Local Resident Donates Winter Clothing to Oberlin City Schools

Continued from page 1 Comparative American Studies. “And one pushback I’ve heard is that there are some districts that include Appalachian counties and others. They’re combining them with more urban areas and it’s hard to see commonalities there between them. So the ideal is when you have a representative who can represent a fairly coherent district.”

There are already several lawsuits in response to the new map. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. and the National Redistricting Action Fund are suing in the Ohio Supreme Court. The American Civil Liberties Union, League of Women Voters of Ohio, and the A. Philip Randolph Institute have also filed a lawsuit saying the map violates the Ohio Issue 1 amendment that voters passed three years ago.

“The Ohio Supreme Court is made up of five justices,” Garrett said. “One of them is the son of Mike DeWine. Some people have called for him to recuse himself, but of course, nobody can make him, so he’s not recusing himself. The chief justice is a Republican — however, she tends to not be in favor of these gerrymandering shenanigans. So there are some people who are saying there’s some hope out at the Supreme Court, but we’ll see.”

The lawsuits come after conflicts over proposed maps escalated over the last few months. After failing to pass a map in the Ohio Legislature with a supermajority by Sept. 30, responsibility for drawing the map was left to the bipartisan sevenmember Ohio Redistricting Commission, which also failed to meet its Oct. 31 deadline. After that, what had been a relatively slow process was then sped through the Ohio legislature along party lines in a matter of days before it was signed by DeWine at the end of November. This new map received an F grade from the nonpartisan Princeton Gerrymandering Project.

The change means that Oberlin will now likely be represented by Republican Bob Latta, who has held the seat since 2007. While Latta is a conservative member of Congress, he is not nearly as extreme as Jordan. According to Garcia, Latta is considered more conservative than 52 percent of the GOP in Congress, while Jordan, who is more conservative than 91 percent of the GOP.

For the City of Oberlin, the new map marks a significant shift from the last four years. Oberlin was previously represented by Jordan, who is known as one of the creators of the House Freedom Caucus. For the last several elections, many Oberlin students have worked on the campaigns of Jordan’s opponents, including Garrett’s and Shannon Freshour’s. This election cycle, Jeffrey Sites, a veteran and warehouse manager who ran in the Democratic primary in 2020, is once again running against Jordan.

Sites is running on a platform of singlepayer healthcare, returning the supply chain to the United States, and addressing what he calls “climate chaos.” Although he started his campaign in January, before the new districts were drawn, his city, Lima, is still in the Ohio 4th District, so he will still be eligible to run against Jordan.

“It was an uphill battle before; it’s an extreme uphill battle now,” Sites said. “I would have preferred to keep the duck than what we have now. But again, I didn’t decide to run against Jim Jordan because I thought it would be easy. … We’ve planned and prepared for a district like this since the beginning. … It’s why we emphasized building a grassroots operation.”

Besides congressional races, Ohio will have several other competitive races in the 2022 midterms. Governor DeWine is up for reelection but will first face several Republican challengers. Senator Rob Portman has also announced his retirement, which has opened his seat up for a competitive race.

If the current map withstands the court battles, the map will be redrawn for the 2026 elections. While Garrett and others are disappointed with the new map, she hopes that grassroots activism will ensure that the next map is fairer.

“We have to keep the pressure on … because we’re in a very dangerous place in history right now,” Garrett said. “We’re in danger of losing our democracy, and it’s a lot easier to fight to keep it than it is to try to get it back once we’ve lost it.”

Staff from Oberlin City Schools sort through a recent donation of goods with an estimated value of over $12,000. The new Ohio Congressional Map was signed into law at the end of November and moves Oberlin from the 4th Congressional District to the 5th. Courtesy of Columbus Dispatch

Photo Courtesy Of Oberlin City Schools

Shannon Schulz

Inspired by stories of need in local communities, Elyria Realtor Tammy Koleski donated over $12,000 worth of brand-new clothes, hats, shoes, and gloves to Oberlin City Schools last Monday. Koleski has been donating to school districts and sports teams across Lorain County for the past year and a half. These donations are a team effort; Koleski’s sister, Pam Richards, scouts out discounted items and buys in bulk so that they can make the biggest impact possible.

“I always have donated in some capacity, but [I’ve] just [been] in a position to,” Koleski said. “I mean, I didn’t win the lottery or anything. It’s just what I’m getting for the price tag that I’m getting it for. It seemed crazy not to just be a kind human and do it.”

While Koleski’s first donations started out as random acts of kindness, she soon realized the positive impact of her actions.

“It’s very interesting to see a grown man cry,” Koleski said. “The first coach that I took cleats to was my daughter’s former softball coach. And as he’s taking these out of my car, … I’m like, ‘Do you have any idea what 200 pairs of cleats look like?’ And he’s like, ‘Nope.’ And as we’re emptying my car with the 10th bag and the 11th bag, his wife comes out, helps us unload it. I mean, they’re just sitting there like this, with a tear on the side of their eye going, ‘Do you know how many people this is gonna help?’ I go, ‘Absolutely, and your face says it all.’ That was just the fuel [for] the next one.”

Oberlin City Schools officials were equally delighted when they found the district’s Central Office conference room filled wall to wall with donations. Oberlin City Schools Communications Consultant Melissa Linebrink expressed the district’s gratitude.

“I was really surprised,” Linebrink said. “I have talked to Tammy in the past, and I know the great work she has done, but to be on the receiving end of that and to just hear … how happy she was to help our students, especially... during COVID-19 [when] times are tough. And just to know that somebody cares about our students enough to donate more than $12,000 worth of goods is pretty phenomenal.”

The school district is currently working on a distribution plan with Oberlin City Schools Athletic Director John Carter and Oberlin City Schools Director of Student and Family Support Jay Nimene. Superintendent David Hall is optimistic about the donation’s community impact.

“We’ll probably give out most of everything,” Hall said. “Our bus drivers help give them out to students that get on the bus that may need a hat, or maybe just gloves. Our counselors may give them out to students. … We get phone calls from parents all the time at schools, asking, ‘Do you have these things available?’ A lot of times we have them available or we contact Oberlin Community Services for support.”

According to Linebrink, Koleski’s donation is projected to benefit a wide range of students and families.

“There’s always a need,” Linebrink said. “Through this donation, … we’re able to help not only the student athletes with some of the items that they provided like cleats, but we’re also able to help those students who, you know, might need a hat, gloves, who might need a belt, who can’t afford a belt. You know, it was just little things like that, that you might not think of as everyday needs that they were able to provide for us.”

Koleski plans to expand her efforts in 2022 with the help of Richards and family friend Mary Felton. Despite her successes, challenges remain.

“The lion’s share of it is personal funds,” Koleski said. “I’m only one person. I can only do so much, so that’s why we’ve established a 501(c)3 called Wee Care Closet. … We hope to get more corporate donations and larger donations.”

Koleski is hopeful that the nonprofit will allow her to increase the number of people she can help. She also hopes to inspire others.

“The goal is to just keep it going, and maybe in our communities, people [will] see it and either make donations to us so we can continue it or go, ‘Hey, I’d like to do that at our school,’” she said.

To donate, contact Koleski at (440) 935-4910 or weecarecloset@gmail.com.

The Oberlin review

Dec. 3, 2021 Volume 151, Number 7 (ISSN 297–256)

Published by the students of Oberlin College every Friday during the fall and spring semesters, except holidays and examination periods. Advertising rates: $18 per column inch. Second-class postage paid at Oberlin, Ohio. Entered as second-class matter at the Oberlin, Ohio post office April 2, 1911. POSTMASTER SEND CHANGES TO: Wilder Box 90, Oberlin, Ohio 44074-1081. Office of Publication: Burton Basement, Oberlin, Ohio 44074. Phone: (440) 775-8123

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Completion of Reservoir Project Estimated for Spring of 2022

Photo by Khadijah Halliday, Photo Editor

Kathleen Kelleher Senior Staff Writer

Big Trees, Inc., the City contractor for the Morgan Street reservoirs’ remodel, has made substantial progress on the conversion to wetland and expects to finish the project in the spring of 2022. The contractor is currently working on the improvement of water outlet structures for both reservoirs. When construction begins again in the spring, native species of wildflowers and grasses will be introduced, along with new trees in the wetland area.

“Our community selected this option as the best balance of ecological, historical, recreation and economic considerations,” the City’s most recent construction update read.

The remodeling contract was awarded to Big Trees for a total cost of $535,885, exceeding the original estimate of $300,000. Construction fencing was erected at the site just before Labor Day. City Public Works Director Jeff Baumann described the steps Big Trees has taken in the remodeling since then.

“They have substantially completed the recreation of the upper west reservoir as a wetland, so the finished grades are more or less established,” Baumann said. “The trails are set up, but they are not built.”

Big Trees will break for the winter due to prohibitive weather conditions and return in the spring to introduce new vegetation.

“Our contractor Big Trees is doing the work that they can effectively do this time of year given that it’s pushing freezing temperatures and somewhat wet with the occasional snow and cold rain,” Bauman said. “Ultimately, in springtime, they’ll come in and put in the wildflower native grass mixes in the open areas, and plant all the trees that are a part of the wet woodland area, which is to the west and north of the new wetland.”

Associate Professor of Biology Roger Laushman, who works with students in protecting the Arboretum from invasive species, is particularly invested in the introduction of new flora as part of the remodel.

“Our interest is keeping invasive species from taking over the wetland,” Laushman said. “One of the best ways to keep invasive species out is to [plant] native species [to occupy] the habitat.”

Although the most recent construction update from the City estimated completion in April 2022, Baumann believes it will continue into May as the construction is heavily reliant upon weather conditions.

“[It will be completed] either towards the end of April or early May,” Baumann said. “There’s no telling what the weather’s going to be like in the spring, but typically it’s wet and cool into March and early April, which makes it hard to get onto the site and put down stone and accomplish the hardscape improvements.”

Until then, students and community members can continue to access the Arb through the Ladies Grove entrance south of the Prospect/Morgan Street intersection or through the South Professor Street entrance.

Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021

1:55 a.m. Campus Safety officers were requested to assist with a student at Harkness House who was ill from alcohol consumption. The student was coherent, able to answer all questions asked, and aware of their surroundings. The student declined medical treatment.

Friday, Nov. 26, 2021

12:17 a.m. A student reported that while streaming a game on YouTube, they were sent several messages containing pornography. An officer met with the student, who was advised not to respond to the messages. The student was then transported to the Oberlin Police Department to file a report. 9:42 p.m. Officers responded to a report of a bat in the first floor lounge of Johnson House. The bat was located and removed from the area.

Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021

1:26 p.m. An officer was requested to assist an injured student at East Hall. First aid was applied to a bleeding toe. No other treatment was required, and the student declined transportation to the hospital.

Monday, Nov. 29, 2021

10:07 a.m. A student reported that when they returned from break to their Village Housing Unit on East College Street, they found their attic window open. The student noted that the only thing that appeared to be missing was candy, and there were no other indications that someone had been in the house. Crime prevention tools were given to the resident. 10:51 a.m. A student reported the theft of their bicycle from the Willard Court area. The bicycle is an orange Trek, men’s frame, eightspeed, and is valued at approximately $800. The bicycle is registered with Campus Safety. 2:30 p.m. Officers were requested to transport a student with a knee injury from the Student Health Center to Mercy Allen Hospital’s emergency room. The transport was completed.

City Economy Faces Labor and Supply Shortage

Continued from page 1 they work and our expectations. It’s a good three-to-four week process to really get a new person acclimated.”

There are many businesses that cannot rely on a steady stream of College student applicants. Krista Long, owner of Ben Franklin and MindFair Books, stated that while she was able to easily find new clerks for her stores, finding longer-term skilled labor has proven difficult.

“I’m happy with the clerk and floor staff,” she said. “We have a good vibe here. Everyone works well together. I like the youthfulness of the staff. But I do need a database manager and another buyer and somebody who can manage all of the creative stuff, like the frame shop and the fabric and the yard. Those are the jobs I’m finding challenging.”

Another national-level challenge Oberlin business are facing is supply chain disruptions. As the economy recovers from the pandemic, the logistics industry has struggled to keep up with soaring demand for products. Supply chain bottlenecks — ranging from a shortage of truckers to a lack of space at ports and warehouses — have meant that businesses and consumers are facing empty shelves and long delays for items.

According to Long, whose businesses rely on an eclectic supply of products, it has been a challenge to keep certain products in stock as a result of supply chain issues.

“It’s been kind of interesting to watch how it evolves, because we carry such a breadth of merchandise,” she said. “First, during the pandemic, certain things were just gone. Those we can get fine now. Just one after another — one month, it’s microwave meals, and God knows why, but all brands: really low supply. Then, it’s tampons and menstrual products. … When something has gone out of stock, it stays out of stock for a long time. I reach out around, try to find another source for it, or sometimes I just can’t find it, and that’s the way it is. And then it’s available again. So that’s been frustrating and difficult to deal with.”

However, both Long and New expressed their gratitude for the Oberlin community’s continued support of their businesses amid these problems, as well as their hope for more stability in the future. Yet, according to Long, these problems are a characteristic of the global economy and have only been highlighted by the pandemic.

“By and large, our customers are very understanding and continue to support us, so we’re hoping that evens out,” she said. “But to be honest I think we’re looking at the weaknesses of the supposedly global economy that we have.” A storefront on Main St. has remained empty since Oberlin Kitchen closed last year. Photo by Khadijah Halliday, Photo Editor