Get ready to rejoice, chocolate lovers! A delectable evening awaits when the 15th Annual Lakewood Chocolate Walk takes place on Thursday, October 24, from 6 to 9 p.m. in Downtown Lakewood.
The patio within the Westerly Senior Apartments complex recently received some new furnishings. Led by Eagle Scout Rowan Brown of Troop 293, a group of volunteers built three beautiful wooden benches and a matching free standing structure where they also planted flowers. The Westerly/Barton Community is grateful for the time, effort and skills of the young people who participated in this project. Although summer is officially behind us, these installments will enhance the lives of Westerly residents for seasons to come. Many thanks to Rowan and his entire team for this wonderful gift!
Release the hounds! LakewoodAlive’s 17th Annual Spooky Pooch Parade takes place on Saturday, October 12, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Madison Park.
The Lakewood Ranger Spirit/Homecoming Parade will kick off Homecoming Weekend on Friday, Oct. 4. The parade will step off at 5:30 pm from the corner of Abbieshire Avenue and Edgewater Drive, head south on Abbieshire to Lake Avenue, east on Lake to Belle Avenue, south on Belle to Clifton Boulevard, east on Clifton to Bunts Avenue, south on Bunts to Franklin Boulevard, west on Franklin and end at LHS North Parking lot across street from Lakewood High School. Wear your purple and gold and bring your Ranger Spirit to cheer on the parade participants! The Rangers will take on Nomandy in the Homecoming Game, which kicks off at 7 pm at First Federal Lakewood Stadium.
The annual Fire Recognition Ceremony will take place this Sunday, Oct. 6 at 12 PM to honor department retirees that have passed away during the year, celebrate the careers of those entering retirement including Chief Tim Dunphy, and inaugurate the new Fire Chief and Fire Marshal. The event will take place at Fire Station 1 and is open to the public.
In Ohio, we know that building strong communities starts with fair wages, stable homes, and support for every family. But the weight of rising property taxes can feel like a never-ending burden. Property taxes fund our schools and emergency services and keep our streets safe, but the way they’re structured right now just isn’t working for everyone.
Congratulations to our boys and girls cross country team members who traveled to the 59th McQuaid Invitational in New York this weekend! The boys varsity team placed 2nd overall of 28 teams and the girls varsity placed 4th out of 19 teams! Way to represent, Rangers!
On Sept 10th, Lakewood Police Dispatchers Bridget Roda, Tonya Graham, and Mia McGlynn were nominated for the Ohio Public Safety Gold Star Awards' Dispatcher of the Year and Dispatch Team of the Year for their outstanding work. Congratulations to each of you!
October
ARIES: This Halloween, the Ram would be perfect as Cable in Deadpool. With the Martian energy of the planet Mars, the Ram is difficult to slow down, the race is on…
TAURUS: The Bull needs to come out of the Bullpen this Halloween & give us your best Adam Maitland costume of Beetlejuice. The romantic that you are, you’re a shoo-in.
GEMINI: Get ready Twins to win that Halloween contest with your best Deadpool imitation of Dominio; you’ll hold your own with your smart, quick-witted personality.
CANCER: The Crab’s Sun is shining on home & family this Halloween, & no one protects hearth & family better than Barbara Maitland of Beetlejuice; turn the porch light on.
LEO: The Lion/Lioness loves attention, any time of the week, but no better time to draw the Jungle to you than on Halloween with the charismatic leading role of Deadpool.
On Sunday, Lakewood will hold a bittersweet event at the annual Firefighter Recognition Ceremony when we have the chance to celebrate the career of Fire Chief Tim Dunphy upon his retirement following a stellar 32 years of public service. While those who gather will enjoy honoring Chief Dunphy and all he has accomplished, we know we will miss him as he steps away to enjoy a well-earned retirement.
Our city benefits from the true excellence we see in our safety forces, who show up every day ready to spring into action and protect us in times crisis while also proactively working to prevent emergencies. Our fire department’s culture of excellence is a tradition, and Chief Dunphy has managed to both maintain and build upon it during his time actively fighting fires and more recently in his role leading the Lakewood Fire Department. His career is a model of success for public servants.
Chief Dunphy is a hometown product who grew up in Lakewood and began his career as a firefighter/paramedic in 1992 after graduating from Lakewood High School. If you have seen him in action, the chief is known to proudly sport a LHS Ranger sticker on his helmet. He rose through the ranks over time, actively fighting fires and providing frontline services until he became Fire Marshal in 2011, a position he held until being promoted to Fire Chief in 2019. He has served admirably in that role ever
since.
Spotted lanternfly are an invasive insect species that feed on trees and grapevines. They have been in Cuyahoga County for several years and are becoming more prevalent and problematic. There are several things you can do to protect Lakewood and prevent further spread:
1. Kill spotted lanternfly (first image) by squishing them and removing egg masses. You will often find them crawling on the ground, buildings, or trees.
2. Check your car so you do not transport them with you. Use this checklist to help prevent their spread: https://tinyurl.com/mcz6a3fc
3. Remove Tree of Heaven (second image) if you have it on your property and do not plant more. They prefer to feed on this invasive tree.
For more information, visit https://agri.ohio.gov/slf.
Lakewood High School, already a busy hive of activity during the school year, is happily contending with additional commotion as construction crews continue work on several new areas that will transform the high school.
North Union Farmers Market
Every Wednesday through October 23
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Madison Park
13201 Madison Ave.
As President of Lakewood City Council, I have had the pleasure of working with Kira Krivosh in many capacities. Her family have been longtime business owners in the city, running beloved restaurants, Around the Corner, Vosh, and Georgetown. She is also an active community volunteer and has served on the Board of the Citizens Committee for Lakewood’s Animals and Shelter for many years. Now I know her as a judicial candidate for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. I can attest that Kira is an exemplary candidate who will serve Cuyahoga County well.
Kira is currently a magistrate with 14 years of legal experience which includes work in municipal, county, and federal courts. She also has worked as an Assistant County Prosecutor specializing in domestic support obligations which she helped pass on by educating other county prosecutors offices and county agencies across the State of Ohio. The daughter of teachers and a former substitute teacher herself, Kira enjoys improving the practice of law by teaching continuing legal education classes.
Besides her vast legal knowledge, what sets Kira apart is the innovative practices she has been able to implement due to insights gained through her community service. She serves on the Board of Open Doors Academy, a high-quality after-school program for children in under-resourced communities. She also co-founded the Giving Tree Project to create and distribute much needed supplies during the early days of the pandemic. These experiences inform the work she does as magistrate, giving her the knowledge and understanding to connect the people who come before her to resources that can help them succeed.
Judge Tess Neff swears-in new Ward 2 Councilmember Bryan Evans.
Happy Fall, Neighbors!
With the departure of former Vice President and Ward 2 Councilmember Jason Shachner, Council had the Charter bound duty to elect a new Vice President and appoint an individual to serve the residents of Ward 2 until the next municipal election.
On Tuesday, September 3rd, Council unanimously elected Ward 1 Councilmember Kyle Baker to the role of Vice President. Vice President Baker is a lifelong resident of Lakewood. He has served on Council since 2022, chairs the Housing, Planning and Development Committee, previously chaired the Public Safety Committee, serves on the Finance Committee, and represented Council on the Active Transportation Plan/Safe Streets Advisory Board. Prior to his service on Council, he volunteered as Chair of the Planning Commission and as President and Trustee of the Lakewood Rangers Education Foundation among many other contributions to our community. Kyle’s knowledge, skill and incredible dedication make him an asset to our city, and I’m excited to work with him in an official leadership capacity.
On Monday, September 16th, Bryan Evans was sworn in as the new Ward 2 Councilmember. Councilmember Evans was selected from an impressive field of 17 applicants after extensive review and public interviews on September 3rd and 9th. Until his appointment, Councilmember Evans served as Chair of the Public Art Advisory Board and previously served as vice-chair of the Architectural Board of Review and on the board of Lakewood Alive. The former Planning Director for University Circle Incorporated in Cleveland, Bryan volunteered his over 20 years of urban design and planning experience to author the Kaufman Park Master plan. Residents writing in to express their support for Bryan’s appointment spoke of how his hands-on, enthusiastic engagement with the community inspired them to also get involved. Bryan and his wife Megan are the proud parents of two LHS rangers. Congratulations and welcome to Councilmember Evans!
The City has partnered with the consulting firm Houseal Lavigne to kick off a much-needed refresh of its Planning and Zoning Code. Lakewood's current zoning code was last comprehensively updated and adopted in 1996 with a variety of piecemeal additions and revisions made since that time.
Over the past two months, the final review for the Downtown Development project has gotten underway. Guided by the City’s zoning code for planned developments, this final review process has started with the project team, led by CASTO and Dimit Architects, working collaboratively in joint public meetings with the City’s Planning Commission (PC) and Architectural Board of Review (ABR).
These initial joint meetings during July and August have resulted in refinements to the details of the project in response to Board and Commission member recommendations as well as the comments and recommendations of those members of the public in attendance.
The key elements of the Downtown Development project include:
* Provides for/introduces new retail space.
OBF Board Members sporting OBF 3 Feet Passing cycling kits during the August 2022 Cycle Con in Dayton, L-R: Ken Braswell, Chuck Smith, Ken Mercurio
Many of you are familiar with Bike Cleveland and its local chapter, Bike Lakewood. But do you know about Ohio Bicycling Federation (OBF)? As the only statewide organization for cycling advocacy In Ohio, OBF has the ear of our state representatives In Columbus.
Since its founding in 1980, OBF has been comprised of groups and individuals working together to promote cycling for transportation, safety legislation, recreation, and more. Current (at time of writing) Ohio Bicycle Federation Chair Chuck Smith has been working in this role since 1995. Talk about dedication!
A complete historical timeline of OBF’s dedicated work and accomplishments can be found on its website https://www.ohiobike.org/but following are some of its many highlights:
Greetings from the Lakewood Seventh-day Adventist Community Service Center. Thank you for your patience as we are now situated in our new, smaller-but-nicer quarters. During our transition time, we may have been down but certainly were not out. We had a successful fall book bag give-away. We are now preparing for a winter coat giveaway on October 27th. (Look for the signs.) By the way, if you have a coat you no longer wear, or have barely worn, consider donating it to our Coat Give-away. We only ask that the garments be in good shape and clean. You can place such items in our donations bin, in the parking lot. Please drop off donations before October 27th. The Lakewood community is such a caring entity that we extend a thank you already for your support. Other giveaways will be forthcoming.
Speaking of donated items, we could certainly use children's clothing for youngsters ages six to twelve, and non-perishable food items. Our donations bin is in the parking lot, against the school building, at 1382 Arthur Avenue, Lakewood. We are located between Taco Bell and Kauffman Park courts.
You may ask, "If I need help, how do I prepare for a client visit to the Community Service Center?" In attempting to help those who really need our help, we ask that you bring with you evidence of income or evidence documenting special circumstances substantiating emergent need.
We look forward to continuing service to the Lakewood community.
Gladys Crider is the Community Service Director for Lakewood Seventh-day Adventist.
Meet Java aka “collar #3520!” This pretty girl is around two years old and is currently waiting at the Lakewood Animal Shelter for her forever family. Java was a little nervous when she first arrived at the shelter, but she’s settling in now and we’re seeing her wonderful personality. Java enjoys going for walks and getting the zoomies.
Meet Sonny aka “collar #3521!” This handsome guy is about two years old and very sweet. Sonny is a little nervous about being at the shelter, but his gentle and kind nature still shines through. He has gorgeous orange fur and striking amber eyes. He could probably be in the movies!
Lakewood Public Library is delighted to host a special event honoring the work of Caldecott Medal-winning author and illustrator, Roger Duvoisin. This celebration is made even more special by the unveiling of a new gallery featuring original sketches by Duvoisin, made possible through the generous donation of the Jeanne McGinness family.
Join us on Sunday, October 27, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. for a captivating presentation titled “The Children’s Book Illustrations of Roger Duvoisin.” The event will be led by Benjamin Sapp, Director of the University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum.
Roger Duvoisin (1900–1980) was a prolific picture book creator, best known for his beloved characters such as Petunia the silly goose and Veronica the conspicuous hippopotamus. Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Duvoisin moved to the United States in his twenties with his wife, writer Louise Fatio, with whom he collaborated on a successful series of picture books, beginning with The Happy Lion.
This event celebrates not only Duvoisin’s artistic legacy but also a touching story of connection and generosity. Jeanne McGinness, a lifelong Lakewood resident and a creative French and English teacher who taught at Riverside School, developed a special bond between Duvoisin and her students through a pen-pal relationship. This connection led to memorable classroom visits from the illustrator, during which he created custom illustrations for her students.
Upon Ms. McGinness's passing, her sister, Anne Wagner, generously donated these treasured artworks to Lakewood Public Library, to share them with the Lakewood community her sister so loved.
The Lakewood Historical Society is excited to announce a Fall Sale for 2024! The sale will run from 9 AM to 2 PM on Saturday, October 12 at the Haber Center (13314 Detroit Avenue). The sale will have an incredible collection of seasonal Fall items, as well as artwork, entertaining dishes, an eclectic selection of books, and much more.
In addition to those great finds, the Society’s Preservation Committee will have salvage items on hand for purchase. We have windows, doors, light fixtures, hardware, and other items looking for good homes! The sale is not to be missed-- limited parking will be available on location in addition to street parking, and cash, checks, and cards will be accepted for purchase. We greatly appreciate your support!
Robert Shimp is the director of the Lakewood Historical Society.
Each new school year the Lakewood City Schools celebrates its numerous Lakewood High School students who have earned recognition from the College Board due to the students' scores on the college-level Advanced Placement exams taken in May. The District proudly congratulates the 106 current students and recent graduates who have earned AP Scholar honors. We believe this is the first time the school has topped the 100 Scholars mark!
The following are the District's AP honorees:
AP Scholars with Distinction (earned by averaging at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams):
Meredith Barcelona, Ronan Barley, Rowan Brown, Leah Campbell, Aiden Clasen, Madison Comer, Ava Cuffari, Anna Daso, William Detmar, Jazmin Dunay, Carter Eardley, Jana Evans, Camden Fegely, Erica Frischauf, Fiona Gjermeni, Mateo Guajardo, Callum Holland, Edward Horton, Shannon Katzenberger, Margot King, Michael Klasa, Maggie Lane, Sophia Lipowski, Amalija Marich, Evan Miller, Mae Mohar, Daniel O'Brien, Emily Potoczak, Hutch Reed, Owen Rumsey, Bode Smith, Arabella Spear, Danka Wentzel, Andrew Winters
AP Scholars with Honor (earned by averaging at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams):
Sam Browning, Cicely Campen, Rosemary Cronin, Cameron Crouch, Olivia Diemert, Ava Donaldson, Madelynn Ellis, Helen Fraunfelder, Logan Friend, Leonardo Garman, Lukas George, Jake Hirsch, Mckenna Hunt, Andrew Jablonowski, Emily Jarecke, Kathryn Jirousek, Aniya Johnson, Jackson Lodge, Isabella Marzicola, Anna Maurer, Ian Molinski, Colton Moran, Myint Mo Nee, Charles Quinn, Jonathan Reighard, Stella Rosen, Jane Wagle, Adele Wentzel, Cameron Wereb, Iris Wright, Corinne Wroblewski
Come share your thoughts, ideas and concerns about the Lakewood City Schools with Superintendent Niedzwiecki at her first Listen & Learn session of the school year. It will take place on Thursday, Oct. 17 from 6-7 pm in the Ranger Cafe at Lakewood High School. Enter at the flagpole entrance in front of the school. Treasurer Kent Zeman will join the superintendent to provide a brief financial update on the District. These sessions are informal one-hour discussions and community members are welcome to drop in any time during the hour.
Hayes Principal Eric Fortuna breaks a balloon full of confetti above a student's head to signify which house the student belongs to.
Hayes Elementary recently launched a new house system, similar to the concept in Harry Potter, to help the school nurture and build a better sense of community and belonging among each other and to build on the culture of school pride, empathy and inclusion. Hayes is the District’s second school to use the house system, developed at Ron Clark Academy. Roosevelt Elementary launched their house program in 2020.
Hayes held a raucous initial house sorting assembly on Sept. 11 & 12 where each student learned which house they would belong to. The houses are comprised of all grade levels. Staff are assigned houses as well. At the start of each school year, new students will find out their house at the sorting assembly. The houses meet regularly throughout the school year to collaborate on activities and check in on each other.
Friendly competition is a big part of the house concept as the houses compete for points that can be used to buy prizes in the school’s PBIS store. At the end of the year, a house champion is declared. Teachers can award points for kindness, academics, service, character, school spirit and just generally going above and beyond.
This first year of houses at Hayes will focus a lot on students learning the history behind their house names, including the country from which the name is derived, and brainstorming ideas for projects throughout the year that will continue to grow the sense of community at the school. One activity that is definitely in Hayes’ sight is a joint event with the Roosevelt community.
If Barry looks familiar, it’s because you’ve likely seen him at the Division of Aging’s former location on Madison, at Cove Community Center, or briskly walking the streets of Lakewood. Barry has been a dedicated City employee since December 1994, starting his career with the Lakewood Office on Aging as an outreach worker.
A native of Kent, Ohio, and a graduate of Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in history, Barry began his career teaching 10th and 11th grade high school students. As a longtime employee and ambassador for the Division of Aging, he thrives on face-to-face interactions with seniors and is a passionate advocate for their well-being. Barry takes pride in making life easier and more pleasant for others, striving each day to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those he serves.
In his spare time, Barry enjoys working out in his garage and at the Lakewood Family YMCA. He tends to his fruit trees and berry bushes, and he brews his own beer—currently preparing to bottle a batch of chocolate cherry stout for the holidays. Brewing is his passion, and he also dabbles in making mead, a honey wine. It’s no wonder he’s one of the favorite neighbors on the block.
Barry has lived in Lakewood for 33 years and visits the lake daily. He’s been married to his wife, Cecilia, for 23 years, and they have three sons and four granddaughters. Barry met Cecilia when she was teaching his youngest son in Sunday school. Like Barry, Cecilia is dedicated to helping seniors and volunteers to deliver meals to homebound residents.
Meet the Author: "Watching the Asparagus Grow" by Jeff Wilkins
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Main Library Auditorium
Many deep, dark secrets are forced to the surface in this heartwarming yet heartbreaking tale of love and forgiveness triumphing over hatred and bigotry during the tumultuous 60s and 70s. Books will be available for sale.
Barbara Steffek-Hill Five-Star Matinee: "The Tango Lesson" (1997)
Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.Main Library Auditorium
Teacher and student become deeply involved with the tango and then each other.
Fall Storytimes:
September 9- October 31, 2024
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.
Wednesdays- 10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Thursdays-10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Madison Branch-
Thursdays- 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Pre-school Story Time
For You and Your 2 to 5-Year-Old Pre-schooler. Children and their parents will enjoy stories, movement and songs for thirty fun filled minutes. The focus is on early literacy skills. No registration is required.
With the possibility of the United States having its first female president, we should not forget the women who paved the way for those in government today. One of the most notable from the 20th century was Eleanor Roosevelt. Although not an elected official, as First Lady to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, she was highly accomplished and influential in her own right.
The Lakewood ME/WE Family Education and Support Group held its second “Meet and Greet” at Cove Community Center on Saturday, August 24, 2024. Sixty-five current and past members, many of whom had only known each other virtually, met face-to-face for the first time. The event provided those present the opportunity to bond and reinforce the connections they had experienced in the virtual meetings. Some have been members for over ten years and others were more recent in their journey, but the energy and passion that flowed between the participants was more like that found at a family reunion than an online group of individuals meeting for the first time. In fact, two of the participants traveled over 4,800 miles. One coming from California and another coming from Washington state to be a part of the event.
"Why is democracy important to preserve?"
Congratulations to LakewoodAlive's Ian Andrews, who was named the 2024 CDC (Community Development Corporation) Staff Member of the Year by the Ohio CDC Association!
Monarch butterflies gaining a little nourishment in our Lakewood backyard before their long trip south.
Springfield (Ohio, not Illinois)
Kate Boylan, LPCC-SUPV, MS, of Larchmere Center for Well-Being, will discuss how parents can help alleviate the pressure a child feels to be perfect through healthy communication and attachment. Learn how to boost your child’s self-confidence, foster pride outside of achievement and guide them in building relationships with peers.
The Committee of the Whole met with the Charter Review Commission on Monday, September 16th. They mostly discussed the merits of Ranked Choice Voting. The University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs explains RCV as follows:
“Ranked choice voting (RCV) — also known as instant runoff voting (IRV) — allows voters to rank candidates for office in order of preference: first, second, third and so forth. Votes that do not help voters’ top choices win count for their next choice.
Advocates of ranked choice voting say it increases fairness, encourages higher voter turnout, and eliminates problems like vote-splitting and unrepresentative outcomes that can arise when more than two candidates run for a single position.
Efforts to enact ranked choice voting reflect widespread disaffection with the current climate of angry and divisive politics.”
The group spent about 75% of their time on debating whether RCV made sense for Lakewood. Some were concerned with Lakewood being the first city in Ohio to implement RCV and potential lawsuits that may come from the state in response. A counterpoint was also brought up: “If Lakewood doesn’t do it first, who would?”
Be SMART is a campaign focused on education and awareness about child gun deaths and secure gun storage. Everytown for Gun Safety launched the Be SMART campaign to take action to promote responsible gun ownership and reduce child gun deaths. 4.6 million American children live in homes with guns that are both loaded and unlocked.
I want to thank Chief Kevin Fischer for the opportunity to show him our Be SMART presentation. Chief Fischer said he is “one hundred percent behind the message.” He agrees that it is an important message and has helped us reach out to other local police chiefs and make arrangements to meet with our local neighborhood police officers.
He told us that as a police officer, he thinks there are too many guns and too many accidents. He strives to live by saying, “If it's predictable, it’s preventable.”
Community leaders, parents, teachers, police chiefs, doctors, and nurses have come together nationwide to participate in the Be SMART message. Safety is always an adult responsibility.
From left: William Cosgriff, Anna Daso, Helen Fraunfelder, Madelaine Gabella, Beckett Broadwater, Danka Wentzel and Connor Pierce.
Congratulations to Lakewood High School seniors Madelaine Gabella and Danka Wentzel on being named Semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Corp. competition! This designation recognizes Madelaine and Danka as among the top students in the nation based on junior year PSAT scores. LHS also boasts four Commended Students, seniors Beckett Broadwater, William Cosgriff, Anna Daso, Helen Fraunfelder and Connor Pierce.
Madelaine and Danka are part of an elite group of 16,000 Semifinalists across the country whose PSAT scores in the 2023-2024 school year put them in the top tier of the more than 1.3 million students who took the PSAT. Semifinalists represent less than 1% of U. S. high school seniors and are the highest scoring entrants in their state. The number of Semifinalists named in each state is proportional to the state's percentage of the national total of graduating high school seniors.
Semifinalists are eligible to continue on in the competition in hopes of being named a Finalist and receiving one of more than 7,100 scholarships worth nearly $28 million to be awarded in the spring. Finalists will be notified of this designation in February.
National Merit Scholarship Corp. Commended Students are among the top 5% of PSAT scorers. Although Beckett, William, Anna, Helen and Connor do not move on in the scholarship competition, we recognize them as among the best students in the state.
As we were going to press last issue, we had no idea that Lakewood was going to be hit by a tornado(s). We lost power and a great number of our trees to that brief but strong storm on August 6th. Many of our massive trees fell, and many more lost significant limbs. We're grateful no one was hurt. Property can always be repaired and trees can be replanted, and should be. Please consider planting a tree on your property this year!
The Tree Advisory and Education Board collaborates with the City of Lakewood on urban tree policies and promotes the City's tree programs. The City of Lakewood is offering discounted pricing for tree planting through their preferred vendor to increase our canopy. To order a tree contact: The Greenleaf Group at 330-441-6326 or email: greenleafgroup@hotmail.com to sign up.
This year's TAEB/LO Contest for the most distinguished trees in Lakewood is divided into four categories. The Most Magnificent, The Most Beautiful Conifer, The Oddest, and The Most Beautiful Native Tree. All nominated trees can be viewed on our website at www.lakewoodobserver.com Just click on Photo Galleries on the right hand side of the page to view all of the nominees.
To vote, write down your favorite from each category. Go back to the homepage and click on Daily Question. Enter the four trees by the number associated with the photo separated by commas. Please leave your email. If no email is provided, the vote will not count. No addresses or comments. Votes will be accepted now through September 2nd. Follow the QR codes to view and then vote.
Winners will be announced in the September 4th issue of the Lakewood Observer.
Carol Ann Skindell 1935-2024
This morning (September 15,2024), an amazing woman, my mom, Carol (born Kaska) Skindell, gained her wings at age 88 after battling Alzheimer's dementia for more than 16 years. We lost her bit by bit during these years. My mom brought joy to me, her grandchildren and many she came in contact with. Her life was rich from raising a family, working as a waitress, driving a school bus with the Brunswick School District, managing State Liquor stores, bowling, being active in my campaigns and serving on the Central Committee and Executive Committee of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party and as a member of the Brunswick VFW Post.
She is survived by me; her granddaughter, Tara (Colin) Doppes of Brunswick, OH; great-grandchildren, Faith (Eric) Brancatelli and Noah Painting; great-great grandchildren, Peyton and Kendall Brancatelli; former daughter-in-law Diana (Neal) Lichty; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 34 years, Vincent M. Skindell; son, Vincent J. Skindell; grandson, Joshua Skindell; and sister, Marie (nee Kaska) Garcia.
Lakewood rightly has a long tradition of supporting and celebrating our senior community – our Division of Aging was one of the first of its kind in the region when it was established over 50 years ago. Soon the City will join with several local partners in another effort to encourage healthy and active aging for our senior population. September 30 - October 6, 2024 is national Active Aging Week, and the City will take advantage of the occasion with our own host of special events and programming that promotes and leverages the many resources available here.
We’ve all heard that activity and exercise are essential to staying healthy as we age, and Active Aging Week is an excellent way to get the word out, connect seniors with resources and education, and promote ways to keep moving. The highlight of the week is a Community Day event on Wednesday October 2nd at Lakewood Park from 3pm – 7pm. Seniors can enjoy everything from yoga, dance, and outdoor games/competitions to blood pressure screening, fall prevention education, and information on the seven dimensions of wellness, just to name a few.
I am very excited about this weeklong focus on our seniors, which builds on our Division of Aging’s decades of service and leadership in this field. Active Aging week is an example of how Lakewood continues to act on its community value of serving those who have given so much to us and who continue to play an important role in the fabric of Lakewood. This event also ties into more recent programming we’ve developed like our Lakewood Fire Department’s Neighborhood Paramedic program, which has a major focus on making sure seniors are safe in their homes and avoid falls and other common hazards people face later in life.
E-bike with Class 1 sticker
You've probably noticed that the "pedal powered” or “muscle" bikes we grew up riding are competing with another type of bike—the electric bike, or e-bike. E-bikes are road legal in Ohio (except on closed access freeways) just like traditional muscle powered bikes and are the fastest-growing segment of the bike market in the United States. All three of Lakewood's bike shops, Spin Bike Shop, Beat Cycles, and The Bike Spot stock e-bikes.
E-bikes, defined
E-bikes are low-speed bicycles equipped with electric motors that run on lithium-ion batteries. Battery, controller, and motor are fully incorporated into the bike’s componentry. E-bikes handle like regular bikes but are usually heavier due to the motor and battery.
Benefits of E-bikes
Moving at speeds similar to regular bicycles, e-bikes allow riders to climb hills with less effort and to extend trip lengths. Emission-free and low impact with relatively silent operation, e-bikes are here to stay. While typically a bit more expensive than comparable traditional bikes, they’re still cost-effective in comparison to motor vehicles.
Ohio's E-bike Law
Despite having a motor, e-bikes are classified as bicycles (and as such, vehicles) in Ohio. They have pedals and are usually pedal assisted. Like regular bikes, e-bikes don’t require a license, registration, or insurance.
The City is currently finalizing plans for the new playground equipment at Merl Bunts Park. If you would like to provide your feedback, please send comments by September 20, 2024 to michelle.nochta@lakewoodoh.gov.
Fifteen Lakewood High students had the opportunity to participate in the 8th Annual Your Voice Matters Youth Voting Summit at Cleveland Public Library on September 12. The summit aimed to provide students with an in-depth look at the power of a vote and focused on educating students on how to vote and using their voices to become confident voters who make informed political decisions that impact the world! Big shout out to our LHS Social Studies Department in their ongoing stellar effort to nurture engaged citizens who know the importance of voting!
The 37th annual Ranger Marching Band Festival will take place on Sept. 21 at 6 pm and will feature the Alliance, Beachwood, Berkshire, Fairview and Lakewood High School marching bands! In addition, the CWRU Marching Spartans will take the field as the featured college marching band. Ticket prices increase the day of the festival, so get your tickets early! Tickets sales are online only at www.payschools.com/events/home. No cash will be accepted at the gates for tickets or programs.
Bryce Sandoval (left) and Abby Kovach.
Congratulations to Lakewood High students Bryce Sandoval and Abby Kovach on being chosen to be part of the Ohio Music Educators Association’s Northeast Ohio Regional Orchestra! Bryce was also selected as an alternate cellist for the All-State Orchestra. Bryce and Abby, who plays bass, will perform with the regional honors group at the OMEA's annual conference in Cleveland next February.
Meet Vivi aka “collar #3511!” This sweet girl is about four months old and a little wobbly on her feet because she may have cerebellar hypoplasia (CH).
CH is a neurological condition that affects a cat's cerebellum, which is the area of the brain that controls fine motor movement, balance, and coordination. Because of this, CH is sometimes called "wobbly cat syndrome." CH is not painful or contagious, and it does not worsen over time.
CH kitties like Vivi can lead active, happy, and healthy lives! They do require a little special care, such as being kept indoors and away from stairs. Some cats need mats, carpets, or rugs to help them get around, and they should not be declawed.
Loving a special kitty like Vivi can be incredibly rewarding! She’s currently at the Lakewood Animal Shelter waiting for her forever home.
Meet Sonny aka “collar #3521!” This handsome guy is about two years old and very sweet. Sonny is a little nervous about being at the shelter, but his gentle and kind nature still shines through. He would love nothing more than cuddling on the couch with his new family.
Sonny has the prettiest orange fur and the most striking amber eyes. He could probably be in the movies!
Want to meet Sonny? He has a big heart and is ready to give his future mom and/or dad all his love. He’s waiting for you at the Lakewood Animal Shelter!
Visit Vivi, Sonny, 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.
Meet The Author - "Lost Ohio Treasure" by Mark Strecker
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Main Library Auditorium
Many an Ohioan has been duped by con artists toting everything from divining rods and magic tomes to dubious devices like the "scientific gold compass" to find lost treasure. Author Mark Strecker dives deep into the historical record to test the credibility of these tales and others. Books will be available for sale.
Presentation - "Pioneering Women in Early Rock and Roll" performed by QS Jazz
Sunday, September 22, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Main Library Auditorium
QS Jazz leads a lively musical discussion about the most influential women of early rock and roll. Along with information on each artist, the group will play selections that highlight their contributions to popular music.
Meet The Author - "This Place of Silence: Ohio’s Cemeteries & Burial Grounds" by Ian Adams
Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Main Library Auditorium
A collection of images by Ian Adams and Randall Lee Schieber, from more than one hundred cemeteries in all eighty-eight counties, highlight the charming chapels, magnificent mausoleums and monuments, stately statues, graceful gravestones and rich history of Ohio’s cemeteries. Books will be available for sale.
FOOTBALL
SEPT 13: RANGERS VS WESTAKE
In tonights 32-21 win over Westlake, Malachai Davis, Chris Mathaios, Ahmed Al Masalemeh, Jackson Comer, and Drew Potoczak didn't run for one yard, catch a pass or score a touchdown. But nothing of the sort would have happened without this hard charging, grinding offensive line that, every week, gets better. When the Rangers needed to finish the game in the fourth quarter--as was the case all game--they opened holes for Manny Serrano (2 touchdowns) and Braedon Greenfield, each of whom ran with speed and toughness all night.
Thanks to the line, quarterback Avery Holt again had a fabulous game, hitting Jacob Stoll (who also had an interception) and Jaylen Chappell with TD passes. Avery also broke a 50 yard run before half to set up the Rangers for a TD and a 19-15 lead. Sophomore Tyrese Gatling had his usual strong game at safety, added a long kickoff return deep into Demon territory, and scored a rushing TD.
This great team win extended to every Lakewood Ranger, whether they played both ways or just a few snaps. Sophomore Riley Verderber DE/TE controlled the edge all night (two sacks), putting constant pressure on a very good Westlake QB. LBs John Chambers and Sam Hoy was tough and active. Special teams allowed no significant yardage on kicks, and the sidelines kept up the energy all game long. It's a long list. But, Friday Night Under the Lights is more than football in Lakewood and elsewhere. Tonight, we honored the '99 team, a playoff squad that beat Glenville and stands as one of our best teams ever. The Band was fabulous, as was the cheer squad and student section. But no "list" of cool things can capture the magic of this quintessential community event, where we root for and with each other across the generations. At First Federal Lakewood Stadium, thousands of Rangers for Life met once again to celebrate what we are--many disparate elements coming together to make one very special community. Long Live Lakewood
SEPT 6: RANGERS VS KENT ROOSEVELT
Senior Captain Avery Holt threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, leading the Lakewood Rangers to a hard fought 21-13 win over Kent Roosevelt. The Rangers trailed 13-12 early in this 4th quarter slugfest when Avery made perhaps the key play of the game, booming a 75 yard punt that was downed inside the Kent 1. Junior linebacker Nick Hart knifed through on first down, recoding a safety and flipping the score--and the momentum--of the game.
The Rangers received the free kick, but their productive drive was set back by penalties and Lakewood faced a 4th down deep in Rough Rider territory. Avery rolled out, and at the last second lofted a pass to the end zone, where sophomore Riley Verderber high pointed the ball, out fighting 2 defenders for the score. From there, the Rangers stopped Kent on their last to possession to seal the win.
The Rangers scored on their first possession on a fourth down run by Avery, and after a Kent score recaptured the lead a 20 yard wheel route strike from Avery to senior Manny Serrano, who made a contested, diving catch in the end zone. (Serrano and Junior Braedan Greenfield helped secure the win with tough inside tackles in the final two drives.)
In this great team win, kudos to the guys in the trenches who fought hard all night long, with special mention for Sophomore center Drew Potoczak who snapped well all game under the worst of conditions.
The Cheer Squad and the Lakewood Rangers Marching Band kept up the pep throughout, and as always were a special and vital part of our Friday celebrations. Congratulations to my colleague and friend Head Coach Mike Polevacik (and his staff) for all the great work they are doing to build out program. The many youth players and cheerleaders in attendance not only brought great enthusiasm, but also bode well for the future of our magical Friday Nights.
Long Live Lakewood.
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.
September 9- October 31, 2024
Main Library-
Mondays- 10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Wednesdays- 10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Thursdays-10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Madison Branch-
Thursdays- 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Pre-school Story Time
For You and Your 2 to 5-Year-Old Pre-schooler. Children and their parents will enjoy stories, movement and songs for thirty fun filled minutes. The focus is on early literacy skills. No registration is required.
September 9- October 31, 2024
Main Library:
Tuesdays: 10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Wednesdays: 11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Madison Branch:
Thursdays: 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Pajama Party
For You and Your 2 to 6 Year-Old Child
Make the Library a part of your bedtime routine with an evening story time. Children are encouraged to wear their favorite pajamas and bring their stuffed animal friends to snuggle. Join us as we wind down for the night with quiet books, movement, fingerplays and songs. No registration is required.
September 9- October 31, 2024
The Finding Lakewood Photo Scavenger Hunt will run from October 7 through October 21. Sign up now to join the hunt! Entry fee of $15 benefits the Lakewood Division of Aging. You'll receive 18 photos, by email, on October 7 of features/places around Lakewood to identify. If you correctly identify all locations, you'll be entered into a drawing for prizes! To join the hunt or find more information, scan the QR code or go to Eventbrite.com and search Finding Lakewood. You can join now up until October 18. Answers must be submitted by midnight October 21.
You may also join the hunt by paying cash (exact change) at Cove Community Center, 12525 Lake Ave. Ask for Susan or Barry. If preferred, paper copies of photos and answer forms will be available starting Oct. 7 for those who have paid to enter. If you pay online at Eventbrite, show your confirmation to get a paper copy of photos at Cove.
Although this fundraiser benefits aging adults in Lakewood, all ages are welcome to participate! See the Eventbrite page (scan code) or email lakewoodphotocontest@gmail.com with questions. Good luck!
Karen Nahra is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with a supervisory designation. She holds a bachelor’s in social work from Cleveland State University and a master’s in social work from New York University. After returning to Cleveland in the early 2000s, Karen worked in community-based services and later gained experience in hospital social work and accreditation and regulatory affairs at the Cleveland Clinic. In 2022, she earned an MBA from Kent State University.
At the Lakewood Area Collaborative, Karen’s team helps families maintain stability through case management, advocacy, and connections to local resources. She is inspired by the hard work and dedication of the team to strengthen families. She is passionate about the community activities at Cove and values opportunities for all age groups. Karen lives in Lakewood with her partner Robert, two children and their English Cocker Spaniel, Ralph. In her free time, she enjoys exploring Lakewood, practicing yoga, traveling, and attending Cleveland sports events. Her family is on a ballpark tour, having visited parks across the U.S., with Yankee Stadium as their next goal.
Karen recently discovered that her great aunt lived in Rockport (now Lakewood) in the late 19th century. Today, Karen and her two sisters all reside in Lakewood. Her commitment to community work and deep connection to Lakewood make her a vital part of the city’s efforts to support and uplift its families.
Nancy Feighan is a Project Specialist II, Department of Human Services, City of Lakewood.
I’m running to be your next State Representative because every Ohioan deserves healthcare, a living wage, and a clean and safe environment. I’ve spent my career working toward these goals—from advocating for renewables, pushing for minimum wage increases, fighting for reproductive rights, and spearheading Lakewood’s commitment to 100% clean energy. My work as your city councilman these last seven years has taught me that real change comes from listening to people, taking bold action, and working hard.
As a renewable energy professional, I’ve had the privilege of helping people across Ohio lead more sustainable lives and become part of the solution to climate change. Whether it’s guiding communities to embrace solar power or advancing policies that promote clean energy, I’ve seen firsthand how a commitment to sustainability can transform lives and protect our planet.
Ohio, currently the third-highest emitter of CO2 in the nation, is in an environmental crisis. Republican leadership in Columbus takes millions in bribes from corrupt utilities to let our planet burn. We cannot afford to continue down this path of corruption and complacency. Ohio must ramp up its energy production to achieve energy independence, and this energy must be sourced from renewables. The time for bold, decisive action to protect our planet and make a just transition to clean energy was yesterday, but today is the next best option.
I’ve known Kira Krivosh as a great friend and fellow attorney for many years. I can say with confidence that she will be an excellent judge on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. I encourage you to join me in supporting her in the election this Fall.
Back in 2009, Kira and I actually celebrated passing the Ohio Bar Exam together at her family’s bar and restaurant, Around the Corner. We attended each other’s weddings. I’ve seen Kira grow into an incredible mother who coaches her kids’ soccer teams and drives across the state to support her kids’ involvement in competitive sports. Meanwhile, she has developed an impressive legal resume. She has devoted her legal career to public service and the non-profit sector. She started her legal career in the Garfield Heights Law Department. Later, as an assistant county prosecutor, she helped secure millions in domestic support obligations for families and children. Kira has most recently served as a magistrate in Juvenile Court handling civil and quasi criminal cases.
She is an active and thoughtful member of our legal community, continuously refining her skills and teaching others about her areas of expertise. She has served on the board of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and as a co-chair of the Dismantling Systemic & Negotiated Racism REAL Workgroup. Last year the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association gave Kira the Legacy In The Making award, acknowledging her already substantial contributions to the legal field and her bright future ahead.
Lakewood City Council and the Mayor unanimously passed a resolution urging support for Issue 55, the funding initiative for arts and culture in Cuyahoga County on this November's ballot. The Beck Center's Cindy Einhouse, Lakewood Public Art Task Force's Bryan Evans, Cuyahoga Arts and Culture's Karolyn Isenhart, and Assembly for the Arts' Jeremy Johnson spoke in support.
An important opportunity to keep arts and culture a vibrant part of Lakewood and our region is on the ballot this Nov. 5.
Councilwoman Cindy Marx and I recently introduced a resolution in support of Issue 55, a funding initiative for arts and culture in Cuyahoga County. On Sept. 3, Lakewood City Council, together with Mayor George, unanimously passed it. In attendence and expressing support were: Cindy Einhouse of the Beck Center; Lakewood Public Art Task Force's Bryan Evans; Cuyahoga Arts and Culture's Karolyn Isenhart; and Assembly for the Arts' Jeremy Johnson.
Issue 55 is a funding initiative on the Nov. 5, 2024 General Election ballot to continue arts funding in Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC).
Prior to 2006, Greater Cleveland was one of only a few major metropolitan regions without sustainable public funding for the arts. That year, Cuyahoga County voters first supported a funding initiative for the sole purpose of funding arts programming and culture with a 53 percent vote of support. Funding was renewed in 2015 by a resounding majority of 75 percent. The funding source is a 1.5 cent tax on cigarettes, and it is the sole source of CAC revenue since the organization’s policy is to refrain from fundraising that would compete with its grantees.
In recent years, revenues gathered by the levy have dropped: from $20 million in 2007 to just $10 million in 2023. Cuyahoga County Council voted unanimously in June to put an initiative for a 3.5-cent-per-cigarette tax on the November ballot to replace the 1.5-cent-per-cigarette, expected to raise $160 million over 10 years.
Lakewood resident Dave Lange has returned home with gold medals in all five of his events from the New Hampshire Senior Games swimming competition held at Colby-Sawyer College in New London. His victories in the 75-to-79-year-old age group 50-, 100- and 200-yard breaststroke, 100-yard individual medley and 500-yard freestyle events qualify him for the 2025 National Senior Games next summer in Des Moines, Iowa.
“I ended up in New Hampshire this year after the belated scheduling of the Ohio Senior Olympics conflicted with my previously reserved family vacation in Myrtle Beach,” Lange said. “My wife, Linda, and I regularly visit great friends at a mountain lake in northern Massachusetts each summer, and the New Hampshire swimming competition just happened to be held nearby on July 20. Our friends like to visit us here in Lakewood in the fall.”
​Lange’s swimming days date back to his childhood in Cuyahoga Falls as a member of the Water Works Swim Club AAU team. Among his best memories, he said, were the big swim meets in the Olympic-sized pool at Lakewood Park in the 1960s. “I think about that every time we take our 6-year-old grandson to the playground there,” he said.
​His swimming experiences essentially have taken him around the world. In 1968, his butterfly leg led his boot-camp company medley relay to first place at the Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois. During his riverine support service in Vietnam the following year, Lange completed a 500-yard swim in the hazardous Nha Be River. While on his R-and-R leave to Thailand that year, he had the pleasure of swimming and water-skiing in the Gulf of Siam.
​While on his next duty assignment onboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, he took a plunge in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. He also led the Intrepid swim team with his second-place 100-meter-breaststroke finish in Bergen, Norway.
​While his swimming sons were growing up, Lange was an assistant coach with the Lake Erie Silver Dolphins for several years and coached the swim teams at Kenston High School for seven years, including as head coach in 2006-07.
​In 2014, Lange won four gold medals and one silver medal in the Ohio Senior Olympics, which earned him a trip to the National Senior Games in Minneapolis the following year. His top national finishes in the 65-to-69-year-old age group there were fifth place in the 200-yard and eighth place in the 100-yard breaststroke events.
Dr. Beth Weinstock talked to Lakewood High School students about the dangers of unintended fentanyl ingestion.
BirdieLight is an organization founded by Dr. Beth Weinstock, whose son Eli died of an unintentional fentanyl overdose in March of 2021. Weinstock came to speak to the students at Lakewood High School on April 30th, and you can watch the presentation at this link. It is well worth watching her talk and hearing about the public health crisis that is unintentional fentanyl overdoses. Her visit was intended to save lives. Weinstock said she “came to save lives today, and she would enlist you, the students of LHS, in that effort because she couldn’t do it alone.”
Eli was a sophomore at American University in Washington D.C., and Weinstock described him as kind-hearted, thriving, with a good GPA. Their family had just seen him ten days before on a trip to Florida, and he was not struggling with addiction or substance abuse. They think he possibly ingested a pill that he thought was something else, but it was pure fentanyl. The coroner told them that the only other substance found in his system was a plant-based legal supplement that had calming qualities.
As Weinstock has learned more about the counterfeit pills being peddled to look like authentic prescription drugs, she believes that Eli took the most commonly trafficked illegal counterfeit pill, Oxycodone. These drug dealers use pill presses to manufacture and dye these pills to look like actual prescription pills. You can see photos and examples of this in her presentation.
I am sure many of you have heard the story of the two Northeast Ohio freshmen girls at OSU who, while studying for finals in the spring of 2023, thought they were taking Adderall to help them stay up and study all night. They ingested Fetynal and died. As I see my senior, and many of the kids I have watched him grow up with, head off to college in the fall, I want to help bring this educational awareness to my community.
Around The Corner, one of Lakewood’s most established entertainment clubs and restaurants, is celebrating their 50th year September 19-22. I have known Mickey Krivosh since LHS, so I stopped by to reminisce and get some information for an article. The story is far different, and far more compelling than I ever knew. Here are the cliff notes:
After graduating from high school, Mickey and some of his friends were living on a beach in Florida--living much the life of “Moon Doggy” in the movie “Gidget,” surviving on odd jobs. Mom(Lillian) flew down to visit and had the classic, “Honey, when are you going to do something with your life?” talk. With that kick in the ass, Mickey returned to their small family apartment, on Franklin near Lakewood Ave., to think about the next step.
The building that Around the Corner currently occupies came up for sale and Mickey looked at it; concluding that if the family could leverage nearly all they had, he could buy it to open a small bar.
Things were financially so tight, that after fixing the place up, Mickey realized they had no money for food or alcohol. Family came through again. His brother Ron, who passed away in 2013, was able to find another couple thousand for opening night food and drink.
Around the Corner opened and everyone loved it, especially the new concept...“It was unique, no tables or chairs, you ordered and wandered around talking to people,” one person said. In fact, as Mickey explained, he was so over extended “I had this guy that would sell me used bar furniture, and each week I would go down and buy another chair or table." Soon the bar was full.
LakewoodAlive is proud to celebrate Mark McNamara, our Community Engagement Specialist, winning the 2024 Golden Achievement Award presented by Benjamin Rose.The Golden Achievement Award honors individuals 60 years of age or older who have achieved distinction in their professional field of expertise and/or community leadership. Nominees' commitment to rethinking aging and defying stereotypes serves as a model for others.
Having spent the majority of his career working for the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services, Mark was a social worker who handled child abuse, neglect, and adoption cases. After retiring from his initial career, he returned to the workforce, joining LakewoodAlive in 2015 as a part-time Community Engager. Rather than slowing down over the years, Mark expanded his responsibilities by transitioning to full time employment as Community Engagement Specialist, allowing him to connect with more residents, particularly in the Birdtown and Scenic Park neighborhoods.
Working primarily with low-to-moderate-income and senior residents, Mark helps fellow seniors age in place safely by conducting assessments of their daily routines and providing recommendations to improve their homes. This allows Mark to build relationships with fellow residents and helps grant them access to other programs such as weatherization, exterior paint, and more.
Celebrate family, community and cultural heritage at the 36th Annual Lakewood Community Festival on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at Madison Park, 13201 Madison Avenue. The day of fun and activities for the entire family will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine.
The festival is known for a delicious array of nationality foods including pierogis, potato pancakes, stuffed cabbage and more. There will be pizza, of course, and other selections as well. You will want to save room for traditional ethnic pastries, ice cream and other desserts.
The family friendly event includes numerous activities for children, including an inflatable obstacle course, crafts and games. Keith “Magic Man” Heidenreich will be creating balloon magic and Glen Mittler will be on hand with his formula for giant bubbles.
Keep a look out for the team from the Rocky River Nature Center. They will provide the opportunity to discover and learn about the wild animals who make Ohio their home.
Throughout the day, musical entertainment will be provided by 2 Guys 12 Strings (11 a.m.), The Newcomers (noon), The Happy Ramblers (1 p.m.), The Polka Pirates (2 p.m.), Riley & Flanagan (3 p.m.), and Jim Schafer and Friends (4 p.m.).
