Lorain County Community Guide - Oct. 27, 2022

Wellington PD overtime talk causes anger

Say it ain’t snow!

WELLINGTON — Struggling with a

police have

up an $80,000 overtime bill this year, a trend Village Council made clear can’t continue in 2023.

But Police Chief Tim Barfield said he’s reached the limit of what he can do to keep officers from leaving for better-paying jobs.

“I’ve got no further to go. Only Council can do the things above that,” he said last week.

In an angry exchange with the Po lice Committee, Barfield told Coun cil President Gene Hartman to try making a schedule that would keep officers happy.

“I’m not doing your job,” Hartman replied.

Employee discontent over schedul ing was front and center in a report released this summer by an indepen dent consultant hired to look into low morale and high turnover in the Wellington Police Department.

Barfield and Lt. Josh Poling both took issue with the report during last week’s Council meetings, saying LeBrun Management Solutions was hired to find problems and did just that.

Barfield refused to believe the sur vey results, which he called a “col lection of half-truths.”

Officers approached him two years ago about going from 8-hour to 12hour shifts. They met in the middle on 10-hour shifts.

“Something that does look pretty clear in this survey is that whatever the officers thought two or three years ago about this, they’re not happy with it now,” said Councilman Guy Wells, chair of the Police Committee.

If the department goes back to working 8-hour shifts, three people have already indicated they’ll leave, ac cording to Barfield and Poling.

“We are at a point in time that if one person leaves, maybe two are going to leave or three, and I don’t know where we’re going to find any more,” Barfield said.

JASON HAWK EDITOR OVERTIME

Turnpike plows are ready for winter

JASON HAWK EDITOR

AMHERST TWP. — Joe Verespe is looking forward to snow.

“It makes my job more interest ing,” he said last week, watching a fleet of snow plows being prepared for freezing weather at the Ohio Turnpike’s maintenance garage on Oberlin Road.

Verespe, of Amherst, has driven a plow the past 7 years. In the depths of winter, he spends about 40 hours a week behind the wheel, clearing the lanes along a 36-mile path from Erie County to Cuyahoga County.

His truck was one of 14 to get a 136-point inspection from Chief Mechanic Matt Timms — engines, plow blades, tires, lights, salt spray ers and de-icing systems.

The yellow and white Peterbilts, Western Stars and Freightliners boast 350 horsepower, 8.3-liter diesel engines and can haul up to 7 tons of salt. Each plow is able to put down 600 pounds of salt per lane mile at a time.

Timms said he’s never seen a storm vicious enough to stop one of the Turnpike’s trucks.

“I don’t think you could slow it down. When the trucks are loaded, they go really good. There’s a lot of

weight pushing them, so you get a lot of traction,” he said.

If the weather turns really nasty, drivers will team up and drive three abreast down the Turnpike to clear the way.

Each is equipped with a 12-foot front plow blade. Most of the newer trucks also have 7-foot wing plows to move as much snow and ice as possible, said Matthew McMullen, superintendent for the Turnpike’s eastern division.

The 2021 models, which are the newest in the fleet, are using upgrad ed tech this year, he said. Spreaders

Oberlin plans citywide power outage

FirstEnergy needs time for repairs to main power feed

JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Just before Halloween, a citywide blackout is planned for the witching hours of Sunday, Oct. 30.

The outage is planned to allow FirstEnergy crews to repair broken and failing

Amherst

equipment on the trans mission lines that provide power to Oberlin.

Doug McMillan, director of the Oberlin Municipal Light and Power System, said residents will be with out electricity from about midnight to 6 a.m.

Work is being done over night to minimize incon venience, he said — but warned that residents need to plan ahead for the out age, especially those who need electricity for critical equipment such as oxygen

machines.

The problem has nothing to do with OMLPS, but with FirstEnergy’s 69-kilo volt transmission lines that tie Oberlin to the grid, said McMillan.

The city gets its power from a 1.6-mile, dual-cir cuit line that runs parallel to Garfield Road. First Energy workers inspect it each year for issues, and recently discovered a bro ken cross-arm brace.

“The line is pretty old, is very old, actually,” McMil

lan said. “So these braces are stressed and rot and you can’t tell until they break, from what I’m gathering.”

Years ago, FirstEnergy would have been able to leave one circuit live to make repairs without interrupting service, said McMillan. Occupational Safety and Health Admin istration regulations now require both to be taken offline for safety because they are so close together.

Tim Barfield

Gene Hartman

Hans Schneider

Bruce Bishop | Community Guide

Inspectors look over one of the trucks that will be hitting the roads as winter weather comes to the Ohio Turnpike. Their vehicles were inspected last week at the Amherst Township facility on Oberlin Road.

Dolores ‘Dee’ Board

Dolores “Dee” Board, 83, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, at UH Elyria Medical Cen ter. She was born Sept. 28, 1939, in Oberlin, the daugh ter of Everett Cousins and Marie Abigail King.

Dolores graduated from Oberlin High School. Fol lowing graduation, she pursued many passions such as baking, waitressing in New York, driving the bus for Head Start, working as a nanny around the Oberlin area, and working in multiple factories throughout her life. Dee would also enjoy the challenge of completing crossword puzzles. Fishing to Dee was genuinely spiritual. As an avid fisher woman of fish and people she believed in and loved God first and foremost, above all.

She was a devoted member of Christ Temple Apostolic Church in Oberlin, for over 30 years. She was an active member of the women's ministry and prayer group. She loved to write poetry, dance, make people laugh, cook and take care of her family and community in any way that she could, but most of all, she loved being a mother and nurturer to all.

Dolores is survived by her two sons, Darnell Taylor of Oberlin and Darrell Taylor of Oberlin; daughter, Sheila Robinson (Blair) of Lorain; her 12 grandchildren; her 28 great-grandchildren and many more loved ones.

In addition to her parents, Dolores was preceded in death by her sister, Eleonor M. Hill; great-grandson, Jo seph K. Hunt, and many more dear loved ones.

A service to celebrate the life of Dolores Board will be held Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, with visitation from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m. at Christ Temple Apostolic Church, 370 W. Lincoln St., Oberlin. Eulogists will be Sfg. Bishop Laurence E. Nevels of Christ Temple Apos tolic Church, and The Reverend Roger W. Wilmer Jr. of Frederick, Maryland, will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ Temple Apostolic Church, 370 Lincoln St., Oberlin, OH 44074. Online at www.brownrobinsonfuneralhome.com.

DOLORES ANN KENDEIGH (nee Sapienza), 94, of Henrietta Township, passed away Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, at Welcome Nursing Home in Oberlin, following a full and meaningful life. Hempel Funeral Home is han dling arrangements.

LETTERS

Support LCCC levy

To the editor:

I strongly urge all Lorain County voters to support Is sue 10 to continue the valuable University Partnership at Lorain County Community College for the following reasons:

1. Issue 10 is not a tax increase. If you pay real estate taxes they will remain unchanged.

2. The University Partnership has allowed thousands of Lorain County residents to attain bachelor’s degrees in a multitude of majors through universities across Ohio at the LCCC campus.

3. The benefits of these alliances continue to have a profound impact on the economic health of Lorain County in both the near term and the future. It has made college affordable for thousands of Lorain County residents who otherwise could not afford it. A significant number of well-paying jobs have been created as a result.

4. LCCC is the crown jewel of Lorain County. It has consistently received recognition as one of the top com munity colleges in the USA. It is an institution in which all of us should be extremely proud and clearly has earned our support, and at no additional cost to taxpayers.

I had the pleasure of serving on the LCCC Foundation board when the college’s visionary leadership first proposed this in novative idea. We had high expectations when the University Partnership was launched; this program has met and exceeded our lofty goals. The benefits of this program are incalculable. Please join me in voting yes on Issue 10 on Nov. 8!

Letters to the editor should be:

Alan Spitzer

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LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY

(USPS

SOME

A room at the Lorain County JVS was packed Saturday with pumpkin-carving kids and parents. The vocational school opened its doors for inside trick-or-treating, face painting and even a petting zoo.

Shifts likely to change after WPD meeting

JASON HAWK EDITOR

WELLINGTON — Ideas for boosting morale and cutting overtime spending were brain stormed in a 3-hour meet ing last Thursday night with Wellington police.

Mayor Hans Schnei der said he is “nearly 100 percent confident” the department’s shift schedule will change in coming months. He said the meeting was "terrific" and he was impressed by employees' willingness to talk through issues.

He also said some of ficers confirmed they plan to resign if given shifts they just can’t live with.

The mandatory meet

ing was the result of a heated Village Council discussion Monday, in which Police Chief Tim Barfield was questioned about incurring $80,000 in overtime pay this year.

Upset, Barfield said he is afraid of losing officers, and at one point told Coun cil President Gene Hartman to make a duty schedule himself that would keep employees happy.

Hartman is seeking to put the Police Department on 8-hour shifts in an attempt to keep overtime to the $30,000 budgeted each year.

Schneider, Village Manager Jonathan Greever, Councilman Keith Row land and Hartman sat down with all police and dis patchers as a group Thurs day, then met with each

OVERTIME FROM A1

Barfield said he spent 6 months this year looking for the right hires to round out his roster, which cur rently includes 9 full-time officers, part-time investigator, 8 part-time officers as well as dispatchers.

He doesn’t want to jeopardize the department’s stability by changing the shift lengths again, he said told Council.

But as Wells pointed out, the department isn’t exactly stable. By Barfield’s count, four full-time officers have left in the last year, and there’s been a revolving door of part-timers.

Poling came to Barfield’s defense, saying officers who are employed in Wellington now want 10-hour shifts. He said there were “problem employees” in the past who may have wanted something different.

“Do we want to keep problem people here, or do want to encour age them to go somewhere else?” he asked.

During lengthy questioning by Council, Barfield grew increasingly louder and more frustrated.

He also grew more confronta tional with Hartman. At one point, Barfield shouted that Hartman should tell him where to cut, and

employee individually. Barfield recused himself from the meeting, “which we agreed was best for the situation,” Schneider said.

The mayor declined to share what specific changes employees sup port. He said he wants to first go over the feedback with Barfield in a meeting Tuesday after press time.

The general plan, Schneider said, is to form a steering committee with members of the depart ment who have ideas about scheduling.

“Our position is let’s hear it from them. They work it. If they help develop it, we believe they’ll buy into it,” Schneider said.

It’s his expectation that Barfield will get on board with the path the commit

later yelled that Council could tell him who to hire.

“You haven’t listened to me for years,” he said.

Hartman said that with the excep tion of expanding the full-time police roster to 11, Council has given police everything they’ve asked for — cars, uniforms, a new station, stun guns, auxiliary officers and overtime.

“So go ahead and tell me how to keep your department,” Hartman told the chief.

Mayor Hans Schneider said it is Barfield’s job to find ways to fix prob lems within the WPD. He also put his foot down that the department would not get 11 full-time officers.

Schneider said he and Village Manager Jonathan Greever ap proached Barfield a year ago with specific issues and have not seen them resolved.

“We’ve told you what the problems are. We’re getting roadblocks, road blocks, roadblocks,” Schneider said. A mandatory meeting was called for last Thursday night with all police personnel. The intent was to inform employees that returning to 8-hour shifts may be necessary to get through their low-staffing crisis.

tee chooses, he said. Shifts were a source of discontent identified in a report this summer about Wellington police morale. It was based on interviews conducted with past and present employees by LeBrun Management Solutions, a consulting firm based in Beavercreek, Ohio.

Last week, Barfield an grily dismissed the report’s findings as “half-truths” and said LeBrun was hired to find problems.

After Thursday’s meet ing with police, Schnei der said he continues to disagree with Barfield on that point. He said many of the concerns outlined in the LeBrun report were verified by officers and dispatchers.

“OK. You can hear it from them, then,” Barfield said when the meet ing was scheduled.

Barfield was hired as chief in 2014. In an Oct. 13 letter sent to Council, Barfield said he is “not able to continue without clear ex pectations for this department.”

He has not resigned, however, Schneider confirmed.

Barfield wrote that there is a na tional police shortage. He criticized Wellington Village Council, claim ing it has no plan to address the problem here.

“At some point, Council needs to take some of the responsibility for fixing this problem,” he wrote. “I know I am not the only department head that is growing weary of bear ing the full responsibility of staffing and retention.”

Racking up large amounts of overtime will eventually drive employees away, he said. It also has police stretched thin — the WPD operates at minimum shift strength every day.

Schneider called the letter “disre spectful” and used the same word for another letter Barfield sent to LeB run Management Solutions regarding the consulting firm’s findings.

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SOLUTION

SUDOKU

SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD

Angelo Angel | Oberlin News-Tribune

FROM

on the rear of each truck apply liquids differently to the salt, creating a slurry that prevents scatter and covers the roadway more evenly.

The Amherst maintenance garage is one of eight such facilities across the 241-mile toll road. It’s home base for 22 drivers, two mechanics and support staff.

This year, more than 100 plows will be used across 1,395 lane miles crossing 13 counties in northern Ohio.

The stretch covered by the Amherst crew is the largest, has the most service plazas and is also home to the most toll plaza interchanges.

McMullen said his territory along the Turnpike has plenty of drivers for the snowy season, but is always looking for more. In the last couple of years, finding Class A CDL operators has grown more difficult.

The Turnpike offers an apprenticeship program that welcomes candidates with little to no experience, preferable with a background in mechanics or construction. It can train new drivers in as little as a year. But only long years of experience can hone an eye for forecasting the weather, said Amherst Section Foreman Greg Brown. After decades on the job, he’s gotten a feel for when snow is on the way.

Turnpike employees said it’s next to impossible to predict what kind of win ter is on the way. Brown’s best guess is that this one will be colder and snowier, but said he still relies meteorologists’ forecasts just like everyone else.

OUTAGE

FROM A1

He said FirstEnergy plans to build a new transmission line, placed a little farther apart, by 2024. When that line is up and running, the existing one will be rebuilt.

This is not the first time Oberlin has had to schedule a blackout due to prob lems with its main power feed. Last year, FirstEnergy carried out a similar planned outage for repairs a stone’s throw away.

In that case, power was out for about 3 hours.

McMillan said he hopes the Oct. 30 fix goes as smoothly.

“They’re telling me they should get ev erything done that night,” he said.

Oberlin Public Works Director Jeff Bau mann said the outage should not have any

Name a snowplow

The Ohio Turnpike’s second annual Name-a-Snowplow Contest is underway.

Residents can submit suggested names for plows through Sunday, Nov. 20 at www.ohioturnpike.org.

Turnpike officials will select 50 names for a public vote. Cast yours from Nov. 21 to Dec. 2, and the eight names that get the most votes will be used.

Winners will be announced on Dec. 9. Each will get a $100 cash gift card.

“We take it day by day, hour by hour here. In all the years I’ve been here, I’ve never guessed a winter correctly yet,” McMullen said.

Last winter, Ohio Turnpike drivers handled 55 winter storms and along with maintenance crews racked up more than 32,000 hours to keep the highway clear of snow and ice.

To do so, they used more than 309,000 gallons of de-icing liquid and 56,000 tons of salt.

When the weather demands it, those crews will work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week.

Verespe was eager for the first snowfall of the year, and said he loves keeping the Turnpike safe for travelers.

He also said storms can be a stressful time for plow drivers, and advises drivers to keep a good distance from his truck for safety and peace of mind.

“Stay back. Give us our space,” he said.

effect on other city operations.

McMillan is hoping this will be the last citywide outage for a long time.

Bringing a brand new electrical substation online on Oberlin Road later this year is not expected to cause any service interruptions for residents or businesses, he said.

That substation is being built by Bio Energy LLC as part of an agreement for construction of a new plant to clean gas from the nearby Lorain County Landfill and export it for sale. McMillan said he expects the company to turn over the sub station to the city in November.

The gas reclamation plant itself is on pace to begin operations sometime in 2023, he said.

BRAVO,

The Wellington Board of Education recently recognized Daisy Bockmore, an eighth-grader at McCormick Middle School and member of the Brighton Buckeyes 4-H group (seen here with board member Ayers Ratliff). She showed two steers at the 2022 Lorain County Fair and won Grand Champion Modern Beef Steer, Reserve Champion Modern Beef Steer, Grand Champion BBR Steer (Born, Bred and Raised in Lorain County) and took second place in Intermedi ate Showmanship. Bockmore has won Grand Champion at the Lorain County Fair for three consecutive years.

Mobile Seniors program expands to Wellington

WELLINGTON — Neighborhood Alliance announced it is expanding its mobile senior programming to Wellington on the first Tuesday of every month beginning Nov. 1 at Lorain County Community College's Wellington Center.

The program started as a pilot program in the fall of 2021, targeting older adults with programming to improve socialization, activities, medical screening, healthy lunches along with support services. Support service staff from Neighborhood Alliance will be on hand to meet needs such as benefits assistance, rent and utility assistance or to help set up other community resources.

Mobile senior program services take place at the following locations:

• First Church in Oberlin UCC, 106 N. Main St., every Monday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• LaGrange Village Hall, 301 Liberty St., every third Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• LCCC Wellington Center, 151 Commerce Drive Room 116, every first Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Get ready for the Skeleton Run

AMHERST — The 24th Annual Skeleton Run will be held Sunday, Oct. 30, starting and ending at Marion L. Steele High School’s Richard S. Cooley Track.

The 5K race will be chip timed, which means runners will receive a computerized chip to put into their bib and accurately record all race information. There are overall men and women's trophies and grand masters men and women's trophies in addition to medals for the top three finishers in each of 14 age groups. There is a stroller division, a dog division, expanded youth races, a water stop in the park, free pictures, massages by Watson Wellness, free items from Lorain County Public Health, snacks and drinks and awards for the best Halloween costumes.

All proceeds go to RunAmherst.com, which aims to inspire wellness in children through races and events by promoting competition, communication, connectivity and Comet pride.

Pre-registration, course map and all race information can be found at tinyurl.com/SkeletonRun5K. Register by Oct. 29 to receive the discounted rate of $25.

Kindergartners will start the event at 8:30 a.m. with a one-lap run. Grade levels will join throughout the hour, with one-lap races for first through fifth grades and a two-lap race for sixth- through eighth-graders. The 5K Skeleton Run will begin at 9:30 a.m.

CLASSIFIEDS

History haunts Sandstone Village

CARISSA WOYTACH THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

AMHERST — Real and imagined ghost stories from Amherst’s past were front and center at the annual “By My Lantern’s Light” event in Sandstone Village.

Led through the village by cloaked volunteers from Lorain's ACES program for at-risk youth, attendees went from station to station, hearing factual and “embellished” stories from Amherst’s past.

When COVID-19 hit, the long standing walk changed venues to first Crownhill Cemetery then Cleve land Avenue Cemetery before return ing to its original home this year.

“They’re all kind of my favorite,” Amherst Historical Society direc tor Sandy Kaiser said of the stations dotting the property. “It’s just inter esting to hear and each year you may have some different people coming in, different volunteers — we have two that are semi-professional actors that work with us and they embellish it or put their twist on it and it’s just really nice.”

Less factually accurate — but fun nonetheless — was a puppe teered story of Jack, who stayed out too late and, when walking home on a moonlit Halloween night through the village, saw ghosts, witches and several mon sters dancing left and right, up and down, before disappearing when the adults came by.

Rooted in history was a fatal threetrain crash in 1916 — told on the

original site of the wreckage.

The crash left many dead — in cluding five unidentified people bur ied at nearby Crownhill Cemetery — and several others maimed.

Another story relating to Crownhill is the two horses buried there — a requirement by Charles and Jennie Schubert who gifted the land where the Sandstone Village sits.

“It’s just very fun and we love to central things around history as much as we can, because that’s our mission is to keep history alive,” Kaiser said.

By My Lantern's Light raises funds for the Historical Society's continued operation, contributed to its about $100,000 annual budget alongside grants and other donations.

‘If the bottom is bad, we’re there’

Black residents fighting disease at higher rates

JASON HAWK EDITOR

In 1985, a groundbreak ing federal study showed Black Americans died from diabetes, heart dis ease, stroke, cancer and infant illnesses far more that white Americans.

Numbers crunched by Lorain County Public Health this year show little has changed.

“The exact same thing we knew all those years ago is occurring still to this day, and in some cases in even worse numbers,” said county Health Com missioner Mark Adams.

His staff didn’t go look ing for racial disparities. But the data kept point ing that direction — from more C-sections to fewer cardiac screenings, urban cancer clusters and higher rates of COVID-19, it was impossible to ignore the staggering health problems facing Black residents, Ad ams said.

Black residents often lack the means to get to doctor appointments and hospitals, and many don’t have the kind of jobs that provide health care insur ance, Donaldson said.

Peer-reviewed stud ies also show health care professionals have hid den biases when treating people of color, she said. For example, one from 2016 detailed how doctors under-prescribe pain medi cation to Black patients.

Donaldson said that trend is linked to a false stereotype that Black people have a higher toler ance for pain.

“And if we complain, part of it is being ac cused of wanting more pain meds just to get drugs,” she said. “The doctor’s not going to tell you, ‘Oh yeah, I think like that.’ It’s those hid den stereotypes we grew up with, and we all have them.”

Adams said the health care industry and the county health department have a trust problem.

dollar stores than grocery stores, which means less access to healthy food.

Today, hospitals and grocery stores tend to be built in suburban shopping centers, not in highlypopulated urban neighbor hoods, said Adams.

“A lot of times our populations of color are in areas that don’t have the same access to medicine and health care, don’t have the same access to schools, don’t have the same access to good, quality housing and don’t have the same access to jobs,” he said.

Transportation is a big part of the equation — people who don’t own a car often can’t get the care they need, and bus routes in Lorain County are extremely limited, Adams said. There isn’t a bus stop at Lorain County Public Health on Murray Ridge Road, he noted.

county where customers of disease emerge.

If there is a pocket of cancer diagnoses in Oberlin, for example, health workers need to start walking affected neighborhoods, providing information about health screenings and treatment, Adams said.

That’s what the agency did in June after noticing overdoses spiked in Am herst, Elyria and Lorain. Adams sent his staff to blocks where drug deaths had happened, and they gave out more than 600 Narcan kits.

“That’s how I want to approach disease,” he said.

“In no way will I accept that we have Black babies dying at a rate twice as much as white babies, for example.”

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

REMOVAL

The statistics are no surprise to Jeanine Don aldson, executive direc tor of the Elyria/Lorain YWCA. Since the murder of George Floyd in 2020, its Lorain County Racial Equity Center has been looking at what needs to change in health, policing, education, housing and economic development.

“Every single AfricanAmerican person I talk with, told me the reason they don’t trust Public Health is because they’re half as likely to be treated the same way as a white patient,” he said.

Imam Paul Hasan, founder of Interfaith Ministries in Lorain, said the way Black people view health care — often refusing to go to the doctor — is rooted in hundreds of years of oppression.

In an all-hands meet ing last week, Adams told his staff their mission for 2023-2025 is to tactically attack and eliminate the causes of racial health disparities.

That job starts with be ing more involved, attend ing City Council meetings, being part of neighbor hood watches and visiting civic groups, he said.

“Why is Public Health not at the table having a conversation with every community we have in Lorain County? That’s the thing that’s going to change,” he said.

Hasan said the Black community needs bet ter information, too. If residents don’t know why they are dealing with high rates of disease, they can’t change, he said.

Black churches and mosques will be crucial in spreading those messages, because they’ve built bonds of trust, Hasan said.

Donaldson said a meet ing will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17 at Lorain County Public Health to talk about an equity plan that’s been developed over the past 18 months.

insurance ($1 million minimum coverage) and Ohio BWC certificate of coverage.

The Board of Trust ees reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any informality of bids in the best interest of the District.

BY ORDER OF THE SOUTH LORAIN COUNTY AMBU LANCE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Amy Szmania, Fiscal Officer L.C.C.G. 10/20,27/22 20710193

The South Amherst Board of Public Affairs will be holding public hearings on November 7, 2022 & November 21,2022 at 6:45pm at the South Am herst Town hall to discuss up coming water rate increases.

LCCG 10/27; 11/3/22 20710019

“Black people and Hispanic people are at the bottom of the list in all of those areas,” she said. “If the bottom is bad, we’re there.”

Higher rates of diabetes and heart disease espe cially are also the result of where Black people tend to live, he said. Urban areas often have far more

Lorain County Public Health is also hiring an epidemiologist to pore over data every day, rather than waiting up to three years at a time to identify trends. They will be tasked with finding areas of the

Adams said people, not money, are needed to make a difference. Working together is the only way to end preventable deaths.

“An alarm has to go off that says, ‘Why is this happening?’ And now it’s been happening for de cades. At some point it has to change,” he said.

Three Lorain County stores cited for underage alcohol sales

Several stores throughout Lorain County allegedly sold alcohol to those under 21 during a liquor compliance check earlier this month.

On Oct. 13, members from the Ohio Investigative Unit, Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and Lorain County Drug Task Force completed liquor compliance checks on randomly selected busi nesses throughout the county. Three of those businesses are accused of selling alcohol to people under the legal age of

21, according to an LCSO news release.

They have been charged with a firstdegree misdemeanor and are required to appear in Elyria Municipal Court.

The businesses’ liquor permits will also be reviewed by the Ohio State Liquor Board.

Those three employees facing misde meanor charges are:

• Sunoco Gas, 42163 North Ridge Rd., Lorain — Clerk Anil Thota of Cleveland was issued a citation for underage alco

hol sales.

• Circle K, 36025 Royalton Rd., Grafton — Clerk Logan Johnson of Grafton was issued a citation for under age alcohol sales.

• Circle K, 705 Oberlin-Elyria Rd., Elyria — Clerk Desmonique Brown of Elyria was issued a citation for underage alcohol sales.

The maximum penalty for the misde meanor charge is up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

Angelo Angel | Chronicle

Joe Fought stokes the flames of his foundry in the blacksmith workshop at the Amherst Historical Society’s Sandstone Village.

Provided photo

ELECTION 2022

0.6-mill renewal sought for mental health and addiction

JASON HAWK EDITOR

Emergency rooms, jails and courts are overflowing with people who have mental health issues, and expert care is needed to turn the tide, said Michael Doud.

He is the executive director of the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Board of Lorain County. The publiclyfinanced body cares for people in crisis, works with teachers to identify children who need help, provides access to opioid addic tion treatment and trains mental health care workers.

“We are the safety net in the community, and we partner with a number of agencies to make

available services,” Doud said.

MHARS operates on an annual budget of about $24 million. A 0.6-mill levy is the biggest part of that income, but is set to ex pire Dec. 31.

Issue 9 on the fall ballot calls for a five-year renewal of the levy, affecting all Lorain County property owners. If passed, it would continue to raise about $3.9 million per year.

Homeowners would pay $12.94 per year for every $100,000 their property is worth, according to the Lorain County Auditor’s Office.

Doud said the money is desper ately needed.

In 2020, there were 45 deaths by suicide here, he said — that put Lorain County above the state average of 13 deaths for every 100,000 residents.

Overdoses are also a major issue for local residents. Last year, there were 463 nonfatal overdoses counted, and another 143 that killed people, he said.

Issue No. 9

What it is: A 0.6-mill renewal levy

Duration: 5 years

How much would it raise: $3.9 million per year

Michael Doud

Nearly 13,000 Lorain County residents received mental health and recovery services last year, according to the agency. Of those, 24 percent were children.

Diversion programs and community-based services are needed, Doud said. MHARS is already planning to build a crisis receiving center on the campus of The Nord Center in Lorain.

Purpose: For mental health treatment and education services Cost to homeowner/taxpayer: The owner of a $100,000 home will pay $12.94 annually.

For nonviolent offenders, MHARS wants to find alterna tive treatments instead of land ing people with substance abuse disorder and other behavioral health issues behind bars. Incar ceration hasn’t historically been effective at stopping the problem, Doud said.

Don Schiffbauer, CEO at the

Nord Center, said he has two mobile crisis teams and a lot of ground to cover.

He’s worked with MHARS to try to get help out to people in rural ends of the county, providing police in Oberlin, Wellington and Kipton with tablet devices that connect to crisis counselors — push a button, and officers get immediate sup port if someone is having a mental health crisis that can’t wait for a counselor to drive 30 minutes.

It’s exactly the kind of program that levy dollars make possible, Schiffbauer said.

The MHARS Board also funds support organizations such as The LCADA Way, Applewood Centers, Far West Center, Pathways Coun seling and New Directions Inc.

The renewal, if passed, would not raise taxes.

LCCC asks for 2.1-mill renewal levy to train workforce

JASON HAWK EDITOR

In the “Roaring 90s,” when auto manufacturing plants were boom ing, oil prices were low and the internet was in its infancy, Roy Church hatched a plan to keep the local workforce competitive.

As president of Lorain County Community College, he champi oned the creation of the Univer sity Partnership to train the next generation of nurses, computer scientists, police officers, chefs, teachers and engineers.

The first program of its kind in Ohio, it took LCCC beyond a place where residents could solely get an associate’s degree, delivering 12 programs from five

universities to the Elyria campus.

Voters supported that plan with a 2.1-mill levy, and current President Marcia Ballinger said the investment has paid off — today, the University Partnership offers access to more than 100 programs from 14 universities to LCCC students.

Earning those credits locally instead of going the traditional four-year college route saves LCCC students $74,000 on aver age, she said.

The 10-year levy that finances the initiative was last re-upped in 2013, and is set to expire in December 2023.

Ballinger and company are asking voters to extend it another decade. Issue 10 on the November ballot is a renewal that would con

tinue to raise $14.75 million per year, cost ing a home owner $4.25 per month for every $100,000 their prop erty is worth, according to the Lorain County Auditor’s Office.

Marcia Ballinger

Ballinger said the levy helps keep the cost of higher educa tion low while bolstering the highly-skilled workforce and putting money back into the local economy — 90 percent of gradu ates live and work here.

“We are the most affordable tu ition in the entire state,” she said.

Issue No. 10

What it is: A 2.1-mill renewal levy

Duration: 10 years

How much would it raise: $14.75 million per year

Purpose: To support Lorain County Community College and its University Partnership Cost to homeowner/taxpayer: The owner of a $100,000 home will pay $51.01 annually.

With tuition at $4,000 per year, LCCC also ranks in the top 10 percent for most affordable col leges in the nation, Ballinger said.

All LCCC associate’s degree programs transfer into an oncampus University Partnership track, she said. That means in

many cases students can take three full years of courses in Lo rain County before transferring to finish a bachelor’s degree.

Now the college has been tapped to help usher in a new era for Ohio’s economy. It’s been selected by Intel as a partner to train workers to support the com pany’s $20 billion dollar plant in Licking County.

That doesn’t necessarily mean exporting jobs to the south — Lorain County will be home to parts of the Intel supply chain.

Ballinger said LCCC has already been working for the past five years with more than 60 sup pliers tied to the microchip and semiconductor industries.

“We have the curriculum. We have the education,” she said.

Amherst FD renewal would be used to buy two trucks

JASON HAWK EDITOR

AMHERST — A 2005 pumper truck will need replaced in the next year, and Fire Chief Jim Wilhelm is relying on a longstanding levy to be there when it’s time to place the purchase order.

Voters will be key is making sure the money is there. Issue 11 on the fall ballot asks for renewal of a 1-mill levy that generates a little more than $305,000 for the Amherst Fire Department. That cash isn’t for salaries or benefits — it’s used exclusively to buy equipment and do mainte nance on the city’s Church Street fire station.

The aging pumper has been a key part of the Fire Department’s fleet, going on upward of 75 percent of calls for service. It’s “the one that gets all the abuse,” Wilhelm said earlier this summer.

Emergency calls have been es calating steadily for years, so the truck is racking up the miles.

In 2021, Amherst firefighters went on a little over 1,000 calls. The 2022 running total was just shy of 900 as September wound down, and Wilhelm predicted the total would top the prior year’s.

He is eyeing other trucks for re placement as well. A 2009 rescue engine is showing signs of wear and tear, and may need replaced in the next few years.

Wilhelm said parts of the frame

appear rusted, and he plans to have a professional assess how much longer it can be used. He wants to make it last as long as is feasible.

Replacing the pumper is likely to cost $500,000 to $6,000, and both trucks could easily run into the $1.5 million range, he said.

Doing so is a matter of safety: “I want to keep everybody safe. I want everybody to go home at the end of the day,” he said.

Wilhelm said he’s not sitting on a large cash reserve, but the levy will ensure there’s enough in the budget.

He also has plans to renovate the front entrance and interior of the Church Street fire station, which hasn’t had an overhaul since 1958.

Issue No. 11

What it is: A 1-mill renewal levy

Duration: 5 years

How much would it raise: $305,153 per year

Purpose: For fire equipment and maintenance

Cost to homeowner/taxpayer: The owner of a $100,000 home will pay $23.48 annually.

A sizable room inside the en trance used to serve as a museum of sorts, filled with antique gear including the old “Live Oak” wooden hand pump used during the early days of Amherst fire fighting. That memorabilia has long since been moved to a per

manent museum at the Amherst Historical Society’s Sandstone Village on Milan Avenue.

Wilhelm said he wants to con vert the space into offices.

Renewing the 5-year levy would cost home and business owners $23.48 per year for every $100,000 their property is worth.

Wilhelm said he has full faith in the voting public to keep the tax on the books, especially since it is not an increase.

“In the past, we’ve really not had a whole lot of problems with it. People like the service we’re giving them,” he said.

When last renewed in May 2017, the property tax request passed easily with about 81 percent support.

Oberlin voters asked to keep income taxes on the books

JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — City officials are relying on voters to embrace two income tax levy renewals worth a combined $2.6 million per year.

Issue 37 on the fall ballot is a 0.6 percent income tax that’s been on the books since 2015 and generates about $1.9 million annually. If passed, it would be collected through 2035.

Issue 38 is a 0.2 percent income tax that first went into effect in 2005 and generates about $647,000 per year. If passed, it would be collected through 2030.

Both are due to expire Dec. 31, 2024.

The taxes go straight to Ober lin’s general fund, which is used for the city’s day-to-day opera tions such as police, firefighters, code enforcement, parks and rec

reation and other basic services.

“The general fund is all about quality of life,” said Oberlin Finance Director Sal Talarico. “This is a critical piece of how we pay for these expenses.”

Income taxes account for 58 percent of all revenue to Ober lin’s general fund, Talarico told City Council in a presentation earlier this year.

It showed that Oberlin — with a 100 percent forgiveness policy for residents who work in other cities — is in the middle of the pack for municipal income tax rates.

The two levies on the Nov. 8 ballot do not represent the full amount the city collects in income taxes. This year, it’s on track to collect $8.1 million total.

Annual expenses have grown from just under $5 million in 2000 to $12.4 million this year, Talarico’s numbers show.

During that period, cuts to local

government funding from the Ohio General Assembly, paired with weak interest rates and the elimination of the estate tax, have dealt punches to the city’s budget, he said.

Given the political winds in Columbus, chances are near zero for the legislature to reverse course on either local govern ment funding or the estate tax, said Talarico.

Interest rates are rebounding slightly right now, he said — the Federal Reserve has already raised rates once this year and is signaling it may do so again. But Talarico said that will provide only the slightest of benefits to Oberlin, and they will not be permanent.

Nor will property taxes from the NEXUS gas pipeline save the day.

The line cuts through town on a small piece of property, generat ing less than $30,000 per year for

Issue No. 37

What it is: A 0.6 percent income tax

Duration: 10 years

How much would it raise: About $1.9 million per year

Purpose: For day-to-day city operations

Cost to homeowner/taxpayer: Varies based on income

the city, said Talarico. It generates significantly more for Oberlin and Firelands school systems outside the city limits, he said.

The best way to bolster the city’s revenue is to attract new businesses to town, which grows income tax collections, he said.

If voters reject issues 37 and 38, Talarico said there will be time to try again before the in come taxes expire. He said there would not be draconian cuts to

Issue No. 38

What it is: A 0.2 percent income tax

Duration: 5 years

How much would it raise: About $647,000 per year

Purpose: For day-to-day city operations

Cost to homeowner/taxpayer: Varies based on income

services right away, but without the taxes City Council would have to find ways to cut costs dramatically.

The good news, he said, is that Oberlin voters have “seen the results of their tax dollars in use and trust the city to use them wisely,” he said.

That’s based on the outcomes of previous elections, in which levies have been overwhelmingly supported.

BULLETIN

Read for the record

Be counted with millions of other children in an attempt to break a record. Kids will gather at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the Herrick Memorial Library in Wellington to read “Nigel and the Moon.”

Be prepared to show off your creativity with crafting.

Discuss ‘Need to Know’

The Afternoon Book Group will meet at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the Herrick Memorial Library in Wellington.

Readers will discuss the suspense novel “Need to Know” by Karen Cleveland. Books are available for checkout at the circu lation desk.

Pajama party for plushies

Kids of all ages are invited to celebrate Plush Animal Lover’s Day at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the Amherst Public Library.

Enjoy bedtime stories in pajamas and then leave your plush animal to experience an overnight sleepover in the library. Discover what your favorite friend did when you pick them up after 1 p.m. the next day, or ask an adult to follow along on Facebook or Instagram for updates on their adventures.

Dispose of drugs safely

National Prescription Drug Takeback Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 at police stations across Lorain County. The bi-annual event is a way to safely dispose of unused, unwanted or expired prescription medications so they cannot be misused.

Last Grandma’s Attic Sale

The Brownhelm Historical Association will host its third and final Grandma’s Attic Sale fundraiser of 2022 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Historic Brownhelm School, 1950 North Ridge Rd.

Find small electrical appliances, kitchen items, seasonal items, pictures and frames, luggage and antiques. Proceeds benefit restoration and maintenance of the school.

Oberlin Halloween parade

The Oberlin Halloween parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 at the former Eastwood Elementary School. It will travel to Langston Middle School. The event will feature the Oberlin High School marching band and include treats, a magician, balloon animals and more. All ages can march in the parade for free.

For more information, call the Oberlin Recreation Office at (440) 775-7254.

Downtown trick-or-treating

Children’s activities will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 29 in Oberlin’s East College Street courtyard. OberlinKids and KidSpeak will present a photo booth and color ing books.

From noon to 2 p.m., meet heroes and princesses downtown. Caricaturist Joseph Toothman will also be on hand to draw people in their costumes.

Trick-or-treat at downtown businesses from 12:30-2 p.m. Stop by city hall for treats from police and firefighters.

Shops give out treats

Trick-or-treating at downtown businesses will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 29 in Wellington.

Halloween party at the library

Little ghouls and ghosts can join in not-so spooky stories, crafts and trick-or-treating from 3-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Amherst Public Library. Costumes are optional but encouraged.

Trunk-or-treat in Kipton

The 3rd Annual Trunk-or-Treat will be held from 3-6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Kipton Community Church, 511 Church St. Wear your best costume for a contest, and enjoy candy, games, bounce houses and other family fun. Food will be avail able for purchase from 3-6 p.m.

Parade and treat-or-treating

South Amherst’s Halloween events will be held Sunday, Oct. 30. A costume parade will start in the parking lot on the west side of the former South Amherst Middle School. Line-up is at 2:30 p.m. and the parade will start at 3 p.m.

Trick-or-treat will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Be sure to turn a porch light on if passing out treats.

Parade and costume contest

Amherst’s annual costume contest and Halloween parade will be held Sunday, Oct. 30 at the city’s utility building, 480 Park Ave.

Contest registration starts at 3 p.m. and judging will start at 4 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the costume contest will be held at the Amherst fire station, 414 Church St.

The annual Halloween parade begins immediately following the costume contest. It will travel down Park Avenue to Town Hall. In case of inclement weather, the parade will be canceled.

Halloween stories and crafts

Enjoy spooky Halloween stories and crafts at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31 at the Herrick Memorial Library in Wellington.

Wearing costumes is encouraged and there will be treats.

See library’s candy chute

The “candy chute” will make its return this Halloween at the Amherst Public Library. From 6:-7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31, visit the stairs at the Park Avenue side of the library to see the chute in action.

‘Night of the Living Dead’

Spend the evening of Halloween with a screening of George Romero’s classic “Night of the Living Dead” at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31 at the Amherst Public Library.

Credited as the first modern zombie horror film, the influence of this 1968 cult classic is still evident in horror cinema and tele vision today. Snacks and bottled water will be provided for all registered attendees. This event is recommended for ages 12 and up. Minors should be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Registration is required at www.amherstpubliclibrary.org.

Expo on senior services

The Aging Well Senior Expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at Lorain County Community College’s Spitzer Conference Center in Elyria.

Learn about valuable community services that specifically benefit seniors. The expo will highlight local agencies, products and services available to help seniors get the most out of life. This free event will include workshops, exhibitors, prizes and lunch. The expo is presented by Lorain County Office on Aging, Lorain County Senior Network and Lorain County Community College.

Register at www.tinyurl.com/AgingWellExpo or by calling (440) 366-4148.

Club hosts candidates

The Lorain County Democratic Women’s Club will welcome several Democratic candidates at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at The Shipyards, 500 Shipyard Way, Lorain.

Guest speakers include Ohio Supreme Court candidate Judge Terri Jamison and Ohio Board of Education candidate Teresa Fedor. The club will also discuss Issue 9, a 0.6-mill renewal levy to support the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Board of Lorain County.

Learn about MHARS’ role

An informative session about what the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Board of Lorain County does will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at the Herrick Memorial Library in Wellington. The event is open to the public.

Learn about dragonflies

Dragons, Damsels and Hummers” will be presented at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at the Sandy Ridge Reservation Visitor Center, 6195 Otten Rd., North Ridgeville.

In this Black River Audubon Society program, join naturalist Judy Semroc as she explores the beauty and unique behaviors of dragonflies, damselflies and hummingbirds in the home gar den habitat. Semroc is an area field biologist, naturalist, author and photographer who has worked as a conservation specialist with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for more than 20

years. This program is free and open to the public.

Republican club meeting

The Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club will meet for break fast from 8-9 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Sugar Creek Restaurant, 5196 Detroit Rd., Sheffield.

Ron Kaminski will speak on climate change. Attendees are responsible for their meals.

Learn about local archaeology

The Brownhelm Historical Association will hold a membership meeting and program at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at the Historic Brownhelm School and Museum, 1950 North Ridge Rd.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Members of Firelands Archaeology will talk about exploring the physical traces left by prehistoric people in Northeast Ohio. The meeting is open to the public.

Amherst fall book sale

The Friends of Amherst Library fall book sale will be held from 3-8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3 for members only. It will open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 5.

Parents Weekend tours

Oberlin College’s Parents and Family Weekend is one of the Oberlin Heritage Center’s last big tour weekends of the year.

Tours are open to the public as well as to campus visitors Friday through Sunday, Nov. 4-6. Advance registration is required by calling (440) 774-1700 or at tinyurl.com/OHCtours.

On Friday, Nov. 4, the “Civil War to Civil Rights” tour will run from 3-4:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Nov. 5, the “Freedom’s Friends” tour will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon and a tour of architecture will run from 1:30-2:45 p.m.

On Sunday, Nov. 6, “Freedom’s Friends” will be offered from 1:30-2:45 p.m.

Self-guided tours can be done from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Craft tree decorations

Children can get a head start on the holiday season with Christmas crafting at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Herrick Memorial Library in Wellington.

Kids ages 4 and up can create decorations to hang on their tree. Registration is required to ensure there are enough sup plies. To sign up, call (440) 647-2120.

School board reschedules

An Amherst Board of Education meeting originally scheduled for Monday, Nov. 7 has been canceled.

It is rescheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 28 at the Amherst Junior High School Creative Learning Center, 548 Milan Ave.

Wellington library meeting

The Herrick Memorial Library board will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the library. The meeting is open to the public.

Oberlin library meeting

The Oberlin Public Library board will meet at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10 at the library. The meeting is open to the public.

Republicans host ‘Patton’

A reenactor portraying General George Patton will appear at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10 during a meeting of the Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club at Father Ragan Knights of Columbus Hall, 1783 Moore Rd., Avon.

In honor of Veterans Day, Living History Productions will present “Mr. Ohio History” Ken Hammontree, a teacher, author and historian. Snacks and refreshments will be available. The cost for guests is $5.

Veterans Day in Oberlin

The Oberlin City Schools, Oberlin College and city of Oberlin will host a Veterans Day ceremony from 10-11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 11 at the Oberlin Elementary School gymnasium, 210 North Park St.

The event is open to the public. Veterans and their families are encouraged to attend. The ceremony will feature a slide show presentation with photographs of veterans. To submit pho tos of you or your loved ones who served, send a copy of the image to veteransdayceremony2022@gmail.com.

New COVID variants raise holiday wave concerns

JASON HAWK EDITOR

Two new COVID-19 subvari ants are fueling worries of a holiday surge.

BQ.1.1 and XBB, both muta tions of omicron, are giving the virus new footholds in Europe and Asia, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Van derhoff said in a press briefing last week.

XBB has been dubbed the “nightmare variant” in China and

Singapore because it’s spreading so rapidly. Vanderhoff the new variants have been able to side step some of the protection of fered by vaccines, though people with immunity from vaccination or getting COVID already are unlikely to become seriously ill. Both new subvariants have already made it to the United States and are making the rounds in low levels, Vanderhoff said.

Lorain County Health Commis sioner Mark Adams said it’s safe to assume BQ.1.1 and XBB are circulating here already, though

no testing has confirmed that.

The news comes as spread of COVID is plummeting in Ohio. Case counts have dropped nearly 30 percent in the past two weeks — though many home tests aren’t being reported, according to the ODH — and hospitaliza tions are down about 25 percent in the past two months.

Despite those positive trends, Vanderhoff said about 12 Ohio ans die each day because of the virus. The state recently passed a gruesome milestone at 40,000 deaths since the beginning of the

pandemic.

Dr. Steven Gordon, chair of the Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Infectious Diseases, said all available COVID treatments are in “adequate” supply.

Doctors now also have ac cess to Evusheld, a monoclonal antibody used as a preventative treatment for immunocompro mised people, he said.

“It is not a substitute for vacci nation, which I think is important to know, and it’s also not used for treatment, so you need a negative test to get this,” he said.

Can downtown be saved?

Consultant says yes, with the right plan and cooperation

JASON HAWK EDITOR

WELLINGTON — Saving the village’s historic downtown will take money, new ideas and a lot less stub bornness.

Between sky-high inflation and rent hikes, shop owners are scared for the future, said Rich Saccardi, president of the Main Street Welling ton board.

Those with deep roots — “the oldtime stores” — are OK, but those who haven’t had decades to build customer loyalty are just barely hanging on, he said.

Formed as a nonprofit in 1998 to promote the business community, Main Street is sounding the alarm, warning that the downtown district along state routes 58 and 18 is in danger of disintegrating.

So it used a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant worth an estimated $13,000 to hire consultant Ben Lev enger, who spent last week examin ing Wellington’s assets and issues.

On Oct. 18, he visited every open business, talking with workers and looking at buildings and infrastruc ture.

“The good news is your town’s mostly intact,” he said. “We’ve visited 200 towns across the coun try, and we’ve been in places where there’s nothing left because they all got burned down or fell in on them selves. You have pretty good build ings to begin with, you just need to encourage people to do more with them.”

Completely overhauling downtown Wellington would cost $5 million per block, he estimated.

That’s clearly not in the cards. Nei ther Main Street nor the village itself has that kind of capital.

“So we need to figure out what to do right now while you build and re vitalize your downtown to get more tax benefit, to be able to take on big ger projects,” Levenger said.

Residents told him throughout the week what they want: upscale restaurants, a bookstore, more predictable business hours, outdoor benches, outdoor dining and gather

ing areas for festivals.

Levenger said Wellington is in a good starting position to make those dreams become reality. There’s ample traffic, great storefronts and diverse businesses, he said.

Levenger dismissed complaints about limited parking. There’s plenty — the same people who insist on parking directly in front of a shop have no problem walking three times as far through Walmart, he said.

Wellington should better manage its parking spaces, he said. The vil lage needs to better mark spots for 2, 4, 8-hour and overnight stays.

For Saccardi, storefronts that have

remained empty for years are the biggest issue.

“It seems like if you have a lot of vacancies, it deters from the charac ter of the village,” he said. “If we got the right businesses in the vacancies, it would attract the right businesses to come in.”

Levenger said that in many cases he supports the use of local ordi nances to penalize commercial land lords who allow spaces to sit empty.

Wellington Village Council has de bated going that route several times over the past decade. But Levenger

Yet the new “grandchildren variants” XBB and QB.1.1 pose a loosing threat, Gordon said. If they spread before people can get Evusheld injections, the pre ventative drug will be rendered useless.

The good news, said Vander hoff, is that because of vac cinations and immunity among people who got COVID, people have much better protection than they did this time last year.

“But remember: Even a very

Grant to ease S.A. cemetery traffic jams

JASON HAWK EDITOR

SOUTH AMHERST — Traffic jams at the Rout 113 entrance to Evergreen Cemetery may soon be solved.

A $2,500 grant from the Ohio Department of Commerce will help the village develop a second entrance, though Mayor Dave Leshinski said it’s unclear where it will go.

The South Amherst cemetery has just one road, a dead end that does not loop. After funerals, people often drive over roadside lots while leaving, Leshinski said.

“I just sit there and look at it and say, ‘Who’s going to run into who?’” he said.

Worries about fender-benders, tire tracks and damaged headstones have convinced officials a fix is needed. They are looking at two potential plans.

The first would create an exit to the east, through the South Amherst First United Methodist Church parking lot, which is private property.

The second would go through a village-owned field to the west and empty onto Route 113.

A decision is imminent, and construction is likely in the early part of 2023, Leshinski said.

He said expansion of the cemetery is also on the table at some point, and there is interest in creating columbariums since cremation is an increasingly popular alternative to burial.

According to the Cremation Association of North America, 57.5 percent of people who died in 2021 were cremated. That’s up from 33.8 percent in 2006.

The National Funeral Directors Association also reports the price of cremation, at an average of $2,550, is about a third the cost of a burial.

The grant to South Amherst was one of 44 distributed by the Department of Commerce for fiscal year 2023, for a total of $104,000.

It is funded by $1 from every $2.50 generated from

Oberlin tries again for splash pad cash

JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Building a splash pad and restrooms at Park Street Park will cost an estimated $350,000, and City Council is looking for a little financial help to get the project done in 2023.

Oberlin legislators voted unanimously last week to send a land and water conservation grant application to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

If approved, the grant would cover half the cost of the project, leaving taxpayers to foot an about $175,000 bill.

City Recreation Superintendent Ian Yarber envisions an outdoor water play area with cannons, misters and bubblers. It would allow kids and adults alike to cool off during the hot summer months.

“You’re seeing a lot of communities put them in,” he said in a pitch to Council. “Obviously, you don’t have to worry about if your child can swim. You don’t need a lifeguard on duty.”

The ODNR’s decision on the grant is expected in the late spring. Yarber said the goal is to build the splash pad next year.

Without the grant, he suggested still moving ahead with construction but in phases.

Building the splash pad alone would cost around $200,000, he estimated. Prefabricated restrooms cost $100,000 and up, depending on the size and amenities they include, he said.

Yarber said the Recreation Department has debated a splash pad for more than a decade. A survey showed 31.5 percent of Oberlin respondents want one, but so far the project has not materialized.

Lorain

Angelo Angel | Wellington Enterprise

Downtown needs a plan to survive, according to a consultant hired by Main Street Wellington.

DOWNTOWN

Bariatric surgeon joins Mercy Health Lorain

LORAIN — Mercy Health Lorain Hospital is now offering bariatric and weight management services following the addition of a bariatric surgeon.

Studies show obesity affects more than one-third of Americans and is the second leading cause of pre ventable death in the United States. Nearly 40 percent of working-age Americans ages 40 to 59 classify as obese.

Conditions associated with obesity, such as diabetes, add to the physical and financial toll of obesity.

“Obesity greatly impacts a per son’s quality of life. It’s not just their

DOWNTOWN

FROM B1

said he doesn’t think residents are ready for that step.

Officials haven’t done enough yet to provide landlords with incentives, he said. They should try that before resorting to fines.

He also said some stores aren’t actually vacant, but are being used for long-term storage. That may not be the best use, but it’s a valid one, said Levenger.

“You have to be cognizant there are two sides to this story,” he said. “It’s not just about what you see on the outside.”

Levenger said more crosswalks are needed, along with bike racks, benches, awnings and greenery.

Noise is an issue keeping people from shopping downtown, he said.

The area’s underground infrastruc ture is in bad shape, lighting is outdated and many properties need costly maintenance.

The consultant’s long list of rec ommendations includes creating an arts and culture district, using alleys for additional dining space, convert ing upper floors to professional of fices and convincing village officials to reconsider old regulations.

Main Street Director Jenny Arntz said Councilman Mark Bughman was involved in strategic plan ning talks with Levenger through

health that suffers, but also household budgets and even relationships can be affected,” said Dr. James Kravec, chief clinical of ficer for Mercy Health Lorain.

He is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine in Cleveland and com pleted residency at the University of Rochester in New York, where he first became interested in bariatric surgery after witnessing the pro found improvements it provides in the management of diabetes.

Dukes band qualifies for state

The Wellington High School Dukes Marching Band qualified last week for the Ohio Music Education Association state finals for the second year in a row.

Students earned a superior rating overall in competition at Copley High School to qualify. They will perform in the state competition at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Medina High School. The WHS band’s show this year is called “Colors.” Each movement is a different color of the rainbow and the energy it embodies.

James Kravec

“That’s why we’ve worked so hard to make sure effective weight management solu tions are available here in Lorain and its surrounding communities.”

The hospital has added bariatric surgeon Jeffery Landers to its staff.

the week. She said she hopes other Council members will get on board: “I think they are invested, but I think their attention is on other things,” she said.

Business owners have scheduled a meeting with Council at 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7 with the intent of “opening the lines of communication” and getting commitments on a path forward for downtown, Arntz said.

They should focus on creating gathering spaces, Levenger said.

Arntz agreed. She wants to see more picnic tables, performance spaces and for downtown’s wide sidewalks to get more use.

Levenger suggested building a “comfort station” on Depot Street with public bathrooms for travelers, more parking and a green space for dog-walking or events.

The Herrick Memorial Library’s parking lot and green space were also pegged as an ideal place for festivals and celebrations of local history.

Another proposal is the creation of a makerspace at 126 Herrick Ave., to serve as an anchor for artists and downtown programming, including conferences.

But Levenger’s hottest take is one that could anger residents — he said attitudes need to change.

“One reason I chose bariatric surgery is because it demands long-term collaborative and sup portive doctor patient relation ships,” he said. “I want patients to know that such a relationship is a big part of the formula to longterm health and success.”

“I feel like this town needs to learn how to listen to one another better,” he said. “But everybody loves their community. It’s just that there’s a lot of what we would describe as ‘alpha personalities,’ and they all want their way, not a compromised way.”

Wellington’s “old guard” residents are resistant to change, Levenger said. They exclude new neighbors and “appear to be stuck in their own ideas,” unwilling to negotiate or compromise.

In his eyes, the town is a “standard rural community that’s pushing back a little bit on modernization.”

Arntz said negativity and apathy have made revitalization difficult. Too many people waste energy butt ing heads when they could be shar ing a common goal, she said.

The Main Street Wellington board voted last Thursday to adopt a “heart and soul” program pitched by Levenger. It’s designed to improve morale, trust, communication and fight apathy, Arntz said.

She admitted that Levenger brought some hard truths to light during his visit, but said she believes his advice will be the catalyst Main Street Wel lington has been searching for.

“It’s gotten a few fires lit under people,” she said. “I’m hopeful… We have a lot of work to do.”

Library to offer tech support

Need help using your computer or other device?

Staff at the Herrick Memorial Library in Wellington now offer open “technology help” hours from 1:30-3 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. Drop in for assistance with your computer, tablet or smartphone. If you need immediate help, call (440) 647-2120 with specific questions or to make a one-onone appointment.

VARIANTS FROM B1

mild case of COVID causes disruption in our daily lives and places more vulnerable people among us at risk for more serious illness than that,” he said.

In addition to a plea for people to get vaccinated and boosted, Vanderhoff also said voluntary masking may once again be appropriate in certain circumstances — while using public transportation or in health care settings, for example.

This fall and winter it is important to stay home if you feel sick, he said. If you or a loved one shows COVID symptoms or has been exposed, have a plan in place to be tested quickly.

“Time is important, because if you test positive you need to isolate and protect others from the virus,” said Vanderhoff.

Tests are widely available at retailers and the state con tinues to send limited numbers of free tests to local health departments, libraries and community centers, he said.

Health experts are also voicing concerns about a flu re surgence this season. Numbers have been low the past two years because of masking and social distancing.

Vanderhoff said it’s safe to get flu and COVID shots on the same visit to the doctor’s office or pharmacy.

Adams said Lorain County Public Health isn’t seeing a huge demand at its flu clinics, but pharmacies report a large influx of people asking for shots.

He is worried about “vigilance burnout.” With stress over the economy and politics to juggle, Adams said health should be a priority.

“What we don’t want to do it let that guard down with anything, whether it be flu, whether it be (respiratory syn cytial virus) with our young children, whether it be any type of disease, whooping cough, anything like that,” he said. “… I understand people are tired, but your health is the one thing you have absolute control over.”

CEMETERY FROM B1

bural permit fees to the state.

“This is the fourth year the division has awarded the grant for registered nonprofit cemeteries, which can be used for exceptional maintenance of their grounds or training of their personnel,” said Daphne Hawk, superin tendent of the Division of Real Estate and Professional Li censing. “We are honored to provide funds to help Ohio’s cemeteries improve record-keeping, restore monuments, repair fencing, and improve signage.”

SPLASH PAD FROM B1

Last year, Council got behind plans to build the water facility. A $150,000 state grant application in March 2022 was unsuccessful.

Council was optimistic last week about its chances with the ODNR. Councilman Kelley Singleton asked if the same grant source could be used to build a skate park — an idea that captured the imaginations of other Council members.

Yarber said a skate park would be a possibility with ODNR grant funding.

DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY ACTION

MRAKUZIC STRIKES FOR FIVE

FOOTBALL Comets end 0-10 after final blowout

If ever the Comets needed a pick-me-up, it’s now.

Avon ripped up Amherst’s defensive line Friday for a 41-0 blowout, racking up red zone rushing touchdowns from quarter back Sam DeTilio and Gavin Fligner and a 27-yard field goal by Seth Warrick in the first quarter alone. The Eagles went into the locker room up 31-0 at the half.

Amherst was actually competitive in the ground game, cobbling together 122 yards to Avon’s 121. J.R. Bires led the way for the Comets with 84 yards on 23 carries.

But DeTilio held all the cards in the passing game, putting up 153 yards while Amherst struggled to amass 32.

The Comets’ Eli Solak caught four tosses for 25 yards and Cameron Gendics pulled in a 7-yarder from quarterback Cole Norris.

For Avon, the win was a ticket to a seventh straight Southwestern Conference title.

For Amherst, it was a different kind of benchmark — another 0-10 season. The Comets haven’t won a game since the end of the 2020 season.

Cirigliano dashes Falcons’ OT hopes

A 2-point conversion run by Marco Cirigliano in double overtime dashed Firelands’ hopes of pulling off a double overtime win.

Columbia took home a 29-28 Lorain County League victory in the season closer after Cirigliano scored on a 5-yard touchdown run, then took care of the extra points himself.

Photos by Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise Tyler Mrakuzic showed no mercy to the neighboring Wellington Dukes on Friday night, scoring five touchdowns to lead Black River to a 41-12 season-closing win. Wellington’s Nolan Sasack scored first on an 8-yard dump from quarterback Landon Wright, but the PAT was blocked. Mrakuzic struck back with an 85-yard reception from Pirates QB Eric Groesser, then allowed Nathan Urbas a turn to slide into the end zone on a 15-yard catch. Mrakuzic scored twice on the ground and once with a 26-yard pass in the second quarter, then caught his breath and added a final TD in the fourth quarter on a 30-yard bomb from Groesser. Nathan Patfield scored on a goal line push to end the game, though the Dukes were unable to make a 2-point conversion work. Mrakuzic rushed for 66 yards and racked up 220 receiving. Groesser completed 15 passes for 328 yards in the air. Patfield led Wellington on the ground with 74 yards and receiving with another 97. Wright ended with 257 passing yards.

Until the third quarter, the Falcons had held a 14-7 advantage on two early Weston Strader touchdowns. Tony Governale tied it up on a 14-yard catch from Carter Kalamasz, sending the game into overtime.

Jackson Cikalo caught a 48-yard touch down pass from Oberlin quarterback Drew Walter and Isaac Thompson grabbed a fum ble for a 77-yard sprint back to the end zone.

But that’s where the Phoenix’s prowess ended Friday in a 46-12 season-closing loss to Brookside in Lorain County League action.

Cardinals running back Michael Gomes tore up the field for three first-half touchdowns, and added two more in the second half.

Ben Montgomery added 6 points more to the Brookside tally with a 23-yard touchdown

Firelands’ Evan Tester scored on a 20-yard run, which was balanced by a short scramble by Jacob Sanders to send the game into double OT.

Strader scored yet again from 2 yards out, but Cirigliano’s heroics won the day.

Strader ended with 113 yards to his name and Tester totaled 92, while Falcons quarterback Jim Aunspaw put together just 58 passing yards.

While the Raiders were able to just bare ly pull out the win, they definitely domi nated in terms of yardage, putting together 417 total offensive yards compared to the Falcons’ 274.

reception from Nick Arra. He also scored on an 85-yard pick 6 to end the game.

In a notable turn, the Cardinals twice missed PAT attempts and did not try for the extra point after Montgomery’s final TD.

The Phoenix also were unable to convert on 2-point attempts after each of their scor ing plays.

Oberlin ended the season at 0-10, a distinction shared locally by the Amherst Comets and Vermilion Sailors in the Southwestern and Sandusky Bay confer ences, respectively.

NOTICE:

BOARD

http://oberlinoh.swagit.com/live

P.M.

-

P.M.

REQUIRED:

OF

-

WHO

OR E-MAIL: banderson@cityofoberlin.com

(2)

OF COUNCIL’S

Photos by Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

Black River’s Wyatt Royster leads the Pirates in the Division III boys district cross country meet Saturday at Lorain County Community College. Black River defended its title, winning with 56 points. Royster finished four with a time of 17:13.6 and his brother, Dillon, finished sixth in 17:26.4. Pirates senior Nick Newman was just a step behind in 17:32.3 for eighth place. ABOVE: Wyatt Royster; Wellington's Bella Watters finished 19th in the Division III girls race; Oberlin's Courage Bielawski finished 30th in the girls race; Amherst's Ty Perez finished 6th in the Division 1 boys race; and Joe Fox, a sophomore at Wellington High School, qualified for the regional cross country meet. He finished 11th and will compete Saturday at Boardman High School. Fox is the first cross country runner from Wellington to qualify since 2001.

Brookside closes Phoenix’s winless season

ABOVE: Wellington's John Kinter gets yardage. BELOW: Black River's Blake Hopkins makes a touchdown saving tackle on Wellington's Nate Patfield.

JANICEK IS UNSTOPPABLE

Morgan Janicek was in it to win it last week in the Falcons’ playoff opener, scoring five goals on the way to an 8-1 Firelands victory over Orange. Bella Simmons scored on a penalty kick, and Mia Sutorius round ed out the score with two goals of her own.

PIRATES’

DEVILS DEFEAT FIRELANDS

Provided photos

Wellington Soccer Association teams qualified for the Oberlin Classic, held Saturday.

team, coached by Dan Pilgrim and Amy Busler, finished

third place.

by

Sword and Sara Eastman,

by Mike Sword and Amber Mohrman,

Thomas Fetcenko | Amherst News-Times

Firelands' Lauren Valerius tries to score over Tallmadge's Ella Bee in volleyball playoff action last week. The Blue Devils defeated the defend ing district champs 25-17, 25-12, 25-8 in the Division II sectional final. The Falcons finished the season 20-4 after winning all 14 of its Lorain County League matches.

Russ Gifford | Amherst News-Times

RIGHT: Firelands’ Bella Simmons and Morgan Janicek celebrate one of Janicek's goals against Orange.

Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

The 17th-seeded Pirates won their Division III sectional opener last week, going 25-18, 25-19, 12-25, 25-21 over Lorain County League rival Keystone, which was seeded 18th in the tournament.

ABOVE: Black River's Remington Dieter moves to pass a Keystone serve.

SECTIONAL SUCCESS

COMETS DOWN BUCKEYE

KNOCKED OUT

On the Division I playoff path, fourthseeded Amherst dismantled Buckeye 25-17, 25-5, 25-18 on Saturday. Nia Hall came on the court hot, quickly knock ing down two of her match-high 18 kills. Ava Haddix had 31 assistant and Lind sey McConihe had 20 digs in the sectional showdown. ABOVE: Amherst's Isa Gotsis and Buckeye's Paige Knittel battle for the ball at the net. LEFT: Amherst’s Kendra Shimrock makes a pass.

END OF THE ROAD

WELLINGTON

construction or

Lorain County Habitat for Humanity,

David Sands | Amherst News-Times

Firelands’ Bella Simmons scores early in the first half Monday night against Padua in a Division II district semifinal on the road. Mia Sutorius also scored, but the Falcons were knocked out 3-2 by the Bruins in overtime. Goalie McKenzie Janosik stopped 10 shots in the hard-fought finale.

Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

The Dukes closed out their season with a 3-0 playoff loss last week, shut out 25-20, 25-18, 25-16 by Tuslaw. ABOVE: Wellington's Gabby Miller gets a block.

Photos by Russ Gifford | Amherst News-Times

Photos by Russ Gifford | Amherst News-Times

There’s nothing like starting the playoffs with a blowout, and Firelands filled that bill last week by rolling over Woodridge 6-0 in the sectional opener. Jess Yakunovich, Alec Urbansky, Garrett Yakunovich, Trace Karolak, Ty Griebe and Merritt Davis scored goals for the Falcons. Keeper Nathaniel Duke had a restful day, needing to make just one save.

ABOVE: Firelands' Ty Griebe cuts the ball against Woodridge's Hamzah Jubouri. BELOW: Firelands' Merritt Davis moves with the ball under pressure from Woodridge's Logan Feisthamel.

Can you in ate a balloon with liquid? What do you think?

Try this experiment with a lab assistant (a parent) and see what happens.

1 cup vinegar 1 tbsp baking soda

the

the

are the

the

The two

Pour the vinegar into the plastic bottle.

Carefully pour a tablespoon of baking soda into the balloon.

Stretch the neck of the balloon over the bottle opening.

observe

and

Unlike plants, molds don’t grow from seeds. They grow from spores that float in the air.

spores multiply on damp food and the chemical they produce will make the food rot.

Don’t open your jars as more

Slightly lift the balloon from the top so that the baking soda falls into the vinegar. Watch out!

Explanation: Baking soda added to vinegar creates a chemical reaction that makes carbon dioxide. This gas rises upwards into the balloon, in ating it.

experiments.

Use the code to solve this riddle.

Look through the newspaper for

articles. Which science does the article relate to? For example, a weather story relates to the science of

This week’s word:

REACTION

One meaning of the noun reaction is a chemical change brought about by the action of one substance on another.

When I mixed oil and water, I did not get the reaction I expected.

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

Humor

If you were a scientist and could invent something extraordinary, what would it be?