Lorain County Community Guide - March 16, 2023

Father, son charged in Jan. 6 insurrection

WELLINGTON — A second Lorain County man has been named by federal prosecutors and charged with being among the rioters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when he is accused of assaulting five police officers while storming the home of Congress.

Federal authorities claim they have put a name to alleged insurrectionist No. 454: They say he is 41-year-old Michael Mackrell of Peck Wadsworth Road in Wellington Township.

Mackrell is facing felony charges for his actions during the breach of the U.S.

Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced March 10.

“His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election,” federal prosecutors said in a news release.

He is the second member of the Mackrell family so charged: Michael Mackrell’s son, 21-year-old Clifford Mackrell, also is awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Michael Mackrell’s charges include assaulting, resisting or impeding officers; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous

Oberlin Council talks license plate cameras

CARISSA WOYTACH THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

OBERLIN — Oberlin may become the next city to implement license plate cameras in Lorain County.

City Council heard from Laura Holland, senior community affairs manager with Flock Safety, at its meeting March 6, discussing the potential for four cameras at main thoroughfares coming into the city.

Flock provides solarpowered license plate cameras to more than 2,500 cities nationwide, with 100 municipalities in Ohio using the service, Holland said. It takes photos of the license plate and identifiable features of vehicles passing by and stores it for a default of 30 days.

She said if there is an active investigation, local police departments must download their data and store it on a separate server — making it subject to the individual

department’s record retention policy. Local ordinances can lengthen or shorten Flock’s retention time, she said, but suggested if Oberlin implements the program to start out with the 30-day time period as a test. The data is made available to local law enforcement and can be shared with other departments, but logs when it is accessed, Holland said. Most often, the data is used when there is an active warrant or stolenvehicle alert associated with a vehicle, she said, as well as Amber Alerts for missing or endangered children and Silver Alerts for missing or endangered senior citizens.

It also allows local departments to create “hotlists” for known vehicles associated with crimes, and alerts other law enforcement with Flock systems when that vehicle passes into their city.

weapon; and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon.

He was arrested in Ohio on March 9, authorities said, and has an initial court appearance scheduled in Washington, D.C., today.

Five people died as a result of the Jan. 6 insurrection, including one shot by police. Millions of dollars in damage was done to the Capitol building, and four police officers who were on the scene that day later died by suicide.

The insurrectionists allegedly wanted to stop Congress from counting the Electoral College votes that gave President Joe Biden the win over former President Donald Trump in the November 2020

presidential election.

Trump had claimed without evidence that the election was stolen by the Democratic Party. Following the insurrection and after he left office, he was impeached for a second time but acquitted when the U.S. Senate fell 10 votes short of the 67 required to convict him.

The final report of a bipartisan U.S. House of Representatives committee blamed Trump for the insurrection.

Michael Mackrell case

A statement of facts written by an FBI agent and distributed with the news release identified Michael Mackrell in a photo taken from video near the Capitol

Husted promotes deregulation, shares vision for Ohio, country

AVON — Lt. Gov. Jon

Husted spoke to the AvonAvon Lake Republican Club March 9 about his vision for Ohio and the U.S., how social media and education impact young people, and America being in an “internal and external war,” among other topics.

Early in his speech, Husted, a Republican, told the roughly 160 people in attendance that he came to Northeast Ohio to talk about how social media and technology affect kids.

“We did a news conference earlier today in Independence about the effects of social media on our kids,” he said. “Companies like TikTok, that are

Chinese companies, addict our kids, collect information on them and in many cases isolate them and lead (to) them seeing content about suicide, gender transformation, eating disorders and are really harming our kids.”

Transgender identity is not classified as a mental illness, nor spread by “social contagion,” according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Husted relayed the story of James Woods, a 17-yearold from Streetsboro who was tricked into sending inappropriate photos to a stranger and extorted using those photos. Woods committed suicide in November.

Tamia and Tim Woods, James Woods’ parents, were present at the meeting

in Avon on Thursday night after also attending Husted’s earlier news conference in Independence.

At that conference, Husted spoke about the Social Media Parental Notification Act, which has been included in the executive version of the state budget and would require parental approval for use of some social media sites for those under 16 years old.

“We are up here today to talk about legislation that we’re trying to do to force these companies to the table to help protect our kids,” Husted said Thursday night. “We gotta protect our kids. That’s what brought us here today.”

Husted also described his vision for the economy of Ohio and the U.S., talking about his desire to bring

back manufacturing jobs while also making Ohio a leader in technology and automation.

He said that the U.S. needs to internalize its supply chain so as to not rely on other countries for necessary goods.

“We’re now realizing that we, for our national and economic security state, we can no longer make products in other countries and import them here and depend on it,” Husted said.

Specifically, Husted focused on computer chips and the need to build them in the U.S. He said there was a great opportunity for Ohio to become the destination for that type of high-tech manufacturing within the Midwest.

“It’s in our interest that

DAVE O’BRIEN THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

OWEN MACMILLAN THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

JEFF BARNES | The Chronicle-Telegram

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted spoke at the Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club meeting on March 9 at the Knights of Columbus in Avon. He spoke about Ohio opportunities in high-tech manufacturing and Lorain County’s role in that vision.

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Oberlin, Wellington power officials attend legislative rally

Representatives from Oberlin and Wellington public power departments, alongside officials from Delaware, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, rallied in Washington, D.C., earlier this month to support municipal electric systems across the country.

The American Public Power Association hosted the legislative rally from Feb. 27 to March 1.

Officials from municipal electric utilities, like those in Oberlin and Wellington, focused discussions on local control, grid security, supply chain issues, climate and regulatory activity and other issues, according to a news release.

we make the things we need in America once again,” Husted said. “And Ohio is also rewriting that story. … There are a lot of companies that left America and left Ohio, the industrial manufacturing base, but now hightech manufacturing is coming back. I said earlier, I want to go to a ribbon-cutting every year.”

In September, Intel Corp. broke ground on two computer chip plants in Central Ohio that are expected to bring 7,000 employees and expedite the development of America’s domestic chip production capacity.

Husted said that the major reason Ohio was receiving new projects like Intel or the expansion of the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake was a process of tax and business reform from Ohio Republicans.

He said that this deregulation and tax-cutting would continue under his leadership of economic development as lieutenant governor.

“One of the things I’m undertaking, we’re eliminating one-third of all the regulations in the state of Ohio and the administrative code to make it easier for you to comply,” Husted said. “Keep your business here. You don’t have to go to Columbus to go to meetings. You can do them on video. You don’t have to go to Columbus, you don’t have to sign paper forms. We can do it electronically. We’ll save tens of millions of dollars a year by doing it that way.”

The announcement of further deregulation comes as Ohio continues to deal with the cleanup of the East Palestine train derailment, a crash that critics such as Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland, say occurred due to deregulation of the cargo train industry.

Near the close of his speech, Husted told the audience what he sees as the stakes in the U.S. today.

“We are in a war for our way of life,” he said. “There’s both an internal and external war, and maybe that’s too strong a word, so pardon me if it appears that way to you. But we have adversaries outside in the world.”

Husted pointed squarely at China, and a struggle for technological dominance, as the adversary on the international front.

He said the U.S. “cannot concede that ground” in competing with China on a global scale.

“There’s also a little bit of a battle here in our own backyards, sometimes it’s in our schools or colleges or universities,” Husted said. “What’s happening on a lot of our college campuses is they don’t want to hear a conservative point. They don’t really want free speech. They want to do what I call viewpoint discrimination.”

Husted closed his speech with a call for unity among Republicans, saying they were together in their opposition to such things.

“You’re on the same team against all that,” he said. “You’re on the same team against all that because this group of people has a lot more in common than they have … different from one another. And we all have to work together as people who are God-fearing conservatives who want to advance the cause of the Republican Party in this state and beyond.”

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Police Chief Ryan Warfield said Amherst, Lorain, Elyria, North Ridgeville, Avon and Avon Lake all have Flock systems.

He said he wants four cameras in Oberlin: one north of town on state Route 58; one south of town on route 58; and the others coming into town from Elyria.

The potential cost of the system was not immediately available at press time.

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Lauretta Mae (Lindsey) Wright

Lauretta Mae (Lindsey) Wright, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully on the morning of Thursday, March 2, 2023 in Lakewood, Colorado. The 84 year old had been in hospice care for several days prior. She was born on August 10, 1938.

She was preceded in death by her second husband, Glen Fannin; grandmother, Laura Belle Lindsey; father, William C. Lindsey and her brothers, William and Robert Lindsey.

At the age of 14 she moved from Elyria to Wellington, where she was a 1956 graduate of Wellington High School. Just prior to her divorce from Maynard Wright, in 1967, she moved with her four children, Bill, Eddy, Laura, and Michael ‘out west’ to Colorado. The thinner air was believed to be beneficial for Eddy’s asthma condition.

Her working life was spent at JC Penny’s prior to hiring on as an overseas phone operator with AT&T. A position that transitioned her into other capacities within the Mountain Bell Phone Companies. She enjoyed travelling to the Northwest for work up until her retirement in 2001.

In 2007 Lauretta entered into a second marriage with former high school classmate, Glen Fannin. They were

William ‘Bill’ Robert Stanley

William ‘Bill’” Robert Stanley, 57, of Lorain, went home to be with His Lord and Savior on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at his home, following a sudden illness. Arrangements by Hempel Funeral Home.

married until his passing in 2015. She never met a person she could not communicate with. Strangers would strike up conversations with her that were known to elevate into asking for and receiving advise on personal problems. She enjoyed puzzling, especially with her daughter and a glass of wine and had a passion for anything connected with the country western singer-songwriter, Alan Jackson. Lauretta loved her friends and family. Family was of the utmost importance to her. To say she will be missed by family and friends is an understatement. She hoped to be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, and loyal friend.

In addition to her four children; she is survived by three grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service will be hosted at Olinger Crown Hill-Pavilion of Reflection, in Wheat Ridge, Colorado at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 16, 2023.

Lavonne ‘Vonnie’

Edith Wasem

Lavonne ‘Vonnie’ Edith Wasem (nee Mueller), 90, passed away Thursday, March 9, 2023. Vonnie was born August 26, 1932 in Amherst, where she lived all her life. Hempel Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Our condolences go out to families that have suffered the loss of a loved one. To place an obituary or death notice in the Community Guide, call (440) 329-7000.

Jeffrey Moore

Jeffrey Moore, 63, of Lorain, passed away Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at his home.

Hempel Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Lorain dance students practice with Oberlin College artists

LORAIN — With less than a year of lessons under their feet, dance students at Lorain High School already are training with artists from Oberlin College.

Lorain High dance teacher Emilio Noriega met Michal Schorsch and Jacqueline de Melo Silva, both with Oberlin College, during a dance jam in the nearby college town.

Noriega knew his students in Dance II at Lorain High would love contact improvisation — silent weight sharing between two dancers to keep both upright and moving.

“It’s the idea of trusting someone and how you weight-share and listen without using your voice.

… Listening to your body rather than words,” he said. “It’s a really cool form.”

From there, it was just a matter of asking Schorsch and de Melo Silva to come to the International City to work as guests with the students.

Lorain Schools started its dance program in the

fall, hiring new educators to have classes offered kindergarten through 12th grades. Noriega, originally from Arizona, had never even thought of living in Ohio when he first graduated from Southern Utah University with his bachelor’s in dance education.

But after interviewing with the district, he packed a bag and moved across the

country to teach modern dance to high schoolers. Originally, the district hadn’t planned to offer Dance II until the 2023-24 school year, but enough students from Noriega’s first-semester course were advanced enough to force Lorain Schools to accelerate its plans, Assistant Superintendent Ross May said.

After watching Schorsch and de Melo Silva for a minute March 10, students quickly broke off into pairs and practiced with what they’d just absorbed.

Noriega hopes to be able to take some of his students to one of the jam sessions he’s attended at Oberlin to get the students on a college campus, and to further their improvisation skills.

• The deadline to submit letters is 10 a.m. each Monday. They are used on a space-available basis. We reserve the right to edit any submission for length, grammar, spelling, and clarity, or to reject any submission. SOLUTION TO

CARISSA WOYTACH THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

JEFF BARNES | The Chronicle-Telegram Jaqueline de Melo Silva instructs Lorain High School sophomores Hayley Carbary and Aliah Mathna during dance class at Lorain High School on March 10.

Amherst School Board tours HealthPlex for possible preschool site

AMHERST — The Lorain County Metro Parks’ HealthPlex could soon be home to Amherst’s littlest Comets.

The Amherst School Board toured the HealthPlex, 47160 Hollstein Dr., March 7 during a special meeting, looking at the second-floor space to potentially house its preschool program.

The roughly 10,000-square-foot space was left vacant when Mercy Health moved out at the end of January. The hospital system chose not to renew its lease after a decade in space, instead moving its occupational and physical therapy to its Cooper Foster Park Road facility.

Superintendent Mike Molnar said the district’s preschool enrollment has been growing the past couple of years, sparking a search for a new home.

Currently, Amherst’s four preschool classrooms are at Powers Elementary School. The program has about 109 kids, and this year had to expand to a fourth classroom, Assistant Superintendent Sarah Walker and Special Education and

Preschool Coordinator Corrie Roark said. Walker said the former Mercy Health space could comfortably house the district’s current preschool program, with room to grow. But it may require staff to think outside the box, Molnar said.

The space on the HealthPlex’s second floor was once used for doctors’ offices and occupational therapy — leaving behind a large open footprint with oddly shaped offices scattered throughout the space.

Those larger rooms could be split up into preschool rooms, and the smaller offices used for storage, breakout spaces or other learning centers, Walker said.

The existing entrance off the elevators and stairwell would remain the same, and staff would accompany students from parent or bus drop-off outside up onto the second floor either via the stairs or elevator.

The office area would be open, but access to the preschool classrooms would be locked from the public, she said.

The meeting was a preliminary look at the space, allowing the board and some preschool staff to visualize what the space could be, Molnar said. The

MACKRELL

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wearing an earth-tone camouflage jacket and baseball cap, green gloves, black pants, a green backpack, an American flag print neck gaiter covering his mouth and nose and walking with a dark-colored cane nearby.

Citing court records, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Michael Mackrell was caught on video in the upper west plaza of the U.S. Capitol at approximately 2:28 p.m. Jan. 6, 2021, “wrapping his arm around the neck of an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department and throwing the officer to the ground,” federal prosecutors said in the news release.

Additional footage caught Michael Mackrell near the Southwest Plaza stage about to push a second Metropolitan police officer. Bodyworn camera footage from other officers and the victim officer allegedly shows Michael Mackrell assaulting the officer.

Michael Mackrell then allegedly tackled a third police officer near the Southwest Plaza of the Capitol, and at approximately 2:31 p.m. “rushed and tackled a fourth officer,” a Metropolitan police sergeant on the West Plaza of the Capitol. Finally, more body-worn camera footage shows Michael Mackrell, three minutes later, tackling a fifth police officer near the Southwest Plaza. Screen captures showing the assaults also were released to the media.

Agents from the FBI Cleveland Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested Clifford Mackrell at his home on March 17, 2021. Michael Mackrell “was present during the arrest, at which time, agents were introduced to” him, according to the FBI statement of facts.

“These agents also had conversations with (Michael Mackrell) regarding his son’s arrest. These agents were present during the arrest and have since identified (Michael Mackrell) as

district is able to continue operations in Powers Elementary next year, he said, but wants to be proactive to fill its community’s growing need.

Walker said they’ve seen an increase of about 20 to 30 kids in preschool each school year — necessitating the addition of a fourth classroom for the 2022-23 session.

Lorain County Metro Parks Executive Director Jim Ziemnik said the parks system and Amherst Schools had previously looked at partnering on the HealthPlex in 2010-11 to house the district’s athletics facilities. But after a levy failed, the Metro Parks entered into an agreement with Mercy Health.

He said the internal walls of the space are easily changed, and the Metro Parks had already planned to update some of its playground equipment outside.

The area has an outdoor, adaptive playground that was originally used for Murray Ridge students, as well as a splash pad.

Costs for the district to move into the HealthPlex space were not immediately available — with Ziemnik and Molnar noting the partnership must make sense for both entities if they are to move forward.

the same person depicted in some of the images herein which were taken of (Michael Mackrell) while he was present on the U.S. Capitol ground on January 6, 2021,” an FBI agent wrote.

The FBI’s Cleveland and Washington D.C. field offices, the U.S. Capitol Police and the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department are and were involved in the investigation into Michael Mackrell.

The Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section is prosecuting Michael Mackrell along with Washington D.C.-based federal prosecutors with assistance from federal prosecutors in the Northern District of Ohio.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the FBI is accepting tips at (800) CALLFBI or online at tips.fbi.gov.

Other than several misdemeanor traffic violations in the past decade, Michael Mackrell has no prior criminal record in Lorain County, according to a search of common pleas and municipal court records.

Clifford Mackrell case

Clifford Mackrell recently got permission from a federal judge in Washington to let him off an ankle monitor he has been wearing for two years while awaiting trial on charges related to his alleged participation in the Capitol insurrection.

U.S. District Judge Col-

leen Kollar-Kotelly, sitting in Washington, granted Clifford Mackrell’s request in an order dated March 1, according to federal court records.

Clifford Mackrell has pleaded not guilty to charges including physical violence on the Capitol grounds, assaulting a police officer, civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted federal building and engaging in disorderly and disruptive conduct. He allowed a plea deal offered by federal prosecutors to expire in August.

Clifford Mackrell’s trial is scheduled for May 10, according to federal court records.

The FBI previously said Clifford Mackrell was identified as one of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists when someone recognized him as a member of the Wellington High School class of 2018.

Clifford Mackrell was allegedly seen repeatedly hitting a Capitol police officer, pulling the officer’s face mask off and trying to expose him to chemical spray, authorities said.

Federal authorities said more than 999 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. That includes more than 320 who have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

CARISSA WOYTACH THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

Provided | U.S. Attorney’s Office Federal prosecutors say this image depicts Michael Mackrell of Peck Wadsworth Road in Wellington Township at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Commissioners OK Sandstone development

The Lorain County Board of Commissioners approved several documents on March 10 as plans for the proposed Sandstone housing and commercial development in Amherst Township take shape.

The board approved amendments and tax increment financing agreements with developer Amherst Consolidated Properties LLC for Sandstone, a 264acre development south of the Ohio Turnpike, between state Route 58 and Oberlin Road and north of Route 113.

Commissioners voted last month to create two tax increment financing districts within Amherst Township. A TIF exempts the value of private property improvements from taxes, and property owners make payments in lieu to fund infrastructure.

The county already has installed sewers in the area and a connector road is being built to link Oberlin Road and Route 58,

opening the area to future development. Commissioners also approved a plat dedicating land for public streets or roads.

Township zoning officials gave the go-ahead in August for construction to begin this year.

In other business, the board gave the county Community Development Department permission to apply for a $204,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development Grant.

Kelly Grospitch, an economic development specialist with the county, and Reese Dunton, county economic development coordinator, said the plan is to offer townships and villages the chance to use the money for feasibility studies on proposed land development. Several already have expressed interest, Dunton said. At the March 7 meeting, Commissioner David Moore also said the board is considering getting an appraisal on the former Lorain County Visitors Bureau building in Amherst Township, and putting it up for sale.

Oberlin College, LCCC launch food studies collaborative

OBERLIN — Oberlin

College received a $1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to launch a food studies program with Lorain County Community College.

The new program will connect students from both campuses with local nonprofits to “tackle urgent questions related to food justice,” according to a news release. Those questions include addressing historical and current barriers to high-quality food in Lorain County.

The grant will fund Oberlin College’s integrated concentration in food studies through summer 2026.

For Lorain County Community College, the partnership will strengthen its sustainable agriculture program, which allows students to contribute to

Retired Oberlin teacher funds swim lessons, lifeguard classes in brother’s memory

OBERLIN — Less than a year since Gloria Buxton started a campaign in honor of her brother, the effort has raised enough money to pay for 40 children to attend swim lessons.

“I Can Swim My Way,” hosted via the crowdfunding site IOBY — or In Our Backyards — has raised more than $2,000 to pay for swim lessons at Lorain County Metro Parks’ Splash Zone in Oberlin.

Buxton, of Lorain, established the fund after her brother, William “Billy” Otis Jordan, 60, had a heart attack while swimming at the French Creek YMCA.

It was a hot summer and Buxton had loaded her granddaughter and her brother into the car to take advantage of Jordan’s recent approval for a scholarship to the YMCA, as he was on Social Security disability for schizophrenia, she said.

While sitting outside the pool with her 3-year-old granddaughter that June 2, 2022, morning, she saw people running around and asked one of the staff members to go check on her brother.

When the man came back, he told her Jordan had had a heart attack while swimming.

William “Billy” Otis Jordan, 60, of Lorain, died June 2, 2022 after having a heart attack while swimming at the French Creek YMCA in Avon. Following his death, his sister, Gloria Buxton, established a crowdfunding called “I Can Swim My Way” to pay for children’s swim lessons.

the IOBY fundraiser — with up to $1,000 of it matched by the Lorain County Community Foundation — will pay for children in Oberlin to learn to swim this summer.

Splash Zone facility coordinator

aquatic programs in Lorain County to be able to pool resources and reduce costs for swim or safety around water programs.

the production, distribution and marketing of locally grown produce through hands-on experiences with farmers and growers.

Early classes at the colleges will include an introductory course on food studies, a speaker series with local farmers, scholars and food-justice activists, a course on urban farming and a research project with Elyria focusing on neighborhoods with a lack of fresh, affordable produce.

The Mellon Foundation grant will also pay student interns for their work with Elyria and other organizations. A portion of the grant is also allocated for elder care, child care and transportation to help more students participate in the program

“From that moment, all chaos broke out for me,” she said.

While French Creek YMCA staff took her granddaughter to the day care, Buxton rushed to Cleveland Clinic Avon, where Jordan was pronounced dead.

“I just decided, I had lost my husband 10 years ago and I know volunteering is a way to walk through grief,” she said. “So I thought ‘Well, I’ve got to find some way to walk through this.’ And so ‘I Can Swim My Way’ started.”

Buxton and her family also set up a restricted fund at the French Creek YMCA in Jordan’s name, hoping to help offset swim lesson costs for children there.

But the more than $2,000 through

Erica Rainey said the Metro Parks is in the process of training a few more swim instructors but will be able to accommodate beginner swimmers in six or eight-week sessions starting in June.

And since Buxton began reaching out to the YMCA and the Metro Parks, the project has grown to support lifeguard training and goes handin-hand with a countywide aquatic initiative in the works.

John Carney, retired YMCA senior director, said the Aquatics Initiative started before the pandemic with three main components: the Safety Around Water program, swim classes, and lifeguard academies.

With Buxton’s initiative helping fund swim classes, with an initial focus on Oberlin youth, the countywide initiative wants to connect

It’s also trying to eliminate financial and transportation barriers by looking to host programs in community pools — like Splash Zone, he said.

Oberlin Schools, where Buxton taught until her retirement in 2013, is also on board. Buxton hopes students will be able to get physical education credit by becoming a lifeguard.

Melissa Linebrink, the district’s marketing and communications consultant, said the swim classes, and the potential for summer employment as lifeguards, are resources the district wants to let its families know about.

The Metro Parks covers the $175 instruction fee for lifeguards if they commit to working at one of its aquatic facilities, Rainey said.

“I Can Swim My Way” is still accepting donations via its IOBY campaign through March 31. To donate, visit https://ioby.org/project/i -can-swim-my-way.

CARISSA WOYTACH THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

GLORIA BUXTON | Provided

Lorain County teams end an ‘All-Star’ season

All photos by THOMAS FETCENKO | The Chronicle-Telegram

With boys and girls basketball officially over in Lorain County, teams held one last friendly competition March 12 with the boys and girls All-Star Basketball games, with 3-point contests, a dunk contest, senior and rising star games. The girls senior game saw athletes representing Dick Esser Plumbing defeat those representing HoopTech 71-41. The boys’ Gene Legeza Cage Classic saw the home team, led by North Ridgeville’s Jake Boynar, win 155-127

RIGHT: Open Door’s RJ Penney (11) keeps the ball in play at the Lorain County Boys AllStar Game on Sunday, March 12 at Midview High School.

LEFT: Wellington’s Taylor Morris (2) rebounds the ball while guarded by North Ridgeville’s Grace Kingery (25) at the Lorain County Girls All-Star Game at North Ridgeville High School.

RIGHT: Avon’s Brooke Laub (3) guards Firelands’ Isabella Simmons (00) while at the Lorain County All-Star Game at North Ridgeville High School.

ABOVE: Black River’s Cayden Hinderman-Powell (35) reaches in an attempt to keep a ball in play while guarded by Vermilion’s Andrew Hendershot (4) at the Lorain County Boys All-Star Game on at Midview High School.

LEFT: Oberlin’s Isaac Thompson (23) takes the ball to the hoop during the “dunk contest” at the Lorain County Boys All-Star Game on at Midview High School.

Lorain County JVS

2023-24 Future Farmers of America Officers announced.

They are as follows:

President, Gwen Dennison, Landscape and Greenhouse Management sophomore from Elyria; Vice President, Vayda Wiles, Industrial Equipment Mechanics sophomore from Firelands; Treasurer, Allison Dubber, Landscape and Greenhouse Management sophomore from Keystone; Secretary, Ethan Broz, Industrial Equipment Mechanics junior from Midview; Reporter, Emily McElheny, Landscape and Greenhouse Management junior from Amherst; Sentinel, Landon Kinas, Industrial Equipment Mechanics junior from North Ridgeville; and Student Advisor, Nathan Sword, Industrial Equipment Mechanics sophomore from Wellington.

Tax preparation

Oberlin Community Services will offer free federal tax help from 12-4 p.m. March 21, 28 and April 4 at Oberlin Community Services, 85 S. Professor St. Families and individuals making less than $60,000 per year can file for free through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Those with higher income may qualify for AARP’s Tax-Aide.

This clinic is open to Lorain County residents by appointment only — appointments last about 30 minutes and can be made

BULLETIN BOARD

by calling (440) 774-6579 during OCS business hours.

Amherst VFW Post 1662

165 Cleveland Ave. Amherst, OH 44001

(440) 988-8823

● Fish Fry Fridays 03/10/23 - 04/7/23 EX-

CEPT 03/17/23

Serving 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

● St. Patrick’s Day Dinner. Serving 3-7 p.m.

March 17

Corned Beef Dinner

$12.00

Reuben Sandwich $10.00

Both events are open to the public, cash only, carryouts available. Call ahead to order.

Pancake breakfast

The Amherst Cross Country Girls team will host a pancake breakfast fundraiser from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. March 26 at the Amherst Eagles Club, 1161 Milan Ave.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for youth ages 3-10 and children 2 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at the door or from any member of the girls team. Checks should be made payable to Amherst Athletic Boosters. Pancakes are all you can eat.

Amherst Historical Society

● Norm Miller’s program, “My Civil War Ancestors and the Songs

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, length, and clarity. Send your items to news@lcnewspapers.com

They Sang,” will be at 7 p.m. March 29 at the Amherst Historical Society, 113 South Lake St. Norm will tell stories about his Civil War ancestors and the songs they sang, as well as discuss his family’s history. Light refreshments will be served during this free community program. Please RSVP by March 24th to (440) 988-7255 or office@amhersthistoricalsociety.org.

● Afternoon Tea is 1-3 p.m. May 21 at The Grange Hall in Sandstone Village. Please join us for tea and refreshments, enjoy beautiful wedding dresses on display, and tour the Village gardens maintained by the Amherst Garden Club. Tickets are $20 per person, $15 for members. Please RSVP by May 15 to (440) 988-7255 or office@ amhersthistoricalsociety. org. Payments can be made by cash, check or card.

You can also register and pay by card using https://form.jotform. com/230463915767161

● The Eggstravaganza is Saturday, April 1st from 1-4pm and will take place at two locations:

The Easter Bunny, raffle baskets, food for sale, and more will be at the Amherst Historical Society, 113 S. Lake St.

A balloon artist, face

painter, two petting zoos, crafting stations, trivia and egg scavenger hunt in the Historic buildings with prizes, and more will be at The Sandstone Village, 763 Milan Avenue, Amherst, Ohio 44001.

● The Sandstone Village Car and Bike Show will be June 4 with registration from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and the Car Show from 12-4 p.m. There will be a photo area, Village building tours, garage sales, a blessing of the cars and bikes, raffles, DJ, food court, and more! Spectator parking will be at Amherst Junior High School with shuttle service to Sandstone Village.

Oberlin Business Partnership

Amplify Your Voice is designed to address this problem. It is tailored to help women discover the unique value of their voice and how to share their wisdom, passions, and ideas. You will learn to unlock your potential and stand out in a noisy world.

Breakfast is 8:30 a.m., program 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

April April 18 at The Hotel at Oberlin Ballroom, 10 E College St. Tickets are $300 for a table of six, or $59 per

individual ticket. Purchase tickets at business.oberlin. org

Amherst Golf League

The Amherst City golf league has openings for players for the upcoming season. Two man teams or singles to play as subs or regulars are needed. This is a men’s league, mostly retirees, for fun with competition. We play Tuesday afternoons at Forest Hills. Please contact Gregg at 440-277-7349 if interested.

Knights of Columbus

Knights of Columbus

St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef Dinner-To-Go cooked and served by Genuine Irish Leprechauns. $18 for Corned Beef Sandwich with Swiss Cheese on Rye; Kosher Dill Pickle, Cole Slaw, Horseradish, Mustard & Cake. Contact Pete at 440-465-4946/ pcatanese7@gmail.com or John at 440-725-7369 or john. pabin@gmail.com with #meals and pick up time from 4-7 p.m. March 17 at Father Ragan Hall, 1783 Moore Rd. Avon. Since only a limited number of meals are prepared, preorders are strongly recommended.

Avon Democratic Club

Join the Avon Democratic Club for our meeting on 6:30 p.m. April 13 at the Avon Senior Center at 36784 Detroit Rd. All are

welcome.

Candidates Geoffrey Smith and Wayne R. Nicol will discuss their campaigns for Municipal Judge of the Avon Lake Courts. The Avon Lake Municipal Court serves Avon Lake, Avon and Sheffield Village.

Black River Audubon Society

The Black River Audubon 65 Year Anniversary Outstanding Speaker program will feature wellknown naturalist, author and birder Scott Weidensaul and his program “A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds” 3 p.m. March 25 at the Carlisle Reservation Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Rd., LaGrange. This program is free for members, $10 for nonmembers. Pre-registration for attendees is required and tickets can be purchased at www.blackriver audubon.org

NAMI of Lorain County

The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Lorain County will host its family to family educational class from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through April 25. The free, program is designed for family, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. Each session is taught by NAMI trained family members. To register, or for more information, call (440) 2408477 or email office@namilc.org

Merit list

GRACE RANSOM, of Amherst, and a University of Findlay junior, was awarded the United States Eventing bronze medal at the Novice level riding UF’s horse Bright Prince.

Ransom achieved this award by finishing three events at three separate venues with a score of 45 or below. The events, along with her final scores, are as follows: 38.8 at the Genesee Valley Hunt Horse Trials in Avon, New York; 44.4 at the Jump Start Horse Trials in Lexington, Kentucky; 31.1 at the River Glen Horse Trials in New Market, Tennessee.

In addition, these scores have enabled her to meet the requirements to qualify for the American Eventing Championships in August 2023 in Lexington, Kentucky. She and Bright Prince are in eighth place on the intercollegiate leaderboard for the nation.

Ransom, the UF Eventing Team Captain, is double majoring in Equestrian Studies with an English Riding/Training emphasis and in Equine Business Management.

BAYA R GREGOROVIC, of Amherst, was included on Wichita State University’s dean’s honor roll for fall 2022.

Newspaper piece

Pope’s court 40. Bohemian 41. *Tonya and Harley Quinn to Margot Robbie, e.g. 43. *Like Millie Bobby Brown and friends in “Stranger Things” 44. Prows

Vaulting prop

Fencer’s blade

*Animated story of Elsa and Anna

Greek salad ingredient

Make #26 Down

Look through a book

BBQ spot

To be included on the dean’s honor roll, a student must be enrolled full time (at least 12 credit hours) and earn at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

These kids arefacing adecision about spending money.Whatwould you do?

These ZING sneakers aresuper popular with the kids at my school.But they cost $69 apair!

These generic sneakers cost $29 They’renot nearly as fancyasthe ZING sneakers,though.

Alot of young movie stars wear the jeans at left. They are$80. Thegeneric ones in the middle are$30. And the used pair at rightis$8 at the thriftstore

With aBLUE crayon, circle the coins that add up to the amount shown on the top coin purse. Then, use aRED crayon to circle the coins that add up to the amount shown on the bottom coin purse. Have afamily member check your work. Youshould have 5¢ left overifyou circled the correct coins.

Which pair of sneakers should Kevin choose? Giveatleast tworeasons to explain your choice.

Which pair of jeans should Emma choose? Giveatleast tworeasons foryour choice

Whichisthe best deal? Thesmallcan of fruitjuice or the 64 ouncesize?

BOTTLE:$3.50

The64ouncebottle contains 16 4ouncecups of juice. The12 ouncecan contains three 4 ouncecups of juice.

CAN: $1.25

Canyou add up all the coins yousee on this page?

PUZZLE 1PUZZLE3

Howmuchmoney would yousaveif youput anickel in ajar everyday for ayear?

PUZZLE 2

Howmuchmoney would yousave in four weeks if yousaved 5¢ aday the rst week,10¢ aday the second week,15¢ aday the thirdweek and 20¢ aday the fourth week?

Best Food Deal

Use the grocery store ads to compare the cost of different food items. Find two or more of the same food items sold in different quantities. Figure out which is the best deal.

Standards Link: Research: Use the newspaper to locate info.

Howmuchmoney would yousave using the plan in Puzzle 2and kept increasing the savings amountby 5¢ each week for12weeks?

PUZZLE 4

Howmuchmoney would yousave using the plan in Puzzle 3and kept increasing the savings amountby 5¢ each week for26weeks?

Can you come up withafamilyfun game night that costs $0?

It AllAdds Up

Find four 4-digit numbers in the newspaper.Copy the numbers onto a piece of paper and add them together. Repeat with 5-digit and 6-digit numbers.

Standards Link: Math: Addition.

GENERIC

Tryto

ANSWER: Cheap!“ Cheap!”