Building community spirit; Block party brings Lynn neighborhood together

LYNN – Residents of Williams Avenue in Lynn and other surrounding streets gathered for a neighborhood block party Monday from noon to 3 p.m.Neighbors closed off the first block of Williams Avenue between Fayette and Chatham streets – after receiving permission from the City Council – so families could safely gather for a fun-filled afternoon of barbecuing and socializing.Residents John and Eliana Runyon, who have lived on Williams Avenue for five years, decided it would be a great way for neighbors to meet while brainstorming ways to improve the neighborhood.The Runyons worked with neighbor Jesse Jaeger, a Williams Avenue resident for seven years, and the city council in order to receive a permit for the block party.Eliana Runyon and her husband are board members for the East Lynn Community Association and also host monthly meetings at their home in an effort to clean up and improve the surrounding neighborhoods.The couple was also involved in the past July clean-up of the Williams Avenue Playground.?I think establishing a sense of community is very important,” said Eliana Runyon. “We want to promote a safe, healthy environment.”She decided that hosting a block party on Columbus Day was appropriate, not only because most people have the day off, but also a great chance for neighbors to talk and get to know each other.?I was strolling down the street one day and could hear people talking and some music playing, but there was nothing going on,” said Eliana Runyon. “We wanted to do something to connect with the people around us so we can get to know them and hopefully all work toward improving our neighborhoods.”Resident Alan Theodhor has lived in the neighborhood for 56 years and says the last time he remembers any kind of community-building party was in the early ?70s.?I?ve known a lot of people in Lynn for a long time but have rarely gotten the opportunity to meet new neighbors,” said Theodhor.He adds that the neighborhood has continuously faced the issue of vehicles speeding down Williams Avenue, a street that is home to many young children, and hopes that the community involvement will be enough to stress the issue to the city. “It?s great that they (the Runyon family) want to get to know others so we can all try to make some changes,” said Theodhor.Runyon hopes to create more community gardens in the neighborhood, particularly in a vacant lot on Williams Avenue, where a home once stood before burning down two years ago.She also hopes that this block party will be followed by a bigger one in the spring.?Hopefully we will all know each other by then and we can really start to work together,” said Runyon.