Philadelphia, Aug. 22, 2011 — As summer unofficially draws to an end Labor Day weekend, state Sen. Anthony H. Williams invites the community out for one last peaceful, family-friendly gathering of the Neighborhood to Neighborhood (N2N) 2011 Summer of Peace with a closing cookout.
The free event, co-sponsored by Wawa, Penrose Area Civic Association and Eastwick Bike Patrol, takes place on Saturday, Sept. 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Eastwick Park, located at 74th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard.
“I am so proud of what we as a community have accomplished over the past few months through the N2N Summer of Peace,” Williams said. “I think it’s only appropriate that we come together to celebrate the end of a successful summer with a community gathering.”
There will be free popcorn, cotton candy, soft pretzels, water ice and fruit for folks to enjoy at the upcoming cookout.
Children’s activities include a Moon Bounce, rides, games, face painting, character appearances, clowns, balloon art, water games and an arts-and-crafts table. For adults, there will be a DJ spinning music, line dancing and on-site constituent services with the senator’s staff.
The annual Lifeguard on Duty award recipients will also be honored at this event.
The cookout culminates Williams’ Neighborhood to Neighborhood 2011 Summer of Peace initiative. He introduced this initiative in lieu of his N2N Street Festival, which was suspended this year after a 20 plus-year run along Baltimore Avenue.
Williams instead opted to re-direct resources that normally went to the festival’s operation to community-based efforts that help promote youth development and curb violence.
The initiative has funded some 50 mini-grants to various local organizations that promote peace, gun buybacks that took 83 weapons off the streets, a youth basketball tournament that brought together teenagers with local police officers, and community cookouts throughout the 8th District, among the highlights.
Area police have reported positive trends as well. Homicides and aggravated assaults with weapons decreased in the past year in the 12th, 17th and 18th police districts in Philadelphia.
For more information, call 215-492-2980.
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