Green Halloween Tips

When we think of Halloween, we think of orange and black, but green can be a Halloween color, too! Here are some helpful tips on how to make your trick-or-treat activities more environmentally friendly this year.

Unplug the Vampire: Certain electronics such as laptops, televisions, and especially cell phone chargers continue to draw power even when you are not using them. It is called the “vampire suck” and you can kill them at the source by using handy devices that have on/off switches such as WattStopper and the Smart Strip Power Strip.

Happy Pumpkins: For those uncarved pumpkins, be sure to think about the reduce, reuse and recycle options. Pumpkins make great soups. The seeds can be toasted in the oven for a snack. The core can be added to your local compost for rich nutrients. Use your imagination!

Shop Local, Buy Local, Eat Local: Friends and family enjoy Halloween candies and chocolates. Be sure to shop and buy local treats from local stores in Lakewood such as Sweet Designs and Malley’s Chocolates.

Chocolate Walk

On October 29th, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., you’ll walk Detroit Avenue between Manor Park Avenue and Mars Avenue, visiting the 30 participating businesses and receiving a delightful chocolate treat at each stop. Some, like chocolate soup and chocolate lava cake, you’ll enjoy on the spot. Others you’ll be able to take home to savor later.

First Federal of Lakewood is the first tour stop, where you will pick up your Chocolate Walk bag. On display there will be a myriad of gift baskets for which you may buy raffle tickets, $1 each or 6 for $5, and participate in a Chinese auction.

The event also includes a search for the golden eggs. A dozen numbered golden eggs will scattered among the businesses on the Walk. Find them all and you’ll receive a raffle ticket at the last stop. Lakewood’s own Cats on Holiday will keep you movin’ and groovin’ down the street with their toe-tapping “swamp pop” music from 7:00 – 9:00.

The evening ends with the Grand Finale Sundae Bar, sponsored by Giant Eagle, which will be open from 8:00 – 10:00 in the former Thrifty Peddler at the corner of Detroit & Marlowe. The raffle prizes will move there so you’ll get a second chance to enter the raffle while you enjoy your ice cream. Ticket purchases are also available at the following downtown merchant locations:

1. Geiger’s – 14710 Detroit Avenue
2. Plantation Home – 14401 Detroit Avenue
3. Lion & Blue – 15106 Detroit Avenue
4. Rozi’s Wine House – 14900 Detroit Avenue

Source: LakewoodAlive

Spooky Pooch Parade

Pirates, Skeletons, and Elvis! Oh My! This year’s Spooky Pooch Parade is sure to bring out even more scary, wacky and creative costumes. Join the dogs and their humans as they kick off Halloween on Saturday, October 17th for the 2nd annual Spooky Pooch Parade. To register please visit here.

Cleveland’s most famous dog will be joining the parade. Chomps, the Cleveland Brown’s mascot, will lead his fellow dogs down Detroit Avenue to show off their spookiest costumes and to show that dogs love Halloween too. Does your pooch have the best costume? Let our judges decide. Judges include Donna Miller, Plain Dealer reporter; Jack Gustin, president of Lakewood Hospital and his wife Jan; Jim Crawford, Lakewood Public Library’s new director; and Donna Blakesmit, CCLAS/Lakewood Animal Shelter representative. All proceeds from the Spooky Pooch Parade will benefit downtown Lakewood revitalization and the Lakewood Animal Shelter.

Source: Lakewood Observer, by Lacey Hoffmann

LEAF Harvest Festival

Come celebrate local food with your friends! We will closing down the street to make room for music, food, and the Fall Harvest Festival by the LEAF community. Expect to see games for the kids and the best pie bake-off in Northeast Ohio. This event is open to the public. To learn more about LEAF and their mission, click here.