The Observation Deck

Missy Limkemann wrote: Or if anyone wants to "interview" me since I suck at writing I can do that too. LOL. I was on my school's newspaper (a million and 5 years ago) but I mostly did poems, art work and kept scores of the wrestling team.

Missy

If the story is Lakewoodcentric the LO wants it. Our pledge is all Lakewoodcentric stories get published in print or online. To my knowledge since we started only 4 stories never made it to the public eyes. Three because the writers no longer wanted them out there, and one that was written so poorly, that even when working with and editor no sense could be made of it.

What the Observer does, as the 2,000+ Lakewoodites that have taken part in the paper have learned, is get you to write the story and put your name on it, as proof of ownership. We can help edit it, correct it, fact check it, run it by lawyers, assign photographers and/or illustrators and get it out. At the same time we offer the same to anyone willing to write the op-ed piece.

This is why when some say the Observer is one sided, they are so wrong it is laughable. When they say we have a secret agenda, they are wrong and foolish as well. Our only agenda is to inform all what is going on in Lakewood. Now, in the past and in the future. The Lakewood Observer is here to serve the people, City Hall, the Schools, Civic groups, and then others.

The LO was never created to make money, and to be honest I could have made more money starting a crack habit instead of a paper. Everyone on our Advisory Board has given time, effort and money to keep this going. i cannot underline that enough. All have families, and all have given up that precious time to move this forward. That is one reason, "part time" and "no time" falls on deaf ears at the Lakewood Observer. All we have ever asked from anyone is, what little time they can afford, and not one second more.

To be honest there is really no reason for public people and groups not to take part. The Observer was in design for almost a year before it went public. During that time we asked the schools, the library, City Hall, and non-profits what they needed to get their information out to everyone. their answers along with some innovated thinking is the Lakewood Observer.

Many then followed through and kept their word. Most notably the Lakewood Public Library, and for that I am most thankful. To date the Library has received nearly $250,000 in space and other support through the paper and this project. It could not go to a better institution. Recently Ed FitzGerald and some council members have taken up and open their doors with support. Not financial, but moral and with stories. At a time when the city is trying to save money, it is a very good and welcome sign. As I said to Ed FitzGerald once. "Tom George opened the doors to a very dark Lakewood City Hall. You are now the one that has turned on the lights."

This is my single biggest frustration. When civic groups need websites, we provide them for free. When civic groups need the story out, we do it for free. When the police and city hall need information out, we do it for free. All without censorship or control on the part of the Observer in any way. The very serious belief of the board, this is Lakewood's tool, not the tool of the board. When this is misunderstood, my frustration builds. When people work against this project, instead of putting it up, frustration builds. I could understand if it was about control, or $$$$$$$$$$$$, but we have completely removed that from the table. When the schools took our hard earned tax-dollars and spent large sums to do what we had offered for free like "Conversations With Dr. Estrop." All we could do was shake our heads and think of the programs that could have been funded with that money. in the end, the problem was we would not edit or control the questions asked.

Many think the LO is evil, and infact even those on the board ofteen laugh calling it Lakewood's Pandora's Box. Because when you offer anything a person needs for FREE, they have no excuse not to take part. But we see many shrink from the opportunity to move this city forward in the light of day under the scrutiny of all.

Please send in the story to the member center, or contact Dan Slife, I can assure you we would all love your stories, to go along with those of others, as the Lakewood Observer charts and keeps the history of the good deeds, and deeds of Lakewood and Lakewoodites.

Stepping off my soapbox, as I am late for work and have to put a sign on a truck. Yes i too have a real job, actually two of them.

peace

PS - The Lakewood Observer could use poems, illustrations and wrestling scores. You have no excuse now.

.

Missy,

This is how it starts for so many writers. An issue comes along that they feel strongly about, and the next thing they know, they're writing an article for the Observer.

In the past, I've written to a paper, hoping that my letter would be published, only to be disappointed. That's not how the Observer works. I've encouraged several people who have now written or taken photos for the Observer.

It is a wonderful thing to have a community paper that permits and encourages caring community members to submit their stories.

Thanks, Jim and all involved!

It seems that you were motivated to post on this 'Deck for the dog issue, as was I. In fact, I have another dog story in the works for my op-ed column that should be out soon.

There are other issues too, that each of us may know about, that we can write about.

Writing is hard, make no mistake about it, but it is an extremely satisfying pastime, at least to me.

I would encourage you, and anyone else, to try their hand at writing something down, whether for this paper, or for their own satisfaction.

By the way, when writing for the paper, be sure that you write your text and save it BEFORE you submit to the paper's online submission box. (paste) Before I knew what I was doing, I tried to write my column in the submission box. only to accidentally lose the whole thing before it was ready to go!

First rule of the computer? Save, save, SAVE YOUR WORK AS YOU GO!

Why not give it a try?

Unrelated to banning pit bulls last night my husband and I set off from our house down to the library to pick up our veggies. There is a family on our street has some sort of a tiny dog, it may be a terrier. It was running loose and with out warning came yapping up and bit my husband on his thigh. Thank goodness he was wearing jeans because otherwise it would have broken his skin. So I am wondering if evil little terriers should be banned too. Sorry for the interruption, carry on.

Danielle,

I like dogs generally.

But...

I would certainly think, and would encourage that you should report even an attempted bite.

At the least, I think I'd be asking that neighbor for the cost of a pair of jeans.

Gary Rice wrote:Danielle,

I like dogs generally.

But...

I would certainly think, and would encourage that you should report even an attempted bite.

At the least, I think I'd be asking that neighbor for the cost of a pair of jeans.

We have reported this dog before. He is always running lose when they are outside. He has come into our yard and went after our 70 pound mutts. I suppose you are right and we should report them again, but I guess that I am afraid because these neighbors are just the worst kind. Constant loud cursing and stuff, just not pleasant people and we try and avoid them as much as possible.

Danielle

As I have posted before. You have a god given right to live in your house without fear of attack. That attack could come from anywhere, a dog or a dog owner. To live in fear of retribution is akin to living in a prison.

It simply cannot be tolerated.

Good luck.


.

Having owned a Silky Terrier (or Silky Terror, as we called him) I would, oddly enough, support a ban on small annoying and painfully nippy little yappy dogs. Weird, huh. This is from a guy who LOVES dogs. I just don't consider those of the genus Canine rodentia to be dogs, I guess.

Seriously, though, it is dog owners like this that makes it harder for the rest of us who try to be good owners. We have seen so many good owners in our own neighborhood that when we find the one that blows it all, we get really frustrated because it is THAT owner that gives fuel to the Council's fearful fire.

I hope your hubby is okay!

An update, I called the animal warden and he said he will go out tomorrow to talk to them, he did say that they can't be cited. Hopefully though another visit from the animal warden might knock some sense into these people. I can only hope. The thing that really frustrates me is they have a fenced yard yet insist on letting the dog run wild in the front yard. It makes no sense considering there are so many kids around here. One of these days that dog is going to attack a kid and just because it's small doesn't mean it won't inflict pain.

Phil, Missy, Danielle, Gary and all others on this thread---

The abbreviated article on Council's actions in this issue of the Observer was necessitated by the exigencies of publishing deadlines. Specifically, Jim called at 6:25 to see if I was going to cover this and that he was holding the issue open for a council vote. (We love to scoop the SunPost if we can). So I did it as quickly as I could (without benefit of or safety net of my editor, DL).

This does, however, open up an avenue of articles such as Missy's proposals, Gary's articles and an expanded explanation of what this actually means to ALL pet owners.

I think this can be very educational for the community and the benchmarks outlined in the council deliberations will serve as a guideline as to how we might evaluate the effectiveness of this action.

(Missy, get in there and write!!!!!!!!!)

Stan Austin --- Your Lakewood Observer City Council Reporter

Killer Lab kills infant!


http://tinyurl.com/5hydly

It is obvious that the current law is inadequate. It must include Labrador Retrievers to adequately protect our citizens.

An English Sheepdog mix killed a toddler in Erie last week.

Details of that horrible incident have not yet become available.

We must add Golden Retriever and Australian Shepherd to the list:

http://tinyurl.com/54bfcd

These dogs are killers.

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/cvgpbban.html

An article about Cincinnati repealing their pit bull ban several years ago after the city was sued (and lost) by an owner because the dog warden mistakenly identified 8 American Bulldogs as pit breeds. Just a taste of what is to come.

The only problem I have with Cincinnati's new law is that it is "behavior specific, not breed specific" except when it comes to pit bulls, "...only dogs identified as pit bull dogs must be registered before they commit an infraction of the law," but they're on the right track.

Brad thank you for that link. I dont know how I missed that one. I swear I need to install a window for that rock I am living under. LOL.

So how are all the pit bull and pit bull mix owners doing on compliance? Countdown is on to get their houses in order. Tick, tock, tick, tock.