April 28, 2008, 7 p.m., Garfield School.

First, I would like to thank Superintendent Estrop for making this wonderful new facility available to us this evening. Garfield School is a perfect example of what Lakewood can achieve when we work together, and it is particularly compelling because this building is a blend of the new and the old Lakewood.

I would also like to thank Council President Mike Dever and all of the members of Lakewood City Council for their attendance here this evening. Lakewood is fortunate to have an excellent City Council, and I say that not just because they have been supportive of my efforts in the first 100 days. Although, I would not say it is often or as loudly if they hadn't been. But, I say it because they have an oversight function, which I respect, and which they have exercised in these 100 days, and our local government is the better for it.

Starting this summer Lakewood residents should see more police officers on the streets and in the parks thanks to a public safety initiative Mayor Edward FitzGerald and Police Chief Timothy Malley unveiled during a public meeting on April 23...

Health Services Shifting to County Agency

In a busy week for council, historic action was taken at the regular Monday meeting and the presentation of the Public Safety Initiative was heard at the committee of the whole on Wednesday.

Michael Dever is starting to imprint his style on meetings with a signature opening. In this case it was “Good evening. I’m Michael Dever, President of Lakewood City Council. Welcome to the April 21, 2008 meeting.” In the past, an abrupt, “the meeting will come to order,” usually served as a public salutation...

Read any issue of the Lakewood Observer and you’ll find many articles promoting races, runs, walks and community festivals. Add to that a calendar packed with high school sporting events in one of the region’s best stadiums and you have the recipe for an active, vibrant community...

On Wednesday April 23rd, 2008 the Lakewood Police Department received a request for assistance from the Cleveland Office of the ATF. A 33yr old Lakewood man had been electronically corresponding with a juvenile in Indiana. The two were planning to commit a shooting incident at an Indiana school...

This is the 20th year for the Lakewood Historical Society's popular Sale on the Grounds, held at the historic Nicholson House, 13335 Detroit. Throughout the year, society volunteers collect, sort and price donations from the community for this annual fundraiser, and the huge variety of merchandise runs the gamut from antiques and architectural salvage to hats, handbags and housewares...

Saturday, May 3 marks a significant day in eco-conscious shopping as GreenSmartGifts, an earth-friendly shop, will open in Lakewood. Located at 14534 Detroit Avenue, directly across from Lakewood Hospital, the shop will promote “living green and giving green”...

Derby Day is the theme for the Church of the Ascension’s 2nd annual Night at the Races charity event to be held Friday, May 2. Doors open at 6 p.m. at the church, 13216 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. A silent auction is also part of the festivities. Beverages and food will be available. Proceeds assist in funding the ministries provided to the community by the church. More information is available by calling the church office at 216-521-8727

Matthew and Kathleen Markling are proud to announce the arrival of Lakewood's newest resident. Ian Matthew Markling was born on April 8, 2008, at 5:39 p.m., weighing in at 8 pounds, 14 ounces and 19.5 inches in length. Declan and Nevan are very excited to have another brother. The Markling Family is proud to call Lakewood Home.

On Wednesday, April 16th Lakewood Public Library employee Dan Slife joined attorney Thomas Corrigan and former world traveler turned substitute teacher Paul Dalalau to judge this year's student poetry contest at St. Cyril & Methodius School...

Living in Ohio, it’s hard to overlook our state’s strong connection to the Underground Railroad. Placards abound in hundreds of towns, dedicated to folks who broke the law and opened up their homes to runaway slaves. And yet, for all the trees in this forest, it’s difficult for us to appreciate the breadth and depth of this secret social network...

“When I’m in my uniform, people are always assuming I’m a flight attendant,” says pilot and Lakewoodite Lynda Meeks. “Many people are surprised when I tell them that I am a professional pilot. Most people don’t know that women have been flying since 1910, and there are more and more girls getting their pilots’ licenses every day.”..

When playing jazz the term “playing in the pocket” refers to playing perfectly in time. It has also been described as an almost spiritual experience where musicians are taken to a place where they allow the music to take control. Find out what being in the pocket is all about when Duo in the Pocket performs for Lakewood Public Library’s “Sunday with the Friends” series on Sunday, May 4 at 2 p.m. in the auditorium. The program is free and open to the public...

On April 5th the Lakewood High School East Cafeteria and Civic Auditorium were teaming with hundreds of fitness and bodybuilding enthusiasts. The "2008 Vyotech Nutritional NPC Natural Ohio Drug Tested Bodybuilding and Figure Championships" received a record number of fans. Hundreds filed into the East Cafeteria for the fitness expo and to buy tickets for the bodybuilding and figure contest...

Like many of his fellow students at Lakewood High School, Olliver Petkac has long been fascinated with the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of the natural world. “Collecting gemstones, fossils, and rocks has been a hobby of his since we can remember,” according to Olliver’s parents. So when students in Olliver’s ninth-grade accelerated geophysics course were given an assignment to create a science project requiring original research, Olliver didn’t think twice about which topic to choose for his project...

As Observer readers know, Main Street Lakewood is a volunteer-based organization. From streetscape design to events like Light Up Lakewood, Band2Gether and Walk+Roll Lakewood, to working with City Hall to encourage investment in our downtown, resident volunteers make it all happen. On Thursday, April 19, four students from Lakewood High School’s freshman class came by to help collate material for Main Street Lakewood’s first-ever merchant membership drive...

In 1968, Robert Lawther was serving as Mayor of Lakewood and singing tenor in the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. Frustrated by the lengthy commute required to sing on the East Side, Lawther became determined to form a chorus of equal quality and professionalism closer to home...

Here’s a little math problem: Train A leaves its station in New York heading west for Denver, Colorado. Shortly thereafter, Train B leaves a station in Chicago, also heading for Denver. Train A has 144 cars and travels at 70 miles per hour; Train B has 163 cars but only travels at 65 miles per hour. If both trains are scheduled to arrive in Denver at the exact same time, will either train survive the impending collision, and if so, will either have the ability to continue on the single track that heads toward Washington, D.C.?

In response to the response: Seems like I hit a nerve with my thoughts on healthcare, I guess that means that someone is actually reading this column. First let me say that I do and will read any and all responses sent to me...

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...

China is a magical place filled with over 20 ethnic groups, 11 provinces, 10+ different dialects of the Chinese language, amazing food, and great personality. I have traveled all across this wonderful country and experienced things that some people can never understand without coming to do it themselves...

It can’t get any better than this. (Hillary vs. Barak) vs. John. These guys are our best, right? Well, lets take a look...

The year was 1912. The sidewalks were crowded with ladies wearing skirts and dresses and gentlemen wearing button-down shirts and dress pants. Back then, women and men would often wear fancy clothes. You would rarely ever see an automobile and if you did, it would most likely be a Model T. Amongst the crowded streets and sidewalks there was one young gentleman with a potential career in art and he decided that he would create a pottery company...

A hip, youth-oriented rock concert series, Band2gether, will feature the sounds of talented local musicians of middle school and high school age. This free, outdoor youth concert series, which kicks off this Summer in Lakewood, is expected to draw many people downtown and to give Lakewood’s young musicians an opportunity to showcase themselves...

Beck Center for the Arts presents My Favorite Year, a good old-fashioned musical comedy written by Joseph Dougherty with music and lyrics by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, on the Mackey Main Stage, May 16 through June 8, 2008. Based on the 1982 hit film starring Peter O’Toole, My Favorite Year is a nostalgic look at the early days of television, capturing all of the comedy and drama of “live” TV...

A local family foundation has issued a challenge grant to the Beck Center for the Arts: the foundation will match dollar-for-dollar every contribution the Beck Center receives – up to $35,000 – from individuals in the community. The Beck Center for the Arts is a non-profit, performing arts organization which for over 75 years has been dedicated to enriching the quality of life for the West Shore community, offering professional theatrical productions with curriculum-based education in creative arts therapies, dance, music, theater, and visual arts...

Grass lawns have their benefits: the soil provides a home for worms and insects, which then provide delicious meals to birds; they can prevent soil erosion, filter contaminants, and absorb airborne pollutants; they clean the air as they convert carbon dioxide to oxygen. But, before you get out the hose to start watering your lawn for the warmer months, consider the fact that many households use more water outside in the summer than they do for everything else during the rest of the year...

Keep Lakewood Beautiful, which has been striving to improve the environment of Lakewood for over 25 years, held its annual Leaf Humus & Perennial Sale Fundraiser last Friday at the Old Stone House...

Here are some photos from the April 25th Arbor Day celebration at Lakewood park.

For those of you who have never had lunch at the Hylander you'll have no idea what this article is about. Those of you who have been there will smile and think "Oh yeah, those guys are always there. " Every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday ( Tuesday they are all at Kiwanis ) you can find an eclectic group of men from noon until one having lunch together...

SAFTEY TIP: With spring here already, it is easy to get caught up in the atmosphere of warm sunny days. We let the kids out, the pets run and everyone is out planting, walking, playing, and driving about. Along with all these good things can come some dangers if precautions are not taken. For example, pets and children need to be watched and prevented from straying into the street where motorists, includiing postal delivery vehicles, are traveling...

You want to get the most profit from an investment and your home, as one of the biggest investments you make, is no exception. In this Buyer’s market, recent sales show that homes are selling, but are taking longer to sell and selling at a lower price than comparable homes a few years ago. This is great for those buying homes, but more challenging for home sellers...

John West owned 700 acres just south of Rockport. His land ultimately became known as “West’s Park” because of his installation of many beautiful plantings, a man-made lake and manicured lawns...

What do the experts say about the housing market in 2008?