OctoberHome 28, Delivery 2008 Now Available! CallThe 216-228-7223 Lakewood Observer Page Free – Take One! Please Patronize Our Advertisers! Your Independent Source For Local News And Opinion – An Official Google News Source Volume 4, Issue 22, October 28, 2008 Left vs. Right: Lakewood Residents Discuss Their Pick For President by Gaby Smith “Right now everyone is so up-in-arms about issues that we’ve forgotten about 9/11.” The Memmers believe McCain’s When it comes to political phi- military experience will be influential losophies and picking a presidential in our national security and that mili- candidate, Lakewood residents Wil- tary force will likewise be effective. liam and Terese Memmer and Michael “None of this sitting down with the Pomerantz could not be more differ- enemy and trying to hash things out. ent. Registered Republicans for the past It has to be in a certain way or else we thirty years, William, an accountant, and have to show military force and believe Terese, a manufacturer’s representative, me, we’re not for war, but, on the other named their Catholic faith as a template hand, our safety is at risk.” in reaching any major voting decision. In Michael Pomerantz in front of his Obama masterpiece, which he created with a separate interview, Michael Pomerantz, continued on page 5... Crayola crayons. a Democrat, artist, and former Cleveland school teacher, described his assessment as a search for the candidate with ideas most like his, “who will be the best for Slander In The Sun-Post the most people”. by Gordon Brumm place and letting it die unattended. Why Pomerantz, who has displayed Minding The Issues The Story he would wish to punish such a baby his endorsement on the side of his In the October 16 edition of the is beyond my comprehension, but it is van with a larger-than-life portrait of This article has two themes. One Sun Post appeared a letter which got my clearly infanticide and I don’t believe Barack Obama, says he was neutral is Obama vs. McCain and in particu- attention. It was an attack on Barack anyone who supports infanticide should until the Iowa caucus. “I didn’t think lar one of the many slanderous slurs Obama written by one William Reale hold any public office, let alone be presi- he had a chance because he was new – namely, infanticide – the McCain of Shaker Heights, and after a few para- dent of the United States.” to the scene, because he had a funny camp has directed toward Obama, as graphs of standard conservative dogma That is Mr. Reale’s statement, and name, and because he was black.” The well as the rebuttal of that accusation. (which I will briefly summarize below), it is a shocking one, especially since (if Memmers, however, have maintained The second theme is the responsibil- it accused Obama of supporting infan- you haven’t guessed) I am an Obama their support for John McCain since ity of the media when they are asked ticide. Here is the latter portion of the supporter. After reading the letter, I long before this year’s presidential to convey slanderous (or libelous, to be letter in its entirety: picked up the phone on Friday, Octo- race - they supported him through technical) material. “While Obama’s anti-American- ber 17, and reached Mary Jane Skala, his loss to Bush in the primaries in The first theme takes the form of ism is of paramount importance, the the editor for the eastern Sun News- 2000. And while both sides projected a story. The story begins with a letter- thing that repulses me the most is that papers group. I asked her whether Mr. their candidate as best for the coun- to-the-editor in the Sun newspapers he is a supporter of infanticide. I don’t Reale’s statements are true or not. She try and bound for the White House, accusing Barack Obama of support- say this because he is virulently pro- said she didn’t know, because the paper that is as close as they came to a com- ing infanticide, and it continues with abortion, but because as a member of doesn’t check on such things. I asked: If mon ground. my attempts to rebut the accusation, the Illinois senate, he voted three times I wrote a letter saying that either Obama When asked to explain her approach including a conversation with a Sun against legislation that would protect a or McCain (take your pick) was a serial to voting, Terese Memmer named abor- newspaper editor and a letter-to-the- baby that survives an abortion.” killer, would she print it? She said she tion, specifically her pro-life view, as editor which was not printed. Reale continues: “Instead of pro- would not, because such a letter would be paramount to any other issue. And The second theme appears in my tecting an abortion survivor, Obama while both of the Memmers subscribed discussion of the issues raised by this apparently prefers the practice of put- continued on page 15... to their search for the pro-life candi- incident. ting the baby in some out of the way date, they classified the issue of national In This Issue security with equal importance. “You Spooky Pooch Parade Coverage Events & Notices ................ 2 can talk about the economy and you can talk about all these different programs Lakewood City News .......... 4 like healthcare, but if we’re terrorized, none of that means anything.” Lakewood Public Library . 6-9 Contrastingly, Michael Pomerantz Spooky Pooch Parade ... 10-11 rated the top three issues central to his vote as the financial crisis, the war in LCC Celebrity Roast ..........12 Iraq, and the environment. Accord- Schools & Sports...............13 ing to him, “People will remember what we do now about the environ- Lakewood Perspective .......14 ment many, many years, many, many centuries after we talk about incidental Minding The Issues ...........15 things like lipstick on a pig.” In terms Lakewood Health News .....16 of foreign policy, Pomerantz, who has opposed the war in Iraq, favors open Pulse Of The City ..............17 diplomacy over military force. He said, Conservation Corner .........18 “McCain wants to have a closed fist, clenched teeth attitude towards the rest A rescued Greyhound dressed like a bus follows Callan Foran’s Labrador in a poodle Arts & Entertainment .........19 of the world, which doesn’t work.” skirt in the Spooky Pooch Parade on October 18th. See more photos on pages 10-11. Classifieds ...................... 20 According to Terese Memmer, Hundreds of photos online at http://lakewoodobserver.com in the Photo Gallery. Join the Discussion at: www.lakewoodobserver.com Page 2 The Lakewood Observer October 28, 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 The “L-Word’s” Jennifer Beals In Lakewood To Campaign For Obama by Brad Kenney own Karolyn Isenhart. Beals, Chaiken and Isenhart stepped out onto our streets On Saturday, October 25, some lucky to knock on some Lakewood doors and Lakewood residents were greeted by a talk to voters. special canvassing crew. Jennifer Beals This year’s presidential election (Flashdance, the L-Word) and L-Word has seen an unprecedented level of creator and executive producer Ilene interest and involvement throughout Chaiken stopped by a local Lakewood the United States, with the Obama neighborhood canvassing session for Sen. campaign growing into the largest Barack Obama’s campaign. After a brief citizen-powered political organization meet and greet at the home of Chuck & that the country has ever seen. Every- Betsy Shaughnessy with the Lakewood- one from schoolteachers to nurses based volunteers, Jennifer and Ilene were to plumbers -- and yes, even a few quickly trained on the canvassing pro- celebrities -- have participated in the tocol for the Obama team’s Campaign presidential contest on a grassroots for Change. Immediately following their level, with the hopes of delivering the training the were joined by Lakewood’s country some much-needed change. Jennifer Beals,(seated far left on couch), meeting with some fellow Obama supporters 4th Annual West End Halloween Window Walk by Catherine Calabrese End Halloween Window Walk. past few years, many West End stores Come and visit the store fronts and Since 2005, The Lakewood Cham- have allowed kids in grades K-12 to see the haunting transformation of It’s that time of year again...the ber and the Beck Center have had paint their front windows with ghosts, the windows and businesses. But don’t leaves are falling, the temperature’s Lakewood school kids transform pumpkins, and many other Halloween delay...these paintings will mysteri- dropping, and Lakewood’s being the store fronts in the West End of spirited creatures. The painted store ously disappear soon after Halloween! turned into Halloween central! That’s Lakewood along Detroit Avenue into fronts are then judged in a window right it’s time for the 4th Annual West a spooky outdoor art gallery. For the painting contest. This event has become quite a success; just last year, thanks to more than 200 children, more than 100 store fronts were festively decorated! Your Independent Source for Lakewood News & Opinion The painting begins on October 25th The LAKEWOOD OBSERVER is pub- and must be finished before the judging lished biweekly by Lakewood Observer, on Friday, October 31st. The winners will Inc., 14900 Detroit Avenue, Suite 309, be recognized at an awards ceremony the Lakewood, OH 44107.