Ken, wrestling the bear.
Today is Kenneth Warren's last day at Lakewood Public Library and in Lakewood, Ohio.
Tomorrow he will be gone off to New York, and I hope peace of mind, something he
has not had for many years now. For some strange reason, a few seemed to really
dislike Ken for starting the Lakewood Observer, with myself, Steve Davis and crew.
They began to make his life more and more uncomfortable. They would call Ken upset
that he had NO CONTROL over me. No control over the open community paper. No
control over their miserable little personal agendas. A few in particular, so called
civic leaders stood by the sidelines watching and even encouraging the BS. They
preferred no conversation. back room dealings, perceived grabbing of power, and
ideas, and most important to them, to build their egos.
I feel there is nothing more important than keeping and attracting good people to
Lakewood, getting them energized, and empowering them to stand on their own, I
think it will be important to understand what happened to Lakewood's greatest mind.
The person that never said no to anyone. The big thinker who understood Lakewood
and its residents far better than anyone I have ever had the pleasure of working with.
A person that laughed when people dare to move out of Lakewood to Leakwood. I
hope that by looking deeply into the loss of Ken, and how it happened we might be
able to stop the next leader that claims to "love Lakewood more than any place in
the country." from fleeing.
Ken, much love from a person that you have had a major impact on. You and I made a
pact a long time ago, that while I was publisher of the paper, and you were director
of the library, I would try to take the high road, and let it go. Well my friend...
.
