Main Street Vermilion

09/04/2026

Continuing our celebration of 25 years, A New Series:
Meet your neighbors, the Main Street Vermilion Board Members.

Amy Jo West has been a dedicated Main Street Vermilion volunteer and board member for the past four years, bringing her enthusiasm for community service and her love of Vermilion to everything she does.

She currently serves on several committees, including the Yoga Retreat, Main Street Vermilion’s 25th Anniversary Luncheon, and the Lantern Parade. She has also volunteered at numerous Main Street Vermilion events, including the Yoga Retreat, 25th Anniversary Luncheon, Market in the Park, the Pride event at Grace Methodist Church, Festival of the Fish booth, lantern workshops, and Ice Affair.

Amy Jo’s commitment to volunteering began years ago while supporting her son, Steven, through his school activities and fundraising efforts. Her passion for service eventually led to mission work with SARA (Sharing America's Resources Abroad), where she traveled with Steven to villages in Serbia to help provide much-needed medical supplies to small local clinics.

When Amy Jo and her husband Tony moved to Vermilion, she knew she wanted to bring that same spirit of service to her new hometown. She began volunteering with Main Street Vermilion through the Hot Diggity Dog Committee and quickly discovered the joy of being part of a team dedicated to making Vermilion a better place.

Her community involvement extends beyond Main Street Vermilion. She has served on the Sandcastle Contest Committee for Festival of the Fish and volunteered with Ritter Public Library’s Pet Pantry, helping scoop and prepare pet food for those in need.

Professionally, Amy Jo has dedicated 27 years to teaching preschool at the Lorain County Community College Children’s Learning Center. Her career in early childhood education, combined with her lifelong commitment to volunteering, reflects her belief in the importance of nurturing strong, caring communities.

Amy Jo is proud to call Vermilion home and grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community she loves.

Photo by Scott Dommin

09/03/2026

We are excited that the Vermilion History Museum is participating in Ohio Open Doors with this FREE EVENT! Please mark your calendars and plan to check out this Vermilion treasure!

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

Join us on September 17th from 8:00 am-8:00 pm for Connect to a Cause, a day of giving to support Lorain County non-profits! Learn more at peoplewhocare.org.

The Community Foundation of Lorain County

Main Street Vermilion wants to thank you for your support of our organization! We are looking forward to some of our most exciting 12-hours of philanthropy as we join Community Foundation of Lorain County in their mission to connect people who care with causes that matter through Connect to a Cause!

Here are three quick tips to help you maximize your impact and financial benefits of charitable giving:

1. Consider Donating Appreciated Stock
Instead of cash, consider donating stock that has increased in value. By giving appreciated stock, you can claim a charitable deduction at its fair market value if held for over a year and avoid paying capital gains tax. This allows your generosity to have a greater impact.

2. Use Your IRA for Charitable Contributions
If you’re 70½ or older, you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA. You can transfer up to $105,000 this year directly to Main Street Vermilion or other charities without incurring income tax. This is a smart way to meet your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) and support our mission.

3. Join Us for Connect to a Cause on September 17
Save the date! Connect to a Cause is a 12-hour online giving event on September 17, hosted by the Community Foundation of Lorain County. You can choose to support Main Street Vermilion directly, and every dollar raised will benefit our programs.

As we prepare for Connect to a Cause, consider planning a gift of appreciated stock or a QCD to maximize your tax savings and support Main Street Vermilion. For assistance with these contributions, please contact Colleen Walts, Development Officer at the Community Foundation, at [email protected] or 440.984.7390.

Thank you for your continued support.

Special thanks to all of you that help us utilize September 17 to grow our donations and our endowment fund with the Community Foundation of Lorain County!

09/01/2026

Did you get a chance to attend our Guest House Tour last September?

We’re excited and honored to share that the Guest House Tour is a finalist for Main Street Event of the Year!

This event took an incredible amount of planning, coordination and teamwork. A huge thank you to our Chairs, Carolyn Hill and Molly Romp, who put so much time and energy into making it happen. And, of course, to the many (many) volunteers who helped along the way. We truly couldn’t do events like this without you! Special thank you to our property owners as well who opened their doors to us.

One of the things we love most about Main Street Vermilion is finding new ways to showcase the history, stories and special places that make our community unique. Over the years, we’ve hosted Home Tours, Historic Walking Tours and now the Guest House Tour.

So, we want to hear from you...

What would you like to see us do next?

What kind of tour, experience or behind-the-scenes look at Vermilion would you love to be a part of? Share your ideas in the comments. You never know what might inspire our next event!

Each year, Heritage Ohio, the state-wide Main Street coordinating agency under Main Street America, honors the people, places and projects that exemplify a commitment to growth through preservation and revitalization. This year, “The Guest House Tour” in Vermilion has been selected as one of three finalists for the “Best Main Street Committee Event” award.

This year, the award ceremony will be Wednesday, September 30, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the historic Woodward Theatre in downtown Cincinnati. The award ceremony is a part of the 2026 Heritage Ohio Annual Conference, and is free and open to anyone to attend.

Learn more about the Heritage Ohio annual conference at www.heritageohioconference.com. More information on Heritage Ohio can be found by visiting www.heritageohio.org.

08/31/2026

Continuing our celebration of 25 years, A New Series:
Meet your neighbors, the Main Street Vermilion Board Members.

A longtime volunteer and dedicated community advocate, Beth Eberhard has been a member of the Main Street Vermilion Board for nearly three decades. Originally invited to serve by Dolores Phillips when the organization was known as Historic Vermilion, she joined after retiring from her teaching position at Sailorway Middle School, eager to give her time and experience to an organization focused on strengthening her community.

Over the years, Beth has served Main Street Vermilion in a variety of leadership roles, including Vice President, Secretary, and currently Special Events Chairperson. She has also been deeply involved for more than 15 years in the acquisition and development of Main Street Beach & Park.

Her commitment to Vermilion extends well beyond Main Street Vermilion. Her many years of volunteer service have included serving as Valleyview School PTA President, Vermilion Athletic Booster Club President, holding multiple offices in the Vermilion College Club, and serving as moderator of the United Church of Christ Congregational, along with many other community and service roles.

One of the most rewarding parts of her involvement has been watching Main Street Vermilion evolve from its early days as Historic Vermilion into the vibrant nonprofit organization it is today. She is proud to have played a part in its growth and in the many ways it continues to make Vermilion a stronger, more connected community.

Photo by

08/28/2026

Tonight is the Night!

The weather is looking PERFECT for an outdoor movie night in Vermilion!

Grab your chairs, blankets, friends and family and join us tonight at East Exchange Park for a movie under the stars.

Bring your favorite movie snacks, get comfy and enjoy a beautiful summer evening with us!

Tonight, Friday, August 28
East Exchange Park
Movie starts at dusk Approx. 8:30 pm

We’ll see you there!

08/28/2026

Continuing our celebration of 25 years, A New Series:
Meet your neighbors, the Main Street Vermilion Board Members.

A lifelong Vermilion resident, Carolyn Hill is passionate about preserving and celebrating the community she proudly calls home. She has been actively involved with Main Street Vermilion for many years, serving on the Ice A Fair Committee since its inception and contributing to the Lighthouse Committee, an experience that transformed into a role with historic preservation.

She is Main Street Vermilion's "Basket Lady" always putting together raffle baskets for the various MSV events throughout the year.

She has also volunteered with Vermilion in Bloom - planting flowers, All Washed Up - serving as both co-chair and chair for two years, and the Historic House Tour - where she has helped with every event, including serving as co-chair. She especially enjoys Vermilion’s historic walking tours and the opportunity to learn more about the community’s rich history.

A retired elementary school teacher with 30 years of experience, Carolyn brings a lifelong commitment to education, community involvement, and service to the Main Street Vermilion Board.

She joined the board simply because she loves Vermilion - this great city is her home.


Photo by Scott Dommin