LEWISTON — Shanna Rogers got tired of hearing about "Dirty Lew" and decided to do something about it.
She brought together the Neighborhood Housing League, The Visible Community and the Maine League of Young Voters to host a family-friendly block party in Kennedy Park on Saturday afternoon.
"There are lots of people who believe in our community and take pride in it, so I decided to create this 'Livin in the Lew, Proud to be in the Lew' event," Rogers said Saturday at the park where the groups offered music, games, free food and 21 nonprofit booths.
"It's a wonderful thing," she said. "Just look, the line for food is a half-mile long and everyone still has smiles on their faces."
Half-way through the event, Zumba instructor Cynthia Nicholas and several dozen other dancers broke into a dance in the middle of the park. While some onlookers only smiled and tapped their feet to the music, many joined in the dancing, even if they were out of step.
Several members of the Lewiston Police Department showed up in uniform on their time off and the Lewiston Fire Department brought a truck to display. With near-perfect weather, the afternoon brought smiles to the numerous face-painted children running and playing in the park.
Zumba instructor Cynthia Nicholas, front, in orange, leads a group of people as they break out in a dance at Saturday's block party in Kennedy Park.
A couple listens to the band Misgyded in Kennedy Park on Saturday afternoon during the "Livin in the Lew" block party
Braden Roma, 5, of Lewiston enjoys a hot dog with his family in Kennedy Park on Saturday afternoon during the block party.
Jason Mungin of Auburn, right, and Olivia Lucas of Mobile, Ala., dance to music in Kennedy Park on Saturday afternoon during the "Livin in the Lew" block party.
Volunteers Ron Couture, front, and Gary Umbria cook a mass of hot dogs and hamburgers on a giant grill during Saturday's block party in Kennedy Park in Lewiston.
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this is beautiful and
this is beautiful and refreshing to see. kudos to shanna rogers-i know this could not have been easy.
i think a lot of the time people have misperceptions of lewiston because of youtube and fb pages like 'the dirty lew' that spit hateful, distasteful, and racist remarks. improvements are to be made-yes, but i feel that many of the issues lye within the way this city is run and people not being held accountable for their buildings that they are renting. state of your home is the state of your mind-not just vice versa.
we need to get back the days of 'community' and what that really means. i think livin in the lew is a prime example of 'togetherness' and community really means. we are so consumed in the everyday hustle and bustle of this fast-tracked life-often forgetting or ignoring our neighbors... and even expecting the 'next' person to do something about 'it'-a problem or issue. truly a shame.
it really takes a lending hand or idea or just taking pride or helping a neighbor to take back a community and stand up for what we will not stand for.
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look like everyone is having fun thats how every one should get along
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