Lorain County Community Guide - Dec. 17, 2020

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AMHERST NEWS-TIMES • OBERLIN NEWS-TRIBUNE • WELLINGTON ENTERPRISE Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020

Small town, tough times

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‘That is not how we look’ Remembering Oberlin fight, native activists react to Cleveland baseball team’s name change JASON HAWK EDITOR

JASON HAWK EDITOR

WELLINGTON — The weight of the pandemic is heavy at the holidays, but Mayor Hans Schneider has his eyes on the sacrifices that will have to be made in 2021.

In an interview this past week, he talked about the let-down of missing traditions like Christmas paHans rades, concerts Schneider and having Santa Claus visit children on the Town Hall green.

"The experience for 2020 is nothing like it should be. It's so difficult," the mayor said.

"We're in unprecedented times, at least for our lifetimes.

And sometimes it feels like we're making it up as we go along."

Stress at home and work As is the case across the nation, too many Wellington residents have lost jobs and hours, said Schneider.

Adding to the stress is remote learning, he said — children "are missing something" when their schools are forced to close and they must learn without the benefit of the classroom setting, sports and clubs.

Wellington's businesses have felt the crunch, too. Schneider TOUGH TIMES PAGE A3

OBERLIN — When Oberlin's public schools traded in their Indians team name for the Phoenix back in 2006, it caused a rift in the small, liberal college town.

Sundance, a Native American activist who lives in the city, remembers it well: "People really did not like that change, some

people," he said. "And some really did like it, and others were surprised that we still had such an outdated mascot."

Battle lines were drawn between people who'd lived in town all their lives and those who hadn't, he said, and nostalgia — not race, culture or politics — was the biggest consideration.

Now the Cleveland Indians have reportedly decided to change their team name after 105

years, according to a report published Sunday night by The New York Times.

It said the team plans to keep the Indians name and uniforms for 2021 and could shift to an as-yet unknown branding as early as 2022.

Deja vu Sundance and others involved in the Oberlin name change said they're feeling deja vu.

Robert Roche, a prominent member of the American Indian Movement, also lives in Oberlin and previously taught courses at Oberlin College.

He remembers how the local school board's decision played out.

"What I learned in that fight is that Oberlin as a whole is very receptive to change," he said.

TEAM NAME PAGE A5

Facing shortages, Salvation Army explores options Bruce Bishop | Chronicle

► John Schlotterer rings his Salvation Army bell outside Walmart in Oberlin on Wednesday, Dec. 9. “I love it," he said. "I love to talk to people and it’s nice when people stop and talk to you."

JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Christmas bell-ringers — those who are left, anyway — are having a dismal season.

The Salvation Army has relied on its Red Kettle campaign to drive donations for more than 120

years. It's suffering in 2020, not just from the coronavirus crisis but a widespread coin shortage.

Mark Fahringer, an Oberlin-based regional field representative for the nonprofit, said it's been difficult to balance fundraising with protecting employees and volunteers.

The virus "changed the

whole dynamic of how we work," he said. "From a fundraising standpoint, it's been brutal because it's not easy to ask a volunteer, 'Hey can you go out and put yourself at risk so we can raise a couple hundred bucks?' It's not who we are."

In a health year, it's common for Red Kettle

JASON HAWK EDITOR

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

Jason Hawk | Wellington Enterprise

Names of veterans and safety forces members have been added to the downtown Wellington Christmas tree this year.

Copyright 2020 Lorain County Printing & Publishing Company

a good shot of earning $800 or $900 in a single day. Now the count is more like $90.

"We'll find a way to get the money. I'm not putting people at risk," Fahringer said.

That's where Mike Cariglio comes in. He runs KETTLES PAGE A3

WELLINGTON — Branches on the "Tree for Those Who Serve" are dipping especially low this year.

Standing in the gazebo in front of Wellington Town Hall, the Christmas tree is decorated with tributes to local veterans, current military members, police officers and firefighters.

This year, ornaments for dispatchers and paramedics have been

added. Main Street Wellington Director Jenny Arntz said a dozen new veterans' names have been placed on the tree, too.

"At this rate, we might need a bigger tree," she joked. "I'm not sure if we might need to start having two trees."

The tree now holds nearly 450 ornaments, she said.

Workers from the South Lorain County Ambulance District helped decorate the tree this year.

BRANCHES PAGE A3

INSIDE THIS WEEK

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workers to raise a combined $15,000 to $20,000 at locations in southern Lorain County, he said.

This year, the Salvation Army will be lucky to take in $3,000 during the entire season, said Fahringer.

Ringing bells outside Village Market in Wellington, for example, had

‘Tree of Service’ branches are heavy-laden this year

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Volume 7, Issue 51

Amherst

Oberlin

Wellington

Mass power outage for First Energy fix • B1

Council to pass sweeping resident protections • B1

Long line for Christmas toy from Well-Help • B1

OBITUARIES A2 • CLASSIFIEDS A4 • CROSSWORD A5 • SUDOKU A5 • KID SCOOP B6

Page A2

Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020

Lorain County Community Guide

Hunting death was Oberlin College joins call for a ‘tragic accident’ return to climate agreement STAFF REPORT

Investigation continues into the death of a former Oberlin firefighter who was hunting with a group in central Ohio earlier this month.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Tracy Whited described the incident as a “horrifically tragic accident.”

She said it appears Andrew “AJ” Smith, 28, of Elyria, was mistaken for an animal and shot by another member of his hunting party.

Whited declined to provide further details while the investigation continues and to prevent sensationalizing what happened.

Delaware County is just north of Columbus and includes more rural land than Franklin County to its south.

Smith was working in the Columbus area as a contractor at the time of his death, according to his obituary.

He graduated from Elyria High School in 2011, where he played on the varsity baseball

and golf teams.

Smith continued his athletic career at the collegiate level, playing baseball Andrew "AJ" at Lincoln Smith College in Illinois.

His firefighting career began with the Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District on a volunteer basis. Following two years living in Arizona, Smith came home to attend the State of Ohio Fire Academy in Reynoldsburg.

Oberlin Fire Chief Robert Hanmer was saddened to hear of Smith's death. Though Smith did not work in Oberlin for a long time before moving out of town, the chief said he was the kind of firefighter every department hopes to hire.

"While Andrew was here, he was very ambitious, had a lot of potential and was passionate about firefighting,” Hanmer said.

JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — The landmark Paris Agreement was signed five years ago on Dec. 12, 2015, when nearly 200 nations that came together vowed to aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

To commemorate the anniversary, Oberlin College has signed the "America Is All In" pledge.

It joins with more than 1,500 cities, tribal communities, schools, faith groups and businesses in calling on President-Elect Joe Biden's administration to take action.

Virginia, California and Washington have all signed on, as have Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Columbus, Gambier and Youngstown in Ohio.

Kent State University, Mercy Health, The Cleveland Institute of Art and even Walmart are part of the movement.

"America Is All In" points to the wildfires and other disasters spurred by climate change that have harmed people, destroyed homes and upset the nation's supply chains.

"Tackling the climate crisis is essential to help our nation recover from these crises by creating

good paying jobs for millions of Americans, fostering U.S. energy innovation, increasing our national security, and protecting the health and well-being of present and future generations," the group's website says. "It will also provide us with our best opportunity to address systemic inequalities that have forced vulnerable communities, especially communities of color, to bear the brunt of climate impacts and environmental and economic injustice."

That message will be delivered to the incoming Biden administration as well as United Nations officials and global heads of state who gathered Saturday for the Climate Ambition Summit in the United Kingdom.

Oberlin College said in an announcement Friday that signing the pledge aligns with its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2025.

The college said it's "achieved approximately 100 percent green electricity" and offers sustainabilityrelated courses in 22 departments.

“We are partnering with experts in the carbon neutral field as well as those in our local community to achieve this goal,” said Kevin Brown, the college's chief of facilities. “The next monumental step is our Sustainable Infrastructure

Program, which includes replacing our aged district steam system with a new district low temperature hot water system with a carbon neutral energy source providing the heat.”

The many "America Is All In" signatories — ranging from Apple and PepsiCo to the Quinault Indian Nation, churches and synagogues — represent more than half of the nation's population, nearly twothirds of the economy and more than half of the greenhouse gas pollution in the country.

The big problem they face: At the direction of President Donald Trump, the United States official exited the Paris Agreement on Nov. 4.

Oberlin College also signed the 2017 “We Are Still In” climate declaration that was issued when Trump signaled he would withdraw from the accord.

The new pledge represents a critical turning point for the future of U.S. and global climate action, according to Elan Strait, director of U.S. climate campaigns at the World Wildlife Fund.

“Today's statement from Oberlin College and hundreds like them across the country sends a clear message that we need a unified national response to the climate crisis," he said.

OBITUARIES Rosemary Norma Hardy

Keith E. Roice

Irene Omori

Rosemary Norma Hardy passed away Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee following a short illness. Born in Oberlin to Norman and Gertrude Burke, she was a graduate of Oberlin High School and Oberlin Business College.

Her adult life was spent in Wellington raising her five children while holding different positions at Cleveland Steel, Rockwell International and Forest City.

Her children include, Lynn (Betsy) Gray of Oberlin, Rosanne (Thomas) Storrow of Wellington, Garry (Amanda) Gray of Sullivan, Jerry Gray of Wooster, Julianne (Tony) Vestal of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee and husband of 38 years, Samuel of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Rosemary had 20 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Samuel and Rosemary moved to Mt. Juliet, Tennessee outside of Nashville in 2000. There she became 'Nanny' for the three young grandchildren. Rosemary enjoyed her flower gardens and picking out new plants every spring.

Cooking and baking for everyone was a major priority to her. Numerous weekly trips to her Walmart nearby kept her active as well as staying in touch with friends and family on the phone. Come Sunday's in the fall, don't bother her when it was time for Tennessee Titans football. With her comforter and recliner she was ready hours before game time.

Rosemary was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Betty Pease and grandson, Travis Aviles.

Services will be announced at www.norton-eastman funeralhome.com.

Keith E. Roice, 82, born and lifelong resident of Ashland County, died peacefully Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. Keith was born April 17, 1938, to the late Harold E. and Lucille A. (nee Heilman) Roice.

Keith graduated from Sullivan High School in 1956 and retired as a machinist, from F.E. Myers in Ashland, in 1995.

Keith is survived by his loving wife, Linda (nee Helderman), whom he wedded in 1983. Surviving children include Lynn Bailey of Ashland; stepsons, William (Tricia) Dilworth of Greenwich, Shawn (Irene) Dilworth of McKinney, Texas; five grandchildren and one greatgranddaughter.

Keith was preceded in death by his son, Brian Roice in 1982 and an infant stepdaughter, Susan Lynn Dilworth.

Keith was known to have the 'gift of gab' and he knew no stranger. He had a great memory that drew people towards him and his vast knowledge made him someone whom everyone enjoyed a conversation and a laugh with. Traveling, farming, spending time with family and working with his hands where just a few of the things that made him smile.

Family and friends were received Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, at Norton-Eastman Funeral Home, 370 South Main St., Wellington. A graveside service will be held Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, at 11 a.m. at Sullivan Southview Cemetery.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.nortoneastmanfuneralhome.com.

Irene Omori, 89, of Elyria and a former resident of Oberlin, passed away Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, at the Wesleyan Village following a lengthy illness and dementia. She was born April 11, 1931, in Kona, Hawaii.

Irene received her bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaii. She was a Librarian in the public and college library systems throughout her life.

She retired in 1987 from Oberlin College. Irene was an avid golfer for many years at the Oberlin Golf Club and enjoyed her garden, crafts and travel.

Mrs. Omori was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Jerry; children, Mike (Laura) of Toledo, Glenn (Nicki) of Grayling, Michigan, Carol Middaugh of Millbury, Ohio and Dale (Suzanne) of Rocky River; grandchildren, Alix (Andy), Hana, Sam, Jack; brother, Larry Yonemura (Shirley) of Pearl City, Hawaii.

She was preceded in death by her son, Randall Omori; sister, Gladys Kunitomo; brother, Raymond Yonemura; parents, Yasunaga and Sumie Yonemura.

At the request of the family, all services will be private.

Funeral arrangements by Busch Funeral Home, Elyria.

Memorial contributions can be forwarded to the Wesleyan Village Foundation, 807 West Avenue, Elyria, OH 44035. www.buschcares.com

LOIS EVELYN PRITCHETT (nee Nieding), 94, a resident of Oberlin, passed away Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, at Amherst Manor Nursing Home, following a full and meaningful life. Arrangements by Hempel Funeral Home.

ROSE CATHERINE MOORE (nee Tobicash), 94, LEON GRIFFIN GROOT, 81, a resident of Kipton, of South Amherst, passed away Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, at went home to be with the Lord Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. Ar- Amherst Manor, following a full and meaningful life. Arrangements by Hempel Funeral Home. rangements by Hempel Funeral Home.

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

For information about placing an obituary or death notice in the Community Guide, call 440-329-7000.

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SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE A5

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Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020

TOUGH TIMES

FROM A1 said it's possible some, especially the smallest, will never recover from the blow the coronavirus landed.

"They've had some dark times," he said. "Some are just barely staying open. That's where the spirit of community is needed," and where Wellingtonians are stepping up to support the restaurants and shops they love.

"I think we're resilient. We come together in tough times.

You see downtown businesses — are they struggling? Yes. But people are coming forward to support them, even as they themselves struggle."

The village's industrial park had also suffered. Shiloh Industries filed for bankruptcy in August, and both Forest City Technologies and NN Inc. have had some layoffs, according to Schneider. He believes the economy will eventually recover. In the short-term, Wellington is going to take a tax hit, but not so large it can't be overcome, he said.

Money matters Income tax revenue is already down. The first disbursement for December was around $94,000 instead of the $150,000 village officials had hoped for.

Last year saw tax revenue just under $200,000.

That means adjusting budget-wise, said Schneider.

Wellington's 2021 budget covers necessities. Each department head was told to make sure their requests "were meaningful," the mayor said, which meant some projects may be pushed back. Development of Union School Park at the former McCormick Middle School site on South Main Street, for example, has been delayed.

Schneider said the project was supposed to go out for planning earlier this year. Now it's not on the initial cut of the 2021 budget, though that could be re-evaluated when summer rolls around.

The move to a new Wellington police station could also be affected, though Schneider said that effort is too important to cancel.

"We're doing it. By all means, we're going out to bid this year," he said. "Our goal has been to be in there by the fourth quarter of 2021. I think we're going to be close."

Streets will still be paved — Grand Avenue and Wenner Street are on the list — and sewer and electrical improvements will be made as needed, he said. That includes a water line replacement on West Herrick Avenue, too.

Looking ahead Schneider said he's proud of the way Wellington has reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This virus hit us off guard. We certainly weren't prepared for it. But people have stepped forward," he said.

There have been major disagreements along the way, from cancellation of the Lorain County Fair to a mask mandate.

Now it's time to put aside differences of opinion and take easy steps to protect each other, Schneider said.

That means staying the course through Christmas and New Year's, staying socially distant and being respectful of others' health and safety, he said — "even if it's not easy."

Reach out to those who are struggling, he said: "Check in on each other, because we're in this together."

KETTLES

FROM A1 Lorenzo's Pizzeria in Oberlin, and has helped organize an event to benefit the Salvation Army's operations.

The locally-owned restaurant will donate 10 percent of bills all day on Saturday, Dec. 19 for both dine-in and carryout orders.

"This is for the kids," said Cariglio, a father of three. He said it's improtant to support the Salvation Army's goal of making the holidays a little brighter for families in need.

He said Lorenzo's, like other local restaurants, has suffered tremendously during the pandemic. But Cariglio feels that he can afford to help the less fortunate: "If there's something, anything we can do, then by all means, let's do it," he said.

That's Martin Leibas' mindset, too. A human service worker with the Salvation Army's Oberlin Service Unit, he said he plans to ring the bells for the Red Kettle campaign at Oberlin IGA. "If I've got to get out there and do it, I'll get out there and do it," he said. "Whatever it takes."

Leibas said he's chasing down every fundraising idea he can think of to help provide for area families, especially those with kids. That includes virtual drives and taking part in this fall's Connect to a Cause event sponsored by the Community Foundation of Lorain County — the two-day event raised nearly $1,500 for Leibas and company.

"We're not going out there trying to make a million dollars, but every little bit counts during COVID," he said.

Fahringer said the nonprofit has applied for grants from a number of sources, including COVID-19 relief from the city of Oberlin, to help make up for Red Kettle losses. And all the kettles this year have codes so people who aren't carrying cash can give instead with Apple Pay and Google Pay. None of those solutions will be enough to make up for what the pandemic has wrought, he said — but they're a start.

For more information about donating to the Salvation Army's operations, which include food and emergency relief, visit give.salvationarmyusa.org.

BRANCHES

FROM A1 Director Skip Gentry said they saw it as a way to say thank you to Wellington-area residents who have been supportive during a difficult year.

"The people we take care of have been phenomenal to us," he said. "They've actually dropped off food and gifts for the crews. They recognize this (pandemic) has been a tremendous stress for the people who work here."

Mayor Hans Schneider said the village has a long, rich history of military and public service, which is why the town has embraced the Tree for Those Who Serve.

Wellingtonians want to recognize all who answer the call of duty, and who have made sacrifices to help neighbors, he said.

Arntz said that when Union School Park is fully developed on South Main Street, a large, living tree there may be used to hold the ever-growing collection of ornaments.

"This one is definitely getting very full," she said. "But I think it's a good way to recognize those folks who give us so much."

Lorain County Community Guide

Page A3

Commissioners spend $750k in relief funds for LCCC, LCADA DAVE O’BRIEN THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

ELYRIA — Lorain County Commissioners spent another $750,000 last week in their remaining federal CARES Act allocation on higher education, small business development and to assist food pantry and senior meals programs as well as people struggling both with addiction and the pandemic.

Commissioners gave out: • $250,000 to Lorain County Community College's Small Business Development Center and $125,000 for nursing and EMT program scholarships; • $200,000 to The LCADA Way to families and individuals battling addiction; • $100,000 to Firelands Counseling & Recovery Services to help those in recovery from substance abuse; and • $75,000 to the Lorain County Office on Aging for its Sheffield Lake/Sheffield Village food pantry and senior meal delivery program.

Tracy Green, vice president for strategic and institutional development at LCCC, thanked the commissioners for their support. This month, 90 student nurses will graduate from LCCC "right onto the front lines" of the pandemic, she said.

Seventy percent of LCCC students require financial assistance to attend,

and scholarships are the "backstop" to keep them in class.

The SBDC at LCCC served 545 clients and helped them get $5 million in capital in 2020 alone, she said.

"These are the businesses that hire locally, that support our Little League teams, and that we support when we 'buy local,'" Green told the commissioners.

LCADA President and CEO Dan Haight said LCADA will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2021, and its 120 staff in Lorain County are trying to provide multiple services through the pandemic.

There have been more than 90 fatal drug overdoses in Lorain County this year, Haight said, and the county is on track to top 120. More than 70 percent of those overdoses in 2020 have occurred at home, he said.

"This isolation is not helping anybody," he said, with client numbers decreasing 13 percent between 2019 and 2020 due to the pandemic. LCADA encourages people to "stay mindful and have a wellness program in place" as the pandemic continues, Haight added.

Dawn Kroh, a clinical social worker with Firelands Counseling & Recovery Services who supervises the agency's Lorain County location, said the outpatient facility on Oak Pointe Road in Lorain has been affected by COVID-19 this year.

People are "very vulnerable and

substance use is an isolating disease and if you take away the human contact folks need it creates a very scary situation," Kroh said. "We were, workforcewise and financially, devastated by the pandemic."

Lorain County Office on Aging Executive Director Lauren Ksiazek said the same number of households are being served in Sheffield Lake and Sheffield Village as there were in 2019, but "they're coming more often" — up to once a month to get food assistance.

Some of the money might be used to help replace a freezer that had been used to store meat but that broke down, she said.

In their second-to-last round of small business grants, commissioners also approved 13 grants worth $65,000 to businesses including Austin Nguyen LLC; American Asset Recovery; Mi Casa Sabor Latino; J Taylor Salon; Service Tech; Like Sainey Salvaged Decor; Essential Kneads Massage Therapy; Cole Pizza; Sun News; Perfect Eye Brows; The Clothing Loft; Susan's Sugar & Spice and BPOE Lodge 1301.

Another $75,700 remains to be spent out of the grant program, also supported by CARES Act funds. That means a final 15 full grants, worth $5,000 each, plus a $700 partial grant were expected to be awarded when the commissioners met yesterday after press time.

LCCC offers tuition-free fast-track programs Lorain County Community College offers a fast-track to employment with tuition-free, short-term certificate programs that include a direct path to a new career. Most programs can be completed in 16 weeks or less.

Programs align with in-demand jobs including health care, business, information technology and manufacturing industries. Upon completion of these short-term certificates, students will

earn an industry-recognized credential, receive career and interview coaching and be connected to local employers who are ready to hire.

These fast-track programs can help students get trained quickly for a new, good paying job, said LCCC President Marcia Ballinger.

“Many people have been laid off or experience reduced work hours due to the coronavirus pandemic and may not

be sure where to turn,” she said. “These fast-track programs are designed to get people quickly trained for a new career without taking on loan debt.”

Virtual information sessions: will be offered Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 10 a.m. or 4 p.m. and Thursday, Jan. 6 at 10 a.m. or 4 p.m. Classes begin Jan. 19.

See available programs and register for an information session at www. lorainccc.edu/fasttrack.

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Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020

Lorain County Community Guide

Oberlin Council ready to Ohio teachers union pushes for pass $41M budget for 2021 all-remote classes until Jan. 11 JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — City Council is poised to pass a $41.84 million budget for 2021.

After negotiating the budget in November, officials now expect to pass it at their meeting on Monday, Dec. 21, so that it will be effective by Jan. 1.

The budget covers day-to-day operating expenses such as police, firefighters, utilities and cemetery and recreation workers. It also includes a host of capital projects Oberlin leaders want to tackle next year: • Morgan Street waterworks building repairs — $235,000 • Johnston path improvements — $106,100 • Spring Street Park parking — $46,300 • Police station and Oberlin Municipal Court entrance roof replacement — $8,000 • Morgan Street reservoir transformation — $300,000 • Replacement windows at City Hall and Morgan Street facility — $57,000 • A chipper, two riding lawn mowers and an ATV — $68,500 • Paving of Park, Vine and Grafton streets — $495,619 • Washington Circle and Monroe Court paving — $575,653 • Paving on the north section of Colony Drive and Hawthorne — $309,626 • Replace a hooklift — $115,000 • Liquid de-icer system — $20,000 • Water treatment plant roof replacement — $250,000 • South Pleasant service reconnection —

$40,000 • ATV — $17,500 • Wastewater system upgrades — $410,000 • High-performance diesel pickup — $47,500 • Hydro-vac — $430,000 • Storm sewer upgrades in tandem with street repaving — $164,700 • Electric vehicle charging station — $15,000 • Energy efficiency projects — $60,000 • Rebate programs — $40,000 • Electric distribution upgrades — $255,600 • New defibrillator units — $18,000 • Electric generation plant upgrades — $347,000 • Traffic signal upgrades at the intersections of Professor and College streets and Professor and Lorain streets — $550,000 • Electric plant substation upgrades — $75,000 • Replace a 2005 GMC Heavy Duty Van — $35,000 • Two hybrid police cruisers — $121,291 • Simulator to assist in training of police deescalation techniques — $13,373 • Fire department communication equipment — $123,106, nearly all of which is covered by a grant • New fire department pagers — $4,200 • Two cardiac monitors — $61,150 • Fire department computer equipment — $7,015 • Buy out the lease of a Nissan Leaf used by the Planning Department — $15,000 • Drainage and waterproofing work at the Underground Railroad Center — $80,000

NEW OAK GROVE PASTOR

Provided photo

Roger Dorsey of Wellington, seen here with wife Della, has been hired as pastor of Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church on Baumhart Road in Brownhelm Township. He also serves as executive director of Good Knights of Lorain County, which builds beds for needy children who don’t have their own place to sleep.

CARISSA WOYTACH THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

The Ohio Education Association is urging state and local leaders to suspend in-person classes through Jan. 11, citing a surge in COVID-19 cases.

In a news release sent out last week, it called on legislators and school districts to have a built-in quarantine period of two weeks after the winter holidays, followed by a restart plan approved by each district’s local board of health.

Additionally, OEA’s plan calls for local leaders to “reprioritize education in their policies outside school settings” and allocate resources to meet the needs of communities until a vaccine is widely available.

“We cannot wait any longer for federal lawmakers to finally pass the HEROES Act or for the state to finally draw on the rainy day fund,” OEA President Scott DiMauro said in the release.

The OEA cannot require districts to abide by its suggestion.

In Lorain County, several districts have already made the decision to go to or remain remote as the holidays near, while others continue to offer in-person classes.

Amherst, Avon, Avon Lake, Columbia, Firelands, Midview, North Ridgeville and Sheffield-Sheffield Lake schools continue to offer in-person classes with a remote option for families.

Of Ohio’s 609 public school districts, 245 are still hosting in-person learning — serving about 29 percent of all kindergarten-to12th-graders in the Buckeye State. Another roughly 25 percent of students are attending

one of the 177 schools offering some type of hybrid model. Close to half — 44 percent — of students attend one of the 185 fully remote public districts in Ohio, according to data from the governor’s press briefing.

Oberlin Schools announced it would stay remote through at least Jan. 19 — the start of the second semester. It has yet to resume any in-person classes this school year.

Clearview Schools also suspended in-person classes through the end of the semester.

Its second semester starts Jan. 5.

Similarly, Lorain Schools is committed to remaining all-remote through Jan. 11. Starting that week, families will have the option of a hybrid-model, with in-person classes offered in small cohorts split up throughout the week. Dates could change based on guidance from the district’s health partners, including Lorain County Public Health, Mercy Health and Case Western Reserve University.

More than half a dozen districts are still offering at least some in-person classes until the local health district rules otherwise — and at least two superintendents said they will listen to that guidance before the statewide suggestion from OEA. Midview Superintendent Bruce Willingham noted Midview’s staff are not represented by the OEA, having broken from the statewide association a few years ago.

“It’s not the health department, they’re not the governor, their decision has no bearing,” he said.

Willingham, like other area school leaders, is in frequent contact with LCPH, he said.

While he doesn’t see his district going remote in the immediate future, he said it isn’t out of the question.

Passport contest underway to help Oberlin's small businesses Oberlin’s annual Holiday Shopping Passport Contest is in full swing.

The promotion aims to ease costs for gift-hunters while also lightening the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on struggling businesses, according to Janet Haar, director of the Oberlin Business Partnership.

"As we all know, this year has been especially hard on (small) businesses — especially independently owned local businesses," she said. "Restaurants, retail, personal services businesses have been especially hard hit."

Revenue generated by Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa shopping through December is incredibly important to Oberlin's small businesses, she said.

That's where the contest comes in — the city's downtown stores have a supply of passports available. You can pick up a passport, shop or dine in at least three stores and have each initial the passport.

Then deposit your passport in the designated boxes at Ben Franklin’s or Ginko Gallery. Each Wednesday, a passport will be drawn and the winner will receive a $25 Oberlin gift certificate that can be redeemed in Oberlin businesses.

An Oberlin gift certificate promotion is also underway through Dec. 31.

Purchase $50 in Oberlin gift certificates and receive $10. Purchase $25 and receive $5.

The Oberlin Business Partnership said gift certificates are an excellent gift for people who are hard to buy for, and they are a tremendous help to shops and restaurants.

You can buy Oberlin gift cards from participating businesses at www.oberlin. org; at 23 East College St. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; or by calling (440) 774-6262.

The Oberlin Business Partnership accepts credit cards, checks and cash.

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LEGALS ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CITY OF LORAIN, OHIO LOCAL ROADWAY REHABILITATION PROJECT OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION ROUND 34 CONTRACT A KING AVE., W. 26TH ST, G ST., W. 35TH ST. ROADWAY REHABILITATION Sealed bids will be received by the Engineering Department of the City of Lorain, Ohio until: TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIVING BIDS: UNTIL - 11:00 AM, Friday, January 15, 2021 Lorain time, Engineering Department, Lorain City Hall 4th Floor.

TIME AND PLACE FOR OPENING BIDS: 11:15 AM, Lorain time, City of Lorain Council Chambers, Lorain City Hall 1st Floor.

COMPLETION DATE: August 24, 2021 Bidders must be listed on the ODOT pre-qualified list for highway construction. Bidders shall submit a list of available equipment, and labor shall be paid not less than the prevailing wage rate as determined by the Ohio Department of Commerce for Lorain County.

NO BID WILL BE OPENED WITHOUT THE CERTIFICATION OF QUALIFICATION OR THE ACCEPTABLE LETTER OF APPLICATION ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE AS DIRECTED.

Bids must be accompanied by Certified Check or Cashier's Check or Letter of Credit equals to ten percent (10%) of the amount bid, or a bond for the full amount of the bid as a guarantee that if the bid is accepted, a contract will be entered into and a performance bond properly secured.

Should any bid be rejected, such instrument will be forthwith returned upon proper execution of a contract. Cash deposits will not be accepted.

Each bidder must insure that all employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, creed, color, sex or national origin. All bidders must comply with the provisions of the American Disabilities Act. All federal minority business enterprise and women business enterprise requirements shall be met. All contractors and subcontractors involved with the project will to the extent practicable use Ohio products, materials, services and labor in the implementation of their project.

Bid blanks and specifications may be secured at the Engineering Department, 200 West Erie Avenue, Lorain, Ohio, 44052 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30PM Monday thru Friday. Electronic packages may be secured, via email Matt_Kusznir@ cityoflorain.org or the city website, www.cityoflorain.org.

The Director of Safety/Service reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

By order of the Director of Safety/Service

L.C.C.G. 12/17-24/20 20674666

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CITY OF LORAIN, OHIO COOPER FOSTER PARK DR. & ASHWOOD BLVD. WATER DISTRIBUTION SPOT REPAIRS Sealed bids will be received by the Engineering Department of the City of Lorain, Ohio until: TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIVING BIDS: UNTIL - 11:00 AM, Thursday, January 7, 2021 Lorain time,

Engineering Department, Lorain City Hall 4th Floor.

TIME AND PLACE FOR OPENING BIDS: 11:15 AM, Lorain time, City of Lorain Council Chambers, Lorain City Hall 1st Floor.

Bids must be accompanied by Certified Check or Cashier's Check or Letter of Credit equals to ten percent (10%) of the amount bid, or a bond for the full amount of the bid as a guarantee that if the bid is accepted, a contract will be entered into and a performance bond properly secured. Should any bid be rejected, such instrument will be forthwith returned upon proper execution of a contract. Cash deposits will not be accepted. The bid check/bond should be enclosed in the sealed bid, but in a separate envelope clearly marked 'BID CHECK/ BOND' with the bidders name & address on the bid check/bond envelope.

Labor shall be paid not less than the prevailing wage rate as determined by the Ohio Department of Commerce as state in Section 4115 of the Ohio Revised Code.

Bid blanks and specifications may be secured at the Engineering Department, 200 West Erie Avenue, Lorain, Ohio, 44052 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30PM Monday through Friday. Bid blanks and specifications will be available online at www. cityoflorain.org free of charge.

Bidders may request printed sets for a non-refundable fee payable either by check or money order for each set taken out. Checks are to be made payable to the City of Lorain.

The Director of Safety/Service reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

By order of the Director of Safety/Service

L.C.C.G. 12/17-24/20 20674699

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CITY OF LORAIN, OHIO LOCAL ROADWAY REHABILITATION

PROJECT OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION ROUND 34 CONTRACT B ROSEBUD PL., ROSECREST DR., E. 34TH ST., E. 41ST ST., LEXINGTON AVE. ROADWAY REHABILITATION Sealed bids will be received by the Engineering Department of the City of Lorain, Ohio until: TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIVING BIDS: UNTIL - 11:00 AM, Friday, January 15, 2021 Lorain time, Engineering Department, Lorain City Hall 4th Floor.

TIME AND PLACE FOR OPENING BIDS: 11:30 AM, Lorain time, City of Lorain Council Chambers, Lorain City Hall 1st Floor.

COMPLETION DATE: August 24, 2021 Bidders must be listed on the ODOT pre-qualified list for highway construction. Bidders shall submit a list of available equipment, and labor shall be paid not less than the prevailing wage rate as determined by the Ohio Department of Commerce for Lorain County.

NO BID WILL BE OPENED WITHOUT THE CERTIFICATION OF QUALIFICATION OR THE ACCEPTABLE LETTER OF APPLICATION ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE AS DIRECTED. Bids must be accompanied by Certified Check or Cashier's Check or Letter of Credit equals to ten percent (10%) of the amount bid, or a bond for the full amount of the bid as a guarantee that if the bid is accepted, a contract will be entered into and a performance bond properly secured.

Should any bid be rejected, such instrument will be forthwith returned upon proper execution of a contract. Cash deposits will not be accepted.

Each bidder must insure that all employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, creed, color, sex or national origin. All bidders must comply with the provisions of the American Disabilities Act. All federal minority business enterprise and

women business enterprise requirements shall be met. All contractors and subcontractors involved with the project will to the extent practicable use Ohio products, materials, services and labor in the implementation of their project.

Bid blanks and specifications may be secured at the Engineering Department, 200 West Erie Avenue, Lorain, Ohio, 44052 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30PM Monday thru Friday. Electronic packages may be secured, via email Matt_Kusznir@ cityoflorain.org or the city website, www.cityoflorain.org.

The Director of Safety/Service reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

By order of the Director of Safety/Service

L.C.C.G. 12/17-24/20 20674698

PUBLICATION OF LEGISLATION The following is a summary of legislation adopted by Lorain City Council on Dec 7, 2020.

The complete text of each item may be viewed or purchased in the Clerk of Council Office @ Lorain City Hall, 200 W. Erie Ave., Lorain, OH, during normal business hours or contact Nancy Greer @ 204-2050 (Nancy_Greer@cityoflorain. org). The following summary of legislation passed has been reviewed/approved by the Law Director for legal accuracy as required by state laws.

Reso 39-20* Concurring w/ the expenditure of $70,144 in CARES Act funding from Lorain County. 40-20 Auth the S/S Director to apply for, accept funding and enter into a contract on behalf the City of Lorain for construction of Planned Active Transportation Plan-SRTS. Ordinance 145-20 Adopting the recommendation of the Lorain Planning Commission to approve the request to rezone 141 E. Erie Ave from B-2 to R-2 Residential. 146-20* Assessing the cost to abate nuisance by removing litter, deposits of garbage, junk, debris, etc. during the current calendar year.

147-20* Amending Section 1548.04 of the Lorain Codified

Ordinances "Requirements for Placement of Portable Storage Units" and repealing Ord. 143-20. 148-20 Auth the Chief of Police to accept an award from the Bureau of Justice Assistance for purchase of gas masks & other PPE. 149-20 Auth the Chief of Police to accept an award from Bureau of Justice Assistance for purchase of 29 bulletproof vests. 150-20* Amending Ord. 28-15, Sec. 1, regulations for the Lorain Police Aux to provide catastrophic insurance. 151-20* Auth the S/S Dir to enter into a contract w/ Baumann Ent. For the demo of 225, 233, 239 Washington Ave, 488 W. 13th St., 700 & 1120 W. Erie Ave, 2243 Oakdale Ave, 2375 Apple Ave. 152-20 Auth the purchase of meter supplies for use by the Lorain Utilities Billing/Meter Div. 153-20* Auth purchase of a new fork lift w/o competitive bid for the Utilities Dept. Water Purification Dept through State Purchasing. 154-20* Amending Ord 45-10, maintaining balances of the General Reserve in accordance w/ ORD 5705.13A(3), created to supplement the General Fund for cyclical changes in revenue/expenditures. 155-20* Amending Ch. 1125.04 and 173-96 "Fence Regulations and Permit Fees" of the Lorain Codified Ordinances. 15620* Auth the Auditor to pay an invoice submitted by the S/S Dept invoking the Then & Now Certification Exception process and paying said invoice.

157-20* Auth the purchase of a new Spartan Pumper from LFD through State Purchasing w/o bid not to exceed $506k. (*Denotes legislation was passed as an emergency.)

L.C.C.G. 12/17-24/20 20674920

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS The South Lorain County Ambulance District Board of Trustees will hold their last meeting of the year 2020 on December 28, 2020 at 2:00 PM at 179 East Herrick Avenue, Wellington, OH 44090.

The 2021 Organizational Meeting will be on January 12,

2021 at 6:30 PM at 179 East Herrick Avenue followed by their first regular meeting of 2021 at 7:00 PM.

BY ORDER OF THE SOUTH LORAIN COUNTY AMBULANCE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Amy Szmania, Clerk

L.C.C.G. 12/17/20 20674966

Legal Notice The annual financial report of the Lorain County Agricultural Society, Inc., dba Lorain County Fair, for fiscal year 2020 has been completed. The report is available for inspection at the Secretary’s Office located on the fairgrounds at 23000 Fairgrounds Road, Wellington, OH 44090, during regular office hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

L.C.C.G. 12/17/20 20674965

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CITY OF LORAIN, OHIO PURCHASE OF MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PROPERTY 2021 Sealed bid packages will be received by the Engineering Department of the City of Lorain, Ohio until: TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIVING BIDS: UNTIL - 11:00 AM, Tuesday January 5, 2021 Lorain time, Engineering Department, Lorain City Hall 4th Floor.

TIME AND PLACE FOR OPENING BIDS: 11:15 AM, Lorain time, City of Lorain Council Chambers, Lorain City Hall 1st Floor.

All in accordance with specifications now on file at the Engineering Department.

Bids must be accompanied by Certified Check or Cashier's Check or Letter of Credit equals to ten percent (10%) of the amount bid, or a bond for the full amount of the bid as a guarantee that if the bid is accepted, a contract will be entered into and a performance bond properly secured. Should

any bid be rejected, such instrument will be forthwith returned upon proper execution of a contract. Cash deposits will not be accepted. The bid check/bond should be enclosed in the sealed bid, but in a separate envelope clearly marked 'BID CHECK/ BOND' with the bidders name & address on the bid check/bond envelope.

Each bidder must ensure that all employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, creed, color, handicap, sex or national origin. All bidders must comply with the provisions of the American with Disabilities Act. Bidders shall be required to comply with all Federal and State laws and regulations concerning these matters.

Bid blanks and specifications may be secured at the Engineering Department, 200 West Erie Avenue, Lorain, Ohio, 44052 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30PM Monday thru Friday. Electronic packages may be secured, via email Matt_Kusznir@ cityoflorain.org or the city website, www.cityoflorain.org.

The Director of Public Safety/ Service reserves the right to make separate or combination awards and to accept or reject any or all bids and to waive any informalities in the bids received.

By order of the Director of Public Safety/Service.

L.C.C.G. 12/10-17/20 20674570

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CITY OF LORAIN, OHIO WATER DISTRIBUTION BUILDING RENOVATIONS 2111 WEST PARK DRIVE Sealed bids will be received by the Engineering Department of the City of Lorain, Ohio until: TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIVING BIDS: UNTIL - 11:00 AM, Tuesday January 5, 2021 Lorain time, Engineering Department, Lorain City Hall 4th Floor.

TIME AND PLACE FOR OPENING BIDS: 11:30 AM, Lorain time, City of Lorain Council Chambers, Lorain City Hall 1st Floor.

Bids must be accompanied by Certified Check or Cashier's Check or Letter of Credit equals to ten percent (10%) of the amount bid, or a bond for the full amount of the bid as a guarantee that if the bid is accepted, a contract will be entered into and a performance bond properly secured. Should any bid be rejected, such instrument will be forthwith returned upon proper execution of a contract. Cash deposits will not be accepted. The bid check/bond should be enclosed in the sealed bid, but in a separate envelope clearly marked 'BID CHECK/ BOND' with the bidders name & address on the bid check/bond envelope.

Labor shall be paid not less than the prevailing wage rate as determined by the Ohio Department of Commerce as state in Section 4115 of the Ohio Revised Code.

Bid blanks and specifications may be secured at the Engineering Department, 200 West Erie Avenue, Lorain, Ohio, 44052 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30PM Monday through Friday. Bid blanks and specifications will be available online at www. cityoflorain.org free of charge.

Bidders may request printed sets for a non-refundable fee payable either by check or money order for each set taken out. Checks are to be made payable to the City of Lorain.

The Director of Safety/Service reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

By order of the Director of Safety/Service

L.C.C.G. 12/10-17/20 20674571

PLACE YOUR AD in the Lorain County Community Guide Call us at (440) 329-7000 TODAY!

Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020

Lorain County Community Guide

TEAM NAME

Holiday spending trends

FROM A1

Greater Cleveland is likely to be more resistant, he feels.

Roche said he doesn't care how well the change is received, as long as it happens.

He recalls riding by the Cleveland stadium as a child and "seeing this gaudy, outrageous looking Indian and being offended by it. That is not how we look. That is not who we are. We are living, breathing humans who deserve respect."

Roche has been fighting for a name change since the 1970s, both in and out of court. He holds that a suit filed in 1972 by his mentor, Russell Means, ended in 1985 with a settlement that included promises to stop using the Indians name and logo.

"They mock our children.

The mock our race. They mock everything about us," he said.

A long fight Jean Simon is another Oberlin resident and Native American who has been part of the fight via protests at the Cleveland ball team's stadium.

They would often include about 30 indigenous people, and draw the attention of angry ball fans. It was common for activists to be spit on and cursed at, Simon said.

"We've had some pretty tough times, being there without protection until we finally had to get it," she said. "We've been around for a long time and disrespected."

If the Cleveland team follows through on the reported intention to change its persona, she believes many fans' anger will be ignited.

That's if the team acts, which Jeff Pierce, executive director of the American Indian Education Center in Cleveland, is not convinced will happen.

"Almost every year without fail, the Cleveland baseball team does this (public relations) stunt where they say they're going to change the name, and it's never followed through on," he said. "I'll believe it when I see it."

Roche is taking the same skeptical stance for now.

"Don't be duped into believing their old marketing scams, they will not cancel the trade name or trademark and will continue to sell the memorabilia," he posted after the Times story broke Sunday. "Every year they come up with some pathetic, grandiose marketing scam to bring fans in."

He and Pierce said they plan to file a new suit against the franchise, demanding that rights to the Indians name, mascot and logo be handed over to the Cleveland American Indian Movement, of which Sundance is the director.

If indigenous people control the rights, they can be sure no one will resurrect Chief Wahoo and other racist depictions for marketing or memorabilia, they said.

Otherwise, the team will "never completely get rid of anything as long as they can still make money off it," Pierce said.

A caricature Sundance said he supports ridding sports from the high school to professional level of names that reference native people.

That includes everything from the Coshocton Redskins in Ohio to Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Braves and Chicago Blackhawks.

The reasons are numerous. "There are so many things wrong with having indigenous people as mascots. First, it's dehumanizing. We're not mascots, we're people," said Sundance.

Depictions such as Chief Wahoo make the situation worse, said Pierce. It's just a red-faced character and doesn't respect anything about native culture.

"When you characterize a group of people as a caricature, it's dehumanizing," he said.

No one would accept a team named the Cleveland Blacks, or tolerate a cartoonish Cleveland Jews mascot wearing a yarmulke, Roche said.

All three resisted the notion that the Cleveland baseball team's name is a way to honor Native Americans. "The idea that

Cancer fundraiser

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Cheryl Hykes of Lorain, who has been diagnosed with stage four colon cancer, which has spread to her liver and lungs.

Hykes said she "will not give up as God has the final say. This is the toughest battle of my life, but the love for my grandkids and family is my reason to fight."

To give, visit www.tinyurl.com/CherylHykes.

The GoFundMe was established by Hykes' mother, Amherst resident and local realtor Bea Vogel.

it honors us is a falsehood. It's all about making money," Roche said.

The word "Indian" is a problem by itself, since the New World turned out not to be India at all, as Christopher Columbus incorrectly believed when he stumbled on the Taino people who inhabited modern day Antilles and the Bahamas.

Sundance said many native people have accepted the term "American Indian," but are painfully aware it's based on a misunderstanding that went uncorrected for centuries.

"It was a term that was put upon us by a man who was a slave trader," he said.

None of the local activists who went on the record said they particularly care what the Cleveland team chooses to adopt as its new name — so long as it has nothing to do with native people. They'd fight just as hard against the Cleveland Tribe or similar variations.

"It's not my job to come up with another name," Roche said. "For goodness sake, just don't promote racism anymore. The city of Cleveland has enough baggage."

Making it official Cleveland Indians CEO and co-owner Paul Dolan sent a message to fans Monday afternoon making the announcement official.

It said the club would “determine a new name that will better unify our community and build on our legacy for a new generation.”

Dolan said he grew up with the team, its name, World Series appearances, Cy Young winners, the longest win stream in Major League history and other unforgettable moments.

“These memories will

forever stay in our hearts, minds, and record books, and we will continue to recognize our ball club’s remarkable legacy,” he said. “While I have often associated these unforgettable memories with the name Indians, I sincerely believe Cleveland is the most important part of our team name.”

The process of moving to a new identity began in June, Dolan said. News that the franchise was considering a change was released in July, just as the NFL’s Washington team announced it would abandon the long-criticized, racist Redskins name.

Dolan’s letter claims Native American groups were consulted in recent months — the Cleveland American Indian Movement’s leaders said they were not contacted — as well as civic leaders, fans, teammates, players and corporate partners.

“These conversations were both enlightening and, at times, challenging,” Dolan wrote. “We often found that individuals, even those within the same organization or demographic, maintained differing views and opinions of our team name. We valued hearing all perspectives, and we took them into consideration as we moved through the process.”

He said Cleveland often celebrates its status as the first American League team to have an AfricanAmerican player in Larry Doby, and the first Black manager in Frank Robinson.

That legacy of progressive thinking has shaped the team, he said, “and today’s decision helps us continue to live up to these high standards and expectations.”

Times are tough and many people are struggling, but Americans still plan to spend big this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation: • Clothing tops holiday gift lists in 2020, followed by gift cards, toys, books and other media. Jewelry and home decor rounded out the least-sought-after gift items.

• Gift cards have risen in popularity to take a $27.5 billion share of the spending. Holiday shoppers will average 3.3 gift cards at $48.87 each.

• Barbie, LEGO, dolls, cars and trucks are the most popular toys for shoppers. Also ranking highly are PlayStation, Disney's Frozen, Xbox, Nerf, Nintendo Switch, Marvel action figures, American Girl and Paw Patrol.

• Online shopping will be the most popular option, with 60 percent of shoppers saying it’s their top way of getting gifts. Of the retailers surveyed, 96 percent said they expect their online holiday sales to increase.

Sheriff’s office gives back

Lorain County Sheriff Phil Stammitti has announced that his staff, through Dress Down Friday and No Shave November and December fundraising efforts, is in the process of distributing $11,000 throughout the community this holiday season.

Twenty-two donations of $500 each were made to various churches and nonprofit agencies to help provide meals, presents and other items for those in need.

Recipients are as follows: • Harbourtown Community Foursquare Church • Life A Dementia Friendly Foundation • Northern Ohio Adventist Academy • Original Glorious Apostolic Church • Mary Lee Tucker Clothe- A- Child • Sacred Heart Chapel • First United Presbyterian Church • Old Fashion Grace Baptist Church • Kipton Community Church • St. Joseph Catholic Church • Camden Baptist Church • The Not Forgotten Box • Beyond The Walls Church • Chicks against Hunger • Lorain County Community Action Agency • El Centro (Adopt a Senior) • St. Peter Parish • Save Our Children of Elyria • Salvation Army Giving Tree • Lorain County Office on Aging • LCCC Foundation, Commodore Cupboard • Crossroads Christian Center

OCS holiday hours

Oberlin Community Services will be open from 1:304 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23 for food distribution.

The nonprofit will be closed from Thursday, Dec. 24 to Friday, Jan. 1 to observe the winter holidays.

Regular hours will resume Monday, Jan. 4.

YEAR IN REVIEW ACROSS 1. *New wardrobe accessory 5. *RIP, ____ 8. Flock’s echo 12. Reply from a tunnel?

13. Feline noise 14. Edward Teller’s “baby” 15. Beat 16. Competently 17. Savory jelly 18. *Blue vs. red competition 20. One third of a three-piece suit 21. Mailed greetings 22. Long time 23. ____ biloba 26. Anointing oil 30. Nurses’ org.

31. Leafy vegetable 34. “Cogito, ____ sum” 35. Mooring spots 37. Bring into play 38. Old Brazilian coins 39. Prefix with ‘graph’ 40. *Joe’s running mate 42. PGA peg 43. What bees did 45. Fixes firmly 47. Summer mo.

48. R in NPR 50. Widespread 52. *WHO’s March announcement 55. Cliffside dwelling 56. Drop-off spot 57. Sonic sound 59. Sports figures, e.g.

60. Persian backgammon 61. Water carrier 62. *Late basketball legend 63. *____ lightning, cause of California wildfires 64. X-ray units DOWN 1. Copy cats 2. Flu symptom 3. Synagogue 4. 1/100th of a ruble 5. Bid again 6. Western neckwear, pl.

7. Gwyneth, to friends 8. *Like a vote during lockdown 9. What Joy Mangano does on

SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE A2

Page A5

TV 10. Do like exhaust pipe 11. *”Transplant” network 13. ____ of honor 14. It’s often wreaked 19. Zoo enclosures 22. Compass dir.

23. Labored breaths 24. *Jared Kushner to Donald Trump 25. Nigerian money 26. Part of an eye 27. About to explode 28. Looked at, amorously 29. Smelling organs 32. Two of the same 33. Philosopher’s study

36. *Best Picture Oscar-winner 38. China grass 40. Party barrel 41. Having a cover 44. *What Zoom host does to guests, sometimes 46. Type of jacket 48. “M*A*S*H” character 49. Ticked off 50. *President Trump used this power in 2020 51. United ____ Emirates 52. Be undecided 53. *Caucus state 54. Like most universities 55. Pose a question 58. Robinson or Doubtfire

SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE A2

Page A6

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Unemployment claims surging STAFF REPORT

Initial unemployment claims are up across the board in Ohio, including a whopping 44.6 percent in Lorain County, 31.8 percent in Medina County and 30.9 percent in the state overall.

Ohioans filed 36,327 initial jobless claims in the first week of December, according to statistics the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported to the U.S. Dept. of Labor last Thursday.

This was 237,888 fewer than — or about 13 percent of — the peak earlier this year.

The total number of initial jobless claims filed in Ohio over the prior 38 weeks (1,969,894) was more than the combined total of those filed during the last four years.

Ohioans filed 271,518

continued jobless claims during the early December period, which was 504,784 fewer than — or about 35 percent of — the peak earlier this year. That includes both traditional unemployment claims and claims for extended benefits.

In addition, 253,598 Ohioans received Pandemic Unemployment Assistance the first week of the month.

Job and Family Service has distributed more than $7.4 billion in unemployment compensation payments to more than 859,000 Ohioans in the past 38 weeks.

Of the more than 1 million applications the agency has received, about 95 percent have been processed, with about 5 percent pending.

In addition, Job and Family Services has issued more than $7.2 billion in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance payments to more than 727,000 Ohioans.

2,136 registered voters on county’s purge list JASON HAWK EDITOR

SHEFFIELD TWP. — Elizabeth Aarhus of Grafton. Jeremy Abraham of Amherst. Ted Achladis of Avon Lake.

They are just a few of the Lorain County residents at the top of an alphabetical list from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose's office.

It contains thousands of people who are almost certain to have their registered voter status revoked.

LaRose is requiring elections officials across the state to de-register inactive voters — those who haven't taken part in an election within the last four years.

The Lorain County Board of Elections is preparing to purge 2,136 voters, according to Director Paul Adams.

The assumption is that a majority of people on the list are deceased or have moved out of state and are no longer eligible to vote in Ohio.

"It's all routine. It's people who have not shown any activity, have been sent multiple cards to reinstate themselves," said James Kramer, the county's deputy elections director.

Earlier this year, LaRose's office identified 115,816 registered voters across the entire state he felt should be purged.

None were removed prior to the Nov. 3 election.

A notice was mailed to all affected Lorain County voters in August, said Adams. It said that if they did not vote in the general election, they would be purged in December.

There were other ways Ohioans could stay on the rolls: confirming their registration, responding to a mailing or engaging in voter activity of any kind, such as updating their address or name.

The deadline was Dec. 7.

Kramer said some previously-inactive Lorain County voters did break their silence to take part in the November election, "but not a great number."

After ballots were certified, counties were required to send a list of voters who remained inactive to the secretary of state for review before the purge is processed, said Adams.

Lorain County's list has been generated and is being reviewed, which means no voters have been officially removed yet, he said.

The majority of those on the list are no longer affiliated with Republicans, Democrats or any other party, said Kramer. That's because under Ohio law you lose your party affiliation after missing two consecutive primary elections.

Some officials are asking for the pending purge to be canceled, such as state Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney, D-Cleveland.

She said the final official canvass of votes shows 4,240 Ohioans on the purge list were still eligible, and turned out for the fall election.

That proved "once again that Ohio's purge process is fatally flawed and must be stopped," Sweeney said. She contends they should never have been on the list in the first place.

Ohio's system for purging voter registrations has been challenged in court, with mixed results. While lower courts agreed that the process violates the National Voter Registration Act, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that's not the case.

Justice Samuel Alito wrote that the Ohio system "does not strike any registrant solely by reason of the failure to vote," because there are other ways to remain on the rolls.

Justice Stephen Breyer wrote one of the high court's dissenting opinions. It noted that only four percent of Americans moved outside their county each year, and in 2012 Ohio identified about one in five voters as being potentially ineligible because they had changed addresses.

Bryer also said there was evidence that a majority of voters on the purge list tossed the state's official warning letters because they appeared to be junk mail.

“Keeping our voter lists accurate isn’t just required by law — it’s the right thing to do,” said LaRose in a release earlier this year. “That’s why we’re once again using proven strategies to reach impacted registrants and cooperating with our longtime partners to give every Ohioan their opportunity to be heard each and every election.”

However, with 7.8 million voter registrations managed by 88 county boards of elections across the state, which use five private vendors, errors are bound to happen, he admitted.

B

OUR TOWNS

Lorain County Community Guide • Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020

Christmas counts a chance for rare bird sightings conducted through Jan. 5.

The Black River Audubon Society has two local counts planned — the first on Saturday, Dec. 19 centered in Elyria, and the second on Saturday, Jan. 2 in Wellington.

Paul Sherwood, who is organizing the Wellington count, said the data will likely show a massive decline in the bird population.

North American bids have been disappearing at an alarming rate for decades. Since 1970, the number of birds across the

JASON HAWK EDITOR

Keep your eyes peeled, and you might see some purple finches or snowy owls.

Northern birds are flocking south in much larger than normal numbers, and just in time for the National Audubon Society's 2020 Christmas Bird Count.

The event, a census of Jason Hawk | Wellington Enterprise North America's feathered Despite the pandemic, the Black River Audubon friends that has been a traSociety is moving ahead with two local Christmas Bird Count circles in Elyria and Wellington. dition for 121 years, will be

continent has dropped by about three billion, a little less than one-third, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

"Most of the species that you're going to see in our area, that are normally seen, are dropping," said Sherwood. "But this year we're excited because a lot of the species that are coming from up north are in what we call an irruption year."

Food supplies across Canada's boreal forests

have crashed. Seed crops from aspens, spruce and birch trees that are normally in abundance are much more scarce this year due to climate change, drought, fires and weather cycles.

That's driven hungry birds sometimes thousands of miles south from their normal ranges. Among the most notable here in Ohio are the red-breasted nuthatches, Sherwood said.

For the casual birder, "it's going to be a much BIRDS PAGE B3

Amherst outage gave window for First Energy fix

Long line for toys

JASON HAWK EDITOR

Photos by Jason Hawk | Wellington Enterprise

Tim Butti, a board member at Well-Help, sorts through toys as the nonprofit's giveaway gets underway the morning of Dec. 8 in Wellington.

Parents turn to Well-Help for presents JASON HAWK EDITOR

WELLINGTON — When Bernie Raab arrived for final setup of WellHelp's annual Christmas toy giveaway around 7 a.m. on Dec. 8, there was already a line.

With the pandemic piling on pressure, some parents showed up outside First United Methodist

Church around 5 a.m. and were willing to wait four hours for the doors to open.

"That shows what the need is like," said Raab, office coordinator for the Wellington-based charity.

Inside, parents found tables stacked tall with donated cars and trucks, superheroes, dolls, board games and bike helmets. There were action figures and dinosaurs, bulldozers and dump trucks, soccer

balls, train sets and Lite Brites.

"Hopefully there won't be much left over," Raab said, just before ushering in the first few parents.

Each got to "shop" for a few presents to take home. Among them was Jeff Yeager, who said he'd spent a month in the hospital due to a heart condition he's had since birth.

Medical bills piled up, while he

JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Most employers in the city of Oberlin could soon be barred by law from discriminating against workers who are gay, transgender or don't fit into traditional binary gender definitions.

ordinance, which he's been working on for years, would give the same protections to the LGBTQ community that are already afforded to others under Ohio law.

It would provide umbrella protection to workers at any business within the city limits that employs four or more people, ex-

cluding family members.

It would also ensure the rights of people who use "public accommodations" such as hotels, banks, barbershops and salons, theaters and stores.

Oberlin's proposed ordinance contains exemptions for religious organizations PROTECT PAGE B2

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Protecting What’s Important Scott Beriswill

35881 Grafton Eastern Rd. Grafton, Ohio 44044

(440) 926-3312

OUTAGE PAGE B2

PANDEMIC

WELL-HELP PAGE B2

Oberlin prepares law to protect sexual orientation and gender ID City Council expressed support last week for a sweeping expansion of protections for people of all sexual preferences, gender identities and gender expressions.

"This is an exciting moment for Oberlin," said Oberlin Law Director Jon Clark in a Dec. 7 meeting.

He said the proposed

AMHERST — A two-hour outage left the entire city of Amherst and some customers outside its boundaries without power Sunday.

First Energy planned the blackout for emergency maintenance to the 69-kilovolt transmission line equipment that feeds electricity to the city, said Mayor Mark Costilow.

The system's switches there "are near failure at this point," and must be replaced to prevent longer outages, he said.

The problem was with equipment that shuttles electricity into the city, not Amherst's distribution grid, he said.

Costilow said First Energy tried to pick a time that would be the least burden to all involved.

After days of warnings — including mail to every affected customer, text messages, social media posts and news articles — the outage was slated to begin at 9 a.m.

Sunday and last until roughly 11 a.m.

It got a late start due to rain that made conditions unsafe

Denise Breyley

173 Depot Street Wellington, Ohio 44090

Jason Hawk | Amherst News-Times

Taner Eren unloads boxes filled with thousands of medical grade masks at Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio in Lorain just before sunrise Monday.

Lorain maker gives thousands of masks JASON HAWK EDITOR

LORAIN — Taner Eren jumped into the bed of his truck and wrapped his arms around an enormous cardboard box.

As the first morning light started to seep over the horizon Monday, he handed cargo to Ohio National Guard members.

Within just a few minutes, he'd helped offload 30,000 medical grade masks at Second Harvest Food Bank's dock on Baumhart Road.

"This is just the beginning," said his brother, Niko Eren, whose own truck was loaded with more boxes.

The brothers, who run Cleveland Veteran Business Solutions in the former St. Joseph Hospital, had a busy day planned: another 30,000 masks to drop off at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lorain County, and more going to the Valor Home for veterans to use.

The goal, they said, was to get personal protective gear in the hands of people who need it most.

"If we help a bunch of people not get sick, that's a big win for us," Niko Eren said.

Lorain County Democratic Party Chairman Anthony Giardini also sits on the advisory board for Cleveland

www.beriswillins.com (440) 647-6010

SUBMIT YOUR NEWS TO: NEWS@LCNEWSPAPERS.COM

DONATION PAGE B2

Page B2

Lorain County Community Guide

OUTAGE

FROM B1 for electrical workers, according to Costilow. Power started to go out around 10:15 a.m. and was restored a little before 12:30 p.m.

Police ramped up patrols while service was interrupted.

Costilow said a contractor was tasked several days in advance of the outage with checking traffic signals in Amherst to ensure they had at least three hours of battery life. Some without battery backup were manned by police officers.

Firefighters and paramedics were also standing by in case there were any complications, and the Amherst utilities office was staffed for calls.

Costilow painted the situation as an example of why Amherst needs a second main power feed. Right now, the sole First Energy access point is located next to the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks just east of Route 58 — it was nearly taken out earlier this month by a train that derailed about 50 feet away.

Plans are in motion to build a second electricity access point. American Municipal Power Transmission purchased the city's 69-kilovolt transmission lines last year in a multi-million-dollar deal that included construction of a west side feed.

Costilow said the project is in the planning and land acquisition stages, with an eye for completion in 2023.

Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020

'Help ignite the light of others'

Kristin Bauer | Chronicle

Rabbi Shlomo Elkan lights the first candle for Hanukkah last Thursday night at Chabad house in Oberlin.

Oberlin celebrates Hanukkah CARISSA WOYTACH THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

Well-Help board member Judy Greer helps a parent pick out toys for her child.

WELL-HELP

FROM B1 had no income flowing in.

"Trying to keep up with all that and buy Christmas gifts at the same time? It's impossible," said Yeager, who has seven children at home. "Things definitely need to go back to being normal. This is not normal."

There are many more like Yeager out there, struggling for holiday happiness. Raab said Well-Help has watched demand spike this year, not only for presents but for food.

Donors stepped up. One, who remains anonymous, provided money for clothing vouchers to Farm & Home Hardware in Wellington so families who picked up toys could also grab some essentials.

Raab said toys came from many places, including Forest City Technologies, McConnell Excavating and the South Lorain County Ambulance District.

A handful of volunteers pulled the giveaway together, their numbers limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, she said. Many who would normally help are staying away this year to be safe, and Lorain County JVS students who traditionally lend a hand weren't allowed because of the danger posed by the virus.

"It seems like COVID gets into every sentence these days," said Raab. "I just pray God keeps his hands on us and everyone stays healthy."

Well-Help board member Tim Butti said he couldn't bear to miss the toy giveaway.

"It's just important to me to help the community out as best I can," he said. "Today, this is a joy to me, to do this so kids can have a Christmas, because sometimes they don't... I hope people leave with joy today. That's what I'm looking forward to. They should know we're here to help."

Well-Help provides food and toiletries to people who live in Wellington and surrounding communities. For more information, call (440) 647-2689.

“I can’t see children going without for Christmas. That wouldn’t be right.”

Bernie Raab, Well-Help

DONATION

FROM B1 Veteran Business Solutions. He met up Monday with guardsmen on duty at Second Harvest to help distribute food during the pandemic.

"The thinking is that Second Harvest is already helping people who are struggling to put food on the table.

That means they're probably also struggling to buy masks," he said.

Packs of 50 single-use masks — the kind hospital staff would typically wear — will be slipped into packages of food, he said.

The hope, said Giardini, is that will be enough to get a lot of people through the holidays safely and into the beginning of 2021. That's not long, but "this is only a down payment," he said. "We hope to have more if they're needed."

Niko Eren said the Lorain company produces about 1.5 million masks per month, and has the capacity to scale up to 8 million if orders flow in.

That means the stockpile is large. Cleveland Veteran Business Solutions is for-profit, but that doesn't mean everything it does has to be about generating revenue, he said.

"We believe and our investors do too that giving back is important," he said. "What we really want back from these organizations is telling us who to help, because we're not the experts on who needs it and how to get it to them."

OBERLIN — In the darkest season, the Festival of Lights serves to reignite the local Jewish community.

Last Thursday marked the first night of Hanukkah. At sundown, about two dozen community members gathered at Chabad at Oberlin to mark the holiday season during a challenging time.

Rabbi Shlomo Elkan and his wife, Devorah, hosted the group. Standing beside a more than 6-foot tall menorah in the family’s driveway, Shlomo Elkan offered fellowship and the first night’s mitzvah, alongside doughnuts, hot chocolate and children’s activities.

Shlomo Elkan said he’d been teetering on whether or not to host the evening, but Devorah eventually made the decision for him.

“There's so many things that have been canceled due to COVID, and I thank God there are ways to do it in a safe way,” Devorah Elkan said. “Now, last year we lived in a very small house and we didn't have this whole area, so it wouldn't have been possible, but thank God we do have this whole space to kind of do it outdoors, spread out. We're not canceling, we're not pretending the holiday is not existing because of (COVID-19).”

They moved into The Chabad House, 214 West College St., in early fall, dedicating it at the start of the semester.

The eight-day holiday is a chance for internal and external flames to burn a little brighter. While it commemorates the mitzvah of a single jug of lamp oil lasting eight nights, it is also a time for those in the Jewish community to share knowledge, and a spark of inspiration, between each other, Shlomo Elkan said.

“Admist the darkest time, the most challenging time, the light stays lit,” he said. “And for us on Hanukkah now, in a dark time — maybe physically it's a hard time, emotionally it's a hard time, psychologically it's a hard time, we should endeavor to keep our own light lit and if we have the strength not only to keep our own light lit, but to help ignite the light of others around us.”

Hanukkah ends tomorrow night.

Police: Wood chipper found in IN BROOKIE MADISON THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

WELLINGTON — The village's missing brush chipper has been found in Indiana.

Officials were notified of the whereabouts of the expensive piece of village property Dec. 1. Council members were told last week that it was back in the village and had not been damaged.

The brush chipper was taken from the parking lot outside of the public works facility the weekend of Oct. 17.

Robert Brasee, Wellington’s public works superintendent, said that whoever took the chipper had to work to get it.

“It wasn’t just sitting there free for the taking,” he told Village Council. “They’d have to have a vehicle equipped to hook up to it. That and they’d have to know

which hitch to use. It was actually hooked to our truck, so it’s something you couldn’t manually do without the truck moving. You had to have a piece of equipment to move it and actually hook another truck to it. They actually spent some time back there.”

Brasee said buying a new chipper would have cost $59,280.

The market for the equipment is small. Only three dealerships in Ohio sell the machine.

All had been notified that Wellington's was missing.

Village Manager Steve Dupee also mentioned the need for a camera at the entrance of the Public Works facility and a fence. The village keeps its snow plows and other equipment there.

The site is visited by people who are not village employees. The village permits people to drop off brush after hours on weekdays and on the weekends.

Dupee said Wellington workers were getting ready to install security cameras at Public Works so that staff can see the view of the entrance and the entire yard.

Police Chief Tim Barfield said Portage, Indiana, officers arrested a man in possession of several pieces of stolen property.

“Our brush chipper was one of those,” Barfield said. “That male chose not to speak so we don’t know how it was taken.”

Barfield said that the Wellington Police Department’s investigation is ongoing. He said that he doesn't know if the man is from Ohio or Lorain County.

The chief said the appropriate charge for the suspect would be receiving stolen property.

“Our investigation is ongoing, so if we were to determine who took it, we would still charge that person, whether it was him or someone else here in our town,” he said.

widened the scope of the order to include gender identity and expression.

But when it comes to the public at large, Clark said virtually no protections exist at the state or federal levels.

The U.S. Supreme Court inches forward on that front this summer, ruling that employers of 15 people or more can't fire someone solely for being gay or transgender — doing so would violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

"Victims of such discrimination have no recourse," Clark wrote in a memo to City Council. "This ordinance seeks to extend to the LGBT community the protections afforded to other protected classes under existing state and federal law."

Oberlin's proposal not only creates new rules, it sets up a system for enforcing them.

Allegations of discrimination can, within a 180-day window, go to mediation if both sides agree. If no remedy is found, complaints can escalate to administrative hearings.

A first offense could result in a civil penalty of up to $1,000 that would go

to the city.

A second within five years could mean a $2,500 fine, and more would allow up to $5,000 in penalties.

The city would not have the power to order back pay or reinstatement if the employee was terminated.

Make no mistake — the city's appointed hearing officer would have the power to issue subpoenas and compel parties to appear. Failing to respond would be a misdemeanor.

Gio Santiago of the nonprofit advocacy group Equality Ohio grew up in Lorain, and was excited to see Oberlin's legislation move ahead.

"This is just another piece to show how welcoming a community the city of Oberlin is," especially during the pandemic and the added pressures the LGBTQ community has faced "over the past four years," he said.

The ordinance will be up for second reading when Council meets again Dec. 21, and a majority of Council members have voiced support.

"It's a long time coming," said Councilman Kelley Singleton. "I'm glad that we're finally there after much delay. We're finally doing the right thing."

PROTECT

FROM B1 as required by the First Amendment.

Nor would it apply to federal or state government offices within Oberlin, such as the Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control center on Route 511.

The law would however apply to hospitals, even if they have religious affiliations, Clark said.

Councilwoman Heather Adelman said an LGBTQ discrimination ban has been in the works for many years.

In 2017, Council passed an ordinance barring bigotry in the city's equal opportunity practices. It also prohibited intimidation based on sexual orientation when it comes to fair and equal housing.

Adelman said the new ordinance builds on that progress. Oberlin stands to join 32 other cities and Cuyahoga County in affording similar protections.

Ohio has been slowly moving in that direction for years.

By executive order, Gov. John Kasich outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation in state employment in 2011. Shortly before leaving office in 2018, he

Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020

Lorain County Community Guide

CHRISTMAS MAGIC

Provided photo

The Amherst Historical Society has set up a free display of Christmas lights for the community to enjoy at its Sandstone Village, 763 Milan Ave. Hundreds of hours of volunteer work went into making the "Magical Christmas in the Village" show possible, said society Director Sandy Kaiser. You can drive or walk through the grounds to catch the holiday spirit.

Page B3

JVS taking new angle to recruit students due to virus

PITTSFIELD TWP. — The Lorain County JVS is making changes to its recruitment efforts for the next school year due to COVID-19.

“We needed to think in a completely unique way this year,” said Superintendent Glenn Faircloth.

"We hope that our efforts reach potential students.”

These efforts include information sessions where JVS instructors are available for live virtual meetings.

They answer questions about life at the JVS,

what students will learn in their career-tech labs, the requirements to be accepted and pathways after graduation.

Sessions take place during December and January. The dates and times vary by program.

For a live look into a lab during class time, students and parents can attend upcoming virtual JVS Preview Days on Jan. 27 and 28 during school hours. Instructors, students and a moderator will be online during these events to help

answer questions.

The annual JVS Open House is still being planned, but this year it will be by appointment only.

It is a time for parents and potential students to tour the JVS campus, see lab spaces and meet instructors. The in-person open house will be held from 12:30-3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 31.

Registration is required for each event. Students and parents can register at www.lcjvs.com/Upcoming EnrollmentEvents.

LORAIN COUNTY JVS

Public domain

This April 1859 photograph showed 20 men involved in the OberlinWellington rescue at the Cuyahoga County Jail.

Documentarians get nearly $20K to tell 1858 rescue story

JASON HAWK EDITOR

Provided photo

Beth Berthold delivers beef sticks to Well-Help to spread the holiday spirit.

FFA donates to Well-Help PITTSFIELD TWP. — Forty cases of beef sticks were recently donated to WellHelp by Beth Berthold, an instructor at the Lorain County JVS and adviser to the school's FFA chapter.

Vocational students, who are learning remotely, were unable to sell the sticks as part of an annual FFA fundraiser. she said.

Students would have normally raised cash to fund chapter activities such as an end-of-the-year banquet and purchasing FFA shirts.

Berthold said the chapter received a grant from the National FFA Organization

to help offset costs and give a little assistance to others who have been impacted

by COVID-19.

“It felt good that we were able to give back to the local community, especially during the holiday season,” she said.

“Since we are learning virtually right now, there was really no way for us to sell them, and we certainly did not want them to go to waste.”

Well-Help, a Wellington-based nonprofit that provides food and other necessities to people in need, indicated it would give away the beef sticks right away.

BIRDS

FROM B1 different kind of birding than most years," he said.

There were 2,646 counts as part of the Christmas 2019 effort, with more than 81,600 observers in the field.

Many won't get the chance to take part this year, however.

While the Christmas Bird Count is moving ahead despite the COVID-19 pandemic, it won't be conducted in places where there are tough restrictions.

The most profound effect is expected in California, which is under a sweeping stay-at-home order.

"I think what we can expect is the results will be very confusing," said Black River Audubon Society Jim Jablonsky.

He believes participation will be hurt this year by the pandemic, and is curious to see how that affects the data that will be collected.

"I would hate to see the whole count canceled this year, though," he said. "It's never been missed, not through any other period in our nation's history, and it doesn't have to be this year."

Jablonsky said he is glad volunteers are getting ready for the count in Lorain County, which holds a special place in birding

history.

Modern birding arguably started here, he said, quoting conservationist and author Kenn Kaufman — it can be traced to ornithologist and Oberlin College professor Lynds Jones.

In 1895, Oberlin College became the first in the United States to offer coursework in ornithology. Three years later, in May 1898, Jones and birdwatcher W.L. Dawson were the first people to identify 100 species of birds in a single day.

It happened when they took a group of college to students to Lorain and traveled back to Oberlin on foot, recording the birds

they saw along the way, said Jablonsky. Other texts credit Jones and colleagues with finding 144 species in Erie County in May 1907, setting a record that stood until 1929.

With field work key to his courses, he became one of the most popular professors of his time. He taught for more than 60 years and was known for taking students on ecology expeditions to the West Coast, according to the Oberlin College archives.

To take part in the Elyria bird count, call Marty Ackermann at (608) 334-2552.

To take part in the Wellington bird count, call Sherwood at (419) 2026080.

OBERLIN — A documentary on a pivotal moment in Lorain County history is in the works.

Scott Spears and Christina Paolucci of Production Partners Media have been awarded a $19,800 grant by the Ohio Humanities to recount the 1858 OberlinWellington Rescue.

"Outside of Northeast Ohio, not a lot of people know it, and I think it's an important story," said Spears. "It's about stepping up and confronting injustice on a very small scale that has an impact on a very large scale."

John Price was a slave who escaped to freedom and found refuge in Oberlin.

Slave-catchers led by a U.S. marshal kidnapped him under the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 and fled to Wellington to await a train.

The hoped to return Price to his former owner in Kentucky, but on Sept. 13, 1858, residents of Oberlin marched south to free him by force.

Spears has been making documentaries since high school and has worked on independent films in Los Angeles.

His wife, Tracey Warren, passed away due to a heart defect in 2008. Her family, which hails from Oberlin, told the story of Price's rescue often, and he's wanted to tell it in documentary form for quite some time.

The Oberlin Heritage Center is helping

him reach that goal by providing factchecking and research.

"We're not filmmakers, I will readily admit that," joked OHC Director Liz Schultz.

Tales of abolition and the Underground Railroad are often told from the perspective of white participants. Schultz said "making John Price's story a little more front and center" is an appealing part of the new documentary effort.

The film will also provide a commentary on modern race relations, she said.

"I think re-looking at this would help people understand some of the things they're still seeing today are still carryovers from the era of slavery," she said.

Spears agreed, saying he wants people to relate the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Both are examples of people rising up to confront injustices, he said.

"They saw an injustice, where an enslaved person escaped and was trying to start a new life, and the slavemasters were trying to take him back," he said. "They could have stood by, but instead they did something."

While the Ohio Humanities grant has helped propel the project forward, it is moving at a crawl due to the pandemic, Spears said. Most filming and interviews just are not possible right now.

He hopes to complete the film in late 2021 or the spring of 2022, and is working with the Heritage Center and Oberlin College to hold a local screening.

Flynn re-elected to farm board Adele Flynn of Wellington has been re-elected District 3 trustee for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

She will represent members from Cuyahoga, Erie, Huron and Lorain counties and help govern Ohio’s largest general farm and food organization. Her re-election took place during Ohio Farm Bureau’s 102nd annual meeting.

Flynn and her husband, Eric, farm full-

time. Along with their three children, they have a cow-calf operation, raising freezer beef, show calves and breeding stock.

The Flynns also farm approximately 1,100 acres of cash grains with Adele’s family.

She is a 4-H adviser and serves on the board of directors for Centerra Co-op and as the chairwoman of the Center for Food Innovation at Oberlin.

85 SOUTH MAIN STREET OBERLIN OHIO 44074 DECEMBER 17, 2020 BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETING DATES ALL MEETINGS WILL BE Live Streamed @ http://oberlinoh.swagit.com/live DECEMBER 18, 2020 ....COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE – 8:00 P.M.

Notice The City of Oberlin is accepting 2021 applications from community organizations for possible contracts related to the provision of service(s) to Oberlin residents. Applications are available at the City of Oberlin Website at www.cityofoberlin.com

Submission Deadline is January 22, 2021

DECEMBER 21, 2020 ....REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING – 7:00 P.M. DECEMBER 22, 2020 ....OPEN SPACE COMMISSION – 5:00 A.M. CANCELED DECEMBER 24, 2020 ....OFFICE CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF CHRISTMAS EVE NOTICE: DISABLED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO MAY NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CALL 775-7203 OR E-MAIL: banderson@cityofoberlin.com NOTICE REQUIRED: TWO (2) WORKING DAYS IN ADVANCE OF MEETING (48 HOURS) CLERK OF COUNCIL’S OFFICE.

Page B4

Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020

Lorain County Community Guide

Survey shows trends, gaps in Lorain County DYLAN REYNOLDS THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

There was a nearly $77,000 gap between the median household income in Lorain County’s wealthiest city and its poorest township, according to new five-year data from the American Community Survey for 2015 to 2019.

The data also shows connections between some communities' economic status and how many households have high-speed internet connections, a tool that is often seen as a means to advance in education and income.

The American Community Survey data provided insight into demographics from the period of 2015 to 2019, offering a unique look at Lorain County communities just before the COVID-19 pandemic likely turned many of those statistics upside down.

The data released last week shows the median household income in Lorain County over the 2015 to 2019 period — $58,427 — falling below the national average of $62,843.

Still, the county saw growth in median household income compared to the 2010 to 2014 period, when it was $56,870.

Lorain County’s poverty rate fell nearly in line with the national rate, at 13.5 percent compared to the overall U.S. 5-year poverty rate of 13.4 percent.

About 3.5 million American households receive the survey, a program of the U.S. Census Bureau, each year.

But as insightful as the new data is for demographic information, it also ends in 2019 when no one knew what was in store for this year.

Data released in the future will certainly reflect a sudden increase in financial hardships in 2020, said Julie Chase-Morefield, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio.

In 2019, just over 87,000 people received aid from the food bank at least once. Nearly 149,000 people have received aid so far in 2020.

Chase-Morefield said food insecurity is often an early indicator of greater economic hardship, because food is one of the first things people go without.

“That’s the easiest thing to cut," Chase-Morefield said. "It’s easy not to go to the grocery store but it's much harder not to pay your rent or utility bill."

How the pandemic has affected the income gap locally remains to be seen, but the survey data shows a significant gap existed in 2015 to 2019 between Lorain County’s richest communities and its poorest.

The median household income in Avon was more than three times higher than the median household in Sheffield Township from 2015 to 2019, putting the two communities on opposite ends of the Lorain County wealth

How Lorain County housing has changed

Census: Lorain County communities compared MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME

POPULATION

20152019

20102014

POVERTY

Median value of owner-occupied homes

Percentage of individuals living below the poverty income line

20152019

20102014

CITIES

20102014

20152019

home ownership

Internet

percentage of owner-occupied home of all housing

percentage of households with broadband internet service

20152019

20102014

20152019

CITIES

Amherst Avon

12,108 22,999

$71,775 109,916

$69,972 85,222

7.6% 2.8%

8.1 5.1%

Avon Lake Elyria

24,030 53,821

83,018 44,324

88,466 45,695

5.1% 23.1%

4.6% 20.3%

Amherst Avon

$164,600 296,900

$161,496 263,539

81.8% 84.3%

83.7% 79.2%

84.0% 93.5%

256,400 99,100

225,273 103,773

81.5% 59.3%

80.0% 60.4%

88.6% 75.1%

Avon Lake Elyria

Lorain

63,801

38,291

38,190

25.1%

28.2%

Lorain

87,300

98,043

56.1%

58.2%

68.5%

North Ridgeville Oberlin

33,427 8,296

77,221 50,509

72,150 56,893

5.0% 28.1%

7.2% 19.9%

N. Ridgeville Oberlin

182,300 160,900

170,576 144,417

87.4% 51.1%

85.6% 58.3%

89.3% 80.3%

Sheffield Lake Vermilion

8,968 10,479

62,292 63,715

52,040 56,225

5.8% 7.7%

13.6%% 11.3%

Sheffield Lake Vermilion

111,800 140,800

121,284 136,958

78.4% 78.9%

71.6% 76.4%

84.8% 84.7%

6,894

$61,127

$67,394

6.5%

7.5%

Amherst

$146,400

$160,523

90.1%

90.2%

77.4%

(includes portion of city in Erie County)

TOWNSHIPS

(includes portion of city in Erie County)

TOWNSHIPS

Amherst

(includes portion of South Amherst village)

(includes portion of South Amherst village)

829

50,234

66,454

9.9%

2.3%

Brighton

223,900

195,979

94.6%

93.5%

71.5%

Brownhelm

7,719

60,919

57,352

9.8%

10.3%

Brownhelm

163,400

160,848

83.4%

83.5%

84.8%

Camden

1,713

64,904

64,993

6.5%

10.8%

Camden

184,900

171,225

94.8%

97.1%

85.9%

Carlisle

7,406

73,516

67,532

6.6%

10.8%

Carlisle

154,900

158,037

87.1%

81.6%

87.4%

Columbia Eaton

7,333 5,894

82,837 73,324

76,755 69,531

4.8% 5.6%

6.9% 7.6%

Columbia Eaton

204,300 170,400

211,977 167,117

94.6% 86.4%

90.4% 85.4%

87.6% 82.1%

Elyria Grafton

3,203 2,845

56,250 92,788

60,121 87,193

11.2% 2.5%

9.1% 2.3%

Elyria Grafton

120,200 241,000

127,662 276,186

78.7% 89.7%

70.9% 84.2%

82.8% 83.9%

Henrietta

1,683

80,929

67,367

4.8%

9.5%

Henrietta

229,100

199,870

88.0%

80.8%

87.4%

Huntington LaGrange

1,225 6,300

85,071 73,890

65,196 66,917

1.7% 4.6%

1.1% 6.7%

Huntington LaGrange

213,400 164,400

201,059 187,223

91.4% 84.4%

77.8% 82.5%

82.3% 88.0%

New Russia

2,514

69,141

71,455

8.3%

8.5%

New Russia

190,200

178,900

89.9%

89.0%

87.5%

Penfield Pittsfield Rochester

2,077 1,581 860

76,865 76,198 76,125

95,369 73,311 52,328

0.0% 5.8% 5.5%

0.8% 6.5% 4.7%

Penfield Pittsfield Rochester

220,400 224,500 166,000

229,165 190,574 154,902

87.3% 85.1% 89.0%

87.1% 90.6% 86.2%

97.6% 85.3% 85.8%

Sheffield Wellington

3,661 6,297

32,983 52,350

33,521 58,946

22.1% 9.8%

22.9% 10.0%

Sheffield Wellington

86,500 135,500

89,504 160,307

51.6% 64.8%

56.6% 63.3%

63.2% 75.0%

VILLAGES Grafton Sheffield

5,996 4,190

$61,042 80,000

$59,748 72,335

7.8% 5.6%

8.3% 2.6%

VILLAGES Grafton Sheffield

$145,300 212,100

$148,416 201,924

74.9% 74.7%

80.5% 78.3%

83.9% 85.0%

309,833 11,689,100 328,239,523

$58,427 56,602 62,843

$56,870 52,804 57,812

13.5% 14.0% 13.4%

14.6% 15.9% 15.6%

Lorain County Ohio United States

$150,500 145,700 217,500

$149,173 140,093 189,925

72.3% 66.1% 64.0%

71.7% 66.9% 64.4%

80.2% 82.0% 82.7%

Brighton

(includes portion of the city of Vermilion) (Includes Kipton village)

(includes LaGrange village)

(Includes portion of South Amherst village)

(Includes Rochester village)

(Includes Wellington village)

Lorain County Ohio United States

(includes portion of the city of Vermilion) (includes portion of the city of Vermilion)

(includes LaGrange village)

(Includes portion of South Amherst village)

(Includes Rochester village)

(Includes Wellington village)

Incomes and home values adjusted for inflation to 2019 dollars. Note: Population totals for the nation, state and Lorain County are July 1, 2019 estimates. Other population estimates are from the 2015-2019 American Community Survey.

Incomes and home values adjusted for inflation to 2019 dollars. Note: Population totals for the nation, state and Lorain County are July 1, 2019 estimates. Other population estimates are from the 2015-2019 American Community Survey.

Source: Census Bureau American Community Survey

Source: Census Bureau American Community Survey

spectrum.

Avon’s wealth is partially due to its county-leading $296,900 median value of owner-occupied homes. Mayor Bryan Jensen said new homes in the city are selling for prices many people “couldn't have fathomed” just 10 years ago, starting in the mid$400,000s range in many developments.

But the gaps go beyond money, the data shows. Avon had the second-highest percentage of households with broadband internet service in Lorain County with 93.5 percent. Avon was second only to Penfield Township, where 97.6 percent of households had broadband. Sheffield Township had the lowest percentage, with 63.2 percent of household had broadband.

Organizations including the Lorain Public Library System have done what they can to make sure people in all areas have access to the internet.

Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz, CEO of the Lorain Public Library

System, said the libraries have been offering Wi-Fi hotspots for checkout and striving to keep computer access available to the public in underserved areas because many need that to look for jobs and access government services.

The library stepped in to help with internet access for students at Clearview, Lorain and Sheffield-Sheffield Lake Schools who needed help to learn virtually, she said.

“I really hope that one of the outcomes of this year is that people are really going to understand the importance of broadband and consider it more of a utility,” Diamond-Ortiz said.

There was not a strong correlation between finances and high-speed internet everywhere.

For some communities, a lower percentage of households with broadband internet service is tied more closely to access than affordability.

That’s the case for Wellington township and village, Mayor

Hans Schneider said. Wellington has the third-lowest percentage of households with broadband internet service in Lorain County, at 75 percent.

Schneider said he began actively courting broadband providers to Wellington when he took office in 2016 and has since seen Armstrong Utilities join North Coast Wireless Communications and GLW Broadband as an option, although currently just for business customers in certain areas.

“I fully expect they are going to go residential at some point,” Schneider said. He believed there is a misconception that Wellington is not open to bringing in new broadband companies; he said that is simply untrue.

In Lorain, the most populous city in the county, the survey showed a slight increase in median household income over 2015 to 2019 compared to 2010 to 2014, but it also had declining home values and a poverty

rate of 25.1 percent, the county's second-highest poverty rate.

Only Oberlin was higher, with a poverty rate of 28.1 percent.

Median household income was up to $38,291 in Lorain over 2015 to 2019. There is cause for optimism looking forward, Mayor Jack Bradley said.

“I know that the top 10 employers we had in 2010 are not the same top 10 employers that we have in 2020,” he said. “So we lost Republic Steel and U.S. Steel as top 10 employers, but our health care system has really improved and they now are some of the top employers in the city of Lorain.”

As a result of increasing incomes, Bradley believes more residents are able to attend community college and gain the skills they need to work for the rising healthcare employers in Lorain.

That will ultimately benefit the city’s economy, he said.

Graphics by Ed Betzel | Chronicle

Ohio Supreme Court OKs Lorain County mental illness court THE CHRONICLETELEGRAM

ELYRIA — Lorain County Common Pleas Court's specialized Wellness Court has earned final certification from the Ohio Supreme Court's Commission on Specialized Dockets, officials announced last week.

To receive the certification, the local court had to submit an application, undergo a site visit and provide specific materials in response to certification standards that went in to effect in January 2014.

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor congratulated the court and county Common Pleas Judge James Miraldi, who oversees it, for receiving final certification.

“Specialized dockets divert offenders toward criminal justice initiatives that employ tools and tailored services to treat and re-

habilitate the offender so they can become productive members of society,” O’Connor said. “Studies have shown this approach works by reducing recidivism while saving tax dollars.”

The standards provide a minimum level of uniform practices for specialized dockets throughout Ohio, and allow local courts to innovate and tailor to meet their community’s needs and resources.

"There is no doubt that the community partners including law enforcement all recognized the need to try something different with certain offenders who suffer from serious mental illnesses. The specialized docket is the first step to try to help those folks find ways to become stable, self sufficient, productive and law abiding,” Miraldi said. “It is a daunting task especially in today's COVID-19 environment.

We have a good team members willing to roll up their sleeves

and get to work."

Specialized dockets are courts that are dedicated to specific types of offenses or offenders and use a combination of techniques for holding offenders accountable while also addressing the underlying causes of their behavior.

In February, Miraldi said many people with mental illness were left without resources when most states closed their remaining mental institutions, state hospitals and asylums by the mid-1990s.

"Our goal is to make our community safer because we're watching the people committing crimes more strictly and consistently," he told The ChronicleTelegram at the time.

The Wellness Court is a joint partnership with the Lorain County Adult Probation, the Lorain County Sheriff's Office and the county jail, the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office, mental health providers such as The LCADA Way and others to treat up to 40

defendants at a time.

Referrals to the program are accepted based on specific cases where a defendant has been diagnosed with specific mental illness that can be treated with medication and/or counseling.

Some defendants with dual diagnoses of substance abuse and mental illness may qualify for intervention in lieu of conviction, which can lead to the sealing of their court records if they successfully complete the program.

By law, final rulings in each case rest with Miraldi.

There are more than 210 specialized dockets in Ohio courts that deal with issues such as drugs and alcohol, mental health, domestic violence, human trafficking and veterans treatment.

Certification requirements include establishing eligibility requirements, evaluating effectiveness of the specialized docket, and assembling a treatment team for implementing daily opera-

tions of the specialized docket.

The team can include licensed treatment providers, law enforcement, court personnel, and is headed by the specialized docket judge.

Lorain County has three certified specialized dockets within the Common Pleas General Division. Including the Wellness Court, Common Pleas Judge John Miraldi oversees Recovery Court and Probate Judge James Walther oversees Veterans Treatment Court.

The Commission on Specialized Dockets has 22 members who advise the Supreme Court and its staff regarding the promotion of statewide rules and uniform standards concerning specialized dockets in Ohio courts, the development and delivery of specialized docket services to Ohio courts and the creation of training programs for judges and court personnel, officials said.

Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020

Lorain County Community Guide

Page B5

Oberlin-based motorcycle club donates to toy drive BROOKIE MADISON THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

The Oberlin chapter of the Boozefighters Motorcycle club donated $1,400 and enough toys to fill an SUV to the Elyria Salvation Army and the NotForgotten Box. They dropped off their donations at the Elyria Salvation Army last Wednesday.

Boozefighters hosted a Christmas benefit, in which people donated money and toys.

“We had a full buffet-style dinner, people brought in toys and then they also brought in money for donations,” said James Thorne, the club's secretary and treasurer.

Boozefighters club members are no strangers to philanthropy.

They often join forces with other members from other clubs in surrounding states.

“We find these charities and do Toys for Tots or Salvation Army donations during the summer time in our type of ways,” he said. “We get together and have guys from Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia come to party with us to bring toys for us. Then we go to their state and do their

foundations as well.”

Jim Perkins, president of the Oberlin chapter, said they have been giving to the Not-Forgotten Box, a partnership between The Chronicle Telegram and the Salvation Army, for some time.

He also said for the last 10 years, they’ve been giving to the Salvation Army, collecting toys and money for the Salvation Army.

"We are blessed beyond measure here in Elyria with the amount of giving," Elyria Salvation Army Captain Kevin Knappins said. "Our registry for good with Walmart, we're up to over 200 items that have been donated through that."

Distribution will begin on Monday, Dec. 21 through Wednesday, Dec. 23 with cars driving in and handling 40 cars per hour.

“It’s an honor to give back to the community, especially this year with everything going on with COVID,” Perkins said.

“There's so many more needy families this year than in the past.

It was a privilege to be able to host the event and do as well as we did. I think we did a lot better than anyone expected with everything going on.”

Kristin Bauer | Chronicle

Sean "30-Watt" Hall carries boxes of donation toys to the Salvation Army in Elyria. The Boozefighters Motorcyle Club collected toys for the Salvation Army and donated $1400

Oberlin IGA customers rush to buy baking supplies for families in need JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Pre-filled shopping bags filled with supplies needed to make cookies — flour, sugar, vegetable oil and chocolate chips — are flying off the shelves at Oberlin IGA. But the $10 kits aren't going home with the customers that pay for them.

Instead, they're going

across town to Oberlin Community Services.

The nonprofit will give out the dessert bags on Tuesday, Dec. 22 as part of its holiday food giveaway. About 250 families signed up before the deadline and will get help putting a meal on the table.

OCS Food Services Coordinator Liv Hanson said families will get a turkey or ham, stuffing, gravy, corn, green bean casse-

role ingredients, potatoes, onions, milk, butter, eggs and more.

"We want to give everybody a full holiday meal," she said.

Oberlin IGA owner Leo Braido, who previously served on the OCS board, said customers have stepped up to support the effort by paying for items that Second Harvest Food Bank typically doesn't provide.

About 40 bags sold

Tuesday, the first day they were made available, he said. One Kendal at Oberlin resident paid for 20 bags, and an area educator who shops at the grocery store committed to buying one on every visit.

"I delivered a whole van-load of bags there this morning," Braido said Wednesday.

When he bought the store in 2014, Braido told the Oberlin City Club he moved to town to make a

living, but also to make a difference. He feels strongly about helping those in need, because he's been in their shoes.

"When I was a child growing up, I lost my father at a young age and we were very poor," he said. "So I've been there, I've had the needs that Oberlin Community Services clients have had. As long as I'm on this earth, I'm going to do everything I can to help people

as much as I can."

Hanson said the need for assistance leveled off this summer, but has since skyrocketed.

IGA will continue to sell the $10 food bags through Sunday, Dec. 20.

Residents can also make financial donations to OCS at www.oberlincommunityservices.org or by check to Oberlin Community Services, 285 South Professor St., Oberlin, OH 44074.

UH Rainbow Lorain Pediatrics is growing to serve you better!

At UH Rainbow Lorain Pediatrics, our goal is to provide our families with the highest quality health care.

That’s why we are excited to share news of the big changes coming to our practice in the New Year.

IN JANUARY, we will open a second location at: 319 West Lorain Street, Oberlin 44074

And, we will welcome two new pediatric providers: Khalid Akbar, MD Pediatrician Elana Richter, CNP Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

IN FEBRUARY, we will move our main office to: 590 North Leavitt Road, Amherst 44001 With easy access to parking and private entrance.

All UH Rainbow Lorain Pediatrics providers are accepting new patients. Schedule an appointment online at UHRainbow.org/ScheduleRLP or call 440-482-7514.

Learn more about our changes at UHRainbow.org/RLP

© 2020 University Hospitals RBC 1425446

RBC 1425466 Lorain Peds_9.89 x 10.indd 2

12/11/20 10:22 AM

Page B6

Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020

Lorain County Community Guide

Children are born curious.

From their earliest days, sensory exploration brings delight and wonder. New discoveries expand their minds. When they unlock the joy of reading, their world widens further.

Magic happens.

© 2020 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. ol. 37, No. 2

Pangolins are found in Asia and Africa.

Kid Scoop opens the doors of discovery for elementary school children by providing interactive, engaging and relevant age-appropriate materials designed to awaken the magic of reading at school, at home, and throughout their lives.

For more information about our literacy non-profit, visit kidscoopnews.org

Reptile or Mammal?

Study this sketch of a pangolin carefully. Read the description of reptiles and mammals and decide if pangolins are mammals or reptiles. Then use the code to check your answer.

Reptiles

Mammals

A mammal is a warm-blooded animal with a backbone that feeds its young with milk produced by the mother and has skin usually more or less covered with hair.

Dogs, mice, bears, whales, and human beings are mammals.

A reptile is a cold-blooded animal that breathes air and usually has skin covered with scales or bony plates. Snakes, lizards, turtles, and alligators are reptiles.

=A =C

=E =L

=L =M

=P =R

=S =T

Pangolins are

.

Similar but Different With a family member, make a list of ways each pair of animals below are the same and ways in which they are different.

Choose one pair and create a VENN diagram to compare them.

Q: When can you see pangolins in the wild?

It is hard to find pangolins. We are solitary (that means we like to be by ourselves) and active mostly at night. Most of us live on the ground, but some, like the black-bellied pangolin, also climb trees.

Q: Are you related to anteaters and armadillos?

Although we look and act a lot like anteaters and armadillos, we are more closely related to bears, cats, and dogs.

Q: How big are pangolins?

Like anteaters, we have long snouts and even longer tongues, which we use to lap up ants and termites. We dig up anthills and termite hills with our powerful front claws.

We can close up our noses and ears to keep ants out when we’re eating.

Some of us are about the size of a large housecat. The biggest pangolins grow to more than four feet long.

Q: How do you protect yourself?

When threatened, we roll into a ball, like an armadillo or a pill bug. Sometimes, if we feel really scared, we let loose some stinky liquid from a gland at the base of our tails.

That really drives those mean old predators away in a hurry!

Q: How do pangolins care for their young?

Photo: Shutterstock

Our scales are made of keratin—the same material as your fingernails—which gives us the nickname “scaly anteater.”

Photo: Shutterstock

Q: What are your scales like?

Every year, tens of thousands of pangolins are killed. Their scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine and others are killed for their meat, which some consider a delicacy.

Pangolin babies often ride on their mother’s tail. When danger is near, the mother will roll herself into Look through the newspaper for five a ball around words that describe her baby to a pangolin. Put shield it. The the words into baby nurses its alphabetical order. mother’s milk until it is four Standards Link: Research: Use the newspaper to locate months old. information.

Pangolin Adjectives

Look closely and you can see the young pangolin hitching a ride with its mother.

Pangolins love to eat ants. How many ants do you see here?

Have a friend try. Who found the most?

ARMADILLO PANGOLIN ANTEATER MEDICINE KERATIN REPTILE LIQUID MAMMAL GLAND NIGHT ASIA SCALES SKIN BASE ASK

M K E R A T I N A O

A S E L A C S I L M

M N R E P T I L E E

M D T N M A I O L D

SOLITARY

The adjective solitary means alone or without anyone else.

A I N M Q T S A G I

Many animals prefer to live solitary lives rather than gather in herds or packs.

N A M U A K A N I C L S R T A I E P H N

G A S K S L L R T E

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

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

My Favorite Animal ANSWER: You can’t pull their leg.

Standards Link: Data: Organize, display and interpret data.

This week’s word:

D A I E I D B G N I

Diagram It!

Find five words in the newspaper that describe reptiles. Next find five words that describe mammals. Make a VENN diagram to compare reptiles and mammals using those words. Can you add more words to your VENN diagram?

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

What is your favorite animal and why? Write three facts and three opinions about your favorite animal.