The Observation Deck

Who: Any parade goer in Lakewood
What: Marching!
Where: Anywhere along the parade route on Lake between Edwards and Lakewood Park, just join in with the Observers at the end of the parade.
When: Noon onward on Sunday, July 4th (or meet before the parade to march the whole parade route- 11:30am near Webb as LO is at the end of the parade)
Why: Celebrate the holiday and join us in showing your support for Lakewood!

This July 4th the Lakewood Observer is trying to start a new interactive tradition for parade spectators. In this year's 4th of July parade we will be be asking all of you to join us as we pass by and walk the remainder of the route with us to Lakewood Park. We will, in effect, try to turn the parade inside out.

"I think this is an important moment in Lakewood's History. A time when we should all stop, enjoy, and then join in the parade with our friends and neighbors. Take the time to talk, meet and walk with each other and share the year for what it has been," said publisher of the Lakewood Observer Jim O'Bryan. "When the project was first started it was all about joining in, one seat at the table, a place to openly meet, discuss and vet ideas and share stories. This is part of the natural progression. Just as we asked Lakewoodites to join in with their community paper, we will now encourage them to get off their butts and join with us on the 6th anniversary of Lakewood declaring its independence from regional and mainstream media that merely sees the city as a place to come and sell papers."

This first year we will just try to get people to walk/parade with us. In 2011 we will be asking people to not only join with us in our walk, but also celebrate at a picnic/party immediately following the parade. It will be Lakewood's chance to bask in the glow of the residents' successes and share our stories of empowerment from throughout the previous year.

Ever since the first year's pig roast, the LO has been looking for more ways to get Lakewood involved, and to give all residents a place in the parade. After all, the success of the Lakewood Observer as the fasting growing media project in America, is really thanks to all of you- the people of Lakewood.

Get the kids ready with their bikes decorated,
or not.

Just get up and walk along in this walkable - livable city.

Time for all of us to celebrate, just a little.


PEACE

Only because so many asked...

We are asking for people to either meet at the end, or join in as the Observer crew passes,
and then walk with us to Lakewood Park.


See you there, somewhere.



peace



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Jim O'Bryan wrote:Only because so many asked...

We are asking for people to either meet at the end, or join in as the Observer crew passes,
and then walk with us to Lakewood Park.


See you there, somewhere.


peace



.

Hi Jim,

Do you mean meet at Webb, where the Lakewood Observer group will be gathering to start the parade, as the last group marching in the parade, at the end of the parade lineup? So if you want to walk the whole length of the parade with Observers, meet at Webb? at 11:30?

Otherwise, just join up with the Observers as they walk past you on the parade route?

Thanks for the clarification.

Betsy

Betsy Voinovich wrote:
Hi Jim,

Do you mean meet at Webb, where the Lakewood Observer group will be gathering to start the parade, as the last group marching in the parade, at the end of the parade lineup? So if you want to walk the whole length of the parade with Observers, meet at Webb? at 11:30?

Otherwise, just join up with the Observers as they walk past you on the parade route?

Thanks for the clarification.

Betsy

Yes

That is what I meant, though I would say closer to 11:40, as they have to get the
parade loaded into that short street.



.

Great day for parading and fireworks.

Ahhhhhhhhhh America.


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Thank you to everyone that turned out for the parade, and those that joined at the end with us.


Being last seemed pretty lonely at first...


Then friends joined in to the community parade.

Special thanks to LOCAL (Lakewood Observer Community Advisory League) especially Meg
and Betsy who were able to really whip up some action with Deb O'Bryan. Flyers, newsboys,
candy girls, flyer gals, and a slew of people from Rob Masek(Lakewoodites) to Chris Bindel(City
Hall/Eaters Of Lakewood), Rhonda Loje(photogrpaher) Mike Loje(good guy),
Mike Deneen (Petwatch), Steve Davis (Board member), Mark Tiemski (economic
development/monkeys), Mike Z(writer), Ivor(Spin Magazine/Lakewood Observer),
and more jumping in including Political reporter Nadhal Edeah with his group
Lakewood Outdoor Basketball Committee, added flair and happy people.

NEXT YEAR PARTY!


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Great idea...we waited till the end to see who would join in and obviously many did. Looking forward to next year already!

Hey, even Dad and I jumped in! (albeit, about the last 25 feet of the parade )

A good time was had by all, I do believe.

Had a great time, but those banjo fingers of mine are a bit worn out right now...

How Dad did it with his trumpet? It was amazing.

Gary Rice wrote:A good time was had by all, I do believe.

Gary and Bob Rice play the first "Turn The Parade Inside Out Residents Parade" into Lakewood Park.

It was nice.



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Jim what a great idea and tons of fun. As soon as you guys drove past, I threw my folding chair on my back and hopped on my bike and followed along

Took some pictures of the parade:
http://j.mp/9RA0uR

Also decided to play around with Aperture's slideshow stuff, if anyone wants to see something a little more interactive:
http://j.mp/co4F6G

Bryan Schwegler wrote:Jim what a great idea and tons of fun. As soon as you guys drove past, I threw my folding chair on my back and hopped on my bike and followed along

Took some pictures of the parade:
http://j.mp/9RA0uR

Also decided to play around with Aperture's slideshow stuff, if anyone wants to see something a little more interactive:
http://j.mp/co4F6G

Bryan

Beautiful work. I need to have you show me how you did this with Aperture! I have it but have been
using Adobe's Lightroom and Photoshop. Very nice presentation.

Also thank you for taking part in the first of what we hope is the beginning of a growing Lakewood tradition of getting up and following to Lakewood Park for a day of fun and celebration.

I just posted Deb's photos. If you want a look at what we see from inside the parade check it out!
86 photos. I have also noticed other Lakewoodites posting their images. Can't wait to see what
Ivor, Rhonda, Gary and others post!
http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs







http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs

God I love this community.


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Jim O'Bryan wrote:I need to have you show me how you did this with Aperture! I have it but have been using Adobe's Lightroom and Photoshop. Very nice presentation.

It's very easy!

http://www.apple.com/aperture/how-to/#video-slideshows

After seeing all those outstanding photos from Bryan, Deb, Jim and others, I think I'll leave my relatively few "friends-and-family" related shots out of the public display mix for this year. I was mostly playing banjo along the sidelines anyway, and that turned out to be a good thing, as there was a little down time between some of the floats early on and we got some good audience participation.

I'm with Jim though. What a town!

Truthfully, I really believe that's one of the strengths of our whole area. Parma's got great spirit, ditto Brunswick, you-name-it... It amazes me how each of our Cleveland area suburbs are so unique, competitive, and just plain fun...

Hats off to the State of Ohio's Edgewater Park, and Downtown Cleveland too. It's amazing to me, all the stuff going on around us.

...but especially, it's great to be here in Lakewood. We can hold our own with anyone I can think of.

Well, my fingers are rested up again, so I'd better get back to that banjo.

I just activated over 100 shots of the 4th of July parade on my photoblog......check it out....
http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... -july-2010