That second week of October, 1951, was, in the words of my dear late mother, the most beautiful week of the year. From her hospital room, she could see the multi-colored leaves of fall grace the Western Pennslvania mountains with a sublime blanket of variegated beauty. Perhaps it seemed all the more beautiful because of the precious bundle that she held in her hands. Of course, that bundle was me.

Of all the human beings who walk the earth, the captain is one of those most respected, admired... and even feared. Whether running a ship, an aircraft, or some other conveyance, the captain is the man (or these days, woman!) whose very word is law.

Now I'll admit I'm a little squeamish when it comes to teeny-weeny wiggly little things that swim around in water. Come to think of it, I'm probably a bit squeamish when it comes to on-land wigglies too, particularly when it comes to a me-or-them scenario!

One of the many special things about living in Lakewood is having the opportunity to meet many incredibly fascinating people. In my many years of living here, I've met race car drivers, sea captains, great musicians, and of course, all of you- at least through the magic of the press!

Since the founding of our country, America has taken an interest in the education of her children. Even back in Ohio's pioneer days, a part of every community had a tract of land available for public education. These were generally one-room schoolhouses, having eight grades sitting in rows, with a recitation bench at the front of the room. A pot-bellied stove usually kept things habitable during the long winter months, although children near the stove generally roasted, and those farther away nearly froze to death. In the summer, of course, children stayed at home to help their families with the farming and housework.

Recently, I was out in the shed, starting the clean-out process that we all face from time to time. Standing up, I bumped my head into an old racing bicycle gathering dust, hanging from the rafters. Gazing at the sleek blend of metal alloy and wires and at the complex gearbox brought me back to another time. . .when as a teenager I conceived, organized, and helped run the Lakewood Day Bicycle Races.

The warm, brown gunstocks of the rifles contrasted starkly with their cold, blued steel barrels in a surreal visage of juxtaposition. In the school gymnasium, the students opened the actions of these rifles, loaded, locked their bolts into place, and prepared to fire.

September, 1655, at the entrance to Rocky River:

The six canoes of the dirty and wounded Eriehronon warriors made landfall on the Northern end of what today is known as Yacht Club Island.

The trip from Pennsylvania had been stormy and troubled, as, indeed, was the future of the Eriehronon peoples, also known as the Erie. During some games held with the Five Nations, war had broken out, and these few warriors and their families comprised some of the remnants of this once-proud people. The Erie were referred to as the "Cat Nation" by the French, although the tribe identified more with raccoons than with the wildcats and pumas along our North Coast. The Erie were not equipped with modern weapons, and were therefore unprepared for the incoming migrations: first by other Eastern tribes, and later by Whites.

Silently, the quaintly dressed man emerged from behind the huckleberries, at the edge of the vast ravine, by the light of the full moon. "It is well," he whispered to the forlorn group behind him, "Thee can emerge from the tunnel now. Come follow me, but do so step by step, and carefully. One little slip and thee will take us all off this cliff."

July 4th, 1969, started out like many other Fourth of July holidays on our stretch of the North Coast. Parents, children, and volunteer groups prepared to march in parades, made last-minute picnic preparations and coordinated with their friends as to where to meet that evening: down at Lakewood Park -- for the lakeside fireworks display.

One of the more interesting, and historically significant, events of world history would probably be the betrayal of the Knights Templar by powerful forces in the Middle Ages. In the past month, with the opening of the DaVinci Code movie, interest in the Templars has soared to heights previously unknown in a number of centuries. Even here in Lakewood, you might be surprised to learn that we have several connections to these mysterious medieval people.