The Board of Education at its Feb. 16 meeting voted to amend the Lakewood City Schools Master Facilities Plan to include renovating the eastern half of Lakewood High School, rebuilding Roosevelt Elementary and rebuilding or renovating Lincoln Elementary. That decision would mean that Grant Elementary would be closed as part of the third and final phase of the plan.

The plan for the 10-year rebuilding of our school district required modification due to the State of Ohio’s revision of its original plan to help fund seven elementary schools in our district. When the district was notified that due to continued declining enrollment it will only be given funding for six schools, a decision had to be made whether to fund a seventh school with taxpayer money.

The decision came after a year-long process that included 9-months of work by a citizens’ Phase III Steering Committee. The Board formed the committee in January 2009 to study how the Schools should proceed with Phase III of the district’s facilities plan. The committee worked through February and March to prepare for its first public forum in April 2009. Most people attending the forum agreed that the school district should proceed with six rather than seven elementary schools.

 

In 2009, the City of Lakewood launched the first phase of a new initiative to collect delinquent income taxes. This first phase, a one-time income tax amnesty program was implemented to ensure that every taxpayer is aware of and contributing to the funding of city services (police, fire, street maintenance, waste collection, etc). Many took advantage of this opportunity to “wipe the slate clean” and from July 21, 2009 until September 30, 2009, the City of Lakewood collected $567,000 in delinquent tax dollars and processed 2,200 delinquent tax returns.

The second phase of the City of Lakewood’s tax compliance initiative will be a more thorough identification of noncompliant taxpayers.  A recently formed partnership with the City of Cleveland and the Central Collection Agency (CCA) allows the Income Tax Division access to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax records. This increases the City of Lakewood’s ability to identify taxpayers who did not file and/or pay the proper city income tax. Identified delinquent taxpayers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Lakewood Income Tax Ordinance and be held responsible for all penalties and interest levied against any outstanding tax balance(s).

There is still time for taxpayers to file delinquent tax returns before the second phase is instituted in early 2010. The Lakewood Municipal Income Tax Division is located at 12805 Detroit Avenue in the City Hall Annex Building on the corner of Detroit and Alameda Avenue. No appointment is necessary. The Income Tax Division will assist with free Lakewood tax return preparation or assistance during regular business hours, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

The Division can address any questions or concerns in person, by phone at (216) 529-6620, or by email at taxdept@lakewoodoh.net during their regular business hours. Frequently asked questions, additional information, and/or tax forms are available on our website at www.onelakewood.com.

The City of Lakewood has been awarded $50,000 from NOACA’s Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative Program to undertake a study of strategies to improve the pedestrian access, traffic movement and the streetscape on the eastern end of Madison Avenue.

“We are pleased to be receiving these funds from NOACA to study the eastern end of Madison Avenue,” stated Mayor Ed FitzGerald. “The Detroit Avenue Streetscape study has been a great development tool the past couple years, and we look forward to seeing similar results on Madison Avenue.”

The City of Lakewood applied to the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) for the funds in October of 2009, competing against other communities throughout Northeast Ohio. NOACA distributes federal transportation dollars throughout the five county region, including funds for transportation planning activities that promote sustainable development and economic development. It is the same source of funds that funded the Detroit Avenue Streetscape Plan.

At last weeks Council Meeting Councilwoman Nickie Antonio asked City Hall to give a communications update on the current status of bringing Lakewood a "Shopper Day" bus service. Mayor Fitzgerald who has been leading the effort to press RTA in restoring the Lakewood circulator services was not in attendance. Nate Kelly of Planning and Development reported a contract was issued to RTA by the City the week before and they expect an answer by the end of this week.

The contract asks for the Shopper Day to be run on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The route will be the same as the former RTA Community Circulator route, which makes a circle around Lakewood's entire Detroit and Madison Avenues, includes W. 117th St. and The Gold Coast to the far east of town, and Sloane Ave to the far west. As W. 117th St. coverage also benefits the City of Cleveland, City Hall negotiated with the City of Cleveland to share the cost of the $15,000 required by RTA to provide the service. The City of Cleveland is asking that the route include Giant Eagle and Target on W. 117th St., which was not part of the former Lakewood Circulator route.

Citywide, residents continue to invest in their homes. From fresh paint to new kitchens, proper maintenance and valuable upgrades improve property values and quality of life. In challenging economic times, it can be more difficult to finance the larger improvements, especially in recent months where equity lines of credit and second mortgage loans are harder to secure.

The City of Lakewood’s Division of Community Development is bridging the gap to make it easier for home owners to continue to improve their properties by offering low interest home improvement loans to its residents. The City of Lakewood’s Division of Community Development offers a variety of programs to help Lakewood property owners maintain their homes. The Low Interest Home Improvement Loan Program is available to qualified Lakewood residents and rental property owners at low, affordable interest rates.

Council President Kevin Butler (Ward I) called the February 16 meeting of Council to order at 7:40 P.M. Even though this meeting was taking place at the same time as the much anticipated School Board meeting, in which they would vote and decide which elementary school to close, there was a sizable audience at City Hall.

In the Spring of 2009, after collecting hundreds of signatures of support, a group of concerned Lakewood residents formed the Citizens Committee to Allow Leashed Dogs in Lakewood Parks. The Citizens Committee has been working with Lakewood City Council in the development of a new ordinance that would allow families and individuals with dogs to utilize the paved paths within Lakewood city parks while protecting the cleanliness and order of our city parks.

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.

All events are free and open to the public.

If you are in 5th through 8th grade and you think, you even SUSPECT that you might have some of the powers of a hero, then it is imperative that you call Lakewood Public Library Children’s and Youth Services. We will have a seven week program to recruit and train demi-gods for our Camp Half Blood Program. Percy and Annabeth cannot complete every quest by themselves. Next time it might be you travelling across the country in search of monsters, titans and those who have betrayed the gods and the mortal world. (If none of this makes sense to you, perhaps you should check out the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, which begins with The Lightning Thief). If you indeed are chosen for a quest, you will need to know extensive amounts of history of mythology as well as general knowledge. You will need to have sharp skills, the ability to combat dangerous threats and to communicate with your troops. You certainly won’t develop these abilities in your mortal day school! The program will begin on Wednesday March 17 at which time we will try to determine from which god or goddess you have descended and which latent super-human powers you may possess as a result of your lineage. From there, trainees will be put to the test through games, challenges and activities. It won’t be easy, to be sure, but hopefully you’ll have some fun training with your fellow heroes!

If you interested in registering, stop by the Children’s and Youth Services  Department  or call 227-8275 ext. 140. The program runs from March 17 to May 5 from 7-8:30.  There will be no session on April 7.

Spring is just around the corner and so is prom season. Prom is an exciting time for teen girls; they can dress like a princess and be pampered. Unfortunately prom can also be a stressful time due to financial concerns. This year the Lakewood Public Library would like to help Northeast Ohio’s teen girls with their prom wardrobe. From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 20, 2010, the Children’s and Youth Services Department will hold their first ever prom program: “Everything But Your Prince.” Teens will be able to browse a selection of gently used dresses, shoes, and accessories for their prom and leave the library with a free prom wardrobe.  Library staff will be available to help teens with the selection process and the first 100 teens will receive a complimentary gift bag donated by Carabel Beauty Salon in Lakewood. 

If you are interested in donating dresses, shoes, or accessories please contact the Children’s and Youth Services Department at (216) 226-8275 x 140.

Parvovirus, an incredibly contagious infection that causes diarrhea and vomiting until death, is a sad reality for dogs that become infected, since it is preventable through vaccine. For most dogs and cats, a disease-free lifestyle is as easy as kitten or puppy shots (usually three rounds every three weeks), and a yearly booster thereafter. Some of these infectious diseases can be life threatening. A majority of the common diseases can be prevented by vaccination. Rabies, distemper and kennel cough are examples of deadly diseases that can be easily avoided just by keeping vaccines up to date.  Local pet stores, such as PETCO and Pet Supplies Plus, offer low cost clinics once a month with no appointments necessary.  Or, visit Luvmypet.com for local clinic locations. Vaccinations also help prevent the spread of diseases to other pets in the family or neighborhood. After spaying and neutering, vaccinations are the next step for responsible pet owners for ensuring their furry family members have a happy and healthy life.

Students at seven Lakewood elementary schools jumped at the chance to fight heart disease and stroke, our nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers. On February 6 at Lakewood High School in the East Gym students from Emerson, Grant, Harrison, Hayes, Horace Mann, Lincoln and Roosevelt held their 12th annual Jump Rope For Heart event. Students jumped rope to raise funds for the American Heart Association, which funds cardiovascular disease research and public and professional education programs. In the last 10 years, the Lakewood Schools have raised almost $100,000 for the American Heart Association. Jump Rope For Heart is co-sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Joining the students to cheer them on were mascots Sully from Lake Erie Monsters hockey team, Stomper from Lake Erie Crushers baseball team.

On February third my oldest daughter Mattie Liston signed an NCAA National Letter of Intent to accept an Ohio University athletic scholarship. She will be competing to become Ohio's starting women's soccer goalkeeper next fall, as Ohio has two graduating seniors this year.

A few weeks ago, we received word that we had been presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. We were 11 of 120 students throughout the country who had been invited to a concert featuring artists and music of the civil rights movement at the White House. We didn’t want to get our hopes up because the prospect was so crazy, but after a few weeks of scrambling and planning, Mr. Joseph Lobozzo, Ms. Alisa Nazelli, Celia Lamb, CaNada Tate-Griffin, Sarah Speice, Khadijah Baker, Adrienne Mahone, Mckenzie Stenger, Chelsea Stenger, Seth Baker, Jamil Thomas, Kristian Hila and I were on an airplane, headed to Washington D.C.

We got this opportunity through a nationwide program with which we’re involved called Facing History and Ourselves, which focuses on teaching students about history and issues of the world today and encouraging them to make their voices heard. They chose our group because of our program at Lakewood High School called RAD, Race and Diversity, which holds meetings every other week to discuss racial and other social issues in our community and throughout the world. Our group included the founders of RAD, as well as current leaders of the group. When we first heard the news, we didn’t know if we would be able to make it happen at such short notice, but thanks to a generous donation from the Lakewood Alumni Foundation, we were able to take care of the financial side of it. Mr. Lobozzo booked our flights, a hotel, and other transportation plans, and we left Monday, February 8th.

After 105 years of service to students and families in Lakewood, Cleveland, and other nearby westside suburbs, SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic School will be closing its doors at the end of the '09/'10 school year. With the news of the closing of this Blue Ribbon School, 102 students, 55% of which are Lakewood residents, and nine educators will disperse in search of a new school to call their own. The small staff will likely pursue positions as teachers in other Catholic Schools.

Principal Bistak reflected on the news saying, "To close SS Cyril & Methodius Catholic School is a misfortune for the community and families that we have served. We did not fail the students and families but became victims of lower student population, poor economic times, changing demographics, job losses, and the ever changing demand for the funding needed for a private school.  All of the families that we have served over the years enjoyed the small school setting that was offered at our school. This aspect will be missed."

In a gesture illustrating the small school environment for which SS Cyril & Methodius is so well known, an all school event for students, their families and of course the teachers, is being planned in conjunction with the closing. 

Last Tuesday night, the community came together at the School Board’s regular meeting to ask one final time to hear real criteria from the School Board to support their decision concerning which schools to keep open. We were searching for, hoping for, real criteria addressing Lakewood’s students’ educational needs now and in the future. This is after all, the mission the School Board is tasked with.

Instead, this is what we got.

Most of the citizens gathered were there because they had heard that the School Board was going to close Grant. At least the Board can respect the community’s needs and desires enough to explain themselves. Citizens speak eloquently during the Communications portion of the meeting, giving different examples of how Grant meets all known criteria. They ask that the best decision be made for the future of all of Lakewood’s children. Whatever your decision is, they say, please explain it to us so we can continue to have faith in the Board Members who we have elected and whose salaries we pay, to do their best for the future of our children.

President Shaughnessy thanks the community for their comments, and says she’s listened to all of them. This is the only response to any of the community's questions. She begins reading the Resolution that will declare which schools they will vote on keeping. As people realize this, the atmosphere in the room becomes more interesting.

Board Member Matt Markling tries to put on the brakes, asking why a vote is being taken after only one reading of a resolution, a resolution without NAMES filled in stating which schools will stay open. President Shaughnessy tells him she will fill them in herself, in a minute, as she reads the resolution, right before they vote.

A letter to Lakewood Board of Education members.

Dear Lakewood School Board,

On February 16th the Lakewood Board of Education voted 4 to 1 in favor of a resolution to modify Phase III of the district’s Master Facilities Plan. The revised plan identifies only Roosevelt, Lincoln and the completion of Lakewood High School. As a result of declining enrollment projections, the Ohio School Facilities Commission has allocated state funding assistance for not more than six elementary buildings. All indications are that Grant Elementary will be decommissioned once the final phase of construction is complete. Leading up to the vote, concerned citizens organized to get their message out: keeping Grant school is the best option for our students, a sentiment echoed in letters, phone calls and public comments to the Board. Despite these efforts, those members voting in favor of the resolution provided no explanation or rationale for their decision at the time of the vote.

In previous meetings there had been limited discussion of the thought process behind this eventual school closing. At a special session in December, Ed Favre shared his analysis of dangerous crossings throughout the city and his concern for student safety, which his vote now seems to contradict. He later acknowledged that this decision is a “moving target” that requires some “tough crystal ball thinking.” During a discussion earlier this month, President, Betsy Shaughnessy read in a prepared statement that, “This school district has worked hard to develop a strong relationship with the citizens who support us and violation of that trust would do us great harm.” Mrs. Shaughnessy also cited information from the September Community Forum, whose results were found to be so questionable that the Phase III Committee leaders declined to make them a part of their recommendation, instead asking the Board to research the data themselves. At the same meeting, Linda Beebe surprised many by proposing that the Grant site be considered as a potential location for a recreation center, following comments that would have led most to believe that she was leaning towards keeping Grant in service. John Kamkutis’ comments have been most mysterious, leaving us to wonder.

Now that the January snow is behind us, it’s time to join in the anything-but-frosty tradition of “Wining” about winter. LakewoodAlive’s second annual fundraiser, Wine About Winter is set for Saturday, March 6th from 7 to 9:30PM. Come join your friends downtown at Rozi’s Wine House for a wonderful way to find warmth in the cold – wine tasting!

This year your passport will feature EIGHT wines from around the world:

Time is limited, and so is money. You want healthy eating to be a priority, but how to achieve it? Eat Well Lakewood is a program designed to help you answer that question.

It’s about 8:00 on Monday night. The place is Bela Dubby, located at 13321 Madison Ave. and it’s packed to the brim. You grab yourself a cup of coffee or a bottle from a very nice selection of micro-brews and pull up a seat.

On Saturday, March 13, LakewoodAlive will join with the real estate community to showcase homes for sale within a 10-minute walk of Lakewood’s revitalized downtown district. Residences for sale within a half-mile of downtown will be open for viewing from 1pm-5pm. Participating properties can be found at www.lakewoodopen.com beginning in mid-February.

Art Mone has lived at Crestmont North Nursing Facility for almost five years. When Art moved to Crestmont North at age 101 I was amazed to learn that he didn't need eyeglasses to read the fine print of the newspaper. He continues to amaze me because still does not need them at age 106! On Friday, February 5th Art celebrated his 106th birthday in fine fashion. Many local businesses contributed to help make the event very special for Art. 

It HAD BEEN a great meal. Outside the restaurant window, the day was slowly slipping away, as the azure skies gradually turned to amber, in the fading away of a perfect afternoon.

Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry’s Westhaven Youth Shelter and Youth Re-Entry Program have combined to form Next Step. The programs merged in order to provide a continuum of care to better serve vulnerable youth in Cleveland. Next Step will ultimately provide older youth, who are without a home or a stable living environment, with shelter care and independent living. Plans are underway to also provide transitional housing in the near future. Next Step will ensure that youth who are hurting and forgotten do not fall through the cracks and miss out on services they so desperately need. In addition to meeting the basic needs of housing, food and clothing, these gender-specific services also include counseling, independent-living skills and job placement.

I’m a little confused as to what the fuss is all about. Turn to one news channel and you’re likely to hear all about violent racists who hate immigrants, are against aid to the poor, and want to secede from the nation. Turn to another, and you’ll hear talk about a sweeping movement of patriots who are trying to restore honor and sanity to the system. Ask one person and they’re heroes, ask another, they’re villains. I guess tea is no longer just a drink with jam and bread (and yes, I realize I’m losing credibility by using a Sound of Music reference).

Had Bret Callentine ("Logic Derailed" 2/9/2010) done even a minimal amount of homework before commenting on the proposed 3C railroad service from Cleveland to Cincinnati, he would have known that the State of Ohio did not "all of a sudden" come up with the plan for this project just because federal stimulus money became available. In fact, the Ohio Rail Development Commission, some members of the legislature, and groups such as the Ohio Rail Passengers Association have for decades been promoting and planning for the restoration of rail passenger service on the 3C Corridor. Since the Ohio General Assembly has not provided a funding source for this and other non-highway transportation projects, the 3C detailed planning and implementation could not proceed until this new source of money became available.

Father Duke at S.S. Cyril & Methodius has been here over thirty years. He has given us faith, trust, and understanding. Yes, we have even felt his wrath when we did something stupid, but he always understood.

Remember when we were kids, if we saw a priest, it was always “Good morning” or “Good afternoon Father” and that was it. With Father Duke, parents, children, and grandchildren give him a hug when he does something special, which is very often.

I met Father Duke when he was six or seven years old. He was such a quiet, shy little boy and so very sweet.  His sister Carol and I were best friends in grade school and high school, which was upstairs at St. Francis.  Sometimes he would walk to school with us.

One of my hobbies is studying medicine. That sounds funny, I know, but I love to study human anatomy and physiology as a pastime. I am fascinated by the structure and function, and even the pathology, of the human body. It is not as if I have a plethora of free time, but I would rather read an article on endocrinology in JAMA than watch a sitcom on NBC. Strange? Yes, but it is also fun!

Lakewood Earth & Food Community (LEAF) will be holding its 2010 Open House on Sunday, March 14th from 2:00 to 5:00 at the main branch of the Lakewood Public Library in the Multipurpose Room. This is your opportunity to get information and ask questions about LEAF programs. There will be representatives from our educational series, bulk buying, community gardening and our Community Supported Agriculture programs (CSA).

You may be eligible for free insulation!

Through the HOUSEWARMING program, you may be eligible for free insulation and other energy conservation measures. These conservation measures are designed to promote energy efficiency and may include**:

Pets are big business here in the United States - according to the Humane Society there were over 77 million owned dogs and over 93 million owned cats, and people spent over $40 billion on them (and other pets) in 2009 alone, on things from food to waste disposal, from medical care to toys and bedding. So, how do you make sure that your pet spending is the best it can be and help your pet to live a greener life?

Did you make a New Year's resolution for 2010? How’s that going for you? Feeling motivated, or have you fallen off the resolution wagon? According to Dorothy.com, each year about 1 in 4 adults make New Year's resolutions and out of those only about 6% keep them. It really isn’t too surprising, since so many who resolve to make a change (whether to quit smoking, lose weight, work out more, or be happier) haven’t prepared themselves to break their deeply instilled habits. Going cold turkey rarely, if ever, works.

Thanks to their work with the nonprofit Facing History & Ourselves, a group of 11 Lakewood High students and their teachers spent three days in Washington, D.C., this week as a select audience of high school students from across the country who participated in a workshop on Feb. 10 at the White House on the impact of music from the civil rights movement.

The students were invited by the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, which co-produced for PBS a three-day event in the nation’s capital that culminates with a live concert on Feb. 10 hosted by President and Mrs. Obama: “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music From the Civil Rights Movement” with performers such as Natalie Cole, Bob Dylan, John Legend and Smokey Robinson.

The producers have surrounded the event, which is in honor of Black History Month, with educational events that include the workshop LHS students attended. Former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame educational director and current Grammy Museum executive director Bob Santelli and Motown legend Smokey Robinson led the workshop, which was introduced by First Lady Michelle Obama. Singers John Mellencamp and John Legend were scheduled to perform civil rights era songs for the students.

With city officials and community leaders in its corner, the Lakewood Board of Education at its Feb. 1 meeting unanimously voted to send a request to the county to place a 6.9 mill operating levy on the May 4 ballot. It will be the first new operating levy on the Lakewood ballot since 2002 and will cost taxpayers just under $18 per month for every $100,000 of home value. Heading up the campaign effort will be co-chairs Mayor Ed FitzGerald and City Councilman and former school Board member Michael Summers.

“Great cities have great schools, value them, invest in them, and benefit mightily from them. Our investment is paying huge dividends, we would make a serious mistake to go into reverse. We would undo all that we have accomplished,” said Summers.

The Mayor pledged to offer his support in any way that he can, noting that strong cities only exist with strong school systems. “There is no city in the country that is thriving that doesn’t have a thriving public school district,” Mayor FitzGerald said at a joint Board of Education/City Council meeting held Jan. 25.

 

Our second son, Nevan, would not be with us today without the benefits of congenital heart disease research and education. Without going into great detail, Nevan was born with multiple heart defects which resulted in numerous surgeries - the success of which would not have been possible without research and education in pediatric cardiology. While congenital heart disease is the number one birth defect in all children, a surprisingly scarce amount of resources are dedicated toward the research and education of this pediatric disease. On February 25, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. we will be attending the Jordan’s Family Foundation’s 5th Annual Charity Wine & Beer Tasting at Rozi’s Wine House, and we invite you to join us.

Kara Goeller and Corey Rossen, whose second daughter, Jordan, was also born with a heart defect, have been instrumental in raising funds to increase research and education dedicated exclusively toward congenital heart diseases. Their funding is raised through the Jordan’s Family Foundation, which is one of Lakewood’s premier 501(c)(3) non-profit charities and was recently named a member of the United Way as a designated charity for Health and Human Services. The Jordan’s Family Foundation is nationally renowned for its fundraising efforts from our very own Lakewood. The 5th Annual Charity Wine & Beer Tasting is just one of those events, but your help is needed.

On February 1, 50 guests gathered at Lakewood Catholic Academy to dedicate the school’s library as The Saint Augustine Library. The ceremony honored the extraordinary service of a group of volunteers who have worked for the past four years to organize, develop, and automate the school’s 15,000 volume library. The group merged the collections of the school libraries of St. Clement, St. James, and St. Luke when LCA opened in 2005 in the former St. Augustine Academy.

Led by Francine Andrews, retired librarian at Saint Ignatius High School, almost 20 volunteers worked on the project. Mrs. Andrews and several of the volunteers are graduates of St. Augustine Academy. To acknowledge their remarkable gift to LCA, Mrs. Andrews and her volunteers were asked to choose a name for the library. The group chose The Saint Augustine Library to honor their alma mater and the legacy of the school that became the new home of Lakewood Catholic Academy. A bronze plaque was unveiled at the ceremony and will be hung outside the main library doors. Rev. Francis P. Walsh, pastor of St. Luke Parish, gave the blessing.

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.