The Observation Deck

http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/issue_pdfs/Observer_Vol_08_Issue_01.pdf


All

Well Happy New Year, another monkey dropped and the city survives. And the Lakewood Observer Project enters its eighth year of serving the people who make it happen: the residents, schools, non-profits, businesses and civic leaders of Lakewood, Ohio. Who would have ever thought, now almost 10 years ago, that the paper would have this longevity, let alone grow into so many other communities? A simple idea, put together by Lakewood civic leaders that were being ill-served by corporate media. A simple project to let information get out, not filtered by any single person or company, but a project that was built to help a community talk and deal with issues, because again, we had learned very well what happens when a misinformed or ill-informed community is forced to deal with issues like the ones we have already had in 2012.

It started off with a report of Tuberculosis in the schools. Something, if you are old enough to remember, that should strike some fear and heightened awareness in all. And ended with the murder of a young person, on a quiet street. These are the issues that residents must not only see and know about, but desperately need to understand and talk to each other about as well. Without the ability to see information, and understand information, people become scared. That is true for residents, businesses, civic leaders and yes, even City Hall. But through discussion, and hearing information from people they know and trust, all are able to sort through the comments, fact and fiction, to come to grips with how it affects them, their family and their community. After all, for all of us the effects are different. But give us a moment to stop, and reflect on what we are doing, and whether we need to change things for any reason. I am very happy that the Observer can be a part of that discussion, and of the amplification of good deeds and ideas.

The paper is back for year number 8 as the Lakewood Observation Deck rolls along, 24/7 with not only discussions of recent activities and issues, but some of the favorite topics that we should all enjoy reading, and maybe even join in on. "What is a real Lakewoodite?" one asks, and is answered again and again. A great topic, what is a Lakewoodite indeed? If you walk up to anyone in America, and say a person is a "real New Yorker" it automatically conjures up visions in that person's head of "real New Yorkers." Does the same work with Lakewoodites? It would seem from the discussion, that it does really bother some, while others seem to get it. Is that the definition of a real Lakewoodite? Someone who gets it? But what is it? And so the discussion rolls on as residents, elected officials and others jump in to answer the question. "The energy vibe in Lakewood" another great topic started by a Lakewood business, that has seen a change in the downtown area, and just wanted to mention it and the fact that they now feel something happening that is good. This is a great thing, because where we need to go will take great energy, and we will have to remain upbeat. Again, it always makes me smile when the Observer can be part of these discussions as well. It is amazing how many good things have come out of these discussions.

Yes a healthy community is a community that is not afraid to get into a discussion about itself, and where it is going. A healthy community encourages that discussion and the freedom of ideas and participation. Not just in highly regulated, overly organized moments of "community committees" but on the streets, in the bars, at the schools, around the office cooler and yes, in 2012 online, with real friends, real neighbors, real businesses. It is an act of love, respect and trust, which here at the Observer, we call, "Good Neighbors Talking Over The Digital Fence About Life In And Around Lakewood, Ohio."

A healthy community can withstand the conversations, and the tough questions, and then go on to deal with the tough issues. Is Lakewood going to hell, with bad people? "Those" people? Or did a couple bad people find their way here for a random act of violence within a group that knew each other? Is it a black mark on the eye of the city when hoodlums act out their stupidity, or is it bad luck? Do we bring this on ourselves, is it a slippery slope, or a one off act of insanity?

A healthy community can withstand the conversation and desperately needs the conversation to stay healthy. I am so glad that the Observer was built, just for nights like last Saturday. It got the info out, and the discussion started. If you read the reports of many corporate news sources, they were written to instill fear, to attract viewers. But the community-driven Observer, was already having one neighbor calm the other saying that "this could happen anywhere." Sure there were needed shouts of, "The sky is falling," but they were addressed. While some were saying "get out of Lakewood" the Observer and its members were saying, "No, let's address the issue, stay and make things better." Almost a decade ago, a "civic leader" demanded that the Observer have a police blotter. The board sat down and explained,"No, we are not here to sell papers, we are not here to count views, we are here to help build, define, and amplify the good deeds and aspects of this community, and give the city a forum of concerned citizens when there are issues we need to discuss. We are not afraid of the "crime story," we simply do not need them for profit. We are not afraid of the discussion, we just worry about the silence.

Nine plus years in existence, almost 500,000 installments of amplifying the voices and deeds of fellow Lakewoodites. An ongoing discussion of Lakewood that has taken us as "real Lakewoodites" into areas and discussions I never thought we would have. Discussion that has been follow ups to the many articles that have appeared in the 189 copies of the print aspect, Lakewood Observer. Discussions that have both started those articles, and started some of the core parts of Lakewood today. If you are getting this emailing, you have been singled out as a "civic leader;" please take a moment and ask yourself,"Where am I in this discussion?" If you have not been to the Deck in awhile, stop by, jump in, conversation is the proper medicine for all that ails us.

2012 should be an amazing year for the Lakewood Observer, and the AGS Observer Project, but more importantly for all of us, is that we have the ability to make it one of the best years ever for Lakewood--the community-- and that makes me, and all Observers happy.

Carpe Diem



.