Birdtown on a summer's night.

(click photo to enlarge)

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  A photo of Lakewood's Emerald Canyon while waiting for Ken. It is obvious to see where the name comes from as you you into the deep, deep green that abound in one of America's most beautiful canyons.
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  On the way to Sugar Bears for a twist cone, we stop by one of the many LEAF community gardens. This one in Madison Park.
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  Two people, one a professor from Case Western Reserve, farm their little plot of land, and take home a nice harvest.
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  Kenneth Warren the father of the Lakewood Observer Gourmet Food Security Network, now Lakewood Earth And Food Community (LEAF) looks over the pastures of plenty on the edge of Birdtown.
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  LEAF has grown into one of the great civic groups in Lakewood.
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  One of the four new Lakewood Police Mini Stations. Many in the area told us how safe they feel with the station there. This was part of a safety initiative by Mayor Edward FitzGerald and councilwoman Mary Louise Madigan.
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  As darkness falls on Birdtown, I prepare to switch to a much higher ISO for our walk. This is looking west on Thrush.
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  The higher ISO makes this look much lighter than it is. At the crossroads of Robin and Plover we see the now infamous LEAF Plover Patch. This was the first community garden started by LEAF, and it is still going strong. One thing I have noticed in all of my night walks around the USA. Community gardens get respect and coopoeration wherever they pop up. It is a great tool for the community.
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  To underline the difference the top photo is with a high ISO the bottom photo shows how dark it really is.
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  A century home in Historic Birdtown.
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  As we walked the streets, we were amazed at how nice and how quiet things were. Yards mown and trimmed, gardens everywhere we looked. People on the porches laughing and talking. It was a nice night in Birdtown.
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  The higher ISO now failing but still able to catch anylight in the sky.
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  Another 10pm sky photo.
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  The brand new, very clean Harrison School.
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  Kenneth Warren looks at the beautifully maintained grounds.
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  Lakewood should be very proud on these new schools.
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  Harrison's entry.
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  school signage
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  school signage
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  This time the only graffiti we could find was this a chalk drawing by a child.
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  Chrome, I just love chrome.
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  The playground was spotless, and colorful as always.
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  As we headed back to Sugar Bears, we were able to talk to some of the residents sitting on the street. They truly love Birdtown.
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  Lakewood's best nightclub, the Winchester, run by Jim and Rebecca Miletti. Rebecca grew up in Lakewood and moved back. She thinks Lakewood is getting better day by day, and loves living and working here.
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  Ducks gather to head South
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  LO Editor Daniel Slife at the George J. Usher Community Gardens.
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  Kenneth Warren and Daniel Slife
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  Heading in to the infamous "Hidden Village"
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  Ken Warren showing Dan slife one of his favorite places to get blackberries. It was here over 20 years ago where Ken Warren landed when he moved to Lakewood. Last year, Ken and I were threatened when we picked blackberries.
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  Sunset at Foran/Montlack Park on Sloan Ave.