Now is your chance to give us suggestions for movies for season 2, activities you would like to see happen before the meetings, suggestions you have for the parks, suggestions you have for food you might like to see at the movies etc.

This year we fixed up the “Snack Bar” at Friendship, got a Popcorn machine for use by the blockwatches at both parks, got a pop up tent for the Fairview Blockwatch (Thanks Hammer Electric!!) and are in the process of getting some new signs for the parks with the rules etc. for the parks.

Don’t forget next week’s movies - Ghostbusters and Young Frankenstein!! Should be a Spooktacular good time!

Last night we showed School of Rock at Friendship Park. About 30 minutes before the end of the movie we began to see lightning off in the distance. Several of our volunteers have iPhones and pulled up the local weather radar showing an approaching storm cell. We prepared in case we had to cover up the electronics in a hurry and prepared for a record setting strike (Packup). We were able to complete the movie while the lightning got closer.

The strike was under 30 minutes last night with just a few drops falling on us before we left. Thankfully, again, we have the trailer which is much better than an open bed pickup in a storm! We were home before the heavy stuff had a chance to hit!

Phew!!

As a result of the kindness and commitment of the entire community, the award-winning Cops ‘n’ Kids Children’s Literacy Program has distributed more than 171,000 books (including over 200 each at Fairview and Friendship Parks!). This program pairs children (pre-school through middle school) with new or gently used books that have been donated by individuals and organizations from throughout the Lehigh Valley. In many cases, the books are the first that the children have to keep as their own. This is all made possible as a result of an amazing “spirit of giving” in our community.

The demand keeps growing, so we ask that you:

• check your bookshelves and see if there are any children’s books you might like to donate,
• pick up a few books that you know a child might like as you go to flea markets or yard sales,
• purchase an extra book or two for a child as you shop or
• organize a book drive.

Drop-off sites for any books you wish to donate include the following:

• the PSEA (Pennsylvania State Education Association) Eastern Region Office at 4950 Medical Center Circle in Allentown
• the Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union at 3720 Hamilton Boulevard in Allentown or 4031 Independence Drive in Schnecksville
• Bethlehem’s City Hall at 10 East Church Street in Bethlehem
• the Northampton Community College Fowler Family Southside Center at 511 East Third Street in Bethlehem—the site of our Cops ‘n’ Kids Reading Room

If you are interested in organizing a book drive or would like additional information on the program, please contact Beverly Bradley at 610-861-7561 or lvcops-n-kids@att.net.

Thank you for your help in “connecting kids and community through literacy.” Together we are making a difference!

As of 3pm today it looks like we are going to get a passing shower until about 6pm give or take. We are still a go for the movie tonight so bring your appetite and let’s watch Madagascar.

 Movies Games and More is a project of the North by Northwest Neighborhood Initiative (Elm Street). It provides a social event in the neighborhood parks for people to come out and get to know one another and build a sense of community. The movies are FREE, bring your own lawn chair or blanket events. There will be 5 nights in Friendship Park and 5 nights in Fairview Park before we move indoors for the winter.

Fairview Park is located at 4th Avenue and West Market Street. Movies will be held on the second Thursday of each month through October. Friendship Park is located on East North Street about a block off Linden Street. Movies will be held on the second Wednesday of each month through October. We will start our pre-show programs around 6pm and show our “Feature Presentation” when it’s dark enough. Please see the pages for each park on the right and the pdf flyer available at the bottom for the full schedule.

It’s called Movies Games & More for a couple reasons. Movies are the main event of course but that’s just the start. “Games” include both on-screen Playstation3 and Wii Games as well as games and other programming we may have prior to the “Feature Presentation”. An example here would be Spirithoops - hooping for fun and exercise.

The “More” is about other programming we will bring to the parks for people in the neighborhood. An example here are the programs from the Bethlehem Health Department like Sun Safety, Immunizations, Nutrition, Fire Safety etc. Some projects in the works are plant swaps, tool training stations, cleanups etc. Watch this site for updated information about other programs we add as we go.

So come out, bring the family and a blanket or lawn chairs. Enjoy lots of hot dogs, popcorn and other refreshments brought to you and benefiting the Blockwatch groups that cover these parks.

Local Business Owners - we need your help! Please see the Title Sponsors Needed Page. Great opportunity to get your name out and support our neighborhood project. 

Here’s a PDF with this season’s movies. Print it and put it on the fridge!

[Show as slideshow]

Enjoy the Show!

A.G.

P.S. Please silence your cellphones!