Lakewood Observer 2013 Update

[Jim O'Bryan]

2013 will see many changes come to the Lakewood Observer, as we prepare to enter our tenth year serving the city of Lakewood, Ohio. Though some of the changes will be unseen, they will ease and speed up both production of the paper part of the project, and its online component. The changes that you do see will be fun and help more people participate in different ways.

Another change that should add to the project is Peter Grossetti coming in as Associate Editor - Community Engagement. Peter is a person who enjoys lifting up the veneer to see what is underneath, and when he saw the Project's full potential, he volunteered to help with community engagement issues including outreach, event planning, strategic initiatives and increased coverage of City Hall. I could not be happier, as this underlines the truth of the Observer Project: it is not negative, not positive, but what you bring to it and make of it.

When Peter first signed on, he and I did not always see eye to eye (and at times we still don't), but we both agree that agreeing to disagree is not a bad thing. And if he's told me once, Peter has told me a hundred times, "If you want 'a better Lakewood' - however you define that - you are my ally." He has immersed himself in the entire Lakewood experience and in the end, thought contributing to the LO would be a positive way to donate his time to helping our community. Peter will be writing an introductory article for our January 22 issue in which he will lay open some of his thoughts and hopes for his and your participation in this Project.

We will also be bringing back our bi-monthly coffee meetings at the Beck cafe and around the city with featured speakers from City Hall, the Schools, various Non-Profits, and Businesses all in an effort to help others get the most out of living in Lakewood.

The LO is also expanding our Editorial Board, to add a little muscle to the overall discussion which is at the heart of the Observer project. You will recognize some of the new board members as having contributed in one way or another to the Lakewood Observer over the years, they are a perfect cross-section of Lakewood; people who will give the entire project insight into what Lakewood is doing, feeling and where it is headed in 2013 and beyond.

If this sounds like it describes you, and you have any interest in sitting on this board please notify me, or the office by January 31, 2013.

Well that is the short update for now.

Jim O'Bryan
Publisher
Lakewood Resident
Lakewood Business(es) owner

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[marklingm]

Another change that should add to the project is Peter Grossetti coming in as Associate Editor - Community Engagement.

Congratulations, Peter!

Matt