Life With Kenny

Photos of my time spent with one of my best friends Kenneth Warren, Director of the Lakewood Public Library, Co-Founder of the Lakewood Observer, and the wisest person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

(click photo to enlarge)

  • The LO's first threatening letter! Ken showing me how they handle threatening letters at the library!
  • Lakewood Library Director Kenneth Warren pays his dues.
  • Ken Warren with a Pinnochio Doll that was auctioned off/
  • Ken Warren knows all the good berry patches in town.
  • Here we hit the blackberry bushes. Well that is before a guy nearby chased us, wanting to sell us baskets so that we could pick our own. Seems he felt they were his, because he was in the closest apartment.
  • Many a nights Ken and I would head into Birdtown, the Snake Pit, or other areas to touch base with the residents. Talk with them and the so called thugs in the neighborhoods. More time than not, we found good people that just needed a little conversation to understand the idea of community and neighborhood. Here we found an abandoned bicycle.
  • If you know Ken, and he trusted you, and liked you, then you know who this young lad is.
  • Ken's Library Board, who would of thought by morning one would...
  • Ken Warren in his book sale apron. One of his real joys was working with Friends of the Library on their book sale. Here he speaks with Daniel Slife.
  • We took many field trips with various groups. This was founders night out, as we creepy crawled Cain Park at about 2am. We had been checking out Havard and Lee until midnight and headed to Cain Park.
  • Ken had found the Schreckengost brick. The great artist died days later.
  • Here is Ken in front of the old library. Pl,aying was Cats On Holiday (Lite). Ken loved music, and really loved working with local bands.
  • Here Ken Warren, the music critic from Alternative Press gets down with some of the locals.
  • After another night running around, checking out the "bad neighborhoods" as we knew they were the real deal, the ones that were living with life and the times, we ran into Charles. Here Ken talks with Charles about his choice of bus shelters to live in and why.
  • Another night on the streets late. In this photo Ken wears the colors of The Lakewood Observers.
  • Ken at the skins, the night of the Library Gala. He was really having fun, none of realized that he had already given his notice of quiting, and why.
  • Ken gives me a tour of "Arthurs weed patch" er I mean his vegetable garden at home. For a person that is an organized as Ken, to see this always made me smile.
  • During another of the hundreds of field trips Ken ponders the nutrtional value of Goo-Goo Clusters, as opposed to Mars Bars or other form of Carbs. This was during a study of Dollar stores, and who had the best.
  • Ken Warren, with the director of the Lakewood Historical Society Mazie Adams, and Robert Haas, the muralist who did the murals for the Kenneth Warren Grand Reading Room at the Lakewood Public Library.
  • Ken Warren at an early LakewoodAlive meeting, before he quit the group.
  • The first meeting of the Lakewood Observer Gourmet Food Security Network. What was to become LEAF Community. Ken was really happy when this got off the ground. Another important building block in the Visionary Alignment.
  • The founders.
  • Ken Warren with Lynn Rodeman. Lyn is one of the powerhouses behind LEAF Community, and I am sure Ken would agree, one of our favorite Lakewoodites.
  • Daniel Slife one of the board members of LEAF, editor of the Lakewood Observer and good friend to Kenneth Warren, with Ken at the Madison Park LEAF garden.
  • Another great day for Lakewood and Ken Warren. The rededication of the Lakewood Main Branch. Here is seen with architect Robert A M Stern, and Library president Jeff Endress.
  • Ken Warren with Jeff Endress and Robert A M Stern and his crew just before the dedication.
  • Photo from the past! Lakewood Public Library Director Kenneth Warren at the redication of the Lakewood Public Library, with the extremely supportive members of the LPL Board. Ken would go on to describe this as one of the happiest days of his life. Original caption - Those responsible for the new Lakewood Public Library. Back row left to right; Scott Kermode (LPL Board Member), Mary Nixon (LPL Board Member), Paul Dimmick (LPL Board Member), Jeff Endress (LPL Board President), unknown, Tim Laskey (Treasurer),unknown, unknown. Front row left to right: Councilperson Nickie Antonio, Robert A. M. Stern (Architect), Kenneth Warren (LPL Director), Mayor Edward FitzGerald (Mayor of Lakewood), Chris Johnson (LPL Board Member), and Nancy Seibert.
  • Ken Warren puts on the antlers for his ride in the Rocket Car from Euclid Beach.
  • Ken Warren with Steve Davis in what is being renamed as the Kenneth Warren Grand Reading Room.
  • Ken Warren gladly opening the door to the new library to his family, friends, residents and patrons. Ken Warren loved and understood this town better than person I have met.
  • On another of our field trips we ran into Dave. Dave is one of those people that are just hard to forget. Stopped to talk with him about his garden, 4 hours later we have toured the house, the garage, the backyard, and the front porch.
  • Ken Warren one of the top library directors in the nation loved speaking with various groups about Lakewood and his love for Lakewood. Here he speaks with the Realtors Conference.
  • Here I had beaten Ken back to the car while we were getting chased out of a very bad neighborhood in Cleveland. It was about 2:00am, and we had been doing our usual walkabouts. Never realizing were would soon be running for our lives.
  • When the bed guys took over all of Lakewood, Ken Warren went down and spoke with this guy, and another 5 or so. This was in an effort to find out why a bed place, based in Lorain, would bring in homeless people to stand around downtown with dayglo signs.
  • Kenneth Warren speaks with neighbors in "the snake pit" about life on the edge. Directly behind him was a family of Somalis, brought into Lakewood by Catholic Charities. Ken and I were there to welcome them and see what the story was.
  • At Tom George's birthday Ken speaks with good friend Gene Kramer. Gene was part of a Ken Warren project to rewrite the City Charter.
  • On a field trip to the land of good pizzas, New York, Ken stops to pay the toll.
  • Ken Warren on his second trip to Walmart, ever. Ken had found a Vietnam vet who needed a bed. The one he was looking for was at Walmart and Ken took him there. Here we were reenacting the trip.
  • Ken Warren with Stephen Calhoun, aka Dr. Puck, holding an infaltable bed similar to the style and color chosen by the homeless vet.
  • Photo by Gary Rice in the The Libraium, orginally called the The Observer one person thought her brother's company should have the naming rights. Next thing you know, Ken is gone.
  • Mark 14:30
  • Library Board Members Suzanne Metleko, Scott Krmode, Jeff Endress, stand with one of the greta Library directors of all time Kenneth Warren.

  • Ken Warren enjoying a slice of pie. If you know Ken, you will know just how amazing that sentence is!

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