🌱 Senator First Openly-Gay Minority Leader + Mayor Talks Development

Hey, friends! It's Friday in Lakewood and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on the most important things happening in the community today.

But first, today's weather:

Very windy; snow, 1-2". High: 17 Low: 3.

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Here are the top three stories in Lakewood today:

1. A Lakewood store owner, sometimes called "Mr. Christmas," is continuing to bring holiday memories to the city. Hixon's sells thousands of handcrafted ornaments that are imported from various places — and each ornament has a story. The store is owned by 93-year-old Bill Hixson. (WKYC.com)
2. Senator Nickie Antonio from Lakewood will serve as the first openly-gay minority leader at the Ohio Statehouse. The senator said her priorities are focusing on jobs that pay well and removing the death penalty in the state. (NBC4 WCMH-TV)
3. Lakewood's Mayor Meghan George talked about the mixed-use project that will develop the space where the demolished Lakewood Hospital once resided. Construction for the $100 million project on the 5.7-acre property is expected to begin in early 2023. (Subscription: cleveland.com)

Today in Lakewood:

• Christmas Eve Eve At Lakewood Vineyard Church (6:00 PM)
• Elf The Musical 2022 At Senney Theater (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Are you looking to add a new furry family member to your household? Check out this week's roundup of adoptable pets in the Lakewood area. Meet Tugboat, Seven, Linus, and many more! (Lakewood Patch)
• Lakewood residents may experience power outages from high winds that are anticipated to come from the upcoming winter storm. Follow these safety tips and report power outages to the proper officials. (City of Lakewood, Ohio - Municipal Government via Facebook)
• It's time for an update on the rescued beagles! The Citizens Committee for the Lakewood Animal Shelter (CCLAS) is currently only accepting monetary donations to help support the care of the more than 40 beagles rescued from a home earlier this week. CCLAS also released a statement about the legal status of the beagles. (City of Lakewood, Ohio - Municipal Government via Facebook)

That's it for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with 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.