe blank coat of arms. Decoratewithmarkers or crayons, glitter, stickers, and ribbons. Mount the coatofarms on aheavy piece of paperand wrap it as a gift for Father’s Day. Use newspaper to wrap the gift!

Standards Link: Follow simple written directions.