Oakleigh Gardens residents organize block party
By Carole Kelly
-
- Residents welcoming Beth Victoriano of the Clinton Police Department to an Oakleigh Subdivision Block Party are (l to r) Stacy Ainsworth, Angie Abbott, Officer Victoriano, Jeff Ainsworth, Suzanne Pegues and Wes Pegues.
-
- The patrol car of Officer Beth Victoriano was an attraction at a recent Oakleigh Subdivision block party. Young participants sat in the driver’s seat, crawled in the back seat, asked questions and explored all aspects of the car.
-
- The patrol car of Officer Beth Victoriano was an attraction at a recent Oakleigh Subdivision block party. Young participants sat in the driver’s seat, crawled in the back seat, asked questions and explored all aspects of the car.
-
- The patrol car of Officer Beth Victoriano was an attraction at a recent Oakleigh Subdivision block party. Young participants sat in the driver’s seat, crawled in the back seat, asked questions and explored all aspects of the car.
Advance planning, fine spring weather and a talented grill chef assured the success of a block party for residents of Oakleigh Gardens, a part of Clinton’s Oakhurst Subdivision.
Organizers Stacy Ainsworth and Suzanne Pegues, who started planning three weeks prior to the Saturday, April 26, event, agree that their purpose was not only for a fun afternoon, but also for neighbors to greet people they know and to meet those they haven’t met. Details included obtaining proper City permits for the party and distributing invitational fliers throughout the neighborhood and to City officials.
The Ainsworths – Jeff, Stacy and son Peyton – were the host family, offering their home, drive and grill for the party site. Chef Jeff turned out hamburgers and hot dogs. Stacy designed and distributed fliers throughout the neighborhood, and, with the help of Suzanne, coordinated the menu. A tent-covered table filled with the entrees, salads and desserts, along with chips, dips, water and soft drinks, were contributed by residents.
Clinton Police Officer Beth Victoriano, whose beat covers the Oakleigh area, joined the party, visiting with adults and capturing the attention of younger neighbors. Her police car was an attraction that they were allowed to inspect and explore, as Victoriano answered questions about various aspects of the car, the radio, siren, her handcuffs and her daily duties as a police officer. She smoothly handled questions and interviewers, sharing her routine with her young audience.
“I’m not always in the car,” she explained. “Along with patrols and answering calls, reports have to be written and filed.”
Among the questions came requests: “Will you handcuff me?” With the permission of the teen’s mother, the procedure of handcuffing was demonstrated so that she had the real feeling for hands secured behind her back, leaned against the police car.
A cornhole toss game, music and plenty of food, along with a cool April afternoon and no rain, enhanced the first block party.
“We dreaded the possibility of rain,” laughed Angie Abbott, who serves on the Oakhurst Homeowners Association Board of Directors. “May the next block party be so fortunate.”
