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...

Steve Hoffert's article "The 2008 Budget Hearings: A Review and Conclusion", which was published in the April 1st issue of the LO, contains the following editorial mistake which was made by your's truly...

My impression of Thursday night’s Lakewood City Council meeting was that Lakewood needs to buckle down in the face of bankruptcy, strengthen an atmosphere for bringing new young families into the city, and to do this, we need to throw out the elderly and encourage them to die off more quickly so we can utilize their much needed space...

Mr. Callentine expresses some valid thoughts on Collective Health Care, but he misses the mark on some important points. He seems to categorize American citizens as being among the wealthy or the poor. This is not the case...

Dear Editor,

Was Bret Callentine just trying to stir up controversy when he wrote about the U.S. health care system in the March 4 Observer? I can't believe he was really serious. If so, he certainly doesn't accept the principle that a nation's status is best judged by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens...

I am appalled by the proposed cuts to our city services in Lakewood.

I have been a property owner in Lakewood for over thirty years. I have also owned property outside of Lakewood and had dealings with the county health and
building departments. On the city level I receive one on one contact, with the county I was lost in the crowd. It is comforting to have city inspectors to keep me informed and prevent health and safety issues before they occur...

When I first moved to this “City of Homes” some eighteen years ago, the prestige of and affection for living in Lakewood was something I was very proud of. The charm of lavish Victorian houses which dominate her tree lined streets was well known and celebrated far beyond her borders. The diversity and sense of community was cherished by her residents and envied by her neighboring suburbs. Lakewood was “The” place to arrive at. Settling here meant your children would have an outstanding education. Your family would have small town security and community coupled with big city conveniences and opportunity. Our seniors were revered and cherished members of our community. Lakewood was a mix of old time street gatherings and modern advances...

To the Lakewood Observer:

The Cliffs condo project on Sloane Ave. seems to have withered on the vine.

I don't understand why the LO has been cheerleading this project, as well as every politician, and every "Up With Lakewood" Group. The Foran Group's performance has been abysmal at best. I urge you all to reexamine your blind support...

A Plea to Hold On To What We Have and Need

As a proud citizen of Lakewood, I would like to thank everyone involved in the huge effort in keeping Lakewood a beautiful city. Nine years ago my wife and I decided to make Lakewood our home...

Mr. Fitzgerald, The Division Of AgingTransportation is s Necessary Service To Many Lakewood Residents

2008 Budget, you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip.

We are currently in the midst of an epic political battle for the Mayor of Lakewood, the likes of which only Homer could accurately portray through the written word.

According to the “Grow Lakewood" Committee Report, our city is at a tipping point when it comes to economic vitality

Letter to the Editor

The response from city officials (August 21st issue) to my article in the Lakewood Observer on August 7th about collecting income taxes did not include an answer to my question of why we don’t ask landlords for tenant name information.  In addition, some of the methods to identify taxpayers that they claim are being used today have several flaws.  Let us examine these methods and flaws.

To the editor:

When I was carrying my third child more than 22 years ago, I met Sarah Lemmer. You can usually find Sarah working hard as a waitress at The Place to Be. Everyone knows Sarah. Chances are she knows your name and everyone else in the restaurant. Sarah has been serving good, hot food seven days a week to make ends meet. That was, up until about six weeks ago.

Regina Brett’s outrageous column in the Aug. 10 Plain Dealer, which comes out against Lakewood’s dog park and slanders the entire canine species, might merely be consigned to the annals of journalistic atrocities were it not for the fact that it provides ammunition for Rocky River’s legal aggression.

William George presented an extremely skewed analysis comparing the City of Lakewood’s income tax collections to the City of Parma’s in his August 7, 2007 Lakewood Observer opinion article, “Don’t Raise Taxes, Just Collect Them.” You have heard of making an apples-to-oranges comparison; well, Mr. George compared apples-to-cannon balls.

To the editor:

Many thanks to the wonderful people who put together the Jerry Gruss Baseball Marathon Tribute on Aug. 11. Words cannot say how grateful my family and I are to have such an honor.

I would like to thank all of the citizens and business owners of Ward 3 (south of Madison) who attended our August 8th Block Watch meeting at Roosevelt School. Despite the heat, over 100 people attended the meeting from a variety of streets and most signed up to initiate a Block Watch Program on their street. You are to be congratulated on taking the first step towards being part of the solution to our neighborhood problems.

Susan Kelley

Neighbor

A few months ago we noticed we had no song birds feeding from our birdfeeder outside our picture window. After finding dead sparrows and chipmunks in our driveway, we discovered that some Cooper's Hawks had decided to nest in our backyard.

Dear Dele Balogun,

Following the tragedy of 9/11, evidence was slowly uncovered explaining the causes and effects of the events that took place. Following this period of scantily documented speculation, the 9/11 Commission published its report. Some time after that event, various theories which contradicted this explanation began to emerge. And, following that, several groups, including the magazine “Popular Mechanics,” began publishing counterarguments to these contradictory claims. Unless I’m mistaken, that is where we stand today. And, if you recall, that was the initial nature of my inquiry. My question stands: “Do you have anything new to add or anything that refutes the scientific evidence that has been used to disprove your theories?” The ball is in your court.

I would like to respond to the article, “I Protest Your Protest” by Bret Callentine. I am a student of astrophysics, classical guitar performance, and history of science at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. I also pursue interests in radical political theory, cultural studies, and continental philosophy. I graduated Lakewood High School in 2004 and I am here for the summer. I think it is important that a voice be heard in this paper from what Mr. Callentine may consider to be on the ‘other’ side of his own position.

As a member of the Cleveland 911 campaign, I am appalled to have read your article. I remember our encounter well. I would say it started off well; unfortunately it felt like you had no wish to understand our points of interest. You had stated you read Popular Mechanics books and that it answered all your questions. I felt you had failed to research some of the most troubling topics as we spoke. You said to me, "what is the strongest argument you can produce?" I replied "thermite and sulfur found in the steel of the wreckage." You asked if that could be a natural composition of its chemical makeup. I told you that it was not. I asked you if you had ever seen WTC 7 come down and you said you would like to see that. At this point I felt confident that I would have you researching again.