Mercy has helped many in 125 years

BOUQUETS >> To Mercy Health for celebrating 125 years of helping the community with its services.

Mercy Health staff, supporters and local officials gathered Sept. 20 at the Lorain facility to reflect on the hospital’s history and plans for the future.

Edwin M. Oley, senior vice president of Mercy Health and chief executive officer of Mercy Lorain, said the new developments include plans for facilities in Wellington and Oberlin, a new medical office building in Lorain, and its new name.

Oley said, “We are excited to expand access to care throughout our county. These investments exemplify our commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate care to the communities we serve.”

Sister Carole Anne Griswold, a Mercy board of trustees member, said the hospital’s mission is rooted in a teaching almost 2,000 years old.

Griswold said, “I am proud to see the many parts that make Mercy one quality, compassionate organization with a rich history and tradition contributed by each part. I believe Jesus and all those on whose shoulders we have stood for 125 years, are with us today in spirit and would say to us: ‘Well done, good and faithful servants. Go and do the same as you move into a future filled with hope.’ ”

We congratulate Mercy Health on its first 125 years and wish them success on the next 125 years.

BOUQUETS » To the city of Lorain for announcing Sept. 25 it will clamp down on Lorainites who don’t comply with automated trash collection rules.

For violators of the city’s policy, they can face at least a $300 fine if they let garbage pile up outside their homes.

Meanwhile, landlords who evict tenants may be required to use roll-off containers for items left inside the rental units, according to legislation to be considered by Lorain City Council.

Earlier this year, Lorain joined other communities in the county in using automated trash collection, known locally as the cart system for the wheeled cans to hold garbage and recyclable items.

Waste collection was on the agenda again Sept. 25 as Council debated a rule that would require landlords to use containers for all move-outs, evictions and clearing furniture and household items left when tenants are gone.

Council’s Streets & Utilities Committee voted to recommend the full board consider the new rule. But not before lengthy discussion on rights of landlords, tenants, city residents and personal responsibility of those involved.

Mayor Chase Ritenauer said the requirement at first was in Lorain’s contract for trash pickup, but was amended out of the agreement that Council approved.

Ritenauer said, “The end result that we want is pretty much this: We don’t want garbage out on the treelawn sitting for weeks. We don’t want garbage sitting out on the street.”

Good job, city of Lorain, for taking steps to clean-up trashy problems.

BRICKBATS » To Gary L. May, the 72-year-old Amherst Township man who was sentenced to at least 15 years in prison for raping young girls at his home while his wife was babysitting.

May was found guilty by a jury Sept. 18 of 10 counts of rape, nine counts of sexual battery and two counts of sexual battery for the crimes against two juveniles.

One of May’s victims, now an adult, addressed the court before the sentencing.

She told the court, “From then on, I was hit with challenges after challenges. I cried from pretty much anything.”

May also addressed the court.

He had the audacity to say: “I do admit that something happened to these ladies. I’m sorry they went through such trauma. I don’t know what to say; I did not do this.”

May is despicable and he earned his right to a bed in prison.

BRICKBATS » To Zbigniew Stanley Puza, the 71-year-old Amherst man who is facing criminal damaging and discharging firearms charges stemming from shooting at a squirrel that sent a bullet through three walls in a neighbor’s house.

Amherst police Detective Sgt. Michael Murphy wrote in an incident report that a homeowner reported Sept. 6 someone fired a weapon into the residence.

Officers found pieces of plastic on the floor from a light switch in the living room. The switch had a hole in it.

Police determined the bullet traveled from the back yard of a Meadowview Lane property.

Through a search warrant, police located two possible suspected firearms and a video surveillance system.

Murphy said Puza admitted shooting at squirrels with a .22-caliber rifle.

Someone could have been seriously hurt, or killed, because of what police said Puza admitted to.

Anyone caught shooting at squirrels on city streets should be punished, Puza included.