Read The 'Why I Love Lakewood' Essay Contest Winner

LAKEWOOD, OH — Fourth-grader Ruby McEwen is the winner of the "Why I Love Lakewood" essay contest. Ruby's submission was picked from a pool of 200 submissions, the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce said.

Organized by the Lakewood Chamber, the essay contest was run by six judges who read each essay, gauging its originality, organization, descriptive language and grammar. Ruby's was rated as the best overall. She will receive a $100 cash prize and will ride in the Light Up Lakewood Parade on Saturday, before taking the stage with Mayor Mike Summers and Santa Claus to flip on the lights in downtown Lakewood.

Ruby said she loved Lakewood because of the city's "diversity, libraries, historic homes, and because her "heart is in Lakewood." Read her essay, in its entirety, below.

"Why I Love Lakewood"
By: Ruby McEwen, Emerson Elementary School

What makes a good hometown great? Beautiful parks? Great schools? People from all walks of life? Magnificent libraries? Century-old homes? How about shopping, restaurants and entertainment? Well, Lakewood has all of that, it’s my home town, and it’s where my heart is.

When I first started Emerson Elementary School in kindergarten, there were kids my age that spoke a different language. I was fascinated. I loved hearing a new language that I didn’t speak. My dad said there are 25 different languages spoken in Lakewood City Schools.

We have lots of diversity and we’ve got lots of books. We also have not one, but two libraries. When I go to our libraries, I feel transported to a magical, adventurous place, imagination comes alive and dreams come true. I leap from book to book finding scary, funny, adventurous, and magical stories.

Lastly, I’m a big fan of our city’s historic homes. Many of them are more than a 100 years old, like mine, crafted by artisan laborers. Our historic architecture is one of the reasons why our city remains popular.

What are the things that make a home? Some people say home is where the heart is. My heart is in Lakewood.

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Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch