February 19, 2008 The Lakewood Observer Page 1 Free – Take One! Please Patronize Our Advertisers! Your Independent Source For Local News And Opinion – An Official Google News Source Volume 4, Issue 4, February 19, 2008 Not Just Your Average School Board Meeting Ron Lewis Back And Congressman Kucinich At the last School Board meeting Congressman Kucinich and his wife Elizabeth Ron Lewis the father watches as his son Ron Lewis speaks on how nice it is to be back stopped in to give the team a Congressional Proclamation for the hard work done in Lakewood, as the new coach of the LHS Varsity Football team. Ron the father was in creating the video that won the senior class their “Dream Prom.” Congressman also a coach many years ago for Lakewood. Go Rangers! Kucinich invited them to Washington to show the video to congress. Art Mone Celebrates 104 Years New Lakewood High School Football Coach Returning “Home” by Susan Adams The Lakewood City School Dis- trict has hired Ron Lewis as its new Head Varsity Football Coach. Mr. Lewis is a Lakewood High School graduate. He teaches Social Studies and has taught AP History and Economics. He stresses excel- lence in the classroom, and wants every student he coaches to play in college. Mr. Lewis is married and is the father of two young daughters. He is the youngest of six boys and the fam- ily has had children in the Lakewood Schools for more than 30 years. School Board President Chaz Geiger Mr. Lewis is currently teaching helps Ron Lewis try on a more suitable and is Head Varsity Football Coach at jacket for the upcoming season of LHS Rocky River. He most recently led the Varsity Football. Rocky River football team to the play- offs in 2006 and a playoff victory in In This Issue 2007. He was chosen Associated Press Events & Notices ................ 2 All-Ohio Coach of the Year Division 3 for 2007. He has a 20 and 3 record over Lakewood City Council ....... 4 the last two seasons. Lewis’ plans for Lakewood include: Lakewood Library ........... 5-6 to put in place a strong middle school staff Politics .......................... 7-8 to teach fundamentals and build the pro- gram. Then expand to the younger boys Lakewood Perspective .......10 through the Recreation Department. At Society’s Child ..................11 the high school, he wants to bring back tradition and pride. Lewis says his job is PTA Reflections 2008 .....12-13 to motivate kids and he coaches to win. “There is always some kid who will make Lakewood Sports ..............15 a difference for the team. And there is Pulse Of The City ..............16 Art Mone celebrated his 104th birthday at Crestmont Nursing Home last week. Art always some kid for whom you can make who has to be the oldest Lakewood resident, was surprised by a letter from President a difference in their lives.” said Mr. Lewis. Conservation Corner .........18 George Bush and a proclamation from Mayor Edward FitzGerald. While the letter Ron Lewis is very happy to be Lakewood Is Art ................18 from George Bush was appreciated it was the kind words and memories from the returning to Lakewood to teach and Mayor that brought Art to tears, as he looked back. The party was well attended, and coach, where he and many of his family Lakewood Real Estate .. 22-23 everyone got ice cream and cake. Art thought that was nice, and is looking forward to have gone to school. We welcome him next year’s party as well. to the Lakewood Schools! Classifieds ...................... 24 Join the Discussion at: www.lakewoodobserver.com Page 2 The Lakewood Observer February 19, 2008 Events & Notices The Lakewood Observer is pleased to publish Notices on a first-come first-serve basis. Please be patient with us as we have a limited amount of free space available for these items. All notices must be submitted through the Member Center at www.lakewoodobserver.com Child Life Month Artists, Musicians, Writers, Photographers, Buskers by Halle Bishop parents and their child understand what Calling All Artists will happen during their surgery, these March 1st kicks off a month long specialists are essential to the function Lakewood Is Art’s Spring/Summer Community Art Census— appreciation for child-life specialists, of the hospital. If you are interested in Events Lakewood Is Art was founded with the a profession many people do not know following a family and a Child Life Spe- Lakewood is Art is collaborating belief that in a city filled with artists about, but one that makes all the dif- cialist through this process, contact with several groups this upcoming sea- that small “art zones” make no sense. ference for the families of children who Halle Bishop at 216.444.0141 or email son in efforts to meet the community’s That the city is filled with “artists” are undergoing surgery or other medi- [email protected]. cultural needs and to fulfill LIA goals of musicians, designers, photographers, cal care. Cleveland Clinic Children’s Rakhamaalika Hoffer is our Child providing equity and access to the arts, media artists, crafts people of every Hospital Department of Child Life has Life Specialist who specializes in sur- providing exhibition opportunities for description. This summer LIA will dedicated specialists to help children gery. She is actually a graduate of the Lakewood-based artists, and allowing undertake the first “Art Census” trying and their parents through a hospital stay University of Akron and currently a res- community members – both audiences to find out how many in this wonderful including a surgery. It is a scary time for ident in Lakewood. Let me know if this and artists alike – to experience the city take part in the arts, and working families, but these amazing individuals story interests you. We would be more arts in unexpected places; giving us to bring them together and their art to relieve anxiety by providing information than happy to let you take a look into a all a new perspective on the boundless the city and the world. and support. From tours of the hospital day in her shoes or set-up an interview. possibilities of who and what art can be Interested Artists should contact to coloring books to completely helping Look forward to hearing from you. and where it can happen. Or sign up at: Ruth Koenigsmark at rkoenigsmark@ http://lakewoodisart.com yahoo.com Get Involved with Lakewood is Art Lakewood Alive Hosts The following opportunities exist: Volunteer Positions are available. Making Cents of Lakewood’s Finances MAMA LIA Artwalk—In col- Please contact Ruth Koenigsmark, laboration with The Madison Avenue Lakewood is Art Chair, at rkoenigs- On Tuesday, February 26 at 7:00 State University; Jennifer Pae, Finance Merchants Association (MAMA), [email protected] p.m. at Harrison Elementary School Director, City of Lakewood; and Mike Lakewood is Art is looking for art- LakewoodAlive will be presenting the Summers, Lakewood City Council and ists, musicians, cinematographers first of a two part forum series enti- Leader of the Structural Taskforce Citi- and street performers to enhance this tled Making “Cents” of Lakewood’s zens Committee. Spring event. The tentative date for Finances. A panel of experts will dis- Joe Gibbons, a LakewoodAlive this event has been set for Saturday, Your Independent Source for cuss the details and current challenges founding member, will moderate the Lakewood News & Opinion May 17, 2008. The LAKEWOOD OBSERVER is pub- of municipal finance facing communi- forum. The event is free and advanced lished biweekly by Lakewood Observer, ties in this region. Local speakers will registration is not required. Harrison BandTogether—an innovative Inc., 14900 Detroit Avenue, Suite 309, also directly address Lakewood’s cur- Elementary is located at 2080 Quail program to cultivate the musical tal- Lakewood, OH 44107. rent financial position, challenges and Avenue in Lakewood. ent of young Lakewood Rock Band 216.228.7223 opportunities. The second part of the series will musicians by providing a venue for Copyright 2006 “The forum series will provide be held on Tuesday, April 3 at 7:00 outdoor stage performances in down- Lakewood Observer, Inc. an opportunity for all of us to learn p.m. at Hayes Elementary School in town Lakewood on Friday evenings in All rights reserved. Any reproduction is more about the intricacies of munici- Lakewood and will focus specifically July and August. Programming will forbidden without written permission. pal finance and connect the dots to on Lakewood’s 2008 city budget. also include family-friendly music PUBLISHER Jim O’Bryan Lakewood’s finances,” said Jay Foran, LakewoodAlive is a non-partisan professionals. The goal of this year’s President of LakewoodAlive. citizen group that informs and engages EDITOR IN CHIEF BandTogether concert series is to show- Dan Slife The speakers participating in the our community about issues that impact case the talents of young musicians ADVERTISING February 26 forum include Lakewood economic development and our quality of middle school and high school age 216.228.7223 Mayor Edward FitzGerald; Yvette Ittu, of life. LakewoodAlive seeks to provide bringing our community together to Chief Financial Officer and VP Cleveland the residents of Cleveland’s greatest sub- celebrate our rich talent and diversity. ADVISORY BOARD CONTRIBUTING Development Advisors, Greater Cleveland urb with opportunities to learn how to Partners include LCPI-Mainstreet and Kenneth Warren WRITERS Partnership; Kevin O’Brien, Executive better navigate the complex issues asso- Vance Music. We are looking for young Steve Davis Susan Adams Heidi Hilty Director, The Center for Public Manage- ciated with economic development. Stan Austin Lakewood musicians to Audition at the D.L. Meckes Halle Bishop ment and the Great Lakes Environmental For more information about the forum Winchester on Saturday, April 12 from Dan Ott Brenda Budzar Finance Center, The Maxine-Goodman series or about LakewoodAlive please 1-3pm Jeff Endress Ben Burdick Lauren Fine Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland visit www.lakewoodalive.com.