All events are free and open to the public.

MEET THE AUTHOR:
Book of Hearts by Mary Lou Ferbert
Watercolor artist Mary Lou Ferbert shares twenty years worth of personal, hand-painted valentines in this one-of-a-kind collection. These pieces were originally created by the artist as a way of passing along pieces of family history and to honor the people and events that hold a special place in her heart. These paintings will appeal to anyone willing to spend a quiet moment reflecting on their spirit and passion. Books will be available for sale and signing at the event. All proceeds from the sale of Book of Hearts will generously benefit the Rehabilitation Program at Lakewood Hospital.
Tuesday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium

Carol Starre-Kmiecik as Molly Brown

On Sunday, May 17 at 2 p.m., Carol Starre-Kmiecik will bring Margaret Brown, American socialite, philanthropist, and activist, to life on the stage at Lakewood Public Library for our “Sunday with the Friends” series. Margaret Brown became famous as one of the survivors of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. The ship, which weighed 46,000 tons and was 882.5 feet in length, was touted as being "practically unsinkable." Margaret was known after her death as “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”, although she was never called Molly during her life. Margaret Brown’s experiences on the ship are the most well-known portion of her story, but Carol will give us a complete picture of Brown’s life.

Jack - 1
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Meet Jack! He is an extremely handsome 9-month old blond mixed breed Shiba Inu. Very friendly, intelligent and outgoing, he gets along with other dogs and loves to play fetch, tug-of-war and go for walks. 

It seems everywhere we turn lately we read or hear information about Reiki, the Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing.  Reiki means “universal life energy,” and while it may be new to some, this holistic healing method has been used by many around the world for thousands of years.  In Japanese, Rei describes the universal boundless aspect of this energy while the Ki is the vital life force energy which flows through all living beings.  If that sounds complicated or supernatural, you will be surprised to learn it is a simple and natural healing method by laying of the hands.

Steve Martin 18, of Boy Scout Troop 82 was honored at a special Eagle Scout ceremony Saturday, April 25th at Our Lady of Angels Church.

In my Easter sermon, I mentioned that I am not much of a “blogger.” I simply do not have the time. My wife, Susan, however, recently launched her own “blog” entitled, “Learning to Love and Live the Questions.”

Jen Farkas' self-portrait in fingerprints that won the 10th Congressional District Art Contest.
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Lakewood High art students are building quite a portfolio as their work is being recognized throughout the state and all the way to the halls of the U.S. Capitol. LHS is well represented in a pair of prestigious art recognition programs whose winners were recently announced. 

Disposing of trash is not cheap or easy, despite how it seems from the average citizen's experience: after you casually toss that bag of trash into the bin, the real work (of finding someplace to put it, paying for it, and getting it there) begins. And, once that trash reaches its destination, it'll stay there for a long, long time - plastic bottles, for example, may not even begin to decompose for up to 1,000 years - and possibly leach dangerous chemicals into the land and water nearby. The city of Lakewood spent over three quarters of a million dollars to take care of all of our waste last year, and projections indicate that waste disposal costs will only go up from here. The solution? Less trash. The way to get there: more recycling.

From District Manager Don Marshall:

The Pepper Martin series, set in Cleveland, centers around the life of a sassy and spirited cemetery tour guide-turned amateur sleuth who loves to shop. Working in a cemetery modeled on our own Lake View Cemetery, Pepper’s life is anything but dead. She has a unique gift that allows her to see and communicate with the dearly departed, which gets her involved in seemingly cold cases. Pepper also has a knack for flirting with young handsome men (sometimes dead), which adds an element of romance to these breezy whodunits.

We’ve been talking about Rutabaga Nights only for about two months, but there’s been a party growing inside Lakewood Earth And Food for several years. It started with a couple hands full of people buying shares of produce from local farms through a community supported agriculture program. They arranged to pick up their weekly supply of vegetables at a coffee shop on Madison, Bella Dubby. These were friends and neighbors who shared an idea about fresh, locally grown food and figured out a way to work together and consistently get it. You’ve heard about great ideas coming from the grass roots. This one came from the dirt.

From those first dozen or so families, LEAF got organized and grew. Two years ago we stared hosting LEAF night on the front steps of the Lakewood Public Library. Each week a couple hundred families would come to pick up pre-paid shares of produce from Ohio farms, all within about 75 miles of Lakewood. We had to put hundreds more on a waiting list, because Lakewood had more demand for local produce than our truck could deliver. City Fresh has 17 fresh stops in the Cleveland area, but fully half of their business is in Lakewood. And there literally wasn’t enough room on the truck to deliver all the vegetables we could have sold each week in front of the Library.

You’ve heard of supply meeting demand. This was a case where demand went out and found the supply, and then had to go find more. This year, LEAF Nights move to Wednesday so that Lakewood can have exclusive use of the City Fresh delivery truck, meaning that a whole bunch of those people can move off the waiting list and start buying local produce. In addition to City Fresh, we continue to work with Covered Bridges Gardens and have added a third CSA, the certified organic Geauga Family Farms. If you care about the fact that small farms have been replaced by mega farms, or that the average piece of food in Cleveland has traveled 1800 miles to get from farm to table, or about having access to fresh, locally grown produce, and having a big enough market for it to make small Ohio farms viable, the growth of LEAF is a reason for a party.

That’s why I say Rutabaga Nights has been brewing for several years, even if we only gave it a name in February.

It’s gone the same way with community gardens. Last year, Mayor Ed Fitzgerald dedicated space and enabled LEAF to administer 130 community garden plots in parks all over town. They met with immediate success, attracting new users to the parks because people in Lakewood want to grow their own food. If you don’t have your space reserved yet this year, you’d better act soon. At press time, all but two of those spots were claimed by your neighbors.

What all this means, is that in numbers as cold and hard as cash, we live in a city where people are excited about these ideas and willing to work to make them reality. For years we’ve been hearing about how people get out of high school or come to Lakewood after college and rent their first apartment, or buy their first house and bring their ideas about how the city and the world can be a better place. All those people who have chosen Lakewood over the 56 other municipalities in Cuyahoga County represent an enormous amount of potential. I don’t know where all the LEAF organizers came from, but I do know that most of them seem to be quite a bit younger than me, and many of them are starting their families here. To me, seeing those people build a local food network here is like a promise being fulfilled.

We’ve heard often about the flight of social capital from the central city, and the decline of volunteerism. Anyone who works in the non-profit sector has seen this first hand. LEAF is an example of exactly the opposite of that trend: a new generation of people volunteering to advance their values and to build something important for the city. At some of the early LEAF meetings, LEAF trustee Dan Slife described what he was seeing as the Kiwannis of the 21st century. That is yet another reason for a party.

So that is exactly what we are going to do.

Rutabaga Nights is a chance to celebrate a great thing happening in Lakewood. You should be there. Local food markets are growing all over northeast Ohio, but nowhere are they growing on the scale we’re seeing in Lakewood. So to celebrate, The LEAF community has put together five bands, food from local restaurants, drinks, art and other silent auction items, lights and sound and decoration by local artists working with All Go Signs. We’re going to fill the Lake Erie Screw factory with our celebration of the growing season, recycling a big old industrial facility for one great night. Besides the music, food and art, we’ll also have some goofy opportunities to play, including an interactive video play station featuring real dirt and sandbox toys.

So rejoice, and be glad that you live in Lakewood. And get your tickets to Rutabaga Nights. I look forward to seeing you there.

Visit http://leafcommunity.org for ticket information

Nicholson House Caretaker David Kasper can't wait for Sale On The Grounds!

Grab your calendar right now and draw a big circle around May 2 & 3, as it’s time for the event savvy shoppers anticipate all year long—the Lakewood Historical Society’s annual Sale on the Grounds. A treasure trove of antiques & collectibles; new and like-new items ranging from home decor, kitchenware and linens to lawn & garden, toys & games, tools & home repair fills the house and the giant tent. You’ll find amazing bargains everywhere, and the fun of browsing through the unusual items makes the event entertainment in itself.

Want to beat the crowds?  Attend the Preview Party on Friday, May 1 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. For a donation of $10 you get first crack at the best stuff while enjoying Rozi’s wine, beer and soft drinks, and an array of tasty hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Reservations for the Preview Party are a must—you can make them by calling the Historical Society at 216-221-7343, or online at lakewoodhistorymuseumstore.com.

If you can’t get to the Preview Party, you can shop the public sale on Saturday, May 2 from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Don’t worry about eating before you come—we’ll be serving breakfast and lunch at our food stand.

Are you a gambler? Sunday, May 3 from noon to 3:00 is half price everywhere except the antiques room. Maybe that item you covet will still be there at just half its already bargain price.

Sale on the Grounds is the Lakewood Historical Society’s largest annual fundraiser. All proceeds go to benefit the programs and properties of the society. 

The April 6, 2009 council meeting was called to order at 7:37 P.M. by Council President Michael Dever.

In harsh economic climates many people who have been downsized or are fearing lay-offs find themselves considering opening their own business. The dream of being self sufficient and your own boss is tempting, but to make this dream a reality often requires capital.

Sherwin Williams Volunteers

LakewoodAlive has moved! In mid-February, the City of Lakewood was fortunate to welcome Kowit & Passov as the new owner of the INA Building. With the new ownership, Kowit & Passov has brought great plans to revitalize the INA Building including its first step of renaming the building the “Bailey Building.” The first stage of renovation will be to relocate the lobby to the west of the current entrance in the former LakewoodAlive office space and renovate the current lobby for Panera Bread expected to open on September 1, 2009. 

The City of Lakewood, LakewoodAlive and Kowit & Passov worked together to maintain a presence for LakewoodAlive in the Bailey Building. LakewoodAlive’s new 2,000 square foot offices are located in the lower level – a short elevator ride or 50 footsteps from our old space. In true Lakewood community fashion, volunteers Paula Reed, Kathy Haber, Heather Rudge and Mikelann Rensel spent two full days cleaning in preparation of the move.

Changes always bring opportunities and new connections. LakewoodAlive has been fortunate to connect with Sherwin Williams as part of its moving process. Chris Haber, who grew up in Lakewood, and Kate Gauntner, from the technology department at Sherwin Williams, visited LakewoodAlive’s new location and approved it as a test location for a new Sherwin Williams’ paint. As an added bonus, Sherwin Williams determined the LakewoodAlive location would be a great opportunity for some of their chemists to be involved in the actual paint application process. LakewoodAlive is the happy recipient of these volunteer community hours!

LakewoodAlive volunteer, Cindy Stockman, of Stockman Architecture, Ltd. selected sharp, professional colors for the LakewoodAlive offices. The paint being utilized by Sherwin Williams is environmentally responsible paint that consists of volatile organic compounds (VOC).

On April 16, 2009 thirteen (13) directors and employees from Sherwin Williams came to the LakewoodAlive offices and brought new life to the walls. LakewoodAlive thanks Sherwin Williams and its employees, Chris Haber, Steve Revnew, Adam clark, Laurie Phillips, Jamie Jakus, Ron Byrnes, Kate Gauntner, Sarah Stafford, Frank Markowitz, Andrea Murner, Marissa Solar, Jennifer Arebaugh, Andy Reimann, Leo Lazurak, Cristy Mizer, Victor Tatoczenko, Lorette Madigan, Vicky Varlet, Lisa Mullen for their continued commitment to Cleveland and for their volunteer hours in the Lakewood community!

LakewoodAlive is a 501(c)(3) economic development organization focused on the revitalization of Downtown Lakewood.  For more information about LakewoodAlive, Downtown Lakewood events or to become a Friend of LakewoodAlive go to:  lakewoodalive.com

Harding sixth-graders Katie Ribar (from left), Matt Bango and Jenna Kohut get into their roles as "Greasers" from the book "The Outsiders" in their mock trial competition.
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What started out as a typical social studies unit on the judicial process and civic responsibility for two Harding Middle School sixth-grade classrooms culminated earlier this month in a dazzling display of legal theater at the Middle School Mock Trial State Showcase in Columbus.

Jennifer Ui, MD
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Lakewood Hospital is pleased to announce the appointments of Ingrid Tuxhorn, MD, and Jennifer Ui, MD, to the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute at Lakewood Hospital.  Both Dr. Tuxhorn and Dr. Ui are Cleveland Clinic physicians.  Dr. Tuxhorn, an expert Pediatric Epileptologist at the Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center, is board-certified in pediatrics and specializes in pediatric epilepsy.  Prior to joining the Cleveland Clinic in 2007, Dr. Tuxhorn headed a large and internationally recognized pediatric epilepsy unit at the Bethel Epilepsy Center in Germany.  

Dr. Tuxhorn earned her medical degree from the University of Cape Town Faculty of Medicine in Cape Town, South Africa.  She acquired extensive advanced training in pediatrics, neurology and pediatric neurology, epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology in leading academic centers in the United States and Europe. Her medical interests and areas of expertise include managing a first seizure, diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy syndromes across various age groups as well as epilepsy surgery and cognitive outcomes. 

Dr. Ui is board-certified in Neurology and specializes in neuromuscular medicine and Electromyography (EMG). EMG involves testing the electrical activity of muscles and measures the conducting function of nerves, such as with patients who have suffered a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, among others. Dr. Ui earned her medical degree from the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, Manila, Philippines. Prior to completing her Neuromuscular Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Ui gained advanced neurology experience at Wayne State University – Detroit Medical Center and Sinai Grace Hospital, Detroit. “Lakewood Hospital has achieved a reputable status in providing state-of-the-art neurological care. 

The addition of these two impressive physicians will greatly enhance our scope of services and continue to position Lakewood Hospital at the forefront of providing advanced neurological care close to home,” says Jack Gustin, President of Lakewood Hospital. 

Both Dr. Tuxhorn and Dr. Ui are accepting referrals at Lakewood Hospital. To schedule an appointment, please call 216.529.7110.

About Neurological Institute The multidisciplinary Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute combines all physicians and other healthcare providers in neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, the behavioral sciences and nursing who treat adult and pediatric patients with neurological disorders. The Neurological Institute offers a disease-specific, patient-focused approach to care. Our unique, fully integrated model is beneficial to our current standard of care, allows us to measure quality and outcomes on a continual basis, and we believe will enhance our ability to conduct research to benefit patients in the future. Lakewood Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic hospital, is a 400-bed acute care hospital that has served the diverse health care needs of the City of Lakewood and Cleveland’s Westshore communities since 1907. Offering a wide range of health services and education programs for women, men and children, each year Lakewood Hospital provides high quality and innovative patient care for more than 130,000 patients.

LHS Ranger Senior Sam Nieves finishes his leg of the Distance Medley Relay of the Medina Relays Saturday April 11th. The LHS Boys and Girls track teams both finished in 12 place.

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When I was a kid, I got picked on repeatedly. I was the target of just about every bully in the neighborhood. By the time I got to high school I was a bit bigger than my classmates, so a lot of that trouble started to disappear. When I got to college I was a solid six foot four inches tall, two hundred fifteen pounds, and with the knowledge and confidence of being a wrestling coach I found it very easy to take a job working as concert security at the local arena.

But after working dozens of concerts, I noticed something strange, in all of those events; not once was I ever in a scuffle with anyone my size or bigger. It didn’t take long to figure out that there seemed to be two distinctly different yet similarly aggressive stereotypes out there. When I was little, I’d fallen victim to the bully who uses his size and strength to intimidate smaller and weaker kids. However, once I filled the role of bigger and stronger, my nemesis became those with a “Napoleon complex”, someone who tries to overcome feelings of inferiority with increased antagonism.

This dynamic came to mind when I saw the unfortunate choice of cover stories on Newsweek magazine during holy week. While millions of people celebrated Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, Newsweek questioned the possible “Decline and Fall of Christian America”.

Citing the 2009 American Religious Identification Survey, the article points to a 10 percent decline in the number of self-identified Christians since 1990. Unfortunately for Newsweek, according to a Pew Research Center survey, another thing that seems to suffer the same decline is the readership of print and online newspapers and news magazines. The problem with this is that Newsweek never came close to matching Christianity’s popularity in the first place, so if both trends continue, I’d feel more secure in my faith than I would in having a job reporting its demise.

Aside from being an obvious ploy for readership, this is just another case of the little guy taking a swing at the bigger and stronger, hoping that they will somehow erase their own perceived inferiorities. What I think really burns their bylines is that even though Jesus hung on a cross more than two thousand years ago, more people today believe in the relevance of his teachings than the credibility of the media. It bugs them that a much larger portion of the population seeks truth from the Bible than from the pages of their magazines.

But if you watch or read any news lately, is it any mystery as to why that is?  While we’re still a ways away from declaring Christianity dead, ethics in Journalism seems to be a whole other matter. I don’t care who you are or what your political leanings, I dare you to sit down and make a list of the journalists or reporters that you trust. Then ask yourself whether you would rather lend your car to anyone on that list, or the priest, minister or pastor of a local church you don’t even attend. Yeah, I gotta go with the man of the cloth on that one.

Actually, the biggest hurdle in that task might just be making the list in the first place. When I googled “most trusted journalist” a New York Times article on Jon Stewart topped the list.  However, the most revealing part of that experiment was not seeing the words “Jon Stewart” and “Journalist” in the same sentence; it was that the search only revealed 350,000 hits, a mere pittance in search engine terms.  For example, google the term “asparagus ice cream” and you get 2,430,000 hits.

You just can’t settle on any one news source anymore. Finding the truth requires you to do your own research. When you hear a story on the news, if you want to find the truth, you have to trace it back as close as you can to the source. You must peel back the layers of opinionated reporting and weed through the half truths and manipulated statistics to have any hope of digging up any hint of reality. If you showed someone 30 minutes of MSNBC and 30 minutes of FoxNews you’d be hard pressed to convince that person that they were talking about the same country, let alone discussing the same issues.

Maybe, just maybe, if Newsweek spent half as much time investigating the benefits of a strong Christian society as they do looking for a reason to denounce it, they might find the correlation between a focus on a higher moral responsibility and such devastating side effects as trustworthiness, honesty and reliability.

Even though the belief in journalistic integrity only requires a minimal faith in humanity, it still can’t hold a candle to Christianity which requires a huge amount of faith in the divine. 

March was Dog Prevention Month for the Post Office. The safety committee invited Michael Stewart, an Animal Control Officer with the city of Lakewood, to come and talk with the carriers. Mr. Stewart talked about the city's rules and regulations regarding dogs and other pets. He also spoke about what options carriers have if they come across an aggressive or loose pet. One of the more common problems that many carriers are experiencing, is the growing amount of residents that are allowing their pets out loose in their front yards to defecate instead of putting them in the back yard. This raises a couple of problems.

First of all the dogs are supposed to be leashed if let out in the front yard. Secondly, public servants such as mail carriers, meter readers, and other delivery personnel are mandated to cross lawns when servicing the customers.  Mr. Stewart made us aware that citations and fines are handed out to homeowners, or dog owners, who fail to keep their front lawns cleaned up. Most importantly, is the fact that it is just unsanitary! Our children play in these same front yards. Please help assist your local public servants by cleaning up after your pets.

This piece is much more controversial than what I usually write in this column, but I feel the need to get these thoughts out on paper.

 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).  This is one of the verses that the Pro-Life movement employs; it was one of the verses that an evangelist recently recited to me as he distributed anti-abortion literature (which included graphic images of aborted fetuses) in downtown Cleveland.

Before the steam rises from your ears, nota bene: if you are Pro-Life, fine; if you are Pro-Choice, fine. This article does not seek to engage in that debate; that is not my intention.

After thumbing through the salvation salesman’s pamphlet, I asked him what his position was on the death penalty. He said, “The Bible says ‘an eye for an eye’ so I am for it.”  I then asked him to share his views on war. “If you mean the War in Iraq,” he said, “I am definitely in favor of it.  This war is helping us spread the Christian message and our way of life around the world!”

I expected that he would respond that way.

Many (though certainly not all) of the Pro-Life people I have encountered are also in favor of capital punishment and war, especially when the latter is advanced under the banner of the American flag, which they equate with the cross of Christ. Call it Constantinianism or Manifest Destiny gone amok. Either way, you get my point.

Are religious doctrines that are used to advocate for the sanctity of life reserved strictly to a woman’s uterus? Are not the lives of the young men and women called to bear arms — not to mention the civilian casualties that inevitably lie in the wake of combat — also sacred? And why do we continually quote the three “eye for an eye” commandments in the Torah, but turn a blind eye to the clemency-laden teachings of Jesus, such as “I desire mercy not sacrifice,” “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” and dare we forget Christ’s response to the mob who wanted to stone the woman caught in adultery: “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus valued life…all life.

Is this not an ethic for us all to endorse?

I do not know a single Pro-Choice advocate who is Pro-Abortion. The issue for them is about a woman’s right to chose and to not allow the government to interfere with an individual’s reproductive rights. Believe it or not, you can chose not to have an abortion yourself, but feel as if this delicate and complex decision needs to be determined by each person in a country that advocates freedom for all.

What baffles me is the itinerant preacher I met, who claims that abortion is the killing of human life, but that the life of the individual on death row or on the battlefield is not as sacred. I do not understand this quandary at all.

As God spoke to the Israelites through Moses and Aaron, so God is still speaking to us. We are called to choose life by honoring the dignity and the sanctity of all people, not just some.

The Rev. John Tamilio III is the Religion Columnist for The Lakewood Observer and the Senior Pastor of Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ in Tremont.  He can be reached at johnt@pilgrimalive.org.  JT3 lives in Lakewood with his wife and their three children.

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Mayor FitzGerald has a lofty goal for Lakewood—to become the healthiest city in Ohio. The Live Well Lakewood Wellness Challenge is a big step (literally!) in that direction.

Live Well Lakewood is a volunteer organization whose mission is to promote healthy, active living in Lakewood.  With the support of the city, Live Well Lakewood is offering a program to help Lakewood get healthier. This free program is made possible through the sponsorship of Discount Drug Mart, Lakewood City Schools, Lakewood Hospital, Lakewood Recreation Department and Medical Mutual of Ohio. 

Local artist Mary Lou Ferbert shares tender family feelings in “Book of Hearts,” a collection of watercolor Valentines she painted for her loved ones over a period of twenty years. This book “about life, about passion, about spirit,” will touch and inspire anyone who takes a moment to experience it. Join her on Tuesday May 5th at 7:00 p.m. at the Lakewood Public Library Auditorium to learn more about her life in, and love of, the Cleveland area.

An employee at Lakewood Hospital celebrated her 50th anniversary of dedicated service on April 6.  Eddye Hosko, a night shift medical technologist in the hospital laboratory, has devoted 50 years to helping others, both patients and co-workers.

By Gina Gavlak RN, BSN

Diabetes is a disease in which the body doesn’t make insulin (insulin deficiency) or properly use insulin (insulin resistance).  When you eat, certain foods (carbohydrates) are broken down into glucose (sugar).  Insulin is a hormone, produced by the pancreas, which moves glucose from the blood into the cells where it is used for energy.   When the body doesn’t make insulin and/or properly use insulin, blood sugars rise and diabetes is diagnosed. 

Aspiring Race Participants
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Lakewood Hospital Foundation along with presenting sponsor Donald Martens & Sons Ambulance Service are pleased to announce the 8th Annual Ambulance Chase 5K Race/Walk & 1.5 Mile Walk that not only raises funds for Lakewood Hospital, but also promotes health and fitness, as well as provides a sense of community for the more than 800 participants. 

New this year-  we are very excited to announce a partnership with Mayor Edward FitzGerald and the City of Lakewood in a newly initiated “Live Well Lakewood” campaign to promote health and wellness in the community. A committee of volunteers supporting these efforts will be working in conjunction with the Ambulance Chase committee to add a Children’s Chase as well as many other health and wellness activities to raise awareness and really promote “living well”. This year, we are expecting the biggest and best event thus far and we invite you to join with us as we promote healthy living in our communities. 

The Ambulance Chase will be held Sunday, May 3, 2009.  Both the race and walk will begin and end at Lakewood Park, with the schedule as follows:7:30 AM – Registration8:30 AM – 1.5 Mile Walk9:00 AM - 5K Race/Walk10:00  AM – Children’s Chase. The registration fee is $18 before April 24 and $20 thereafter and on race day, with registration for teams of 10 or more being $15 per team member. All pre-registered participants will receive a commemorative long-sleeve T-shirt, goody bag and post race refreshments. T-shirts will be available for those registering the day of the race based on availability. 

Strollers and wagons are welcome in the 1.5 mile walk. Registration is just $5 for children eight and under participating in the Children’s Chase and each participant will receive a special giveaway. Various sponsorship opportunities are available….this is a great way to promote business throughout the community and to more than 800 participants all while supporting efforts to promote health and wellness.           

Since its inception in 2002, the Ambulance Chase has raised more than $215,000 for Lakewood Hospital. Funds raised are distributed through a grant process to benefit a variety of programs and services provided by the Hospital. Awards are carefully selected to ensure the program/service funded will enhance the quality of health care provided and also fulfill the Hospital’s vision of being the best place to receive care. Founded in 1956, the mission of the Lakewood Hospital Foundation is to establish and maintain relationships that generate philanthropic support to enhance Lakewood Hospital’s ability, as a community hospital, to fulfill its mission. Lakewood Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic hospital, is a 400-bed acute care, community-oriented hospital. It offers a wide range of health services and education programs. For more information about the Ambulance Chase or Lakewood Hospital Foundation, call 216-529-7009 or visit www.lakewoodhospital.org/foundation.

The LHS Ranger Track and Field season began with the Boys and girls teams both finishing fifth at the St. Ed's Invite Saturday April 4, 2008. Pictured is Sophomore Samantha Cross competing in the 100 meter hurdles.

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The November school board race will likely be a tight race as appointed School Board Member John Kamkutis hopes to hold onto his seat while providing leadership on critical issues troubling Lakewood. The current board has a diverse background with lawyers such as Matthew John Markling and Linda Beebe; a health care professional in Betsy Shaughnessy; a sergeant in Ed Favre. Kamkutis polishes the board with his extensive background in athletics. With his deeply rooted knowledge of Lakewood and his coaching and team oriented philosophy, the hope for Kamkutis is that his message will resonate with voters in the upcoming school board elections

The Kamkutis school history begins with him working his way through the Lakewood school system “I went to Roosevelt Elementary, Harding Middle School and I graduated from Lakewood High School in 1978.”  A trifecta of sorts, Kamkutis wants his children to have the same opportunities he received while growing up in the Lakewood school system.

With a familiar superintendent at the helm, an energized school board seeks to help Joseph Madak reacquaint himself with the Lakewood City School District. “I am extremely excited to be in the city at this time. I don’t think there is a better way to impact the youth of today than to be on this school board,” said Kamkutis.

The passion for athletics was one of the many reasons the former LHS basketball coach was chosen states School Board Member Matthew John Markling. “John Kamkutis was a unanimous choice of the Lakewood School Board for many reasons, not the least of which are his experiences as a collegiate and professional basketball player, as well as his coaching and recreational experience. His understanding of teamwork will be essential as we establish focused, dedicated, and loyal leadership and goals for excellence under the legendary coaching of Dr. P. Joseph Madak.”

His coaching pedigree may help to remedy the disappointing state of athletics at LHS. As fans of Lakewood sports well know, athletic success at the varsity levels has seen marked declines. The basketball program has had limited success in the past few years and the football program has struggled to win games for the past few seasons. A lack of interest in athletic endeavors seems to be an issue plaguing Lakewood youth. Couple that lack with elite athletic facilities, outside observers scratch their heads and wonder about Lakewood’s losing woes. How the recreation-minded Kamkutis can solve the recreation riddle remains to be seen, but his optimism could at least serve as a blessing to people who want to see Lakewood get back to their winning ways.

Remember initial steps to right the athletic ship were made last year with the hiring of former Rocky River coach Ron Lewis and legendary player and basketball coach Phil Argento. “Phil and his staff have been working extremely hard in making sure that everyone is on the same page,” said Kamkutis who at the time of the interview was coordinating a youth basketball program. “With the coaches and the enthusiasm up at the high school like that, it will trickle down to the younger kids and the recreation department.” 

For Kamkutis the idea of winning athletics comes from his days of being the JV basketball coach at Lakewood High School. He likes the idea of giving the head coaches more say in the decision making process, a policy that most powerhouse athletic programs have implemented, but which Lakewood has struggled with. “They are going to have the main input, and that is one of the goals when the Recreation Director and I talked. We’ll have the head coaches and their staff members giving input on how we should run their respective programs.”

“John has coached basketball on many different levels, which gives him a perspective that most people do not have, so when I talk with John he "gets it" he relates to what needs to be done because he has been there himself, first hand,” explains first year head basketball coach Phil Argento.

Many high schoolers argue that kids in Lakewood have nothing to do. According to a recent Lakewood Times poll, “47 percent said that the lack of things to do pushes them to participate in illegal activities, such as drugs and alcohol.”  However, the kids did not mention what activities they want the city to make available to them.

The disturbing report illustrates the inability of the city to secure outdoor outlets for kids and for athletes, with many complaining about a lack of outdoor basketball courts. As kids seek role models in these tough economic times, a superstar Lebron James dominating nearby Quicken Loans arena looms large. Many argue accordingly that the positives of the sport in a secure outdoor environment outweigh the negatives, a strategy for youth the city has not properly formulated. Kamkutis understands the issue, but in the short term wants to reassure parents that “We are going to do everything we can to offer every possible program to the kids and again we are going to make sure that everything is available for kids. We are going to open up gyms and we are going to allow kids to come inside and play.”

All events are free and open to the public.

MEET THE AUTHOR: The Beatles in Cleveland by Dave Schwensen
Relive the excitement of Beatlemania as John, Paul, George and Ringo visit Cleveland for two of the most out of control concerts in history. Devoted fan Dave Schwensen will take you behind the scenes and on stage with stories, memorabilia and never before published photos. The grand finale of the evening will be the screening of a rare film of the riotous 1966 concert. Books will be available for sale at the show.
Tuesday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium

KNIT & LIT BOOK CLUB
Don’t let the name fool you. All knitters, crocheters, cross-stitchers, and needlepointers are invited to keep their hands and minds busy with us. Nimble-fingered moderator Lynda Tuennerman encourages you to bring in your own suggestions for reading and needlework projects.
Tuesday April 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Library Meeting Room

With the largest collection of Templar motorcars in the world at his disposal, Dave Buehler has more to offer the audience than just facts and figures. Here’s a lecturer who can tell you what it’s like to actually drive a Templar around town and feel the wind on your face. Not only has he purchased the cars, but he has restored them by hand and lovingly repaired them when they’ve broken down. You might say that he the world’s foremost authority on the subject—and an entertaining storyteller to boot!

Home and Away in State Finals

The Cleveland Warriors are the birth-year based program of the Winterhurst Hockey Association located in Lakewood, Ohio. The "Warrior" program was initiated with the intent of creating teams based on single birth years, with the goal of placing competitive teams into the USA Hockey State and District Championships. This program has been part of the Winterhurst Hockey Association for three seasons and in early March they achieved success when not only one, but both of their Peewee teams, (players born in 1996) qualified for the Ohio State Championship game. The Cleveland Warrior "Gold" team, coached by Jeff Tyhulski, won the game over the Cleveland Warrior "Black" team, coached by Jason Hicar, by a score of 4-1. Both teams reached the finals after winning preliminary spots in the final knock-downs where the Gold’s defeated Rocky River's PWAA team, and the Blacks defeated the Toledo Cherokees.

Westside Yoga Studio is conductiing two Yoga Therapy Workshops on Saturday May 2nd & June 6th from 1-3:30 PM, taught by Rowan Silverberg LMT 500 HR RYT. These workshops are recommended for students and yoga instructors who want to gain more knowledge in healing acute or chronic physical injury and associated pain. The workshops will be divided into two 2.5 hour sessions, one for the upper body and one for the lower body.

The studio also offers classes and private instruction to those with limited physical mobility. Many individuals suffer from chronic or acute pain due to physical misalignment in the body or disease states such as arthritis, cancer, scoliosis, etc. Yoga is used as a therapeutic practice to open space in areas that are injured and compressed, such as the spine and joints and to relieve tight strained, stressed and sore muscles. It accomplishes this by restoring the body to it's natural anatomically correct posture and physical alignment.

Re-alignment to the natural state that restores range of motion and relieves pain. The student is an active participant in this process and is taught the principles of body alignment to use in everyday life, at work, at home and in exercising the body. In some cases the individual may undergo some manual manipulation of the affected area; in all cases the individual is taught how to continue to do this work on their own at home beginning slowly and according to the severity and degree of pain and/or physical injury.

Meditation is also taught as an ingredient to manage the emotional effects of pain and physical limitations. Individuals must commit to being active participants in this program in order to obtain the full affects of the therapy. We offer individualized therapy for those with more difficult and extensive needs. We also offer a weekly class on Thurs evenings from 6-7 PM for students that can participate in a class setting. This class is appropriate for those with physical limitations that are interested in improving flexibility, stability, stamina, strength and balance. Props such as chairs, blocks, bolsters and straps are used for support and to facilitate individual’s ability to participate in class and gain physical benefits. Therapeutic yoga provides the tools that many individuals need to manage pain due to acute musculoskeletal injury or chronic disease states such as arthritis or cancer. Breath work and meditation are used along with postures to enhance therapeutic benefits. For additional information on yoga therapy, classes, workshops or private sessions please go to www.westsideyogastudio.com. or contact Evin Bodell RN CYI, Owner/Instructor at 440 773-1605.

Gary's replaced guitar and bike      Photo by Gary Rice
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Last year, I wrote a column looking back on 1968 Lakewood. I suppose, in a great many ways, that year set the stage for many of the changes and upheavals that marked 1969.

Like the map images presented at the Community Forum, this Lakewood City zoning map has been modified to illustrate a ½ mile distance from the center of each school. In this case, Grant and Lincoln have been removed and replaced by a centrally located elementary facility at Kaufman Park. Note population density in residential areas by housing type as indicated on key (yellow, light blue).
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Before I knew it, it was time for kindergarten registration. I had heard varying opinions about Lakewood City Schools but I like to make up my own mind and kindergarten seemed like a harmless time for an experiment. I registered our children for enrollment at Grant Elementary, our neighborhood school. Now, years later, I can say that I am very happy with the results. The school board, administration and staff in partnership with families, parent organizations and government programs, get kids off to a great start.

The staff members of Lakewood High’s newspaper, Lakewood Times, who according to their adviser “put in long hours each month writing, editing and designing (the paper) … for very little glory,” finally had the spotlight shine on them at the Ohio Scholastic Media Association Convention at Kent State University April 3. The student journalists brought home a First Place rating from the competition, which gathered more than 1,000 students from 50 high school newspapers from around the state and drew more than 2,000 entries. 

"We've been working on the railroad, all the live long day. . . ."

Forum participants fill out surveys seeking input on the Phase III Facilities Plan
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Lakewood City Schools’ present and future came together at the Phase III Community Forum April 2 as 200 Lakewood residents and school district staff gathered at Lakewood High’s East Cafeteria to help determine the course of the last and final phase of the districtwide facilities construction plan.

Northeast Ohio Science and Engineering Fair: Three Harding students and nine from the high school showcased their scientific minds at the regional science fair held at John Carroll University in early March. Awards were given for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention as well as Special Awards given by nonprofits and corporations that found an exhibit of particular interest to the group’s field. LHS freshmen Katie Reading and Hannah Gallovic earned first-place honors for their projects.  Reading’s project, “Measuring Sugar Content of Liquids with a Laser Pointer,” and Gallovic’s “Mold Growth Under Various Conditions,” earned the girls $100 each. Second-place awards went to LHS students Grace Corridoni, Clarissa Kos, Jimmy Matthiesen and Nina Pizzo. Eighth-grader Lindsay Furtado of Harding also earned second-place recognition. Third-place honors went to Kate LaBar, Adam Morris and Enea Pavliqoti of LHS and eighth-grader Caroline Speice of Harding. Three students also won Special Awards. Furtado was recognized for her worm composting project, Kos for her project on the safest water purification methods and Reading for her sugar content presentation. Approximately 500 students from more than 90 schools participated in the competition.

Local Girl Gallery, 16106 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, will be a fashion diva’s mecca on Saturday, April 25, 2009, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., for another of the city’s Green smART projects when designers will be auctioning off “new” chic sustainable fashions.

Starting on May 1st a new policy will be in effect at Lakewood Library that states each patron can only use his or her own library card.  Patrons will no longer be allowed you use the card of a friend, spouse or family member to enter the AV room, use library computers or check out library materials.

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in America. More than 41 million women are living with one or more types of cardiovascular diseases. With one out of three women dying from heart disease, Lakewood Hospital believes there is a vital need to promote heart health to women, therefore have opened a Women’s Preventive Heart Clinic.

Lakewood Hospital is pleased to announce the appointment of Sharon Johnson, MS, CNM, to Lakewood Hospital Midwifery Associates. Ms. Johnson has extensive experience in providing comprehensive nurse midwifery services as well as obstetrical nursing.

Downtown Lakewood logo

Seven Downtown Lakewood establishments have pooled resources to fund a pilot program for enhanced security in Lakewood’s downtown commercial district. Administered by LakewoodAlive, the program will provide for increased police presence in the area for nine weeks, starting in early April.

Charles Clio Shumard, co-inventor of the walkie-talkie circa October 1982
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I am not a staff member of Beck Center, although I was a volunteer there for many years and my children attended classes at Lakewood Little Theatre. I took note because my father, Charles Clio Shumard, was intimately involved with the development of television during the early years. Dad worked for RCA with David Sarnoff in Camden, New Jersey after the invention of television. My father co-invented the two-way radio walkie-talkie with Alfred J. Gross (who coincidentally grew up in Cleveland and attended Case School of Applied Sciences, now part of Case Western Reserve University).

All events are free and open to the public.

MEET THE AUTHOR:
The Search for Lost Habitats by Perry Peskin
Explore Northeast Ohio locales near and dear to the author’s heart in the search for the natural beauty of the rarest wildflowers. From the expansive wetlands and mature forests of Ashtabula County to the unusual clay banks of the Cuyahoga and Chagrin rivers, witness fragile habitats clinging to life—and even some orchids! Nature photographer and amateur botanist, Perry Peskin, illustrates the wealth of local diversity with photographs from his personal collection. Books will be available for sale and signing after the show.
Tuesday, April 7 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium

February 2009

Month End Real Estate Statistics

Single Family Closed                                             15

That’s a frequently asked question because the term ‘contingent’ is sometimes confused with ‘pending’. Both are part of the sequence of a transaction. The sequence begins when a home is listed for sale and referred to as ‘active’. Later, when an offer is made and accepted by both the Buyer and Seller, it’s typically referred to as ‘contingent’ because the sale of the home is ‘contingent' on certain conditions being fulfilled within a specific time frame. Those conditions usually include the inspection and/or the buyer formally applying for a loan and securing financing. Next, ‘pending’ is when all of the contingencies have been removed –one more step forward toward closing. And, of course, the last in the sequence and the very best status description for both Buyers and Sellers is ‘SOLD’!

However, both can be pricey ventures. According to the same study, the national average for minor kitchen remodel was $21,246. A sample remodel at this cost includes replacing cabinet fronts, flooring, laminate countertops and oven and cooktop; installing mid-priced sink and faucet, adding wall cover and repainting trim.

Almost 100 years ago in Lakewood, R. Guy Cowan founded what would become one of the premier art pottery companies in the United States. Nearly a century later, students at Grant Elementary School researched the story of Cowan Pottery and created art of their own. A class of second and third graders created a documentary film for which they researched historical documents, did interviews and site visits, made maps and timelines and wrote the script and musical score.

Darby

Darby is a big boy who looks tough but is just a big softy that loves to be around people and will be your shadow! He is great with other cats. Darby was brought in during the coldest days of the Lakewood winter by a kind woman who gave him shelter. PAWS was able to step in and help find him a home. He is great with other cats and loves to play, play, play! 

Darby is up to date with routine vaccinations, is altered, litter box trained and just waiting for his forever home!  Could it be yours? If interested in Dearby, please contact The Public Animal Welfare Society of Ohio (PAWS) at 440-442-PAWS or visit www.pawsohio.org.

Egg shells, cucumber peels, orange rind, tea bags, and coffee grounds with filters all make great compost.
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Fifty-six thousand Lakewood residents. Almost 25 thousand households. Presumably, every household has at least one trash can. Next month, these cans will all become obsolete as our town moves to curbside trash collection and switches to automated-truck-friendly roll-out receptacles instead. What in the world can we do with all those trash cans? It would be a shame to deposit all these still-usable, yet seemingly useless, containers in a landfill, as seems likely to be the case. What a perfect opportunity for the City of Lakewood to encourage its residents to begin composting as a way of sustaining the environment. Large scale backyard composting in the city of Lakewood could result in a significant reduction of solid waste and the resources necessary to manage it; less stress to landfills; and even reduced use of chemical fertilizers which find their way into our city’s soil, groundwater, and even food.

The Horace Mann DI team and their coaches

Led by coach Amy Chodzin, team DI Dynamite spent three months meeting twice a week to prepare for both the team challenge and an instant challenge which make up the competition. DI guidelines require that all creative input come from the kids, with the coach acting only as a facilitator supplying a structured environment and all the materials necessary for the team to create and problem solve.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Nici of Lake Avenue are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Miss Elizabeth Lynn Nici, to Lt. Ryan Patrick Demro, son of Mr. Patrick Demro of Lakewood and Mrs. Linda Alvarez of Lodi, Ohio.  A fall wedding is planned. Miss Nici is a 2001 graduate of Mercyhurst College and is a graphic designer and owner of Gusto Designs LLC.in Lakewood. Lt. Demro is a 2001 graduate of Capital University and a 2005 graduate of Ursuline College. The former Lakewood councilman is a teacher and an officer in the United States Army Reserve.

The Cavani String Quartet, Cleveland’s own internationally renowned, award winning chamber music ensemble, brings the music of Ludwig van Beethoven to Lakewood Public Library at 2 p.m. on Sunday April 19 in the Main Library Auditorium.

Ashley Summers - Missing since July 9, 2007

When a child runs away or is taken away, the impact spreads beyond the immediate family. People outside the family think of the mother and father first. These strangers have a word of sympathy for the parents and for a brief fleeting moment thoughts such as, “I wonder how I would feel.” They may even go home and hug their child or children for no apparent reason. The forgotten ones are the missing child’s siblings, grandparents, aunt, uncles and even cousins. The child’s disappearance has a wide-reaching effect, not only on the family, but extending to the community as well.

Another plus is that the washers and dryers are made in the USA by a company that dates back to 1908.

It may be a well accepted fact that the Beatles, more than any other musical band in history, changed the direction of music in a profound way. Baby Boomers may lay a generational claim on the Fab Four, but their legacy belongs to the present and to the future as well, if continuing CD sales are any indication. And if you think you know the Beatles, please treat yourself to the program at the Lakewood Public Library on Tuesday, April 21, at 7 p.m. in the Main Auditorium, when author Dave Schwensen will talk about his recent and very successful book, The Beatles in Cleveland: Memories, Facts & Photos about the Notorious 1964 & 1966 Concerts. Schwensen has researched the two events exhaustively and gathered testimony from those who were there when the Beatles made their historic and somewhat hysterical visits to the North Coast. To cap his presentation off, Schwensen will be showing a rare film of the 1966 performance.

Lakewood Early Childhood PTA will host a free presentation given by Ann Stahlheber on “Benefits and Tips for Buying Food Locally for your Family.” She will discuss the Community Supported Agriculture programs that the LEAF (Lakewood Earth and Food) Community will be offering for 2009 and offer tips on how to incorporate more local foods into your family’s diet. These programs offered by LEAF bring fresh local produce to over 300 families in Lakewood during the growing season! Ann is a Public Health Dietitian for the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. She has organized the Community Supported Agriculture programs offered by the LEAF Community since 2007. The presentation will take place on Monday, April 27th at 7:45pm in the Harding Middle School Cafetorium (16601 Madison Avenue). As with all LECPTA programs, this presentation is free and open to the public.

When people hear the phrase “the prophetic voice” they often think of “prophecy”: predicting the future, soothsaying, Ouija boards, runes, Tarot cards, palm reading, and the like. From a biblical perspective, prophecy has to do with far more than this.

Lakewood Public Library employees have undertaken a massive reworking of their Parent Pages, created back when the internet was in its infancy. Now that the internet has broadened to include overwhelming amounts of information, sites that gather and organize that information are more important than ever.

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I met Muffin and his lovely human the other day while strolling along Detroit Avenue. I always enjoy meeting my fellow Lakewoodites and their animals. And from what I've observed Lakewoodites love their animals - and afterall, Lakewood even has its own dog park! Researchers and experts agree that unless someone has allergies or is terrified of animals, pets are good for our health - both physically and psychologically. A pet can help prevent loneliness by providing unconditional love and companionship. Walking the dog helps people with dogs get regular exercise - and all of us can benefit from more exercise! Furthermore, research has demonstrated that pets can reduce stress and blood pressure in owners, increase longevity in people who have had heart attacks, and even help people with Alzheimer's disease relax and eat better! Not only does an apple a day help keep the doctor away; it appears that our furry or feathered friends can also help!

Kim Yanoshik is a Lakewood resident who often wanders around town with a camera slung around her neck snapping photographs of whatever strikes her fancy. In June 2008, Kim joined a loose group of photographers around the world who post a photo a day of the town where they live as part of City Daily Photo (citydailyphoto.com). Each day Kim posts a photo taken in Lakewood on lakewooddailysnap.blogspot.com of the people, places, and things of Lakewood which capture her eye. Recently, the Lakewood Observer approached Kim and asked her if she would share her quirky eye with the readers of our paper. You can catch Kim's Lakewood Daily Snaps @ http://lakewooddailysnap.blogspot.com/

Hairy Gary, in the old days...Photo by Robert Rice
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It's not easy getting into the world of music when you are young. First, your parents have to decide to let you HAVE an instrument, as well as deciding to give you lessons.(Hopefully!) If you are really lucky, you get to have the instrument of YOUR choice, and you find an encouraging teacher to work with. Even then, the start up process is often slow and time consuming. The lure of the slumber party, or the baseball game, will often conspire to turn you away from the practice of scales and songs. Additionally and eventually, you find, (often to your horror) that you must demonstrate your newly found musical skills in front of PEOPLE! This can induce severe emotional trauma, but, like a good laxative, is supposed to be good for you at some point in your life.

Did you know about the first Speeding Laws? When East Rockport became the Hamlet of Lakewood in 1889, it was a time in our history before cars were even on the roads. But, surprisingly, there was still a need for speeding laws. Riding or driving horses or any other animal was strictly governed by one of the first ordinances passed in Lakewood. It stated that it was unlawful for anyone to go faster than eight miles an hour! Reflecting… about such a very different time in Lakewood brings to mind that Spring is coming soon with community activities like 5 and 10K races …It’s amusing to realize that the runners and power walkers filling our streets, will be ‘breaking that law’!

The Winchester Music Hall in Lakewood is hosting a new talk show on WHK 1420 AM every Sunday afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. The show is called "Winchester Music Talk" and is a live talk show that features guests in the studio each week as well as phone-in guests and some music. The show focuses strictly on music talk and has a historical Cleveland focus. It also includes previews of some of the up-coming shows at the Winchester from both local and National acts.

Guests during this first month of the Winchester Music Talk radio show so far have included... Commander Cody, Mark Kay from Morticias Chair, Jim Bacha from BMZ, Kelly Richey, Steve Barbuto (drummer in Commander Cody's band), Jeff Sherman, Tony Pulizzi, Doug Johns, Dale Fortune (owner of Fortune Drums) and even local scribe "Peanuts" has phoned in.

Phone calls are encouraged from listeners as well, and they can call in to the show each Sunday night between 8 -10pm by calling the WHK studio at 216-901-0945. Winchester Music Talk can also be heard across the country and throughout the world streaming live online at www.whkradio.com. WHK has as rich a radio history as you can find. It is the 14 oldest radio station in America, starting broadcast operations in 1921. The show's host, Jim Mileti, has plenty of prior radio history as well, working at the old M105 (WWWM) 105.7 FM and 3WE (WWWE) 1100 AM in Cleveland and at K-Life (KLFF 1360 AM Phoenix) and KOOL AM - FM (Phoenix). Listen in to be a part of some great music-talk and maybe even win some tickets to an up coming show!