Lorain County Community Insider Weekly Newsletter

Welcome back to another edition of the Lorain County Community Insider!

We’ve got plenty to catch up on this week — from a proposed housing development stirring up conversation around Elyria and Amherst Township to some disappointing news for Oberlin football fans.

We’ve also got local events, your 10-day weather outlook, and even a few beautiful Lorain County sunsets to brighten your week. 🌅

As always, thanks for spending a few minutes with us and staying connected to what’s happening around our corner of Northeast Ohio.

Grab your coffee, get comfortable, and let’s see what’s happening around Lorain County!

Joe

A proposal to turn more than 65 acres of Amherst Township farmland into a new housing development is stirring up plenty of conversation — and concern — among nearby residents.

Builders and Developers Co., Inc. purchased the land north of Albrecht Road, between Bechtel and Fowl Roads, for nearly $785,000 in June. The company says it already has an agreement with Ryan Homes to develop single-family houses on the property.

The developer is seeking annexation into Elyria, saying it would provide the most efficient connection to the city's sanitary sewer system. Elyria would also take responsibility for streets and emergency services.

City officials see an upside: more housing could help address Elyria's shortage of single-family homes, potentially attract new residents and strengthen the local workforce.

But some neighbors aren't convinced. Residents who moved to the area for its rural character worry about losing farmland and seeing significantly more development.

There's also concern that the annexation could eventually open a path toward development of the controversial nearby 1,000-acre "mega site" near Lorain County Airport. Officials say the current proposal is for housing, but previous debates over the mega site have left some residents wary.

Elyria City Council has approved providing sewer, street maintenance and emergency services if the annexation moves forward.

What's next? The Lorain County Board of Commissioners is expected to consider the annexation on August 25, after which it would head back to Elyria City Council for final approval.

There won't be Friday night football at Oberlin High School this season.

The district announced it is canceling the football season because there simply aren't enough players to safely field a team. Participation dropped dramatically in recent practices — from 12 players one day to five the next. Only eight players showed up when mandatory camp began Monday.

School officials said asking such a small roster to play an entire season would put an unfair physical burden on the athletes and increase their risk of injury.

It's a disappointing development that reaches well beyond the football team. Friday nights are also a big part of the experience for cheerleaders, marching band members, families, alumni and the wider Oberlin community.

The good news is that the district is already looking for alternatives. Officials are contacting nearby schools that may allow Oberlin football players to join their teams under new state rules. Other schools reportedly began offering help within minutes of hearing about the situation.

The marching band will still have a season, too, with neighboring schools inviting Oberlin musicians to perform at their games. The district is also looking for other sporting events where cheerleaders can participate.

Long term, Oberlin hopes increased outreach and youth football opportunities can rebuild participation and eventually bring the program back.

Scammers are getting more sophisticated, and Lorain County is helping local veterans and their families stay one step ahead.

The Lorain County Veterans Service Office is hosting a free Fraud, Scams & Financial Exploitation Briefing on Thursday, August 13 at 11 a.m. at the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission in Elyria.

FBI Special Agent David Gardner will walk attendees through some of the latest scams targeting veterans and others, including AI-generated messages, fraudulent phone calls and attempts to steal personal and financial information.

The session will also cover ways veterans can better protect their VA benefits, finances and personal information.

The briefing is open to veterans, family members and caregivers, and there's no cost to attend.

With scams becoming increasingly convincing — especially as artificial intelligence makes fake messages, voices and communications easier to create — this is a useful opportunity to learn what warning signs to watch for before handing over money or sensitive information.

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Skaters in Lorain are getting a new place to ride!

The City of Lorain Parks & Recreation celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Longfellow Skate Park yesterday.

The ceremony marked the beginning of what city officials hope will become a fun new gathering place for skaters, families and the wider community.

It was an exciting step toward adding another recreational option for Lorain's young people — and anyone else who enjoys getting around on four wheels. 🛹

Lorain's first responders are trading their badges and fire gear for bats and gloves next month.

The Lorain Police Department and Lorain Fire-Rescue will square off in their annual Patriot Day Softball Game on September 11 at The Pipe Yard.

The friendly rivalry gives residents a chance to come together with local first responders while also remembering the significance of Patriot Day and honoring those who serve their communities.

Best of all, admission is free, and everyone is invited.

So mark September 11 on the calendar, bring the family and come see whether Lorain's police officers or firefighters earn the local bragging rights this year. ⚾

Sometimes you don't need a big news story — you just need a really good sunset.

One of our readers sent us some awesome photos of the sun setting over Lorain County, and they were simply too good not to share.

Living along Lake Erie gives us a front-row seat to some pretty spectacular skies, and evenings like these are a nice reminder to slow down for a minute and appreciate where we live.

A big thank you to our reader for sending the photos our way! 📸

And if you've captured a great Lorain County sunset, storm, local landmark, wildlife sighting or anything else that makes you stop and grab your phone, send it our way. You just might see it featured in a future edition of the Lorain County Community Insider.

🦕 PrehiStory Time

Date: Wednesday, August 12
Time: 6:00–6:30 PM
Location: Lorain Public Library System – Main Library, Lorain
Details: A kid-friendly story time exploring dinosaurs, Stone Age people, and the people who discovered and studied the prehistoric world.

🤝 Main Street Lorain Mix & Mingle

Date: Wednesday, August 12
Time: 6:00–7:00 PM
Location: Lorain Brewing Company, Lorain
Details: Main Street Lorain’s laid-back monthly networking get-together. There’s no formal agenda — just a chance to meet people, grab dinner or a drink, and support a local business.

🎶 Avon Lake Summer Concert: Quinn Hoffman & CLE Market

Date: Thursday, August 13
Time: 4:00–8:00 PM
Location: Veterans Memorial Park, 32756 Lake Road, Avon Lake
Details: A free summer concert paired with CLE Market. Bring chairs or blankets and enjoy live music, yard games and food trucks. Dogs are welcome on leash.

🌽 Cornhole Tournament for Big Brothers Big Sisters

Date: Thursday, August 13
Time: 5:00–7:00 PM; bags fly at 5:30 PM
Location: Trent’s Joint on the River, Lorain
Details: A single-elimination cornhole fundraiser benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County. The winning team gets a $200 cash prize. Spectator admission is $10 and includes food from Bennett’s Food Truck. Team preregistration was required.

🎸 The Caliber Band at Lakeview Park

Date: Thursday, August 13
Time: 6:00–7:30 PM
Location: Lakeview Park, Lorain
Details: Lorain County Metro Parks' free summer concert series continues lakeside with The Caliber Band, playing country favorites spanning the ’80s through today. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the music by Lake Erie.

🎸 Rockin’ on the River: Journey & Styx Tributes

Date: Friday, August 14
Time: 5:30–11:00 PM
Location: Black River Landing, Lorain
Details: One of Lorain’s signature summer concert nights. E5C4P3 brings a Journey tribute to the waterfront, joined by Best of Times performing the hits of Styx.

🎨 Chalk the Walk

Date: Saturday, August 15
Time: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Ely Square, Broad Street & Middle Avenue, Elyria
Details: A free, family-friendly community event featuring sidewalk chalk art, uplifting messages, face painting, artist displays, recovery stories, naloxone rescue kits and food for purchase. The event helps raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding substance-use disorder ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day.

🧘 Free Flow Yoga

Date: Saturday, August 15
Time: 11:00 AM–Noon
Location: Lorain Public Library System – Main Library, Lorain
Details: A free gentle yoga session featuring breathwork, mindful stretching and supportive movement led by Angel Wallace of Sacral Angel. Bring a mat, towel and any props you'd like to use.

📚 Local Author Kelly Boyer Sagert Book Signing

Date: Saturday, August 15
Time: 11:00 AM–Noon
Location: Carnegie Center, Lorain
Details: Lorain County author and historian Kelly Boyer Sagert discusses and signs her newest release, Wells Waite Miller and Me.

🎬 Free Showing of Tangled

Date: Sunday, August 16
Time: 2:00–4:00 PM
Location: Lorain Palace Theatre, Lorain
Details: Families can catch Disney’s animated favorite Tangled on the big screen for free. The showing is sponsored by The American Legion.

🎵 The Snipps at Vermilion River Reservation

Date: Sunday, August 16
Time: 6:00–7:00 PM
Location: Vermilion River Reservation, Vermilion
Details: Lorain County Metro Parks' free Summer Concert Series welcomes The Snipps, a Northeast Ohio “dad band” covering favorites from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s.

⚾ Lake Erie Crushers — $2 Tuesday

Date: Tuesday, August 18
Location: ForeFront Field, 2009 Baseball Blvd., Avon
Details: The Lake Erie Crushers begin another weeklong home stand. Tuesday is $2 Tuesday, with select concession items priced at $2.

☕ Coffee, Tea & Contacts

Date: Tuesday, August 18
Time: 9:00–10:45 AM
Location: Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Lorain County
Details: A Lorain County Chamber networking event designed to help local professionals make new connections in a casual morning setting.

⚾ Lake Erie Crushers — Silver Sluggers & Bark in the Park

Date: Wednesday, August 19
Location: ForeFront Field, Avon
Details: Baseball fans can bring their four-legged friends for Bark in the Park. Fans age 55+ can also take advantage of the Silver Sluggers promotion with $5 off their ticket.

🎻 Front Porch Jammin

Date: Thursday, August 20
Time: 6:00–7:00 PM
Location: Miller Nature Preserve, Avon
Details: A free Lorain County Metro Parks concert featuring Front Porch Jammin, a duo mixing country, pop and rock with vocals, fiddle and guitar.

⚾ Lake Erie Crushers — Thirsty Thursday

Date: Thursday, August 20
Location: ForeFront Field, Avon
Details: The Crushers' homestand continues with Thirsty Thursday, featuring $2.50 select draft beers along with Frontier League baseball.

🎤 Cocktail Karaoke: Summer Songs

Date: Thursday, August 20
Time: 7:00–10:00 PM
Location: Speak of the Devil, Lorain
Details: This month's karaoke theme is all about summer — beach songs, road-trip favorites and warm-weather classics ranging from The Beach Boys and Jimmy Buffett to Sheryl Crow and Kenny Chesney.

🚤 Lorain History Excursion Boat Tour

Date: Friday, August 21
Time: 2:00–4:00 PM
Location: Dock A at the Mile Long Pier, Lorain
Details: Explore Lorain from the water during a Lorain County Historical Society excursion along the Black River, with local history woven into the trip.

🎶 Rockin’ on the River: ABBA Tribute

Date: Friday, August 21
Time: 5:30–11:00 PM
Location: Black River Landing, Lorain
Details: Dancing Queen brings ABBA's biggest hits to the waterfront, with Böaterhead adding a mix of rock and pop favorites. Another big Friday night of live music at Black River Landing.

⚾ Lake Erie Crushers + Cavaliers Championship Celebration

Date: Friday, August 21
Location: ForeFront Field, Avon
Details: A particularly fun one for Northeast Ohio sports fans: the Crushers host a Cleveland Cavaliers 2016 Championship Celebration, along with A Night at the Ballpark and postgame fireworks.

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.

Q. Why was the coach yelling at the vending machine?

A. He wanted his quarter back.

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, catching a ballgame, or just hoping to enjoy one of those beautiful Lake Erie sunsets, we hope you have a great week ahead. 🌅

And remember, if you see something interesting happening around the county, send it our way — we’d love to hear about it!

Stay safe, stay local, and we’ll see you 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