Lorain County Community Insider Weekly Newsletter

Welcome to this week’s Lorain County Community Insider! We’ve got you covered with some of the biggest stories making the rounds, local events worth checking out, and a look at what Mother Nature has in store for us.

Whether you’re catching up over your morning coffee or planning out the weekend, thanks for spending a few minutes with us. Let’s see what’s happening around Lorain County!

Joe

The ongoing strike involving nearly 100 Lorain County Job and Family Services workers has reached another major turning point. The State Employment Relations Board (SERB) dismissed unfair labor practice allegations filed by both the UAW and Lorain County, finding no probable cause that either side violated state labor laws.

SERB also determined that negotiations have reached an impasse. County commissioners say their final offer — which includes a 12% raise over three years plus a potential 1% attendance bonus — remains on the table and are urging employees to return to work. The union has pushed for higher wages, including a $1-per-hour raise, and says members deserve better compensation for the essential services they provide.

For residents, the biggest concern continues to be the impact on JFS services. The department handles everything from SNAP and Medicaid to childcare benefits and elder abuse investigations. With roughly half its normal workforce operating, some residents have reported long waits and temporary benefit disruptions.

Although SERB says neither side is legally required to keep negotiating, nothing prevents talks from restarting. For now, however, county leaders say formal negotiations have concluded, while union supporters say they intend to keep fighting for a new agreement.

Lorain firefighters jumped into action last Wednesday evening after receiving a call about a person in distress in the Black River.

Crews from Lorain Professional Firefighters Local 267 responded, with rescue swimmers entering the water and successfully bringing the individual back to shore. The person was then transferred to LifeCare Ambulance and transported to Mercy Hospitals for additional medical care.

Details about what led to the emergency and the person's condition weren't included in the initial report.

It's another reminder of the wide variety of emergencies our local first responders train for — and some well-deserved credit goes to the rescue swimmers and everyone involved in getting the victim safely out of the river.

Keep the water bottle handy, Lorain County — we're in for a hot stretch.

Temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 80s and low 90s, with humidity potentially making it feel close to 100°F today.

The National Weather Service in Cleveland is reminding everyone to stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day and take regular breaks if you have to be outside.

It's also a good time to check on older neighbors, relatives and anyone without reliable air conditioning. And don't forget about the pets — plenty of fresh water and limited time outside can make a big difference during this kind of heat.

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Drivers in Elyria are getting a little relief from the ongoing road work around Griswold Road.

Starting Monday, August 31, Griswold Road will reopen to eastbound traffic, but westbound traffic will remain closed while crews continue concrete repairs. A portion of Tillotson Street will also stay closed.

The City of Elyria recommends using Midway Boulevard as an alternate route while the work continues.

The current traffic restrictions are expected to remain in place through September 4, so give yourself a little extra time if this area is part of your normal commute.

One four-legged member of the Lorain County Sheriff's Office was hard at work during this year's county fair.

K9 Bella, a specially trained bomb detection dog, patrolled the fairgrounds alongside her handler, Deputy K9 Trifiletti. The pair worked throughout the event helping provide another layer of security for fairgoers.

Most visitors probably never saw Bella doing much more than walking the grounds — and that's exactly the point. Bomb detection K9 teams can help identify potential threats while allowing large community events to keep running safely.

So here's a well-earned shoutout to Bella and Deputy Trifiletti for putting in the hours while the rest of us enjoyed the fair. 🐾

There were some new deputies making the rounds at the Lorain County Fair this year — and they were pretty hard to miss!

The Lorain County Sheriff's Office Mounted Unit made its fair debut, giving residents their first chance to see the unit's horses and riders in action.

Mounted units can be especially useful at large public gatherings, where their elevated position gives deputies better visibility while also helping them move through crowds and patrol larger areas.

The unit was scheduled to be out throughout the fair weekend, and the Sheriff's Office encouraged visitors to stop by, say hello and meet its newest members.

Between the Mounted Unit and K9 Bella, the Sheriff's Office definitely had some four-legged help keeping an eye on things at this year's fair. 🐴

Date: Wednesday, September 2
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA), Oberlin
Details: An ongoing Tai Chi class open to all skill levels, featuring gentle, low-impact movements designed to improve balance, flexibility, and mindfulness.

🚋 Kopf Family Reservation Tram Rides

Date: Thursday, September 3
Time: 5:00–7:00 PM
Location: Avon Lake Public Library Trailhead, 32649 Electric Blvd., Avon Lake
Details: Take a free 20–30 minute tram tour through Kopf Family Reservation. Rides are first-come, first-served with limited seating and are weather-dependent. A nice low-key outing for families or anyone who wants to explore the park without doing all the walking.

🎸 Rockin' on the River: Chris Lane

Date: Friday, September 4
Time: 6:15 PM
Location: Black River Landing, 421 Black River Lane, Lorain
Details: Country music star Chris Lane takes the stage for another big night of Rockin' on the River along Lorain's waterfront. A supporting act is also scheduled to be part of the evening.

⚾ Lake Erie Crushers vs. Joliet Slammers

Date: Friday–Sunday, September 4–6
Time: Friday 7:00 PM; Saturday 7:00 PM; Sunday 1:00 PM
Location: ForeFront Field, Avon
Details: Catch a full weekend of professional baseball as the Lake Erie Crushers host the Joliet Slammers for a three-game series. Friday and Saturday offer evening baseball, while Sunday's afternoon game makes for an easy family outing.

🏈 Amherst Steele vs. Lorain High Football

Date: Friday, September 4
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Spitzer Autoworld Stadium, Amherst
Details: A great local matchup for Friday night football fans. The Amherst Steele Comets host the Lorain Titans in a varsity showdown featuring two Lorain County programs.

🥕 Oberlin Farmers Market

Date: Saturday, September 5
Time: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Downtown Oberlin, across from the Post Office near Oberlin Public Library and City Hall
Details: Spend Saturday morning browsing the Oberlin Farmers Market and supporting area growers, makers and vendors. It's an easy stop for fresh produce and locally made goods while spending some time downtown.

🚋 Sandy Ridge Reservation Weekend Tram Rides

Date: Saturday & Sunday, September 5–6
Time: 1:00–4:00 PM
Location: Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten Rd., North Ridgeville
Details: Explore the trails and wetlands of Sandy Ridge aboard a free park tram. Rides last approximately 20–30 minutes, are first-come, first-served and are weather-dependent.

⚾ Major Leaguers: 125 Years of "Modern" Baseball

Date: Wednesday, September 9
Time: 6:30–7:30 PM
Location: Lorain Public Library System – Avon Branch, Avon
Details: Baseball and history fans can celebrate the Lorain Public Library System's 125th anniversary with a program looking back at 125 years of modern baseball. It's part of the library's yearlong anniversary celebration.

🧵 Intro to Sewing with Jevon Terance

Date: Thursday, September 10
Time: 5:00–7:00 PM
Location: Lorain Public Library System
Details: International fashion designer and Lorain native Jevon Terance leads the first session of a three-part beginner sewing workshop. Participants learn how to use a sewing machine while creating a project. Designed for ages 12 and older; preregistration is requested.

🎶 Rockin' on the River: Fleetwood Mac Tribute

Date: Friday, September 11
Time: Gates/event activities begin around 5:30 PM; county calendar lists the performance at 6:15 PM
Location: Black River Landing, Lorain
Details: Rockin' on the River closes out this stretch with Seven Wonders bringing the music of Fleetwood Mac to the waterfront, joined by The Evil Ways Band performing the sounds of Santana.

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.

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

Stay cool, stay safe, and hopefully you’ll get a chance to head out and enjoy something happening around the community this week.

Have a great week, and we’ll be back soon with more local news, events, weather, and everything else worth knowing around Lorain County!

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