ISSUE TEN | November/December 2021 lorainlocal.com | @thelorainlocal
#weare
Bringing holiday cheer and helping to make the season
Merry & Bright
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CONTENTS 04
from the locals
Sip and stay warm this season
06
Two, three, one... Go!
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Input requested!
14
A Hometown Celebration
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17
A Tenth Anniversary Year
Small Business Saturday
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20 26
home for the holidays
Full-service and the Longest 29
Glowing Glass
& Uniqueness
A new look to our first responders
32 36
Take a little road trip! 38
40
'Twas the night...
An expansion available to residents
During this year's season of giving, please consider supporting one of our past nonprofit spotlights:
Blessing House Safe House, Safe Child God's Project of Hope
439 West 4th Street #667 | Lorain, Ohio | 44052 connect@lorainlocal.com | (440) 253-9434 www.lorainlocal.com | @thelorainlocal
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Content
from the locals It's hard to believe the holidays are upon us once again. The nostalgia always seems to settle in around the same time as our first snowfall, and we slow down just enough to take it all in. But if the thought of the first snowfall isn't crazy enough, this is somehow already our tenth issue! We have certainly come a long way since we started. But one of the greatest things about any journey is that everyone has to start somewhere and take that first step toward a new direction. That first step may not always be easy, but it seems a little less scary when a community full of strength surrounds you. That sense of community and deep-rooted energy is what Lorain is all about—and we will continue to be here to prove it.
Kelly Boyer Sagert Jason Russ Jason Shaffer Ben Weber Ryan Aroney United Way of Greater Lorain County Lorain Growth Corporation Main Street Lorain City of Lorain The Shipyards Lorain Fire Department Photography
Jen Navarro Valerie Gonzalez Jason Shaffer Reinaldo Contreras Fred Lozano, Jr. United Way of Greater Lorain County Lorain Growth Corporation City of Lorain Aileen Elizabeth Photography
At the heart of everything we do, we are proud to share the stories of bravery and tenacity. The people we get to meet are continuing to wow us by the day, and we are excited to meet more people who are #LorainProud as we move forward.
Editing
As 2021 comes to a close, we would like to thank everyone who has helped us make it to the end of our second year as a publication. We started out with an idea to bring a spotlight to our great lake city on our Great Lake coast. And we are happy to offer the outlet to do so—Lorain Local is for you.
Lead Photographer
If you are proud of this city, whether you live, work, or visit from time to time, this is your outlet. We want to tell your story. Exciting developments are coming in the new year that you will not want to miss out on. So be sure to subscribe to receive a first look of the digital version of our magazine before we publish to everyone, and sign up to start receiving copies mailed directly to your door no matter where you call home.
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A lot of things are happening around Lorain over the next couple of weeks. So read about some of those things now, and we hope you and your loved ones enjoy a very happy and healthy holiday season. We hope to see you around!
Jen Navarro
Editor in Chief Brooke Fenner All photographs, including cover photo, were taken by Jen Navarro Photography unless otherwise noted. 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 (Print ISSN 2766-8207; Online ISSN 27668215) is published bimonthly, six times per year during the odd months by Hyphen Media, LLC, 439 West 4th Street #667, Lorain, Ohio, USA, and it shall not assume liability for any inaccurate, incomplete, or delayed information contained throughout any of its publications. For free mailing or digital subscriptions, comments, or requests, please visit lorainlocal.com or email connect@lorainlocal.com. Periodicals postage pending at Lorain, Ohio. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to LORAIN LOCAL MAGAZINE, 439 West 4th Street #667, Lorain, Ohio, USA, 44052.
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L I A T OCK RY TO
written & photographed by Jason Shaffer
Imagine this: Tom Cruise in a button-down shirt, throwing expensive bottles of bourbon and tequila into the air. The gravitational force keeps the liquids from spilling out all over the place. There's dancing, laughing, and glasses flying everywhere. Women in cheetah print dresses are dancing on the bar, men in fancy white suits are making million-dollar real estate deals; it's absolutely bonkers. All right, well, the nightlife in Lorain is nothing like this. But we do have great cocktails and some excellent places to hang out. If you haven't visited Downtown in ayou to If you haven't visited downtown Lorain in Lorain a while, should come to check it out and have a fun should night out with us. With the winter season upon us, it's the perfect time to go out with friends to celebrate, catch up, or just grab dinner and get out of the house. A few short years ago, you couldn't get a craft cocktail at too many places around here. In one week, I visited seven places that are within walking distance of my studio on Broadway. And one place is just a hop and a skip from downtown. Eight places and eight cocktails (technically nine) served up all fancy for your thirsty tastebuds to enjoy. I excluded pubs and neighborhood bars for this segment because I have a fun idea for a future article, so stay tuned! Now, without further ado, let me introduce the stars of the show: The Cocktails!
Follow the glowing red neon sign and find yourself inside the dark and moody Speak of the Devil cocktail bar. Mellow music, dim lighting—the perfect atmosphere for enjoying the perfect drink.
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Welcome to The Shipyards, where mighty ships were once built. Generations later, through changes in industry and adaptation, now delectable drinks are created here. Superior City at The Shipyards is tucked away in a really cool neighborhood with views of the second-longest bascule bridge in the world and the beautiful Harborwalk community.
Lorain Local Magazine | page 6
Enter this unique restaurant with high tin ceilings, chandeliers, lemurs, church pew seating, and the smell of fresh-baked cookies in the air. Union Town Provisions is the local go-to place for a savory brunch meal paired with a bold adult beverage. Brass & Bronze Foundry Bar serves up cool vibes with a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Friendly staff, a full menu, and proximity to The Palace Theater make this the go-to spot before any downtown show.
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On the ground floor of the city's classic hotel is a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere with beautiful wood panels and artwork donning the walls, and views of Lorain's iron bridge and colorful sunsets are visible through the windows. Welcome to Dodie's Dockside.
Lorain Local Magazine | page 7
Follow your nose down Broadway toward the smell of spices and unique food dishes. Enter into the subterranean realm of Borikén Juke Joint, and get ready for beautifully crafted drinks and a super friendly environment. Enjoy the warm and familiar vibes inside an iconic Lorain location with incredible views of Lorain Lighthouse and Lake Erie sunsets. Check out Erie Steak & Seafood Co. for your prime rib and buttery lobster fix, and stick around for the tasty cocktails.
And last but certainly not least on my list is Diso's Bistro. Just a quick fiveminute trip from downtown, enjoy your cocktail with a cut-to-order filet while sitting in the dimly-lit dining room next to the toasty fireplace. This spot is cold weather perfection.
OK, so you won't meet Tom Cruise down here or see bottles flying through the air or any of the other crazy things from a 1980's movie. But what you will find is a very welcoming community and a diverse range of bars and restaurants ready to serve you some really great stuff. You may meet your best friend, or fall in love with the community, or simply just be excited to see Lorain full of bodies again and all the smiles on people's faces.
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I've used the word community a few times, and that is what you will find here: a real sense of "we're in this together" -ness. There's a camaraderie among the people that I haven't quite experienced anywhere else. So pull up a stool at any of the bars, and maybe you will find yourself next to someone with a really unique story, have a drink with them, and become a part of our downtown family. By the way, have you heard this one before? An artist, a carpenter, a priest, and an architect walk into a bar… Lorain Local Magazine | page 8
pa-RUM-pa-pum-pum
$1 of every Very Merry Mai Tai will be donated to Blessing House of Lorain
by United Way of Greater Lorain County President & CEO Ryan Aroney
For Monica Snipes-Martin, children are the future. Snipes-Martin is the project director of the 231Go! Community Collaborative, which is powered by United Way of Greater Lorain County in partnership with El Centro de Servicios Sociales, Inc. This critical work– influencing our next generation of leaders–is the most rewarding job, she says. Snipes-Martin is a Lorain native and a mother of five who has experience working with children of all ages, but she finds herself drawn to a particular age group. “What I think is special about the collaborative is it focuses directly on middle school students,” she shares. “In middle school, students are still trying to figure out who they are. All five of my kids were completely different. And they’re highly misunderstood at that point in their lives.” Working with middle school students can be challenging, but for Snipes-Martin, the challenge is worth the payoff when students find who they are in life.
Monica Snipes-Martin filling Little Free Library at El Centro de Servicios Sociales, Inc. (photos courtesy of United Way of Greater Lorain County)
“If you can find out what is in a child’s heart, that will lead their head to go to a positive space. It’s that transition that is special, to see a child really grow into who they are and discover who they want to be.”
The 231Go! Community Collaborative borrows its name from the census tract encompassing South Lorain. It is also a play on the time that school lets out–2:30 p.m.–after which students immediately “go” out into the neighborhood, and safe, positive activities are needed. The official mission of the collaborative is to motivate middle school students living in Lorain's 231 census tract to be engaged in learning and avoid risky behaviors through useful roles in the community–leading to success in work, college, and life. Local community advisory councils suggested that United Way focus on this age group because research shows that the middle school years are critical developmentally, and there is a correlation between positive engagement in these formative years and life success.
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Specifically, South Lorain was chosen as a neighborhood of focus because only six percent of the adult population has a college degree or technical/skill certificate, while 42.9 percent of households are living in poverty. In addition, a disproportionately large number of middle school students are living in this census tract as compared to the rest of the city, and there is a high concentration of residents for whom English is their second language, which can act as a barrier to receiving needed services. 231GO! Student shows off work Lorain Local Magazine | page 10
Despite the challenges, the South Lorain community is strong and proud, where everyone looks out for each other, and the presence of El Centro provides backbone support as the trusted neighborhood hub.
Students rehearsing for dance performance with 231GO!
“One thing that I love about the Lorain community is that we really treat each other like family,” says Snipes-Martin. “One of the things that resonates with everyone is the need for us to protect our youth and look out for them.”
“From the steel mill and other businesses closing, to a shift to where people live, and people moving out of the city, it’s really affected this part of town. Without 231Go!, South Lorain would have very little for middle schoolers to do. There’s football and basketball, but there’s very little else to do for those with artistic and creative minds. At 231Go! we cover all those things. We allow kids to be artists, musicians, dancers, and athletes too.”
231GO! students posing after ballet performance
“Our collaborative builds community by being all-inclusive and making everyone feel welcome. Our staff is diverse and bilingual, which means if English is your second language, you can still communicate.” 231Go! is one of ten Community Collaboratives powered by United Way of Greater Lorain County as part of the agency’s Collective Impact approach focusing on cross-sector collaboration to tackle complex social issues in Lorain County. Collective Impact is an emerging trend in philanthropy that brings people together, in a structured way, to achieve social change. The approach ensures all partners have a common agenda, establishes shared measurement between the partners, fosters mutually reinforcing activities, encouragesbetween continuous and invests in shared measurement thecommunication, partners, fosters mutually sustained support of a lead–or backbone–agency to facilitate the collaborative. reinforcing activities, encourages continuous communication, and invests in sustained support of a lead–or backbone–agency to Not only does this strategy rely heavily on traditional nonprofit agencies, but it the alsocollaborative. leverages United Way’s longstanding relationship with facilitate local corporations and includes public and faith-based organizations in the process as well. This unique approach allows the partners to create a business plan focused on meeting the need for the community versus working toward the same goals in isolation of each other– and sometimes competing against each other for scarce funding. Instead, partners can align their services, eliminate duplication, and fill in gaps to become more efficient and create more sustainable results. United Way takes this approach throughout all of Lorain County, focusing on kindergarten readiness, middle school success, chronic disease prevention, and emergency financial assistance for low-income working families. Lorain Local Magazine | page 11
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Volunteer delivers Rising Titans literacy kits to children in Lorain
Kyle Maurer volunteers sorting school supplies with his son.
Dee Hamilton fills a box of school supplies at United Way.
United Way has over 150 partners in Lorain County working together within the ten Community Collaboratives. Specifically to 231Go!, United Way coordinates six local organizations–El Centro, Lorain City School District, Lorain County Community College, Lorain County Public Health, Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority, and the South Lorain Block Watch–that are working together to improve the lives of middle schoolers in South Lorain.
“Our partners play a vital role in our collaborative as they share their unique strengths and resources,” says Snipes-Martin. “And other United Way collaboratives play a vital role in our collaborative too as we’re able to learn best-practices from what they’re doing in other parts of the county.” One thing they’ve learned: it’s best to not teach what the adults want the kids to learn. Instead, the collaborative starts by listening to the kids, making sure they know how important they are, and developing activities that help them pave a positive path toward their future. Each of the partners provides programming to the students enrolled in 231Go! at shared neighborhood sites, making it easier for the kids to have access to critical developmental resources and reducing the amount of unsupervised time kids are spending between school ending and returning home. Programming includes tutoring and mentoring, tech and STEM courses, summer camps, bike safety, cooking classes, ballet classes, and more. “I can honestly say the kids determine the direction of the program,” says Snipes-Martin. “So, if we get a group of kids who are interested in drawing, we do an art program. When we found out the kids love to cook, we partnered with the OSU extension office and LCCC to do a culinary arts program.” l a c ol ni a r ol e h t @ | m o c .l a c ol ni a r ol
And it’s working. Students who have attended the 231Go! summer camp are 2.5 times more likely to be enrolled in college-bound classes in high school than their peers county-wide.
Student participating in cooking activity with 231GO!
The collaborative also works to engage parents as well. Family engagement nights are scheduled regularly throughout the year, and during the pandemic, 231Go! launched the Padres Complimentidos class, which works with Spanish-speaking families to the pandemic, teach tech skills in support of their children’s remote learning. Lorain Local Magazine | page 12
Volunteers sort books in United Way's Volunteer Engagement Hub
“A lot of times parents feel excluded and don’t really get a chance to see what their child is engaging in. We welcome families,” said Snipes-Martin. “When we have a speaker, the parents are invited to come too, and we do family nights intentionally so the parents can participate with the youth.”
“The kids love to participate in the programming, and then they love to volunteer too. They appreciate what has been given to them from the community, and they are quick to give back because they want to reciprocate to share with other families what was given to them,” says Snipes-Martin. People in the community have an opportunity to support this important work by donating to United Way of Greater Lorain County, and there are volunteer opportunities to support the work as well. “To the funders and donors to United Way and the 231Go! collaborative, your money is truly going to change a child’s life,” exclaims Snips-Martin. “I absolutely feel like our program opens doors that normally would not be opened and gives kids connections to things they might not know they have an easy connection to.” Because of Monica and the 231Go! Community Collaborative, kids in South Lorain are discovering that the possibilities are endless. To see more about Monica and the work of the 231 Go Community Collaborative, scan here for a video profile:
Volunteers clean up the Hot Waters area in Lorain
MAKE A GIFT
GET INVOLVED
The possibilities are only endless because of the generosity of our community. When you become a donor, you’ll join a network of people who care about Lorain just as much as you do.
Sign up for the “Volunteer Blast” and get emails as new volunteer opportunities become available or join an upcoming Volunteer Network Tour to learn about ongoing volunteer opportunities.
uwloraincounty.org/give
uwloraincounty.org/volunteer
GIVE BIG, SHOP SMALL Small businesses are both the foundation and the future of Lorain. Check out our Small Business United partners in Lorain, where you can give back while supporting a local business. Interested in joining us? See the link below! Ariel Broadway Hotel Brass & Bronze Foundry Bar Fresco Bistro Speak of the Devil uwloraincounty.org/smallbusinessunited Lorain Local Magazine | page 13
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It’s not just about receiving services for the students enrolled in 231Go! Giving back and taking pride in their community is also a core part of the curriculum.
The conditions in Lorain are constantly changing, and leaders know we need to think about the future and what it could mean for everyone who is a part of it. But in this city, collaboration is key. And what started as an idea of a local eighth-grader led to creating something that the City of Lorain is now working to make a reality. Ramp It Up Lorain! is a three-part public forum series surrounding the development of a new skate park on Lorain's east side. The Ramp It Up Lorain! public forums aim to generate community input and consensus for the redevelopment of the former Lorain Products building on F Street, the planned location of the city's new and first full skate park. The forums also aim to promote positive and inclusive recreational outlets for all Lorain residents and visitors alike—something that is widely happening on all sides of town. On October 14, members of our community and skate enthusiasts from all over Northeast Ohio gathered at the Lorain Palace Theater for the first public forum of the Ramp It Up Lorain! series. Over 200 people were in attendance, which broke records and made this the largest turnout of any public forum event the City of Lorain has ever hosted. Attendees heard from Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley and members of the Building, Housing, and Planning Department, including Director Max Upton and Program Manager Hannah Kiraly. Other speakers of the evening included The Stocker Foundation's Executive Director Patricia O'Brien and professional skateboarder, entrepreneur, and Lorainnative, Chad Muska. photos courtesy of the City of Lorain
The meet-and-greet and Q&A session with Muska were the night's highlights for most of the skate park supporters in attendance. But attendees had and will continue to have even more ways to get involved and let their voices be heard, including interaction with various display boards and project representatives available to speak at all of the forums.
photo by Jen Navarro
Covering the entire project's cost will take collaboration, just like the culmination of the big-picture idea for this park.
Currently, the project team is compiling data from the first forum. They are targeting the demolition of the existing structure on the property by next summer. Following the demolition, they will hold a second public forum and develop their scope of work.
The City of Lorain welcomes you to be a part of this process and help develop the F Street Skatepark into what you would like it to be. We will keep you updated on the progress of this in future issues, but be sure to follow these groups on Facebook or Instagram for more frequent updates:
Chad Muska City of Lorain
F Street Skate Park Shred with Ed Lorain Local Magazine | page 15
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The use of Community Development Block Grants, support from The Stocker Foundation, and fundraising efforts from Muska and a nearby community skateboarding organization, Shred with Ed, will allow this concept to continue developing over the next couple of months.
"A Hometown Celebration" Saturday, November 27 Lorain's holiday season kick-off, Lorain Winterfest, will take place on Saturday, November 27. This annual celebration will return to a full slate of events after curtailing its offerings last year. Lorain Winterfest, an event of Lorain Growth Corporation, begins at 4:30 p.m. with a parade up Broadway ending at Veteran's Park. Then, at Veteran's Park and downtown, there will be live entertainment, including Christmas carols, children's events, and more. Mayor Jack Bradley and the Commander of American Legion Post 30, Jeremiah Garza, will be "switching on the lights" at Veteran's Park, and then fireworks will light the sky at 6:00 p.m. There are also festivities happening at Black River Landing. The International Trees and Trains Display will be inside the Transportation Center with beautifully decorated Christmas trees and many operating model trains. Guests are welcome back inside the building this year. Across from the Transportation Center is "The North Pole," where you can visit with Santa and a live reindeer and see the many different Christmas lights Black River Landing has to offer, including Lorain's Caboose that will also be on display and decorated with lights. The caboose will be open inside, and visitors can speak with some of the crew working on its restoration and preservation—weather-permitting.
Be sure to visit the many shops and restaurants downtown as it is "Small Business Saturday." And to help visitors get to all of the activities this year, the Horizon Education Center will be providing a shuttle service. Please look for their shuttles to get to and from each of the activity locations. If you don't make it to Winterfest or want to see some of it again, the International Trees and Trains Display and Santa will continue through December. For more information, please visit lorainwinterfest.org.
A very special thank you to these sponsors: Northwest Bank - Fireworks American Legion Post 30 - Veterans Park Lights LCCC - Live Reindeer Exhibit Horizon Education Centers - Shuttle Service
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photos courtesy of Lorain Growth Corporation
Lorain Local Magazine | page 16
International Trees and Model Trains is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year!
Lorain Growth Corporation
The Lorain Growth Corporation Tourism Committee’s idea to bring attention to Black River Landing during the winter months has undoubtedly changed and grown over those ten years. However, the event continues to bring together Christmas trees with decorations representing countries from around the world, various organizations, and other favorite themes, combined with the love of model trains. And it’s still a free event taking place at the Black River Landing Transportation Center at 421 Black River Lane. The 2020 COVID-19 Christmas season was a change the Tourism Committee didn’t expect. The committee did not want to cancel the event when they learned that they could not have visitors inside the building, so they arranged the indoor displays to face the outside. Visitors came and enjoyed walking around and looking in the windows while bringing back memories of the classic Christmas windows of the past.
Hours with Santa: Saturday, November 27—Opening night until 9 p.m. Fridays: 12/10, 12/17 5–9 p.m. Saturdays: 12/11, 12/18 5–9 p.m. Sundays: 11/28, 11/5, 12/12, 12/19 3–7 p.m. See all the details at lorainwinterfest.org and treesandtrains.org.
The most significant change from years past is that Winterfest will have Santa Claus stationed in his house across from the Transportation Center. If you enjoy the feeling of the holiday, decorated Christmas trees, and model trains, Trees and Trains opens on Saturday, November 27, during Lorain Winterfest and continues every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until December 26. The hours are Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday, 3–7 p.m., and they are closed December 24 and 25.
Lorain Local Magazine | page 17
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Happy holidays!
This year, Trees and Trains can welcome the public back inside with a few exceptions. First, they ask that guests protect everyone by wearing a mask. And to avoid crowding, they will only let a certain number in at a time.
the inspirational story shared by Jason Russ photos by Aileen Elizabeth Photography
For those who face life-threatening diseases like cancer, it can feel like they are castaways on an island unto themselves. But, as is often the case, they soon find they are in a community of love and care and faith that pulls them back into "the main" of support that exists for such times as these. Lorain Local Magazine | page 21
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"No man is an island, Entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main..."
So begins John Donne's famous poem, "For Whom the Bell Tolls," which speaks at first to the great need of humanity to recognize that we are interconnected and bound together in something far greater than we give thought to at times.
The journey for Devin Jarvis of Lorain began at a young age when her parents told her that she had an inherited propensity toward a type of colorectal cancer called Lynch Syndrome. Her family urged her to test for it, and in her 20s, she did. To her relief, it came back negative. Even still, she was highly encouraged to have regular checkups starting in her 30th year—the milestone birthday landing in the unforgettable year of 2020. That year, she had been married to her university sweetheart Ryan for seven years, and they were enjoying their two little boys Brody (4) and Baylor (2). She scheduled her colonoscopy for April, but the onset of COVID-19 brought about a swift postponement of the appointment. The summer's slow reopening of life brought with it some sharp abdominal pains and trouble eating and digesting food, so a new date was finally set for September 30 to see what was going on.
What the scope revealed caused the technician at UH North Ridgeville to quickly awaken Devin and call in Ryan to announce that she had a massive obstruction in her bowel— something that would soon be diagnosed as Stage 4 colon cancer. A team of specialists and doctors soon joined the conversation after further scans revealed the need for a very aggressive plan, including surgery removing the entire colon, both ovaries, and a total hysterectomy. In a brief video to family and friends on October 2, 2020, Devin and Ryan updated their families on the diagnosis and the long road ahead of them, full of many unknowns. Behind the couple reads a quote from author Gretchen Rubin: l a c ol ni a r ol e h t @ | m o c .l a c ol ni a r ol
"The days are long, but the years are short." Nothing could be more true of the journey that lay ahead of them as they made this difficult announcement trying their best to look strong for those who love them most.
Lorain Local Magazine | page 22
Before surgery and chemo, Devin posted another video for her friends and family entitled, "Stay Off the Internet." She researched the type of cancer she had and discovered that only 10 percent of the patients come out on the other end NED—no evidence of disease.
"This is what I struggled with," Devin shared. "When you're Stage 4 and you go in and check the box, you check that it's to maintain the cancer—they can't cure it. That was the hardest part for me to grasp." Ryan said that at the beginning of treatment, certain people in the same situation
"would often say, 'Why me?' and Devin wanted to take the approach of 'Why not me?' So I had a sign engraved and placed on a shelf at home in order to say, 'I am a survivor.'" Devin added that she saw that question as a hopeful declaration that she would be in that 10 percent. 'Why not me' would ring through every long day ahead. After surgery, those long days ahead would include 12 12 rounds of chemotherapy stretching over six months. rounds of chemotherapy The experience, at months. times, would make her feel as if the years stretching over six The experience, were literally being drained from at times, would make her feel as her. if the years were literally being drained from her. Though what made a huge difference was having the two little boys at home, keeping Devin away from prolonged rest and urging her to get up and be active for their sake. Ryan described the boy's presence as something that helped both of them tremendously in seeking out new adventures almost every day. But when the tougher days came, family and friends were there to sweep the tiny duo away so mom could rest and gain back some strength. l a c ol ni a r ol e h t @ | m o c .l a c ol ni a r ol
Faith in God was also a significant factor that brought life and light to the couple. Searching the heart of God through devotionals in a Bible app and having daily communion to remember the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross helped to keep Devin and Ryan strengthened in their faith through days of physical, mental, and emotional weariness.
Lorain Local Magazine | page 23
A LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
#DEVINSTRONG
Throughout the chemo process at Westlake's UH Seidman Cancer Center, the fellowship of Devin's chemo family would enact a tradition of ringing a bell three times whenever they finished their treatment schedule. Devin described times of joy when she saw and heard a victor ring the bell—and times when it brought her to tears as she prayed that she could find that spot among the bell ringers. The tradition of ringing the bell began in 1996 at the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, where Navy Rear Admiral Irve Le Moyne donated a bell to the center that he rang three times to signify the completion of his cancer treatment. With it, he included a poem titled, "Ringing Out:"
"Ring this bell Three times well Its toll to clearly say, My treatment's done This course is run And I am on my way!" Devin's day came on May 26, 2021. She rang the bell at the Seidman Center and, with tears in her eyes, remembered all the helping hands God sent through the long days now behind them: People like her neighbor who worked for UH and had amazing connections to themtotojust justthethe right person when get them right person when theythey needed answers or appointments; neededlike answers or of appointments; People a People a friend Devin's mother who like donated $5000 toward her chemo's friend of Devin's mother whothe donated $5000 first payment—which covered bill in full at just the right time; People like towardfrom herConstant chemo's first in payment—which those Aviation Cleveland who sponsored through Seidman, covered the bill intofull at just theChristmas right time; and chose a family receive a full gift celebration—for mom, dad, People likeboys; thoseFamily from Constant Aviation and both and friends who in held #devinstrong sweatshirt Cleveland who sponsored through Seidman, and Deli in Amherst, and a meal fundraisers, paprikash fundraisers through Your chosefor a the family to family receivethat a full gift train Jarvis wentChristmas from September 2020 to May 2021. celebration—for mom, dad, and both boys; Family and friends who held #devinstrong sweatshirt fundraisers, paprikash fundraisers through Your Deli in Amherst, and a meal train for the Jarvis family that went from September 2020 to May 2021.
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photos courtesy of the Jarvis family Lorain Local Magazine | page 24
This outpouring of love and support culminated in Devin's return home after ringing the bell, where she was shocked to find a host of her supporters out in the rain with signs shouting and with tears and laughter welcoming her home as a triumphant part of the 10percent survivor club. As she reflected with gratitude on this moment, Devin recollected hearing something on a radio broadcast:
"When you go through an experience like this, most people don't get to see their own funeral or hear their eulogy. Where, when you go through something that's so life-threatening and you come out of it, it's almost like you got to experience it and you got to see who shows up and who's there to support you." Yet, if you asked the Jarvis family what lasting effects this whole experience had on them, they'd express everyone's need to be aware of the bell that tolls for them and how our love and compassion for those facing grave trials must increase, and our faith must deepen because we are not islands unto ourselves—we need each other.
For this survivor, a ringing bell brings a much different allusion than what was expressed by Donne:
Let the Christmas bells ring this season with a renewed reminder toward this kind of true-grit faith, love and hope, and the blessing of our interconnectedness—a true gift given by our Creator.
"Each man's death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee."
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Her heart of thankfulness overflowed for a year and a half of being able to be with her boys and husband through the ordeal—time that her former role as a physical therapist would have stolen away in the daily routine of work and family.
Lorain Local Magazine | page 25
& More Celebrating the Holiday Season in Style with
Food
Fligner's Market by Kelly Boyer-Sagert
photographs by Jason Shaffer
Fligner’s was founded in 1924 as a family-owned and operated store, and it remains in the family to this day. And, as it approaches its 100th anniversary, we thought we’d reach out to a fourth-generation family member who is familiar to anyone who shops there: Ben Fligner.
If you’re seeking the country’s longest-running full-service meat market, how far would you be willing to travel? One hundred miles? Two hundred? What if you found out that prices at this store are often 60 percent cheaper than at big box chain stores and that the staff provides the personalized service of yesteryear with all the benefits of today? What if, for example, the store used computerized technology to ring up your purchases quickly, and then they’d personally carry your groceries to your car—pushing the cart and then placing the items carefully in your vehicle? How long would you travel then? Five hundred miles? A thousand? l a c ol ni a r ol e h t @ | m o c .l a c ol ni a r ol
Well, if you live in or around Lorain, Ohio, here’s the good news. You’ll only need to go to 1854 Broadway (and, for the writer of this article, that’s only 1.5 miles away). Conveniently located, the store offers plenty of free parking. What we’re talking about, of course, is Fligner’s Market.
Lorain Local Magazine | page 26
“We’re really looking forward to serving our longterm and new customers during this holiday season,” Ben shares. “Even during tough times, our great employees offer wonderful customer service to make people’s holidays complete.” Started by Ben’s great-grandfather, Harry Fligner—a Polish immigrant—and Morris Fligner, Ben’s grandfather, the two men named their store the Lorain Cut-Rate Fruit Company. That catchy slogan and the personalized service offered by Harry and Morris caught the attention of Lorainites, and, in 1933, the men changed the store’s name to Fligner’s as they expanded beyond simply offering delicious fruit. Through savvy management, the store survived the challenging years of the Great Depression. Kel Fligner began working at the store in 1949, and he earned a business degree from Baldwin-Wallace University. Although Kel would have preferred to put all his attention on the grocery store from the get-go, his parents knew the value that an education in business could bring to the store—and they were correct. Kel then bought out his father and grandfather in 1963.
Food Having a real passion for providing the community with unsurpassed service, Kel incorporated the store into today’s Fligner’s Market, expanding from 2,000 square feet to 35,000. Not willing to rest on his laurels, he kept building up the business, and, in 2014, the store won the Pinnacle Award from the Ohio Grocers Association—for being the state’s best grocery store. So, for people who like to support local businesses and love great selections of delicious food at affordable prices, it just doesn’t get any better than Fligner’s, one of the last independent grocery stores that can still compete with mega-chains. They’re also one of the city’s biggest employers. So when you support the store by enjoying their flavorful offerings, you’re also supporting the entire Lorain community. With a look toward Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve in 2021, Ben notes how Fligner’s offers:
Complete Thanksgiving dinners for ten people up to “however many you’d like” Everything you need for Christmas dinners (the store added full-service catering in 1999) Fruit trays, cheese trays, meat trays, and more Meat bundles, which can be ideal for your home or as a gift that keeps on giving with meat sourced from locally raised cattle that’s available in just about any cut you can imagine (You can even buy a quarter or half cow, a popular option!) Deliciously fresh fish and seafood Their own kielbasa and other sausages Pastry trays, customized decorated cakes, and other freshly baked desserts Full lines of produce delivered fresh daily Online grocery shopping with delivery available by Mercado “While we continue to provide full service at the highest levels of quality,” Ben says, “we’re keeping prices in check to help customers during these turbulent times. We’re here to make their holidays special, ones to remember.”
& More
Food
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Nowadays, people travel from Sandusky, Cleveland, and Akron to shop at Fligner’s so that they can enjoy farm-fresh produce, the finest cuts of meat, outstanding bread and baked goods, and more from Northeast Ohio. They can even discover hard-to-find ingredients for ethnic recipes from around the world, including Germany, Italy, Macedonia, Mexico, and Poland. Name a place on the globe and, if you’re looking for ingredients, just let them know.
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 28
Warning to all new customers: for Fligner’s friendly staff, nobody is a stranger. You’re part of the Fligner family, a cherished customer, and friend. For more information, call Fligner’s at (440) 244-5173. Hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Business Spotlight
Niche, noun: A place or position that's particularly appropriate for someone or something, especially due to being very specific and different from others.
NavCour, noun: A place that is the literal definition of niche.
In a technology-filled world, where computers rule everything around us, NavCour is certainly off the beaten path in that regard. The only computer or piece of technology that I noticed was in the office all the way in the back. In place of computers, you'll find open flames, torches, industrial lathes, giant ovens, old fabric patterns, and lots and lots of glass. After five minutes of watching Doug Navalinsky and his team work, you'll be enthralled by the fire, molten glass, and the brilliant glow of neon. Part technical craftwork, part Frankenstein's laboratory, this specialty shop on South Broadway is unlike any other in Lorain. In fact, when I asked Doug just how niche NavCour is, he named no more than five competitors—in the entire state of Ohio. Imagine having a talent so exclusive that you and every other equally qualified person in your state could pack yourselves into a VW Bus and hit the road. I find that absolutely fascinating.
The motto at NavCour is "Making the impossible possible." And believe me, some of the glassware they produce is just mind-boggling in its technical prowess. One of the first pieces Doug showed me was this multi-chambered weird teapot-looking thingy. I was amazed at the fact that a human made this, and not a computer-controlled machine. It was so elegant, strange, perfect—and left me wondering what in the world it was used for. After marveling over it for a few minutes, secretly looking for a single flaw in the craftsmanship (there were none), he opened up a case and showed me a small army of exact replicas of the mystery part. It's actually not a mystery part. He told me exactly what it was called and what it was for, but I didn't write it down and totally forgot. Where the mystery lies is: how can they replicate this specialty glassware so perfectly, over and over, as the parts created here demand extreme precision, continuity, and have to be durable? There is no room for anything less than perfection.
Lorain Local Magazine | page 29
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written and photographed by Jason Shaffer
Business Spotlight
Watching the hypnotizing spin of the lathe as the glass shimmers in the shop lights, the orange glow of the torch's flame while it shapes cylindrical pieces of glass—it all leaves you so mesmerized. All of the shaping, melting, heating—it's all very satisfying to see. During my last visit, I got to see the entire process for creating custom neon signs. It was so alluring. Starting with a fabric pattern and ending with a beautiful, colorful work of art—it was extremely interesting to see how it's done. So much patience and skill are required to develop and create each of these neon signs.
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 16
Business Spotlight
Another part of NavCour's business revolves around repairing and restoring old neon signs and clocks. They recently rebuilt the old Eagles sign that used to hang on Broadway, and that is now inside Vic Nardini's upcoming Neon Ballroom located at 383 Broadway in the old Cleveland Trust building. It looks awesome! While I was there, I also got to see them making small repairs to an old Dog & Suds sign that hasn't lit up in years. All of this is just a peek into what kind of things are created at NavCour. Doug and his team are doing really great work, and I think it should be celebrated, along with all of the other Lorain shops that build or create unique and custom products. We have to keep artisans like this in the spotlight to excite and inspire others to make sure these little niches don't disappear.
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Check back with me in a few months when NavCour and I collaborate on some really unique and cool art pieces that are going to leave your jaws on the ground! In the meantime, don't forget to shop and support local! It's good for your soul.
Lorain Local Magazine | page 31
Introducing Firefighter Ben Weber, LFD I grew up on 13th and Allison across from Kings Woods. My brother and I were unruly kids, and my mom would send us to play in the woods until the street lights came on. As we got older, we spent our days traveling around the city playing basketball—any neighborhood, any court. How fun, and what a great way to grow up! We could play all day on the court and then hang out at the beach. The greatest thing about our neighborhood was the proximity to Lorain City Schools. I was able to walk to Lakeview, Irving, and Admiral King. The 15 to 30-minute walk in the morning helped me collect my thoughts and prepare for the day. I was extremely fortunate; I had great teachers and classmates, and there is something to say about going to kindergarten and graduating with the same group of friends. A chance meeting with a young firefighter in my freshman year of high school piqued my interest in the profession. This meeting changed the course of my life. I remember being in a car accident when I was roughly ten years old. Being the oldest kid of three, my mom needed me to remain calm and help the younger kids. The fire department— they ran ambulance back then—showed up and helped everyone. I vaguely remember thinking that even if I didn't do well in school, I had a knack for being relatively calm in stressful situations. This, coupled with my friendship with the young firefighter cemented in my mind that this was the path for me. Honestly, I barely got through high school, and I joined the Navy as a Damage Controlman (a shipboard firefighter). This role gave me experience and military bonus points on the entry test for the fire department.
photos by Valerie Gonzalez
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I enlisted in the Navy in April of 1993, then I got hired by the fire department in May of 1997. I will have 25 years of service in May 2022, but the initial training consisted of 240 hours of academy training. After that, you are statecertified. The first year in the department is considered your probationary period. The senior guys really put you through the wringer. (I crawled around so much that first year that I put holes in the toes of my boots!) After your first year, the intensity slows down, but the learning never really stops. Lorain Local Magazine | page 32
Want to read about a typical day at the firehouse? Scan to read more with Ben.
Having mentors who have worked in the same field is the greatest thing about the fire department. The older, salty guys take an active interest in the success of the young firefighters—partly because this is a young man's game. It's a physically demanding job. But being physical without knowledge gets you nowhere. As for my mentors, I have to start with the young firefighter I met, Tom Brown—the eventual fire chief but now the Lorain Port and Finance Authority director. He is now my brother-in-law and closest friend and confidant. Without him, I would have been a pipe fitter like my grandpa, dad, uncles, and brother. I owe him a debt of gratitude and will never forget it. By chance, my wife's brothers are both first responders (one police, one firefighter), and they took the mantle of being the older brothers I never had. LT Bill Horvath was a constant calming force in my career. I still hear his words echo in my mind when I'm about to do something stupid. He saw it all and shared his knowledge with me about firefighting and being a man in general. I routinely text or call him to let him know I finally figured out what he meant with some cryptic message he gave me 20 years ago. AC Roy Cochran and Captain Tom Sultzer took me under their wings and helped keep me under control. I was a bit of a wild card as a young man. They molded me into the fire officer I am today. I am nowhere near the man I want to be, but I'm closer than I've ever been. I'll keep working until I get to where I want to be. But, by far, the greatest influence on me—my mentor and confidant —was my dad. He led by example. He helped the neighborhood, and he helped out coworkers and people he'd see on the street. He wasn't flashy. He just did the right thing by his fellow man. He worked hard, provided for his family, was a faithful husband, a good father, and a mentor to his coworkers. He taught us, kids, by his actions. A "do as I do" type of guy. And while my dad was a great influence on me, most importantly, my mother was, as the saying goes, the strong woman behind the good man. I was extremely lucky to have such amazing parents.
Firefighters mentally beat each other to a pulp to toughen each other up. We use the darkest of dark humor to cope. But seriously, I had a tough run about five years ago. I had five first due (my crew and I were first on scene) fatalities or trauma of men and children within six months. I struggled mightily with my mental health. The macho in me said to keep quiet and soldier on. My brain said, "Dude, you need help." I didn't know how to ask for help, and the department didn't know how to help me once I figured out how to ask. It took a long time to find what I needed. I have been very open with my struggles with mental health, and since I have been so open, more and more guys have confided in me that they have also struggled at some point in their careers. Even some of the most stoic of men have shared their experiences with me. I have become a strong advocate for mental health within the fire service. I try to be proactive. If I know that a crew had a tough call, I try to reach out and make sure they have the resources they need. I have one of my closest friends since fire school that I know I can always rely on. We share with and rely on each other, and support each other. I have a police friend from another community that is always willing to listen, and he kind of gets it. Then, my whiskey friend—he is amazing. (He may not know what's going on in my head, but he will listen.) And two civilian friends that I have been friends with for 20 years —they listen and drink with me. That's all I really need most of the time.
Still, my strongest advocate, the most supportive person in my life, is my wife. She worked in the emergency room for ten years before becoming an educator, and she has seen some things. She is strong and understanding. She will listen and let me wallow in my self-pity until it's time to move on. Then she will let me know it's that time and help me get to where I need to be. She insisted I grow up. The best part of the job is making a positive impact on our community. We roll up, and kids wave and parents are happy we are there. What could be better? Even on someone's worst day, folks are grateful we show up and do what we do. The idea that citizens call us to help, whether it's a house fire with people trapped or a cat in the tree— citizens rely on us to fix things. What an awesome responsibility! And we are more than up for the challenge.
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Today, the Lorain Fire Department is more progressional than we have ever been. The culture change over the last 25 years is profound. The young men coming up are even more aware of the opportunity to serve the community than my group is. I attribute this to our group mentoring the next generation. I am at a point in my career where I can positively influence that younger generation. They are indeed the future, and there are some incredible young men in the fire service. As for what I love most about Lorain, I love that no matter where I go, I run into someone I know—kids I grew up with, their parents, people that made an impression on me one way or another. There are so many places that bring back fond memories. Lorain Local Magazine | page 34
Outside of the job, most of my time is devoted to work or family, and I relish my time watching the kids' sporting activities. I met my wife on the first day of high school, and we have been together since then. We have been together for 33 years, and she has blessed me with four incredible children ages 30, 19, 15, and 12. All have a great combination of our traits. I am fortunate to have a healthy and loving family. On occasion, I can break away from the grind to crew for my friend's sailboat races. Although I don't get out as often as I'd like, they are a wealth of knowledge and have inspired my dream of sailing a LOT in my retirement. I spend a TON of time watching YouTube sailing videos and reading sailing nonfiction. I can't wait to become proficient at sailing. But most of all, I love talking to people. I believe everyone knows something that I don't, and it's amazing what I can learn from listening to people. From the wealthiest of Lorainites to our homeless population, everyone has a story and something to share that may positively impact my life.
I joined the Fire Prevention Office this year. So I intend to finish my career by helping prevent fires before they start. I try to mentor the younger men and the young talented, aggressive, and intelligent young LTs coming up that will eventually replace me.
It is exciting to see Lorain becoming something. Downtown is a destination. The Black River Landing, the restaurants—you can actually see a vision. My dad told me about being a kid (he grew up on 33rd and Lexington) and going downtown with his dad to pay bills. He would talk about how many people were down there, how many stores. You can almost see that happening again. It's really exciting. Lorain Local Magazine | page 35
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But it is always uncomfortable when someone says "thank you for your service," like it's an honor for me to be employed and serve the city I grew up in. It's an honor to help those in need. There is constantly food and treats and dinners, and we are very fortunate to have the support of our citizens. Coupled with the continued support of the tax levy, we really feel a positive vibe for the department. We truly are fortunate to have the support of our community.
ROAD TRIP CELEBRATION
OF THE SECOND YEAR OF ROADS, RAILS & SALES
The second annual Roads-Railsn-Sales took place September 26 after bad weather canceled the original date of September 25. It brought together a car, truck & motorcycle show, an all-category flea market, and historic railroad equipment on the beautiful and historic grounds of Lorain's Black River Landing. photos by Reinaldo Contreras
Visitors got to see more than 200 vehicles, and vintage railroad motor cars and other railroad equipment were alongside the current location of Lorain's Caboose C-3855. Guests even toured inside the caboose and learned the important history of the railroads in Lorain. This on-the-spot history lesson was possible due to a volunteer and former crewman who worked on this very caboose when it was in service.
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 24
For more information and to see more from the day of the event, please visit loraincaboose.org. Also, be sure to check out the aerial footage of the day by Rey Contreras, who captured quite a unique perspective that day! Roads-Rails-n-Sales is an annual fundraising event for the restoration and preservation of Lorain's Caboose C-3855. Lorain's Caboose and Lorain's Caboose Committee are a project of Lorain Growth Corporation's Tourism Committee. If you would like to support the caboose in any capacity, please email 3855support@loraincaboose.org. Lorain Local Magazine | page 37
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photos by Jen Navarro
A Nightmare Before Christmas
The sun was shining, the witches and werewolves were out, and Main Street Lorain was ready to kick off their first Monster Mash Dash! Broadway was trembling with ghouls and goblins from across the area, stretching and limbering up for this 5k run or one-mile walk throughout downtown. It was a spooky morning, indeed! In partnership with Hermes Cleveland, the City of Lorain, and Lorain Port and Finance Authority, Main Street Lorain hosted dozens of walkers, runners, and furry four-legged friends for their first-of-its-kind festive fundraiser. Runners raced down Broadway, across the Charles Berry Bascule Bridge, down to The Shipyards, and back up and over to Black River Landing in one of the most unique race routes Lorain has ever seen. Walkers took a more leisurely stroll down Broadway to Ninth Street and around the newly updated Black River Landing StoryWalk trail before crossing the finish line in style, ready to cheer on those following.
photos courtesy of Main Street Lorain
Costumes were encouraged community did not disappoint!
for
all,
and
the
Spiderman, Cookie Monster, farmers and cows, Mickie & Minnie Mouse, butterflies, Vikings, steampunkers, and more were in attendance and actively participating. Even our puppy friends got in the spirit, with Stella the Australian Shepherd taking home the “Best Dressed Dog” prize. Participants cheered on their fellow runners as they crossed the finish line one by one—including a lone dinosaur who seemed quite eager to remove the inflatable costume worn the entire route. The overall winners and the top times in multiple age groups received awards, and the atmosphere was amazing from start to finish!
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With the help of Meijer-Lorain, The Shipyards, Speak of the Devil, and Dodie’s Dockside, the city’s first Monster Mash Dash was a success and helped bring some fun to downtown Lorain on a beautiful Saturday morning. Thank you to our friends all across Lorain for making it such a great event! We can’t wait to see even more folks out for the race next year. Lorain Local Magazine | page 39
The City of Lorain welcomes a new program to the Building, Housing, and Planning Department that will assist homeowners with making improvements to their homes. The HOME Rehabilitation Program aims to provide low- to moderate-income homeowners with a home rehabilitation loan of up to $45,000 to make improvements on the interior and exterior of their house. This new program will be much more robust than the existing Home Repair Program that is currently offered through the City. It will require a full work write-up on the home from the City’s Housing Rehab Administrator and a General Contractor to perform the work. Repairs will include abatement of all code violations and structural hazards. To qualify, residents must meet the HUD 2021 income limit guidelines, provide proof of home ownership, and ensure the property taxes, home insurance, and mortgage are current. The application and review process will be managed by the Building, Housing, and Planning housing team to determine eligibility. Funding is provided by the Department of Housing & Urban Development through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program.
Upcoming Shows:
617 Broadway | 440-245-2323
THANKSGIVING LAUGHS WITH DAVID MORALES OPEN MIC NIGHT
Wednesday, November 24, 7 p.m.
FIRST SNOW TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA ROCK HOLIDAY COVER Saturday, November 27, 7 p.m.
NORTH POINTE BALLET PRESENTS: THE NUTCRACKER
Friday–Sunday, December 3–5
MR. SPEED #1 KISS TRIBUTE WITH SPECIAL GUEST ON FIRE VAN HALEN TRIBUTE Saturday, December 11, 8 p.m.
PAUL FAYREWETHER THEATRICAL ROCK CHRISTMAS SHOW
Friday, December 17, 7 p.m.
HOUSE PARTY ULTIMATE J GEILS TRIBUTE WITH OPENER PETE VARDOUS PROJECT Saturday, December 18, 8 p.m.
IN THE HEARTLAND MUSIC OF MICHAEL STANLEY WITH MSB GUITARIST DANNY POWERS Saturday, January 29, 7 p.m.
Visit lorainpalace.com for full schedule and to buy tickets