City of Lakewood, Ohio: News & Updates

Startup U: The Perfect Pitch

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Startup Lakewood will host an event, Startup U: The Perfect Pitch, on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 6:30 PM at the University of Akron Lakewood, 14725 Detroit Avenue #108.

A good elevator pitch is essential for any entrepreneur -- whether you're just getting started, looking to raise funds, or scaling as a business.

Join us for this informative and interactive session as Reka Barabas, Director of Bad Girl Ventures Cleveland, shares the do's, don'ts, and other practical tips on giving the perfect pitch. The event is FREE and open to all!

PLUS: Learn more about Startup Lakewood's Third Annual Lakewood Ideation Challenge!

City Announces 2013 Summer Band Concert Schedule

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The City of Lakewood is pleased to announce the 2013 schedule for its Summer Band Concert Series. A long time Lakewood tradition, these free concerts are held on Sundays at 7:00 PM at the bandstand in Lakewood Park, 14532 Lake Avenue.

June 23 ~ Ki Allen, Lady Jazz

June 30 ~ FireSide Band

Thurs., July 4 ~ The Lakewood Project

July 7 ~ 122nd Army Band

July 14 ~ Cats On Holiday

July 21 ~ Men of Independence

July 28 ~ No concert! But join us on July 27 and 28 as The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival performs at Lakewood Park. These free performances begin at 7:00 PM.

August 4 ~ Ernie Krivda & The Fat Tuesday Big Band

August 11 ~ The Cleveland TOPS Swingband

August 18 ~ Lakewood Hometown Band

In the event of rain, the Lakewood Hometown Band concert on August 18th will be held in the Lakewood City Hall Auditorium, 12650 Detroit Avenue.

Special Park Rules To Be In Effect At Lakewood Park On July 4th

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The City of Lakewood will have some additional rules in effect at Lakewood Park on Thursday, July 4, 2013 for the Fourth of July festivities. These rules are being added for the safety and protection of everyone in attendance during the Lakewood Fourth of July celebration.

The following rules will be in effect at Lakewood Park on July 4, 2013:

All generators, propane and gas fueled grills are prohibited.
All tents and shelters are prohibited.
Police will be conducting searches of bags and coolers for reasons of public safety.
No alcoholic beverages are permitted at any time throughout the year.
No personal fireworks. This includes novelty fireworks like sparklers.
No dogs or pets of any kind will be permitted in the park on July 4^th.
The skate park, tennis courts, basketball courts and Kid’s Cove playground will be closed at 7:00 PM.

“There are more people at Lakewood Park for the Fourth of July than at any other time during the year,” stated Mayor Mike Summers. “Safety is our first priority. These added security measures will help to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July.”

Lakewood Welcomes New K-9 Officer

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

On June 10, 2013, The Lakewood Police Department welcomed its newest member, K-9 Allen. K-9 Allen and his handler Officer Obrock recently returned from a six week intensive training course that certified the dog in patrol and narcotics work.

K-9 Allen is a one and one half year old German Shepard that was imported from Holland. He replaces K-9 Shep, who passed away from cancer in January of this year, after 10 yrs of service. K-9 Allen will be the Police Department’s second K-9.

K-9 Allen’s handler, Officer Obrock, is a 21 year veteran with the Division of Police. The last eleven years of his career he has been a K-9 Handler. Officer Obrock had great success with his previous K-9, Shep, and the Department looks forward to continued success with this new K-9 team.

Lakewood’s Youth Service Organization “H20” To Serve As Grand Marshal Of The Lakewood Fourth Of July Parade

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Lakewood Mayor Mike Summers today announced that Help-To-Others (H20) will serve as the Grand Marshal for the City’s Fourth of July parade. The parade is scheduled to step off on Thursday, July 4, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. on Lake Avenue at Kenneth Drive and conclude at Lakewood Park.

H2O, celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year, is a service learning organization for middle school and high school students in Lakewood. A collaborative effort between the Department of Human Services/Youth and Lakewood City Schools, this program is dedicated to strengthening and enriching the region by engaging its young people as community builders. In 2011, 333 high school volunteers logged 3,682 hours of service, 222 middle school volunteers logged 899 hours, and 198 middle summer campers logged 3,960 hours of service for 60 community events and more than 40 non-profits in the Cleveland area.

“We are pleased to honor H20 during its 20^th anniversary for all this organization has given to the Lakewood community” said Mayor Summers. “For two decades, H20 has taught the youth of Lakewood the importance of community service and importance of giving back to the community. We are proud to have them serve as Grand Marshals of the Fourth of July Parade.”

Joining in the parade will be musical favorites, the Lakewood High School Ranger Marching Band, St. Edward High School Band, the Lochaber Pipe Band and Red Hackle Pipe Band.

After the parade, festivities will continue in Lakewood Park with games, food, activities and information provided by several of Lakewood’s community organizations. At 7:00 p.m., the Lakewood Project, Lakewood High School’s Youth Rock Orchestra, will perform at the Bandstand at Lakewood Park.

The Fourth of July will conclude with Lakewood’s annual fireworks extravaganza at approximately 9:45-10:00 p.m.

Join Us For The Friday Night Flicks In The Park

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

A long time Lakewood family tradition, the City is again featuring Friday Night Flicks in the park. Join us for a free outdoor movie on select Fridays evenings throughout the summer. The first four movies will be shown at the Bandstand in Lakewood Park, 14532 Lake Avenue. The final movie of the season will be shown at Madison Park, 13929 Madison Avenue. The movies begin at dusk. Movies will be shown on the following dates:

June 14 The Muppets (2011) (G)

June 21 Jumanji (PG)

July 12 Hotel Transylvania (PG)

July 26 Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (PG)

August 9 Madagascar 3 (PG) at Madison Park

In the event of inclement weather, movies will be shown at in the Lakewood City Hall Auditorium, 12650 Detroit Avenue, at 8:00 p.m. To find out if a movie has been moved indoors, tune into Lakewood Radio 1660 AM, call (216) 529-6650 after 5:00 PM or visit www.onelakewood.com.

Mayor Summers To Hold Listening To Lakewood Program on June 11th

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Mayor Michael P. Summers will hold another Listening to Lakewood (L2L) session on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at Rozi's Wine House ,14900 Detroit Avenue. Listening to Lakewood is program where local businesses host the Mayor as he answers questions and speaks with residents. It is an opportunity for all residents to meet the Mayor and discuss Lakewood.

An additional Listening to Lakewood session will be held on:
Tuesday, July 9- The Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Avenue
All L2L events will take place from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM.

All residents are encouraged to attend. This is an opportunity to meet the Mayor and share your thoughts with him.

McKinley Avenue To Be Closed On Wednesday, June 5th and Thursday, June 6th

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Due to road construction, McKinley Avenue between Hilliard Road and I-90 in Lakewood will be closed to traffic on Wednesday, June 5th and Thursday, June 6^th between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. This is expected to be a two day closure within the designated hours.

Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.

Lakewood Police Department To Hold Police Fair On June 7th

Sat, 25 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

On Friday, June 7, the Lakewood Police Department’s Neighborhood Officers will be hosting a Police Fair from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Woman’s Club Pavilion in Lakewood Park.

This event will highlight the many units of the department and their important role in the community. There will be equipment displays and members of the Bomb Squad, K-9 unit and SWAT will be in attendance to speak with residents. Bike safety inspections and free bike licensing will also be available. In addition, parents with children ages 3 to 14 can have a Missing Child ID Card made free of charge. Other members of the department will be there to provide information on home security, the Block Watch and Police Auxiliary Programs. This family-oriented event will also include interactive exercises for distracted driving and traffic safety.

"The events of the Boston bombing and local 10 year kidnapping underscore the importance of citizens working closely with public safety forces, stated Mayor Mike Summers. “In Lakewood, we place great emphasis on our community policing strategy. This strategy is focused on working with citizens to leverage each other’s role in making our neighborhoods safe. This Safety Fair is one of many important elements of our community policing strategy.”

Meet The Trucks Set For Saturday, June 1st

Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The City of Lakewood and the Lakewood Early Childhood PTA invite you to attend the 8^th Annual Meet the Trucks on Saturday, June 1, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Lakewood Park, 14532 Lake Avenue. Come see, touch and explore the City’s fine fleet of trucks and vehicles.

Vehicles on display will include an aerial truck, dump truck, refuse truck, fire truck, police car, police bike and more. In addition, the Lakewood Early Childhood PTA will offer crafts, cookie decorating, a DJ, bounce houses, raffles, Jungle Bob and numerous exhibitions. Many community groups will also be in attendance offering children’s activities and sharing information about their organization.

Attendees are asked to bring a canned good which will be donated to the Lakewood Community Services Center, the City’s food bank.

The following organizations helped to sponsor this event: University of Akron-Lakewood, Lakewood Family YMCA, Mid-Way OH Boys, Met-Chem, Inc., Ohio Mobile Gaming (bounce houses), Music Connection DJ Services, Jungle Bob and Zap Entertainment.

The 8th Annual Meet the Trucks event once again promises to have something for everyone. Best of all, it’s free! Just bring a nonperishable food donation to benefit the Lakewood Community Services Center.

Traffic Advisory: Cleveland’s role in Marvel Studios’ Captain America: The Winter Soldier brings important economic benefits and some temporary alternate traffic patterns too.

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

CLEVELAND – This spring, Cleveland will once again be buzzing with excitement as it hosts super heroes and film crews. Partnering with the production company and the Greater Cleveland Film Commission on this film will help position Cleveland to become a location destination for the movie industry and in turn, support local businesses and create jobs for Cleveland area residents. But transforming the streets into a movie set will require some temporatry road closures and alternate routes for motorists and pedestrians from May 18 through June 28, 2013 (weather permitting).

City staff, including the Division of Traffic & Engineering and the Division of Police, Bureau of Traffic, have been working with the production company, traffic-engineering consultant American Roadway Logistics and GCRTA to develop a plan to accommodate the needs of the film and help keep traffic moving throughout the city as smoothly as possible.

The production company will pay for additional Police Officers and Traffic Controllers to supplement the standard traffic detail for rush hours, special events and routine travel; and to ensure that the coordinated effort is effectively assisting traffic flow.
Primary among the road closures and alternate routes will be Cleveland’s West Shoreway, which will be closed (east and west bound) from Lake Avenue to E. 9th Street from May 30^th through June 14^th. Edgewater Park and the marinas north of the Shoreway will be accessed via West 49th St. Vehicles exiting Edgewater Park and the marinas will be directed out through the closed Westbound lanes of the Shoreway back to West 49^th Street.
Other street closures and re-routing will occur in Downtown Cleveland, primarily between May 19^th and June 14th. Additional closures may occur between June 14^th and June 28^th.
Updates will be provided on a regular basis through additional traffic advisories, press releases and social media. Follow on Twitter via #CLECaptTraffic. You may also view a list of closures and reroutes at www.clevelandmovietraffic.com or listen to an automated list of street closures that will be updated on a weekly basis at 866-999-4959.
Indians fans looking for information on the best ways to avoid limited road closures should visit “Indians.com/planyourtrip”.
Pedestrians in Downtown Cleveland can look for Downtown Cleveland Alliance Ambassadors’ yellow shirts. DCA Ambassadors will guide pedestrians and connect them to up-to-date information from officials.
The following chart & map details the dates and locations of impact, as well as alternate routes and additional information as needed. This listing is subject to change.
Various road closures may affect RTA customers. Please visit www.riderta.com or to call the RTAnswerline at 216.621.9500 for all the details.
For questions concerning the film Captain America, please contact the film’s publicist, John Pisani, at 310-727-2400 or email jmpmovie@aol.com.

Click here for Street Closure Chart.

Click here for Street Closure Map.

Click here for Shoreway Closure Map.

Click here for West Shoreway Closure Map.

Planned Power Outage on May 30 to Affect Several Streets

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Only residents who have been notified by First Energy will be affected

First Energy has scheduled a planned power outage that will affect residents on several Lakewood Streets from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Thursday, May 30. This outage is planned so First Energy can safely trim trees that could cause interference with the power lines.

The outage will affect 73 residents on Adeline Street, Brown Road, Delaware Avenue, Garfield Avenue, Hilda Avenue, Lakewood Heights Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue. All of the residents who will be affected have been notified by First Energy. Not every resident on the listed streets wil be affected. Only those residents who have been contactd by First Energy will be affected by the outage.

If you have any questions about this outage, please contact First Energy at 1-800-589-3101.

LAKEWOOD TRAFFIC ADVISORY: McKinley Avenue To Be Closed On Wednesday, May 29th and Thursday, May 30th

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Due to road construction, McKinley Avenue in Lakewood will be closed to traffic on Wednesday, May 29^th and Thursday, May 30^th between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. This is expected to be a two day closure within the designated hours.

Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.

Memorial Day Refuse & Recycling Collection Schedule

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Due to the Memorial Day holiday, there will be no refuse or recycling collected on Monday, May 27, 2013. Residents whose refuse is normally collected on Monday will have collection on Tuesday. Residents whose refuse is normally collected on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday should have their refuse and recyclables available for collection on their regular day, and it will be collected either on that day or the day after. Residents whose refuse is normally collected on Friday will have collection on Friday.

Residents are reminded that refuse and recycling should not be placed on the curb or tree lawn until after 6:00 p.m. on the night before your collection day and should be available for collection by 6:30 a.m. on the collection day.

In addition, all Lakewood City offices and the Lakewood Municipal Court will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday.

For further information, contact the Lakewood Division of Refuse & Recycling at (216) 252-4322.

Traffic Advisory: Lake Road To Be Closed on May 5 During Ambulance Chase

Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Between Clifton Road and Lakewood Park

Due to the Ambulance Chase 5K race, Lake Road between Lakewood Park and Clifton Road will be closed for approximately one hour on Sunday, May 5. The race is scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM and organizers expect to be off of the road by approxuimately 10:00 AM. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.

McKinley Avenue To Be Closed Between Hilliard And The North Marginal On Thursday, May 2, 2013

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Due to road construction, McKinley Avenue between Hilliard Road and the North Marginal in Lakewood will be closed to traffic on Thursday, May 2, 2013. Construction is expected to begin in the morning and continue throughout the day. This is only expected to be a one day closure.

Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.

Annual Fire Hydrant Testing Begins May 1st

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The City of Lakewood Division of Fire’s annual fire hydrant testing program begins on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. Testing will be done on weekdays throughout the month of May and early June. Annual hydrant flushing is necessary to assure proper hydrant operations during fire emergencies.

The testing may cause temporary discoloration of the water supply and residents should check the color of their water before washing clothes to guard against discoloring fabrics. After a few hours, the sediment will settle and the water should run clear again. While the water may appear unsightly, discoloration is due to the release of built-up mineral deposits present in all water mains.

Residents with questions about the fire hydrant testing may call (216) 529-6607 after 9:00 a.m. on weekdays.

Non-Emergency Phone Service Has Been Restored

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

For non-emergency police calls, dial (216) 521-6773.

The City of Lakewood‘s non-emergency phone lines have been restored. Individuals should call
(216) 521-6773 for non-emergency police and fire calls.

Lakewood Non-Emergency Phones Not Working

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Individuals Should Call Fairview Park Police Department

Due to a power surge, the City of Lakewood’s non-emergency phone numbers are not working properly. Individuals trying to call the Lakewood non-emergency police number are advised to call the Fairview Park Police Department at 440-333-1234 or (440) 356-4415. 9-1-1 is not effected. Individuals with an emergency should still call 9-1-1.

City officials anticipate the non-emergency phones to be operational in the next hour or so.

Welcome To Lakewood Event Set For Wednesday, April 24

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The City of Lakewood’s Community Relations Advisory Commission and the Lakewood Family Collaborative are sponsoring the 2^nd annual Welcome to Lakewood event on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Garfield Middle School, 13114 Detroit Avenue. This event is designed to welcome new residents to the community and to assist anyone looking for additional opportunities to make connections within the community. Welcome to Lakewood is a fun event where residents can learn more about local civic organizations, services and ways to get involved in Lakewood.

This is an opportunity to meet Mayor Mike Summers, Lakewood Schools Superintendent Jeff Patterson and Lakewood City Council Members. Fifty local organizations will be on hand to provide information about how to get more involved in the community. There will also be yummy treats from local bakeries. All attendees will leave with a packet of information all about Lakewood.

The Lakewood Community Relations Advisory Commission was established in 2005 to serve in an advisory capacity for the purpose of educating, informing and making recommendations to City officials, departments, boards and commissions on matters relating to community relations within the City of Lakewood in an effort to advance respect for diversity, bonds of mutuality and equity.

The Lakewood Family Collaborative is a group of agencies, organizations and concerned individuals working together to make sure a network of services and supports are available and accessible to children youth and families in our community. The objectives of the Collaborative are to assist in the identification of community issues and needs as they relate to youth/families, advocacy for youth/family/community and consultation and support to strengthen and expand community networking/partnerships.

Habitat For Humanity To Dedicate 2070 Dowd Avenue Home On March 16th

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity has completed construction of a new, single family home at 2070 Dowd Avenue in the historic Birdtown neighborhood. There will be a dedication ceremony on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 11:00 AM to celebrate the work of the many volunteers and organizations who made construction of this home possible. This is only the second time that Habitat for Humanity has built a home outside of the City of Cleveland.

The newly constructed home will sit on the site of the former Lakewood Day Nursery which was demolished by the City of Lakewood in 2010 after sitting vacant for many years. The City transferred the lot to Habitat for Humanity last summer and provided funding the project through its HOME Investment Partnership Program. The home was been designed to be historically sympathetic to the Birdtown Neighborhood and has many energy efficient features. The majority of construction on the home was completed by volunteers. The Stuart-Galvin family will assume ownership of the property from Habitat now that construction is complete.

“We want to thank Habitat for Humanity for partnering with us on this wonderful project,” stated Mayor Mike Summers. “This is another example of our Housing Initiative at work. A property that was beyond repair and an eyesore to the neighborhood has been replaced by a beautiful, new home and new neighbors.”

Additional partners included Moen, Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of Cleveland and First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Lakewood. Moen supplied the majority of the volunteer workers needed to complete this project. First Federal of Lakewood assisted with construction financing and NHS provided homeowner education and financial training to the family.

Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity started in Americus, Georgia with a mission to eliminate poverty housing across the globe. Today, Habitat is one of the largest home builders in the world, operating in over 100 countries. Cleveland Habitat has completed over 160 homes since 1988. Today, The Cleveland Habitat engages 2,000 volunteers, who provide over 70,000 hours of service per year.

Communities From All Corners Of Ohio Unite In Proposed Language To Amend House Bill 5

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

On Monday, March 11, the Ohio Municipal League and communities from across Ohio—including those surrounding Cleveland, Dayton, and Cincinnati—submitted one uniform message containing twenty-one points of municipal income tax uniformity to Representatives Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City) and Michael Henne (R-Vandalia).

These twenty-one points of uniformity, which can be found at www.ohmuniadvocates.com, came after Representative Grossman requested suggestions from elected officials all over Ohio regarding language changes to House Bill 5, and are the newest volley in an ongoing battle over the controversial bill sponsored by Representatives Grossman and Henne.

"Local mayors have been very supportive of efforts to create a more uniform and taxpayer friendly process,” said South Euclid Mayor Georgine Welo, President of the Cuyahoga County Mayors and City Managers Association. “However, [House Bill 5] seems to be more of an effort to take away local government's ability to collect revenues necessary to run our cities. The real impact is disguised under the cloak of uniformity.”

Purported to be an attempt at revenue neutral tax uniformity and simplicity, HB 5 will complicate the current 40 page municipal tax code with 141 pages of new rules and regulations. Some poorly conceived provisions found in HB 5 will cost cities and villages upwards of $35.1 million in revenue according to information submitted by municipalities across Ohio to advocacy group Ohio United. Other provisions, such as the proposed creation of a Municipal Tax Policy Board (whose members would be hand-picked by Governor Kasich) and a mandate forcing the repeal of local tax ordinances in favor of full adoption of Ohio Revised Code 718, are seen as attacks on Ohio’s Home Rule amendments which secure a municipality’s right to administer and govern collection of its own income tax.

"The notion that 'one size fits all' as uniformity defies common sense,” said Michael Summers, Mayor of Lakewood and Vice-Chair of the Northeast Ohio First Suburbs Consortium. “The proposed Tax Policy Board takes away the authority and wisdom of locally elected city councils, violating the very essence of home rule provision which has guided and served local communities for over 200 years.”

Elderly Scam Alert

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

ELDERLY SCAM ALERT

Elderly persons are receiving telephone calls asking for a large sum of money to be sent by Western Union to a location out of the country .

The suspects claim to be relatives, out of town, and involved in a crime.
Other suspects claim to be a government official, or appointed lawyer advising the case will be dismissed if the money is received.
After the suspects receive the money, they make a follow -up telephone call asking for more money.

Suspects Do Know Your Personal Information!!

Please Check With Family Members Before Making The Decision To Send Funds

IF YOU RECEIVE A SUSPICIOUS PHONE CALL, CONTACT:

THE LAKEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT

12650 DETROIT AVENUE

LAKEWOOD, OHIO 44107

216-521-6773

WEBSITE: ONELAKEWOOD.COM

EMAIL: POLICE@LAKEWOODOH.NET

Help to Others Celebrates 20 Years

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Benefit Bash Honors H2O’s Service to Community

Help to Others (H2O) celebrates 20 years of service to the Northeast Ohio community with a night of fun, festivities, and philanthropy at the H2O Tributary Bash, Saturday, February 23, 2013, 7 to 11 pm, at the Lake Erie Screw Factory, 13000 Athens Avenue in Lakewood. A special VIP event will take place 5:30 to 7 pm in a smaller, more intimate setting of the Screw Factory.

Held at the Screw Factory—the coolest venue in town—the party will embody the theme, “Drops of Kindness. Ripples of Change.” and capture H20’s legacy of affecting powerful change by helping others through volunteerism. The main event includes fabulous food and drinks, a live and silent auction, and musical entertainment by Lakewood High School Four Seasons string quartet and DJ Tom Leatherman. Robin Swoboda of WKYC Channel 3 is the special guest.

The VIP event features musical entertainment by SLAP Jazz Trio, an open bar featuring a signature drink, beer, and wine, and bountiful hors d’oeuvres. Gregg Korney, executive chef at Georgetown will give a gourmet cooking demonstration. He will be assisted by high school students from Ranger Catering, a culinary program of the West Shore Career-Tech District.

“Whether it’s raking an elderly resident’s yard, assembling food bags at the Cleveland Food Bank, or collecting school supplies to clean, organize, and redistribute to children in need throughout the Lakewood School District, H20 volunteers make a difference in our community,” says Celia Dorsch, honorary chairperson of the big event. “Thousands of alumni continue to engage in volunteer efforts wherever they've chosen to call home—Ohio, far off states, or on the other side of the world—and credit their career paths to early experiences in H2O. This bash is to celebrate the organization’s 20^th anniversary, raise awareness about the good work of H20, and secure funds to ensure the long-term sustainability of the program, which makes our community a special place to live.”

Tickets for the main event are $50. A very limited number of $100 VIP tickets are available. Sponsorship opportunities, starting at the $100 level, are also available. For more information, to purchase tickets, or to sponsor the event, visit www.thelakewoodfoundation.org/H2O/ or call 216.529.6870.

H2O is a service learning organization for middle school and high school students in Lakewood. A collaborative effort between the Department of Human Services/Youth and Lakewood City Schools, this program is dedicated to strengthening and enriching the region by engaging its young people as community builders. In 2011, 333 high school volunteers logged 3,682 hours of service, 222 middle school volunteers logged 899 hours, and 198 middle summer campers logged 3,960 hours of service for 60 community events and more than 40 non-profits in the Cleveland area.

#1LKWD

Citizen Academy Offers Unique Look “Inside” Lakewood’s Police Department

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The Lakewood Division of Police is offering Lakewood residents a unique opportunity to gain some first-hand information about the role of Lakewood’s safety and law enforcement department. The Lakewood Police Citizens’ Academy is a twelve-week program starting Wednesday, February 6, 2013 and continuing each Wednesday through April 24. The Academy will be held from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Lakewood Police Department, 12650 Detroit Avenue.

The Citizens’ Police Academy is a 12-week course for Lakewood residents or people who work in Lakewood, 21 years of age or older, who are interested in learning more about the Division of Police. Classes are held once a week for 2 hours. There is no fee to attend. During the sessions, students are presented with information from a number of speakers to familiarize them with a variety of policing issues in Lakewood. In addition to speakers from the Division of Police, Mayor Summers, the Department of Law, and Judge Carroll also address the class. At the end of each session, the graduates are permitted to schedule a ride-along with a patrol officer for one evening

According to Police Chief Tim Malley, “The Lakewood Police Department is committed to establishing close working ties with the members of the community we serve and establishing channels to be responsive to the needs and desires of our community.” In addition to the Lakewood Police Citizens’ Academy, Chief Malley noted that the Lakewood Police Department develops and presents crime prevention seminars, personal safety programs, neighborhood block watch meetings, traffic and bicycle safety education programs and child safety seminars. Lakewood’s Police Department also serves as a liaison with community organizations and groups through the use of foot patrol, community-oriented policing, shadowing programs and sponsoring and participating in special events designed to promote positive relationships between the police and school-age children.

Click here for more information or contact Officer Ortiz at (216) 701-3063.

#1LKWD

Four Lakewood Police Officers Promoted

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

On January 4^th, 2013 the Lakewood Police Department held a promotional ceremony for officers of the Lakewood Police Department. According to Chief Timothy J. Malley, “The Lakewood Police Department is honored today to be able to swear in four of our officers to new levels of supervisory responsibilities. Each of these officers has proven through their experience and determination to be excellent police officers and leaders within the department. They are each looking forward to their new duties and providing leadership to the department and service to our community.” Mayor Michael Summers commented, “Strong and effective leadership is essential to meeting Lakewood’s public safety goals of “being safe and feeling safe”. These promotions reflect dedication, skill, knowledge, and commitment to our goals. I am honored to make these promotions and grateful for the dedication of these officers.”

The officers participated in a competitive process for promotion which included a written examination, and an assessment exam by the Ohio Chiefs of Police. At the completion of this process each were ranked according to their results and confirmed by the Lakewood Civil Service Commission.

Promoted today was Captain Gary Sprague. Captain Sprague was hired in 1988 and promoted to Sergeant in 2000. He was further promoted to Lieutenant in 2006 and was assigned to the Patrol Division and also Special Operations. Capt. Sprague will be assigned as the Division Commander for the Patrol Division and is responsible for the Uniform Division, Special Operations, and Parking Enforcement.

Lieutenant Frank Eschweiler was appointed as a Patrol Officer in 1988. He worked as a Uniformed Patrol Officer, Uniformed Investigator, and Detective assigned to the Juvenile Bureau. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2002 and assigned to the Patrol Division. He will be assigned as a shift commander in the Patrol Division and will be responsible for the day shift.

Sergeant Matthew Pietch was appointed as a Patrol Officer in 1996. He was worked as a Patrol Officer and Accident Investigator/Evidence Technician in the Patrol Division. Sergeant Pietch will be assigned to the Patrol Division working the night shift.

Sergeant Steven Fioritto was appointed as a Patrol Officer in 1996. He has worked in the Uniform Patrol Division as a Patrol Officer and Accident Investigator/Evidence Technician. Sergeant Fioritto will be assigned to the Patrol Division working the night shift.

Community Diversity Potluck Set For January 24th

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The Lakewood Community Relations Advisory Commission, Lakewood High School’s Race and Diversity (RAD) Club and Identity Club will hold a Community Diversity Potluck on Thursday, January 24, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Woman's Club Pavilion at Lakewood Park, 14532 Lake Avenue. The theme for the potluck is "The World Lives in Lakewood".

Attendees are asked to bring a dish (vegetarian or meat) to serve six that represents your family or cultural tradition(s). Beverages and tableware will be provided. This is a great opportunity to meet neighbors and make new friends. There will be fun activities for all ages.

Lakewood Employee Unions Reach Tentative One-Year Contract Extension

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Lakewood Mayor Mike Summers, the two local chapters of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and the Fraternal Order of Police dispatchers’ union have reached an accord to extend their existing collective bargaining agreements through Dec. 31, 2013.

The current employer-employee agreements, made in 2010, were set to expire at the end of 2012.

The Summers administration and the unions agreed to the contract extensions — which will provide for no increases in wages or health care contributions in 2013 — in view of the city’s difficulty projecting revenue losses after the state made sweeping cuts to its local government fund, commercial activity tax and estate tax, all of which had directly benefited cities like Lakewood.

Columbus is also considering a measure to strip cities from enforcing their own income tax codes, which would deal yet another significant blow to Lakewood’s operating budget.

“We all have a weather eye toward any further cuts the Governor’s administration may make to municipal budgets in 2013,” Summers said. “A one-year extension with AFSCME and the FOP dispatchers’ union was appropriate in light of this uncertainty.”

With 176 public works and administrative employees among their ranks, the AFSCME unions represent nearly half of Lakewood’s workforce. There are 11 dispatchers in the FOP union.

“Union members and the city administration are pulling together to find real solutions to our economic problems,” said Eugene Byrne, AFSCME administrative chapter chair.

Added Jerry Branco, Local 1043 president: “The AFSCME union employees have worked with the administration at every level to cut costs and maintain services throughout the last four years, and we were happy to continue to work with the city to get to this agreement.”

“We will continue to grapple with these state cuts and rising health care costs,” Summers said. “I appreciate our employees’ willingness to move forward and continue to work together for another year without a wage increase to serve our citizens in a very challenging environment.”

City employees are represented by seven bargaining units, whose contracts are all expiring within the next few months. Wage freezes are already in store for Lakewood’s non-union employees.

Lakewood City Council will be asked to ratify the contract extensions at its first regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 7.

#1LKWD

Emergency Snow Parking Ban Information

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Whenever there is snow fall of four (4) inches or more within a twenty-four (24) hour period, the emergency snow ban takes effect. The snow ban restrictions on parking take effect without any requirement of an announcement by the City of Lakewood.

In the event of a snow fall of four inches or more, parking is not permitted on streets posted as emergency snow ban streets. Motorists should always consult the posted signs, and be advised that in the event of a snow fall of four inches or more, the emergency snow parking bans will be enforced.

The Emergency Snow Parking Ban streets are as follows:

Athens Avenue (Carabel to Lincoln)
Belle Avenue (Madison to Lake)
Berea Road (Horseshoe Bridge to W. 117th)
Bunts Road (Lakewood Heights Boulevard to Clifton Boulevard)
Clifton Boulevard (Webb to W. 117th)
Delaware Avenue (McKinely to Brown)
Detroit Avenue (Gridley to W. 117th)
Lake Avenue (Webb to W. 117th)
Lakewood Heights Boulevard (Woodward to Horseshoe Bridge)
Madison Avenue (Riverside to W. 117th)
Riverside Drive (Sloane to Fischer)
W. 117th Street (Berea to Edgewater)
Warren Road (Lakewood Heights Boulevard to Clifton Boulevard)

Lakewood Codified Ordinance 351.26 contains the provisions of the emergency snow parking bans.

#1LKWD

Blizzard Warning Issued For December 26-27

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Lakewood Residents Are Reminded To Move Cars Off Of The Street During Heavy Snowstorms

The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for Cuyahoga County for Wednesday, December 26 thru Thursday, December 27 in anticipation of a significant winter storm. A Blizzard Warning is issued for sustained or gusty winds of 35 mph or more, and falling or blowing snow creating visibilities at or below 1/4 mile. Lakewood residents are reminded that they need to move their cars off of the street during heavy snow so streets can be plowed.

On streets that are posted Emergency Snow Ban streets, whenever there is snow fall of four (4) inches or more within a twenty-four (24) hour period, the emergency snow ban takes effect. The snow ban restrictions on parking take effect without any requirement of an announcement by the City of Lakewood. In the event of a snow fall of four inches or more, parking is not permitted on streets posted as emergency snow ban streets. Motorists should always consult the posted signs, and be advised that in the event of a snow fall of four inches or more, the emergency snow parking bans will be enforced.

A city-wide emergency snow parking ban may also be declared in the event of a heavy snow storm. This means parking would not be permitted on any city street until the street has been plowed. Should a city-wide emergency snow parking ban be issued, the city will send the notice to all media outlets, post the information prominently on the City of Lakewood website at www.onelakewood.com, send out notices on our Twitter account, @LakewoodOhio, post notices on the City’s Facebook page and place a message on Lakewood Radio 1660 AM.

Lakewood Codified Ordinance 351.26 and 351.27 contain the provisions of the emergency snow parking bans.

For the safety of all residents, please help the City of Lakewood clear the streets by removing vehicles during these snow emergencies.

#1LKWD

Lakewood City Council’s Public Safety Committee to Hold Public Hearing On Proposal to Toughen Texting While Driving Laws

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500

On Thursday December 13 at 6:30 PM the public will have the opportunity to contribute to the discussion on Proposed Ordinance 44-12 at a public hearing of the Lakewood City Council’s Public Safety Committee at Lakewood High School in Lecture Hall 2.The proposed ordinance calls for Lakewood to strengthen the newly enacted state law by elevating the offense of texting by an adult driver from a secondary offense, as is currently written in the state law, to a primary offense. Proposed Ordinance 44-12 would also maintain the full ban on the use of electronic devices by minors.

On June 1, Governor Kasich signed House Bill 99 to restrict the texting while driving behaviors of adult drivers and to prohibit all cell phone use (including talking and texting) by teen drivers. The legislation included a provision granting power to municipalities to construct local ordinances that are more stringent than the state law. Neighboring communities such as Beachwood, Brooklyn, North Olmstead, and others have already fully banned the use of cell phones while driving.

Proposed Ordinance 44-12 was brought before the City Council by Councilman David Anderson on September 17. “I find this notion very similar to a sobriety checkpoint,” said Anderson. “We do not just wait to see if a driver is swerving in and out of a lane.” Research indicates that using a cell phone has a comparable negative impact on one’s ability to drive as driving under the influence of alcohol. According to the Ohio State High way Patrol there were 31,231 automobile crashes in Ohio that were a result of distracted driving between 2009 and 2011. During this time, distracted driving caused 74 deaths and 7,825 injuries. Distracted driving is defined as any activity in which a driver is engaged that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving. Using a cell phone while driving stands out among all other behaviors as the most dangerous distracted driving activity in which a driver can engage. Research shows that young drivers who use a phone while driving are four times more likely to injure themselves in a crash. Text messaging causes a driver to increase his or her risk of crashing to 23 times that of a driver focusing on the road.

The entire community is invited to participate in the public hearing on Thursday December 13^th and/or submit testimony for consideration by the City Council. Testimony may be submitted in person at the hearing or in advance via email to council@lakewoodoh.net. Speakers will be limited to three minutes and are asked to sign up fifteen minutes in advance in Lecture Hall 2.

# # #

For more information please contact the City Council Office at 216-529-6054 or at council@lakewoodoh.net.

Would you like to serve on a city board or commission?

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Lakewood City Council is seeking volunteers to serve on various city advisory boards and commissions. Applicants must be residents of Lakewood, have a desire to serve their community in a volunteer capacity, and be willing to contribute the number of hours necessary for the particular group to which they are appointed. City Council appointments are made at the end of board/commission terms and as openings occur throughout the year.

Current openings include positions on the Audit Committee, Board of Building Standards and Building Appeals, Board of Nuisance Abatement Appeals, Board of Zoning Appeals, Civil Service Commission, Lakewood Tree Task Force and Planning Commission. A standard application form and information on most boards and commissions may be found at the following:

http://www.onelakewood.com/Boards_Commissions/Default.aspx.

Additional information on certain groups may be located in the Second Amended Charter and Codified Ordinances of the city, searchable at following:

http://www.conwaygreene.com/lakewood.htm.

Applicants are asked to return an application form and any related materials, such as a cover letter and/or résumé, to Lakewood City Council, 12650 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio 44107. The submission deadline for the vacancies identified above is 5 p.m. on Friday, November 30, 2012. Board and commission members seeking reappointment need not submit any new materials for consideration.

# # #

For more information, please contact Mary Hagan, Clerk of Council, at (216) 529-6055.

Lakewood Passes Resolution Opposing HB 601

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Lakewood City Council unanimously passed a resolution at their regularly scheduled council meeting on November 19, 2012 opposing House Bill 601, a bill that would pave the way for the State of Ohio’s eventual centralized control of municipal income tax by essentially rendering the City of Lakewood powerless over its right to govern its own finances.

As stated in the resolution, “Only municipalities can ensure the prompt and proper auditing of local tax returns to ensure all applicable deductions and declarations are reported, thus also ensuring that all taxpayers pay their fair share without causing higher costs of compliance for all, and must be able to do so without burdensome and costly restrictions included in House Bill 601 created with the only purpose of restricting municipalities from correcting and auditing returns or making assessments.”

The resolution continues, “Only municipalities can aggressively pursue those non-compliant and delinquent taxpayers who, by their omission or deliberate deceit, drive up the costs of compliance to all.”

If passed, House Bill 601 would not only cause a substantial loss in cash flow and revenue in the amount $570,000 for year 2014, but would also sabotage Lakewood’s ability to collect on delinquent tax filings. State politicians have systematically placed ever-increasing tax burdens on cities with the massive depletion of the local government fund, the abolishment of the estate tax, and the expedited phase-out of tangible personal property tax reimbursements. This bill seeks to further siphon vital dollars from the City by increasing the City’s burdens while lessening the State’s own.

“HB 601 is yet another attempt to crush cash-strapped Ohio towns like Lakewood by preventing us from enforcing the local tax laws that we have levied on ourselves,” stated Council President Brian Powers. “In House Bill 601, down-state politicians are attempting to gut the home-rule guarantees of the Ohio Constitution by imposing a State-mandated tax scheme on local governments.“

The resolution directs the Clerk of Council to forward the resolution to Governor John Kasich, Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor, the Clerks of both the Ohio House and Senate, Ohio Tax Commissioner Joe Testa, the Councils and Mayors of neighboring cities and villages to formally declare strong opposition to HB 601.

Thanksgiving Refuse & Recycling Collection

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no refuse or recycling collected on
Thursday, November 22, 2012.

Normal collection days may change for the week of November 19. Please refer to the chart below:

If Your Normal Collection Day Is:	Have your Refuse and Recycling Ready By:
Monday	6:30 AM on Monday, November 19
Tuesday	6:30 AM on Monday, November 19
Wednesday	6:30 AM on Tuesday, November 20
Thursday	6:30 AM on Wednesday, November 21
Friday	6:30 AM on Friday, November 23

For further information, contact the Lakewood Division of Refuse & Recycling at (216) 252-4322.

Summers Administration Submits 2013 Budget To Council

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

On November 15, 2012, Mayor Summers’ Administration delivered the 2013 city budget to Lakewood City Council. The submitted budget is structurally balanced with projected revenues exceeding projected expenditures. The budget book, known as the Estimate of Expenses, is required by the City Charter to be submitted by November 15 of each year. This document supports the appropriations or budget ordinances that will be presented at the November 19, 2012 Lakewood City Council meeting.

The projected 2013 General Fund revenues of approximately $33.30 million are nearly $2.75 million less than the $36.05 million projected revenues of 2012. This reduction in revenue is attributed to the State Legislature’s elimination of the Estate Tax, a 50% reduction of the Local Government Fund and a 4% reduction of property tax due to decreased valuations. The $2.75 million revenue loss means the City in 2013 will be operating with revenues comparable to the 2002 levels.

The City has been working hard since Governor Kasich’s budget was introduced in February of 2011 to reduce its expenses in response to these revenue reductions. The City will continue to look for ways to lower costs including optimizing energy and fuel consumption, expanding recycling, leveraging technology to improve effectiveness, negotiating fair, balanced and affordable labor contracts and analyzing the best use of City facilities to optimize space and customer service accessibility. One tool the City’s introduced and began implementing this year is LEAN Lakewood, a process which challenges current methods in an attempt to lower costs and streamline processes and workflows.

“Local government has to begin a whole new way of thinking,” stated Mayor Mike Summers. “Delivering services with substantially less resources is very challenging. But we are confident we can continue to provide the level of service that our residents have come to expect. Our focus will remain on lowering costs and making the best use of our revenue sources as we respond to these significant cuts from the state. Additionally, we are challenged to create a capacity to invest in Lakewood’s future.”

The budget document is available at: http://www.onelakewood.com/pdf/Finance%20Reports/2013_Lakewood_Comprehensive_Budget.pdf.

Fall Leaf Collection Schedule

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The City of Lakewood will begin collecting loose leaves on Monday, November 5, 2012 and will continue until approximately Friday, December 14, 2012, weather permitting. Prior to November 5 and after December 14, leaves will be collected only when they are placed in paper yard/leaf bags and set out along with regular refuse and recycling.

Due to the excessive amount of leaves on Clifton Boulevard and Lake Avenue, these streets will be collected separately. Collection crews will start working at the east end of Clifton Boulevard and Lake Avenue and work west until completed. Collection pick-up for these streets is scheduled to begin on November 5 with additional pick-ups beginning November 19 and December 3.

After crews have completed Clifton and Lake, they will collect leaves citywide starting from the west end and working east. The number of citywide collections will be weather dependent. Residents should place their leaves out as soon as possible to ensure collection. Signs will be posted on side streets to notify residents of upcoming collections.

For daily leaf collection schedule updates, visit www.onelakewood.com/leafcollection.

In order to make the leaf collection process as effective as possible, the City asks residents to please rake leaves onto tree lawns as close to the curb as possible. Raking leaves into the street will slow the collection process and may cause basement flooding.

There will be no leaf collection on November 22 and 23 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. If you have any questions, please call (216) 529-6810 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

#1LKWD

Lakewood To Hold Community Conversation On The Lakewood Reads 2012 Book

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates

The Lakewood Community Relations Advisory Commission, in partnership with the Lakewood Family Collaborative, the University of Akron Lakewood and Lakewood Alive, is hosting a Community Conversation on the book, The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates. This discussion will take place on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 7:00 p.m., at the University of Akron Lakewood, 1415 Warren Road.

The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates is the story of two kids with the same name, living in the same city. One grew up to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated combat veteran, White House Fellow, and business leader. The other is serving a life sentence in prison for felony murder. The Other Wes Moore tells the story of a generation of boys trying to find their way in a challenging and at times, hostile world.

Panelists for this discussion will include Dr. Ronnie Dunn, Associate Professor of Urban Studies at Cleveland State University, Mary Hall, Administrator for the City of Lakewood Division of Youth, Michael Ryan, Cleveland Municipal Court Judge and recently elected to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division, Mark Brauer, Vice President for Youth Services at Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry and students from Lakewood. The group will examine some of the central themes of the book. The discussion will include a question and answer session.

This event is free and open to the public. Participants do not have to have read the book to be a part of this engaging evening!

Clifton Boulevard Bus Shelter Enhancements – Public Meeting

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Please join Mayor Summers and representatives from the Great Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Woman’s Club Pavilion at Lakewood Park to learn more about the bus shelter improvements proposed for Clifton Boulevard. The proposal includes improvements like brick bus stations with GPS arrival monitors, safety video-phones as well as better spacing of stops and shelters.

The Lakewood local investment will be capped at $50,000 for nearly $950,000 of federally funded improvements. The City will redirect other existing transportation dollars to fund its share. “This is an opportunity to improve Clifton with a much smaller investment while keeping our options open for future projects funded by state and federal dollars,” said Summers.

In early 2011, the Mayor announced that in light of financial demands facing the city, Lakewood would be participating in a smaller more transit focused version of the Clifton Boulevard Plan. The original plan included a landscape median and required a local match required of Lakewood would have been $486,000 for the $8 million enhancement project.

Storm Update as of 9:00 AM on Monday, November 5

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

We are down to 164 households without power. The major neighborhood problems have been resolved. The remaining outages appear to be all backyard transformer/secondary lines.

Residents should continue to call CEI at 1-888-544-4877 every 4 hours if they are without power. This helps CEI narrow down the remaining outages.

Storm Update as of 12:00 PM on Sunday, November 4

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

We made some progress overnight with our power outages. We have 1700 without power as of this morning. There are 17 crews working in Lakewood today. Six trucks are in the Edgewater/Homewood area replacing poles.

Residents should continue to call CEI at 1-888-544-4877 every 4 hours if they are without power. This helps CEI narrow down the remaining outages.

Trick-or-treating is tonight from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Storm Update as of 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 3

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

As of 12:00 PM today, we are down to 2300 households without power. While we continue to make progress, there are still many neighborhoods without power.

Residents without power are reminded to call 1-888-544-4877 every 4 hours to let CEI know you are still without power. Knowing every address that is without power can help CEI determine all of the issues involved in restoring power to you. So if you think your whole stree is out and many of your neighbors have called, it is important for everyone to call and continue to report their outages.

Clean-up efforts continue again today. City crews are out collecting storm debris. You can continue to place your tree limbs on the tree lawn for pick and you do not need to bundle them as is normally the case.

For those homes with significant loss of food, be sure to check your homeowner’s insurance policy for possible coverage of “refrigerants”. Click here for information about food and water safety after an emergency.

#1LKWD

Lakewood To Honor Veterans On November 11th At Lakewood Park

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Mayor Michael P. Summers and the Lakewood Veterans Advisory Committee will host the City of Lakewood’s Veterans Day Ceremony on Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. in Lakewood Park, 14532 Lake Avenue. Lakewood’s annual Veterans Day observance is a tribute to the men and women who served our country in the armed forces.

Lakewood’s Veterans Day program will begin with the Presentation of Colors followed by the singing of the National Anthem by The Four Vet Quartet.

This year’s keynote speaker is Colonel David W. Tayor. Colonel Taylor was commissioned in Infantry OCS (Ft. Benning, GA) in February 1968. After completing the Airborne and Ranger schools he was assigned to the 5th/46th Infantry Battalion, 198th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, Vietnam, as an infantry platoon leader from February- June 1969. After recovering from wounds in Vietnam, Taylor was assigned as the OIC – Small Arms Training Committee, 3rd AIT Training Brigade, Ft. Jackson, SC. In February 1971 he left active duty and, joined the BF Goodrich Company. At the same time he entered the US Army Reserve, Co C, 2nd Battalion, 11th Special Forces Group (USAR). From 1977 to early 1980, while working & living in Venezuela for BF Goodrich, Colonel Taylor performed annual training tours with Special Forces units.

From 1980 to 1984 Colonel Taylor served in joint special operations (SPECOPS) assignments as a mobilization augmentee, 1st Special Operations Command (SOCOM), assigned as a SPECOPS planner to the U.S. Southern Command, Panama. In 1984 he was assigned as the SPECOPS Officer, Army Reserve Augmentation, U.S. Forces Caribbean (Key West, FL). From 1988 to 1990 Colonel Taylor was appointed Chief, Unit Training Division and later, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Training, HQ, 83rd U.S. Army Reserve Command. He assumed command of the USAR Augmentation, U.S. Forces Caribbean on July 1, 1990 and later transitioned the unit to become the Army Reserve Augmentation, U.S. Atlantic Command (USLANTCOM). While performing active duty tours at the Atlantic Command, Colonel Taylor was the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commander-In-Chief (D/CINC) / USLANTCOM. Taylor’s unit was subsequently awarded the Joint Services Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Colonel Taylor retired from the USAR in 1993. His awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Two Purple Hearts, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Services Achievement Medal, The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab and Airborne Wings. In June 2011, he published his first book, Our War: The History and Sacrifices of an Infantry Battalion in the Vietnam War 1968-1971. It is a 722-page history of his infantry battalion in Vietnam and is the only historical account of a battalion in the Vietnam War written in a narrative style.

Other highlights of this year’s program include performances by the Lakewood High School Band, The Four Vet Quartet and a 21-gun salute by the Joint Veterans Honor Guard. The Veterans Day Ceremony is free and open to the public. Following the ceremony, coffee and doughnuts will be offered in the Woman’s Club Pavilion at Lakewood Park.

Storm Update as of 2:30 PM on Friday, November 2

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

We continue to make slow but sure headway. We have reduced our homes without power from 6,400 this morning to 3,750 at this moment.
We have 5 overhead trucks working neighborhoods this afternoon.
We have 12 neighborhoods without power, and scores of smaller pockets of outages.
There are several of the smaller (non overhead) crews who are working at the backyard pole-to-house lines.
CEI crews are still repairing the major feed lines though our city, as well as those in Bay village and Rocky River that supply our city. Overhead crews elsewhere are also contributing to our recovery.
Residents who are still without power should report their outage to CEI by call 1-888-544-4877. Even if you think someone on your street has called, it is important for every household to call and register their address as being without power.
For those homes with significant loss of food, be sure to check your homeowner’s insurance policy for possible coverage of “refrigerants”.
The Red Cross Shelter at Garfield Middle School will be open today, tonight, and tomorrow. For those home who remain without power.
As we begin to shift to cleanup, remember to put your leaves, tree debris on your tree lawns. We have begun to move our shredder/chippers through the city to handle the material as we go. Consequently, you do not have to tie up the material as is normally the case.
Please continue to keep an eye on your neighbors. Please lend a hand to those neighbors needing assistance.

#1LKWD

Storm Update as of 9:30 AM on Friday, November 2

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Lakewood dropped from 9900+ to 6000+ homes without power overnight. We should gain more ground today.

The Gold Coast, the hi rise apartments on our North East corner, received power at approximately 2-3AM this morning. This brought power to about 3000 residents. The power may fluctuate a bit today as power is turned off temporally for repairs elsewhere in the grid. This was a first priority because the residents in those buildings in addition to being without power were also without water. The pumps that pump water up to the higher floors are electric so they weren't working.

The Birdtown area received power at approximately 9:00 PM last night.

Outages remaining include Rosewood, Merl/Jackson/Harlon/ Nicholson, Clarence, Cohassett, Grace, Summit to Webb North of Lake Ave, Spring Garden, Marlowe and other isolated sections.

We expect the same 16 crews back in Lakewood today. We will be able to help them focus on the neighborhoods still without power.

We will continue to work with CEI to remove any obstacles that hinder their progress.

The Red Cross Shelter remains open. 15-20 people spent the night. This is a warm place to go and have a meal, take a shower, watch tv, charge your cell phone and spend the night. Garfield Middle School has been fantastic in accommodating the shelter in the gymnasium while school is in session.

Residents without power who haven't already reported their outage to CEI should call 1-888-544-4877. Even if you think someone on your street has called, it is important for every household to call and register their address as being without power.

City crews continue to work on removing downed trees. If you have tree debris from your yard, you can place it on your tree lawn for collection.

Please help spread the word and share this update with others.

#1LKWD

Storm Update as of 4:00 PM on Thursday, November 1

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

16 crews have been busy all day. Major infrastructure repair of primary (high voltage) lines, new poles, and connections. Coordination challenges between out of town crews and CEI grid managers. Everyone working feverously.

Outages down to 9100 from 9900 this morning. Slowly gaining ground. Lakewood remains highest percentage of outages in the region.

All roads are now open except Lake Avenue between Nicholson and Cove. The current crews will be working for six more hours today.

Residents without power who haven't already reported their outage to

CEI should call 1-888-544-4877. Even if you think someone on your street has called,it is important for every household to call and register their address as being without power.

The Red Cross Shelter at Garfield is still open for those without power. This is a warm place to go and have a meal, take a shower, watch tv, charge your cell phone and spend the night.

Please help spread the word and share this update with others.

#1LKWD

Storm Update as of 10:00 AM on Thursday, November 1

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

We expect 16 CEI crews to be working in Lakewood today
Last night, at approximately 7PM, 10 crews entered our city. They coordinated with Fire Chief Scott Gilman who was able to direct them to our most pressing problems. These included live wires on down trees blocking Nicholson at the tracks, Sloane at the bend, and Merl near Nicholson . Seven crews focused on the major transmission lines on Lake in front of Winton Place. These lines are major source of power to the Gold Coast. These crews, having travelled all day to get here, retired at 10PM for a mandatory 8 hour rest to resume aggressive work today.
This morning, the #1 priority is the area in front of Winton Place. With hard work and luck, we might see this area restored by this evening.
We did experience significant progress late in the evening. Overnight, we went from 13,000 homes without power to 9,000 this morning. CEI is coordinating their efforts with our Fire and Public works crews. We are determined to make sure that any delays are not caused by action we can and should be taking. City leadership is meeting regularly to coordinate efforts and share information. Our City crews are working very hard to get us back up.
30 citizens spent the night at Garfield school and were grateful for the opportunity to do so. 60 more residents have stopped in for respite from a cold house or apartment , warm food and power. The Red Cross has done a magnificent job of running this shelter. Many of our citizen volunteers from CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Team) have done a tremendous job of helping at the shelter and providing additional help to Police and Fire during the height of the Storm Monday night and Tuesday evening.
Please keep an eye on any of your neighbors who might need help.
Refuse pick up will continue for normal trash. Bulk items damaged in the storm should be placed on the tree lawn. Refuse crews will run extra shifts to pick these items up.
Tree debris should also be placed on the tree lawns. We will move through the city with our two chipping/shredding machines. Do not tie up this material in the normal way since we will be shredding as we go.

Storm Update as of 9:00 AM on Thursday, November 1

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The City of Lakewood is still experiencing the effects from Hurricane Sandy:

Approximately 10,000 residents are still without power. CEI has brought crews in Colorado, Missouri, Illinois, Canada and their sister companies--Ohio Edison and Toledo Edison to assist with the restoration. Their first priority was clearing hazards and 911/Life and limb calls. They began full restoration but due to the extent of the damage, they are estimating that outages could be lengthy. Please check on your elderly family, friends and neighbors who may be in need. If you are without electricity, please call First Energy at 1-888-544-4877 to report the outage. Click here to view First Energy's outage map.
There are still trees and power lines down throughout the city. Before the City can remove downed trees, CEI must first kill power to lines ensnarled in the trees. We have a very significant mass of downed lines on Lake Road in front of Winton Place. CEI believes it will take 4 crews working simultaneously to repair this damage. We expect to guide CEI Crews to our most dangerous spots. Please use caution when traveling
The American Red Cross has opened an emergency shelter at Garfield Middle School, 13114 Detroit Avenue, today at approximately 12:00 PM. This shelter will provide individuals with light, a place to charge their cell phones, a shower (please bring your own towel and soap) and a warm place to stay overnight. Please do not bring your
Lakewood City Schools are closed on Thursday, November 1st.
Click here for information about food and water safety after an emergency.
Due to the extreme weather conditions, Trick-or Treating has been postponed until Sunday, November 4 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Power Outage Update as of 4:30 PM on Wednesday, October 31

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Recent update from CEI: 100 technicians are due to arrive in the Cleveland area on Wednesday evening. We expect a more aggressive response from CEI crews on Thursday. Delays were caused by high winds which abated late Tuesday evening (10/30). Out of town crews are en route and will be arrive arriving late Wednesday (10/31).

Before the City can remove downed trees, CEI must first kill power to lines ensnarled in the trees. We have a very significant mass of downed lines on Lake Road in front of Winton Place. CEI believes it will take 4 crews working simultaneously to repair this damage. We expect to guide CEI Crews to our most dangerous spots.

The Red Cross 24 hour Emergency Shelter is open at Garfield Middle school located on Detroit and Cohassett for those who are without power.

Storm victims: Beware of unscrupulous ‘storm chasers’

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The City of Lakewood reminds residents who are victims of storms to be extremely cautious before entering into any agreements with or making payments to “storm chasers” — aggressive contractors who are often the first on the scene of any damaged property after bad weather.

Storm chasers often come from outside Ohio to sell roofing, tree work, fence, masonry and carpentry services, mostly door-to-door, to homeowners affected by storms.

“Storm chasers take advantage of homeowners when they’re at their most vulnerable,” said Dru Siley, the city’s Assistant Director of Public Safety who heads the division responsible for construction permitting and inspections.

The perils associated with storm chasers

In some cases, homeowners pay up front for a small amount of repair work to be done, only later to be informed they owe exorbitant amounts of money for the work actually performed.

Door-to-door solicitors may not do good work, may not be licensed and may not be around afterward to complete or correct work once the homeowner realizes repairs weren’t done properly.

“Residents must be very careful to avoid becoming victims of bad deals, consumer fraud or criminal conduct,” Siley said.

Every contractor who works in Lakewood must be registered and insured. The city encourages consumers to research every business with the city’s Division of Housing and Building before making any payments.

The names and contact information for all registered contractors may be found at www.onelakewood.com/PublicSafety/Housing_Building/RegisteredContractors.aspx. Residents may also call (216) 529-6270 to verify a contractor is registered.

How to protect yourself

Homeowners should check with the Ohio Secretary of State to determine whether a business is registered in Ohio. Unregistered businesses are not permitted to operate in Ohio, and may often be fly-by-night scam artists.

Additional tips for dealing with contractors after experiencing storm damage:

Check with your insurance company about policy coverage and specific filing requirements. Keep copies of receipts for emergency repairs for reimbursement later.
Although you may be anxious to get things back to normal, avoid acting in haste. Don't be pressured into signing a long-term contract. Make temporary, less expensive repairs if necessary.
Take time to shop around for contractors, get competitive bids, and check out the contractor’s history using resources like the Ohio Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau. LakewoodAlive, a local non-profit that assists homeowners on housing issues, also maintains a contractor referral list on its website.
Get everything in writing. Prepare a written agreement with anyone you hire that outlines the work to be done, the materials to be used, and the price breakdown for both labor and materials. Review it carefully before signing. Vague clauses such as “repair siding” are invitations for abuse.
Make sure every written agreement contains a three-day right to cancel clause, in most cases a requirement in Ohio. This ensures you can think on any contract before you’re bound by it.
Never pay the full amount of repairs in advance. A third of the contract price is a standard down payment. Pay with a credit card if possible; credit cards may offer you more protection if the work is not completed as specified.

Power Outage Update as of 7:00 AM on Wednesday, October 31

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

As of 7:00 AM this morning, there were still a little over 13,000 Lakewood households without electricity. In total, there are approximately 150,000 households within CEI's territory without power with 118,000 in Cuyahoga County.

CEI crews are out assessing the damage and restoring service. They are bringing in additional crews from Colorado, Missouri, Illinois, Canada and their sister companies--Ohio Edison and Toledo Edison to assist with the restoration. Their first priority was clearing hazards and 911/Life and limb calls. They began full restoration today but due to the extent of the damage, they are estimating that outages could be lengthy.

The American Red Cross has set up an emergency shelter at Garfield Middle School, 13114 Detroit Avenue, for people who are without power to get a meal, charge their cell phones and have a warm place to stay overnight.

The City is in close contact with CEI and as we get more information, we will provide it here.