The Observation Deck

This is a plea for Lakewood residents and business owners to pull together by shoveling the sidewalks so that when the schools reopen, the students' walk to school will be as safe as possible. With the slippery roads, no child should be endangered by having to walk in the streets. Please, pitch in, help your neighbors and give the kids a clear path.

Christine Gordillo
Lakewood City Schools

Maybe if you find yourself in need of help to shovel your sidewalks...why not post it here and maybe someone will volunteer to help. This would be a great way to volunteer!

I guess this is a hint that there will be no snow day tomorrow!

The area that concerns me most is Franklin Avenue from Madison to past the high school. The sidewalks are very close to the street and the speed limit is 35. The poor kids that have to walk that way to school either have to contend with icy, unshoveled walks or walking in the street. It really is a miracle that no child has been injured yet.

Can anyone out there help? It sounds like this is a great opportunity to help your community. Can anyone organize to help clean this area of concern?

My husband went out and plowed all the sidewalks on both sides of our street and around the business that faces Madison next to our house. He did this so pedestrians could get through. Since we have 5 either lazy or irresponsible (they are all young and not disabled) homeowners on Hilliard that refuse to shovel he will most likely snow blow a path down the street. We don't mind helping out, a few of our neighbors are either elderly or disabled, but I am irritated at the business owner next to our house and the abled bodied individuals on Hilliard as they are putting peoples lives at risk by making so that they have to walk in the street. I was horrified when I learned from my middle schooler that he routinely has to walk in the street on Madison to get to school. God forbid any of these children get injured because of the apathy that many homeowners have. I really thinks it's time that the ordinance is enforced especially on Hilliard/Franklin, Madison, Detroit, Clifton, Lake, Bunts and Warren. And if my husband does snow blow I am mailing a bill to the residents maybe they will get the hint. Ok done venting.

My dad has been out shoveling the snow. Of course, I've had to tell him to put the shovel down and go inside so that I can take over, but this is his form of exercise, which he needs. Last night, we were lucky enough to get our hands on a snow blower from our next door neighbor.

Folks, my dad had two strokes about two weeks ago. He took four days off, and went back to work, where he walks the Cleveland Clinic buildings for eight hours every day and pushes patients in wheelchairs and beds that weigh upwards of 400-500 lbs.

If this guy can come home and shovel the driveway for fun, you can too.

I've figured out how to get him to come inside when he gets home. I shovel the driveway while he's at work, so there's no snow for him to shovel. But now he enjoys throwing salt everywhere for some reason!

I will have to agree. I really enjoy shoveling. Perhaps it is a love for the excuse to be out in the beautiful falling snow. Or just a need to get a job done. Either way I see where your dad is coming from. I would love to ask him to take it a bit easy for a bit (is that not why he had kids ), but whatever makes you happy is also a good idea.

I recently got my hands on a snow blower after never having used one before ( Thanks Neighbor !! ) and I will say it was a treat moving snow with an cool, fun piece of equipment. I hope everybody is safe and has a blast!! Go out in the snow and play / shovel .