LO 07_11 Dining/Patio Guide & Chautauqua Pull-Out Sections
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:05 am
http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/issue_pdfs/Observer_Vol_07_Issue_11.pdf
Featuring the 2011 LO Dining and Patio Guide, and the Chautauqua Event Weekend Guide!
All
Well, one away from our 150th issue! Who would have thought 8 years ago when we started talking about working, volunteering to give all Lakewood residents and businesses an equal voice, that it would be the success that it is! I am truly overwhelmed with the response from the community and city that I love, a love shared by all of the founding members who started this history making project.
That day at Wu's on Madison, Steve Davis, Ken Warren and I spoke of many ideas that we all had for helping move this city forward, and they all came back to figuring out how we could get information out, in a fair and dependable manner, information that had been missing from the eyes and ears of Lakewoodites, information crucial to us having the ability to participate in making decisions affecting every one of our lives in our own community.
How could we avoid the pitfalls that come from secrets and the spread of falsehoods that had become a cancer in terms of being able to understand what Lakewoodites need, what Lakewoodites want, and how the two compare?
I can assure you that at no point that first year did we ever believe we would be publishing our 149th issue, let alone our 150th. We also never envisioned the solid base that would grow out of this project, both here in Lakewood, and now in other communities and states. Every project started provides the Lakewood Observer with a greater future, and moves us closer to the mission statement and vision we came up with at that little table.
Once again, we are seeing many issues flying around Lakewood that are causing minor worries with some, and have others wondering if they should go or stay. This is ridiculous! While some see our future as doing our part for the region, many more understand that before we can jump into the mosh pit of Cleveland, East Cleveland, Garfield Heights, Brooklyn and others, we need to continue our investment in Lakewood.
We should realize that our great school system, our wonderful library, our access to the parks, our walkability, our livability and our central location put us in the the BEST place in the county, and in the driver's seat for our future.
We need not bend immediately to the outside pressures of what others want, and can instead have the discussion, and the meetings both in person and online-- which is one of the many reasons this project was started--to determine our own future.
We are heading into elections that will see a large influx of cash from outside of Lakewood, and again The Lakewood Observer plans to be the spot to vet this information, and how it applies to candidates, and our lives.
Yes, 2011 has been, and will continue to be, a fantastic year for Lakewood and the Lakewood Observer.
As always thank you to everyone that has been part of this project. Your interest, your time, your patience, and your participation is both appreciated and admired. TOGETHER as a community, we will chart Lakewood's future in a way that will allow us all to be comfortable with the steps taken to do so.
peace/love
James C. O'Bryan
Publisher
Lakewood Observer, Inc.
http://lakewoodobserver.com
powered by AGS' Ninth Estate Software
Proud Member of The Observer Family Of Community Owned Media