Kudos to Valor Home on help for female vets

BOUQUETS >> To the Valor Home of Lorain County for unveiling a new three-unit residence for female veterans and their families during an Oct. 7 ceremony in the 2900 block of G Street in Lorain.

Supporters of the project officially cut the ribbon on the new home and handed over the keys to the first tenants, military veteran Michelle Appleton and her son, Corey Pasternak.

Lorain Ward 1 Councilwoman Beth Henley said, “I want to thank everyone who made this Valor Home for women a possibility. Valor Home staff, Local 2000, Home Depot and everyone else who has been involved with this.”

Beginning in July, UAW Local 2000 members volunteered their time in renovating the building with financial support through a grant from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and generous support from the local community including the Lorain Lions Club.

Matt Slater, director of veterans services for Family and Community Services Inc., which operates Valor Home, called the project a true testament to Lorain County and its values in their support for veterans and their families.

We agree.

BOUQUETS >> To the Lorain Lighthouse Foundation trustees who announced that in the 101st year of the building’s existence, fresh programs are starting to grow at the Jewel of the Port.

Some Lighthouse Foundation trustees spoke Oct. 5 during the Main Street Lorain group of the Lorain Growth Corp. breakfast meeting about the 2018 season.

The report was glowing, and not just because of sunrise happening before the morning meeting.

Trustee Linda Lumadue, who handles reservations for the Tuesday night dinners at the lighthouse, said it was a good year for them.

Lumadue’s husband, Jim, also is a lighthouse trustee, and is part of the crew that works to maintain and restore the lighthouse.

There were two evening meals the first year and 13 the second year.

This year, every dinner was booked and the Lumadues had a waiting list for passengers. A total of 219 people went out for the regular dinners.

Calls for reservations have come as early as January each year.

A few years ago, the trustees added a lighthouse night for July 4; that trip attracted 51 people this year.

The lighthouse will host private group dinners with wine; guests can bring other beverages. There were two weddings this year.

Each year, it’s getting better and better.

We congratulate the Lighthouse Foundation on a very successful year.

BRICKBATS >> To the crooks who used an IRS scheme to steal thousands of dollars from a Westlake woman.

On Oct. 3, the woman told Westlake police she received a voicemail on her phone indicating she owed money to the IRS and charges would be brought against her if she did not return the call and work out the problem.

She returned the call, and for over two hours, spoke with several different people.

The thieves told the victim she owed $5,000, and an arrest warrant would be issued if she did not pay.

The perpetrators even went so far as to scare the victim by asking who would take care of her children if she was in jail for this tax debt.

Unfortunately, the victim was frightened into purchasing gift cards and reading the access codes to pay for her fictitious tax burdens.

By the time the victim checked the story, the gift cards had been depleted of all money.

It’s a stretch, but hopefully, law enforcement can find a way to catch these swindlers before they strike again.

BRICKBATS >> To the two Lorain men who Elyria police say committed a string of car break-ins Oct. 9 near Elyria Catholic High School.

Luis D.A. Rivera, 22, is facing two counts of possessing criminal tools and a count of criminal trespass, a fourthdegree misdemeanor, while Larry D. Girard, 20, is facing a charge of possessing criminal tools.

At 3:45 a.m., Elyria police officers responded to the 100 block of Preston Avenue following a citizen’s complaint of two men attempting to enter a vehicle.

As a result of the investigation, police arrested Rivera and Girard. Police said detectives interviewed Rivera and he admitted to attempting to break in at least six vehicles near Preston Avenue.

The men are innocent unless proven guilty.

In the past 30 days, Elyria police received multiple complaints of car break-ins.

To help deter similar crimes, police did increase patrols in residential areas.

But residents must do their part by locking their vehicles and removing valuables when the auto is unattended.