We all know that as the price of gasoline continues to increase, the prices of many other items, including food, are subsequently affected. In an effort to help offset the increasing cost of food for our seniors, beginning in June 2008, Lakewood Senior Health Campus is providing all Independent Living residents who have an apartment with us a FREE daily breakfast meal...

The 11 story apricot brick building on the corner of Ridgewood and Madison Avenues resulted from an idea generated during the committee work for SS. Cyril & Methodious's Diamond Jubilee in 1978. The Chairman of the celebration, George E. Fedor asked a group of the Committee Chairpersons to come to a meeting at the rectory in the spring of 1979 where he told of an idea of constructing an apartment building near the Church that would offer Federally-subsidized housing for those 62 and over...

The Barton Community Center will hold its 2nd Annual Wine and Cheese fundraiser on Thursday, May 22 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Over 100 attended last year’s event and this one promises to be even bigger and better. This indoor/outdoor event is entitled “In Bloom” and will be held at Barton Center’s beautifully landscaped outdoor Courtyard and Flower Garden, and in the adjacent indoor Rotunda and Greenhouse. Entertainment will be provided by the Barton Center Jazz Trio. Festivities will include a top-hat raffle with gift baskets filled with terrific items...

Ursula Randolph was voted by Barton Center members as the 2008 Barton Center ‘Sweetheart’, or Volunteer of the Year. She was honored at a dinner held recently to recognize her 19 years of volunteer service at Barton Community Center. This was the 34th annual ceremony held to recognize Barton Center volunteers and was attended by more than 100 members, including 12 previous award winners...

Cleveland Sight Center launched its first community-based, vision rehabilitation and technology training program, EnVision Independence, in Lakewood last week...

On Thursday, May 17th, at Harding Middle School, my dad, Robert Rice, was honored by being invited to return to conduct "The Harding March" that he wrote many years ago as the school prepares to relocate to the new building.

Barton Community Center recently honored the many volunteers who have assisted the organization during the past year. At a dinner show and a reception held in April, 257 individuals were recognized for having volunteered a total of 21,552 hours at the Center during the previous 12 months. This astounding volunteer total is equivalent to more than 10 full-time employees.

The Barton Community Center will hold a Wine and Cheese fundraiser on Thursday, May 24 from 5:00-7:30 p.m. The event is entitled “In Bloom”, as it will be held at Barton Center’s beautifully landscaped outdoor Courtyard and Flower Garden, and the adjacent indoor Rotunda and Greenhouse. Entertainment will be provided by Lakewood High School’s Four Seasons String Quartet. The event will also include a silent auction and a top-hat raffle.

Laurie Schaffer was voted by Barton Center members as the 2007 Barton Center “Sweetheart” for her extraordinary volunteer work. She was honored at a dinner held on February 22 to recognize her 15 years of service at Barton Community Center. The 33rd annual ceremony held to recognize Barton Center volunteers was attended by more than 100 members, including 15 previous award winners.

The Barton Senior Center rolled-out a full schedule of activities and programs for the New Year. Social activities topped the list with events planned daily. Table-top bowling leagues return on a bi-weekly schedule. BINGO is played every Monday afternoon and two Wednesday evenings per month. A dinner/show event is scheduled for the 3rd Thursday of every month at 5:30 p.m., while a monthly Birthday Lunch with entertainment is slotted for the 4th Friday at noon. Interactive games like Wheel of Fortune and Name That Tune are scheduled on an ongoing basis. In addition, the Barton Center Singers are soliciting new participants.

Barton Center began the holidays with a successful craft and food fair on Saturday November 4, attended by more than 600 people. This annual event, held for more than 40 years, is the Center’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The Fair featured homemade pastries, cakes, pies and candy. Various items made by Barton Center members were sold, including ceramic Christmas trees and figurines, crocheted items and hand crafts; jewelry, antiques and resale items were also popular. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus were also on hand to spread holiday greetings and have their pictures taken with those who are young or young at heart.

Barton Senior Center enters a new and exciting future with a new director on board. Jean Anne Finlin has been named to the position, replacing Charlotte Crews, who served for 11 years and retired in May amid much fanfare.