Club recognizes city service director

LORAIN — The Lorain chapter of the Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club recently recognized several local residents for their work in or contributions to their community during its 35th annual Founder’s Day award luncheon.

Lorain Service Director Robert Gilchrist received the “Moving On” award, which recognizes someone who has elevated themself, said Carlotta Dunlap, first vice president of the club.

“He was doing more for himself and the community than others we considered, so we picked him,” Dunlap said. “We thought people should know more about him.”

Gilchrist said he was grateful for the honor.

“I’m honored to receive an award like this, but I believe I’m just doing my job,” Gilchrist said.

Other awards winners included Debra Spencer, Sam Felton, Anthony Barnhill, Sondra Williams, Lula Garret and Yvonne Newton. 

Art auction

Common Ground — The Cindy Nord Center for Renewal is hosting a spring art auction today to raise money for its programs and services at 7 p.m. at the Rose Cafe at Lakeview Park, 1800 W. Erie Ave., Lorain. Cost is $10 per person and will include admission, two drink tickets and light hors d’oeuvres. 

Parade participants needed

The Lorain Memorial Association is looking for bands, marching groups, auto units, color guards, groups with floats and others to participate in the annual Memorial Day Parade 11 a.m. May 25 on Broadway in Lorain. For more information, call James Gallagher at (440) 714-4925. Application deadline for entries is May 18.

Walk for the homeless

Lorain’s Neighborhood House Association is holding a fundraising run and walk to benefit the Haven Center, 1536 E. 30th St., Lorain. Open registration begins at 7 a.m. May 9. The 5K run starts at 8:30 a.m., and the one-mile walk begins at 9:30 a.m. Awards will be given at 10 a.m. The event is being held at Lorain County Community College’s North Campus, Ewing Recreation Center.

The Haven Center is Lorain County’s only year-round, 24-hour emergency homeless shelter for men, women and children. Registration is $25 and participants can register at www.walk2009.com. Also on hand will be a DJ, magician, balloon artist, face painter and more entertainment.

Military graduate

Army Pvt. Charles J. Williams graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., where he studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values as well as physical fitness, combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare, bayonet training, rifle marksmanship, map reading, field tactics and the military justice system. Williams is the son of Charles and Barbett Williams of Lorain. He is a 2007 graduate of Brookside High School in Sheffield.

Self-help guru

Ty Howard, a self-development speaker, will give a presentation, “Untie the Knots that Tie Up Your Life” at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the gymnasium at Washington Elementary School, 1025 W. 23rd St., Lorain. Light refreshments and appetizers will be available. Howard will speak about how to identify toxic habits, choices and people in your life and how to deal with them.

Pasta dinner

The Black River Historical Society of Lorain will host “Pasta Paradise III” from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Jackalope restaurant, 301 Lakeside Ave., Lorain. Tickets are $18 and include a buffet of assorted pasta, garlic bread, tossed salad, dessert and one glass of wine or draft beer. Tickets are available at the Moore House Museum or from a BRHS trustee. Call Moore House for more information at (440) 245-2563.

Pancake breakfast

The Sheffield Village Firefighters Local Union 4275 is hosting a pancake breakfast from  8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the Fire Department, 4340 Colorado Ave. Admission is $5 per person, $4 for kids and is free for anyone 65 or older. Admission includes pancakes, sausage, juice, coffee or milk, a tour of the department and a showing of the fire trucks. Proceeds benefit the firefighters union.High school playThe Brookside High School Drama Club will present “Inherit the Wind” at 7 p.m. today at the school, 1812 Harris Road, Sheffield. Tickets are $5 for general admission and $3 for students and senior citizens and are available at the door. The play is a courtroom drama that tells the story of the Scopes Monkey Trial, which dealt with a teacher in a small town convicted for teaching evolution. 

Historical play

The courage and defiance of Lorain County conductors on the Underground Railroad are celebrated in a new play that premiered Friday at the French Creek Nature Center. “Freedom’s Light: A Stop Along the Underground Railroad” is set in 1858 and 1859 and is the first play written by Lorain author Kelly Boyer Sagert. 

Sagert already has eight books and more than 1,000 other publications to her credit. The play is running in conjunction with TrueNorth Cultural Arts through May 17. Performances are scheduled Thursdays through Sundays through May 17 at the Nature Center, 4530 Colorado Ave., Sheffield. Call (440) 949-5200 for more information or visit www.tncarts.org.

Girl Scouts plant trees

The French Creek Girl Scouts planted 26 trees Sunday in Gary Green Memorial Park on Richelieu Avenue in honor of Arbor Day. The trees were donated by Hearth Stone Retirement Community. Pandy’s Premium Garden Center in Elyria donated as well. This was the girls’ first tree-planting ceremony, however the Scouts hope to make it an annual tradition.

Military graduate

Army Pvt. Nathan Dunn graduated from the land combat electrician advanced individual training course at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. The course is designed to train soldiers to support level maintenance on land combat support systems and operate test stations. Soldiers are also trained to troubleshoot, repair and test land combat electronic missile systems, including tube-launched, optically sensed, wire-guided missiles, Dragon weapons systems and associated components.

Dunn is the son of Kimberly Dunn of Sheffield Lake and the grandson of Edward Chapin, of Elyria. Dunn is a 2004 graduate of Brookside High School.

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