PhotoBlogs by Mike Deneen
Lakewood residents and leaders gathered on Saturday, April 24 at Madison Park to discuss the future of the basketball court.
Hundreds of protesters attended a unity rally on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
The event, organized by Mariah Davies and Devon White, had eight speakers address issues of systemic racism and police abuse.
The LHS Class of 2020 could not have a traditional graduation ceremony due to the COVID 19 Pandemic.
Therefore, the district arranged a graduation parade on the morning of Sunday, May 31st.
Cuyahoga County hosted a Reappraisal Conference for homeowners to dispute their 2018 tax assessments.
Over 100 people attended within the first half hour, and Channel 8 was there to interview residents.
After an 11 year absence, basketball returned to Madison Park on a sunny Wednesday evening. The Lakewood Outdoor Basketball Committee (LOBC) and the City of Lakewood opened Lakewood's first full basketball court since 2007.
Kids, city leaders, community activists and LOBC members attended the event, which included a cookout and ribbon cutting.
The Ranger Swimming and Diving team opened its season with a home meet vs. Westlake. This was the debut of new LHS Varsity Swim Coach Sophia Loferski and her assistant Adrianne Grande. The atmosphere was very lively for the swim events, as the Rangers cheered wildly for their teammates and showed great camaraderie. Ranger winners in individual swimming events included: Luke Healy, (Boys 200 Yard IM, Boys 500 Yard Freestyle) Maggie McHugh, (Girls 100 Yard Butterfly, Girls 500 Yard Freestyle) Colman McGuan (Boys 100 Yard Backstroke, Boys 100 Yard Breaststroke). Also among the leading point scorers were Parker Polen, Ethel Woodford, Sophia Miranda, Marissa Campbell, Nina Zanghi, and Burke Fortner.
LHS boys and girls cross country teams travelled to LCCC to compete for the conference crown. The defending SWC boys team finished a close fourth, not bad considering they replaced five of seven starters. Joe Burtzlaff, Cormac Kramer, and Joey Toole finished sixth, tenth, and 17th respectively. Sean O'Donnell and Patrick McCallum were both strong in the #4 and #5 spots. Junior Tyler Hannah finished first overall in the boys JV race, which earned him a spot in next week's OHSAA sectionals. The girls team finished 8th, paced by Jing Feng, Abby LaForm, and Abby Sacha. Junior Sophie Sanders and freshman Katie Spilsbury rounded out the scoring for the Rangers.
The Rangers dominated Lutheran West in a 7-0 win at Garfield Middle School. Junior Malvin Gblah led the scoring with three goals. Senior Attila Nagy set the tone early, scoring two goals in the first seven minutes of the game. Senior Spencer Rose and junior Jack Hueter each also had a goal. Goalkeeper George Hericks had a clean sheet. The Rangers improved to 3-3 on the season, and will host North Olmsted at FFL Stadium Wednesday at 7pm.
Photos from the inaugural Oberlin Invite at Oberlin College, run on a perfect weather day. LHS boys finished first, girls second in a field of local schools. Middle Schoolers also did well, with the girls finishing first and the boys second. The boys dedicated their win to Anne Giffels, who passed on Friday. For full details of the meet, check out the full story at: http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/2017/09/03/lhs-cross-country-dominates-at-oberlin-invite-boys-take-first
Here are some non-game photos from the Eagles 41-6 win over Glenville. It was perfect weather for football, and a large crowd came out to enjoy the game. The student section was especially lively.
Both LHS XC teams competed at the SWC Preview meet on a sunny, pleasant Saturday morning. It's the first meet of the new season, and many new runners are stepping into the starting lineups. The boys finished 4th, the girls 7th.
Varsity Rangers defeated Firelands in five sets at a scrimmage on August 9, 2017. It has been a very busy offseason for Lakewood Volleyball. Coach Maggi launched the Junior Ranger Volleyball League for younger players. Four teams participated, allowing girls to have fun and build their skills.
Photos from the team's August 5 scrimmage with Lake Catholic, and a morning practice on August 11.
The football team spent the summer training under new coach Tom Hannan. Here are some shots from practice, the team cookout on August 5 and the August 11 scrimmage with Oberlin and Bay.
The Ranger football team welcomed squads from Cuyahoga Falls, Tallmadge, and Field High Schools for drills at First Federal Lakewood Stadium. New Coach Tom Hannan is getting his first look at the guys against other teams. There was no contact, but it was a good opportunity to work on passing and pass defense.
Lakewood Council candidate Tristan Rader hosted a town hall meeting at Madison Park. Former State Senator Nina Turner, new president of Our Revolution, spoke on behalf of Rader Rader and Turner had a lengthy question and answer session about a wide range of issues. Lakewood topics included government transparency, the opioid crisis, Lakewood's pit bull ban, and the lack of full court basketball in Lakewood. They also touched upon some state and national issues. Most notably, Turner confirmed that she will not run for Ohio Governor in 2018.
Big thanks to Deb Sweeney and Jeannette Riffle for providing many of these photos.
Dignitaries and community members came together on June 6, 2017 for the official groundbreaking of the new stadium at John Marshall High School.
Funding for the field is provided by the Cleveland Brown. The Browns rookie players attended the event, along with current JMHS and Muni League players
Athletes from Lakewood and St. Edward competed at Steele HS in the district finals. Many set personal records (PRs) despite adverse conditions. The afternoon began cloudy, cold and blustery..feeling like November. Heavy rain moved in during the later events, soaking all the runners, coaches, and fans.
Congrats to all the competitors for reaching the finals.....and especially to the runners in the 3200m race, which happened last. They got the most rain, but persevered to record some good times.
CCLAS held its 13th annual "Hair of the Dog" Happy Hour and Silent Auction at Around the Corner. The event raised funds to help homeless animals of Lakewood. This year's event was the biggest and best yet, thanks to dozens of donors and volunteers.
Over $10,000 was raised to provide medical care for shelter residents, and to help with equipment and other shelter costs.
The Lakewood Boys and Girls track teams, along with the St. Edward team, competed on a sunny, warm evening at Steele High School in Amherst. Ranger Jordan Robinson finished 2nd in the hundred meter dash and Raeven Lloyd advanced in the 300 meter hurdles (Coach Stephanie Wetzel-Toole calls Raeven her "most improved runner"). Other advancers include Ranger soccer star Halle Krebs and Jinn Feng in the 800 meters . On the boys side, St Ed football/basketballer Michael Dowell was first in the 400 meter dash, while Ranger Louis Fricke also advanced. Max Budzar and Cormac Peppard advanced in the 800 meter run for the Rangers. Lakewood quarterback Austin Mahar advanced in the 110 meter and 300 meter hurdles. Lakewood boys advance in the 4x200 meter relay.
The LHS History Club hosted this presentation at Lakewood Public Library. LHS History teacher Charles Greanoff and History Club founder/President Faiza Manaa led the discussion.
Many in later generations have taken specific Lincoln quotes out of context to question Lincoln or to dismiss the role of slavery in the war. This presentation provided context for many of these, and showed how his handling of the issue helped hold the union together throughout the difficult years of the war.
St. Edward hosted its annual Wing event, this year featuring a Motown theme. Hundreds of volunteers spent thousands of hours planning, promoting, collecting auction items, and decorating in preparation for the event. 200 St. Edward students were among the many volunteers that worked on event night.
"Magnificent" is how Principal Frank O'Linn described the evening. President James Kubacki thanked the volunteers, donors, and staff for their support of the event. Both men singled out VP of Institutional Advancement Colleen Kiely, who guided the entire process over the past few months.
Lakewood girls rugby had its final home game of the 2017 season against nearby rival St. Joseph Academy. The Jaguars defeated the Rangers in last year's state championship game. Senior Day ceremonies took place before the game, as the four Ranger seniors and their parents were recognized on field.
The Jaguars, widely considered the top team in the state, prevailed in the game.
The boys and girls track teams had their final home meet of the season, and seniors were recognized at the conclusion of the final race. Seniors and their parents were introduced, and got handshakes and thanks from the AD and Coaches. AS you will see, in Coach Toole's case it was mostly hugs.
The younger team members made a lot of fun and creative signs for the seniors. It was a fun night for all, with a some nostalgic emotion. However, there is still lots of season left.....more regular season meets, the SWC Tournament, and the State Tournament.
The Eagles A side rugby hosted Cincinnati Xavier at Br. James Everitt Stadium on April 22,2017. Senior players and their parents were recognized in a pregame ceremony. Principal Frank O'Linn and President James Kubacki thanked them in an on-field ceremony. St. Edward won the game easily 62-7.
Earth Day 2017 inspired nationwide protests against the Trump Admistration's ignorance and disdain for science. Many Lakewoodites took part in the March, which was preceded by two hours of activities and speakers. Despite gusty winds and temperatures in the 40s, participants were good natured. Many brought signs or wore costumes to promote their cause.
Here are photos from the pre-march festivities, which included kid's activities and speakers. The speaker addressed the importance of science not only to our nation, but to Cleveland. The city has deep roots in science....even back to the naming of Euclid Avenue.
The LHS girls track team hosted a meet this morning with John Marshall High School and the JV team from St. Joseph Academy. The day was highlighted by Ranger Junior Jordan Robinson, who broke the school record in the 100 meter dash for the second time this week. On Wednesday she ran a 12.55, and this morning she did 12.15 (with no tailwind). The previous record (12.65) was set by April Yachanin in 1999. Head Coach Stephanie Toole is optimistic that she may be able to break the 12 second mark by the end of the season.
Over 60 people (and a number of dogs) protested against puppy mills at South Park Mall on this Sunday afternoon. The event, which inspired similar actions in Canton and Pittsburgh, was organized by Lakewood resident Kerry Stack.
"This is about doing something. Something positive. Something as a community. And most importantly, something that brings awareness to a great wrong that is being done." said Stack, who Darwin Dogs, a dog training business.
She was very pleased with the turnout. "60+ people gave up the first gorgeous Sunday of the season to stand on a curb holding signs" she said, "That's some serious dedication to animal welfare."
Over 30 participants agreed to have their heads shaved at LHS. The event raised money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, which funds research to fight childhood cancers.
This is the first time LHS has hosted the event, which raised over $12,000 (far exceeding the original $5,000 goal).
St. Edward avenged two regular season losses to St. Ignatius by beating the Wildcats 69-50 in the OHSAA district title game.
March 2, 2017 was a historic night for the LHS girls basketball team.
They defeated Medina 49-41 to win their first district title since 1995.
The team used pressure defense and 23 points from Olivia Nagy to secure the win.
A large contingent of loud Ranger fans were in the building.....you can see many of them in this gallery.
The LHS Girls Track team traveled to Obserlin College to compete in an indoor meet. There were over 1,000 athletes at the all day event.
Ranger Junior Jordan Robinson qualified first to the finals in the 60m with a time of 7.93 seconds. Her time is currently ranked #21 in the state.
The Rangers 4x200 relay team finished fourth in a deep field.
Many Rangers had personal records on the day.
Rangers travel to Westlake to face Amherst Steele as part of a four team quad with Westlake and Avon. Lakewood won four of the seven contested matches, but lost the team score due to forfeits.
Lakewood hosted John Marshall and Shaw High Schools on the morning of January 28,2017 at Harding Middle School. The Rangers won two matches: 48-18 over Shaw and 48-18 over Marshall.
The Rangers wrestled very well, winning every contested matchup in both matches.
The "Holy War" continued at Brookgate Lanes on November 29, as the Eagles and Wildcats competed in their annual regular season bowling match. St. Ignatius prevailed impresively in the matchup, They won two of the three games, plus dominated the Baker Games by averagingover 200 as a team.
LHS girls hoops opened their season at SJA on Monday, November 28 2016.
Here are photos from the freshman, JV, and varsity games.
St. Ignatius beat St. Edward 34-7 in the annual battle. The "Holy War" took its place among the busy Cleveland sports headlines of this historic week. It was hosted by Ignatius at First Energy Stadium Saturday night, simultaneously to a Cavs game at Quicken Loans Arena and a Tribe World Series Watch Party at Progressive Field. The Indians won on this night, taking a 3-1 World Series lead over the Cubs; the Cavs also won at home, helping to lift the spirits of Eagle fans after a decisive Wildcat win.
Photos from the Senior Night football game, mostly photos of the pregame Senior recognition ceremonies.
Members of the cheerleading squad, football team, girls tennis team, golf team, and cross country teams.
The Lakewood girls soccer team fell 2-1 to St. Joes on October 17, 2016. It was a heartbreaking overtime loss to end the team's season.
The first Lakewood Mother/Son Dance took place on October 8, 2016 at Harding Middle School. The sold-out event was a success, and is expected to return in 2017.
Gabby Giffords, former US Representative from Arizona, was in Lakewood Saturday to promote the Clinton for President campaign. US Senator Sherrod Brown, current Senate candidate Ted Strickland, and State Representative Nickie Antonio also spoke on behalf of both Clinton and common sense gun reform.The event took place in front of the Hillary Clinton campaign office, located at the corner of Belle and Detroit.
Giffords was seriously wounded by a gunman while speaking with constituents in 2009. She has been a strong leader in the fight for common sense gun reform, and a vocal advocate for Hillary Clinton. "I've seen great courage when my life was on the line" Giffords told the crowd. "The nation is counting on you."
Photos from the October 3, 2016 game. St. Edward defeated Lakewood 2-0 to take back the cup from the Rangers.
Photos from the annual Doggie Swim at Foster Pool in Lakewood Park. The event is a fundraiser for Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park, which funds maintenance and improvements at the dog park.
Former Browns and Dallas Cowboy star Calvin Hill visited the Hillary Clinton campaign office this afternoon. He met with volunteers to thank them, and to explain why he supports Hillary for President.
The LHS cheerleaders appeared at the game via the "Sparkle Effect" program, sponsored by the Cleveland Browns Foundation.
This gallery documents their appearance, from arrival through the halftime show.
St. Edward hosted Pine-Richland for a nationally televised ESPN football game at First Federal Lakewood Stadium. The Eagles won 28-27 with a late touchdown run by Curtis Szelesta.
The Lakewood Girls and Boys Cross Country Teams competed in the SWC Preview meet, the first event of the season.
The Boys Varsity finished a close second to Avon Lake 59, Lakewood 61, Avon, Amherst Steele, and Westlake rounded out the top 5 Boys Teams in our 10 team conference.
The Girls finished 5th overall, behind team winner Berea-Midpark, Avon, Amherst Steele and Avon Lake.
There is much more to high school football season than just football. The marching bands and cheerleaders are a huge part of the experience. Like the players, they spend a lot of time practicing for the upcoming season. Here are some shots of high school football preparations in Lakewood, Ohio during August 2016.
St. Edward welcomed the Class of 2020 at the 7th Annual "Night at the Nest". This overnight event allows the incoming class to meet and bond through a wide variety of fun activities. The Class of 2020 has 270 members, the largest incoming class in well over a decade.
The Rangers prepare for their upcoming season with a series of drills. The team has worked very hard in the offseason. These photos were taken just minutes before the "Great Thunderstorm of 2016", which knocked out power for days in some parts of Lakewood.
A major storm hit Lakewood, downing numerous trees and knocking out power for thousands of residents. Some were without power for days. Here are a few photos of the impact on southern Lakewood.
The legendary McKinley program came to Lakewood to scrimmage with St. Edward at Br. James Everett Stadium
Many of the LHS fall sports teams shuttled through FFL Stadium on August 4 for team photos.
Here are some candid shots of some coaches and players.
Lakewood resident Mike Derezic, and LHS alum, is a member of the AFC Cleveland Royals soccer team. The Royals won the National Championship on 8/6/16 with a 4-2 win over the Sonoma County Sol. The current LHS boys soccer team traveled to the game in Independence to root on the team. Derevic played for current LHS Head Coach Andrew Toth. "I owe a lot to Coach Toth", Derezic said after the victory.
The "Holuch Era" began at FFL Stadium, where the Rangers played their first scrimmage under new coach Roman Holuch. The game was preceded by LHS Fall Sports "Picture Day"
The Rangers won the game 3-1, with Gilmour scoring its only goal in the final two minutes.
There is much more to cross country than just running. I stopped by to visit the programs on a "recovery day", which consisted of a light three mile run.
The kids did core work, weight lifting, and other training techniques.
New head coach Roman Hubach leads the first official practice of the 2016 season.
I stopped by the first day of "two-a-day" practices for the Lakewood Ranger football team.
It was a warm Monday morning, the boys (and girl) practiced in helmets without pads.
The Shoes for Sole event was held on July 27, 2016. LHS Senior Lauren Lowell conceived and organized the event.
Photos from the Irish Cultural Festival at the Berea Fairgrounds. Lots of Irish Dancing photos from the Brady Campbell School.
CCLAS held its annual Dog Wash fundraiser on 7/23/16, which was a hot and sticky Saturday. Thanks to Cornucopia for allowing use of their lot. Also HUGE thanks to the many volunteers that worked hard in the summer heat.
The final day of the convention brought a more subversive tone. More parody signs, more dancing, and free condoms!
Photos around downtown during the Eve and the 1st day of the RNC Convention.
Over 2,500 people gathered on the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge to join hands and form a human circle.
The event, which took place on the eve of the RNC Convention in Cleveland, was a call for love and understanding.
Dozens of Lakewoodites were there.....local residents Deb Sweeney and Donna Kolis were event volunteers.
The CSPAN Bus visited Lakewood Park three days before the opening of the RNC convention in Cleveland. The bus contained numerous interactive exhibits about Presidential Election history.
The Rangers traveled to Fairview High School on a bright Saturday morning for drills with Fairview, Rhodes, and Elyria High Schools.
I spent a day with the Running Rangers summer camp. This program, for kids grades 3-8, instructs runners on training techniques, diet, and running form. They also have a lot of fun, especially on this beautiful morning at Lakewood Park.
Photos from this year's parade. This year I helped organized the SLH group in the parade, so my perspective is highly limited.
SLH had over 100 folks at the parade, which was lots of fun.
LEAF also had a nice contingent, and gave away lots of veggies and seeds.
I'm always amazed at how much kids want veggies at the parade!
LHS boys and girls cross country teams had a car wash at the school to raise funds. Money raised will go to stuff like yoga lessons, meals, and equipment.
50 people gathered in front of City Hall on Monday evening to protest the deal that sold Lakewood Hospital.
A visit to Lakewood's new reptile pet and supply store at 13618 Detroit Ave. June 2, 2016
For more info on the store, visit http://www.scalesandtailsohio.com/
Photos from annual event, which was held on May 21 and 22, 2016.
CCLAS held its annual "Hair of the Dog" Happy Hour at Around the Corner on May 19, 2016
The Rangers score three runs in the bottom of the 6th to defeat Normandy 5-4 in a second round tournament game at LHS
May 9, 2016 First Round OHSAA Championship Softball Tournament game between Lakewood and Lincoln West.
Rangers won 15-0 to advance to the second round.
The event was held on April 30, 2016 at Garfield Middle School.
Never have I seen so many wildly happy little girls under one roof.
Numerous volunteers worked many hours to pull this project together...their hard work should be appreciated.
Thanks to Ryan Salo for bringing the idea to Lakewood, and for all his countless voluteer hours.
The dance has quickly become one of most popular items on the Lakewood social calendar.
April 30, 2016 St. Edward defeated Midview 5-1 at Cleveland's newly restored League Park. League Park first hosted baseball on May 1, 1891 and was the orignal home to the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Buckeyes of the Negro Leagues. In addition the NFL Cleveland Rams played at League Park, long before Los Angeles or St. Louis.
LHS baseball hosted Midview for a doubleheader on April 16, 2016.
LHS softball hosted North Olmsted on the same afternoon....here are photos from the day.
I started and ended at the baseball field, and visited the softball game in the middle.
The Ranger Relays were held on April 15, 2016 at First Federal Lakewood Stadium.
St. Edward vs. St. Ignatius Rugby at Brother James Everett Stadium in Lakewood
The Eagles prevailed 31-5 over the defending state champions
LHS History Teacher Chuck Greanoff and his students from the LHS AP History classes hosted this event at Lakewood Woman's Club Pavilion on March 8, 2016.The subject of the event was the Civil War.
National Nurses United's big red "Bernie Bus" made an impromptu stop in Lakewood. They stopped outside the shuttered Lakewood Hospital to meet voters and to bring attention to the issue of hospital closings.
St. Edward vs. St. Ignatius in OHSAA District Final at CSU Wolstein Center March 5, 2016
Eagles fall 58-51 in front of over 4,000 enthusiastic fans.
Photos from the March 2, 2016 OHSAA tournament game between St. Edward and North Royalton.
The game, played at Strongsville, was won by the Eagles 79-61.
St. Edward defeats Valley Forge 95-47 in a second round OHSAA basketball tournament game at St. Ed's.
Rangers travel to Old Brooklyn for an OHSAA tournament game.
On February 20th, Bernie Sanders volunteers spent the unseasonably warm Saturday canvassing in Lakewood. Over 50 volunteers went door-to-door and made phone calls to Democratic voters.
Tow truck comes to pick up disabled MegaBus disabled on Delaware Avenue next to Hayes Elementary.
This happened around 3pm on a 10 degree Saturday afternoon. February 13, 2016
"My Best Friends Bowl", the Lakewood volunteer group that provides pet food for local families in need, held its "Stuff the Subaru" collection drive on Puppy Bowl Day.
Here are some amateurish photos from the 1st 2016 GOP Presidential Debate, held in two stages at Quicken Loans Arena. I covered the event as part of the Observer news team.
Check Photo galleries by Alex Belisle and Jim O'Bryan for several more photos, including those of me interviewing many of the candidates.
Amateur photos of the CCLAS Dog Wash, which cleaned over 35 dogs to raise money for CCLAS. Thanks to Cornucopia/Nature's Bin for providing the space and supplies.
Amateurish Photos of the 2015 Summer Meltdown and 5K Race in Downtown Lakewood
Amateurish photos of the annual parade.
My apologies to the numerous groups that I missed.
As always, it was a wonderful event.
Not a normal day at the park. Demonstrators gather to protest shooting of Tamir Rice.
They gathered in the southeast part of the park and marched the neighborhood.
A widely threatened counterprotest was minimal.
Crowd estimates range from 150 to 200. Lots of media and police presence.
Photos from the SLH News Conference on 4/14/15 on corner of Belle & Detroit
Amateurish Photos from St. Edward/Gilman football game on August 31, 2014