The Observation Deck

This weekend was another great Fourth of July weekend for Lakewood with great weather,
great parties, great fun, parades and fireworks.

Thank You Lakewood...


From the start of the parade with Greta.


To the grande finale it was a great 4th!


Special thanks as always to Melissa Garrett who is the person behind the entire event.

And Dave Seaman, who heads up the parks and whose crew made the evening possible
with the help of Chief Scott Gill, and Chief Timothy Malley whose fire and police crews
were their normal excellent selves.

And of course to Mayor Mike Summers who make sure it is funded and happens...

... and County Executive Edward FitzGerlad who, who, hey what is this guy doing here?

Most importantly, the people, our friends, neighbors and visitors...






All of that and more after I post my 135 photos from the weekend. We also had other
photographers and videographers through the event covering everything from
the parade to the police, to the mental make-up of the crowd.

I noticed some have started to post their images in the photo galleries already.
Check them out and check back for more today and tomorrow!
http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs

THANK YOU LAKEWOOD

DAMN I LOVE THIS TOWN!



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Just loaded up 129 images from what we see in the parade.


All Dog's Heaven getting ready for parade.


Council-At-Large Candidate John Zappala


LEAF's little veggies playing with Naia






Why we do it. The kids, the waves, the faces of glee. The parade is the most Americana
thing I have ever done. Check out the photos, and please plan on joining us again next year.



Follow these links to see more:
My photos: http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/jim-obryan/july-4th-lakewood-ohio

LO Photo Blog, other people's photos. Isn't it time you joined in to help us keep a visual
history of this great city?
http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs

Dam I love this parade, and this city!


.

"This is an appropriate time for a shout out to the Lakeland Avenue Kazoo Band, which served as Edwards Avenue Bucket Drum Corps' inspiration. If you haven’t been in Lakewood for a while, you might not remember the strolling kazooers of Lakeland Avenue, who appeared annually in the Fourth of July parade, blowing patriotic tunes horribly out their kazoos as they strode the parade route in a melange of faded orange T-shirts. They were star-spangled spectacular, and that’s no lie. Somebody ought to start that up again. Are you with me, Lakeland?"

http://gyroscopethattakesyouplaces.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/hooterville-on-wheels/