The Observation Deck

Charyn Compeau wrote:So what say you Lakewood, where else could such an event be hosted?

Peace,
Charyn

Charyn

Winking Lizard, 4 rooms available

Crazy Rita's 2 rooms

Around the Corner 1 room with bar, and one patio

Player's Pizza 2nd room.

Pier W three rooms,

Winton Place 1 room

Caryle 1 room

Swingos 2 areas

Commodore Party room on top.

Hairy Buffalo 1 room

Beck Center

McCarthy's 1 room

Nikos Party Room

Library

Westerly (2 party rooms 1 auditorium)

Masonic Hall basement

Most churches

Virgina Marti back room

Silhoutte Dance (2 different areas, 1 was Brennan's party center)

Woman's Pavilion

Lake House

Grace church

Bela Duby

Coach House

Sullivan raised area

Side Room at Beer Engine

St. Gregory's Hall which has a Caterer.


These come to mind quickly I am sure there are more.

FWIW


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You tell'em, Papa Bear.

People think I am stupid, but I checked the chamber's website and they do have quite a few members located outside of Lakewood, even though they do not have "greater" or "regional" or "metro" in the name. Believe me the chamber will gladly take your membership dues, even if your business is located on Mars. Perhaps some of those members do business in Lakewood or for whatever reason want to be a part of Lakewood's chamber. Of course, the majority are still in Lakewood.

Jim is right about a lot of facilities being available for luncheons/meetings. His large list even left out some places, and some places have more facilities than he listed. Didn't Councilman Demro even have his latest event at a Latvian, Lithuanian, or Lutheran (I forget) church multipurpose room on Madison? Now I dont' know how big Charyn's wedding was--we dont' have anything as big as the convocation center yet. Maybe Winterhurst would have been big enough?

Doug

Of course the Chamber will take money from anyone, anytime, anywhere. There aren't many organizations out there that won't.

However, that doesn't change the fact that the organization's function is to drum up business in Lakewood.

hahaha.... noo.. wasnt terribly big... but it was on a budget and almost everything for a wedding books almost a year in advance.

Like I said - we were looking six months before so I found most venues large enough for a wedding reception were already booked (or in some cases didnt allow alcohol).

Thanks Jim for the list - there is such a variety there that I find it had to fathom why organizations think they need to go elsewhere.

Even when you toss out the very bar-like bars and places lacking private rooms - theres still a fairly large assortment left!

Always,
Charyn

Doug

We also have larger facilities going into the livrary, and each school has been designed so that their auditorium and or gymnasium can be used b yt locked out from the rest of the school for civic meetings.

I really do not have a major problem with the using Brennan's. Sean is president of the Chamber, lives in Lakewood, comes from a great Lakewood family. My neice had her wedding reception there and it was a grand occasion.

I wanted to underline we have room in Lakewood though too.


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If I have the opportunity to give a State of the City address in the future, it will be in Lakewood. Period, end of story. There are plenty of places to hold this function, sometimes you just have to be creative. For example, I never knew that the Latvians had that nice hall where I held my announcement until I came upon it at the 100th anniversary of their church. We have lots of assets, lets use them.

I have long been a supporter of the Mayor, and I know he has always had his campaign events in Lakewood. I am quite sure that this decision was made by the Chamber, not the Mayor.

Demro loves showboating and confrontation, so his response is no surprise. He'd pick a fight with the Chamber of Commerce just to get his name in the paper.

I notice that Demro hasn't answered any of the tougher questions on the board, such as Ken's question on regionalization or Bill's question on what city services should be cut. The water privatization question is a good one, too.

Ryan Patrick Demro wrote:If I have the opportunity to give a State of the City address in the future, it will be in Lakewood. Period, end of story. There are plenty of places to hold this function, sometimes you just have to be creative. For example, I never knew that the Latvians had that nice hall where I held my announcement until I came upon it at the 100th anniversary of their church. We have lots of assets, lets use them.

Ryan

Our churches are a great asset. Even the two for sale have space you can rent. I was recently at a meeting at Grace Church that is for sale on Madison Ave.

I am sure we can both agree that this was a Chamber event so the mayor had little to do with it. I am sure we can agree that the Brennan family including Sean are good Lakewoodites. I amt not buying any excuses on this, but this would be the next best scenario.

I know a guy that always calls outside media for airing Lakewood only problems to the county and beyond. Any guess to what I see as the bigger problem?

Always nice to see you, thanks for your support.

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Jim O'Bryan wrote:I am sure we can both agree that this was a Chamber event so the mayor had little to do with it.

Maybe I don't understand this so you'll have to pardon my ignorance...

So are you saying the "State of the City" address is a function of the chamber? If not, then I find absolutely no excuse for it being outside the city of Lakewood.

The Lakewood Chamber can feel free to host their events anywhere they please, even if it is a little bit hypocritical of them not to have them here.

However, it does bother me quite a bit that the official State of the City address would not be given in the city to which it's directed.

Mike Deneen wrote:I have long been a supporter of the Mayor, and I know he has always had his campaign events in Lakewood. I am quite sure that this decision was made by the Chamber, not the Mayor.

So are you saying the mayor can't say no, the speech should be given in Lakewood? Does the mayor report to the chamber or the people of Lakewood?

Unless the state of the city address is a function of the chamber, then no, there is no excuse for the mayor to give this outside of Lakewood.

Apparently the mayor reports directly to the chamber of commerce and has his paychecks signed by them.

Doug

Well, let's see....

Lakewood Urgent Care is on Columbia Road in...Westlake?

Lakewood Elks are in....isn't it Westlake, too?

Well, if we can have a little bit of Lakewood in Westlake, I suppose it's not too traumatic to hold an event in Lakewoodite Sean Brennan's place; just over the border in C-land. Lakewoodites are still in the loop there, at least.

As a hypothetical, would this event been better held at Brennans, (owned by a Lakewoodite) or in Lakewood, at a facility owned by a non-resident?

It looks like regionalism is already taking stride. After all, we'd be surprised to find out how many places most of our "American" cars come from!

In my opinion, some people have quite a bit of time on their hands...

Gary Rice wrote:Lakewood Urgent Care is on Columbia Road in...Westlake?

Lakewood Elks are in....isn't it Westlake, too?

Bad examples, those are private organizations that can locate and do what they wish. The Mayor is a public servant of the people of Lakewood.

Well, if we can have a little bit of Lakewood in Westlake, I suppose it's not too traumatic to hold an event in Lakewoodite Sean Brennan's place; just over the border in C-land. Lakewoodites are still in the loop there, at least.

So you'd be ok with the President giving the State of the Union in Mexico or the Governor of Ohio giving the State of the State in say Utah?

In my opinion, some people have quite a bit of time on their hands...

In my opinion, some people spend too much time defending every single move Mayor George makes. It's ok to admit he messed up sometimes, he's human. Just like the rest of us, the Mayor does some things well and makes mistakes with others.

But to answer your larger question, in my view, I'd rather he have hosted the speech in Lakewood at a venue owned by a non-resident than at a venue outside the public borders of the city he serves.

However, that question is a false one since there are MANY places in Lakewood either public or owned by Lakewoodites that he could have used (see Jim's list).

But hey, if you're ok with it, let's start having our city council meetings in Seven Hills...

Bryan,

Now, how many times now, have you taken the opportunity to cut and paste my remarks up?

I see that you just removed that reference to credibility.

That was wise. Thank you.

Again for the record, yes, I support Mayor George, but I am not paid one thin dime to be his official apologist, or spokesperson. If that ever did come to pass, I would be the first to let you know. As a matter of fact, if that ever happened, I would immediately stop my newspaper column until I was done. That's what I personally believe in doing, anyway.

If I thought he messed up, I'd also look into that, as well.

I honestly think this particular Party Center situation was highly overblown, for reasons just eludicated.

One of the unfortunate things that tempts me to stop posting is the tendency for many of us to assume that others always bring an agenda to every post. It's as if none of us are trusting each other to let opinions just be that.

If I make a post, whether defending or questioning a public official, I would expect respect, and not to have my words picked apart. People should be able to argue issues, and not take positions personally.

I am sure you would agree Bryan, that there are some people on this 'Deck who have revealed much about themselves, by their words.

We have to stand by what we write. I would prefer to post what I really believe to be true, and to do so in a decent, transparent, and honorable way.

Yes, we all make mistakes.

I am frankly disgusted with all this, however.