Lorain County Community Insider Weekly Newsletter

Welcome to this week’s Lorain County Community Insider! Joe here, and I’ve got another roundup of what’s happening around our corner of Ohio.

This week, we’re catching you up on the local stories making headlines, road closures you’ll want to know about, community happenings, and plenty of events to get you out of the house. Plus, we’ve got your latest weather outlook so you can plan the week ahead.

Grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and let’s see what’s happening around Lorain County. ☕️

Joe

Lorain is dealing with another deadly shooting after a 20-year-old man was killed and a 34-year-old man injured early Saturday morning over Labor Day weekend.

Police responded around 4:10 a.m. near West 15th Street and Reid Avenue after reports of gunfire. Officers found 20-year-old Marsilles Mastin lying in the roadway with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Mercy Hospital, where he later died. A 34-year-old man separately arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound and was listed in stable condition.

Investigators found multiple shell casings at the scene, and preliminary information indicates there had been a gathering on the street before the shooting.

The killing is especially concerning because it marks Lorain's fourth shooting death in roughly six weeks. Recent victims have included two teenagers killed at a Washington Avenue short-term rental, a 59-year-old man found shot nearby, and a 67-year-old man whose 16-year-old grandson was arrested in connection with his death.

No arrests have been made in Saturday's shooting, and detectives are continuing to review evidence and identify those responsible.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lorain Police Detective Bureau at 440-204-2105.

Heads up if your daily drive takes you toward I-90.

The SR 254 entrance ramp to I-90 westbound is closing beginning September 8 for pavement repairs, according to the Lorain County Sheriff's Office. The closure is expected to last about 14 days, with work currently scheduled to wrap up around September 22.

During the closure, drivers are being directed to use the posted detour from SR 254 to SR 57 south.

It's one of those relatively short construction projects that could still cause some headaches during the morning and afternoon commute, so give yourself a little extra time if you normally use that ramp.

A potentially serious truck fire on the Ohio Turnpike was brought under control thanks to a quick response from the Elyria Township Fire Department.

Crews were called to the Turnpike around 7:40 p.m. for reports of a commercial truck on fire.

When Engine 117 firefighters arrived, they found a small fire burning underneath the truck's trailer. Crews quickly extinguished it before the flames could spread to the cargo inside.

Fortunately, what could have turned into a much larger fire was stopped early. Nice work by the firefighters who got there and knocked it down before things got worse.

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Here's a local story deserving a round of applause.

Lorain Professional Firefighters Local 267 is recognizing Angelique Flores as an Honorary Firefighter after her quick thinking helped prevent what could have become a much larger fire.

Flores noticed dirty rags beginning to smolder because of a chemical reaction. Rather than ignoring the warning signs, she acted quickly and safely submerged the rags in water, stopping the reaction before the situation could escalate.

It's a good reminder that sometimes preventing an emergency comes down to noticing something isn't right and taking action before it's too late.

Great job, Angelique! 👏

Some good news for local families looking for another place to cool off: the new splash pad is getting closer to opening.

Work is continuing step by step, and the latest progress suggests families may not have too much longer to wait before the water starts flowing.

No official opening date was included in the latest update, so we'll have to stay tuned for that announcement. But with the project moving along, it looks like another family-friendly outdoor attraction could soon be ready to enjoy.

Hopefully Mother Nature gives us enough warm weather to put it to good use! ☀️

If you've recently played a few games of pickleball in Avon and suddenly can't find your keys, you might be in luck.

Avon Police says a set of keys was found at the local pickleball courts, and officers are trying to reunite them with their owner.

If you think they're yours, reach out to the Avon Police Department to identify and claim them.

And if they're not yours, maybe give this a share with your pickleball-playing friends. Someone out there is probably wondering where those keys disappeared to! 🏓

Date: Friday, September 11
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Avon Lake Memorial Stadium, Avon Lake
Details: A local Friday-night matchup with Avon Lake hosting Midview. This is one of the better all-Lorain-County sporting events to feature this week.

🏈 North Ridgeville Rangers at Avon Eagles — Varsity Football

Date: Friday, September 11
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Avon High School, Avon
Details: Another big local high-school football matchup, as North Ridgeville travels to Avon for conference action.

🏈 Olmsted Falls Bulldogs at Elyria Pioneers — Varsity Football

Date: Friday, September 11
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Elyria High School, 601 Middle Ave., Elyria
Details: Elyria opens conference play at home against Olmsted Falls in another Friday-night football option for local sports fans.

🎸 Rockin' on the River — The Seven Wonders

Date: Friday, September 11
Time: Gates/event begins at 5:30 PM
Location: Black River Landing, 421 Black River Ln., Lorain
Details: Rockin' on the River continues with The Seven Wonders, a Fleetwood Mac tribute, along with Evil Ways. A waterfront Friday night of live music in downtown Lorain.

💃 United We Dance

Date: Friday, September 11
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Lakeview Park, Lorain
Details: Company performances and inclusive dance workshops come to Lakeview Park. A nice arts-and-culture option for Friday evening.

🌊 Vermilion River Fest

Date: Saturday, September 12
Time: 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: Vermilion River Reservation, Bacon Woods, 51211 North Ridge Rd., Vermilion
Details: A free family festival featuring live music, food trucks, lawn games, face painting, archery, inflatable sports challenges, wagon rides, a nature scavenger hunt and campfires by the river. Free parking is available at Bacon Woods, with overflow parking at Mill Hollow.

🦨 Skunk Fest

Date: Saturday, September 12
Time: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: South Central Park, North Ridgeville
Details: Yes, it's a festival celebrating skunks! This quirky, family-friendly local event is scheduled for Saturday at South Central Park and should make an especially fun newsletter pick.

🎨 September Second Saturday

Date: Saturday, September 12
Time: 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: Downtown Lorain / Main Street Lorain
Details: Downtown Lorain's Second Saturday returns with an afternoon built around local businesses, activities, entertainment and community fun.

🐦 Wings Over Lorain Bus Tour

Date: Saturday, September 12
Time: 5:45 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Departing Miller Nature Preserve, 2739 Center Rd., Avon
Details: Lorain County Metro Parks naturalists lead an all-day excursion to regional birding hot spots during peak fall migration. Expect opportunities to spot warblers, shorebirds, raptors and waterfowl. Ages 18+; $60; registration required; boxed lunch included.

🚑 Avon Health & Safety Fair

Date: Saturday, September 12
Time: 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Location: Avon Aquatic Facility, Avon
Details: A free, family-oriented health and safety event in Avon. It's a good community-calendar addition for families looking for something educational to do Saturday morning.

🎨 2026 Avon Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Date: Sunday, September 13
Time: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Emerald Event Center, Avon
Details: The fall edition of the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show brings artists, crafters and handmade vendors together for a day of shopping in Avon. Free admission.

🎭 The Yellow Wallpaper

Date: Through Sunday, September 13
Time: Performances listed at 7:30 PM and 2:00 PM depending on date
Location: French Creek Theatre, Sheffield Village
Details: Last chance to catch the local theatrical production inspired by Charlotte Perkins Gilman's famous short story. The run concludes September 13.

🎶 Terrace Nights — 732 The Electric Duo

Date: Sunday, September 13
Time: 5:00–8:00 PM
Location: 1833 Restaurant at The Hotel at Oberlin, Oberlin
Details: Wind down the weekend with live music from 732 The Electric Duo during Terrace Nights in Oberlin.

🦋 Butterflies & Moths

Date: Wednesday, September 16
Time: 10:00–11:30 AM
Location: Vermilion River Reservation, Vermilion
Details: Kids ages 7–12 can learn the differences between butterflies and moths, explore their life cycles, make a craft and head outdoors to search for them. Cost is $3 per child and registration is required by September 14.

🎭 I Hate Hamlet

Date: Beginning Thursday, September 17
Time: Performances listed at 7:30 PM and 3:00 PM depending on date
Location: Workshop Players Theatre, Amherst
Details: Workshop Players opens its production of Paul Rudnick's comedy I Hate Hamlet, giving local theater fans another option as the weekend approaches.

🎸 Rockin' on the River — Bad Juju with Old Skool

Date: Friday, September 18
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Black River Landing, Lorain
Details: Another Friday night on the waterfront, this time featuring Bad Juju with Old Skool as Rockin' on the River's September schedule continues.

🐂 Bulls in the Ballpark

Date: Friday, September 18–Saturday, September 19
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: ForeFront Field, 2009 Baseball Blvd., Avon
Details: One of the more unusual sporting events of the month turns the ballpark into a bull-riding venue. The two-night event kicks off Friday evening.

🔭 Night Sky Star Party

Date: Friday, September 18
Time: Evening; calendar lists the September program at 9:00 PM
Location: Carlisle Reservation, LaGrange
Details: Spend an evening looking skyward at Carlisle Reservation. This is the final listed Night Sky Star Party in the Metro Parks' August–September series.

⚾ Major Leaguers: 125 Years of “Modern” Baseball

Date: Wednesday, September 9
Time: 6:30–7:30 PM
Location: Lorain Public Library System — Avon Branch
Details: A free program looking back at 125 years of modern Major League Baseball — a good pick for local baseball and history fans.

⚽ Avon Lake vs. Elyria — Girls Varsity Soccer

Date: Wednesday, September 9
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Avon Lake Memorial Stadium, Avon Lake
Details: Two Lorain County schools square off under the lights as Avon Lake hosts Elyria in girls varsity soccer.

🤝 We Care Fair

Date: Thursday, September 10
Time: 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Location: Lorain County Community College, Elyria
Details: A free community event at LCCC connecting attendees with resources, information and support available in the area.

🐦 Coffee Walk: Morning Birding

Date: Thursday, September 10
Time: 9:00–10:00 AM
Location: Columbia Reservation, Columbia Station
Details: Start the morning with a guided birding walk through Columbia Reservation. The program is free, though registration is listed.

🚋 Black River Reservation Tram Rides

Date: Wednesdays in September, including September 9 and 16
Time: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Days Dam Picnic Area, 2720 E. 31st St., Lorain
Details: Take a free 20–30 minute tram ride through a section of Black River Reservation. Seating is first-come, first-served and rides are weather dependent.

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. How do you throw a party in outer space?

A. You planet.

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 hometown teams, or just enjoying the last stretch of summer, I hope you have a great week ahead.

Stay safe, look out for your neighbors, and we’ll be back next week with more of what’s happening close to home.

See you 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