School on Monday?

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:37 pm

My husband and I were out and about driving through Lakewood and we passed by several school buildings. The Harding parking lot area was obviously cleared as they had the Home Show there today and the parking lot area at Hayes was plowed. But at both schools the sidewalks and front entrances were not cleared. McKinley, Lincoln and Grant have not been cleared at all. I am not sure about the other buildings because we didn't go by them. So my question is do they have time to adequately plow the driveways and clear the sidewalks in the next 15 hours or so? Just curious.

Suzie Dean · Post by **Suzie Dean** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 6:42 pm

We can add the high school to that list. I drove by it this evening and the units in the north lot had snow covering 3/4 of the way up the doors. I don't see how it will even be safe for our young children to walk to school. I passed by many people walking in the streets due to the fact that the sidewalks were not in the least bit clear.

I feel another year of shoveling the walk for our kids to get to school safely comming on...

stephen davis · Post by **stephen davis** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 6:51 pm

Closed.

http://www.weathernet5.com/closings/index.html#L

.

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 7:03 pm

I just got the call and had to laugh when on the recorded message Dr. Estrop said "the schools seem to be in reasonable condition". Just out of curiosity if buildings with snow half way up the entrance doors are in reasonable condition what constitutes bad condition? Anyhow glad they are closed and I am hoping that residents take that extra day to clear at least a small path on the sidewalks as to help keep students and other pedestrians off the street.

Dee Krupp · Post by **Dee Krupp** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:52 pm

What I don't get is....what's going to be different tomorrow or Wed?? The sidewalks will still be a mess. Chances are the sidewalks not cleared yesterday are in front of properties that have no intention of clearing them today. The streets are still a mess. Does Lakewood only have one plow?? I got stuck 2x on my street today and once on another side street. I've seen only one plow through this whole storm.

Suzie Dean · Post by **Suzie Dean** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:17 pm

I have to agree with Dee everything is still a mess!! Our little Arthur street is not allowed to have cars parked on it between 8 and 4 I think...so no cars were on the street today and a plow did not even bother to come and plow the rest of our street. So we still have only one lane.

I got the phone message from Dr. Estrop this evening stating that school will be in session tomorrow and if we are concerned for our children's safety then we should drive them or car pool with another family in our neighborhood. My opinion, a lot of people live in our city that do not have cars...this is a WALKABLE school district isn't it??!!

The city didn't even clear all the sidewalks surrounding the schools. I'm not talking the walks of the street the school is on, I'm talking of the walks directly around the schools. And they expect our children to walk through it and go to school.

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:40 pm

Well sadly once again many of my neighbors on Hilliard have decided not to shovel their walks. So tomorrow I will be driving not once but twice the quarter mile to school to transport my children and the children of my friends that don't own vehicles. I really wish that the city would cite residents that don't make any attempt to shovel. On a side note, the friendly city inspector came by to write up a citation for the tree limb that fell in the backyard. It was explained to him that it hasn't been cleared yet because of the storm, honestly we were going to do it this weekend, but it is now covered with a bit of snow. I wish that same inspector would have cited the residents on main streets that have 2-3 feet of snow on their sidewalks. I am really getting tired of the rudeness of some property owners. So please be careful tomorrow as you travel, many kids will be on the street especially around the high school as they have no other choice. I really am saddened by this city and how many people turn a blind eye to the pedestrians both young and old of Lakewood

David Lay · Post by **David Lay** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:42 pm

It's no surprise the walks aren't cleared, neither are city-owned walks like the Detroit bridge...

I wish the city would enforce the ordinance, but at this point I've lost hope that they will.

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:47 pm

David Lay wrote:It's no surprise the walks aren't cleared, neither are city-owned walks like the Detroit bridge...

I wish the city would enforce the ordinance, but at this point I've lost hope that they will.

Sadly so have I. I really wish it wasn't the case, I understand it takes a few days, but those days have come and gone. And about the school perhaps if they had started plowing yesterday more would have been done.

David Lay · Post by **David Lay** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:57 pm

I hate it, because I have to walk over the Detroit bridge into Rocky River to get to work, and I had to walk in the street the whole time because NONE of the sidewalks were cleared.

I feel worse for the students though...

Jim DeVito · Post by **Jim DeVito** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:58 pm

Danielle Masters wrote:Well sadly once again many of my neighbors on Hilliard have decided not to shovel their walks. So tomorrow I will be driving not once but twice the quarter mile to school to transport my children and the children of my friends that don't own vehicles. I really wish that the city would cite residents that don't make any attempt to shovel. On a side note, the friendly city inspector came by to write up a citation for the tree limb that fell in the backyard. It was explained to him that it hasn't been cleared yet because of the storm, honestly we were going to do it this weekend, but it is now covered with a bit of snow. I wish that same inspector would have cited the residents on main streets that have 2-3 feet of snow on their sidewalks. I am really getting tired of the rudeness of some property owners. So please be careful tomorrow as you travel, many kids will be on the street especially around the high school as they have no other choice. I really am saddened by this city and how many people turn a blind eye to the pedestrians both young and old of Lakewood

Danielle and All,

I respectfully think we all need to take a step back and look at the situation for a second. I understand it can be frustration when people do not clear their walks. The problem is that you nor I know the circumstances that surround the lack of walk cleaning. I am willing to bet that a lot of the people who do not clear their sidewalks may be physical unable to do so for one reason or another. I am sure we all know that that over the weekend 4 people have lost their lives due to heart problems brought on by shoveling. No clean side walk is worth that. Are there some people who are able to clean their walks and just unwilling to do so. Yes. However there are just as many people who need our help to keep the snow off especially when it piles up like it did this weekend.

As far as the city goes. I think the city of Lakewood did a tremendous job keeping the streets clear. When you consider the sheer number of side streets we have. My Mother lives in Bay Village. I was over there this evening. Let me tell you that the streets are much worse off there than they are here. And they have a ridiculously smaller number of streets than we do. I am confidant that our city workers did the best job they could this weekend. Could we use city dollars better to prepare and deal with snow storms like this? Maybe. Well I guess that is all I have for now.

P.S. If the city wants to buy me a ATV with a plow on it. (that I can use in the summer as well

)I will gladly take care of the schools for you.

David Lay · Post by **David Lay** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:01 pm

Jim DeVito wrote: I respectfully think we all need to take a step back and look at the situation for a second. I understand it can be frustration when people do not clear their walks. The problem is that you nor I know the circumstances that surround the lack of walk cleaning. I am willing to bet that a lot of the people who do not clear their sidewalks may be physical unable to do so for one reason or another. I am sure we all know that that over the weekend 4 people have lost their lives due to heart problems brought on by shoveling. No clean side walk is worth that. Are there some people who are able to clean their walks and just unwilling to do so. Yes. However there are just as many people who need our help to keep the snow off especially when it piles up like it did this weekend.

Jim, I understand where you're coming from, but this isn't an isolated incident - this is all over the city. It's also pretty pitiful that even city-owned walks aren't cleared.

Jim DeVito · Post by **Jim DeVito** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:14 pm

David Lay · Post by **David Lay** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:21 pm

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:52 pm

Ok I am talking about house where I know who lives in them. I know that the woman at the corner of my street is younger and in the summer is out all the time taking care of her perfectly manicured yard, but can't shovel or pay for someone to shovel. I know the home catty corner to her is owned by a relatively well off family who can pay to have someone plow their drive and snow blow everything except for their walkway on Hilliard. I also know that many of the homes are owned my people that are not elderly and some even have teenagers. I also know that one of the house on HIlliard near Elmwood is owned by a wonderful elderly couple, who make sure that their sidewalks are always cleared. I just think that if you chose to own a home on a main street ie Hilliard you should be responsible enough to maintain you sidewalks. Also I should add I have cleared the sidewalks before for older people and I will continue to do so. I just get tired of the excuses every year. It really is pathetic the majority of the time. And please remind your elderly and disabled neighbor that their is help for them if needed. For the others I hope the city starts citing people, enough excuses.