A neighborhood united
A neighborhood is a microcosm of the larger community that we all call ourselves part of.
It is on our street that we often best know the people we live and work with.
It is here we exchange pleasantries and lend a helping hand when we can with shoveling or when a neighbor’s lawn mower breaks down.
It is here that many families raise their children together and it is here that often lifelong friendships are formed.
According to Vanessa Yates this is a fair way to explain they way she and her neighbors on Griffin and Hannum street sin Skaneateles feel about one another.
And during this time of sheltering in place and social distancing, it is not so easy to not do those things that many of the residents are used to.
But Yates and her neighbors have been trying to find some silver lining in all that everyone is contending with right now and keep spirits high and keep connected with one another even they are many feet apart.
For birthdays and other special occasions the members of the neighborhood have been “gathering” to show their care and support for each other.
Yates said last summer the entire neighborhood had a party and continued the tradition into this past winter and this helped inspire this effort to rally together now during this difficult time.
“We got together like people did in the old days,” Yates said.
These gatherings helped build that sense of community in a neighborhood that Yates said is a combination of long time residents as well as younger families.
From these events Yates had gathered a lot of contact information from her neighbors and was able to put it to good use in time for her husband’s birthday.
“We had a big part planned,” Yates said. “But then everything happened. So I emailed everyone, all the neighbors and we decided on a set time while safely distancing to sing happy birthday.”
The idea took root and Yates, who describes herself as something of an organizer has made a network among her neighbors top share special events such as a the recent celebration of a child turning two.
These celebrations have turned into special events with people making signs, sharing flowers and even local musician Joe Whiting getting in on the singing and other musicians joining in.
Yates said it is a good way to keep people connected during this time and to check in on each other and show support and that together they will get through this.
Yates said she and her neighbors plan to continue doing these gatherings from the porch and the end of the driveway for as long as they need to until they truly come together again.
“We started on March 20 and we will stop when we can all come together again,” Yates said. “Hopefully, at our annual block party.”
