Searching for “the” unique holiday gift for a family member or friend? You may not need to look further than Sheffield Lake and the recently-opened Cherry Blossom Boutique at 4118 Lake Road in Shoreway Shopping Center.
The store features handmade items from 30 crafters and artisans, according to shop manager Jeanette Mandl, who begin crafting 30 years ago and always dreamed of having a shop like Cherry Blossom.
Several of those vendors are Sheffield Lake residents. One takes glass globes and then fashions them into snowmen, angels or elves. Anothers creates jewelry and art from beach glass collected on Sheffield Lake’s and nearby beaches. Still another crafts unique items from Jenga game pieces including a red vintage pick up truck.
Mandl says the store is jam packed with many Christmas-themed gifts as well as vintage pieces or items suitable for the home all year long.
Need a candle? How about one that not only smells like cranberry cobbler but also looks like it, too. Got a Grinch in your life? You might want to check out the Grinch items in the store.
One new item is a Christmas-themed tumbler with matching apron. There’s also vintage ornaments, hoodies and sweatshirts, soaps and bath balms, advent calendars, mugs, pillows, wreaths or dollhouse miniatures – many handmade.
Mandl also says many crafters will customize items to make a gift even more special. The shop also sells baked goods, coffee, candy and jams.
Hours are Monday through Saturday, 1-6 p.m.; Sunday, 12 noon-5 p.m. Mandl is offering extended shopping hours on Fridays and Saturdays until 8 p.m. leading up to Christmas weekend.
Friday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day when America recognizes the men and women who have stepped forward to serve thereby ensuring our safety and preservation as a free country. According to 2016-2020 U.S. Census data, 729 veterans reside in Sheffield Lake.
The city is proud to have 11 employees who are military veterans.
Fire Department
Lt. Wes Mariner – U.S. Marine Corps
Police Department
Ofcr. Antonio Baez – U.S. Marine Corps/Army Reserves
Ofcr. Brandon Brooks – U.S. Marine Corps
Dispatcher Valerie Catalano – U.S. Army
Sara Davis – U.S. Army
Ofcr. John Fisher – U.S. Marine Corps
Sgt. Frank Goscewski – U.S. Coast Guard
Ofcr. Michael Hendrickson – U.S. Air Force
Ofcr. Audali Torres – U.S. Marine Corps
Service Department
John Galippo, U.S. Marine Corps
Steve Simpson, U.S. Marine Corps
Trust and respect learned serving in the military applied to work as a firefighter/paramedic
Lt. Wes Mariner
Fire Lieutenant Wes Mariner knew from the time he was five years old that he wanted to be a firefighter. His South Amherst hometown had an all volunteer department and when the old siren sounded, “I remember everybody – baseball coaches and other dads in the neighborhood – seeing them all run and then seeing them on the trucks. I always had a fascination with it.”
He enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating from Firelands High School believing he’d gain experience as a firefighter during his time in the service and knowing the GI Bill would get him additional training as a firefighter/paramedic. He was right because he was sen to to Kuwait and Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 where he was assigned to crash fire rescue. In civilian terms, it means he traveled in a convoy of fire engines about one mile behind forward forces working on battle damaged equipment. Once U.S forces entered Iraq, he helped set up forward operating bases.
At age 19, Mariner became a section leader responsible for eight Marines and $1 million in equipment.
“It’s a dangerous line of work but I had no problem accepting responsibility and the potential liability associated with it. In the military, you gotta trust the guys above you, working with you and beneath you. It requires respect for the job and people who do the work, something I’ve tried to bring over to the fire service.”
Officer uses military training to build relationships in community
Ofcr Brandon Brooks
Police Officer Brandon Brooks recalls the appreciation members of the public showed one of his friends who joined the military after high school graduation. “You put on that uniform and people look up to you,” he said.
Brooks served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. During his time in the service, he was deployed to the Middle East on the USS America. As a trained communications field wireman, it would have fallen to Brooks to go ashore and establish commuications between forces on the ground if there had been an emergency or attack.
His training helped him develop his own leadership style which served him well when he was in charge of a 60 member platoon. “It’s important to get a feeling for your troops and learn how to interact with everyone, given different personalities and attitudes,” he said, adding he uses his military experience today when interacting with members of the community. “Developing relationships is so important in working with the community.” He said he has enjoyed speaking to groups like the local Girl Scout Daisy Troop. He says his interaction with kids helps them understand, “Police aren’t that bad. They’re pretty cool.”
“You go out there and do your job and people begin to recognize your name. It’s a good feeling to know people have faith in you.”
Editor’s note: watch the website for more stories about Sheffield Lake employees.
Curbside leaf pick up is about to begin, with service department crews working from the east to the west sides of the city. There is no specific schedule for an individual street because weather and volume of leaves being picked up impacts the schedule.
Please keep these points in mind:
Leaves should be placed on the tree lawn, not in the street.
Pile leaves away from storm drains, mailboxes, and parked cars.
Landscape rocks, bricks and other solid yard debris should be placed in separate piles for pick up on Fridays by Republic Services. This prevents damage to equipment and injuries for workers.
Branches can be chipped. Leave them separated from leaves and other yard waste. Call 440-949-6259 to request the city stop by to chip them.
The city will pick up leaves, weather permitting, through December.
Leaves not collected by then should be bagged in brown paper yard bags and left at curbside for pick up by Republic Services on Friday throughout the year.
Fall foliage is spectacular this season. I hope you will take advantage of the last months of the year to visit one of our parks or walk or bike one of our trails to take in the change of seasons.
One place I encourage you to visit – particularly with younger children – is our newly opened Storybook Trail at Ferndale Park. It officially opened October 14 and features 17 stations along a walking path, about a half mile in length. At each station, you will find the pages of a picture book for you to read to a child or have the child practice his or her skills by reading to you. It’s a great way to get a little exercise, too. Staff from Domonkas Library will place a new book at the Storybook Trail each month from April through November. The book featured this month is “Bonaparte Falls Apart,” a Halloween-themed story about a skeleton who is falling to pieces and needs help from his pals Franky Stein, Black Widow, and Mummicula pulling himself together.
The Storybook Trail is a collaboration between the city, the Lorain Public Library System, Northcoast Rotary and Friends of Domonkas Library.
For those who have not visited Ferndale Park in recent years, you may also want to take a few minutes to watch kids showing off their skills at the Ferndale Skateboard Park. Resident Ed Honse was an early supporter of the park’s creation and remains pivotal to its success. Ed has spent many, many hours coaching kids on the finer points of skateboarding and raising funds or securing donations so kids who need skateboards or other safety equipment get them.
Before it gets too cold, you may also want to visit Gary Green Park in the center of the city where new playground equipment was recently installed. During my years as Mayor, we have worked hard to make improvements at all of our parks. Playground equipment, grills and seating have been added to each park and we will continue to make additional improvements so our families can enjoy the outdoors.
One of those coming improvements is a Splashpad. It will be at Gary Green Park and, if next summer is as hot as this past summer was, young kids will have fun cooling off there. More about this in a future message to the community.
I’m equally proud of the family-focused events taking place. In my last update, the summer arts program for our school-age kids was featured. A number of our kids and families also marched in the Community Days Parade in July. Our Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Joyce Hanks Community Center will be Saturday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m. Following the tree lighting, our popular family-friendly Christmas Party will be held inside the center. Watch the city website for details. Many also bring canned goods donations to the Christmas Party to help community members who make use of the Food Pantry at the civic center. I want to thank Julia Mohrbach and Julia Pyle for their efforts in creating the first Christmas Party in 2016. For six years, they made sure the party had plenty of fun holiday activities to entertain kids. We are grateful for their commitment to the city as they move into the next stages of higher education and careers.
Keeping our kids safe is a priority we all share. Our safety forces, in particular, do a lot without much fanfare. For example, in the morning as school buses pick kids up, officers pay special attention to bus routes making sure kids stay safe as they wait. Our police and fire departments host safety fairs to give kids and parents a chance to meet, visit their quarters and explore vehicles. This year, they met our new police dog for the first time while visiting with our police and fire chiefs and members of the safety departments. They also speak to school and youth groups and our police department participates in Safety Town every year. All of this is meant to build and maintain a positive relationship between police and firefighter/paramedics with our kids and their families.
This year seems to have flown by and 2022 will soon be in our rearview mirrors. I wish your family my very best this holiday season. Mayor Dennis Bring
Looking for a fun outdoor activity for children ages 3 to 9? Beginning Friday, Oct. 14, Sheffield Lake’s Storybook Trail opens at Ferndale Park, 4280 Ferndale Ave., between Allen and Rowelyn Avenues. A ribbon cutting will be held that morning at 10:30 a.m., weather permitting, and everyone is invited.
Young children, accompanied by parents, grandparents, older siblings, caregivers and teachers, will have a chance to walk in nature while enjoying picture book stories specially selected for them. As they walk, they stop at one of 17 stations to read a portion of the story, then continue to the next station until the conclusion of both the story and the trail.
It’s a perfect way to combine physical activity with literacy as young children can be encouraged to read aloud or be read to as they walk from station to station. Picture books help beginning readers understand what they are reading.
A collaboration between the city, Lorain Public Library System, Friends of Domonkas Library and Northcoast Rotary, the trail is about a half mile in length.
The story featured during October is “Bonaparte Falls Apart” by Marjery Cuyler. This Halloween-themed story is about a skeleton who is falling to pieces and needs help pulling himself together. Will his pals Franky Stein, Black Widow, and Mummicula have ideas to help him?
Domonkas Library staff will install a new story every month from April through November.
Parking is available on the west side of the park.
The public is asked to report any vandalism immediately by calling the Sheffield Lake Service Department – 440-949-6259.
On Monday, Oct. 10, Lake Road from Elm Street to Harris Road will be closed so state contractors can rebuild two 100-year old culverts. The work is expected to take 45 days. The vast majority of Lake Road is not affected by the construction.
Richelieu, which runs parallel to and just south of Lake, is the best alternate route for passenger vehicles and small trucks.
Alternate route for eastbound traffic – passenger vehicles and small trucks
From Lake, turn right onto Harris, left onto Richelieu, left onto Elm and right back onto Lake.
Alternate route for westbound traffic – passenger vehicles and small trucks
From Lake, turn left at Elm, right onto Richelieu, right onto Harris and left back onto Lake.
Signs will help drivers navigate around the construction.
Semi Truck detour
The state is providing signage to reroute semi trucks around the Lake Road construction via State Routes 57, 611 and 301.
Bi-Rite and Amber Oaks are open for business
Two area businesses are on Lake Road within the construction area. Bi-Rite Express and Amber Oaks Restaurant will remain open. Bi-Rite customers can travel Richelieu and turn onto Lafayette. The store is at the corner of Lake and Lafayette and their parking lot is accessible.
Diners can get to Amber Oaks by taking Richelieu to Treadway. The restaurant is at the corner of Treadway and Lake and their parking lot is also accessible.
Service Director Patrick Hastings said that supply chain issues caused a significant delay in receipt of parts needed to reconstruct the aging culverts. He said he feels as frustrated as others that this happened because it prevented contractors from doing this work before Lake Road was resurfaced this summer. Had the city delayed the resurfacing project, funded largely by state grants, it would have lost its place in line given the large number of other communities’ funded projects in queue. That could also put the entire project at risk as grant funds, approved in the last two-year state budget, needed to be expended this calendar year or returned.
All homes and businesses receive a bill each month for water, sewer and waste disposal services. The bill is sent to the property owner, but owners who rent their properties may also authorize a copy of the bill be sent to their tenants by completing this form: duplicate services bill request.
Abbreviations:
You’ll see several abbreviations on your bill that cover your actual useage as well as costs for maintaining, repairing and replacing the city’s aging sewer and waterlines, some of which are over 100 years old.
CIS (Capital Improvement Sewer) – this fee pays for maintenance of city sanitary sewers, as well as three pump stations that move sewage from your homes and businesses to the waste treatment center in Lorain. In recent years, the city has spent significant time and dollars upgrading the city’s aging system and will continue to make upgrades and maintain the 188,000 linear feet of sewers across Sheffield Lake.
CIW (Capital Improvement Water) – this fee pays for maintenance and replacement of waterlines throughout the city to ensure safe, clean water reaches homes and businesses. This system is also aging and work is regularly scheduled to maintain, repair, replace aging pipes and connections.
STW (Storm Water Utility) – this fee covers the cost of operation, management, maintenance, repair, construction, reconstruction, enlargement and/or replacement of the city’s 101,000 linear foot storm drainage system.
WCIM (Water Capital Improvement Meter) – this fee pays for the installation, replacement and maintenance of the remote water meter at each home and business. In addition, it covers the software and technical supports required to run the automated meter system.
Charges:
Water Water consumption includes a $6.75/monthly base fee covering the first 99 cubic feet of water. Thereafter, water consumption is billed at $2.79 per hundred cubic feet. The City of Sheffield Lake purchases bulk water from Avon Lake Regional Water. On average the city consumes more than 233 million gallons of water a year.
Sewer Sanitary waste sewage treatment includes a $4.20/month base fee and an additional $5.23 per hundred cubic feet of metered waste water. The City of Sheffield Lake pumps all sewage to Lorain’s Black River Wastewater Treatment Plant (BRWWT). On average, the city pumps a little over 300 million sewage gallons a year.
Notable increases to sewage treatment were reflected in the July 2022 bill due to an increase in cost passed onto the City of Sheffield Lake by the BRWWT plant. The last increase was in 2017. Neighboring communities using the plant also saw increases in their fees this year.
Refuse The city contracts garbage collection through Republic Services. In 2021, residents recycled more than 1.5 million pounds in addition to general refuse picked up each Friday through our cart system. If you have service issues such as cart replacement or a missed pickup, contact Republic Services at 440-458-5191.
The annual Sheffield Lake Community Days celebration promises fun activities for kids and adults running from Thursday, July 14 through Sunday, July 17. Sponsored by the Sheffield Lake Community Civic Council, Council President and City Councilman Steve Kovach says Community Days is all about community spirit. “It’s a sort of homecoming,” adding residents, former residents and school alumni schedule vacations so they can attend the various events. He added he and fellow Councilman Rocky Radeff and others are working hard to fill the weekend with different kinds of events. He noted the company that provided amusement rides is unable to secure enough workers to handle setup, running and dismantling so the committee is planning several activities in its place.
Here is the schedule as of June 20:
Thursday, July 14
Annual Community Days Parade, 7 p.m.
Dozens of units will make their way from Joyce Hanks Community Center, 4575 Lake Road along Lake Road to Shoreway Shopping Center, 4128 Lake Road. More than ten food vendors will be at the shopping center before and after the parade.
NOTE: If your group or business would like to march in the parade, email Kovach at 1skcouncilatlarge@gmail.com.
Friday, July 15
Fireworks at dusk
The city will sponsor a fireworks display at the Boat Launch across the street from the Shopping Center. Food vendors will be available from 6 p.m. until after the fireworks. Rain date is Saturday, July 16.
Saturday, July 16
Cruise-In – check out cool cars throughout the day, 10 a.m.-dusk
Corn Hole Tournament, 2 p.m.-?
Live on stage: Kool Kat Oldies,WDLW 98.9 FM and 1380 AM live broadcast, 2-9 p.m.
Food vendors on hand 10 a.m. to closing. All events held at Shoreway Shopping Center.
Sunday, July 17
Flea Market and Craft Show, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Food vendors on hand. Even held at Shoreway Shopping Center.
Kovach said all events will be held unless there are severe storm warnings, but added that has stopped just one parade in the 60 or so years Community Days has been held. Just four years ago, a severe wind and rain storm developed during one evening, causing workers and volunteers to scramble to get tents, rides and booths cleaned up and ready for the next day. Anyone interested in volunteering to help with Community Days events, can email Kovach.
Dozens of volunteers fanned out across the city May 21 as part of Sheffield Lake Annual Pride Day.
Residents can appreciate their efforts at the gazebo behind the Joyce Hanks Civic Center where a dozen people from Russell Realty used wheel barrows to haul a truck load of mulch from the parking lot to the gazebo, where it was spread carefully around plantings. Councilman Bill Wtulich and his wife also volunteered there.
