The Observation Deck

Events involving kids are always tough to photograph - a lot of parents don't want their kids in photos, even if it's for a newspaper.

I thought we signed something for school for that but maybe some did not.

Justine Cooper wrote:I know other threads are asking if the LO should cover more crime but I personally think it would nice to have more events with the kids covered. It would have been nice to have a photographer for the Hayes Ho-down-the entire school of kids were square dancing. It is amazing what those teachers were able to teach! And when Franklin closed there were no pictures of the last picnic ever there. Those are the events that should be in the paper, and when local teens do mission work for their churches....

Justine

Everyone is a volunteer and usually we would hope that someone there could be convinced to cover it as we have only two staff members, neither are writers or photographers.

As I only found out about this yesterday morning I cannot ask any volunteer to leave work and cover it, and at lunch I found out there were other things going on that needed immediate attention.

As this message was meant for me, I am sure you realize that I try as do all the Observer volunteers that give time and effort when they can.

We will try to do a better job in the future.

Thanks for the note.

.

Jim,
I know the paper does a lot for non-profit groups but sometimes I worry that with whatever big time it is going, some of the "little" things that made it so special will be no longer. I did not hide my disappointment that Franklin closing after 100 years was not really covered, not the last picnic, the staff that was so wonderful, or the PTA that dedicated hour and hours to the enjoyment of the kids and still showed up for meeting after meeting to fight to keep Franklin open. I can't help but wish some of these things did get covered and that there was more of a call out for writers and photographers. Many people don't know that they can do that. I am trying to get the local Adventure Guides to submit a story and picture. There are so many positive things Lakewood kids are doing and putting that in print, beats talking about the few who have gone astray. There are many teens in Lakewood that do work with their church too. Some kind of call out, or letter to the churches to invite them to submit these things is needed. The heart of the community.