2014 Autumn Edition of Spotlight Elyria

The 2014 Autumn Edition of Spotlight Elyria - Also showing on Cable Channel 12 Every Even Hour of the Day Starting October 6, 2014!

With Mayor Holly Brinda & Guests

The Link Between Safety & City Finances: Why You Should Care & Good News Happenings About Your City!

This is an informational program to update you about city finances, provide the facts about Issue 14, and share good news about your City. Please join us to learn more about how the City’s general fund revenue has declined by $4.5 million due to state and federal reductions, how the City has already reduced expenditures by $2 million, and why Issue 14 is needed to maintain a safe level of fire service and strengthen the police force to address drug-related crime and other issues in the wake of drastically reduced state and federal funding.
 

Channel 12 Spotlight Elyria Program Highlights
 

City finances and declining state and federal funding – Chief Deputy Auditor John Farrell

How the City is waging the war on drugs and why police need more help - Police Chief Duane Whitely and Captain Chris Costantino

Why the City needs to better support Auxiliary Police – Lieutenant Deena Baker

Why the City needs to keep 13 of the 23 expiring, grant-funded firefighter positions to keep three fire stations open and adequately protect citizens and property – Fire Chief Richard Benton and Captain Dean Marks

Why a Reverse 911 System and safety-related equipment and capital repairs are important to supporting safety – Safety Service Director Mary Siwierka

A city council person’s perspective on safety – Ward 3 City Councilman Dr. Mark Jessie

Good news about Elyria – Mayor Holly Brinda
 

Recycling information - brought to you by Elyria citizens who recycle!

For more information call Mayor Holly Brinda at (440) 326-1402

Paid for by a generous grant from the Lorain County Solid Waste Management District

Walk Like MADD - Saturday, September 27 - Ely Square

As Mayor of Elyria, the mother of four, and the 2014 Honorary Chairperson of the Greater Cleveland Walk Like Madd event, it is my great privilege to invite you and yours to Elyria’s beautiful, historic downtown Ely Square on Saturday, September 27 to participate in northeast Ohio’s premiere opportunity to stop drunk driving and support the victims of this violent crime.

This year, you can be one of thousands of caring citizens in over 60 cities around the nation to participate in 5K events to eliminate drunk driving from our roadways.  There are many ways to get involved.  You and your co-workers or friends can create a walking team, be an event sponsor, make an online donation, or volunteer.  Will you please join us?  You can pre-register for the Walk Like Madd event in Elyria online at www.walklikemadd.org/cleveland.  Pre-registration is $20.00 and you will receive a T-shirt.  Registration the morning of the event is $25.00.  Day-of-event registration opens at 8:30am, with walkers starting at 9:00am - Noon.  Your 5K walk will involve a picturesque stroll down historic tree-lined streets, with a view of the Black River and waterfalls and some of Elyria’s finest homes. 

And while the morning promises to be pleasant, the cause could not be more serious.  MADD provides victim services annually to over 61,000 victims and survivors nationwide; that’s outreach at no charge every 8.6 minutes.  Unfortunately, most of us know: first there’s the crash, then there is the lifelong impact.  In my own experience, MADD has helped several families close to me get through some of the toughest times anyone can imagine.  Moreover their education and advocacy efforts have saved an estimated 300,000 lives.  MADD’s support of high visibility law enforcement, ignition interlock devices, sobriety measurement technology and underage drinking outreach and education is making a difference. 

Please join me in becoming part of the solution by supporting the Greater Cleveland Walk Like Madd event September 27 in historic Ely Square.  For more information, please contact MADD Northern Ohio Executive Director Julie Leggett at (216) 265-9229 or email Julie at Julie.leggett@madd.org.  I look forward to seeing you in September!

Sincerely,

Holly C. Brinda

Mayor        

                 

 

The 34th Annual Apple Festival is This Weekend!

Dear Elyria Residents, Friends and Visitors,

On behalf of the City of Elyria, Elyria City Council, and the Apple Festival Committee, we encourage you to attend the 34^th annual Apple Festival THIS WEEKEND September 19 – 21 in and around historic Ely Square.  Whether your interests are craft shopping or concession grazing, apple bobbing or apple pie eating, marching bands or one-man bands, classic cars or corn hole tournaments, the Princess Pageant or just enjoying one of Ohio’s premiere festivals on a crisp autumn day –  you’ll find something of interest for everyone!

This year there are even more reasons to celebrate with us.  The Apple Festival Committee has added a Corn Hole Tournament, which will take place on Saturday, September 20^th  at 4:00pm behind Elyria City Hall, 131 Court Street.  To register to play and be eligible to win gift cards go to www.elyriaapplefestival.com. 

The arts influence will grow with the addition of the First Annual Elyria Art Fest on Sunday September 21 from 10am to 4:00pm at the Elyria Art Depot, 336 Broad Street and the green space next to the gallery.   Sponsored by the Lorain Arts Council, the 14 working artists will feature an outdoor display of original murals and an opportunity for you to help create a mural with a $1 donation to help keep the arts going in downtown Elyria.  

While you’re downtown, wonder down to the newly repaired observation platform at the East Falls on Kerstetter Way.  The views of Cascade Park and the East Falls are spectacular, with the autumn leaves just beginning to turn.  With our new partnership with the Lorain County MetroParks beginning in 2015, you can look forward to even more improvements beyond the $2 million the City has put into the park with grant funds in the past 18 months.

Also thanks largely to grant funds, downtown and the entire city is poised for even more positive changes.  Middle Avenue is being completely replaced in the Spring of 2015.  A market analysis and redevelopment plan are underway for the Downtown, Midway and Cleveland Street business districts to help attract new businesses. McDonalds Corporation will be building a new McDonalds to replace the existing one on Broad Street in the near future.  The City continues to work with the County and our regional partners towards returning passenger rail to downtown.  And the current $22 million reconstruction of SR57 and the 49^th Street Bridge in the Midway Mall area will improve a high crash area, improve access to the Mall and is already attracting further development to be announced in the next few months. 

As you can see, there is much to celebrate in Elyria.  Please join us for the Apple Festival and for other year-around events that can be viewed at www.cityofelyria.org.  Sincere appreciation is extended to Apple Festival Coordinator Linda Brown, Century Club contributors, vendors, sponsors, volunteers and patrons.  Working together, we are all making Elyria Ohio’s Community of Opportunity! 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Holly C. Brinda

Mayor

(See Schedule of Events Below)

Don't forget the Cleveland Pops Concert this Saturday!

Please remember to come out and join us on Saturday, August 30th for the greatest Cleveland Pops concert to date!  The City of Elyria and Main Street Elyria are bringing the Cleveland Pops to play an uncanny Superhero-charged concert on historic Ely Square!  Superheroes to Kids in Ohio will be there with Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Supergirl, and all their friends and arch-enemies to entertain and enlighten the kids of Elyria.  Bring your whole family...the children and family activities start at 5:00pm on Ely Square with a chalk-walk, games, and giveaways!  The concert starts at 7:00pm with fireworks to follow!