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Thursday, July 25, 2024
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Volume 10, Issue YY
Local Dems praise Biden; look ahead Hope ‘his legacy will guide our politics away from hate and division’
“I think it will unite the party,” Miller said. “I truly believe that of Democrats calling for Biden to step down gives Democrats an option if he felt that it would be best for many and most Americans want Richard Perrins The Community Guide step down on Friday. On Sunday, he portunity to pick a presidential ticket the country and best for the success to stop this trend we’re heading After President Joe Biden anexpressed his thanks to Biden on X. that will bring “energy and work to of our candidate in our slate.” down under Trump … We’re going nounced Sunday he would withdraw “I thank President Biden for his make sure (Democrats) preserve the Miller said he thought the decision to probably have an interesting from the 2024 presidential election, years of committed service to the democratic republic.” could energize the Democratic base, convention in August, but I think political leaders in Lorain County country we love — as senator, as “You got hints that he was debatwhich he said was needed to win the that in the end what comes out of said the decision puts the Democrat- vice president and as president,” ing his ability to serve the nation the election, on the presidential ticket that convention will really unify and ic Party in an uncertain position. Brown wrote. way he would like to, and I think and down the ballot. unite us.” U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, DState Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, others were asking that question of Miller will attend the Democratic Sharon Sweda, chair of the Lorain Cleveland, who is seeking reelection said Biden has done an “amazing him as well,” Miller said. “I believe National Convention, which starts County Democratic Party, released this November, had joined the ranks job” as president, and his decision to he would continue for this next elec- Aug. 19 in Chicago, as a delegate. See DEMS, A2
Elderly, poor can get help with the heat
PARENTS SEEK ANSWERS ON RELIGION INSTRUCTION PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS
What exactly is LifeWise? Richard Perrins The Community Guide
In 2021, Zach Parrish’s daughter was in second grade in Defiance Public Schools when she was offered enrollment in a LifeWise Academy class. Parrish said he then volunteered to be a LifeWise instructor to learn about the academy’s material. He accessed LifeWise’s full curriculum and training materials and shared it with his Facebook group called Parents Against LifeWise. On July 2, LifeWise filed a lawsuit against Parrish, claiming he infringed on the copyright of the company by publishing the materials. “At that point, it set me on a mission to warn everybody,” Parrish said. “To tell people this is happening, they’re growing, they have intentions of spreading across the nation.” Parrish is one of the founders of Parents Against LifeWise, which has more than 5,000 members. Parents in the group and in Lorain County have expressed concerns over LifeWise’s lack of transparency as it pursues its goal of offering Bible education for public school students during school hours. Joel Penton, LifeWise’s founder and CEO, said the company does not offer its full curriculum publicly because of a licensing agreement it has with its publisher, Lifeway Christian Resources. Upon request through its website, LifeWise does provide a 27-page sample curriculum that Penton said should be able to answer parents’ questions. But Parrish said that isn’t enough. “It’s about transparency,” Parrish said. “We need to be able to review this material.” Sherry Clark, a teacher at Lorain High School, said her daughter is a student in
Crisis Program provides funding
Relief for senior citizens and those in need from the summer heat is available through Sept. 30 through the Lorain County Community Action Agency’s Summer Crisis Program. The annual program provides eligible households with a one-time benefit to assist with electric bills, central air conditioning repairs and air conditioning unit and/or fan purchases. The main qualification for the program is a gross annual income at or below 175 percent of the Federal Poverty Line: $54,600 for a family of four in 2024. Residents at that poverty level qualify for help if they also meet at least one of the following criteria: n At least one household member is age 60 or over. n A household member has a documented medical condition worsened by extreme heat. n Their electric service has been disconnected or they have received a disconnect notice. n They are trying to establish new service. n They are enrolling in Ohio’s Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus for the first time. n They are an existing Percentage of Income Payment Plan customer in default. Customers of regulated utilities can receive up to $500 in assistance. Customers of unregulated utilities can receive up to $800. Eligible clients can also receive up to $1,500 for central air conditioning repairs. Residents who have not received an air conditioner from LCCAA in the last three years can request a unit. Electric box fans will also be distributed. Appointments are required and can be made at lccaa.net/programs/energyservices/ summer_crisis. Limited in-person services are offered at three locations in the county:
The Community Guide
Data from LifeWise Academy website ED BETZEL / CHRONICLE GRAPHIC
LifeWise is an Ohio-based religion instruction program for students to be let out of school to study the Bible off-campus with their parents’ permission during the school day. It is headquartered in Hilliard and was launched in 2019 in two Ohio school districts. In Lorain County, 10 school districts have surpassed 50 signatures for a LifeWise program, including the four that have already established a program.
the Sheffield-Sheffield Lake school district. The district is in the process of establishing a LifeWise program — per the academy’s website, SheffieldSheffield Lake has passed the 50-signature threshold from community members and has held kickoff meetings where LifeWise employees laid out the way forward. Under current Ohio law, school districts are allowed to establish religious release programs with private organizations like LifeWise as long as parents consent to their children participating, the program takes place outside
the school and the program receives no public funds. Release programs allow students to be released from school to attend. Clark, who said she attended Catholic schools growing up, said she wasn’t opposed to religious studies being a topic in her daughter’s education. She said she was immediately concerned with the program once she was told she couldn’t access LifeWise’s entire curriculum. “I see a value in character development and teaching kids to be decent human beings,” Clark said. “But if
you’re not going to show me, as a parent, what you’re teaching my kids … Something doesn’t feel right. There is no transparency.” Penton said the curriculum is based on the Gospel Project, a religious study curriculum that takes educators and students through the Bible chronologically. The Gospel Project is also published by Lifeway Christian Resources. According to Lifeway’s website, the company is “an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention,” a fellowship of
n The Lorain County Office on Aging, 534 S. Abbe Road, Elyria n The Second Baptist Church at 427 Chapman Lane, Elyria n The Wellington branch of the Lorain County Office on Aging, 105 Maple St.
More information is available at lccaa.net or (440) 245-1870.
See LIFEWISE, A2
INSIDE THIS WEEK Sheriff kills woman
She was mentally ill, had knife. A2
Dog-saver heroes
Neighbors save ‘Miles’ from fire. A3
(Candy) Crushed it!
Brunswick man wins $500,000. A4
SPORTS A6 • CROSSWORD A7 • SUDOKU A7 • KID SCOOP A8