Picnic, music jam celebrates connecting with neighbors

The members of Neighborhood Connections want to instill pride and a sense of community on the streets where they live. The organization was born two years ago when an area resident voiced her opinion to the Rev. Bob Towner of Christ Episcopal Church that neighbors should work proactively to improve their communities.

Celebrating with its second annual picnic and jam at 4 p.m. Saturday, Neighborhood Connections invites everyone to come out to the May Greene Garden Park at the corner of Fountain and Themis streets to enjoy music by downtown rock, folk and blues artists, barbecue and the opportunity to become acquainted with Neighborhood Connections members. The event will be held rain or shine.

The picnic is a chance to network, become aware of useful resources and meet the local people involved in community services and ministries. Neighborhood Connections members will explain the process of creating such a neighborhood group. The DARE car, police and firefighters will attend. The public is invited to meet neighbors within the group's boundaries of Spanish Street on the east, Sprigg Street on the west, North Street on the north and Independence Street on the south. Neighboring blocks are welcome to join.

The group received the Award of Distinction in 2006 from the city's Community Relations Council of Vision 2020. Board member Nancy Jernigan said they were nominated for meeting the goal of creating a unique sense of community pride where people like to live, work, learn, play and do business.

Donna Maguire, a board member of Old Town Cape, says Neighborhood Connections is another means of strengthening the neighborhood and keeping a line of communication open concerning residential life and the areas of business, history and development.

"Support from the city has been outstanding," publicity chairwoman Joan Jones said, "with officers attending and making presentations on safety and offering advice toward building a better neighborhood."

Neighborhood Connections also has a Neighborhood Watch in effect with signs posted and 13 block captains who residents can count on for assistance if there are signs of illegal activity. Awareness of unusual conduct or an increase in traffic at a particular address can be passed on to police to be informed of problem areas that might need special attention.

The informal group of about 20 meets at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of alternate months at the Parish Hall of Christ Episcopal Church at Fountain and Themis streets. For more information, call 651-4567.