Our Block Captains Build Community
Submitted by Laura Bradham, Membership Chair
When the Timbergrove Manor Civic Club Board began talking about repeating the Block Captain Thank You Brunch, I was eager to help organize it. As Membership Chair I get a rare outside glimpse looking in of what Block Captains are doing to build community in our neighborhood, block by block. The Brunch was on February 23, and we were able to shine a spotlight on some of the great things Block Captains are accomplishing, and brainstorm for some of the unique challenges Block Captains face.
Last year, during National Night Out, there were Block Captains that organized dinner for their block, from fajitas and pot lucks, to grilling hot dogs in the front yard, ordering pizza, and even taking dinner to the elderly on the block that couldn't make it outside for the NNO. Some Block Captains took the National Night Out momentum even further, doing things like hosting a Holiday Cookie and Egg Nog Open House, organizing a Bike Parade, or throwing a Birthday Party for the mail carrier.
But, the quiet, day-to-day business of the Block Captains is being organized, having contact information for their block, passing on information about upcoming events in the neighborhood, and distributing Timbergrams and last minute flyers for events like SnowFest. And, the Block Captains are working to not only know the neighbors on their blocks, but also making sure that the neighbors on their blocks know each other. It’s amazing how much behind-the-scenes work is done by the quiet, often unobserved Block Captain. To those Block Captains that couldn’t attend the Brunch, we missed you! Thank you one and all for all you do to make our neighborhood a place of community.
Highlighting Haverhill
Haverhill Drive is in Section 14, and only about 2 large city blocks are part of Timbergrove Manor. Several families have worked together to start a unique tradition. A few years back, they decided to teach the kids to Christmas Carol to the adults. They've even created a Christmas Carol Song Sheet. An instant success, it hasn’t taken long for the adults on the block to start dropping hints to find out when the caroling is scheduled to take place. No one wants to miss the sweet voices singing! Thank you to the Block Captains who help spearhead this to keep this wonderful tradition going! Thank you, families of Haverhill, for building community on Haverhill in such a tangible way! Our neighborhood is better because of traditions like this!
