The Observation Deck

http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/issue_pdfs/Observer_Vol_07_Issue_05.pdf

All

Here we are 20% of the way through the year already! How are you doing with the New Years' Resolutions?

Yeah, me too.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of stepping in to produce 3 of the 7 papers we put out. It was a
glorious weekend, to get back in touch with some of the communities that really love and work hard
to produce their community paper. All were very much like Lakewood, other papers and media ignoring
them, and even leaving when the community needed them most to help the residents and businesses.

It took me back to the early days of the Lakewood Observer where we were all so much younger, and so
sure that we could break the senseless circle of needing others to tell our stories. That we could be trusted
to tell our own stories and as in life accept the bias, the depth and the love that came with them.

As the Observer chain continues to grow, and more communities reach out to own their words, their
actions, and too amplify the good deeds, it is amazing. Our newest projects is in one of the most
depressed neighborhoods in Ohio, and it is met with the same love and excitement and hope that
the Lakewood Observer was met with. We are also outside of the county, in the rural areas of Ohio
and some very nice neighborhoods, and find them reacting the same way to owning their words again.

This past week, we saw another example of what media can do to one of our own. Reporting the facts
or the facts as they seem, without any context or concern as to how they reverberate through the
community they claim to be serving. It again brought back how many times outsiders came in, and
over the long course of a story got it horribly wrong, or even when right, with devastating fallout.

Yeah, It was a very busy but very good weekend. The one thing I know is there are good, loving, caring
people everywhere. There are people with hope, dreams, and great ideas. These are the future of the
region and America. I am so glad, and so lucky to be just one small part of the effort to serve them
and to serve you and the city I love most, Lakewood, Ohio.

Thanks as always to the crew, the writers, photographers, web people, web surfers, lurkers, joiners,
discussers, sellers and production staff. Especially my wife Debra O'Bryan, Margaret Brinich, Maggie
Fraley, Betsy Voinovich, Dan Ott, Jim DeVito, and all.

My god is my life blessed!

This issue... QR Code Rich!

David Anderson, a conversation with the new Ward 1 councilman, where we get a chance talk with
my neighbor, and a damn good thinker, and doer. I am excited to see what he can do on council for
the city we both profess our love for.

Report on the Snow Summit!
Soul Food to feed the hungry.
If it is spring, it is time to sign up for LEAF!
Lakewood Resident sends sketches of the city to the National Art Show.
Lakewood Living - March Yard and Garden List.
Is the Detroit Theater really closing?
Gary Rice asks if we have had enough snow, while Bret Callentine confronts the Left.
April Stoltz brings back news to Lakewood from the Collective Bargaining demonstrations.
Wellness Watch where we partner with LiveWell Lakewood to help Lakewood get healthier.
Spotlight on Downtown Business Alliance
"Lakewood Christian Service Center" becomes "Lakewood Community Service Center"
St. Ed's Hockey - Leaders on and off the Ice.
Our continuing work with Lakewood Schools
and Kid's Corner, which is becoming my favorite section, run by kids for kids!


Thank you, to all who work to make this city better.

PEACE

Your humble servant
Jim O'Bryan



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