Amherst News-Times, 2003-10-08

              r - investor gets five years page 5 skateboard park eyed amherst news-time re mayor wants fund to help pay utility bill in 'dire cases' for some residents struggling the face of enorm ous odds, even water can be crippling. john higgirs informed city council members that sev eral "dire cases" have persuaded him ask power give individual electric, sewer, and bills at an estimated cost $2,000 $3,000 per year. higgins will submit a request asking formulate policy such cir cumstances, which he said occur once each month on average include burdened by age, sickness, legal difficulties. "i one case my desk right now where we single mom who is disabled, has disabled child also diabetic, no insurance," told news-times. "she would perfect candi date assistance, honestly, i don't think tell her no." according higgins, al though generally viewed as affluent commun ity, nearly 10 percent po pulation experiences extreme fi nancial challenges. however, reserved only most se vere instances, said. "we could go shut these people off, but they're already out their minds trying cope with problems. if compassion, then compound problems," want encour age any situations force our own make choice between or food medicine." was adamant because funding directly related utilities, it drawn from healthy electric account instead depleted general fund. while compassion virtue, cases assistance carefully considered, investigated, monitored prevent fraud, "some arc just looking easy way out," "others are truly need. we've been this point do what leg ally can, office doesn't authority grant types requests help." establish clear-cut qualifying criteria protect city. "most not charity," "they aren't dole. they'd like, to' better they get it's all too overwhelming." incumbent ruled boe race there were four school board candidates, is. current exempted village district member mike sutton, year elected member, lias eliminated november lorain county elections after officials dis covered paperwork error. election personnel, sutton gained 41 25 75 petition signatures necessary file run again, failed add his hancock document. board's sept 22 meeting, news times had made mistake. "it something did wrong, can't blame anyone else," "i'm appointed error keep me serv ing community." sutton's disqualification gives odds newcomer chal lengers charles derricotte, de borah lasko, sandra matako vich, milton lorens. those contenders vie inherit position relatively peaceful board. stark contrast local districts obcrlin, facing drama tic budget shortfalls prog- ram reductions, wellington, endured its share personnel scandals past two years, best state report cards ohio, five-year financial plan forthcoming levy issue, acquired prop erty future expansion. still, mata kovich, lorens still wrestle issues tential uniforms, increas student enrollment, maintaining high academic standards. candidates must return questionnaires time news-times publish information about dates council, president, mayor, south oct 29 edition paper. mailed questionnaire bo returned tuesday, oct. 21 p.m. candidate receive mall should contact editor 988-2801. ruwm question naire featured coverage. shopping fun (4 5! june o'neil (above) dresses hallqween season, trates magnet-run track activity table. ron shawn jeffrey (middle) three over 200 vendors hawk crafts, collectibles, six-toot broadsword michelle long (bottom) demons- more jamie's flea market amherst. offer specialized, vintage items jason roportor batman barney, quilts kilts, darth vadcr dvds, melons mork mindy anything found market, celebrated 30th anniversary summer. than unique wares inside market's buildings, hundreds line up outside when weather permits, given day spent perusing booths net vigilant shopper furniture, turn-of-lhe-century costumes, computer software, mug finest-brewed coffee. entrepreneurs jeffrey, business less permanent carnival site route 113 cutting edge literally. owners shamrock & rose creations booth, jeffreys angles jamie's, specializing medieval reproductions rens' replicas: huge broadswords, rapiers, daggers, shields, suits armor, 12th century stage props. currently handcrafting made-to-order wooden replica frodo baggins's sword "lord rings," booming since tlie movie adaptations j.r.r. tolkcin's bocks hit big screen, she "as learn history, reading, search avenues entertainment, becomes obsession," "the literature movies like 'lord rings' boost kind business. so research into heritage. genealogy new interest artifacts trace family lines bock europe other places around world." addition asian, celtic, scottish museum replicas, con arrangements mcdicval-thcmed parties fairy-tale weddings, "people finally realizing 'traditional' weddings really started 1950s, theme common prior then. coming back," shawn, whose marriage performed historical garb. den first-time last wednesday totally different sales pitch build tables doll house, fire station, army themes. "if you die store buy continued 2