Hispanic Happenings: Bilingual pharm tech enjoys helping others
NorthCoastNOW
Lorain native Luz Lopez is a pharmacy technician at the city’s newest pharmacy, Southside Pharmacy on Fulton Road and 28th Street.
Lopez began working there when it opened 18 months ago.
Sam Salouha and his brother-in-law, Sam Sbeih, both pharmacists, are the owners, and they hired Lopez because she was certified and bilingual. The timing was appropriate since she had just completed her certification at Remington College in North Olmsted. And while she eyed jobs at other local pharmacies, she considered it a blessing to be hired at Southside.
She assists the pharmacists in filling prescriptions, and she also makes home visits to drop off and pick up bottles to refill prescriptions for customers.
The pharmacy is the only one of its kind in Lorain that offers free home delivery. Salouha decided that the service was needed, mainly for the disabled and elderly, so he included it when he set up his business.
At work, Lopez loves to help. Some people have trouble with the language, so her bilingual skills have helped. She also has familiarized herself with many of the Spanish products sold at the pharmacy, such as the Maja beauty products from Spain and rubbing alcohols and creams made from tropical plants in Puerto Rico.
She said many of the elders in the community who relocated to Lorain from Puerto Rico have requested the products.
Growing up in South Lorain, Lopez was always aware of the Hispanic community and cultural diversity. Her grandparents spoke only Spanish, and she realized that there was a language barrier when it came to reading prescription labels. Now, she and the pharmacy’s staff help more than 600 customers, most of whom are from the Hispanic community.
Besides being dedicated to her job, Lopez is a single mother of a 2-year-old son, Jahiem. She is close to her parents, Lydia and Feliz. They were born in Lares, Puerto Rico, and moved to Lorain when they were young.
Lopez graduated from Southview High School in 1995. She is an active member of Sacred Heart Chapel.
Ray’s third anniversary
Join Ray Clark, owner of Ray’s on Pearl Avenue in Lorain, on Sept. 15 to celebrate the club’s third anniversary. All are invited to the free pig roast, where there will be Puerto Rican cuisine and other international food.
The occasion will include a retirement celebration for Clark’s brother, John. The party starts at 3 p.m., with the buffet beginning at 6 p.m. Participants are invited to bring a dish.
Birthdays
Tuesday, Luz Lopez; Sept. 21, Edward Chavez; Sept. 25, Juanita Senquiz; Sept. 28, William Ortega.
To submit news for this column, contact Awilda Ramirez at the Chronicle-Telegram, 225 East Ave., Elyria, OH 44035 or e-mail willier50@yahoo.com.
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Filed by NorthCoastNOW September 2nd, 2007 in Local and State.
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