The Observation Deck

Hi all,

I gave this its own thread since it's so cool. If you're not busy June 20th, come to at 7 PM, where the LO will get this award for the support of and outstanding contributions to our schools. As Margaret says below, "this award is ours", we are the people that write the Observer paper, and bring up issues on the Deck that we feel are important to share to help inform, support and build this amazing community.

Please come, this is a picture worth being in.

Betsy Voinovich

Meg Ostrowski said:

I know that most of you received this message as registered members of the project but for those just visiting, I thought I should share the good news below. I have heard this is quite a special honor.

Margaret Brinich wrote:

Good afternoon Observers,

I'm emailing to share some wonderful news about the Lakewood Observer. We have the honor of being recognized by the Ohio School Boards Association for our, "Strong support of and outstanding contributions to," the Lakewood City Schools. We are just thrilled and would also like to thank YOU!

Whether you have beginning interest in the Observer project of community news, advertising and citizen journalism or you are a long time supporter of our mission statement and projects, we simply could not be as active as we've had the privilege to be without your involvement... so this award is as much yours as it is ours!

Accepting the award on behalf of all of the Observer will be Heidi Hilty, Debra O'Bryan, myself, all on the Board of the Lakewood Observer and all graduates of Lakewood Schools.

Please join us at Emerson Middle School, this Monday, June 20, at 7PM when this is formally acknowledged at the beginning of the School Board meeting. A group photo of the attendees/supporters of the paper will be taken for the July 4th issue of the Observer, our 150th issue.

Thank you again for your ongoing support of the Observer project!

Warm Regards,

Margaret

Editor-in-Chief
Lakewood Observer

Okay fine, I'll copy Meg's next post, and then Jim's reply over here too and then I'm stopping.

Meg Ostrowski wrote:

Congratulations to Jim O'Bryan and the rest of the Lakewood Observer Board Members!!!

Thank you for getting the project off the ground and keeping it going all of these years so that everyone/anyone can have a voice and be heard.

I always think of Dr. Suess, Horton Hears a Who...

from everydaycitizen.com;

Horton fights a moralistic kangaroo and a jungle of animals who do not believe the elephant’s assertion that an entire world of creatures lives within a tiny speck of dust. Near the end of the book, the kangaroo leads a posse of monkeys to tie up the elephant and to dunk the speck in Beezle-nut juice. The only way to save the citizens of Who-ville in the speck is to shout as loud as they can. And they shout, and they are finally heard when the smallest citizen of all shouts “Yopp!” Dr. Seuss writes:

“And that Yopp…
That one small, extra Yopp put it over!
Finally, at last! From that speck on that clover
Their voices were heard! They rang out clear and clean.
And the elephant smiled. ‘Do you see what I mean? …
They’ve proved they ARE persons, no matter how small.
And their whole world was saved by the Smallest of All!’”

Jim O'Bryan wrote: Meg

It is those voices, that own this and ever other award the project has earned.

I am just so thankful for those willing to raise their voices, and join this community project
that is dedicated to making sure all of the “Yopp's!” are heard.

The entire project is dedicated to giving all a seat at the table, and those that are not here
are not because they feel their voice is more important, that is the only reason I can see. I
have heard many excuses, but none hold water. None.

It is a good day for the Observers, and I will be happy to see them get this award, but it
would be pointless without the great schools we have in Lakewood, thanks to the entire
School Board and those that came before. Without the great students and residents the LO
gets to work with. The good deeds we get to amplify, and yes the smallest citizen.

I love this city, I love the schools, I love the Observers and damn I LOVE THIS PROJECT!

Thank you for the kind words, the effort and the love you give.

.

_________________
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident

"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg

"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama

I have just gotten of the telephone with School Board Vice President John Kamkutis, who asked if it would be alright to move the presentation of the award to the Lakewood Observer from the Ohio School Board back to June 20th as some members of the Board had an emergency come up and I said sure. So if you were coming tonight to be part of the photo, please come June 20th, and accept the award you have all earned.

Thank you and thoughts with those that could not be there tonight.

.

Please note that the June 20th. Board of Education Meeting will be at Lakewood High School, not Emerson.

Please attend our meeting tonight in the Art Atrium at Lakewood High School at 6:00 p.m.

Thanks to those Observers who attended our regular school board meeting to accept OSBA's award on behalf of you.