Features

Little Free Libraries have spread to at least nine locations in Lakewood, and tens of thousands more, worldwide. It seems that awareness of these micro-libraries is still catching up, though.

When a friend of Dr. John Mumma mentioned seeing him outside by his postbox one day, while passing Mumma’s home on Hilliard, the doctor immediately recognized the error. “I said ‘that’s not a postbox,’” he recalls as an example of the ongoing task of explaining a Little Free Library. “Some people are incredulous” at the concept, he adds.

The concept of the Little Free Library (LFL) is ultimately simple: a small public shelter, where people borrow or donate books, for free. Yet it’s a surprisingly recent idea. Todd Bol built the original Little Free Library in Wisconsin just eight years ago. Noelle Champagne and her husband installed the first in Lakewood, outside their home on Parkway, a few years later. But a majority of the local LFLs have arrived within the past 18 months.

Little Free Libraries can be easy to overlook, perhaps especially in Lakewood. The Kenny family installed theirs on Elbur more than three years ago, but like most LFLs it’s a modest wood structure with a shingled roof. In a city like ours, with substantial variety among the housing stock, the typical Little Free Library blends in well even without trying.

Despite this, not one of Lakewood’s Little Free Libraries is neglected, according to owners. Even the new library on Cliffdale—brought to Lakewood from its old home in Seattle about one month ago—has local patrons. “Our best customer is John next door who is four,” says one of its owners. “He comes just about every day.”

Many of the local Little Free Libraries appear to be popular with children. Garfield Middle School has one of its own, and Garfield students also take great interest in Tony Neuhoff’s library, south of the school on Grace. Dr. Mumma says that students at Harding are a significant audience for his library.

The libraries have plenty of adult fans, also. Champagne says that over the years a number of people have driven specifically to check out her Parkway library, one of two in Lakewood listed at littlefreelibrary.org. North Coast Health set up the other one, outside of its offices on Detroit, in hopes of stimulating curiosity about them and the services they provide. “It has actually done that” very effectively, says Mary Ludwig.

Most of Lakewood’s Little Free Libraries, though, are unlisted and operated solely as hobbies. Nearly all have some sort of family connection; someone may have been first exposed to a Little Free Library through a relative who owns or lives near one, and nearly every LFL in Lakewood was built by or with a close family member.

The library on Lincoln appears to summarize most of the movement’s themes of family, volunteerism and person-to-person networks. The owner’s daughter in Maryland owns a Little Free Library too, and her son lives on the same street as one in Lakewood. She says that he “was good enough to surprise me with one” of her own last Christmas, which he built himself.

Though very close to the Parkway library, Lincoln’s has already found its own community, too. The owner says that while she had no children’s books for her library at first, users have supplied the need by themselves; “Now I have quite a few and I don’t know where they have come from.”

Lakewood’s Little Free Libraries

13455 Parkway
Probably the city’s oldest; its owners are moving soon but the library will remain with their home’s new occupants

13114 Detroit
Designed to match Garfield School

1081 Cliffdale
Just-arrived from Seattle; online at ourlittlefreelibrary.org

1500 Grace Ave
Seasonal decorations change four times per year

16110 Detroit
North Coast Health

1767 Lincoln

16906 Hilliard

15524 Edgewater

1554 Elbur Ave

While the Fourth of July is one of the best times of year to be a resident of Lakewood, the holiday can be a nightmare for pets. Did you know that July 5th is the busiest day for animal shelters across the country? The stress and anxiety that fireworks cause in animals can lead to pets running away from home and finding themselves scared, exhausted and in dangerous situations.  Your pet can panic and jump a fence or break away from a leash because of fireworks. Never leave your pet outside during fireworks and never take them with you to a fireworks display. If you believe they will experience anxiety when they hear the fireworks show, have someone stay with them during that time. Should the worst happen, and your pet runs away, make sure that their microchip is active and they have a collar with up-to-date tags that will make it easier to be reunited. Safety collars will release if your pet gets stuck on something unsafe. A little planning in advance can minimize the risks the holiday can bring.

Prevention is vital in keeping our pets safe and healthy. The warmer months can be uncomfortable and sometimes hazardous for pets, but there are many easy ways to prepare for, and avoid, the dangers of summer.

On Sunday, May 28th, at 11:00 a.m., Grace Presbyterian Church (1659 Rosewood--at the corner of Hilliard and Madison Avenues) will host their 50th community veterans recognition and memorial service. Always a memorable event, this has turned into a timeless Lakewood tradition for many veterans, families, and friends. Numerous veterans organizations also make plans to attend this meaningful service. All are cordially welcome to attend; particularly veterans and their families. (Access elevator from church parking lot side.)

Coyotes are cautious animals that are common throughout Cuyahoga County and all of Ohio. Coyotes have coexisted amongst us in Lakewood for years, rarely being noticed. Today, there are at least three alpha pairs, and their groups, living in Lakewood. An alpha pair lives in the Madison Park vicinity, another pair lives in the South West Corner, and the third pair in the Lakewood Park vicinity (see map.) Coyotes are located in dense urban populations all across the United States including Chicago, Los Angeles and even New York City.

On behalf of Lakewood Charitable Assistance Corporation (LCAC), I am honored to thank the Beer Engine, their wonderful staff and the hundreds of supporters of the LCAC here in Lakewood who worked together to raise $8,580 during the Beer Engine’s 10th anniversary charity fundraiser for the LCAC that was held from March 13th through March 19th.  

Win #1 - (2007) Robert and Garin Wright, the father/son team that established Cleveland’s Buckeye Brewing Company in 1997, chose to locate their new craft beer bar in Lakewood

The Paszkowskis are very grateful to the residents of Lakewood for all of their support during their first year. “We’ve expanded our merchandise,” said Dennis. The refrigerated section at Urban Bulk Foods now includes meats and cheeses from Walnut Creek Foods, Troyer and Dutch Valley in addition to the cage-free eggs and the popular Amish rolled butter. For the vegan, Urban Bulk Foods now offers Butler Soy Curls, a tasty meat alternative that is sold only in five Ohio stores.

2016 was a banner year for public health researcher Dr. Mary Beth Zeni, RN, ScD, associate professor at Ursuline College in Pepper Pike.

While sitting with friends enjoying dinner at Toast in Gordon Square, Nancy Osgood got a big idea that would promote women’s rights and women’s safety in an “in your face” way. 

Despite the weather and a malfunctioning truck lift, Lakewood Charitable Assistance Corporation’s (LCAC) Thanksgiving Food Basket Distribution was an amazing success! In the face of plummeting temperatures and freezing rain, a record number of volunteers showed up to help the LCAC to sort and bag non-perishable food items as well as deliver turkeys, potatoes, pies and all the fixings to 300 of our Lakewood neighbors in need so that they could enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal with their families.

Like many Lakewood kids, Meghan Walcheck spends a lot of time and energy on her favorite sport. She spends many hours each week practicing, being coached, and competing. She’s even traveled out of town to competitions. Meghan doesn’t run track or play any of the traditional “stick and ball” sports – she is an Irish dancer. 

Keep Lakewood Beautiful, a community group that supports the Adopt-A-Spot Program, Earth Day and the Spring Humus Sale, also sponsors an annual Beautiful Home Award process. The pictures accompanying this article are the 2015 Beautiful Home winners - beautiful, right? 

The 2016 “Come Home to Lakewood” House and Garden Tour, presented by The Lakewood Historical Society is scheduled for Sunday, September 11th, from 1 to 6 p.m. This bi-annual tour invites you to explore some of the finest examples of Lakewood's diverse architectural styles, including a classic lakefront English Tudor, a stately brick Arts & Crafts, a two-family dwelling rich in character, a four square with hipped roof and full front porch, a home that brings together Prairie and Craftsman design plus a garden tour filled with lush perennials. Also included on the tour are one of Lakewood’s few remaining carriage houses, still serving a waterfront mansion and a fully-restored turreted Queen Anne Victorian, which was featured on the 2014 Home Tour as a renovation in progress.

The C-SPAN Bus arrived in town last Friday for a day-long educational opportunity at Lakewood Park. The bus, an interactive multimedia learning center, offered numerous lessons in US Presidential elections and history. Lakewood was its second stop in the Cleveland area, where it will spend the week during the RNC Convention.

They flocked to Madison Park from Quail, Lark, Robin and beyond, seeking to discover their neighborhood’s storied past and celebrate a flawless Lakewood afternoon.

If you think kids aren’t into cleaning, think again! This year, students at Garfield Middle School and Emerson Elementary School have joined forces to support Lakewood Charitable Assistance Corporation’s Spring Cleaning Drive. 

An elderly Euclid man whose house was repeatedly egged  by an unknown assailant for more than a year, will have his house repainted free of charge this summer by Neubert Painting.  The house on Wilmore Avenue, which received national attention for the incident, was egged more than 100 times between May 20, 2014 and June 26, 2015, according to reports.

Ohio was in the national spotlight on March 15, as voters went to the polls in the presidential primaries. Campaign offices of many types sprung up around the state to get out the vote for the big day. After the votes were counted,  professional campaign operatives scattered to future primary states, and most of the campaign offices went back to being vacant storefronts. However, one exception remained in Lakewood.

Hillary Clinton won the Ohio Democratic primary, and widened her delegate lead over Bernie Sanders with other big wins in states like Florida. Most national pundits believe Sanders has virtually no chance to catch up to her. Despite this, the volunteers at the Lakewood Sanders office decided to fight on. They are keeping their office open and using it as a hub for phone banking to future primary and caucus states. They are also organizing trips to Pennsylvania and New York to register voters and canvass before those states' primaries.

"I don't think it's over," said Lakewood resident Eric Deamer, an avid Bernie volunteer. Deamer pointed out that after the Ohio vote, about half of the states had yet to vote. In addition, many of the remaining states are considered to be more favorable to Sanders. Deamer is pleased that the office is still busy, "It's a hub of activity, and a physical presence."

The 88th Academy Awards are approaching, and for those of us who love movies it is an opportunity to think about what makes a film compelling and sometimes unforgettable. Here are brief reviews of the eight nominees for Best Picture, ranked in order of this reviewer's favorites.

After Lucky, photographer Bob Soltys' Jack Russell Terrier and man about town over the last ten years, suffered a near-death experience in the Rocky Mountains last summer, he decided to tell his life story and self-publish it with some help from his Dad.

December 29th marks the end of an era as the Thrifty Peddler - Lakewood Hospital’s resale shop - closes its doors. As age catches up with the volunteers who run the operation, and circumstances change, it is time to say goodbye to the Thrifty Peddler, an effort that has served its purpose to support special projects and services at Lakewood Hospital well beyond its original intent.

At the end of a long night on November 3rd (election results were delayed across the state  due  to issues with a new technology for signing in voters at the polls in Hamilton County) it quickly became clear that for seats in which an incumbent was running, their seat was safe for another four years. This included Mayor Michael Summers, Ward 1 Councilman David Anderson, Ward 2 Councilman Sam O’Leary, Municipal Court Judge Patrick Carroll, and School Board members Linda Beebe and Tom Einhouse. The third and final seat for school board currently has the sitting President of the Board, Emma Petrie-Barcelona in the lead by one vote over Meghan George and by 75 votes over Kristine Pagsuyoin. Due to the close nature of this race (within 0.5% of the total votes cast), an automatic recount, including the review of any provisional ballots cast, will likely be triggered. Therefore, the definitive winner of the race will not be known for some time yet.

Looking for something unique, special and best of all, locally made? Look no further than Girl's Best Trend Boutique.  Located at 15725 Madison Ave., this shop has a little bit of everything. "GBT" currently boasts over 60 of the coolest, most talented artisans in Northeast Ohio. First opened in October of 2013 on the corner of Madison and Atkins, GBT was gaining a following, but needed to be in a busier, more visible area. Last November the shop was relocated to its new locale right at the Madison and Hilliard intersection. The new shop with its ornate iron door and perfect front window for displays welcomes you in to the warm and inviting space. There are always good tunes playing while you peruse all the fabulous locally made goodness. Everything from candles, glassware, bath and body, handbags, scarves, clothing, painting, photography and prints. Plenty of jewelry, tee shirts and even things for baby. Of course there is plenty of Lakewood, Cleveland and Ohio pride items. Come and visit and get your local shop on! Shop Local. Shop Small.

I am supporting State Senator Michael Skindell for Lakewood Mayor. During the more than 15 years I have known and worked with Michael he has been an impassioned advocate for seniors, our children, and the hardworking men and women of Northeast Ohio. He has taken up crusades to ensure dignity, fairness and justice is extended to all the people he represents.

Express yourself and get your creativity on! Lakewood Kiwanis and Uptown Lakewood are conducting the Third Annual Lakewood Scarecrow Festival beginning Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 25, 2015. Scarecrows will line Madison Avenue from W 117th to Riverside Drive. This is a fun opportunity for individuals, families, businesses, clubs and organizations to get involved and build their own scarecrows. Last year, PTAs, Girl Scout Troops, businesses, and neighbors took advantage of this fun project making Madison Avenue a lively destination.

I met JT during the Obama re-election campaign in 2012 when he volunteered to canvass the neighborhood. I was immediately impressed with his passion and ability to relate to people during the campaign. I am proud to support JT Neuffer for City Council Ward 3 because of his strong ability to connect with diverse people, his visionary ideas and his leadership skills.

Both the Lakewood Democratic Club and Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council have voted to support the re-election of Mayor Michael Summers. Both endorsements highlight Summers’ commitment to the ideals of service, growth, and safety in Lakewood.

At noon on Saturday, June 20th over 200 people gathered at The Bookshop in Lakewood. The owner, Colin Brown, never saw it coming.

The Heart Hope Foundation recently announced the annual Heart Hope Courage Award was presented to former Miss Ohio United States 2011, Lindsay Davis. 

It is time for the Big Birthday Bash for Providence House!

Cleveland Organization Offers Free Coding Bootcamp to Assist Low-Moderate Income Earners in Getting Lucrative Jobs

We Can Code IT, a Cleveland-based social good organization backed by ECDI, is offering free coding bootcamp tuition to select qualified candidates. The free tuition, worth $10,000, is being offered for We Can Code IT’s all-women bootcamp for local Clevelanders in low- to moderate-income households. It begins on March 9th, 2015, and runs for 12 weeks. The first of many coding bootcamps is an on-site, full-time immersive experience. Subsequent We Can Code IT bootcamps will include co-ed and part-time cohorts. We Can Code IT’s goal is to empower low- to moderate-income earners, while diversifying tech, a lucrative field with a severe lack of diversity, but an immense number of job openings.

Despite being a cold, blustery night, Lakewoodites packed all 488 of the Mackey Main Stage seats (plus those of us standing in the back) at Beck Center for the Arts on January 28th. This was the first in a series of public forums regarding the announcement earlier this month that Lakewood Hospital will be converted from a full service hospital as it stands today to an outpatient community wellness center model. About the first 90 minutes of the forum included presentations by representatives from the City of Lakewood, namely Mayor Summers, the Cleveland Clinic, the Lakewood Hospital Association, the Lakewood Hospital Foundation, and the consulting firm retained by the Lakewood Hospital Association, i.e. Subsidium Healthcare.

Lisa Fry, of Subsidium Healthcare, presented a sampling of the results of the study performed over the course of the past two years. She walked the audience through the process starting from when LHA hired her firm, up through the proposed letter of intent that caused such a stir earlier in January. Her firm used analyses to vet a wide range of possible solutions to the issues facing Lakewood Hospital, from sticking with the status quo to a downsized general hospital to a specialty hospital to a hybrid outpatient hospital with some inpatient beds to a strictly outpatient campus, to removing ourselves from healthcare altogether. Fry indicated that along the way they approached a total of 9 hospital systems, 2 local and 7 national. Despite some initial interest in the Lakewood Hospital location, in the end all parties pulled out, except the Cleveland Clinic. Although Fry’s entire PowerPoint study was not yet made available to the public, the Lakewood City Council has been given a copy of 80-some slides to aide in their decision.

Now that Black Friday and the frantic frenzy of December's online shopping and mall hopping is in our rearview mirrors it's time to turn our thoughts toward that special Valentine.

St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Lakewood is holding its tenth annual Homeless Awareness Sleep-Out on January 17.  The Youth Group sleeps in cardboard boxes on the front lawn of the church. Once again the the teens will battle snow and temperatures that frequently dip down into the single digits to raise funds for local homeless programs.

We're regularly fed a steady diet of senior citizen stereotypes. Myths about addiction are especially tough to swallow. When Uncle Harry faceplants in the bowl of Thanksgiving stuffing, his drinking is dismissed as one of the few pleasures he has left. Granny's perceived as adorable in her terry track suit gulping down sherry on her front porch rocker. The retired CEO is defended as earning the right to slam back multiple martinis before noon. The reality is addictions destroy a senior's quality of life, strain a healthcare system already at the breaking point and wreak havoc on families burdened with their care. Substance abuse in older Americans can aggravate and even cause chronic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, dementia, osteoporosis and mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. The risk and consequences of falling increases. In 2012 the National Institute of Health reported hospital admissions for seniors were mostly linked to overdoses from pain medication and withdrawal from other addictive substances.

1. Please provide your name, age, family status, education, current job(s) held, and any current or previous elected offices held.

Name: Ed FitzGerald  

Age: 46

Marital status: Married    

Number of children/grandchildren: 4 children, 0 grandchildren   

Education: Law degree, Cleveland-Marshall School of Law (1993), Bachelor’s of Arts, Ohio State University (1990/1991) 

Current job(s) held: Cuyahoga County, County Executive

Previous employers: Lakewood mayor, Lakewood city council, assistant county prosecutor, FBI special agent - Chicago 

2. If you were grading the current Governor and Administration in Columbus, what grade would you give them? What have they done well and what do they need to improve upon?

Governor Kasich has run this state largely for the benefit of the wealthy and well-connected at the expense of Ohio’s middle class. I’m running to make sure that Ohio works for working families again, primarily by strengthening our public education system and bringing back family-sustaining jobs through our state. 

While 9 out of the 10 jobs lost in Ohio during the Great Recession were mid-wage or high-wage jobs, nearly all the jobs that have returned pay just $7-13 per hour. As Governor, I would invest in Ohio’s small businesses rather than overseas corporations so they are able to create family-sustaining jobs that will stay in this state. I would also raise the minimum wage so that full-time adult workers are no longer living in poverty. I would also work to strengthen Ohio’s new energy economy, which was providing billions in investments and thousands of good paying jobs to our state until Governor Kasich signed into law legislation effectively ending Ohio’s wind farm industry and freezing renewable energy and efficiency standards.

1. Please provide your name, age, family status, education, current job(s) held, and any current or previous elected offices held.

Name: John R. Kasich

Age: 62

Family status: Married to Karen; Two daughters (Emma & Reese) 

Education: B.A. The Ohio State University

Current job(s) held: Governor (2011 – present)

Current or revious elected offices held: Governor (2011 – present); U.S. House of Representatives (1983-2001); Ohio Senate (1979-1983)

2. If you were grading yourself and your current Administration in Columbus, what grade would you give? What has been done well and what needs to be improved upon?

I’m not going to assign a grade. However, I think our record speaks for itself. When I came in, Ohio was down more than 350,000 private sector jobs, we faced an $8 billion budget shortfall, we had just 89 cents in the state ‘rainy day’ fund, and our credit was at risk of being downgraded.  We made the tough decisions Ohio needed to get our economy back on track, and we did it without raising taxes. Today we’re up a quarter-million private sector jobs, Ohio’s unemployment rate is below the national average and Ohioans’ wages are growing faster than the national average. We’re making great strides to strengthen our education and workforce systems and we’re helping those who, for too long, have lived in the shadows. We have more work to do but things are getting better across the state, and we need to keep that progress going.

The Splash Infuser, made by Cardboard Helicopter of Lakewood, Ohio, will allow users to add their own fruit, veggies and herbs to their water or alcohol for a customized drink.

STEM Handmade Soaps is turning one! It's hard to believe we've been keeping the greater Cleveland area clean for a whole year with all natural soap and other natural bath and body products. It has been a great year and you have taught us many things to help us succeed in our little soap shop in Lakewood's Historic Birdtown neighborhood. Here are the top 5 things we learned from you in our first year  

Whether you sported purple and gold or green and gold, whether you lived in Lakewood or were passing through on your way downtown, you undoubtedly knew Wally. He was the man that sat outside of Lakewood Senior Health Campus, now O'Neill Healthcare Lakewood, located at the corner of Detroit and Bunts. Wally became an icon to students who attended school in Lakewood, year after year greeting them on their way to and from school. He also waved at each and every driver passing by. And what better event for Wally than the annual Lakewood 4th of July parade?!

This year, for only second time in the 200 years of Cuyahoga County, voters will elect a County Executive and half of the members of the County Council.

The Youth Challenge Superhero Dash, the 29th Annual Race Day in memory of former Trustee Dave Hardman, will take place Saturday, September 20 at Lakewood Park, 14532 Lake Ave.

In the spring of 2013, Barb and Larry White attended a craft and garden fair at Quailcrest Farm in Wooster Ohio. While Barb had her eyes on various metalwork crafts, it was Larry who walked away, or drove away, with the greatest metalwork craft of all. While Barb’s treasure was a custom made weathervane for the yard, Larry’s was custom made for the garage!

“Best Band” in NYC honors Cleveland area supporters

Make all your vacation dreams come true! Take a chance on the Starry Night Choose Your Own Adventure travel raffle while supporting a great cause ... Lakewood Hospital's Diabetes Assistance Initiative.

Help the Lakewood Schools kick start the campaign to restore and preserve two Schreckengost treasures, the Civic Auditorium’s "Early Settler" and the L Room's Great Lakes mural. Join us in the Reinberger Galleries of the Cleveland Institute of Art on Wednesday, July 9, from 6-9 p.m., for a midsummer night celebration. Both masterpieces, iconic Lakewood public art, were installed at Lakewood High School in the 1950s.

Enjoy delicious food, libations, and live entertainment by members of the LHS jazz ensemble in a gorgeous setting. Tickets start at $75. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.lakewoodalumnifoundation.org or call 216.529.4033. The Reinberger Galleries are located at 11141 East Blvd., Cleveland.

This event is generously sponsored by Deming Art LLC and Nottingham-Spirk Design Associates.

Spring has finally sprung here in Lakewood, Ohio, and Keep Lakewood Beautiful is celebrating this time of year with its Annual Earth Day and a Great American Cleanup on May 3 from 9-11 a.m., all at the Detroit Ave. entrance to Kauffman Park. Give your spring cleaning a jump start by participating in any or all of these great events!

The statistics are frightening: One in six women and one in 19 men experience stalking victimization at some point in their life. And between the ages of 11 and 17, those numbers are even more pronounced: one in five for girls and one in 14 for boys, according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey.

To help parents and teens recognize the danger signs of stalking behaviors within a relationship and to direct them to available support resources, the acclaimed Ranger 360 project is presenting “Stalking: A Misunderstood Crime” on Wednesday, May 7 in the social hall of Lakewood Congregational Church, 1375 W. Clifton Blvd. from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The program will feature a presentation by Lakewood resident Debbie Riddle, a freelance graphic designer who became a national speaker on stalking when her youngest sister, Peggy Klinke, was murdered by a stalker in 2003. Riddle’s activism in the wake of her sister’s murder led to a congressional briefing, and ultimately to the declaration of National Stalking Awareness month each January.

An officer from the Lakewood Police Department will also be on hand to discuss stalking as it relates to teens.

H2O wants your old bikes! On Saturday, April 26, H2O (Help to Others) will hold its second annual Bikes and Bands celebration. Drop off your bicycle donation at Madison Park between 4 and 7 p.m., then head across the street to Mahall’s 20 Lanes to enjoy music from Vance Music Studios’ rock ensembles and Tri-C High School Rock Off finalists, High Acres.  Volunteer mechanics and student assistants will repair the bikes throughout the event so they are ready to be donated to Lakewood youth.

What do sustainable solutions to hunger and poverty, a youth mission trip and a rummage sale have in common?  At Lakewood Congregational church – everything.

There has been much talk about the “breast cancer gene” or BRCA 1 & 2 gene mutations in the news after celebrity Angelina Jolie announced last year that she had a preventative bilateral mastectomy to significantly reduce her risk of developing cancer. Individuals who have the BRCA gene mutation are at a significantly increased risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer. The lifetime risk for developing cancer can be up to 85% for breast cancer and 40% for ovarian cancer for those who have the gene mutation (the general population’s risk is about 10%). Most breast cancers, however, are not genetic and only about 5% of all 220,000 cases of breast cancer diagnosed in the US each year are related to these defective genes.

Twenty years ago, St. Edward math teacher Paul Bosley had an idea. Bosley, at the time a relatively new member of the faculty, was an experienced cook who had volunteered at community meals in Painesville. He thought it could be a great idea to have a monthly community meal at St. Edward. He took the idea to Mike Reiling, a religion teacher at the school. The two men presented the concept to the St. Edward administration, which agreed to host the monthly event at the school’s cafeteria.

The first community meal was held on April 28, 1994. Since then, the meal has grown to serve between 125-150 guests per month. In addition, about 30 meals are delivered through the Lakewood Office on Aging, and over 30 more are sent to a women’s shelter. About 50 volunteers work each month to make each meal a reality. The rotating cast of volunteers consists of St. Ed students, parents, alumni and friends. Funds to provide the meals are donated by St. Edward alumni, faculty, and friends. The school provides all the kitchen and dining facilities in its cafeteria.   

Bosley and Reiling organize each event: Bosley runs the kitchen operations, while Reiling manages the servers and hosts. The separation of duties fits each man’s personality. “This man makes a great meal,” says Reiling about Bosley. Reling’s easygoing demeanor makes him ideal to manage the dining area. “I don’t have the patience [for serving],” says Bosley, “he is compassionate.”

Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) opened registration for its 2014 Summer Youth Employment Program at 9 a.m. on Monday, February 3, 2014. The program matches teenagers from Cuyahoga County, ages 14-18, to meaningful summer work experiences in the public, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors.

She was the first woman ever to be ordained in her home presbytery in the state of Wisconsin. Now Reverend Lynn Anderson of Grace Presbyterian Church in Lakewood, Ohio, is completing her twenty-fifth year as a Presbyterian minister.

Indigo Perfumery, Cleveland's first and only niche perfume shop, opened in Lakewood, OH, on Tuesday, October 16th. Life-long Clevelander Ann Onusko brings her extensive knowledge of flowers and a passion for fragrances to a gallery space where the perfumes are made by smaller, artisanal companies who concentrate on the art of the scent rather than mass production.

Mourning the loss of a pet?

Batman, Batgirl, Superman, Wonder Woman and even a life-size hotdog were spotted on the streets of Lakewood recently when more than 260 runners and walkers joined in the Youth Challenge Superhero Dash. The 28th Annual Race Day took place on Saturday, September 14, at Lakewood Park. The event was dedicated to the memory of Dave Hardman, former President of the Youth Challenge (YC) Board of Trustees.           

Lakewood is about to have the cleanest residents in all of northeast Ohio with the Grand Opening of STEM Handmade Soap on Saturday, October 5 at 12405 Madison Avenue. Owner and chief formulator Steve Meka of Lakewood makes all natural soaps, lotions, lip balms and other bath essentials with skin-loving ingredients produced only by Mother Nature.

Everyone of all ages is invited to participate in the dedication ceremony on Sept. 21 at 2 p.m., the International Day of Peace. Keep Lakewood Beautiful will be awarding the winners of the citywide 6th grade essay contest entitled “What Peace Means to Me…”