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Photograph by City of Lakewood

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will take place where the moon completely blocks the sun for nearly four minutes. Lakewood and a large portion of Northeast Ohio sit in the path of totality for this event, which means that we have front-row seats to one of nature’s most amazing phenomena.

Some quick reminders: Make sure that you have eclipse viewing glasses certified to ISO 12312-2 standards. Improperly viewing an eclipse can cause permanent damage to your eyes.

The timing of the eclipse for the Cleveland area is as follows:

Eclipse starts: 1:59 p.m. EDT Totality begins: 3:13 p.m. EDT.  Maximum totality: 3:15 p.m. EDT. Totality ends: 3:17 p.m. EDT Eclipse ends: 4:28 p.m. EDT. 

Lakewood City Hall and the Lakewood Municipal Court will be closed to the public beginning at 12:00 PM on Monday, April 8th.

The Lakewood Police Department will not be enforcing the rush hour parking restrictions (Monday-Friday 7:00 am-9:30 am & 4:00 pm-6:30 pm) on April 8th. Enforcement will resume on Tuesday, April 9th.

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On Wednesday, March 20, Mayor George administered the oath of office to newly-promoted Sergeant Jeffrey Roda. Congratulations, Sgt. Roda!

On March 20, 2024 the Lakewood Police Department welcomed four new officers to the team: Christopher Schilla, Nicholas Krotine, Christina Bridges, and Christopher Rafter. Congratulations to each of you and we are glad to have you serving the City of Lakewood!

1470 Warren Ave from Victoria Ave

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The Housing, Planning & Development Committee met on Monday, March 25 at 6:00 PM. Thomas Bullock - Committee Chair, Jason Shachner - Committee Member, Kyle Baker - Committee Member, Sarah Kepple - Council President, and Cindy Marx - Council Member Ward 4 attended the meeting along with Mayor Meghan George, Law Director Ernie Vargo, Director of Planning & Development Shawn Leininger and members of the community.

The first business item was Ordinance 05-2024 which the committee and council had discussed one week prior. This ordinance would allow the city to enter into an agreement with a licensed broker for the sale of multiple properties. Four individuals from the audience addressed the committee. Two speakers asked the legislators to contemplate how 16016-16024 Madison Ave might benefit the community as a senior living facility; urging the elected officials to consider all facets of future offers for the property and not simply accept the highest bid. Another commenter representing the Lakewood Child Care Center (the only current tenant of 1450 Belle Ave) expressed LCCC’s desire to expand their presence in the building and pointed out that they had already made many upgrades to the building at their own expense. LCCC is interested in buying the parcel. Committee member and councilperson Kyle Baker stated that he would abstain from commenting or voting on this ordinance as his wife, Allison Baker, serves on the LCCC board.

The Committee then voted to remove 1450 Belle Ave, 16016-16024 Madison Ave and 16021 Madison Ave from the proposed legislation as these are commercial properties while the others listed were residential. With the Belle parcel removed, Baker reentered the discussion. He then proposed that two members of council closely monitor the sales process for these properties. Shachner suggested that President Kepple and the Ward 2 representative (himself) serve in these roles. This was approved by the committee. 

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Even though it felt like winter outside, spring was in the air inside the Cove Community Center on March 24 at the 2024 Breakfast With The Bunny event.

Thank you to all of the H2O - Help To Others volunteers, City of Lakewood, Ohio - Department of Human Services staff, sponsors, and guests for your support!

As the weather begins to warm up, so does our time outside, which allows us to spend more time enjoying our many parks and walking and biking through Lakewood. As Mayor and Safety Director, I think about safety year-round, and it is especially top of mind as things warm up and more people are out and about. I am excited to provide some updates on our holistic approach to safety here in Lakewood.

I am thrilled to share that our neighborhood ambassadors are returning to our parks this spring. Launched in 2023, the Parks Ambassador Program serves our five largest parks. The ambassadors provide a level of safety in addition to our uniformed officers, who will again be adding a parks detail during the warm weather months. We are excited to continue both of these important programs to ensure our parks remain safe and inviting for all users.  

With the aim of enhancing inter-agency communication and bolstering emergency response capabilities, the City of Lakewood has secured new state-of-the-art radios for our police and fire departments, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). These cutting-edge devices boast advanced features facilitating seamless communication not only within their respective departments but also with surrounding public safety agencies. This technological upgrade marks a significant improvement over previous generations, offering a suite of modern enhancements designed to optimize coordination and efficiency during critical situations, ensuring a more effective and coordinated response to emergencies. The radios are scheduled to be in the hands of Lakewood first responders this spring.

The Good: This new column will be focusing on The Lakewood Board of Education and the entire district. Let’s start with the basics: there are 5 members on the school board who are elected by our community, and they serve a 4-year term. In general, all school boards have three responsibilities: developing the annual budget to run the school system; setting school policies; and hiring and evaluating the superintendent and treasurer. The only positions that the Board itself hire are the superintendent and the treasurer. The board therefore acts as their bosses. Policy 1210 states “it is the primary duty of the Board to establish policies and that of the Superintendent to administer such policies” and policy 1310 states “The Board vests the primary responsibility for the financial affairs of the District in the Treasurer.”

When someone stands and speaks at a school board meeting they may feel frustrated or wonder why the board members do not answer their question or respond at all.  Policy 1222 explains: “The Board only speaks through its minutes.” Pretty frustrating. This column’s goal is to help all of us understand more about this organization that has a tremendous impact on our entire community.  

Take a moment and go to lakewoodcityschools.org; find the Board of Education tab. There you will find information about board members, purpose, calendars, and a Board Policies link. Reading through policies may not sound like a great way to spend an evening, but there is an amazing amount of information about the district that can be found in these policies. General public meetings are held the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 7pm and are also livestreamed on YouTube. Search “Brent Kallay” or go to the link on the Board tab. This is also the location to find archived board meetings, special events and concerts. 

The Better: Eclipse glasses are being supplied to every student through the Teaching and Learning Department. LHS hosted the OMEA Junior High solo and ensemble where 150 students participated, 50 from Lakewood all earning superior and excellent ratings. In 1999, one Lakewood elementary school started a jump-a-thon to raise money for "Jump Rope for The Heart.” More elementary schools have joined and to date they have raised over $100,000. Recently LHS welcomed 28 students and teachers from Germany. They stayed with Lakewood families, communicating in German and English while exploring Cleveland. 

What the Heck: Policy 7510 mandates in detail the usage and priorities of all district properties, it states: “In order to assure a close relationship between the Board of Education and the Lakewood community, it shall be the policy of the Board to grant and encourage maximum use of schools facilities as provided by law…Such use shall not interfere with the regular education programs. Category 1: Lakewood Student Groups, Category 2: Lakewood School Support Entities, Category 3: Lakewood Public Nonprofit Groups Category 4: Lakewood Private Nonprofit Groups and Category 5: Commercial Users/Non-Resident Groups."

I was around when this policy was written. It was in response to the practice of school facilities being rented out as much as possible for the rental monies. The result was that Lakewood school groups were pushed aside in favor of making money on rentals. School groups were given dates and then had those dates taken away or changed to accommodate a rental.

Just like all the facilities owned by our community and managed by the district, the Lakewood Civic Auditorium at Lakewood High School serves as a place for concerts, commencements, dance recitals, and awards ceremonies just to name a few. When it fits into the district schedule, it is rented out to mostly different community groups.

This year the Civic has been rented so much that it severely limited usage by the LHS Performing Arts Department's yearly musical. Due to an overly zealous rental schedule, instead of the normal 10 plus weeks of closely monitored time for rehearsals and production, they only have 1 full week of uninterrupted time. Volunteer parents are spending many hours to catch up, and Sunday rehearsals had to be scheduled for pit and cast. Now there are reports that the district is offering overtime to maintenance staff to help get the set done, up and struck. But none of this gives back the needed rehearsal time on stage.

March 28: Rangers vs Lake Catholic
 
To win 1-0 over a strong team like Lake Catholic requires outstanding pitching and solid defense. With Logan Ellis (complete game shutout) in command on the mound and stingy defense, the Lakewood Rangers got just that today, and the result was pleasing to Ranger loyalists. Logan scattered 5 hits and stuck out 7, issued 0 walks and induced many ground balls.
 
That's where the defense comes in with infielders Riley Verderber, Cooper Russell (who scored the lone run on a Leo Soneson sacrifice fly), Brady Long and Nick Hart making several critical plays each. Peter Checkett was rock solid behind the plate. But it was right fielder Andrew Krankowski who made the play of the game. After a 7th inning leadoff double by the excellent LC pitcher, the next batter hit a short fly ball into no man's land--or so it seemed--in shallow right center. Andrew raced in and made a sliding one handed grab, stifling what could have been a back breaking rally. Logan retired the last two batters on strikes, and the Rangers walked off the field with a 3-0 record in this young season.

This was a very satisfying win for Lakewood, who has had spirited battles for the last two seasons (each team wining a one-run game), the Cougars winning last year. The Lakewood Rangers are young, always play hard and are all from 44107.
 
Long Live Lakewood.

Renowned magician Mark Paskell will perform in Lakewood on June 8.

Las Vegas magic is coming to Lakewood on June 8, when Mark Paskell takes the stage at Lakewood Catholic Academy for the Centering Space Magical Journey Gala fundraiser.

Paskell turned professional at the age of 15, and by age 20, was working in Las Vegas. Later he expanded his repertoire to include entertaining both private and corporate clients, such as Steven Spielberg, John Travolta and many Fortune 500 clients, at a variety of private events.

“Mark is an amazing magician and entertainer,” said Betsy Nero, director at Centering Space. “We are so thrilled that he offered to perform at this benefit for us. He has been an inspiration and has provided a lot of encouragement and support in the planning process.”

The fundraiser, which takes place on June 8 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM, will include heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, live music, silent and live auctions, a 50/50 raffle and a performance by Paskell on the LCA stage. All the proceeds will go directly to ensuring the continued ministry of Centering Space to the people of Northeast Ohio.

Located on the shores of Lake Erie next to Lakewood Park, Centering Space is a peaceful and inclusive space where people are invited to attend regular prayer hours each week or select from a wide variety of programs throughout the year.

As those who overwinter here,
I fill the feeders in my yard
For hungry birds who wander far
And those companioning near

That they and those together flock
In browns and grays and muted tones
With colorful and foreign stocks
Behind this row of modest homes.

All day I watch for one or two,
Quick of wing and bright of hue
Who flash of yellow, orange, blue
Red, or green in passing through

And as they land or as they fly
In local or exotic guise,
I watch for something bold and new
As my neighbors watch there too.

APRIL  

ARIES: It’s all about the Ram. The Sun has landed in your house of personality. The Solar Eclipse brings changes into your life; it will be the catalyst that paves the way for a new you.

TAURUS: The Bull's got something hidden up its sleeve; the Solar Eclipse will shine the light on that, & then you'll have to come out of hiding. No more staying in the Bull Pen for you.

GEMINI: This month, the Twins have double the pleasure or double the trouble; it's up to you to see how you roll with it. The eclipse is shaking up your world of friendships & organizations.

CANCER: The Crab is making some bold moves in the career sector. The eclipse makes you examine what stays and what has to go. You've got too many irons in the pot; scale back.

LEO: The Solar Eclipse has the Lion/Lioness looking into foreign affairs; maybe you're thinking it's time to get out of the Jungle & spend time somewhere on a sandy beach sipping a pina colada.

VIRGO: Virgo, the Solar Eclipse is shining on transformation. It's time to examine the deeper issues. The Sun may shine on the outside, but you’ll need to delve much further down.

Lakewood Public Cinema Documentary- Eclipse Over America

Presented by Rita Chahda

Sunday, April 7, 2024 
2:00 p.m. (60 minutes) 
Main Library Auditorium

Join us for a special visit by Lakewood High School science teacher, Rita Chahda, as she gives us an informative overview of the April 8th eclipse, the first total solar eclipse visible over Lakewood since 1806, followed with a screening of Nova’s Eclipse Over America. The film documents the events surrounding the August 21, 2017, path of totality for both scientists and the public, while explaining the significance of this once in a lifetime phenomenon. Free eclipse glasses will be available after the documentary while supplies last.

Film- Casablanca (1942)  

Presented by Terry Meehan

Saturday April 13, 2024  

6:00 p.m. (102 minutes)  

Main Library Auditorium  

Filmed and set during World War II, Casablanca focuses on an American expatriate (Humphrey Bogart) who must choose between his love for a woman (Ingrid Bergman) and helping her resistance-leader husband (Paul Henreid) to escape from Vichy-controlled Casablanca. Particularly memorable is the "duel of the anthems" between the German officers and the patrons of Rick’s Café.  

Healthy Lakewood Foundation will accept applications for its Community Grants funding process from April 8 through May 10, 2024. Community Grants support organizational programming, projects and initiatives that seek to address critical needs, build community connections, address disparities, and improve the quality of our public and living spaces, with a priority on:

• Food insecurity and access to affordable high-quality food.
• Social and community support networks as safeguards against stress and discrimination.
• Access to early childhood education programs and services.
• Affordable and safe housing, access to transportation, and safety in and access to public spaces within Lakewood.

Additionally, specific populations in Lakewood are prioritized in this funding, including children and youth, low-income older adults, single-parent heads of households, and immigrants and refugees.

Grant funding ranges between $10,000 - $40,000.

Non-profits and fiscally sponsored organizations are encouraged to review the application process and guidelines on HLF’s website at https://healthylakewoodfoundation.org/community-grants/

Birth & Beyond

This in-person class is designed to help you prepare for the journey of pregnancy, birth and beyond. Whether you’re a first-time parent or adding to your family, our knowledgeable Birth and Postpartum Doula and Lactation Counselor, Kristen Bindel will provide valuable information and support to guide you through this exciting time. This is a FREE birth class funded by a grant from the Healthy Lakewood Foundation. The 3 part class will be offered throughout the year with the first session taking place on April 10, April 24, and May 8 from 5-7:30 PM at the Lakewood Family Room in Cove Community Center. Registration is required. Call 216-529-5018 or email Jessica.parker@lakewoodoh.net for more information.

Newborn & Infant Support

Once your baby has arrived you are bound to have questions. We feel that all mothers should be supported with grace and understanding during this first vulnerable year. Come as you are and find expert support and guidance as well as friendships that can last a lifetime. This drop in group is just that. Come when you can, no need to register. Kristen Bindel, Doula and Lactation Counselor, facilitates this group for all new parents and their babies every Wednesday morning from 10 am to Noon.

Morning Drop In Play

The Lakewood Family Room is the perfect place to let your child play in a cozy, friendly, safe environment while you meet your neighbors! Grab a cup of coffee while your little one plays with blocks, trucks, dolls, puzzles, and more. No registration is required. Tuesday mornings are for reserved for those 3 and under while Thursdays are for babies to big kids (0-5)! Doors open 9 to 11 AM.

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. Registration is required. Register for each session separately.  

April 1- April 25, 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. This pre-school story time is ideal for walkers, new talkers, and learning early literacy skills. You and your toddler and preschoolers will enjoy short books, songs and rhymes. The focus is on skills with your participation as a model. No registration is required. 

Flags representing the country of origin for LHS Boys Soccer players, a tradition started by Dr. Amy Daso, is the highlight of the home opener every year.

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It only takes reading a few of Dr. G’s Lakewood High School athletic recaps to see how high school sports bring us together as a community and fill us with Ranger pride.

According to Kristian Hila, LHS ’10 “The greatest strength of the LHS Boys Soccer program is our beautiful mix of cultures and life experiences that come together and create lifelong friendships and a shared love for our game and the Lakewood soccer family.”  

Current and future athletes pour their hearts into the soccer program. You might see them on their way to conditioning at 6:00 am year-round or playing at the Madison Park Futsal courts late into the night. Behind the scenes there are hours spent studying – sometimes learning English for the first time or helping teammates master chemistry and algebra. Some players work part-time to help their family pay for rent and food. Others spend hours volunteering in the community.

While differences in finances are not an insurmountable hurdle within Lakewood, they play a big part in shutting down opportunities for some of our talented athletes to play high-level club soccer. This type of training exposes players to intense competition, puts them in front of college recruiters offering scholarship opportunities, and helps them realize their fullest potential. 

Over the years, many in the community have been quietly helping make higher-level soccer training more accessible by paying for soccer cleats/uniforms, purchasing meals, or springing for extra hotel rooms. Now, with the encouragement of former LHS alumni and parent groups, the G.O.A.L.S. program has been launched. Granting Opportunity and Access for Lakewood Soccer (G.O.A.L.S.) is raising funds to provide high-level soccer training and equipment for boys from refugee and low-income families.Key to the program is creating a sense of belonging and support by removing income level as a barrier.

For me this is a personal story. Like many LHS soccer players, I came to Lakewood as an immigrant. I was 7 years old, from a single parent home and did not speak a word of English. The Lakewood soccer community was welcoming and generous. Families in our community found ways for boys like me to play for LSA and later Lakewood United. We had rides, and uniforms, and a safe, fun place to make friends and feel at home.  

Waking up at 5:30 every day for training as an LHS soccer player was intense, exhausting and an amazing environment for building great habits, learning to make good decisions, and building the best friendships.  

When I am not studying for my accelerated BSN degree you can see me on the sidelines as a Lakewood United and Lakewood City Futsal coach, and in the stands for LHS games with fellow alumni and lifelong friends cheering on each new generation of Rangers. I am grateful to be able to give back to the community that did so much for me.

I hope you will consider making a contribution either directly to G.O.A.L.S. or by enjoying a delicious, healthy meal for dine-in or take-out on April 11, 2024 at the Lakewood Aladdin’s Eatery, 14536 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107. On that day, 10% of all proceeds will go directly to support G.O.A.L.S.

How much longer will the world allow Israel to act with absolute impunity? On countless occasions since the escalating attacks on innocent Palestinian civilians, the Biden Administration has been reported to “warn” Israel, and “pressure” Netanyahu and “push” the IDF to act in accordance with international humanitarian law. It has been six months. Six months of watching massive airstrikes, absolute destruction, depraved military operations and death - so much death in Palestine. Now, we are watching as those that survived the relentless bombings, die of forced starvation because Israel will not allow sufficient aid into Gaza.

It is long past time for the United States to halt the financial, military and political cover we’ve given Israel’s genocidal campaign. Even after the ICJ’s ruling, objections from international humanitarian organizations, and warnings from the Biden Administration, Israel has rejected any calls for restraint and doubled down on their intent to massacre Palestinian civilians. Currently, the IDF is poised to launch an invasion of Rafah, the southernmost point of the Gaza strip where 1.5M forcibly displaced refugees are sheltering. 

To be in lockstep with Netanyahu’s authoritarian regime is unconscionable; to hold Gaza and the world hostage by refusing international ceasefire resolutions is absolutely evil. Not only does the U.S. look incredibly foolish on the world stage, but also utterly hypocritical and breath-takingly callous. 

As a nation, we will face consequences for aiding and abetting a genocide. Whether it’s Trump in November, or a geopolitical conflict in the near future or judgment day when we meet our proverbial maker, America needs to take accountability and course correct or else this will be the beginning of the end of our role as a leader of the free world. No short-term foreign policy goals are worth that. 

Spring precipitation data is critical to track the impacts of rainfall on Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s two major wet-weather programs: Project Clean Lake (our work to reduce Lake Erie combined sewer overflow pollution by 4 billion gallons a year) and the Regional Stormwater Management Program (which addresses intercommunity stream challenges like erosion, flooding, water quality and debris maintenance). For more information on either of these programs, please visit our website, neorsd.org.

Large-scale rain events across Northeast Ohio and NEORSD’s member communities are increasing. The spring season will likely bring increased rainfall and an increase in the sewer district’s efforts to address problems related to stormwater runoff from hard surfaces. The Regional Stormwater Management Program is funded by a fee on your NEORSD bill. The fees are calculated based on the amount of impervious surface area on your property, such as rooftops, driveways and patios.

Property owners have options to make changes or improvements to their properties to reduce the amount of runoff affecting local streams and storm sewers. Actions like disconnecting downspouts, installing rain barrels, or planting rain gardens are some of the ways property owners can better control runoff on their property. On-site stormwater management helps protect water quality and reduce flooding and erosion. For more information, please visit neorsd.org/fee-credit, where you can fill out any applicable applications.

Questions? Contact us (216) 881-8247 or tweet us @neorsd.

The last several years have been full of news about skyrocketing food costs. Even through these inflationary times, West Shore Meals On Wheels managed for the last 12 years to hold meal pricing steady at $8 per day ($4 per cold lunch and $4 per hot dinner).

Beginning January 1, 2024, the Executive Board voted to REDUCE daily meal pricing to $7 per day ($3 for cold lunch and $4 for hot dinner).

This benefit to our recipients would not be possible without the efforts of our Fairview Park and Rocky River Kitchen head cooks, who work tirelessly to control food costs. Our volunteers donate their time and expertise to prepare and deliver delicious meals every day, and our corporate and individual donors continually provide food and funds to help our organization thrive for residents of Fairview Park, Lakewood and Rocky River.

For more information on becoming a West Shore Meals On Wheels recipient, or to inquire about volunteering or donating, please contact the West Shore Meals on Wheels website at www.WestShoreMOW.org or call each individual kitchen. The Rocky River-Lakewood kitchen can be reached at 440-333-6298. The Fairview Park kitchen phone number is 440-331-3842. 

John Becker is retired from a career in fresh food manufacturing. He is now a volunteer for West Shore Meals On Wheels. 

Hang this by dead batteries.

Dispose of these

dead batteries, 

our enemies now, 

and memories

of some foul disease

in the RIGHT PLACE

at the RIGHT TIME

or POW!!

suffer the penalties

of our crime. 

The poet is a computer programmer, living in the city.

The ciity is discussing the sale of 1450 Belle Ave. 

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Lakewood City Hall hosted three meetings on Monday, March 18, 2024. The Public Safety Committee, Housing, Planning, & Development Committee as well as Lakewood City Council met at 6:00, 6:45 and 7:30 respectively.

The Public Safety Committee heard presentations from and asked questions of Law Director Ernie Vargo and Chief Prosecutor Myriam Miranda regarding changes to Section 513.01 of the Codified Ordinances as it pertains to Adult-Use Marijuana. Director Vargo explained that a group in the Law Department has been meeting to work on this section and expects to have a final draft prepared for Council to review in 4 - 6 weeks. Ms. Miranda assured the committee and members of the public that police officers would be trained and given updated protocols as Lakewood adapts to the legalization of Adult-Use Marijuana. 

The Housing, Planning, & Development Committee discussed a number of city-owned properties that the city is looking to sell by partnering with a licensed real estate broker. The committee failed to send this action item along to council for approval because of Committee Chair Thomas Bullock’s apprehension around selling the property at 1450 Belle Ave. The brick building across Belle from the pit that used to be Lakewood Hospital has housed offices of the Cleveland Clinic as well as the Lakewood Child Care Center. The Chairman seemed truly troubled by the prospect of selling the parcel as he reminisced aloud about negotiations to procure it during the closing of the hospital. Bullock was under the impression that collecting rent from tenants there was a source of income for Lakewood and did not want to agree to part with the building if it was adding to the bottom line. Director of Planning & Development Shawn Leininger stated that the city is spending “hundreds of thousands of dollars” to maintain the building and that it is a risk for the city citing the condition of the edifice. Leininger also cited insurance cost as a point against keeping the property in the city’s real estate portfolio. This agenda item was deferred and will be revisited the next time the committee meets.

Lakewood’s parks and greenspaces are rightly treasured and highly used by our residents. The City of Lakewood is always working to ensure that these jewels are consistently maintained. We also regularly evaluate how the parks are used, what updates are needed, and opportunities for improvements based on resident priorities and needs. This year, our Planning and Development Department is once again working through community input and engagement on potential updates to multiple parks.

At Lakewood Park, we are working through development of a Waterfront Access Plan that aspires to increase public access and exposure to our city’s greatest natural asset – Lake Erie. Outreach has been ongoing for months, and the City and our design team from SmithGroup recently hosted an open house that drew dozens to offer feedback on renderings of the proposed plans. The recommendations include exciting ideas to achieve the goal of building the connection between the people of Lakewood and our Great Lake. You can see the concepts here: https://www.lakewoodoh.gov/lakewood-park-waterfront-access-feasibility-study/. The City is excited about the potential to achieve this plan and will continue to refine it as we explore how to fund the recommendations.

Join us Saturday, March 23 at Winterhurst from 4pm to 7pmfor a fun filled community event to support the special education students in Lakewood High School’s MILES Unit!

Watch our very own Lakewood Fire Department face off in a thrilling hockey game vs. the Lakewood High School hockey program!

Tickets are $5 and are available for pregame purchase at www.lakewoodfirefighters.com or at the door on game night (cash only). Doors open at 4:00pm with puck drop at 5. Kids under 5 are free!!

Concessions will be available along with a 50/50 raffle, $5 sideboards and $1 Chuck-a-puck with awesome prize packs from local donors!!

Emily’s newspaper hobby is a true example of employing all of our Vision of a Lakewood competencies! 

The newspaper sprung from Emily’s interests in business, writing, reading and entrepreneurship. She printed her first issue as a fourth-grader and aimed for a weekly schedule but soon found that those deadlines came too quickly so The Sparkle Times is now a biweekly.

The publication is a terrific blend of articles on pop culture, current events both nationally and globally - a recent issue turned a focus on Ukraine - polls, a craft how-to, and yes/no debates on hot topics such as should self-driving cars replace regular ones.

Not only is Emily a publisher, but she’s a boss as well. She currently has four student-employees that she recruited from placing a hiring ad in one of her issues. Each person earns about a quarter per article. Emily said she definitely feels the pressure when the printing deadline looms, but she said it’s also when she is able to just crank it out the best.

When she sees that new issue of The Sparkle Times is when Emily says she can finally take a breath and admire her and her team’s work. “It feels like you’ve really accomplished something,” Emily said.

The weather this past week in Ohio has done just about everything.

Warm and sunny, beautiful early Spring days to violent hail-producing thunderstorms with torrential downpours. Unfortunately, it also saw eight tornadoes destroying homes, barns, and most importantly life. Three people lost their lives in Indian Lake in Logan County when an EF2 tornado swept through in the night with winds of 136 mph. Over 20 people were hospitalized with various injuries. 

Jim and I drove down to Plymouth on the edge of Crawford/Richland Counties to see how much damage had happened there. We found a destructive trail through farmland that was over ten miles long. We saw debris scattered over pristine fields that are ready to be planted. Metal roofing from barns and out buildings was strewn and twisted everywhere, up in the trees that were still standing and all over the countryside. The shearing off of trunks from mature trees was unbelievable. Most trees were twisted beyond saving.

We met Casey and his father-in-law who lost everything. The house was gone. Their barn was gone. The doublewide that was parked out back was found on the neighbor's property tossed over a tall natural tree/brush barrier. It was smashed, twisted and a total loss. The front porch of their home was all that was left. The good news is that there were no fatalities in Plymouth. Everyone there was okay, including their livestock. The father and son-in-law were not there that evening. They were just grateful to be alive and safe. "Everything can be replaced, we have our family, that's all that matters," he said.

The Cove Community Center was the most festive place in town on the morning of Fri March 15th.! The St. Patrick's Day celebration featured Irish music, Pat Slife on the bagpipes, and a pizza lunch. Thanks to our seniors and staff for dressing up and getting into the holiday spirit!

Lincoln fourth and fifth grade Jump Rope Club members performed for students, parents and staff for the school's Kids Heart Challenge celebration of the end of the two-week campaign. The Kids Heart Challenge focuses on whole body well-being, helping students improve their own health and better their character while raising life-saving donations for the American Heart Association to help kids with special hearts. Students raised $10,830 for AHA this year, boosting the school's total to $135,749 since 1999! Kudos to the students and to PE teacher Nicole Anderson for such great spirit and big hearts!

Despite the important work nonprofits and community organizations do in the communities they serve, many are lacking the modern technology tools needed to perform their missions to the fullest. To bridge this technology gap, Cox Communications today announced it has awarded grants to nonprofit groups committed to investing in technology equipment for the betterment of its patrons and mission. In Ohio, the company awarded a $10,000 “boost” to Lakewood City Schools.  

This marks the seventh year of the Cox Communications Tech Boosts program, and the goal remains the same: to help nonprofits invest in technology equipment and services that enrich the lives of community members while fulfilling their missions to the fullest.

This technology grant is awarded to organizations which reinforce intellectual prosperity and are committed to improving humanity. The nonprofit must demonstrate how the organization will positively impact one of four categories with its Tech Boost award. These include: Environment and Conservation; Health; Early Childhood Education; and Empowering Families and Individuals for Success.

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Kudos to Shannon Katzenberger, Rowan Brown, Yasmine Elhachdani and Academic Challenge Advisors Autumn Sabin and Jason Saksa. (Note--LHS actually had 590 but still beat Mayfield with 420 and River handily). These students are hard working, engaged learners, and those of us that have had them in class are very fortunate. Long Live Lakewood.

March 2: Lakewood Rangers vs Hudson Explorers

To beat a tough and physical Hudson squad, the Lakewood Rangers needed to play with peak level effort and mental toughness. They did just that, and after 32 tense minutes, behind a great team effort and some clutch plays, the Rangers prevailed in the OHSAA Sectional Final 58-55.

Lakewood held a small lead most of the way, but when the Explorers finally took the lead late in the 3rd quarter, junior guard Luke Vannucci (13 points) cooly hit a transition 3 pointer from the top of the key--perhaps the most important basket of the game-- halting Hudson's momentum and calming their increasingly engaged fans. From there, junior guard Lucas Seguine used his superb ball handling skills to score 6 of his game high 16 points in the decisive fourth quarter. Great team defense on the last two Hudson possessions meant a win for Lakewood and a welcome reprieve from a nail-biting overtime period.   

The three senior starters, in their last game at the East Gym, played strong at both ends. Jack Gowan (11 points) cashed in three 3 pointers, had two steals, and helped stake the Rangers to an early lead. Dominic Peck (6 points) scored 4 critical points late, each time pushing the Lakewood lead to 3 points. Senior Drew Jablonowski was vintage Drew, fiercely battling for rebounds against the much larger Hudson squad, finishing strong at the rim (14 points), and, most of all, setting a tone--and standard--of intensity that lifts the whole team.

Presentation - "Stories from a NASA Photographer" 

Presented by Marv Smith 

Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. 

Main Library Auditorium 

Marv Smith served as the Lead Photographer at NASA Glenn Research Center for thirty-seven years until his retirement in 2023. Join us as he shares one hundred of his NASA photos, along with the intriguing stories behind them. The result is a visual history of this landmark institution. Free eclipse glasses will be available after the program while supplies last. 

Documentary - "Eclipse Over America" 

Sunday, April 7, 2024  

2:00 p.m. (60 minutes) 

Main Library Auditorium 

The April 8, 2024 eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse visible over Lakewood since 1806, putting us directly in what is known as the ‘path of totality.’ Prepare for the celestial spectacle with Nova's Eclipse Over America. The film documents the events surrounding the August 21, 2017, path of totality for both scientists and the public, while explaining the significance of this once in a lifetime phenomenon. Free eclipse glasses will be available after the documentary while supplies last. 

The Lakewood Women’s Club (LWC) Annual Spring Fundraiser -- Women Honoring Women will be held, once again, at Vosh/Georgetown on April 11th at 6pm serving appetizers and drinks with the cost of admission. This event helps fund our scholarship program that each year awards a female Lakewood resident who is pursuing a higher education. This year our scholarship will be in honor of the late Patty Ryan, past President  & CEO of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. The evening will be a celebration designed to recognize the wonderful accomplishments of Lakewood women in business, non-profits, policies, schools and all walks of Lakewood life! 

The Thrift Store Fashion Show will showcase models focused on reusing and recycling previously owned clothing. Today thrifting is more than just an affordable practice; it's a form of self-expression. With a wide range of one-of-a-kind items, you are able to find unique pieces that reflect your own style. I speak from personal experience and have been enjoying the hunt for spectacular items for more than 30+ years! 

We look forward to seeing you soon! Please purchase your tickets today and join us!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/women-honoring-women-2024-tickets-809731036327

A heartfelt thank you to these participating stores:

Tia Winfield, Co-Owner - Value World (Lakewood)

"We are honored to contribute to the Lakewood Women's Club annual fundraiser, 'Women Honoring Women,' particularly with this year's theme of a Thrift Store Fashion Show.  It's a joy to unite with fellow Lakewood women business owners and community leaders in celebrating the remarkable achievements of our local women while also supporting the dreams of future generations through scholarships. We are thrilled that this year's runway will showcase an array of thrifted treasures, not only adding a unique flair to the event but also symbolizing a commitment to sustainability and fostering opportunities for women within our local community."  

During my pregnancy, two friends suggested the Lakewood Family Room's Wednesday parent group for lactation and newborn support. I joined shortly after my daughter's birth, finding immense support and friendship. Battling postpartum depression, I found solace and camaraderie with fellow parents, realizing I wasn't alone. As my daughter grows, the Family Room remains our haven for play and connection. I'm grateful to Ms. Jess, Cove Community Center staff, and volunteers for making us feel like part of the family.

Megan and Lily

Grab your bathing suits, towels, baskets and goggles for Lakewood Recreation’s annual Underwater Egg Hunt. This year’s event will be held Saturday, March 30, 2024 at the Lakewood High School Pool beginning at 9:30am. 

Children are split up into age groups for the hunt. All children ages 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult in the pool; no separate registration fee is required for the adults accompanying younger children. Eggs can be redeemed for prizes after the hunt.

Don’t be fooled by the name; not all the eggs sink. Approximately half of the eggs float at the surface. The other eggs are spread out on the pool bottom, varying in depth from 3.5 feet deep to 9 feet deep. There are a variety of activities in the pool for the children to participate in when not diving for eggs. There are pool toys out for the little ones, and, always a favorite, the high dive for the older kiddos.

Pre-register and save - $8 registration available only through March 28. Registration is available online at recreation.lakewoodcityschools.org.

We look forward to seeing everyone for this year’s hunt.

“It’s like looking up the skirt of the Catholic Church,” my sister remarked as we flipped through the catalog where you could buy: Mass. From the communion wafers—the body of Christ—to the Crown of Thorns, all of it: for sale. 

I went to church every Sunday for eighteen years of my life. As a kid, I distanced myself from most of what was said on the altar by using sign language to have conversations with my sister, or lip-syncing what priests recited weekly.

As a teen, I pinpointed why I tuned out. How the words from the altar didn’t embody the fullness of things we could be talking about: The complexity of this messy, human experience and finding meaning, compassion, and love amidst it all. Nor speak to me as a woman—not reflected in leadership, rights not championed.

And so sign language turned to Sundays driving around and getting donuts—not forgetting to grab the flyer from St. Malachi’s or St. Luke’s to prove I’d gone to church.

But there were moments when they had me: Listening to a homily by Father Hritz at St. Malachi’s where he told a story, spoke from the heart. From the voice of love.

And too late I’d learn that was what the whole thing was about—what Jesus himself embodied—before power obstructed the view and led the Church to dangle the keys to proving one’s worthiness through strict rule-following to build power to hold itself together. Instead of softening, evolving to continually channel the voice of compassion and love. The voice of Jesus.

Keep Lakewood Beautiful to Host 'Pop Up, Pick Up, Pour Up' Cleanup Event On March 27

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Keep Lakewood Beautiful is pleased to announce its first ‘Pop Up, Pick Up, Pour Up’ event of 2024. Join our volunteer-led group on Wednesday, March 27, at 6 pm at the northwest corner of Madison Avenue and Warren Road to do good, have fun, and make friends.

Pop Up - Meet at the northwest corner of Madison Avenue and Warren Road near University Hospitals Urgent Care (14800 Madison Ave) at 6 pm. Bags, vests, gloves, and litter tongs will be provided.

Pick Up - Help us to pick up litter and beautify the public spaces and commercial corridors along Madison and Warren.

Pour Up - Afterwards, around 7, we'll head to Red Rose Cafe to pour up a drink (pay as you go) in celebration of a job well done.

Visit our Facebook event to learn more. This event will be postponed in the event of inclement weather.

We hope you can join us to beautify our community!

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. Registration is required. Register for each session separately.  

Session 1: March 4- March 28, 2024  

Session 2: April 1- April 25, 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. This pre-school story time is ideal for walkers, new talkers, and learning early literacy skills. You and your toddler and preschoolers will enjoy short books, songs and rhymes. The focus is on skills with your participation as a model. No registration is required. 

Most consumers know that credit scores and bankruptcies can impact their financial well-being but don’t understand how. Credit scores can determine whether someone can get a loan and if their interest rates will be low or exponentially high. There are things that consumers should be aware of to keep their finances stable.

One area that causes confusion for consumers is how to dispute discrepancies on their credit report.

“You can write a letter to the three credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion- that includes documentation to show the bureaus that their reports are incorrect,” said Matt Alden, a Senior Attorney in the Economic Justice Group at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. “The credit bureaus would then have 30 days to investigate the inquiry and write a response to the consumer stating that they will delete, keep, or change the error on the report. If the credit bureaus will not change the incorrect information, the consumer can hire an attorney and respond to the bureaus according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act.” 

Credit pulls can also impact your credit score. Hard pulls are made when you want to borrow money from a lender for car and home loans or when applying for new credit cards. Too many hard pulls can decrease your credit score. Soft pulls are made when a company pulls your credit to verify your name, address, work history, payment history, if you filed for bankruptcy and more. Some soft pulls are made without the consumer’s permission. An example of this is when you receive mail from auto and home insurance, credit card and loan companies. These companies have already pulled your credit to determine that you pre-qualify for their offers. Soft pulls don’t affect your credit score. 

Another area that consumers struggle with is bankruptcy.

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Hop on over to Grace Lutheran Church, 13030 Madison Ave., on Saturday March 23 at 9:30 am for an Easter Egg Hunt Extravaganza. Children ages 3-10 and their families are invited to join us for a morning of fun. Come play games like Bunny Golf and Guess the Number of Jelly Beans to win prizes. Make crafts including an Easter necklace, a magnet and a standing cross. Decorate your own cookie and enjoy eating it at the refreshment center. Have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny. Color a bag to collect your prizes and crafts and the eggs you find on your Easter Egg Hunt which ends at 11:00 am.

his fun-filled event is free and open to the community. Anyone interested will also be able to tour our preschool which is enrolling students now for the 2024-25 school year.  

The Easter Bunny will be looking for you.

Naomi Schiffrik was born and raised in Lakewood. LHS class of '68. She is currently the administrator for Grace Preschool. She's been happily married for over 50 years, mother of 3, grandmother of 6.

Please join us at Lakewood Presbyterian Church for our palm procession and Sunday morning worship on March 24, 2024 at 9:45 am.

We will usher in Holy week by waving palms as we parade through the sanctuary. All ages are welcome. We will meet at 9:45 am in the Lucas Youth Parlor below the sanctuary to receive palms.

After worship, LPC would like to welcome children, infants to 5th grade, to participate in our annual Indoor Easter Egg Hunt. Each child who registers can collect a set of colored eggs to exchange for candy and prizes.

Registration is required to reserve your set of eggs. Meet on our lower level in Lawther Hall at 11:20 am. Please register via the signup genius on our Facebook event or email akennedy@lakewoodpresbyterian.org .

All community members are welcome!

March 18-22  2024 is Kiwanis International recognition week for Kiwanis Builders. The Kiwanis Club of Lakewood is proud to sponsor a Builders Club at Harding Junior High.

Builder’s is a youth leadership club in the Kiwanis family for middle school. Each Builders club has a school/administrator advisor and Lakewood Kiwanian advisor. The club officers are elected at the beginning of the school year and installed by a Kiwanian officer.

After that is in place, the voting of projects by the kids is done for the year. Our Builder’s projects include food drives, dog blankets for The Alaskan Iditarod Race, and fundraising efforts for world projects, such as UNICEF. The kids learn that they have a voice in the club and need to make the commitment to complete their projects.

Leadership in school and community is supported by both the school faculty advisor and Lakewood Kiwanis.

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Congresswoman Shontel Brown visited Lakewood on Wednesday February 21, 2024. The event: “Coffee with Your Congresswoman” took place at Lakewood City Hall and was attended by over 100 of Brown’s constituents from Lakewood and surrounding cities. She covered a wide array of issues with prepared statements and off-the-cuff responses to live questions. Lakewood Mayor Meghan George introduced the Congresswoman who represents Ohio’s 11th Congressional District.

Brown opened by recognizing Lakewood as the largest female-led city in Ohio, referring to Mayor George, City Council President Sarah Kepple and Presiding Municipal Court Judge Tess Neff. The Congresswoman introduced 7 of her staff members who were also present: Chief of Staff Veleter Mazyck, Esq., Deputy Chief of Staff Kimberly Hodge Edwards, Communications Director Will McDonald, Caseworker and Field Representative Brehon Pittman, Caseworker and Field Representative Hayley Johnson, District Staff Assistant and Congressional Aide Jared Sherman, and Executive Assistant Jasmine Butler.

The Congresswoman began her report from Capitol Hill by stating that this is a “frustrating time, to say the least, to be in Congress." She spoke about the “Far-Right Republicans’” refusal to pass a long-term budget and how this would impact Lakewoodites, including the delay of $4,900,000 in federal funding for a new storage basin to help with storm overflow and protection of our local water supply. She emphasized that House Democrats are committed to keeping the government open.

This month, Brown filed legislation on gun safety after attending the funeral of Di’Mesha Wright, a 23-year-old victim of gun violence at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland which is the representative’s home church. Additional gunfire broke out in front of the church during Wright’s Celebration of Life service where the Congresswoman was in attendance. New legislation passed last year strengthens background checks for people under 21 and domestic abusers, includes funding for community violence prevention programs, and cracks down on gun trafficking and illegal gun purchases. Brown’s bill would require the Department of Justice to report on the effectiveness of the new law.

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One of the many reasons we are fortunate in Lakewood is the partnership between our schools and the city.

On Feb. 26, students in West Shore Career-Tech's Construction Trades program began a project that will become a physical reminder of that collaboration as they began work on a new garage for Cove Community Center.

Can't wait to watch the progress as these students learn employable and practical skills that will serve them for a lifetime! Stop by Cove and check out the progress. It's going up fast!

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Congratulations to the Lakewood High School Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra and Camerata Orchestra for their superior ratings at OMEA Ohio Large Group Orchestra Adjudicated Event! Kudos to all the musicians and Director Beth Hankins!

The City of Lakewood recently completed our bond rating process with Moody’s Investors Service, and I am pleased to share that Lakewood was able to achieve a Moody’s Aa2 rating, which is an excellent credit opinion for our city. Maintaining this desirable bond rating is highly beneficial for our residents by allowing the City to pay lower interest when we must borrow funds for high priority capital projects.

My staff understands and appreciates your support of ongoing capital projects through your property taxes, and having low interest costs are a critical factor in avoiding increased tax burdens for you. This is why we champion a culture of fiscal stewardship and excellence as a top priority for our City leadership team. This extends into our bond rating, which is fundamentally important to Lakewood’s ability to continue providing the high level of service and public assets and amenities our residents expect and deserve. 

Each year as we compile the City’s budget, our department directors, my office, and City Council work to identify key capital projects within our 5-year capital plan and determine how to pay for them.  With many projects in the multi-million dollar range, the City must spread costs over several years to ensure that we do not increase the tax burden on our residents.  Through an annual borrowing process, the City issues note obligations to procure the necessary funding. When the projects are complete, we convert the notes into bonds and obtain the Moody’s rating.  Key projects in our most recent bond issuance included Foster Pool, the Refuse & Recycling Center, our annual street improvements, and major improvements to our Water and Sewer system to comply with EPA requirements. 

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Three cheers to the LHS Cheer Squad for finishing in the top three of the varsity division at the Ohio Grand Champs Cheer & Dance Competition in Dublin!

Special mention to Rylie Griffin, who earned an All American medal for her performance!

Love to see the hard work by the team and coaches Stephanie Ricottone and Maura Flynn pay off!

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H2O is getting ready to invite spring into Cove Community Center! The annual Breakfast with the Bunny event is Saturday, March 23rd and will feature a pancake breakfast, photos with the bunny, and a beautiful assortment of raffle baskets that guests can purchase chances to win. This event is a wonderful showcase for the program, as it is run by high school volunteers serving food, selling raffle tickets, and helping in the kitchen. All proceeds from the event support H2O’s service-learning projects. We are grateful for sponsorship from First Federal Lakewood and for raffle basket donations from Lakewood’s generous small business community. This support allows H2O to raise needed funds while hosting an enjoyable and affordable event for families in the area.

There are four timed seatings for Breakfast with the Bunny and ticket prices are $12 for guests who are 12 years and older and $7 for younger children. Registration links can be found on H2O’s page on the City of Lakewood site, www.h2olakewood.org. Please call (216)529-6045 or email emmie.hutchison@lakewoodoh.net with questions about Breakfast with the Bunny.

H2O is a youth volunteer program sponsored by the City of Lakewood’s Department of Human Services. H2O receives tremendous support from the Lakewood City Schools, the Lakewood Foundation, generous donors and a dedicated group of adult volunteers.

A serious discussion on the nature of violence in film, with specific reference to its glorification for the purposes of entertainment, has, I believe, never been more necessary than it is today. After all, violence is omnipresent on the silver screen, taking many different forms, be it in the form of action films, in which we are meant to follow a protagonist as they kill dozens of adversaries in a hailstorm of bullets and impressive choreography, or the immensely popular superhero film, in which we are unceasingly barraged with scenes of destruction as a nondescript metropolitan landscape is leveled in a battle between a group of ostensibly virtuous superheroes and the so-called villains, with no thought given to the massive scale of violence perpetrated on the city and its inhabitants. These flippant depictions of violence have the potential to be extremely harmful, as they encourage a sort of numbing effect to violence both on film and in the real world.

Some films are thankfully not as brazen in their depictions of violence: the brutality of war, for instance, and the unspeakable atrocities committed during wartime are often captured with the intention of impressing upon the audience the destructive and horrific nature of war. However, I would argue that the very act of framing the horrific events that take place during wartime in conventional cinematic narratives unintentionally glorifies the violence that took place.

That’s why no film I’ve ever seen has managed to make me think about the nature of violence, both cinematically and historically, as The Zone of Interest has. Jonathan Glazer’s latest film, in which we follow the lives of the commandant of Auschwitz and his family, was, like other films of its ilk, researched meticulously: Glazer and company spent several years researching the central figures involved in collaboration with the Auschwitz Museum and other organizations. However, it differs from other films of its nature, films depicting the atrocities committed during the Holocaust, precisely in the way in which it depicts said atrocities.

Some films are thankfully not as brazen in their depictions of violence: the brutality of war, for instance, and the unspeakable atrocities committed during wartime are often captured with the intention of impressing upon the audience the destructive and horrific nature of war. However, I would argue that the very act of framing the horrific events that take place during wartime in conventional cinematic narratives unintentionally glorifies the violence that took place.

That’s why no film I’ve ever seen has managed to make me think about the nature of violence, both cinematically and historically, as The Zone of Interest has. Jonathan Glazer’s latest film, in which we follow the lives of the commandant of Auschwitz and his family, was, like other films of its ilk, researched meticulously: Glazer and company spent several years researching the central figures involved in collaboration with the Auschwitz Museum and other organizations. However, it differs from other films of its nature, films depicting the atrocities committed during the Holocaust, precisely in the way in which it depicts said atrocities.

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Lakewood Presbyterian Church Youth Group will be joining with Middleburg Heights Community United Church of Christ for their triennial Mission Trip from June 17th-21st, themed: "Giving Me Life!"

Any 6th through 12th grader is welcome to join us for this unique experience. This is a great opportunity to build up community service hours, learn about your faith, and build friendships.

We will drive to Lotts Creek Community School (LCCS) www.lottscreek.org in Kentucky, where we will serve those in need. The school was founded in 1933 as a residential settlement school. What started as a small cabin, is now a three-story school with girls' and boys' dormitories. It is now home to Cordia School, a food pantry and thrift shop. They help provide scholarships, medical assistance, and home repair after hurricanes and major flooding.

Past projects with youth have included: rehab projects including replacing bathroom flooring in trailers, building a handicap ramp, playground rehabs, and painting. There is no need to be skilled in any of these areas. Training will be provided, and jobs will depend on the number of skilled leaders available.

The Garfield Drama Club will present the musical "Mean Girls Jr." Adapted from the 2004 blockbuster film and the Broadway smash hit, "Mean Girls" is a fearless musical about chasing popularity and being true to yourself. Performances on the Garfield cafeteria stage will be:

• Wed., March 20 at 3:20 pm
• Thurs., March 21 at 7:00 pm
• Fri., March 22 at 7:00 pm

My daughter Fallon with her husband Gabriel Fernandes Bezerra and Lizzie.

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Our families and communities often define us. I am a proud graduate of St. Augustine Academy. A lot has changed since then, but the Lakewood community remains a vibrant and happy place to live. The first house my husband and I lived in was on Elbur Avenue. I will always feel a connection to the city and cherish the warm friendships that I made in Lakewood.

My daughter, Fallon Kilbane McNally, is running for Judge for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. After graduating from Georgetown University, Fallon began her career as a registered nurse at the Cleveland Clinic working in Neurology. She was, and still is, passionate about nursing but later decided to go back to school after being on jury duty. She worked many night and weekend shifts as a registered nurse to put herself through law school at Case Western Reserve University.

Upon graduating from Case Western School of Law, Fallon became a Judicial Staff Attorney to Judge Brian J. Corrigan where she handled his civil docket. She gained valuable experience in civil law and continued her work as a registered nurse at the Cleveland Clinic as needed. Like many health care workers, Fallon picked up extra shifts as a nurse to help with staffing shortages during Covid while working full time as a lawyer.

Fallon now works as a criminal trial attorney.  My daughter combines both her legal and clinical nursing skills on a daily basis when handling cases on the Court’s mental health docket. She works hard on these cases knowing that the mental health docket assists defendants with resources but also protects the community by decreasing rates of recidivism amongst offenders.

My daughter has a direct impact on people’s lives as a lawyer while working on cases in the Court’s mental health docket and as a nurse at the Cleveland Clinic. Fallon Kilbane McNally would be a wonderful judge for Cuyahoga County given her legal and medical experience handling the Court’s mental health docket.

Rangers at Walsh Jesuit: One of the most enjoyable, memorable and improbable wins in the last 50 years.

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BOYS   February 29: Rangers vs Midview Middies   By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Lakewood Rangers (16-7), using superb individual skills and consistent teamwork, dismantled the Midview Middies of the SWC 75-43. Guards Lucas Seguine (19 points) and Luke Vannucci (16 points) dominated the game with shooting, slashing drives to the hoop, near flawless ball handling, and tenacious defense. Speaking of tenacious, if there is a more relentless player than post Drew Jablonowski (10 points, 14 rebounds) in NE Ohio, I haven't seen them. Never to be out-hustled, senior guard Dominic Peck (11 points) was, per usual, a force at both ends (no one beats him down the floor). Senior Jack Gowen (4 points) was tireless on both ends, with steals, rebounds and assists to set up teammates. Juniors Aidan Smith (7 points) Luke Bonvissuto (2 points) provided valuable minutes off the bench, making sure the Middies would never get back in the game. Seniors Griffin Starr and Like George finished out the scoring for the Rangers.   The Lakewood Students Section brought numbers and energy, the Cheer Squad has never been better, and there were many teachers, parents, staff and community members rooting on the guys from 44107. Lorain County Schools get better media coverage than those in Cuyahoga County, and today's game was on the radio station. This is all the more reason I write these stories and am so appreciative of the great support our team gets despite attention from "established" media.   Lakewood's next challenge will be this coming Saturday, 7:00pm when Hudson comes to town. Hudson is very tough, so, as always, no result is guaranteed save one: The Lakewood Rangers--one team from one town--will give it their all. Hope to see you there! Long Live Lakewood

GIRLS

February 23: Rangers vs Walsh Jesuit

Down 50-41 with 5 minutes left at Walsh Jesuit—junior "reserve" Elizabeth Doup, in a 4th quarter performance that ranks as one of the best in the long and storied history of Lakewood Rangers Girls Basketball--hit a 3-pointer to give the Rangers the lead, grabbed a key hustling rebound, then cooly hit two free throws to ice the game. She scored 11 (the last 11 of the game) of the 14 points and had two critical steals in those frenzied last minutes. Lakewood 54 Walsh Jesuit 50. This road, upset win against a much higher seed was a quintessential Lakewood team effort, marked by mental toughness and 32 minutes of fierce play. 

The staff of Cove Community Center are always on the lookout for new and exciting programming ideas for our senior participants.  In 2024, our programming includes a monthly Bridge group, on Thursday, March 14th, and a Euchre group on Thursday, March 21st. Both games will start at 12:30 PM in the Cove Community Room.

Cove Community Center will also be offering an innovative new group, called “Awakening J.O.Y.” led by Dr. Marta Ockuly. This will be a creative expression class that will meet twice a month and will offer a multitude of ways to creatively express yourself through a variety of mediums, all led by Dr. Marta. Awakening J.O.Y will be offered on March 18th, beginning at 10:00 AM. 

For more information on these or any other Division of Aging programming, please call the Activities Office at 216-529-5005 or email us at barry.wemyss@lakewoodoh.net .

MARCH  

ARIES: The Ram, not known to be shy, is brewing up some Guinness behind the scenes; the Luck of the Irish has deposited the Pot o’ Gold in your House of Finances; share the wealth.

TAURUS: It is time for the Bull to come out of its Bullpen and trade the red cape in for a green one; the Sun is shining on your friends & associations; get thee to the Irish pub for corned beef.

GEMINI: The Luck of the Irish is gathering moss behind the scenes for the Twins, while the leprechauns are doubling your pleasure in your career sector along with the Euros at the office.

CANCER: The Sun is shining on the Crab’s foreign travel; maybe it is time to take a trip overseas; it's also blessing your house of friendships, bringing the lads & lassies to the land.

LEO: Top o’ the mornin’ to the Lion/Lioness, the Irish luck is shining in your house of other people’s resources, & the Pot of Gold is shining brightly in your career sector; early refund?

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“Time to Dance: A Leap Day Dance Party" was a tremendous success! Guests, both familiar faces and first-timers, flaunted their style with sequins, gowns, beautiful dresses, sweaters, and even a 59-year-old prom dress (still rocking the fit!) a fancy tux, dinner jackets, ties, and matching shirts.

Everyone enjoyed a delicious meal by Karen King Catering. Tasty treats from Despina’s Bakery, Tommy’s Pastries, KB Confections, Sweet Designs Chocolatier, and a beautifully decorated cake from Giant Eagle added to the sweetness of the occasion.

The H2O kids snapped photos in our trendy photo booth, stealing the spotlight and then some, while Michael on the Mic kept everyone dancing all night. 

Big thanks to Michael on The Mic, kids from H2O - Help To Others, our sponsors Haven at Lakewood, Eliza Jennings, O'Neill Healthcare Lakewood, and everyone who helped transform Cove into magical dance hall!

Nancy Feighan is Project Specialist II, Department of Human Services, City of Lakewood.

For those of us with reliable transportation and the physical ability to prepare our own food, taking care of our meal needs becomes almost an afterthought.  However, for many of our neighbors, providing for those basic needs can be a huge challenge. The challenges homebound seniors face include getting food into the house, preparing meals, and handling the cleanup afterwards. Thankfully, many of our neighbors have made the commitment to stand up and help meet the needs of those most vulnerable neighbors in our community.   

The Lakewood Division of Aging is looking for volunteers to deliver nutritious meals to homebound Lakewood seniors. We send out lunches Monday through Friday, between 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM. The time commitment is manageable, taking about one hour to complete. Our volunteers typically serve one day a week. This is a great service opportunity to do together with a friend, co-worker or a significant other. If you have reliable transportation, we will get you started. If this sounds like something that you would like more information on, then we would like to speak with you.  Please call our Volunteer Services Office at 216-529-5005, or send an email to barry.wemyss@lakewoodoh.net.

Jennifer McTernan

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Hello fellow Lakewoodites! My name is Jennifer McTernan and I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself since you will be seeing my name on your primary ballots in a couple weeks (or sooner if you requested an absentee ballot). I am a lifelong Cuyahoga County resident and after renting in Lakewood for many years, became a homeowner in your community a little over a year ago. I am now running for Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge General Division and was recognized as the highest overall rated candidate in my race by Judge4Yourself.com.

I am a criminal defense attorney with a decade in practice out of an office in Cleveland's Buckeye neighborhood since graduating from CSU College of Law and being admitted to the Ohio bar in 2013. Since then, I have also been admitted to the Sixth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals, and both the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio. I have my own solo practice handling cases for both retained client and assigned clients - those that are indigent and do not have the financial ability to hire an attorney.  For the past decade, I have been in courtrooms throughout Northeast Ohio almost daily, handling a wide variety of cases ranging from low level misdemeanors to high level felonies to juvenile cases to appeals. In particular, the majority of my work for the past decade has been in Common Pleas courts at the Justice Center where I seek to be judge.

Practicing criminal defense litigation further means that I have had the opportunity to not just briefly interact with those that would appear in front of me, but actually get to know them at length throughout my representation of them, making me more mindful of the significance and impact of any judicial decision on the parties involved - whether handing down sentences or even just making every day decisions like whether to continue a court date. Through my practice, I have frequently been a part of discussions with other attorneys, prosecutors, and judges to find creative and innovative solutions to adequately address the needs of a particular case in order to best achieve fairness and justice on a case by case basis. In other situations, however, I have observed missed opportunities that I would hope to address differently from the bench.

The Lakewood City Schools Student Services Dept. will host sessions for families and caregivers called "Too Much Tension: Strategies to Cope with Anxiety." Presenters will be Cleveland Clinic psychiatrist, Molly Wimbiscus, M.D., and clinical social worker, Ashley Penman, LISW-S, both with a wealth of experience working with Lakewood students and families.

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. Registration is required. Register for each session separately.  

Session 1: March 4- March 28, 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.