DNA Helps Catch Suspected 7-Eleven Armed Robber

A 37-year-old Lakewood man faces aggravated armed robbery charge.

A baseball cap has led to the arrest of a 37-year-old Lakewood man suspected of robbing the 7-Eleven at knifepoint last month. Gregory George, of 1281 Thoreau Avenue, was arrested and charged with aggravated armed robbery after police extracted DNA evidence from hair inside a baseball cap left behind at the Hilliard Road convenient store. Police believe that the 37-year-old threatened the store clerk with a box-cutter knife before fleeing the store in the early morning of April 11.  Police chief Timothy Malley said that George — suspected of carrying the entire cash register out of the store — made off with a “couple hundred dollars.” His parked car was waiting down Olive Avenue. But just before his dash down the street, officers believe …

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Taste of Lakewood: New Site, More Vendors

Event moves to Screw Factory after years at Clifton Club.

The ninth annual Taste of Lakewood will be bringing back to the neighborhood the irresistible combination of art and food for another round of good eats and visual treats on June 3. But this time around, the Taste of Lakewood will be in a new location. The event will be held at the Lake Erie Building, Templar Industrial Park, also known as the Screw Factory, after being held at the Clifton Club for its first eight years. “It’s a larger venue. Instead of limiting ourselves to 22 restaurants, we’re going to have 28. We will be able to sell more tickets. We’re partnering with the Screw Factory artists as well, and they’ll have their studios open,” Val Mechenbier, of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, said. The Taste of Lakewood runs from 4 to …

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City Prepares for Round of Union Bargaining Agreements

With plenty of uncertainty, the administration is preparing for negations with all seven of the city’s unions.

There are 450 employees in the city of Lakewood, and 390 of them belong to a union. All seven contracts for Lakewood’s seven unions are set to expire at the end of this year.  The city’s administration is getting ready for negotiations at the bargaining table, expected to begin this fall. “In order to prepare for that — and do it thoughtfully — it takes serious consideration,” said Lakewood Mayor Michael Summers. “And we labor with an enormous uncertainty with income tax collections, we not sure of our tax valuations, but we’re reasonably sure of what the state’s cuts are.” Lakewood city officials began adjusting its books last year when Kasich signed the state’s two-year budget, which slashed the city’s local government fund to the tune …

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Bike for Beck is Ready to Roll

There's "just no excuse" for not checking out this bike-friendly event to raise money for the Beck Center for the Arts.

Snapshot: Peeling Away the Layers at Drug Mart Plaza

The extensive renovation to Lakewood Plaza is rolling right along.

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Questions, Concerns Over New Drug Mart Proposal

About 50 residents attended a community forum to learn more about the new developments on Detroit Avenue.

What about an increase in traffic? What about the project’s proximity to Garfield Middle School? What happens if Discount Drug Mart is a bad neighbor? Those were among the questions from residents attending a forum on Wednesday to discuss the plans for a new Discount Drug Mart at the site of the former Ganley auto dealership on Detroit Avenue.  Hosted by the city, a crowd of about 50 people attended the community forum. The company — with its multi-million-dollar renovation already under way at Lakewood Plaza — has plans to move its eastern Lakewood location to the corner of Cohassett and Detroit avenues. Plans call for a red brick structure, 92 parking spaces, a drive-thru, and green space that includes space for a bio-retention swale.  …

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POLL: Who's Got the Perfect Patio in Lakewood?

You know what we're talking about — just the right amount of sun-to-shade ratio, a great view and maybe a good drink to go along with it.

A patio in the spring and summertime is a thing of beauty, isn't it? And here in Lakewood, there’s no shortage of great outdoor patios. That was made evident when we asked for your recommendations for this week's Readers' Choice poll. Here's what we heard: Don't see your favorite Lakewood patio on the list? It's probably because you didn't get your nomination in on time! We'll close this patio poll at 5 p.m. Friday and announce the winner on Saturday. In the event of a tie, local editor Colin McEwen will choose the winner based on which business has the most reviews on its Directory listing. (We're talking about positive reviews.) Now here's something we have to say: "Voting results posted in real time shall not be deemed official until …

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Steve

11:38 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012

Only if you supply the food and beer. :)   more ›