Elyria Festival of Lights - Saturday, December 7, 2019!

Bring the entire family and join the City of Elyria and our partners for a fun-filled day of holiday events and activities designed to bring a smile to every age. All offerings in Ely Square, Elyria City Hall and Finwood Estate are FREE and open to the public and are being made possible through the generous donations of individuals and organizations and the Findley Trust. This year’s celebration will bring back many of the traditions you remember from the past, including the children’s petting zoo complete with A GENUINE REINDEER AND LIVE CAMEL RIDES! Free hot chocolate courtesy of University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center! Events will start at Elyria City Hall at 3:00pm with crafts, caroling, movies, a caricature artist, free gift bags for the first 500 children and Mayor Brinda’s FREE Storybook Giveaway!

Also new this year is a Holiday Cookie Contest!  Click here to learn more!

 

Click to enlarge!

Job Alert from Mayor Brinda: Crane Aerospace Job Fair - Oct. 16

Job Alert from Mayor Brinda: Crane Aerospace and Electronics, one of the worldwide leaders in the Aerospace Industry, is hiring full-time employees for the Elyria facility located at 241 S. Abbe Road.  They will be holding a job fair on Wednesday, October 16 from 10:00am - 6:00pm.  These are good, full-time jobs with pay starting at $25/hour.  They are looking to hire at the following positions:

• CNC Machinist
• Assembler
• Production Test
• Non-Destruct Test

Resumes are required - Interviews will be held that day - Come prepared!

More information is on the the attached flyer here.  Don't miss out on this opportunity to work for one of the growing manufacturers in Elyria!  

Elyria Trick or Treat Night is Oct. 31 - Kiwanis Halloween Parade is Oct. 27, 2019!

The City of Elyria will observe Trick or Treat night on Thursday, October 31st 2019 - Halloween Day - from 6:00pm - 7:30pm.  Please enjoy the season, be safe, and have fun!

Also, the Annual Kiwanis Halloween Parade will be held the preceding Sunday, October 27, 2019.  Line up starts at 2:00pm by Suzin L. Chocolatier (230 Broad Street) and will kick off at 2:30pm as it marches to Ely Square.  More information is below.

Discounts Available for Spectrum Internet to Families and Seniors

Did you know...discounts are available for Spectrum Broadband Internet Service to families with k-12 students who receive free or discounted lunches, as well as to seniors who qualify for Supplemental Security Income?  More information is available by clicking here, or by calling 1-844-525-1574 and asking about Spectrum Internet Assist.

Broadband internet is a necessity for most students, and many families are not aware that this program exists. If you know a family in Elyria who is on the National School Lunch Program or a senior who may benefit from this program, please share this info (or the flyer below) with them. 

Join Mayor Brinda for a Community Conversation - 6pm - Sept. 26, 2019

Join Mayor Brinda and her staff to learn more about what is going on in the City of Elyria, ask questions, and interact with the representatives from the City of Elyria Departments that help make the city run!  The Community Conversation will be from 6:00pm-7:30pm at South Park (216 16th St.).  Everyone is welcome, and light refreshments will be served.  More information is below:

There is Still Time to Register for the Apple Festival 5K Race!

The Apple Festival is right around the corner, and there are a ton of great activities coming up, including the Annual 5K Race.

There is still time to register for the race!  It will be held Sunday, September 22, 2019 (rain or shine!), kicking off at 8:30am.  Sign-in and race-day registration will be set up in front of Northwood Junior High School.  There are brackets and routes for people of all ages and abilities, and for those who want a slower pace or to bring their little ones out to enjoy the fresh autumn air with them, the Family Fun Walk (FREE to all particpants) kicks off at the intersection of Elywood and Washington at 8:30am.

I hope you join us for another great weekend of fun in Elyria!

Click here to download the sign-up form! Or, you can register online by clicking here!

Mark Your Calendar for The Apple Festival - Sept. 20-22, 2019!

Despite the recent heat wave, summer is starting to wind down and fall is right around the corner.  Every year at this time Downtown Elyria comes alive with the Elyria Apple Festival, and this year will be no exception.  A full docket of events is scheduled to kick off on Friday, September 20th with music, food, games, contests and more. A complete schedule is attached below:

Registration and more information at www.elyriaapplefestival.com!

Community Shred Day - October 5, 2019!

The next Community Shredding Day will be Saturday, October 5, 2019 from 9:00am - Noon behind Elyria City Hall - 131 Court Street.  Elyria residents only may bring up to 5 grocery-sized bags or boxes to have their contents shredded while they watch.  This is a drive-up service and volunteers will be on hand to remove the boxes from your vehicle.  Please call the Elyria Department of Safety Service at 440-326-1404 with any questions.

A 9/11 Tribute from Our Children

On this day where we pay tribute and we never forget, I humbly share these profound thoughts from children reflecting upon the events of September 11, 2001.  Thank you to all who serve.

Mayor Holly Brinda

In a New York classroom one year after 9-11, students composed the following 9-11 poem. A relative of the teacher had perished on that tragic day in Tower One of the World Trade Center. The victim left behind a 3-year-old.



List of “Don’t Forgets” and “Remembers”
We were eight.
Before September 11th, we would wake up with a list of “Don’t Forgets”
Don’t forget to wash your face
Don’t forget to brush your teeth
Don’t forget to do your homework
Don’t forget to wear your jacket
Don’t forget to clean your room
Don’t forget to take a bath


After September 11th, we wake up with a list of “Remembers”
Remember to greet the sun each morning
Remember to enjoy every meal
Remember to thank your parents for their hard work
Remember to honor those who keep you safe
Remember to value each person you meet
Remember to respect other’s beliefs
Now we are nine.

Cleveland Pops Concert - Saturday, August 31, 2019!

The Cleveland Pops Orchestra Concert is this Saturday, August 31 @ 7:00pm! Join us in front of the Lorain County Courthouse for another great night of music and the arts on Ely Square! Food trucks will be on hand to meet your culinary desires, the first 300 kids will receive glow necklaces, and the concert will include a light show (Sponsored by Elyria Charities) you won't want to miss!

As always, special thanks to ALL of our great sponsors who make this event possible:

Elyria Charities
Mrs. Lois Ohlemacher
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Ohlemacher - EMC Precision
Neal Hubbard - Hubbard & Hubbard
Northwest Bank
LorMet Federal Credit Union
Lorain County Community College
Sibley, Inc.
Elyria Plating
Laubenthal Mercado Funeral Home
Stewart's TV & Appliance
Vandemark Jewelers
Friends of Judge Robert White
Ms. Amanda Deery &  Mr. Chris Pyanowski
Councilman & Mrs. Jack & Mitzi Baird
Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Battle
New To You Resale 
Mr. & Mrs. William & Barb  Custar
Dr. & Mrs. Richard Fogel
Mr. & Mrs. Edwin  & Carol Haywood
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Holtzman
Burger King
Mr. & Mrs. Don and Marcia Rothgery
Mr. Terry Shilling
Councilman Mark Jessie
Mr. & Mrs. Gary and Sally Kneisley
Mr. Patrick Newell Auctioneer
Mrs. Marty Perry
Burger King
Mr. & Mrs. David & Susan Root
Mr. & Mrs. Jesse & Joan Villarreal
Judge Lisa Locke Graves &
Mr. Dan Graves
Mayor Holly Brinda & Greg Brinda
Ms. Helen Lou Amos
Ms. Celeste Brlas
Mr. Kenneth Frankel
Mrs. Elizabeth Hamister
Mr. Carl Kleinholtz
Mr. & Mrs. Joe & Jennie LaGrotteria
J.L. Reichert 
Elyria NAACP
Ms. Brenda Davis
Ms. Colleen Rosado
Ms. Nell Fike
Chris Krasnobrucky
Smitty's Place
Foundry Kitchen & Bar

Elyria Named 19th Most Vibrant Arts Community in the United States!

The National Center for Arts Research has ranked the Cleveland - Elyria area the 19th Most Vibrant Arts community in the country based on their 2019 Arts Vibrancy Index. Congratulations to the Elyria Arts Council, Spark Theater, Stocker Center, Blank Slate, Pioneer Theater and all of the many other arts organziations in Elyria and Lorain County that have helped us reach this prestigious ranking.

Elyria Dillard's Sold to Randall Park Mall Redeveloper

Image courtesy of the Chronicle Telegram/Bruce Bishop

NEWS RELEASE

City of Elyria Mayor’s Office

August 1, 2019

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mayor Holly Brinda at (440) 326-1402

REVITALIZATION OF MIDWAY MALL CONTINUES WITH PURCHASE OF VACANT DILLARD'S PROPERTY

Continuing the recent trend of major developer investment in the City of Elyria, Industrial Commercial Properties LLC (“ICP”) announced its acquisition of the 18-acre Dillard’s site at Midway Mall.  Earlier this year ICP purchased the Sears building and Sears Auto Center located on 17 acres on the western edge of the property. These acquisitions represent a significant step forward in the revitalization of this major regional commercial corridor.

“We believe this location is uniquely positioned for redevelopment,” said Chris Semarjian, owner of ICP. “There are significant opportunities within regional retail hubs like Midway Mall, including visibility, excellent interstate access to both I-80 and I-90, additional developable land, and proximity to population.  These are important factors when marketing these locations to users.  Mayor Holly Brinda and her team have been extremely supportive of our redevelopment efforts and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with the City of Elyria and Lorain County on this project,” explained Mr. Semarjian.

ICP has extensive experience with adaptive reuse of both retail and industrial properties.  ICP acquired Randall Park Mall in 2014, which is now home to a 960,000-square-foot Amazon Fulfillment Center and several outparcels are being redeveloped as retail.  They also retrofitted the North Randall Sears building to create a fully occupied multi-tenant industrial facility.  ICP also converted the former Walmart in Bedford into an industrial facility and has subsequently leased the entire building to a single tenant.

“The Midway Mall area has been an important economic driver for the City and all of Lorain County since its construction in 1966. The City wants to see the Mall area continue to evolve to meet the needs of our residents and the larger community,” explained Mayor Brinda.  “We commissioned a re-development plan for Midway Mall in 2016, and we are gratified to see an experienced and successful Northeast Ohio developer willing to engage with us in the planning and re-development process,” said Mayor Brinda.  “As we work through the revitalization of this property, the City and the Elyria Community Improvement Corporation are prepared to work with ICP to maximize opportunities using proven financing and incentive tools that will ultimately result in productive reuse and revenue-producing properties.”

Mayor Brinda continued, “In late 2017 a $23 million highway reconfiguration that widened State Route 57 and removed the 49^th Street Bridge improved access to this property. As a result, a new hotel has been built, a Giant Eagle GetGo is under construction, and several regional businesses have relocated to the area.  Some of these companies include Johnny K’s Powersports in the former Macy’s, Designer Fashion Warehouse in the former Office Max, and Car Parts Warehouse in the former Walmart.”

The City’s redevelopment plan examined highest and best uses for the property and recommended right-sizing retail, and incorporating a different mix of retail, entertainment, office, hotel, and mixed-use residential housing.  “The City is encouraging regional businesses that cannot be duplicated in other mall areas and is also exploring additional uses in the West River commercial corridor, including new apartments, medical facilities, and companies specializing in distribution, logistics, and light industrial functions,” said Mayor Brinda.    

     

-30-

Regional Business Attraction Strategy Working in Elyria Midway Area, Says Cleveland's Community Leader Magazine...

Click the bottom-right corner to read in full-screen!

The 2nd Annual Garford Arts Fest is Saturday, August 3rd, 2019!

The Garford Arts Fest is this weekend: Saturday, August 3rd, 2019 on Kerstetter Way!  Live music, art shows and exhibits, and a collection of artists, artisans, craftspeople, vendors and food trucks will line Kerstetter Way from 5:00pm - 10:00pm.  Access to the event will once again be free and open to the public.  More info is available at www.garfordartsfest.com! To remind you how great last year was - and how great this year is going to be - please enjoy this video from Garford Arts Fest 2018!

Kids Day at Elyria Farmers Market - Saturday, July 27, 2019!

This Saturday, July 27, 2019 is Kids Day at the Elyria Farmers Market!  In addition to the usual talented group of artists, artisans and vendors that fill the East Falls Riverwalk every Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm at the Farmers Market, this week Invest Elyria will be holding their annual Kids Day!  Bring your family down to take part in the fun!

• Carnival style games / Face-painting / Craft Booth 
• Free bag of educational and play items for each child under 12 yrs old
• Free hotdogs, chips, drink for each child under 12 yrs. old coming to the market
• Entertainment/exhibitions by: Mr. Dee's Karate, Snickers the Clown, Magician: Frederick the Great, Funology Lab experiments, The Elyria Public Library Bookmobile, OSU Extension of Lorain County-science activities,Constellation Schools: Elyria Community-information, Lorain County WIC- will give vouchers, Life Care's-Andy the Ambulance.
• The Elyria Auxiliary Police will also be there to visit with the kids.

Thanks to this year's Elyria Farmers Market Kid's Day Sponsor - Bendix Commercial Vehicles Division, & Invest Elyria wishes to extend thanks to this year's Elyria Farmers Market Sponsors: The City of Elyria, Carter Lumber, and Kleenwork Construction.

FROM MAYOR BRINDA: THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL & RESPONSIBLE INTERACTIONS

This past week has been a challenging journey for our community and I want to take a moment to thank everyone for their thoughtful and responsible interactions thus far and encourage patience as we await the results of the full investigation into the officer involved shooting. 

It is a tragedy whenever anyone loses their life, and certainly as your Mayor, a wife and a mother of four, my condolences go out to everyone impacted by this situation including the deceased, his friends and family members, and the law enforcement officers involved in the response and their families.  

How we all respond to this situation will define us as a community.  The City requested that the Lorain County Sheriff department take over the investigation, to insure a neutral third party law enforcement agency conduct a fair and impartial investigation of the events leading up to the officer involved shooting.  So as to not compromise the investigation, City of Elyria leadership is not sharing details as we await the official report from the Sheriff’s Department.  

And while we cannot share details about the investigation, as Mayor I did request that representative officers from the Elyria Police Department attend the community meeting at a south side church called by a mayoral candidate and attended by Elyria Councilman Marcus Madison in order to listen, hear concerns, and share general information about procedure.  The City chose to participate in that meeting, instead of calling a separate meeting for several reasons.

First, the community meeting was called within hours of the incident, as the facts were still flowing into city leadership. It was clear the meeting was going to move forward regardless of the timing, so we decided to respond with the community – instead of trying to create yet another forum.  We thought the community would be more receptive to a dialogue with officers if they participated at the meeting that was already organized and that any attempts by the City to organize a competing meeting would be viewed as “political” given that the meeting was being organized by a mayoral candidate.  

Second, the City was concerned about having enough police officers available at a second meeting called by the City on the same nights as the fireworks.  Safety always has to be our top priority.  Not only did we have four Elyria officers who had to be taken out of service as a result of their respective roles in the situation, the City was also receiving intelligence that there might be protests being organized from outside the County that night.  The City called in mutual aid from surrounding communities to help insure everyone’s safety for the fireworks.  

     

As we progress through this process, City leadership and law enforcement officers will continue to keep lines of communication open to our residents and community organizations.  As a proud community of caring people who prides itself on diversity as one of our greatest strengths, I know we can work through this and come out a stronger community.

Message from Mayor Brinda

The City of Elyria wants a fair and impartial investigation of the events that occurred last night in relation to the traffic stop and officer-involved shooting in Carlisle Township. We have asked the Lorain County Sheriff's Department to conduct the investigation, which is underway. While the investigation is being conducted, it is not appropriate for the City to comment. I will comment after the results are released. 

Mayor Holly Brinda

Thank you Fireworks and 2019 Community Reinvestment Sponsors!

We wish to extend a very sincere THANK YOU to all of our 2019 Elyria Summer Community Reinvestment Sponsors!  The generosity of individuals, businesses and organizations to support all the wonderful, family-friendly programming going on in Elyria this year has been overwhelming.  The Great American Picnic and Fireworks Show – Presented by Elyria VFW 1079, Reach and Rise Discovery Camps, downtown flower baskets, Safety Town, and Summer Concerts  have all been made possible by your kind and much-needed donations.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Please see the complete list below (and click for a full size version).  We are still getting more donations, so we will update this page as necessary.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE GREAT AMERICANPICNIC AND FIREWORKS SHOW – PRESENTED BY ELYRIA VFW POST 1079 – ON JULY 3 ATWEST PARK, PLEASE CLICK HERE…

Click to view full size!

Elyria Fireworks - July 3, 2019 @ West Park!

Click to Embiggen!

The 2019 City of Elyria Great American Picnic and Fireworks Show  - Presented by Elyria VFW Post 1079 - is coming Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at West Park -1200 Foster Avenue (rain date July 5)! Festivities kick off at 5:30pm with live music, food trucks, bounce houses, kids games, and, of course... FIREWORKS!

The actual fireworks will kick off when dusk arrives.  Click the image for more details, and thank you to all of our tremendously generous summer sponsors for making this and our other great summer activities possible again this year!

Thank you once again to all of our sponsors this year, including our Presenting Sponsor, the Elyria VFW Post 1079!  A complete list of sponsors will follow.

PLEASE NOTE: We will be following the weather very closely. Any weather-related updates will be posted here, on www.cityofelyria.org, and our Facebook page very early the day of the event.  We will be updating throughout the day. Please rely upon these sources only for updates.

City of Elyria Featured in Cleveland Magazine

There is a nice article in the June 2019 edition of Cleveland Magazine about the $400 million of public and private development happening in the City of Elyria.  You can view the article below!