Lorain County Community Guide - April 6, 2023

Now-famous former Amherst bus driver opens up

AMHERST — For two years Jackie Miller had been driving that bus, carting kids of all ages across town to school and back. The mornings weren’t so bad.

“They were still in a coma, you know,” she said with a little bit of a laugh. “But the afternoons — that was a different story. And then that core group would get on.”

And then came March 29.

Something just aligned differently that day. It wasn’t the high schoolers, oh no.

It was a small group of junior high students who plucked that last nerve like a pawn shop guitar. Miller said there was

a ringleader, one student “that would rile the rest of them up every single day,” who had started yelling at the top of his lungs that day that another student was spraying perfume — something they had been repeatedly warned not to do, as it would trigger her asthma.

“He’d get them all riled up, get them wound up like cheap watches. The disrespect. The way these kids were on the bus, just a nightmare. There was nothing I could do that

could get them to stop doing this,” she said. “That was the day I reached my breaking point. I just couldn’t do it any more.”

What Miller did do has now been viewed more than 3 million times on TikTok: She left the driver’s seat and headed down the center aisle, unleashing a torrent of profanities on the 13- and 14-year-old students.

“I’m sick of you, I’m sick of all of this s---. I’m going to start kicking some f------ serious a--. Do you

Easter Bunny hops through South Amherst

hear me?“ Miller said.

A student caught Miller’s tirade on video and posted it on TikTok, where it immediately went viral.

It caught the attention of Amherst Schools Superintendent Mike Molnar, who released a statement and sent home a letter to parents, letting them know the district found out like they did, via social media.

Miller resigned after speaking to Molnar March 29.

“I heard what he wasn’t saying,” she said. “He said

he was going to put me on paid administrative leave Thursday and Friday, and then of course this week was holiday leave. And I thought ‘this guy is going to hang me out to dry. I don’t need this in my life.’ So five minutes later I told him I resign.’”

Molnar said any violations of conduct that students may have made during the incident were addressed with parents after school officials reviewed the video from bus,

Lorain County population continues to rise

Lorain County at about 316,268 residents.

Change in voting laws to affect May 2 primary

SHEFFIELD TWP — A number of changes in state law earlier this year will affect voters in the coming May 2 primary election. They include new rules mostly affecting photo ID used by prospective voters, but also new or reduced voting hours. Voters also will see some new technology, with new electronic poll books in use by poll workers this year.

In an interview March 30, Lorain County Board of Elections Director Paul Adams said his staff is doing a social media and print

advertising campaign to inform prospective voters of the changes in election law.

In-person absentee voting began Tuesday.

ID changes

Changes in state elections law taking effect prior to the May 2 primary mostly have to do with what ID voters will be required to show to vote absentee or show at the polls on Election Day.

The only acceptable forms of identification for absentee voting by mail are an Ohio driver’s license or state ID number, the last four digits of a person’s Social Security number, or

a front-and-back copy of a voter’s ID.

The state ID card will be provided to anyone who wants it, free of charge, at the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles starting Friday, Adams said.

Copies of current utility bills, bank statements, government checks, paychecks or any other government document showing a voter’s name and address are not acceptable as forms of ID.

For in-person early voting, which begins at 8 a.m. Tuesday, a valid driver’s license; state ID card or interim ID form issued by the BMV; U.S. passport book or passport card; or

U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card or U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs ID card is required.

Early voting

Early voting now ends at 5 p.m. April 30, after HB 458 eliminated the six hours of voting previously assigned to the Monday before Election Day. Those hours were reallocated to early voting hours the weekend and week before, Adams said. Absolutely no in-person early voting will occur May 1. The full voting schedule can be found on the Board of Elections website.

ELYRIA — While the majority of Ohio’s 88 counties saw a decline in population from the last census, Lorain County grew.

Lorain County gained about 3,300 residents, according to the Census Bureau’s 2022 population estimates, whereas larger metropolitan counties like Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Franklin and Montgomery recorded a loss.

Lorain County gained about 4,600 residents due to migration from other counties, states and internationally, according to the same data.

Migration to Lorain County offset the number of deaths over the past two years, which continued to outpace births to bring the overall population increase to 3,294.

In a news release, Christine Hartley, assistant division chief for estimates and projections in the Census Bureau’s population division, noted the country’s migration and growth patterns have moved closer to pre-pandemic levels.

The 2020 census recorded substantial growth for the county from the 2010 census, The Chronicle-Telegram previously reported. From Amherst and Avon to Lorain and Oberlin, population booms saw the countywide total grow from 301,356 residents in 2010 to 312,964 in 2020.

The 2022 estimate continued that trend, with

While the state as a whole lost about a half-percent of residents, Lorain County was not the only area to record an increase.

Counties along Interstate 71, including Medina, Knox, Licking, Holmes and Fairfield counties, also recorded growth.

The largest statistical increase in the state was Union County, which gained more than 4,100 residents, a 6.5 percent increase.

For Lorain County Auditor Craig Snodgrass, the local numbers were not wholly surprising.

Housing sales in 2021 were up, he said, and values continued to rise last year while the market has remained active.

“It’s just been extremely, extremely busy the last couple years,” he said.

“The sale prices have been far exceeding my values and that’s not just in cities, but across the board. Cities, townships, villages, the sale prices have been far above my market values, which would tend to support that we’ve had an increase in population.”

He said North Ridgeville and Columbia Township continue to see growth, with a lot of construction on what used to be golf courses in the township.

He suspected individuals may be moving to Lorain County from neighboring Cuyahoga County, as Lorain County’s tax

OWEN MacMILLAN | The Community Guide

SOUTH AMHERST — The South Amherst Fire Department was joined by a special guest April 2, as the Easter Bunny hopped in SAFD Engine 101 for a tour around the village. The fire engine drove through the residential streets of South Amherst and part of Brownhelm Township as the Easter Bunny and his helpers in the SAFD handed out candy and waved to waiting children. The event was originally scheduled for April 1, but was moved to Sunday afternoon due to the rain and wind of the earlier weekend.

JACKIE MILLER

CARISSA WOYTACH THE COMMUNITY GUIDE

RINI JEFFERS FOR THE COMMUNITY GUIDE

DAVE O’BRIEN THE COMMUNITY GUIDE

Treasurer’s Office wins United Way ‘Caring Cup’

VOTING

FROM A1

The deadline to submit an absentee ballot application is 8:30 p.m. April 25. Absentee ballots may only be requested on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, www.ohiosos. gov; on the Lorain County Board of Elections website at www.voteloraincountyohio.gov; or at the Board of Elections offices at 1985 North Ridge Road, Sheffield Township.

polls will have until noon on May 6 to bring their ID to the Board of Elections and “cure” their ballot.

HB 458 reduced the number of days to do so from seven to four, Adams said.

From left, United Way of Greater Lorain County President and CEO David Aroney, BJ Ries of the Lorain County Treasurers office takes a selfie of the group, chariman of the competition Lorain County Auditor, Craig Snodgrass and Lorain County Recorder Mike Doran holding the trophy. In an unusual wrinkle the award will be swapped between the two county offices, Doran’s office won in 2021 but there wasn’t an award ceremony. The treasurers office will have it for the second half of the year as the

CENSUS

FROM A1

rates are lower.

Cuyahoga County lost more than 28,000 residents, according to census data.

“We’re one of the diamonds in the rough and I think people are realizing Lorain county has a lot to offer,” he said, noting Lorain County has various housing options — from rural to urban — as well as the lakefront.

“We check a lot of boxes.”

Moving into the second quarter of 2023, his office is beginning work on reevaluations, starting in the southern end of the county and working north.

That reevaluation will quantify the county’s market valuation, something he expects to increase, based on the way sales have been over the past couple of years.

Even with the recorded growth in Lorain County, deaths still continued to outpace births.

2022 winner. Each year, county departments compete to see who can raise the most money in support of the nonprofit.

The department that wins the friendly competition retains a traveling trophy — the “Caring Cup” — according to a United Way of Greater Lorain County news release.

The treasurer’s office won this year with a per-employee donation of about $85. This is the seventh year for the Caring Cup, with the award alternating between the treasurer and recorder offices. This year’s total campaign raised $8,133.

Absentee ballots returned to the board of elections in person must be delivered by 7:30 p.m. May 2. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Monday, May 1, and be received within four days of the election.

The nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Ohio website also has a plain language guide to all the recent changes in Ohio voting laws, which can be found on its website at www.lwvohio.org/ohiovotingchanges.

Election Day

On Election Day, HB 458 now requires that voters provide valid photo identification such as an Ohio driver’s license, state ID, U.S. passport or passport card, U.S. military ID, Ohio National Guard or Veterans Affairs ID card. Voters who forget their ID when they go to the

MILLER FROM A1

All precincts in Lorain County will be open for ballot questions and issues in the May 2 primary, according to the elections board. There is only one countywide issue, that being Issue 6 — a five-year, 1.6875-mill renewal for the Lorain County Board of Developmental Disabilities/Murray Ridge Center.

Only some communities will have contested Republican or Democratic primaries.

Because of the Elyria Municipal Court clerk’s race between Gregory Fanning and Mike Musto, Republican primary ballots will appear in all Elyria city wards, Elyria Township, North Ridgeville, the villages of Grafton and LaGrange, and Carlisle, Eaton, Columbia, LaGrange and Grafton townships. Both Republican and Democratic primaries will be held in Lorain, Sheffield, Avon, Avon Lake, and Elyria’s Ward 5.

A Democratic primary only will be held in Amherst city Ward 2. Voters whose polling places have changed

due to the redrawing of city wards or other voting districts should have been notified by mail of changes in their polling locations. Voter registration status, polling locations, and sample ballots can be found on the Lorain County Board of Elections website, www.voteloraincountyohio.gov.

Poll workers will tell voters who go to the wrong polling place to vote where they should go to properly cast a vote, Adams said. No voting will be allowed at the Board of Election offices on Election Day.

A map of contested primaries also can be found on the board of elections website.

Poll workers needed

The board of elections also is still in need of poll workers for May 2. Earlier this month it reduced to 754 the number it anticipated will be needed for an anticipated low turnout in the primary.

To become a poll worker, call the board of elections at (440) 326-5900.

Classes are two hours long, half online and half in-person followed by an open-book assessment test.

All prospective poll workers will be paid for at-

tending class, and can earn up to $200 for working on Election Day. Workers who aren’t needed on Election Day but will remain on a stand-by list will still be paid for attending poll worker training classes, Adams said.

HB 458 background

Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 458 in January, which changed Ohio election laws — primarily, its supporters claimed, to create stricter voting rules surrounding the use of photo ID by prospective voters.

Critics of the bill have accused Ohio’s GOP legislators and state officials of restricting voter access to the polls.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, put out a statement in January that most voters and Americans support stricter photo ID rules at the polls despite Ohio’s elections being widely regarded as fraud-free by the secretary of state himself.

In December, LaRose’s office reported that Ohio’s election boards had a 99.9 percent accuracy rate in voting results. He has also publicly stated that it is “easy to vote and hard to cheat” in Ohio elections.

Nationally, more than 74 percent of counties recorded more deaths than births in 2022, but the country’s population still remained overall positive with more than 8.1 million births compared with 7.7 million deaths.

There were nearly 40,000 more deaths than births in the Buckeye State in 2022. In Lorain County, deaths outpaced births by 1,524, according to 2022 estimates, marking a continuation of a trend from 2021 numbers.

The “natural decrease” in population noted from the 2020 census to July 1, 2021, saw 646 more Lorain County residents die than were born in that time period. Analysts at that time attributed the numbers to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Census Bureau notes natural decreases remain historically high in its 2022 estimates.

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though he declined to offer any further details. He said Saturday that in his eight months with the district he was unaware of any previous complaints about Miller.

The video also caught the attention of others, including business owner Jacqui Adkins, proprietor of Mistakes on the Lake in Vermilion. Adkins was getting her hair done when someone showed her the video of Miller’s bad day, which resonated with Adkins, who has parented teens.

While still in the beautician’s chair, Adkins drew up a T-shirt design with a slogan of one of Miller’s one-liners, inscribed over a school bus: “My foot’s gonna be so far up your a--it’s going to dangle from your nose.”

Orders started coming in before her appointment was over. She knew she was onto something. “I’ve got to find this lady,” she

thought. “And of course, the internet is an amazing thing and found her for me.”

The unlikely second act for Miller started there. The shirt posted Thursday; 910 had been ordered by Saturday, with $5 from each sale going to Miller. Adkins is fielding orders from around the country and has passed along requests for interviews to Miller that so far has included two Cleveland television stations, a newspaper, a radio station and Inside Edition next week. A GoFundMe to fund a retirement and vacation fund for Miller had raised more than $27,000 by Saturday.

“She’s just this sweet woman, when we first met she said ‘I’m so embarrassed. This isn’t something I want to be remembered by in my career.

I don’t understand why people are on my side. It’s shouldn’t have gotten that far. I’m sorry for how it

happened, but I’m done,’” Adkins said.

“I’m just this normal person,” Miller said. “Hindsight is, you know, perfectly clear and honestly I would have taken a moment to take a bleeding breath and just calmed myself down and just gone back there and find out what’s really going on and I would not have blown up. OK, I just wouldn’t have done it.”

Miller said she might return to driving a bus again but probably not with kids. She may go back to what she used to do, driving developmentally disabled adults, or even senior citizens next time. She used to be an over-theroad truck driver with her husband for years before moving to Ohio to be near her grandchildren. The mother of three adult children, she lost one daughter to cancer in 2007. She and her daughter were fighting cancer at the same time

— “that was a hard row to hoe,” she said — and her daughter was the one who taught her to slow down and pay attention to what people have to say, a lesson she still uses when dealing with students.

“Just shut up and listen. You always learn something, she would say. I would always keep the seat near me open for kids to come and talk to me if they needed to talk,” Miller said.

Freshman Isabella Volpe has been riding Miller’s bus for two years said while she was surprised by the turn of events, she wasn’t entirely shocked. While Isabella had gotten a ride home with her mom on Wednesday and wasn’t on the bus, when she saw the video she said “That just did not seem like Miss Miller.”

But the kids acting up? That’s a daily occurrence, she said.

BRUCE BISHOP THE COMMUNITY GUIDE

Amherst Council approves body cameras for police

AMHERST — Amherst police will be the latest department in the county to get body cameras.

Amherst City Council unanimously approved legislation to seek bids for cameras for its officers on March 27. A state Office of Criminal Justice Services grant will pay part of the cost.

The $98,150 grant will pay for the first year of a five-year contract for body cameras, Mayor Mark Costilow told council members during a March 20 Fire and Police Committee meeting. The rest of the contract — not to exceed $170,000 total — would be split up over four years.

Discussions about body cameras for officers began late last year. Amherst was awarded the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services grant just before Christmas,

as part of a nearly $4.9 million set aside by the state Department of Public Safety to help law enforcement buy and upgrade body-worn devices.

At the time, Amherst Police Chief Mark Cawthon said officers came to him wanting the cameras, noting the devices capture what happens during a foot chase, or if an officer fires their weapon.

The city will seek bids for cameras that integrate with technology already in use in the department, like dash cameras in cruisers, Costilow said during the March 20 committee meeting.

Council also unanimously approved accepting equipment from the Ohio Department of Transportation to improve signal timing on state Route 58.

The improvements are separate from an ongoing traffic study and corresponding work between

Amherst and Lorain on the thoroughfare, Costilow said.

In September, the two cities came together to approve a $142,000 traffic study and crash analysis by Bramhall Engineering for the often-gridlocked area between Route 2 and Cooper Foster Park Road. The area on Lorain’s west side has become a magnet for businesses. Each city and its respective school boards also approved a tax increment financing district to divert funds to pay for traffic improvements.

Costilow said during the March 20 committee meeting that ODOT will pay for new traffic signal panels along state Route 58 — a roughly $10,000 cost.

The city will contract with Signal Services for about $1,200 to install the timing equipment, which should relieve some of the traffic until the other study with Lorain is done.

Nutrition Kitchen unveiled

ELYRIA — Neighbor-

hood Alliance hosted the grand opening of its new Neighborhood Nutrition Kitchen with a ribboncutting and friendly chef competition on March 29.

CEO Alicia Foss called the grand opening a pivotal moment not only for Neighborhood Alliance but also for all of Lorain County and those it serves, eliminating the wait lists for home-delivered meals and expanding its operational impact.

Foss said the kitchen hopes to provide 350,000 meals annually out of the new kitchen by 2026 with a long-term plan to continue to provide meals to the community.

The centralized commercial kitchen will also serve the Haven Center homeless shelter in Lorain and Neighborhood Alliance’s child care center.

The kitchen was constructed in the former Elyria YMCA building where the locker room once sat. The building was donated to Neighborhood Alliance in 2020 after sitting vacant for 14 years and will serve as the hub for the organization’s human service programming.

Foss said they wouldn’t be at this moment had it not been for the strong support from the community including grants from the Lorain County commissioners, city of Elyria, Stocker Foundation, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, the Norton Family Foundation and Meals on Wheels.

The project received $500,000 from the commissioners and an additional $150,000 from the city of Elyria.

“Three years ago on April Fools’ Day 2020, during a pandemic, Dick Bonner donated this building to Neighborhood Alliance. His gift was the catalyst we needed to launch our capital projects,” Foss said.

More important than just a kitchen, Foss said this is the first phase of a sixphase process to improve three service locations, including the 9,000-squarefoot expansion of the

Haven Center homeless center in Lorain later this year. Neighborhood Alliance is ready to rise to that challenge.

“We know there are needs out there that can’t be met right now. And we are taking steps to prevent that from continuing to happen, she said.

The kitchen will also become part of an externship program in partnership with Lorain County Community College’s culinary arts program.

Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield has embraced Neighborhood Alliance’s presence in the city, applauding the organization’s foresight and courage to see its vision come to life.

“This is such an epic day for the city of Elyria. So many people have made so many memories in this building and now they’re going to be able to create new memories here that are actually providing a service to the city,” Whitfield said.

Neighborhood Alliance, Whitfield noted, serves more than 51,000 meals to seniors in Elyria, and he has been able to ride along and help deliver some of those meals.

“And I know the residents appreciate this. So many families who don’t live here still have their elderly loved ones that live here, and they trust in us to be supporting them while they’re still here,” the mayor said.

Lorain County Commissioner Michelle Hung said the investment by the county in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the stories of what local communities went through

highlighted the importance of getting funding back to the people. With American Rescue Plan Act funding the Neighborhood Nutrition Kitchen, she said there are tangible real results people can see.

“And we are proud to be together today to see what this collaboration has brought,” Hung said. Over the past 12 to 18 months, residents have seen the presentations, the data and the renderings on the project, and Neighborhood Alliance, “they see the people they will serve. For them, it’s all about the people.”

Whitfield also served as emcee for the event, which featured a friendly competition with three local chefs serving dishes with ingredients selected by Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Ohio.

Chef Michael Castro of Lorain was crowned victorious by unanimous decision by four guest judges for his dish, a cumin-rubbed flank steak, sweet potato purée, avocado salsa, gremolata and cilantro oil.

Castro runs Modern Elegance Culinary Experi-

a catering company for in-home events and corporate events.

Also competing were Chef Angel Sanchez of Lorain and Sean Wright, head chef at Elyria’s Foundry Kitchen & Bar.

Contestants were tasked with creating a dish with a mix of fresh and frozen ingredients selected by Second Harvest. As an added twist, all three teams had to incorporate a surprise ingredient of chili chocolate.

ence,

KEVIN MARTIN THE COMMUNITY GUIDE

JEFF BARNES | The Community Guide

Local chef, Michael Castro, puts the finishing touches on his winning dish during chefs’ competition at the unveiling of Neighborhood Alliance’s Nutrition Kitchen on March 29.

Oberlin Community Services kicks off capital campaign

OBERLIN — Oberlin Community Services kicked off its capital campaign March 30.

Twenty years ago, executive director Margie Flood said the organization could’ve never dreamed it would outgrow its thennew building on Professor Street.

But as needs grew in the southern portion of Lorain County, so too did OCS’ need for space.

Ten years ago the group gave out about 100,000 pounds of food a year, she said. Now, it’s more than four times that.

So OCS looked to expand.

The nonprofit purchased the former National Association of College Stores’ building last summer through a $1 million donation from Fran and Roger Cooper — giving the building its new namesake, the Cooper Community Resource Center.

Fran, 93, and Roger, 95, Cooper are residents of Kendal at Oberlin and have lived in the city for more than 50 years. In that time, they’ve welcomed foreign exchange students into the home and donated their time and financial support to crucial community services, Flood said.

Roger Cooper served in the U.S. Navy after World War II and in the mid1960s enlisted in the Air

CARISSA WOYTACH |

The Community Guide

ABOVE: OCS Executive Director Margie Flood takes a swing at a wall of the former NACS building on March 30 during the nonprofit’s campaign kickoff event.

RIGHT: Donors Fran and Roger Cooper hold a plaque commemorating the $1 million donation they made to cover Oberlin Community Services’ purchase of the former NACS building on March 30.

Force, going on to serve in the Ohio Air National Guard. He also had a long career in finance, working for Diamond Alkali, Fenn College, Cleveland State University and Oberlin College. Fran Cooper

worked for law and mortgage firms and was an administrative assistant at Oberlin College.

The pair initially didn’t want to be recognized, Flood said, but after some

convincing became the namesake for the new community center.

They were presented with a plaque thanking them for their donation during the campaign kickoff Thurs-

day.

Renovations will begin in the next couple weeks to transform the first-floor space into a new choice food pantry, Flood said, hoping it will be open by

the late summer.

Another anonymous $500,000 donation will fund renovations to what will become the Ann Fuller Great Space, serving as a community room also on the first floor.

After that, work will start on the upstairs offices — eventually slated to become a hub for not only OCS services but also other area nonprofits.

Capital Campaign coChairs Kurt Russell — 2022 National Teacher of the Year — and Diana Roose both noted the importance of OCS’ work in the southern half of Lorain County.

As part of the campaign, Roose announced the $100,000 Jaqui Willis Memorial matching challenge. An anonymous donation will match donations up to $100,000 to help kickstart OCS’ campaign for $400,000.

Connie Ponder also announced a “medicine bottle campaign,” asking supporters to bring their used prescription bottles full of change to the center, as every little bit counts in reaching the nonprofit’s goal.

Checks can be sent to Oberlin Community Services, 285 S. Professor St., Oberlin, OH 44074 or made electronically via PayPal, Venmo and DonorView at oberlincommunity services.org.

OCS hopes to complete its capital campaign by December.

North Pointe Ballet hosts World Autism Awareness Day program

ELYRIA – A Lorain County-based dance troupe recognized World Autism Awareness Day on April 1 with a presentation at Lorain County Community College.

North Pointe Ballet hosted a screening of choreographer Janet Dziak’s work “Because of You,” which chronicles her family’s journey with her son’s Autism diagnosis.

“I had a son that wasn’t developing typically, we found out that he was on the spectrum and I had art to cope with that and he could cope and I have this wonderful network,” she said. “That’s how this piece got started.”

The 20-minute piece included Dziak dancing with her son, Lucas, and other performers, and later on the pair and two other dancers performed a live excerpt from the virtual program.

Dziak, of North Ridgeville, is an adjunct professor at Oberlin College, and executive artistic director of North Pointe Ballet. She created the dance piece originally in 2019, and then adapted it virtually in 2021 to be used in schools.

“Our mission is to make classical ballet accessible and it started with our sensory friendly initiative,” Dziak said. “Every main stage performance that we do, we dedicate one performance special for a sensory-friendly audience. The lights are on, sound is down and everybody’s kind of free to be themselves … That kind of developed into a community engagement program, a diversity program, so we’ve kind of branched out from that little spark of accessibility.”

The school adaptation was designed to meet social-emotional learning content standards for schools. It was designed with help from Amherst

literacy coach Breanna Carden.

Carden, who was coached by Dziak as a child, said the educational resources have a song-byson recap and discussions for students.

Classes at Amherst Junior high participated in the program, including a virtual sensory simulator, experiencing “Because of You” from Lucas’ perspective.

Dziak said there are grants available to help bring the program to schools.

For more information on educator resources, email leanna@northpointeballet. org.

440.776.8379

JEFF BARNES | The Community Guide

The North Pointe Ballet performed a portion of “Because of You” live at the Lorain County Community College, Stocker Arts Center in Elyria on April 1. Performers of the live performance are, from left: Lucas Dziak, Alexander Radachi, Janet Dziak, and Elizabeth Radachi.

Pirates beat Patriots

Comets fly past Rangers

Lady Pirates start season strong

THOMAS FETCENKO | The Community Guide

ABOVE: Amherst’s Sierra Dorobek (9) pitches against North Ridgeville at home on March 30.

RIGHT: Makenna Dorobek (8) high fives teammate Leah Sprague (18) between innings at home on March 30. The Comets beat the Rangers 6 to 5.

RUSS GIFFORD | The Community Guide

LEFT: Black River’s Alex Woolfrom can’t collect the throw from home on this steal by Open Door’s Luke Doss.

RIGHT: Black River’s Kenny Boggs makes the throw to first base against Open Door. Black River beat Open Door 4-2 on March 30.

RUSS GIFFORD | The Community Guide

ABOVE: Black River’s Jordan Bradford sends the ball to the plate against Monroeville. BELOW: Black River’s Lilly Stief connects on a Monroeville pitch. The Lady Pirates bested the Eagles 4-0 on March 30.

Easter Egg Hunts

● The Amherst Lions club and Amherst Steele Leo Clubs will host its Easter Egg Hunt 11 a.m. April 8. The two clubs have been hosting the event since 1996.

The Easter Bunny will arrive at 10:30 a.m., courtesy of the Amherst Fire Department. There will be three separate hunt areas marked by age level: toddlers to 3-year-olds; 4-to-6-year-olds; and 7-to10-year-olds.

In addition to the candyfilled eggs, there will be specially marked eggs children can redeem for prizes at the end of the hung.

Parents are requested to not enter the designated areas when the hunt first begins, but to join the children a few minutes into the hunt. For those too young to walk on their own, the Easter Bunny will have plenty of eggs to hand out, Lions Club President Lori Elswick said in a news release. Parents of children with special needs can ask a Lion or Leo Club member for assistance.

The event is free, but donations support Amherst Lions vision care and other community projects. The Amherst Lions will also be collecting unwanted, used eye glasses to be recycled and distributed to those in need. Collection boxes will be set up.

For more information, visit Amherst Lions Club on Facebook or email Am herstOhioLions@gmail. com.

● The Rotary Club of Oberlin’s Easter Egg Hunt is 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. April

BULLETIN BOARD

8 on the West College side of Tappan Square. It is for children ages 2-to-12years-old and will feature the Easter Bunny, face painting, games and other activities.

Herrick Memorial Library

The Herrick Memorial Library Board of Trustees will meet on Tuesday.

Amherst Historical Society

● 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 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.

● The Taste of History Military Living History event is 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 17 at The Sandstone Village, 763 Milan

THEME: ANATOMY 101

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Ave. The event will have samples of military food and rations, displays, kids’ activities and more.

Pittsfield Community Church

● The Pittsfield Community Church’s “Springspiration Day” is April 18. Registration is at 10 a.m., concert at 10:30 a.m., salad lunch at noon.

For reservations, call Margaret at (440) 9655773 or Phyllis at (440) 647-347.

The special guest is Cheryl Wellert, CEO of DAT Travel and Christian Treasure Seekers, which plans family-friendly and faith-based vacations.

● The church’s Fish Fry Dinner is 5-7 p.m. April 14. Dine-in or carry-out available. Meals are $15 and all are welcome.

The church is located at the corner of state Routes 58 and 303.

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.

To learn more about the ADC, visit our website at www.avonohdems.com

Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club

The Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club will meet 6 p.m. April 20 at the Knights of Columbus Ragan Hall, 1783 Moore Rd., Avon. The evening’s speakers will be County Commissioners David Moore and Jeff Riddell and County Administrator Jeff Armbruster. Sarah McGervey, executive director of Right to Life of Northeast Ohio will also speak.

Members are free and guests are $5.

League of Women Voters Oberlin Area

The League of Women Voters of the Oberlin Area will hold a public informational meeting about Ranked Choice Voting and what it could mean for Lorain County voters. The meeting is in the Dye Auditorium of the Oberlin College Science Center at 6:30 p.m. April 26. Speakers will include Justin Wells, the Co-Executive of Ranked Choice Ohio, and Duncan Buell, Chair Emeritus in Computer Science and Engineering

at the University of South Carolina, a noted researcher in electronic voting, and currently visiting professor at Denison University. The meeting will consider what ranked choice voting has to offer the voters of Lorain County and what difficulties lie in wait before any implementation can happen. Parking will be available in the Woodland Street lot across from the science building.

Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus will present “Behind the Scenes: TV News” at 7 p.m. April 20 at the Knights’ Ragan Hall, 1783 Moore Rd. in Avon. Paul Orlousky, a recently retired TV news reporter and author will speak. RSVP by April 17 to rudybreglia@ gmail.com

Amherst Library

● The C.S. Lewis and Friends book group will meet at the Amherst Library at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the DeLloyd Room on the second floor. The group will finish its discussion of the sermon “A Slip of the Tongue” and then discuss the essay “The Inner Ring.” A copy of either item is available by emailing Marcia Geary at mgeary@gearylawllc.com or calling (440) 988-9803.

● Canine reading buddies is 6:30 p.m. April 18

● Celebrate spring with a short story contest. Youth of all ages are invited to enter the Amherst Public Library’s short story contest now through April 29. Winners will be chosen by May 5.

● The Easter Bunny will visit the library from 1-2 p.m. Saturday for photos.

● A watercolor pencil workshop is at 12:30 p.m. Monday. All skill levels are welcome. Students will need a set of watercolor pencils, pink erasers, a No. 8 round Taklon brush, a natural sponge, a half-inch foam bruce and an ultrafine Sharpie or .02 Micron pen and 140-pound watercolor paper. Classes are for adults and registration is required.

● The Tabletop Game Time group will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The club is for teens and adults.

To register for events, or for more information, call the library at (440) 9884230 or visit amherstpubliclibrary.org.

Ohio Genealogical Society

The Lorain County chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society will have a virtual program on finding ancestors in Census records at 7 p.m. Monday. The program is free and open to the public. Contact meetings@loraincoogs. org to receive a link to the meeting.

Spirit of ’76 Museum

The Spirit of ’76 Museum will be hosting a special event with extended hours to unveil the restored Willard painting “Primitive Dentistry”. Special hours will be 10:00 am to 3:30 p.m. April 15. The museum location is 201 North Main Street, Wellington. Any questions call (440) 647-4367.

Behavior Chat

Join Ochanya McRoberts-Wells, MEd, who will lead a discussion guided by your questions on a variety of behavior topics virtuall at 6:30 p.m. April 18. Submit your questions before or during the session and learn how to use the tools in our Behavior Toolkit to help your child. Each session will focus on a new behavior tool, but questions on any behavior concern are welcome. The content in this program is geared toward caregivers of children ages 18 months - 6 years (with or without developmental concerns). Each attendee will receive a free Behavior Toolkit. connectingforkids.org/ behavior-chat

Oberlin Business Partnership

The Oberlin Business Partnership and Positively Oberlin! will host its inspiring women series from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. April 18 at The Hotel at Oberlin Ballroom. Breakfast will be at 8:30 a.m. Speakers include Brittany Lovett, marketing and communications officer for the Community Foundation of Lorain County; Amy O’Dell, founder of Jacob’s Ladder; Tunde Oyeneyin, Peloton elite cycling instructor; and Judi Heller, author, speaker, and CEO of Haus of &. Individual tickets are $59, or a table of six is $300. Registration is available at www.oberlin.org.

plate

Wedding promise?

*Part of eye, not flower

Tokyo, formerly

Alpine transport

Cuckoo

*Vein to “go for”

a.k.a. Indian Lilac

Grammy of sports 15. Like a Haunted Mansion visi-

Like certain Crüe

Giannis’ league

Cup holder

Orderly arrangement

Popular movie genre

J in B. J. King

Serve as motive

Em’s and Dorothy’s last name

27. Hiker’s path

29. *Largest organ

*AB+

Byproduct of wool combing

ndCanyou the two identical cows?

Hot. That was the best wordt describeMay 1842 in NewYork Strange. FarmerHowe’scows werestanding out in thesun instead of the shade

Farmer Howewalked overtohis cows. When he got there, he felt cool air. Surprised,helooked around and found aholeinthe ground. His cows werestanding around the hole. Coolair wascoming out of the holeinthe ground!

Cool! Farmer Howe looked down the hole and discovereditwas an opening to an underground cave.

Followthe mazetosee whatbecameof FarmerHowe’s cave.

Stalactites

Stalactites hang down from cavern ceilings likeicicles made of mineral deposits

As water drips from the cave ceiling,some of it evaporates and the minerals dissolved in the waterremain. It takes thousands of years for

Stalagmites

Stalagmites form on cavern oors and grow up towardthe ceilings

Waterdrops from astalactiteland the oor of the cave,evaporate and leave behind minerals.As moreminerals areleftbehind, a agmitestarts to grow upwards.

Dress forSpelunking

All but one of these flashlights has an identical twin. Canyou match each pair and reveal the one unique flashlight? Haveafamily member try!

WhatisaCave?

WhatisaCave?

A cave is anopening in the Earththatis large enough to holdaperson. Most caves areformed in rocks that dissolve, or get eatenaway, like limestone.

Acaveisanopening in the Earththatislarge enough to holdaperson. Most caves areformed in rocks that dissolve,orget eatenaway, like limestone

CaCaveor vern? Acavernisatypeofcave.Theytendtobelarger.Cavernscan bemadeofsmallercaves

Columns

Columns form when a stalactiteand astalagmite meet and grow together

When watersoaks into limestone, the stone dissolves and holes start to form underground.Theseholes arecalled caves. Caves grow very, very slowly

When watersoaks into limestone, the stone dissolves and holes start to form underground. These holes arecalled caves. Caves grow very, very slowly

It takes about 100,000 years fora cave to grow large enough for people to t inside

It takes about 100,000 years fora cave to grow large enough for people to t inside

Apersonwho explores and studies cavesiscalled a spelunker

Conditioning

Farmer Howe built ahotel over the hole.Cool air from the cave air-conditioned the original hotel Farmer Howe’s hotel and cave became very famous.Circle everyother letter to discover its name

Shape Search!

How manyshapes canyou find in thenewspaper?Look for triangles, squares, rectangles circlesand more

Standards Link: Use visual cues to understand points of view