Kudos to Lorain native on new album

BOUQUETS >> To Lorain native and singer Jaclyn Bradley Palmer who released her first holiday album Dec. 1 called “December.”

Bradley Palmer, who lives in Dublin, Ireland, with her family, said she always has loved Christmas music and wanted to make her own album.

At the end of last year, Bradley Palmer decided to take action, so she started producing and writing songs.

“December” also is her fourth studio album.

Bradley Palmer said, “Most of the recording we did was in the summer. It was quite funny to be singing Christmas songs in June and July in the 90-degree heat.”

She has traveled internationally for her music and was the only American featured in 2017 on “The Voice of Holland.” She said growing up in the International City cultivated a deep sense of appreciation for other cultures that has aided in her travels.

Bradley Palmer said the annual Lorain International Festival has allowed her to make friends in other countries by talking about their food and culture.

She brought this ideology into her album in her song, “Happy December,” which celebrates all the winter holidays.

Although physical copies have sold out, the eight-song album can be downloaded and streamed on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.

We congratulate Bradley Palmer for completing her holiday-themed album.

BOUQUETS >> To Irwin Deng, the 17-year-old junior at Avon Lake High School who achieved a perfect score on the ACT exam.

Irwin joins senior Stephen Forest as Avon Lake High students to achieve the feat in 2018, scoring in the top 0.2 percent of test takers.

And this young man accomplished this all while doing his schoolwork, which included six advanced placement courses at Avon Lake High, participating in the marching band, the tennis team, Math Club, Science Olympiad and Academic Challenge.

The son of Ping Deng and Changyun Nie, Irwin’s interests outside of the classroom include playing piano and composing music.

This was the second time Irwin took the test. He was an eighth-grader during his first test.

Irwin was applying for a summer enrichment program at Duke University and one of the application requirements was to submit an ACT score, which was 31.

Irwin said, “I kinda thought I had a chance for another high score the second time, but I never thought a 36.”

His advice for other students is to pick classes they like, get involved in school activities and don’t stress too much.

After graduation in 2020 from Avon Lake High, Irwin plans to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., and take courses related to the STEM field.

We wish Irwin the best in his future endeavors.

BRICKBATS >> To Kajaun Anderson, the 19-year-old Elyria man who learned Nov. 29 he will serve 24 years in prison for killing Cody Snyder, 19, during a botched drug deal.

Anderson was the last of five defendants convicted in the Jan. 23 shooting death of Snyder, but the first one sentenced.

He pleaded guilty to an amended indictment of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence.

Anderson apologized to his family and the Snyders for the crimes.

During a victim’s impact statement in court, Cody Snyder’s aunt Georgia Snyder told Anderson he was a murderer and, “I want to tell you your actions have changed our family forever. You stole my brother’s son, my parents’ grandson, my niece’s brother, my greatniece’s uncle and our nephew and cousin, Cody Lee Snyder.”

Anderson’s greed caused a lot of grief.

Hopefully, his punishment will send a message to the others in the case awaiting sentencing: Crime does not pay.

Just ask Anderson.

BRICKBATS >> To Amber Blackburn, the 27-year-old Lorain woman who is joining her codefendants behind bars for a string a robberies earlier this year across northern Lorain County.

Blackburn was sentenced Dec. 3 to three years in prison after pleading guilty in three cases to aggravated robbery and robbery between May 21 and May 30.

Blackburn’s co-defendants were Phillip A. Boschetti Jr., 24, of Lorain, and Alan T. Wharton, 30, of Elyria.

Boschetti pleaded guilty and was sentenced Nov. 1 to 16 years in prison.

And Wharton pleaded guilty and was sentenced Nov. 14 to five years in prison.

Was committing these crimes worth risking their freedom?

Probably not.

But at least Blackburn and her friends are not terrorizing businesses anymore with their criminal behavior.

They are where they belong.