The Observation Deck

So this morning I saw another woman with a stroller and had a moment to take a picture. This poor gal has it rough enough having to walk through the cold to her destination and now, due to IRRESPONSIBLE owners and NO ENFORCEMENT of our LAWS, she has the added difficulty of trudging through snow.




I then drove down to Family Dollar, grace side, a spot the city IS AWARE OF. Guess what, still not cleared. I called Mary Simon and was told they are "working with the owners" I yelled at her and asked WHAT ABOUT THE CITIZENS? We have a law we need to enforce it. Business owners can tell when you give fake threats. This law has NEVER BEEN ENFORCED. She told me it would be cleared today, not sure what that means but we will see.



I then called the mayors office and made a complaint that we have not been enforcing laws and putting citizens at risk. I also recommended that we look into having the new sidewalk plow actually clear sidewalks when traveling from point A to point B. I also asked about the madison house that the picture was taked with the stroller, and was told that abandoned properties are really tough to enforce? How about we come up with a game plan?? If we can't charge anyone the $200 can we put a list together and have volunteers clear it?? Can we just use the sidewalk plow and do it?? Is it the cities responsibility to make sure citizens can walk safely, especially on a main business road??

Ryan great work. This has been an issue too long neglected. It's an embarrassment that the Safety Director is dragging his feet on this. I'm sure he's too busy conjuring up the Phoenix that will soon arise on the corner of Detroit and Belle. Thanks again. Mark

Correction. It's feels more like he's conjuring up the Pigeon that will rise from the ashes at Detroit and Belle.

With all the serious stuff on the 'Deck and in Lakewood going on this week, (and in my own life, losing my dad) the wonderful work of my neighbor pushing a one-shovel-wide pathway through our recent snow really inspired my just-deceased dear late father and me to write what would turn out to be the last song we did together.

My wonderful friends and husband-wife music team Rick and Cindy Benjamin and I got together this evening and put that song out there on YouTube for all of you, using that persistent Lakewood Observer banjo that you've all heard about from time to time.

Funny thing, after talking with Rick, Dad, and my neighbor who, to date, chooses not to reveal her identity, it seems that all of our fathers (all WWII vets) shoveled just about everybody else's walk back in the day. Do we still have that kind of spirit? My Dad hoped so, but he wanted to remind people of that can-do spirit, because we all can forget from time to time.

Here's the link. I think Rick may be along here shortly with a better post link-up. This one's for all our dads.


God bless 'em!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cwwxvkzasY

Back to the banjo!

Bringing this to the top again to remind any who have not heard the YouTube song about our Lakewood snow heroine to click on the link above.

Also for those singers out there, here are the lyrics. Sing it. Play it. Just don't sell it without my permission.

"One Shovel Wide" in D
© 2015 Robert and Gary Rice (all rights reserved)
Refrain:
One shovel wide, one shovel wide! Pushin' back that snow, one shovel wide!
With her shovel in the pathway, clearin' diamonds in the snow,
Pushin' back that snow, one shovel wide!

1)
On a silent snowy morning, 'neath the January moon,
She was walking by my window, passing by.
With her shovel in the pathway, clearing diamonds in the snow,
One shovel wide, she pushed those snowflakes high...

2)
Our Lakewood street was long, closely one third of a mile.
The night, it was so bitter and so gray,
Yet in that time of darkness, shone a bright light with that deed.
One shovel wide, to give the children way.

3)
No frozen feet and ankles did our students have that day.
No slipping, sliding, falling on that walk.
'Cause a thoughtful Lakewood neighbor gave an hour of her time,
One shovel wide, told more than we could talk.

Last refrain:
One shovel wide! One shovel wide! Pushin' back that snow, one shovel wide!
'Cause a thoughtful Lakewood neighbor gave an hour of her time,
We're pushin' back that snow, one shovel wide!

A big sarcastic "thank you" to all those who didn't clear their personal or business sidewalks. The walks are now a wet, even more slippery, mess of water, slush and ice.

A big sarcastic "thank you" to all those who didn't clear their personal or business sidewalks. The walks are now a wet, even more slippery, mess of water, slush and ice.

While I understand those feelings, I still believe that our energies need to be focused on making sure that more and more of Lakewood's sidewalks are made as safe in the winter as the City has been trying to make them in the summer. (with all that grinding/replacement stuff that they've been doing lately)

Sidewalks need to be safe in all seasons. Should that not be a primary walkable community's priority?

Back to the banjo...

During this break in snow storms, get caught up, help your neighbors.

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Jim O'Bryan wrote:
During this break in snow storms, get caught up, help your neighbors.

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Is that the shoveling angel?

Now THERE'S a snow angel for you!

Believe it or not, there's a strong resemblance here to the actual lady who started all of this, as well.

Beautiful photo Jim.

Back to the banjo....

We bring Gary Rice's beautiful thought back to the top.


Business owners, residents help keep walkable year round!


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Gary I thought about you yesterday, I got back to Lakewood to find not just nature's 6" on my sidewalk, but city plows had added substantially. And between me and my neighbor (now at Sunrise in RR) I have 240' to clear. Then the driveway. Then the 100' walkeay. I thought "one shovel wide" at least for now. One shovel wide. So 240', one shovel wide. Then I finished it off, I like the exercise. Did the driveway and walkway this morning before sunup....

Somebody should write a song about that, don't you think?

Thanks Jim and Tim,

The song IS about you...and every unsung Lakewood hero who does good for the neighbors.

For anyone who did not see our song concerning the heroic Mom who shoveled our street, one shovel wide, so that all the kids could get to school, here's the link to it below. This will also serve to answer those who might have wondered whether there really is a Lakewood Observer Banjo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cwwxvkzasY

My good friends Rick and Cindy Benjamin helped me to perform this last song just a few days after Dad and I finished the song together on the VERY DAY that he died peacefully at home. We were inspired by that wonderful Lakewood lady who gave so much of herself on a previous snowy day, so we wanted her to be remembered.

The Rice family and our parents and grandparents have been writing and performing music for over a century. One of my grandfathers was a legendary old-time fiddler. The other one played fiddle, as well. Dad was a Lakewood Schools band, orchestra, and choral director for many years, and also an Army bandsman in WWII.

Just last week, the Gospel group of Lakewood United Methodist Church, under my direction, performed "The Bright Shining Star of Christmas"; a tune originally written by Dad and Mom (with another title) about Santa, shortly after WWII. (and that Dad and I revised and updated with Christian lyrics, shortly before his passing)

You can also click here to listen to that performance as a download, if you'd like to do so:

http://99.3.18.138/LUMCmusic/20161211%2 ... s_Rice.mp3

Music brings people together, lifts spirits and if, but for a moment, helps each of us to sit back, relax, and enjoy the sublime gifts that can be gained when we strive for a higher vision.

Incidently, I'll be the final performer tomorrow (7-9 Saturday night) at the wonderful musical variety show at Grace Presbyterian Church at Hilliard and Madison in their sanctuary. I'm planning to play the banjo, the Musical Saw, and the "Marcel Dadi" classical guitar for "Silent Night". Marcel, some may know, was the great young Tunisian-born guitarist who lost his life on TWA 800 in the skies above New York. He designed the unique guitar that will be in my hands tomorrow night. He was, and would still be...my age today, and that's a sobering thought, but one that helps me to go forward with my music... for Marcel , for Dad and Mom, for my ancestors, and of course...

for you.

Perhaps I'll see you there.

Back to the banjo.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:We bring Gary Rice's beautiful thought back to the top.


Business owners, residents help keep walkable year round!.

A sincere thank you to the owners of Woodstock. And yes they have great BBQ.

It's worth noting that one half of Dru Siley's gift to Grace Avenue, Family Dollar, is continuing it's long standing winter tradition of not shoveling their sidewalks.
If only there was an ordinance.