Neighborhood Connections holds eighth annual block party

Local neighborhood watch group Neighborhood Connections threw out the welcome mat Saturday for neighbors and community friends in Cape Girardeau's May Greene Park.

The annual block party, now in its eighth year, began with a group of neighbors who wanted to start their a neighborhood watch group.

"The annual block party grew from that," group member Joan Jones said.

"One of the most important aspects of having this annual celebration," said the Rev. Bob Towner of Christ Episcopal Church, "is to bring neighbors together and to break the cycle of alienation and isolation from one another."

First-time attendees Beth Seabaugh and her daughters, visiting Cape Girardeau from Daisy, heard the music as they drove by and decided to stop.

"One of the best things about something like this is that it brings back that small-town feel," Seabaugh said.

"Just like the front-porch gatherings of yesteryear," Towner said.

Pony rides, street chalk drawing and face painting were popular among the children. Many waited in the face-painting line more than once. Some tried their hand at Wii bowling from the back of the Cape Girardeau Police Department's DARE vehicle.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department was also on hand. Partygoers saw the firetruck up close, and it provided a backdrop for lots of pictures.

Tracker, the Southeast Missourian Jr. mascot, received lots of high-fives and hugs.

"We certainly couldn't do this for our neighbors without the generosity of our community friends and volunteers," Jones said. "Everything was donated."

This year also marked the first time the Southeast Missouri Food Bank participated in the festivities. Parked in the Christ Episcopal Church parking lot, the mobile food bank was fully stocked.

"We are able to offer 300 families a week's worth of groceries from our mobile unit," said Missy Rice, programdDirector for the food bank. "We were happy to be a part of this event."

Even though the block party is an annual affair, Neighborhood Connections meets monthly with Cape Girardeau liaison, officer Hammond of the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Jennifer Deberry said although she lives in the neighborhood, this is the first time she attended. "I found out about the party and the offering of food from my cousin," she said. "This is a good thing. A really good thing,"