The Observation Deck

The skies were gray and rainy, and many people thought about last year, and I know that
the organizers were shivering, but smiling and staying busy working. And when the parade
kicked off, there were hundreds and hundreds of dogs, ready to go parading...

How many?



Or let's look at this another way...


See hundreds and hundreds with hundreds of photos to be posted later, stop back, we have
all the winners, some interviews, and pics of all the fun and dogs!

Stay tuned...

.

As I drove and then walked into Kauffman Park, I could see dogs dressed up coming in from
as far away as West Clifton. On a cold and slightly rainy day, they were appearing and
heading towards Kauffman Park for one of the most fun events of the year, Spooky Pooch
Parade. It was back on home ground where it had started as the brainchild of Rhonda Loje.


Chelsea Jancrwicz who recently moved here from North Ridgeville, stopped with "Penny" in
front of the "Nicest Taco Bell in the World" according to "Planning" Director Dru Siley.
Chelsea loves Lakewood and is so happy to have moved here, though she thinks the Taco
Bell is like many others. Chelsea, welcome to Lakewood, we love good thinkers!


Walking into the area, there was my good buddy Paul from Lakewood Garden Center. I always
like seeing Paul, and selling pumpkins here made sense, and the parking lot behind "Manners"
had always been a out of the trunk of a car resale area dating back to the 70s and maybe
earlier. Paul with his ever present big grin, said, "I know you want a pumpkin." I decided it
might be better to go to his place and pick one out, rather than carry it all day.


Walking in to Kauffman Park were Friends of Kauffman Park, Dan Alaimo, Meg Ostrowski,
and Missy Toms. This was a big day for FOKP as there was also a ribbon cutting of the
brand new Kauffman Park Urban Wilderness Trail!


One of the "winning dogs," "Rat Trap" arrives.


The Lakewood Observer has two "It Dogs" one, "Emma" is owned by Julianne Davis, this one "Greta" is owned by Marley Rose.


Bullock sees a camera; the two newer members of council, Sam O'Leary, Ward 2, and Cindy Marx, Council-At-Large, are slightly slower at spotting the paparazzi at this point in their careers.


Cutting the ribbon on the new Kauffman Park Urban Wilderness Trail are from left to right,
Missy Toms, Ben Ostrowski, Meg Ostrowski, Lakewood Poet Laureate for Life, Bill Knittel,
LakewoodAlive's Director, Ian Andrews, Councilman-At-Large Tom Bullock, Ward 2
Councilman, Sam O'Leary, State Representative Nickie Antonio, and the Heart and Soul of
Council, Councilwoman-At-Large Cindy Marx. The thought was that it would be beautiful late at
night after midnight for walking.


Dogs crying, "Let's go I got a freaking monkey on my back!"


Noah appeared out of the rainy fog which I have to admit caught my attention.


Then off they went, down the trail, out to Andrews and up to Detroit Avenue.


Of course more photos of our "it dog."


The kids love this parade and so do the dogs...


"Get that nose out of my..."




This version only went to Warren Road and back to Kauffman Park's Urban Wilderness Trail.


But everyone was having fun!


Looking fine and...


...walking fine.


From Mexican Death Partiers to...


... Star Wars fun was had by all.


After the wintery parade a nice pat on the head, for a soon to be medal winner.


Thanks to LakewoodAlive for once again putting this on. It does get better and better, which
might be why these two have such a big smile. Left Allison Urbanek, LA Housing Outreach Coordinator,
and Pam Smith who just finished a 6-month tour of duty working on the Lakewood Charter Review Team.

Then all the way home you could see dogs in funny clothes!



If you want to see the winners, and 166 photos of the event go to:
http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/jim-obryan/spooky-pooch-2014

Thanks again to LakewoodAlive, if you have never thought about it, you should join, they,
like the Observer, are always looking for volunteers who care about Lakewood.

Thanks again to Ken Brand, Event Coordinator at LakewoodAlive, all of the volunteers, the
City of Lakewood, the Friends of Kauffman Park, and everyone that took part.

See you next year!

.

Jim,

Thank you for the acknowledgement!

I had help with the first parade from graphics by Debbie Riddle, who came up with great logos to choose from! To Debi Baker and Katy Davis who helped with of the parade. And all the donations from Pet's General Store (dog food for a year) and Lakewood Hardware (a dog house) and you made me tee shirts (they were great by the way!) and the City of Lakewood (dogs on Detroit in a parade!??) We all held our breath until it all came together the day of the parade.

It was almost called the Mutt Masquerade Parade but it would not fit on a banner! Spooky Pooch was an easier name to work with.

It is great that the parade has developed to the point where everyone dresses up for Halloween including the humans!

Thank you to all the volunteer to take on these projects! They are never thanked enough!

Thank you!

Rhonda Loje

Rhonda loje wrote:Jim,

Thank you for the acknowledgement!

It is great that the parade has developed to the point where everyone dresses up for Halloween including the humans!

Thank you to all the volunteer to take on these projects! They are never thanked enough!

Thank you!

Rhonda Loje

Rhonda

I will never forget the day when you walked into my office and said, "I have this idea to raise money for the dog shelter. Will you help..."

Ian Andrews, Allison Urbanek, and especially for this event, Ken Brand are solid good people and doing a marvelous job.

They deserve all the support we as Lakewoodites can give.

Allison is saving our city house by house block by block, building on what she took over from Hilary.

Ken Brand has succeeded in making his hometown more fun with fun events.

Ian Andrews, has brought clear thought, heart and a SOUL to a powerful position, for that I am thankful.

It's also nice being able to walk out of the LA offices normally instead of backing out, and actually being
able to believe what is being said.

Perhaps, we can all turn the page and let the kids fly with Spooky Pooch and other projects, this group
certainly deserves the chance and the support.

But I'll also always remember that day and the twinkle in your eye.

FWIW

.

Jim,

It sounds like LA has turned a page and so have you....so I guess that is time for me to turn the page too. It sounds like there are many good community things happening at LA.

I am so glad to see.

My dog did not get to go to the Spooky Pooch Parade because I was so busy doing the first parade! I think next year will be the time for both our dogs (Indy and Anna) to get all dressed up for a wonderful community event!

Rhonda

Hi Rhonda and Jim,

Thanks for the great posts and pictures. Rhonda: we truly appreciate all of your hard work in the beginning. I was thrilled to head back to Kauffman Park where it all began and we thank you for your vision. The Spooky Pooch Parade continues to be one of this community's most interesting and fun events and we're excited for an even better 2015. I have a ton of respect for folks who don't let rain and cold get in the way of fun and these Spooky Poochers are the best. They see rain and shrug it off. Couldn't ask for more. Ken and our volunteer committee along with our sponsors and partners did a great job. The new trail (wilderness Jim?) turned out really well and we appreciate the investment the City of Lakewood made in the park.

Great seeing you at the event, Jim and thanks again for taking/posting so many pictures. Look forward to seeing you both at next year's event, at Kauffman Park.

-Ian

Wowie!

If there's EVER been a time for that pesky peacemaking campfire sing-a-long banjo of mine, it would be NOW!

When people come together, particularly nowadays, and of course, especially in Lakewood to achieve a successful cause...

It's a happy day indeed.

And now, let's SING along to some of my poetry....



"As we all can see, in Ecclesiastes 3, there's a time for everything to be...
And once in awhile, not too often any more, but enough times we still hope...
We can one day... end violence, harsh words, hate, and....war."

So glad to see this series of postings.

I think we've probably been a little too serious around here lately.

It's good sometimes to look back and reflect on how far we've come.

Sure, it takes give and take, ups and downs, rights and lefts once in awhile.

But just look, just LOOK at this town!

Library, schools, shops, streets, neighborhoods, PEOPLE.

We're still talking with (and not AT) each other.

We'll still building, thinking, caring, and as shown here at the last....

Coming together again, at the end of it all.

Thanks to Jim and the Observer Project for helping to ignite and fan the flames of civic awareness, cooperation, and involvement.

Back to the banjo...