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AMHERST NEWS-TIMES • OBERLIN NEWS-TRIBUNE • WELLINGTON ENTERPRISE Thursday, April 28, 2022

Fair eyes $2.5M building project

Submit items to news@LCnewspapers.com

Volume 9, Issue 17

Welcome back

JASON HAWK EDITOR

WELLINGTON — A $2.5 million capital campaign is underway to replace six Junior Fair buildings at the Lorain County Fairgrounds, possibly putting them all under a single, huge roof. The fair board has voted to invest $750,000 of its own cash — it considered up to $1 million, but was unable to put that much forward after the financial toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, said President Rick Ternes. Another $500,000 in private sector money has already been pledged, Rick Ternes according to consultant Matt Hughes of Fair Funding, a firm hired to determine community interest in the project. “The buildings are just very old and they’re beyond what you would consider repair,” said Ternes. “They need to be replaced.” FAIR PAGE A3 Bruce Bishop | Oberlin News-Tribune

After traveling for the big reveal that he is the 2022 National Teacher of the Year, Kurt Russell enters the auditorium at Oberlin High School to a cheering crowd of supporters.

Sayers leaving Amherst Schools The National Teacher of the Year gets huge homecoming in Oberlin JASON HAWK EDITOR

AMHERST — After 14 years as superintendent of the Amherst Schools, Steve Sayers is ready to bow out. His notice of resignation, effective at the end of the 2022 calendar year, was accepted last week by the Board of Education. After “much thought, reflection and prayer over the past month,” Sayers said he decided to retire, freeing up time for family and travel. “My wife and I started talking about it a month or so ago,” he said. Steve Sayers “And looking at where the district was in terms of planning for the future, we’re about to start a facility planning process to prepare for growth here in Amherst. So from a district perspective, we thought it was a good time to transition.” Personally, Sayers said he’s reached a time in his life when he needs a more flexible schedule. SAYERS PAGE A3 Classifieds, legals, display advertising, and subscriptions Deadline: 1 p.m. each Monday Phone: 440-329-7000 Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday

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News staff Jason Hawk news@LCnewspapers.com Phone: 440-329-7122 Submit news to news@lcnewspapers.com Deadline: 10 a.m. Tuesday Send obituaries to obits@chroniclet.com

JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Kurt Russell strode in like a rock star last Thursday morning, music booming behind him as he delivered fist bumps to screaming fans. The recently-crowned 2022 National Teacher of the Year was met with a loud and proud standing ovation and deafening cheers as he returned home to Oberlin High School. Russell didn’t shy from the spotlight, but he did deflect it, saying the town he grew up in is responsible for his success. “It was Oberlin who shaped me. And Oberlin who provided that ethic of hard work, being nice to people, being considerate, listening, having an open ear,” he said. “That’s who Oberlin is. That’s who we are. That in our DNA.” Seeing his name splashed across a giant banner on Route 58, at the Clark Bandstand on Tappan Square and on the marquee at the Apollo Theater is nice, said Russell — but he is proud to share the credit with his hometown. Oberlin students filled the school auditorium, wearing red commemorative T-shirts to welcome Russell back from his whirlwind media blitz, which started earlier in the RUSSELL PAGE A3

Ryley Steggall gets caught up in a hug after a speech in which she described how talks in Russell’s classes pushed her to think about issues in a deeper way than ever before.

Schaum’s view

“He’s one of those special teachers who brings history and critical social topics to life, engaging his students in a way that everybody want to know him,” said Anne Schaum, president of the Oberlin Board of Education. As a teenager, she was classmates with Russell at Oberlin High School, and remembers him as being quiet and friendly. Schaum said now she is glad her son, Jackson, has taken Russell’s classes.

His philosophy

Oberlin teacher Kurt Russell said he believes he is authentic and vulnerable in his teaching, allowing students to see who he really is. His job is not necessarily to provide kids with all the answers, but to teach them the critical thinking skills needed to arrive there themselves.

“When I look at Kurt, I see hope. I see hope for our students, hope for education, hope moving forward.” David Hall, Oberlin City Schools Superintendent

INSIDE THIS WEEK

Send legal notices to jyoder@chroniclet.com Submit advertising to chama@chroniclet.com

Kristin Bauer | News-Tribune

Amherst

Oberlin

Wellington

Records round out story of Firelands incident • B1

Burgess chosen as new City Council president • B1

Schools pitch ‘Kindland,’ but will it stop bullying? • A4

OBITUARIES A2 • CLASSIFIEDS A4 • EVENTS A5 • KID SCOOP A6 • SPORTS B4-B5

Page A2

Thursday, April 28, 2022

Lorain County Community Guide

Mercy Health Lorain names new vice president of mission LORAIN — James Armour has been named vice president of mission, serving both Mercy Health Lorain and Mercy Health Youngstown. In the position, which he assumed April 25, Armour will lead initiatives to support the organization’s Catholic heritage, mission and values integration, spiritual health and ethics. He joins Mercy Health from the Sisters of Charity Health System, where he served as system senior vice president of mission and ministry. “With more than 20 years of experience serving the Catholic ministry, health care systems and nonprofit organizations, Jim will be instrumental in enhancing our mission services in the Youngstown and Lorain communities,” said Amy Marcum, chief mission officer for Bon Secours Mercy Health’s Samaritan Group.

Firelands middle-schoolers will take agriculture classes HENRIETTA TWP. — Agricultural education will be offered next year to students at Firelands Middle School. All kids in grades 6-8 will go through seven-week rotations starting in September. Learning about farming will be only one area covered in the rotations. They will include social and emotional learning, Project Lead The Way, art and physical education. In addition, all sixth-graders will take choir.

OBITUARIES LAVERNE A. KERON (nee Ade), 88, of Lorain, passed away Thursday, April 21, 2022, at the Cleveland Clinic in Avon, following a brief illness. Hempel Funeral Home is handling arrangements. FRANCES I. FLOCK (nee Robinson) passed away Wednesday, April 20, 2022. She was born July 27, 1929, in Steuben, Ohio to Stephen H. and T. Irene (nee Shire) Robinson. Hempel Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. ALBERT O. LARSON, 'The Big Swede', 80, and a resident of Oberlin, passed away Monday, April 18, 2022, at Ames Hospice Center, following a lengthy illness. Hempel Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. To place an obituary, call customer service at (440) 329-7000.

Amherst Steele defeats Brookside in Scholastic Games quarterfinal D.J. Theisen, Mark Vitelli and John Perez-Strohmeyer of Marion L. Steele High School found a 350-260 victory in the third Scholastic Games quarterfinal of the week, defeating competitors from Brookside High. After taking the lead with answers on current events and a theme round with “gold” questions, Steele had an 80-point lead entering the final round. Its more than nine minutes of toss-up and bonus questions yielded nearly equal scoring for the two teams, which resulted in a solid victory for Steele. Perez-Strohmeyer won his fourth Standout Scholar Award, presented each week by judges to the student who contributed the most to his or her team. His first three awards were achieved in 2021 online competitions. Amherst will face Olmsted Falls in the semifinal to be broadcast at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 16 on WEOL AM930 and FM100.3.

Provided photo

The winning academic team from Amherst’s Marion L. Steele High School included D.J. Theissen, team captain John Perez-Strohmeyer and Mark Vitelli.

Beatles vs. Stones tribute show to settle an old score on Lorain stage LORAIN — “Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown” will bring its spring tour to the Lorain Palace Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 5. This show takes the audience on a musical trip to the heart of the British Invasion, to witness the greatest concert that never was – The Beatles and The Rolling Stones live together on stage. The Lorain show is part of a 125-city tour of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It pits Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction against rival Brit boys

Abbey Road in an all-out musical showdown for rock dominance. Led by frontman Chris LeGrand, Satisfaction has been performing all over the country for more than two decades. “There’s always a special feeling for these shows— people dress up in 60’s costumes, wear Beatles and Rolling Stones clothing, and enjoy one another’s company during the concerts,” said LeGrand. With a strong national touring history, Abbey Road recreates songs in all their depth and glory

with the studio overdubs that the Beatles themselves never performed live. “If the British Invasion had a house band in the 60s and beyond, hopefully we’d be that band,” said Chris Paul Overall, who plays Paul McCartney in the show. Tickets are $25 to $45 plus fees, and may be purchased by phone at (440) 245-2323, at the box office or at www.lorainpalace.com. The box office is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and one hour before shows.

Volunteers needed

The Amherst Office on Aging is looking for volunteers to assist with meal deliveries. Meal pick-up is at 10:30 a.m. and takes about 1.5 hours, one day a week. For more information, call (440) 988-2817.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Russell is humbly deserving To the editor: Kurt Russell, a Black teacher at Oberlin High School, won the National Teacher of the Year Award. Of course, all who know Mr. Russell well (I know him much less so) know he does not seek publicity, is quite humble and rumors are that he pushed back rather strenuously from the very moment anyone approached him about entering the competition and at virtually every step had to be encouraged to move to the next level. The little I know is that he is a towering, powerful figure in the classroom, whose students describe him with nothing but superlatives. As a basketball coach, his record is solid. But even though not perfect, his players have the greatest respect for and admiration of him, nevermind how hard he pushes them to be the best they can be. They want to grow up to be just like him, and who wouldn't! Mr. Russell would be the first to give credit to all teachers for the outstanding job they do in America and would note that his achievements are a mere reflection upon those attained by others. Aside from parents, teachers are at or near the top of those able to shape the future and they generally must struggle against many obstacles few face in other professions. We, in Oberlin, take special pride in his achievements, for we are just a town of about 8,000, with a large Black population, family income quite below the average, yet remain fully confident that our best days are definitely ahead of us and our nation. Mr. Russell is a history teacher and said he does not teach critical race theory, a fact some my reprove him for; instead, he stresses nothing but the full truth about our history, revealing everything, challenging our children to analyze, examine all aspects of our history so that, Black or white, we will not as a nation make the same mistakes we made in the past. Nobody need fear anything, certainly not the truth. Congratulations to Mr. Russell and thanks to all his colleagues and surely to all America's teachers. They are all winners, our best hope for a brighter, more liberating, and glorious future. Booker Peek

Wellington residents should vote for Meyers To the editor: Kim Meyers is the only judicial candidate residing in southern Lorain County where he and his wife Molly have lived for over 30 years while raising their family. Meyers has been involved in numerous community service projects in the village of Wellington and surrounding rural communities. He worked in the Wellington Schools campaigns to build a new middle school, supported levies,

and recruited voters for the project. He worked with community leaders and the Wellington Fire District to get the Wellington underpass project passed. This project helps fire, police, and EMS decrease the response time in responding to emergencies. He served as legal counsel for the Wellington Board of Education for over 15 years. He was involved with the Wellington Kiwanis for 18 years, served as the president, and the lieutenant governor for Ohio District Division 13. He currently serves as legal counsel for the Wellington Fire District and has done so for over 18 years. He has served as a director on the Lorain County Fair Board for over 18 years and has been president on numerous occasions. He and his family call Wellington home. He has been a member of St Patrick’s Church for over 30 years and supports numerous businesses and stores in the community. Kim’s superb legal experience, dedicated community service, strong family values, integrity and work ethic make him the best choice for Judge. Please join me in voting for Meyers. Kathy Yates

Breglia’s Bar rating is best To the editor: Judge Darrel Bilancini is the only candidate for the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas, general division judge that has a “highly recommended” rating by the members of the Lorain County Bar Association. In fact, he is highly recommended in all of the categories rated by the Bar and his highest score was in the area of integrity and character. He has been a municipal judge for 17 years. His legal career includes prior judicial experience as a juvenile court referee and general division court arbitrator and mediator. Judge Bilancini’s resume by far surpasses those of all of the Democratic hopefuls that have only received a “recommended” rating by the Bar. A local newspaper’s editorial board endorsed their pick in the Democratic Primary but didn’t make an endorsement for a Republican candidate because Judge Bilancini is running unopposed. However, if you were to apply the same criteria for endorsement that the newspaper used — namely the Bar’s rating and his judicial and other legal experience — Judge Bilancini would be, far and away the best choice for this important judicial position. I know him to be fair, honest and caring and I fully support his candidacy. Rudolph J. Breglia

The rating says it all To the editor: Kim Meyers deserves to be Lorain County’s next judge. Kim’s reputation is unprecedented. He is recognized

by his peers as an AV Preeminent rated lawyer. An AV Preeminent rated lawyer is the highest recognition that a lawyer can receive for his or her legal abilities and ethical standards. Only a small percentage of all lawyers across the United States have this rating, and Kim is one of these lawyers! The rating is presented by Martindale-Hubbell. Martindale-Hubbell is a global network where lawyers are rated on their legal experience, credentials and peer reviews. The rating is utilized by the public to help clients select the best lawyer who is ethically sound, trustworthy and knowledgeable to assist them with their legal problems. Kim Meyers is the only candidate running for judge in the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas General Division who has this prestigious rating. I strongly encourage every voter to vote Meyers for judge this May in the primary election. Nancy Worcester

Dems should pick Meyers To the editor: Voters who have not voted in a partisan primary in the past, now is the time to ask for a Democratic ballot for the May 3 primary. This will afford you the opportunity to vote for a candidate not swayed by political pressures but who adheres to the values of the Constitution. Kim Meyers is the candidate! A Kim Meyers victory in the primary election will allow this candidate to move forward on the November ballot. His leadership, ethics and outstanding experience are unmatched. Please join me in voting for Kim Meyers Lorain County Common Pleas Judge. Greg Worcester

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.

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 28, 2022

Lorain County Community Guide

Page A3

RUSSELL

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FROM A1 week with an appearance on CBS Mornings. Superintendent David Hall fought to keep back tears of pride. He said the school district has been keeping the honor a secret for months, preparing a party in celebration of Russell’s accomplishments. Also waiting to sing his praises were a host of state and local officials, including state Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, who shares some special bonds with Russell. Before going to Columbus, Miller was a Firelands High School history teacher, and over the last 22 years he’s served as a basketball official while Russell has coached the varsity Phoenix boys basketball team. Miller said he’s observed many coaches on the sidelines in the past couple of decades and has seen the marks — good and bad — they’ve left on players. Russell has been a model of passion, patience and empathy, he said. “I was told early in my career in education: Great teachers make great coaches,” said Miller. “And that is true. But I say great role models set an example on how to be great leaders.” Stephanie Siddens, interim state superintendent of public instruction at the Ohio Department of Education, called Russell “amazing” and presented him with a proclamation from Gov. Mike DeWine. Helping to convey the governor’s praise were Ohio Board of Education President Charlotte McGuire and Vice President Martha Manchester. State Board of Education member Kirsten Hill, an Amherst resident whose district includes Lorain County, did not attend Thursday’s celebration and did not return calls seeking comment. Ann Longsworth Orr, an Oberlin High School alumna who now works for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, attended the celebration. She said teachers have a tough job, especially during the last two years during the pandemic and while experiencing political attacks. “Our democracy depends on a strong public education system, and in Mr. Russell we see public education at its best,” she said. Ryley Steggall, a senior at OHS, said the conversations she had in Russell’s classes were eye-opening in a way she’s never experienced before, and doubts she ever will again. She said that with the discourse in the United States over the censorship of education, she thinks Russell being National Teacher of the Year sends an important message to everyone seeking to restrict

academic freedom. “Mr. Russell teaches us to be the next generation of world-changers by teaching us the truth about the world we live in, about its history and about how we should learn from that history so we don’t repeat it,” Steggall said. Another senior, Cam Thompson, said he’s always appreciated how Russell has impacted his life, serving as a role model inside and outside the classroom. “And I’ll never take for granted the life lessons and advice he has told me,” he said. Asked to pick one word to describe his teacher, Thompson chose “influential.” Russell pushes students to be successful and participate not only in his classes, but in all others, he said. After they spoke, Russell responded by grabbing Steggal and Thompson each into a hug. The irony of the National Teacher of the Year title is that Russell never wanted it, he said. In fact, he wasn’t going to fill out the application for Ohio Teacher of the Year at all. It was early in the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russell said he was having a hard time teaching remotely because he gets energy and inspiration from being with his students — and during that hardship, the last thing he wanted was to go hunting for awards. But Russell said he decided that since someone had nominated him, he had a responsibility to follow through. “So students, this is my small message to you: There’s a lot of times when you don’t want to do the right thing,” he said. “I understand. You’re tired. You just don’t feel like it. But in the end, it’s truly worth it. And it’s not worth it for you personally — it’s worth it because of the community.” Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., he said all anyone needs to rise to greatness is the attitude of a servant, “with a heart full of love and a soul full of grace.” The National Teacher of the Year title doesn’t define who he is, Russell said. A life of service does. Next year, he’ll be on sabbatical from his teaching duties at Oberlin High School as he travels the country, appearing at more than 300 speaking engagements, said Hall. During that time, he’ll be an ambassador for what Oberlin stands for, Hall said. And he may be the only Black male teacher many American students see from kindergarten to 12th grade, helping to show them what diversity looks like. Only 2 percent of the nation's 3 million teachers are Black men.

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joyed,” he said. “With the history and memories so top of mind for everyone, moving forward to improve the fairgrounds and the biggest event of the summer made sense to everyone interviewed.” The next step is to choose a design-build contractor, said Ternes. Depending on how fast they can move, the earliest the new building could be ready is August 2023, he said — though supply chain issues and cost will determine whether that’s possible. With repairs, the existing Junior Fair barns can be made to last another few years until being torn down, he said.

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FROM A1 His academic career started 35 years ago in the Keystone Schools, where he was a math teacher. Sayers soon found himself working as assistant principal and then principal at Midview, and in 2008 he took the reins from former Amherst Superintendent Bob Boynton. Board of Education President Rex Engle said Sayers inherited a number of problems, including a bleak financial picture. Soon after coming on board, he helped convince voters to pass a 6.9-mill emergency operating levy to stave off significant cuts. It passed, helping to right the ship — a renewal of that levy at the same millage appears today on the primary election ballot. Former administrators “didn’t feel it was their job” to champion levies that would have kept the Amherst Schools out of danger, school board President Rex Engle said. Sayers accepted that challenge; he suffered some early defeats, but his efforts have led to a decade of stability. That stability has largely been built on

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FROM A1 In question are barns 5-10 to the west of the grandstand. They are used to show Junior Fair hogs, sheep, steer and goats and to hold livestock auctions. When the largely openair structures were built, treated poles were not an option, Ternes said. They’ve been repaired time and again, but are falling apart, he said. The steel roofs, at the end of their lifespan, are especially a concern. Continuing to fix the barns is costly, Ternes said. The better solution would be to demolish the six smaller buildings and replace them with a large one much like the commercial exhibit building at

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the consolidation of the district from six buildings to four to save on operating costs. Under Sayers’ tenure, the former Shupe and Powers Elementary buildings have been torn down, replaced with a elementary building on North Lake Street. Now, Amherst is one of the premier school districts in Lorain County due to Sayers’ leadership, Engle said. “You really have done an outstanding job here in Amherst,” school board member Teresa Gilles told Sayers. He shied from the credit, instead complimenting Amherst Schools staff. “I’m just so, so blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful people,” he said. Sayers has been officially retired since January 2015, and rehired by the school board. Last February, the school board voted to extend him another three-year contract to serve as superintendent through July 31, 2024. The board, under thenPresident Ron Yacobozzi, credited Sayers with improving the district’s academics, finances, facilities and technology.

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Page A4

Lorain County Community Guide

Tour the Brownhelm museum The Brownhelm Historical Association will host an open house of the Brownhelm Heritage Museum from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, May 1 at 1355 Claus Rd., Brownhelm Township. Learn about the 1999 fire restoration of the church. See a new piece of artwork and hear the story behind it concerning Henricka Reimer. Experience Solomon Whittlesey’s eyes in his portrait, which seem to follow you around the church. And even play a tune on the piano.

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Council. Copies of all documentation related to this proposal will be on file for public inspection in the Office of the Clerk of Council, 200 West Erie Avenue, Lorain, Ohio. Please contact Breanna_Dull@ cityoflorain.org for additional information. BREANNA DULL, CMC L.C.C.G. 4/21-28/22 20700483

ESTATE SALE

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LEGALS PUBLICATION OF LEGISLATION The following is a summary of legislation adopted by Lorain City Council on April 18, 2022. The complete text of each item may be viewed or purchased in the Clerk of Council Office @ Lorain City Hall, 200 W. Erie Ave., Lorain, OH, during normal business hours or contact Breanna Dull @ 204-2050 (Breanna_Dull@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 19-22 Honoring the celebration of Autism Awareness Month, the Autism Speaks Kindness Campaign and the support of people on the Autism spectrum. 20-22 Honoring & commending Fr. Glepko upon his retirement from Nativity BVM. 21-22 Proclaiming April 28, 2022 as “Workers’ Memorial Day” in the City of Lorain. Ordinance 61-22* Auth & Directing the S/S Director to enter into a contract w/ Crossroads Asphalt Recycling Inc. to repave a parking lot at Central Park. 62-22* Auth & Directing the S/S Director to enter into a contract w/ Ohio Paving &

‘Kindland’ anti-bullying pitch gets mix of laughs, signatures at WHS JASON HAWK EDITOR

CLASSIFIEDS

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Thursday, April 28, 2022

Construction Co. to repave the parking lot & basketball court & install fence @ Harrison Cultural Centre. 63-22 Auth S/S Director to enter contract w/ lowest & best bidder for the eastside waterline replacement project. 64-22 Auth S/S Director to enter into amendment to contract previously entered into w/ Anser Advisory for the BRWWTP primary clarifier rehab project. 65-22 Auth Mayor & S/S Director to enter into cooperative agreement w/ Amherst for prelim engineering for Lorain/Amherst Gateway improvement project. 66-22* Auth the Auditor to pay an invoice submitted by LFD which invokes the Then & Now Certification process. 67-22 Amending Codified Ord. Ch 375: Snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles and all purpose vehicles, Section 375.03 “Code Application, Prohibited Operation” (*Denotes legislation was passed as an emergency.) L.C.C.G. 4/28; 5/5/22 20700815 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Please be advised that Lorain City Council will host a public hearing on Monday, May 23, 2022 in the Lorain City Council Chamber at 200 West Erie Ave., Lorain, Ohio. The hearing will commence at 5:45 p.m. to discuss the following item: ZCA 2-2022 - An application to rezone PPN: 02-02-020-102005 @ 3917 W. Erie Ave from B-2 to R-3. Supan Shah is the applicant. The Lorain City Planning Commission met on April 6, 2022 and recommended approval of the item above to Lorain City

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CITY OF LORAIN, OHIO WATERMAIN REPLACEMENT PROGRAM OWDA FUNDED PROJECT WATERMAIN REPLACEMENT PROGRAM - YEAR 1 WEST 40TH ST., EAST 37TH ST., WOODWARD AV., VINE AVE. WATERMAIN REPLACEMENT Sealed bids will be received by the Law Department of the City of Lorain, Ohio until: TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIVING BIDS: UNTIL - 11:00 AM, Friday, May 15th, 2022 Lorain time, Law Department, Lorain City Hall 3rd Floor. TIME AND PLACE FOR OPENING BIDS: 11:15 AM, Lorain time, City of Lorain Council Chambers, Lorain City Hall 1st Floor. COMPLETION DATE: 24 MONTHS FROM NOTICE TO PROCEED 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. 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 ensure 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. Electronic packages may be secured, via email Joseph_ Pritchard@cityoflorain.org or the city website, www.cityoflorain.org/Bids.aspx. 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. 4/28; 5/5/22 20700737

WELLINGTON — An invitation to “become citizens of Kindland” may not have landed as heavily with teens Friday as some Wellington educators hoped. The school system has been struggling for years with bullying and outright rudeness. So it reached out to the Values-In-Action Foundation. Based in Mayfield Heights, the nonprofit has been working for two years to transform the Greater Cleveland area into “Kindland,” hoping that a groundswell in positivity will change the region’s outlook. “Have you seen what it’s like out there?” said Ron Kisner, a consultant who is trying to help the Wellington Schools change their culture. “We are so divided, it’s crazy. What this is trying to do is bring us back from the brink.” Generation Z is growing up in a time when it’s impossible to be sheltered from the world’s complicated issues, Superintendent Ed Weber told them. He challenged students to be kind to each other, and learn to say they are sorry when they make a mistake. “That healing process is an important part of our resilience and how we can be successful throughout our lives, because we will all carry a burden,” Weber said. That part of the pitch sat well with high-schoolers who filled the Patricia Lindley Center for the Performing Arts. Some even spoke up to talk about the issues that get under their skin — racism, homophobia, politics and classism. But other parts of the Kindland presentation fell flat. Some teens openly

Photos by Jason Hawk | Wellington Enterprise

Wellington High School students sign the Kindland pledge to stop bullying and be nicer to each other on Friday, April22. laughed at inspirational videos and cornball platitudes that may have appealed more to an elementary school crowd, and a few cracked jokes when a microphone was passed around for comments. Junior Phylicia Lundy and sophomore Sophia Palmison, who were chosen to emcee the event, said they noticed many of their classmates weren’t taking Kindland seriously. Still, by the end of the presentation they said they felt a little progress had been made. “I think it’s just a society thing,” Palmison said. “People need a little push to get going.” Afterward, students were asked to step forward and place their signatures on duct tape that decorated a banner containing the Kindland pledge. It reads: “I pledge to stick together against bullying, stop hurtful teasing and encourage others to do the same, do my part to make my school a safe place by being kinder to others, not let my words

or actions hurt others and treat others the way I want to be treated.” “When you stick together, you are just like these pieces of duct tape — powerful and strong,” said Lundy. Ending bullying means first learning to respect each other, said Kisner. “There’s a lot of that, a lot of shaming going on, both face-to-face and online,” he said. “It’s split us apart worse than ever, caused a chasm. What we’re trying to do is bring that chasm together, eliminate it. Heal it, really.” Shaun Sweet, director of community partnerships for Values-In-Action, said he hopes to start a chain reaction of kindness. Convincing students to be nice is a catalyst he hopes will spread to parents and then the rest of the community, he said. Wellington is hardly alone in trying to curb social problems, from fights in hallways and scraps on school buses to bomb threats, “mean girls” and picking on underclassmen. According to the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services, 19 percent of American students in grades nine to 12 say they’ve been bullied on school property within the past year. Among students ages 12 to 18 who reported being bullied at school, 15 percent were bullied online or by text. At 13.4 percent of complaints, being targeted by rumors or lies is the most common form reported, the agency said. Insults and teasing were next, followed by physical violence, exclusion from social groups, threats, being pressured into doing things they didn’t want to do and having their property destroyed. In Ohio, just shy of 16 percent of high school girls and 12 percent of high school boys said in 2019 that they’d been bullied in the past year, according to data kept by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hispanic students and freshmen were targeted far more than other groups, the state-specific numbers showed.

EIGHTH GRADE SWC CHAMPS

Jason Hawk | Amherst News-Times

State Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, presented a commendation Monday, April 18 to members of the Comets eighth grade girls basketball team in recognition of their successful season. Players wore their Southwestern Conference championship T-shirts shirts to receive the honor from the Ohio House of Representatives, “and I hear you’re pretty good in the classroom, too,” Miller said. The team went 18-0 this season, and the maturity and experience they’ve gained this year will aid them in their future endeavors, Miller said.

A MESSAGE FROM THE AMHERST FIRE DEPARTMENT Last week we responded to a motor vehicle accident on Oberlin Road, just south of the turnpike overpass. A motorist was angered as we temporarily stopped traffic so our towing partners could safely remove the vehicles from a two-lane road. We do our best to keep traffic moving, but it’s also important for all on scene to be protected while investigating, cleaning

up and removing vehicles from an accident scene. As of April 17, 74 Ohio Department of Transportation workers, vehicles or pieces of equipment have been hit this year. Earlier this month, Lt. Philip M. Wigal with the Town and Country Fire District was struck and killed while working an accident scene along I-71 in Wayne County. Through data, NIOSH

researchers found that from 2011 to 2016, 191 motor vehicle towing workers were killed. From 2011 to 2020, 454 officers died due to motor vehicle related incidents (struck by and crashes). Our rescue truck was struck on State Route 2 just after arriving at an accident scene in 2021. There were no injuries to any firefighters, but the truck was heavily damaged

and taken out of service for a number of months. It’s a shame that we have to constantly remind people just how dangerous it can be working at the scene of a motor vehicle accident. What’s more frustrating is that some motorists think their time, in this case less than 10-minutes, is more important than the life safety of those working to help others.

Thursday, April 28, 2022

Lorain County Community Guide

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BULLETIN BOARD Republicans screen movie

The Lorain County Community Guide Bulletin Board is for local nonprofit and not-for-profit events. Items are published on a space-available basis and will be edited for style, length, and clarity. Send your items to news@lcnewspapers.com.

The Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club will show a political movie at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 28 at the Father Ragan Knights of Columbus Hall, 1783 Moore Rd., Avon. The film is "Trump Card: Beating Socialism, Corruption and the Deep State." Refreshments will be served. The cost is $5 for guests.

Help cover kids’ medical costs

Support the Children’s Free Care Fund by mentioning it from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 28 and Friday, April 29 while shopping at The Mermaid’s Tale in downtown Amherst. Twenty-five percent of your total sale will be donated ot the Amherst Howard Hanna fundraiser. Established in 1988, the Children’s Free Care Fund makes sure that kids have access to medical care, whether it’s helping families without insurance or paying for cutting-edge care that insurance may not cover.

Murder mystery and dinner

The Friends of the Metro Parks of Lorain County will present their annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theater, “Talk About a Murder,” on Fridays and Saturdays, April 29 and 30, and May 6, 7, 13 and 14. There will also be a matinee on Sunday, May 15. Performances will be at the Carlisle Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Rd., Carlisle Township. Tickets are $30 each or $58 for couples. Group rates for 10 or more are available on request. Order by calling (216) 544-3865.

Screenings include blood glucose and HgA1c to check for diabetes, a chemistry profile (includes cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL) to check for heart or coronary artery diseases, TSH to check for thyroid disease, PSA for prostate cancer in men over 40 and blood pressure screening. The Lorain Parish Program will conduct the tests. Be sure to fast before attending and take morning medications with sips of water. Attendees are asked to wear masks and social distance. For more information, call Donna Sims at (440) 989-3901.

Final goodbye to SAMS

The public can take a final tour of South Amherst Middle School to say goodbye before it is vacated by the Firelands Schools. The “One More Visit” tour is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, May 1. “It’s going to be bittersweet,” said Principal Cara Hutchinson, who has served at the school for seven years. “That’s the best anybody can say when they leave anyplace.”

Event to support survivors

Eastwood public hearing

Grounds clean-up day

Raptors in Rehab

Take Back the Night will be held at 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 29, at the Clark Bandstand on Tappan Square in Oberlin. This event was rescheduled from last week due to inclement weather. Join Survivors of Sexual Harm and Allies in an organized protest. It will include a speak-out, a march and a celebration of resilience.

Volunteers are needed to help with the annual grounds clean-up at the Oberlin Heritage Center from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 30. Helpers will meet at the brick crossroads behind 73 South Professor St. to work throughout the Heritage Center’s grounds getting it ready for the summer visitor season. Wear work clothes and gloves and take your favorite weeding tools. Volunteers are welcome to drop by any time during the morning. For more information, call (440) 774-1700 or email members@oberlinheritage.org.

Get your vitals checked

Mercy Health will offer free health screenings from 8:3010:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 30 at Oberlin House of the Lord Fellowship, 125 South Pleasant St., Oberlin.

A public hearing has been set for 6 p.m. on Monday, May 2 in Oberlin City Council chambers to gather feedback on the proposed rezoning of Eastwood Elementary School. Oberlin College is seeking to obtain the 2-acre East College Street property for use as office, classroom and storage pace, contingent on it being rezoned from R-1 to R-2 residential use.

The Black River Audubon Society will feature the Medina Raptor Center presentation “Raptors in Rehab” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3 at the Carlisle Reservation Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Rd., Carlisle Township. Laura and Missy Jordan, together with Ed Wransky, will discuss the work of the Medina Raptor Center, the problems they work with and how humans can coexist with birds of prey as well as songbirds. The nonprofit center was founded in 1990 with the mission to rescue, rehabilitate and release birds of prey and songbirds. This program is free to the public.

New social walking hour

Summer Steps will be held at 6 p.m. every Tuesday from May 3 through Sept. 27 at Penfield Recreational Park, 40756 State

Route 18, Penfield Township. Meet at the pavilion closest to the road. Summer Steps is a free way to get moving all summer long, presented by the Keystone Empowers You collaborative. Every other week, local health professionals and community leaders will share healthy living tips or community updates before the walk begins. Participants earn a free produce bag after attending 10 walks. No membership or registration is required and all ages and abilities are invited to join. A weekly commitment is not necessary. Penfield Recreational Park has a paved trail, hydration station and other amenities. For more information on KEY, or to check for inclement weather cancelations, visit www.facebook.com/ KeystoneEmpowersYou.

Republicans meet for breakfast The Avon-Avon Lake Republican Friends Breakfast will be held from 8-9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4 at Sugar Creek Restaurant, 5196 Detroit Rd., Sheffield. Lorain County Health Commissioner Mark Adams will speak about his agency’s mission, vision, responsibilities, priorities, programs and services. Attendees are responsible for their meals.

Catch the buzz

“Buzzing By to Say Hi” will be Main Street Wellington’s First Friday theme from 4-7 p.m. on May 6 in the village’s downtown. The event, sponsored by the Lorain County Bee Keepers Association, invites participants to gather bee and honey related materials at participating businesses to enter for a chance to win a prize. The LaGrange Community Band will play from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and additional groups and local businesses will promote information, sales, giveaways and more. Several craft vendors will be set up early in the square and Town Hall to provide a sneak peek at their items for the next day’s Gazebo Garden Walk, which will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 7 at the crossroads of Route 18 and Route 58. The show will feature arts, crafts, antiques, flowers, garden accents, edibles, quilts, jewelry and more. Established in 1998, the Gazebo Garden Walk is the day before Mother’s Day. The event generates operating funds for Main Street Wellington, a nonprofit founded in 1998 to strengthen the business community and preserve the town’s history.

Honoring the fallen

The 2022 Lorain County Police Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 6 on Courthouse Square in downtown Elyria. It is an annual tribute to the men and women who died in the line of duty. All are welcome to attend.

Black River flea market

The Black River Schools and Black River Ruriteens will hold their 2nd Annual Spring Flea Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 7 at the Black River Education Center parking lot.

BALANCE THE BENCH • VOTE MAY 3RD

• Respected Judicial Officer with jury trial experience, presiding over civil and criminal matters in Lorain County Court of Common Pleas. attorney, as a licensed e d a c e d a r ; in ove Dear Voters rve as a Lora County for se y in tl ra n o e L rr u in c ed l law, and r justice I have work and crimina a passion fo y e il v a m h I fa . th te o a hed tr practicing b g an unmatc Pleas Magis n in o v a m h m in o e C d f rt o sed nd take pri County Cou make unbia ommunity a to c r y u it o il f b o a d ty n f the law, a and the safe unity. nowledge o k rm fi , ic in the comm th s e g n a h work e c e tiv at bring posi e Lorain decisions th e bench of th th n o le a m fe place to ome the sole ourtroom a c c e e b l th il e k w a I , m ket ill If elected efficient doc n on Pleas. I w a m in m o ta C in f a o rt munity, m ly collabCounty Cou and the com er, and open n ts n n a a g m ti li ir h fa it al d n connect w in our crimin in a timely a e s c n se a re c fe g if d in a lv s to make aimed at reso nd program a s ie c n e g a orate with ounty. in Lorain C ss lved e c ro p e orable, invo justic n o h n a r fo fresh e is a vote ard with both t a vote for m a rw th fo w e o ic n k st ju moving an balance I want you to te devoted to gether we c a to id t d a n th a c f e a li , e acebook yb candidate me on my F lues. It is m a t v u l o a b n a io re it o d a an learn m nal experiideas and tr meet, you c n, professio o e ti w a l c ti u n d e U . y h the benc ad about m pages and re m ra g a st In and rvice. mmunity se ence, and co

• Represented individuals and families facing challenging legal battles in courts throughout Lorain County. • Dedicated to making firm but fair decisions to keep our community safe and enhancing confidence in the justice system. • Lifelong DEMOCRAT and Lorain County resident.

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• Actively engaged in community service, board member of Lorain County Urban League and member of the Lorain Lions Club.

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Thursday, April 28, 2022

Lorain County Community Guide

You will need:

A Day for Games

One popular Dia del Niño game is Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Help Hector pin the tail on the donkey picture.

• a large balloon • lots of newspaper • 5 cups of flour • water • masking tape

• colored tissue • glue • scissors • string • pencil • paint (optional)

A Day for Children in Mexico!

In Mexico, Children’s Day (Día Del Niño) is celebrated on April 30th. On this day, there are no classes in schools. Instead, schools organize games and music.

Inflate the balloon and tie tightly.

Children bring in their favorite foods to share. Some families take a day out with their children. Often there are special activities for children around the community. Children wear bright colors to celebrate their youth and the coming of Spring.

2 Tear the newspaper into long, thin strips (about 1 inch wide and at least 12 inches long). You’ll need lots of strips!

Color the last balloon in each row the color it should be to continue the pattern in that row.

3 In a large bowl, mix 5 cups of flour with water, adding water slowly until it looks like pancake batter.

Dip a newspaper strip in the flour mixture, wetting it completely. Then drape it over the balloon.

Hot Chocolate Song On Children's Day, many families start the day with a yummy cup of hot chocolate and they sing of a song at breakfast. A mollinillo is used to stir the chocolate drink by rolling it between the palms of your hands while it is dipped in the hot chocolate. The kids sing the following song while stirring the drink. The game is to sing each verse a little faster every time it is sung.

Piñata Pairs On Dia del Niño, children take turns to swing a bat or stick at a piñata, trying to break it apart to release the candy and goodies inside! ACTIVITY: All but one of these piñatas have an exact twin. Circle the one that’s unique.

Children’s Rights Collage

Look through the newspaper for pictures and words showing things you think all children should have a right to. Cut these out and use them to make a Children’s Rights collage.

Bate, bate, chocolate,

(Stir, stir, chocolate,)

Tu nariz de cacahuate.

(Your nose is a peanut.)

Uno, dos, tres, CHO!

(One, two, three, CHO!)

Uno, dos, tres, CO!

(One, two, three, CO!)

Uno, dos, tres, LA!

(One, two, three, LA!)

Standards Link: Visual Art: Use art to express a message.

Uno, dos, tres, TE!

(One, two, three, TE!)

Children’s Day in Mexico started in 1925. This celebration has its origins during Álvaro Obregón’s presidential term after the country joined the Geneva Convention. The Geneva Convention emphasized the importance of taking care of children, originally the vulnerable children affected by World War I. The United Nations suggested in 1959 countries adopt a National Children’s Day in honor of the Children’s Rights Declaration of 1959.

Chocolate, chocolate!

(Chocolate, chocolate!)

Bate, bate, chocolate!

(Stir, stir, chocolate!)

Bate, bate, bate, bate,

(Stir, stir, stir, stir,)

Bate, bate, CHOCOLATE!

(Stir, stir, CHOCOLATE!)

Silly Book Puns

A pun is a play on words. Read the book titles below and then draw a line from the book title to the author’s name that makes a funny pun. For example: The Arctic Ocean by I.C. Waters. by Lotta Money by A. Stronaut by Abby Cadabera by Duncan Under by U. Turner

CHOCOLATE CHILDRENS CELEBRATE MEXICO DONKEY PEANUT SCHOOL PALMS FROTH DRINK CANDY MUSIC TAIL GAME DAY

Add more and more layers until you have applied 5 to 10 layers. Allow to dry completely.

When your piñata is completely dry, you can paint it and glue colored tissue paper all over it.

D Y A D E Y L F N C

I T U N A E P R H H

M D R I N K N O O I

S E F O L N C T M L

This week’s word:

ORGANIZE

D A L I L D O E S R

The verb organize means placing belongings in a neat, logical way.

N G L A C A E H I E

A B T T P O R A C N

I like to organize my books by the author’s name.

C E L E B R A T E S

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

Y M X L R O C H U D

Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognize identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

My Book

ANSWER: Alley cats!

Standards Link: Language Arts: Compose formal letters.

Continue overlapping strips until the balloon is completely covered.

To fill piñata, cut a small flap in the top, bend it back carefully, and drop in small, wrapped candies.

Describe Dia del Niño

Look through the newspaper for five or more words that describe Children’s Day in Mexico. Use these words to write a letter to your local newspaper editor about why you think there should be a Children’s Day in your town.

Imagine you could write a book for kids. What would be your topic? Who would be your main character? What would make other kids want to read your book?

OUR TOWNS

Lorain County Community Guide • Thursday, April 28, 2022

Burgess chosen as new Oberlin Council president JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Bryan Burgess has stepped up to serve as Oberlin City Council president, at least while he is able. He was the lone nominee put forward by his peers last week for the job. Burgess will replace outbound President Heather Adelman, whose resignation was effective this past Sunday. Adelman took the leader-

ship role on Council less a court battle over in January, but said gerrymandering ends she had to resign from with district boundaroffice entirely to avoid ies shifting. all potential conflicts of Burgess is unchalinterest after accepting a lenged in his party’s job at Oberlin College. primary. Assuming the Burgess has held the ballot doesn’t change, gavel in the past. But he will face the winBryan he, too, may prove to be ner of the Republican Burgess a short-term president. primary in November. A Democrat, he is Incumbent Dick running for the Ohio House Stein, R-Norwalk, is seeking of Representatives in the 54th re-election, and Kathleen Beyer District — at least for now, unof Vermilion is challenging him

as a write-in candidate. Burgess said that “if things go well,” and he is elected in November, that means he would have to resign from Council at the end of the year. Then Council would have to both choose a president all over again and seek a new member to serve out the remainder of his term. “In the time that I’m here, I’ll do my best to maintain decorum in the court chambers and decorum in public,” Burgess said. Oberlin Council meets inside the Oberlin

COLLEGE GEOTHERMAL PROJECT

Municipal Court’s facility. Council Vice President Kelley Singleton did not allow his name to be put forward for consideration for the job. “As vice president, I would usually serve as the president of Council,” he said while running last week’s meeting. “But I have decided it is in the best interest of the Council and city at this time (that) I remain the vice president.” Later in the meeting, he said “it’s just not the right time” for him to step in to the president’s role.

Records reveal accounts that led Firelands to end coach’s tenure JASON HAWK EDITOR

Photos by Kristin Bauer | Oberlin News-Tribune

Michael Ahern, senior vice president of system development at Ever-Green Energy, led a tour on Tuesday, April 19 to show the progress that has been made on Oberlin College’s conversion from steam to geothermal heating and cooling. The tour began at Wilder Bowl and continued north on Woodland Street, to the athletic fields and then finished on Union Street. Ahern showed tour-goers how pipes are being laid in trenches, and highlighted some of the areas of the project where crews have finished work.

Tour gets up-close and personal with $40 million geothermal job

JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — “Mount Oberlin,” the giant dirt mound that at one point was Lorain County’s highest point, is being carved away. Work crews are taking dirt from the eastern escarpment at the Oberlin College soccer fields to use as backfill as they install new heating and cooling pipes as part of a $40 million geothermal conversion project. Now entering its second year, it’s designed to completely replacing the old steam system that has, according to the college, deteriorated beyond reasonable repair. Michael Ahern of EverGreen Energy said the hill, which was surpassed in 2005 by the Lorain County Landfill as the county’s tallest peak, will be restored when the project is done. Wearing a yellow hardhat and safety vest, he led a tour Tuesday, April 19 for the public, explaining how the project is coming along. A small crowd walked with him from Wilder Bowl at the center of campus across Route 511 and down Woodland Street toward the Yeomen and Yeowomen athletic complex. Standing next to the soccer fields,

SOUTH AMHERST — Wrestling coach Josh Walbom allegedly hit an eighth-grader in November during an incident that led to the end of his tenure with the Firelands Falcons. Investigative files released last week by the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office include witness accounts on the Nov. 23 incident that caused Walbom to be put on paid leave until the end of his coaching contract. Provided after a public records request, the documents indicate Walbom was infuriated when he learned the eighth-grader had made disparaging remarks about his son’s girlfriend’s chest size during an altercation on a Firelands school bus. On the advice of his lawyer, Superintendent Mike Von Gunten has declined to comment on the record about the investigation into Walbom. But he told deputies that Walbom screamed at the eighth-grade boy because of the bus fight with his son, and said the coach singled out the boy “with fists clenched.” That’s when the boy said Walbom Josh Walbom hit him in the leg, but did not leave any marks or bruises. The coach also allegedly used his fist to push the sitting child against a wall. “I’ll just have the high-schoolers take care of you,” he allegedly told the boy before assigning his team captains to dish out punishment. They started with sprinting drills often tastelessly referred to as “suicides.” The boy also had to do lunges and squats while holding a 45-pound weight over his head. Then Walbom had all Falcons wrestlers with sisters line up to repeatedly take down the eighth-grader, witnesses told Deputy Cody Northeim. “Some wrestlers slammed (the child) because he was much younger and smaller and others performed wrestling moves to take him down,” Northeim wrote. The middle-schooler weighed 150 pounds and was forced to wrestle senior athletes that weighed up to 220 pounds, his report said. Each takedown lasted 10 seconds of less, and Walbom reportedly told wrestlers not to hurt him, according to a statement from Coach Jonathan Handwerk, who was only present for the final minutes of the incident. Yet the “hazing” was so bad the child said he almost urinated himself, according to the report. The boy also made trips to a garbage can to vomit, though it’s unclear whether he did so or just dry-heaved before returning to the mat. Walbom later told the child to “get out of the room and he does not want to see him talking about women, RECORDS PAGE B2

▲ Work is underway on Woodland Street. ► Michael Ahern of Ever-Green Energy leads the tour across campus. Ahern said work burying pipes there has a May 8 deadline so the fields can be reseeded and grass has time to grow in before the season begins. Workers made huge progress last year, digging enormous trenches across the southern reaches of campus to install lines for hot and cold water, and converting the Conservatory of Music and many other buildings to use the new system. TOUR PAGE B2

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Lorain County Community Guide

Deputies to get body-worn cameras

TOUR FROM B1

The northern end of campus is the target now. Detour signs will go up soon, directing traffic around periodic closures of near Mercy Health Allen Hospital so that pipes can be laid across the roadways. Next January and February, work will begin on digging about 1,000 geothermal wells, which will go straight down about 600 feet to where the temperature remains fairly constant as the seasons change above. When work is completed in Fall 2024, the campus will be about 30 percent more energy-efficient, Ahern said. Its greenhouse emissions from heating and cooling will be reduced by about 90 percent, and the college will save about 5 million gallons of water and 4 million gallons of sewer discharge per year — a financial savings of roughly $1 million annually. “The beautiful thing you’ll see in the dead of winter is you won’t see those third floor dormitory windows open, venting, just wasting heat and energy,” he said. The project has had its share of setbacks. Like all contractors, Ever-Green Energy has suffered from supply chain disruptions — getting pipe valves has been a struggle, said Ahern, forcing changes in the order work is rolling out this spring. Pricing for directional drilling on the north end of campus also came back $2 million higher than expected, he said, so workers pivoted to open trenches to manage costs. The project looks much different from how it was originally envisioned, said John Petersen, the Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Biology, who went on the public tour. Back in 2016, the college thought for sure its energy future would be based on heat reclamation from landfill gases in neighboring New Russia Township. A company called EDL runs a gas reclamation operation there, burning off some and venting the heat into the atmosphere. Peterson said the college wanted to capture that heat and pipe it to dorms and classrooms. That idea fell through when EDL changed its business plans. It is shutting down its landfill operation and instead building an $80 million plant on the east side of Oberlin, where it plans to pump and clean methane for resale. So the college went with geothermal instead, drawing water from below the surface and sending it around campus at 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Now Kenyon College and Denison University are among the institutions interested in following suit, said Ahern. They’re where Oberlin was in 2016 and angling toward carbon neutrality, so they have reached out to his company about the possibility of environmentally-friendly heating and cooling solutions, he said. LOVE LOCAL NEWS? Subscribe to the Community Guide and get your edition delivered to your mailbox every week, loaded with news about Amherst, Oberlin, Wellington and Lorain County. CALL US AT (440) 329-7000 TODAY!

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L O R A I N

DAVE O’BRIEN THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

ELYRIA — The Lorain County Sheriff's Office will be able to equip 75 deputies with body-worn video cameras this year, thanks to a more than $300,000 investment from the county commissioners. Sheriff's Capt. Daniel Ashdown said the funds will help his agency purchase 75 Bodycam 4 cameras and pay a fulltime employee to download and review camera footage, fulfill public records requests and redact private or sensitive footage. The cameras were on a dock "ready to ship" as soon as commissioners approved the order last week, Ashdown said. A state grant announced earlier this year provided an additional $147,000 in grant funding to the Sheriff's Office on top of the $302,808 approved by commissioners. "This has been a long-time-coming project. I think everyone realizes nationwide there's been a push for this, and we've been doing the research the entire time, waiting for the right moment" and state funding to come through, he said. A select number of deputies and supervisors on each shift will be trained on their use while the full-time records specialist is trained on the software. All deputies should have their cameras by June, he said. The Sheriff's Office will get a $7,500 refund on its CORSA property and liability risk insurance premium for buying the cameras, Ashdown said. The cameras have included mounting options, docking stations, rechargeable and removable batteries and Bluetooth devices. They are waterproof with a housing built to military standards. The 14-hour battery life should be

more than enough to cover a deputy's needs for one shift, and there is an integrated GPS tracker and 64 gigabytes of internal storage inside. The cameras start recording as soon as a deputy triggers their overhead light bar in their cruiser. Cameras also automatically activate when another camera comes within 30 feet of another active camera, such as when backup arrives at a crime scene or traffic stop. Batteries can be recharged inside cruisers, and video automatically downloads to a cloud-based storage system compliant with existing criminal justice software. Deputies can view but not alter the video from their cameras. Only supervisors would be able to alter video by muting the audio or blurring images to protect victims, witnesses and people not charged with crimes, or to redact sensitive personal material such as Social Security numbers. Secure video links can be sent directly to courts, shared with prosecutors and defense attorneys. Access can be set to unlimited views, or restricted by total number of views before it is locked. The review process is time-consuming. The Sheriff's Office must, by law, review at least 10 percent of its traffic stops or deputies' "self-initiated" activity — about 500 hours per month of dashboard camera footage, Ashdown said. Ten percent of all body-worn camera footage must now be viewed by supervisors on top of that, he said. A one-hour call could require up to three hours of review if it ever goes to court, Ashdown said. Random reviews would take up to 1,200 hours, or 19 hours per week for court processing and public records requests plus redactions of information that is not subject to public records law. In 2021, the Avon Police Department

RECORDS FROM B1 family members or anything,” according to one witness. Outside the room, Walbom allegedly told the boy there was no need to tell his father. Assistant coach Raymond Adams told Northeim he didn’t see Walbom put his hands on the boy, but did feel the discipline was over the top. Another assistant coach, Douglas Childers, said he believed it was a “reasonable, normal wrestling workout,” but Northeim’s report questioned whether Childers was in the room during the incident. Northeim’s report said Walbom told the entire team that his son was justified for his actions because he stood up for his girlfriend. Walbom did not allow his son, also a wrestler, to make a witness statement. Northeim said he was contacted by Walbom’s attorney and was told not to have contact with the family. Walbom was charged with hazing and aggravated menacing, both misdemeanors. Those charges were dropped by prosecutor Farah Emeka earlier this month. She told Oberlin Municipal Court Judge Thomas Januzzi that the eight-grader was traumatized by the events giving rise to the charge and

C O U N T Y

therefore the state no longer wished to pursue the charge. “While your actions may or may not have have constituted the criminal act of hazing, the non-renewal of your employment with the district is not dependent on criminal sanctions and is an entirely separate matter,” Von Gunten told Walbom in an April 15 letter, also obtained through a request under Ohio’s public records law. The circumstances warranted a report to Children Services, the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Department of Education Office of Professional Conduct and the Ohio High School Athletic Association, Von Gunten wrote. He said Walbom decided on a punishment primarily on what he heard from his son, without investigating further, without talking to the bus driver or viewing surveillance camera footage and without consulting any school administrator. “Further, while the takedown drill may be a common wrestling exercise, it was utilized in this situation to discipline and humiliate a student and not to further a student’s athletic skill,” Von Gunten said. He also wrote that Walbom should not have used his au-

thority in a matter concerning his own son. Attorney Giovanna Bremke, who represents Walbom and is also a Firelands wrestling parent, said her client didn’t know the bus fight had involved his son. She also said no vomit was found in the trash cans after 10 days, and that they had not been emptied during that time. Bremke also disputed that older, heavier wrestlers had been involved in taking down the eighth-grader, whom she said was a year old that most of his classmates. The punishment was meant purely to address disparaging remarks the child made against females, she said: “It’s common for coaches of all caliber, of all sports, football, basketball – they all make kids do ‘suicides.’” Bremke provided a letter from Guy Sako, a coach of 32 years, a National Hall of Fame inductee and a retired Cleveland police officer, whom she had planned to call as an expert witness. In his opinion, the boy was not harmed emotionally or physically by the ordeal and the drills were not excessive or out of the ordinary, he wrote. Sako said he found it “clever that Joshua was able to teach a young man a life lesson while using common wrestling drills. The fact that Joshua chose a seven-

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received 1,000 requests for copies of its body-worn camera video, he said. Commissioners said the equipment is important for the job deputies do. "From what I've heard in the community, I think there's overwhelming support for body cameras of some type," Commissioner Matt Lundy, a Democrat, said. "Transparency in government is very important, and this is certainly going to provide transparency in law enforcement." "I see this as protection for our deputies, more than anything else," said Commissioner David Moore, a Republican. "I see it as something we should have done years ago." Commissioner Michelle Hung, a Republican, said there are "a lot of advantages to having them," including improving officer safety. Deputies have a "dangerous job," and deal with "violent and unpredictable individuals every day," and "sometimes you can't control what these people do," she said. The $10 million Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program was given priority in the state's 2022-23 operating budget. In Lorain County, Avon, Avon Lake, Lorain, North Ridgeville, Oberlin, Vermilion and Wellington police officers already have body-worn cameras. Lorain County Metro Parks rangers received more than $14,000 from the state to purchase five of their own earlier this year. The Amherst, Elyria and Sheffield police departments are in the process of outfitting officers with them. State Highway Patrol troopers were equipped with body-worn cameras last year, and Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction officers and Ohio Adult Parole Authority agents recently got them. minute time frame, which is the length of a college wrestling match, shows to me that Joshua took the time to rationally decide his course of action and shows that he wasn’t acting in haste.” Bremke alleged the nonrenewal of Walbom’s contract was a conspiracy, saying the eighth-grader’s father is friends with a Firelands Board of Education member. She said Von Gunten steered the investigation away from Walbom’s favor from the beginning. She also tried to cast doubt on Northeim because he is a Firelands graduate employed as the district’s resource officer. Von Gunten’s April 15 letter to Walbom reiterates that the decision not to keep him on the coaching staff was made because he allegedly placed a student in danger of physical and emotional harm. Walbom’s actions violated policies on student safety, health and welfare; maintaining appropriate social and emotional boundaries with students; bullying and hazing, Von Gunten said in a December document listing the full reasoning for his recommendation that the coach be terminated. The coach’s decisions violated the OHSAA handbook, district athletic handbook, the Professional Licensure Code of Conduct and possibly Ohio Revised Code, he said.

C O L L E G E

Thursday, April 28, 2022

Lorain County Community Guide

Page B3

Mixed results after first year of electric car sharing JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Metrics from the first year of Oberlin’s electric car-sharing program are raising some City Council members’ eyebrows. The city is paying Sway Mobility of Shaker Heights a total of $223,000 over five years for the use of two Nissan Leafs and a charging station, located in the Oberlin Police Department parking lot. For the year ending April 1, 59 city residents and 280 Oberlin College students had rented the cars for 1,163 trips, logging 42,038 miles, Sway CEO Michael Peters said in a report to Council last week. That works out to Council spending $131.56 on every person who used the car over the 12-month period.

While at first blush it may appear that taxpayers are subsidizing a ride service for college students, Peters said the smaller group of Oberlin residents tended to use the Nissans more often. In fact, just 10 people were responsible for driving 14,000 miles last year, Council Vice President Kelley Singleton noted with some incredulity. Trips averaged 36 miles and about two-and-a-half hours, Peters said. Many stayed within Oberlin’s city limits, but sometimes the cars were taken to Elyria, Lorain, Cleveland and as far as Michigan, Pittsburgh and Columbus. Peters said there were some who used the publicly-shared vehicles “religiously” to pick up and drop off people at work. Other popular uses included medical appointments, accessing government services and going to the airport or train station.

Running to the grocery store was a big one: “We sometimes joke that maybe Walmart should really be the sponsor of this program, since the cars are there quite a bit,” he said. But some on Council believe Oberlin College should be sponsoring the program. “It does occur to me that the city is providing a significant service to the students of Oberlin College,” said Councilman Ray English. Peters said the college is considering — but had not yet signed a contract — chipping in to cover the cost of a third electric vehicle under the city’s sharing program. If the college does so, it would be paying 33 percent of the program costs while 83 percent of the people who use the service are college students, said Singleton. Council also heard about firstyear operational challenges. For example, Peters said the rear

ANOTHER ‘CHILD’ PLANTED

window of one of the Nissans has been smashed out twice and had to be replaced. There have been issues with the vehicles’ suspension and tires and mirrors, and a couple of times drivers ran out of electricity and the cars had to be towed, he said. There were also some early issues with the charging station itself, he said. On the other hand, ride use exceeded expectations for the first year, said Peters. He previously told Council that convincing residents to actually use the service usually takes a couple of years. Sway Mobility estimates that use of the two Nissans avoided about 27,000 pounds in carbon dioxide emissions. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, that’s the equivalent of taking 2.6 gasolinefueled cars off the road for a year. To put it another way, burning 13,550 pounds of coal would

generate that amount of carbon dioxide. The EPA assessment varies, however, from Sway’s claim last fall that every shared vehicle introduced is equivalent to removing 11 personal vehicles from the roadways. Using the car costs $8 per hour to travel up to 25 miles, and an additional 36 cents for each additional mile in that same hour. The company’s app is used to sign up, schedule times for use and unlock car doors. It can be found at www.swaymobility.com/ oberlin-carshare. Using the electric car charging port in the city lot also incurs a fee of about $1.30 for an hour’s charge. Sway Mobility contends that making its cars available saves the average user $5,500 per year that they would otherwise have to spend on vehicle payments, gas, insurance and related costs.

PANCAKE PALS

Jason Hawk | Wellington Enterprise

Wellington High School sophomores Allie Peck and Autumne Jones, with junior Alaina Collins, lend a hand in the kitchen Friday during the Kiwanis Club’s annual Pancake Day at the Wellington Eagles Club. They are all members of Key Club. Students worked shifts to make pancakes and sausage, helping Kiwanis raise money for its signature project for 2022: playground repairs and upgrades at parks across the village.

85 SOUTH MAIN STREET OBERLIN OHIO 44074 APRIL 28, 2022 BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETING DATES ALL MEETINGS WILL BE Live Streamed @ http://oberlinoh.swagit.com/live Jason Hawk | Oberlin News-Tribune

A weeping cherry tree, donated by Oberlin College, was planted Friday morning in a joint Earth Day and Arbor Day ceremony at Toni Morrison Park on the corner of Main and Lorain streets in Oberlin. City workers Jason Keltner, Mike Ives and Clarence Palos placed the tree and carefully padded rich soil around its base. Sporting early pink blossoms, it’s just a sapling now, but could grow to one day start 15 to 25 feet tall. Sylan Long, chair of the city’s Open Space Commission, used the event to talk about the importance of urban forestry — using trees in urban landscapes strategically to improve the environment. That’s long been a goal for Oberlin, which has had the Tree City USA designation for 22 years, said City Manager Rob Hillard. Public Works Director Jeff Baumann has been planting trees all over Oberlin for more than two decades. “It’s like I have 1,000 children scattered around town and I get to watch them grow up slowly but surely,” he said.

MAY 2, 2022 .......................... CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING – 7:00 P.M. - CONFERENCE ROOM 1 PURPOSE: To adjourn to an executive session to consider the appointment of a new council member MAY 2, 2022 .......................... CIVIL COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING – 6:30 P.M. - COUNCIL CHAMBERS PURPOSE: To consider a recommendation from the Planning Commission to rezone the Eastwood School property at 198 E. College St. from “R-1” and “R-1B”/single family dwelling districts to “R-2”/two-family dwelling district for Oberlin College and the Oberlin City School District Board of Education.

MAY 2, 2022 .......................... REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING – 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS MAY 3, 2022 .......................... HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION – 5:15 P.M. PROSPECT SCHOOL, 36 PROSPECT ST. MAY 4, 2022 .......................... PLANNING COMMISSION – 4:30 P.M. PROSPECT SCHOOL, 36 PROSPECT ST. 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 28, 2022

Lorain County Community Guide

SPORTS

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

JUST SHORT

RELAYS HONOR ‘MUZZ’

Thomas Fetcenko | Wellington Enterprise

Black River pitcher Lilly Stief throws to first to make an out against Perry on Saturday. The Pirates fought hard in the J.B. Firestone Invitational, but despite clawing back into contention twice were ultimately downed 10-9.

KETTLEMAN KILLS IT

Photos by Joe Colon | Amherst News-Times

Photos by Angelo Angel | Amherst News-Times

With respect to Olmsted Falls, Sunday’s game was over by the time Amherst wrapped up the second inning, ahead 9-0. The Comets continued to bring the pain until the 16-2 final on Sliman’s Diamond. Cassidy Kettleman was the Comets’ not-so-secret weapon, slugging for a homer, a massive eight RBIs, a triple and three runs. ABOVE: Amherst’s Eliza Marcano grabs an ice cream at Hastee Tastee to celebrate her team’s victory.

Celebrate Spring!

Days of Yore

The 66th Annual Comet Relays were held Saturday at Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst. Competing on their home track and field, the Amherst girls placed seventh overall and the boys finished 17th. The event was dedicated to Ron Towne, who has volunteered for several decades to make the relays a success. He’s worked the gate since the mid-1980s, and has a prize collection of hats from the Comet Relays of years past. Known as “Muzz,” Towne was born and raised in Amherst and graduated in 1961 from Steele, where he played football and threw shot put on the track team for four years. ABOVE: Pole vaulter Evan Draga placed 12th with a jump of 12 feet. RIGHT: Ella Baker anchors the sprint medley.

WILDCATS HOLD STEADY Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

Wellington was counting on a big seventhinning rally to battle back from three runs down in play last week against state-ranked Keystone. The Dukes girls did find one run, but not the rest of the hits needed and fell 7-5. Madison Lewis and Maile Oswald each had two runs and Mallory Pickering had one for the Dukes; for the Wildcats, Dana Pace and Kennedy Kerr each rounded the bases twice, with additional runs from Hannah Gurich, Madison Scott and Brynn Duta. LEFT: Wellington’s Madison Lewis slices the ball to right field for a base hit.

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Lorain County Community Guide

HOME TRACK ADVANTAGE

Page B5

PIRATES POWER

Photos by Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

Ethan Foster and Evan Ladina each crossed home plate twice in Black River’s 4-2 win over Keystone. The Wildcats bats had a hard time warming up — Aiden Rodachy and Jack Senghas each notched a single run. ABOVE: Black River’s Ethan Foster avoids the tag attempt of Keystone’s Jack Senghas. BELOW” Johnny Kray lays down a bunt.

Photos by Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

In their final home track meet of the season, the Dukes won a slew of events against Lorain County League competitors from Brookside. Wellington’s Derrick Andolsek clears the final hurdle in the 110-meter hurdles. Girls Winners • The 4x800-meter relay team of Taylor Morris, Bella Watters, Haley Harper and Kierstin Dent • The 4x200-meter relay team of Hope Dudziak, Savannah Gundert, Amanda Spiekerman and Natalie Calfo • 1,600 meters – Taylor Morris • The 4x100-meter relay team of McKenna Solkiewicz, Kierstin Taylor, Jayde Davis and Joyce Stallard • 400 meters – Hope Dudziak • 800 meters – Haley Harper • The 4x400-meter relay team of Savannah Gundert, Amanda Spiekerman, Hope Dudziak and Natalie Calfo • High jump – Joyce Stallard

• Pole vault – Emma Wacker • Discus – Brooke Lehmkuhl Boys Winners • The 4x800-meter relay team of Ned Gott, Zach Barnes, Spencer Brasee and Sam Smith • 110-meter hurdles – Derrick Andolsek • 100 meters – Miguel Gonzalez • 1,600 meters – Sam Smith • 200 meters – Miguel Gonzalez • 3,200 meters – Scotty Hook • The 4x400-meter relay team of Baron Turner, Josh Nocella, Spencer Brasee and Miguel Gonzalez • Long jump – Kaleb Taylor • Pole vault – Trey Lawson

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Page B6

Thursday, April 28, 2022

Lorain County Community Guide

Hook’s Greenhouse 50740 State Route 18 Wellington, Ohio 44090

440-647-5480

4/24-4/30

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Dear Valued Customers, Family and Friends, We are officially open for the spring season! Our greenhouse is full of blooming beauties ready to head to your gardens and homes but don’t let this current warm weather fool you! Most plants will still need protection from cold nights and strong cool April winds. Come see what’s new. We have an ever expanding variety of houseplants and a beautiful assortment of hanging baskets. Stay tuned to social media for further updates and thank-you for your support! Stay safe,

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The hummingbirds are almost here and these planters are pre-made with flowers they love! We planted them with Vermillionaire and Salvia and a perennial Coral Bell! We also put a mini pot for putting jelly to feed the orioles. Make your own planter or stop in and we can help!

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Call or Text 440-647-5480