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Lakewood Residents,

I want to start this month's newsletter by recognizing and thanking Lakewood Fire Chief Timothy Dunphy for his years of service to our community. Chief Dunphy is retiring effective October 6. He has been an outstanding public servant for more than three decades, and I will miss his leadership, tireless work, guidance, and enthusiasm for the City and its people.

Autumn has arrived, which means darker mornings and evenings. Given that October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, please continue to travel carefully and watch out for the City's many pedestrians of all ages.

Lastly, Active Aging Week is in full swing - I hope that many of you are able to attend some of the events and activities that are taking place throughout the week, especially Active Aging Community Day on Wednesday down at Lakewood Park! Thank you to all of our neighborhood partners for helping to make this week a success.

October 2

Active Aging

Community Day

3:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Lakewood Park



October 3

"Safe Gun Storage Saves Lives" Informational Meeting

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Cove Community Center

October 6

Annual Firefighter Recognition Ceremony

12:00-1:00 PM

Fire Station #1



October 7

City Council Meeting

7:30 PM

City Hall Auditorium



October 12

Spooky Pooch Parade

12:30 - 3:30 PM

Madison Park



October 13

Car Seat Safety Check

(Registration Required)

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Fire Station #1

October 19

Timeless Tales: 30 Years of the Lakewood Family Room

7:00 - 11:00 PM

Cove Community Center

October 21

City Council Meeting

7:30 PM

City Hall Auditorium



October 22

Uptown Madison

Trick-Or-Treat

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Madison Ave. between Warren and Hilliard

October 31

Lakewood Trick-Or-Treat

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Click below to view the City of Lakewood's full events calendar.

Lakewood Fire Chief Dunphy Calls it a Career

On October 6, 2024, Lakewood Fire Chief Timothy Dunphy will retire, concluding a distinguished 32-year career with the Lakewood Fire Department. Chief Dunphy's leadership has left an indelible mark on the department, known for both its innovation and unwavering dedication to public safety.

“It’s been an incredible honor to have spent my entire career serving this great city with a group of selfless and talented firefighters here in the Lakewood Fire Department,” said Dunphy. “I’m proud to have carried on the tradition of excellence in our department and how we have worked together to keep Lakewood safe. I will miss my team and how rewarding this work has been, but I am also excited to see how our new leaders continue moving the Fire Department forward.”

Under Chief Dunphy's leadership, the department introduced several groundbreaking programs, including the Neighborhood Paramedic Program, which provides in-home healthcare support for seniors. He also revived the Car Seat Fit Stop Program, helping parents ensure their children’s car seats are properly installed. Additionally, Dunphy championed cutting-edge training, from water rescue to citywide emergency preparedness exercises. His tenure also saw the department welcome its first female firefighter and successfully navigate challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Marine Towers West parking garage collapse.

Chief Dunphy began his career in 1992 as a Firefighter/Paramedic and rose through the ranks, becoming Fire Marshal in 2011 and Fire Chief in 2019. He is known for his passion for the city, even sporting a Lakewood High School Ranger sticker on his helmet. Now, he looks forward to spending more time with his wife and four children.

He will pass the baton to current Fire Marshal Ryan Fairbanks, who will be sworn in as the new Fire Chief during Lakewood’s annual Firefighter Recognition Ceremony on October 6.

October is National Pedestrian Safety Month

As we move into October, the City of Lakewood is proud to recognize National Pedestrian Safety Month. Our streets and sidewalks are an essential part of life here, connecting our neighborhoods, parks, schools, and businesses. With many residents walking and biking, it's crucial that we all do our part to ensure safety.

We ask all drivers in Lakewood to pay extra attention to pedestrians this month and every month. Many of our streets are busy with families, children walking to school, and people enjoying the beautiful fall weather. Speeding through residential areas increases the risk of accidents and serious injuries, so please remember to observe posted speed limits.

It’s also important to stop fully at all marked stop lines behind crosswalks. This gives pedestrians, especially those who may not be easily visible, the space they need to cross safely. Failing to stop or rolling through intersections puts our most vulnerable road users—children, seniors, and people with disabilities—at risk.

Pedestrian safety is especially important in October as Halloween trick-or-treating brings more children out on our streets after dark. Slowing down and staying alert can help prevent accidents during this fun but busy time of year.

Let’s work together to keep our streets safe. By driving carefully, following speed limits, and respecting stop signs and crosswalks, we can make Lakewood a safer, more walkable community for everyone. This October, let’s commit to pedestrian safety as a priority, ensuring that Lakewood remains a welcoming and safe place to live and visit.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio will host an event titled "Safe Gun Storage Saves Lives" at Cove Community Center on Thurs., Oct. 3 from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.

Attendees will hear from presenters (including Mayor George and Lakewood Police Chief Fischer) who will share facts and data on firearms-related accidents, education on how to prevent gun-related tragedies, and demonstration of firearm lock and storage devices; they will then have the opportunity to speak with the presenters in the second half of the event.

Cable gun locks will be distributed for free to anyone in attendance. No registration or sign-up is required.

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As you begin to decorate for fall or Halloween, please keep in mind what types of decorations you are using. We recommend using natural or biodegradable items such as cornstalks, pumpkins, and fresh flowers like mums. These items can be composted when the season is over, reducing the amount of waste created. If you decorate with other materials, make sure they are well secured so they do not get blown around by the wind to become litter. Also, consider reusing them year after year.

Two especially harmful items to avoid are spiderweb netting and anything featuring glitter. Fake spiderwebs can trap birds, bats, pollinators, and other animals when it is used outdoors, causing the animals serious harm. Glitter is made of plastic, and easily sheds onto the ground, eventually making its way into a nearby storm drain headed for Lake Erie.

Zoning Code Refresh: We Want To Hear From You!

If you are interested in how the City contemplates:

• What types of uses are allowed in different areas of the City…
• Standards for building design, parking, landscaping, signs…
• Processes by which development is approved…

Then you have the opportunity to get involved with the City's zoning refresh process.

Zoning codes are the means by which local governments regulate land use. Local governments receive the authority to establish and adopt zoning codes by the State Zoning Enabling Act to manage how land is developed and used in order to protect public health, safety, and welfare.

We want to hear from Lakewood residents and use your feedback in the current code refresh. To learn more about the project and take the questionnaire, click the button below. Thank you!

Active Aging Week Is Underway

Join us throughout the city to learn, engage, and participate in events designed to fulfill the Seven Dimensions of Wellness.

On Wednesday, October 2, a citywide event will take place at Lakewood Park from 3 to 7 PM to bring organizations and residents together to celebrate and engage in a wide range of activities.

Attendees have the chance to attend an event of each category, and enter their participation card in a drawing for a prize basket.

The full schedule can be found at the link below. Whether you join for just one event or something each day, we look forward to your presence and participation!

Finding Lakewood: Photo Scavenger Hunt

So you think you know Lakewood inside and out? Well, now is the chance to prove your knowledge by joining the "Finding Lakewood" photo scavenger hunt.

Registrants will receive eighteen photos via email when the competition begins on October 7, and then have two weeks to find the locations depicted in each photo. Individuals that correctly identify each location will be entered into a drawing to receive prizes from a large list of local vendors.

Entry is $15; all proceeds benefit the Lakewood Division of Aging programming for seniors. Click the button below or visit the Cove Community Center and ask for Susan or Barry to sign up.

Attention Landlords: Housing License Renewals

Housing license renewals for 2025 opens on September 4, 2024. Landlords are required to renew their housing licenses by November 1, 2024 to avoid a late fee.

Click the button below for more information and to renew your housing license.

Now Hiring: Entry-Level Patrol Officers

Are you interested in becoming a Patrol Officer for the City of Lakewood? The Lakewood Civil Service Commission is conducting an exam for Entry-Level Patrol Officers.

The deadline to complete the exam and submit documents is 10/9/24.

Celebrating 30 Years of the Lakewood Family Room

The City of Lakewood Department of Human Services is hosting "Timeless Tales: Celebrating 30 Years of the Lakewood Family Room," a gala event to recognize the City's commitment to early childhood development and building a community among parents, families, and caregivers.

The event will take place Saturday, October 19 from 7 to 11 PM at Cove Community Center.

Tickets are on sale now at the link below. We look forward to seeing you there!

City of Lakewood | lakewoodoh.gov