Lorain leaders deserving of their honors

BOUQUETS >> To Leadership Lorain County for honoring local leaders during the 15th annual Difference Makers Gala on Feb. 16 at Lorain County Community College.

The 2018 honorees were: Matthew W. Nakon, president and CEO of Wickens, Herzer, Panza, Cook & Batista Co., who received the Eric Nord Award for Excellence in Leadership; Catherine Woskobnick, vice president of Mission and Values Integration at Mercy Health in Lorain, who received the Emerald Award for Inspirational Leadership; Anthony Gallo, president of Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, and Jeanine Donaldson, executive director of the YWCA in Elyria, who both received an Excellence in Leadership Award; and Ross Group Organization, which received the Excellence in Leadership Organization Award.

Julie Cruz Blair, executive director of Leadership Lorain County, said the awards spotlight how each honoree shows leadership in their own lives and in their work places.

Cruz Blair said, “It’s really the things they do outside of their professional lives. That’s really what they’re acknowledged for.”

Retired Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré, known for serving as commander of the Joint Task Force Katrina, which was responsible for coordinating military relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina, shared his thoughts on leadership.

We congratulate these Lorain County leaders for their contributions. They are well deserving.

BOUQUETS »

To the organizers of Valentines For Veterans, who recognized veterans Feb. 14 at the Valor Home in Lorain with valentines and other items.

Leigh Ann Arroyo, an Elyria resident and one of the organizers, said most people only think about veterans on Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Christmas, and felt Valentines Day should be special for them.

Arroyo said, “It was something I started because I feel they deserve our love. Without veterans and the sacrifice they have made, we wouldn’t be here.”

Veterans put their lives on the line, she said, and this was the least they could do.

Arroyo said the recognition featured valentines and treats from students at Eastwood Elementary School in Oberlin.

The students saved money from their allowances to give the veterans Subway gift cards.

Arroyo said, “It’s truly incredible when you see kids understanding the magnitude and importance of helping and supporting our veterans.”

We applaud Arroyo and her team for recognizing the veterans on Valentine’s Days.

BRICKBATS »

To the person, or persons, who abandoned a dog that authorities found in deplorable conditions.

According to a Lorain police report, officers found the dog they believe was abandoned by its owners.

The dog was found at 8:07 a.m., Feb. 15, in the basement of an Apple Avenue home.

Police investigated the house because a neighbor, who knew the dog was still inside, hadn’t seen the occupants in three days.

An officer found the house cleaned out and followed the dog’s barking to the basement door.

The dog was on a shredded couch along with a large quantity of dried feces.

For its safety, police took the dog to the Animal Protective League.

Hopefully, authorities will catch the culprits and they will suffer the consequences.

This should not have happened.

BRICKBATS »

To Donald W. Zelenak, the 53-year-old Lorain man who admitted he flipped his car and threatened officers who responded to the crash with vulgarities.

Zelenak pleaded guilty Feb. 14 in Lorain County Common Pleas Court to intimidation, falsification, driving under suspension and three counts of OVI in connection to the June 8, 2017, crash on state Route 57 just north of Interstate 80.

Officers were dispatched June 8 for a rollover crash on Route 57.

Zelenak had climbed out of his vehicle and was walking south toward I-80.

According to an Elyria police report, officers approached Zelenak and he told them he had nothing to do with the overturned vehicle saying, “I’m drunk and under suspension.”

Officers observed Zelenak’s speech was slow and slurred, smelled alcohol on his breath and noticed cuts to his arms.

While transporting Zelenak to the Lorain County Jail, he threatened to rape the wife and children of the arresting officer and threatened to kill the officer and his family after he beats the charges.

He also repeatedly told the officer he would pray the officer’s children be killed before the officer got home.

Zelenak will receive his punishment March 21.

Hopefully, his sentence will deter others from behaving badly like he has.