Block Party Celebrates Villas Pride

VILLAS – Villas resident and supporter Kim Jenison wants the public to know “good things are happening in Villas.”
Jenison knows this to be true because she and her neighbors in the 600 and 700 blocks of Desoto Avenue just completed organizing the 10th annual block party held in their Villas neighborhood July 25, despite all the seemingly bad news that has recently been associated with the Villas section of Lower Township.
“Our block is really unique because we all look after one another which strengthens the community bonds all year long” said Jenison.
Jenison wanted to let the public know “We are proud to live in Villas.” Although the block party is the main event of the year, her friends and neighbors also gather together during other times in the year, not just during the adult and child friendly block party held every summer on the last Saturday in July.
This year’s version of the annual summer get-together featured all sorts of games and activities including a water slide, a rubber ducky regatta, egg toss and face painting for children (and adults).
Plenty of food and watermelon-eating contests also helped make this year’s event a success. 
Although they cannot accommodate a large influx of attendees, the block party was open to all neighbors as long as children were accompanied by an adult. 
In past years, the party not only served to unite the people in the neighborhood, but also produced some local fundraising opportunities that allowed the group to  purchase several speed signs that read “Keep alive, drive 25” miles per hour to protect children from speeders.
They have also raised hundreds of dollars to help finance the Forgotten Warriors Vietnam Museum at the Cape May County Airport.
Jenison added that many neighbors get together, often in small groups, almost every weekend throughout the year to look after each other; they also get organized during the Easter season by doing a clean sweep of local streets to dispose of trash and other debris that accumulates over cold weather months; a good sign that, as Jenison says, “Good things are definitely happening in Villas.”
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.