Pulse Of The City

The LHS Alumni Band Again Takes The Field!

One of the best memories I have of my 1960's Lakewood High School experience is that of participating in the drumline for the Lakewood High School Ranger Marching Band. Lakewood Schools have an excellent tradition of inculcating outstanding musical talent, and that was nowhere more evident than in that drumline.

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Volume 5, Issue 19, Posted 9:31 PM, 09.23.2009

A Different Perspective

I’ve had the honor and privilege to be involved with the Phase 3 Building Facilities Committee. I have seen many dedicated community members take time out of their busy schedules to participate in the process of identifying the best possible ways to move forward with the completion of the rebuilding of our schools. The City of Lakewood is so very fortunate to have so many citizens who care enough to be involved in the process.  

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Volume 5, Issue 16, Posted 11:33 AM, 08.26.2009

A Fond Farewell...For Now...

Well, it's that time of life again for me. Time for a change. I'm planning to retire from column writing for awhile.

My first column for this paper appeared in the May 2nd, 2006 issue, and it concerned my growing up in Lakewood. Since that time, I've written about 80 articles or columns for the Lakewood Observer, and it's been a wild ride indeed. As this is now the 100th issue, I think that it's only appropriate that we pause for reflection.

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Volume 5, Issue 13, Posted 10:40 AM, 07.01.2009

Ken Warren- Lakewood's Legendary Librarian

 

Ken likes to use big words...extraordinarily big words.

Ken has an effervescent love of English vocabulary, drawn from his being surrounded by the great writings of the past and present.

Words are some of the most effective tools available in the transmission of ideas, but it's important to remember that words, like the letters that comprise their substance, are only symbols reflective of elusive and sublime ideas.

Ken always had lots of those words. Except for now.

It's hard sometimes to come up with words when emotions take their place. You see, the present magnificent Lakewood Library and its expansive array of services available to Lakewood residents are due, in no small part, to the ebullient and effusively persuasive talents of Director Ken Warren.

Polysyllabic prose aside, Lakewood Library Director Kenneth Warren is retiring this summer, after twenty-five years at the helm of the Lakewood Public Library system. 

 

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Volume 5, Issue 12, Posted 8:16 AM, 06.19.2009

So Why Are You Still Single? Those Among Us Who Are Different...

Perhaps you've heard of the recent tale about that great single lady from Scotland who surprised judges at a recent contest with her outstanding singing talent? She came on stage, simply dressed and without pretensions, and captivated the world with those talents in spite of people's preconceptions and the numerous adversities in her life.

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Volume 5, Issue 11, Posted 7:00 PM, 06.03.2009

Mother's Flower Of Love

This column appeared in its original form last year, but so many people seemed to appreciate it that I thought I might run it here for you again, in celebration of Mother's Day.

I'll be the first one to admit it. I'm no gardener. Too many allergies interfered with those "magic outdoor moments" that everyone else seemed to have during their childhood years.

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Volume 5, Issue 9, Posted 5:36 PM, 05.06.2009

1969-2009 The Calm Before The Storm

Last year, I wrote a column looking back on 1968 Lakewood. I suppose, in a great many ways, that year set the stage for many of the changes and upheavals that marked 1969.

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Volume 5, Issue 8, Posted 8:27 PM, 04.21.2009

Did They Hate Me? Confessions Of A Former Rocker...

It's not easy getting into the world of music when you are young. First, your parents have to decide to let you HAVE an instrument, as well as deciding to give you lessons.(Hopefully!) If you are really lucky, you get to have the instrument of YOUR choice, and you find an encouraging teacher to work with. Even then, the start up process is often slow and time consuming. The lure of the slumber party, or the baseball game, will often conspire to turn you away from the practice of scales and songs. Additionally and eventually, you find, (often to your horror) that you must demonstrate your newly found musical skills in front of PEOPLE! This can induce severe emotional trauma, but, like a good laxative, is supposed to be good for you at some point in your life.

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Volume 5, Issue 7, Posted 6:05 AM, 04.08.2009

A Tale Of Two Churches... (Or, The Church Across The Street)

With apologies to Mr. Charles Dickens, I will again adapt one of his titles to the pulse of this city; with a discussion of two Lakewood churches that are situated just across the street from one another- down on Detroit Avenue's western end of Lakewood.

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Volume 5, Issue 6, Posted 3:27 PM, 03.26.2009

Paper Or Plastic...The Garbage Issue

The problem with trash is not unique to our country, but the sheer numbers of the American population (300 million plus people) combined with the ubiquitous convenience packaging and disposal habits that Americans have been used to, have melded into a perfect nightmare of difficulty for communities across America. It used to be in places like Lakewood that one disposed of one's own trash out in the backyard. Anything not burned was either buried or simply dropped down into the old outhouse pit. In fact, a great many objects of American life were unintentionally dropped into outhouse pits. These days, excavators periodically come across the remains of old trash dumps and outhouse holes when they commence digging around in urban areas. Everything from bits of china, to old bottles, to pearl-handled revolvers have inadvertently dropped down those drafty outhouses, as those in a hurry to finish their business, did so. Of course, the nasty biological stuff is likely long gone, having decomposed back into the nutrients from whence it came. Not always so, the stuff made by the hand of humankind.

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Volume 5, Issue 5, Posted 10:54 PM, 03.11.2009

How You Can Shoot Better Pictures... "Develop" Your Inner Photojournalist!

Those of you who have read my columns regularly know that I've had a variety of interests over the years. I've been involved in the world of music since childhood, playing with different groups, and teaching private lessons. As time went on, I've worked in retail music operations, repaired instruments, and eventually became involved with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's guitar collection as "Guitar Guy Gary". I've also been a school teacher, retiring from that profession in 2005, as well as having been a writer - both for you, and for my own enjoyment, with prose, poetry, and songs.

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Volume 5, Issue 4, Posted 6:24 AM, 02.28.2009

As Ye Do Unto The Least Of These... The Homeless Among Us

On January 24th, a number of Lakewood's youth once again took to the streets in a homeless awareness sleepout to raise resources for the needful among us. For the past five years, this has been an ongoing project of two of our area churches--Lakewood Congregational and Pilgrim/St. Paul Lutheran.

While this activity has indeed been a wonderful gesture of sacrifice and caring, as a community and a nation we all would probably do well to look at the issues of homelessness and poverty from an even wider perspective.

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Volume 5, Issue 3, Posted 9:15 PM, 02.10.2009

If You Seek His Monument, Look Around You... Freemasonry in Lakewood

More accurately, "Lector, si monumentum requiris, Circumspice" are some of the words inscribed upon the tomb of Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723), arguably one of England's best-known architects and scientific minds. Wren helped to rebuild London after the Great Fire and designed fifty-three London houses of worship, including St. Paul's Cathedral. He is also believed by many to have been a Freemason.

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Volume 5, Issue 2, Posted 11:23 PM, 01.27.2009

The Little Church On The Hill by Gary Rice

OK, in the interest of honesty, St. Barbara Catholic Church on Dennison is technically not on a hill. The fact is, it LOOKS that way, as you drive by it on the Jennings Freeway that comprises part of State Route 176; as that highway slices through and over the Flats' western banks, and past the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland.

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Volume 5, Issue 1, Posted 10:16 AM, 01.14.2009

The Rock Hall, and Les Paul!

I finally met Les Paul. Dad did too.

Of all the luminaries in the world of the guitar that I had hoped to meet, Les Paul was the one I'd wanted to meet the most. Ever since I was a young lad in the Pennsylvania hills, the music of Les Paul and Mary Ford had resonated from our radios and phonographs. Their sound-on-sound, multi-tracked recordings could literally take your breath away.

As far as I'm concerned, of all the world's guitarists, Les is the king. What he did for the guitar, and for the world of music, is truly beyond measurement.

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Volume 4, Issue 25, Posted 8:56 PM, 11.15.2008

Jim Tigue- Lakewood Woodworker Extraordinaire!

These days, as our fingers fly over these ubiquitous computer keyboards, it's hard to realize that not too long ago the pen and the pencil were the principal vehicles of communication in this world. Then, the typewriters came along, and personal writing instruments began to bow to technology. After WWII, the ink pen was improved with ball-point, and later, gel technology- but by the 1980's, computers were eclipsing the pens and typewriters, running them off the map. Nowadays, those small hand-held text-messaging devices and electric memo pads would seem to make handwriting virtually obsolete...
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Volume 4, Issue 23, Posted 8:29 PM, 10.23.2008

Fight On, Lakewood High! (Or Was That "Fly On"?) The Amazing Story Of The NC-4!

Each year about this time, I start to think about the veterans of our armed forces who have done more for our country than most of us may ever realize. November 11th, of course, marks the traditional Veterans Day celebration in communities across our land. Lakewood area veterans will meet at the memorial in Lakewood Park at 11 a.m. on that day to honor those who have served our nation in uniform over the years...
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Volume 4, Issue 22, Posted 8:02 AM, 10.16.2008

Governor Palin Attends Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at Michael T. George Center

On October 10th, Alaska Governor and Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Michael T. George Center for Community Living in North Olmsted. This facility, operated by Welcome House, will be serving senior individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities...
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Volume 4, Issue 22, Posted 8:58 PM, 10.13.2008

Real Supernatural Acts- A Halloween Story For Our Times...

By now, I imagine all of you are sick of hearing those political points of view. Left or right, up or down, one way or another, in a few short days it will all be over...at least for the time being. One way or the other, I suspect that our country will survive. In the midst of all the turmoil and ill will during this political season, I thought it might not be a bad idea to write a column about people who put aside their differences for the common, greater good...
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Volume 4, Issue 21, Posted 8:55 AM, 09.17.2008

Garfield School and H20 Program Host 12th Annual Veterans' Program

Mr Mark Walter, Principal of Garfield Middle School, has informed me that on November 10th, from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., area veterans and their families, or surviving family members, are invited to attend a breakfast and recognition ceremony at Lakewood's new Garfield Middle School (13114 Detroit Ave.)
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Volume 4, Issue 21, Posted 10:58 AM, 10.03.2008

Musical Bloodlines? In YOUR Blood too!

A few years ago, I was doing my usual hike through one of our local flea markets with a friend who shares my love of music. As we were talking, I wondered whether he had ever heard of my grandfather, who had been an old-time fiddler. My friend acted as if he had been hit by a thunderbolt, and said that not only had he HEARD of my grandfather, but he had his records as well! Thanks to my friend, I found out many things concerning a grandfather whom I'd never met...
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Volume 4, Issue 20, Posted 8:33 PM, 03.20.2008

How I Spent My Summer Vacations... The Tale Of Mother's Golden Lunch Box

How many of you have written one of these types of essays on your first day back to school? For that matter (and let's be truthful here) how many of you still get that special feeling when you hear those ubiquitous words "Back to School" annually? But I digress. One column topic at a time...
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Volume 4, Issue 19, Posted 8:12 AM, 09.03.2008

1908-2008 We've Made Progress! (Haven't we?)

A hundred years represents a substantial chunk of time, at least to me. But my 88-year-old father feels that his own lifetime has flown by in the blink of an eye. However you might look at time, I think most of us would agree the past hundred years have been a time of utterly dynamic change--both for Lakewood and for the world...
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Volume 4, Issue 18, Posted 10:09 PM, 08.13.2008

Those Among Us-Young Lakewood Chivalry In Action, The Order of DeMolay

About seven hundred years ago, in the Middle Ages, there was once a powerful group called the Knights Templar. That organization was responsible to no one except the Pope. The Templars, in a great many ways, were very much a law unto themselves. At the same time, they were an order of warriors, and an order of religious men bound by a solemn rule--and to the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience...
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Volume 4, Issue 17, Posted 11:32 PM, 07.15.2008

Skippy's Story- What Happened After The Lamp Post...

In the first column that I wrote for this paper, back in May of 2006, I told about part of my traumatic experience moving from our Pennsylvania home to Lakewood back in 1958. As an only-child country boy, that was a difficult transition, to be sure... but there was even more to that story than made it into print. I guess with any story, there always is...
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Volume 4, Issue 16, Posted 3:38 PM, 07.24.2008

Just Another Dog-goned Column...

When I was a Political Science major in college, there were frequent discussions about the world of politics generally, and running for office, particularly. I seem to recall that there were at least two topics virtually guaranteed to be off-limits (if handled in a negative way) for anyone wanting to get elected to any kind of office. One was cats, and the other was dogs...
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Volume 4, Issue 15, Posted 2:06 PM, 07.07.2008

Dr. Richard Dutro- Lakewood Educator, Dachau Liberator

Dr. Richard Dutro's life is one that has been filled with the rich experiences of helping other people, particularly in Lakewood's educational community.

Dr. Dutro served the Lakewood Public Schools as an elementary teacher, a remedial reading specialist, and a principal of two elementary buildings at the same time! He was also Lakewood City School District's first Coordinator of Language Arts. Dr. Dutro completed his professional administrative career as Lakewood's Director of Elementary Education before retiring in 1991. Additionally, he has served as President of the Ohio Reading Teachers' Association and has worked at Baldwin Wallace College to help train future teachers...
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Volume 4, Issue 14, Posted 1:00 PM, 06.20.2008

"Scouts Can Do Anything!" Those Among Us- Mr. Robert Lees

Although this column was written prior to the tragic events of June 11th, I'd like to dedicate this work to those who recently lost their lives in the tragedy at Little Sioux, as well as to their leaders and the other Scout survivors. Heroes all...

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Volume 4, Issue 13, Posted 6:39 PM, 05.22.2008

Those Among Us- Fridrich Moving and Storage

I would suspect there are few Lakewood businesses with the longevity, not to mention the utterly fascinating heritage, of Fridrich Moving and Storage.

The Fridrich family has been well-known in Cleveland business circles for well over a hundred years. According to Mike Fridrich, president of Fridrich Moving and Storage, one branch of the family (George) started the Fridrich bicycle business over on Lorain Avenue, while another (William) went into the moving and storage business...

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Volume 4, Issue 12, Posted 8:42 PM, 05.09.2008

Thoughts About Mother's Day...

When we were children, dreams flooded our imaginations as to whether one day we might become famous, successful, and/or perhaps hugely contribute to the betterment of the human race. As young people, we looked around and dreamed of doing things and going places that our elders (we thought) had never dreamed of. Of course, with the passage of time, and as our dreams became new realities, we hopefully did achieve some of our goals, while others were left at the gate of life...
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Volume 4, Issue 10, Posted 8:32 PM, 03.20.2008

Death in the Home? Only A Breath Away...

OK, so the house gas bills were high. Everything's going up, right? That's just the way it is...or so I thought. Little did I know that Dad and I could have died just a couple of weeks ago...
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Volume 4, Issue 9, Posted 4:09 PM, 04.13.2008

Stones of Life- Lakewood's Fossils and Arrowheads

From the time I was a little one, I've had a fascination with rocks of all kinds. I suppose that fascination could have carried forward to my involvement in the world of rock and roll, but that might be making a real stretch...
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Volume 4, Issue 8, Posted 10:38 AM, 04.03.2008

To Everything, There Is A Season... 1968-2008

To me, these words, opening the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, sum up much of the 1960's. Of course, I was less of a Bible student than a musician, so the Byrds' cover of Pete Seeger's song, "Turn, Turn, Turn," gave me that most poignant vision of Biblical expressions concerning those times.

For those of us who lived through the turbulent days of 1968 in Lakewood, it was a time for coming of age...

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Volume 4, Issue 7, Posted 8:56 AM, 03.01.2008

The Mothers' Flower of Love

I'll be the first one to admit it. I'm no gardener. Too many allergies interfered with those "magic outdoor moments" that everyone else seemed to have during their childhood years.

I did take Horticulture in high school. I even tried to raise orchids for awhile. Having no sense of smell, I could not, for the life of me, figure out why the family had trouble with the fish emulsion fertilizer that I used to grow them with. In addition, at night my orchids needed to be in a completely dark environment. The least little streams of light and no blooms would come forth! Before long, those orchids went the way of so many other diversions of the past, as did my interest in cultivating green things...

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Volume 4, Issue 6, Posted 10:58 PM, 10.31.2007

A Tale Of Two Diners

With apologies to Charles Dickens, this story could also carry the title of his story about two cities, because our story today does, in fact, involve the two cities of Lakewood and Cleveland...
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Volume 4, Issue 5, Posted 9:07 AM, 02.25.2008

Sometimes, All It Takes Is A Phone Call...Heroes and Heroines

Did you ever stop and think about all the people who've inspired you over the years? These people plant little seeds of encouragement in your soul, and before you know it, those little seeds start to develop into fresh ideas of their own...
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Volume 4, Issue 4, Posted 11:36 PM, 11.13.2007

Lakewood's Wild and (Usually) Wonderful Weather!

Okay, so we're not Miami Beach, and yes, I'm (hopefully) not in denial, and yes, I do "get it." Still, I will make an unabashed claim that Lakewood's weather is one of the best "weathers" around, at least here in Cuyahoga County...
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Volume 4, Issue 3, Posted 7:45 PM, 12.30.2007

Those Marvelous Mini and Micro Cars

When I was a teenager, a friend of mine pulled up into our driveway with a very unusual car. It was called a King Midget, and had been made right here in Ohio! King Midgets were made continually from 1946 to 1970, and they were certainly head-turners wherever they went...
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Volume 4, Issue 2, Posted 8:30 PM, 12.04.2007

The Leap Of Faith--Not Silver Or Gold...

The cold clammy plastic oxygen tent covering my frail undersized body distorted my view of the quiet, antiseptic hospital room. The soft plastic see-through walls of the tent made the outside world appear like a funhouse to my scared little eyes. Close by, my mother, father, and a clergyman conferred in subdued tones. I'd just experienced a surgery on my throat...
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Volume 3, Issue 25, Posted 7:54 PM, 11.29.2007

The Classical Spanish Guitar and the Torch of Change

This column is derived from a guitar article I wrote for a music-related publication a few years ago. As I happened across the original writing, it occurred to me that there was a message within that could be applied to the Lakewood world, as we consider the dialectic between old and new, tradition and technology, and passing the torch of change in our beautiful city...
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Volume 3, Issue 24, Posted 12:07 PM, 11.10.2007

Memories...

Well, it's that time again...the second half of November. Like a perennial tidal wave, this time keeps coming back, nearly drowning me in a wave of sorrow.
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Volume 3, Issue 23, Posted 11:00 PM, 10.16.2007

Veterans Day...and Two Shells from Hell

On the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, the First World War officially came to a close. Fortunately for America, our participation in that world-wide conflict spanned a relatively short period of time. Still, it was enough to tip the balance of power in favor of victory for the Allies.
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Volume 3, Issue 22, Posted 11:17 PM, 10.13.2007

The Exceptional Grace

Those of you who've been reading my columns for any length of time are certainly aware of my thoughts concerning a great many things. Like everyone else in this world, I'm a big mixed-up hodgepodge of opinions. At times, I've probably leaned a little to the left, and at others, a little to the right. Like many if not most Americans, my opinions may seem, at times, to be inconsistent and devoid of conclusions.
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Volume 3, Issue 19, Posted 3:33 PM, 09.04.2007

The LHS Alumni Band: A Lakewood High Tradition!

One of the best memories I have of my 1960's Lakewood High School experience is that of participating in the drumline for the Lakewood High School Ranger Marching Band. Lakewood Schools have an excellent tradition of inculcating outstanding musical talent, and that was nowhere more evident than in that drumline.
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Volume 3, Issue 18, Posted 11:49 PM, 08.16.2007

Educator's Music - A Lakewood Institution

I was crawling around, and over, musical instruments practically from the moment of my birth. Dad was a professional musician, and a band and orchestra director. In addition, he was a piano technician, and bought and sold instruments back in our hometown in Pennsylvania. I'd often tag along while Dad and Mom went to some church or other to work on the church's instruments.
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Volume 3, Issue 17, Posted 8:20 AM, 06.11.2007

Historical Objects Raise Complex Questions

Ever go to a flea market or a yard sale? These are fantastic places to find a virtual cornucopia of items you won't see at the local mall. I've been a history buff ever since my childhood. Once in awhile at one of these sales, an object pops up that directly relates to my historical interests. At that point, it usually goes home with me.
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Volume 3, Issue 16, Posted 7:45 PM, 05.16.2007

What's A Kid To Do?

There's no doubt about it. The Lakewood Observer Project has been a fantastic way to promote all that's good about our fair city. Those of us who write for this paper are acutely aware of our responsibility to show our town in a positive light.
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Volume 3, Issue 15, Posted 8:25 PM, 07.12.2007

The Gray Men of the Greenwood

As dawn's sunlight speared the high forest at Little Mountain, it caught the curling trails of smoke from numerous campfires in a surreal visage of earlier times. As the light began to spread through the forest, silhouettes of stained canvas and butternut pyramids began to emerge from the mist. From these open tent flaps, groggy men and boys emerged from their bivouacs to begin the business of the day... and the business of the day was war.
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Volume 3, Issue 14, Posted 10:02 PM, 05.14.2007

Those Among Us: Lakewood's Veterans Of Foreign Wars

I went to the public meeting of Lakewood VFW Post 10646's installation of officers on Thursday, May 3rd. I was there at the invitation of my good friend and Post member Harvey Streitel. They meet monthly at the Lakewood Senior Center at 16024 Madison at Northland Avenue.
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Volume 3, Issue 10, Posted 8:36 AM, 05.04.2007

The Pulse of the City - There but for the Grace of God...

By the time you read this, the images of that troubled young man with those two black guns will finally have faded into the background.

Funerals for those victims of the Virginia Tech massacre will probably all have been held, and we will have moved forward; resolving to do better, to be more aware, to remember the fallen...

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Volume 3, Issue 9, Posted 6:00 AM, 04.20.2007

It's Just Not Fair!

The time? About 1956. The place? The family's combined music and play room. The lesson learned? Well, not about music, at least not this time.

The general facts of the case are fairly straightforward, although I'll take a bit of journalistic license with the particulars, as 51-year-old memories tend to fade somewhat.

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Volume 3, Issue 8, Posted 2:30 PM, 03.13.2007

The Pulse of the City - Bring Back (Some of) the Classics

After living fifty-five years, I've had the opportunity to see quite a few strange things come and go. Many of the fads that we grew up with now reside only in our memories. With the annual holiday onslaught of new fads, computers, and electronic gadgetry now behind us, I thought it might be fun to think about the "classics." That is, stuff that never goes out of style.
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Volume 3, Issue 7, Posted 10:10 AM, 02.20.07
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