Lorain County Community Guide - Oct. 6, 2022

Star Wars, art walk and homecoming collide Friday

JASON HAWK EDITOR

WELLINGTON — Get ready for an out-of-this-world evening with spacefaring adventure, local art, a spooky Halloween classic and high school royalty.

Downtown Wellington will be busy Friday, Oct. 7, starting with a chance to visit the Star Wars universe.

From 3-7 p.m., you can take photos with backdrops and props at Town Hall, thanks to super-fan Jim Schubert of Galactic Rebel Forces. Pose with light sabers and blasters, and pal around with realistic-look ing droids and Jawas against sets depicting a Tatooine farm, the Millennium Falcon and an X-Wing.

“With everything going on in the world, it’s a nice re lease, takes you back to your childhood,” said Schubert, who lives in Wellington.

“If you look back, a lot of people grew up with the movies and toys.”

A devotee of the Star Wars movies, Schubert has a wide range of costumes — he might show up to the free event as Boba Fett, the Mandalorian or a Jedi knight.

The photo shoot at Town Hall is meant to be a “prequel” to a mini-convention called “A Galaxy Far, Far Away for a Day” that Schubert is planning with Main Street Wel lington for 2023.

Provided photo Wellington’s Jim Schubert is a man of many costumes. He’s bringing some Star Wars-themed fun to Town Hall on Friday, Oct. 7, which will be a busy night in the village.

“We’re giving people a little taste so they can come in and get excited about our plans. If they want to come in costume, that will be especially fun,” said Main Street Director Jenny Arntz.

While Star Wars is a 45-year-old property, interest has

The moment they knew

‘Tray after tray’ of absentee requests signal intense interest in fall election

JASON HAWK EDITOR

SHEFFIELD TWP. — Worried callers have al ready starting bombarding the Lorain County Board of Elections office. They want to know where their absentee ballots are.

Be patient, said Director Paul Adams — under Ohio law, ballots can’t be mailed until Wednesday, Oct. 12.

“When we do, it’s going to be tens of thousands that go out within a couple-day period,” he said.

As of last Thursday, more than 23,000 mail-in ballots had already been requested for the Nov. 8 election, signaling intense interest. Every day, bipartisan teams are processing tray after tray of absentee ballot

requests that arrive, said Adams.

The race for governor al ways spurs turnout, Adams said. Republican incumbent Mike DeWine is facing a challenge from Democrat Nan Whaley.

During the last guberna torial election in 2018, Lo rain County filled requests for 19,506 mail-in ballots.

Since then, Ohioans have gotten used to the con venience of voting early, Adams said.

“I think people, they know that there could be emergencies or different things that come up on Election Day,” he said. “So they figure they can take care of it… then they don’t have to worry about it, their vote’s already in.”

Joe Colon | Amherst News-Times

Kendra Shimrock and Andrew Giurbino’s faces say it all, spelling out the shock and excitement they felt Friday night after being named Marion L. Steele High School’s homecoming queen and king. They were crowned as the Amherst Comets prepared to take on Avon Lake on the football field at Mercy Health Stadium.

OBITUARIES

Cornell

Cornell Dotson was born March 27, 1932, and drew his last earthly breath on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, at his home in Welling ton. Cornell was raised in Virginia, relocating to Ohio to pursue job opportunities outside of coal mining.

Cornell was a Korean War Veteran. Upon returning from Korea, Cornell worked for various Ohio companies in management of heating and cooling manufacturing.

Cornell was also a skilled welder who, in his early years, enjoyed bowling, deer hunting, and camp ing, having enjoyed fishing and gardening throughout most of his life. Time with his grandchildren was always a blessing. When his health al lowed, Cornell attended Faith Christian Church of Spen cer, Ohio, where he was a beloved friend and member.

Cornell is survived by his son, Stephan Dotson of Wel lington; daughters, Donna (Dale) Adkins of Columbia Station, and Lura Mare (Thomas) Keller of West Salem; grandsons, Justin (Jenifer) Dotson, Christopher (Jennifer) Adkins, Joshua (Angela) Adkins, Seth (Regina) Keller, Caleb (Roshena) Keller, Eli (Jaimie) Keller, Isaiah (Joy) Keller, Boaz Keller, and Malachi Keller; granddaughters, Mahala (Abram) Penrod, Lacey (Steve) Hall, Mariah (Benjamin) Brubaker, Shiloh (James) Hollo, Lael Keller, and Charity Keller; 42 great-grandchildren; Cornell is also survived by his sister, Trula (Don) Wright of Abingdon, Virginia; brothers and sisters-in-law, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard Dotson and Goldie Lee Phillips; his wife of 67 years, Lura Jane (Sanders) Dotson; daughter, Rita Dotson; granddaughter, Annah Keller; grandson, Ezra Keller; great-granddaugh ter, Rosa Hollo; brothers, Wilmer Dotson and Dexter Dotson, and sisters, Mattie Lambert, Erma Nixon, and Sondra Dotson.

Graveside service for Cornell was Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, at Jackson Cemetery, officiated by Pastor Thomas Keller of Faith Christian Church.

Norton-Eastman Funeral Home was entrusted with ar rangements and online condolences may be expressed at www.norton-eastmanfuneralhome.com.

JEAN E. CUTHRELL (nee Perkins), 63, of Litchfield, passed away Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, at Ames Hospice in Westlake. Arrangements by Hempel Funeral Home.

REINHOLD “REIN” KOCH, 91, of Amherst, was lifted to his eternal home with Jesus Christ his Savior in the early morning of Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. Arrange ments by Hempel Funeral Home.

RUFUS “RUDY” HARDWICK, 95, of Amherst, went home to be his Lord and Savior, whom he accepted into his heart in 2020, on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, at Cleve land Clinic in Avon, following a full and meaningful life. Arrangements by Hempel Funeral Home.

WAYNE BAUS, 91, lifetime resident of Elyria, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, at his home, following a full and meaningful life.

JIMMY LEE ODOM, 87, of Wakeman, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, at his home while under the compassionate care of his family. Arrangements by Hem pel 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.

Reprints of obituaries are available and can be purchased by request. For more information, call the Lorain County Printing and Publishing customer service staff at (440) 329-7000.

Harlem Wizards to make return appearance at Amherst Steele

AMHERST — The Harlem Wizards will return to Marion L. Steele High School for a fundraiser game on Thursday, Oct. 27.

The wisecracking, prankplaying Wizards will take on the Powerful Comets at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased

at harlemwizards.com and range from $15 gen eral admission to $30 for reserved seating, $40 for courtside plus and $85 for a “benchwarmer” package to sit with the Wizards and get a jersey and souvenirs.

This will be the third time the New York City-based show team has visited

STAR WARS

FROM A1

never been higher, Schubert said.

“The Book of Boba Fett” was a hit on Disney+ earlier this year, riding on the coattails of “The Mandalorian,” which has a third season arriving next year. In the meantime, fans can get their fix with the Disney+ series “Andor,” a prequel to the events of the movie “Rogue One.”

Oct. 7 is Main Street’s First Friday event, running from 4-7 p.m. Each month, a new theme and activities are used to promote the village’s shops and restaurants.

“Fans or Flannel?” is October’s theme. There will be crafts and chances to win prizes at participating businesses.

ELECTION

FROM A1

New voter registrations are also slowly increasing, sitting at 218,779 as of Friday.

Surpassing 219,000 will set the record for the most voters ever on the books in Lorain County, Adams said.

Most new registra tions are coming in from growth cities — Avon, Avon Lake and North Ridgeville — where new homes have sprung up, he said.

Registration ends Tues day, Oct. 11, and early

Amherst.

“People have been asking whether they were coming back. It’s just a fun fam ily night out,” said Darcie Parsons, who is coordinat ing the event for the parentteacher organizations at Powers Elementary, Nord Middle School and Amherst Junior High.

Main Street will also launch its first-ever Art Gallery Walk, with artists young and old displaying their works in downtown windows.

Organizer Shannon Meeks said mediums range from stained glass to paintings. She’s hoping to add jew elry, pottery and sculpture.

Artists can submit their work for display in shops for two weeks to a month, “getting some exposure and creating a good art community in Wellington,” she said.

The goal, according to Meeks, is to create a new Art Gallery Walk each season.

First Friday will wrap up with an outdoor screening of the 1993 Disney

voting begins the next day.

The ballot is full, with statewide and county is sues, a huge list of races, tax levies, alcohol sales options, charter amend ments and rezoning requests.

A full roster of poll workers from both sides of the political aisle is ready to work the election, Adams said.

A number of veteran workers who sat out dur ing the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic are

“I think they bring a lot of humor and fun,” she said.

“They bring a great show.”

Proceeds from the evening will help pay for enhancements at the three schools’ recess areas, from playground equipment to picnic benches, radios and security cameras, said Parsons.

film “Hocus Pocus” starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as a trio of witches who terrorize the children of Salem, Massachusetts.

It will be shown on a big screen at Union School Park on Route 58, where Arntz said there will be a witch and wizard hat decorating contest.

For the Wellington Dukes, Oct. 7 is also homecoming.

A parade will start around 5:45 p.m. and wind through town en route to the Dickson Street football stadium, where the homecoming king and queen will be crowned.

The Dukes will face Clearview on the gridiron starting at 7 p.m.

coming back, he said.

About 60 to 70 percent of volunteers are retirees, but attorneys and other professionals make up a sizable portion.

Some will be assigned to work a drive-thru ballot return booth set up outside the Board of Elections of fice, Adams said.

It’s needed because so many absentee voters do not feel comfortable trusting their ballots to the U.S. Postal Service, he said — they want to hand-deliver their ballots

in person.

In 2020, drive-thru workers sheltered in what was more or less a tent set up on the far side of the board office parking lot. This fall, it will be re placed with a heated ticket booth-style building.

“It’s going to make that process a lot better,” Ad ams said.

An unmanned drop box will also be used.

By directive of the Ohio Secretary of State, each county may only have one such secured drop box.

Jason Hawk | Amherst News-Times

Kids from the Amherst Schools warm up with Harlem Wizards players during a game in 2019 at Marion L. Steele High School.

COVID crisis is cooling quickly

Lorain County has once again been downgraded to yellow on a map tracking the spread of COVID-19 across the nation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now say spread of the virus here has fallen from “high” to “medium,” with 557 new cases reported in the seven days ending Wednesday, Sept. 28.

In that same period, 41 people were hos pitalized due to COVID in Lorain County, and no deaths were reported.

The number of tests conducted for the disease fell, as did the positivity rate.

Those trends fall in line with what is happening across the nation. The CDC says cases, deaths and hospital admissions are falling rapidly as vaccinations con tinue.

Most of central and southwestern Ohio is now considered “green,” with low spread of the virus. Only three “red” counties remain — Pike, Meigs and Lawrence, all in the far southern reaches of the state.

The South, which this summer was ablaze with COVID infections, is now al most entirely green. Experts say the virus burned through hosts and natural immu

CDC

Spread of COVID-19 in Ohio has slowed considerably. Green shows counties with low spread, yellow is medium spread and red is where spread is still considered high.

nity is now keeping it in check.

The cost has been high, however.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the CDC has tracked 96 million cases in the United States, along with 1.05 million deaths.

CDC data is upgraded on Thursday nights.

UH researchers get $12.5 million to track flu viruses

JASON HAWK EDITOR

Predicting which flu strains may ravage the United States a year in the future is no easy job.

But it’s one Dr. Elie Saade is taking on with a $12.5 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As director of infec tion control at University Hospitals, he is leading a team that will analyze what viruses are in heavy circulation.

“There are many types of flu vaccine, and we’ll be able to tell which one works,” he said.

Since 2004, the CDC has collected data from seven sites across the country as part of its Flu Vaccine Ef fectiveness Network.

UH is one of three new partners chosen this year. It is the only company in Ohio to be tapped for the project.

A statement from UH said the data it will collect is crucial in understanding how well vaccines work in a real-world setting, and how their effective ness ranges from person to person.

Saade, based in Cleve land, said UH has the re searchers for the job, along with a large footprint that reaches millions of people, including patients in Lorain County.

Emergency room and clinic doctors will test patients who have fever, cough, muscle aches, runny nose and other common influenza symptoms using nose and throat swabs —

Dr. Elie Saade

that’s not new. Saade said UH is partnering with Case Western Reserve Univer sity, however, where more advanced testing can pin point what viral strains are responsible for illness.

That’s information patients don’t usually care about, Saade said. They’re just trying to get better.

But for researchers, the data is a goldmine. It will reveal what vaccines have been effective in the gen eral population and against which strains, and help vaccine manufacturers de cide what formulas to use.

The flu vaccine changes every year based on what researchers observe, Saade said. That’s because there are many types of flu and they reproduce rapidly, changing with each generation.

“Quadrivalent” flu vaccines are designed to attack the four most com mon viruses researchers believe will cause illness. They have to be made far in advance, though, so they’re somewhat of a gamble.

How accurate are researchers guesses? “It depends, you know?” Saade said. “Every year

it’s different. The most recent year, the match was not good. It’s not always easy to see what to guess or to know what is going to be circulating.”

Manufacturing decisions are made in February or March for vaccines that will be given to Americans starting in August or Sep tember, he said.

“Flu season” is a nebulous term, but usu ally begins in November. “So there is a long lag, relatively, compared to the virus’ lives,” Saade said. “They have some time to change.”

Hopefully, new vaccine technology can shorten the window and increase the shots’ accuracy, he said.

While data collected by University Hospitals researchers will be mainly aimed at fighting the flu, it will also help determine effectiveness of CO VID-19 shots and vaccines for other illnesses, accord ing to a news release.

The data provided to the CDC won’t contain any personally identifying information, Saade said. It will be purely statistical.

If the project goes smoothly, there is a po tential for UH to receive an additional $8 million grant, the health care sys tem said.

“It is a huge undertaking. We are very exciting about this,” said Saade. “What I can say is that since it’s a very competitive pro cess, it goes to show that University Hospitals… we have what it takes to run a big research program like this and contribute to improving health.”

Largest class in Oberlin College history

Oberlin College says it has welcomed its largest incoming class in history, with 894 stu dents enrolled.

It also received more than 10,000 applica tions, the largest number ever.

“When we select a class, we look for students who will shine in and out of the classroom, who will challenge and support each other and who, because of their unique experiences and back grounds, will learn from each other and enrich our community, providing us the diversity of thought that is so special about the liberal arts experience,” said Manuel Carballo, vice presi dent and dean of admissions and financial aid.

“We know you are up to the task.”

Students in the Class of 2026 come from 53 counties, 42 states and the District of Columbia.

Twenty-nine percent identify as people of color, 8 percent are international students, 68 students say they are the first in their family to attend a four-year college and 118 will play on Yeomen and Yeowomen athletic teams.

More than half of the class comes to Oberlin with backgrounds in music and theater. A large number are experienced in community service and activism.

“By becoming an Obie, students make a deliberate choice to join a community imbued with strong academics, a rich history with a deep commitment to social justice and out standing artistic opportunities,” Carballo said.

“This community encourages intellectual dis course, fosters understanding, and knows how to be true to its values.”

Traffic grant will be used to improve safety on county roads

Lorain County Public Health has been awarded $55,000 in federal traffic safety funding from the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

For more than 30 years, LCPH has conducted the Lorain County Safe Communities Coalition to reduce injuries and deaths on local roads.

“We’ll continue to work with partners in the Safe Communities Coalition, and use the grant funds to advance traffic safety efforts,” said county Health Commissioner Mark Adams. “Together, we’ll work to save lives and prevent injuries by pro moting seat belt use, motorcycle safety, focused driving and reducing impaired driving.”

A component of the Coalition is the Lorain County Fatality Review Committee, which reviews fatal vehicle crashes to iden tify trends and develop possible countermeasures and interven tions to prevent similar crashes.

The Committee met Sept. 7 to go over the details of five crashes that killed six people between May 30 and Aug. 12 on Lorain County roads. The following factors contributed to the deadly crashes:

• Two crashes involved motorcycles. One didn’t wear a helmet.

• Two crashes involved high speed.

• Two crashes involved alcohol and one crash involved drugs.

• Two crashes involved a potential medical issue.

• One crash involved five people not wearing seat belts.

• Four individuals were under the age of 55.

UH Elyria celebrates 1,000th joint replacement using robot

ELYRIA — The 1,000th procedure to replace damaged hips and knees with the help of robotic technology is being celebrat ed at University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center.

Surgeons have used Stryker’s highly-advanced Mako system to help patients the past six years. The tool provides increased accuracy.

UH Elyria Medical Center is the only hospital in Lorain County using the Mako System.

“Since our very first procedure, we have seen better out comes and overall satisfaction in our patients,” said Dr. William Stanfield, director of the hospital’s Center for Bone and Joint Replacement.

U.N., Oberlin College work to make studies affordable for foreign students

education institutions in the United States to be involved, and the only one not limiting participants to graduate-level studies.

OBERLIN — Undergraduates from around the world who cannot afford to spend $80,414 per year to attend Oberlin College will now have a chance at financial assistance, thanks to a partnership with the United Nations.

The U.N. Institute for Training and Research and the Global Foundation for the Performing Arts are working to expand international student ac cess to colleges and universities with exemplary musical instruction and academics.

“The goal of this collaboration is to apply the benefits of higher edu cation and the arts to enhance the culture and quality of life within countries around the world,” said a news release announcing the partnership.

Oberlin is one of only a few higher

Students who apply to the college or Conservatory of Music can pursue either a bachelor of arts or bachelor of music or a double degree.

If it is needed, financial assis tance will come from the students’ home countries or from the U.N. or the Global Foundation for the Performing Arts.

The first students eligible to take part in the program would arrive on campus in Fall 2023.

“In Oberlin we have found a partner with a history of producing graduates dedicated to serving the world,” said Ambassador Marco Suazo of the U.N. Institute for Train ing and Research.

A memorandum of understanding is already in place between the part ners, but negotiations for developing specific programs continues, accord

ing to the news release.

Already, the expectation is that Oberlin’s role will extend beyond academic degree programs into a pre-collegiate curriculum that teach es English as a second language, it said. Doing so would help students develop language skills needed before beginning courses at Oberlin and other participating colleges and universities.

The Global Foundation has been meeting with Oberlin leadership for the past several weeks to discuss areas of collaboration.

Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar said the collaboration could eventually involve hundreds of students each year on her campus.

“Education is a vital element in healthy societies and we cer tainly look forward to delivering relevant and dynamic programs with Oberlin and UNITAR,” said Benjamin Woodroffe, president of GFPA.

AMHERST HOMECOMING PARADE

of

Breanna

the

Village of

OF THE COUN CIL OF THE VILLAGE

following summary of legislation passed has been reviewed/approved by the Law Director for legal accuracy as required by state laws. Reso. 33-22* Concurring w/ the expenditure of $1.65M ARPA funding. Ord. 15322 Recognizing and commemorating David Wrice by designating E. 23rd St be tween Broadway & Elyria Ave "Officer David Wrice Way". 154-22 Adopting the recom mendation to rezone 4851 W. Erie Ave from B-1 to R-3 (ZCA 3-2022). 155-22 Auth the S/S Director to enter into an agrmt w/ TRC for prof service related to the Stoveworks Revitaliza tion project. 156-22* Auth the S/S Director to file, receive and execute all paperwork to apply for & receive, if awarded,

grant funding through Ohio Lake Erie Commission's Lake Erie Ohio Communities & Coastal Resiliency grant. 157-22 Auth the S/S Direc tor to enter into an agrmt w/ Coldwater Consulting for prof services related to the Black River Riparian Restoration Project. 158-22* Auth the S/S Director to terminate its electric membership in NO PEC and enter into an agrmt w/ Brilliant Source Energy to prepare plans for electric aggregation. 159-22 Auth the S/S Director to enter into contracts for the purchase of materials and supplies, as phalt concrete for the Public Properties Dept. 160-22 Auth the S/S Director to enter into contracts for the purchase of materials and supplies, con crete for the Public Properties Dept. 161-22* Assessing the cost of abating nuisances by cutting noxious weeds during the 2022 calendar year. 16222* Appropriation. (*Denotes legislation was passed as an emergency.)

BREANNA DULL, CMC

LCCG 9/29;10/6/22 20709058

UNITED UNDER ONE

Angelo Angel | Community Guide Thomas Roberts, president of the NAACP’s Ohio State Conference, speaks before an audience at the 2022 Freedom Fund and Scholarship Banquet, held this Saturday at Lorain County Community College. Titled "We Are Stronger Together," the banquet was the first held under the group's new name: The Metro Central

Photos by Jason Hawk | Amherst News-Times

The Marion L. Steele High School homecoming parade was led down Park Avenue on Friday by the Amherst Marching Comets, and included members of the homecoming court, spooky skeletons, cheerleaders, floats and signs.

U.S. reps demand answers on Oberlin professor’s job

JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Two members of Congress say religion professor Mohammad Jafar Mahallati’s em ployment at Oberlin College raises concerns “about the Iranian regime’s infiltration of our higher education system.”

U.S. Reps. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, and Virginia Foxx, R-North Caro lina, sent a letter last week to Oberlin College trustees and President Car men Twillie Ambar, saying they are worried about national security and demanding documents about his job and who pays for it.

Both are members of the Commit tee on Education and Labor.

The letter accuses the college of whitewashing Mahallati’s “welldocumented involvement in human rights abuses” while he served as Iran’s ambassador to the United Na tions from 1987 to 1989.

During that time, the Islamic Re public of Iran executed thousands of political prisoners and buried them in unmarked graves.

No one knows exactly how many were killed. Human Rights Watch estimates the deaths range between 2,800 and 4,500 while others believe as many as 30,000 perished.

“Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Canada’s Parlia ment labeled these mass killings as crimes against humanity,” Banks and Foxx wrote. “Despite the clear and overwhelming evidence that these events were occurring, Mr. Mahallati dismissed these atrocities as ‘nothing but propaganda’ and ‘fake informa tion.’”

Mahallati taught at Princeton, Georgetown, Yale and Columbia University in the 1980s and 1990s, and was hired at Oberlin College in 2007. There he has developed courses in friendship and forgiveness studies and started the annual Friendship Day Festival.

In October 2020, a group calling itself the Alliance Against Islamic

Regime of Iran Apologists demanded Mahallati be fired.

Leading the group was Lawdan Bazargan, who said her brother was among those put to death in 1988.

Reached for comment last Thurs day, she said Mahallati “spent his life defending a brutal genderapartheid regime” and said her group is “shocked and disappointed that Oberlin College has given Mahallati a platform to promote radical Islamic ideology, spread hate and division and call it peace and friendship.”

She also criticized his role as a trustee of the Boston-based ILEX Foundation, which promotes the study of Middle Eastern civilizations. Through the foundation, Mahallati has allegedly invited controversial Iranian politicians to speak.

As Iran’s representative, Mahallati had to know about the slaughter and was culpable in covering it up, Ba zargan has said on several occasions.

In a 2018 report, Amnesty Interna tional listed Mahallati among those who “were actively involved in denying the mass killings in media interviews and exchanges with the U.N. to shield those responsible from accountability.”

Oberlin College said it conducted an investigation over the following year.

“The inquiry did not find proof to corroborate the allegations that Pro fessor Mahallati knew of the atroci ties at the time he was asked about them during his tenure at the United Nations,” according to a statement from the college.

Nor could the review find a pattern of anti-Semitic behavior or calls for destruction of Israel, Oberlin College said in response to accusations lob bied by protesters.

Mahallati told the college he be lieves in a two-state solution allowing Israel and Palestine to coexist peace fully, according to the statement.

Bazargan has also helped advance a recent claim that as Iran’s ambas sador Mahallati defended Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s order to kill Salman Rushdie.

The controversial author’s novel, “The Satanic Verses,” was based on the life of the prophet Muhammad and was perceived by many Muslims as blasphemy.

Rushdie has survived a number of assassination attempts in the decades since, including being stabbed 15 times on Aug. 12 of this year.

But the claim that Mahallati en dosed the fatwa against Rushdie is somewhat tenuous. Pressed about it in 1989, Mahallati reportedly said, “I think all Islamic countries agree with Iran. All Islamic nations and coun tries agree with Iran that any blasphe mous statement against sacred figures should be condemned,” but did not explicitly call for violence.

In their letter, Banks and Foxx said Mahallati has maintained a “close association with Tehran’s tyrannical regime” during his tenure at Oberlin.

They called into question Oberlin College’s reporting of foreign fund ing under the Higher Education Act, and whether the Iranian government played a role in securing Mahallati’s job in 2007.

Banks and Foxx have asked the col lege to disclose whether it’s received funding or in-kind contributions from Iran or anyone linked to its govern ment, and to disclose the funding source for Mahallati’s endowed professorship.

They are also demanding any relat ed financial statements, all contracts associated with Mahallati’s employ ment and his course syllabi from the past 15 years.

The two representatives set an Oct. 12 deadline for the college to comply.

“The United States has a clear interest in refusing to coddle human rights violators, and Congress has repeatedly raised concerns about domestic political interference from hostile foreign regimes on our college campuses,” they wrote. “It is utterly perplexing that Oberlin so obstinately harbors Mr. Mahallati, an individual with such a disgraceful past and of questionable current allegiance.”

Oberlin College did not respond to a request for comment.

Professor responds to accusations

JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Moham mad Jafar Mahallati, who has remained relatively quiet in the two years since protesters first called on Oberlin College to fire him, has finally responded.

Iran’s former ambassador to the United Nations has been a religion professor at the college since 2007.

Now his place there is being challenged by two Republican members of Congress. Last week, U.S. Reps. Jim Banks, R-Indi ana, and Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, wrote a scathing letter painting Mahallati as a national security concern.

“I read the letter and I categorically reject all its baseless and fabricated ac cusations,” Mahallati said in a brief email.

Banks and Foxx, who both sit on the House education committee, have demanded a list of docu ments from Oberlin Col lege. They want to know whether Iran’s government is financing his endowed job at the college.

The representatives said they are concerned con cerns “about the Iranian

regime’s infiltration of our higher education system.”

They also called into question whether Ober lin College has properly disclosed foreign funding as required by the Higher Education Act.

Their letter, sent to the college board of trustees and President Carmen Twillie Ambar, echoes claims that Mahallati helped cover up the execu tion of thousands of Iranian political prisoners in the summer of 1988.

“Despite the clear and overwhelming evidence that these events were oc curring, Mr. Mahallati dis missed these atrocities as ‘nothing but propaganda’ and ‘fake information,’” Banks and Foxx wrote.

Those claims were raised in October 2020 by a group called the Alliance Against Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists. Leader Lawdan Bazargan, who said her brother was put to death following a summary trial in 1988, has accused Ma hallati of being complicit by virtue of his position at the United Nations.

That’s not the case, ac cording to lawyer Gregory Kehoe. In an October 2021 letter provided Friday by Mahallati, Kehoe said his

client knew nothing of the killings. The rebuttal was originally sent to Oberlin College Dean of Arts and Sciences David Kamitsuka.

“As with many other government leaders in Tehran, professor Mahal lati, who was in New York, had no knowledge in real time about the covert executions, nor did he at tempt to conceal the facts once they were revealed,” he wrote. “To the contrary, while defending Iran in his role as a diplomat, profes sor Mahallati was the only United Nations ambassador for Iran striving to bring a peaceful end to the IranIraq war which had been raging since 1980 while also establishing a plan for U.N. representatives to go to Iran to examine human rights issues.”

Mahallati did not have a traditional diplomatic communication relation ship with Iran, which was in turmoil, he argued.

“Faced with a complete lack of information about these events, professor Ma hallati attempted to defend his country when the evi dence of these executions first surfaced,” said Kehoe.

He said Mahallati has devoted his life to being a humanitarian and peacemak

er, and his courses at Oberlin College and the books he has authored are “ground breaking contributions in the field of modern comparative peace theology.”

Zahid Siddiqi leads the Strongsville-based charity Salaam Cleveland, which provides free health care services for Northeast Ohio residents who are under privileged and the unin sured. He also sent a letter to Ambar this summer, defending Mahallati.

“I have sat through some of the professor Mahallati’s talks at the Islamic Center of Cleveland and they are on the same wavelength as what our charity promotes – co-existence through mutual understanding and respect of each other’s faith, culture and beliefs,” Siddiqi wrote. “And I know he has been doing this for a number of years.”

His letter described the push for Mahallati’s termination as “antisocial elements” who are “trying to malign his character by spreading unsavory rumors about his past.”

He also described the effort as a misinformation campaign.

Oberlin College has not responded to a request for comment.

Make sure child seats are properly installed, AAA warns

AAA East Central is reminding parents of the importance of properly installing and using car seats.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 139,042 children were injured in car crashes in 2020, or more than 350 inju ries per day.

Recent research by AAA and the

National Safety Council showed a gap in child passenger safety awareness from both parents and caregivers.More than half of all car seats taken for inspection to safety technicians were improperly installed and used, yet only 20 percent of parents and caregivers seek expert help installing a car seat.

“Child safety seats reduce the risk of

fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers, but more than half of them are installed improperly,” said Lori Cook, safety advisor for AAA East Central. “That’s why AAA urges parents and caregivers to educate themselves and look for free resources, such as vir tual or in-person car seat inspections in their area.”

OHS students receive College Board honors

OBERLIN — Jasmine Belshaw, Zenobia Calhoun and Anya Loeffler of Oberlin High School excelled in Col lege Board assessments and schoolwork.

Their performance has earned honors from the Col lege Board National Recognition Programs, which colleges use to identify academically competitive under represented students.

Belshaw received the National African American Rec ognition Award and Calhoun and Loeffler each received the National Rural and Small Town Award.

“We are thrilled our students have earned this recogni tion. We are very proud of them for their achievements in the classroom and on College Board assessments,” OHS guidance counselor Jennifer Bracken said. “These programs help students from underrepresented back grounds stand out to colleges during admissions.”

Eligible students are invited to apply during their sophomore or junior years and will be awarded at the beginning of the next school year.

United Way gives supplies to Lorain County Schools

United Way of Greater Lorain County’s annual Fill the Bus campaign provided nearly 30,000 supplies to 11 school districts this year.

Forty-seven businesses held collection drives as part of the effort, showing a 52 percent increase in participa tion from last year.

“I am beyond thrilled with the turnout of businesses this year who wanted to support this initiative,” said Colleen Walts, marketing and engagement director at United Way of Greater Lorain County. “It’s refreshing to see corporations assisting the local community, and employees that give so generously to aid our school children.”

Volunteers also rallied together to donate their time to the cause by collecting, sorting, packing and delivering items.

“It’s truly the volunteers that make the Fill the Bus program possible,” said Norma Sanchez, volunteer engagement manager at United Way of Greater Lorain County. “This year we tracked over 107 total volunteer hours just for the program, which is incredible.”

This year’s drive surpassed numbers from last year, when more than 22,000 items where sent to 12 local school districts.

Fill the Bus is part of the nonprofit’s Collect.Sort. Deliver Impact Initiative, which also aims to get books, tampons and pads to social service and educational agencies. To learn more, contact Norma Sánchez at (440) 277-6530 or norma.sanchez@uwloraincounty.org.

Physician, author, TV and radio talk show host and podcaster Dr. Drew Pinsky will be the keynote speaker at The LCADA Way Annual Benefit and Recognition Dinner/Gala in October.

The event, known as "Pearls of Wis dom," will be held at Embassy Suites Rockside in Independence on Oct. 27.

Known popularly as "Dr. Drew," he replaces actress and recovery advo cate Maureen McCormick, who was announced as this year's speaker but had to decline due to a personal conflict.

"We are very excited to have Dr. Pinsky as our key note speaker," LCADA Way President and CEO Dan Haight said. "His personal experiences working with people struggling with addictions and finding recovery will be sure to inspire all."

Dr. Drew has been a fixture on television and radio his entire career. A physician who still treats patients, his media career includes the radio and later TV talk show "Loveline," which ran from 1984 to 2016; "Dr. Drew on Call" on HLN; "Celebrity Rehab" on VH1 and two spinoff shows; and he currently hosts a number of podcasts.

The LCADA Way is a private, nonprofit organization serving the wellness and addiction recovery communi ties in Lorain, Medina, Cuyahoga and Erie counties and surrounding communities since 1981.

"Pearls of Wisdom" honors individuals and organiza tions who help those affected by drug, alcohol and gam bling addiction. Former U.S. Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy was last year's speaker, and actor Tom Arnold spoke in 2019.

Corporate table sponsorships, silent auction donations, advertising opportunities and tickets are available at thelcadaway.org.

For more information, contact Joe Matuscak at (440) 989-4919 or jmatuscak@thelcadaway.org.

Provided photo

Oberlin High School students Jasmine Belshaw, Zenobia Calhoun and Anya Loeffler were recognized for their academic achievements in school and outstanding test performance.

‘Dr. Drew’ to speak at 2022 Pearls of Wisdom benefit

Dr. Drew Pinsky

BULLETIN

Oberlin library Friends sale

The Friends of the Oberlin Public Library will hold a fall sale with books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles and sheet music, with most items priced from 50 cents to $1.

Hours for the general public are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6; 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7, with every item half price; 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, with a pay-what-you-want model; and 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9, with a pay-what-you-want model.

Proceeds support library programs and services.

Herrick library meeting

The Herrick Memorial Library board will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6 at the library in Wellington. The meeting is open to the public.

Help fill empty bowls at LCCC

“Seize the Clay and Stock the Cupboard” will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6 at Lorain County Community College’s Norton Culinary Arts Center in Elyria.

What started as a grassroots campaign to enlighten people about world hunger has evolved into an effort to remind folks there are always “empty bowls” in the world. With a $20 dona tion, guests can select one handmade bowl of their choice craft ed by LCCC students and instructors, as well as local potters.

Guests can also enjoy a variety of soups made by the LCCC culinary arts department. Additional pottery will also be available for sale with all proceeds benefiting LCCC’s on-campus food pantry, the Commodore Cupboard.

Guests are asked to register at www.lorainccc.edu/empty bowls.

Moving locations

Seated flow yoga will move from South Amherst Community Park to Village Hall beginning Thursday, Oct. 6. Sessions are held at 6 p.m. each Thursday. All levels are welcome.

Hear stories of downtown life

The Oberlin Heritage Center will offer its “Small Downtown, Big Stories” walking tour at 1 p.m. on Saturdays, Oct. 8, 15, 22 and 29.

This tour draws on oral histories of those who lived through shaping and preserving the “small town-ness” that is such a part of Oberlin’s charm. Learn the history of some of the buildings, but mostly learn of the people who once walked these streets and called Oberlin home.

This tour begins in front of the Oberlin Post Office building. Admission is $6 for adults and free for children, students or members. Advance registration is strongly recommended. Register at oberlinheritagecenter.org.

Hear paranormal researchers

Spend a spine-tingling afternoon with members of Ohio Researchers of Banded Spirits at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Amherst Public Library.

Learn about paranormal research and “haunted” locations in Ohio. A question-and-answer session will follow the ORBS presentation.

Registration is requested at www.amherstpubliclibrary.org.

Show off Lego creations

Spend the afternoon playing with Lego blocks starting at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Herrick Memorial Library.

All ages are invited to a fun, non-competitive day of creating using the library’s Legos.

Swiss steak in Pittsfield

A Swiss steak dinner will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Pittsfield Community Church, 17026 State Route 58. All dinners are $13, and the public is welcome to attend.

Solve Dr. Pepper’s death

A murder mystery dinner will be presented at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8 and Sunday, Oct. 9 at the Amherst Historical Society’s Sandstone Hall, 113 S. Lake St.

In this play directed by Valerie Farschman, try to solve “The Death of Dr. Pepper,” the famed plastic surgeon whose one weakness is women.

The cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members.

LCCC: How to transfer

The Lorain County Community College Transfer Fair will

be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 10 at College Center in Elyria.

This event is intended for current LCCC students interested in transferring to four-year universities, including those in LCCC’s University Partnership. More than 40 public and private institu tions will be in attendance to answer transfer questions.

Learn more about starting at LCCC and transferring to a fouryear university at www.lorainccc.edu/transfer.

Amherst library meeting

The Amherst Public Library board will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 10 at the library. The meeting is open to the public.

Democrat club meetings

The Rural Lorain County Democrats Club will hold a meetand-greet and sign event at the gazebo on Wellington’s Willard Memorial Square from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9.

Bryan Burgess, president of Oberlin City Council and the Democrat running against incumbent Republican state Rep. Dick Stein of Norwalk in the Nov. 8 election, and Democrat Anthony Eliopoulos, who is running against incumbent state Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, in the upcoming election are expected to attend.

Democratic candidates’ yard signs will be available. For more information email ruralloraincounty@gmail.com, call (440) 3873790 or visit www.ruralloraincountydems.com.

The Rural Democrats will also meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 10 at the Historic Grafton School House, 1111 Elm St. in Grafton. There will be Democratic candidate’s signs and light refreshments.

For more information, call (440) 387-3790, email rurallorain county@gmail.com or visit www.ruralloraincountydems.com.

One-stop shopping for colleges

The 34th Annual Lorain County College Fair will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 10 at Lorain County Community College’s Ewing Activities Center, 1005 N. Abbe Rd.

This is a one-stop opportunity to learn about more than 100 colleges and universities all under the same roof. See the full list of colleges at www.lorainccc.edu/collegefair.

An optional breakout session on financial aid will be held at 6:30 p.m. Experts will answer questions about enrollment, classes, financing and more.

This college fair is ideal for high school juniors and seniors and their parents.

‘Break Through Your Wall’

“How to Break Through Your Genealogy Brick Wall” will be presented at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 10 during a free online meeting of the Lorain County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogy Society.

Chapter President Margaret Cheney will lead the session on finding those elusive relatives who it’s been hard to find. Ask questions and get ideas to move your family research forward. This will be an open forum where all attendees can participate in suggesting a solution.

Email meetings@loraincoogs.org and ask to be added to the list to receive a link to the virtual program.

Test your board game skills

The new Tabletop Game Time club for teens and adults will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at the Amherst Public Library.

Everyone is welcome. The club is recommended for ages 12 and up. Drop in to play games. A variety of 2-6 player card, strategy and party games will be available at meetings, includ ing Settlers of Catan, Bohnanza, Sagrada, Splendor, Azul, For Sale and more.

New Russia special meetings

New Russia Township trustees will hold special meetings at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11 and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 46300 Butternut Ridge Rd.

The purpose is to interview candidates to re-write the town ship zoning resolution.

Lewis book group returns

The C.S. Lewis and Friends Book Group will resume meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at the Amherst Public Library.

It will discuss the “Introduction to Athansius’ On the Incarnation” by CS Lewis, concentrating on ideas about read ing. Find this by googling the title or by making a copy from an original found at the library’s first floor information desk.

For more information, contact Marcia Geary at mgeary@geary lawllc.com or (440) 988-9803. All are welcome to participate.

Learn Greenwood’s secrets

Did you know there are Confederate soldiers buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Wellington? Did you know what a “rup tured duck” insignia means?

Teens ages 11 and up can learn more during an after-school cemetery walk at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13. Registration is required by calling (440) 647-2120. Attendees will meet at the entrance of Greenwood Cemetery.

Oberlin library meeting

The Oberlin Public Library board will meet at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13 at the library. The meeting is open to the public.

Republican club meeting

“Charter School and Voter Integrity Night” will be held Thursday, Oct. 13 at the Father Ragan Knights of Columbus Hall, 1783 Moore Rd., Avon.

Speakers will be available at 5 p.m. and include Liz Griffiths on a new Hillsdale College-affiliated charter school with teacherled classrooms and American classical educational curriculum that emphasizes virtue, moral character, responsible citizenship and study content that is rich and balanced.

Marilyn Jacobcik, Lorain County Board of Elections chair, will discuss voter integrity topics in Lorain County.

The cost is $5 for guests.

Dinner and Civil War talk

The Southern Lorain County Historical Society’s annual din ner meeting will be held Thursday, Oct. 13 at the Wellington Eagles, 631 S. Main St., Wellington.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. The menu includes beef tips with noodles, turkey breast with dressing, green beans with almonds, whipped potatoes and dessert. John Perry will speak on the life of a Civil War soldier in the Pennsylvania Bucktail Brigade.

The cost is $20 per person. Payment must be received by Monday, Oct. 3 at Spirit of ‘76 Museum, P.O. Box 76, Wellington, OH 44090.

Membership dues for 2022-2023 must also be paid by Friday, Oct. 14.

Shupe homestead history

A free program on the historic Shupe homestead in Amherst will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13 at Pittsfield Township Hall, 45934 State Route 303.

Local historian Matt Nahorn will talk about those who called his Cooper Foster Park Road house their own home 200 years ago, while uncovering a connection to mysterious plans over a century ago for the land around nearby Oak Point Road. Discussion and tips on how to research your own home and property will also be provided.

The event is sponsored by the Pittsfield Township Historical Society.

Open house at SAFD

The South Amherst Fire Department will hold an open house from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 105 W. Main St.

It will feature a kids’ safety house, fire station tours, informa tion on new engines, free handouts, bounce house, hot dogs and chips, job opportunities, an agility course and live demonstrations.

There will also be chances to visit with Lorain County Emergency Management Agency, Metro LifeFlight and LifeCare Ambulance personnel.

Library friends book sale

The Friends of the Herrick Memorial Library fall book sale will run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14 and Saturday, Oct. 15 at the library.

A special friends members-only shopping night will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13. Friends member ships can be purchased at the door.

Proceeds benefit the library.

Homecoming smiles

‘Fresh eyes’ and USDA grant could help downtown Wellington survive

JASON HAWK EDITOR

WELLINGTON — A tailor. Tux edo and gown rentals, a bookstore a butcher and a dry cleaner.

These are some of the shops cus tomers ask for the most in downtown Wellington, said Jenny Arntz.

Now a U.S. Department of Agricul ture grant worth $13,000 may help Main Street Wellington, where she serves as director, to attract some of those businesses.

The award will pay for an econom ic development consultant to guide a plan for the shopping district’s future.

“We want to still maintain the historic charm of Wellington,” said Arntz. “But if we don’t have healthy commerce in town with more cus tomers coming in, we’re going to

lose stores and buildings are going to deteriorate.”

It’s the same story seen in small towns across America, she said: With prices high and supplies low in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses are struggling.

Wellington recently lost Go Wire less, The Charmed Farmhouse and Whitney Home Care, all on the same block.

Several buildings have recently sold, which is a sign that more stores could be coming, Artnz said. Other prospective businesses have been long in the wings but haven’t materi alized.

At the same time, there are too many vacant storefronts, and some buildings have damaged roofs and crumbling brick walls, she said.

Wellington needs a strategy to get its downtown back on track right

of Doggie

It was a paw-fect Saturday in Tap pan Square for any enthusiasts or lovers of dogs as the New Oberlin Doggie Doo took place.

The Oberlin Doggie Doo ran from 2007 to 2015, before taking a long hiatus. It was brought back by Margo Fox and the New Oberlin Doggie Doo Committee.

“Today is a day to celebrate dogs and their owners,” said Laurie Wil ber, a committee member. “Not only is it an opportunity to show vendors and rescues, but also to remind every one to adopt, not shop.”

According to Wilber, there is an ex treme negligence problem happening at many puppy mills that can cause a multitude of behavior and health is sues with the dogs coming from these places.

“There’s so many animals in shel ters, we just want to help,” Wilber said. “We have a basket and 50/50 raffle. All funds are going to help helpless animals in need — not just dogs.”

The event hosted multiple local vendors, information from rescues and an instructional training session with a K-911 unit. Alongside this, owners and pups alike dressed up for a "Pet and Human" costume contest.

Prostitution sting nets charges for 5 alleged ‘johns’

JASON HAWK EDITOR

AMHERST — Five men who showed up last Tuesday at Motel 6 were ready to pay for sex, but instead were greeted by undercover officers, according to Amherst police.

A sting at the Route 58 inn resulted in first-degree misdemeanor prostitu tion and criminal tools charges for Kenneth McCarty, 43, of Sandusky; Scott Haynes, 48, of Oberlin; Demein Lind, 37, of Sheffield Village; Lorenz Leopold, 67, of Fairview Park; and Aaron Tenoschok, 40, of Elyria.

Tenoschok also faces a fifth-degree felony drug possession charge. It is unclear what substance police seized and sent to a laboratory for testing, said Amherst police Sgt. Brian Griffin.

Aaron Tenoschok

While others were given summons for arraignment at Oberlin Municipal Court, Tenoschok was taken to the Lorain County Jail. According to booking records there, he was charged by Elyria police two days earlier with possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

Tenoschok pleaded not guilty last Wednesday to the misdemeanor counts. Judge Thomas Januzzi ordered $5,000 bond, with house arrest and GPS monitoring on release.

Court documents were not available for the other men who were charged.

Griffin said Amherst police respond fairly often to Motel 6 for a wide range of complaints, including overdoses, domestic violence, drugs, noise, property damage, squatting and fights. Prostitution has been an issue there in the past. Four men were charged in a sting operation at the motel in August 2021.

This time around, officers posing as women — not children — talked to the suspects via text messages, he said.

away, and to make sure it survives the next 5-7 years, she said.

Enter Ben Levenger of Downtown Redevelopment Services in Ravenna. Using the grant, he will visit Wel lington in October to help create a “revitalization road map,” touring businesses, seeing what the village offers and making recommendations for how to market its downtown.

“Having someone come in with fresh eyes will help us see not only what doesn’t work, but what is fresh and beautiful and does work,” Arntz said.

An open house will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at the LCCC Wellington Center, 151 Com merce Dr. Residents can drop in and give their feedback about what the future should hold.

“Everyone coming to the motel was looking for sexual relations with an adult,” he said.

The Lorain County Prosecutor’s Investigative Unit assisted in the operation.

Oberlin College homecoming, reunion weekend

OBERLIN — Oberlin College will celebrate home coming from Friday, Oct. 7 through Sunday, Oct. 9 with a variety of athletics events, performances and public events for the campus community.

The weekend coincides with special reunion activities welcoming back Oberlin’s 60th cluster classes of 1961, 1962 and 1963; and 10th cluster classes of 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Festivities will kick off Friday with performances by jazz studies majors in Cat in the Cream, a homecoming TGIF in Wilder Bowl, a program recognizing donors Todd and Thomasina Houston Philips for upgrades to Philips Physical Education Center and a concert by Jef frey Lewis at The ‘Sco.

On Saturday, the final round of the 2021-2022 Senior Concerto Competition will start at 9:30 a.m. in Finney Chapel.

At 11:30 a.m., the community is invited to a Heisman Club tailgate at Knowlton Athletics Complex, with food provided by five local vendors and live entertainment

Photos by Angelo Angel | Oberlin News-Tribune Angie and Chris Seal accompany their dog Brooklyn as they dress up as Little Red Riding Hood on Saturday during the New Oberlin Doggie Doo event in downtown Oberlin.

Scott

Denise

Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise Caison Conrad was crowned king and Carly Eckert queen during Black River’s homecoming celebration Friday night. The Pirates hosted the Oberlin Phoenix in Sullivan and gave fans a blowout win.

WOOLLYBEAR BRIGADE

Three from Steele named Commended Students

Julianna Deremer, Cooper Guilliams and Eva Wanek of Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst have been named Commended Students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship competition. Each has earned a letter of commendation, pre sented by Principal Joe Tellier.

About 34,000 Commended Students are named throughout the nation, to be recognized for exceptional academic promise.

Although they will not continue in the 2023 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, they place among the top 50,000 students who entered the contest by taking the 2021 Preliminary SAT and National Merit qualifying test.

Amherst history museum tours

The Quigley Museum, located on the corner of Milan Avenue and South Lake Street in Amherst, will be open for tours every Sunday from 2-4 p.m. through November.

The Amherst Historical Society museum is the original house built by Joseph Quigley in 1832, and the building is a rare example of early sandstone architecture. The museum displays exhibits that celebrate accomplishments of Amherstonians since the founding of the city. For more information or to schedule a group tour, call the historical society at (440) 988-7255.

DOWNTOWN

FROM

LCPH offering updated COVID shots for free

The updated COVID-19 booster vaccine is now available at Lorain County Public Health and local pharmacies.

To make an appointment online with LCPH, visit www. tinyurl.com/LCPHvaccines, download the ArmorVax

app or call (440) 284-3206. Appointments are recom mended, although walk-ins are accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 9880 Murray Ridge Rd. in Elyria. LCPH has Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax vaccines available

at no cost.

To keep up with a mutating virus, it is common to update a vaccine to protect against newer strains, also called variants. This type of update is made to flu shots, which are safely updated each year. The updated COVID-

19 booster will boost immu nity against the original coro navirus strain and also boost protection against the newer omicron variant. This updat ed vaccine is also called a bivalent vaccine because it helps protect against two strains of the virus.

Commissioners award $4.4M for work at county airport

ELYRIA — The Lorain County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously last week to approve a contract with a Sandusky com pany to do more than $4.4 million in work on the runway pavement and lights at the Lorain County Regional Airport in New Russia Township.

Erie Blacktop Inc. received the

contract for $4,451,607 to start construction on Monday, Oct. 17.

The work is scheduled to be com pleted by June 30, 2023.

Commissioners sought bids for more than $4 million in work on the runway pavement and lights at the airport in February.

In July, the commissioners ac cepted a grant from the Federal

Aviation Administration worth more than $4.3 million for infra structure work at the airport, a grant that will fund this project.

The airport sits on 1,120 acres on Russia Road and is under the authority of the commissioners.

It operates 24 hours a day and receives funding from user fees, state grants and the FAA.

In the meantime, they can take a survey at tinyurl.com/ FutureWellington, answering questions about what stores would be helpful, housing needs, how to make the com munity more vibrant and whether Wellington is growing at the right rate.

The input will be used in 2023 “to formulate a blue print” that will decide what course of action to pursue, said Steve Neff, who sits on a steering committee being formed for the task.

His West Herrick Avenue stores, Wellington Music and Tactical Equipment and Services, do especially well dur ing the Lorain County Fair each year. In Neff’s mind, that shows a need to market the village as a destination for “shopping tourists.”

That means prioritizing a steakhouse, Chinese restaurant or family entertainment venues over another corporate fast food joint or auto parts store, he said.

Neff said Wellington is large enough that there is de mand for specialty businesses, but small enough that it could be hard for them to be profitable.

Over the last three months, with the exception of Friday nights there hasn’t been a lot of foot traffic downtown, and there have been plenty of empty parking spaces, he said.

“To keep things moving forward, you need the revenue coming in. And the only way to get revenue coming in is to get customers,” said Neff.

Arntz agreed. She said the goal is to use Levenger’s advice along with resident feedback and industry statistics to craft packages promoting Wellington’s storefronts to potential tenants.

The push may also entail lobbying Village Council for changes to zoning rules and other ordinances that govern the downtown shopping district, she said.

“When you have a healthy downtown with quality busi nesses that are active, it just makes the village better,” Arntz said.

FROM B1

conservatory musicians, followed by Oberlin football vs. Kenyon College at Bailey Field.

Later in the day, the Heisman Club will host a 50th an niversary celebration of Title IX at Knowlton Complex. Since 1972, the federal government has protected the right of women to equally participate in sports, spurring the creation of professional leagues and safeguarding the civil rights of transgender and nonbinary athletes.

In the evening, Oberlin women’s soccer faces off with Denison University at 7 p.m. on Shults Field, followed by a public fireworks display beginning at 9 p.m.

Capping off the night is music by Puerto Rican-Panama nian DJ Bembona at the ’Sco.

For specific times and registration requirements, visit tinyurl.com/Ochomecoming.

Angelo Angel | Community Guide

The Vermilion High School marching band makes its way through downtown Vermilion during the 2022 Woollybear Festival on Sunday.

Black River blowout

ANOTHER LOSS

Photos by Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise Eric Groesser could not be denied Fri day night, delivering a game-opening field goal, scoring three rushing touch downs, passing for another and kick ing seven PATs for the Pirates as Black River crushed Oberlin for a 52-0 home coming victory. Blake Hopkins caught a 26-yard TD pass, Seth Gaspari crossed the goal line on a 31-yard run, Alex Woolfrom took a short throw from Zane Bungard to score and Bungard ran one in in the Black River blowout.

ABOVE: Black River's Seth Gaspari breaks free against Oberlin.

RIGHT: Oberlin quarterback Julian Anderson Gaines throws a screen.

BELOW: Black River's Blake Hopkins picks up an Oberlin fumble on a kickoff and gets to the end zone.

Joe Colon | Amherst News-Times

There were few doubts Friday night about Amherst’s low chances of taking down Southwestern Conference rival Avon Lake.

The Shoremen have dominated the Comets for years, while the Comets are on an 18-game losing streak. That dynamic didn’t change Friday’s homecoming outcome, as Amherst lost 55-14. The Shoremen made the most of the run, crossing the goal line seven times before allowing Amherst to score in the third quarter.

Bishop Fryson finally got the Comets on the board with a 1-yard run, and J.R. Bires took the ball 36 yards to the end zone in the fourth quarter. Nathan Stewart added both PATs. Wade Nelson was the Shoremen standout, delivering 129 rushing yards. ABOVE: Amherst quarterback Cole Norris picks up yards.

Raiders runners beat Dukes

COLUMBIA STATION — It was a thing of beauty — Joshua Nocella found all the right blocks for a 96yard kickoff return in the second quarter Friday night to put the Dukes on the scoreboard.

The only problem was that the Raiders got there first, and in full force. A 28-yard Vincent Berardi touchdown reception from Carter Kalamasz got the ball rolling, so to speak, on Columbia’s early dominance.

The Raiders racked up three more running TDs before Nocella’s runback, which was Wellington’s only scor ing foray in the 35-7 blowout. The Raiders made full use of their running backs, with Marco Cirigliano scor ing on three short-yardage runs and Tony Governale finding the end zone from 10 yards out.

With Jacob Sanders in the mix, the Raiders trio com bined for 316 running yards on 44 carries. Wellington was able to put together just 62 yards total offense on the night.

Strader crosses the goal line four times in Falcons win

SHEFFIELD TWP. — With Clearview up by 7 in the first quarter Friday, Firelands senior Weston Strader put his head down and went to work.

He muscled in three straight touchdowns before the half on short-yardage runs. Rocco Iafolla added PATs for each, plus a field goal to send the Falcons into the locker room up 31-14 at the half.

The Clippers were only allowed one more TD, on a Cy Christensen pass to Malcolm Lane from 28 yards out.

Strader closed out the scoring in the final quarter on a 7-yard run — his fourth TD of the night — with Iafolla tacking on the extra point.

On paper, the Lorain County League foes were evenly matched, with Firelands earning 288 offensive yards and Clearview totaling 286.

But their approaches were also almost identically flipped, with the Clippers preferring to attack in the air and Firelands keeping the ball on the ground for nearly the entire game.

The result was 180 rushing yards for Strader and 53 more for the Falcons’ Evan Tester.

Christensen completed 26 passes for 208 yards, with Lane picking up 91 yards on eight catches and Keith Colvin grabbing 38 yards on five catches.

Oberlin's Chris Walker chases Black River's Nathan Urbas.

SENIOR SMILES

CZARNY LEADS PIRATES

SHARP LEARNING CURVE

Photos by Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise Black River cruised to a 3-0 win over the Ma pleton Mounties last week. The Pirates named Breann Czarny player of the game, with 14 digs, a perfect 21-for-21 serve receive, 7 points and an ace.

ABOVE: Black River’s Riley Kubitz gets hit against Mapleton.

BELOW: The Pirates’ Morgan Kubitz keeps the ball alive.

Photos by Russ Gifford | Enterprise Columbia topped the Dukes 3-1 in Lorain County League play last week, losing the first set 26-28 before going 25-6, 25-9, 25-18 over Wellington.

ABOVE: The Dukes’ Joyce Stallard hits between Raiders defenders. LEFT: Taylor Standen sets the ball.

BELOW: Lauren Vannatter sets up a Wellington hit.

Photos by Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

ABOVE: Wellington celebrated boys team seniors Dustin Andolsek and Josh Wright last Thursday night during a game against Brooklyn.

RIGHT: Wellington recognized girls team seniors Haley Harper and Phylicia Lundy on Saturday during a game against Brookside. Senior Madison Odom was sick an unable to attend.

MAJOR SETBACK

SECOND HALF SECURITY

A TITLE AT LAST

DUKES

Angelo Angel | Amherst News-Times The Amherst Comets and Midview Middies cross country teams are tightly packed at the starting line Saturday during the 44th Annual Obenour Vermil ion Invitational. Amherst placed second in the race, with junior Luke Bowlsby leading the pack with a 14th place finish in 17:42.5. Junior Henry Isaacs placed 15th (17:40.5), sophomore Ben Susi was 16th (17:42.5) and sophomore Jake Michalak finished 18th with a personal best time of 17:44.2.

Angelo Angel | Amherst News-Times Amherst’s Cecily Waynar spikes the ball as Avon Lake defenders try to block her during Southwestern Confer ence play last Thursday. The Shoregals dealt the Com ets a tough loss, 25-16, 25-23, 17-25, 25-18, damaging their chances to win the SWC title.

Anna Norris | Amherst News-Times Firelands forward Bella Simmons shoots and scores against Columbia’s Madelyn Egli during the first half Saturday at South Amherst Middle School. The Falcons came up with a big 5-0 Lorain County League win for the first conference title in their 30-year history. Bella Sim mons scored twice, and Morgan Janicek, Mia Sutorius and Kylie Sutorius each put the ball past Raiders keeper Elise Aniol once. Firelands goalie Kenzi Janosik had nine saves in the shutout.

Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

The Dukes’ Savannah Gundert had two goals and Nadia Greer, Jaclyn Krakomperger and Haley Harper contributed one apiece last week in a 5-1 win over Brookside on Senior Night. Wellington led 1-0 at halftime but scored three goals early in the second half to put the game out of reach. ABOVE: Wellington's Nadia Greer battles for the ball with Brook side's Sydney Williams.

Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

The Dukes notched a 5-1 Senior Night win over the Brooklyn Hurricanes in non-conference play last week. ABOVE: Wellington's Spencer Brasee moves with the ball against Brooklyn's Ahmad Taher.

directions. It shows up in print, online, on the radio, on billboards … all kinds of places!

Reading carefully and knowing the di erence between real and false is called Media Literacy. Check out your media literacy skills with today’s

True news or not?

Today, you get information from lots of di erent places – the Internet, TV, newspapers, magazines, radio, and more. Some of it is true, and some of it is not. When something isn’t real, we say it is “fake,”“false,” or “made up.”

Clearly, our article about a fairy nding a leprechaun’s gold is not true. It is made up and just for fun. But sometimes, it’s not so easy to tell the di erence between real (true) news and stories that are false.

True Clues

Here are three ways you can check to see if something you read is true or made up. Ask a librarian or another trusted adult to help you when you go online.

Answer the following questions when you read or hear a news item.

1.

FAIRYWOOD GLEN – Frida Fairy discovered what is believed to be a local leprechaun’s gold hidden inside of a log in Fairywood Glen.

“I saw a little glow coming from inside the log,” reported Frida. “So I walked up to investigate.”

Frida said that it appeared a squirrel had chewed a hole in the bag of gold, causing several coins to fall out. She said it was the glowing coins that caught her attention.

“It’s a leprechaun tradition, whoever finds the gold gets to keep it,” said Shamus O’Clover, lawyer for the Fairywood Glen Leprechaun League. What will Frida do with her new-found treasure? “First, I am going to have a party for all my friends!” exclaimed Frida.

“I’d also like to take a vacation to Candy Land,” Frida added. “I’ve always wanted to see Rock Candy Mountain.”

Read each of the following statements by the characters in The Three Bears. Decide if the character is sharing a FACT or an OPINION. Have a family member check your work and discuss your answers.

1.

“This porridge is not too hot nor too cold,” said Goldilocks. “It’s just right!”

“My chair is broken!” cried Baby Bear. 2.

3.

Does it say if it is ctionor if it is news?

Sometimes an exaggerated story is meant to poke fun. This is called satire

Fairy Tale Facts

2.

Look at the source. Notice where the news came from. In this case, it is from “Fairy Land News.” Is that a real news reporting source?

What other clues tell you this is not a real article?

3.

Look at the byline.

The byline tells you the name of the person who supposedly wrote the article. Is Normen Gnome a real person?

5.

Knowing the difference between a FACT and an OPINION is another skill that helps you decide if a news article is true or made up.

My little yellow straw house was the coolest house in Storybook Land!

Two of the Three Little Pigs are sharing opinions, and one is making a statement of fact

Do the math to find out which pig is sharing a fact. Odd-numbered answers are opinion, and even-numbered answers are fact. Circle the opinions in red crayon. Circle the fact in green.

17 + 4 = 13 + 6 = 21 + 3 = Houses made of sticks are my favorite because they’re easy to build!

My brick house is the only one still standing!

Ad Facts and Opinions

Find an advertisement you like in today’s newspaper. Circle the facts in green. Cross out the opinions. What does the ad say if you read only the facts?

Standards Link: Language Arts: Distinguish between fact and opinion.

Mama Bear said, “It’s a lovely day for a walk in the forest.”

Papa Bear growled, “Someone has been sitting in my chair!”

“I’m getting sleepy,” said Goldilocks after eating Baby Bear’s bowl of porridge.

“This chair is too soft,” said Goldilocks. 6.

Baby Bear shouted, “Someone has been sleeping in my bed. And they’re still here!”

“Going into unfamiliar places can be dangerous,” said Goldilocks.

MEDIA

Theyallcarrytheirownscales.

Friday Fairy and her lucky nd.