Keeping it real in Lakewood.
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Lakewood Keeping It Real, In A Charlie Brown Way
Moderator: Jim O'Bryan
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Jim O'Bryan
- Posts: 14196
- Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:12 pm
- Location: Lakewood
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Re: Lakewood Keeping It Real, In A Charlie Brown Way
Keeping it real in Lakewood.
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Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
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Gary Rice
- Posts: 1651
- Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:59 pm
- Location: Lakewood
Re: Lakewood Keeping It Real, In A Charlie Brown Way
Jim,
Outstanding photos. My family has seen so many newly decorated homes in Lakewood this year to admire. We have a beautiful city indeed!
Back to the banjo.
Outstanding photos. My family has seen so many newly decorated homes in Lakewood this year to admire. We have a beautiful city indeed!
Back to the banjo.
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Peter Grossetti
- Posts: 1533
- Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2011 10:43 pm
Re: Lakewood Keeping It Real, In A Charlie Brown Way
On my afternoon walk today, I ran across this merry band of roving carolers ... replete with banjo and autoharp accompaniment!
Banjo and autoharp?!??!?!?! Lakewood is so freakin' cool.
Banjo and autoharp?!??!?!?! Lakewood is so freakin' cool.
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"So, let's make the most of this beautiful day.
Since we're together we might as well say:
Would you be mine? Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor?"
~ Fred (Mr. Rogers) Rogers
Since we're together we might as well say:
Would you be mine? Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor?"
~ Fred (Mr. Rogers) Rogers
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Betsy Voinovich
- Posts: 1261
- Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:53 am
Re: Lakewood Keeping It Real, In A Charlie Brown Way
Hi all---
Lakewood has a real Charlie Brown tree. If you didn't get a chance to read about it on the front page of the Observer site, (http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/20 ... s-and-each)here's the story:
Lakewood's Charlie Brown Tree: Business Owners Support Neighborhoods And Each Other
by Michael Daso
‘Twas the week before Christmas, my family was riding in the mini-van. I was driving to Delaware and Woodward Avenues, a happy business and family man. We were ready to place a small candy cane ornament on the tiny Christmas tree situated on that corner.
The day before, I had reminded my four children about how, last December, I had purchased the former West Shore Assembly of God Church building, and converted it to my office space. In an effort to spruce up the corner (pun intended,) I planted a small evergreen tree outside my office on the corner. Hayes Elementary School is located directly across the street, and I thought some of the families walking to school might enjoy the small tree. I had also seen many walkers and joggers in the neighborhood and wanted them to smile as they passed by as well.
Now when I say I planted a small tree I mean small. The tree was probably only 18 inches high--it was truly a Charlie Brown tree. It looked a little lost on the corner. But once it was planted, something really neat happened. The families in the neighborhood started decorating the tree! At first only one ornament appeared, and then a few more. By Christmas morning the tree was mostly full. It warmed my heart each morning as I arrived at work to see the tiny tree and its ornaments.
When I told the story to my children, they got excited to place the first ornament of 2012. We were headed to the corner with our candy cane ornament to begin the decorating. Unfortunately, as we parked the mini-van, I noticed something alarming--my little tree was missing! The corner was empty; only a small hole in the ground remained.
I pray that the person who took the tree truly needed it this Christmas. I would like to think that maybe this was their only way to have a small symbol of Christmas inside their house.
Fortunately, that is not the end of this “Lakewood Christmas Story.” While sitting in the chair at Mike’s Barber Shop on Madison Avenue, I mentioned my story to Mike. He leaned over and whispered that he just might have a new tree to put on the corner! Mike explained that Hurricane Sandy had uprooted a dwarf blue spruce in his front yard and that the tree needed a new home. He said if I wanted it, he would wrap it up and leave it for me to pick up. I drove to his house the next day and picked up the new tree. After planting it, I found an ornament in my office and placed it on the tree.
I have already seen a few kids smile as they walked past the new tree on their way to school. I wonder how quickly the tree will be decorated this year, and what ornaments will appear on it. Thanks to the generosity of a fellow Lakewood business owner, the tree decorating tradition will carry on, for at least one more year. Mike’s gesture is one more example of why Lakewood a great place to work and live!
It looks pretty good already-- and it proves we have the real thing here.
And Jim--
Further up in this thread where you say:
You know, the Charlie Brown people gathered around the little tree and loved it and it improved. It might not have been the biggest brightest tree in the town but... it was better once it got some attention.
And of course, it's a matter of personal taste and interpretation, something else we all excel at here. Speaking of that...
I recommend demanding from your children that they explain to you what we're doing with all of this Christmas stuff, that they tell you why we care that Jesus was born. "What did he say? What did he do?" (And yes, Peter, how does it make you feel?)
Happy Holidays everyone.
Betsy Voinovich
Lakewood has a real Charlie Brown tree. If you didn't get a chance to read about it on the front page of the Observer site, (http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/20 ... s-and-each)here's the story:
Lakewood's Charlie Brown Tree: Business Owners Support Neighborhoods And Each Other
by Michael Daso
‘Twas the week before Christmas, my family was riding in the mini-van. I was driving to Delaware and Woodward Avenues, a happy business and family man. We were ready to place a small candy cane ornament on the tiny Christmas tree situated on that corner.
The day before, I had reminded my four children about how, last December, I had purchased the former West Shore Assembly of God Church building, and converted it to my office space. In an effort to spruce up the corner (pun intended,) I planted a small evergreen tree outside my office on the corner. Hayes Elementary School is located directly across the street, and I thought some of the families walking to school might enjoy the small tree. I had also seen many walkers and joggers in the neighborhood and wanted them to smile as they passed by as well.
Now when I say I planted a small tree I mean small. The tree was probably only 18 inches high--it was truly a Charlie Brown tree. It looked a little lost on the corner. But once it was planted, something really neat happened. The families in the neighborhood started decorating the tree! At first only one ornament appeared, and then a few more. By Christmas morning the tree was mostly full. It warmed my heart each morning as I arrived at work to see the tiny tree and its ornaments.
When I told the story to my children, they got excited to place the first ornament of 2012. We were headed to the corner with our candy cane ornament to begin the decorating. Unfortunately, as we parked the mini-van, I noticed something alarming--my little tree was missing! The corner was empty; only a small hole in the ground remained.
I pray that the person who took the tree truly needed it this Christmas. I would like to think that maybe this was their only way to have a small symbol of Christmas inside their house.
Fortunately, that is not the end of this “Lakewood Christmas Story.” While sitting in the chair at Mike’s Barber Shop on Madison Avenue, I mentioned my story to Mike. He leaned over and whispered that he just might have a new tree to put on the corner! Mike explained that Hurricane Sandy had uprooted a dwarf blue spruce in his front yard and that the tree needed a new home. He said if I wanted it, he would wrap it up and leave it for me to pick up. I drove to his house the next day and picked up the new tree. After planting it, I found an ornament in my office and placed it on the tree.
I have already seen a few kids smile as they walked past the new tree on their way to school. I wonder how quickly the tree will be decorated this year, and what ornaments will appear on it. Thanks to the generosity of a fellow Lakewood business owner, the tree decorating tradition will carry on, for at least one more year. Mike’s gesture is one more example of why Lakewood a great place to work and live!
It looks pretty good already-- and it proves we have the real thing here.
And Jim--
Further up in this thread where you say:
Jim said:
Please say it ain't so.
It would appear they brought the truck around and went up and replaced some of the burnt out bulbs.
The very bulbs that gave it its loveable characteristic, so instead of being the worst most screwed up
snowflake ever. It is just another snowflake with some burned out bulbs.
How anyone could take something so loveable and mess it up enough to not be right, and not be
loveable is beyond me. But, on to finding something else to rejoice over in the city.
You know, the Charlie Brown people gathered around the little tree and loved it and it improved. It might not have been the biggest brightest tree in the town but... it was better once it got some attention.
And of course, it's a matter of personal taste and interpretation, something else we all excel at here. Speaking of that...
I recommend demanding from your children that they explain to you what we're doing with all of this Christmas stuff, that they tell you why we care that Jesus was born. "What did he say? What did he do?" (And yes, Peter, how does it make you feel?)
Happy Holidays everyone.
Betsy Voinovich
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Gary Rice
- Posts: 1651
- Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:59 pm
- Location: Lakewood
Re: Lakewood Keeping It Real, In A Charlie Brown Way
ANOTHER banjo player in Lakewood??????????????? 
(In all honesty, I do actually know of a few others around here, as well)
Merry Christmas everyone!
Back to the ORIGINAL banjo...
(Well, mine, anyway)
(In all honesty, I do actually know of a few others around here, as well)
Merry Christmas everyone!
Back to the ORIGINAL banjo...
(Well, mine, anyway)
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Peter Grossetti
- Posts: 1533
- Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2011 10:43 pm
Re: Lakewood Keeping It Real, In A Charlie Brown Way
Gary - I just knew you'd be chiming in!
Betsy - How does that make me feel??? I feel nice; like sugar and spice! (like Christmas sugar cookies!!)
MERRY CHRISTMAS, ONE AND ALL!
Betsy - How does that make me feel??? I feel nice; like sugar and spice! (like Christmas sugar cookies!!)
MERRY CHRISTMAS, ONE AND ALL!
"So, let's make the most of this beautiful day.
Since we're together we might as well say:
Would you be mine? Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor?"
~ Fred (Mr. Rogers) Rogers
Since we're together we might as well say:
Would you be mine? Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor?"
~ Fred (Mr. Rogers) Rogers
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Gary Rice
- Posts: 1651
- Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:59 pm
- Location: Lakewood
Re: Lakewood Keeping It Real, In A Charlie Brown Way
By the way, all...
If you haven't been to church lately...
That is, if you haven't been to a LAKEWOOD church lately, there's no better time than Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to experience something truly wonderful.
Oh sure, some may not have had the best experiences with "church" many years ago. Sadly, some people seem to have had some pretty BAD experiences with churches back then too.
There are indeed quite a few people who do not attend churches (or for non-Christians, their own houses of faith) anymore, but at the same time, many people who do not regularly attend a house of worship still consider themselves at least to be "spiritual".
As a guitarist, I really like to play "Silent Night" as a solo on Christmas Eve at some church. That's been a musical tradition for guitarists since 1818, when, as the story goes, little mice got into a village church and destroyed the organ bellows. The pastor and the organist then collaborated on the tune that became "Silent Night" on the guitar, and the tradition has continued ever since.
This evening, I played the family service at 6:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church. To say that it was an unusual and FUN experience would have been an understatement. The service also featured a blessing of the congregation's animal companions, and there were indeed, many of them! There were also a fine group of young musicians contributing to the success of the evening. To hear those cats and dogs was a bit unnerving, but when it came time for everyone to sing "Silent Night", the animal voices were soon joined by many eager human harmonized voices.
I'm sure that Noah's ark never sang any better.
Congratulations to Trinity Lutheran Church for a fine and fun, light-hearted Christmas Eve service. I very much enjoyed being a part of it. If you've not been to church lately, you still have time tonight and tomorrow to re-explore your old faith tradition, or try a new one on for size. You may find that many things have changed for the better.
I've been to any number of churches here in Lakewood lately, and there are some great things going on around here, but many of you already know that!
For those who don't? Why not give it a try?
Back to the Nativity...
Peace on Earth, good will to you.
If you haven't been to church lately...
That is, if you haven't been to a LAKEWOOD church lately, there's no better time than Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to experience something truly wonderful.
Oh sure, some may not have had the best experiences with "church" many years ago. Sadly, some people seem to have had some pretty BAD experiences with churches back then too.
There are indeed quite a few people who do not attend churches (or for non-Christians, their own houses of faith) anymore, but at the same time, many people who do not regularly attend a house of worship still consider themselves at least to be "spiritual".
As a guitarist, I really like to play "Silent Night" as a solo on Christmas Eve at some church. That's been a musical tradition for guitarists since 1818, when, as the story goes, little mice got into a village church and destroyed the organ bellows. The pastor and the organist then collaborated on the tune that became "Silent Night" on the guitar, and the tradition has continued ever since.
This evening, I played the family service at 6:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church. To say that it was an unusual and FUN experience would have been an understatement. The service also featured a blessing of the congregation's animal companions, and there were indeed, many of them! There were also a fine group of young musicians contributing to the success of the evening. To hear those cats and dogs was a bit unnerving, but when it came time for everyone to sing "Silent Night", the animal voices were soon joined by many eager human harmonized voices.
I'm sure that Noah's ark never sang any better.
Congratulations to Trinity Lutheran Church for a fine and fun, light-hearted Christmas Eve service. I very much enjoyed being a part of it. If you've not been to church lately, you still have time tonight and tomorrow to re-explore your old faith tradition, or try a new one on for size. You may find that many things have changed for the better.
I've been to any number of churches here in Lakewood lately, and there are some great things going on around here, but many of you already know that!
For those who don't? Why not give it a try?
Back to the Nativity...
Peace on Earth, good will to you.
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Peter Grossetti
- Posts: 1533
- Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2011 10:43 pm
Re: Lakewood Keeping It Real, In A Charlie Brown Way
Perhaps not "In A Charlie Brown Way" ... but definitely "Real Lakewood."
Arthur Avenue on Christmas Eve:
Arthur Avenue on Christmas Eve:
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"So, let's make the most of this beautiful day.
Since we're together we might as well say:
Would you be mine? Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor?"
~ Fred (Mr. Rogers) Rogers
Since we're together we might as well say:
Would you be mine? Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor?"
~ Fred (Mr. Rogers) Rogers
-
Jim O'Bryan
- Posts: 14196
- Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:12 pm
- Location: Lakewood
- Contact:
Re: Lakewood Keeping It Real, In A Charlie Brown Way
Peter
Nice shots, I was also out shooting luminaries for a little while.
Edgewater
Wilbert
Clifton Road.
Have a merry Christmas.
.
Nice shots, I was also out shooting luminaries for a little while.
Edgewater
Wilbert
Clifton Road.
Have a merry Christmas.
.
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
-
Gary Rice
- Posts: 1651
- Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:59 pm
- Location: Lakewood
Re: Lakewood Keeping It Real, In A Charlie Brown Way
Great shots! Great city!
Happy Christmas morning to y'all!
Here's another cool Lakewood Christmas connection....
I understand that there will be showing on the Hallmark Channel today at noon, a made-for-TV movie apparently inspired by Arthur Avenue's illuminaries, that the great Plain Dealer writer Michael Heaton reportedly developed- called "The Christmas Heart".
Although I believe that it was not filmed in Lakewood, the film apparently will mention and presumably feature Arthur Ave. I think it will run at noon today and again at other times on Friday and Saturday.
Back to the gift unwrapping....
Happy Christmas morning to y'all!
Here's another cool Lakewood Christmas connection....
I understand that there will be showing on the Hallmark Channel today at noon, a made-for-TV movie apparently inspired by Arthur Avenue's illuminaries, that the great Plain Dealer writer Michael Heaton reportedly developed- called "The Christmas Heart".
Although I believe that it was not filmed in Lakewood, the film apparently will mention and presumably feature Arthur Ave. I think it will run at noon today and again at other times on Friday and Saturday.
Back to the gift unwrapping....
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Gary Rice
- Posts: 1651
- Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:59 pm
- Location: Lakewood
Re: Lakewood Keeping It Real, In A Charlie Brown Way
Wow, that was a GREAT movie! My family loved it!
By the way, to correct my post, apparently there is no such word as illuminaries.
Oops.
Hopefully, y'all know that I meant those temporary sidewalk/street lighting things that the good people of Arthur Ave., and other streets have also put out for Christmas Eve..
Luminaries, I believe, was the word intended.
Could mean either light-giving objects, I suppose, or persons whom people admire. I guess.
Guess that might well apply in both cases here.
Congratulations to all involved with the movie, and also, for YOUR inspiration, Arthur Avenue.
You help make Lakewood, LAKEWOOD!
Again, Merry Christmas!
Back to the banjo.
By the way, to correct my post, apparently there is no such word as illuminaries.
Oops.
Hopefully, y'all know that I meant those temporary sidewalk/street lighting things that the good people of Arthur Ave., and other streets have also put out for Christmas Eve..
Luminaries, I believe, was the word intended.
Could mean either light-giving objects, I suppose, or persons whom people admire. I guess.
Guess that might well apply in both cases here.
Congratulations to all involved with the movie, and also, for YOUR inspiration, Arthur Avenue.
You help make Lakewood, LAKEWOOD!
Again, Merry Christmas!
Back to the banjo.