August 8, 2006 The Lakewood Observer Page 1 Free – Take Please Patronize Our Advertisers! O ne! Lakewood’s Only Newspaper And Finest Website – An Official Google News Source Volume 2, Issue 16, August 8, 2006 Residents And City Apply Nusance Laws To Get Rich Scheme Lakewood Says “No” to Bad Neighbors Talk to Ward Four Councilwoman Ken Warren ing conditions easily exploited by Mary Louise Madigan and she will unscrupulous real estate interests that tell you that good neighbors are cru- eggs. Everyone understands invest- lords sold on dreams of rich cash flow will sometimes destroy a property in cial to Lakewood’s quality of life and ment,” says Madigan. Madigan’s and robust property flipping opportu- order to rehab it. Because money can that bad neighbors wreck havoc not linking investment thinking to com- nities. Such hot money dreams hinge be made on all sides of the process in only on one’s emotional state but also munity block watch organizing forms on busting up Lakewood blocks and the real estate game, let the Lakewood on property values. Over the past two the first line of defense for the conser- creating anxious sellers. Dreaming a seller beware. years, Madigan has been speaking to vation of values, both material and nightmare for Lakewood residents, At a series of Beach Avenue com- Ward Four neighbors about the merits social, in a city with so many rental these forces of hostile capital and pred- munity block watch meetings held over and mechanics of community block properties. With quality of life hanging atory lending will exploit any chink the past year, Madigan introduced watch organizations. When speaking in the balance, Lakewood neighbor- in the city’s neighborhood armor in neighbors to the general investment to residents about the benefits of get- hoods cannot afford any disconnects order to capture value that has accrued concept and to Lakewood police offi- ting to know one another and learning between the interests and perspec- to long-term homeowners. cers. She encouraged citizens to provide about law enforcement tools that unite tives of local homeowners, absentee It is through conversation and sol- the eyes and ears needed to assist with neighbors, landlords, tenants, police landlords, renters and property man- idarity built around the neighborhood enforcement of the “Good Neighbor and courts against bad neighbors, agers on a community wide strategy block watch that Lakewood residents Law,” which was proposed by Council- Madigan shifts the focus away from for maintaining values. Without a can learn how values are destroyed man Ryan Demro and unanimously emotional terrain toward investment. comprehensive defense strategy, which and created along the global real estate passed by Lakewood City Council on Street by street, she is attempting to begins with the community block opportunity grid according to capital May 16th 2005. “What the people of raise the level of understanding about watch, Lakewood neighborhoods are and demographic flows, investment Beach Avenue understood from the investment and community building sitting ducks for unscrupulous hot models and public policies. Block beginning is protecting your invest- in Lakewood. money investors, clueless real estate watch members use common sense ment,” says Madigan, who worked “People’s houses are their nest newbies and careless absentee land- and stand firm in the face of chang- closely with Councilman Demro and Councilman Dunn on the intricacies Sinagra Park Is Unveiled of the “Good Neighbor Law.” “The police chief was very A Day Of Good Memories, Laughter, And Respect involved with this ordinance and felt that it would give our police depart- To One Of Lakewood’s Finest Mayors And Families ment an additional tool in fighting chronic offenders,” Demro explained in an online post to the Lakewood Observation Deck made during last year’s deliberations. The timing for passing the “Good Neighbor Law,” for getting the block watch organized, and for bringing Sergeant Edward continued on page 7 In This Issue Events .............................. 2 City Hall ........................... 3 Around Lakewood ............ 4 Sports And Activities ......... 5 Lakewood Library Events .... 6 Starry Night ..................... 7 Lakewood Arts Festival ..... 9 Lakewood Pets .................10 Pulse Of The City ............ 11 LAkewood People ............ 12 Chef Geoff ..................... 13 Minding the Issues ............14 Mayor Tom George stands with the Sinagra Family at the unveiling of Sinagra Park. Located on Cook and Detroit Ave., the park will give residents a nice place to sit and enjoy downtown Lakewood. At the ceremony one could hear fire engines and Tony The Buck Stops Here ........15 stopped, smiled and said, “I love the sounds of a city, this city, Lakewood.” There was a large turn out for the dedication and it was Gallery Watch ................. 16 fitting as Tony and Lucy Sinagra were not just a big part of Lakewood’s History, but were well loved by all Lakewoodites in his 12 years as mayor to Lakewood. Nice that it happened on the kick off to the Arts Festival, as it was Lucy and Tony that started it. Join the Discussion at: www.lakewoodobserver.com Page 2 The Lakewood Observer August 8, 2006 Lakewood Events Magic in the Wood: Costume and Family Trivia Contests 2. Costumes must be full-body cos- Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at tumes and fi t into the world of Harry Lakewood Park, before and during the Potter as determined by Lakewood Harry and the Potters Concert Public Library staff. Costume Contest 3. Any costume that is considered (4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) offensive or in poor taste, as deter- Add to the magic in Lakewood by mined by Lakewood Public Library dressing in costume while you enjoy staff, will be ineligible. Car Show August 26! the music of Harry and the Potters. 4. Prizes will be raffl ed off at ran- 4th Annual Lakewood Car Kulture Show & Music Revue, brought to you Prizes will be raffl ed off to kids who dom in the age groups mentioned by: The Lakewood Observer, Cox Communications, The Cleveland Chop- register their costumes at Lakewood above at the end of the Harry and the pers, 252 Tattoo, Jak Prints, A. Graphic Solution. Public Library’s costume contest table. Potters concert. Winners must be pres- Between Clarence and Lewis on Madison. We shut it down and tear it up! Prizes will be awarded in the fol- ent to claim their prize. High Noon - 8pm, Four Bands, Vendors, Prizes, 50/50 Raffl e, Registra- lowing age groups: Family Trivia Contest tion Starts at 11:30 Street will reopen at 8:30pm - Let’s Rock! • Birth to 4 (prizes donated by (4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) Lakewood Early Childhood PTA) Families attending the Harry and • 5 to 9 the Potters concert may take part in Save Our Software • 10 to 13 a family trivia contest by picking up Navigating Software Solutions • 14 to 18 a quiz sheet from the Lakewood Pub- • Personal, home offi ce & small • Desktop,Desktop, fi lele organizationorganization & backupbackup business Rules: lic Library family trivia contest table. • Virus,Virus, ad ware,ware, spyspy wareware removalremoval • Hardware/Software consulting • SystemSystem cleanupcleanup & recoveryrecovery 1. Contestants must register Completed Quizzes must be turned in • Performance improvement & • Very competitive rates DSL/Cable their costumes at Lakewood Pub- to the same table by 6:00 p.m. Prizes lic Library’s costume contest table. will be raffl ed off to the highest scoring P. David Matlock, President/Senior Consultant Entries will be accepted from 4:30 families and announced between the 12540 Edgewater Drive, Suite 1102, Lakewood Phone 216.228.2120216.228.2120 • Cell 216.390.5425216.390.5425 • [email protected]@aol.com p.m. until 6:30 p.m. opening and headlining bands. Nature’s Bin To Host Dog Wash Fundraiser For turn back Your Independent Source for Animal Shelter On August 19 i . Lakewood News & Opinion The annual Nature’s Bin Annual Dog Days of Summer Dog t me The LAKEWOOD OBSERVER is pub- Clear. Smooth. Radiant lished biweekly by Lakewood Observer, Wash to raise funds for the Lakewood Animal Shelter returns in 2006. This Inc., 14900 Detroit Avenue, Suite 309, year’s event will be held on Saturday, August 19th from 10AM to 2PM. skin. The TimeWise® system Lakewood, OH 44107. Nature’s Bin is located at 18120 Sloane Avenue in Lakewood. delivers anti-aging benefits Cost for the dog wash is: 216.228.7223 you can see and feel. Small Dog $7, Medium Dog $10, Large Dog $15, Nail Trim $5 Copyright 2006 Lakewood Observer, Inc. All proceeds benefi t the Lakewood Animal Shelter. CCLAS volunteers will To start looking younger now, wash and patrons dry and groom. Patrons are asked to bring their own towels. call me to try TimeWise ® All rights reserved. Any reproduction is forbidden without written permission. There will also be a 50/50 raffl e at noon, and trophies will be also be awarded products for PUBLISHER for Biggest Dog, Smallest Dog, Dog with Longest Tail, Dog that looks most like Amy B. Burns Jim O’Bryan Owner and Best Trick. Independent Beauty Consultant EDITOR For more information or if interested in volunteering, contact the event coor- 216-536-5561Phone Number Heidi Hilty dinator, Lisa Ellis, at 216-536-9530. www.marykay.com/amyburns ADVERTISING Call Mary Bodnar 216.228.7223 ADVISORY BOARD CONTRIBUTING The Lakewood Observer is proud to announce a new addition to its website. Kenneth Warren WRITERS free! Steve Davis Stan Austin We recently added the “Pet Talk and More” section to our Observation Deck online forum. D.L. Meckes Gordun Brumm Bob Buckeye Jeff Endress Stop by online anytime to share information regarding local pets. You can browse adoptable animals Matt Charbboneau available from the Lakewood Animal Shelter, report a lost or found pet, ask advice on pet matters or fi nd EDITORIAL BOARD Bill Davis Heidi Hilty Mike Deneen information about local pet groups like CCLAS, Loving Paws and Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park.