Avon Officer Begins Foundation, Hosting Pig Roast

Lorain County Blue Foundation's pig roast in Aug. 18. Tickets available now.

Realizing that Lorain County lacked a basic foundation for officers and their families in need, an Avon policeman founded one, and will continue funding it through a second major fundraiser Aug. 18. Avon police officer Chris Barton started the non-profit Lorain County Blue Foundation (LOCO Blue) in January of 2012, inspired in part by fellow officer Pete Soto, who had been seriously injured in an accident while on duty in 2010. “Cleveland has the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial Society and Columbus has Get Behind The Badge, but Lorain County didn’t have a foundation,” Barton said. In February,  the foundation held the Second Annual Pete Soto Chili Cook Off in honor of Soto. Eight police departments competed for the best chili, …

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Officer Soto Celebrated With Blood Drive

And he got a little cake, too

Pete Soto had his cake and ate it, too. Family, friends and officers visited Soto for the Pete Soto Birthday Blood Drive which was held Monday at Mulligan’s Pub and Grille in Avon to benefit the Lorain County Blue Foundation. Soto, who had his birthday last Tuesday, was injured in an on-duty crash of his police motorcycle in October 2010, and the blood drive was created to honor the Avon police officer. Avon canine police officer Chris Barton said the blood drive collected blood from around 37 donors. Two LifeShare Community Blood Service buses were parked out back to assist in the blood drive. The non-profit LoCo Blue Foundation was created to assist Lorain County law enforcement officers injured on duty and the families of officers …

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Birthday Blood Drive Monday For Officer Hurt in Avon Lake Crash

Event will help benefit Lorain County Blue Foundation

The Pete Soto Birthday Blood Drive will be held Monday from 3-8 p.m. at Mulligan’s Pub and Grille in Avon to benefit the Lorain County Blue Foundation. The blood drive was created to honor Avon police officer Soto who was critically injured in an on-duty crash of his police motorcycle in October 2010. Soto suffered a shattered pelvis, lacerated spleen and broken leg after being struck by a vehicle in Avon Lake just over the border. Officer Soto was a loyal blood and platelets donor and a blood drive soon after the accident gathered more than 200 units of blood. “We hope that maybe we can make his day an annual event,” John Guzik, a Sotto friend and event organizer, said. “This was something that was near and dear to his heart. He was such …

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Police Officer Chris Barton Believes in Service

Barton helps fellow officers and the Avon community in his free time

When fellow Avon police officer Pete Soto was critically injured in an on-duty motorcycle crash in 2010, Chris Barton and his fellow cops felt the one thing police officers hate to feel. Helpless. Police officers are used to being in charge in a crisis, said Barton's supervisor, Keith Haag. Helplessness is something officers don't like facing, or talking about. "We had to leave it up to the doctors, nurses and medical staff," Haag said. "That can be hard for people who are used to taking care of business. And that's on top of being scared for him and his family." Barton responded in the manner of someone who has taken the "serve" part of "Protect and Serve" to heart. Four months after Soto's injuries, Barton had organized a fundraising …

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Lori E. Switaj

7:49 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Awesome picture   more ›

Pete Soto Chili Cook-Off Brings Big Crowd

Avon police win again as event raises more than $10,000 for new Lorain County Blue Foundation

Saturday night's Pete Soto Chili Cook-Off at the Knights of Columbus was a carnivore's delight. And a great fundraising kick-off for the Lorain County Blue Foundation. Chris Barton, an Avon police officer who created the foundation as well as organized the cook-off, said Saturday that more than $10,000 had been raised. More than 550 people showed up for the event, which had nine area law enforcement agencies and the Warthogs Motorcycle Club competing for top honors in making chili. For the second year in a row, Avon Police Department won first prize. Last year, the event was a fundraiser for Soto, who had been critically injured in a motorcycle crash while on duty in 2010. This year, Soto is glad to be a part of helping the new Lorain …

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Chili, Books and Gardens: Five Things

Lots to do this week!

If you want to go to Saturday's Pete Soto Chili Cook-Off and haven't gotten tickets yet, you're out of luck. It sold out on Saturday. But if you got your tickets, you're in for a tasty evening. Nine law enforcement agencies and the Warthogs motorcycle club will be serving chili at the Knights of Columbus, and Avon police will be trying to hold onto their title. This year's event is a benefit for Lorain County Blue Foundation, created to help police officers injured on duty and the families of those killed on duty. Extra parking will be available at BJ's Wholesale Club. Does someone in your family have special needs? Learn about financial matters and strategies for families like yours Tuesday at a seminar at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in …

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Pete Soto Chili Cook-Off Gets Bigger and Better

More competitors in benefit for foundation to help Lorain County police officers

Tickets are going fast for the Feb. 4 Pete Soto Chili Cook-Off. Avon police officer Chris Barton, who is organizing the event, said Thursday that about 70 percent of the tickets for the event have been sold. So if you like chili and cops, head over to the Avon Police Department and get some tickets for the event at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Admission is $15. The cook-off is named in honor of Avon police officer Pete Soto, who was critically injured in a motorcycle crash while on-duty in 2010. Last year, the funds raised from the cook-off went to help pay his bills. This year, proceeds will benefit the Lorain County Blue Foundation, a non-profit created by Barton to help police officers in Lorain County who are injured in the line of …

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Council Approves Longer Leave for Pete Soto

Avon police officer recovering from injuries in on-duty crash in October

Avon's city council approved a memorandum of understanding with the city's police union Monday night to extend the paid leave for police officer Pete Soto, who was critically injured in an on-duty crash of his police motorcycle in October. Council went into executive session to discuss it, as it was a personnel matter, but took less than 10 minutes before opening chambers back up to the public and passing the memorandum on a unanimous vote. "It's a good thing," said Avon mayor Jim Smith. "It was absolutely the right thing to do," said Ward 3 councilman Kevin Ward. "When someone who puts their life on the line for the city is injured in the line of duty, we owe it to them." Soto will continue to be on On-Duty Injury Leave, which was set to …

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Jim Strang

8:20 am on Tuesday, March 29, 2011

That very last paragraph -- what people may have in their yards -- could be a hornet's nest if the Better Homes & Gardens crowd tries to outlaw the "rustic" flavor of our venerable and eclectic community. I sure would like to see the details of what is being proposed.   more ›

Avon Eats

Chili Spices Up a Dull End of Winter

Everyone's got their favorite way of making it

What is it about chili that guys love? A lot, judging by the way they were making and devouring the offering's at last week's chili cook-off benefit for Avon police officer Pete Soto. Chili is a classic man dish in many ways. It's all about meat, and spice. It's not fancy, but everything's all in one pot. It's great left over. It also has cowboy roots, which tie it to riding the open range, cooking over an open fire, and no girls allowed. Yep, chili's pretty butch. But you don't have to be a guy to love chili. Melissa Brown, wife of Lorain police sargaent Bob Brown, made chili from her own recipe for the cook-off. Each of the participants -- Lorain police, Avon police, Avon fire department, Lorain County Sheriff's Office, Avon Lake police …

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