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Patty Ryan was a 33-year citizen of Lakewood. She had been the CEO of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce until July of last year, having to resign due to health reasons. Patty had been diagnosed in 2016 with breast cancer, and succumbed to this disease this past Saturday. 

Patty was not a native to Lakewood. She grew up in Findlay, Ohio, went to Miami University, and in 1990 she and her husband Jamer moved to Lakewood when his job was transferred here from Indianapolis. She got her Masters in Human Resources and Labor Relations from Cleveland State in 1993, but stayed home to raise her 3 daughters, a husband, and three Golden Retrievers. That didn’t mean she wasn’t working for her community. Patty was involved in Pre-school PTA, Sunday school at St. James Parish, and was instrumental in starting the Lakewood Toy Lending Library. She volunteered at Lakewood Catholic Academy and was for years a Girl Scout leader.  There are about 20 growing trees covering Arthur Avenue from a private purchase she organized in 1995 when the older trees on the street began to fall. 

In April, changes went into effect in Ohio to the record sealing and expungement law. This allows even more people to be eligible than before. 

The first change was clarifying the true definitions of “record sealing” and “expungement.” An expungement erases a criminal record. The record will be almost non-existent to most public and all private entities. When a person’s record is sealed, they are not obligated to reveal a conviction when applying for a job and depending upon the nature of the job, most employers will not be able to see the criminal record.  Some public entities may be able to see the sealed record. In both cases, once a case has been sealed or expunged, the conviction is viewed as never happening.  

Other changes to the record sealing and expungement law are the expanded list of offenses that are now eligible and shortened wait times to be eligible to apply.  

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The City of Lakewood, Ohio - Municipal Government and the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission are working together on creating a Madison Park Master Plan and yesterday they turned to experts on what makes a good park: the kids!

As part of the community engagement process, Harrison students were asked about their likes and dislikes when it comes to park features. Splash pad? Yes! Fitness course? Yes! Picnic pavilion? Maybe. Students loved adding their input for the future shape of this neighborhood resource.

Freshman defensive specialist Addison Garrett delivered the clutch hit against Akron.

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5/11/23  Lakewood vs. Akron
 
Poetry imitated softball today, and when all was written the unlikeliest of players—freshman defensive specialist Addison Garrett—had delivered the clutch hit (a sixth inning single scoring Ella Bower, who had led off with a single) to propel the Lakewood Rangers to a hard fought 3-2 OHSAA Tournament win over Akron Firestone. Addison was pressed into batting duty due to a spate of recent injuries, but who would have known that while watching her drill a run-scoring single to right center? This "surprise" was matched by the most expected of efforts—a complete game by Mia Carroll-Greeves. The record setting all-star pitcher and the solid roll player were the main authors of this poem. But it's a team game, and everyone chipped in

Not to be overlooked was the play of senior catcher Charlotte Beno—the best catcher in the GLC and the consummate student athlete. A National Honor Society officer who proudly sported her OSU gear today at the NHS Breakfast, Charlotte gunned down a would-be base stealer with a perfect throw to sure-handed shortstop Kylee Blinky in the top of the 6th to snuff out a Firestone rally. She also doubled and scored on Mia's double in the first inning to get the Rangers on the board. Grace Hart, yet another NHS officer (University of Cincinnati), walked several times, helping advance runners that eventually scored.

They needed everything today, and the Lakewood defense met the challenge and then some. Second baseman Gaby Carroll-Greeves made multiple fine plays, as did first baseman Ella Bower. Fittingly, the final out occurred when Gaby, steady as they go, fielded a grounder and calmly threw to Ella to send the Rangers and their nerve-racked fans home with smiles all around.

Dear Lakewood Families:

The Lakewood City School District is fortunate to have a long history of support and partnership with our families and community in supporting our mission of developing responsible citizens, who are critical and creative thinkers, committed to life-long learning, invested in a diverse society, and prepared for technological and global opportunities. The community support has included the building of excellent educational and athletic facilities for our students’ and community members’ growth and development. 

As educational leaders, we have a responsibility to care for, protect, and maintain our facilities and buildings. Additionally, we have the responsibility to periodically review the use of them and the role they play in helping us achieve our mission in ways that are financially responsible, sustainable, and provide the greatest opportunities for our students’ growth. 

In February, the District began working with the architectural firm GPD Group to conduct a facilities study in order to assess the current use of our facilities and explore opportunities to maximize our resources. This study includes the establishment of a Facility Study Task Force to provide feedback and develop recommendations for facility improvements. The task force, composed of staff members, administrators, parents, city officials and community members, has been meeting regularly with GPD to understand existing building conditions and use and review educational programming needs and enrollment projections. This process includes an examination of possible options for how we may use or repurpose our existing facilities in order to effectively and efficiently serve our students now and in the future. 

Finding the perfect location for filming can be a daunting task, but when we were recommended the 5 O'Clock Lounge, we knew we had struck gold. With its inviting atmosphere and versatile spaces, the 5 O'Clock Lounge proved to be the ultimate backdrop for our upcoming film. The bar was brimming with character, and was the perfect location for our custom made alcohol bottles. We knew we had found the perfect setting for our film.

Not only did the 5 O'Clock Lounge provide us with a stunning backdrop for our birthday scene, but its concert area in the back also offered a second versatile location for the film. We cannot recommend the 5 O'Clock Lounge enough. Its welcoming atmosphere and accommodating staff made filming a joyous and seamless experience. We are grateful to Angelo and the 5 O'Clock Lounge for opening their doors to us, and to the city of Lakewood for providing us with such an amazing place to film. Mark your calendars! Our film, "Calendar," will be screening on May 27th at 7:30 pm, at Atlas Lakeshore 7 (22624 Lakeshore Blvd, Euclid, OH 44123). Don't miss your chance to see the 5 O'Clock Lounge and Lakewood on the big screen.

Nick Muhlbach is the Director and Executive Producer of “Calendar.”

Aesthtic Oscar Wilde

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On Saturday, June 3rd at 7:00 p.m. in the Wright Chapel of the Lakewood Presbyterian Church WordStage Literary Concerts presents an intriguing program about the visits Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker made (on separate occasions) to the then controversial American Poet Walt Whitman.     

Currently, the Healthy Lakewood Foundation (HLF) has one open position on its Board of Directors. As part of an ongoing self-evaluation process, the HLF Board is prioritizing the recruitment and nomination of a young person of color (ages 21-35) to join its Board of Directors.

HLF holds as a core value that the diversity of its members and partners is one of its greatest assets.  By recruiting and supporting members with diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, skills, and areas of knowledge, the Board seeks to engage a range of perspectives to address the challenges and opportunities encountered in grantmaking. The board recognizes that greater understanding is possible among those who bring diverse perspectives and lenses through which to examine issues and opportunities.

HLF takes seriously its responsibility to create a culture that honors and supports each member’s inherent value, contributions, and perspectives. The HLF board and staff are responsible for ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are central pillars of its governance.

At this time, only Lakewood residents can be considered for this open position in order to maintain a board composition whereby at least 2/3 of members are Lakewood residents per the organization’s by-laws. 

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Meet the Author – "Akron’s Infamous Escort Case"

Book by Jane Bond

Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.

Main Library Auditorium

“Operation Red Light” was launched by a special unit to investigate two escort services in Akron. "Akron’s Infamous Escort Case" is the true story of a crime investigation that destroyed careers, ruined reputations, broke up marriages, led to allegations of police corruption and challenged the justice system. Author Jane Bond is the former judge who presided over this complex case in the late 1990’s which has left many unanswered questions and the murder of a young woman still unsolved. Books will be available for sale and signing at this event.

Lakewood Public Cinema - "Psycho" (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)

Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.

Main Library Auditorium

A real estate office worker (Janet Leigh) has been entrusted with an envelope full of cash to take to the bank. She takes the forty grand, and then takes it on the lam. On the way to meet her boyfriend, she stops at a roadside motel. After a friendly chat with the weirdly amiable clerk (Anthony Perkins), she begins to have second thoughts. She decides to come clean and return the money. There’s nothing like a nice shower to wash away the guilt. Terry Meehan continues his series, Hitchcock’s Best (1958-1963), introducing each film with an original video followed by audience reaction and a lively discussion.

Please join the Lakewood, Bay Village, Rocky River, Westlake/North Olmsted, and Fairview Park Chapters of the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland on Tuesday, May 23 from 7-8:30P at the Lakewood Public Library (15425 Detroit Ave. Lakewood, Ohio) for a public forum. 

All Together Now Summer Reading Club

For all Children and Youth Up to Those Entering Twelfth Grade
Age appropriate goals include thirty books for our youngest children, ten hours for elementary school students and thirty hours for middle school and high school students, broken down into manageable parts to enable all readers to complete their goal. Readers may participate online and/or in person and must visit the Library to collect rewards. Finishers receive a certificate of completion and a new book to keep. Registration is required.

Friday, May 12, 2023 through Monday, August 14, 2023
Main Library and Madison Branch

Build A Bear Story Time

For Students entering Kindergarten through Second Grade
A special inclusive themed story time where students will make their own stuffed rainbow teddy bear, name their teddy bear and receive an adoption certificate. Registration is required. 
Wednesday, June 7, 2023, 11:00am - 12:00pm , Main Library Activity Room 
Thursday, June 8, 2023 / 11:00am - 12:00pm / Madison Branch Children's Program Room

Madison Branch Teen Robotics Camp

Following an initial one-year pilot period, the City of Lakewood has decided to pause participation in the Cuyahoga County Bike/Scooter Share Program.

During the pilot period, over 11,000 scooter rides took place, followed by an in-depth community survey to gather feedback, gauge support, and assess impact. Additional community input was received in the way of unsolicited emails, phone calls, and social media posts. All of this data and feedback was analyzed in detail.

The City observed sustained concerns voiced by residents and business owners alike over poor and often dangerous rider behavior as well as complaints regarding clutter and obstruction of the public right of way (especially sidewalks) and private property by rental scooters and bicycles. These concerns were seen as actually making Lakewood less pedestrian friendly. Overall, this critical feedback meaningfully outweighed positive feedback and observed benefits.

Importantly, the level of support for continuing the program seen in the community survey actually dropped by 30% when compared to a previous survey conducted before the pilot program began. These comparative statistics and the overall feedback received led the City to conclude that the program should be placed on hiatus while further planning efforts proceed to assess issues and concerns and continue to holistically explore the issue of transportation in our community.

This week is National Police Week,  a time established by President John F. Kennedy and the US Congress in 1962 as a way for us all to honor America’s law enforcement community. In Lakewood, we are fortunate to have a fantastic team of officers at the Lakewood Police Department (LPD) serving us every day and keeping us safe. Police work is not easy – the hours can be tough and the work itself can be both dangerous and demanding. I know we all appreciate what our LPD team does for the community.

While May is a special time for officers across the nation, it is also “business as usual” for the officers, who are always focused on keeping everyone safe. Locally, the Lakewood Police Department (LPD) continues to provide some excellent innovations in adding to the ways they approach police work. I’ve spoken before about things like our de-escalation and crisis intervention training, but LPD’s leadership refuses to rest on their laurels and continue bringing new ideas to their work.

Recently, LPD announced the introduction of the Safe Place Program, which partners with local Lakewood businesses willing to place the “Safe Place” sticker in their window. This allows anyone who is experiencing harassment or threats to step inside, contact police, and stay safe until officers arrive. The program is aimed at those who are frequently victims of targeted threats and violence such as our LGBTQ community. Our officers will be contacting businesses, and those interested will receive training from LPD. The Safe Place Program originated with the Seattle Police Department, and a number of others across the U.S. and beyond have begun to integrate it. I’m proud of our police department for being one of the first in the State of Ohio to adopt this program, and I urge local businesses to consider joining the effort. I know it will make a difference.

LPD also recently was awarded a significant grant from the Community West Foundation to purchase a large number of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), ensuring that all officers patrolling our streets will have one in their vehicle. This adds to our officers already carrying items such as NARCAN/Naloxone spray for overdose victims to help our safety forces be prepared for anything. I want to thank the Community West Foundation for its generosity and support and our LPD leadership for pursuing this opportunity.

The Garfield and Harding Mock Trial teams in Columbus.

Garfield and Harding middle schools participated in the statewide Middle School Mock Trial Showcase sponsored by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education on April 28. It was the first time since 2019 the showcase was held in the state courthouse in Columbus after three years of conducting the competition by Zoom. Teams from both schools won multiple "Best Attorney" and "Best Witness" awards!

Wash your car and do some good!

We are excited to share that we are partnering with Sgt. Clean Car Wash! From now through May 31, purchase a Platinum Car Wash (a $25 value) for only $15 and Lakewood Music Boosters receives half of each purchase. Car washes make great:

• Mother’s and Father’s Day gifts
• Teacher and staff thank you gifts
• Graduation gifts
• A little treat for yourself to celebrate Spring!

Please consider supporting Lakewood Music Boosters, which provides resources (programming, classroom materials, and more) to our teachers and scholarships for students for private lessons, camps, and more across all levels in the District.

By all appearances, the park is open. There are kids running around. There are adults walking the paths. There are cars and bicycles.

This was the scene on Easter Sunday. One problem: the restrooms were locked. Not such a big problem for people who came by car. They can drive home and use the bathroom. But a potential problem for those who walk to the park.

People with overactive bladders and similar afflictions are out of luck. Some will avoid going to the park that their tax dollars are paying for.

Is a park really open if the restrooms are closed?

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“Awesome weather, awesome event, awesome people!” That was how one of our student volunteers described “The Grace-est Show on Earth” which was held Saturday, May 6 on the front lawn of Grace Lutheran Church across from Madison Park. This event had a Bounce House, five princesses, Wonder Woman, Super Girl, and carnival games scattered over the lawns with prizes for every player. Hot dogs grilling, popcorn popping and lemonade served up for all the hungry families in attendance. Children bouncing, princesses telling stories, cars being raced, rings being tossed, photos being taken, and balloons being turned into animals. SO MUCH FUN!

We could not have done it without you. Shout out to our neighbors Angelo’s Pizza, 13715 Madison Ave. and Donut Pantry, 14600 Madison Ave. for their generous gifts for our prize basket drawings. Three Lakewood families were super excited to see those gift cards in their baskets. Shout out to all the volunteers from Lakewood Lutheran School, Lutheran High School West and Grace Lutheran Church.

Shout out to Fairytale Foundation, a non-profit that trains and outfits high school students to dress up and assume the role they are playing. They offer multiple characters without any additional costs. One of the princesses is a Lakewood High Student who is enrolled in the Career-Tech Early Childhood program. As a non-profit, Fairytale Foundation donates the fee they charge for attending your event to a charity of your choice. We selected the Lakewood Community Service Center to be the recipient of the donation.

Shout out to all the families that came to the carnival. It was nice to meet you. If you weren’t there, you were missed. But we’ll see you next year.

Left to Right
Maggie McGann, Alexandra Horton, Grace Lamparyk, Ryanne Eisnaugle, Samantha Hudak, Cassidy Cipollo, Madeline Kratz, Madalynne Sorge, Jaxon Riley, and Bert Wirtz (in photo)

Trumpets .....

Lakewood Kiwanis Scholarship Foundation is proud to announce our 2023 recipients for this year’s graduating high school seniors. The following 15 graduates are being awarded fourteen $10,000 and one $5000 for vocational, for their academic, citizenship and leadership abilities. Thank you to all the applicants. This scholarship fund is funded through the efforts of The Kiwanis Club of Lakewood. The Lakewood Kiwanis Swing Dance and legacy donations were just two of our major fundraisers.

The winners of the 2023 Lakewood Kiwanis Scholarships are: Lauren Barber - Lakewood HS, Ethan Brown - St Ignatius HS,  Cassidy Cipollo - Home School & Tri C College Credit Plus Program, Ryanne Eisnaugle - Lakewood HS, Alexandra Horton - Lakewood HS, Samantha Hudak - Lakewood HS, Madeline Kratz - Lakewood HS, Grace Lamparyk - Lakewood HS, Brendan Litten - St Edward HS, Maggie McGann - Lakewood HS, Jaxson Riley - Lakewood HS, Jordan Rossen - Lakewood HS, Madalynne Sorge - Lakewood HS, Lydia Watkins - Lakewood HS,  ($5000) Bert Wirtz  - St Ignatius HS.

The Kiwanis Club of Lakewood is the leading service organization in Lakewood and last year we celebrated 100 years of service. Along with our scholarships, we also support Lakewood High Key Club, Harding Builders Club, K Kids Club’s at Grant, Horace Mann, and Horizon B&A Care at Harrison and Emerson. #KidsNeedKiwanis

Anna Bacho is a member of Lakewood Kiwanis.

Rabbi Enid Lader

Lakewoodite Rabbi Enid Lader is retiring from being the spiritual leader of Beth Israel – The West Temple, located in Cleveland’s west side, effective June 20, 2023. Rabbi Rachel Brown will take over beginning July 1, 2023.

During the weekend of May 19th and 20th, Shabbat services will have live musical performances, Friday evening Musical Erev Shabbat Service featuring the Ross Family String Quartet & Festive Oneg and Saturday Shabbat Morning Service with members of the Afro-Semitic Experience & Kiddush. The weekend celebration concludes with a retirement party with music by the Yiddishe Cup Klezmer Band.

Rabbi Lader served in her current role for thirteen years. In addition to serving Cleveland’s west side Jewish community, she was involved with many multifaith groups that provided her with a platform to share a Jewish perspective with people who are non-Jews. Lader is a social justice activist involved in RAC Ohio, a coalition of Reform clergy across Ohio and Greater Cleveland Congregations. Her community leadership was recognized in 2018 as one of 18 Difference Makers by the Cleveland Jewish News, as well as the Academy for Jewish Religion for thirteen years of service. Lader previously led Beth Israel – The West Temple as Jewish Educator, volunteer religious school teacher, and high holiday choir director.

Beth Israel – The West Temple continues the legacy of female leadership. In 1972, Rabbi Sally Priesand, a graduate of Beth Israel’s religious school, became the first woman ordained to the rabbinate in the United States. Board President Walter Wright says, “Rabbi Enid Lader is a pillar at The West Temple who has been a community leader in various roles for 40 years. Filling her shoes will not be easy, but Rabbi Rachel Brown is very welcoming and already embraced by our congregation.”

Nico and Vas Diamantis

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Join our neighbors, Dr. Diamantis and his staff for an Anniversary Celebration Open House 2 pm-6 pm, May 31st and a Ribbon Cutting with Mayor George at 3pm.

• First 50 attendees receive a FREE gift.
• First 50 attendees receive a balloon with a PRIZE inside.
• Save 25% on all products and services (that are scheduled).*
• Vendors with products displayed for a chance to WIN a basket of products.
• Heavy Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served.
*now through June 2nd, 2023

Dr. Diamantis and his father shared a vision of running a family business in Lakewood, a community that they believed in for the same values as they share “family.” The family’s entrepreneurial journey began with the Silver Quill, a restaurant that served the community of Lakewood for over 3 decades. Dr. Diamantis’s father hoped that his son would eventually own his business in the same community. Thus, the family purchased the current building 45 years ago, which was once occupied by Stephen Babin of Babin Furriers. The upstairs space was in poor condition, and Dr. Diamantis renovated it into six elegant offices, now occupied by professional and nonprofit businesses.

After completing his education at Case Western Reserve for undergraduate, Dental and Medical School, Dr. Diamantis followed his father’s footsteps and started his own business in 1998. He started with only one nurse and one receptionist who are still with him, 25 years later and he calls them his family.

CityMusic Cleveland concert at Lakewood Congregational Church in March

Haydn’s elegant Cello Concerto in D soars under the bow of Edward Arron, together with orchestral works by Schubert, Mendelssohn and Chen Yi as CityMusic Cleveland's 2022-23 concert season comes to an end.

The final performance will take place at 3:00 p.m., May 21st at Lakewood Congregational Church located at 1375 West Clifton Boulevard.

CityMusic is delighted to welcome guest soloist and cellist, Edward Arron, a graduate of the Juilliard School and frequent performer on American Public Media’s Performance Today. “We are thrilled to conclude our season with such a talented soloist and an exciting program,” said Eugenia Strauss, CityMusic Cleveland’s Executive Director. “Our free concerts and making classical music accessible to all has always been a cornerstone of our mission, and we look forward to celebrating our 20th anniversary by continuing to bring world-class music to Northeast Ohio's communities." This concert is free and open to the public. No advanced tickets or reservations are required.

For more information on the concert series, please visit https://www.citymusiccleveland.org/current-season.

On May 28th, twenty years of Lakewood High School alumni will return to the Lakewood Civic Auditorium to perform in The Lakewood Project 20th Reunion Concert. With a theme of “Modern Rock,” the first act of the concert will be performed by the group’s current high school members. Alumni will join current students on stage in the second half of the concert, performing favorite songs chosen by alumni including “Carry On My Wayward Son,” “Don’t Stop Believin,” and “Beat It.” Previous members of The Lakewood Project will be traveling from across the country to perform together in a celebration of music, community, and Lakewood history.

The Lakewood Project Rock Orchestra was formed in 2003 as an innovative, cutting-edge approach to music education. The group features a rhythm section complete with drums, keyboard, electric guitar, and electric bass. The string section features two electric string quartets and two acoustic string quartets with double basses and harp. The group has performed at venues across the country. The Lakewood Project regularly performs three concerts a year, including at Lakewood Park on July 4th.

For twenty years, The Lakewood Project has inspired a lifelong love of music-making in its members. An impressive number of Lakewood Project alumni have established successful careers as musicians and music educators, with many others making a secondary income through music. As part of the reunion weekend, current members of The Lakewood Project will have the opportunity to attend a networking dinner, forming connections and gaining career advice with alumni working in many different fields.

The Lakewood Project 20th reunion will be an event that you do not want to miss. Come celebrate the strong and vibrant history of music in Lakewood with twenty years of Lakewood Project alumni.

Dear Editor,

It is crucial we take action against big businesses in order to preserve our one home: Earth. Fast fashion has dominated the industry and capitalizes on consumer addiction. With devious marketing ploys, companies are able to brainwash citizens into buying countless goods without addressing the detrimental effects. We are faced with this tragedy of the commons where consumers and companies take advantage of shared resources giving rise to a complete lack of control over this human created catastrophe. Just because an item is cheaper and can be accessed effortlessly does not mean it is better. These items are produced with harmful materials that are not made to last, inducing excessive amounts of waste. A continued lack of regulations leads to large corporations exploiting consumers and our environment’s shared resources.

Companies will force the responsibility on you and continually lack the fundamental accountability that they should embody, but their entitlement and disregard for others can only be stopped with government involvement. Now is the time to implore lawmakers to enact policies that promote sustainability rather than overproduction and consumerism. Vote for individuals who care about holding big businesses accountable and prioritize the environment over the economy.

Sincerely,

Catherine Hilow

Catherine Hillow is an Undergraduate Student at Lehigh University and a proud resident of Lakewood, Ohio.

Here is the birthday group photo.   Left to right: son Chris, grandson Ian, daughter in law Sandy, son Michael, Arlene, granddaughter Aubrey, great granddaughter Tiegan, grandson Joshua, grandson Michael.  All last names are Montgomery. 

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My name is Chris Montgomery and I am writing about my mom who turned 90 last week. My mother is first generation, born to parents who emigrated from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the 1920s. She grew up in Collinwood and moved to Lakewood with my father in 1963 and has lived at the same house on Westlake Avenue ever since. She bore and raised six sons: Michael born 1955, Thom born 1956, me 1957, Robert 1960, Douglas born 1962 and baby Martin, born 1963, died 1964. She is a regular church goer of the Catholic church. On Saturday May 7th she will turn 90 years old. 

My father's name was Eddie Gene Montgomery (dob 12/25/1930) He sadly passed in 2015. My mother met him after she graduated from high school in Collinwood, Ohio in 1948 and attended Cleveland State. He was from Texas and she was forming a country dance club and recruited him because he was the only person she knew from the South who knew square dancing. They fell in love and married in 1952 (IIRC) and eventually moved to Lakewood from Collinwood, buying a home on Westlake Avenue in 1963 where they raised all of us boys. She is the second child of three daughters and the only surviving daughter as my aunt Ruthie passed away last month. She has been more than a mother, leading a women's a bowling league - which one a trophy - in the early 70's, volunteering with my Dad at the Lakewood YMCA, teaching catechism for the St. James Catholic Church, and being a professional photographer for a local corporation that gave me my scholarship to Rice University and finally being a longtime paralegal for a lawyer in Lakewood until she retired in the 80's. She has spent sixty years as a member of our community.

Her life means the world to me, my brothers and all those who know and love her. Her name is Arlene Lillian Montgomery, but we know her as Lillian.

Chris Montgomery was born and raised in Lakewood Ohio. He was an honor student at LHS and a graduate of Rice University 1980 and J.D. from CSU Marshall College of Law. He currently practices in Vermont.

On average, Lake Erie has around 46,000 pieces of plastic debris per square kilometer. Plastic debris in Lake Erie can be detrimental to the ecosystem by disrupting the food web, causing aquatic life to become entangled, and by carrying invasive species, which can cause further problems to the ecosystem and food web. Everyday items such as straws, plastic bottle caps, and plastic bags are among some of the items that can often be found along Edgewater Beach. This plastic can arrive at the beach through people leaving their trash while visiting, being washed up on shore from the lake, and from drains after a heavy rainfall. Another large problem at Edgewater is cigarette butts. Cigarette butts take an extremely long time to degrade in the environment and can be harmful to any wildlife in the area due to toxic chemicals, such as arsenic and lead, that are leached from the butts over time. These chemicals are harmful to wildlife when ingested and can cause acute toxicity, which often leads to death. This is where the community members and beachgoers come in to help protect water quality, surrounding wildlife, and the quality of our local beach. By simply donating an hour or two of your time for a beach clean-up, the amount of plastics and cigarette butts present on our beach can be minimized. 

The biggest block party in the city is poised to heat up Lakewood this summer once again. The Lakewood Summer Meltdown, sponsored by Melt Bar and Grilled and presented by LakewoodAlive, returns to Downtown Lakewood for its 15th year on Saturday, July 15 from 4 to 10 p.m.

The Summer Meltdown represents one of the region’s most highly anticipated street parties. A summertime celebration of our city’s vibrancy, this free community event draws nearly 15,000 attendees from across Northeast Ohio to the heart of Lakewood each July.

This fixture on our city’s summer calendar takes place on Detroit Avenue in Downtown Lakewood between Marlowe and Arthur Avenues. The Summer Meltdown features a 5K race sponsored by Cleveland Clinic, 1 Mile Family Fun Run and Walk sponsored by Lakewood City Schools Community Recreation and Education Department, street festival, outdoor activities, games, food vendors, beer garden, live music and more.

Now is the time to secure your Meltdown 5k registration and start training! The price for the Meltdown 5K increases on the day of the event, so buy early and save. In the spirit of celebrating the 15th Summer Meltdown, the first 50 sign-ups will be discounted to $20 followed by a pre-sale rate of $30 and day-of $35. These races serve as a fundraiser for LakewoodAlive. 

Families will love the street festival component, which features a variety of local small businesses and nonprofit organizations, many of which offer interactive opportunities. Activities range from the “Water Moose” sprinkler park to fitness activities to a skateboard park.

Helena, Waldo, Fernanda. Pedra do Sal, Rio de Janeiro 2015.

It was my first trip alone to another country. I was very excited about being in a place where they speak another language, Portuguese, which is very similar to Spanish, so I wasn’t afraid of trying to speak, until got there, oh gosh! It was hard! Like I did understand almost everything but speak it? Not easy.

I stayed in a hostel with the intention to connect with other travelers and make some friends, that’s how I meet Yuri, Brazilian street Artist. He was getting into the hostel with a bag full of cans of spray paint while I was asking directions to find a farmers market in the reception. He was on the phone talking about some project in the Favelas! and I was like: Yes, Favelas.

On my way to the farmers market, I was planning how I’d talk to him and make him take me there, because is very hard for foreign people to get in. You must ask whoever runs the place for permission which is unusual and it’s very dangerous.

Around 7 pm, one of the guests, Nicolas, from Chile too, asked me if I wanted to go to a party in the street with live music, I asked if Yuri would join us, and he said yes. Nico thought that I had a crush on Yuri lol… Maybe! I was sure that we would become friends and I’d convince him to take me to the Favelas. It was my goal, like a dream, and I had a plan!

That night we went to “Pedra do Sal” at the entrance to a Favelas, full of people from everywhere, mostly Brazilian people of course, with live music, a lot of drums, food, and drinks.

I met Waldo who is a singer of samba rock, very interesting and great to dance to. And Helena, she is an amazing dancer. I was so impressed by her dance that she started teaching me. I loved it so much that at the end of the party I realized that I lost one of my sandals, good thing they were cheap lol.

On April 28, Jorge Ragghianti received the 2023 Ohio Fire Service Citizen Award from the State Fire Council at a ceremony in Columbus. Mr. Ragghianti was nominated for this award by the Lakewood Fire Department for his heroism in the lifesaving rescue of two children trapped in a burning vehicle in Lakewood. Pictured are Lakewood Fire Marshal Ryan Fairbanks, Fire Chief Tim Dunphy, Jorge Ragghianti, and Mayor George. Congratulations Mr. Ragghianti! You are a true hero!

I am pleased to announce that on May 1st, 2023, the City of Lakewood adopted our very first Climate Action Plan. The plan sets a roadmap for our community to achieve our ambitious goal of reducing citywide emissions to zero by 2050. This plan is based on energy flows within our community and the sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The plan then outlines a pathway to dramatically reduce GHG emissions while increasing energy efficiency and independence in Lakewood, leading to a more resilient and sustainable community.

One of the most important aspects of our Climate Action Plan is that climate action is a good investment. From an economic perspective, implementing the actions in the plan will result in savings of $2 billion from reduced energy costs and avoided maintenance costs, as well as $170 million in revenues. The plan outlines an overall investment of $1.5 billion over 27 years, averaging around $55 million annually. These investments will generate savings beyond 2050, resulting in a net benefit to our community of $720 million over 27 years, equivalent to a climate dividend of $27 million annually. This is a wise investment for the long-term health and prosperity of our community. The plan also sets up Lakewood to apply for many federal funding opportunities recently made available by the passage of the Infrastructure Bill and Inflation Reduction Act.

Implementing the Climate Action Plan will result in households saving money. By shifting away from natural gas to electricity, using high-efficiency space heating and cooling with heat pumps, and improving the thermal efficiency of homes, the average household is expected to spend 24% less on fuel and electricity by 2050 compared to today. Lakewoodites can use these savings to fund incremental capital improvements such as heat pumps and home solar installations with utility bill savings and electric vehicles with reduced transportation costs. This will benefit our environment and the financial well-being of Lakewood households.

Yesterday, our Neighborhood Police Officers visited with the preschoolers at the Grace Early Learning Center to discuss stranger danger. Pictured (L to R) are Lieutenant Deucher, Officer McCarthy, Officer Zuk, and Officer Thibodeaux.

The LHS Mock Trial Team

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The Lakewood High School Mock Trial Team competed this spring in the 2022-2023 Ohio High School Mock Trial competition, which is sponsored by the OCLRE (Ohio Center for Law Related Education). Each fall high school teams from around the state prepare a trial based on a case created by a panel of judges, lawyers, and staff.  This year's case was In re Kahn, which focused on school law and the application of fourth amendment rights to students in the school setting. The events took place at the fictitious Trillium High School.

The Prosecution team was composed of Alessio Matera and Ellie Clark as prosecution attorneys. They presented two prosecution witnesses, played by Ceci Whitemire as Dean of Students, and Riley Worthey as School Resource Officer Ari Nowak.

The Defense team consisted of attorneys Cameron Wereb and Maya Trempe. The Defense witnesses were played by Leah Campbell as Adrian Sato, a part-time school counselor, and Delano Yeung as Stevie Kahn, a junior at the high school and the defendant in the case.

The 2023 LHS team was fortunate to have Abby Peck and Gwen Hongash as timekeeper/bailiffs. Their work was essential to making sure the trial went smoothly and was conducted within the guidelines of the OCLRE rules. Their contribution was invaluable as they helped each team to prepare and compete smoothly.

Four Lakewood High orchestra students will soon be on stage with the touring FABBA Show, an ABBA tribute act that has played to audiences overseas and is now performing in the U.S., including a show in Elyria. Joining the FABBA performers on Sunday, May 7 at 7:00 pm the Stocker Arts Center on the campus of Lorain County Community College will be LHS' string quartet of Jill King (from left in photo), Lilly Metzger, Bode Smith and Lydia Kress. The quartet will join the professional musicians on stage for two songs to lend some local talent to this high energy homage to one of the world's most beloved pop groups of the '70s. 

In addition to receiving superior ratings at regional and state solo and ensemble festivals, members belong to prestigious area ensembles, including the Contemporary Youth Orchestra (CYO) the OMEA Northeast Regional Orchestra (NERO) and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO).

All four members participate in “The Lakewood Project,” the world’s first high school rock orchestra, where students learn to arrange the music they love and perform it on electric and acoustic instruments.

The producers of The FABBA Show approached Lakewood High School Orchestra Director Dr. Elizabeth Hankins looking for a talented ensemble of high school students which could hold their own with a rock band in front of an audience. The show commonly reaches out to local high school orchestras, making donations to their school music programs in exchange for student participation.

Tickets are $30 - $50 and may be purchased by phone at (440) 366-4040, in person at the Stocker Box Office or online at www.stockerartscenter.com. The Stocker Arts Center is located at 1005 N. Abbe Road, Elyria, OH 44035. The show is appropriate for all ages.

The Public Works Department is the glue that holds our city infrastructure together. Sometimes Lakewood can seem like a small town, but in our roughly 6 square miles, we are packed with over 50,000 people, 217 streets, 180 miles of sidewalks, and 74 acres of parks, not to mention multiple City-owned properties. It takes an incredible amount of effort to maintain and operate all of this real estate day-in and day-out. Our hardworking Public Works team continues to do fantastic work, and we should all be thankful for what they do to make Lakewood such a desirable place to live.  

For context, last year alone, the City resurfaced three miles of roadways, planted over 400 new trees, and responded to a number of emergency issues that regularly present themselves due to our aging infrastructure. This only touches the surface of the work that goes on. As I often say, we all love our historic city and the charm that goes along with that – but it also is a lot of work to keep some of that aging infrastructure in good shape.

As we approach the summer, it is certainly a busy season for the Public Works Department once again. In the months to come, they will be performing and overseeing a large number of important projects. These include major infrastructure efforts such as the new sewer interceptor which will run the length of our city as well as the completion of the Foster Pool rebuild in Lakewood Park before swim season and our new combination refuse and recycling center and animal shelter on Berea Road. These multimillion dollar projects are challenging to manage and our public works team has done a great job ensuring they live up to our city needs. Public Works continues to keep our parks maintained daily while also working on a number of improvements. For example, we will also see improvements at the Kauffman Park tennis courts, Niagara Park playground equipment and pickle ball courts at Lakewood Park.

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Like many of us who remember these aphorisms from our past educational experiences, so it was last Friday for many third grade children of our public and parochial schools in Lakewood. 

Arbor Day of April 28th gave our children a learning experience of what the Arbor Day "Growing Zones" are, and why it is typically in April, here in Ohio. I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of third graders at Roosevelt Elementary who enthusiastically appreciated the chance to take a sapling and some flower seeds home with them to plant and grow. 

How did it begin? With my curiosity about the origin of Arbor Day activities in America, and especially in Lakewood, "The City Of Trees." I learned last year from the Arbor Foundation of Lincoln, Nebraska that the idea of planting trees in the original Nebraska Territory came to the mind of J. Sterling Morton on April 10, 1872.
On subsequent years, J. Sterling and his friends planted over one million trees in Nebraska and the activity has continued to today, even expanding into South America, including the Rain Forests of Brazil. I have been procuring the little trees from the Arbor Foundation for the past two years now for our Lakewood children to grow.

So, this past Friday, our children learned the importance of Arbor Day and with a smile in my mind, I saw the excitement of the children arriving home with their little Dogwood Tree sapling and a packet of flower seeds yelling, "Hey Mom, (or Dad) where can I plant my tree?" Best wishes and thoughts on your child's experience.

On April 18th, Representative Michael J. Skindell (D- Lakewood) & Representative Latyna M. Humphrey (D-Columbus) announced the re-introduction of the Ohio Patient Protection Act, legislation designed to address patient safety by mandating safer limits on the number of patients a registered nurse (RN) may care for at one time in a hospital setting. The RN-to-patient ratios established in this legislation will be based on the seriousness of the condition being treated or the medical procedure in which the respective patient is undergoing.  

“Every single patient deserves to have the best care possible,” said Rep. Skindell. “Adequate nurse-to-patient staffing ratios benefit the health and well-being of the patients, while also protecting the nurses and improving healthcare overall.”

“A higher caseload for RNs can equate to lower quality of care for Patients. Lowering the RN-to-patient ratio would improve the quality of patient care and alleviate some of the stress on nurses,” said Rep Humphrey. “This bill is a win-win for all parties and brings Ohio closer to an adequate and quality healthcare system.”

The bill would do the following:

• Establishes minimum, numerical nurse-to-patient ratios staffing requirements for hospitals
• Require the hospital to post the staffing requirements (expressed as ratios) daily, on a shift-by-shift basis
• Prohibits a hospital from violating the bill’s staffing requirements or taking adverse action against an RN who exercises a right conferred by the bill

The Lakewood Women's Club (formerly known as Junior Women's Club of Lakewood), founded in 1962 with roots going back to the early 1900s, has provided, and continues to provide, a philanthropic organization for women who are interested in serving their community while enjoying a program geared to fun and friendship.

To serve its theme of fun and friendship, each year the club hosts an annual progressive dinner for our members and community guests. A progressive dinner party, it’s a multi-course dinner served at multiple houses where diners travel from house to house, eating a single course at each of the destinations.

This years’ progressive dinner started out at Torey Worron’s (current member and past president) home for appetizers and drinks portion of the evening. The night’s festivities continued at The CoLab on Madison Ave for dinner prepared by Chef Jack from the catering company “In Your Place”. The CoLab, a new fun Lakewood business owned by Maureen Koopman, is an extension of your home — a space that’s fun, vibrant & welcoming. It was the perfect place for our dinner. And, in keeping with our theme of supporting women in Lakewood, we wanted to support Maureen who is also one of our 2022 Women Honoring Women Business Nominees. Our evening was made complete as we finished the night with decadent pie and coffee from the pie bar at Rood on Madison. Another one of Lakewood’s cool and hip restaurants.

In keeping with our goal of having some fun while also doing some good, everyone had a wonderful time while we also raised money for this year’s Lakewood female college scholarship.

One of our new members, Rachelle Loraine says, “Lakewood Women’s Club is a phenomenal place to get to know women from our community that I wouldn’t typically meet. All ages, walks of life. We all hold the core goal of helping our community and empowering young women by awarding scholarships. I’m not originally from Lakewood, so the opportunity to make friends and form bonds was very appealing to me. We have fun get-togethers, the Progressive dinner was a blast. It’s a group of people who love to have a great time, maybe a few cocktails and enjoy yummy food. You can’t beat that!”

Cindy Einhouse, who also attended the event and is one of our Honorary Members commented: “It may have been about 20 years ago, but I remember the first event I ever attended for the Lakewood Women’s Club was the Progressive Dinner. Over the years, this group has continued to be relevant in my life, and its members are among the most enjoyable, professional, dedicated women I have ever known. The progressive dinner this past weekend was another great opportunity to engage with women of diverse ages who share the value of community involvement”.

This progressive dinner, and our annual scholarship, awarded to a female high school senior pursuing a higher education, are just two of the many ways the Lakewood Women's Club supports Lakewood. Through our fundraising efforts, highlighted by our annual fundraiser - Women Honoring Women - LWC has awarded scholarship money to deserving high school seniors as they pursue their education for over 30 straight years!

All Together Now Summer Reading Club

For all Children and Youth Up to Those Entering Twelfth Grade. Age appropriate goals include thirty books for our youngest children, ten hours for elementary school  students and thirty hours for middle school and high school students, broken down into manageable parts to enable all readers to complete their goal. Readers may participate online and/or in person and must visit the Library to collect rewards. Finishers receive a certificate of completion and a new book to keep. Registration is required.

Friday, May 12, 2023 through Monday, August 14, 2023
Main Library and Madison Branch

Tail Waggin' Tutors

For School-Age Children. Your child can bone up on their reading skills during a one-on-one session in a dog-friendly atmosphere. Students can practice reading with one of the dogs and owners that have been certified through Therapy Dogs International, an organization dedicated to regulating, testing and registering therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers. Reading to a therapy dog can provide comfort, support and happiness for self-conscious readers. No registration is required.
Saturday, May 13, 2023, 11:00am - 12:30pm, Main Library Multipurpose Room. 

This Lakewood summer tradition is back, offering nine opportunities to enjoy free, live music in a welcoming Downtown Lakewood environment and new this year, at the Madison Park Pavilion.

LakewoodAlive announces the talented lineup of musical performers for the 2023 Front Porch Concert Series sponsored by Bentley Wealth Management of Raymond James. See the schedule below for weekly performers comprising the popular live music program, which takes place each Friday evening (7 p.m.) from June 2 through July 14 on the front steps of Lakewood Public Library (15425 Detroit Avenue) followed by concerts at Madison Park Pavilion (13201 Madison Avenue) on July 21 and July 28.

The 2023 edition of the Front Porch Concert Series will offer something for many musical tastes. From soul and rock to blues and pop, each weekly concert remains family-friendly while delving into diverse musical genres.

“We’re thrilled to announce this year’s fun lineup of performers who represent a diverse spectrum of sounds. New this year, the final two concerts of the season will take place at the Madison Park Pavilion! We’re excited to bring free, live music to this wonderful park in Lakewood’s historic Birdtown neighborhood,” said Ian Andrews, Executive Director of LakewoodAlive. “Live music on Friday nights in the summer are a tradition in Lakewood, and thanks to our sponsors and partners, that tradition lives on.”

The 2023 Front Porch Concert Series comprised of returning acts and new performers alike, kicks off June 2 with a performance by The Day Nites, a soul group fronted by soul legend Arthur “Art” Blakey from the Cleveland 1960’s R&B vocal group “The Hesitations”, supported by members of The Hi-Lites. Jack Ashford of the infamous Funk Brothers of Motown discovered Blakey, who began singing on the street corners of Cleveland. As the vocalist of The Day Nites, Blakey brings his voice to a new audience, conjuring the raw energy and excitement of the gritty soul music that has made him legendary in the Northern Soul dance craze worldwide.

Winners of Rotary’s Four-Way Speech Contest, and the music and visual arts competitions, were honored at a gala event at the Beck Center on April 17.

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lakewood and Rocky River, the contest annually showcases the incredible talents of students attending one of five high schools – Lakewood, Lutheran West, Magnificat, Rocky River, and St. Edward.

The speech contest first place winner was Edie Barcelona, who represented the club at the Rotary district 6630 competition on April 22. Her speech was entitled, “Dance: The Art of Discrimination.”

Also honored were Ari Frischauf, second place, who used men’s figure skating to present a speech on gender and biology; Zoe Pace, third place, who spoke about The Pink Tax; and Hutch Reed, honorable mention, whose speech highlighted the state of drug laws within the United States. All students are from Lakewood High School. Their teacher is Ms. Amy Garritano.

Speeches must be of original content and be based on “The Four-Way Test of Rotary” which asks, “Is it the truth, Is it fair to all concerned, Will it build goodwill and better friendships, and Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood has been a valued partner of Rotary for this event, serving as the liaison to educators at the high schools and providing the venue and judges for various phases of the competitions.

On March 29, the Ohio General Assembly passed the state’s two-year transportation budget (House Bill 23). The $13.5 billion transportation budget passed out of the Senate with resounding support from every Senate Democrat.

House Bill 23 will appropriate $8.36 billion in fiscal year 2024 and $5.14 billion in fiscal year 2025 to fund our roads, bridges, airports and trains.

In Ohio, transportation is one of our most vital sectors—it directly affects our communities, provides increased employment opportunities and supports our economy. I am pleased that House Bill 23 strikes a balance between bipartisan efforts and preserving many of the Democrat priorities we tirelessly fought for to ensure that the transportation budget would include investments in public transportation and railway safety measures that have been in the works for the last decade – all without a tax increase. One of our major priorities includes over $100 million in funding for public transit which would authorize the Ohio Rail Development Corporation (or its designees) to construct and operate an intercity conventional or high-speed passenger rail system. It would also allow for passenger rail operators, such as Amtrak, to build and provide service on a route including Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati.

A recent subject of significant concern is the issue of railway safety. Included in our Democratic priorities addressed in the transportation budget are amendments to make wayside detector systems be installed every 10-15 miles, requiring two-person freight train crews, requiring hazardous waste transportation reports when materials are passing through communities, and requiring railroad safety technology reports.

The transportation budget includes green transport investments, such as reducing the registration fee for plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicles from $200 to $150, as well as providing $2 million for electric vehicle infrastructure expansion, workforce training and credentialing programs related to the emerging field of electric vehicle charging.

House Bill 23 was signed by Governor DeWine on March 31, 2023 and will go into effect on July 1.

I am proud to have done my part in ensuring that the transportation budget puts Ohioans first and helps to make our state a great place to live and thrive.

Lakewood's The Quilting Bee is highlighted in Google’s thirteenth annual Economic Impact Report - a report that showcases how businesses, publishers, and nonprofits across the United States are using Google search and advertising tools to connect with the people and communities they serve. This year, small businesses generated $13.91 billion in economic activity in Ohio. By using Google products, businesses increased their online presence and were able to continue connecting with customers in 2022.

As owner of The Quilting Bee I can say that after using Google’s tools and services we saw significant results. The Google Business Profile increases our store’s visibility and directs visitors to our website. Many customers also use the call feature to reach the shop. To get product photos onto our Business Profile and on Search and Maps, we use Pointy, a tool that scans each product’s UPC code and uploads a photo. This enables local shoppers to see what’s available, and we can see what people are searching for and adjust keywords accordingly. And with support from Google Ads, our sales are growing by an average of 46 percent annually.

CEO, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai had this to say:"People and businesses across the US are using technology to build resilience and make their communities and economies stronger. We’re proud that Google’s products and platforms are a part of that, providing more than $700 billion in economic activity for millions of American businesses, nonprofits, creators, and developers in 2022. Google only succeeds when others do, and we’ll continue to build the tools and technologies that help grow the economic pie, and create more opportunities for everyone.” 

The Quilting Bee offers quality quilting fabrics, patterns, notions, custom/memory quilts and long-arm quilting services. You can visit us at 15709 Detroit, or online at thequiltingbeeonline.com.

Before and After

A new coat of paint can do wonders for making your home look fresh and beautiful. If your home is in need of an update, a paint job may be more affordable than you think. 

LakewoodAlive’s Housing Outreach Program announces the return of its Paint Lakewood Program for the 2023 season. The Paint Lakewood Program’s primary goal involves revitalizing Lakewood’s neighborhoods, while reducing lead hazards and educating residents on lead safety issues. The Paint Lakewood Program is available to low-to-moderate income residents.

This innovative program in partnership with the City of Lakewood is designed to help make it more affordable for qualified Lakewood homeowners and residents to beautify their homes through exterior whole-home painting, ultimately making their homes safe for their families and the community.

Paint Lakewood will provide a grant of up to $4,500 to qualified Lakewood homeowners and residents for exterior paint, supplies and professional labor costs to paint their home. This program offers a grant on a sliding scale to help reduce the cost of an exterior paint job. 

“We understand that the cost of materials and labor has increased. This program is designed to make the price tag on exterior home painting within reach for hardworking families and individuals,” said Allison Urbanek, LakewoodAlive’s Housing & Internal Operations Director. “Through this program, we hope to remove barriers that prevent a home from being kept in good repair, along with promoting lead-based paint awareness and safety practices.”

Skin Over Milk author Sara Chansarkar

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Meet the Author – "Skin Over Milk"

Book by Sara Chansarkar
Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
Main Library Auditorium
In a culture where boys are adulated and girls are killed in the womb, three Muslim sisters snatch moments of light and joy to survive from one day to another in the novella, "Skin Over Milk." Author Sara Chansarkar will discuss the story of quiet, resilient feminism where women find agency and grit to alter the lives of daughters and sisters while doing their course of duty in 1990’s India. Books will available for sale and signing at this event.


Film -- "A Struggle for Home: The Crimean Tatars" (2016)

Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
Main Library Auditorium
The Russian Empire conquered the Crimean peninsula in 1783. Since then, the Tatars have struggled to reclaim their home and have suffered ethnic and religious persecution. When the Soviet Union collapsed, many Tatars thought they finally would be free and secure in their homeland, Ukraine. In February 2014, those dreams were dashed when Russia re-annexed the peninsula. 

Don't put us in the trash!

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Recycling is what we've been encouraged to do for quite some time. Plastic bottles, aluminum cans and cardboard boxes most often come to mind. Consider what Mother Earth gives us repeatedly that can also be repurposed. Specifically, think of food scraps.

How many banana peels, watermelon rinds and discards from your chopped salads have gone into your trash? Approximately 25% of garbage consists of organic material and is often represented by unconsumed food or that considered inedible. Egg shells and tea bags are examples. Ever give any thought to what happens after that?

When placed in landfills, food waste eventually begins to rot and releases methane which is more potent than carbon dioxide when it comes to harming our atmosphere and accelerating climate change. It also contaminates the soil around it. In fact, 40% of food grown for consumption ends up back in the ground.

Enter Rust Belt Riders. It was formed in 2014 by Daniel Brown and Michael Robinson who began collecting food scraps on the backs of their bikes. Their motto became, "Feed People, Not Landfills." Rust Belt Riders utilizes their partners to help process food scraps into compost. They then use this scrap based compost as their primary ingredient in tilth soil products. This high quality, nutrient rich substance ultimately supports local gardens and farms. Later, Nathan Rutz joined the RBR effort by incorporating coffee grounds into the blend of reusable food products.

What began as an attempt to engage commercial entities such as restaurants and grocery stores (imagine the excess from those sources!) led to participation from everyday people. Ordinary citizens can now have food scraps picked up from their homes or they can personally take them to a Rust Belt Riders drop off station. Collection bins can be found at Lakewood Park (along Lake Road just west of the Oldest Stone House) or Madison Park, adjacent to the basketball court.

When taking items to a bin, it is preferable that food scraps be dumped directly into the container. No metal, plastic or styrofoam should be deposited. Using recyclable paper grocery bags or BPI certified compostable bags are acceptable. At home, it is recommended that you use a large plastic bucket with a lid to house food waste until you make your delivery or have scraps taken away by a RBR representative.

If you want to be a part of this program, sign up at www.rustbeltriders.com. Be advised there is a minimal monthly fee. The number of members currently enrolled includes 403 who use Lakewood drop-off locations and 143 participating in pickup services.

If you have a home with a yard, you can also create a compost pile outside. Should you be a gardener, you will discover how valuable this can be to beautifying your outdoor space while doing something beneficial for the environment. For information on how to get started with your own composting, go to the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District website.

Let's face it. We cannot wait for governments alone to tackle these issues. Nor can we depend on big business to take the lead. However, with that in mind, we should acknowledge nearby establishments who are working with Rust Belt Riders in this important cause. Some commercial partners include: Phoenix Coffee, Rising Star Coffee, Noble Beast, Blackbird Baking Company, Gatherings Kitchen and Lakewood City Schools. Regional participants include Heinen's Grocery Stores, Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic.

Poet and novelist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, "Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean." If we all, as individuals, do our small part, collectively we can make a big impact on the health of our planet. Closer to home, we can keep Lakewood beautiful too! Joining Rust Belt Riders is one way to begin.

Now that this has given you food for thought, you may never look at that avocado pit or squeezed lemon the same way, will you? Do what you can to keep it safe for everyone for years to come.

A musician moves her hands today

over the wood where yesterday,

her maker -- her instrument maker --

moved her own hands

and her carpenter's plane

in that same rhythmic

human way.

Ralph Hutchison is a simple computer programmer, living in the city.

MAY 

ARIES: The Ram is heating up the financial area of your mountain; this means a little extra cash for you to spend on Mom; you’ll have plenty left for you to heat up your own fast lane. 

TAURUS: Bull, this is your month; get out of the Bull Pen, get yourself a new hairdo, a new outfit, & buy your Mom some flowers while you’re at it; you’ve got the confidence this month.

GEMINI: The Twins are spending time behind the scenes, which isn’t easy for you because you’re such a social butterfly. However, double up on your tasks because next month is yours.

CANCER: The Crab is making some waves in the association’s arena; time to socialize a little more; you’ve been in your shell for a while; treat yourself to lunch with some friends, & Mom.

LEO: The King/Queen of the Jungle is on top of your game this month; your Jungle is booming, it might be time for a promotion; let out that Roar & bring your Momma a generous bouquet. 

VIRGO: Virgo are you getting the traveling bug? It’s time to look at that globe of yours & start planning a trip overseas, don’t wait for everything to be PERFECT; take a chance & do it.

In the April 5th edition, Volume 19, Issue 7, Cindy Strebig was incorrectly listed as the author of the article, “Lakewood League of Women Voters 100th Anniversary 100 Pillars Spotlight: Janis Ford.”  The article was written by Carol Thum. Carol is a League of Women Voters Member and wordsmith.

The Healthy Lakewood Foundation is now sharing a monthly blog article on its website (https://healthylakewoodfoundation.org/news-updates/). Becca Baas, HLF's Co-Vice President, shares her recent personal experience advocating for investments in early childhood at the Ohio Statehouse. Here's her article:

Advocacy is powerful.

Advocates have great potential to inform and influence the understanding and actions of decision-makers and neighbors alike. To be an advocate can feel intimidating if we lack expertise or are unfamiliar with the “big picture”; however, a recent experience reminded me that the most important element of advocacy is the personal connection.

I attended an Advocacy Day event at the Ohio Statehouse – it was an opportunity to join hundreds of Ohioans gathered to raise awareness about the need to prioritize investment in early childhood as part of our state’s biennial budget process. It’s been many years since my family relied on early childhood resources, but I recognize how important these programs and policies are to my neighbors and our community. A family might benefit directly from better access to childcare, home visitation for new parents, universal Pre-K, and additional developmental resources; but it’s also important to highlight the long-term social and economic benefits for our communities. With high-quality birth-to-five programs yielding up to 13% ROI(return on investment), we can’t afford not to invest in early childhood.

This was an ideal setting for amateur and experienced advocates alike, because much of the logistical coordination was handled by Groundwork Ohio – a non-partisan, state-wide organization focused on public policy to improve outcomes for young children and their families. Conversations with lawmakers may seem daunting, but surrounded by hundreds of people from across our state with shared purpose I felt energized and inspired. Many arrived with their own stories to tell about the impact of investment in early childhood from the perspective of a family, a small business owner, a public health researcher, a public sector program, or an early childhood education professional. The insight of experts and state politicians from both sides of the aisle reinforced the need to prioritize and invest in early childhood as the right thing to do – highlighting the budget as a moral document.

Lakewood Charitable Assistance Corporation (LCAC), also known as the “food drive people” switches gears every May to help provide cleaning supplies and hygiene items for Lakewood families in need. 

With warmer weather approaching, people often begin to wash off winter’s dirt and grime and start the spring with a fresh start. 

LCAC will be hosting a Spring Cleaning Drive on Saturday, May 13 at 9 a.m. in the back parking lot of the Masonic Temple, located at 15300 Detroit Road in Lakewood. 

Many households struggle when it comes to spring cleaning as necessary supplies can get expensive and are not covered by WIC. This drive will provide our recipients with the supplies they need for cleaning. 

During the event, LCAC’s board members and volunteers will sort and deliver cleaning supplies to Lakewood residences. 

Congratulations to Lakewood High School junior Erica Frischauf for earning a spot in the top 10 for The New York Times' 4th annual Student STEM Writing Contest! Her essay was selected from more than 3,000 entries worldwide. Of the over 3,000 essays received from around the world, the Times chose 10 winners, 11 runners-up and 23 honorable mentions.

The contest required students to select a STEM-related question, concept or issue they're interested in, and, in 500 words or fewer, explain it to a general audience in a way that not only helps readers understand, but also engages them and makes them see why it’s important.

You can read Erica's essay below or go to https://tinyurl.com/y264k8c9

Lakewood City Schools has earned the designation of Best Communities for Music Education from The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education for the seventh straight year! Lakewood is one of only 47 districts in Ohio and 830 in the country that earned the designation. 

Now in its 24th year, the award program recognizes districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. To qualify for the Best Communities designation, the District answered detailed questions about funding, fine arts graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music programs. 

The Lakewood City School District offers music education from kindergarten through 12th grade. Instrumental instruction begins in 5th grade. Middle school offerings include classroom band, orchestra, and choir with extracurricular opportunities in all three.

The high school fields five orchestras, four choirs, three bands, and classes in music theory, music history, pop music and keyboard. In addition, our high school extracurricular ensembles provide numerous opportunities for our students to enhance their musical experience through groups such as the Lakewood Ranger Marching Band, The Lakewood Project, Chamber Choir, Jazz Band, just to name a few.

The City of Lakewood’s Division of Human Services is doing something unique for the Lakewood community. Starting May 13th, the City will be sponsoring an education and support group program for parents, spouses, other family members and significant others who are concerned about a loved one’s abuse or addictive use of alcohol or other drugs. With funds made available to the City of Lakewood from the Opioid Settlement, the Department of Human Services and City Administration made a strategic decision to make this program available to the residents of Lakewood and others who could benefit from it.

Parents, 

In today's world, very few of us pick up a hard copy of a newspaper! We get all of our content on the internet and through the various social media platforms. However, I wanted a place for parents to have a few minutes a week to unplug yet still have a space to learn, grow and laugh when it comes to this season of life! 

Like myself, I'm sure many of you find yourselves trying to survive the day, with endless to do lists and what feels like a zillion tabs open in your brain. That mental load can become exhausting! Know that you are not alone! My first tidbit of support to pour into this article, is sleep! Sleep for you and sleep for your little one(s)! 

As a parent, you know how important it is for your child to get enough sleep. Good sleep habits are essential for your child's health, development, and overall well-being. However, healthy sleep habits are important for you too and mimicing those will support you and set your little ones up for healthy sleep hygine.

It's important to establish a consistent sleep routine for your child, including a regular bedtime and wake-up time (same goes for adults;)). Doing such helps regulate the body clock and promotes healthy sleep patterns. For your kids, creating a calming bedtime routine, such as a warm bath, story time, and a lullaby, can also help your child wind down and prepare for sleep.

With the end of the school year approaching, the Lakewood High School Girls Soccer Team begins their pre-season training to get ready for the upcoming 2023 season. The Girls Soccer Rangers are coming off of an impressive 12-5 season, a Great Lakes Conference East Championship and are looking forward to continuing that success in 2023. Beyond the playing field, our girls have had 2 recent Presidents of the National Honor Society, multiple class officers, and an astonishing Team 4.0 GPA, which the Athletic Director said was the first time for a large team of 30+ players in LHS history. The team starts with Captain's Practices at LHS Stadium, June 5, 9:00-11:00 am. Part of the great success of last year was our very talented senior class of 14 girls. Our task now is to replace that number with talented soccer players or aggressive athletes willing to learn.

The long-term health of our program is reliant on a motivated and knowledgeable population of families/ girls participating in various youth soccer programs offered by Lakewood and the surrounding area. Obviously, the younger kids start playing, the better their chances of playing in high school, but a really good athlete can often catch up if they start playing, love the game and really want to play in high school. So, just because you haven't played in the past, doesn't mean that you can't catch up. With that in mind, I would like to review the opportunities in this area to play soccer. The "entry level" of soccer in Lakewood is Lakewood Soccer Association (LSA) Saturday Soccer. LSA offers Saturday Soccer in the fall and spring and is played in the Metroparks on Saturday mornings. It is a fun introduction to the game of soccer and kids really learn to love the game playing in LSA. For information and registration go to: https://www.lakewood-soccer.com

The next level for the soccer player who really loves playing and is looking to further develop is "Travel Soccer" and that is represented by Lakewood United Football Club (LUFC). LUFC has teams starting at U9 and are split between boys and girls divisions. Players from 7-14 can join a team that exposes players to a higher level of coaching and competition. Players play for their community team against other, local community teams. There are different ability levels with multiple teams in the same age group to accommodate different levels of player ability. These teams usually practice twice a week and have a single game a week, usually. Contact: https://www.lakewoodunitedfc.org

Keep Lakewood Beautiful to Host Humus and Perennial Flower Sale on May 13

There's no better time than now to get your garden thriving, and Keep Lakewood Beautiful is here to help turn your thumbs green.

Keep Lakewood Beautiful announces the return of our annual Humus and Perennial Flower Sale taking place on Saturday, May 13, from 9 am to noon at the parking lot of Old Stone House at Lakewood Park (14532 Lake Avenue).

Come get your bags of "black gold" for your gardens (humus = $5/bag) and shop from a fabulous selection of attractive perennials that tend to be local, native and hardy, while serving as pollinators for bees and butterflies. Offerings include:

• Herbs
• Milkweed
• Buddleia - Butterfly Bush
• Coneflowers
• Ferns
• Heuchera (Coral Bells)
• Hostas
• Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy)
• Monarda (Bee Balm)
• Peonies
• And many other perennials

This annual event serves as a fundraiser for Keep Lakewood Beautiful, a volunteer-driven organization committed to community beautification in our city.  Cash and checks only, please. Thank you for your support!

M

Saturday May 6th from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm the front lawns of Grace Lutheran Church 13030 Madison Avenue will be transformed into a Carnival. There will be a Bounce House, carnival games with prizes, crafts, face painting, and balloons. And if you get hungry just thinking about doing all of that, you can stop and enjoy a hot dog, chips and some lemonade or tea. Come enjoy fun, food and fellowship. Everything is free, free, free.

In addition to all the activities outside, there will be a resale event of baby and children’s items. You are also invited to stop in and check out Grace Preschool, a quality early learning environment that supports the needs of the whole child: emotional, social, cognitive, physical and spiritual, and welcomes the families as partners.

Be sure you don’t miss signing up for the gift basket drawing.

The Grace-est Show on Earth is being sponsored by Grace Lutheran Church, Grace Preschool, Gethsemane Lutheran Church and Lakewood Lutheran School.

If you have any questions or would like to have a table at the resale event, please call 216-529-1081.

Looking for some new plants to brighten up your home or garden? Join GardenWalk Lakewood for our second plant swap on Sunday, May 21, 2023 from 1 to 3pm at Cove Park (1294). Come together with your fellow gardeners to swap divided perennials, seeds, cuttings, plants, pots, tools, and tips, all while learning more about GardenWalk Lakewood and our mission. Nothing to swap? No problem! There will be plenty of items to help you on your gardening journey. We hope to see you there!

Dear LO Editor,

As a parent with three daughters, the oldest of which is in 8th grade, I would like to express my feelings about the upcoming Lakewood elementary schools' specials schedule. Recently, the School Board decided to not only listen to the parents (a vast 88% majority), but to also use reason when deciding to implement a balanced approach to their specials programming.

As an educator for 18 years (principal for 10) and a current school consultant for districts spanning from the Midwest to Alaska, I agree with this decision. Year after year, I am continually impressed with our music program – from the elementary concerts to the instrument development, choirs, bands, orchestras, and the Lakewood Project. Not to mention the theater and other fine arts. My children have taken full advantage of these programs that they have had access to based on their age and grade level.

As the weather warms up, Lakewood is a lovely place to enjoy spring, especially in our high-quality public parks. The City of Lakewood continues to invest in those parks to ensure that our residents have great experiences with recreation and relaxation in our greenspaces. That includes physical improvements, such as the rebuilding and modernization of Foster Pool, but our investments also include staffing of our parks. This year, you will see a new presence in our five most heavily used parks –Lakewood Neighborhood Safety Specialists, are now working as park ambassadors in those locations to provide additional capacity, helping ensure safety and a welcoming presence. 

Similar “ambassador” programs that have elements of service and safety work have been implemented across the country and locally by various cities, wards, neighborhoods, and/or community development corporations, including at least a half dozen in Cuyahoga County. The ambassador model uses trained and easily recognizable personnel to maintain a stable, friendly, non-hostile presence in parks while also using principles to identify and report potential issues or concerns before they arise or escalate.

SARRA BOGGS

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SARRA BOGGS

SARRA BOGGS

Harrison Elementary head custodian Sarra Boggs relies on Vision of a Lakewood Educator competencies such as critical and creative thinking, collaboration and empathy as she juggles the varied responsibilities needed to keep the building clean and operating smoothly. Sarra says she enjoys the variety of her job and the fact that there is never a dull day. Unexpected situations and problems often pop up, prompting Sarra to be flexible, problem solve and think critically about a solution. Those unexpected moments also challenge Sarra to have a growth mindset, something she embraces. “There are always new things to learn. You have to be resourceful,” says Sarra, who joined the District in 1999 and has been at Harrison since 2008.

Staff members’ empathy and support for each other is high and for Sarra, that extends to the students as well. She loves talking with the students who are often curious about her job duties. She approaches her job and her interaction with students with kindness and respect, treating the students as she would her own four children.

For Sarra, Harrison is like a second home. She takes pride in maintaining the Quail Avenue school because she knows that it holds a special place in the Birdtown neighborhood. 

“I love how it’s the heart of the Birdtown community,” says Sarra. That extra care is noticed by Sarra’s nominator, Operations manager Ed Deblock. According to Ed: “Sarra is always trying to make Harrison look its best for the students, staff and community.”

KATIE SPIES

Like any good educator, LHS English teacher Katie Spies strives to inject the right amount of rigor and expectations into her classroom. She also believes in creating a classroom environment that emphasizes empathy, communication, collaboration, inclusivity and community and works hard to foster that.

This is most evident in her collaborative work with the staff and students in the MILES program. Since last school year, Katie and her students have been building relationships with the MILES students by hanging out together every other Friday just getting to know each other through talking, board games and other activities. Katie was instrumental in a Special Olympics event held at Lakewood High last spring where her students were matched with a MILES buddy to participate in events.