The Oberlin Review

Oberlin Residents Face Unemployment, Housing and Food Insecurity

Drew Dansby, Production Editor

September 18, 2020

Since federal COVID-19 assistance expired in late July, many unemployed and low-income tenants in Oberlin and Lorain County have experienced food insecurity and the threat of eviction. Although community organizations and social media support networks can temporarily help with basic needs, many residents are unable to find long-term solutions in the present job market. The federal CARES Act, passed by Congress in March, established the Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, which distributed $600 dollars per week to Americans who lost their jobs due to COVID-19. It also placed a nationwide stay on evictions. But since these two protections expired on July 26, landlords have been filing eviction notices and un...

Langston Middle School reminds students of COVID-19 safety precautions as virtual learning commences this week.

Oberlin Schools Well-Prepared for Start of Online Classes

September 9, 2020

Oberlin City Schools are welcoming students back to virtual classes this week as the school district reopens remotely. The district’s plan has all grades operating fully online until Nov. 6, when they will reassess next steps. OCS will provide technological support for families in need. When OCS suddenly shifted to remote learning last March, both teachers and students were ill-equipped to handle an entirely-virtual learning environment. However, the summer recess provided the district with tim...

Surveillance footage shows last Wednesday’s Subway restaurant robbery. Suspect Jonathan Hughes was taken into custody last Friday.

Suspect in Custody Following Aggravated Robbery at Subway

September 9, 2020

A man stole roughly $40 from the downtown Oberlin Subway last Wednesday night. Police took 25-year-old suspect Jonathan Hughes into custody within 48 hours of the incident. He is currently being held at the Lorain County Jail on a $50,000 bond for aggravated robbery — a first-degree felony. Subway Sandwich Artist Emma Kim was on shift the night of the robbery and explained that the man indicated he was carrying a gun. “He had his hands in the pockets of his hoodie and made it seem like he had a wea...

Patrons order coffee at Slow Train Cafe, which is currently open for socially-distanced walk-through service.

Local Businesses Anticipate Student Patronage After Challenging Summer

September 4, 2020

After downtown businesses suffered a slow summer of canceled events, College programming, and a state-wide stay-at-home order, the arrival of students this past week brings financial hope to some. However, College students’ return also prompts concerns about COVID-19 spread. “It’s a twofold thing,” said Ben Franklin & MindFair Books owner Krista Long. “Clearly our downtown district relies on the College, and the students in particular for sales, so we’re enthusiastic about th...

Black Lives Matter protesters marched from Tappan Square to the Post Office on June 6.

Black Lives Matter Protesters Gather in Tappan Square

June 30, 2020

Protesters gathered in Tappan Square on June 6 to protest the murders of George Floyd and other Black men and women killed by police. During the demonstration, several speakers addressed the crowd to talk about the history of police violence against communities of color and demanded change on the local and national level. After protests against police brutality spread in cities in the U.S. and across the world, Oberlin resident Janet Gonzalez formed a Facebook group called Oberlin Peaceful Demonst...

Third-Party Candidate Ends OH-4 Campaign After Contractor Presents Invalid Signatures

June 13, 2020

Chris Gibbs, an Independent candidate running for US Congress in Ohio’s 4th district, announced on May 17 that he is suspending his campaign. The announcement came after the Lorain County Board of Elections determined he did not collect the requisite number of signatures to appear on the November ballot. Last spring, Gibbs announced that he would run as an Independent against Republican Representative Jim Jordan, a vocal supporter of the president and a founder of the far-right House Freedom Caucus. Gibbs voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 election but grew dissatisfied with Trump’s policies over the last few years. As a farmer, Gibbs is especially frustrated with Trump’s trade war with China, which has d...

Slow Train customers place their orders at the cafe's rear entrance. Many of Oberlin's downtown businesses have changed the way they operate to allow for social distancing.

Oberlin’s Small Businesses Face Slow Summer

June 13, 2020

Small businesses in Oberlin continue navigating challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, despite Ohio moving forward with its gradual reopening plan. Local businesses were hit hard by the state-wide stay-at-home order issued March 22, which curtailed business in Oberlin and sent students home. As part of his Responsible RestartOhio plan, Governor Mike DeWine reopened restaurants and bars for outdoor dining on May 15 and dine-in service on May 21. However, many of Oberlin’s businesses rel...

College, Gibson’s Bakery File Briefs Appealing $25 Million Verdict

June 12, 2020

Last Friday, the College filed to appeal the $25 million verdict that Gibson’s Bakery won in their case against Oberlin College and Vice President and Dean of Students Meredith Raimondo. A jury found the College guilty of libel last June and initially awarded the Gibsons $44 million in damages, later capped at $25 million due to Ohio state laws regarding tort lawsuits. The Gibsons argued that the College supported students in protesting and boycotting the bakery following accusations of racism in ...

Kim’s Grocery & Carry-out has stayed open during the COVID pandemic.

Struggling Downtown Businesses Receive Financial Assistance, Support

May 9, 2020

Since Ohio announced its stay-at-home order on March 22, most of Oberlin’s small businesses have lost their steady sources of revenue. Many are currently unable to pay rent or compensate their employees. In an effort to temporarily cover expenses, some businesses have taken advantage of a new loan program instituted by the City of Oberlin, while others are looking to the federal Paycheck Protection Program. “Our business dropped almost 90 percent. We used to get a hundred tables, almost 120...

Shannon Freshour, who won the Democratic Primary for Ohio's Fourth Congressional District. She will run against Republican Representative Jim Jordan in the fall.

Freshour Wins Democratic Primary for 4th Congressional District

May 2, 2020

Shannon Freshour was announced as the winner of the Ohio Democratic Primary on Tuesday after securing 47 percent of the vote. She will move on to face Representative Jim Jordan in the November general election for the Ohio 4th Congressional District seat. Jordan is the founder of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative House of Representatives members. Shannon ran against candidates Jeffrey Sites and Mike Larsen, who earned 29 percent and 23 percent of the vote, respectively. The re...

A community member created a chalk walk at Welcome Nursing Home to boost morale during a time of social distancing.

Local Retirement, Nursing Homes Cope with Pandemic Challenges

April 27, 2020

Local senior living centers Kendal at Oberlin and Welcome Nursing Home confirmed this week that no staff or residents at either establishment have tested positive for COVID-19. Both began closing their campuses before Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s stay-at-home order was enacted on March 23, and have continuously updated their protocols to ensure the safety of their communities over the past month. Welcome Nursing Home caters specifically to elders in need of care services and medical plans. Ken...

School District Provides Internet Access, Food, Laptops to Students During Remote Learning

Anisa Curry Vietze, News Editor

April 24, 2020

After the Oberlin City School District went remote last month due to the COVID-19 pandemic, administrators and teachers are having to employ some creative techniques to ensure K-12 students can equitably continue with their education. The absence of in-person classes has caused disruptions for families who depend on schools for childcare, free or reduced-price lunches, and educational opportunities that they may not have access to at home. School districts across the country are transitioning to educating students online, a move that presents additional challenges for some Oberlin families. The district conducted an informal survey a couple of years ago that revealed that 18 percent of the district’s students d...