Opening Ceremony
Along the route
Never saw ducks on a roof before (yes they were real)
Why we do it
Many thanks to
Muley
Ron & Ree,
and Anonymous
for their donations in memory of Gabriel.
Your kindness, support, and generosity is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for remembering our little Moonbeam ♥
**SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013 AT AVON COMMONS**
2013 Lorain County Heart Walk Festival from 8:00—11:00am
1 mile and 3 mile Heart Walk Kick Off at 9:00am
We are participating in the American Heart Association’s Start! Heart Walk in memory of our son, Gabriel. He was born in August 2009 with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a rare and serious congenital heart defect. He was four months old when he died on New Year’s Eve from complications after his second open heart surgery.
In the US alone, about 36,000 children are born with a heart defect each year. That’s roughly four babies every hour of every day. Sadly, approximately 4,000 of those children don’t live to see their first birthday, just like Gabriel.
The Legacy of Life is the American Heart Association’s Endowment Fund for congenital heart defect research. It provides a perpetual funding source for Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) research. Please help us support this cause by making a donation to the AHA’s “Legacy of Life”. You can donate online here.
from Charleston Village Society:
From the Lorain County Dog Kennel:
VERY SAD STORY ABOUT HOW THESE TWO PRECIOUS PUPS ENDED UP AT THE LCDK. “Both of these dogs in cage # 35 were tied to a flag pole in the (Admiral King Tribute Space) park at Hamilton St and W 1st St in Lorain…they were abandoned there…it was below freezing…a little windy (especially on the lake front) and snowing! They were in an open field…no shelter…food or water! I called the police…the officer talked to a couple of the neighbors…but no one knew where the dogs came from.They were both friendly. I hope someone knows the owners and comes forward with information! We didn’t know the dogs were tied there until morning. My son came home from work around 1 am and saw them in the field…it’s very dark there…when my husband left for work at 6:30 am…it was daylight out…he came back in and told me they were tied! I started making phone calls…police first. -Sharon”
How incredibly sad, that a human being could just tie these two very sweet girls to a flag pole and leave them there. These two are now safe at the Lorain County Dog Kennel cuddled up together on a nice warm blanket, and are available for adoption on the 13th.
Loraine’s note: I wondered what had happened to that area when I checked Sunday the solar light panels were damaged (obviously because these poor animals were tied and the plants ripped up around the flag pole. Now I know- if anyone recognizes these animals from the neighborhood please contact me 246-6046
Remember Molly?
Yeah, that was back in July. I had been trying to get Molly accepted into the Lake Humane Society’s Bully Breed Program so that she could finally find her forever family. Unbeknownst to me, Chuck was in negotiations with some neighbors who were interested in adopting her. I was totally against that arrangement, but my plans were overruled and a few days after I introduced her on the blog, she went to live with the neighbors. I told them that if it didn’t work out, they could bring her back to us.
We ended up seeing Molly more often than we expected to. She was always escaping from her new house and yard and going for a run around the neighborhood. At first, she was fairly easy for us to nab and return. She’s a smart girl, though, and it didn’t take her long to catch on and keep running when she saw us. Molly’s new family quickly grew tired of chasing her around the neighborhood. When she killed their pet snake, they handed her off to another neighbor.
Things seemed to be going well at new house #2. Molly lived in a house full of children and everyone seemed happy she was there. They didn’t like the name Molly, so they renamed her Chola (slang for ‘hardcore latina gangbanger’). After a few weeks, I noticed that she was being left outside on a short chain for longer and longer periods of time. She eventually managed to get loose and was on the run again. This time, neighbors who had grown weary of the dog’s shenanigans started speaking up. One even went so far as to threaten to kill the dog if he saw it in his yard again. We made the offer to take the dog back. In early December, we were told that the dog had been dumped. Nobody knew when or where or why and it was getting too cold for short haired dogs to be outside 24/7.
I was beside myself. I should have held my ground from the beginning and insisted on following through with the rescue plans. We’ve never given away a dog that we’ve rescued. The dogs have always gone to rescue or stayed here. I felt as though I had failed her. If she had gone to rescue, she would have gone on to her happily ever after. Instead, she was back on the streets or possibly dead.
Shortly before Christmas, I was taking care of some stuff on the Lorain 365 FB page and a post popped up from the Lorain County Dog Kennel:
Hey – that’s Molly! I had no idea that she was at the pound and here she was with another new home already. I was relieved to see that she had landed at the pound within a week of when we heard about the dumping and was safely contained through the holidays. I really hoped for the best for Molly.
Fast forward to tonight. Every Friday on the 6pm news on Fox 8, Dick Goddard shows off dogs and cats that are available for adoption at local shelters. We were watching them show off the lineup of pit bulls and you’ll never believe who popped up on the screen.
Oh yes she did!
I immediately went to the shelter’s website to get a better look at “Kelsey”.
How in the world this crazy running girl made her way from somewhere to Lorain to Elyria to Valley View in seven months without getting hurt or killed is beyond me. I left a comment on her shelter page with the bit of her history that we know. I hope people who are smarter than the dog take her home this time.
from Loraine’s blog:
“In Britain “cowboy” is a slang term for an unscrupulous, incompetent, or reckless person in business, esp. an unqualified one. We have a lot of fly by night “so-called” unlicensed contractors whose work is in the best scenario lacking in quality and in the worst case down right dangerous. The cowboy builders, contractors and they can be a problem in my “old country” but surely here in Lorain the “cowboy” has to TO ANSWER TO LAW AND ORDER- THE BIG GUNS SO TO SPEAK.”
click here to read the rest
I am not employed by the City of Lorain in any way, shape, or form.
I definitely am NOT a building inspector. I do not know the individuals who own this property, nor do I have any personal issues with them.
I am a Lorain blogger with a vested interest in the improvement of my city.
This blog belongs to me and I speak for myself. I am trying to understand what criteria the City of Lorain uses to decide who gets a second chance to rehabilitate their property and who doesn’t. Apparently, all I have to say is that I have some money (I don’t have to prove it) and show the city my plans and that’s good enough.
Yesterday was the Demolition Board of Appeals meeting at City Hall. I was about a half hour late and missed five of the six appeals, one being a review of the plans for 3620 Clifton. I was disappointed to find out that this house has been given yet another stay of execution. A second second chance.
According to this article, “…owners of 3620 Clifton Ave. will get another five weeks to make repairs to that South Lorain home. For a second week, the condition of the structure sparked the most discussion in the demolition appeals board meeting.”
I had gone by the house on Tuesday and was surprised to see they had started on the exterior. Click on any of the following images to see them bigger, if you dare. 
This house sits on a slab and has foundation damage on every side.
Back
Side
to the left of the gas riser
(other) Side
Front
It is my understanding that the owners of 3620 Clifton presented an acceptable plan to the Board and will have to bring proof of progress to the next meeting on February 28th.
I will be there.
The only way the Building Department knows if these serial second chancers are completing the work to code is if they report back to say the work is done and request an inspection. The Building Department can only drive by and look at the outside of the house from the public sidewalk or an adjoining property (with the owner’s permission). As long as the outside looks good and the house is secure, there’s nothing else the Building Department can do unless they are invited inside by the homeowners. That needs to change. Stop the repeated prostitution of problem properties in Lorain. Break this vicious cycle before it completely breaks this city for good. It’s time, Lorain. We need point of sale inspections and an effective property inspection and maintenance program implemented immediately. Take a cue from other Northeast Ohio cities that are also full of older housing and building stock.
From this post:
More noodling around in search of point-of-sale inspection information led me to the City of Cleveland Heights website and their Inspectional Services.
Not only do they have all the requisite residential inspections, “Commercial properties require an inspection involving the interior and exterior of the property and are conducted every three years. Inspectional Services notifies the owner of the building when inspections are to take place.”
Imagine what our downtown could look like if we could get the property owners to address the items on this inspection checklist that are relevant to their property/ies.
Vacant buildings must be registered with the city.
Out of county property owners must register and designate an in-county agent.
“Owners of real estate in Cleveland Heights, including single-family and two-family dwellings, duplexes, apartments, condominiums and commercial properties, are required to obtain a Certificate of Inspection (Point-of-Sale) prior to entering into an agreement to sell a property. Sellers must provide the prospective purchaser with a copy of the original Certificate of Inspection (valid for one year from the date of issuance) and Certificate of Compliance (if available) prior to the execution of a contract of sale. Cost for the Point-of-Sale Inspection is $150.00 for the first unit and $50.00 for each additional unit. For example: a two-family residence would cost $200.00, a four-unit apartment building would cost $300.00.”
Stay tuned…more updates to come…
In yesterday’s Morning Journal, there was an article about the decision made by the Demolition Board of Appeals to add 16 more houses to the demolition list. In that article, it was mentioned that the owners of one of the houses on the demolition list were given a second chance to make repairs. Even though it was noted by Demolition Board member, 5th ward Councilman, and neighborhood resident Eddie Edwards that “Before the sale, the house sat empty for about five years, with its doors and windows open and generally falling apart…” and “The new owners also waited a year before taking action to repair it…” AND the Board went out to see this house for themselves AND took the Fire Chief with them AND talked to the unhappy neighbors – the owners have $17,000 and a plan and that was enough for the Board to grant them a second chance.
If a house ends up on the demolition list, it is there for many many good reasons. The Powers That Be (TPTB) aren’t just riding around the neighborhoods randomly targeting houses for demolition. The reasons for demolition may not always be apparent to us on the outside, but there are plenty out there that are glaringly obvious candidates. As Eddie Edwards also said, “…the city should send a message by not relenting on the ruling that the home is a nuisance that should be torn down.” Especially when we are talking about a house that just last week the same Board had declared “…a nuisance to public health…”! Yet relent on the ruling is EXACTLY what they did for Joseph Barbee and Nathaniel Johnson, the owners of 3620 Clifton Avenue, knowing full well that “…neighbors “were fed up” with condition of the property and wanted city action…”.
Let’s take a look at 3620 Clifton over the years, in the order the pictures appear on the Auditor’s Site (click on any picture to see it larger):
Here’s what it looked like yesterday:
I am amazed that this house, which has been inspected and re-inspected by TPTB (and then some), was deemed worthy of a second chance. Sitting exposed to the elements for at least five years, sold for $200 to two guys who let it sit untouched for two more years (sale date January 2011) – it meant nothing to anybody until the city came knocking with the wrecking ball. (screenshots from parcel results search @ Auditor’s Office website)
The Auditor’s Site also reveals that the property taxes haven’t been paid for two years.
Edited to add: Mr. Barbee and Mr. Johnson also appear on the delinquent tax list for their property at 240 Brace Street, Elyria.
I had the opportunity to talk to two guys who were working inside this house (without any obvious signs of protection for their lungs or clothing). They had stepped out onto the porch for a break. No introductions were made, however, I believe they were the property owners. I told them that I am a local blogger who had read the article in the paper and wanted to see what the city deemed worthy of a second chance. I questioned the amount of money they said they had to spend in regards to it being enough to make all the repairs, as I think this house on a slab is too far gone and they are in way over their heads. One guy said he expected the work to be completed for less than $17,000. I don’t think they can do it. I told them that I hope I’m wrong and that they are able to prove me and all the other doubters out there wrong. I’d love nothing more than to tell the story of their success.
If I were in their shoes, I would cut my losses, use part of the $17k to pay the tax man and the demolition man, then come up with a new and improved plan. The lots on either side of this house will be empty soon. Take some of that $17k to buy and combine them, then build a new house on a nice big lot in a decent neighborhood.
Although I’m not anybody who knows anything about completely renovating a house, I know it’s not the truth when someone stands there and tells me to my face that the interior is not all nasty and wet and moldy when the roof has looked like this for awhile:
These guys are working inside the house, yet all the windows are boarded up and there was no sign of electric light coming from the interior. I did not ask to see inside, nor did they offer to let me see. There’s a lot of stuff in the dumpster, but they’ve got a long way to go. I told them I would be back. This is definitely one I’ll be keeping an eye on.
Foundation damage and backyard trash
Warped siding on two-story section of the house
Broken front porch slab and foundation
