Did you know that Easter Seals got their start in Elyria? Is there still a feud between Lorain and Elyria? Do you remember when Cascade Park included caged bears? Did you know that Elyria was mentioned in the movie Blue Thunder with Roy Schieder?

Bruce and Craig take the WEOL Morning Show on the road and dive into Elyria’s rich history broadcasting live 7-9am from Elyria’s oldest restaurant, Hazel’s Family Restaurant, on Cleveland Street.

Morning Show interviews (subject to change):

Monday, February 13
Holly Brinda – Mayor of Elyria
Debbie Pillavant – Elyria Public Library
Jim Vandemark – Vandemark Jewelers
Paul Rigda – Elyria Schools
Dr. Church – LCCC

Tuesday, February 14
Dr. Bob
Church of the Open Door
Jim Smith – Elyria Historian
Denise Roe – Easter Seals
Dr. Donald Sheldon, EMH

Wednesday, February 15
Tamela Grubb – Main Street Elyria
Julie Wallace – The Chronicle Telegram
Lisa Mayles – Lorain County LifeShare
Bill Bird – Lorain County Historical Society

Beautiful historic Downtown Elyria is nestled between two branches of the Black River and features two extraordinary parks, Ely Square and the Twin Falls Riverwalk. Downtown Elyria has what other community’s desire, a true town square complete with a historic Civil War statue and cannon, a Veterans Memorial and quaint community gazebo. The Downtown Commercial District boosts of independently owned businesses, retailers and restaurants that are unique in providing a small town atmosphere for the ultimate shopping and dining experience. Whether you are looking for a hardware store, chocolates or a good steak dinner, you can find it in Downtown Elyria.

Elyria on Wikipedia
City of Elyria
Main Street Elyria
The Chronicle Telegram
Elyria Pride
CityData

After learning 40 minutes before tipoff that rookie point guard Kyrie Irving wouldn’t play due to a concussion, Cleveland refused to feel sorry for itself and grounded the high-flying Los Angeles Clippers 99-92 Wednesday night at Quicken Loans Arena.

“You can respond one of two ways,” said Cleveland coach Byron Scott, who got a big victory on his 26th wedding anniversary. “Obviously, you can feel sorry for yourself and say, ‘One of our best players is out’ and go in the tank. Or you can respond like we did.”

On a night when Anderson Varejao (15 points, 11 rebounds) sat the final 9:32 of the third quarter after bruising his back in a collision with Los Angeles’ Blake Griffin, the Cavs (10-14) showed a lot more mental and physical toughness than the Clippers (15-8), who managed just three dunks.

Griffin, who finished with 25 points and 15 rebounds but just one slam, had finally had enough when he committed his sixth foul with 6.6 seconds left while running down the middle of the floor with Varejao and the Cavs in possession of the ball.

Midway through the third period, Cleveland’s Samardo Samuels committed a fairly hard foul on Griffin, resulting in Clippers teammate Kenyon Martin coming over and giving a very slight push to the 260-pound Samuels, who flopped, almost in slow motion, to draw a technical foul on Martin.

“It got physical,” said Cleveland’s Daniel Gibson, who started at shooting guard and had 17 points after missing the previous five games with a neck injury. “They’ve got a couple guys known for being in the mix. We’ve got a couple, too. You gotta know that’s going to happen.”

The Cavs, who got season highs of 24 points and 13 assists from Ramon Sessions, who started in place of Irving, and a season-high 27 points to go along with eight rebounds from Antawn Jamison, who battled Griffin to almost a statistical draw, didn’t let the physical play get to them.

The Clippers, who lost veteran guard Chauncey Billups for the season on Monday to a torn Achilles tendon, did.

“It seemed like they were chirping at the refs a lot,” Gibson said. “Obviously, it showed the physicality might have been getting to them.”

Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro, whose team got zero points from starting center DeAndre Jordan and five points in 34 minutes from former Cleveland guard Mo Williams, who was 2-for-10 from the field and missed a crucial layup late in the fourth quarter, didn’t exactly dispute that theory.

“We had no aggressiveness tonight,” he said. “We did not play like professionals.”

After falling behind 22-13 at the outset, the Cavs turned things up and were the aggressors the rest of the evening, especially while building their lead to 15 at the 4:02 mark of the third period.

Sessions was the key in that stretch, as he had 11 points in the quarter and 18 in the second half, when he also had nine assists.

“It’s not my first rodeo,” the fifth-year pro said. “I was ready to go when they called my name.”

That didn’t happen until shortly before the Cavs took the floor for pregame warm-ups. Irving, who got kneed in the head in the fourth quarter Tuesday in Miami, went out to shoot around about 90 minutes before game time, but went to trainer Max Benton and complained of a recurring headache.

“He went out and warmed up and said he felt like his head was on fire,” Scott said.

Already without shooting guard Anthony Parker (back) and power forward Tristan Thompson (ankle), the Cavs didn’t blink, even when they blew all of their 15-point lead.

The Clippers, who got 16 points and 12 assists from point guard Chris Paul, tied the game at 73 with 7:46 to go on a pair of free throws by Reggie Evans, a .419 shooter at the line, but never took the lead.

The key sequence came with the scored tied again at 87.

Los Angeles small forward Caron Butler, who finished with 21 points but had no rebounds or assists until the closing moments, missed a 3-pointer — the Clippers were 3-for-15 from beyond the arc — with 1:33 left.

Thirteen seconds later, Gibson made a three, then Williams missed a wide-open layup for the Clippers with 1:10 to go.

“Late in the game, I’ve got no conscience,” Gibson said. “If I get the opportunity, I’m going to step into it (and shoot it).”

Griffin later converted a three-point play to pull the Clippers within 94-92 with 17.3 seconds left. Gibson split a pair of free throws at the 16.4-second mark, but Butler missed a three with 11 ticks on the clock and the Cavs iced the game at the line.

“Our guys planted their feet, stood firm and didn’t back down,” Scott said. “We fought fire with fire.”

Second chances

Cavs swingman Christian Eyenga had six points in the first half. They were his first points of the season.

• Martin, who had two dunks, got the Clippers’ first slam of the game with 4.4 seconds left in the third quarter.

• Randy Foye started in place of Billups and had 15 points.

• Cleveland’s Omri Casspi, who had two points, one rebound and zero assists in 21 minutes, matched Griffin with one dunk.

• The Cavs have beaten the Clippers 10 straight times at The Q. Los Angeles’ last win in Cleveland was on March 10, 2002.

• Jamison set a season high in scoring for the second straight night. He had 25 points Tuesday in Miami.

• R&B singer Trey Songz was in attendance and got a huge ovation when he was shown on the overhead screen.

ELYRIA  — During moments of conflict onscreen when chef Robert Irvine criticized Moss’ Prime Rib & Spaghetti House, audience members watching shouted, “Go Sandi!”

The “Restaurant: Impossible” show featuring Moss’ aired Wednesday night on the Food Network, and owner Sandi Laubenthal hosted a watch party at her downtown restaurant.

The Broad Street restaurant received a $10,000 renovation in October from Irvine and his Food Network team, which included new carpeting, a new coat of paint and changes to lighting.

When the show began, the volume on the televisions wasn’t very high, so people in the restaurant quieted.

When Irvine came in, he was highly critical, saying, “This place looks like a funeral home,” and he could be seen sticking out his tongue at the taste of some of the food.

About Moss’ signature prime rib, Irvine said, “It’s cooked correctly, but it’s very bland.”

Upon tasting some of the other dishes, he said, “No wonder nobody comes in.”

The audience “oohed” and cheered Laubenthal, who said onscreen, “It’s down-home. I don’t know what to tell you, but I’m up for the challenge.”

On the show, Laubenthal talked about buying Moss’ 11 years ago, and that business had been good, but over the past two years, it “dropped dramatically,” she said.

Laubenthal talked about losing $20,000 a month and her fears about losing the restaurant. The building is up for sale for $339,000 and has been on the market for 4½ months.

Irvine also criticized Laubenthal for becoming defensive and lashing out at her staff and customers.

During a commercial break, Laubenthal said she wasn’t as anxious about seeing herself onscreen as she thought she would be.

“It’s not ‘Restaurant: Impossible’ that’s going to save Moss’,” she said. “It’s what ‘Restaurant: Impossible’ taught me, not only about the business, but about myself.”

She added, “It’s not about me. It’s about everybody in this room.”

Elyria Mayor Holly Brinda sat in the crowded bar area. Brinda said she hoped the show would spur renewed interest in Moss’ and in downtown Elyria. She congratulated Laubenthal on her courage in presenting a not-always-flattering picture of her restaurant to a national audience.

“It took courage to do what she did,” Brinda said. “She’s a tough lady, but she’s a thoughtful lady and she really cares about Elyria.”

Brinda said she’s seen more people come into the restaurant since the renovation and updated menu.

There were some things that Moss’ regulars couldn’t part with, like the restaurant’s pea salad. It was taken off the menu briefly after Irvine’s changes, but customers pushed to keep it.

“I think people fought against the taking away of the pea salad,” Brinda said. “I was one of those people.”

Several people who worked on some of the renovations were there as well, along with Moss’ regulars.

Patty Freeman, an Elyrian who worked as an assistant to Irvine’s designer, said, “I think the restaurant changed in a really dramatic way. It’s a lot more contemporary, bringing the younger generation in.”

Freeman emphasized the sense of community that the restaurant created.

“We are all here because we support this restaurant,” she said.

If you missed last night’s show, you can catch it 9 p.m. Feb. 15 on the Food Network.

What does the color of your car say about you? Consumer affairs expert James Bell reveals!

Might have gotten the Heat prepped for a daunting road stretch as well.

Dwyane Wade scored 26 points, James added 24 and the Heat said farewell to their home floor for nearly two weeks by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-91 on Tuesday night. Miami’s lead was only a point late in the third quarter, before the Cavaliers missed 17 of their next 19 shots and the Heat finally pulled away.

“It was definitely going to be necessary,” James said of the late defensive push, one that ensured Miami would beat Cleveland for the fifth time in six meetings since the two-time MVP left the Cavaliers for the Heat. “And that’s how we want to close out games.”

Chris Bosh finished with 15 points for the Heat, who have won 11 of their last 13 games and stayed within a game of Chicago in the Eastern Conference race, both teams tied in the loss column with six. Mario Chalmers and Udonis Haslem each scored 14 for Miami, which starts a stretch of five road games in seven nights at Orlando on Wednesday, then caps the six-game trip with a visit to Cleveland on Feb. 17.

The Heat are 19-6, the best 25-game start in team history.

“We just had to grind it out, grind it out — until it was our time to pull away,” Wade said.

Antawn Jamison scored 25 points and had nine rebounds for Cleveland, which got 17 from Alonzo Gee, and 16 points, six rebounds and six assists from Kyrie Irving. Anderson Varejao had 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who were outscored 29-19 in the fourth and got a 4-for-23 shooting night from their reserves.

“I thought we competed,” Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. “I thought our starters played pretty well. Our second unit just couldn’t make baskets, couldn’t throw anything in the ocean. You’re not going to win a lot of games when you’re not get any contributions, but again a lot of it had to do with the injuries. I’m not trying to make any excuse. You’ve got to give them a lot of credit. They’re a good basketball team.”

Facing a number of injury issues, Cleveland had only 11 players in uniform for the game. Daniel Gibson (neck infection), Tristan Thompson (sprained left ankle) and Anthony Parker (strained lower back) were not with the club, and earlier this week the team waived Mychel Thompson — who had started the Cavs’ last three games and scored six points in their win over Dallas on Saturday.

Short-handed or not, the Cavs gave the Heat all they wanted — just as they did in Miami two weeks ago.

Jamison had 20 points in the first half, his best opening half since March 6, 2010. And whenever it seemed like Miami was about to take off on a run, like when it had a quick 15-8 lead early or a 43-33 edge midway through the second quarter, Cleveland had an answer.

That trend continued in the third.

“We did a good job,” Varejao said, “until the fourth quarter.”

An 18-9 run by the Cavs to open the second half gave them a 66-63 edge, before the Heat put together a pair of quick bursts — dunks by James punctuating both. He capped a 9-2 run by catching a long pass from Haslem in transition for a five-point lead, and after Cleveland clawed back within one, Chalmers hit a 3-pointer and James followed a missed layup by Battier with a one-handed slam for a 78-72 edge entering the fourth.

With that, Miami had taken Cleveland’s best shot.

“That team is improved, they play hard and they compete,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “They’re a tough team to put away.”

Starting with that mini-flurry by Miami to close the third, the Cavaliers were outscored 19-6 over an eight-minute span. Wade made back-to-back hoops to give Miami what was its biggest lead at 92-78 midway through the fourth.

“We were in the game for most of the game,” Irving said. “In the fourth quarter I felt that we could make a run but we were just not hitting shots. They weren’t falling. It happens.”

And now comes the trip that Miami sees as an opportunity.

It’s a rare six-game swing around the East for Miami, which starts in Orlando and then goes to Washington, Atlanta, Milwaukee and Indiana, the last three of those in consecutive nights, before wrapping up at the arena James called home for his first seven NBA seasons.

“I was just talking to D-Wade about it. I think it’s going to be great,” James said. “One thing about us, we love these road trips. They bring us together even more. It’s just us. It’s the 15 guys, the coaching staff, the training staff and we all come together. It’s a big test for us.”

Notable

Varejao acknowledged he’s a little anxious waiting for Thursday’s announcements of the All-Star Game’s reserve selections. “I mean, I’m not going to say I’m not. … If it happens, I’ll be really happy,” Varejao said. He’s got a fan in Spoelstra, who believes Varejao is worthy of the nod.

Heat 107, Cavs 91

CLEVELAND (91): Casspi 2-5 1-2 6, Jamison 11-22 1-2 25, Varejao 4-6 3-4 11, Irving 5-15 4-5 16, Gee 6-11 4-6 17, Sessions 2-8 4-4 9, Eyenga 0-4 0-0 0, Hollins 1-1 3-7 5, Harangody 1-9 0-0 2, Samuels 0-1 0-0 0, Erden 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-82 20-30 91.
MIAMI (107): James 9-16 6-7 24, Bosh 6-10 3-4 15, Anthony 1-4 0-0 2, Chalmers 5-11 0-0 14, Wade 9-17 8-8 26, Battier 1-4 0-0 2, Haslem 4-6 6-7 14, Miller 3-9 0-0 8, Cole 1-7 0-0 2. Totals 39-84 23-26 107.
Cleveland    25    23    24      19   —      91
Miami           28     26    24      29  —    107
3-Point Goals—Cleveland 7-19 (Irving 2-3, Jamison 2-5, Gee 1-1, Sessions 1-2, Casspi 1-4, Harangody 0-4), Miami 6-17 (Chalmers 4-9, Miller 2-5, James 0-1, Battier 0-1, Wade 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Cleveland 51 (Varejao 11), Miami 57 (Miller, Bosh 9). Assists—Cleveland 17 (Irving 6), Miami 19 (Wade, James 6). Total Fouls—Cleveland 22, Miami 22. Technicals—Varejao, Miami defensive three second. A—20,078 (19,600).

TONIGHT

• WHO: L.A. Clippers at Cleveland
• TIME: 7 o’clock
• WHERE: The Q
• TV/RADIO: FS Ohio; WEOL 930-AM,

Thomas, 18, figures she’ll definitely make it into the program, which airs at 10 p.m. on The Food Network.

She was the only employee to drop a big tray of food, and one of the show’s producers came to her home where her mother signed a release because she was only 17 at the time.

“I was breading walleye and I had two sheet trays, and it slipped,” Thomas said.

“Five pieces (of fish) fell on the floor and I saved the rest of them, but the camera was right on my face,” she said.

The show was filmed in October and Moss’ owner Sandi Laubenthal has been unable to discuss it because of contractual obligations.

But Laubenthal is planning a viewing party 8:30 to 11:30 tonight when the restaurant will provide free hors d’oeuvres, entertainment and a cash bar.

When the show was filmed, Thomas said it was her second day at Moss’ and her first experience on a restaurant line. Previously, she got her feet wet working at McDonald’s and at the restaurant operated by the Lorain County Joint Vocational School, where she is a senior.

Besides being red-faced about the dropped tray, Thomas said another highlight was racing with Irvine’s head chef in trimming prime rib.

She said Irvine is a little brusque and blunt, but his heart seems to be in the right place.

“He’s strong — not only in his arms and chest — but in his heart and mind,” Thomas said. “He shows he knows what he is doing.”

Since the show was filmed with Irvine’s new menu, she said Moss’ has gone back to some of its old items and offers a small salad and bread along with a dinner — versus the a la carte menu pushed by Irvine.

Thomas, who plans to study either culinary arts or nursing at Lorain County Community College, said she thinks “Restaurant: Impossible” helped Moss’ improve.

But she said she doesn’t blame Laubenthal, either, because she is giving customers what they have told her they want, including extras served with the meal, such as Moss’ signature pea salad, which is free of charge.

“(Irvine) wants to run a five-star restaurant and he does, and (Laubenthal) wants to run a restaurant that’s going to bring in money to her and her employees in Elyria,” Thomas said. “It’s Elyria — not New York City — we’re struggling nowadays.”

For sale: as seen on TV

And while you usually can’t buy publicity like what Moss’ received with a visit from “Restaurant: Impossible,” you can buy the restaurant — and its building downtown — for $339,000.

The restaurant occupies the first floor while the third floor is an owner’s suite for Sandi Laubenthal, said Lorene Elbert of Northern Ohio Realty.

She said the $10,000 renovation completed by the show left the restaurant lighter and brighter — and hopefully more marketable.

“They did a great job refinishing it,” Elbert said. “They lit the whole place up and went from dark green and burgundy to beige.”
Elbert said the 12,000-square-foot building at 525 Broad St. was originally listed at $385,000 and has been on the market about 41⁄2 months.

Art Weber, chairman of the Elyria Democratic Party and the city’s clerk of Council,

ELYRIA — A man who is probably best known for being the most dedicated Democrat in the city has died.

Art Weber, chairman of the Elyria Democratic Party and the city’s clerk of Council, died about 2 p.m. Tuesday at Keystone Pointe Health and Rehabilitation Center in LaGrange. Weber, 76, had been battling pneumonia for several weeks, and he was taken to the facility after an extended stay in the hospital.

Many who knew the tough-as-nails Democrat always believed Weber would bounce back and return to City Hall and his seat in Council Chambers.

“We weren’t ready for this,” said friend and fellow Democrat Judy Nedwick, who is the Lorain County recorder. “But I will definitely miss him. He was a very loyal Democrat and stuck to his beliefs. You have to admire him for that. I know I did.”

Weber’s absence in recent weeks was noticeable. He has been the clerk of Council for more than 17 years.

“He did his job well,” said Council President Mike Lotko, D-at large. “He took his role as clerk of Council very seriously. He was a good community leader who always tried to bring people together and smooth things over.”

Former Councilman Forrest Bullocks said Weber started out as a welder at U.S. Steel in Lorain. He held several jobs at the plant before being promoted to safety director for three different plants in the region. Bullocks said Weber saw that as the highlight of his steel career.

After that, he became the director of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Ashland office. He also worked for the Lorain County Board of Elections, and at one time served as an at-large Elyria councilman.

“I think a lot of people knew Art because he was always involved in civic activities,” Bullocks said. “He was always out front.”

Weber was always thinking of others in his actions, whether it was donating toys to the Not-Forgotten Box, The Chronicle-Telegram’s annual toy drive, or helping to purchase bulletproof vests and equipment for the Elyria Police Department.

He was the driving force behind the city’s annual Memorial Day parade, and in 2011 led the route through the city for the 20th time as grand marshal.
Even with all of his civic commitments, his crowning achievement was the commitment he made more than 53 years ago when he married his wife, Nancy. The couple did not have children.

“I don’t know what else to say but he was the love of my life,” Nancy said Tuesday.

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.

1948. Drew Beats Truman! Or so the headline read. We talk with author David Pietrusza!

We get our weekly tip from Elyria’s Drugless Doctor Bob!

When Super Bowl players took the field Sunday, many of them were wearing helmets manufactured at the Riddell Sports Inc. factory on Elyria’s southeast side.

The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was nursing an injured left ankle, was among the stars whose noggins were protected by a Riddell helmet.

On the opposing team, Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw, who scored a fourth-quarter touchdown Sunday to put the Giants ahead for good, also wore Riddell.

Riddell estimated that between 65 and 70 percent of the players were wearing helmets made at the Elyria factory, company spokeswoman Christie Burgner Shein said.

She didn’t expect Patriots quarterback Tom Brady or Giants quarterback Eli Manning to wear Riddell helmets. But helmet selection is a player choice and can vary game to game, she said.

Most players in the NFL also wear Riddell custom shoulder pads, Burgner Shein said.

Riddell, whose factory is at 669 Sugar Lane, touts itself as “The Official Helmet of the NFL.” It was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill.