The Observation Deck

At one point several months ago, I mentioned the flag in front of the Masonic Temple. I want to post that they replaced the flag and have landscaped it very nicely. They even have provided some outdoor lighting. It looks beautiful. Thank you.

I also complained the last 2 years about the hanging flower baskets. Now we have fewer lower hung flower baskets - but they are beautiful - a very nice compromise - who ever is taking care of them, thank you, they look beautiful.

Also I noticed several downtown vendors are putting flower pots outside of their stores/buildings. They also look beautiful and add to the street scape. Thank you. It really makes it a pleasure to drive down the street.

The Lakewood City Web site has changed. We had joked that the girl that was on front had most likely graduated from college by now. The new site looks great and offers more functionality. Thank you to the people who were responsible. One can also sign up for their newsletter. Really much nicer.

I have been meaning to post on these topics and keep forgetting. I'm sure there are other really nice upgrades going on all over Lakewood that I have either missed or forgotten about. Let us all know about them.

Thanks, Lynn.....I agree with you on all counts. The City's image is looking better than ever.

I am working with an LO reporter to do a story on Main Street Lakewood Blossoms. This is an LCPI/Main Street program that resulted in the baskets and potted boxwood trees at Sinagra Park, and the Earth Boxes filled with flowers on ground level along Detroit in downtown.

It all started when Keep Lakewood Beautiful agreed to give Main Street funds for a pilot program to try out the Earth Boxes with flowers in front of the Main Street office last summer. Then in early 2008, Rotary gave us a small grant that allowed us to think creatively about expanding the program. Since then things have, well, blossomed! Led by Kathy Haber, Main Street took orders from businesses for 30 planted boxes. We delivered them to their doorsteps and we will pick them up in October. Low maintenance, due to a water reservoir in the bottom, they have been a hit.

The Coral Company agreed to provide the hanging baskets. The City hung the brackets at a level specified by Main Street. The United Methodist Church group, Faith in Action, takes care of the watering - God Bless them all! Watering is by far our biggest challenge with the baskets.

LakewoodAlive members, who worked on decorations for Light Up Lakewood - specifically Timi Kormos - selected and planted the boxwood trees in the big pots in Sinagra Park. Sandy Gates, UMC, planted the vibernum.

THE BEST PART is that both Geiger's and CVS have been inspired to do their own thing, as a result of this initiative. Just love the CVS window baskets and Chas Geiger has wanted to do something for years - and with the momentum going this year he decided the time is now - their window baskets look grand. So do Pacer's and Winking Lizard's...just love, love, love it all. Of course, the Adopt -a-Spot in front of Discount Drug Mart looks gorgeous again this year

As with all good things, it has taken a village and a tremendous amount of coordination and cooperation to get the job done. We are so lucky. Hopefully next year we can expand Lakewood Blossoms..beyond Main Street, too......if we can get the behind the scenes help we'd need (contact me if you are interested!).

If anyone is interested in learning more about Earth Boxes go to www.earthbox.com and if you want to see how they are being used in developing nations for farming go to www.thegrowingconnection.org

As usual, this is more than you probably wanted to know. And this is just one of the things noted in your message. I'm just so proud of all the people and organizations that came together for Main Street Lakewood Blossoms to make downtown more inviting and prettier this year! They really deserve the recognition - thanks for your kind words and the prompt to tell the story.

Mary Anne

I'm with you on everything but the city website. It's extremely difficult to find information about board and committee meetings and dockets.

I assume it is a work in progress. I use the city site regularly and I have been watching the changes.

I also appreciate that a domain name that I believe was registered in the name of a family member of the mayor has been turned over to the city to use.

onelakewood.com is a LOT easier to remember than ci.lakewood.oh.us

You are right DL, the old website certainly had good information on Council Meetings etc. I searched it and it is still there.

I too like the onelakewood.com I could never remember the other site name.

I really like the Quick Links and there you can get to the City Council Meetings which has the same information as before. Plus so much more. I also like the L2L Listening to Lakewood concept and logo. I like that you can report potholes easily and on line.

But now you can E-file your income tax and print your tax forms.

I also like that on the front page it is advertising some of the great things that Lakewood offers. I like the fact that you can access Lakewood TV or at least some of the big events.

Sure, I'd like to see more and I think the administration would as well. I'd like to be able to pay parking tickets etc. on line and my water bill. But it really seems to me like they are tying to push it to do more.

Maybe they are waiting to do more - but they haven't been advertising the new features very much. Just the city news via e-mail is a great new way to communiciate.

I also wanted to mention that I saw Mrs. Weber and some other women from the Gardening club the other day out fertilizing and beautifying the garden next to The Place to Be. It also is looking great. These people really work hard to make our city more beautiful.

Thank you to all of you too.

Mary Ann, thank you for your explanation. It sounds like a real community effort that has been successful.