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LORAIN COUNTY
AMHERST NEWS-TIMES • OBERLIN NEWS-TRIBUNE • WELLINGTON ENTERPRISE Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022
Submit items to news@LCnewspapers.com
Volume 9, Issue 3
Culture New year, big goals change Heather Adelman Oberlin Council President
Rob Hillard Oberlin City Manager
Mark Costilow Mayor of Amherst
Jennifer Wasilk Amherst Council President
Jason Hawk | Amherst News-Times
Amherst Police Chief Mark Cawthon is making changes at the North Lake Street station, hoping to erase frustrations that have plagued the department in recent years.
How Amherst’s new police chief is healing old wounds JASON HAWK EDITOR
AMHERST — Tools and assorted building materials lay scattered around Police Chief Mark Cawthon’s office Friday. “Excuse the mess,” he said, sidestepping a door that had been removed from its hinges, and clearing a space at his desk. Renovations inside the North Lake Street police station are symbolic of operational changes being made after a challenging year — one that saw the departure of former chief Joseph Kucirek. Cawthon pulled from his own wallet to pay for a facelift to his new office, trying to make it seem less harsh and more inviting of new ideas. “I went to the mayor and said I wanted to start fresh and new,” he said. “I wanted this office to be welcoming, CHANGES PAGE A3 Classifieds, legals, display advertising, and subscriptions Deadline: 1 p.m. each Monday Phone: 440-329-7000 Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday
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News staff Jason Hawk news@LCnewspapers.com Phone: 440-329-7122 Submit news to news@lcnewspapers.com Deadline: 10 a.m. Tuesday Send obituaries to obits@chroniclet.com
Hans Schneider Mayor of Wellington
Copyright 2022 Lorain County Printing & Publishing Company
David Leshinski Mayor of South Amherst
Officials talk top priorities for 2022 JASON HAWK EDITOR
The start of each year is a time for reflection, and many of us make New Year’s resolutions. We reached out to local leaders to learn about their resolutions for 2022 — the priorities they have and the goals they want to accomplish. Heather Adelman Oberlin City Council President “I would really like to continue focusing on our drinking water system
in Oberlin, which obviously includes repairs and improvements to the physical infrastructure,” but may also require improvements at the city’s central plant, she said. “Drinking water is something every resident uses. The drinking water in Oberlin is good… but we’re an aging city, and we have an aging infrastructure,” Adelman said. She believes there will be opportunities in 2022 to work on increasing the availability of housing in Oberlin — particularly affordable housing. The city owns a number of vacant properties, and Adelman said she
would like to hear discussion about how to use those parcels. Rob Hillard Oberlin City Manager For two years, Hillard has been working to develop plan that will help provide more equal access to jobs, housing and other opportunities for the residents of Oberlin. He wants to see that work come to a head in 2022, and said he’ll have a focus this year on workforce development and transportation. GOALS PAGE A3
Brown: Voting rights are under attack JASON HAWK EDITOR
OBERLIN — A coordinated attack on the ability to vote is America’s biggest civil rights threat today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown said Monday during Oberlin’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony. “The right to vote and to have that vote count is the right that makes all the others possible,” he said. “It’s under assault with ferocity in the state legislature in Columbus, in Atlanta, in
Alabama and Misdemic. sissippi, in HarrisOhio politicians burg and Madison. have been trying It’s under assault for years to make with a ferocity it harder for all we have not seen people to particisince Dr. King pate in democraand John Lewis cy, he said. Since marched across the 2020 election, Sherrod the Edmund Pettus they have redouBrown Bridge.” bled those efforts. Brown, D-Ohio, Brown also took appeared in a pre-recorded aim at fellow members of message during the merged the Senate, saying they are Elyria and Oberlin NAACP using “arcane” procedures unit’s annual “Rededication — the filibuster — to stand to the Dream” ceremony, in the way of legislation held this year via Zoom that would protect the right due to the COVID-19 pan- to vote.
The criticism comes as Senate Democrats make a push for passage of the Freedom to Vote Act and the For the People Act. They would create standards for federal elections that would make sure everyone across the nation has equal access to the ballot box — a set number of days for early voting, and the ability to vote by mail, for example. The bills would also make Election Day a national holiday, restore KING PAGE A2
INSIDE THIS WEEK
Send legal notices to jyoder@chroniclet.com Submit advertising to chama@chroniclet.com
Jonathan Greever Gene Hartman Wellington Village Manager Wellington Council President
Amherst
Oberlin
Wellington
New school board members sworn in after election • B1
Braido sells Oberlin IGA to Cincinnati-based family • B1
Price is finally right for new village police station • B1
OBITUARIES A2 • CLASSIFIEDS A4 • CROSSWORD B2 • SUDOKU B2 • KID SCOOP B6
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Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022
Lorain County Community Guide
‘Hopeful signs’ omicron peaking Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff discussed Ohio’s current COVID-19 surge during a news conference this past week, addressing whether the omicron-fueled wave may be peaking in the hard-hit northern part of the state. “While we see hopeful signs, the answer right now is, we just don’t know,” Vanderhoff said. “We are continuing to watch the numbers and are encouraged to see some indications of a start to a downturn in some of the areas that were first hit the hardest, but we are very far from being out of the woods.” However, he said other parts of the state are now experiencing unprecedented numbers of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. One thing that has become clear throughout the pandemic is that the situation can change dramatically and quickly, Vanderhoff said. “The bottom line is this: COVID-19 is not going away, and omicron is not just a little cold for everyone,” he said. “Lives are still at risk and lives, sadly, are still being lost.” During the news conference, Vanderhoff and medical professionals from different parts of Ohio discussed measures that residents can take to reduce their odds of being infected with the coronavirus and experiencing serious symptoms. They urged residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine and continue with social distancing and mask-wearing practices. Gov. Mike DeWine announced last Thursday that the total deployment of Ohio National Guard members working with Ohio’s health care systems has reached about 2,300 members, with Guard members now assigned to support additional COVID-19 testing locations in Gallipolis, Toledo and Mansfield. The Cleveland Clinic will also receive federal assistance from a team of 20 U.S. Air Force medical professionals including nurses, physicians and respiratory therapists, according to a news release from DeWine’s office.
TO THE EDITOR Improve Ohio education with real school choice To the editor: Currently, Ohio’s EdChoice Scholarship Program only allows “low-income” parents to “escape” from Ohio Department of Education documented “poor performance schools.” Ohio citizens should be able to freely choose with the support of state funds, the school that their children attend. Ohioans should be allowed to withdraw their children from the underperforming and/or indoctrinating schools and have those school districts lose state funds associated with the exiting students. Undoubtedly, all wise schools would proactively improve their educational services to avoid losing state funds. All Ohioans have the right to seek the best quality educational services for their children with their tax dollars. We need to give Ohioans real free choice and increase educational quality. Tomie Patton President, Avon/Avon Lake Republican Club
Martin Luther King’s secret weapon was nonviolence To the editor: After the events of the last two years, I want to draw the attention of your readers to what probably is the greatest aspect of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s claim to greatness, as we celebrate his birthday. What made Dr. King so great was his resolute commitment to nonviolence as he and his allies pressed their claims for civil rights. Without their commitment to nonviolence, they would have been no more than bloody footnotes in American history, alongside Denmark Vesey, Nat Turner and John Brown. With their commitment to nonviolence, they led a peaceful end to segregation de jure in the Southern states and a lessening of segregation de facto elsewhere. As the people who remember his times are aging and passing away, let us remember what he and his allies endured and did. Paul Thayer Letters to the editor should be: • Written to the editor. We do not allow open letters or those to specific residents, politicians, or groups. • Concise. There is a limit of 350 words on letters. • Polite. Letters that use crude language or show poor taste will be rejected. • Opinions. We reserve space for letters that share a unique perspective. Press releases are not letters and will be considered for publication in other parts of the paper. • Free of advertising, product or service endorsements or complaints, poetry, language that could raise legal problems, or claims that are measurably false. • Signed. Include your name, address, and daytime telephone number for our records. Up to two signatures. • The deadline to submit letters is 10 a.m. each Tuesday. 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.
KING FROM A1
federal voting rights to ex-felons, allow same-day voter registration and require states to keep voting lines short and to stop the closure of polling locations that disproportionately affect people of color. The proposed bills are a response to Republican-led efforts Eboni last year to make voting harder in Johnson 19 states, including Ohio. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, more than 440 bills with provisions aimed at limiting the right to vote were introduced in 2021, and 34 became law. The “corporate elite” in Congress and the lobbyists for some of America’s biggest companies don’t want everyone to vote, Brown said. “They’re afraid. They’re afraid of progress. They’re afraid of anything that challenges their power,” he said. Oberlin City Councilwoman Eboni Johnson also railed against attempts to put limits on voting rights. “If there ever was a time for us to individually and collectively use our voices to speak up for what’s right, that time is right Elizabeth now,” she said. “There are those Meadows who are working hard to enact laws which deprive people of their constitutional rights… There are those who feed the bitterness in their hearts and minds and commit unspeakable acts of terror against Black people. It’s imperative that we strengthen our voices, use them for what’s right and serve as an example for other(s) to do the same.” Speaking up against injustice is scary, Johnson said, but necessary. And speaking out without taking action to match is pointless. The Rev. Calvin Currie of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Elyria said King’s famous dream of equality has never been fully recognized. He called for today’s generations to continue what their mothers and father, grandfathers and grandmothers started. “We must keep moving by supporting civil rights, supporting voting rights, supporting human Calvin rights,” Currie said. Currie The Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony included a reading of an Oberlin City Council resolution that appears on Tuesday night’s agenda. The city has celebrated King’s legacy since 1971, 15 years before it was observed as a federal holiday. The resolution said King “gave his life for the cause of true justice in our land, and for his dream that all people of all colors and conditions could live in peace and harmony, and could treat each other, and all others, with respect.” Reading the proclamation, Councilwoman Elizabeth Meadows called King “our nation’s greatest champion of civil rights and human dignity,” whose words calmed fears and brought Americans together. But the United States is not truly unified, and the wrongs of the past have not been righted, Brown said. He lamented the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and the incorrect belief by many Americans that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. There is progress as 2022 begins, however, said Brown: COVID-19 vaccination rates are climbing, businesses are reopening, workers are getting substantial pay increases for the first time in years and schools are open. In recovering from the pandemic, Ohioans must work together to “invest in all communities” and ensure all voices are heard through the democratic process, Brown said. “That’s how we bring us closer to the society that Dr. King envisioned where all labor has dignity,” he said.
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Phoenix to play in Cleveland The Oberlin Phoenix boys basketball team will play Trinity at 3 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 31 at Rocket Mortgage Field House in Cleveland. The game is part of the Cavs Elite High School Hoops Match Up series. The Phoenix will take the court before the Cavaliers host New Orleans at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 for upper level seats and $49 for lower level seats. The cost includes admission to both the high school and NBA game.
Owling field trip The Black River Audubon Society is arranging a trip to Minnesota in search of great gray owls, boreal owls and winter finches at Sax-Zim Bog. The cost is $300 per person. The van will leave early Friday morning, Feb. 11, with birding all day Saturday. The van will depart for the return trip Sunday morning. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination and Black River Audubon membership will be required. Seats are limited. Travel and accommodations are included in the $300 price. Meals are not included. Register at www.tinyurl.com/SaxZimTrip.
OBITUARIES Patricia Ann ‘Pattie’ Scott Patricia Ann “Pattie” Scott, 69, of Elyria, died Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, at UH Elyria Medical Center. She was born Dec. 9, 1952, in Elyria and had been a 1971 graduate of Elyria High School. She attended Mount Union College and graduated from Lorain County Community College with an associate's degree in Early Childhood Education. Pattie was employed for 26+years for the U.S. Post Office, starting in Elyria and retiring from the Oberlin location. She was a member of Oberlin Christian Missionary Alliance Church, where she played the keyboard, sang in the choir and taught Sunday school. She enjoyed music, bowling, crafting and sewing. Pattie is survived by her beloved dog, Bella Marie; son, Sydney (Jane) Scott; grandchildren, Lt. Colonel (retired) Erik (Jamie) McCall and Carrie (Shawn) Simmons-Moss; six great-grandchildren; siblings, E.T. (Mary) King, Bernard (Carolyn) King, Jeanette Riggins, Juanita Carter, Jacqueline (Art) Grandberry, Jerry (Paquita) Williams, Andrea L. Hall, Alonza (Patricia) Williams and Alicia Blandin; nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Scott in 2012; daughter, Wendolyn J. Simmons; mother, Mary Lee (nee King) Bentley; father, Alonza L. Williams, Jr.; brother, Joseph D. Williams and nephews, Erick R. Lovejoy, Tony King and Bernard King. A memorial service will be Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Oberlin Christian Missionary Alliance Church, 45440 Butternut Ridge Road, Oberlin, with Pastor Lester A. Allen III, officiating. Funeral arrangements were in the care of Dicken Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 323 Middle Avenue, Elyria. For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome. com. GEORGE “WOODY” JAY WOODCOCK, 77, of Amherst, passed away Friday, Jan. 14, 2022, at Mercy Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. Hempel Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. It is with heavy hearts we announce the death of LOIS J. BARANKOVICH, who passed away Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, at the age of 92 at Kingston of Vermilion. Arrangements by Hempel Funeral Home. RICHARD C. “DICK” CURRIER, 92, of Amherst, passed away Friday, Jan. 14, 2022, at his home following a long battle with heart disease. 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.
SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE B2
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY GUIDE LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY GUIDE (USPS 673-960) is published every Thursday, 52 weeks per year by Lorain County Printing & Publishing Company, 225 East Ave., Elyria OH 44035.
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Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022
Lorain County Community Guide
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CHANGES FROM A1 because in the past it had a negative feeling associated with it.” The former chief’s leadership style led to morale problems and even pushed some officers to quit for jobs in neighboring Lorain, according to an investigation by the city. Relationships between officers were fractured, and that was reflected among the department’s leadership, with Kucirek on one side of the building and Cawthon and Lt. Dan Makruski on the other. A report compiled by consultant Cindy LeBrun, after interviews with current and former police employees, revealed the schism stemmed from a lack of communication, trust and positive leadership. Those issues started to magnify in 2018 and came to a head in 2021, said Cawthon. He struggled Friday to address the police department’s problems without speaking ill of Kucirek: “I don’t want to slam him,” Cawthon said. “That’s not what I’m about and not what I’m here to do. I’m ready to look forward. I think the department is too.”
He admitted, however, that there was a sense of relief in July when Kucirek was placed on administrative leave as Mayor Mark Costilow and Safety Service Director John Jeffreys started their morale investigation. Kucirek hired a lawyer and tried to fight City Hall, but stepped down in October. In his resignation letter, he claimed he’d been forced into early retirement by what he deemed a witch hunt. Cawthon, who was promoted to chief in December, said he is working to restore trust inside the police station’s walls. There has been some progress: Patrolman Jared Warner has chosen to return from the Lorain Police Department to Amherst. Other officers who left under Kucirek have considered following suit, but did not pull the trigger. “I fully respect their decisions,” Cawthon said. “I think they want to stay put for a while. It’s not like we were bullying people to come back here.” The chief called a departmental meeting Monday to talk to staff of changes in the wind, get their feedback and
set expectations for the postKucirek era. Cawthon said he felt it was important to show appreciation for officers and dispatchers and reassure them about the future. Most of all, he wanted employees to know he trusts them. Decisions will no longer only be made in the chief’s office, but with input from the men and women who make up the Amherst police department. There are still times when issuing orders is appropriate, Cawthon said — “But the chief doesn’t have to make all the decisions in the department. That’s why you have people in place.” Recently promoted Lt. Mike Rosebeck has been placed in charge of traffic and criminal operations, the detective bureau, vice and drug investigations, special operations, juvenile services, community outreach and schools. Makruski is in charge of support services, which includes overseeing dispatchers, evidence, the city jail, the police department feet, equipment, facility maintenance and training. Nicole Cornwell has
been named administrative services coordinator, helping Cawthon manage human resources, planning and analysis, budget and finance, legal requirements and information management. Cawthon said the station’s communications center is being revamped. Dispatchers do much more than just handle radios, he said; a priority in 2022 is balancing their workloads. The chief also has plans of creating a unit to aggressively serve warrants within the city limits, working with the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force. In addition, he wants to create a position for an evidence technician on every shift — someone to process crime scenes with photos, measurements and evidence collection. The goal is to free up detectives to follow leads without delay. Cawthon said he aims to also create a drone unit. It would provide eyes in the sky during manhunts, missing persons searches, vehicle pursuits and for crowd control at large community events. And the city’s once-
heavily-used K-9 unit could make a comeback. It was disbanded in 2013, when Cawthon’s German shepherd partner retired due to age, and as the department dealt with budgetary issues. He said the mayor’s office has been supportive of the idea. Costilow said he’s partial to the idea, but isn’t necessarily guaranteeing he’ll give Cawthon the green light for a K-9 program. “We’ll look and weigh the pros and cons of it,” he said. What Costilow does support is hiring, since Cawthon wants to expand the Amherst police roster from 22 to 24. “I’m 100 percent on board with getting up to full staff so we don’t have to work a lot of overtime and forced holdovers,” the mayor said. In the meantime, Cawthon has big plans for expanding the way police get to know residents. He is interested in establishing a citizens police academy, taking part in National Night Out, re-instituting the police ride-along program, offering “Coffee with a Cop,” having police take children in need to shop for Christmas presents, partnering with AAA to offer
driving courses for older residents and holding collection drives for school supplies and food pantry donations. “For me, you can’t do enough community type things, because then the community can see you as more than just a uniform,” he said. When officers take part in those programs — and when they’re given opportunities for professional advancement — they buy in to the culture Cawthon is trying to cultivate, he said. Already the results are evident, said Costilow. If LeBrun were to interview officers again today, she’d find that attitudes among police have shifted, he said. “It would be improved. It’s as simple as that,” he said. “It seems like officers are happier.” Both the mayor and police chief said they intend to have LeBrun conduct another assessment to make sure conditions are improving. “I think that’s healthy,” Cawthon said. “I think it’s healthy to know what’s not working, and what is, and for (staff) to have the ability to give that feedback, because it all boils down to communication.”
GOALS
FROM A1 Helping businesses weather the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis is definitely a priority, said Hillard. Small businesses, particularly those in the city’s downtown area, are struggling. “My hope would be to support them and to make a difference,” he said. Repurposing the former Prospect Elementary School is another project Hillard plans to delve into. The Oberlin Recreation Department is already moving into the building now, and city workers will spend much of the winter cleaning it up and making it functional for recreational purposes, he said. But there is room for a broader conversation on how the building will be used, said Hillard. Residents last summer provided their ideas for Prospect, saying it could be used to create affordable housing, studio space for artists, after-school classes and many other purposes. Among the most popular suggestions was a senior center. The city has entered into a sixmonth contract with Neighborhood Alliance to support a mobile senior center concept, but has not forged an agreement to extend the use of Prospect to the nonprofit. Mark Costilow Mayor of Amherst Two large-scale projects with long-lasting implications are on Costilow’s mind. The first is the construction of a new electric feed supplying power to Amherst from the city’s west side. When complete, it will provide a back-up source of power during outages.
Right now, Amherst has one primary feed from the east, running along the railroad tracks that bisect the town. If anything were to happen to it — such as a train derailment or mechanical failure — the city could be without power for hours or even days. Costilow said that in 2022 he wants to lock down agreements with land-owners along the new feed’s path. “We’re looking for easements to be finalized, and to get engineering done this year,” he said, with project completion in mind for 2023. Costilow also said he wants to “move beyond the study phase” for a $14 million reconstruction of the traffic pattern at Oak Point Road and State Route 2. Proposals spell out a number of options for reducing gridlock there, including twin roundabouts. Also at the top of the mayor’s priority list: keeping city workers safe from COVID as the more contagious omicron variant causes headaches. Jennifer Wasilk Amherst City Council President Making Amherst a more walkable community is Wasilk’s top aim for 2022. For several years, the city has been requiring property owners to fix sidewalks that are broken, crumbling or upheaved. The final phase of that effort is expected this summer, focusing on homes and businesses on the northwest side of town. Once complete, Wasilk said she wants to see Council back a plan for construction of new sidewalks. She said all streets with
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speed limits of 35 mph or higher should have walkways on at least one side. That effort begins, Wasilk said, with looking for funding, since requiring residents to pay for sidewalk construction is bound to be unpopular. “Sidewalks help connect people in the community, give you a much better sense of the community and they make it safer for people to get out and walk around,” she said — and they promote a healthier population. Hans Schneider Mayor of Wellington Building the village’s new police station is priority No. 1 for Schneider. Long overdue and greatly needed, the station will be built on East Herrick Avenue. The good news is that after a prolonged wait complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the station project has at last been awarded and construction will soon begin, though completion will likely come in 2023. Now Schneider said his second priority will be “just keeping the village financially solvent, making sure there’s money in place” to handle routine projects without the danger of running into the red. Wellington is in a good place, financially, he said, and needs to spend wisely to prevent issues that could cost taxpayers more in the long run. “It’s always going to be tight,” Schneider said — he doesn’t want Wellington ever become another Avon, trading away its small town charm for the large commercial centers and the dol-
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lars they’d bring. Some forms of growth are necessary, however: “We’ve got to find a way to expand the industrial park,” said Schneider. “We have to do that through land acquisition, and what’s going to be the cost? How are we going to do it?” Jonathan Greever Wellington Village Manager After starting the job in November, Greever is still learning the ropes. He said that in the short months he’s spent on the job his No. 1 goal has been to learn the culture of Wellington. “I want to learn how things are done here,” he said. “They’re done a certain way for a reason.” One of his priorities is learning the business of American Municipal Power of Ohio, where he represents the village’s energy interests on the board of trustees. In 2022, Greever said he also intends to sit down with the village’s information technology consultant to analyze Wellington’s network and service options. He said growing technology infrastructure appears to be a need. Greever is also kicking off an evaluation Wellington’s water distribution and metering systems. Aging meters are a key reason the village is losing water revenue, he said. Gene Hartman Wellington Village Council President Building a new police station is a must in 2022, said Hartman. Anyone who doubts it should knock on the door and ask for a tour, he said — “It’s just not a functional space, given the department
and what they’re trying to do.” When having more than one arrestee in the building at a time is a safety hazard, it’s time to expand, he said. Making progress on Union School Park is also long overdue, said Hartman. It’s been five years since the old McCormick Middle School was torn down, and he said it’s time to transform the property into a place where old friends, neighbors and classmates can meet. “For those of us who were born and raised in Wellington, that’s hallowed ground,” Hartman said. David Leshinski Mayor of South Amherst The top three items on Leshinski’s wish list this year are sewers, sewers and sewers. “For economic development, to get things moving here with the quarry project, we absolutely need sanitary sewers,” he said. South Amherst’s populations and business footprint have shrunk in the last decade. That means the village has less revenue to put into roads and other critical services. According to Leshinski, sewers could spur growth once more. They would also get residents off private septic systems that are both costly and environmentally less sound. But the cost of installing sewers is enormous, and an attempt to win state grants to offset the price has been unsuccessful, said Leshinski. He is pushing for Lorain County commissioners to invest in the project. This year, he’d like to begin a feasibility study using federal American Rescue Plan funds to again show options for how to move ahead.
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Lorain County Community Guide
Free COVID tests pulled from libraries, now going to schools The state is diverting COVID-19 tests away from the public at large and into K-12 schools, colleges and universities. The move, which was telegraphed earlier this month in an interview with Lorain County Health Commissioner Mark Adams, was announced last week by the Ohio Department of Health. It’s been providing both proctored rapid Abbott BinaxNow at-home antigen tests and over-the-counter selfadministered tests free at local health departments, public libraries, schools and other locations. In December, about 1.4 million such tests were spread around Ohio, bringing the total in 2021 to 5.6 million. ODH ordered 1.2 million proctored test kits for January. Delivery of more than 800,000 was delayed as the United States faced a shortage of testing supplies. With tests in high demand, the state said it will give them first to schools. “COVID-19 tests are a critical tool to help ensure in-person learning can continue in Ohio schools,” it said in a news release. “Ongoing access to these tests helps ensure students and teachers can remain in the classroom.” That reason did not match Adams’ assessment, however. He said tests would be used by student-athletes and other extracurricular programs. Meanwhile, the state has paused its shipments to libraries and other community partners until the supply chain is stabilized. ODH said once school needs are met, it will resume providing tests to other locations. The issue rises as retailers, which charge for COVID test kits, are having trouble keeping them stocked, and cases surge. Demand for test kits is extremely high. Across Ohio, the average last week was tracked at more than 94,000 per day.
CLASSIFIEDS AUCTION STORAGE CONTENTS AUCTION!
Pursuant to the requirements of the ORC, section 5322.02. Notice is given to Shannon Hykes, last known address 301 Superior St., Sandusky, OH 44870 that contents of storage unit 110, of Wellington Self-Storage, 512 S. Main St., Wellington, OH 44090 will be offered at auction on JANUARY 27, 2022. Time of auction will be 1:00 PM. The following is summary of those items to be auctioned: Hutch top, chair, fan, hoola hoop, TV trays, assorted bags and boxes.
STORAGE CONTENTS AUCTION!
Pursuant to the requirements of the ORC, section 5322.02. Notice is given to Trish Artwell, last known address 508 E. Herrick Ave., Wellington, OH 44090 that contents of storage unit 100, of Wellington Self-Storage, 512 S. Main St., Wellington, OH 44090 will be offered at auction on JANUARY 22, 2022. Time of auction will be 1:00 PM. The following is summary of those items to be auctioned: White crib, high chair, stroller, baby items, kids toys, bags of clothes, computer desk.
STORAGE CONTENTS AUCTION!
Pursuant to the requirements of the ORC, section 5322.02. Notice is given to Jean Hayes, last known address 132 1/2 W. Herrick Ave., Wellington, OH 44090 that contents of storage unit 59, of Wellington Self-Storage, 512 S. Main St., Wellington, OH 44090 will be offered at auction on JANUARY 27, 2022. Time of auction will be 1:00 PM. The following is summary of those items to be auctioned: Office chair, walker, bench, rocking chair, assorted totes and boxes.
STORAGE CONTENTS AUCTION!
Pursuant to the requirements of the ORC, section 5322.02. Notice is given to Sue Rucker, last known address 128 Hamilton St., Wellington, OH 44090 that contents of storage unit 85, of Wellington Self-Storage, 512 S. Main St., Wellington, OH 44090 will be offered at auction on JANUARY 27, 2022. Time of auction will be 1:00 PM. The following is summary of those items to be auctioned: Maytag washer and dryer, bed, dresser, shelves, dining table, chairs, quilt, sleds, Gazelle exerciser, assorted totes and bags.
STORAGE CONTENTS AUCTION!
Pursuant to the requirements of the ORC, section 5322.02. Notice is given to Gary Wylie, last known address 47266 St. Rt. 18 W., Wellington, OH 44090 that contents of storage unit 44 & 45, of Wellington Self-Storage, 512 S. Main St., Wellington, OH 44090 will be offered at auction on JANUARY 27, 2022. Time of auction will be 1:00 PM. The following is summary of those items to be auctioned: Hoover steamer and attachments, glass hutch, TV, TV trays, TV cabinet, end tables, dressers, bed, assorted totes and boxes.
APARTMENTS Huntington Twp. 1bdrm bsmt apt, non smoking private entrance, $550 (includes utilities/WiFi) + deposit. 440-647-5650
LEGALS NOTICE TO AMHERST PROPERTY OWNERS Pursuant to Resolution No. R-21-01 passed by Council of the City of Amherst on January 25, 2021, a list of the estimated assessments for the 2021 Public Sidewalk Removal and Replacement work completed
has been made and is on file with the Clerk of Council located at 206 South Main Street, Amherst, Ohio. L.C.C.G. 1/20-27; 2/3/22 20696328 PUBLICATION OF LEGISLATION The following is a summary of legislation adopted by Lorain City Council on January 3, 2022. The complete text of each item may be viewed or purchased in the Clerk of Council Office @ Lorain City Hall, 200 W. Erie Ave., Lorain, OH, during normal business hours or contact Nancy Greer @ 204-2050 (Nancy_Greer@ cityoflorain.org). The following summary of legislation passed
has been reviewed/approved by the Law Director for legal accuracy as required by state laws. *Resolution 1-22 Enacting the Rules of Council for the 2022/2023 term. Reso. 2-22 Authorizing the city to increase its purchasing authority by using State of Ohio Coop Purch. Programs, State of Ohio Dept. of Admin. Services agrmts, and other state or national programs allowable by ORC. Reso. 3-22 Authorizing the S/S Dir. to sell municipally owned personal property no longer needed for public use which is obsolete, etc. Ord. 1-22 Auth S/S Dir. to make applic to ODOT for 90-10 funding for planned safety improvements and accept grant funding; Ord. 2-22 Waiving city fees and other related costs associated with projects being completed by the City of Lorain. Ord. 3-22 Authorizing the S/S Dir. to enter into a contract for reconstruction of E. 28th St. From Grove to Tacoma. *Ord. 4-22 Auth S/S Dir. to apply & enter water supply revolving loan account on behalf of Lorain for construction of the East Lorain Waterline Project. (*Denotes legislation was passed as an emergency.) L.C.C.G. 1/13-20/22 20695775 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CITY OF LORAIN, OHIO EAST 36TH ST. REHABILITATION (GLOBE AVE. TO GROVE AVE.) LOR-CR 606-5.36 E. 36TH PID 111556 Sealed bids will be received by the Engineering Department of the City of Lorain, Ohio until: TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIVING BIDS: UNTIL - 11:00 AM, January 28, 2022, Lorain time, Engineering Department, Lorain City Hall 4th Floor. TIME AND PLACE FOR OPENING BIDS: 11:15 AM, January 28, 2022, Lorain time, City of Lorain Council Chambers, Lorain City Hall 1st Floor. COMPLETION DATE: November 30, 2022 Bids must be accompanied by Certified Check or Cashier’s Check or Letter of Credit equals to ten percent (10%) of the amount bid, or a bond for the full amount of the bid as a guarantee that if the bid is accepted, a contract will be entered into and a performance bond properly secured. Should any bid be rejected, such instrument will be forthwith returned upon proper execution of a contract. Cash deposits will not be accepted. Bid blanks and specifications may be secured at www.cityoflorain.org. Each bidder must insure that all employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, creed, color, sex or national origin. All bidders must comply with the provisions of the American Disabilities Act. All federal minority business enterprise and women business enterprise requirements shall be met. All contractors and subcontractors involved with the project will to the extent practicable use Ohio products, materials, services and labor in the implementation of their project. Bidders must be listed on the ODOT pre-qualified list for highway construction. Bidders shall submit a list of available equipment, and labor shall be paid not less than the prevailing wage rate as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor Davis Bacon requirements for Lorain County, Ohio. NO BID WILL BE OPENED WITHOUT THE CERTIFICATION OF QUALIFICATION OR THE ACCEPTABLE LETTER OF APPLICATION ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE AS DIRECTED. The Director of Safety/ Service reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. No Pre-Bid meeting is scheduled. By order of the Director of Public Safety/Service L.C.C.G. 1/6-13-20/22 20693192
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022
Foundation announces $1M in grants AMHERST TWP. — More than $1 million has been awarded by the Community Foundation of Lorain County to 44 nonprofit organizations. Among the grantees spotlighted by the foundation is Save Our Children, which has operated in Elyria for three decades. It is a literacyfirst program working to improve the academic outcomes of students. “We strive to create meaningful relationships, provide a safe environment and create motivating lessons designed to create joyful and committed learners,” said Chase Farris, executive director of Save Our Children. “While our programming focuses extensively on giving students the tools to improve their academic achievement and ultimately obtain a high school diploma, our organization also recognizes the importance of supporting and teaching the whole child. Our students are given opportunities to grow in three additional areas by cultivating strong social (and) emotional skills, preparing for college and work and increasing their awareness and commitment to practicing safe and healthy behaviors.” This round of Community Foundation grants the final one led by Senior Program Officer Linda Styer. “Linda’s willingness to share her knowledge and expertise has taught everyone that she comes in contact with how to be more compassionate
and engaged in their community,” said Maria Grega, who chairs the Grants Committee. “This is bittersweet in that I am thrilled that she is changing paths, but I will miss her and will always call her my friend.” Grants included: • $20,000 for North Pointe Ballet • $34,500 for the Elyria Arts Council • $25,000 for the Lorain County Historical Society • $10,000 for Firelands Association for the Visual Arts • $10,000 for the Oberlin Choristers • $9,000 for Credo Music • $3,000 for Dancing Classrooms Northeast Ohio • $6,000 for the Great Expectations Music Project • $50,000 for Achievement through Community Education and Support • $50,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County • $50,000 for Save Our Children • $49,900 for the National Inventors Hall of Fame • $25,000 for Effective Leadership Academy • $25,000 for Tech Corps Ohio • $22,000 for Youth Challenge • $16,639 for RePlay for Kids • $19,988 for Leaders of Today • $15,000 for Girl Scouts of North East Ohio • $6,500 for Scholastic Games • $5,000 for Girls on the Run of Greater Summit
• $1,000 for Cbz Buddies • $50,000 for The Road to Hope • $55,855 for Mercy Health Foundation Lorain • $75,000 for Blessing House • $60,000 for El Centro de Servicios Sociales • $37,000 for the Salvation Army • $36,360 for the Lorain County Office on Aging • $35,000 for Humility of Mary Housing • $8,500 for United Way of Greater Lorain County • $25,000 for the New Agrarian Center • $20,000 for Flat Rock Children’s Home of the United Methodist Church • $5,000 for Ideastream Public Media • $15,000 for the Lorain County LGBTQ+ and Allies Taskforce • $15,000 for the National Society to Prevent Blindness, Ohio Affiliate • $10,000 for North Ridgeville Community Care • $9,851 for Echoing Hills Village • $5,000 for Avon/Avon Lake Community Resource Services • $4,000 for the Lorain County Metro Parks • $60,000 for Passages Connecting Fathers and Families • $20,000 for Friendship Animal Protective League • $27,930 for Episcopal Church of the Redeemer • $17,720 for LIFE a Dementia Friendly Foundation
LORAIN COUNTY JVS HONOR ROLL PITTSFIELD TWP. — The Lorain County JVS has announced the first quarter honor roll, recognizing students who achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher. The 372 students who achieved this honor are listed by their associate school below: Amherst Jadyn Brockmeyer, Branden Carpenter, Michael Collins, Kayla Copeland, Briannah Costello, Juelz Flores, Michaela Gayheart, Adam Henderson, Brenden Kelly, Kassius King, Mason Krause, Kenneth Kuzela, Marcus Lacey, Elia Manter, Taylor Marshall, Keyshla Maysonet, Caden McGinnis, Micah Mercado, Rylie Michael, Hayden Nagy, Jacob Newman, Logan Orlandi, Riley Pinter, Aaron Quickle, Emily Reed, Daniel Rivera III, Zoey Roy, Cameron Santiago, Genevieve Shaffer, Mary Shively, Logan Stewart, Mason Supple, Ben Susi, Nicholas Taddeo, Danielle Teele, Joshua Thomas, Hallie Trowbridge, Carter Walton, Ryan Watkins, James Webb, Kristopher Wilbert, Xavier Wilgor, Devon Wirth, Benjamin Young, Donlon Ziegler Avon Benjamin Carbone, Sean Dzuban, Michael Inman, Jass Kloepfer, Scott Kortowich, Peyton Stefanich, Julia Valla, Maeve Walsh, Joseph Weatherspoon Jr., Isabella Wido Avon Lake Bradley Babbitt, Nicholas Brun, Emma Campbell, James Clay, Dario Como, Gracey Crnjak, Stevie Crnjak, Benjamin Hale, Griffin Harrington, Isabella Higley, Jack Keaton, Jacquilyn Liston, Matthew Markutsa, Cade Mycek, Alyssa Painter, Morgan Painter, Daniel Sarraino, Edward Shilliday, Zander Skiles, Cameron Smith, Alyssa Stafford, Ian Sweigart, Skyler Thompson Brookside Carter Adkins, Elizabeth Baraga, Alexzandra Boyd, Grace Bullins, Mason Clapp, Griffin Copley, Haley Custer, Abigail Davis, Elizabeth Flemming, Carynne Hickerson, Paige Hicks, Owen Ortiz, Robert Parks, Hailey Phillips, Timothy Plowman, Jenna Rothman, Timothy Rowe, Allison Smith Clearview Isaiah Allen, Jeremiah Bowen, Isabella Cupek, Caleb Hammonds, Logan Klamer, Kristhine Ortiz Santiago, Jocelyn Pallens, Gabrielle Petrisko, Mykaela Rivera, Emma Roach, Haylee Roach, Patrick Robles, Evangely Rosado, Antonio
Santana, Jason Thomas, Siddalee Tindale, Alina Velazquez, Erik Villar, Makenna Ward, Randy Wright Columbia Maximus Drumm, Nick Fumich, Ethan Hagedon, Kirby Herrera, Brianna Hicks, Andrew Jakubiec, Kaylie James, Jessen Calder, Samuel Lupica, Amanda Markosky, Samantha Markosky, Nathan Matzelle, Mason-David McClain, Evian Meyers, Sandra Miller, Bryan Spaniel, Evan Toth, Maya Trujillo, Owen Trujillo, Destiny Vasquez, Karly Wells Elyria Joshua Arnold, Dakotah Atkinson, Keasia Blue, Manfred Clauson, Karley Conrad, Jeremiah Cruz, Madison Detamore, Adrian Dotson, Cadence Eads, Oliva Floyd, Ava Gastelum, Madison Griffth, Jaylien Grimes, Paige Hale, Dominic Hawkins, Mariae Heru, Kathryn Holliday, Jaxson Hunt, Nicole Justice, Dylan Kerns, McKenzie Langford, Victoria Landford, Hailey Lloyd, Isaiah Maxwell, Jaclyn Myers, Devon Nieves, Sarena Randall, Alexis Rivera, Jonathan Roberts, Timothy Roberts, Samantha Ruby, Logan Rutz, Gabrielle Slonin, Sebastian Slonin, Issabella Spicer, Norman Wirth, Dylan Wymer, Kendall Zgnoc Firelands Devan Adkins, Brandon Bowyer, Lauren Brown, Chancellor Chenoweth, Gwennyth Crain, Graham Deshuk, Brain Diaz, Jadeyn Dickel, Andrew Dunn, Collin Galligan, Zoe Grifford, Curtis Gilles, Kody Hamilton, Tyler Henderson, Zackary Hunkin, Richard Jandrew, Shauna Kalassay, Austin Keller, James King, Aaron Kirk, Izek Manges, Benjamin Mckee, Kacey Meredith, Jason Milks, Emily Miller, Jeremy Partlow, Nevaeh Pullen, Peyton Reichert, Joy Schlessman, Isaac Stokley, Bryant Szilagyi, Vayda Wiles Keystone Leah Bacsi, Camryn Broad, Mallory Bryant, Aurora Davila, Serenity Deditch, Lanie Dove Gondor, Erick Draine, Allison Dubber, Erin Friel, Xavier Frye, Olivia Gardner, Kylee Gill, Benjamin Hanwell, Joseph Hawkinberry, Chelsea Hood, Andrea Houghton, Gavin Lee, Nathan Lindsey, Owen Maiden, Olivia Milam, Tristan Mullins, Patrick Murtha, Riley Rose, Joseph Scheiman, Lila Scyoc, Harley Slater, Brenden Torok, Maeve Vana Midview Aryanna Blakenship, Brendon Brooks, Jonah Caldwell, Sade
Capers, Bethany Clark, Giovanni Cross, Hailey Crum, Juliana Crum, Savannah Douglas, Colt Duke, Austin Dye, Tyler Dye, Morgan Eid, Zachary Eid, Shiloh Gill, Peyton Gullett, Benjamin Hardman, Savana Hollingsworth, Keirsten Hummel, Nelson Jackson, James Joppeck, Anthony Koziura, Madison Kucera, Kennedy Layne, Raylynn Layne, Luke Machovina, Braydyn Markus, Joseph Metheney, Joseph Moore, Donavyn Pasters, Venessa Payne, Tyler Pilarczyk, Aiden Popil, Chase Ruoff, Lucas Schupp, Samuel Singleton, Zachary Smith, Selah Stevens, Emily Stonestreet, Alexis Turner, Austin Wade, Jacob Winland, Brandon Zsigray North Ridgeville Lauren Anderson, Hylton Antonio, Chasity Basham, Robyn Buskirk, Zachary Casey, Rachael Chandler, Makena Chapman, Taylor Conaway, Peter Craig, Cheyenne Deese, Joseph Dominak, Kendel Durst, Noaln Eyman, Cody Fitch, Chloe Gamble, Collin Gill, Alex Gladish, Abigail Gould, Zackary Hart, Victoria Heinz, Elaina Jackson, Tyler Jaworski, Eric Jurina, Gunnar Kamp, Ivy Kandiko, Madison Keane, Adam Kinglsey, Ajanae Kinter, Alexandria Knopf, Owen Kopp, Haleigh Lightner, Anthony March, Garrett Melton, Lillian Moore, Christopher Moran, Jacob Pantalone, Evan Perez, Jaden Perez, Erin Pfeuffer, Katherine Pfeuffer, Chesnie Pierson, Ealiyah Prunty, Elizabeth Rickard, Abigail Ronyak, Ryan Russo, Ethan Sante, Alexander Stano, Abby Terrell, Matthew Tucek, Joshua Velez, Peter Vlach, Wyatt Waltjen, Madylin Waugh, Tyler West, Carver Williams, Morgan Yaksic Oberlin Alexandra Adler, Lana Hovanitz, Mackenzie Johnson, Jonathan Rice, Korey Russell, Trevor Shull, Cassandra Sirocky, William Wallace, Salem Waller, Zachary Webb, Kirk Yochum, Alyssa Zimmerman Wellington Rayman Candelaria, Dominic Danesi, Joseph Danesi, Jace Diedrick, Michael Dietrich, Autumn Dudziak, Nathan Glavich, Brian Hall, Caiden Helms, Whitney Kirschner, Jocelyn Kolmorgen, Brayonna Leiby, Copper McConnell, Madison Mickey, Jenna Pasadyn, Bryanna Patton, Nathan Peabody, Dean Phillips, Maxwell Schatz, Mckenna Stahl, Alea Stewart, Nathan Sword, Kaleb Taylor, Kierstin Taylor, Jordan Wells, Sadie Willis
The Lorain County Community Guide publishes local nonprofit and not-for-profit events. Items are published on a space-available basis and will be edited. Send your items to news@lcnewspapers.com.
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022
Lorain County Community Guide
Page A5
Student enrollment up, LCCC officials say KEVIN MARTIN THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM
ELYRIA — As Lorain County Community College heads into its spring semester, President Marcia Ballinger said enrollment is trending in the right direction. The college is at a 2 percent growth in enrollment numbers from a year ago and has seen a 14 percent increase in returning students from a year ago. The college has recently had
a lot of success with the popularity of its fast-track certificate programs, which present opportunities for students to continue on in high demand areas, Ballinger said last week. “We're able to offer those free of charge to students because we're weaving together. funding that we have. It's both local funding, federal funding state funding, and those are in high demand areas and students who earn those certifications can go on for a one-year certificate and then an associate's degree,”
Ballinger added. Fifty-two percent of LCCC student's enrollment is going forward with an in-person component and the college continues to be guided by its COVID task force consisting of Jonathan Volpe, vice president of Administrative Services, along with professors Harry Kessler and Hope Moon. Marisa Vernon White, vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Services, told LCCC's board of trustees the spring semester represents
the highest of persistent enrollment in students who have continued on from the fall semester, which she called a testament to faculty and staff who work directly with students in understanding the challenges to keep them in school and removing any barriers to education. “So we work really great as a team and as a campus community around these search periods and certainly are seeing more and more students coming in by the day,” Vernon
White said. At a board of trustees meeting on Jan. 13, Ballinger reassured the community that LCCC continues to be guided by the data in monitoring the impact of COVID-19, placing safety and security at the forefront. “We continue to be led by ensuring that we are focused on mitigating the impact of COVID while at the same time ensuring that we are providing the high quality, educational experience and education for our students,” Ballinger said.
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Shontae Jackson, owner of Oberln’s Steel Magnolias, surrounds herself with 173 pairs of socks collected for the homeless.
Bruce Bishop | Community Guide
Lake Erie begins to form ice for the season last week off the Lorain shore.
Ice starting to form on Erie DYLAN REYNOLDS THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM
Ice is beginning to form along parts of the Lake Erie shore in Lorain County, and meteorologists are predicting the water could freeze farther out in the coming weeks. Meteorologist Jim Sullivan with the National Weather Service in Cleveland said most of the western basin of Lake Erie is already completely frozen, along with shallower water in other areas. “The rest of the lake is getting close. The water temperatures are in the mid-30s pretty much everywhere else across the lake, a little warmer towards Buffalo,” he said. “So they are close to freezing, and it will probably take one or two good cold snaps to freeze the rest of it up a little bit more.” The local area's forecast makes additional freezing seem likely. Sullivan said colder-than-normal temperatures are expected through the end of January. “I’d say at this point, the amount of ice on the lake is actually a little bit below normal for this point in the year, just because it was so mild for all of December,” he said last week. “But moving forward, you’re probably going to see a fair amount formed, especially the last 10 or so days of January.”
Although the lake may still freeze enough for activities like ice fishing to be possible this winter, Sullivan said it is never completely safe to go out onto the ice. Even if it is cold, he said the wind can blow the ice around and cause cracks to open up. A news release issued last week by the U.S. Coast Guard also advised residents to exercise extreme caution on ice along Lake Erie. Current ice thickness levels are far below past seasonal averages, according to the release, leading to weak and unstable ice formations that contribute to hazardous conditions. “The public is advised not to venture onto the ice. Never assume the ice is safe, even if others are on it,” the Coast Guard advised. The Coast Guard asked members of the public to take certain safety precautions when participating in recreational activities on or near the ice. Those precautions include wearing warm clothing to prevent hypothermia and choosing bright colors that are easily seen by others. Residents are also encouraged to carry proper safety equipment like a whistle or noise-making device, waterproof VHF-FM radio or personal locating beacon and ice awls or screwdrivers that could be used if an accident required self-rescue.
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‘Soup N Socks’ collection at OHS benefits homeless OBERLIN — Before winter break, members of the Oberlin High School Interact Rotary Club collected 173 pairs of socks that will go to the “Soup N Socks” collection for the homeless, a donation event spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Oberlin in partnership with Shontae Jackson, owner of Steel Magnolia restaurant, food truck and catering service. “I am so thankful for the students who donated to this program,” Jackson said. “Socks are the number one requested item of need by the homeless, and it’s something some of us take for granted. The donation of 173 socks will help a lot of people in Lorain County.”
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Lorain Elks Lodge 1301 made a large donation of socks, T-shirts, toiletry items, playing cards and other gifts on Friday, Dec. 17 to the Sandusky Veterans Home. Pictured are lodge chaplain Karen Belcher, veteran Dwayne Henson, lodge secretary Nora Schrenkel, veterans administrator Kimberly Lewellen and lodge trustee Barbara Szalay.
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Jackson, who is also a Rotarian, started the Soups N Socks program in an effort to not only provide the homeless with socks, but with hot soup as well. “It kind of made sense – they could receive socks to warm their feet and soup to warm their bodies,” she said. Students created a “Sock Giving Tree, a joint venture between Interact and Student Council, under the advisement of Denita Tolbert-Brown. In addition to the student collection, socks were also collected at Deichler’s Tire & Auto, Locke’s Go Green, Oberlin Business Partnership and Totally Floored.
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Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022
Lorain County Community Guide
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The Ohio Supreme Court has struck down attempts to give Republicans supermajority control of state House and Senate seats, and to manipulate the U.S. congressional district map for political gain. It handed down rulings last week in two lawsuits challenging the validity of maps created by the state GOP and authorized by Gov. Mike DeWine. Both were deemed unconstitutional by 4-3 decisions of the high court. “Gerrymandering at its core prevents voters from voting on equal terms to alter or reform their government,” wrote Justice Jennifer Brunner in one concurring opinion. “Gerrymandering is unconstitutional, because it denies Ohioans equal protection in the exercise of their voting power.” “What a week for democracy,” said Freda
Levenson, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio. “… The ruling proclaims that ‘gerrymandering is the antithetical perversion of representative democracy,’ and enforces the mandate put forward by Ohio voters in 2018 who demanded an end to this abuse of power.” That year, Ohio voters passed a constitutional amendment by a 75-25 percent split, saying redistricting must be done fairly. The court recognized in its majority opinion that over the past decade, Republican candidates won 54 percent of the vote share in races statewide, and Democratic candidates won 46 percent — but that the GOP-drawn maps attempted to ensure an 80-20 split in representation. Justices gave the state Redistricting Committee 10 days to draw maps that accurately reflect the attitudes of Ohio voters. They also made it clear they will retain jurisdiction to make sure the commis-
sion complies. “Any map that further rigs our state in favor of one party over another is unacceptable and we’ll be watching closely to make sure any new maps reflect the fair representation that Ohioans overwhelmingly called for,” said Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters. As predicted by Lorain County’s top elections officials, the ruling raises the possibility that the May primary could be delayed. In a Jan. 6 interview, county elections Director Paul Adams, a Democrat, and Deputy Director James Kramer, a Republican, said they were in “waiting mode” to see how the redistricting suits would affect the Lorain County Board of Elections. Overturning the maps would make it “a whole new ballgame,” Kramer speculated — filing deadlines for affected races would have to be pushed back.
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is now building on its territory in nearby Ashland and Medina counties, said Wittmann. He said the company has been focusing on expanding high-speed internet access to customers in rural areas. “We don’t want a digital divide,” Wittmann said. “We want people to have the access to do whatever they need to do.” In 2020, a survey showed only 75 percent of Wellington households have broadband internet service, the third-lowest percentage in Lorain County. At the time, Schneider predicted Armstrong would jump into the market alongside existing providers GLW Broadband and North Coast Wireless Communications. Internet access is more crucial than ever, he said — its importance was thrown into stark relief when the COVID-19 pandemic forced kids to learn remotely from home. More people than ever are working from home, and streaming has become the new normal for movies and television. “So this is something we hear all the time… that we need better internet service,” Schneider said.
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Anne Schaum (right) will serve as president of the Oberlin Board of Education in 2022 and Farah Emeka (left) will serve as vice president following a Jan. 11 vote. At the first meeting of the new year, new school board members Rosa Gadsden and Jo-Anne Steggall were sworn in.
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‘Birdman’ program has been postponed The Jan. 25 program “Lynds Jones: The Birdman of Oberlin” has been postponed due to “circumstances of the pandemic and archival resource unavailability,” according to the Oberlin Heritage Center. Presenter Diana Steele will give the talk later in 2022, it said. An alternate presentation will be given at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 25 via Zoom. Get an introduction to the 1,400 mile Buckeye
Trail as Randall Roberts talks about the history and evolution of this Ohio marvel. Learn about different ways to hike the trail and participate in a Q&A session. Roberts is a trustee of the Buckeye Trail Association and is also the city engineer of Oberlin. The program is free, but pre-registration is required at www.oberlinheritagecenter. org.
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Lorain County Community Guide • Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022
Inflation hits 40-year high Braido sells
Oberlin IGA to Singhs
Price hikes felt in grocery, gas and housing costs JASON HAWK EDITOR
Prices are going up, and Krista Long said she has no choice but to pass the increases along to her customers. Looking over invoices at the Ben Franklin general store she owns in downtown Oberlin, Long said costs have risen on 90 percent of her inventory. Many of the bumps “are not insignificant, but necessary,” she said. Some items she can’t even afford to continue to stock. “So we’re raising our prices, of course,” Long said last Wednesday, with reluctance coloring her voice. “We can’t swallow it. We’d go out of business swallowing it.” Consumer prices are spiraling upward all across the nation, with no signs of stopping. The past year was the worst for inflation since 1982, according to new numbers released last week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — a 7 percent across-the-board jump in the Consumer Price Index. Prices rose 0.5 percent in December alone, marking 18 straight months of increases. “That’s a real startling thing for Americans, many of whom have never been through a period of high inflation, since we’ve had such low inflation for so long,” Brookings Institute economist David Wessel said in a podcast discussion on the outlook for 2022. Everything is more expensive than in January 2021: The cost of ground beef is up to $6.99 a pound. Gasoline is $3.10 per gallon. A sheet of half-inch thick plywood will set you back $42. And the average cost of a new car has hit $27,500. Food, shelter, transporta-
JASON HAWK EDITOR
OBERLIN — Seven mornings a week with few exceptions, Leo Braido would be the first to set foot inside Oberlin IGA and unlock its doors. Now, after nearly eight years as owner, he is selling the business to focus on running three grocery stores he owns in western Ohio. “It’s really, really hard for me to leave,” said Braido. “I love Oberlin. I love my store. I love my community. I love my employees. I love my customers. So this isn’t easy.” Shortly after purchasing the Route 511 store in 2014, Braido told the Oberlin City Club he was there to make a difference. He quickly rooted himself in the community and its causes, serving as president of the Oberlin Community Services board, and as a member of the Oberlin Business Partnership board. When hungry people needed food to survive, Braido gave it away. And whenever a cash donation was needed, he would pull out his wallet. During the holidays, he asked customers to buy pre-stocked bags of staples to give to those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford a nice dinner. Braido said he understands hardship. When he was 10, his father died, and he’s since lost his mother and brother — in Oberlin, his goal was to pay forward the kindnesses he was shown by others. “I wanted to help meet the needs I saw here,” he said when asked about his philanthropy. “I didn’t want to make a lot of noise about it. It’s just the right thing to do.” OBERLIN IGA PAGE B2 Bruce Bishop | Community Guide
Elizabeth Roldan bags groceries at Fligner's Market in Lorain. Like nearly all retailers, Fligner's has struggled with the recent in inflation. tion and energy are the “big four” items for American families, making up 61 percent of the average household budget. In a statement, President Joe Biden reacted to the brutal report by saying inflation is starting to be reined in compared to the previous two months. Still, the report “underscores that we still have more work to do, with price increases still too high and squeezing family budgets.” Inflation is a global challenge, he said, one being fought in virtually every developed nation as
the world emerges from “the pandemic economic slump,” Biden said. Prices are being driven by a number of factors. At the top of the list are broken supply chains, making it tough for manufacturers to keep pace with demand. “When you can’t get stuff in, you’re raising the price of the stuff on the shelves now,” said Ben Fligner, owner of Fligner’s Market in Lorain. Fligner said keeping prices in check at the Broadway grocery store has been challenging. While he’s managed to
keep meat prices down by buying directly from farmers, the cost of staples such as bread and milk have shot through the roof. “Everybody’s getting drilled on everything right now,” Fligner said — and he expects to feel the pinch of high inflation for at least another two years. He’s not alone. American store owners are overwhelmingly pessimistic that conditions might improve in the next six months, according to surveying by the National INFLATION PAGE B2
AMHERST SCHOOL BOARD CHANGES Photos by Jason Hawk | Amherst News-Times
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Messer, Wachholz and Gilles
New Amherst Board of Education members Amanda Messer and Morgan Wachholz are sworn in at the first meeting of the year. Teresa Gilles, who won re-election, also took an oath to serve another fouryear term. In a split vote, Rex Engle was chosen over Marc Zappa to serve as president of the board for 2022. Gilles was chosen as vice president without contest. Engle will also serve as the Amherst Schools’ representative to the Lorain County JVS board for another three years. In the same meeting, the board approved a tax budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023, based on projections for revenue and expenditures. It also set a list of meeting dates, which is subject to change: • Monday, Jan. 24 • Monday, Feb. 14 • Monday, March 14 • Monday, April 18 • Monday, May 9 • Monday, June 27 • Monday, July 25 • Monday, Aug. 15 • Monday, Sept. 12 • Monday, Oct. 17 at Nord MS • Monday, Nov. 7 at Amherst JHS • Monday, Dec. 12 at Powers Elementary Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. at the Marion L. Steele High School Creative Learning Center. Meetings are subject to change with notice.
Price is finally right for new police station JASON HAWK EDITOR
WELLINGTON — It’s taken three tries over the past six months, but the village finally has an acceptable bid for construction of a new police station on East Herrick Avenue. “We’re confident that we’ll be awarding something Tuesday,” said Mayor Hans Schneider after bids were opened last week. Studer-Obringer Construction of New Washington is the low bidder for the project at $2.37 million. The runner-up is Hummel Construction of Ravenna, which asked for just a little over $2.4 million. The bids were under review now by Poggemeyer Design Group and were presented to Wellington Village Council for approval Tuesday night after press time. Schneider expressed relief that village police officers at long last will have a headquarters where they are not cramped and crowded, with barely room to walk around. He said it’s also satisfying to keep a promise to the public — Wellington voters passed an income tax hike in 2018 with the understanding it would right the village’s finances and result in a new police station. Now the big question is when construction will begin. According to Schneider, the two low bidders each have completion windows within 400 days. That means the worst-case scenario is a 2023 opening date for the STATION PAGE B2 1960-2022
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Lorain County Community Guide
LCPH adjusts vaccine clinic schedule as demand rises
Pancake breakfast at Carlisle
Responding to a recent increase in COVID-19 vaccine requests, Lorain County Public Health has changed its vaccine clinic schedule for January. The county health department now offers COVID-19 vaccines and boosters only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at 9880 S. Murray Ridge Road in Elyria. “Adjusting our vaccine clinic schedule helps us keep as efficient as possible to continue preventing the spread of COVID-19, as well as other vaccinepreventable diseases,” said county
The Friends of Metro Parks of Lorain County will host a pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 27 at the Carlisle Reservation Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Rd., Carlisle Township. The meal will include all-you-can-eat pancakes served with sausage, coffee, tea, orange juice or milk. The cost is $7 for ages 11 and up, $5 for ages three to 10 and free for kids ages two and under. Cash only. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Metro Parks of Lorain County.
Health Commissioner Mark Adams. LCPH offers all brands and types of COVID-19 vaccine, including boosters. Ages five and up may get a COVID-19 vaccine, and ages 12 and up may get a booster if it’s been more than five months since the second dose of Pfizer/Moderna or two months since the single dose of Johnson & Johnson. Schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment at www.tinyurl.com/ Lcvaccine. One question that’s becoming common: How soon can you get
vaccinated after recovering from COVID-19? “Get a COVID vaccine or booster once symptoms have resolved and isolation has ended,” said Adams. “One study showed that for people who already had COVID-19, those who do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more than two times as likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get fully vaccinated after their recovery.” Other vaccines such as polio, meningitis and pneumonia will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.
economics professor and associate dean of the College of Graduate Studies at Cleveland State University. “From what I’ve seen, estimates are kind of all over the place,” he said. “There’s definitely some expectation we’re going to see some moderation. We’re not going to stay up at 7 percent.” Few experts believe there will be less than a 2 percent increase again this year, he said. Kosteas said labor will be the key factor in what happens with inflation. Even before the pandemic, wages on the lowest end of the spectrum were starting to budge upward, and the COVID crisis only served to speed up that process. He believes base wages will continue to rise this year. Manufacturers will pay workers whatever it takes to claw back to normal production levels. The National Federation of Independent Businesses monthly jobs report shows 48 percent of owners have already raised pay, and 32 percent plan to increase compensation in the next three months in an attempt to win employees. “In some ways it’s good, because some people are making more money,” said Gallo. “But those higher wages are coming from somewhere, they’re not just coming from thin air.” He said prices are sure to come down when businesses, especially small restaurants, no longer have to worry about limiting hours and days of operation because they don’t have enough staff.
There are plenty of other landmines out there that could blow up an economic comeback, said Gallo. For one, shoppers have become more reliant than ever on the Amazon shopping experience over the past two years, leaving local brick-andmortar stores in a precarious position. “That’s what’s going to hurt the Elyria Hardwares of the world, the mom and pop stores we all like,” Gallo said, referencing the permanent closure of the family-owned store last summer after nearly a century in operation. Safety nets such as rent, foreclosure and eviction relief programs are also starting to expire, and could wreak havoc in Lorain County, he said. Connie Bartos, a Wellington resident, said she been dealt a blow there already. Her rent was just raised $93. “Many senior citizens on fixed incomes had high raises too and can't afford it,” she said. “I have to cut back on some things until I can figure out where to move because its costly everywhere.” Kosteas said he’s watching the Federal Reserve tighten its monetary policy and slowly increase interest rates in an attempt to control inflation. “Talk to me in three months. If we see that inflation continues to spike, that’s when I’m going to be extremely concerned,” he said. If inflation starts to shrink, it will mean hardships for low-income families but much less damage overall, he said.
INFLATION
FROM B1 Federation of Independent Businesses. Only 35 percent think economic conditions will get better in that window. “Small businesses unfortunately saw a disappointing December jobs report, with staffing issues continuing to impact their ability to be fully productive,” NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said in a news release. “Inflation is at the highest level since the 1980s and is having an overwhelming impact on owners’ ability to manage their businesses.” As long as stores and restaurants can pass costs along, most will be OK — but there’s only so far customers’ wallets can stretch, said Tony Gallo, president of the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce. Food is mainly where local families are feeling the sting of inflation, he said. According to the Consumer Price Index, food costs 6.3 percent more than it did a year ago, with fruits and vegetables making the biggest price leap. “We’ve seen it all over, where you go into a restaurant and the burger that used to be $6.99 is now $7.99 or $8.99 because of the cost of goods,” Gallo said. Energy costs have also risen by 29.3 percent, new cars and trucks cost 11.8 percent more than last year, used vehicles are up 37.3 percent, clothing costs have jumped 5.8 percent, medical care is up 2.5 percent — the list goes on and on. How long the trend will continue is anyone’s guess, said Bill Kosteas,
WINTER OLYMPICS ACROSS 1. Sleeps in a tent 6. Horror movie franchise 9. Varieties 13. Mozart’s “Die Zauberflote” 14. Road crew supply 15. Moron 16. Workman’s cotton, once 17. Exclamation of surprise 18. Monte Cristo’s title, in French 19. *Olympic Athletes from ____, 2018 hockey winners 21. *Figure skating jump (2 words) 23. Capone’s ilk, e.g. 24. Attention-getting sound 25. Eminem’s genre 28. Cashier’s call 30. Hit-or-miss 35. It will 37. *Triple one in figure skating 39. Hustle and bustle 40. German Mrs. 41. A mile racer 43. a.k.a. horse mackerel 44. Jargon 46. Workbench holding device 47. Health club offering 48. Diner, e.g. 50. Latin for “and others” 52. ____ Aviv 53. Ill-mannered one 55. Curiosity’s victim? 57. *2022 Winter Olympics location 61. *Torch Relay starting point 64. “____ ____ the Family” TV series 65. Refrigerator sound 67. Poppy seed derivative 69. Bitterly regretting 70. Egyptian cobra 71. Part of a stair 72. Seedy source of Omega-3s 73. More, in Madrid 74. Changes to a manuscript DOWN 1. Cape ____, MA 2. Copycat 3. Carte du jour 4. Spectrum maker 5. Delilah’s lover 6. Roofed colonnade
7. Expression of satisfaction 8. Angry 9. Revered one 10. Fancy ride 11. Japanese zither 12. Pas in ballet 15. “Freezing” Marvel character 20. Letter-shaped girder 22. “____ the land of the free...” 24. Designer’s studio 25. *Biathlon gear 26. Skylit lobbies 27. Manufacturing site 29. *2022 Winter Olympics number 31. Like Curious George 32. Monocot’s alternative 33. “Killers of the Flower Moon” Oklahoma location
OBERLIN IGA
FROM B1 The remainder of Braido’s family live in western Ohio, where he purchased the Wagner IGA group of stores last year in Minster, New Bremen and Fort Loramie. Braido said at first he intended to retain Oberlin IGA and operate all four stores, but the three-hour drive between them is insurmountable. Deciding to sell was one of the hardest decisions he’s ever made, said Braido, but he feels he found the right buyer in the Cincinnati-based Singh family. “The more I visit Oberlin, the more I fall in love with it,” said new owner Gurmukh Singh. He is credited with saving the Clifton Market near the University of Cincinnati campus, which prior to 2019 had been struggling to keep its doors open. Singh said he is “a big believer in keeping independent stores alive, because a lot of communities are becoming food deserts.” Kroger, Walmart and other big chains have decimated the competition, making it difficult for smaller neighborhood stores to stay in business, he said. Braido helped Oberlin IGA thrive, Singh said, and he plans to continue that work by offering more organic and specialty foods. Braido said Singh is a good fit, since he is familiar with catering to the needs of a college town. In the past few years, he’d received more than a few inquiries about selling, but didn’t feel comfortable until meeting Singh. Seeing what the Singh family had done with Clifton Market made him confident that Oberlin IGA would be in good hands, he said. “I wanted whoever is at Oberlin IGA to be as successful, if not more successful, than I was,” he said. Singh said he plans to commute from Cincinnati for the foreseeable future, and has promoted Bob Kritz to oversee Oberlin IGA as general manager.
STATION
FROM B1 station. The road to a new home for police has been long and expensive. Inflation has pushed construction costs roughly $1 million above the original projections made in 2020. Wellington officials have fought to keep that ceiling from exploding. After big price mark-ups were evident in bids this past July and November, Council agreed to loosen its purse strings. In the first Council meeting of 2022, Village Manager Jonathan Greever said it was crucial to get a bid approved “so we can move forward before inflation moves the needle further.” Consumer prices were already starting to climb fast before the COVID-19 pandemic. Supply chain issues in the past two years have accelerated the curve. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of construction materials has skyrocketed during the pandemic — softwood lumber is up 38.8 percent, hardwood lumber is up 48.3 percent, plywood is up 67.7 percent, structural steel has increased 60.7 percent, copper wire has risen 35.4 percent, builder’s hardware is up 18.4 percent and so on down the line. Furnaces, glass, roofing, gypsum, insulation and even nails all cost far more now, according to the latest federal numbers. “The world has certainly changed in the last two years and I think everybody’s affected by it,” said Schneider in a prior interview. Councilman Guy Wells said building the station is also crucial to keeping officials from taking jobs elsewhere. Chief Tim Barfield has struggled in the past few years to keep the roster full as officers have looked to other towns for higher wages and better hours. A new station can’t hurt recruitment, Wells said. “I hope we can get this done. We are on the edge of a much better situation, operationally,” he said.
34. *Olympic award 36. *Olympic sled 38. For fear that 42. Respond 45. Circling 49. Far, old-fashioned 51. Capital of Punjab 54. Early Irish alphabet 56. Sort of warm 57. Vomit 58. Twelfth month of Jewish year 59. Pelvic bones 60. Put a hex on 61. Concert units 62. Not yet final 63. Edible fat 66. *Miracle on Ice winner 68. Not Miss or Ms.
SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE A2
SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE A2
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022
SPORTS
Lorain County Community Guide
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Send sports news to news@lcnewspapers.com. Deadline for all submissions is 10 a.m. each Tuesday. Printed as space is available.
OHSAA to add girls wrestling, boys volleyball STAFF REPORT
COLUMBUS — In a historic move, the Ohio High School Athletic Association board voted unanimously last week to add girls wrestling and boys volleyball as emerging sports beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. The Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association has been conducting a girls wrestling
tournament since 2020, and the Ohio High School Boys Volleyball Association has been conducting its tournament since 1988. “The OHSAA has been talking with the boys volleyball and girls wrestling leaders for several years and we are now in the position to bring these two sports into the OHSAA,” said OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute. “This move will help those sports continue to grow and allow those student-
athletes to compete for an OHSAA state championship. It gives more kids opportunities and that is the mission of the OHSAA.” The OHSAA is the organization that coordinates high school athletic tournaments for fall, winter and spring sports. As emerging sports, girls wrestling and boys volleyball will be administered like the OHSAA’s current 26 recognized sports, but will have additional requirements. “We will look to keep a very
MLK TOURNAMENT WINS
similar format for the girls wrestling and boys volleyball tournaments as what the coaches associations have been doing,” Ute said. “The girls wrestling state tournament is held in midFebruary and the boys volleyball state tournament is held in the spring. We have not yet developed tournament regulations, but we’ll start working on that so that those two sports hit the ground running next fall for the start of the 2022-2023 school year.”
In addition, the board voted to move girls and boys lacrosse out of the emerging sports category into the list of OHSAA recognized sports, and also committed to discuss partnering with a group to provide a tournament in esports. Esports has grown rapidly at both the high school and college level in the last several years. The OHSAA will look to partner with a group that specializes in esports.
GRAPPLING WITH LOSSES Photos by Erik Andrews | Oberlin News-Tribune
In the Lorain County League double dual last week, Firelands and Keystone each emerged 2-0, while Oberlin and Wellington ended the evening each with a pair of losses. The victories kept the Falcons (4-0) and Wildcats (3-1) at the top of the conference standings, with the dual season at the mid-way point.
ABOVE: Oberlin's Rottenborn seeks to escape the grasp of Dante Ortiz in the 160-pound match. Rottenborn ultimately prevailed, claming a 4-1 decision. Angelo Angel | Amherst News-Times
Amherst’s Nick Ciura looks for an open teammate at the North Olmsted Recreational on Sunday. The Comets shut out Benedictine 4-0 in the inaugural Avon Martin Luther King Holiday Tournament with an opening goal by Ciura and three more from Joey Kramer. Amherst buried opposing goalie Michael Pelc under 35 shots, while River Ambroz only had to handle 18 on the other end of the ice. The win came after the Comets defeated Avon 2-1 earlier in the day. Thomas Hall scored in the second period and Kramer hit the back of the net in the third on a Ciura assist. Ambroz had 26 saves in that game, while Avon’s Ben Boka had 30.
BELOW: Wellington's Will Sutton gives Firelands' Blake Stinson a lift early in the 190-pound match last week. In a close match, Sutton secured the win with a third period pinfall.
HAMMERED BY SMITHIES
85 SOUTH MAIN STREET OBERLIN OHIO 44074 JANUARY 20, 2022
BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETING DATES ALL MEETINGS WILL BE Live Streamed @ http://oberlinoh.swagit.com/live Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise
Smithville took the hammer to the Dukes in a non-conference game Saturday. Wellington was defeated 57-14 by the Smithies. ABOVE: : Wellington's Taylor Morris moves with the ball at Smithville.
NOTICE: DISABLED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO MAY NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CALL 775-7203 OR E-MAIL: banderson@cityofoberlin.com NOTICE REQUIRED: TWO (2) WORKING DAYS IN ADVANCE OF MEETING (48 HOURS) CLERK OF COUNCIL’S OFFICE.
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FALCONS FALL FLAT
URBAN STEPS UP Russ Gifford | Amherst News-Times
The Comets seemed poised for a win Monday night after the Falcons’ top scorer, Abbey Schmitz, fouled out. Cue Hailey Urban, who led a rally for 9 points of her own and a 52-47 Firelands victory. Schmitz ended the night with 20 points to lead all scorers. For Amherst, Kristen Kelley had a team-high 17 points and Kayla Ferancy had 16. RIGHT: Firelands’ Hailey Urban gets a late game layup to help secure the Falcons win at Amherst.
Russ Gifford | Amherst News-Times
Keystone clawed out a 55-41 victory over Firelands last week, outpacing the Falcons in every quarter. The Wildcats win was mainly due to a 16-7 third quarter surge; they also had Jake Morgan at the fore with 18 points, backed by Grant Hartley with 11. Nate Draga put up 12 points for Firelands, but otherwise the bench had trouble finding its rhythm. ABOVE: Firelands' Christopher Radman fires from a distance at Keystone.
Comets open indoor season
Amherst opened its indoor track and field season Friday at Spire with a fourth place finish for the girls team and fifth place for the boys.
For the girls: • Ella Baker won the 60-meter race in 8.22 seconds. • The 4x200 relay team of Megan Ciura, Jade Garcia, Alanna Woodworth and Ella Baker took first place with a time of 1:52.22. • Jade Garcia placed fourth in the long jump at 14 feet 8 inches. • Marisa Del Valle placed fourth in the 1,600 meters with a time of 5:35.2. • Leah Gerke placed fourth in the 3,200 meters with a time of 12:40.99. • Katherine Low placed fifth in the 3,200 meters with a time of 12:44.01. • The 4x400 relay team of Megan Ciura, Morgan Bosworth, Alanna Woodworth and Ella Baker placed fourth in 4:30.12. • Alanna Woodworth placed fifth in the 200-meter race with a time of 28.35 seconds. For the boys: • The 4x400 relay team of Sean McQuate, Evan Draga, Seyveon Plaza and Ryan Szczepanik placed second with a 3:43.42 finish. • Sam George placed second in the weight throw with a distance of 37 feet 11 inches. • Zachary Bunnell placed fourth in the weight throw with a distance of 34 feet. • Evan Draga placed third in the pole vault with a height of 12 feet. • The 4x400 relay team of Alex Stacey, Nate Lee, Kayden Tackett and Nicholas Glahn placed third with a 3:51.18 finish. • The 4x200 relay team of Roman Giannuzzi, Alex Stacey, Seyveon Plaza and Sean McQuate placed third with a time of 1:38.27. • Sebastian Pecora placed third in the 800-meter race with a 2:12.97 finish. • Nicholas Glahn placed fourth in the 800-meter race with a time of 2:14.66. • Ryan Szczepanik placed fifth in the 400-meter race in 56.6 seconds.
SECOND WIN OF THE YEAR Erik Andrews | Oberlin News-Tribune
Oberlin picked up its second win of the season with a narrow 39-36 decision over St. Martin de Porres. Coach Brian Joyner was pleased with the team's effort and poise: "Our team played well through the middle of the game as we built a lead, and I was proud of them as they closed it out down the stretch when St. Martin made a run near the end." Sanayah Wilborn led the Phoenix with 15 points while Clara McCown chipped in 10 and led the team with 8 rebounds and three steals. The Phoenix host Firelands this Saturday, with tip-off at 1:30 p.m. LEFT: Sanayah Wilborn drives toward the basket on the hunt for two of her 15 points against St. Martin de Porres of Cleveland.
GOT ‘IM BY THE ANKLE
Angelo Angel | Amherst News-Times
Amherst’s Jacob Bailey and Avon Lake’s Joe Marconi try to outmaneuver each other for a better gripping angle at Avon Lake High School on Thursday, Jan. 13.
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022
Lorain County Community Guide
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‘CATS BLAST PAST DUKES
Photos by Erik Andrews | Oberlin News-Tribune
Isaac Thompson looks for room to operate down low in a thriller versus the Columbia Raiders.
Thompson seals the deal ERIK ANDREWS CORRESPONDENT
Photos by Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise
A blowout third quarter — 20-5 in favor of the Wildcats — helped Keystone roll to a 62-41 win over the Dukes on Friday. Konner Rodick racked up 18 points, Grant Hartley had 14 and Brock Miller put 11 on the scoreboard for the Lorain County League foes. For Wellington, Jayden Roberts was held to an atypically low 12 points and Jacob Weegmann netted 10. ABOVE: Wellington's Riley Reyna gets to the basket. BELOW: Wellington's Jacob Weegmann moves the ball.
In one of the better games played in the Oberlin gym in a long time, two Lorain County League title contenders with perfect conference records squared off in their first meeting of the year. Neither the Phoenix nor Raiders led by more than six throughout the contest. Each team found a way to fight back when they got down until the final minute, when Oberlin, behind an Andre Yarber assist and an Isaac Thompson layup, secured the thrilling 67-65 win. Tied at the half and multiple times thereafter, Columbia had looked to hold the upper hand with their final six point
lead, 61-55, with just over four minutes to play. Three possessions later, the match was even at 61 with three minute on the clock. Columbia pushed ahead and Oberlin again knotted it at 65 with just over a minute to play. An exchange of possessions, a Phoenix time-out, a Yarber drive in the lane with a dish to Thompson on the defensive slide and he converted the uncontested lay-up for the 67-65 lead. The Raiders got a clean look from the left wing for three with five seconds to play, but it bounced away. A Locklear rebound and steal iced the win for coach Kurt Russell's squad. The rematch is slated for Friday, Feb 18 at Columbia.
Dayvion Witherspoon drives the baseline past a Raiders defender.
PIRATES WIN ON SENIOR NIGHT
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Richard E. Jacobs Health Center at Richard E. Jacobs Campus 33100 Cleveland Clinic Blvd., Avon 440.695.4000
Photos by Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise
The Pirates were pumped for Senior Night, riding their adrenaline rush to a 58-12 dismantling of Oberlin. Black River never allowed its opponents more than 4 points in a single quarter. Zoey Bungard led the effort with 21 points on the night, closely shadowed by Riley Kubitz with 19. ABOVE: Black River's Zoey Bungard gets a layup against Oberlin.
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Lorain County Community Guide
© 2022 byVickiWhiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 38, No. 7
hrowing,catching,andhittingaballisloadsoffun.Over thousandsofyears,peoplehaveinventedgamestoplay usingaball.Whenpeoplediscoveredanetcouldadd somethingnewtoagame,moregameswereinvented. Volleyballwasoneofthosegames.
Volleyball Variety
Volleyballscomeinanendlessassortmentof colorsanddesigns.Raceafamilymembertosee whocanfindthetwoidenticalvolleyballsfirst.
A
B
TheHistoryofVolleyball
C
Replacethemissingwords.
D
In the late 1800s, a man named William Morgan lived in Springfield, Mass. He and his friend James Naismith liked to play games. In the winter of 1891, Naismith was the director of the YMCA in Springfield. It was too cold to ______________ outdoors. He invented the game of basketball, using a ball and a couple of peach baskets, to keep young people in good __________ over the winter. Morgan started working at the YMCA in the nearby town of Holyoke in 1895. His friend’s game of basketball had too much running and too many ______________ for some of the members of his club.
Volleyballisplayedonacourtthatis 59feetlongand29.5feetwide.The netinthemiddleis7.4feethigh.
Using creativity, Morgan studied the rules of baseball, basketball, handball and badminton. Taking _______ from each, he invented a new game he called Mintonette, where teams of players on each _________ of a net volleyed or hit a ball back and forth. Points were scored when one team could not get the ball back __________ the net.
VolleyballWords
You can find information on how to play volleyball in abook or online. Here aresome wordstohelpyou understandthe wordsin a volleyballrule book.Dothe mathtomatcheachword with itsdefinition.
Volley (2+7) Serve (6 + 6) Set (8 - 4) Bump (5 + 8) Spike (16 - 5) Block (3 + 4) Double (12 - 2)
The rules ____________ over the years. Even the name changed! As a friend and former teacher of Morgan’s watched the game, he saw that much of the game was spent “volleying” the ball over the net. He called it Volleyball and the name stuck and that’s what it was called when the game was added to the YMCA’s official sports ___________________ in 1896.
Invent a Game
NameofMyGame:
Volleyball Facts and Opinion
broom
balloon
Equipmentneeded: cups ObjectiveofGame(How toWin):
wooden spoon
pietin papertoweltube
socks (canberolled intoaball)
A volleyball net is a grid. Take turns with a pal to connect two dots with a line. Each time your line completes a box, put your initial inside and then connect two more dots. When no more lines can be added, the player with the most boxes wins.
AlphabetVerbs
Look through the newspaper to find verbs. Can you find a verb that starts with each letter of the alphabet? Words like Add for the letter A and Volley for the letter V. Try to find one for all 26 letters. Standards Link: Language Arts: Understand parts of speech.
F G
H I J
K L
M
N O P Q R
S
T U
Rules:
Look at the objects below. Use two of them to invent a new game. Write the rules for your game NumberofPlayers: and give it a try with your friends or family.
E
Underline words on this page that tell you facts about volleyball.. Circle words that tell you opinions about volleyball. Standards Link: Differentiate between fact and opinion.
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VOLLEYBALL CONTACT MORGAN A T R U O C G A S D DOUBLE M E E T E N V P E O PLAYER N T Y E V D I R G U SPIKE BLOCK D M A F R K O R E B SERVE V O L L E Y B A L L COURT X R P S S L N U E E BUMP R G S C O E G A M E GAME I A S C E T T S T P GRID PASS P N K T C A T N O C SET Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognize identical NET words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.
This week’s word:
COLLISION
The noun collision means the moment when two objects come into contact with one another, usually at high speed. The hockey player was injured in a collision with another player. Try to use the word collision in a sentence today when talking with your friends and family members.
I Just DidIt!
Tell about a time you worked hard to overcome a challenge. How did you do it? How did it feel? What did this experience teach you?