The Observation Deck

A friend of mine posted this on the Buzz and gave me permission to post it here.

Adopt A Sidewalk


Please help our children get to school safely by clearing a path through Lakewood. We are asking neighbor to help neighbor, especially on the main pathways that children use to get to and from school. If you see a sidewalk that has not been cleared please consider helping your community by clearing a path. If you patronize a business that has yet to clear its sidewalks please ask that they be cleared. All sidewalks should be cleared according to Lakewood ordinance but we all know of a vacant home or an elderly neighbor who can use a little help for the good of the whole community. Please consider Adopting a Sidewalk.

Toni Northrop, 216-221-5907
Grant Parent
please call if you have any questions


Several Grant Elementary parents are meeting Monday morning at Wagar Park (Rosewood & Madison) at 11 am. We are going to shovel a path down Hilliard and down Elmwood. Please consider joining us with a snow shovel or get out an adopt a sidewalk in your own neighborhood.

Well we are done. We shoveled a path down the north side of Hilliard between Wagar Park and Elmwood. There is also a path on the west side of Elmwood. Suzie and I were going to finish shoveling to the school, but honestly after 2 hours of shoveling we couldn't do anymore. If anyone feels the desire there are about 7 sidewalks on the school side of Elmwood that need to be done.

I want to say thank you to Toni Northrop, the Chittock family, the Prest family, the Dean family, Ryan Demro and all the kids!! It was a lot of work but everyone had a lot of fun. It's amazing what can be accomplished when we work together.

I can't seem to post individual pictures but here is a link to the blog:

http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... a-sidewalk

Danielle Masters wrote:Well we are done. We shoveled a path down the north side of Hilliard between Wagar Park and Elmwood. There is also a path on the west side of Elmwood. Suzie and I were going to finish shoveling to the school, but honestly after 2 hours of shoveling we couldn't do anymore. If anyone feels the desire there are about 7 sidewalks on the school side of Elmwood that need to be done.

I want to say thank you to Toni Northrop, the Chittock family, the Prest family, the Dean family, Ryan Demro and all the kids!! It was a lot of work but everyone had a lot of fun. It's amazing what can be accomplished when we work together.

I can't seem to post individual pictures but here is a link to the blog:

http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... a-sidewalk

Danielle

Thanks you so much for everything you do for Lakewood, the schools, and The Observer, you are a brand building heroine.

I think we can fit it in the paper for tomorrow.

Toni Northrup - ditto for you.


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Just saw the news coverage - great job Toni, Danielle and Ryan.

Yes, we all did get a work out, but I will be able to sleep better now, knowing that my kids can walk to school safely now.

I have to admit it makes you feel good to accomplish something like this.

oops Suzie - sorry I left you out but thanks to you too!

Suzanne Metelko wrote:Just saw the news coverage - great job Toni, Danielle and Ryan.

Thanks Suzanne. I also want to say thank you again for the kids that took time out of their three day weekend to do service. I know they had fun, but its important that they learn service which they definitely did today.

Just thought I would share some of the news coverage with you guys. I'm really glad that we got some people aware of how important it is to shovel their walks.

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/11055590/detail.html

kudos to those volunteering and helping in the community!!!

I saw a quick video blurb on tv, also.

Maybe I misunderstood, but it sounded like they said sidewalks were being shoveled in FRONT of schools. Someone please tell me I misunderstood. IF this is correct, do the schools no longer have a maintenance or custodial staff that can handle this? I realize this was a major storm and wouldn't expect it to be cleared in 30 seconds. Are the schools not getting enough tax money to pay for enough staff? Do we need another levy? Is all the school money going to new construction instead?

Doug

Doug, no we were not shoveling in front of the schools. The schools were plowed and shoveled immediately after the storm. We were shoveling private sidewalks of people on Hilliard and on Elmwood. We came across on particular house that was perfectly shoveled, the owner was a 71 year young gentlemen who talked to us for a few minutes. He said he used to shovel the entire block but that was a few years ago when he was younger. I informed him that he could always call H2O but he insisted he could still maintain his property, obviously he is still able to do a fabulous job.

I just wanted to add a note that the businesses in the area are hearing our message. So far I have noticed that Rite Aid, Speedway and Huntington Bank have all cleared the sidewalks for the community. I think a lot of people were expressing their displeasure. With the warm temps, we will no longer need to Adopt a Sidewalk but this has renewed my faith in the Lakewood community and the power of a collective voice. Thanks to all that did your share and a big thanks to those who helped their neighbors.

Toni Northrop wrote:Thanks to all that did your share and a big thanks to those who helped their neighbors.

Toni

It is people like you that give me faith in this community. Thanks for the hard work, the organizing and the great media coverage on TV.

Job well done.


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As of noon today, CVS on W117 (Lakewood side) has not gotten the message. Today I saw people pushing strollers and walking with canes on the street. It is even harder for those type of people to walk on snowy/icy sidewalks compared to the average person.

Doug

I'll tell you how I have gotten a response from Rite Aid and Huntington Bank. Rite Aid--I talked to a clerk and when nothing was done I then talked to the Asst. Manager. I was very nice and expressed concern. It was done the next day. With Huntington, I called and was told to leave a number in an exasperated tone. I choose not to but instead went to their website and sent an e-mail to the corporate office. The next morning the walks were shoveled and salted. I'm having a harder time with the strip plaza kind of places but I haven't given up yet. I took a walk today and Hollywood Video was a mess so I just nicely asked if they could correct the problem. Generally, these places have a contract with a company and that company is not doing its job and the business will then call and ask to have if fixed. Embarrassment on the part of the business is more what I have gotten and when they do fix the problem say thank you. I stopped into Speedway and said thank you today. It wasn't me who complained but someone must have said something. You know what they say you get more done with honey than vinegar.

Toni,

Thank you for all the work you have done on the sidewalk issue. You are a truly wonderful individual who obviously cares deeply about our community. Thanks for letting me be a part of it and keep up the fabulous work.