Issuu

March/April 2021 | Second Edition | Issue Two

Let this be your stepping stone

to summer!

Our website is also changing seasons— Go to LorainLocal.com to see what's new, or scan the code to visit now on your phone!

CONTENTS 04

From Our Family to Yours

History of Lorain's Black River 18

"Our mission from the start here was to activate the waterfront," he said, adding that part of that plan includes bringing in partners that share the same vision.

Nonprofit Spotlight: Loco 'Yaks

Kayaking|Stewardship|Education

Growing Hope in the City "Jim's role in bringing urban gardening to Lorain's hurting and homeless is nothing short of a miracle."

An Inside Look at Lakeview Park 24

Catch a sunset at Lakeview Park this year.

P. 36

Funky Socks & Lorain Souvenirs

Keep downtown beautiful!

p. 45

Nutrition with Lorain Public Library

47 48 49

Creative Corner is Your Space

Visit the Lorainaissance Today!

Blessing House Safe House, Safe Child God's Project of Hope

Lorain Local Magazine | page 3

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439 West 4th Street #667 | Lorain, Ohio | 44052 connect@lorainlocal.com | (440) 253-9434 www.lorainlocal.com | @thelorainlocal

Like. Engage. Share. Inspire. Content Contributors

From Our Family to Yours, With so many things on the horizon, we wanted to make sure to guide you toward the warmer months a little sooner than Punxawtaney Phil may have predicted. While some of you may enjoy the cold weather and what it might bring with it, we think we all can agree it's time to focus on the summer sun —or at the very least, warmer weather. Throughout this issue, we glimpse at what a change in seasons will bring throughout our great lake city. And we get an inside look at some of the moving pieces making our Great Lake coast a pretty awesome place to be now and in the coming months. So many positive things are happening throughout Lorain, from new businesses joining old businesses under the same roof to plans unfolding following the demolition of parts of our past that stood before. Everyone behind these moving parts is working together, and collectively, we are all helping to make our community a better place to be. And the best part: It's just the beginning. As we journey into spring and begin fully enjoying life here on the water, be sure to check out the improvements taking place all over town. Community arts programming is continuing downtown and beginning on the south side, and there is much more inspiration to follow. From the waterfront to the south side and everywhere in between, we hope you enjoy exploring our great lake city on our Great Lake coast. l a c ol ni a r ol e h t @ | m o c .l a c ol ni a r ol

As always, stay safe and well, and remain Lorain proud!

Kelsey Leyva-Smith Kelly Boyer Sagert Valerie Gonzalez Fred Lozano Gil Navarro Madison Maniaci Jason Russ Jadelyn Showalter Deb Palmer Jayner Figueroa Loco 'Yaks Main Street Lorain Lorain Historical Society Lorain County Metro Parks Lorain Public Library System

Photographers Jen Navarro Valerie Gonzalez Jason Russ Jim Goforth Miles Jones Tim Smith Loco 'Yaks Oasis Marinas Lorain Historical Society Lorain County Metro Parks Lorain Public Library System

Editors T.J. Heidler Kim Obbey

Lead Photographer Jen Navarro

Editor in Chief Brooke Fenner All photographs were taken by Jen Navarro, unless otherwise noted. Cover photo was taken at Lorain's Century Park by Jen Navarro, Navarro Photography . Copyright © 2021 by Lorain Local. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or transmitted without prior written permission from the publisher. Lorain Local Magazine (ISSN 2766-8207) is published by Hyphen Media, LLC, Lorain, Ohio, USA, and it shall not assume liability for any inaccurate, incomplete, or delayed information contained throughout any of its publications. For subscriptions and comments or requests, please visit lorainlocal.com or email connect@lorainlocal.com.

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Lorain Local Magazine | page 4

Awakening the History of Lorain's Black River

Photos and content courtesy of Lorain Historical Society

Over the years, the Black River has played a significant role in developing the city of Lorain. Originating from the East Branch Black River (formed in Northwestern Medina County) and the West Branch Black River (rising in Northern Ashland County), the Black River generally flows northwardly from Elyria, past Sheffield, and into the city of Lorain. The mouth of the river forms part of Lorain Harbor. The Black River is a tributary of Lake Erie. As such, it has been a perfect means of transportation—both for bringing raw materials into Lorain and as a passageway for finished goods to leave the city and reach its final destination. Via Lake Erie, the Niagara River, and Lake Ontario, the river is part of the St. Lawrence River watershed, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean.

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In 1897, the shipbuilding industry moved to the east bank of the Black River. From here, the first steel ship, Superior City, was launched in 1898. During the many years that shipbuilding was part of Lorain's industrial story, well-known passenger ships, railroad car ferries, tankers, self-unloaders, tugs, and barges traveled the waters of Lorain via the Black River. The Port of Lorain is a bulk cargo port, which differentiates it from some other ports throughout the country. Lorain's port does not receive containers that carry equipment and goods. Instead, it receives raw materials such as iron ore, salt, gypsum ore, limestone, gravel, and potash. These materials then ultimately construct steel, roads, and process aluminum. Lorain Local Magazine | page 6

When Tom Johnson decided to move his steel company to Lorain in 1984, he realized the Black River's importance in the transport of raw materials. One of the requirements for his moving the Johnson Steel Company to Lorain was that the Black River be straightened and dredging to ensure a 27-foot depth for a distance of three miles from the mouth of the Black River to the upper turning basin. This turning basin is the furthest point of navigation for the big boats along the river and is located just below the steel mills' locations. The Johnson Steel Company began in June 1894, and it cast its first steel on April 1, 1895. Along with a few other industries, the steel industry brought people from all over the world to Lorain. Each group set up mini-communities, especially on the south side of Lorain, now known as South Lorain.

Soon, Lorain became known as The International City. The population of Lorain grew from 4,800 in 1890 to well over 10,000 in 1896. New industry and businesses came to Lorain as a result of the steel mill and this growing population. At its peak, the steel mills employed 12,000 people, and supportive jobs outside the mill employed another 6,000 people. Lorain Local Magazine | page 7

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Although the days of the once high-producing US Steel and Republic Steel mills have passed, freighters still travel the river to unload raw materials needed to serve construction companies such as Falbo Construction and Terminal Ready Mix.

So what about the Black River today? Some people would like to think that the Black River is once again playing a significant role in Lorain's redevelopment. Though large industrial giants like US Steel, Republic Steel, American Shipbuilding, National Gypsum, and many others are no longer using the Black River for transport, the river and the lakefront are experiencing redevelopment with recreational and mixed-use purposes in mind. Black River Landing and Lakeside Landing are excellent examples of this transition, as is the residential Harborwalk Development, located on the American Shipbuilding Company's former site. Under the Lorain Port and Finance Authority's leadership and with the assistance of the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers, the Black River and its shoreline are being re-constructed as a new fish habitat. "The Aquatic Fish Shelf" is a structure, mostly underwater, that will mitigate the effects of the steel pile walls, once constructed to accommodate industrial and business uses. They use various plantings in the reconstruction that create a type of shoreline wetland that serves as a spawning ground for new fish like smallmouth bass, perch, and crappie. Lorain's Fish Shelf is the only one with a location on the US side of the Great Lakes.

Other wetland areas, closer to the steel mill site, have attracted many blue heron and other wildlife, just past the turning basin mentioned above. It is one of the largest blue heron rookeries in North America, with over 200 nests on that site. Visitors by paddle craft or boats under power can view hundreds of cormorants in this region, along with bald eagles and turtles. What was once a dumping ground for toxic debris has now become a wildlife preserve, thanks to the coordinated efforts of many organizations and individuals, both public and private. Just as the city of Lorain attracted people for job opportunities and the hope of a better life in the early 1900s, thousands are drawn to the city today for recreational and mixeduse activities at Lakeview Park, Lakeside Landing, and Black River Landing.

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Discover an Oasis on Our Great Lake Coast

A welcome to our newest marina's first location of its kind by Kelsey Leyva-Smith

An extraordinary boating experience is what Oasis Marinas aims to offer its customers, regardless of the location. Being their first operation on the Great Lakes, that same sentiment rings true at Oasis Marinas at Port Lorain, 301 Lakeside Avenue, on the city's east side. The Lake Erie marina, formerly home to Spitzer Marina, opened for its inaugural season under new management amid the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. Despite the added learning curve thrown their way, the staff at Oasis Marinas has continued to push forward and are looking forward to an exciting second season in 2021.

"The first season was pretty awesome," said Regional Manager Nate Moyer. "By the time we were ready to go for the season, not to take away from the concerns we had with COVID, but weather was the biggest concern. Boating is a great socially distanced activity that you can partake in, so weather to open the season was probably our biggest hurdle." Moyer recalled snow coming down in the middle of April as the first boat arrived at the marina.

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"Once the season turned and people could get out on their boats, everybody was out there," he said. "It went from 0 to 60 almost overnight." Much was accomplished at the marina throughout 2020, including the renovation of the boater's lounge, the replacement of deck boards, and the installation of new aluminum gangways. Other improvements include repairing the water system, replacing rub rails, installing a new pump-out system, and adding life rings, fire extinguishers, and swim ladders. Lorain Local Magazine | page 10

Oasis Marinas and the Lorain Port and Finance Authority worked together to complete other projects at the 600-slip facility, such as revamping the landscaping around the office building, resealing the entire parking lot, and installing new jet ski docks.

"It's great to have an engaged partner with the Lorain Port and Finance Authority," Moyer said, adding the two entities collaborate often and have projects that blend together. Port Authority Executive Director Tom Brown agreed with Moyer regarding the partnership.

"We could not be happier with our partnership with Oasis so far," Brown said. "Working with Nate and his team has been great. We have constant communication and the free flow of ideas and concepts which has fostered some great creativity." The Port Authority will be adding bench swings along the Mile-Long Pier as part of a new sponsorship program the organization is launching. Another new feature in 2021 will be shadow-casting bicycle racks throughout the site to improve accessibility for cyclists and tie in with Mile Marker 00 of the Lorain County Metro Parks' Black River Bikeway, added next to the marina's entrance in 2020.

"That introduces a whole different group of people who are going to be able to utilize the marina," Moyer said. "The bike trail is pretty sweet, and we hope to have cyclists all throughout the space."

Photo courtesy of Oasis Marinas

Photos courtesy of Oasis Marinas

During the 2020 season, Moyer said he and the staff learned a lot about who visits the marina, why they visit, what they expect or need, and what they hope to get out of the experience. There are the walkers, the sunset or bird watchers, the yoga enthusiasts, and the photographers, to name some of the marina's more frequent visitors. Specific to the boaters, there are sailors, recreational, weekenders, and fishermen who also utilize the space. In response to frequent requests from customers, Moyer said a major project that guests can look forward to in 2021 is fullcoverage Wi-Fi access at every slip.

"That's going to be our biggest project for the year," he said, adding the timing is great for those who now work remotely. "As the climate changes, we have figured out it is sustainable for people to work from home or to work wherever they want. We know that you don't necessarily need to be in an office to be productive and effective." Other new features this season include completely renovated restroom facilities and a small ship store inside the marina office building. Moyer said the restrooms will match the style and décor of the boater's lounge, and the store will have basic supplies such as fenders, lines, and oil.

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New partnerships with Erie Shore Rentals & Detailing and Freedom Boat Club mean marina visitors can also expect added amenities and excitement this year. Moyer said Erie Shore offers "top of the line jet ski rentals," and Freedom is a membership-based boat club that offers members use of its private fleet of maintained boats.

Lorain Local Magazine | page 12

Whether you live in the Lorain area or are just a visitor passing through, the easiest way to book a slip is through the app or website Snag-A-Slip. Moyer said the app is geared toward transient boaters and includes details about amenities at the marina and nearby. Similar to a hotel booking engine, Snag-A-Slip provides real-time availability and the option to reserve without ever calling the marina, making travel seamless and simple. Booking for 2021 dockage is open, and the first day of the season is Saturday, May 1, 2021. Moyer said the number of reserved slips so far is encouraging.

"If you compare '20 verses '21, we're ahead of pace this year," he said. "We are extremely optimistic about boater turnout." Moyer mentioned the increased popularity of outdoor activities such as camping, boating, and fishing in 2020, and he doesn't see that going away any time soon.

"I think that this industry is going to continue to be strong for years to come, which is great for coastal towns like Lorain," he said. "It's up to us to make sure that we continue to provide updates at the marina, to the infrastructure, to the docks, to the facilities, in order to give our boaters a great place to call their home port."

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"In both cases, you're going to have a significant amount of people, their customers, coming through Lorain and coming into the marina," he said. "I think that's what's most exciting: to draw more people from outside of Lorain to Lorain to see what the city has to offer. That's what I'm pumped about. We're going to start seeing the benefit from that to the local economy just by the sheer number of people that are coming in."

Lorain Local Magazine | page 11

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Kayaking|Stewardship|Education

Photos courtesy of Loco 'Yaks

A lot of people may know that if they want to kayak in Lorain County, have general kayak questions, or want to participate in the annual Black River Clean-Up, contacting the LoCo ‘Yaks is a great place to start. But who are they? The Lorain County Kayak and Paddlesports Group, or LoCo ‘Yaks, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization headquartered on the Black River on the East side of Lorain. Getting people outside and exploring the local waterways via kayak has always been the mission of the ‘Yaks, but there is so much more to this organization. Founded in 2013 by husband-and-wife team Robb and Stephanee Koscho with their close friend Josh Notley, kayaking is still their main focus. Notley serves as the recently elected President for the Board of Directors. The Koschos manage the business operations and are American Canoe Association (ACA) certified Coastal Kayak Instructors. They also have Adaptive Endorsements that enable them to help people with physical disabilities enjoy time on the water with specially adapted kayaks and gear. Supported by funding through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and Western Reserve Land Conservancy, LoCo ‘Yaks has three kayaks with seatbacks specifically designed to support those who may not have the core strength or stability to use a traditional off-the-rack kayak, such as someone who uses a wheelchair. They also have several paddle adaptations to support various upper body limitations. l a c ol ni a r ol e h t @ | m o c .l a c ol ni a r ol

The 2020 pandemic changed a lot of established practices for a lot of people and businesses. It was a year full of transformations for the ‘Yaks, and significant changes are continuing in 2021. The biggest announcement for Black River paddlers is the addition of a new ADA accessible kayak/canoe launch near the entrance of the Lorain Harbor. With funding provided by ODNR and a partnership with the Lorain Port and Finance Authority (LPFA), LoCo ‘Yaks will host the launch right outside their doors at Riverside Park, 138 Alabama Avenue. The new launch will be free for public use. Lorain Local Magazine | page 14

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Because of limited events and activities for the second summer in a row, as well as specific requirements established by the CDC, LoCo ‘Yaks has increased its rental inventory and is working to create an inviting waterside destination for locals and visitors alike. To increase rental efficiency, they have added a shipping container to house the growing fleet of kayaks. And partnering with FireFish, the storage unit and surrounding landscape will become a pollinator garden and public art installation as the spring and summer progress. Volunteer opportunities are available to help create this Lorain masterpiece. Along with kayak rentals and kayak instruction, LoCo ‘Yaks also offers guided tours for the safety-conscience and/or inexperienced groups, as well as those who want to learn more about the river’s history and sights. Due to recent events and increased interest in outdoor recreation, they have incorporated online booking and digital waivers through their website to provide shorter wait times, less faceto-face interaction, increased accountability, and proper social distancing. Recent pandemic upgrades also include increased disinfecting of kayaks and gear between each and every paddler with extensive dry times.

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Also new for 2021 will be safety signage for all vessels on the Black River. Thanks to a grant from the Western Reserve Land Conservancy in 2019 and partnership with Lorain Port and Finance Authority and Lorain Marine Patrol, these signs will inform boaters of the nowake zone, direct paddlers away from powerboats, and caution large vessels of the presence of smaller, recreational watercraft. Lorain Local Magazine | page 15

LoCo ‘Yaks is also working on getting people involved in our local waterways through group events such as Monday Paddle Nights (MPN). Every Monday throughout the summer (weather permitting), paddlers of all vessels meet up and launch around 6:00 p.m. and spend approximately two hours on the water. MPN is a great opportunity for paddlers to play safely as a group, meet other like-minded outdoorsmen, and venture to areas they may not normally visit. While known primarily as a ‘kayaking’ organization, LoCo ‘Yaks supports all outdoor adventurers dedicated to taking care of planet Earth. That is why they are kicking off a new fundraising initiative this year called Good Gear for Great Kids. Coordinating with local youth organizations, they will begin accepting new and gently used outdoor gear this spring to offer deserving kids the chance to try new adventures where the opportunity may not otherwise be present. However, as mentioned before, LoCo ‘Yaks is more than just kayaking. Their mission is “to promote fun, safe, and eco-friendly open-water kayak instruction and educational adventures for all ages and all abilities, while supporting the maintenance and preservation of our natural waterways.” And this Stewardship component is what they are most proud of. The annual Black River Clean-Up, or BRCU, is a community event that kicks off the start of the kayak season in Lorain. In seven clean-ups (seven weekends over seven years), more than 1,900 volunteers have removed over 110 tons of debris, including 1,855 tires, from the Black River, her banks, and adjacent lands.

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Unfortunately, COVID-19 halted the large annual event in 2020, but BRCU’21 will still go on, just a little differently. The first weekend in May (the traditional BRCU weekend) will be virtual, with online coverage and giveaway opportunities for all who participate, whether on the Black River, in Lorain County, or the other side of the world. Then, throughout the summer, locals and visitors to the Black River and Lorain can continue the BRCU efforts with rewards from local partners who would normally support and participate in the annual clean-up.

Of the 43 original AOC watersheds established by the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the U.S. and Canada, Ohio had four. To be listed as an AOC, each watershed must exhibit at least one of 14 recognized useimpairments caused by human activity. Recently, the US EPA announced removing the 100th such impairment, formally known as “BUIs” or Beneficial Use Impairments. This 100th removal took place in our very-own Black River—the river’s 3rd (of 9) BUI removal. (Please visit blackriveraoc.com for more information.) For questions, comments, more information, or to donate, please visit www.locoyaks.com, email locoyaks@gmail.com, or call (440) 249-0590.

Lorain Local Magazine | page 17

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Thanks to the grassroots success of the BRCU, the LoCo ‘Yaks accepted the position of Facilitating Organization for the Black River Advisory Committee in the fall of 2016. With guidance and funding from the Ohio EPA through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), this committee of volunteers works to eliminate the Black River from the US EPA’s list of Great Lakes regional watersheds considered Areas of Concern, or AOCs.

IN THE CITY

Photos courtesy of Jim Goforth & Jason Russ

by Jason Russ

When the wintry winds of February bring snow and cold upon Lorain, the last thing most of us wish to do is go outside. The icy temperatures drive us inward to stay warm, which is where we've spent so much of our time during these COVID-laden days. But what if there was an answer to the hopelessness that has overwhelmed us through these difficult times? What if there was a way to bring people together while seeing failure as a valuable ally toward the greatness of dedication and persistence? Let's go on an unexpected journey together and gain a vision for what is possible if we dirty our hands and catch sight of something we could all use more of these days: hope.

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Abby Miller comes from a tradition of growing apples, peaches, plums, cherries, and other fruits during her time on her family's farm, Miller Orchards. As a young lady in her 20s, she recalls many of her earliest memories tagging along on the tractor with her father Roger as he worked in the orchard and helping her mother Jennifer as she ran Apple Hill in Amherst.

Lorain Local Magazine | page 18

Abby's mom was also an avid vegetable gardener. She allowed Abby and her siblings to plant their own produce and learn the joy of seeing it come to harvest each season. This experience led Abby to become a part of Future Farmers of America at a young age and ultimately pursue a degree from Dordt University in agriculture with a strong emphasis on mission work. For Abby, combining agriculture with her faith was a dream come true. After graduating, she settled back home and began working at The Salvation Army in Lorain. There, she connected with the children's needs in the city, and her heart grew for them to experience the soil like she so often had during her youth. Abby got a garden box for the kids to teach them the value of planting and growing and sharing their harvest with others. Eventually, Abby took on a part-time role at a garden center, but she met her heart for agricultural missions through a local non-profit called "Hope for Futures." This organization received help from a city grant early in 2020 and began combining efforts with Church of the Open Door to establish urban gardens in the heart of Lorain. At the same time, Jim Goforth was also building urban gardens in Lorain, but his journey there was very different.

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In his 20s, Jim went down the path of heroin and cocaine addiction that took 14 years of his life as he lived on the streets and fought for his very survival. To save money and steer clear of tainted products, Jim learned how to grow marijuana. For him, this endeavor became the gateway to a whole new world of growing produce to the point where he would only grow things that would help him and others feel productive and get healthy. Over time, Jim found himself going to bed and waking up, always anxious to see how his plants were and how he could make his backyard garden flourish. He went through the Sustainable Agriculture Program at Lorain County Community College to learn more about this new passion. Soon, Gateway Pharms was born, and Jim ventured into the world of farmers markets. At the onset of the pandemic, Jim set up a shop on Oberlin Avenue that allowed him to continue selling produce when community markets had closed down. Through a Facebook connection, Father Alex Barton of downtown Lorain's Episcopal Church of the Redeemer stopped by Jim's storefront, and a bond instantly formed. In time, Jim left the storefront on Oberlin to set up a new location with Father Alex at the church, where he joined the staff as the urban farm manager and community outreach liaison.

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Both Abby and Jim have approaches to gardening in the city just about as diverse as their backstories.

Lorain Local Magazine | page 19

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Abby employs a planting method using Gardensoxx, which are long tubes of compost ideal for vacant land or even in parking lots. Once she installs water lines with a timer, Abby can have plenty of fresh, clean produce growing each season with little to no weed issues or any concerns about contaminated soil. In the spring of 2020, Abby oversaw a garden installation at Church of the Open Door's Avon Lake and Elyria Campuses. In the fall, Hope for Futures added a garden in the parking lot of the south branch of Lorain Public Library System. The library uses the harvest from their garden to support culinary programming and food insecurity throughout the area. Food from both of these gardens has also gone to feed students at The Garden Christian Academy in Cleveland, food pantries like We Care We Share Ministries in Lorain, and the Lorain County Office on Aging, to name a few.

Jim's approach uses a more traditional method of finding vacant land, tilling the soil, adding nutrients, and planting things that will draw out the contaminants and enrich the soil over time. This urban garden's current location is at 12th Street and Lexington Avenue in Lorain, where Jim and his "garden gang" have grown fresh produce and brought purpose out of an unused and unnoticed lot. The food from this farm goes into weekly meals prepared at Church of the Redeemer to feed the homeless and hungry throughout our community.

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On a snow-filled, chilly day in February, I sat down with Abby, Jim, and Father Alex to see what would come of the introduction and discussion. Although their backgrounds, partnerships, approaches, and funding sources all differ, I wondered what it would look like to find out what could unite them —something that can only ever happen by pulling up a chair to the same table. Father Alex first brought out a purpose toward everything they are doing that resonated with me as a fellow Lorain Pastor. He referenced the Bible verse,

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven: Matthew 5:3 This verse is something that Father Alex and his parishioners take to heart as they seek to develop a dignified and empowered community in the heart of downtown Lorain. Jim then added that the means to that end is to use the vehicle of the garden to bring about that dignity and empowerment. It's something they've already seen through their garden gang, who have all come off the streets to help with soil preparation, planting, and harvesting.

"When you put your head down and do the good work, it just seems like people are willing to come through," Jim reflected. Abby observed that it's an exercise in faith when it comes to funding and running urban farms.

She said, "I'm just obeying what God's called me to do. It is fun, and it's freeing because, actually, I have no control!" So much in our world has felt out of control recently. But in the garden, there is not only a freedom to release that power by putting your head down and doing the work, but also through the permission to fail and reap the rewards of those lessons learned.

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Abby shared her joy of having youth from Church of the Open Door's Lorain Campus working alongside her this past summer and how that kind of hard work can open up conversations about life and trying new things. She also loves the message that agriculture naturally sends.

She said, "Being able to teach them that life is failure and you can still survive that. Teaching them that you're out here with us and we are all imperfect, and that's real life, and you can still get through it." Lorain Local Magazine | page 21

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As our roundtable discussion concluded, we set out in the snow to look at some of the work ahead for both farmers. Jim's plans include expanding to another lot on West 14th Street and Lexington, where they will till vacant land into a garden and transform a shipping container into a neighborhood farm stand. Abby's spring goals include adding a garden for the library's main branch, just across the street near West Sixth Street and Reid Avenue. While most people have been hiding from the snow and cold, the ideas and plans for these urban farms seem to warm the air and light a fire. In a world of polarized opinions and positions, it's around the soil that a couple of farmers can meet and find common ground. When we feel like we are losing hope and circumstances are troubling us, Lorain's urban farm movement is a fantastic opportunity for the community to come together. Here, we can watch the walls that separate us break down and work together to grow something new and timeless in our hearts that long for unity, peace, and something more. As the seasons transition, make your way to the places that are growing hope together within our community. And let us all find faith in how Eugene H. Peterson’s “The Message” helps to explain Matthew 5:3:

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you, there is more of God and his rule.”

l a c ol ni a r ol e h t @ | m o c .l a c ol ni a r ol Lorain Local Magazine | page 22

A Message from Lakeview Park's New Interim Park Manager, Jadelynn Showalter As the recently appointed interim park manager of Lakeview Park, I have many grand ideas and plans for improvement. It has been a challenge not to get carried away with project ideas as there is so much I want to do here, all of which takes a great deal of time and labor, not to mention funding as well. While not originally from Lorain, I started my career with the Lorain County Metro Parks right here at Lakeview Park as the recreation leader, putting on year-round programming and managing the beach and lifeguards during the summer beach season. I worked at Lakeview Park for eight years before transitioning to the Amherst HealthPlex as a facility coordinator managing aquatics. It feels great to be back in the park that I started my journey on as it holds many special memories for me, and I have met so many wonderful people here. This year we are focusing our attention on enhancing the beauty of our beloved Historic Rose Garden. We will be planting 672 new rose plants and creating a new care and maintenance schedule. Are you interested in becoming a volunteer? We are looking to build a new volunteer group to help keep the roses blooming all summer long. We are also very excited to bring back and increase our programming this year. We will be hosting an egg hunt, line dancing, a ballet performance, concerts, our Sunset Beach Fest, and we will have a whole lot more to come! While we are currently operating with a small staff, we are in the process of looking to build our team with additional seasonal staff as we approach spring and summer. Enjoy working outdoors, gardening, mowing, or doing general maintenance? Or want to be a beach lifeguard? We are looking to hire both park aides and lifeguards.

Visit us online at loraincountymetroparks.com and check out our Facebook page @loraincountymetroparks to see everything happening in our park system. Thank you for all of your support, and we look forward to seeing you in the park!

Photo courtesy of Lorain County Metro Parks

Jadelynn Showalter Interim Park Manager, Lorain County Metro Parks Lakeview Park 1800 East Erie Avenue (440) 245-1193

Lorain Local Magazine | page 23

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We enjoy hearing from our community and visitors, so if you have any ideas or suggestions, please contact us. And if you are interested in working or volunteering at the park, please call us at 440-245-1193 or email jmaldonado@loraincountymetroparks.com.

In the running for "Best Lighthouse on Lake Erie" for the eighth straight year! For more information, please visit LorainLighthouse.com.

Food

& More

odie's ockside by Kelly Boyer Sagert Indulge in the spicy goodness of mussels with Italian sausage as an appetizer, followed up by a mouth-watering entrée of ziti and meatballs—which tastes even more marvelous because you’re also enjoying your favorite wine. Dessert? You’re having a hard time deciding between the delicious house-made cheesecake with fresh berries, whipped cream, and with or without chocolate sauce—and the vanilla zabaglione and its seasonal berries, amaretto, and vanilla bean. This combination is just one of the many incredible menu choices at your fingertips when you dine at Dodie’s Dockside, located on the main floor in the historic Ariel Broadway Hotel and Event Center at 301 Broadway Avenue in downtown Lorain. This restaurant is ideal for intimate get-togethers, as well as family gatherings. “We’re so grateful for community support,” says Tim Smith, who

co-owns Dodie’s Dockside with his wife, Jamie Porrello. “We’ve got

loyal diners who come in regularly every week, and we notice that

business is picking up now, with more people dining out. So we’re

bracing for the madness that will come when even more people are

eating in restaurants and we’ll have to hustle to keep up!”

Food

& More

Panoramic View Let’s briefly take a step back and orient ourselves to where we are, geographically. The historic Ariel Hotel— previously known as the Broadway Building before its stunning renovation took place—is located right in front of where Lake Erie and the Black River intersect, with the world’s second-largest bascule bridge at its side and the Lorain Lighthouse in view. This structure was built in 1925, and Dodie’s has a dockside position. The interior remodeling that took place at Dodie’s honors and pays homage to the original architecture while also doing something else: “harnessing the nautical spirit of Lake Erie’s coast.” While enjoying your traditional seaside food that’s been given a contemporary Italian twist, you can also browse local art and historical photographs. As Tim and Jamie like to say, “Dodie’s takes

pride in being the

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place where you

gather for the

food, for the

ambience, and

especially for the

community.”

Lorain Local Magazine | page 27

Food

& More

How Dodie’s Came to Be Tim and Jamie had dreamed of owning and operating a restaurant for a long time, always imagining what they would serve—and their skill sets are a perfect match in at least two different ways. First, Tim says, “My wife is creative, and she came up with the

menu. As for me, I can take care of the business end.” Secondly,

as their website notes, Jamie likes to cook. Tim likes to eat.

They finally took what Tim calls the “big plunge” after their first child—daughter, Cora—was born three years ago. (It should be noted that brother Leo followed a year later!) By this point, Tim already had 20 years of experience in the food industry, from bartending to management positions. Plus, he has a natural gift of making people feel welcome and of creating a sense of genuine community.

l a c ol ni a r ol e h t @ | m o c .l a c ol ni a r ol Lorain Local Magazine | page 32

Food

& More

Meanwhile, Jamie remembers cooking beside her grandmother, Dodie, whose family immigrated to the United States from a place just outside of Naples, Italy. More specifically, one of Jamie’s earliest kitchen memories includes wearing lobster antennae on her head while her grandmother performed her unique culinary magic. Once the couple decided it was finally time to pursue their dream of having their own restaurant, they needed to find just the right location. When they found the location inside the historic hotel, a gorgeous building with space that overlooked the waterfront available to rent, they knew this was the perfect place. “My wife’s grandmother,” Tim says, “knew how to bring people

together through the food she cooked. Our plan is to continue delivering

the same quality in our own community.”

He recognizes that not everyone is dining in quite yet, so they are also offering a delicious array of family meals to go. “Order. Drive up. Pick up,” he says. “It’s that simple.”

So if you’re looking for incredibly delicious food that provides the best that seafood and Italian cuisine has to offer—plus a friendly environment, marvelous wines and cocktails, and a beautiful lakeside view—you know where to go: Dodie’s Dockside at 301 Broadway Avenue in Lorain.

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Be sure to tell ‘em we sent you!

Lorain Local Magazine | page 29

Business Spotlight

Funky Socks, Pretty Scarves, and Local Souvenirs

A look at one boutique that prides itself in supporting Lorain by Madison Maniaci

Lolipop's Gift Shop, located inside the Ariel on Broadway Hotel and Event Center, has offered Lorain-inspired gifts and memorabilia familiar to Lorainites for the past six years. After gaining inspiration from a catchy childhood nickname, owner Laurel "Lollie" Bansek opened the shop in 2015 and has been bringing smiles to visitors' faces ever since. Lollie grew up in Pittsburgh, and after moving to Lorain, she met her husband, Steve Bansek. Lollie has lived here for over 60 years and now sensibly identifies as a true Lorain native.

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Lollie and Steve have been involved in the community since 1967 and have been instrumental in various community fundraising efforts through the years. They have been a part of community events such as the Lorain International Festival for the past 35 years and the former Light Up Lorain and Waterfront Winterfest, which has now evolved into today's Lorain Winterfest. They also help with their church, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish of Lorain, among many other volunteer duties throughout the community. Lorain Local Magazine | page 30

Business Spotlight

When Lollie was a young girl, she received a camera for Christmas. This gift would also ultimately influence her shop's opening. But it was not until after retiring from her job and most of her volunteer duties that Lollie and Steve would begin traveling and begin laying the foundation needed to open a shop one day. After traveling to 42 countries and every continent, excluding Antarctica, Lollie discovered a love for photography. During a trip to Poland with Steve, a true passion for film photography became apparent when their tour guide offered to buy Lollie's negatives. Lollie feels that was the moment she officially became a photographer and not just someone who took pictures. From then on, Lollie wanted to expand on her photography skills, and friends and family encouraged her along by telling her she had a good eye for it. Back home, and after appearing at various pop-up shops on Broadway, other business owners told Lollie that they wanted someone to start selling Lorain souvenirs. So she photographed famous Lorain landmarks and historical locations and used them on various items she offered for sale. Lollie later included funky socks and women's scarves to the mix, and the vision for her shop began to come into focus.

She eventually saved enough money to open her shop's original location at 408 Broadway. But after spending five years in that location, Lollie decided she wanted a fresh start inside the newly renovated hotel downtown.

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In January of 2020, she officially opened her new gift shop's location inside 301 Broadway Avenue. While she did face closure at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she jokingly felt she knew why: "Unfortunately, socks are not essential." She has since remained open beyond a brief break at the beginning of the year to unveil new designs currently available in store.

Lorain Local Magazine | page 31

Business Spotlight

Once she moved to the hotel, she noticed many guests were interested in her products, specifically items that contain images of the historic Lorain Lighthouse. Lollie shared that the photographed Lorain Lighthouse merchandise is her bestselling area within the shop.

"People who are visiting look for wearable memorabilia with Lorain prints and other accessories, and I wanted to provide that for them," Lollie said. With the recent growth and revival of Broadway, she has received tremendous feedback from tourists and locals visiting the shop.

"I think it's great! Five years ago when I opened up, there was nothing on Broadway, and my husband said to me, 'What 77year-old woman would open a shop on Broadway now?"

Business Spotlight

Well, she eventually needed to move to a larger shop to accommodate more products. And now, she sees more traffic in her shop because of the recent addition of local restaurants and other small businesses coming into the downtown area. Many of her customers include out-of-town visitors, but people locally are also seeking Lorain merchandise. She encourages more gift shops like hers to move downtown because she has noticed a desire for specific products that she does not carry. Lollie hopes more retail businesses will come and bring variety and the offerings that her visitors want. Saving up and putting away money to start her business has helped her survive these last six years, and without that extra coverage, she would have had to close up before she could make it.

"My advice for someone looking to open a small business in Lorain is to set aside enough money to be able to stay open to cover all of your costs so that in two to three months, you won't have to shut down. Find a nice place, fix it up, and go for it!"

Lorain Local Magazine | page 33

Business Spotlight

Fun things are coming to the shop in 2021, including a new t-shirt line Lollie will reveal this summer. She recently released a collection of Lorain shirts and sweatshirts that are now available and come in many colors and sizes that can ship directly to your door. The shop has always carried many quirky and eccentric products, such as its biggest seller, Solmate Socks, made in the USA and made from recycled materials. These mismatched socks are a popular item in the shop alongside other accessories such as women's ponchos, scarves, coffee mugs, and other Lorain-inspired gifts. Lollie prides herself on selling made-in-the-USA products that people can afford, and she welcomes you to stop in to see for yourself soon.

Currently, Lolipop's is open every Saturday from 12–4:00 p.m., but the shop will return to its regular business hours in April. For more information, please visit Lolipop's Facebook page, or stop in and say hello. Lollie would love to see you!

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Every day, with every patient, we aim to provide the best possible health care experience. For more information or to schedule an onsite or Telehealth visit at any LCH&D site in Lorain, Elyria, or Oberlin, call (440) 240-1655.

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Introducing Deb Palmer Retired, LPD Communications

Interview & photos by Valerie Gonzalez

There’s a saying, “You have one mouth and two ears so you can talk less and listen better.” Deb surely has an extra pair of ears tucked into her hair. She listens with a superhuman ability—and genuine interest. If she was born with this superpower, she definitely honed it on the job as an emergency dispatcher for Lorain Police Department. She’s compassionately pragmatic, humorously engaging, witty, and has the biggest smile. Her temperament is steady, easy-going, and grounded. She’s an in-it-for-the-long-haul kind of woman. Willing to roll with the punches, take one for the team, and travel the road few would traverse. Was the Dispatcher job made for people like her or the other way around? With Deb, maybe it’s both. Let's get to know her some and find out.

How long were you a dispatcher before you retired? 31 years

What did a typical shift look like?

Oh my! Well, most of my career was on the night shift. In the summer, it can be very hectic, and you really need to be on your game. It's nothing to get a bar fight, domestic, or even a homicide call. You have to try to handle the call while it's in progress and keep the officers safe also; that's our main priority! There were times we would start the shift at 10 p.m., and there would be two screens of calls; some were dispatched, and some were waiting to be dispatched. Our calls are sent out by priority. That means a robbery, domestic-in progress, missing child, and things like that, which are in progress, would go out before a barking dog. You have to be able to multi-task. You could have a caller on the phone, and an officer calls out on a stop, then another officer is asking you to run something, and then another call is coming in. That could all be in a five-minute span. It's definitely not an easy job, and it's not for everyone. But I loved being a dispatcher in Lorain, where I grew up.

Did you have a support team around you to help you through your days?

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My husband, Les, who is a Captain at LPD—he has always supported me, told me when he thought I was wrong (which is never, of course!), encouraged me to take on tasks that I may not have, and has just always been there as a sounding board for me when I needed to vent. I have a great family who has always been behind me, and you can't ask for much more than that! My faith in God has been my biggest support system. Through Him, all things are possible.

What drove you to go to work every day? I have driven many different cars over the 31 years! (LOL) But I would have to say the excitement, knowing that I make a difference, and just being with all the friends I have made there over the years. When you love what you do and have so many wonderful coworkers, you just feel like you're going to your second home. Lorain Local Magazine | page 36

What was your happiest day on the job, or were there many? There were many. One night, a man called in and was suicidal, homicidal, and threatening to shoot our officers if they came near him. I could tell he was really starting to lose it. He led us on a chase all through Lorain, and I kept him on the phone, advising the officers what he was telling me. He was screaming and not really listening to me, so I tried to connect with him on a personal level. He had talked about his mom dying recently, and I had also lost my mom around that time, so we talked about that. He calmed down and actually started talking to me about how his life didn't matter and how depressed he had been while—all the time having the gun to his head. He finally stopped, and I convinced him to throw the gun out the window and put his hands up. I reassured him we just wanted to get him some help. Our officers were able to get him out of the vehicle and take him to the hospital. Our hostage negotiator at the time was Rick Soto. He sent me an email the next day telling me he listened to the call and that I did an amazing job. He jokingly said I might take his job away from him! But seriously, this is one of many types of calls we, as dispatchers, take on a daily basis. You never know what the call will be when you answer that phone. I worked with some of the most wonderful, professional, and caring dispatchers in this area.

Funny, this addresses the question above: the man with a gun. After this male was released from the hospital, he was brought to the station for booking. I just happened to be walking out of the record room, and one of our officers was in the hall with him. The male looked at me and said, "Are you Debi?" I said, yes, I am. He said I just want to thank you for talking to me last night. He said, “I was in a bad way, and you actually saved my life.” He told me he had plans to kill himself and possibly an officer or two. At that moment, you realize that you can and do make a difference.

Now that you have retired, are you finding yourself busier than ever?

Nope, not busy at all! People keep asking me how it feels to be retired, and I say, so far, it just feels like a very long vacation. My stress is lowered, I sleep better, and I'm able to spend more time with friends and family How do you spend your weekends?

Well, with COVID, mostly in my house—annoying my husband! When the weather gets better, I'm looking forward to exercising a little more, dinners with friends, and just enjoying time off. What are some of your hobbies?

Photography. My husband bought me a great camera, and I'm looking to take a class so that maybe I could do it professionally one day. Lorain Local Magazine | page 37

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Did you ever meet any of the people you helped through the phone? If so, can you please describe the feeling you had when you met them?

What was your most challenging day on the job, or were there a few? Please share that time with us.

We had an officer, Bill Brown. I had started my shift at 10 p.m., and he was just getting off. The officers and dispatchers had a great rapport at that time, and we were all pretty close. A bad storm was headed our way, and I would say within the first hour of our shift, we got a call on 911. The female was screaming that Bill had jumped off the boat, and the storm had hit, and they couldn't locate him. We soon realized she was talking about our Bill. Needless to say, it was a long, heart-wrenching night. Our dive team was searching, and several other departments were assisting us. No results through the night, and when our shift got relieved at 6 a.m., we all headed to the sight, dispatchers, and officers. His body was recovered that morning. We still talk about him, and everyone has a funny story, but it was the worst night ever. What would you tell someone looking into becoming a dispatcher?

Wow! I would tell them to take the test and become a part of one of the best professions they could ever have. It is challenging, hectic, far from being mundane, but it's not for the faint of heart. It's real situations and real people. You have to be able to separate your feelings at that moment and help those people the best way you can. I'm not saying calls don't get to you; they do at times. Every call can affect that person for a lifetime, and you're the first person they contact when they need help. You have to be able to put your emotions aside and do what you're taught to do. But this job is also very rewarding. I can't think of another job that's anything like it. I wouldn't trade the last 31 years for anything—the good and the bad! How did the position evolve over your time in the role?

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When I started in 1989, I was working with officers from the "old days,” like McCormack, Larry Giese, Tom DeNicola, Russ Cambarare. Things were a lot different back then. Now we have technology that we didn't have back then. There were officers working with me before I left that called me Mom because they could be my kids. We always have and always will have the best officers and dispatchers in the county. Our officers are working in a time where crime has tripled, and the seriousness of the calls has become so much worse. When I first started, officers were respected. Now it seems like they're criticized, called names, threatened, and so many more awful things. So I would have to say the times have really changed! Lorain Local Magazine | page 38

What positive changes have you witnessed in the community in the past couple of years?

People are coming together more and trying to make a difference. Before I retired, several businesses would drop off food (yes, donuts, our favorite), gift cards, thank you cards with notes of encouragement, and so many other things. There are good people in the world, and I feel they far outnumber the bad. The department and the community are working closely together to make Lorain an even better place to live, work, and raise your children. Is there anything else you would like to share?

Thirty-one years ago, my friend Mary Harkacz called me. She worked in the engineer's office in Lorain. She told me they were going to be hiring civilian dispatchers and told me I would be great for the job. I had a job and wasn't sure if this was something I wanted to do. With her encouragement, I took the test and became a Lorain PD Dispatcher. Without that call from her, my life would be so different. So I just want to thank Mary for changing my life forever and for being the catalyst for this wonderful experience. After all, I also met the love of my life there.

If you’ve never had to dial 911, then applause to you. But if you should ever have to make the call, knowing that men and women like Deb are on the other end makes the world a better place!

Deb is the faceless, disembodied voice, the nameless person on the phone, and she is a hero. We are proud to highlight Deb Palmer and thank her with deep sincerity for her 31 years of service to the City of Lorain.

Lorain Local Magazine | page 39

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She’s one of the good guys. And no matter how much negative press our police departments are receiving, women like Deb can make anyone doubt just how bad it might really be. She’s proof there are great people working for our LPD and other police departments around the country.

CK BE

by Gil Navarro

As I arrive early on a cold fall Sunday at St. Lad's, excitedly awaiting my interview with Benjamin Bill, it's the type of cold that's perfect for football, and those around me match my excitement. The sounds of DJ Zach B permeate the pavilion while a sea of orange-and-brown-clad community members eagerly awaits the start of the Browns-Steelers game.

Benjamin Bill greets me, and I ask if I can buy him a drink. Who is Benjamin Bill, how did he become a recording artist, and how has COVID-19 affected his music? And, oddly, how does he influence and play a vital role in shaping the future of your children? The story began when Gerardo and Sara Corcino moved from Puerto Rico to Lorain, Ohio, where employment was plentiful at the steel mill. Mark Jones, the son of Ernest and Anne Jones, eventually met a young woman named Myrna Corcino, Gerardo and Sara's daughter. Mark and Myrna fell in love, they had a son named Miles, and now Miles is known professionally across the music industry as Benjamin Bill. During our time, Miles shares his upbringing and how music played a part in his childhood. His influences include the Motown sounds of The Temptations and The Four Tops, the smooth jazz of saxophonist Kenny G., and the guitar playing of his father.

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"I was waking up to either the smell of breakfast or the smell of Windex," Miles recalls of his Saturday mornings as a kid while his mom listened to Marc Anthony. But it wasn't until he first heard "Big Poppa" by The Notorious B.I.G. that Miles knew he wanted to become a rapper. Music became the place where Miles could express himself as he escaped the climate of poverty, drugs, and violence experienced by his closest confidants and community. Lorain Local Magazine | page 46

Wednesdays, growing up, were reserved for piano lessons.

CK BE

Before he could go outside and play with his friends, Miles would perform for his father while he rocked away in his rocking chair. If he made a mistake, his father told him to start all over. Although frustrating to a kid, Miles now respects the discipline his father instilled in him at a young age. However, the living room was not the only place Miles performed the piano. He would even perform for his congregation at St. John's United Church of Christ. As a teenager, Miles wrote and recorded songs with his childhood friends Moe and Adrian. One recording had a cowboy-themed beat entitled "Deadly Desperado." His teacher discovered the song and initially expressed concern to Miles' mother about lyrics containing gun references. But throughout his time at Lorain Middle School, Miles discovered his second love, a love for education. He became involved in peerto-peer mentoring and, at this stage of his life, he knew that he wanted to be a teacher. Upon graduating from Admiral King High School, Miles pursued a bachelor's degree in integrated social studies from Ashland University, where he also played football until he was injured. No longer playing sports, Miles once again found himself recording music with his childhood friend. Miles and Moe continued pushing each other artistically, and Miles finally began taking his songwriting seriously.

Noe DeLeon—a popular figure, recording engineer, and music producer residing in Denver, Colorado—presented a solution. Miles could move to Denver, have an independent deal living and recording, and Noe would use his industry connections to music labels and executives to shop Miles' music. But fear of the unknown and the urging of close friends and family convincing him to seek stability instead, Miles opted to utilize his college education and pursue his dream of teaching.

Lorain Local Magazine | page 41

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With a love of teaching and a love for music, which path would he focus on next? Miles had a dilemma: "How does one begin to afford to record music if you don't have time to make music while working?"

CK BE

Miles, now a husband and father, is an educator at Clearview High School, molding and educating Lorain youths and preparing them for the future. Previously coaching football, Miles now looks forward to coaching baseball as a head varsity baseball coach this spring. He is also enrolled at Cleveland State University, currently pursuing his master's degree. The realities of life have not stopped Miles' dream of creating music. When asked how he balances music with being a father, husband, and teacher, he replied, "It's physically part-time, but full time on my mind." His musical career, however, doesn't appear to be part-time.

In 2014, at Lorain's Black River Landing, Miles performed at Roverfest in front of over 15,000 people. Benjamin Bill and his groupmates B.B.M.A were the opening acts for headliners T-Pain & Lil Jon. When asked how he felt about the opportunity, he shared, "Getting married was the greatest day of my life, having my daughter was the greatest moment, and the greatest feeling was yelling out into a crowd and telling them to 'put their L's in the sky,' and they follow my instructions." In 2017, he recorded a single with Canadian rapper and singer Tory Lanez. He's also released albums with B.B.M.A and the group Four40.

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In 2019, he released his album "Room 105." Later that same year, he submitted his song "Bout It" with fellow Lorain-native DJ Gweb and artists DubXX and AR216 for a feature on the popular basketball video game, 2K20. The 2020 album release of "Leave A Message" lists the single, debuted in July 2020. Cautious about the pandemic dangers and putting his loved ones at risk, Miles canceled his album release parties and trips to Miami, Detroit, and Denver, where he planned to record new music and shoot music videos in the past year. However, COVID-19 did not stop Miles' marketing ideas. Before the outbreak, Miles recorded a music video for his single "Pull Up" at Roman's Grocery store, in the heart of South Lorain. In the video, he raps in both Spanish and English. Lorain Local Magazine | page 42

CK BE

Miles realized his goal of shooting a video at The Lorain Palace Theater for his single "Are You Down" with fellow Lorain artist Michael Luis and Cleveland artist Liana Vixen. The video features a star-studded Benjamin Bill arriving in a limo to The Palace, where he watches a movie directed by himself, starring his fellow co-artists.

This video wasn't the first time that Michael Luis and Benjamin Bill collaborated in 2020. The two also shared each other's music for their followers on social media through Instagram Live, similar to a Verzuz webcast series. I went on to inquire about the album's features, and Miles responded, "You can find success and enjoy music by yourself, but the best music is through collaboration. I understand if I can bring in other artists to improve what I'm hearing in my ears, and they can make it sound way better than anything I can do, I'm gonna do that. It's also a way I can show love, and if I can put you on my platform to help expose you to my viewers, that's also what I want to do. I love, love, love working with other artists." The album includes Academy Award Winner and GrammyNominated rapper Juicy J and Platinum recording artist Styles P. Miles comments on his album's approach, "It's what I was feeling at the time. The beauty of music is you can express yourself in so many ways. There's something for the streets, something for the clubs, and an ode to God." That last point refers to his song "Count My Blessings," where he pays homage to his late friend, Will, referencing him five times throughout the song. l a c ol ni a r ol e h t @ | m o c .l a c ol ni a r ol

"Will believed in me more than anybody. He was there for every video shoot and every release party."

Lorain Local Magazine | page 43

After discussing his loss, Miles refers to the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Denzyl Williams at Oakwood Park.

"As a community, we need to do better. Love each other more, help each other out more. Seeing everything that's going on lately—gun violence, drugs, violence in general—I think through the pandemic, it's been even tougher, and people don't know how to deal with their pain and suffering. I think especially young people need to do a better job looking at themselves in the mirror and realizing [violence] is not the answer. Violence is never the answer to solve any issues, and if they need an outlet, there's more than enough resources out here to do that. I commend, and I'm grateful and thankful we have Councilman Carrion, that he's very involved and passionate. He's doing anything and everything in his mind and thoughts to try and impact our community. Lorain is much better than what people perceive it to be. It has way more potential, and we're letting it slip away by acting a mess and not doing the right thing. Love thy brother and sister. We're all in this together; it's all we have. They have that saying, 'Cleveland against the world.' I really have that same mindset about Lorain. Not too many communities get together sitting here like this, enjoying a Browns game out here in the open in the neighborhood, and be at peace with each other. We just need to do a better job at that." I asked what was in store for 2021. An EP collaboration, titled “Tied Up,” with longtime fellow artist AR216 (his childhood friend Adrian) is complete, and its release will happen in the next few months. Miles also hopes to travel, especially to Detroit and Denver, to record new music as he anticipates dropping new singles throughout the year. If you would like to hear his music, you can find Benjamin Bill on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, and Livemixtapes. Be sure to follow Benjamin Bill on Social Media: Instagram @benjamin_bill, YouTube "Benjamin Bill," Twitter @benjamin_bill, Facebook @BenjaminBillFour40.

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CK BE

Lorain Local Magazine | page 47 Photo courtesy of Miles Jones

"THE BIG SWEEP" HELPING TO KEEP OUR DOWNTOWN BEAUTIFUL AND INVITING TO ALL

The Design Committee of Main Street Lorain is pleased to announce its plans for "The Big Sweep," a clean-up campaign of Lorain's historic downtown.

2021 2021 SWEEP SWEEP DATES DATES April 17—Mini Sweep—11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

There will be two "big sweeps" this year. The Spring Big Sweep will be the third Saturday of May (May 16, 2021), and the Fall Big Sweep will be the third Saturday of September (September 18, 2021).

May 16—Big Sweep—9:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m.

The City of Lorain will be helping with these two sweeps by supplying us with items needed to make this a total success.

August 21—Mini Sweep—11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

In its campaign to improve the look of downtown Lorain, the design committee has included five one-hour "mini sweeps," scheduled for the third Saturdays of April, June, July, August, and October. We will assemble at 11:00 a.m. on each of the designated Saturdays and do a quick survey of the historic downtown area, cleaning up spots that need some attention.

June 19—Mini Sweep—11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. July 17—Mini Sweep—11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

September 18—Big Sweep—9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. October 16—Mini Sweep—11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Please note that we will be supporting a local restaurant after each sweep and welcome you to join us. "Main "Main Street Street Lorain Lorain promotes promotes collaboration collaboration and and

We are encouraging all members of Main Street Lorain, Lorain City Council, downtown business owners, downtown building owners, and any interested Lorainite to join us as we make our historic downtown a better place to do business, to shop, to live, and to play!

celebration celebration as as a a means means of of making making downtown downtown Lorain Lorain vibrant vibrant and and accessible accessible to to residents residents and and visitors visitors of of all all ages. ages.

For more information, and to discover more ways to get involved, please visit mainstreetlorainohio.org.

Lorain Local Magazine | page 45

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The members of the committee believe that in order to attract Lorainites and visitors to our historic downtown, there must be a regular program of clean-up that will keep the area attractive and inviting to all.

March is National Nutrition Month

& Lorain Public Library System has ways to celebrate! Please note that pre-registration is required for all programs except where noted. Visit the online calendar for the most current information at LorainPublicLibrary.org/events.

Family Food for Thought

Mondays from 4 to 5 p.m. March 8: How to Read a Recipe April 12: Making Fruits and Veggies Fun Join us virtually via Zoom from the Main Branch's Culinary Literacy Center as we help build culinary skills for the entire family.

Cooking with Charlie for Adults—Pi Day Pie! (on Zoom) Sunday, March 14 at 10 a.m.

We use our Charlie Cart to demonstrate how to make a wonderful no‐bake pie in honor of Pi Day!

Zoom Cookbook Discussion

Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 16: Delish: Eat Like Every Day's the Weekend by Joanna Saltz April 20: Lorain Eats: A Collection of Ethnically Inspired and Family Favorite Recipes If you love to read, cook, learn and share recipes, this group is for you. Join us via Zoom to discuss and feel free to virtually "share" a dish from the month's selected cookbook. Hosts will be logging in from the beautiful new Culinary Literacy Center at the Main Library.

Food Fridays from 3 to 4 p.m. March 19: Food Trends April 16: Dining on a Dime

We will be recording in the Culinary Literacy Center at the Main Branch, and you can view it on our Facebook page.

Food and Fun

Saturdays, April 3, 10, 17, and 24 at 11 a.m. Main Library, South Lorain Branch, and Domonkas Branch Children and teens age 18 and under are invited to pick up a packaged set of ingredients and a recipe to share with their families.

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Cooking with Charlie for Kids Wednesdays at 10 a.m. April 7; April 21

Join us on our Facebook page as we use our Charlie Cart to demonstrate how to make kid‐friendly snacks!

Lorain Local Magazine | page 46

Abeille's Laura Coteff, a licensed home baker—known as a cottage baker throughout the industry—spread a little love this February during a demonstration video at the new Culinary Literacy Center inside the main branch. Throughout the video, she shows how to make heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie cakes that are easy to make at home and are budget-friendly and kid-approved.

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Take a peek at these behind-the-scenes images from during the demonstration, and then be sure to check out this and other Prerecorded Programs under the Events tab on LorainPublicLibrary.org.

Lorain Local Magazine | page 47

T Th he e p pl la ac ce e f fo or r y yo ou ur r C Cr re ea at tiiv viit ty y t to o t ta ak ke e t th he e s sp po ot tl liig gh ht t!!

Check out some of these great captures from some of the creative minds that believe in our Great Lake city!

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Tag us across social media using our handle:

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l a c ol ni a r ol e h t @ | m o c .l a c ol ni a r ol Lorain Local Magazine | page 48

@thelorainlocal

Make 2021 the year to experience the

Only 30 minutes from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) Accessible by car or boat with convenient transient slips and lodging options Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area throughout downtown entertainment district