Avon Lake, Ohio
Avon’s five-year winning streak as Avon/ Avon Lake Community Resource Services’ (CRS) SOUPer Bowl champions ended this year with Avon Lake winning the trophy.
Avon Lake City Schools’ representatives celebrate winning the Avon/Avon Lake Community Resource Services’ (CRS) SOUPer Bowl trophy. Photo courtesy of CRS.CRS
The Avon and Avon Lake communities came together in the spirit of friendly competition collecting food and monetary donations for the CRS food pantry.
The 14th annual SOUPer Bowl was another successful initiative, with the winning community taking home the SOUPer Bowl trophy at halftime of the Avon vs. Avon Lake varsity football game this past Friday night at Avon Lake Memorial Stadium.
Both communities together collected 3,000 pounds of food and $33,269 in monetary donations, for a total of 170,000 pounds of food for the CRS food pantry. The monetary amount is the largest in the history of the event.
“We are once again overwhelmed with the generous support from the Avon and Avon Lake communities,” said Pam Ohradzansky, CRS executive director. “The food and monetary donations we received tonight will go a long way to helping those who are struggling with food insecurity. And although Avon Lake won the trophy this year, the SOUPer Bowl Food Drive is a competition that has no losers because we are all winners when we are able to care for our neighbors when they need us most.”
The overall record of SOUPer wins is tied again Avon 7 – Avon Lake 7.
Since its inception in 2010, the SOUPer Bowl Food Drive has raised a total of 87,360 pounds of food and $202,675 in monetary donations.
For more information on CRS, go to aalcrs.org.
In addition to the SOUPer Bowl, the two football teams were also playing in the “border war” rivalry game with the winner taking home the Silver Rail trophy. The Silver Rail Rivalry trophy was created in 2015 by the Avon Lions Club to recognize the rivalry between the two neighboring schools. Avon won the game 42-10.
Avon finishes the season as outright Southwestern Conference Champions with a perfect 10-0 record heading into the playoffs which begin next week.
Avon and Avon Lake first played each other in six-man football in the fall of 1939 when both were a part of the Lorain County League.
AVON
New business: A ribbon cutting ceremony and open house was held last week for Empowered Community Services, 37902 Chester Road. Empowered Community Services provides day services, transportation and shared living to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. There are nine locations across Ohio providing services to more than 360 individuals in more than a dozen counties across the state.
For more information, go to pickempowered.com.
Thanksgiving Turkey Dash: The 21st annual Turkey Dash, benefiting the Karen P. Nakon Breast Cancer Foundation, takes place at 9 a.m. Nov. 28 at Avon High School. The 5k run/walk is held each year on Thanksgiving morning at the school and winds through the Highland Park housing development.
Funds raised are used to help families in Northeast Ohio who are impacted by the high cost of breast cancer treatments. The Turkey Dash has raised over $470,000 in the last 20 years for its mission.
Advance registration is $35 ($40 after Nov. 1) for adults. Children ages 12 and under are $25 in advance ($40 after Nov. 1) To register, go to nakonfoundation.org.
Nakon passed away on Feb. 22, 2003 (her 38th birthday).
Christmas Boutique: Holy Trinity Ladies’ Guild 43rd Annual Christmas Boutique takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 16 at the school’s gym, 2610 Nagel Road. Admission is $1.
Night at the races: Support the Avon Lions Club through the annual Night at the Races Nov. 23 at Tom’s Country Place, 3442 Stoney Ridge Road. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the first race starts at 7 p.m. Guests must be 21 years or older to attend.
Tickets are $40 and include a buffet dinner, beer, wine and soft drinks. Name a horse for $30. Purchase a table of eight and name a horse for free.
Proceeds from the event have been used for an interactive music play area at Avon’s Every Child Playground, to help with the purchase of a police dog (Jax) for the Avon Police Department, to help construct the Greater Cleveland Fisher House, and to help construct the Lorain County Health & Dentistry building. Proceeds from this year’s event will fund two scholarships for qualifying high school seniors through the William H. Bommer Scholarship Fund.
For more information, call or text Joe Santoro at 216-534-0941.
Shout-out: Congratulations to Lake Erie Crushers Manager Jared Lemieux on being named an inductee to the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame 2024 Class.
AVON LAKE
New pastor: Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church recently installed Shelley Nelson-Bridger as pastor.
Holiday shopping: Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Christmas season and shop for gifts during the UR Decor and More Holiday Open House. The event begins with a special sip and shop for ladies from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 1 (general shopping begins at 11 a.m.). Shop from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 2 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 3 at 680 Moore Road.
College Board honors: Avon Lake High School junior Nathan Owens is a 2024 recipient of the National Hispanic & Indigenous Recognition Award from the College Board.
The College Board’s National Recognition Program showcases the strong academic achievement of its recipients, leading to successful and diverse college recruitment, as well as expanded opportunities in terms of college financial aid, according to information from the school district. The five programs include the National African American Recognition Program, National First-Generation Recognition Program (new in 2024), National Hispanic Recognition Program, National Indigenous Recognition Program, and National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program.
NORTH RIDGEVILLE
Veteran gift: Resident and Army veteran John Chapman, will receive a new roof Oct. 31, from the Third Estimate, an Owens Corning Platinum Roofing Contractor, as part of the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project.
Through a partnership with Purple Heart Homes, Chapman was selected and approved as the recipient for the roof replacement. The Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project is a nationwide effort to show gratitude and honor the veterans who served our country and the families who support them, according to the press release. The Owens Corning Foundation is donating roofing materials and The Third Estimate is donating the labor.
For more information on the Roof Deployment Project, go to owenscorning.com/roofdeployment.
Police department grant: The North Ridgeville Police Department recently received two federal traffic grant awards totaling $58,098 from the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Ohio Traffic Safety Office for the High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) Program.
Both federal grants will be used for high visibility overtime traffic enforcement now through September 2025.
The first grant, Impaired Driving Enforcement Program (IDEP) is for $28,299. The program works to reduce the number of drugged or alcohol-related fatal and serious injury crashes primarily in the evening and overnight hours, according to the press release The North Ridgeville Police Department will increase its visibility and presence in higher risk areas to meet these goals.
The second grant, Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) is for $29,799. The program is to conduct high visibility enforcement primarily during rush hour and daytime hours to decrease traffic-related fatal and serious injury crashes. The HVE targets speed, occupant protection, distracted driving, aggressive driving, motorcycle crash reduction, and failure to yield.
The funds are passed through the Ohio Traffic Safety Office from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to support the efforts of safety partners statewide. Eligible entities can use the funds for traffic safety enforcement, education and awareness to help reduce fatal or serious injury crashes and improve overall traffic safety, according to the release.
LORAIN COUNTY
Business expo: The Lorain County Chamber of Commerce’s 10th Annual Business Expo is from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at Tom’s Country Place, 3442 Stoney Ridge Road. More than 110 exhibitors will be onsite for networking and collaboration opportunities.
Career planning: Lorain County Community College will host a Career Kickstart Open House event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 12 in College Center, 1005 N Abbe Road, Elyria, for adults looking to advance their careers or explore a new career path.
To register, go to lorainccc.edu/AdultLearner.
Election day: Reminder, Election Day is Nov. 5. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. If you are unsure of your polling location, need a sample ballot, or need additional voting information, go to voteloraincountyohio.gov.
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