INTRODUCE YOUR SELF <> WHAT'S UP IN YOUR WORLD?

[Gary Rice]

Just HAD to resurrect this vintage 2005 thread, as it is filled with such pride, hope and optimism.

And I think we could use that again.

Fact is, I thought we'd try to continue it.

Any takers?

I'll start.

We're Bob and Gary Rice, Lakewoodites since 1958. We're a father and son team, both retired teachers, and are volunteers with the Lakewood Schools and the Office on Aging.

We write music too in our retirement. We've written marches for LHS, Garfield School and The Lakewood Catholic Academy. Dad wrote the "Harding March" quite a while ago for the school where he spent most of his Lakewood teaching years.

I write columns for the Lakewood Observer, Guitar Digest and formerly, Folknet's Continuum. I'm also know as "Guitar Guy Gary" for my work with the Rock Hall.

We moved here from Pennsylvania so that Dad would have a nice teaching job. We stayed here because Lakewood has so many small town amenities mixed with big city advantages. It continues to be close to so many of our shopping, medical, and social needs.

We treasure our many friends here. As we have no other family nearby, these friends have indeed become a great family for us.

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

This is classic.

I like Dan Slife saying "My only definite future plan is to remain active in this community, until it falls asleep."

[Heather Ramsey]

And now we have more than 1100 users according to that total at the bottom!

[Bret Callentine]

15 years ago my wife and I (dissatisfied with where we were living) sat down with a map of the United States and a goal to find the best place to live. We started with the basics (schools, economy, diversity, activities, etc.) and started eliminating location after location. After more than a month of studying a multitude of cities and regions, we decided on Cleveland. And all it took was one exploritory trip through Lakewood to know WE WERE HOME!

I've traveled many places, but I can honestly say, there is NO OTHER PLACE ON THE PLANET that I would rather live.

[Christopher Bindel]

My grandfather was born and raised here, until he joined the army in 1945. Although upon returning from over seas he did not come back to live in Lakewood, he worked at First Federal of Lakewood until 1985, when he retired. When my parents were looking for a place to raise a family they settled on Lakewood for its atmosphere and, most importantly, its schools.
I have lived my entire life here. Despite the 5 years I was in college in Toledo, which I came home from regularly, Lakewood was always my home. There has never been any doubt in my mind I would stay in Lakewood. I love to travel (I have been to 43 states, Canada, England, and soon France) but have always, and will always come back to Lakewood. Although I am only 23 I don’t see myself ever leaving.
I recently graduated with a B.A. in history and a B.E. in adolescent education (grades 7-12) in December, and for the first time in over five years I have been in Lakewood for more than 4 consecutive months. It has been a good feeling. So much has been happening in Lakewood over the last several years and it drove me nuts that I wasn’t here for it. Since coming home I have tried to reintegrate myself into the Lakewood community and get involved. I love this city and I want to be a part of it. We are going through so many changes and there are some many big ideas of what Lakewood should be. I want to watch and be a part of Lakewood as these things happen but I also don’t want them to change the identity of Lakewood. As a person who has a passion for history, though I like to see the city progress, I don’t want it to be at the price of its past. I want to make sure that the passed is preserved, that we are not tearing down our oldest or most beautiful buildings to put up a parking lot or a mall.
I am involved with the Observer, and the Deck, because when I was away at school it was a major lifeline keeping me connected to home. Because I want to keep up on Lakewood, make sure other Lakewoodites are also aware of what is happening in our city. And because it is a good place for people who love this city, although they might not agree, to share their ideas and dreams for it, discuss ways to accomplish them, and all around try to make a better Lakewood for tomorrow.

[Mark Crnolatas]

My family's origins, after coming from Europe, was, on my mom's side, Bird Town in it's beginnings, and on my dad's, Belmont Ave, in Cleveland (west side).

I was born, raised and buttered in Lakewood. I was a road musician for many years, playing trumpet, and keyboards, conducting, composing and arranging, but found that with all the cities, towns and burgs I had been in, I didn't like any of them as much as my home town.

I was also in a band that had some regional success, and a couple albums called Rastus, a 10 piece horn band back in the day of Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears, Tower of Power etc.

I too believe our city's future is bright and it's best days are yet to come.

I'm a LHS class of '68er, so you can do the math. I loved that high school too.

I used to own a two hair salons, also a detective agency but always played as a musician.

My toddler daughter will be part of our school system in another year, so I'm looking forward to all that goes with that too.

I have two grown kids, Mark Jr., and Shay, her kids too, and of course, love them just as much as anyone could. I only wish I could do more for all of them.

Mark Allan Crnolatas
In God We Trust

[Danielle Masters]

My husband and I are both western transplants. I grew up in San Diego and my husband in the Phoenix area. We moved here in 1995 as my mother had recently moved here and spoke highly of the area. Mike wanted a nice area to start and business and we both thought Lakewood would be a nice place to raise a family. We have twice moved away once to San Francisco for 18 months and once to the Phoenix area for all of 3 months. Both times we came back because this is home and this is the best place for our family. All five of are kids are currently enrolled in the school system. Mike has a good piano tuning business here and we both have a nice set of friends. My children really know only Lakewood as home. My mother and step-father also live in Lakewood which is great because the kids can see them whenever. I don't plan on ever living anywhere other than Lakewood. This city has everything we need and I love it.