Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

[Lynn Farris]

With all the doom and gloom out there. These are some companies that are making a big difference. I just wrote an article on Nature Air which is based here in Costa Rica which is the first carbon neutral airline in the world.

http://www.examiner.com/x-7756-Dallas-Living-Abroad-Examiner~y2009m6d17-Nature-Air--The-first-carbon-neutral-airline-in-the-world-wins-2009-Tourism-for-Tomorrow-Award

I happen to think Lakewood has some of the most creative people in the world. What if the city set a goal to be carbon neutral by a certain date. That would certainly be a great marketing tool.

What if we were selling biofuel? I know we have to go to Oberlin to get it which kind of defeats the concept of saving on fuel.

[Jerry Ritcey]

I think people would be inclined to visit Lakewood if there were better access to the actual lake.

[Lynn Farris]

Jerry, you don't have to sell me on that idea. My daughter proposed a pennisula which featured a marina and a huge beach that was designed so that the one side held in the sand for the swimmers and the other side it didn't have to be dreged for the boats. It also featured significant tax revenues for the city. Plus it protected many of the homes on the lake from a significant erosion problem. Win, Win, Win.

I personally think the lake is our biggest asset.

I would like to see Lakewood do things that make it stand out and differentiate itself from their neighbors. However, I may be wrong but I sense a reluctance to do anything the county and the city of Cleveland haven't blessed. The county, port authority, and the City of Cleveland seem to do things that help Cleveland - but they really don't care too much about Lakewood. I think we should take the bull by the horns and do what Lakewood needs.