Lorain County Community Guide - April 1, 2021

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AMHERST NEWS-TIMES • OBERLIN NEWS-TRIBUNE • WELLINGTON ENTERPRISE Thursday, April 1, 2021

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Volume 8, Issue 13

New Firelands High

Easter to mark a return for some churches JASON HAWK and LAINA YOST

could be seen from the road, but Rini said he expected the walls to be about 20 feet high and clearly visible to people driving by within a week.

Other workers could be seen digging out dirt where the cafeteria will be built and laying underground electrical conduit.

Footers were completed last week. Rini said foundation block would be done and plumbing contractors would start underground water and sanitary sewers this week.

About 20 workers are on the Firelands construction site every day. Rini said that number will increase throughout the

For almost every Sunday during the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Elyria has been virtual. Congregants are hoping Easter will be the day they reunite.

The Rev. June Hardy Dorsey said her church has followed the “A lot of our Lorain County friends, our COVID threat level to determembers mine whether have been the congregation can gather vaccinated, in person. as I have.

And for most They’re very of the pandemic, Lorain anxious to County’s level get back has been red or inside...” purple.

But if it goes The Rev. Paul Wilson down to orFirst United ange or yellow, Methodist Church, St. Andrew’s Wellington finally will be able to open its doors.

“That would be such a good sign of hope at Easter to be able to come together,” Hardy Dorsey said. “During Holy Week we look at some of the sacrifices that Christ made. Not to compare our sacrifices and difficulties with that, but it’s been a way to read those scriptures in a new way and understand them through a different kind of lens.”

Hardy Dorsey said her church is continuing to plan to be in person on Easter Sunday, as projections are looking like Lorain County will go into the

FIRELANDS PAGE A3

EASTER PAGE A3

Photos by Kristin Bauer | Chronicle

Masons work on the walls of the new Firelands High School being built on Vermilion Road on Wednesday, March 24. The new school is on schedule to open in Fall 2022.

Walls going up, turn lane to be added JASON HAWK EDITOR

HENRIETTA TWP. — Creation of a turn lane has been approved on Vermilion Road, leading into a soon-to-be-built parking lot at the new Firelands High School.

Tim Rini of Greenspace Construction said the third lane will start in June and finish before the end of August.

It will be paid for entirely by the school system, with no money from Lorain County coffers.

Meanwhile, construction of the $23 million high school is running right on schedule now

that the weather has broken, Rini said.

"The building will start sprouting up. Every week, they'll do another wall, give or take," he said last Wednesday,

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Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday 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

donning a hard hat and showing off the work site.

Bricklayers were hard at work on the west wall of the varsity gym, which was chesthigh Wednesday. Not much

Frank leaving Oberlin for Brookside JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — After teaching and serving as principal of three buildings since 2002, Chris Frank is leaving Oberlin.

He has accepted a new job as principal of Brookside Middle School, pending approval by the Sheffield-Sheffield Lake Board of Education on April 12.

"It's the excitement of being able to create new

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Now the sixth-graders he had at Langston in his first year of principal are getting ready to graduate with the Class of 2021. Frank said he grew up with those kids, and they grew up with him.

"I'm not done with them yet," he said. "I'm still planning for graduation, still making sure the Class of 2021 is going to be sent off in the best way possible."

But Frank said he felt the FRANK PAGE A3

INSIDE THIS WEEK

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relationships, just teacher for the being able to start Lorain County new," said Frank.

JVS. In 2002, he Frank still started his public ended up leaveducation career ing, teaching for as a history two years at the teacher at Oberlin EHOVE Career High School.

Center in Milan.

The next year, With a masChris Frank Frank was laid ter's degree in off as the district struggled hand, he returned to serve with finances. Then-Princi- as principal at Langston pal Roslyn Valentine went Middle School, then Prosto bat for him, keeping pect Elementary and the him at the high school as a past three years at Oberlin career-based intervention High School.

Amherst

Oberlin

In-depth

Steele graduation will be at Rocket Mortgage • B3

City rolls out car-sharing program starting today • B1

Townships may not get vast COVID relief funding • B1

OBITUARIES A2 • CLASSIFIEDS A5 • CROSSWORD B2 • SUDOKU B2 • KID SCOOP B6

Page A2

Thursday, April 1, 2021

Lorain County Community Guide

Lorain County Resource Fair to offer help for kids ELYRIA — This past year has been tough, and Connecting for Kids aims to help local families find resources for children who may have regressed socially, emotionally, academically or physically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It will offer families concerned about their children, ages birth to 22 years, two options to get information on summer camps, adaptive sports, programs, therapists and other services: • Option 1: Outdoor, In-Person Event The in-person Lorain County Resource Fair will take place on Saturday, April 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The rain date is Saturday, May 8.

This socially distanced, outdoor event will be held at the Lorain

County Community College courtyard, 1005 North Abbe Rd., Elyria.

Families who attend will not only get to visit exhibitors, they will also will be able to receive a free to-go boxed lunch (for the first 400 participants). Spanish translation and American Sign Language interpreting will be available at the event.

Those who pre-register and attend the fair will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 Visa gift card.

• Option 2: Grab and Go Bag Pick Up Families who are not comfortable attending an in-person event can drive up to the tent in front of the Lorain County Community College Campus Center from 1-3 p.m. that day to receive materials in a safe,

socially distanced way. The rain date will also be Saturday, May 8.

Registration Whichever option a family chooses, they will receive a free bag filled with fliers and resources from providers located in Lorain and western Cuyahoga counties, sheet protectors and a binder to organize the materials. These bags are generously supported by Leadership Lorain County.

To register for either resource fair option, visit www.connectingforkids.org/lorain-resource-fair, or call or text (440) 570-5908.

Participants will be required to follow COVID-19 precautions, including social distancing, use of masks, hand-washing, temperature check at registration and waivers signed by all who enter.

OBITUARIES Laura E. Kimmel

Walter Henry Edling

Walter Henry Edling, 83, of Oberlin, passed away Thursday, March 25, 2021.

He was born March 20, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois.

He was a 1955 graduate of Oberlin High School. After graduation, he attended General Motors Institute, currently Kettering University, earning his Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He then went on to earn his Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Case Western Reserve and then finally, his PhD in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University. Walter worked in education and was the Dean of Instruction for Lorain County Community College from 1962 until 1990.

In 1972, he was awarded Young Engineer of the Year from the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers. After his 28 years at LCCC, went on to be the Vice President of Educational Research for the Center for Occupational Research and Development from 1990 until finally retiring in 2001.

Walter was a proud member of many clubs and organizations. He belonged to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers, and he was a charter member of the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Center.

One of Walter's passions was flying and was an instrument-rated private pilot. He even built a full-sized airplane. He was a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics as well as the Experimental Aircraft Association.

For fun, he enjoyed flying model radio controlled planes.

Among all of Walter's clubs and organizations he belonged to, he was Vice President of the Oberlin School Endowment Board, President of the Oberlin Heritage Center and President of Vineway, LLC, a non-profit commercial property business.

In Walter's free time, he also enjoyed playing the piano, woodcrafting, working on machine and tool projects and volunteering.

HAROLD EUGENE ANDERSON, 87, of Amherst, He is survived by his daughter, Judith Ann Edlingwent home to be with his Lord surrounded by his famOwens and her husband, Kevin Owens of Springfield, ily on Wednesday, March 24, 2021, at New Life Hospice Pennsylvania; son, Jeffrey Michael Edling of Oberlin Residential Center, Lorain, following a lengthy illness. and his grandchildren, Elizabeth and Timothy Owens. He Arrangements by Hempel Funeral Home. will always be dearly remembered as 'Grandpa Waldo' to Elizabeth and Timothy.

ACHILLES J. DELEONARDIS, 93, of Amherst, He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 passed away Thursday, March 25, 2021, at Mercy Regionyears, Marjorie Jean Edling (nee Petherbridge) on January al Medical Center following a long and full life. Hempel 13, 2021; brother, Elmer Edling and his parents, Henry Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. and Emma (nee Pretzlaf) Edling.

The family will hold private services.

The Dovin & Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation, 1110 Our condolences go out to families Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst, is assisting the family that have suffered the loss of a loved one. with arrangements.

For information about placing an obituary or death To send an online condolence, please go to www.dovinnotice in the Community Guide, call 440-329-7000. reberjones.com.

Laura E. Kimmel (nee Whitman), 86, of Wellington, passed away at her home from a sudden illness on Monday, March 22, 2021. Laura was born March 23, 1935, in Hudson, New York to the late Anthony and Anna (nee Nooney) Whitman.

She was a 1953 graduate of Marion L. Steele High School. Laura was a longtime resident of Amherst and LaGrange prior to moving to Wellington in 1991. Laura was formerly employed

by Trio Products, Elyria, as a Quality Assurance Manager, Plant Manager and worked in the Human Resources Department from where she retired in November 1995 after 27 years of employment.

She enjoyed winemaking, playing guitar and organ, raising squirrels for Lorain County Metro Parks as a 'Rehaber', she also loved playing billiards, darts, cards and was an avid flower and vegetable gardener. Her memberships included an auxiliary life member of VFW Post 6941, Wellington, an auxiliary member of Wellington Eagles Aerie 2051 and the American Legion Post 8, Wellington.

Survivors include her daughters, Cherry A. Sedor of Amherst and Carole A. Torres of Wellington; son and daughter-in-law, James and Patricia Kimmel of Wellington; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and her brother, John Whitman of Oberlin.

She was preceded in death by her life companion, Richard Sugaski and brothers, Richard, Donald and Robert Whitman.

Family received friends at the Garland-Misencik Funeral Home, 851 Park Ave., Amherst, on Friday, March 26, where a service was held the same day. Pastor Arlen G. Vernava of St. Peter United Church of Christ, Amherst, officiated. Burial was at Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst Township.

Provided photo

Oberlin High School senior Tessa Newsom earned her associate’s degree in liberal arts from Lorain County Community College.

Newson's strides show CCP helps OBERLIN — Tessa Newson is the perfect example of just how far ahead Oberlin City Schools students are striding, thanks to College Credit Plus courses through Lorain County Community College.

A senior, she'll graduate from high school May 29 with an associate's degree in liberal arts already in hand.

Newson will also enter college in the fall with enough credits to be considered a junior, according to guidance counselor Jennifer Bracken.

Juggling high school and college coursework was difficult at first, but Newson said she's grown comfortable with it.

Now she is making family history as a first generation college student on her father's side.

“Both my mom and her mother went to Lorain County Community College," she said. "That being said, overall, I am the first in my family to go away to college. I plan to attend the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and major in psychology."

Her dream is be either a therapist or life coach.

Oberlin High School has had a 300 percent increase in College Credit Plus participation over the past five years, according to Bracken.

The 2009-2010 school year saw 15 total participants in grades seven through 12. In 2019-2020, 77 students took advantage of college offerings.

“We are very proud of the students who have been able to participate and save so much money once they start college,” Bracken said.

Minority students are especially taking advantage of the opportunity, Superintendent David Hall said.

For the 2019-2020 academic year, 23.4 percent of African American students enrolled in the College Credit Plus courses, up from just 5.3 percent in 2015-2016.

“Our high school guidance counselors have done an outstanding job in helping all of our students understand the importance of secondary education,” Hall said.

“And, it’s showing in the data which is incredible.”

Fish fry dinner

A drive-thru fish fry dinner will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, April 9 at Pittsfield Community Church, State Routes 58 and 303.

Drive in, place your order and have food delivered to your vehicle. All dinners are $12, and all are welcome.

Amherst school donations

The following gifts have been received by the Amherst Board of Education: • A telescope valued at about $450 from Alexandrea Vargo, Amherst Steele High School Class of 2016, for use at her alma mater.

• Books for the Powers Elementary School library and Michelle Tellier’s classroom in memory of Diane Kinser.

• A self-cleaning stove for a Nord Middle School classroom from DonorChoose.

LETTERS 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.

SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD ON PAGE B2

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, April 1, 2021

Lorain County Community Guide

Health order limits worry experts after veto override JASON HAWK and CARISSA WOYTACH

A political power struggle between Ohio Republicans could cripple how local health departments respond to infectious-disease outbreaks.

In a dramatic showdown, GOP lawmakers voted Wednesday to override Gov. Mike DeWine's veto of Senate Bill 22.

Barring a legal challenge, the legislation will go into effect June 22. It will allow state House and Senate members to overrule public health orders like the ones used to control the spread of COVID-19, including Ohio's statewide mask mandate.

"It just got pushed through as fast as possible. And the problem is I don't think they realize what they just did," said Lorain County Health Commissioner David Covell on Thursday.

He said Senate Bill 22 was originally intended to prevent "never-ending emergencies."

It did that — a state of emergency will only be allowed to last 90 days unless the General Assembly extends it — but the measure went much further.

Covell showed frustration over how other provisions will limit county health workers' ability to quarantine people who may be carrying deadly diseases, shut down schools and businesses to prevent outbreaks and curb public gatherings.

Senate Bill 22 could throw up roadblocks if there were an Ebola threat, for example, Covell said. That's not far-fetched — seven Lorain County residents were quarantined in 2014 after learning they'd shared a flight with a Dallas nurse who had Ebola.

Covell said the right move in that situation would be to order a 21-day quarantine. But under the new law, "if they were symptomatic, even, I couldn't stop them from moving around unless I took a sample and they tested positive, which can take a couple of days to get the results back," he said.

Another scenario: Lorain County Public Health's hands would be tied if there were a recalled food product being served at a local restaurant.

"We would not be allowed to say, 'You can't serve that' based on this (bill)," Covell said.

"I could only say that to an individual, not a business, which could mean an outbreak going on."

He also shared concerns about how the bill would hamper the response to a bioterrorism event. Again, there is precedent for such situations in Lorain County, such as during the national anthrax scare of 2002, when local health officials shut down buildings due to "white powder events."

"I was amazed they would push something through without really knowing the impact," he said of the legislature, which overrode DeWine's veto of the bill along party lines.

In doing so, state Republicans ignored pleas from a score of health organizations.

Among them was Mercy Health, which wrote a letter asking DeWine to veto the bill.

"We know that steps taken early in the pandemic helped minimize COVID-19’s impact on our state, helping safeguard our most vulnerable residents and protecting limited medical resources," wrote Brian Smith, chief operating officer of Mercy Health.

He said Senate Bill 22 "would undermine our ability to provide the care residents of Ohio require and deserve. Public health of-

ficials need every tool available to them to limit the spread of life-threatening diseases, so that frontline caregivers and health systems can focus on those who most need our care and resources."

University Hospitals also opposed the bill.

CEO Cliff Megarian wrote that changing the way Ohio has responded to the crisis "risks causing confusion or creating new problems.

We worry it may negatively impact the swiftness of actions taken to curb COVID-19's spread and limit the loss of life."

Robert Wyllie, Cleveland Clinic chief of medical operations, wrote a joint protest with colleagues from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and UC Health. They said patient outcomes require immediate action.

"When the threat is posed to a community, that same responsiveness is needed. Senate Bill 22 likely would have negative outcomes on the health and safety of all Ohioans," they wrote.

Ohio Rep. Dick Stein, R-Norwalk, whose 57th House District extends into Lorain County, disagreed.

He said the bill doesn't stop the governor from putting emergency orders in place, but it does provide a check and balance.

He said the vote shouldn't be construed as condemnation of the governor's health orders to date. It will ensure they are temporary, though.

Stein said Ohioans — especially those in his district — are impatient to get back to normal.

"Do I think that this bill could be improved?

Absolutely," he said. "And I think you'll see some evolution in where we're at with this, and I think we'll have some opportunity now for the governor to sit with us and look at areas where we might come up with some compromise in the current language and come up with something even better."

Both state Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, and state Rep. Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville, agreed the bill is far from perfect, but that the governor may have overstepped his bounds on some of the executive orders given.

"For me as a political science major, this is kind of government 101 for me in how I looked at it — checks and balances, separation of powers,” Nathan Manning said. “The overall premise I strongly believe in that, those systems of government and while this certainly is not a perfect bill and I would've certainly preferred the Senate version over the House version, that's what I hung my hat on on why I decided to vote in favor of overriding the governor."

Gayle Manning said she had a lot of concerns, especially in the Senate version of the bill usurping some local controls, but said she’s been promised those areas of the law will be looked at again in the near future.

“If we do go down there to take away an order or that, I think we have to look at that very seriously and what I'll do is actually call Dave (Covell) up and say 'Where are you on this?' and that's how I'll make my decisions,” she said.

The override of DeWine's veto means policy decisions are going to be even more political from now on, said state Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst.

He said the governor, not the General Assembly, is elected to make decisions about the safety of Ohioans. Miller called Senate Bill 22 "a power struggle" between Republican factions and "more of an internal fight than it was a policy piece."

FIRELANDS

FROM A1

spring.

Ground for the new school was ceremonially broken on Vermilion Road last September, but work really got underway in January.

The new building will cover 106,000 square feet and serve ninth through 12th grades. The existing high school will be converted to a middle school, and will connect to the new facility with a shared kitchen and cafeteria.

The plan is to cut the ribbon on the new Firelands High School for the 2022-2023 academic year.

As project manager for Greenspace Construction, Rini recently oversaw work on Amherst's new Powers Elementary School, and is now getting ready to finish

construction of Oberlin's new elementary building. His company is also behind construction of several new Elyria schools.

"It's what I love to do. It's the coolest thing in the world," he said. "I love my job, and I love coming to work every day."

He said it feels good knowing that he's giving generations of Lorain County students new places to learn and grow.

Rini also previously served on the Vermilion Board of Education for nine years, and said education is a family undertaking — his father served on the Vermilion school board, and there are several teachers in the family.

"It's our culture, our family's culture," he said.

FRANK

FROM A1 need to make a fresh start in the middle of his career. He plans to take lessons learned in Oberlin with him — that everyone deserves not just access to but equity in education, that building relationships with students is important and that school spirit goes a long way.

Frank said he owes what he has to the families, teachers and school board members of Oberlin: "These are friends, people

who have grown to be close friends."

The decision to leave was not an easy one, he said — he feels he's grown to know and love everyone in the community. But that's also a reason to go elsewhere, said Frank, because it's made any number of tough decisions too personal.

Superintendent David Hall said a search will begin for a new Oberlin High School principal in April.

Page A3

EASTER

FROM A1 orange.

“We’ve had to really almost reinvent new ways of doing things,” Hardy Dorsey said. “With outreach, with Christian education, with fellowship and worship.

Nothing has stopped, we’ve just had to create new ways to do what we’re called to do.”

St. Andrew’s has used Zoom, and even if its members can meet in person, Hardy Dorsey said that will continue to happen.

The services are streamed live, so congregants don’t miss out on the conversational part of church.

Missing a normal communion is the one part that has been extremely difficult, Hardy Dorsey said. They’ve had to move to a spiritual communion prayer over Zoom, and she said that’s just not the same.

Churches started to return to regular worship services in a big way early in the fall, said Lorain County Health Commissioner David Covell. When case counts exploded in October and November, the faithful found themselves once more pushed out of sanctuaries and into remote services.

His advice: Churches shouldn't return to in-person services in full force for Easter.

"It's still a bit soon to be safe," Covell said. "That's especially true for Easter, since it's a holiday where we usually see a lot of visitors come into our churches, and services can get really big."

Easter at St. Joseph Parish in Amherst is expected to be much different this year.

The Rev. Timothy O'Connor said it was extremely difficult to be isolated from his congregation for the 2020 holiday: "People were observing Easter at home, or watching Masses on the screen," he said.

Parishioners started slowly returning to in-person Masses at their own pace since last May, O'Connor said. Easter services will look traditional this year, except the 700-occupancy sanctuary will be almost empty, with only about 175 allowed inside due to social distancing restrictions.

"It won't be as it was before, with every pew filled and people lined against the wall," said O'Connor. "It sure changes the dynamic of Easter but not the meaning."

He expressed concern that attendance will never fully recover — so clergy need to provide the warmest possible welcome to those who do return.

The First Church in Oberlin is also among those taking a more conservative approach, said the Rev. David Hill.

He is eager to welcome the congregation into a newly renovated sanctuary, but he said now is not the right time. Like those for the past year, Easter service will be livestreamed.

Streaming has allowed First Church to reach many people who have never set foot inside the physical building, Hill said.

A normal Sunday pre-pandemic would see 140 to 150 people in the pews. Social distancing would leave space inside for only about 50 to sit safely apart, he said, while streaming reaches new friends as far away as Oregon and Texas.

"For us, the cool thing is that we're going to be able to have an Easter experience with people this year from a much wider circle than we traditionally had," Hill said.

When the pandemic is over, First Church will continue to livestream worship, adult education classes and committee meetings — anything the church does in person can also reach those spread out all over the country, Hill said.

Other churches are getting creative — and praying for good weather on Easter.

First United Methodist Church in Wellington and Second Baptist Church in Elyria are planning parking lot services The Rev. Paul Wilson said First United will broadcast to vehicles by FM radio.

Like many others, the church has been livestreaming its services throughout the past year.

"A lot of our friends, our members have

been vaccinated, as I have," Wilson said.

"They're very anxious to get back inside, saying they can't believe we're not in yet. For the most part, I ask them to be patient."

His patience also is stretched. Wilson said he wants to be back inside the church building for worship by May 1.

But the change could come on Easter.

If weather is bad, Wilson said he might open the doors and move inside, where there is room for more than 300 people under normal conditions.

As weather warms, windows can be opened to provide circulation and lower the risk of viral spread, he said. Pews can be staggered, and everyone will have to wear masks.

Wilson said it's been lonely and quiet inside the empty church in recent months.

"When I'm inside, I picture people in their seats — you know how church people are, they have the pew they like and sit in every week," he said. "So I picture them there, and hope to see them in person soon enough."

The Rev. Carl Small at Second Baptist said the parking lot service represents a glimmer of hope to fully regather in the building soon.

But right now, the church is still hesitant to move forward too much. IT probably will remain with parking lot services for a while longer.

The traditional Easter egg hunt Second Baptist hosts won’t happen, but there will be a drive-thru Easter basket giveaway for kids and parents.

Small said the past year has been difficult, navigating ministry in a new virtual way. Deacon members call church members once a month; a robo pastor calls each week and gives a prayer; twice a month there are health and wellness calls from Keandra Booker.

“I’ve grown some gray hairs,” Small said. “I’ve lost some sleep. A lot of travel time, going to different celebrations of life for families that have lost loved ones.”

To quicken the move back to normal, Second Baptist held a vaccination clinic with Lorain County Public Health at its location. Congregants and nearby residents were able to get first and second vaccines.

Small said more than 200 people got vaccinated through the clinic. And there will be another one there sometime in the next few months.

Services have been moving toward normal at Harvest Ridge Church in North Ridgeville, said Associate Pastor Michael Hadinger — but they're not quite there yet.

There are still a lot fewer chairs in the auditorium than pre-pandemic, he said.

In-person services started small and have expanded, but full-scale "recreational" events have yet to make a comeback.

This Easter, Harvest Ridge has planned four services spread across Saturday and Sunday to spread out holiday crowds.

"There's something about being in person together that is mentally healthy, physically healthy, spiritually healthy," Hadinger said. "To see people's eyes light up, even if they're wearing masks, does something for your soul."

If St. Andrew’s isn’t ultimately able to meet in person, Hardy Dorsey said that’s OK. She praised her congregation for adapting to virtual services quickly and “showing up” for services consistently.

She knows the church ultimately will be able to open as more congregants get vaccinated and COVID case numbers go down. But that still won’t make it easy.

“There’s a different kind of loss coming around the second time,” Hardy Dorsey said. “The first time there had been no break in our relationships, no break in our worship. ... I think the loss this time is that we’ve been a whole year not being able to be together in the church. It’s not that we’re weaker, but it's just the longing is greater. And I think the sense of loss is just more profound because it’s been longer.”

Page A4

OPINION

Send letters to news@lcnewspapers.com. Deadline is 10 a.m. each Tuesday.

Clinton Burns and the Civil War Born on a farm. Died in a church.

Clinton Burns, my ancestral cousin, grew up in western Pennsylvania in the 1850s when the slavery issue was red-hot and fracturing families. Young Clinton got swept up in this cauldron of conflict.

Even the wood used for flag poles was politicized.

A hickory pole was in honor of Andrew "Old Hickory" Jackson, while PAST IS PRESENT anti-slavery sentiments were symbolized by poplar JAMES BURNS wood.

Clinton’s memoirs reveal in my heart. I gathered up stones and threw them at his father’s feelings on the the man, much to the relish flag pole issue: “My father of my father who sat upon thought slavery to be a the porch watching the sin against God, a crime procession.” against his fellow man, Such incidents were “the and a blot on our country’s gathering of war clouds, reputation. He used poplar a storm which soon burst wood.” forth in all its fury.” No An uncle, Squire John family, no institution, was Burns, led the area’s prountouched by the toxicity slavery party which was parading on horseback to a of the Civil War. Clinton’s minister’s sermons against rally and which, by necesslavery so badly divided sity, passed by Clinton’s the congregation that the house. “One of the more church closed its doors. rabid men covered his And when Clinton’s father saddle with black sheepwent to collect his mail at skin to symbolize the Nethe post office, he found gro. The black man was fit only to be ridden and ruled that it also was ensnared in the fury of the Civil War. by the white man. When “After hitching his horse, the procession passed our house, this man left the line my father walked through and, riding up to our poplar the yard into the post office, about which a hundred flag pole and reining in his or more men were gathhorse until it stood on its ered. He heard them say, hind feet, he poured out a ‘Kill him. Kill the damned volley of curses on us.” abolitionist.’ After getting Clinton, age 6, reacted: his mail, he left the place “My blood was up. It was the first awakening, the first promptly. He had not ridimpulse of political feeling den far when six or eight

men came at him from the fence corners. Two of them caught his horse by the bridle, two others caught him by the leg to hold him in place while the others pounded him with clubs, breaking two of his ribs.

Afterwards, he purchased a Colt revolver and let it be known in the community that he was armed. He was not molested again.”

Meanwhile, Clinton’s older brother had joined the Union Army and was on the front lines, seeing the four officers above him killed or wounded at Gettysburg in 1863 and surviving 28 other battles or skirmishes which involved loss of life.

But knowing that they had the support of family and friends “back home” was crucial to maintaining morale among the troops.

In that regard, an episode Clinton experienced at school was a final contribution of his family to the war effort.

He wrote: “Political feeling ran high. At least one half of the patrons of the school were in sympathy with the South. Prominent among them was a family named Bebout. Three of the girls, fourteen to eighteen years of age, attended the school. One day Jane Bebout rigged up what she called a secession flag and, carrying it around the school grounds, was hurrahing for Jefferson Davis.

This aroused the patriot blood of my cousin, Martha Burns, who undertook

to capture the flag and drag it in the dust. They were soon in a fierce struggle for possession of the flag.

“The two other Bebout girls ran to the rescue of their sister while Martha’s sister, my sister and Ellen Noon ran to help Martha.

The seven girls were in the awfulest battle you ever saw. Warren Teagarden ran to help the Bebouts get the flag back.

“My blood was up, and I went for Warren. He was the larger but I the more active and willing to stand the more punishment. The blows were falling thick and fast, and the blood was falling freely when the girls forgot their flag and stood aghast at our struggle. Finally, through sheer exhaustion, we quit without either succumbing to the other. Miss Wolfe, our teacher, made no mention of this affair to our parents."

In later years, Clinton became a history professor at Western Illinois University.

He had returned home for a family reunion and was sitting in the front pew of the Windy Gap Presbyterian Church waiting to present a talk on family history when, two weeks short of his 80th birthday, he suffered a fatal heart attack.

James Burns is an Ohio native, a retired professor at the University of Florida, and a frequent contributor.

Email him at burns@ise. ufl.edu.

When the grandkids visit, we eat well I had the pleasure of having my three youngest grandsons over recently.

We made fudge out of peanut butter and chocolate ready-made frosting, and doughnuts out of refrigerated biscuits — they love helping me in the kitchen!

I also got a new stove, so it's time for baked chicken.

I usually put cream of chicken soup and chicken gravy over mine, and it tastes great over mashed potatoes or rice. You can even cut up the chicken and put it on toast, which is so very good.

My grandkids love barbecue chicken wings. Getting fresh or frozen wings and fixing them myself, because it's way cheaper than ordering them. When they come again, I'll make homemade wings for sure!

Have you seen these kitchen garden kits they are showing on TV? There's one for herbs, one for vegetables and one for flowers. Each has its own small greenhouse and light!

I wish my windows had a

small shelf so I could grow herbs in a little garden there.

Until next time, enjoy these recipes!

Slow-Cooker Italian Chops • 5 pork chops • 1 1/2 onions, chopped • 15 oz. stewed tomatoes • 1/3 cup oil • 1 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning • 1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder • 2 tsp. smoke-flavored cookPENNY’S PANTRY ing sauce • 1/4 cup water PENNY CASE Layer chops and onions in a slow-cooker and pour Pour pie filling into remaining ingredients on a slow-cooker and set top. Cover and cook on aside. Combine cake mix low setting for three to four and margarine; mix until hours, until tender. You can crumbly. Sprinkle over pie serve this with rice, butfilling and top, if desired, tered noodles or couscous. with walnuts. Cover and cook on low setting for two Easy Slow-Cooker to three hours. Serve warm.

Fruit Dessert • 21 oz. cherry or apple pie Creamy Banana filling Pudding • 18 oz. pkg. yellow cake mix • 5 1/4 oz. instant vanilla pud• 1/2 cup margarine or butter, ding mix melted • 8 oz. frozen whipped top• Optional: 1/3 cup chopped ping, thawed walnuts • 8 oz. cream cheese, soft-

ened • 1 tsp. vanilla • 16 oz. vanilla wagers, crushed • 4 bananas, sliced Prepare pudding mix in a large bowl as directed, and chill. Add whipped topping, cream cheese and vanilla to pudding. Mix until thick and well-blended.

In a two-quart casserole dish, layer crushed wafers, banana slices and pudding mixture. Top with addition crushed wafers and whipped topping, if desired. Chill before serving.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs • 2 lbs. frozen meatballs • 16 oz. pineapple tidbits • 18 oz. barbecue sauce • 1 chopped onion, chopped • 1 green pepper, diced Combine all ingredients in a slow-cooker. Cover and cook on low setting for one hour.

Penny Case is a lifelong resident of Wellington who loves to cook and share recipes.

SCHOLARS The following Wellington students have been named to the dean's list for the Fall 2020 semester at Heidelberg University: • GABRIELLE BALLARD, a junior majoring in theater and business administration.

• LAUREN GRONSKY, a sophomore majoring in business administration and accounting.

• BRENNAN SCHECK, a sophomore majoring in education.

RACHEL BARLETTA of Wellington has been named to the president’s list for the Fall 2020 semester at LeTourneau University, where she is studying psychology.

Thursday, April 1, 2021

Lorain County Community Guide

The following Wellington students have been named to the dean's list for the Fall 2020 semester at Baldwin Wallace University: • KEAGAN ARMITAGE, a graduate of Ashland High School, majoring in finance.

• HAILEY OWENS, a graduate of Lakewood High School, majoring in sports management.

JANAE JOHNSON of Oberlin has been named to the president’s list for the Fall 2020 semester at Muskingham University.

The following Oberlin students have been named to the dean’s list for the Fall 2020 semester at Ohio University: K.J. RUSSELL, NICKHOLAS IGNAGNI, LYDIA WETZEL and RACHEL JACKSON.

The following Amherst and South Amherst students have been named to the dean’s list for the Fall 2020 semester at Miami University: EMILY KENDRICK, ALEX KERNEL, ANGELINA RIVERA, AUSTIN BAYUS, BRIANA BOWYER and SAMANTHA IVES.

SAMANTHA BONETA of Amherst has graduate of Baldwin Wallace University with a master of arts degree in education for students with mild to moderate needs.

Amherst Council agrees to elevator repairs, paving STAFF REPORT

AMHERST — City Council fast-tracked votes last week to pay for elevator repairs and summer street paving.

Up to $144,900 is earmarked to allow Mayor Mark Costilow to contract with Bramhall Engineering & Surveying Co. for work to prepare for paving.

Work will focus on large portions of Axtel Street, Cornell Avenue, Washington Street, Greenlawn Avenue, Amchester Drive and Ridgelawn Drive.

Other stretches around the city — up to 6,000 linear feet — will be repaired as money is available.

Much of the work will happen near Amherst Steele High School, Councilman David Janik noted during committee discussion earlier in the month. He asked whether construction will happen during the school year.

“This (work) is typically tried to be completed when the school is not in session. We will take extra care with that, being that these areas around the school,” Costilow said. “So that will be talked about during pre-construction meetings, and it’ll be in everyone’s best interest to get that finished before they (students) return to school.”

Another $55,226 was approved for emergency repairs to the Town Hall elevator.

Costilow said those repairs are crucial because the elevator has been struggling over the past few years and has finally broken down.

“There’s no small fix with this: the pumps, the hydraulics, the electric control board and the buttons,” he said.

“Everything needs to be fixed.”

Costilow added that while the elevator is not regularly used, it needs to be repaired for those who have physical disabilities.

LCCC hosts virtual career week ELYRIA — Lorain County Community College will host a virtual Career Connection Week from Monday, April 12 through Friday, April 16.

The event will feature speakers with a focus on resume assistance, the University Partnership program, academic programs, transfer opportunities and employers.

A career fair running Wednesday through Friday will help connect students to employers for internships and jobs.

All are welcome to participate in this event at no cost.

Guests can attend the sessions that fit their schedules or the entire series.

Sessions begin at 10 a.m. each day via Zoom.

The week’s agenda: • Monday, April 12 — A kick-off event will cover job search basics. Get one-on-one help creating a digital resume for the virtual career fair.

• Tuesday, April 13 — Explore academic, transfer and career pathways. The University Partnership team will share how to attend classes from local colleges and universities through LCCC to earn bachelor's or master's degrees at a fraction of the traditional cost, as well as career options from partner colleges and employers.

• Wednesday, April 14 — Local employers will host half-hour information sessions with question and answer portions. Employers will also host virtual booths so that job seekers can “drop a resume” or request personal interviews with employers for later that day, Thursday or Friday.

• Thursday and Friday, April 15-16 — Attend virtual interviews with employers (scheduled previously during the week).

Community partners for the event include OhioMeansJobs, Lorain County JVS and Lorain County Urban League.

Register at www.bit.ly/LCCC-Career-Connections.

For more information, contact LCCC Career Services at careers@lorainccc.edu or (440) 366-4076.

Easter egg hunt

A public Easter egg hunt will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 3 at Pittsfield Community Church, State Routes 58 and 303.

The event will be held rain or shine. If weather is bad, it will be moved inside. All are welcome.

Audubon spring raffle

The Black River Audubon Society is selling raffle tickets for two prize packages throughout the month of April to help raise money for its Audubon Adventures program.

Audubon has been offering this unique program at no cost to interested local schools to help educate young students about the environment.

Tickets are $10 and the prize packages feature everything you need to welcome back your feathered friends, including a $100 gift card to Wild Birds Unlimited, a bird lamp, bird seed, nesting boxes and other fun bird related items.

The winning tickets will be drawn on May 8, International Migratory Bird Day. Tickets are sold online only at www.blackriveraudubon.org/2021-spring-raffle.

Audubon Adventures is an environmental education curriculum product created by the National Audubon Society for grades three to five. It helps introduce young people, their families and their teachers to the fundamental principles by which the natural world functions.

Developed by environmental educators, Audubon Adventures presents standards-based science content about birds and their habitats.

For more information about Audubon Adventures, BRAS, programs, volunteering or becoming a member, visit www.blackriveraudubon.org.

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Lorain County Community Guide

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Veterans commemorate Vietnam War in Amherst ceremony ANGELO ANGEL THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

AMHERST — From Army dress blues adorned with medals, leather jackets hemmed with Vietnam war patches and shirts memorializing fallen brothers, veterans of all services gathered Monday to commemorate those who served and the 98 Lorain County men who died in the Vietnam War. The marching color guard of the Elyria AMVETS Post 32 began the ceremony as it hoisted the flag, making its way toward the memorial on North Lake Street. Following the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance came a solemn moment of silence.

Amherst Mayor Mark Costilow said he felt honored his city could be the location for the memorial.

“I just want to say how honored the city of Amherst is to have such a beautiful memorial that honors all those who lost their lives all over the country and from Lorain County, too,” Costilow said. “I was only 10 years old when this day we’re honoring happened in 1973. I don’t have a lot of memories about Viet-

Vietnam War Commemoration

Congress authorized the U.S. Department of Defense in 2007 to conduct a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. President George W. Bush signed the measure into law and President Barack Obama inaugurated the event on Memorial Day 2012 at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The commemoration will continue over a 13-year period, ending on Veterans Day 2025.

Angelo Angel | Chronicle

Mike Simpson leads a group in prayer at the Lorain County Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Amherst on Monday, March 29 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. nam; I had some recollection of watching Walter Cronkite on the news.”

Lorain County Veterans Commissioner Joe Gee, a radioman in the Vietnam War, recounted the

grim numbers of the American lives lost during the war.

He said 58,220 people "gave their all, the state of Ohio ranked fifth highest in lives lost with 3,094 lost and 98 from Lorain County."

Mary Jane Burger from the Nathan Perry Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented veterans with Vietnam War 50th anniversary pins.

“On behalf of a gratuitous nation we want to recognize, honor and thank all of our veterans for answering our nation’s call,” she said.

The ceremony concluded with

an open mic for those who wanted to give tribute to those who died, for which Don Attie, the 2013 Lorain Veteran of the Year, stepped up to the microphone.

He shared the names of veterans who had recently passed away.

As Attie continued, he somberly described the recent passing of his longtime friend, Samuel L. Felton.

Felton, 70, died May 22, 2020. He served three tours in Vietnam with the U.S. Marine Corps, from December 1968 to August 1971, and received the Navy Cross for heroism and the Purple Heart for being wounded in combat by rescuing three wounded Marines during an intense, 11-day battle near An Hoa, Qung Nam Province, in June 1969.

“A dear friend that I'm still struggling with,'' Attie said.

"He touched a lot of people’s hearts throughout the county and throughout the country.''

Attie revealed the shirt he wore memorializing Felton.

"He was an incredible man, never to be forgotten,'' Attie said.

"I could probably go on and on but they won't be forgotten and the 98 behind me will never be forgotten.”

Barbra named Rotary's Senior of March All signs point to low interest in May primary election The Oberlin Rotary Club honors a high school senior each month during the school year. These young people are recognized for character and positive attitudes. The Oberlin Rotary Club will donate $25 to a charity or project of the student’s choosing in their name.

SARAH COLSON OBERLIN HIGH SCHOOL

The Oberlin High School senior honored for the month of March is Tierra Barbra.

She has been in cheerleading since the seventh grade, winning the Coach’s Award in 2018 and 2019. She has also played volleyball and soccer and won the Coach’s Award for soccer in 2019.

Barbra has participated in

the Interact Club, the Effective Leadership Academy, Student Council and served as president of her class during her junior year.

She is a Ninde Scholar, has appeared most semesters on the honor roll and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Barbra has also made the dean’s list for all three of her semesters at Lorain County Community College.

Barbra has been a recipient of the Lorain County Alliance of Black School Educators Award every year since the seventh grade.

Outside of school, she has been active with the Oberlin NAACP and as a youth praise dance leader at Mount Zion Baptist Church. She has held parttime jobs throughout high school, mostly recently

Tierra Barbra with Ben Franklin and Mindfair Books.

Barbra was the featured speaker in January for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Rededication to the Dream ceremony, held annually in Oberlin on his birthday.

Believing in service, Barbra has been a member of the Interact Club, the community service club of Oberlin High School,

sponsored by the Oberlin Rotary Club.

As a member of the Social Equity Board of the city of Oberlin, she meets regularly to discuss equity issues in Oberlin and how to define and implement solutions. She is founder and president of the Black Student Union of OHS; the organization strives to nurture a safe and supportive climate for Black students at OHS, provide them with college resources and encourage education about Black culture.

Barbra has been accepted at Howard University and Spelman College. She is planning to double-major in pre-medicine and political science.

She would like to become a psychiatrist and eventually serve her hometown and her country as president of the United States.

Seniors, be on guard against scammers Scammers are increasingly targeting older adults, according to the Ohio Department of Aging, which last week issued an alert to be on guard.

Con artists use scams to steal money or get personal information they can fraudulently use to open accounts and access other benefits in your name. These are widespread and change all the time to take advantage of new technology, current events and more.

Older adults are getting wiser to common scams and are much more likely to report suspected fraud than younger adults. Unfortunately, the

Federal Trade Commission reports that older adults are less likely than younger adults to admit they lost money in a scam.

Protect yourself by knowing the common types of scams that target older Ohioans and what you should do if a scammer targets you: • Be alert to calls or emails that demand immediate payment, sometimes by unusual means, such as gift cards.

• Be wary of anyone threatening action like calling the police if you don't do what they ask.

• Don’t let anyone pressure you into signing a contract or buying a product or service. Ask for written

information and take your time to decide. If they won’t let you, it’s probably not a good idea to do business with them.

• Remember that you can’t win a lottery or sweepstakes you didn’t enter. If someone says you have won a prize but you must pay a fee to get it, that’s probably a scam.

• Never give your banking information to someone who contacts you unexpectedly over the phone or internet, even if they claim to be someone you do business with, like your utility company. Hang up and call them back via the contact information on your bill.

CLASSIFIEDS LEGALS LEGAL NOTICE 0-21-01 An Ordinance amending City of Amherst Ordinance No. O-18-47 Establishing the Salaries and Benefits of the Permanent Part-Time Tax Assistant I and setting the pay rate, terms and other conditions of employment.

0-21-02 An Ordinance amending Chapter 143 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Amherst Amherst regarding the Division of Police 0-21-03 An Ordinance authorizing an increase in appropriations for sidewalk improvements for 2021.

0-21-04 An Ordinance rezoning from R-1 to C-2, for redevelopment as Hot Dog Heaven, six (6) parcels of land identified as Lorain County Auditor Permanent Parcel Numbers 05-00-023-106-043, 05-00-023-106-044, 05-00023-106-045, 05-00-023-106046, 05-00-023-106-047, and 05-00-023-106-030, and declaring an emergency.

0-21-05 An Ordinance to approve current replacement

pages to the Amherst Codified Ordinances. .

0-21-06 An Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract for professional service with Bramhall engineering and surveying company related to the road improvement project on Milan Avenue and Cleveland Avenue.

0-21-07 An Ordinance to make appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures of the City of Amherst, State of Ohio, During the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, repealing all Ordinances in conflict herewith.

0-21-08 An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Safety/ Service Director to solicit bids to trim trees (on a unit basis) in the city for the year 2021 at a cost not to exceed $80,000.00; and authorizing and directing the Safety Service Director to award the contract for such work to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.

0-21-09 An Ordinance approving plans and granting a certificate of occupancy to Zappas 350 LLC for a servicing, warehousing and distribution use for the premises known as 350 Rice Industrial Parkway, Amherst, Ohio.

0-21-10 An Ordinance authorizing the City of Amherst Community Improvement Corporation, acting as agenda for the city, to negotiate the terms of the city's sale of a portion of parcel No. 05-00-041-110-031 to Clovervale Farms, LLC and purchase of Lorain County Community College's contingent interest in such a split parcel. (A-21-10) 0-21-11 An Ordinance establishing the wage rate, benefits, and other conditions of employment of the permanent part-time payroll and accounts payable clerk for the years 2021 and 2022; and repealing all ordinances in conflict herewith. (A-21-03) 0-21-12 An Ordinance accepting Amchester Drive's existing storm sewer infrastructure and roadway Improvements and dedicating Amchester Drive for public use.

0-21-13 An Ordinance amending Chapter 1338 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Amherst, Ohio Regarding Floodplain Management.

0-21-14 An Ordinance authorizing Mayor to enter into a contract for professional services with Bramhall engineering and Surveying Company

relating to the 2021 Street Rehabilitation program 0-21-15 An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Safety/ Service Director to enter into a contract without formal bidding to make emergency repairs to City Hall's elevator.

0-21-16 An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Safety/ Service Director to solicit bids for the 2021 Street Rehabilitation improvement project; and authorizing and directing the Safety/Service Director to award the contract for such work to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.

R-21-01 A Resolution declaring the necessity for public sidewalk repair and replacement and authorizing and directing the Safety Service Director to award a contract for such repair and replacement of public sidewalks to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder at a cost to the city not to exceed $500,000.00.

The complete text of the above listed ordinances and resolutions may be viewed in the office of the Clerk of Council during regular business hours.

Olga Sivinski, Clerk of Council 206 S. Main St. Amherst, OH.

440-988-2420 L.C.C.G. 4/1/21 20679943

PUBLICATION OF LEGISLATION The following is a summary of legislation adopted by Lorain City Council on March 15, 2021. 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 15-21 Reso of appreciation to US Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur for her diligent support and dedication to the City of Lorain. 16-21 Reso of appreciation to Senator Sherrod Brown for his diligent support and dedication to the City of Lorain. Ordinance 30-21* Amending Ord. 47-18, Section 10.2, establishing the compensation, benefits

& terms of employment for all classified and unclassified non-bargaining employees.

31-21* Amending Ord. 48-18, Section 11.2, establishing the compensation, benefits & terms of employment for managers and professional employees. 32-21 Amending ordinance 8-21 and the agrmt w/ Southeast Security Corp for procurement & installation of cameras & wifi at Oakwood & Central Parks. 33-21 Auth ODOT to perform various repairs at the underpass on SR6. 34-21 Auth S/S Director to extend an agrmt w/ Unifirst Corporation for uniform services through 2/28/2024. 35-21 Approving the proposed CBA between the City of Lorain and Lorain Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 267. 36-21* Transfer. 37-21* Appropriation.

38-21* Appropriation. 39-21 Auth S/S Director to enter into an agrmt w/ Sustainable Strategies Hull & Associates for professional services related to securing state, federal and philanthropic funding. (*Denotes legislation was passed as an emergency.)

L.C.C.G. 3/25; 4/1/21 20679745

JASON HAWK EDITOR

SHEFFIELD TWP. — What a difference five months makes: Fewer than 150 absentee ballots had been requested so far for Lorain County's May 4 primary as of last week, compared to the 62,406 received by mail and 35,967 cast in person in the high-stakes fall election.

Less than a week remains before absentee voting begins on Tuesday, April 6.

The voter registration deadline is Monday, April 5.

The Lorain County Board of Elections office at 1985 North Ridge Road in Sheffield Township will be open until 9 p.m. that night to take new registrations. Alternately, voters can register online until midnight via the Ohio Secretary of State's website at olvr.ohiosos.gov.

Paul Adams, director of the Lorain County Board of Elections, said it's important for voters to understand many areas will have no election at all in May. "Large areas of the county will be closed because there are no issues or candidates to vote on," he said.

Only 122 of 193 precincts in Lorain County will have an election. They include Democratic primaries in Elyria's 5th Ward, Republican primaries in Lorain and North Ridgeville and nonpartisan primaries in Vermilion.

Adams warned that there will be no voting in contests with only a single, unopposed partisan candidate.

"So, for example in Amherst none of the partisan candidates have an opponent of their own party, so they will automatically certified to the general election ballot and there is no primary election," he said. "In North Ridgeville, there are only two Democrats running for three seats, so they are certified to the general election ballot, but because more than three Republicans filed there will be a Republican primary in North Ridgeville to determine which three will go on to November."

There are also ballot issues in Avon Lake, Lorain, Oberlin, Sheffield Lake, Amherst Township, Brighton Township, Camden Township and Kipton, Columbia Township, Sheffield Township and Clearview Schools.

The Oberlin, Avon Lake and Lorain public library systems also have levies on the ballot. Voters who live within the boundaries of the associated school districts can weigh in on those issues.

The Central Lorain County Ambulance District has a levy on the ballot for voters in Oberlin, Camden Township, Kipton, Henrietta Township, New Russia Township and Pittsfield Township.

The South Lorain County Ambulance District also has a levy for consideration by voters in Brighton Township, Huntington Township, Penfield Township, Penfield Township, Rochester village and township, and Wellington village and township.

Polls for all other areas will be closed on May 4.

hartblacktop@yahoo.com

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Page A6

Lorain County Community Guide

Bruce Bishop | Chronicle

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A nurse prepares doses of vaccine Friday as teachers file into the vaccination clinic held at the Lorain County Joint Vocational School. Six clinics were held in Lorain County, and nearly 6,000 school employees received COVID shots.

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Thursday, April 1, 2021

Second shots boost teachers, schools JASON HAWK and LAINA YOST

A weight lifted from Ed Weber's shoulders Friday as he rolled up his sleeve to get the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"I felt good after shot one," the Wellington Schools superintendent said, "and going from about 50 percent (protection) to more than 90 feels super."

Weber was one of nearly 6,000 school employees across Lorain County who got the booster shot, giving students across the county the day off Friday.

Clinics were held at the Lorain County Joint Vocational School, Lorain High School, Elyria High School, North Ridgeville Academic Center and Avon Middle School.

About 100 school employees were on spring break or had schedule conflicts, and they will be part of other clinics, county Health Commissioner David Covell said.

About 80 percent of the adults who work in schools in Lorain County have chosen to be vaccinated by the health department, he said, with the total actually higher since others have opted to get shots on their own through pharmacies or hospitals.

"I think it's a little higher than the general population in terms of people who want the vaccine, so I think that's very good," Covell said.

Lorain County Public Health did not have figures Friday breaking down how many employees in each school or district chose to be vaccinated.

According to tracking by the Ohio Department of Health, 923 students and 475 staff members at Lorain County schools have tested positive for the coronavirus over the past year.

Avon Lake by far had the most student cases with 158, while North Ridgeville just topped the staff cases count with 65, edging out Lorain and Elyria.

Those numbers don't reflect the many more people who were quarantined after being exposed to others who tested positive.

Now educators are trying to figure out what the rest of the school year will look like as vaccination rates climb and case counts fall.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxed the rules for social distancing in classrooms, saying students are fairly safe being 3 feet apart instead of 6 feet.

Covell said he's advised district superintendents they can start gradually, carefully removing some plexiglass dividers that were installed as barriers against the virus, and class sizes can grow.

Midview Schools has told parents that beginning April 6, desk dividers will be optional for students and teachers, but that distance will be maintained “as close to 6 feet as possible.”

Elyria Schools Superintendent Ann Schloss said there were lots of smiles Friday after employees got the second dose.

“It’s one more step back to normal, the new normal, whatever that may be,” she said. “We feel good about it.”

The district, which stayed mostly on a hybrid model during the pandemic, already had returned high school students to four days a week, and recently expanded that to elementary students.

Schloss said there will be some elements of education that will never be the same after the pandemic. She said Elyria learned a lot over the last year, and has things it wants to continue to do.

That includes increasing the use of technology for learning. Not so much virtually, Schloss said, but there are programs that

COVID cases by school district

As of March 25, according to the Ohio Department of Health • Amherst: 145 students, 43 staff cases • Avon Lake: 158 students, 34 staff cases • Avon: 74 students, 28 staff cases • Christian Community School: 0 students, 4 staff cases • Clearview: 7 students, 17 staff cases • Columbia: 25 students, 6 staff cases • Elyria Catholic: 26 students, 10 staff cases • Elyria: 48 students, 63 staff cases • Firelands: 26 students, 11 staff cases • Holy Trinity, Lorain: 10 students, 2 staff cases • Horizon Science Academy, Lorain: 3 students, 2 staff cases • Keystone: 31 students, 26 staff cases • Lake Ridge Academy: 4 students, 3 staff cases • Lorain Bilingual Preparatory Academy: 1 student, 1 staff case • Lorain City Schools: 44 students, 61 staff cases • Lorain Board of Developmental Disabilities: 0 students, 6 staff cases • Lorain County ESC: 1 student, 2 staff cases • Lorain County JVS: 17 students, 2 staff cases • Lorain Preparatory Academy: 10 students, 15 staff cases • Midview: 51 students, 14 staff cases • North Ridgeville: 138 students, 65 staff cases • Northern Ohio Adventist Academy: 1 student, 1 staff case • Oberlin: 4 students, 9 staff cases • Open Door: 32 students, 13 staff cases • Sheffield-Sheffield Lake: 21 students, 18 staff cases • Spectrum Resource Center: 2 students, 0 staff cases • St. Jude: 4 students, 0 staff cases • St. Mary Immaculate Conception: 2 students, 0 staff cases • St. Mary: 1 student, 0 staff cases • St. Peter: 1 student, 2 staff cases • Wellington: 21 students, 17 staff cases TOTAL: 923 students, 475 staff cases can help students learn better and differently.

About 80 percent of Elyria Schools staff received the vaccine at the clinic, Schloss said. Others have gotten vaccinated at other places.

Elyria High School also will continue to be the site of vaccination clinics open to the public throughout the next month.

Schloss said she wants to use the high school as a community resource to help get residents vaccinated.

Weber said there is excitement among Wellington Schools staff that classes will look much more traditional this spring as pandemic precautions are scaled back, and even more so in the fall.

"I think these vaccinations bring back more normalcy to our lives — to have fun, to enjoy life together, to talk to your classmates or fellow teachers," he said.

"We just can't wait."

Covell said the tipping point will be when the general public's vaccination rate hits 50 percent.

As of Friday, 3.1 million Ohioans had received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose. That's 26.67 percent of the population.

In Lorain County, more than 84,500 people or 27.28 percent of the population had started vaccinations.

"We're getting closer to 50 percent here in Lorain County, and I think we're going to get there in April," Covell said.

OUR TOWNS

Lorain County Community Guide • Thursday, April 1, 2021

B

Oberlin rolls out car-sharing as U.S. goes electric JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Two Nissan Leafs will be made available to the public starting today as the city of Oberlin launches an electric car sharing program.

Residents are now able to check out the vehicles for quick runs to the grocery store, doctor's appointments, airport pick-ups and other errands.

The cost is $8 per hour and up to 25 miles, with an additional 36 cent charge for every additional mile driven inside the same hour.

Linda Arbogast, the city's sustainability coordinator, said America is making a rapid

switch to electric transportation.

"The car manufacturers are looking at their bottom line and saying, 'We've got to get on board with this,' because the ones who do are the ones who are successful," she said.

General Motors has committed to making its entire lightduty lineup electric by 2035.

That includes full-size pickup trucks and SUVs. Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo are all shifting to selling only electric vehicles in the coming decade, and Volkswagen is making a bid to overtake Tesla as the leading producer of electric cars in the next five years.

The transition away from

reliance on fossil fuels is "just super exciting," said Arbogast.

Her main concern is the environment.

"Climate change is upon us," Arbogast said. "It's no longer something to discuss, it's something to deal with on a dayto-day basis. It's here, and the effects are going to be felt now and forever, so we need to start planning and adapting."

Oberlin's car-sharing service aims to give people a chance to try out electric vehicles for the first time, and help them become comfortable with the emerging technology, she said.

Michael Peters is CEO and Jason Hawk | Oberlin News-Tribune co-founder of Sway Mobility, Two Nissan Leafs will be available to the public starting today through a car-sharing service provided by the city of Oberlin and ELECTRIC PAGE B2 Sway Mobility.

Both sides of aisle plead for federal township relief

$10,000 CONTEST

JASON HAWK EDITOR

Jason Hawk | Amherst News-Times

Freshman RJ Chandler leads Amherst students around a circle of chairs while eating ice cream on Wednesday, March 24 at Marion L. Steele High School. The exercise was meant to show the dangers of distracted driving.

Steele musical chairs experiment proves point to teenage drivers Harmych said he was rear-ended by someone who was texting, and he's heard of many other such incidents involving classmates — one friend's insurance is now so high that he can't afford to drive anymore.

Distractions slow down reaction times for all drivers, but are especially dangerous for younger people who lack experience, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Every day, about eight people are killed in the United States in crashes where distracted driving was a factor, the agency claims. In 2018, the last year complete data is available, the problem led to an estimated 400,000 crashes nationwide and more than 2,800 people were killed.

In 2019, 39 percent of high school students said they have texted or

JASON HAWK EDITOR

AMHERST — The rules were simple: When the music stops, grab a chair.

But by adding a little ice cream and a lot of research to the mix last Wednesday, a small group of Amherst Steele High School students used the game to teach a tough lesson.

"Musical chairs is a pretty easy activity, but adding simple distractions like eating ice cream or texting makes it a lot harder," said senior Nathan Harmych, a medical technology student. "If you can't do musical chairs while doing those activities, you shouldn't be driving and doing them."

emailed while behind the wheel in the past 30 days, according to the CDC monitoring.

That number rose to 51 percent among just 17-year-olds and 60 percent among 18- and 19-year-olds.

Megan Ciura, a junior, said she feels distracted driving is a dangerous problem for a huge majority of Amherst students.

She admitted she's guilty too of glancing at a text or trying to squeeze in a bite while rolling to after-school activities.

In Ciura's mind, the biggest issue is talking to friends who are passengers. Those drivers are "listening to music, they're eating, they're going out and trying to have fun. But their eyes aren't really on the road," she DRIVERS PAGE B2 1960-2021

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A combined $14.9 million in federal pandemic relief funding is in limbo for Lorain County townships, and all trustees can do is wait to learn whether they'll receive any of it.

President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan earlier this month. In addition to $1,400 checks to help American households, it includes roughly $360 billion for states, counties, cities, villages and tribal governments.

Whether any of the funding will go to the 1,308 townships in Ohio or the 18 in Lorain County remains to be seen — that will rely on judgment calls made by the U.S. Treasury.

Ohio's Republican delegation, including U.S. Sen. Rob Portman and Rep. Bob Gibbs, sent a letter Wednesday to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, asking for clarification on whether townships will be eligible to receive aid. Since cities and villages will get funding, it seems appropriate that townships should also qualify, they argued.

One of the signatories, U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, laid the problem at the feet of Senate Democrats who supported the bill; no Republican Senators voted for it.

He said "rushed changes" to the bill caused the confusion.

"It is a shame that we couldn’t work in a bipartisan manner to provide additional relief for our communities, resulting in a rushed and mismanaged process," Gonzalez said.

Congressional Democrats, including Sen. Sherrod Brown and representatives Tim Ryan, Marcy Kaptur and Joyce Beatty, also sent a letter to Yellen on March 18.

They urged all towns and townships nationwide to be counted as eligible for the direct relief "Congress intended them to receive," the letter said.

The Democrats wrote that Ohio townships are responsible for maintaining 41,000 miles of roads, managing more than 2,400 cemeteries and providing fire protection, emergency medical services, solid waste disposal and zoning.

Lorain County Administrator Tom Williams said he's been in talks with township trustees about the issue.

TOWNSHIPS PAGE B2

Oberlin Heritage Center to reopen The Oberlin Heritage Center will re-open to the public today — Thursday, April 1.

Office and museum store hours will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

COVID-19 safety protocols — including mandatory masks and social distancing — will remain in place for staff, volunteers and visitors.

Public tours will also resume April 1. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, OHC will offer tours of the Monroe House at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. This "Oberlin Origins" tour lasts about 30 minutes. The cost is $3 for adults and free for students and members.

On Saturdays, OHC will offer the "Oberlin Origins and Little Red Schoolhouse Tour" at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. This tour lasts about 45 minutes, and the cost is $4 for adults and free for students and members.

Advance reservations for all tours are required until further notice. Call (440) 774-1700 to make a tour reservation or register online at secure.oberlinheritage.org/events.shtml.

All research appointments must also be arranged in advance.

All indoor tours will operate with the restricted capacity of up to nine individuals from one family or familiar group. All visitors or household groups must complete a basic COVID-19 screening survey.

Masks are available at the museum, as supplies last.

SUBMIT YOUR NEWS TO: NEWS@LCNEWSPAPERS.COM

Page B2

Safety Town

Registration is open for the 2021 Oberlin Safety Town, which will be held at Eastwood Elementary School this summer.

Sessions for children entering first grade will be held from 10 a.m. to noon or 1-3 p.m. June 7-11. Applications are due by May 21.

Sessions for children entering kindergarten will be held from 10 a.m. to noon or 1-3 p.m. June 1418. Applications are due May 28.

Capacity is limited. Registrations will be accepted on a firstcome, first-served basis.

Applications are available at the

Oberlin police station on South Main Street and at www.oberlinpd.com.

Music enrichment

Visit www.amherstpubliclibrary.org for a link to the YouTube channel.

Pick up crafts

Join the Amherst Public Library for a special video with music therapist Hannah Gonzalez at noon on Saturday, April 3.

She will share engaging musical activities for ages nine months to six years.

No registration is required for this program. The video will be available on the Amherst Public Library YouTube channel and can be viewed at any time after the event starts.

Visit the Amherst Public Library for “take and make” craft kits for both kids and adults.

Each kit contains almost everything you need to make a fun craft — all you’ll need to add are basic supplies like glue and scissors.

Beginning Thursday, April 1, kids can pick up a mini windsock kit, and adults can pick up a mini zen garden kit.

Take and make craft kits are available to pick up inside the library or via its curbside pickup service, while supplies last.

"We are thankful to Senator Brown and the members of Congress for recognizing the urgency and the need mayors have to move our cities forward."

The Ohio Mayors Alliance also penned a letter to Yellen on Wednesday, adding the voices of more than two dozen mayors from the state's largest cities to the call for townships to be included.

"Ohio's local governments have and will continue to work together to response (sic) to the COVID-19 pandemic," said the letter, signed by Executive Director Keary McCarthy.

"This cooperation has been essential in mitigating the spread of this virus.

It will also be essential as we emerge from this crisis and begin the process of healing and recovery."

The Ohio Township Association weighed in with yet another letter, saying all local governments across the state need to receive relief.

Being determined ineligible for federal aid would leave townships struggling to recover from the pandemic while other local governments benefit, said Executive Director Heidi Fought.

How deep that need runs, though, varies from community to community.

Penfield Township Trustee Duane Johnson said he would find a way to use American Rescue Plan funds if they come through. However, it was a struggle to find ways to put thousands in CARES Act dollars to use in 2020, he said.

"I hate to say this, but we ran out of ideas when we used up that money," said Johnson. "I hate to say we wouldn't use it, but I'm just not sure how."

Grafton Township Trustee Andrew Weigel and Camden Township Trustee James Hozalski both said funding their small fire departments would be a priority for federal aid.

Not all townships have their own firefighters, but all are required to pay to provide protection, said Trustee Neil Lynch of Amherst Township, which contracts with the city of Amherst for fire coverage.

Should it come through, American Rescue Plan funding would likely go to fire and ambulance costs, he said. It could also potentially be used for larger infrastructure projects — roads, bridges and sewers — over the next couple of years.

The U.S. Treasury was slow to provide clarity last year on how CARES Act money could be spent, and Lynch said he expects the same with regard to 2021 relief.

The American Rescue Plan projections "seem an awful lot larger than what we've lost in revenue," he said, but that doesn't mean Lynch would pass it up if eligible.

He said that if cities and villages get cash, townships should as well.

"That's just an equity issue," he said. "How do you justify one public entity that doesn't receive any funding? That doesn't make any sense, and I'm certain it's not what Congress intended."

TOWNSHIPS

FROM B1 "They would like to have the funds go through for projects," he said. "...

In my opinion, townships are one of the most efficient forms of government, and I'm hoping they get some of the revenue."

When the American Rescue Plan was being considered by the House of Representatives, projections based on 2018 census data showed Lorain County townships could get nearly $15 million. Brownhelm Township stood to be the biggest recipient at more than $1.7 million, and the smallest amount calculated was for Rochester Township at $180,596.

"It's just concerning because (that funding) was in the House bill and then it was removed in the Senate," Williams said. "I know everyone's encouraging township officials to reach out to Sen. Brown, as he's the one who voted for it and find out why it was removed."

Responding to a request for comment, Brown's office said he "helped successfully include more than $350 billion for state and local governments in the American Rescue Plan, funding that Senate Republicans blocked from previous packages."

The statement linked to quotes from officials all over Ohio who praised Brown’s efforts, including Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield.

“With the current and pending loss of revenue to the city of Elyria, the American Rescue Plan is going to help us to keep our first responders and the employees that keep our city clean and safe," Whitfield said.

SCIENCE 101 ACROSS 1. Type of tide 5. Sin over tan 8. Schooner pole 12. Part of temple floor plan 13. Made a basket 14. *Main artery in the body 15. *____-carotene 16. Swear, not curse 17. Reputation-damaging gossip 18. *Physicist of theory of relativity fame 20. Salty drop 21. Turn upside down 22. Mark on Pinterest 23. *Everything around us 26. Porch in ancient Greece 30. Not St. or Blvd.

31. Percussion instrument 34. “Aim High... Fly-Fight-Win” org.

35. Walks like Long John Silver 37. “Dog ____ dog” 38. Like TV or phone in 2021 39. Measuring roll 40. Catch in a net 42. Gorilla or orangutan 43. Pull-over parkas 45. *One of B-vitamins 47. Anger 48. Open disrespect 50. Full of excitement 52. *Explanations that can be tested and verified 55. Words to live by 56. Sword handle 57. Large West African republic 59. “Encore!”

60. Unrivaled 61. From a second-hand store 62. Cleopatra’s necklace 63. Second solfa syllable, pl.

64. Makes stitches DOWN 1. Pick up a perpetrator 2. Dueling weapon in “The Three Musketeers” 3. ____ Spumante 4. Treat for Dumbo 5. Witches’ get-together 6. Egg-shaped 7. Made with stitches

Thursday, April 1, 2021

Lorain County Community Guide

ELECTRIC

FROM B1 the Shaker Heights-based company providing cars and charging stations to Oberlin at a startup cost of $223,000 over five years. He said car-sharing is a way to address the high cost of transportation.

"There are people who pay more of their income for transportation than they do on housing, just because of the way cities are built," he said.

Sway Mobility claims its services save the average user $5,500 per year that would otherwise be put into vehicle payments, gas, insurance and related costs.

It also claims 11 personal vehicles are removed from the road for every car-share vehicle introduced, and every shared car represents a 10 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The first generation of car-sharing was focused on urban areas, where people tend to have more options for how to get around, Peters said.

The next generation is based on making access more equitable, he said. Sway Mobility wants to put services were residents have fewer transportation options.

"We feel that there is a need. The more programs we do like this, the more data we can gather, the more we can show that need exists," Peters said.

He doesn't suspect the Oberlin service will be popular in its first year. If each Nissan is used a couple hours a day, that will be a win.

Eventually, as residents grow comfortable with using them and word of mouth spreads, he'd like to see the Oberlin cars in use 25 percent of the time.

Arbogast said she suspects car-sharing will be used mainly by younger people who tech-savvy. They'll have a leg up when using Sway Mobility's app to sign up for use, schedule times and unlock car doors.

The app and other information about the service can be found at www.swaymobility.com/oberlin-carshare.

As part of the service, three new vehicle charging stations have been installed in Oberlin to "fuel" up electric cars. They can be used by anyone who drives electric vehicles.

There are now three charging stations in the parking lot near Oberlin City Hall on South Main Street, and a fourth at the George Abrams Memorial Pavilion down the road.

There is a fee. An hour's charge plus staff taxes and administrative fees will cost about $1.30.

After months of debate, Oberlin City Council voted 4-3 in October 2020 to contract with Sway Mobility to provide car-sharing.

The city will get half of the revenue generated each year by the service.

Arbogast said car-sharing is meant to complement other public transportation options. The city recently expanded its Lorain County Transit service.

Bus service has expanded and is now available from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Call (800) 406-7541 to schedule a ride. Trips are $2, one way. Discounts are available.

The service area includes the city of Oberlin and portions of New Russia Township, Amherst Township, the city of Amherst, Lorain, Sheffield Township, Elyria and Carlisle Township. Learn more at www.cityofoberlin.com/ oberlin-connector.

DRIVERS

FROM B1 said.

Fellow junior Thomas Hall said he is aware he has bad habits, like playing music. "I go on my phone sometimes and look off the road," he admitted.

Hall said he's been lucky and hasn't paid the consequences for driving while distracted. He said that's not true of a friend who was badly injured, nor of a family member who was in a crash.

"I think what I hope people learn — me too — is just don't do it. One bad thing can ruin your life," Hall said.

Amherst teacher Kim Haney, who set up the distracted driving exercise, said it was part of the 2021 Just Drive PSA Contest held by Impact Teen Drivers. Her students are hoping to win $10,000 for the medical technology program at Steele.

"The number one killer of teens is distracted driving, across the nation," Haney said. "We're just trying to bring this point up, teach why it's important not to text and drive, do your makeup and drive, eat and drive."

8. *Product of mass and velocity of an object 9. *Equals length times width 10. *Alpha Centauri A., e.g.

11. Toni Morrison’s “____ Baby” 13. Like rheumy eyes 14. On the move 19. Four-eyes’ gear 22. Short for “politician” 23. Tiny European republic 24. Type of flu 25. Moderato, e.g.

26. Toupée spot 27. *Scientist Newton 28. *Wrist bones 29. More than occasional 32. Department store depart-

ment 33. “Pow!” 36. *Mendeleev’s ____ table 38. Bake, as in eggs 40. Make bigger 41. Persnickety 44. *Ar, inert gas 46. Bad blood 48. Use a shoe polish 49. *Smallest units of life 50. Jason’s ship 51. Wheel inside old clock 52. God of thunder 53. Alleviate 54. Boatload 55. Tom of “Tom and Jerry” 58. Dog tags

SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE A2

SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE A2

Thursday, April 1, 2021

Lorain County Community Guide

Oberlin opts for outdoor graduation JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — For the second straight year, the COVID-19 pandemic will prevent Oberlin High School seniors from graduating at Finney Chapel, as has long been tradition.

Principal Chris Frank said that, weather permitting, commencement will be instead held on the football field at Langston Middle School at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 29.

"We're going to make it look as nice as pos-

sible and give the kids an experience that's unique," he said. "We've got some surprises in store for kids and families."

In some ways, the ceremony will look conventional — there will be student speakers, and the band will provide music.

But because of the health risks posed by the coronavirus, masks and social distancing will still be required. Frank said families will be given their marked-off squares on the football field to gather and watch students receive diplomas.

Lorain County Health Commissioner David Covell said he's given school superintendents the green light to hold outdoor ceremonies. Unless the situation improves, he is warning against indoor ones, and setting strict limitations on how they can be carried out.

Moving graduations outside will allow for larger groups to take part, Covell said.

"I'm pretty confident in that time frame from April to June is going to get a little more open," he said.

"And June through the rest

of the summer is when we're going to open wide up."

County health officials have urged some types events — large wedding parties, for example — to consider moving to the end of June.

Covell said it's still hard to predict what the public health threat poses by the virus will be by then. While vaccinations are working, as shown by much lower new case counts in recent weeks, he still fears another wave will hit as COVID variants spread.

Page B3

Spring yard waste pick-up

Republic Services will start yard waste pick-up in the city of Amherst on Wednesday, April 14, the same day as monthly bulk item waste pick-up.

Grass clippings and other yard waste should be placed in brown paper bio-degradable bags or loose in 32-gallon plastic cans clearly marked with “yard waste” or “YW” and not to exceed 40 pounds.

Small branches must be cut and bundled not to exceed 4 feet in length or 40 pounds. Plastic bags, dirt, stone or branches larger than six inches in diameter will not be collected. There is no limit to the number of yard waste bags or containers residents may place out each week.

Hunt for egg pictures

The First Church in Oberlin will sponsor an Easter egg picture hunt this year in lieu of a traditional egg hunt, due to COVID-19 safety protocols.

On Saturday, April 3 and Easter Sunday, April 4, pictures of Easter eggs will be found in the windows of some of Oberlin’s downtown vendors. Follow the clues on each picture to make your way to a basket of colorful eggs with a bottle of hand sanitizer beside it.

The basket will be in place from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Happy hunting!

Park clean-up day

A clean-up of Wellington Recreation Park at the end of Johns Street will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 17.

The Wellington United Lions Club and Wellington Hot Stove are asking for volunteers to help pick up trash, pull weeds, spread mulch and more. Community service hours will be available to Wellington High School students looking to fulfill graduation requirements.

Wellington library meeting

The Herrick Memorial Library board of trustees will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 13 via TeamLink.

The meeting link will be posted on the Library’s website on Monday, April 12. This meeting is open to the public.

Adult reading push

LET'S ALL FLY A KITE! Photos by Kristin Bauer | Chronicle

Kendra Cook, 14, and Kaleb Cook, 16, both of Amherst, fly kites while visiting Lakeview Park in Lorain on Wednesday, March 24. They were on spring break and took advantage of the nice weather, vacant beach and wind for kite flying. Strong winds that moved through the region later in the week knocked down trees and caused power outages, but emergency forces described the damage as minor.

Amherst seniors will graduate at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse JASON HAWK EDITOR

AMHERST — Commencement for the Marion L. Steele High School Class of 2021 has been moved to the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Principal Joe Tellier announced Friday.

It will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 22 at the downtown Cleveland venue, pending approval by the Amherst Board of Education.

The decision was made "to make commencement as accessible for as many families as possible," Tellier said. "We can have more people at the Fieldhouse."

The final cost is still being negotiated, but is expected to land between $20,000 and $25,000, he said.

Graduation has been held in recent years — with the exception of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic canceled mass gatherings — at the Cleveland State University Wolstein Center in Cleveland.

Planning for prom

The Marion L. Steele High School senior prom will be held from 6-10 p.m. on Saturday, May 8 at Market Square at Crocker Park, Westlake.

Only Amherst students can attend. Outside guests will not be permitted.

Masks must be worn unless students are seated or eating. Dancing will be allowed as long as students are wearing masks.

Tickets are $75 each and will be on sale April 6-9 in the Steele High School lobby.

The annual Senior Scholastic Awards program for Steele High School students will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11 at German’s Villa, Vermilion.

That setting provided all the seating Amherst families could ask for, with a clear view of the stage below.

But the Wolstein Center

isn't available this year.

It's been commandeered for at least eight weeks for mass vaccination clinics run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Ohio National Guard, and health officials from Cuyahoga County and city of Cleveland. About 6,000 doses are being given there every day.

Amherst Schools Superintendent Steve Sayers said earlier in the week that the district had explored options for other graduation sites. The final options had been narrowed down to Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse and the Comets' home stadium.

There were pros and cons for both sites, he said — weather was the chief concern at the stadium, and cost was the big one in Cleveland.

"There's lots of moving parts, lots of variables that have to be taken into consideration," Sayers said, including set-up and takedown costs, manpower and seating limitations at the stadium.

Tellier said that at the stadium Amherst would have

had to pay for a quality sound system, a temporary stage and other amenities.

"When we started adding it up, Rocket Mortgage was going to be more, but not a crazy amount more," he said.

Details on transportation, parking and safety protocols for the ceremony have yet to be finalized, Tellier said.

The Herrick Memorial Library in Wellington is hosting a virtual “Drop Everything and Read” program for adults through April 24.

Check out items to enter a drawing for a fun prize.

Before returning your checked out items, send an email to brownla@herrickliboh.org with “April drawing” in the subject field. The email should contain your name, phone number and the titles of the books you have read.

All materials must be borrowed using your Herrick Memorial Library card between the given dates, either in person, curbside pick-up or digitally using the Ohio Digital Library (OverDrive) or its Libby app.

Spring story times

Virtual children’s spring story times are being held at the Herrick Memorial Library in Wellington.

These videos are for families with children ages two to six, and for infants and toddlers up to two years old.

Call the library at (440) 647-2120 to register and make arrangements to pick up your weekly story packets either in person or via curbside service. Each weeks’ video link will be posted at www.herrickliboh.org.

‘Driving While Black’

Historian, author and documentarian Gretchen Sullivan Sorin will present “Driving While Black” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13 as a virtual program via the Oberlin Heritage Center.

The presentation is based on Sorin’s book “Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights.” It represents decades of research, interviews, photographs and records that convey both the opportunities and dangers black motorists faced — and continue to face — on the road. From the relief of independent mobility to the hostility of sundown towns and systemic racism, to the automobile as a personal status symbol, to the unique businesses that catered to African American travelers, Sorin takes readers on a road trip of American history, culture, resilience and ingenuity.

The book also formed the basis of the documentary “Driving While Black: Race, Space and Mobility in America,” co-directed by Sorin and Ric Burns. This documentary, which first aired in October 2020, is now available for free public viewing at www.pbs.org.

The book can be purchased at Ben Franklin/MindFair Books and the documentary and book can be borrowed from the Oberlin Public Library.

The Oberlin Heritage Center program will end with an opportunity for viewers to submit questions. Registration is required for this free Zoom program at www.bit. ly/2No73FD. Registrants will receive a confirmation email containing access information.

85 SOUTH MAIN STREET OBERLIN OHIO 44074 APRIL 1, 2021 BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETING DATES ALL MEETINGS WILL BE Live Streamed @ http://oberlinoh.swagit.com/live APRIL 1, 2021 ..................CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION – 5:30 P.M. CANCELED APRIL 1, 2021 ..................SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – 7:00 P.M. RE: For the purpose of adjournment into executive session to discuss pending litigation and to consider the purchase of property for public purposes.

APRIL 5, 2021 ..................REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING – 7:00 P.M. APRIL 6, 2021 ..................HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION – 5:15 P.M. APRIL 7, 2021 ..................PLANNING COMMISSION – 4:30 P.M. 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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Thursday, April 1, 2021

Lorain County Community Guide

Amherst Schools set eyes on bus garage upgrade JASON HAWK EDITOR

AMHERST — A new bus garage could be in the cards for the Amherst Schools.

Architects at Clevelandbased GPD Group are being tapped to start looking at design options, Superintendent Steve Sayers said last

week in a report to the Board of Education.

He said now is the appropriate time to start exploring how the district might expand, upgrade or replace its transportation facility on Washington Street.

"It's obviously a big part of our operation. Without transportation, we don't get kids to and from school," he said.

The bus garage has been rising to the top of the district's priority list the past three to four years, Sayers said.

A year ago, after the new Powers Elementary School opened, it looked like the district was in a financially sound position to build a new transportation center without having to ask voters for fund-

ing, he said. Then came the pandemic, putting any such ideas on hold.

Sayers said educators knew it would be a challenging year. Revenue was projected to take a nosedive, while expenses rose.

But state funding cuts haven't been as bad as feared, Sayers said. Tax income hasn't plummeted. And the

schools have gotten COVID relief aid.

That leaves the Board of Education with options, he said — whether it will choose renovation or construction, move the bus garage or stay put remains to be seen.

In the meantime, the Board of Education voted last week to budget $456,000 for sum-

mer projects.

They include repairs for the Amherst Junior High parking lot, new concrete for the front lot at Marion L. Steele High School, purchase of snow removal equipment, a new mower, a stake bed truck, a van, school bus cameras, an air conditioning compression for the junior high and more.

COVID-19 vaccine providers in Lorain County Charak Center for Health and Wellness 347 Midway Blvd., Suite 210, Elyria (440) 324-5555 www.charakcenter.com CVS Pharmacy 3230 Oberlin Ave., Lorain (440) 282-9189 www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid19-vaccine Discount Drug Mart 110 Chestnut Commons Dr., Elyria (440) 366-6785 www.discount-drugmart.com Discount Drug Mart 12289 Leavitt Rd., Oberlin (440) 774-5212 www.discount-drugmart.com Discount Drug Mart 2253 Colorado Ave., Lorain (440) 288-0191 www.discount-drugmart.com Discount Drug Mart 300 Leavitt Rd., Amherst (440) 984-2439 www.discount-drugmart.com Discount Drug Mart 33382 Walker Rd., Avon Lake (440) 933-2327 www.discount-drugmart.com Discount Drug Mart 33552 Detroit Rd., Avon (440) 937-4510 www.discount-drugmart.com

Discount Drug Mart 4208 Liberty Ave., Vermilion (440) 967-3000 www.discount-drugmart.com

Giant Eagle Pharmacy 31990 Walker Rd., Avon Lake (440) 933-9598 www.gianteagle.com/covidvaccine

Discount Drug Mart 500 Abbe Rd., Elyria (440) 365-8319 www.discount-drugmart.com

Giant Eagle Pharmacy 320 Market Dr., Elyria (440) 324-1742 www.gianteagle.com/covidvaccine

Discount Drug Mart 5298 Detroit Rd., Sheffield (440) 934-3840 www.discount-drugmart.com

LaGrange Pharmacy 540 North Center St., LaGrange (440) 613-1300 www.tinyurl.com/LaGrangePharmacy

Discount Drug Mart 814 North Main St., Wellington (440) 647-6634 www.discount-drugmart.com

Lorain County Health and Dentistry 1205 Broadway, Lorain (440) 240-2121 www.lorainhealth-dentistry.org

Giant Eagle Pharmacy 34325 Center Ridge Rd., North Ridgeville (440) 327-8085 www.gianteagle.com/covidvaccine Giant Eagle Pharmacy 2201 Kresge Dr., Amherst (440) 282-7651 www.gianteagle.com/covidvaccine Giant Eagle Pharmacy 5231 Detroit Rd.,Sheffield (440) 934-5377 www.gianteagle.com/covidvaccine Giant Eagle Pharmacy 4453 Liberty Ave., Vermilion (440) 967-1220 www.gianteagle.com/covidvaccine

Marcs Pharmacy 34800 Center Ridge Rd., North Ridgeville (440) 353-1601 www.marcs.com Marcs Pharmacy 170 Sheffield Center, Lorain (440) 233-7874 www.marcs.com Midview Drug Pharmacy 35053 Royalton Rd., Grafton (440) 748-2137 www.midviewdrug.com Rite Aid 267 North Main St., Wellington (440) 647-2121 www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-

qualifier • Rite Aid 4106 East Lake Rd., Sheffield Lake (440) 949-6239 www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covidqualifier

www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covidqualifier Sam's Club Pharmacy 5225 Cobblestone Rd., Sheffield (440) 934-4310 www.samsclub.com

• Rite Aid 479 Main St., Grafton (440) 926-2126 www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covidqualifier

Southside Pharmacy 2811 Fulton Rd., Lorain (440) 277-0655 www.facebook.com/Southside-Pharmacy-147446308616344

• Rite Aid 142 Broad St., Elyria (440) 322-7780 www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covidqualifier

Walgreens 33760 Center Ridge Rd., North Ridgeville (440) 327-1330 www.walgreens.com

• Rite Aid 4580 Liberty Ave., Vermilion (440) 967-2018 www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covidqualifier

Walgreens 5411 Leavitt Rd., Lorain (440) 960-7225 www.walgreens.com

• Rite Aid 2709 Broadway, Lorain (440) 244-1950 www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covidqualifier • Rite Aid 2853 Grove Ave., Lorain (440) 277-6181 www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covidqualifier • Rite Aid 100 South Leavitt Rd., Amherst (440) 244-0593

Walgreens 32798 Walker Rd., Avon Lake (440 930-5873 www.walgreens.com Walgreens 2730 Broadway, Lorain (440) 244-0593 www.walgreens.com Walmart Pharmacy 35901 Chester Rd., Avon (440) 937-4760 www.walmart.com/store/5066-avon-oh Ohio Department of Health

POLICE REPORTS AMHERST

• March 7 at 1:26 a.m.: Dominic Jones, 32, of LaGrange, was arrested on a felony warrant through the Lorain County Sheriff's Office. The original charge was domestic violence.

• March 7 at 7:04 p.m.: Roger Mincey, 36, of Elyria, was arrested on a felony secret indictment warrant through the Lorain County Sheriff's Office. He was wanted on charges of rape complicity, pandering sexually oriented matter, endangering children, gross sexual imposition, compelling prostitution and attempted pandering obscenity. Mincey was also charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

• March 7 at 8:26 p.m.: Paul Parker, 25, of Lorain, was arrested on a warrant through the Elyria Police Department for failure to appear in court to face drug charges.

• March 8 at 8:46 a.m.: Officers responded to a report of a recovered firearm at Enterprise REnt-ACar on Route 58.

• March 8 at 10:35 a.m.: A 16-year-old Amherst girl was charged with possession of marijuana and unruliness following an investigation at Amherst Steele High School.

• March 8 at 8:41 p.m.: Christopher Barnes, 38, of Lorain, was arrested on a warrant through the Lorain Police Department. The original charge was intimidation, including stalking.

• March 10 at 10 p.m.: Dalton Stackpole, 19, of Oberlin, was charged with open container and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

• March 13 at 12:19 a.m.: Officers made a welfare check at a Greenlawn Drive residence where there had been a domestic dispute.

• March 13 at 1:06 p.m.: Stephanie Zilka, 33, of Lorain, was arrested on a warrant through the Lorain Police Department. The original charge was petty theft.

• March 13 at 8:35 p.m.: Christian Beltran, 19, of Lorain, was charged with improperly handling

firearms in a motor vehicle, carrying concealed weapons, possession of marijuana, speeding and display of lights.

• March 14 at 12:10 a.m.: Timothy Hermann, 31, of Vermilion, was arrested on two warrants through the Amherst Police Department — one for failure to report to jail on charges of theft, criminal damaging and disorderly conduct, and another for failure to appear in court on an assault charge.

• March 14 at 12:12 a.m.: Travis Small, 29, of Lorain, was served with a warrant for failure to comply with the terms of community control. The original charge was violation of a protection order.

• March 14 at 12:07 p.m.: A television was reported stolen from Days Inn on Route 58.

• March 14 at 4:15 p.m.: A 13-year-old Amherst boy was charged with aggravated menacing following an incident on the Nord Middle School playground.

• March 14 at 7:18 p.m.: Benjamin Herman, 64, of Lorain, was arrested on a warrant through the Lorain Police Department. The original charge was assault.

• March 14 at 7:40 p.m.: Jasmine Washington, 25, of Lorain, was arrested on a warrant through the Amherst Police Department for failure to appear in court. The original charges were driving under suspension and display of plates.

• March 15 at 6:10 p.m.: A woman said she needed help because she and her cihldren had experienced ongoing sexual abuse.

She was taken to the hospital for evaluation.

• March 15 at 8:27 p.m.: Gregory O'Connor, 53, of Elyria, was arrested on a warrant through the North Ridgeville Police Department. The original charge was failure to comply. The registration of the vehicle he was driving also indicated there might be a missing endangered female out of Elyria associated with the vehicle.

• March 16 at 11:37 a.m.: A Ver-

milion resident allegedly attempted to deposit a counterfeit $100 bill into his account at LorMet Credit Union on Cooper Foster Park Road.

• March 17 at 1:59 a.m.: John Diggins, 30, of Elyria, was served with a warrant through the Amherst Police Department for failure to appear in court on traffic charges.

• March 17, time undisclosed by police: A woman suffered a serious medical emergency that caused her lose motor functions while driving.

She went off Route 58 and struck a Route 2 sign.

• March 18 at 1:05 a.m.: Christina Heimann, 47, of Elyria, was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, blood-alcohol content over .08, weaving and failure to stop at a stop sign.

• March 19 at 7:11 p.m.: Nathan Elbert, 18, of South Amherst, was charged with possession of marijuana.

• March 19 at 8:28 p.m.: Kaia Jones, 18, abd Aliya White, 20, both of Ypsilanti, Michigan, were charged with underage possession and possession of marijuana.

• March 19 at 8:28 p.m.: An older man reported being the victim of a scam call related to Social Security.

• March 19 at 11:09 p.m.: Paige Ubil, 21, of National Park, New Jersey, was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

• March 20 at 4:04 p.m.: Brianna Thomas, 25, of Sheffield Lake, was served with a warrant through the Amherst Police Department for failure to appear in court on a fraud charge.

• March 20 at 7:05 p.m.: Arley Nichols, 59, of Lorain, was arrested on a warrant through Lorain County 911. The original charge was gross sexual imposition.

• March 20 at 7:09 p.m.: A 10-year-old child was taken for a mental health evaluation.

• March 20 at 8:01 p.m.: Jacob Merrell, 27, of Elyria, was arrested on a warrant through the Geauga County Sheriff's Office for contempt of court. The origi-

nal charge was speeding.

• March 20 at 8:20 p.m.: Denver Malcomb III, 28, of Lorain, was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• March 20 at 10:05 p.m.: A 46-year-old man died after going into cardiac arrest at a Franklin Avenue home.

• March 20 at 11:20 p.m.: Officers responded to a North Quarry Road residence for a domestic dispute.

OBERLIN

• March 9 at 2:06 a.m.: Zachery Thomas, 22, of Oberlin, was arrested on suspicion of burglary at the request of the North Ridgeville Police Department. He was first taken to Mercy Health Allen Hospital for medical attention because he allegedly took acid.

• March 11 at 4:35 p.m.: A woman said her son was assaulted in their yard on Maple Street. The fight was allegedly motivated by insults directed at an autistic child. Assault charges were recommended to the Lorain County Juvenile Court for parties on both sides of the fight.

• March 12 at 3:28 p.m.: Mayra Rosello, 50, of Wellington, was charged with shoplifting following a complaint at Walmart on US Route 20.

• March 14 at 10:30 a.m.: A grinder with suspected marijuana in it was turned over to police by Oberlin College security.

WELLINGTON

• March 6 at 5:29 a.m.: A juvenile boy was reported as missing.

• March 7 at 1:54 a.m.: Kyle Hobbs, 26, of Wellington, was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, blood alcohol content over .08 percent and failure to maintain a clear assured distance ahead.

• March 9 at 11:56 a.m.: A man said he was at the American Legion on South Main Street when

a man approached and threatened to assault him. The previous night, the suspect's wife had approached and accused the man of talking badly about her behind her back.

• March 9 at 1:23 p.m.: A woman reported there was glass broken in her driveway and her Cornerstone Avenue home was egged.

• March 9 at 3:09 p.m.: A woman said she was the victim of theft. She reported $11,819 worth of lottery tickets stolen.

• March 12 at 10:56 p.m.: Dustin Phillips, 28, of Wellington, was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

• March 13 at 9:11 a.m.: A 40-year-old Wakeman woman was allegedly acting suspicious in a car outside O'Reilly Auto Parts on Route 58. Illegal narcotics were recovered from her vehicle, according to police.

• March 13 at 5:11 p.m.: Following a crash into a guard rail on Jones Road, Olivia Platt, 29, of Lorain, was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, blood alcohol content .17 percent or greater and failure to control.

• March 15 at 9:35 a.m.: A 70-year-old woman reported being the victim of a scam in which a caller impersonated a law enforcement officer. She reported $30,000 stolen.

• March 16 at 3:05 p.m.: During a wellness check on Maple Street, officers found a 69-yearold woman deceased.

• March 16 at 5:59 p.m.: Officers responded to Courtland Street for a drug overdose. After receiving naloxone, the man was taken to the hospital. Officers located and seized suspected drugs.

• March 16 at 9:53 p.m.: Tyler Goetz, 21, of New London, was arrested on a warrant through the Norwalk Police Department for failure to appear in court.

Editor's note: Though charged, defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Thursday, April 1, 2021

SPORTS

Lorain County Community Guide

Page B5

Send sports news to news@lcnewspapers.com. Deadline for all submissions is 10 a.m. each Tuesday. Printed as space is available.

SUNNY SATURDAY SEASON OPENER

SPRING SLUGGERS

Photos by Joe Colon | Amherst News-Times

Jake Armbruster pitched a 5-2 win for Amherst in Saturday's season opener, allowing four hits and striking out four Elyria batters.

Alden Steele crossed the plate twice for Amherst and Graham Solak racked up two RBIs. Additional Comets runs came from Dylan Bailey and Blake Kendall, and Josh Qualls contributed an RBI. ABOVE: Amherst's Dylan Bailey applies the tag for the out against Elyria RIGHT: Amherst Graham Solak looks to make contact against Elyria in the home opener.

Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

Spring has arrived, and Dukes softball scrimmage action started last week with a 4-3 loss to Edison. The Wellington girls' first official game of the season is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday, April 5 at Clearview. ABOVE: Brooke Noss connects on an Edison pitch. BELOW: Wellington’s Payton Regal stretches to get the out against Edison.

PANTHERS RUN UP SCORE Russ Gifford | Enterprise

The Dukes softball team was dealt a 10-2 loss Saturday by the Elyria Catholic Panthers.

RIGHT: Wellington's Jenna Passadyn prepares a bunt against Elyria Catholic.

Help Protect Your Family’s Inheritance

PHOENIX SUFFER SHUTOUT

You might contribute to your IRA for decades to help pay for your retirement.

But if you don’t need all the money, you may want to leave what’s left to your children or grandchildren. However, if you want to ensure they get the most from this inheritance, you’ll need to do some planning.

Here’s a little background: Up until a couple of years ago, when you left the proceeds of your IRA to your beneficiaries, they could choose to “stretch” required withdrawals over a long period, based on their life expectancies. These required withdrawals were generally taxable, so this “stretch IRA” allowed your beneficiaries to greatly reduce the annual taxes due, while benefiting from longer tax-deferred growth potential. And the younger the beneficiary, the longer the life expectancy and the lower the withdrawals, so this technique would have been especially valuable for your grandchildren or even great-grandchildren.

Changes in laws affecting retirement accounts have significantly limited the stretch IRA strategy. Now, most nonspouse beneficiaries must withdraw all assets from the IRA within 10 years of the IRA owner’s death. The beneficiary generally does not have to take out any money during that 10-year period, but at the end of it, the entire balance must be withdrawn – and that could result in a pretty big tax bill.

The stretch IRA strategy can still be used for surviving spouses, beneficiaries who are no more than 10 years younger than the deceased IRA owner, and beneficiaries who are chronically ill or disabled. Minor children of the original account owner are also eligible for a stretch IRA – but only until they reach the age of majority, at which time the 10year rule applies. So, if you want to leave

your IRA to family members who don’t meet any of the above exceptions, what can you do?

One possibility is a Roth IRA conversion. You could convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA over your lifetime, so your heirs would receive the Roth IRA. They would still be required to withdraw the assets within 10 years, but unlike with a traditional IRA, Roth IRA withdrawals are generally tax-free. These conversions are taxable, so you’ll want to consult your tax professional in addition to your financial advisor, to determine if this strategy can help you achieve your legacy goals.

Another option is to purchase life insurance, which can provide a specific dollar amount to your heirs or be used to help cover additional taxes. This may be especially advantageous if you are 72 or older, in good health, and taking withdrawals – technically called required minimum distributions – from your retirement accounts, such as your traditional IRA and your 401(k). If you don’t really need the money, you can use these withdrawals to pay for some or all of the insurance premiums. Life insurance can’t replace an IRA as a means to save for retirement, though, so you should consult with your financial advisor to make sure you are working toward all your goals.

In any case, if you have a sizable IRA or you don’t need the funds that you’re required to take from your retirement accounts, you may want to start thinking about what you want to do with the money. The more thorough your legacy planning, the better your chances of meeting your legacy goals.

This article was written by EdwardJones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Michael E. Verda AAMS Financial Adviser 12289 Leavitt Rd. Suite E. Oberlin, OH 44074 Bus.: 440-774-4625 Fax: 866-486-8146

Steve Schmittle

mike.verda@edwardjones.com

steve.schmittle@edwardjones.com

Financial Adviser 20 South Main Street Oberlin, OH 44074-1627 Bus.: 440-775-4357 Fax: 888-204-0352 Fax: 800-755-4944

Erik Andrews| Oberlin News-Tribune

Jeremy Sanchez looks to stop a Patriots runner. It could be a bumpy ride this season for the Oberlin Phoenix varsity baseball team. It opened Saturday with an 11-0 loss to Open Door.

OH-70097431

Member SIPC

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Thursday, April 1, 2021

Lorain County Community Guide

© 2021 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 37, No. 17

Doodling with the Alphabet Bebe Bunny loves to start with a letter of the alphabet and see what kind of drawing she can make from it. Here’s what she made using the letter B. 1.

3.

G

2.

4.

This is how Bebe transformed the letter F. 1.

2.

rab your crayons and let’s have some drawing fun!

Phone Doodles

Bart Bunny likes to doodle when he’s talking on the phone. See if you can find: ❏ 3 pizza slices ❏ 2 rockets ❏ 5 carrots ❏ 4 bunnies ❏ a baseball ❏ 2 birds Did Bart doodle more stars or more flowers?

Bella Bunny drew some different lines. She made a picture out of the first one.

Work with a family member to see what you can make out of the other lines.

Give it a try! Create pictures using these letters. Remember that you can turn the letters sideways or upside down.

3.

4.

Eggs-actly Alike

Barb Bunny used markers to create colorful Easter eggs.

Can you make an exact duplicate of each egg?

How many eggs can you find on this page?

Half & Half

Can you draw the other half of Bixby Bunny?

Springtime Search

Find these things in the newspaper: • a number greater than a million • a face with glasses • something to play with • a happy word • a symbol of spring BORING BOUQUET: This flower is a little blah. Use crayons to add a big bunch of beautiful blooms to this bouquet!

THE ART OF PATTERNS: Draw the art supply that should come next in each row to continue the pattern.

TRANSFORM ALPHABET CRAYONS DOODLE TURN HALF BUNNY REWRITE FUN DRAW TRY PHONE FACE BLOOMS PLAY

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

Children are born curious.

From their earliest days, sensory exploration brings delight and wonder. New discoveries expand their minds. When they unlock the joy of reading, their world widens further.

Magic happens.

Kid Scoop opens the doors of discovery for elementary school children by providing interactive, engaging and relevant age-appropriate materials designed to awaken the magic of reading at school, at home, and throughout their lives.

For more information about our literacy non-profit, visit kidscoopnews.org

F M C N E L D O O D

P A R R K W N T E W

B P C O A U R U N A L L H E F Y D R O R

O A Z A N S O N H D O Y B N L V N N P I

M K U O J F T A S G S B E T I R W E R I

W V A L P H A B E T Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognize identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

This week’s word:

TRANSFORM

The verb transform means to change the form, shape or look of something.

Stacy was able to transform a cardboard box into a cool rocket ship with construction paper, markers and tape.

Try to use the word transform in a sentence today when talking with your friends and family members.

Which Am I? Play this game with a buddy. Player one picks

a story or picture in the newspaper. Player two asks “yes” or “no” questions until correctly identifying the story or picture.

ANSWER: So they can draw blood.

Standards Link: Language Arts: Understand the main idea or message.

Which part of a chocolate bunny do you eat first?

Why?