How do you keep the neighboring spirit alive between block parties and other special occasions? It’s a matter of keeping in touch and finding informal, spontaneous ways of getting together. Here are some ideas...

• Find out who likes gardening and share tips and surplus veggies.
• Start a neighborhood book club, sewing circle or bowling league.
• Do an inventory of tools people are willing to lend out for seasonal yard work.
• Distribute a list of neighbors who offer babysitting, dog walking, house sitting, lawn care, snow shoveling, calligraphy, bike repair, music lessons, etc.
• Pool your resources to hold a block yard sale. Donate your proceeds to a common cause or pay for a block party.
• Start a block watch group with the local police.
• Invite an expert to teach CPR to everyone on the block.
• Show the rest of the world your block unity by displaying the same holiday ribbons, yellow porch lights or the same welcome wreath.
• Sponsor seasonal block beautification days: rent a dumpster for trash and large items that can be hauled off, plant flowers in common areas, share the cost of paint for touch ups, rent yard equipment or share the cost of professional aeration.
• Organize a block project
  • Barricades to block off your street for a party
  • A band or other entertainment
  • Scholarship/savings bond for a the newest grad on the block
  • A new tool lending library or rental equipment
  • Matching trash barrels
  • Repairs to common areas
  • Holiday decorations for all houses on the block
  • Atlases, dictionaries, and thesauruses for back to school
  • Graffiti removal equipment
  • Bulletin board or kiosk for sharing information
  • Safety lighting, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
  • Speed bumps or light reflector posts
  
  
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