This past Saturday was the 2010 Stow Ave. Block Party, organized by Charlene Dobert, president of the Stow Farms Neighborhood Association. The event featured food, snow cones, bouncy bounces and other kids activities and more, offering residents a chance to meet and socialize with each other as well as some elected officials. In an e-mail, Dobert thanked the many that pitched in to make the event possible.

I want to give a special thanks to some people who made a special effort to recognize our neighborhood and contribute food or services. They are: Gary Galuski our Councilman, Clem Campagna our Council President, Mike Laporto one of our At Large Council Representatives and he brought his friend Tom who helped man the cooker... and whose company is always enjoyable, Colleen Goldstein who is a Community Police Officer who never stops for a moment with helping us out in anyway possible, she has offered us so many things I don't even know where to begin, Mark Millington also a Police Officer in Troy who now is assigned to Troy High School but at one time was in our neighborhood servicing us as well, Debbie from the Springs Re-hab Center who has also helped us out many times supplying our meeting place, food (yummy, thanks to the Chef) and tables, The Beverage Mart in South Troy who keeps us in/on ice and Guiliano's rentals on Pawling Ave who donates the Snow Cone Machine.

It was so nice to see my friend Richard Herrick and his wealth of knowledge, and another surprise was a visit from Brant of The Working Mans Party and also of The East Side which I'm partial to as well (that is where I grew up and my Mother is still there). As for the Neighborhood people you're outstanding and that's why we all do it. We have some very talented cooks in this neighborhood and I certainly enjoyed sampling their goodies! A special thanks to my daughter Danielle Lyle who does the balloon art, a very special tedious talent. She brought smiles to so many young and old, it was so heartfelt to see our seniors from the Springs enjoy a special item she made just for them individually, for once we can smile. Also, a special thanks to my other two daughters Jean Vooris and Tammie Broadhead who without their help I couldn't do it all.

More photos of the event are available at http://picasaweb.google.com/Herrick2/2010StowAveBlockParty#.