As a general rule, my food-allergic family avoids social situations involving shared food... and potlucks have the most potential for disaster. However, we do make an exception. Despite the risks, we always attend the Lakewood Community Diversity Potluck hosted by the Community Relations Advisory Commission in partnership with Lakewood High School's Race and Diversity (RAD) Club.
February is the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women heart health awareness month. As part of that, Lakewood’s Open Your Heart Committee is sponsoring it’s 5th annual “Dress Up Your Heart” fundraiser with the mission of raising local awareness of heart disease, the number one killer of women in the U.S. This year’s event will include a Red Dress Fashion Show followed with a silent auction of the featured dresses. The dresses presented are designs by Susan Dauber, a Lakewood High School graduate who earned a Bachelors Degree in Fashion and Apparel Design from Cornell University and is currently working in the fashion design industry in New York City.
With a three-year grant from United Way of Greater Cleveland, Lakewood Community Services Center has extended its food service to include monthly door-to-door deliveries to eligible seniors living in Lakewood senior housing. The program launched in September 2011 with service to the Westerly Apartments. On the third Friday of each month a three-day supply of food is delivered to each resident who has signed up for the new service. Grocery bags are packed and assembled in LCSC's pantry with help from volunteers, then loaded into the United Way-funded van for two round-trips to the atrium at the Westerly.
The Lakewood Bock Club Program is alive and well thanks to Mayor Michael Summers, City council and the fifty-nine hard working Block Captains through out the city. Block Captains work hand in hand with Ward Police Officers, City Departments and the members of their clubs. We can thank these dedicated volunteers for helping keep their streets safer, cleaner and a friendlier place to live. They do their best to make the street they live on a "neighborhood" in the truest sense of the word. Criminal activity and nuisance issues can happen on any street. Block Captains keep problems to a minimum by informing all resident when suspicious behavior or nuisance activity is noticed by Club members. The more alert eyes on the block the safer that block will be. Ward Police Officers also help to educate residents about easy ways to prevent you from becoming a victim. Simple actions like: locking your doors, locking cars, keeping valuables out of cars when parked and keeping porch lights on at night will discourage the average criminal from making you his next target.
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States.
Ever wonder what it would be like to appear in a movie with Jake Gyllenhaal, Rob Lowe or Joe Pesci? One Lakewood woman has had the pleasure of those experiences. Her name is Jean Zarzour, actor of film, stage, television and radio.
Area musicians and community leaders will take the stage on January 28 at 7 p.m. at the Lakewood Masonic Temple to perform and celebrate the music of the Beatles. All proceeds of this family friendly event, "All You Need is Love (and Food)", will support the hunger relief efforts of local nonprofit Trinity Lakewood Community Outreach (TLCO).
Attendees can expect a casual, fun evening with a coffeehouse atmosphere complete with baked treats and coffee bar included with admission thanks to the Root Café. The night will be capped by an “all-star” performance of All You Need is Love performed by several of our own Lakewood "celebrities.”
Council President Brian Powers called the January 17, 2012 Council meeting to order at 7:33 P.M. To start the meeting off, Council invited Lakewood’s reappointed Poet Laureate, Bill Knittle, to read a poem. Mr. Knittle read his poem to Council thanking them again for his title.
Josh Rosso lost his car keys.
Then his license plates expired.
Not that he was using his car too much before that happened, but Josh has made his mind up to leave his car sitting exactly where it is, and use his bike to get literally everywhere he needs to go.
That bike is almost a point of contention among a few different people though. The bike itself is super slick and efficient, it’s a fixed gear Fuji Track Pro, black and red, and looks super stylie. The problem that some people (such as Josh’s mom, and a few friends of his) have is that Josh rides this bike without any brakes, and also without any toe clips. If you think this is crazy, you’re kind of right...he might be one of three people I know who ride a fixed gear without at least an emergency brake. But that’s the way he likes it, that’s how he’s comfortable, and that’s how he gets from point A to point B as fast as his very strong calves can get him. I will say though, to Josh’s sanity, I’ve never seen him ride without a helmet.
A small but spirited and engaged crowd joined Superintendent Jeffrey W. Patterson at Hayes Elementary School on January 18 for the first of a series of community meetings he is holding across the city over the next month to listen to what citizens have to say about the future of the Lakewood City Schools.
Winter is prime time for many high school and middle school honors festivals and with the amount of musical talent in the Lakewood City Schools, you can bet the district is well-represented at a number of the honors ensembles that have performed or will soon be performing throughout the state.
This year is shaping to be the year of the Kickers. CKLA (Cleveland Kickers Lakewood Academy), a Lakewood based youth soccer developmental program is aiming big and delivering even bigger this Spring. The girl’s side of the program has added three additional teams and is here to make a statement. CKLA Sporting Director and Lakewood High School – Girls Varsity Coach, Vladimir Godosev says, “I couldn’t be more proud of the dedication and progress this organization has made in our first two years. We started with just 5 teams, and now expanded to 12 for Spring.” He adds, “It’s been my dream to get a true developmental youth program going for kids, to not just give them a place to play, but an environment to learn, grow and experience the beautiful game at high competition.”
Each fall for the past few years, bright yellow tree-lawn signs have proliferated throughout Lakewood, indicating that we should “BRAKE 4 KIDS”. Though a well-intentioned slogan and suggestion, designed to protect our children from the harm imposed by reckless and irresponsible drivers, I feel we may be missing the mark. A small percentage of Lakewood’s population is affected by traffic mishaps, and is certainly something to be avoided, but a much larger disservice is done to our children through parent non-involvement with a child’s education. If we compare the number of children that are hit by a car, versus the number of children who have no motivation for success in the classroom, I am sure the second scenario would have the overwhelming numbers. There are plenty of studies that indicate parent involvement in a child’s education does have an impact. Encouragement, support, help, and direction to our children’s success in school should bring favorable results, if everyone would participate. The article below was written 22 years ago, but the message is the same today.
Once again, Lakewood City Schools has a good number of young artists that have been recognized for their artistic talent in the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards national competition. Three Lakewood High students were honored with the top award - Gold Key Winner - in the Cuyahoga County Region and will have their artwork judged on the national level next month. One of those Gold Key Winners, Elizabeth Taucher also was selected as one of only five artists in the region named a American Vision & Voice Nominee for her “best of show” Film and Animation piece, “Sydney the Giraffe” (view on YouTube at http://tinyurl.com/7pm3uuv).
New addition to the H2O team, Vanessa Lange.
H2O, “Help to Others” will celebrate its twentieth year as a program of the City of Lakewood’s Division of Youth in 2013. It is a program that has grown and blossomed under the leadership of its founder, Celia Dorsch. Effective December 31, 2011 Ceil has retired and it has been a bittersweet farewell for those who worked with her; colleagues in the city, school staff, community leaders, social service agencies – and of course the kids. There have been thousands of kids who have participated in H20 programming and have had the chance to develop as leaders and activists while participating in any or all of the H20 program components.
Beginning January 25, 2012, North Coast Health Ministry (NCHM), a free clinic serving the low-income uninsured, will offer primary care appointments at the Westown Physician Center at 10654 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland. Appointments must be scheduled in advance and will take place on Wednesday and Thursday mornings beginning at 8:30 a.m.
On Friday evening, January 27, between 5:00 and 8:00, in the Lakewood High School East Cafeteria, Lakewood Kiwanis will present its Great Pizza Bake-Off. Customers will enjoy an all-you-can-eat sampling of pizzas from 16 Lakewood establishments.
January 10, 2012
Dear Lakewood Observer Editor,
I have been going to the Convenient store on Madison Avenue for years. Service is always good.
The owner, Neil McReynolds, showed me a letter he got from Chief of Police Timothy J. Malley. The letter said the police Narcotics/Vice unit did "compliance inspections" on December 2, 2012, trying to identify stores that sold alcohol to underage kids.
The letter said Neil's store was among those that refused to sell to underage buyers, and the Chief thanked Neil.
The Lakewood City Schools will be hosting a Kindergarten Parent Information night for parents of preschoolers interested in learning about the District’s kindergarten program. The event will take place on Wednesday, February 22, at 7 p.m. at Hayes Elementary School’s Cafetorium. Hayes is located at 16401 Delaware Ave.
The LHS Barnstormers will stage, "The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later," Janury 26-28 at 8 p.m. in the high school’s Tryout Theater. In 2003 the Lakewood High School Barnstormers Drama Club produced the thought-provoking play, "The Laramie Project." This play was written as a look at the impact the violent and brutal murder of a gay University of Wyoming student, Matthew Shepard, had on an entire community. The LHS Barnstormers produced it as a means of opening up a dialogue about violence, hatred, intolerance and acceptance. In short, this production was moving, eye-opening, and heart wrenching.
Laskey CPA, a public accounting firm with nine employees, has purchased the property at 15514 Detroit Avenue that formerly housed Revelations Salon & Spa. Timothy P. Laskey paid $250,000 for the property and plans to invest about $50,000 renovating the duplex before moving into the building in May 2012.
Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park Volunteers: Mikki Rhoades, Lynne Schroeder, Dave Starcher (left to right).
How would you answer these questions?
If most of your answers were YES, you’re in good company!
Laurie Sekeres representing Ganley Westside Subaru.
As part of its outreach mission for 2012, Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park, Inc. 501(3)(c) is hosting a pet food donation drive to benefit another dog-loving Lakewood non-profit, My Best Friend's Bowl. And what better time to do it than Super Bowl Sunday? Simply stop by the Lakewood Dog Park on Sunday, February 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with a donation of dog or cat food. We have a super goal of stuffing a Subaru full of food that will fill hundreds of pet bowls.
On Friday the 13th of January, three teens participated in the Lakewood Public Library’s first Top Teen Chef program. The teens were invited to take part in three food challenges, or battles. They had 45 minutes to complete the challenges. They were given a large selection of potential ingredients and asked to compete in a “Battle Kool-Aid,” “Battle Celery,” and “Battle Brownie.” Using the main ingredients listed in each battle, they were required to create a beverage, appetizer, and dessert.
In collaboration with Baldwin-Wallace College Music Theatre Program, the Beck Center for the Arts presents the Tony Award-winning rock musical, “Spring Awakening,” Feb. 3 through March 4 on the Mackey Main Stage. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are now on sale.
CityMusic Cleveland will perform The Emigrants, part of The Persistence of Creativity series, at 7:00 p.m. on February 20 in the Main Library Auditorium. This special event is in preparation for their spring production of Brundibár and also coincides with the exhibit In a Nutshell: the Worlds of Maurice Sendak on display in the Main Library Second Floor Gallery. A string quartet and woodwind quintet will play the rarely performed music of six different composers whose lives were devastated by the Holocaust.
The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce began its one-hundred and first year of serving the greater Lakewood business community by hosting marketing & motivational speaker Katherine Miracle of Miracle Resources at their January monthly meeting and luncheon at Brennan’s Catering & Banquet Center, sponsored by DMS Management Solutions. In keeping with the Chamber’s January theme of “Planning”, Ms. Miracle captivated and engaged the audience in a discussion of Planning for a Strong 2012. From branding to marketing to public relations to revenue development, Ms. Miracle is an accomplished businessperson who has done it, who teaches it, and who gave audience members specific take-aways so that they could be on a successful path for 2012.
It is likely that if you have children or teens in your house, at least one of them is deeply engrossed in a manga or anime series. Big eyes, action lines, dramatic plotlines, bizarre and adorable creatures- all staples of this now familiar genre. Manga and anime have seen a dramatic explosion in popularity here in the U.S. over the past twenty years, but the medium’s history is much longer and richer than you might expect.
Lakewood Chamber member DMS Management Solutions offers a comprehensive range of services and solutions to meet the needs of growing businesses. This Lakewood firm assists small- to mid-sized businesses in the areas of Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Banking/Cash Management, Billing, Budgeting & Strategic Planning, Financial Reporting, Payroll, HR/Benefits Administration, and more. It’s that time of year – time to close the books on 2011 and plan for a strong 2012, and Mike DeStefano can help. Call Mike at 440-799-4615.
When you purchase at locally-owned businesses, more money is kept in the community because locally-owned businesses often purchase from other local businesses and service providers!
Saturday, January 28
2012 Lakewood Criterium Neighborhood Meeting
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
18001 Detroit Avenue
7:00 p.m.
Ministerial Musings: Common Courtesy
Homework ER
Do these names sound familiar? Barry, Biles, DeLorean, Fairchild, Ganley, Guthery Schreiber, Hale Zupan, Koepke, LaRiche, Lossman, Marc Lance, and Spitzer. They may not be if you were born after 1980. These new and/or used car dealerships dotted the Lakewood landscape for many years. Now only one full service dealership remains in Lakewood, Steve Barry Buick, located at 16000 Detroit Avenue.
Lakewood Catholic Academy (LCA), a pre-K through eighth grade Catholic elementary school in Lakewood serving families across the West Shore, will hold an Open House for prospective families on Sunday, January 29, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at its campus at 14808 Lake Avenue in Lakewood. The Open House corresponds with the beginning of Catholic Schools Week, the annual celebration of Catholic education.
History can be abstract, particularly to the very young who look back at the amazing sweep of the 20th century.
Those in the “Baby Boom” generation were well-schooled in the horrors of the Holocaust, when more than 6 million Jews perished in Nazi Germany and its brutal system of concentration camps. For children who were born later, it is a much more distant event. The history of the Holocaust is certainly taught in school, but for junior high students at Lakewood Catholic Academy, history recently came to them in the form of Holocaust survivor Andrew Steinberg of Shaker Heights, who visited the school to relate his personal experience as a prisoner of the Nazis near the end of World War II.
The year 2012 is not only leap year, it's a house tour year. The Lakewood Historical Society's biennial "Come Home to Lakewood" house tour occurs on September 9, the first Sunday after Labor Day. While that seems far in the future, the planning process is already well underway, but we need your help! We need to know the houses you want to see, those you drive by and wish you could get inside. Give us the address, and we'll do the rest. We'll contact the owners to let them know they've been nominated, and ask if they'd be willing to showcase their home. If so, we'll visit, and choose from the nominees those that would make up the most unique and fascinating tour. We'll be rounding up our possibilities over the next three weeks, so don't delay, make your nominations today! You may nominate by:
Bob Seelie reportedly served longer as Lakewood City Council President than anyone in the City’s history. Sadly, Bob passed away on January 7, 2012. He was 55.
For family members of all ages
