The Observation Deck

We went swimming at Huntington beach today! For real. 88 degrees outside, I don't know what the water temperature was, but it was beautiful. May 22! That's a record for me on this side of town in terms of how early I jump in the lake. In Collinwood it's easier because you can get to the water from any lake street. I think my record over there was around May 12 but I was probably twelve.

We put our heads under and everything (not for long it was really cold.) It was so nice we just walked the beach to dry off. We found a silver ring in the surf (kinda surf).



Yes those are people up to their necks in the water.



Honey Hut is no more. But there's still ice cream. Now Mitchell's is running the ice cream stand and the people behind the counter said that Honey Hut has moved to Edgewater. So we win, anywhere we go, east or west. (I like Honey Hut better but my daughters are big fans of something called Blue Cosmo from Mitchell's.)

What a beautiful day, in the water and everywhere. Finally. Day One, Post Apocalypse. Outstanding!

Betsy Voinovich

.)

Betsy

Looks like fun.

I know some people think it is a crime that some people go to Rocky River Pool for the water
slides, though we have some at Madison Park.

I think it is a crime that the city of LAKEwood, has no beaches to be enjoyed by the residents
of Lakewood without paying $2,000+ a year.

Cleveland, Rocky River, Bay, Avon, Bratnehal, Collinwood, Euclid, on east all have at least
one large beach where residents can go down and walk in the waves, play in the sand,
and watch a sunset while looking for the green dot.

Looked like fun, maybe someday Lakewood will see that the lake is every bit as wonderful,
than fast food downtown. That beach access might do more for our tax base than anything else.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Betsy

Looks like fun.

I know some people think it is a crime that some people go to Rocky River Pool for the water
slides, though we have some at Madison Park.

I think it is a crime that the city of LAKEwood, has no beaches to be enjoyed by the residents
of Lakewood without paying $2,000+ a year.

Cleveland, Rocky River, Bay, Avon, Bratnehal, Collinwood, Euclid, on east all have at least
one large beach where residents can go down and walk in the waves, play in the sand,
and watch a sunset while looking for the green dot.

Looked like fun, maybe someday Lakewood will see that the lake is every bit as wonderful,
than fast food downtown. That beach access might do more for our tax base than anything else.

.

Jim-

Those cities also have lots of OUTDOOR basketball courts!

While the City of Lakewood continues to be afraid to return hoops around town. Holding the youth of Lakewood hostage yet another summer from a FREE activity that gets them off the couch and outside exercising and getting to know one another .

What a shame!

Well it's one of those nights. How nice to go down to the public beach in Lakewood and cool off, walking the beach as the sunset waves roll in over your toes.

So nice to live right next to the lake. Oh wait--- yeah, can't get to the water here. I think I probably said this before but I'm too hot to remember, my son rechristened Lakewood, "Can'tGetToTheLakewood, Ohio." Here's the postcard. Wish you were here. Oh wait, you are. (Except for people reading this from New York, Texas, Cleveland, Florida and London-- Hi Hank! Hi Bryony!) This is a picture of Lakewood. Taken at Lakewood Park.



This is one thing we really have to get our current administration to look into, especially considering the value it would add to everyone's homes in Lakewood, wherever you live, and we might as well get right on it since the election doesn't matter. Our elected, (not elected) officials are already in place.

Have to quote one of our ex-candidates here:

Jim O'Bryan said, in his not running for mayor post:

Beaches, this city needs at least two public beaches. I will now put a name to one of my favorite quotes. Paula Reed turned to me while looking at the Savannah's Peninsula and said, "Lakefront access would add value to everyone's home in Lakewood." To me that makes it a no brainer. We are all looking to ADD VALUE to Lakewood. This should be a priority. It would have been with me, and it should be with the current administration, to noteven look at that idea, or reexamine the Peninsula idea even now borders on neglect. It is time Lakewood is made whole again.

Lakewood is a great place to live, and it would keep more residents, and attract more, if we had some kind of access to the beach, and the water.

Lakewood needs its own residents, and our elected officials, to pay attention to what it is, how great it is, and how great it could be. There is at least one plan proposed that could make it happen, in terms of the water...

Just imagine that the city itself is singing this to you. (Yeah please forgive me; it's been a difficult week, apparently there's another one starting tomorrow, and it's too hot.)

The name of this song is "Shake the Disease" which works too, but it makes more sense to call it by its refrain: "Understand me." Enjoy.

Betsy Voinovich

A very good friend had a very good idea tonight. The beach! (Huntington.) Waves 5 to 8 feet! We were body surfing. No pictures of that, the I Phone was in my shoe.

But here's some soundtrack music for you, and here are some pictures from after some of us dried off. Some of us are still wet.



Downtown! (Downtown Cleveland that is, you can tell by the lower case "n"s)



Downtown from further away.



The view from the other direction-- West.



Betsy Voinovich