Lorain County Community Guide - Dec. 23, 2021

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AMHERST NEWS-TIMES • OBERLIN NEWS-TRIBUNE • WELLINGTON ENTERPRISE Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021

Submit items to news@LCnewspapers.com

Merry Christmas to all!

DeWine deploys Guard to hospitals DYLAN REYNOLDS THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

With COVID-19 patient counts at their highest level in nearly a year and approaching an all-time high, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Friday he would deploy 1,050 National Guard members to the state’s hospitals to assist health care workers.

The Guard members arrived at hospitals “We’re at across Ohio on Monday. a point 22 There is no specified end date for the mission. months into “We’re at a point 22 this when months into this when our medical our medical personnel have just been personnel slammed,” DeWine said during a televised news have just been conference. slammed.”

He said the strain on Gov. Mike DeWine medical workers, along with high numbers of delta variant cases, the emergence of the omicron variant and the start of flu season, creates a “perfect storm” that is overwhelming hospitals.

The last time there were this many hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Ohio was Dec. 22, 2020, DeWine said. About 90 percent of currently hospitalized COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated, the governor said.

According to data provided by the governor’s office, 4,700 people were fighting COVID-19 in Ohio hospitals on Friday, about one-fifth of all the state's hospital patients.

Among the Ohio National Guard members being deployed as part of the hospital assistance mission, 150 are “highly trained medical personnel” including nurses and EMTs, DeWine said. The other 900 non-medical NATIONAL GUARD PAGE A3

THE KEEPER OF THE KEYS Bruce Bishop | Amherst News-Times

Mr. Jingeling poses with Lola Coughlin, 14, and Sophia Pecora, 15, at the Marion L. Steele High School Wellness Fair in Amherst on Thursday, Dec. 16. Since starting off at the Halle Brothers department store in the 1950s, Jingeling has been the ‘keeper of the keys’ for Santa’s North Pole workshop .

Smart cookies

Photos by Jason Hawk | Oberlin News-Tribune

Kathryn Holliday, a junior in the bakery and pastry arts program at the Lorain County JVS, fills boxes with cookies on Thursday, Dec. 16.

Young bakers plate 21,000 just in time for Christmas JASON HAWK EDITOR

U.S. Postal Service Use Only

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

Junior Alexandria Reeves fills boxes.

Copyright 2021 Lorain County Printing & Publishing Company

PITTSFIELD TWP. — An incredible volume of pecan sandies, peanut blossoms, Sicilian whites and other cookies spread out across a dozen tables last Thursday morning didn’t faze Abby Gould one bit.

The senior was all business, no nonsense as she surveyed the scene inside the Lorain County JVS, where 21,000 holiday cookies were being plated and boxed.

“It’s actually kind of calming to me,” she said.

Gould, who hails from North Ridgeville, was among the more experienced bakers-in-training in the room. She helped juniors get comfortable working with huge quantities and stay on task.

“This is small,” pastry chef instructor Chris Moore said, watching his students fill orders. “We’ll bump it up next year.”

COOKIES PAGE A3

Lorain County schools were watched carefully by police and administrators last Friday after possible threats of violence at schools nationwide.

The danger reportedly originated on the TikTok social media app.

Incidents were reported at two Lorain County school districts, though it didn't appear anyone was hurt or in police custody.

Northwood Middle School in Elyria was searched Friday morning after videos surfaced of students with apparent firearms and knives.

According to a robocall from district spokeswoman Amy Higgins, some of the youths in the video were identified as students at Northwood, which was placed on a secure hold while police searched the building. Nothing was found, and the hold was lifted.

Elyria Police Chief Bill Pelko said the videos were old and all the guns turned out to be BB guns. The students were identified, their parents notified and all were spoken to by officers.

Nobody was taken into police custody, Pelko said.

He said the police investigation would be forwarded to juvenile court TIKTOK PAGE A3

INSIDE THIS WEEK

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

TikTok threats ratchet up fears STAFF REPORT

Classifieds, legals, display advertising, and subscriptions Deadline: 1 p.m. each Monday Phone: 440-329-7000 Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday

Send obituaries to obits@chroniclet.com

Volume 8, Issue 51

Amherst

Oberlin

Wellington

Cawthon takes oath as new police chief • B1

Central figure in Gibson’s case won’t return to college • B1

Howk named village’s Employee of the Year • A4

OBITUARIES A2 • CLASSIFIEDS A5 • CROSSWORD B2 • SUDOKU B2 • KID SCOOP B6

Page A2

Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021

Lorain County Community Guide

Kids’ food drive benefits OCS clients OBERLIN — Nonperishable food items were collected by each homeroom at Oberlin Elementary School during the holiday season, to be donated to Oberlin Community Services.

Students competed to see which could contribute the most food items through Dec. 17.

“It’s a great way to get the students involved with community service and knowing that they are helping the less fortunate within their own community,” said Family Engagement Support Facilitator Celina Bigio, who spearheaded the effort.

On Dec. 14, third-grader Layla Tyson and fourthgrader Mark Shuck spent time sorting through the canned goods.

“We have some more cans up in our classroom,” Layla told Mark as they worked.

This isn’t the first time this year Oberlin Elemen-

Holiday closures • Oberlin city offices will be closed Thursday, Dec. 23 and Friday, Dec 24 in observance of Christmas, and Friday, Dec. 31 in observance of New Year’s.

• New Russia Township offices will be closed Dec. 23-25 for Christmas and Dec. 30 through Jan. 1 for New Year’s.

• South Amherst village offices will close at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 22 and reopen Monday, Dec. 27. They will close again Friday, Dec. 31 and reopen Monday, Jan. 3.

Christmas Eve A candlelight Christmas Eve service of word and song will be held at 7 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 140 South Main St., Wellington. A musical prelude concert will start at 6:30 p.m.

Early submissions deadline It’s the holidays, and the Community Guide staff plans to enjoy some time with family. Our Christmas vacation deadline to submit items for the Dec. 30 edition will be noon on Friday, Dec. 24.

WOBL celebrating 50 years Provided photo

Layla Tyson, 9, and Mark Shuck, 10, fill a tote with canned goods to be donated to Oberlin Community Services and distributed to those in need. tary School has collected items for a food drive.

According to Bigio, it started collecting items in October and donated 47 pounds of food; then

in November, the number tipped the scale to 172.8 pounds.

Some of the food has been donated by the OES cafeteria when it had extra

to spare.

“We will continue to do this throughout the year because it’s not just during the holidays when people are in need,” Bigio said.

OBITUARIES Jane T. Blodgett Jane T. Blodgett, 89, of Oberlin, passed away peacefully on Nov. 29, 2021. She was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Nov. 15, 1932, to Herbert and Jessie (McCall) Taggart.

She was born into a family of teachers, her mother an English teacher and her father a professor of business. When her father worked for the Pentagon during World War II and her brother was drafted, the family lived in Washington D.C. and were close to the war effort. After high school back in Ann Arbor, she went to Oberlin College where she majored in primary education and received a teaching certificate. During her first year at Oberlin, she met her future husband, Geoffrey T. Blodgett. After graduating they married and lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts and San Diego, California, where she taught school. They returned to Oberlin when Jeff accepted a position at the College teaching American history. Jane was a stay-athome mom for several years. When she returned to teaching, she directed the First Church Nursery School and then taught in the Oberlin Public Schools. By the end of 26 years of teaching, she had tutored students with learning disabilities and taught every elementary grade. Jane's second career was in the field of historic preservation, serving on the City of Oberlin's Design Review Committee and chairing the Oberlin Historic Preservation Commission for ten years. During her tenure as chair, she wrote an ordinance passed by City Council to protect the historic character of city landmarks, initiated a

plaque program for those landmarks, and educated the community about preservation through programs and publications. Jane also published two of her husband's works after his death in 2001, a collection of pieces about Oberlin history and a digital version of his popular course, The Social History of American Architecture. She was an active member of the First Church in Oberlin for many decades, serving on committees and in several of the congregation's ministries. When she moved to Kendal at Oberlin, she became active in that community. Jane loved being a mother and grandmother, reading and gathering with book groups, travel, walking, supporting charitable and progressive causes, and spending time with her family and friends.

Jane is survived by her daughters, Laurie (Rick) Sharpe, Barbara Blodgett, and Sally (Jim) Olson; grandchildren, Ricky, Jennifer, Sarah, and Amy and many loving nieces and nephews. Her daughters and one granddaughter have all become teachers, continuing the family tradition.

A public service of memorial will be held Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, at 2 p.m. at the First Church in Oberlin.

Contributions may be made in Jane's name to the Geoffrey T. Blodgett Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund, Oberlin College Office of Advancement, P.O. Box 72110, Cleveland OH 44192-0002.

Cowling Funeral Home, Oberlin, has been entrusted with arrangements.

MELVIN “FRANK” JONES, 77, of Elyria, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, at Cleveland Clinic Avon following complications from COVID. Hempel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

LINDA JENETTE FLEMING (nee Newbraugh), 71, of Lorain, passed away Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, at Mercy Regional Medical in Lorain, following a sudden illness.

Arrangements by Hempel Funeral Home.

ROBERT (BOB) J. LEWANDOWSKI SR. passed away Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, at the age of 81. Arrangements were entrusted by Hempel Funeral Home.

RUTH ANN BRACKLEY (nee Peck), 85, and a resident of Brownhelm Township, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, at Amherst Manor after a long illness, following a full and meaningful life. Arrangements by Hempel Funeral Home.

BRIAN FLEMING, a lifetime resident of Amherst, passed away Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021 after a brief illness.

Arrangements by Hempel Funeral Home.

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

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

Radio station WOBL will celebrate a half-century in operation on Christmas Eve. Starting at 6 a.m. Friday, past employees, listeners and partners will be sharing special messages and memories throughout the day.

At 4:41 p.m. WOBL will recreate the first ever broadcast from its founder, Harry Wilber, from 1971. Tune in for Christmas music and a walk down memory lane on 107.7 FM, 1320 AM or www.woblradio.com.

Christmas 5K and fun walk Begin your Christmas Eve celebration by jingling through downtown Amherst, spreading joy to the community in the inaugural Jingle All the Way 5K. The event is sponsored by Community Congregational United Church of Christ and Blessing House, and will start at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 24 at 379 South Main St., Amherst.

There will be an untimed 5K and a one-mile fun walk; register from 8-8:45 a.m. the day of the event. Online registration is open through 8 a.m. race day at www. tinyurl.com/JingleRace. The cost is $20 for adults for either race or $5 for children. Race packets will include a T-shirt, bib, route map and jingle bell to carry to fill the city with festive sound. After the race, enjoy hot cocoa or cider and Christmas cookies. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand for pictures.

All proceeds will go to Blessing House to make Christmas a little brighter for children in need. The faith-based, non-denominational facility offers shelter to families in crisis.

Put trees at the curb Curbside collection of live (not artificial) holiday trees in Oberlin will begin after Christmas and continue through February.

Do not cut up, bundle or place trees in plastic bags. Be sure to remove all decorations before placing trees out for collection.

New Russia meetings A special year-end meeting of the New Russia Township trustees will be held at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 31 at the township offices, 46300 Butternut Ridge Rd. An organizational meeting for 2022 will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 1 at the same location.

Both meetings are open to the public.

New electives next fall at FHS A long list of new classes will be added to the course book for the 2022-2023 school year at the new Firelands High School. Principal Catherine Keener told the Board of Education on Dec. 13 that course selection will begin in January.

Brand new electives will include innovation and entrepreneurship, 3-D design, robotics, introduction to business administration, broadcasting and television journalism, economics, geography and three courses in the agriculture department. FHS will also change the way it does physical education. A traditional gym class will be offered, but students will also be able to choose a “lifetime recreation” option to play games such as cornhole or four square.

LETTERS Letters to the editor should be: • Written to the editor. We do not allow open letters or those to specific residents, politicians, or groups.

• Concise. There is a limit of 350 words on letters.

• Polite. Letters that use crude language or show poor taste will be rejected.

• Opinions. We reserve space for letters that share a unique perspective. Press releases are not letters and will be considered for publication in other parts of the paper.

• Free of advertising, product or service endorsements or complaints, poetry, language that could raise legal problems, or claims that are measurably false.

• Signed. Include your name, address, and daytime telephone number for our records. Up to two signatures.

• The deadline to submit letters is 10 a.m. each Tuesday. They are used on a space-available basis. We reserve the right to edit any submission for length, grammar, spelling, and clarity, or to reject any submission.

SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD ON PAGE B2

SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE B2

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY GUIDE LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY GUIDE (USPS 673-960) is published every Thursday, 52 weeks per year by Lorain County Printing & Publishing Company, 225 East Ave., Elyria OH 44035.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $40 for 52 weeks in Lorain County; $45 in Erie, Huron, Ashland, Medina, and Cuyahoga counties; $50 in all other Ohio counties; $55 outside Ohio.

Periodical postage paid at Wellington OH.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Lorain County Community Guide, PO Box 4010, Elyria OH 44036.

Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021

Lorain County Community Guide

Page A3

NATIONAL GUARD FROM A1 Guard members will help hospitals with roles including transport within the facility, food and housekeeping.

Additionally, DeWine said the state is working on an arrangement with a medical staffing agency to help bring in qualified nurses and other medical personnel from out of state.

DeWine said more information about the agency

would be provided when the arrangement is finalized. It is an Ohio company the state has worked with before, he said.

DeWine said almost all hospitals in Ohio’s “Zone 1,” which includes Lorain County and the majority of northern Ohio, have stopped performing elective surgeries and hospitals elsewhere in the state may not be far behind.

“This, I think, demonstrates the gravity of the situation that we are in,” he said.

Friday’s news conference was broadcast from the governor’s residence.

DeWine and Ohio first lady Fran DeWine were exposed to someone who later tested positive for the coronavirus, but both had multiple negative tests in the following days.

COOKIES

TIKTOK

FROM A1 prosecutors for consideration.

Pelko made it a point to note that no threats were made directly to Northwood or any other Elyria school building. There were extra police patrols around schools in Elyria on Friday.

Over the weekend, the Elyria Schools announced an Elyria student accused of threatening to take a gun to Eastern Heights Middle School had been charged with a felony count inducing panic.

“The seriousness of school safety cannot be overstated,” district spokesperson Amy Higgins wrote in a letter to parents.

“We must all remain actively involved in monitoring social media, home activity, school messaging, text messages and everyday conversation for any threats or indications of violence, use of weapons or other activity that poses a threat to student or staff safety.”

A student at Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst was suspended after an inappropriate Instagram post was found.

Principal Joe Tellier said it was a collage — it didn’t use any photos of local students — and depicted a shooting playing out at school.

The image was created by a freshman girl, he said. Police did not charge the student.

“It wasn’t a threat. It was just a poor choice to create a picture referencing what we all know today meant,” Tellier said.

Like other schools across the county, Steele had an increased police presence Friday.

Tellier said students’ nerves were raw throughout the day. Some stepped forward “to say they heard things,” giving voice to rumors and fears about potential violence.

After dealing with vandalism resulting from a TikTok challenge early in the fall semester, he wasn’t about to take any chances. Steele dealt with a rash of thefts that targeted soap dispensers and other fixtures in restrooms and cafeterias.

The next month, Tellier heard the new TikTok challenge was to slap a staff member. “Luckily, nothing came out of that,” he said.

The Comets’ boys varsity basketball game Friday evening was canceled, but that decision had nothing to do with threats, Tellier emphasized — the culprit was a COVID-19 outbreak affecting the opposing Berea-Midpark team.

TikTok is a video-based social media app that’s gained in popularity since its worldwide release in 2017, especially gaining traction during pandemic lockdowns.

The platform was awash last Thursday night and Friday morning with usermade pleas not to go to school due to threats across the entire country.

“Beware: Don’t go to school tomorrow,” said one. “Threats are being made to all schools nationwide, bomb and shooting threats. Stay safe … if you need to skip school ‘cause your parents are being dumb and making you go, then do so.”

Another said “some awful people have labeled tomorrow ‘National Shoot Up Your School Day’ and are encouraging people to commit violence at their own schools. Please be safe.”

Some districts and private schools responded by canceling classes. St. Peter School in Lorain was among them.

Vermilion Schools had an increased police presence around the school buildings after becoming aware of the TikTok posts, but no other problems were reported.

The Vermilion Police Department became aware of the trend the prior night and made certain there was “high visibility” police presence with cruisers sitting in parking lots at the three district schools, Officer Nick Forrider said. He said there were no reports of unusual activity Friday, which was students' last day before the winter break.

Police doubled their patrols at the Wellington Schools and had no incidents, district Superintendent Ed Weber said.

That was a relief, he said, because the district had already dealt with a false

FROM A1 With uncertainty in the air due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he didn’t rush to advertise the JVS annual cookie sale this fall.

Bakery students in years past have made as many as 37,000 cookies in the lead-up to Christmas.

Graham Deshuk, a junior from Firelands, said filling boxes with the right assortment of 24 cookies was oddly relaxing. “It’s good to see all the work pay off,” and comforting to be part of a long-standing tradition at the Route 58 vocational school.

The holiday cookie project starts around Thanksgiving each year with lessons, and teens fire up the ovens at the beginning of December, said Moore.

The first cookies to come off the sheets are frozen and stored.

Even with the “small” 21,000-cookie year, it takes weeks to fill orders from the public.

This year’s work filled 90 large and 90 small orders, Moore said.

For Gould, it’s training

rumor of a potential threat earlier in the week. Wellington police investigated, but found it had no teeth.

“We responded to it fairly aggressively,” Weber said. “Even if it’s a false rumor, it raises everyone’s anxiety.”

In his eyes, the widespread fears of school threats Friday were not a TikTok problem, but “a 21st century problem.”

Weber said that as a kid, he made prank phone calls that didn’t seem dangerous. The technology has changed in the decades since, and the modern “crank call” via social media can be far more disruptive.

“The role of parents now is how do you raise a 21st century young person who is so connected with technology?”

Weber said.

Concerns about potential threats also reached North Ridgeville officials. Mayor Kevin Corcoran said he asked Police Chief Michael Freeman to provide additional police presence at the schools this morning, which he did.

Midview Schools did not have any issues Friday relating to the potential threats, Superintendent Bruce Willingham said.

He said he tried not to incite any additional panic during an already difficult time for schools and that he had conversations with colleagues, sending them his well wishes.

"Anytime something like that happens, we get word very quickly and do our best to work with local law enforcement," he said, adding that the Lorain County Sheriff's Office has been "great" in assisting the schools at such times.

Clearview, Columbia, Firelands and Specials & Oberlin schools and the Lorain County Bundles Daily!

Joint Vocational School reported no isSee our website sues. Messages seeking comment were for details left for officials in the Avon and Keystone schools.

Lorain schools were already on winter break.

Avon Lake High School Principal Michael May said his school has had zero disciplinary issues this fall related to the social media platform.

“I’m very proud of the way our students have handled these TikTok challenges,” he said.

Lorain County 911 shared a screenshot of its dispatch system late Friday morning, showing where extra police units were patrolling schools. According to 911, there was an extra law enforcement presence at every school in the county.

“The police departments in Lorain County take these threats very seriously and will be patrolling all day to keep your children safe,” it said.

TikTok’s communications channel said the company was working with law enforcement to look into warnings of potential violence.

It insisted it had not found of any such threats originating or spreading via TikTok. The Ohio School Safety Center, established in 2019 by Gov. Mike DeWine, sent out a situational awareness alert.

It acknowledged that law enforcement and school administrators had become aware of increased social media chatter threatening violence. The center said many of the posts shared similar wording or were duplicate posts that didn’t THE VOICE OF relate to verified threats.

FROM OUR FARM “With any threat, reporting the inforTO YOUR TABLE mation to proper authorities will ensure the information gets to someone who can investigate it,” the OSSC said. “Sharing the post on social media does not guarantee it will be received by authorities and will likely increase anxiety.”

The Ohio School Tip Line can be reached at (844) 723-3764.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it was aware of reporting that suggested possible threats to schools. The agency said it did not have any information indicating any specific, credible threats, but recommended staying alert.

FARM TO TABLE

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Every plate produced by JVS bakery students is identical, with a place for each kind of cookie.

Pastry chef instructor Chris Moore shows a board used to track completion of 24 cookie varieties. she hopes to parlay into a career. She started experimenting with recipes at age 10 and now aspires to one day own a bakery.

“I don’t even see it as a job, so much,” she said — when she hits the kitchen, her stress melts away.

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Page A4

Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021

Lorain County Community Guide

VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON

Howk named Employee of the Year JASON HAWK EDITOR

WELLINGTON — Brian Howk was surprised Friday to be named the 2021 Wellington Employee of the Year.

Shock briefly painted the Electric Department line foreman’s face as Mayor Hans Schneider called out Howk’s name.

“That caught me off guard,” he said later, after being presented with an engraved crystal award at the village’s annual Christmas party.

Howk has served the village for 34 years — he actually retired in July and returned to work the next day. While his job primarily involves working with

electrical lines, he also helps the sewer, water and public works departments solve problems.

“I like the challenges,” he said. “It’s not like every day is the same thing out there.”

Schneider praised the hard work of all the men and women who make Wellington run.

There are hitches from time to time, and not every resident is always happy, the mayor said — that’s unavoidable for any community — but without a doubt every employee gives their all.

“I think it’s been another good year for the village, and everything with that has to do with the workers of the village,” he said.

Schneider used the time

to introduce new Village Manager Jonathan Greever, who had been on the job five days.

He said Greever, who served as administrator for the city of Shrewsbury, Missouri, the past 12 years, is “the perfect successor” to his predecessor, Steve Dupee.

“It’s clear you guys have crushed this for decades, here,” Greever told village workers who filled the Public Works Department for a holiday party lunch.

He also thanked Mark Rosemark, who after a long career in Wellington served as interim village manager in the past two months.

“You really have made it feel like the smoothest Jason Hawk | Wellington Enterprise transition for me,” Greever Mayor Hans Schneider presents Brian Howk with the 2021 Wellington Emtold Rosemark. ployee of the Year Award at the village’s Christmas party Friday.

Negotiations OK’d for sale of South Amherst school JASON HAWK EDITOR

SOUTH AMHERST — An 11th-hour vote to negotiate the sale of South Amherst Middle School has put the building’s demolition on hold.

The Firelands Board of Education is sitting on $787,000 in state money earmarked to tear down the building on Route 113.

The last-ever group of students is completing the year there.

With completion of the new $23 million Firelands High School, all grade levels will be consolidated next fall on the district’s Vermilion Road campus, and South Amherst Middle School will stand vacant for the first time in 111 years.

The school board gave the go-ahead last week for Superintendent Mike Von Gunten to try to hammer out a purchase agreement with Industrial Realty Group. The California-based company has been trying since 2008 to make headway on an upscale housing development at the former Cleveland Quarries.

Justin Lichter, vice president at IRG, made a pitch to the school board earlier in December.

“He sees the middle school as a community center, an aspect of his overall development,” said Firelands Superintendent Mike Von Gunten. “While it has many, man needs, he feels the character of the building lends itself to how he envisions his potential development moving forward.”

Lichter’s primary interest lies not with the school itself, but in its wastewater treatment plant, according to South Amherst Mayor David Leshinski.

“He has 1,000 acres sitting there, and it’s unproductive,” Leshinski said.

South Amherst has no sewers — its residents use septic systems — and financing sewers to the old sandstone quarry land

Bruce Bishop | Amherst News-Times

This is the last year for students at the old South Amherst Middle School. Now negotiations are underway to sell the building to Industrial Realty Group. has been a thorn in IRG’s side for years.

The village wants to see sewers installed, but the cost is titanic. Talks are underway with Lorain County officials about the possibility of using American Rescue Plan funds to run sewers south from Lorain, most likely along Baumhart Road.

Whether the county commissioners will agree to that plan is a big question. Leshinski said it would be a game-changer for South Amherst, which is aging and shrinking in population, and in tax revenue.

“Sewers could be a catalyst for economic development,” he said.

Lichter asked Village Council in August to buy South Amherst Middle School for $1 — a deal that Firelands offered with a tight deadline. Fearing legal liabilities and the cost of abating asbestos and other conditions,

village officials declined.

“I don’t disagree with it. It is a lot of liability,” Lichter told Council members at the time.

“There would be a lot of money that would need to be sunk into the property to make use of it.”

His father, IRG President Stuart Lichter, recently paid a visit to South Amherst Council. He did not make any presentations or requests, but rubbed elbows with Council members, Leshinski said.

A group calling itself the Old Sandstone Schoolhouse Project is rankled by IRG’s involvement.

Led largely by alumni, it has called for “the right kind” of real estate developer to be chosen to repurpose South Amherst Middle School with historic preservation in mind.

A written proposal by the group made it clear IRG doesn’t fit that bill: “We believe IRG

has a checkered track record in historical preservation and protecting the values of the community,” it said.

Old Sandstone Schoolhouse Project spokesman James Slack has reached out to state Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, asking him to request a review by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office into Firelands’ dealings with IRG. “It appears there may have been multiple private meetings and discussions between the (school district) and IRG,” he wrote in an email to Miller.

“Further, it appears these meetings and discussions might have taken place prior to any formal negotiation. Further still, it appears these meetings and discussions have occurred prior to any public announcement and the issuance of a written advertisement concerning the sale of the South Amherst schoolhouse. We see potential conflict of inter-

est.”

Miller said his office is trying to “get all sides of the issue” to determine what can be done to reach an acceptable resolution by all parties.

Slack and company have made it clear they have no interest in buying the middle school themselves. Instead, they have called for a competitive bidding process.

Firelands Treasurer Keri Angney said state law does not require a public auction, since the property’s valuation is too low.

According to Von Gunten, everyone had equal opportunity to approach the board about the school’s future.

He did not share Slack’s reservations about IRG. Von Gunten said it was clear the company has the financial ability to care for the building in the long-term if an agreement is reached.

“That really was the concern of the board — that if the building is to remain standing, once we leave it, it needs to be wellcared for,” he said.

Leshinski also defended IRG’s “proven track record.”

He pointed to the company’s extensive list of redevelopment projects. It includes buying and reviving the former Ford plant on Baumhart Road in Lorain, developing the Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village resort in Canton and transforming the former B.F. Goodrich rubber plant in Akron into Canal Place, an office and commercial park.

Doing the same for South Amherst Middle School would be a win-win scenario for Firelands and the village, Leshinski said.

“The consensus is that people want the building to remain,” he said. “It would be nice if it could remain a school, but I don’t think that’s going to be possible.”

Von Gunten said he hopes to end negotiations with IRG by the end of 2022.

Oberlin schools weighs possible future construction JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — The first step needed for another major expansion of its North Pleasant Street campus was taken last week by the Oberlin Board of Education.

The district just opened its $17.8 million Oberlin Elementary School this fall, an effort that took more than a decade to realize.

But the board has long made it clear the prekindergarten through fifth grade school is just phase one of a much grander project to replace its ag-

ing buildings.

A resolution passed Tuesday, Dec. 14 officially notifies the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission that the Board of Education will start planning for another round of construction.

What shape that may take has not been decided. While the idea of a new Oberlin High School has been simmering on the backburner for years, Superintendent David Hall said the district could decided on a building for grades 6-8, 6-9 or 6-12.

That doesn’t mean the city’s voters should expect a bond issue right

away. Hall said the resolution doesn’t commit the Oberlin City Schools to more construction, or even a timeline, but leaves options open.

“This just tells them, hey, do not forget about us. We’re still in the mix, and still thinking about it,” he said.

Dan DeNicola, who has served as a project consultant for construction of Oberlin Elementary, said the OFCC offers a number of funding paths the board could tap into.

The major difference between them, he said, is whether Oberlin wants to apply for state funding based on the city’s

poverty rate or pay for construction up front and get reimbursed down the road when OFCC cash becomes available.

The first route would mean waiting to move to the top of a need-based list. School board member Ken Stanley said there are a lot of other districts in line ahead of Oberlin, and “it could be 20 years” before Oberlin’s ticket comes up.

Going the latter route, which appears most likely for Oberlin, would result in the state commission eventually repaying Oberlin for 21 percent of what it believes to be the appropriate cost

of a project, according to DeNicola.

That doesn’t necessarily mean 21 percent of the total bill. The agency uses pre-set cost tables to calculate what its willing to pay, and in the past they’ve proven too low, DeNicola said.

And the OFCC doesn’t pay for “frills” either — when building Oberlin Elementary, the Board of Education added upgrades including a larger gym, which the state doesn’t chip in toward.

But Oberlin does have some advantages. Chief among them are property taxes from the NEXUS gas pipeline, which —

though much lower than what was promised years ago — are still expected to be substantial. NEXUS’ owners have several times now appealed their tax responsibility, asking the state to lower it considerably.

Still, DeNicola said that revenue helps put the Oberlin City Schools in a good position.

“You have a little bit of funding, you have the NEXUS money, which a lot of districts don’t have. And you know if you partner with the state you’re going to get that percentage they owe you at some point in time,” he said.

Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021

Lorain County Community Guide

Page A5

Hung denies contract-steering $70 million allegations by fellow commissioner budget gets five-city radio project and repeaters on the county cell tower.

In response, Moore said in a phone interview with The Chronicle-Telegram that Hung’s comments failed to address any of his concerns and was “revisionist history” in an attempt to change the narrative. He declined to comment on specific claims made in her statement.

Moore added the purpose of his Dec. 8 statement was to expose a corrupt contract procurement process and get it on the record for the public to decide, noting that he "exposed her as a cheater, liar and ethically challenged person.''

“I consider her more of a revisionist of history. She's not one that actually follows it. So to compare her speech to mine is really like apples and oranges. She's talking about something that has nothing to do with what I exposed last week, Moore said.

The allegations Assistant Lorain County Prosecutor Dan Petticord, the board's legal counsel, said last week his office had not examined any of the alleged evidence Moore provided prior to the Dec. 8 board meeting. He also would not comment on any advice he gave to the commissioners.

As chief of the prosecutor's office's Civil Division, he said he or other prosecutors in his office review every contract put before the board.

Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson said his office has received Moore's documents.

"It's premature to call it an investigation," Tomlinson told The Chronicle. "We are reviewing documents provided by Commissioner Moore."

Attorney Brian Bardwell, who is representing former Lorain County 911 Director Harry Williamson, recently told The Chronicle that Moore is "tossing around a lot of allegations" that the commissioner knows are false "and we have documents proving they're false.''

"Moore is making a lobbying and corruption argument about the radio systems and our comment is simply that that's completely not true. Harry Williamson had no contact or contract or financial relationship with CCI," Bardwell said.

Asked if Williamson had been having an extramarital affair with Hung while employed with the county, Bardwell responded: "I'm not going to comment on my client's sex life."

Bardwell called it "creepy" if Moore was pulling up surveillance video "looking for people kissing."

"Who he (Williamson) was in a relationship with was not anything to do with what Commissioner Moore says it is," Bardwell said.

What Williamson was doing, his attorney said, was the job that "Commissioner Moore hired him to do."

OK for 2022 KEVIN MARTIN THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

ELYRIA — The Lorain County commissioners say they are on solid financial footing for 2022, approving the general fund and special revenue budgets last Wednesday.

The general fund budget of $70,682,474 is a 2.74 percent increase from 2021 and board members said it represents a responsible budget.

Commissioner Dave Moore reassured the community that despite conservative revenue estimates of around $58 million for 2022, the numbers will balance out, with revenue being underestimated in 2021.

Originally projected to get $61 million in revenue in the previous fiscal year, Moore noted the county actually received about $71 million.

“With all the money that went out for the COVID payments, everybody's spending was up, everything was up. We actually received $10 million more than what was projected. Fortunately what we're voting on today is conservative numbers.''

The $58 million projection comes after a 0.25 percent reduction in the county’s sales tax, but Moore noted the county will be able to use American Rescue Plan funding to ensure the general fund is healthy over the next couple of years.

The board voted to use $1,449,753.59 of ARP funds toward the general fund, with Moore expecting the board to make similar moves in early January to address any shortfalls.

Commissioner Matt Lundy reiterated the county’s strong financial position.

“The economy in Lorain County is strong. Obviously there’s concerns about inflation but consumers are definitely spending, there’s a lot of real estate transactions taking place as well, too. Folks are definitely getting back to the casinos, casino revenue is doing well,” Lundy said.

Looking at the big picture, Lundy pointed to the $21 million budget carryover from 2020 into 2021 and says the new administration has an even stronger carryover with federal assistance from the CARES Act and ARP dollars doing the job in replacing some of the lost revenue due to the pandemic.

“I think our actions that we're taking here today are responsible. Sometimes people use the term fuzzy numbers. Sometimes I think the numbers get a little fuzzy when we get into political discussions. But the reality is that we've always been into a balanced budget and we will have a balanced budget and think we’ve been doing a good job of working together to be fiscally responsible here,” Lundy added. “You're going to see an increase here of just under 3 percent in our budget compared to the previous year.”

Lundy expressed confidence that, as in 2021, the budget will be balanced and added what’s most important to him is making sure the county can get critical services such as the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office properly funded.

Fatality review of 10 crashes

The Lorain County Traffic Fatality Review Committee met Dec. 1 to reviewed 10 fatal traffic crashes that killed 14 individuals between Aug. 21 and Oct. 5.

The following factors contributed to the deadly crashes, some of which included multiple factors: • Alcohol was involved in three crashes.

• Drugs were involved in two crashes.

• A medical issue contributed to one crash.

• Motorcycles were involved in three crashes. A helmet was worn by one motorcyclist at the time of the crash.

• Five crashes involved individuals who were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

• Five victims were over the age of 55.

To make roads safer as the holidays approach, the committee reminds Lorain County residents to be careful on the roads. “When we choose to not drink and drive, we choose to put others first,” said Lorain County Health Commissioner David Covell.

If you choose to drink alcohol outside your home, keep everyone on Lorain County roads safe. Ask someone to be your designated driver or order a ride-sharing service. Drive focused, always wear a seat belt, wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle, drive sober and look out for bicyclists and pedestrians on the roads.

“With regards to the allegations made by Dave on Dec. 8, none of it is accurate. I will be happy to cooperate with all investigations because there is no truth to Dave’s allegations. Once the investigation is complete there will be a time and place to discuss this, however, it is my job as an elected official to work with our leadership within the county.”

Lorain County Commissioner Michelle Hung

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PUBLICATION OF LEGISLATION The following is a summary of legislation adopted by Lorain City Council on December 6, 2021. 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.

Ordinance 206-21* Auth the Mayor to accept the material terms of the One Ohio Subdivision settlement pursuant to the One Ohio MOU consistent to the 7/21/21 Opioid Settlement agrmt. 207-21 Auth the S/S Director to advertise for bids and enter agreements for the purchase of supplies for use by the Lorain Utilities Dept. 208-21* Amending Cod. Ord Section 1537.06 Registration of Rental Dwelling Unit

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L.C.C.G. 12/16-23/21 20694791

of Ord 92-21 passed 6/7/21.

209-21* Auth an inter-local agrmt between Lorain, Elyria & Lorain County for funding of the Byrne Justice grant award for 2021. 210-21 Auth the S/S Director to enter into MOU w/ FOP #3 for provisions in Article 31 (Support Service Captain) 211-21* Ratifying the MOU between Lorain and FOP Ohio Labor Council, Inc. for 1/1/20 through 12/31/20 and 1/1/21 through 12/31/21. 21221 Auth S/S Director to enter into MOU w/ FOP Ohio Labor Council, Inc. for 1/1/22 through 12/31/22. 213-21* Creating a TIF declaring the improvement of certain property to be a public purpose, exempt from taxation, etc. & est Sandy Springs Public Improvement TIF fund. 214-21* Amending Section 557.01(a) of the Codified Ordinances- Notice to cut weeds or high grass. 215-21* Amending Ord. 112-21, auth the City to enter into a CRA Tax Abatement agreement w/ RCK Investments LLC. 21621* Appropriation. 217-21* Auth the City to enter into a CRA Tax Abatement agreement w/ Nuestro Tempo. (*Denotes legislation was passed as an emergency.)

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS Please be advised that Lorain City Council will host public hearings on Monday, January 24, 2022 in the Lorain City Council Chamber at 200 West Erie Ave., Lorain, Ohio.

The hearings will commence at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the following items: ZCA-17-2021 - An application to rezone the Colorado Industrial Park PPN#: 03-000-561290-02, 03-000-571-120-02 &

additional information. NANCY GREER, CMC

or

L.C.C.G. 12/23-30/21 20694910

03-000-581-020-22 from I-1 to B-2. The City of Lorain is the applicant.

ZCA 18-2021- An application to rezone 6301 West Erie Avenue, the Waste Water Treatment Plant, from R-3, B2 & R-1B to I-1. PPN#: 02-03-002103-001, 02-03-004-000-037 & 02-03-004-000-044. The City of Lorain is the applicant.

ZCA 19-2021- An application to rezone Lorain Country Club PPN# 02-03-001-104-020 from R-3A to B-2 and OS to MU, PPN# 02-03-001-104019 from R-3A and OS to MU and PPN# 02-03-005-101-063 from B-2 to MU. The City of Lorain is the applicant.

ZCA 20-2021- An application to rezone the SE Corner of Broadway and E. 22nd Street from B-2 to MU. PPN# 02-01003-169-001,-002, -003, -004, -005, -006, -013, -014, -015 and -016. The City of Lorain is the applicant.

The Lorain City Planning Commission met on December 8, 2021 and recommend approval of the items above to Lorain City Council. Copies of all documentation related to this proposal will be on file for public inspection in the Office of the Clerk of Council, 200 West Erie Avenue, Lorain, Ohio. Please contact Nancy_Greer@cityoflorain.org for

L

Bid blanks and specifications may be secured at www. cityoflorain.org or at the Law Department, 200 West Erie Avenue, Lorain, Ohio, 44052 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30PM Monday through Friday. Bidders are required to use the printed form which will be available upon application.

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.

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ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CITY OF LORAIN, OHIO PURCHASE OF DISTRIBUTION MATERIALS 2022 Sealed bids will be received by the Utilities Department of the City of Lorain, Ohio until: TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIVING BIDS: UNTIL - 10:00 AM EST, Friday, January 21, 2022, Utilities Department, 1106 First Street 44052.

TIME AND PLACE FOR OPENING BIDS: 10:15 AM EST, Friday, January 21, 2022, City of Lorain Council Chambers, Lorain City Hall 1st Floor.

Enter into contracts for the purchase of various materials used within the City of Lorain Water Distribution Department for repair and replacement of infrastructure. These materials include but are not limited to: repair clamps, curb stops, corporation stops, quarter bend couplings, fire hydrants, hydrant extension kits, service saddles, nuts and bolts, etc.

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.

•

LEGALS

Ohio

•

ELYRIA — The ongoing battle between Lorain County Commissioners Michelle Hung and Dave Moore continued last week, with Hung strongly denying Moore’s accusations of contract-steering and a “pressure play” over Lorain County’s radio system upgrades.

Hung firmly stated Moore’s comments in a Dec. 8 meeting were inaccurate and pledged to cooperate with any and all investigations into the matter while in the meantime continuing to serve Lorain County residents.

On Dec. 8, Moore, in a lengthy address, made numerous claims against Hung alleging she and former Lorain County 911 Director Harry Williamson attempted to steer a $6.5 million contract with Cleveland Communications Inc. to the county, essentially acting as lobbyists for the company.

"This is about county tax dollars being misspent. This is about a breach of public trust. This is about a commissioner acting as an advocate for a vendor to secure contracts," Moore said.

Moore alleged that Hung and Williamson "acted as lobbyists for Cleveland Communications Inc.," a Parma-based vendor for the L3 Harris radio system. Moore alleged that along with CCI representatives, Hung and Williamson attended various city council meetings this year "in support of this out-of-town company," and that Hung personally called city council members in unnamed communities "lobbying for votes to swing contract dollars to CCI." In a prepared statement released Dec. 15, Hung said all of Moore’s comments were untrue.

“With regards to the allegations made by Dave on Dec. 8, none of it is accurate. I will be happy to cooperate with all investigations because there is no truth to Dave’s allegations.

Once the investigation is complete there will be a time and place to discuss this, however, it is my job as an elected official to work with our leadership within the county,” Hung said.

She instead pointed the finger at Moore, accusing him of holding up progress on a $500,000 contract with Locution Services Inc., a fire station alerting system that the prior commissioners approved in May 2020.

In addition, she said he was guilty of “pushing through” a contract for the MARCS system to be placed on the county’s Burns Road radio tower in Elyria.

“The county’s fire departments and safety leaders within our communities want to be able to get to you as

quickly as possible in your time of need. Our fire departments are seeking a radio system that will perform for them, not have dead zones and be reliable to get you the help that you desperately need when you call. I have been the commissioner working with them for the past year and while on the campaign trail I listened as they shared their needs to effectively serve our residents,” she said.

She recounted the Dec. 1 board meeting in which Moore described being “kind (of) harassed on it …” before approving the contract in her absence.

“I then found out after Dave signed the contract in my absence that the 911 director was not consulted by our county administrator to even sit with him for a run through. Jeff Young, our 911 director, has over 30 years in the business of safety in our county and he was not consulted,” Hung said.

“Based on Dave’s statement from last week, it is pretty clear that the harassing calls he received was one call, and it was from Dick Miller, of MARCS. As president of the board, I was the one receiving the calls from leaders in our police and fire departments and I was the one talking to the mayors and leadership in our township and villages on the timeline for this contract to be completed,” Hung added.

Hung asked Moore and Commissioner Matt Lundy to rescind the resolution installing the MARCS system.

“It is disappointing that Commissioner Moore felt it necessary to ram through this legislation while another member was still awaiting answers to possible corrections. The right thing to do here would be to rescind the resolution passed regarding this tower agreement, have the review completed and then bring it forward and put on the agenda as a normal item of business at the next regularly scheduled meeting,” she continued.

In her comments, Hung added Moore’s depiction of events seemed as if he was picking winners and losers in a race to get on the county’s cell phone tower.

“Unlike Dave, I had no opposition to both repeaters being placed on the tower. I would like to make perfectly clear for the public when the topic came up during our executive session discussions this past summer, I gave my input that both the Harris and the MARCS communications repeaters be permitted to lease space on the tower.”

Hung also recounted an April 28 meeting with Moore to discuss the progress of the Locution project and alleged he was confused and unable to separate Locution from other projects under consideration, including a

s

DAVE O’BRIEN and KEVIN MARTIN

LORAINCOUNTY.US/CLERK

Tom Orlando

Lorain County Clerk of Courts

Page A6

Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021

Lorain County Community Guide

Spirit of the holidays HO, HO, HO!

Jason Hawk | Wellington Enterprise

Santa Claus was excited to accept an invitation to welcome kids this past Wednesday and Saturday in the lobby of the U.S. Post Office in Wellington.

Education students and preschoolers team up to make holidays happier PITTSFIELD TWP. — Seniors studying early childhood education at the Lorain County JVS are giving back this holiday season.

They hosted a “shoebox Christmas” event, working with preschoolers to wrap and decorate the boxes.

“The preschoolers take the box home and with their parents help, they fill it with things that little girls and boys might need like toothbrushes and socks, and then some little toys and fun things too,” said Grayson Gifford, a junior from Firelands.

“It feels good to do this project because it is hard to hear that some kids won’t get presents for Christmas,” he said. “This project is our way of giving back to the community.”

This project is in partnership with the local Head Start program. According to Jennifer Bartlebaugh, Lorain County Community Action Agency Head Start education and disabilities specialist, the shoeboxes and gifts that the students put together were to be given to families at Head Start’s Wellington, Lagrange and Firelands sites, based on availability.

Quinn Mitcheff, 4, who attends preschool at the vocational school on Route 58, was excited to talk about her shoebox.

“I made a unicorn box for a very special friend I don’t know!” she said. “My box is pink, and I put unicorns on it and put unicorn stuff in it!”

Provided photos

▲ Angellena Robles, a junior, works with preschooler Jack Olsen on a shoebox for Head Start. ◄ Decorated shoeboxes filled with Christmas presents sit under the tree.

HELP ON WHEELS Provided photo

Oberlin City Schools Superintendent David Hall holds a pair of shoes that were recently donated along with more than $12,000 in other goods by Tammy Koleski, a Lorain County realtor with Howard Hanna.

Oberlin schools receive $12K in donated goods FOR THE NEWS-TRIBUNE

OBERLIN — Bags upon bags filled to the brim with cleats, sandals, tennis shoes, belts, hats and gloves were donated to the Oberlin school district on Monday, Nov. 22 by realtor Tammy Koleski.

She has been making her way around Lorain County the past year and a half donating what she can to schools.

Koleski said she has heard some gut-wrenching stories at times about young students who have been in need of a simple pair of new shoes or a belt. It’s those stories that fuel her and her sister’s passion to help.

“I have seen and heard a need for these items,” she said — and thanks to her savvy shopper sister Pam Richards, who can find items on sale, Koleski is able to buy in bulk.

“What one person can buy for $100, she seeks out and finds 10 or 20 times what the normal person can buy,” Koleski said. “I have donated more than 3,000 pairs of cleats thus far to local schools and Little League teams,” along with socks and personal care items for schools.

Oberlin City Schools Superintendent David Hall was shocked at the number of bags gifted by Koleski.

“There were so many bags, it filled our conference room inside the district’s central office conference room,” he said. “Her kindness was overflowing, and she did this out of the goodness of her heart. Our students are so thankful for the gift.”

A plan to distribute the items to students is being organized by Athletic Director John Carter and Director of Student and Family Support Jay Nimene.

Koleski, Richards and family friend Mary Felton plan to take their giving to the next level in 2022 with their nonprofit Wee Care Closet.

“The plan is to take this to the next level where we will accept monetary donations from community members, corporations and from a fundraising event so we can continue to provide for Lorain County students on a grander scale,” Koleski said. “We will strive to keep buying in volume so we can impact the lives of the most children possible.

To make a donation, call Koleski at (440) 935-4910.

Angelo Angel | Community Guide

Sgt. Gary Howell watches as Justus Morris examines the quality of a bike during the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office bike and toy donation giveaway Saturday at Elyria Bicycle Center. LCSO employees bought 50 bicycles and a large number of toys for families to pick up so that as many kids as possible can have a merry Christmas.

OLD-FASHIONED HOLIDAY Angelo Angel | Community Guide

A Civil War-era Christmas was celebrated Dec. 4-5 at Mill Hollow as the Lorain County Metro Parks put on their Old-Fashioned Holiday event. Members of the Brownhelm Historical Society portrayed residents from the 1860s, carrying out re-enactments around the campfire, singing carols and leading tours of the Bacon House Museum. ◄: A horse carriage embarks for family rides.

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OUR TOWNS

Lorain County Community Guide • Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021

Strong opposition to 100-unit housing park JASON HAWK EDITOR

AMHERST — Strong opposition is casting doubt on the future of a proposed manufactured home park on the city’s east side.

Residents of North Dewey Road turned out last week to object to a 100-unit gated community planned by developer Britt Lilley.

If approved by City Council —

which is heavily divided — the homes would sit at the end of the narrow street, against the south side of Route 2.

While the homes themselves would be sold at prices in the $150,000 to $200,000 range, Lilley’s company would own the lots and charge rent.

He has asked for Council to create a planned development district, which allows commercial and residential occupancy side-by-side.

“Many of us grew up on the street and have lived here our entire lives,” said Kathleen Gilles, one of several current residents who asked Council to reject Lilley’s request. “We have enjoyed the beautiful natural setting along Beaver Creek with an occasional spotting of eagles and other wildlife for many years.”

Neighbors complained that the houses Lilley wants to have built off-site and relocated there are essentially mobile homes, and

raised worries about increased traffic.

There isn’t enough room to widen Dewey, nor to add a turn lane on North Ridge Road, said resident James Dubois.

“That’s supposed to be the fix-all for the traffic problem,” he said. “I don’t see it happening, not without some major, major reconstruction” that would encroach on county-owned land nearby.

“You have 100 percent of your

Cawthon sworn in

residents right here, right now, saying we want you to vote no on this,” said Cythia McGuire, whose mother lives on North Dewey Road.

Some Council members sided with residents, and put Lilley’s plans in their crosshairs.

“I always have a big concern when there is one either person or company owning a lot of something and renting it out to OPPOSITION PAGE B3

COLLEGE PRIMER

Photos by Jason Hawk | Oberlin News-Tribune

Trajen Chambers and Aaron Hopkins talk to Oberlin High School seniors about what to realistically expect when transitioning to college.

Oberlin alumni prepare seniors for life after HS Photos by Jason Hawk | Amherst News-Times

Mark Cawthon is sworn in Wednesday, Dec. 15 as Amherst's new chief of police in a ceremony at Nordson Depot. Mayor Mark Costilow leads him in taking an oath.

New Amherst police chief means other promotions up the ranks Brian Bowers takes an oath to serve as Amherst’s newest police sergeant. He will leave his role as one of two dedicated resource officers at the Amherst Schools to help lead the road patrol.

JASON HAWK EDITOR

AMHERST — From an early age, Mark Cawthon wanted to be a police officer.

In 1992, fresh out of Elyria High School and the Lorain County JVS law enforcement program, he was hired as an Amherst dispatcher. After his shifts, he would go home, clean his uniform, and head back to the station to ride along with patrolmen into the early hours of the morning.

It didn’t take long for Cawthon to earn a badge. He was hired part-time in 1995 and shortly later made the jump to full-time.

Twenty-six years later, in front of a sea of retired role models, seasoned veterans and new recruits, Cawthon raised his right hand last Wednesday

night in a ceremony at Nordson Depot and swore to uphold Ohio’s laws as Amherst’s new chief of police.

The promotion was a chance to look back at those who shaped him — such as former Det. John Balog, with whom he spent hours in a

cruiser, learning the ropes.

“The officers that I rode with, they took a vested interest in me, my career development,” Cawthon said.

“They taught me a lot about police CHIEF PAGE B2

Raimondo won't return to Oberlin STAFF REPORT

OBERLIN — Former Oberlin College Dean of Students and Vice President Meredith Raimondo has taken on a similar role at a Georgia university, it was revealed last week.

Oglethorpe University's website lists Raimondo as the vice president for stuSteve Manheim | Chronicle dent affairs on its Atlanta, Georgia campus. Oberlin Meredith Raimondo, College's student newspavice president and dean of students at per, The Oberlin Review, Oberlin College, at first reported on Raimonverdicts in Gibson's do's job change on Friday.

Bakery v. Oberlin Raimondo is now part College at the Lorain of Oglethorpe UniverCounty Justice Center. sity President Nicholas

Ladany's senior leadership team, according to the university's website.

Raimondo announced in January that she would be leaving the Oberlin College administrative post at the end of the spring semester 2021. She then left that post six weeks early after a leave of absence, the college confirmed in April.

She was to continue teaching a course through the end of the spring semester and planned to begin a sabbatical on July 1, with initial plans to return to Oberlin College as a tenured faculty member for the 2022-2023 school year.

Raimondo will now not be returning to teach at Oberlin College, The Oberlin Review reported.

Raimondo was a dean for five of her 18 years at Oberlin College and also held various teaching and administrative roles.

She also was a defendant in the lawsuit won by the Gibson family and Gibson's Bakery against Oberlin College over actions during and after student protests against the bakery in November 2016, a judgment that has been appealed by both the college and the Gibsons.

The Ninth District Court of Appeals in Akron has yet to rule on the appeals.

JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Making the leap into college isn’t easy.

Alumni gave their best advice to Oberlin High School seniors last Thursday morning, mixing jokes with the sometimes tough realities of life after graduation.

“You’ve got to wake up on your own, make sure you eat in the morning and get to class on time,” said Trajen Chambers, who received his OHS diploma this past spring and now attends Bowling Green State University.

Learning to be independent, balancing studies with free time, making new friends, fighting procrastination — college comes with a sharp learning curve, the former Oberlin students admitted.

Selena Hayes, a 2021 graduate, said she is the first from her family to attend college. She traveled across the country to study at Northern Arizona University, and said settling into a completely new life and making all new friends was a challenge.

So was learning that, far from home, she was in complete control of her decisions: “Your life is in your hands,” Hayes said.

For 2020 graduate Sam Thompson, the biggest shock in leaving Lorain County was the academic expectations that greeted him at Kenyon College, where he is majoring in music and psychology.

“It’s a lot to transition into,” he said, describing the five to six hours each day he now spends steeped in his coursework.

Thompson said Oberlin’s International Baccalaureate program helped prepare him for the load. But his biggest influences we teachers Kurt Russell, 2022 Ohio Teacher of the Year, and music teacher Audrey Melzer, who urged him to pursue his dreams.

Aaron Hopkins, a 2020 graduate who now attends Glenville State College, also identified Russell as a COLLEGE PAGE B2

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Page B2

COLLEGE

FROM B1 guiding force.

“He made me the man I am today,” Hopkins said. “… He taught me way more things than I ever though he would teach me, and it just keeps me going. It keeps me going to this day.”

During the frank roundtable discussion, several of the Oberlin alumni said they’ve already had to re-examine their academic goals.

Chambers, for example, found math classes didn’t suit him and changed his major from business to fashion merchandising. “That’s more me,” he told seniors.

Hopkins said he began as a sports management major, thinking it was the easiest path for an athlete. He’s since found his calling to be a teacher, and is studying special education.

And Hayes went off to college with her major undecided. She is focusing now on political science, but said she debates that trajectory every day; she wants to go to law school, but may choose to an accounting major instead.

Bailey Wallace, a 2020 alumna, now attends BGSU and said relationships with professors are entirely different at the collegiate level. In high school, students tend to know teachers well, but that’s not necessarily the case in college.

There are ways to improve that dynamic, she said — Wallace recommends sitting at the front of the lecture hall instead of the back. That way, it’s much easier to stay engaged and professors will learn to recognize you, which she said pays off.

Alumni were also open about feelings of homesickness.

“It gets hard being so far away from (family), but after a while you

get over it and you meet new family,” Hopkins said. “It makes it easier to stay away.”

Nor do college students always mesh well with their new roommates.

Emerson Rosen-Jones, who graduated this spring and now attends Oberlin College, said he was lucky to be paired with a roomie from New York who has a great sense of humor. Hayes’ experience was different, and she highly recommends shopping for off-campus housing or at the very least a single room.

Tessa Newson, a 2021 graduate who now attends the University of North Carolina – Pembroke, said she shares a suite with four roommates.

She discovered two of them were old friends and are still inseparable — in her eyes, branching out and making new relationships is more important.

That led, at the urging of Principal Brent Betts, to an honest discussion of how to navigate the college party scene.

Caution was the watchword from alumni. Most talked about hitting parties, but also warned of their dangers.

Chambers, who said he “made a mistake early” and paid for it, told soon-to-graduate seniors to “do what you’re supposed to do and watch your surroundings” because there will always be someone watching.

By all means, hit up parties, but do so in pairs and never accept a drink from someone you don’t know, said Hayes.

“If you’re going to go to college, you’re most likely going to drink,” she said. “Be smart with it.”

Have someone to make sure you get home at the end of the night, don’t carry open containers around campus and understand there are evil people in the world, alumni said.

Oberlin HS alumni give college tips

• What should you take to college?

A computer, coffee machine, enough clothing, cleaning supplies and especially shower shoes should be on the checklist, according to Oberlin High School alumni.

• Find quiet places with little student traffic to study — the library, technology center or an out-of-the-way corner in an academic building. Studying in your dorm room often won’t be productive.

• Find a side hustle. Alumna Bailey Wallace said she started doing hair to put money in her pocket, and many other college students find ways to monetize their hobbies.

• Check out work-study options.

Alumnus Trajen Chambers said college “makes you feel broke, even if you have money,” and colleges usually offer jobs that pay toward tuition.

• Make sure you have $500 to $600 put aside for textbooks each semester, but don’t rush to buy every one on the class list.

Books can get “obnoxiously expensive for now reason,” said alumnus Sam Thompson. “It’s just kind of a money grab with these companies.”

Wallace said she saved about $800 this semester by refusing to buy books that would never be used; half the time, professors will print out everything you need.

Alumnus Aaron Hopkins said it’s also a good idea to team up with a study partner who already has the books.

• Be sure to apply for all the scholarships you can.

• Get to know your professors. “Work your magic” by emailing them and checking out open office hours, said Hopkins — in his experience, that will make professors more willing to help you if needed.

• Before scheduling classes, check out www.ratemyprofessors.com, said alumnus Selena Hayes. It will give insights into how difficult courses are and what materials you actually need to buy.

Alumni Selena Hayes and Sam Thompson give tips for how to navigate busy college schedules.

MOVIE QUOTES ACROSS 1. THESE 5. General Services Administration 8. Ex-Miami Heat player Dwyane 12. Pomegranate seed 13. Actor Chris O’____ 14. Pacific Crest Trail walker 15. Country dance formation 16. Wished undone 17. Popeye’s sweetie 18. *”Sudden Impact”: “Go ahead, ____ ____ ____” 20. Arm part 21. Gold unit 22. Parabola, e.g.

23. San Joaquin Valley city 26. Hangs out with 30. Unit of electrical resistance 31. *”Star Wars”: “Stay in ____ formation” 34. Mr. Jinx’s (of “Meet the Parents”) cry 35. Clay and silt deposit 37. Camel debris 38. Japanese sword fighting 39. Was aware of 40. Come into sight 42. *”Independence Day”: “I belong in the ____” 43. *”The Dark Knight”: “Why so ____?”

45. Common allergen 47. Cup alternative 48. Bird-made fertilizer 50. Sketch 52. *”On the Waterfront”: “I coulda been a ____” 56. El Dorado-related 57. Tabernacle Choir’s home state 58. Contributed 59. Star Wars attacker 60. Unidentified aircraft 61. Prep for publication 62. Ladder step 63. Tropical American cuckoo 64. Part to play DOWN 1. Precedes storm?

2. Soprano’s song, e.g.

3. *”Mean Girls”: “On Wednesdays, we wear ____” 4. Makes smooth, as in hair 5. Dutch cheese

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Lorain County Community Guide

6. *”Darkest Hour”: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and ____” 7. ____ Walker, American Girl doll 8. *”Field of Dreams”: “If you build it, he ____ _____” 9. Related 10. Deity, in Sanskrit 11. “... ____ he drove out of sight” 13. Fungus damage (2 words) 14. Meryl Streep’s “The ____” 19. Supernatural life force, pl.

22. Query 23. *”Who Framed Roger Rabbit”: “That’s all, ____!”

24. Côtes du ____, wine region 25. Mideast V.I.P. 26. Soreness 27. Kidney-related 28. *”Princess Bride”: “You killed

Mike Rosebeck, whose past with the Amherst Police Department includes multiple citations for heroism, is promoted to lieutenant.

CHIEF FROM B1

work, a lot about life. Those lessons I learned riding along in those cars were invaluable.”

He bucked for sergeant in 2001, and spent 14 years as the department’ K-9 officer. Running down a list of accolades, Mayor Mark Costilow highlighted how together with his German shepherd Bandit, Cawthon made one of the largest drug busts in Lorain County history — 20 kilograms of cocaine.

Retiring his dogs was difficult, Cawthon said. With that chapter closed, he was promoted to lieutenant in 2014.

“I’m still as committed as I was in 1995,” he said. “I’m still committed to serving this community, serving the members of the Amherst Police Department.”

Now Cawthon steps into the office vacated by former Chief Joseph Kucirek, who retired in October under less than ideal circumstances. His promotion brings to a close a long story of low morale, disgruntled officers who left for other departments and allegations of insubordination against Kucirek.

Several Amherst officers said they’ve seen a tremendous turn-around in morale since Kucirek left the police department — and attitudes have become increasingly positive since Cawthon was named his successor.

“I must say there’s an exciting road ahead for the Amherst Police Department,” Cawthon told his employees at the ceremony. “I feel that.”

His elevation to chief has resulted in a domino effect.

Sgt. Mike Rosebeck was promoted to fill Cawthon’s former job as lieutenant, and also was sworn in last Wednesday night.

A 1994 graduate of Firelands High School, he holds an associate degree in police science from Lorain County Community College.

A 21-year veteran with Amherst, Rosebeck was promoted to sergeant in 2014. Costilow recounted acts of heroism that have earned him medals of valor over the years — in 2002, Rosebeck rescued an infant from a house fire, and in 2016 he saved a 73-year-old woman from flames that had trapped her inside a burning apartment building.

Ptl. Brian Bowers was also promoted up the ladder. A 2003 graduate of Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst, he was a Plains City police officer for five years before being hired by Amherst in 2013.

For the past three years, he has been assigned to duty inside the Amherst Schools. Now he is being tasked to help lead the road patrol.

my father. Prepare ____ ____” 29. Bound by oath 32. “Lights out” tune 33. Nile reptile 36. *”Finding Nemo”: “Just keep ____” 38. Danish money 40. Two before Oct 41. Lack of enthusiasm 44. 1/16th of a pound 46. Not two years but three, e.g.

48. Coped (2 words) 49. Freshwater eel, in Japan 50. Comics character Little ____ 51. Fe 52. Caribbean island country 53. Carpenter’s joint 54. Like a fairytale stepmother?

55. Network of nerves 56. Acronym, abbr.

SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE A2

SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE A2

Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021

Lorain County Community Guide

Page B3

Churchill sentenced to 18 months in prison DAVE O’BRIEN THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

ELYRIA — A Henrietta Township man who secretly recorded adults and children using the bathroom at his state Route 511 home will spend up to 18 months in prison on felony child pornography charges, a Lorain County Common Pleas judge ruled last week.

Paul Churchill, 32, pleaded guilty to 12 felony and misdemeanor charges in September, charges related to the discovery of hidden cameras that recorded eight adults and four children inside a bathroom in his home.

Judge Chris Cook handed down the sentence after some legal wrangling over Churchill's guilty plea, whether he would withdraw it, the recommendation of the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office and the wishes of the victims.

In handing down a prison sentence instead of probation, which was a possibility, Cook told Churchill he "still can't get past the level of invasion of privacy your conduct had on these people."

"I don't know how this community wouldn't think some prison sentence is warranted," the judge said.

The charges included felony pandering obscenity involving a minor, illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, and felony and misdemeanor charges of voyeurism.

The original plea deal, worked out with the blessing of his victims, meant that Churchill would be placed on probation. While Assistant Prosecutor Paul Griffin had initially recommended that,

Bruce Bishop | Chronicle

Paul Churchill leaves the courtroom Wednesday, Dec. 15 after being sentenced on felony child pornography charges. on Wednesday he told the court that he was asking for prison time.

The victims' feelings factored into the original agreement, but Griffin said that "things changed."

"We're no longer in position to recommend probation and are recommending a prison sentence," Griffin told Cook.

That the prosecution did so meant that Churchill was entitled

to withdraw his guilty plea and take the case to trial, but defense attorney Michael Kinlin said his client is an "honorable man" who declined to withdraw his guilty plea and was willing to accept responsibility for his crimes.

Churchill is "truly a good person. He just did a bad thing," Kinlin said. He said his client didn't mean to capture images of children, "just one adult," and did not expect the victims to find out.

Kinlin told Cook his client has no criminal record and is at low risk to re-offend. Cook agreed, noting that Churchill had never had so much as a speeding ticket.

But Cook asked Churchill how he couldn't know he would capture children on the hidden cameras. Churchill replied that he never intended to record children, and had volunteered to work with children through his church.

"Children use the bathroom, too," Cook reminded Churchill.

"The fact I hurt kids in this is tearing me apart," Churchill replied, saying he never intended to sell or even see the images of children that he captured on the hidden camera. "I made a mistake. A very, very stupid mistake."

One of Churchill's adult victims also told the court that she did not feel prison time would be "beneficial" to Churchill, who she said needs therapy instead of incarceration.

"I do not see how prison will make him a better person," she told Cook. "I think it's wrong what he did. But for the crime he did commit, I don't think the prison sentence fits the crime.

Therapy will help him."

Cook ordered Churchill to report to the Lorain County Jail at noon Jan. 15 to begin serving his sentence.

He also labeled Churchill a Tier II sex offender, meaning he must register with his local sheriff's office every 180 days for 25 years upon being released from prison.

Cook also told Churchill that he would consider him for early release if he behaved himself while behind bars, though prosecutors and the victims in the case will have another chance to give their input to the court at that time, the judge said.

One of Churchill's victims, Cook said, wrote the court to say that they felt his conduct was "inexcusable and irreversible."

Another wrote that she is nervous to use any public restrooms because she still feels like she is being watched and recorded.

The Lorain County Sheriff's Office arrested Churchill in February 2020 after a 19-year-old female relative who was living with Churchill and his wife found a hidden camera in one of the couple's bathrooms.

Deputies searched the home and Churchill's phone, finding nude photos of the 19-year-old as well as other adults and juveniles. Another camera was found in an Erie County home that belonged to a friend of Churchill's.

An Erie County Sheriff's Office investigation resulted in Churchill pleading guilty to felony possession of criminal tools and misdemeanor voyeurism. He was sentenced to six months in the Erie County Jail plus five years probation in Erie County Common Pleas Court in May, and has since served that jail time and been released.

An Erie County sheriff's deputy who oversaw Churchill on a jail work crew during his six-month sentence also wrote a letter to Cook's court in support of Churchill, calling him "the best worker he's ever had," Kinlin told the court. Other supporters also submitted letters on Churchill's behalf.

Churchill's wife filed for divorce in August, Kinlin told the court. Churchill told Cook he "lost an amazing woman as a wife" as a result of his crimes, among other relationships and friendships.

"I can't take that pain back," he said. "I regret every step of what I did."

Oberlin College will create ‘Center on Race’ and inequality JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Invoking the names of George Floyd and other Black people killed by police, Oberlin College has announced it will create a Center for Race, Equity and Inclusion.

“This new center will ensure that Oberlin is consistently contributing to the national conversation on race,” said President Carmen Twillie Ambar in a Dec. 8 announcement. “The center will bring together academic opportunities, co-curricular experiences, career programming, mentorship, community build-

ing and civic engagement.”

She envisions student fellows engaging in funded research and internships that tackle the issues that contribute to racial inequality.

Scott Wargo, director of media relations for the college, clarified that there are no plans to construct a dedicated building for the center.

He said the announcement “is about adding structure and insight into efforts that are taking place on campus so we can fully see the impact of our diversity, equity and inclusion work and be even more strategic about those efforts.”

An executive director and

other staff will be chosen to bring together academic opportunities, co-curricular experiences, career programming, mentorship, community building and civic engagement, according to Wargo.

Center on Race staff will work closely with the college’s Multi-Cultural Resource Center, which already provides programs and services that “affirm and promote equity for students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and first-generation college students,” according to the its website.

Ambar said the decision to create the Center on Race was a response to the 2020 “national moment of

anguish fed by the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and so many others.

In response to those dire circumstances, we gathered our energies here at Oberlin and rededicated ourselves to a fulsome embrace of diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Protests against police violence were held last summer in Oberlin, Lorain, Amherst, Avon, Vermilion, Elyria and hundreds of other cities across the nation.

On Tappan Square, protesters including Oberlin students and professors held signs railing against the brutality that ended Floyd’s life. “That violence for Black bodies is in the DNA

of this nation,” said professor Charles Peterson. “It is constant as the sun and as regular as the times.”

In April 2021, during the trial of Floyd’s killer, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, candles covered the stone steps of the Tappan Square Memorial Arch.

Students once more gathered to mourn the loss of lives at the hands of police officers nationwide, including 20-year-old Daunte Wright, who was shot to death in Minneapolis a week prior. Former officer Kimberly Potter is currently being tried on charges of first- and second-degree manslaughter.

To evaluate the college’s own practices, Ambar formed the Presidential Initiative on Racial Equity and Diversity, a 21-member panel. It was tasked with reviewing the college’s racial climate and how it addresses related issues.

With student surveys in hand, Ambar anticipates a larger campus discussion about the initiative’s recommendations at the beginning of the spring term, she wrote.

The presidential initiative has generated $1.3 million in giving to Oberlin College. The Center on Race will be the focus of its next capital campaign, she said.

ect,” he said — that’s not an option he can support, he told Council.

Again and again, discussion circled around to why Lilley wanted to rent lots, whether the rates would be fair and whether they would be locked in.

Ward 2 Councilman Ed Cowger defended Lilley’s model, saying it wouldn’t be that much different from a homeowners association, which collects fees to care for common areas.

“A lot of times those HOAs go defunct,” but a management company would be accountable to the city if the park were to fall into disrepair, he argued.

Cowger said buyers, not council, should be allowed to choose whether Lilley’s lots are a good deal.

“I’m really confused why we’re getting into whether this is a business model that makes sense to people on City Council,” at-Large Phil Van Treuren said. “I really don’t understand why we’re going off into

that swamp.”

In most cases, Council shouldn’t have a say in what people do with their property, said Ward 1 Councilman Brian Dembinski — but this instance is different, since Lilley is asking for planned development district rezoning.

“It’s our responsibility to make sure that whatever we do is good for the residents now, for the city now, for the city and the residents for the next 20, 40, 100 years,” he said.

After more than an hour of debate, Council sent Lilley’s rezoning request

forward to a third reading by a 4-3 vote.

Opposing the measure were Dembinski, Wachholz and Heberling.

Final approval or rejection of the manufactured home park is expected appear on Council’s agenda on Monday, Dec. 27.

OPPOSITION FROM B1 residents or individuals,” said Ward 3 Councilman Jake Wachholz.

He said he opposed the development over concerns the homes would have low resale values.

Councilman at-Large Martin Heberling opposed the rental model altogether: “One of the great aspects of owning a home includes owning the actual land on which the home is placed,” he said. “This is one of several reasons I will not be supporting this endeavor.”

While there are singlefamily rental homes in Amherst, and a small number of apartment complexes, Amherst has banned creation of new mobile home parks since 1987.

Several questions from Councilman at-Large David Janik tried to get a sense for whether the manufactured units would be like mobile homes.

With Lilley in the audience backing him, Mayor Mark Costilow said the units would be on concrete

pads, but would not lie flat — instead, the manufactured homes would sit on three- or four-foot-tall concrete piers, leaving a space underneath. Skirting around the base would mask the gap.

The homes are designed to be moved if desired.

At a minimum of $150,000 per unit, plus the value of the land itself, the park would create close to $20 million in new valuation, Costilow estimated.

He was unable to say how much it would generate in property taxes to be split by the city, county, school system and other government agencies.

Amherst police had no concerns about the proposed development, according to the mayor. Fire and utilities officials did raise issues and worked with Lilley to address them.

Costilow said he met last week with residents of North Dewey Road to go over their objections.

“Their biggest concern, they want to end the proj-

85 SOUTH MAIN STREET OBERLIN OHIO 44074 DECEMBER 23, 2021 BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETING DATES ALL MEETINGS WILL TAKE PLACE AT 85 SOUTH MAIN STREET UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

DECEMBER 23, 2021 �����OFFICES CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF CHRISTMAS EVE DECEMBER 24, 2021 �����OFFICES CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF CHRISTMAS DAY DECEMBER 28, 2021 �����OPEN SPACE COMMISSION - 5:00 P�M� CANCELED DECEMBER 30, 2021 �����CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION - 5:00 P�M� PURPOSE: To certify the Fire Department Exam Results 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. 23, 2021

Lorain County Community Guide

SPORTS

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

Oberlin holds on to 1st place ERIK ANDREWS CORRESPONDENT

HENRIETTA TWP. — A rivalry was renewed Friday as Oberlin traveled a few miles west to take on neighboring Firelands.

Perched atop the Lorain County League standings, the Phoenix faced off with a Falcons team that finished second last year in conference play and sported only a single blemish on its LC8 record.

In the end, the visitors erased a double-digit deficit in the final four-plus minutes, winning 45-43 on a last second put-back by junior center Isaac Thompson.

Thompson led the Phoenix with 14 points on the night.

Oberlin's pressure defense generated two steals and a few early Falcons turnovers that resulted in quick Phoenix points. Combine that with the Phoenix's lone 3-pointer in the game, courtesy of senior Dayvion Witherspoon, and it pushed the visitors ahead 15-10 after one quarter.

Firelands settled into a more comfortable rhythm in the second stanza, finding sophomore Chris Radman open for a pair of long range jumpers to even the score and then take the lead, entering the break with the Falcons up 24-20. The Phoenix did themselves no favors, going 1-for-6 from the

Erik Andrews | Oberlin News-Tribune

Junior Isaac Thompson, who stands 6-foot-4, rises up over the traffic in the lane for a bucket to help the Phoenix seal a win against Firelands. charity stripe in the quarter en route to a rough 2-for-9 showing for the game.

Radman, who led Firelands with 12 points, followed up his second quarter performance with two more threes in the third quarter as the Falcons maintained their lead and both teams struggled to convert on numerous chances from down low under the basket.

The Falcons entered the fourth quarter up by five and added on, enlarging the lead

to double digits at 40-30.

Given Oberlin's shooting woes, it appeared as if that might be a sufficient spread to close out the final fourplus minutes of the contest.

But as the hosts spread their offense and looked to wind down the clock, the Phoenix took advantage, causing two turnovers and generating more steals.

Without the Falcons lifting a shot, the Phoenix pulled even at just under a minute to play.

Another turnover and another bucket, and Oberlin, with 13 unanswered points, suddenly held a 43-40 lead.

The Falcons didn't quit.

With 24 ticks on the clock, they worked the ball upcourt without mishap and found sophomore point guard Anthony Januzzi open for a clear look from distance. He buried it to square the game at 43-all.

With eight seconds on the clock, rather than call time out, the Phoenix pushed the ball up the court where senior Marius Harrell hit Ty Locklear cutting baseline. Locklear got up a contested shot, but was off the mark.

There to clean it up with a perfect follow was Thompson, who touched it home off the glass as time expired for the thrilling 45-43 final.

Phoenix head coach Kurt Russell was elated with the team's late game fortitude.

“I’m extremely proud of the team’s resilience against Firelands,” he said. “Due to a stomach bug that several team members caught mid-week, we were unable to practice Wednesday and Thursday. Even during the game, it was evident that not everyone was 100 percent. Nonetheless, the kids responded to the adversity and in the fourth quarter were able to stay focused and pull out the victory.”

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Photos by Joe Colon | Amherst News-Times

The Comets held Lorain in check for a 74-59 victory last week, topping the Titans in every quarter — even if that advantage was razor-thin in a couple of frames. Amherst entered the final period already up by double digits and didn’t let up, ending with a 23-16 punch. George Fayer led the Comets with 23 points. ABOVE: Jordan Koury hits a long shot. He finished with 16 points on the night.

Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021

Lorain County Community Guide

KEEPING IT INTERESTING

Page B5

WIN BY PIN

Photos by Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

Topsy-turvy play kept the Firelands-Wellington rivalry interesting last week, but it was an amazing 20-point night for the Falcons’ Abbey Schmitz that allowed the Falcons to walk off the court with a 43-38 win. The Dukes’ Brooke Lehmkuhl also broke the double-digit barrier for 13. Wellington leapt out to a 15-7 lead, only for Firelands to turn it around 13-5 in the next period. The second half was tight, and both teams were held to 6 in the final quarter. ABOVE: Firelands' Bella Simmons and Wellington's Savannah Gundert fight for the ball.

MORGAN ON FIRE, BUT PHOENIX BURN HOTTER

Photos by Russ Gifford | Oberlin News-Tribune

A thrilling fourth period delivered for the Phoenix, who topped Keystone 68-62 in a neighborly Lorain County League contest last week. The Wildcats went into the half down 32-24 and mounted a third-quarter comeback.

Oberlin pulled it out, relying on heavy hitters Ty Locklear, who had 17 points on the night, Isaac Thompson with 14 and Andre Yarber with 13.

Keystone’s Jake Morgan didn’t make it easy — the 6-foot senior dominated the outside, picking up 26 points with five from beyond the arc. Christian Pataky had 14 and Grant Hartley had 13 for the ‘Cats. ABOVE: Oberlin's Marius Harrell gets to the bassket under pressure from Keystone's Zach Shackleford.

VARSITY BRIEFS Hockey

• Gilmour Academy thought it had a chance after scoring at the top of the first period.

Amherst cured the Lancers of that illusion, answering back for a 6-1 win. Thomas Hall scored twice, Avery Winkelman played first period clean-up and Joey Kramer made the point with a hat trick. Gilmour outshot the Comets 21-19 — the difference was Amherst goalie River Ambroz.

Girls Bowling

• Amherst won the first-ever Comet Christmas Tournament, held at Rebman Recreation.

Makayla Velasquez led the way with with a combined 641 (225, 193, 223), and Allison Taylor was on her heels with a 631 series (178, 198, 255).

Other Comets bowlers: Hannah Aschenbach, 572 (181, 234, 157); Sabrina Stawicki, 517 (162, 168, 187); Melissa Nunez, 278 (125, 155); Amanda McElheny, 154.

Boys Bowling

• The Comets suffered their first loss of the year, falling 2,309-2,141 to Avon Lake.

Nathan Palos was Amherst’s high-scorer with a 387 series (165, 222). Other Comets: Zack Zakrajsek. 364 (172, 192); JP Gregory, 371 (226, 145); Micah Mercado, 330 (192, 138); Logan Stewart, 160. Amherst had two baker games of 183 each.

Kristin Bauer | Amherst News-Times

Amherst’s Caleb Crawford gets a handle on Midview opponent Cameron West in the 138-pound weight class on Thursday, Dec. 16. He went on to win by pin in 5:18. Though the Comets found a number of wins, they fell 40-36 to the Middies.

FIRST QUARTER BLUES

Photos by Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

The Dukes almost — almost — managed to turn around a disastrous 21-7 first quarter Friday, working to close the gap to 44-30 by the half. After the break, the Columbia Raiders ran away with the ball for a 67-59 win on home court. Wellington’s Jacob Weegman led all scorers with 20 points, pulling in nearly half his tally from the free throw line. Jayden Roberts had 18 for the Dukes. Nathan Borlin was the Raiders’ go-to scorer with 19, while Cody Davis nailed 12 and Vincent Berardi and Owen Menge each put up 10 points.

ABOVE: The Dukes’ Jacob Weegmann gets to the basket at Columbia.

RIGHT: Wellington’s Drew Unangst gets a floater in the paint at Columbia.

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Lorain County Community Guide

© 2021 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 38, No. 3

Re-Think Holiday Gift-Giving:

Memory Jar Gift

MakeaGiftfromaT-shirt! ave you outgrown a favoriteT-shirt and you don’t want to get rid of it?You can turn it into a gift for a friend or family member and give it a new life!

MakeaReusableShoppingBag

1. Cut the sleeves off the T-shirt by cutting along the seams.

1. Clean out ajar.

2. Use paintsand stickers to decorate the jar and the lid.

3. Tape theseinstructions on the inside of the lid: TO:

2. Cut out the collarin a 3. Cut little strips 4. Tie double knots along along the bottomof the square shape. bottomof the shirt shirt. Use a ruler for spacing. matchingwith back.

This is your 2022 Memory Jar! Each day, write down at least one good thing that happened on that day and place the slip of paper in this jar. If you’re having abad day,open the jar and relive a happier memory.At the end of the year, you’ll have at least 365 reasons to smile as you lookback at 2022!

FROM:

3

Put these apples in the bag.

MakeaGiftforaDog Here’s how oldT-shirts can be turned into dog toys: 1. CutT-shirt into strips about 1 inch wide and 1 foot long.

T-ShirtTwins

Can you findthe twoT-shirts that are exactly the same?

C B A

2. Divide strips into3 groups to make 3 braids.Save 2 strips for step 3.

3. Braidthe 3 braidstogether and use the last 2 strips to tie the ends.

E

F

D

G

H

I

4. Play with dog!

How many T-shirts do you see?

How many of the following can you find in today’s newspaper?

Christmas Tree Reindeer Elves Wrapped packages Happy faces Cookies Standards Link: Research: Use the newspaper to locate information.

FAVORITE REUSABLE SHOPPING OUTGROWN HOLIDAY FRIEND SQUARE SHIRT BRAID KNOTS GIFT TOYS NEW DOG OLD

F G N I P P O H S O

A E I B R A I D U H

V O L D O G E T T H

O T L B I R G O S O

REUSABLE

R R I F A R Y T D L

The adjective reusable means something that can be used again or repeatedly.

T H Q W G N U G O D

Food containers are often reusable and perfect for storing art supplies.

I I T U D S O A Y I

E S N I K F W E N A T D N E I R F S R Y

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

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

Holiday Jokes and Riddles

NewspaperSearch GameGift Create your own newspaper scavenger hunt game. For example: Smile search, Sports search, Animal search, etc. Then give the game instructions and a newspaper as a gift.

ANSWER:“Looks like rain, dear!”

Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow simple written instructions.

This week’s word:

Write down some of your favorite holiday jokes and riddles to share with your family and friends.