The Seven Wonders of Lakewood

[Chuck S. Greanoff]

1. Lakewood Park
2. The Lakewood Observer
3. The Lakewood Project
4. Lakewood Stadium
5. The Civic Auditorium/Johny Appleseed
6. Neighborhood Schools
7. The Lakewood Public Library

I have my idea, what are yours?

[Joe Ott]

The seven plus places that we used to go to "make out". (Can anyone guess where those would be?)

Mark Allan Crnolatas

Sharky's.
Over the fence at lkwd park.
Party at [put name here]'s house.

Wait. I better leave this one alone...

[Mark Crnolatas]

On a more serious but not too serious note:
All the above mentioned plus,

1) Birdtown and it's history.

2) The Hilliard Theater/Westwood Arts Theater- Wish someone would make it a theater again.

3) Madison Park- Gets less attention by many than Lakewood Park, but still has something going for it.

4) There was a small "courtyard" in the middle of LHS when I went there, that only a few knew how to get into. Everyone at the time could see down into it but thought it wasn't meant to be used, but just a building fluke that happened, that was sealed from use.

5) LHS Stadium. Haven't been to a football game for years, but always liked the hot-dogs they sold, the band and the energy in the stands.

6) The Lagoons- I've always wanted to live there ever since I was a kid, when I first saw the area.

7) The people that still have honesty, ethics and compassion around the city.

Mark Allan Crnolatas
P.S. Much more but the number was 7.

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

1. Lakewood Baseball (hidden gem)
2. Gary and Bob Rice
3. Lakewood Observer
4. Lakewood Library
5. 4th of July Parade
6. Lakewood Residents
7. Lakewood Stadium



Steve I gotta say the lightspeed box on Bonnieview and Clifton is better. Silent but deadly. that sort of thing.

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

5) LHS Stadium. Haven't been to a football game for years, but always liked the hot-dogs they sold, the band and the energy in the stands.

Mark, I personally invite you to a game this fall. New turf, new league and a new attitude. Win or lose it's still a fun time, and yes, the hot dogs are still good.

So is the marching band, one of my favorites.

But the Shaw High School Marching Band is by far the best one in the area.

[David Anderson]

1. Huge trees – I know, silly. But, the one in my back yard must have been seeded during the Pleistocene age

2. Sidewalks – Again, avaible in most neighborhoods. Still, shouldn’t take these for granted

3. Access to the Metroparks

4. Library – Must have a lot of stories because it’s very tall

5. Borderline Café (the Stuffed French Toast ROCKS)

6. Schools

7. Garbage pick-up that’s taken everything I’ve ever piled onto my tree lawn

8. Summer concerts/movies at Lakewood Park

9. Block Parties


What I would like to add to my list in the future:

1. Extension of beautiful stone wall on Riverside Drive/237 into Lakewood up to W. Clifton (I believe this is a pet peeve for JOB as well)

2. Although it’s not Lakewood’s responsibility, lead a process that fixes Stinchcomb-Hog’s Back

3. Beach access

4. Trader Joe’s

5. Walking school busses

6. Community garden


Funny how The Beck Center hasn’t made anyone’s list.

[Gary Rice]

Way back in my youth, I was interested in collecting things. Everything historical, from old pictures, to an old banjo or two (or three, or four ) brought joy to my heart.

At least for a few seconds.

My dear late mother however, saw fit to remind me that collecting things was at best, a temporary euphoria that passes with the hunt for the next "big thing". She'd say "Gary, you'll spend half your life getting stuff, and the other half getting rid of it. If you're going to collect, collect people"

Truer words were never spoken.

So as I reflect on a topic about the seven wonders of Lakewood, I look with deep humility at Ivor's post above, and the people I have collected.

See, us teacher-types don't generally get vast recognition, and we usually don't end up with a lot of extra money to throw around (in spite of what a few 'Deckers might have you think )

I don't think you'll ever see a bronze monument to a teacher in some park, collecting pigeon droppings.

A teacher's only real monuments are their students, and the achievements that they will one day accomplish.

So with deference to both Ivor, and Mom, I would have my seven wonders around here be named as people, and not things.

I find that I cannot simply name one though, without leaving out hundreds. So here's an altogether too short list of seven "people groupings" from my "collection". Of course, my dad would fit into a number of the categories below.

1)Religious leaders who have inspired me, from a number of faiths.
2)Teachers and administrators who have brought the light of learning to my heart.
3)Students, Scouts, and certainly, young people like Ivor- who continue to show me that anything is possible.
4)Politicians (yes indeed) and all of the city workers who choose to serve and make a better Lakewood.
5)The people with the Observer Project, and you too; here on the 'Deck.
6)The restaurateurs, shopkeepers, musicians, photographers, and artists who continue to make this a great place to live.
7)Those connected with our Library, who dedicate their hearts to helping restore confidence as well as commitment to our city.

Those are my thoughts, anyway.

[Mark Crnolatas]

Ivor,
A true story that applies.

Witnesses, Jim Gentry, Kevin Leary, Cindy Webber, Judy Kassouf and the rest of the entire marching band, during the era of LHS Classes of 66, 67, 68..and all who were at the game.

We had a most awesome band. Won every noteworthy thing to win and was recognized all over the state. Wild would be a deep understatement though. The band was unbeatable musically. Most of players on it, were far beyond what high school musical abilities would be at. Most of the players were down right fantastic. Period. If you didn't cut it, we made your life in the band less than easy, but in a funny way (marching or concert bands).
We did however make the content of movies like "Porky's Revenge" seem tame.

We were cocky too. When we hit the grass, man we were killer. At the time our material leaned more to classic marching band "stuff", but we did it with precision that was astounding to the adults, and other musicians. We'd play things an octave higher for punch, or the bones would play things lower for oomph.

We marched with precision, and formed our U shapes, V shapes, whatever shapes to sharp cadences from a hot drum section.

Then we did our first away game at Shaw.

Visiting teams went out first to do their halftime shows so we, being the visitors went out and did our thing. We finished our half time show, in our cocky attitude, and marched perfectly in fast step back to our end zone. Westood around as if to say. "ok, do your thing so we can go".

Then reality hit... It was Shaw's turn out.


These guys and gals came out DANCING in precision, playing a James Brown's " I Feel Good/Pappa's Gota Brand New Bag" medley, if I remember right.

BAM !!!! We wanted to go hide. Not only did they play well, (ok not as well as us, but close) but twirling trumpets, spinning flutes, drum sticks going aerial, Tubas dipping, and all the while playing funk music. They tore the field up bigtime.

Did we learn a lesson in humility? Immensely.

That was ok though. Our team won the game,but we were all imprinted with something to remember, and we learned an object lesson, all in one friday night way back when.

So yes, I'm looking forward to attending a few games.

Mark Allan Crnolatas
The guy who played trumpet with a bent mouthpiece.






They came out

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

great story mark.

It's memories like this that make Lakewood the center of cultural history. you can never get bored talking to a Lakewoodite about things they've seen or experienced.

Everyone's got a great story to share.

[Mike Deneen]

Good call, Mark.

I've been to football stadiums all around the area, and LHS is second to none. Bedford Stadium is on par, and I hear good things about Strongsville, although I've never been there.

Shaw is definitely the best HS band I've seen.
However, you won't be seeing them at LHS any more. After a century of playing each other, the schools have gone separate ways with the new conference alignment.

Look for stories on the new conference and upgraded LHS stadium this August in the paper.

[Mike Deneen]

Back to the original topic, I love many of the suggestions put forth.

I'd also include the dog park and skate park.
Both are as the best of their kind in Northeast Ohio.

I'd also nominate Bela Dubby. It's truly one of a kind.

[Gary Rice]

Mark,

I'm surprised at you.

When naming those marching band members, you forgot ME!

I was there in '67 and '68.

Not only did Shaw have an excellent and memorable band, but I recall one of those years, we lost to their football team in a bitterly fought game.

I seem to recall the Shaw band leaving the field that night, with the chant "Lakewood's got the LEL, (Lake Erie League) they ain't got SHAW!"

Do you remember that?

Or the time our drum line wanted to do a stick-bouncing cadence...only it was a rainy muddy night and you brass people had to pick up our sticks and pass them back up the line to us.

Or the band tour of Canada where Director Richard Strang could only make the last stop (Niagara Falls, I believe), due to the illness that would soon claim his life?

Or trying to get those white buck shoes WHITE?

Or being disgusted with the "Old English 'L'" on our uniforms?

I do remember the honor of playing with you and all the great players of that time!

Judy still upstaged us, from time to time, with those fire batons!

As the lone bass drummer. I still tried to do my own upstaging with those twirling drumsticks.

You brass people were hard to compete with.

What great memories!

[Jeff Endress]

Or trying to get those white buck shoes WHITE?

Latex white house paint.....until in cracked and pealed.

[sharon kinsella]

Judy Kassouf - I was friends with her in grade school - St. James. She taught me how to twirl baton. I was really, really bad.

I also saw her years later when she performed at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

Is she still in town?

[Mark Crnolatas]

Gary, Sorry about that, yes you were there, of course. We had the LEL and until that game we were undefeated, then Shaw beat us by a slim margin as I recall.

In Toronto, do you recall the trumpet section, some of the drummers and bone players plus some of the other players running around with our faces painted, nearly naked, driving everyone nuts?


Sharon,

The most currant info on Judy is she has a married name, and is living in another state. I might be able to find a number for her, if you want to contact her. PM me, if you do.

I have a short story involving Judy. She was one grade ahead of me, but invited me to take her to her prom. Of course I took her up on the invitation. In those days no one used Limo's but we still looked pretty sharp.

While there, and knowing most everyone there, we were milling about as anyone would, talking about who was wearing what etc, when through the gym doors came Nicky Gala and his date. Nicky had just returned from 'Nam, as an Air Force para-rescueman, PJ for short. If you google that, you'll see who they are. True heroes, then and now.

Nicky stopped the whole prom. He had on his dress blues, his beret, decorations, spit-shined boots, and he looked grande. Every female in the gym was doing the ooohs and ahhhs over Nicky.

After I graduated, and some time after, when I received my induction notice to the Army, I remembered that incident, and I enlisted in the Airforce.
Pure logic and scientific thought on my part.

Regarding Judy herself, anyone only hearing about her baton twirling, can't appreciate the level of accomplishment she achieved without seeing her perform. I think her twirling the swords that actually cut, was most impressive, but her high throws with the fire or the swords, spinning around and catching them behind her back was something to behold.

She went on to be the first female member of the Ohio State Marching Band. Paul Droste, who took over for Mr. Strang, went to Ohio State, as the band director and drafted her in, as far as I know.

I'd have to consider Judy Kassouf as one of the wonders of Lakewood. I've never seen anyone since with that talent, and to that extent.

Mark Allan Crnolatas
Who me?