Hungarian immigrant Theodor Kundtz came to Cleveland at age 21 to work as a cabinetmaker. He soon established his own business producing sewing machine cabinets for White Sewing Machine Co., as well as bicycle wheels, car and truck bodies and church and school interiors.

By 1910, the company employed more than 2,500 workers at its five plants in the Flats and a huge lumberyard between Clifton Boulevard and the railroad tracks, between Manor Park and Giel avenues. Many fellow Hungarian immigrants worked for Kundtz and sought inexpensive housing in Lakewood.

Sadly, tragedy struck close to midnight on May 20, 1920, when the Kundtz Lumberyard burst into flames and burned for two days, leveling an area larger than Lakewood Park. Enterprising developers jumped on the chance to create four new streets of housing on the former lumberyard site: Chase, Bunts, Hathaway and Merle.

What do the twenty roads repaired and resurfaced in 2009, Lakewood public and private school students, and first time homebuyers have in common? They all benefit from the City of Lakewood’s status as an “Entitlement Community.” The federal government bestows this designation annually on a formula basis. One of the principal components of the formula is population. A city must have a population of 50,000 or more persons in order to qualify as an Entitlement Community and the population count is based upon the decennial census report. Lakewood’s total population has decreased by approximately 10,000 persons each of the past three decennial census periods. Lakewood’s 2008 population estimate is 50,704 (source C.W.R.U. NEOCANDO database). Our community is very close to falling below the 50,000 population mark.

What will happen to our Entitlement Community status if Lakewood’s population falls below 50,000? Should the final census report reveal that our population is below 50,000, Lakewood would be eligible for only one more year of full federal entitlement funding. The fund allocation would be decreased by 50% in year two and all funding would cease in year three. This change would affect Title I school funding as well as Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) used for a variety of City initiatives including park improvements, street reconstruction, commercial and vacant property revitalization, childcare scholarship assistance, services for older adults, and low interest loans. CDBG grants also support a number of important programs conducted by community organizations including the Beck Center, Lakewood Christian Service Center, Lakewood Alive, and North Coast Health Ministry.

A letter to Lakewood Board of Education members.

Everyone Counts in Lakewood: The foundation of our American democracy is dependent on fair and equitable representation in Congress. In order to achieve an accurate assessment of the number and location of the people living within the nation’s borders, the U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. The census population totals determine which states gain or lose representation in Congress. It also determines the amount of state and federal funding communities receive over the course of the decade. 2010 Census data will directly affect how more than $4 trillion is allocated to local, state and tribal governments over the next 10 years. In order for this funding allocation to be accomplished fairly and accurately, the goal of the decennial census is to count everybody, count them only once, and count them in the right place. The facts gathered in the census also help shape decisions for the rest of the decade about public health, neighborhood improvements, transportation, education, senior services and much more.

On August 25th, 2009 Matthew C. Carlson, member of the LDS Lakewood Ward Boy Scout Troop 435 and resident of the City of Lakewood, received Scouting's highest rank of Eagle Scout at this Eagle Board of Review. Matt received his Eagle Award on November 29th at the Troop's Court of Awards Ceremony.

Matt is a freshman at Lakewood High School. Throughout his middle school years, Matt was in Concert, Jazz and Competition Band, and currently is a trumpet player in the Lakewood High School Marching Band- which had the honor of playing at the half time for the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas! Matt also participated in the drama club in middle school and played on local teams for soccer, basketball, football, flag-football, lacrosse and baseball. This past August, Matt tried out for and earned a place on the LHS Golf Team. 

Barbara Ann (Nolan) Zubricky (47) passed away suddenly on January 13, 2010.  Barbara was the wife of Scott L., the mother of Rebecca Martin (Jason), Rachel and Joseph Zubricky, daughter of William and Rose Nolan, sister of William, Jeanne Rist and Deboroah Kuzma, and friend to many.  Barbara was a gentle, soft-spoken, loving woman.  She had been the secretary at St. James Parish in Lakewood for 18 years.  Her Liturgy was celebrated at St. James on Monday January 18, 2010 with a crowded Church and several Priests and Deacons on the Altar.  Fr. John Weigand was the Principal Celebrant and he commented on Barbara's qualities, not only as the secretary but as a loving human being.  Barb always made time for everyone before herself.  She was very opposed to the closing of St. James so she bid her final farewell on Monday.  Barb Zubricky will missed by her family and the multitude of people who knew her.    We loved you Barb and continue to love you in your new home called Heaven.

In May 2009, the City of Lakewood chose the Oldest Stone House at Lakewood Park as the first property to be designated a Lakewood Landmark. This honor followed a period of extensive research into the history of the Oldest Stone House - also called the Honam/Hotchkiss House - by Lakewood Historical Society staff and volunteers. The Honam/Hotchkiss House is both historically and architecturally significant. The evolution of the house and its related property reflect the changing settlement and development patterns found throughout Lakewood (formerly Rockport Township).

If you or any of your family or friends received H1N1 vaccinations offered by the Board of Health in the last two months, you saw the Westshore Emergency Response Team in action. Volunteers from Lakewood and surrounding suburbs came out in mass to insure that the vaccination centers operated smoothly and efficiently. The vaccination center at Garfield Middle School on December 13th was a perfect example of the coordination between CERT, police, fire and Lakewood schools.

This month, the start of a brand new year, let’s look at some of the financial strategies a person should consider in 2010.

When it comes to debt, combine a strong offense (grab a mortgage or refinance) with a powerhouse defense (beat back rising credit card rates and fees). Mortgage rates are at historic lows – 5% for 30-year fixed – and home buyers will be able to capitalize on a special tax credit until July. So early 2010 will be a great time to refinance a mortgage or apply for a new home loan. But credit card issuers will continue to turn the screws on customers in 2010, raising rates and hiking or inventing fees. Because the new credit card law taking effect in February will restrict lenders from punishing riskier customers many good-citizen cardholders will be forced to pay more in interest.

Lakewood author John Tidyman hesitates when asked to describe his new book, “Gimme Rewrite, Sweetheart: Tales from the Last Glory Days of Cleveland Newspapers (Gray & Co., Publishers, 254 pp., $24.95).”

“The book is many things,” he said. “Maybe first it’s an informal, oral history of Cleveland newspapering in the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. It’s both eulogy and celebration. Also, Gimme Rewrite is a collection of first-person stories from the people who reported, photographed, and edited at the Cleveland Press and the Plain Dealer.”

And what stories these men and women tell!

A chimpanzee answering the City Desk phone at the Press and then typing. A Plain Dealer chief police reporter promising to beat the tar out of a Cleveland police detective who had threatened one of his reporters. Big Jaw Jackson and Johnny Pot, two fictional characters brought to life by a bored but creative Plain Dealer police reporter. A Press columnist fired for drinking whose next job was selling toilet seat covers in the basement of May’s Department Store. A Plain Dealer sportswriter landing the first punch on Sudden Sam McDowell’s jaw.

The school buildings of Lakewood reflect the changing population of our community over more than 175 years. The demands of the changing demographics of the community led to a building boom in the 1910s and 1920s and to the current restructuring. Throughout Lakewood’s history, the community has always had the best interests of its students in mind when making construction decisions. 

Everyone, from college students to senior citizens, is likely to need the purchasing power that a solid credit record conveys. And if you're married, but all credit is in your spouse's name, you definitely should establish your own credit history.

As the mother of a 6-month-old daughter and as an estate-planning attorney, this is a topic that is very near and dear to my heart. It is also a topic abouth which I am questioned frequently by friends and acquaintances who also have, or are expecting, children. I have heard many bashful confessions that estate planning is something people have thought about doing or know they need to do, but haven’t gotten around to doing. Others believe that they are too young and healthy for anything to happen to them. Some say they cannot afford the expense or the time required, some think they do not have enough property to make it worthwhile, and some are just uncomfortable thinking about and planning for death. While planning for the possibility of your death, incompetence, or disability may be considered akin to getting a root canal (or worse), it is also something that, once completed, can bring peace of mind.

At-Large council candidate Monique Smith sees Lakewood as a kaleidoscope of opportunities and challenges, a community filled with thoughtful citizens and good neighbors. According to Smith, “sometimes [Lakewood’s] outstanding qualities are hidden by the physical decline that has become too large a part of the image of our city.”

The Lakewood Early Childhood PTA held their annual Baby Bargain Bonanza on Saturday, October 3rd at Emerson Elementary School. Doors opened at 9 am, but bargain shoppers started lining up 30 minutes earlier to hunt for extraordinary deals on gently used children’s clothing, accessories, furniture, and toys.

In a perfect world, people could live harmoniously with one another, the weather would be beautiful day after day, and every community would have a park dedicated to the play and exercise of man’s best friend. Fortunately, the city of Lakewood can boast that it does have such a park, which is used year-round by residents of Lakewood, Rocky River, and many other surrounding communities.

Field Commander Lakewood High School Marching Band - Lakewood High School Graduate Class of 1987 - Senior Master Sergeant Jerald Carlton, U.S. Air Force Retired July 24, 2009 

On Friday evening, July 31, Lakewood Hospital will host its fourth annual Starry Night, a patron benefit presented by Signature Sponsor, Regency Construction Services, Inc. The event will be held under the starlit tents on Belle Avenue from 7 to 11 p.m.  A VIP Reception will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. for those purchasing tickets at sponsorship levels and will include participative activities. Proceeds from Starry Night will benefit two worthwhile causes – Lakewood Hospital Diabetes and Endocrine Center and the Lakewood Arts Festival Scholarship Fund. Each year, Starry Night shines a little brighter with this year’s event featuring music from The Bottom Line Band with dancing under the stars, gourmet cuisine, and live and silent auctions of local artists’ interpretations of the theme, Summer Nights…Under the Stars. New this year will feature a wine cork raffle for the opportunity to win a delicious and unique bottle of wine or other fabulous packages. News Anchor and Senior Health Correspondent Monica Robins of WKYC-TV3 will emcee the event. “Once again, I am looking forward to Starry Night,” said Jack Gustin, President of Lakewood Hospital. “Having an opportunity to spend a summer evening with friends and colleagues, all while raising money for two important causes, makes Starry Night the premier event to attend this summer,” continued Gustin.  

Join Puma Yoga as it celebrates its one-year anniversary on Saturday, August 8: all classes will be FREE that day to say thank-you to those who already practice at the studio and to encourage those who are interested in checking the studio out to stop by for a class or two! During the celebration, enjoy complimentary healthy snacks, enter drawings to win prizes, and much more! 

My new life in America began in 1997.  Walking all over Lakewood with my sister and her son became our only entertainment.  We came from Tirana, the capital city of Albania, where nearly all the people walked or rode bicycles.  The streets were always crowded and everyone was well dressed even for a trip to the grocery store.  However, my walks in Lakewood, Ohio became a cultural shock experience.

The rigorous and demanding Komen’s Breast Cancer 3 Day has been bringing breast cancer survivors and their friends and family together for twenty-five years. Komen’s Breast Cancer 3 Day has only been in Cleveland for three years, but Cleveland’s leading breast cancer awareness team has been championing the cause from its home base right here in Lakewood since January 2002.

Cottage of Flowers owners and professional partiers John and Tina Russell celebrated the Summer Solstice with friends, family and neighbors on Sunday, June 21st, hosting a Solstice party at their Lakewood residence. In the spirit of the solstice, partiers were challenged to reconstruct Stone Hedge. While the building project was tinted with classic American competitive cheer, Tina Russell and others speculated that the ancient builders of Stone Hedge lacked the proper calibration of mead and imagination necessary to evoke individual artistic expression on each stone arch. The evocative powers of mead on partier creativity are evidenced in the diversity of each stone arch. Note to the reader: the "stones" in the above image are cardboard boxes painted gray. Rumor has it that these boxes were lifted by pagan Boxcutters (the modern, backyard equivalent of the ancient Stonecutters) from local flower shops.

Lakewood High School alumna Zoe Elaine Lukens completed her college career last month with a flourish. On May 17 she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin and the previous evening was admitted to the Wisconsin Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society in an initiation ceremony on campus.

Ms. Lukens majored in Anthropology and minored in African studies and French, having studied a semester in Senegal. She will return to campus this fall for an Honor Semester. A 2005 graduate of Lakewood High, she is the daughter of Thomas and Nancy Lukens of Clifton Blvd. in Lakewood.

POSTAGE INCREASE:  Starting May 11, 2009 the new price of postage will be 44 cents.  This is a two cent rate increase over the current rate. Any questions please contact the USPS Website for further information. 

FOREVER STAMPS:  There still seems to be some confusion when it comes to the usage of the Forever Stamp.  The Forever Stamp is the stamp with the brown Liberty Bell on it.  The Forever Stamp will cover the price of whatever the current rate of postage is.  For example, if you put a Forever Stamp on a letter and you bought the stamp at the 42 cent rate, when the new price goes into effect, the Forever Stamp will assume the current price of the postage which will be 44 cents.  There is no need to add a two cent postage stamp.

FOOD DRIVE: Saturday May 9, 2009, the Post Office is having its annual food drive.  Your carriers will be delivering the information cards to your home the week of the food drive.  Please place items by the mailboxes so the carriers can easily see them.  All donations go to help the Cleveland and surrounding area food banks.  The food banks need everyone’s help to get the food levels back up.  If everyone just donates one item, it would be a record breaking year!!  Thank You in advance.

The signs of spring are all around us: longer days, milder weather, and flowers peeking up through the soft ground. Spring also brings to mind enjoying the outdoors and the beautiful parks in Lakewood.

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.

“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” That’s what Abraham Lincoln once said. And according to new research from the University of Miami, it turns out that he’s right. There really is power in positive thinking!

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.

Don’t eat carbs, don’t skip breakfast, don’t ingest anything after 6 p.m. With all of the diet advice, tips and tricks available these days, how do you know which ones to follow? Take a look at these top ten diet myths and learn how to separate fact from fiction.

Myth #1: Cut the Carbs – The anti-carb craze has women tossing out bread and pasta from coast to coast. Some are even losing weight. But is no-carb really the best way to go? Carbs are necessary to produce energy, not to mention that carbs provide fiber to aid digestion. And if you’re headed to the gym, you need some healthy carbs (fruit or oatmeal) to fuel your workout.

Myth #2: Don’t Skip Breakfast – While it is important to eat something in the morning, you don’t have to head for the kitchen as soon as you crawl out of bed. Just be sure to eat something within the first two hours of waking up. Yogurt or a piece of fruit will do the trick.

Myth #3: Milk is for Kids – Worries over the fat in dairy may have you running away from milk products. Unfortunately, a lack of dairy means that you’ll also miss out on calcium and Vitamin D, both of which are needed for strong bones and prevention of osteoarthritis. So, instead of ditching dairy altogether, trade in your high-fat milk products for their low-fat counterparts.

Myth #4: Buy Fat-Free – Just because a food claims to be “fat free” doesn’t mean that it’s low in calories. Also, remember that our bodies need fat. The key is to get the right kind of fat. Monounsaturated fats that are found in almonds, olive oil, and avocados can actually help reduce the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood.

Myth # 5: Stay Off the Scale – Sorry, girls, you really do need to weigh yourself to keep tabs on your health. Check-in on a weekly basis to keep track of your progress. And keep in mind that the numbers on the scale aren’t everything. Compare those numbers with how you feel in your clothes and the muscle mass that you build from your workouts.

Myth # 6: Counting Calories is Enough – Sure, nutrition is important, but you’ll never achieve maximum results without adding exercise to the mix. Jazzercise Founder and CEO Judi Sheppard Missett recommends a combination of cardiovascular exercise, which burns calories, alongside strength training, which increases your muscle mass and stokes your metabolism.

Myth # 7: Go Vegetarian – In your pursuit to drop a few pounds, ditching an entire food group may not be the wisest choice. However, if you have decided that going veggie is the right course of action for you, then be sure to keep your diet balanced. By cutting out meat, you’ll need to get iron elsewhere, such as kidney beans, black beans, and baked potatoes.

Myth # 8: Stop Snacking – It’s okay to snack. It’s just not okay to snack on the wrong foods! A piece of fruit or a handful of nuts between meals may actually help you from getting too hungry and diving into the bread basket at dinner.

Myth # 9: Don’t Eat at Night – A late-night steak may give you indigestion, but it won’t destroy your diet. What matters is the number of calories that you eat overall throughout the day.

Myth # 10: Nix the Sweets – It’s okay to have dessert. In fact, eating a small portion of dessert now may actually keep you from downing an entire bag of M & M’s if you’re feeling deprived later.

As the economic downturn grows worse for millions of Americans, Lakewoodites on the forefront of the collapse must bear the rising costs of healthcare while maintaining employment. From the young to the old, from the historic streets of bird town to the vast acreage of Lake Avenue, one issue remains the same: the rising cost of healthcare. Municipalities and state governments must endure the rising cost of healthcare while trying to deliver essential public service.  

Jeanine Gergel, director of development at the non-profit North Coast Health Ministry, has seen a spike in patients entering the Detroit Avenue clinic. “In 2008, NCHM served 2,236 unduplicated patients, representing an increase of over 20% from 2007 when we served 1,856 patients. Forty-two percent of our patients are Lakewood residents,” says Gergel.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Health is offering free home inspections and repairs to eligible Lakewood residents looking to remove lead hazards from their homes. Up to $10,000 in grant assistance is available to income qualified homeowners and tenants who have children ages 5 and under. Those children must reside or spend significant time in the home.

 

Keynesian economics is a macroeconomic theory based on the ideas of 20th-century British economist John Maynard Keynes. This theory suggests that adjusting tax rates and government spending are the best ways to stimulate the demand for goods and services in the economy. According to Keynes, you can stimulate the economy by cutting taxes and so, in theory, people will buy more stuff which helps get the economy going and creates jobs. Or, alternatively, government spending can stimulate aggregate demand and so create jobs. (Unlike the current chairperson of the Republican National Committee, Keynes did not recognize a distinction between “work” and “job”).

An interesting question is what stimulates the economy more?—tax cuts or additional government expenditures? This question has recently been addressed by Moody’s Analytics, a part of Moody’s Corporation. Moody’s is probably best known for its investor service which is a credit rating agency. To be a big credit rating agency you have to be designated as a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization, one of the few organizations recognized by the Security and Exchange Commission to assign ratings for regulatory purposes.

Recently Moody’s published its estimates of how much stimulus you get for a buck. How much does $1 of across-the-board tax cuts stimulate the economy? ($1.03); How much does $1 of spending on infrastructure stimulate the economy? ($1.59) How much does $1 spent on extending unemployment insurance stimulate the economy? ($1.64) How much does $1 spent on making Bush tax cuts permanent? ($0.29) or make Bush dividend and capital gains tax cuts permanent? ($0.37) Temporary increase in food stamps? ($1.73); aid to states? ($1.36) And the favorite of the conservative Heritage Foundation, “accelerated depreciation?” ($0.27).*

So in summary, according to the nationally respected and non-political Moody’s, an increase in food stamps is 68% more stimulative than an across-the-board tax cut and almost 500% more than extending the Bush tax cuts. I like the infrastructure option. While this is only about 450% more stimulative than extending the Bush tax cuts, rather than 500%, you actually get some infrastructure—in the spirit of the inner belt bridge being a good thing. The infrastructure question leads us to consider: Should we just consider short-term stimulus or should we think more long-term? Perhaps Keynesian economics is different from Viagra: is longer than 4 hours actually a good thing? Some suggest (again not Keynes) that $1 spent on tax cuts is not actually spending as tax cuts imply we are “keeping our own money.” But seldom in the same breath do we hear “it’s our own road, school, military, or financial system.” Such words might be too socialist—or too patriotic.

*Source: Zandi, Mark, 2009, The Economic Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act http://www.Economy.Com/Mark-Zandi/Documents/Economic_Stimulus_House_Plan_012109.Pdf, (Moody's Economy.com)

John Goodell is an assistant professor of finance at the University of Akron.
He is expressing his views in a personal capacity

Are you tired of receiving the advertisement inserts in your mail box each week?

Throughout the last few months, the students of Calvary Community School have been working with a playwright to create an evening of entertainment and fun. The students have helped to write, choreograph and star in their own production. It is a one of a kind event and the entire community is invited to attend.

Cost: Free

Where: Calvary Community School & United Methodist Church

When: Friday, February 20th at 7pm

Please call 216-221-4324 for more information. www.calvarycommunityschool.com

In his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther King Jr. imagined a future in which racial equality would exist. He said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”[1] In the wake of what has been quickly considered the most historic presidential election of our time, those words appear to have acheived fruition.

When asked to respond to Barack Obama’s assumption of the presidency, members of the predominantly Black congregation of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Warrensville, Ohio subscribed unanimously to the realization of King’s prophecy. 

Cox Communications announced today it will increase High Speed Internet speeds by 33-percent for its Premier Service customers. The increase in download speed is at no additional charge.   Customers who choose Cox High Speed Internet’s Premier service will see their base speeds increase from 15Mbps to 20Mbps on December 3.  Cox Business Home Office Premier customers will also experience these enhanced speeds.  Residential and home office users can access even higher speeds – up to 25Mbps – thanks to PowerBoost® technology.  Customers will get this speed increase automatically, without the need for a call or technician visit.

Once again, the Lakewood United Methodist Church (15700 Detroit Ave.) in conjunction with the United Methodist East Ohio Conference, and the American Indian Intertribal Association, is hosting a Christmas feast and party for Greater Cleveland area Native American children and their families.

This event will be held from noon until about 4 p.m. on December 20th at the church. This bring-a-dish event is being held for the second year at the Lakewood church facility. Children will be receiving gifts, along with experiencing the traditions of a Native American cultural celebration.

Did you know that play is imperative to your child’s growth and development? Research says that play helps children develop the capacity to understand themselves and others, as well as help them to solve problems, and regulate their own emotions and behavior. On top of all of that, it helps make reading and writing more fun!

Learn Through Play, a program funded through Cuyahoga County's “Help Me Grow” and facilitated by The City of Lakewood, Department of Human Services Early Childhood, provides the perfect environment to play and learn at the same time. It is geared for all stages of children up to age 8. Whether you are a mom, dad, grandparent, or home care provider, Learn Through Play is here as your "classroom." Your child will just be having fun as they discover art, creative play, math, science, language, and stories. But you will be happy knowing that your child is developing strong literacy skills and tools for school success in a friendly and informal setting.