LORAIN COUNTY – If Roverfest tickets evaded you, or if you prefer weekend activities more serene or subdued, check out other activities July 26, 2014, around Lorain County. For example, performance of ‘The Little Mermaid Jr’ at Lorain Lighthouse United Methodist Church shatters some boundaries holding back youth with special needs. ‘The whole thing is pretty remarkable,’ said Sharon Svette, whose son, Cory Svette, 24, serves as musical director. ‘Some of the things he’s getting the kids to do are amazing. They’re pulling it all together.’ Camp IDEAS started June 26 creating the musical with a mixture of young people with special needs, behavior difficulties, and typical abilities, Svette said. Students from Baldwin Wallace University raised $1,000 through shows and different activities to pay for the script and present the camp along with students from Lorain County Community College, Svette said. Local companies helped with donations, such as Sherwin-Williams which provided paint, and The Home Depot, wood, Svette said. The church donated use of the building. Young people built the sets and student Mikhayla Wilkins designed costumes, with Carol Mathews as camp director, Joy DeMarco as theater director and Alex Healy as assistant music director, Svette said. People playing major roles received scripts and coaching early. The performance of ‘The Little Mermaid Jr’ begins at 12:30 p.m. July 26 at Lorain Lighthouse United Methodist Church, 3015 Meister Road, Lorain. Admission is free. ‘It’s a unique experience,’ Svette said. ‘My son is autistic. He’s under the belief so many kids have more ability, but they’re not pushed.’ A senior at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Cory Svette began school in a self-contained class for students with autism, she said. ‘He has had the lead in operas. He goes to Italy next year for intensive vocal training. That was something he auditioned for. Once exposed, you never know.’ Other events Saturday around Lorain and nearby communities include: * Lorain Lighthouse Tour will be 2 to 4 p.m. July 26 from the Spitzer Lakeside Marina and dock, 301 Lakeside Ave. Tickets are $20 and are available by calling the Lorain Port Authority, 440-204-2269. * A Lorain Sunset River Cruise also will be 8 p.m. July 26 leaving from the Jackalope guest dock, 301 Lakeside Ave. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for children 11 and younger. Visit www.lorainportauthority.com for information. * The Lakeview Challenge 2014 beach volleyball tournament will be July 26 and 27 at Lakeview Park, 1800 W. Erie Ave., Lorain. The tournament features online registration and attracts hundreds of people from around Ohio. For more information see www.lakeviewvb.net. * The Summer Market is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 26 at Veterans Memorial Park at Route 83 and Lake Road, Avon Lake.
The Summer Market is a unique outdoor festival and benefit held in Avon Lake, right on the shore of Lake Erie. Thousands of guests visit the Market each year to shop for furniture, jewelry, art, vintage items, fresh produce, home decor and a variety of other goods from more than 65 vendors. Guests dine from three featured restaurants and listen to live music while watching the sun set or playing at the beach. For more information, visit www.thesummermarket.com. * Vermilion Chamber of Commerce hosts Dancing in the Streets 5 to 11 p.m. July 26 at the corner of Grand Street and Liberty Avenue. This is a free event with live entertainment. A beverage tent with pop, water and beer will be available. The Swing City Big Band with Terry Kitchen plays 5 to 8:30 p.m. and DJ Scott will play music 8:30 to 11 p.m. The Vermilion Merchants Annual Summer Sale also will be July 25, 26 and 27. * Freedom’s Friends Underground Railroad History Walk is scheduled 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. July 26 at the front steps of First Church, U.C.C. at the northwest corner of Main Street and Lorain Street, which also is SR 511 in Oberlin. Tickets must be purchased online or at the Oberlin Heritage Center’s Monroe House’s Museum Store. Tickets are not available at the start location. This tour is best suited for visitors 9 years of age and older. History walks may be cancelled and fees refunded if it is raining at the start time. * Oberlin Heritage Center also hosts the Upstairs/Downstairs Tour: Small Town, Big Stories at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. July 26. This in-depth tour includes three historic Oberlin buildings that serve as background for stories of the community and college in its first century, from the 1833 founding through the turn of the 20th century. Admission is $6 for adults, free for children accompanied by adults. Reservations appreciated; walk-in visitors welcome also. Allow 75 to 90 minutes. Location: Tours begin at Monroe House, 73 1/2 South Professor St. For information, visit www.oberlinheritagecenter.org. * The Christmas in July Campout will begin the night of July 25 with a variety of programs with a Christmas theme for the weekend at Findley State Park, 25381 SR 58, Wellington. For more information call the Park Office at 440-657-5749 ext. 100 or 102. * The Lorain Public Library lists events available Saturday at www.lorainpubliclibrary.org.
‘Even if there’s not a program going on at the library, there’s always things to do here,’ said Meagan Hayes, marketing communications manager of the Lorain Public Library, for example working on computers, playing games, checking out books, reading magazines, and doing research.
At the main branch of Lorain Public Library, a Yarn Club with knitting and crocheting instructor Valerie Dillard is from 10 a.m. to noon on July 26 and continues for four weeks.
Dillard teaches and reviews basic stitches of knitting or crochet. The yarn club is open to teens and adults. Beginners and previous Yarn Club members are welcome. Yarn is provided for practice. Bring knitting needles size 9 or 10, or a crochet hook size G or H. Preregister by calling the library at 440-244-1192.
A book sale is from noon to 7 p.m. July 24, from noon to 6 p.m. July 25, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 26, at the Columbia Branch of Lorain Public Library System, 13824 W Rover Road North, Columbia Station, Ohio. On Saturday a special discount applies of $3 a bag and $5 a box. The Friends of the Columbia Library Inc. sponsors the sale. Call 440-236-8751 for information.
Bring the youngsters for Microscopic Name Game to match the pictures of close-up objects to their names and win a treat, also at Columbia Branch Library.
A Touchy-Feely Week finishes up on Saturday at the Domonkas Branch Library, 4125 E. Lake Road, Sheffield Lake. Touch, feel and match mysterious items inside balloons to win a prize.
English Gardens presented by Judy Riggle, Oberlin, is from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. July 26 at the Domonkas Branch Library, 4125 E. Lake Road, Sheffield Lake.
Riggle presents photographic tours of Queen Victoria’s summer palace gardens on the Isle of Wight, Anne Hathaway’s cottage in Shottery, the old quarry in the oxbow of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, and spring flowers in the spa town of Harrowgate, and a bank of daffodils children planted along a wall in York., and vistas on the Sudeley Castle grounds.
A Writers Group is from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. July 26 at the Avon Branch Library, 37485 Harvest Drive, Avon. Call 440-934-4743 to preregister. Meet other writers, hone writing skills, or find motivation to pick up a pen. Participate in read and critique sessions, build skills through writing practice and learn about the writing craft in general.
North Ridgeville Branch Library offers a book sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 26, 2014, 35700 Bainbridge Road, North Ridgeville. Items are sold by the bag beginning at 2 p.m.
A Bookmobile Tour is: from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Westview Branch, Sunset Blvd., Lorain; from 1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Leavitt Homes, Lorain Drive, Lorain; from 2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. at Frank Jacinto Elementary, 2515 Marshall Ave., Lorain; and from 3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. at General Johnnie Wilson Middle School, 2700 Washington Ave., Lorain. * For more event listings check out:
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