The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Kids play, adults worry at block party
Hurricane Maria on the minds of most at El Centro event
Six-year-old Ketren Cain climbed into the front seat of a Lorain Police cruiser about eight times at a block party hosted by El Centro in Lorain.
Ketren honked the horn and pretended to drive.
After the first few times, the kindergarten student from Stevan Dohanos Elementary School asked for the keys, said officer John R. Kovach.
The eighth annual block party almost was canceled because of concerns raised after Hurricane Maria wiped out electricity, communication services, and no one knows what else in Puerto Rico, said Victor Leandry, executive director of El Centro at 2800 Pearl Ave. in Lorain.
The Latino population in Lorain is very concerned about family members on the island, Leandry said, and they cannot contact them to find out if they’re OK.
El Centro decided to continue
with the block party so children could play and people could find relief from the worry for a few hours, he said.
Erika Ortiz, 10, a fifthgrade student at Stevan Dohanos Elementary, said the party was fun.
“There are so many people to be our friends, and there are so many games we can play,” Erika said. “I get to hang out with my best friend, Julio.”
Colorful bouncy toys gathered lines of youngsters.
Tables were sponsored by Mercy Health, Lorain Arts Council, and Lorain County Metro Parks, among others.
First Federal Savings of Lorain offered freshly popped popcorn, while Lorain Police officers allowed children to crawl into a Military Resistant Armed Personnel Vehicle.
Lorain Police training officer and SWAT Team member Juan Rodriguez said the large MRAP vehicle was used in Afghanistan by a company from Hawaii.
The youngsters also lifted items officers use to break down doors or smash windows.
“This is a great event,” said Lorain Police Sgt. Rick Soto, who attends the block party each year. “As you can see, they come out here to support this event. Victor (Leandry) and El Centro do a phenomenal job. And as you can see, the kids aren’t afraid to approach us, which is good.”
Soto is from Puerto Rico, he said, adding his cousin is a state police officer attached to the governor there.
The only communication he has had is through Facebook, he said.
His brother-in-law and nephew both have been stranded on Puerto Rico, unable to catch a flight home, through hurricanes Irma and Maria. Finally Sept. 21 his nephew booked a flight for Sept. 23, Soto said.
The block party became a backdrop for planning a Lorain response to Hurricane Maria devastation of Puerto Rico.
Leandry gathered Latino leaders and said no one knows how family members are, and his mother is there.
Lorain City Councilman Angel Arroyo Jr. said a truck is leaving Lorain to take supplies for Puerto Rico to New York City to be placed on a ship headed to Puerto Rico.
Donations can be dropped off:
• 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday at Sacred Heart Chapel at 4301 Pearl Ave. in Lorain.
• Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Puerto Rican Home at 1603 E. 28th St. in Lorain.
• Noon to 10 p.m. at Bori Mex at 1910 E. 28th St. in Lorain.
Donations accepted include bottled water, diapers, wipes, Depends, feminine products, and nonperishable food for the Puerto Rican relief effort.
“There are so many people to be our friends, and there are so many games we can play. I get to hang out with my best friend, Julio.”
— Erika Ortiz, 10