"What I want to know," one official said to another last night during the lighting ceremony, "is how much was in the budget for the weather?" The weather made the night perfect for a Christmas Party in Lakewood.
The crowd was huge. I can't do great reporting about who was speaking to whom right then, because half of my family was somewhere on Belle attempting to join up with the other half on Detroit, and the crowd was so big that I had to jump up and down and wave to find my son who turned out to be 20 feet from me, hidden behind the snow-making machine. I know that along with Lakewood alive, the City of Lakewood, Lakewood Hospital, and Lakewood City Schools (and many more)-- Plantation Home and the University of Akron had a lot to do with last night's festivities.
The party began at 5 pm with the Christmas Parade. The community band organized by the Beck Center for the parade was very impressive for how lately they all got together-- and did a great job keeping the beat.
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They were followed by a more impromptu-looking kazoo band, led by Thomas Mulready, who continued to entertain the crowd after the parade, as wandering minstrels, down Detroit, along with several other groups of performers.
The rock stars this year, as in other years, were the TrashTalkers from St. Eds, who entertained the crowd gathered in front of the hospital at Belle as the parade continued down Detroit to Arthur and back.
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The Trashtalkers rocking out.
Morgan Harper, a fourth grader from Hayes Elementary wrote a great essay about why she loved living in Lakewood, and she had the honor of flipping the switch for lighting up the tree.
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Here she is with Patty Ryan, reading her essay, in a clear, strong voice, to the crowd. She did a great job.
It was a lovely evening. More to come.
Betsy Voinovich
