Lorain County Community Guide - April 2, 2020 by Lorain County Printing and Publishing

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AMHERST NEWS-TIMES • OBERLIN NEWS-TRIBUNE • WELLINGTON ENTERPRISE Thursday, April 2, 2020

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FROM THE EDITOR

Everybody’s hurting right now. We are too — the newsroom has been working overtime to cover the coronavirus crisis without exposing our own loved ones to danger and, just like you, while juggling parental duties. Trust me, we’re running a little ragged, and we wish we could be covering spring sports, Jason Hawk new businesses, exciting plans for development, Easter egg hunts and gearing up for my favorite time of the year — high school graduation season. Instead, we’re staring down COVID-19 deaths and economic devastation. With an indefinite stay-athome period looming and our advertising partners handcuffed by the crisis, we unfortunately have to scale back our page count for at least a few weeks. I’m still avidly pursuing Amherst, Oberlin and Wellington-area stories as priority number one, and I hope you can bear with the changes for a short while. If you have good news to share, I’m desperate to hear and share it. Reach out to me at news@lcnewspapers.com and together let’s remind folks that we are at our best when we work together.

Volume 7, Issue 14

INSIDE 'INCIDENT COMMAND'

First COVID-19 deaths reported in Lorain County How county health workers are tracking and attacking COVID-19

Photos by Jason Hawk | Wellington Enterprise

Ali Corrigan, a member of Lorain County Public Health's epidemiology team, fields calls from hospitals about coronavirus cases.

JASON HAWK EDITOR

An 80-year-old woman was the first person in Lorain County to die of COVID-19. She had been hospitalized due to coronavirus complications, but had no underlying medical conditions, according to a statement Sunday afternoon from Lorain County Public Health. The woman did not become sick due to travel. She acquired the virus through community spread. “On behalf of the entire county, we express our deepest sympathies to her family and friends,” said Health Commissioner David Covell. “We have been working tirelessly responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to reach out to all known close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases to make sure we help prevent the spread of this disease, as well as ensure that the public has up-to date and reliable information,” he said. The health agency did not disclose which local community the woman lived in or where she had been treated. DEATHS PAGE A2

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JASON HAWK EDITOR

ELYRIA — The local "incident command center" for COVID-19 isn't a bunker with armed guards. There's no giant wall of computer read-outs, no flashing lights, no big red panic button in the center of the room. At Lorain County Public Health on Murray Ridge Road, there are a lot of people fielding phone calls in hushed tones. In a glass-walled office on the first floor, Ali Corrigan was on the phone last Wednesday as one member of a team that helps confirm coronavirus cases. At that moment, there were 29 local residents known to have the virus. Within a few hours, the number had risen to 38. By Monday, the number

In most cases, that's where the concern ends. People who spent time with the secondary contacts don't also have to be quarantined — unless they, too, start to show fever, cough and difficulty breathing. TRACKING TRENDS About five new cases were being discovered each day, though that has since increased. A large portion of Lorain County's cases have come from Avon Lake. Covell said that doesn't mean the city is a "cluster" or any more dangerous than any other town — it just means that's where a lot of tests have been done. He has refused to pinpoint how many cases are in each city, saying Lorain County residents should assume they are everywhere. COMMAND PAGE A3

Schools now closed through May 1 JASON HAWK EDITOR

Kids aren't going back to class Monday. Expecting a surge in hospital admissions and deaths from COVID-19 to peak in May, state officials have ordered school closures to extend through at least May 1. Gov. Mike DeWine acknowledged last week that students may not return to school at all this academic

year, though he's left the door open. "It would be wishful thinking" to believe Ohio students are going back to school this year, Lorain County Health Commissioner David Covell told us last week. School superintendents seem to operating under the same assumptions. AMHERST Amherst Superintendent Steve Sayers. He said teachers and ad-

ministrators are preparing for several scenarios that could play out. Steele High School Principal Joe Tellier has already reached out to Cleveland State University to check on moving graduation into June or July. There are few answers on that front, Sayers said. "Everybody — staff, students, parents — they just want to know," he said. "It's just a tough, tough time." Teachers sent digital devices home with every

student in grades three to 12. Some younger students also have those devices, though their lessons are less tech-oriented. Children are expected to use home internet access to complete assignments. Lessons are delivered on the cloud and through videos, though in most cases, they're not being taught live because home situations and schedules are different. SCHOOLS PAGE A2

INSIDE THIS WEEK

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had doubled again. That day, Health Commissioner David Covell said there were about 100 other people under a 14-day quarantine David Covell because they'd had direct contact with those known to be infected. An epidemiology team is assigned to trace back those secondary contacts — usually a spouse and kids who live with the patient. Covell said sometimes the ring can include co-workers from offices with tight quarters, or folks who share a car.

Amherst

Oberlin

Wellington

First four COVID-19 cases on same day • B1

Quarantine separates one couple on birthday • B1

Cards for kids who are shut in during the crisis • B3

OBITUARIES A2 • CLASSIFIEDS B2 • KID SCOOP B4

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School construction starts on Pleasant JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Pandemic or not, construction is underway this week on Oberlin's new elementary school. An emergency Board of Education meeting was held last week to approve contracts related to the PK-5 building. Seated far from each other, board members quickly approved nearly $258,000 to demolish the vacant Pleasant Street School. Contractors were set to begin underground work yesterday after press time on the property just south of Oberlin High School, where the $15 million school will be built. Superintendent David Hall and district Treasurer Robert Rinehart said a service road is being built around the site, allowing North Park Street to remain open during construction. A concrete foundation can't be poured until later — Rinehart said it will be part of the next bid package the board approves, allowing the structural work to begin June 1. A meeting is set for May 19 to vote on structural contracts. "If we want to get the building open by August of 2021, we have to get our steel ordered," Rinehart said. School board President Albert Borroni said Oberlin can't afford to delay the opening of the new school, and he doesn't want to make students move in mid-year. He also acknowledged that the global health crisis could force those types of hard decisions. "Things change daily," he said. "We just have to be flexible and do our best."

OBITUARIES JAMES "JIM" RICHARD NICHOLAS, 82, of Elyria, passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at Town Center Main Street in Avon Lake after a lengthy illness. Arrangements by Hempel Funeral Home. MARIE MORROW (nee Hardwick), 91, longtime resident of South Amherst, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, March 28, 2020 following a full and meaningful life. Arrangements by Hempel Funeral Home.

A WEEK OF DEVELOPMENTS Thursday Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton predicted a “surge” at some point to 6,000 to 8,000 new COVID-19 cases per day, and worried that hospitals would be overwhelmed. Ohio will need millions more masks, gloves and respirators, she said — N-95 masks are especially needed. Friday Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 197, the Ohio coronavirus relief bill, which will waive state tests in K-12 schools this year, temporarily suspend parts of the Ohio Open Meetings Act and move the income tax deadline to July 15. Sen. Rob Portman announced the congressional "rescue package" authorizing $2 trillion to help keep

One other Lorain County resident had died by Tuesday. As of press time, there were 82 local cases confirmed, affecting patients ages 22 to 93. Of those, 21 were hospitalized, according to figures released by the state. Across Ohio, there were 2,199 confirmed cases, 585 hospitalizations, 198 intensive care unit admissions and 55 deaths. Covell said COVID-19 is spreading in all Lorain County communities.

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Residents need to stay home, keep a distance of at least six feet from each other, cover our coughs and wash our hands, he said. U.S. Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown, along with all Ohio members of the House of Representatives, have sent a letter urging President Donald Trump to act swiftly on approval of a major disaster declaration for the state. This status will open a new funding resource through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to

FROM A1 Teachers have established "office hours" by video chat to communicate with parents.

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Sunday DeWine expressed frustration over the FDA's unwillingness to fast-track approval of Battelle’s technology for medical masks, which ultimately came late that day. Lewis Von Thaer, CEO of Battelle, said masks can now be cleaned and reused

up to 20 times without affecting their integrity, with capacity for 80,000 units per day. Monday DeWine announced that K-12 schools will be closed through May 1. "This is a problem not of our making, but it is a problem you have all stepped up to and are doing a great job,” he said, praising teachers. Ohio prisons are being used to manufacture protective gear. They will be able to make 44,000 hospital gowns as well as up to two million low-grade face masks. They will also make hand sanitizer and face shields. Maj. Gen. John Harris Jr. said the Ohio National Guard will be in uniform in your communities in increasing numbers in the near future.

help the state respond to the coronavirus outbreak. “COVID-19 has created significant and unprecedented challenges for state and local governments, businesses, individuals, and families in Ohio. The state and local governments do not have the capacity to sufficiently respond to this major disaster, and therefore, additional federal assistance is necessary to supplement response and recovery efforts,” wrote the delegation.

SCHOOLS

CLEAN AIR

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Saturday Sen. Sherrod Brown said no one should lose their home or be evicted during this crisis. He urged President Donald Trump to use the Defense Production Act

to get hospitals the protective gear supply they need. DeWine announced that Columbus-based Battelle had developed a machine to sterilize used personal protective gear. He made a public appeal to the FDA for approval, saying health workers desperately need proper protection. DeWine also said hospitals in eight regions across Ohio submitted reports about how to build up resources and prepare for a surge in COVID-19 admissions.

DEATHS

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people at work, provide assistance to those who have lost their jobs and provide funding for health care providers. People are self-employed or independent contractors will now be able to get unemployment. Dewine revealed a new set of predictions by the Cleveland Clinic, showing hospital admissions increasing dramatically in early April. It called for a 100 to 200 percent increase in hospital bed capacity. Acton also increased her dire outlook, saying Ohio could soon have 10,000 new cases per day.

FROM A1

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Thursday, April 2, 2020

Lorain County Community Guide

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OBERLIN Superintendent David Hall said he is weighing any number of contingency plans if the school year is cut short. For example, he's floating the idea of summer school sessions to help students pick up credits where needed. Commencement plans are up in the air, and Hall said he is worried that 2020 could be the year without a traditional graduation ceremony for roughly 70 seniors. He has some alternatives in mind — Oberlin High School could hold a "social distancing" ceremony, going door-to-door. "Maybe we could have a team go to houses with a camera and do a kind of drive-by ceremony," he said. "That way everyone could still celebrate." "For seniors, this is a trying time, with prom and graduation on the line," he said. "My daughter's a senior, and I know how hard it is for her. This was

supposed to be her time." In the meantime, teachers have distributed homework packets to students to work on remotely. They continue to deliver lunches and homework as needed, Hall said. WELLINGTON A streaming-only graduation ceremony could be in the cards for Wellington seniors if Ohio's stay-athome order isn't lifted by May 31, said Superintendent Ed Weber. He is also looking at June backup dates for an in-person ceremony. "We certainly want to have the ceremony for students, and we'll do whatever we can to make that happen while honoring the governor's orders," Weber said. He's also eyeing alternatives for the senior prom, which is scheduled for May 9 at Tom's Country Place in Avon. Given health officials' dire predictions, that date is likely to be canceled. Weber said Wellington High School Principal Tina Drake is meeting with student council and senior class officers via video conferencing to get feedback on how

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to move forward with some kind of prom. "Those are such milestones for kids. We want to do whatever we can to make sure they still have that," Weber said. For the Class of 2020, there won't be another chance to enjoy senior traditions, he said. But there are also traditions at other grade levels — dances, parties and field days — that will be missed. Weber said students had been looking forward to the chance to prove themselves on the baseball and softball diamonds. More than 100 kids had signed up for track and field, and were ready to cut the ribbon on the brandnew Dukes track on Dickson Street. Most disappointing in Weber's mind is the loss of a chance for Wellington to prove itself. End-of-year state testing has already been waived by the Ohio General Assembly. That may be a relief for students, but Weber said he had expected the results to show the district has turned a corner and is improving dramatically. "We were so confident we were going to be able to prove to the state and federal government that our schools are back," he said. Teachers are busy planning to keep homework rolling through the end of the academic year. Weber said sending review work home was the easy part — now teachers have to figure out how to meet fourth quarter objectives on areas that haven't been covered yet in a classroom setting. To help reach those educational goals, he hopes to host some online events to get parents on board with remote learning goals.

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Thursday, April 2, 2020

Lorain County Community Guide

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National Guard, Second Harvest work to feed hungry LAINA YOST THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

LORAIN — A line of cars wound around Broadway to Black River Landing for food as Second Harvest, partnered with the National Guard, handed out prepacked boxes of goods last week. As the line grew longer, a second truck from Second Harvest pulled up with more boxes of food. Julie Chase-Morefield, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio, said the number of cars was only a snapshot of the need the food bank has seen in the past couple weeks. Guard members wore masks and gloves as they packed up cars. Boxes upon boxes of food were at different stations along two aisles, so cars could drive through without anyone getting out. Gov. Mike DeWine ordered the Ohio National Guard on March 18 to deploy to 12 food banks in the state. "Some of food pantries have closed because a lot of our volunteers are in the high-risk population," Chase-Morefield said. "... We are trying to absorb some of that need, but also we're seeing so many more people who are coming to the distributions." Half of the people seeking food in recent weeks have been "new," she said, signaling the need has doubled from what it normally is. Two weeks ago, the organization distributed 450,000 pounds of food. That's six times the amount it usually hands out in a week, Chase-Morefield said. Semi loads of food have been coming in every day. It's been a "constant flow of food in and out," Chase-Morefield said. Second Harvest made the decision to lock down its facility in Lorain and not allow volunteers or visitors inside. ChaseMorefield said there normally are 3,000 different volunteers throughout the year. Now every volunteer group schedule has been canceled. Most of the people who went in during the day were in a high-risk group, Chase-Morefield said. There were 50 to 70 different

people going into the facility the prior week, Chase-Morefield said, but in order to protect the 25 staff members working, she shut down the building. Only staff members and Guard members have been allowed inside the warehouse. Fifteen Guard members who deployed out of Cleveland have been at Second Harvest since last Monday, unloading semis, packing food and on Wednesday, distributing it to families. Commander of the 237 Brigade Support Battalion Greg Boyes said the Guard members volunteered to serve the local food bank. "It's an extreme honor and privilege to serve the community we live in because 99 percent of these soldiers live in the greater Cleveland area," he said. "So, they're literally serving their co-workers, their neighbors, their relatives. It's a privilege to do this." "We can't say enough about what they've been able to do to increase our capacity and our ability just to be able to host this," Chase-Morefield said. "We wouldn't be able to do this without them." The need isn't likely to end anytime soon for Second Harvest. Chase-Morefield said she is looking at 12 to 18 months of a continued significant amount of need as people slowly get back into the workforce. Boyes said that many of the Guard members themselves don't know if they'll have a job once they are finished with the Guard assignment. But still, he said they jumped at the opportunity to serve. As cars drove through the line and drove off, drivers and passengers waved their hands out the window in a show of gratitude. "Anything the volunteers did, our soldiers are doing," Boyes said. "They are volunteers... It's awesome when you get people who want to do this." Kristin Bauer | Chronicle

PHOTOS: The Ohio Army National Guard partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank and the Lorain Port Authority to pass out food to Lorain County residents in need at Black River Landing in Lorain.'

COMMAND

FROM A1 Whether Gov. Mike DeWine's stay-at-home order is the silver bullet that will keep cases from exploding is also impossible to tell, for now. "We'll know that in a few weeks, and even better in retrospect," Covell said. There are some good signs — the very first group of "cured" Lorain County residents left quarantine last Wednesday. The same day, a team of nurses worked the phones, checking on others still under quarantine. With help from school nurses, they also fielded questions from scared residents with "light" symptoms, helping determine who needed to visit a hospital and who should stay in bed. Callers are worried, often stressed to the breaking point. Covell said his team is "really good about destressing situations." ENFORCEMENT Another team is tasked with making sure Lorain County businesses comply with state orders to close. As widespread business shutdowns went into effect last Tuesday by state order, LCPH received 171 calls, most from businesses posing compliance questions. Covell said many were unsure whether they're "essential" and allowed to keep operating under Ohio's stay-at-home order. The only one Covell's crew had to buckle down

on was an Avon massage parlor, he said. Some others have been stretching logic to get around closing — "Landscapers are trying to argue cutting the grass is essential," Covell said. "Some of the businesses are just barely listed as essential," he said. "Of course, you'd hope most would say, 'We have enough stock in place' and call it a day. But they're worried. They're going to lay off a lot of people who are going to go home and be out of work." LCPH fielded a slew of complaints last week about Green Circle Growers in Camden Township, which is remaining open. Covell said the greenhouse, one of the largest in North America, qualifies for an exemption under the state closure order because it's an agricultural entity. He said the company is operating responsibly, sending home many employees and keeping those who remained separated from each other. A MARATHON Covell said his staff felt the situation was under control but that could change at any moment. He's split his workforce, with workers going on and off duty each Tuesday to stay fresh for the "marathon." "What we've learned since 2001 is if you try to have everybody handling every-

thing all at once, they'll all be burned out pretty fast," Covell said. The operation on Murray Ridge Road has slowly ramped up over the past three months. At first, health officials were waiting to see whether COVID-19 is as deadly and contagious as early reports indicated. It's turned out to be as infectious as feared. "The good news is it's not as deadly as SARS or MRSA," Covell said. "The bad news is it's more deadly than the flu." The challenge has been trying to communicate the danger to the public without causing a panic. Covell said some people still don't understand the life-and-death stakes, while others have gone overboard, buying up toilet paper and wiping out grocery store shelves. A 30-year veteran of the public health arena, Covell said he's to people only acknowledging the threat of a disease when they need his office desperately. STAYING SUPPLIED Covell believes Ohio is in for at least five more weeks in the danger zone. Dr. Amy Actor, director of the Ohio Department of Health, has said time and again she expects the disease to reach its peak between late April and mid-May. To keep up with coronavirus cases, and keep hospital staff safe, Lorain County is getting some

Juston Carpenter conducts "viral surveillance," analyzing data to figure out how COVID-19 is spreading. 3,000 N-95 respirator masks from the national emergency stockpile. The stockpile last helped supply local health workers during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic — the swine flu scare — which was luckily contained before exploding the same way COVID-19 has. Echoing DeWine's words, Covell insisted that when the pandemic is over, America needs to make sure emergency protective gear is produced here. A big part of the problem is that China makes most of our equipment. So when the outbreak started in Wuhan, China, it bottlenecked the supply at its source.

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Thursday, April 2, 2020

Lorain County Community Guide

Protective gear shortages predicted as ‘surge’ looms JASON HAWK EDITOR

Masks, gloves and respirators are running extremely thin in Lorain County, with weeks or months still to go before the coronavirus crisis ends. Protective gear crucial to keeping doctors, nurses, paramedics, police and firefighters healthy will have to be rationed and reused, according to Tom Kelley, director of the Lorain County Emergency Management Agency. "The issues we had with 9/11 are small compared to what we have with this," he said last week. Kelley wouldn't say how much protective gear was on hand. He said he's not panicking, but it is clear the equipment won't be enough to last the duration of the pandemic. Lorain County already received one shipment from the Strategic National Stockpile, a federal supply cache held ready against a widespread threat. "It will be something for a week or two, and then we'll see what we get," Kelley said. Another shipment was expected Friday, but would only be half as large as the last one, he said. The hard part, he said, is deciding who will get what supplies. The stockpile shipments are being divvied up by representatives from local police and fire

NOTE: On Sunday, after this story was written, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rushed approval of a new protective gear cleaning process developed by Columbus-based Battelle. It will allow face masks to be reused up to 20 times without sacrificing integrity, with capacity for 80,000 units to be cleaned per day. State officials expressed relief at the development, but said it will still be a battle to keep up with demand. departments, ambulance districts, hospitals, Lorain County Public Health and senior care facilities. Some personal protective equipment — often referred to as PPE — has been handed over by dentists and veterinarians, Kelley said. They come with their own problems. Police officers and firefighters usually need large and extra large gloves, for example — "We have some big guys out there," Kelley said — but those sizes are in short supply. "We have thousands of small and extra small. We have a lot that was donated, but we can't use a lot of it," he said. That leaves the question of whether cloth-sewn masks can be used. Kelley was emphatic that cloth masks aren't effective, but said it will be up to the hospital systems to decide whether they're put into use. A study conducted after the 2009 swine flu outbreak found cloth masks have significantly higher infection rates than surgical masks. In tests with more than 1,600 health care workers, it found penetration of cloth masks by particles was almost 97

LCCC COMMENCEMENT

Lorain County Community College has canceled its spring commencement ceremony, which had been scheduled for Saturday, May 16. No rescheduled date has been announced. The college said it is looking at options and updates will be communicated as soon as possible. “It is with a heavy heart that I make this announcement, as I know that many students were planning to participate and celebrate their accomplishments with family and friends that day,” said LCCC President Marcia Ballinger. Students will still receive their diplomas by mail if all graduation requirements are successfully fulfilled. “I understand how devastating this announcement is, as our students have put in an enormous amount of effort and dedication into achieving this milestone,” Ballinger said. “Graduates, please know that your accomplishments will not go unnoticed. Your ability to persevere throughout this is simply remarkable. I admire each and every one of you and am

percent, compared to 44 percent in medical masks. Kelley said emergency management workers have been averaging 16- to 18-hour days since the coronavirus crisis began. He said the work has been hard, but it's resulted in good communication between elected officials, first responders and medical facilities. State officials have also been open, sharing daily briefings and being honest about supply shortages. "At least it's not hearsay. They tell us what the issues are with the PPE," Kelley said. The state's unprecedented orders, meant to contain the spread of the disease, have bought hospitals significant time to prepare for a surge in cases and hospitalizations, according to Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health. She predicted Thursday that there will be 6,000 to 8,000 new cases per day in Ohio by late April. The following day, she increased the estimate to 10,000 cases per day. The state's stay-at-home order and business shutdowns will make PPE last longer. Without

them, Ohio frontline workers would have needed 65 times the gear they normally use — with the restrictions, they'll still need 40 times the normal equipment, Acton said. "Millions" more items will be needed, she said, especially N-95 medical face masks. Gov. Mike DeWine's office issued a statement Thursday afternoon warning of "the oncoming shortage" of protective gear. Taking care of a patient who is in intensive care for a 24-hour shift requires 36 pairs of gloves, 14 gowns, three pairs of goggles and 13 N-95 face masks, it said. At the same time, Ohio will likely have to double or triple the number of hospital beds available, Acton said. The good news is that for now, Lorain County's hospitals are operating well under capacity, according to Kelley. It fluctuates, but he said to the best of his knowledge they are running around 60 percent full. In regular calls to coordinate the county's response, hospital heads have not voiced worries they are approaching the limit, he said. "We're still in a climb-the-

proud that you will become part of the LCCC alumni family.”

WINTER TOURNAMENTS

The Ohio High School Athletic Association has officially canceled its remaining winter tournaments. Championships for wrestling, basketball and ice hockey will not be played due to the coronavirus pandemic. The sports organization anticipates schools "will not be able to reopen for many weeks, which prevents interscholastic athletics from taking place," according to a release from Director of Communications Tim Stried. The start of the OHSAA’s spring sports of softball, lacrosse, baseball, track and field and boys tennis is still postponed, while schools are closed. “We are just devastated that the tournaments cannot be completed,” said Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass. “But our priority is the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, communities and officials. Gov. Mike DeWine is asking all Ohioans to do everything they can to stop the spread of this

mountain mode, but we'll get over the top at some point," he said. Acton said we haven't been hit yet by the surge due to how long it takes COVID-19 to manifest. It takes five to 14 days for symptoms to present, up to 12 more to determine whether hospitalization is needed and another week to land in the intensive care unit, she said. Asked about PPE on hand, Mercy Health spokesman Jonathon Fauvie wouldn't say outright whether his company's hospitals have enough. "To ensure the continued health and safety of patients and associates, Mercy Health regularly monitors current supplies and began planning early. We have plans in place to support our needs and remain committed to the appropriate and responsible use of supplies and equipment, at this time and always," he said in a written statement. "This applies to COVID-19 tests, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ventilators and other resources. We are resourcing from around the globe and following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on appropriate usage. In addition, we are working collaboratively with other health care and government agencies through this unprecedented event." University Hospitals did not respond to a request for comment.

virus. That request, along with our schools not being able to reopen for weeks, means that school sports cannot happen at this time. Even if our schools reopen this spring, it will be difficult to find facilities willing to host the tournaments. Most campus are shut down until mid to late summer." The OHSAA is planning ways to honor winter studentathletes at next year's state tournament, he said.

REPUBLIC SERVICES

Trash and recycling collections are still being made by Republic Services, but with some new guidelines in place. The company’s announced that, effective immediately, items have to fit inside your cart to be picked up. Yard and bulk waste programs are suspended until further notice. Recycling materials may also go to the landfill, the company said: “We may use alternative disposal methods if there are disruptions to recycling processing capabilities or if contamination increases.”

COLUMN

Those masks you’re stockpiling? Seniors need them BARBARA THOMAS KENDAL AT OBERLIN

In the few weeks since the novel coronavirus pandemic has shocked the world, senior living communities across the country have taken drastic measures to protect their vulnerable aging populations of residents, not to mention the dedicated and compassionate staffs on the front-lines working to protect and care for these at-risk individuals. Those of us who live in-

dependently can take more dramatic steps to safeguard ourselves against the virus. While many distressingly choose not to, we can selfisolate and avoid altogether potentially exposed people and places. The same cannot be said for the millions of older Americans living in life plan communities, assisted living communities and nursing homes. Their continued health depends not only on decisiveness, coordination and luck, but also on the availability of

resources — resources that are becoming alarmingly scarce. Although this time is assuredly different from any other, in large part, all of these communities have capably risen to meet today’s challenge, building on familiar means and methods. In addition to care, socialization and people-to-people engagement are foundational to life in these communities. Today, activities are canceled and common spaces are closed to maximize

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school closings and everything else. But, on the Sunny Side of all that’s happening. SPRING IS HERE!!! Spring brings a smile to our faces and it‘s time to Clean, Plant and Enjoy - so let US help you with that! We now have PARKING LOT SERVICE. Give us a call to place your order and when you ARRIVE we will bring it out to you. You don’t even have to get out of your car! We will also DELIVER TO YOU - so you don’t even have to leave your home! We are still open for business and new items are arriving DAILY. So come see us or use one of our online services. Let us help you with ALL your gardening needs and let’s JUMP into SPRING with a SMILE!

Monday-Friday 9-5:30pm Saturday 9-5pm Closed Sundays

leagues in the senior-living space, it is becoming increasingly and dreadfully evident that the last piece of the puzzle – resources – cannot be stemmed from inside our communities alone. While behavior change measures can and will continue, materials that help us stem infection among our residents. As this unprecedented crisis rolls on, senior living communities across the country will face a critical juncture. Emergency stores of masks and other

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social distancing. Meal services have adapted into delivery models to limit resident exposure. And we have seen many, if not most, communities shut their doors to visitors entirely — a heartbreaking yet necessary practice. Staffs have adapted their schedules and their systems, working exhaustively to sanitize spaces and wash their hands raw; they all know their role in limiting infection inside and outside of our communities. But among my col-

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respiratory protection will be largely depleted, leaving millions of older Americans and thousands of their direct-care supporters at increased risk for exposure. Americans are showing strength, unity and, yes, charity, in the face of this crisis. Let that courtesy extend to the resources so many of us have stockpiled in anticipation. I strongly urge businesses, our government, local institutions or private citizens with reserves of personal protective equipment to donate some of their supplies – including but not limited to facemasks – to an assisted living and or nursing home nearby. Kendal at Oberlin urges you to make a contact with your area nursing home and assisted living to see if they can use donations. To learn more, contact Barbara Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, 440.775.0094 or bthomas@kao.kendal.org. We will continue to rise to meet this crisis, and, with the continued generosity of our neighbors, our seniors will have the best prospect of a return to normalcy. Barbara Thomas is CEO of Kendal at Oberlin, a nonprofit life plan community and an affiliate of the Kendal Corporation, which operates 13 senior living communities around the country.

OUR TOWNS

Lorain County Community Guide • Thursday, April 2, 2020

‘I love you, birthday girl’

OBERLIN TEDDY BEAR HUNT

Here's some fun you can have outside, as long as you keep your distance from others: Oberlin residents and businesses have been putting teddy bears in their windows through the week. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to take a stroll and see how many you can spot through the end of the day Friday. Snap pictures of the bears you find, post them to Facebook or Twitter and tag @OberlinRecDept.

FREE INTERNET SERVICE

Photos by Kristin Bauer | Chronicle

Linda Robinson, a resident of Welcome Nursing Home in Oberlin, puts her hand on the glass to meet her husband of 47-years, Gary, while he was visiting to celebrate her 69th birthday.

Husband celebrates quarantined wife's 69th outside nursing home window JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Their hands were pressed against opposite sides of the glass, so near and yet far apart. "I love you, birthday girl," Gary Robinson told his wife through the window. Wearing a tiara, Linda Robinson celebrated her 69th birthday last Tuesday, quarantined inside Welcome Nursing Home on East Hamilton Street. Family gathered outside to wish "Granny" happiness and blow kisses, and even slid an ice cream cake inside. The Robinsons, of Amherst, will celebrate their 47th wedding anniversary on Aug. 4. They laughed at the forced separation — "It's giving me a little bit of a break," Gary quipped — but despite the bravado were clearly upset they couldn't share hugs. "We have to live through these times 'til they right this ship back up. It might be a while," Gary told Linda. "I don't have time to wait for a ship," she replied. Linda suffered a heart attack 23 years ago and never fully recovered. Gary took care of her until four years

AMHERST — Four coronavirus cases were confirmed last Wednesday in Amherst, the first for the city during the pandemic. One person was hospitalized and in good condition, according to Mayor Mark Costilow. Information about their ages and jobs was not made available, but he said none are city workers. Costilow said he was given no indication the four patients were connected in any way. "We need to assume and

EXPANDING FREE MEALS

The Oberlin City Schools have expanded their free breakfast and lunch program for students in prekindergarten through 12th grade. The district will distribute meals on Mondays and Thursdays at: • Eastwood Elementary, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. • Prospect Elementary, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. • Dollar General, 544 West College St., 11:15-11:45 a.m. • Mt. Zion Church, 185 South Pleasant Str., noon to 12:30 p.m.

OBERLIN COMMUNITY SERVICES

Drive-up food distribution will be held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 285 South Professor St. Times are 1:30-2 p.m. for seniors and others at risk, and 2:15-3:30 p.m. for all others. Saturday distributions are canceled for April. For more information, call 440-774-6579 or email help@oberlincommunityservices.org. The pair was able to visit through the glass of the nursing home windows, blowing kisses but unable to touch physically due to a coronavirus quarantine. ago, when she moved into Welcome Nursing Home. He was so worried about the outbreak and the governor's order to stay at home, he had thought about skipping Linda's party this year. His niece, Anna Turner, convinced him that wasn't acceptable. "It's uncharted waters, but it is

what it's got to be. I understand it," Gary said, standing outside his wife's window. He had gifts in hand — a quilter and embroiderer, Gary has made 30 cloth face masks for Welcome staff to wear. BIRTHDAY PAGE B2

First four Amherst coronavirus cases reported on the same day JASON HAWK EDITOR

Here's some good news for Oberlin families who need internet service to do school work during the COVID-19 crisis. The city of Oberlin, Oberlin City Schools and Oberlin Cable Co-op have worked together to provide free internet service and computers to eligible students. There are about 250 families — nearly one in four of the district’s families — that do not have access to the technology necessary to participate in the district’s webbased educational programs. While the school district has offered paper continuing education packets to students during the closure, educators said it's clear that the lack of technology in these homes will limit students’ ability to receive the best possible education during the crisis. Eligible families will receive internet service provided by Oberlin Cable Co-op and students will be provided Lenovo computers for the months of May and June. Funding for the technology will be provided through the city of Oberlin’s Sustainable Reserve Fund, in support of strategies identified in the city's Climate Action Plan. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunches are eligible to receive the free technology services. Because of the coronavirus outbreak's economic impact, some families may now qualify for free and reduced lunches. Applications are available at www. oberlinschools.net and at the district's continuing education packet pick-up locations, free breakfast and lunch program locations, Oberlin IGA, Dollar General or by calling 440-776-4699.

act as though it's here and in your neighborhood," Costilow said. Like many other cities, Amherst has taken extraordinary steps to protect employees — shutting down public access to government buildings, canceling meetings until further notice and halting all non-essential services. "We're just sending people out on outages now. Everything else can wait," Costilow said. The city isn't changing meters, he said. Employees are working from home as much as possible, or are working on different sides of their buildings.

They aren't going into any homes except for the most dire utilities emergencies, fires or police enforcement. In the meantime, the income tax filing due date for the city of Amherst has been changed to July 15, following a vote by the Ohio General Assembly. DON'T FLUSH THESE City officials have also made a plea for residents to stop flushing cooking grease, oils, wipes and personal hygiene products down the toilet or other household drains. Those products cause sewer clogs and backups.

Many household products labeled and sold as disposable or flushable are harmful to sewer systems, said Costilow. Unlike toilet paper, these products do not break down once they are flushed. They can cause blockages in your on-site piping, or bigger issues once they reach the public sewers, collecting together until they cause large obstructions. "People are flushing other stuff, too — rubber gloves and masks. They're flushing a lot of things that are going to cause problems," Costilow said.

KENDAL RESTRICTIONS

In response to the threat posed to its residents by the coronavirus, Kendal at Oberlin has put the following in place until further notice; • All group meetings and events are canceled. • Visitors are not permitted in the Stephens Care Center. The only exceptions are end of life situations; staff ask that you consider using video chat to connect with loved ones. • All non-resident visitors, vendors and contractors must enter via the Heiser main entrance doors and be screened for clearance. If you can carry your own thermometer, it is preferred for screenings. • Kendal’s dining rooms are closed. Meals are being delivered to residents. • Walk-in tours and “Try It, You’ll Like It Stays” are canceled. For more information, call the admissions office at 440-775-9062, or email (echristman@kao. kendal.org. • The Resale Shop is closed.

COVID-19 BILLING PLEDGE

Mercy Health said it has suspended all COVID-19 related patient statements and billing. “This removes any financial barriers to accessing care and treatment, which is part of our ongoing commitment to care for all people in need, with high-quality care, regardless of their ability to pay,” the company said in a statement. If a patient receives treatment related to COVID-19, no upfront payments will be required at the time of service. Mercy Health will continue to bill insurance but will suspend patient statements until it finalizes details with insurance companies, lab partners and state and federal governments.

LORAIN COUNTY TRANSIT

Due to the public health crisis, the Lorain County Transit administrative office is closed to the public. Buses are running their regular schedules. For information about purchasing bus tickets, call 440-329-5525.

SUBMIT YOUR NEWS TO: NEWS@LCNEWSPAPERS.COM

Page B2

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Lorain County Community Guide

Police talk about enforcing the ‘stay at home’ order few weeks.

STAFF REPORT

Police in Lorain County were presented with an all-new challenge last week: how to enforce the state's "stay-at-home" order and protect public health while continuing to guard life and property. We reached out on the first day of the quarantine to area police chiefs, law enforcement and public officials to get an idea of how they will be handling travel, traffic stops and how the pandemic has changed their call volumes and the kinds of calls they are handling. AMHERST POLICE CHIEF JOSEPH KUCIREK "What we're not doing is randomly stopping people on the streets and questioning them as to what they're doing," Kucirek said. He said he does not believe that — given Ohio's unprecedented "stay-at-home" order — just being out in public is probable cause for officers to make a stop or conduct a search. "We are basically looking for the obvious: Gatherings of 10 people or more, restaurants that are serving food or alcohol," Kucirek said. His advice to officers: Before taking any stay-at-home enforcement action, investigate the matter thoroughly and check with Lorain County Public Health. "Let's not just say what we think we know," he said. Kucirek said the good news is that since the shutdown there has been a slowdown in the usual calls his department handles, such as theft and property damage complaints. What he doesn't want to see is a spike in criminal charges stemming from enforcement of the governor's order over the next

AVON POLICE CHIEF RICHARD BOSLEY Bosley said his officers won’t be out stopping residents to ask where they are going. “We are under the assumption that if people are out, there is a reason to be out,” he said. We're all in this together, Bosley added, and he said officers will assume the best in people unless they are given reason to believe otherwise. Overall, calls to the police department were down approximately 30 to 40 percent day to day compared to before the coronavirus outbreak began, Bosley said. “We’ve noticed it here in Avon. One of the big reasons is there is not nearly as much traffic on the roads,” he said, leading to fewer crashes and fewer citations issued. Some types of calls have been on the rise, however. Many callers have been concerned about proper social distancing inside of stores, but Bosley said there is little officers can do besides asking customers, assuming they are in a store that is open legitimately, to “exercise due caution and due care.” Another type of call that Bosley said has seen a “slight uptick” is minor disturbances and arguments. “I would chalk that up to people being on edge,” he said. “I think it is important to realize that we are all going through a difficult time.” AVON LAKE DETECTIVE SGT. REED REIKOWSKI Reikowski said two words the police department is focusing on are “voluntary compliance” — an unspoken agreement by residents and business owners affected by the stay-at-home order to comply. He said the community has a

good working relationship with its police officers, and he does not expect that to change at all because of the outbreak. “We've generally been able to obtain voluntary compliance throughout my career at the police department,” Reikowski said. “I don’t see why we wouldn't be able to continue to get voluntary compliance from our residents.” He noted that since the outbreak began, call volume has gone down at the department. Reikowski said he has been thinking about possible reasons why fewer calls have been coming in, but ultimately could not pin it down to one particular issue. “I think everybody is trying to find a new normal right now,” he said. ELYRIA POLICE CHIEF DUANE WHITELY Whitely said the stay-at-home order means a lot of essential workers out and on the roads. If an officer deems it necessary, however, they may use discretion to charge someone. "If it comes to that, we can. But a lot of people are allowed to be out and about. It could be a traffic stop... We’re allowed to stop people if we want and check why they’re out," he said. Whether or not that’s going to happen, Whitely said he isn't sure. "In the course of a day, officers come across all kinds of people. If someone gets pulled over on a red light (violation), officers will ask the question of why they're out to see if they’re violating the order or not. But like I said, there's a lot of people allowed to be out," he said. "The order is for the public health. For us to be able to look into the future and see what’s going to happen isn’t possible, but I know they’re going to do their job," Whitely added.

SCHOLARS

The number of calls for service has declined, but that's not all calls for crime because officers have cut back on answering some service calls. "It’s too soon to get a definitive answer on that," Whitely said. LORAIN POLICE CHIEF JAMES MCCANN A Lorain police officer tested positive for the coronavirus in early March, and three others were ordered into mandatory quarantine by Lorain County Public Health due to their exposure to that officer. McCann said the officer in question was "almost fully recovered" and the three others affected were OK to return to work as long as they have no symptoms of the disease. McCann said his department and the public have both a legal and moral obligation to help stop and/or slow the spread of the coronavirus. "To that end, if our officers come into contact with citizens who are in violation of the 'stayat-home' order issued by the state of Ohio, I have instructed our officers to take enforcement action as the situation dictates," McCann said. "Enforcement action may range from as little as a verbal warning, all the way up to and including physical arrest. Since no two situation are alike, I have entrusted our officers to conduct a proper investigation, and to use their judgment, based on the individual facts of the encounter, to make the right decision for the circumstance." Businesses are being monitored and if violations are found, "the necessary enforcement action" will be taken to ensure health and well-being of citizens. Liquor and food service licenses could be at risk for any businesses found in violation of the state order. Internally, McCann said the

department is reviewing nonuniformed divisions to possibly reallocate or temporarily assign detectives and other officers to road patrol. This will ensure enough officers are on the road and cut down on overtime costs, he said. "It’s my hope that the aggressive operational changes we at LPD will enhance our officers ability to do their job safely until this state of emergency passes," he said. NORTH RIDGEVILLE POLICE CHIEF MIKE FREEMAN Freeman said his officers are not looking to arrest anybody for violating terms of the stay at home order but rather to identify activity and gatherings prohibited by the order and “facilitate pushing those folks along.” Violators would get one or two warnings before officers would take further action, including contacting Lorain County Public Health. “We are going to take a soft approach, and hopefully that works,” Freeman said. “It’s a change of pace. It’s a change of life.” He said the department is not aware of any activity prohibited by the orders, including businesses operating against government orders, that has occurred in the city. WELLINGTON The goal for the foreseeable future won't be to write tickets, Wellington Village Manager Steve Dupee said but to make sure as many people as possible are staying at home. "We are not going to pull you over, not going to stop you as you drive to the store," he said. Jason Hawk, Dave O'Brien, Dylan Reynolds, Carissa Woytach and Laina Yost contributed to this story.

School routes survey

HANNAH KARDAR of Amherst has been named to the dean's list with high distinction for the Fall 2019 semester at Grove City College. A sophomore majoring in psychology, Kardar graduated from Open Door Christian School in 2018. She is the daughter of Peter and Cindy Kardar of Amherst. REBECCA REICHOLF of South Amherst has been named an Outstanding Biology Scholar by John Carroll University. The award is given to students who show outstanding research activity.

85 SOUTH MAIN STREET OBERLIN OHIO 44074 MARCH 12, 2020 BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETING DATES ALL MEETINGS WILL TAKE PLACE AT 85 SOUTH MAIN STREET

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE POTENTIAL SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, ALL CITY OF OBERLIN BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETINGS ARE CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. PLEASE REFER TO THE CITY’S WEBSITE FOR UPDATES AT HTTPS://WWW.CITYOFOBERLIN.COM/CORONAVIRUS/. 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.

The Oberlin City Schools and Lorain County Public Health are seeking feedback to help update the district’s travel plan and Safe Routes to School Program. You can help by completing a survey at www.loraincountyhealth.com/saferoutes. Oberlin students, parents and residents are encouraged to respond by May 1. Safe Routes to School aims to create safe, convenient and fun opportunities for students to bicycle and walk to and from schools. Its goals include encouraging children to walk and bicycle to school, increasing safety and reversing the nationwide trend toward childhood obesity and chronic diseases associated with inactivity. Residents are also asked to get involved directly with the Safe Routes to School committee. Its members can expect to participate in monthly conference calls or meetings over the course of one year, assist with public meetings, help conduct walk audits and help make recommendations for future improvements. Communities with school travel plans are eligible for more than $1.5 million in Ohio Department of Transportation program funding over the course of five years. To get involved, call Kat Bray at 440-322-6367 or Superintendent David Hall at 440-776-4551.

BIRTHDAY

FROM B1

They aren't the N-95 respirators being used by hospitals, or even surgical grade, but anything is better than nothing, he said. Heidi Freas, director of quality assurance at the nursing home, said the cloth masks will be fitted with filters and used by employees who don't show any symptoms of COVID-19 infection. "Right now, we have sufficient (protective gear), but looking ahead that's not going to last," she said. Supplies are running thin all over the

state. Welcome had not received a new delivery of protective equipment in four weeks, Freas said. "We have to be diligent right now," she said. She's also reached out to the fabrication labs at Lorain County Community College and the North Ridgeville Schools to have headbands 3D-printed for face shields. They'll be used to affix plastic masks that stretch below the chin, protecting against infection through the eyes or mouth.

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LEGALS

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CITY OF LORAIN, OHIO LOCAL ROADWAY REHABILITATION PROJECT 2020 OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION ROUND 34 CONTRACT B Sealed bids will be received by the Engineering Department of the City of Lorain, Ohio until: TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIVING BIDS: UNTIL - 11:00 AM, Friday, April 17, 2020 Lorain time, Engineering Department, Lorain City Hall 4th Floor. TIME AND PLACE FOR OPENING BIDS: 11:15 AM, Lorain time, City of Lorain Council Chambers, Lorain City Hall 1st Floor. COMPLETION DATE: Novem-

ber 30, 2020 Bidders must be listed on the ODOT pre-qualified list for highway construction. Bidders shall submit a list of available equipment, and labor shall be paid not less than the prevailing wage rate as determined by the Ohio Department of Commerce for Lorain County. NO BID WILL BE OPENED WITHOUT THE CERTIFICATION OF QUALIFICATION OR THE ACCEPTABLE LETTER OF APPLICATION ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE AS DIRECTED. Bids must be accompanied by Certified Check or Cashier's Check or Letter of Credit equals to ten percent (10%) of the amount bid, or a bond for the full amount of the bid as a guarantee that if the bid is accepted, a contract will be entered into and a performance bond properly secured. Should any bid be rejected, such instrument will be forthwith returned upon proper execution of a contract. Cash deposits will not be accepted.

Each bidder must insure that all employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, creed, color, sex or national origin. All bidders must comply with the provisions of the American Disabilities Act. All federal minority business enterprise and women business enterprise requirements shall be met. All contractors and subcontractors involved with the project will to the extent practicable use Ohio products, materials, services and labor in the implementation of their project. Bid blanks and specifications may be secured from the Engineering Department, via phone (440) 204-2003 or email veronica_newsome@ cityoflorain.org between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. A nonrefundable fee of $50.00 either by check or money order is required for each set taken out. Checks are to be made payable to the City of Lorain. Checks are to be mailed via

US mail. The Director of Safety/Service reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. By order of the Director of Safety/Service L.C.C.G. 4/2-9/20 20660751

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CITY OF LORAIN, OHIO LOCAL ROADWAY REHABILITATION PROJECT 2020 OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION ROUND 34 CONTRACT A Sealed bids will be received by the Engineering Department of the City of Lorain, Ohio until: TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIVING BIDS: UNTIL - 11:00 AM, Friday, April 17, 2020 Lorain time, Engineering Department, Lorain City Hall 4th Floor.

TIME AND PLACE FOR OPENING BIDS: 11:15 AM, Lorain time, City of Lorain Council Chambers, Lorain City Hall 1st Floor. COMPLETION DATE: November 30, 2020 Bidders must be listed on the ODOT pre-qualified list for highway construction. Bidders shall submit a list of available equipment, and labor shall be paid not less than the prevailing wage rate as determined by the Ohio Department of Commerce for Lorain County. NO BID WILL BE OPENED WITHOUT THE CERTIFICATION OF QUALIFICATION OR THE ACCEPTABLE LETTER OF APPLICATION ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE AS DIRECTED. Bids must be accompanied by Certified Check or Cashier's Check or Letter of Credit equals to ten percent (10%) of the amount bid, or a bond for the full amount of the bid as a guarantee that if the bid is accepted, a contract will be entered into and a perfor-

mance bond properly secured. Should any bid be rejected, such instrument will be forthwith returned upon proper execution of a contract. Cash deposits will not be accepted. Each bidder must insure that all employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, creed, color, sex or national origin. All bidders must comply with the provisions of the American Disabilities Act. All federal minority business enterprise and women business enterprise requirements shall be met. All contractors and subcontractors involved with the project will to the extent practicable use Ohio products, materials, services and labor in the implementation of their project. Bid blanks and specifications may be secured from the Engineering Department, via phone (440) 204-2003 or email veronica_newsome@ cityoflorain.org between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. A non-

refundable fee of $50.00 either by check or money order is required for each set taken out. Checks are to be made payable to the City of Lorain. Checks are to be mailed via US mail. The Director of Safety/Service reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. By order of the Director of Safety/Service L.C.C.G. 4/2-9/20 20660750

PUBLICATION OF LEGISLATION The following is a summary of legislation adopted by Lorain City Council on March 23, 2020. 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 has been

reviewed/approved by the Law Director for legal accuracy as required by state laws. Reso. 15-20* Amending Reso. 1-20, Council Rules, reducing regular meetings to once a month on the 3rd Monday and suspending public speaking through June 1, 2020. Ord. 22-20* Appropriating a temporary easement of property @ 610 Broadway. 23-20 Auth the S/S Director to enter into a contract for the Lorain Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities Connectivity Project. 24-20 Auth the S/S Director to enter into an agrmt w/ Coldwater Consulting for prof services related to the Lower Black River AOC Remediation & Restoration Program. 25-20* Appropriation- 2020 Budget. 26-20* Amending Ord 5-20 & Section 913.303 of Lorain Codified Ordinances (Sanitary Sewer Rental Charge). (*Denotes legislation was passed as an emergency.) L.C.C.G. 4/2-9/20 20661056

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Lorain County Community Guide

Page B3

Birthday cards for kids shut First COVID-19 in during coronavirus crisis cases hit village of Wellington

BROOKIE MADISON THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

WELLINGTON — What started off as a craft project for a family member grew into an effort to send birthday cards to kids who can't have big celebrations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Derick Roach said the project got its start when a local resident posted on Facebook that their child couldn't have a birthday party and asked for cards. "My wife, daughter and I went to Walmart and got some construction paper and decided to see who else had a birthday in the area," he said. From there, Roach made a Facebook post asking for people to message him their child's name and their address, so they could send out cards. His post said, "we’re decorating cards with our three-year-old and will be sending out early in the week to spread some cheer at a not so cheery time!" Roach said within minutes he was getting responses and is sending more than 20 cards to kids and teens alike. "It's mainly for the six-, seven-, eight- or nine-year olds who don't understand what is going on, why they're not allowed outside or why they're not going to school," he said. "It's tough being inside," he said.

JASON HAWK EDITOR

Provided photo

Derick, Kinsley, Kelley and Bentley Roach hold up the birthday cards they made for kids in Wellington who are stuck in the house. "It's not like it's the summer time and kids can go outside to play. It's still chilly, wet and muddy." Roach had also made a post about

giving away notebooks, pens and pencils for students. "I just like to help out and we want to make the kids smile," he said.

DONATING SUPPLIES

WELLINGTON — The first coronavirus case in Wellington was confirmed Friday afternoon, according to Mayor Hans Schneider. The patient is quarantined at home, he said. "It means what we have expected is now factual and COVID-19 is here," Schneider said in a social media message to residents. "There is no need to panic and we should all continue to follow the advice of the county health department and the state of Ohio Department of Health to restrict contact with others, practice social distancing, wash our hands and sanitize our immediate surroundings. If able to, follow the governor’s order to stay at home from work unless involved in an essential business." Schneider, who works as a dialysis nurse, drew on his years of experience in the field to assess the situation. He said Wellington residents should assume there are also undiagnosed cases in the vilHans Schneider lage, and expect to hear about more local cases over the next several weeks. Wellington residents didn't have long to wait on that advice. The second positive test in town was confirmed Saturday. That resident is also quarantined at home. Schneider said it does not appear there was a link between the two local cases. "This virus spreads easily and we should assume that everyone we come in contact with has it," he said. "While that might seem extreme, we should (err) on the side of caution and be vigilant in our approach." He said he will provide information about further cases as he receives word from Lorain County Health Commissioner David Covell. "An informed community is a strong community," Schneider said. "Again, do not panic but be vigilant in your personal hygiene practices and social distancing," he said. Reacting to the crisis, Main Street Wellington has also canceled events for April and May, including the "A Galaxy Far Far Away for a Day" science fiction convention that had been planned at Town Hall. It could potentially be rescheduled for Sept. 5, which is the next time the venue is available.

FREE ONLINE WORKOUTS

Provided photo

Andrew and Ben Champagne, sons of Lorain County JVS Assistant Principal Megan Champagne, drop off medical supplies to Southwest General Hospital. After school closed on March 16, the JVS donated its perishable food items to Second Harvest Food Bank, which serves residents in Lorain County. Because the JVS offers technical courses, it also is positioned to help with desperately needed medical supplies. The JVS donated its face masks and exam gloves to LifeShare in Elyria, Southwest General Hospital and to Welcome Nursing Home in Oberlin.

STATE PARKS

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has closed its campgrounds, cabins, golf courses, restrooms, shower houses, playgrounds and state park marinas at all state properties to protect the health of both visitors and staff. That includes facilities at Findley State Park south of Wellington. Closures are expected to be temporary until COVID-19 guidelines change or are lifted. Public outdoor spaces at Ohio state parks, wildlife areas, forests and nature preserves remain open, including trails, dog parks and non-marina docks — but visitors should use common sense and follow this guidance from the National Recreation and Park Association for staying safe while they are out: • Follow the CDC's guidance on personal hygiene prior to heading to trails. • Wash hands, carry hand sanitizer, do not use trails if you have symptoms, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. • Observe at all times the CDC's minimum recommended social distancing of six feet from other people. Warn other trail users of your presence and as you pass to allow proper distance and step off trails to allow others to pass, keeping minimum recommended distances at all times. Signal your presence with your voice, bell or horn. • Note that trail and park users will find public restrooms closed. Be prepared before you leave and time outings so that you are not dependent on public restrooms. Take water or drinks because public drinking fountains will be disabled and should not be used, even if operable. • Take a suitable trash bag. Leave no trash, take everything out to protect park workers.

DUKES SPIRIT

Need to stay in shape, or just wear the kids out while they're out of school? The YMCA of Greater Cleveland is offering two programs to help the community and critical care providers during this stressful time. Online workouts are available on demand at www. clevelandymca.org for people of all ages. They can be accessed at no charge and can be done in the home with no special equipment. As of March 19, YMCA of Greater Cleveland members have access to dozens of additional videos featuring a wide variety of at-home workouts including strength (lower and upper body), cardio, active older adult, stretching, yoga, Zumba and more. For medical personnel, first responders, nursing home and assisted living employees and children services employees, the YMCA is also offering child care so that critical care providers can serve our community with peace of mind. Find information at www.clevelandymca.org/childcarecenters.html, call 216-263-6860 or email children@ clevelandymca.org.

NRA CCW Class One Day $75

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The Reynolds family shows off its Dukes pride Friday during the Wellington Schools' Virtual Spirit Day, one of several families to share photos while sheltering at home. Pictured are Alaina Reynolds, sixth grade; Audrey Reynolds, preschool; Mallory Reynolds, fifth grade; and Bentley Reynolds, second grade. The event was designed to draw the community together during the coronavirus crisis.

Protecting What’s Important Scott Beriswill

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Denise Breyley

173 Depot Street Wellington, Ohio 44090

www.beriswillins.com (440) 647-6010

Page B4

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Lorain County Community Guide

Use the clues to fill in the missing letters. The letters in the second vertical row reveal the punchline to this riddle:

Have a buddy give you each type of word to fill in the blanks. Then, read the story aloud for lots of laughs!

Growing Problems “This can’t be right,” said Baxter Bunny as he looked at his garden. Instead of a row of carrots, there were ___________ __________ PLURAL NOUN

ADJECTIVE

sprouting from the _______ . 9

11 21

NOUN

He used a _________ to dig

14 15

NOUN

into the _________ .

NOUN

Use the code to answer the above riddle. Circle every third letter to reveal the answer.

7 =A

2 =E

6 =I

5 =R

1 =U

13 = B

15 = G

14 = N

11 = S

10 = V

9 =D

8 =H

12 = P

21 = T

3 =W

Bobbi Bunny saw her brother carrying a ________ basket ADJECTIVE

of _________ . “________ !” INTERJECTION

PLURAL NOUN

she cried. “How will we make

Do the math to reveal the answer to this riddle:

__________ stew for dinner NOUN

with nothing but __________

1. Your teacher writes on a blackboard with this. 2. What ghosts like to do to houses. 3. A reward for winning. 4. Farmers plant these to grow crops. 5. Another word for engine. 6. The opposite of below. 7. What you are when you need rest. 8. A very large expanse of sea. 9. What is left after something burns.

15 - 10 13 = STARTS 9 = SPOON 16 = TWENTY 5 = HE 2 = COOKS 11 = RECIPE

14 = CARROTS 6 = ONIONS 21 = STEW 3 = WITH 8 = FOUR 19 = LEMONS

21 - 8 9-6 24 - 8

36 - 28 26 - 12

Standards Link: Vocabulary: Spell grade-level appropriate words correctly.

Standards Link: Number Sense: Calculate sums and differences.

___________ ?”

ADJECTIVE

PLURAL NOUN

Baxter said, “Don’t worry, Sis. I have a _____________ ADJECTIVE

idea!” He painted a sign that said: “Buy one __________ , NOUN

get a ___________ FREE!” NOUN

The Bunny Buddies have hidden marshmallow chickies all over this page. How many can you find in two minutes? Now have your buddy try. Who found the most?

The letters along the correct path reveal the answer!

_____________ came from PLURAL NOUN

miles around as word spread. Baxter and Bobbi soon had enough money to buy a _________ ___________ of ADJECTIVE

Scrambled Easter Eggs Look through the newspaper for letters that spell “Easter Eggs.” Cut them out. With your buddy, take turns mixing up the letters and spelling a new word. A player gets one point for each letter used. Standards Link: Spelling: Recognize common spelling patterns.

NOUN

their favorite ___________ . PLURAL NOUN

“Who knew there was a market for ____________ ?” PLURAL NOUN

said Bobbi as they walked to the _____________ . NOUN

Each of the Bunny Buddies below has at least one look-alike, except for one. Can you find the unique bunny?

Unique up on it! Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow simple written directions.

ARRESTED GHOSTS CARROT BUNNY ENGINE GARDEN REVEAL SEA EGGS SWIM RIDDLE PAGE LAST NEW USE

Standards Link: Spelling: Recognize common spelling patterns.

B O S W I M G R W D

T P A E K J G S E Y L A S T A Y E T N E

A G C E G G S S G L

E E G A Z E W O I D

V N E D R A G H N D E U E R T R V G E I

R S A G E G O S B R

U L Y N N U B T A K Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recongized identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

Easter Scientist

Silly News Story

Mix and match news stories to create silly stories. Select a who, what, when, where, why and how from different stories. Write a silly news story with these facts. For extra silliness, use quotes from other news stories.

ANSWER: Basket-ball

Standards Link: Writing Applications: Write in a variety of forms and genres.

Complete the grid by using all the letters in the word BASKET in each vertical and horizontal row. Each letter should only be used once in each row. Some spaces have been filled in for you.

If you were a scientist and could invent something to help the Easter Bunny, what woud it be? Explain how it would work.