The Ice Cream Social, held at Monta Loma Park on Sunday, September 5, was a huge success. With the exhibits widely spaced for Covid safety, the crowd spread all the way to Thompson Avenue. We didn’t realize until later that the welcome-table volunteers had signed in almost 300 attendees, who enjoyed a selection of packaged ice cream treats while meeting their neighbors.
Tee-shirt sales totaled 35, but some shirts (and logo items) remain available for purchase.
Neighborhood participants were CERT members (safety information), Gary Heyman (balloons), Bill Lambert (Friends of Mountain View Parks), Tom Purcell (Monta Loma history and bike-registration stickers), Alan Whitaker (monarch butterfly and native milkweed info and plants), Gloria Jackson (cotton candy), Jill Rakestraw (plant exchange), Karla Valente (gardening information), and Victor Brilon’s band, Nobody’s Girlfriend. Marty Pulvers staffed the tee-shirt and logo-items sales tables, Jim Cochran took photos, and Bill Cranston provided the A-frame signs that reminded us to attend.
Other participants were Monta Loma School’s PTA, Mountain View Educational Foundation, Canopy, Recycling and Zero Waste, and a MV police officer and dog. The Bookmobile and the Fire Department were unable to participate, due to Covid and wildfires.
Mayor Ellen Kamei returned early from a trip in order to attend, and stayed for 90 minutes. MVWSD trustees Laura Berman and Ellen Wheeler also came. They all appreciated the opportunity to meet Monta Loma residents, and their appreciation was echoed by the neighbors.
Thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s event such a huge success. Photos are here.