COMMUNITY GUIDE
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LORAIN COUNTY
AMHERST NEWS-TIMES • OBERLIN NEWS-TRIBUNE • WELLINGTON ENTERPRISE Thursday, April 30, 2020
www.lcnewspapers.com
‘Bat-Mayor’ wants to honor real superheroes
Volume 7, Issue 18
CLASS OF 2020 REACTS
JASON HAWK EDITOR
WELLINGTON — "Bat-Mayor" will don the cape and cowl tomorrow to help rally the village's morale. In a call from his secret hideout, Batman uber-fan Hans Schneider said he wants this week's First Friday event on May 1 to honor real heroes. They include doctors and nurses who take care of COVID-19 patients, police officers, firefighters and paramedics. "We look everywhere and there's heroes," Schneider said. "It goes down to the cashiers at Walmart, cashiers at Village Market and Apples, gas station attendants. People working at McDonald's to keep us going." Main Street Wellington launched its First Friday effort in November to give businesses a boost, creating themed outings each month. The promotion had been off to a great start, and then the pandemic hit. Main Street Director Jenny Arntz said the virus canceled plans for Batman Day on Friday and a mini-science fiction convention called "A Galaxy Far, Far Away for a Day" on Saturday. The Star Wars-themed event has been moved to Sept. 5 at Town Hall. Some of the fun is moving online. She's inviting people to dress and their favorite comic book superheroes — or real life medical heroes — and post pictures on Main Street Wellington's Facebook page. BAT-MAYOR PAGE A2
Oberlin High School seniors Jack Freas and Aaron Hopkins, who live together, chat with us by video call about missing the last months of their school experience, and concerns about what fall holds in the age of the coronavirus.
HS seniors frustrated as their year is cut short
JASON HAWK EDITOR
Provided photo
A huge fan of comic book superhero Batman, Wellington Mayor Hans Schneider goes full Dark Knight.
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Senior Sydney Siegenthaler was on vacation when Amherst Steele High School closed in midMarch. When she left the week before, she didn’t know it was for the last time. "I didn't get to say goodbye to any of my teachers," she said. "It does kind of stink, because you're not getting the last time to see everyone, and you don't
DON’T MISS our salute to seniors on page B3. We plan to highlight members of the Class of 2020 who are missing out on commencement and other traditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic! know who you're going to see again.” A member of the ill-fated Class of 2020, Siegenthaler is among the students who are watching their high school careers end with a whimper instead of the pomp and circumstance they expected. After watching her
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SENIORS PAGE A3
Lorain County fair organizers nervously watch for all-clear JASON HAWK EDITOR
WELLINGTON — Hundreds of vendor contracts were signed in February as organizers geared up for the 175th anniversary of the Lorain County Fair. Now there are serious questions about whether COVID-19 will shut down the celebration, or how it may have to change.
"As of yet, we've received no information indicating we can go forward or we cannot," fair President Kim Meyers said last week. As an at-large representative to the Ohio Fair Managers Association, he is getting daily updates from the Ohio Department of Agriculture. "There's uncertainty everywhere. All of the fairs around the state, we talk, we're linked up to each other. And everybody is very anxious about what's going to happen," said Mey-
ers. Though schools will remain closed for the rest of the academic year, Ohio's stay-at-home order is set to expire May 1, when Gov. Mike DeWine said he will begin allowing businesses to reopen in phases. "Because of Ohio's hard work to flatten the curve and because of our health care system’s efforts to come together to meet community needs as COUNTY FAIR PAGE A3
INSIDE THIS WEEK
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sister, Gracen, graduate from Steele two years ago, Sydney said she's waited for her turn to cross the Wolstein Center stage and receive her diploma — and now that experience has been snatched away. This fall, she plans to attend Ohio State University to major in early childhood
education — and she’s nervous that OSU won’t resume normal classes by then. Her classmate, Dominic Deshuk said he refuses to be upset about missing the last months of his high school career. "Looking back on what I've missed makes me reflect on what I've gotten to do as an Amherst Comet," he said. Even if he’ll miss prom, he has the memories of many other dances. And
Amherst
Oberlin
Wellington
Demolition underway at old Powers school • B1
Restaurants tap into Council’s zero-interest relief loans • B1
Cafeteria worker fired over incident with student • B1
OBITUARIES A2 • CLASSIFIEDS A2 • KID SCOOP A4
Page A2
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Lorain County Community Guide
FACEBOOK FEEDBACK
We asked social media followers: What are you most looking forward to doing when the coronavirus restrictions are lifted and life goes back to normal? Mary Csincsak Cawthon: "I can’t wait to see my family face-toface again and share family dinners, but most of all giving and getting hugs and kisses from my kids and grandkids." Kelly Given: "My daughter is a health care worker in Upstate New York. I can’t see her until this is over. I will be visiting on the first day I can." Dawn Fugate Watson: "Holding my grandson. We have not gotten to hold him in almost seven weeks and he is only eight months old! I fear he will not know us! And going camping." Tanya Knoble: "Camping! Not sure why they closed. It is the best social distancing." April Pine: "Celebrating my 10-year wedding anniversary a little late!" Cheron Rebok: "Yes, yes, yes I love my grandkids. But this Nana wants a freakin' haircut." Linda Moore: "Meeting up with friends and going to dinner!" Shuntele Unique: "(For) my child to have some normalcy in his life again. Being able to let family members spend quality bonding time with my children again." Jennie Stauffer: "From my nine-year-old: Going back to school and being with my friends!" Mary Roling: "My aged friends and I are really cooped up and we like to eat lunch down town several times a week." Susan Goddard: "Visiting my daughters and loving on my grandkids."
BAT-MAYOR
FROM A1 "Hopefully we can do a nice shout-out, because we know there are quite a few medical professionals in the area, and we should thank them," she said. Volunteers have already started coloring downtown Wellington sidewalks with chalk "to inspire people who are walking around" while keeping a safe distance, she said. They've also been crafting "love letter" posters to show support for businesses struggling under widespread closures and restrictions, Arntz said. "We want to lift spirits in hopes that they're going to be opening up slowly," she said. Schneider said everyone has a chance to be a hero, by staying home, doing their homework and taking care of family members. "Be safe," said Bat-Mayor. "Stay positive. Spend time with your immediate family that's in your house. It's still safe to get out there and take walks, do some outdoor activities."
LETTERS Letters to the editor should be: • Written to the editor. We do not allow open letters or those to specific residents, politicians, or groups. • Concise. There is a limit of 350 words on letters. • Polite. Letters that use crude language or show poor taste will be rejected. • Opinions. We reserve space for letters that share a unique perspective. Press releases are not letters and will be considered for publication in other parts of the paper. • Free of advertising, product or service endorsements or complaints, poetry, language that could raise legal problems, or claims that are measurably false. • Signed. Include your name, address, and daytime telephone number for our records. Up to two signatures. • The deadline to submit letters is 10 a.m. each Tuesday. They are used on a space-available basis. We reserve the right to edit any submission for length, grammar, spelling, and clarity, or to reject any submission.
OBITUARIES Roy Ellis Justice
Dennis A. Jackson
Roy Ellis Justice, 71, of Wellington, died Sunday, April 26, 2020, at home surrounded by his family. Born on Feb. 12, 1949, in Pikeville, Kentucky, he was the son of the late Ellis and Ocie (nee Chaney) Justice. Roy attended Wellington High School and proudly served in the United States Marine Corps. Roy worked for the Ford Motor Company for many years. His biggest passion was fixing and restoring old cars and street rods. Roy was a member of the Wellington area Cruisers and enjoyed attending car shows and cruise-ins. Roy was a member of the American Legion and VFW. Survivors include his son, Roy (Sarah) Justice, Jr. of Massachusetts; grandchildren, Grace, Hunter and Charlotte; his girlfriend, Tammy Wade and siblings, Dwight "DJ" Justice and Kay Justice. Roy was preceded in death by his brother, Fred Justice. A service will be held Thursday, April 30, 2020, beginning at 11 a.m. The service will be private but a webcast will be available at www.norton-eastmanfuneralhome. com, where expressions of sympathy may also be shared.
Dennis A. Jackson, 77, of Wellington, died unexpectedly Monday, April 20, 2020, in Oberlin. Born on Nov. 25, 1942, in Covington, Virginia, he was the son of the late Elsie (nee Taylor) and Arthur Jackson, Sr. He moved to Wellington in 1957 and was a 1960 Wellington High School graduate. Dennis proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 19601964, where he was stationed aboard the USS Plymouth Rock and was part of the Cuban Blockade. He later went on to work at Oberlin College for 27 years as a boiler operator and later, worked for the May Company. Dennis was a member of the American Legion. He was a jack of all trades and very mechanically inclined and enjoyed restoring old cars and tractors and making knives. Dennis also enjoyed his family and spoiling his grandpups. Dennis is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Virginia (nee Craft) Jackson; children, Dale (Christine) Jackson and Cheryl Jackson (John); grandchildren, Cynthia Louise (Matthew) Schoenberger, Amanda (Dan) Norton and Ashley (Logan) Kish; five great-grandchildren and siblings, Sylvia Bradford and Janice Sauer. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Benjamin Jackson and siblings, Judy Moore and Arthur Jackson, Jr. The family will gather Friday, April 24, 2020, at 12 Noon. A private family service will be held with Military Honors at Norton-Eastman Funeral Home, a webcast of the service will be available at www.norton-eastman funeralhome.com. Expressions of sympathy may also be left online at this address.
CAROL ANN KOVAR (nee Lock), 78, and a resident of Amherst, passed away Thursday, April 23, 2020, at The Elms Retirement Community under the care of Sprenger DOROTHY ANN MCGUIRE (Whitebeaver), 86, of Hospice following a brief illness. Private services were Lorain, passed away Thursday, April 16th, 2020 at Ohio handled by Hempel Funeral Home. Veterans Home in Sandusky from natural causes. Arrangements by Hempel Funeral Home. MARY ANN SUSNJAR (nee Mihalyo), 102, a long time resident of Lorain, passed away Thursday, April 23, MARILYN JUNE SEXTON (nee Metts), 80, a resident 2020, at New Life Hospice Residential Center, following of Elyria, passed away Friday, April 24, 2020, at New Life a full and meaningful life. Private family services were Hospice Residence Center following a brief illness. Private held at Hempel Funeral Home. funeral services are being held by Hempel Funeral Home.
County lacks enough PPE for emergency personnel DAVE O’BRIEN THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM
ELYRIA — Lorain County emergency management officials are doing the best they can with what they've been given by state and federal authorities as the county and the nation continue to battle through COVID-19, the county's chief emergency manager told Lorain County commissioners last week. The personal protective equipment, or PPE, provided from the national stockpile has not met demand, said Tom Kelley, director of Lorain County EMA and Homeland Security. Kelley appeared via video at the weekly commissioners' meeting to say the county received an inventory of masks, gowns and gloves from the Strategic National Stockpile — though not nearly enough to meet the demand of health care workers, first responders, nursing home employees and other front-line essential employees at risk for infection on the job. What was delivered was 20,500 masks, 2,000 gowns and 67,000 individual gloves, with requests to the county from dozens of agencies and groups. And while that "may sound like
a lot," Kelley told commissioners it was not nearly enough to meet demand. Hospitals, for example, got one item for every 100 requested. He also said he doesn't see any further deliveries from the Strategic National Stockpile in the future. A "wish list" has been sent from Lorain County EMA to the state EMA Emergency Operations Center, and Kelley said if additional supplies come in, they will be sent out according to need. There have been some victories: Kelley said Battelle’s N95 mask sterilization process shows promise — a key project developed in part by Lorain's own Dr. Laurie Hommema, a 1999 Admiral King High School graduate — but transporting used masks to Columbus for sterilization with a hydrogen peroxide mist was a "big issue." LifeCare Ambulance Service, which already has contracts with Battelle, helped work out a plan: Using wheelchair and transportation van employees who had less to do during the pandemic but were willing to haul the masks to Columbus took the bagged masks to Columbus and Cleveland for sterilization. An estimated 200 COVID-19 testing kits were delivered to Lorain
County Public Health and immediately distributed to nursing homes, which have been hard hit during the pandemic. And 200 masks donated to the Avon Lake Police Department were delivered to O’Neill Healthcare North Ridgeville nursing home "because that's where the outbreak is," Kelley said. Volunteers from University Hospitals went to O'Neill Healthcare to help out, County Administrator Jim Cordes said. He said the next trouble spot is going to be the prisons, including the two in Lorain County — Lorain Correctional and Grafton Correctional. "We continue to see problems there" with infection, he said. The pandemic hasn't stopped disreputable scammers from trying to steal taxpayer dollars. Kelley said he is being approached daily by companies offering masks for sale. Some are requesting minimal order sizes of 50,000, but want "money up front" and "can't guarantee a date" for delivery. Kelley said he declines all the offers, and the Ohio Attorney General's Office said up to 75 percent of such solicitations are bogus. State investigators are probing those for possible criminal charges, he said.
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LEGALS
LEGAL NOTICE In the Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, 225 Court Street, Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio, 44035. Case No. 20DR087552. Lena Clifford, 165 Groveland
Street, Oberlin, OH 44074, Plaintiff vs. Charles Irvin Clifford, Defendant. Charles Irvin Clifford, whose last known address was Las Vegas, NV but whose address other than as set forth is unknown and cannot with the exercise of reasonable diligence be ascertained, and upon whom service of summons cannot be had in the State of Ohio, will take notice that on April 6, 2020, Lena Clifford, as Plaintiff, filed her complaint against him in the Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, of Lorain County, Ohio, being Case No. 20DR087552, requesting a divorce from Defendant, and an award of a reasonable sum for any costs, expenses, and attorney's fees in this action, and for such other relief as shall be proper and necessary, based upon the grounds that the parties are incompatible, and that the parties have lived separate and apart without cohabitation and without interruption for at
least one year. Said above named defendant will further take notice that he is required to answer the complaint on or before the 18th day of June, 2020. LENA CLIFFORD, Plaintiff By: CHRISTOPHER P. REWAK, (#0085957), 300 Fourth Street, Elyria, OH 44035, Attorney for Plaintiff L.C.C.G. 4/16-23-30; 5/7-1421/20 20661752
LEGALS O-20-01 Designate CIC as the City's agent to negotiate terms of agreement with North Coast Build to lease a portion of City Hall 0-20-02 Adopt Codified City Ordinances 0-20-03 Contract to lease a 2020 TS60 Bucket Truck through the Ohio State Cooperative purchasing department 0-20-04 Hire Abe Lieberman of
ODMP to negotiate and draft TIF legislation at $155/hr not to exceed $26,000 0-20-05 Bid and award 2020 Chevrolet 5500 XD Chassis and purchase a dump truck and plow package through state purchasing, not to exceed $120,000 0-20-06 Contract with Bramhall Engineering and surveying services for the 2020 Street Rehabilitation program, not to exceed $98,700 0-20-07 Approving and accepting the dedicated improvements at Reserve at Beaver Creek Subdivision Phase 3. 0-20-08 Approving and rezoning Eagle Ridge as Planned Development District 0-20-09 Authorizing Amherst Community Improvement Corporation acting as agent for the City to negotiate the terms of an agreement to sell two parcels of real estate owned by the City on Mill Street 0-20-10 Authorizing ODOT to perform a resurfacing proj-
ect on SR 2 through the City of Amherst in Lorain County. 0-20-11 Authorizing and directing the Safety Service Director to solicit bids to trim trees (on a unit basis) in the City for the year 2020 at a cost not to exceed $80,000.00; and authorizing and directing the Safety/ Service Director to award the contract for such work to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder; and declaring an emergency. 0-20-12 Authorizing the City of Amherst, Ohio to accept a bequest in the amount of $50,000 and use such funds in the manner specified for improvements at Anna Schmauch Pool. 0-20-13 Amending Chapter 1141 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Amherst, Ohio. 0-20-14 Make appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures of the City of Amherst, State of Ohio, during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020, repealing all Ordi-
nances in Conflict herewith R-20-01 A Resolution declaring the necessity for public sidewalk repair and replacement and authorizing and directing the Safety Service Director to award a contract for such repair and replacement of public sidewalks to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder at a cost to the City not to exceed $200,000.00. R-20-02 A Resolution authorizing the Safety Service Director to participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation winter contract (2020-2021) for road salt; and declaring an emergency. (A-20-17) The complete text of the above listed ordinances and resolutions may be viewed in the office of the Clerk of Council during regular business hours. Olga Sivinski, Clerk of Council 206 S. Main St. Amherst, OH. 440-988-2420
LC.C.G. 4/30/20 20662554
PUBLICATION OF LEGISLATION The following is a summary of legislation adopted by Lorain City Council on April 20, 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. 16-20 Proclaiming 4/28/2020 "Workers' Memorial Day" in the City of Lorain. 17-20* Reso of intent to approve addendum to the City of Lorain's current EDA Title IX Revolving Loan Fund to assist current EDA Title IX loan hold-
ers during the COVID-19 pandemic. 18-20* Supporting the adoption of add'l legislation by U.S. Congress in response to COVID-19 pandemic, enacting will provide unrestricted funds directly to local governments. Ord. 27-20 Approving the Chief of Police, through the Mayor, to accept the 2020 Law Enforcement Body Armor Grant from the OH Attorney General's Office ($10,274.55). 28-20* Auth the issuance/ sale of notes, in anticipation of bonds for approx. $2.8M to refund notes originally issued to pay for the Streetscape improvements. 29-20* Auth the S/S Dir. to enter into an agrmt w/ ODOT to purchase sodium chloride from vendor awarded the 2020-2021 contract. 30-20 Auth the S/S Dir. to become a member of OHWARN, to assist Util. Dept. w/ personnel, equipment, materials, supplies in the event of an emergency. 31-20 Auth the S/S Dir. to enter into an agrmt w/ COMDOC to upgrade
copier & printer fleet and document imaging system. 32-20* Amending Ch. 1537.07Definitions of Chapter 1509 of the Lorain Codified Ordinances. 33-20*Amending Ch. 1537.08- "Housing License Required" of the Lorain Codified Ordinances. 3420* Amending Ch. 1509.99"Failure to Comply with a Notice or Neglect of Maintenance" of the Lorain Codified Ordinances. 35-20* Auth the Auditor to pay 2 invoices submitted by the Util. Dept. invoking the Then & Now Certification exception process. 36-20* De-Appropriation. (*Denotes legislation was passed as an emergency.) L.C.C.G. 4/30; 5/7/20 20662379
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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 30, 2020
Lorain County Community Guide
Page A3
$60K released to nonprofits through COVID-19 fund The Lorain County COVID-19 Response Fund has released $60,000 in a second round of grants to support local nonprofits. Contributions to the relief fund now total more than $200,000 from corporations, civic and philanthropic partners. This round of grants includes: • $10,000 for the Blessing
House in Lorain to provide hotel accommodations for homeless families, as well as supplies and food. • $10,000 for the Primary Purpose Center in Elyria, providing food, perishable supplies and utilities to clients who have lost employment due to COVID-19. The center assists people recovering from addiction.
• $10,000 to the Mercy Health Foundation in Amherst to help keep up with the demand for personal protective equipment, patient services, medication, ventilators and other medical equipment needs. • $10,000 for The LCADA Way in Elyria to distribute laptops and hotspots with built-in 4G internet access to seniors and
home-bound residents. The goal is to promote digital inclusion and combat social isolation. • $10,000 for Effective Leadership Academy, headquartered in Warrensville Heights, to provide online resources for 500 students within three Lorain County school districts. • $10,000 for the Lorain Public Library System to promote digi-
tal inclusion and combat social isolation among our elderly and home-bound population. The library system will distribute laptops and hotspots with builtin 4G internet access. You can contribute to the fund at www.peoplewhocare.org. Donations of any amount are welcomed, and all contributions are tax-deductible.
COLUMN
Reconsider the plights of people in Iran and Venezuela STEVE HAMMOND
COMMUNITY PEACE BUILDERS
We are learning new ways of being connected while remaining six feet apart. There are, though, even greater distances we must also learn to cross. As the COVID-19 pandemic races around the globe, we know there are places where people face even greater challenges than we do in this country. Two of those places are Iran and Venezuela, whose governments are subject to harsh sanctions initiated by the United States. As with most sanctions, it is not top governmental officials who feel the impact but the citizens of those nations. The sanctions against Iran and Venezuela have had an immediate impact on their abilities to meet the challenges of the pandemic. Medicines and supplies such as masks, protective cloth-
ing and ventilators are on the list of items that are not permitted to be sold to those countries. And it is not just companies from our country that aren’t allowed to sell such items. The current sanctions also have sharp penalties for businesses and non-governmental organizations anywhere in the world that would provide any of these items to the two nations. Imagine what it would be like if we didn’t have just a shortage of those supplies in Ohio, but no one was allowed, anywhere in the world, to sell or provide them to us. Eleven U.S. senators, including Sherrod Brown, recently wrote President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, calling on them to ease these sanctions. They aren’t asking for all sanctions to be dropped — just the ones that prohibit the delivery of these needed medicines, supplies and equipment. The senators are well aware of
the problems that the leadership of these two nations present to their own countries as well as to the international community, but they also indicate that the U.S. sanctions are only making things worse. We are witnessing the heartache and fear of so many in our country as we watch the number of victims grow so rapidly while doctors and nurses are scrambling for the supplies and equipment they need. For our nation to prevent others from access to such supplies does not speak well of us. Easing sanctions is a moral response. Compassion is the sign of great people and great nations. There are also important political reasons for our government to ease these sanctions, which have been put in place to cause their leadership to either reform or be replaced by their citizens. But prohibiting their people from having the medical supplies and equipment they need only
strengthens the positions of their current leadership and causes a growing distrust of the United States among their people. There is also the practical concern that comes with easing these sanctions. The fight against COVID-19 is a global one. It is folly for the leadership of this nation to proceed as if we can isolate ourselves from the rest of the world and end this pandemic. To allow the disease to go unchecked in these two nations will ultimately have an impact on the health of our own citizens. As long as COVID-19 is festering anywhere, it can end up everywhere. My hope is that we will grow in our understanding of how important our connections are. As you maintain your physical distancing, remember how close you really are to people who live thousands of miles away. The leaders of our nations may see themselves as adversaries, but the people of these nations aren’t our
enemies. The people of Venezuela and Iran are people like us. We share the same planet, the same hopes for our children, and the same fears in this midst of this pandemic. Some of us have celebrated Passover and Easter during these days of COVID-19 related restrictions, which may well be in effect through most, if not all, of Ramadan. Now is the time to make real the love for our neighbors, near and far, that we have learned from our religious and ethical traditions. We can support the efforts of these Senators and others by reminding all our representatives that well-conceived acts of kindness will serve us all well in these days and lay the foundation for the days ahead. By easing these sanctions, our nation can live up to its ideals.
study landscape architecture. She hopes the pandemic doesn’t also derail her freshman year. "You can't really predict what's going to happen in the fall. I feel very unsure, because we don't know the timeline of this situation," she said. "I'm just trying to make sure I'm staying informed about what's happening in the news, and just hoping there's going to be clarity in the somewhat near future.” Classmate Jack Freas said he expected the year to play out without returning to school, but the news was still disheartening. When schools closed in March, it canceled the Oberlin Drama Club production of “Clue,” which was a hard hit to take, he said. In the weeks since, being separated from friends and classmates has also been incredibly difficult. "I grew up with all those people in my grade. It feels like there's no real closure," Freas said. "It was all so sudden. There was no saying goodbye to each other. We're all going off to college, and who knows when we'll see each other next,” he said. Freas plans to attend Bowling Green State University and is interested in the school’s film program. With many colleges
switching to online courses for the first semester, he’s also worried that his campus experience will be delayed. Close friend Aaron Hopkins’ situation is even more unclear. He was on track to attend Urbana University to play Division II football — but now the school has announced it will close permanently. That leaves Hopkins unsure of his plans for the fall. A shot put and discus thrower, his big regret this spring is missing out on the spring sports season. "I'm going to miss the track team because I know they've been working hard. Things were starting to look up for them," especially for sprinters who were expecting improved times, he said. Rachel Bremke said she'll never forget her senior year at Wellington High School, and the pain of missing prom and graduation parties — "All the memories we've been waiting for our whole lives." When WHS closed in March, seniors there never suspected they would be leaving its hallowed halls forever. "We took it as, 'Well, we'll see each other again soon,'" Bremke said. She has always looked forward to marching across the gymnasium, stepping on stage receiving
her diploma and throwing her cap in the air. Those experiences have all vanished. Bremke’s advice to the junior class: "Don't take things for granted,” she said. “When you are at school, don't be so hard on yourself. It will be OK. You may go through hard times, but even if you're not together you can call or text to celebrate.” She wants to attend Cleveland State University to major in occupational therapy. Classmate Luke Tandarich said it stings to miss out on the final months in which seniors were supposed to rule the school. "We were getting ready for prom, senior skip day, senior pranks — and now we won't have any of that," he said. Losing the end of the school year means losing three months of tradition. The worst part is that senior won’t be able to leave on their own terms, he said "It's pretty bad. I mean, it's kind of awful. When I walked out of school that last day, I didn't think that was going to be my last time walking out of high school," Tandarich said. He said he can hardly stomach the thought of missing Wellington’s graduation ceremony. “Everybody that's graduated that I've known has walked
across that stage. I feel like I'm missing something. It all got taken away so fast," he said. Tandarich was looking forward to seeing his friends receive their diplomas. Deep down, he also wanted to cheer on the teens who aren't in his friend group, too, to see them happy one last time. "I wanted to see everybody's parents, everybody's grandparents. I wanted that one special moment, and now it's gone," he said. Now Tandarich is looking toward July, when he plans to begin an internship at Component Repair Technologies in Mentor. He’ll get to see the company’s work with jet engines up close.
The Rev. Steve Hammond formerly served as pastor of Peace Community Church in Oberlin.
SENIORS
FROM A1 if he doesn't get a commencement ceremony, Deshuk said he has the satisfaction of being a National Honor Society member and student council vice president. The abrupt end of the school year won’t sit easy, but Deshuk said he’s going out knowing that even at home he maintained straight A’s, did his homework and worked out. He plans to attend the University of Mount Union this fall to run track and study business marketing. Prom and graduation are so important because they mark the end of one era and the beginning of another, said Oberlin High School senior Daria Martz. "Senior year is all about just closing a chapter of your life and moving on to the next chapter with the people you've grown up with," she said. The coronavirus quarantine has taught a valuable lesson in how to adapt to the unknown, Martz said — that’s all the Class of 2020 can do, since they have no control over the situation. "It's definitely disappointing, but we can find other alternatives, other ways to celebrate all the things we've done," she said. Martz hasn't committed to a school for the fall, but wants to
COUNTY FAIR
As of Tuesday there were: • 389 confirmed cases • 78 hospitalizations • 26 deaths • 556 contacts quarantined • 284 being monitored • 272 released • 124 recovered cases In Ohio, there were 16,769 cases, 3,340 hospitalizations and 799 known deaths due to COVID-19, according to state tallies.
We Are In
FROM A1
a team, we have prevented the massive spike of cases that we feared," he said last Wednesday. But DeWine has warned restoring the state to business as usual will be a very long process. Experts are already warning of a late-summer resurgence in cases, and schools are preparing for more remote teaching in the fall if needed. The fair, scheduled for the week of Aug. 23 to 30, is moving forward unless DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton order otherwise, Meyers said. "They can put out orders and directives, and we have no control over those. We would have to comply with those orders that come down from the governor and the department of health," he said. Key decisions could come after the OFMA board meets May 15, he said. By this time each spring, the Lorain County Fair has usually announced its two big grandstand concert acts. Not so for 2020. Brian Twining, who chairs the enter-
LORAIN COUNTY
tainment committee, said those acts have been negotiated but not finalized. "We've kind of had to put on the brakes and see where everything falls," he said. It could be another month before the rock and country performers are revealed, he said. According to Twining, the concern is that social distancing rules could make it impossible to afford musicians. He said requiring six-foot spacing in front of the stage would kill the ability to sell enough tickets. If the statewide ban on mass gatherings is lifted — attendance was 117,403 last year — the fair will still likely have regulations in place to protect public health. Meyers said he believes there will be new rules about social distancing and sanitation. He's already reached out to the owner of Bates Brothers Amusements to discuss ride-cleaning routines that will go above and beyond what is required. "We're prepared and we're hoping we can put a great event on," he said.
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Page A4
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Lorain County Community Guide
© 2020 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 36, No. 21
Can you figure out where each of these words go in the article below?
Have you ever heard someone say, “I’ve been working like a dog”? People say this when they work really hard. Some people say this phrase started because sheepdogs work guarding sheep from dawn until dusk and their only pay is food, a place to sleep and affection. Dogs have been sharing their lives with humans for at least 12,000 years. Since early times, dogs helped people in many ways.
A TRUE STORY!
Bravery Award for Holly
Help the sheepdog find all the sheep on this page.
Holly, a specially trained rescue
Dogs who help people in their everyday lives are called canine companions and assistance dogs. Some dogs are carefully trained to perform tasks to help the blind, deaf, or mobility-impaired people.
dog received a ____________ award for saving victims of the Kashmir earthquake. Holly
Help Molly (the guide dog) lead Mark safely through the park.
and her ________ Neil are
Dogs have a better sense of smell than humans. They can detect one drop of blood in five quarts of water!
on standby 365 days a year so that they can fly anywhere in the
With their ultra-sensitive noses, dogs are masters at finding buried land mines. Mine-sniffing dogs have helped prevent thousands of injuries and deaths in war-torn countries. Trained sniffers also find people trapped in collapsed buildings and drugs hidden in suitcases. Some dogs have been trained to sniff out termites in buildings. Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Students read grade-level appropriate material.
world when disaster _________. In Kashmir, Holly’s heightened sense of __________ proved invaluable; she ________ several R
S T
Q P
O
C A K
N
L
people who were then hauled
D
alive from _______________
E
B
F
buildings. Holly worked
G
J I
tirelessly without ____________
H
in extremely hot weather.
M
Fido has sniffed out something buried under the sand. Connect the dots in alphabetical order!
Spotted Dalmation dogs are mascots for fire departments. Long ago, these dogs helped fire fighters get to fires quickly and safely. Before cars and trucks, fire fighters rushed to fires in horse-drawn carriages. Since Can you find Dalmations get along well with horses, the two identical they were trained to run in front of horses to Dalmations? help clear the path, chase away other dogs and to get to fires as quickly as possible.
A numeronym is a word that has a number in it. For example, K-9 is a numeronym. Say the letter and the number and you will hear that is sounds the same as the word canine. Here are some more examples of numeronyms. Can you figure out what word each is?
Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Understand text from context clues.
Word Pals Find, in today’s newspaper, five sentences containing at least one adjective each. Underline the adjective in red. Underline the noun it describes in blue. Use this list of adjectives and nouns to write five new sentences.
Standards Link: Vocabulary Development: Identify nouns and adjectives.
COMPANIONS DALMATION TERMITES S N O I T A M L A D MASCOTS K G S R A C C A H T TRAINED S N O I N A P M O C CANINE DETECT A N N D S N F A R E HORSES T I I E N I C S S T SNIFF O M S F R N N C E E NOSES P O A E F E U O S D TASKS FIRE N D E N I A R T N I DOGS T E R M I T E S O N CARS Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recongized identical RUN words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.
This week’s word:
DETECT
The verb detect means to learn the existence or presence of something.
Dogs can detect land mines buried underground. Try to use the word detect in a sentence today when talking with friends and family members.
Puppy Tales
Dog Vacation Destination
Look through the newspaper for ideal destinations a dog would love. Using words and pictures from the newspaper, create a poster or brochure describing this place and its daily activities. Use your imagination! ANSWER: A collie-flower.
Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow multiple-step written directions.
A great gift idea! Orderfrom your local bookstore,Target.com, BarnesandNoble.com or Amazon.com today!
Tell a tale about a puppy. Be sure to tell details like the puppy’s name, where it lives, what it looks like and what it does. You can start you tale with “Once upon a time …”
B
OUR TOWNS
Lorain County Community Guide • Thursday, April 30, 2020
Cafeteria worker fired over lunch incident JASON HAWK EDITOR
WELLINGTON — A cafeteria worker was fired last week over a January incident in which she confiscated the lunch of a McCormick Middle School student. The boy's family had owed $6 in unpaid lunch debt. Barb Ziegler, who
worked at the school for decades, was terminated in a unanimous vote April 21 by the Wellington Board of Education following a nearly two-hour meeting behind closed doors. In a hearing the day before, Ziegler was given a letter detailing the charges against her, according to school board President Brett Murner. The board did not publicly discuss the situation
at in their regular business meeting, but Murner delivered a statement that Ziegler's termination was effective immediately. The student's mother, Jamie Babb, said in a phone interview earlier this year that she wanted Ziegler to lose her job. She showed a security camera video in which her son, a fourth-grader, sat down at a McCormick cafeteria table and took a
bite of food. That's when Ziegler approached and slid the tray away from him, walking away without a word. "They offered him no food after," Babb said. "He was nervous and he was embarrassed." The video shows the child sitting there, appearing stunned. Babb said his friends saw what happened from across the room and offered to buy
DEMOLITION UNDERWAY
a new lunch for him — but her child wasn't allowed to buy more food. Watching the video footage, Babb said it was clear Ziegler overstepped her authority. During his investigation into the incident, Superintendent Ed Weber echoed Babb's concerns. He said district policy allows students to accrue
FIRED PAGE B3
Barb Ziegler
Restaurants on track to get first pandemic relief JASON HAWK EDITOR
Photos by Jason Hawk | Amherst News-Times
Modarelli Excavating of Youngstown starts demolition of Amherst's old Powers Elementary School on Washington Street on Monday, April 27.
Powers meets its fate JASON HAWK EDITOR
AMHERST — Billowing dust and the scream of bending metal beams filled the air Monday as an excavator tore into the old Powers Elementary School on Washington Street. Tearing up the earth as it trundled behind the school, the giant machine began demolition of the 67-yearold building by punching a hole in the side of the former kindergarten "pod." As the newest portion of the building, it was expected to be the hardest to raze, said Amherst Schools Building and Grounds Supervisor Chuck Grimmett. That's because it was built with structural steel beams. By comparison, the front of the building is simple brick-and-mortar construction. Grimmett didn't expect Modarelli Excavating of Youngstown to make it to the front of the school for a few
UH opens joint injury clinic opens on Lorain
days. The tear-down is likely to take 10 days, including Saturday, though Modarelli has a three-month window. When finished, all that will remain are the buried storm sewer lines. Grimmett said they'd normally be re-
moved, but he hopes they help drain the waterlogged property and prevent flooding next door on the varsity baseball and football practice fields. DEMOLITION PAGE B2
Waiting on accurate voting numbers JASON HAWK EDITOR
The spring election didn't end Tuesday night. Ohio's coronavirus-inspired vote-by-mail drama stretched into Wednesday, and today and continues for the next week as ballots are received and counted. Sure, Republican incumbent Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden have won their parties' nominations already by default. But institutions like Lorain County Community College and the Wellington
OBERLIN — Two restaurants have cleared the first hurdle to get $10,000 in pandemic relief from the city of Oberlin. Black River Cafe and Oberlin Kitchen applied for five-year, zero-interest loans made available by City Council through a revolving loan fund. Both have received preliminary approval from a subcommittee, and the cash is on Council's May 4 agenda. If OK'd, they would be the first to get a hand from the city under a program launched in early April. Three more businesses are seeking loans to keep afloat during Ohio's coronavirus shutdown, said Oberlin Planning and Development Director Carrie Handy. On Monday, Council voted to speed up the application process. Approval from the Oberlin Community Improvement Corporation is no longer needed to get emergency funds cleared. "I think it's paramount that we get these down to Columbus as soon as possible," said Councilman Kelley Singleton. The money comes from Community Development Block Grants, so state approval is required. Handy said that process has also been streamlined and now requires the OK of just one official in Columbus. "This money has been sitting here for a while, so I'm glad we can finally roll it out and put it to use," Handy said. RELIEF PAGE B3
Schools, which have issues on the ballot, don't have the same luxury. They'll have to wait for ballots to be counted, which means waiting on the U.S. Postal Service. Lorain County Board of Elections Director Paul Adams said posted the first big batch of results on Election Night. "We'll continue to update it as we scan and get information in," he said. Adams said he expects the vast majority of ballots to be received by Friday, but the election count won't be closed out until May 8 under state law.
Those numbers will still be unofficial. Through midMay, elections workers will certify ballots and discard ones deemed invalid. One reassurance Adams is able to offer: Under Ohio House Bill 197, which extended the primary election period due to the pandemic, ballots can't be rejected due to the wrong date, within reason. Voters should have marked their absentee ballots for the March 17 election. Those who accidentally jotted April 27 or 28 instead can't rest assured their vote will still count, he said.
Even with 16 years of experience under his belt, Adams said this election has been trying. Officials have had to very quickly accommodate all the changes that were rammed into place by the General Assembly's COVID-19 response bill. They've also had to navigate all-new questions that arose. "Usually when you're in a really stressful situation, you can look back on precedence," Adams said. "In this case you can't do that... There's so many things that we're doing now that no one's contemplated it before."
OBERLIN — The University Hospitals Center for Orthopedics has opened a new location at 319 West Lorain St., Oberlin. The facility provides physical therapy and an orthopedic injury clinic. “Having served the Lorain County community for more than 25 years, the Center for Orthopedics is pleased to expand our footprint to Oberlin,” said Daniel Zanotti, a surgeon who specializes in joint repair and replacement. “Now our patients in and around Oberlin have access to the same high-quality, expert orthopedic care they’re accustomed to, right in their own neighborhood.” The clinic offers patients who have orthopedic injuries timely access to a physician, avoiding trips to the emergency room. 1960-2020
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Page B2
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Lorain County Community Guide
OHS scholars shine at virtual Ohio Youth Institute DONNA SHURR OBERLIN CITY SCHOOLS
Concerned about global issues, 10th grade English students, under the direction of teacher David Jarven, have been brainstorming ways to improve the global food supply. Katrina Ganson and Anna Fritz took it a step further — they submitted their scholarly papers to the Ohio Youth Institute. The program challenges students to complete research focused on one factor that hinders a specific country from maintaining food security. The event was sponsored by Ohio State University with support from the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Ohio 4-H. In the past, students would travel to OSU to present their work before their peers from other schools and experts. This year, in response to the COVID-19 pan-
demic, the Ohio Youth Institute met virtually on April 20. Prior to the event, papers were distributed to OSU experts for review. Via video chat, students presented summaries of their papers to small groups for discussion. The day included large and small group meetings to interact with global leaders and entrepreneurs in Ohio working to end hunger and poverty. Ganson researched the country of Chad, which has been suffering for decades and has become known as one of the most corrupt, hungry areas in the world. Chad’s lake region faces some of the gravest problems due to conflict with armed groups. Ganson, after interviewing experts who work in Chad, suggested establishing a system of effectively directing aid to disregarded areas. She suggested how “aid specific to the needs of a particular region, such as providing fishing
boats, can impart sustainable means for the growth of a community.” Fritz wrote on gender gaps in the context of climate change in the country of Bangladesh. She explained how the “rapidly changing climate has the capacity to expose the vulnerabilities of a country. Agriculture dependency and gender roles in the household contribute to environmental and social challenges in Bangladesh in the face of climate volatility.” Part of Fritz's discussion focused on acknowledging power dynamics in educational practices, which may serve as a vital first step in redefining the role of women in climate change adaptation and disaster management. Both students are recognized as Borlaug Scholars. Norman Borlaug is credited with saving a billion lives through his development of a disease-resistant wheat. After receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, he created the World Food Prize
Provided photo
Oberlin High School students Katrina Ganson and Anna Fritz are tackling the issues of poverty and power dynamics in foreign nations. to recognize the work of scientists working to end hunger and improve the food supply and later established the Global Youth Institute for high school students. Fritz and Ganson’s papers will now be reviewed by a World
Food Prize board to receive further comments. Soon delegates to the Global Youth Institute and World Food Prize, set to take place this October in Des Moines, Iowa, will be chosen.
Sands is named the Oberlin Schools wary of financial Rotary's senior of March impact of the coronavirus The Oberlin Rotary Club honors a high school senior each month during the school year. These young people are recognized for character and positive attitudes. The Oberlin Rotary Club will donate $25 to a charity or project of the student’s choosing in their name. DONNA SHURR OBERLIN ROTARY
The Oberlin High School senior for the month of March was Lauren Sands. She was on the varsity volleyball team for four years, and served as captain in 2019. Sands has been a member of Interact Club for four years and is a member of the new Black Student Union at OHS. As a result of her grades, character and service, she is a member of the Na-
Lauren Sands tional Honor Society and serves as an NHS tutor. Outside of school, Sands participated for six years as a member of Spirit Volleyball Club and Maverick Volleyball Club. She has worked with the Du Bois Project as a math tutor and a coach at the Math Soccer Camp. Sands volunteered with Family Promise at First Church, as a fifth grade classroom volunteer at Prospect Elementary School and an enrich-
ment tutor with Oberlin Community Services. She works at Ben Franklin in downtown Oberlin. “Through all of these activities I am able to use my strengths and passions to give back to my community," she said. "These activities have given me the opportunity to help make my community a better place.” Sands has consistently been on the honor roll and received the Oberlin High School Scholar Athlete Award, Borlaug Scholar, Oberlin High School Volleyball MVP, First Team All-Conference, First Team All-County, First Team All-District and the Smith College Book Award. She plans to attend Oberlin College through the full tuition Robinson Scholarship, playing volleyball and majoring in law and society.
CHAMBERS AT SEA
AMHERST — Staff levels won't be cut for the 2020-2021 school year, despite conversations in education circles about the financial impact the COVID-19 crisis will have, according to Amherst Schools Superintendent Steven Sayers. Both he and district Treasurer Amelia Gioffredo worry the future could hold another round of state funding cuts as well as delinquent property tax collections as Ohio struggles with the economic fallout from the virus. Gioffredo said Amherst's revenue from real estate taxes was higher this year than expected, and will help buoy her five-year forecast for the district, which is due in May. Foreclosures are looming in the back of her mind, but there isn't enough data yet to know how the budget will be affected, she said. An update to the financial forecast in October will probably look very different. "From a big picture standpoint, we're not worried about finances for this year, or next year or even the year after," said Gioffredo — she expects ripple effects to take a toll years down the line. Sayers said the district has a healthy cash reserve to deal with emergencies. For now, the Amherst Schools are holding off on some summer projects, such as new carpet that had been planned for Nord Middle School. Administrators are tightening their supply budgets. Technology Supervisor Doug Cogdell has renegotiated the district's contract for copiers, which are sitting unused. And Gioffredo expects to see savings while the district is shut down. For example, Amherst's fleet of buses is parked, which means fuel isn't being used. The district has asked its gas and diesel supplier to take it off the route for now. And with weather warming up, there will be a definite savings in heating and
SUBSTITUTE PAY
Photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Bela Chambers
Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Cameron Schroth of Oberlin is assigned to the "Rooks" of the U.S. Navy's Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137. Here, he inventories replacement tools aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Atlantic Ocean on April 20.
85 SOUTH MAIN STREET OBERLIN OHIO 44074 APRIL 16, 2020
BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETING DATES ALL MEETINGS WILL BE Live Streamed @ http://oberlinoh.swagit.com/live 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.
After a year plagued by a shortage of fill-in teachers, the Wellington Board of Education has raised substitute pay from $95 to $105 for the 2020-2021 school year. Superintendent Ed Weber said there's a push nationally and statewide to move to a $15 per hour minimum wage. What that in mind,
SUMMER PROJECTS
Wary about spending during the coronavirus crisis, the Amherst Schools are holding off on some projects that had been scheduled to take place this summer. Others are still moving ahead: • Modular classrooms at Nord Middle School will be removed at a cost of about $15,000. The trailer-like classrooms have been in use for years, most recently for overflow during construction of the new Powers Elementary School. Superintendent Steve Sayers said the district hunted high and low for a buyer, but no one was interested. The modular units have "very little if any value" and will end up being scrapped. • About $100,000 has been budgeted for asphalt and concrete paving and patching across the district. The work will not entail repaving any parking lots, but crack-sealing, striping and pothole filling. electricity costs, "but understand that these buildings are online all of the time. They're just in an unoccupied type mode," Gioffredo said. Like most districts, about 80 percent of Amherst's expenses are tied up in staff salaries and benefits. All employees with contracts continue to be paid, per state law. Amherst is also honoring supplemental contracts awarded to coaches and club advisers earlier this year, since the spring semester was already underway when the pandemic closure started. Sayers said he feels confident about the district's outlook. "We're not going to panic at this point. We're just going to do the prudent things we need to do," he said.
it's been hard to attract college-educated workers for less than $15, he said. Substitutes have been going to districts that pay more, leaving Wellington with a smaller pool. Before the COVID-19 shutdown, that meant splitting students among other full-time teachers, increasing class sizes.
CANCELED
Police in both Amherst and Oberlin have canceled their annual Safety Town day camps for children. Amherst police said they will refund fees. Refunds can be picked up at the front lobby window at the police station, located at 911 North Lake Street. Be sure to have your driver’s license or photo ID on hand.
DEMOLITION
FROM B1 There was plenty of water Monday in the old "Freddy's Frog Pond," as it was called when namesake and principal Fred Powers bought it. The purchase of the then-swampy land drew sharp criticism at the time. But generations grew to love going to school at Powers, and hundreds of former students and teachers turned out last year to say goodbye to the building. Demolition got underway Monday without much ado. There were no crowds lining the chain-link fence to watch, and no grand ceremony, as had been planned before the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the very few watching was Russ Marty, a Steele High School teacher who
married into the Powers family. "I'm bummed," he said. "It's always been about family, so it's hard to see it go." Grimmett took another approach. "I'm very happy this is happening," he said. "All the meetings, the abatement, trying to keep everyone out of the building — of course I'm not happy to see it come down, but I'm happy the project is at an end." Keeping the Powers name in place, Amherst opened a new school for prekindergarten through third grade in January. The South Lake Street building was open only two months before it was forced by state officials to close again due to the pandemic.
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Lorain County Community Guide
Page B3
CELEBRATING SENIORS If the pandemic cancels high school commencements, then we’ll bring a graduation ceremony to you in our pages! Here are some of the seniors whose final year has been cut short by the COVID-19 crisis. Your senior can be included in an upcoming edition: Send a photo and the student's name, the name of the high school they’re graduating from, plans (college, major, military, work options) and an idea of their aspirations for the future to news@ lcnewspapers.com.
JOSHUA CROSTON JR. will graduate from Amherst Steele High School. He plans to attend Ohio University to major in business, and hopes to one day run his own company.
ELIJAH CHAMBERS will graduate from Oberlin High School. He plans to attend Bowling Green State University this fall in the College of Business and pursue a degree in marketing.
MAGGIE LACEY will graduate from Amherst Steele High School. She plans to attend Ohio University to study chemical engineering, and hopes to work for a major national corporation when she graduates.
KARA FINNEY will graduate from the Lorain County JVS career-based intervention program (through Amherst Steele High School). She intends to continue working as a veterinary assistant at Oberlin Animal Hospital.
BEN ROBERTS will graduate from Amherst Steele High School. He plans to attend Hocking College to study natural resources and law enforcement, and to play football if fall sports are available.
NICK MARTINELLI will graduate from Wellington High School. He is a Naval sea cadet petty officer, an auxiliary sheriff’s deputy and a graduate of the Lorain County Sheriff’s Academy. Martinelli plans to attend Lorain County Community College to study law enforcement.
JENNA CALFO will graduate from Wellington High School. She plans to attend college to obtain a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.
Fall classes may still look drastically different amid continuing virus fears JASON HAWK EDITOR
WELLINGTON — Educators are already wondering what school will like if coronavirus issues haven't been cleared up by the fall. A mix of online and in-person teaching might be necessary, Wellington Board of Education President Brett Murner said last week. "Blended learning" may be the key to keeping the district's families healthy, Superintendent Ed Weber agreed at the board's April 21 meeting. He said Wellington has enough Chromebook computers to assign one permanently to each student next school year. Whether that will happen has yet to be decided. At the same time, Treasurer Tina Gabler is worried about possible state cuts, and other financial problems the school system could face because of the pandemic. At the end of March, property tax collections came in about $78,000 less than predicted, she said. That doesn't mean there was a loss, though. Gabler had expected real estate
revenue to shoot up by five percent due to the brisk housing market — there was still an increase, just not as much as had been hoped. "We're still ahead about $20,000 overall on the total, so I feel good about that," she said. Financial experts across Ohio are concerned that pandemic-related foreclosures could cripple schools, libraries and agencies that rely on taxes. Gabler said for now Wellington's reserve fund looks healthy. It's expected to close out the fiscal year at around $3.8 million. The district typically aims to keep $3 million on hand to make it through a recession. Gabler said the district is sure to run a deficit this year for lunchroom operations, possibly as much as $100,000. How much isn't clear, though, because the district may extend its free breakfast and lunch offerings through the summer to help local families in need. Reimbursements from the state could help, but Gabler said there will be extra costs from buying more prepackaged meals and paying workers to hand out food through the summer. Ayers Ratliff, the Wellington school
board's representative to the Lorain County JVS, raised concerns about vocational students. He said there is no clarity on how JVS students studying emergency medicine, auto repair, cosmetology and other subjects will receive their state-required licenses and certifications. Under state law, they have to complete a certain number of hands-on training hours with an instructor — "That is not going to be the case with this situation," Ratliff said. Making matters worse, not all JVS students have wireless internet access, which means they have trouble keeping up with online instruction, he said. Murner said he hopes the state will waive some of those requirements. The Ohio Department of Education hasn't offered any guidance to vocational schools yet, however. The fall sports season is also up in the air. School board member Kevin Stump said coaches have a lot of questions about whether they'll be able to start meeting with athletes again in July. "Right now, to my knowledge, there's still more questions than answers there," he said.
Spring sports season officially canceled JASON HAWK EDITOR
It's official: The last hope for a spring sports season has been extinguished as school facilities will remain locked down for the rest of the academic year. After holding out, the Ohio High School Athletic Association has canceled baseball, softball, boys tennis, track and field and other events. For weeks, the OHSAA had held on to the idea those sports would restart May 1 and continue with shortened seasons, or stretch into the summer months. Those plans were crushed last Monday when Gov. Mike DeWine ordered the school year to end with students completing courses from home.
Under the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, "It would be impossible to ensure the health and safety of all individuals and support personnel involved in practices and contests at all member schools," the OHSAA said in a statement. Its mandatory no-contact period for all interscholastic sports remains in effect until at least May 3 and could be extended. Coaches and school administrators are encouraged to have non-mandatory electronic and online communications with their student-athletes. The closure of school facilities includes all athletic facilities for any interscholastic training, practice or competition. “I’ve heard from so many people who have said ‘You really need
to understand what this means to our kids,’” OHSAA Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass said. “I’m a parent. I was a coach. I grew up every day as a player and a coach wanting to play high school sports and get to the state tournament. So I do think I understand that. I also have to go with the fact that my number one concern that I have, over everything, is the health and safety of everyone involved. It’s not just our student-athletes. It’s the parents, coaches, umpires, officials, the scorekeepers. All those things enter into this. It’s a tough decision and it’s one that I and all the other Executive Directors of the other states never thought we would have to do. Never did I think this would be the case, but I’ve tried to be as
prepared as I could every step of the way.” It's unclear whether those concerns will be resolved in time for the fall high school sports season. Practices typically start in July, and extended stay-at-home and social distancing measures could result in "having a lot of kids who haven’t had the physical activity that they would normally have going into a fall season," Snodgrass said. The pandemic could also limit the ability of athletes to get physical exams by physicians, and affect maintenance and upkeep of sports facilities, he said. DeWine's outlook is ominous — he warned last week that no decisions have been made about the fall season, which means it's on his radar as a possible casualty of the crisis.
GRACE DUDZIAK will graduate from Wellington High School. An Army ROTC scholarship recipient, she plans to study nursing at the University of Toledo and hopes to become an active duty United States Army Nurse.
ALLY SZCZEPANIK will graduate from Amherst Steele High School. She plans to attend the University of Cincinnati to study fashion design and environmental science.
HERBERT ROSS III will graduate from the Lorain County JVS (through Oberlin High School). He plans to take adult classes at the JVS.
ZACHARY BOESEL will graduate from the Lorain County JVS (through Amherst Steele High School) with firefighter and EMT certifications. He plans to attend Columbus State University, obtain his paramedic certification and work as a firefighter. His dream job is to be on the New York Fire Department.
FIRED
FROM B1
$20 in cafeteria debt before a student's account is flagged. The student is supposed to be given three more meals, and then the school system has a reserve fund that can be used to help cover lunch costs. It would have been Principal Nathan Baxendale's job to step in if the problem persisted, not the cafeteria staff's responsibility, he said. "This isn't the first time this has happened," Babb said. "Why was my son singled out? And what made her feel it was appropriate for her to take (his lunch) instead of sending him to the office?" Six other parents reported similar problems with Ziegler while their children were at McCormick, she said. Outraged by the situation, donors flooded the school district with cash to eliminate lunch debt. By February, Weber said enough had been received to wipe out all students' debt at not only McCormick, but the entire district. Two parent groups came forward in the aftermath to propose ways to provide more food items and choices to students. "We'll certainly be working with them," Weber said.
RELIEF
FROM B1
She said Oberlin officials are working to set up another loan program that would make relief loans available to more businesses. Under state and federal requirements, block grant funding can only go to businesses that have low- to moderate-income employees. But that leaves some sole proprietors — the smallest businesses — out in the wind, Handy said.
NRA CCW Class One Day $75
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Page B4
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Lorain County Community Guide
Hook’s Greenhouse 50740 State Route 18 Wellington, Ohio 44090 440-647-5480 4/26-5/2 Let’s Get Ready for
Dear Valued Customers, Family and Friends, Hook’s Greenhouse is taking extra precautions to safeguard the health of our employees and our customers. The current goal is to have fewer customers in the greenhouse at a time to encourage the social distancing that is currently in place. The retail greenhouse is 20,000+ square feet and can accommodate customers with appropriate distances while also providing a safe and calm oasis-like environment. We are offering multiple ways to shop to keep you as safe as you need and want to be. Please stay tuned to social media for further updates. Thank you for your support and stay safe. Liz and Charlie Hook
SPRING!
Many Safe Ways to Shop! 1. Our Store is NOW OPEN, Mon-Sat 11am - 6pm Sunday 12 - 5pm with a Limited Amount of People in the Store at a time per Governor’s Orders 2. Now Thru May 6th by Appointment Only 8am - 10:30am Call or Go Online to Facebook for an Appointment 3. Online Shopping and Curbside Pickup from 10am - 5pm www.hooksgreenhouse.com Tomatoes & Peppers Ready May 1st
HERBS:
$1.99 and Up Rosemary, Sage, Parsley, Stevia and More
SUCCULENTS: $2.99 and Up Echeveria, Sedums, Haworthia and More
EARLY VEGGIES: Lettuce, Onions, Cabbage and More!
Keep Updated with Us www.hooksgreenhouse.com gardenhelper@hooksgreenhouse.com Call or Text 440-647-5480