Photo by Denae Brewer/Horizon
Local youngsters make new friends as they enjoy a day of fun and food at block party sponsored by the Highbridge Community Neighborhood Council and the Ogden Avenue Business and Merchants Association. Pictured above clockwise from top to bottom are: Brandon, Tony,Shante and Dache.

Merchants and Council say ‘thanks’ to HB community

By Denae Brewer
Editor in Chief

In an effort to bring “unity” to the community, the Highbridge Community Neighborhood Council and the Ogden Avenue Business and Merchants Association threw their first ever block party.

Braving the brisk autumn afternoon of October 18, hundreds of Highbridge residents and merchants came out to celebrate each other.

“This is a good thing,” said Calvin Jackson president of the merchants association. “This is our [the merchants] way of showing what we offer and a way of giving back to the community.”

The four-hour event went off without a hitch. Children rode their bikes and ran along 164 Street on the one block stretch between Ogden and Summit avenues. The smell of hamburgers and hotdogs waft through the air, while people waited on long lines for a fresh bag of popcorn, courtesy of the local Clean Rite Center.

“This is how it should be,” said Highbridge resident and council member Barbara Carey. “A group of people coming together as one. There was no need for cops or any type of aggravation. Everything went smoothly.”

Stores throughout the community participated in the block party. Some gave donations while others like Marie Hair salon offered half price specials for the day and CK Beauty Supply and Clean Rite raffled off $50 in product value.

Amidst the fun and games, a serious message was passed throughout the crowd. Representatives from the Fire Department spoke about fire prevention and safety.

Equipped with their own fire safety house attached to a truck, Firefighter Jerry Claxton and Lieutenant Tony Torrillo commanded the attention of the children by their mere presence. “This is important,” Mr. Claxton relayed. “If you happen to be in a real fire what you’ve learned here may save your life.”

He told the crowd, if they were in a fire, it was important to stay low and keep calm. The fire fighters then proceeded to take people through the house in an effort to simulate an actual fore.

People emerged from the house with a better understanding of the impact of a fire. “That was tough,” said Lauren Torres a simulator participant. “All that smoke and darkness can confuse you. I know I don’t ever want to be in a fire.”

As the day wound down, the children enjoyed a dance completion while some of the younger ones enjoyed the goodies from their grab bag.

“I’m glad I came,” giggled Dache Rogers as she colored and played with her new friends. “I ate a lot and I had fun.”

That’s exactly what the organizers of the event intended. “God blessed us today and everyday,” said Ms. Carey. “It’s up to us to make sure we make the best of what we get and the first step is to treat each other with respect.”