For Kevin Ewing, this year’s West River neighborhood holiday party was as much a head start on 2010 as a celebration of Yuletide 2009.
Ewing (pictured), president of the West River Neighborhood Services Corporation, called Saturday’s gathering at the Berger Apartments an opportunity to “get people out of their houses and talking to each other.”
“When you’re trying to build community, it’s the small things that add up,” he said.
Ewing said the group’s Neighborhood of Choice plan has achieved a great deal over this year, including an overhaul of Monitor Park and a new green energy program. It hopes to keep the momentum in 2010, including work on the redevelopment of Route 34.
“The goal is to get stakeholders to come together,” he said.
Party coordinator and longtime West River neighbor Paula Panzarella (pictured) said the party liked how the party enabled the community’s children and seniors to interact.
“Children from Barnard Magnet School made ornaments for the residents,” she said, “and the residents get to pass along gifts donated by Toys for Tots and the Police Athletic League.”
“The holiday season can be a lonely time for many of our residents,” said Berger Apartments building manager Kelly North. “By wrapping and giving out the presents, that allows them to be part of the gift-giving process in a way they might not be able to afford otherwise.”
Sponsors of the event, Ewing said, including Yale New Haven Hospital, St. Raphael’s, Stop & Shop, Shaw’s, New Haven Reads, and Atticus, along with the Berger Apartments and Barnard Magnet School, kept the festivities $400 under budget.
“That’s money we can put to good use next year,” he said.
I love Kevin. He is so dreamy. :) I'm glad we have you in the West River Kevin!