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Grants totaling $77,896 from the Lakewood-Rocky River Rotary Foundation will provide scholarships, encourage student achievement, fight hunger, and foster programs for community health and wellness.

Each year, the Rotary Club of Lakewood and Rocky River seeks grant applications from non-profit organizations that serve our youth, adults and community within Lakewood and Rocky River. Since its creation in 1952 by then-Club President Carl Dryer, the Foundation has enabled the club to provide over $1.25 million in student scholarships and grants, accomplished due to the generosity of the club’s philanthropic membership.

This year, the club will award $15,000 in scholarships to high school seniors and present $7,100 in prizes to student winners in the club’s annual speech, music, and art competition.

A grant of $2,592 was used for the club’s annual literacy project, purchasing dictionaries for over 600 third grade students in Lakewood and Rocky River.

Trials for Hope received a $5,000 grant to support its community meals and market in Lakewood. West Shore Meals on Wheels was awarded $4,500 to subsidize home-Grants of $3,500 which delivered meals for 19 people per month. A grant of $4,000 each went to the Rocky River Assistance Program for gift cards, holiday food and school supplies, and to Elle’s Enchanted Forest for ADA playground equipment, including an embankment slide and platform.

Being a parent is not an easy job, but it becomes more complicated when a child is having problems in school. If a child is struggling with schoolwork, continuous suspensions or other issues, they may need additional support. Requesting an evaluation for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) from the school can help determine what, if any, additional help a child may need.

“What we would recommend a parent do is to communicate with the school, preferably in writing with the date on it, asking that their child be evaluated for an IEP,” said Emily Adams, a Staff Attorney in the Health & Opportunity Law Practice at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. “That doesn't necessarily mean that a child will qualify for an IEP, but a full evaluation will be able to kind of get a picture as to what's going on with a child academically and behaviorally.”

Under Ohio law, a school has 30 days to respond to an IEP evaluation request. Because many parents find it hard to get a response to an evaluation request, keeping a dated copy of the written request for an evaluation would prove that a request was made and how long it's been since it was requested.

An IEP evaluation looks at the child as a whole. It tests all the areas of a child’s suspected disability. This could include evaluating the student’s cognitive performance, reading, writing and math skills, as well as social and emotional skills. The IEP evaluation could also include testing a student to determine if they need occupational, speech, or physical therapy. Once it’s established that the student needs additional support, the school would be able to provide it. The IEP is designed to fit the individual educational needs of the student.

Family Weekend Wonders 

Looking for weekend entertainment for the whole family? Look no further! Drop in to the Library's special weekend story time. Your whole family will enjoy these programs full of enthusiastic stories, engaging activities, entertaining music and clever crafts. Family Weekend Wonders Drop-In Story Time is offered every weekend throughout the year and features a different theme each week to keep things engaging. No registration is required. 

Main Library- Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.  

Madison Branch- Fridays at 10:30 a.m. 

Winter Storytimes begin January 6, 2025 

Just Baby 'N Me 

For You and Your Birth to 24-Month-Old Baby 

Just Baby 'N Me is a lap-sit story time ideal for babies from birth through early walkers. The focus is on rhymes, songs, finger plays and exploring short books together. No registration is required.   

Main Library-  

Mondays- 10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.  

Besa Presentation and Documentary - "Besa: The Promise" (2012) 

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Congratulations to Seniors Katie Jirousek, Lauren Lange, Alex Adamov and Jacqueline Lyall on finishing 8th out of 293 teams in their region in the Sifma Foundation Stock Market Game! The team participated as part of a classroom assignment for 5th period Economics with Mr. Lewis.

The game gives students $100,000 to invest in the Stock Market over a 10-week period and tracks their progress over that span. Teams of students from all over the state participate. Special thanks to the @LakewoooLakewood Rangers Education Foundation for providing the grant money for students to participate.

AND....

Mr. Lewis' students weren't the only stock market game winners. @westshorecareertech students in Business Management 2 attended Junior Achievement's Stock Market Challenge Day at the Federal Reserve last week and the team of Aidan Smith, Chris Mathaios and Brayden McCarthy won third place! The team of Lincoln Krish, Mihai Bogdan-Chindea and Nathan Kopkoas also won an award for investing their entire portfolio in a single asset class.

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Watching the Weather Channel lately, I've noticed that the reporters keep using the word “decent” to describe various kinds of weather.

Some decent snow, some decent rain. I've even heard them talk about some decent tornadoes! What's wrong with these people?

There is nothing “decent” about tornadoes, or any bad weather.

To make things worse, local weather people have picked up on this and are using “decent” to describe what is really INDECENT weather.

I'll bet that Dick Goddard would never use the term, nor would he say “New Philly” instead of “New Philadelphia.” There is no New Philly anywhere on the globe, nor is there a Philly or an Old Philly. If you are too lazy to say “New Philadelphia” just leave it out of the weather forecast. It's barely in the viewing area anyway.

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A cousin was visiting from out of town and wasn't familiar with Lakewood's pedestrian street crossing devices. She pressed the button and heard “Wait.” She replied “one-hundred-and-twenty pounds.” I thought it was funny because she's 130 if she's an ounce.

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Not sure who's going to pay for the proposed football stadium in Brookpark, but it shouldn't be the taxpayers. There is plenty of money in football. If owners can't afford to build their own stadiums they should raise ticket prices and lower player salaries. Sign better TV contracts. Stop paying fortunes to lousy free agents. Get rid of a few hundred assistant coaches. Then pay for your own bleepin' stadium!

My name is Katie Slife Rustad and I’m a mother of four children, three currently enrolled in the Lakewood Schools and a lifelong Lakewood Resident. I’m also a product of the Lakewood Schools, as are my husband, my parents, my in-laws, our brothers and many of our aunts, uncles and cousins. My husband’s grandfather graduated from Lakewood High in 1945, making our children 4th generation Rangers. To put it simply, we are entrenched in and massive advocates of the Lakewood Public Schools: our house bleeds purple and gold.

You may have seen information on the Elementary Planning Task Force that was convened earlier this year and the community meetings that were set up to communicate their findings. You may also be aware of the rumors circulating for the past couple years that the administration wants to close a school. I like to think of myself as a logical and pragmatic person - I assumed that if a school needs to be closed that’s unfortunate, but that there must be sound reasoning behind it. I attended one of the community meetings with an open mind, hoping to gain an understanding.

In the 30-minute presentation we learned that enrollment is down, and operating costs have increased. The district has responded by eliminating positions through attrition, which creates the need to shuffle teachers between elementary buildings based on need. There is also inconsistency in class sizes across buildings, and some other logistical issues with operating decentralized preschools. This was all positioned as the reason to form a task force to evaluate building usage.

The task force was charged with analyzing scenarios for the buildings in the future. There was then a financial overview that told us that: 

*There is no impending or forecasted budget deficit, 

*State funding for the district is NOT impacted by the decline in enrollment, and 

*Regardless of any changes made, Lakewood will need to pass another levy in 2026.

This set the stage to cover the scenarios the task force reviewed, all but one of which involve closing an elementary school, several involve closing two...and this is where they lost me.

Based on the presented challenges, we’re going to jump into closing buildings? There was also an expressed desire to open a centralized pre-k building in one of the closed schools which would allow increased enrollment in pre-k. There was no data showing unmet demand to justify a centralized pre-k. It felt like a very big leap of logic to me--as if the facts were chosen to back up the conclusions--and I left afterwards feeling very confused. A friend of mine on the task force encouraged me to attend another meeting – there is so much information he said, and it may take a few times hearing it to digest.

Hearing the presentation a second time only cemented my skepticism in the logic and after reviewing the information again several times online I question the school board’s decision to go through this process, especially to alter the fabric of our school district so dramatically and permanently in such a short period of time. To list what in my mind are the main, but not only, issues:

The City of Lakewood has a history of aggressively seeking and leveraging external dollars from federal, state, county, and other sources. As many of you will recall, perhaps our largest single success in this area was receiving over $47 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reg- ulations for those dollars required that they be fully allocated by the end of 2024, and I am pleased to report that Lakewood met that deadline, using these funds to benefit Lakewood for decades to come.

The ARPA dollars came with strict guidelines and limited uses, but Lakewood was able to navigate those and leverage these funds for maximum effect. Early uses of ARPA focused on the immediate crisis needs of Lakewood residents, including $1.9 million dollars to help qualifying residents pay their rents, stay in their homes or apartments, and prevent eviction, foreclosure, and ultimately homelessness. Once crisis needs were addressed, the City of Lakewood focused on applying ARPA to address several other strategic needs.

The largest pool of dollars - over $31 million – went to reduce the burden of repairing our aged citywide sewer infrastructure. While this may not seem like an exciting use for these dollars, this was money that otherwise would have been assessed to our rate-payers in Lakewood – homeowners and businesses that use Lakewood water and sewer. By using ARPA dolars for sewer and watermain projects, we were able to keep down costs of utilities for Lakewood for decades on work that was an absolute must. We also were able to free up our bonding capacity, which would otherwise would have been largely eaten up with these very expensive projects, thus further saving interest payment expenses for the City. In many ways, these ARPA dollars were a lifeline and windfall to pay for water and sewer infrastructure costs that had been looming over Lakewood for many years.

Incoming Councilmember At Large Angelina Hamilton Steiner shakes the hand of Judge Tess Neff after being sworn-in to her new role.

Neighbors, please join me in welcoming our newest Council Member at Large Angelina Hamilton Steiner! 

On Tuesday, January 21st Councilmember Hamilton Steiner was officially sworn-in to serve the remainder of the term recently vacated by now State Representative Tristan Radar. Councilmember Hamilton Steiner was selected from an impressive field of 12 applicants after extensive review and public interviews on January 6th and 13th. She holds a Masters in Public Administration and is a Director and eRA Manager for the Northeast Ohio Medical University. 

Angelina grew up in Lakewood, and has contributed extensively to her hometown as a volunteer, having served and led on a number of boards and commissions including the Charter Review Commission, the Community Health Needs Assessment Steering Committee and the AntiRacism Task Force. Ms. Hamilton Steiner is the co-founder and treasurer of a grassroots organization, the Madison Court Community Coalition (MC3). MC3 was formed in response to an incident of gun violence at Madison Park in 2021. Since then, MC3 has sustained a positive, proactive presence at the park, improving the safety and usability of the park for neighbors and visitors city-wide.

The letters that Council received in support of Councilmember Hamilton Steiner highlighted the depth and breadth of her impact on the City and spoke to Angelina’s strong work ethic and character, commitment to the community, and ability to bring people together to effectuate positive change. Angelina is the mother of two current Lakewood Rangers, and she has also volunteered with the schools and her children’s activities. 

Correction for Save the Date

In the last issue, the Lakewood Black Caucus Kwanzaa Celebration article stated that the next community event would be on February 22nd. The actual date of the LBC Black History Month Celebration is Saturday, February 15th. For more information email: shirley.nelson@live.com or
Call 216-978-2626.

I cannot believe the district would consider these weak arguments for closing or repurposing the fine schools which the community so recently built, and which are providing an excellent education for our city’s young people.

We moved to Lakewood and chose Lakewood public schools because of the district’s excellent educational reputation, and history of commitment to our children.

While enrollment has clearly declined since the early 2000’s, recent enrollment figures (from the community engagement presentation) point to a stabilization in numbers. A careful look at the enrollment figures from 2021-2024 show a stable enrollment, and are not aligned with the (old) projection data shown for 2025-2031. The projected figures are no longer valid and should not be used as a basis for major facilities changes.

Attendance boundaries are a well-understood and common approach to addressing class size and school attendance inequity, as local neighborhood dynamics change over time. The task force should focus on the re-establishing attendance boundaries to address class size inequity and teacher travel issues.

If the district requires additional funds to continue operating at its current level, additional levees should be pursued.

The Lakewood community will gladly support additional funds, as long as we believe the district is making wise, long-term decisions for the future of our schools and our children. Closing or repurposing our excellent school buildings is short-sighted.

Corey Snipes, Edwards Ave (two kids in Lakewood public schools since 2018, Lakewood business owner)

In light of the string of power outages in the past month, the City of Lakewood reached out to FirstEnergy to gather details and advocate for a resolution to the problem. The statement we received from FirstEnergy can be read below:

We understand being without power is difficult—especially in these frigid conditions. The outages in Lakewood were caused by an equipment issue within a local substation. Our crews have identified the precise issue, and they are replacing a breaker within the facility to help prevent related outages in the future. We appreciate our customers’ patience while our crews complete this work today to enhance service reliability in your community.

There were four outages that impacted customers in Lakewood on Dec. 10, Dec. 29, Jan. 4 and early this morning (Jan. 7) – primarily all due to an equipment issue we’ve identified within a local substation and are addressing today with the installation of a new breaker. These have been the only outages affecting this area since Aug. 6, when our region experienced a historic storm and outages.

• The outage on Dec. 29 was due to the wind and snow event across northeast Ohio and lasted about 7 minutes.
• The outage on Dec. 10 was due to an equipment issue within a local substation and lasted about 3 hours.
• The outage on Jan. 4 was due to an equipment issue within a local substation and lasted about 15 minutes.
• The outage early this morning lasted about 50 minutes and stemmed from the substation equipment issue we’ve identified.

City of Lakewood Police Department completes evidence gathering and evaluation of crash data that support felony charge in senseless death

On Thursday January 16th, Zachary Saliba was charged in Lakewood Municipal Court with Aggravated Vehicular Homicide for causing the death of Bill Safos of Lakewood. Safos was walking at the intersection of Hilliard and Madison on December 11, 2024 when Saliba struck him while recklessly driving his vehicle. Because the crime involved is a felony, Saliba has been bound over to common pleas court. Safos, a dedicated and longtime Lakewood resident who spent his career as a beloved local broadcast journalist, died at the scene.

“The Lakewood Police Department appreciates the public’s patience as we conducted a very involved investigation into this senseless and avoidable crime,” said Lakewood Police Chief Kevin Fischer. “We were fortunate to have the assistance of the Ohio State Highway Patrol as we gathered and evaluated the evidence. We look forward to seeing justice for Bill Safos and his family in court.”

Evidence gathered in the case documented that Saliba was operating his vehicle recklessly at the time he struck Safos. Video evidence shows Saliba committing aggressive traffic offenses just prior to hitting Safos.

“The death of Bill Safos was a tragic loss for his family and friends, for Lakewood, and for everyone who knew him. These charges represent an important step in ensuring justice for Bill, a longtime and deeply valued member of our community and an accomplished broadcast journalist,” said Mayor Meghan F. George, who also serves as Safety Director for the City of Lakewood. “I want to commend Lakewood Police for their exhaustive investigation and analysis, which revealed additional evidence on the reckless indifference shown by the driver who caused Bill’s needless death. Thanks also goes out to the Ohio State Highway Patrol for their assistance, external review, and expertise, which helped confirm key aspects of this case.”

Jim Rokakis has organized a Go-Fund-Me page for the family. Go to https://www. gofundme.com/f/support-for-the-family-of-bill-safos-in-this-time-of-tragedy

Noel

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Meet Cheese! This 2-year-old girl has a warm and friendly personality, and adores having her back scratched. In fact, her name, Cheese, perfectly captures her adorable reaction when she gets a good scratch – she turns her head and reveals her teeth in delight! We want Cheese to find the perfect family to give her all the back scratches she deserves!

Meet Noel! This sweet 2-year-old girl is an American Staffordshire Mix. Noel is so full of love and adores affection. She was unfortunately found abandoned in Lakewood. She only weighed 19 pounds and was suffering from severe malnutrition and dental issues. Since she’s been at the Lakewood Animal Shelter, the team has worked to help Noel regain her strength and health. We want Noel to find the perfect family to shower her with love!

Visit Cheese, Noel, and the other animals at the Lakewood Animal Shelter located at 1299 Metropark Drive, just past the Dog Park. Contact the shelter at (216) 529-5020. 

Lakewood Animal Shelter hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, closed on Sundays. 

This message is shared by the Citizens Committee for Lakewood’s Animals and Shelter (CCLAS). CCLAS is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization committed to safeguarding and enhancing the lives of Lakewood’s companion animals. We provide financial assistance and other resources to the Lakewood Animal Shelter for the quality care of abandoned, orphaned, sick and injured animals. In addition, we promote adoptions and advocate for animal welfare through community outreach and education. We treat animals with empathy, kindness, and respect and recognize that they can experience pain, suffering, and other emotions. Learn more at cclas.org.

Congratulations to Lakewood High School junior Mel Diemert on being chosen as a runner-up in the New York Times' Coming of Age in 2024 Contest! Students were asked to submit a piece of writing or art in response to the question, “What can you show or tell us to help explain what it’s like to grow up in this political moment?” Mel's piece of poetry was chosen from among 1,600 entries from across the nation! 

Mel's entry:
 
Queer Kid Imagines An Alternate Reality/Politics Disguised as a Love Poem

Queer: A synonym for an absence of love
Not a new definition of love,
But its antithesis
In this world, I cannot afford indifference
I was unable to find it at Goodwill this summer
I limp through life as a statement, a red flag declaring war
 
In another world,
We sit on the floor of our bathroom, 25, after a long day of work
Your hair is up
The world is quiet
And softly pirouetting
I know how to make your coffee;
4 sugars, a splash of creamer
It overflows the cup and pours onto the yellowed, aging tiles
And the world is a newborn baby with jaundice
Orange, crying, glowing
Effervescent is the word carved into our skin
In this world, I don’t listen to the sirens go by
Instead, I lean my ear toward the babbling creek of your throat and tune everything else out
I trace hearts on your shoulder, smooth down a hair
Jesus died years ago, but I swear for a moment
I can see him painting us on an easel in the corner
Clementine shelters his canvas
Here, indifference was baked into my childhood brownies
I was born clutching it tight like an IV
When I lost my first tooth, I tasted it in my mouth instead of blood
Here, love and fear aren’t conjoined twins,
Split in half and told they are not the same soul
In this world, I have cried,
But never wailed
 
Back in reality,
I’m a cozy home for uncomfortable questions
TheCongratulations to Lakewood High School junior Mel Diemert on being chosen as a runner-up in the New York Times' Coming of Age in 2024 Contest! Students were asked to submit a piece of writing or art in response to the question, “What can you show or tell us to help explain what it’s like to grow up in this political moment?” Mel's piece of poetry was chosen from among 1,600 entries from across the nation! 


 

Over the five months that we have engaged the Elementary Planning Task Force and the community through our Community Conversations about a possible reconfiguration of our elementary schools, many questions have arisen regarding the process. Hopefully, the Frequently Asked Questions below will bring some clarity.

Our next steps include gathering input from the community survey, which is open through Feb. 2, and reconvening the task force for four more meetings beginning in February. The survey is available on our website at www.lakewoodcityschools.org or you can scan the QR code on this page. More information regarding the task force can be found on our website's Elementary Planning Task Force page.

Lakewood City Schools' Kindergarten Parent Information Night will be held Thursday, Jan. 30, 2024, from 6:30-8 pm in the Grant Elementary School cafeteria. Students must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 30, 2025 in order to be eligible to enter kindergarten in Fall 2025.The program will include a presentation from the Department of Teaching & Learning on details about the curriculum and the registration process Registration for the 2025-2026 school year also begins on Jan. 30. Preschool registration for 2025-2026 is open now.

Join The Lakewood Project as they pay tribute to Women who Rock! The “Just a Girl” Concert is set for Saturday, Jan. 25 at 7pm in the Civic Auditorium. The concert will feature music by Fleetwood Mac, Blondie, Cyndi Lauper, Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks, The Bangles, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and more. This is a great way to spend a Saturday night with your family. Enjoying music, singing and dancing and celebrating the talented student musicians of The Lakewood Project electric rock orchestra! See ticket prices below:

Pre Sale Adults $8.00
Pre Sale Students $5.00
Day of Adults $10.00
Students $8.00

Visit www.lakewoodcityschools.org to purchase tickets.

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I am incredibly proud to share some of the amazing accomplishments that the court achieved this past year. It is challenging at times to meet our set goals, particularly with the significant increase in new case filings. For example, in March 2022, the court processed 503 new cases that month, compared to March 2023 which showed an increase to 599 new cases, and in March 2024, the new case filings jumped to 715. Despite the growing caseload, we are working harder than ever to maintain timely and efficient case flow.

In April 2024, the court launched the newly improved, modernized, and user-friendly court website after a complete overhaul. The website now provides a more mobile friendly outlook, provides more functionality for docket searches and payment of traffic tickets. Also, there is an embedded form for users to directly contact the court. Present day, individuals have better access to court information by computer or their phone if they choose not to visit in person.

May 2024 was full of excitement when the court learned it was awarded the Ohio Supreme Court’s Technology Grant for $150,000! Cumulatively, the court is now the recipient of $575,000 in grant funding within a two-year period. Courts throughout Ohio applied for the coveted technology grant, and Lakewood Court was one of only eight courts selected to receive the maximum $150,000 award. I am grateful to the Ohio Supreme Court for recognizing our essential need to improve technology.

You may recall from a previous article, the court was awarded a grant for $425,000 in January 2022, which was scheduled to close on December 31, 2024. I am pleased that we strategically and wisely utilized the grant funds. Those grant monies allowed the court to purchase necessary equipment for the staff, to improve court operations, which included the cost to have the Cuyahoga County Public Defender office on site daily for indigent defendants, and to help defray the cost of a new case management system to replace the current obsolete system. The Clerk’s Office staff received individual desk scanners, and laptops were purchased for administrative staff. Then in July 2024, the self-service check-in AdGators kiosk was installed in the court lobby. This kiosk was made possible because of the grant award. Individuals that appear for their criminal, traffic, and civil cases, simply check-in at the kiosk upon their arrival; the real time notification is immediately sent to the appropriate staff. The kiosk is extremely efficient. It is a resource for users, and it eliminates staff members taking time from their daily work to conduct the check-in process. 

Romance will rule at the Blue Cafe, 15715 Madison Avenue, Lakewood on Saturday, February 15th, 10am, when noted local singer/songwriter Congito Jaffe returns to the Blue Cafe to serenade listeners soulful original music of timeless romance. Congito's melodic vision is enhanced by the enchanting lyrical poetic vision of his  lyricist, the noted poet Lady Ives of Rocky River. Congito's vocal and guitar stylings bring her lyrics to life in the warm intimate setting of the Blue Cafe. 

As Shakespeare noted, "Music be the food of love." Do come feast at the Blue Cafe for this much anticipated seasonal event.

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Loving Lakewood: Tuned In For Community tickets are on sale now! Both VIP and General Admission tickets are available for purchase through our website, so secure yours before they sell out!

Sponsored byCleveland Property Management Group, the event will take place Saturday, February 22 at the Lakewood Masonic Temple (15300 Detroit Ave.) from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m. The theme of our 12th annual fundraising event is classic television!

Featuring delicious food, refreshing beverages, a live auction, games and activities, a DJ, and more, it's set to be an unforgettable evening. Both VIP and General Admission tickets are available. It’s all about creating a sense of community—think of it as our own “studio audience“ joining together for a good cause! 

VIP Ticket includes:

• Early entrance at 6:30 p.m.
• Access to preferred (first come, first served) free parking
• An open bar for the first hour
• 2 additional drink tokens (4 drink tokens total)
• A chance to enter into the VIP-only raffle drawing
• Plus all the General Admission offerings

General Admission Ticket includes:

• 2 drink tokens
• Heavy appetizers
• Access to all of our retro-TV themed activities and games!

Happy New Year! As we welcome in 2025, I hope that everyone enjoyed the holiday season and enters the new year refreshed and hopeful. I always look forward to this time as an opportunity to reflect on the past year’s accomplishments. 

For Lakewood, the past 12 months have been full of positive momentum. We continued to provide high quality services to our residents, maintain excellent fiscal stewardship of tax dollars, keep our city safe and attractive, and made strategic investments in key quality of life assets and major infrastructure initiatives. Below are some highlights for our community from 2024.

Finalizing Downtown Development Agreement: In December, the final version of the development agreement for the former Lakewood Hospital site was approved, allowing construction to break ground in the first half of 2025. The project will introduce the largest number of new housing units in over four decades to our city, while adding 25,000 square feet of retail, building a 536-space parking garage, restoring the historic Curtis Block building, and creating a new 17,000 square foot public plaza and community space where Lakewood can gather. 

Safety Initiatives: The City continued to holistically invest in safety initiatives and policies. After a multi-year study, the speed limit on Lake Avenue was reduced by 5 MPH to 30, which should help with safety across the board, including cars, bikes, and pedestrians. The City purchased new state of the art radios for our fire and police departments with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. The new devices boast advanced features facilitating seamless communication within their respective departments and with surrounding public safety agencies and bring our safety forces up to best-in-class radio equipment. The City also celebrated the graduation of itsfirst Citizens’ Police Academy class in years. Over 20 residents completed the program, which builds bridges andfosters understanding, trust, and cooperation through immersive experiences.

January

Our State Representative, Michael Skindell of Lakewood decided not to seek re-election. Lakewood Councilman Tristan Rader stepped up to run for the seat. Issue 2 allowing marijuana use and regulation passed in the previous election, however it left much confusion as how to implement the law in Lakewood.

We saw the brand new expanded Refuse/Recycling Center open, making it a breeze to drive through and discard just about everything at different stations with upgraded equipment. Sarah Kepple was elected President of City Council making Lakewood the largest city in Ohio to have women at the helm of all three branches of government.

February

Our brilliant minds were once again featured on Academic Challenge. Rowan Brown, Yasmin Elhachdani, and Shannon Katzenberger revved up our Ranger Pride and went on to win! We went back down to visit East Palestine. We witnessed how the train derailment from the previous year completely devastated the town with little chance of recovery. It could happen here. The same toxic chemicals that were spilled, routinely travel through Lakewood.

Tristan Rader is sworn-in as Ohio House Rep District 13 by Lakewood Judge Tess Neff

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Tristan Rader was sworn in as State Representative for Ohio’s 13th District in a small private ceremony on January 1st. Known for his dedication to sustainability, healthcare equity, and community progress, Rader shared his enthusiasm for the work ahead. “Our district deserves leadership that fights for healthcare justice, environmental preservation, and economic opportunity for all,” he stated.

Happy New Year Neighbors!

Vince Robinson

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The Lakewood Black Caucus Kwanzaa celebration was held on Saturday, December 28th, which was the third day of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is a secular celebration of heritage based on seven principles founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Kwanzaa began the day after Christmas on December 26th and ended on January 1st. Families and communities came together to share a feast, to honor the ancestors, affirm the bonds between them, and to celebrate African and African American culture.

We began with an opening song, Lift Every Voice and Sing, by James Weldon Johnson. The lyrics of Lift Every Voice and Sing serve as a reminder for Black Americans that each generation has had to lift their voices, along with those within their community, to demand and protect their human rights. The celebration ended with a raffle and prizes and a community meal consisting of traditional African American soul food and desserts.

Guest speaker, Vince Robinson, is a multi-disciplinary artist and TV and radio talk show host and owner of Larchmere Arts, Cleveland. Vendor and artist, Alsie Clay, owner of Artisan’s Treasure, Euclid, provided a stunning piece of art to one of the raffle winners.

ARIES: The Ram focuses this month on careers; for 2025, let’s focus on finishing something. You know you’re great at starting things but not so good at follow-through. Just Do It!

What makes Lakewood so great?

Carolers at O'Neill Healthcare Lakewood

Each year, O’Neill Healthcare proudly hosts a cherished tradition across all six of its locations: the Annual Holiday Dinners. These special evenings are designed to bring together our residents and their closest family members or friends for a night of joy and holiday celebration. The events reflect the welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere that O’Neill Healthcare embodies as a family-owned and operated company for over six decades.

The dinners are a true collaborative effort, showcasing the dedication and care of our staff. Upon arrival, residents and their guests are welcomed into our festively decorated facilities, where tables are reserved to provide a comfortable dining experience and residents and guests are served dinner by our staff members.

The homemade meals that are served are prepared by our talented kitchen staff at each holiday dinner location. Some of the delicious food that was served at our homes included short rib, chicken marsala, homemade cheesecake dessert, and our Lakewood location even a special carving station. The menus are thoughtfully crafted, offering delicious dishes that bring a sense of comfort and tradition to the occasion.

To add to the festive ambiance, our homes feature a variety of live entertainment throughout the evening. This year, residents and guests enjoyed performances from talented musicians, including pianists, violinists, and string instrumentalists, as well as vocalists. There were even a group of carolers from a local church at our Lakewood location who volunteered their evening. The live music creates an atmosphere of joy, filling the rooms with holiday cheer. In addition to the joyous atmosphere, the evenings are also filled with photo opportunities and interactions with Santa Claus or even the Grinch! Residents, families, and guests are delighted in capturing memories with these holiday characters.

An example of bad boating

According to the ODNR (Ohio Department of Natural Resources), in 2023, there were 34,431 registered vessels in Cuyahoga County. The top two causes of fatalities on Ohio waterways both in 2022 and 2023 were falls overboard and capsizing with the known cause of death being drowning: 2022, 12 drownings and 2023, 10 drownings.  In Ohio anyone born on or after January 1, 1982 and operating a vessel with an engine 10 horsepower or more is required to complete a NASBLA (National Association State Boating Law Adminstrators) safe boating course.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 75 is offering two upcoming safe boating courses at Lakewood High School.

 Both classes will run from Thursday, January 30-Thursday, April 3 from 7:00-9:00 at Lakewood High School. Both classes include Boat America course material which will qualify students for the Oho boater card. Possible insurance discount.
 
Boating Skills & Seamanship  - Thursday, January 30-April 3, 2025–materials $45. Powerboat oriented. Boat handling skills and safety training including boating nomenclature, VHF marine radio procedures, navigation rules, etc.

Ron Blondeauex, a longtime Lakewood resident, has lived a life rich in service, love, and community. He and his twin brother, Don, moved from farm country in Pennsylvania to Cleveland, eventually settling in Lakewood at age 13. After graduating from St. Edward High School, Ron was drafted into the Army. He and Don ended up in basic training together, with Don stationed in Germany while Ron served in Vietnam, overseeing security for a transportation company during a challenging time.

In 1969, Ron met his wife on a blind date arranged by Don’s then-girlfriend.They married soon after and have lived in the same Lakewood home for 55 years, raising three children and now enjoying two granddaughters. Their son and his wife also foster three young siblings, further strengthening the family bond.

Ron spent his working career as a millwright apprentice at Alcoa Aluminum before transitioning to a forklift road mechanic, covering the northeast region of Ohio. After retiring, he returned to work as a bus driver for Lakefront Lines. For two years, Ron drove 48 kids on a West Coast tour, starting in Colorado, traveling through the West, up to Canada, and down to San Diego. He'd drive from Cleveland to Colorado, pick up the kids, and continue the journey. The kids affectionately nicknamed him the "Best Grandpa Driver." Later, he worked as a truck driver for Margus Construction Co. and served as the mechanic for their equipment and tools.

Outside of work, Ron enjoyed building trailers from discarded parts and helping neighbors with projects like rebuilding decks and porches. His craftsmanship and generosity can be seen in many homes along his street.

For high school seniors who live in Lakewood. Lakewood Kiwanis have scholarships to award.

Family Weekend Wonders 

The Lakewood City School District is considering repurposing 1-2 elementary schools due to low enrollment. Many parents are aware of this issue, and the community at large should pay attention as well so we can preserve the distinct assets that constitute Lakewood. 

Noel

The Citizens Committee for Lakewood's Animals and Shelter (CCLAS) is hoping to find a loving home for an adorable dog named Noel.

Rock salt distribution boxes are back at Kauffman, Madison, Cove, Lakewood Park as well as the Lakewood Dog Park for Winter 2024-2025. Residents may take home up to 5 gallons of salt for personal use on driveways and sidewalks.

Interested residents must bring their own shovel and bucket and load the salt themselves.

Please remember to secure the cover after use to help prevent the salt from hardening due to rain/moisture!

I am excited to share some important updates on the downtown development process for the former Lakewood Hospital site. On Monday, Lakewood City Council approved a formal development deal negotiated between the City and the private development team of CASTO Communities and North Pointe Realty. This agreement spells out the final terms of the project and will allow construction to begin in the first half of 2025.

This agreement is a significant win for Lakewood on multiple levels, meeting the goals that our community set out during the initial visioning process. This development will bring with it hundreds of housing units with diverse options; thousands of feet of new commercial space; new jobs and income tax revenue; a welcoming public space; high quality architectural and environmental design; historic preservation of the Curtis Block; and increased activity in the heart of Downtown Lakewood.

Key aspects of the development include:

Housing: 305 total units of housing, including 293 new apartment units (including a number of affordable units) spread across three buildings, five fully renovated units in the Curtis Block, and seven townhomes on Belle Avenue;

Commercial: approximately 25,000 square feet of new ground floor retail in addition to the renovation of the Curtis Block historic first floor retail space, all of which will add new energy to Lakewood’s already bustling downtown business district;

Outdoor Community Space: a 17,000 square foot plaza and community space (situated between the Curtis Block and the five-story mixed-used building at Belle and Detroit) that will be used for frequent public events and gatherings. This plaza is in addition to a similar sized new public pocket park further south in the development and a linear park along Belle Avenue;

Dear Neighbors,

Meet The Author- "Family of Choice: Raising Each Other" by Corky Thacker 

Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Main Library Auditorium 

Family of Choice: Raising Each Other, draws on the author’s three decades of experience in the recovery community as well as her interest in roses and vintage homes (the first garden she created was featured in This Old House magazine). Books will be available for sale and signing at the event. 

Film- "A Cloud Never Dies" (2022)  Directed by Max Pugh 

Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.  Main Library Auditorium 

A new biographical documentary of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, this film weaves together original film and photographic archives, telling the story of a humble young Vietnamese monk and poet whose wisdom and compassion were forged in the suffering of war. 

Barbara Steffek-Hill Five-Star Matinee- "L.A. Confidentia"l (1997) 

Sunday, January 5, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. Main Library Auditorium 

With the backdrop of postwar Hollywood’s glitz and glamour setting the stage, three LAPD detectives struggle to tie together the mysterious threads of a massacre that may shake the Department—and the three men—to their core. Starring Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce and Kevin Spacey. Rotten Tomatoes recently declared L.A. Confidential the #1 movie of all time. 

Family Weekend Wonders 

Looking for weekend entertainment for the whole family? Look no further! Drop in to the Library's special weekend story time. Your whole family will enjoy these programs full of enthusiastic stories, engaging activities, entertaining music and clever crafts. Family Weekend Wonders Drop-In Story Time is offered every weekend throughout the year and features a different theme each week to keep things engaging. No registration is required. 

Main Library- Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.  

Madison Branch- Fridays at 10:30 a.m. 

Winter Storytimes begin January 6, 2025 

Just Baby 'N Me 

For You and Your Birth to 24-Month-Old Baby 

Just Baby 'N Me is a lap-sit story time ideal for babies from birth through early walkers. The focus is on rhymes, songs, finger plays and exploring short books together. No registration is required.   

Main Library-  

Mondays- 10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.  

"’Twas the Night Before..." by Cirque du Soleil, a holiday show that blends acrobatics, magic, and festive cheer.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Healthy Lakewood Foundation, four seniors from Lakewood’s Division of Aging enjoyed a memorable afternoon at Playhouse Square. They were treated to a performance of "’Twas the Night Before..." by Cirque du Soleil, a holiday show that blends acrobatics, magic, and festive cheer.

The group was mesmerized by the breathtaking stunts, stunning costumes, and the reimagined Christmas classic. The 90-minute show was filled with high-energy performances that had the audience fully engaged, and our group was no exception. The performers encouraged audience participation, making the experience even more exciting.

After the show, the group headed to Hofbräuhaus Cleveland for a festive meal. The lively atmosphere and delicious food provided the perfect ending to an unforgettable day. The group shared their favorite moments from the performance, enjoying good conversation and a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

I grew up eating these, every year my Aunt Jo would welcome everyone that could possibly squeeze around her kitchen table to help her roll these cookies out. Some of us were better than others, and that just added to the fun of it. She could always tell which ones my mom rolled, telling her to not be so rough with the dough!

I really didn't care for the flavor that much when I was young. Anise is a acquired taste that you come to appreciate as you get older. Sambuca anyone? It tastes like black licorice, and people love it or hate it. You can always substitute lemon or almond extract if you're a licorice hater. It was more about the tradition, and the time spent with family and friends you adored. Telling stories and making jokes while cranking out hundreds and hundreds of cookies.

I haven't made these in too many years to mention, but I'm finding myself craving them to go with my morning coffee this season. They are especially good dunked.

I hope you enjoy them as well and add them to your holiday treats.
Here is my Aunt Josephine's recipe cut down to approximately 6 dozen instead of the 30 that she used to do every year.

For the cookie dough:
2  3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
2 ½ teaspoons of baking powder
¼ tsp of salt
3/4 cup of granulated sugar
1 stick of melted butter (Do not use margarine or butter substitute)
2 large eggs (room temperature)
¼ cup whole milk
1 tsp of anise extract (or lemon, almond, or even vanilla)

For the glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
5-8 teaspoons of milk
1 tsp of whichever extract you put in the dough
nonpareils / sprinkles for decorating

Preheat oven to 325°

Dan Taylor is a social worker by day and a science enthusiast all other times. Lucky for us, twice a month, he shares his passion for science with seniors through "Science with Dan." He’s worked for the Department of Human Services for 22 years, and he’s a proud Lakewood native and Lakewood High School graduate.

"Science with Dan" started during the pandemic as a way to stay connected, originally held via Zoom. Dan's enthusiasm for science quickly made his program a big hit. What started with just a few people has now grown to over 20 attendees at each session.

The program started with basic science headlines but quickly expanded due to popular demand. Now, Dan covers everything from the latest science news about the Nazca Lines to fun pseudo-science topics like Mothman, Bigfoot, and other mysteries. Though he often debunks myths, he has a special place for Bigfoot—he wants to believe!

Dan’s passion for space science started when he was a child. A glow-in-the-dark star chart from National Geographic inspired him to dream of becoming an astronomer. Although he pursued a career in social work with seniors, his love for science remains strong, and Science with Dan gives him a chance to share that passion with others.

The Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County offers valuable resources to help Cuyahoga County residents navigate the stress and emotional challenges that can arise during the holiday season. It’s annual “Coping with the Holidays” guide provides practical tips for reducing holiday-related anxiety and managing difficult emotions such as grief or loss.

This year's guide includes strategies for setting boundaries, prioritizing self-care and planning celebrations that align with personal needs and financial constraints. Specialized sections address topics such as managing seasonal affective disorder (SAD), supporting children and older adults during the holidays, and creating recovery-friendly environments for those overcoming addiction.

Recognizing that the holidays can amplify stress and mental health struggles, this booklet highlights the importance of reaching out for support. An ADAMHS Board partner, FrontLine Service provides access to services like the 24-hour Warm Line (440-886-5950), where trained peer supporters offer a listening ear, and 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, where callers can get urgent support and immediate assistance with mental health or addiction-related emergencies.

Meet Gummy Bear aka “collar #3589” This 2-year-old girl has the softest fur and the sweetest demeanor! You might wonder why we named her Gummy Bear. Well, it’s because she's toothless and often playfully sticks her little tongue out. It’s pretty cute! Gummy Bear loves humans, but other cats not so much so she would need to be in a one-cat household.

Meet Mila aka “collar #3605” This beautiful 3-year-old lady is a German Shepherd and husky mix. Mila loves going on long leisurely walks and cuddling afterward. She’s a little love bug. Mila has unique and stunning eyes that really make her standout! She has a very calm and gentle demeanor and would be the perfect companion!

Visit Gummy Bear, Mila, and the other animals at the Lakewood Animal Shelter located at 1299 Metropark Drive, just past the Dog Park. Contact the shelter at (216) 529-5020. 

Abel Sisco

Congratulations to Lincoln Elementary fourth grader Abel Sisco on winning the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce's annual "Why I Love Lakewood" contest! Abel earned the right to join Santa to flip the switch on the city holiday lights at Light Up Lakewood Dec. 7. He also read his essay at the event. 

Why I Love Lakewood
By Abel Sisco

Lakewood is more than just where I live, it’s where I feel at home. There are so many reasons to love it, but three stand out the most to me: the food, the parks, and all the amazing people. I’m excited to share what makes Lakewood so special and why it will always hold a piece of my heart!

When it comes to food, Lakewood has something for everyone, but my favorites are Barrio, Master Pizza, and Malley’s. Barrio is the place to go for delicious tacos you can custom order, with toppings as crazy as you want them. Master Pizza’s Cleveland Crimp crust is perfectly crispy and full of flavor. And walking into Malley’s is like stepping into a candy filled wonderland. Nothing beats hopping on my bike with friends and riding over to Malley’s for a sweet ice cream treat on a sunny day. These places don’t just serve food, they’re where fun, flavor, and community come together.

Next, Lakewood’s parks are some of my favorite places to spend time. Lakewood Park is a standout with its wide open spaces, playgrounds, and sunsets that stretch across Lake Erie like a painter’s brush stroke of warm colors. It’s where families gather, friends laugh, and memories are made. Kaufmann Park is another gem, especially for sports and playing in the water is a perfect way to spend a hot summer afternoon. Then there’s Webb Park, a quieter spot that feels like a secret escape. It’s the perfect place to relax, read, or enjoy a picnic under the shade of the trees. Every park in Lakewood has its own charm, and together they make the city a place where adventure and nature are always close by.

Congratulations to the 10 Harding Middle School students whose artwork is now on display as at the main branch of Lakewood Public Library! Last night, friends and family attended the opening gallery walk to view the exceptional pieces. The art of Rio Blaze, Cecilia Collins, Caitlyn Fegely, Fiona Forni, Lillian Gingerich, T'Honest Holloway, Myroslav Pasternak, Braydon Raycher, Chloe Scharfield and Lily Swift will be on display for the next two weeks. And shout out to Mr. Vargas, Harding's amazing art teacher!

Garfield Middle School's BRIDGES students have been learning about local government and what a better way to wrap up the unit than with a trip to City Hall!

Students were able to relate their learning to real world situations. The visit helped to foster the Vision of a Lakewood Ranger competency in global awareness and Citizenship as our students met with Mayor Meghan George, Judge Tess Neff, Officer Justin Jameson and Councilwoman Cindy Marx.

We appreciate everyone at City Hall who helped make this a memorable experience!

Wishing everyone health, happiness and peace from our house to yours!

Nickie and Jean

Voting Process:
Today, December 18, we are posting links to the nominated homes and asking people to vote. 
You can vote three ways:
1)
Follow these links to view all nominated homes and then vote on your top three.

2)
View all nominated homes at www.lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs.
Return to the home page and click on Daily Question, enter three different homes by the number associated with the photo.

3)
You can snail mail your votes to: Lakewood Observer, PO Box 770203, Lakewood, Ohio 44107.

The voting process ends December 25th, any votes received after will not be counted. Votes will be tabulated at midnight on December 30th, and announced on
January 1st. The top winner will appear on the front page of the next issue of the Lakewood Observer on January 8th. 

During this time of turmoil, political upheaval and social division, let’s work together to make this the best possible holiday season for everyone. Good luck and thank you to all who decorate for your family and neighbors.

May the spirit of the holiday season be with you all year long. 

Cindy Marx
Ward 4
Council Representative

Season’s Greetings from our family to yours! May your holidays be merry, your lights untangled, and your relatives slightly less opinionated this year!

Tristan and Caitlin Rader

Wishing everyone in Ward 2 and beyond the very happiest of holiday seasons, and a wonderful New Year. I look forward to engaging with you all in 2025. Best wishes to all! 

Cheers! 

Bryan Evans 

City Council, Ward 2 

L to R: Andrew Harant holding Agnes, Quinlan, Sarah Kepple petting Tonks

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season!

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On December 4th, Senate Democratic Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) celebrated the Ohio Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 290, which would create the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library license plate.



“I am proud to have the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library license plate pass unanimously out of the Senate,” said Antonio. "As a parent and former educator, I have been pleased to work with the governor on this important piece of legislation that will benefit children across the state. I also want to thank Ohio’s First Lady Fran DeWine for championing this program.”



Residents of Ohio will have the opportunity to buy a special license plate with Dolly Parton and an Imagination Library logo for $25, with the proceeds benefiting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio. The funds will be used to cover operational expenses, such as book distribution. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has provided one free book a month to Ohio kids aged 0-5 since 2019.



A study conducted by the Cincinnati Children's Hospital found that kids who participated in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library saw a 15.4% increase in Kindergarten Readiness Assessment in just three years from 42.9% to 58.3%. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, brought by First Lady Fran DeWine, was a primary focus in Governor DeWine’s State of the State Address given this year.



Seasons Greeting from Councilman Bullock & Family

Dear Lakewood Neighbors,

Seasons greetings, and best wishes to you and yours for a peaceful, joy-filled holiday season and a happy new year!

Sincerely, Tom & Molly Bullock and family

On December 11th,  Senate Democratic Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) celebrated the General Assembly’s passage of Senate Bill 100, her bill with state Senator Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) to prohibit the installation of an electronic tracking device on someone else’s property without their consent.



“I am pleased to see Senate Bill 100 make its way through both the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support,” said Antonio. “Ohioans deserve to have their fundamental rights to privacy protected, and our laws must reflect the changing environment created by emerging technology.”



The Senate concurred with House amendments that included strengthening the definition of ‘tracking device’, authorizing law enforcement to collect oral fluid

Sustainability Manager Jill Bartolotta and Councilman Tristan Rader proudly accept the Clean Energy Community Award for Lakewood.

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On December 11th, the City of Lakewood received the Clean Energy Community Award at the Power A Clean Future Ohio (PCFO) Clean Energy Champions Awards ceremony in Columbus. Jill Bartolotta, Lakewood's sustainability manager, and I proudly accepted this award, highlighting our community’s commitment to clean energy and sustainability.

This award celebrates Lakewood’s completion of its Climate Action Plan—a bold roadmap for a cleaner, greener future. Through collaborative efforts, we have made significant progress toward ambitious goals, including achieving 100% renewable energy, expanding EV charging infrastructure, and saving taxpayer dollars through energy efficiency measures like transitioning to LED streetlights.

While completing the Climate Action Plan is a major milestone, it also marks the beginning of the next chapter. Together, we’ve implemented initiatives such as a 100% renewable energy aggregation program and solar arrays on city buildings. These efforts not only reduce emissions but also save money and set an example for other communities.

As I prepare to leave city government at the end of this month, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. It’s been an honor to help lay the groundwork for renewable energy programs and advocate for sustainability initiatives that will benefit our city for years to come.