Block party brings out neighbors to celebrate, enjoy festivities
LEWISTON – Sean Dyer knows how to balance work and play. At a community gathering Tuesday at Lionel P. Potvin Park, the 11-year-old spent half his time in the inflatable bouncing room and the other half lending a hand in the food line.
The late-afternoon block party drew more than 200 neighbors outside for hamburgers and hot dogs in the park at Cedar and Oxford streets.
“It’s great,” Dyer said. “I like bouncing in that big balloon. But I’m also helping to hand out drinks and stuff.”
The community gathering was coordinated by the police-run Railroad Park Community Action Group, Empower Lewiston and the nearby Pastime Club.
“It’s good to get everybody together,” said Daren Burgess, a resident of the area and president of the Railroad Park group. “It’s an amazing turnout. We’ve had to restock everything.”
Before the day was done, coordinators had to rush out four times to replenish the supply of burgers, hot dogs, cookies and drinks.
Police and firefighters mingled with residents of the Little Canada neighborhood while children ran amok in the grassy park named for former Lewiston City Councilor Lionel Potvin, who recently passed away.
“My mom painted me,” said 6-year-old Brittany Dyer.
Normally, it would be an odd thing for a child to say. On Tuesday though, Carlene Dyer sat before a table of paints while a long line of children waited to get their faces decorated.
Police Chief William Welch posed for pictures with adults and children. His officers roamed the park, handing out cop cards and reviewing the work of the Railroad Park Community Action Group.
“It’s a good group,” said police Sgt. Adam Higgins, who runs the group. “They’re very involved.”
The community task force gathers regularly to devise ways to clean their neighborhood of trash, safety hazards, dog waste, cigarette butts and disorderly loiterers.
The block party continued until nearly sundown. By the end of it, Sean Dyer had found something else he favored, in addition to bouncing around and handing out drinks.
“The burgers?” he said. “Very tasty.”
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