LO R A I N C O U NT Y’ S MAGAZINE 2022 | Issue 1
Intel for the Future How the Silicon Heartland Will Start Beating in Lorain County
Church Communities That Keep Us Together
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Whether you are just starting college or would like to begin a new career, Lorain County Community College and
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LCCC’s University Partnership
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contents
ORAIN COUNTY
Features 14 INTEL INVESTS IN OUR FUTURE
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Intel’s plans to build business and train workers in Ohio mean big things for Lorain County, too.
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SACRED SPACES
Discover how a few local church programs provide a port in the storm in the community.
Departments 4 FROM THE EDITOR 6 Cstudents OUNTY LINE Lorain County JVS participated in the NARI Home Improvement Show.
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8 CATALYST National Community College Month celebrates the achievements of organizations such as Lorain County Community College.
12 FAmherst OOD & DRINK Crow’s Catering in offers easy solutions for dinner. 22
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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Julie Bialowas, Sarah Desmond and Tiffany Myroniak PARTNERS & ADVISORY COMMITTEE American Oncology Network LLC Community Foundation Lorain County Lorain County Board of Commissioners Lorain County Chamber of Commerce Lorain County Community College Lorain County JVS
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FROM THE EDITOR
ORAIN COUNTY
Intelligent Planning SOME DAYS STAND OUT MORE THAN MOST.
In more good news, the Best of Lorain County Party is back in 2022. This don’tmiss event lets finalists in dozens of categories —from food to shopping and more —showcase what makes them great. And you get the tough jobs of sampling all of the goodies. Watch for more details so you don’t miss the fun on Sept. 15.
SINCERELY,
JENNIFER BOWEN SIMA EDITOR, PULSE LORAIN COUNTY’S MAGAZINE
Leave a Legacy with Lasting Community Impact Founded in 1980, the Community Foundation of Lorain County is made up of more than 670+ endowment funds valued at approximately $165M. We wisely invest the funds’ assets and the interest earned provides $6.2M annually in scholarships and grants to support individual and nonprofit organizations in Lorain County. A gift to the Community Foundation is unlike any other gift as it will continue to grow and have lasting impact on our community . . . forever. Education & Youth Development
Arts & Culture Programs
Strengthening Lorain County
Health & Human Services
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Interested in learning more about establishing your own fund or recognizing a loved one? Find out how: peoplewhocare.org or call 440.984.7390
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ERIC MULL
January 21 was one of those days. That was when Intel, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, announced its plans to invest more than $20 billion in building two leading-edge chip factories in Ohio. It’s a move to create what CEO Pat Gelsinger calls “The Silicon Heartland.” The decision was applauded by President Biden and Gov. Mike DeWine for its national and state implications. But it means really big things here in Lorain County, too.
Part of that is because Lorain County Community College was prepped for the moment years ago. It has been training students in big things like microelectronic manufacturing, wafer fabrication and semi-conductor processes for more than a decade. The Richard Desich SMART Center at LCCC was built so when a major move like this happened it would stand ready to lead. The college is also backed by a supportive business community, including business and economic-development organization that know all of this will ultimately equate to jobs and dollars at home. Read more about it starting on page 14.
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Ready to Build
Lorain County JVS showcased students’ talents at the NARI Home Improvement Show.
COUNTY LINE
By Linda Feagler
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LORAIN COUNTY JVS
Eye-catching remodeling exhibits weren’t the only attenPainesville Township, he’s just completed his term as presition-getters at the 40th Annual National Association of the dent of the Greater Cleveland Chapter of NARI, and is now Remodeling Industry (NARI) Home Improvement Show, chairperson of the board. As the only nonprofit trade assoheld in March at Cleveland’s Huntington Convention Center. ciation dedicated exclusively to the professional remodeling While adults perused dozens of displays featuring design industry, NARI is made up of 58 chapters around the country trends, kids in attendance made a beeline for the three playknown for being the best resources for knowledge and trainhouses, one of them designed and ing in the remodeling industry. built by 30 junior and 20 senior “One of my goals as president over “ As remodelers and builders, high school students enrolled in the last two years was to support and the more opportunities we can promote workforce development the Building Trades Academy at create for students, the more through our association,” Maltry Lorain County JVS. “Students in our carpentry, heat- we can help them build the says. “I contacted Lorain County JVS, ing and air conditioning, masonry Auburn Career Center and Medina confidence in their abilities and industrial electricity programs County Career Center and broached put their creative and collaborative that will lead to a stronger the idea of each school building workforce.” — Mark Maltry minds together,” says Building something for the show.” Trades Academy supervisor MiMaltry visited each school to talk chelle McClintic, “and the result is extraordinary.” with students about size specifications (each playhouse In addition to a stone facade, the exterior features roof needed to be small enough to be easily and safely transportdecking fashioned to resemble hand-carved logs. But the ed to the show), brainstorm about blueprints and coach them 8-by-12, pint-sized homestead is no “Little House on the Prai- on design nuances. He also procured donations of materials rie.” Walk through the Dutch door and enter an interior filled needed for the playhouses from NARI vendors. with thoroughly modern touches, including heating and “Before I personally met with students, they knew about air conditioning that originates from a unit installed on the the project, were excited about it and already had ideas roof, electricity and LED lighting, USB plugs and a Bluetooth rolling in their minds,” Maltry says. “I simply supported sound system. A ladder leads up to the loft that’s a cozy nook them by being their guide. The overall look was really up for reading, napping or spending time with friends. to them.” “The best part of this project was that it brought four At the conclusion of the show, the three playhouses were different groups of students together,” says McClintic. “They auctioned off to the highest bidder, with proceeds going learned how to coordinate plans and communicate with each toward scholarships for students involved in the project who other in order to be productive in the workplace. These soft wish to pursue careers in home remodeling. skills are so essential for becoming a great employee, and I “As remodelers and builders, the more opportunities we love that fact that the project gave them an opportunity to can create for students, the more we can help them build the continue developing and strengthening them.” confidence in their abilities that will lead to a stronger workMark Maltry agrees. An owner of JEMM Construction in force,” Maltry says.
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CATALYST
Committed to Local Success Lorain County Community College shines during National Community College Month and all year long. By Linda Feagler
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LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Lorain County Community College’s (LCCC) stellar 59-year history includes conferring more than 50,000 degrees, being heralded as First in the Nation for Excellence in Student Success and lauded as the most affordable college in Ohio for associate and bachelor’s degrees. So it has much to celebrate during National Community College Month, an annual commemoration held in April that recognizes the vital impact community colleges play throughout the country. But LCCC is not one to rest on its laurels. Tracy Green, the college’s vice president of strategic and institutional development, explains that the future is always at the forefront of new initiatives designed to prepare students for a job market that never stops shifting. The college’s current strategic plan reflects that commitment. “In 2019, we set a pretty ambitious goal,” Green says. “We unveiled a strategic plan to ensure educational attainment is aligned with the in-demand jobs and economic opportunities
CATALYST
information technology, health care and manufacturing, Fast Track gives local residents the opportunity to retrain for a new career, earn a short-term certificate and make important connections with employers looking to hire. In addition to Fast Track, LCCC also offers dozens of free programs students can complete in two semesters. And, as it has for almost three decades, LCCC continues to partner with 14 colleges and universities to deliver more than 100 bachelor’s and master’s degrees on campus, thus saving students an average of $74,000. “National Community College Month celebrates the fabric of nearly 1,200 institutions across the country and the nearly 11 million students they serve,” Green says. “And although we all share the same mission, each college looks a little different because it really reflects the local community and the hopes and aspirations of that community. At Lorain County Community College, we’re doubling down to make sure we’re having a positive impact on individuals and their families — as well as business and industry — to really create a vibrant community for Lorain County.”
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LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
in our region. Our goal is to have 10,000 people earn degrees by April 2025. By May of this year, we were already at 55 percent of that goal.” LCCC’s strategic plan also calls for strengthening partnerships with students in kindergarten through 12th grade to increase the number of high school students graduating with college credit and/or industry credentials; this ensures all students in applied and transfer programs have opportunities for relevant experiential learning through internships, apprenticeships, earnand-learn opportunities, job shadowing and company tours and leverages LCCC’s Advocacy and Resource Center and community partners to expand wrap-around services that include mental health and emergency aid, as well as access to food, technology, transportation and tutoring. Like the rest of the world, Lorain County was not immune to the overwhelming effects of COVID-19, which included the need for many residents to quickly pivot to new employment. LCCC’s free, 16-week Fast Track program gives adults of all ages the opportunity to do just that. Focusing on in-demand, well-paying jobs in business, computer and
Join us at Spitzer Conference Center this Fall to celebrate everything you love about Lorain County at the
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Dinner is Served
Crow’s Catering’s homecooked-style meals to go make dinner easy.
FOOD & DRINK
By Linda Feagler
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and noodles, and mac and cheese, are also available along with desserts featuring pineapple upside down cake and seasonal homemade ice cream and pies. “You won’t find us doing a lot of crazy stuff,” Crow says. “We’re not into foams or different steams or smokes. Our main focus is taking traditional comfort food, which is what everyone wants, and making it a little bit healthier.” A native of Alpena, Michigan, the chef credits his grandmother with not only teaching him how to cook, but also introducing him to the culinary concepts he never strays from.
CROW’S CATERING
Planning for mealtime can be an endless challenge. But Ryan Crow is ready to come to the rescue. The owner of Crow’s Catering in Amherst says food is more than mere sustenance. The chef and his team of seven take pride in creating dishes from scratch that are beautiful, delicious and good for you. “We start with the best possible products — raw vegetables and proteins — and let them speak for themselves by taking their natural flavors, enhancing them and cooking them properly,” he says. In addition to a robust catering service that includes themed options for backyard barbecues, Italian buffets and brunches, Crow creates chef-inspired dinners that can be ordered and picked up from his kitchen. On Friday evenings at 6 p.m., he posts the menu for the following week on the company’s Facebook page, and also notifies the 2,000 customers who’ve requested to be on his email list. Those wishing to purchase meals — which include a protein, starch and vegetable — can email their order, along with the day they’d like to pick it up, by 10 a.m. Monday. Favorite fare includes beef lasagna, smothered chicken and pork cutlet dinners. Sides, including green beans, cabbage
CROW’S CATERING
Crow went on to earn an associate degree in culinary arts and occupational studies from The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Upon graduating, he accepted a position at Cameron Mitchell Restaurant in Columbus, quickly moved up the ladder to sous-chef, and helped launch the firm’s dining establishments around the country, before moving to Cleveland to work with Michael Symon and become the chef de tournant at Lolita in Tremont. “Working with Michael Symon and his chefs really opened up everything for me,” Crow says. “I went from knowing how to cook to really finessing and building layers of flavors. Michael introduced me to great ideas I never would have thought of.” It was in 2013, while serving as head chef at Bonbon Bakery and Cafe in Ohio City, that the desire to start his
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own company sparked. Small catering jobs he was asked to orchestrate bloomed into wedding-reception dinners for 300 people. Ten years later, Crow’s Catering became a reality. “As we scouted locations, the building we’re in became available in Amherst,” Crow says. “The town reminds me a lot of Chelsea, Michigan, where I spent a lot of my childhood. It’s a small town but close enough to highways and big cities.” The chef also appreciates the support he’s received for his business. “When I came here, I walked around town, knocking on doors and handing out flyers for my company,” he recalls. “The community welcomed me with open arms. We take pride in making great food for good people. My customers love it because they can just stop by, lift the lid and dinner’s done.”
y tor e c e d Dir Gui p i e rsh rc be esou m Me & R 22 20
Thank you to our membership. Over the past 2 years, we have worked hard to promote and support our Lorain County businesses despite the turbulent and changing business environment. The Chamber and our partners will provide a renewed focus on economic development and workforce opportunities for all segments of our community in 2022. We look forward to helping our members Innovate, Recover and Advance in this new normal as we accomplish this
Together!
LORAIN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 226 Middle Ave., Fifth Floor Elyria, OH 44035 440-328-2550 – loraincountychamber.com
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Intel Invests in our future
Lorain County will be at the heart of the investment and training poised to transform the entire state of Ohio. By Linda Feagler January 21 was a red-letter day for Lorain County.
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and that was when Gutenberg invented the printing press.” “I believe,” Ballinger adds, “that the semiconductor industry in Ohio is the hope for the future.” As the largest single private-sector investment in Ohio history, the initial phase of the project is expected to create 3,000 Intel jobs with an average salary of $135,000 per person, 7,000 construction jobs while the factories are being built in Licking County and support tens of thousands of additional support positions for electricians, engineers, suppliers — as well as jobs in restaurants, healthcare, housing and entertainment. Chips made here will power everything from personal computers to jet engines, and the Ohio factory is predicted to become a major component of Intel’s leading-edge manufacturing work. In a January 23 guest column published in The Columbus Dispatch, Key-
LCCC/RON JANTZ
fter much speculation and anticipation, Intel announced that the American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, would be investing more than $20 billion in the construction of two new leading-edge chip factories in Ohio. Lorain County Community College President Marcia Ballinger couldn’t be happier about Intel’s plans to launch what company CEO Pat Gelsinger calls “The Silicon Heartland” in the Buckeye State. “We’ve been waiting for this moment,” she says. “What we’ve done at the college over the last 10 years has positioned us so well to be part of that driver of talent development around the semiconductor industry for our region. We’ve been working with employers to look at semiconductors and
chip fabrication, and how we can prepare students to compete in that world, and ensure that employers — especially in the supply chain throughout Ohio — have the talent they need.” Lorain County Community College (LCCC) began laying that groundwork in 2008, a year Ballinger describes as a “big inflection point” — the time when the world started to become acquainted with the new age of digitalization. “We didn’t have a crystal ball, but we were very intentional about our strategic planning process, and engaging our stakeholders in it,” she says. “And what we found was that there was an intensive need to have training in a facility that would cut across industry sectors. Cloud computing came online, and the iPhone came out. Author Thomas Friedman visited our campus a few years ago, and he mentioned there was only one other time in history where technology transformed the world —
LCCC/RON JANTZ
LCCC students, faculty and staff gather to watch Intel announcement on Jan. 21.
van Esfarjani, executive vice president, chief global operations officer and general manager of Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Operations at Intel Corporation, wrote, “With the potential to grow to more than $100 billion over the next decade, this investment is an essential part of our strategy to restore U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing — an area where the nation has fallen behind to foreign competitors. … The chips made in Licking County will not only help diversify the region’s economy, but they will also make U.S. supply chains, and the overall economy, more resilient.” Esfarjani added that the company is looking forward to forging close partnerships with the educational institutions that are vital to providing the talent needed for success. LCCC is well-prepared to do that. The college is in a unique position within Ohio’s academic landscape because it already correlates with the semiconductor needs Intel’s operation will bring. “[When we started planning for this day to come], people were asking, ‘Why do you do this?,’ recalls Matt Apanius, managing director of the Richard Desich SMART Center at LCCC. “When Intel lands in your backyard, universities are going to want to support the industry. But LCCC went in the other direction. We said, ‘You know what? This is where we’re going, and we should be ready when the time
comes because if we’re not, we’ll miss the opportunity.’ We don’t have to change what we’ve been doing. We’ve been doing it for so many years that we’re essentially already the experts.” Named after Lorain native and Equity Trust owner and founder Richard Desich, the SMART Center offers backend packaging solutions for companies that manufacture sensors and other silicon-fabbed devices. With a team that includes LCCC graduates and interns, the Center provides cost-effective technical, facility and equipment resources to startups, multinational organizations and federal agencies developing micro-electrome-
chanical systems (MEMS)-based sensor products. A world-class MEMS development foundry with cleanroom, the SMART Center provides microelectronic packaging, assembly and test capabilities. (SMART is the college’s acronym for Sensors/MEMS Advanced Packaging and Reliability Testing.) LCCC is the first college in Ohio to offer a bachelor of applied science degree in microelectronic manufacturing. Building on the college’s associate of applied science degree in MEMS — in which students learn how to work in a cleanroom and put sensors in product packages — those pursuing a BS degree develop their knowledge in computer science, electronics, soldering, chemistry and mechanics. They also gain experience with Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and microelectronic design, assembly and prototyping as well as electronics and drafting. Students in this degree program are required to complete an additional 300 hours (600 total; 300 hours are required in the associate degree program) of paid work experience in their respective fields prior to graduation. “I’m very excited we have these programs up and running,” says Kelly Zelesnik, dean of LCCC’s Engineering, Business and Information Technologies division. “We have a high, high graduation rate, and every student who completes the program has job placement. We service over 80 companies in our region, and that’s going to grow because Intel’s move to Ohio is a signal that’s
LCCC students Em Williams, Matt Lescher, Ryan Palmer, John Bukovac and Johnny Vanderford www.pulselorainmag.com
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going to attract many more companies into the area. With a high employment and graduation rate, Lorain County Community College is well positioned to support the companies that are here, as well as those that are expanding and moving [here].” LCCC is also the home of the Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise (GLIDE) technology incubator that helps Northeast Ohio entrepreneurs marry sound business practices and ideas. Experienced Entrepreneurs-in-Residence provide professional business assistance to companies through every state of development and connect them with the resources they need for success. “Intel’s announcement is monumental,” says LCCC assistant professor Johnny Vanderford, coordinator of the MEMS degree program and director of MERIT, the college’s Manufacturing Electronics & Rework Institute for Training lab. “To know that we’ve already been training students in microelectronic manufacturing, wafer fabrication and semi-conductor processes that include sputtering and photolithographic processing, is fantastic.”
In announcing the company’s intention to invest in Ohio on January 21, Gov. Mike DeWine proclaimed it 16 puLse
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“And let’s talk also for a moment about national security because this is about national security. It’s so vitally important that we make these chips right here in the United States of America. … Let’s go back a little bit, and look what’s happened: In 1990, the United States was a world leader in chip production. It had nearly 40% of the world’s production capacity. But today, that number has fallen to 12%, while countries in Asia have 75% of the world’s chip capacity. Simply put, we must make more products right here in the United States. And there is no better place to manufacture any of them than right here in Ohio made by Ohioans. … We’re within a day’s drive of 60% of the population in the United States and of Canada. … “Ohioans have always been dreamers. And we’ve always been doers. Intel’s announcement today just confirms that once again, this is Ohio’s time in history. … We have an opportunity to lead once again. Intel’s announcement today is a signal to China and to the rest of the world that from now on our
We have a community college that offers degrees in what Intel needs to hire employees in a location that’s only two hours south of us. I think it’s a really, really good thing for us here in Lorain County, a good thing for Northeast Ohio and a great thing for Ohio. –Tony Gallo, Lorain County Chamber of Commerce President
ment truly transformative for Ohio is that from now on any company any place that’s thinking about opening a new plant will simply have to give Ohio a good look. It matters. … “Intel, of course, will be making semiconductor chips right here. These chips are the tiny brains that are in devices that power everything from the cell phone in your pocket, to your car, to a farmer’s combine to all our consumer electronics and so much, much more. Simply put, chips are the foundation that modern life is really a part of. It’s really what makes modern life possible.
essential manufactured products in this country will be made in the United States of America. …” Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, also in attendance when the announcement was made at the Midland Theatre in Newark, added that Intel’s Ohio site represents the company’s first major site announcement in 40 years. “This site is going to be strengthening Ohio’s leadership and research and high technology, and we expect that Intel Ohio will become one of the — if not the largest — semiconductor manufacturing sites in the world over the next decade,” Gelsinger says.
LCCC/RON JANTZ
Intel’s investment in Ohio made headlines around the world.
to be a “great day in Ohio history,” adding that he was initially contacted by Intel on May 3 of last year, and received the good news on Christmas Day. “This is a major win for Ohio,” DeWine said.” And it’s really a game changer, a game changer for our economic future. You know Intel could have put these plants anywhere in the country. In fact, there were 40 states that were competing to try to get these plants and … they chose Ohio. … This victory really builds on our history as a great manufacturing state. Intel joins a growing list of manufacturing companies that have made the decision to come to Ohio or to expand in Ohio. … “Intel already has 140 suppliers in Ohio. And with this plan, they’re going to add many, many more all over the state. … What makes this announce-
“… As we looked at and we competed across the world to pick this site, the long and deep history of manufacturing in Ohio was a clear draw for why we wanted to come here — essential industries, from automobiles to chemicals manufacture in Ohio. And so what better place for us to build our next major manufacturing location and be frontier of technology, Ohio. … We are the company that helped put silicon in Silicon Valley. When we moved to Oregon, we established the Silicon Forest. When we went to Arizona, we helped to establish the Silicon Desert. We went to Ireland and helped to create the Silicon Isle. We went to Israel and we helped to establish the Silicon Oasis. And today, the Silicon Heartland begins.” During his State of the Union Address on March 1, President Joe Biden praised Intel while calling on Congress to pass the Bipartisan Innovation Act, designed to make record investments in emerging technologies and American manufacturing. “If you travel 20 miles east of Columbus, Ohio, you’ll find 1,000 empty acres of land,” the president said. “It won’t look like much, but if you stop and look closely, you’ll see a ‘Field of Dreams,’ the ground on which America’s future will be built. This is where Intel, the American company that helped build Silicon Valley, is going to build its $20 million semiconductor mega site. Up to eight state-of-the-art factories in one place [and] 10,000 new good-paying jobs. Some of the most sophisticated manufacturing in the world to make computer chips the size of a fingertip that power the world and our everyday lives.”
LCCC/RON JANTZ
Lorain County will benefit. Although Intel’s new site will be in Licking County, Lorain County Chamber of Commerce President Tony Gallo, knows Lorain County will reap the benefits. “I’m excited as I can be about something positive that’s taking place in another part of the state,” he says with a chuckle. “I admit it took me awhile to wrap my mind around it and understand how amazing this opportunity is for us. We have a community college that offers degrees in what Intel needs to hire employees in a location that’s only two hours south of us. I think it’s a really, really good thing for us here in Lorain County, a good thing for Northeast Ohio and a great thing for Ohio.” Gallo credits Team NEO — a business and economic development organization focused on accelerating economic growth and job creation throughout the 18 counties of Northeast Ohio — and JobsOhio — a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing Ohio economic development by helping companies seize innovative growth opportunities — with joining him in fostering that inclusive attitude. “For so long, [civic leaders] were of the mindset that if it doesn’t happen in my back yard, then it doesn’t really matter to me,” he says. “If there’s one good thing that came out of COVID, it’s that we’ve shown that people can work remotely, get education remotely, and do things we couldn’t have done or even thought about doing three years ago, five years ago or 20 years ago. Thankfully, we’ve become so much more than where our borders start and end.”
Lighting the Fire Don’t believe the age-old adage that “One person can make a difference”? Then it’s high time you meet Mary Springowski. The Lorain councilwoman-at-large, now serving her third term, single-handedly launched the campaign in 2021 that resulted in Intel’s $20 million commitment to fund construction of two microchip factories in Ohio. A team leader at Ford Motor Company’s Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1 in Brook Park, Springowski became increasingly frustrated last year as COVID-19 led to significant shortages of the imported microchips that are so essential to the U.S. automotive industry. Workers at the Brook Park plant — which manufactures engines for the Bronco and Ranger, as well as four-cylinder engines for the all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive Explorer — faced periodic layoffs due to a lack of the integrative circuits. “I was talking to my husband about how concerned I am about this problem,” Springowski says, “and he said, ‘You’ve always been an advocate for moving silicon chip manufacturing stateside. You should start emailing companies that make them and promote that idea.” In April of last year, she sent missives to officials at computing companies around the country, explaining the reasons Lorain County would be an ideal location for a new manufacturing plant. Attributes the councilwoman-at-large cited include the county’s easy access to water and highway transportation, the stellar health care system and Lorain County Community College being renowned for its stem technology programs. Jason Bagley, Intel’s senior director of state government relations, responded the next day: Company CEO Pat Gelsinger was intrigued. And so it began.
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Avon Lake United Church of Christ
spaces acred S Learn more about some of the Lorain County church communities that are providing a port in the storm. By Linda Feagler
Friendship Baptist Church, Lorain
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says Dr. John Jackson, senior pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Lorain since 2003, “is to provide faith during times when it seems there is no hope.”
Sacred Heart Chapel, Lorain
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ooted in Catholic and Hispanic cultures since 1952, Sacred Heart Chapel is dedicated to embracing diversity, building unity and promoting justice for all. “The parish was established as one for Hispanic and Spanish-language people,” says Father Bill Thaden, who’s served as pastor since 1999 to more than 1,400 families. “Now, we’re bilingual because every generation changes the need of English and Spanish. We’re very much a part of the Hispanic com-
munity, reaching people where they are in their lives — including in situations of need.” Part of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a 189-year-old worldwide organization of lay Catholics following Christ’s call to serve the poor, the suffering and the deprived, Sacred Heart members are always at the ready during times of crisis. “When anyone needs assistance, we’re there,” Thaden says. “Sometimes someone just needs shelter for a few nights or they’re in a situation where they don’t have adequate food. We’ll also get calls from people in the community who are replacing their furniture, and have good furniture they wish to donate. Parishioners pick it up and deliver it to those who can use it.” The chapel serves as one of the hubs
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ince 1940, members of Friendship Baptist Church have never stopped tending to the needs of their community. That conviction continues today among the more than 500 parishioners in a variety of ways. The church partners with Mercy Health to provide a parish nursing program that offers free health screenings. When COVID was at its height, members handed out care packages filled with essential masks and first-aid equipment. Lorain City Schools counts on the church for help in fulfilling a variety of needs, including mentoring and volunteering in the cafeteria. “The major lesson we’re learning as a church family during the pandemic,”
Faith. Fellowship. A friendly hand in times of need. Lorain County’s church community provides outreach assistance to all who need it, no matter their race, religion or creed. Here are several examples of extraordinary differences being made throughout the region and the country that originate right here.
Dr. John Jackson, senior pastor at Friendship Baptist Church
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Father Bill Thaden, Sacred Heart Chapel for Homeless Stand Down, an annual one-day event that takes place throughout Ohio for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Organizations and professionals throughout the county volunteer their time in ways that include giving haircuts, serving meals, providing information about local social service organizations, conducting medical screenings and distributing personal hygiene kits. Farther afield, Sacred Heart Chapel members have responded to deadly natural disasters in Florida, Puerto Rico and Mexico. “Hurricane Maria was particularly devastating to our parish,” Thaden recalls. “We had people here who hadn’t been able to contact family members down there for weeks. We turned our gym into a warehouse where people could drop off supplies, including water, nonperishable food items, toiletries, flashlights and generators. The response was so great that we wound up sending 11 truckloads of supplies.” The destruction left in Maria’s wake resulted in many Puerto Ricans reconnecting with their relatives in Lorain. Some arrived with only the clothes on their backs, and Sacred Heart members worked with local schools to identify where the families were and what they needed. The chapel also hosted an event where they could connect with service agencies; and parishioners transformed one of the chapel’s meet-
“ When anyone needs assistance, we’re there. Sometimes someone just needs shelter for a few nights or they’re in a situation where they don’t have adequate food.” – Father Bill Thaden ing rooms into a “free store,” where attendees could select clothing and other essentials. “Whenever something dire is happening in our country, if I don’t take the initiative to help, someone else will say, ‘Father, what are we going to do for them?’” Thaden says. “Our community has become so much more than our parish.”
United Church of Christ, Avon Lake
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or 126 years, the congregation of Avon Lake United Church of Christ has offered a bastion of support where it’s most essential. “We take a careful look at what the needs are in Lorain and Cuyahoga counties to see where we can be most useful,” says senior minister Kelly Brill, who has served the 1,000-member Avon Lake UCC since 1995. “We don’t want to duplicate services. Instead, we see ourselves as financial and volunteer support behind the frontlines.”
Since 1979, the church’s Good Neighbor Thrift Shop has featured affordable, gently used clothing and household items, with proceeds supporting nonprofit organizations that include Genesis House domestic violence shelter in Lorain County; Lorain County’s Haven Center, which provides shelter, meals and other services that help families transition into independent housing; Primary Purpose, a long-term residential sober housing program for those recovering from addiction; and Avon/ Avon Lake Community Resource Services, a social-service agency that procures items ranging from eyeglasses to school supplies and food for those in need. Last year, the church community raised $244,000 to support these and other crucial endeavors. Junior and Senior High Mission teams don’t hesitate to volunteer where they can do the most good. Last year, the group partnered with St. Paul Community Church to remove playground equipment that was unsafe at the Ohio City house of worship. The teens are www.pulselorainmag.com
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Kelly Brill, senior minister at Avon Lake United Church of Christ
them. One thing we strive to do at Avon Lake United Church of Christ is bring awareness to the issues affecting our community. We’ve learned that something as simple as saying the words ‘domestic violence’ and ‘mental health’ in church can make a difference and take the stigma away.”
Fields United Methodist Church, North Ridgeville
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in the process of raising money to finance a new playground which they hope to install there this summer. “Whenever there’s any kind of crisis or disaster, the people who are most vulnerable are most affected because they tend to not have as many other sources of support,” Brill says. “And if you’re already homeless, for example, and then there’s a pandemic, it’s going to be worse. If you’re already struggling to recover from addiction, it’s going to be harder. As a result, life has gotten tougher for all of those people, as well as those who work in agencies that are trying to help
ields United Methodist Church has a storied reputation of welcoming all who need support — including those dealing with issues that most of us would find overwhelming. Thursday mornings are no exception. The church’s Memory Café ministry offers a safe, comfortable environment where those with mild to moderate dementia can enjoy the company of others and engage in meaningful art and music activities. For the caregivers who accompany them to the church, it’s a much-needed respite that offers a change in routine, along with the opportunity to meet other caregivers and exchange ideas and experiences. “When you’re struggling with a loved who has dementia or any other debilitating issue, you think you’re by yourself on an island,” says Dr. Tom Joyce, pastor of Fields United Methodist Church. “But then you have the opportunity to listen to everybody’s stories, and discover they’re pretty much the same as yours. Suddenly, you realize you’re not alone. There are people going through the same journey you are.”
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Dr. Tom Joyce, pastor of Fields United Methodist Church
Founded in 1826, the church has a burgeoning membership of 500, including those who participate via livestream services the house of worship has been offering for five years. Since assuming the pastorship in 2010, Joyce has made sure the ecclesia extends beyond the church’s four walls. Members of the congregation are trained to serve as Stephen Ministers, proving one-to-one care to those in Lorain County and surrounding communities experiencing difficult times in life, including grief, divorce and chronic and terminal illness. Each shares a passion for bringing Christ’s love to people in a time of need. “Although we’re human, many people feel uncomfortable discussing extremely personal issues with their pastor,” Joyce says. “Like clergy, Stephen Ministers are trained to listen without judgment.” On Saturday evenings in summer, the pastor holds an open worship service outdoors featuring contemporary upbeat music performed by the church’s praise group, Common Union. “These are such fulfilling services,” Joyce says. “A lot of people have baggage when it comes to entering a sanctuary. Maybe they’ve been hurt in the past and, as a result, feel uncomfortable going inside. We give people the chance to bring a blanket or lawn chair or listen from their car. When you’re outside, it’s easy to envision God’s house as the universe.” Joyce and a team of 21 parishioners make it a point to offer assistance anywhere and everywhere they’re needed. Since 2011, they’ve made 11 trips to states devastated by floods, tornadoes and hurricanes in Missouri, Oklahoma, Kentucky,
New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, West Virginia and Texas. Some members lend a hand in reconstruction efforts. Others offer words of compassion, along with the listening ear that’s balm for the soul in trying times. “Many years ago, I was playing racquetball with a rabbi,” Joyce recalls, “and he said, ‘You know, Tom, we’re in the same business. We’re both about having people come to know God.’ Fields United Methodist Church offers opportunities for them to do just that. We give people the chance to really know God in relational, intimate terms.”
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snapshot
ORAIN COUNTY
Winged Wonders Become surrounded by beauty at the Butterfly House.
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The plants and flowers offering a friendly habitat and food for the colorful insects include milkweed, dill, snapdragon, parsley, daisy, lantana, yarrow, astilbe, coneflower and cosmos. All are readily available in local nurseries so Ohio gardeners can attract the winged wonders to their own backyards. Other unique design elements include a fountain that provides the butterflies with a source of water. McNutt adds that when viewed from the patio, the exterior of the house resembles a butterfly about to take flight. The Butterfly House is open daily 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., from Father’s Day to Labor Day. Admission is free, but those wishing to lend support can become a Butterfly Buddy. For a $10 donation, each participant receives a butterfly button; a wooden butterfly ornament to decorate, display in the house and take home at the end of the season; and the opportunity to feed the gentle creatures with sugar water placed on a Q-tip. “Butterflies are just so pretty,” McNutt says. “They don’t bite or sting. They’re the perfect insect. We all take delight in seeing them, and I enjoy educating people about their lifecycle.” — Linda Feagler
THE BUTTERFLY HOUSE / RAYANNE MEDFORD
tep inside the Butterfly House at Miller Nature Preserve in Avon, and enter a world of glorious beauty. More than 13,000 tourists visited the attraction after it debuted last June, and Lorain County Metro Parks naturalist Leslie McNutt expects even greater numbers this year. The new structure, which replaces the venue that opened in 2012, cost just under $23,000 to construct and was funded by endowment funds with the park system. “The old building was showing signs of wear, so it was definitely time to rebuild,” McNutt says. “The new one is larger and features a spacious path that allows visitors to walk around, instead of through the house. It gives people the chance to spread out and really look at the butterflies.” The Butterfly House is home to species native to Ohio, including the buckeye, swallowtail and monarch. Others, including the zebra longwing, malachite and white peacock, are indigenous to southern states. “We have about eight to 10 species here at one time,” McNutt says. “It’s a very nice selection of the familiar and unfamiliar. Since butterflies only live two to four weeks as adults, we get a new shipment of butterflies from Florida every week, which keeps the population at a high level.”
RECYCLING & SUSTAINABILITY Floating SEABIN Project Comes to Lorain County and helps to… ✓ Eliminate trash accumulation points in waterways ✓ Restore the overall cleanliness of water ✓ Ensure permanent cleaning – 24/7 ✓ Enhance environmental sustainability effort ✓ Grow public awareness on the issue of plastics & debris water pollution
The Seabin unit is a “trash skimmer” designed to be installed in calm waterways with suitable services available. The unit acts as a floating garbage bin, skimming the surface of the water by pumping water into the device and capturing contaminants including organic material (leaves, algae, etc.)
THE SEABIN DAILY CATCH...
Disposable Cups
Plastic Bottles
as large as 5 Liter Containers
Michelle Hung Matt Lundy David J. Moore
Shopping Bags
Skimming Surface Oils
Lorain County Board of Commissioners 226 Middle Avenue I Fourth Floor I Elyria, Ohio 44035 P: 440-329-5111
Cigarette Butts & Plastic Utensils
loraincounty.us @LCGov
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Joseph Weatherspoon
Industrial Electricity Class of 2023
