Lorain County Community Insider Weekly Newsletter

Joe here, and welcome to another edition of the Lorain County Community Insider!

We’ve got plenty happening around the county this week — from big developments in Lorain and road updates you’ll want to know about to local events, sports, weather, and a couple of four-legged neighbors who could use our help getting home. 🐾

Grab your coffee, get comfortable, and let’s catch up on what’s happening around Lorain County.

Thanks for being here, and let’s jump in!

Joe

After years of planning — and plenty of debate — construction is officially underway on Broadway Commons, a new 62-unit supportive housing development at Broadway and West 21st Street in Lorain.

The project will provide housing and wrap-around services for people who have experienced homelessness, with dedicated space for veterans. Altogether, city leaders say the support services represent a $22 million investment.

The location has been a point of contention. Some neighbors previously opposed putting supportive housing there, raising concerns about safety and whether another location would be more appropriate. Plans have since evolved, including the addition of a police substation at the property.

Mayor Jack Bradley believes Broadway Commons could do more than provide much-needed housing. Sitting across from the former St. Joseph’s Hospital property, which is also targeted for improvements, the development could help kick-start new investment along this part of the Broadway corridor.

Some former critics have also warmed to the project as the plans have developed.

Construction is expected to pick up in the coming weeks, with developers targeting late 2027 for completion.

For Lorain, this will definitely be one to watch — both for its impact on residents who need housing and for what it could mean for the continued redevelopment of downtown.

A citizen-led effort to put North Ridgeville's participation in Lorain County's new HUD urban county designation before voters has hit a major roadblock — and now a legal dispute may be brewing.

The Lorain County Board of Elections certified that a referendum petition had collected enough signatures. But that same day, North Ridgeville Law Director Brian Moriarty declared the petition invalid, saying it failed to meet several legal requirements. A more detailed legal opinion is expected.

The petition came from We the People of North Ridgeville, which collected more than 1,000 signatures. The group wants voters to decide whether North Ridgeville should participate in a cooperation agreement involving Lorain County and the federal Community Development Block Grant program.

Under the new urban county designation, participating communities can access federal funding administered through Lorain County rather than through the state. County officials say the arrangement should provide greater access to federal dollars.

Opponents of the city's handling of the issue say residents deserved a direct vote and are now reviewing their legal options.

Mayor Kevin Corcoran disputes claims that the administration bypassed voters, saying the city followed its charter and legal counsel.

So, this one isn't necessarily over. The citizen group says it plans to obtain its own legal review before deciding what comes next.

If you regularly travel I-90 through Elyria, you'll want to build a little extra time into your commute.

The I-90 westbound exit ramp to State Route 57 at Exit 145 is closing for approximately 14 days while crews complete pavement repairs and resurfacing.

During the closure, westbound drivers trying to reach SR 57 will need to continue on I-90 to the Middle Ridge Road/Broadway exit, get off, turn around and reenter I-90 eastbound before taking Exit 145 to SR 57.

The work is expected to be completed by Monday, October 12.

It's a relatively short-term project, but considering how heavily traveled this stretch of I-90 is, the closure could mean some added headaches during busy commuting hours.

If that's your normal route, plan ahead and give yourself a few extra minutes until the ramp reopens.

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A major eight-vehicle crash caused a rough morning commute on I-90 eastbound through Sheffield Village last Thursday.

The crash was reported around 6:38 a.m. between State Route 254 and State Route 611, creating significant traffic delays.

One person was transported to St. John West Shore Hospital for evaluation. Others involved in the crash were evaluated by Sheffield Village firefighters at the scene and cleared. Police said there was no indication that anyone suffered serious injuries.

Now investigators are trying to determine exactly what led to the pileup.

Sheffield Village Police said they're looking into preliminary information suggesting that a possible road-rage incident may have begun near Route 57 in Elyria and continued onto I-90.

That's still under investigation, though. Police have not confirmed that road rage caused the crash or identified any particular vehicle as responsible.

The good news here is that despite eight vehicles being involved, authorities reported no known serious injuries.

There's a new face leading the Lorain County Dog Warden's office — although she's certainly no stranger to helping animals around the county.

Lorain County Commissioners have named Kelsey Leftwich the county's new Dog Warden, with her new role beginning September 29.

Leftwich has been volunteering with the Lorain County Kennel since 2017 and went on to become a certified animal control officer. She's also helped the Sheffield Lake Police Department handle stray dogs and has volunteered with several animal rescue organizations.

As Dog Warden, Leftwich will oversee kennel operations and Dog Warden staff while also being responsible for enforcement of state and local animal-control laws.

Her years of hands-on experience with the county kennel and local animal rescue efforts mean she'll be stepping into the position already very familiar with the work — and probably quite a few four-legged Lorain County residents, too. 🐾

Two local police departments are hoping Lorain County residents can help reunite a couple of wandering pups with their families.

North Ridgeville Police are looking for the owner of a female dog found along Lear Nagle Road (top photo). Anyone who recognizes her or knows where she belongs is being asked to contact the North Ridgeville Police Department.

Meanwhile, Avon Police have another lost pup on their hands. A male dog was found in the Timberlake area and is currently being cared for at the APD kennel (bottom photo).

Anyone who recognizes him or knows his family should contact Avon Police.

This is one of those times when a quick share with your neighbors can make a real difference. Someone out there is probably wondering where their four-legged family member went — so keep an eye on those photos and help spread the word. 🏡

⚽ Avon Lake vs. Avon Boys Soccer

🍕 2026 Great Pizza Bake Off

🎨 Allen After Hours: Artist Talk with Mercedes Dorame

🎭 Bread and Roses

🏈 Avon Lake Homecoming Football vs. Olmsted Falls

👻 Monster Mash Dash 5K & 1-Mile Walk

💜 Lorain County Walk to End Alzheimer’s

🥕 Oberlin Farmers Market

🚒 North Ridgeville Safety Fair

🏑 Oberlin College Field Hockey vs. Ohio Wesleyan

⚽ Oberlin College Men’s Soccer vs. Wabash

📚 Paradise Community Book Discussion

🎵 Oberlin Soundpainting Ensemble Concert

🐛 54th Annual Woollybear Festival

🎃 Pumpkin Patch Train

⚽ Avon Lake vs. St. Ignatius Boys Soccer

👵 Aging Well Senior Expo

⚽ Avon Lake Girls Soccer vs. Berea-Midpark

⚽ Lorain High Girls Soccer Senior Night

🍂 LCCC Lorain Fall Fest

🏈 Lorain High Freshman Football vs. Strongsville

⚽ Lorain High Boys Soccer at Oberlin

🥩 26th Annual Free Clinic Steak Fry

Weather forecast: Guaranteed to be 100% accurate at least 20% of the time—unless it changes. Expect sunny skies… or rain. But definitely weather. We guarantee some form of that. No refunds!

Note: While the provided forecast gives a general idea of expected weather conditions, it should be treated with caution due to potential inaccuracies in long-term predictions. Checking closer to the date will provide a more reliable forecast.

I once wrote a song about a tortilla, but it's more of a wrap.

Thanks for spending a few minutes with us and catching up on what’s happening around Lorain County.

Whether you’re heading out to a local event, cheering on one of our teams, or just enjoying the start of fall, I hope you have a great week ahead.

And as always, if you hear about something happening around the county that we should know about, send it our way!

Stay safe, take care of each other, and I’ll see you right back here next week.

Joe

Disclaimer!

Hey there, awesome readers! 🥳Just a quick heads-up: All the juicy tidbits, hilarious anecdotes, and breaking news you see here come straight from our fabulous fans (SIBAF) or are curated from other sources. Now, we’re not exactly detectives over here, so we don’t fact-check a thing! Consider all the info as satire, exaggerated, completely untrue, or just a good ol’ joke—until you do your own sleuthing. Got some mind-blowing news to share? Hit us up! We love you!!!

Thank you for reading this week's newsletter. Stay safe and have a wonderful week!

Lorain County Community Insider