In The NewsHello, Neighbors: Sunday is Neighbor Day
Originally printed in The Westerly Sun
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Author: Emily DupuisWESTERLY - The Sunday events have become, for many, a sign of spring.
This weekend marks the town's 16th annual Neighbor Day ceremony as well as the 27th annual Garden Market Fair.
The community celebration will be held outside Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. And from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., more than 25 local vendors are expected to set up, rain or shine, across the street in Wilcox Park for the popular plant sale.
The ceremony, to be held beneath a blue and white banner reading "Neighbor, Your Day, Your Way, With Love," is expected to feature greetings from Town Manager Steven Hartford, Police Chief Edward A. Mello, Westerly Fire Chief David Sayles, Rhode Island and Connecticut elected officials and event organizers.
The Rev. John Antonelli of St. Michael Church, the Rev. Christopher Pappas of Christ Church and Matthew Lewiss, president of Congregation Sharah Zedek, will give prayers. And local groups including the Ocean Community YMCA, Christ Church, the Westerly Substance Abuse Task Force and SERVE!, which will collect donations for troops serving abroad, plan to set up informational tables.
This marks the first ceremony held since the declaration of a National Neighbor Day. The U.S. Senate passed a resolution in September and credited Westerly with establishing the tradition held since 1993 on the Sunday before Memorial Day weekend. At the Garden Market Fair, vendors will be selling annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, vegetables, herbs and garden accessories as well as handmade jewelry, pottery, fudge and bird and bat houses. Wilcox Park volunteers plan to sell plants from the Victorian strolling park's collection - including a large selection of the park's Daylily cultivars - at the historic bandstand.
Children can create miniature gardens complete with tiny ladybugs, clay snakes, rocks and moss at the bandstand. And the Westerly Band is scheduled to give a 1 p.m. concert behind the Westerly Public Library.
Across the street, Neighbor Day entertainment will feature music by Glorybound with Dan LaPointe, Lori Urso, Benny Trombino and Steve Cersosimo.
Refreshments are being provided by Tim Hortons, WalMart, the Goddess family, McQuade's Marketplace, Mario Celico, The Pizza Lady, Everett and Kelly Blanchard of Honey Dew Donuts and Jay Morin of Munroe Dairy.
The Neighbor Day Committee, chaired by 15-year-old Christopher Koretski, has worked year-round to organize the event.
"We are always looking for new people for the Neighbor Day Committee? and new people for entertainment and refreshments," said founder and co-coordinator Mary Jane DiMaio, a former longtime Town Council member. If it rains, the Neighbor Day event will be held on the lower level of Town Hall, DiMaio said. Parking is available downtown behind the former police station on Union Street.