Non-profit

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.

 Strike up the band! Bring out the 76 Trombones to lead the Big Parade! -- A parade of Lakewood pizzas for the pleasure of customers at the Kiwanis Club’s Pizza Bake-Off, Friday, January 27, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the East Cafeteria of Lakewood High School.

Customers serve themselves small pieces of pizza from each of 16 pizza establishments. This will give the customers a basis for judging the pizzas. If any or all of the pizzas deserve an encore, the customers may go back for all they can eat. In addition, customers will receive free coffee and free tickets for soft drinks.

No one need worry about having to leave during the evening, because each customer will receive a wristband allowing his or her return.

Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park (FLDP), Inc. is a 501(3)(c) non-profit volunteer organization that, in conjunction with the City of Lakewood, manages the Lakewood Dog Park. 

The mission of the Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park is to foster and maintain a safe and friendly atmosphere for dogs and their owners, work together with the surrounding municipalities of Northeastern Ohio to promote positive relationships, and support all aspects of responsible dog ownership.

FLDP supplies the shelters, benches, “clean-up” bags and dispensers, tools, toys, water bowls and seasonal maintenance at the Lakewood Dog Park. The FLDP also maintains the park's web site, Facebook page, email list, in-park bulletin boards and other communication with members and park users. The dog park is owned by the City of Lakewood. 

FLDP 2012 officers were elected on November 30, 2011 and will begin a 1-year term of service on January 1, 2012. They are:

The Cuyahoga County Land Bank has partnered with the International Services Center (ISC) in order to provide housing for refugees settling in Northeast Ohio, starting with a home in Lakewood.

With the help of hundreds of volunteers, Lakewood Charitable Assistance Corp. (LCAC) brightened the Thanksgiving holiday for 312 Lakewood families and seniors. “Thanks to a very successful food drive, many helping hands, and beautiful weather, the Thanksgiving food baskets were delivered without any problems” states Jeff Worron, LCAC President. “Let’s hope the Christmas food drive is just as successful!”

In November and December throughout the United States, including here in Lakewood, the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) sells amaryllis bulbs which bring joy and hope into homes, offices and stores on cold winter days. Proceeds help support the HDSA programs of research, education and family care.

The amaryllis bulb has long been considered to be one of the most spectacular species for indoor growing. These specially cultivated Dutch bulbs delight with their bright colors and their immense blossoms within 6-8 weeks of planting. Blossoms are bright red, deep pink/white, red/white striped or white. Priced at only ten dollars an amaryllis bulb kit consists of bulb, pot and planting soil. These kits come in colorful boxes in cases of sixteen for a total of $160 and are shipped directly to the buyer without extra shipping cost. Smaller orders of $10 each can be purchased by special arrangement. The well-packaged bulbs make low-cost gifts that keep on giving during the holidays.

Looking for Lakewood Ranger gear for all the fans on your list? Visit the Ranger Shop at Lakewood High School where you'll find apparel and gifts for Rangers of every age.

Parkview Playschool, Inc., a cooperative preschool in Lakewood, has scheduled an Open House on Tuesday, January 24 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Offering educational services to three- and four-year-old children, Parkview’s preschool program is unique.

“The difference between a co-op and a traditional preschool comes down to parental involvement,” says Parkview’s Director of fifteen years, Mrs. Patti Finau. “Cooperative preschools are successful because parents can observe and better understand their child’s development, joys and frustrations. Co-ops allow parents be an integral part of their child’s first school experience.”

Christmas Sale on the Grounds always has unique items. Featured are antiques amd collectibles perfect for a one-of-a-kind gift; things that sparkle--a wide variety of ornaments and decorations; greeting cards and gift wrap; nativity sets; linens, serving pieces, cookie plates--everything for holiday entertaining. But this year's sale has a most interesting piece--a 5' tall papier-mache Santa constructed in 1953.

You can spread holiday cheer and make the season a little brighter for homeless cats and dogs. Honor or commemorate your family pet by donating $5 to the CCLAS (Citizens Committee for the Lakewood Animal Shelter) Angel Tree. We will add an ornament with your furry angel’s name and display it at one of our Angel Tree locations.

 Kauffman Park Friends will be the charity of the week when Jammy Buggars, 15625 Detroit Ave., holds its “Pay it Forward Tuesday” on November  22. Come to Jammy Buggars, one of Lakewood’s newest, most popular eateries, mention Kauffman Park Friends, and 15% of the bill will be donated to the organization.

On a sunny October afternoon, a group of sixth and seventh graders converge on Kauffman Park, the city’s centrally located and only basketball court. The boys ride their bikes from opposite ends of Lakewood to play a game that they love. It’s a common sight these days as the youngsters break away from their video games to break bread over basketball and newly formed friendships. This has been a recurring scene during the summer months. Kids playing, making friendships, and building lifelong relationships with others they may have not otherwise met. This is precisely why the Lakewood Outdoor Basketball Committee (LOBC) lobbied for places for kids to play. “Those of us who have benefited from playing outdoor sports in this city have been positively impacted with lifelong friendships, physical fitness, and a sense of community. This was an important part of my childhood in Lakewood,” states Jordan Tadic, co-founder of LOBC.

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services annual "Choo Choo Chow Chow" fundraising campaign is now in its 23rd year! Last year was a record-breaking year thanks to the efforts of our sales associates, managers, department heads, and staff as they raised the most money the company ever has in its history: $617,221 for Children's Free Care! The money raised in each region stays in the area to help assure needy children will not be denied the best medical care available - whether it is to help those without healthcare pay for medical treatment or for cutting-edge care that insurance may not cover.

 Lakewood Charitable Assistance Corp. (LCAC) provides Holiday Food Baskets for 600 needy Lakewood families and seniors each year. Currently, the annual Thanksgiving food drive to fill those baskets is underway at St. Edward High School and several Lakewood City schools. 

Non-perishable cans and boxes can be donated at St. Edward High School, Grant Elementary, Horace Mann Elementary, and Lincoln Elementary schools now through November 17th. Lakewood High School and Harding Middle School have fundraising activities in process to help raise money to pay for perishable food items needed such as turkeys, potatoes, pumpkin pies, and more.

How can you help?

Food donations will be accepted at the schools through Thursday, November 17th. Monetary donations can be made directly to LCAC through the website at www.lcac.info or mailed directly to: LCAC, P.O. Box 771421, Lakewood OH, 44107.

The Far West Center is offering a FREE workshop to anyone in the community interested in gaining more information or having any questions answered about our Help for Mom and Help for Parents Programs!

Now through the end of the year, Lakewood Animal Shelter is offering a crop of beautiful cats, currently in foster care, for a reduced fee of just $20. It’s the best investment you could make toward a happy future with a loving, playful, healthy companion. Can’t you imagine one (or two!) of the following felines fitting right into your household? If so, e-mail the Citizens Committee for the Lakewood Animal Shelter (CCLAS) today at cclasfoster@yahoo.com for an adoption inquiry form.

Santa Claus doesn't get more real than the professional, real bearded Santa Claus that will be on hand for "SANTA PAWS," the annual pre-holiday fundraising event for Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park. 

Burn some ghoulish calories and warm up your Halloween costume Sunday, October 30 at the 7th annual Great Pumpkin Fun Run & 5K Race at Lakewood Park.

The Phoenix Project is a four-year-old new church development of the Presbyterian Church. The church has recently moved from 13351 Madison Avenue to 13613 Detroit Avenue. With a presence on Detroit, the Project hopes to bring its same brand of all-inclusive community outreach to a greater audience. I asked Phoenix Project founder Reverend Meredith White-Zeager about the church and its work in Lakewood.

The Lakewood Animal Shelter has reduced its prices on spayed/neuter cats or kittens. The fees will be reduced to only $15.00 for three weeks only beginning September 13th through September 30, 2011. Each cat or kitten is spayed or neutered, has received initial vaccination, deworming, and flea treatment, and comes with an ID tag collar and a cardboard carrier to go home in!

If you have a K-9 on the end of a leash, everywhere you go these days the fire hydrant buzz is about the Spooky Pooch Parade. 

The Spooky Pooch Parade is the Largest Halloween Dog Parade from coast to coast.

Redheaded Lisa leaned through the drive through window at a Rocky River restaurant and excitedly declared, “I’ve already stopped at Pet People for Lily’s Spooky Pooch Parade costume.” 

Lily, a demur dachshund, is destined to be a festooned bumble bee on Saturday, October 15, 2011 when the parade steps off from 1347 St. Charles Avenue (St. Charles Green)in Lakewood at 2:00pm. 

Jersey is a beautiful long-haired male tuxedo, about 2-years-old. He loves being pet and will even roll over for you to get his belly! His long fur makes him look bigger than he actually is, he's surprisingly light! Jersey is already neutered, has received an initial vaccination, and has been treated with Advantage, so he's ready to go home with you! Jersey, a staff favorite at the Lakewood Animal Shelter, is now available for adoption through CCLAS' foster care program. Interested in meeting Jersey, email CCLASfoster@yahoo.com.

LakewoodAlive’s Main Street™ program will host Heritage Ohio and more than thirty Ohio Main Street directors for a two-day Small Business Marketing Seminar. The event will take place at Lakewood Public Library Main Branch on September 14, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (includes lunch). Lakewood business owners may take advantage of LakewoodAlive’s membership with Heritage Ohio and enjoy a low cost of $15.00 for the seminar. A networking session will be held the following day at the library from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Pedestrian/motor vehicle incidents are a problem, with more than 80 kids being hit by cars in the U.S. every day. Lakewood Early Childhood PTA (LECPTA) is sponsoring its ninth consecutive year with our annual speed awareness program titled Brake 4 Kids™. This program aims to remind drivers to slow down now that school has resumed, by asking residents and businesses (especially those near schools) to post Brake 4 Kids™ tree lawn signs. The City of Lakewood has seen a reduced number of pedestrian/motor vehicle injuries since the inception of Brake 4 Kids™. We believe the Brake 4 Kids™ signs have contributed significantly to this decrease.

The Living Miracles, a peer support and empowerment center, is a neighbor to Lakewood you may not know about. A service for mentally ill folks run completely by other mental health consumers (thus the term “peer support”), it is located at 1581 W. 117th Street (just north of Madison Avenue across from Aldi’s).

If you could build a community from scratch what would your community look like?  Who would be the members of your community and what would you provide for them? 

These were the questions posed to the members of the Lakewood Family Collaborative at their June meeting.  Members were divided into several groups and given wooden building blocks to represent the “building blocks” of a community. As you can imagine, many types of communities were created. 

However, as each group shared their vision with each other it became clear that all of the groups created communities where all of the stakeholders were represented equally. The activity brought forth dialogue about how communities have the potential to be stronger when members of the community work toward acceptance of one another through building relationships. 

Would you know how to help your family and neighbors in the event of a disaster or emergency? The Westshore Regional Community Emergency Response Team (WSC) is offering free classes on topics such as disaster preparedness, basic injury assessment and medical treatment, search and rescue procedures, fire suppression, disaster psychology, and much more. The 20-hour adult FEMA course is conducted by local safety professionals. Westshore residents who are US citizens, successfully complete training and pass a background check are eligible for team membership. 

With funding from United Way of Greater Cleveland, Lakewood Community Services Center is about to launch its first-ever food delivery program to the four senior living complexes in Lakewood. “We pay careful attention to our service statistics,” said Executive Director Trish Rooney. “We saw an upward year over year trend in overall senior numbers, but a reduction in the number of seniors coming to the Center from the Westerly, the South Westerly, Fedor Manor and Lakeshore Towers. We attributed this to two factors: our move from Marlowe put us out of easy walking distance from two of the buildings; and the discontinuation of the RTA Circulator made getting to and from the Center almost impossible for seniors without their own cars.”  With these service statistics and data indicating that most if not all residents live on a fixed income, LCSC talked with the building managers at each apartment to measure interest in a delivery program. The enthusiasm was unanimous. The buildings' service coordinators shared stories of residents who often found themselves very short of food by the end of the month after their monthly Social Security income was expended.

Meet and greet some adoptable greyhounds while tasting some wine at The Furry Nation pet store, 15800 Detroit Avenue, on Tuesday, August 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. The wine will be provided by The Furry Nation, and Erie Shore Greyhound Adoption of Ohio (ESGAO.org) will bring the greyhounds, who recently arrived from Alabama.

This is the first event for ESGAO, an all-volunteer group made up of highly experienced greyhound owners and adoption workers from the Greater Cleveland area. Most of the hounds are between three and four years old, except for Annie who is nine and now lives in a foster home in Lakewood. It is also double-points day for the pet store’s loyalty program.

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give,” said Sir Winston Churchill, and oh, how those words ring true to this day.

On Tuesday August 9, LakewoodAlive and Lakewood New Life Church spent a day with Cranford residents to help beautify the exterior of their homes. A total of eight volunteers worked from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and reached out to six homeowners. Porches were stained and painted, gutters were cleaned, lawns were mowed, weeds were pulled, mulch was laid, and windows were scraped. Equally important as the physical improvements made that day was the bond two local organizations made with the Cranford block. 

Lakewood Charitable Assistance Corporation (LCAC) made their Lakewood Arts Festival debut this year with a booth featuring information about how we serve families here in Lakewood as well a cut out of a turkey that allowed people to have their picture taken as a turkey. Over 100 attendees participated in the Turkey Shoot photo opportunity. To see some of the fun photos and learn more about our organization, please visit our website www.lcac.info.

The LCAC (better known as “the food drive people”) is a 25-year-old organization known throughout Lakewood for the food baskets that are delivered to 600 needy families and seniors over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Each recipient gets all the makings for a complete holiday meal - a 10 pound turkey and all the fixin’s, as well as a week’s supply of food staples. “We just try to make the holidays a little bit brighter for those in need,” explains Dave Rothhaas, Board Member and 20-plus year veteran of the organization.

Twenty-five years of providing health care to the uninsured will be celebrated in grand style as North Coast Health Ministry (NCHM) hosts this year’s Silver Celebration gala auction and dinner on Thursday, September 1, 2011, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Westwood Country Club in Rocky River.

The evening will feature cocktails, dinner and dessert, a live auction and raffles, including a drawing for a Disney Cruise for four or a $4,000 American Express travel voucher – winner’s choice. Drawing winner need not be present. Those interested can enter the Disney Cruise raffle via the following link:http://www.nchealthministry.org/cruise. The Disney Cruise raffle is being sponsored by Fairview and Lakewood hospitals.

When I first joined the LECPTA 4 years ago, I did it because I thought, “Well that’s just what good moms do.” I always had the stereotypical idea in my head that these were the moms that stayed at home, cooked 3 meals a day (really cooked, cereal doesn’t count), kept perfectly clean homes and spent every other second of their day interacting with their children. How did I- who believes that cereal is great for dinner-fit in with these people?

Once again, CCLAS will be participating in the Lakewood Arts Festival by hosting a Bake Sale on August 6 from 10 am to 6 pm. This year we will be partnering with the Citizen Committee for Leashed Dogs in Lakewood Parks. They will lend their baking skills and provide volunteer support at our booth.

We are looking for delicious donations to sell at our booth! If you can donate, here’s a few guideline and suggestions:

Nature’s Bin Annual “Dog Days of Summer” Dog Wash

Calling all dirty dogs! Does your dog smell a little funky? We’ll give Fido or Fife a pampering bath and have your dog sparkling clean! Nature’s Bin in collaboration with CCLAS (Citizens Committee for the Lakewood Animal Shelter) will host their annual “Dog Days of Summer” Dog Wash on Saturday, August 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a rain date of Sunday, August 14.

Friends of the late Joseph P. Veasey need your support to make his dream a reality. On August 13, we will gather for a unique fundraising event at Edgewater Yacht Club.

Joseph (Joe) Veasey, of South Euclid, was one of three good friends in the 2004-05 Scholars and Leaders Program at Miami of Ohio. Joe was an architecture student diagnosed with terminal Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) in August 2006. Before he died, Joe created a scholarship to be awarded annually to a sophomore architecture student with outstanding character. Unfortunately, he passed away before there was enough money to fully endow the scholarship.

Joe’s two buddies, TJ Bittel from Bay Village, and Chris Good of Munroe Falls have picked up where Joe left off. TJ’s solution is to take on the Rev3 Ironman in Sandusky, Ohio on Sept 11. The Ironman challenge requires a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a full marathon of 26.2 miles. On July 16, Chris competed in a 100-mile foot race, the Vermont 100 Endurance Run.

The winning ticket holder of North Coast Health Ministry’s Disney cruise raffle will win a four-night Bahamian cruise plus round-trip airfare for four people OR a $4,000 American Express travel voucher to use whenever, wherever.

The cruise dates will be selected by the winner in the time frame of January through February 2012. Cruise departs from Cape Canaveral, Florida. If the winner selects the $4,000 travel voucher in lieu of the cruise, any destination on any date can be chosen. Second raffle prize is an Apple iPad 2.

Tickets are $25 each, three for $50, or eight for $100 and can be purchased online athttp://www.nchealthministry.org/cruise. Ticket order forms can also be obtained by contacting NCHM Development Director Jeanine Gergel at 216-228-7878 ext. 107 or via email at jgergel@nchealthministry.org.

The StrEat Mobile Bistro restaurant truck pulled into Trinity Lutheran Church's parking lot and set up shop, July 5 at 5pm.  With the 4th of July holiday just over, Trinity had made plans with SMB's co-owner, Michelle Brown, to assist on this hot July day. With the truck outdoors, the Community Room inside was not heated up by a hot kitchen. Trinity members and volunteers from Westpark Schools (coordinated by Haley McDonough) brought pulled pork sandwiches and mac 'n cheese from SMB's truck, enhanced the meal with collard greens and green salad from Trinity Lakewood Community Outreach's garden and served the 62 Community Meal guests at their tables.

On June 15, the Sunrise Rotary Club of Lakewood/Rocky River honored Ginius and Sabine Macys, and Jeff Broestl, for their generous contributions to Rotary and their community.

Mr. and Mrs. Macys opened Breadsmith bakery in 2003. For the past two years, members of the Sunrise Rotary Club have been coming to Breadsmith every Friday to pick up leftover bread. The bread is stored in freezers, and distributed at Thanksgiving and Christmas through the Lakewood Charitable Assistance Program. Sunrise Rotary also makes additional distributions to organizations like the Rocky River Assistance Program and various Lakewood churches throughout the year.