GARDEN IS GONE

El Centro decides to move on from memorial garden for Moises Velez

El Centro De Servicios Sociales Inc., 2800 Pearl Ave., has decided to move on from the Moises Velez Memorial Garden on Pearl Avenue in Lorain, but a resident who was taking care of the garden is crying foul.

Victor Leandry, director of the nonprofit, said the agency no longer will support the garden, located at 2900 Pearl Ave.

The decision, however, is not sitting well with Hollie McGuire, a Lorain resident, and a group of other volunteers who worked on the garden.

Leandry said the garden was started by the local citizens in memory of Moises Velez, who died in July 2011, but that was when the garden was cityowned property.

“This was an area where that kid got shot, and I was here and saw how people came together to make this garden.”

— Hollie McGuire, Lorain, a garden volunteer

“We allowed McGuire and the other volunteers to continue their care of the garden this year, after we purchased the land, and found that is was not being well kept,” he said. “We received calls from the volunteers asking for compensation for taking care of the garden, but I told them we are a nonprofit and cannot pay someone to maintain

the garden.”

Due to the current state of the garden, El Centro had to move on, Leandry said.

“We removed the beds and will have the company that cuts the grass, simply cut the grass and maintain the land,” he said. “We own the land, so we want it well kept and looking good.

“We currently have no plans for what we will do with the land, but we could no longer keep the garden.”

McGuire said she reached out and said she would like to work with El Centro to maintain the garden.

“It’s their land and they can do whatever they want,” she said. “I would like to be able to continue working the project that

has meant so much to me, and this community.”

McGuire said the community rallied together in forming the garden in Velez’s memory.

“This was an area where that kid got shot, and I was here and saw how people came together to make this garden,” she said. “I just thought it was an awesome project and something that showed the love and support of the community.

“It’s something I really wanted to be apart of. I just wish it could continue.”

“We own the land, so we want it well kept and looking good.”

— Victor Leandry, executive director of El Centro

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Hollie McGuire inspects the current state of a former garden honoring the late Moises Velez on pearl Ave. in Lorain.