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Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024
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Volume 10, Issue YY
Preparing for the total eclipse last three minutes and 30 seconds at its peak throughout Ohio, Lorain County officials are still including in Lorain County. For the last year, the generally preparing for a large influx of accepted number among local people during the April 8 solar and county officials had been that eclipse, but they have lowered the population of Lorain County their expectations of crowd size. A total solar eclipse will sweep would triple on April 8, from 315,000 to nearly 1 million. across the U.S. on April 8, and But following the latest estiLorain County falls smack in mates from experts, the Lorain the middle of the line of totality: where the eclipse will be the most County Emergency Management Agency is tempering its expectavisible for the longest amount of tions. time, according to NASA. The total eclipse is expected to “What we’re now seeing is Owen MacMillan The Community Guide
that we should expect between 100,000 and 500,000 people across the whole state will be coming in,” EMA Director Dave Freeman said. Many more people will travel into the path of totality who are already in Ohio, but the new data still suggests that the influx into Lorain County will not be what it was initially expected to be. The information comes from researcher Michael Zeiler and his organization, Great American Eclipse. Zeiler used census data,
highway maps, weather information and other factors to create a model to predict where eclipse chasers will congregate. Zeiler predicted that the hot spots in northern Ohio will be Cleveland, with between 28,500 and 113,000 visitors, and Norwalk with 31,000 to 145,000. He predicts that most of the traffic into Ohio’s totality path will come from Detroit and Columbus, which both fall just outside the path. According to the model, most of the traffic from Michigan
and north will flock to the Norwalk and Upper Sandusky areas. Zeiler did predicted that Interstate 90 would be particularly busy. “If eclipse day is partly cloudy here, Interstate 90 will have many vehicles relocating in search of clear sky,” Zeiler wrote on GreatAmericanEclipse.com. Freeman said the population of Lorain County on April 8 is still expected to easily outpace what the county is accustomed to and what its infrastructure is built for.
Harbinger of spring opens at I-X Home and Garden Show expected to draw 100,000 over its annual 10-day run
Lauren Hoffman The Community Guide
John Benson The Community Guide
It’s as sure a sign of spring as a robin. That, of course, is the Great Big Home + Garden Show, which returns Friday through Feb.11 inside the I-X Center. Inspired homeowners are invited to experience more than 450 exhibits — featuring kitchen and bath, landscaping, décor and flooring ideas — at the event. Show manager Rosanna Hrabnicky — who said more than 100,000 people will visit during the 10-day show, which makes it one of the largest such affairs in the country — is excited about the return of the Garden Showcase. The exhibit explores seven holiday-themed gardens — from Valentine’s Day and the Fourth of July to Halloween and Christmas — created by some of Northeast Ohio’s top landscapers. “I think they’ll enjoy finding ideas to bring holiday celebrations to their own backyard, while also getting a preview of spring,” she said. The Garden Showcase features several additional exhibitors offering the latest in spring bulbs, herbs and flowers. There are also unique wood carvings and playground equipment. Elsewhere, visitors will experience plenty of new attractions throughout the Great Big Home + Garden Show. “Along with the sisters from HGTV’s ‘Unsellable Houses,’ Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb, appearing on the Eclipse main stage, JDM Custom Builders, Weaver Barns and Architectural Justice are each designing features to inspire your next home project,” she said. “Weaver Barns takes backyard living to the next level with their Backyard Oasis, JDM Custom Builders is building a stunning modular home and Architectural Justice is designing The Villa at The Vineyard that will immerse visitors in a world of refined interiors.” Regarding the “Unsellable Houses” stars, the real estate mavens, design visionaries and business owners make their Great Big Home and Garden Show debut appearing Feb. 9 and 10 on the Main Stage. Speaking of the Main Stage, that’s the place to be throughout the event for those DIY folks seeking tips from home improvement experts. The other element of this show, which takes place in the dead of winter, is it provides plenty of sightseeing, including a Valentine’s Daythemed #SelfieStation at the Garden Showcase.
Bulgarian dancers perform in Oberlin
IF YOU GO WHAT: The Great Big Home + Garden Show WHEN: Friday through Feb. 11 (times vary) WHERE: I-X Center TICKETS: $15 ($13 when purchased online), $11 seniors purchased at show box office (Monday through Thursday), $5 children ages 6 to 12, children 5 and under free
PHOTOS COURTESY JASON M TYSON
“The Great Big Home and Garden Show provides a wonderful opportunity to comparison shop and be inspired by the latest home and garden trends,” she said. “Our show is one of the largest, providing attendees a great opportunity to meet with multiple contractors in one day, saving them time and money with the great show deals many exhibitors offer during the 10 days of the show. And for those without home projects right now, the Garden Showcase provides the hint of spring that we all need in February.”
Regarding the “Unsellable Houses” stars, the real estate mavens, design visionaries and business owners make their Great Big Home and Garden Show debut appearing Feb. 9 and 10 on the Main Stage.
The main room of Wilder Hall in Oberlin was filled with the sounds of excitement Sunday afternoon as dance shoes tapped along to intricate rhythms and lively music echoed. Oberlin College freshman Emi Kawamura could not contain her happiness, watching as months of preparation paid off. As part of a project for her winter term, Kawamura invited the Pittsburgh-based Otets Paissii performing folk ensemble to bring the sights and sounds of traditional Bulgarian dance to Oberlin. “This event turned out to be more than I could have ever hoped for,” Kawamura said. “I was really nervous and unsure if people would be interested, but I am amazed at the amount of people that showed up, many of which are just community members that heard about the event.” Before inviting the dance troupe, Kawamura had been leading members of both the college and community in dance classes based around traditional Bulgarian dance, also known as horo. “I really loved the connection that I felt through horo, and I wanted to bring this feeling, this connection, back here to Oberlin to share,” she said. During the performance Sunday, five members of Otets Paissii and their artistic director Bilyana Stafura demonstrated traditional dance as well as See DANCE, A2
INSIDE THIS WEEK Amherst
Police blotter and more. A3
Oberlin
OC prof back on Jeopardy. A4
Wellington
Kids get glasses through iSee. A5
SPORTS A6 • CROSSWORD A7 • SUDOKU A7 • KID SCOOP A8