New Haven Independent

Despite a rainy morning, families turned out in droves for the full day Summer Festival 2007 Saturday. Lines stretched long and some waited as much as a half hour to get a fresh view of familiar sights with the help of Duke and Diesel from Cedar Knoll Farm in Lisbon.

“You don’t see horses too often in New Haven,” noted Melly Montes, who has lived on Clinton Avenue for 20 years. “But with gas prices like they are, maybe pretty soon you’re going to see more,” she joked. Both teams of horses stayed busy all afternoon, as some visitors rode the ten-minute circuit several times.

Kicked off early with a tag sale sheltered under the trees, the festivities lasted until dusk, when the rain had subsided and residents grooved to the Guilford Afro-Caribbean band, Richard and The Underlings, and cover band Critical Jam.

In its second year, the festival was clearly a hit with families and especially kids. During the long afternoon, activities for them took center stage, including woodworking lessons, story-telling, and sack races. Competition was fierce in the sack and relay races organized by Uncle Chip of Uncle Chip’s Entertainment.

Storytelling with Evie Velazquez was a little mellower. Listeners enjoyed dramatic readings of books like The Wolf’s Chicken Stew. Several boys took time out to draw; Kareem, Akila, and Alan (left to right) helped to decorate the story table with pictures.

Woodworker John Bontatibus has lived in the neighborhood for 75 years, and was happy to demonstrate his craft to help build community. He shared simply carved whistles, trucks and trains with a rapt crowd of kids. A strong supporter of efforts to promote individual homeownership, Bontatibus explained that because of investment in the local community, “There’s great people in the neighborhood, and everybody’s helping one another.”

Lee Cruz, of the co-sponsoring Community Foundation for Greater New Haven., agreed: “It’s a chance to show off the community and promote homeownership and fixing up houses, all toward developing a healthier neighborhood.

The vibrancy of the neighborhood was never more evident than at 9 a.m., when more than a dozen vendors, including Edna Kripps, set up tables for a tag sale despite the rain. “I stayed under the trees,” Kripps explained, “and there were lots of people who came to shop. It’s really nice when the neighbors are welcoming.”

Kripps sold almost everything she brought, although the supply of Barbie dolls was apparently inexhaustible.

The weather was a challenge at times. Food vendors decided not to come because of the rain, and a planned movie screening had to be canceled because of wind. But residents like Mary Ann Moran (left) helped pass out free popcorn and juice to kids and parents alike. She explained, “It’s our way of trying to get people to come out of their houses and get to know each other.”