🌱 Cuyahoga County Jail Employee Fired + Phoenix Coffee Is Back

Hello, Lakewood! It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Patch newsletter. Come along to find out everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days.

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy; breezy, colder. High: 39 Low: 29.
• Wednesday: Chilly with clouds and sun. High: 34 Low: 31.

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Here are the top three stories today in Lakewood:

1. On Friday, Mar. 3, Cuyahoga County officials confirmed that a Cuyahoga County Jail employee was fired as a result of a criminal activity investigation. The investigation began after officials received a tip about the corrections officer’s conduct. The officer admitted to providing a personal cellphone number for 18 inmates, "conducting sexual conversations due to boredom," and smoking Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) pens. (Cleveland News 19)
2. Phoenix Coffee is returning to Lakewood after 13 years! The first Phoenix Coffee cafe opened in Lakewood in 1991 and was a staple in the area for 20 years. Now, the employee-owned cooperative coffee company will open its shop at 12501 Madison Avenue in the Birdtown neighborhood on Mar. 11. (Cleve Scene)
3. The first recorded therapy dog was buried in Lakewood in 1957. A Yorkshire Terrier named Smoky served on the frontlines of the South Pacific during WWII and became the first therapy dog, cheering up injured soldiers in hospitals during and after the war. Smoky earned eight battle stars, flew on 12 air/sea rescue and photo reconnaissance combat missions, and survived 150 air raids with Army Air Force Cpl. William A. Wynne. There is now a statue of her at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. (WeAreTheMighty.com)

Today and tomorrow in Lakewood:

Tuesday, March 7

• A La Cart - Live Cooking Demo At Cove Community Center (2:00 PM)
• Witt Lowry: Live At Mahall's (7:00 PM)

Wednesday, March 8

• Meet Me At The Altar: Live At Mahall's (6:30 PM)
• Boozy Bingo At The Winchester (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Lakewood Library is hosting the "Dear Ukraine Poetry Reception" on Sunday, Mar. 12 at 2:00 p.m.! The event plans to feature poetry from local students and Poet in Residence Katie Daley, reflections by Andrew Fedynsky from the Ukrainian Museum-Archives, and music by Harmonia. (Lakewood Library via Twitter)
• Congratulations to Lakewood wrestler Zayna Muntaser! She won the regional championship for girls' wrestling and will move on to the state championship. (Lakewood Wrestling via Twitter)
• Looking for a new home and want to get a better understanding of what's available near you? Check out the latest homes for sale in the Lakewood area, including a one-bedroom on Lake Avenue for $169,000 and a six-bedroom on Robin Street for $265,000! (Lakewood Patch)

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Featured events:

• 2023 Cuyahoga County Solar Co-op Online and In Person Info Session (March 9)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all soon for another update!

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.