Lorain County Community Guide - Nov. 24, 2022

Coroner: 2014 death was homicide

STAFF REPORT

The death of Cory Barron, whose body was discovered among the trash at the Lorain County Landfill in 2014, has been ruled a homicide.

The 22-year-old Fremont man was reported missing after at tending a Jason Aldean concert on July 18, 2014, at Progressive

Field in Cleveland.

Investigators identified Bar ron’s body the next day at the landfill after finding a ticket stub in his pocket.

They determined he had fallen down a garbage chute at the stadium, and at the time did not suspect foul play, according to previous reporting.

That changed last week. Based on new information from the Cleveland Police Department,

‘Triple threat’ of viruses straining Ohio’s hospitals

JASON HAWK EDITOR

A triple threat of flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syn cytial virus, better known as RSV, has raised alarm in Ohio’s medical community.

“Never before have we had to con tend, as it appears we will this winter, with all three of these viruses driving illnesses at one time,” Ohio Depart ment of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said in a press conference last week.

An “early and dramatic spike” in seasonal RSV has hit hospitals across the state hard, he said.

Children’s hospitals are espe cially hurting. Vanderhoff said their emergency departments, urgent care centers and primary care offices are all seeing extremely high patient volumes.

Dr. Claudia Hoyen, director of infection control for University Hospitals, said there have already been infant deaths this fall due to flu at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital.

At the same time, health care pro viders are dealing with ongoing staffing challenges that make it hard to keep up, said Dr. Rustin Morse, chief medical officer for Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

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Lorain County Coroner Dr. Frank Miller said the death was a homicide.

Cleveland Police Public In formation Officer Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said the department’s Homicide Unit is continuing its investigation, which has been open and active since Barron’s death.

In 2014, the Associated Press reported police had said Barron was involved in an altercation

before his death.

Private investigator Dick Wrenn, a retired FBI agent, said Barron’s family was never con vinced the death was accidental.

“We believe that he was hit and kicked, perhaps, in the ribs and placed in that garbage chute,” he said.

Wrenn said it would have been difficult for Barron, who stood 6 feet 2 inches tall, to get into the chute by himself.

An autopsy by former county Coroner Stephen Evans in 2014 showed Barron died from blunt force trauma.

It also showed he was in toxicated when he died, based on blood tests.

In 2019, Barron’s family erected billboards in downtown Cleveland, offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identities and arrest of those who caused his death.

Strutting their stuff

Steele dance team ready for prime time

JASON HAWK EDITOR

AMHERST — Taylor Davis and Erika Malone are ready to rumble.

They started dancing as small girls, focusing on ballet, tap and jazz. Now as sophomores, they are co-captains of the brand new Steele dance team, which will bring the heat to the Comets basketball court this winter.

After more than a month of prac ticing choreography, the team’s 13 dancers will debut their act at half time during the Nov. 29 boys varsity basketball game against Clearview.

“It’s my passion. I love dancing so much,” said Davis. “I’ve done it my whole life. Just being able to show people what I do, it’s exciting, and

I like when everybody gets excited about what I’m excited about.”

Cheerleaders have earned their place courtside for many years. Dance squads are a little different, and are becoming increasingly popu lar during the winter high school season.

With the squad’s introduction, Amherst joins the ranks of Midview, Avon and others in Lorain County that have established dance teams. Malone said keeping up with other top-notch schools was definitely on dancers’ minds when they joined this fall.

Auditions were held in September, and practices started in October with the girls learning a dance a week.

“We’ve worked hard to find songs that a lot of people know and like, so they’ll get excited,” said Davis.

Jams by Jennifer Lopez, Meghan Trainor

Todrick

are all in the mix, appealing to Generation Z. Davis said the team made sure to include classic anthems from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s for parents too.

Dance is more technical than cheer, said Davis. There’s still tumbling and tricks, but dance tends to be less stiff and “can get more flowy,” with an emphasis on form, she said.

Keeping cool before the first per formance is increasingly tough, said sophomore Ava DiFilippo.

Varsity basketball games are a big pull, she said. A lot of familiar faces will fill the stands to see the Steele dance team launch.

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Angelo Angel | Amherst News-Times

Erika Malone is at the front as the Steele dance team practices Monday in the lobby of Marion L. Steele High School.

PRAYING FOR PEACE

County Clerk of Courts will donate excess funds

ELYRIA — The Lorain County Clerk of Courts will donate $750,000 to the county’s general fund.

Tom Orlando announced during budget talks last week that he would be donating the certificate of Title Administration Fund monies to the county’s general fund.

The funds are excess for the operation of the title division collected as part of statutory fees for issuing car and boat titles, watercraft registrations and fees for limited authority deputy registrar and passport acceptance services, according to a news release.

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“I’m really nervous,” DiFilippo said. “It’s different in competition, because you don’t really know the people in the crowd. Here, you go to school with them and they’re going to see you the Monday after the game.”

To break the ice, dancers will perform for basketball players Monday, Nov. 28.

Even Malone, with years of experience under her belt, said knowing her parents, friends and even the opposing team will watch the halftime show is daunting.

“I’d say I’m ready, but the pressure’s on. It’s new, and a little intimidating,” she said.

The team is coached by Kylie Braun, a seventh grade math teacher at Amherst Junior High. Steele Principal Joe Tellier said Braun has a background in dance, and quickly volunteered when she learned the team was a possibility.

There’s just one aspect of the season that doesn’t sit well with captains Malone and Davis — the team has no boys.

That’s not by design.

OBITUARIES

Jane Frances Rowland

Jane Frances Rowland, 68, of Wellington, went to Heaven on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, surrounded by her family, at University Hospital in Cleveland. A daughter of the late Carl and Rita Rink, Jane was born in Lakewood on Aug. 25, 1954. She graduated from Elyria Catholic High School.

A devoted member of Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Wellington, Jane was a religious educator there who prepared students for First Holy Communion for 27 years. Jane worked as an X-Ray Technician for 40 years at St. Joseph's in Lorain and as a Mammographer in Oberlin.

Jane was an Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucha rist. She belonged to the Third Order Secular Franciscan; the rule of life for the Secular Franciscan is to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of St. Francis of Assisi, who made Christ the inspiration and center of his life with God and people.

Considered a 'Trekkie', Jane was a Star Trek and Star Wars fan. She enjoyed deer hunting and building with Legos. Jane found a creative outlet in drawing, writing in her journal and creating and reading poetry. She thought Mother and Grandmother were the best titles ever and treasured time spent with her family and friends.

Jane is survived by her husband of 45 years, Gary Row land; children, Mary Rowland of Wellington, Elizabeth (Lee) Merrill of Clarksfield, David (Mindy) Rowland of Pittsfield; grandchildren, Corey and Casey; siblings, Sue (Jim) Olsen of North Ridgeville, Linda (Rich) Ciarrone of Parma, Charles (Becki) Rink of Spruce Pine, Alabama and Howard (Linda) Rink of Avon.

Visitation was Monday, Nov. 21 at Norton-Eastman Funeral Homein Wellington. A Mass of Christian burial was held Tuesday, Nov. 22 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wellington. Burial was at Rochester Center Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jane's memory can be directed to St. Patrick Catholic Church; Franciscan Sisters T.O.R. of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother; St. Jude's Children's Hospital, or St. Joseph's Indian School. Condolences for the Rowland family can be shared at www.eastmanfuneralhome.com.

LETTERS

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LORAIN

673-960)

Jymmie Ray Wetherbee

Jymmie Ray Wetherbee, 59, of Wellington, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at Metro Health Center. Born on Sept. 7, 1963, in Virgin ia, he was the son of Betty (nee Stephens) and the late Glenn R. Wetherbee.

Jymmie was a lifelong resident of Wellington and a 1981 graduate of Wellington High School. He was also Wellington's first placer and state qualifier for the Dukes wrestling team.

Jymmie worked for many years at Shiloh Industries, and the last six years at Duraline. He was a life member of the NRA and was also a member of the AmVets. Jym mie attended worship at Beyond the Walls in Elyria. He enjoyed golfing and hunting. He also enjoyed bowling and had bowled a 300 game at an Eagles event, playing on his family's team. Jymmie cherished time spent with his fam ily; he will be remembered as a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, and son, and a wonderful provider for his family.

Survivors include his loving wife of 41 years, Cheryl (nee Monschein) Wetherbee; son, Jymmie Curtis (Cyn thya) Wetherbee of Elyria; grandson, AmiRey Jymmie; mother, Betty Wetherbee of Wellington; brother, Michael (Beth) Wetherbee, who is proud of all his brother's accom plishments, and example in life; sister-in-law, Christine (Tom) Herb; brothers-in-law, Jason (Trisha) Monschein, and Jonathan (Melissa) Ward, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and aunts and uncles.

Jymmie was preceded in death by his father, Glenn Wetherbee, and grandparents, Raymond and Irene Weth erbee.

No services are planned at this time, but expressions of sympathy may be shared online at www.eastmanfuneral home.com.

Our condolences go out to families that have suffered the loss of a loved one.

To place an obituary or death notice in the Community Guide, call (440) 329-7000.

“I feel like there’s a stigma around boys being danc ers, and even if they want to be I feel like they’re ner vous to because of being judged,” Davis said.

The captains agreed the team shouldn’t be seen as feminine. Dance is a physically demanding sport, not to be dismissed, they said.

Malone said that at competitions she’s attended, male team members have been impressive, and their strength has been key to pulling off incredible moves.

“So I’ve always felt like I’ve wanted a guy to join our dance team because people always look at them and say they’re really cool,” she said.

Davis said the stigma against boy dance team mem bers and cheerleaders needs to be tossed. In the dance world, it’s well known that football players often use ballet to improve their physical conditioning, balance and coordination.

“They should just go for it,” Davis said. “No one should judge them.”

Coach Kylie Braun teaches her students a dance routine.

Provided photo

Emily Vitelli, a sixth-grader at Amherst Junior High School, poses with art teacher Staci Peltz after being named the local winner of this year’s Amherst Lion's Club International Peace Poster design contest. Her poster will be sent to the Lions’ district governor along with submissions from other local contests within the 10-county district. The winner will advance to the state-level competition, and potentially on to international competition.

Contest winner warns it takes ‘Only a Second’

La’Kylen Carrillo’s artwork will be seen by thousands this winter.

A Lorain County JVS student from Elyria, he is the first place winner in the 2022 Teen Driver Safety Billboard Contest.

His entry, “Only a Second,” will be displayed on three billboards in Lorain County.

It depicts the face of a small child with the words, “You tell her daughter you only looked down for a second,” on a field of black.

“I wanted to make something that would really open people’s eyes to driving and texting and get them to think before they make a dumb decision,” Carrillo said.

Carrillo received the $500 gift card grand prize, while his teacher, Greg Wing, received a $250 gift card prize for class room improvements.

Alexis Ambrose from Avon High School was the runner-up and received a $250 gift card prize for her entry, “Safety Skeleton.”

“Don’t let that snap be your death trap,” it warns, showing a skeleton holding a phone while behind the wheel.

The contest is sponsored by State Farm and the Lorain County Safe Communities Coalition.

“It’s so important for students to learn how to drive focused when they’re learn ing how to drive,” said county Health Commission Mark Adams. “This billboard contest gives students an opportunity to highlight the dangers of distracted driv ing."

Forty-seven entries were submitted by high-schoolers in Amherst, Avon, Clearview, Elyria, Firelands, the JVS and Midview.

Last year, there were 283 documented crashes in Lorain County that involved distracted drivers.

The Safe Communities Coalition uses the contest to warn that non-driving activ ity that happens inside a vehicle increases the driver’s risk of being in a crash.

Dangerous distractions include eating, reading, changing the music, putting on makeup, checking social media, texting and making phone calls.

The coalition urges drivers to put phones on do not disturb or silent mode before driving and pull over to make calls or text.

Passengers should speak up if the driver gets distracted, the group said. They can make the trip safer by offering to send a text or navigate the GPS for the driver.

Commissioners consider tuberculosis clinic options

KEVIN MARTIN THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

ELYRIA — Lorain County commis sioners are examining options for local tuberculosis testing services in response to a recent opinion released by Ohio At torney General Dave Yost.

If called upon, Lorain County Public Health could oversee TB testing and screening services, county Health Com missioner Mark Adams said in a report to the board last week.

An opinion released by Yost in June came in response to a request from Ashtabula County Prosecutor Colleen O’Toole.

Yost concluded that under state law, county boards of commissioners are not legally required to enter into a contract with local health districts. At the same time, if called upon by the county, a health district cannot refuse to provide TB services.

Lorain County Public Health is backed by a 0.5-mill levy that raises about $3.5 million annually. Adams said adding TB services would not greatly increase its costs, noting Stark County spends about $16,000 per year to run its TB program.

“We look internally at what it would take for us to be able to do that part of the program and having done it for a long time where we did the screening in-house — that would include somebody coming in doing testing, coming back for that retest or the observation piece and then that putting them in for … recommended treatment and prevention. So that entire

piece was really, you're not looking at a lot more people coming through the door,” Adams said.

Lorain County partners with Mercy Health for TB services and in looking forward, Adams said there are essentially three options to consider: keeping the current services, switching providers or partnering with another county and form ing a joint TB program.

Commissioner Matt Lundy said the possibilities are something they will care fully examine.

“It's certainly something for us to explore. This is not something that would happen overnight,” he said. “There are legal steps that we have to walk through. And as I said, Mercy's been doing a great job for us. This is just something that surfaced as a result of the AG (attorney general) opinion. We want to take another look at it. Kind of surprised that hadn't been done for a long time around here. But I think there's maybe some history that goes back a couple of decades on that one where things kind of went in a separate direction. So it's certainly some thing worth exploring for this board.”

Lorain County has been receiving TB services through Mercy Health since 2012 and has had a TB program since 1934.

Adams said TB numbers show 10,000 cases annually in the United States with each Ohio county averaging four cases per year.

By comparison, in 1982 Adams said there were approximately 25,000 cases, with the numbers trending in the right direction.

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He said the company’s facilities in Ohio have had requested for patient transfers from as far away as Virginia and Missouri.

“We’ve had to say no those other hos pitals in far-away states so that we can optimize our ability to care for patients inside the state of Ohio,” Morse said.

Hoyen said Ohioans need to take steps to protect the state’s health care system.

“Our staff are tired. It’s been a long three years,” she said.

While no vaccine has been approved yet for RSV, Hoyen said everyone should get flu shots and COVID boosters.

It’s especially important for children to be vaccinated against the flu, since they tend to drive viral spread, she said.

“We fortunately have a good match between what is circulating and what’s in the shot,” she said.

Medical experts are particularly wor ried about RSV, which can be deadly for infants, older adults with chronic condi tions and people with compromised im mune systems.

“You should seek emergency care for your baby if you notice unusually fast breathing, ribs pulling with each breath or a bluish color of the lips or face,” said Vanderhoff.

A fever of 100.4 or higher in infants up to three months old is a significant concern, he said.

For most children, RSV starts out looking like a cold with a runny nose, said Dr. Patty Manning-Courtney, chief of staff at Cincin nati Children’s Hospital. But with babies, parents need to be ready to act quickly if they see certain symptoms, she said.

Adams said COVID cases and hospitaliza tions are still declining.

That shocks him, though. Adams said that based on the amount of virus still circulating in sewage tests, he expected cases to be much higher.

The United States continues to lead the entire world in COVID cases, he said.

Dr. Rebecca Starck, president of Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital, said there are fewer than 10 COVID pa tients at the facility.

RSV, on the other hand, has been “pretty prevalent,” and she is seeing younger children hospital ized.

Starck said the tricky part is that the symptoms of RSV, COVID and flu are similar. She is encouraging Lorain Coun ty residents to wear masks when they’re not feeling well — the Cleveland Clinic continues to keep mask rules in place for patients and visitors, as well.

Franco Gallo, superintendent of the Educational Service Center of Lorain County, said teachers are seeing illnesses spread through schools, “but nothing like the past two years.”

JVS students attend 95th FFA National Convention

PITTSFIELD TWP. — Twelve students from the Lorain County JVS FFA chapter at tended the 95th Annual FFA National Con vention and Expo in Indianapolis to celebrate their accomplishments and find inspiration.

They took part in community service events and attended general sessions, edu cational tours and leadership workshops.

Chapter members spent a day of ser vice at White River State Park, helping to create a clean environment for part of the Urban Wilderness Trail by removing trash.

For adviser Beth Berthold, it was great to be at the event in person this year.

“The students loved the experience,” she said. “It was great to see them observe things like rodeos and career fairs, and hear from incredible speakers in person. I am always grateful when I can take students on trips to allow them to get a well-rounded experience of FFA and agri cultural career tech education.”

With more than 65,000 attendees, the FFA National Convention remains one of the world’s largest student events.

Kevin Daviduk, a landscape and green house management senior from Amherst, said the convention exceeded his expectations.

“It was entertaining and fun, and I learned a lot. It was nice to meet other people from Ohio and other states too,” he said.

Students who attended include:

AMHERST: Kevin Daviduk, a land scape and greenhouse management senior; Nicholas (Cole) Taddeo, an industrial equipment mechanics senior.

AVON: Kaitlyn McCormick, a landscape and greenhouse management senior.

BROOKSIDE: Gianna Ruocco, an in dustrial equipment mechanics junior.

ELYRIA: Gwen Dennison, a landscape and greenhouse management junior.

FIRELANDS: Vayda Wiles, an industrial equipment mechanics junior.

KEYSTONE: Allison Dubber, a land scape and greenhouse management junior; Sakura Ito, a landscape and greenhouse management junior.

MIDVIEW: Devin Ansel, an industrial equipment mechanics junior; Ethan Broz, an industrial equipment mechanics junior.

NORTH RIDGEVILLE: Kaylie Blank, a landscape and greenhouse management senior.

WELLINGTON: Nathan Sword, an industrial equipment mechanics junior.

“If they’re breathing very quickly, if they’re using their muscles to breathe, their neck muscles or their stomach muscles or their rib muscles to breathe, then we’re very worried and we want you to bring them to seek emergency care,” she said.

In a meeting of the Lorain County Community Protection Team later in the day, county Health Commissioner Mark

For the most part, educators are re lieved they don’t have to deal with the mass absences and quarantines brought on by the pandemic, he said.

President Joe Biden’s administration on Monday extended the nation’s CO VID-19 public health emergency.

Julie Chase-Morefield, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank, said that means related federal benefits emer gency food stamp allotments will remain in place.

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JVS teacher Greg Wing proudly poses with La’Kylen Carrillo and 2022 Teen Driver Safety Billboard Contest coordinators Amanda Accordino and Kiara Williams of Lorain County Public Health.

Dr. Patty ManningCourtney Dr. Rustin Morse

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Allison Dubber and Sakura Ito, both from Keystone, clean up White River State Park as part of a day of service at the FFA National Convention.

Bell ringers needed in Oberlin

The Oberlin Salvation Army is looking for volunteer bell-ringers for the season.

Sports teams, academic clubs, 4-H, boosters, Rotary groups, businesses and others are invited to sign up for up to 9 hours a day for indoor and outdoor ringing. The group that rings collec tively for 124 hours before Christmas gets a check for $500.

Contact Stephanie Walker at (440) 328-9060 or stephanie. walker@use.salvationarmy.org to get on the schedule.

AAA warns drivers about deer Cooler weather and shorter days mean more deer are gracing Ohio’s roadways.

According to AAA, the number of deer-vehicle collisions increases during October and peaks in November and December.

“More collisions between vehicles and deer occur now than any other time of the year,” said Jonathon King, vice president of insurance sales for AAA East Central. “One of our top claims as winter approaches is for vehicles that have been totaled from hitting animals, and the costs can be staggering.”

Since 2017, there have been more than 100,000 deer-related crashes in Ohio, according to data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. There are about 1 million car accidents with deer each year that kill 200 Americans, causing more than 10,000 personal injuries and resulting in $1 billion in vehicle damage, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Help police play Santa

Amherst police will take part in Toys for Tots this year. Two bins have been set up in the lobby of the N. Lake Street station, where new, unwrapped toys can be donated.

FFA LEADERSHIP NIGHT

Kennedy 12 dr. machin ist chest; Grizzley 10" table saw; Delta wood lathe 42"; 8x50" wood shop lay out table; Napa 83-319 wire welder on cart with argon; Lincoln 225 amp welder; Rockwell miter saw; Logan metal lathe mod. 10x36" bed; Gil-Bilt 18" kit band saw; 55 gal. dust collector; (2) work benches; elect. & plumbing supplies; Delta compound saw; Craftsman radial saw; Freud 4" biscuit joiner; 3x21" Ryobi sander; floor mod drill press; metal band saw; Acet. torch set w/cart; Jepson 3hp spindle shaper mod. 57210 mach. Vice; Werner 21' ladder; 5 1/2" jointer; 15" 3hp planer; oscillating spin dle sander; scroll saw; steel job box; yard & garden tools; bowling block top; 300-gal. gravity fuel tank. GUNS: Stevens, mod. 12MM, .410 single; H&R Topper M48 .410 single; Springfield mod. 120A .22 cal. rifle; Stevens 887 .22 cal. rifle semi auto; (2) Buck Country Arms .50 Cal. Apollo black pwdr. rifles; Go Sky 60 x 80 spotting scope; Browning compound bow; MEC reloader w/assort. dies; Lyman shot loader. ALUM V-BTM BOATS-OUTBOARD MO TORS-TRAIL MINI BIKE: Meyers Pro 14' alum. v-btm. boat on EZ loader trailer; Larson 14' alum v-btm. boat w/trailer; Nissan 9.8hp NSF9 gas

County kicks off budget hearings

KEVIN MARTIN THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

ELYRIA — The Lorain County Board of Commissioners held its first day of budget hearings last Thursday as the commissioners craft plans for 2023.

The board heard from depart ment heads and their annual budget requests in the first step toward ap proving the county’s 2023 budget.

Lorain County Clerk of Courts Tom Orlando requested $1,210,922 for the department’s legal division, a 3 percent increase from 2022.

Orlando told the commissioners they were able to give out raises for some of their employees and costs have gone up over the last year for goods and services essential to run ning day-to-day operations.

“We did incorporate raises for our employees and the cost of doing business has gone up. Supplies, everything, as you know, with infla tion, has definitely made the cost of running the office more expensive,” Orlando said.

In the auto title division, Orlando projected just over $1.5 million. This division is not financed through the county’s general fund, and comes from fees collected for issuing auto and vehicle titles, passport applica tions and more.

Orlando announced his intention to donate $750,000 back to the general

fund, something they have been able to do over the past few years due to fees generating excess funds.

“Talking about it, you hear that a lot. We've actually done that and we've done it in a way where we are still providing the service that all of our citizens deserve. So we're happy to say that we are this year able, even though in a slowing economy in a slowing auto market to donate, not return, but donate $750,000 to the general fund,” Orlando said.

The money can be used however the commissioners wish, and the financial flexibility that allowed this donation is in large part, Orlando said, due to the hard work of their employees.

The clerk of court of Common Pleas is responsible for various administrative and ministerial duties in conjunction with the Court of Common Pleas. These duties include record creation, record maintenance, record reporting and record reten tion of the activities of the court and the issuance of process. The Clerk is responsible for the receipt and disbursement of all money paid into the court system.

Jim Burge, chief of staff for Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson submitted a budget request of $5.184 million for 2023 representing an eight percent increase.

Burge said in looking forward the Prosecutor’s Office hopes to provide their employees with a cost of living

increase to combat inflation in addi tion to hiring two secretaries and an attorney in the office’s civil division.

In 2021 the Prosecutor’s Office requested a $4.8 million budget.

Paul Adams, director of the Lorain County Board of Elections requested a 2023 budget of slightly over $3 million, a decrease of $320,000 from 2022.

Adams said the leaner budget request comes after receiving ad ditional funding last year to update their poll books to run the election.

The 2023 request includes a mod est salary increase for board mem bers as required by the state of Ohio and salary increases for Election Day poll workers.

The Lorain County Court of Com mon Pleas put forward a $9.3 million budget request for 2023, with a gen eral fund request of $4,874,802.

Deputy Court Administrator Debo rah Tansey said the general fund represents a little over 52 percent of their annual budget with the rest of the court’s operations funded through grants.

In 2022 the court held 43 jury tri als, civil protection orders have risen to 379 and the court’s adult proba tion department is currently super vising over 2,400 people.

The commissioners also heard pre sentations from the Lorain County Recorder’s Office and representa tives from The Ohio State Universi ty’s Lorain County Extension Office.

GREENER BAGS

Annual poinsettia sale starts Nov. 28

PITTSFIELD TWP. — The annual Lorain County JVS holiday poinsettia and wreath sale will be held in person this year, starting Monday, Nov. 28.

The vocational school’s green house at 15181 State Route 58 will be open for business from 8-10 a.m. and noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday through Dec. 14, or until its stock is sold out.

Poinsettias range from $4 to $12, depending on size. Paint or glitter can be added for $1 more. Wreaths are $12 each.

The sale is held by landscape and greenhouse management students attending the JVS.

For more information, contact instructor Beth Berthold at (440) 774-1051 ext. 22377 or bber thold@lcjvs.net.

Provided photo

Lorain County JVS sophomore Gwen Dennison and senior Kaylie Blank are surrounded by poinsettias at the school’s greenhouse. Both are studying landscape and greenhouse management.

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Wellington FFA hosted a District 2 leadership night on Nov. 8. Seven chapters attended, representing Firelands, Lorain County JVS, Wellington, Bellevue, Margaretta, Western Reserve and West Holmes. State President Aubrey Schwartz and Vice President at Large Luke Jennings led the night's activities. They spent the night teaching about leadership and the qualities of a good leader. The event featured dinner, music and dancing, along with an activity teaching that all leaders need a good support system.

Bruce Bishop | Oberlin NewsTribune

Oberlin Recycling Coordi nator Lori Sprosty talks to Faye Metheney about the items that can and cannot be recycled during a plastic bag swap at Oberlin IGA on Nov. 15, which is America Recycles Day. Residents were invited to trade in dis posal plastic bags and get a reusable shopping bag in return.

Second Harvest provides Thanksgiving to 2,000

KEVIN MARTIN THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

Food Bank of North Central Ohio hosted its annual Thanksgiving food distribution on Saturday, providing meals to an estimated 2,000 people.

The drive-thru mobile pantry at Lorain County Community College is Second Harvest’s larg est distribution of the year, with volunteers giving out to each prequalified family 70 pounds of food.

Boxes included white rice, canned corn, canned pumpkin, apple sauce, cream of chicken soup, corn flakes, pinto beans, turkey gravy mix, stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, chicken bouil lon, mac and cheese and walnut pieces. Also included were a 10to 18-pound turkey, a dozen eggs, a bag of potatoes, a bag of sweet potatoes, a bag of onions, a bag of apples, butter and apple pie.

“This is the largest mobile pantry of the year for us. We are grateful to LCCC for partnering with us and for the support of the Lorain County commissioners, who supported this distribution

with ARPA funds meant to ben efit the community,” said Julie Chase-Morefield, president and CEO of Second Harvest. “To

gether we hope Lorain County residents will be able to enjoy a happy and wholesome Thanks giving meal with their families.”

The organization is capping off its 40th anniversary of serving Lorain County, and had 140,000 pounds of food Saturday at LCCC.

“We partner with Second Harvest year-round for our Com modore Cupboard on-campus food pantry. We are honored to enhance that collaboration to help distribute holiday meals to those in need. LCCC students, faculty and staff have volunteered to make sure everyone in our com munity has access to everything needed for a nice Thanksgiving meal,” said LCCC President Marcia Ballinger.

Second Harvest continues to distribute food at rates of 30 per cent above pre-pandemic levels, with the need expected to grow as the holiday season approaches.

In partnership with a network of food pantries across Lorain County, Second Harvest serves approximately 10,000 individuals each month.

Supported through federal American Rescue Plan Act fund ing from the Lorain County Board of Commissioners, Com missioners Matt Lundy and Mi chelle Hung said it was important to support the work of Second

Harvest.

“It was important that we get the federal dollars we received back into the community. Many families are still struggling as a result of the pandemic. Hopefully this will make life a little better for them this holiday season. We are our brother’s keeper and need to be there to help when families are struggling,” Lundy said.

Hung thanked volunteers and the leadership shown by Second Harvest in assisting those in need.

“Too often we underestimate the act of giving, whether it be a smile, a listening ear or the Thanksgiving dinner folks are receiving,” Hung said. “I am grateful to Second Harvest for their leadership in this distribu tion process. We must remem ber that we cannot do these things alone. The American Rescue Plan Act Grant fund ing has made this possible for the Lorain County Board of Commissioners to partner with Second Harvest mobile food pantry. Thank you to all the volunteers and staff who have worked to ensure residents in need have a meal on the table this Thanksgiving Day.”

Delayed by rain, Amherst ceremony honors veterans

OWEN MACMILLAN THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

AMHERST — Roughly 150 people gathered Sun day in front of the veterans murals and Patriots Park in downtown Amherst for the city's 12th annual Veterans Day ceremony.

The event is usually held on Nov. 11, but rain caused organizers to push the event back this year.

The two keynote speak ers of the event were veterans and sisters Carol and Gail Shinsky, Amherst natives who joined the Navy after graduating high school.

After the event conclud ed, Carol Shinsky spoke about how although she served for a long time, she is thankful most of all to those that gave their lives.

"There are so many people who have given so much more," she said. "Even though Gail served 22 years and I served 24, my husband did 20 years so 66 among the three of us. There are so many others who have given so much more and we're so grateful."

Gail Shinsky reflected on how the event, which both she and her sister have been going to since its

inception, has grown.

“People don’t realize when they have revealed each one of these murals over the years, the signifi cance of each one and the speakers,” she said. “For the Korean War Mural, the gentleman on the Jeep is actually from Lorain, and he was on the cover of Life magazine. There’s so much involved with the commu nity here and it’s just really wonderful.”

“It was an honor and a privilege to be asked to speak, for sure,” Carol Shinsky said. “It’s so wonderful how Amherst and this area in general really recognizes veterans and goes out of their way to recognize and support those who served.”

The sisters joined over 20 years before the Navy allowed women to serve aboard combat vessels. They chose the Navy because her sister liked the uniforms, Carol Shinsky said.

Artists and sponsors also unveiled 11 new paintings that will decorate the veter ans wall at the park. Every year, new military and veterans themed paintings commissioned and painted by locals are hung.

A planning mix-up means two of the paintings will

have to be put up at next year’s celebration, but they were still unveiled and celebrated Sunday.

One of the new paintings was by artist Ryan Shan non, who helped to paint the original Iwo Jima mural that began the Amherst Veterans wall.

Shannon was commis

sioned by the Simone family to paint a portrait of U.S. Air Force Major Patrick Simone.

Simone flew a Lockheed P-38 Lightning during World War II, and Shan non’s portrait features him in the foreground and a pair of P-38s flying behind him.

“(Simone was) my boss’ father and ironically, my late uncle’s high school science teacher,” Shannon said. “I’m thankful that it turned out well and the family was happy with it. It was a pretty amazing idea they came up with.”

Shannon painted that initial wall mural alongside

Mike Sekletar, so he has seen the development of the Amherst Veterans Day ceremony since its incep tion.

“It’s amazing, it’s really the most gratifying thing I’ve been able to be a part of in my lifetime,” Shan non said. “Mike (Sekletar) and I did the Iwo Jima mural 11 years ago, and it’s just really amazing that people are so supportive and think of doing stuff like this.”

During the ceremony, organizers played a video from singer Lee Green wood, in which he thanked members of the military and specifically those from Amherst.

"I think we can all agree that the Veterans Mural Association's mission to preserve history and to promote the arts has been accomplished," Greenwood said in a recorded message.

"I'm sure that the combina tion of the Veterans Mural Wall and Patriots Park has made it a destination for all to take a minute or so to stop and reflect on all those brave souls who have served our great country."

Near the close of the ceremony, there was also a video of Greenwood giving a performance of his hit song "God Bless the USA."

Photos by Angelo Angel | Chronicle

Carol Shinsky and her sister, Gail, speak at the Amherst Veterans Day ceremony about their experiences in the Navy.

Photos by Angelo Angel | Chronicle

People fill vehicles with all the ingredients needed for a Thanksgiving meal during the Second Harvest Thanksgiving food giveaway held Saturday at Lorain County Community College.

ELYRIA — Second Harvest

Lisa Guerrero places a turkey in a trunk of a waiting car.

Blood drive at Amherst library

The Vitalant Bloodmobile will be available for blood donations from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25 at the Amherst Public Library, 221 Park Ave.

All donors will receive two $10 Amazon gift cards, redeemable by email.

Santa Claus is coming

Children can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26 at Wellington Town Hall.

The event is part of Main Street Wellington’s Shop Small Saturday, which supports brick-and-mortar businesses. There will also be pop-up shops around town, in Town Hall and a craft bazaar at the Congregational Church.

Promoting Oberlin businesses

Oberlin Business Partnership will kick off its Shop Small Saturday promotions from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 26 at Mill on Main, 95 S. Main St.

It will include snacks, pictures with a holiday character and a holiday shopping contest.

There will also be information about an Elf on the Shelf scav enger hunt will run from Dec. 8-10 in downtown Oberlin. Find an elf in store windows, take a photo and send it to OBP to enter for a chance to win prizes.

Light Up the Village

The Amherst Historical Society will hold a “Light Up the Village for Christmas” ceremony from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26 at the Sandstone Village, 763 Milan Ave. It will collect donations for Toys for Tots and Wreaths Across America. Village buildings will be open for tours and shopping. The Young Marines will sell hot chocolate and doughnuts, and Santa Claus will be there to hear Christmas wishes.

Brownhelm tree lighting

The Brownhelm Historical Society’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27 at the Historic Brownhelm School and Museum, 1950 North Ridge Rd.

The celebration will start with a 5:30 p.m. gathering featuring caroling, hot chocolate, coffee, cookies and a visit from Santa. The historical association is collecting goods this year to sup port Road to Hope. Attendees are asked to consider donating household items such as silverware, coffee cups, bowls, paper towels, tissues, toilet paper, soap, laundry supplies, diapers and baby wipes, bathroom and kitchen cleaning supplies, shampoo and conditioner and toothpaste and toothbrushes.

Road to Hope is a drug and alcohol free residential facility on Lake Road, adjacent to Brown’s Lake Road Cemetery. It pro vides people with 12-step support in battling addiction.

Quilting meeting in Vermilion

The Vermilion Sit and Stitch Quilt Guild will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 28 at the fellowship hall of Trinity Lutheran Church on Liberty Avenue.

Member Tamela Hanna will present a program on using a template for setting triangles, especially useful when setting quilt blocks on point. Members will also share their block of the month creations and show-and- tell projects.

For information on the guild and its programs, call Sandy Neiding at (440) 967-4190.

Blood drive at McCormick

The McCormick Middle School Builders Club will hold a Red Cross Blood Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29 in the school’s gym, 627 N. Main St., Wellington. Register to donate blood at www.redcrossblood.org.

Learn about Kiwanis gift

Two 529 Savings Plan workshops have been scheduled for the families of kindergartners, first-graders and second-graders at Westwood Elementary School in Wellington.

The Kiwanis Club of Wellington is providing a one-time gift of $50 to students in those grades when they open or show their existing 529 college statement by Feb. 15, 2023, to the Wellington Schools Endowment Fund.

The first workshop will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at the Westwood Elementary gym, 305 Union St. Join virtu ally or in person. One match per calendar year, with up to a 25 percent match on contributions of $5 to $1,000. The percentage of the match will be based on funding availability.

The second workshop will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 at the Wellington High School cafeteria, 629 N. Main St. Students will receive a free T-shirt and be recognized at halftime of the Dukes boys varsity basketball game that night.

To learn more about the savings plan, visit www.wellingtonvil lageschools.org/Page/1524 or email the endowment at duke sendowment@gmail.com.

Santa visits South Amherst

South Amherst’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, featuring a visit from Santa, will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 at the village fire station and Village Hall.

See ‘A Christmas Carol’

Travel back to when live radio broadcasts would bring stories to life through the use of special sound effects and vocal range.

Wellington Friends of Theater will stage “A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Patricia

Lindley Center for the Performing Arts in Wellington.

See the story of Jacob Marley, the three ghosts and Ebenezer Scrooge in this holiday production that is complete with radio commercial breaks.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $11 for adults and $6 for senior citizens, students and children. Cash or check only. There are no pre-sale tickets.

Discuss ‘Ranger Confidential’

The Wellington Reservation Book Club will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Lorain County Metro Parks Wellington Reservation Center on Jones Road.

The group is reading “Ranger Confidential” by Andrea Lankford during November. At the meeting, readers will discuss it and choose their next book. Light refreshments will be pro vided. New members are welcome.

Holiday toy drive

A toy drive will be held by the Peggy Karolak Insurance Agency and Wellington Fire District from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 at 805 Patriot Dr., Wellington.

It will feature cookies, hot cocoa and elves. New, unused and unopened toys will be collected for kids in need, with donations going to Well-Help. While toys will be accepted for babies to 18-year-olds, there are usually fewer donations for ages 12-18, so consider giving one item for a teen.

Christmas program at EC

The 2nd Annual “Miracle on Poplar and Gulf” will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 at Elyria Catholic High School.

A “Journey to Bethlehem” performance will begin at 5 p.m., with a live nativity featuring real animals at 5:30 p.m. A lighting ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. There will also be a Christmas bazaar and musical performances.

Children attending are invited to dress as angels or shepherds and be part of the events.

The event is free. Elyria Catholic requests attendees take an unwrapped toy to be donated to children in Lorain County.

Help ‘Light Up Vermilion’

Light Up Vermilion will return for an eighth season from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 in the city’s downtown and Exchange Park.

Main Street Vermilion is planning family-friendly activities, and many stores and restaurants will add extra hours for holiday shopping and dining.

Winners of the Vermilion Arts Guild’s annual Vermilion Elementary School coloring contest will be named at 5 p.m. at Exchange Park. Santa Claus will arrive at 6 p.m. downtown, where Mayor Jim Forthofer will count down to the community tree lighting at 6:15 p.m. The Ritter Public Library will host a free Christmas concert by the Vermilion Community Band at 7 p.m. with refreshments.

Vote for your favorite business window display, take part in a scavenger hunt, visit Christmas alpacas at the park, collect treats and enjoy the sounds of Christmas carols.

Miracle on Main Street

Miracle on Main Street will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 in downtown Amherst.

The event is sponsored by Main Street Amherst and Sliman’s. The Madrigals of Steele High School will perform at 5:45 p.m. at Town Hall. The annual Christmas parade will kick off at 6 p.m., starting from the Amherst Public Library and traveling along Park Avenue to Town Hall, where there will be carols and Santa will help light the city’s tree.

Christmas shopping for kids

The Santa Shop will return from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Carlisle Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Rd., Carlisle Township.

It will be held during the Lorain County Metro Parks’ Night Lights event.

This is an opportunity to encourage children to do their own shopping for parents, siblings, friends, grandparents, teachers or even pets. There will be many gift ideas to choose from, and free gift wrapping is available.

The Santa Shop is sponsored by Friends of Metro Parks in Lorain County. Proceeds benefit the county park system.

Winter wonderland in Oberlin

Walkin’ In a Winter Oberlin” will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 in the city’s downtown.

A holiday lights parade will kick off the event, traveling down W. College Street. A holiday tree lighting will immediately follow the parade.

There will be free horse-drawn sleigh rides, visits with Santa at the Hotel at Oberlin, s’mores courtesy of Oberlin firefighters, cookies and hot cocoa courtesy of the Oberlin Rotary Club and Salvation Army, ornament decorating, an art market, ice sculp tures, performances, raffles and more.

The event is sponsored by the city of Oberlin, Oberlin College and local organizations and businesses.

‘The Nutcracker’ at the Palace

North Pointe Ballet will present “The Nutcracker” at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3; and 2 p.m.

Featuring thrilling theatrical elements and colorful larger-thanlife sets and costumes, the holiday production is set to the clas sical score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Audience members will see professional dancers perform alongside students from local dance studios. The ballet integrates live narration to guide the audience through the story.

Hearing-impaired patrons will be able to follow along with an American Sign Language interpreter at every performance. Participants from Murray Ridge School and North Pointe Ballet’s A Chance to Dance program will join the cast during a special sensory-friendly matinee on Saturday, Dec. 3.

Tickets can be purchased at northpointeballet.org/nutcracker or by calling (440) 245-2323.

Educators interested in tickets to a field trip performance at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 2may email leanna@northpointebal let.org.

Henrietta celebrates Christmas

The first Henrietta Christmas celebration will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4 at Henrietta Township Hall, 12050 Vermilion Rd.

Kids can take homemade ornaments to hang on the township tree, which will be lit at 6:30 p.m. when Santa arrives. There will be crafts for children, hot chocolate and doughnuts.

For more information, email fourhands4@zoominternet.net.

Memories of Sandy Ridge

The Black River Audubon Society will present Tim Fairweather and his program “Musings of a Naturalist Life” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten Rd., North Ridgeville.

Fairweather had been a naturalist with Lorain County Metro Parks for almost 33 years, retiring at the end of October. Through photos and stories, he will recount some of his favorite memories at Sandy Ridge and his recent trip to Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine courtesy of BRAS.

The program is free and open to the public.

Republican Club meeting

The Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club will meet for breakfast at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Sugar Creek Restaurant, 5196 Detroit Rd., Sheffield.

Charles Giunto, board member of Ohio Value Voters, will speak. Attendees are responsible for their meals.

Oberlin library meetings

The Oberlin Public Library board will meet at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8 at the library. A regular meeting will be fol lowed by a 2023 organizational meeting.

Both are open to the public.

Republican club Christmas party

The Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club Christmas party will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8 at Father Ragan Knights of Columbus Hall, 1783 Moore Rd., Avon.

It will feature visits by Santa; State Rep. Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville; State Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville; candidate for Lorain County commissioner Jeff Riddell; and Summit County Magistrate Scot Stevenson.

Snacks and refreshments will be available. The cost for guests is $5.

Wellington band concerts

The McCormick Middle School and Wellington High School bands will perform holiday concerts at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8 at the Patricia Lindley Center for the Performing Arts.

Breath of Heaven

The 25th anniversary of the Breath of Heaven live nativity will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 15617 Mason Rd., Vermilion.

An Oberlin tradition of many years before moving to Vermilion, the free event tells the Biblical story of Jesus’ birth. Dramatic presentations begin every 15 minutes.

Amherst library meetings

The Amherst Public Library board will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12 at the library. A regular meeting will be fol lowed by a 2023 organizational meeting.

Both are open to the public.

Hop aboard the Jingle Bell Bus

The Jingle Bell Bus will offer holiday rides through Amherst at 6 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14.

It will depart from the Main Street Amherst Community Center, 255 Park Ave., and travel through the city to view Christmas lights, with caroling along the way.

Space is limited and tickets must be pre-purchased at tinyurl. com/JingleBellBus. The cost is $5 per person per ride.

Wellington choir concerts

The McCormick Middle School and Wellington High School choirs will perform holiday concerts at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15 at the Patricia Lindley Center for the Performing Arts.

on Sunday, Dec. 4 at the Lorain Palace Theatre, 617 Broadway, Lorain.

AAA awards cops for efforts to prevent deaths

JASON HAWK EDITOR

INDEPENDENCE — Icy roads led to early morning crashes last Thursday across Northeast Ohio.

Elyria Police Chief Bill Pelko said his officers responded to a few as mo torists struggled with the first accumu lation of lake effect snow.

Avon Lake police Lt. Fran Tibbetts said drivers along the lakefront also had trouble adjusting.

“We’ve seen this dramatic change now with the weather. We know win ter’s coming,” he said.

Both departments were presented Thursday afternoon with AAA Platinum Community Traffic Safety Awards in a ceremony at the Embassy Suites in Independence.

Amherst police earned a gold award

and Avon police earned silver.

About two dozen law enforcement agencies from across Greater Cleve land were praised by AAA for efforts to prevent traffic deaths.

“Everything you do matters, and how you are doing it is impressive,” AAA East Central Safety Adviser Lori Cook told police.

So far this year, there have been 1,114 traffic deaths in Ohio, according to the auto club. In Lorain County, the Ohio Department of Public Safety has counted 19, and a combined 68 more in the previous three years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that 20,175 people died in traffic crashes in the first half of this year alone.

The first quarter of 2022 saw a re cord increase in fatalities, but the

Leukemia free

OC students to perform for UN diplomats

JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — The fall concert season had been me ticulously planned down to the minute — then the invi tation of a lifetime changed everything for the Oberlin College Musical Union, orchestra and choir.

About 180 students will travel by bus from Lorain County to New York City’s Carnegie Hall to perform Dec. 2 for the United Nations General Assembly.

The closed concert is about “the worldwide commu nity coming together in a shared spirit of shared citizen ship, a shared vision of music and the capacity of music to bring us together,” said William Quillen, dean of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

In an interview Friday, he recalled the electric ripple that passed from student to student when the news was delivered.

A Jan.20 engagement at Carnegie Hall was already on the books, and there had been buzz about another mystery tour date, Quillen said.

Professor Raphael Jimenez will conduct the orchestra and choir in a performance of works by Adolphus Hail stork, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Ludwig van Beethoven.

Quillen said the U.N. specifically requested Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, which famously ends with the “Ode to Joy.”

Famed composer Leonard Bernstein led the Boston Symphony in a performance of the masterwork in 1949 at the New York venue. Quillen said the United Na tions, seeking to duplicate that long-ago night, asked Oberlin students to reprise the piece.

St. Joseph celebrates ‘incredible little’ 5-year-old cancer survivor

JASON HAWK EDITOR

AMHERST — To see little Amon Linnell zipping around at full speed, you’d never guess he’s spent the last two years battling cancer.

The 5-year-old Vermilion boy rang a bell at the Cleveland Clinic in October to celebrate the end of his treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“He is an incredible little boy,” his mother, Sara Linnell, said last Thurs

day night as she watched Amon zoom into the gym at St. Joseph School in Amherst, where he started kindergar ten this fall.

Amon was diagnosed with cancer shortly after his third birthday. His mother said he wasn’t able to go to preschool that year, and last year missed a lot of days for doctor’s vis its and treatments.

St. Joseph School Principal Amy Makruski said classmates understood that sometimes Amon didn’t feel well, but they saw only the end of his battle, not the worst of it.

“What was important for us was that he was like a normal student in their eyes,” she said. “His family wanted him to have a normal year.”

That didn’t mean ignoring the hard ships the little guy has been through. St. Joseph students rallied around the Linnell family, giving all the emotional support they could, said Makruski.

Their goal was to help him transi tion back to the life a kindergartner deserves, running and playing and learning, she said.

First Fridays are out in Wellington

JASON HAWK EDITOR

WELLINGTON — First Fridays aren’t working, according to Main Street Wellington Director Jenny Arntz.

The nonprofit launched its themed monthly event in December 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, to entice more shoppers to the village’s downtown.

But the event clashed

with big high school games, and many business es didn’t remain open later on Fridays, Arntz said.

“Also, people were get ting home from work after a long week and not want ing to go out and do a lot,” she said.

In 2023, First Fridays will be retired, and Main Street will instead try Support Local Saturdays.

The new approach will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month, and will dis

pense with the themes.

Arntz said themes centering on snow, holi days, Star Wars, bigfoot, autism, the Olympics and other motifs were fun. Yet some businesses struggled to link those concepts to their brands, products and services.

“We are listening to feedback and trying to adapt,” she said.

Saturday mornings tend to be a fairly busy time in Wellington’s histori cal downtown shopping

district, Arntz said. The plan to to capitalize on that traffic.

The change was the re sult of several think tank meetings Main Street held in October, as part of its efforts to create a strategic plan for the future.

The past few years have been hard for Wellington merchants, according to Arntz. She previously said that even before the pandemic, some were struggling.

Pianist Byron Wei-Xin Zhou will perform a solo dur ing the Rachmaninoff selection. Oberlin alumni Kath ryn Leemhuis, a mezzo-soprano, and tenor Joshua Blue will join baritone Marco Chingari and soprano Sarah Tisba of Italy on stage.

The concert is the result of a partnership announced in September between Oberlin College, the Global Foun dation for the Performing Arts and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research New York Office.

It aims to expand international students’ access to college and universities known for musical instruction and academics. Oberlin is one of the few colleges in the United States to be involved.

Quillen said the trip recognizes the excellence of preprofessional musicians training at the Conservatory.

“Our students are extraordinarily hard-working, extraordinarily dedicated,” he said. “… They very much live in the mode of constantly rehearsing, constantly

Photos by Jason Hawk | Amherst News-Times Amherst police Sgt. Michael Rosebeck, Ptl. TJ Lepisto and Chief Mark Cawthon accept a gold award from AAA East Central’s Lori Cook.

Bruce Bishop | Amherst News-Times

Amon Linnell, 5, tosses a ball as he plays in the gym at St. Joseph School in Amherst. Behind him are tables of raffle items and people supporting Amon's family at a fundraiser celebration at the school.

FATALITIES

FROM B1

period from April to June had the first decline in deaths since the third quarter of 2020.

“Traffic deaths appear to be declin ing for the first time since 2020, but they are still at high levels that call for urgent and sustained action,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, promising to redouble ef forts to reduce deadly crashes.

Police have also taken casualties.

Of the 198 law enforcement offi cers who have died this year, 27 died in auto crashes and one died in a motorcycle crash. The Officer Down Memorial Page, which tracks those numbers, said 11 died due to vehicu lar assault, four in chases and three after being struck by a vehicle.

Four of those who died were Ohio officers.

Pelko said he wants to be aggres sive in preventing all traffic-related deaths in Elyria.

“We always have problems with speeders — speeders in school zones, speeders who just won’t slow down,” he said.

Drivers can help make streets safer by leaving early, slowing down and defrosting windshields and mirrors, he said.

The big focus for Amherst po lice is stopping dangerous driv ers on Route 2, said Chief Mark Cawthon.

“We see a lot of it, with higher speeds, aggressive lane changes, tail gating, that sort of thing,” he said.

Cawthon plans to run extra patrols during the holiday season, when intoxicated driving surges. He said Amherst officers will especially be watching rush hour traffic.

Route 83 is where Avon Lake officers see a high volume of crashes, according to Tibbitts. He

said frequent fender benders there are the result of bumper-to-bumper traffic.

The Platinum Award recog nized Avon Lake officers’ work to significantly reduce crashes every year from 2017 to 2021, he said.

Installing speed radar signs has helped slow drivers and more are going up every year, he said. The department has also emphasized crosswalk safety, using schools and social media to get its message out.

Now Ohio may be poised for a change that would give police another tool.

The Ohio House has passed a bill that — if adopted by the Senate — would make texting and driv ing a primary offense. Tibbits said there’s always been a law on the books against distracted driving, but a specific law about texting is “necessary.”

Weather prompts nonprofits to plan for warming shelters

As temperatures begin to dip below freezing overnight, Lorain County nonprofits have started looking at warming shelters for those in need.

United Way of Greater Cleveland Community Impact Director Christine Matusik-Plas said community partners are continuing to work on a plan to get local nonprofits and the residents they serve through the winter season.

Anyone in need of a warming center can contact coordinated entry at Catholic Charities, (440) 242-0455 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Walk-in hours are also available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, she said in an email.

Individuals will be directed to locations where they can stay warm during daytime hours.

After 5 p.m., on weekends and holidays, those in need can call (440) 233-8768. Single men can contact Catholic Charities St. Elizabeth Shelter, 2726 Caroline Ave., Lorain, directly after 10 p.m. at (440) 242-0056.

Neighborhood Alliance’s Haven Center, 1536 E. 30th St., is also available to women and families. Those in need must still call coordinated entry for assistance.

UNITED NATIONS

FROM B1

working.”

Students are not traveling to New York to make any political statements before U.N. ambassadors, he said, but to speak to them through artistry.

“Music is a universal language and a powerful tool for cultural exchange,” said Zhou, who performed a solo recital at Carnegie Hall during the 2021 U.N. Gala. “Its many positive spirits are the elements re quired for transformative solutions, and it will help to lead us through this watershed moment.”

Jimenez previously conducted performances at Carnegie Hall in 2013 and 2019. This time, he is look ing forward to sharing the “awe-inspiring” Beethoven symphony with an international audience.

“I cannot think of a more appropriate occasion and place to play this universal hymn of brotherhood,” he said.

The U.N. concert will be a closed performance. The public can experience the same magic in a free public preview at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at Finney Chapel in Oberlin.

CANCER

FROM B1

Last Thursday, the school threw a party for Amon. Kids wore yellow T-shirts, some emblazoned across the front with the words “Team Amon.”

Volunteers also parked bright yellow cars and trucks in the lot behind the school. The color was meant to show support for Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a pediatric cancer charity founded by Pennsylvania cancer patient Alexandra Scott, who died of neuroblastoma in 2004. Today the foundation funds cancer research and supports families desperate for a cure for childhood cancers.

Sara Linnell took part in a 1 million mile challenge in September, running a 50-mile leg for Alex’s Lemon ade Stand. She said proceeds from the St. Joseph Party would help other families, like hers, that are dealing with the trauma of childhood cancer.

Sixth-graders Korrina Rauch and Annabelle Kloos stayed busy throughout the evening selling baked goods on behalf of the organization.

“I just feel like it’s important to help,” Rauch said.

Kloos said she’s gotten to know Amon well, so it felt right to help the Linnells in any way she could.

“He’s really bright and open. He smiles a lot,” she said. “He’s really cute to be around, and he’s really funny.”

Vitalant, a nonprofit blood donation center, was invited to hold a blood drive during Amon’s party. Lin nell said that was fitting, since Amon received blood transfusions during his two-year ordeal.

“Since we’ve seen the community of those who fight cancer, we know the need is great for support and dona tions for treatment,” she said.

Some of the proceeds from the evening also went to help cover the Linnell family’s ongoing medical costs.

Elyria Police Chief Bill Pelko, Lt. Mike Groomes and Ptl. Brandon Szymanski accept their department’s AAA Platinum Community Traffic Safety Award from AAA East Central’s Lori Cook.

$238K Evans home restoration kicks off with sign ceremony

STAFF REPORT

OBERLIN — A National Park Service sign has been placed in front of 33 E. Vine St., marking the house there as a signifi cant historical site.

Trustees of the Wilson Bruce Evans Home Historical Society gathered Sat urday, Nov. 12 to celebrate the sign, and to kick off a rehabilitation project made possible by a $283,250 grant from the U.S. Department of Interior.

Through the National Parks Service “Save America’s Treasures” program, 80 grants were awarded this year for a total of $24.3 milllion.

Restoration of the Wilson Bruce Evans home was the only project in Ohio to received funding.

“The society has long known that the house is an American treasure,” said Carol

Lasser, who manages the property. “We are delighted to have it officially recognized as such by the National Park Service.”

Built in 1856 by free born AfricanAmerican cabinetmaker Wilson Bruce Evans, the house holds memories of his participation in the Underground Railroad and the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue of 1858.

“The Wilson Bruce Evans Home Histori cal Society is working to assure that the part Mr. Evans and his family played in standing up to the injustices and horrors of enslavement is not forgotten,” said Senator Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

He said the federal grant will aid in the restoration of the historic home and allow Evans’ story to continue to be told.

Doris Hughes-Moore, president of the historical society and Evans’ great-great granddaughter, said she was “over the moon with joy.”

STUDENTS ADOPT FAMILIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Two indicted in Vermilion fatal drug overdose case

Arrest happened at Motel 6 in Amherst

CARISSA WOYTACH THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

ELYRIA — Two people have been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the overdose death of a 22-year-old Vermilion man earlier this year.

Tyler Fox, 22, of Elyria, and Abigail Link, 22, of Vermilion, both were charged with involuntary manslaughter, a firstdegree felony.

They were also charged with corrupt ing another with drugs, a second-degree felony; and trafficking in fentanyl, a fifthdegree felony, as a result of an investiga tion by Vermilion Police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The charges were announced at a press conference last week by Lorain County Prosecutor JD Tomlinson.

The case began May 16, when Vermil ion police responded to a home where Justin Cramer, 22, had overdosed on an opioid. After several attempts to revive him using naloxone, Cramer was pro nounced dead on arrival at Mercy HealthLorain.

Tomlinson said the Lorain County coroner ruled Cramer’s death was from a fentanyl overdose. Cramer had completed a 30-day drug treatment program, but relapsed, he said.

Cramer was a new father living with his girlfriend, Vermilion police Sgt. Scott Holmes said. He had dealt with his ad diction for white a while before seeking treatment, he said.

Through surveillance footage from a neighbor’s home security system, as well as cell phone data from Cramer and in terviews with witnesses, Vermilion police identified Fox and Link as the suspected drug dealers that sold the fentanyl to Cramer, resulting in his death.

They were arrested at Motel 6 on Route 58 in Amherst by the U.S. Marshal’s Service on Oct. 28, following a secret indictment.

Link and Fox were arraigned in Lorain County Common Pleas Court on Nov. 11.

“This office is committed to prosecu tions like this one because Justin’s family is far from the only one in Lorain County that is grieving the loss of a child from an overdose,” Tomlinson said.

As of the press conference, Lorain County has had 90 fatal overdoses this year, 84 from fentanyl.

Fentanyl, including in counterfeit pills or laced in other sub stances, is responsible for thousands of deaths each year, said Thomas Gergye, assistant spe cial agent in charge for the U.S. Drug Enforce ment Administration's Cleveland office.

About a quarter of all pills seized by the DEA contained lethal doses of fentanyl, he said.

“The objective of the DEA is simple, bring ing those individuals who violate our drug laws to justice — doesn’t matter if you’re a street-level dealer or a rogue medical pro fessional or international drug trafficking organization,” he said.

Charging someone following an over dose death is a difficult task, Tomlinson said, but not an impossible one.

“I think it’s a good idea to show every body that this can happen, there’s a risk involved in selling drugs — if it causes a death, this is very well what could hap pen if you’re caught,” Tomlinson said.

Holmes, who led the investigation, said it is challenging to link someone who has overdosed back to the dealer who sold them the fatal substance, but when there is enough evidence available, officers will pursue those charges.

Vermilion Police Chief Chris Hartung said it is notoriously difficult for smaller communities, like Vermilion, to handle issues like this. The case presented last week was made possible in part through those partnerships with county and fed eral agencies, he said.

“I think you fall into two categories, either you’re someone who has been af fected by the scourge of heroin and over doses, or you’re someone who’s about to be,” he said. “The problem’s expanding exponentially so we’ve all got to work on this problem together.”

Lorain County Prosecutor's Office Chief Investigator Rich Resendez said for those struggling with addiction, there are processes and assistance available, including waiving criminal prosecution if someone goes into rehab within 30 days of an overdose.

Tomlinson said moving forward law enforcement agencies and the prosecu tor’s office will continue to work to link individuals who sold drugs causing fatal overdoses.

Provided photo

Members of the Wilson Bruce Evans Home Historical Society pose in front of the house at 33 E. Vine St., Oberlin, with a cutout of the property’s namesake. Evans was an abolitionist who helped slaves escape on the Underground Railroad.

Provided photo

Wellington High School Student Council members are adopting families for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Earlier this month, some mem bers spent time grocery shopping with adviser Christen Lewis for the two families the group adopted for Thanksgiving to get them everything they would need for dinner.

Pictured are junior Hope Dudziack, senior Marshall Mull, junior Lily Oswald and junior McKenna Solkiewicz.

Jeff Barnes | Chronicle Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson addresses the press on the indictments of two suspects connected to an overdose death.

Tyler Fox Abigail Link

Provided photo

Pictured are (front) Julia Finnegan, Callie Finnegan, Lily Chenoweth, Chloee Howard, (back) Ayden Schaefer, Macy Paller and Jordyn Simpson.

Lorain County 4-H’ers dominate on the state trail

WAYNESVILLE — Seven riders from Lorain County took a 12-mile ride on Saturday, Sept. 10 on the 4-H state competitive trail at Caesar’s Creek State Park.

Chloee Howard, a freshman at the Ohio State Agricul tural Technical Institute, won the second place award for horsemanship and was fourth place overall in the senior division.

The state competitive trail ride is designed for 4-H members to condition and prepare their horses for an inde pendent, quick-paced ride.

Members condition their horses for the ride for at least 30 days by keeping a log and taking temperature, pulse and respiration daily to get baseline values, then retaking pulse and respiration to prove faster recovery after moder ate to intense conditioning.

Along the path, each rider can attempt three obstacles for bonus points.

Senior riders ride approximately 20 miles in about four hours with two stops to rest their mounts. Horses are evaluated on health and recovery checks while riders are evaluated on horsemanship.

Also finishing:

• Lillian Chenoweth, a freshman at Firelands High School, took second place in horsemanship, second place for conditioning and first place overall in the junior ride.

• Callie Finnegan, a Firelands High School freshman, placed first in horsemanship and second overall in the junior ride.

• Julia Finnegan, a Firelands fifth-grader, was an exhibi tion rider.

• Macy Paller, a Firelands eighth-grader, placed third in horsemanship and 16th overall in the junior ride.

• Ayden Schaefer, an eighth-grader at Firelands, placed 11th in the junior ride.

• Jordyn Simpson, a Firelands High School freshman, was 22nd overall in the junior ride.

Mercy promotes diabetes awareness in November

LORAIN — More than 29 million adults have diabetes, and 25 percent don’t even know it.

That’s why Mercy Health Lorain Hospital is taking the month of November, which is National Diabetes Month, to promote awareness and share warning signs of the illness.

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that impacts how the body processes food. Those with diabetes do not process carbohydrates correctly, causing there to be too much sugar in the blood, also known as a high blood glucose level.

Blood glucose is monitored using a test called HB1AC, which gives the 3-month average glucose level. There are generally three different types of diabe tes – type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.

“Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that destroys the pancreatic cells that make insulin, caus ing a complete loss of insulin production,” said Brian Stevens, a Mercy Health – Lorain physician's assistant who specializes in endocrinology. “Symptoms com monly seen in children are increased thirst, extreme hunger, weight loss, fatigue, irritability and more trips to the bathroom. While these symptoms are common to see in children, adults with any type of diabetes might experience similar symptoms.”

While type 1 diabetes is considered an autoimmune dis ease, type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder found more often in adults. For those with type 2 diabetes, the pan creas is not producing enough insulin and cells may not be responding to insulin in the way they should.

“The danger with type 2 diabetes is that many are asymptomatic and live their lives unaware that they may have the disease. While some may be asymptomatic, those experiencing symptoms of diabetes may have excessive thirst, dehydration, cloudy vision and chronic yeast infec tions or (urinary tract infections),” said Stevens.

Gestational diabetes can also impact some pregnant women. This occurs when their bodies are not producing enough insulin when pregnant. While oftentimes it can reverse once the baby is born, it can make them more at risk for type 2 diabetes later in life.

If you are concerned you might have diabetes or are at an increased risk of the disease, talk with your primary care physician to discuss options and find resources. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist for support. Left untreated, there is an increased risk of heart attacks or other health complications, making it critical to seek help from your medical team.

Citing errors, Board of Elections rejects 347 ballots cast on Nov. 8

DAVE O’BRIEN THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

SHEFFIELD TWP — The Lorain County Board of Elections voted Monday to reject 133 absentee bal lots and 214 provisional ballots cast by Lorain County voters in the Nov. 8 election.

By unanimous vote, the board accepted 27,471 absentee ballots as valid. That's 99.5 percent of the 27,604 submitted in the Nov. 8 gen eral election.

It also voted unanimously to accept 2,162, or 91 percent, of all provi sional ballots cast.

In the majority of cases, the board doesn't know who cast the rejected ballots, and in none of the cases does the board know who the voter cast their ballots for, elections officials said.

The results of only one race from Election Day remain outstanding: Republican Jeff Riddell's challenge to incumbent Lorain County Com missioner Matt Lundy, a Democrat.

Riddell, who attended Monday's meeting, currently leads Lundy by 320 votes according to incomplete and unofficial results from the board of elections.

"It matters that we get these things right for the candidates," board member Anthony Giardini said.

Rejected were:

• 84 absentee ballots returned by voters after the 7:30 p.m. deadline on Election Day, that were post marked after Nov. 7, or that were not received by the Board of Elections until after the 10th day following Election Day;

• 19 absentee ballots returned with out a voter's signature;

• 18 absentee ballots that didn't include proper voter identifica tion. That includes 11 ballots with incorrect ID information on the ID envelope and seven ballots with no ID information on the ID envelope;

• Four absentee ballots with no stub attached. Ohio law requires such ballots be rejected;

• Four absentee ballots returned without an identification envelope; and

• Four absentee ballots returned

with a signature that didn't match the one on file with the Board of Elec tions.

According to the Ohio Secretary of State's Office, a provisional ballot "is used to record a vote if a voter's eli gibility is in question and the voter would otherwise not be permitted to vote at his or her polling place."

Elections officials then attempt to verify whether the voter and ballot can legitimately be counted.

Among provisional ballots:

• 140 were rejected because the voters were not registered in the state of Ohio;

• 37 were rejected because the vot ers cast their provisional ballots at both the wrong polling location and in the wrong precinct.

Of those 37, poll workers said 16 "refused" to go to their proper voting location, in some cases because it was after 7 p.m. on Election Day. What happened in the other 21 cases wasn't noted by poll workers in incident logs they keep at polling locations.

Giardini recommended elections officials train poll workers to log all such incidents so there was some record of what exactly happened.

• 17 provisional ballots were re jected because they failed to provide identification or because the ID they provided was incorrect.

• Seven voters had expired driver's licenses and brought no other form of ID.

• Four voters were unable to provide any identification. Two provided Social Security numbers that didn't match elections records, two used the wrong number off their driver's licenses, and two gave in complete license numbers that were either one digit short or two letters and two digits short.

Board President Marilyn Jacobcik said she didn't see where it's a poll worker's responsibility to ask followup questions or double-check ID. Giardini disagreed with her, saying that poll workers should do exactly that.

Jacobcik replied that it is a voter's responsibility to provide accurate information to the board of elections and poll workers.

Board member Inez James, who

has managed a polling station in the past, said she often checked voters' driver's licenses to make sure they were valid.

• 12 provisional ballots were rejected because voters had already cast their votes — some in person, Jacobcik noted.

Two voted in-person at the Board of Elections during early voting on Oct. 12, two others in-person and early on Oct. 20, one on Oct. 26, and three sent in absentee ballots that were scanned and received at the Board of Elections between Oct. 18 and Oct. 29.

• One voter was assisted in voting at their nursing home on Oct. 26 and also voted on a provisional ballot at their polling place on Election Day.

• Finally, three voters voted twice at the polls: Once on the Express Vote digital system and then again provisionally at their polling place.

None actually voted twice, because their ballots were flagged and halted by elections workers before they could be counted, Board of Elections Director Paul Adams said.

The board voted unanimously to refer those 12 voters to the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office for fur ther investigation.

Two provisional ballots were re jected because voters did not include their date of birth on the envelope, three ballots were rejected because voters put their incorrect date of birth on the envelope, three ballots were rejected because the voter put an invalid or incomplete address on their ballots

The board voted to accept the provisional ballots of 34 voters who voted in the correct polling place, but in the wrong precinct.

In most of those cases the board said poll worker error was to blame: Voters were handed ballots that didn't match their precincts.

The board had scheduled an emergency meeting Tuesday after press time to review ballots for voter intent.

"We just want to be cautious," Adams said.

The board will also meet at 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28, to certify the elec tion results and set up an audit for those results.

County party leaders react to Trump's 2024 announcement

CARISSA WOYTACH THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

Former President Donald Trump announced his 2024 presidential bid last week.

Trump’s third campaign for the White House comes while he faces a series of criminal investigations, including into his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election he lost to President Joe Biden.

Locally, Lorain County Republican Party Chairman David Arredondo chose to refrain from immediate judgment, instead wanting to see how the candidate slate shapes up.

“If I can make a priority as chair man, it is to grow our party younger. We must look to the future, not dwell on the past,” he said in a statement. “Our leaders and candidates need to be younger, not older, to ensure longevity going forward.”

He said it is not up to him to dis courage or decide who should run for office — that lies with voters in the primary and general election — and hoped others may throw their name into the ring.

In a telephone interview, Arredon do said if Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

announced his candidacy, his feel ings would remain the same.

“What I want to do at this point is to be impartial and neutral,” he said, adding later, “I simply want to see who the other candidates might be and consider them as well.”

He said he will at some point have a personal preference, as he plans to throw his name in as a convention delegate for his chosen candidate.

He also didn’t want to dismiss older members of the party or older candidates. While he’d like to see younger Republicans getting in volved — more candidates like JD Vance or Max Miller — that doesn’t mean the current members need to step aside, he said.

"Going forward when they start throwing their hats in the ring, the number one question I want to know is 'are you going to support whoever the nominee is?'" Arre dondo said. "I need to know that answer up front... That has to be something that he and all the other candidates answer."

At the state level, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said, “It’s a little early to be commenting on the presidential race,” The Associated Press reported. DeWine won reelection Nov. 8.

‘Ideal time for hunters’

Ohio bowhunters checked 3,866 deer on Saturday, Nov. 12, making it the highest single-day total this season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

The end of October and the first two weeks of November are typically a great time to hunt deer in Ohio.

“November is the peak breeding time for deer in Ohio, which means they are on the move,” said Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker. “This is an ideal time for hunters, who have an increased chance of seeing and harvesting a deer.”

Bowhunters across Ohio had harvested 65,154 deer as of Sunday, Nov. 13. The three-year average for deer harvested over the same eight-week period from 2019-2021 is 67,522.

Lorain County Democratic Party Chairman Anthony Giardini thinks the Republican Party is at a tipping point where the majority of voters may like Trump’s policies, but not his approach to politics.

Those energized to vote by Trump have shrunk to about 25 percent to 30 percent, Giardini said, and some now view the former president in a negative light.

From my perspective, I always said that’s their problem, not mine. Our job is to get Democrats elected,” he said, but noted depending on where someone is in the country having Trump on the primary ballot could be good news for whoever the Democratic nominee is.

While not surprised by Trump’s announcement, Giardini believes it is more a ploy for Trump to continue fundraising.

“In my view, he is the least for midable of all their potential candi dates,” Giardini said. “And I do be lieve that they will continue to have divisiveness if he is their nominee. This country will never heal as long as he is their candidate.”

Storytimes for all ages

Storytimes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays through Dec. 14 at the Amherst Public Library. Enjoy sto ries, songs, and rhymes for children of all ages.

Toddler Tales for ages 2-3 will be held at 10 a.m. on Mondays. Preschool Storytime for ages 3-5 will be held at 11:15 a.m. on Mondays.

Baby Bounce and Rhyme for newborns through 12 months will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Waddlers Storytime for ages 12-24 months will be held at 11:15 a.m. on Wednesdays.

Family Storytime for children of all ages will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Hall wins Player of the Year

held at

The Amherst senior led the Comets on one of the team’s best finishes in history, compiling a 44-9 record over the past two seasons. With her on the court, the Comets won back-to-back district championship titles and last year went to the state tournament for the first time in 30 years.

Hall is the second straight Amherst player to win the prestigious Player of the Year title, fol lowing 2021 recipient Laken Voss. Hall was also recently named District 3 Player of the Year and made the first team All-Ohio. Earlier this month, she signed to play NCAA Division I volleyball for Cleveland State University.

For seniors like Hall, the Lorain County Vol leyball Coaches Association all-star event was a chance to don their high school uniforms one last time. Players of Team Walsh hailed from Black River, Columbia, Open Door, Wellington, Brookside and Lorain, coached by the Cardinals’ Kristin Walsh. They went up against Team Baker, with players from Oberlin, Keystone, First Bap tist, Clearview and Avon, coached by the Clip pers’ Katlynne Baker. Team Sanchez featured players from Amherst, Elyria Catholic, Keystone and Firelands, coached by the Comets’ Felicia Sanchez. And Team Bendzuck rounded out the night with players from North Ridgeville, Avon, Vermilion and Midview, coached by the Eagles’ Julie Bendzuck.

FERANCY, KELLEY DOMINATE

TOP LEFT: Wellington’s Gwen Vannatter gets a dig.

ABOVE: Wellington's Morgan Lehmkuhl gets a hit.

LEFT: Oberlin's Audrey Halsted passes.

BELOW: Firelands' Lexi Mack goes for the kill.

RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Photos by Russ Gifford | Community Guide Nia Hall (ABOVE) was named the Lorain County Division 1 Player of the Year last week at the Lorain County Volleyball All-Star Game,

Firelands High School.

Photos by Angelo Angel | Amherst News-Times

Juniors Kayla Ferancy and Kristen Kelley went to the wall for the Comets on Monday night, helping their team secure a 69-41 victory over Twinsburg at home. Ferancy scored a game-high 25 points, while Kelley was just a step behind with 24. Painting a promising picture for the season, Amherst outscored the Tigers in every period, going into the half up 30-19 and into the final quarter 53-32.

LEFT: Kayla Ferancy releases a jumper over Twinsburg’s Genesis Carthen.

RIGHT: The Comets’ Kristen Kelley shoots under pressure from the Twinsburg defense.

Provided photo Ty Perez, a junior at Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst, was named the Lorain County Boys Divi sion 1 Runner of the Year after an outstanding cross country season. He was among the athletes honored last week at the 22nd Annual All-Lorain County Cross Country teams ceremony in Elyria. Perez also won the award two years ago as a freshman.

Russ Gifford | Amherst News-Times

Firelands fell 52-28 to the Red Wolves in the season opener at Cuyahoga Heights. The Falcons trailed 17-1 in the first quarter, and went into the locker room down 25-6 at the half. Wolves senior Tess Conroy led all scorers with 19 points. ABOVE: Firelands' Bella Simmons battles for the ball.

Later in life, Schulz became one of the world’s most successful cartoonists. But as a young man, he had a hard time finding a newspaper or magazine to buy his comic strip. He worked odd jobs to pay his bills.

During World War II, Charles was drafted into the United States Army. He brought a sketch pad and kept on drawing.

When he came home to Minnesota, he got a job teaching at the art school where he had studied. It was there he met a man who would become a friend for life. The letters on the correct path reveal his name.

In 1947, the St. Paul Pioneer Press bought his comic strip, which was called Li’l Folks name was ___________ to because another comic strip had a name that was too ___________.

From that small start, Peanuts became very ___________. It was eventually _____________ in more than 2,600 newspapers and 75 countries!

Charles Schulz wrote and _______ every single Peanuts comic strip himself for the next 50 years, inspiring generations of __________ cartoonists.

of the first Peanuts television special, which aired on CBS in 1965.

Every day, cut out your favorite comic strip from the newspaper. Glue the strips onto blank paper and make your own comic book!

Because Charles Schulz made so many comics featuring hockey, he was admitted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.

Growing up in St. Paul, MN, Charles used a hockey stick to hit tennis balls in his grand mother’s basement. His mother helped him make goalie pads out of gunny sacks with rolled-up newspaper sewn inside. His father made an ice rink in their backyard where Charles and his friends played hockey whenever they could — even by streetlight at night.

Charles’s love of hockey lasted his entire life. His five children all learned to skate.

In 1969, when a local ice arena closed, Charles bought it and opened the Redwood Empire Arena near his studio in Santa Rosa, CA.

Today, the ice arena is called Snoopy’s Home Ice and is located next to the Charles M. Schulz Museum.

How many di erences can you nd between these two hockey players?

To learn more about Charles M. Schulz, visit www.schulzmuseum.org

SUCCESS

Happy Birthday, Charles M. Schulz

– CHARLES M. SCHULZ

Charles M. Schulz Forever stamps to celebrate the fact that the creator of

strip

November 26, 2022. Find out more about this legendary cartoonist on today’s Kid Scoop page!

Charlie Brown Schroeder Peppermint Patty Franklin

Schulz

The Peanuts characters were so popular that they were made into books, TV shows, a musical stage show, greeting cards, toys and even movies! Circle every other letter to find out the name